The Nation June 03, 2012

Olashore, former Finance Minister, is dead

Jonathan-NASS cold war: President to return 12 bills Moves to avert legislative override

–Page 5

–Page 4

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.06, No. 2142

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

JUNE 3, 2012

N200.00

FG behind Northern bombings, says El-Rufai –PAGE 2

Another multiple crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

–Page 2

Former FCT Minister callous –Presidency

Twenty four vehicles involved

•An official of Ogun State Fire Service, Mr Oladipo Fayemi, combating the inferno at scene of the multiple crash at Danko Village on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway yesterday Photo: NAN

Former Egyptian President, Mubarak, jailed for life

–PAGE 61

NEWS

2

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

•Traffic gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway caused by the accident

•Some of the vehicles burning due to the accident caused by a fallen petrol tanker along Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the early hours of Saturday Photo: NAN

FG behind Northern bombings, says El-Rufai F

ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai yesterday accused the Federal Government of being partly responsible for the spate of bombings in parts of the North and Abuja.

The alleged government’s involvement, according to him, was a diversionary measure.

Special Assistant on Political Matters to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak dismissed the allegation as callous and unreasonable.

The former FCT minister and now a top member of the opposition party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) claimed in a BBC interview monitored in Kaduna that government resorted to exploding bombs whenever controversial issues arose in the country.

He cited the probe of the fuel subsidy by the House of Representatives.

“We have to start accusing the government because anytime we are in this problem, like when the Farouk committee in the House of Representatives came out with its report on the fuel subsidy scam, at that time they started coming out with bombs all over,” he said.

“Therefore….we keep on asking the government : ‘ why is it whenever they have problem, that is when those they call Boko Haram will start bombing. Or are they working together?

“They are yet to give us an answer; there are many other things which up till now, there is no explanation. Every Nigerian knows that two years ago, there

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

was rest of mind and he could sleep well at home.

But today, there is no rest of mind, things have deteriorated.

“The economy has deteriorated; salaries are delayed in the Federal Civil Service. Since I left Abuja last week, April salary was not paid. That of March was paid in May, even the monthly allocation to states, they were unable to pay. We don’t know where the money is going so the economy is in trouble”.

He also accused the government of amassing loans, drawing about $1 billion every month. He challenged Nigerians to verify his claims from the website of the Debt Man-

agement Office (DMO).

“We calculated and I wrote on it in the paper, nobody came out to say it is not true. Every month since Jonathan became the President, on the average, every month he takes $1 billion loan. The Debt Management Office published it, it is a government office. So, I am not just saying it. Even last month, the Federal Government sold bond,” he said.

But reacting, the political adviser to the President asked Nigerians not to take the allegations of the former minister seriously as they were baseless and not true.

He described the allegations as “just an outburst from the opposition camp which cannot hold

water. It is the figment of his imagination, it is not true. Every right thinking person will not listen to that and will never agree with what El-Rufa’i is saying. This is because they are so extreme in their opposition. For example, ministers came out some days ago and they reeled out all the achievements and successes of governments.

“In the next two months, you will see trains shuttling between Lagos and Northern Nigeria, God willing. Everybody knows that road construction is on. Is that not so?

Look at the education sector, we have gone far.

“Mallam Nasiru ElRufa’I’s remarks, I m really baffled. He is one of the

leaders in this country and in the North, and for him to start accusing the government that they are responsible for the spate of bombings, is not fair for big leaders to be making such statements that cannot be substantiated.

“It’s very unfair, the Presidency has mandated the EFCC to make sure that those indicted in the scam face the law. But you cannot punish anybody until he is found guilty.

“Thanks be to Allah, what I will say now is that all thanks be to Almighty Allah. It is now one year that President Goodluck Jonathan was elected and sworn in as President of this country, and people are saying that he did nothing;

I think perhaps it is either their brain is blocked or they are blind. This is because the various things this government has done, and is still doing, they are yet to see.

“Just recently the President was in Sokoto where he inaugurated the Almajiri school for our kids, about nine and a half million of them that were on the streets begging.

Now they will be admitted in schools built by the government. Fourthly, if we look at the aviation sector, look at all our airports, intense work is in progress.

Anybody that visits our airports will attest to that. I am just telling you work that is done,” he said.

Another multiple crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

D

ANKO village on the Lagos/Ibadan ex-

pressway recorded its second multiple road accident in 48 hours late Friday, triggering another traffic chaos on the highway yesterday.

The accident, just like the earlier one, was caused by a petrol tanker that fell on its side.

The spilled content sparked fire that spread quickly affecting 24 vehicles.

No one died in the incident although two were reported injured.

Five persons died in the Wednesday crash.

Eleven of the vehicles were trailers, four were tankers and two were pick –up vans. The rest were

Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

one car, five mini buses and one luxury bus.

Figures obtained from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) showed that 176 people were involved.

Security operatives and officials of the FRSC were deployed to the scene to control traffic and help fire fighters in putting out the inferno.

Motorists were advised to take the following routes to avoid delay: Lagos-EpeOgijo-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode; Lagos-Sango OtaPapalanto-Ofada-Sagamu Interchange; IbadanSagamu InterchangeOfada-Papalanto-Sango Ota-Lagos; and Ijebu Ode-

Epe, Lekki-Lagos.

A security source said yesterday that it was curious that two massive accidents could occur on the same spot within 48 hours.

“Some people may have deliberately set fire on the tanker to cause confusion which they thought they might cash-in on to perpetrate a hidden agenda,” he said.

The Ogun State government was no less shocked by the accident, with Governor Ibikunle Amosun pleading with the Federal Government to immediately intervene in the terrible shape of the expressway and end the miseries of commuters and motorists.

Amosun , on a visit to

the scene, said the solution was for all stakeholders to immediately work towards fixing the highway.

The governor who had visited the highway on Friday after the first accident expressed regrets that another accident of such magnitude occurred in less than 48 hours.

The road, he said, still accounts for 70% of movement of goods across the nation, adding that its reconstruction should be handled by a competent professional with proven integrity and expertise.

The governor joined the top brass of law enforcement agencies and fire fighters in the frantic efforts to put out the raging fire completely. He ordered

that heavy cranes should be brought in to evacuate the vehicles obstructing traffic on the highway.

The Zonal Commander of FRSC in charge of Lagos and Ogun State, Mr. Ademola Lawal, who spoke with journalists at the scene of the inferno, noted that two persons who were injured were rushed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

President Jonathan had, during the commissioning of Dangote Cement Plant, Ibese in February, promised to review the concession of the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, which he said was hurriedly entered into by the previous administration.

Column

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

The ultimate paradox of June 12 P

ARADOX is the absolute and maximum condition of Nigeria in this epoch. It stalks our daily existence. Every tentative step forward is enmeshed in its mesmerising ironies. It ensnares us by its dangerous ambiguities. Like a grave but gorgeous lady, it bewitches. Even the notions of the nation itself are steeped in paradoxical contradictions. In a land of abundant opportunities but without visionary will every prince is ultimately a pauper. Every harlot is after all once a virgin.

But like irony its sister and ambiguity its brother, paradox works in a profoundly unsettling manner. This past week, the prince of paradox returned to haunt us, reminding the nation of unfinished business. What will MKO Abiola be thinking in his unquiet grave?

If the students’ demonstration about the renaming of the University of Lagos had gone awry and blood had been spilled how would Abiola have felt? How would Abiola reconcile the fact that 19 years after many youth and flower of Nigeria perished on the streets of Lagos defending his annulled mandate against barbaric military rule, the new flowers of the nation were being killed protesting over the naming of their institution in honour of the fallen hero of democracy?

It doesn’t get more profoundly paradoxical than that. There is something very senseless about this kind of paradox. With a gloomy grimace at the wanton ironies of history, Abiola would probably understand.

He was after all a master ironist himself. The whirligig of time often brings its sweet revenge, but it also brings its ugly repercussion. You cannot step into the same river twice.

The situation of President Goodluck Jonathan is even more precariously paradoxical. Jonathan must be wondering what has hit him. If the

•Abiola

decision to honour and acknowledge Abiola’s martyrdom and contribution to the growth of modern Nigeria was borne out of noble and altruistic instincts, Jonathan must be wondering where he has gone wrong. Even if it is not completely altruistic, the sheer bravery of the gesture stands out in an administration that has been characterised by shameless stonewalling and an aversion for the fundamental principles of nation-building.

Yet it is so remarkably paradoxical that precisely at the point when Jonathan attempts to break out on his own and away from the thraldom of

his malevolent mentor and malignant party, the fallout should reveal the cruel mechanics of arbitrary rule on which his administration is anchored. No matter how hard it tries to disguise itself in borrowed robes, no matter how glowingly it speaks about its own democratic endowments, a civilian tyranny will always reveal its enabling provenance in the brutal confrontation with harsh reality.

In a way, then, what is unfolding is the final confrontation between two historic dates: May 29 and June 12. No two dates could be more vastly dissimilar in their symbolic import and

S

nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu original signification. While June 12 speaks to the possibility of a new nation and a new national ethos, May 29 points at some unspeakable dark chapters of horror in our national evolution; a historic warehouse of colonial and post-colonial atrocities. Only somebody with a perverse and macabre sense of humour could have chosen the date as the hour of democratic rebirth. Or perhaps the Freudian slip will ultimately become a befitting epitaph for the Fourth Republic.

We have said it many times that as a date with history and the aborted destiny of the nation, June 12 has metaphysical portents. Those who feebly and glibly toy with its profound symbolism will have their fingers burnt.

Jonathan will not be an exception. The casualty figure has been prohibitive.

Those who try to honour it out of context by slyly dishonouring its principal martyr will be worse off than those who leave it severely alone.

The University of Lagos fiasco has left the Jonathan administration worse off in the eyes of discerning observers. A community mourning the tragic loss of its beloved Vice-Chancellor has now been further burdened by the trauma of involuntary closure and future commotion. The historic gaffe has exposed the administration to public ridicule and legal derision. Was the Attorney General who is usually more proactive when it comes to sheer legal sophistry consulted about this descent into mob justice?

More importantly, this whole episode is a sad reflection on the quality of leadership thrown up by the Fourth Republic and the struggle against military despotism in Nigeria. It speaks to the principal paradox of the nation and the supreme tragedy of our national evolution. Just as it happened in the run up to independence when the principal gladiators against colo-

Okon goes haywire on Democracy Day

W

HILE we are still on the subject of democracy day and its discontents, it is fair to report that the hallowed hour of liberation met Okon in fine fettle. A rogue television station had invited the loony crook to ventilate on one year of the new administration. The mad boy had seized the opportunity with relish and rapture. He had warned snooper that this was going to be the mother of all interviews.

A posse of well-wishers, pro-democracy charlatans and small time crooks from the creeks suddenly descended on the house. There was also an elders’ retinue from Cross Town comprising of abandoned sailors, marooned naval ratings and rehabilitated stowaways all smelling of periwinkles, fattened snails and industrial gin.

Snooper eyed them all with merciless contempt and supercilious malice until one of them, a distinguished looking elderly ruffian, suddenly squared up to yours sincerely.

“If you are this smart and accomplished, how come it is your houseboy who gets all the interviews?” the old devil sniggered.

“That is a case of the foolish entertaining the phoney” snooper replied with wit and caustic brio.

“Shut up!” the old man screamed as he began shadow-boxing. The house had become an asylum.

On the appointed day, Okon was carried shoulder-high into the studio with Baba Lekki braying like a demented donkey. He was as usual

pole-huggingly drunk and was mouthing some wild and insensate nonsense about an imminent revolutionary upheaval. Okon surveyed the audience with a mean and ferocious scowl. The sparks started flying immediately.

“You see all dem lazy Yoruba people? Na so so holiday dem sabi.

Make dem go plant cassava for dem goodluck bread, dem no go gree dat one”, Okon jeered at the crowd.

“Etunbam Okon, you are welcome”, the lead interviewer opened cautiously.

“I don tell una say Okon no be otumba. I be Etubom Okon. Get dat one inside your Yoruba yam head, you hear? Otumba na common Yoruba title. Even dem Ijebu mechanic for Ajegunle come dey say im be otumba”, Okon screamed at the luckless fellow.

“Okay, that’s fine Chief Okon, how will you compare Jonathan and Yar’Adua.? It is one year of Jonathan”, the lead man intoned with unctuous humility.

“Ah dat one dey easy”, Okon began with expansive mischief. “Na exemption formula we go use for dat one. He get one man like dat for Benin who say him get two sons, one dey bright but him no get lucky and one get lucky but him head no correct”.

On this note, the audience went into rapturous acclamation, hailing Okon as a modern day Socrates. An elderly Lagosian, brimming with senile delinquency, crooned” Wo Okon o ri yen so oo”. The interviewer fidg-

eted with his microphone, sensing that he had brought tribulation on his masters.

“Etubom Okon, what is your take on Dr Jonathan’s transformation agenda?”, he asked Okon directly, sensing that it may yield better result to be more proactively positive.

“Ah dat one na Okrika wake up formula. I no take am at all. Dem bring one yeye transformer for dem area and im come blow after two days. If Jonathan like make him become transformer sef and dem go blow am. Ibo water come pass Yoruba garri and dem mala kulikuli.

Na dem triple devils dey blow dem kontri”, Okon snorted.

The interviewers consulted quickly and decided to change tack completely.

“Chief Okon”, one of them began while avoiding Okon’s searing gaze of contempt. “Former president Obasanjo recently said that the national assembly is full of rogues, crooks and armed robbers...”

Before he could finish Okon jumped at him. “Dat one na baba bad bellie”, the mad boy snorted.

“How do you mean sir?” the interviewer persisted but now to his own peril. “:You see dat case come remind me of dem Ibo man who come wire him own daughter and he come tell court say na me born am and na me giam belle. So na baba born dem and na him give dem bad belle. As dem Yoruba dey say, na baba’s pikin dey chop baba’s corn”, Okon submitted to

3

even more rapturous applause from the audience. At this point, Baba Lekki suddenly roused from the depths of alcoholic slumber and began to sing a timeless Yoruba ditty Omo ole jo baba kama binu omo Eniarebu (honorable) yi jo baba e ju Omo o le jo baba kama binu omo.

The whole scene suddenly took on a carnival-like hue with the audience singing and clapping. The deranged Baba Lekki was in his elements as he began cantering to the music like an intrepid hunter after a big kill. It took some persuasion to get the interview back on an even keel.

“Sir, are you saying that they have taken the country to the cleaners?” one of the interviewers asked Okon. The mad boy flared up with ignorant distemper.

“And wetin be ya problem with dem cleaners? You tanda for dem place in your suit and Yoruba coconut head and you dey yab dem cleaner.

Abi na dem cleaner dey clean your money for Abuja?”

“Oga, he is asking whether the country has gone to the dogs?” a female member of the audience offered.

“Ah se he no better make country go to dem dogs?” Okon retorted.

“Dem dogs be good people. Dem kontri don go to dem crocodiles. You no say as dem crocodile dey whack you dem go dey cry.

On that note, a millennial darkness suddenly descended on the station and everybody took to their heels with Okon screaming blue murder.

nial rule were summarily yanked aside, the second liberation struggle in Nigeria has witnessed the systematic exclusion from power of those who played stirring and lead roles. If they had come to power, they would have known how best to honour their fallen principal.

But there is always a silver lining somewhere. If it had been Jonathan’s intention to set a cat among the progressive pigeons of the old west, the plot has fallen flat.

The spontaneous and universal revulsion that has greeted the announcement from the politically sophisticated denizens of the region shows a unanimity of will and purpose that cannot be easily tripped by official chicanery.

What Jonathan ought to have done was to consult more widely and broadly on this issue, particularly among the surviving legatees of the June 12 struggle. Together with Abiola’s immediate family, they should know where it still hurts.

But a narrow and provincial insularity seems to have overtaken Aso Rock these days. Once again, it has taken June 12 and the unyielding apparition of Abiola to remind us that you cannot plant cassava and expect to harvest yam.

In functioning democracies, processes and procedures are as important, if not more important, than the actual decision making. Processes and procedures are the symbolic tropes which serve as institutional bulwark providing validation and legitimacy to decision making. Once the process and procedure are flawed ab initio, the decision is always dead on arrival.

Yet it is also possible that Jonathan is a mere victim of the very circumstances that propelled him to power. In relying on the element of swift surprise, Goodluck might have been trying to outflank friends and foes alike who might have held him to ransom. Here lies the fundamental problem. Secrecy, surprise and stealth are the hallmark of arbitrary military rule and the principal enemies of the open society. There is no short cut in a purported democracy.

But if the gaffe reveals a central flaw of vision, the aftermath has compounded the image problem of the government. By slamming a no going back and “irreversible” order on the nation, the government has revealed itself once again as an arbitrary and despotic dispensation. Who do these people think they are? Where were they when people were confronting military tanks with bare hands? .

We must remind ourselves, lest we forget, that the struggle against military rule and the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election is a struggle against arbitrary governance. Thirteen years after the termination of military rule, we are being reminded that despotic rule also wears civilian garbs.

As Sad Sam once famously remarked, we have merely exchanged monkey for baboon.

The good thing about the serial breach of constitutional procedure that we are witnessing is that Jonathan may yet succeed in uniting and unifying disparate forces in a momentous pan-Nigerian coalition against arbitrary and inept civilian rule. We may yet have June 12 and MKO Abiola to thank once again. That should be the ultimate paradox.

4

Resumption: Lagos asks returning doctors to liaise with relevant authorities O V E R N O R Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday asked returning doctors in the employ of the state government to liaise with the Health Service Commission and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to formalise their resumption.

The doctors who had been dismissed by government were recalled on Thursday following the intervention of the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Twenty-four hours after the recall, the 788 doctors were yet to resume work, saying they wanted government to issue each of them a letter to that effect.

It was based on this that Fashola directed them to liaise with the health service commission or LASUTH as applicable to each of them for their letters of recall.

G

Zinox donates security vans to Lagos

G

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

News

O V E R N O R Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the weekend received four Toyota Hilux security vans donated to the State Security Trust Fund by Zinox Group.

The keys of the vehicles were handed over to the governor by the Chairman of Zinox Technologies Limited, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, who had earlier described the state as a case study of civilization.

The Governor reminded law enforcement agents to resist the temptation of brutalising the citizens under whatever guise saying it is those same citizens that pay the tax with which government meets its obligations and also donate vehicles for the police.

He thanked Zinox Group for identifying with the security challenges and security successes of the state, urging other individuals to join the community action and efforts to strengthen and deepen the capacity to protect the people.

Chief Ekeh while speaking promised that his group would continue to support the administration and said the donation was the first of what the Zinox Group intends to do.

“We will give content to four schools in Lagos State.

We are putting in the first N50 million between now and September in those schools and they will be profiled schools in the country”, Ekeh added.

HE cold war between the Presidency and the National Assembly over unsigned bills has forced President Goodluck Jonathan back to the drawing board.

He met with his key strategists at the weekend to review complaints by the Senate and the House of Representatives over his refusal to sign 14 bills passed by them.

The review session was aimed at averting the resort to override by the legislature.

Two of the bills may now be signed by the President, it was gathered yesterday in Abuja while the remaining 12 could be returned to the legislators for reconsideration.

A principal officer of the House said the chamber may meet soon on their next line of action on the unsigned bills.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives and Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu last week joined issues with the President on bills awaiting the President’s signature.

These include: Public Procurement Amendment Bill; Legal Aid Council Bill, National Health Bill; the Bill on People with Disability; National Assembly Budget and Research Office Establishment Bill; Tobacco Bill, State of the Nation Address Bill; FCT Area Courts Bill; and National Assembly Service Commission Repeal and Re-enactment Bill.

The rest are: National Bio-Safety Management Bill; River Basin Development Authority Amendment Bill; Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency Bill; FCT Board of Internal

T

Jonathan-NASS cold war: President to return 12 bills • Wants to avert override by National Assembly • House leadership to consider line of action next week From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Revenue Bill; Harmonized Retirement Age of Tertiary Institutions Workers Bill; and Police Act Amendment Bill.

The President and his strategists are believed to have discussed the constitutional status of each of the bills and resolved to act on some of them with a view to averting a confrontation with the National Assembly.

The Senate and the House of Representatives, one source said, were spoiling for war with the executive over the unsigned bills.

Speaker Tambuwal, at a National Symposium on the occasion of Democracy Day in Abuja last Monday accused the Executive arm of shirking its responsibility of assenting to bills passed by the legislature.

This, he said, was not in the best interest of the country and did not augur well for the relationship between the executive and legislative arms.

The President acknowledged ‘a major conflict’ between the two sides and explained that this was brought about by the insistence of the legislators to hi-

OUTSTANDING BILLS * Public Procurement Amendment Bill *Legal Aid Council Bill *National Health Bill *Bill on People with Disability *National Assembly Budget and Research Office Establishment Bill *Tobacco Bill *State of the Nation Address Bill *FCT Area Courts Bill *National Assembly Service Commission Repeal and Reenactment Bill *National Bio-Safety Management Bill *River Basin Development Authority Amendment Bill, *Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency Bill *FCT Board of Internal Revenue Bill *Police Act Amendment Bill jack the budget proposals submitted every year for approval.

He said the National Assembly had formed the habit of tearing and distorting such budget proposals.

“We even wanted to go to the court, so that the Supreme Court would tell us if it is the duty of the National Assembly to plan the economy,” he said, adding: “Let them do the budget, hand over to us we will implement, but if it is our duty, then they should listen to us because the executive arm of government has a ministry of planning and finance and works with the Central Bank..”

•A cross section of people walking to live with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, during the Walk to Live Monthly Exercise for Healthy Living in Ile-Ife, the State of Osun yesterday

ACF condemns renewed clash in north

T

HE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the pan northern socio-political organization yesterday condemned the renewed violence in parts of the North especially between the Alago and Eggon in Nasarawa state.

About 30 lives and some properties have been reported lost in the clashes.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Anthony Sani in a statement in Kaduna expressed sadness at the resort to vio-

From Tony Akowo, KAduna

lence by people at the slightest provocation.

“ACF is not happy with the unfolding practices whereby violence is being seen and used by some people to settle disagreements which ought to be addressed by constructive engagements and due process of law,” he said.

“These practices are barbaric and uncivilized and, therefore, must not be allowed to become national ethos. It is noteworthy that

ethnic differences and cultural values are dynamic and so can undergo changes.

“That may explain why language, which is a basic element of ethnic extraction, can disappear from the surface of the earth, but core value of humanity is for eternity. This also accounts for why ACF insists that Nigerians should work hard and overcome the differences that divide the people, and in favour of humanity that unite Nigerians.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Albert Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba), said the National Assembly might override the bills in line with Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution.

But it was also discovered at the meeting that some of the bills have been overtaken by events.

A top presidency source said: “Contrary to insinuations, the President had, a few weeks ago, asked the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and his aides to compile and bring outstanding bills to him.

“But a review of the bills indicated that some of them have been signed into law by the President. These are Harmonized Retirement Age of Tertiary Institutions Workers, the 2012 Appropriation Act and the Transfer of Convicted Prisoners amendment Act. “The President does not just rush into signing any bill into law; his administration must ensure that a bill will promote development and ensure public peace and safety. It is not as if this administration is out to undermine the National Assembly.

“For instance yesterday (Friday) he met with his team on these outstanding bills and their status.”

Asked what the President would do in view of the position of the National Assembly, the source said: “He (Jonathan) will soon sign one or two of these outstanding bills into law, including the Tobacco Bill.

“The bills passed by the National Assembly so far this year may also be signed into law.

“We have however discovered that most of the bills have passed the statutory 30 days required of the President to sign them into law. Some of them were also passed by the Sixth National Assembly confirming that they have been overtaken by events.

“If you go through the rules of the National Assembly, there is no way the Seventh National Assem-

bly would have inherited the bill liability of its predecessor because of the time factor.

“What the government will do is to resend these bills to the National Assembly for reconsideration. After the reconsideration, the President will now assent to the bills.

So, hope is not lost.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The government will not allow the situation to degenerate to the use of override by the National Assembly. Instead, the government will engage the legislature on the way out.

“I can assure you that we will not allow the use of override, we will rather lobby National Assembly members to appreciate the observations of the government on these bills.”

But a principal officer of the House of Representatives, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are in full support of what Tambuwal said because he tried to protect the integrity of the National Assembly.

“We will however meet on the issue next week to determine our next line of action.”

Section 58(4-5) of the 1999 Constitution reads: “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within 30 days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.

“Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

Another presidency source however added that the use of override is cumbersome and drew our correspondent’s attention to Section 59(4) of the Constitution.

The source said: “We won’t allow Executive-Legislature face-off but the truth is that the use of veto is not as easy as some are trying to claim.

“Just read Section 59(4) and you will discover that there must be a joint session of the National Assembly to pass any outstanding bill into law by the lawmakers.

We won’t allow that at all.”

The section says: “Where the President, within 30 days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting and if passed by two-thirds majority of members of both Houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and assent to the President shall not be required.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012 JAGBUSI Ekun and Owaloko of IlokoIjesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Oladele Olasore, 77, has joined his ancestors.

The renowned banker and educationist, died yesterday in a foreign hospital of an undisclosed ailment.

The town, where he established the prestigious Olasore International School and Iloko Model School, wore a mournful mood as soon as the news of his death broke.

Some residents of the town were seen in groups at various locations discussing the news.

They hailed him for the development he brought to

A

Udoedeghe urges supporters to be calm

T

HE ACN governorship candidate in last

year’s controversial election in Akwa Ibom State, Chief John Akpan Udoedeghe has asked his supporters and friends to remain law abiding following the Friday verdict of the Supreme Court on his petition.

The apex court ruled that the 180 days stipulated for hearing of electoral grievances, is a constitutional matter and therefore cannot be tampered with.

Reacting to the ruling, Chief Udoedeghe told his supporters : “As a lawabiding citizen, it is my belief that the decision of the Supreme Court must be respected and seen to have deepened and enriched national discourse on our constitution.

“Be rest assured that ‘joy cometh’. Sooner or later, God will turn the captivity of Zion...our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with singing...” he added.

He hailed the generality of the people of the state who, according to him : “ spoke the truth to power in no unmistaken terms but should for now be contented that they had their say without any doubt whatsoever and will someday, God willing, have their way as democracy takes roots in Nigeria.”

He also expressed gratitude to the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other members for “standing by me through the political and judicial struggle for justice.”

Of his lawyers, he said:” I must add that I couldn’t have bargained for a better team of lawyers and will for long remain grateful to them for the highly knowledgeable and cerebral way they evaded and surmounted the legal and judicial ambushes on our path.”

Oladele Olashore, former Finance Minister, is dead Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo and Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

the town.

Oba Olasore founded the defunct Lead Merchant Bank. He was also at a time Managing Director of First Bank and later Minister of Finance.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State described the death of Oba Olashore as a colossal loss.

Olashore, according to the Governor, served Nigeria as a dedicated professional to the best of his ability before retiring to offer community service to his people in Iloko.

The governor recalled Olashore’s brilliant performance within the Nigerian financial sector; a performance that saw him to the pinnacle of his career as Managing Director of the First Bank.

“It is a measure of his brilliance and contributions to the Nigerian banking system that he was called to serve again as the Secretary of Finance, by the government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida,” he said adding that the decision of the deceased to establish the Olashore International

School, rated as one of the best in Nigeria and competing with the best international standards, has put the hitherto rustic Iloko-Ijesa community on a global pedestal.

The Governor, while commiserating with the Iloko-Ijesa community, Ijesaland, Osun State and Nigeria in general, urged them to take solace in the fact that Olashore was a great man who used his greatness to impact on his people.

The Olojudo of IdoOsun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo described Oba Olashore’s demise as shocking.

The Secretary General of the Council of Yoruba Monarchs said Oba Olashore was “an astute, amiable, cerebral, forthright enormously resourceful nationalist and God fearing leader of leaders.

“He was our inestimable jewel in the traditional institution. He was in the Board Room of the banking industry for many years. If you go to Iloko-Ijesha you will see a great transformation.”

Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, former Finance Minister, Dr. Abdullateef Adegbite, Secretary General, Nigerian Su-

preme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Chief Lugard Aimiuwu, President in Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, and others paid tributes to him.

Speaking in an interview with The Nation last night, Kalu while expressing shock at the news of the monarch’s death, exclaimed thus: “What! Oh my God. What a shame. This is shocking news to me. But I’ll need to further confirmation of this before I offer more comment.”

While commenting on his death, Adegbite said: “His death is a great loss to the nation and to the traditional institution in particular and even to commerce and industry because he was a reputed banker.”

Acknowledging his investment in the education sub-sector, the NCSIA scribe said: “As one those who believed in qualitative education, he also committed materials and resources in that area. He was one of the brightest mind and great entrepreneur. His death, I must confess, has created a yawning gap in the country. He is one of the few Nigerians so committed to na-

President Goodluck Jonathan (M) with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference meeting at the Presidential Villa yesterday Photo: NAN

tion-building. He gave to the nation more than he got from it.”

In his tribute, Aimiuwu described the late monarch in affectionate and superlative adjectives. “He was a patriotic Nigerian who was prepared to make sacrifice for the country. He was not only an apostle of excellence but he was a personification of excellence himself”, he said.

The former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management who recalled being asked by the late monarch to assist with the recruitment of an expert educationist to help manage the first class secondary school, Olashore International Schools, IlokoIjesha, owned by the deceased, said it was a mark of quality he attached to education and learning Also paying tribute to the one-time Secretary of Finance yesterday was Dr. Jonathan Aremu, former Deputy Director, Research and Planning at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Aremu who described the late Oba Olashore as an accomplished banker recalled that he was one the leading light in the banking sub-sector during his time.

T

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

will know it is above and over the money and where is the excess coming from?

A budget was brought here and the estimates were shown, and you could see abinitio that there was a deficit to be financed by loan.

What was the deficit, we had made provision for N65bn and the government comes asking for N50bn.

“From the budget that was passed in this House of Assembly in December 2011,

it was clear that the projects that the government was going to do were in excess of the expected revenue, and that the difference was to be financed through borrowing.

“And the House had given approval for a loan of N50 billion to be borrowed but the governor in his wisdom continued to manage.

But it now reached a point that the Interim Payment Certificates could not be managed and the contractors were threatening to

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

HE Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to be firm in tackling the security situation in the country.

Government, according to the Bishops, should prosecute more of the suspects perpetrating atrocities against innocent Nigerians.

A delegation of the CBCN met with President Jonathan yesterday to discuss the security situation and what they termed ill treatment of Christians in the North.

The President of the Conference, The Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama who led the delegation called for conscientious efforts by all Nigerians in dealing with the various challenges confronting the nation.

He said:”We believe that citizens have the freedom of association and choice of where to make a living in any part of our beloved country. The constitutional provision for this must be enforced, so that law abiding citizens are not attacked, killed, maimed and their property vandalised simply because they worship God differently or come from other parts of Nigeria. We wish to see more being done in prosecuting the culprits of these atrocities against innocent Nigerians.

“These atrocities are not only a threat to the unity of our country and violation of the sanctity of life, but also a sin against God. We enjoin government to do all in its power and work to bring this menace to a stop.

“We want to appeal to you to open up more serious discussions with relevant state governors and government agencies to monitor the fate and problems of Christian minorities in the Northern state,” adding : “today, in most federal and state uniof Nigeria (CBCN) after their versities in most of the northern states, the Chaplains (for Catholic, Protestants and Muslims) are not operational. Even where lands were specifically allocated, Vice Chancellors have not been co-operative. The tragedy that took place in Bayero University took place in down tools.” classrooms because for all Ikon also spoke on the these years, that University achievement of the House. has denied Christians acHe added that within one cess to places of worship”. year, the Assembly had em“As a concrete suggesbarked on nine capital tion, we recommend that projects, passed eight bills you have a round table for and made 13 resolutions, in- more discussion and braincluding the establishment of storming with representathe State HIV/AIDs control tives of the security agencies, agency bill. political class, ethnic comThe House also donated munities, religious bodies 10,000 books to select pub- and those who may have lic schools in the state to something important to complement the free educa- say”. tion policy of the state government.

Why we approved N50billion loan – A’Ibom Speaker HE decision of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to grant a request for N50billion loan by the executive arm is to facilitate the completion of ongoing projects in the state, Speaker Sam Ikon has said.

The Speaker told reporters in Uyo that the loan is expected to be repaid before Governor Godswill Akpabio leaves office in 2015.

He said: “When you balance the projects vis-a-vis the money coming in, you

News 5 Boko Haram: Catholic bishops ask Jonathan to do more

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

News

6

Agency spent N5bn on research grants -Prof Onwualu From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

D

IRECTOR General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Abuja, Prof Peter Azikiwe Onwualu, yesterday, said the Council has spent over N5 billion in the last seven years on research grants and assisting some industries have enabling environment to operate.

Prof Onwualu , an engineer who is also the Chairman of Forum of Heads of the 20 research institutions in Nigeria, also disclosed that while ideas for solutions to various raw materials research in the country have not been lacking, transforming the ideas into action remains a challenge.

He spoke to The Nation in Onitsha in Anambra State shortly after delivering a lecture on ‘Agricultural Sector and National Development: Focus on value chain approach’ presented at the 5th edition of the annual lecture of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He advocated for the value chain approach currently being promoted by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, which he said needs to be supported and pursued vigorously.

He also revealed that the value chain approach will succeed more through the integration of the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) funding window of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which will be used to solve the challenges of poor access to funds.

Oshiomhole’s men to INEC: Don’t use ad hoc staff, NYSC members for governorship poll From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

A

HEAD of the f o r t h c o m i n g governorship election in Edo State, the Adams Oshiomhole 2012 Re-election Finance Committee has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to forget the use of ad hoc staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the election.

The committee was reacting to a statement by INEC that it may not use NYSC members if there is a threat to the conduct of the election.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Domino Obende, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while speaking on preparations for Governor Oshiomhole’s fund raising dinner scheduled for Wednesday this week.

Dignitaries expected at the occasion include President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; business mogul, Abdulsamad Ishaku Rabiu and a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is billed to be the Chairman of the occasion.

Opposition parties’ merger, no threat to Niger PDP

MDGs: FG to focus on health, poverty alleviation T

Jide Orintunsin, Minna

W

ITH less than three years to the 2015 deadline, the Federal Government has said it will now focus its resources on health and poverty alleviation towards realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr Precious Gbeneol revealed this at the opening ceremony of a two-day National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on post2015 Development Framework, held at the weekend in Abuja.

This came following recommendations from the Experts Group Meeting held recently in Abuja.

Gbeneol said, “the experts

From: Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

reasoned that there has been some reduction in the prevalence of HIV, maternal and infant mortality with modest improvements in school enrolment, access to safe drinking water and gender parity.”

The forum was convened to formulate Nigeria’s position and contribution at the coming post- 2015 global development forum of the United Nations.

Gbeneol added that based on the group’s assessment and considering the recorded successes in meeting the various targets of MDGs, it recommended the implementation of 3-year

plan that will focus on redirecting resources to prioritized goals such as poverty reduction and the health MDGs. “The second recommendation of the group is the formulation of a post2015 development agenda for Nigeria which will take into consideration the peculiar challenges facing the country with strong emphasis on inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration,” she noted.

Gbeneol stressed that in spite of the weakness in MDGs planning framework, indications have shown that there have been significant contributions to national development due to implementation of the

transformation agenda.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development, Mr. Otive Igbuzor said despite the challenges, there are signs that Nigeria will be able to meet some of the goals set out in the MDGs by 2015.

However, he noted that the goals of MDGs are very modest, hence the need for a post-2015 development agenda.

Igbuzor said the post-2015 development agenda must address the issues of food security, youth challenges, climate change/green economy, violence, corruption, post primary education and an accountable governance and leadership.

HE ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State has said that the proposed merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) cannot stop it from winning future elections in the state.

This is coming on the heels of plans by the two major opposition parties to team up in a bid to unseat the ruling party in the 2015 elections.

Reacting to the merger move, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Saba said that there was no panic in the party because ‘’ PDP is firmly on the ground and no talk of merger can shake or intimidate our party’’.

Saba recalled that similar moves were made in the past, arguing that like the former plots, ‘’the proposed merger for 2015 will collapse like a pack of cards’’.

The party leader maintained that PDP’s successes at the polls since 1999 could be attributed to the democratic dividends it has provided the people, coupled with the performance and quality of candidates offered for elections by the party at all levels in the state and in the country.

According to Saba, ‘’The PDP is not moved by the plan because similar arrangements made in 2011 did not only fail but the working alliance packaged by the parties threw up the greed among the leadership of the parties.

Okorocha has brought fame to APGA-Umeh From: Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

T

•Guest speaker, Prof Pat Utomi (L) with the president, Dominican Institute Ibadan, Prof Anthony Akinwale, at a graduation lecture of the Department of Philosophy of the institute in Ibadan, yesterday Photo by NAN

Cross River signs N9.8b new convention centre contract

T

HE Cross River State Government and BNL Engineering and Construction Limited yesterday signed a contract for the construction of a 2000 seater, purpose-built Convention Centre.

The contract is valued at N9.8 billion.

The Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Mr. Nzan Ogbe signed on behalf of the state government, while the Managing Director, BNL

T

Engineering, Mr. Andre Guilou signed for the company.

Speaking at the ceremony in Calabar, the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, explained that the project will transform the economy and landscape of Calabar, the state capital by positioning it as a preferred destination for meetings, conferences, incentives and exhibitions in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

Imoke disclosed that there was no purpose-built

conference centre in the country which had all the amenities and facilities expected of an international convention centre and that this facility is expected to fill that void.

He maintained that the development of the project is strategic for the state, as it has the capacity to act as a catalyst for other projects such as the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, as well as other hospitality and tourism facilities in the state, which

Sanity will return to Kano, new zonal AIG assures

HE new Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone I in Kano, Philemon Ibrahim Leha has expressed dismay over the prevailing security challenges in Kano.

Addressing reporters in Kano on his arrival to resume duties as the Zone 1 Police boss, Leha said the ongoing security challenges in the state

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

cannot be tackled by the Police alone, but one which require collective efforts from both the public and other stakeholders to solve.

He promised to deploy the scarce resources at the disposal of the zone to tackle the incessant security

challenges posed by the activities of Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

He said, “I have come here to see what I can do to facilitate the return of normalcy in Kano. However, I cannot do it all alone; it has to be a collective responsibility of the different segments of the society, as security is everybody’s business”.

would guarantee an ‘all year round’ business and leisure traffic to the state.

The governor said the centre was designed by one of the best architects in the world, adding that it was a long, painstaking process which produced the final outcome.

According to Imoke, “the Calabar International Convention Centre will be outstanding and will have the best conference equipment and facilities to compete in the global economy because of its advantage”.

He noted that apart from conferencing, the centre will also boost tourism and entertainment as it is located within the precinct of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.

The Managing Director of BNL Engineering Limited, Mr. Andre Guilou, said BNL is committed to delivering the project as scheduled.

Guilou commended the state for selecting BNL for the project, while assuring that the company would deliver on schedule.

HE National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has described the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as an asset for the party due to his achievements within one year in office.

Chief Umeh said this when he led other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to the state on a solidarity visit to the governor in Owerri, Imo State.

Umeh stressed, “We are indeed very delighted that Imo is presently being transformed by an APGA-led government.

What Governor Okorocha has done so far has made our party great and Nigerians are watching with astonishment the pace at which the state is being transformed. This is a very wonderful moment for our great party and our joy is that we struggled with Imo people to defend Governor Okorocha’s mandate and remained steadfast with him during the court cases until he finally won the battle at the Supreme Court. Today, his emergence as governor under APGA is a blessing to Imo people” The APGA chairman further assured Okorocha of the party’s unflinching support in his determined efforts to transform the state into the envy for all.

Responding, Okorocha expressed gratitude to the national leadership of APGA for providing its platform through which he actualised his gubernatorial ambition when it became obvious that hisformer party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not give him its ticket.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3 , 2012

Healthy body, an asset to a nation – Aregbesola

T

HE Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has observed that the nation could discover solution to its backwardness in technology if the people embrace physical fitness as part of their daily life activities.

The governor stated this at the Obafemi Awolowo University Sports Center, IleIfe during this month’s regular Walk- to-Live fitness exercise; the fifth in its series.

Aregbesola also disclosed that a law will soon be introduced to make physical education compulsory in the curriculum of schools, from elementary to tertiary institutions in the State of Osun.

He stated that the government has already introduced regular exercise into the syllabus of elementary, middle and higher schools respectedly across the state.

The governor lamented that, “Life expectancy in the country is less than 50 years.

The harsh economic condition in the land is a crucial factor responsible for this.

We must, however, hasten to add that lack of regular physical exercise also contributed to this low life expectancy ratio.”

He equally expressed happiness for the warm embrace the programme received from the people of Ife, assuring them that government would not depart from its commitment of diligent service.

Among dignitaries who joined the governor, his deputy, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori and the entire executive members of the state government, at this month’s exercise, were elder statesman, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), Senators Ajayi Borofice and Babajide Omoworare; Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Bamitale Omole, former Nigerian Bar Association President (NBA), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and Dr. Olu Agunloye.

Others included Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, former Super Eagles Coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde; former Secretary General of the Nigerian Football Association, former Green Eagles international, Felix Owolabi and artistes from the nation’s movie industry, Nollywood.

A

7

CNPP lauds Declare Abiola winner of 1993 Ajimobi on elections - Afenifere tells Jonathan achievements •Commends President for honouring MKO A T From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

FENIFERE Renewal Group, a Yoruba socio-political and economic organisation, has described Federal Government’s decision to immortalise Chief M. K. O. Abiola, as “a needful act,” pointing out, however, that “now it is about to be done belatedly, it should be done rightly.”

The group also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the decision. “That President Goodluck Jonathan has chosen to revisit the issue against all odds and misadvise by Generals Obasanjo and Babangida not to acknowledge the contributions of MKO to the democratic evolution of this country is indeed a welcome development, which must be acknowledged,” the group said.

In a statement signed by Kunle Famoriyo, the publicity secretary of ARG, the group listed three ways the late MKO could be honoured. Besides declaring him as the winner of the 1999 June 12 Presidential election and according his memory the right of presidents, the group wants the federal government to declare June 12 as the Democ-

By Sam Egburonu

racy Day and a public holiday.

Noting Abiola’s contributions to sports develop-

ment, the group also advised the government to name the National Stadium, Abuja, after the late pillar of sports.

It would be recalled that

T

HE leaders of Amaba and Ovim communities in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State have called on their people to stop the habit of using the name of their son, General Azubuike Ihejirika, the Chief of Army Staff [COAS], to cause trouble in the area.

Speaking with The Nation at two different locations, the President-Generals of both communities, Dr Ezeagwula Madukwe for Amaba and Okechi Ndukwe for Ovim, decried the rate the people from the area currently use the name of the Chief of Army Staff to cause trouble.

The Nation recalled that

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ficer in the Ondo State Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Services, has volunteered to donate a kidney to his ailing daughter should money be raised for the treatment abroad or elsewhere.

Speaking with The Nation in Akure, Adeteye said “the disease started a year ago when my daughter complained of general weakness in her body. I took her to clinic for treatment, but the illness refused to go. Thereafter, I took her to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo local government where she was diagnosed of chronic kidney disease.

Jonathan recently re-named the University of Lagos, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, a development that attracted criticisms by some leaders.

•From left: French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, and European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr David Macrae, at the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the French Development Agency in Abuja, at the weekend

Leaders warn errant youths against dropping COAS’ name

Student needs N6 million to treat kidney ailment SIXTEEN year-old student of Ijo Mimo Oluwa High School, Ijoka area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, Miss Mayowa Adeteye, is in dire need of N6million to obtain a comprehensive treatment to battle a kidney disease.

Adeteye is currently on admission at the Obafemi Awolowo University [OAU] Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife, Osun State, after she was diagnosed of chronic kidney disease.

Adeteye, a Senior Secondary School [SSS 1] student appealed to the federal and state governments to save her from untimely death.

Her father, Mr. Olusoji Adeteye, who is a clerical of-

News

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

about two weeks ago, some youths had gone to a popular market known as Ogwumabiri, very close to the railway line in Isuikwuato, to demolish the market and when confronted, they allegedly said that their action was blessed by their son, the COAS. Madukwe said the problem of who owns the land where the market is situated had been on since 1951 when the railway line was built in the place and named the Ovim Railway Station, instead of Amaba.

The President General of Amaba Union said this was protested by his community and the railway management decided to change the name of the station to Ovim-Amaba for peace to reign. He pointed out that the land was theirs, including the land housing the Girls Model Secondary School in the area known as Mission Hill.

He complained that after the war, the people of Amaba had been building their houses around there, “but the people of Ovim decided to demolish all the 13 houses built there, saying that they had the backing of the law to demolish them.”

Madukwe said when the youths of Ovim came to demolish the market, two weeks ago, the police and the SSS came to stop them, but could not as they stood by and watched while the dastardly act was going on, “because there was this allegation that they had the understanding of their

son, the COAS”.

He said, “We know that despite anything, our son is a gentle man and an officer and could not get himself involved in communal clash and will not order the youths of any community in Isuikwuato to demolish a village market, so people should stop tarnishing his name.”

In his own speech, the President General of Ovim Union, Ndukwe, said that the land where the market is situated belongs to the people of Ovim, stressing that the people of Amaba came to them and asked them to allow them to settle many years ago.

Ndukwe added that there was no time anybody alleged that the COAS, who hails from Ovim backed them to demolish the market, adding that the market belongs to them and the union has decided to rebuild it into a modern market.

However, the two President Generals acknowledged the presence of militarymen on the day there was near mayhem at Isuikwuato and commended them for the matured way they handled the situation which made it possible for lives to be preserved.

When contacted, the Commanding Officer of 14 Brigade Ohafia, General Abubakar, said that the military came to the community to ensure peace reigns in that area, stressing that the military is in the state to maintain peace and that they will stop at nothing to achieve that.

HE Conference of Political Parties (CNPP) in Oyo State yesterday showered encomiums on the Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for his achievements in office in the last one year.

The group, led by its chairman,. Alhaji Yinka Olona, told reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, that Ajimobi has performed creditably well in the last one year that he took over leadership as governor.

Olona, who was supported by several members of the group, listed Ajimobi’s achievements to include massive road rehabilitation and reconstruction of bridges, enthronement of peace, beautification of cities, introduction of environmental sanitation, employment of youths and construction of overhead bridges.

It called on stakeholders to join hands with the governor in his efforts to move the state higher.

The CNPP, however, called on the governor to incorporate members of other political parties in the administration of the local governments in the state pending the next council elections.

Online Special www.thenationonlineng.net

Nigeria’s ‘name-branded’ universities

•Awo

•Bello

•Azikwe

21 Universities in the country, Eight (Federal), Eight (States) and Five (Private) are named after distinguished Nigerians. Read about the universities, the personalities and why the institutions were named after them.

‘My wish for Nigeria’

•Sheila

I think greed is the most deadly and basis of our leadership problem in Nigeria - Sheila, Solarin’s widow

10 Tweets Paraphrasing Tolstoy - “Happy countries are all alike; every unhappy country is unhappy in its own way” - GEJ has made us one unhappy place!-Nasir ElRufai@elrufai More by Oprah Winfrey, Reuben Abati, Ayo Obe, Majek Fashek and others

News Up date by the minutes www.thenationonlineng.net Follow us on Twitter: @TheNationNews Like us on facebook: The-Nation-Newspaper

8

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

News

NGO donates desks, chairs to school From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

A

Non Governmental Organisation, Arise Nibo, has handed over 250 desks and chairs to Ezeike High School, Nibo as part of its contribution to engineer interest in education among youths in the community.

President of Arise Nibo , Nkiruka Uyanwune, while handing over the desks and chairs to the Principal of the school, Comrade Mike Okoye, said her organisation would not relent in bringing succour to the community secondary school.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) in Nigeria through the Australian High Commission in Abuja, in partnership with Arise Nibo, recently renovated a five class room block in the school and handed them over to the community.

Miss Uyanwune, who was represented by Mr. Chekwube Uyanwune, said, ‘’As we continue to make sure that the labour of our heroes who built this institution is not in vain, Arise Nibo will continue in her service to our community and by the grace of God will invite you to witness another renovation project courtesy of the Australian Government or other donor agencies.”

The principal of the school, Comrade Mike Okoye, commended the NGO. The Vice Principal of the School, Mr Ekwunife Thank God, also recalled that Arise Nibo had on 13th of November 2010, renovated a building in the school in partnership with the Australian government before this present donation of chairs and desks which has increased the population of the students of the school tremendously.

Nigeria is a low income country –Don A

university don, Prof.

Aderanti Adepoju, has said that Nigeria remains a squarely low income country based on the three groups indicators generally used to define the development status of countries.

Delivering an annual lecture in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Obafemi Awolowo University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, he listed the United Nations Classification, the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index and the World Bank’s Development

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Status as the three group indicators.

Adepoju, a Professor of Economics, lamented that Nigeria’s political leaders have continued to promote the slogan that the country by 2020 will become a member of the world’s 20 advanced economies while South Africa is forging ahead.

“Nigeria has remained a country rich in resources while its people wallow in deprivation and poverty.

Although it has opened its market and devalued its national currency in the hope

of sharing in the global economy, the reality is, however, a disappointing result as the infrastructural deficit constrains sustainable development. Over the past decade, popular participation is gradually taking a firm root after decades of devastating mismanagement, corruption and abuse of human rights,” he said.

Adepoju, who said the old economic order is fast changing, predicted that, sooner or later, China, the world’s second largest economy, will overtake the United States of America, declaring that China and India

before the end of this century are projected to account for around thirty percent of the world’s GDP. In his lecture titled, “Ensuring Coherence Between the 3Ds – Development, Demography and Democracy – in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects, he said “the transformation of market processes, the shift of consumer demand from the old matured economies to emerging market’s ‘exploding’ middle class, along with outsourcing and off-shoring and the movement of labour are already challenging our imaginations.”

R

E N O W N E D industrialist and proprietor of Rojenny Tourists/Games Village, Oba, Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has identified lack of skill acquisition education as the major cause of youth restiveness in the country.

He said without establishment of skills acquisition education, the ongoing campaign by the government for the creation of employment opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths, aimed at reducing the current high rate of unemployment in the country, might not be feasible.

Ezeonwuka, who is also the Ogirishi Igbo, therefore suggested that government should inculcate skill acquisition mechanism, sports promotion, cultural exhibitions and festivals into our educational system so that most of our unemployed youths could acquire certain skills and be able to employ themselves and others.

He identified lack of guidance and mentoring of young people as the root cause of restiveness, pointing out that youths should be given social amenities and programmes that can occupy their minds as part of the solutions to the problem.

T

HE Rotary International District 9110 is to hold its 30th annual conference in Abeokuta from June 6-9.

It is to be declared open by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on June 7 at 10am , while Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon and Chief Fola Adeola are to give the keynote addresses.

Also the District 9110 Governor, Rotary International, Kennedy Ejakpomehwe, has warned that a society that cannot provide adequately for her citizens cannot guarantee the safety of the rich, the wealthy or the privileged.

Council seeks better governance

T

HE World Christian Council Association has called on political leaders to ensure that the citizens enjoy the dividends of democracy.

In a statement by Ayoola Omonigbeyin, the council called on all those in corridors of power to ensure they rule justly. It said the country’s 13th year under democratic rule has not given enough room for development because political leaders are not justifying the confidence the electorate reposed in them.

The council calls for a change of heart and better governance.

Community leader petitions IG Tunde Busari

T

Industrialist blames lack of skills acquisition on youths’ restiveness Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

Rotary holds conference

•Acting Pro-Chancellor, Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) Alhaji Bukar Gan (second left) presenting a honourary doctorate degree certificate to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the 16th /17th convocation of the institution in Yola, yesterday.

Photo by NAN

US anti-narcotic agency signs MOU with NDLEA on drug control

T

HE United States Drug E n f o r c e m e n t Administration (USDEA) has entered into an agreement with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in combating drug crimes.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed at the weekend by both parties at the Lagos NDLEA headquarters, both countries pledged to be more aggressive in their attacks on drug barons.

Key areas of the agreement include exchange of intelligence, training, sharing of expertise and joint investigation aimed at dismantling drug trafficking syndicates.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who signed on behalf of Nigeria, expressed optimism on the benefits of the new partnership.

He stated: “This

Tunde Busari

agreement is another landmark achievement in our fight to eradicate narcotics from the society. I am happy that this notion to foster our relationship with the USDEA has finally come to fruition.

“In 2006, Nigeria recorded

14,200kg of cocaine at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos. The seizure was rated the largest cocaine seizure in Africa and fifth largest in the world. Since then, there have been series of large seizures of narcotics by the NDLEA at the seaports.”

USDEA Regional Director

in charge of Europe and Africa, Mr. Russel Benson, signed for the USDEA. He stressed the United States Government’s commitment to the war on narcotics and promised to work hard on the terms of the memorandum of understanding.

advertorial in the edition of Tuesday, May 29, 2012, the offensive material reappeared in the Thursday, May 31, 2012 editions of National Mirror (Page 45) and of THISDAY (Page 36E) newspapers.

A release from the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategysigned by Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, denied” any knowledge of, or association with the said advertorial and condemned if outrightly “its malicious, defamatory and

damaging contents as well as the forgery in using the name and purported signature of the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor.”

While the state demands a retraction of the criminal publication, they also warn that any further use of the advertorial, either whole or in part, by any media house, will attract legal action against such media house, and also urged the media to be mindful of materials placed with them for publication, even as advertorials, as ignorance is no excuse in law.

Lagos condemns state crest forgery

L

AGOS State Government has raised alarm over the criminal usage of the state’s crest in a defamatory advertorial on an alleged meeting of an ACN – CPC Coalition.

The advertorial which implied that the meeting was purportedly attended by several notable personalities in Lagos was first published in the Leadership Newspaper, on Page 52 of its Monday, May 28, 2012, edition.

Although the newspaper apologised and published a retraction of the criminal

HE Baale of Ijako community in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Joshua Oderinde has sent a petition to the acting Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, over what he called disobedience to court, destruction of property and threat to life of his subjects by some hoodlums.

Oderinde, in the petition, dated May 12, 2012, stated that an Ilaro High Court had confirmed his community as the rightful owner of the said property situated along LagosAbeokuta Expressway. He then wondered why the same property could be a subject of attack.

According to the petition, signed by J. T. Ogunniyi of Aribidesi Chambers, “our clients got possession of the land after the last judgement was delivered in October, 2011 and fence was erected round the land and our clients are in possession of same without let or hindrance.”

The Baale said the matter had since been reported to the Sango-Ota Divisional Police Headquarters and the Ogun State Command Headquarters at Eleweeran, Abeokuta respectively. He, however, expressed his disappointment in the alleged indifferent attitude put up by the police, hence his resort to petitioning the IG. “It is on this note that we call on your able command to help save the life of our client and by ensuring the said thugs and hoodlums are perpetually caged,” the petition stated.

NEWS REVIEW

9

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Flood takes toll on Anambra community The advent of rain should come with joy, but in the Ogbaru community in Anambra State, it is not so. Okodili Ndidi, who recently visited the community reports

F

OR residents of Odekpe, a riverine community in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State; the coming of the rains, heralds danger, hardship and death.

It is usually a season that they fear and dread because of the dangers that come with it. The reason for their fear is because each year the entire Odekpe community is partially submerged in flood, which often results in loss of lives and millions of naira worth of properties. Last year about seven school children were reported dead while many houses were washed away by the ravaging flood.

Odekpe, a sprawling community few kilometres away from the commercial city of Onitsha, has been under siege since the blockage of a major water channel in the area by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), while erecting high tension towers some years ago.

In search of refuge Now it has become an annual ritual for the residents to flee their homes at the earliest signs of the rain to avoid the flood, which resumes its annual havoc from May till December and those that cannot afford alternative accommodations, are left to contend with the force of nature and often had gory tales to tell if they are lucky to survive the onslaught.

Although the state government has commenced the opening up of drainages around Onitsha and its environs, the measures are still a far cry from what is needed to resist the flood which is growing

unabated daily.

Last year, a family of four were killed by the flood and this prompted the community to send a petition to the government over the plight of the community.

However, neither the PHCN nor the Power Ministry had responded or sent a delegation on a fact finding mission to the area with a view of ending the sufferings of the people, which was allegedly caused by the recklessness of the PHCN. Narrating their ordeal after conducting journalists round some of the flooded areas, one of the residents Sir Peter Okala, lamented that most houses in the area have been totally submerged in the flood which has been growing unabated, stressing that the only solution is to reopen the water channel earlier blocked by the PHCN. The visibly troubled Okala, disclosed that in order to access their homes, residents had to construct make-shift wooden path ways, which he said has led to the death of about seven school children who slipped off and got drowned.

Invasion by snakes According to him, the residents have been having horrifying experiences as snakes especially pythons have attacked some of the hapless victims, stating that the huge snakes even invade their poultry farms and devour their birds.

He said, “At night we can hardly sleep as we keep vigil to ensure that the snakes do not attack us while in bed. There was an incident when an elderly woman was nearly strangled by a snake if

not for the help of passersby who came to her rescue and killed the snake, it is that bad”.

One of the victims who own a poultry farm, Okechukwu Macbeth, narrated that he had lost nearly all his birds to the reptiles, saying that at night he and some members of his family, armed with machete, take turn to guide the birds, disclosing that they have killed some of the snakes in the process.

Another member of the group, Lucky Owuama, noted that despite

the hard times the community is going through as a result of the blockage of the water channel by PHCN, the residents still grapple with the problem of total blackout, load shedding and random billing, stressing that at the end of every month they were forced to pay between N5, 000 and N6, 000 to PHCN officials.

“We have embarked on peaceful demonstration to bring PHCN to look into our plight especially the issue of the water channel and random billing but all we have got were empty promises. Now we are appealing to the federal government and illustrious sons of Ogbaru to come to our aid before we are completely washed away by the raging flood. The authority

should prevail on the PHCN to reopen the blocked water channel to avoid an epidemic and other disasters”, he said.

Apparently in what appeared to be a response to the plight of the people, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Victor Afam Ogene, recently embarked on a repair of some of the roads that were washed away by the flood last year.

The lawmaker through his constituency office had sand filled over ten roads in the area, with a promise to liaise with the relevant authorities to ensure that the menace is checked before the rainy season.

Although the gesture was applauded by the residents as a step towards solving their problems but the coming of the rain had shown that the measure was a mere scratch on the surface, compared to the volume of work to be done to save Odekpe community from going under.

Incidentally, the Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Chinwe Nwaebili, and Ogene, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency among other prominent people are from Ogbaru and consequently, the residents are looking up to them to assist in reversing the ugly trend.

According to one of the residents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “we are leaving in fear as we await the rains, we don’t know what is going to be our fate this year and the rains have started rather too early and that means that we are in for a serious trouble but we hope that our people in government will come to our aid”.

According to the source, one of the major challenges is how to avoid a repeat of last year’s calamity where over eleven innocent school children were drowned on their way to school when they accidentally slipped off a wooden walkway and fell into the flood.

In the meantime, the community is waiting for assistance from the government and hoping that PHCN will heed their appeal to open the blocked channel.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

News Review

10

Abuja muscle-flexing and another bo Constitutional amendment: House seeks new federal structure

T

HE House of Representatives is seeking a full devolution of power from the Federal Government to the states and the local governments in the proposed amendment to the Constitution. The House ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review, at a four-day retreat on the review of the constitution in Port Harcourt, also agreed on the need to: reform the third tier of government wh a view to making it autonomous, efficient and viable; re-examine the provisions on immunity; and redefine national security to include protection of fundamental rights and reform of the police.

Special courts to try corruption cases coming, says CJN

C

HIEF Justice (CJN) Dahiru Musdapher, announced on Monday, plan to assign high profile corruption cases exclusively to some Federal High Court judges with a view to fast tracking such trials. Justice Musdapher, speaking at the swearing in of 12 new judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja said such cases would be devoid of adjournments. He said as part of the reforms of the judiciary, the process for the appointment of judges in future “will be more rigorous and may include tests and interviews in order to choose the most suitable.”

Uproar as Jonathan renames UNILAG after MKO

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan renamed the University of Lagos after the late politician Chief M.K.O. Abiola on Tuesday. It was to honour the man who lost his life in the course of reclaiming his victory in the 1993 presidential election. Students of the institution rejected the new name and embarked on a protest. The authorities of the university sent the students home for two weeks to calm frayed nerves .The government said there was no going back on its decision.

Subsidy: ‘Only verified marketers’ claims will be paid’

T

HE Federal Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday that only oil marketers whose fuel import claims are verified will be paid. The ministry said in a statement that it has responsibility to ensure that subsidy payments are made in a prudent and transparent manner. It added that N4451 billion of the N888billion earmarked in this year’s budget for subsidy payment has already been spent on arrears for last year and vowed it “will not be stampeded into making hasty payments on deliveries that have not been substantiated or verified.”

German hostage killed in Kano rescue operation

A

GERMAN man held hostage in Kano by suspected terrorists was killed in a military operation to rescue him on Thursday.

Edgar Fritz Raupach was kidnapped in the city in January. A group claiming to be al Qaeda’s North Africa wing said in March it was holding him and demanded the release of a Muslim woman imprisoned in Germany in exchange for freeing him. Some of the kidnappers also died in the botched rescue operation.

JAILED

THE NOMINEE Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, greets supporters at a campaign rally in Colorado on Tuesday after garnering the 1,144 delegates required to secure the nomination of his party to face President Barack Obama in November.

Court dismisses suit against Salami’s reinstatement

A

SUIT seeking to stop the reinstatement of Justice Ayo Salami as President, Court of Appeal was dismissed on Wednesday by a Federal High Court, Abuja, for lacking in merit.

Justice Abdul Kafarati, ruling on the suit said the plaintiff, Noah Ajare, has no locus standi to initiate the action and described him as a busybody. “The issue of reinstatement of Justice Salami can be decided without the presence of the plaintiff. To me, the plaintiff has no work to do; he has no work to do,” Justice Kafarati said of the plaintiff.

ANOTHER BOTCHED RESCUE

Kidnapped German killed in JTF rescue bid

A

Charles Taylor FORMER Liberian warlord-turned president, Charles Taylor, for 50 years, by the UN-backed war crimes court in The Hague, for aiding and abetting rebels in Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war.

GERMAN Engineer, Edgar Fritz Raupach, who has been held hostage by gunmen since January 26 was killed by his captors Friday when security forces stormed their hideout, a bungalow apartment located at Danbare surburb, along Gwarzo highway, in Kano. Sources said that members of the security forces who conducted a raid on the building were unaware that the German was being held there but attacked the building based on intelligence report that sect members were hiding there.

The German’s death came on the heel of a s i m i l a r incident on March 8th in Sokoto when a Briton and two Italians died in a failed rescue attempt by s e c u r i t y forces.

Jonathan, NASS over budgets, bills

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and the two arms of the National Assembly are locked in a war of words after the President and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives publicly disagreed over the President’s failure to assent to bills passed by the NASS. While Tambuwal said several bills which should have made life

SACKED

Obi drops commissioners

C

OMMISSION ERS in Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s administration, were on Thursday relieved of duty and asked to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries and staff of the ministries amidst wailing. The governor instructed the commissioners to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries latest by Thursday and vacate their offices. They are to go alongside Special Advisers and Personal Assistants. They had earlier been given severance packages. The new list of would-be commissioners has been sent to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

The commissioners received about N4 million each as their severance package. Five of them are expected to return to their former ministries.

in b

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

News Review

er botched hostage rescue

ASS bills

Five dead as fire rages on LagosIbadan Expressway

M

OTORISTS had another nasty experience Thursday on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Many were trapped in a terrible traffic jam, which followed an all-night fire sparked by a tanker that spilled its 33,000 litres of petrol on the road.

Five persons were feared dead.

Ten vehicles, including three tankers, were burnt in the fire, which was still smouldering in the afternoon. The incident occured at Danko village near Ogere-Remo.

The inferno halted traffic on the nation’s foremost highway for more than 10 hours. Many people travelling to Ibadan from Lagos aborted their trip.

Those who died were burnt, according to eyewitnesses. But the police said only one person died.

Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said: “The accident occurred at about 1am on Thursday. A driver of a tanker fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was trying to maneouvre his way through two vehicles on the expressway. His tanker fell and the product spilled on the road. In the course of this spill, a fire broke out and the entire area was engulfed by fire.”

in blame game

easier for the generality of Nigerians were spurned by the executive, the president said the national legislators have formed the habit of tearing budgets prepared by the executive into pieces and have little or no respect for the doctrine of separation of powers.

Deputy Senate President fired back at the Executive saying it should “dialogue with the legislature in matter like this and find a common ground, instead of shifting blames because the making of laws is dynamic.”

THE WEEK IN QUOTES “Leaders are interested in their own; no national identity. We are a blood thirsty and blood-letting society with no regard for sanctity of life. Nigeria is at war against itself. Selfish politicians are doing all things on the basis of political exigency.”

—Most Reverend Peter Akinola, retired Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on democracy in the country.

“This country is too complicated, too large with so many tribes, traditions and cultures, to be governed under this present arrangement. Our founding fathers realised these problems and this is the reason they deliberately fashioned a constitution which allowed each section of the country to develop at its own rate. That constitution was abolished by the military and they brought a constitution which concentrated powers on the centre.”

—Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) on the leadership question.

· “We must not allow preoccupation with the 2015 elections to confirm the view that our politicians are only interested in selfaggrandisement, with the result that our national politics is bereft of active ideas on how to uplift the country and improve the quality of life of our citizens.”

—Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary General on the present focus on the 2015 elections.

Lagos recalls sacked doctors

L

AGOS State governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday recalled the 788 doctors sacked by his administration for proceeding on strike. The sack notice was served on the affected doctors on May 4, 2012. The resolution to recall the sacked doctors was the outcome of a closed door meeting between Fashola and the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the former governor said, “I have been meeting with the governor and the news is that I have brought the appeal of the leadership of the party and well-meaning Nigerians and other organisations who are committed to the welfare of our people for him to be more flexible, for him to really look at the issue of the doctors on strike critically and I can announce to you that he has agreed to suspend the question of the dismissal of those doctors.

NOVELTY

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Friday commissioned the first ever locally constructed warship in the country, even as he reinstated his adminstration’s commitment to improving local content.

Jonathan, who noted that it is impossible to transform the nation without technological revolution, further performed the keel-laying for the commencement of the second locally constructed warship that is expected to be completed in 18-months. This landmark 31-metre Nigerian Navy Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) was conceived as a research and development project by Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye and Rear Admiral GJ Jonah who were then Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Naval Engineering respectively. The keel was laid in 2007, while full construction commenced in January 2008 by the both serving and retired naval engineers.

•Akinola

•Anyaoku

FAREWELL

Jonathan commissions first indigenous Defence boat

P

11

UNILAG VC Sofoluwe buried

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG), which has been renamed Moshood Abiola University, stood still Thursday as its 10th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, was buried at the Ikoyi Cemetery amid encomiums.

The remains of the professor of Computer Science were on display at the university’s Sports Centre for the university community to pay their last respects. Sofoluwe died of heart attack on May 12.

He was 62.

Some of the workers and students wept profusely as they bade to their former Vice-Chancellor, who was dressed in his academic gown, a final farewell. A funeral service was held at All Saints’ Chuch, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, where family members, friends and guests prayed for the repose of his soul.

•Babalola

OBAMA’S BLUNDER

Presidential gaffe angers Poles

P

RESIDENT Barack Obama has caused an outcry in Poland after referring to a Nazi death camp as “Polish”. He made the remark at a ceremony in which he posthumously awarded Polish resistance fighter Jan Karski with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The White House says Mr Obama “misspoke” and regrets the comment but prominent Poles want an apology. Poles suffered a brutal Nazi wartime occupation and reject any suggestion of responsibility for Nazi crimes. Poles are particularly sensitive to comments linking their country to the Holocaust.

For years, they have objected to any description of Nazi German death camps as “Polish” because it can indicate involvement in the mass murder of millions of European Jews in camps built on their land.

12

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

News Review

Boko Haram: Spreading I fear far and wide N brutally poor neighborhoods and mansions alike, this city choked by military checkpoints seethes with rumors, paranoia and conspiracy theories. Even academics like to assert a favorite: The homegrown Islamic extremist movement that is terrorizing northern Nigeria is a CIA creation.

Others are convinced that the extremist group known as Boko Haram is a plot by the southern-led Nigerian government to create an eternal crisis in the north.

How else to explain Boko Haram’s transformation from a group of bearded radicals stashing homemade weapons to an organization that has half the country on military alert and U.S. lawmakers warning of threats to American interests?

But outsiders have a more chilling explanation: The group has capitalized on ties to a neighboring Al Qaeda offshoot and access to large amounts of explosives, ammunition and weapons, some of which may be flowing out of Libya since the fall of Moammar Kadafi’s regime.

That has not only made the group a danger to the Nigerian government, which appears uncertain how to deal with an increasingly bloody insurgency here in the mostly Muslim north, but has also raised the specter of a broader holy war.

A U.S. House subcommittee on counter-terrorism and intelligence concluded in November that Boko Haram could pose a growing threat to U.S. interests and called on the State Department to consider designating it a terrorist organization. A January report to the United Nations Security Council said members of the group received training from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb last year in Mali.

Since the beginning of 2011, Boko Haram has killed more than 1,000 people in a Taliban-style campaign to topple the government and impose sharia, Islamic law, across Africa’s most populous country. The escalating series of suicide car bombings and coordinated assaults has rattled the capital, Abuja, central Nigeria and even the predominantly Christian south.

In August, it attacked the Abuja headquarters of the U.N., described by a Boko Haram spokesman as a “forum of all global evil,” killing 25 people.The U.S. Embassyin Nigeria warned last month that Boko Haram might carry out attacks on major Abuja hotels, echoing a similar warning late last year. It has prohibited staff members from visiting northern Nigeria.

The group, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” also recently warned all Christians to leave northern Nigeria, prompting many to pack up and head south, an ominous development in a country already riven by horrific religious and ethnic violence.

The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, flanked by four masked and armed men, warned in an Al Qaeda-style video last month that the group would “devour” Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan

Boko Haram has struck targets in Nigeria, and now U.S. lawmakers are worried too. But many people in its hometown say it’s not the real enemy. Robyn Dixon reports.

• Boko Haram attacked a school in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, on May 12, leaving burned-out classrooms and piles of debris.

Photo:AFP

•Hooded sect members pose under the group’s banner.

and his government, rebuffing Jonathan’s earlier claim that the insurgency would be crushed by midyear.

“We are proud soldiers of Allah. We will never give up as we fight the infidels. We will emerge as winners,” Shekau said. “We will finish you and end your government.”

Boko Haram radically changed its tactics and ideology after mid-2010 when a leader of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said in an interview that his group would give the militants weapons and training, analyst J. Peter Pham contended in a paper last month for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington.

Boko Haram was once obsessed only with its fight against the Nigerian government, but its rhetoric is increasingly focused on international

enemies.

The first outward sign of its transformation came in June.

The group, known for driveby assassinations and attacks on police and army outposts, launched Nigeria’s first suicide bombing, against the police headquarters in Abuja, followed two months later by the suicide bombing of the U.N. headquarters there.

Complicating the problem is corruption in Nigeria’s security forces, which has seen Boko Haram suspects “escape” from police custody more than once.

Jonathan said in January that the extremists had infiltrated the government and security agencies.

“Some of them are in the executive arm of government, some are in the parliamentary arm of government, while some of them are even in the judiciary. Some are also in the armed forces, the police and

other security agencies,” he said.

He said in a recent interview that that there was “no doubt” that Boko Haram had links with Islamic extremist groups in Africa.

In Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s birthplace and main base, the group is so powerful and its support so extensive that no part of society is untouched.

“These people, Boko Haram, are people from this town,” said Mohammad Kaigama of the city’s motorcycle taxi association. “They are there in any part of society.

Whatever group that you know, they are in it. I don’t know if some of them are my members.”

In the city, a handsome student sat on a mat in the small courtyard of his home, a thin cat wandering nearby. He spoke perfect English and had

a dazzling smile to match his big ambition to go to college.

A few years ago, it was a different story when, to his mother’s despair, he dropped out of school and joined Boko Haram.

In desperation, she sent him to stay with an uncle, who said it took months of persuasion before he could break the group’s hold on his nephew. He declined to give his name, fearing reprisal.

At a meeting with a reporter, before the 20-year-old could begin his story of the group, his mother bustled in, angry and frightened, and brought the visit to an abrupt end.

The theory about Boko Haram being a CIA creation is popular here in a town where the United States is deeply disliked.

The House subcommittee and security analysts have

urged greater American support for Nigeria’s government forces, which critics say have overplayed the threat in the hope of U.S. funding. But given the toxic atmosphere in Boko Haram’s hometown, increased U.S. support for Nigeria’s hated security forces risks backfiring, potentially fueling support for the group, or turning its attention to American targets.

Militants could strike at the United States through Nigeria because of its strategic importance as a major supplier of oil to the U.S. It also has direct flights to America, raising the specter of attacks like the one by a Nigerian who wore underwear with concealed explosives and tried to detonate them on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.

That plot, by an Islamic militant not linked to Boko Haram, failed.

Most everyone in Maiduguri has a story of random reprisal killings by Nigerian security forces, who tend to open fire on civilians after Boko Haram attacks and who have been strongly criticized by Human Rights Watch andAmnesty International for killings of civilians and prisoners.

That has fueled talk that the government created Boko Haram to dominate the north politically and deprive it of resources.

As wild as the theories sound, they underscore the sense of northern alienation, borne out in statistics. The south gets a greater share of oil revenue as part of a 2009 deal to appease southern rebels in the oil-rich Niger Delta, but the formula imposes increasing inequity on the north. In the north, 72% live in poverty, compared with 27% in the south and 35% in the Niger Delta.

A 35-year-old textile trader, giving his name only as Mohammad, once belonged to Boko Haram. A pious man who made constant references to God, he still admires the sect and often associates with its members.

“I know that their teachings are right, and I still have that belief. What they’re saying is the right thing,” he said quietly, looking straight ahead, not making eye contact.

He said the government triggered the Boko Haram rebellion “due to their insincerity and carelessness toward the masses.”

“They oppress people, and it’s due to their oppression that we are in this situation.” So he doesn’t mourn when he hears of police and military casualties.

“When they attack security forces, I’m happy about that, because the security forces killed my brother, my friend, my friend’s wife and some of my wife’s sisters.”

There’s little consensus across Nigeria on how to tackle Boko Haram. The south favors tough military action, but the north calls for a negotiated peace deal.

President Jonathan’s approach has been confusing, at first holding secret talks, which collapsed, then vowing to wipe out the group.

“The government thinks they will defeat them in the near future,” Mohammad said. “It’s a total mistake.”

Courtesy: Los Angeles Times

COMMENT and ANALYSIS

13

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Freedom is not for sissies T

HE varied reactions to the The Spear

by Brett Murray will no doubt go down in the annals of history as one of the many important events that shaped our collective consciousness. This episode has among others highlighted the dichotomy that exists between the constitutionally enshrined rights of freedom of expression and human dignity. It has allowed us to once again engage in robust discussion about how we balance and give practical expression to the lofty ideals of freedom, constitutionality, morality and, yes, political interests. This is both the burden and responsibility of freedom. It is not for sissies.

The artistic depiction of important figures in the nude or in sexually explicit positions is not a new phenomenon. It has been around for as long as human beings have been engaged in the activity of artistic expression. Evidence of this abounds in the Ancient hieroglyphs of Egypt, Kush and Monamotapa, great African civilisations of old. The phallic symbol depicted in the design of the pyramids and obelisks, the iconic carrying of a stick or “kierie” by African men even in contemporary African societies is yet another openly displayed phallic symbol of virility and power.

Male virility is held in high esteem and strongly encouraged and flaunted in African societies. I say this because there is a disturbing and disingenuous narrative by the “song and dance brigade” suggesting that the open artistic expression of nudity is somehow “un-African” and foreign to African culture, whatever that means. This is not true. In fact, Africans have always admired and celebrated the naked human form and its sexuality and continue to do so.

You only have to go to KwaZulu-Natal or Swaziland or even Venda to witness the celebration of Umkhosi Womhlanga (the Spring-reed festival In Kwazulu and Swaziland) or Domba (the coming of age of young maidens in Venda) to see that nudity is nothing strange or shameful amongst Africans.

The concept of the beauty and celebration of the naked human form and its sexuality is one of Africa’s exports to Europe and the rest of the world. This is evidenced by the depiction of even their deities in the nude because such was the reverence attached to the naked human form before the advent of conservative Calvinist missionary Christian values.

We must therefore attempt to understand the reasons for the emergence of this interesting narrative within the current debate about The Spear.

There is no doubt that the depiction of President Jacob Zuma in a revolutionary Leninist pose with caricatured exposed genitals is designed to create controversy.

Controversy is usually courted by those who wish to say something about the status quo in any given scenario. It is meant to stimulate thought and create discussion about issues which affect society at a particular point. This, presumably, was Murray’s intention when he conceived of this portrait. A perfectly normal artistic motivation, under normal circumstances.

But South Africa is not normal in the sense that we are still in the process of understanding how we give practical expression to our constitutionally guaranteed rights within a context, which is still so heavily charged with unresolved issues of economic inequality, historical racial polarisation and current government ineptitude and corruption. It is a particularly flammable situation that calls for caution and wisdom.

Yet it is precisely within this potentially explosive context that our well-stipulated Constitution must be tested. It is precisely when we are unmasked and our true natures are exposed that we can foster an authentic understanding of the application of these rights. It is under these very abnor-

Lekan Otufodunrin

A controversial nude painting of South African President Otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net Jacob Zuma has divided the country for several weeks. The 08023000621 (SMS only) issue is not culture or race, for African art celebrates nuAdieu, Lady Campus dity. The issue is politics and power

I

•The Spear - the controversial painting by Brett Murray

By Aubrey Masango

mal conditions that our abnormality must be highlighted and pointed out to us so that we may know our weaknesses, so that we can fix things. Until then the Constitution is nothing but a painted fire unable to give us warmth when it counts.

It must be made clear that the outrage is less about a painting and race, in and of itself, than it is about political commentary which will make those against whom it is directed respond in a - dare I say it? - proportional manner.

This painting is a comment about Jacob Zuma and his questionable morality, but it is also about his leadership, his politics and by implication also about those who follow and support him.

These connections cannot be divorced in the minds of those who regard this as an attack on the symbol of their collective solidarity.

You may wonder how I come to the conclusion that the anger displayed is proportional to the mere artistic expression of a lowly painter. Well, satirical artistic expression is a very sophisticated form of communication. Its subtle and multi-layered messages are meant to speak to an equally sophisticated audience. This would be an educated, usually wealthier and therefore influential grouping. Indeed, this would be a significantly small group of people given the size of the population, but they would be the most economically influential grouping in the country and therefore a very powerful constituency.

This clandestine relationship amongst the elite is an intriguing network of power that is cleverly mobilised by satire against the current ruling elite, a clearly dangerous political threat for that elite. The stakes are very high. Sophisticated, intellectual artistic expression is the weapon of choice used in the political battle by the educated political minority.

The ruling elite understand this all too well, and will use the political arsenal at their disposal to combat the mobilisation of the elite. They will use long-standing, unresolved racial tensions. They will hijack misinformed ideas of cultural identity and manipulate the real economic discomfort of the masses to generate sympathy.

The ruling elite, through creating a wellcalculated victimhood around Jacob Zuma, through emotionalising the debate, are consolidating their power.

That is why there are calls to boycott City Press, calls for marches and weeping attorneys. All this is an attempt to retaliate against a very powerful political statement by the intellectual minority, which consists of people from all race groups. However, it is an attack all the same, a very powerful attack.

I contend therefore, that the ruling elite are aware of their waning support amongst South Africans of all colours because of their administrative ineptitude, just as they are aware of the very real threat of being unseated at the upcoming ANC elective conference in Mangaung.

They saw this as an opportunity to mobilise support for their selfish cause by using the legitimate emotions of the masses.

The masses are rightfully angry because they are not being serviced as they expected and indeed were promised by the ruling elite. They have been manipulated by a cunning group of leaders to re-direct their ire.

The logical inconsistencies, misdirected anger and unreasonable arguments advanced in this debate have nothing to do with whether the Constitution is being misused by those that argue for Murray’s right to artistic expression or not.

It is just an exercise in narrow political power consolidation. Yet again the black masses are being raped by selfish leaders.

This will not go on forever.

Personally, I think this painting was in very bad taste and Murray was being gratuitous and vulgar. President Zuma deserves to be treated with dignity, which is his inalienable right as a human being.

However, this does not give me the right to call for the banning of the painting or the victimisation of those who support him or the boycotting of newspapers who show the picture.

This is wrong. We have an opportunity here to deepen our understanding of what it means to be free. Freedom is not for sissies or cry-babies.

Courtesy: iMaverick, South Africa’s first daily tablet newspaper

N my years of being a journalist, I have related with many younger colleagues with whom I have developed some special relationship that goes beyond the newsroom. Ngozi Agbo, Coordinator of The Nation’s Campus Life section who died last Monday was one of them.

I feel very pained that I am writing an obituary piece on her like I do each time I write about the late Omololu Falobi, founding Executive Director of Journalists Against AIDS who, despite being young enough to be my younger brother, taught me a lot about how to be a purpose-driven journalist.

Ngozi with her famous email ladycampus@yahoo.com through which I sent her a mail two days before she died, had remained my professional soul mate since I met her and a group of very brilliant young journalists in 2003 in the defunct New Age Newspapers.

When she moved on to work at Fate Foundation, a Lagos-based Non Governmental Organisation, Ngozi invited me twice to speak with some young aspiring entrepreneurs. Earlier this month, she honoured me with the opportunity of being one of the main speakers at the Campus Life Correspondents Workshop for students of tertiary institutions in the country who write for the weekly eightpage Campus Life section of The Nation she edits.

Taiwo Obe, a senior colleague described Ngozi as the champion of campus journalism. She really was considering the positive impact of the unique concept of the Campus Life on many young graduates in the last five years who she had mentored and given the opportunity to write about their campuses and share their thoughts on the state of the nation.

I have been receiving condolence texts from many students who during their visits to The Nation, I took to Ngozi’s desk with whom she shared her concept of Campus Life and encouraged them to write. For many students in the country, the Thursday edition of The Nation was a must-read. Other newspapers have since started their own campus pages, but Campus Life still stands out as the clear leader.

I remember sending a prayer text to Ngozi about God giving her a husband early last year. She came to my office to thank me for the text and months later, she excitedly came back to say “Editor, God has answered your prayer”. I told her it was not my prayer alone but that of many that God answered.

Whenever I remind Ngozi that she was no longer my young reporter of many years ago but now a big girl in journalism, she wouldnot hesitate to say “Editor, I can be a big girl to some people but with you, I am still your small girl whom you taught how to write news”. That was the kind of Editor/Reporter, Brother/Sister, Mentor/ Mentee and many more that I had with Ngozi.

Ngozi was a classic case of how what matters most in life is not the years one lives, but the impact one can make. Instead of mourning Ngozi, we should celebrate her for her accomplishments. Her life should inspire those of us alive to be purpose-driven. The students she had mentored should make her proud by becoming the stars she wanted them to be.

Our consolation should be the words of a writer: “Good people will surely die, but their good works will never die”.

Adieu our dear Lady Campus.

14

Ogochukwu Ikeje ohgeeoh@gmail.com 08084235961 (SMS only)

I

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Comment & Analysis

T is clear, even in the renaming of the University of Lagos, that there is deep leadership crisis in the land.

Leadership is not a piece of cake, it must be said. It is not populism either. There are rough roads ahead.

There are storms, sometimes. But true leadership essentially inspires. It is not divisive. It heals and binds together. It seeks the general good, not personal or sectional comfort.

True leadership is the stuff of statesmanship. Statesmen are a blessing to a nation. Their words minister to souls. They are forthright, yet forbearing, firm, yet gentle. They walk with grace and wisdom and can sort out knotty issues of common interest with astounding ease. They provide insight and a road map to glory.

Nigeria does not seem to have been remarkably lucky in the department of leaders and statesmen. A good number of Nigerians who would have been admitted into the Hall of Leadership Fame have scarcely inspired.

Let’s consider a few examples. Not too long ago, two retired Army generals and ex-Heads of Government, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida did their utmost to prove they were not qualified to be called statesmen when they called each

UNILAG and the leadership crisis Surely, there are better ways to immortalise MKO other names, one publicly rubbishing the other’s leadership scorecard. We cringed and squirmed while their duel lasted.

Very recently, another retired general and ex-Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying there would be a bloody crisis if elections were rigged in 2015. The general has never conceded that he lost the 2011 presidential election fairly. A report claimed that Buhari, employing an Hausa proverb, said the dog and the baboon would be soaked in blood if votes were rigged in 2015.

The retired general is credited with integrity though his words have not always been the stuff of statesmen. Long-suffering Nigerians deeply abhor vote rigging but that dog and baboon warning was unfortunate and certainly did not recommend the general well to the ranks of statesmen. He is not alone in such un statesmanlike utterances.

Obasanjo has reportedly called Nigerian lawmakers rogues and armed robbers. The trouble is not the truth or falsity of his accusation but that the Ota farmer is hardly the right person to lay such charges. His party, the PDP, remains the dominant political group in the country and helped to put the officers he maligns in power.

What, for instance, did Obasanjo do to clean up and sanitise the legislature throughout his long years in power? His legacy is, at best, a subject of debate.

On the renaming of Unilag, it is obvious that President Goodluck Jonathan’s best intentions have largely earned him the opposite of what he desired. The applause of the Abiola family and the praise of a few others have been drowned, however, by a groundswell of objective criticism. Surely, honouring the hero of June 12 is a national obligation but naming Unilag after the late politi-

“Merely naming UNILAG after Abiola glosses over the late politician’s legacy. Abiola unified the country in 1993 through his victory. He collapsed ethnic and religious boundaries and gave a common voice to a bustling, multilingual populace”

cian, and in the manner it was done, is simply not the best way to start.

The position of some of the protesting students is essentially sentimental: some would prefer their certificates to bear the respected old name of the institution; some feel the grief of the sudden death of their former vice chancellor was still fresh.

More substantially, the President apparently did not consult the authorities of the institution before renaming it Moshood Abiola University Lagos. Nor did Jonathan toss the matter to the National Assembly first.

Most crucially, merely naming Unilag after Abiola glosses, distressingly, over the late business mogul’s legacy. Abiola unified the country in 1993 through his victory. He collapsed ethnic and religious boundaries and gave a common voice to a bustling, multilingual populace. He demystified elections. Abiola proved that Nigeria’s unflattering balloting profile can be a thing of the past and that free and fair elections are possible.

Some of us believe the country’s electoral processes are getting better but that is not to say the rigging machine has been destroyed. Even if it is the only thing the Jonathan administration achieved, free and fair polls will immortalise the June 12 hero better than any institutional name-change will.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Comment & Analysis

15

Poor start President Jonathan’s first year in office is lackluster and abysmal

O

NE year is certainly not enough time to judge a term of four years, but it sure provides an indicator. For President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the first year of his administration is less than illustrious, to put it mildly. While it is not unheard of that tentative and turbulent first years sometimes end up in a brilliant tenure, what seems to worry clearminded observers, however, is that the government lives in total denial of its abysmal performance.

President Jonathan came to office on May 29, 2011 on a whoosh of popular goodwill, having been obliged what seemed like sympathy vote to allow a minority candidate mount the saddle of the country’s leadership for the first time. He too presented to the populace, a persona that was once affable and seemingly without guiles. This is in addition to the fact that he came with the enviable credentials as the first Nigerian head of state with formal education up to doctoral level. Everything seemed so right about Dr. Jonathan just one year ago that Nigerians would forgive him even when he suborned his party’s rules.

What has changed in just 12 months that he would probably rank as the least popular Nigeria’s head of government should a poll be conducted now? First, he did not rise to the job; he has been unable to present a clear roadmap and palpable milestones in this particularly important journey of Nigeria’s nationhood. Of course, nobody is interested anymore, in seeking the underpinning philosophy of his government.

And indeed, very few persons, perhaps, can say what he stands for. He has merely groped about like a neophyte, irrespective of the fact that he enjoyed one year of what could be called a trial run in the office prior to his election.

As if propelled by a force beyond him,

I

N just a year after the April general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has been in a continual and rapid slide into extinction. From being the ruling party till May 29, 2011, the party is now reduced to an irrelevant pack of old-time politicians. The irrelevance of the party is a result of the rapid increase in the popularity of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) in the South Western states. An added advantage to the swelling popularity of the ACN is the dismantling of PDP from Ogbomoso, which used to be its stronghold.

This dismantling or uprooting of the PDP from Ogbomosoland is as a result of the political wizardry of one man: Senator Ayoade Adeseun. A two-term former member of the House of Representatives, Senator Adeseun emerged the winner of the hotly contested senatorial seat of Oyo Central during the last election. Also, he played a very critical role in the enthronement of the Abiola Ajimobis administration in the state. But beyond his victory at the polls, the ACN senator has won more political capital in Oyo politics than any other politician in the state.

More than anything, he is the key factor for the mass defection of people from Oyo PDP into the ACN. In less than one year, Adeseun has been able to attract two former commissioners from the immediate past

President Jonathan has literally embarked on a war against the very people who wholeheartedly gave him an overwhelming support and mandate.

No sooner was he sworn in than he set on a journey of rapid and mindless disconnect from the people, through a punitive regime of tax in the guise of subsidy removal. The so-called subsidy was suddenly yanked from kerosene, almost tripling the price of this essential commodity of the poor. Removal of fuel subsidy followed quickly while electricity tariff has been reviewed upwards twice this past one year. Yet, not a dash of value has been added; the entire power supply system almost crashed and people were left whimpering and cursing over an endless spate of darkness.

In an environment where social amenities have long failed and basic infrastructure have collapsed, and in which social safety nets are alien, the result was a shock therapy of impoverishment and suffering. When the people rose spontaneously to protest the sudden and harsh economic regime imposed on them by this government, they were all but crushed with brutish force not experienced in this part since the period of the military junta.

All these, coupled with a ruinous wave of

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

corruption that has erupted over the land like a malevolent volcano in all tiers of government in the last one year, the result is a national crisis of immense proportions. For instance, the fuel subsidy saga revealed unprecedented fraud running to trillions of Naira; the pension scheme debacle is a narrative of mindboggling looting and oil theft, going by the admission of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is now a bazaar to the proportion that was unknown in this country before the Jonathan Presidency. Yet not one person has been prosecuted and made to face the law, if only for the purpose of deterrence.

To cut a sordid tale short, the Jonathan Presidency has in the past 12 months, been a sorry metaphor for ineptitude and a lack of will.

And as the old saying goes, ‘what do you do with a man whose stomach keeps protruding even as you attempt to cure him of hunchback’? This illustrates the vicious outburst of terrorism in the Jonathan era signposted by the Boko Haram sect.

True to type, the president has not been able to muster a response worthy of applause. This has surely raised Nigeria’s rating as one of the unsafe places in the world today.

Tragically, it will be difficult to make amends and set on the right tracks if the government keeps living in denial of these facts as we saw in the presidential broadcast of May 29, to mark the anniversary. The speech is particularly remarkable for its interminable list of halftruths, spurious claims and vain chest-beating.

Dr. Jonathan still has three more years to salvage a bit of his presidency. What to do: he has to admit failure, return to the basics, draw up a clear and deliverable roadmap, show disdain for corruption and think legacy. And, perhaps, one more crucial point: he should forget about seeking a second term.

LETTERS

A thorn in the flesh of Oyo PDP administration in the state, former commissioner for finance, Chief Bayo Bankole who was the ‘planter’ of the PDP in Ogbomosoland and Aare Ladi Abdulsalaam, former Attorney General and Commissioner or Justice, with thousands of their loyal supporters dumping the PDP for ACN. Both commissioners are from Ogbomoso and they are re-

S

IR I cherish Palladium’s series of articles titled 25th Anniversary: What made, and still make Awo tick.

They were well researched exposition laced with cogent references to world leaders that had shaped the destiny of mankind. My only disagreement with these otherwise brilliant write-ups was Palladium’s over adulation of Charles De Gaulle of France.

To me, Charles De Gaulle was not an ideal statesman.

He might have done well for France but his attitudes to other nations and races were to me most reprehensible.

As a writer very versed in history, I am sure Palladium remembers the profound hostile attitude of De

puted to be very effective political mobilizers.

Some political analysts believe that it must be his growing popularity within the state politics and as a thorn in the flesh of the PDP that must have resulted in his redeployment from the plum Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions to the Committee on Capital Mar-

kets. Those in this school of thought believed that his position in such a plum committee must have contributed to his ability to gather political capital.

However, the Senator’s popularity is not borne out of his position or any plum committee. Rather, it is his personal characteristics and political organisation. He is well read and well travelled. Before

coming home to join politics, Adeseun rose to the position of a Director of Physical Plant (Works, Transportation and Operations) at the Saddleback University College, in the US. It is this rich experience in service blended with his philanthropic nature that serves as the propelling factor for his ever swelling popularity and increasing relevance in Oyo and Nige-

The Palladium series on Awo Gaulle to the USA and Britain despite the fact that thousands and thousands of young British and Americans lost their lives in the battle to liberate France from Nazi occupation during the Second World War. De Gaulle repaid Britain for this sacrifice by refusing British entry to European Common Market in the sixties. Anything Anglo-phone was repulsive to him.

Back here in Africa, it is on record the savagery of De Gaulle towards Sekou Toure of Guinea just because Toure led his people to vote against joining the French Community. For this audacity, De Gaulle tried everything possible to annihilate the newly indepen-

dent Guinea by withdrawing every French concern from that country overnight.

Guinea was saved from going under by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.

One can also not forget the arrogant way in which De Gaulle with little regard for African lives exploded Atomic Bomb in the Sahara Desert also in the sixties. All efforts to make him see reasons failed and this led to the breaking up of diplomatic relationship with France by the Nigerian government under the conservative Tafawa Balewa.

Lastly, the diabolic role played by De Gaulle prolonged the misery of the Nigerian Civil War where thousands needlessly died.

In my own reading of his-

tory I don’t think Awo was a carbon copy of De Gaulle. I will rather compare Awo to Clement Atlee, the post-war British Prime Minister who during the Second World War served as an effective deputy to the boisterous Churchill. The combination of the two of them won the war for Britain with the help of USA. After the war as the Prime Minister, Atlee faced the daunting task of demobilisation and rehabilitation of British war veterans through implementation of social services like the enduring National Health Services created by Aneurin Bevan, his health Minister.

Olabode Lucas, Eksu Ado Ekiti

rian politics.

Furthermore, Adeseun is a politician of repute. No one can forget his role during the flood disaster that ravaged Ibadan last August when he ensured that succour was extended to all those who suffered from the disaster. He redefined and brought Senate’s presence into the state. When even the federal government could not give due commendations to the all time highest goal scorer of Nigerian league, Senator Adeseun went all the way to give an encouragement to the young man. Jude Aneke is an Ibo man who plays in Kaduna.

Where most politicians would only care about people from their ethnic group or within their locality, Senator Adeseun presented Aneke with a golden boot and a cash prize of N200, 000.

Another crucial characteristic of the Senator is his connection to the people in the grassroots. His Facebook page ranks amongst the most active for any politician in Nigeria. From a recent online interaction, he has also announced that he will be commissioning an interactive internet-based test engine, where candidates sitting for ‘O’ level and JAMB/UTME examinations can practice and study online.

No doubt, Senator Adeseun will continue to be one of the most important figures in Oyo politics.

Waheed F. Adebayo, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 500 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS: sundaynation@yahoo.com

16

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Comment & Analysis

Notes towards constitutional amendment (2) Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

G

IVEN the history of the bloating of the Exclusive list and the emaciating of the Concurrent list between 1979 and 1999, it can be argued that what Sir Ahmadu Bello called the Mistake of 1914 (in reference to amalgamation by Frederick Lugard of the North and South in 1914) was significantly made less severe by constitutional changes between 1946 and 1963. Movement in the direction of federalism and regional autonomy which must have assuaged the feelings of founding fathers opposed to unitary government (including Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi Awolowo and their political associates) was reversed by the Obasanjo Constitution of 1979 and the Abacha-Abubakar Constitution of 1999. The Senate should note that several sections of the country are fighting hard to resist feeling like Ahmadu Bello that 1914 was a mistake.

Arguments being advanced by those who eroded the federal provisions that are capable of sustaining multiethnic democracy

The current constitution creates an overlord-understanding relationship and by their supporters are no longer popular. The belief in the rightness of decisions by military dictators to increase federal powers at the expense of states to be in the interest of national unity is becoming increasingly unpopular in the country’s post-military era. Removing substantial control of federating units over infrastructure, economy, security, and administration of justice and transferring such powers to a central government that has no direct contact with citizens in the states no longer appears to be as conducive to national unity as the creators of the 1999 Constitution and their apologists imagine.

If anything, the provisions of the current constitution are deleterious to forging national unity.

More than anything else, most of the provisions make several sections of the country to feel that the 1999 Constitution is a conspiracy against state creativity and selfreliance and a deliberate attempt to stifle development of federating units. If press statements and releases by socio-cultural organizations across the country are anything to go by, majority of the six regions are saying the current constitution creates an overlord-underdog relationship between them and the central government; that

the central government has too much power to determine the architecture of governance, the structure of the economy, and the texture of justice; and that the oversize power of the central government makes states subservient and diminishes the quality of governance in the federating units. While piecemeal amendment of the 1999 Constitution may not be able to remove all obstacles to self-determination for federating units, transferring powers from the Exclusive to the Concurrent lists can further empower states and reduce the fear of domination of states by those in charge of the central government.

With respect to security, Item 45: Police and other security services established by law should be moved to the Concurrent list.

The ineffectiveness of a central police in a federation has become palpable over the years. The failure to contain Boko Haram and enforce laws to sustain social order is a graphic illustration of the failure of centralised law enforcement system. So must Item 48: Prisons be placed on the Concurrent list. Item 28: Fingerprints identification and criminal records should be a joint responsibility of state and federal governments. It should thus be

moved to the Concurrent list. So should Item 60 on the regulation of tourist traffic be a joint function of central and state governments. Item 66: Regulation of traffic on Federal Trunk roads must be under the control of state traffic police.

Regarding infrastructure, several items on the current Exclusive list should be moved to the Concurrent one: Items 3: Aviation, particularly establishment and management of airports. The central government should just provide guidelines for such activities. 11: Construction and maintenance of federal roads should be in form of a collaboration that calls for joint funding of federal roads between the central government and individual states hosting sections of roads designated as federal roads. 29 Fishing and fisheries…, 36: Shipping and navigation on Inland waterways; and 55: Railways should not be reserved for the central government.

It is in the area of the economy that most exclusive functions of the central government require radical rethink. Items that need to be moved to the Concurrent list include the following: 6: Banks and banking; 7: Borrowing of moneys within Nigeria; 29: Fish-

ing and fisheries should be on the Concurrent list. Items 32: Incorporation and regulation of companies; 33: Insurance, 34: Labour, including trade unions… 39: Mines and minerals including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas should be moved to the Concurrent list with a provision for the central government, especially the legislature to provide regulations governing such economic activities. So must Item 44: Pensions and gratuities must be a matter on the Concurrent list.

Furthermore on the economy, Item 49: Professional occupations should be taken to the Concurrent list. States should have the power to regulate the practice of professions that have direct impact on the life of citizens, especially regulation of certification of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.

So must Item 59: Taxation of incomes, profits, and capital gains should be moved to the Concurrent list.

There is also a need to restore the category of Residual Powers.

All matters relating to local government creation, funding, and administration should be on the Residual list for each state. So must the conduct of elections to states and local governments be put on the Residual list.

All of the changes being suggested here are direly needed, if the proposed Senate amendments are not to be symbolic or just cosmetic.

Again the Ondo governorship election Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only)

‘F

EMI, Thanks for this eye-opening piece. We here are busy right now studying certain current happenings relating to Yoruba land in Nigeria: vibrations of Abuja plots to rig Ondo State’s gubernatorial election; plots to make Osun State ‘ungovernable’; the more or less consistent tendency of the current presidency to single out the Southwest for hostile statements and actions, etc. As you know, we in Oodua Foundation do not support or oppose any party operating in the Southwest. Our immediate agenda includes: fighting, and killing, election rigging in any part of our Southwest, checkmating those who believe they can plan from Abuja to destabilize and seize any state in the Southwest, and bringing a stop to this pernicious political tradition which started in 1962; and moving the current rulers of Southwest States to advance the strength and self-respect of the Yoruba nation and rapidly restore our culture of progress. We are very appreciative of the DAWN document and its creators. We have given it considerable perusing, and we think it is a very good guide to the future of the Southwest, no matter what the general future holds in store. We want our State Governments to begin expeditiously to work with it. Around the Oodua Foundation agenda as stated here, there is a growing chance that

Mimiko’s loyalty should be called to question a universal Yoruba Diaspora objective will soon evolve’. That was Prof Banji Akintoye, a former Senator of the Federal Republic and very active participant, actually a UPN gubernatorial aspirant, in the cataclysmic 1983 elections in Ondo state which then consist of today’s Ondo and Ekiti states reacting to the article: Ondo: This Iroko Is Beatable.

But for a bout of typhoid which I carried from Nigeria, and my morbid fear of cold, I was billed to have spent an evening of deep interrogations with the Oodua Foundation, that highly introspective Yoruba Diaspora assemblage of egg-heads, during my last visit to the US. I have promised that, God willing, I won’t miss that singular opportunity for anything during my next visit.

That, of course, was not the only thought-provoking reaction I got as there was also the mild-mannered, robust rebuttal from Eni Akinsola, a top Media Aide of governor Mimiko. While disputing my observations/conclusions, Eniola’s riposte was cast in very decent and beautiful language, which easily reminds one of the guttersnipes of Media Assistants to PDP governors in the same South-West a little while ago. I have since replied to commend him and informed him to expect this follow-up.

Here, I come not to praise or bury Caesar. The purpose of this article, like the earlier one, is to offer perspectives that will guide the A C N leadership to do only those things that will not detract from the party’s pole position, going into the elections, though not unexpectedly, Eniola vehemently disagrees with my assertion that A C N is more than well positioned to defeat governor Mimiko. But the

reasons he gave, one being a shoddy primary election process, should, in my view, merely serve as the very banana peels the A C N should avoid.

Wrote Eni: ‘First sir, some of the far from comfortable exaggerations. “At no time in recent history of Ondo State has the ACN been in a better position to win a gubernatorial election,” you wrote. And I say, now, more than at any other time in the history of Ondo State is the ACN in no position to win elections in Ondo State. That the party is in any position to win now as you presented in paragraph 4 of your piece is gross exaggeration, permit the usage. The only time ACN contested election here, was after 2007 as it never existed before then….

The Action Congress would have won in 2007 if it had been sober enough to truly estimate its strength and back the right candidate. Every thorough political observer knew that Olusegun Mimiko was the only candidate that could trounce the PDP in that election but the ACN leaders in their wisdom thought otherwise. They placed their fat account at the disposal of Demola Adegoroye, a prince of Akure land.

Not only was the ACN trounced, its candidate came a distant third, ditched it and pitched his tent with the PDP, the party which sought to usurp the peoples’ mandate’.

Lesson no 1 for the A C N: Everything must be done transparently to allow the most popular candidate emerge from the primaries.

Although Eni did not say this, I will not be surprised if one or two, if not more, of current aspirants, are actually plants whose job will be either of two things, namely: to cause a major ruckus if they do

not emerge the candidate and, if any does, to immediately play up the lackey to his sponsor who may be an individual or a political party.

These are the sort of things that titillate the PDP and nothing says it cannot surreptitiously be collaborating with the governor. Abuja will readily open the vaults for such a scheme. And if Prince Adegoroye could hop back to the PDP, I see nothing stopping any of our new friends from running back to wherever they came from, if the primary purpose was to play a spoiler. A C N Leadership, therefore, cannot be too careful in undertaking the solemn duty of conducting its primaries creditably.

Secondly, Eniola, in reacting to my view that Mimiko sets no stock by his words erroneously thought I was talking about money. He, therefore, wrote as follows: ‘I have scoured the internet, read books and newspapers trying to get the details of the betrayal that the piece so extravagantly tried to pin on Mimiko.

Nowhere has the ACN leadership mentioned any amount in Naira or otherwise that it gave to Mimiko before the election; none during and none after the election ...’

This, I concede, is a pardonable error of interpretation since I refer here to something a lot more damaging; and which the A C N should leverage on by calling Mimiko’s morality and what interpretation he attaches to loyalty to question. For instance, what exactly are his guiding principles? Were it possible to ask the late governor Adefarati who his nemesis was or who that of Dr Agagu is, the answer will, without a question, be Olusegun Mimiko. But these were his bosses and collaborators

at a point in time. Granted that politics is no bible study, how exactly does one explain his role vis a vis these individuals who must have, one time or the other, shared deep confidences with him? What greater backstabbing can one get?. Call it political naivety on my part, if you like, but that precisely is where the Mimiko/A C N collaboration comes in.

Was it done in vacuo? Did the A C N suddenly become a humanitarian organisation paying Adrian Forty for forensic services rendered to Mimiko and his Labour party?

Was there no quid pro quo? Eni should ask his boss to let us know how this was discharged in the fashion of an Omoluabi.

In addition to an elaborate elucidation on Mimiko’s achievements, Eni concludes: ‘The people, more than the tiny political elite who strangely see themselves as God, matter more in the reckoning of Mimiko than the self appointed and self-acclaimed leaders. Good enough, the people, the real people, and not the imported political wannabes, are not complaining’ This would have been wonderful, if wholly true, but I do know for a certainty that the oil-bearing areas of the state are not particularly enarmoured with Eni’s boss. And, by the way, those humongous petrodollars could not have gone to nothing. Ondo state is not an oil producing state for nothing. Besides, all politics is local and the governor has evidently done his dam nest to hurt local feelings by his poor treatment of local, not foreign, political leaders upon who depended his victory in 2007.

My plea is for the A C N to get its acts together.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

W

ORDS are not enough to express how sad I was when on May 29 I heard the news that my alma mater, The University of Lagos (UNILAG), that great citadel of learning, has been renamed Moshood Abiola University, Lagos (MAUL), by President Goodluck Jonathan. So, I was not surprised when, barely a few hours after the news was announced, students, old students and other stakeholders protested the decision. It immediately dawned on me that the government, as usual, did not consult with the critical stakeholders before taking the decision.

No doubt, Nigerians have been clamouring for the immortalisation of Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Bashorun Abiola was denied the mandate despite winning the election, described as the fairest and freest in the country’s political history. But, rather than allow Abiola to assume his mandate, the military cabal led by General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election. Abiola’s bid to reclaim his mandate resulted into his incarceration which ultimately led to his death in government custody. All the Obasanjo years, the then president, despite coming from the same town as the late Bashorun Abiola, could not stomach any idea of immortalising Abiola. Indeed, Chief Obasanjo fought Abiola in life and even in death.

Chief Obasanjo’s successor, the late Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, was too ill and

Postscript, Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 08187172799 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

T

HE definition of love in the dictionary revolves around the concept of affection, while laughter, it says, is the expression of some kind of joy by making sounds of amusement. When the two combine, therefore, something akin to amused affection ensues. Many of us have felt this many times. I have felt it when the dog sidles up for someone to finally please notice that he is alive and well. I have felt it when the children sometimes break my valued china pieces. At such times, I deliberately lull and restrict myself to that state of amused affection because the alternative is to break into tears.

Doubtless, love and laughter surround us. It is for love for family and country that we all get up in the morning and go to work. Otherwise, I think most would prefer to don towel and go to the beach. Oh I forget: going to the beach is not in our national culture even though it should be. Well then, I think most would rather don towel and sit in front of the house greeting, with a great deal of pity, those passers-by who have nothing else to do but go to work because they illustrate what Oscar Wilde said: some people would do anything for money, including work.

It is for love of mankind in general that we tolerate children on this planet rather than consign them to

Comment & Analysis

17

Our ‘gentleman dictator’ and UNILAG Renaming of University of Lagos another example of an ill-digested policy did not last in office to honour Abiola.

And now that President Jonathan decided to do it, it was done in a most cynical way, as if to tell the people he wants to appease that he has at least done something for the late Bashorun Abiola; so they should let his government be. That, if the government does not know, is what the UNILAG renaming is the way it was done. The government rubbed salt on injury by saying it would not rescind the decision.

I have nothing against this except to say that leaders who do not want to reverse themselves must think out policy measures deeply. A leader who just wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and comes up with a major policy will only be expressing his lack of wisdom by saying there is no going back when the decision boomerangs. At any rate, such a statement is part of the carryovers from the military era. And, some of the former military rulers who made such statements in the past must have learnt it is not a way to show leadership, even if it is too late to express their regrets. Yet, in a matter that we saw clearly to be largely unpopular, the government’s information minister said the renaming was rejected only by ‘a section’ of the students. What of the old students association and other eminent Nigerians who have similarly rejected the decision? Anyway, Nige-

rians have got used to such propaganda from people in such positions, so Labaran Maku’s case is not strange to them.

It was the same attitude that the Jonathan government exhibited in the New Year when it removed its phantom fuel subsidy. It kept the matter close to its chest only for it to blow on its face. Even now that it is clear the subsidy is questionable, if not entirely false, the government, like a learnt nothing government, is bent on inflicting more pains on Nigerians in the guise of removing the remaining subsidy on fuel. Yet, this is a government that is gulping so much funds with little to show for its unproductive guzzling of the funds.

Even if President Jonathan had the prerogative as executive president to do some things, the right thing in a democracy, is to be circumspective in exercising such prerogative. For instance, I do not know what is sacrosanct about renaming a university that he could not have at least sampled the opinions of the critical stakeholders before taking the decision. Of what use is it when something meant to be well received ends up as a catalyst for hatred? Now, if as some people argue, the Jonathan government renamed the university to seek the favour of the south western part of the country, I

“As the president must have seen by now, there is something in a name. I attended the University of Lagos and I would prefer the institution to so remain, other documents remain invalid. One does not have to attend this great institution to appreciate the emotional attachment to it. UNILAG FOREVER! GREAT AKOKITES! GREAT AKOKITES!! G-R-E-A-T!!!”

do not know how that purpose can be served with the protests that have greeted the change of name. What happens if any student gets killed in the process of the demonstration against the policy? Won’t that be another big minus for a government that is barely being tolerated only one year into what is supposed to be four-year tenure?

The UNILAG crisis just symptomises the Jonathan administration’s ways of earning notoriety for itself. This is an administration that was supposed to be celebrating one year in office (as if there is anything to celebrate). Or, could the government have done what it did so as to give Nigerians something else to chew rather than be commenting on the lacklustre one year of the Jonathan government? A president who would feel too big to reverse himself must surround himself with people who know their onions and not political appointees who see him as some tin god to whom they must defer all the time. And, since public officials in this part of the world do not know how to resign on their own, a president who wants to succeed must necessarily go for the best and be prepared to take their advice seriously.

Some people may argue, like the information minister, that we need not criticise President Jonathan because there is a precedent in the Babangida regime’s changing of University of Ife to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on May 12, 1987. But many of us also know that much as we admire Bashorun Abiola for his gallantry and contributions to democracy, he could not be put in the same category as Chief Obafemi Awolowo. At

any rate, the then University of Ife was established by the Western Region Government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and if Awo were to be like some of our today’s leaders, he would have named the university after himself then. But his kind of person would not allow that. So, if the university was eventually named after him, he was more than worth it.

There are airports, stadia and other monuments that could have been named after Bashorun Abiola; why UNILAG? With President Jonathan’s problem with the University of Lagos students, I wonder what other source of support he would want to lay claim to because essentially, it was the youths (read students) who formed a substantial plank of his support base in last year’s election. I want to believe that the youths have realised that election is not about how someone is packaged on the internet but also about charisma, maturity, intellect, ability to accept one is wrong when he/she is (after all only God is infallible), and capacity to think through policies and programmes before actualising them.

What is more? Grammatically, MAUL is synonymous with something bad. So, President Jonathan should take note. We do not want our students to be MAUL(ed) by the President’s security agencies before he does the needful. As the president must have seen by now, there is something in a name.

I attended the University of Lagos and I would prefer the institution to so remain, other documents remain invalid. One does not have to attend this great institution to appreciate the emotional attachment to it. UNILAG FOREVER! GREAT AKOKITES! GREAT AKOKITES!! G-R-E-A-T!!!

Of love and laughter...

Why does this government persists on knocking its horns against the will of the people Pluto where God originally designed for them to be. (Just imagine how pleasant life would be if everyone stayed on his or her planet: men on Mars, women on Venus and children on Pluto. But what do you know; they must intermingle on this tiny planet and cause all kinds of problems for one another). Anyway, as I was saying, only love can make one continue to feed a child who does not see anything wrong in forgetting a razor blade or a worm or a toad or a snake in his pocket for you to find. With tolerance comes a little bit of laughter, no matter how tiny, especially when you remember your shrieks and shrilly cries and the dances macabre you do to express your frustration.

It is also for love that we tolerate our mates who persist in using our housekeeping money to buy plasma TV, without your or my prior consent as, after all, ‘we are all going to enjoy the thing together.’ That means of course that all the mouths in the house would be left drooling in front of the offensive TV for that month, all the while thinking which part of the machine do they say is really edible? I say, you tolerate this because of love, but certainly not laughter.

Laughter nevertheless comes to you sometimes unbidden. Let’s see now. When last did you go to the dentist’s? Well, I did, not too long ago, because I felt my tongue touching a hard substance somewhere very close to the junction where my head should meet my cheek. With the dentist holding up my X-ray, one tool digging deep into my mouth which

gaped open into a toothless cavernous emptiness, he gave the news that at this ripe young age when most people expect to be losing their teeth, I was growing one, right there where reason said it should not be. I laughed, of course, before remembering that the dentist’s fist was searching for the offensive tooth, right in my head.

The most unbidden laughter to come to me yet was when the president announced the change in the name of the University of Lagos.

Frankly, I laughed when I first heard it. While some screamed, and some spluttered and some expressed their indignation in speechlessness, I could only laugh because I could not immediately transport myself behind the thought processes that gave birth to that monstrous decision.

On reflection, a sober one of course, I saw behind the action a sudden, new-found love of MKO who towards the end of his life, came to symbolise the spirit of the democratic struggle. Having ignored him for well over two decades, the government just woke up one day, put on its thinking cap, opened the book of remembrance, and came to page June 12, 1993. ‘What’, it asked, ‘was done to the man who won the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history?’ ‘Nothing’, it was told.

‘Then, let us take the most popular institution in his domain and rename it after him. That way, his name would be immortalised.’

Then, by fiat, without so much as by your leave to those housed within that institution buried in

grief over the sudden loss of their own head, the government pronounced its new-found love, enough to provoke a great deal of laughter if the people were not so outraged.

Actually, the outrage it generated could be interpreted as laughter for several reasons. First, what the people perceived in the action of the Federal Government was not so much as merely changing a name or remembering someone as calling some attention to itself. The people were in danger of forgetting that the government existed; as a matter of fact, the people would appear to prefer to forget that the government existed. So, not to allow itself to be swept under the carpet or out of sight like keeping the village idiot away from important visitors, the government took the precipitate action and the people’s outrage was interpretable as ‘Look at the person we are trying to hide at home and he goes to the market place to dance!’

The people’s outrage was really their way of guffawing at the government for adopting yet another strategy to distract them from the real issues. There is hunger in the land; poverty has gone wild, no structures are available, government functionaries are living in obscene and sickening wealth, and all the government can do is engage its people in a discourse. Now, that is funny.

Most outrageously funny of all was the Minster of Information’s declaration that what had been

done had been done, and there was no going back on that decision.

Now, that is just so funny. Why, I ask myself, does this government persistently insist on knocking its horns against the will of the people for no reason at all particularly as we are in a democracy? That makes me think to myself that either the government has no idea what democracy means, in spite of the fact that I remember seeing a televised President Jonathan sitting in tension in Aso Rock waiting for The People’s votes to come in, or the people have no idea that their democracy has nothing to do with their own say in any matter. Funniest of all is perhaps that the said minister really did miss the class on the spirit of democracy, decision taking and presentation and the impermanence of anything, including change, because you see, even our most blessed God sometimes changes his mind; otherwise, neither the minister nor I would be here today.

It is not rare for love and laughter to flow together. It has been happening since the beginning of time as it is even now, for instance, in the government’s way of eating its democratic cake and having it. It wants to keep keeping May 29 as democracy day rather than June 12, and at the same time, display its love for the product of June 12, thereby creating a very funny metaphor that is taxing my linguistic resources. Now, let me see, what metaphor does come out of that: lovter?

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Comment & Analysis

S

OON enough, we will hit another milestone in our ‘nascent’ democracy as governments at state and federal level will roll out the drums to celebrate yet another year of democratic government. In Ogun State it will be 13 years of democratic rule under three administrations. One is privileged to be part of the pioneer administration of the 13 years under Chief Olusegun Osoba for a part of his 4 year tenure. The newest “kid on the block”, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will by May 29, 2012 clock one year in office as governor and it would be time to keep scores by the incumbent, the opposition and yes the good people of Ogun State that are not into partisan politics.

Let me say here that the intent of this piece is not to keep scores or undertake appraisal per se. On a normal day I see such an exercise as tainted with credibility lacuna as well as fraught with accusation of subjectivity. That can only be so, far as any development expert would freely tell you, all governmental policies, no matter how good and well intentioned, have unintended, usually negative consequences particularly in the short run for some persons in the society. And it is a timid and impotent administration that will shy away from executing its policies due to its possible unintended consequences on some of its people. For any action oriented government, it rings true that eggs have to be broken to serve omelets now and in the future.

So in this wise one will like to Xray the philosophical underpinnings of Amosun’s administration in implementation of certain policies in the last one year. One such underpinning that is in the public domain is the concept of ‘rebuilding’ of Ogun State. Being mostly in Abuja during the electioneering campaign that brought in Amosun, one is not sure whether this concept assumed the status of a mantra but suffice to say that it was writ large on some billboards as a “Mission to Re-Build Ogun State”.

And in the last one year, one has heard government functionaries mouth this slogan in the few public events of the state government that I have personally attended.

It would not be out of place then to posit that Amosun got his mandate in whole or in part on his agenda “rebuilding Ogun state” in the five cardinal areas of focus for his administration namely: affordable qualitative education, efficient healthcare delivery, agri-

Rebuilding Ogun in a year

•Amosun

By Kayode Odunaro

cultural production and industrialization, affordable housing and urban renewal and rural and infrastructural development and employment generation.

Without doubt, the Amosun administration can point to tangible results in some or all of these cardinal areas and one can at least swear by the road he constructed in my estate, Sam Ewang Housing Estate in Abeokuta as well as the reticulation of pipe borne water that has remained dry for upward of six

years. But as aforesaid this piece is not about project execution or appraisal. It is about policy analysis and future developmental scenarios in Ogun state.

The concept of re-building in policy terms assume that there are structures on ground to be rebuild. That assumption is fundamental to the concept for without it the concept falls flat on its face. Without doubt Ogun State since its creation has structures and infrastructure that even dates back beyond its creation in 1976 courtesy of the Awolowo government in then Western Region. Successive govern-

ments in their own way had ensured that certain social amenities like road, water, healthcare etc are in place in one form or another in most part of the state.

So Amosun certainly have structures to ‘re-build’ in virtually all sectors of the society.

Another assumption for the ‘rebuilding’ concept is that structures on ground are in a state of despair, disuse or outdated as not to serve present and modern realities or incapable of serving projected future needs. Certainly many existing structures in all sectors suffer from these shortcomings in areas like provisions of water, roads and educational facilities that this writer experienced firsthand. This situation was further compounded by an almost paralysis of governance in the last year or so of the last administration following a protracted face-off between the executive and legislative arms of government.

Apparently based on the above Amosun was on point in his “re-building” strategy and the mandate he got from the people. But apparently, the people were not prepared for the unintended consequences of the “re-building” agenda of Amosun. This understandably have fueled emotional outburst of even persons who are enlighten enough to appreciate that “birth pains” are not “death throes” in this rebuilding strategy.

In construction terms to re-build, you have to destroy -read demolishsome or all of existing structure to give way for a larger or more befitting edifices. It is in this light that one can situate the road dualisation projects at Abeokuta and the proposed IlaroPapalanto and Ijebu Ode-Ilese Road.

There is no way rebuilding these roads will not involve destruction/demolition of existing structure of private citizens in public interest. Apparently public interest has to override private interest in this matter of developing the society. But due process and adequate compensation must be applied in this “re-building” strategy. The same is applicable to urban renewal, which it must be noted is visible in Abeokuta, the State Capital. Except the Rock City as Abeokuta is known want to maintain its old and rustic look with ancient

family houses and compounds, then some structure have to give way for modern structures and facilities to spring up.

It must be pointed out however that in the provision of new infrastructure and amenities, the people has to be carried along to minimize the negative impact of unintended consequences.

One is talking about sensitization and mobilization. An 8- lane road, flyover and foot bridges are certainly novel thing for many motorists and pedestrians alike. Enlightenment is needed for the people to appreciate that these facilities requires new attitudes and modification of behavior.

But beyond re-building physical infrastructure in all sectors, there is a more urgent and pressing one of ‘rebuilding’ political culture that have gone awry in recent times. One is privilege to have been in government/observe governance under military and democratic administrations in Ogun State. Part of the political culture prevalent in Ogun State as I know even during military era was political tolerance.

Friends and business associates belong to different political parties and will stand their ground based on their political affiliations. This hitherto does not stop them attending social functions etc of their opponents. This has changed in recent time to a situation where some have been known to lose offices or other advantages for associating with “wrong persons”. People now mind what they say and who they say it to in order not to incur the wrath of power that be. Such political culture needs ‘re-building’ to reposition Ogun State to its first position in most things in Nigeria.

In all one accept the need to ‘re-build’ in Ogun State with all its unintended consequences. Let the government do more within its resources and forget about opprobrium from some quarters on its priorities. As Amosun himself poignantly puts it at a public forum, when Ikorodu multiple lanes road was built decades ago, some people would have thought it a misplaced priority.

Today the road is even inadequate at some points. Such may be the case of some of the current ‘rebuilding’. Looking forward to “Rebuilding Ogun State in Four Years”.

Odunaro, (Public Affairs Analyst) 125 Olusegun Osoba Way, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Presidential faux pas and indiscreet renaming of University of Lagos

A

S a football player for my secondary school in the good old days, the benefit I enjoyed was the popularity in the school premises; and being flocked around by my fans who were mostly girls. Don’t ask me why I cherished my female fans more than the males. I became a local champion, walking stylishly the school premises, tilting my left shoulder higher up than the other. Football hadn’t become a money-spinning profession as it is now. But even then, being a school goalkeeper and a “local champion” in the neigbourhood was enough pedigree to flaunt and earn accolades from folks.

As each goal-bound shots saved earned me applause from my school mates and spectators alike, each goal conceded also earned me five strokes of the cane from one hardnosed teacher who himself could hardly kick a ball, but imposed himself on the school team as its football coach. The stroke-of-cane punishment was usually administered at the following morning assembly. As our self-imposed “coach” spanked me with his rod of discipline, I would smile and ‘pose’ rather than cry or betray any emotion. I always bore the physical torture. While this lasted, my fans would hail me more and more, hollering my alias coined from my first name. But in reality, “he who feels it knows it all” like the legendry songster Bob Nesta Marley would sing. I actually bore my pains and nursed the wounds on my lacerated body in the secret confine of my room back home.

By ‘Tunji Ajayi

At one football match where I was given my role as a goaltender, I reasoned how honourable it would be if I could strive to act and perform beautifully like a goalkeeper I admired so much then. His name was Amusa Adisa, a great goalkeeper for the then Western Nigerian Development Corporation (WNDC) who beat the Rangers Football Club in the year 1971 Challenge Cup finals. (Oh God! Nigeria has forgotten the old veterans in all spheres.) While the football match was ongoing, I had an intra-personal communication with myself. “For the sake of winning this match, I am now Amusa Adisa the great goalkeeper.” Almost spontaneously, I began to act and gambol just like him at the goal post. I saved many terrific goal-bound shots which made my school win the match. Where my agility and sudden skill came I never knew. I just saw myself being carried off the football field shoulder-high at the end of the match. We won and I became the match hero. Thus my shakara, like Fela would say, and “posing” to my fans continued in the school premises unabated.

That name I bore momentarily, albeit within myself, inspired me, making me to act beyond my ordinary capacity. It subsequently uplifted me into success at the event. I am worried when people argue saying “what is in a name?” There is so much in it. Every name has its aura surrounding it. There

is magic in a name. Let Chelsea Football Team management change the club’s name today; and the aura and magical prowess in the team will disappear, even if momentarily. Let Manchester United Football Club rename the club, and the number of their die-hard fans who sing their praises and adorn their jerseys all over the streets would wane dramatically.

Every institution wants to retain its own name, and as such its unique aura.

When you hear of Harvard University, you think about academic excellence.

When you see Mercedes Benz logo, you think of a great automobile German machine. It is a unique mark of identification. Thus there is so much in a name. The day a man who bears Goodluck changes his name to any other name is the day his magic or myth disappears. He would start to experience gridlocks where he had been having goodlucks and leeway, achieving hitherto what never belonged to him ordinarily.

On the recent renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, it will be untenable to feel that the anger of the students who thronged the streets to protest government action was misplaced. Those who are apt to say that it was a lack of appreciation or a sheer show of disrespect to the late business mogul and “politician”, Chief Moshood Kashimaawo Olawale Abiola popularly referred to as MKO got the message wrong. Indeed, there are many people who love the philanthropist far more than Presi-

•Jonathan

dent Goodluck Jonathan himself in that same University community, and can readily sacrifice anything to see his name immortalized. But renaming an institution that has carved his identity and niche for over 50 years in a military-like fiat appears undemocratic. It is a change and mutilation of the

university’s identity and as such a desecration of national monument.

Indeed the name of a product often depicts its brand. Most consumers buy a product of their choice largely because such a product is renowned for certain inherent qualities. It is also a fact that

•Continued from page 67

POLITICS

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

•Jega

•Tambuwal

Local councils’ rescue gathers steam As the House of Representatives debate the bill on unified local council election timetable, Sam Egburonu recalls the power play that has left grassroots administration hostage in the hands of some over-bearing state governments. Is the bill the final rescue tool?

T

HE struggle to rescue local councils from the clutches of state governments received a major boost last week when, on Thursday, May 24, 2012, the Federal House of Representatives passed, for second reading, the bill seeking to fix a uniform timetable for local government elections in the country.

However, lawmakers opposed to the bill said its prayers are under the jurisdiction of state assemblies not the National Assembly.

The Nation investigation however shows that since the House

of Representatives ordered the 25 states that have failed to conduct local council polls to do so immediately, and on suspecting that the governors, for political or other considerations, may have resolved not to obey the order, have shown more resolve to wade into the problems of the third tier of government, especially the alleged manipulations of state governors, which has reduced local government administration to mere outposts of state governments. They see the bill as the ultimate weapon needed to rescue local government from the strict

control of state governments.

The primary aim of the Bill, titled, A bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, according to the sponsors, is “to make it mandatory for election to the offices of the chairman and councilor of local government councils in the country to be held on a date to be appointed and on conditions prescribed by laws made by the states and other matters connected thereto (HB. 259 2012).”

It would be recalled that Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution

merely provides that state governors shall ensure that local councils are administered by democratically elected officials. This rather vague provision has been cleverly exploited by many state governors to either delay local council elections or to suspend it indefinitely in order to sustain their hold on the grassroots power, a development our investigation shows has been largely responsible for many political crises across the states of the federation.

For example, in Anambra State, where Governor Peter Obi has refused to conduct local gov-

ernment elections in spite of several court cases and petitions, the matter caught public attention early May, 2012, when a civil rights group, Movement for the Conduct of Local Government Elections, organised a successful march through the streets of Awka to push their message across. The group also gave the Anambra State Government up to October this year to hold local council elections or face mass protest.

Leader of the movement, Ositadinma Obi was quoted as saying that non conduct of local government elections since 2003 “has led to high level of decay and underdevelopment in every sector of the state’s economic life. The trend has denied over 10, 000 persons the opportunity of being useful to themselves and the society.”

Before that march, Association of Chairmanship and Councillorship Aspirants (ANACCA) had organised their own protest and given the Obi-led government up to June to organise local council elections.

Although the chief press secretary to the governor, Mike Udah, had defended that “the governor has put in place the necessary machinery to ensure the conduct of a credible polls at the councils, it has been established that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in Anambra has also suffered major threats because of disagreement of the top shots over conduct of local government elections. Sources said within APGA in Anambra, the central issue is the control of grassroots power.

An inside source, who do not want to be named, told The Nation that Obi’s camp are not comfortable with conduct of local council polls especially now that it is having serious issues with the party’s National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh. “This is because Umeh has, over the years, coordinated the grassroots for the Obi political family. During all the elections, he is the one that oversees the grassroots for us, so now that he has fallen out with the family, some people up there are afraid he will effectively hijack the party in the state, leaving the governor bare. Obi is our leader here because he has been the major financier of the party. So, we can’t allow any plot to ditch him.”

Today, the disagreement within Anambra APGA over the conduct of local council polls is no longer a secret. While Obi’ adviser, Chief Nwaobu-Alor had openly accused Umeh of being the problem of the party, and of trying to hijack power at the grassroots by imposing his candidates, Umeh has repeatedly condemned the continued delay in the conduct of local council polls in Anambra State. In one of his criticisms, he said: “For nearly six years, I kept saying that they should conduct council polls so that our people can become chairmen and councilors. That is the way to build up a party, but they refused to do that. Today, they are blaming me for what is happening in the state,” he said, adding, “our real headache is that today, we have sole administrators running the 21 councils in the state.

That is the problem. I will continue to oppose these wrong actions, even if it would make them •Continued on Page 20

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Politics

‘Blame politicians Political for violence’ A

S the chairman of Etung Local Government Area, Godwin Etim John, makes bold to describe peace as his greatest achievement since he assumed office in December 2010. For an area known for political violence until recently, the council boss ascribed the current peace to prayers and the vision of his administration.

He told The Nation in an interview: “The secret is prayers. I pray for peace and believe me, God answers me. God is the one behind everything. Second, which is human, has to do with empowering the youths in the area. Before now, they were so many unemployed youths, who were potential tools for trouble making. What I did was create job opportunities for these youths, so that they would be busy with their time as well as have some money in their pockets. I created a system where besides government employment; I was able to appoint so many youths.”

As a result, he said, “this council has succeeded by almost 80 per cent in curbing cult activities. Most of the time, politicians should be blamed because they encourage these boys so they can use them when they want to run elections. I am one person who has never had a boy,” he said.

If you want to follow me, you must put your machete down. You must put your big stick down. You

must put your gun down. If you do not, you will not follow me. I won my election through conviction. I never allowed “boys” or supporters who are violent to move with me. And of course, they know me from day one that I cannot be part of that. So everyone has to drop his or her weapon and work the way I do,” he said.

Explaining further he said, “For us in Etung, now, there is no room for cultism, but honesty, hard work and dedication to duty. Most times when you see these cult boys, someone is encouraging them.

“I use the police and other relevant security agencies to operate.

Those who have legal powers to use weapons and ammunitions are the ones I use. So, if you come up with something illegal, you will be nabbed accordingly, and you will go in for it. Of course they know me for that.”

Asked what he considered his achievements since, he said: “The very first achievement that is almost like the overall achievement has to do with the peace that is today witnessed in Etung Local Government Area. Hitherto, Etung Local Government Area was known for its volatile nature, violence and mayhem, but today it is one of the most peaceful local governments in the country. And you know unless there is peace in an environ-

Local councils’ rescue gathers steam •Continued from Page 19 tag me incompetent.”

Besides Anambra State, our investigation shows that some of the other states where democratically elected council officials have not been put in place, have some critical issues that have somehow made the conduct of local council polls near impossible.

In Kano State for example, sources close to the PDP-led government alleged that the current security situation in the state makes it unwise to conduct such election now. But major opposition politicians, like Alhaji Muhammed Inuwa of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), had come out to disagree with such claims, alleging that the PDP-led government refused to conduct the election because it was afraid of losing at the grassroots level. The same political motive has been attributed in almost all the states affected.

But most Nigerians see it as a major proof that the political system still needs to be strengthened in the interest of democracy and development. A lecturer and political commentator, Edwin Ukpo, for example, said we must ignore the suggestion that amendment of the law to stop further manipulation of local councils falls within the jurisdiction of state assemblies. “Even if the constitution is interpreted to have said so, we have the responsibility to amend such a provision, for we all know that state governors do not want the third tier of government to be independent.”

In fact, the sponsor of the local council bill at the House, Hon. Ali

ripples

From Nicholas Kalu,

LG Chairman’s Democracy Day N4million loss O ment, growth and development would elude that area. So when I achieved peace in Etung, it afforded the opportunity to achieve what I have in the area of infrastructural development.

“As I speak with you, Etung Local Government Area has a road that links the entire local government. This was not the case before.

This makes it easy to travel from any part of the area to the council secretariat within 20 twenty minutes.

“We have been able to come up with 33 micro projects that are economy based. They are projects that will help beef up the economy of the local governments where you have cassava mills, oil palm mills, cocoa storage facilities and warehouses. We also have a water and sanitation project across the local government area.

“We also took advantage of the Trans-African Highway which starts from the South East Zone of Nigeria to Cameroon to come up with an international market which we have completed. The chairman and vice chairman’s residences are being constructed there.

We intend to carve out that area as an urban town,” he said.

NE of the gists that made round in Abia State during the recently concluded Democracy Day holidays was an alle gation that the transition council chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Area, Okoroafor Okoreafia, lost a whopping N4 million cash in a hotel on Monday May 28. Some sources claimed that the council boss left the said N4million cash in the booth of his official Toyota Corolla car at the premises of a popular hotel in the state capital, Umuahia.

The source said the council chairman was rudely shocked when he opened the boot of the car and discovered that the money had developed wings.

According to the source, the council boss, red-faced, quickly invited the police who allegedly questioned visitors to the hotel over the missing money.

However, Mr. Okereafia had denied the story but some of his close associates and four of his colleagues confirmed the incident and wondered why the council boss would carry such huge sums of money in his car, when he knew that the next day would be a public holiday. They insisted he should have conveniently gone to the bank on that day to put the money in a deposit.

Already, tongues are wagging as some people, who spoke with Political Ripples, are calling on the state governor, Theodore Orji, to order a thorough investigation into the controversial missing money.

•Orji

Ufomba: a Daniel o A

•Obi

Ahmad (Kwara/PDP), while defending it, noted that it will spur true federalism and democracy.

He stressed that there are about 25 states whose local government councils do not have democratically elected chairmen.

Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, who supported the bill, frowned at budgetary payments to LGA’s which, he said “had unconstitutional caretaker committees.”

Other supporters of the bill were Hon. Munir Danagundi (PDP-Kano), who said the amendment would bring sanity to local councils and check unnecessary delay in conducting elections.

Both at the House in Abuja and at the local communities across the country, the debate and the intrigues continue to gather steam.

S the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the April 2011 general elections, Ochiagha Reagan John Ufomba, last Sunday, May 27, 2012, celebrated his 59th birthday, his political associates, rivals, friends, well wishers, critics, business partners and family members, who gathered in Lagos to share the golden moment with him, could not help reviewing his political philosophy, even as reports that weekend confirmed that some armed policemen and thugs invaded and sealed off the venue of a scheduled meeting of APGA members in Aba. Amongs the politically conscious guests, the news, which broke shortly before the birthday dinner, served as the take-off point for discussion of the political situation in Abia State and Ufomba’s political philosophy and the journey so far.

Born on the 27th day of May 1962 to the family of Ichie and Mrs Edward Ufomba, of Umuogele Ntigha in the present Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Ufomba commenced his academic pursuit at the Immacu-

late Conception Seminary, Ahieke Umuahia. He later read Secretarial Studies at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Studied Public Administration at the Federal College of Education Technical Akoka, read History and International Relations at the Lagos State University (LASU) and also read Law at the Lagos State University (LASU), before proceeding to the prestigious Harvard Business School, Boston USA to Study Global Negotiation.

He is presently in the field of peace and conflict resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria.

He is happily married to Adanma Ufomba, a marriage that has produced two boys and three girls.

As an early beginner, he made his mark in the business world venturing into dry cleaning services, poultry farming, medical laboratory, and was one of the first merchants to import the Rapid HIV Testing Kit and Sim Card backup in Nigeria. A business ally of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, he was one of the biggest distributors for Dangote Industries, distributing a minimum of 200 cement trucks every month under a guaranty scheme with a loan from UBA. He was a major supplier of LPFO to

Ashaka Cement in Gombe State and major manufacturing company in Lagos.

He set up the 1.2million metric tons Reagan Cement Plant in Calabar, Cross River State in 2005 after working with Dangote for several years. Recognizing the competence and genuine drive of his company towards the economic growth of the Nation, the Federal Government of Nigeria gave him a license to import 500,000 metric tons of cement in 2008, and another license to establish a 2million metric tons capacity cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu, Abia State. To tap from his rich business ideas, the Federal Government appointed him into the committee that formulated the policy on the future of cement industry in Nigeria in 2009.

Speaking about Ochigha Ufomba’s success in the field of business, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had this to say: “I am certainly not surprised at this breakthrough given the highest level of your commitment and support to the cement industry, I am very proud of this achievement”. His recent exploits into a multi-billion dollar

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Politics

Political Politics

Ikuku and his police connections M

s y

•Abubakar

ANY friends and close associates of Mr. Chinedu Orji (the son of Governor T. A Orji of Abia State), who hoped their benefactor would stay out of news for a very long time, after the embarrassing story of his involvement in the shopping misadventure that ended up in a mafia-like general beating, are currently worried that his name has again been linked to an alleged recent lock-up of the venue of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) meeting at Obohia Road in Aba. There are allegations that the APGA Chairman of Aba South Local Government had sent a letter of permission to the Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force to hold the said meeting but just before the meeting, some heavily armed policemen and others, later identified as thugs, invaded the proposed venue and locked it up.

Aggrieved APGA officials are alleging that it was Chinedu Orji, popularly known as Ikuku, who used his ‘wide connections’ at the Police Area Command to affect the controversial lock-up operation.

L

EADER of the Ebonyi Youth As sembly (EYA), Chinedu Ogah, was until recently considered a sacred cow in Ebonyi State. He was in fact treated as the favourite son of the state governor. Sources said because of that he could offend and step on the toes of anybody and go scot free, since he was believed to be under the protection of the state governor. Ogar further consolidated that impression recently when he named his newly born baby Martin Elechi, after the governor.

But a recent event in the state indicates that things may not be exactly the way people believed them to be. Ripples gathered that the young man seen as a sacred cow was during the Democracy Day celebration, arrested and prosecuted by the police for alleged unruly behaviour. His arrest was affected in the glare of everybody in the jampacked Abakaliki Stadium. A scuffle, however, ensued between Ogar and the police and in the process he was said to have assaulted one policeman, Inspector Buba Jika.

Ogah with members of his group, who were very visible in the build up to the re-election of the governor, resisted attempts by the advance security team of the governor, who tried to stop them

Travails of Martin Elechi’s political son from positioning themselves near the state box.

In the scuffle that ensued, members of the youth association in their numbers, alongside their leaders allegedly descended on the security personnel, beating and battering some of them in the process.

Ripples learnt over the weekend that there were reports of tension and apprehension in and around the Abakaliki Government House following alleged threat from the police to quit

•Elechi

the Ebonyi Government House if the matter is not properly handled.

Some politicians in the state have also suggested the scrapping of the association which they claimed has become an instrument of violence in recent times.

Ogah, who was last year nominated by Governor Martin Elechi for the National award of OON, is believed to have lost the confidence of his governor and was in the process of re-launching himself during the Democracy Day celebration before the clash.

Ogah was Thursday arraigned before an Abakaliki magistrate court on a one count charge of assault. He was, however on granted bail by the magistrate, J. Orude.

Nonetheless, tongues are now wagging in political and social circles that this would mark the end of the father/son relationship between the governor and the youth leader?

el or trouble maker? shipping and Floating Power Plant investment is a novelty that would turn several willing dark nations and states into sunshine.

In recognition of his very humble efforts and contributions to the expansion of the gospel of Christ, the Catholic Church has honored him with many prestigious but Christ inspiring titles. Ufomba, is the Dike Di Oha Ma of Aba Dioceses, Ambassador of Christ and the IDE of St. Benedict.

Not forgetting his root and the challenges therein, he ensured the introduction of a scholarship scheme that presently takes care of 165 students, amongst other humanitarian gestures.

Politics In the field of politics, Ufomba was the Campaign Coordinator of former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in the SouthEast. He represented Abia State Government in the National Poverty Eradication Program Committee under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. He was also Special Assistant on Integrated Rural Development and served in several boards.

During his service to Abia State, he was described by insiders as “a great creative thinker, initiator, mobilizer and a loyalist and gentleman of immense sagacity and principle until his

resignation in 2003 on personal grounds,” leaving behind what he described as “an unblemished record.”

He explained that he is a student of the philosophy of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who said, “in a democratic dispensation, the aspiration, views and the yearnings of the people must be respected.”

Vision/Message Ufomba came to Abia State politics with a vision of change and the need to do a new thing. A year after the election, he has continued to advocate and fight for quality leadership in Abia State; however, his frankness and boldness on issues has projected as a major opponent and thus a subject of criticism. While majority see him as a Daniel, others call him a trouble maker. But, perhaps because of his resilience, Ufomba has actually emerged a factor in Abia State politics.

Turning rather religious, he has this to say of himself and his people, “if my blood is what is required for my people to be free from want and deprivation, I will freely give it.

I am not unaware of the ill conceived attacks on my person arising from this principled position of mine by some near-do-wells. I am

•Ufomba

not God, and I am not a saint either and nobody is, tell them to stop looking for the living in the land of the dead; they can never see me where they are pointing fingers.”

21

turf

with Bolade Omonijo boladeomonijo@yahoo.com

UNILAG: Limits of presidential power ET me start this with a confession. When I first heard the announcement that the University of Lagos had been named after Chief Moshood Abiola, I felt the President had taken a good decision, for once. I was as unprepared for the acrimony that followed as the President probably was. The only thing that I found wrong and indefensible (and I pointed it out to friends, especially alumni of the university who kicked against it) was that fiat is not allowed and is not to be encouraged in a democracy. The President may be the highest authority in the land, but he is not an absolute power wielder. He is guided in all actions by the Constitution and is checked by certain specified institutions. When a President turns himself to an emperor or a tin god, lesser authorities are likely to follow suit. This is why impunity reigns in the land at all levels.

Why would an elected President decree and declare like a military ruler who owes his office to the guns and ammunition that aided his seizure of power? Did it not occur to President Goodluck Jonathan and those who drafted that May 29 speech that there is a National Assembly whose duty it is to review, amend, repeal and make laws? Why did he think he could just make a fundamental change to the University of Lagos Act without leaving room for the legislators to play their role?

What made him and his advisers think the National Assembly members would only rubber stamp the decision? On this score, he erred and deserves to be corrected.

However, I refuse to buy the arguments of many people who dismissed the renaming of the university as worthless and misplaced. First, I do not see any special right conferred on the students by the law. Except like every other citizen of Nigeria who should have a say in public policy decisions, I fail to see any justification for the protests by the students. The lecturers, alumni, legal luminaries and educationists could volunteer their opinions on the development, but it should be accepted that the naming or renaming of federal institutions lies with the executive and legislative arms of government.

Had the President followed the due process, they would, in the course of advocacy, have submitted their positions, like other Nigerians who may feel interested, to the National Assembly.

I fail to see the merit in the submission that only institutions in Abuja are federal. I refuse to accept that institutions and agencies in the federal capital are more federal or national than those founded by the government in other parts of Nigeria.

Specifically, I do not accept that renaming the University of Abuja after the late business mogul and politician would have been more appropriate than the choice of UNILAG. Was Abiola more of a patron of sports than he was supportive of education? I fail to see the logic in the submission.

The airport in Abuja was named after the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Is there any record that he contributed to the development of the aviation industry? The airport in Kano, too, bears the name of the late Mallam Aminu Kano, just like the number one airport in Nigeria, the one located in Lagos, is Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

It is illogical to argue that renaming UNILAG Moshood Abiola University of Lagos is unjust, unfair and reduces the man to a regional champion while he won a national mandate.

On the other hand, the same people propagating the gospel have suggested that the University of Agriculture in Abeokuta would have been a more fitting recognition.

Abuja is today the federal capital, but, before Abuja, there was Lagos. Lagos is to Nigeria what New York is the America.

I believe that Lagos towers above Abuja in all materials particular.

Was Abiola just a sportsman? Was he just a politician? Was he a mere businessman? Did he just happen on the scene? The late Chief MKO Abiola was many things. He won that broad mandate because of his contributions over the years to the development of Nigeria. I align myself with the Abiola family that the honour done Abiola is appropriate, save the procedure adopted. It may not be enough. The man deserves a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic. The fact that UNILAG has been renamed does not stop the government from revisiting the debate on which is more fitting as Democracy Day: May 29 or June 12? June 12 is not all about Abiola; it is about the men and women who fought for restoration of democracy; who stood against the Abacha dictatorship.

Above all, I agree with Sister Hafsat Abiola-Costello that the best honour that could be accorded the Abiola memory is to institute a free and fair electoral system and set Nigeria as the symbol of credible elections in Africa.

But, I do not see why UNILAG or any other institution could not have been renamed. Agreed, when the University of Ife was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University, we had a military administration, but the fact that the institution remains as great as it was then is an apt response to the fear that the UNILAG brand would be lost by the renaming. Harvard was New College and it is greater today after it was renamed. I do not think rebranding any university in South Africa Nelson Mandela would do any injustice to the institution. In this debate, it would be unfair to lose sight of the substance while chasing shadows.

L

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Politics

PoliticsWeek

Promises and Edo governorship elections

...Next week’s issues, events and persons

sundaynation@yahoo.com (08023165410 sms only)

People on the podium

F

“W

AIT for me. I would be travelling to Sokoto by next year, when I return, I will provide you with a good Kolanut, so spew out this one you are chewing now and hang around till when I return”.

Oh, what did you just say?

“I said leave this your certainty for the uncertainty I am offering to you because it’s going to come big”.

Serious! You mean if I jump down from this pinnacle, I won’t sustain any fracture and I would inherit the earth?

“O yes o. Besides, I won’t demolish any house even when it is on right of way or moat. I will abol•Oshiomhole ish school fees and rebuild all our schools in one year. Students in

By Comrade Mike Ozaveshe Ambrose Alli University would no PERSPECTIVE longer pay school fees and most importantly, I would abolish all forms that in Abuja. I have given the Govof taxes if voted into office as the ernor a red card. I have also asked him to start packing from GovernGovernor of this state.

“That’s not all; I will also share ment House. The arrangement we my security vote with market are putting together at the Presiwomen and the youths. Through dency, coupled with that of my party is capable of capturing the state and this, they would be employed”.

O yeeh. Are you saying you will removing the governor who is tarbuild skyscraper in all the villages ring roads that leads to nowhere”.

Are you saying you really don’t including my village? Sir, you need to convince me please because I need us to vote? What about all don’t understand how you are go- roads, the schools, hospitals, water, free health care, Comrade Buses ing to do it.

“Oh, don’t worry. You aren’t and the Benin Water Storm erosion seen anything yet. I will provide control that the governor is already food for everybody in this state. doing? Are all these projects not There would be no hunger anymore. going to count on the Election Day? No more power failure and all the Most importantly, most of the things roads in Edo state would be tarred you are promising to do have been done already. So what else? Why in my first 100 days in office.

“Let me assure you, when do you think Edo people would elected, all armed robbers would prefer promises and rhetoric to cervanish from Edo state. In fact, all tainty?

There is no doubt that the votkidnappers would be born again.

“As for contracts, I will award ers in Edo state will need to make a all to youths and women so that they choice as to which party of the three can be empowered. I would not wait fielding candidates deserves their for the federal government counter- vote come July 14, 2012 gubernatopart funding to build our schools rial election. To be able to make inrather, I will use my salary. I am here formed choices, therefore, the parties, through their candidates, must on a selfless service; gratis”.

Sir, I can’t believe what you are put before them the major planks saying because your party was in on which they intend to carry out government for 10 years and noth- their campaigns.

What, in the main, will Action ing was done. You need to clear my Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples doubts Sir. “O yes. That was then. We have Democratic Party (PDP) or All Nia new party now. All those bad peo- geria Peoples Party (ANPP) tell Edo ple in my party before have all left voters to be able to earn their votes to join the government party. So, and mandate? It would appear to don’t worry. We will perform this me that in the battle for the governorship of the state come July 14, time around”.

But the old man who is your 2012, the major contenders have leader now was the leader of the adopted stratagem they consider same old party you are now con- winning points.

The ruling ACN of Comrade demning? Did he also decamp to join the government party? Sir, Adams Oshiomhole has christened kindly let me know what has its campaign “Voter mobilization” exercise by which it intends to carry changed.

Secondly, there is nobody re- out massive voter education anmaining in your party again. Are chored on the “One Man, One you not worried? I am apprehen- Vote” mantra. The party intends to sive for you Sir because, it’s going showcase its many achievements to be difficult to come and join you in the last three and half years it in an empty house and one threat- has governed the state.

According to Governor Adams ening to collapse on your head.

Thirdly, those who decamped Oshiomhole, the campaign will said only one man dictates the tune centre on the integrity of his adminin your new party and that there is istration in the area of delivery of no internal democracy in your party. democracy dividends to the people of the state. Promises made in the I am really concerned for you Sir. “Ok. Don’t worry about all 2007 governorship election camthose. As for winning the election, paigns have largely been delivered.

His party, the ACN, intends to it’s a done deal. We have discussed

point to the many roads constructed, reconstructed or rehabilitated; urban renewal drive powered through environment beautification; the Benin Water storm project designed to eliminate flooding in more than 50 per cent of the city; the many schools built, rehabilitated or reconstructed; the many water projects spread across the state; the many new electrification projects and transformers procured and distributed to various communities; the transformation of the transport sector with the acquisition of the Comrade Buses and staff complement for the management of traffic; the many new health centres and facilities, including the new ultra-modern Central Hospital Complex nearing completion in Benin City.

There are reservations just as many doubt, if PDP’s candidate, an obscured military retiree, Charles Airhiavbere, is a man of mission and vision. In all fairness to Airhiavbere, he wants to provide good and free education and create job. But this is already in place.

Airhiavbere promised that if voted in as governor, there would be free medical facilities for pregnant women, free post natal medical facilities, free medical facilities for children, free education for children, up to senior secondary school, among others. But under Oshiomhole, the people Edo are already enjoying these facilities and incentives.

Airhiavbere also promised that he would not tax the people, if he has his way. This is curious. Nowhere in the world would a government succeed in providing the basic needs of the people without taxes in the face of dwindling federal allocation where each state need to create alternative means of survival.

The election is between these two persons. The above, are their campaign issues. The people of Edo state, in a democracy, would through the ballot, determine who should govern them if there is, however, a level playing field. The Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies must put on their thinking cap to make sure no one single individual rubbish their image.

Comrade Mike Ozaveshe, a political analyst and public affairs commentator, writes from Edo State.

OR being the first as pirant to publicly de clare his interest to contest the 2015 presidential election, and for the courage to rescind his publicly declared retirement from elective politics, former Military Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, will likely dominate political podium this week.

Buhari, while addressing the media on Thursday, said he will present himself again in the next presidential election.

It would be recalled that he had earlier contested for the same office three times; in 2003, 2007 and 2011. It is on record that in each of these contests, the retired army general had come second and in each case, he had protested the results.

Given his image as a leader, political analysts will assess the likely impact of his declaration on the polity.

Other politicians that will be on the podium this week include President Goodluck Jonathan as he studies elders’ reports on insecurity; Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervening in the Lagos/ doctors’ face-off and Governor Babatunde Fashola for listening to leaders and recalling striking doctors in Lagos, amongst others.

•Jonathan

•Buhari

Issues & Events:

The controversies surrounding Federal Government’s resolve to re-name University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Moshood Abiola University of Lagos (MAUL) will continue to dominate the political scene this week, especially because of some observers’ insistence that the decision was more political than an honest desire to honour the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, who died in detention.

Soon after the news of the re-naming was made public by President Goodluck Jonathan, students of the school took to the streets protesting the development. The school was immediately shut down. So, some concerned political leaders, reacting to the dicey development, advised Jonathan to consider using a more national infrastructure in honouring a national hero like Abiola. But Jonathan said there would be no going back on the decision.

The debate is on.

•Abiola

•Tinubu

•Fashola

COVER THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3 , 2012

• Adeyemi

• Omar • Odah

Labour’s divided house

In the last few weeks, the Nigerian Labour movement has witnessed its own share of crisis of confidence with the sacking of its Acting Secretary General and threats of the creation of a rival union. Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu examines the issues involved.

I

T is a season of crisis and the long knives are out of their sheaths.

There is crisis in the House of Labour. The hunter, so to say, has become the hunted. The House of Labour has been embroiled in crisis since its last election.

The after-effect of the election and the rumoured plan that the federal government may soon register another labour body to diffuse the power of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have thrown it into a state of frenzy.

The first victim of the last election was its former General Secretary, John Odah, who was sacked in controversial circumstances. The case is in court as the former scribe has rejected millions of naira paid into his account as his benefit. He sued the union over his sack and refused to touch his pay off. One other fall-out of his sack is the decision of 14 affiliate unions to turn their back on the Congress.

The olive branch However, perhaps due to the threat of the registration of a rival union, the Congress has appealed to its former affiliates to return to the fold.

Vice President of the Congress, Comrade Isa Aremu said at the weekend that NLC needs all its affiliates to have a formidable Labour force.

He particularly mentioned the Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, (NASU) and Hotel and Personal Services Union among others.

For the first time since the trouble started over a year ago, the Congress seems eager for reconciliation.

Aremu said since the affiliates have common interests with the NLC, they should pitch their tent together. “We want reconciliation”, he said Union members are, however, saying there cannot be reconciliation without horse-trading. A general secretary of one of the private sector unions said, “They know what they did. They know how they have cheated during the elections. Also the inhuman treatment meted out to John Odah.

Now, the court said they should settle out of court, I think they are lucky, because Odah has a very strong case against them. It is now left for them to apply wisdom and be nice to him.”

Sources close to the Labour Congress linked the crisis of confidence that is threatening to tear the movement apart to greed and overambition. A staff at the NLC secretariat who craved for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, said, “When a head of department dreams

of becoming the overall head of administration and started using elected officers to achieve his aim, and every leader seemed to fall asleep, it is like going to sleep, leaving your door open, intruders will surely enter. The leadership has however, snapped out of its slumber.”

The source said the lust for power and lucre was at the centre of the crisis.

The banana peel which swept out Odah has in turn consumed Owei Lakemfa who succeeded him as Acting General Secretary. He was eased out of the post last week.

A member of the Congress’ National Administrative Council (NAC), said “He (Lakemfa) made more enemies within one year than the Congress made in its whole 34 years!

One of the unilateral decisions that threw him out of office was the press statement issued to attack Federal Government officials, calling them names and accusing them of wanting to polarise the NLC by registering a new labour centre. He even wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.”

The NAC has since directed Lakemfa to apologise to the Federal Government over his comment about •Continued on Page 24

•Emeka Wogu

23

24

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Cover

NLC’s long forseen crisis •Continued from Page 23

registration of another labour centre. It was claimed that he did not obtain permission from any of the organs of the Congress before writing such a letter to the president.

The source said the NAC decided that reconciliatory strategies be put in place to woo estranged unions that are dissatisfied with the outcome of the last delegates conference and the removal of Odah.

Reconciliatory tones The letter by Lakemfa was said to have come to the knowledge of most members as a surprise. A senior official, who was at the meeting, said, “We do not intend to fight our colleagues on the pages of newspapers.

We will soon set up the machineries for reconciliation of all comrades that are not happy with the way things are going. Even if a new centre is registered tomorrow, we may not have a choice but to work with the centre. The outgoing Acting General Secretary did not have the permission to write that kind of a letter to the President.

We have subsequently asked him to apologise over that unnecessary letter.”

But the Federal Government, in a reaction to the blistering criticism contained in Lakemfa’s letter, said it needed no permission from the NLC to register a new Labour centre. The Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu, said though no application has been received for registration of a new labour centre, should such application be sent to his ministry, he would be guided by the Labour Act, not by sentiments.

He added that when the Trade Union Congress (TUC) was registered some years back, it was not done based on sentiments.

At the NLC NAC meeting held on May 23, 2012 a source, who participated in the parley where the decision to remove Lakemfa was taken, said, “When the meeting started, the principal officers were told to leave, but the President, Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar observed that the then Acting General Secretary, Lakemfa should stay. Omar was over-ruled by most of his colleagues. After several minutes of argument, it was decided that the position of Acting General Secretary of Congress be rotated among all the principal officers for six months duration.”

Lakemfa’s fate was sealed with that decision. The former Acting General Secretary has since confirmed his exit. He, however, failed to give details of the circumstance under which he left. He said, “Yes, I have left the exalted office of the General Secretary, but I am still working in the Congress. I had wanted to resign but had to withdraw the letter.”

Chris Uyot, one of the principal officers has been tipped to step into Lakemfa’s post from June 18. This is to allow Lakemfa to attend the international Labour organisation (ILO) conference that he already got travelling documents for in Geneva, Switzerland.

To prevent abuse of office by Acting General Secretaries, NAC has also barred all staffers of the Congress from nomination into board of parastatals where NLC has a slot.

It was gathered that at its meeting, NAC accused Lakemfa of unilaterally nominating himself as member of the board of National Pension Commission (PenCom). It was in a bid to stem such occurrence in future that it decided to put a stop to such nominations.

The recent letter to President Jonathan was not the first controversial statement issued by Lakemfa in his short stint as acting secretary of the Congress. A few months back he had issued a statement that attacked The Integrity Group of Trade Unions, (the faction that broke away from the NLC), immediately after the January anti-subsidy protests, calling them “government agents.”

Throwing brickbats However, the Group in its reaction to the attack said, “In the fullness of time, the real agents of government will be exposed and Nigerians will come to know who the real faces of the sell-outs are.” It did not

• Lakemfa

“Intrigues and backstabbing surfaced. It was as if everyone wanted to have a bite of the cake. Some key officials who claimed to have been left out of the deal when the board members and bank officials went to China decided to campaign against the loan facility.” stop there, it advised the former secretary thus, “Since Lakemfa was at the fringe of activities at the national headquarters of NLC during the 2009-2010 struggle against deregulation, we advise him to read the minutes of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Congress of December 15, 2009, which debated the recommendations of the Adeyemi-led 10man Committee on Deregulation. He and those currently at the helm of affairs at the NLC are also advised to read the 188-page Report of that committee. It is only then that they will be able to appreciate the meaning of our view that labour leaders at the national level lacked direction.”

Trouble for the NLC started in 2010, according to former Deputy President, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, who was the chairman of the board of Labour City Transport Service, when the then leadership endeavoured to turn around the moribund transport business of the NLC. He explained that the NLC president specifically briefed the various organs of the Congress that there was a provision made by the Federal Government to the then Urban Development Bank (UDBN), now The Infrastructure Bank Plc , to the tune of N10 billion for the provision of mass transit. And that 50 per cent of that amount (N5 billion) had been earmarked for the labour movement, and that the NLC was desirous of accessing the fund.

Towards achieving that, he said the Congress reconstituted the board of Labour City Transport Service. “That basically was how the various organs of NLC approved our nomination to serve on the board. The formal inauguration of the board took place in the second week of August 2010 by the President of NLC. That was when we started.”

The former board chairman said NLC

had made efforts in the past to secure loan from Union Bank and Afri Bank, now Mainstreet Bank, to revive its dying transport business. The banks, however, did not oblige the congress probably because its transport business was tottering.

He added, “NLC has shown concern in the past that they wanted to access loan from any bank. They approached Union Bank and Afribank, but these banks did not respond positively because they were not impressed about the performance and management structure of the company. I am aware that in one of those exercises that took place, a representative of the Union Bank, who incidentally served on our NAC as an auditor, accompanied the President and the General Secretary of NLC to China, precisely to Yutong Motors, to go and look at the vehicles with a view to convincing Union Bank about the need to grant this facility. It is because those two banks failed that the issue of accessing the UDBN loan came up.”

Unknown to all the concerned parties, that singular act became the root of NLC’s problems. Intrigues and backstabbing surfaced. It was as if everyone wanted to have a bite of the cake. Some key officials who claimed to have been left out of the deal when the board members and bank officials went to China decided to campaign against the loan facility. They insisted that the agreement with the bank be cancelled. Their wish was granted.

Today, the NLC mass transit business is in a coma.

On the other hand, NLC’s counterpart, the Trade Union Congress recently took delivery of 150 buses for its new mass transit company- TUC Transport & Investment Company. The buses are being managed under the Public Private

Partnership, and are now plying the Lagos and inter-state routes.

It was this crisis that led to the ouster of Odah and his replacement by Lakemfa.

An insider said Odah was consumed by the anti LCTS turnaround forces in the Congress.

Now, barely a year after replacing Odah, Lakemfa has been kicked out by the National Executive Council of the Congress and replaced with Comrade Chris Uyot.

A crisis long foreseen It was gathered that the conduct of the last delegates conference also crystallised into crisis that has embroiled the Congress.

Some eight unions, which have now swelled to 14, had alleged open malpractices during the elections. They broke away from the NLC and started mobilising for the registration of another labour centre. The Labour Act states that a labour centre can be registered if it has 13 affiliate unions. The Integrity Group of Trade Unions, as the breakaway faction is called, now has 14 affiliates. All these unions have stopped remitting check-off dues to the NLC since the delegates’ conference.

Adeyemi explained further that the NLC President and General Secretary presented a recommendation to the organs of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) the National Ad Committee (NAC), Central Working Committee (CWC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) at the meeting of these organs, which held in Akure in July 2010.

The president specifically briefed these various organs that there is a provision made by the Federal Government to the Urban Development Bank (UDBN) to the tune of N10 billion for the provision of mass transit. And that 50 per cent of that amount (N5 billion) has been earmarked for the labour movement.

He (Abdulwaheed Omar) said because the NLC was desirous of accessing this fund, it has decided to reconstitute the board of Labour City Transport Service. That basically was how the various organs of NLC approved the nomination to serve on the board.

“We had an agreement with Yutong Motors. The contract value was about $18,050,500. We have three types of buses: the Yutong ZK 6100 GA, that is the smallest one that is supposed to be everywhere and there are 200 units of that.

There is also the one fairly senior to that and we have 35 units of it. And then the third type of bus. It is about 300 buses, which were supposed to be delivered in about two or three batches.

“The first issue that was raised when we came back from China was that I, as the Chairman of the board and the General Secretary of the NLC had collected bribe of N1.8 billion. That is just the stock in trade of the blackmailers. If they are not involved in the project, they must destroy it and those who are driving the project. But it turned out to be a false propaganda because there is no way any company will give you money when the project has not taken off.”

“Finally, they talked about due process, that the project did not follow due process.

The project was presented to the organs of the NLC and they ratified it.” he said The scheming continued until the delegates’ conference where some unions decided to pull out of the NLC. However, NLC Vice President, Comrade Isa Aremu said the Congress is intact and there is no faction. He said the Congress is for reconciliation, since all the unions are protecting workers’ interest.

“As long as there is no fundamental disagreement in the NLC, there is no union that is against the struggle for the minimum wage and neither is there any in support of the fuel subsidy removal, hence we want these unions to return and let us build a more united labour movement.”

He added that strong democracy could only emerge when members of the organised labour can jointly defend the unity of the NLC and every Nigerian also defends the unity of the Nigeria nation.

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

25

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

‘Nigerians not fair to Niger Delta’ To say that Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, legal practitioner,renowned administrator,Federal Commissioner of Information in the First Republic and respected leader of the Niger Delta, has seen it all at 85 is clearly stating the obvious. For a man of his age, he still moves with a gait and swagger which belies his age! In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, one of the scions of the legendary Bekederemo, reflects on his life and times, among other sundry issues

A

T 85 you still move with a swagger. What’s the secret of your strength and longevity?

I’ve always believed that when you’re at the age of 70 and above, you’re in the departure lounge waiting for your boarding pass. But if it has pleased God that you should not yet get your boarding pass, you’ve to thank Him. But the issue of whether one is strong or not, I believe, all thanks should go to God Almighty. It is God that has given one the strength to survive and be strong. I don’t take any special treatment or formula but I always believe in one thing: if your mind is free, you have a good heart; you don’t think evil of other people, and you live from day-to-day.

I sleep soundly because I’m not thinking of what to do again. I think I’m living a fulfilled life and that makes me to feel strong.

I have two brothers from same parents, Ambassador Blessing Clark, who was Nigeria’s first representative at the United Nations; I think he is 82 today and then my brother, John Pepper Clark, who is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Lagos, 77.

So, I think it’s God’s doing like I said. But we come from a family where our parents have been looking very strong and lived good life. I think that’s the secret. I think the most important part of it is that God has willed it so and we give thanks to Him for that.

Looking back, what are some of the fond memories of your growing up years?

I was born in a village called Inuwanren, in Ughelli South Local Government Council. I also remember my grandfather, Bekederemo, who was a very big merchant. He had a very big family compound, which the British people said in 1918 or 1923 or so to be as large as that of the Oba’s palace in Benin City. And the compound remains so today. But people have been asking me to give it out to government as a museum. But we have not done so.

That’s a compound that was reputed; I think it’s older than me. The man who owned the compound, that’s Bekederemo died in 1926 before I was born and he lived in that compound for about 10 years before he died, then you can imagine how old that compound is.

The cement remains as it is with cement, brick, and walls and so on.

He had a glass house, for European traders who come to him from the Royal Niger Company. He married over 50 wives and had so many children. And he bought a ship which he was plying between Warri and Lagos in the 20s. My father, Clark Bekederemo, used to be the bursar, and then we were not born.

I’m just trying to give you the background of my family. Today, if you go to my home, you will find my great grandfather, my grandfather, Bekederemo and my father, Chief Clark Bekederemo, buried in the same place.

And I do hope that when it pleases God to take me, I will find

•Edwin Clark a place among them there.

We have a Bekederemo Hall, which was a place where Bekederemo used to sit down to receive people and interview his own children from morning till evening. My grandfather never educated his children at that time. He believed at that time that only children of the slaves should go to school. And he educated some of the children of the slaves.

But during the time of my grandfather, I saw that he sent about 15 children to school the same day, the Native Authority School.

My father then followed suit. When we went to school, we were very young. But our father saw to it that we had very good education. I remember at that time I was called Kiagbodo Clark alone but when I went school, my teacher said Kiagbodo was a bit difficult to pronounce, so he gave me the name Edwin. Then he gave one of my brother’s Godwin. He gave another one Blessing, and then he gave my other brother Johnson, which he later shortened to John Pepper Clark. These were the names given to us by our teachers... (Laughs)

Photos: Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf And your parents didn’t have any objections whatsoever?

They accepted the names wholeheartedly…

Were your teachers white or locals?

They were Nigerian teachers. My first teacher in school was Mr. Thompson Okitipki, an Urhobo man. In 1940, I transferred to another school, because my father wanted us to be conversant with Ijaw language so he transferred us to a school, where Elder Godsday Orubebe’s father was my teacher. When we left school, the ambition was to go to Government College, Ughelli. But in my time, what they used to call, 1939 amended certificate, in those days, before 1945 you don’t take examination. Immediately you read up to eight years in elementary school, you get your certificate of 1939 as amended.

But in 1945, the Regional government, which by that time was in Ibadan, introduced what they called compulsory examination.

And for you to get your standard six certificate you must go and

•Continued on Page 26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012 •Continued from Page 25 take the exam. So, we took examination for the first time in 1945 and in my school we were about nine, who took the examination at Burutu Centre. The exam was written all over the Western Nigeria. Surprisingly, five of the nine of us passed and our school was among the 10th schools that performed very well in the whole of the Western Region at the time. In some schools, some people didn’t make it because they were used to being given their standard six certificates once they finished elementary school.

I wanted to go to Government College, Ughelli. It was Government College, Warri at the time. But they said I was too big that I should go to Teacher’s Training College. So they sent me to the Teacher’s Training College.

But even when I got there, I was told that I was too small. So, I said where do I go? (Laughs) . So, I was then asked to go and teach.

I taught for one or two years before I was considered fit enough to go to Teacher’s Training College, Abraka.

That was 1949, I think. Normally, you do your grade three for two years thereafter you come out to teach. But I was sent back to my school where I passed out, the Okrika Native Authority School, where I became the headmaster of the school, in 1951.

Normally, you should teach for two years outside before you go to do your grade two teacher’s certificate but surprisingly enough I was called back because of my performance at the grade three school, a year ahead. So my senior became my classmates.

That time they took students from the three provinces namely Benin, Ondo, Warri, which they called “BOW” for short. Then I became headmaster in 1954. Incidentally, my teacher who taught me ABCD and who christened me Edwin Clark was posted to the school as one of my teachers... (Laughs) He hasn’t been trained as a teacher but he has taught for so many years He later wanted to be awarded a grade two teacher’s certificate but they said he failed the practical test. Then I was already Commissioner for Education. One day I was sitting in my school and I received a note bearing his name.

So I went out to see him. I held him by the hand in the midst of so many other people and took him to my office. So people were wondering. They didn’t know he was my teacher.

So he said, “Edwin, I have not been able to pass my honorary certificate.”

So I sent for my Inspector of Education and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Enegbakare. When they came, I said I learnt this man (my teacher) failed his practical teaching test. Then I said, if you see a teacher who taught me in school is that not enough for you to assess his practical teaching skills?

They all chorused, “why not sir!”

So, I said this man taught me in 1938.

So, they asked, do you want us to give him the certificate now? I said no, don’t give him. And they said why?

I said there are many of him out there, many other teachers who taught other people. I said, go and compile the list of those who have worked 25 years and above and who are in this category. So, when they left, my teacher asked me, ‘why can’t you allow them to give me the certificate?’ I said no, you’re not alone; there are many others like you out there.

So that’s how we formulated a policy that if you are 35 years and above, earning a honorary certificate is automatic.

You were a commissioner and later became a Federal Minister, how did you make the transition?

There was no difference. I think I was very loyal to the government. I was committed to (Gen Yakubu) Gowon’s administration. So, I operate as I was operating even when I was a commissioner by doing my job properly.

As a Minister of Information, I defended the government, I spoke my mind. There was a time I said journalists didn’t know Nigeria. So I took them on what I called “operation know your country.”

I took many of them, and we travelled all over the country. They asked questions. They knew more of their

Sunday Interview

‘It is too early to judge Jonathan’

•Clark

“Nigeria is made of people who don’t appreciate; they are thinking that the oil now is for everybody. Otherwise, they should have shown some appreciation. Up till now, we still receive 13 per cent...And the northerners say they believe the status quo should remain.” country and they visited many federal establishments and so on...

Today I find that ministers do not commit themselves and do not defend the government that they are in. They are lukewarm. How can a politician behave like a technocrat when your president is being attacked and you say nothing?

After the coup what was your relationship with Murtala Muhammad given the fact that you were quite vociferous in condemning his corruption tag on your principal, Gowon?

Thereafter when I came back, I went to see (Gen Olusegun) Obasanjo, who at the time was the Chief of General Staff. The main question I asked Obasanjo was that why did you betray your man because you were very much committed? They said they were going to probe us. They seized all my properties and that of my parents saying that they were proceeds of corruption. But I fought them and went to court and was later vindicated. And Babangida set up a committee to look into the matter and all my properties were released to me in 1992. So, I could see the vindictiveness of the late Murtala Muhammad.

So some of us suffered…I remember they said some of us took part in planning the coup with (Col Bukar Suka) Dimka in Benin, with Governor (Brigadier Samuel) Ogbemudia. He was almost condemned to death. He went for the first trial. It was the second trial that they freed him; otherwise he would have been condemned to death for no offence.

So far, do you have any regret at 85?

It is only a foolish man who will say he has no regrets in life.

Only God is perfect. One has made some mistakes; one has lost some opportunities also... There are many things one regrets. The number one, when we founded the University of Benin, we decided to make it scienceoriented, we wanted to model it after MIT in the United States. And I went to the MIT and they gave me all assistance I wanted at the time... I met one Professor Emeritus, Gordon Browne...Then I went to many other universities. There were many conventional universities existing at the time and Gowon didn’t consider it a good idea to set up just another conventional university. But when we told him, we were planning to set up a science-oriented university, he approved it.

So, we started with only science students, we sent some to Ahmadu Bello University when we didn’t have accom-

modation and teachers to handle some of the courses. Our first Petroleum Engineers were sent to Oklahoma, in the United States of America to finish their courses.

But when we appointed a Nigerian Vice Chancellor, Prof. T.M Yesufu, who was a social scientist, from Agbede, in Edo State, and who incidentally, was my in-law. When he (Yesufu) was appointed he changed the whole curriculum by introducing medicine, science, engineering, and humanities. That’s one of my first regrets.

In 1958 when Obafemi, Sardauna and Azikiwe decided to form a federation they said we’re forming a federation of people who were equal. That those three regions would develop at their own paces and that there would be fiscal federation whereby half of the revenue generated from a particular state, say 50 per cent would be preserved by the state, 31 per cent also should go to the Federal Government and the balance should go to the all the regions again.

At that time, cocoa was in highest demand in the world and it was being grown in the West. But our own part of the region, the Mid West, apart from Omora near Ondo State, nobody planted cocoa in my area except tin, rubber and palm oil.

So, the only thing we benefitted from at the time from the West was the only free primary education. In 1959, Awolowo introduced television as a luxury, it did not reach the Mid West, it stopped in Ibadan, in Yoruba area.

They later built Cocoa House, in Ibadan, opened the University of Ife, built Western House, in Lagos, Ikeja Industrial Housing Estate, Apapa Industrial Estate and the largest company, Odu’a Group of Companies. But in 1963 when our state was created, the West refused to share the assets. Even when I became commissioner for finance in 1972-74, I was very friendly with General (Adeyinka) Adebayo, who was the governor. Ogbemudia and I used to go to Eyin-Ekiti, to spend our weekends and we pleaded with him, but he refused. This is my other regret.

But today many people are benefiting from what is now being produced in the South-south.

My regret is not that they are sharing but they do not appreciate. These resources are something found in Nigeria they should have allowed people from the South-south to let s us earn what they were earning when they had this cocoa wealth.

I recall at the time that the Sardauna

used groundnut Pyramid in Kano and other places to develop the north, including hide and skin. (Nnamdi) Azikiwe had nothing...(Michael) Okpara had nothing...

When oil was discovered in 1956, in Oloibiri, and Tafawa Balewa even sent a telegraph to the Premier of Eastern Region, saying that oh, we’re happy that you discovered oil in your area…Your economy will now grow, you’ll now have money to develop your economy...So the whole thing was changed in the Constitution of 1960 and 1963 and then nobody could take it away.. But in 1967 when Gowon decided to prosecute the civil war, he now abrogated this section. There was no more derivation in the Constitution and then this continued in the civilian regime until 1979 when (the late) Ambrose Alli of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), sued Alhaji Shehu Shagari to court and the court awarded 1. 5 per cent as a token then later it was changed to 3 per cent under Ibrahim Babangida, later 13 per cent by Sani Abacha/Abdulsalam Abubakar.

My biggest regret again is that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution provides for minimum of 13 per cent derivation and it does not require the amendment of the Constitution. But Nigeria is made of people who don’t appreciate; they are thinking that the oil now is for everybody. Otherwise, they should have shown some appreciation. Up till now, we still receive 13 per cent...And the northerners say they believe the status quo should remain. They don’t produce oil but today the Yoruba and the Ibo have taken over Shell and Chevron and some other oil companies. If you go to Lagos today, the oil companies there operate as if the oil is being discovered in Lagos... Most of the women you see outside the premises of these oil companies are not from Delta, they come here make their money and go back to their base to enjoy their spoils.

And the northerners today they occupy the NNPC. For some time now, the top positions at the NNPC always come from the north and they don’t show any appreciation, they are very arrogant about it up till today...

For instance, the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) would advertise 1000 scholarships but we from the Niger Delta receive very little.

While they would ask someone from the South to bring a 2.1, somebody from the North would be required to have just a 2.2 or third class to qualify for the same scholarship.

Another area of my regret is the amount of corruption in this country. It

26

has eaten deep into the fabric of our existence as a nation. If you ask a young boy or girl, who is a messenger in an office, where is the file on the contract, she or he may have hidden it waiting for you to give bribe before they would produce it. The man at the top or the permanent secretary awards contracts to the highest bidder. I see the level of poverty, the level of unemployment, the level of injustice everywhere. You see a case of people who are qualified for contracts, but they are denied.

Today the Judiciary is corrupt, the Executive and Legislature are corrupt.

Corruption has held the country in a vice grip that unless we eradicate it, we cannot make any progress. So these are the things that I regret about.

Any personal regrets?

Yes. Last year I lost my daughter, a 41 year old lady. Last year also, I lost one of my nephews I educated at the University of Calabar, who went to Bauchi to serve. He was one of the 10 youths corps member killed. So, as I said regrets are there. There are some connected with government and what have you.

How would you rate the first year of President Goodluck Jonathan?

On the first year, I have said a lot.

There is no need to belabour the issue.

But let me say this: a lot of people are unfair to Jonathan. Now many are saying that Nigeria is a failed state... And I say a man that has been in office for just one year and you are abusing him as if he has not done anything commendable at all.

The mere fact that there is Boko Haram and the country is still moving. Those behind Boko Haram wanted to destroy his government. Those who said they would make the country ungovernable and so on, we still have Nigeria going on. You may not know, if Jonathan has not been fighting this power situation, today we would have had no light at all.

There are quite a number of things he has done. But one year is not enough to judge someone. But there is a conspiracy somewhere whereby everything people talk about is the failure of Jonathan and so on. One year is not enough to judge Jonathan.

Part of the challenge President Jonathan is facing is the fact that he reneged on the PDP zoning arrangement?

What is zoning? What zoning in PDP? Zoning to where? Even in the PDP Constitution, did you see where it zoned between the North and the South? If there is zoning let it go round the whole country, the six geo-graphical zones.

Some people believe that Jonathan promised to serve one term in order for the North to come in?

Where did he say that to the Northerners? Do the Northerners own this country? Is it their birthright to rule this country that nobody else should rule? Did (Alhaji Shehu) Shagari give any commitment to rule?

As an elder statesman, how best do you think we can handle the intractable problem of Boko Haram?

We have appealed to them...They are faceless. Let them come out and we are ready to negotiate with them.

What do you say to the decision of the Federal Government not to reinstate Justice Ayo Salami?

I’ve already given my answers.

What would you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered as someone who fought for the preservation of the country. Secondly, I want to be remembered for fighting against corruption as well as injustice in the country.

On a lighter note, people believe that you’re a progressive monogamist, someone with a penchant for going after women?

(General laughter)... I don’t know what you’re saying (laughs)...

Earlier you said Bedekeremo, your grandfather had over 50 wives, suggesting that you’re a chip off the old block?

I’m still alive... (Laughs)...I can’t tie myself to one food. My father had seven wives before he died; my grandfather had 50... So until I’m dead, I don’t know where I’m going... (General laughter)...

EURO Transfer EURO Transfer EURO Transfer EURO Transfer

EURO Transfer EURO Transfer EURO Transfer EURO Transfer COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

COUNTDOWN

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

EBUBE NWAGBO

I didn’t enlarge my boobs –PAGES 36-37

30

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Kehinde Falode Tel: 08023689894 (sms)

E-mail: kehinde.falode@thenationonlineng.net

•Flowing gown Adrned with sand bead $ sequence

Beads: A new trend of fashion T

HE taste for personal adornment has given rise in Nigeria to the ancient craft of bead-making and the manufacture of jewelleries. Emedike Ogechukwu writes; Around the country, beads and other ornaments have been used by the ethnic groups. Such ornaments were used by the antiquities sculptures of the ancestral past. They show important figures wearing these beads, hair bound, pendant, necklace and crowns. Pictorial ornament quantities of beads are excavated at new sites and burial grounds of ancient rulers and high priests. One site where such jewelries were found was a site called Igboukwu in the eastern part of Nigeria. Blue glass beads known as Segi or Popobeads were some of the oldest made in Nigeria. The degree of importance attached to ceremonial regalia was measured by the number and size of coral and red stone beads of great value of all beads.

Benin carvers worked with stone beads with beautiful carving, also stringed into necklace of all kinds since beads were of special importance, it was necessary to obtain permission from the Oba (King) before they could be worn. Punishment of disobeying this law was death. A highly speckled bead of quantity was purchased by others who could afford them.

Red stone bead have always been important as a part of the official regalia of Nigeria rulers.

Today, beads are used for several things. Some of such beads are seed bead, sand bead, coral bead, cystalbead,

pearl bead, which are used for decorating our local fabrics known as (Ankara) to give it a different look.

As a result of new trend in fashion beads have been modified such that people use it for various occasions. A typical example is the children’s hair been decorated with beads, traditional marriage, wedding, funeral, coronation, adult hair bound and Waste bead worn by most women on the waste.

According to Mrs. Cecelia Adelenike popularly called A l a ba who is a fabric beadier at Promise land market in Lagos ‘It is a new trend of fashion as it is very lucrative. But it has been in existence since our fore father lived. I have customers from different parts of Lagos who brought dress for me to bead.

Also dress makers too bring dress for me to b e a d .

Sometimes, I had to employ more hands in order to meet up with dead line. The finishing of the beading on the fabric comes out u n i q u e making the d r e s s looking beautif ul than t h e amount i t ’ s worth.

•Beaded Ankara blouse •Beaded Ankara Blouse

32

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

A Multiple tone fashiob has hit the catwalk this season

MONG fashionable women, two and three tone clothing items are receiving the most attention now.

Multiple tone dresses create a distinctly up to date taste. They are particularly great choice formal events and a stylishly combined two tone gown give the wearer a classy look that no other fashion is ever able to give. So it is no surprise that women especially the fashionistas and career types are spending fortunes to get classy two tones. Nowadays, multiple apparel has emerged as one of the strongest trends of the season.

•Jersey knit tube dress features two tone lazer cut detail throughout

•Dezray Naidoo •Olawunmi Shobowale •Toju Aye

•Bodycon dress

•Ireti Osayemi

•Jessica Simpson

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

33

Lights, camera and red carpet! It's the biggest part at any event where all that glitters is indeed gold. The red carpet is usually graced by celebrities and Nollywood's finest in their glam attire. KEHINDE FALODE brings you the fashion hits and misses.

•Chika Achelonu

•Fatima Garba •Fola Adams •Temilade Adeoye

• Anehita Ojeabulu

Next time, CHIKA ACHELONU should leave her sunglasses in her bag when indoor and off the red cartpet! Oops!

The pink colour is so perfect on FOLA ADAMS and her dress is OK, but her shoes and handbag did not do justice to the glam look. Oops!

TEMILADE ADEOYE looked glamorous in purple skinny pants, floral chiffon blouse, and a Martin Katz cocktail ring. Kudos!

ANEHITA OJEABULU stunned the red carpet in Lycra LBD teamed with Chopard earrings, clutch purse and cuff. Kudos!

FATIMA GARBA set the tone in a floor length dress that was everything a red carpet frock should be! Kudos!

THEATRE

With VICTOR AKANDE

t

BIGSCREEN

SOUND TRACK

plus

Tel: 08077408676

GISTS

PAGE

35

e-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

Oleku Concert

Ice Prince makes Radio 1 line-up

D

Rebirth of

KSA, Obey’s T

HE last Children's Day was a day of enchantment for fans of Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, otherwise called Baba Commander, and Chief Sunday Adegeye Adeyeye, alias King Sunny Ade, who after 35 years thrilled their music enthusiasts to a joint performance they had been yearning for in the past.

Tagged Oleku Concert, the success of the show followed a failed attempt by another show promoter to bring the two artistes to perform together in 2010.

The decision to get the two artistes to do a joint performance, according to Mr. Deji Osibogun of WTS Broadcasts Limited, organizers of the show, was partly to satisfy the yearnings of lovers of Juju music genre and prove sceptics wrong, who thought that the two artistes were not in good terms.

The event was staged at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island and featured the likes of Baba Sala as Master of Ceremony and Fatai Rolling Dollar as Special Guest -both mentors and trainers of KSA and Obey respectively.

Although Obey had argued that against popular speculation that he and KSA have never shared a stage together in their long years of music career, he

•Baba Sala with Fatai Rolling Dollar

joint concert

Victor Akande Entertainment Editor

noted that it was a long time ago, and that what happened then would be nothing compared to what they were about to have this time round.

Thus, it was obvious from the gesture of both artistes that they were rekindling a lost tradition. On the other hand, fans appeared to be relishing the variety of a two-course meal.

“The truth of the matter is that we have always been together, and we have played together. On my own request, we played together at the Mobolaji Sports Center in 1973. We also performed together at the Surulere Night Club in the same year 1973. That makes it 39 years ago that we have performed together,” said the Evangelist before the concert.

And when the show kicked of in earnest, there was no telling that old friends and new lovers of KSA and Obey had the opportunity of a lifetime to be enthralled by the spectacle of both men performing in a concert which WTS Broadcast, promoters of the show tagged,

Oleku, a Yoruba language expression for ‘smash hit’.

The concert was also meant to celebrate 70 years of Evangelist Ebenezer Obey on earth, and 50 years of King Sunny Ade on stage.

“When we were young, it was our belief that one day Otis Redding and James Brown will play together on stage; it never happened. It was our dream that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Bob Marley will appear together on stage; it never happened. But today, God has given the opportunity of bringing two of the best musical icons the world has ever known to the same stage, for the first time after 35 years,” Osibogun had said at a pre-event press conference.

With Ebenezer Obey playing gospel music and Miliki to the delight of the audience, and KSA hitting hard on the chord and dancing agelessly, the show was a potpourri of performance by two headliners like never before.

The show which was transmitted live on national TV was widely attended by notable personalities among them were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, and former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel.

•Obey with Sunny Ade

AYS after Chocolate City Music rapper Ice Prince was nominated for the Best International Act at this year's Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards, the Plateau State born singer will be joining the likes of Jay Z, Rihanna, Nas, Wretch 32 and D'Banj to grace the biggest entry-free event in London BBC Radio 1 Hackney weekend, to perform his smash hit single Magician alongside Gyptian.

The Hackney weekender, which will be the highlight of the London 2012 festival, will take place on the 23-24 June 2012, featuring six stages and over 80 international acts. Being the first artiste to have his debut single 'Oleku' play listed on BBC radio 1xtra, Ice Prince will be performing on the 1xtra stage headlined by Nas. “To be given the opportunity to perform on such a stage with some of my icons is exciting and a blessing. I feel very privileged and I am definitely looking forward to performing with Gyptian,” says Ice Prince.

Having signed to the award winning music label, Chocolate City Music, home to some of the biggest contemporary acts in Nigeria.

Empress Njamah quits acting?

R

EMEMBER Nollywood actress, Empress Njamah? She was undoubtedly one of the topnotches on the Nigerian movie scene at a time. However, this dark-skinned thespian known for her penchant for loud colour hair-do has for some time now been off the movie radar.

Empress, who belongs to one of the acting families in Nollywood at a time showed her versatility when she delved into interior decorations and before a short while, built her clientele among high profile celebrities.

While it is unknown whether the actress has called it quits with acting to follow her pastime, her fans would no doubt be glad to know what she's up to.

36

Entertainment

Unknown to many, actress, Ebube Nwagbo has an entrepreneurial side. The Mass Communication graduate from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka speaks with MERCY MICHAEL on life as an actress, her decision to remain single, her new pastime, Posh Hair, and a host of other issues.

EBUBE NWAGBO

I didn’t enlarge s b o o b y m

o b g a w N e —Ebub

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

O

NE of your fans just said you actually look more gorgeous physically than on screen. If you don't mind, can you share your beauty regime with us?

Well, I sleep very well. I try to rest very well. And I eat a lot of fruits. I don't drink lots of water and I eat very good food. I eat healthy.

You've been off the screen for some time now…

Yes Why is that?

It is deliberate though because I believe I've come a long way in this industry. So, if I have to be on TV, it has to be for the right reasons not because I want to appear on TV. As you know Nollywood has taken a different turn right now. So, for you to still be relevant, you have to do more than just being in every movie.

Nollywood has taken a different turn. How are you also trying to reinvent yourself?

Well, I'm working on my own movie project. It is going to be something big. I'm working on it. I'm not doing this because every other person is doing it, but I feel I've come of age to do something like that. It's everybody's dream to produce his or her own movie.

This is your first, I believe. What are the challenges?

First and foremost, I'm a good business woman.

Most importantly, I don't want to put my money into anything and don't get it back.

In as much as I love this job, I want to get my money back. But then I want to also do something different.

Everybody does movies, very good ones, and bad ones. I don't want to be in the league of the bad ones. So the fear for me now is, will I be able to meet up to expectation?

Will I be able to do a movie people will see and say yes she's done a good job?

What themes are you toying with right now?

That is what I'm working on presently. Everybody is coming with different ideas. But I want that particular one that's going to give me that push which is what I'm yet to get.

Definitely it's going to be a movie that everybody can watch. It's going to be a movie that will cut across all age bracket and religious sect.

Is it a 2012 project?

Yes. I'm already working on it and I hope to come out with it before the end of the year.

Are you working on any scripts at the moment?

Actually, I'm going for a shoot in Abuja. Like I said, it's not that I don't do movie but it has to be something different. I'm not shooting because I want to be on TV. I have a reputation and a name to protect. Even if I shoot three movies in a year, I want it to be something good, something worth talking about.

What is it about these scripts that makes you go for it?

Well, first and foremost I'm working with some international directors. The script itself is quite challenging. I look forward to working

37

I think maybe it's because of what I was wearing…I was wearing a Bikini. I'm all covered up now. My mum actually called me to ask me if I did a boobs job with him, the Director and the cast as well.

What is the name of the director?

I know him as Prince. I don't know his other name. I've not worked with him before. This is my first time of working with him.

How were you penciled down for the role?

(Laughs) It's quite emotional so it's my kind of thing.

But what role are you going to be playing?

The lead role of course! A girl who falls in and out of love, but it's quite good. It is not like it's something I've not done before, but I've never worked with this set of people and it's an experience I want to have.

So who and who are on this set?

I'm working with an America-based artiste. I can't remember his name now but I've met him once. I'm working with Ghanaian actor, Atus and a host of others.

Do you find the movie challenging since you said it's something you've had to do again and again?

It's challenging in its own way because first and foremost the Director is someone I want to work with. So definitely, the script is going to be interpreted from a totally different angle not like what we are used to here.

So far what movie would you say has really challenged you?

My first movie did challenge me. I always say that because that was my first time facing the camera and I was to play the lead role alongside people I have seen on screen severally, so it was quite challenging.

What was the title of the movie and how come you were playing lead as a fresher?

The title of the movie was Arrested by Love. And I would just say its luck. Like I went for an audition so they needed a fresh pretty face that's how I

•Ebube Nwagbo

Naeto C, Shank, Dami Krane At The Club With Remy Martin

T

EBUBE NWAGBO was able to get the role. I happened to be at the right place at the right time and with luck and God on my side…I wouldn't tell you it's because I'm so fantastic. I think it’s just luck.

Aside from acting, what do you do?

I do my business by the side. I have my own Hairline and it's doing very well.

Hairline is not something that's common among celebrities unlike clothing line. What made you choose hairline?

Well, I wanted to do something different as always. I don't like doing what everyone is doing but at the same time, I wanted to do something close to fashion because I love looking good.

The hair thing came up and thanks to God, my products are worth it. They are affordable. I'm enjoying doing this business. So far, there are no regrets, in as much as you have setbacks which come with every business. So far, it has been good.

What else made you chose Hairline?

Business. I want to make money. I wanted to invest into something that even when I'm not acting there is something to fall back on. I wanted to do something people can see and that's Ebube's; something that can stand the test of time. I know I'm not going to act forever. Sure, nobody acts forever. This is Nollywood.

What is the name of your Hairline?

It is called Posh Hair and I am the face of my brand.

Do you have an outlet where you sell your line?

Yes, we have outlets in Abuja, Lagos and Enugu for now. But we intend to expand the business.

What is one fashion accessory you always have with you?

My lip gloss; the colourless one like I

have on now. I'm not a fan of makeup.

When you're not working what do you do?

I sleep and I watch TV a lot. I'm a TV addict, if there is anything like that.

What was the last movie you saw?

Devil's Double. Sure you've not seen it. It's a nice movie check it out.

What makes you happy?

Being around my family… At the end of the day, family is key. I come from a very large and loving family. Very large but close knit family. It makes me happy when I'm around my family.

What are your plans for marriage?

As a young lady, it is expected but it is not topmost on my to-do list right now. I'll do that when I'm ready for it.

There is a Bikini picture of you where your boobs look really big. Did you try to enlarge your boobs through surgery?

That was what my mum asked me too, but the answer is no.

So what happened?

I think maybe it's because of what I was wearing…I was wearing a Bikini.

I'm all covered up now. My mum actually called me to ask me if I did a boobs job.

At the stage Nollywood is now, what are your thoughts?

I'm proud to be part of Nollywood.

I'm impressed. I appreciate my colleagues going that far. And people coming in to invest in Nollywood. It has given us a different leverage that even people outside want to be associated with what we do. So it's a good thing. Even Hollywood knows Nollywood. So I'm happy about it.

That reminds me, I didn't spot you at the AMAA’s?

Yes, I wasn't at the AMAA's Why? I wasn't in town.

HE first edition of Remy Martin's monthly club parties tagged At The Club With Remy Martin went down in grand style last Friday, May 25, 2012 at the prestigious Auto Lounge VIP, Victoria Island, Lagos with a host of entertainment dignitaries and personalities in attendance.

With Shody and a host of Nigeria's finest artistes like Naeto C, Shank, Dami Krane, and NPZ in the House, At The Club With Remy Martin rocked the exclusive lounge from 10pm till the wee hours of the next day. Not even the showers of the previous day could hold back music buffs and fun seekers from being part of the show. Thus, the event ended on a really high note, as everyone in the House had enough reason to be glad they didn't stay back.

DJ Snatch of Beat 99.9 FM kept the music blasting all through as the premium brand made good its promise to deliver a remarkable night of entertainment, fun and enjoyment for all in attendance.

Official media partners of the brand - TRACE Urban TV and Beat 99.9 FM, were also on hand to ensure that the excitement was duly captured. Sights and sound of the event will show on TRACE Urban TV through the month of June, organisers say. The next party, slated for June 29, 2012, they say promises to be more exciting.

Also at the event were entertainers like Sauce Kid, 2 Shots, Ikechukwu, Eldee D' Don, DJ Jimmy Jatt, as well as industry moguls like Chris Ubosi (C.E.O, Beat 99.9 FM), among others.

Raymond Fix set to make a mark

A

DEGOKE Raymond Afix, popularly known as Raymond Fix, is set to register his presence on the global music scene with a new single entitled Oyibobo. Produced by Flip Tyce, the dude behind P Square and Akon's Chop My Money track, the song will be premiered simultaneously on both local and internationa l airwaves in a couple of days.

Acco rding to

Raymond Fix, the hip hop/R&B music sensation who recently returned from a musical tour of the United States of America (USA), his priority is to make a unique global statement with the song, Oyibobo and subsequent ones.

“Right now, the Nigerian music industry is growing at a very rapid pace, and it has attracted the attention of music buffs all over the world. But we don't need to relent. We need to keep churning out potential chart toppers to keep the momentum going, and that is exactly what I'm doing,” he noted.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Adegoke in Ejigbo, Lagos State, Raymond Fix moved to Akure when he was 9 years old. He grew up with his Grandma listening to the likes of King Sunny Ade, Dele Taiwo, Tu Pac Shakur, Plantashun Boiz, Remedies, Craig David, Joe and R. Kelly.

38

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

T

HE Nigerian music scene is huge but there were very few female rappers years ago. However, this trend is fast changing as the music scene has witnessed the entrance of more female rappers especially in the last one decade. There is no mincing words that some of them have earned top spots in the game and have come to stay for good.

Indeed rap music has grown in leaps and bounds unlike four decades ago when people listened to the likes of Snoop Dog, Dr Dre, Waren G, Nate Dog and others. After which the likes of Tupac, Β.I.G, Jay Z, Kanye West and Eminem came on board the international scene. While the female emcees back then were the likes of Queen Latifah, De Brat, Foxy Brown.

Then came the next generation of female rappers with the likes of Missy Elliot, Lil' Kim, Eve and currently rocking the international scene is Nicki Minaj.

As far as Hip Hop is concerned, rap music has always been dominated even on the international scene by the male folk with just a token number of female rap artistes. Bringing it back home, once upon a time the Nigerian hip hop scene could only boast one notable female emcee, the self-styled Rappatainer, Adesola Adesimbo Idowu, popularly known as Weird MC. Known for her androgynous appearance, the Ogun native born is the pioneer of female 'rappatainers'.

Weird MC’s music prowess became noticeable and her fame soared after she released her debut album titled Simply Weird. It was a blend of American-style hip hop and Afrobeat which featured the video-single Allen Avenue. She is perhaps the first Nigerian artiste to release a video-single, which she also produced. The Allen Avenue video raised controversy, as her man-like appearance made people question her true gender.

Despite the popularity of the video, it was widely reported that the album failed to sell an impressive number of copies. Notwithstanding the setback, she was honoured with several awards including the first AMEN award for Best Hip Hop Album.

Mercy Michael In 2006, Weird MC released her On the same stage, Sasha once rocked second album, After Da Storm. With the the mic alongside Hollywood queen of recognition of Hip hop as a major genre rap, Eve. of music in Nigeria, her single Ijoya which means Time To Dance became a Sasha, also known as the First Lady of massive success. In 1997 Ijoya earned her Storm Records, has remained the most AMEN award Best Hiphop/Pop Act of visible female artiste in Nigeria for the Year and Channel O Music Video almost a decade. With the success of her Award for Best Special Effect. Following debut album titled, First Lady, she has the success of After Da Storm, Shola continued to increase her fanbase and continues to keep her game tight, has been nominated for various awards rocking the music scene in major shows home and abroad. In February 2009, she and concerts. won the Best Female Artiste award at the Women In Entertainment awards After Wield MC, then came Sasha P held in England who is better known as Yetunde Alabi. for her first single She is among the rave making female titled, Adara and emcees on the Hip Hop scene. She is the self-styled first lady of Nigerian Hip Hop. The self-proclaimed first lady of Nigerian Hip Hop started rapping as a hobby and in 2001 got a record deal with Trybe Records and signed onto Storm 360 record label in 2004. Naturally, when someone ascribes herself with such a title, she has to prove it and in her case, there's a lot of evidence that support her claim. She did win the 2010 Best Female at the 3rd edition of MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA). The Awards was held on December 11 2010, at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Indeed, she broke the record as Nigeria's first ever win in the Best Female category.

•Kel •Eva

Nigeria’s hottest female rappers in August of that same year, she was nominated in two categories (Best Female Video and Best Cinematography) at the Nigerian Soundcity Video Music Awards for her second single titled, Only One. Notable also among the packs of awards is The Best Female Video at the Channel O Awards which came also in 2009. And in 2010, Sasha was nominated in the category for Best Hip-Hop Act In Africa at the KORA Awards, making her the first West African female hip-hop artiste to be nominated twice.

Another female emcee worthy of

•Muna

mention in the Hip Hop game is Munachi Gail Teresa Abii Nwankwo, popularly known as Muna by friends and fans alike. Born and raised in Port Harcourt, Owerri native Muna was encouraged by her family to pursue her passion for music and arts. She won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) crown in 2007 and she has shown in several instances that there is more to her than just being a pretty face. She is a rapper, songwriter, television presenter and a model. Muna is a force to reckon with in whatever form of art she puts her mind to as she's known to have the Midas touch. Prior to winning the MBGN, it was widely reported that Muna had performed as part of a Port Harcourt-based rap group referred to as The Specimen A. As a solo rapper, she performed as Babyrella before changing her stage name to Muna. As a songwriter, she has written songs for artistes such as J Martins and Waje and has also appeared in several music videos, most notably in P Square's Ifunaya.

In June 2010, after years of collaborating with various artistes, Muna signed a multi-year management contract with Ayo Shonaiya's RMG Company. The Goddess, The Hustler and singles like I Feel Real, and Killer Queen are some of her efforts that have been released. In 2011, Muna was one of the female rappers to feature and represent Nigeria on the globally televised BET Cypher for the BET Awards.

Muna continues to collaborate with other hip hop artistes and in early 2011, she wrote the lyrics and featured on Waje's hit single titled, So Inspired.

Muna has established herself as a promising female emcee on the Nigerian Hip Hop scene.

Kelechi Ohi known as Kel is another bundle of talent from the token of female rappers to attract unspeakable attention upon her entrance into the growing Nigerian Hip Hop scene. At a time, Kel was the hottest female rapper on the scene and her album titled Investment was well received. In 2009, she was nominated for Best Female MTV Mama Awards held in Kenya but Kenya's Amani won in that category.

Within a short while, the brand Kel attracted endorsement from foremost hair cream manufacturers, Soulmate Industries. Although, there seems to be a prolonged silence from this one-time rave emcee, singles like Wa wa Alright, and Move among others clearly speak for her as a force to reckon with.

In the league of female MC is Eva Alordiah better known as Eva who has also earned a top spot on the Hip Hop scene. Eva became noticeable after she teamed up with Cartiair in 2009 when she was featured on the remix of Owo ati Swagger alongside Gino, Terry tha Rapman and the Late Dagrin. The song which was nominated for Best Collaboration in a Video at the Soundcity Music Video Awards in 2010 became one of the biggest songs of the year and mapped a very good path for the young female artiste.

With singles like I Stay over and Relentless produced by T.K, Eva has proved time and again, the depth of her rap skills.

In 2011, she announced the release of her first body of works titled The GIGO EP. The effort contains songs in several genres, showcasing Eva's versatility and style.

•Sasha

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

39

Dbanj, Wizkid, R2Bees shine as Soundcity launches in Ghana

M

A

When controversy goes beyond Charlyboy’s Private Part

recent event has shown that controversial maverick entertainer (as a writer described him) Charlyboy has his limit with questionable stunts.

A publication which described him as claiming to be 'gay and head of Illuminati in Nigeria,' is shaking him to the very foundation, unusual of man who would take anything in the name of showbiz.

Charlyboy had given out an unhindered life story in his book 'My Private Part'; he has shown exceptional courage in the face of opposition, he has often walked the path where few people are found, he is proud being called an Area fada, a seeming derogatory nomenclature with the semblance of an urchin kingpin; He professes openly to the leadership of Okada riders, always bending to the rank of the downtrodden. Indeed, Charlyboy is odd in all ramifications, and is never driven by complex associated to weirdness of dressing, make up or accessories or association.

Charlyboy may appeal to you like the devil next door, he does not budge. He knows that even the Biblical Messiah was called worse names. He is rather concerned with the few people who are gifted to see his true heart and treat him like an idol.

However, it is now obvious that one thing that would make this man of round character to stop smiling is to associate him with 'gay and head of illuminate cult in Nigeria'-worse still, when he is being falsely quoted to have admitted to such personalities.

The reports say Charlyboy confessed to being gay and illuminati , rating him as the second publicly known gay man in Nigeria. He was reported to have granted an interview to a certain Danfo Express, for which some newspapers followed suit.

In a statement, Charlyboy's Press Secretary, Adoyi Abah Ali, noted that “if there is one thing that Charles Oputa, aka Charlyboy, is known for, it's his silence over people's opinion about his personality brand. He hardly ever picks up court cases against publishers and publishing companies for any kind of story speculated against him or his brand. However, one is shocked at the step he has taken so far towards redressing the latest gay story syndicated across newspapers in the country. This time, CB has decided to use XYZ as scape-goats, and as a warning signal to other newspapers that

Victor Akande Entertainment Editor

earned reputation, and that of my Charly Boy brand, all in the mad rush of some newspapers to increase their circulation through spurious and attention grabbing stories.”

Obviously disturbed by the bad press, CB as he is fondly called, added: “ever since these stories broke, I have been inundated with angry calls by my friends, admirers, business associates and family members who have expressed their disgust, disappointment and shock at the 'confessions' they have been reading about in different forums. My businesses have irreparably suffered and my family seriously mortified in the public eye. The general public, who believed these false stories, because it was coming from seemingly reputable organizations, have also vilified me in hundreds of thousands of posts and comments on different blogs, websites and social networking forums. I have essentially become an object of ridicule worldwide as a result of these wicked lies being reported as FACT. In fact, one of my daughters recently wrote me a heart-breaking letter on how this development has affected her emotionally to the point where she was even ashamed and scared of going out in public!” the statement also reads in part.

syndicate stories without due verification.”

It was said that the National Mirror and Daily Independent as well as other newspapers have on Saturday, 26th May circulated a story indicating that Charlyboy, in an interview, admitted being gay and leader of Nigerian Illuminati, quoting one Danfo Newspaper.

This news trending the internet for over two days has been confirmed to be false by Charlyboy as he opined that he never granted any of such interview.

CB was quoted to have said on twitter: “I read with total dismay in XYZ that I am gay and head of Illuminati… I have never sued before...but this time....” He felt slighted that the newspapers published an opinion as though it was a fact.

In a related development, Charlyboy's Attorneys led by Barrister Ope Banwo have written to the management of the newspapers, demanding a retraction of the said story within 72 hours, following which legal actions may be taken.

Charly Boy had also followed suit with a clear position on the matter. “For the avoidance of any doubt,” he said, “I want to assure Nigerians that I am NOT gay and I am NOT part of any organization called the 'illuminati' in any way shape or form. I also categorically state that any reports of my alleged 'confession' to any newspaper is a figment of the imagination of my detractors, and a very insidious attempt to destroy my hard•Charlyboy

USIC and Lifestyle Channel, Soundcity, has decided to broaden its horizon by venturing into the Ghanaian music industry.

Prior to the Ghana launch, Soundcity hosted a lavish prelaunch radio party at Y FM recently which featured celebrities like R2Bees, Olamide, Wizkid, Solid Star, Weird MC, DJ Neptune, Tiffany and J-Martins.

At the unveiling of its Ghana office were top artistes like the Koko Master Dbanj, Ayo Balogun a.k.a Wizkid, Skales, Ama K Abebrese, Tiffany, Olamide, Itz, Basorge Tariah Jnr, R2bees, YQ, Dblack, Zigi and Raquel. The crowd just

couldn't get enough of these artistes.

Also present was the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, Iyiola, the CEO Ghone and Bola Ray in attendance among others.

Speaking on the Ghana launch of the music channel, Soundcity's spokesperson, Ayodeji Adeniyi, said, “we thank Ghanaians for allowing Soundcity into their homes and lives, for us that is key; we are very delighted to be here. One thing that stands out about the people of this country is that the average Ghanaian is a music enthusiast, nothing other than bringing Soundcity here would have given us more pleasure.'’

•Dbanj with Weird MC

A-list thespians converge as Silver Lining screens

T

HE much anticipated short film on Autism titled Silver Lining was screened at the Ventures Koral Reef, Ikoyi Lagos on Sunday, May 27, 2012 in an atmosphere characterized by inspiration and hope.

The event kicked off with a red carpet session and saw some of the brightest Nollywood stars and socialites, including Desmond Elliot, Ini Edo, Omoni Oboli, Susan Peters and renowned producer, Emem Isong, in their trendy ensembles.

Treated to a special evening of fun, laughter, tears and hope, the audience was taken by surprise at Monalisa Chinda's effortless interpretation of an emotionally frustrated mother in the heartrending film which also features Whoba Ogo and Obiora Olife as father and child, respectively.

“The film seeks to hearten parents with special children while educating the society at large about the Autism spectrum. It's a cause that is very close to my heart, and I plan to do more of such projects,” Monalisa responded when asked why she took part in the film.

Expressing her gratitude at the end of the event, Mrs.

Dotun Akande, Executive Producer of Silver Lining and Founder of Patrick Speech & Languages Centre, said she was very grateful for the support showered on her by everyone in the industry. “Autism is not a death sentence! With early diagnosis, intervention and therapy, your child can recover without a trace,” she concluded.

•Monalisa

40

Entertainment

BIG

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

CINEMA GUIDE LAGOS

PICTURE Supported by: SILVERBIRD CINEMAS

The Avengers: A fiesta of muscle men

D

IRECTED by Joss Whedon and staring Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mark Ruffalo, this superhero film is a movie buff's delight that leverages on the trademark of some popular film stars. It creates a potpourri of the cherished element of each by creating a blend that tells a new refreshing story about good overcoming evil.

One has a bow. One has a hammer. One is a man out of Time. One's a comedian, the joker

in the pack (he also has a cool metal suit).

One is a girl, though she's mad good at fighting. One is an angry green monster.

This blend is a cast of Marvel Comics superheroes that include Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, etc. Like Fantastic Four (a film reviled by the comic-book fraternity), The Avengers plays it light, seemingly unencumbered by the high expectations it's spent years setting up. The plot is simple: first the team are gathered

by Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. then they sit around bickering, then they spring into action. The pivotal event is that somebody dies, therefore must be avenged.

The Avengers' cast is livelier, its

dialogue is wittier. The fight scenes are amusing, partly because so many are intra-Avenger: Captain America gets in a punchup with Iron Man, then Thor swings his hammer at Hulk. One thing that's notable, though, is how much the team rely on fancy weapons and brute strength as opposed to specific superpowers.

Again and again, the film speaks of soldiers and war.

At one point, Loki is explicitly compared to Hitler (by an old man in Germany), implicitly ranged against Captain America's patriotic Stars-and-Stripes outfit (the Captain himself is a WW2 relic, of course). The whole Avengers project is touted as a military tactic a powerful deterrent, like the atom bomb. Pointedly, the team make time to save “civilians� during the final battle. All this is worrying, mostly because the exact same unironic subtext echoes of WW2, blind faith in 'good' soldiers and virtuous militarism appeared in Battleship last week.

Men in Black

The future is yesterday

Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 99 min Best Exortic Marigold Hotel Genre: Action/Adventure Contraband Genre: Action/Adventure John Carter Featured Actors: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time132 min Man on a Ledge Featured Actors: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time102 min

ABUJA Genre: Action/Adventure Dr Seuss' the Lorax Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Drama Running Time: 86 min Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 99 min The Scores Featured Actors: Aremu Afolayan, saheed balogun ,Eniola olaniyan , Olumide Trespass Bakare,sunkanmi omobolanle Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Genre: Drama Nicole Kidman and Cam Phone Swap Gigandet Featured Actors: Wale Ojo, Genre: Drama Nse Etim Ikpe, and Ghanaian Running Time: 91 min Superstar, Lydia Forson True Citizens Genre: Comedy Featured Actors: Uti Man on a Ledge Nwachukwu, Alex Usifo, Featured Actors: Sam Brian Okwara, Clareth Worthington, Elizabeth Banks Onukogu, Keneth Okolie, and Jamie Bell Clara Iweh, and Melvin Odua. Genre: Action/Adventure

PORT HARCOURT

W

HEN his partner K is erased from history, Agent J must time travel to 1960s New York to save him and prevent an alien invasion.

The series returns with great eye candy, good 3-D and more sci-fi comedy. Will Smith is funny, but Josh Brolin as young Agent K is so exceptional at mimicking the tight-lipped Tommy Lee Jones that he steals the show.

The first follow-up to Men in Black was ten years ago, and revisiting the characters of Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) and their alternate-reality version of New York City is enjoyable. The population is dotted with

Titanic Featured Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane Genre: Drama Running Time194 min Trespass Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman and Cam Gigandet Genre: Comedy Running Time: 91 min Dr Seuss'- The Lorax 3D Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time86 min 21 Jump Street Featured Actors: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube Genre: Comedy and Sequel Running Time109 Mins Machine Gun Preacher Featured Actors: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time129 min Phone Swap Featured Actors: Wale Ojo, Nse Etim Ikpe, and Ghanaian Superstar, Lydia Forson Genre: Comedy Running Time Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam

bizarre-looking aliens. The screenplay is cleverly done, forcing Smith to journey back in time to the year 1969 in order to undo an incident that has affected Jones ever since.

More enjoyable is the use of 3-

D, which was executed in postproduction, and looks great, with some bravura shots that are meant to be enjoyed. It's that spirit of fun that permeates Men in Black 3 and makes it so much fun.

The Ides of March Featured Actors: Paul Giamatti, George Clooney and Philip Seymour Hoffman Genre: Drama Running Time: 101 Mins True Citizen Genre: Drama Running Time: 97 Mins 21 Jump Street Featured Actors: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube Genre: Comedy and Sequel Running Time: 109 Mins Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 86 Mins Trespass Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman and Cam Gigandet Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 91 Mins Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam

Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Phone Swap Genre: Drama Running Time: 70 Mins Machine Gun Preacher Featured Actors: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon Genre: Action/Adventure

41

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

t e g r ta ld u o h s s r e n ig s e d ‘Nigerian t’ e k r a m ld r o w n r te s e w the nd Kona ased fashion designer behi Naomi Keshinro is a UK-b ministration from the Ad s es sin Bu of te ua ad gr A Signature. o Iwoye, she later studied Ag y, sit er iv Un jo an ab On d Olabisi ndon College of Fashion an Lo us io tig es pr e th at n io fash e developed her skills as an Newham College where sh a fabric garment technologist and r, tte cu rn tte pa r, to tra us ill lode, she talks about Fa e nd hi Ke ith w ew vi ter designer. In this in re her craft and style Signatu

Y

OU are based in the UK, so why are you here?

I'm here because we are having the UNILAG Fashion Week and it is going to be great because it's a platform we will giving equal opportunity to those ...you know how the industry is right now, there are some many creative minds out there that are not having the right platform to showcase their collections and what they are doing.

UNILAG Fashion Week is going to be a three-day event and it is an opportunity for up-and-coming designers as well to showcase their collections. So, we are giving them this platform to be able to showcase their brands. And this fashion week came about because I want to launch my collection in Nigeria and then we went about looking for a platform to do it. So, my brand is collaborating with UNILAG to host the fashion week. I will be launching my collection into the Nigerian fashion industry during the fashion week. UK-based Adebayo Jones will be coming on board, some international designers, as well as highly talented and popular home designers.

Why the choice of UNILAG? Of course Lagos State is the fashion capital of Nigeria and the University of Lagos is the best place to go and one thing I have realised about UNILAG is

that they are trend setting. They are always doing a new thing; they are the first University to have its own radio station.

Is it an event restricted to students only?

No it is not! We have a website for it and on the website, we have a lot of people registering to be part of it and to showcase during the fashion week. We want to give equal opportunity to everyone; we want to use models as well and we want to discover models that won't have that opportunity to go for fashion shows as well. We are giving this opportunity to everyone as long as you know that you are creative.

What propelled you to go into fashion?

I have always been fashion-inclined right from school, and when I moved to the UK, I studied fashion. Fashion is my passion and something I have always wanted to do. At the end of the day, you need to have a passion for what you do, otherwise you will quit. It has been a huge and challenging task so far, but because I love it, I keep doing it. Kona Signature started in 2009 and the idea behind it was that I found out that there is a gap to be filled. My collections are motivated towards clothes you can wear to the office. And in the evening, you can change the shoes and earrings, and still fit in perfectly with the same clothes. So, with one pair of dress, you can wear it through the day, dress it down or up with few accessories.

Tell us about your background.

My parents are from Oyo State, Ibadan to be specific. I grew up in Lagos, got my first degree before travelling to

the UK to study fashion designing at the London School of Fashion and Newham's College. And I worked in the real estate industry for about five years before starting my outfit in 2009.

What type of fabrics do you like researching with?

I love to research with fabrics that you can wear to the office. I am fussy when it comes to fabrics because it has to be durable; a fabric that when you have a pen ink on it in the office, it is easily washable. On my next collections, I am going to work with a lot of sequence, beaded fabrics and a lot of brocades, because brocade is really huge this season. So far so good, I have been able to work with fabrics that will allow you to fit into every aspect of the day.

How are your collections faring in the UK market?

They are doing quite well. We have about three stores stocking our brand and we sell online as well. We have a website where you can go and buy, and then we ship it to you, although we have not been shipping to Nigeria.

What makes a good clothe?

Being a designer, I know clothes that serious efforts have been put in to make.

For me, the fabrics have to be really good; the design must relate to what you are trying to portray, because a good design can actually be destroyed with the colour of the fabric you are working with. So, your designs have to go with your fabrics. A good clothe must be durable, fashionable and must make a statement.

Can you make a comparison between the Nigerian fashion industry and the UK's?

It is a long way to go! To be honest, I have seen things that I'm really impressed with on the catwalk, designs and creativity, but for me, the finishing which makes up the total appearance and look is still not good enough. And trust me, if you don't get your finishing right, you can't get there, because nobody is going to buy your clothes. I think Nigerian designers need to go from couture/made-to-measure. What most Nigerian designers do is that they sew; they are like tailors and people come to them and they take their measurement and they sew. They need to get out of that and start producing for the ready-to-wear market. They need to start having their clothes with tags and with different sizes going into the shops and people will come and pick them up.

That's where the money is; we need to be

ready for that market so that the western world can come and buy from us. And the good thing about these people is that they want to go with the best and if they find anything that they love, they are ready to patronise you. So, if you have a good collection put together, ready-towear that you think is creative and that you think that the finishing is impeccable, they would buy from you. I think it's high time we started doing that. And instead of us buying their clothes, we will take our clothes to them and they will buy as well. Labour is cheap in Nigeria, so, I don't really see why we should not be able to compete with the prices they charge abroad.

What is the thin line between a tailor and a fashion designer?

A tailor is someone that does maketo-measure and takes every detail of the wearer. Tailoring is making something to suit you, but a designer does the creative part of it. When I was in fashion school, we could be in school for a whole week and all we would be doing is drawing. As a designer, it is about your creativity; a lot of designers don't even know how to sew! But they are quite creative and could do a lot of things. A tailor doesn't have to be creative; they make your clothes to suit you. Not all designers are tailors and not all designers can sew.

How do you balance your busy life with that of your responsibility as a mother?

I try to balance it as a mom and that is why I try to have a quality time as much as possible with my family, especially my kids. Now I'm in Nigeria and my kids are abroad. To be honest with you, it has not been easy.

How would you define style?

Style is elegance and I believe women should take pride in themselves.

It hurts me when I see beautiful women having big tummy. You don't have to spend a million dollar to look good.

Everybody has his or her own style; l love to look good and l always love to make a fashion statement anywhere l go.

Describe your style?

I go with the 50's and 60's women.

The 50's and 60's women looked flamboyant and elegant; they take time in dressing, they look beautiful and they are made of this world. Everything for them falls into proportion.

42

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

•L-R: King Sunny Ade, Pa Fatai Rolling-Dollar, Ebenezer Obey, Deji Osibogun and Gbenga Adeyinka

&

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

Fun, thrills, as KSA, Obey perform live on stage

F

OR the first time, two living juju music legends, Evangelist Obey Fabiyi and King Sunny Ade, performed live on the same stage in front of an esctatic audience which comprised top government officials, prominent politicians, business moguls and first class traditional rulers. The musical show tagged 'Oleku Concert' took place on May 27 at The Harbour Point owned by former banker-turned-event planner, Mrs Yewande Zaccheus on Victoria Island, Lagos.

Packaged by a popular businessman, Otunba Deji Osibogun, the event lived up to its billing as the VIP guests had a fun filled time, reports Olusegun Rapheal •Gov. Babatunde Fashola

•L-R: Akeem Muri-Okunola, Segun Oniru and Mo Abudu

•Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and wife Senator Oluremi •Oba Akinruntan and his Olori

•Alhaji Lai Mohamed

•Mrs Adejoke Adefulire-Orelope

•Toro Johnson

•Alhaji Muri Gbadeyanka •Mr and Mrs Odutola

•Chief Raymond Dokpesi and wife, Moji

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

•Lagos State governor , Mr Babatunde Fashola and wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, during the funeral service

43

•L-R: Wife of the late Vice Chancellor, Mrs Funmilayo Sofoluwe and the, Ag V,C. Unilag, Prof Rahmon Ade Bello

UNILAG VC, Professor Sofoluwe buried amid encomiums

By Muyiwa Hassan

I

T was tributes galore last Thursday at the final burial rites for the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, 62, who passed on a few weeks ago at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The first leg of the interment th proceedings kicked off on May 25 with a special jumat/prayer service at the UNILAG mosque. From Sunday, th th May 27 till May 30 , different activities were held in honour of the Professor of Computer Science, whose death threw the country's academic community into serious mourning. On May 31, a funeral service was held for the deceased at All Saints Church in Yaba, Lagos, before the final interment at the Ikoyi Vaults & Gardens.

Photos: Muyiwa Hassan

•Guests and family members of the Sofoluwe

•L-R: Former V.C. UNILAG, Prof Ibidapo-Obe and his wife, Shola

•L-R: Chief Wole Olanipekun, and V.C., Afe Babalola University, Prof Sidi Osho.

•Mr Gamaliel Onosode and his wife, Susan

•L-R: Former Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries, Mr Felix Ohiwerei and Mr Simeon Olakunrin

•The Officiating ministers of All Saints’ Church

•A Cross Section of guests at the lying-in-State of the on the Campus

44

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Social KAYODE ALFRED

(E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com, Tel: 08035733605, 08099400057)

Daisy Danjuma to mark 60th birthday in Spain

A

LL is set for the 60th birthday celebration of popular celebrity woman and one of Nigeria's style icons, Senator Daisy Danjuma, wife of General Yakubu Theophillus Danjuma (rtd). Currently, the talks among society heavyweights is the impending party, which sources say the celebrant is pulling all stops to make one not to be forgotten in a long while. Arguably rated as Nigeria's biggest collector of expensive precious stones and diamonds, the Edo State-born lawyer has, in the last few months, busied herself with preparations towards ensuring the success of the party, which comes up in mid August 2012 in Spain where Daisy's immensely wealthy husband owns a multimillion pound villa that also serves as the family's holiday home.

Odunlami Mo Abudu floats Kola-Daisi EbonyLife TV goes quiet

F

ORMER banker and erstwhile MD/CEO, Lotto Nigeria Limited, Odunlami Kola-Daisi is not having the best of times at the moment, sources have revealed to SC. Much has not been heard or seen of the former Managing Director of the defunct Fountain Trust Bank sequel to the hard times being faced by his Lotto company, which held a lot of promises at its inception but ran into stormy waters after about five years of operation. With several of his key staff having left in droves, most notably Funke Kuti, the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, a hitherto bubbly and lively Kola Daisi has, in the last two years, recoiled into his shell, perhaps to reflect on where he had gone wrong and chart the way forward.

S

HE made her name and fame as a human resources consultant and a facilitator of multibillion naira ventures. The establishment of Protea Hotel on Lekki, Lagos is a case in point. Ever restless and brimming with ideas, Mo Abudu's celebrity status got a further boost with her foray into television broadcasting, taking off with a talk show, 'Moments with Mo', followed in quick succession with 'The Debaters' and 'The Naija Diamonds', all of which received multi-million naira corporate endorsements.

Gracious and unapolegetically selfassured, Abudu is about now crossing the t's and dotting the I's preparatory to the launch of a new TV project christened EbonyLife Television.

The syndicated programme will mirror the life styles of achievers in all spheres of human endeavours, while highlighting the challenges they surmounted on their way to the top.

Elfreda Edewor in new romance

U

NTIL sometime last year, the rumour that girl-about-town, Elfreda Edewor was in love tango with newly-married Super Eagles star, Osaze Odenwinge stubbornly refused to die down.

Though the duo neither confirmed or denied the story, there were reports that on a few occasions, they were sighted hand in tow at a few night clubs on the island in Lagos having a time of their lives. But no sooner had the romance started in full blast than it crashed, with Elfreda sulking almost inconsolably for months over the development.

However, she has since moved on if the latest gist about her is anything to go by. The vivacious young lady, sources say, is now in a new relationship with a former governor who is now a senators. What more, the good-looking senator is said to be spoiling Elfreda with all the good things money can buy.

Chief Bode Akindele bereaved

R

E V E R E D businessman, Chief Bode Akindele is not a happy man at the moment.

Some days ago, the Ibadan High Chief lost one of his daughters, Mrs Modasola Ibidun Adetunji, who passed on at the age of 49. The deceased, who was a lawyer and also had an MBA, was interred at the Vaults & Gardens at the Ikoyi Cemetery after a funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Olive Tree Parish in Banana Island, Ikoyi.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

47

VOL 1 NO. 037

Public relations as brand promotion leader T

HE following is a beautiful contribution of one our readers, Oladipo Akinkugbe, a PR practitioner. This is a beautiful and insightful piece, no doubt, and we do hope our readers will add the contents here to enrich their knowledge of Public Relations as holistic approach to brand building.

I know for a fact that some advertising practitioners are likely to argue over some of the issues raised and position taken by writer, but we at MC&A DIGEST will be like to see such level of reader's interaction on this page. So, let's keep our inks flowing.

Thank you all.

Just to mention first of all that I work as a copywriter in a PR agency. However, I've always been in love with the art and trade of advertising as far back as I can remember long before I began to understand the dynamics of the trade. My place of work influenced me to look closer at the benefits and strengths of a public relations approach.

I've been studying through the fourth edition of Advertising and Integrated Brand Promotion (O'Guinn, Allen, Semenik, 2006) where some aspersions were made about Public relations replacing advertising as the lead approach in brand promotion/marketing communications efforts. In their words: “Corporate advertising will never replace brand-specific advertising as the main thrust of corporate communications.

But it can serve a supportive role for brand advertising” “To say that you can base the entire launch of a brand on an uncontrollable technique like publicity is indefensible” There are 3 reasons I wasn't surprised by the myopia and bias of these statements. One, the fact that the book is titled “Advertising and Integrated Brand Promotions”; two, the book was written by advertising professors; and three, these statements were made in response to books such as The Fall of advertising & the Rise of PR amongst many.

From what we are seeing in advanced marketing communications climes Mr. O'Guinn, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Semenik should be revising these statements in the current edition of their book. Kye Strance of Vocus Consulting writes “PR suddenly has a newfound respect, which is the result of the growth of social media's importance to marketing”.

“Madison Avenue is increasingly recognizing the 'higher strategic importance' of PR”, writes Stuart Elliott in the New York Times, noting that “public relations agencies are excelling in 'understanding the changing dynamics of the marketplace,' The battle of PR versus Advertising has evolved into a bitter turf war and it is always hard for the waning party to gracefully concede ground. From my vantage point the divide between PR and Advertising is not a strict

dichotomy. There is advertising in public relations the same way there is public relations in advertising. Either can be used as support for the other. The question is which one is best suited as the lead approach to building a brand.

Advertising approach to brand promotion looks more like public relations these days. The interactive approach to marketing communication has always been the way public relations professionals approach brand promotion. 'Viral', 'relationships', 'Brand Stories' and 'Buzz' are now the 'buzz' words in advertising Lingo. PR

proponents are actually guilty of the same. Public relations also use advertising techniques to create buzz and generate publicity for a brand. Examples are the United Colours of Benetton Clothing Company with their provocative ads and most notably the richest company in the world Apple with the 1984 Ads and its think Different slogan. The difference is that PR is essentially the same yesteryears and today while advertising practice seems to shifting at its core.

What makes them really different though is approach to brand promotion through message packaging and propagation.

When you hear advertisements what comes to mind?

It revolves around creative copy lines and images, you think amusing 30 second TV ads and radio jingles that have been paid to broadcast. Or you think of the intrusive nature of their hard sell tactics. Advertising is so obvious,

upfront and a lot of the time patronising and outright insulting. Consumers have learnt to build up a wall of cognitive resistance to advertisements.

The thing about PR is that when it is done right you don't even know it is PR. This promotional technique passes as credible, worthwhile information, education or entertainment and not a mere intrusion on your media consumption. What's more it doesn't cost as much as advertising because media placements have to be earned and not bought, albeit, the peculiar nature of the practice in Nigeria is-shall we say-less than the ideal. The social nature of marketing and media consumption on the web, thanks to social networks such as facebook, twitter and video sharing sites such as You Tube makes public relations approach ideal to gaining awareness and developing a brand image.

Advertising is still going to be what it is and is still going to be as significant to brand promotion as ever. I won't go as far as to declare that advertising is falling but what is beyond doubt is that Public Relations have risen to new heights in a new age of brand promotion.

PR has earned its place as brand promotion leader in similar style to earning brand exposure and messaging. It is a more integrated approach to brand promotions because it has a wider scope of practice with media relations, industrial relations, investor relations, lobbying and so on. It's the only branch of marketing communications that comfortably integrates all other branches such as advertising, events and experiential marketing, interactive, social media engagement and sales promotions.

Any brand worthy of the title and its name is one that connects deeply not just with its direct consumers but the entire public.

That connection is established in various ways using creative methods from the different branches of marketing communications old new and yet undefined.

These connections cannot be built with an advertising led approach because it is obviously not sufficient or suited to the task. The focus of advertising is getting the message out there. On the other hand, the focus of Public relations as the name implies is establishing and building relationships between a business or brand and the publics concerned. It is better suited because it considers the selling, the image building, and management of the brand and relationship of the brand/ business with its immediate community and society at large.

Advertising is still and would continue to control a larger budget in brand promotion spending due to the cost implications involved with buying media space. The reality is, it is no longer at the forefront of brand building.

Public Relations, is a more holistic approach and any business executive serious about building a brand has to take note and consider this earnestly.

48

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

A male child by all means necessary V

INCENT, a bricklayer, was married to his first wife amidst pomp and pageantry. After ten years of marriage, six daughters and no sons, he decides to sow his 'royal oats' in the womb of a younger woman who will bare him 'great men' to continue his linage.

Five years later, a second wife, eight daughters, a little dog and no male children, he decides to send his wives and children packing with the intention of bringing in a third wife.

He must produce a son at all costs!

The above paints the picture of the mindset of a large population of Nigerian men who in their incessant hunt for a male offspring turn their wives into baby factories.

Although United Nations Population Fund statistics indicate that there is an increasing percentage of women than men, a strong attachment to tradition continues to encourage the desire for male children over females.

Giving reasons for this craving, Ikenna Izuka, a dealer in Honda motorcycle spare parts in Oshodi said, “The main reason why many people want to have a boy as one of their children is because they do not want their family name to die in their generation.

Many times, when a man has only girls it can be a problem due to the fact that after they grow up and they are married, the whole house will become empty and as a man, you will not have anything to show that you even existed on this planet. Your name and your property are the only signs that will be left behind after you are gone.

That is why you need to try and have a boy that will continue your family line and inherit your property.”

While the

The importance of bearing male children has generated widespread controversy as well as made the lives of women across the country a nightmare. Rita Ohai who spoke with people on the circumstances surrounding this issue reports. quest for a particular sex has helped preserve the names and properties of some families, a different school of thought is of the view that the birth of a son may not be something to celebrate about.

Information Technology specialist and entrepreneur, Usen Imafiodon, expresses, “Imagine running from pillar to post looking for a son only for you to give birth to one that will become an armed robber or a ritualist. Does anybody even know the name of Agbani Darego or Ngozi OknojoIweala's brother or son or even the husband? And yet they are women who have achieved more than one million times what many men will achieve in this life.”

Sharing further, Usen enthused “In fact if you are willing to be realistic and you check most of the problems this our world has you will see that it is the men who cause it. Let us start counting from the Osama Bin Laden to Hitler to Abacha to Boko Haram plus this evil government championed by our dear brother from the Southsouth a n d even AIDS whic

h was first discovered among the homosexual men. Can you count how many wars women have started and how many diseases they have created? Still, our mothers and wives are at the receiving end.

When you analyze some of these things, you will understand that Nigerians just have a ridiculous ways of buying headache for themselves.”

In an African society where culture and tradition have portrayed girls as less important than boys or less deserving of basic neccesities of life, it is common place to find females carrying a heavier workload within and outside the home, being socially ignored and denied quality education.

This act is counter-productive says Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General in a recent briefing: "Short-changing girls is not only a matter of gender discrimination; it is bad economics and bad societal policy.

Experience has shown, over and over again, that investment in girls' education and welfare translate directly and quickly into better nutrition for the whole family, better health care, declining fertility, poverty reduction and better overall economic performance."

Despite ground breaking research which reveals that the power to determine the sex of a child lies with the men, it is common place to find wives bearing the brunt of humiliation and shame brought on by their husbands (educated or otherwise), friends and relatives.

Explainin g t h e scien

ce behind child-sex determination, Dr. Eunice Alegbe of Health Sinai Diagnostic Clinic, states “There is a lot of misconceptions associated with this matter and this is simply due to ignorance. In every man's sperm, there are two different types of chromosomes while the woman has only one type of chromosomes. The man carries the XY and the woman has the XX chromosomes. It is that 'Y' chromosome that the man carries that decides if a baby will turn out to be a boy or a girl. The woman is only a channel for the baby to be born.”

In a situation where man has been found to father only daughters, Dr. Alegbe expresses, “Whenever you find a man having only daughters, that man's sperm needs to be checked. There is a high chance that his 'Y' chromosome is weak and so is not allowing the proper pairing for a male child to take place.”

Reacting to the plight of womenfolk, Grace Edegbai, a head teacher at Maycrest Schools states, “As far as I am concerned this issue of having or not having a male child is unfair. No human can create a child by him or herself. It is God that gives children and he is the one who decides whether a child will be a man or a woman.

If a woman had the power to choose the sex of their kids, we would have been seeing boys littering the place but that is not the case because the truth of the matter is that it is the men who have the ability to determine the sex of a child but they keep pretending as if it is entirely the woman's problem. People should learn to relax and be a little more considerate especially on the women.”

For women who have been physically or emotionally battered due to their husband's inability to give them male children, there ae protective measures that can be taken.

Providing useful advice, Barr. Tosin Taiwo esq. said, “Women should be able to speak up for themselves. If a man starts attacking you for not having a male child, as an enlightenend person you should be able to help him understand that the fault is his as a man. If he gets violent and beats her or threatens her emotionally then she needs to protect yourself and kids by leaving that environment and moving to a safe place.

She can then take the matter to court and file an action of battery and assault against him.

“If the man is dead and the man's family deprive her of the benefits of his properties because she is female or has female children, no matter the customs a n d traditions, she can sue them on the grounds o f discrimin a t i o n because human right i s sacrosanct,”she concluded.

New WOMAN

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

49

Relationships Deola Ojo 08027454533 (text) Pastordeegfc@yahoo.com

Your questions answered

H

Ways to give birth to a son

T

RYING to choose the sex of your baby, boy or girl, is a very old practice. As wisdom grew, the practices have evolved from old techniques like tying up one testicle, believing that boys had one side, girls the other; sleeping with certain objects under the bed to influence the sex of the baby; or even medicines and poultices of odd combination including animal feces.

The desire to choose the sex was that strong.

Although most doctors and fertility experts claim that we can't influence whether we have a girl or boy, there's certainly a lot of compelling anecdotal evidence out there to the contrary.

Some parents are absolutely convinced that they conceived a baby boy by following certain techniques, changing their diet, using various "positions" in the bedroom or even drinking particular concoctions.

If you're absolutely determined to have a baby boy and are willing to try anything, consider these tricks that some parents, astrologists, and even a few doctors swear by.

How Sex Selection Works Each parent contributes half of a baby's genetic make-up. The female or mother is genetically an XX, so she is only able to contribute an X to the future baby. The father of the

baby is XY and can contribute either an X or a Y. This means that sperm of the man is the deciding factor in how your baby's sex is determined.

Over 200 million sperm are ejaculated into the vagina during intercourse, a mixture of X and Y. Most likely only one will be the one to penetrate the ovum.

The theory behind this method for having a baby boy is that Y bearing sperm are faster but die more quickly. This means that by the time the egg is released you should have no sperm near the egg and quickly have intercourse to have the biggest concentration of Y bearing sperm.

The basics are as follows: •First you must know your menstrual cycle and chart it using your basal body temperature (BBT) charts. Once you have done this for a few months you can more accurately pinpoint ovulation.

•Men should avoid ejaculation for 4-5 days before ovulation. Your goal would be to time sexual intercourse about 12 hours prior to ovulation, based on your basal body temperatures, or other methods.

•Use positions to place the sperm as close to the cervix as possible, including rear entry positions.

•Females should have an orgasm to help move the sperm towards the egg.

The Boy Diet There are some who say that what you eat will determine whether your baby is a girl or a boy. Here are some foods to stock in your pantry if you're trying to have a baby boy: Meat, particularly red meat, salty snacks, like chips, fish, eggs peas, sweet corn, soda bread, beans, avocado and mushrooms. Try to keep your diet anti-acidic and drink 2-3 cups of green tea starting the day your period is over.

Other Helpful Boy Hints

W

EAR boxers to cool the temperature of the scrotum. (This is typically seen as a generic fertility tip.)

The man who initiates the sexual relations must have an sex at night in a standing position. It is safer to exercise marital relations on the odd days of the month to have a baby girl.

Avoid sex during the full phase of the moon as well as the new moon, aim for a quarter moon.

Although trying for a boy might be serious business to some, everyone interested should not lose sight of the fact that in most cases, it still remains a 50/50 chance.

I, I did not read the last week's edition, but just this week, I was impressed, but I need a counsellor to counsel on my marriage. It is just falling apart every day. I am being accused every day of my life in my home, I am just so confused, I need help. Nike Dear Nike, I want to encourage you not to give up. I want you to get the book “In love forever, How to have a happy and successful marriage.” This book has helped many couples and I believe it will help to improve your marriage. When couples have disagreements and quarrels, there are several reasons. Sometimes they have an underlying issue which has never been dealt with. For instance, a man may hear something negative about his spouse and if he believes what he heard, he may begin to react.

Some husbands would ask their wife about what they heard and choose to believe her version of the story but others may decide to distrust her from that point onwards.

Money issues usually causes friction in marriages.

If your husband is worried about having enough money to provide for you and the children, he may begin to react negatively towards you. This is paradoxical, because on one hand he is worried about finances because he loves his family and wants the best for you and the children. On the other hand, because he is so worried and unhappy, he begins to inflict pain on the same people he loves.

Some men do not really know the current price of commodities in the market and they may feel that you are mismanaging the family funds when you mention that the money you have been given is not enough. If a wife usually asks for more money before the month runs out, the husband may start suspecting that she is spending the money he has given her on herself or perhaps she has a private account where she is keeping some of the money. If he thinks that you spend money on expensive things when you can buy the same thing at a cheaper price, he is likely to accuse you of wasting funds. While all these thoughts are probably false, a man who does not want to listen to his wife's explanations may continue to hold on to these views and this will lead to a lot of false accusations.

Past issues may also cause distrust and discord. A man who finds out that his wife had gone out with one of his friends in the past, may develop distrust towards her. He then starts wondering what else he does not know about her past. While many husbands realize that their wife probably has a past, most feel better if they never know whom their wives went out with in the past, especially if their wife was not a virgin when they got married.

One of the major reasons why couples have problems is a lack of understanding of one another.

Many couples do not take the time to study one another, and find out how to make their partner happy. Each person has a unique temperament that makes them react and behave in a particular way. If you understand your spouse's temperament, you are able to relate with him with a deep understanding that enables you to get the best out of your relationship.

Most relationships go through a stormy period in the early years, but things usually improve with good counseling. If you are willing to put your best into the relationship and try some new things to improve your relationship, things will most probably improve.

Please put your trust in God, who is able to solve all our problems and give us solutions.

Dear pastor greetings. Please I want to know your stand on masturbation relating it with the word of God. I have never had a girlfriend right from my child hood to my graduate grownup NYSC level. I am a dedicated child of God, but am engaged in the act to relieve myself of pressure and temptation. Am I sinning against God? I need your sincere opinion because there are diverse opinions on this issue and I need a sincere answer on this issue.

To be continued next week

50

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Arts & Life

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

The password to life Here follow enduring lessons passed on from great teachers cum philosophers. They point the keen student in the true and narrow path of life.

Right or wrong

THE GReggs

When the philosopher-teacher held one of his regular meditation sessions, pupils from many parts of the country came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to the wise one with the request that the culprit be expelled. He ignored the case.

Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again the great one disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.

After the teacher read the petition, he called everyone before him. “You are wise pupils,” he told them. “You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor pupil does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave.”

A torrent of tears cleansed the face of the one who had stolen. All desire to steal thus vanished.

The other side

ON his journey home one day, a young student of religion came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours how he could cross such a wide barrier.

Just as he was about to give up his pursuit, he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river. The young student yells across to the teacher. “Oh wise one,” he said. “Can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?”

The teacher thought for a moment as he looked up and down the river.

“My son, you are on the other side,” he said.

Self appraisal

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

A LITTLE boy went into a shop, the story goes. He reached for a milk carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in some phone numbers. The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation.

Boy: “Lady, can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman (at the other end of the phone line): “I already have someone to cut my lawn.”

Boy: “Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.”

Woman: “I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.”

Boy (with more perseverance): “Lady, I’ll even sweep your pavement and your sidewalk, so that on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in town.”

Woman: “No, thank you.”

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The storeowner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: “Son, I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.”

Boy: “No thanks.”

Store Owner: “But you were really pleading for one.”

Boy: “No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!”

Wisdom for the road •It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble a car, and one nut to scatter it all over the road.

•A tree never hits a car except in self defence.

•The speedway ends at the cemetery.

•You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

•Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly payment is due.

•Hug your kids at home, but belt them in the car.

•A pedestrian is someone who thought there were a couple of gallons left in the tank.

QUOTE Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

Jokes Humour Who Am I? IT WAS the final examination for an introductory English course at the local university. The examination was two hours long, and exam booklets were provided.

The professor was very strict and told the class that any exam that was not on his desk in exactly two hours would not be accepted and the student would fail.

A half hour into the exam, a student came rushing in and asked the professor for an exam booklet.

“You’re not going to have time to finish this,” the professor stated sarcastically as he handed the student a booklet.

“Yes, I will,” said the student. He then took a seat and began writing. After two hours, the professor called for the exams, and the students filed up and handed them in.

All except the late student, who continued writing. A half hour later, the last student came up to the professor who was sitting at his desk preparing for his next class. He attempted to put his exam on the stack of exam booklets already there.

“No you don’t, I’m not going to accept

that. It’s late.” The student looked incredulous and angry.

“Do you know WHO I am?”

“No, as a matter of fact I don’t,” replied the professor.

“DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” the student asked again.

“No, and I don’t care,” said the professor with an air of superiority.

“Good,” replied the student, who quickly lifted the stack of completed exams, stuffed his in the middle, and walked out of the room.

Infant Way WHILE the stock market was at an all time high, the ups and downs frightened a lot of small investors. A guy went to his financial adviser at the bank and ask if he were worried.

He replied that he slept like a baby.

He was amazed and asked, “Really? Even with all the fluctuations?”

He said, “Yes. I sleep for a couple of hours, wake up and cry for a couple of hours, then sleep for another couple of hours …”

•Culled from the Internet

—M. Kathleen Casey

ENERATING Writer’s Fountain short story ideas: So, you have decided to embark each other across continents. One of best ways on the journey of becoming a short story writer. to develop an eye catching plot for a short story The greatest challenge to writing a short is to create a short story based on faction.

You develop a faction when you take a fact, story is finding a new, great and an appealing idea for the plot of the story because the success any fact, or true story and fictionalise it. When of a short story depends hugely of a gripping you merge the fact and fiction, you can base the story on truth but add an arresting plot or and a novel plot.

Here are some ways to bring out new ideas storyline to it.

You can develop a story drawing from your creative mind and develop an altogether different plot of your short story: inspiration from a photograph or snapshot. Try Since short stories cover a small length, they to visualise a story hidden in the photograph or cannot have a complex storyline that houses imagine the thoughts of the people sketched in sub plots with a lot of characters who chase the picture.

You can base your short story on a character that develops a problem or has a Conditions and processes: problem from the inception of the story. Build •Better wine can be produced with soil of poor upon it, have an anti-climax and then have a quality because the vines have to “work” conclusion which is the climax to the story. harder, and one grape vine produce can Pick up a dictionary, chose a few words at produce about 20 to 30 glasses of wine. random and wonder how these words can lead •The word “limelight” used in theatre to refer you to an interesting plot thus becoming a novel to the performers on the stage originated way of writing. because lime was burned in a lamp which Brainstorming is another way of created a white light that was directed at the generating short story ideas. For this, take a piece performers before electricity was available. of paper and write down any idea. Then branch •About 10 million bacteria live in one these ideas into fragments thus forming new gramme of soil. plots associated with the main one.

G

51

THE ARTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Ojo, admired by a master He is still young, but already has begun to exhibit the mannerisms of a master artist.

Olatunbosun Ojo is a visual artist whose love for print making and textiles has distinguished him from his contemporary. He explains why and how, in this encounter with Edozie Udeze

O

LATUNBOSUN Ojo is a visual artist with a different and unique make-up.

Apart from creating his own signature and style in the areas of painting, print – making and textiles, he has equally gone into a very difficult area of the visual art called calligraphy. Once Ojo is in the studios, what preoccupies his mind is how to perfect his art which dwells more on screen – printing. This is indeed an habit he has formed over the yearsto distinguish himself from the rest “Yes, that sort of approach makes your art distinguishable”, he said.

He said further: “All I do is to print the colours carefully, then I separate the colours and print it out. Apart from oil colour, I do a lot of mixed media also under printing. The issues I dwell on mostly in my painting are social lives of the people, religious matters and other issues that affect the generality of the people.”

A 2005 graduate of Fine Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ojo explained that he purposely went into printing “because not too many people are there.” Ojo recalled: “A few days ago we just finished the Harmattan workshop in Delta State with Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya. There the emphasis was mainly on prints since, you know, Onobrakpeya him-

U

self is a specialist in that area. I was there in my capacity as his consultant. At the end of the programme I had about twenty works done on serigraphy. One of those works was procured by one of the Ibrus.”

Asked why and how he developed interest in prints, he said: “Ah, before I went to the University, I had learnt as an apprentice artist where I was able to print on vests, T-shirts and posters. Generally, that was the idea I had and before you knew it, the thing had permeated me; the interest was irrevocable, so to say. From then, I began to transfer an image from screen – printing and the whole idea became marvelous to me.”

When it was time for Ojo to do his two months Industrial Training (IT), he found himself in the studios of Onobrakpeya located at Mushin, Lagos. “Yes, when Professor Onobrakpeya saw one or two of my works he was quite impressed and he told me to go ahead with the style.

He said that when he was young he began his art works in Zaria, Kaduna State, just the way I also started my own. It was from screen printing that he too went into painting and all sorts,” Ojo said.

It was with this encouragement that he further devised more and better approaches to the issue of print as his media.

“It was from then that I told my-

NTIL now, it was an edifice worthy of emulation. When it was created during the era of Dr. Paul Dike as the Director-General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), all eyes were on the building as an ideal event centre.

Today, the glory of the building is fast fading away, unless something drastic is done to resuscitate it.

The thatched hut of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) erected within the premises of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, has gone so bad that everybody has now abandoned the place.

The reason for this is not far to seek. Very soon the building will completely collapse as the roof has almost caved in while the planks used to hold its edges have all gone bad.

From afar, one could see that the zink has sunk and will soon fall. But the question on the lips of everyone is: why hasn’t the management of NGA deemed it wise and necessary to rescue this monumental building from imminent collapse?

Recently the management preferred to undertake the renovation of one of the buildings of the same age with the hut.

Incidentally, the building done with bricks did not deserve as much urgent attention as the hut. One would have wished that the thatched hut be renovated first before the brick house.

• Steps forward

self that I must be different, I must excel in this area of the art.

In August when Onobrakpeya will turn 80 years, he will exhibit my twenty works mainly on prints. The show will form part of the celebrations. But beyond that, I have had about four prints now, all of which will form part of my new works.”

Even though Ojo did his industrial training twice with the great Onobrakpeya, he was able to extricate his own style from that of the master. “Of course, I was able to distance myself from his style. He is a great artist, one of the best in Nigeria today. But I told myself I needed to be my own person; my own artist. However, he touched me most in the area of print. You can’t have anybody who does it the way he does his own. He

• Benin tradition

is great, but he admires my own technique, style and uniqueness. This was why he took interest in me and my works”, Ojo explained.

With his Bosun Prints and Studio Gallery located at Ipaja, Lagos, the artist has decided to devote all his time to developing new print methods and ideas. “Yes, so far I have exhibited twice in group exhibitions. Right now I am looking forward to doing a solo as soon as my works are ready. And that is why I am very busy in my studios right now.”

With time however, Ojo said he will prove to the world that print – making is one of the most lucrative aspects of the visual art. “It brings out the total beauty of what people want to see, feel or admire,”he said.

This house is falling

•Ojo

POETRY

This rebel: Ode AS I followed father’s footsteps, They drew me near Beckoning, do not fear, Build it like your father, You will discover you while going further.

Always they beckoned to me, Now draw it and paint it, Also, mold them and sculpt them, You can carve them, Make a stage of them, That they may live in it and place it in it,

• National Gallary of Art, Iganmu, Lagos

By Edozie Udeze

But then, this house must not be allowed to fall. It is one of those local architectural masterpieces that remind

one that art is truly alive in this society.

And so, observers believe this is the right time and season to salvage this thatched hut before it becomes a total threat to the lives of people in and around it.

it,

As I heeded the calls, From this now hydra-headed, Gift I wield in art, As I journeyed and rebelled, To show the ‘we’ in me.

What do they call me?

Some say professor, designer, They say the painter, sculptor, They say the master, They say: what do you call yourself?

I say see my works, As they sit on it and They have made me, love to look at it, I leave to you the In it, some will see titles God, Some will see you, Ighodalo George So have I witnessed

52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Arts/Reviews

Bitter-sweet of Soursop Yusuf Ali and ANA take

literary campaign to 16 states

P

•Olowoyo, unveiling the book with him are Mr and Mrs Ogan

T

ONY Uranta, the Secretary of National Summit Group who reviewed the book, Soursop, described it as a bitter-sweet fruit, a metaphor to pinpoint the ironical tendencies surrounding the Nigerian nation. The occasion was the public presentation of Soursop, a faction (combination of fiction and fact) written by Pastor (Mrs.) Temidayo Ogan, which took place in Ikeja, Lagos, last weekend. Ogan is a journalist and the Executive Director/Founder of Temidayo Ogan Child Safety and Support (OCSS) Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO).

As the occasion began in earnest, the anchor person, Daniel Akpata of Radio Continental, Lagos, reminded guests that the whole essence of the gathering was to reappraise the Nigerian project by telling the younger ones that time had come for them to focus the attention on honesty, transparency and love.

“Nigeria can only move forward if we begin now to teach our kids how to change their values for good. This habit of cheating to survive and being in a hurry in everything has to change,” Akpata chided.

Pastor Peter Igho of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), after taking a cursory look at the Nigerian nation, declared that, “we need national peace to be able to move forward. It is peace that comes from our inner minds. Everybody needs that peace, and that is what this book is pointing at.

Soursop is a well-crafted fictional exercise to pin-point the myriad of problems bedeviling the state of the nation.”

While the book is a fiction on one hand, on the other hand, it is the meta-

By Edozie Udeze

phor of a nation where ethnic problems have been beclouding people’s sense of perception about what the country ought to be.

“This is why it is a must – read for everyone, for we all need a new Nigeria; a place where honesty prevails. Therefore, the poor must stop pretending as if the rich is good and so cannot be brought to book.

This book is indeed for people to begin to make the desired changes necessary in a society like ours”, Igho stated further.

Uranta who confessed that the book truly struck at the heart of the nation – state, used the opportunity to review the security situation in Nigeria. “Everybody has a story to tell,” he said. “And that is exactly what Ogan has just done. If you say people don’t read, who else will write? We have to continue to write. Then, we have to point out certain innocuous issues like endless and mindless killings of fellow citizens. This book talks about all the pogroms, about all the bombings, kidnappings and other horrible happenings in Nigeria,” Uranta said.

He went on: “Therefore, it is time for us to review the mores, the ethos and the norms of this society. This is why this book, in its wisdom, devised a shorter narrative approach to lampoon on the paradoxes and innuendoes that bedevil the nation. We have to begin now to imbue in the children the sane values of trust and patriotism necessary for us to make progress.

“Let’s live by precepts”, Uranta pleaded, turning his attention to the school children gathered in the hall.

The chairman of the oc-

PHOTO: EDOZIE UDEZE

casion, Otunba Yinka Lawal-Solarin of Literamed Books, Ikeja, challenged authors to write relevant books like Ogan has done.

“So, we have to praise her for her efforts. We don’t have to continue to read and study Gullivers Travels.

We need our own stories; our own books and this book has to teach us how to be patriotic, honest and trustworthy”, LawalSolarin said.

While unveiling Soursop, Pastor Bisi Olowoyo of RCCG drew attention to the place of Soursop as a fruit that tastes bitter and sweet in a place like Nigeria where nothing works, yet people try to be happy.

“That is the Nigeria we live in and we say today that the contents of this book should help us to reduce the imbalance. Therefore, I hereby dedicate this book to the Almighty God”, he said as the people clapped and cheered.

The father of the day, Chief G. O. K. Ajayi (SAN) advised Nigerians to come together to fight the ills that plague the nation. “And the time for that is now”, he said, pointing out that “our destiny lies in our hands.”

Other dignitaries present at the occasion were Major and Mrs. N. N. Ogan, Chief Beatrice Ubeku, Rev. Asitonka Ogan, Mrs. Tom Adeyemo, and many more. Students from different secondary schools in Lagos were also part of the event. Some of them were involved in the book – reading, debate and poetry rendition sessions.

The author, Pastor Ogan, said the students were there basically because the book will help them learn how to live well as citizens of this country. “Many things have to change for good and our children have to be made to understand that now”, she said.

ART of the problems the country is experiencing is hinged on its lack of intellectual leaders who are rich in imagination, critics have said. “20 years ago, Dubai was a mirage. Today, it’s reality,” one of the critics opined.

With a mind of breeding tomorrow leaders who are thinkers and imaginative geniuses, the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA) has championed a literary campaign for children across the country, tagged ANA/Yusuf Ali Literary Awareness Campaign (AYALAC).

ANA flagged off its campaign, reaching out to 160 secondary schools spread across 16 states, in Ilorin, Kwara State last weekend. The event drew dignitaries from within and outside the state, including Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), who chaired the occasion, renowned lawyer, Yusuf Ali (SAN), ANA chairmen and secretaries and writers across the country, among others. Pupils from schools across the state also spiced up the occasion with a dramatic performance calling attention to the importance of education and the literati in the polity.

According to the President of ANA, Prof. Remi Raji, the campaign is meant to ignite the reading appetite and the spirit of competition in children. Little wonder then that it chose to hold its cam-

•Students on stage at the event

By Evelyn Osagie

paign during this year’s Children Day celebration.

N150, 000 cheques were given to chairmen of its 16 chapters each to enable them carry out the literary campaign in their states. Beneficiaries included Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Imo, Kaduna, Kwara, Kebbi, Kano, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Niger, Plateau, Abuja and Lagos. Beneficiaries, he said, were picked based on their level of participation and national consideration, among others.

According to ANA, the project is in phases. Firstly, the chapters are expected to buy and distribute books of its members’ worth over N80, 000 to 10 schools in each state. This exercise is scheduled to hold between June 12

and 14. The pupils will have two weeks to peruse the books after which reading/ literary competitions will be held in each state, where prizes will be awarded to participants. The exercise, which is the project’s second phase, is expected to run between June 26 and 28, according to the organisers. The campaign is in partnership with Yusuf Ali (SAN), sponsor of the campaign to whom it is dedicated to. He donated N3 million for the project.

The dwindling reading culture, Ali said, inspired his sponsorship of the campaign.

He decried the dying reading culture in the country, especially among students, noting it is a major cause of the crises facing the polity. He urged pupils to broaden their intellect by reading wide.

Raising health standards through drama

D

RAMA ordinarily imitates life. This perhaps explains why a lot of people have come to adopt drama as a tool for behavioural change communication because of its immense potency.

Expectedly, to achieve its set objectives and key deliverables, Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2), a DFIDfunded project in Nigeria has also come to rely on the power of drama in pushing its programme within and outside the public sphere.

Interestingly, most of the sensitisation programmes embark upon by PATHS2 often features drama skit, theatre, music and dance.

Of course, this is done using a high dosage of improvisation with the cast dramatising the overarching theme of the programmes which could range from “Learning and Adopting New Mode of Participation,” “Studying New Rules of Engagement for Sustainable Health,” to mention just a few.

The Nation witnessed some of these programmes organised in selected parts of Lagos recently, where different individuals attempted to explore the role of drama in achieving better public health.

Sharing her experience at one of the fora, Mrs. Ijeoma Ineh, who coordinates most of the outreach programmes, expressed satisfaction with the level of awareness generated using drama.

According to her, such

Drama has become another tool for pushing health agenda, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

•Some midwives performing at one of the outreaches

performances are laced with hilarious moments with opportunity for audience interactivity.

Speaking with some of the participants at some of the mini outreaches held at Anthony Central Mosque area, Ogudu Ori-Oke, Mobile Barracks, they expressed their pleasure over the modus operandi adopted by PATHS2.

Mrs. Olubukola GaniyuAjasa, Chief Nursing Officer, Ogudu PHC, who has put in over 30 years in service, affirmed that the adoption of drama as a sensitisation tool has had enormous benefits to the enrolment in the Ogudu health facility.

“Using drama, we are able to give patients health tips

and to teach our women the danger signs of pregnancies.”

Corroborating Ajasa, Ineh said: “Through that we’re saving lives and increasing the quality of living and encouraging community dialogue.”

Expatiating, Ineh recalled that: “We started outreaches since December. And between then and now, we have witnessed significant improvement.

“What people feel about the outreaches is that it creates a common platform for the community to dialogue with all stakeholders such as policy-makers, governments and the consumers of the services that we are about to provide.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

53

‘Why I quit juju music’ —PAGE 54

Fun and thrills of Kuramo Beach Night life may be on the ebb in Lagos metropolis. However, at Kuramo Beach, it is on the upswing as Tunde Busari finds out in this report.

PHOTOS: MUYIWA HASSAN

•Kuramoh Beach

R

UTH Edward, a 20-yearold Ghanaian was dressed in what looked like a swimming kit. The biting cold from the Atlantic breeze at the Kuramo Beach that evening meant nothing to her as she was more concerned about the number of men that would look her way and probably warm her make-shift bed before daybreak.

She hit a target when a reporter hooked up with her. He, however, had a different mission.

Ruth nonetheless collected N1,500 from the reporter for the less than 30 minutes chat to, in her word, “make up for taking my time”. Ruth is only one among many young ladies making a living from commercial sex at the beach.

Although she is in the acclaimed oldest profession, according to her, after a Nigerian tourist she called Austin dumped her at the beach in January. Austin, she said, visited Ghana, struck friendship with her and brought her to Lagos with a promise to introduce her to the Nollywood bigwigs, having earlier shown her passion for Nigerian movies.

Here to stay “Since then, I have been here hustling after Austin disappeared. But as a mature person I

have mixed with people here and I am okay and enjoying the protection this place offers stranded people like me. There is no big deal in what I am doing as long as I am not committing crime. It’s all fun, fun and fun unlimited,” she smilingly said in a diction that could rival that of a broadcast journalist.

As soon as the reporter was through with Ruth she melted into the crowd of fun-seekers seated at different tables arranged on the vast sand- filled beach overlooking the ocean where waves and sand provide additional fun.

The encounter with Ruth is the picture of the kind of night life and fun that goes on at the beach on a daily basis. Confident and occasionally daring, the young ladies in their early 20s are scattered all over the beach in search of fun and cash. A casual whisper or harmless tap is all a patron needs to start a deal while the lady leads him straight to her cabin which serves as her apartment where the act takes place.

There are many of the cabins leased out to the ladies by beach touts for a fee of N1000 per night.

But Rita declined to give the details of the partnership with the touts even though she confessed that the touts also serve as secu-

rity guards for them, especially against aggressive patrons who may want to short-change them after the act.

“We are being protected by our friends (the touts) to the extent that no man could play upon our intelligence and escape. He will not attempt it again if he has the second chance. I had planned to do this thing for just two months to raise transport fare to return to Ghana.

“But the kind of friendliness among us here and the patronage is making me to shift my return forward. I am now thinking of going in December when I would have made enough money to take care of many things at home. This place is cool as you can feel it and that is how it is all day,” Ruth, who also claims to be saving money to return to school in Ghana, said.

Although the fee charged by the ladies is not fixed as the bargaining skill of a patron plays a significant role in the deal, some of them don’t settle for amount less than N1000 while a few others, especially new initiates take as low as N500 for a round of sex.

The ones called ‘big girls’ among the ladies prefer short term affairs, saying it pays better than long ones that exhaust their

strength. According to Juli, one of Ruth’s colleagues, “There was a time one heavy smoker came to me and decided to spend the whole night, I barked at him. He first thought I was joking until I told him I would shout to call my colleagues. The man was dirty and should not be seen with me under normal circumstances,” Juli said.

Business on the beach inevitably enters a recession as soon as cock crows in the morning when patrons troop out of the arena in large numbers. They hurriedly jump into available vehicles and disappear from sight. They melt into the surging crowd of Lagosians looking as innocent and serious as your uncle or aunty next door.

Some of the patrons return to their various daylight jobs right from the beach! One of such is a commercial driver who gave his name simply as John. He said he relocated to Lagos from Ekiti State to operate the tokunbo bus he bought in March. He said he has not secured an accommodation, hence his regular presence at the beach which he considered safer than Ijora Park where he was freely extorted by touts.

“This is my home for now at least until I get an accommodation. I came to Lagos two months ago and the first week I spent with my friend’s family at Bariga was not interesting at all. That is why I am always here. Even when I get my accommodation I will still come here because this is a special joint different from what you find elsewhere in Lagos,” he said.

Time to unwind Life is animated from 6 pm when patrons arrive in batches into the waiting hands of a cluster of diligent restaurants’ attendants who struggle with one another to have patrons seated in their stand where branded plastic chairs and tables are circularly arranged on the sand.

With different brand of music

blaring from different speakers mounted at different joints and eateries, the patrons are treated to an electrifying evening on bottles of variety of drinks from soft to alcohol, while some of them rise from their seat to dance away the stress of the day’s work. All kinds of food are also served with a full complement of fresh fish and assorted meat. The popular suya is not left out on the list of the delicacies.

The beach is indeed an arena of unlimited pleasure where class discrimination has no place as politicians and captains of industry also sneak in at the dead of the night without their usual aides except a few security personnel in mufti.

One Godwin, a restaurant attendant, told our reporter that he had once sighted a governor visiting the beach some months ago.

“He did not spend the whole night; he just spent a few hours with his boys and left later with three girls he picked here. I later got to know that he lodged at one hotel not far from here. We see these big men coming here in Tshirts and knickers with face cap.”

Mr. Segun Alade, a banker, whose office is located at Marina, could not have been elsewhere as he confessed that the beach joint is a place to be after a hard day’s job. According to him, since his Ireland-based friend introduced him to the place before he relocated abroad in 2010, he had been skeptical about spending an evening at such a place.

“But I am having a nice night here as you can see. It’s interesting to use this type of place to cool off and ease accumulated tension of the week. I am here for the first time because there is a reason to be here and I am fulfilled,” he said.

However, the flip side of the beach could be unpalatable, especially to a first time visitor who could run into the hands of pick•Continue on Page 55

54

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Life

S

O, where have you been hiding?

I am not really hiding. It only happened that God called me into an obscure ministry. I became a missionary and you know I have to be in a village, working among rural dwellers. Maybe If I had been in the city, people would still know I am around.

But I can never complain. I am fulfilled being on the sidelines in the village.

How did a popular musician like you find himself confined to a village?

The point is that when I look back, I realise it couldn’t have been me. Idowu Animashawun will never do these kinds of things. It must be God. But I feel comfortable doing it. It is a special calling that needs special grace of God. If it were about me, I would never have done it.

How and why did you quit juju music?

In the first instance, I did not want to leave. I was enjoying the money, fame, women and glamour that come with secular music.

T h e whole thing started

•Animasawun

‘Why I quit juju music for mission works’

Between the 60s to 80s, Idowu Animasawun, popularly known as Apola King, rocked the juju music scene with popular songs such as “Ijo Apola,’’ “Kinni nbe nigbo?’’ and a host of other hit tunes. However, in the late 80s he went into oblivion after quitting secular music.

Sunday Oguntola recently met and asked him what he was up to. in 1981/82. I got born again in 1981. By 1983, I started having a conflict. I was still singing juju even after I became born again.

I would play on Fridays and Saturdays; then find my way to church on Sundays. I started realising I couldn’t continue like that. I mean how can you claim to be a Christian and still be drinking, singing unwholesome songs? I argued with God for two years. But in 1985, I couldn’t continue again. So, I packed everything up. I disbanded my group and gave up everything.

How did your fans and band members take it?

That was a mixed grill. Some understood while others abused me. Some said I gave up because I had no more songs to sing. My band boys were understandably angry. I am happy some of them are Bishops and preachers today. My friends are also realising it was a real encounter with God I had. My reaction was that God did not call them but me.

To be honest, they were expressing those concerns out of good faith.

They wondered how I will cope with economic pressures and all that. I appreciated them but had to move on.

How was

life as a juju musician back then?

I will say life was good and fun. But my schedule was hectic. I started my group in 1966. It was called Idowu Animashaun and his Lisabi Brothers. We were based in Lagos but later moved to Abeokuta and then Ibadan. In 1974, I started travelling overseas.

I was making money. I remember ticket was N112 then. It jumped to N365, which was still cheap. I was travelling every two weeks.

I would travel overseas without clothes and return with bags of clothes I shopped abroad. Most of those clothes, I never get to wear because my relations would pick them without me knowing. I could open any doors.

Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade and I were competing then. If someone bought a particular shoe, shirt or car, you also go for something higher to prove you are bigger.

Influential people and government functionaries wanted to meet me. So, I was famous and enjoyed it all. I played for General Adeyinka Adebayo, Audu Bako (former governor) in Kano State and the then Col. David Bamigboye (former governor) in Kwara State. I remember myself, Obey and Samuel Idowu Atolagbe, now the King of Ipoti-Ekiti, were always playing in Boundary Hotel, Idi Oro. I used to play for Yoruba Tennis Club, High Society Club and Island Club. Those were the prominent clubs then. ...And the women?

I had my own fair share of them. I had more than necessary if you understand what I mean. I didn’t need to run after them anyway. Like any musician, they were around me. So was drinking and everything musicians are known for.

One expected that you would have gone into gospel music being an established juju musician. Didn’t that occur to you?

It did my brother. In fact, when I left secular, I did gospel music. But it did not last for more than nine months. God told me he did not call me into gospel music.

He made it clear I was called to be a missionary. I quit gospel music immediately and headed to Badeku Village.

Why Badeku (Osun State) Village of all places?

One day, I was watching a TV programme where a local festival was on air. Usually, I don’t watch TV. But this day, I just sat down watching the station. I saw local masquerades whipping people and blood was flowing. After the broadcast, the announcer said the festival was from Badeku Village. Something clicked in me immediately I heard that name.

Something told me that was where to start off. So, I started asking around until I found an Ibadan friend, who directed me to the village close to Ile Ife. I then went there to

have a look. That was in December. By January 30 1986, I relocated there fully. My wife could not follow me immediately because she was teaching in St. Anne. I remember all I had on me then was N70. For the next twelve months, I had only four converts. That was discouraging but I was not moved since God sent me. I was living in a house without toilet. I had a mat where my converts would sit every evening for Bible studies, which became my bed after they must have left. I couldn’t have done all of that because I had travelled virtually to all of Europe and stayed in choice hotels. Even, the villagers were surprised I was living among them. They had two opinions. One was that I must have committed a serious crime in the city and just came to hide in the village. The other was that I came to dupe them but I wondered how much they had that I needed. It was a rustic village back in the late 80s when I got there. But there are cottage industries here and there now. There was only a church, an Anglican church then, but we have over 20 now. We run a hospital and secondary school for the villagers.

Do you think the church is doing enough for mission works?

You have to realise the churches have needs too. They have to build auditoriums, take care of the widows and all of that. But they can certainly do better because the fields are so vast in all places. Then you cannot blame them because they don’t see us around and when you don’t see something, it is difficult to invest on it.

Is that not your fault that they don’t know about mission?

That is right and that is why I am creating awareness through the Africa Mission Concert/ Conference. We had one in Ibadan where a renowned professor of long standing in this country said she never understood mission until she attended the conference. So, I agree we have to create more awareness, especially in the city churches.

How long do you want to keep doing this?

It’s for life. I can’t do anything else. I was telling somebody that were I to come back again, I will love to still be a missionary.

How did you become a Christian?

Well, I was born a Muslim. One day, I was in my house enjoying myself with a bottle of beer when someone came to invite me to a show. It was in Kwara State and I attended. I was introduced to a lady who I intended to make a girlfriend. So, she cajoled me and started preaching to me. I came back and started reading the Bible on my own. I was not going to any church. I was reading the Bible one day and saw a black person fighting with another one in white. The one in white conquered. I kept disputing the Lordship of Christ. Another time, I was sleeping when someone attempted to strangulate me. I just find myself shouting Jesus. The person disappeared and I thought Jesus must be powerful. That experience converted me.

Life

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

T

ECHNICAL education plays a crucial role in any nation’s development. It is one crucial aspect of education that no serious nation can afford to neglect. Many nations of the world that have today made it big have encouraged technical education along with other branches of education.

Nations such as China, United States of America and other developed and developing nations have understood this and have endeavoured to encourage it and that has led to their moving from the lower rung of development to the league of emerging or developed economies.

In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education sees technical education as that aspect of education which leads to the acquisition of practical and applied skills, as well as basic scientific knowledge.

Technical education, it added, provides opportunities for the mastery of skills and knowledge in selected occupations, as well for the development of personality for useful living.

Today, there are a total of 132 technical colleges in the country, 19 of these belong to the federal government while 110 are run by state governments, while the remaining three are privately owned.

In Oyo State, there are six technical colleges, located at Awe, Ogbomoso, Ibadan, Igbo-Ora, Iseyin, and Saki.

The Technical College at Awe, near Oyo town, in the Afijio local government area of the state is the oldest, and one of the four technical institutions established by the former Western regional government. It was then known as a Trade Centre.

The three others are located at Owo (0ndo), Osogbo (Osun), and Ijebu-Ode (Ogun).

A change of character A change in the nomenclature (that is from Trade Centre to Technical College) came as a result of the Federal Ministry of Education circular of 1978.

55

A decaying legacy Fifty years after it was established Government Technical College, Awe, Oyo State is begging for attention BODE DUROJAIYE, who recently visited the institution reports

• Dilapidated buildings in the college.

Established in October 1962, the Technical College, Awe, which started with four departments, now has 10. These are Agricultural Mechanics, Brick / Block laying and Concreting, Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical Installation, Fabrication and Welding, Mechanical Engineering Crafts Practice, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Painting and Decorating, Vehicle Body Building, and Catering Craft Practice.

But a first time visitor to the college could hardly believe that it is attaining 50 years of existence, due to the deplorable state.

At inception, multi-million naira state of the art equipment are procured for the school.

Between early 80s and 90s, products of the college were sec-

ond to none in craftsmanship, as they were adjudged the best both in the public and private sectors across the country.

Facilities and personnel were adequate, while admission into the college was keenly contested, as it was the pride of parents to send their children to the college.

The institution was fully residential, as both the students and staff live on campus.

Academic standard was high, as the environment was conducive for teaching and learning.

Employers of labour rushed for students to serve their industrial training in their various organizations.

After service, students were promised automatic employment by both the public and organized

private sector, for their brilliance and dexterity.

But by the late 90s, the story became a saddening one, as the college lost its enviable status due to lack of proper attention by the owner state government(s).

The first major problem was the scrapping of boarding system when the authority knew quite well that the institution is not fenced.

This paved the way for the stealing and dismantling of equipment and facilities by marauders.

Some of the departments are dilapidated, while hostels and staff quarters have become debris and overgrown with thick weed, thus constituting veritable abode for criminals.

Worried about the neglect, traditional chiefs, elders and indigenes of Awe, Akinmoorin, Ilora, Fiditi, and Jobele in the Afijio local Government Area Called on the present administration to, as a matter of utmost concern, resuscitate the institution from its state of disrepair.

The Asiwaju of Afijio, and the Otun of Awe, Dr. Adebowale Omotoso, said technical colleges play vital roles in the country, as they train and produce technicians for industry, impart vital technical skills in the youths, help towards the goal of self employment and job creation, as well as champion struggle towards technological advancement and acquisition.

He said, “With revitalisation of the college, it can serve as Faculty of Engineering and Technology, as an annexe of LAUTECH in Ogbomoso. Besides, the college has potentials for the proposed technical varsity. Efforts to persuade the immediate past governor for the transformation of the college were ignored. It is indisputable that the Technical College, Awe is a centre of excellence, today in craftsmanship.

This is based on experience, available tools and equipment, as well as seasoned manpower.

Coming to the aid of the college will be more beneficial to the state, and the nation as a whole, as thousands of products of the college are excelling both in public and private sectors.”

The community leaders, while appealing to both the state and federal governments to see to the resuscitation of the college stressed that technical education is the lever of development and that any country that fails to take it seriously does so at its own peril.

Kuramo Beach: Pursuit of fun and cash •Continued from Page 53

pockets, who keep an eagle eye on every patron. A first time visitor could also be tricked into enjoying a service his pocket could not afford.

This was experienced by our reporter who ate a plate of rice with one piece of chicken and was given a bill of N2600. The heated argument that followed this could only be imagined. But, the two parties settled for N1000 after which a friendship was established.

Law and order Drug hawkers and gamblers also do their things at the beach in the wee hours. Interestingly, there is hardly a serious case of breaking of law as everybody is engrossed in fun, a sharp contrast to life at the neighbouring Bar Beach where touts make visits miserable for pleasure-seekers. The peace is facilitated by the intimidating presence of a team of policemen from the Victoria Island Divisional Headquarters near the entrance of the beach.

The policemen, using two patrol vehicles, are stationed at the spot day and night as a pre-emptive move against strange elements. The leader of the team, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, boasted that no criminal could operate at the beach.

“They cannot risk it. We are here 24/7 to oversee what is going on here. It is a suicide attempt for any criminal to do anything here.

That is why we park our vehicles here to enable us see everywhere. People should feel free to come and enjoy themselves. It is safe,” the ebony black police officer said with an air of assurance.

Surprisingly, it was learnt that a pocket of criminals use the beach as a hideout under the cover of its serenity and safety. “I cannot say much about this. But wherever you have fun, there is no way criminals will not be there but they cannot commit any crime here,” the police officer further said.

As it obtains at other tourist centres, passage of a patron into the beach arena is guaranteed on the payment of entrance fee of N300 at the ticketing post strategically erected at the only entrance into the beach.

Kuramo Beach is a huge investment jointly managed by two private tourist companies.

Conservative estimate reveals that not less than 1,500 patrons enter the beach on a daily basis.

While there seems to be adequate supply of mobile toilets at the arena, the heap of waste mounting some metres away from the ticketing post poses a question mark on the efficiency of the management as the strong stench ushers in patrons thereby constituting health hazard even to the workers who work round the clock at the beach.

One of the staff of the managing companies, who craved for anonymity, however, rose in defence of the management with a claim that the management does not toy with the sanitation of the arena.

“We don’t know why the refuse collectors who normally clear this place have not come since yesterday. If you come back later in the evening you will not meet this refuse here again,” the man said.

•Kuramo beach

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

56

Your HEALTH THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Cervical cancer is a deadly disease that is preventable but had claimed the lives of many Nigerian women. Rita Ohai reports

Cervical cancer…a threat to womanhood I

N the early stages of cervical cancer, the woman may or may not experience any symptoms. As a matter of fact, a woman may not have any symptoms for years before the situation becomes incurable. So, if you notice that you have abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods, pain during sexual intercourse or bleeding after intercourse, foul-smelling discharge from the vagina, weight loss or even blood in your urine, then you need to rush to your doctor to test for cervical cancer,” says Dr. Toyin Gboyega, on the most common genital cancer disease affecting women in Nigeria.

In a country plagued with various health challenges, cervical cancer kills one woman every hour in Nigeria and over 9,000 women every year.

Explaining the nature of the disease, Dr. Omolola Salako, Senior Registrar, Radiation Oncology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Executive Director of Sebeccly Cancer Care, stated, “Cervical cancer arises as a result of heavy infection of the cells in the cervix, also known as the neck of the womb. This is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and it is usually transmitted among sexually active people.

This is due to the skin to skin contact of the genital area between the man and the woman whether they use a condom or not.”

Explaining further, she said, “Usually there is no visible sign that a woman is carrying this virus, so she does not know she's slowly crawling toward cancer, and by the time the cancer starts to spread, the woman has only a short time to live. The virus can stay in a woman's body for up to 10 or 15 years without showing any signs but there are tests that can be done such as a Pap-smear or a visual inspection of the cervix, using acetic acid (VIA) which costs about N1,000. Since these tests are so affordable and

“

very preventable, in this time and age, women should not die from this disease.”

The medical practitioner also stated that “women who are in a polygamous marriage, have had more than one sexual partner in their lifetime or have had intercourse with a man who has had more than one sexual partner, are likely to be infected with the cancer-causing virus.”

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Nigeria has a population of over 40 million women between 15 to 45 years of age who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Current estimates indicate that every year, 14,550 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 9,659 die from the disease. WHO also projects a 25 per cent increase over the next decade in the absence of widespread interventions.

Giving reasons why the death rate from this disease is on the rise, Dr Eunice Alegbe of Health Sinai Diagnostic Clinic, revealed, “How many women have you seen going for cervical cancer screening? When you go to the screening centers, most of the people you see are women who are already in their advanced stages. Many Nigerian women do not seem to understand that the earlier they start to invest in their health, the better of them. This is where the government and non-governmental organisations come in and sensitize people on the importance of testing.”

Although the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in recent reports, claimed that t h e F e d e r a l G ov e rnm e nt had purchased $9 million worth of screening e q u i p m e n t , upgraded 20 active hospital-based cancer registries and trained medical personnel, there are calls for effective

immunisation plans and widespread enlightenment campaigns on the benefits of early screening.

Dr. Alegbe stated, “Each year the government releases money for major awareness projects but little or nothing gets done. Instead of eating all of the money they have been allocated, they should put it to good use by organising awareness programmes and free screening exercises.

By the time the women see that their lives are in danger, and that they can get a cure at an affordable price, they will show up. It is also important that when they come for screening and they get their results, they should be able to immediately get cheap treatment or be immunised.”

Amidst the grave dangers posed by being infected with the virus, the good news is that the disease is preventable.

Giving an advice, Dr. Gboyega said, “There are little things people can do to protect themselves. The first thing is to abstain from sex especially if you are not married. And if you are married, practice faithfulness both for your sake and the benefit of your spouse. Another thing is to go for vaccination if you are still a virgin.

This will help your immune system fight the virus if you come in contact with it. Finally, try and visit a screening center at any of the general hospitals or qualified labs for regular cervical check-up so that you can quickly address any health issue on time before it blows into full cancer.”

A recent study indicates that black women are more likely to develop and die from cervical cancer than people from other parts of the world.

Shedding light on this phenomenon, Dr. Gboyega said, “Most black people are can barely afford a healthy diet and we all know that there is a direct link between the quality of food you eat and the level of your immunity which is required to fight diseases. Therefore, when you consider the fact the women from Europe, America and other developed countries live in better environmental conditions and feed better than many Nigerians and have access to better medical facilities, you will see why the

prevalence of cervical cancer is higher here.”

Reports show that treatments for invasive cervical cancer often come with major side effects as it renders women infertile, make it impossible for women to become pregnant in the future

57

BUSINESS

‘I find greatest enjoyment walking my dog’

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Much ado about oil windfall T

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted a round of oil windfall for Nigeria and some oil exporting countries this year and next year.

This simply means that Nigeria is expected to earn more in oil revenue this year and beyond.

Of course, this should be cheery news of some sort. But perish the thought because this definitely does not sound like music in the ears of many Nigerians out there.

For those already used to such news of economic fortunes, more often than not, the outcomes have not always been satisfactory, hence such people are wont to show some mute indifference in place of blessed optimism.

Putting IMF prediction in perspective IMF Senior Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Scott Rogers, made the predictions in the global bank’s annual Regional Economic Outlook for Africa.

Sounding practically upbeat, he said Nigeria will record an initial windfall from the moderate oil price increase this year by about 20 per cent.

According to him, this moderate price increase will result in “sizeable windfall for oil exporters, with varied impact on oil importers.”

Rogers noted that the benefits of the increase would depend on the outcome on fuel pricing policies and monetary and exchange rate reactions.

After the moderate increase in 2012 and 2013, the IMF chief expects another round of windfall for oil exporters in the region of “further 50 per cent increase in oil prices, which is described as severe oil price shock.”

He attributed this severe oil price to “substantial global output drops, lowering of non-oil exports for all countries and oil importers facing large real income shocks.”

Despite these expected windfalls, the IMF cautioned beneficiary countries, especially Nigeria, to watch out for “big fiscal costs, if governments subsidise fuel prices.”

Rogers noted that if the government is not careful with what it spends on subsidising petroleum products, a large amount of the windfall would go into paying for subsidy, instead of providing necessary infrastructure.

For Nigeria, the IMF predicted a high economic growth and relatively high inflation this year.

He said corrective monetary policy is already in place.

Rogers hailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for increasing international reserves

-- Page 59

Briefs

Mixed reactions trail predictions by the International ‘Nigeria can be case Monetary Fund (IMF) that there will be expected oil study in successful windfall in some oil exporting countries including Nie-payment’ geria this year, report Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and OUNTRY Manager for West Gbenga Oyebanji Africa, MasterCard World-

C

•An oil worker working at an oil platform

and strengthening the exchange rate, which was buoyed by high interest rates and its modest tightening of fiscal policy.

Notwithstanding the well of optimism by the IMF management, many analysts who have followed past trends of oil windfall argued that crude oil windfall has been a disease rather than a blessing to the nation’s economy.

Sharing his views, Mr. Emmanuel Adebisi said matterof-factly that: “The IMF’s prediction of another round of windfall for Nigeria is a celebrity spending for the politicians.”

Citing the IMF senior country representative in Nigeria Mr. Scott Rogers, he said the socalled “sizeable windfall for oil exporters, described as severe oil price shock, will not add any value to the economy given the fact that we have poor managers in control of our economy.”

This expected revenue is” black swan effect”, it is not going to affect the economy instead it is going to help the politicians spend more lavishly, he stressed.

According to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Coun-

tries (OPEC) Annual statistical Bulletin, income made by Nigeria from crude oil sales, in this order, in 2006 $144.301billion, 2007 $181.581billion, in 2008 $204.917billion, in 2009 166.581billion in 2010 $193.667billion.

Lending credence to the foregoing, Folayemi Amoo, an economic expert recalled that between 2006 and 2010 Nigeria’s income totaled almost 1trillion dollars.

Raising a poser, he asked: “Where did the money go? Who do we hold accountable? Does money have wings?”

Short of blaming Nigerians for their docility, Amoo said: “This is the time to search ourselves and think of the future generations, we cannot keep

Income generated from crude oil sales from 2006 - 2010 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010:

$144.301billion $181.581billion $204.917billion 166.581billion $193.667billion

Source: OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin

doing the wrong things and expect the right thing to happen.”

Speaking in the same vein, Adewale Akinpelumi, a management consultant said of among the members of the OPEC, Nigeria has the lowest per capital income, stressing that it is high time politicians change their attitude to public funds.

“They should see it as investment and not consumption.

The 21st economy is about knowledge and information, the greatest economies have these potentials at their disposals, the wealth of this generation is above the earth, we have infrastructures to build, roads to tar, and the mistake of the past is the burden of today.

The oil price shock started 2003. For nine years this nation has gained greatly from oil windfall, but there is practically nothing to show for it”, he stressed.

While analysts hold the view and very strongly too that oil windfall is not a bad idea in its entirety, the injudicious use to which the proceeds have been committed, especially in Nigeria, where officials have a penchant for fiddling with the public till, is a serious cause for concern.

wide, Mrs Omokehinde Ojomuyide, has called on stakeholders in the electronic payment sector to show commitment to the growth of electronic transactions in the country in order to make Nigeria a case study in successful cash-less scheme.

She said this in Lagos at a preconference media briefing on Card, ATM and Mobile Expo 2012, organised by Intermarc Consulting.

Mrs Ojomuyide said if all stakeholders involved showed commitment to the initiative, in the next 10 years, the nation would witness tangible economic growth directly attributable to uptake of cash-less transactions.

She said: “It is a known fact that electronic transactions help a nation grow. At MasterCard, our goal is to evolve a world beyond cash. Even countries that pioneered use of cash in transactions are moving towards cash-less because of the risks and huge costs associated with cash and the inherent benefits in a cash-less economy.

“If we embrace cash-less and all stakeholders are fully committed to the initiative, in the next 10 years, we’ll be able to see tangible growth directly attributable to cash-less; Nigeria will be a case study in successful cash-less because we have the numbers.”

The Card, ATM and Mobile Expo, with theme, Acceptance and Usage: Winning Payment Ecosystem Dynamics seeks to address pressing issues covering market penetration, adoption and usage of the e-payment infrastructure already in existence in the country.

The conference, slated for June 12 to 14 2012, will feature eight technical forums, each focusing on specific payment systems; eight open seminars targeted at the general public; two master classes for industry players as well as awards and dinner.

Managing Partner, Intermarc Consulting, Mr Adeyinka Adeyemi, said: “This year, we are turning the spotlight on the issues concerning the consumers and the users of e-payment products and services across Africa.

“We are also advocating policy intervention by government by providing the right regulatory framework for e-payment to thrive as this will have huge impact on the economy at macro level.”

58

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

Business News

PHOTO SHOP

Fed Govt boosts commercial farming in Ekiti, Zamfara, others

T

•From left: Chief Matron, Ikosi-Isheri Primary Health Centre, Mrs. Aderinwale Olufunmilayo; Medical Officer, Ikosi-Isheri; Executive Vice President, (Global Business), Mr. Jay Knott; Mr Bayo Arogundade, Supervisor for Health, Ikosi-Isheri and State Team Leader, PATHS2, Lagos, during a tour of facility at Ikosi-Isheri PHC, by Knott and other PATHS2 officials, recently

HE Growth Enhancement Support, a special agricultural scheme of the Federal Government aimed at delivering subsidised farm inputs to farmers directly and facilitating a shift from subsistence to commercial farming, has kicked-off in Ekiti and Zamfara States The scheme kicked off in Ekiti penultimate Monday with over 400 farmers receiving fertilizers. In Zamfara, the scheme took off with over 3,400 farmers received fertilizers using the special electronic validation process.

Under the Ekiti State programme, each registered

farmer will receive a support of N10,500 from government and beneficiaries are expected to match the government provision with their own N10,500.

Each farmer will receive two bags of fertilizer and two bags of seed. This, effectively, means that government is providing 50 per cent subsidy on fertilizer to farmers.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti, Mr. Jide Arowosafe, expressed delight at the fact that GES is starting in his state, noting that government will provide all that is needed to ensure the success of the scheme in order to achieve its desire of boosting agricultural development in the state

GES, as envisioned by the current Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, primarily aims to deliver subsidized fertilizer to farmers; empower them to increase their yield and encourage a shift from subsistence to commercial farming based on an electronic registration and validation process.

Speaking on the successful inauguration of the scheme in Ekiti and Zamfara, Mr. Bolaji Akinboro, the Executive Director, Special Projects, Cellullant Corporation Limited, said the scheme had proven that technology can help improve the process of development in Nigeria.

Company launches co-operative society

T

HE Managing Director of Lashone Housing Estate, Mr. Lanre Shonekan has urged low income earners to join co-operative societies in order to raise fund for development purposes.

He made the remark at the launching of Lashone Link Housing Co-operative Multipurpose Society Limited.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

Shonekan said: “The housing co-operatives project will be involved in meeting the housing needs of people. There are also going to be mortgage banking institutions that will partner with us in order to meet the need of our target audience, low and middle income earners.”

Explaining further, he noted

that those who are desirous of having a house of their own must take positive and practical steps toward such projects instead of procrastinating.

He stated that since the company went into real estate business two years ago it had not looked back, considering the number of people who have subscribed to the project.

CEO decries inefficiency among public, ORRIED about the private sectors for anyone who is on a team, rising level of inef-

W •From left: Managing Director, Deli Foods, Mr. Narendra Chulani; Chief Executive, Integrated Motion Systems Limited, Mr. Obi Olloh and Partner, The Law Crest, Mr. Anthony Nwaochei, during the cocktail party to commemorate The Law Crest’s transition into a Limited Liability Partnership in Lagos, recently.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

ficiency among management teams in the public and private sectors, Transformed Thinking Nigeria Limited, a management consulting and human capacity development organisation has launched a new arm of its business, Mind+ Facilitation Company Nigeria Limited,

aimed at improving staff and time management in organisations.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Transformed Thinking Nigeria Limited, Noruwa Joseph Edokpolo, “facilitation is no longer the sole preserve of the HR function, instead it is fast becoming a core competence

leading a task force, heading up a committee, managing a department or teaching. All these people need to be able to create and manage effective group dynamics that foster true collaboration.”

He noted that what passes for management meetings in many public and private organisations is nothing but “a waste of valuable time.”

Over 160 winners emerge in Unity Bank promo

O

•From left: Executive Director, National Animal Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, Prof. Ambrose Alikidon Voh, with Regional Director (Africa), Food Security, Vestagaard Fradsen Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Thomas Hansen, during the unveiling of Zerofly Livestock screen in Kaduna, recently

VER 160 winners have emerged in the Unity Bank Plc’s Aim, Save & Win promo first zonal draws which held in five zones nationwide recently.

At the Lagos and West zonal draw held at the Allen Avenue branch of the bank, 32 customers from Lagos and West zone winning the star prize and other consolation prizes.

Among the lucky winners were Mr. Waheed Karimu Alebelewe, who won the star prize of motorcycle while another customer from Balogun branch, Mr. Igwefe

By Adeola Ogunlade

Stanley Nkenne won a 32" Plasma TV. Consolation prizes were won by Mr. Ibidun Jacob Sunday from Yaba branch, Mr. Gregory Ugibadia, Mr. Oguntele Oladipupo, Mr. Olatunde Jegede Odutola and Bamkole Omilani Adunni respectively.

The Zonal Coordinator of the promo Mrs. Yemi Adeyinka in her welcome address said: “The Aim, Save & Win Promo is one way of saying thank you to our customers. We cherish their contributions to the growth of the bank. If you al-

ready have a Unity Bank account, you will automatically qualify for our draws if you save at least N5, 000 and leave it for 45 days in that category.

Some of the new lucky winners contacted on phone were full of excitement and gratitude to the bank.”

Addressing the audience at the draw, the Executive Director, Lagos & West, Mr. Lanre Fagbohun, explained that the idea behind the promo reward is to encourage Nigerians to develop a culture of saving for the rainy day which could also be used for investments.

MARBLE AND GRANITE CARE How to install marble tiles H

OW to install marble tiles is one of the skills that you can probably learn while your new dream home is being constructed.

True, you can easily hire a professional to do the job but it really pays to know these things especially since learning how to lay marble tiles is not exactly rocket science.

If you are looking to acquire this particular skill, you should stick to the basics, no frills and just straight up procedures that yield excellent results.

The trick in learning how to install marble tiles is to have all the necessary equipment and tools that

you would need. The first thing that you need to do is validate the structure of the bare floor.

It has to be clean and free of any dirt or any other kind of particles that might affect the integrity of the concrete, it should also be sturdy so as to be able to hold the tiles in place without them breaking up into pieces.

Once you have made sure that the floor is clear and that it is sturdy enough, you then have to scope the area on which you would lay down the marble tiles. In order to make the task a lot simpler for you, make sure that the

tiles have already been cut and sanded down. Once all these is taken care of, you can proceed to lay down the marble tiles in a trial run just to see how everything fits in the floor area.

Natural stone veneer wall panels are becoming a new trend in outdoor and indoor wall cladding decoration, accenting retaining walls, pillars and water features.

Each piece is manufactured with staggered ends to enable simply installation and avoid visible joints.

Corner stones are also available to provide a natural

continuous appearance. Each panel is easily fitted, with dramatic reductions in installation and fitting labour costs.

Because of its ease of installation slate panel and quartzite wall cladding stone is popular with architects, designers and developers for use in homes, apartments, hotels, retail shops, bars and restaurants in many different surfaces.

Shape There are two basic kinds of normal shapes 1. Oblong Shape; 2. Stagger Shape

For more information on Marble/Granite Care, Sales and Delivery contact: Mike Anazodo – Email: info@maldinimarbles.com, Tel: 01-8934967 . Maldini Marble and Granite Company

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

Business

59

‘I find greatest enjoyment walking my dog’ Jay Knott, a lawyer by training, has over two decades of experience as a US diplomat with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) where he had the opportunity of working in South America, sub-Saharan Africa, including Mozambique, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and the Middle East. Knott, who is currently Abt Associates’ Executive Vice President for Global Business, which he joined 18 months ago, visited Nigeria last week to survey Abt’s four healthcare projects across the country. He spoke with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf on his daily routine, among other issues

I

F you are not wheeling and dealing as they say, what do you do in your leisure?

Well, I’m married. So, that’s my other job (laughs)... To unwind, obviously coming from a company that focuses on health, I think it’s important for everyone to realise that engaging in regular exercise is something that you need to do in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

So, my wife and I are very upbeat about going hiking, about running, about doing all sorts of exercise for enjoyment.

Do you have any particular regimen you adopt for your exercises?

I generally try to exercise for a minimum of four times a week. Whether it’s running, hiking, walking out in the gym, it is important to be active and to be active regularly.

Does your hobby include reading?

Yes, I do read.

What was the last title that you read?

Actually, I must confess that I’ve been reading lots of non-fiction recently. So, I’ve been deeply buried in business reviews and a lot of things looking at development progress. I was reading recently about the importance of cities. Nigerians should understand this that cities are important and more and more of the world’s population are concentrating on the cities. So, we have to as a specie, develop better ways of managing the social issues and other issues which are present in the cities.

Men of your status, who have made good in life, naturally belong to some elitist club or society if you may. Do you belong to any of such?

(Laughs)... I do not belong to any elitist white shoe or any sort of clubs. I find greatest enjoyment walking the woods with my dog, seeing the outside and being natural.

Do you go on vacation?

Yes, I do.

What’s your destination of choice most times?

If we need to go anywhere, my wife and I love to go to Hawaii. It is a place where I never feel any stress when I’m there. It’s a place where I feel much bliss and so it’s a very great place to unwind.

How often do you go on vacation?

Not often enough. I want you to tell my boss that… (Laughs). But again that’s something people also need to realise that taking a break is another way to maintain your energy, your vitality and ultimately your health.

You know sometimes I travel around and there are some societies where people are ridiculed when they go on vacation as if going on vacation is a sign of weakness. To me, going on vacation is a sign of intelligence. It’s a way to take care of yourself which makes you more valuable in terms of your ability to contribute.

As an individual what’s your philosophical mantra?

It is really sort of the Golden rule. I want to treat people with respect because I also want to be treated with respect. I want to be understanding of people having different situations.

As a diplomat, I have been to many countries, different societies and people come to any particular issue with a multitude of perspectives.

And it’s important before you judge, you try and understand the person, lest you’ll be judged!

What legacy would you like to leave at Abt Associates?

As an individual, I take my responsibility.

What I want to be known for is having improved our ability as a company to use all of our strength, our technical expertise to the greatest extent possible in improving the lives of the people where we work, whether it’s in the United States, here in Nigeria, or anywhere we work around the world. It’s where we have our impact on people’s lives. Are people healthier? Are they better engaged? And it’s

INTERVIEW ambitious. That’s the measure of success that we hold out for ourselves and I hold myself responsible as the EVP of Abt Associates.

Abt Associates is in 40 countries, including Nigeria. Your area of expertise is research, technical support, education, health, to mention just a few. But your work in Nigeria is only in the area of health. Are you looking at expanding your area of work in Nigeria, maybe human resource, among others?

The reason new work is that while we are a company, we are really about our mission. So, our people are always looking for opportunities to have positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of people around the world in all the countries which we operate including the United States. Nigeria is very special for us because we have our four projects here. But other areas of technical expertise that we haven’t accomplished in education or other aspects like socio-economic policy, labour, what have you. In the future, we would like more opportunities to have an impact in Nigeria.

How soon would that be? Can you be really specific?

It’s hard to say exactly because we respond to opportunities. So when an opportunity is provided by the United States Government or the British Government, which is funding some of our work here, we’re responding to opportunities when there is possibility for us to have the most positive impact. I think what we want to do is to respond to the priorities of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian government. So, we are always ready to work in those areas.

What often determines your agenda ultimately in the areas that you work?

What we recognise very strongly is that we are a company of people and for us to be successful we have to work with people. And in fact, one of the things that characterise the way we work in every country where we work the majority of our staff are actually nationals of that location. So here in Nigeria, the vast majority of our staff are Nigerians. Where we operate has almost exactly become a local partner for the people, for the government. So that gives a real advantage.

As far as your work in Nigeria is concerned, what are the success stories you want to talk about? And if there are challenges, you can also share them with us?

And to what extent has the benefitting government assisted in addressing those issues?

First of all, we are very happy to be working with the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Health and the local states, five to be precise, where we are implementing the PATHS2 project, which is funded very well by the DFID. I think what we are seeing in terms of success is that we are already seeing increased capacity on the part of the states to do planning and budgeting in prioritising around health. I think we all know in development and as a people that health is fundamental to any sort of success in the society.

And so the fact that the Federal and State Governments are now taking health more seri- they seem to be running on generators for a ously, I think is a positive sign for the future. significant period of time. And that expense is Moreso, I think in the part of the visits that making money unavailable to other things. we had today, it is important that we see that I’m sure some of these challenges that at the point of service delivery that the Nige- you’ve come up against present some opporrian people actually see a difference and so tunities in terms of investment in those areas? part of the benefit of my visit was to be able to Are you thinking along those areas? see at the ground level, in the field, the fact Can you be more specific? that nurses and doctors are being better trained Maybe in the area of power for instance, and are making some improvements to the as a company, do you foresee making some facility and then people are happy in the op- investment decision along that line? portunity to have better quality of health serInvestment in energy infrastructure is not vices than they had in the past. one of our areas. And the issue is that Nigeria There are lots of challenges and it’s part of is facing a significant challenge in the manour work in cooperation with all the stake- agement of its resources. With regards to the holders: the communities, the health facilities, delivery of power, that’s something we can the state and local governments to begin to look at but it is not really an area of technical look into some of those. I think we’ve seen expertise in which we are engaged. The areas obviously that having sufficient manpower is where we are more proficient relates to envian issue and we are addressing that. We are ronmental protection, education, different also ensuring that health professionals have types of social policy and of course, an area the right kind of incentives and training. This where we’re very pretty quite strong presis extremely important and we are working ently in Nigeria is in terms of strengthening to the extent that we can to begin to improve the health systems and improving service desome of these facilities and conditions under livery. which these people are working and under You said earlier that Nigeria is very dear which people are receiving services. to your heart. Can you be more specific?

The challenges that we’ve seen, which we Let me say this as the Executive Vice Presisaw today was that the challenge of power dent, I’m the number two person in our comand electricity is significant, in terms of what pany. I’ve been on the board of Abt Associwe’ve seen in Lagos State that it is a signifi- ates for approximately 18 months. Since joincant expense for the health facilities because ing, this is now my third trip to Nigeria at a

• Knott

time when I haven’t been anywhere else twice. So, I think in terms of how we see Nigeria, how we see its potentials, how we value our relationship with the Nigerian people and how much we want to cooperate with them in improving what’s going on, I think that’s a sign of our company’s investment in the future of this country.

I know PATHS2 has a timeline. Is there a chance that you may be persuaded to extend the time beyond the moment?

Well, firstly, our number one job, of course, is to execute what we have in force.

We want to ensure before we think about anything else, that PATHS2 itself is a success. We want to continue to be successful.

We have few successes already but we hope to continue that into the very end of the project. I think on that basis, we would be able to justify and to be a strong partner for the continuation for PATHS2 to continue to go on.

We are not here working alone. We are working with our partners, primarily the Nigerian people, Nigerian officials, primarily in states and federal ministry of health and, of course, Nigerian health professionals. But it’s also very important to realise that the work that we do can’t be possible without our donors, and those are the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and the British government.

60

Business

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2011

Beyond A risk manager par excellence Talent JOACHIM ADEBAYO ADENUSI

Joachim Adebayo Adenusi, a Nigerian, has earned international acclaim as a risk manager of high repute. Adenusi, who sits atop as Chief Executive, Conrad Clark Nigeria Limited, held an exclusive business dinner with a select group of corporate executives in Lagos last Thursday, where he also unveiled his soar away pet project, MOREMI Risk Edutainment, an inspirational film focusing on the different dimensions of risks. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf was there

O

NE individual who is absolutely passionate about the Nigerian project is Joachim Adebayo ten fail to meet expectations of stakeholders, as demAdenusi. onstrated by the continued history of business and There is no doubt that Adenusi has project failures. made good in life, what with his “Without a sound knowledge of how to manage learning and exposure which he acrisk, foreseeable threats materialise into problems and quired at the international frontiers. crisis, and achievable opportunities are missed leadHe is one of the leading authoriing to lost benefits.” ties in promoting and implementing He was however quick to add that “risk manageholistic performance-based Enterprise ment is not the most exciting subject in the world and Risk Management across the UK. that is obvious from the way organisations have As the Head of Risk Management at approached the issue over the years. HavEssex Council, one of the largest UK ing the capacity to handle or manage organisations, Adenusi introduced risk requires being proactive and inand implemented effective risk novative. It requires having the management initiatives which ability like we have done, to creearned the organisation the ate cutting-edge training highly recommended Europrogramme that can inject life pean Strategic Risk Manand inspiration into the agement Award. sometimes dull world of He was nomirisk management.” nated for impleJustifying the need for menting the the Moremi film, a mod‘Best Risk Manule to teach the tenets of agement Aprisk management using proach in the the instrumentality of Public Sector’ in play, Adenusi said: “I 2007, the ‘Best thought if I could Risk Communidraw from my backcation of the Year’ ground to use storyin 2008, and the telling and art to eduUK Risk Manager cate on this subject, I of the Year Award could create a training in 2009. Adenusi course that would be has a degree in Actupractical, innovative, arial Science and a interactive, entertainpostgraduate diploma ing, and most imporin Actuarial Science tantly inspiring. from City University “What we have intro(Cass Business School), duced as a course through London, and an MSc in Risk the “Moremi play”, will Management from Glasgow for generations continue to Caledonian Business School, inspire directors, senior exScotland. ecutives and professional A chartered insurance praccolleagues to see the benefits titioner (ACII), a Fellow and of using risk managing skills former Director of the Institute of as a decision-making tool. It Risk Management (IRM), and he will enable organisations to is currently advising major UK see the links between strategy, financial services and underrisk, performance and reward, writers on the process of impleencouraging them to begin ad•Adenusi displaying some of menting and embedding Soldressing the cultural issues in his awards vency II requirements. most organisations.”

For an individual who is used Risk Edutainment, he to strutting his stuff at the world stage, he is rather upstressed: “is a training production which innovatively beat about making his impact felt more at home. Little uses classical African folklore, performed by profeswonder he decided to organise an interface and discussional actors and actresses live or via interactive DVD, sion session to create awareness around a subject matto teach the core principles of risk management, goverter: risk management, which is central to human existnance, leadership, and performance management in a ence but which ironically is still at an infant stage in the training environment. country.

“Moremi is a unique combination of original AfriHe held an exclusive business dinner with a select can history and exciting fiction, named after the herogroup of corporate executives in Lagos last Thursday, ine of the story that makes use of contemporary and where he also unveiled his soar away pet project, professional language in an Afri-can setting and take MOREMI Risk Edutainment, an inspirational film fostakeholders and audience deep into the ancient West cusing on the different dimensions of risks.

African city of Ile-Ife, where they will have the opportuThe event, chaired by Dr. Femi Oyetunji, Managing nity to learn how to make highly effective decisions in Director/Chief Executive, Continental Reinsurance Plc, difficult times. also saw a lot of upwardly mobile executives and high Moremi, he emphasised, is for directors, chief exechelons of the corporate world in attendance, includecutive officers and senior executives across various ing Mr. Fela Durotoye, who gave an excellent presensectors. tation on “Making Nigeria one of the best.”

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation Fielding questions from The Nation, Adenusi obof the film. served that risk management is globally recognised as Earlier, Usifu Jalloh, a UK based Sierra Leonean story an essential contributor to business and project sucteller also held the audience in rapt attention with his cess, since it focuses on addressing uncertainties in a sing-along folkloric tale just as Ayo Dele, a UK-based proactive manner in order to minimise threats, artist, held a special presentation entitled: “Dare to maximise opportunities as well as help in optimizing Dream”, with audience literally asking for an encore. achievement of objectives.

In an interview with a cross-section of participants, He however lamented that over the years, and dethey described the play as unique, saying risk spite several attempts at implementing effective risk edutainment makes risk management an interesting management processes, in practice, managements ofsubject for all ages.

BUSINESS PROFILE

By Adetayo Okusanya Email: adetayookusanya@hotmail.com

Seven reasons why you did not get promoted

T

HE company you work for has just completed its people review cycle and one of the outcomes expected from this process is the promotion announcement. It is very typical in your organization for heads of departments to send an email to their entire team listing and congratulating individuals within the team who have been promoted to the next level by management. You are looking forward to the promotion announcement because you believe that your name will be on the forthcoming list. There is a widespread understanding within the company, based on historical trends, that on average, an employee will be promoted every three years. You have just completed your third year in your current job position.

Finally the announcement day arrives. You are heading back from your lunch break and there is a buzz in the office. The promotion announcement is out.

You walk briskly to your desk, your heartbeat racing faster from exertion, anticipation and suspense. You can already hear congratulatory greetings around you. You turn on your laptop, navigate to your mailbox and click on the email from your head of department. You skip reading the preamble and scroll down to the list of names. Five people have been promoted and to your consternation, you are not one of them. You feel the blood drain from your face and fall back into your chair. You are devastated and deflated. You feel a sense of shame. The absence of your name from the list seems like an indictment. You lose all motivation for work and your entire afternoon, day, week, month and possibly year have just been ruined. You spend the rest of your afternoon staring mindlessly at your computer screen, wondering why you did not get promoted.

Sometimes life will throw you a curve ball, like a missed promotion opportunity. When such unexpected disappointments happen, the best strategy is to step back, review and take coursecorrective actions if necessary. It is not the right time for a protracted pity-party. You owe it to your development to understand why and how it happened, and what preventive measures you can put in place to stop it from happening again. I have described below seven possible factors that, in my opinion, may have contributed to your being passed over for a promotion in your organization.

1.You don’t know the rules of the game Promotion opportunities in many corporations are like funnels, since most companies have a pyramid structure. The higher you go in the organizational hierarchy, the fewer the job positions you will encounter. There are, therefore, more promotion opportunities at lower levels of the organization than at the top, and competition can quickly become intense and fierce. Additionally, promotions are both a cost and benefit to the organization. Management must believe that moving you to a higher rank and scope of responsibilities will be a net benefit to the organization, before they promote you to the next level.

Supply will always outstrip demand at higher levels of the organization. Supervisory, management and executive responsibilities are critical to any organization’s success. Decisions made at these levels have higher probabilities of changing the fortunes of the company for better or worse, than decisions made at lower levels. Much more, therefore, is required from the individuals that assume such leadership responsibilities and they are expected to demonstrate qualities that are not commonplace.

Only those who understand that promotion decisions are ultimately business decisions stand the highest chance of being handpicked and/or groomed for such roles.

2.You made assumptions and did not ask the right questions You believe that promotion is a right, and it should automatically accrue to you. You forget that your employment contract with the organization does not guaranty you promotions.

Promotion is at the sole discretion of the people who lead and manage the business and they use it as a reward for employees who are outstanding in their job performance and have demonstrated an aptitude for increased responsibilities. You assumed that tenure was the primary criteria for promotion decisions and never confirmed this with your manager. You did not communicate your interest in moving to the next level, nor did you ask your manager to tell you what it would take to get promoted.

You avoid performance feedback like a plague and when your manager says “you are doing fine”, you assume this means you are doing a great job. You never ask your manager to define what “fine” means to him and ensure it is the same definition as yours. Does “fine” mean you are meeting management’s expectations of individuals in your job category or exceeding expectations? Additionally, you do not enquire how well you are doing compared with your peers who will be competing with you for promotion opportunities.

To be continued next week.

• Okusanya is CEO of ReadinessEdge

61

WORLD NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

D

EPOSED Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak suffered “a health crisis” yesterday upon arrival at prison after he was sentenced to life in prison, state television reported.

He was convicted for the killing of protesters in the uprising against his rule, state television reported.

“Mubarak was afflicted by a health crisis upon his arrival at Torah Prison and is being treated in the helicopter,” the report said, quoting a medical source, referring to the helicopter that transferred him to the jail.

The court however acquitted him and his sons of corruption charges in a mixed verdict that swiftly provoked a new wave of anger on Egypt’s streets.

After the sentencing, the 84-year old, ailing Mubarak cried in protest and resisted leaving the helicopter that took him from the Cairo courtroom to a prison hospital for the first time, according to security officials. Since Mubarak was ordered detained last April, he has been held in several different military hospitals but never in a prison hospital. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

Earlier, Mubarak sat stone-faced and frowning in the courtroom’s metal defendant while judge Ahmed Rifaat read out the conviction and sentence against him, showing no emotion with his eyes concealed by dark sunglasses. His sons Gamal and Alaa looked nervous but also did not react to either the conviction of their father or their own acquittals.

Mubarak was convicted of complicity in the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising that forced him to resign in February 2011. He and his two sons were acquitted of corruption charges, along with a family friend who is on the run.

Rifaat delivered a strongly worded statement before handing down the sentences.

He described Mubarak’s era as “30 years of darkness” and “a darkened nightmare” that ended only when Egyptians rose up to demand change.

“They peacefully demanded democracy from rulers who held a tight grip on power,” the judge said about the Jan.25-Feb. 11 uprising last year.

Angered by the acquittals of the Mubarak sons and six top police officers, lawyers for the victims’ families broke out chanting inside the courtroom as soon as Rifaat finished reading the verdict.

“The people want to cleanse the judiciary,” they chanted. Some raised banners that read: “God’s verdict is execution.”

The charges related to killing protesters carried a possible death sentence that the judge chose not to impose, opting instead to send Mubarak to prison for the rest of his life.

Outside the courtroom on the outskirts of the capital, there was jubilation initially when the conviction was announced, with one man falling to his knees and

Kenyan student held in US over alleged cannibalism

A

21-year-old student from Kenya was held without bail in the US state of Maryland Saturday after allegedly killing and eating parts of his housemate, CNN television reported.

Alexander Kinyua was arrested after being charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault in the alleged cannibalism case, the network said.

Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane told reporters that Kinyua admitted killing his Ghanian housemate, cutting him up, and then eating his heart and part of his brain, the report said.

According to the Harford County District Court case record, the killing occurred on May 25.

The gruesome find was made by Antony Kinyua — Alexander Kinyua’s father — who called a Harford County detective and told him that he had come across two metal tins containing human body parts covered by a blanket in the basement laundry room, the report said.

The tins contained the head and two hands of Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie, a housemate of Kinyua, who lived in Joppatowne, Maryland, and was considered missing.

The rest of the victim’s remains were found in a dumpster.

A missing person’s report filed May 26 described AgyeiKodie, 37, as “very intelligent.”

He had earned multiple master’s degrees from schools in Ghana and was a graduate student at Morgan State University until 2008, CNN said.

US drone strike kills three militants in Pakistan

A

•Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is wheeled into an ambulance following his verdict hearing in Cairo yesterday.

AFP PHOTO prostrating himself in prayer on the pavement and others dancing, pumping fists in the air and shooting off fireworks.

But that scene soon descended into tensions and scuffles, as thousands of riot police in helmets and shields held the restive, mostly antiMubarak crowd back behind a cordon protecting the court.

Later, thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, birthplace of the uprising, and in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Egypt’s northern coast. They chanted slogans denouncing the trial as “theatrical” and against the ruling generals who took over for Mubarak, led by his former defence minister.

“Execute them, execute them!” chanted the protesters in Alexandria.

Mubarak and his former Interior Minister Habib el-

Adly, who was in charge of the police and other security forces at the time of the uprising, were convicted of failing to act to stop the killings during the opening days of the revolt, when the bulk of protesters died. ElAdly also received a life sentence.

Most of the dead were either shot or run over by police vehicles in Cairo and a string of major cities across the country.

Mubarak and his sons — one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa — were acquitted on corruption charges, with the judge citing a 10-year statute of limitations that had lapsed since the alleged crimes were committed.

Just days before the verdict was made public, the state prosecutor levelled new charges of insider trading

against the two sons. It now appears that these charges may have been an attempt to head off new public outrage once the acquittals of the Mubarak sons were made public.

It has appeared all along that prosecutions since Mubarak’s fall targeting relatively few high level officials and their cronies have been motivated largely by appeasing public anger expressed in massive street protests that continued long after Mubarak’s ouster.

Scores of policemen charged with killing protesters have either been acquitted or sentenced to light sentences, angering relatives of the victims and the pro-democracy youth groups behind the uprising.

Rock-throwing and fist fights outside the courtroom left at least 20 people injured,

and a police official said that four people were arrested.

Thousands of riot police and policemen riding horses had cordoned off the building to prevent protesters and relatives of those slain during the uprising from getting too close. Hundreds stood outside, waving Egyptian flags and chanting slogans demanding “retribution.” Some spread Mubarak’s picture on the asphalt and walked over it.

Mubarak’s verdict came just days after presidential elections have been boiled down to a June 16-17 contest between Mubarak’s last prime minister, one-time protege Ahmed Shafiq, and Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, a fundamentalist Islamist group that Mubarak persecuted for most of his years in power.

US drone strike targeting a vehicle in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt killed at least three militants yesterday, security officials said, the latest in a recent spate of attacks.

The strike — the sixth in 11 days — took place in Khawashi Khel village, five kilometres (three miles) west of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal district which borders Afghanistan, a Pakistani security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The US drone fired two missiles which completely destroyed the vehicle. At least three militants have been killed,” the security official said.

Another official said the attack took place as militants were trying to move from one area to another near the border.

Washington considers Pakistan’s semia u t o n o m o u s northwestern tribal belt the main hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

World News

Queen marks diamond jubilee T

HE Queen marked 60 years on the throne yesterday with a visit to the races, indulging a lifelong passion for horses and launching four days of nationwide celebrations to honour a monarch riding high in public affection.

The 86-year-old will watch the Epsom Derby in southern England, joining a crowd of up to 150,000 racegoers dressed in their summer best for one of the racing season’s highlights.

The focus then turns to London, where huge crowds are expected to line the streets and the River Thames for a series of spectacular events, although forecasts of rain and unseasonably cold weather could dampen enthusiasm.

Millions more are expected to attend street parties across the country as the nation marks the queen’s personal milestone under the banner of the “Diamond Jubilee”.

“The queen has given incredible service,” Prime Minister David Cameron said.

“She’s never put a foot wrong, she’s hugely popular and respected here and around the world and it’s an opportunity for people to give thanks and to say thank you for the incredible service that she’s given.”

Across Britain, red, white and blue “Union Jack” flags billow from street lamps, outside buildings, shop fronts and houses, and sales of patriotic souvenirs have rocketed ahead of the celebrations.

To royalists, the occasion is a chance to express their appreciation of a woman who learned she was queen at the age of 25 while on holiday in Kenya with her husband Prince Philip.

For others, the chance of some extra days off work and to enjoy the sort of extravaganza and public

ceremony for which Britain is renowned has made it a welcome break from austere times, pay freezes and deep public spending cuts.

Republicans hope the occasion marks the last hurrah of a dying anachronism, while some 2 million people are leaving Britain altogether to go on holiday.

Having acceded to the throne in February 1952 on the death of her father George VI when Winston Churchill was prime minister, Elizabeth is now the longest-lived British monarch.

Only her great-greatgrandmother Victoria spent longer on the British throne and is the only other monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee.

As well as being head of the Commonwealth of nations mainly made up former British colonies, Elizabeth is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

•Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (L) presents the trophy to Joseph O’Brien (R), the jockey of St Nicholas Abbey, after he won the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup on Derby Day, the second day of the Epsom Derby horse racing festival, at Epsom in Surrey, southern England, yesterday, the first official day of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

AFP PHOTO

NATO rescues four aid workers in Afghanistan N ATO forces swooped in by helicopter before dawn yesterday to rescue two female foreign aid workers and their two Afghan colleagues who were held by militants for nearly two weeks in a cave in northern Afghanistan.

British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the “breathtaking” operation, which he approved Friday afternoon after becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of the hostages, one of whom, 28-year-old Helen Johnston, was British.

Johnston was kidnapped along with Moragwa Oirere, a 26-year-old Kenyan, and the two Afghans while visiting aid sites in Badakhshan province on May 22. The four work for Medair, a humanitarian nongovernmental organization based near Lausanne, Switzerland.

The rescue operation was carried out by British troops in cooperation with other NATO and Afghan forces, Cameron

told reporters outside 10 Downing Street in London. He said it was “extraordinarily difficult” to decide to go ahead with the operation, which involved a “long route march” without being discovered.

“It was an extraordinarily brave, breathtaking even, operation that our troops had to carry out,” said Cameron.

“We will never be able to publish their names but the whole country should know we have an extraordinary group of people who work for us who do amazingly brave things.”

All four hostages were rescued safely, no British troops were injured and a number of Taliban militants and kidnappers were killed, said Cameron.

Past rescue attempts in Afghanistan have not always gone so well.

In 2009, an Afghan translator kidnapped alongside a New York Times reporter was killed in a hail of bullets during a rescue attempt

by British commandoes. In 2010, the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team 6 tried to rescue Linda Norgrove, a Scottish aid worker, from her Taliban captors in Afghanistan. She was killed by a grenade thrown in haste by one of the American commandoes.

Afghan officials said seven militants were killed during yesterday’s operation, which was launched around 1 a.m.

Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, a coalition spokesman, said a helicopter rescue team reached the scene before dawn and confirmed that the hostages were there.

“The kidnappers were armed with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s,” Cummings said. “They were kidnapped by an armed terrorist group with ties to the Taliban.”

The aid workers appeared to be in good health, but they will be evaluated before being reunited with their families, he said.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

T

HIS past week’s G-8 (Camp David) and NATO (Chicago) summits had a theatrical quality arriving in three broad movements. One was a comedy, the other a looming tragedy and the third an utter farce. It was as if these assemblies of mostly Western leaders had turned themselves into a troupe of actors. The players seemed more intent on claiming a piece of center stage in order to spout rehearsed lines than on resolving the issues confronting them. It is as if these leaders live in a space where the world in which most of us live does not exist and the matters that move most of humanity, either for good or bad, do not enter.

These summits both took place on American soil during an election year. This was astute political scheduling by the Obama White House; it highlights his status as a world leader for an electorate that is proud of American power but largely ignorant of global affairs.

While hosting the summits might help him with his voters, summit outcomes will do little to bridge the gulf between America and much of the world. The conferences might intensify the differences.

The G-8 gathering preceded the NATO summit. At the G-8, summiteers focused primarily on the Eurozone crisis. To these leaders’ chagrin, the crisis will not go away. But how could it end? The crisis was caused by the very policies these leaders have propounded. The Eurozone crisis started as a financial problem; it was a debt event that troubled the private banking sectors as well as the sovereigns of several Eurozone member nations.

The problem would worsen and spread to the overall economy of almost all Eurozone states.

Dissemination of the crisis into the general economy was largely due to the stubborn insistence of European leaders on imposing austerity policies on flagging, debtridden economies. What was a significant financial predicament was turned into a full blown economic crisis primarily because those entrusted to fix the mess made it worse.

Greece addles near major economic depression. Scared depositors withdraw their funds from its domestic banks at sprinter’s speed. A run on the banks is underway. While Greece appears headed for the morgue, Spain is rushed to the emergency room as its banks appear visibly illiquid and possibly insolvent. Italy lies in an ambulance closely behind. The heat of human desperation and growing poverty sear the social and political fabric of these nations. The possibility of a Greek Eurozone exit expands by the hour. If Greece leaves, the Euro may endure. If either Spain or Italy falls, the monetary union will crumble with it.

Even if these two large nations do not fall, current policies mean continued recession. This puts the American president on edge.

Locked in a tight election race, he needs better economic news to provide his margin of victory.

Continued European doldrums could undermine the American economy just months before the election, the worst possible time for the White House incumbent.

Thus, President Obama urged the European governments to grow their economies while still cutting their budgets. The high priestess of fiscal austerity, German Chancellor Merkel chimed that the summiteers agreed to continue with budget tightening but also to seek more growth. This all sounds nice as long as the listener is willing to suspend the nettlesome reality of reality.

Although they behaved as if making some conceptual breakthrough, there is nothing new in what the

World News

World Leaders: Long on power, short on logic Few things are more disconcerting than the combination of power and ignorance

•Barack Obama

By Brian Browne leaders stated. Substantively, this is the same thing uttered when they first imposed austerity. Then, they claimed government budget cuts would automatically lead to private sector growth. Then, they spoke with tight jowls and stern countenance. Today, they spoke in a more spritely tone. Their smiles were meant to mask that the new words carried the same old meaning. This would not be so bad if not so dangerous and illogical.

Austerity broke these national economies during the last few years. It will continue to do so.

The problem is that speaking of austere budget cuts and better economic growth at the same time defies economic history. Forget the delicate theorems of mainstream economics for the moment. We should focus on empirical fact. It is better to measure the efficacy of policy in this manner because we do not live in the space of theories or in the books that contain them.

We live in a complex world that refuses to take instruction from books erring economists may write. The bottom line is this: a nation cannot experience higher growth and undergo budget cuts at the same time unless government spending had been willfully deployed to undermine the national economy. No matter how inefficient a government may be, rarely is a government so irrational that it intentionally destroy its own economic base just for destruction’s sake. Thus, the marriage of fiscal austerity and economic growth is chimerical. The two simply cannot coexist, especially in an already flaccid economy. Melding the two is like stating that the best place to launch a sail boat is the Sahara because the winds are constant.

Moreover, one does not have to worry about getting wet from the splash of waves upon the deck of the vessel.

If true to their deceptive words, the G-8 leaders will persist with austerity. They might slightly reduce the amounts of the fiscal reductions. This is not positive growth. It is merely a scant lessening of economic pain. This is no cure. The nations currently in the

•Angela Merkel

•David Cameron

sick ward will remain. Worse, more nations shall come seeking remedy where there is none.

At the G-8, summiteers also made a gesture toward African food security. America announced a multi-billion dollar plan for initiatives driven by the American private sector to boost African agricultural productivity. Since the Hellenics are now too poor to bestow a Greek gift, G-8 participants evidently have assumed the dubious role. In the long run, this plan will be a disaster for Africa, its rural populations and its capacity to feed itself. It might turn Africa into a sure breadbasket. However, the ultimate destination of the enhanced agricultural produce will be far from certain and may be far from Africa.

This program is not as altruistic as it seems. Large private corporations are not in the habit of doing missionary work in Africa’s rural outback. If they were, food problems would already have been settled. History demands we doubt that these firms experienced a humanitarian epiphany. Something else, something more practical, motivated this move. The program is partly due to geopolitical competition with China for natural resources, food supplies and influence over the nations that have them. By bringing Africa more closely into its orbit, the West abbreviates Chinese influence and quest for power. Second, the West is looking to revive its industrial base so that their national economies can regain a healthier trajectory. This means they need to secure cheaper supplies of raw material and food.

It also means they want to ensure that African nations do not develop their own industrial capacity. Woe to the West and to China if Africa can emulate the industrial growth Asia has experienced the past three decades. The geopolitical strategy of the West and of China is to suppress African industrialization to keep Africa as a hewer of raw material and a buyer of the finished product.

Naïve is the idea that large foreign agricultural firms would suddenly help small-scale African farmers. Mechanized large-scale farming has caused the virtual

demise of small-time American farmers. That big American firms would ruin small American farmers yet buoy small-scale African farmers makes little sense. The dynamics of agricultural economics suggest the assistance program is but a transition phase leading to future confiscation. This superficially innocuous aid will result in the later depletion of the number of smallscale Africa farmers. It happened in America; the process will and already is repeating itself in Africa.

Some of the African nations, particularly Ethiopia, invited to the summit to receive the news of this Western largesse are already forcibly evicting farmers from their traditional lands to make room for large agro-businesses to control the soil. This program will merely add a nice corporate sheen to what heretofore have been strong-arm confiscations. Consequently, the initiative will help individual farmers claim title to land and establish cute little plots at the beginning. All will seem well as productivity increases at first.

Afterwards, the takings will start.

This modernization is not for the farmer’s benefit but to make the subsequent confiscation of their lands seem like an orderly commercial process and less like the grand injustice it will be. Before demolishing an old building to make room for the new, planners have to clear the old one of refuse and must gauge the soundness of the condemned structure to insure its orderly demolition. Such is the destiny of traditional agricultural holdings for most nations that enroll for this assistance.

Once displaced as owners of land, farmers’ plight will fall more precariously. Either they become low-wage hired hands tilling the soil they once owned or they become homeless unemployed migrants headed for city slums.

Either way, they will be unable to afford the new food produced on their old lands. Much of the new food will be shipped abroad. This scenario is bleak but not far-fetched.

This was the plight of many American farmers impoverished by the Great Depression. During the famine of the 1840s, poor Irish

63

farmers starved. To a large extent the famine was contrived. While many went hungry, the English colonialists managed to export large quantities of meat and other foodstuffs from the Emerald Isle.

Governments abdicate a fundamental responsibility to the extent they allow foreign nations and firms to define their agricultural policies. These foreign nations will do things in Africa’s interests only to the extent that African interests converge with theirs. That convergence is much thinner than most Africans understand. The nation that does not define and implement an agricultural policy according to its own interests will be known as a nation of hungry people. This word to the wise should be sufficient.

The most farcical aspect of the two summits was NATO’s handling of Afghanistan. Trying to maintain the fiction that their war objectives are being realized, participants announced that Afghan forces will soon take the leading combat role against the stubborn Taliban. As their numbers reduce, NATO troops will be retreating to non-combat roles. The reality of Afghanistan is that NATO has won most of the battles but lost the larger war. The problem is that NATO has confused war aims that have never been rectified.

NATO entered Afghanistan wanting to annihilate both Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The proper war aim should have been to raze Al Qaeda and turn the Taliban into a hostile neutral. Al Qaeda has been basically eliminated from Afghanistan years ago.

However, the fight continued against the Taliban. This reduced the war in Afghanistan from being a responsive counterattack to being a foreign invasion. No matter how enlightened the invader perceives himself, the local community maintains a different, less charitable view of the foreign force.

Afghans’ tolerance of the foreign presence has been exhausted. The Karzai government in Kabul is seen as a discredited and corrupt puppet regime. If this is how democracy is supposed to work, the people want little of it. While the Taliban is harsh, Karzai is not much better.

Thus, the Taliban survives and each day that it survives is a victory. Its war aim is not to defeat NATO but to wave good bye to its forces when they depart in frustration. By affirming a time table for exiting Afghanistan, the NATO summit confirmed a Taliban victory although dressing it as NATO progress. The harsh weather-beaten Taliban warriors must be in their hovels scratching their heads in puzzlement about how strangely these powerful Westerners operate.

The sole question remaining is how long will the Karzai government survive if truly left to its own devices by the Western powers?

The two summits indicate that a year of more experience has done little good. These leaders remain as collectively purblind and devoid of vision as they were last year. They continue to do their nations and the world significant disservice because they cannot seem to transcend the smaller, parochial definitions of their roles. Instead of always trying to extract concessions from the rest of the world, they should learn to balance their appetites by sometimes conceding things to nations not like them. They must learn that those who disagree with them are not necessarily sinister or enemies. They must learn that even adversaries agree at times. At bottom, powerful leaders who do not understand that other nations have legitimate interests different than their own are apt to create so much animus that they weaken the very global system that benefits them.

64

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

EBERE WABARA

65

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

The Macleans alert HE GUARDIAN of May 31 did not nurture the truth: “Macleans alerts on (sic) dangers of fluoridated toothpaste in (sic) undersix” A rewrite: Macleans alerts to dangers of fluoridated toothpaste to under-six THE GUARDIAN of May 29 also failed in its usage of the English language on a warped Democracy Day! The publication issued seven gaffes: “…he will engage in one form of electoral malpractice or the other including wanton violence.” The leadership question: one form of electoral malpractice or another.

“Danfo driver dies in NDLEA custody as wrap of cocaine he swallowed in Brazil burst” A rewrite: Danfo driver dies in NDLEA custody as a wrap of cocaine he swallowed in Brazil bursts” “The expenditure on alternative power supply has made the cost of doing business in Nigeria the highest in (on) the continent.”

“We also congratulate all Nigerians on this occassion.” (Full-page Colour Advert by SIFAX Group) Sad Democracy Day: occasion.

“In November 2011, the Lagos State Government agreed to pay CONMESS as approved in the Federal Government circular and committed itself to same via a signed document.” The unhealthy tango in Lagos: itself to the same…. “…I will not allow race, religion, party, politics and so on to intervene between me and my patient.” Get it right: between my patient and me (as a predicate). But in a subject capacity: My patient and I were schoolmates in….

Lastly from Rutam House of Goofs: “…there is no way a dying doctor can threat (treat) a patient.”

Let us come home for a series of errors in last week’s edition of this medium: “President Jonathan is an ominous busybody over non reinstatement of Salami” For the editorialist: non-reinstatement.

“Without a doubt this president is overwhelmed” My comment: there should be a comma after ‘doubt’.

“It is unfortunate that the presidency appear (appears) rather comfortable playing politics with the lives of Nigerians.”

T

“Let me begin by congratulating Nigerians for (on/upon) having an uninterrupted….”

“All that matters (matter), (needless punctuation) is (are) his personality and his feelings towards me.”

Lastly from THE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 27: “…the views of many Nigerians out there is (are) that the policy leaves nothing to cheer about….”

DAILY INDEPENDENT of May 25 offered readers three blunders: “Road blocks (sic) are gone for good—IGP” I salute this super cop for the abolition of roadblocks. Your service profile reminds me of Mr. Tafa Balogun, a good friend of mine who was used and dumped disgracefully by the Ota vindictive farmer!

“Obasanjo should be commended over (for) statement on NASS members” “NNPC laments lost (loss) of 180,000 bpd to criminals” “…as the attending leaders would be falling over each other (one another) to get the attention of the world’s number one citizen....”

“Succeeding (Successive) governments have shown no inclination to overhauling our antediluvian criminal justice system.”

“Television footage of the visit showed a heartrending scene of inmates kneeling and wailing and pleading to (with) her to secure their release….”

“By leaving so many frivolous laws on (in) our statute books….”

“One of Nigeria’s finest and pioneer professor (professors) of dentistry….”

“Real development in (on) the African continent cannot be achieved through coups.”

“Nigeria successfully restored Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba (another comma) into (to) government after he was deposed by ….”

“Although the government is still settling down into (to) its second term….”

“Transporters are usually the first to do so making workers spend the lion (lion’s) share of their salary on transportation (why not just transport, which is Standard English; not Americanism?)

“The coup I and Umar plotted” No lexical coup, gentlemen: Umar and I. “Ex-Gov commends

Jonathan over development of….” He surely commended GEJ for (not over) development.

An aside: ‘Demand’, when used as a verb, does not admit ‘for’ except in noun applications.

“10 arrested at Apapa Ports over (for) hemp dump.”

“With regards to the first question (a comma, please) the answer will be two-pronged.”

Choose between ‘as regards’ and ‘with regard to’. “…an issue further compounded (not too elegant an expression) in 1960 by the British government handover of the reigns of government in Nigeria....” A lesson for the Flagship: reins of government.

“How I lost my lover to a bossom friend” From this stable: bosom.

“Then came the launching (launch) proper….”

“They came to enjoy music, not pay through their noses (nose) for a few hours of fun.” “…the dead would have done a dance of approval at the befitting honours accorded them by their offsprings.” ‘Offspring’ is uncountable.

“Teachers who supervise schools partake in the malpractices and, therefore, have turned a blind eye on it.” Fixed idiomatic expression: turn a blind eye to something.

“Today, not only is the civil conflict still raging, but the fall-outs of the war....” ‘Fallout’, just like stationery, is noncount.

FEEDBACK I suggest you cover broadcast news in your column. Common mistakes on our electronic media (names withheld!) make listening to them boring. Most of the stations are fond of inflecting uncountable words and using wrong expressions. An example will suffice: ‘coverages’ instead of ‘coverage’.

Sunny Agbontaen (Benin City)/ 08055162531 I have been ardently following your interventions through your soaraway weekly medium.

Can you edit books and write speeches?

Emmanuel Bassey (Lagos)/08055067429 Last Line: In response to the preceding mail, this columnist can edit any type of book, write speeches and carry out other communicative functions, professionally.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

66 CHANGE OF NAME UKAGWU I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Steve Chukwudi Ukagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Felix Chukwudi Ogu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OWOLABI

I, formerly known and addressed as Soetan Abiodun Owolabi, now wish to be known and addressed as Shoetan Abiodun Peter. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ONI

I, formerly known and addressed as Oni Omowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekpa Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

YASHIM I, formerly known and addressed as Eunice Koni Yashim, now wish to be known and addressed as Eunice Koni Osurah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OGEDENGBE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ogedengbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Anunobi . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ODONA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odona Ochonia Amanda, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ediale Ochonia Amanda. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UDOH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekaette Micheal Udoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Anitie Nse. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AWHOTU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Awhotu Comfort Ovigueraye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajana Comfort Ovigueraye. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEKOLA

NURUDEEN

MOKWUAH

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, MEMBERE IBOROMA and MEMBERE IGBIGIOYIBO, are one and same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as MEMBERE IBOROMA . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Love Ngozi Akanno, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngozi Bashir Momoh. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekola Veronica Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fatore Veronica Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Local govt.

Service Commission, Ido/Osi Local govt. and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nurudeen Aminat Adejoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Otunaya Aminat Adejoke. All former documents remain valid. INLGEA, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun SUBEB and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mokwuah Esther Chiedozie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnaji Esther Chiedozie. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

ABIMBOLA

FAMAKIN

DAODU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Daodu Adedoyin Olufunke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adenuga Adedoyin Olufunke G. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Famakin Helen Solaide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebayo Helen Solaide. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OBAYEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obayemi Bolatito Alice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faruku Bolatito Alice. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Local govt. Service Commission and general public should take note.

RAJI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Raji Olaitan Sekinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abiona Olaitan Sekinat. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ALABI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alabi Olubukola Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeboye Sarah Olubukola Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. (SEAP) Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should take note.

OGUNEDO

AKINBI

EZEOKEKE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeokeke Rita Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ude Rita Nneka. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

BAMIDELE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bamidele Oluwakemi Bukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odenigbo Oluwakemi Bukola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAWUNI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olawuni Abimbola Lola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeniyi Abimbola Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Egbusim Augusta Nkechinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obiakor Augusta Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amben Joy Gai, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stephen Amben . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ABINA I, formerly known and addressed as Oluwakemi Fauosat Iyabor Abina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwakemi Hephzibah Elutilo . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINMADE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinmade Kehinde Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abimbola Kehinde Mary. All former documents remain valid. Akure South Local govt. and general public should take note.

ADEWALE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Awulonu Amarachi Ijeoma Pauline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Opara Ifeoma Glory. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UDOH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faboro Bosede Arike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adewale Bosede Arike. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should take note.

FABORO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lucy Okon Etim Udoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lucy Andrew Thomas Inyang.

All former documents remain valid. UNICAL Teaching Hospital and general public should take note.

ODILI

ADU-ADEGBOYE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adu-Adegboye Temitope Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekunle Temitope Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SOLEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Soleye Folake Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeleye Folake Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OBILOR

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agboola Modupe Morenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayomidotun Modupe Morenike. All former documents remain valid. Coop Industries Limited, Akure Ondo State and general public should take note.

AWULONU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewale Abosede Bekky, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ignatius Adewale Abosede Bekky. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OMIBIYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omibiyi Adetoun Adewunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olanrewaju Adetoun Adewunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAYANJU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sikirat Oriyomi Olayanju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dhikroh Oriyomi Olayanju Adekola. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

GAI

I, formerly known and addressed as Temitope Abiodun Akinbi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Temitope Abiodun Odulate.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKUNNA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akunna Jane Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwamaiona Jane Ngozi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obilor Chinasa Maryann, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Festus Chinasa Maryann. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EGBUSIM I, formerly known and addressed as Onyinyechi Chinemerem Ogunedo, now wish to be known and addressed as Onyinyechi Chinemerem Osokogu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEITAN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeitan Ganiyat Tejumade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Babalola Ganiyat Tejumade. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Anene Odili, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patience Anene Ighedo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

AGBOOLA

ADEWUMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewumi Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojo Folasade Susan. All former documents remain valid.

Coop Industries Limited, Akure Ondo State and general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This confirms that the names Ikuomola Olajuwon refers to one person Ikuomola Juwon Junior. All former documents remain valid.

First City Monument Bank(FCMB) and general public should take note.

SOLOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Solola Onikepe Rasidat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lawal Onikepe Rasidat. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti and general public should take note.

ILORI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ilori Olanike Julianah (Aladesanmi), now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gbadebo Adenike Julianah. All former documents remain valid.

Law enforcement Agent and general public should take note.

MOHAMMED

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Mohammed Hassan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Augustine Vandi Benjamin Hassan. All former documents remain valid.Nigerian Army and general public should take note.

SANGOTAYO I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Sangotayo Olaoluwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oluwatayo Olaoluwa Olaniyi.

All former documents remain valid.Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, NYSC and general public should take note.

AWOTEDU

ONITILO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Awotedu Mosunmola Alice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyedeji Mosunmola Alice. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onitilo Omobolanle Omowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olayinka Omobolanle Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid.

Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Ogun Waterside Local govt. and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ologba Jemimah Onyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omachi Jemimah Onyechi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLOGBA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abimbola Temitope Racheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aleje Temitope Racheal. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKEKE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogochukwu Juliet Okeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogochukwu Juliet Ajuogu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UMUNWAOJUKWU

We, the entire people of former Umunwaojukwu kindred in Umukegwu Akokwa Autonomous Comm. in ldeato LGA of lmo State now wish to be known and addressed as Umuchukwu kindred All former documemts remain valid. General public should take note.

OKON I formerly known and addressed as Miss Georgina Asuqwo Okon, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Georgina Ime Akpan. all former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

CHARLES I, formerly known and addressed as Charles C. Chinweze, now wish to be known and addressed as Douglas C. Chinweze. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OFOKANSI

JINADU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Winifred Ifeoma Kambili Ofokansi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Winifred Ifeoma Kambili Nnamdi Amaju. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MUSA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Obialor Shulamite Chinwe, now wish to be known as Mrs. Akoma Shulamite Chinwe. All former documents remain valid. general public please take note.

MUSA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss.

Umezuruike Mercy Onyinyechi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Nwaizugbo Mercy Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. Power Holding Company of Nig. PLC. and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Jinadu Nafisat Adenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Afasanwo Nafisat Adenike. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Musa Febisola Abigeal, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oso-Olusola Abigeal Febisola. All former documents remain valid. ANWLG, Okeagbe, OSLGSC, Akure and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MUSA FEBISOLA ABIGEAL, now wish to be known and addressed MRS OSOOLUSOLA ABIGEAL FEBISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

A.N.W L.G. OKEAGBE, O.S.L.G.S.C. AKURE and the general public should please take note.

TAIMAKO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AFODIA TAIMAKO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AFODIA PHILLIP DANGS. All former documents remain valid .The general public should please take note.

OZIYEREYI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MOMOH JEMILA OZIYEREYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEKU JEMILA MOMOH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

NADOMA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MEDINA TAHITE NADOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MEDINA TAHITE NAHAS. All former documents remain valid.

Immigration services and the general public should please take note.

WASHIRI

I, formerly known and addressed as SEKPE DAVID WASHIRI, now wish to be known and addressed as DAVID KAKU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Gwagwalada and general public should please take note.

OKAFOR

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. JESSICA BLESSING OKAFOR , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JESSICA BLESSING ORJI . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBIALOR

UMEZURUIKE

ODOCHA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odocha Ugochinyere Ijeoma Chiaka, now wish to be known as Mrs. Esin Ugochinyere Ijeoma Chiaka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, NWIN YOROKPIGI AND JOSEPH CHIAKA refers to one and the same person. I now wish to be known as JOSEPH CHIAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

IYERE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iyere Anthinia Omonzusi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogwu Anthonia Omonzusi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ORAKINYO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Morakinyo Sekinat Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesanya Sekinat Abosede. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ONYELIMO

I, formerly known and addressed as Onyelimo Chinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Geofery Chinye Marvelous. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ESAN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esan Ayotunde Oluremi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ademola Ayotunde Oluremi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAYEMI

SORBARI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. SORBARI JOYCE CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SORBARI JOYCE PHILIP-KPAE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOLI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. JOY NKERIUKA OKOLI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IRABOR NKERIUKA JOY. All former documents remain valid. Christ Embassy Church and general public please t ake note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, OBIOMA FABIAN ONYINYECHI and NWADIBIA FABIAN ONYINYECHI, are one and same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as OBIOMA FABIAN ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olayemi Abosede Kehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayenigbara Abosede Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UKAEGBU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukaegbu Nwachi Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bamiwo Nwachi Rebecca. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

JOSEPH

I, formerly known and addressed as Olusola Joseph, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Joseph Oluwasola. All former documents remain valid. Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Legal and FinancialInstitutions, F.M.B.N., Ikeji-Ile Community, Ilesa South, Diocese and general public should take note.

AKANNO

DIORU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onokerhoraye Mary Dioru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onokerhoraye Mary Nwabuzor. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FAGBEMI We, formerly known and addressed as John Oseyemi Fagbemi, Olufunke Bolatito Fagbemi, Oluwafoyinsayemi Faith Fagbemi and Oluwafikunayomi Elijah Favour Fagbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as John Oseyemi Jesugbemi, Olufunke Bolatito Jesugbemi, Oluwafoyinsayemi Faith Jesugbemi and Oluwafikunayomi Elijah Favour Jesugbemi All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

EBOJOH I formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Afonughe Ebojoh, now wish to be known as Mrs. Evelyn Afonughe Dike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SUBERU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Suberu Aminat Bolanle, now wish to be known as Mrs. Abioye Aminat Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DUROJAIYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Olubusola Olukemi Durojaiye, now wish to be known and addressed as Olubusola Olukemi Titilola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your m a r r i a g e certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just (N4,500.

NEW RATE effective from 20th March) The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number 1892030011219 Account Name V I N T A G E PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide@yahoo.com or thenation_advert@yahoo.com For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 0 8 0 5 2 7 2 0 4 2 1 , 08161675390, Emailgbengaodejide

@yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNR 3, 2012

Q

UEEN Elizabeth I was the first female genius to capture political power.

As Britain’s all time greatest monarch she reigned over the vast English Empire, expanding the AngloSaxon influence stretching to the seas beyond “the setting of the sun”. The Elizabeth an period was her golden legacy and in that apogee she moved the English moved from home and captured the universe. As a result of her direct investment in literacy, war, scientific and exploits, Britannica ruled the waves.

Subsequently, from her Royal lips, Elizabeth pronounced English the Lingua Franca of mankind.

The paradigm shift blazed by Elizabeth, gained further impetus with the asterix contributions of other women pathfinders down the ages. Sojourner Truth, the black anti slavery activist, Helena Blavtsky, Maria Curie, Mary Cassatt, Golda Meir, Florence Nigthengale, Eleanor Roosevelt, Pakistani Bhutto and in our time the petite femme political idol of Burma. In Simone de Beavoir’s book, the Second Sex, mention was given to the subordinate role offered to women but none of these European writers ever wrote on the exploits of Queen Moremi, in the City of Blood, Amina in the Love and Daggers Conquests of Zaria, or Nwanyiriwa Ojim in the Aba Women Riots of 1929.

While, Elizabeth and the modern Feminists have been noted for their historic incursions in changing the roles of women few of those early activists took the battle head on, organizing and moving women courageously against machine guns. The Aba women in 1929, under the leadership of Nwanyiriwa Ojim dared the imperialists. Those Aba women, contrary to the European view may be the Continued fron page 18

most products users fall in love with them not only because of their qualities, but surprising because of the uniqueness of such names. A man’s sensory nerve is tickled by hearing the name of his wife vice-versa. There is branding in a product’s name.

The sudden renaming of the University of Lagos does not only provoke anger. It also raises so much questions begging for answers. In making choice of a school to attend and earn its certificate, the sentiment about name comes into fore. If I chose to be a student, and ipso facto a member of a school due to a reason that appeals to my sentiment, but someone changes the name midway into my programme without my consent, it naturally would provoke the maximum innate anger in me.

Right from my primary school days, I had nurtured the unfettered ambition of studying at the then University of Ife, IleIfe. And each time my parents

News

The three flamingoes of last summer

“Elizabeth…..shall be loved, and feared her own shall bless her. In her days every man shall eat in safety under his own vine what he planted, and sing the merry songs of peace to his neighbors”.

-William Shakespeare

•Queen Elizabeth

•Florence Nightingale

By Emma Okocha

first organized female freedom fighters to spill blood for their cause.

Enter the three beautiful Flamingoes of the last summer. As regal as Elizabeth, ferociously loyal to their male comissionaries, these three women from the same, South Eastern parts of Nigeria as the Aba avatars, knew when to be born, to whom to be born to, saw their destinies in their marriages; planted their trees of life but in the end made the mistake of dying when the Odumegwu the only African to be honoured in death like the Greek son god, decided to make his own exit.

Marian Odinchezo

Ikejiani was like her father and also like the only man she ever loved, the Oyi of Oyi, the last charismatic, plutocratic President of Senate, a cerebral historic figure. She was on her father’s lap when as the Chairman of the Nigeria’s Railways Corporation, Ikejiani built the best railine of its kind and time in the Common Wealth.

Co-founder of the University of Nigeria, Ikejiani placed Marian in the best educational institutions of the world.

On miniskirts Marian in 1967 – 1970 moved America to send relief and to stop the Civil War in Nigeria.

A Minister of the Federal Capital she and

•Eleanor Roosevelt

her principal refrained from bulldozing homes and advised that the Naira remain at a reasonable market parity with the dollar. As a professor of political science, lamenting on the lack of Nationalism in our polity, she observed that “in the years of its history as a colonial country, the ethnic groups of Nigeria had fought, sometimes rising to a civil war. There was however, no threat of foreign invasion, which would have made them present a common front and bury their ethnic loyalties.”

Eudora Iwuanyanya met her husband at the University of Nigeria. Like Elizabeth, she was an icon

of the Church of England.

On the surface it is very difficult to unravel the real significance of the Iwuanyanwu couple in Nigeria’s contemporary society. For one thing, Chief Iwuanyawu’s politics in the field is not as mouth watering as his humanity and inspiration to the down trodden. Over the years the great silent First Lady of the Aha Eji – Aga Mba Empire was behind the Chief when Akunananaw Girls Secondary School, Enugu was reconstructed and the girls enjoyed new dorminatories and new classroom facilities. When National F.C. was founded, Eudora initially fended for the boys.

Remember the Nigerian

67

striker Kanu Nwankwo was discovered from the Owerri F. C stable.

When Ngozi her daughter decided to marry a Yoruba Prince, Eudora was the mother who applied the cultural balms especially when the young man is a muslim. On record, the Iwuanyanwu Foundation has more Scholarship Awards for the poor than any other Nigerian philanthropist!

Her husband is a politician, business man etc. but she was more into education and was a prayer warrior! Before we pass all the accolades to Raph Uwazurike, it was the Iwuanyanwu’s who over the years silently fed and catered for the abandoned Oji, Biafran war veterans. And now the great newspaper, the Champion is fledging. Is it because the fair lady is dead? Who is there to listen and take the hard message to the busy Chief?

It would be the best tribute given to Eudora if we all troop out and save this Igbo champion press.

Mrs. Mary Chinelo Ukuta was the matriarch of the Ukuta family. Buried on November, 25, 2011 at Onoja Oboh Palace, Igga Uzouwani, she was the exact replica of Elizabeth I. Withdrawn from the fanfares, she was the forest Queen that planned the “Famous Disappearance” of the Zik of Africa when the Nigerian nationalist was targeted by the British.

With his death sentence already signed, Zik was smuggled to the rice rich equatorial jungle of Izu Uwuani, Mary Chinelo Ukuta took over the command of the security details, the feeding and the special forest language conversations between the animals, the vegetables, special for her and her VIP guest of the jungle.

Later a grateful President and Commander in Chief decided to build the University in Nigeria in Nsukka.

A Presidential faux pas in Lagos held me past the institution’s gate in the 70’s, the ambition in me was rekindled, and the drive to struggle in my academics in order to meet the admission requirements surged up. Simply because of their names, there are some schools I will never attend, even if the admission procedure is far less rigorous than the one I love. My position does not change even if the admission into such University is merely by successfully spelling my first name.

Many Nigerians have condemned the government’s undemocratic method of taking such decision, and the government’s hard line posture of “no going back” sounds hackneyed to democratic culture, reminding us of the military era with their draconian stance. If the popular opinion is that the federal government should have been more circumspect in taking such action, then why would the government not rescind an unpopular decision not backed

by legislative procedure. University is a corporate personality with perpetual succession which can sue and be sued it its own name. Nigeria has been reduced to a country of anything-goes where rights are trampled upon with impunity, but painfully by those who have power entrusted to them by the same people they emasculate.

Looking at the issue from point of law, do these aggrieved students have right to sue? Permit me to think they do. This is moreso when the Federal Government acted in a fiat without following due process by recourse to stakeholders’ opinions and the legislature before doing so.

Indeed a contract has been defined as an agreement between two people or more people which is intended by both of them to have legal consequences. The intention may not necessarily be declared expressly but may be deduced from the agreement. A student

obtains a form from an institution which he chose to attend due to reasons best known to him. It could be the school location, fascinating name, reputation of that school, etc. He meets all the entry requirements as stipulated by the institution and pays required fees. Because consideration has passed, the institution offers him the admission.

If “consideration” in Currie v Misa 1875 is “some right, interest, profit or benefit accruing to one party or some forbearance, detriment, loss or responsibility, given, suffered or undertaken by the other” then we can say that a student fulfilled his part of the agreement immediately he met the admission requirements, paid prescribed fees and for admission forms; signed an oath to be a member and good student of that institution whose name and logo appear on the document he was requested to sign. At the point of signing relevant documents, he assumes he/she was not being estopped into entering an agreement with

a different corporate person or entity.

Having satisfied the conditions of the mutual agreement, it is then expected that the school, in fulfilling her own part of the agreement will: impart knowledge into that student via lectures, tutorials, seminars etc. and to the extent that he passed all tests and examinations, he will be issued the deserved certificate, with the name and school’s logo adorning it, on completion of his academic programme.

That was the motive of entering into the contract ab initio. But if mid way before performance of all required terms of a contract a party acts ultra-vires the terms of that contract, then the contract is vitiated and thus an aggrieved party is entitled to sue for damages.

It was a whole 19 years ago when the Babangida-Abacha military rulership truncated Nigeria’s hope of having a stable and popularly acceptable democratic structure. Majority of the

students who feel that their rights had been trampled upon and are protesting on the streets now were either babies or relatively too young to understand the ordeal the nation were going through then. Why would the Nigerian governments that had been so lethargic and failed to do what is right for a whole 19 years foist unpopular decision on the innocent students?

Popular opinion says that President Goodluck Jonathan wants to seek relevance in the South West prior 2015 election, and that a drowning man struggles to hold on to anything found on the river, including a straw to stay afloat. I am yet to believe this theory. But eating the humble pie by reversing the decision will be a demonstration of democratic virtues. Afterall, respect for the voice of the people is the ultimate respect for democratic ideals. *Tunji Ajayi, a communication scholar, writer and author writes from Lagos

68

WORSHIP THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

NEWS Christian writers seek support

By Sunday Oguntola

C

HRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian bodies have been urged to embrace effective media evangelism to advance the kingdom of God. This was the highpoint at the just-concluded Christian Writing and Publishing Workshop organised by Christian Media Development, Journalists for Christ (JFC) and Providence Magazine in Lagos.

Participants at the 2-day workshop identified the media as a powerful tool to advance the work of God, stating that Christian organisations should explore the possibilities offered by different media to reach more souls.

A communiqué after the conference said, “to meet the present need of effective media evangelism, the church and church leaders should invest in acquiring skill development in writing and publishing while supporting local Christian authors, news writers and publishers in their various activities”.

The workshop also tasked church leaders to improve their writing and publishing skills to take ministries to the next level.

Church leaders are challenged to create awareness of proficiency and development in writing and publishing skill to improve qualities of evangelical publications.

The workshop coordinator, Gracious Akintayo said, “for the church and Christians to overcome predicaments and challenges spreading the kingdom information, there is need to move with the pace of advancement in knowledge of writing and publishing which has been a major tool of evangelism.’’

He added, ‘’the necessity of improving on production quality and developing of writing skill should not be underrated.”

Bishop Peace Okonkwo turns 60

W

IFE of Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) and Resident Pastor of the Headquarters Church, Dr. Peace Okonkwo, will be 60 on June 10.

A peace concert is scheduled to hold on June 3rd at Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suite where a free cervical screening for no fewer than •Okonkwo 10,000 women, especially those living in rural communities, will be formally inaugurated.

Other activities include a medical funfair/free cervical cancer screening on June 9 at the premises of TREM Headquarters and a special thanksgiving service on June 10 at the church by 8am.

Okonkwo is Head of the Women Department, TREM Worldwide and proprietress of Word of Power Nursery and Primary School.

She is also the proprietress of the Rehoboth Home and Skills Acquisition Centre.

WHAT AND WHERE?

Excel conference 2012

T

HE Excel 2012 conference of the Apapa family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) holds today.

The theme of the conference aimed at youth empowerment, which holds at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos, is change catalyst.

General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will minister at the event.

Adeboye will also be endowing a professorial chair in Mathematics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State at the occasion.

There will also be exhibition to showcase works of graduates from the church’s different rehabilitation homes.

The event kicks off by 7am.

Africa mission conference/ concert holds in Lagos

W

ORLD Hope Ministries, Ibadan Oyo State, will hold a 2-day mission conference/concert at The Shepherds Flock International Church, Maryland, Lagos.

The conference holds on June 29th from 9am-3pm with Dr Francis Bola Akin-John and Rev. Idowu Animasawun ministering.

The concert will feature Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Dunni Olarenwaju and Pastor Adelakun as guest singers.

It holds on Sunday July 1 by 4pm at the same venue.

A statement by President of World Hope Ministries, Rev. Animasawun, said the conference, concert is designed to create awareness on mission in Africa.

INTERVIEW

‘Europe is now a mission field’ J

UST a little over a year ago, you relocated to Nigeria. What informed that decision?

I have to say God informed the decision. It wasn’t something we planned for when we left Nigeria over a decade ago.

When exactly?

We left in 2001. My wife and I had just been married. We married in July and left in September. It wasn’t as if we planned to come back after a decade.

We were in London doing the work of the ministry and God was prospering the church. When we had a project to start in Nigeria, I was just coming over here every now and then.

It was not even a church project. We launched a TV project called Kingdom Africa on DSTV and I was coming. It was during one of those trips that God spoke to me it was time to come back to Nigeria. I had a challenge though. We hadn’t planned to come back to Nigeria. I then had to work out a smooth transition for the church in the UK. Secondly, the last time we came to Nigeria for a family wedding, my wife said she cannot live in Nigeria anymore. So, I was wondering how to tell her what God said. I started praying and did not bother to tell her. It just so happened that I had to send my wife to travel down to Nigeria on my behalf. I was picking her from Heathrow Airport when she said, ‘’You know God just spoke to me it’s time to go back to Nigeria’’. And that was how we started to plan coming back and here we are.

How was the church in London doing?

The church was doing absolutely well. We even had a 25-year-plan for the church. It is still doing well over there without us. The transition has been smooth over there.

Would you say you have re-acclamatised in Nigeria?

I will say I have absolutely re-acclamatised because I was born and bred here. I had been coming and going anyway and Nigeria remains my beloved country.

What is the difference in pastoring in Nigeria and the UK? I have to say that in our church for example, which is multi-cultural with Ghanaians, Indians, Kenyans and Nigerians and so on, it was great being there.

But I have to say that a whole lot of works need to be done in Europe. I do believe God used people from that continent to sow seeds

Senior Pastor of Empowerment House, Oregun, Lagos, Pastor Dexter Akin-Alamu, is a contemporary minister committed to the unchangeable standards of God. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on why he relocated from the UK and how to change Nigeria. Excerpts:

• Akin-Alamu

into this country and they need our help now. The terrain in the UK is harder to crack spiritually. There is a whole lot of spiritual works to be done there. To have a big church in Nigeria, you must have like 5,000 members. But over there, it is already a mega church with 500 people. Europe has become a mission field so to say.

What is going on well for the Nigeria church?

There is a kind of passion you see over here difficult to find elsewhere.

You come to Nigeria and see churches on every street and on Sundays, everybody is churchy. But we have to cross the border of empty, powerless religion to relationship with God. That is what will change our nation not a bunch of people who are churchy or religious. And I think that those who go to church must move across to God. Even armed robbers pray before operations, from what I understand. Everybody is religious but that is never enough. Those of us who are pastors must point people to God and not to ourselves. We need to move from religion to reality of knowing God. That is the cry of God for this nation.

If we are able to make that transition, we can change this nation.

What does Empowerment House represent?

God has given us the vision of empowerment. It came from Acts 1: 8. God said he is calling us to empower lives so that they can become catalysts for change. We are raising people to go beyond the four walls to the society and make a change. That can only happen through empowerment. We want lawyers, doctors, engineers and professionals that can effect change through influence. That is how we intend to make a difference in our world.

How do you intend to get that done?

It is line upon line, percept upon percept. We are starting from the scratch.

We have an assignment and one of the things you will get here is empowerment through the word such that wherever we are, we can change lives and the society. Jesus chose just twelve people to change the world. He did not choose millions or thousands. He went for just twelve and that is significant. He empowered them and the world is not the same again. So, it would eventually happen if we remain faithful to the commission and the word.

Why did you choose Lagos, a city that is believed to be over-churched?

I do not believe that any society is over-churched.

God has called us to fish

for men and there are thousands of men in Lagos that are not in church. What God has called you to do is understandable and we are committed to it. Until we get to when everybody is in the church, we would have to continue.

Let me put it another way. Are you not intimidated by the array of mega churches in the Lagos metropolis?

We are not competing but complementing one another. We do not see ministry from the point of view of ‘my church and their church’. There is no church that can do all the works of God. We are not yet to say we have arrived to take over. We are here to compliement what others have done. One of the ways you will know error is when some people say they are the only ones.

There are a whole lot of people who are doing great works in the city and we salute them. We are here to complement what they are doing.

How many years should we give you to effect the kind of change you want to see in the society?

I think people are already seeing what we are doing and testifying to that.

But we will consistently do it until God perfects everything. We thank God for what he is doing already.

Are you here to stay?

Yes, we are here to stay amen. We are here to make changes.

I asked because many relocated but discovered ministry is not as easy as they thought in Nigeria. So, are you really here to stay?

Well, we are not driven by results. We just want to obey and serve God. Even if people don’t come, we would still be here as long as God wants us here. Even if we have only five people, I would still preach as passionately as I will when I am preaching to multitudes… …You are sounding old school Yes, I am old school without shame or apologies. The old school is not to remove the ancient landmarks that our fathers erected. We are contemporary but do not change the goal posts. The standards remain the same because God is an old school God. There are foundations.

He will never bend for anything.

Worship

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

69

NEWS

Insecurity: Lagos churches become proactive P

REVENTION, they say, is better than cure. This is the maxim driving some churches in the city of Lagos. They have increased security mechanisms around their premises to forestall possible attacks from Boko Haram. Our correspondents observed that many of them have reviewed access to their premises and secured security devices to protect themselves.

St Sabina’s Catholic Church, Agege, Lagos, which was more or less a community church, accessible to everyone including the youths who enjoyed playing football and other sports on the sprawling premises, now has its gate permanently closed.

Those who need to gain access, including worshippers, have to go through the smaller gate. Vehicle owners are subjected to serious security checks with metal detectors.

Community youths no longer have unfettered access to the church’s premises and facilities.

These measures, a security official of the church, said last week were taken in the wake of the insecurity threats. He said: ‘’We have taken these steps to protect ourselves. We are praying but we are also watching. Because we don’t want to be taken unawares, we have taken several moves to get protected.’’

Last Sunday, a Pentecostal church in Fagba, a suburb of Lagos, increased its security vote. A reliable source in the church said: ‘’We added over N1 million to our security expenses for the next six months. We don’t want any

Following threats of attacks by the dreaded Islamic sect otherwise known as Boko Haram, some churches in Lagos have scaled up their security apparatus, report Tunde Busari, Sunday Oguntola and Edozie Udeze

surprises at all. We are getting more security personnel, and also increasing surveillance within and around our church.’’

Aside from admonishing the worshippers to be securityconscious, they are also charged to report suspicious or strange movements. More security officials are being engaged to protect churches.

It was learnt that most

Why Boko Haram may not end soon, by Adefarasin

T

HE Boko Haram insurgency will be difficult to curb because it is sponsored by powerful persons within and outside the country, National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Wale Adefarasin, has stated.

He specifically alleged the sect enjoys the support of the northern elites who believe the presidency should remain in the region. The cleric called on the federal government to deal decisively with sponsors of the sect to save Nigeria from disintegration.

He spoke last week with newsmen in Lagos.

According to him, “Boko Haram is receiving a lot of support from within and outside the country, thus, it will not be easy to stop the menace of Boko Haram in Nigeria and until these people are identified and brought to book Nigeria will continue to be under siege.’’

He noted that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been adopting many measures to tackle the challenge of insecurity but said “whether the president is sincere or not, time will tell as Nigerians are painstakingly watching him to stand up to the responsibility of providing adequate se-

By Adeola Ogunlade

curity for the people.”

He lamented crass poverty in the nation. Adefarasin said: “We live in a country where 70 percent of people live below poverty line and are desperate to feed, get educated, treat their ailment and they see the opulence which will the ruling class live and will definitely give rise to insecurity.”

On whether the increase in poverty index is an excuse to take up arms, he said, “the people are driven to crime when corruption looms around. Though it should not be an excuse to take up arms but it is reality of our day.”

He charged Jonathan to deal with corruption by imposing sanctions on erring public office holders.

The General Overseer of Guiding Light Assembly, Ikoyi carpeted Jonathan for receiving the gift of a church building from a contractor.

“I think the request by the President is totally unacceptable because no President in the western world would have survived such act as opposition parties and the press would have fired him out,” he stated.

He also charged church leaders to continue speaking against ills plaguing the country.

church leaders have also installed CCTV in their offices to monitor movements around premises. A pastor, who acquired the facility penultimate week, said, “With it, I can confirm who is coming in and going out.

I know about movements and prevent any smart move against us.”

Car parks and adjoining buildings to churches have also witnessed increased surveillance to avert security breach. A security official at a park in a church in Oregun said the surveillance is to

prevent any untoward eventuality. ‘’We are really on ground. Except something that really beats us, no explosion can take place at least from the park here,’’ he boasted.

Though the Boko Haram insurrection still remains a threat in the South despite the apprehension the news report has generated, pastors say preemptive measure is not out of point.

Chairman Lagos Chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN),

Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, said ‘’there is nothing wrong with being security-conscious. Our Lord Jesus told us to watch and pray. We are praying but also watching.’’

In some churches, the youths have formed themselves into vanguard and vigilante groups. Some of them have even undergone emergency training in the area of security and vigilante. The reason given for this is that the youth are young and vibrant and ready to wrestle any situation that arises.

Church members are now subjected to thorough searches before they are allowed into the church premises. An elder in one of the orthodox churches in Ikorodu, said: “You can’t continue to fold your hands while your enemy keeps tormenting you.”

According to him, “what we do now is to subject all our parishioners to security check every Sunday. We do not intend to embarrass anybody; but no matter your rank in the church, you have to stop your car, open the booth by yourself and allow our boys to check your vehicle very well. There is already a security gadget in place for this.”

At the gate of the same church, it was discovered that there were two types of scanners. The smaller ones were being used to scan and check pedestrians while the big ones were used to scan the vehicles before being allowed into the church premises.

Speed breakers have also been erected on the road leading in and out of some churches just as private security operatives in black

and black uniform now cordon off unwanted visitors from the main roads leading to the church.

A lot of people are even asked to park their vehicles a bit away from the church premises. This is to ensure that there are no confusing scenes created within a few metres to the church building.

“It is our own mode of checkmating intruders,” a security man in charge of the church said. ‘’Those who do not want to comply, we drive them back to another route.

For us, we must secure our people, for life is precious.

That is the only way we can restore confidence in our people here on Sundays.”

But to Prophet Oladele Ogundipe, of the Celestial Church of Christ (Genesis Parish),Alakuko, Lagos, however, all the security measures which has become a fad of sorts in the churches are unnecessary.

Ogundipe stated that despite the anxiety that greeted the news among Christians, his church has not considered any security measure as a response.

According to him, “We don’t need all the security gadgets to defend us. We have God whom we strongly believe will not allow evil to triumph over his children. I am aware that some churches are procuring gadgets to screen their congregation before they enter the church.

“You don’t do that in the house of God which should be thrown open to worshippers at all time. I am not blaming them for their action but as far as we are concerned in our church, Boko Haram threat cannot unsettle us to restrict worshippers from entering church,” he said.

Oba Tejuosho is South West CAN patron

T

HE Osile of Oke-Ona Egbaland, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, has been inducted as patron of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Region.

The induction ceremony took place at St James African Church Cathedral, Oke Ona Abeokuta, Ogun State, as parts of activities to mark the 23rd coronation of the paramount ruler.

Chairman of CAN South West Region, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, said the honour was in recognition of the activities of Oba Tejuosho in the kingdom of God. He described the Oba as a modern day David who has been using his influence to propagate the gospel.

Atilade said: ‘’You have been spreading the gospel and working for peace in Nigeria as well as spearheading worthy causes. ‘’A man of your passion and calibre will do much more with bigger platform.’’

•Atilade presenting the award to Tejuosho during the induction

By Sunday Oguntola

He commissioned Oba Tejuosho as a Pastor/General Evangelist of the

Church in Nigeria.

The tradition ruler thanked CAN for the honour.

He said it will propel him to greater heights in the service of God and mankind.

70

Worship

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

The lawful and unlawful captives Pastor Amanda Ogunro

TOTAL FREEDOM

D

EAR reader, last month I taught on Captivity Turned Around. A captive is a prisoner, exile, one who is limited or over powered by a mightier one. God has a perfect plan for you. His plan is not grievous nor to bring you into bondage or defeat. This month I will be teaching on The Lawful and Unlawful Captive. Isaiah 49:24-25 makes it clear that there are two different kinds of prey in the house of the devil.

1.The lawful captives: Those who willingly submit themselves to the devil and become his servant.

2.The unlawful captives: Those taken over by the devil against their will. 2 Timothy 2:26 Both the lawful and unlawful are captives of the mighty which is the devil. God asked a rhetorical question in Isaiah 49:24: “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?”

Can that person who has been eating in the dream for the past 10years be delivered? Can that one having sexual intercourse in the dream, or has been experiencing sleepless nights for over 12years or moving objects in his/her body be taken from the mighty and be delivered?

We can see and read the answer God gives in Isaiah 49:25. In verse 25, the Lord reveals that there are ranks in the demonic kingdom; the Mighty and the Terrible. These two ranks demonstrate the degree of wickedness. The mighty is of a high rank while the terrible is a higher rank.

Ephesians 6:10-13 tells us that spiritual warfare is real and

deadly. The battle must be understood before you engage yourself in it. This is the reason God warns you to put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to fight the devil and win. The battle has already been fought and won on your behalf by Jesus on the cross by his death that is why it is called “the good fight of faith.” 1Timothy 6:12a. Your responsibility now is to live an obedient and faithful life in Christ. Therefore, human armour such as verbal war, physical fighting, cursing, etc. cannot win the spiritual warfare. The warfare is not about you going into the spirit realm to fight for what you already have. It is about going into the spirit realm in the name of Jesus to fight the devil and take from him what he has stolen. John 10:10. This cannot be fought physically, but it is a spiritual faith battle. The warfare is about stopping him from what he is about to take by force, Mathew 11:12. If the enemy has already got your property, you must declare war against him to return what he has stolen. It is not by crying, self pity or begging but by force. Proverbs 6:31.

God made His desires toward you clear in Jeremiah 29:11. His desire is not for you to be a captive. You were not created for the devil and your life is not in his hands but the Potter’s hand. You are not a mistake but a special creature of God 1 Peter 2:9. You are not an error but an heir of salvation Romans 8:17. You are purchased by His precious blood 1 Peter 1:18-19. You are born of His spirit Romans 8:16. Because of who you are in Christ, the kingdom of darkness has to be shattered to pieces. Therefore, you are not supposed to be a prey to the mighty, neither to the terrible. You must know who you are in him and where you sit with him Ephesians 2:6.

Satan and his demons have one position, under your feet.

On the other hand, if you stray from his promises, you are disqualified and will lose.

The devil is not stupid and understands the strategy of fighting spiritual battle. You are his primary target because you are created in God’s image after His likeness. Genesis 1:26.

If the lawful and unlawful captives desire to come out of bondage of the mighty and terrible, the following is necessary: 1.Genuine Salvation: Be born again 2.Live an obedient life of faith.

3.Don’t live in fear but doubt your doubts.

4.Dwell richly in the word of God with daily meditation.

5.Pray consistently, using offensive weapons (the word of God) 6.Fast with prayer, using the right scriptures that describes the problem.

7.Live a holy and righteous life 8.Have a relationship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

9.Be careful what you say and how you speak.

10.Fight a good fight of faith and see yourself as a winner and not defeated in the spirit before the battle is physically over.

Next month I will be teaching on Overcoming The Strongman.

Salvation is the greatest miracle on earth. If you are not yet born again, pray this prayer of salvation. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I come to you.

Forgive my sins. Wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and satan. I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Thank you Jesus for saving me, write my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Now I know that I am born again.

I know you have been blessed by this teaching. Write and share your testimony with Pastor Amanda Ogunro. Rivers of Living Water Ministries, P.M.B 2854 Surulere, Lagos or call 018401701, or e-mailinfo@rlwm.org . Visit our website on www.rlwm.org

How to connect divine help Bishop Wale Oke

DIVINE MESSAGE

G

OD is making His help available to you today, and throughout your entire life. All you need do is learn to connect it. The beauty of the matter is that anyone can connect the help of the Lord, without any discrimination whatsoever.

You can connect yourself with the help of the Lord.

Our God is no respecter of persons. He has said “I love them that love Me, and they that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).

The Bible is very clear that God is no respecter of persons.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (Acts 10:34-35).

The following are the ways by which you can hook up yourself to the help of the Lord.

Trust in Him From the onset, you should trust in the Lord with all your heart and let Him know that you are leaning on Him for His help. This is the starting point. If you lean on your own understanding, you will fail. If you trust in your own strength, you will fail. If you trust in men, you will be disappointed. If you trust in any idol, power, wealth or

anything other than the true and the living God, you will fail woefully. If, however, you trust in the Lord, you will be helped, and you will not be ashamed.

The Bible is clear that those who put their trust in the Lord shall not be confounded to all eternity (Isaiah 45:17, AMP). Therefore, trust Him. His help is secure, in time and in eternity.

Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.

Selah (Psalm 62:8).

Intimacy with the Word Secondly, you should develop intimacy with the word of God. The word of God is light to our path, and a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105). Without the word of God, we walk in utter darkness. The reasoning, philosophies and theories of men cannot give you the help that you need.

The word of the Lord is your sure guide into wisdom for prosperity and exploits. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Deuteronomy 4:4-7).

Therefore be intimate with His word. Meditate on it day and night. Listen to it with intense focus and rapt attention. Apply it diligently in your daily life.

This done, you will deal wisely in the affairs of life, you prosper in whatever you do, and you will have good success in all your ways.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and

then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).

Walking in holiness Thirdly, make up your mind to walk in holiness, with great delight. The surest way to secure the partnership of God that leads to sure divine help is to love what He loves, and to hate what He hates. Two cannot walk together except they are in agreement (Amos 3:3).

God hates sin and can never tolerate it in any form. He loves righteousness and purity. He walks with those who walk uprightly. Messing around with sin, iniquity and injustice in any form creates a gulf between you and God, and consequently, His help. It is those who walk in righteousness and holiness that will enjoy intimacy with God. Jesus said “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthews 5:8).

Walking in purity makes you see God and His help in every area of your life.

Therefore, make holiness your delight and you will prosper greatly. (Genesis 17:1-2, Hebrews 1:8-9).

You will enjoy intimacy with God. If you truly make holiness your delight, you will enjoy superior anointing that leads to superior results, and you will be more excellent than others who do not care to be holy. The Bible is very clear that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbours (Prov. 12:26).

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (Hebrews 1:9).

NEWS

Foundation offers scholarship to 25

N

O fewer than 25 indigent undergraduates won scholarships last Thursday during the 5th Annual Lecture of the Wilson Badejo Foundation (WBF) in Lagos.

The president of the foundation, Rev. Wilson Badejo, said the gesture was to support their educational pursuit and avoid needless distractions.

He said: ‘’Finance is a major necessity for good education. We have realised this and decided to help these students so that they won’t be discouraged or distracted.”

The scholarship awards were parts of activities to mark the 65th birthday of Badejo.

In his lecture titled ‘’Nigeria’s great resources and the paradox of Economic poverty: the way out”, Prof.

Akpan Ekpo, lamented the level of unemployment in Nigeria.

He described the economic growth flaunted by government officials as ‘’jobless growth’’ without commensurable impact on Nigerians.

The acclaimed economist said: ‘’The official unemployment rate is

By Sunday Oguntola

23.9 percent which represent an increased over the 2010 figure. However, it is interesting to note that unemployment rate is growing faster than the economic growth in Nigeria. ‘’While unemployment grows at the rate of 24 percent, the economic growth stood at 17 percent which means the growth being celebrated by the government is a jobless growth.”

He said it was regrettable “Poverty is embarrassing to Nigerians.

Despite the huge funds our government makes from the sales of oil, youth are restless.’’

The former Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, blamed the nation’s backwardness on lack of committed leaders.

According to him: “Nigeria is blessed with everything to make a country great but what we lack is commitment from our leaders on how to manage the abundant resources. ‘’We have neglected all other viable sectors and concentrated on oil to the detriment of agriculture which we

have control over.”

The chairman of the occasion, Prof Emmanuel Edozie (OFR), wondered if the nation’s natural resources have not become a curse.

He observed that countries endowed with natural resources tend to grow slower than countries with fewer or no natural resources.

Edozie stated that Nigeria’s over dependency on oil sales has reduced the incentives to save the needed fund for long term development.

He said: “ In Nigeria, I think the availability of these natural resources is a curse. During the preoil era, concentration was on agriculture, and the proceeds were used to develop the economy. There was prudence and sincerity on the part of the leaders.

“Now that we have oil, the story has changed totally. Over 80% of the annual budget is used to pay salaries alone for political appointees and our economic growth is so stunted because government and its economic team based the growth on the sales of oil.”

• L: R: Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt Rev Dr Chibuzo Opoko (middle) with Dean of Students Affairs, Methodist Theological Institute, Sagamu, Very Rev. Raphael A. Idialu and his wife during the launch of the book, Mission Strategies for Church Planting and Growth to mark the 40th birthday and 10th wedding anniversary of Idialu, the author recently

THE NATION SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012

71

SPORT EXTRA

• Super Eagles and their officials before Friday training in Calabar

Crush Namibia, GLO urges Eagles

Yobo, Lawal boost for Eagles T

S

UPER EAGLES’ skipper, Joseph Yobo, was the guest of the national team, during lunch on Saturday afternoon, along with in form Atletico Belaeres midfielder, Raheem Wole Lawal.

Yobo strolled in while the team was having lunch and started exchanging pleasantries with backroom staff, the technical crew and later his teammates who were at the lunch table.

When Head Coach Stephen Keshi asked him jokingly whether it was the right or left leg that he copped his injury, he retorted thus: ‘Oga, I no even know the leg wey the injury deyoo’, in pidgin English, which drew

• Keshi, Enyeama, Moses sure of victory laughter from all.

Lawal was more formal since he still feels he may have a chance of playing tonight, as he exchanged pleasantries and went straight to his room and immediately changed to the in-house white top and

I

N its bid to further demonstrate its commitment to enrich the country’s football and inspire all the national teams to excel, TomTom, the Official Candy of the Nigerian national teams,

•Imoke cancels trip to cheer team

T

the coaches find me worthy of a shirt”.

Yobo, on his part said he had come to camp to help motivate his teammates to victory against Namibia and get set for the next set of qualifiers, when hopefully he would be fully fit”.

TomTom renews contract with NFF

Spell Namibia with goals—Maigari HE Super Eagles had their final work out at the UJ Esuene Stadium on Saturday morning with a charge from NFF President, Aminu Maigari, to the players to go all out and not only defeat Namibia but spell the name of the country, by scoring seven unreplied goals.

Maigari gave the charge while addressing the players after their training at the stadium, before the game on Saturday on the same pitch.

“We should not fret because a country like Namibia is coming to play us, we must be bold, determined and score goals that will make President Goodluck Jonathan to be proud of this new team”. In fact, I want you to go and spell Namibia, that is the charge from the NFF and the President of the Republic, he said, to which all the players chorused, amen.

Maigari praised the level of discipline and concentration in camp, noting that it shows that the team was determined not only to excel but chart a new

green shorts of the players to join them at lunch table.

When asked about the cause of the long delay for his coming late, Lawal, said it was a mix-up that has been solved. “I’m here now and ready to help my fatherland defeat Namibia tonight, if

course for Nigerian football.

He commended the technical crew headed by Stephen Keshi for a job well done and Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for the support he has given to the NFF and the national team.

The NFF President, said the Governor, who unlike other public figures has no attachment with any foreign club side, sees himself first and foremost as a supporter of the Super Eagles. “That is why he has to cancel a trip to the United States to personally come to the stadium, to lead citizens of the state to cheer you to victory”, he told the players.

Earlier, head coach, Keshi has said the game in question is war on the pitch and he expects the collection of players he has in camp to help perfect on the pitch what he has been putting across to them in the last one week. “Show Nigerians that the sleeping giant is finally awake and mean business by qualifying for the 2012 Nations Cup and the Brazil 2014 World Cup”, he said.

•Increases MVP Award To $5000 has renewed its partnership deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The new contract, which runs for the next three years, will enable TomTom continue to galvanize support for the various national teams through different initiatives aimed at ensuring success in all their games.

According to Dele Anifowoshe, Marketing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, the renewal of the sponsorship deal was informed by the brand’s desire to further deepen the passion of Nigerians for football and maintain TomTom’s tradition of providing unflinching support for the national teams to keep doing well.

“We all know how passionate Nigerians are about football. Our partnership with the NFF is thus a significant way to inspire the country’s national teams to perform well and reclaim the nation’s glory as one of the giants on the continent of Africa and ultimately a force to reckon with in world football. This will give fans something to cheer and make them to be proud of the country’s teams,” Anifowoshe explained.

Anifowoshe also announced that cash incentives for the various national teams have increased, while new initiatives bound to spur the teams to achieve favourable results have been introduced. For instance, incentives for the Most

Valuable Player Award (MVP) and other initiatives such as Shots-on-Target Award in matches involving the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles, Golden Eaglets, Super Falcons, Falconets and Flamingoes have also been substantially increased.

He assured Nigerians that as true fan, TomTom would continue to stand by the teams at all times and drum up support for them at crucial matches. He charged the Super Eagles to go all out to beat Namibia in today’s World Cup qualifying match, stressing that only victory would put smiles on the faces of millions of soccer loving Nigerians who had longed to see their darling team return to winning ways.

Over the years, TomTom has provided support for the various national teams through different initiatives. In addition to the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), the brand also introduced Shots-onTarget Award, Editors Roundtable, Chat with Super Eagles coach and Road Shows in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. All these have earned the brand the tag “True Fan of the Nigeria national football teams”.

ELECOMMUNICATION giant, Globacom has called on Nigeria’s senior national team the Super Eagles to start the 2014 World cup qualifiers on a good note by defeating the Namibian national team, Brave Warriors when they clash in calabar on Sunday.

Globacom in a press statement issued in Lagos on Saturday advised the team to work hard and play with cohesion in order to give the team the necessary confidence to win the match.

The company stated further that the team has started to blend as evident from their last international friendly against Peru in Lima where the Eagles

exhibited a lot of confidence and played purposeful football inspite of the loss recorded in the encounter.

“It is for this reason that we expect Nigerians to appreciate the effort of the Eagles and keep supporting the team with prayer and goodwill so that Nigeria can continue to excel,” the statement said.

The Company therefore urged the team not to rest on their oars until the last battle is won next year to ensure qualification for the next World cup holding in Brazil in June, 2014.

Globacom is the major sponsor of Nigerian national teams and the Nigerian football federation.

GTB/LAGOS PRINCIPAL CUP

Kuje, Dairy Farm are champions

K

UJE Senior Secondary School,(k.S.S.S) and Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege (D.F.S.S.S) have emerged the winners in the female and male categories of the 2012 GT Bank Lagos Principal Cup Soccer competition final played yesterday at the Teslim Baloun’s stadium.

Kuje Senior Secondary School, Amuwo Odofin defeated CMS Girls Grammar School by 2-1 to emerge the champion with the N1 million cash prize to the bargain.

Also, in the male category; (D.F.S.S.S) lifted the trophy won by Egan Senior Secondary School last year, with a lone goal victory over Sango Senior Secondary School and picked the N1 million cash prize.

Steven Odeh, (D.F.S.S.S) who scored the winner via a freekick at the 25 minutes of the second half and Nkechi Ani (K.S.S.S) were picked as the Most Valuable Players in the male and female categories of

By Paul Oluwakoya the GT Bank Lagos Principal Cup respectively.

The runners up in the male and female categories received N750,000 cash each in favour of their schools, while a cash prize of N500,000 was given to the third placed schools.

Speaking after the presentation; the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lagos State, Barrister Enitan Oshodi, having commended the sponsor and the players for good display of the game, enjoined many more corporate bodies to contribute to sports in the state.

Also, the Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladundoye, lauded Mr. Segun Agbaje, Managing Director Guaranty Trust Bank for his continued passion for grassroots football and Nigerian Youth.

Oduamadi may miss Eagles/ Warriors tie

N

IGERIAN attacking winger, Nnamdi Oduamadi has been ruled out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Namibia in Calabar on tonight.

Oduamadi suffered a muscle strain at training this week while practising long range shots with his teammates.

The 21-year-old, who played

on loan at Torino last season, sat out in the training sessions of Friday and Saturday.

“Yes Nnamdi Oduamadi is out of the match against Namibia.

He pulled a muscle during a practice session of shooting. So he didn’t train with the team yesterday (Friday) evening and this (Saturday) morning.

“He is so unhappy because he was looking forward to play in

the game. Of course any player won’t be happy to miss national team games due to injury,” Super Eagles’ head coach, Stephen Keshi told SuperSport.com.

Keshi has assured that his side will soldier on without the impressive winger.

The 50-year-old coach also disclosed to SuperSport.com that Oduamadi “should be fit” for the trip to Malawi foranotherFifaWorldCupqualifying.

• Captain, Diary farm senior secondary school, Steven Odey lifting the Principals Cup trophy flanked by Lagos State Commissioner for Sporrt Mr Enitan Oshodi(L), Managing Director GTB, Mr Segun Agbaje (R) and Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye at the 2012 GTBank Principals Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

QUOTABLE "…We have a situation whereby the President of Nigeria is an Ijaw man; we have a National Security adviser who is an Ijaw man; we have the Minister of Niger-Delta who is an Ijaw man; we have a Minister for Petroleum Resources which is really the cornerstone of our national economy who is an Ijaw woman,"

SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 2145

— Dr Junaid Mohammed on President Goodluck Jonathan administration

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to change the name the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola University (MAU) in honour of the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late MKO Abiola, is unlikely to stand. This is not simply because staff and students rose in spontaneous revolt against the change of name, or because the reasons they gave were strong enough to make them hunker down for a long-drawnout uprising. No, in fact, it has nothing to do with the embarrassingly untidy manner the presidency went about the renaming – as if the Jonathan government does not owe anybody an explanation. The fact is that this controversial renaming is another reminder of the Jonathan presidency’s unending infatuation with impunity. Presidential aides argue that the decision is not dishonest and duplicitous. Perhaps. Maybe he means well.

But it nonetheless affronts history as much as it also undermines the integrity of democratic Nigeria and all the unstated principles and values that should define the country.

The spontaneousness of the revolt against the new name should worry the government, but officials say the government will not change its mind. They say that the president consulted widely, and even suggest gratuitously that perhaps those opposed to the renaming needed to be reminded of Abiola’s uncommon and unprecedented heroism.

However, those opposed to the renaming never argued that Abiola was undeserving of honour, for many of them had been at the forefront of the campaign to get the federal government to honour Abiola and lay to rest the ghost of that ill-fated election that had weighed heavily on the conscience of every true patriot. That no patriot has won the presidency since 1999 to right a historical wrong is hardly the fault of the logicians who thought Jonathan did the campaign a huge disservice by choosing to apply the wrong remedy.

The fact is that the president, if he consulted at all, consulted very few malleable people, but certainly not the authorities of the institution at the centre of the controversy.

And as is his usual practice when confronted by unpleasant events and backlashes, the president has washed his hands off the

Great Akokites and the Mau Mau revolt

•Jonathan

•Abiola

UNILAG controversy. Now, a school which recently achieved peace and a fairly stable academic calendar is in turmoil. The president himself, after stoking the controversy, has handed on the nuisance to the National University Commission (NUC) to put in motion the process by which the renaming would be effected. They are all tilting at windmills.

No one can fault the president’s desire to honour Abiola, though he damned the murdered politician with faint praise by describing his victory at the June 12, 1993 poll as presumed. Yet, he spoke well when he glowingly described the sacrifice the late politician made for democracy as inestimable. All of us were enjoying the fruits of that sacrifice, the president concluded in an emotional tone designed to fetch us, to the last man, to his

point of view than to justify the renaming he was about to make towards the end of his long address. Maku, in a manner that suggested he misunderstood the cause and import of the protests against the renaming of UNILAG, went into a lengthy justification of the president’s action. Abiola deserved it, as if there was one person who said he didn’t.

Abiola’s sacrifice was a huge thing to those old enough to appreciate what he did, Maku offered in a judgemental tone that was expected to trigger guilt in the young protesters who were probably not out of their diapers when Abiola paid the ultimate price. Both the president and Maku unfortunately missed the point.

Critics of the renaming, many of whom squirmed endlessly and prevaricated for fear of being misunderstood, argued that the

UNILAG: Abiola family take up the gauntlet

F

EELING challenged by UNILAG students’s protests against the renaming of their school in honour of Abiola, members of the late politician’s family incredulously suggested in a one-page advertorial on Friday that the students were sponsored. I am truly depressed and exasperated by this view. The family may not agree with the intentions and arguments of the Unilag protesters, but to conclude intemperately that they were sponsored is to suggest unfairly that both teachers and students were idiots incapable of making up their minds independently or of analysing a problem rationally. I think the family should have just kept a dignified silence worthy of the sacrifice Abiola made for the nation and all he stood and died for.

The advertorial gave subtle hints of the political and cultural polarisation damaging the sinews of the Southwest. The family should have paused a little to ask why those who fought for the actualisation of June 12, and also fought over the years for the late politician to be honoured, were reluctant to accept Jonathan’s Greek gift. After all, the family acknowledged that it had no input in the president’s decision. And as we all know, those who have kept the memory of Abiola alive and continued to pressure the government to do what is right are well known members of the larger society. It is a mistake limited essentially to the Southwest that political families often feel burdened to protect and project the reputation and legacies of their famous patriarchs. But if those whose votes and loyalty made the patriarchs legends fail to project the lega-

cies of their mentors, the biological families of the patriarchs could never hope to succeed.

Eight members of the Abiola family signed the advertorial. I do not know to what extent they are representative of the family, but lest it become the general family view, we have an obligation to ask them to exercise more control over their emotions than they have done so far. They cannot protect and project Abiola more than the millions of Yoruba people and other Nigerians who have of their own free will done it without payment and without any instigation. These ‘outsiders’ have sustained Abiola’s memory for years because they love him and respect the price he paid. The family should do nothing to undermine that eternal bond.

If possible, I think the family should take back the harsh words and innuendoes they used against the protesters and their supposed sponsors. Hear the eight family members: “No honour is too great for one of the men and women who laid down their lives for the democracy we enjoy today, that enable some to take to the streets uttering irresponsible, abhorrent nonsense…The machinations and motives of those sponsoring the protests are obvious. If 13 years of deafening silence from the federal government built on the blood of this man could not diminish his legacy, the actions of a few hooligans and rascals with no sense of history will certainly not.” In case anyone doubted where the family was headed, they proceeded in the next few sentences to accuse the opposition of masterminding the protests in “blind panic” against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP). The elections were still three years away, they reminded the opposition. This was the polarisation I referred to earlier.

Also, carefully observe the adoption of the Jonathan language of ‘rascals’ and the injurious undercurrents of mainstream versus progressive politics in the Southwest. This polarisation has been with the Southwest for decades; it is curse they’ll probably have to live with for a long time.

The Abiola family intervention was completely needless, and I hope we shall not see any more of it. The family does not own Abiola. Since he chose public life and entered politics, he acquired a new family. That family is the one pressing the government to give him a more befitting honour worthy of the national sacrifice he made. The new political family will not be deterred from denouncing the sectional insinuation of the jaundiced and self-serving honour done Abiola by Jonathan. No matter the innuendoes from Abiola’s biological family, the new family will press ahead with a scheme to get the late politician a public holiday, posthumous declaration as president, and a nationally significant honour in Abuja.

We will not get him a tainted and controversial honour. If the president was careless in doing the right thing, we are sensible and courageous enough to correct him and to insist that the country must do right by Abiola. We have an obligation to discharge this historical burden whether Jonathan wants it or not, whether he takes the Abiola family in tow or not, and whether or not any political party tries to use our futuristic and sensible point of view against us.

Southwest was insulted when Abiola was honoured with a Southwest landmark. He won a national mandate deserving of national honours in a way a federal institution based in the Southwest could never convey.

If Abiola should be honoured, let it be done well without reservation, they concluded.

They also followed up with suggestions of their own. First, rather than describe Abiola’s victory as presumed, the critics of the renaming suggested he must first be declared winner of that poll. Next, he should have a public holiday set aside in his memory, the first such Nigerian to be conferred that honour.

Then, third, a national monument, preferably in Abuja, should be named after him.

UNILAG staff and students add an extra reason for opposing the change of their institution’s name. They suggested that while they supported honouring Abiola, they didn’t think they should sacrifice the illustriousness of their school’s name. In making that argument it became one of judging whether the sacrifice Abiola made was worth the great name of UNILAG or not. Stung to the quick and probably dismayed by this comparison, the Abiola family sadly could not restrain themselves from joining issues with the young protesters and adult critics whom they accused of bad faith. (See box).

Immediately the president made the announcement, it was clear he had created a huge and unfortunate distraction, and once again showed that either he was irredeemably incapable of good judgement or he had assembled a cabinet that was too weak to challenge or help him. Maku and NUC said the president consulted well, though we didn’t quite get that impression from the president’s speech. But obviously both the minister and NUC boss are not telling us the whole truth. I think that the renaming decision was taken casually without a deep thought for its implications. I suspect that Jonathan and his kitchen cabinet, which often gives the impression of being paranoid, have intimidated those with contrary views or independent minds in the general cabinet. It would indeed be a disaster for Nigeria if no one among his ministers and advisers argued against the president’s method of honouring Abiola. But even if no one did, should the president not have appointed a devil’s advocate?

Last week, I concluded a trilogy on Chief Obafemi Awolowo in which I tried to establish why he was a great man, why he would remain so for a very long time, and why he would occupy pride of place even after other great Yoruba leaders emerge. One of the factors accounting for his greatness, I illustrated in the first part of the essays, was his good judgement, his intuitive ability to take the right decisions, his thoroughness, his true democratic spirit. Jonathan continues to come up short in virtually all his decisions, not because of where he comes from, not because of his lack of experience, but simply because he is too distracted to school himself in the traditions of great leaders, imbibe the spirit of research and debate, and inspire himself and those he leads and works with.

Given his temper, which is a by-product of his difficult relationship – to put it mildly – with issues pertaining to great leadership, I am not sure there is anyone in his cabinet with a holistic knowledge of Nigerian affairs to offer the president a sound or at least contrary opinion. A supremely self-confident president would dare to be opposed. I think there are some intelligent people around the president, but I fear there may be none with the character and courage to oppose him when they suspect he is wrong. If such a person existed, the president would have been made to see the pitfalls of honouring Abiola with a federal institution based in a region so enlightened, so critical and so adept at questioning motives. Indeed, if the president was as persuaded about Abiola’s contribution to democracy as he suggested in his address to the nation, he had bigger, better and fitting choices in Abuja to honour the man whose victory in the 1993 poll he could not even bring himself to speak about definitively.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Editor - 08033510610, Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE