June 06, 2013

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Senate rejects N4b First Ladies House NEWS Page 7

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Boko Haram’s kingpin arrested

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•Reps, CAN back proscription

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VOL. 8, NO. 2508 THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

I said ‘so this his how I am going to die? What would happen to my wife? So, she will become a widow. I don’t even have a child yet. What about my mother and everybody I love? So I will never vi vor of Che vr on boa pw ho spent 72 hour s under the w ater see them again’ — Sur Survi viv Chevr vron boatt misha mishap who hours wa •PAGE 2

PDP suspends another governor as crises rage Wamakko accused of insurbodination Court summons party over Amaechi

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be sinking deeper into crises, with yesterday’s suspension of another governor.

Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was kicked out of the party - temporarily - for alleged insurbodination.

He is the second governor elected on the platform of

From Yusuf Alli and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

the party to be suspended.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was last month asked to stay away from the activities of the party.

The PDP cited Wamakko’s “repeated breaches and disregard” for the party’s constitution as the reason for its action.

National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh declared the

governor suspended in a statement he issued last night.

Metuh said the decision was taken at the 338th meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held same day.

The ruling party said Wamakko had repeatedly ignored invitations and lawful directives by its NWC, showing apathy to the party’s affairs and contempt for an organ of the party.

Metuh said: “Consequent upon the refusal of the governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c ),(h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as a

member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the party.

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party” The PDP expressed worry about the state of the party and its members across the nation.

PDP National Chairman

Bamanga Tukur last weekend hinted of the plan to wield the big stick to rein in deviant chieftains of the party, including governors.

In a statement, he said more members would soon be reprimanded for antiparty activities.

Tukur expressed worry about allegations of antiparty activities being perpeContinued on page 4

U. S issues travel alert on Nigeria

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HE United States has issued a travel alert on Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the areas under state of emergency.

President Goodluck Jonathan on May 14 declared a state of emergency in the three states to restore public order, safety and security due to the spate of terrorist activities in the area.

An updated statement released by the U.S. State Department dated June 3 said “the ability of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria to provide assistance to its citizens in those states remains severely limited’’.

It said the department had continued to Continued on page 4

‘No rotational presidency’ •Senate panel submits views From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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HERE will be no rotational presidency, but a six-year tenure for president and governors is possible – should the Senate accept the recommendations of its Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (SCRC).

It expunged the State-Local Government Joint Account from the Constitution as well as recommended the creation of a mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Continued on page 4

•Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa (right) and Sunday Mba (left) celebrate after Musa scored to make it 1-0 during their 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Kenya at Kasarani Football Stadium in Nairobi…yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

•PAGE 23

Eagles beat Kenya 1-0 to lead World Cup qualifiers group

•BUSINESS P11•SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P47 •CITYBEATS P56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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The untold •Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria Steven Evans (right), Patron, Etisalat Prize for Literature Dele Olojede (second left) ; Chair of Judges, Etisalat Prize for Literature Ms Pumla Gqola (second right) and Head, High Value Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria Ebi Atawodi (left) at a news conference in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

What really happened to Jascon 4, an Anchor Handling Tugboat, which took off at the jetty of Chevron Nigeria Limited in Escravos, Delta State on May 24?

SHOLA O’NEIL reports the untold story of the mishap, in which 11 of the 12 men aboard died.

N the early hours of May 26, the cook onboard AHT Jascon 4, an oil service tugboat working for Chevron, left his bed. Harrison Okene is an early riser; he loves to get a headstart over his colleagues aboard.

The vessel was one of many on the fleet of West Africa Ventures (WAV), a Nigerian subsidiary of Dutch-based marine contractor, Sea Truck Group.

The time was just about 4.30am. He went to the bathroom to ease himself as he listened to the familiar sound of the vessel cutting through the choppy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

In other cabins, crew members comprising four cadets on industrial training from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, were fast asleep, with their doors firmly secured behind. The menace of sea pirates and other marauders, who routinely rob, attack and abduct crew members of such vessel, forced vessels operating in the region to enforce strict security measures once it is dark.

The dozen seamen, comprising 11 Nigerians and the Ukrainian captain of the vessel, bolted their doors behind on the night of May 25 before going to bed.

The boat was on a routine assignment with a tanker vessel at the Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) #3 in the BOP, a crude loading terminal of CNL. It seemed to be going on so well until that morning when, after a sudden violent turn, it plunged into the Atlantic, which may have now become its final resting place.

What caused the rugged tugboat, which was built in 2004, to keel over was yet unknown at the time of this report. Chevron’s General Manager in charge of Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said initial report indicated that the accident was caused by a “sudden ocean swell”.

That ‘ocean swell’ also began a nearly 72-hour ordeal under the belly of the Atlantic Ocean for the cherubfaced Okene, who was barely days away from marking the fifth anniversary of his wedding to his heartthrob, Akpos.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: "It was about 5am when the accident occurred. The vessel was one of the three towing a tanker to the

I •Chairman, Okomu Oil Company Plc Mr Gbenga Oyebode (middle) speaking at the third Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Abuja ...yesterday. With him are Managing Director Mr Graham Hefer and Acting Company Secretary Ms Abisola Onadipe .

•Deputy Director, Mechanical and Electrical, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr. Kabiru Zayyana (second left) speaking with Board Chairman Mr. Abubakar Baraje (left) and board member Mr Wakilu Aliyu (right), during a tour of railway facilities in Lagos... on Tuesday.

•Acting Director of Marketing, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mr. Isa Husseini (left) being congratulated by the representative of the President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria Mr. Femi Oyewole, at the induction of new members of the Institute in Abuja...yesterday. With them are some members of the Institute.

•The ill-fated boat loading point when it occurred. The sea was very rough and the wave was beating on the vessel and it was windy and turbulent. The tension rope snapped and obviously unbalanced the vessel thereby causing it to capsize."

Okene was dazed by the turn of event.

He recalled in an exclusive interview with The Nation on Tuesday: “I was dazed and everywhere was dark as I was thrown from one end of the small cubicle to another.

“I made my way out of the toilet, groped through the dark into a place I imagined was the officers’ rest room.

From there I moved to engineers’ office. I wasn’t seeing (anything), I was just feeling my way with my hands. I knew that if there is a vent, I would find a door, key and the knob. When I find a door, I try and get something (a stopper) to keep it open.”

Naked, except for a pair of black boxers short, Okene started the long road to survival. He moved from one part of the vessel to the other until he found an object with two flashing lights.

“I saw a light vest with two lights.

It showed me that that was a room.

When I went to another room, I saw a draw with tools. I took out the lights (from the vest) and put them inside my boxers.”

When he located the part of the sunken vessel where he felt safest, Harrison began the long wait for rescue, if it would come. He said he spent the time playing back the tape of his life, thinking about his wife, mother, family and friends.

As he waited, the water started to rise in the cabin, so he took out two mattresses he got from the cabin and stacked one on the other. Working with some of the tools he got from the office, he built a rack on top the platform down, praying and waiting.

“I prayed about a hundred times.

When I was tired, I started calling on the name of God. I was just calling on His name for divine intervention. I started reminiscing on the verses I read before I slept. I read the Bible from Psalm 54 to 92. My wife had sent me the verses to read that night when she called me before I went to bed.”

Unwanted Visitors As he waited and prayed, Okene pondered the fate of his friends and colleagues, most of whom he chatted, played and laughed with the night before the accident.

After what seemed like eternity inside the dark lonely confinement, he felt the movement of unwanted visi-

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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story of Chevron boat mishap ‘ I prayed about a hundred times.

When I was tired, I started calling on the name of God. I was just calling on His name for divine intervention. I started reminiscing on the verses I read before I slept

•Mrs. Okene tors in the form of fishes (sharks or/ and barracudas) swimming in and out of the adjoining spaces.

Then he heard sounds as if the fishes were either fighting or eating something big that could possibly be the flesh of dead men.

“At that point I was very scared,” he said. But determined not to go down without a fight, he groped in the dark for a weapon to defend himself if the invaders entered his space.

He found it in the form of a plank.

“I said so this is how I am going to die? What would happen to my wife?

So, she will become a widow. I don’t even have a child yet. What about my mother and everybody I love? So I will never see them again!”

He was cold (temperature was put at about freezing point), hungry and scared as the time ticked away, but his major concern was for survival. He had no clock with him, so he didn’t even know that he had been there for about two days.

After what seemed like eternity, he said he heard humming like that of a boat’s engine. “Then I heard sound like anchor dropping again. I also heard sound of paddling and divers’ craft moving around the boat. I also heard hammering sound from afar.”

The sound lifted him. But with the size of the boat, it would take a miracle for the rescue diver to locate him. He decided to make it easier for them.

Waddling through the room, he found more tools, including a hammer. He began to strip the wall of the cabin until he got to the steel body.

“I started using the hammer to hit the wall to attract the divers. I heard them moving about. They were far away from where I was. I did that for some minutes and stopped. After a while, the sound died.”

As the sound of the rescue team drifted away, his hopes for rescue petered out with it.

“No Survivor” Meanwhile, back at the base, the management of the firm had contacted relatives of those on board.

Rumours were rife that all 12 crew died. Among those who heard the report on Monday evening were Okene’s elder brother and his sisterin-law. They were told that the bodies of victims had been found.

His wife said a family friend called that she should be advised to go and identify her husband’s remains.

Worried about how to break the sad news to his mother and wife, the older Okene deceived the mother that there was a family meeting in Lagos. He intended to break the news to her

there in the presence of older relatives who would manage the situation.

Recalling the drama, his mother said: “As we were going to Lagos that Tuesday, his elder brother kept calling and he was always talking in codes and hushed tone. I was curious, but he assured me that it was just business discussions with clients.

“I did not know that Odjegba (Okene) was involved in an accident at sea and that was why he was acting suspicious and that was why they were dragging me to Lagos,” Mrs. Okene told our reporter.

He’s alive Underwater, minutes or hours later, he couldn’t tell, but soon after the first rescuer left without locating him, Okene said he heard another sound.

This time it got closer and he could feel movement in the water underneath him.

Sensing that the latest team held the keys to his escape from a slow, sad death, Okene jumped into the icy water and went in search of his rescuer.

“My hands and feet were very white (pale). When I located him, I was the one who touched the diver, I touched his head and he was shocked.

He was searching and I just saw the light, so I jumped into the water. As

he was shocked, he stretched out his hands. I touched him.”

The news was quickly relayed to the rescue ship through video camera and other communication gadgets attached to the diver. The confirmation of a survivor elicited jubilation.

Okene said he heard voices from the diver’s speaker shouting “there is a survivor, he is alive.”

Locating the survivor was the first part of the difficult task for the multinational Search and Rescue team, which immediately started the process of bringing him out of the water alive and with minimum damage.

His rescuer, a South African identified simply as Nico, was amazed by his calmness as he waited for his evacuation. Asked how he managed to remain so calm, he said: “At that point, I knew there was nothing I could do for myself again. God had done the most part. I just had to wait and see.”

A safety rope and oxygen mask were later deployed. But before he could be brought out, his body pressure had to be kept at a safe level. So, a vial of warm water was also sent down for a quick bath after which he and the diver got into the decompression chamber (DCC) for the journey back to ‘life’.

At 7pm, over 60 hours after he went

•Okene into the toilet, Okene was brought out of the ill-fated Jascon 4 alive.

A statement from the vessel owners confirmed this development: "We are able to report that divers have found and identified one survivor, Mr Okene Harrison. He was the vessel's cook and of Nigerian nationality. Mr Harrison was medically examined and he is currently in a stable condition and under treatment on board the diving support vessel."

Okene described how he felt when he first came out of the water: “When we came out, I saw the stars in the sky and I thought I must have been in the water for the whole day. I thought it was the Sunday evening. It was after I left the DCC that I was told that I had spent over two days there,” he recalled with a smile.

Meanwhile, his wife of five years was completely in the dark about what her husband was going through.

She thought he was still at work, while those who wanted to communicate the ‘sad’ news were unable to reach her because she had misplaced her GSM handset hours before the accident.

“I will just attribute everything to the grace of God,” Mrs. Akpos Okene said.

Rescue Operation is called off On Friday morning, one survivor

‘

and 10 bodies after, WAV called off the rescue operation, much to the angst of family members of the last seafarer, who until then were hoping for a miraculous story similar to Okene’s.

A statement by the company said, “The search and rescue operation that has been under way since 26 May has had to be stopped for safety reasons.”

It said the upside-down position of the vessel made it unstable and risky to its rescue divers.

WAV CEO Jacques Roomans extended the company’s “deepest sympathy” to all affected family members.

Nevertheless, grieving families are asking questions about what led to the fatal accident that took 11 lives?

Was it failure of equipment? Was it human error?

Whatever the answers, they will be no consolation for the families of Richard Egbe, Basil, parents of four students of MAN, Oron, who got drowned.

Okene said, in spite of his good fortune, he was saddened by the death of so many friends, noting that their deaths showed him that not everybody gets a second chance at life.

“We know how much we owe God for this,” his wife said.

Senate Communications Committee takes stock

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HE Senate Committee on Communications has taken stock of its impact on the telecoms sector in the last two years.

The committee led by Senator Gilbert Nnaji said it had met the expectations of players in the sector.

The committee, in a statement by a Legislative Assistant (Public Relations), Egbo Mon-Charles, said the committee had distinguished itself as an instrument driving the Transformation Agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Inaugurated about the same time the Communications Technology Ministry was created, the committee had worked to ensure that the telecoms sector improved tremendously, it said.

The statement reads: “While the ministry was created in July 2011, the committee was set up in September of the same year. As expected however, there were series of adjustments and readjustments within the ministry towards self-

identity. In other words, there were various parastatal that needed to move from ministries of Information and Science and Technology into the new Communication Technology Ministry in order to become full-fledged.”

Mon-Charles said the committee was faced with the challenges arising from the Steve Orosanye Report, which recommended the absorption of some parastatals into the ministry as mere departments, in addition to public concerns generated by the conflict between the National Environmental Standards Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the regulation of the telecoms industry.

The committee said it swung into action after the challenges were overcome.

The committee added:” It set some target areas for immediate legislative interventions. They included the review of Nigerian Communications Acts 2003, facilitation of SIM

Card Registration Bill passage, prevailing on the service providers and relevant stakeholders for call tariff reduction, improvement in quality of service, elimination of multiple taxation and other sensitive issues in the telecoms industry. It also proposed to seek to find out the cause of the unnecessary delay in take off of Rural Telephony operations in the country, in addition to initiating relevant legislative actions on the Nigerian Postal Sector Bill.

“Although work is still earnestly in progress, the Ministry of Communication Technology and subsidiary ministerial departments and agencies have in all ramifications proven very strategic to national economic development and stability.”

It said its colaboration with the ministry has seen the country harmonising the ICT policy.

Mon-Charles said: “Nigeria today has a harmonised Information Communication Technology (ICT) Policy in place which is fast-tracking overall economic development and has

made ICT the fastest-growing subsector in the country and has reduced to the barest minimum, all the losses usually associated with duplication of duties by all the ICTrelated agencies. NESREA and NCC can now work harmoniously towards national development especially in the area of telecommunications.

“The telecommunications regulatory agency, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is today living up to public expectations.

The Commission has continued to demonstrate sufficient interest and determination to meeting the yearnings of the Nigerian telecom masses. The country never had it so good. At least there is in place today key performance indicator (KPI) and strict penalty in place for erring GSM service providers. This is in addition to fully liberalising the markets for both mobile and fixed operators which in turn engendered an improved healthy in the industry.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

NEWS U. S issues travel alert on Nigeria Continued from page 1

recommend that citizens avoid all but essential travels to some states in the country due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks.

The statement listed the states as Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara.

“The Department also warns against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy.

“Based on safety and security risk assessments, the Em-

bassy maintains restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to all northern Nigerian states in addition to those listed above.

“Officials must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission for any travel deemed as mission-essentia,’’ the statement said.

The alert also cautioned U.S. citizens to be aware that extremists could expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to the country’s middle and southern states.

It noted that the latest travel warning replaces the travel warning for Nigeria dated Dec. 21, 2012.

Southsouth leaders slam Amaechi •Pupils of Mende Junior High School, Maryland, Lagos at the World Environment Day event in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

PDP suspends another governor as crises rage Continued from page 1

trated by those holding key elective offices on its platform.

“People say we have crisis in our party. It may appear so, but that also shows that democracy is at play in the way we conduct our affairs. We are a family and like any family, we can disagree and then we will agree.

“We have mastered the game and that is the reason we have been keeping afloat.

However, we are talking about discipline here. During the PDP Family Dinner, I emphasised on the necessity for party discipline in line with the vision of our founding fathers.

“We have our Constitution to guide us in maintaining discipline. Our past failures to uphold discipline with sense of seriousness has been the reason some members act in very questionable manners. “ “Today, everybody is talking about 2015 with expectations that we must win fairly and transparently. How can we

achieve that if certain members of the party go against the rules with impunity, while nothing happens? We have had enough of inconsistencies and loose conducts, and today, we say that must stop,” Tukur said.

A PDP Governors’ Forum was recently formed amid the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Many state chapters of the party are deep in wranglings. Even the NWC is wracked by a struggle for control.

NGF Chairman Rotimi Amaechi has served a court order on the PDP to stay action on his suspension.

But, despite the order, an 11man PDP disciplinary committee invited memoranda from party members yesterday on Amaechi’s alleged anti-party activities.

The party’s National Working Committee met on how to set aside the order.

But, there are moves to reconcile President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State

governor. Some Southsouth chiefs have relocated to Abuja to explore the peace option.

The chiefs have met with PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, Amaechi and a prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt last Friday restrained PDP from taking further action against Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party.

Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji’s order followed a preliminary application brought before the court by the governor’s lawyers, who were led

by Mr. Akin Olujimi (SAN).

The judge ordered PDP to appear before today.

The court order was served on the PDP on Monday by a bailiff.

It was gathered that the order was duly signed for at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The Disciplinary Committee

said it was yet to get a copy of the order.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The court order has been served on the PDP, it is left to the party to either respect the Judiciary or ignore it.

“It is expected that the party leadership will bring the order to the notice of the disciplinary panel.

“So far,the party is yet to direct the panel to stop sitting.”

Another source said: “The NWC met on Wednesday on the court order and other issues. I think the party has decided to return to court to vacate the order of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.”

But as the forces in the Presidency and the PDP have intensified their “plot to deal with Amaechi”, with some members of the House of Assembly telling in Abuja that they “are ready for the worst”.

One of the lawmakers said: Continued on page 5

S

OME Southsouth leaders, led by former Federal Commissioner Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday spoke on the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis.

They took sides with President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been accused of being behind the crisis.

Addressing the meeting of Southsouth leaders, octogenarian Clark accused Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi of planning to run for vice president in 2015 and using the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) platform. The governor has not said he would like to run.

He said Amaechi had threatened to hand over to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano who according to the elder statesman, does not like the Southsouth zone.

He said in the current dispensation, the zone would not be aspiring for anything short of the position of the president “Here lies my worry. If reports that Governor Rotimi Chubuike Ameachi’s undying craze to be the

Senate panel rejects rotational presidency Continued from page 1

Abuja.

Besides, the committee recommended the removal of Prisons, Railways, Stamp Duties and Wages from the Exclusive Legislative List – going by its report.

This is contained in the report of the SCRC presented the Chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to the Senate in plenary yesterday.

Ekweremadu listed devolution of powers, creation of states, recognition of geo-political zones, local governments, fiscal federalism, mayoral status for the FCT and executive immunity as some of the issues highlighted.

He said the recommendations of the committee were derived from the views of Nigerians as expressed in memoranda submitted to the committee.

On Section 58 and Section 100 (Presidential Assent), he said in the light of recent experiences, the committee inserted a new provision I: “The Draft Bill to resolve the impasse where the President neglects to signify his assent or that he withholds such assent.

“In our view, this will strengthen legislature’s authority and allow timely passage of laws for good governance.”

On rotation of executive offices, Ekweremadu said the committee rejected the proposal on the grounds that the Constitution

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Is tenure the problem?

HE Senate Committee on Constitution Review yesterday came up with a novel, yet controversial proposal on the tenure of the President and governors. The committee led by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu suggested a six-year single term. It also called for financial autonomy for the 36 Houses of Assembly and 776 local governments., The committee’s recommendation trailed the seven-year single term earlier suggested

by President Goodluck Jonathan, shortly after his inauguration in 2011.

The senate has clarified that the proposal is not final. Senators have been given another opportunity to reflect on the proposal, hold more consultations with the stakeholders and resume for more debate on the floor.

Remarkably, the Senate has dodge the critical national question, which should have been brought to the front burner during this constitution review. The issues cleverly avoided include the restructuring of the polity, devolution and decentralisation of power, state police, true fiscal federalism and lopsided federal-state relations.

should not make Nigerian leadership subject to ethnic or regional considerations.

This should be a matter of consideration among the various political parties.

On the six-year single tenure, the committee noted that considering the financial expenses often associated with re-election and to ensure that executive heads are freed from the distractions to be

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Chairman of the Governors’ Forum is premised on his ambition to use it as a platform to serve; the interest of the people of the Southsouth or his personal interest?

“If he must contest in deference to his constitutional right, let him contest for the office of the president because the Southsouth of today is not interested in any other office than the President.”

PDP National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Dr. Steve Oru noted that it was the responsibility of the zone to stand up for the president; adding that Jonathan has the right to seek a second term and he should be convinced to re-contest.

Also at the meeting were: Austin Opara, Chibudum Nwuche, Senators Stella Omu, Lee Maeba, Oyofo, Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Adaw Pepple, Roland Owie, Joe Ediowele, Secretary PDP, South/South, Cairo Ojougho, Igyota Amori, Ken Gbagi, Ambrose Akpanika, Ayakeme Whiskey, Ndudi Eleumelu and AVM Idongesit Nkanga.

ANALYSIS

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

Nevertheless, Ekweremadu Committee’s recommendations conveyed the impression that all is not well with the 1999 Constitution and ultimately, the country. During the public hearing on the proposed constitution amendment, the stakeholders expressed reservations about the performance of the President and many governors. They felt that they were busy chasing shadows, amassing wealth and abusing their exalted offices.

However, many thought that the tenure of office, as currently enshrined in the constitution, is not the problem. The problem appears to be the operators of the system.

In the constitution, the four-year tenure is renewable. Thus, the President and governors are at liberty to spend a maximum of two terms of eight years. Although some people have reasoned that the six-year single may make the Presidency to rotate faster round the six geo-political zones, it may not resolve the problem of poor performance.

Many Nigerians are of the opinion that

able to concentrate on public policy issues, “a provision for a single term of six (6) years for president and governors is made in sections 135 and 180 respectively”.

It added that ‘Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of the section, the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years commencing from the date—(a)in

the vision, ideological world view, integrity, credibility and capability of the President and governors are more important than the number of years spent in their offices. The issue really, is not about tenure, but about performance, good governance, observance of the rule of law by those in power and fulfillment of campaign promises to Nigerians.

The puzzles are: Will the tenure reduction being proposed by the Upper Chamber not become a license for corruption?

Will it promote probity, accountability and transparency in governance? Will it prevent budget failure, foster fiscal discipline and stem poverty?

It is noteworthy that the Senate also proposed financial independence for the House of Assembly. It is not new as the Lagos State House of Assembly has blazed the trail in this regard. The proposal, if it scales through, will liberate the state legislature from the jaw of the over-bearing executive and avert a situation whereby the parliament acts as a rubber stamp. This will be a boost to the doctrine of the separation of powers and its accompanying feature of

the case of a person elected as President under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of Office and (b) in the case of the person elected to the office under this Constitution took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such Oath.”

The Committee recommended that “If the Federation is at war

Continued on page 5

in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold election, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of six years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time”.

The House of Representatives

•Mark

Committee on Constitution Review retained the subsisting fouryear tenure for president and governors.

On removal of State-Local Government Joint Account in Section 162, it noted that to make for accountability, and an effective local government system, the State-Local Government Joint Account is expunged from the Continued on page 5

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

NEWS Councillors, Ogoni leaders back Amaechi

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IGERIA Councillors’ Forum (NCF) and leaders of Ogoni have pledged their support for Amaechi.

The chairman of the forum, Mr. Lesor Baranu Nwigbaranee, representing Ward 15 of Khana Constitutuency, at the end of its meeting in Port Harcourt yesterday, expressed their unwavering support for Amaechi, whose administration’s performance they rated very high, with a 95 per cent mark.

The councillors said they were expressing the minds of millions of Rivers people at the grassroots whom they

By Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

represent and daily interact with.

They said their reaction was borne out of their belief that “except strategic stakeholders speak up, the wishes, aspirations and rights of the people of Rivers State as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution as amended, may be unjustly trampled upon”.

They dissociated themselves from any plan to cause a breakdown of law and order in the state and make the Amaechi administration unstable.

“We, and indeed the people

we represent, shall not be part of any acts or actions instigated to cause breakdown of law and order in Rivers State. We are opposed to any measures, especially made in secret or through any uncanny means, to torpedo the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in the state.

“We are committed to the peace and development of Nigeria, the aspirations of the Peoples Democratic Party and its programmes and policies, especially with the mandate given to Chief G. U. Ake on March 17, 2012 as a cornerstone,” they said.

Not pleased with “undem-

ocratic forces” outside the state heating up the polity, the councillors urged political stakeholders in the state to support Amaechi to achieve more for the people.

The forum said: “We condemn the heating up of the political atmosphere in the state with anti-democratic antics and call on political stakeholders to support elected representatives to do their work diligently.”

“We, as members of the Nigeria Councillors’ Forum, Rivers State Chapter, hereby score the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration 95% in its overall per-

•Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson presenting an Award to the Nigerian Representative at the Miss Earth World 2010 held in Vietnam, Miss Inara Isaiah of Bayelsa State, during the 2013 World Culture Day celebrations in Yenagoa...yesterday.

With them is Group President, Azikel Group of Companies, Dr. Azibapu Eruani

Continued from page 4

Constitution.

Section 302 (An Elected Mayoral System of Administration for the FCT), it said that according a mayoral status, the FCT is not only in keeping with the practice in many capital cities of the world, but it is also to ensure efficient administration of the FCT. On Second Schedule, Part 1 (Devolution of Powers), the committee said that the Exclusive list under Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Constitution is congested, cumbersome and unwieldy.

“There is, therefore, the need to decongest the exclusive list by maintaining only items of utmost importance to the federation as a whole, while transferring items of concurrent interests to the concurrent list.

“The Committee, therefore substituted “Posts and Telegraphs” with “Posts and Telecommunications”. It removed Prisons, Railways, Stamp Duties and Wages from the Exclusive Legislative List and also added new items to the Exclusive and Concurrent lists namely: (Concurrent List) Arbitration, Environment, Healthcare, Prisons, Railways, Road Safety, Stamp Duties, Wages, Land and Agriculture, Youths, Public Complaints and Aviation and (Exclusive List) National Security.”

On Section 121 (Creation of first line charge for certain bodies and offices at the state level), it said that to engender accountability and efficient service delivery, a provision is made for Houses of Assembly, State Independent Electoral Commissions, AuditorGeneral of the State and the Attorney-General of a state to get their funding directly from the State Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The Houses of Assembly rejected financial autonomy when it was first recommended in the sixth National Assembly.

Sections 150 and 195 (Office of the Attorney General)it noted that to guarantee the independence of the Office of the Attor-

formance thus far”.

They criticised those attempting to undermine Amaechi’s victory in the recent Nigeria Governors’ Forum election and expressed loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We condemn every attempt by undemocratic forces to undermine the hard-earned victory of Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which has been proclaimed free and fair by Nigerians from all walks of life.”

“We remain loyal to the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and urge him to remain focused in his bid to transform Nigeria. In

the same vein, we congratulate and identify with the developmental strides of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in education, health, agriculture, roads and human capital development which are very conspicuous in all the wards of the state.”

The Councillors’ Forum urged the Rivers State Governor not to be distracted and push ahead to make more unequalled achievements for Rivers people.

“Never before have we seen a political administration stay focused on delivering democracy dividends to its constituents. We will, therefore, stand by the Amaechi through thick and thin,” they concluded.

PDP suspends another governor as crises rage Continued from page 4

“Even if they are ready to expel all of us from the party, we will stand by Amaechi because he has served the state very well.

“We have heard that they have voted billions of naira to give to us to remove Amaechi.

We are ready, let them bring the billions.

“What we can assure you is that we will display any amount they bring for Nigerians to see the waste of public resources.”

The Southsouth chiefs have been in Abuja for two weeks, according to a source close to

them.

“They believe the crisis is not in the interest of the SouthSouth’s aspiration to retain the presidency in 2015", said the source, who added: “But the Southsouth chiefs have not been able to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan.

I think some forces are shielding the President away from the chiefs in the last two weeks.

“But the chiefs are optimistic that they can resolve the crisis of confidence between the President and the governor.”

Senate panel rejects rotational presidency Is tenure the problem?

Continued from page 4

checks and balances.

However, constitutional experts may find fault with the Senate for its call for local government autonomy. Traditionally, in federalism, the control of the local council is within the purview of the state. Obviously, the drafters of the 1999 Constitution were majorly silent on the local government administration. In a scanty reference to the local council, the Constitution stated that “democratically elected councils are ney-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the State, the office is accordingly separated from that of the Minister of Justice or Commissioner for Justice.

On Section 6 of the 1st Alteration Act, the committee said that direct funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation is made for the Attorney-General of the Federation, the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission; and the National Human Rights Commission.

The Committee recognised the role of the judiciary as the final arbiter over all disputes in the nation.

“Thus, the recommendations seek to reinforce the independence of the Judiciary; provide for the elaboration of rules, regulations and administrative processes that enhance quick and affordable access to justice,” it said.

On remuneration of past presiding officers of the National Assembly, the Committee recommended that they should be remunerated (provided that such officers were not impeached) just as it is the case with certain past judicial and executive officers.

The Committee rejected: (i) Senate Bill 96, which is a proposal seeking to establish State Courts of Appeal in the six geopolitical zones, introduce State Legislative list, adjust and modify the legislative powers of government between the Federal and

guaranteed’. It was an admission of the indisputable fact that there can only be two tiers in federalism and that the third tier is an aberration under a federal arrangement.

Local government system underscores the breaking down of the state into smaller units for easy administration by the state government. One of the components of that grassroots administration is the power of financial control wielded by the state government. The more or

State Governments and provide for the recognition of the six geopolitical zones in the Constitution.

Ekweremadu said the Committee thought the present structure/arrangement should be sustained. (ii) Senate Bill 136 - Constitution (Alteration Bill).

The Bill seeks to provide for the implementation and or execution of the National Assembly resolutions and or approve report of investigations conducted by the National Assembly.

“This proposal, good as it may be to assert the authority of the National Assembly, does not promote the spirit of separation of powers in a presidential system of government and it apparently encroaches on the powers of the executive arm of government,” the committee said. (iii) Senate Bill 139 - Constitution (Alteration Bill) 2012.

The Bill seeks to provide for more responsibility to the State by transferring some legislative items from the Exclusive legislative list to the Concurrent list.

It also provides for the creation of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation as distinct from the Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The scope of the transfer of items on the Exclusive list is too wide, especially considering the fact that the Committee has already transferred and included

less semi-autonomous councils are the extension of the states, unlike the states, which are “co-ordinate units” of the federation. If autonomy is granted to the councils, there may be conflict. Under this present system, the council is a creation of the House of Assembly, which also has the constitutional power to administratively regulate its activities, and dissolve its erring elected or appointed leadership. Therefore, local government autonomy, in principle, violates the spirit of federalism.

more items onto the concurrent list.

The committee noted that it is necessary to maintain a strong federal government that can hold the country together.

It said that in the case of the Auditor-General, the present constitutional provision is good and wide enough.

What is required, it said, is financial independence which has now been provided for. (iv) Senate Bill 108 - Ministerial (Nominees Bill) 2011). This seeks to make provision that will enable the National Assembly to be more effective in the screening of ministerial nominees by ensuring that portfolio is attached to each nominee’s name.

It said that assigning portfolios should remain the prerogative of the President for reasons of flexibility.

“Besides, it has been shown that professional qualification does not necessarily approximate to performance in practical terms,” it said. (v) Senate Bill 162 - Constitution (Alteration Bill) 2012. The objective of this bill is to prohibit the education of children and wards of public officers abroad on courses offered by institutions in Nigeria save for specialised courses at post graduate levels.

It said that this may amount to a violation of the rights of such children/wards. It is discriminatory and may also be difficult to enforce. (vi)Fiscal Federalism/Deriva-

tion: The committee said that the minimum had already been set in the extant Constitution.

“It is the Committee’s view that fixing the present rate to reflect prevailing reality should be an administrative responsibility vested in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). (vii)State Police: We recommend that the preferred approach at this time is to critically look at the current federal police system with a view to sanitising and strengthening it. (viii) Special Status for Lagos: It noted that while the Committee appreciates the peculiar needs and challenges of Lagos, “it is our considered opinion that according such special status should be a matter of political decision, which should be kept out of the Constitution”. (ix) Ministerial slot for “Indigenes” of the FCT: It said that this seeks the inclusion of the FCT in the proviso to Section 147 (3) of the Constitution as it relates to ministerial appointments so as to ensure that an “indigene” of the FCT is appointed as a minister.

It noted that desirable as that may be, “we are of the view that the provisions granting mayoralty status for the FCT will go a long way in ensuring equitability and is sufficient to ensure efficient administration of the Federal Capital”.

(xi) Prohibition of Foreign Accounts (Section 3 Of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule): “We recommend that the status quo be maintained in this regard. Making any alteration is most likely to be received with misgivings and outrage by Nigerians as it may portray the National Assembly as self serving.

This may affect the entire legitimacy/credibility of the Constitution amendment exercise,” Ekweremadu said. (xii)Voting Rights – Diaspora Voting (S.77 (2)): Ekweremadu said that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is still grappling with strengthening its capacity to conduct elections within the country.

“It would be counter-productive to extend INEC’S responsibilities abroad without the requisite capacity,” he said. (xiii) State Creation: Ekweremadu said that 61 requests for state creation were made to the Committee.

He said that none of the requests complied with the entire provision of Section 8(1), which specifies the conditions under which new states would be created.

The Deputy Senate President said that most of those who signed the requests for new states were not serving members of the National Assembly as required by the Constitution.

“The Committee, therefore, recommends that, provided the House of Representatives received same, henceforth, the Clerk of the National Assembly should be directed to forward any memoranda that complied with Section 8(1)(a)(I, ii &iii) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a referendum which itself is still half of the journey towards state creation.

“This can be done at anytime, whether or not there is a constitution amendment exercise going on,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

6

NEWS UI honours Bayero From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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•Chairman of the occasion, Peterside Dakuku (left); members, House of Representatives: Betty Apiafi (back row), Pally Iriase, the author, Victor Oluwasegun; Chairman, House Committee on Media, Zakari Mohammed; Adeyemi Adekunle and Mrs Bukola Ajaja, at the presentation of a book: In the Shadow, written by The Nation reporter, Victor Oluwasegun, in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Reps seek 40% of budget for capital expenditure

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HE House of Representatives is set to compel the Executive to allocate 40 per cent of the nation’s budget to the capital expenditure.

The lawmakers said the ritual allocation of less than 30 per cent of the nation’s budget to recurrent expenditure and debt servicing has not aided infrastructural development.

The decision of the lawmakers followed the successful second reading of the Economic Stimulus Bill, sponsored

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

by Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos).

The lawmaker noted that if passed, the bill has the capacity to influence and affect the lives of the Nigerian masses and generations unborn.

Gbajabiamila said the primary responsibility of any good government should be the security and welfare of the people.

According to him, it is incumbent on the Legislature to assist the government in taking the country out of its developing nation status to a developed economy.

Gbajabiamila said: “It is the level of infrastructural development that differentiates developing from developed countries. We can only achieve this transition through the allocation of a minimum of 40 per cent of the budget to the capital components for at least 10 years.

“The allocations of 70 per cent of the budget to recurrent and overhead expenditure would not translate to infrastructural growth and development. With such, the dividends of democracy can never be felt by the greater majority of our masses.”

Antagonists of the bill, including Deputy House Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta); Patrick Ikhariale (PDP, Edo) and Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta). They argued that the bill is against the provisions of the

constitution on the basis of allocation of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Fort Dike (APGA, Anambra), supported by Samson Osagie (ACN, Edo), John Eno (PDP, Cross Rivers), Sani Kalgo (PDP, Kebbi) Joseph Akinlaja (LP, Ondo) and Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN, Lagos), however, reminded the opponents that government’s primary duty on security and welfare is for the citizens and not just for civil servants.

Jonathan’s govt is a dismal failure, says Fani-Kayode

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FORMER Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday said the Goodluck Jonathan administration is a “dismal failure”.

In an interview in Lagos, the former minister said he was appalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at its “family dinner” in Abuja, awarded itself a pass mark.

He said the ruling party had lost touch with reality, adding that it was not unexpected of it to award itself a pass mark.

Fani-Kayode said: “I watched the dinner the PDP held and I was appalled by the fact that they gave themselves a pass mark. They were clapping and saying President Jonathan should continue.

“Look, Czar Nicholas of Russia, a night before the Russian Revolution, clapped for himself. This thing happens all

By Augustine Avwode

the time. Hitler, a night before the Russian knocked on the bunker and he had to kill himself, also clapped for himself. Don’t expect the ruling party, which has lost touch with reality and has become delusioned to score itself in an equitable and fair way. If it is out of 100, they will score themselves 110 over 100.”

The former minister challenged the government to tell Nigerians what it has done to improve on what happened up till May 29, 2007.

He accused the Jonathan administration of allowing every sector to degenerate.

“I challenge them to tell us what they have done to improve on what happened up till 2007.

Every single sector has degenerated and the facts and figures are there. We now have 80 per cent graduate unemployment; 70

per cent of Nigerians living below the poverty line. In power generation, we were hitting 4,500 megawatts (MW) per day in 2007. Today, we are lower than that.

“In terms of foreign reserves, in 2007, we had $47 billion. Today, I think we have $45 billion.

It has not progressed, despite all the crude oil sales. The Excess Crude Account, in 2007, was $24 billion; today, we have $7 billion. If we talk of foreign debts, a very important thing, in 2007, we had zero per cent foreign debts; today, we are back to $9 billion and still borrowing..

“So, what are they celebrating? Five years later, we have gone backwards; we have not progressed. First of all, look at your foundation. Have you built on it? The answer is no. They have a foundation, a legacy which was a pretty good one.

“Whether you like (former

UTHORITIES of the University of Ibadan (UI) have said they will celebrate the 50th coronation anniversary of the institution’s Chancellor, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Among the activities for the celebration is the naming of the university’s business school after the northern monarch.

UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when he led the new Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), to visit Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He said the event will hold on June 20.

The vice chancellor said Bayero has been a two-time chancellor of the UI, adding that the university found it expedient to honour him for detribalising the country.

Prof Adewole described the emir as a former diplomat, an instrument of national unity, a pan-Africanist, who is adept in business management.

He said: “He (Bayero) is a promoter of peace and nation builder. He is worth celebrating.

Yakasai to Obasanjo: be decent From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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•Fani-Kayode... yesterday.

President Olusegun) Obasanjo or not, if you look at his performance, it was excellent. The record speaks for itself. What did they do with it? Did they build on it? No! Everything has degenerated since then. I cannot be impressed with that and so we need

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

a change. Let’s have new people in government,” Fani-Kayode said.

The politician, who recently dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC), described his former party as a “sinking ship”.

HE former Special Adviser to ex-President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, yesterday said the attack on President Goodluck Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo is unpalatable.

The former presidential aide said Obasanjo should exhibit some decorum in his statements on national issues.

Ex-President Obasanjo, during the last Democracy Day in Dutse , the Jigawa State capital, called for a change of leadership. He picked holes in Jonathan’s style of administration.

But Yakasai, in a statement yesterday in Kano, said Obasanjo should pursue his political differences with Jonathan with tolerance, decorum and statesmanship. He said this is the standard expected of a man of his calibre.

“General Obasanjo, being a former President and highranking leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is the party in power at the federal level in the country...”

ACN accuses PDP, Presidency of hijacking National Youth Council

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency of hijacking the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the umbrella group for voluntary youth bodies in Nigeria.

The party alleged that they imposed a PDP member as the president of the non-partisan organisation.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN noted that this is the way the ruling party has divided the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for selfish reasons and destroyed many national institutions.

It added that the PDP and the Presidency have also infil-

trated the NYCN with the intention of using it for partisan purposes.

The statement reads: “The destructive train of the PDP and the Presidency, which has been targeting national institutions and organisations, has recently rammed into the NYCN, and the outcome is chaos and deep divisions in an otherwise cohesive and non-partisan body.

“In the desperation to seize control of many institutions and organisations, including voluntary groups and professional bodies, as part of their 2015 election strategy, the PDP and the Presidency are sowing the seed of discord and destruction everywhere. Based on available evidence, the crisis currently rocking the NYCN

has the imprimatur of the PDP and the Presidency.

“Our concern here is the emerging desperation of the Presidency and the ruling party ahead of the 2015 polls; the do-or-die tendency on the part of this siamese twin of evil and what this bodes for the 2015 elections.

“If these desperate folks are not checked, every value we hold dear will be destroyed in the name of mad politicking.”

ACN alleged that the imposed president of NYCN, even though the council’s election was cancelled because of a court order, is a card-carrying member of the PDP and an aide to the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

“The PDP and the Presidency, using the Minister of Youth

Development as their arrowhead, orchestrated the movement of the NYCN congress from Ondo to Benue State (a PDP state); the incumbent president of NYCN was invited to the State House in Makurdi where a fat cheque was dangled before him as an inducement to step down for the Presidency’s anointed candidate (Tukur’s PA) for the NYCN leadership, in accordance with a supposed ‘order from above’; but he refused.

“However, when some aspirants obtained a court injunction stopping the election, the NYCN trustees advised that the congress should be called off because of the court order. The delegates had hardly departed Benue State when the minister allegedly started writing the

names of selected government candidates as winners of an election that did not hold. The names of the ‘winners’ were subsequently sent - purely for information sake - to the delegates, who had already left after the congress was cancelled.

“The result of the shenanigans orchestrated by the Presidency and the PDP is the crisis now rocking the NYCN, with two persons laying claim to the organisation’s presidency. This is an uncanny resemblance to what happened to the NGF, again with the Presidency and the PDP being fingered as the culprit,” ACN said.

The party wondered why a government, which has not positively impacted on the people, would be so doggedly pursuing the destruction of

such bodies as the NGF and the NYCN. “The Presidency’s anointed candidate lost the NGF chairmanship election and refused to accept the result. Now the Presidency’s anointed candidate has been named the president of the NYCN, even when the body’s election did not hold.

“Are these pointers to the mindset of the PDP/Presidency ahead of the 2015 polls? Is this why ‘Mr Fix it’ has been ringing the consensus bell so there will be no election? Is this what the PDP/Presidency want to make of our democracy?

These and other questions must be agitating the minds of all lovers of democracy as the country inches closer and closer to the 2015 elections,” ACN said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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NEWS Babalakin, Okoh urge court to quash charges

By Adebisi Onanuga

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I-COURTNEY Chairman Olawale Babalakin and co-defendant Alex Okoh yesterday urged a Lagos High Court, Ikeja to quash the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendants made the request in separate applications filed by their counsel before the court presided over

by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

Babalakin is standing trial for allegedly transferring N4.7billion on behalf of former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

He is being prosecuted with Okoh and their companies, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited.

They are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

At the resumed trial, the defendants told the court that the EFCC had no valid fiat to prosecute them before a state high court.

Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to Babalakin, told the court that the EFCC had no power to institute criminal proceedings at a state high court unless it had a valid fiat duly issued to them by the state’s attorney-general.

Fagbemi said Babalakin and co-defendants were charged to court under a fiat issued on May 12, 2004 under the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003 and Criminal Procedure Laws of Lagos State 2003.

He said: “The judge held that the EFCC did not need any fiat from the attorney-general to prosecute matters at the state high courts.”

Justice Onigbanjo adjourned the matter till July 9 for ruling on the applications of the defendants.

State of emergency: North’s senators ask Jonathan to stay off states, councils funds

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ORTHERN senators yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to touch the funds of states and local governments under the emergency rule.

The senators spoke to reporters in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the Northern Senators Forum to assess developments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states with respect to the emergency rule.

This is, however, contrary to the position of the National Assembly on the issue.

The National Assembly, in a conference report, adopted the position of the Senate, which supported the use of state and local government funds by President Jonathan to finance some aspects of the emergency rule in the affected states.

The Chairman of the forum, Senator Umaru Dahiru, told reporters that it was in concurrence with the resolutions reached on the floor of the Senate on the proclamation of the state of emergency in the three states.

He, however, said the forum was concerned about the well-being of the people and called on the President not to

•Senate backs proscription of Boko Haram From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

touch the funds of the states or withhold any part of it.

Dahiru said: “As concerned senators from the North, we felt we should be monitoring from time to time what goes on and what goes out regarding the emergency and it is in this regard we decided to hold a meeting today and reached these resolutions.

“The forum, after an exhaustive deliberation on the security of the people of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in particular and Nigeria in general, resolved and concurred with the resolution of the National Assembly that the statutory allocation of the affected states and local governments are paid in full as and when due and no part of it whatsoever should be withheld.

“Secondly, that the Federal Government should pay more attention to the humanitarian situation in the affected states by providing more humanitarian assistance.

“Thirdly, we want to assure the affected states and

indeed the people in the area that we shall continue to pay attention to the security, welfare and livelihood at all times to the affected states and indeed the whole country.”

Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, while explaining the resolution further, said the forum wanted to emphasise the resolutions of both chambers of the National Assembly on the emergency rule.

He said the resolution bordered on the fact that all the democratic institutions in the affected states were not touched and that “no fund of the states and local governments is supposed to be touched because the states are already enmeshed in financial difficulties.

“Touching any of their monies will mean more difficulty on the part of the governments to run their states, and more difficulty for the people of the states and this is why we must send a signal to the Federal Government to concur with the resolution of the Senate.”

Ningi explained that the Senate in the proclamation

said the President had the powers to give directives as to the spending of funds of the states and local governments, it did not translate to empowering the President to take the funds and use them.

A similar resolution has been passed at the House of Representatives.

The Senate has expressed its support for President Jonathan’s designation of the Boko Haram sect as an International Terrorist Organisation (ITO) and its proscription.

Chairman, Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, told reporters that “the Senate welcomes the proscription of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country.

“Although it is coming late, it is good and we will continue to support the President’s effort to bring peace to the country.”

He added that the proclamation would not affect the amnesty plans.

He said amnesty was for those who renounce their participation in the terrorist activities.

20,000 children die daily of hunger, says Minister

By Emmanuel Oladesu

THE Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has reiterated its clamour for autonomy, stressing that it would foster electoral transparency and protect the sanctity of the ballot box.

The forum said the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) should be given independence by the proposed amended constitution.

Rising from its National Delegates Conference in Katsina, Katsina State, the electoral commissioners urged Nigerians to cooperate with them during grassroots elections. .

The communiqué, signed by the Chairman of the forum and the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Afolabi Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka (rtd) and the forum’s secretary, Dr. Hannatu Biniya, said the forum would engage the services of a public relations consultant to project its image.

Baptist seminary gets president DR. Ezekiel Emiola Nihinlola has been appointed as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.

Prior to the appointment, he was the Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos. Born on September 12, 1958 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nihinlola attended Ilorin Grammar School for his West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) from 1973 to 1977. He proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where he bagged a BSc degree in Biochemistry. He later attended the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso where he bagged his Bachelor of Theology, Master’s Degree and PhD, specialising in Systematic Theology.

Kontagora’s family thanks Jonathan

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INISTER of Environment Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia has said about 20,000 children die daily as a result of hunger.

She spoke at an event in Abuja to mark the World Environmental Day, with the theme: ‘Think. Eat. Save’.

The minister decried what she called colossal waste of food by the world, which results in hunger.

She said: “According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about one– third of the global food production is wasted from farm to fork, which is equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes of food annually.

“This monumental wastage is happening at a time an estimated 870 million people go to bed hungry worldwide and more than 20,000 children under five die daily from hunger.”

The volume of waste is said to be more than the total net food production in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hadiza Mailafia added: “One way to narrow the hunger gap and improve the well-being of the most vulnerable is to address the massive loss and waste inherent in today’s food system.”

Electoral commissioners seek autonomy

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle), with residents of Ijoun in Ogun West during his meeting and inspection of projects in the area...on Tuesday.

Senate rejects N4b First Ladies Mission House fund

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HE Senate yesterday rejected the appropriation of N4billion for the building of the First Ladies Mission House in Africa.

This is contained in the summary report of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2013 budget, which was approved by the Upper Chamber.

The controversial figure was part of the proposed budgetary estimates submitted by the FCT to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

There were bitter criticisms of the money, which

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

was seen as a waste of scarce resources.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT Senator Smart Adeyemi noted in the report of his committee that “it is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of the building for First Ladies Mission in Africa has been distributed to meet pressing needs in the area of engineering and satellite towns.”

He added: “Due to litigation in respect of the proposed plot of land, the money

cannot be accessed this year.”

Adeyemi said it is not proper for the Senate to appropriate for a land that is not available.

The Senate approved N259,649,520,705 as the 2013 budget for the FCT. A breakdown of the FCT budget shows that personnel cost amounted to N48.6billion, while the overhead was put at N50.5billion, amounting to total recurrent expenditure of N99.182billion.

The amount represented 38.2 per cent of the total budget.

•Senate President David Mark

The capital expenditure was put at N160.4billion or 61.8 per cent of the total sum.

The committee also slated N48,716,036 as surplus budget.

THE late Maj.-Gen. Mamman Kontagora’s family has expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for sending a Federal Government delegation to the funeral of the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister.

The ex-Works and Housing Minister, who died on May 30 at 69 at the National Hospital, Abuja, was buried in his home town, Kontagora, Niger State on the same day.

In a statement by Malam Alhassan Mamman Kontagora, the eldest son of the late General, the deceased’s family also expressed gratitude to members of the Federal Executive Council, military high command and other well-meaning Nigerians for condoling with the family.

It thanked Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu for his moral support during and after the burial.

The statement said arrangement had been concluded to hold a seven-day Firdau prayer for the late SURE-P Deputy Chairman by 9am today at his home, 35, Yedsaram Street, off IBB Way, Maitama, FCT.

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THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 6, 2013

NEWS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

•From right: Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire; Bello; the Commissioner for Pyhsical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olatoyin Ayinde and Erelu Abiola Dosunmu...yesterday.

•Fayemi flanked by the Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Eniola Ajayi and Bassey...yesterday.

Ekiti begins production of organic manure

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HE Ekiti State Waste Management Authority (EKWMA) has started producing organic manure for farmers and other industrial use, under the state government’s Waste to Wealth programme.

Governor Kayode Fayemi announced this yesterday during the celebration of the World Environment Day at the Adetiloye Hall in AdoEkiti, the state capital.

He said his administration is determined to turn waste to wealth through the engineering management of dump sites.

Fayemi said a nylon recycling plant has begun operation on a commercial level.

Speaking on the theme of the programme: “Think, Eat and Save”, the governor said it was high time people started moderating their food consumption and cultivate the habit of food preservation.

He said food production can only thrive in a situation where there is preservation to avoid wastage, which is predominant in our society.

Fayemi said: “The United Nations (US) recently confirmed that over 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted yearly due to lack of preservation and this has to stop.

Fashola warns against food wastage

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“This report, for me, is unacceptable, unfair and harsh on posterity. Wastage occurs because many producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for human consumption. That is why Nigerians must make informed choices in buying and consumption.”

Fashola urged residents to guide against food wastage to ensure efficient land use, improved water resources management and curb climate change.

“The loss of property and livelihood is one that we must proactively guide against to mitigate global warming,” he added.

The governor urged the hospitality industry, especially restaurants and food marts, to carry out waste audits and product loss analysis for high waste areas; offer discounts for near-expiration items; limit menu choices; introduce flexible portioning of food and follow storage guidelines to preserve food items.

Commissioner for the Environment Mr. Tunji Bello regretted that while the world is struggling to feed its seven billion inhabitants, a third of the food produced globally is wasted.

He urged Lagosians to eat less of canned and processed food.

“Due to the inherent wastages, one in every seven people are said to be hungry, despite the huge production level, while an alarming number of infants die daily due to hunger.

This is unfortunate.”

To ensure food preservation, he said the state government partnered the Federal Government to build a silo on the Ijan road, adding that his administration has built cold rooms in

lenges.

He said the administration has just concluded advocacy meetings on Operation Klean Ekiti (OKE).

Ajayi said a major outcome of the meetings was the decision of market women to have a weekly environmental sanitation day.

The Guest Speaker, a renowned environmentalist, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, identified land grabbing and poor

some local governments.

Urging the people to imbibe the habit of farming, either on commercial or subsistence level, Fayemi said the government would assist farmers.

He also urged the people to preserve the forest.

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, said the governor was determined to sustain a green environment and tackle environmental chal-

rural infrastructure, among others, as factors responsible for food loss in Nigeria, adding that secure land tenure was important for food security.

Bassey said strong rural economies would reduce poverty.

The governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi and House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin were decorated as Environmental Ambassadors at the event.

Amosun: critics thought my government would collapse

Ajimobi urged on town planning From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Oyo State chapter, has urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi to restore the local planning authorities in local governments, which were established by the gazetted Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law (Decree 88 of 1992).

In a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Mr. Mike Ogunrinde, NITP said: “There are areas of concern to town planners in this state. These include the need for physical development plans for cities in Oyo, especially Ibadan, the state capital.

“The plan would consider land use, housing, traffic and transportation, waste disposal management and other socio-economic studies. The result would serve as input for the preparation of the proposed development plan.”

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

AGOSIANS were yesterday warned against food wastage.

Governor Babatunde Fashola gave the advice during the celebration of the World Environment Day at the Blue Roof Hall, LTV8, Ikeja.

The theme of the event was: “Think, Eat, Save”.

Fashola, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said food wastage has financial and environmental impacts.

He said: “Food wastage leads to the squandering of resources, such as fertilisers, pesticides and fuel, used for transportation. The volume of food going into landfill sites is enormous and this creates methane, which is one of the most harmful contributors to climate change.”

The governor said statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, an agency of the United Nations (UN), show that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted in a world where one in every seven persons go to bed hungry daily.

He said: “This is equivalent to the amount produced in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa. As if this is not enough, they said one out of every seven people in the world, including Nigeria, go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children below age five die daily from hunger.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

•Amosun

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s tour of ongoing projects yesterday entered its second day.

The governor inspected roads and the model school in Ogun East Senatorial District.

The tour began on Tuesday in Ogun West Senatorial District, with Amosun visiting over 20 communities.

Speaking with reporters in Ilaro, the governor said his critics thought his administration would have collapsed a long time ago because of the “messy financial situation he met on

ground”.

He said because of the precarious condition of the state’s finances as at May 2011, no financial institution wanted to grant Ogun credit facility.

Amosun said following his administration’s financial reengineering strategy, the state has started getting short term loans to execute long term projects.

He said: “The path has been hard and tortuous, but it is a cross my administration has to carry courageously to improve the state.”

The governor ascribed his administration’s achievements in the last two years to God, the people’s support and financial re-engineering by his team.

He said: “With what we met on ground, nobody wanted to grant us loans. Many people thought this administration would not survive, but it did.

‘With what we met on ground, nobody wanted to grant us loans. Many people thought this administration would not survive, but it did...’

We are now borrowing short term and spending it long term. The benevolence of God, the support of our people and our professional calling have stood us out in good stead.

“We have built roads, health centres and will continue to execute projects that we will be remembered for.

Many of our projects will be ready ahead of the scheduled time because we are working day and night.

“Last year, we repaid about N12 billion of the money borrowed. This year, we plan to repay between N15 and N18

billion. If we borrow N25 billion and pay back N18 billion, we will be left with N7 billion. With this, we can borrow again for capital projects.”

Yesterday in Ogun West Senatorial District, leaders of thoughts and traditional rulers, including renowned historian Prof. Anthony Asiwaju and the Olola of Ilara, Oba Samuel Adeluyi, hailed the governor for opening up the area through the construction of the 110km Ilara-Ijoun-Egua-Oja Odan-Ilase road.

Amosun said the road would attract industries to the area and boost economic activities.

He inspected the 7.4km sixlane Idagba-Olodo road, Atokun Cattle Market and projects in Aiyetoro, Olodo, Idi Emi-Obada, Owode-Idi Ayin, Imeko, Ilara, Aworo, Imoto, Ijale Ketu, Ijoun, Eggua, Ibese, Ilaro, Ilu-Awela and Ado Odo.

Oke knocks Mimiko on ‘forged’ SSS report From Damisi Ojo,Akure

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HE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last October’s governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday flayed Governor Olusegun Mimiko for allegedly presenting a forged report of the State Security Service (SSS) to the Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court in 2009.

The Police Special Investigation Unit, Abuja, made the revelation in some national newspapers.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Kunle Adebayo, Oke said the revelation, though belated, has exposed the “insincerity that characterises Mimiko’s politics” to Nigerians.

The police probe was ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan, following a petition by former Governor Olusegun Agagu.

Oke said: “The startling revelation has further reinforced our insistence that Mimiko never won the 2007 and 2012 elections, but merely procured victory through dubious manipulations, corruption and illegal alliance with unscrupulous partners.

“It is sad that on account of premeditated forgery of a high level security document by a desperate and hypocritical politician, justice was miscarried, the rule of law arrested and a judicial coup was executed against the people of Ondo State.

“It also embarrasses the nation that the esteemed judiciary allowed itself to be ridiculed by Mimiko’s action, causing injustice and undermining the fundamental principle of democracy and free choice.

“The mockery of the judiciary is further emphasised by the fact that in 2007, the Tribunal and Appeal Court judgments that declared Mimiko Governor were based on false and forged documents.

“The recent Tribunal judgment that affirmed him in office was also based on inverted principles of law and a non-existing Section 131 (5) of the 2010 Electoral Act. “We hope that this startling revelation of how Ondo people were judicially shortchanged in 2007 will draw the critical attention of the nation’s judiciary, particularly the appellate courts, to confront the ugly facts of election cases before them to save Nigerians from civilian coups.”

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

At the moment, there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

Fed Govt yet to disburse N971.13b subsidy to marketers

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HE Federal Govern ment is yet to pay oil marketers from the N971.138billion budget or subsidy in 2013, it was learnt yesterday.

The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr Reginald Stanley, disclosed this at a meeting with the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) in Abuja.

However, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Magnus Abe, warned that refineries should be allowed to function optimally to reduce importation of petroleum products.

The Federal Government had allocated N971.138 billion for fuel subsidy in the 2013 budget.

The sum of N888.1 billion was allocated last year.

Stanley noted that the delay was due to failure to clear foreign exchange claims by the marketers at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The PPPRA chief said: “There has been no payment for any marketer importing petroleum products in 2013.

This is caused by delays in the payment of subsidy claims by the Federal Ministry of Finance, resulting in interest as foreign exchange differential claims request by marketers.”

Stanley also noted that though the Federal Government has spent a total of N3.7 trillion in five years, the agency has succeeded in reducing the number of oil marketers from 142 to 38 as at December 2012.

He added that local consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has also

•40m litres of fuel consumed daily From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Sanni Onogu, John Ofikhenua, Abuja

been brought down from 60.25 million liters per day in 2011 to 40 million litres per day.

Stanley said: “Between 2006 and August 2011, total government expenditure on petroleum subsidy amounted to N3.7 trillion.

Expenditure on subsidies

increased from N261 billion in 2006 to N673 billion in 2010, which represents an increase of about 160 per cent.

“Additionally, there have been unprecedented payments in 2011 that so far amounted to N1.4 trillion due, in part, to two key factors: increase in subsidy per litre as a result of rising global oil price, and large arrears due NNPC for house-

hold kerosene imports.

“When we started, the chairman was very hard on us, but he’s objective. I asked for time that we will live up to the Senate’s expectation and I’m happy with this visit.

“2011 was like a goldrush where you had briefcase marketers. Local consumption rose to 60.25 million litres per day in 2011, but had dropped to 39.66 million litres per day in

2012.

“Most of the international traders who did business with their Nigerian counterparts were also briefcase traders. They would sell and run away. That practice, I can tell you, has since been cancelled.

“One of the biggest fraud in 2011 was “Bills for Collection”, which is used to trade for petroleum products. There has been a very dramatic transition from what obtained in 2011 and what we have today.”

On some key challenges

•From left: Divisional Head (DH), Lagos Island, Keystone Bank, Mr Abubakar Jose; first prize winner (primary school category)/pupil of Taadel Private School,Master Ewumi Hanniel; DH, Lagos Mainland of the bank; and DH, Product Support, of the bank, Mr Ime Okon, Mr Sunny Obazee, at the Spelling Bee Competition sponsored by Keystone Bank.

facing the PPPRA, Stanley said the agency was yet to clarify the status of kerosene; whether it has been deregulated or not.

“There is lack of clarity on PPPRA and DPR roles in regulating the petroleum sector. Besides, there is lack of clarity on the subsidy status of household kerosene.

We don’t know whether it has been deregulated or not.

“All over the country, between January 1 and December 30, we go round to determine the stock ... that was how we first got the figure of 40 million litres per day as our local consumption.”

Senator Abe urged Stanley and the PPPRA not to relent throwing out “briefcase marketers,” adding that they are still lurking around, waiting to manipulate any loophole in the system.

He urged the Federal Government to ensure the rehabilitation of existing refineries and building of new ones.

Meanwhile, the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied illegally giving directive for the allocation of kerosene to any person, group of persons or politician.

It assured that ongoing maintenance on Warri Refinery would not upset supply of petroleum products to the country.

Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Tumini Green, in a statement, said the NNPC has enough stock of products to keep the country well supplied for the period the refinery will be under repairs.

Procedural hitch stalls extra budget

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ROCEDURAL hitches yesterday stalled the consideration of the 2013 supplementary budget sent to the House of Representatives

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The bill, presented by House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola was for an Act to amend the 2013 Appropriation Act to issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund N4,987,382,196,000 out of which N2,418,976,39,494 is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, while N1,588,578,805,197 is for contribution to the Development Fund for capital expenditure.

Also, N388, 063,000,000 is for statutory transfer while N591, 764,000,000 is for debt service.

Soon after the presentation of the bill, Yakubu Dogara (PDP,Bauchi), raised a point of order after which he pointed out that the bill was in breach of the constitution and not supported by House

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

rules.

He said the bill should not be discussed on the floor, ”Against the rules, this is Appropriation bill number two. What the President ought to do is to accompany the amendments with the signed copy of the Appropriation Act, which he never did.

“To proceed with the amendment will be an action in illegality. The bill is incompetent and should not be debated.”

However, the Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), who attempted to support the bill was booed and shouted down by his colleagues.

The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, nonetheless, prevailed on his colleagues to yield the floor to Ogor, saying: “We have to give everyone the opportunity to make their points and at the end of the day, it is still the majority that must have its way”.

Ogor, who backed his argument with House rules, said there were precedents and that what the lawmakers supposed to do was to allow the bill scale the second reading in order to allow for more through job and correct anomalies inherent in the bill.

The Speaker, in his intervention, reminded his colleagues that a constitutional matter has been raised in the bill, which must be looked into by a selected group of the House.

“Since a point of order has been raised on the status of the bill, it is a fundamental issue and whenever such a fundamental issue arises, we set up a panel that will look at it and report back for us to be properly guided on whichever decision we are going to take,” he said.

In his ruling, Committees on Rules and Business, Justice and Judiciary were mandated to look into the matter and report back in the next available plenary day.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

BUSINESS NEWS Lagos partners private sector on LPG consumption

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HE Lagos State Gov ernment in partner ship with some private sector firms, including Oando and Banner Gas will unveil a programme aimed at deepening the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also called cooking gas. The programme is tagged ‘Eko Gas.’ The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofeeq Ajibade Tijani, told reporters at a briefing on the project in his Lagos office that the programme is expected to enable about one million people who use firewood and kerosene to switch over to LPG in the next five years.

Tijani said the launch of the programme will take place in Lagos on Tuesday and would be kicked off by

•State woos Scotland on energy, mineral

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and Miriam Ekene-Okoro

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

He explained that the programme has imperative in view of cleanliness and affordability of the LPG. Besides, he said Nigeria is Africa’s biggest producer of LPG, yet the least consumer of the product in the continent.

Tijani said Governor Fashola has approved incentives to prospective investors that would build the storage and refilling facilities to create easy accessibility of the product to consumers.

He also said about 20 per cent of the cost of cylinder would be eased by the gov-

ernment, in order to encourage Lagos residents use LPG. The Chairman, LPG group of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Omo’ ba Bambo Ademiluyi, said since the partnership is being done with registered companies with integrity, the quality of LPG and cylinders that would supplied consumers is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, the state is also seeking the assistance of the Scottish Development International to develop and attract investors in its energy and solid mineral sector.

Tijani spoke while hosting the Scottish Development International team lead by the International Senior Executive on Trade and Invest-

ment Scotland, Mr Andrew Monaghan.

The Commissioner, while briefing the delegation on the activities of her Ministry, said Lagos was ready to collaborate with reputable Scottish firms with expertise on solid minerals, renewable power, oil and gas development.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Iyabo Obasa, said the creation of the Ministry in 2011 by the administration was an attempt to accomplish the policy direction of attending to the power need of residents and explore the hydrocarbon, oil and gas potential as well as other mineral resources of the state.

Nigeria lacks experts in sustainable banking, says NDIC

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HE Nigeria Deposit I n s u r a n c e Corporation (NDIC) has lamented the absence of qualified resource persons in the field of sustainable banking.

The Managing Director of the NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said this while responding to questions from reporters on why the corporation engaged the services of foreign resource persons to train its directors at the end of the NDIC Board retreat.

He said: “With due respect, I don’t think there is a well known qualified resource person in Nigeria in the area of sustainability or sustainable banking for us to engage.”

As a result, the NDIC, he said, had to engage an expert that “is well known.

She consults for the Bankers Committee; she also consults for the Central Bank. She is well known worldwide in that area.

With time we believe we will have people who are experts in this area in Nigeria.”

The NDIC believes in capacity building and knowledge sharing for

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

building strong institutions, and attaches a lot of importance to the training of its human resources, including its directors so as to tool them adequately in their numerous roles, which include oversight, team building, mentoring and strategic planning, he added.

The NDIC boss noted that keeping track of recent developments in the country’s financial system and understanding the reasons for adopting certain policy measures at different points in time would assist the corporation tremendously in shaping collective judgements and improving strategic thinking and decision-making for the betterment of the system.

Recent banking reforms, to which the corporation contributed immensely, he explained, “is aimed at building a safe and sound banking system which supports economic growth and development of our country.”

CAC leads other govt agencies

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HE Revalidation Audit, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO 9001:2008) conducted recently confirms that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has maintained a leading role among government agencies six years after it started the process.

The Lead Auditor, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Tersoo Orngudwem, who confirmed this after a revalidation audit at the Commission’s Corporate Head Office in Abuja, stated that CAC is a flagship ahead of other government agencies in the country. ”I am proud of CAC being our flagship, you are number one since 2007 and Revalidation Audit shows that CAC is still doing it right six years after. It could be recalled that the CAC

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

embarked on ISO 9001:2000 in 2007 to attain a world class companies’ registry in line with its vision.

“I want to commend the management and staff for the team spirit exhibited during the exercise. I led the team that came to the commission in 2007, when it started the process of attaining ISO 9001:2000 when it was upgraded and at the revalidation audit and could convincingly attest that CAC is performing at a world class standard.

“I join the Commission to do management review within 90 days and I would like to stress that theirs is to ensure continual improvement of quality service delivery and customer satisfaction for effectiveness and efficiency in internal processes,” he said.

MultiChoice Nigeria launches logo design contest

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ULTICHOICE Ni geria has an nounced a special logo competition to kickstart its 20th anniversary celebrations.

In a statement, the company said it is inviting people with innovative artistic designs to be part of the competition. “Intending participants are expected to incorporate the MultiChoice logo and colours into the designs they are submitting for the competition.

“Such entries must reflect the fact that MultiChoice is a proudly Nigerian company with Pan-African roots. Competing logos must also reflect MultiChoice’s commitment to family entertainment since the company’s debut in the country two decades ago,”n it said.

MultiChoice advised intending participants to send their entries in Jpeg format to entries@ng.multichoice.com.

These will entitle winners to win a range of rewards. The first biggest prize, according to the statement, is a cash reward of N1million and a yearlong free DSTv subscription.

The second prize is N500,000 plus a six-month free DSTv subscription, while the third prize entitles the winner to N250,000 and three months of free DSTv subscription.

There are also consolation prizes of five DSTv Walka 7s, accompanied by one-month subscription.

“This is the chance to be part of history and earn generous rewards for relating with Nigeria and Africa’s biggest payTV provider,” the statement said.

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COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Enter Opon Imo •Ogbeni Aregbesola stakes a computer tablet as the most revolutinary move for mass education since Awolowo introduced free education

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HE June 3 launch of Opon Imo, the computer tablet stored with 53 textbooks in the senior secondary school (SSS) curriculum, past Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) questions dating back to the last 10 years, e-teaching videos and allied materials, would count for the most revolutionary introduction into Nigerian education since Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) government’s free primary education of 1955.

The successful launch is a tribute to intellectual restlessness, raw courage and indomitability of spirit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his team in Osun State. It is also a salute to innovation in governance, democratisation of quality education and a bold attempt to put the youths of the state, many of them in humble and rural homes,

‘The successful launch is a tribute to intellectual restlessness, raw courage and indomitability of spirit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his team in Osun State. It is also a salute to innovation in governance, democratisation of quality education and a bold attempt to put the youths of the state, many of them in humble and rural homes, on the digital education super-highway; and by so doing, bridge the digital divide between the African continent and the rest of the world’

on the digital education super-highway; and by so doing, bridge the digital divide between the African continent and the rest of the world.

By any standard, this is a programme to commend. The happy irony of Opon Imo should not be lost on anyone: it is true that Osun is a provincial state, virtually locked in the heart of Yorubaland though it also boasts the highest number of towns in the Yoruba interior. But it is no cosmopolitan Lagos, with its urban and city sophistication.

So, when a breed of country youth are educationally bred on a computer tablet, in which all recommended textbooks are stored and which battery, other things being equal, could be charged on solar energy, then something good is happening to education. The result, again other things being equal, some 20 years down the line, would be no less than spectacular than Awo’s free primary education policy has been.

It would not only expose the school system to information technology (IT) as viable and effective educational tools, it would also deepen the IT culture among the growing school population. That is crucial for any African society determined to compete in an IT-dominated globalised world. It is even more heart-gladdening that the tablet is distributed free to Senior Secondary School (SSS) pupils in Osun public school. That is a huge commitment to education, for which the state government must be commended.

That Yoruba history and cultural fare are also stored in the tablet give the added advantage of a breed of youngsters acquiring IT without necessarily alienating their own culture. That is a win-win situation sure to translate into development and prosperity much later.

Still, the launch is only a start – a very prom-

ising one; but a start nonetheless. That is why everything must be done to superbly implement this programme.

To start with, the computer tablet and the huge saving Governor Aregbesola said it made as an alternative to buying physical books for pupils under the state’s free education programme, would mean nothing if the human factor is not improved.

So, there must be continuous training of the beneficiary pupils on how to use the gadget. A special notice must be taken of those likely to suffer initial fright that comes with introducing of new technology. That segment of pupils must be captured and reassured.

Then the teachers need retraining in teaching methods. Since the pupils have the textbooks, the old method of summarising the textbook by note-giving must give way to teachers, with the students, analysing and interpreting the texts; and introducing their wards to critical thinking very early. This is the direction to go.

There is also the sustainability question – and that is why the announcement that the tablet would eventually be locally produced is heart-warming. That means that, beyond the primary goal of education, Opon Imo may well spawn a silicon valley around Osun State, and provide back-up local technology; thus becoming a money earner for the state, if commercialised for a segment of the market.

A local IT industry would also help other Nigerian states, especially in the South West, to adopt and adapt Opon Imo to boost mass and qualitative education.

Indeed, Opon Imo is a marvelous start; a new dawn for education, in a developing country. But an excellent implementation is vital for it to realise its stunning potential.

Reducing IDPs in Africa •Poor leadership and elite conflict account for this tragedy

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EPORTS that Africa is home to 40 percent of the world’s internally displaced persons are another minus for a continent already battling with more than it can cope with of the world’s problems. The continent is said to boast 69.5million of such people, with over 42million of them displaced by natural disasters while the remaining 27.5million were displaced by armed conflicts.

Prof. Dakas CJ. Dakas, Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies provided the statistic at a roundtable seminar to mark 50 years anniversary of the African Union (AU). The seminar was organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

It is a matter for regret that this is the kind of thing we are commemorating at the golden anniversary of the AU. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), AU’s precursor, had very laudable objectives at its founding on May 25, 1963.

These included promotion of unity and solidarity of African states; co-ordination and intensification of their efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa; defending their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence; eradication of all forms of colonialism from Africa; promotion of international co-operation, among others. Regrettably, 50 years down the line, most of these objectives have been realised in reverse, with the high figures of IDPs recorded on the continent being one of the major minuses.

We can understand if most of the challenges leading to the high IDPs are natural; in which case there is little anyone can do (even in the developed countries) to

prevent them. But this is not the case; most of the problems that are displacing millions of people from their homes are manmade and avoidable. Interestingly, too, most of the crises on the continent are more of internal conflicts than external; from the Liberian war, to the Sierra Leone war, the conflicts in Sudan, Cote D’Ivoire, and Chad. Indeed, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia continue to have Africa’s largest internally displaced populations, and among the largest in the world. In most cases, the crises leading to the IDPs have to do with leadership and succession disputes that people failed to resolve due to intractable electoral malfeasances. Displacements have also occurred in Nigeria, with a significant number of people rendered homeless by the Boko Haram crisis and floods.

In spite of the preponderance of IDPs in Africa, there was no instrument attending to their plight until December 6, 2012, when the Kampala Convention came into force. Sixteen countries, including Nigeria had, by year end, ratified it and by so doing making a legal commitment to address all causes comprehensively.

They have also committed to assisting and protecting IDPs and their human rights, including the creation of safe and sustainable conditions for voluntary return, local integration or settlement elsewhere in the country.

But the issue goes beyond ratifying the instrument; there must be genuine commitment and efforts to eradicate the very causes of the problem. Take Nigeria for instance, our response to emergencies alone remains disgusting, with the Na-

tional Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) functioning without adequate funds, personnel and equipment.

Lack of good governance remains a major cause of conflicts in Africa. Of course this includes corruption which is a major disincentive to donors who would have loved to help reduce the trauma of IDPs. Africa can do with far less IDPs. And, as Prof. Dakas noted, we must properly understand the causes of IDPs and accept the fact that it is an African problem that must be solved by Africans.

When we reduce political and ethno-religious tension leading to conflicts and hence IDPs on the continent, we would be able to make significant savings from money expended on arms and ammunition, and thus free more resources to address other serious problems confronting the continent.

‘Africa can do with far less IDPs. And, as Prof. Dakas noted, we must properly understand the causes of IDPs and accept the fact that it is an African problem that must be solved

by Africans. When we reduce political and ethno-religious tension leading to conflicts and hence IDPs on the continent, we would be able to make significant savings from money expended on arms and ammunition, and thus free more resources to address other serious problems confronting the continent’

A smart change in Iran policy

T

HE Obama administration has made a useful modification to its Iran policy by lifting sanctions on companies that want to sell cellphones, laptops, encryption software and other similar technology to ordinary Iranians. This should improve the ability of Iranians to circumvent their government’s unrelenting crackdown on dissenting opinion and communicate with each other and the outside world without reprisal.

The decision, announced by the State and Treasury Departments on Thursday, is a departure from the administration’s general approach, which over four years has been to increase sanctions in an effort to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

The Obama administration has definitely not repudiated that approach. Along with the technology decision, it also announced sanctions on an Iranian company, a government agency and nearly 60 individuals accused of human rights abuses related to political repression. On Friday, for the first time, eight Iranian petrochemical companies were sanctioned; penalties were also levied against a company based in Cyprus and Ukraine that is accused of trying to evade Iran-related sanctions.

More sanctions are likely. But the decision to permit the export of personal communications technology suggests a welcome willingness on Washington’s part to reduce the burden of the sanctions on ordinary Iranians. The directive specifically bans government or commercial sales.

So far, the sanctions have failed to force Iran to make a deal on its nuclear program, which is advancing steadily toward a bomb-making capability. But the sanctions have badly damaged the country’s economy, and ordinary Iranians, not just the government, are paying a price.

The technology decision, which comes two weeks before Iran’s presidential election, inserts the United States into Iranian politics on the side of political freedom in a way the Obama administration did not during the last election in 2009. That election was denounced as fraudulent by the Iranian opposition, which, using various social networking services and Web sites, staged months of protests that, in turn, triggered a vicious government crackdown.

Just what impact the technology decision might have on the presidential election on June 14 is unclear. Most opposition leaders remain under house arrest, imprisoned or otherwise silenced; only eight candidates, handpicked by the state’s Guardian Council, have been allowed to run for president.

There could be delays in exporting hardware, but software updates and access to instant messaging and other online programs could be made available quickly.

This should have been done sooner. Tensions beween Iran and the United States — over Syria and terrorism, as well as the nuclear program — will almost certainly get worse, barring some unexpected new policies in Tehran. But America will be in a stronger position if it is seen as standing with the Iranian people.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

19

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Enter Opon Imo •Ogbeni Aregbesola stakes a computer tablet as the most revolutinary move for mass education since Awolowo introduced free education

T

HE June 3 launch of Opon Imo, the computer tablet stored with 53 textbooks in the senior secondary school (SSS) curriculum, past Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) questions dating back to the last 10 years, e-teaching videos and allied materials, would count for the most revolutionary introduction into Nigerian education since Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) government’s free primary education of 1955.

The successful launch is a tribute to intellectual restlessness, raw courage and indomitability of spirit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his team in Osun State. It is also a salute to innovation in governance, democratisation of quality education and a bold attempt to put the youths of the state, many of them in humble and rural homes,

‘The successful launch is a tribute to intellectual restlessness, raw courage and indomitability of spirit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his team in Osun State. It is also a salute to innovation in governance, democratisation of quality education and a bold attempt to put the youths of the state, many of them in humble and rural homes, on the digital education super-highway; and by so doing, bridge the digital divide between the African continent and the rest of the world’

on the digital education super-highway; and by so doing, bridge the digital divide between the African continent and the rest of the world.

By any standard, this is a programme to commend. The happy irony of Opon Imo should not be lost on anyone: it is true that Osun is a provincial state, virtually locked in the heart of Yorubaland though it also boasts the highest number of towns in the Yoruba interior. But it is no cosmopolitan Lagos, with its urban and city sophistication.

So, when a breed of country youth are educationally bred on a computer tablet, in which all recommended textbooks are stored and which battery, other things being equal, could be charged on solar energy, then something good is happening to education. The result, again other things being equal, some 20 years down the line, would be no less than spectacular than Awo’s free primary education policy has been.

It would not only expose the school system to information technology (IT) as viable and effective educational tools, it would also deepen the IT culture among the growing school population. That is crucial for any African society determined to compete in an IT-dominated globalised world. It is even more heart-gladdening that the tablet is distributed free to Senior Secondary School (SSS) pupils in Osun public school. That is a huge commitment to education, for which the state government must be commended.

That Yoruba history and cultural fare are also stored in the tablet give the added advantage of a breed of youngsters acquiring IT without necessarily alienating their own culture. That is a win-win situation sure to translate into development and prosperity much later.

Still, the launch is only a start – a very prom-

ising one; but a start nonetheless. That is why everything must be done to superbly implement this programme.

To start with, the computer tablet and the huge saving Governor Aregbesola said it made as an alternative to buying physical books for pupils under the state’s free education programme, would mean nothing if the human factor is not improved.

So, there must be continuous training of the beneficiary pupils on how to use the gadget. A special notice must be taken of those likely to suffer initial fright that comes with introducing of new technology. That segment of pupils must be captured and reassured.

Then the teachers need retraining in teaching methods. Since the pupils have the textbooks, the old method of summarising the textbook by note-giving must give way to teachers, with the students, analysing and interpreting the texts; and introducing their wards to critical thinking very early. This is the direction to go.

There is also the sustainability question – and that is why the announcement that the tablet would eventually be locally produced is heart-warming. That means that, beyond the primary goal of education, Opon Imo may well spawn a silicon valley around Osun State, and provide back-up local technology; thus becoming a money earner for the state, if commercialised for a segment of the market.

A local IT industry would also help other Nigerian states, especially in the South West, to adopt and adapt Opon Imo to boost mass and qualitative education.

Indeed, Opon Imo is a marvelous start; a new dawn for education, in a developing country. But an excellent implementation is vital for it to realise its stunning potential.

Reducing IDPs in Africa •Poor leadership and elite conflict account for this tragedy

R

EPORTS that Africa is home to 40 percent of the world’s internally displaced persons are another minus for a continent already battling with more than it can cope with of the world’s problems. The continent is said to boast 69.5million of such people, with over 42million of them displaced by natural disasters while the remaining 27.5million were displaced by armed conflicts.

Prof. Dakas CJ. Dakas, Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies provided the statistic at a roundtable seminar to mark 50 years anniversary of the African Union (AU). The seminar was organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

It is a matter for regret that this is the kind of thing we are commemorating at the golden anniversary of the AU. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), AU’s precursor, had very laudable objectives at its founding on May 25, 1963.

These included promotion of unity and solidarity of African states; co-ordination and intensification of their efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa; defending their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence; eradication of all forms of colonialism from Africa; promotion of international co-operation, among others. Regrettably, 50 years down the line, most of these objectives have been realised in reverse, with the high figures of IDPs recorded on the continent being one of the major minuses.

We can understand if most of the challenges leading to the high IDPs are natural; in which case there is little anyone can do (even in the developed countries) to

prevent them. But this is not the case; most of the problems that are displacing millions of people from their homes are manmade and avoidable. Interestingly, too, most of the crises on the continent are more of internal conflicts than external; from the Liberian war, to the Sierra Leone war, the conflicts in Sudan, Cote D’Ivoire, and Chad. Indeed, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and Somalia continue to have Africa’s largest internally displaced populations, and among the largest in the world. In most cases, the crises leading to the IDPs have to do with leadership and succession disputes that people failed to resolve due to intractable electoral malfeasances. Displacements have also occurred in Nigeria, with a significant number of people rendered homeless by the Boko Haram crisis and floods.

In spite of the preponderance of IDPs in Africa, there was no instrument attending to their plight until December 6, 2012, when the Kampala Convention came into force. Sixteen countries, including Nigeria had, by year end, ratified it and by so doing making a legal commitment to address all causes comprehensively.

They have also committed to assisting and protecting IDPs and their human rights, including the creation of safe and sustainable conditions for voluntary return, local integration or settlement elsewhere in the country.

But the issue goes beyond ratifying the instrument; there must be genuine commitment and efforts to eradicate the very causes of the problem. Take Nigeria for instance, our response to emergencies alone remains disgusting, with the Na-

tional Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) functioning without adequate funds, personnel and equipment.

Lack of good governance remains a major cause of conflicts in Africa. Of course this includes corruption which is a major disincentive to donors who would have loved to help reduce the trauma of IDPs. Africa can do with far less IDPs. And, as Prof. Dakas noted, we must properly understand the causes of IDPs and accept the fact that it is an African problem that must be solved by Africans.

When we reduce political and ethno-religious tension leading to conflicts and hence IDPs on the continent, we would be able to make significant savings from money expended on arms and ammunition, and thus free more resources to address other serious problems confronting the continent.

‘Africa can do with far less IDPs. And, as Prof. Dakas noted, we must properly understand the causes of IDPs and accept the fact that it is an African problem that must be solved

by Africans. When we reduce political and ethno-religious tension leading to conflicts and hence IDPs on the continent, we would be able to make significant savings from money expended on arms and ammunition, and thus free more resources to address other serious problems confronting the continent’

A smart change in Iran policy

T

HE Obama administration has made a useful modification to its Iran policy by lifting sanctions on companies that want to sell cellphones, laptops, encryption software and other similar technology to ordinary Iranians. This should improve the ability of Iranians to circumvent their government’s unrelenting crackdown on dissenting opinion and communicate with each other and the outside world without reprisal.

The decision, announced by the State and Treasury Departments on Thursday, is a departure from the administration’s general approach, which over four years has been to increase sanctions in an effort to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

The Obama administration has definitely not repudiated that approach. Along with the technology decision, it also announced sanctions on an Iranian company, a government agency and nearly 60 individuals accused of human rights abuses related to political repression. On Friday, for the first time, eight Iranian petrochemical companies were sanctioned; penalties were also levied against a company based in Cyprus and Ukraine that is accused of trying to evade Iran-related sanctions.

More sanctions are likely. But the decision to permit the export of personal communications technology suggests a welcome willingness on Washington’s part to reduce the burden of the sanctions on ordinary Iranians. The directive specifically bans government or commercial sales.

So far, the sanctions have failed to force Iran to make a deal on its nuclear program, which is advancing steadily toward a bomb-making capability. But the sanctions have badly damaged the country’s economy, and ordinary Iranians, not just the government, are paying a price.

The technology decision, which comes two weeks before Iran’s presidential election, inserts the United States into Iranian politics on the side of political freedom in a way the Obama administration did not during the last election in 2009. That election was denounced as fraudulent by the Iranian opposition, which, using various social networking services and Web sites, staged months of protests that, in turn, triggered a vicious government crackdown.

Just what impact the technology decision might have on the presidential election on June 14 is unclear. Most opposition leaders remain under house arrest, imprisoned or otherwise silenced; only eight candidates, handpicked by the state’s Guardian Council, have been allowed to run for president.

There could be delays in exporting hardware, but software updates and access to instant messaging and other online programs could be made available quickly.

This should have been done sooner. Tensions beween Iran and the United States — over Syria and terrorism, as well as the nuclear program — will almost certainly get worse, barring some unexpected new policies in Tehran. But America will be in a stronger position if it is seen as standing with the Iranian people.

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Concerned about the negative image the arrest of two Arik Air cabin crew members at London Heathrow has brought to Nigeria and the frightening security implications of same, I brought a motion to the floor of the House of Representatives calling for an investigation on May 23. Unfortunately, my colleagues felt otherwise and the motion was not entertained.

Of the two crew members, Olubunmi Daramola was arrested with 6kg of cocaine with a street value of N180m concealed in her hand luggage. The second, Delita Abibimgbi was arrested for being in possession of 60 packets of cigarette also in her hand luggage.

While I abide totally with the democratic decision of the House, I still feel personally concerned that such an incident could happen.

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

That London arrest of Arik Air cabin crew Here therefore, are my personal thoughts on the matter and it is my wish that the Nigerian public sees more in the incident than just the fact of the arrest of the crew members.

First, there is the need and urgently too, in my opinion, to condemn the action of the crew members and reassure both the United Kingdom authorities and the wider international aviation community that Nigeria will render every support and co-operation in the course

of their investigation into the incident. I consider this expedient in the face of the ease with which the western press labels an entire Third World country with the negative acts of even one of its citizens; and proceed to criminalize the entire population accordingly.

Next, we have numerous security and related aviation officials saddled with the screening and clearance of all passengers, crew and luggage at our airports. We have

also invested significantly in the acquisition and deployment of modern screening equipment. So how did the two girls beat all security screening to board the flight? What protocol does the airline operators have in place to ensure that their staff members do not bring banned items and substances into their airplanes? How much background checks and profiling are undertaken in the recruitment and deployment of staff? Are there collaborators, paid from our

Gospel according to Segun Oni

S

IR: The PDP’s preparations for victory celebration had been very elaborate prior to the Supreme Court judgment in the case of former governor Segun Oni against the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Part of the elaborate preparation must have been the thanksgiving service that was arranged to hold at the Methodist Church, Tabernacle of Praise, Ifaki, on the judgment day, which had to hold, all the same, to offer a humbled Oni an opportunity to preach a gospel of the acts of God, except that he cited no verses of the Bible.

He said he accepted the judgment as an act of God even though it was such a despicable loss on his part as the Supreme Court out-rightly struck his case out and described it

as “frivolous and an abuse of court process “ He proceeded to educate those who might not be close or familiar enough with the almighty God that He sometimes imposes His wish regardless of the direction of our prayers.

“At times when God wants to favour you, He will refuse to hear your prayers,” he said, amidst a farcical self-justification speech which he must have needed urgently to overcome his shock.

He had virtually denied that he went to the Supreme Court to win his case, insisting that his main purpose was to make a point against unscrupulous judges and restore sanity to the judiciary.

He claimed he did not file the case out of desperation even as his

boasts and flaming confidence since he filed the case had made his motive appear much worse than being desperate.

There was this fear which he created that he and his party, the PDP, would not mind endangering the rule of law and cause a set-back to the nation’s democratic project.

Filing the case at the Supreme Court at all was, in itself, a disregard to the Constitution of Nigeria or an attempt at re-writing the constitution by sheer misuse of political power.

Because Justice Isa Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, was Oni’s main target of action, President Goodluck Jonathan had stayed action on his re-instatement despite having been investigated and ex-

onerated, as if the president needed the out-come of Oni’s suit which had appeared to have been filed with a nod from the President ab initio .

With the Supreme Court judgment, the president or the PDP is now exonerated from a charge of interference in the case but, far beyond this, the wrong of the nonreinstatement of Justice Isa Ayo Salami should now be righted.

In the same vein, Oni and his Ekiti PDP should not just be humble temporarily but permanently, so that the current peace in Ekiti State can be sustained, so that desperation, in its other various violent dimensions in the past, can also cease.

• Jide Oguntoye Oye Ekiti

commonwealth, but criminally circumventing the screening and flight clearance process in our airports, who are they and how do we stop them to ensure the integrity of the system?

If it was so easy for a young cabin crew to ferry 6kg of cocaine in a handbag into the plane and over to London, how difficult then is it to take guns, bombs(IEDs), etc into the same and other planes in the face of our deteriorated security situation and what’s the implication to a beleaguered nation?

In a terror-stricken era such as we live in, I am deeply concerned that the incident portends mortal danger to our collective physical and psychological wellbeing as a nation; especially as our airport security remains predominantly based on access control and checkpoint screening. In other climes, there is a predominant reliance on intelligence gathering/sharing, passenger profiling and staff background checks. This way those who are considered threats to civil aviation are put on a “watch list” or “no fly lists”. This adds a qualitative impetus to airport security systems.

Our case is also compounded by very porous perimeter fences around our airports that allow people with no business in the airports easy access to them; including miscreants and possibly anti-progress elements.

I do also hope that public pressure would be brought to bear on the relevant aviation authorities to do all that is necessary to ensure that incidences as this do not repeat or better still make it impossible for them to occur.

• Linus Okorie, Member of House of Representatives Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: Concerned about the negative image the arrest of two Arik Air cabin crew members at London Heathrow has brought to Nigeria and the frightening security implications of same, I brought a motion to the floor of the House of Representatives calling for an investigation on May 23. Unfortunately, my colleagues felt otherwise and the motion was not entertained.

Of the two crew members, Olubunmi Daramola was arrested with 6kg of cocaine with a street value of N180m concealed in her hand luggage. The second, Delita Abibimgbi was arrested for being in possession of 60 packets of cigarette also in her hand luggage.

While I abide totally with the democratic decision of the House, I still feel personally concerned that such an incident could happen.

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

That London arrest of Arik Air cabin crew Here therefore, are my personal thoughts on the matter and it is my wish that the Nigerian public sees more in the incident than just the fact of the arrest of the crew members.

First, there is the need and urgently too, in my opinion, to condemn the action of the crew members and reassure both the United Kingdom authorities and the wider international aviation community that Nigeria will render every support and co-operation in the course

of their investigation into the incident. I consider this expedient in the face of the ease with which the western press labels an entire Third World country with the negative acts of even one of its citizens; and proceed to criminalize the entire population accordingly.

Next, we have numerous security and related aviation officials saddled with the screening and clearance of all passengers, crew and luggage at our airports. We have

also invested significantly in the acquisition and deployment of modern screening equipment. So how did the two girls beat all security screening to board the flight? What protocol does the airline operators have in place to ensure that their staff members do not bring banned items and substances into their airplanes? How much background checks and profiling are undertaken in the recruitment and deployment of staff? Are there collaborators, paid from our

Gospel according to Segun Oni

S

IR: The PDP’s preparations for victory celebration had been very elaborate prior to the Supreme Court judgment in the case of former governor Segun Oni against the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Part of the elaborate preparation must have been the thanksgiving service that was arranged to hold at the Methodist Church, Tabernacle of Praise, Ifaki, on the judgment day, which had to hold, all the same, to offer a humbled Oni an opportunity to preach a gospel of the acts of God, except that he cited no verses of the Bible.

He said he accepted the judgment as an act of God even though it was such a despicable loss on his part as the Supreme Court out-rightly struck his case out and described it

as “frivolous and an abuse of court process “ He proceeded to educate those who might not be close or familiar enough with the almighty God that He sometimes imposes His wish regardless of the direction of our prayers.

“At times when God wants to favour you, He will refuse to hear your prayers,” he said, amidst a farcical self-justification speech which he must have needed urgently to overcome his shock.

He had virtually denied that he went to the Supreme Court to win his case, insisting that his main purpose was to make a point against unscrupulous judges and restore sanity to the judiciary.

He claimed he did not file the case out of desperation even as his

boasts and flaming confidence since he filed the case had made his motive appear much worse than being desperate.

There was this fear which he created that he and his party, the PDP, would not mind endangering the rule of law and cause a set-back to the nation’s democratic project.

Filing the case at the Supreme Court at all was, in itself, a disregard to the Constitution of Nigeria or an attempt at re-writing the constitution by sheer misuse of political power.

Because Justice Isa Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, was Oni’s main target of action, President Goodluck Jonathan had stayed action on his re-instatement despite having been investigated and ex-

onerated, as if the president needed the out-come of Oni’s suit which had appeared to have been filed with a nod from the President ab initio .

With the Supreme Court judgment, the president or the PDP is now exonerated from a charge of interference in the case but, far beyond this, the wrong of the nonreinstatement of Justice Isa Ayo Salami should now be righted.

In the same vein, Oni and his Ekiti PDP should not just be humble temporarily but permanently, so that the current peace in Ekiti State can be sustained, so that desperation, in its other various violent dimensions in the past, can also cease.

• Jide Oguntoye Oye Ekiti

commonwealth, but criminally circumventing the screening and flight clearance process in our airports, who are they and how do we stop them to ensure the integrity of the system?

If it was so easy for a young cabin crew to ferry 6kg of cocaine in a handbag into the plane and over to London, how difficult then is it to take guns, bombs(IEDs), etc into the same and other planes in the face of our deteriorated security situation and what’s the implication to a beleaguered nation?

In a terror-stricken era such as we live in, I am deeply concerned that the incident portends mortal danger to our collective physical and psychological wellbeing as a nation; especially as our airport security remains predominantly based on access control and checkpoint screening. In other climes, there is a predominant reliance on intelligence gathering/sharing, passenger profiling and staff background checks. This way those who are considered threats to civil aviation are put on a “watch list” or “no fly lists”. This adds a qualitative impetus to airport security systems.

Our case is also compounded by very porous perimeter fences around our airports that allow people with no business in the airports easy access to them; including miscreants and possibly anti-progress elements.

I do also hope that public pressure would be brought to bear on the relevant aviation authorities to do all that is necessary to ensure that incidences as this do not repeat or better still make it impossible for them to occur.

• Linus Okorie, Member of House of Representatives Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

21

COMMENTS

London’s broad daylight murder

W

HEN the BBC and CNN reported that a 25 year old British soldier had been killed in Woolwich, South of London, by Muslim fanatics, my mind immediately went to Arabs or Pakistanis as possible culprits. When the photographs of two blacks were shown without their names being mentioned, I immediately felt they must have been West Indians who converted to Islam. I came to this conclusion because as a graduate student in London, I sometimes witnessed violent eruptions from West Indian young men. Then when the news report said these two young men were of African descent, I could not in my wild imaginations guess that they would be Nigerians. Eventually, when they were said to be people of Nigerian descent and with the Abdulmutalab experience in mind, I immediately felt they may be my compatriots from the north. This is a story of prejudice because that is what it is, and it is unpardonable. Eventually, the truth came home and the two of them were Nigerians of Yoruba Muslim descent. Even this last statement would not be correct because the two of them were born into Christian middle-class background and both were named after the Angel Michael.

The story is that they converted to Islam in London in 2008 and that both of them came under the same tutelage of a violent Muslim cleric as was the case of Mohammad Umaru Mutalab. This case is very embarrassing. The Nigerian community in London and presumably our High Commission, rightly issued statements that Messrs Michael Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo were born of Nigerian parentage in London and that they have never visited Nigeria before and that they are British and that Nigerians should not be tarred with the brush of terrorism as demonstrated by these two madmen. Their statement included several names of people of Nigerian parentage who are British and who had been representing Great Britain in European and Olympic competitions.

These are celebrated British heroes and heroines. They argued that the British should then accept the wheat with the shaft and that Nigeria and Nigerians should not be blamed for the errant behaviour of these two murderers.

One cannot but agree with this statement, and it is noteworthy that our government has remained correctly speechless, even though embarrassed by this crime. This is a case of premeditated murder. Michael Adebolajo a few years ago visited Kenya with the sole aim of enlisting

A

T a time like this, it is easy to overlook certain issues in the polity. This may not be deliberate though; it may be caused by the importance attached to the unfolding events. In the past few weeks, things have been happening at a frenetic pace, especially on the political scene. The biggest political event so far is the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) election and its fall-out. Since that May 24 election, the NGF has not been the same.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was returned as chairman of the Forum, but his Plateau State counterpart Da Jonah Jang is contesting that. As a father, which his prefix, Da, stands for, Jang does not seem to be fatherly in his disposition on this matter. As one of the elderly governors in the Forum, Jang should be seen promoting peace and good conduct and not what can divide the Forum. He has the right to be the chairman of NGF, but the question he should answer honestly and truthfully is did win the May 24 election?

Although, he claimed to have won, but the figures say otherwise.

According to the poll, Amaechi won by 19 votes to Jang’s 16. It is quite disturbing that an election among 35 governors, who were at the May 24 meeting, would become this messy. It is more worrisome that those who should be the embodiment of democracy are the ones working against the outcome of a free and fair election. What example are they trying to set? From the look of things, the parties are not ready to sheathe their swords.

Another domineering political event was the Obasanjo stinker on the capability of President Goodluck Jonathan to run the country. On the social plane, we have the ongoing military onslaught

in a jihad against western interest led by the murderous terrorists Somali Al-Shabab. He was apprehended and handed over to the British High Commission which arranged for his deportation to London. The behaviour after the murderous act in London of these criminals was totally unheard of. Instead of running away from the scene of crime, they waited to be photographed while haranguing the British passersby and shouting that they committed murder because their Muslim brethren were being killed everywhere in the world. When the police finally arrived, instead of surrendering and facing the music of British justice, they crazily rushed at the Police who of course brought them down in a hail of bullets. The British police then took them to the hospital where they received apparently first class treatments that saved their lives.

They are now going to be taken to the Old Bailey to face justice. I wish the death penalty were still in the English Law book, so that these two pit bulls can be put down.

It is going to be hard for Nigerians or people of Nigerian descent to be treated gentlemanly in England as from now on. One only hopes that British sense of justice would prevail at all times so that people do not suffer unnecessarily for other peoples’ crimes and that no one should be made a victim because of similarity of names. Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent all over the world have been thoroughly embarrassed by this murderous and criminal behaviour of these two young men. The British press has not been very helpful in this particular case.

They have tried very hard to create the impression of Nigeria as a violent country by linking these young men’s behaviour with the Boko Haram terrorist group, whereas there is no connection whatsoever. The behaviour of these two people is due to the over liberal tendencies in the western world where violent people are treated with kid gloves.

I did part of my undergraduate studies in Queen Mary’s College in East London and whenever I am in England which is quite often, I tend to go on a trip of nostalgia by visiting the old school and I am often amazed on how the whole area seems to have been taken over by Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Not only that, at the tube stations along the way, you sometimes hear young radicals talking about declaring the Sharia in England and making every person subject to it. These young people are never cautioned and those of them who publicly embrace Al-Qaeda are

allowed to roam the streets without any challenge. I am of course in agreement with the British Law of Freedom of Speech, but sometimes, this can often be taken for license. It is this kind of licentious environment that allows Jide young people to be Osuntokun brainwashed to the extent of playing revolutionaries on the streets of London. In his recent broadcast to the American people on the use of drones to the take out Al-Qaeda leadership, President Obama said that the challenges posed to security in the world is going to come not from foreigners, but from home grown terrorism. What he said would also apply to Great Britain. While foreign terrorists should continue to be monitored and prevented from creating havoc, those born in Western countries and who as a result of this enjoy basic freedoms, should be equally watched in order to prevent a repetition of this terrible incident.

‘One only hopes that British sense of justice would prevail at all times so that people do not suffer unnecessarily for other peoples’ crimes and that no one should be made a victim because of similarity of names. Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent all over the world have been thoroughly embarrassed by this murderous and criminal behaviour of these two young men’

A judge’s parting shot against Boko Haram; the series of kidnapping and robbery.

When events happen at dizzying pace like this, it is possible to miss out on some of the actions and one of such events was the parting shot of a former judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

Justice Okeke bowed out of the Bench last month on attaining the retirement age of 65. About 13 days to his retirement on May 19, he got a letter from the National Judicial Council (NJC), reprimanding him for alleged misconduct. He was ‘’seriously warned’’ because he was on his way out of service. If he was not about to retire, chances are that he might have been suspended or recommended for retirement for ‘no just reason’ as we have now been made to know by Justice Okeke.

When the NJC took its decision, Justice Okeke could not talk because he was still in service eventhough he was not happy with the action.

He burned with rage in silence because of the ‘injustice’ done him.

Justice Okeke felt the NJC was not fair to him, but he could not go to court to seek justice because he is a judge, which must bear whatever is thrown at him, whether true or false in silence. Let’s face it, many of us do or say things against judges which are not true and get away with it because by virtue of their jobs they are to be seen and not to be heard. By so doing, we tend to forget that these judges are human.

All we need do is to put ourselves in their position and see how it feels when people malign us at will and we are unable to fight back.

With their hands tied by the nature of their jobs, many judges suf-

‘A judge who cannot look his own wife or son in the eye and do justice is not fit to be on the Bench’

fer in silence for things they didn’t do.If we the unlearned, and I used that word advisedly, can make wild allegations against ‘’learned judges’’, what do we say when learned brother - judges make such allegations against each other.

Dogs, we are told, don’t eat dogs, but in some cases, judges have been known to sacrifice their learned fellow judges where such judges refuse to do their bidding. In most cases, such bidding is to pervert justice. A judge, no matter his relationship with parties in a matter before him, is expected to uphold the scale of justice.

The scale of justice is a blindfolded lady wielding a sword within a dangling pendulum. What this means is that a judge must be blind to the parties before him to be able to do justice with the sword.

The sword will be applied on the offending party no matter how powerful; influential or connected he may be. A judge is expected to be blind to a fellow judge if that judge has a case before his learned brother in order to be fair to the other party. But in our society where anything goes, our judges seem to find it difficult to uphold justice without fear or favour; affection or illwill as demanded by their oath. Why? Because of extraneous matters.

The truth is a judge who cannot look his own wife or son in the eye and do justice is not fit to be on the Bench. If a judge’s wife or son commits a crime and she or he is brought before His Lordship, the best he can do is to recuse(excuse) himself from the matter rather than break his oath for his family’s sake.

If judges are not expected to break their oath for their families, can they do so for their fellow judges, whether senior or junior to them?

The answer is no. If that be the case, why then did former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Alloysius Katsina-

Alu allegedly ask suspended Court of Appeal President Justice Ayo Salami to influence the judgment on the Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Appeal case? Justice Salami refused.

Justice Katsina-Alu as then NJC chairman used his privileged position to get Justice Salami suspended and the learned justice is suffering from that injustice till today. Justice Okeke may have met with the same fate if he was not due to retire last month. He got away with a warning, but the decision irked him because he felt he didn’t do anything to warrant it. This made him to spill the beans at the valedictory session for him in Lagos on May 27. Justice Okeke claimed that he got into trouble because of his handling of a case involving the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and former Oceanic Bank Managing Director Mrs Cecilia Ibru. An order he granted in the case affected a daughter of Supreme Court Justice Clara BataOgunbiyi. e claimed he was informed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, that Justice BataOgunbiyi was not happy with him over the order. The justice later sent her daughter to see him over the matter, he said, adding that he informed her to file the necessary papers if she was not satisfied with the ruling which led to her ejection from her Ikoyi, Lagos home. This, he claimed, informed one of the petitions against him before the NJC. He said he responded to the petition and challenged the NJC to publish his reaction. The NJC has not taken up Justice Okeke’s challenge.

Rather the Council is behaving as if all is well. All is not well at all.

The NJC owes it a duty to clear the air over this matter. Did Justice Bata-Ogunbiyi try to influence Justice Okeke to pervert justice as he

H

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

alleged? Was Justice Bata-Ogunbiyi invited by the NJC to react to Justice Okeke’s allegations? Was she investigated by the NJC in order to verify Justice Okeke’s claim? If she wasn’t, why did NJC overlook the matter? Is it that Justice BataOgunbiyi is above the law? Can Justice Okeke’s response be made public for all to see? If CJN Mariam Muktar Aloma is serious about her ongoing reform of the judiciary, this should be a test case for her. Justice Okeke is willing and ready to talk (or is it testify?) on the matter because he believes he has been wronged. He wants justice and the only way he can get that is to reopen this case and let the parties appear before the NJC. Anything short of this will amount to sweeping the matter under the matter.

As for what the Supreme Court Chief Registrar Sunday Olorundahunsi said in response to Justice Okeke’s allegations, the man should know that this does not involve the apex court per se. It is an issue between two individuals, Her Ladyship and Justice Okeke, so he should let them sort things out on their own terms. When the court is attacked, Olorundahunsi can speak for it. But in Okeke versus Her Ladyship, he cannot speak for the justice except if she hires him as her lawyer. I rest my case.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

22

COMMENTS

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XCEPT for the PDP stalwarts and the chorus ‘men of all seasons’, who gathered in Abuja to celebrate both the 14 years of PDP brand of democracy that holds in disdain democratic principles of ‘liberty, justice and common decency’, and President Jonathan’s claimed two years of superlative performance, we all know all is not well with our nation.

What May 29, the fraud PDP christened “democracy day’ called for was sober reflection about how our nation has finally descended into a state of nature where the law of the jungle reigns supreme; where elections become ‘do or die affairs’, where losers resort to self help; where a justice of the Appeal court for being loyal to the nation, is in chains while those indicted for rigging elections move to Abuja to preside over our affairs as senators or party executives where they use the desecrated judicial process to intimidate their victims; and a jungle where those who have access to power share our national patrimony, using proceeds therein to buy private jets and armoured cars for self protection.

It was a day that called for a sober reflection on how the tragedy of our nation started with the arbitrariness of Babangida who cancelled the most credible election in our nation’s history; how MKO Abiola, the winner of that election died protecting the mandate given to him by Nigerians; how the scourge called Abacha later taken care of by God came upon the nation; how Babangida and other soldiers of fortune of ‘Nigerian Army of anything is possible’ along with self-serving politicians imposed Obasanjo; how Obasanjo lacked the grace to give honour to those who watered the current democracy with their blood; and how in turn, all he built in eight years, he destroyed with his own hands. Yar’Adua reversed his policies; Jonathan squandered the foreign reserves he built up.

Even Orji Uzor Kalu, Abia State former governor, a man not known for moderation and a stakeholder in PDP family business that has yielded him as it did for other PDP buccaneers, dividends in hundred folds, it is time for sober reflection. For him, “Going by all that has happened in the 14-year history of our current democracy… Nigeria is a sick nation, suffering and bleeding under the weight of corruption, ethnicity, nepotism, crimes and religious fundamentalism.”

But PDP men and their contractors, who are the main beneficiaries of the current anarchy, resplendent in their flowing agbadas and babarigas, gathered in Abuja last week. Without restraint, Okonjo-Iweala, the minister for finance celebrated government transforma-

May 29 fraud and carnival of men of all seasons

tion agenda and growth in the country economy when in fact two weeks earlier, both the president and his CBN governor had lamented about growth without development which left in its trails a sea of unemployed youths and an impoverished society.

A day later, there was to be further assault on Nigerians as PDP members along with others they had ‘invited to come and chop’ gathered at the banquet hall of the presidential palace for “PDP family dinner.” There men of ‘all seasons’ who believe in nothing, and doing what they know how to do best- reassuring Jonathan that he has no opposition for the 2015 race. Just as they had urged Babangida, ‘the prince of the Niger’ to hold on to power, just as they had earnestly urged Abacha to hold on to power with swag song ‘Abacha today, Abacha tomorrow and Abacha for ever’; and just as they raised billions to support Obasanjo’s failed third term agenda, one after the other, PDP leaders and the tribe of ‘any government in power’ like Tony Anenih, Ebenezer Babatope, Iwuanyanwu, Jerry Gana tried to persuade an apparent reluctant Jonathan.

The Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak set the ball rolling: “As long as the people who are gathered at the banquet hall of the presidential Villa were alive, we will not let governance slip out of our hand in our life time. The foot soldiers are ready to work for you”. Concluding, he urged the president to ignore the allegations of the opposition because “Nigerians are satisfied with his performance”.

As for Tony Anenih, who says ‘PDP will do what it knows how to do best when it is time for election’, his proposal is for an automatic

second term ticket for incumbent president and governors who perform well in office.

To Mr. ‘Fixer’, it counts for little that the former vice-president had said that ‘the rulings of the courts stated that the policy was alien to the PDP and the Nigerian constitutions’.

Ebenezer Babatope, who claim ‘for politicians, two plus two could be four and could be 40 thousand, speaking for the South-west said, “My own leader Papa Obafemi Awolowo exactly 31 years after predicting in Bonny during a campaign tour that an Ijaw man would one day become president of Nigeria, Jonathan is now president. He combines all the heroes of our country into himself. We voted for you last time, we will repeat it again because you have been a very very good president”.

I am sure Awo’s body would be protesting in his grave to see how an apostate is doing a great damage to his memory. Awo stood for justice, fairness, competence, and democracy.

If Awo had made such a prediction, he didn’t make it as a prophet but as an avowed federalist. He wanted the Ijaw as well as other minority nationalities to be partakers in the Nigerian project. He was during the 1959 constitutional debate in London, the only man among our founding fathers, left standing for the minority’s right to self determination within the greater Nigerian nation.

Speaking for the South-east, Chief Iwuanyanwu said: “We gave the highest vote to President Jonathan last time, we are very happy, we are not disappointed, and Jonathan is doing very well. He has given us our own share”. Iwuanyanwu might be right. ‘Getting our own share’ ideology of the Igbo elite

Greetings from Gbogun Gboro. Odidi omo afidi digun. Nwon nlee bo lehin, o nle ara iwaju lo. [Gbogun Gboro., heady and magical child; who pursues others, even when given a hot chase]

T

HIS morning, I woke up laughing – laughing uncontrollably. It was not because I was so happy. It was because I could not believe what I had seen in two or three days of travelling in my homeland, the Yoruba Southwest of Nigeria.

Everywhere, I could see that we Yoruba can no longer feed ourselves these days. We have to wait on food brought from other people’s land before we can put any food in our mouths.

Lagos housewives cannot put tomatoes and pepper in their soups, Ekiti and Ijesa mothers cannot put pounded yam before their husbands and children, without having to bring lorry loads of crops from the Middle Belt beyond the Niger and Benue.

I was told that some two years ago, when the trailer trucks from the North had some problem of their own and failed to run for some days, our great city of Lagos soon began to starve.

Many Lagos friends of mine told me that they cancelled already scheduled weddings of their sons or daughters or the funerals of their departed parents. Some young friends told me that they had to drive their young families all the way to Cotonou in Benin Republic to go and buy tomatoes, peppers and onions.

One related that when he got to Cotonou, the marketplace there was filled with Lagos people, and most items of food had been snatched up –so he and his family had to hurry further on to Lome in Togo.

I was also told that many months ago, some northerners, because of some political situation, threatened to poison the food, especially the beans, coming from the North to the Southwest.

Out of fear, some Lagosians avoided eating beans for some time. But when they could no longer go on avoiding it, they decided on a creative solution. They made it practice to soak the beans in water for a whole day before cooking it – hoping that the poison would have all drained into the water.

In short, we Yoruba people have trapped ourselves in a very serious food crisis. And it is not because we lack the resources needed for successful farming. We do have such resources plentifully. All experts on the subject say that Yorubaland has most of the best land for agriculture in West Africa. Our land is fertile, well watered, and, thank God, it is free from cataclysmic erosions. The fact that we have variations in vegetation (from our thick southern forests to our northern grasslands) means that we are able to produce many varieties of crops. In fact, our historians now tell us that the natural agricultural assets in our land, and our ancestors’ industrious use of those assets, were the roots of our success in building tropical Africa’s most advanced urban civilization in history.

Yes, throughout what we know of the history of West Africa, our ancestors were the proud owners of the most advanced and most productive crop farming system in all of West Africa. The

Gbogun gboro

Gbogun gboro - 1 story of great farming and rich farmers runs through all our history. Even as far back as Oduduwa’s time and the beginning of our first kingdom, the Ife kingdom, in about the 10th century AD, big farmers were part of the pride of our country. Later, big farming and proud rich farmers were part of the backbone of one of our kingdoms, the Oyo-Ile kingdom, which became so prosperous that it went forward and conquered the largest indigenous empire in the history of West Africa, the great Oyo Empire.

Later still, when the first European explorers penetrated into the interior of our country in 1825, and travelled from Badagry to Oyo-Ile, the first things that surprised them were the large rich farms which they saw all along their way – and the many large thickly populated towns which they came to after every few miles, and the well-kept and well-protected roads on which they travelled. After writing about “extensive plantations of yams”, “rich plantations of corn”, “endless acres of cotton”, “tens of acres of indigo”, “plantations of coconut palm”, and “farms as far as the eye can see”, these explorers finally concluded that we Yoruba people were truly “an industrious race”.

In the years that followed this 1825 exploration, and throughout the rest of the 19th century, various explorers and various European Christian missionaries travelled copiously all over Yorubaland – all the way to our farthest eastern territories like Ekiti, Akoko, Iyagba, etc. Everywhere, their records were the same – big farms and proud rich farmers everywhere. The first

seems to have been the bane of Igbo quest for the presidency. But now, PDP heavy investor like Uzor Kalu, currently a non partaker in the Igbo share, is presenting himself as a more authentic Igbo presidential candidate than Jonathan whose only claim to Igbo is his Azikiwe middle name and his marriage to Dame Patience Jonathan.

Other hurrah men at the carnival that are worth not much attention include Professor Jerry Gana, who has been part of all governments since Babangida era. He, on behalf of North-central zone, told the president “I … salute you for the restoration of democracy and its sustenance for 14 years .The problem with Gana is not just that he is deficit in credibility, it is that the more credible Arewa Consultative Forum has accused the same President Jonathan of redefining democracy by his endorsement of Jonah Jang who lost the NGF chairmanship election.

Ambassador Aminu Wali, who spoke on behalf of the North-west wanted the president to go for 2015 because of the attraction of unprecedented volume of direct foreign investment from China even after the president had said growth arising from such foreign investment had not positively impacted on the lives of Nigerians. In summary, all the hurrah men and women including Hajia Zeinab Maina, who spoke for the North-east and Senator Stella Omu who spoke for the South-south, the president must proceed in earnest to seek and another term.

But there is an assurance we are all not suffering from delusion. The consensus of Mohammed Kudu Abubakar’s NTA panel of experts consisting of Basil Odilim , Lanre Adebayo and Abu Hamisu was that the midterm report was not only a sham but that the current route being traversed by government economic team cannot lead to economic salvation.

‘Ambassador Aminu Wali, who spoke on behalf of the North-west wanted the president to go for 2015 because of the attraction of unprecedented volume of direct foreign investment from China even after the president had said growth arising from such foreign investment had not positively impacted on the lives of Nigerians’

man who became the highest chief of new bubbling town of Ibadan after it settled down in the early 1830s, Oluyole, saw that his large and constantly increasing town needed a lot of food. So he called on his Ibadan people to rise up and go massively into the enterprise of farming in which Yoruba people had always been masters. He himself became a big and accomplished farmer.

We have written records for all this. He developed the practice of establishing a separate farm for each crop – a farm for yams, another for corn, another for okro, another for garden eggs, etc.

Ibadan people rose up massively and followed suit. Every single prominent citizen of Ibadan was owner of a huge farm. Most of the common people followed according to their abilities.

Even women followed. One Ibadan woman named Efunseyitan Aniwura, a very rich trader, invested heavily in farming. At the peak of her success, more than 2000 workers were employed on her farms. When she went visiting her farms, she and her attendants rode on horses. Agricultural prosperity became one of the strengths that made it possible for Ibadan to become a successful empire builder among us – to become the creator and leader of a movement aimed at unifying our whole homeland into one country under one government. Every one of the warrior chiefs who arose in all other parts of Yorubaland in the century owned, first and foremost, an extensive farm. Many of them became very rich indeed.

In the 20th century under British rule, a new crop called cocoa was introduced to us – one of the most valuable crops in the world market. We went into the thicker forests of our land and established cocoa plantations. Soon, we became the greatest cocoa exporters in the world, and our cocoa exports became the largest earner of foreign exchange for Nigeria.

What all these things mean is that the soil of Yorubaland is gold waiting to be won. Our forebears until the 1960s knew this secret, and went out to win the gold – and generally became rich or at least comfortable.

But since the 1970s, we their descendants have shunned that gold. We now prefer to give our lives to scrambling and begging for, or stealing, shares in the oil wealth of the Niger Delta.

We think that because we have been to school, doing this is the real life, and that farming is only for the illiterate, the old or the poor.

One of my high-school teachers, whenever one of us in his class did shoddy work or neglected homework, used to say,” Oh, you hate yourself”. Yes, a lot of us really hate ourselves these days. And that is why we Yoruba people are now living in a degree of poverty and hopelessness unknown before in our history.

But we can turn our lives around. By the grace of God, we are still intrinsically what we have always been – a resourceful, enterprising and great nation.

Look out for Gbogun Gboro’s thoughts on this next week.

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Graduate unemployment is no longer a Nigerian but a continental problem. Vice-Chancellors, who gathered in Libreville, Gabon, for the 13th General Conference of the Association of African Universities (AAU), discussed the way out, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.

•Participants at the conference.

How W graduates can get jobs,

by VCs

HO is to blame for graduate unemployment. This poser took vice-chancellors (VCs), deputy vice-chancellors (DVCs), other representatives of universities, governments, funding and research agencies four days to answer at the 13th General Conference of the Association of African Universities (AAU) held in Libreville, Gabon, last week.

Under the theme: Transforming African higher education for graduate employability and socioeconomic development, the participants wondered whether the universities were at fault; whether their curricula were inappropriate. They also examined the government’s role in providing jobs and evolving policies that promote economic activities, which in turn, create jobs. They discussed the role of public/private partnership; and considered how graduates could be taught to become self employed.

Prof Bruno Bekolo Ebe, Recteur, Université de Douala, Cameroon, said during one of the group discussions that he could not understand why doctors and engineers would be roaming without jobs when hospitals in his country lacked sufficient doctors. Was this a problem of

-Page 27

’

the curriculum?

"I want to give examples and see if it is a problem of curricula. In my country, there is a shortage of doctors because we don't train enough.

Yet you find doctors without jobs. We also do not train enough engineers, pharmacists, nurses, but you find them roaming the streets," he said.

In interviews with The Nation, many did not agree that the curricula in most African universities were inferior and responsible for produc-

ing graduates without relevant skills to survive in the labour market. Rather, they highlighted factors they said were responsible for graduates spending three to five years in the university but fail to get jobs after graduation.

These factors include dwindling spaces in the labour market due to poor economy, poor infrastructure, and preference for paid employment rather than creating jobs; politics and others.

•Continued on page 26

CAMPUS LIFE

INSIDE

World Bank to invest $56m in African varsities

‘

I want to give examples and see if it is a problem of curricula. In my country, there is a shortage of doctors because we don't train enough. Yet, you find doctors without jobs. We also do not train enough engineers, pharmacists, nurses, but you find them roaming the streets

Poly workers accuse Fed Govt of insensitivity -Page 37

•An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Row over UNIBEN student's death -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

26

EDUCATION UI to begin PG in herbal medicine

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Prof Olusola Oyewole, was elected President of the Association of African Universities (AAU) for four years during its 13th General Conference in Libreville, Gabon, last Friday. In this interview, he tells KOFOWOROLA BELOOSAGIE how the association will help solve graduate unemployment

W

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fice, we would have got our universities to be committed to the quality of products that come out from them. I expect that graduates of African universities would be committed to Africa, issues about brain drain would have been reduced to the minimies.

What is your take on the role of international agencies and how Africans should relate to them?

I know that up till now, development agencies have been contributing to our development in the universities. It is time for our own government, our own people, to also see that they need to support development in the universities. I believe that there is a synergy; all of us should work together, indeed, a graduate of today should not see himself as a graduate of his or her own country. We are producing graduates for the world.

HE University of Ibadan (UI) will start a postgraduate programme in herbal medicine in the next academic session, its Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, has said.

He said the programme became necessary in view of the fact that the university was designated for discovery of drugs through herbal medicine.

He spoke at a community town hall meeting at the Trenchard Hall of the institution where he gave a mid-term report in the last two years of his tenure.

He said the institution would discover drugs based on analysis as part of its contribution to herbal medicine development in the country.

“The University of Ibadan has been designed to discover herbal medicine and that is why we are looking into herbs; we will select the best and discover new ones,” he said.

Adewole noted that the vision of the university was to be a world class institution for academic excellence geared toward meeting societal needs. He said the institution had witnessed tremendous changes in the last two years through team work, exemplary leadership, honesty, integrity and transparency.

The university, he added, also achieved the Federal Government's directive of 60:40 last year on postgraduate and undergraduate admissions, he said.

• Prof Zvobgo

• Prof Sanya

• Prof Jaiyeoba

for the job market. He said universities failed to be innovative with their curricula; university-industry linkages, and help students gain entrepreneurial skills to start businesses.

He said yearly, his university succeeds in getting 80 per cent of its students jobs even before graduation through its one-year job placement scheme. He advised the universities to prepare students to create jobs rather than seek employment.

"It is not enough for VCs to prepare students to graduate; they must also prepare students for the world of work. The public/private sectors don't have sufficient jobs for all our students who graduate every year.

What we have to do is to ensure that we have prepared our students with enough skills for them to be able to create employment for themselves and for others. And I gave the example of Zimbabwe where at my university, in the third year every student goes on what we call work-related learning.

"This is a year during which a student is engaged in a place of employment related to his or her programme.

The purpose of this is that the student would begin to learn how to apply the knowledge he/she acquired in the classroom on the work bench in the relevant area of study. This is useful because it is true that the employer begins to identify your strength and weaknesses. And if the student shows sufficient capacity to translate what he/she learnt in the

classroom on the work bench, it has happened that a number of students in that category gets offers of employment before they come back to the university for their final year. It is also useful because some of the students, particularly the good, hardworking ones, are able to demonstrate that university education is not all about getting a degree. It about how you are going to apply is that degree to go to the world outside for you to be able to survive."

Prof Charles Nherera, VC, Women University in Africa, Zimbabwe, said attempts by VCs to blame government would be shooting themselves in the foot as they produce those who run the government.

"I want us to take the blame. I want us to think that employability must expand to creating the employment ourselves. When we blame the government, politicians, infrastructure, we blame ourselves because we are the ones producing the people that create the problems," he said.

He added that his university has also been able to achieve a high employment rate of its products because of partnership with the alumni who help with placements. He advised others to adopt this model.

"We have partnered with our alumni association in this regard. We inform them of students that need placement and they help fix them in places. As a result almost all our students get jobs shortly after graduation," he said.

Though the university has a role to play in graduate employability, VC of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof Ernest Aryeetey submitted that university administrators are not to blame for all the problems in the system. He said there was a limit to what they could do from their offices in the universities.

"It will be a shame if VCs think we can solve all the problems of our countries. There are things we can do and cannot do. If there are no markets, the people we train cannot get jobs. There are some responsibilities we can tackle. Our focus is on the curriculum. Every university has responsibilities to ensure the curriculum is relevant to the needs of the society," he said.

How can universities get robust curricula for their programmes, it is by involving the stakeholders on the review of the curricula regularly, says Prof Ibrahim Kolo, VC, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.

"We should state the difference between unemployment and unemployability. There is no way you cnat tie the question of unemployability to the curriculum. Every other person in the larger society should be concerned about this problem. We should get stakeholders of university education - parents, corporate organisations, industry, to participate to put the infrastructure and curriculum we require to link our students with the industry in place," he said.

‘We will help varsities produce world-class graduates’

HY do you want to serve African universities?

Within the past 10 years, apart from teaching in the university, I have been involved with high education issues in Africa. It will interest you to know that I have worked as a staff members of the Association of African Universities in Accra for about four years between 2006 and 2009.

While there I coordinated the World Bank project on quality assurance for African universities and I have also moved from here to the African Union Commission in Ethiopia/Addis Ababa where I was the senior expert on higher education; so am familiar with universities. I have served in the University of Agriculture Abeokuta for 28 years and now have been the vice chancellor for the past one year and one week.

So, what are you hoping to do in these four years?

One I am aware of the trend of things in higher education. In the past we have been producing graduates to service the one: the colonial masters, the civil servants who service but now the civil ser-

vice is saturated. Our demand today is to produce graduates who will drive the development of Africa. We are in a knowledge economy were it is what you know that matters. It is not your oil, it is not your petroleum; it is what you can do with the knowledge that you know and our intention now is to ensure that graduates of today should have skills that can make them employable, skills that can make them to create jobs and skills that are relevant to our African development.

How are you going to achieve this?

We are going to deal with universities; we are going to deal with higher education institutions. We are going to educate or interact with the leaders that will drive activities in this university to know that there's a need to have a paradigm shift in our curriculum. We can no longer continue with this theoretical curriculum that does not build up the human beings that can help our development. If we can modify or improve the curriculum to meet our needs as Africans then the graduates that will

•Continued from page 25

and so on so there is a limit to what they are producing. You see that they do not need these graduates fully.

Most of these industries too import their products from abroad. Which means the employment of those who produce these goods are also outside Nigeria," he said.

Sokoto State University VC, Prof Nuhu Yaqub, blames the government for the poor economy that has reduced the number of available jobs.

The government had not helped businesses to thrive, he said because of poor infrastructure which increase the operating cost of businesses and makes them unprofitable. He added that non-diversification of the economy was also responsible for the problem.

He said: "There is also the incapacity of the state to provide infrastructure. There is what is now generally referred to as infrastructural deficiencies - no light, no roads, no water.

Invariably this also has repercussions on productivity and employment. In fact, it has also led to a situation whereby you have a situation of underemployment. Let me give you an example of myself. I wake up at midnight and I want to work on a paper to present for a conference and I discover there is no light. There is nothing I can do. I am employed; prepared to work; the facilities that will make me do my work to an optimal level are not there. So there is also the phenomenon of underemployment in most African states.

"So, I think, therefore, that when we are talking about how universities could be geared to produce graduates that would be employed, we have to take these factors into consideration. The nature of the African states, the nature of the economy the African states are also operating, and, of course, the other dimensions - the nature of governance itself - you discover that there is so much corruption in Africa."

While many VC complained that government wasn't doing enough, Great Zimbabwe University, VC Prof Rungano J. Zvobgo, blamed the universities for not preparing graduates

How graduates can get jobs, by VCs

Prof Arinola Sanya, DVC (Administration), University of Ibadan (UI), does not think the curriculum is a major problem. She said many African graduates who get an opportunity to travel abroad get competitive jobs and do well. She attributed the problem to politicisation of employment by the government, such that only those with influence get available jobs.

She said: "Talking from my own experience at the UI, I will not say that our graduates are not good. When you conduct interviews, you find it difficult choosing the best out of the whole lot, because they are all very good. The problem is not with our curriculum. Of course, we need to review the curriculum regularly to accommodate changing trends. But I think the issue in Nigeria is that everything is politicised, including employment. So, it is not that our graduates are unemployable; but I think if you are not well connected, you will not get employed.

"I am of the feeling that the unemployment in Nigeria, the figure we are quoting, is not very accurate. It is true that a lot of ministries/ parastatals have frozen appointments. That is publicly; but privately, jobs are given out to those who have the connection. And if you look properly, those ones have a previous job.

They are just changing from one job to a better one. And that will not affect the percentage of the unemployed. Government should hands off politicising everything."

VC of Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State Prof Timothy Jaiyeoba said the problem was now prominent because of the poor economy of most African states. He said industries were not doing as well as they used to do, thereby reducing job opportunities.

"In some places it is not as if the graduates are not good. It is just that the industries are not employing as many as they would have done in the past because of the economic situation. Many of them don't produce at maximum level, some because of power situation. They use generator

come out from there will help. We have also emphasized a value chain process whereby the input and the process is very important in the outcome. In terms of the input we know that the quality of primary school graduates who are admitted into secondary school reflects on the quality of our secondary school products and that translates to the university. Our intention is to promote total teacher development right away from the primary school to the university level, so that the quality of those who we now produce from the university will be great. We will promote dialogue among institutions. We will promote mobility of staff and students. We will promote opportunities to develop the leaders of our institution themselves and we also promote some capacity building programmes for institutions.

So, there will be a lot of training for all these professors?

Yes they will be training for them.

So, by the time you are leaving office, where do you hope to see AAU? Well, by the time am leaving of-

•Prof Oyewole

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

EDUCATION

World Bank to invest $56m in African varsities

I

N a reversal of policy, the World Bank has announced plans to support African countries to improve institutions of higher learning.

The initiative tagged: African Centre of Excellence Project would provide funding of up to $8 million each to universities in seven West/Central African countries, including Nigeria.

Speaking on the project in her keynote presentation at the 13th General Conference of the Association of African Universities (AAU) in Libreville, Gabon, Ms Ritva Reinikka, World Bank's Sector Director, Human Development, African Region said the funds would help the institutions to upgrade their facilities and improve their capacity to deliver quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as health and agricultural sciences education.

The other six African countries to benefit from the project are Burkina Faso, Togo, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and Benin Republic.

Explaining further, Ms Reinikka said institutions to be selected in each country would have to put up competitive proposals to prove they have what it takes to run the cen-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

tres of excellence.

She said criteria for selection would include the relevance of programmes, richness of curricular, ability to attract students and faculty from the West African region.

She said: “Right now, our focus is on centres of excellence. We are going to issue a call, a competitive call for grants of about $8million for a centre of excellence in seven countries in West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, to really submit proposals to become a centre of excellence. And one of the factors that is needed is (for the institutions) to be regional, so it just can't be Nigerians alone but it has to receive students regionally in Africa.

“It builds on existing centres that really want to elevate their standard, elevate the quality and receive students from surrounding countries. I don't have all the details that will be included in the call for proposals. But they really have to have high quality standards, they have to receive students regionally, they have to make a good case that they have strong courses, strong curricular etc.”

While commending the bank for

•Reinikka

•Prof Oloyede

•Prof Jegede

recognising the importance of higher education to the continent's development, unlike in the past when it advised governments of African states to focus on basic education, participants urged the bank to align its initiatives with projects already on ground in the African countries.

Prof Is-haq Oloyede, former President of the AAU, said many African governments have been making efforts to monitor standards and establish centres of excellence so rather than start new ones, the bank should support existing project.

“This is a positive shift in policy.

But Africa is not a virgin land. If you are bringing $8 million, then it should be to incorporate what African universities and governments are already doing,” said Oloyede who is also the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

Similarly, former Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Oluwagbemiro Jegede, urged the bank to consider investing the funds in universities that really need help.

He cautioned that the emergence of some centres of excellence should

not constitute a class problem for graduates who cannot attend them.

“When we are talking about centres of excellence in Africa, we must be guided and guarded about elitism so that products of other universities do not suffer in the labour market. The World Bank should consider a shift. Rather than going to the higher level universities, go to the lower levels so they can also improve,” he said.

Ms Reinikka promised to consider the suggestions made. She added that the project is to catalyse development and will be implemented

by African governments.

Babcock varsity valedictorian eyes Minister of Health portfolio

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•From left: Dr Oduyoye, Miss Omobola, Prof Kayode Makinde, Vice-Chancellor, Babcock University and Dora Akinboye, Dean of Public and Allied Health, at the event.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Opon Imo, a quantum leap for education, ET the bookmakers take to the world by virtue of "opon says Tinubu and note, let the so-called exImo."

D

perts learn from the ordinary people and let the historians write that history is being made in Osun this very day. The power of elearning and its resultant benefits now wait at the fingertips of our children. This was not the result of a gift from a stranger or from accident.

This fine development is the harvest of innovation, hard work and the commitment to public education and enlightenment of our children by the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his excellent team. On behalf of the children and their parents, I thank the

governor for opening this important portal of knowledge to our youngest ones.

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, in Education and the provision of Opon-Imo (Computer Tablets) for students in the public Senior Secondary Schools in the state is groundbreaking and signposts the dynamic future of tertiary education in the state and beyond.As a result of this important initiative, school children hitherto separated from the global stream of information and knowledge, are now connected with

‘By investing in this modern tool of knowledge and adapting it to local needs so that our children may more easily benefit, Governor Aregbesola and his administration have improved our educational resources by a bold quantum leap’

By investing in this modern tool of knowledge and adapting it to local needs so that our children may more easily benefit, Governor Aregbesola and his administration have improved our educational resources by a bold quantum leap.

Things that once were outside the grasp of our system to teach or learn are now in the hands of both teachers and students. Knowledge we would have struggled for months or years to acquire is now available in minutes and seconds. What the governor has done is revolutionary and beneficial. It is a symbol of the positive benefits of progressive governance commitment to the welfare of the people and to the future of our children.

The governor did not do this to attract accolades. He did this because it was the right thing to do. He did this not for himself but for posterity. In so doing, he and his team have acted boldly to secure both the present and future educational wellbeing of the children of Osun.

•Continued on page 28

REAMS to some people are merely an illusion; but for others, it is a guiding light to their ambition.

And so when Omobola Oduyoye set foot into Babcock University, Illishan-Remo in Ogun State four year ago to study Public Health, her mind was already fixed on becoming the nation's Minister of Health some time in future.

She knew such exalted offices are not meant for dullards so she girded her loins to stand out in the crowd in her studies.

And so it was at the university's 11th convocation last Sunday, Omobola, 20, was simply an irresistible spectacle, slamming her 1,359, other graduating colleagues to clinch the Best Graduating Student with an outstanding CGPA of 4.92.

Applause from parents, guests, graduands, friends and staff of Babcock reverberated from one end of the Babcock University Stadium where the event held, to the other.

When Omobola 's ultimate dream as a health minister is eventually attained, she would want to leave a legacy as the 'amazon' who through her instrumentality, put the final nail on the coffin of child and maternal health.

She told The Nation: "I only lived the first six years of my life in Ghana and since then I've been in this town (Illishan Remo). I see a lot of challenges poor women and children go through daily. I want to make health delivery accessible, affordable and extremely cheap for our children and women. I will fight corruption in the health sector and ensure that our children and their mother don't die again from preventable diseases."

At the colourful ceremony, 1,359 and 20 students were awarded first degrees, postgraduate diplomas.

Seventy-one were conferred with Master's degrees across disciplines, while another 41 bagged PhDs in various disciplines.

Aside parents, lecturers and friends was had influenced her sojourn positively, Omobola had a ready confidant in a course mate Akomolafe Damilola who, also graduated in Public Health with a CGPA of 4.60.

Though Damilola is older, married, and had already cut a career for a herself in Nursing before enroll-

By Sampson Unamka

ing at Babcock, her exceptional brilliance put Omobola on her toes as the duo usually came neck-to-neck in their academic performances.

"There was a healthy competition from my course mates such as Akomolafe Damilola, which also enhanced my performance, Omobola said, adding, "I have a lot of respect for her because she is a matured married woman and a nurse. In spite of her age, she related well with us and was very focused.

Each time I looked at her, I felt like I should ask the government to stop admitting fresh secondary school leavers straight into the university.

They should be asked to do the A/ Level or ordinary diploma programme before they enrol at the university," she said.

On how she managed advances from men, Omobola admitted to having many friends and admirers but they did not distract her.

"I always draw a line between friendship for academic advancement and immoral relationship, Omobola explained. "I'm not a snub though, but I don't encourage any relationship that will distract me from my studies or suggest to you that I'm a cheap commodity. I also don't go alone anywhere or follow anybody to dark corners even if she is a girl like me."

It may not be wrong to describe Omobola as a chip of the old block.

Though her mother is full-time housewife, her father Dr Oluseyi Oduyoye lectures at the Business Administration Department of the Babcock.

Another striking quality in her is her seeming unconventional disposition when she frowned on some of the university's rules particularly as the affects the female folk.

"Let me say I'm in support of our dress code, but I don't see any reason a female student should not keep long hairs. Do you know it is so bad that security men on campus can stop a student and cut off her hair? This is not fair at all," she lamented.

Omobola, who is from IlisanRemo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, urged the school authorities was to engage students of the university in forced physical activities.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

EDUCATION ACE FILE

Provost speaks on dress code, others THE Provost, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, has urged teacher trainees to dress responsibly at all times.

Addressing 3,936 new students at the 2012/2013 matriculation of the College, the provost warned against indecent dressing, security, indiscriminate pasting of posters, and urged the students to sustain college facilities and aesthetics, register for their courses early.

Idowu called on all the students to cooperate with the College authority on issues of security noting that it is the collective responsibility for all to be alert and sensitive to their environment.

He urged workers and students to wear identity cards with lanyards for ease of identification, warning that any violation of the security measure may lead to disciplinary action.

Coop holds election THE ACE Staff No1. Cooperative Multipurpose Limited, Ondo has started the processes to fill the vacant positions into its executives committee.

In a timetable released by its Electoral Board, the position of the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant General Secretary has been declared vacant.

Other positions declared vacant included the Board Member (Academics), Board Member (Non Teaching) and Board Member (Demonstration Secondary School).

New Council meets THE 10th Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, has resumed duties of governing the institution with meetings with various stakeholders, including His Royal Majesty Attah Igala Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II, other traditional and community leaders, and the members of staff of the Polytechnic.

Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr Mohammed Kabir Usman, a lawyer, pledged on behalf of his members, to leave the polytechnic better than they met it.

He said that their appointment on the Council was a national call to serve and contribute their quota to the development of the institution.

He said the Council has noted areas begging for development in the institution, which it would address to transform it into one of the best in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He also called for a good working relationship between the Council and all the stakeholders, especially the workers, to enhance development.

MEMBER representing the in Lagos Mainland Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Bashir Oloto, has distributed 80 forms to the less privileged candidates in his constituency to participate in thi year’s November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), within the constituency.

Each form costs N9,000.

The gesture, according to Oloto, was to fulfil part of the promises made to the constituents during the 2011 elections.

The lawmaker, while speaking at the presentation in Ebute Metta last Friday, said: "I made a lot of pledges during the electioneering campaign in 2011, and I have been able to fulfil some of them and this is another one I am fulfilling today. I promised to take this constituency to a level that will be of envy to others.

"I believe that the distribution of these forms will encourage and assist

A

Lawmaker distributes free WASSCE forms to 80 students

By Oziegbe Okoeki

some of the students who have lost hope of writing the examination this year. Our children's education is very essential because the children are our own tomorrow and they will be the ones to stand by us when we can no longer struggle again.

"When we educate our children, they can go to anywhere and they can stand before anybody no matter how highly placed the person."

He promised to monitor the beneficiaries' performances after the examination, also assured the candidates that those of them with the best results would also get the best from him.

A former Chief Whip in the Third

Republic House of Representatives, Wale Oshun, praised Oloto for the gesture and urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity.

"Some parents cannot afford to buy these forms for their children, but the lawmaker has with this gesture relief such parents of their burden.

"So these forms are challenge to you the beneficiaries, you have to go and write the examination and ensure that you come out in flying colours with good grades. You never can tell what will come after the examination. The lawmaker has said that the best students should expect the best from him and that best could come in form of scholarship," Oshun

said.

Oshun plegded to give N100,000 to any beneficiary that can make three distinctions and above in the examination.

One of the beneficiaries, Akintunde Aka, appreciated the lawmaker for the gesture, promising to read hard in order to get the pledges made by Oloto and Oshun.

"I am seriously motivated with this gesture by our representative in the House of Assembly. It is a good thing that he has chosen to remember we that are students. I will also surprise everyone by making sure that I come out with good grades so that I can get those pledges that were made here today," Aka said.

Pupils win scholarship

M

ISS Haisat Abubakar and Master Promise Ihegadinma, pupils of Ogudu Nursery and Primary School, Ogudu, will not forget this year's Children's Day in a hurry.

It was on that day they got scholarship worth more than N500,000 per pupil per session to attend Berkley Science Magnet School, Ogudu.

Pupils of Berkley School, which is in the same neighbourhood as Ogudu Nursery and Primary School, mobilised gifts of backpacks, toys, socks, pencils, notebooks, rulers, textbooks, story books, and other essential supplies for Ogudu school pupils from their own parents.

The gifts worth over N100, 000 were presented during a Children's Day event organised by the donors.

Officials of the Lagos State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs O Oyesoro, and the supervising Kosofe Local Council Development Area Mrs Folake Ajayi, applauded the gesture as the pupils interacted and presented gifts.

Dr. Maria Onyia, the Chief Operating Officer of Berkley Science Magnet School, said the specialised school decided to adopt the public school as part of its yearly Community Service programme "to contribute positively to student learning and teacher development.”

• From Left: Assistant Head teacher, Ogudu Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Oguntoye; Dr Onyia and Kosofe LG executives with the scholaship winners, Promise and Haisat, during the event.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

She added that it is also aimed at teaching her pupils from well-endowed homes the virtues of sharing and giving.

"I believe that this visit will benefit both groups. Ogudu Nursery and Primary School pupils will appreciate the fellowship, friendship and supplies brought to school by our children. Even more, our children will develop renewed appreciation

for what they have and the parents that work hard to provide them with opportunities that other children do not enjoy,” she said.

In previous years, Berkley Science School had taken its pupils on tree planting, street cleaning, visits and donations to an orphanage and visit and donation to Ogudu Police Post as part of their annual Community Service Programme.

Speaking about the motivation for

the programme, Dr Onyia said she was motivated to contribute to the society.

“In a state like Lagos where Governor Fashola is working very hard, I am encouraged to support the government and, like Pastor Sam Adeyemi preaches on the need for all of us to give back. We must look for how to serve. We must reach out and try to level the playing ground for all people," she said.

Opon Imo, a quantum leap for education, says Tinubu •Continued from page 27 With "Opon Imo" and other programs, we are witnessing the silent revolution that reached this state once Governor Aregebsola took the reigns of governance from those who had previously abused them to work only for their own selfish benefit. Today, Osun is alive as if a new

dawn has come to it. The state now has an air of progress, justice and equity. Improvement and development now mark this state. Ditto for other Action Congress of Nigeria States. From Lagos to Edo, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun states the imapact of good governance is being felt.

We surely live in a world of nu-

• Pupils in JSS 3 of Divinewill International Schools, Loburo-Mowe, Ogun State on excursion to Olumo Rock, Abeokuta.

merous possibilities in which new tools, ideas and technology are being fashioned to do things more effectively than before. Perhaps, the most astounding development in the past decade or so has been the opening of frontiers for acquiring knowledge. Since the advent of the computer technology, the creation of the cyber space and the migration of content from multiple disciplines of knowledge, the ability to educate and learn have benefited greatly but only for those governments and individuals with the wisdom to take advantage of these breakthroughs. The trend in ICT offer better opportunities for learning and leaders must appropriate them to move their societies forward Recognising the critical role the Internet plays in knowledge acquisition, the United Nations has invested resources to produce the famous low cost lap tops for school children in developing countries, particularly Africa.

Opon Imo is our answer to conquering the diseases of illiteracy and the lack of knowledge. It is a bold, courageous step toward engendering e-learning and to place Osun on the map of states leading the way in this nation and in africa with regard to modernizing public education.

What Osun is doing all other states should and must do. It is nothing short of unlocking the doors of

knowledge to our youth. And a knowledgeable nation eventually becomes a prosperous, stable and just one.

The significance of what we witness today cannot be drowned by the blustering of our political detractors. Their vision can be described in one word: Empty. We have seen it and there is nothing to it.

Rather, this milestone will be recorded as a classic example of how one visionary leader brought the world to his people and his people to the world. How he empowered them with knowledge, validating the maxim that knowledge with power.

The youth and children who benefit from this tool will someday represent us. They will become leader in business, banks and boardrooms, they will be scientists and engineers, and they will learn to fly our air crafts, run government, teach in our universities and build the nation.

The seed for that bright future is being sown. We all have a responsibility to water it and watch it grow into a bountiful harvest.

I thank you for listening.

A speech by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the launch of the Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) by the Osun State government at the Zenababs Half Moon Hotel and Resort, in Ilesa, Osun State on Tuesday, June 3, 2013.

29

Emergency: Stray bullets kill UNIMAID student

Fashion at its best

Page 31

Page 36

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The death of a final year student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ibrahim Momodu, has sparked a row. The police said he was a robber, but his family disagrees, saying the deceased was a victim of extrajudicial killing. GILBERT ALASA (400-Level Foreign Languages) and LEONARD KOLAWOLE (300Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering) report.

•One of the protesters displaying a placard at the Government House ... last Monday.

Row over UNIBEN student’s death T

HE downpour that day in Benin City, the Edo State capital, could not stop the enraged students. They could not even be deterred by the acrid smell of the canisters of tear gas fired by the police. The demonstrators moved round the ancient city, chanting solidarity songs in a synchronised voice: “We want justice for Ibrahim Momodu”.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) students took to the streets on Monday to protest the alleged killing of Ibrahim by Mrs Carol Afegbua, a Chief Suprintendent of Police (CSP) and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogida Police Station, Benin.

The deceased was a final year student of Science Laboratory Technology. The circumstances surrounding his death appear hazy.

Many are asking how he died.

Ibrahim was allegedly killed by the police led

by CSP Afegbua on Monday, May 27 on his

•Police: he was a robber •Family denies allegation way back from where he was undergoing his Industrial Attachment. His remains were allegedly hurriedly buried in a shallow grave at Third Cemetery, Benin by policemen, who approached Egor Local Government Area for permission to do so.

Maureen Eweka, his girlfriend, said the deceased spoke with her on the phone at 8pm that fateful day. “He told me that he was riding on a bike and that he would be with me shortly. A few minutes later, sounds of gunshot rent the air. I called him immediately to

know where he was but I could not get through to him again. His phone rang endlessly.”

When the victim’s family visited the Ogida Police Station last Sunday, the police, allegedly described the late Ibrahim as one of the robbers that specialised in using motorcycles to rob Ogida residents.

Another twist was added to the incident when the Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS), on its Crime Watch programme, portrayed the late Ibrahim as a taxi driver and robber, who was killed on a robbery scene.

A member of the family, who spoke to our correspondents, said the police were exploring all avenues to cover up their crime. He said the victim could not ride a motorcycle nor could he drive a car.

Maimuna, the younger sister of the deceased, told our correspondents: “I was in Abraka, Delta State on May 29 when my mother called that my brother had been missing for two days.

I know my brother never slept outside. So, I knew something was amiss. I called his number and a policeman picked up the phone. I requested to speak with my brother. But he said my brother was involved in a gun duel with the police around our house. Later, we learnt that he had been killed and buried by the policemen.”

Rebecca Idehen, the deceased’s aunt, told our correspondents that CSP Afegbua confirmed •Continued on page 30

•Pupils donate to OAU-P32 •Corps member floats FRSC club -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Pushing When the Out Luddites were with

confounded

I

Agbo Agbo

N 19th century United Kingdom (1810), a large group of workers protested against new factory methods of production which later became what we know as the Industrial Revolution. The protesting workers wanted the status quo - traditional methods of work – maintained, but they lost out to sound reasoning when the new system was deemed more beneficial to society. It revolutionised the process of production. The lesson in this is that nothing is static and that change will come no matter how long it takes.

Inasmuch as I shy away from discussing politics in this column, I am somewhat compelled to do so today because of an encounter with some undergraduates last week. The students were not discussing the challenges facing universities and how tough it is to live on campuses and other sundry issues, but they were discussing, with passion, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election and its fallout! As I listened to them, my little hope that this country may change some day was buoyed. Yes, we may have run down universities producing questionable graduates, but mark this: we still have first class students passing through these institutions. I met some of them last week and they challenged me.

Their argument was on two fronts; leadership and technology. One of the students, while referring to the short video clip of the election which is also on Youtube – asked rhetorically why the other governors allowed Rauf Aregbesola to film the election only to kick when it went viral. Another student provided the answer: “Some of them are still living in the past; they don’t know that you cannot muzzle our generation. They should ask Mr. Shem of ‘my oga at the top’ fame and see how a blunder can go viral in minutes.

From the video clip we know an election took place and we knew who won despite every effort to cover it up”.

All through history you find people who resist change, but change itself is inevitable. The

08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com workers I mentioned earlier resisted change, but that didn’t stop change. My students wondered why governors that they look up to as “intelligent leaders” could be so naïve to allow another colleague to record a proceeding that they would now shamelessly want Nigerians to believe never happened. The only answer I could proffer is that they were able to do this because they are luddites – people who oppose technological or industrial progress.

They still live in an era of “consensus” or “signing of documents” that places Mr. X as the unopposed governor with “automatic ticket” to contest election.

From technology, the discussion sliffed to the leadership challenge and they sought my opinion on this issue. My take, as I told them, is that this is diversionary and unnecessary. We are bickering over a NGF that adds virtually nothing to the progress of the polity when our air waves have been taken over by foreign countries showcasing their secondary and tertiary institutions because they know there is an insatiable demand for educational products by Nigerians. When will we be bringing our varsities back on track to compete favourably with their peers in Africa? Some of these varsities produced the likes of Wole Soyinka, JP Clark, Chinua Achebe and the scores of professors and lecturers that we have scattered around the world. The situation is so bad now that some parents have started sending their children to secondary schools in neighbouring Benin, Togo and Ghana.

While we allowed ourselves to be hoodwinked by a social group bent on setting an agenda that suits purposesly and cover its shortcomings, the leadership in the former desert wasteland of Dubai was busy unveiling plans to build three world-class hospitals and 40 new clinics to promote “medical tourism”.

If you guessed who they are targeting, you’d be right on target if you shout Nigeria! Foreign hospitals mainly in India, the Middle East and Europe now advertise in our newspapers just like Indomie, Dano, Glo, MTN and Airtel. Add this to “educational tourism” that has been going on almost unnoticed and you’ll want to weep for this country. Yet a group of “leaders” would want us to dissipate our energies discussing an election that will not improve facilities in our universities!

After watching a documentary on the transformation of the desert of Dubai to the economic powerhouse it is today, I doffed my hat for its leadership. His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the country’s plan is to build hospitals comparable to any medical facility anywhere in the world. Smart guys, they are not stopping there; since they see the future before it emerges, they are well informed enough to envision the building of five-star hotels next door to the hospital facilities for the relatives of patients. Knowing full well our penchant for living large and extravagance even in precarious situations like ill health and death, they are envisioning facilities for five star deaths.

They are racing against time to ensure that it is finished on or before 2015 because it will be jampacked with “customers” from a country you and I know too well. The objective is to add another dimension to the successful Dubai story – trade, travel, real estate and now medical tourism. If this is not vision, what is it and if it is not leadership, then what is it?

Leadership plays a crucial role in the development of any society. A look at the leadership structure of a society says a lot about that society, which is why John Maxwell, who has written and researched on the subject said everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership can either move a people forward or backward, it can cause incalculable damage that in some cases may require decades to amend.

As a student of history and political economy, I’ve taken the pains to study the critical path of nations, and in my studies and research, I’ve discovered that leadership plays a fundamental role.

Without going too far, let’s take three Southern African nations as a case study here. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia all share a common thread of history; they were at a point ruled by whites with vocal and militant black opposition movements in tow. In South Africa we

have the ANC, in Namibia there is the SWAPO and in Zimbabwe there is ZANU-PF. While South Africa and Namibia were able to rise above the bitterness and oppression of colonial rule and domination to make headway into the 21st century, Zimbabwe remains a basket case of monumental failure, having, at a time the highest inflation rate in the world!

South Africa and Namibia had leaders in Nelson Mandela and Sam Nujoma, who were willing to forgive and move on while Robert Mugabe’s stock in trade is to stoke the fire of bitterness in his people and whip them to a state of “patriotic” frenzy in his determination to cling to power perpetually.

Before leaving my students, hosts we were able to arrive at some conclusion one of which is that technology has changed things. As we told ourselves, the mobile phones in our hands are a very powerful and potent tool, not just for talking, but in determining the course of future events, especially regarding leadership.

They are of the opinion that the time for grumbling is far gone, “now is the time for action”, said one of them and “that action starts with not being naïve but to turn ourselves to political animals” and participate fully in the political process by registering to vote and actually voting. But noble as this sounds, there is a snag: most students register in their respective schools when they are in session, but may be systematically disenfranchised because schools are normally closed and they would have to go home during elections because preparations for elections in Nigeria are similar to preparations for war!

The Luddites had better know that the days of barefaced rigging that remains the hallmark of past elections may be numbered. Recent elections in Edo and Ondo states showed that citizens can communicate from polling station to polling station and can arrive at the estimated figure of an election even before INEC announces the full figure. A BBC reporter asked an INEC official from Rivers State during the 2007 elections how they were able to arrive at a 100 per scent voting figure, “you mean nobody travelled, died, was sick or incapacitated before the election?” he asked The befuddled INEC official simply explained that “the people voted”. Scenes like this are possible because of the loophole of voters, failure to turn up and the systemic disenfranchisement of students.Is this process often deliberate? Nigeria may not change in a flash, but there is little doubt in my mind that most Nigerians want to see the country move forward, whether we do or not, only time will tell.

Row over UNIBEN student’s death

•Continued from page 29

to her that the late Ibrahim was arrested on a bike around 8pm with a gun at the Textile Mill Junction and killed during a struggle with the policemen that were trying to effect his arrest.

Idehen said: “Mrs Carol told me that she shot the boy in the leg so as not to pose security threat to her men. We later discovered that Ibrahim bled to death before getting to the station, which is why they went to bury him immediately.”

CSP Afegbua defended her action when she wrote on her Facebook page: “Does this portray the image of a student…guns and riding of an unregistered motorcycle at 22:30hrs attempting to shoot a policeman, a new syllabus for university students? Let’s face reality and tell ourselves the truth, no sane human being takes pleasure in taking the life of an innocent citizen.”

Also, a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Eguavoen, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said: “On May 27, 2013 about 8:20pm, operatives at Ogida Division led by the DPO while on routine patrol within the area intercepted a cyclist and another with an unregistered motorcycle at Obayuwana Junction on Siluko Road, Benin City.

“The suspect immediately brought out a Russian made cut-to-size double barrel gun, but policemen, noticing his action, responded swiftly and shot the suspect later known to be Ibrahim Momodu who died on his way to the hospital.’’

He added that eight live cartridges,

one unregistered red Qlink motorcycle, two mobile phones and a bag containing the firearm were recovered from the suspects.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the remains of the student were buried on May 28 at Third Cemetery after a “permission document” was obtained from the Egor Local Government Area. But when our correspondent visited the Egor Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, none of the council officials was willing to comment.

But Kadiri Momodu, a cousin of the deceased, told our correspondents that the late Ibrahim could not drive his mother’s car not to talk of driving a cab. “So, we wonder how he became a taxi driver overnight.

We are asking the Edo State government, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Justice and well-meaning Nigerians to help us.

This is another extra-judicial killing by the police,” he said.

Idehen said: “Ibrahim was neither a taxi driver nor a motorcycle rider.

He was on industrial attachment at a pharmaceutical firm on Murtala Mohammed Way in Benin. My brother is not an armed robber. He had never stolen anything before. I know he didn’t die well. I can see him weeping wherever he is now.

Nigerians must help us to demand justice for this innocent boy.’’

Students disrupted activities in Benin during the protest that started at the Akenzua Cultural Centre. The demonstration was led by the president of the UNIBEN

Students’ Union Government (SUG), Osifo Osasere.

Osifo said the protest became necessary given the role the police played in the “extra-judicial” killing of the student. He told the students: “As fellow students, we are aggrieved by the barbaric act of the DPO. We cannot fold our arms and allow some narrow-minded persons to destroy the future of our generation. We will continue to rise against all oppressors of students.”

The protesters moved to the Edo State Government House to register their grievances. Addressing the students, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Stephen Idehenre, urged them to be peaceful and conduct themselves responsibly. He said: “The government is not happy with this situation and we will ensure a proper and thorough investigation.

We are not happy about it. I want to assure you that the governor is aware of this incident and he has since swung into action.”

The Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo, said he would not address the aggrieved students because of their rowdiness. He requested that the students appoint delegates to meet with him. Swiftly, the protesters rejected his offer and continued to chant anti-police songs, such as: “CSP Carol is a ritualist’’; “Killer police must be brought to book”, among others.

In a telephone interview with our correspondents, the UNIBEN Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr H.O. Osarenren, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the university would await the police

•Gov. Oshiomhole (left) condoling with the victim’s mother, Mrs Osas Momodu

•The motorcycle and firearm allegedly recovered from the late Ibrahim

investigations before taking a stand.

Osama Adodo, 500-Level Science Laboratory Technology and the deceased’s class representative, described the late Ibrahim as easygoing. He said: “Ibrahim was a hardworking student. He related

with everyone and he was widely admired for his neatness.”

The Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahangbo, urged the bereaved family to remain calm, saying the government would investigate the matter.

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31

CAMPUS LIFE Since the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the states have not been the same. To students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State, the situation has heightened the fear on the campus, following the killing of an undergraduate by stray bullets. TAIWO ISOLA (200-Level Human Anatomy, UNIMAID) reports.

Emergency: Stray bullets kill UNIMAID student A STUDENT of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) may have fallen victim of the

state of emergency in Borno State.

Jilpida Samuel Thliza, 100-Level Agricultural Engineering, was reportedly killed by stray bullets a day after a state of emergency was declared in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states on May 14.

Following the emergency declaration, many residents began to flee their homes, ostensibly to avoid being caught up in the cross fire between soldiers and the Boko Haram insurgents who unleashed terror on the Northeast.

Lectures in higher institutions in the affected states have been adversely affected by the emergency.

UNIMAID students, for instance, have been living in fear. Academic activities in the institution are at a low ebb, even as students are getting ready for their second semester examination.

Many students, who are not accommodated on the campus, have moved their properties to the school to escape the crisis in town. Movements in and out of campuses are curtailed by the curfew in the three states.

Samuel’s death has heightened the students’ fears, with many saying the institution may, after all, not be insulated from the crisis affecting many villages in Borno State.

The late Samuel was said to be returning from school to spend the weekend with his parents when he was hit by stray bullets in Maiduguri. When his obituary was pasted virtually everywhere on campus, his classmates wept. Some of them recalled their last moments

with him.

Idris Suleiman, 200-Level Medical student, said: “The death of Samuel made me scared. I always go to town every weekend to spend time with my family. But, with the death of Samuel, I don’t think I will be able to go home till vacation.”

The emergency also affects mobile telephone networks. Service providers suspended operations 24 hours after the emergency. At the time of this report, the campus was incommunicado, with students and lecturers lamenting their challenges in reaching one another.

A student, Lawrence Ayolotu, said: “It was a surprise to us when the network went off. I had thought it was a normal network problem but, two weeks on, telephone service is yet to return to my phone.”

He added: “It has been hell living in a place like Maiduguri without being able to communicate with my parents and loved ones for more than two weeks. With the reports of bombings and killings in Maiduguri, I am sure my parents will be worried about my well-being, but there is nothing I can do to help this situation.”

For now, the academic community can only communicate with the outside world through the Internet.

The university cyber café, which can accommodate about 60 persons at a time, is the last resort of students; those who have Smartphones log on to the wireless services provided by the institution.

When CAMPUSLIFE visited last Friday, the cyber café was jampacked by students, who were anxious to contact their families at home. A student, who spoke in Hausa, said: “I am trying to send

•UNIMAID gate

a message to my parents that I am still alive and nothing negative is happening on the campus.”

Commercial activities on the campus have also been paralysed.

The crisis compounded the students’ woes following an increase in prices of goods.

Ruth Okechukwu, a student, who lamented the increment, said: “I am stranded here. I cannot communicate with my parents. The increase in prices of food stuff is not helping matter.”

Though, the university is working towards reducing the duration of the examination, students who will be staying behind for their

Teaching Practice (TP) and clinical posting at various locations within Maiduguri metropolis are apprehensive. They are appealing to the management to allow them undergo the training in other states.

Tobi Agboore, 400-Level Nursing, said: “The situation in Maiduguri is not what somebody will just put his life carelessly on the line for.

Many students have been victims of unprovoked attacks even while undergoing trainings. I appeal to the authorities to allow us go to places like Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba which are not affected by the emergency for our clinical post-

ing.”

Emmanuel Olajide, a graduating student of Ramat Polytechnic, a state-owned institution, said: “The proximity of the police headquarters to my campus is a major concern to us here. We have witnessed many unpalatable incidents. The sad tales are scary. We are only trusting God to help us through our stay here. The pursuit of a good future made us desperate for western education in Maiduguri but today the effects of this decision are beginning to dawn on us. The pain of seeing our colleagues being killed by militants and security forces is making us cry out for help.”

A midnight demonstration against power outage by students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has led to the indefinite closure of the institution. HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) and IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Zoology) report.

Varsity shut over students’ protest

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VERYWHERE was bustling with activities as students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) prepared for their first semester examination.

But, following a violent night demonstration by students last Monday, the campus has been shut indefinitely.

The university was closed to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The students protested what they described as “a total blackout” in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, which affected power supply to the campus.

It all started on Monday evening when the generator supplying male and female hostels power stopped working because of non-availability of diesel. There had been no power supply to the campus for days because of the blackout in the three states.

The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Magawata,visited Jubril

•Female students moving their luggage from their hostels after the campus was closed.

Aminu Hall at 7:30 pm to address the students. He explained that the blackout in Sokoto State had increased the demand for diesel, adding that the diesel in the generator had been exhausted.

He said the situation was under control, adding that palliative measures had been adopted by the management, which he said contracted tankers to supply water to the hostels. He also promised that the generator would be restored to supply

electricity to the halls.

As promised, electricity was restored a few minutes later. But after 45 minutes, there was another outage, a situation that angered the students, who said the management was insensitive to their plight. They marched on the Vice-Chancellor’s quarters, where they vandalised the VC’s generating set and left the quarters in darkness.

The protesters returned to the campus, beating up female students

and harassing their colleagues, who were not in support of the protest.

At 7am the next day, the management directed students on both campuses of the institution to vacate the premises before noon. The management said the protest was illegal and inimical to the peace of the university.

As the information spread, the hostels becamse rowdy. They students hurriedly packed their personal effects before the halls were

locked. They gathered in twos and threes, discussing how they would leave the campus.

Students trekked to the main gate of the university, which is more than five kilometres from the school premises, carrying their luggage on their heads.

At 10am, riot policemen and soldiers were drafted to the campus to enforce the vacation order. The security operatives patrolled the campus to ensure that no student was around at the expiration of the deadline.

Students expressed displeasure at the incident, blaming it on the Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials, who they said were not available during and after the protests to contain their colleagues’ excesses.

Usman Tafida, 300-Level Economics, said the lack of information on the situation made the students to go wild.

Another student, Adama Yabo, queried the essence of the union, saying the students’ leaders could not engage the management before the situation degenerated into chaos. “Why should students go on violent protest when we have the SUG in place to talk to the authorities on our behalf? If you look at it closely, it tells us that the students’ union leaders are not doing their work,” he said.

At the time of this report, the lecture rooms and hostels had been locked. There was also security patrol around the campus by the combined team of policemen and soldiers.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Kwara students swear in leaders

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•The pupils presenting the cheque to the OAU representatives.

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N a rare show of magnanimity, pupils of Sunshine Nursery and Primary School, Ile-Ife, have donated N500, 000 to the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, as their contribution to the 50th anniversary celebration of the university.

Leading the representatives of the pupils into the Oduduwa Hall of the university where the FirstBank cheque was handed over to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, the Proprietress of the school and former chairperson of the Great Ife Alumni Association, Ife branch, Mrs Bisi Anyadike, said the money was in fulfillment of the

Pupils donate to OAU From Dhikru Akinola OAU

promise made by one of the pupils that they would raise half a million for the institution.

Surprised by the gesture, the VC could not hide his feeling by praising and praying for the pupils. He appreciated their teachers for rallying round the university and contributing the amount.

Emphasising the need for adults to emulate the sincerity of the chil-

dren and not take their innocence for granted, Prof Omole said: “It is unbelievable that children could contribute this much from a private school and hand it over to a Federal Government-owned university for its development.

“If it were to be in a movie or children’s movie, one would have said that the mental faculty of the playwright is running haywire. But here in Ife, it is the first of its kind we have ever witnessed.”

HE National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife chapter, has inaugurated executives for the 2012/2013 academic session.

The event, which was held at one of the lecture theatres in the Faculty of Law, witnessed a large turnout of students of Kwara State origin, studying in the university. Members of the executive, who are led by Fatai Mohammed, were sworn in

by Oluwatobi Garba, chairman of the electoral committee after.

The event also coincided with the Freshers orientation programme of the association.

The outgoing president of the association, Mobolaji Abegunde, spoke on the success of his administration and appreciated members of the association for making his administration a success. He also advised the incoming leaders to be good stewards, urging the serve the interest of members fairly.

The highpoint of the event was a

From Olufunmilayo Salawu OAU

lecture titled: The harmonisation of Kwarans in OAU and Nigeria in generals and delivered by Kayode Alaya, a graduate of Material Science and Engineering and former president of the association.

Alaya harped on the need for unity among various ethnic groups that make up the country, adding that justice remained panacea to solving the Boko Haram crisis in the North.

Alaya also admonished the freshers to be humble and learn to share ideas. He urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution and the state. Fatai, in his address, urged members to join him in taking the association to another level.

Other members of the executive include Modinat Ibrahim, VicePresident, Abiodun Abubakar, General Secretary, Olasunkanmi Kadir, Financial Secretary and Omotola Akegbeyale, Treasurer among others.

•The Kwara students’ leaders after their swearing in.

Varsity hosts dialogue on media and communication RRANGEMENTS are in top gear for the upcoming to second UNN “Dialogue on media and communication” scheduled for June 13-15 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The event, being organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Information and Public Relations Unit of the University will focus on “Research Methods” as the theme, while papers on Public Relations practice will also be presented.

The facilitators expected for the event are renowned scholars in the field of Communication and Public Relations from different parts of the world, led by the keynote speaker; Prof. Robert White from the Institute of Peace Studies and International Research, Hekima College, Nairobi, Kenya.

Other speakers will include; Prof Charles Okigbo, Department of Mass Communication, North Dakota State University, United States; Prof Chris Ogbonndah, University of Northern Iowa, USA, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr Chido Nwakanma, Managing Director of Blueflower, and Mr Ifeanyi Mbanefo, Communication Relations Manager, NLNG, Bonny.

Speaking on the essence of the event, the Head of Department of Mass Comm., UNN Dr Nnanyelugo Okoro, event that the programme is

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•Some of the graduating students having fun.

Final year students float events for graduation

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T was fun as the Final Year Brethren (FYB) of the Department of Continuing Education (DCE) in the Institute of Education and Language Arts (IED), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife held a picnic to unveil the programmes outlined for their FYB week. The students also held a prayer session to appreciate God for protecting their lives to the end of their studies.

The picnic, which took place at the Zoological Garden on campus, kicked off at 11:005am with prayer by Shada Olayinka, an English Education student. This was followed by introduc-

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AU students last Friday night took to the roads on the campus to protest a blackout, which lasted for 48 hours. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, with witnessed by many students who left their rooms and lecture classes to express their displeasure to the management. A 500L student of Medicine, who simply identified himself as Ayo, told CAMPUS LIFE:”This is not the first time

From Oluwadamilola Adesanya OAU

tion of participants. There was also a dance contest, which was won by Oluwadamilola Odelade.

The Chairman of the FYB Committee, Shola Undiandeye, addressed the students, urging them to remain in prayers, saying the struggle continued until their final exam in the school. He later announced Aetos Dios (which means golden eagle) as the name by which the DCE and IED class of 2013 would be called. Shola said was selected name to show the world that being an educationist is not the end of the world.

He said it would make students more versatile and productive. “Considering the fact that most of the students in the two departments applied to study law but were thrown to the Faculty of Education, we do not look at ourselves like rejected people but life enhancers and value givers. The name indicates the resilient and never die spirit we have built thus far,” he submitted.

He explained programmes already planned by the committee to mark the students’ final exit from the institution.

The event, which is slated for the second semester, includes an excursion, lecture, traditional day and a dinner.

Students protest blackout From Wilberforce Arevore OAU

such will be happening. They refused to reinstate our Students’ Union and now they’re simply saying we can’t read. Last session, it was a four-day black-out and we all knew the implication when our re-

sults were released. Although reasons for the black- out was unknown as at the time of this report, the electricity was restored back at 9:45am on Saturday with shouts of “up Nepa!” renting the air in hostels as students rush to charge their gadgets as well as to iron their clothes.

From Inya Agha UNN

primarily aimed at equipping postgraduate students in the field of communication and other disciplines with the latest research methods to make their postgraduate studies easier.

“The dialogue is aimed at building a strong research resource base for Mass Communication in particular and the academia in general. It will help strengthen research ideas, enhance research consciousness and excellence in the University of Nigeria and other sister universities,” he said.

Dr Okoro said the workshop was not limited to students of communication but was open to other sister departments from any part of the country. He advised intended participants to indicate interest by completing an online registration form using the link www.unn.edu.ng/cms/information-and-public-relations-unit-unn.

According to him, certificate of participation would be issued to participants at the end of the workshop.

Dr Okoro further expressed his appreciation to distinguished alumni of the department and other good spirited individuals who are making effort to ensure that the Dialogue becomes a success.

‘The dialogue is aimed at building a strong research resource base for Mass Communication in particular and the academia in general. It will help strengthen research ideas, enhance research consciousness and excellence in the University of Nigeria and other sister universities’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

Corps member floats FRSC club in school

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CORPS member and a member of the Road Safety Club of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Abimbola Shittu, has inaugurated a club at Onilekere Junior High School in Ikeja, Lagos as part of her Community Development Service (CDS).

She provided kits for the pupils, who joined the club.

She said the gesture was to ensure the safety of pupils and inculcate safety rule among secondary school pupils. She added that she picked the school because of it closeness to the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

“The school is close to the expressway and there is no provision for a pedestrian bridge. So the pupils are exposed to danger. This was confirmed in my discussion with the principal of the school who told me they have witnessed a good percentage of road crashes involving members of the school,” she stated.

She said members of the club would be taught safety measures on the road and will be able to sensitise other pupils on how to make use of the road. She added that they would be agents of public enlightenment.

The Unit Commander of RS218 Ikeja Unit of the Federal Road

•The Road Safety kids (squatting) with their teachers, FRSC officials and Corps member after the club’s inauguration.

From Abiodun Alade LAGOS

Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Wale Odekunle, who inaugurated the club, commended the effort of Shittu and enumerated the advantages of the gesture.

He said: “Daily, people are dying on our roads, and a good number of these deaths are children. These deaths are of serious concern to the

Corps and research has shown that most of the crashes are as a result of human errors and judgment.”

He added that in order to reduce the crashes and imbibe the right road culture on the populace, the FRSC would be establishing road safety club in all schools.

“The FRSC has taken it upon itself to introduce Road Safety Club in our primary and secondary schools all over the country,” he said, enjoining

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•Some of the Arts students during a rehearsal.

From Sam Ibok cording to him, “few Light can cost up to N 50, 000, Lights like sport UNICAL

Geoffrey narrated the challenges faced by the department to include renting of costumes and Light. Ac-

NGO holds seminar for students

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OMEN in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a womenfocused non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held a seminar for students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Tagged:Winning without compromise, the event was held at the International Conference Centre of the institution and attended by successful women, who were part of the resource persons. They included Head, Corporate Communication, Moni Pulo Limited; Mrs Julia Oku-Jacks, Stanbic IBTC Bank official, Miss Aisha Ahmad, Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, Founder, Rainbow Bookclub, Mrs Koko Kalango, Managing Director, Rise Networks, Ms Toyosi Akerele and Dr Bisola Onajin-Obembe, a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

Henshaw, in her lecture

aged the members of the club to see the opportunity as a call to service.

The council boss was represented by the Supervisor for Agriculture, Mrs Abiodun Adegoke.

The Principal of the school, Alhaji Safiyu Sikiru, praised the FRSC and the Corps member for the inauguration of the club. He said the club would help the pupils to be road friendly and avoid crashes witnessed by the school in recent times.

Mass Comm. students welcome freshers

Students lament poor facilities TUDENTS of the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar (UNICAL) have called on the school management to provide them with the necessary production facilities.

The students made the call when they were on a rehearsal section of a play entitled: “The Gods Are not to Blame,” by Ola Rotimi.

While some complained about inadequate directorate and production equipment, others complained about lack of finance. They further enumerated the importance of Theatre arts and pleaded that the school management should come to their rescue.

Geoffrey Ovuoba, a 300 level student in the department who is also the Technical Director of the production and Victor Ejen who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE on behalf of the production crew, said that lack of production equipments is a big drawback to the students.

the club members to be ambassadors that would help change the attitude of Nigerians towards traffic culture and bring the desirable change on our roads.

The Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area, Hon Wale Odunlami, commended the Corps member for facilitating the inauguration of the club, stressing that there was the need for orderliness on the road which the club could help achieve. He encour-

From Sam Ibok UNICAL

entitled:Societal peer pressure, advised the participants not to be influenced negatively by their peers.

Oku-Jacks said one of the aims of the programme was to prepare undergraduates for workplace, business and health issues by challenging them at an interactive session to unveil, discuss and resolve their expectations and also share opportunities.

She added that the programme had already been held in UNIPORT, University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and the University of Ibadan (UI).

The event, which was well attended by students also, featured stage performance by UNICAL’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) Director of Socials, William Usese, and a comedian known as Koboko.

light cost N50, 000, smoke generator N16, 000, etc. These are equipment the students cannot afford”.

HE Department of Mass Communication of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), has held an orientation to welcome the new students into the department. The event was held at the Students’ Union Government (SUG) building.

In her address, the president of the department, Omodunni Alero, urged the freshers to abide by the rules and regulation of the school. The Head of the department, Dr Babatunde Oyinade, challenged the students to be studious and justify their “hardearned” admission by being proactive. He warned them against engaging in cultism and vices which could truncate their studentship.

Speaking on The press as the fourth estate of the realm: Fact and fallacy, the guest speaker, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said for Nigeria’s democracy to survive, the press must serve with the truth. The former Ondo State Information Commissioner commended the press for always ensuring that justice prevailed in the country. He, however, maintained that the press, as the fourth estate,

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA

had a duty to be responsive and responsible to the society.

He said the Official Secret Act and other laws introduced by successive military regimes hampered the press from performing its watchdog function in the society. Akinmade, therefore, called for the inclusion of press freedom and freedom of information in the country’s constitution to enable the press performs optimally.

Quoting Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, the guest speaker said: “We need the press freedom to articulate the dividends of democracy. We require a free press to cover the National Assembly, the Local Governments and elections”.

The lecture was followed by an interactive session, which was attended by media practitioners within and outside the state. After the orientation lecture, a social gathering was held at the Mass Communication Relaxation Centre where some talented students displayed skills in music, drama and dance.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADS The Nation CAMPUSLIFE in collaboration with Blantyre newspaper, Malawi, AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay competition. Details are as follows: Question: Nations which are economically free out-perform non-free nations in all indicators of well-being. Discuss.

Eligibility: All students in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and vocational school) in Africa.

The format of the text should be in MS word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student should please request for the background material from Adedayo

Thomas at adedayo.thomas@gmail.com, Wale at campusbeat@yahoo.com and Brian Ligomeka at bligomeka@bnltimes.com.

On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full name, department, year of study and name of institution.

Also include your email address and GSM line.

Send your entries to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com.

Entries will be received between March 28 and June 11, 2013. Entry sent after the deadline will not be accepted.

Announcement of winners: July 18, 2013. All participants will get a free CD of “Ideas for a free society”, which contains 100 textbooks on various field of studies.

Prizes: 1st - $1,000 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 2nd - $700 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 3rd - $500 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 4th - $300 and scholarship to 2013 Student and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Kenya from August 8- 11, 2013 5th - $100 We have eight consolidation prizes of $50 each.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

CAMPUS LIFE The first semester examination at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been distrupted following a downpour, which flooded the campus. STANLEY UCHEGBU (500-Level Accounting) and SAM IBOK (400-Level Education and Curriculum) report.

Flood hits UNICAL

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HE regular students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) were about rounding off their first semester examination to leave the stage for their colleagues in part-time classes, which is known on the campus as Centre for Educational Services (CES).

All measures had been put in place to start the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the CES students last Monday but the exercise was not to be. Students trooped to the campus for their examination without unaware of what the day held for them.

The day began on a sunny note and final year students of the Faculty of Management Science converged on Pavilions 2 and 3 to write their papers. They waited endlessly for the arrival of question papers and answer booklets.

At 2:45pm, the atmosphere changed. The sun disappeared, casting a dark cloud over the sky. It was about to rain. Thunder struck, leaving cracking sounds on its trail.

Some students, who were reading under a tree beside the Pavilions, scampered for safety.

Shortly there was a downpour.

The rain was accompanied by thunderstorm. The wares of traders near the Department of Genetic and Biotechnology and the New Science Lecture Theatre 5 (NSLT 5) were scattered by the accompanying whirlwind.

Also, the whirlwind smashed the

•A flooded stretch on the campus.

louvres of offices between the Physics and Chemistry departments.

Students who had converged to write their examination were drenched.

The downpour, which lasted for 40 minutes, flooded the campus, causing a traffic gridlock on the two-lane road. The campus drainage was blocked, making water to overflow the road. For hours, heavy traffic paralysed activities on the campus.

It was a field day for commercial cab operators who hiked fares.

Motorists drove against the traffic as they attempted to avoid the flooded stretch, aggravating the traffic snarl on the dual carriageway. The university security officers battled to restore sanity on the road.

When CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus, refuse littered some lecture

rooms. Our correspondents gathered that a collision of two electric cables triggered a spark that shattered louvres and doors in the Genetics and Biotechnology department. Students, who took cover in the building, dashed for the exit as smoke billowed from the cables.

Lecture halls, students’ cafeteria and the bar joints behind the main library were affected by the flood.

Also, the road connecting Medical College to NSLT 5 was flooded, trapping students who wrote their exams in the lecture theatre for hours.

What could have been a tragedy was averted when a female student, who got stuck in a drainage, was rescued from drowning by male students. The victim, however, lost her handbag and phone to the flood.

The incident forced the management to cancel the examinations of

final year Accounting and Banking and Finance students, which were scheduled for the evening of the day.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the halls where the exams were to take place were flooded.

Speaking to our correspondents, a 500-Level Banking and Finance student, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Our exam has been paralysed by the flood. Now, it has been postponed till further notice and only God knows when another date will be fixed. I pray the date does not crash with my carry over papers.”

He said the poor drainage system at the front of the Pavilions 2 and 3 caused the flood water to overrun the lecture theatre. He urged the management to construct a proper drainage system to prevent loss of lives.

Another student blamed the incident on what he calls the ineffi-

ciency of the waste management unit of the university, saying the flood may have been caused by blockaged drainage.

“From the look of things, you will find out that when such downpour occurs, the debris is washed down to the drainage, thereby blocking the free flow of water. How can they provide one refuse bin in the male hostel for such large population of students? This is the reason why students dump refuse indiscriminately on the ground,” he said.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that it was not the first time the university would experience flooding. The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Eyong Eyong, could not be reached for comment because of network hitches caused by the bad weather.

Also, the Students’ Union president, Bassey Eka, could not be reached at the time of this report.

The Faculty of Social Sciences Students’ Association (SOSSA) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is alive with sporting activities. AYODEJI ADESINA reports.

Books and balls at UNILAG

I

T was not all about academics, last week at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Students of the faculty and their colleagues from other faculties trooped to the Sports Complex to cheer their teams engaged in various sporting contests.

It was another edition of the yearly Social Sciences Students Association (SOSSA) sports festival.

The association is the umbrella body of all the students in the faculty.

The event started last Wednesday, with the opening football match between the departments of Mass Communication and Political Science. The match, which started at 4pm, was chaired by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Omololu Soyombo, who stormed the Sport Complex with a handful of staff of the faculty.

Excitement greeted the match.

The Mass Communication team, was in red jersey, and Political Science team, yellow and orange. The spectators roared intermittently as the Mass Communcation guys

•The Mass Communication team

mesmerised their opponent in the first-half of the game.

Having mastered the strength of the Mass Communication team, which missed several scoring chances, the Political Science team confused its opponent by changing tactic in the second half.

The Political Science team also missed scoring chances but forced its opponent to defend throughout

the game. The encounter ended goalless.

Two days later, the Mass Communication team played against the Social Development Administration Department. The match ended in draw.

With just two points in two matches, many spectators believed that the Mass Communication team was on its way out of the tourna-

ment. But the mood in the department’s camp was different.

Speaking after the game, the coach for Mass Communication department, George Best, said the team was good for gold but lamented that his side lost many scoring chances, which would have placed it in a proper position to grab the gold.

George, 400-Level student and former Media Officer of Julius Berger

Football Club, said he was determined to coach the team to victory.

“We did not take our chances because some of my boys are not consistent in training. Besides, we observed some of them in different positions on the field. We hope to improve on our performance in the subsequent matches,” he said. George assured Mass Communication supporters that his side would not draw any game again.

The SOSSA president, Ebenezer Ishola, 400-Level Political Science, said with the growing crowd at the sport complex and the games played so far, he was satisfied that the tournament was accepted by student. He, hailed the teams for their discipline.

“So far all the teams played well. I have seen a great show of strength and tactics. I believe the quality of the match will improve as we progress to final match,” he said.

President of Mass Communication students Solomon Samuel said he believed his department would put up a good performance in subsequent matches. He said: “The match is good and I have confidence in the Mass Communication team.”

The team’s Assistant Captain, Rotimi Akinola, said his teammates had been warned against indiscipline and other vices that could affect his side’s success in the tournament. He said: “We are not here to play to the gallery. We are here to win. However, our expectation for the next game is high and we will take all our chances.

We have worked on all our chances and we are good for gold.”

Other sporting activities held during the week included cycling, table tennis, basketball, karate among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

35

CAMPUS LIFE

By Jumoke Awe

I

N Nigeria today, every youth is a potential artiste. It is either one can sing, dance or act. But is that all about us? Where is the place of building intellectual capacity of the growing youth population? Not many are privileged like a very few of us, who are opportune to get educational training to reinforce our desire to strive for excellence.

Will I, for instance, ever forget the many workshops I attended, which were sponsored by the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria and The Nation newspaper? Once upon a time, I had been under the tutelage of Dr Reuben Abati and Grace Egbemode.

These personalities educationally shaped my thought and I dream for

a better future.

Nowadays, the youths’ thinking has been changed towards reality show or programmes promoting promiscuity and nudity. Little wonder most youths always troop to auditioning of television reality shows such as Big Brother Africa or film auditioning.

Why won’t they? If they can be so daring to expose the very private parts of their body for public consumption and sing lewd and salacious song and dancing in a sexually suggestive way, they can be the celebrated ‘celebrities’ and asked to be youths ambassadors. We never stop to celebrate ordinariness.

I cry from the inside brooding over this form of youth development in Nigeria. When are we going to be celebrating intellectualism in our youths? No country will ever grow promoting a culture of decadence.

What new technology have our youths invented in recent time? How are we making sure that the innovation of a young man struggling to change our world did not die with him? How do we harness the beautiful ideas contained in proposals rotting away in shelves of many ministries and companies just because the writers do not know “who is who” to help facilitate the request?

Nigeria is fast becoming a metaphor for moral debauchery, misplaced priorities and politricking.

These have ingrained in the minds of fellow youths. For a young citizen, whose parents don’t know “who is who”, it is a double jeopardy. A

Season of anomie system that impoverished their parents has equally captured the children.

Corporate bodies have been insensitive to the challenges of the youths, turning a deaf ear and blind eye to a long term goal of the impact their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would have on the beneficiary of such sponsored programmes. Most of them praisesing their effort in sponsoring programmes that are not adding values to the economic development of the country.

What else could one call an advert asking the youth to come bare it all at a reality TV show? This is an invitation to breach all rules of decency.

What a nation of misplaced priorities! Creative performance has been relegated to the back door while frivolities take the pride of place.

This piece is not written to dole out catchy sentences, but it should be seen as a wakeup call to bring about a new thinking in re-generational revolution. I dare say this is the way out to get Nigeria on the right path. Hiring prayer warriors to invoke the holy spirit is never a way out as our (s)elected but clueless leaders may have believed.

Pastors that go to government houses don’t go there to pray, but to share in the national cake. Religion is now a shadow of itself, with prayer grounds turning to strategic cam-

paign grounds, the way jobless youths find succour in the recording studio to wax lewd song.

Jobless youths are everywhere. Instead of creating jobs through medium-scale scheme, pastors are buying every available building on the streets and converting them to churches with such funny names.

Worse, a 12x12cm shop that could be useful for a young graduate to start a low-scale enterprise is converted to a church where gullible members pray for economic prosperity.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not a religion antagonist. I am just speaking the mind of many worried citizens, whose means of production have been converted to the benefit of a few religious leaders, who never worked to earn a living. They take our tithes and purchase posh vehicles. Yet, many of the faithful cannot pay their children’s school fees.

The same thing is obtainable in governance. There is so much duplicity of work and position. It is only in this part of the world that we see a president or governor having Senior Special Adviser on Youth Matters, Special Assistant on Youth Matters, Personal Assistant Youth Matters and Commissioner for Youth.

These people are working towards a common goal and draw salaries from the government’s purse. They

may also have their own personal advisers and assistants working with them. Whereas, one or two of them could do the whole job for the governor or president. Is one not right to say this duplicity of role is a profligate wasting of public funds?

The craze for public funds by the citizens has further threatened the peace of the country as we have a president that pardons corrupts public officers and throws money at every crisis that is ravaging the nation.

Alamiesiegha’s pardon may have shown that it is good to steal public funds. Many youths that are still battling with poverty will not have the courage and determination to work hard and make clean money.

What we are experiencing is a season of anomie, which is an indicator of a dysfunctional society and a failing state. Acute poverty, religious fundamentalism and economic mismanagement amongst others are the tragedies that have befallen this crawling adult nation at 53.

Given the plethora anomalies we face today, we all might tell a story of “once upon a Nigeria” to our yet unborn children. It is not just by praying, criticizing or inviting religion leaders to the villa or wishing Nigeria good luck. We need to act fast and restore the lost values that promote hard work and intellectualism.

Jumoke, ex-Campus Life student, writes from Lagos

APC: An alternative or an acronym?

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HE hoopla that greeted the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) the All Progressive Congress (APC) is a testimony that Nigerians are in search of a credible alternative to the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the idea behind this merger is a welcomed, the promise of the Chairman of the Merger Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, to form a “political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth ....” is nothing new to Nigerians.

Nigerians are used to these well thought-out, well-scripted and crafted political gimmicks. In its formative years, the PDP also promised Nigerians a political party that “would uphold the sanctity of the rule of law, human rights, strong political culture, equitable wealth distribution, minority rights, infrastructural development and high standards of living”.

But 14 years after, these promises are far from being achieved.

What we have in the ruling party is what its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, described in 2011 as “an amalgam of diverse groups united only by one purpose -to grab power....” One may then add that the party is without any clear idea of

E

VERY year, children look forward to May 27 with enthusiasm. They prepare so well to make the day memorable. The match past; the cultural dance, the chorography are parts of the several attractions to mark the day.

These innocent kids show off and display their God given talents in such a manner that gladdens the heart, gives hope and exude confidence in the parents and guardians.

This prompts most parents to strive towards giving their children quality education.

“You are the leaders of tomorrow” is the line that usually echoes from all angles on this special day, especially from government officials who

what to do with the power, so it welcomes all manner of elements into its fold.

Without any clear-cut manifesto and with billion of petrol-dollars accrued to its government; those elected on PDP platform waste public funds implementing bad projects. This is the unique characteristics of the party that is often touted as the largest political party in Africa. This is the characteristics displayed by the party and majority of its members from the local government level to the federal level.

This is the reason why I am not surprised that a governor elected under the PDP sees nothing wrong in using public money to buy brand new vehicles for councilors, traditional rulers and principals of secondary schools while the same governor delays in paying the N18, 000 minimum wage to civil servants. This is the case with Enugu State.

It is also for this reason that I am not really surprised that a president that claimed to be elected through popular votes of the majority would have the guts to tell Nigerians on a national television that he did not “give a damn” about his failure to declare his assets to the people that ‘elected’ him. Or which party would, for instance, give a thug, who had taken up arm against a whole local government, its ticket to contest and win a seat in Kogi State House of Assembly? It is only the PDP. It is this lack of vision that is responsible for so many uncompleted and abandoned government projects that litter the landscape of this country.

One is safe to come to the conclusion

that it is the failure of the ruling party results to the emergence of APC as alternative to the PDP’s misrule.

However, this is my posers: what shall APC be known for? Will it end up as another amalgam of diverse group united only by one reason of grabbing power? Will the progressives in the APC live up to the billing of a political party with comprehensive, cohesive and practical manifesto that will be implemented by the party at all levels?

For APC to be taken seriously by Nigerians, it will have to, first, do away with those behaviours such as thuggery, intimidation of opponents and imposition of candidates, corruption and lack of creativity and other political vices that have crippled the PDP government.

In addition, the APC should only admit people who are of proven integrity and character; not just politicians who will jump to another party as soon as their interest is threatened in their former party or moneybag who have enough money to throw around.

It is the practicable policies of the party, more than anything that will differentiate it and sell it to Nigerians.

These policies among other things should be able to explain our revenue generation method outside of oil and the huge oil wealth would be managed. What would also be the stand of the party on oil subsidy? Will they continue the policy of oil importation even when such could be refined in the country?

What will be the policy of the APC on our dilapidated rail sector? Will

hundreds of Nigerians continue to lose their lives to oil-tanker fires on highways? Will the APC provide a method of oil distribution in Nigeria? These are questions on the minds of the electorates.

Again, one is wont to ask for the party’s policy on security challenges facing the nation such as the problem of Boko Haram and kidnapping? Will it carry on the reactionary policy of the present administration on security?

What will be the impact of the policy of the APC on our economy, which largely depends on oil? Will it continue to unsustainably exploit and depend on oil revenue to sustain the government without any thought of developing non-oil sector at a time countries such as United Arab Emirate and Angola, which have profitably managed their oil resources, are looking for ways to diversify?

What plan does the party have for our largely neglected educational sector, which has been so battered that every Nigerian that has means seeks ways of sending their wards to private universities or schools abroad?

Will APC continue the policy of establishing more universities without paying attention to the standard and quality of the existing ones?

Additionally, the manifesto of the party should be able to address key issues such as corruption in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which the Economist Magazine of London described as world most “closed oil company”.

There is also a need for reforms in the transportation, agriculture, and

Reflection on Children’s Day

By Obianuju Asouzu sometimes even make promises just to deceive the children who are quick to believe with innocent smile radiating from their naïve faces.

But it is a pity that these promises often go unfulfilled; the children wake up to the reality of the deceit and their thinking of “what a great personality I would be in the future” then fades away, and they become part of the hopeless generation.

But are these children really the leaders and hope of our tomorrow

when they are stricken with fear of disasters, killings, blood sheds, bombings, poverty, environmental degradations and other problems now plaguing the Nigerian nation?

The songs they sing: “Today is bright, it’s bright and fair, oh happy day, a day of joy...” has faded away as days after days are now stained with blood.

The joyful hearts of the young children are replaced with heavy hearts. The smiling faces cannot be seen anymore as tears have taken over. What an irony; what a coun-

try!

The day seems like nights to the parents as the once marvelous translucent cloud has lost its beauty. Many parents have been burying their children; all dreams shattered, all hopes lost, all smiles faded. That entire life means to them is lost. Sorrows and pains now run like blood in their veins. How on earth would they survive this?

Every minute they pray for death to take their lives for there is no reason to live again.

The wonders of the present ter-

By Philips Ogbaje power sector, which are central to our economic development as a nation.

Does APC prepare for this?

For a political party that seeks to be an alternative to a party that has institutionalised corruption, impoverished Nigerians and glorified inefficiency and lawlessness, it has a huge task before it. It will need to not only show but live by example in every of its policies. It will have to raise the standard of the leadership that is seriously lacking in our country.

Until the APC show through its policies and programmes that it is different from the PDP and improve the living standard of living of millions of Nigerians languishing in poverty; the difference between her and the PDP will only be found in nomenclature.

Philips, 500-Level Information Technology, MAUTECH YOLA rify the future as children are forcefully turned orphans due to daily killings and bombings that take their parents away, erecting a barrier to their dreams. Cries and mourning have turned to their daily meals. If this trend should continue, where will the leaders of tomorrow come from?

Can confidence be restored to the children again? Can their smiles still radiate once more? Can the parents live to enjoy the love and care that will come from the young ones? How soon would good tidings be heard? May God help Nigeria!

Obianuju, 500-Level Environmental Resource Management, UNICAL

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE Students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, displayed their creativity and talent in a fashion exhibition organised last weekend by Don Davis and Crox TV entertainment outfits. UCHE ANICHEBE (500Level Law) writes.

•Models entertaining the audience

•Female models showcasing different shades of wedding and dinner gowns.

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HEIR long legs, gait and synchronised catwalk sent the audience into a frenzy. As the models marched on the walkway with their dazzling steps, the crowd, hooted.

The audience rose to give contestants a standing applause.

It was the introduction of models, who were uniformly dressed in black polo and jeans. The fashion exhibition, tagged “Cleavs and glams” recorded a large turnout of designers and students.

The event, which was organised by Don Davis, Crox TV and Dazzle Entertainment, started at 4pm at the Emmaus House, Awka, Anambra State.

The show began with the red carpet and interviews of models. Immediately after the opening prayer, the models were asked to file out. The audience clapped endlessly. The unveiling of the models was followed by performances by budding artistes in the university in-

Fashion at its best in UNIZIK cluding Tommy J, MC Jerry and Uzi among others.

After the music performance, some female models, who were also dancers, entertained the audience with various dance steps.

The show was compered by the duo of MC Obi Mouth and Ogechi. Judges included Mr UNIZIK, Davidson Okoroanyawu, Christine Chukwukaeme, Miss Anambra and Linda Michael, Chief Executive Officer of Diva House of Makeup Artistes.

The task of the judges was to examine the models and fashion designs.

They were expected to select the best model and designer for both male and female category.

The crescendo of the event was the fashion exhibition, which was held in two parts. The first part had the display of haute couture of established

designers such as Sandie, KC Charles Design and E-White. After the exhibition by the first set of designers, there was musical and dance interlude by FBI, a dance crew from the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.

Afterwards, other designers included Gold Minds and Hall of Best Bridal among others showcased their designs.

Davidson, who expressed delight at the success of the event, said: “Tonight has been exceptional. Many models under my agency participated fully in the show. I must say that the exhibition and performance by artistes were mind-blowing. It’s quite an exquisite event.”

The event was attended by several distinguished personalities including the Attorney General of Anambra State, Barr. Peter Afuba and his wife,

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

Nneka; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Henrietta Agbata, who was represented by her personal assistant and wife of former Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Florence Ezenagu, among others.

At the end of the event the judges announced the winners. Amanda Afuba emerged Best Female Model, while the Best Male Model went to Divine Ezike. Also, Kaycee Charles, the Chief Executive Officer of KC Design, emerged the Best Male Designer, while Precious Ebere of Hall of Best Bridal became the Best Female Designer.

Kaycee, who was visibly elated, said: “Today has been exceptional and fantastic. There has been a portrayal of a blend of African and western designs.

I am glad that I emerged Best Male De-

signer today. God is my greatest inspiration, and He has made me proud today. This is the fifth time of exhibiting my designs on the runway.”

Mrs Nneka, who was the chief sponsor of the event, noted: “I am a friend of the youths. Whenever I watched fashion shows held in places like Abuja and Lagos, I always wished that Anambra State could do same. I expected that our youths should equally desire to organise same. When the organiser of this event approached me for support, I found no reason not to oblige him. In the future, I hope to sponsor and organise events which would curtail unemployment and promote skill acquisition by the youths.”

Saying the vote of thanks, Don Davis said: “This event started as a dream and vision, but today, that dream has become a reality, and I am eternally grateful to God for the success of this fashion show.” The event ended with a party.

Students threaten to boycott exam

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HE students of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences (CIS), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), have threatened to boycott the ongoing second semester examinations in the school if the leadership of the faculty fails to refund the N2,500 they paid for internet access.

The students were asked to pay N5,000 for a session to have unlimited access to the school’s wireless network.

Throughout the first semester, the facility could not be provided, with students saying they had been cheated.

In a letter dated June 3 and signed by the executives of the faculty students’ association and presidents of the five departments in the CIS faculty, the students urged Dean of Students Affairs (DSA) to facilitate the refunding, failure of which, the students said may lead to boycotting of the ongoing examination.

The letter reads: “If by on Monday, June 3, 2013, students of the faculty whose account numbers have been verified do not receive the money they initially paid for Internet, we would have no option other than to boycott ongoing second semester examinations,

Fire at UI hostel

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HAT would have resulted into a monumental loss in one of the oldest Halls of Residence in the University of Ibadan (UI) was averted given the prompt efforts of students before the arrival of fire fighters. Part of Tedder Hall was gutted by fire. The cause of the fire, which started around 4:30am at a mini shop beside Block C where students buy varieties of food, was yet to be ascertained as the press time. A young boy, whose mother occupies the shop, told CAMPUSLIFE: “I started feeling heat close to where I slept. I woke my older brother, whom we slept together, before we could rise up, smoke has covered everywhere. I shouted Blood of Jesus.”

Students moved to the scene to ensure

From Funke Ayoola UNILORIN

as a way of registering our grievances over the injustice done to us.

“We will also go public by writing press statement to both national and state owned-media houses and also publish articles on the Internet to let the public know the kind of treatment we receive here in our faculty. By doing this, we don’t intend to tarnish the image of the school; we only want justice.”

It was gathered that the students, under the aegis of Communication and Information Sciences Students Association (CISSA), agitated for a refund of money, which was approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, on February 18.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the management released the money to the faculty leadership, which is yet to refund the students since then. No reason was given. The CISSA president, Anyim Obinna Anyim, said that the students could no longer bear the “extortion” again, adding that Mass Communication students were worst hit. The students appeal to the VC to look into the matter.

From Hammed Hamzat UI

that the fire did not extend to rooms in the other blocks, Sylvester Oluoha, the Hall Chairman, said. The Hall Warden, Dr K.O.K Popoola, commended the students of the hall and their colleagues from Mellanby Hall for their courage to put out the fire. The Hall Master identified as Professor Ajav and assistant Hall Warden were at the hall to help the students.

Director of UI Public Communication, Mr O.A Oladejo, described the incidence as unfortunate. In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, Mr Wale Olutayo, the owner of Ebony cyber café beside the mini shop, whose computers gadgets were affected, said that the cause of fire may have caused by faulty electrical appliances. It should be recalled that the management had banned electrical cooking in the rooms and asked students to use kerosene stoves.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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EDUCATION Poly workers accuse Fed Govt of insensitivity

A

Varsity education not for all, says Rector From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

By Jane Chijioke

FTER more than one month of strike in the polytechnics to draw the attention of the Federal Government, workers of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) took to the streets of Lagos yesterday to protest government's failure to implement the agreement it signed with the association in 2009.

They accused the government of insensitivity to their plight.

The workers, bearing banners, marched round the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) and environs.

The National Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Comrade Monday Jegede, said at a briefing before the workers took to the street, that the Federal Government has ignored their demands since 2009.

Prior to starting their indefinite strike on May 7, Jegede said the association had reviewed the situation at a meeting in Delta State between March 19 and 22, and given the government 21-day ultimatum which ended April 16.

"Government is taking us for a ride. What we are clamoring for was approved in 2009 and NBTE just implemented few. Most of our members belong to the middle group. We have been writing, visiting and yet they are not prepared to release the circular. We are saying enough is enough; we are taking our destinies in our hand to make the government know that we have the right. If a presidential directive is been ignored, then where are we going to? Since we started the strike no government official has invited us for a dialogue. As a result of this, we need to do something for them to know that we have the right to protest.

This struggle is for all of us even for our unborn children,'' he said.

Jegede noted that the agitation behind the strike was the full implementation and payment of arrears of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure 15 (CONTISS), which he said was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2009, but was implemented only for those in level 12 upwards by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in 2010, exempting those in the lower cadre.

"The financial implication of the full implementation is being captured in the national budget, the question now is, where is the money going to?" Jegede queried.

According to Jegede, since the polytechnics started the strike, the Federal government had only made a feeble attempt to liaise with them.

"We need to let the government know that we will not watch them take us for a ride and we intend to go on with the strike indefinitely until a favourable reply is gotten."

•Ajibefun

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HE Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has decried the negative attitude of students and government towards Technical and Vocational Education (TVE).

Delivering the maiden seminar of the institution with a theme: Building a 21st Century Polytechnic: Issues and challenges, Ajibefun lamented that millions of admission seekers prefer the university as their first choice but only opt for polytechnics, where TVE training is offered, when they are not admitted into the university.

He said Nigeria's pre-occupation with university education has reduced economic opportunities of those who are more oriented towards vocational work than academic, stressing that not everyone needs a university education.

The Rector described technical education as the engine for eco-

from stakeholders".

Unlike Nigeria, Ajibefun said developed nations like America, Canada, United Kingdom and others are able to improve on their economy due to their appreciation of TVE skills.

Ajibefun said: "The Dutch school system is said to pay attention to high standards in mathematics and the provision of vocational education at ages 14-16 for a third of all pupils, and widespread vocational education at 16 above. Secondary schools in many other development-conscious nations have vocational centre that offer vocational training for lifelong trade together with general academic studies. ''For instance, India and the "Asian Tigers" could not have been become what they are without massive investment in technical education.

"Long before the Europeans arrived, education had been part of Nigerians. The Children were taught about their culture, social activities, survival skills and work.

Most of these education processes were impacted into the children informally; a few of these societies gave a more formal teaching of the society and culture. This has been the culture in Nigeria.”

The Rector restated his commitment in ensuring that RUGIPO students are employable as they get 90 per cent praticial training and only 10 per cent theory work.

VC seeks help on students' indebtedness THE Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina, has solicited for the support of all industrial unions in the university on recovery of debts owed the institution by students.

In an interactive session with the union leaders at the Senate Chamber of the university, Aina enjoined them to educate their wards and members of the public on the true position of students' indebtedness to the institution and the need to pay all outstanding fees. He promised to make the welfare of staff a priority but warned that members of staff engaging in unwholesome attitudes would be sanctioned according to rules and regulations of the university.

At the occasion, leaders from ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAATS were present.

PG forms out QUALIFIED candidates seeking admission into professional Masters Degree and Postgraduate Diploma Programmes of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti for the 2012/2013 academic session can now obtain forms.

Accordingly, applicants who must have satisfied all conditions required for such programmes have four weeks from now to obtain and submit their applications for consideration. Applicants are also to check the University website for more information.

FUNAAB wants conventional status From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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•Prof Malik (right) shaking hands with the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, during the award in Ilorin.

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SCHOLAR at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Sayed Malik, has received the highest award of Fellow of Arabic Studies of Nigeria (FASN).

The award was conferred on him by the Nigeria Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS), at the Annual Con-

T •Mimiko

nomic growth, adding that any nation which seeks rapid development must pay greater attention to polytechnic education.

He said the emphasis on theory is the reasons graduates lack "employability" skills, which can be acquired from TVE institutions.

As a result of disregard for TVE, the Rector said Nigeria now lacks skilled technicians for crucial sectors of the economy.

He said: "While TVE has continued to thrive in many societies, Nigerians have not seen it as important. Consequently, the society lacks skilled technicians: bricklayers, carpenters, painters and auto mechanics, among others.

"The half-baked roadside mechanics in the society cause more harm to vehicles when contracted to service vehicles. The poor performance of Nigeria's house builders (such as bricklayers, e.t.c) is no longer news. ''It is no longer stranger for competent technicians to come from neighbouring countries. Most of the so-called expatriate engineers who are heavily paid in construction companies in Nigeria are graduates of technical and vocational colleges. ''Yet Nigerians do not take technical instititions seriously. Building a 21st century polytechnic would require proactive actions

EKSU FILE

UI don bags fellowship From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ference of the association in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The award was in recognition of the don's outstanding contribution to Arabic learning, teaching, character-moulding and service to the

county and international communities.

In his acceptance speech, Malik thanked the organisers of the event for counting him worthy of the award, adding that the honour will serve as an avenue for him to perform better.

AAUA starts Senate Building

HE Site Engineer of the Adekunle Ajasin University's five-storey Senate Building, Kolapo Fasola, has assured that the October this year delivery date of the project is still on course.

Fasola, said 70 per cent of the work had been done.

He said: "Our schedule to deliver this project in October this year is still on course. Already, the work done is about 70 per cent."

However, while acknowledging that funds for the project have been prompt, Fasola envisaged slight ex-

tension of delivery date, if the newly proposed additional sixth floor to the West and North wings of building is approved. He said the Roof Tile Beam of the South and East wings have been completed.

He added: "No section of the whole work is delaying another. The ground floor tiles have been completed. Tilers are on the third floor.

Burglaries are almost completed and every other works are going on simultaneously. If there is no additional floor, we are still in line of programme of work."

It will be recalled that the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Femi Mimiko, had, in April last year, emphasised the need for the company handling the project, Charvet Nig. Ltd., not only to deliver standard Senate Building to the university, but also on record time.

The VC said: "We can't afford to have anything that is below what we referred to as building standard.

We don't see any reason why our job should be delayed or delivered below top-form quality."

The construction of the five-storey edifice started in March last year.

TUDENTS of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) have asked the Federal Government to grant the institution " full conventional status" to enable it courses such as medicine, law, social sciences and other management programmes could run for the benefits prospective students.

Addressing reporters in Abeokuta the Students Union Government(SUG) President, Mr Adesipo Tope, said what obtains at FUNAAB is partial and not full conventional status, making it difficult for the university to run other conventional programmes like any of the nation's first and second generation universities.

Adesipo said: "What obtains in FUNAAB is partial conventional status. Courses like Accountancy, Business Administration programmes are but the National University Commission(NUC) to run programmes such as medicine, law, social sciences and other management Sciences.

"What we are saying is that the Federal Government should contact the NUC to grant FUNAAB full conventional status like Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka(UNN) to enable it run conventional courses while not leaving its core mandate which agriculture and related disciplines."

The SUG President, who was accompanied other members of the union executives, said with the available material and human resources, FUNAAB is competent to transmute to a conventional university if granted that status by NUC, urging the government to contact the commission to facilitate the process.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

FUNAAB FILE

VC lauded at first anniversary THE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole's one year in office has witnessed remarkable innovations, and reforms that are rooted in sound vision and mission.

In June last year, Oyewole's predecessor, Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, handed over the baton of leadership to his successor as the fifth vice-chancellor of FUNAAB. Oyewole assumed office with his experience as an international administrator and researcher with the Association of African Universities (AAU) and African Union Commission. He was a member of pioneer staff.

Monarchs pledge more land THE Onisaga of Isaga-Orile, Oba Joseph Oladele Tella and the Ooye of Iwoye-Ketu, Oba Joel Ademola Alaye, have pledged more support for FUNAAB students undergoing their Farm Practical Year (FPY) training in their domains.

The traditional rulers promised to provide more land to complement the 50 hectares already provided in case the students complain of insufficiency.

They described the students as well, behaved adding: “We have accepted them as our children."

In his remarks, the VC, who was represented by his deputy (Academics), Prof Toyin Arowolo, was accompanied on the tour by the heads of departments of agricultural-related courses.

APPROACHING DEADLINES Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants for Development Rotary Foundation Postgraduate Studies Deadline: Rolling Study in: any Country* Course starts AY 2013/2014 Brief description: The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship program has ended in 2012-13.

Beginning in 2013-14, The Foundation will offer scholarship opportunities through the Rotary Foundation Global Grants.

Global grants may be used to provide funding for academic studies provided that they: •Fund graduate-level study that relates to one or more of the areas of focus •Fund studies for a term of one to four academic years •Sponsor the academic studies of an individual traveling from the international sponsor district to the host sponsor district Host Institution(s): Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus: Rotary Foundation Global Grants can be used to fund scholarships with sustainable, highimpact outcomes in one of Rotary's six areas of focus: •Peace and conflict prevention/resolution •Disease prevention and treatment •Water and sanitation •Maternal and child health •Basic education and literacy

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•Economic and community development Target group: Any one sponsored/nominated by Rotary Clubs in Selected Districts (found in about 70 countries) Scholarship value/inclusions: The minimum award amount from the World Fund for a global grant, regardless of activity type, is US$15,000, which results in a minimum total financing of $30,000.

Guidelines: When developing activities, clubs and districts should consider the following: •Activities must be sustainable and measurable.

For example: ??How will a scholar's studies support one or more of the areas of focus?

•Activities should stem from real community needs.

•Global grants must be sponsored by two Rotary clubs or districts: a host partner in the country where the activity takes place and an international partner outside the country. Both partners must be Future Vision pilot members.

•Both partners must be actively involved in the planning and implementing of all global grants. This includes maintaining communication and developing plans for the shared responsibilities in all of the grant's stages.

Application instructions: All Rotary Foundation Global Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. The application involves a two-step online process:

Proposal For club- and district-developed global grants, Rotarians will submit a brief online proposal before submitting a formal application. The proposal should provide an overview of the grant activity's objectives and demonstrate how the activities fit within an area of focus. This process is designed to increase the acceptance rate of grant applications.

Application Once a proposal has been accepted, Rotarians will submit an online application that provides the Foundation with more detailed grant activity and budget information. (Depending on the award amount or complexity of the project, the Foundation may request additional details.)

You can contact the Rotary clubs in your respective countries (see contact details below) to inquire on how to be sponsored for the grant.

It is important to read the how to apply page and visit the official website for details on how to apply for the study grants.

Contact information: Use the Rotary Club Locator to find contact information for Rotary clubs in your area/country.

Website: Official Scholarship Website: http:// www.rotary.org/en/Members/ RunningADistrict/FutureVisionPilotProgram/ Pages/fv_global_grants.aspx Source link: http://www.scholars4dev.com/ 3023/international-postgraduate-scholarships-ataustralian-universities/#ixzz2RrtBSWIB

LIRS educates pupils on tax

O enlighten children on the im portance and benefits of tax pay ment, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has hosted some pupils in Lagos State public secondary schools to a tour around the state, showing them what the revenue derived from tax is used for.

By Jane Chijioke

The tour, which was part of the Children’s Day celebrations, took the pupils to places, such as the Lagos State Traffic Radio station inside Lagos Television (LTV) premises, Government Technical College Lagos, Teslim Balogun Stadium,

Randle General Hospital, Lagos Water Corporation, and Samsung Engineering Academy.

The over 50 pupils were drawn from five schools in the state. They were Federal Government College, Iponri; Apapa Senior High School,

Alumni pledge support THE university alumni association has assured FUNAAB Governing Council of its cooperation to promote academic development and excellence of their alma mater.

The Prof Lateef Sanni-led alumni association made this known during a courtesy call on the Pro-Chancellor/ Chairman of Council, Dr Adeseye Ogunlewe, at his Lagos residence.

Sanni, noted that the university is, indeed, lucky to have a distinguished figure like Senator Ogunlewe, who will now lead other eminent Nigerians in the council.

He expressed the optimism that FUNAAB would witness unprecedented achievements under their leadership.

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• From left: Director, European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Luke Okojie; Managing Director/CEO, Mabseed Nigeria Limited, Dr Abu Alidu Moses; and Deputy Head, Africa Operations, EuropeanAmerican University, Prof Mike Nwaubani, at the conferment of Doctor of Science in Business Development and Entrepreneurship (Honoris Causa) on Dr Moses at Cofederation Nationale Des Travaileurs De Togo Lome in Togo.

ASCON graduates 30

HIRTY participants,who graduated from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) regular courses, last Thursday, have been enjoined to identify with the alumni chapter closest to their duty posts.

Declaring the graduands as ASCONIANS, the college’s DirectorGeneral Mr Ajibade Peters said one way they could identify with the 40year-old institution and contribute their quota to it in any capacity is to be part of the alumni.

He said as ASCON moves towards her golden Jubilee, all those who had done programmes in the college and had remained consistent in the alumni activities would be acknowledged.

Peters, who spoke through one of the college Director of Programmes, Mrs Cecilia Gaya, observed that the world is shifting towards knowledge-based economy, noting that success in key business or investment is largely determined by individu-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

als' quality of output. This, Peters added, necessitates the introduction of human capacity development hinged on a tripod-education, training and development.

"The programmes ending today were carefully designed and implemented to provide the graduating participants with much needed knowledge, skills and capability to adequately and promptly discharge their responsibilities effectively and to make meaningful contributions towards the attainment of government transformation agenda. The ability of the participants to successful undergo the rig ours of these courses for the past two weeks is a testimony for their preparedness for the challenges ahead and gives us hope that the training will, therefore, impact positively on performance,” he said.

Seven participants graduated from gender in management; eight

graduated in general management; five studied computer and financial management; while 9 and 1 participants took financial management and Facilitates maintenance management courses.

Two graduands from Economics and financial management course Mr Murtala Muhammed and Mrs Okonji Odilile said praised the college, describing their two-week stay as 'exciting'.

While Muhammed is from Defence/Health Unit, Ministry of Defence, Abuja, Odilile is in the Accounts Department of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

"This training has further educated me on how to manage my little resources. One interesting thing about this course is that we were exposed to both theory and practical aspects of financial management. We embarked on an excursion to the Badagry Local Government where we were

Apapa; Ashafat Tijani Memorial High School; Lagos African Church Grammar School, Ogba, and Gbagada Girls Secondary School, Gbagada.

The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Babatunde Fowler, said the aim of the tour was to show the pupils the infrastructure, social amenities and facilities built with taxpayers money.

He said the excursion was also to enlighten them on what state government uses tax for.

Fowler said: “We believe the children are tomorrow’s leaders and we are taking them round to actually see government projects completed and those in progress. We want them to see what governments levies are used for letting them know the importance for people to pay tax to fund government because without revenue these projects cannot be carried out.

“We need to let them know the role of government and how they are funded and also see in practical terms the results of those funds,” he added.

Mrs Adebisi Akani, Vice principal, Government Technical College, Lagos, said: ‘’Here, we train the children to have practical knowledge of what they will meet in the industry.

For anybody to build a nation, they have to be self reliant whereby they will acquire skills that will enable them contribute positively to the economy of the country. The economy needs engineers, we train them to be captains of industries, and also imbue them with integrity, discipline and decency.”

School PTA embraces health walk

D •Mr Peters

exposed to the council's financial activities.

"I learned about knowledge and power," said Mrs Odililie, adding: "The training has broadened my knowledge in financial management. And with this additional knowledge I'd acquired, I believe I can now impact more on my area of specialisation. It will henceforth reflect on my daily activities.”

ISTURBED by increasing cases of cardiac arrest and other life-threatening ailments, the Parent-Teacher Association of Effortswill Schools, Ejigbo, Lagos has launched a campaign for regular exercise to remedy the situation.

The walk organised by the school May 11, did not only witness massive participation by parents and teachers, but also included distribution of fliers to members of the public, educating them on the need to remain fit for better health.

Joint Chairman of the school’s PTA Pastor B.O.A. Alonge, who described the event, as a huge success, said the initiative was aimed at promoting healthy values to ensure the well-being of parents and teachers on one hand and the public on the other.

Alonge said, henceforth, the campaign would be a yearly event considering the success recorded in the maiden edition.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

EDUCATION

Firm supports 100,000 youths on local content

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O benefit from the Nigerian Content Act, a law that provides for the participation of Nigerians in the oil industry, Project Consultant of Lonadek Oil and Gas, Dr Ibilola Amao, says the country must produce a crop of skilled professionals who can man the sector so that juicy jobs do not go to expatriates anymore.

Speaking at the 16th Vision 20:2020 Career Counselling, Industry Awareness and Youth Empowerment workshop in Onikan, Lagos, Dr Amao said her firm, through the initiative, hopes to inspire 100,000 young people to prepare for such roles by 2020.

"The Nigerian Content Act is in the third year of its implementation. It has brought huge opportunities to Nigerians but we have to be prepared to enable us enjoy its benefits.

We need capable and competent bodies in order for the vision of this Act to be actualised. By nurturing young secondary school students and helping them realise their full potentials, we hope we would help create the type of capable and competent individuals that will help our nation progress beyond where it is

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

now.

"Our initiative has been very blessed since its inauguration in May 2006 when it came up with this astounding idea to "catch them young" through this Youth Empowerment and Restoration Initiative Programme. We continuously partner with notable organisations to help achieve our goal of touching 100,000 youths by 2020. Our programmes focus on excellence and innovation in Mathematics, Science and Technology and we pray that it will result in the emergence of worldclass leaders in ICT (Information and Communication Technology), Oil and Gas, Agro and Energy-related industries," she said.

As was done since the inception of the programme in 2006, participants at the workshop heard talks from seasoned professionals in science and technology, health and safety awareness, and watched videos about the oil and gas industry as well as a comedy about Olukorede, a London-based Nigerian mother who tried to impose a career on her young daughter.

The over 1,000 participants, drawn from public and private secondary

•Dr Amao (middle) presenting an award to pupils of Ajigbeda Girl’s Senior High School.

schools in Lagos and environs, particularly enjoyed the session by Mr Soji Oyawoye, who charged them to work their attitudes; Mr Jimoh, whose interactive session on health, safety and the environment taught the pupils a lot about dangerous behaviours and environments.

The programme also featured a science and technology fair where pu-

pils from the various schools displayed their scientific innovations.

At the end of judging, Ajigbeda Girls Senior High School, Surulere Fuelless generator project won the first prize with 78 out of 100 marks.

The Federal Government College, Ijanikin's project on automatic Street light was adjudged second best with 61 marks; while another fuel-fewer

generators, this time from the Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon, Badagry followed in third position with 60 marks.

In the Young Transformers and Innovators Project category, Stadium Senior High School came first with Fuel-less Generator, while Bellina College, Akoka's Wind Turbine project came second.

Edotoassist outof schoolchildren

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•From left: Mrs Joan Ihekwaba, General Manager (Marketing) UAC Foods Ltd; Mr Peter Folikwe, General Manager (Sales) and Vice-Principal, Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired (School II), Mr Solomon Addey, with some pupils of the school, during a presentation of items as part of UAC Supreme Ice Cream Children's Day road show at the school premises to celebrate the annual Children's Day .... last week.

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Bobo gets award on youth education

OBO Foods and Beverages Ltd, has received an award for sponsoring education programmes targeted at the youths.

The award was presented by Teens Resource Centre during this year's Children's Day in Lagos.

The award was presented by Miss Teens Ghana Euderl Laryea. The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) clinched the Teens favourite environmental friendly organisation, while Boyic Yoghurt won the 'Teens favourite yoghurt' In the Nollywood category, Oge Okoye, an actress won the 'Teens favourite actress', while Benjamin Joseph, an actor won 'Teens Favourite Actor and Ozzy Bosco, a five-year-old musician won the 'Teens favourite child artiste.'

Mr Martins Akpan, Chief Executive

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BOUT 100 pupils from over 20 schools in Lagos State converged at the Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday last week to participate in the reading and reviewing of Diary of a Misfit, a book written by 16-yearold Angel Okwuosa, former Head Girl of Atlantic Hall School, Epe in Lagos.

The Reading/Review session was the initiative of Mr Frank Edozie to stimulate the interest of secondary school pupils in reading and writing like the author. Edozie, a General

Officer of Teens Resource Centre, Lagos, organiser of the event, admonished parents help their children's entrepreneurship education.

He also advised them to explore various potentials education can offer beyond certificates.

He said that these days, majority of the students fail external examinations because their parents are desperate for paper qualification only, adding that for youths to excel, holistic education comprising academics, creativity and discipline is vital.

The award, Akpan stressed, is an annual ritual meant to offer a platform for exceptional youths on the first hand; and acknowledge those that have contributed to teenagers' development on the other.

Individuals and cooperate

organisations were also honored.

Among them was Dr Jonathan Akpan, the proprietor of Access International Schools, who was recognised for awarding scholarships to over 25 children in his immediate community.

Bobo Foods National Sales Director, Mr Lawrence Chimezie, who received the award, thanked the organiser.

He said: “We are, indeed, qualified for this award because Bobo came like a drama, a milk drink that came to nourish children and has since been a brand name in many homes. Our brand stands out and that is why in 2015 Bobo has plan for the children in which 20 schools will be selected to compete and every student that participates must go home with a prize."

Former headgirl’s book praised Manager at Olokola Liquefied National Gas (OKLNG) attended the book launch last year and was impressed by the book and the young author.

The Diary of a Misfit is about the daily battles of an eighth-grader as she navigates the trials and tribulations associated with peer pressure, dealing with physical changes and, balancing academics. Written in a simple and humour-filled style, the

book takes readers through the realities of a school girl's life, specifically, one who has been christened a social misfit by her peers.

In his goodwill message, Edozie, commended Ms Okwosa for writing the book and reiterated his wish for the young people to embrace reading culture rather than be distracted by frivolous activities.

Also speaking, Mr Demola Adeyemi-Bero, Managing Director/

HE Edo State government has said it will support Federal Government’s policies that will enhance the welfare of Nigerians.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, spoke in Benin City when he received the Committee on the integration of out of School children into the Universal Basic Education Programme.

He emphasised that a wellarticulated synergy in policies and programmes devoid of political sentiment is the best way to fast track the desired growth and development of a people.

While harping on the role of basic education in the life of an individual, Prof Ihonvbere said it is on that premise Governor, Adams Oshiomhole emphasised the revival of public school system in the state.

He assured that the state government was ready to partner with the Federal Government to realise the

•Oshiomhole From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

mandate of the committee.

Leader of the committee, who was on a three-day visit Prof Emeka Ezeonu, said the visit to Edo State which is an assessment survey, is to secure the parcel of land for the Federal Government to build model schools in the state.

According to Ezeonu, 11 states in the south would benefit from the initiative, adding that on completion of the project, the model schools will be handed over to their various state governments.

Okojie thanks Okonjo-Iweala for HE Executive Secretary of the book donation National Universities Commis-

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sion (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, has expressed appreciation to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the donation of 224 copies of her book: Reforming the Unreformable, Lessons from Nigeria, to Nigerian universities, through the commission.

Okojie said: "I am very pleased about what has happened. This level of intervention is very important. You walk into a library and see that a minister, a mother and wife, despite her busy schedule, sat down to write a Chief Executive Officer, First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, encouraged the pupils and teachers to focus on literature.

Before writing the book, Miss Okwuosa said she had written many poems and short stories, in expression of her love for reading, writing, poetry, singing, and dancing.

The teenager hopes to attend the prestigious Harvard University to study Law and play a leading role in helping Nigeria become a great nation while not forsaking her love for writing.

book, not an autobiography, but to talk about substance in the system.

She spent her energy, resources and time. I have not read the entire book, but from the little that I have seen, it is a book that will serve the Nigerian University System (NUS) very well, especially students of Economics and Finance, including those who are interested in Development Economics.

We congratulate her for the success of this publication and the university system salutes her."

He added: "The title is very relevant.

It underlines the fact that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance is an academic to the core, having come from the university system (both her parents are professors). That is not the only reason. She has also had a wealth of experience working at the World Bank and serving as Minister of Finance twice and has put all her experience here for Nigeria and the world to share.

"We want to encourage other public office holders, either while in office or when they leave, to put their experiences in writing to help us understand where we are coming from and where we want to go to and lessons that have been learnt in the process.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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EDUCATION

NYSC cautions Corps members against bogus employment

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HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme has cautioned ex-corps members to be weary of fake persons who make offer of assistance to secure jobs for them in oil companies after the service year.

The NYSC said the fraudsters contact discharged corps members through their telephone numbers and email addressed printed in the end of service year magazine published by the Scheme.

In a statement signed by the Di-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

rector General of the scheme, Brigadier Gen Nnamdi Okore Affia, cautioned corps members against paying into any bank account as such information does not emanate from the scheme.

While stating that the publication of corps members contact in the magazine is just to authenticate claims of having served in the scheme, the NYSC urged Nigerians, especially young and unem-

•Success Ibeakanma (second right) and other athletes racing to the finish line.

ployed ex-corps members to seek jobs through open, transparent and the right channel. :Corps members should note that the deployment of such details for such sensitive issues as job , business or contract offers among others by unknown persons should be viewed with deepest suspicion.”

“Such unsolicited offers should be disregarded to avoid falling victims to fraudulent activities,” the statement warned.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Banana race is important too

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HO says full-bodied children cannot actively participate in sports? Not only can they be athletes, they can also do it well.

This was proven by the representative of Yellow house, Ibeakanma Success at the sixth biennial interhouse sports competition of Little Gems Private School, Surulere, Lagos.

Ibeakanma participated in the Banana 25 metres Race for pre-school pupils to the admiration and amusement of the parents, teachers, pupils and guests that filled the stands of the University of Lagos Sports Complex, venue of the event.

The pupils were required to pick a banana cut into halves from a stool in front of them, eat it then run 25metres to the finish line. At first when the spectators noticed Ifenna's size compared to others, they wondered that the house Master, Evans Obialo, must have made a poor choice of athlete. But when the whistle went, Ibeakanmagobbled down the banana so fast and started the 25m dash to the finish line while other athletes struggled to finish the banana in two or three bites. It was

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

only one nimble athlete, Ifenna Obumneme who took off after Ibeakanma that beat him to the finish line. Ibeakanma won the silver for his house and was cheered by all.

The dressing for school event was another exciting one. It featured pre-school boys and girls dress themselves for school. Head Teacher, Mrs Ihuoma Ucheya underscored the importance of this event, saying it was crucial to the development of the pre-schoolers. She insisted the pupils be allowed to dress themselves.

The event elicited a lot of laughter as some the young ones, who started out only in their underwear wore uniforms inside out, struggled to wear socks and buckle shoes, or forgot to pick their bags as the ran to the finish line. Because of the hurry, some shoes that were not well fastened went off before the finish line.

Many other events were decided during the competition, including the traditional sprints and relay races for nursery, lower and upper primary classes.

At the end of the competition, Purple House came first with 10 Gold, six silver and six bronze medals. Yellow was second with nine gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.

The most decorated sports pupil was Chinemelum Okafor with four gold, one silver and one bronze medals; while Mary Inyang placed second with three gold, one silver and one bronze.

The school's proprietress, Mrs Frances Femi-Pearse said sports is taken seriously by the school because it aids the development of growing children.

"You really cannot deviate from sports because sports is part of the development of a child. They learn to be competitive; they win or lose and accept losses, and when they win, they rejoice," she said.

A parent, Mr John Ibeh said he appreciates watching pupils participate in sporting activities as it exposes their talents.

"I am so happy to see the kids doing what we have done in the past.

You get to see what your child can do. With the performance they put up today, I am impressed," he said.

Ghana varsity promotes e-learning in Nigeria

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O bridge the space for admission into the university and to increase the number of people who will have access to higher education, the Ghana Technology University (GTU), has held a conference on campus automation, e-learning and faculty development in higher education.

The event, which was held at the GTUC Campus Lekki, Lagos was focused on how to promote the effective use of technology in education and research.

Speaking at the event, Dr Josephine Larbi-Apau, the head

By Medinat Kanabe

COLT-GTUC said Africa is behind in online education and we must follow the trends of technology like schools in the US that are fully going online so that many people can have access to higher education.

She said the centre for online learning and teaching is a new project designed to move forward GTU's e-learning agenda in partnership with Nigeria institutions.

"People can study from home not necessarily from the classrooms,

this will make the number people who have access to education more than what we have at present."

She also stated that they want to extend their services and programmes beyond borders, promote effective institutional collaboration in Ghana and abroad.

She said one of the problems we have in Africa is that we teach only about computers and don't make use of it. "They will continue to classify us as developing if we don't do something about it because they will think that our education is low," she added.

EDUTALK

with

SSCE failure: Who is to blame really?

W

E all know money doesn’t come easy. But

the attitude of young people writing external examinations these days doesn’t show it and I Kofoworola cannot understand or explain why. Last Saturday, I saw Belo-Osagie people who seemed to have been Kofosagie@yahoo.com forced to write the November/ December Senior School 08054503077 (SMS only) Certificate Examination. Their nonchalance was too obvious to ignore. At the first centre I visited with WAEC officials, my attention was drawn to two girls, likely friends, seated together. One wore a mono-strap red top as if when leaving home that day she was headed for a beach party, not to write her mathematics theory paper.

The other girl was better covered. But the way she chewed gum non-stop – unperturbed that although seriously behind time she was yet to be given answer sheets – showed that they were birds of the same feather. Amazingly, while the Head of WAEC National Office, Dr Iyi Uwadiae took down her name for having her mobile phone with her, the chewing gum girl showed no sign of worry at the implication of such act. And when he announced on his way out that the subject would likely be cancelled, her attitude was so indifferent that one would have thought Uwadiae said he just wanted them to be good students.

Before we left the centre, we found one textbook, Best results keypoints in Mathematics behind one of the classroom blocks – obviously hurriedly thrown out when candidates heard that a party from WAEC was in the neighbouring school. However, the greatest amusing and rather sad event I witnessed that day was at the last centre. There, I observed a young man in his late teens or early twenties seated next to an elderly man, old enough to be his father, staring into space as if his questions were written in a language he could not understand. All the time I stood by his window, he just turned his pen round and round in circles. But when I moved away, he copied from the grandpa by his side. What a shame.

In my school days, it was unlawful to write two certificate examinations in a year, so girls who stayed behind at home to write the November/December WASSCE at the beginning of the first term in SS3 were severely punished by the management. But I noticed that when they returned, they changed. It was after some of my classmates wrote the examination that malpractice started in earnest during internal examinations. They had observed various methods of perpetrating malpractice during the examination and imported it into the school. I remember the first term examination was so scandalous that the management had to set up a panel to probe what happened in my class.

I never wrote the November/December SSCE but Saturday’s visit was insightful and helped me to learn a bit about how disillusioned our youths are. But the question that kept coming to my mind was the kind of homes these candidates come from. Do their parents care about their future? If they do, how are they guiding them towards becoming responsible citizens? Often, we blame teachers/ invigilators for collecting money from candidates to cheat.

However, if these candidates have parents who monitor their progress in school and make sure they study when they are supposed to, we won’t be turning out poor results every year. We won’t be having only 25 per cent make at least five credits including English and Mathematics.

I believe parents are not doing enough to teach their children the worth of hard work and integrity, and above all, the ‘can do’ spirit.

That is why I could receive the text below from a candidate: “Aunty, so which of the exam did you think favor students this year because NECO gave me nine passes? I am depending on WAEC. Please, I need your reply”.

There is no need to assume that this candidate was among the 25 per cent who passed the 2009 May/June WASSCE. He said NECO ‘gave’ him nine passes as if the examination was written for him in his absence.

Parents need to show more interest in what their children do in school. Any parent, who pays for his child to pass, is only destroying his/her future. If parents sit up, teachers cannot compel pupils to cheat because they will get no such support from home.

‘At the first centre I visited with WAEC officials, my attention was drawn to two girls, likely friends, seated together. One wore a mono-strap red top as if when leaving home that day she was headed for a beach party, not to write her mathematics theory paper. The other girl was better covered. But the way she chewed gum nonstop – unperturbed that although seriously behind time she was yet to be given answer sheets – showed that they were birds of the same feather’ First published September 24, 2009

POLITICS

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

43

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•A scene at a polling unit during an election.

Fourteen years after the restoration of civil rule, free and fair election remains a dream in Nigeria. AUGUSTINE AVWODE and LEKE SALAUDEEN examine the factors militating against this important pillar of democracy.

Electoral reform: An unfinished business

N

IGERIA will hold the next general elections in the first quarter of 2015.

But, before then, the governorship elections will hold in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states.

Ahead of the proposed polls, the confidence of the electorate is shaking. Many Nigerians are anxious and angry. Their anger stems from the fact that 36 governors who, by all standards, should be the epitome of what is noble and honourable, failed to hold a free and fair Governors Forum election. The fiasco brought to the fore, almost instantly, the danger that lies ahead.

The electoral laws also appear confusing.

Recently, the Supreme Court faulted Section 285(5)(b) of the constitution, which states that “an election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition.”

Expressing frustration at the constitutional provision, which makes it mandatory for election tribunals to dispose petitions within 180 days, the court noted that many aggrieved politicians had lost their petitions on this technical ground. The apex court, therefore, maintained that the only way to ensure that litigants’ fair hearing was not violated is for the constitution to be amended.

Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, was delivering judgment in an interlocutory appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN).

Akeredolu was challenging the striking out of some paragraphs of his petition against the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State. Akeredolu appealed to the Supreme Court after the election tribunal had struck out some paragraphs of his petition. The Court of Appeal in Akure al-

‘The late President Umaru Yar’Adua gave Nigerians a flicker of hope in 2007. In his inaugural speech, he shocked his party member, when he openly admitted that the election, which produced him, was flawed. He immediately promised electoral reforms to correct the anomaly in the system’ lowed his appeal in part, a situation that forced him to file another appeal at the Supreme Court, while Mimiko filed a crossappeal.

But Justice Mohammed said, since Akeredolu’s appeal was caught by the provisions of Section 285(5)(b) of the Constitution, it would amount to embarking on an academic exercise to determine the merits of the appeal after the tribunal had already delivered its final judgment.

The two events have inadvertently turned the search light on the electoral process. The question is: What hope for the ballot?

A ray of hope The late President Umaru Yar’Adua gave Nigerians a flicker of hope in 2007. In his inaugural speech, he shocked his party members, when he openly admitted that the election, which produced him, was flawed. He immediately promised electoral reforms to correct the anomaly in the system. Three months after coming into office, the late Yar’Adua inaugurated a 22-member Electoral Reforms Committee (ERC) headed by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice

Muhammadu Uwais. The ERC was to specifically “examine the entire electoral process with a view to ensuring that we raise the quality and standard of our general elections and thereby deepen democracy”.

The members of the committee include former Foreign Affairs Minister Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, Prof Grace Alele-Williams, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Chief Festus Okoye and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega. It initially had 12 months to submit its report, but it could not meet the deadline line.

Therefore, the committee applied for an extension, which was granted.

In a bid to do a thorough job, the committee got 1,466 memoranda from the members of the public. It also held public hearings in two major cities in each of the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). There are 907 presentations. Justice Uwais and his team did a job that could have changed the face of electoral contest for the better in the country. The report of the committee came in six volumes and contained three draft bills. The first bill was for the

amendment of the 1999 Constitution; the second was for the amendment of the Electoral Act 2006 and the third was for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission.

Uwais said: “The Committee is firmly convinced that the acceptance and implementation of the recommendations contained in this report will significantly restore credibility in the electoral process and usher in an era of free, fair and credible election in the country”. But, four and a half years after the Uwais committee report, the search for free and credible election continues. With smaller neighbouring countries successfully conducting general elections, the need for Nigeria to enthrone the best practices in the conduct of elections has become more compelling.

Obstacles to reforms

A

NALYSTS have maintained that, had the political elite not hijacked the report of the Justice Uwais report, the electoral process would have been sanitised.

In December 2012, Uwais gave an insight into why the report never achieved the objectives.

Speaking during a dialogue on the review of the Electoral Law and Process organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), he observed that, instead of fully implementing the recommendations of his committee, the Federal Government opted to “pick and choose.”

The jurist lamented that the recommendations of ERC were scuttled by political interests. He observed: “As we know, the bill that was produced by the National Assem•Continued on page 44

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

POLITICS countries, the position is advertised and people apply and they are subjected to screening (written and oral test) to ensure only credible people are appointed. “Given our previous experience with the electoral body in this country, I think the best way to insulate the electoral chairman and commissioners from executive influence and guarantee free and fair elections is to adopt the latter as recommended by the Uwais panel”, he added.

Momoh added that the electoral body could be induced by the executive under the present arrangement whereby there is no financial autonomy for the commission.

“The electoral commissioners see the executive as their benefactor and would be willing to do their biddings. The adoption of this method would guarantee the independence of the INEC and sanitise the composition of the electoral body such that only people of proven integrity, that would bear no allegiance to any political party or interest, would emerge.”

•Continued from page 43

bly, though reflected on some of the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee, but not all the recommendations of the committee. As far as the Electoral Reform Committee was concerned, the recommendations were intended to be in tandem with one another.

“If you want to make a good job of it, you cannot just pick and choose a few. Unfortunately, although I am not blaming the National Assembly, party interest came in. Well, the 2010 Electoral Act was produced; it was put in practice in the 2011 elections.

“You are in the field. So, you are in the position to point out the shortcomings of the Act, but I know from the legal point of view, some provisions, like the one that electoral petition should be completed by the tribunals within 180 days, created some problems.

FTER the Uwais Committee’s report had been reviewed by another committee, which produced a white paper on it, the Federal Government, set up another three-man panel to review the white paper. The committee was headed by the former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa.

It had the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Hakeem Ahmed, as members.

The ERC report that had enjoyed wide applause and commendation was considerably watered down by the Aondoakaa panel. For instance, contrary to the ERC’s recommendation, the three-man review committee recommended that the chairman of the INEC should continue to be appointed based on the recommendation of the President and confirmation by the National Assembly.

The Uwais-led ERC had recommended that the appointment of the INEC chairman be advertised and coordinated by the National Judicial Commission (NJC), which will forward the name of the nominee to the Senate for ratification.

The committee, it was learnt, had insisted that it would not be in the interest of the executive to allow an issue as important as the appointment of the INEC chairman to slip off its control, hence, the decision to jettison the electoral committee’s recommendation.

It was one recommendation that would have guaranteed the neutrality and non-partisanship of the chief electoral officer in the country.

Besides, the three-man committee not only threw out the recommendation for the establishment of an Election Offences Commission to try election offenders, but equally threw out the recommendation for the conclusion of all court cases relating to the election before the swearing in of winners.

It recommended that all election-related legal battles should be disposed off within six months maximum, including trials for four months and appeal for two months.

The review committee did not disagree with the nine-man ministerial white paper drafting committee, which had Minister of Defence, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha as chairman, on independent candidacy. However, introduced a clause, which will compel independent candidates to deposit certain amount of money to be determined by INEC and which would be refunded, if they win a specified percentage of the votes cast.

A

Truly independent INEC The general belief is that a free

INEC chairman’s appointment

M

•INEC adhoc staff at a polling booth.

• Dr Jonathan

• The late Yar ‘Adua

• Prof Jega

Which way for ballot box? and credible election begins with an unbiased, non-partisan head of INEC. That was why the Uwais Committee recommended that the process of appointing a new INEC boss should commence with the National Judicial Council (NJC) advertising, interviewing and short-listing three persons and recommending same to the executive who would in turn select one of the nominees and forward same to the Senate for further screening and confirmation. The Federal Executive Council rejected the proposal on the excuse that the appointment of the head of the electoral body was, originally, an executive function and argued that transferring this power to the judicial arm of gov-

ernment would violate the principles of separation of powers.

The Head of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Professor Abubakar Momoh, said the independence of the electoral body would go a long way in boosting its credibility and enhancing its acceptance in the eyes of the electorate.

Momoh identified two issues that are germane to the independence of any electoral commission. These are the manner of appointment of the members of the commission and the source of funding to ensure its independence. He said that the nomination to electoral body should be taken away from the Presidency, the onus being placed

upon a non-political body such as the one that the nominates Supreme Court Judges.

Momoh said that the recommendation of the Uwais panel that the appointment should be made competitive by advertising the position would attract people of integrity and credibility who would not be subservient to the executive in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

He noted that the method of appointing electoral chairman varies from one country to the other.

“In some countries, according to him, the President nominates, the parliament approves; there are countries where the President has the power to hire and fire; in other

‘The Federal Executive Council rejected the proposal on the excuse that the appointment of the head of the electoral body was, originally, an executive function and argued that transferring this power to the judicial arm of government would violate the principles of separation of powers’

OMOH noted that the present system that empowers the President to appoint the INEC commissioners make members of the commission to be partisan because the President would likely appoint those who have sympathy for his party.

“Definitely, the appointment of electoral commissioners is not based on merit. There are some merits in what the Uwais panel recommended. If the position is advertised and handled by a neutral body, it would ensure that INEC would be free of partisan members, people with criminal records or those who have sympathy for one party or the other.

“There will be no petition against members after the inauguration of the commission, since their names would be made public before they are finally appointed. That has always being the problem. There will be no problem of public embarrassment for the appointees.

“In the first instance, people of merit would apply. There would be no question of people accepting appointment reluctantly. There will be willingness to serve and commitment to serve. The process will ensure fairness, non-partisanship, strict adherence to the rules as laid down in the constitution and the electoral law. The Chairman and electoral commissioners would be free of doing the bidding of the person that appoints them.

He urged the Presidency to reconsider its decision to reverse the recommendation of the Uwais Panel on the appointment of INEC chairman.

According to Justice Uwais at the presentation of the committee’s report in 2009, the recommendation of the panel was premised on the fact that, over the years, the influential position of the INEC Chairman has been an obstacle to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country. The Chairman as the head of the commission is often seen as doing the bidding of the President, which means that elections have sometimes not reflected the wishes of the electorate.

Funding To break the tradition of the electoral umpire going cap in hand to the executive to ask for funds to perform its duties, it was recommended by the Uwais Panel that the INEC should be place on first line charge so that it can enjoy financial autonomy. It also advocated that an effective financial management and control system be put in place with a request that •Continued on page 45

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

45

POLITICS

Electoral reform: An inconclusive exercise

•Continued from page 44

the INEC’s financial accounts should be thoroughly audited by a private audit firm to deter and detect financial misconduct.

Momoh said: “The present arrangement whereby INEC has to approach the executive for its financial needs makes the commission looks like an appendage of the party in power. The absence of independent funding can make the members to compromise their position”.

Independent candidacy

M

ANY people may want to contest elections and not find any of the parties suitable. Thus, the Uwais committee recommended that the independent candidacy should be allowed. But, Momoh faulted the suggestion.

“I am not against it for the fact that our political parties are fragile, not institutionalised and lack ideologies. It is where political parties have been institutionalised and political ideologies are known that independent candidates emerge without causing structural damages to the political structure. Independent candidacy serves as an alternative to what is on ground.

“In Nigeria, some politicians dump their parties once they failed to win primaries for elective office and cross to other parties. If you allow independent candidates, such politicians would float a parallel structure because they have the resources. If an independent candidate wins, he is not accountable to anyone.”

But Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) disagreed.

He said that the independent candidacy should be encouraged. “This will enable other persons whose qualifications and motivation are more altruistic and who may be acceptable to the electorate, if allowed to stand for election, to have access to the electoral process as against regular party candidates whose only qualification is their personal relationship with the party machinery or the ability to oil the same machinery” he said.

The lawyer therefore, suggested that the relevant provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act be amended to allow independent candidacy. He said the provision should prevent abuses and mass proliferation of candidates by recommending that the opportunity for independent candidacy may require candidate’s nomination by a substantial portion of the registered voters within the constituency in lieu of political party framework.

• Justice Uwais

• Ngige

• Aondoakaa

‘The advantage of settling electoral dispute before the swearing-in of the winner is that it would not allow either the governor or the President to use his office to manipulate electoral process’

Time constraint However, the issue of time constraint, which many lawyers have complained about, was hailed by Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN). He said the 180 days time-frame for electoral litigation is sufficient to dispose of cases by election petition tribunals.

Ngige said setting a time limit would ensure that the real winner is declared and assume office unlike where wrong candidates were declared winners and stayed in office for two or three years before the victory was reversed by the court.

“Where a wrong person was declared by the electoral body and the tribunal ordered a fresh election, the election can still hold within six months. Remember what happened in Ekiti and Osun states where INEC declared Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the winners of governorship

• Akintola

elections in their respective states. It took almost three years before the Appeal Court ruled that their opponents Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola; were validly elected.

So, those who were supposed not to occupy the office as governors were there for three years.

“The advantage of settling electoral dispute before the swearing-in of the winner is that it would not allow either the governor or the President to use his office to manipulate electoral process.

“Remember the case of Justice Ayo Salami.

He disagreed with the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alloy Katsina-Ala, over the handling of the Sokoto governorship election. If the issue had been resolved before Goodluck Jonathan was sworn-in, it

would not have been possible for Jonathan to remove Justice Salami from office.”

Akintola said the litigation on election petition can be done within one month, if the INEC makes available all necessary documents to the parties involved in the case promptly.

“To me, six months is too long. If the INEC releases materials to the petitioner on request, nothing stops the tribunal from completing its hearing within a month. See what happened in Kenya, the petition on presidential election was decided within one month.

“It is possible here in Nigeria. INEC should oblige the petitioner by providing all documents demanded for the prosecution of the case. Lack of access to INEC materials allows election petitions to drag on for

months. Tribunals resort to frequent adjournments thereby prolonging the hearing.

Failure of the INEC to accede to lawyers, request made it impossible for them to offload documents as required by the tribunal’s proceeding. You can’t offload the documents that you don’t have.

“This will help put an end to impunity.

How can we continue to allow individuals whose elections are being contested at the tribunals and courts to assume office and use public resources to fight off the challenges for nearly as long as they want?And to make matters worse, the challenger is left out in the cold, paying all his or her legal fees. This is unfair and unjust, and it must stop”, he added.

Some lawyers have argued that time limit constituted a major constraint in the speedy adjudication of election petitions. Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) who handled the Awolowo case in 1979 and Olu Falae’s petition in 1999 complained that he was not given enough time to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts.

A lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba had heaped much of the blames for the Gen. Mohammadu Buhari predicament in 2007 and 2011 on the tribunal. He said that the tribunal discouraged him from presenting witnesses in a bid to gain time, only for the judges to turn round to blame him in their judgments.

The struggle continues Meanwhile, the struggle for credible election continues. In the recent past, phrases like ‘one man, one vote’; ‘our votes must count’ and ‘we will defend our votes’ have been made popular, in a bid to emphasis the importance of credible election. That it is dear to the hearts of Nigerians is beyond doubt. But whether the political elite will ensure that efforts are genuinely made to entrench the culture of free and fair election is left for the imagination. For now, the issue of electoral reforms in Nigeria remains an unfinished business.

The Convener of National Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr Ayo Opadokun, in this interview with AUGUSTINE AVWODE, calls for the full implementation of the Justice Uwais report.

On Uwais report we stand, says Opadokun

T

• Opadokun

HERE are some outstanding issues that are yet to be resolved in the crusade for electoral reforms. What have you to say from the angle of CODER? The first thing I want to say is that Nigeria wasted a very big opportunity in the inconclusive digitalized voters register. The most important thing that we could have realised from a properly digitalized voters register was frustrated by the authorities of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC). What do I mean, it was expected that the different voters that registered in the different voting units, should transferred to the lo-

cal government area, through computer and they will be transferred to the state level. At that state level, there is a very necessary, significant programme that ought to have been done. It is called Automatic Voters Information Scheme (AVIS), it was not done.

What is your take on the Justice Uwais Report?

Of all the recommendations by the Justice Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee, the one that INEC should be self accounting or should be on the consolidated revenue is the only that has been accepted by the government at the centre. The other recommendations

have been jettisoned. The appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega by Dr Goodluck Jonathan has not conferred any credibility on the electoral umpire. Secondly, there is also the recommendation that there should be an Electoral Offences Commission, that will have the power to prosecute offenders, either at the federal or state levels, the rejection of this one also is to facilitate the desire to rig elections because nobody can stop them.

Besides, Uwais recommended that nobody should be allowed to assume office if his election is being challenged until all judicial interventions have been concluded.

That also was not taken.

What is the way out?

The way out is for Nigerians to be ready to reject fraud in any election, for them to say enough is enough. The time to ensure that their votes count is now. The time to protect their votes is now. Nigerian must stand up and insist on the Justice Uwais report if we want our elections to be credible, free and fair. It only be insisting on the Uwais report that Nigeria can hope to make her elections credible and meet international best practices.

All elections in this country outside the recommendations of the Uwais report is just a façade.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

45

POLITICS

Electoral reform: An inconclusive exercise •Continued from page 44

the INEC’s financial accounts should be thoroughly audited by a private audit firm to deter and detect financial misconduct.

Momoh said: “The present arrangement whereby INEC has to approach the executive for its financial needs makes the commission looks like an appendage of the party in power. The absence of independent funding can make the members to compromise their position”.

Independent candidacy

M

ANY people may want to contest elections and not find any of the parties suitable. Thus, the Uwais committee recommended that the independent candidacy should be allowed. But, Momoh faulted the suggestion.

“I am not against it for the fact that our political parties are fragile, not institutionalised and lack ideologies. It is where political parties have been institutionalised and political ideologies are known that independent candidates emerge without causing structural damages to the political structure. Independent candidacy serves as an alternative to what is on ground.

“In Nigeria, some politicians dump their parties once they failed to win primaries for elective office and cross to other parties. If you allow independent candidates, such politicians would float a parallel structure because they have the resources. If an independent candidate wins, he is not accountable to anyone.”

But Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) disagreed.

He said that the independent candidacy should be encouraged. “This will enable other persons whose qualifications and motivation are more altruistic and who may be acceptable to the electorate, if allowed to stand for election, to have access to the electoral process as against regular party candidates whose only qualification is their personal relationship with the party machinery or the ability to oil the same machinery” he said.

The lawyer therefore, suggested that the relevant provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act be amended to allow independent candidacy. He said the provision should prevent abuses and mass proliferation of candidates by recommending that the opportunity for independent candidacy may require candidate’s nomination by a substantial portion of the registered voters within the constituency in lieu of political party framework.

• Justice Uwais

• Ngige

• Aondoakaa

‘The advantage of settling electoral dispute before the swearing-in of the winner is that it would not allow either the governor or the President to use his office to manipulate electoral process’

Time constraint However, the issue of time constraint, which many lawyers have complained about, was hailed by Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN). He said the 180 days time-frame for electoral litigation is sufficient to dispose of cases by election petition tribunals.

Ngige said setting a time limit would ensure that the real winner is declared and assume office unlike where wrong candidates were declared winners and stayed in office for two or three years before the victory was reversed by the court.

“Where a wrong person was declared by the electoral body and the tribunal ordered a fresh election, the election can still hold within six months. Remember what happened in Ekiti and Osun states where INEC declared Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the winners of governorship

• Akintola

elections in their respective states. It took almost three years before the Appeal Court ruled that their opponents Kayode Fayemi and Rauf Aregbesola; were validly elected.

So, those who were supposed not to occupy the office as governors were there for three years.

“The advantage of settling electoral dispute before the swearing-in of the winner is that it would not allow either the governor or the President to use his office to manipulate electoral process.

“Remember the case of Justice Ayo Salami.

He disagreed with the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alloy Katsina-Ala, over the handling of the Sokoto governorship election. If the issue had been resolved before Goodluck Jonathan was sworn-in, it

would not have been possible for Jonathan to remove Justice Salami from office.”

Akintola said the litigation on election petition can be done within one month, if the INEC makes available all necessary documents to the parties involved in the case promptly.

“To me, six months is too long. If the INEC releases materials to the petitioner on request, nothing stops the tribunal from completing its hearing within a month. See what happened in Kenya, the petition on presidential election was decided within one month.

“It is possible here in Nigeria. INEC should oblige the petitioner by providing all documents demanded for the prosecution of the case. Lack of access to INEC materials allows election petitions to drag on for

months. Tribunals resort to frequent adjournments thereby prolonging the hearing.

Failure of the INEC to accede to lawyers, request made it impossible for them to offload documents as required by the tribunal’s proceeding. You can’t offload the documents that you don’t have.

“This will help put an end to impunity.

How can we continue to allow individuals whose elections are being contested at the tribunals and courts to assume office and use public resources to fight off the challenges for nearly as long as they want?And to make matters worse, the challenger is left out in the cold, paying all his or her legal fees. This is unfair and unjust, and it must stop”, he added.

Some lawyers have argued that time limit constituted a major constraint in the speedy adjudication of election petitions. Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN) who handled the Awolowo case in 1979 and Olu Falae’s petition in 1999 complained that he was not given enough time to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts.

A lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba had heaped much of the blames for the Gen. Mohammadu Buhari predicament in 2007 and 2011 on the tribunal. He said that the tribunal discouraged him from presenting witnesses in a bid to gain time, only for the judges to turn round to blame him in their judgments.

The struggle continues Meanwhile, the struggle for credible election continues. In the recent past, phrases like ‘one man, one vote’; ‘our votes must count’ and ‘we will defend our votes’ have been made popular, in a bid to emphasis the importance of credible election. That it is dear to the hearts of Nigerians is beyond doubt. But whether the political elite will ensure that efforts are genuinely made to entrench the culture of free and fair election is left for the imagination. For now, the issue of electoral reforms in Nigeria remains an unfinished business.

The Convener of National Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr Ayo Opadokun, in this interview with AUGUSTINE AVWODE, calls for the full implementation of the Justice Uwais report.

On Uwais report we stand, says Opadokun

T

• Opadokun

HERE are some outstanding issues that are yet to be resolved in the crusade for electoral reforms. What have you to say from the angle of CODER? The first thing I want to say is that Nigeria wasted a very big opportunity in the inconclusive digitalized voters register. The most important thing that we could have realised from a properly digitalized voters register was frustrated by the authorities of the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC). What do I mean, it was expected that the different voters that registered in the different voting units, should transferred to the lo-

cal government area, through computer and they will be transferred to the state level. At that state level, there is a very necessary, significant programme that ought to have been done. It is called Automatic Voters Information Scheme (AVIS), it was not done.

What is your take on the Justice Uwais Report?

Of all the recommendations by the Justice Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee, the one that INEC should be self accounting or should be on the consolidated revenue is the only that has been accepted by the government at the centre. The other recommendations

have been jettisoned. The appointment of Prof. Attahiru Jega by Dr Goodluck Jonathan has not conferred any credibility on the electoral umpire. Secondly, there is also the recommendation that there should be an Electoral Offences Commission, that will have the power to prosecute offenders, either at the federal or state levels, the rejection of this one also is to facilitate the desire to rig elections because nobody can stop them.

Besides, Uwais recommended that nobody should be allowed to assume office if his election is being challenged until all judicial interventions have been concluded.

That also was not taken.

What is the way out?

The way out is for Nigerians to be ready to reject fraud in any election, for them to say enough is enough. The time to ensure that their votes count is now. The time to protect their votes is now. Nigerian must stand up and insist on the Justice Uwais report if we want our elections to be credible, free and fair. It only be insisting on the Uwais report that Nigeria can hope to make her elections credible and meet international best practices.

All elections in this country outside the recommendations of the Uwais report is just a façade.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

‘Forgetfulness can be treated’ The Executive Director, Health Forever Limited, Bimbo Okubena, answers the first question; the representative of Wakunaga of America Company Limited, producers of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, Sam Ayeni handles the second.

D

EMENTIA is a term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a term that describes various symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s is a disease that can last a really long time and cost a lot of money — so much money, in fact, that the United States government is paying attention with new legislation.

In 2011President Barrack Obama signed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act into law. About $500 million goes to Alzheimer’s research, and the new law includes an additional $100 million for treatment, research, medicine and diagnostic tools.

Dr. Dorene Rentz, a neuropsychologist and co-director of Harvard Medical School’s Centre for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, has been studying Alzheimer’s patients for three decades. In 2005, the breakthrough was the discovery of something called amyloid plaque in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s. Not all people with the plaque go on to develop the disease, however.

More than five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and the National Institute on Aging estimates that that number is going to triple by 2050 — in part due to aging baby boomers.

The cost of coping with the disease—esti-

mated at $215 billion—is projected to rise to half a trillion dollars by 2050. That amount will likely tax their overburdened health care system, the economy and the families of those affected.

Dementia manifestations are on the increase as a neurological disease in most African countries too, including Nigeria and remain a major medical and social problem globally.

Although hyperdopaminergic activity is generally believed to play a crucial role in the symptomatology of the disease, most Africans believe that the disease is due to supernatural forces against the mental well-being of individuals and as such, cure cannot be found through modern medicine or orthodox medical practice.

Early signs of Alzheimer include, but not limited to, memory loss that disrupts daily life; challenges in planning or solving problems; difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure; confusion with time or place; trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships; misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; withdrawal from work or social activities and changes in mood and personality.

At Health Forever, our study and knowledge of tropical plants has allowed us to provide quality herbal remedies and health supplements for the improved well-being of people. Through our ongoing research efforts, we have been able to identify and develop herbal remedies that assist the body in preventing the causes of and fighting against life-threatening diseases, such

Questions: 1) I noticed that my 53 -year -old wife keeps burning our food and several visits to the hospital now revealed that she has Alzheimers. Do you know of any supplement we can use?

Yinka Ijibayiwa, 57-year-old teacher, Oke Ogun,Oyo State.

2) My sons have abandoned the use of raw garlic on the excuse of its smell and switched to its supplement, Kyolic, for prevention of cardio vascular diseases. Can you shed more light on this product?

Grace Obi, 65, and House wife, Awka, Anambra State.

•Okubena as Alzheimer.

We adopt a holistic approach towards health management, which leads to using herbs in the most complete and natural form. The body can then utilise the full, undiminished balance of ingredients provided by nature with the added benefits of quality control and assurance achieved through our careful manufacturing process. Our product, Jobelyn, is a herbal nutritional supplement extracted from the venerable and gluten-free Sorghum Bicolor plant.

The trio of Dr Itivere Adrian Omogbiya, Dr Adegbuyi Oladele Aderibigbe and Dr Adewale Ganiyu Bakre of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, has conducted research on Jobelyn and concluded that pretreatment ameliorates symptoms of psychosis in experimental models of rodents.

This is published in Journal of Basic Clinical Physiological and Pharmacological (2013. DOI 10.1515/jbcpp-2012-0073).

This research showed that Jobelyn demonstrated antipsychotic activity devoid of the cataleptic effect of traditional neuroleptic agents and this may be suggestive of a preferential antagonism of D 2 -mediated dopaminergic activity. Psychosis is a chronic neurological disorder and it remains a major medical and social problem in most African countries. Jobelyn is a commercial polyherbal formulation that has been acclaimed to show beneficial effects in neurological disorders. Although it is being prescribed in many hospitals, including the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, this study was undertaken at Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria to evaluate its effects on animal models predictive of human psychosis.

These findings suggest that Jobelyn exhibits antipsychotic-like activity, devoid of the adverse effect of cataleptic behaviour, and may offer some beneficial effects in the symptomatic relief of psychotic ailments like Alzheimer.

Health Forever Product Limited maintains its focus to provide its clients with the highest quality traditional African herbal dietary supplements and ingredients. Through continued research and development efforts and clinical research, the company continues to identify botanical ingredients for the health and wellness industry.

‘Protect your heart with garlic’

• Mr Ayeni

A

HEALTHY heart begins with a healthy diet. Reducing excessive saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium is a first recommendation. Adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, water, calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids is encouraged to support a healthy heart. Garlic is good for that. Garlic supplements can be placed into the following four categories: Garlic oil; garlic powder; garlic oil macerates and aged garlic extract.

Aged Garlic Extract: Made from organically grown garlic, which is crushed and then naturally cold-aged for up to 20 months converting

harsh, odorous and irritating compounds into compounds which are safe, stable and odorless.

• Kyolic is gentler on the intestinal tract than other forms of garlic and its constituents may even enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Standardised for s-allyl cysteine which is stable, odorless, safe, and has been proven to be absorbed and utilised by the body (s-allyl cysteine has demonstrated various benefits in studies such as reducing cholesterol synthesis in liver cells, enhancing the activity of cells in the body which fight infections, and reducing the growth of tumors in animals). More than four decades of usage in both Japan and the United States. Boasts of more than 100 studies published in scientific journals confirming the safety and effectiveness of both it and the ingredients it contains. Does not have the offensive aroma of raw garlic or other forms of garlic. It is known as the “sociable garlic”. Kyolic’s garlic is all natural and is organically grown without pesticides or herbicides.

Kyolic® Aged Garlic Extract has been researched and proven to enhance circulation and reduce a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated homocysteine, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and platelet aggregation.

What is KYOLIC good for?

KYOLIC may be ideal for nourishing the body and thereby may support the recommended therapy your health care provider advises. Some studies have suggested that Aged Garlic Extract

and some of its constituents may reduce cholesterol, thin the blood, protect the body from oxidants, and increase the activity of cells in the body which maintains general well-being during cold and flu season, protects the body from radiation exposure, and destroys tumor cells (limited evidence in animal models only). Aged Garlic Extract may also increase the activity of enzymes in the liver which function to detoxify the body from heavy metals, chemicals and other toxins. KYOLIC® is not a magic bullet, will not work equally for everyone, and should be taken in conjunction with, not in place of sound therapy recommended by your health care professional.

It is a nutritional support for: Those with elevated cholesterol levels. Those with highly stressful lifestyles. Those who desire possible nutritional protection from heavy metals and chemicals. Those who desire to minimise the effects of radiation and chemical exposure.Those who desire to maintain a healthy intestinal tract.

Those who desire additional nutritional support during cancer therapy.

How much KYOLIC is equal to one clove of garlic?

First of all, it is important to understand that whenever garlic is processed in any way, whether cooked, crushed, pickled or aged, as our product is, the chemistry changes. For that reason, one form of garlic cannot be compared to or considered equal to another form. If you look at active ingredients, 1

gram of raw garlic contains only 50 mcg of S-allyl cysteine (SAC), but 1 gram of KYOLIC® Aged Garlic Extract™ contains 1,000 mcg of SAC. Thus, it takes 20 grams of raw garlic to be equivalent to 1 gram of Aged Garlic Extract on the basis of SAC. If you look at SAMC, fructosyl arginine, carbolines, you can’t compare them because raw garlic does not have any of these beneficial compounds. Though it is not exactly the same as raw garlic, it has still demonstrated the benefits of garlic without the undesirable effects such as odor problems or stomach disorders often associated with the ingestion of raw garlic. So, KYOLIC® may be more beneficial, gentler and more desirable for supplementation purposes than raw garlic or other garlic product.

During the aging process, which KYOLIC® undergoes, bioconversion of odourous, harsh and irritating compounds in raw garlic yields non-odourous, stable, safe and effective compounds, to which many of the benefits of garlic have been attributed. There are more than 200 different compounds in garlic. Many of these compounds (such as fructanes, saponins, a protein fraction, etc.) naturally have no odor. Aged Garlic Extract has numerous non-odourous compounds. More than 100 scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Aged Garlic Extract and its constituents, demonstrating nutritional support for the cardiovascular system, cancer prevention, detoxification, etc.

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

‘Forgetfulness can be treated’ The Executive Director, Health Forever Limited, Bimbo Okubena, answers the first question; the representative of Wakunaga of America Company Limited, producers of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, Sam Ayeni handles the second.

D

EMENTIA is a term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a term that describes various symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s is a disease that can last a really long time and cost a lot of money — so much money, in fact, that the United States government is paying attention with new legislation.

In 2011President Barrack Obama signed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act into law. About $500 million goes to Alzheimer’s research, and the new law includes an additional $100 million for treatment, research, medicine and diagnostic tools.

Dr. Dorene Rentz, a neuropsychologist and co-director of Harvard Medical School’s Centre for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, has been studying Alzheimer’s patients for three decades. In 2005, the breakthrough was the discovery of something called amyloid plaque in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s. Not all people with the plaque go on to develop the disease, however.

More than five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and the National Institute on Aging estimates that that number is going to triple by 2050 — in part due to aging baby boomers.

The cost of coping with the disease—esti-

mated at $215 billion—is projected to rise to half a trillion dollars by 2050. That amount will likely tax their overburdened health care system, the economy and the families of those affected.

Dementia manifestations are on the increase as a neurological disease in most African countries too, including Nigeria and remain a major medical and social problem globally.

Although hyperdopaminergic activity is generally believed to play a crucial role in the symptomatology of the disease, most Africans believe that the disease is due to supernatural forces against the mental well-being of individuals and as such, cure cannot be found through modern medicine or orthodox medical practice.

Early signs of Alzheimer include, but not limited to, memory loss that disrupts daily life; challenges in planning or solving problems; difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure; confusion with time or place; trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships; misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; withdrawal from work or social activities and changes in mood and personality.

At Health Forever, our study and knowledge of tropical plants has allowed us to provide quality herbal remedies and health supplements for the improved well-being of people. Through our ongoing research efforts, we have been able to identify and develop herbal remedies that assist the body in preventing the causes of and fighting against life-threatening diseases, such

Questions: 1) I noticed that my 53 -year -old wife keeps burning our food and several visits to the hospital now revealed that she has Alzheimers. Do you know of any supplement we can use?

Yinka Ijibayiwa, 57-year-old teacher, Oke Ogun,Oyo State.

2) My sons have abandoned the use of raw garlic on the excuse of its smell and switched to its supplement, Kyolic, for prevention of cardio vascular diseases. Can you shed more light on this product?

Grace Obi, 65, and House wife, Awka, Anambra State.

•Okubena as Alzheimer.

We adopt a holistic approach towards health management, which leads to using herbs in the most complete and natural form. The body can then utilise the full, undiminished balance of ingredients provided by nature with the added benefits of quality control and assurance achieved through our careful manufacturing process. Our product, Jobelyn, is a herbal nutritional supplement extracted from the venerable and gluten-free Sorghum Bicolor plant.

The trio of Dr Itivere Adrian Omogbiya, Dr Adegbuyi Oladele Aderibigbe and Dr Adewale Ganiyu Bakre of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, has conducted research on Jobelyn and concluded that pretreatment ameliorates symptoms of psychosis in experimental models of rodents.

This is published in Journal of Basic Clinical Physiological and Pharmacological (2013. DOI 10.1515/jbcpp-2012-0073).

This research showed that Jobelyn demonstrated antipsychotic activity devoid of the cataleptic effect of traditional neuroleptic agents and this may be suggestive of a preferential antagonism of D 2 -mediated dopaminergic activity. Psychosis is a chronic neurological disorder and it remains a major medical and social problem in most African countries. Jobelyn is a commercial polyherbal formulation that has been acclaimed to show beneficial effects in neurological disorders. Although it is being prescribed in many hospitals, including the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, this study was undertaken at Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria to evaluate its effects on animal models predictive of human psychosis.

These findings suggest that Jobelyn exhibits antipsychotic-like activity, devoid of the adverse effect of cataleptic behaviour, and may offer some beneficial effects in the symptomatic relief of psychotic ailments like Alzheimer.

Health Forever Product Limited maintains its focus to provide its clients with the highest quality traditional African herbal dietary supplements and ingredients. Through continued research and development efforts and clinical research, the company continues to identify botanical ingredients for the health and wellness industry.

‘Protect your heart with garlic’

• Mr Ayeni

A

HEALTHY heart begins with a healthy diet. Reducing excessive saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium is a first recommendation. Adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, water, calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids is encouraged to support a healthy heart. Garlic is good for that. Garlic supplements can be placed into the following four categories: Garlic oil; garlic powder; garlic oil macerates and aged garlic extract.

Aged Garlic Extract: Made from organically grown garlic, which is crushed and then naturally cold-aged for up to 20 months converting

harsh, odorous and irritating compounds into compounds which are safe, stable and odorless.

• Kyolic is gentler on the intestinal tract than other forms of garlic and its constituents may even enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Standardised for s-allyl cysteine which is stable, odorless, safe, and has been proven to be absorbed and utilised by the body (s-allyl cysteine has demonstrated various benefits in studies such as reducing cholesterol synthesis in liver cells, enhancing the activity of cells in the body which fight infections, and reducing the growth of tumors in animals). More than four decades of usage in both Japan and the United States. Boasts of more than 100 studies published in scientific journals confirming the safety and effectiveness of both it and the ingredients it contains. Does not have the offensive aroma of raw garlic or other forms of garlic. It is known as the “sociable garlic”. Kyolic’s garlic is all natural and is organically grown without pesticides or herbicides.

Kyolic® Aged Garlic Extract has been researched and proven to enhance circulation and reduce a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated homocysteine, serum cholesterol, triglycerides and platelet aggregation.

What is KYOLIC good for?

KYOLIC may be ideal for nourishing the body and thereby may support the recommended therapy your health care provider advises. Some studies have suggested that Aged Garlic Extract

and some of its constituents may reduce cholesterol, thin the blood, protect the body from oxidants, and increase the activity of cells in the body which maintains general well-being during cold and flu season, protects the body from radiation exposure, and destroys tumor cells (limited evidence in animal models only). Aged Garlic Extract may also increase the activity of enzymes in the liver which function to detoxify the body from heavy metals, chemicals and other toxins. KYOLIC® is not a magic bullet, will not work equally for everyone, and should be taken in conjunction with, not in place of sound therapy recommended by your health care professional.

It is a nutritional support for: Those with elevated cholesterol levels. Those with highly stressful lifestyles. Those who desire possible nutritional protection from heavy metals and chemicals. Those who desire to minimise the effects of radiation and chemical exposure.Those who desire to maintain a healthy intestinal tract.

Those who desire additional nutritional support during cancer therapy.

How much KYOLIC is equal to one clove of garlic?

First of all, it is important to understand that whenever garlic is processed in any way, whether cooked, crushed, pickled or aged, as our product is, the chemistry changes. For that reason, one form of garlic cannot be compared to or considered equal to another form. If you look at active ingredients, 1

gram of raw garlic contains only 50 mcg of S-allyl cysteine (SAC), but 1 gram of KYOLIC® Aged Garlic Extract™ contains 1,000 mcg of SAC. Thus, it takes 20 grams of raw garlic to be equivalent to 1 gram of Aged Garlic Extract on the basis of SAC. If you look at SAMC, fructosyl arginine, carbolines, you can’t compare them because raw garlic does not have any of these beneficial compounds. Though it is not exactly the same as raw garlic, it has still demonstrated the benefits of garlic without the undesirable effects such as odor problems or stomach disorders often associated with the ingestion of raw garlic. So, KYOLIC® may be more beneficial, gentler and more desirable for supplementation purposes than raw garlic or other garlic product.

During the aging process, which KYOLIC® undergoes, bioconversion of odourous, harsh and irritating compounds in raw garlic yields non-odourous, stable, safe and effective compounds, to which many of the benefits of garlic have been attributed. There are more than 200 different compounds in garlic. Many of these compounds (such as fructanes, saponins, a protein fraction, etc.) naturally have no odor. Aged Garlic Extract has numerous non-odourous compounds. More than 100 scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Aged Garlic Extract and its constituents, demonstrating nutritional support for the cardiovascular system, cancer prevention, detoxification, etc.

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

NATURAL HEALTH

Back to Stinging Nettle for Spring Cleaning E

jo omode l'emeji. That translates as the leaves of the Nettle doesn't sting a child twice. It is another way of saying "once bitten, twice shy" Nettle has been researched worldwide by reputable organisations, such as the ones listed below, and found to possess activities which curb inflammation, reduce blood pressure, inhibit nerve and joint pain, stops symptoms of prostrate enlargement, holds prospects of prostrate cancer cure, provides diuresis better than diuretic drugs, kills bacteria, viruses and fungi, and stops internal bleeding among many other functions.

Germany appears to lead the world in the use of Nettle as a drug, to treat all kinds of prostrate diseases. The institutions which help to confirm recognitions of folk medicine over hundreds of years in which herbalists have prescribed Nettle, include: • Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Beckley.

• Institute of Transplantation and Gene Services, Turkey.

• Abant Izet University, Turkey • Institute for Vaccines Sera, Russia • Universitatsklink, Germany • Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology • Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Poland But they are only just telling us what herbalists had known for ages, as Maria Treben, one of Austria's leading herbalists in her time, and Dr H.C. Vogel, of Switthe white bottle would attract all the colours in the light zerland, say in their books. spectrum and, if the water was drunk, all the radiations In her HEALTH THROUGH GOD'S PHARMACY, would be ingested. If a healer found that an organ with Maria Treben reports that the renowed artist Albrecht green radiations was sick, he would recommend that a Duerer (1471-1528) "painted an angel who flies heaven green bottle be used, so only the green in the light specwards with Stinging Nettles in his hands". Maria Treben trum would be extracted for this organ. The pity is that, thought of Stinging Nettle as the best blood cleanser. today, not many doctors know of this design of Mother So, when a mother of seven who developed eczema Nature, or of which organ produces which colour vibraand headaches after her last child birth approached tion. Like the healing with the radiations of precious her for help, she prescribed Nettle tea. She suggested stones, which we are told is reserved for the future, by it for pancreatic problems, including elevated blood which time people specially prepared for it would be sugar, "disorders and inflammation of the urinary passent to the earth as teachers and healers, the healing with sage and suppression of urine". Attributing Stinging colours may have eluded this civilisation.

Nettle tea to the secret of her digestive health, suppleThis is one of the lamentations you are likely to come ness and energy, Maria Treben wrote: off with after reading THE PSYCHIC GARDEN, by Mellie "In herbal medicine, Stinging Nettle tea drink durUyldert or THE SECRET OF THE ATOMIC AGE, by Vera ing a four-week period is used for liver, gallbladder Stanley Alder (1898-1984), a portrait painter who exhiband spleen disorders, even for a tumor in the spleen, ited exuberant interest in spiritual life, and wrote sevfor stomach cramps and ulcers in the intestine, coneral great books. I read Vera's book at 27. ‘The Psychic gestion in the lungs or stomach and lung disorders. It Garden’ I read much later. From this book I learned of is also beneficial for viral diseases and bacterial exhow the siting of houses in wrong places may expose the cretions." residents to disease, even cancer. For example, rivers The book has Nettle testimonials for the resolutions flow underground as they flow on land surface. Earth of sciatic nerve problems, hay fever, dropsy, falling, radiations are emitted in the courses of underground rivthin hair, anaemia, exhaustion, susceptibility to colds, ers. Some animals, including cats, bees,and owls, pick gout, rheumatism, vascular (vessel) constrictions the radiation and are forever nestling there. Ants build (Buerger's disease), fistulas, pain, dark brown urine, anthills on them. Ant tracks are formed on the course of cramps, and faulty circulation. underground water courses. Building a house these days, So popular was this herb with generations gone by not enough attention is given to these matters. Ant hills that Maria Treben would say: "Everything about the are destroyed and the building goes up. Sometimes, ants Nettle, stem, leaves, flowers and root has medicinal following the course of earth radiation thereafter invade properties. The Swiss herbalist Abbe Kuenzle points a house. The wall blocks their path. They seek a way in. out in his writings that the Nettle would have been The residents come out in fright. They pour water or wiped out long ago were it not for its stings. Insects kerosene or petrol over the track. The ants disperse only and animals would have eaten it away." to tenaciously regroup soon after on the same track.

Dr Vogel was so fascinated about Stinging Nettle that There are many things ants hate which will permanently he made a proprietary product from it, and eggshell keep them away. I believe the cheapest is wood ash. If named URTICALCIN. The botanical name of the Nettle the track is lined with ash, they flee in several direcis URTICA DIOCA or URTICA URENS. What he was tions, never to regroup at least for that day. Earth radialooking for in both Nettle and eggshell was calcium. tions don't injure everyone. It hurts only people who Eggshell is about 95 per cent calcium carbonate. Stingare constitutionally weak and sensitive to it like some ing Nettle has a large amount of Calcium. Steroid plants and trees. Wild bees are known to wish to make chemicas, Vitamin D, other vitamins, minerals their nests in sick hollow trees, sickened perhaps by earth polysaccharides and silica Dr Vogel was concerned that radiations. Soon, the trees come alive, helped by the forthe major cause of many glandular problems was calmic acid in the honey of the bees, a suggestion by Nacium deficiency, not because the diet was calcium deture that good quality pure honey or formic acid suppleficient but because it was poorly absorbed. He found ment may help people whose illness is due to sensitivity the calcium in Nettle easily absorbable by his patients. to earth radiation.

As he explains: "Many a sufferer of tuberculosis Now, Nature beings are harnessing radiations, and would not have died had he but gone out of his way to forming or combining them to make new forms out of gather Nettles and avail himself of their goodness.

Creations materials. All chemists learned this art from How many children might have had their waxen looks them. changed and their red cheeks restored, if only their In the working of Nature, the human body was fashparents had realised that wonderful medicinal value ioned from the earth which, therefore, contains all the the despised Nettle has to offer. Much hard-earned materials to maintain it in health and illness. Plants and money would not clink unnecessarily into the herbs are the tools through which Nature brings them pharmacist's till, if young Nettles were used as a reinto the body, as we shall soon see. Nature beings induct storative every spring." the radiations of the substances upward from the ground He said: "No other plant can equal the Nettle as a condense them into physical forms of plants remedy for anaemia, chlorosis, rickets, scrofula, resThat's why it is loaded with Selenium, which we know piratory disease and, especially, lymphatic problem." the body uses to make one of its major antioxidant deDr. Vogel counts on Nettle for calcium, phosphorus, fences. HIV and cancer challenged people know they iron, vitamin D (for assimilation of calcium) and other shouldn't do without Selenium supplement. Manganutrients. Very few plants are said to have Vitamin D, nese, too, is needed to make another line of antioxia deficiency of which, like Calcium, is implicated in dant and is indispensable for immune boosting and colon cancer. What Dr Vogel said of Nettle in 1952 is blood sugar control mechanism, like Magnesium, Zinc only just being validated today by science. Happily, and the B-Vitamins. That, also, is why almonds are for me, I no longer have to keep a sack and a pen knife good for immunity ... almond is a rich source of Manin the car, driving around Lagos, not concentrating on ganese. Stinging Nettle is in a class of its own. the traffic but looking here and there beyond sidewalks for patches of Nettle to take home, clean up and juice.

Stinging Nettle Nettle is now everywhere in food supplements. I just As the name explains, the leaves of this plant have got pulled by the shirt collar recently when I sighted stinging hairs at the edges. I used to wear gloves when one or two growing in my garden… "So, I need Nettle I used to harvest and prepare the herbs for packaging. again", I thought. Now, I take one 500mg capsule of the The Yoruba call it esen (d.d. Ijebu) or esinsin (d.d.d, other root powder on empty stomach with water three times a parts of Yoruba land). Of its sting it is said ewe esen kii day. And it has been a wonderful experience on which I'd speak later. e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

VERY day, like every month and year or every season, comes with reminders in home gardens, fields and forests of the goodness of the Almighty Creator, Who, before the creation of man, had provided all he would need for the sustenance of his body in health or illness. So, this Sunday afternoon, as I work in the small garden of my home, I am inwardly reminded to look out for medicinal plants which, on their own, have begun to grow in large quantities. I know that they have come to me because I need them.

One of these plants is Stinging Nettle. I can see Mr Charles Olusegun Akintobi sitting up straight wherever he is because, as he often reminds us his friends, this herb brought him back to life. I do not regret showing it to one of my neighbours, Mrs Yomi Whyte, a few years ago, even if that meant such a heavy harvesting of this plant by other people, her kind heart revealed it to us well and, today, much as I need it, there's no more Nettle growing in our housing estate. Happily, from countries where the Nettle is cultivated in plantation scale, capsule, fluid extract, powder or bulk herb supplements of it are now easily available.

But before I share my experiences about the Nettle, I'd like, first, to return to the idea of plants springing up seemingly from out of the blue when, medically, we have need for them. It all has to do with radiation, often mentioned or discussed in this column. Briefly, the idea is that everything we see, including our physical bodies, is a condensation of radiations which we cannot behold with the physical eye. I often cite a few examples of the evidence, such as: • Why does a house inhabited by human beings smell fresh and is healthy, whereas abandoned houses soon become stale smelling and sick looking, cracks and collapses as can be seen in many houses abandoned in the villages or cities? Is it just a question of physical care or lack of it, or is there something which man emanates from his core, that is his innermost being, which keeps not just his soul and body together but also maintains his environment as well?

• Students of Mother Nature know that animal souls cannot form themselves into personal animal souls independent of the group animal soul without the radiation of man as the transforming agent. Could this be why domesticated animals, such as the cat or the dog, always like to nestle around the human body? If animals in the wild are still indeed wild, could this be because man, a creature from out of the Love of the Creator, has failed to show enough love to them for their transformation? Many Christians will remember that, in the Revelation of John reported in the Bible, we see four Animals at the foot of the Creator's Throne … the Lion, the Bull, the Eagle and the Ram. Why is it that, at this great height, these Beings are so peaceful and trustworthy and dutiful, yet their images on earth may still be savages?

• What is in the hands of a man which impresses on the body of a newly-born kitten or rabbit or piglet that makes the mother animal abandon these young ones once she has smelled human touch on them?

• Why do people suffer "ghost" pains? Ghost pains are pains in the space where a limib was amputated. If a limb was amputated and feelings of life existed there afterwards, what was responsible for these feelings?

Semyor Kirlian provides a clue in his photographic technique which shows that, for every physical form, there is an ethereal archetype after which the physical formed.

In other words, when a physical part of the body is lost, the non-physical prototype remains. This has led scientists to theorise existence of the human soul. Thus, Dr Norman Sheally, a surgeon who practises energy medicine on the basis of this idea, would ask in his book, THE CREATION OF EARTH, co-written with Carolyn Myss, a journalist turned energy medicine practitioner, if orthodox medicine was prepared to accept the existence of the human spirit.

The foregoing prepares the grounds to understand why plants we need to boost or to maintain health suddenly sprout around us. This is the work of Nature being. Those of us who are familiar with the Old Testament of the Bible will remember that Balaam saw some beings about to cause the earth to quake while he was riding a horse.

In error, he named them angels. We now know they are elemental beings who work in the earth. There are some who work in water (water spirites), in the gardens (gnomes and salamanders), in the air, with rainfall … in every activity we call Nature. They are the forces behind Mother Nature. There are those who look after our health.

They are all servants of the MOST HIGH who are meant to be our helpers and teachers, they are, therefore, not to be worshipped. Every organ of the body radiates energy which, together, form the radiation of the body. Thus, a clairvoyant or seer may see an ailing organ since its vibrations would be dull. Plants which have the colour of these radiations can then be given to him to augment the weakened vibration. In any case, it is the radiations present in food and called the "life force" that we extract from the food we eat to give the various organs. Thus, we have to eat food of a variety of colours ( blue, green, red, yellow, orange, indigo and violet) to cover the colousr spectrum or what heaters call the water colour of life.

In pristine times, men kept water in white bottles on flat rooftops from sunrise to sunset. The idea was that

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

e-Business More than one year after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated the bank-led mobile money services , none of the licencees has 10,000 subscribers on its network. In this report, LUCAS AJANAKU argues that telco-led model would have done the magic.

How to grow mobile money services

•Sanusi

•Kuponiyi

S

OME mobile telecoms service providers prefer to play the ostrich when it comes to the bank-led model of mobile money services, but not Globacom. The indigenous service provider has always questioned the rationale for the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to initiate the project.

At a Telecoms Consumer Parliament held at in Lagos by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) about three years ago, which was also attended by a representative of the CBN, a woman, who works with Globacom, sought to know why the apex bank chose to adopt the model. Her question was not answered as market women and less literate subscribers who thronged the venue asked various questions, including but not limited to: “If I buy pepper in Agege Market, would I be able to pay through my mobile phone?”

Another opportunity arose for Globacom to challenge the CBN initiative at a forum attended by its Director, Telemarketing Unit, Tunde Kuponiyi, in Lagos.

He complained that the regime of bank-led mobile money regulation is not friendly to telecoms companies which provide the mobile payment platform. According to him, telecoms companies could contribute alot to a cash-less economy, lamenting that under the dispensation, their hands were tied.

Kuponiyi explained that since the mobile payments business is 90 per cent dependent on the mobile industry, it was unfair that the mobile network owners are prevented from advertising their various mobile payment products, which are the foundation on which the bank products operate.

“From the customer’s mobile phone, to the mobile payments system and feedback to the mobile phone, the mobile payment transaction uses mostly mobile resources, makes use of mobile time and is supported by mobile engineers, but unfortunately, the CBN has restricted telecoms companies from advertising in the mobile payments space,” he said.

He stressed the need for telecoms companies to be allowed to speak about the capabilities of their networks, the quality of user experience and the choice of mobile payment services available.

Kuponiyi hit the nail on the head when he declared: “It is roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cash-less economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers.”

He blamed the development on the passive role of telecoms companies selected by

•PoS Terminal

the CBN. The CBN said infrastructure would be a challenge in implementing mobile money and was working on improving on it, although that responsibility is outside its powers.

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi met with the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, and other stakeholders, to deliberate on infrastructure.

Sanusi justified his decision to adopt bankled model, arguing that the regulation of the telecoms sector is not within the apex bank’s control, making it difficult for it to guide mobile money operations under the telco-led model the telecoms operators were clamouring for.

Sanusi, who spoke at this year’s risk management conference in Lagos, said the risk involved in mobile money operations are so high, stressing that regulation has to be implemented. He said the banking watchdog does not control what the telcos are doing, unlike

in the bank-led model where it provides the operating guidelines.

Telecoms companies have been calling on the CBN to allow them to participate in the regulation of the mobile money subsector, one of the services provided by banks in support of the cash-less banking initiative.

With a population estimated at 167 million and telecoms subscriber base of 113 million, the potentials of a well-structured and implemented mobile money operation in the country appear to be limitless. The opportunities range from job creation to bringing the huge number of the unbanked to the sector. It will also eliminate the huge cost associated with structural banking.

An official of Union Bank of Nigeria said: “Everybody is trying to reduce the cost of doing business. Electronic products help to drive your laibility (down). Instead of saying people come and bank with me, just give them good products and they will naturally come to you and this will also drive (down) the cost.

‘It is roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cashless economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers’

Instead of building a bank for N80 million, if I put an ATM that does the same thing or mobile that can satisfy customers’ needs like now, all my bills are paid through my phone.

I hardly go to the branches to do anything, so, if we can do that people will bank and reduce the cost of operation for the bank.

“As these costs are come down, there is no need for the banks to be declaring N40 billion profit. People should not be paying for ATM charges any more, when you use ATM, you will be free. If I want to pay Dstv, they charge me N100. I should not be paying, it is helping the Dstv company to manage cash. They have to worry about the queue and (other discomfort), so if the customer is paying electronically, why are you penalising him for making your process easier? So, what we are saying is that they (the companies) should pay not the customer. We are getting to that point. So the benefit for customer is reduction in cost,” he said.

But factors, such as low level of awareness, dearth of infrastructure and concealed apathy by the mobile operators to drive the programme have continued to be challenges.

According to a study carried out by Visa Incorporated and Fundamo, the Visa-owned mobile money platform, the market has the potential to lead the world in mobile money, but only 35 per cent of the citizens are aware of its existence in the country versus an average of 56 per cent across all six of the emerging markets surveyed.

The study stated that only 56 million of mobile phone subscribers had bank accounts, making it one of the most exciting mobile money markets in the world. “Consumers’ needs for financial services are far more sophisticated than previously believed and go well beyond the established transaction set offered by mobile money services today,” the study added.

Chief Technology Officer, eTranzact International, Richard Omoniyi, agrees that there was need to step up ‘education’ on the scheme.

“One thing that is importat is education. GSM is working despite the hiccups. Once in a while, we still have communications issue, but I believe that it’s a matter of time, we will get there.

“CBN needs to push further, awareness is vital. People still find it hard to believe that in their cell phones, they could send money,” he said.

The study noted that the success of mobile financial services was determined by how deeply the mobile money provider understood its customers and tailored the service to their needs as well as those of mobile money agents from service menus to marketing and education.

To raise awareness and drive adoption, it said providers needed to educate consumers on the key benefits and uses of mobile money services, while tackling barriers to uptake. Eightythree per cent of respondents in Nigeria cited “safety of not having to carry around a lot of cash” as the primary benefit of mobile money, the study stated. They said the number one barrier to adoption in the country was whether the family sent money to would know how to get or receive it, underscoring the need to intensify the campaign on sensitisation.

Despite the teething challenges in the scheme, Uzor Eziukwu, managing director, Parkway Projects Limited, believes the experience is a phase, a type of learning curve that must be passed through.

“I don’t agree with you that it has been slow and sluggish. Generally speaking, financial services have their life cycle. We have the same experience with ATM (automated teller machine) cards, which took about three years to pick. We are just one year into mobile money or mobile payment. The response is okay, but there are challenges such as infrastructural challenges but it is still early days. We will get all these things sorted out. I think in the next two years, you will see a huge spike in mobile money transaction in Nigeria, undoubtedly,” he said.

49

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

e-Business More than one year after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated the bank-led mobile money services , none of the licencees has 10,000 subscribers on its network. In this report, LUCAS AJANAKU argues that telco-led model would have done the magic.

How to grow mobile money services

•Sanusi

•Kuponiyi

S

OME mobile telecoms service providers prefer to play the ostrich when it comes to the bank-led model of mobile money services, but not Globacom. The indigenous service provider has always questioned the rationale for the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to initiate the project.

At a Telecoms Consumer Parliament held at in Lagos by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) about three years ago, which was also attended by a representative of the CBN, a woman, who works with Globacom, sought to know why the apex bank chose to adopt the model. Her question was not answered as market women and less literate subscribers who thronged the venue asked various questions, including but not limited to: “If I buy pepper in Agege Market, would I be able to pay through my mobile phone?”

Another opportunity arose for Globacom to challenge the CBN initiative at a forum attended by its Director, Telemarketing Unit, Tunde Kuponiyi, in Lagos.

He complained that the regime of bank-led mobile money regulation is not friendly to telecoms companies which provide the mobile payment platform. According to him, telecoms companies could contribute alot to a cash-less economy, lamenting that under the dispensation, their hands were tied.

Kuponiyi explained that since the mobile payments business is 90 per cent dependent on the mobile industry, it was unfair that the mobile network owners are prevented from advertising their various mobile payment products, which are the foundation on which the bank products operate.

“From the customer’s mobile phone, to the mobile payments system and feedback to the mobile phone, the mobile payment transaction uses mostly mobile resources, makes use of mobile time and is supported by mobile engineers, but unfortunately, the CBN has restricted telecoms companies from advertising in the mobile payments space,” he said.

He stressed the need for telecoms companies to be allowed to speak about the capabilities of their networks, the quality of user experience and the choice of mobile payment services available.

Kuponiyi hit the nail on the head when he declared: “It is roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cash-less economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers.”

He blamed the development on the passive role of telecoms companies selected by

•Orange box Pos Terminal

the CBN. The CBN said infrastructure would be a challenge in implementing mobile money and was working on improving on it, although that responsibility is outside its powers.

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi met with the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, and other stakeholders, to deliberate on infrastructure.

Sanusi justified his decision to adopt bankled model, arguing that the regulation of the telecoms sector is not within the apex bank’s control, making it difficult for it to guide mobile money operations under the telco-led model the telecoms operators were clamouring for.

Sanusi, who spoke at this year’s risk management conference in Lagos, said the risk involved in mobile money operations are so high, stressing that regulation has to be implemented. He said the banking watchdog does not control what the telcos are doing, unlike

in the bank-led model where it provides the operating guidelines.

Telecoms companies have been calling on the CBN to allow them to participate in the regulation of the mobile money subsector, one of the services provided by banks in support of the cash-less banking initiative.

With a population estimated at 167 million and telecoms subscriber base of 113 million, the potentials of a well-structured and implemented mobile money operation in the country appear to be limitless. The opportunities range from job creation to bringing the huge number of the unbanked to the sector. It will also eliminate the huge cost associated with structural banking.

An official of Union Bank of Nigeria said: “Everybody is trying to reduce the cost of doing business. Electronic products help to drive your laibility (down). Instead of saying people come and bank with me, just give them good products and they will naturally come to you and this will also drive (down) the cost.

‘It is roughly a year since the first mobile money went live and approaching a year since cashless economy came into operation. Meanwhile, none of the players can boast of having more than 10,000 active subscribers’

Instead of building a bank for N80 million, if I put an ATM that does the same thing or mobile that can satisfy customers’ needs like now, all my bills are paid through my phone.

I hardly go to the branches to do anything, so, if we can do that people will bank and reduce the cost of operation for the bank.

“As these costs are come down, there is no need for the banks to be declaring N40 billion profit. People should not be paying for ATM charges any more, when you use ATM, you will be free. If I want to pay Dstv, they charge me N100. I should not be paying, it is helping the Dstv company to manage cash. They have to worry about the queue and (other discomfort), so if the customer is paying electronically, why are you penalising him for making your process easier? So, what we are saying is that they (the companies) should pay not the customer. We are getting to that point. So the benefit for customer is reduction in cost,” he said.

But factors, such as low level of awareness, dearth of infrastructure and concealed apathy by the mobile operators to drive the programme have continued to be challenges.

According to a study carried out by Visa Incorporated and Fundamo, the Visa-owned mobile money platform, the market has the potential to lead the world in mobile money, but only 35 per cent of the citizens are aware of its existence in the country versus an average of 56 per cent across all six of the emerging markets surveyed.

The study stated that only 56 million of mobile phone subscribers had bank accounts, making it one of the most exciting mobile money markets in the world. “Consumers’ needs for financial services are far more sophisticated than previously believed and go well beyond the established transaction set offered by mobile money services today,” the study added.

Chief Technology Officer, eTranzact International, Richard Omoniyi, agrees that there was need to step up ‘education’ on the scheme.

“One thing that is importat is education. GSM is working despite the hiccups. Once in a while, we still have communications issue, but I believe that it’s a matter of time, we will get there.

“CBN needs to push further, awareness is vital. People still find it hard to believe that in their cell phones, they could send money,” he said.

The study noted that the success of mobile financial services was determined by how deeply the mobile money provider understood its customers and tailored the service to their needs as well as those of mobile money agents from service menus to marketing and education.

To raise awareness and drive adoption, it said providers needed to educate consumers on the key benefits and uses of mobile money services, while tackling barriers to uptake. Eightythree per cent of respondents in Nigeria cited “safety of not having to carry around a lot of cash” as the primary benefit of mobile money, the study stated. They said the number one barrier to adoption in the country was whether the family sent money to would know how to get or receive it, underscoring the need to intensify the campaign on sensitisation.

Despite the teething challenges in the scheme, Uzor Eziukwu, managing director, Parkway Projects Limited, believes the experience is a phase, a type of learning curve that must be passed through.

“I don’t agree with you that it has been slow and sluggish. Generally speaking, financial services have their life cycle. We have the same experience with ATM (automated teller machine) cards, which took about three years to pick. We are just one year into mobile money or mobile payment. The response is okay, but there are challenges such as infrastructural challenges but it is still early days. We will get all these things sorted out. I think in the next two years, you will see a huge spike in mobile money transaction in Nigeria, undoubtedly,” he said.

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 6, 2013

53

NEWS

Respect your elders, group tells Oyinlola

T

HE former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has been advised to “respect his elders”.

A group, the Good Governance Front, gave the advice yesterday in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Akintunde Ige. It said rather than help his benefactor, Oyinlola exposed him for who he truly is.

The statement reads: “A few days ago, a former President said he believed a North Western Governor was a performer in whom he is well-pleased. To drive his point home, he said ‘you can find someone a job but you cannot do it for him’.

“Despite Oyinlola’s denial, the fact that the former President made the remarks on a day President Goodluck Jonathan was marking the second anniversary of his administration and presenting the mid-term report of the Transformation Agenda of the PDP-led Federal Government showed clearly that it was a subtle reference to the Jonathan administration, which has come under his

2014: Osun ACN challenges PDP to contest

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to present a credible candidate for next year’s governorship election.

In a statement yesterday, ACN’s Publicity Director, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, urged PDP aspirants to admit the “obvious fact that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is performing and this makes his re-election unassailable”.

Reacting to what he described as “unrelenting lies being propagated by PDP aspirants” that nothing has been done by the Aregbesola administration, Oyatomi said the governor’s achievements in two-and-a-half years have surpassed those of his immediate predecessor.

He said the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, in its most recent publication, rated Osun as best in performance on human development, poverty, employment and environmental protecBy Kunle Akinrinade

scathing criticisms in recent times.

“This is even more so, knowing the predilection of the old fox for innuendos and insinuations. His further outburst that the current World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) authenticated data showing steady improvement in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were not reflective of the people’s standard of living should be

enough to expose the gambit behind the entire tirade.

“The fact that such a statement could come from a former president, who relied on the same indices while in office, goes to show that it is all politics.

“Perhaps, this was what his apologist, Oyinlola, meant when he said he took a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, who condemned the comments credited to the former ruler, to beg the latter before he

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

tion.

The ACN spokesman said: “Despite Aregbesola’s lofty achievements, PDP aspirants keep repeating in newspaper publications that he has not performed. Any PDP aspirant, who cannot see, intelligently access and appreciate the quality of work being done in Osun by Aregbesola would be incapable of improving on those work, which is why as at today and from the point of view of intellectual capacity, none of them makes the grade as a serious or credible opponent.

“Only an empty minded person would not appreciate the massive impact the combination of infrastructural, educational, environmental, agricultural and social projects implemented

by Ogbeni are having on the lives of residents and the environment.” was re-admitted into the party. In a nutshell, in those days, the man equalled the party and the party equalled the man!

“The good news, however, is that this is now history, especially in Southwest PDP where his dictatorship has been terminated permanently. Even at the national level, where he loomed larger than life in the past, he has now been cut down to his actual size.

“Nigerians deserve a focused leadership and all

those who serve to distract the government from its primary duties to the people should be ignored. The age and time when some people carry on as if they are God is gone for good.

“The Jonathan administration owes it a duty to the Nigerian people and generations unborn to make a clean break with the impunity of the past. It cannot afford the luxury of reversing the gains on the altar of political expediency or consideration.”

Gain people’s trust, Ekiti deputy governor urges brokers From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

E

KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has urged members of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) to gain the people’s trust.

She spoke yesterday at the opening of the NCRIB’s Chief Executive Officers’ Retreat at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti.

Mrs. Adelabu said this was the only way to attract investors.

She advised brokers to sensitise the populace on the importance of insurance and the various policies available.

The deputy governor said the theme of the retreat, “Wadding Through Change Process: Doing Things Differently”, showed that the Council shared the vision of the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration, “which believes in doing things differently and rightly”.

She said the state “practices a bit of insurance” by assisting disaster victims through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Mrs. Adelabu urged the council to set up a mechanism to purge it of “bad eggs”, who create negative opinions about insurance through their conduct.

NCRIB President Mrs. Laide Osijo thanked professional bodies for supporting the Fayemi administration.

She hailed the administration for improving the state and the well being of Ekiti people, as well as transforming the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort.

Mrs. Osijo educated the audience and the government on the advantages of patronising registered insurance brokers and solicited more patronage of the council by the government.

•Ajimobi (middle); Abubakar (second right); the Commissioner of Police, Medical (Southwest Zone), Mrs. Chinwe Okafor (right); Acting Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Medical, Mrs. Adenike Abuwa (left); Oyo Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ndabawa (second left) and others at the inauguration...yesterday.

Ajimobi hails police for restoring peace in Oyo

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday attributed the peace enjoyed in the state to the dedication and gallantry of policemen.

He spoke at the inauguration of a 50-bed Police Hospital at the Police Command Headquarters in Eleiyele, Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi said before he assumed office, the state was a theatre of war, with violence, thuggery and brigandage reigning supreme.

He said: “You will recall that as at May, 2011, Oyo State was perhaps the state of lawlessness of nature propounded by Thomas Hobbes in his famous treatise. For a state that had hitherto been labeled dirty and unplanned, the addition of a lawless state of brigandage was a heavy blow to our people.

“Many of our people were killed mercilessly in crossfire as if we were in a state

•Force inaugurates 50-bed hospital of war. Anyone who identified him or herself outside the state as hailing from Oyo State was perceived to be part of the violent order.”

Recalling the murder of a final year medical student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Mallam Shanono and others in June, 2011, Ajimobi expressed happiness that his administration, in partnership with the police, has eradicated the era of violence.

He said: “We have taken governance beyond the violence and chaos that we inherited, through the cooperation of the officers and men here seated. We are proud of you. We promise to continue the regular consultations and offer logistic support to the Police Force.”

Praising the Inspector-

‘Many of our people were killed mercilessly in crossfire as if we were in a state of war’ General of Police (IGP), M. D. Abubakar, for his security innovations and improved welfare packages for officers and men of the Force.

The governor said: “The IGP has made this the epicenter of his administration’s policies. This has led to a more robust policing, an effective and efficient Police Force and officers and men who take pride in their profession.

“The innovations have

improved the public’s perception of the police, thus increasing police/public relations.

“By establishing a clinic that will cater for their health and that of their families, policemen can put their all into defending the people since their interest is being taken care of back at home. This will ginger policemen to go to the zenith of their ability and devote greater energy to protecting life and property.”

Abubakar urged those in positions of authority to always treat their subordinates with dignity.

He said: “My belief is that health is wealth. No officer can deliver his constitutional duties efficiently and effectively without being physically and medically fit.”

Abubakar said the hospital would be replicated in other police formations across the country.

Mimiko to Amaechi: Prove that I voted in NGF poll From Damisi Ojo,Akure

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has urged Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to substantiate his claim that he (Mimiko) voted at the disputed Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) election.

Mimiko said he should produce the video evidence of the claim, saying Amaechi cannot take ecclesiastic refuge for his anti-democratic dispositions.

Reacting to Amaechi’s claim that he voted at the election, Mimiko said Amaechi should not hide under religion to cover up his anti-democratic posture.

He insisted that nothing stops Amaechi from proving to the world that he voted by using the same video he has been using to tell the public that there was an election.

“If Amaechi is saying I voted at the election, then I think he should prove it to the whole world that I did.

“I sincerely believe that a process must have led to the declaration of result contained in their few minutes video clip. That later part can’t come in isolation; I challenge him to show the entire proceedings including where I voted”.

Mimiko, who is the Vice Chairman of the Jonah Jangled NGF faction.said “Amaechi should tell the world whether or not he presided over his own election despite cries that he should step aside for an interim chairman to preside over the same election as it is the practice in any democratic setting. ‘’He should also tell the world whether or not he was the sole provider of ballot papers and the ballot box used for the charade where he is also a contestant.”He should tell the world why he insisted he must contest for another term even when he knew that negates the norm in the Forum.

“It is the height of treachery for the governor to have installed secret video camera to record his colleagues without their consent simply because he is acting the script of another agenda inimical to the progress of the Forum.Mimiko said the development is not acceptable and undemocratic stressing that ‘’it is the height of desperation, it won’t work because Nigerians can no longer afford to be fooled”.

O

Old students’ reunion

T

HE Adeola Odutola College Old Students’ Association, 1988/93 set, will hold its 20th anniversary/reunion on June 16, the Founder’s Day, on the school premises.

The set, led by Mrs. Taiwo Olusesi (Oriola), will unveil the newly renovated Lecture Theatre built by it on June 15 by 12pm.

The set has organised a career talk for pupils on June 14. All members of are urged to attend the programmes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-06-13

NSE capital hits new high of N12.6tr

T

HE optimistic sentiments at the stock market continued yesterday, lifting the market capitalisation to N12.605 trillion – the highest this year and the first time after five years.

The value of equities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE, appreciated by N309 billion billion occasioned by the most capitalised stock in the Exchange – Dangote Cement Plc, which appreciated by 7 per cent. The company controls 25 per cent of the market capitalization.

Consequently, the NSE AllShare Index rose by 2.51 per cent or 967.15 points to hit 39,453.23 points from 38,486.08 points. The market had climbed on the back of the 2007 boom to peak at N12.62 trillion in March 2008 before the global financial meltdown set in and sent share prices tumbling to a record low.

The market capitalisation crossed the N12.152 trillion recorded last Thursday to hit a new high of N12.605 trillion.

Apart from the N12.152 trillion mark, the last time that market indicator hovered around N12 trillion, was May 2008.

The market had climbed on the back of the 2007 boom to peak at N12.62 trillion in March 2008 before the global financial meltdown set in, sending the share prices tumble to a record low.

But general reforms in financial sector coupled with the particular efforts of regulators in the market to restore investor confidence have engendered a recovery that be-

By Tonia Osundolire

gan last year.

That recovery continued into the year, causing the market capitalisation to hit N12.605 trillion yesterday, indicating about 98 per cent recovery from the 2008 peak.

Analytically, the index has appreciated by 1,436.43 points from last Thursday when it first appeared on the 38,000 mark post-financial meltdown. The index moved up for four consecutive trading sessions to hit the new high.

The difference it recorded yesterday (one day’s trading) represents 67.33 per cent of the four trading sessions growth.

Similarly, he market capitalisation in the last four trading sessions inched up by N453 billion, leaving the growth it recorded yesterday at 68.21 per cent of the total increase in the period under review.

Reacting to this development, market operators could not fathom the reason or reasons for the sudden leap in the growth of the market. But one of the operators that craved anonymity said: “We do not know what is responsible for the drive yesterday and even recent performances witnessed in the market. Beyond the demand and supply, it appears there are unforeseen factors pushing the indicators up.”

However, looking at the performances of the market yesterday, it was observed that the most capitalised stock - Dangote Cement, appeared on the gainers’ table with a

price increase of 7 per cent or N13.74 to close at N210.00.

Dangote Cement was among the 10 top gainers that their prices appreciated between 7 per cent to the maximum 10 per cent allowed by quoted companies.

There is also the possibility that the appreciation was driven by other highly capitalised and highly priced stocks in the market. These include the number two most capitalised stock - Nigerian Breweries and others such as FBNH, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, CAP, Okomuoil Palm, Cadbury, UACN and Flourmills.

On the top 10 gainers’ list, CAP led with an increase of N4.50 to close at N49.50 followed by NASCON with a gain of N1.00 to close at N11.00.

Also on the table were Eterna Oil & Gas, Neimeth, Royal Exchange, Prestige Assurance, UBN, Okomuoil Palm, RT Briscoe and Dangote Cement.

The losers’ table featured Port paint as the lead with a drop of N0.53 to close at N4.78 followed

by Vono’s drop of N0.21 to close at N1.90. Others were IPWA, DN Meyer, UPL, UTC, Mcnichols, ABC Transport, Jos Breweries and Costain.

As a result, investors staked N5.575 billion on 442.892 million shares in 6,595 deals against 359.13 million shares worth N4.75 billion achieved in 6,743 deals on Tuesday.

The financial sector as usual, was the most sought after with 302.243 million shares worth N3.188 billion across 3,339 deals. The Consumer Goods followed at a distance with 55.544 million shares worth N1.692 billion in 1,323 deals.

Others with significant volume were the Conglomerates, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Construction/Real Estate and Industrial Goods.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5- 06-13

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

MONEY LINK Bank rewards customers

Banks’ stocks to return 42%, says Vetiva Capital

W

INNERS have emerged in the May edition of the Diamond Bank SavingsXtra Season 5 reward scheme.

According to a statement, Mr. Otu Umoh Sunday, a resident of Ikot Ekpene Road Aba, Abia State has emerged the latest winner of “Salary-4-Life” star prize.

The draw, which was held at the Araromi Spare Parts Market in Ibadan and was conducted through an electronic process as approved and witnessed by the National Lottery & Regulatory Commission and the Consumer Protection Council, also saw Mr. and Mrs. Clement Obi, a couple operating joint savings account with Diamond Bank in Ibadan win N2 million in the draw while Mr. Obiaka Ekeabuike Gilbert of Mubi branch, Mr. Okonkwo Sunday Ndubuisi of Port Harcourt branch; Justus Emeka, Madubuchi of Abuja branch, Okeke Nkiruka Francis of Ikeja branch; Mr. Julius Ugwu Agu of Ladipo branch among others won N1 million each.

Mr. Odili Ogwu, a member of the Customer Experience Group, Diamond Bank said the lender’s SavingsXtra account is the most rewarding way to save. He added that the bank has rewarded over 3,000 customers with over N2 billion through its SavingsXtra reward scheme that began in 2008.

He described the SavingsXtra account as a unique account for individuals wishing to build up their savings.

He said the product “Is an interest-yielding savings account, which allows the deposit of both cash and other banks’ cheques. In addition, SavingsXtra account holders get a debit card and a cheque book, which can be used to withdraw from their accounts at any Diamond branch.”

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

O

IL and gas and power projects financing will raise returns on banks’ stocks to 42 per cent by the end of this year, Vetiva Capital Management Ltd, an investment and research firm told Bloomberg.

The Bloomberg NSE Banking Index, which tracks Nigeria’s 10 biggest banks by market value, is trading at a price-to-book ratio of 0.8 times, less than the 1.4 times book value of assets for lenders in the MSCI Emerging Market Banks Index.

It said the gauge for Nigerian banks has gained 34 per cent this

year compared with a 0.5 per cent drop in MSCI EM Banks Index.

Nigeria’s all-share index has rallied 37 per cent this year, Africa’s best performer after Ghana’s benchmark equities measure.

“What matters to us is the valuation of the banks, their move to create risk assets and how well they manage those risk assets. We’ve seen emerging market banks with similar risk profile with Nigerian banks, yet trading at higher multiples,” Pabina Yinkere, an equity analyst at Lagos-based Vetiva said.

Banks are seeking to raise dollars by selling international bonds to finance oil, power and other infrastructure projects after returning to profit from near-collapse in 2008 and 2009.

The Nigerian economy may expand 7.2 per cent this year compared with sub-Saharan Africa’s 5.6

By Collins Nweze

per cent average, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Diamond Bank Plc said May 30 it may issue $550 million of Eurobonds this year to boost its operations, after the Lagos-based lender raised its annual loan-growth target to 40 per cent from 20 per cent.

Fidelity Bank Plc sold $300 million of five-year bonds on May 2 while FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH), owner of First Bank Nigeria Plc, plans to raise the equivalent of $500 million in Eurobonds this year.

“The fundraising is welcome, especially for the mid-tier banks that are somehow under-capitalised relative to their growth aspirations,” Yinkere said. Vetiva ranked seventh for equities traded by value in the week ending May 10 in

ICAN’s elected council members take oath of office

T

HE newly elected and re-elected members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) have been sworn in.

They are Mrs. Comfort Olujumoke Eyitayo, Mrs. Uchenna Ifesinachi Erobu, Mr. Nnamdi Anthony Okwuadigbo, Alhaji Ismaila Muhammadu Zakari, Deacon Titus Alao Soetan, Mr. Sunday Abayomi Bammeke, Mr. Hart Wahab Odafen Ozoya, Mrs. Joy Onome Olaolu and Chief Oye Clement Olugbenga Akinsulire.

A statement from the Director, Corporate Affairs, Claudia Binitie, said

ment, welcomed Mr. Hart Ozoya and Mr. Oye Akinsulire, to their first Council meeting and encouraged them to contribute positively to deliberations on Council issues.

ICAN, established by the Act of Parliament Number 15 of 1965, is a founding member of Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) and a Past President of the Institute, Major-General Sebastian Owuama (rtd.) became the first President of PAFA. Stanbic IBTC launches non-interest banking product Stanbic IBTC Bank has introduced

By Daniel Essiet

the election, which was conducted through e-balloting was in two categories: ‘Members-in-Practice’ and ‘Members-not-in- Practice’. In the first category, 18 members contested, out of which seven were elected to fill the existing vacancies. In the second category, seven members contested and two were elected to fill the two existing vacancies. They will serve for three years before offering themselves for re-election.

The ICAN President, Kabir Mohammed, according to the state-

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 5-06-13

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

CAP NASCON ETERNA NEIMETH ROYALEX PRESTIGE UBN OKOMUOIL RTBRISCOE DANGCEM

45.00 10.00 3.01 0.95 0.55 0.57 13.50 41.99 1.70 196.26

49.50 11.00 3.31 1.04 0.60 0.62 14.50 45.00 1.82 210.00

4.50 1.00 0.30 0.09 0.05 0.05 1.00 3.01 0.12 13.74

PORTPAINT VONO IPWA DNMEYER UPL UTC MCNICHOLS ABCTRANS JOSBREW COSTAIN

O/PRICE 5.31 2.11 0.72 1.86 5.50 0.77 1.84 1.01 1.41 1.56

C/PRICE 4.78 1.90 0.65 1.68 5.05 0.71 1.70 0.94 1.32 1.49

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

July ’12

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE 0.53 0.21 0.07 0.18 0.45 0.06 0.14 0.07 0.09 0.07

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 5-06-13

SYMBOL

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

a non-interest banking product called the Imaan Current Account into the Nigerian market.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs Sola DavidBorha said that non-interest banking, for which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) granted Stanbic IBTC Bank a licence in 2011, represents a new window through, which a significant proportion of Nigeria’s unbanked population, as well as people seeking products and services that meet their specific needs, can be brought into the financial services system.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

Lagos, according to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The Federal Government is selling majority stakes in power plants and letting private investors acquire holdings of as much as 60 per cent in six transmission and 11 power-distribution companies spun out of the former state-owned utility. Banks have also increased lending to the oil industry as companies including London-based Heritage Oil Plc (HOIL) and Lagosbased Neconde Energy Ltd. bought stakes in fields owned by Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Eni Spa (ENI) and Total SA. “Where there might be concern for the banks is what the quality of risk assets becomes as the loan book grows. In this case we do not see cause to worry as the deals are for viable projects and the companies have strong cash bases,” Yinkere said.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 141.93 141.45 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 159.53 158.41 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.16 1.16 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.14 1.13 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,826.91 1,818.16 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 14.39 13.69 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11,745.35 11,398.85 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

56

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

‘God … life is running out on me'

T

HE blood of even the stonehearted would certainly run cold at the sight of Mrs Yinka Popoola. The mother of two cuts a frightening look, no thanks to a cancerous infection that has disfigured her once inviting face.

Before her ailment three years ago, she was full of life. A source described her as "the envy of her friends and the pride of her husband." The source said she wished to become a successful entrepreneur, being a diligent trader. All the aspirations no longer mean anything to her as she battles to live.

The eye-lids, nose and chin of the 41-year-old Abeokuta, Ogun Stateborn woman now drop on her chest in fleshy moulds that have covered her mouth. "What is this? Will she survive? How does she eat?" These are some of the questions people ask on seeing her today.

It all began when one day she noticed a tiny outgrowth by her nose. She was not immediately bothered because she thought it was a mere boil, "especially since it appeared like pimples."

Seated helplessly as she battled to breathe on Monday when The Nation visited her 16, Oluwashina Thomas, Ayobo-Ipaja, Lagos, home, Mrs Popoola, in a mumbling voice, said: "The ailment started over three years ago. It was in form of a small boil by the side of my nose. It seemed at first, nothing to bother about. But later, it continued to itch terribly and I regularly scratched it.

I showed it to my husband, who initially dismissed it as a mere boil too. But when it started growing bigger, I called his attention to it again and told him that it must be a skin infection. He casually dismissed my suggestion, insisting

‘When the itching gave rise to a bigger scar, she turned to her family members and friends for help, but none was forthcoming’

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

that it was a mere boil which would soon ripen and extinct in form of puss."

She rested her hope on the assumption until it dawned on her that what she considered as an innocuous boil was a growing cancer. It was already fast spreading all over her face and she became more worried.

Her humble background and little education made her to depend on all sorts of ineffectual suggestions from neighbours. Not a few asked her to seek medical attention, but none was forthcoming with financial assistance. They either told her there was no money or avoided her.

The pains bit harder, prompting

• Mrs Popoola ... on Monday

her to abandon her trading. When the itching gave rise to a bigger scar, she turned to her family members and friends for help, but none was forthcoming.

Sun or rain, many would believe her husband would be there for her; it was not her case. "My husband left when there was no improvement whatsoever; when the steadily growing cancer got bigger and messier," she said.

As days rolled by, Mrs Popoola's pain became severe, forcing her to remain indoors. At a point, when hunger became unbearable, she hit the streets with her two children,

Man held for 'sleeping with daughter'

A

57-year-old man has been arrested by operatives of the Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island, Lagos for allegedly sleeping with his daughter.

The girl, a Primary 5 pupil, broke down on Monday as she told the story of how her, father had been sleeping with her with a warning not to tell anybody.

She said her mother just brought her back to her father after many years of separation, adding that since the incestuous act began, her father had been giving her N200 daily as compensation.

The girl said because she could no longer continue the act with her father, she confided in her mother during one of her visits. She said her mother dismissed her claim.

"My mother said my father could not bring himself that low as having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter," she explained.

The bubble, burst after she told her head-teacher, who subsequently invited the police to investigate the matter.

‘He told me that I would take the place of my mother in his life ... I didn’t know what he meant until he started having carnal knowledge of me at night’

By Jude Isiguzo, Police Affairs Correspondent

She said: "When I was reunited with my father, I was happy because I had been living with an aunt in the village since my parents separated. He usually told me that I would take the place of my mother in his life since my mother had divorced him. I did not know what he meant until he started having carnal knowledge of me at night.

"At a point, I got tired and insulted him. Then, he started beating me and changed to me. He would beat me, strip me naked and have his way whenever he wanted. When I attempted to scream, he would hit me harder and cover my mouth. He later apologised and told me he would buy me a car. All I want at the moment is for my father to be punished for what he has done to me."

The suspect dismissed the allegation, saying he only beat his daughter when he discovered that she was into a clandestine relationship with an unnamed man.

Police sources said he was charged to the Igbosere Magistrate's Court, where he was ordered remanded in prison custody until his bail application would be considered.

• ... before the ailment began

begging for alms.

Moving from one bus stop to the other, they got as far as the Mowe Camp of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), barefoot.

"It was there that a particular man gave me money after seeing my condition, urging me to proceed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) without delay," she recalled.

She added: "I followed his advice and immediately went to LUTH with the money that he gave to me.

There, I was told that the sickness could be treated, but that I must do scan and x-ray. What, however, remained was the actual surgery. But there was no money from anywhere."

Her case worsened as her face went scary. This, according to her,

made people to treat her like a plaque. With none to turn to for financial succour to enable her seek further medical treatment, Mrs Popoola left the hospital in sorrow.

She hit the streets of Lagos again, for alms-begging. This time, the care of her children meant nothing to her. Now, she is back home in despondency as she can't see again.

"The truth is that I'm dying and time is running out on me," she told The Nation.

Since doctors say there is hope for her, she is crying out for help to undergo surgery which will cost about N3.2 million. She gave her account details as: Yinka Popoola; GTBank with No: 0128760777, and telephone number, 08143122984, for "whoever God wants to use to save me."

T

Igbo indigenes promise growth

HE leader of Igbo indigenes in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Chief Innocent Obiechefu, has pledged the readiness of his people to contribute to improving the economic well-being of the state.

Addressing reporters ahead the commissioning of the Onitire International Modern Market, Obiechefu said he built the market to improve businesses in the area and also boost the state's revenue by creating jobs.

He said: "The government has been supporting meaningful projects in the state. The newly built market is one of such projects. Governance is all about bringing development to the citizens. Governor Babatunde

Fashola has demonstrated this by implementing projects across boards for the growth of the state. Various projects are springing up at the grassroots, with greater interest by the state."

Expected at the event are: National Legal Adviser, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr Muiz Banire; Mushin Council chair, Hon Babatunde Adepitan; Hon Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla of the state House of Assembly, and the Ezigbi of Mushin, HRH John Nwosu, among others.

Pastor arraigned for 'raping' girl, 13

A

pastor, Fidelis Ajoke, has been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate's Court in Benin, the Edo State capital, for allegedly raping and eloping with a 13-year-old daughter of the General Overseer of his church.

The Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) pupil told the court that the accused started sleeping with her in November, last year.

In January, this year, she said, the pastor asked her to steal her mother's money and give him for the treatment of his indisposed mother and she obliged.

The victim told the court that she eloped with Ajoke to Ubiaruku, Del-

By Jude Isiguzo, Police Affairs Correspondent

ta State to avert the wrath of her mother over her stolen N170, 000.

The teenager said the accused used part of the money to rent a house in Ubiaruku, where both of them stayed before he took her to Lagos and PortHarcourt.

She said her trip round major cities in Nigeria was cut short when a friend called her with her new mobile number while in Ubiaruku, that her photograph was shown on the television as a missing person in Edo State. The call prompted her to return to Benin, which paved the way for the pastor's arrest.

• Newly inaugurated executives of Otitolere Community Development Association (CDA), Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, from left: Fadairo Olaleke (Financial Secretary); Mrs Olaseun Olasupo (member ); Jamiu Akintunde (member ); Mrs Caroline Omonijo (Vice Chairman); Mr. Opebiyi Joseph (member); Yusuf Sulaiman (Ex-Officio 1); Ayobami Olaleye (Secretary); Olumuyiwa Oluyemi (Internal Auditor); Isaac Oseni (Executive Chairman) and Raji Kehinde (Public Relation Officer 1) ... after the ceremony

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

57

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Early-morning inferno razes building •Residents protest house seal-off

M

ORE than 500 youths at Abule Egba, a Lagos suburb, yesterday prevented a "disaster of monumental proportion." They saved a house from being completely razed by fire. The early-morning inferno razed a part of house 3, Funmi Olabode Avenue, off Adepegba Street. However, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has sealed off the building.

The youths were alerted to the fire around 9 am and they fought to put it out. Though they succeeded in preventing the fire from consuming the building and the surrounding houses, they could not save two flats from being razed.

"The fire was too much; we saw thick smoke. Some of the boys jumped through the balcony trying to put it out, but its intensity was high and when the Fire Service men came, it took them three trucks of water to quench the fire.

Nobody died in the fire," one of the youths Jamiu Razak said.

Segun Olumuyiwa, one of the occupants of the building, said: "This would have been a disaster of monumental proportion if not for the efforts of the youths and also the men of the Lagos State Fire Service."

The Nation learnt that the fire started in one of the flats on the upper floor occupied by a tenant simply identified as Lawal around 9 am, but he did not raise the alarm until the fire was beyond control.

‘I was attracted by the noise of people shouting outside. By the time I got out, the flats upstairs were on fire. The man in whose flat it started ... could not put out the fire before the whole flats were gutted’

By Seun Akioye

Olumuyiwa said: It was around 9: am. I was attracted by the noise of people shouting outside. By the time I got out, the flats upstairs were on fire. The man in whose flat it started said it was due to an electricity surge. He said he took precaution by switching off all his electrical appliances but could not put out the fire before the whole flats were gutted."

The flat of another tenant, identified as Alhaji, was also razed. He was said to be preparing for his child’s naming on Sunday. "Not even a pin could be salvaged from the two flats; everything was burnt," Olumuyiwa said.

However, he faulted LASBCA’s decision to seal off the entire build-

• The burnt portion of the building ... yesterday

ing when two of the flats were not affected. "My flat downstairs and the office upstairs were not affected, but the government wants to seal off the entire building. There is no way for us to just move out like that; they should give us time to look for an alternative accommodation."

Other tenants also condemned the decision to seal off the whole building. "We don't have any chemical in this building and we don't have any source of immediate danger to us; we will move out but we need time," a tenant who preferred anonymity said.

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, advised residents to always switch off elec-

Rape: Woman sues police for N750m

A

HOUSEWIFE, Mrs Esse Isaiah Ozegbe, who was reportedly raped inside a cell at the Abraka Police Station in Delta State, has sued the police, seeking N750m damages.

Mrs Esse was arrested on February 26 over a quarrel she had with a neighbour and was detained in a cell among men. Two of the men allegedly raped her

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

while the policemen on duty did nothing.

Mrs Esse, through her counsel, Efe Ejomafuvwe, instituted the suit at the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State. Hearing in the case has been fixed for June 13.

The alleged rapists are facing trial at an Abraka Magistrates Court.

The cell guard on duty has been dismissed from the police.

Sources at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin, said the cell guard was dismissed after an orderly room trial.

The source said a Police Inspector, Mrs Erebi Akporunor, was also demoted to Sergeant over the rape saga.

Group empowers women, lifts girls

A

FRICAN Women's Development Fund (AWDF), a Ghana-based non-governmental organisation, which provides grants to women and national organisations in some African countries, has visited its partners in Nigeria.

The two-week visit, which began last week in Lagos, will also take the AWDF to Ilorin, Ibadan and Abuja.

Having given grants to 123 Nigerian organisations and has since 2008, spent 1.2 million dollars to uplift women and children, it visited some of its beneficiaries and partners, notably: Women of Hope and

By Nneka Nwaneri

Children Foundation, Society for Women and Aids in Nigeria (SWAN), Kudirat Institute for Democracy (KIND) and the Centre for Democracy (CEDAR).

The visit by AWDF was part of a regular routine checks to monitor the work its partners have done as well as use the opportunity to learn more of the key issues in the country and know ways to better the lot of the partners.

The team, led by Nana Sekiyamah and the organisation's Anglophone

Programme Officer, Rose Owaben, said monitoring its partners gives the organisation the opportunity of having personal interactions with beneficiaries in their communities and the impacts of the supports given them.

Ms Sekiyamah told The Nation: "We are not there to replace the state as it has its own responsibility to maintain the citizens. We are only particular about advancing the rights of women. So, by complementing the effort of government, AWDF engages women to get involved in the policy making process so as not to be left behind."

'Let's unite against insecurity'

C

HAIRMAN of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), Allen Onyema, a lawyer, has cautioned all northern leaders to be careful in their utterances in order not to jeopardise the country's unity.

He urged Northern elders especially, to stop politicising issues of security and think more of how to stop Nigeria from disintegrating, explaining that the issue of growing insecurity in the country should concern every right-thinking leader today.

Reacting to a statement credited to former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that "emergency rule was anti-north", Onyema said: "I don't want to believe that he said so, but if the statement credited to him is true, then it's a big disappointment because he is someone who has

ruled this country in the past as Head of State, and is also aspiring to rule this country again. What he said, if actually he said that, was totally unacceptable to any reasonable mind because it is capable of heating up the polity.

He added: "Every leader should allow their statesmanship prevail in their utterances, knowing fully well that they command a lot of followership and if you incense the passion of your followers, they do the wrong thing. We saw what happened after the elections in 2011. It is not for me to say whether the elections were free and fair or not, but violence has no place in any civilised engagement. Whether the elections were free or rigged, it is not for any leader to call for the kind of response that might not be civil. So I do not want to believe that somebody who

• Onyema

is aspiring to lead this country as President would be that sectional to say that the Niger Delta militancy gave rise to the Boko Haram insurgency."

trical appliances. "We got a running call that a block of four flats was on fire. We mobilised our men immediately and we discovered only the upper floor was affected.

We learnt it was caused by a power surge. That is why we advise residents to always switch off electrical appliances to prevent a disaster like this," Fadipe said.

Women’s group counsels girls on sex THE President, Cosmopolitan Women Club, Hajia Bintu-Fatima Tinubu, has advised young girls to report to their mothers, any sexual advance from their fathers when their dad is asking them for sex.

Hadjia Tinubu, who gave the admonition at a career talk on "Mentoring Tomorrow's Mother Today," which was organised by the club at the Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, said the girl child must not give room for amorous moves by their fathers, uncles and male neighbours, adding that they should quickly report such attempts to forestall unpleasant circumstances which could ruin their lives.

She urged them to devote their time and energy to their studies if they desire to become women of substance in future, adding that such a step would require discipline, modesty of life and avoidance of injurious habits of late night browsing, calls and night crawling as well undue exposure to unhealthy television programmes, books and magazines.

Speaking further at the programme which involved children from the school and the Yaba Technology Staff Secondary School, the women leader enjoined them to

live a life of contentment, associate with right company and avoid temptations.

She advised them to confide in their parents, especially their mothers, as well as their teachers when in the quest of knowledge on girl-related issues, reminding them that they too have meaningful role to play in the development of the country.

"Mothers should be alive to their responsibilities on their children, especially girls, who are so prone to assault, abuse and easily led astray by unwelcome care providers," she added.

In her own contribution at the event which witnessed the presence of other members of the club like Mrs. Onikepo Oshodi and Honourable Derin Disu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, wife of the District Governor, Rotary International Lagos, Mrs. Susan Omotosho, appealed to the students to be mentally strong and believing in themselves that they will succeed as "what you believe in is what nature will provide".

Principal of the school, Mr. William Iweama encouraged the students not to be part of anything that is deviant to normal norm to forestall unpleasant repercussion or regret in life.

Lagos regulates borehole drilling MANY ground water is polluted with petroleum products, having vandalised pipelines, as well as animal and human wastes that sink to the ground and enter into the underground water system.

This was among the scenarios that the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, painted during a one-day stakeholders' workshop of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) with the theme: Groundwater Abstraction in Lagos State-Environmental and Health Impact.

Fashola urged Lagosians to address the way they use ground water in order to protect both the environment and health, as human activity causes water and waste to be mixed through groundwater.

Also, because of the proximity of the state to the sea, he observed, high salinity causes hypertension and high blood pressure among the elderly ones.

Fashola, therefore, said the state had commenced the development of various water treatment plants around Lagos to ensure safe disposal of effluents from industries and homes. This, the governor assured will be done by the state's ongoing rehabilitation, refurbishment and expansion of existing water infra-

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Nneka Nwaneri

structure.

The governor added that borehole drilling everywhere across the state would henceforth be carried out solely by personnel with the appropriate licence from the LSWRC. Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello said the need to set up the commission was borne from the fact that because groundwater responds slowly to human actions, a long-term perspective is needed to manage the valuable water resources.

Resource speakers at the workshop were: Prof E.O.Longe of the Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Lagos; Managing Director of DrilCorp, a London-based drilling company, Dr Nnanna Okoronkwo and Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Ashimeo Erinosho.

In attendance were: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Aderonke Adebule; Secretary/ CEO, LSWRC, Mrs Tanwa Koya and Group Managing Director, of Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), Shayo Holloway.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

58

Good Governance Front EXPATIATING ON THE PARABLE OF THE JOB FINDER

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FEW days ago, a former President playing 2015 politics, stated that he believed that one North Western Governor was a performer in whom he is well-pleased.

To drive his point home, he said “you can find someone a job but you can’t do it for him”.

because the people often still harbour the sense of not being full participants in the determination of those that are entitled to lead them and therefore exhibit a lack of the patriotism required to withstand the challenges to constituted authority that the terrorism in the North and other forms of arbitrariness.

Despite the denial by the former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the fact that he made the remarks on a day President Goodluck Jonathan was marking the second year anniversary of his administration and presenting the mid-term report of the Transformation Agenda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government showed clearly that it was a subtle reference to the Jonathan administration which has come under his scathing criticisms in recent times.

Conversely, if the retired Army General is trying to make Nigerians believe that the Jonathan Presidency is not legitimate because it was his singlehanded imposition, what does he expect from this, except anarchy and weakening of the political structure?

Is that what he expects his new candidate to inherit?

This is even more so knowing that the predilection of the old fox for innuendos and insinuations. This is in spite of the fact the Jonathan Administration has on a comparative basis performed much better than he did in his eight years in that same office.

His further outburst that the current World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) authenticated data showing a steady increase and improvement in the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product were not reflective of the actual standard of living of the populace should be enough to expose the gambit behind the entire tirade. The fact that such a statement could come from a former President who had himself relied on the same indices while in office goes to show that it is all politics.

The only other unfounded criticism of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, which equals this recent attack in lack of regard for the security of the Nation and patriotism, is the recent Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) criticism of the declaration of a State of Emergency in three Northern states.

It is time that politicians, especially those who lay claim to being elder statesmen, imbibe some ethics concerning the need to recognize some bi-partisan and nonpartisan limits to politicking.

No one doubts the right of the former President to declare support for his personal candidate for the next Presidential elections in faraway 2015. Nor is it wrong for him to deploy all his military tactical training in developing a strategy that he hopes will help his candidate gain some advantage. But when the strategy takes on a do-or-die psychosis, which is prepared to pull the entire house down, unless it gets the master bedroom, then something, is really very wrong.

What is wrong with this type of politics is the inability of its practitioner to temper personal desperation for political power with a patriotism that is prepared to put self-interest behind the communal good.

FINDING A JOB: When a former President states that he “found the job” for someone, then it goes without saying that in his own brand of democracy it is not the people who determine their leaders. It is not that the opposition political parties have not already laid this charge against the former ruler and that it is not really stale news, the problem is the effect it has on other persons whose plan is to commit such heinous crimes against the polity. It encourages such persons in their nefarious undemocratic plans.

The problem of legitimacy in Nigeria politics has always been a product of imposition of candidates through undemocratic measures. That problem does not feature at general elections alone but also in the internal nomination processes in the various political parties. This former military dictator, steeped in the military autocratic psychology of previous years, has continued, even through his eight years as a “democratically elected president”, to believe that he can continue to dictate, to his political party and the electorate, who must lead them. Perhaps, this was what his man Friday, Oyinlola, meant when he said he took a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, who condemned the comments credited to the former ruler, to beg the latter before he was re-admitted into the party. In a nutshell, in those days, the man equalled the party and the party equalled the man!

The good news, however, is that his belief is now history, especially in the South West PDP where his dictatorship has been terminated permanently. Even at the national level where he loomed larger than life in the past, he has now been cut down to his actual size.

The country, however, continues to suffer from the vestiges of this attitude today

What makes this statement (that this one vainglorious man placed the current President in that position) particularly noxious is the fact that it is not true. If this retired Army General believes he “found the job” for the incumbent because of whatever crime he committed to favour the Yar’Adua-Jonathan ticket in 2007, what does he want the 30 million plus Nigerians who eventually voted President Jonathan and his Vice-President Namadi Sambo on the basis of their own popularity, into office in 2011, to say?

Perhaps, it should be stated without any equivocation that the Jonathan Presidency is not a product of Obasanjo imposition politics. It stands squarely on its own legs of legitimacy derived from the freest and fairest election in recent times.

DOING THE JOB: A comparative survey of the performance of government in the past 14 years reveals that the Jonathan Presidency has been the most productive in every sector despite the peculiar and unprecedented challenges faced by the Administration.

The power sector is probably the greatest sore-point for Nigerians in the assessment of governmental performance.

Under the Obasanjo Administration, for example, the power sector reform came to a crashing stop with billions of dollars of public funds disappearing into unplanned National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).

A prime position accorded importers of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or Diesel) was achieved during that period.

Today, the electricity generation of the nation has trebled, the transmission problems are being properly addressed with Manitoba Electric managing the transmission system.

Generating capacity and distribution are set to improve with the successful privatization of the government’s main installations and distribution companies.

The Banking sector reform under this administration is the most insightful in the history of banking reform in Nigeria. Not only were the reforms made under Obasanjo’s administration improved upon, the gains from it were only appropriated by the additional steps taken by the Jonathan Presidency.

The collapse of the capital market in Nigeria in 2008 caused by the regulatory lapses under the Obasanjo administration is only now being remedied under the new administration. Recent data show that the capitalization of the market has increased in excess of 75% since this administration took over.

Instead of behaving like an ostrich and on that basis trying to make Nigerians lose hope in their future, true leaders should be encouraging hope based on the palpable signs of progress around them, including the IMF and World Bank authenticated figures showing growth of the Nigerian economy.

REJIGGING THE TEAM: Clearly, there is still a lot to do to bring these gains onto the tables of every Nigerian.

Nigerians deserve focused leadership and all those who serve to distract the Government from its primary duties to the people should be ignored. The age and time when some people carry on as if they are God is gone for good. The Jonathan administration owes it a duty to the Nigerian people and generations unborn to make a clean break with the impunity of the past. Thankfully, it has begun to lay the foundation with its avowed commitment to the Rule of Law and the building of strong institutions. It cannot afford the luxury of reversing the gains on the altar of political expediency or consideration.

We have no doubt that this administration is well-meaning and is capable of delivering on its promises and more. It has enough work to do in fulfilling this expectations, it does not need to empower all sorts of iconoclasts by unnecessary attention and patronage.

Signed: Hon. Akintunde Ige, National Coordinator

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

NEWS

Imo Dep Governor: Jonathan has betrayed Southeast

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MO State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere has said President Goodluck Jonathan has betrayed the Southeast for failing to redeem electoral promises he made to the zone.

Madumere, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said the earlier the Southeast break rank with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the better for the zone.

He stated: “When you go to the Southeast, the PDP has made the area politically useless.

“All the promises the President made prior to his election, none has been kept.

Now, who are we looking up to, to keep all these promises?”

The deputy governor said the salvation of the Southeast

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

lies with the emerging All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that Governor Rochas Okorocha remains the rallying point for the zone in 2015.

He described the crisis in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) as a contrived one, saying certain groups and individuals were bent on hijacking and controlling the Forum for political reasons.

“My view is that the system that has been revolving around that Forum should be allowed to operate on its own.

“That is the only way Nigerians can believe that the Forum is not being controlled by external forces.

“If you saw the video of the

election, you will know that all the necessary things were in place.

“Seeing that the majority of the governors had spoken, I don’t see any reason why anyone should destabilise the group.

“The NGF is a forum where all the governors meet and come up with a common agenda to approach the National Economic Council or the Federal Executive Council.

“So Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s election as chairman of the NGF should be allowed to stand.

“If an election was conducted and the faction that lost has refused to accept defeat, then there is a script being played and this is not good for Nigeria,” Madumere said.

Authorities investigate “illegal flight” of Kenyan jet to Lagos

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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•Jonathan

The deputy governor said the earlier the governors close rank the better, warning the Jonah Jang faction to stop playing a script crafted by script writers behind the scene.

“The truth is that they are playing in the direction of a script writer. There is someone or a group that believes that if they do not benefit from it, they can mess it up.

“And they feel the only way they can do that is by trying to create a faction within the Forum.”

IGERIAN aviation authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the entrance into the country of a private jet belonging to a Kenyan citizen.

The jet was grounded for alleged unlawful entrance without valid papers.

The plane, it was learnt, did not file proper flight plan, but declared the status of a diplomatic jet, only for the Nigerian authorities to discover that it was on a private mission into the country.

Sources hinted that the jet brought a Nigerian based in Kenya, who allegedly has matrimonial problems with his Kenyan wife.

It was gathered that the jet required for all aircraft, which fuelled the curiosity of security operatives at the airport.

It is against global aviation practice for any private jet or aircraft to fly around the world without a registration number or a proper flight plan.

The grounding of the plane at the airport, it was learnt, almost led to a diplomatic row between the two countries, forcing the Kenyan government to intervene in the matter.

The Nigerian authorities, it was gathered, sanctioned the jet and insisted that the plane must pay for the navigational services and other charges rendered.

Besides, after the intervention of the Kenyan government, it was learnt that the plane was ordered to be released by the Nigerian government on Tuesday, but with the deported Nigerian onboard whose identity could not be ascertained at press time.

‘Falana, others’ petitions spur fuel subsidy probe’

By Adebisi Onanuga

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•Obi presenting a N10 million cheque to Bishop Hilary Okeke for the rehabilitation of Premier Secondary School Unubi... yesterday. With them are Commissioner for Education Mrs Uju Okeke; the principal Stan Ojimba and the Senior Prefect , Ubah Amarachukwu.

Delta demolishes more kidnappers’ buildings

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HE Delta State Government has demolished a multi-million naira building allegedly being used as operational base for suspected kidnappers and robbers in Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area .

This brings to eight the number of buildings destroyed by the government this year.

The government has taken a tough stance against kidnapping, following the recent passage of a bill by the House of Assembly, stipulating death penalty for kidnappers.

Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Aduba yesterday said some kidnap victims were rescued from the property.

He said: “The government

•Police re-arrest businessman From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

has ordered the demolition of some identified operational bases of hoodlum in the state.

We have destroyed two in Ozoro, Isoko North, two in Kokori, Ethiope East, one in Orogun, Ughelli North and two others in Warri.

Aduba said other buildings have been marked for demolition in Ogwashi-Uku and Onicha-Olona.

He said the Land Use Act states that all lands belong to government, adding that the government can revoke any land used to commit crime and acquire it for common good.

The police said it has re-arrested a Lagos businessman, Dr John Jideonwu, for allegedly jumping bail.

Jideonwu allegedly jumped bail while being investigated in a case of conspiracy, stealing and malicious damage of Asaba Sports Club.

The club, which was built in 1864, was destroyed by unknown persons using earthmoving equipment.

It is the subject of a tripartite legal tussle among Jideonwu, Umuezei community and the government.

The businessman, in a petition to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasu-

ki, denied complicity in the destruction of the property.

The suspect allegedly committed the offence in 2011, following which he was arrested and granted bail.

The suspect through his counsel, Austin Emordi, has written a series of petitions, alleging abuse of office and a plot to assassinate him.

However, the government revoked the rights of occupancy of the contested property in 2011.

Police spokesman Lucky Uyabeme, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect and his lawyer was arrested after destroying duly endorsed warrant of arrest.

He said the counsel has been arraigned in court.

Rivers ACN: Sekibo, suspended official head to Abuja

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HE 2011 governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and the party’s suspended National Treasurer, Kenneth Kobani, are heading for Abuja to meet with the national leadership of the ACN, on the crisis in the state chapter.

They condemned the alleged unilateral decision of the national leadership of the ACN to work for the in-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

terest of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Rivers ACN, yesterday in an online statement by its suspended Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, alleged that members were aggrieved that Amaechi, whom they said had marginalised the opposition , could easily worm his way

into the party, without the knowledge of the state chapter.

The aggrieved Rivers ACN leaders declared that they could not work with Amaechi in the yet-to-beregistered All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that they would rather return to the PDP, where they said they originally belonged.

The other suspended members are Jerry Needam;

Ibieneye Lolo, Lali Green and Nancy Nwankwo.

Esuku and the Secretary, Ngoji Warmate, accused the suspended officials of antiparty activities, especially for fraternising with the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the PDP. The suspended persons, on Tuesday, claimed to have suspended Esuku.

But the chairman described them as liars, blackmailers and jokers.

LAGOS High Court, Ikeja heard yesterday that the ongoing investigation and prosecution of some oil marketers was a fallout of the petitions by a lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), members of the civil society groups and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

A prosecution witness, Hammed Lawal, said this in his testimony at the ongoing trial of two oil marketers and their company before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Samuel Bamidele, Abiodun Kayode Bankole and their company, A.S.B. Investment Company Limited, for alleged subsidy fraud in the sum of N1,341,471,735.67.

An EFCC’s operative, who was among those detailed to investigate the fuel subsidy infractions, said because the petitions were not specific, the commission decided to investigate the subsidy regime.

He said it also became imperative for the commission to probe transactions relating to the fuel subsidy regime because there was a lot of public outcry against the misdeed.

Lawal told the court that their investigations showed that the defendants fraudulently obtained payments from the petroleum support fund as subsidy for the importation of premium motor spirit (petrol) to the tune of N1,341,471,735.67.

He said analysis on the claims by the oil marketers showed that about 13,415 metric tonnes of fuel discharged by the marketers at Fatgbems depot did not emanate from Sweden as quoted in their bill of lading.

The witness said the suspects did not supply the products from the vessel, Pacific Innovator, as claimed because the vessel did not load on the dates quoted on the bill of lading.

According to him, what was paid for as evidenced from the letter of credit to the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) was not imported because of the discrepancies in the documents.

Lawal told the court that he did not investigate the movement of the vessel, neither did he receive any report from the captain of the mother vessel.

Responding to a question by the defence counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe, Lawal confirmed the claims by the marketers that he captured the volume of the product discharged at Fatgbems depot.

He, however, said that the vessel conveying the petroleum product left Sweden on February 20, 2011 contrary to claims by the defendants that the vessel left Sweden on February 13, 2011.

Further hearing in the matter was adjourned till July 8, during which the prosecution is expected to call more witnesses.

Nigeria’s problems are self-imposed, says Cleric

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OR the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Badagry, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Adeyemi, the problems of Nigeria are self-imposed.

The cleric however said that those placing themselves above the rule of law will always pay the penalty for their sins.

He spoke at the third session of the Synod of the Diocese of Badagry, Lagos State. The theme of the synod was “The reward of obedience”.

His audience included Lagos Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe and Chief Segun Osunkeye.

According to him, the nation’s woes began with the incursion of the military and the enactment of obnoxious decrees.

He described as unfortunate that political parties are have not kept faith with their own constitution as they impose candidates on the electorates without staging rancor free primaries.

Besides, he decried the practice of choosing candidates for elective positions by god-fathers, thereby subverting the wishes of the people.

Speaking on the State of the Nation, the cleric admonished every Nigerian to support the introduction of emergency rule in three states by President Goodluck Jonathan so that normalcy can return to the North in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

He blamed the problems facing the North on elite, who use religion as a weapon to impose themselves on the region.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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NEWS

Reps back Jonathan on Boko Haram proscription

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HE House of Representatives has backed President Goodluck Jonathan’s proscription of terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The lawmakers said he extremist group has damaged the country’s image in the comity of nations with its nefarious activities.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also backed the government’s action, saying it was long overdue.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, House spokesman Zakari Mohammed, described the government’s action as the right step in the right direction.

He said the House would support the President on the matter.

Mohammed said: “We have not minced words over the condemnation of Boko Haram.

If you look at our legislative

From Victor Oluwasegun, Dele Anofi, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

agenda as the Seventh House, you will discover that we promised to make laws for peaceful co-existence of the country.

“As a House, we have to support the President on this, because he took the right step in the right direction. We believe it is even coming too late.

We believe that those who became aggrieved and got themselves into it did not act in the interest of the nation.

“We want to live in a peaceful atmosphere. This is an association of people and now a law has come to criminalise such an association. It is indeed a right step in the right direction.”

The House spokesman also said Jonathan acted within con-

•CAN: Action long overdue fines of the law, adding: “Mr President has the power to take such decisions within the limits of the law. Anything that will bring peace and promote brotherliness in the country, the Seventh Assembly is willing to support it.”

CAN hailed the government’s decision to gazette Boko Haram and another sect, Ansaru, as terrorist groups. The nation’s Christians body called for an immediate dissolution of the Boko Haram amnesty committee, saying its position on the committee has been vindicated.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, issued a statement outlawing the Jamaatu AhlisSunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram, as well as the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina

Fi Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru. Both groups have unleashed mayhem on the polity in the North with 20 years jail term for anybody associating with them.

CAN’s General Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake, spoke with The Nation after a media briefing on the launching of a nationwide campaign for the restoration of core values in the society. The event is expected to hold on July 14 in Abuja.

He said: “CAN has always been on one position; it has always believed that these groups should have been designated before this time. CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has spoken on this and he got opposition from people.

Even when he addressed the Congress in the United States,

some people back home were saying he should be arrested.

But we thank God that we are alive today to witness what Pastor Oritsejafor said.

“The Federal Government was very slow. But thank God. The government has woken up from its sleep to know that this is an evil group which does not know God. Its members were killing Christians, burning down churches. People were not saying much. The socalled northern elders were not saying much. But God has unveiled them; we now know that these are criminals. They are just blood-thirsty people; they don’t mean well for Nigeria.

“If you saw the unveiling of the bushes, where they have their syringes, they drugged themselves. They had condoms; for what?”

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•From left: Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahya Miya; Governor Isa Yuguda; Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Dhamina and Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Dr Iliyasu Gital, during the inauguration of a community radio station in Bununu, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State... on Tuesday.

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Hezbollah Kano armoury: Security agents uncover more arms

ECURITY operatives in Kano yesterday made fresh discovery of more arms at 3 Gaya Road, Bompai, Kano. A bunker containing Hezbollah armoury was discovered in the house, prompting the arrest of three Lebanese nationals.

In a statement yesterday, the spokesman of 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, said a further search on the bungalow led to the discovery of more dangerous weapons buried under a wardrobe.

The statement said: “After painstaking search of the premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber and ammu-

Court remands tycoon, others over arms From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

FOUR people, who are being held in connection with the cache of arms discovered in the home of a Lebanese businessman in Kano, were yesterday arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Karu.

They include the businessman, Mustapha Reda Darwish Fawaz, who is believed to be the owner of popular Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park.

Others are: Talal Roda, Abdulla Tahini and Hussain Nurudeen Kossdi.

Chief Magistrate Muyiwa Oyeyipo granted the request for the suspects’ remand and adjourned till June 19.

They were taken before the court by the State Security Service (SSS) operatives, who sought the court’s permission to further remand the suspects pending the completion of investigation.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

nition, which was properly wrapped, was recovered.

“On further search of the property, a cooler was recovered; it was buried under the

wardrobe which had 80 indicators, five PPK pistols, 334 rounds of 7.62mm special, nine magazines, four pistol silencers, 18 36 hand grenades caps, four explosive fuses and two explosive devices.

“You may recall that on May 28, a combined team of the DSS and 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army conducted a search on a house located at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road, Kano. The property belongs to Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese, who is currently out of the country.

“We continue to count on the support and cooperation of the people of Kano in the effective discharge of our duties.

We assure you of our utmost commitment in ensuring that peace and an atmosphere suitable for business continue to prevail.”

Court stops Tukur’s panel from probing Suntai’s health From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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HIGH Court, in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has restrained

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HE Niger State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed the appointment of former First Lady, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, as the Chief Judge (CJ).

She is the first female judge to rise to the position.

Justice Abubakar has been acting since March when former Justice Jibrin Ndajiwo retired from the Bench.

The approval came on the heels of a motion led by the member representing Lavun Constituency, Jacob Majin Gana.

The lawmaker extolled the virtues of Justice Abubakar, saying she is a distinguished jurist and a woman who devoted her time to the advancement of effective judicial system in Nigeria and Niger State.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

•Tukur

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Tension in Benue community over soldiers’ killing of youths

49 suspected Boko Haram terrorists arrested in Yobe ORTY-NINE suspected Boko Haram terrorists were arrested at various locations in Yobe State by troops of the military Special Forces, following a tip-off by locals in some communities.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said the suspects were arrested during cordonand-search operation.

According to him, weapons recovered from the suspects including AK 47 rifles, locallymade pistols and ammunition.

The suspects, he said, were apprehended when federal troops combed Rugan Fulani, Arikime, Afghanistan and Ngandu villages and communities.

The statement said: “The team, led by Air Commodore B. E. Inyang, was also briefed that all the camps of the terrorists in the area had been dislodged, as some of the insurgents fled towards Niger Republic.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar yesterday in Ibadan said the $7million bounty placed on Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is a welcome development.

Also, the military special forces have arrested a recruitment agent for Boko Haram insurgents, the Defence Headquarters said yesterday.

A statement by Brig.-Gen. Olukolade said the unnamed terror agent was arrested during a search in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Niger appoints ex-First Lady as CJ

the panel set up by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to probe the health and office of Governor Danbaba Suntai.

The governor is receiving treatment abroad on the injuries he sustained in a plane crash near Yola, the Adamawa State, in October last year. Suntai piloted the plane.

The panel, headed by Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has six other members. Its assignment is to,

among other things, “fast-track the process of constitutional adherence as it affects the current status of the Office of the Governor of Taraba State”.

It is to submit its report within two weeks, beginning from May 27.

But before the panel could begin its assignment in Taraba, supposedly yesterday, Alhaji Garba Julde and Sale Audu Habu went to court.

They are challenging the constitutionality or otherwise of the committee, with a motion on notice. The plaintiffs

sued the PDP and the panel members.

In the motion of ex-parte, Julde and Habu prayed the court to order an interim injunction against the panel.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Ibrahim Effiong, with P. O. Olusuye and S. E. Keledu, said the reason for the ex-parte application is the “prevention of imminent irretrievable injury or damage to the right of one of the parties to the suit”.

He added: “Giving the time frame within which the second to eighth respondents (the sev-

en-member panel) are to submit its assignment to the first respondent (PDP), I am of the view that the applicants have made out a case for grant of this application made ex-parte.

“To refuse this application is to render the outcome of the contest nugatory, should the applicants succeed in their claim. This is because by then, the committee would have completed its assignment and submitted its report, thereby destroying the subject of the contest.”

HERE was tension yesterday in Daudu, Guma Local Government Area in Benue State, after soldiers from 72 Special Battalion, Makurdi, allegedly killed two Tiv youths.

The youths were said to be on their way to the farm on a motorcycle when they were killed.

But the police command alleged that the youths ambushed the soldiers and were killed in an exchange of gun fire.

But House of Assembly member representing Makurdi North, Avine Agbom (ACN) said the youths were peasant farmers, who were on their way to the farm.

Agbum criticised the soldiers for what he called a bias and indifference to the plight of Tiv farmers, who had been under constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen for over two years.

Addressing reporters in Makurdi after the killing, the ACN lawmaker recalled that three weeks ago, soldiers from the Special Forces Battalion caught some Fulani herdsmen who had killed five Tiv farmers in Guma Local Government with sophisticated weapon but did not kill any of them.

Agbum said: “They (soldiers) arrested some Fulani herdsmen in Guma few days ago. Five bodies were on the ground with heavy weapons.

Yet, no one was killed because they are Hausa-Fulani...”

Police warn vehicle owners

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HE Lagos State Police Command haswarned owners of accidented and abandoned vehicles parked at Maincentre and Pedro Divisions to remove them or lose them to the public through an auction after 14 days.

They are: Toyota Highlander, with registration number DH666JJJ; Honda Accord RU879AAA. Also in Ago-Iwoye Division, Ogun State, abandoned 11 motorcyles. They are Jincheng registration number OGS487N; Jincheng OG5082GA; Jincheng QU572KJA; Bajaj QC618KNN and Bajaj unregistered.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

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FOREIGN NEWS Former Slovenia PM sentenced to jail for bribes

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LOVENIA’s opposition leader and former prime minister was sentenced to two years in jail yesterday for bribery in a 2006 arms purchase, one of several scandals that have fuelled public anger over the country’s financial crisis.

Janez Jansa had denied taking money in the aborted purchase of 135 armored vehicles from Finnish defense group Patria while he was prime minister and will appeal. Two co-defendants were also found guilty and jailed for 22 months.

High-level corruption allega-

tions have stirred public anger over a financial crisis that has exposed a culture of cronyism in the ex-Yugoslav republic, and could see it become the latest euro zone country to seek an international bailout.

Jansa said the verdict was politically motivated and that he would use “all legal and political tools” to fight against it.

Analysts said the verdict showed Slovenia was starting to clamp down on corruption.

“If upheld, I guess this sends a message that the courts are

acting to address these issues (of elite corruption) that seem to have run deep through the ruling establishment in Slovenia,” said Timothy Ash, an analyst at Standard Bank.

Several hundred people protested outside the court to express support for Jansa. Borut Hocevar, a political analyst at Finance daily, said the verdict could divide Slovenia.

“The verdict will make Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) more homogeneous and it will back Jansa as there is no other alternative leader in sight,” Hocevar said.

•In this photograph 24 years ago, a man stands in front of a convoy of tanks in Tiananman Square in PHOTO:REUTERS Beijing, June 5, 1989 demonstrating a day earlier massacre by Chinese Troops.

Ghana ex-airport official faces drug charges

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HE ex-security chief at Ghana’s international airport has been charged in the US with conspiring to smuggle Afghan heroin to New York.

Solomon Adelaquaye was

U.S:Susan Rice to take White House post

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RESIDENT Barack Obama’s top national security adviser is resigning and will be replaced by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who has been a lightning rod for Republican criticism over faulty explanations for the attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya.

Tom Donilon has been a key foreign policy adviser to President Barack Obama. But the 58-year-old had been expected to depart sometime this year, with Rice seen as the likely candidate to replace him.

Rice’s selection was greeted by a muted response from some Republicans who had earlier accused her of being part of an administration cover-up in the Benghazi attacks.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, one of Rice’s harshest critics, wrote on Twitter Wednesday that he disagreed with her appointment but would “make every effort” to work with her on important matters. And Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the foreign relations committee, said he had spoken with Rice and looked forward “to working with her on shaping important foreign policy and national security issues.”

arrested with two Nigerians and a Colombian in May following a joint US-Ghanaian investigation, officials said.

West Africa is a major hub for drugs smuggled from Latin America and Asia to Europe and the US.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013

62

FOREIGN NEWS Turkey protesters demand dismissal of police chiefs

U.S. says Iran’s nuclear reactor plans ‘deeply troubling’

T

HE United States said yesterday it was “deeply troubled” by Iran’s plans to start a reactor in 2014 that could yield nuclear bomb material while failing to give U.N. inspectors necessary design information about the plant.

The comments by a U.S. envoy to a board meeting of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) high-

lighted deepening Western concern about the heavy water reactor which Iran is building near the town of Arak.

Tension over Iran’s nuclear course is rising with talks between Tehran and six powers stalled. Israel, widely assumed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state, sees Iran as the most serious risk to it and has threatened to bomb its nuclear sites if diplomacy and sanctions fail to restrain Tehran.

Iran says the Arak plant will make isotopes for medical and agricultural use. But analysts say this type of facility can also produce plutonium for weapons if the spent fuel is reprocessed something Iran says it has no intention of doing.

Tasked with ensuring that nuclear material is not diverted for military purposes, the IAEA says Iran must ur-

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gently give it design data about Arak, warning that it would otherwise restrict its ability to monitor the site effectively.

“We are deeply troubled that Iran claims that the IR40 heavy water reactor at Arak could be commissioned as soon as early 2014, but still refuses to provide the requisite design information for the reactor,” Joseph Macmanus, the U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, told the 35-nation Board of Governors.

He cited IAEA rules that a member state must inform the Vienna-based U.N. agency about a nuclear plant, and give design details, as soon as it has decided to build one. Iran says it must only do so before loading nuclear fuel into the reactor.

“Iran’s refusal to fulfill this basic obligation must necessarily cause one to ask whether Iran is again pursuing covert nuclear activities,” Macmanus said, according to a copy of his speech to the closed-door gathering.

The West suspects Iran is seeking the capability to develop nuclear weapons behind the facade of an atomic energy program.

Western worries about Iran are focused largely on uranium enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow, as such material refined to a high level can provide the fissile core of an atomic bomb.

•Erdogan

A

CTIVISTS in Turkey have called for the sacking of police chiefs in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities over their forces’ violent responses to protests.

They presented a series of demands to Deputy PM Bulent Arinc, who on Tues-

day apologised to injured protesters.

The crackdown on protests over the redevelopment of a park in Istanbul last week triggered nationwide unrest.

Thousands of striking workers have now joined demonstrations to demand Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan resign.

Banging drums and carrying banners, trade unionists marched on Istanbul’s Taksim Square, which has been the focal point of the unrest.

There was a similar march by workers including doctors, teachers and bank staff in the capital Ankara.

Overnight, police in Istanbul again fired tear gas, water cannon and smoke grenades at protesters on the fifth night of unrest.

New Pakistani PM vows to fix economy

P

AKISTAN’s new prime minister took office Wednesday vowing to fix the country’s ailing economy and end electricity blackouts while also calling for an end to American drone strikes in the tribal areas.

Nawaz Sharif was elected to an unprecedented third term as the prime minister of this country of 180 million people by an electorate frustrated with corruption, inflation and unemployment and looking to him for quickly needed solutions.

He must also navigate a tricky relationship with the U.S., which has angered many Paki-

stanis by using unmanned aerial vehicles to kill militants who hide in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Speaking to the parliament after he was elected, Sharif acknowledged the size of the problems in front of him and vowed action.

“I will do my best to change the fate of the people and Pakistan,” he said.

Sharif received 244 votes from the 342-seat parliament, returning him to an office he held twice during the 1990s before being forced out in a military coup in 1999. He was later sworn in by President Asif Ali Zardari.

The BBC’s James Reynolds on the view from the Asian side of Istanbul.

In the coastal city of Izmir, police arrested 25 people for posting “misinformation” on Twitter.

Relatives said those detained - young men and women, mostly in their early 20s - had posted as few as two tweets informing protesters of the location of police activity and roadblocks in the city. They feared they would be charged with criminal incitement.

Mali army clashes with separatist MNLA rebels

M

ALIAN soldiers have clashed with secular separatist Tuareg fighters near the northern town of Kidal, the army’s spokesman has told the BBC. Kidal has been held by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) since February, when Islamist militants fled the city.

The MNLA was allied to the Islamist groups when they seized control of the north together in April 2012.

But it fell out with them and backed a French-led offensive to oust them.

It is the first time the Malian army has fought against the Tuareg separatists since France intervened militarily in January.

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TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

A

FTER nearly 30 years of economic reform and financial orthodoxy, the economy is growing. But a new economic strategy is now needed to create more jobs.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, is upbeat about the state of the economy.

In her report last week on the economy she reeled out figures showing that the economy is doing quite well. Current growth rate is 6.5%, the highest in recent years. Inflation is down to 9.5%, the lowest for nearly 30 years. Foreign reserves have increased significantly to nearly US$48 billion. There is greater stability in the exchange rate though the naira is gradually weakening against the US dollar. Non-oil exports are doing quite well. Earnings from this sector have increased to 30% of total export earnings, up from 10% for decades. Despite the grave security situation in the country, FDI has recorded its highest growth in recent years. The economic fundamentals appear quite strong and impressive. The economic reform programme and a large dose of financial orthodoxy in recent years have paid off. Altogether, there is macroeconomic stability and this should prime the economy for faster and higher growth in the short to medium term. All the multilateral financial institutions, including the WB and the IMF, have endorsed the favourable reports on the state and efficient management of the economy. And all this was achieved during a global recession and its negative consequences for the world’s economy. It has ravaged many of the rich and industrialised countries.

But there is a flip side to these impressive economic figures that the Finance Minister is upbeat about. First, the impressive economic growth rate has not translated into more jobs for the vast number of the unemployed graduates from our tertiary institutions. The unemployment rate is still far too high for an economy that appears to be growing. The lag between economic growth and job creation has taken far too long. Second, there is very little evidence of the trickle down effect on incomes and the improvement in the general quality of life that economic growth should bring about.

Average per capita income may have improved slightly, but the existing income inequality is widening. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. The nation is economically and socially increasingly polarised. In fact, very few people believe these impressive economic figures when all they see around them is seemingly greater poverty. Poverty levels in our country remain unacceptably high with devastating social consequences for our nation. This remains the Achilles heel of the economy. Average income levels remain lower than in many other African countries. There are still far too many unemployed youths in the country to justify the optimism of the Finance Minister on economic strategy and management. New jobs will come from more local and foreign investments in the economy.

Job creation should remain the top priority of a sound rate structure with the huge arbitrage between savings and borrowing does not encourage lending for productive investments.

The two rates will need to be better realigned to reduce the gap between them. The current interest rate structure is a disincentive to local

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State of the economy

•Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

investment in the economy.

What is responsible for this slack in job creation despite the impressive economic growth rate and macroeconomic stability? Why do we have such a vast number of unemployed youths when the economy seems to be growing so impressively?Apart from the existing massive public corruption which constrains growth, the obvious reason is that current private sector investments are directed more towards capital intensive rather than labour intensive projects. In addition to an imperfect market the domestic economy has to contend with a wasteful and imperfect government as well. Of course, it would be wrong and counterproductive for the government to intervene directly in this regard by forcing private sector investors to invest more in labour intensive projects. This will turn them away.

But this objective can be realised in two ways.

First, the government can improve on the existing incentive structure by granting investments in labour intensive projects, such as

agriculture, better incentives, including better access to loans. Labour is quite cheap and readily available in Nigeria. The future economic growth and prosperity of the nation depend on our ability to take advantage of these comparatively low labour costs particularly in manufacturing. This will make our domestic economy more competitive globally. This was how the NICS, such as China, India, South Korea, and Brazil achieved their impressive economic growth rates. Nigeria should learn from these countries’ hugely successful economic strategies by concentrating more on labour intensive projects for job creation and exports. The vagaries of the oil market make this strategy imperative. Already oil incomes are falling.

Second, in view of huge resource constraints, public sector expenditure should focus more on sectors that have a direct impact on employment. Here, I am thinking of our woeful social and physical infrastructure which calls for massive investment. There is some ongoing attempt to reduce the budget deficits by cutting public expenditure. There is no objection to this as persistent budget deficits will impact negatively on inflation and this could undermine stability in the macro economy and future economic growth rate.

But a dash of Keynesian economics through a modestly expansionary budget will, if appropriately utilised and directed towards the more productive sectors of the domestic economy, create more jobs and an even higher economic growth rate in the domestic economy. The financial orthodoxy, which we have practiced in our economic management for some decades now, with good effect, should be reviewed now and a new growth and exported oriented strategy involving higher pub-

HARDBALL

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HE United States Acting Assistant Director of Diplomatic Security Threat Investigations and Analysis Directorate, Ambassador Kurt Rice, has said that wanted Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, could be tried for terrorism in the United States or in Nigeria where he hails from if caught. To this end, the U.S. on Monday placed $23m bounties on five leaders of terrorist groups in West Africa, including Shekau. The Boko Haram leader alone attracted a highly tempting seven million dollars bounty.

News reports pointed out that the U.S. action coincided with the Nigerian government finally determining, after endless waffling and prevarication, that Boko Haram is indeed a terrorist organisation, and its leaders and members liable to be tried for terrorism.

Nigeria, which is increasingly finding it difficult to define and guard its independence and national pride, has not protested against any suggestion that its homegrown terrorists cannot be dealt with at home and under home rules. Boko Haram has not just attacked home targets; indeed foreigners have also been among its victims. However, except for a brief foray into Cameroun, and perhaps a base and launch pad in Mali, the sect’s attacks have been limited to Nigeria. As Britain showed in the case of Michael Adebolajo, the British terror suspect who was coaxed from feeble Kenyan hands in 2010 in or-

LAWAL OGIENAGBON lic expenditure, particularly on the physical infrastructure, should be introduced. The economy will grow even faster and more jobs will be created if we invest more in developing public transportation, the roads, electricity, public housing, the ports, and other public utilities. But plans to start another national airline should be abandoned. It is wasteful. At the micro level it is this strategy of massive public construction that the Lagos State Government under Governor Fashola has pursued with astonishing success in terms of job creation. There is no reason why this strategy cannot be replicated by the Federal Government. A lot of financial resources are needed to upgrade these infrastructures. Some of these can be done through public-private-participation (PPP) to reduce the pressure on public spending. Whatever the attractions of a fiscal balance might be, it is vastly more important to keep the domestic economy running at an optimal level so as to create more jobs and overall prosperity in the nation.

Despite our healthy foreign reserves, the Federal Government is resorting increasingly to foreign borrowing to finance infrastructure. The current debt stock is over US$15billion. At the same time it has created a US1billion SWF for foreign lending ostensibly to cushion the negative impact of a possible future decline in our oil income. But it hardly makes any economic sense for us to borrow abroad at a rate higher than what our SWF can earn in terms of interest rates. Why should we create a SWF when there is a crying and desperate need for more investments at home to modernise our woeful infrastructure? There is no reason why some of our healthy foreign reserves cannot be spent now in upgrading our infrastructure.

The opposition parties are right in criticising the PDP Federal Government for the various contradictions in its economic strategy, particularly over the lack of job creation and the consequent deepening of mass poverty in our nation. But they should go beyond that and develop a credible alternative economic strategy that will remove some of the major constraints on job creation in the economy. At the moment it does not seem that the various opposition parties have alternative and coherent economic strategies that they can turn into an electoral advantage over the ruling PDP federal government. The failure of the Federal Government to create more jobs and the woeful infrastructure should be the central issues in the campaign for the 2015 elections.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

When Boko Haram’s Shekau is found der to be investigated under British rules, nations recognise that their sovereignty is infinitely much more nuanced than first view and ordinary definitions suggest. Nigeria needs all the help it can get to curb terrorism and bring Nigerian terrorists, or any other terrorist who commits crime on Nigerian soil, to trial. But it must be understood very clearly that Shekau is our problem, and except he goes to another country to carry out terror-related activities, he remains strictly our problem, no matter how far-reaching the consequences of his actions.

Nigeria has never presumptuously attempted to intercept foreign terrorists on foreign soils. Therefore, this generation of Nigerians must never be seen as condoning foreign governments extending their laws creatively or collaterally for the purpose of apprehending and prosecuting Nigerian criminals. It is of course evident that Nigerian governments have been slothful in dealing with their criminals, either because of plain juristic inefficiency or because certain individuals in government connive at crime and criminals. This is, however, not enough reason for other countries to invade our sovereignty under any guise. In fact, it must be emphasized that even if Shekau were to be apprehended in, say, Mali by U.S. forces, it is important that he should be handed

over to us for prosecution. Thankfully, Ambassador Rice has herself left a window open for the wanted terrorists to be tried in their home countries. Nigeria must emphasise its unequivocal preference for this option.

But if Ambassador Rice contemplates the option of subjecting Shekau to the U.S. justice system, it is simply because Nigeria has consistently and enduringly projected a weakness of national character that has made it possible, for example, for Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to be ‘handed’ over remorselessly to British authorities for prosecution, and for our country to quite puzzlingly rejoice that a James Ibori foolishly preferred to wash his dirty linen abroad. If our laws are weak, by all means let us strengthen them. If our courts are inefficient, let us make them more efficient. And if our justice system is too convoluted to competently dispense justice speedily, let us remedy the problem. Let us do anything but display a weakness of national character that makes Nigerians prey to foreigners. Surely we are smart enough to know that prosecuting Shekau abroad, if he is apprehended, would define the country as a people of weak resolve and slow thinking. But if, failing everything, our courts let us down, then let us at least have the common sense and essential practicality to live with our faults.

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