The Nation June 07, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2149 THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH

Jonathan names nine-man airlines audit committee

SEE ALSO PAGES 2-6 & 60

Plane’s black box for US today Sultan calls for probe of crash From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE black box of the ill-fated Dana Air plane which crashed in Lagos last Sunday will be taken to the United States today – in a bid to find out the cause of the tragedy.

Nigeria lacks a good laboratory to analyse the key conponent of the aircraft, it was learnt yesterday.

All 153 onboard the Abuja-Lagos flight 9J922 died. On the ground, 10 died.

Also yesterday, the Federal Government ordered an up-to-date audit of all airlines as part of measures to forestall another crash. A nine-man Technical and Administrative Review Panel, headed by Group Captain John Obakpolor (rtd), an aeronautical engineer, was set up. Other members of the panel are Captain Austin Omame, Capt Dele Sasegbon, Dr OB Aliu, FC Onyeyiri, Capt Mfon Udom, Capt Muhtar Usman, Dr Tony Anuforom and Capt A Mshelia.

The panel’s report, the government promised, will be made public. President Goodl u c k THE NINE WISE MEN Jonathan vowed to •Capt. John Obakpolor take a firm •Capt. Austin Omame action when •Capt. Dele Sasegbon necessary.

Sultan of •Dr Babatunde Aliu Sokoto, Al•Mr. Fidelis Onyeyiri haji Sa’ad •Capt. Mfon Udom Abubakar II, and oth•Capt. Muhtar Usman Continued on Page 4

•Dr. Tony Anuforom •Capt. A Mshelia

•Mrs Oduah...yesterday

•Wike...yesterday

•Bashir Yuguda...yesterday

•Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade...yesterday

•President Jonathan signing the condolence register ...yesterday

A sober FEC meeting •How we missed the flight,

by Duke, Umar, Obada From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

N

O jokes. No pumping of hands. No hugging and no beaming as excited photographers click away. And, of course, no contracts awarded.

All was sober yesterday at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, venue of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting where a special session was held in honour of the victims of last weekend’s air crashes in Accra, Ghana and Lagos.

The only memo for the meeting originated from Continued on Page 4

Completion of autopsies on 52 bodies today

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•The late (DIG) John Ahmadu (rtd), one of the victims

HE autopsies on the 52 identifiable bodies of victims of Sunday’s Dana Air crash in Iju-Ishaga on the outskirts of Lagos will be completed today, the government said yesterday.

But the autopsies on charred remains will not be completed, until a forthnight.

Lagos State Attorney General and

By Wale Adepoju, Health Reporter

Commissioner for Justice Mr Ade Ipaye said autopsies had been carried out on 36 of the 52 bodies brought to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Ipaye said the autopsies would enable the government to make certain clarifications, especially for the ben-

efit of everyone who might have a relative or friend on the flight and all other Nigerians who might be interested in what happened.

Ipaye said: “Of course, what I am saying is that not all the bodies can be identified. The burnt, unfortunately, make up the large number of unidentifiable.

“The 97 charred remains were tak-

en to Mainland Hospital. These are bodies that could not without further scientific probe be positively identified. So, those ones are in the other facility at the Mainland Hospital, and that means we have a total of 149 at the moment.”

Ipaye said the state government Continued on Page 6

•SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P43 •NATURAL HEALTH P45 •E-BUSINESS P47

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

2

NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH

Tale of dual The Daily Mail of London reports on the Nigerians, with American citizenship who died in the Dana Air crash

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•Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu (left), Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha (right) during a condolence visit to Miniter of State for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri who lost her husband in the crash...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Labour Minister Emeka Wogu, Minister of State for FCT Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Communication Technology Mrs. Mobola Johnson and Minister of State for Defence Mrs. Olusola Obada at a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in honour of the crash’s victims...yesterday

•Senator Ganiyu Solomon (right) during a visit to the site of the crash...yesterday

PHOTOS DAYO ADEWUNMI

N American family of six were among those who died in the Nigerian plane crash which claimed 153 lives.

Maimuna Anyene from West Hartford, Connecticut was with her Nigerian husband Onyeke and their four young children when the plane came down in the country’s capital Lagos on Sunday.

The children were Noah, aged 5 months, one-year-old twins Kaiyen and Kaima and Kamsi, three, the children’s godmother, Mari Sifo told local news.

They were on their way to Mrs Anyene’s brother’s wedding, Sifo said.

As news of their deaths spread round their home town of West Hartford, Connecticut, neighbours gathered at their Park Place Circle house laying flowers and struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, The Hartford Courant reported.

Mrs Anyene was described as an educated, vibrant woman who was always smiling. The family were well known in their neighbourhood.

The crash also claimed the lives of Josephine and Jennifer Onita from Missouri City, Texas. The sisters were also on their way to Lagos for a wedding.

They were the daughter’s of Solomon and Lola Onita, pastors of a Missouri City congregation of the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Houston Chronicle reports.

Jennifer, 28, was a electrical engineering graduate and Josephine, 23, was an accountancy manager for the family business.

Following the air tragedy, which saw the passenger plane crash into a residential area, Nigeria announced a three-day period of state mourning.

The pilot of the ill-fated plane had sent out emergency signals while nearing the runway, indicating a technical problem.

The Boeing MD-83 plane, belonging to Dana Air, an Indian-owned company, went down near the airport shortly afterwards.

Authorities believe many people on the ground may have been killed besides all 153 passengers and crew

‘

on board.

A statement from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he ‘prays that God Almighty will grant the families of the victims of the plane crash the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss’.

The aircraft appeared to have landed on its belly into the dense neighborhood that sits along the approach path taken by aircraft heading into Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The plane tore through roofs, sheared a mango tree and rammed into a woodworking studio, a printing press and at least two large apartment buildings in the neighborhood before stopping.

A white, noxious cloud rose from the crash site that burned onlookers’ eyes, as pieces of the plane lay scattered around the muddy ground.

Residents apprehensive about ghosts

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•From left: Lagos State Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipaye, his Ministry of Health counterpart, Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Special Duties Dr. Wale Ahmed and director, Dana Air Mr. Francis Ogboro, at a news conference on the crash in Lagos...yesterday

‘

Maimuna Anyene from West Hartford, Connecticut was with her Nigerian husband Onyeke and their four young children when the plane came down in the country’s capital Lagos on Sunday. The children were Noah, aged 5 months, one-year-old twins Kaiyen and Kaima and Kamsi, three... They were on their way to Mrs Anyene’s brother’s wedding

OME residents of Iju-Ishaga, a suburb of Lagos, where a Dana airline crashed into buildings on Sunday, have appealed to the authorities to bury the victims far from the area.

Their apprehension was based on their belief in the existence of ghosts, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Idayatu Ali, a 24-year-old unemployed school leaver, said living around the scene of the crash, was superstitious and would not want the victims buried at the scene of the accident, “for fear of ghosts”.

According to her, human beings are no goats and when they die prematurely, especially, violently, their ghosts will haunt the scene for a while.

“This is no superstition; I have witnessed where a young man died in an accident and his ghost continued to cry at the scene for days until a sacrifice was performed.

“Please, tell them not to bury the victims here or else some of us will have to abandon our houses,” she pleaded.

However, Jude Agwu, a commercial motorcyclist, said he and some colleagues could easily offer sacrifices to Ogun (the Yoruba god iron) in a bid to get rid of any ghost threat.

Mr Iyiola Akande, the South-West Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said no decision had been taken on where to bury the victims.

He, however, believed that identifiable bodies should be released to their relations for burial, while badly burnt ones would be given mass burial, probably far from the scene.

“This is a densely populated area and erecting a memorial here may not be in the interest of the psyche of the residents.

“This has nothing to do with the myth about ghosts,” Akande told NAN at the scene of the crash.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH

citizens consumed by crash

•Maimuna Anyene, with her twins Kaiyen and Kaima, three, while pregnant with Noah, aged five months when he died

Imo Speaker mourns Anyene six, others

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PEAKER of Imo State House of Assembly Benjamin Uwajumogu has expressed his condolence to the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha over the death of Imo sons and daughters in the DANA plane crash.

He described the death of Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, Mrs Jennifer Ike C. Ibe, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, the Onyeagocha’s, Mr. Dike Chinwe (SAN), Onyeka Anyene, Maimuna Anyene, Noah Anyene, Kamsisoyona Anyene, Kaigenotochi Anyene, Enuma Ebuka, Enuma Sunday, Onyeriri Oluchi, Ngozi Hope, Njoku Ogechi, Njoku Charles, Okeke Hope, Ike Ochonogo, Okocha Christopher, Philip Chukwu Ebuka and others.

The flight disappeared from radar screens on Sunday one minute after declaring the emergency at 3.43pm local time an aviation ministry statement said.

At the crash site in Lagos’ Iju-Ishaga neighborhood, about five miles from Lagos airport, local residents carried fire hoses, trying to extinguish the plane’s burning fuselage.

The major challenges of life in oilrich Nigeria quickly became apparent as there wasn’t any water to put out the flames more than three hours

•The late Jennifer

Queen Elizabeth condoles with Nigeria

From: Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

Uwajumogu urged the affected families to bear the losses with the assurance that Almighty God will grant them eternal rest.

The Speaker has postponed all activities marking the one year of the Assembly slated for June 7.

He said: “In view of the unfortunate situation in the state and the country at large, it would be unethical, insensitive and indeed morally wrong for us to continue with the activities to mark our one year of inauguration on the 7th of June 2012. We therefore join millions of our citizens to mourn the departed souls.”

later.

Torrential downpour and strong winds prevented emergency crews from returning to the devastated neighborhood where the airliner crashed.

Dana, which began operating in 2008, issued a statement following the crash, specifying that the plane was carrying 146 passengers and seven crew.

The airline’s website said all flights had been suspended.

Dana Air have also announced

that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is leading the crash investigation with help from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.

Harold Demuren, the director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, said the pilot of the downed aircraft was an American and the co-pilot was Indian.

Chinese officials have said six of its nationals were on the plane and France said that one of its nationals, a woman, was on the flight.

•Queen Elizabeth

Q

UEEN Elizabeth 11 of England has condoled with Nigeria over the Dana Air plane crash, which killed over 150 people.

The queen, in a message sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, said she was saddened by the developement.

She prayed for the families of those who either died or have suffered losses as a result of teh crash.

The message reads: “I was shocked and saddened to learn of teh tragic aeroplane crash in Lagos on June 3. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and freinds of the bereaved and with the Nigerian people, who have suffered from this devastating loss of life. I send my deepest condolences to all those who have lost relatives or have been injured.”

British woman ‘dead in crash’

A

BRITISH statistician is thought to be among the 153 people killed on board a plane that crashed in Nigeria, her sister said.

Jill Chime, from Liverpool, said she had seen the name of her sister, Antonia Attuh, on the final passenger list from the Dana Air flight, which crashed on Sunday.

Another sister has flown to Nigeria to help relatives find her body, which they believe is in a hospital mortuary.

Ms Attuh was travelling to Lagos to attend a course and regularly flew to Nigeria, Ms Chime said.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Up All Night programme, she said: “My sister was travelling to Lagos and that was as far as I knew. I wasn’t certain of what airline she had gone on.

“We were immediately concerned because we had spoken to my sister in the morning and she was telling us she was going to Lagos that afternoon.

“When I heard about the crash I had to try and find out what airline

she had taken.”

She added: “My sister was a wonderful person, quite an exceptional person. She was a statistician - maths was the thing she loved doing and loved most.”

A cousin, who was due to collect Ms Attuh from the airport, told Ms Chime her sister was aboard the flight, which was also confirmed by Ms Attuh’s husband, who had seen her off.

“I also have my cousin who yesterday had gone through 30-odd bodies trying to locate her, and today he has gone through a further 40. But as of yet, we still have no confirmation of a corpse,” she said.

“It is very difficult and distressing.”

Ms Chime called for an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

She said: “Only then can the lessons of this tragedy be learned.

My sister would not have rested until she had gotten to the bottom of what happened and why it happened.”

The plane crashed about five miles north of Murtala Muhammed

•The late Mrs. Attuh, with her husband on their wedding day. With them are Mrs. Attuh’s parents

International Airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria after travelling from the Nigerian capital Abuja. It crashed into a printing works and residential buildings in the busy Iju-Ishaga suburb.

An unknown number of people on the ground were also killed.

The Foreign Office was unable to confirm whether Ms Attuh was aboard but a spokeswoman said: “It is believed that there was a dual

British-Nigerian national on board the flight.

“The Foreign Office has been in contact with a member of her family and offered consular assistance.”

Culled from Telegraph

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH

A sober FEC meeting

Meet the panel members

Continued from Page 1

President Jonathan. It was mainly on the crashes.

Almost 170 lives were lost in the Dana Air crash at IjuIshaga on the outskirts of Lagos and the Allied Air Limited crash in Accra , Ghana.

The meeting also coincided with the last day of the threeday national mourning declared on Sunday by the President. The mood at the meeting was a total reflection of a mourning nation as the President, Vice President Namadi Sambo and most of the ministers appeared in black dresses.

The ministers sat glued to their seat for about two hours they waited for the meeting to begin. The meeting which usually kicks off at 10am, did not start until about 11.45am.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, had earlier drawn up a condolence visiting schedule for the ministers but the arrangement was upturned when the President joined the meeting. He asked him to lead the visit to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri’s house alongside other ministers from the six geopolitical zones.

She lost her husband to the crash.

The Special FEC was for the first time open to reporters, who sat through the session, which ended at 3 p.m.

The meeting started with the singing of the national anthem and the pledge. The second stanza of the national anthem was used as the opening prayer for the day.

Then, a roll call of victims, one-minute silence, tributes, signing of national condo-

•Hajia Zainab Kuchi

•Hajia Zainab Maina

•Senator Idris Audu

•Sambo signing the register...yesterday

•Labaran Maku

lence register and the visits.

Three ministers - Edem Duke (Culture and Tourism Development), Senator Umar Idris (Transport) and Minister of State for Defence Olusola Obada, spoke on the illfated plane crash. Duke was ferried into another airline against his choice of Dana on arrival at the Abuja Airport.

Idris flew the same plane into Abuja from Lagos. Mrs Obada was waiting to board the same plane from Lagos to Abuja.

Aviation Minister Stella read the roll call of the victims. She reported the dual engine failure at 3.42 p.m. She also noted that rescuers reported immediately after crash.

The victims include 136 adults, five children, six infants and six crew members.

The pilot was an American.

The co-pilot was an Indian.

•Bolaji Abdulahi

•Edem Duke

Mrs Oduah also reported that an Allied Air cargo plane overshot the runway in Kotoka Airport in Ghana last Saturday.

The session became emotionally charged as the President asked the ministers to comment and make suggestions. The minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe advised the President to write a personal letter of condolences to all bereaved families that he cannot personally visit.

sector is like medicine; safety cannot be taken for granted. Government will take proper action if any lapse is found during investigation.

May God’s intervention heal our nation”.

•Minister of Interior Abba Moro described the incident as unfortunate. “God will grant President Jonathan the courage to weather the storm”. He commended rescue workers and assured that the panel’s recommendations will address many issues.

•Transport Minister Umar Idris: “There is destiny in everything. There is the hand of God in everything. Every man will taste death. Any time any one dies, his time has come. I used that same aircraft same day from Lagos and came to Abuja by 2pm.

In the conduct of investigation, certain issues will be addressed to avoid recurrence.

•Works Minister Mike Onolememenen: “While we

What the ministers said:

•Minister of Health Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu: “It was a weekend of sorrow for Nigerians. Actions taken so far

by Federal Government, Ministry, Lagos etc are all in good direction. Nigerians should remain calm and put their trust in God. Government will ensure victims don’t die in vain. Aviation

•Prof. Ruqayyat Rufa'i

pray for the repose of the victims, it calls for retrospection.

We ve experienced several crashes. The circumstances recur years after. It appears that the only motive for operators is economic at the detriment of lives of Nigerians. It is time to float a national airline. It may not be wholly owned by government; some people can subscribe to it. The lives of Nigerians are too precious to be left at the whims and caprices of businessmen whose main objective is to make profit.”

Mrs Ochepe praised Mrs Oduah for the measures taken so far. She drew attention to the need to look at work ethics to ensure seriousness in all that we do, stressing service to God and humanity and not personal gains. “Collectively, we should strengthen those we are doing well and jettison those we are doing wrongly and embrace best practices. The crowd at Ghana crash site Continued on Page 60

•Group Captain John Obakpolor is a certified aeronautical engineer. He retired from the Air Force as a gruop captain. He was pioneer president of the Aviation Roundtable, an aviation industry thinktank group that has consistenty canvassed the need for government to turn around the aviation sector.

He is a technical consultant to the NCAA , in charge of airspace, radar surveilliance and other responsibilities.

He has been agitating for government to engage professionals to turn around the industry in the areas of policy and regulation .

•Dr Anthony Anuforom is the director general of the Nigeria Metereological Agency ( NIMET). He is a physicist with vast acamedic and professional knowledge and experience in the field of aviation meteoreology.

He is one of the technical facilitators of the ministry of aviation.

His tenure at NIMET, has seen to the completion of new weather radar at airports across the country and the installation of low wind shear alerting system, which helps pilots to detect the sudden change in wind direction.

•Captain Austin Omame was among the radical pilots that broke out to set up ADC Airlines in the late eighties. He vast knowledge and experience in airline management and administration.

He is one of the respected Continued on Page 6

Jonathan names nine-man airlines audit committee Continued from Page 1

ers called for a “thorough” investigation of the crash in which about 160 died.

The panel will do a comprehensive assessment of all domestic airlines and recommend to the government actions that should be taken to improve safety.

Besides, it will assess the financial health line of airlines operating within Nigeria.

Briefing reporters immediately after the “special” Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in memory of the victims of flight 9j-922, Aviation Minister Stella Oduah said the committee, which has six months to complete its work was expected to come up with a comprehensive report on each of the airlines in the country.

On regulation, she said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), will be strengthened. This, she said, includes the implementation of the Central Bank/Ministry of Aviation committee recommendations.

The minister, who hinted about moving the black box to the United States for analyses, said: “At the site of the incident, there were people with AIB t-shirts; they were gathering information.

“They cut the parts from the aircraft, looking for clues. The information they obtained

President vows to take firm action

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured Nigerians and the international community that the Federal Government will deal decisively with culprits of Sunday’s DANA plane crash.

Jonathan spoke at a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in honour of victims of the disaster.

At the session which held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, all council members were dressed in black attires to mourn the departed.

The President reiterated his earlier directive that a comprehensive investigation be carried out to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the crash.

He said government would implement the recommendations of the investigation and take whatever action that is necessary where clear dereliction of duty is established. He vowed to ensure that sanity was restored to the sector and guarantee the safety of air travellers.

He said: “The lives of all Nigerians and foreigners in our country are precious to this administration. We will continue to do everything possible to protect lives and prevent avoidable deaths. will be taken back to the lab for analysis to get exactly the reason for the accident. But, in addition to that, because we do not have a laboratory for the black boxes, we need to take them outside the country for proper analysis.”

Mrs Oduah also assured of

“I assure all Nigerians and the international community that the investigations which I have ordered will be very thorough. Let me warn that where clear dereliction of duty is established, firm action will be taken.

“This administration stands ready to take whatever action may become necessary after the investigation to prevent the recurrence of air mishaps.

“We are a nation of highly resilient people; in time, we will surely overcome the collective trauma of Sunday’s plane crash in Lagos.”

The President said the special session marked the end of the official three-day mourning he declared after the crash.

He said that the accident was not only regrettable, but also a major setback to the ongoing efforts of government to reposition the aviation sector.

Jonathan reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the improvement of the quality of aviation infrastructure with the overall goal of making air travel in and outside the country safer.

He said government had set up a committee comprising the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Aviation to work out

proper diagnosis of the cause of the crash. “I want to also say that among the team that worked with AIB, are international experts and so, you are not likely to have collusion or reports that will have integrity issue. So, I want to assure that the report we will get will

ways of strengthening the financial stability and growth of domestic airlines.

The President said he had also directed the Ministers of Finance, Trade and Investment, CBN Governor, and the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, to look into tariffs and other taxes relating to the aviation industry and come up with recommendations on what to do to augment the sector.

He enjoined the media, particularly the social media network, to desist from sending out unconfirmed reports and speculations on the cause of the crash Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the report of the panel set up by the President would help sanitise the aviation industry.

He offered prayers for the repose of souls of the departed and fortitude for the families of the victims to bear the losses.

A minute’s silence was observed in honour of the departed souls while ministers, who spoke in turns, offered suggestions on how to improve the aviation sector.

The President and the Vice-President later signed a condolence register specially dedicated for the crash victims.

be a very authentic report,” She said.

On the nine-man panel, she said: “Mr. President has graciously approved the names of those that will be part of the investigative panel. As you are aware, there are two investigative panels that will

be going on simultaneously; one will use the other as a resource, based on aviation global best practices.

“We cannot redesign ours; we have to do it in line with what is obtainable in the aviation sector. And so, immediately an accident takes place in aviation,

the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) commences investigation.

The reason is to ensure that we don’t have a reoccurrence and so we are very preventive in aviation, not to have this happen again. But, most importantly, is to determine the cause of the accident.

“The economic regulatory aspect of NCAA will be strengthened to monitor domestic airlines on a regular basis. So, whenever we see signs that indicate danger, we will be able to either shut down the airline or take precautionary actions so that we don’t get into a very bad situation.”

On the recommendations of the CBN/ FMA, she said: there is an ongoing committee between the Ministry of Aviation, the CBN, commercial banks and other financial agencies.

They are set in the first place to ensure that domestic airlines are restructured. They are coming out with their recommendations today and we have read a preliminary report and so we will implement it fully.

“Mr. President has granted us that approval and when this is done, all the local airlines will have a transformed structure.

And we all know that the reason why most domestic airlines have problems is because the structures Continued on Page 58

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

5

NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH Falana demands coroner’s inquest

By Segun Balogun

•President Goodluck Jonathan (third left), Petroleum Minister, Alison Deziani-Madueke (left), Secretary to the Government of the Federaion (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief Of Staff to the President Chief Mike Ogiadomhe and other FEC members at a special FEC meeting on the Dana Air plane crash...yesterday

Sultan, NSCIA demand crash’s probe T It is obvious that Nigeria falls far HE Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Saad, has demanded a probe into last Sunday’s Dana Air plane crash in Lagos .

The Nasrul Lahi-L Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) yesterday asked the Federal Government to overhaul the aviation sector.

In a statement by its SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Abdullateef Adegbite, the NSCIA said it is regrettable that the nation has fallen short of global best aviation practices.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) extends heartfelt condolences to the entire nation on the most tragic Dana Air Crash which occurred last Sunday in Iju Ishaga Area of Lagos consuming tens of precious lives.

“In particular, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the bereaved. We urge the Federal Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine if all concerned, the Air Line Operators as well as Aviation Regulators, duly observed the rules.

The government should act promptly on the report of the investigation. An immediate overhaul of the Aviation Sector should also be ordered.

“It is obvious that Nigeria falls far short of global best aviation practices.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

This should not be so. Therefore, the Federal Government must intervene now by injecting special funds to aid the Nigerian aviation industry and bring it to world best standards.

“We should also intensify prayers to the Almighty Allah to protect Nigerians and our visitors and spare us in the future this kind of tragic experience in our air, sea and land travels.”

NASFAT, in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf, said a radical transformation is required in the aviation industry.

The statement reads: “Nasrul LahiL Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) hereby extends our deep sympathies to families of victims of the Dana plane crash of Sunday, 3rd June, 2012, the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the Lagos State Government.

“We feel the burden of loss and pain that this incident must have inflicted on all affected persons, but will admonish that we accept the incident as the will of Allah. We pray that Allah will comfort all hearts that are grieving at this time with His Divine Mercies, Provisions and the fortitude to bear the pains.

“NASFAT will like to use this medium to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and its regulatory agencies to use this event

short of global best aviation practices.

This should not be so. Therefore, the Federal Government must intervene now by injecting special funds to aid the Nigerian aviation industry and bring it to world best standards to radically change the seeming culture of permissiveness and improvisations in the management of quality standards in our aviation and other sensitive industries. “ We believe that machinery and equipment that will not be allowed to operate in other civilised societies should not find comfortable

habitation and use in Nigeria , which invariably endanger lives and distort orderliness in our country. We pray Allah in His Mercies to forgive our shortcomings as a people and save our country from future reoccurrence of similar calamities.”

The Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim and Baba Adini of Lagos Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou have condoled with the families of the victims of the plane crash in Nigeria and Ghana and the Bauchi bomb explosion.

A statement by the duo expressed sadness over the tragedies.

They said: "We are extremely saddened by what we described as national three-in-one disasters. It came to us as rude shock."

The duo urged Muslims to pray against the recurrence of such tragedies.

They added: "All these events that were unfolding calls for serious spiritual concern, it makes us fill so frightened and hearth broken to see and hear of all the heinous happenings to us as a nation, as such we on our part shall not relent in our daily supplication to Allah to forgive us our sins and grant us mercy and grace.

"We also prayed Allah to grant the families and the nation the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses and other tragedies and calamities that had befallen the country."

A gem who was principal

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HEY were from different background, culture and faith.

But as the principal of the Federal Government College, Abuja, the late Mrs. Maria Okwulehie, who died in Sunday’s Dana Air plane crash, brought out the best of the girls. She took them as her children. No wonder, the tributes have not stopped pouring in.

She worked well with the Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) and got the association to build a block of classrooms for the school.

Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Wike, during the inauguration of the Wisdom Classroom Complex built by the PTA, poured encomiums on the principal for promoting science and technical education.

He said: "I am impressed by the technical and vocational workshops of this college and the determined efforts to ensure that more girls learn these trades. The fact that enrolment for technical and vocational subjects among the students of this school has increased

is an encouraging development because it will lead to self reliance among the students after their studies."

Wike expressed satisfaction that the PTA could build 12 classrooms, two staff rooms, borehole and lavatories for the school.

All these would have been impossible without the late Mrs. Okwulehie, who also got the PTA to employ teaching and nonteaching staff, now being considered for full employment by the Federal Government.

S

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

According to a statement yesterday by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria, the President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Lee Myung-bak expressed the country’s sympathy in a letter addressed to Nigerian President, Goodluck

Jonathan.

The statement reads: “Your Excellency, I was deeply grieved to learn of the tragic loss of life caused by airplane crash on June 3 in Lagos, Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Korea, I wish to extend my deepest sympa-

Ashafa urges probe

By Wale Ajetunmobi

THE lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, has urged the Federal Government to probe the cause of the crash of McDonnell Douglas 83 aircraft last Sunday in Iju-Ishaga, outskirts of Lagos.

Ashafa described the incident as unfortunate. He urged the government to secure the airspace to prevent loss of lives.

He said: “We can not continue to fold our arms when our sky is not secure. How many more to die? This is an unfortunate incident. As member of the Senate, all I can advise the Federal Government to do now is to make the investigation of the air crash thorough and open and also prosecute any official found guilty. This will be the best way to pacify the spirits of the people that lost their lives in the crash.”

Afenifere mourns victims

•The late Mrs. Okwulehie

South Korea condoles with Nigeria over Dana plane crash OUTH Korea yesterday joined other nations to express its condolences for the tragic Dana plane crash in Lagos on Sunday.

Apart from the death of the 153 passengers and crew on board, some lives were also lost when the plane crash landed on residential buildings at Iju-Ishaga near Lagos State.

HUMAN rights lawyer Femi Falana has requested for a coroner’s inquest into the Dana Air plane crash.

Falana, in a letter addressed to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State accused the managements of Dana Air, Muritala Mohammed International Airport and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) of complicity.

He claimed to have confirmed “that the aircraft was allowed to fly even though it was defective.”

He said the distress call made by the pilot of the plane several minutes before the crash was ignored by the airport’s authorities. He aleged that “the management of the disaster was crude as members of the public had to use bare hands in the rescue operations.”

Falana added: “In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the cause of the air crash and make appropriate recommendations.”

He urged that the report of the inquiry be made public “unlike reports of similar inquiries which were never published by the Federal Government.”

thy and condolences to the victims and bereaved families. It is my sincere hope that under your Excellency’s leadership, the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will make a rapid recovery from the grief and damage caused by this tragedy.”

PAN-YORUBA socio-politicial organistion, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), yesterday expressed its condolence to the families, relatives and friends of the victims of last Sunday’s Dana Air plane crash at Iju, a Lagos suburb.

A statement by the group’s publicity secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, said: “While we mourn the human capital that is unquantifiable by all measures, that is unrecoverable anymore, and had been wasted in this unfortunate disaster, we appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that all those who through acts of negligence and or recklessness and corruption contributed to this crash are brought to book and made to pay fully for their acts.

“For us in ARG it is one death too many, and unwarranted rituals of aviation deaths must stop.”

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH Fed Govt responsible for disaster, says cleric

Passengers, ground victims to be compensated

V

ICTIMS of the ill-fated Dana aircraft that crashed on Sunday in IjuIshaga, Lagos State, are to be compensated, the state government said yesterday.

The assurance was made at a joint press conference held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by representatives of the state government, the management of Dana Air and officials of Lloyd’s, the airline’s London insurer.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, told reporters that the government does not have the competence to comment on the cause of the accident, adding that as a government of the state where the tragic incident occurred, it has a major role to play to ensure that families of the victims are fully compensated in line with international standard.

He also appealed to families of the crash victims, who are already agitating for the release of the bodies to allow the government complete the autopsy, which he said will be concluded

•Govt appeals for time to complete autopsy

By Miriam Ndikanwu, Kelvin Osa-Osubor and Wale Adepoju

in about two weeks.

Ipaye said: “There have been growing concerns about the need to release the recovered bodies of the victims to their relatives and that mainly informed this gathering because we need to let all concerned know what we have been doing since the tragic incident occurred.

“Relatives should bear with us. We know they are eager to claim the bodies that have been identified, have them released to them so that they can be buried. Each of the victims, including those on the flight and those on the ground are entitled to compensation and we are aware that Dana Air is fully insured.

“So, we need also to ensure you have all the particulars that they need so as not to jeopardise the interest of the relatives who will come forward to claim compensation.”

The commissioner explained

that the government had done all it needed to do with regards to the clearing of the site and evacuation of bodies to ensure there are no public health issues or epidemic outbreak in the area and then taking custody of the bodies and making sure they are intact.

He said: “We are also doing what we can to protect the interest of the victims and relatives and that requires us to work with Dana Air and their insurers.

“That is the process that is ongoing and we need to seek the understanding of the public. By international standard, it is not enough to have the bodies identified. The authorities of LASUTH have been carrying out autopsy on the bodies and this is going to be done for each and every body recovered, whether identified or not.

We need to have conclusive information, certified information on that.

“Sixteen autopsies were done yesterday, and 18 today and we are going to finish with the au-

topsy regarding those that are identifiable by tomorrow.

“With regards to the bodies that are not identifiable, I clearly take you back to scientific evidence. Even in the event of a burial, there would be a file that has all the details of that person so that now or in the future any relative coming forward and being able to match those details can claim entitlement to either the bodies or compensation or even both. So, we owe the responsibility.”

The commissioner expressed government’s concern to ameliorate the pains of the victims’ families, adding that its forensic pathology will be working with the other authorities to make sure that everything is done in accordance with the normal procedure.

The consultant to the Lloyds of London, insurers of Dana Air, Otunba Yomi Oshikoya, said compensation is a matter of prescribed law and would be carried out in line with international standard.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

F

OR the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye, the Federal government should be held responsible for Sunday’s Dana plane crash at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

All 153 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft died in the crash.

The cleric hinged his verdict on the fact that the government failed to take actions on the reports of investigations into past air disasters.

Reeling past disasters involving airlines belonging to Bellview in 2004, Sosoliso in 2005 and ADC in 2006, which saw hundreds losing their lives, Ajakaye, laid blames of latest mass human wastes on the “familiar but reprehensible irresponsibility of the Federal Government.”

The cleric told reporters that the government should change its care-free posture for needed improvements in air and road safety.

The cleric noted that although there are reports of special investigation committees on previous air crashes, those reports have remained neither published nor implemented, wondering “when will we all get things right in this country?”

Ajakaye noted: “If government had taken past reports serious, asked relevant questions and relieved negligent and non performing officials of critical agencies of their jobs, there would have been a solution.”

He said last Sunday’s development showed that as Nigerians, “we don’t have respect for human lives;” saying it “has revealed Nigeria as a country where anything can happen and where anything goes.”

Lagos Island Club condoles with members over loss of children

M

EMBERS of the Lagos Island Club are mourning the death of the children of two of their colleagues in last Sunday’s Dana plane crash that claimed the lives of 153 passengers and crew members.

The names of the vcitims according to the Club’s Chairman, Prince Ademola Dada were; Wale Eribake and Miss Oluwafemi Somolu.

The bereaved Club members are Dr. Oye Eribake and Mr Seke Somolu, an engineer.

Lamenting over the loss, Prince Dada described the incident as tragic and regrettable, noting that some of the victims were in their primes, adding that with the untimely death of the 153 passengers, Nigeria has lost a generation of future leaders.

He, therefore, consoled the bereaved families to take solace in the scripture that God is the only one that has power to give and take life.

Dada urged the Federal Government to unravel the mystery surrounding the crash and bring to book whoever is found culpable.

According to him, the Federal Government has take a right step by withdrawing Dana Airlines’ operating licence.

NUATE condemns call for sack of aviation chiefs By kelvin osa okunbor •Mr Ipaye (middle) at the briefing ...yesterday. With him are Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. John Oladipo Obafunwa (left); Chief Medical Director, (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Wale Oke and Lagos State Commissioner PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE for Health, Dr Jide Idris.

Completion of autopsies on 52 bodies today Continued from Page 1

was making all efforts to ensure the bodies are properly identified, adding that DNA will be conducted.

He appealed to families of the victims, saying the process is ongoing. “It is the process.

We need to crave the indulgence of the public on local laws and international standards that it is not enough to have the bodies identified by relatives, we need to do more and this is why the authorities of LASUTH has been carrying out autopsy on the bodies.

This is going to happen for each and every one of the recovered bodies, whether now identified or not, we need to have certain conclusive information. That process has started. Twelve autopsies were done on Tuesday, eighteen today (yesterday) and we will go on that way. And hopefully we are going to finish the autopsies regarding bodies that are identifiable by Thursday. And then in batches, the others will be brought for processing.“ Ipaye said the state government had asked the embassies of foreigners in the crash to give the pre-mortem records

of the deceased for use to match those of the deceased.

“Of course, for those who have relatives here, we have commenced gathering necessary samples from the relatives, again to enable us match them.

The intention is to as far as it’s humanly possible, to be able to identify one way or the other each of the bodies we had,” Ipaye added.

Forensic Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, Prof John Obafun-

wa, said Lagos State had the required facilities to successfully carry out autopsies on the victims.

He said: “Lagos state government has provided for us about the best facility for pathology in this country. So, when this thing happened, it wasn’t too difficult within the limit to decide on what to do.

We invited colleagues from University of Ibadan and Abuja. I am still expecting a colleague from Obafemi

Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife.” According to him, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that things will be done rightly.

“The whole process, God willing, we be completed in two weeks and I am talking about including those charred bodies that we cannot recognise. We are trying to work round the clock. And by the grace of God, we will be able to meet your expectation,” Obafunwa said.

Meet the panel members Continued from Page 4

pilots from the rested national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited. His vast experience from the former carrier will be useful in the new assignment.

His insight on how to recover from air disaster, given the ADC Airlines’ experience after two air crashes, will be useful.

•Captain Mfon Udom is an ex- Nigeria Airways pilot and a founding director of the now rested ADC Airlines.

•Captain Dele Sasegbon, a pilot, is a former director in

the defunct Federal Civil Aviation Authority ( FCAA), which gave birth to NCAA, in 2000.

•Captain Usman Mshelia also a pilot, was a director in the Federal Ministry of Aviation .

•Engineer Fidelis Onyeyiri, an aircraft engineer, was the Director General of the NCAA, who was sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo after the air disaster in 2005.

He was replaced by current DG Harold Demuren.

He is currently representing Nigeria in the

African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), in Dakar, Senegal.

He also worked with former Nigeria Airways, as an aircraft engineer.

•Dr Olumuyiwa Babatunde Aliu, is Nigeria’s representative at the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO), in Montreal, Canada.

An academic, he was director of Air Transport Regulations ( DATR), at the NCAA, before being seconded to ICAO, the world civil aviation regulator.

A

VIATION workers, under the auspices of the National Union of Air Transport Employee (NUATE), have condemned the call by the National Assembly to sack aviation chiefs in the aftermath of last Sunday’s crash of Dana aircraft.

Speaking to aviation reporters in his office, the acting General Secretary of the union, Abdulkareem Motajo, dismissed the call, saying it was unnecessary and uncalled for.

He blamed the rot in the aviation sector on members of the various aviation committees, who he accused of failing in their oversight functions.

According to him, the members were busy chasing shadows and have taken a wrong step into the investigation with a call to sack aviation chiefs. He said such steps are unacceptable in a highly technical industry like aviation.

Motajo advised that investigation into the crash should be left in the hands of the professionals, while all necessary logistics should be provided for them to aid their assignment.

He noted that setting up another investigative committee by the National Assembly will jeopardise the real investigation by the agency.

Motajo said: “Why are they sacking aviation parastatal chiefs, have they been indicted by any report? It is unlawful in labour law to terminate appointment without any cause.

UI VC condoles with Education minister, NUC From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

V

ICE CHANCELLOR of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof.

Isaac Adewole has commiserated with Education Minister Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie on the death of five officers of the Commission.

In a statement by the varsity’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, the vice chancellor described the crash as ‘a truly tragic loss for Nigeria.’

According to the statement, the NUC lost five personalities in that air crash including a former vice chancellor and husband to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

It also described the crash as a tragic loss to tertiary education.

Prof. Adewole condoled with the families of all who died in the crash and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

7

NEWS THE DANA AIR PLANE CRASH

Crash site undergoes excavation T HE National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), yesterday began the excavation of the crashed site of the Dana Air flight 9J-922.

The escavation, one of the preliminary steps to winding up rescue operation at the site of the illfated crash, it was learnt, was aimed at ensuring that nothing was left to chance about what needed to be recovered as far as human parts and properties of the victims of the crash.

Speaking with our reporter yesterday, NEMA's Information Officer, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye said: "The excavation was aimed at ensuring that nothing is left that must be retrieved as everything belonging to the victims which could still be at the site, are expected to be passed on to their relatives."

Farinloye, who commended the team of Messrs Julius Berger team that have been assisting in the task since Monday said the firm's response was in line with international standards and practices.

He said with the excavation, NEMA is rounding off the search and rescue operation at the crashed site, which he described as over 95

By Yinka Aderibigbe

per cent successful.

"With the recovery of about the whole number of persons on the list of Dana flight manifest, we can safely say that the exercise has been more than 95 per cent successful," he said.

Farinloye said the next stage will be the fumigation of the area to further protect the environment against any health hazard. He denied claims by one of the state based radio station which had gone on air earlier yesterday that a boy had been rescued alive from the ruins of the twostorey building yesterday.

He said: "There is no truth in such report. I have been here since Monday, there is no iota of truth in such report, I do not know where such a radio station is getting its information from, but certainly, such is not from this crashed site.

"I have received several calls trying to confirm the report, and I can reliably confirm that nothing of such happened here," Farinloye said.

• The plane crash site being cleared... yesterday

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Austria condoles with Nigeria

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HE Austrian government has condoled with Nigeria over Sunday's DANA plane crash that killed no fewer than 153 people in Iju-Ishaga area in Lagos last Sunday.

Austria`s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Spindelegger conveyed the country`s condolences on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola at his Marina residence.

Spindelegger said his country was saddened by the incident, describing the crash as unfortunate and a big loss not only to Nigeria but to the entire world.

"We really would like to pay tribute to the families of victims, the Nigerian government and all the other citizens of the country. We are

By Miriam Ndikanwu

horrified by the incident and we grieve with the people of Nigeria at this moment", he said.

The Foreign Minister expressed the readiness of his country to expand bi-lateral ties with Nigeria particularly in the area of new investments.

He said many investors from Austria had showed interest to invest in the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy such as health, transport among others.

Spindelegger however said there was the need for Nigeria to tackle insecurity and infrastructural challenges to facilitate new Austrian investments in the country.

In his remarks, Fashola thanked the Austria delegation for sympathizing with the people of Nigeria over Sunday`s air crash in Lagos.

‘No contact yet from family of rescued kids’

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HE Lagos State Government has said that it is yet to receive any contact from relatives or family members of the three children rescued at the scene of the crash Dana airline in Iju Ishaga area on Monday.

The children, Joel, Chisom and Esther Okwuchukwu were spotted at the scene in search of their parents by the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) when he visited the crash scene.

State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adeyemi Ibirogba told our reporter yesterday that no contact has been made in spite of the helpline published by the government.

According to him, "The children are still in the custody of the state government and we are yet to receive any contact from any family members, but they are ok and are being taking care at the state government house.

On whether it has been confirmed

• Family of Dana plane crash at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ikeja, Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

By Miriam Ndikanwu

if their parents died in the crash or not, he said investigation is still ongoing adding that it is only when the entire process is completed that it can come up with conclusive information on the situation.

The children lived happily with their parents until Sunday when the ill fated Dana airline crashed into their building killing their parents Mr. Jeremiah and Josephine Okwuchukwu.

Council chief condoles with family, residents

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HE Chairman, Ifako-Ijiye Local Government Area, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, has condoled with the family of the victims of the ill-fated Dana Airline plane crash and residents of Iju-Ishaga area of the local government where the incident occurred last Sunday.

In a statement by the local gov-

By Yinka Aderibigbe

ernment, the Chairman, who visited the site on Monday, in company of other top functionaries, described the crash as monumental loss and national tragedy.

Oke, who cut short his overseas trip, where he went on official assignment, arrived immediately to

mobilise the local Emergency Management Committee of the local government to join the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other federal agencies in the rescue operation.

The council boss lauded the efforts of the residents of Iju-Ishaga for their swift response at rescuing the victims of the affected

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES 1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

080-23036632; 0805-5284914 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: Head office Phone Nos: 2. Federal Road Safety Corps 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 (FRSC) 5.

Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Lagos Zonal Command Phone Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 070-35068242 01-7904983 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-79279349; 080-63299264

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

buildings, which greatly helped to reduce number of casualties.

He thanked Governor Fashola for taking custody of the three kids who lost their parents in the affected building, he promised to support the government to give the children a good life.

While expressing shock and regret over the incident and huge loss of lives and properties, the Chairman prayed to God to give the affected families the fortitude to bear the loss.

He called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), other relevant agencies in the aviation industry, as well as airline operators in Nigeria to enforce and ensure strict compliance to safety measures in tandem with international standard to avert future occurrence.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

8

CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Lagos CJ orders arrest of monarch as land dispute is resolved T HE Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Inumidun Akande has resolved a 17-year old land dispute in favour of the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II and others.

Others are Prince Mobadenle Oyekan; Alabi Dosumu; Mufutau Tadeyo; Mr E.O. Williams; Mr O. Oregbesan, Adeniji Ajose. Chieftaincy Committee, Ojo Local Government Area; Chieftaincy Committee, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area; Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs; Military Administrator of Lagos State and Attorney.

General of Lagos State. defendants, who included the late Oba of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan II. The disputed islands at Ilado-Odo and Inagbe, founded by Esinmikan, comprises about 2,000 acres of beach

By Adebisi Onanuga

and lagoon and valued at about N300 billion.

Justice Akande other ordered that one of the claimants in the matter, Rasheed Olashesi, who has been the Baale of Ilado-Odo and Inagbe Islands since 2004, be arrested and prosecuted for usurping that office.

The Chief Judge ordered the Attorney-General to prosecute him for criminal offence.

Justice Akande held that Rasheed Olushesi, having told the court that he had no documents to back his position as the Baale of Ilado-Odo and Inagbe Islands since 2004, com-

mitted an offence contrary to Section 23(1) of the Obas and Chiefs' Law of Lagos State.

Other defendants are Prince Mobadenle Oyekan; Alabi Dosumu; Mufutau Tadeyo; Mr. E.O. Williams; Mrs. O. Oregbesan and Adesoji Ajose. The claimants are Prince Waidi Akeju, Adisa Waheed Aberuagba and Olushesi.

They had, for themselves and as Head and representatives of the Esimikan family taken the defendants to court on April 21, 1995, praying it to among others, declare that the 1st to 7th defendants are not members of the Esimikan family of

Ilado-Odo. They, in their amended statement of claim dated the 24th November, 1998 also, sought additional 17 prayers from the court.

They urged the court to declare that all pieces or parcels of land known as Ilado-Odo and Inagbe Islands are the property of the Esimikan Family of Ilado-Odo and Inagbe who are entitled to the title, general control and superintendence thereof.

They asked for "an Injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants, privies, assigns or otherwise howsoever from entering into, trespassing upon or in any other manner, interfering with all that land known as Ilado - Odo and Inagbe Islands.

Religious bodies, others urged to serve humanity

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HE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) branch, has called on Muslims, nonMuslims, corporate bodies and charity organisations to assist it in its yearly blood donation exercise.

President of MSSN LUTH branch, Abdulhamid Salahudeen, final year student of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Unilag made the appeal at this year’s blood donation exercise of the organisation which is part of the 22nd edition of its ‘Islam Propagation Week’ which took place at the National Sickle Cell Centre, Idi-Araba yesterday.

Salahudeen said as students, it has not been easy getting funds for the blood donation exercise which has been going on for 22 years and that they can do more, and better, if assisted with funds.

“We are calling on them right now to assist us; we don’t really have people who are willing to assist. We would have done better if we have more funds. It has not been easy getting funds for things like

By Oziegbe Okoeki

this, we are medical students, we are not working, but we have the manpower and we know we need to save lives,” Salahudeen said.

According to the chairman of the blood donation and humanitarian committee of the group, Ogunlola Mohammed Olatunbosun, a 500 level Medicine and Surgery student, the exercise is the humanitarian aspect of Islam and is designed to assist accident victims, patients and pregnant women who need blood to survive.

“As medical students we recognise that a lot of patients need blood to survive and we took it up as a challenge to provide blood to LUTH, so that they can have it readily available for patients to be transfused so that we can salvage people’s lives,” Olatunbosun said The exercise which has been on for 22 years is voluntary and the necessary screening is done “through partnership with LUTH which comes with equipment for screening to make sure the donors

T

HE attention of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked the statement NAFDAC Chief, Dr Paul Orhii's wife and only daughter were involved in the ill fated Dana plane crash.

According to the Deputy Director (Public Relations & Protocol Unit), Abubakar Jimoh that been drawn to the false, erroneous andthe report published ina national Newspaper was a figment of wicked imagination of mischief makers who are highly insensitive to the solemn and sober mood of the nation arising from the tragic air mishap. He said NAFDAC believed that this is not the period for

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

anybody to indulge in wicked speculation and sensationalisation.

"The Agency therefore urges concerned Nigerians particularly its stakeholders to disregard the false report as the wife of the NAFDAC Boss and her children are hale and hearty."

He added: "The Management and Staff of NAFDAC wish to commiserate with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Dana plane crash and pray to Almighty God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Our prayers and sympathies go out to you as you mourn your beloved ones."

By Adeola Ogunlade

THE Quality Manager of The Bridge Clinic, Dr. Onome Dibosa, has called for more support from public and private sectors in the training and the development of the Nigeria child.

Dibosa made this known at the donation of N500,000 by the clinic to the Living Fountain Orphanage (LBF), held recently at the home in Oniru, Lekki, Lagos in commemoration of International Children's Day. Dibosa said the need to support the less privileged children towards becoming responsive adults is very germane for national peace and development.

She said the children who are the building block of development in any society, must be supported to become responsive leaders.

Dibosa noted that the donation was to give back to the children, especially orphans and vulnerable children, and bring joy and hope to them.

LASU to graduate 41 first class, others

By Adegunle Olugbamila

•A doctor attending to a blood donor... yesterday

are fit. College of Medicine, UNILAG MSSN is the highest voluntary donor group in the whole of Nigeria,” Salahudeen said.

“We get donors by going to higher institutions to talk to them about the exercise, we send bulk SMS’s, subscribe to website, facebook, BBmessenger, internet, posters, banners, pamphlets, jingles on radio and television, advert in papers and we go to religious groups, both Mus-

lims and Christians”, Olatunbosun said.

One of the voluntary donors, Tajudeen Ibrahim Lekan, student of Yaba College of Tecnology and vice president, MSSN Yabatech branch who has donated blood four different times said, blood donation is an act of worship because by so doing you save a soul and a nation. He appealed to those who are fit to endeavor to donate blood to save life.

•From Left: council legislators, Teju Bamidele, Onikeku Quadri, Habeeb Adewusi, Jubril Sasore, Abayomi Lawal and Lanre Emiabata all of CokerAguda Local Council Development Area, LCDA at the Public hearing on review of Bye-Laws on Traffic/ Environmaental Laws and IGR generation of the council…recently

NAFDAC chief’s wife, daughter ‘not involved in plane crash’

‘Support children development’

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has condoled with The Nation over the death of its Campus Life coordinator, Mrs Ngozi Agbo. Mrs Agbo died last week of child birth complications.

Obi described Mrs Agbo's death as "painful and untimely."

In a condolence letter to the Managing Director/Editor-inChief, Mr Victor Ifijeh, Obi urged the paper to take consolation in the fact that Mrs Agbo made her mark within a short time. She died at 36. "It is obvious that she bubbled with life and optimistic spirit. It would take nothing less to produce the Campus Life pullout, which she edited," the governor said.

Obi said under Mrs Agbo's watch the pullout became a

Mac FINAL OK

Obi mourns Campus Life girl Ngozi Agbo "highly sought after supplement on tertiary education in the country.

The title has afforded the younger generation an important medium for expressing themselves."

The Governor urged her colleagues not to let her efforts die with her. "The staff of The Nation newspapers have a responsibility to continue from where she stopped and ensure that the pace she has set is maintained. This is one sure way of keeping her memory alive."

STUDENTS of the Lagos State University (LASU)who have graduated since 2009, but are yet to collect their certificates will have them ready for collection at the university's 17th convocation coming up on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

The university will also be graduating 41first class and 40 PhDs of the total 22,033 graduating students cutting across faculties of Management Science, Law, Arts, Sciences, Engineering and College of Medicine among others.

The breakdown according to the university is as follows: 41 (first class); 2,832(second class upper); 14,922 (second class lower) 4,100 (third class) and 140 (pass) Unlike previous convocations, which usual held at the university's pavilion, the event will now hold at the university's new 1,500 capacity auditorium, just as it will not confer honorary doctorate degrees this year.

The university's Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa, disclosed this yesterday at the university's Senate building in a press briefing ahead of the university 17th convocation.

He said: "We are happy to announce that unlike in the past when certificates are issued to graduated students long after their completion of studies, this year, certificates of this set of graduating students will be available for collection the very day of the graduation."

The VC described the sorting out of backlog of certificates as a landmark event and expressed gratitude to the entire staff.

Obafunwa, who described the feat as a 'landmark,' urged students who are yet to collect their certificates, to visit the university's website and update their profile in order to collect same on the graduation day.

He noted that he had so far signed 6,636 outstanding certificates since his assumption of office and thanked the university staff and the various unions for their cooperation towards the success of the graduation.

He also announced the lifting of the ban on student unionism and thanked the students' leadership for showing maturity and understanding towards mobilising others for the greater success of the university.

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS

House panel asks NNPC to refund N3.098trn to Federation Account •Shell, ELF, Mobil and Chevron to pay back $3.675b •Reps want NNPC GMD to apologise

T

HE Joint Committee on Finance, Petroleum Resources Upstream, Downstream and Gas Committees of the House of Representatives has asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to refund N3.098 trillion to the Federation Account. The cash is under remittance to the account between 2004 and 2011.

Besides, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Austin Oniwon, is to apologise to the House for misinforming it and the country through alleged false claims.

The committee, however, asked the Federal Government to amend the provisions of Section 7 of NNPC Act under which the corporation hides to make direct deductions from the Federation Account.

The panel made the recommendations after an eightmonth probe of alleged N450billion indebtedness of NNPC and the conflict between states and the corporation over direct deductions from the Federation Account.

The report, which has been submitted to the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, was obtained by our correspondent yesterday.

The House of Representatives had in a unanimous resolution on September 22, last year mandated the Joint Committee on Finance, Petroleum Resources Upstream, Downstream and Gas Committees to investigate NNPC’s indebtedness and liability of N450billion to the Federation Account.

NNPC had earlier acknowledged the liability with Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and was expected to be making monthly remittances to defray same.

The corporation reneged leading to the failure of FAAC in May last year to make the required monthly distribution to the three tiers of government.

But the committee said from its findings, NNPC has no right to make deductions from the revenue accruing to the Federation.

It backed the position of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) that NNPC had been illegally having access to the Federation Account.

The panel urged the government to review the concept of “Carry Agreements” with the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in order to reduce corruption and waste.

The committee asked Shell, ELF, Mobil and Chevron to refund $3.675billion being over-bloated claims to reimbursement between 2004 and 2006.

The report said: “NNPC should be sanctioned for tak-

Summary of discounts NNPC granted itself and under-remittances to the Federation Account between 2004 and 2011.

Year

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 TOTAL

Discount NNPC Granted itself Nbillion 15 25 20 21 100 37 17 13 248

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ing domestic crude at discounts to itself between 2004 to 2011 to the tune of N248billion.

“The GMD of NNPC, Engineer Austin Oniwon should be sanctioned for lying on oath that NNPC does not take Domestic Crude at discount.

“The GMD of NNPC should be made to apologise to the House and the entire nation for misinforming them through his false claims which were publicised widely in the media through paid adverts.

“NNPC should refund the sum of N3.098 trillion being under remittances to the Federation Account between 2004 and 2011.

“The corporation had no right to make direct deductions from the revenue accruing to the Federation by hiding under Section 7 of NNPC. In 2006, the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) created to take care of subsidy payments and NNPC cannot hide under the subsidy payments to make direct deductions.”

The committee highlighted the shoddy management of earnings from oil by NNPC last year.

The report said: “From that total exported Federation Crude revenue proceeds of $10.785billion in January to September 2011, out of which NNPC and CBN appropriated $4.490billion to cash call, $3.409billion to Excess Crude Account and made available only $2.392billion for FAAC distribution, there was an unexplained shortfall of $495millio.

“These were established from the analysis of CBN, Federation Account Component Statement for the nine months in 2011.

“Further analysis and investigations of the shortfall revealed a similarity between the monthly shortfalls and what was reflected as Cash Call deducted under Gas receipts.

“The dividing line between

UnderRemittances of under-involved valued Nbillion

‘The corporation had no right to make direct deductions from the revenue accruing to the Federation by hiding under Section 7 of NNPC’ what is right and what is wrong was found in February 2011, when no such discrepancy was observed.

“Out of the proceeds of $1.327billion that accrued from Gas receipts between January –September 2011, NNPC and CBN allocated $550.7million to Cash Call, leaving a balance of $776.5million for FAAC distribution.

“The committee should task NNPC and CBN to offer explanations to the following empirical evidence: •Between January 2011 to September 2011, the revenue accruing from crude oil was manipulated on the Federation account Component Statement to conceal off-record deductions made from the revenue.

In each of the months of January to September 2011(with the exception of February when the correct thing was done), the figures deducted off—record in each month was similar to deductions from Gas receipt as Cash Call.

•NNPC should explain therefore the whereabouts of $495,140,875 deducted offrecord between January-September 2011.

•NNPC and CBN should also explain the authority based on which deductions of $550,705,447 were made from Gas receipts as Cash Call and the parameters used to determine the deductible amount.

•The duo of NNPC and CBN

363 314 272 296 646 507 433 515 3.346 should submit the names of the beneficiaries of these deductions.

•Finally, based on the foregoing ugly disclosures, NNPC should be specifically made to withdraw its claims to transparency in the transfers of revenue to FAAC. The panel also gave a damning verdict on the discounts which NNPC granted itself and under remittances to the Federation Account between 2004 and 2011.

The report added: “That the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency, critically review the whole concept of “Carry Agreements” with the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in order to reduce corruption and waste.

“That the four carry partners namely Shell, ELF, Mobil and Chevron whose over-bloated claims to reimbursement amounted to $3.675billion between 2004 and 2006 should be made to refund the sum.

“That NNPC should refund the sum of N44.932billion (an equivalent of $356million) which it paid to itself s cash call in 2006.

“That the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) further investigates to confirm the level of crude oil losses as exemplified in 2008 when NEITI’s audit report confirmed a lifting of 414.4million barrels of crude while NNPC under-declared same as 332.1million barrels of crude.

“The under-declaration by 82.3million barrels was. Valued at $8.268billion in 2008 and should be refunded by NNPC. “NNPC should refund the sum of $3.273billion which accrued from 48million barrels of crude, which the corporation concealed in 2006.

“NNPC should refund the sum of $3.2billion, being value of 60million barrels of crude Lila the Carry Partners took in excess of their entitlements in 2005 with the knowledge and understanding of NNPC as reported by Hart Group in NEITI’s audit report on 2005 transactions.

•Tambuwal

“That the House should expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB), which is the only means of unbundling NNPC and hoisting it on the part of transparency.

“The House/ relevant committee should establish close relationship with NEITI with a view to making better use of its periodic reports despite the imperfections therein.

“The House should set up a monitoring system for timely check of revenue flows and disbursement to the Federation Account. This will minimize the huge losses being incurred presently.

“That the House should take immediate steps to amend the provisions of Section 7 of NNPC Act under which the corporation hides to make direct deductions and thereby remove all ambiguities.

“Section 7 (5) of the Act mandates the corporation to submit yearly estimate of its expenditure and income to the National Council of Ministers (FEC). As this investigation has sufficiently revealed, the corporation acted more in the breach of its own Act. “That NNPC has operated as a monopoly in an industry that has been adjudged to be opaque, has thrown up a lot of defects and deficiencies, that have impacted negatively on the nation’s revenue base as the nation’s oil revenue cannot be transparently managed.”

The panel recommended sanction for external auditors of NNPC. “That NNPC, their external auditors, Akintola Williams Deloitte and Muhtari Dangana & Co. (Chartered Accountants) and Hart Group, the consultant to NEITI should be indicted for conspiring to overstate NNPC’s payments

by N349billion on Domestic Crude take in 2004, having stated the payment as N635billion instead of N289billion

Rep seeks alternative road to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

A

GAINST the backdrop of incessant accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the lawmaker representing Epe Federal Constituency II, in the House of Representatives, Mukaila Olanrewaju Odubote, has canvassed an alternative route.

Specifically, Odubote, who

was elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said he has moved a motion that the alternative road should link SokotoIseyin-Ibarapa-Eruwa-Lagos and the Ikorodu-Epe-Itoikin Road as a viable option.

On the proposed route, Odubote said the dualisation

of the Sokoto-Iseyin-IbarapaEruwa road whose contract was awarded in the 1970s by the then Gen Olusegun Obasanjo regime was meant to bring succour to the many road users of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The lawmaker added that the proposed highway would

serve as an alternative route for tankers and articulated trucks, adding that such an alternative road (the IkoroduEpe-Itoikin road) built in the early 70s by the then military Governor of Lagos, Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, which has now become a federal highway.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

T

Total under-payment refundable by NNPC Nbillion

348 289 252 275 546 470 416 502 3.098

Alleged fraud: Ex-police chief Ehindero’s arraignment stalled

Odubote added that besides saving lives, the route would enhance economic activities and usher in more democracy dividends for the people.

The lawmaker said the resolution, which has been adopted by the House, will ensure safety and economic growth.

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC) effort to arraign former Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero yesterday suffered a setback.

This was due to the failure of the commission to serve the charge personally on the former Police chief and his co- accused, Mr. John Obaniyi, a Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget under Ehindero.

The duo are facing a six-count charge of misappropriation of about N567 million police fund.

They allegedly committed the offence while in office.

They allegedly conspired with each other between May and November, 2006 to use their positions to confer corrupt advantages upon themselves by placing N300 million in a fixed deposit account at Wema Bank Plc where it yielded an interest of N9.8 million for them.

The money was part of the N558 million donated to the police by the Bayelsa State Government for the procurement of arms, ammunition and riot control equipment.

They also allegedly placed another N200 million from the donation in a fixed deposit account at Intercontinental Bank Plc where it yielded N6.5 million interest for them.

They allegedly converted all the interests that accrued from these fixed deposits to their personal use.

The former IGP was seen at the court premises at about 8:13 am.

The ICPC, through its lawyer, Mr. Elijah Akaakohol, told the court that the commission had difficulties serving the former IGP personally.

A lawyer at Ehindero’s chambers within the Central Business District of Abuja metropolis, said the former IGP was attending a Bar Conference in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

He told the court that Mr. Olufemi Ogunleye, who works for Ehindero, received the charge on his behalf.

The Police counsel also told the court that from the information received at the Police Headquarters, Obaniyi had been sacked from the force and his address from police records is at Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He subsequently sought for a short adjournment to enable the anti corruption agency effect personal services on the accused.

Ehindero’s lawyer, Mr. E. O Telah, opposed the application for an adjourment for the arraignment of the accused and urged the court to strike out the charge instead. He argued that there were no materials before the court to show that any reasonable attempts were made to serve the accused personally.

But Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, ignored his submission. He said the only issue for the day was arraignment of the accused.

Justice Oniyangi said that since personal service had not been effected on the accused as the law stipulates, the court will adjourn for the arraignment to take place.

He directed the ICPC to execute personal service of the accused before the next adjourned date of June 28.

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS Ondo LP factional chair faults verdict From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A FACTIONAL chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Mr. Kunle Odidi, yesterday criticised the verdict of the Federal High Court, Akure, which declared the seat of a lawmaker, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, vacant for defecting from the LP to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Abegunde, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, represents Akure North/South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

Justice Glorial Okeke hinged her verdict on the claim that there was no crisis in the LP, as clarified in a newspaper report by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi.

But Odidi, who was elected Chairman on September 14, last year, at Helena Hotel, Akure, said Justice Okeke erred in her judgment because of a pending suit on whether or not he (Odidi) or Olu Ogidan is the authentic LP state chairman.

Ogidan emerged a parallel chairman on December 5, last year.

Odidi said: “The presiding judge had pre-empted the case before her in a suit …filed since January, which should have determined the authentic chairman between two of us.

Seven pastors, two children, others die in Oyo road crash S

EVEN newly ordained pastors of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Oyo town, Oyo State, have died in an accident in Ogbomoso, on Ogbomoso-Oyo road.

The driver of the bus conveying them, a retired primary school teacher and two children also died in the accident, which occurred last weekend.

The deceased were said to be travelling from Oyo town to the seminary for the ordination of their colleague when the accident occurred.

It was learnt that a tanker trailer on a high speed from the North lost control after overtaking another vehicle and rammed into the church’s

•Motorists decry heavy duty breakdowns on highway From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

Toyota Urvan bus conveying the clerics and the other passengers.

All the passengers, except the mother of the two children, died in the accident, which occurred few metres to the venue of the event.

The Nation learnt that the woman sustained severe injury and is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Eyewitnesses said men of the Federal Road Safety Corps

(FRSC) had a hectic time removing the trailer from the top of the bus.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a mortuary. The Nation learnt that they would be interred today.

Motorists and other road users plying the OyoOgbomoso road have urged the state Traffic Management Authority to pay attention to check frequent breakdown of trailers and other heavy duty trucks on the highway.

They noted that heavy duty

vehicles hinder free flow of traffic.

The Nation investigation revealed that at least five heavy duty vehicles break down on the road each week.

Besides, they are usually left on the road for weeks, thus creating hardship for road users.

The situation becomes most dangerous at night, when motorists without a good knowledge of the road run into the broken down vehicles.

Many people have died in multiple accidents on the road,

due to the carefree attitude of the owners of broken-down vehicles.

Properties worth several millions of naira have also been destroyed in accidents on the highway.

Motorists and residents expressed worry over the spate of accidents at the T-junction at Owode, Oyo town. There, trailers and lorries, especially petrol tankers going to the North from Ibadan, the state capital, usually negotiate the sharp bend.

On both sides of the junction are banks and a filling station.

Thus, the area is a danger zone, a threat to the lives and properties of the residents.

Talks at Abiola’s home on June 12

By Olamilekan Andu

A GROUP, the June 12 Movement of Nigeria, in collaboration with Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Change Agent of Nigeria (CAN), will host eminent leaders of thought across Nigeria to honour the late Chief Moshood Abiola at a breakfast national colloquium on June 12.

This event is part of the yearly June 12 democracy discourse.

It is also in recognition of the significance of the freest, fairest and most credible election conducted in Nigeria on June 12, 1993.

Though the historic poll was won by the late Abiola, it was annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

The breakfast parley is expected to be attended by senior citizens, activists, national conference advocates and lovers of democracy from all parts of the country.

A statement by the Publicity Director of the Local Organising Committee, Mr Olubori Obafemi, said the event will hold at Abiola’s home in Ikeja, Lagos, between 9am and 1pm.

The theme of theee gathering is: Democracy and the National Question in Nigeria. It will be moderated by a veteran political scientist and activist, Che Olawale Okunniyi.

The lead speakers and discussants include Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mrs. Ganiat Fawehinmi, Senator Biyi Durojaye, Alhaji Lateef Adegbite, Ms. Ann Kio Briggs, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba and Mr. Femi Falana.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (fourth right); his deputy, Mrs Funmi Olayinka (third left); House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin (fourth left); the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (thrid right) and other members of the Assembly, after a special sitting marking the first anniversary of the Fourth Assembly of the Assembly in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

Salami denies attending ACN, CPC meeting

T

HE suspended President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami, has denied attending any political meeting with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

He was reacting to an advertorial in a national daily on May 31, where he was accused of attending a political meeting with the opposition parties.

He also said he will not withdraw the suit challenging his suspension unless he is reinstated.

The National Judicial Counci (NJC), at its meting on May 10 in Abuja, recommended his reinstatement to President Goodluck Jonathan. But the President is yet to act on it.

Speaking through his counsel and former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Justice Salami said the publication was another attempt by mischief makers to sponsor campaign of calumny against him.

Olujinmi, who addressed reporters in

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Abuja, said: “The publication falsely alleged that Justice Ayo Salami was present as an ‘observer’ alongside Prof Tam DavidWest and Justice Bola Ajibola at a meeting of some members of the CPC and ACN. “Justice Salami makes no pretence in categorically denouncing the publication as being false in its entirety and deserves being thrashed and confined to the dustbin for being another attempt by mischief makers in the series of campaign of calumny against Justice Salami.

“Ordinarily, Justice Salami would have refrained from joining issues with the promoters/sponsors of the malicious publication. However, to expose the falsity of the publication and the mischief underlying the whole publication, he thought it necessary to inform the public, through this rejoinder, that he never, in person or through any media, attended, observed or participated in any meeting of the nature alleged in the publication or any other

political meeting for that matter.

“His Lordship further finds it rather farcical for the sponsors of the said publication to have cooked up such deliberate falsehood, particularly when his Lordship never met the characters who were alleged to have also been in attendance at the purported meeting.

“The folly of this sponsors of that publication is further ridiculed by the fact that Justice Salami will retire from the Court of Appeal bench in 2013 at the mandatory age of 70 years, after serving this nation meritoriously with his unquestionable integrity intact...

“Finally, Justice Salami wishes to state, for the record, that since his assumption of office as a judicial officer, he has never at any point during his service breached, circumvented or violated his sacred oath of allegiance as a Judicial Officer by unduly associating himself with political elements or doing that which may undermine his oath of office. He never has and never will.”

Ondo ACN to chairmen: mobilise more supporters

T

HE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged wards and local government party chairmen to begin an aggressive house-to-house mobilisation to attract more members into the party.

Besides, it advised the party’s leadership to shun sentiment in picking a governorship candidate for the October 20 election in the state.

ACN Chairman in Irele Local Government Area, Mr. David Obajulaye, said there is need for party members to be more united for the task ahead.

Obajulaye noted that local government and ward chair-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

men should be given the support that would enhance their activities.

He advised party members in the local government to remain steadfast and avoid the intimidation of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

A governorship aspirant, Dr. Olu Agunloye, expressed optimism that ACN will triumph in the election.

Agunloye urged ACN members not to relent in the efforts towards a legitimate change of the government in the state through the ballot so that ailing industries in the state could be revived to boost

the economy.

He said the Olusegun Mimiko administration has battered the state’s economy, adding that he (Agunloye) would revamp it, if elected governor.

The former Defence Minister noted that the only way the people could liberate themselves from economic hardship and deprivation is to vote massively for ACN and protect their votes during the election.

Over 1,000 members of the LP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to ACN in the local government.

The spokesman of the group, Mr. Peter Efetabore,

said the defectors would team up with ACN to unseat Mimiko and liberate the people from poverty and oppression.

He urged old members to avoid discrimination of the new members.

The meeting was attended by community leaders in the 10 wards in the local government.

Youth groups, chairmanship aspirants, former Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Abass Aidi, and the chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Mrs. Morenike Adesina-Williams.

Mimiko’s Chief of Staff’s cousin joins ACN •‘This is party of responsible leaders’ From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

O

VER 500 supporters of the Labour Party (LP) in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

They were led by Mr Lanre Oluwafise, a two-term leader of the Legislative Council of the local government and a cousin to Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimu.

Oluwafise said despite the fact that the Chief of staff to the governor hails from the community, the residents have not benefited from the administration.

The former councilor was received into the party by the Chairman of Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Mr Ade Adetimenhin, and the party’s chairman in the council, Mr. Ojo Alalabiaye.

Oluwafise described ACN as a party with responsible leaders who are eager to develop the Southwest.

According to him, he left the LP because the party was being controlled by “hoodlums”.

He said: “If you don’t believe in thuggery and violence, you cannot be recognised in the LP. If you look at the crop of prominent members of the LP, they are all thugs. I cannot allow anyone to use me or any of my family members as thugs.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

The inevitability of taxation as a tool for economic transformation cannot be over emphasised, most especially when resources needed to carry out development projects are scarce and inadequate to cover all the areas requires attention.

- President Goodluck Jonatahn

Naira under foreign investor selling pressure

South Africa seeks to buy Nigeria’s oil

T

HE naira further eased against the dollar on the interbank market on yesterday, to its weakest level since December 29, as demand for the dollar outpaced supply, traders have said.

The naira was trading at 163.05 to the dollar at 1047 GMT, weaker than the 162.56 it closed at on Tuesday.

Traders said the Central Bank is scheduled to sell $300 million at its bi-weekly auction on Wednesday, but there was no sign the regulator would sell additional dollars directly to the interbank market to calm the market.

“There is no major dollar flow into the market and the central bank has not intervened in the last four days. The market is short of dollars and the demand keeps mounting,” one dealer said.

The naira has fallen relentlessly in recent weeks, despite Central Bank interventions to prop it up, driven initially by dollar demand from fuel importers but later by an exodus of foreign investors out of bonds repatriating their returns.

Higher inflation and signs of currency weakening have scared foreign investors off, dealers say.

“Offshore investors have been the major support for the naira in the past, now most of them are selling off their local debt and exiting the market, taking away support for the local currency,” another dealer said.

Foreign exchange reserves hit a 21-month high of $37.64 billion by May 28, which could give the Central Bank some flexibility to defend the naira in the coming days. The bank still maintains its target band of between 150 and 160 naira to the dollar.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil - $123.6/barrel Cocoa - $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold - $1,800/troy ounce Rubber - ¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

FOREX

0.2958 206.9 245 156.4 1.9179 241 40.472

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

S

•From left: Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; Nickelodeon’s Adventurous Pre-school Heroine Dora The Explorer, Omobolanle Okubena, a pupil of Chrisland College and Mrs Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State Governor at the launch of Access Bank’s Early Savers Financial Literacy for Kids Campaign at the Civic Center, Lagos ... yesterday.

Nigeria’s trade value drops

by N1.9t in Q1 A

SHARP decrease in the value of imports relative to exports in the first quarter of this year has led to a significant drop in the value of Nigeria ’s trade.

The latest report of Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and made available to The Nation yesterday indicated that the total value of trade in the quarter under review stood at about N6.62 trillion, compared with about N8.53 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter.

The NBS data indicated that Nigeria’s imports by country of origin showed that China, United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and India were Nigeria’s major trading partners with N265.3 billion, N196.1 billion, N190.6 billion, N169.9 billion, and

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

N114.0 billion.

Similarly, the exports by country of destination trend in the period under review showed that India, United States, Netherlands, Spain, and Brazil were Nigeria’s leading trade partners with N688.5 billion, N609.7 billion, N482.1 billion, N390.4 billion and N328.9 billion.

An analysis of the trade value on export-import basis showed that Nigeria earned N4.97 trillion from exports with mineral products, mainly crude oil and gas exports, accounting for N4.19 trillion, while non-oil exports

accounted for the balance.

Comparatively, total imports in the period under review stood at N1.56 trillion, a value indicating an increase of N255.20 billion or 18.3 per cent over that of imports in Q4, 2011.

However, the value decreased by about N1.45 trillion or 48 per cent cent when compared with the value of the corresponding quarter of 2011.

“The value of Nigeria ’s total merchandise in the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 stood at N6, 622.0 billion, compared to N8, 529.3 billion in the preceding quarter, a decrease of N1, 907.2 billion or 22.4 per cent. The change was as a re-

sult of a decline in the value of exports by N2, 162.5 billion or 30.3 per cent over that of the previous quarter.Year-onyear analysis revealed that the country’s value of total trade in Q1 of 2012 rose by N296.7 billion or 4.7 per cent over the value in Q1 (N6,325.3 billion) of 2011, the NBS stated.

“The balance of trade in Q1 2012 stood at N3, 317.5 billion, representing a decrease of N2, 417.7 billion or 42.2 per cent over the preceding quarter.

This decrease is attributed to the decline in the value of exports (non-crude oil exports in particular) in the quarter under review.

“Year-on-year, the balance of trade increased substantially as a result of the decline in imports in Q1 2012 (especially the mineral products section) compared to the corresponding period in 2011.”

CBN offers 75% loan guarantees to farmers

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has offered to guarantee 75 per cent loans provided by Deposit Money Banks to farmers in the states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of efforts to transform the agricultural sector.

The guarantee is being packaged under the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing in Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), a Public Private Partnership scheme established by the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Head of NIRSAL Project Implementation Office under the Development Finance Department of the CBN, Jude Uzonwanne, stated this on yesterday in Abuja at a presentation on the role of NIRSAL to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital

•Approves N75b for NIRSAL’s take-off

By Akinola Ajibade

Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.

A statement by the Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to the Minister of State for FCT, Oluyinka Akintunde, quoted Uzonwanne as saying that the guarantee would be issued by the NIRSAL to the farmers through the commercial banks and other financial institutions.

He explained that NIRSAL mobilises financing for Nigerian agribusiness by using credit guarantees to address the risk of default, adding that the scheme is a flexible financing tool designed to change the behaviour of financial institutions.

“It covers all crops and livestock activities in Nigeria,

while driving improved investment outcomes and job creation. It is also building on the legacy of previous CBN interventions in agriculture that have helped in creating thousands of jobs,” he stated.

He said the programme was designed to create access to finance by integrating end-toend agriculture value chains such as input producers, farmers, agro dealers, agro processors and industrial manufacturers with agricultural financing value chains, such as loan product development, credit distribution, loan origination, managing and pricing for risk, and loan disbursement.

“The integration is driven

by NIRSAL’s five pillars, particularly the Risk Sharing Pillar and the Technical Assistance pillars such as Risk shar-

ing Facility (N45 billion), Insurance Facility (N4.5 billion), Technical assistance facility (N9 billion), Agricultural bank rating scheme (N1.5 billion), and Bank incentive mechanism (N15 billion).

“NIRSAL will share risks with banks ranging from 30 per cent to 75 per cent of loss depending on the segment.

We are prepared to offer following terms to farmers in the states and FCT Abuja: 75 per cent guarantees on all input, working capital and limited living cost loans to plant the crop, and loan duration should be about 28 months,” he noted.

The minister said NIRSAL is cardinal to the success of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformational Agenda (ATA) as it was established to address the grey areas inhibiting agricultural growth in Nigeria.

OUTH Africa’s stateowned oil company, PetroSA, is not relenting in its efforts to be part of the companies that buy oil from Nigeria.

The efforts become imperative in view of the planned sanction against Iran by United States and allied countries aimed at compelling Iran to drop development of its nuclear power. Iran is a major supplier of oil to South Africa.

According to Bloomberg report, the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition political party, said in an e-mailed statement that PetroSA made an application to secure oil from Nigeria, but the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said PetroSA didn’t follow the proper procedures as the application should have been made directly by the government.

NNPC, according to the statement, will award oil supply contracts on June 15, the report said.

PetroSA spokesman Kaizer Nyatsumba didn’t immediately respond to a voice message left on his mobile phone, Bloomberg said.

Last month, the South African government said it was keen to see local companies get more involved in the exploration and development of Nigeria’s oil reserves.

The country’s Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, who spoke on the sidelines of Eighth South African Nigerian Committee, said Nigeria’s economy, oil output slows in first quarter adding that South Africa was looking to buy more of its crude oil requirements from Nigeria Peters also acknowledged that SA was looking for a substitute to the importation of Iranian crude as that country became increasingly subject to international sanctions. South Africa currently imports about 30 per cent of its total crude needs from Iran.

“The memorandum of understanding also speaks to the issue of capacity between the two countries - we need to have finalisation on the feed,” she said.

Peters said that Nigeria had found new oil fields and it could therefore supply South Africa’s energy needs.

During the press conference Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said that South Africa wanted to secure oil supplies from “more stable parts of the world.”

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BUSINESS NEWS

More insurance mergers, acquisitions coming, says S&P

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ERGERS and acquisitions will likely continue to feature prominently in the insurance industry over the next two years, Standard & Poor’s has said.

In an article it published yesterday, entitled: Tightening regulation will hasten consolidation among Nigerian insurers, the agency stated that stricter regulation, amid economic, financial, and social constraints, are the main impetus for further consolidation.

It noted that improvements to transparency and corporate governance under tougher regulation will not only spur consolidation, but enhance insurers’ ability to pay claims. It outlines several other advantages of consolidation, including improved market efficiency, due to a lower number of insurers.

It said: “If Nigeria’s insurance regulator succeeds in its goal of market development and effective supervision, the result will be a smaller industry that is easier to regulate, audit, and access externally, which would improve transparency, reliability, and confidence in what we see as a currently opaque sector.”

The Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel told The Nation

By Chuks Udo Okonta

that there are silent merger talks in the industry, adding that underwriters’ decision to merge was informed by the need to boost their performance in local and global businesses.

Daniel said the policy on the cancellation of universal banking by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also moved operators affiliated to banks to seek alternatives.

The President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Dr Wole Adetimehin, who confirmed the development, noted that the move is to build mega companies.

He said the firms have realised that they cannot harness more of the opportunities in the industry with solo efforts, adding that reforms initiated by the government and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) opened up more businesses for the industry.

“At present, there are some silent moves where some people are planning to merge to become mega companies. Now many insurers are underwriting oil and gas. In the short run, the portfolio of most operators may not be large, but over time as they build reserves, they would increase their stakes.”

From left: Brand Manager, Goldberg Phillip Chilaka; Brand Manager, Star Omotunde Adenusi, both of Nigerian Breweries PLC; Hip-Hop artiste, 9ice and Brand Manager, Star Obabiyi Fagade, also of Nigerian Breweries PLC, PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE at the Star Trek ... Lagos.

‘IPP to deliver 1,025MW to national grid’

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HE Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), owners of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), said it has about 1,025 megawatts (MW) of electricity in three NIPP power stations in the country waiting to be wheeled into the national grid.

The Managing Director /Chief Executive of the company, James Abiodun Olotu, said this when the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Adenrele Shinaba, visited him in Abuja.

In a statement issued by the Deputy General Manager, Communication and Public Relations, Yakubu Lawal, Olotu said: “We have five units at our Olorunsogo Phase II Power station ready to deliver 650MW and in Sapele about 250MW while in Omotosho we have 125MW of electricity ready for the national grid.”

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

The NDPHC boss, however, pointed out that the delivery of this 1,025MW into the national grid is dependent on the availability of gas, stating that gas suppliers including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) are intensifying efforts to bridge the gas gap.

He said this year would be a harvest season for the organisation charged with boosting power infrastructure in the country. He expressed optimism that Alaoji Power Station, the largest among the 10 NIPP power stations, would also make a significant power delivery into the national grid before the end of this year.

He said NIPP projects cut across generation, transmission and distri-

bution of electricity in the country.

He noted that the magnitude of these infrastructure make it imperative for the organisation to seek the co-operation and support of the Police and other law enforcement agencies in protecting the facilities and creating the enabling environment for its contractors and consultant to work in.

Olotu urged the Commissioner of Police and his team to support the organisation so that the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to light up Nigeria will become a reality.

Shinaba explained that the visit was part of his strategy to acquaint himself with operations of establishments under his command. The Police boss commended the efforts of the Federal Government through NDPHC to address the challenges in the power sector by ensuring adequate and steady electricity supply to the people of Nigeria.

SON finds adulterated petroleum products point in Rivers

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has clamped down on a filling station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital where petroleum products are adulterated and sold to the unsuspecting motorists and other household users.

NECCON Filling Station on Eleme road, Port Harcourt, was allegedly said to have an illegal depot in its backyard.

It was discovered that the products are adulterated, while vehicles and tanks used for conveying the products including containers and drums of different sizes used for the adulteration, were also found at the surrounding.

In statement issued by the Head, Public Relations, SON, Mr Mathias Bassey, the discovery was made when the the SON task force on petroleum products adulteration led by

By Toba Agboola and Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

Mr Timothy Abner, visited Port Harcourt.

This, according to him, is parts of the SON’s zero tolerance to substandard products in the country.

Aparts from the adulterated products sampled at the NECCON Filling Station, which showed 22 per cent kerosene in diesel, the quality of PMS and diesel sold in Port Harcourt and Calabar were found to meet the quality specifications.

SON Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, warned Nigerians to be weary of patronising dulterated petroleum products and dealers who have formed the habit of short-changing Nigerians by adulterating the products.

He said SON in collabora-

tion with the relevant agencies will continue to monitor the quality and quantity of petroleum products sold to Nigerians until dealers of the products revert to the status quo, adding that what SON is doing is a sensitisation and awareness campaign, which will ultimately, transform into more robust exercise that will result in enforcement of the relevant standard.

Odumodu advised marketers and petroleum products dealers in the Country to ensure that the quality of products dispensed to Nigerians meet the required standard so that consumers will have value for their money.

“With the abundant natural resources Nigeria is blessed with, our economy will be one of the best in the world if businesses are done right in Nigeria.”

Firm absolves self of Lagos/Ibadan Road accidents

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HE management of Gulf Treasures Limited has dismissed claims that its retail outlet, Danco Filling Station, was responsible for the multiple accidents on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway last week, in which some vehicles were burnt and many lives lost.

In a press conference its management advised the public to disregard the claim, describing it as an allegation.

It explained how the last week’s accidents and previous ones happened.

It said the first accident,

By Ambrose Nnaji

which occurred on May 31, this year was caused by a truck carrying a large metal. It rammed into another tanker that broke down about 200 metres from the station. The impact of the collision affected a part of the tanker, which resulted in spillage of its content and ignited fire that burnt the fuel-soaked road and vehicles that were within the area.

The company said the second accident, which occurred on the opposite side

of the road, about 400 metres from the station on June 2, was caused by the rescue operation that was ongoing on the first accident. It noted that following the operation, the lane on which the accident occurred was closed and traffic was diverted to the other lane.

The management also quoted the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Abayomi Omiyale, who was at the scene of the accident as saying that it was caused by a trailer carrying rods.

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INDUSTRY

SMEDAN seeks stronger policies for players D UE to the weak and slow implementation of the national policy on Micro, Small and Meduim Enterprises, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has called for more strategies to combat the weak institutional synergy faced by operators.

Speaking over the weekend at a forum designed to review the policy, the Director- General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Nadada Umar, said in order to give semblance of reality to MSMEs, there is the need for effective monitoring and adequate funding.

He said MSMEs cover the entire range of economic sector in the Nigeria.

Umar pointed out that the performance of the sector, over the last few years, had been dismal, with challenges ranging from low market access, poor access to credit, poor access to land and lack of good infrastructure.

“The national MSME collabora-

Stories by Toba Agboola

tive survey puts the estimated number of enterprises at 17.24 million with a total employment of 5.54 million which is dominated by wholesale and retail trade.

“There is the need to provide an enabling environment for them to thrive. This sub sector needs special attention by the Federal Government because the operatives are fairly informal and very weak financially.”

“The new policy is targeted at creating an enabling environment for the sector to blossom and contribute effectively to national growth and development.”

Umar said at independence, Nigeria inherited a small business sector, with small scale sector accounting for 15 per cent of the manufacturing sector.

He added that in view of the challenges confronting MSMEs and in recognition of the numer-

ous prospectus of the sector and the need to encourage the growth of entrepreneurship, the government had tried various means to aid the

ailing sector which has yielded little or no results.

“There is need for the government to provide extension ser-

vices for MSMEs, especially as they relate to product development as well as managerial assistance.”

Nigeria, India bilateral trade hits N2.5tr HE volume of trade between Nigeria and India was valued $16.4 billion (N2.5 trillion) last year, representing an increase in trade volume and value of over N1 trillion compared with the previous year.

Statistics from the Indian High Commission, indicated that Nigeria’s exports to India stood at $12.4 billion last year, representing a 71 per cent increase over the previous year’s, while India’s exports to Nigeria grew by 58 per cent to $22 billion.

Associate Director, Government and Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, India, Adil Zaidi, told stakeholders at a workshop on “Public- Private Partnership to finance infrastructure development,” at the weekend, that the trade between the two countries could improve further if the Federal Government could formulate good policies for business development.

Zaidi said Indian investors were interested in investing in power generation and transmission, transportation, water, petroleum, renewable power, health care and others in order to increase the trade relationship between the two countries.

According to him, investors were

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concerned about policies that affect investments in Nigeria, stressing the need for the Federal Government to address payment of compensation upon changes in legislation, which adversely affect concessionaires.

He said investors were interested in how payment of compensation should be made, if contract is terminated by the government in violation of contract term.

Besides, he said the investors were also interested in the development of independent regulatory institutions, sector specific regulations, robust debt capital market and secondary markets to mitigate risk.

He advised the government to consider the abolition of withholding tax on corporate bonds.

Zaidi described PPP as arrangement between a government or statutory entity on one side and a private sector entity on the other, for the provision of public assets and related services for public benefit.

He said PPP was the best option among all types of investments, adding that “some of the benefits include efficiency in asset creation and effectiveness in service delivery.

BoI displays products at exhibition

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HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has facilitated an exposition of the products of some of its small business customers who operate in the cotton, textile and garment industry sector at the ongoing annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Arusha, Tanzania.

The items on display are basically ethnic fabrics including adire and aso oke as well as Nigerian prints. Aside from apparels, there are also ladies hand bags, shoes, IPad cases, conference folders and other accessories produced from Nigerian fabrics and prints.

BoI’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Ms Evelyn Oputu is convinced that the presence of the producers of these items would expose them to potential buyers within and outside Africa.

The feedback from the interactions at a forum of this nature are expected to serve as input that would help them meet and anticipate the requirements of domestic and foreign markets.

In the course of this exposition, contacts are expected to be made with potential buyers and market opportunities explored.

By Damilola Ogunfuye

Many of the exhibitors are beneficiaries of the government’s N100 billion cotton, textile and garment revival scheme that is being managed by the BoI. BoI’s Arusha initiative is designed to identify export markets for the Nigerian entrepreneurs most of whom are women, youths and owners of small businesses who reside in rural communities. It is envisaged that the process would potentially assist in boosting intra-African trade that stands at less than 12 per cent.

Over the years, many of Nigeria’s traditional fabrics, especially the adire and aso oke ranges have been admired internationally. Production of both fabrics have for decades and across generations served as means of livelihood for several people who operate in groups and clusters in local communities as family businesses.

The weavers and producers of these ethnic fabrics draw inspiration from their immediate environments.

From left: Caraz, Executive Director, Polo Nigeria Ltd, Ms Jennifer Obayuwana; Area Manager CartierInternational Geneva, Mr Vincent Decoopman and Obayuwana during the visit of the Cartier team to Polo Nigeria.

POLO Nigeria, Cartier partner to promote foreign OLO Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s the decision to come into the Nigeinvestment foremost luxury items collection rian market through Polo Nigeria

P

firm, has entered into partnership with Cartier, the renowned French jeweler and a global leader in luxury items and accessories, on the marketing of its various items and promotion of the brand in Nigeria.

Cartier was represented during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by two of its top executives, while Polo Nigeria’s team was also led by two of its executives.

The Managing Director, Polo Nigeria Ltd, Mr John Obayuana, described the deal as important in the attempt to dominate the Nigerian market.

He said the decision by Cartier to partner Polo Nigeria was based on the pedigree and niche already created by the company, which was made a global brand of Cartier’s status to have found a convenient ally in it.

He said Polo Nigeria’s mission had always been to pioneer in the world of discovery. According to him, the Nigerian market is a fertile ground for the cartier brand to thrive in view of the fact that Nigerians are sophisticated people, well travelled and with great love for high taste and exquisite luxury items.

“Most of the luxury items across the world are best bought and used

by Nigerians, who are well travelled, sophisticated and with a great taste for expensive items.

Cartier is here to find ways of using the partnership with us, to bring its great items to the reach of Nigerian consumers through a reputable Nigeria brand”, Obayuana said.

On his part, Cartier’s Director of Export, Mr Bruno Carraz, described

as part of the company’s strategy of pioneering the discovery of new grounds.

“In this market, we want to find new partners that we can work with.

In Nigeria we have found a good partner. They can market and entrench our luxury items. This is a new and important day for Cartier in Nigeria. It is good for all of us.

“Like Cartier always does, we want to be a pioneer in luxury items collection in this region, and Nigeria is the place, while Polo Nigeria is the point of reaching into the market.

“A leading Operator in luxury items collection and marketing in Nigeria, Mr. Micheal Eze, described the decision by Cartier to come into the market as a significant move.

NACCIMA seeks repositioning of non-oil sector

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HE Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has suggested ways to enhance the performance of the nonoil sector to enable it contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth.

Specifically, the association emphasised the need for Nigeria to align with the global trend by refocusing and re-strategising through diversification of its economic base away from oil to non-oil products.

This, the chamber believes, is needed for ensuring the successful growth and

development of the nation’s economy and for actualising the transformation and vision 20:2020 agenda.

The association, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Shagamu, Ogun State emphasised the need for the Federal Government to remove all forms of levies and taxes imposed on some export products, especially on agricultural exports to make such product competitive in the global market place.

The President of the chamber, Dr. Herbert Ajayi stressed the need for the government to overhaul the en-

tire process of the existing export incentive regime for efficiency, including introducing new industrial incentive.

He also said government should carry along the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on all its exports and export related policies and activities in the country through a sustainable Public-Private Sector Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Ajayi added that government should ensure appropriate standardisation of export products, especially, sanitary issues for agricultural products.

Operators identify challenges facing SMEs

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OW expertise, lack of skills and integrity have been identified as the hitches that stand against business efficiency in both large and small scale industries.

The Managing Director, Baron Brodas Limited (a company into marketing and supplies of sanitary wares), Mr Yinka Nosiru gave this submission at a press briefing in Lagos.

He said some building construction companies as well as companies engaged in the sale of sanitary wares are not ethically run as they

are lacking in skill, technical knowledge and integrity which are supposed to be core values in business.

“Unfortunately, it is the end users who are ignorant about the quality of most items in sanitary ware that are at the receiving end of the deficiencies and unwholesome practices”.

“For this reason, Baron Bathrooms condemns these practices and we are out to correct them so that customers will get the best of sanitary wares that will serve them better with sound technical details.

“We are competent by virtue of experience and education. We want to add value to every potential buyer of sanitary wares”, Nosiru said.

Speaking on competition, the Director of Operations, Baron Brodas Limited, Mr Gbenga Adeyaso, said competition will always be there in as much as opportunity exists.

His words: “We recognise competition but we are focused in doing our business professionally and diligently and with that, we are sure of success.”

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Pandemonium!

•Unpreparedness for emergency, touting, looting, sheer bedlam signpost a horrific air crash

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ANDEMONIUM, unruliness, opportunism and fortune-hunting seem to have become our national ethos. These traits come instinctively to the fore in times of major national emergencies. For those who are observant, it happens all the time and it happened again last Sunday when a Dana Airline plane crashed in the densely populated Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos.

No sooner did the plane plunge into the neighbourhood than the spot became a ‘tourist’ site; a ghoulish carnival ensued in which nearly the entire populace of IjuIshaga literally emptied onto the crash site, forming a thick mass of bodies which

‘While a few of the people genuinely wanted to help, the majority of them mainly gawked at and relished the gory scene while yet another group sought to make capital out of the calamity through looting and thievery. We have seen this ugly scene over and over in times of crises and national emergency recently. Whether it is building collapse, road accident, bomb blast or plane crash; we immediately see a massing up of people who watch helplessly, not knowing what to do or doing the wrong things’

impeded the movement and activities of professional rescue agencies. While a few of the people genuinely wanted to help, the majority of them mainly gawked at and relished the gory scene.

Yet another group sought to make capital out of the calamity through looting and thievery.

We have seen this ugly scene over and over in times of crises and national emergency. Whether it is building collapse, road accident, bomb blast or plane crash; we immediately see a massing up of people who watch helplessly, not knowing what to do or doing the wrong things. For instance, at the Dana crash site, we saw young men foraging the scene like scavengers; all manner of people were seen hefting blood-soaked bodies with bare hands while the crowd surged ceaselessly. So many even perched on surrounding rooftops like vultures.

In other climes where emergencies are handled with the seriousness they require, scenes like these are considered anathema. Uniformed men and emergency personnel are prompt at distress sites and they immediately cordon the area, making the site off limits to busybodies and ‘sympathisers’ who are naturally attracted to such scenes. In Nigeria, official help is often the last to show up. In the case of the Dana debacle – as in previous others - eyewitnesses said it took the best of 45 minutes before help could come to the crash victims from official quarters. There are unconfirmed reports of victims crying for help and

even making calls from the rubble of the accident.

Perhaps one or two lives may have been saved had the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reacted more promptly. We would expect that immediately a pilot makes a May Day (distress) call, all search and rescue systems are to be put on alert and ready to mobilise. It must be investigated how long it took NEMA to react from the time the aircraft disappeared from the radar and when its men reached the crash site.

We also wonder whether the electronic cover, the device which spots the location of any aircraft (flying or crashed) has been installed over Nigeria’s airspace. This device, the acquisition and installment of which have been of much controversy in the recent past, could have indicated the exact location of the crashed Dana plane, helping rescuers to reach the site in the shortest possible time. After the 2008 Wings Aviation aircraft crash in the mountainous forest of Busi, Cross River State, which was not found until after six months, we would have thought the issue of total radar coverage of our airspace would have been resolved.

We dare say that we still find NEMA’s modus operandi lackadaisical and not equal to current global benchmarks.

How many more air mishaps must occur before we begin to see a serious and professional NEMA at work? We suggest a drastic and urgent revamp of all our emergency, search and rescue agencies.

His Honourable, the unruly?

•Assault of an FRSC officer by aides of a member of the House of Representatives is brazen and condemnable

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HE serial ironies were completely lost on Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa of the House of Representatives, an Accord Party (AP) member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, whose aides on June 1 beat up Mediel Jerry, an operative of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), on lawful duty.

First, a supposed honourable member of the House of Representatives showing brazen disregard for the law in the hallowed precinct of the second highest lawmaking chambers in the land, as he reportedly watched his aides, not without approval, give an official of the law a black eye. Then, a democratic lawmaker manifesting military-era impunity of the worst kind. Of course, there was also the priest in the shrine of the rule of law taking the law into his own hands. Then, perhaps the most offensive of all: an elected lawmaker showing himself an unrepentant lawbreaker, if not an outright outlaw!

These are the impressions any rightthinking person would get, reading the story of The Punch of Saturday June 2, which reported a pandemonium at the National Assembly, as Dr. Olaifa’s aides allegedly beat up the FRSC operative, who had the temerity to clamp the House member’s car, parked in an unauthorised place.

From that report, that car’s clamping was not the first, which appears to show a general penchant to disregard simple directives as regards where to park and where not to. But Dr. Olaifa’s reported wild reaction of pouncing on an agent of the law

doing his lawful duty was the first reported of such fracas, though it might not necessarily be the first. That, however, should not tone down the harsh condemnation that lawless act must attract.

Indeed, Dr. Olaifa must be thoroughly ashamed of himself, allegedly standing by and watching his aides assault an agent of the state in a the-law-can-stuff manner. That did nothing to enhance his membership of the House of Representatives or even the time-honoured Omoluabi, the paragon of the well-bred among the Yoruba, the ethnic group to which he belongs.

Equally condemnable was the reported sophistry by Zakari Mohammed, chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, who The Punch reported as claiming that the FRSC operative’s mugging must be blamed, not on Dr. Olaifa, but on his aides! So, aside from the report that Dr. Olaifa was there, and did nothing to stop the beating, would those muggers have been at the National Assembly premises if they were not Olaifa’s aides? The only way he could have dissociated himself from the shameful incident was if he had cautioned his aides from the flagrant illegality. He did not. So, there is no way he could be dissociated from the act, as Mr. Mohammed vainly tried to do.

Dr. Olaifa stands condemned for the lawless act of his aides. Mr. Mohammed no less so by trying to live in denial of an outrage. The National Assembly should examine itself and fashion appropriate disciplinary policies to punish such out-

rage. But if such policies are in place, it should trigger them, investigate the incident and mete out due punishment, if Dr. Olaifa is culpable, just to serve as deterrent to others.

But beyond administrative sanctions, Citizen Midiel Jerry, the battered FRSC operative, should feel free to explore any legal way to seek redress for the assault on his person and dignity. Nigeria, despite the present challenges, is a country founded on law; and it would be a sad day indeed if anybody, no matter how highly placed, tramples on that law and gets away with it.

Besides, the law that gave Jerry the FRSC uniform must be there to protect him from indignity and assault while doing a lawful duty.

‘But beyond administrative sanctions, Citizen Midiel Jerry, the battered FRSC operative, should feel free to exploit any legal way to seek redress for the assault on his person and dignity. Nigeria, despite the present challenges, is a country founded on law; and it would be a sad day indeed if anybody, no matter how highly placed, tramples on that law and gets away with it’

Egypt’s travesty of justice with Hosni Mubarak

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ROM START to finish, the prosecution of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak offered a textbook example of how not to handle a deposed dictator. Mr. Mubarak is likely culpable for crimes of corruption and of human rights. But the charges brought against him were vague and poorly substantiated, and the trial itself was chaotic and preemptory. The verdict, delivered Sunday, was a final travesty that has served only to further polarize Egypt.

Mr. Mubarak and his former interior minister were found guilty of failing to prevent the killing of protesters; they were sentenced to life imprisonment. But six police officials more directly responsible for the deaths were acquitted, and Egyptian legal experts predicted that Mr. Mubarak’s sentence would be reversed on appeal. Confined to a military hospital for most of the past 16 months, the 84-year-old former president was forced to move into a less comfortable prison clinic, but he may not be there for long.

His trial was less a serious judicial exercise than a smokescreen thrown up by the military council that removed him from office.

The generals who once reported to Mr. Mubarak now desperately seek to preserve their power, despite a promised transition to democracy, and to avoid being held accountable for their own crimes. Mr. Mubarak’s prosecution was meant to defuse the popular demand that the old regime be held accountable while obstructing it in every meaningful sense. An equally farcical trial of U.S.-backed pro-democracy activists is the other side of this strategy; it is due to resume in Cairo on Tuesday.

Egyptians who demanded Mr. Mubarak’s trial in demonstrations last year played into the regime’s hands. They would have done better to recognize that only a democratic government and a purged and reformed judiciary would have the legitimacy and the will to conduct a thorough and fair proceeding.

Even then, prosecution of the aged former leader should have been balanced against the need for political reconciliation. As it is, the backlash against the revolutionaries is boosting the reactionary presidential campaign of Mr. Mubarak’s former prime minister, while other entrenched Arab governments are brandishing photos of the former Egyptian ruler in a courtroom cage as they refuse to compromise with opponents.

Mr. Mubarak at least avoided the fate of Saddam Hussein, whose squalid execution followed an equally rushed and unsatisfactory trial. But his legal ordeal may not be over. The presidential candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood has promised to retry him if elected, and to keep him in jail “forever.”

Arguably the author of decades of political repression deserves little better; but such political prosecutions only weaken the cause of a democratic rule of law in Egypt.

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA) has been the bone of contention in Ekiti State for some weeks now. One should ordinarily wonder why teachers would contest a government policy that was designed to raise the standard of teaching and thus shoot up the rating of teachers.

Was it that the teachers would rather want a perpetual fall in the quality of education in the Ekiti schools?

Yes, the teachers had palpable fears that the government’s assessment could lead to loss of jobs or demotion for many or some of them, apparently because they also rated themselves so low, rather too low to pass teaching tests and prove their mettle.

Because the fears of Ekiti teachers were perceptible to government, it went ahead to allay the fears, first, at meetings with their leaders and later, through massive radio and television enlightenment programmes and adverts that included clearly stated government reassurances that the TDNA would not be used to sack, demote or ridicule any teacher.

If government had pledged not to sack, demote or ridicule teachers, then the needs of the teachers that were imaginable would certainly not have been hurtful or negative in nature. Such needs were then

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Ekiti teachers and proficiency test supposed to be in the areas of training and teaching aids but the teachers were no longer available to consider TDNA objectively at that point in time.

They had run to the NUT as if a trade dispute was at stake. They had run to the PDP, the main opposition party in the state, to save them from their employer, the Ekiti State government, taking with them what had then become very stale and unfounded fears.

While the NUT was declaring, ridiculously, a one-day strike for the slated date for TDNA, the PDP was working in close concert with the NUT to score political points, urging the teachers to defy government as well as promising them protection.

True to the script, none of the teachers thus sat for the TDNA, of course, to the amusement of the PDP which rushed to the Press the next day to commend the teachers for their courage to resist the government.

One could not but wonder what the teachers, the NUT and the PDP thought they were doing, playing politics with the future of the Ekiti children in primary and secondary schools.

The teachers now boast of their voting power and their non-readiness to support the governor for a second term in office.

One wonders; which is more ominous, a governor’s second term or a situation of business as usual in schools which would prevent government from effecting positive change in the educational sector or a bunch of confrontational, politically-misled teachers?

Teachers who do not bother about the obvious fall in the quality of the education of their pupils, who would rather abandon teaching to pursue personal businesses, who would resort to promoting examination mal-practices to produce ‘good results’ for their schools cannot but be petty and rely on black-

mail to keep their jobs.

In normal situations in democratic practice, a governor must perform creditably during his first term before seeking a second. If a bunch of some retrogressive teachers would hold him down with their so-called voting power, refuse to allow a change, refuse to be enlightened or persuaded if even by traditional rulers, perhaps such teachers should leave the classes immediately, go into politics early enough and allow a crop of teachers who would love and work for the success of their pupils to take over.

If one does not know much about the details or enormity of the problems of Ekiti schools, one knows too well that the current Ekiti teachers do not care even about their spoken English and do not care about the depletion of their pupils who are regularly withdrawn to private schools by frustrated parents.

One had listened to an enlighten-

Democracy and its enemies

S

IR: Whenever I hear about President Goodluck Jonathan’s vow to keep the country together through his adherence to the rule of law, one thing always come to my mind. It is the common philosophical saying that the enemies of that stands President Jonathan taller than any of his predecessors, civil or military, his ability to renege from those promises he made at campaign period; and concentrate on those he did not promise; and yet perform excellently in their discharge.

If there is one area where our affable President seems to have perfomed excellently, it is in total disregard to the Rule of Law crystalized by total desecration of the judiciary.

It is an unfortunate paradox of politics that the ruling party in the country has constituted itself as an organ of state whose position on any national issues should take precedence over even that of the con-

stitutionally assigned agency on such matters.

That takes us to the Ayo Salami issue. It is very clear right from the time of the suspension of Justice Salami that the overriding interest at the official level was not what the law says or any kind of rule of law; but what is in the best interest of the PDP. Unfortunately however, the PDP at that time found a ready ally and partner in the then Chief Justice of Nigeria.

What was not known to some at that time, that it was not the rabble rousing outbursts and street cries of Segun Oni that led to the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami. Rather, it was a preemptive measure which was the product of the circumspective unease of some friends of President Jonathan in respect of the then ongoing presidential election tribunal which at that time was being presided by Salami as President of the Court of Appeal. Going by the tall fence which Justice Salami built

around himself against any form of political and extraneous interference during the various gubernatorial cases he handled, it was clear to them that he was a no-nonsense jurist who could not be cowed by any political sword of intimidation.

No wonder the President and his Attorney General now see themselves as wiser than the National Judicial Council, the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant bodies across the country. As part of the mockery game on the judiciary, the Attorney General in his attempted to hide behind a finger claimed that some cases were pending in court against the reinstatement of Salami as the PCA. Unfortunately he did not care about the locus of those socalled litigants or what they stand to suffer as individuals or groups in the event of the reinstatement of Justice Salami.

If even they have locus, can theirs be compared with that of Justice Salami who at the time of his sus-

pension was having a case in court against the NJC? Yet at that time, the AGF could not see anything sub judice against accepting the advice of the NJC over a case that was crucially in court. But when it came to a ‘working to the answer’ cases, subjudice became manifest in the eyes of the AGF. The point being canvassed is that no democracy can thrive under a feeble judiciary. Its therefore a truism against the backdrop of the current happenings in the electoral culture of Africa that Nigeria at the moment practices about the worst democracy in Africa. I do not know anywhere else in Africa where the leaders of the ruling party would be boasting that they would rule for 50 years. The difference between Iwu and Jega’s INEC is only in degrees. To the two at them as far as the Presidency is concerned it is a faith accompli, or a no go area for other parties.

• Agboola Sanni Lagos.

ment interview which the Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Eniola Ajayi, granted on radio while the TDNA controversy was raging.

What she said actually confirmed the carefree attitudes of the Ekiti teachers that are well known.

She lamented what wastage the money spent on seminars for Ekiti teachers had become because, as she revealed, such seminars were never taken seriously by them.

Of what use would be an educational system that is so rigidly resistant to positive change? Ekiti teachers must come out and tell the Ekiti people whose interest they are currently serving, while we wait for government’s next line of action.

• Jide Oguntoye Oye Ekiti.

Foundation condoles with crash, accident victims

S

IR: Community Defence Law Foundation, a grass-root civil society organization working to introduce and achieve education among youth groups in Nigeria, is pained at the sudden death of all the passengers and members of the crew of DANA Air crash which occurred in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos on Sunday, June 3, and the road accident victims of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway which happened few hours earlier.

We are deeply disturbed and, wish to commiserate with families of passengers and crew members of the ill-fated flight. We pray for their souls and ask God to comfort the family members left to bear the loss.

CDLF join Nigerians to call on the regulatory bodies to take their jobs seriously so as to forestall future occurrences. Our road and air traffic managers must begin to do their work with every sense of responsibility, dedication, sincerity and patriotism, most of the accident or crashes will be minimized if only we do our work properly. Good the Federal Government has directed an investigation but, they must also ensure punishment for erring officials and contractors who engage in lackadaisical attitude to work.

• Uzodinma Nwaogbe Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

I owe you - 2

M

OST of my friends from the Universities of Lagos, Ibadan and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs under the leadership of its Director-General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa were heavily represented. I have associated with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs for quite some time. It’s first Director-General; the late Ambassador L.A. Fabunmi actually recruited me into the Institute in 1966 and wanted me to go to Russia for a PhD Programme. I was then a radical young man with moustache and beard and mouthing socialist jargons and having as heroes Fidel Castro and Che GueVara. My brothers were against my going to Moscow because they advised that if I did, our home would be regularly visited by security people whenever I returned and whenever there was any strike either by students or Labour, because I would be suspected as a Communist in the then conservative Nigeria which did not even have diplomatic relations with the USSR immediately after independence. There is hardly any edited book published by the NIIA from 1976 to the present in which I did not contribute a chapter.

Several of my friends from the Academia including Prof.

Tunde Ogunmola, Chancellor, Lead City University, Ibadan; and my colleagues from the department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos; Department of History and International Relations, Redeemer’s University; and earlier on during the previous week, a colloquium was organised for me by the Network of Nigerian Historians in which Prof. Ayo Olukoju, Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University; Prof. Shola Akinrinade, ViceChancellor Osun State University; Prof. Taiwo Akinyeye, Prof. (Mrs) Funke Adeboye, all of the University of Lagos and Prof. Hakeem Tijani of Adeleke University and several other distinguished academics presented papers.

Prof. King-Aribisala of the University of Lagos and Dr Awolowo Tokunbo Dosunmu, first Executive Director of the Awolowo Foundation found time to attend the church service. I must remember my classmates from Christ School, Olabode Fadase, Former Executive of Mobil; Prof. Femi Elegbeleye, distinguished Physician and Mr. Dipo Ajayi, former Editor of Daily Times.

From the media came the entire editorial board of The Nation led by its chairman Mr. Sam Omatseye. I cannot thank enough Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his dear and admirable wife Oluremi who have always extended fellowship and friendship to me. I had expected Chief Bode

George to come but he said he was busy in Abuja and phoned in. My Former student Pastor Babatunde Bakare showed up with his presence and gifts. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru sent a goodwill message from New York and gifts through my cousin and a Director in his office, Dokun Fagboun who should by now be an ambassador, but to God be the glory, I know his time would come. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martins Uhomoibhi graciously sent a letter of goodwill and prayers. Pastor Azuka Ugbolumani and Pastor Gbenga Akosile respectively chaplains of the University of Lagos and the Redeemer’s University along with Pastors Francis Madojemu of the Bridge Network and Austin Ologbese of Sendforth Church and O.A. Alakija of the Redeemer’s University’s Chapel of Holiness graciously officiated at the church service.

I thank members of my family both nuclear and extended with all my heart for making the occasion memorable. My children Fola, Tosin, Seyi, Yewande and their spouses funded the party and travelled long distances to be present here in Nigeria. My sisters-in-law, Mrs Mabel Osuntokun, Prof. Bopo Osuntokun, Mrs. Dupe Osuntokun gave both psychologically and materially in support of the occasion; and my nieces Remi, Bisi and Nike were most supportive so also were my nephews, Akin and Kunle. God Bless you all.

I must not forget the alumni of the Redeemer’s University who came in large numbers to electrify the luncheon party with their dances. I pray that I will be here to attend their marriages and other celebrations in their lives.

Young people need all the help and encouragement we can muster and this is what informs the genuine interest I have in young people because the Nigerian environment is not only adverse but unfriendly to the aspirations of the youth.

All my life I have tried to build bridges where there is chasm that seems unbridgeable. I do not believe in making enemies. I try to make friends. I deliberately cultivate the friendship of people from other ethnic groups and religion that are different from mine. I also try to speak Ibo and Hausa and even few words in Fulfulde, Urhobo and Efik just to break down barriers and to melt whatever frozen ice that separates me from other children of God. I have no racial or ethnic hangovers because I did not make myself neither did those different from me chose

to be different. We are all accidents of creation. My credo in life is the universality and equality of all humanity. I do not fight God’s war by challenging people of other faiths because God Almighty is supremely capable of fighting his own wars if need be without the intervention of puny humanity.

I am not obsessed with rank materialism because all our earthly possessions

Jide Osuntokun

cannot save us from our inevitable end. I do not hanker after position or wealth because I know all things are transient and like leaves will eventually wither. I do not hold on tightly to whatever money I have, I try to share with those less endowed and less privileged. That’s why I have peace of mind and I am not afraid of anybody or what my enemy may do to me.

I thank all those who were present physically for their gifts and presence and solidarity and those who could not come, I thank them for their prayers and I promise and also dedicate the rest of my life to the service of God and humanity. To God be the Glory.

‘All my life I have tried to build bridges where there is chasm that seems unbridgeable. I do not believe in making enemies. I try to make friends. I deliberately cultivate the friendship of people from other ethnic groups and religion that are different from mine’

DANA plane crash : What went wrong?

I

N this business, you can never say with Sundays. Sunday has a way of throwing up the unexpected. It is a day when the unusual usually happens; a day that news breaks with the speed of lightning.

One moment, it is dull and drab.

And the next, every where is bustling with activities. Such activities normally have their origin in a newsbreak somewhere.

It usually starts like this: ''have you heard?'' The question hits you like a bolt from the blue. Before you put yourself together to demand what the caller is talking about, he is likely to have provided the answer to his own question. When I receive such calls on Sundays, it triggers an alarm in me. Immediately, I suspect that something is amiss somewhere that I am not yet aware of.

With the knowledge that the caller is sounding me out, I play it cool, waiting for his next move. I didn't have to wait for my friend Jide Oke's next move when he called last Sunday to break the news of the DANA plane crash to me. Jide was calling to confirm if it was true unknown to him that I had not even heard about the tragedy then. ''Lawee, Lawee, se o to ni pe plane crash?'' (Is it true there is a plane crash?). ''Nibo lo ti gbo yen?'' I replied. ''Aha aha, eyin editor, eti gbo pe plane crash ni'', Jide retorted. I told him to give me a second to find out as I dashed out of my office into the

newsroom to confirm. Lo and behold! It was true and the Deputy Editor (News), Adeniyi Adesina, was on the phone to his reporter, giving him instructions on the coverage of the tragic plane crash in Iju Ishaga, on the outskirts of Lagos, in which 153 persons died.

To many, it was like a bad dream. Another plane crash on a Sunday? What is it about Sunday that it throws up tragedies of such magnitude. A day, which is supposed to be a rest day, has over time become a day of anguish, sorrow, death and destruction. On a Sunday when you are resting at home death may come calling like a thief in the night like it happened to some residents of Iju Ishaga, the site of last Sunday’s plane crash. In most cases, these tragedies don't happen in the night, they happen in broad daylight.

By now, we should have learnt one or two lessons from past plane crashes, but because we are who we are, we learnt nothing. See where it has landed us now. How safe is our sky? This is the question the flying public has been asking for years without getting an answer from those who should know. The safety of our skies has a lot to do with those charged with flying us in the air. But can we vouch for the integrity of most airlines?

Since they are in business to make money, they do everything to maximise profit with little or no regard for passengers' lives. What

‘The DANA crash was a disaster waiting to happen because of the failure of the regulatory authorities to do their jobs. They cannot claim to be unaware of the bad state of aircraft not only in DANA’s fleet, but also in the fleet of all the airlines in the country today. If these airlines are audited, a lot will be revealed’

matters to them is the naira and kobo aspect of the business. As for safety, we are on our own. So, when ever we fly, we do so at our own risk. We all know this, but since we cannot help the situation, we have continued to fly despite the inherent dangers. With their poor services both inflight and on ground, these airlines have nothing to offer customers.

Yet, they treat us like scums when we patronise them. They collect our money and treat us shabbily. To them the customer is a slave. But can you blame them when they are in league with the regulators? Our airlines are larger than life; they can do anything and get away with it as long as they play their cards well. It is only when there is a crash like this that the hammer falls on them. But after a while, it is back to business as usual.

Airlines toy with passengers' lives too often in this country and the aviation authorities know this.

If they say they don't know, they are lying. I challenge them to disprove my claim.

If they are not in the know, why will these airlines be flying overaged planes? Why will they be shortchanging passengers and the regulators will keep quiet? Do these airlines service their planes regularly? When last did they do the C- and D-checks? These checks are crucial to the lifespan of an aircraft, but since we are a nation of anything goes, nothing, as they say in motor parks, concerns their agbero with overload.

What the airlines are interested in is the cash, which they get in abundance, from passengers many of who are ready to pay anything to get to their destinations in good time, especially when they are in a hurry. Can we blame passengers

for the unethical behaviour of these airlines? No, we can't because it is not at the point of boarding that a passenger should be talking about the safety of an aircraft. This is a condition-precedent, which should have been fulfilled by an airline before selling tickets to passengers.

EFORE an aircraft is allowed to fly, it is assumed that it has passed all safety tests, which should be conducted by the appropriate authorities, which in this case is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Was the illfated DANA plane subjected to these tests? Some of these tests are the checks expected to be carried out on aircraft at intervals. These, among others, are: A-, C-, and Dchecks. A- check is done after 600hour flying or 100 days of flying, whichever comes first and is done overnight.

C- check is done after 12 to 18 months of flying and D-check is engine overhaul. When last did the DANA plane do these tests, especially the A- and C- checks? These questions are germane because of allegations that the plane was not fit to fly. Some have said many times they watched as the plane was being hurriedly fixed to get it ready to fly waiting passengers.

Also, some said the plane suffered hydraulic failure in the past on many occasions.

A plane which suffers hydraulic failure almost at every turn is not better than a molue, the popular passenger bus which is being phased out in Lagos. If the Lagos State Government is contemplating abolishing that contraption, how come we are allowing its variant to be flying in our skies? The DANA crash was a disaster waiting to happen because of the failure of the regulatory authorities to do their jobs.

They cannot claim to be unaware

B

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

of the bad state of aircraft not only in DANA’s fleet, but also in the fleet of all the airlines in the country today. If these airlines are audited, a lot will be revealed.

In the wake of this crash, we need such an audit to stop these airlines from killing their patrons at will.

How can we explain the fact that these airlines take delight in wasting human lives as if that is what they need to remain in business.

Who knows? Why will DANA still fly the same aircraft after being informed that it was not in good condition by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio about a month or so ago? The plane had almost crashed during a flight from Uyo to Lagos, provoking the governor's warning.

What did the airline do about the warning? It did nothing because human lives do not count in its estimation. If it had heeded that warning, we will not be mourning today. It is criminal negligence on the airline's part to have still flown that plane despite Akpabio's admonition. It was an intentional act of murder for which DANA should pay the price.

Anything short of this will be begging the issue.

It is high time we dealt with these airlines in order to put a stop to their incessant waste of human lives.

SMS ONLY: 08099400204

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

O

UR President surely has a tragic sense of humour. Exercising the power he does not have, he chose to sacrifice Unilag during its 50th Silver jubilee celebration, the height of its glory in memory of illustrious Bashorun Abiola who paid the supreme price for our democracy. And he chose to do this the very week the university community was mourning a well loved vice chancellor who dropped dead working to sustain the glory of the institution.

But more than this, I think we have failed to take note of President Jonathan cynical approach to governance. As a master of political intrigue, he is as distrustful of his ruling elite as he is contemptuous of Nigerians. He had hardly finished saying “in every decision, I shall always place the common good before all else” when he surreptitiously jacked up pump price of fuel from 65 to N140.

Many have argued the rechristening of Unilag was a thoughtless decision by an incompetent president, betrayed by disloyal cabinet and advisers. A critical examination of President Jonathan government by subterfuge will however show it was a well planned strategy in line with PDP ‘do or die politics’.

Not even The Guardian grasped the essence of President Jonathan politics of rechristening.

The papers says a thoughtless “ name change which undermined the iconic nature of both the late Chief Abiola, as well as that of the university, is misguided , irredeemably wrong, and borne out of insufficient thought and lacking the rigour required for such initiative”.

But the least concern of this administration is neither Abiola nor Unilag. As we will try to show below, the self inflicted crisis carries the trademark of government by subterfuge.

In character with the indecent men, bereft of character and honour who had way back in 1999, declared May 29 democracy day in order to fraudulently claim credit for the supreme sacrifice of Abiola and others whose blood watered the fruit of democracy, Jonathan had also set out without any sense of guilt to play PDP dirty politics with Abiola’s memory.

The end justifies the means. The strategy is for PDP that has for 13 years tried in vain to bury the memory of Abiola, sow the seed of discord among Abiola’s children and opposition/civil society groups that have kept his memory alive by declaring June 12, a public holiday in the South West. It would also divert attention from some of the crises bedevilling the nation.

The plan, as packaged by government strategists, is unassailable. Add another crisis to

T

HE protests of the name change of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola are unfortunate.

They have brought back the sad memories of the annulment of the 1993 presidential elections and its consequences. The protest is unfortunate because Abiola did not deserve these rancorous behaviours from the student community that he loved and related so harmoniously with even as a big businessman. Several times, Abiola donated to libraries schools and built hostels for many university campuses, setting up endowment funds.

There is no reason to be despondent though, because with the protest, Abiola has once again forcefully re-entered our national consciousness. Actually, Abiola never left our consciousness because his influence even in death in national politics is still being felt.

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, aka MKO, was described as someone with a very large heart by one of his wives. She explained how the winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election would show appreciation for very little good deed. Brilliant, and reputed for unusual retentive memory, his show of appreciation some

‘If UNILAG refused to accept him as proposed by Jonathan, it is certain that that history will never reject that man who refused to give in to blackmail, and gave his life in solitude to what he believed in, staking all he had in the world: wealth, fame, wives, titles and even freedom’

Rechristening UNILAG and government by subterfuge the raging crises of legitimacy and crisis of insecurity to foreclose of discussion on the fuel subsidy scandal, massive corruption, erratic power supply and assault on the judiciary.

As a government by subterfuge, praise Abiola for his historic sacrifice. But instead of officially declaring him president based on Humphrey Nwosu’s report on the election, replace 50 years old successful brand, Unilag with MAUL. By doing what is undoubtedly unpatriotic and idiotic, young students 16 to 17 years old who were not born in 1993, along with slightly older ones who spent two or more years of intensive coaching in preparation for admission into Unilag, a university of first choice, as envisaged by government strategists, will take to the streets.

By 10 am, deploy two medical doctors turned PDP politicians in Lagos state to Silverbird Television to defend the president’s action. For my good friend Dr. Segun Ogundimu, he was surprised Jonathan had done so much and made such giant steps within a short period of one year than the press gave him credit for. He blamed this on PDP that has not given adequate publicity to Jonathan’s achievements.

As for Dr Doyin Okupe he was to thank Jonathan for the great honour adding that no well-meaning Yoruba man will fail to praise the President for recognising the sacrifice of Abiola . Undoubtedly, Dr Okupe who cannot be said to be in the leagues of Adedibu and other way-farers who live off PDP leaking umbrella, will then allege students who took to the streets barely an hour after the President’s announcement were mobilised. He was silent on who was behind the mobilisation when

asked by the young man who anchored the programme.

The next scene, a PDP, Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade issued a statement: “We recall that Prof Soyinka had in the time past clamoured for the immortalization of MKO and blamed the PDP for not according him the deserved honour. We therefore need to ask, what the issue is now, having now recognised the renowned defender of the masses.” “PDP”, the statement concluded, “is appealing to students and other stakeholders not to be used to tarnish the memory of MKO Abiola and the cherished reputation of the erstwhile University of Lagos.”

As the strategists have envisaged, Lai Mohammed of ACN will be forced to defend the integrity of his party by stating the obvious: ‘’Chief Abiola clearly won a national election; the honour to be conferred on him must reflect that’. He would further advise: “Make June 12th or the birthday of the late Chief Abiola a national holiday; name the Eagle Square or the National Stadium, both in Abuja, after him, and posthumously induct him into the league of former Presidents.”

These of course are all options unacceptable to PDP. Labaran Maku, Information or Disinformation Minister steps in, to say “today Abiola will turn in his grave” because of President Jonathan’s great honour. Against overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he says the objection was only by a fraction of the students.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), no doubt talking for PDP says: the President took

With Abiola, Jonathan rekindles hope

By Kehinde Laniyan said accounted for his big reservoir of titles and honours more than any Nigerian dead or alive. His wealth that he gave freely couldn’t have accounted for the multitude of honours spread worldwide. It must be his heart of gratitude. He said in a media interview some years before venturing into politics, “if you give me the title of a Street Sweeper, I will take it and say thank you”.

MKO would certainly have shown some gratitude for the “belated honour” from the Federal Government as demonstrated

by President Goodluck Jonathan who named the oldest Federal Government established university in Nigeria after him.

The University of Lagos was established in 1962, the first of such after independence in 1960. Therefore, because honour was given to whom it is due, most people couldn’t understand what the cries over renaming of a university were all about?

After all the University of Ife, Ile Ife was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987 by the then military government in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ever since, the university has become a bigger centre of learning. Though the students took to the streets in protest, the university in reputation and size is bigger today than the Ife of old.

Unilag students, lecturers and the Alumni Association claim they have lost a legacy of 50 years with the name change; that Jonathan had committed a crime by making MKO to puncture what could end up being a long history of one thousand years of existence of a university. Oxford

University for instance was established about 916 years ago and has retained that name. University of Lagos too had become a brand on its own. They claim it will even cost over a billion naira to rebrand the University of Lagos from the scratch.

But Abiola in his days threw monies at people and at varying challenges to elicit some joy and happiness from them, particularly the poor, saying he enjoyed making people happy. His philanthropic gesture remains legendary till today in Nigeria.

The situation at hand looks like a clash of brands because if UNILAG was a brand while MKO in death had become a mighty brand that can never be wished away by anyone. This is the reason why his name is still resonating 14 years after death and 19 years after his mandate was annulled

by President Ibrahim Babangida and his conspirators. Abiola continued to prick the conscience of friends and foes. If UNILAG refused to accept him as proposed by Jonathan, it is certain that that history will never reject that man who refused to give in to blackmail, and gave his life in solitude to what he believed in, staking all he had in the world: wealth, fame, wives, titles and even freedom. Abiola in death became an Army General, the General of Generals, celebrated than a living General who could shiver and be picked up from inside his wife’s cooking pot when coup plotters visited.

The death of Abiola on July 7, 1998 reverberated all over the world like tsunami.

It was like Nigeria would be no more. It

the decision ‘in the best interest of the nation.’

Professor Julius Okojie of NUC, talking like a PDP politician says the President decision was ‘final and the process of effecting change of name had started’.

Then, Dr Reuben Abati a much respected columnist of The Guardian and now a pugnacious fighter for President Jonathan wraps it up. With a posture of ‘critics are uninformed and government cannot be wrong’, he gives the viewers a very important piece of information: Not too long ago, President Jonathan changed the name of a university in Taraba or somewhere in the north east, without a whimper from the students. He will then express shock that students and alumni are protesting the change of Unilag to MAUL. And finally, some PDP or PDP-inspired members of Abiola family issued a statement denouncing opposition members and students that fought along with their father and have kept his memory alive. From their needless reaction, it was as if their father died that a university may be named after him.

But one can understand the frustration of Abiola’s children. Their illustrious father had been betrayed by friends and even by his Egba kinsmen like Ernest Sonekan and Olusegun Obasanjo. But I am sure they are informed enough to realize that their father’s supreme sacrifice was in no way inferior to that of any other past Nigerian hero, a fraud the President and PDP set out to foster by subterfuge.

With politics of rechristening, no one is asking the President to reduce pump price of fuel and apologise for lying to Nigerians. It is business as usual in the ministry of petroleum.

Assault on the judiciary goes on. Boko Haram continues to unleash terror. Lamentation for our woes continues, led by the chief mourner, who once told us ‘the time for lamentation was over’.

‘But one can understand the frustration of Abiola’s children. Their illustrious father had been betrayed by friends and even by his Egba kinsmen like Ernest Sonekan and Olusegun Obasanjo.

But I am sure they are informed enough to realize that their father’s supreme sacrifice was in no way inferior to that of any other past Nigerian hero, a fraud the President and PDP set out to foster by subterfuge’ brought tears into the eyes of millions of people who genuinely loved and voted for him in that historic election on June 12, 1993. He went into that election with one mind, purposefully and with honesty.

And he won until political conspirators and mischief makers at home denied him victory.

I watched with interest the good gesture of President Jonathan to honor Abiola, which is coming very late in the day. It is a surprise that it had caused bitterness, vitriolic attacks on the President that deserved commendation for his courage. It is a shame that the antagonists of this honour could not see any profit in sharing Abiola’s name.

Abiola’s daughter, Hafsat AbiolaCostello appreciated the government for honouring his father after many years.

Probably feeling the embarrassment of a huge protest on the streets of Lagos, she buckled under pressure and started appealing to Federal Government to give concern more to the theme of the 1993 campaign of his father that focused on poverty. Abdul Abiola, MKO Abiola’s son, on the other hand was shocked by the protest, recounting all the material and financial support his father had given to several universities in Nigeria, including the University of Lagos.

Mercifully, the human rights community is divided on the matter. For some it is an opportunity to renew opposition to the Jonathan government after the fuel subsidy removal battle in January. To others the honoured is deserved but procedurally defective. Well not a surprise. Abiola’s life was controversial and more so in death.

For me, the man of praise in all these is President Jonathan who has reawakened Abiola’s message of hope that it may be long but surely the moment of truth and honour will always come.

• Laniyan, policy analyst, wrote from Abuja.

25

THE NATION

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

INSIDE

'Food, safety in curriculum' Food and drug safety education is to be infused within three weeks into the basic and senior secondary education curriculum to safeguard public health and stimulate behavioural change on public health issues among pupils.

-Page 37

An Islamic cleric’s view on Almajari schools An Islamic scholar Sheikh Sayyadi Ibrahim Bauch, has predicted that the integration of Almajari Islamic education with western education by the Federal Government may collapse because Islamic educationists are not involved.

-Page 39

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

Killed on rescue mission HE wanted to help a fellow student in distress. But he was killed in the process . When Emmanuel Uduak, a 400-level Mechanical Engineering student of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger State, heard cries for help from the student, he rushed down to the hostel to see what he could do.

-Page 29

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.92, 20-year-old Gilbert Oladehinbo emerged the overall best graduating student of Babcock University, Ilishan-Rimo, Ogun State. The valedictorian was on top of the world at the university’s convocation last Sunday, picking one prize after the other.

But he has one regret - his father’s absence at the ceremony, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and MEDINAT KANABE report.

‘The secret of my success’ H

IS only regret is that his father did not play any meaningful role in his life. Right from childhood till he went to university and graduated as the best student, his father was never beside him. And this makes Gilbert Oladehinbo, 20, a bitter man. Last Sunday, Oladehinbo stood tall among his peers during the convocation of Babcock University in Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

He emerged the valedictorian with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.92, the first in the university’s history.

Oladehinbo was beside himself with joy, but he was bitter inwards over how his father abandoned him and his mother.

He had harsh words for his father, calling him unprintable names.

Applause followed applause as he stepped out, at intervals, pick up one prize or the other. As he was called to receive his award, Oladehinbo the overall best graduating student of the Ruby set, walked majestically to shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kayode Makinde and renowned Prof Benjamin Carson, the first person in the world to separate Siamese twins.

Oladehinbo picked the Senior Vice-President's; School Dean’s; Academic Programmes; and Outstanding Achievement Awards, among others.

Despite the convivial atmosphere, Oladehinbo did not appear too happy.

His unhappiness was informed by the absence of his father on the day of his glory. He watched with envy as other parents hugged and congratulated their children. He was, however, consoled by the presence of his mother, who he praised to high heavens.

Oladehinbo lamented: "My father abandoned us; it was my mother that took care of my education."

He added: "My father is from Ogun and my mother is from Ojo, Lagos, so I'm from Lagos. When you have a father that does not discharge his responsibility you can only but give the honour to who honour is due. My mum saw me through my success. She has always been the pillar of the house, she saw me through school, she blessed and prayed for me."

Oladehinbo said his mother, who combines politics with teaching at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ogun State, played the role of father and mother to him.

He recounted how he visited the Sub-dean of his faculty, Mrs Dorcas Odunaike, who inspired

‘When you see success, you will want success; and when you see people who have succeeded in life you will also want to succeed. Looking at Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the defunct Western Region and so many other people like Prof Emeritus Isaac Oluwole Agbede alone made me want to be on top’ him. "She told me 'Gilbert, you can do it; just make sure you don't let me down and I have been holding on to that.

"I also kept challenging myself in class. I didn't want to have the GPA I had in the previous exams but there were also people such as Busayo Adeshina, Alao, Adeleke and Orebiyi, who made me to keep going." Oladehinbo attended Our Lady of Mount Camel Nursery and Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos; and Citizens Comprehensive College, Epe, 2007; graduating with seven distinctions and two credits in Maths and Biology in his West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), before securing admission to study Law at Babcock in 2008.

He recounted moments when, as an undergraduate, his colleagues’ fathers would visit them during seminars, and other occasions, noting that he usually felt bad that he had no father to play such role in his life. He described the experience as his “most challenging moments.”

Oladehinbo told The Nation that what kept him going were the success stories of some global personalities.

He said: "When you see success, you will want success; and when you see people who have succeeded in life you will also want to succeed. Looking at Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the defunct Western Region and so many other people like Prof Emeritus Isaac Oluwole

•Oladehinbo

Agbede alone made me want to be on top."

His choice of Law was borne out of the fact that he dreams to be a lawmaker some day.

"Studying law has given me the capacity to be a learned person; that is why lawyers call themselves learned. I have an idea of what the society needs and in future when I decide to go to

the legislative house I know the kind of law that are expected," he said.

Oladehinbo whose speciality is Aviation/Accident laws in Nigeria, also mentioned his desire to be a judge of the Federal High Court or a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

He wouldn't describe himself • Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

26

EDUCATION EKSU FILE

Varsity restores graduate teachers THE Senate of the Ekiti State University has approved the reinstatement of Graduate Assistant in the academic staff structure.

The position is reserved for graduates of the university with first class honours and outstanding second class upper division.

It is aimed at encouraging the best brains into the academics and showcase the potential in the sector.

It will re-energise the university into the preparatory point of entry into academics.

Graduate Assistantship was abolished in the university, resulting in EKSU's loss of some of its best brains who would have been recruited and mentored to join the academia.

S

Alumni head for court over renaming of UNILAG

TUDENTS of the University of Lagos have been asked to 'step aside' for the alumni to continue the legal battle over the renaming of the institution as Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.

The parents' forum and the alumni association rejected the new name, asking the Federal Government to retrace its steps on the matter.

It was like a reunion on Sunday as the auditorium of the university was a beehive of activities.

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Tosin Adesile

The alumni association held a congress to restrategise on its next line of action. It, however, pleaded with the students to sheathe their swords ahead of the planned legal battle by the alumni.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Wole Olanipekun(SAN) explained that the best option is to seek

redress in court.

He said: " The University of Lagos does not belong to any nation but the whole universe", adding that it could not be hijacked for any selfish purpose. Prof Olayide Abass, the National President of the University of Lagos Alumni Association, advised the students to sheathe their swords.

"Once the school resumes, I'll

want all students to go about their normal classes and allow the law to take its course.”

He appealed to the government to reconsider its decision looking at the poor aspect of funding. He said the alumni have been playing a major role to make sure it stepped up its facilities.

He maintained that University of Lagos is a strong brand in the realm of University of London; University of Washington; and University of Nairobi, noting that its integrity needs be kept.

Students laud biometric data THE management of Ekiti state University (EKSU) has embarked on a biometric data exercice to capture the students. The aim is to know the students of the PartTime Programme of the institution.

The exercise, which started on Friday, May 18, this year, will end on Friday next week.

The management warned that students who refused to participate, saying they risk losing their studentship.

Students, who have visited the Irasa village campus, venue of the exercise, commended the management for the laudable programme.

According to them, the exercise will enable the university to know its bonafide students.

The biometric data capture is one of the new measures introduced by the administration of Prof Oladipo Aina, the Vice-Chancellor, to sanitise the system.

Students have, however, been warned to adhere to the time-table provided for the exercise. Indebted students are advised to use their period of the exercise to pay up their fees.

VC urges alma mater to assist ALUMNI Associations of Secondary Schools in Nigeria have been called upon to contribute positively to the development of their alma mater.

Governments at all levels have also been charged to make the provision of adequate infrastructure in secondary schools a priority. The VC, Prof Aina, made the appeal at a reception in his honour by members of the alumni association of his former secondary school, Notre Dame Grammar School, Usi-Ekiti during the 52nd Founders Day of the school.

He noted that the legacies of those old days and structures should not be allowed to rot, stressing that the alumni of such schools as well as the various governments should continue to improve on what has been on ground.

He said it was disheartening to note that the several secondary schools in the country have been living on past glory.

The VC, who was with his wife, Prof Olabisi Aina, recalled that it was the type of education he got while in the secondary school that shaped his life. He vowed to continue to contribute positively to his alma mater.

The National President of the association Niyi Ajibulu said members were happy about the appointment of Prof Aina as EKSU new VC.

• Old boys and pupils of CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos rendering a farewell song as they encircled the casket of Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe the late Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, and an alumnus of CMS, during the funeral service, at the All Saints Church, Yaba ... on Thursday last week.

PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

Renamed CAANU laments terrorism acts on tertiary institutions

T

HE Conference of Alumni Association of Nigeria Universities (CAANU) has been rechristened. It will henceforth be referred to as the Alumni Association of Nigerian Universities (AANU).

The change in the name is to further achieve the objectives of the association on one hand, and be able to register it with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the other.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association's quarterly conference at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

It was signed by AANU Chairman and Secretary Chief Richard Oma Ahonaguro, Mallam Chucks Agoha and the PRO Pastor Adebowale Adelakun.

It reads in part: "To achieve the objectives of the association and for the purpose of registration with

By Ramat Musa

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the association formerly known and called "Conference of Alumni Associations of Nigerian Universities" (CAANU) was renamed "Alumni Associations of Nigerian Universities" (AANU).

It condemned the level of insecurity in the country, especially the recent terrorist attacks on the nation's ivory towers and media houses. It called on parents to lay good moral foundation and sound reading culture in the children, especially at tender age.

AANU lauded undergraduates for surviving the hardship posed by poor conditions of learning. It called on all stakeholders to improve learning and living conditions in universities.

The body called on parents to commit themselves to laying good moral foundation for their

children and to encourage a reading culture in them at tender ages.

Urging all alumni to give back to their alma mater, AANU urges the government to enforce the various committees' reports and recommendations emanating from the National Assembly to rid the system of corruption.

It advocated that presidents of alumni associations of each university be it federal, state and private be made members of their university's Governing Council.

The conference had delegates from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Anambra State University, Uli; Benue State University, Makurdi; Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Enugu; Federal University of

Agriculture, Abeokuta; Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda University, Lapai; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; and Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

Others were Madonna University, Okija; National Open University of Nigeria; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode; University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the host institution -UNN. The AANU executives were received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Malachy Ike Okwueze and other principal officers of the university.

The conference will reconvene from August 23 - 26, this year.

Secret of my success, by Babcock’s best • Continued From page 25

as a bookworm, saying his daily routine is just like that of any other person. He also loves sports.

"I also socialise by playing with my friends but not in excess. I wasn't brought up to be the randy type or loud without control. I love to play tennis and swim because they are gentle sports. It is an individual thing where you take your time, going at your own pressure."

Oladehinbo, who said he did not expect this even in his wildest imagination, credited everything to working in God's vineyard.

"When you work for God, things will work for you," he said.

He advised his peers that they cannot do anything without God and faith, saying work and faith go together.

"You need to work and believe in God. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your part."

Earlier, Prof Makinde said, Oladehinbo has broken the university's record with his feat. He said he was not surprised by the development because the university is reputed for giving students value for their money and producing graduates that can hold their heads high anywhere.

“At last ... what is good for the militant is good, or better, for the brilliant!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

27

EDUCATION

IBBUL Varsity to start Maritime Studies next session

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, has disclosed that academic activities will start at the Institute of Maritime Studies in the institution next session.

The Institute of Maritime Studies is established by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety

Agency (NIMASA) working in with the Niger State government and the university.

The agency has earmarked N1billion for the provision of infrastructure for the take-off of the institute next academic session in Lapai.

Kolo, who disclosed this while receiving a delegation from NI-

ASUU inaugurates new EXCO

MASA on inspection of the project site of the institute at Lapai, stated that the university is prepared to host the maritime institute, having met most of the requirements stipulated by NIMASA, including the provision of 50 hectares of land for infrastructural development of the institute.

According to him, the institute will first start issuance certificate

and diploma courses when it starts next session while necessary steps to start degree programmes would be worked out with the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Prof Perry Jumbo, who led the NIMASA delegation, stated that N1 billion has been marked by the Federal Government for the establishment of the institute in the state, adding that the amount was cap-

tured in this year’s budget.

He explained that the agency has appointed consultants for the project, adding that the they would be mobilised immediately to site on the land made available by the university.

Jumbo, however, hoped the institute, when completed, would contribute to the development of the institution and Lapai.

By Dawodu Olawale

D

R Nasiru Isa Fage of the Bayero University Kano, has been elected the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The body held its 17th National Delegate Conference at the University of Abuja on Monday.

Fag, until his election, was the immediate past Vice-President of the union.

Also elected, were Prof Biodun Ogunyemi of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye as VicePresident.

Others were Dr Victor Osadeke of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Dr Ademola Aremu of the University of Ibadan as Financial Secretary and Treasurer.

Dr Ngozi Iloh of the University of Benin was elected the Union's Welfare Officer, while Dr N. Wurugii of the University of Calabar emerged the union's Legal Adviser.

•A cross section of graduates of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Adamawa, Yola during the institution's graduation, at the university premises.

Ogun secondary school union gives laptops to members

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Ogun State Chapter, has doled out 5,000 pieces of laptops to secondary school teachers.

The initiative was to ease service delivery and enhance effective teaching and learning process.

The President of ASUSS, Mr Tunde Folarin, said payment for the laptops by the beneficiary-teachers would be spread over 12 months, and while the facility would also be replaced with I-pads later at a much reduced price.

Folarin, who spoke at the foundation laying ceremony of ASUSS Secretariat, and the flag-off of ''One teacher one laptop scheme”, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, noted that the scheme followed a collaborative effort between ASUSS and FirstBank Plc. To tackle mass failure by pupils in public exams, the ASUSS's boss assured that electronic tablet with inbuilt subjects, books, past questions and answers of WAEC, NECO and

JAMB would be made available to teachers and pupils in the state.

Folarin added that the body would launch e-products (book) where all subjects taught in schools both in junior and senior categories could be downloaded with the latest curriculum through union's website.

He urged members to remain informed, steadfast and uncompromising to emancipate the body from shackles of oppression and ills plaguing it.

He urged the government to always to partner with ASUSS in its resolve to move the educational sector forward to avoid pitfalls.

In her speech, the Chairman Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ms Olubukunola Onabanjo, noted that education is a potent weapon in the arsenal of any country to pursue its development goals.

Ms Onabanjo said it is in this perspective that the role of teachers is so crucial in the realisation of state and national development objectives.

ACCA confers certificate on business school

A

FOREMOST UnitedKingdom-based accountancy body Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has conferred its partnership award certificate on the Executive Business School (EBS), Lagos.

During the presentation of the award on behalf of ACCA to the school in Ikeja, its Country Manager in Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Ademola, congratulated the EBS, saying the impressive performance of people trained by the institution in ACCA examinations is quite encouraging.

She said it took quality teaching and exposure for any academic

By Akinyemisi Oluwayemisi

institution to win the consent of ACCA for adeal.

She, however, said only three academic institutions in Nigeria and in West Africa including the Executive Business School are licensed by the body to prepare students for its examinations and to conduct same at their centres.

According to the DirectorGeneral/Chief Executive Officer, EBS, Dr Remilekun Bakare, the school set up by accomplished British and Nigerian professionals and academics was established in 2007 to provide quality education and

training to business executives in the country.

"The school offers executive training and academic programmes leading to the award of bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees of various reputable foreign universities to many indigeneous academics and professionals who are trained by the institution.

"Our dedication to quality service could be the reason ACCA had decided to partner with us and we won't relent on this, and I believe this partnership will foster learning and business development in the country," bakare added.

Ife Poly hosts accreditation team

T

HE Polytechnic, Ile-Ife in Osun State has hosted a 10man accreditation team from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), who were in the institution to re-accredit its National Diploma (ND) programme in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

The exercise featured, among others, the inspection of institution’s facilities, the studios, laboratories and workshop, the library, lecture rooms and theatres.

Other areas the group also looked into were the curriculum, staffing, admission policies, all to make sure

• Pro-Chancellor Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State Ago Iwoye, Dr Segun Oshin (fourth from right) after an interactive session with professors of the institution.

that the minimum standard is upheld.

Earlier, in his welcome address at the opening session, the Chairman of the Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, commended the board for its support and encouragement through constructive criticisms in the past, which led to the high academic standard for which the school is known.

He called for continued support and understanding of the officials as partners in progress in their efforts to develop the education sector.

In his response on behalf of the other members, the leader of the re-accreditation team, Mr I.B. Anwanane, said the reaccreditation was not for witchhunting or fault-finding, but rather to encourage the various institutions by setting achievable standards.

He noted that since the government alone cannot bear the burden of tertiary education, there is a need to encourage private individuals and bodies with genuine love for education.

The team which was divided into two had Mr. F.O. Obodoeze leading the institutional re-accreditation team while A.D . Ademiju, an engineer, headed the team for the accreditation of the ND programme in Electrical/ Electronics Engineering.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

EDUCATION The Ninth Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijaninkin, Lagos Mr Olalekan Wasiu Bashorun, says the dream of the state government, owners of the institution, is being realised, with the ongoing beautification and construction projects.

ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, who met him, reports

A

NYBODY who has visited the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/ Ijaninkin, Lagos in the last nine months or one year needs to do a revisit.

The premises of the 53-year-old institution is wearing a new look courtesy of its owner the Lagos State government. Multi-million naira buildings are springing up in the institution in fulfilment of the state Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola's promise to commit funds, and speed up facilities in the college as well as in other tertiary institutions owned by the state.

From the main entrance, a visitor beholds a barricaded portion adjacent to the Provost Office.

Within this area, is a scenery revealing frenzied activities by workmen, who are working hard to complete a three-storey.

"It is the new multi-dimensional administrative block given to us by the Lagos State government. The first phase is being developed," said Odunayo Adebowale the college’s Public Relations Officer.

The School of Vocational and Technical Education annex is a twostorey project that is almost completed. It is being by TetFund.

A short walk after the AOCOED International School in the college’s premises is the Medical Centre, which Odunayo also said would not only serve the academic community, but also the Otto/ Ijanikin neighbourhood when in operational. In addition, a magnificient ICT Centre sits beside the college’s School of Languages.

A new project- a two-storey School of Arts and Social Science has just been approved for the institution by TetFund. It it’s 2009/ 2010 intervention project.

A new college is emerging.

Strategic portions have been earmarked for beautification.

Trees lining the paths are a regular feature; so also are well-manicured lawns and paved roads, among others, to further boost its aesthetics.

On the driver’s seat to realise government's vision for the foremost institution is the Provost Olalekan Wasiu Bashorun. He is a man who walks his talk. He left no one in doubt about his passion for the job he took over 10 months ago.

The graduate of the Virginia University Petersburg, United States, would rather give kudos to his predecessors for leaving a legacy that makes his vision, though daunting, achievable.

With the government's assistance, Bashorun is confident that the motion for moving the college up to be at par with other world-class colleges of education is already in full throttle.

"On assumption of office in August 2011," Bashorun recalled," I proffered a seven-point agenda codenamed Goals for repositioning the college. This document has become the compass that would guide through the four-year tenure and would chart the way for future engagements. It may be too hasty

•The ongoing construction of the administrative block

• Newly completed Health Centre and AOCOED Entrance Gate. Inset: Mr Bashorun

Why we are repositioning by AOCOED to divulge these but suffices to say the college is being reinvigorated, reorganised, mobilised and encouraged to face the challenge of the future."

"In fact, the recent accreditation team from the NCCE overwhelmed by the facilities on ground, described AOCOED as a model institution in the country. This is not an exaggeration. It merely states the obvious," said Bashorun told The Nation.

True, the infrastructural input for the rebranding is worth all the efforts because the foremost teaching institution in Lagos State has braved the odds since its establishment at the Okesuna area of Lagos Island in 1956.

It had kicked off as a grade two teacher’s college, with a pioneer principal, Mr S. A. Dawodu, seven academic and two non-teaching staff who manned the first set of 90 students. In 1973, the institution later transmuted into the Advanced Teachers College, when it again, it

was moved to Surulere owing to a surge in its students population.

Same year too, it started the award of National Certificates of Education (NCE) in affiliation with the University of Lagos until it finally berthed at its present location in 1982, and was made to bear its name in honour of the first commissioner of education in the state.

Aside the facilities, Bashorun noted that the college also prides itself in its level of corroboration and exchange programmes with local and international bodies, such as the Ekiti State University, Ekiti State; University of Ghana, Winnebar; Havering College, UK; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria; Applied Scholastics (APS), USA; Edith Cowan University, Western Australia and University of Georgia, Anthen, US, among others.

With over 25 years administrative experience, nothing seems alien to Bashorun in his onerous task. He said he gives little

attention to managerial style, but emphasises delivery.

"I am in a position to talk about style," Basorun said, adding: "All I know is that, as an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of management (NIM), I am well exposed to the dictates and nuances of management and administration.

The best manager is not with the monopoly of knowledge or wisdom, but the one who uses the instrument of delegation, adjudication and teamwork.

"A good manager is proactive, a good team leader and not an autocrat. He set everyone at ease, promotes an atmosphere of peace.

I am just at the lead of a good team playing as at its best here."

He said the institution, which operates an open door policy, is extending its hands to other corporate organisations and wellmeaning individuals, noting that any money or project donated would be well accounted for or judiciously used.

The daunting, yet easily surmountable problem, is to reposition the college to place it topmost among the world's colleges of education. This task is the basis of my six-point agenda on assumption of office. I wish you would peruse the agenda to see what we are up against in this college

"The college has just concluded arrangement to build a 100-bed hostel. It is a public-private partnership arrangement.

“There are other areas where individuals and organisations could make education more accessible and the environment more conducive for learning. We operate an open door policy in this and other areas. We do not rest on the fact that we are a model. We want to continue to be relevant and to remain at the top.

"In ICT, we are abreast of all developments. Last year, we opened our e-library. I'm sure you know what this signifies. We are on the Internet with our website, and we have computerised our operations. All you need is a code for accessing this facility. Students can register, check results, submit assignments online and what have you.

"The daunting, yet easily surmountable problem, is to reposition the college to place it topmost among the world's colleges of education. This task is the basis of my six-point agenda on assumption of office. I wish you would peruse the agenda to see what we are up against in this college. By the time I finish my term, all will be in a position to say that Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun was here."

29

To the service of humanity

UNILORIN embraces e-voting

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

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THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Killed on rescue mission He was attracted by a female colleague’s cry for help. When Emmanuel Uduak, 400-level student of Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, rushed down to the hostel to help, he was shot dead by invading robbers. FAITH OLANIRAN and FOLAJIMI ORINTUNSIN (200-level Estate Management) report.

H

E wanted to help a fellow student in distress. But he was killed in the process . When Emmanuel Uduak, a 400level Mechanical Engineering student of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger State, heard cries for help from the student, he rushed down to the hostel to see what he could do. He was, however, shot dead by suspected robbers. The robbers had invaded Campton Hostel on Zarumai Road along Bosso, Minna.

The hostel was virtually deserted because many students had travelled after finishing their first semester examination. Only few students were around including those in 400level, who are to start their six months industrial training (IT).

They were waiting behind to complete the necessary documents and get their IT letters.

There were also others who chose to hang around for the resumption of the next semester. This is an age-long practice, especially among those who live in distant places.

But things went awry when robbers invaded campton Hostel, killing Uduak.

There are more than 30 rooms in the hostel which accommodates a large number of students. The hostel is popular not only for its serenity, but also because it is situated near the Niger State Government Reserved Area

•FUT Minna gate: Inset is the front view of Campton Hostel

(GRA).

On May 12, some hoodlums suspected to be robbers stormed the hostel around 3am to rob a female student. As the attackers were closing in on their victim, she shouted for help, and Uduak reportedly rushed to her aid.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the student was trailed from the campus. The hoodlums forced their way into her room by breaking the door.

When Uduak tried to strip the hoodlums, they shot him several times and fled. He died instantly. He was billed to begin his six-month

IT, but was held up by personal engagements.

He hailed from Akwa Ibom State. Other students described him as peace-loving and friendly.

A student, who resides in the hostel, told CAMPUSLIFE: “The girl noticed a flash of light and some footsteps coming towards the direction of her room, so she called one or two people on her cell phone for help but to no avail. She immediately called Emmanuel’s phone and he picked up. He left to save the girl but was killed by the robbers.”

At the time of filing this report, the hostel, which used to be bubblings, has been deserted. The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Richard Oguche, said the police had begun investigation into the matter. The victim and a student are being detained by the police, pending the conclusion of investigation.

“We have launched a manhunt for the fleeing robbers and we are working hard towards arresting them,” Oguche said. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Uduak’s remains were interred on May 18 in Abuja.

Five banks yet to reopen after OOU robbery •P30•VC hosts campus journalists- P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE CONDOLENCES ON MRS NGOZI AGBO’S DEATH Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu: When I was first informed about the sudden death of Ngozi Agbo, I was instantly overwhelmed with sadness. Her untimely death at child birth is most painful and wrends the heart. Her sudden departure at the young age of 36 makes her death more shocking. But alas, we must accept what we cannot change.

In this period of mourning and irreparable loss of Mrs Agbo, I can only pray that God will grant her family the fortitude and the strength to bear this loss.

Many young students and readers of the Campus Life section of The Nation newspapers will remember fondly Ngozi’s excellent, though budding journalism skills •Abdulkarim Mohammed, Law graduate, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) If there was ever a death that got me really devastated, it was your death, Aunty Ngozi. You were a comforter, a role model by every standard and one of the most resourceful human beings I have ever met. We spoke on the phone when I wrote on the death of Lawi Chibege, a colleague in Law school who died in a pool. You promised to get back to me, but that promise, you could not fulfill. Ngozi, even heavens was so jealous of your beauty, brilliance and level-headedness.

It snatched you away from us, albeit quite callously. Well, I and the other leaders you have inspired within the period you fruitfully lived will make a solemn commitment to keep the light aglow and continue the struggle for the restoration of the dignity of students worldwide. Adieu, mentor!

that reflected in those pages.

It was a delight to read week inweek out the diverse interesting stories about our youths and the challenges of Campuslife. Under her guidance, CampusLife section of the paper developed into an authoritative voice on youth life on campus.

In all, we must give thanks to God for her life and be consoled in the thought that she lived doing what she loved most before she went to be with the Lord. I pray the God will watch over the child she left behind, strengthen you and console her entire family.

Once again, on behalf of my wife and family, please accept our most sincere sympathy and may God grant her soul repose. Amen.

From Senator Oluremi Tinubu Please accept my heartfelt condolence over the loss of your staff, Mrs Ngozi Agbo She once invited me to a programme organised by CampusLife for young readers and contributions and I was very impressed with her remarkable commitment to her work. I knew immediately that she and I share a passion for the development of younger people.

There is no doubt that her employers and the multitude of young people who read or contribute to her CampusLife page in “The Nation” newspaper will surely miss her too.

I pray for God’s enduring grace to abide her family and the son she left behind; may He strengthen the family to bear this irreparable loss.

From Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) The Board and Management of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Mrs Ngozi Agbo, the Coordinator of CampusLife.

The management had the singular honour of knowing and working with Mrs Agbo over the years on the ‘Campuslife’ Student Writers Workshops and awards. Her passion for the project and indeed the students was palpable. Ngozi was a kind, genuine and hardworking woman.

She was a passionate journalist committed to recognizing and grooming exceptional and talented student journalists.

More tributes from students •Emmanuel Amolo, Reporter with Guardian While we joked she was going to give us twins, God had other plans...Still in shock! Someone please wake her up!

•Tunmise Oladipo, English graduate, UNILORIN Oh death, where is thy sting?

Oh grave, where is they power?

To believe you are truly gone and rest in the bossom of our Lord Jesus Christ still looks like a dream to me. Well, Almighty knows best. Adieu my mentor.

Sleep well till we meet to part no more.

•Gilbert Alasa, 300-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin (UNIBEN) So many tears...Anty NG, I still

find it pretty hard to say goodbye! life a walking shadow, its rhythm is for the sad man...U remain my hero! Anty NG, I will wait somwhere beneath the stars till the clouds spell out ur name, Ur journey was modest and strong...gunite!

•Tosin Ajuwon, HND II Mass Communication, The Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (AUCHIPOLY) Aunty Ngozi is one of the pillars that braved my heart in journalism. She gave me courage, strengthen me and always there to protect me to the last. She was more than my Editor; she was my mother and motivator. She saw the vision in me and helped in polishing my skill.

But death snatched her and she never waited to see me conquering the world.

•Emeka Attah, graduate, Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) I don’t know how to describe the passage of an excellent woman with a good heart. Every language I understand has failed to situate the death of Aunty Ngozi Agbo. I stared into the space thinking she would appear and tell me it is a lie that she didn’t die. How can I fill the vacuum created by the demise of this caring sister? Tell it not on the street of Awka in Anambra State or in Idoma land in Benue State or along Fatai Atere way, office of The Nation, Ngozi did not die lest the evil one rejoice.

She touched my life positively. Laugh not oh death because you will also die.

•Uche Anichebe, 400-Level Law, UNIZIK Aunty, you were a woman of strong and inimitable personality. You were an invaluable pearl to the mankind. A

•The late Ngozi

Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, newborn son, your entire organisation and all the student writers at this time and we pray the Almighty grants us all the fortitude to bear this great loss.

Once again, please accept our condolences. woman for all seasons. Your death provoked questions as to why God chose to deprive mankind of your caring heart.

Aunty, never should you think that I am the first person you freely gave a life. For several years, you invested your time, giving life to the dreams of young people across tribes and religions.

Aunty, you were my Editor, my friend and my mentor.

•Taiwo Isola, student of Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) The cruel hands of death have snatched our mother and mentor, Aunty Ngozi. I never knew I could write until I met you. I never believed I could meet you until I started writing. You gave me a big picture of my dream against the little one I was struggling to have.

You opened my eyes to the opportunity around me. Aunty, the seed you planted in my heart will definitely grow into big giant oak.

Aunty, your dream will never die.

Good night.

Engineering students plan faculty rebranding

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HE Nigerian University Engineering Association, CRUTECH chapter has mapped out plans to make the association acceptable to all.

The President of the association, Comrade Araga Paul made this known while speaking with CAMPUSLIFE at the calabar campus of the Cross River University of Technology, Calabar.

He said the association is working hard to create a communication link between the students and the management of the university in order to encourage understanding that will enhance the welfare of the students of the faculty and the university at large Comrade Paul said the leadership of the association plans to achieve a good image for the faculty through the provision of incentives; such as students’ Identity Card for easy identification of members, registration of about 200 students with the Nigerian Society of Engineers, excursion for the students, training workshop, the Engineering students’ week and the setting up of football competition between departments in the faculty

From Victor Gbonegun CRUTECH

among others.

He said, it is the belief of the association that the planned projects will enhance the academic life of the students adding that students, should be serious with their education which cut across academics and extra-curricular activities.

He thanked the management of the institution for ensuring the accreditation of the faculty of Engineering by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and professional bodies, such as; the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other efforts of the management in improving the faculty.

In their separate contributions, members of the executive pleaded with the management to help the faculty through the provision of electronic projectors to aid learning, procurement of a faculty bus as well as solicited for management support in organizing the Engineering Students’ Week and exhibition day.

Five banks yet to reopen after OOU robbery

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IVE of the 11 banks on the main campus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, have yet to open for business. The banks have also yet to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) with cash.

Their non-opening has become a source of worry to students and visitors to the university. Students now travel to Ijebu-Ode, Ibadan and Lagos to pay school fees, dues and do other

From Omolaja Longe OOU

personal transactions.

Banking in Ago-Iwoye and IjebuIgbo, are also not opened for fear of robbery. The Ijebu-North Local Government Area has, lately, come under robbers’ siege. The students called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun to provide adequate security and prevail on the banks’ managements to resume operation.

•Some of the campus journalists during the candle light procession

Candle light for Aunty Ngozi at OAU

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AMPUS journalists in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) came together last Saturday to, Ile-Ife, Osun State, honour the late CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Mrs Ngozi Agbo. Led by the president of Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), Samuel Adegbola, the procession started at Anglo-moz car park, where one minute silence held for the late Mrs Agbo.

In his tribute, Samuel said: “Aunty Ngozi created a platform for all campus journalists at the national level.” He said the vacuum created by Mrs Agbo’s death would be difficult to fill.

From Oluwafemi Ogunjobi and Willberforce Arevore OAU

Opeyemi Sonuga, a CAMPUSLIFE reporter, said: “God never called for someone when He is not expecting the person. Looking at the circumstances surrounding Aunty Ngozi’s death, we must still thank God that she died a Christian. To me, Aunty is not dead because the legacy she left behind will outlive all of us.”

Kemi Busari, another CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, said: “Though, I started writing

for her lately but she came across as a good person because everyone has one positive word to say of her.” Sikiru Akinola, 200Level political science and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, said: “Aunty Ngozi was very dear to us; her demise is greatly felt by all of us in the family. I pray that Almighty God gives her family the strength to nurture the baby she left behind.”

The students, who held lit candles, moved from Anglo-moz car park to the Alumni Hall of Residence, to Moremi Hall and House before heading to the Students’ Union Building.

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CAMPUS LIFE

UNILORIN embraces e-voting HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) election of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was held last Thursday. Students turned out to vote for their preferred leaders in the polls generally adjudged to be free and fair.

However, there was a change in the tradition of the union election – the old method of ballot was discarded. The new SUG leaders were elected through the e-voting process. The Independent Students’ Electoral Commission (ISEC), headed by Ashim Togunde, 400Level Physiology, was constituted less than three weeks before the day of election.

This heightened fear that the election may be riddled with irregularities. But Ashim and other members of ISEC allayed the fears of the aspirants and their supporters, saying the conduct of the election would not be lopsided to favour any candidate.

As soon as the ban on political campaign was lifted on May 11, candidates aspiring for various position in the SUG rolled out the drums and mobilised their supporters to canvass for students’ votes. The campaign took a dramatic turn when recharge cards started flying on the campus.

T

•SUG President Abdulmalik

•Students during the voting

“What do you expect from the people sending airtime to students in order to vote for them?” a Computer Science student, who pleaded anonymity, queried.

A week before the election, screening of the aspirants was conducted by the members of the electoral commission. Four candidates jostled for the post of the president but by the time the screening process was completed, two candidatesJamiu Abdulqudus of faculty of Education and Abiodun Olutekunbi of faculty of Law were disqualified.

They could not meet the election requirements.

After the screening exercise, 32 candidates were cleared to partici-

pate in the election to fill the vacant 11 posts in the executive arm of the SUG. Three candidates were disqualified.

To test the popularity of the remaining presidential candidates, a debate was organised by ISEC in conjunction with Jogbojogbo group, a pressure group on campus. Abdulmalik Aremu, a student of faculty of Science and Quadri Abayomi, a student of faculty of Business and Social Science, contested for the presidency. Students turned out en mass to listen to the programmes of the contenders.

On the election day, the voting process was decentralised. All the 12 faculties had their individual polling units. Security operatives

were on ground to maintain law and order in each faculty. However, students who left their hostels to vote in the exercise were disappointed when the voting did not commence by 12noon. It began a few minutes past 12.

At the end of the election, Abdulmalik defeated his opponent to clinch the presidential position.

He polled 1,865 votes to trounce Quadri, who garnered 1,357 votes.

Others that won included Wakiyat Abiola, Vice President, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, General Secretary, Adedeji Ogunwusi, Assistant General Secretary, Titilope Akogun, Public Relation Officer (PRO) I, Muibat Adegbite, PRO II, Ibrahim Adeboyegba, Fi-

nancial Secretary, Akinwale Olapetun, Welfare Director, Muftau Oloyede, Sport Director and Kehinde Abiola, Social Director.

After he was returned as the elected president, Abdulmalik congratulated his opponent saying: “There is no victor, no vanquished.”

He said his administration will build on the success recorded by the previous leaders. Kehinde, who thanked his supporters for his victory, said: “I have identified what UNILORIN students wanted in terms of social life in the school. I will introduce programmes that will promote our identity as UNILORIN students.”

Abdulrahman promised to do his best.

Students undergoing their Language Immersion Programme at the Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry are going through harrowing experiences. They shared their frustration with GILBERT ALASA (300-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin).

Hard life at French Village

•Princess hostel in the French Village

•The Administrative block

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UNMI Ajao is a 300-Level student of the University of Ibadan (UI) undergoing her compulsory Language Immersion Programme (LIP) at the Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos. She cuts a picture of an unhappy student because of the way things are in the village. In the past few weeks, she has been subjected to harsh living conditions in the 20-year-old inter-university language centre.

Like Bunmi, many students are disenchanted with happenings in the institution. While some have taken solace in social network sites as a medium to express their frustrations, others have resigned

to fate. “I take solace in the understanding that I have just two months to complete my programme. As such, my spell with this hell of a place would soon be a thing of the past, ” Bunmi told CAMPUSLIFE. In March 2009, students undergoing their LIP in the school for Diploma and Module, protested, asking for better living conditions. A similar thing almost repeated itself recently as female residents chanted solidarity songs on the campus. But the president of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Kelvin Torsabo,intervened, calmed the angry students.

For a female student of the University of Lagos, who preferred anonymity, the management of the institution has done nothing to improve on the situation on ground. She said: “Instead of comfort, we get pain and unfair treatment. I have to come down every day from my room (pointing at a three-storey female hostel located in the school) just to get water. Sometimes the water doesn’t run and one has to wait till thy kingdom come. Sincerely, it disrupts my daily programme because it makes one a perpetual late-comer to classes.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that de-

spite the non-violent protest by female students on May 22, the management has kept mum over the issue. In an interview, Kelvin said: “Personally, I am not happy with the development. The students had officially intimated me.

As a link between students and management, we are doing our best to address the situation in the shortest possible time.”

There is also a complaint that students get poor medical attention in the medical centre of the institution. CAMPUSLIFE learnt there have been complaints about the quality of service rendered on different occasions. Emeka

Monyei, a student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), said: “When I visited the clinic after observing some pain last Friday (two weeks ago), the doctor I met told me to come the next day before I can be given the appropriate pills. The next day, I went back to the clinic only to be told the doctor was not on duty. The nurses on duty refused to give me medications. I had to borrow money from a friend to buy drugs outside the school. It is strange and I hope something is done as soon as possible.”

•Continued on page 36

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

How to foster good governance

H •Prof Mimiko with the visiting campus journalists

VC urges students to be peaceful

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HE Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof Femi Mimiko, hosted members of the institution chapter of Nigerian Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) in his office.

The journalists, led by the university’s Public Relation Officer (PRO), Mr Sola Imoru, said the purpose of the visit was to identify with Mimiko, who they said, had turned the institution’s fortunes around since he assumed office. ‘We recognise the giant strides the ViceChancellor has taken since the inception of his administration of this noble institution,” Michael Oluwaniyi, one of the students said.

Mimiko thanked the students for the visit, urging them to embrace peace

From Imoleayo Oyedeji AAUA

and sustain the university’s stable academic calendar. “You must make a deliberate effort to position the university appropriately and create a culture of unbroken calendar. This university has made a statement in this area. I want you to jealously guard and sustain this feat,” he said.

While explaining how far his administration has gone in restructuring the institution, especially in the area of infrastructures Prof Mimiko said he had put in place giant structures while other ones were being built. He used the opportunity to assure the students that the management would complete the faculty of Science building.

On how to decongest the university library, the VC said e-library was the solution to the problem. “We are already building a facility that will help us to put in place 500 workstations that will be essentially dedicated to the elibrary,” he said.

While expressing appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the union, Babatunde Alao, the Editor of Echo newspaper, a campus publication, thanked Prof Mimiko for giving them the opportunity to quiz him on his stewardship. He also praised the university PRO for the “warm reception” he gave the students at his office.

Babatunde reassured the VC of the union’s resolve to cooperate with the management towards developing the institution.

OW can the nation enthrone good governance? It is through objective reporting, upholding the rule of law and accountability, says Hon. Abdulhakeem Abdulateef, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has said.

Speaking at the at the annual symposium organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigerian (MSSN), Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) chapter, Abdullateef, who was the guest speaker alongside the producer of Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, Suleiman Aledeh, said until Nigeria organises a transparent electoral process, there won’t be accountability in governance.

The aim of the symposium, according to the organisers, was to enlighten students and communication professionals on how to provide solutions to the challenges of the country through objective reporting.

AbduIlateef, who is also a former Adviser to Lagos State governor, Mr. Fashola, on Legislative Matters, said: “The Constitution is not totally the problem of this country, but the

From Morenikeji Odulana NIJ

implementation of the provision of the constitution by the leaders. Those who represent us are not sincere and as electorate, we are not also helping matters. We need men and women of impeccable character to re-invent our nation and bring accountability to governance.” He also called for religious tolerance among Nigerians, saying that no religion is recognised by the statute book of Nigeria.

Aledeh charged media practitioners to create a peaceful atmosphere in the country. Speaking on how journalism can engender development, the Channel reporter said the media, as the fourth estate of the realm, has constitutional responsibility to promote ethics and morals in the country.

He said: “The mass media is meant to enhance and promote positive development in the society and not to dehumanise the citizenry.” He urged journalists not to keep mute on issues that affect the general public as this may portend danger for the nation.

‘We train our students to be professionals’

T

HE 300L students of Mass Communication and Library & Information Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have organised hypothetical Public Relations progammes. The course MAC 312 ‘’Public Relations Techniques’’ is a practical course in Department of Mass Communication.

The students were divided into two groups and each group was expected to implement a planned action meant to solve a hypothetical problem using a named company as case study. They are expected to employ a public relations strategy in solving the problem.

The first group goes by the name ‘’Genesiz public relations agency’’, the second group is ‘’Maclis Media Consultancy.”

Maclis Media Consultancy in collaboration with 7up Bottling Company organised a health seminar to sensitise students on diabetes. The theme of the seminar was: Diabetes: causes and preventive measures’, and the guest speaker was Dr. A.B Odunola from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

The guest speaker took the audience through the causes, symptoms and preventive measures of diabetes mellitus.

According to him, diabetes could be contracted through hereditary. ‘’This is possible when a member of a family is dia-

From Hameed Muritala UNILORIN

betic and if care is not taken, other members of the family may contract the disease.

Other causes of diabetes as noted by Dr. Odunola include obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and hypertension. He said a large intake of sugar content does not cause diabetes, but it can lead to obesity.

He listed symptoms of diabetes as poly urea (urinating excessively), excessive eating or feeling hunger much of the time and weight loss among others. Preventive measures that can be taken include diet modification and regular exercises. He also advised people to stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

When asked if diabetes can be cured permanently, Dr. Odurola replied that it can’t be cured permanently, but can only be controlled.

The second group, Genesiz Public Relation later that same day organised a press luncheon to promote and project the image of Tujil Pharmaceutical Industries, a local pharmaceutical company that has made a mark in Nigeria. The company is engaged in the production of syrup, tablets, water among which

are cenpain, tutolin cough syrup, karaole, momomin plus, food supplement.

The hypothetical problem which the Public Relations agency tend to solve is that the corporate name of the company (Tuyil Pharmaceutical) and that of its products has been damaged. The Research head of Genesiz Public relations, Mr. Gbenga Onalaja said: ‘’In solving this problem, we will employ the RACE strategy. We will start off with research after which we will plunge into action, and later into communication and evaluation. ‘’We will also organise a road show within the school environment whereby there will be colourful demonstration of Tuyil Pharmaceutical products accompanied with promotional talks about the industry’’, he added.

Speaking at the event, the HOD of Mass Communication, Dr. L.A Azeez expressed satisfaction and happiness with what the students have organised.

He confessed that although the press luncheon was a simulation, but it seemed real.

Dr. Azeez also praised the level of confidence displayed by the students. ‘’We are training our students to be professionals anywhere they find themselves after graduation,’’ he concluded.

• Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife sampling Nescafe hot air balloon campaign

•Dr Olorunleke presenting a certificate to Miss Fresher

Dept welcomes freshers

N

ATIONAL Association of Business Administration and Management Students (NABAMS), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has welcomed freshers for the 2011/2012 session during an orientation held last week.

The programme was held at the Students’ Union hall in the university.

Welcoming the freshers, the NABAMS president, Gregory Ojefua, challenged them to focus on their primary assignment and do away with anything that will cost them their studentship. He assured the students that members of the NABAMS executive would be supportive whenever they needed help.

A lecturer in the department, Mr Olumide Ayeniyo, spoke on the topic The need for focus. He told the new students that they could only achieve success in their course of study in the university if only they have focus.

In his speech, the Head of Department (HOD), Dr Kolawole

From Dayo Ojerinde AAUA

Olorunleke, advised the new students to face their studies as well as moderate their participation in extracurricular activities. He warned them against any act of indiscipline and anti-social vices that may affect their academics negatively.

One of the side attractions of the programme was the “Mr and Miss Freshers’ competition”. Damola Adefiranye emerged “Mr Fresher”, while Motunrayo Bello was chosen as “Miss Fresher”.

The orientation programme also served as an avenue for fund-raising towards the purchase of a complete computer set for the department as well as the ‘bulk sms project’.

Dignitaries present at the orientation included the former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusegun Ota-Bolarinwa, lecturers of the department who included Mr Olufemi Aju, Mr Kunle Jayeola and Mr Olumide Ayeniyo among others.

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CAMPUS LIFE

NANS gets leaders

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FTER weeks of postponement, the election to fill the vacant offices of Southwest (Zone D) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), took place last week at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, (MAPOLY), Abeokuta. The election commenced with the accreditation of senators, who were Students’ Union presidents of institutions in the zone.

Monsuru Adeyemo, a student of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo was elected as NANS Co-ordinator in the zone.

Others elected include Adeola Ayantuga, Lagos State University •Members of the executive in a group photograph

Union outlines its programmes

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RESIDENT of Mass Communication Association (MCA) University of Nigeria, Nsukka chapter Mr Ocheje Ernest, had, last week Thursday, announced the launching of an endowment fund that will solve the problems of inadequate reading materials and unhealthy facilities confronting students of the department.

Ernest stated this while addressing students of the department on ‘‘we know the source of our problems in Nigeria, what do we do to overcome this unhealthy challenge?’’ He urged the students to see themselves as a mirror to the society and charged them to deviate from the act of egoism and be united as one family.

He said the new uniform introduced by his administration was a

From Dele Oge UNN

way of uniting the students on campus, particularly on Monday. Mr Ocheje described the new policy as refurbishing he the department as part of what he promised during his election campaign in the department.

He said the union executive has moved in its plans to refurbish all classrooms with new equipment, such as a white board for lectures, providing air conditioners and public address systems.

Mr Ocheje decried the littering of the classrooms as an immoral attitude for undergraduates and called for keeping the environs healthy at all times. He also called for support from the students of the department.

While speaking on continuity of the work, he urged the final year students to follow the foundation on ground in a bid to change the old face of the department.

Commending the efforts of his administration styles, Mrs Ogbu Rebecca of third year class said she has not experienced such change since her three years in the university.

Another commendation from linguistics and other Nigeria Languages department, Mr. J.O Babarinde a lecturer described him as God sent to department.

“For him to have initiated his fellow students to change their mode of dressing twice in a week’’, he described the step as agreat achievement for the department not for the student alone.

•The music students during the performance

Students complete exams with performance

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HEATRE Arts and Music Students Association of the Lagos State University (LASU) has organised a performance workshop for students of the department. This was coming at a time the institution finished its semester exams. The programme was held on Thursday May 24.

Declaring the event open, the head of department, Prof A.O. Vidal, reminded the students that the workshop was not just a musical performance but said it was an exam in another way to ensure the

A

S the students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NUJ), Ogba, Lagos resumed for the second semester, a senior lecturer, Mr Jide Johnson, has advised them to always plan ahead instead of rushing at the last minute during examinations.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Johnson, who is also the Head of Mass Communication department, said: “Some students will engage in various frivolities in

From Oyinkansola Sadiq-Mabeko LASU

students grab the theory they were taught in the classroom.

For those wondering how the performances were going to be judged, Prof Vidal said: “This project would be examined by a panel of examiners and marks will be awarded accordingly. The performances were grouped into two: the first group performed jazz, blues, western chorus, R&B, reggae and traditional music. While the

second group performed African chorus, Hip-hop, high life, Afrobeat, Fuji, Apala and Juju genres.

Tuebi Abidde, a student and radio presenter, said the workshop would bring out creativity in the students. “The university should encourage us by providing them with a better auditorium and equipment,” he added. Lecturers present at the event included Dr A. Akinola, Mrs Yomi Bello and Dr Isaac Ajenifuja amongst others.

‘Be time conscious’ From Morenikeji Odulana NIJ

the early part of the semester until the 11th hour when they will want to read all the catalogue of books, handouts and do all the assignments in two weeks, this will result to overloading of the brain.”

He likened the human brain to

the computer memory, saying the brain has a period for storage, processing and another time for retrieval, adding that if a large amount of information is stored in a computer, there is possibility that it would crash.

He advised the students not to use the beginning of the semester to play.

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

(Deputy Coordinator); Adebayo Oketola, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (General Secretary); Taiwo Bamigbade, Federal University of Technology, Akure (Public Relations Officer); Samuel Awowole, Osun State College of Education, Ilesha (Treasurer) and Sodiq Badmus, MAPOLY (Welfare Director).

Monsuru expressed gratitude to his colleagues who voted for him, saying the association would continue to stand up against any oppressive policy of government.

Faculty inaugurates exco

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HE Management Sciences Students Association (MSSA), University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter has elected and inaugurated a new set of executive members that will pilot its affairs for another academic session. The election produced Bassey Atumba as the president.

Others elected include Eberechukwu Mbaukwu, (Vice President); Kingsley Johnson, (Secretary General); Ncha Nyong, (Deputy Secretary General); Victor Dickson, (Treasurer); Smart Ikpi (Director of Social); Akpan Okon, (Director of

From Stanley Uchegbu UNICAL

Information); Solomon Uduak, (Director of Welfare), Uno Ethothi, (Director of Sports) and Chuks Ugbajah, (Director of Protocol).

Bassey, in his acceptance speech, thanked the students but condemned the controversy that trailed the previous regime of the association. He pledged to bring unity among departments in the faculty, saying he would create cordial relationship between students and the management.

Students display skill at exhibition

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HE National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has held an exhibition contest for its 400Level students. The competition, the first of its kind, was tagged “CSC Exhibition Competition 2012”. The programme took place in the Geology auditorium.

Present at the event were Prof J. S. Sadiku, the Head of Department, Dr. A. Babatunde, the subDean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Science and lecturers, who included Dr P. B. Shola.

The students were divided into six groups which included Web Development, Computer Engineering, Database, Software Engineering, Networking, Graphics and Animation. They were to explain the latest development in the field. The panel of judges was headed by Dr Shola.

The web development group developed an e-library for the university. The project was developed to assist students within the institution to access books easily by just logging in with their matriculation numbers. Students could also download and recommend books on the site.

The Computer Engineering group was next. The students in the group repaired a malfunctioning computer system. They also answered questions from students about faults observed in their laptops.

The Software Engineering group developed a time-tabling

From Michael Adebayo UNILORIN

genetic algorithm software. The software developed an efficient method of allocating time space and available classrooms for all courses and lecturers in the department. It also tested how possible a lecturer could change his lecture time and venue for convenience.

The Database group developed a database for storing final year students’ project report using Oracle 11G. The Network group configured a router using Telnet. The Graphics and Animation group created a logo for the department and displayed a five-minute animation film for the participants.

Prof Sadiku said the generation of graduating students had shown that they were up to the task of creating jobs for themselves. He praised the students for thinking outside the classroom and developing themselves.

Dr Shola assessed the exhibitions using parameters which included algorithm, programming, user-interface, specifications and presentation. At the end, the Software Engineering group came first, followed by the Networking group and Graphics and Animation.

The President of NACOSS, Abbas Adetunji, said the event was organised to challenge students to develop themselves in the practical world rather than just passing examination.

34

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE Out of their busy schedule, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have created time for service to humanity. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI reports that over 114 of them donated blood during a programme organised by the Redeemed Christian Fellowship.

•Student doctors attending to their colleagues during the exercise

•Students donating blood to the cause

“A

NYTHING done by anybody to save a fellow human being from any dangerous situation shall be rewarded by God and such humanitarian undertaking will speak after the benefactor.”

These were the words of Paul Alade, a 500-Level medical student and the head of the editorial arm (Pearls of Grace) of Redeemed Christian Fellowship, during a two-day humanitarian programme organised by the fellowship penultimate week.

The programme, which was tagged Medifair 2012 and held at the White House basement of the faculty of Science, witnessed a massive turnout of students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who were freely treated for

To the service of humanity various minor ailments.

The first day of the programme was slated for free dental check up and eye care service while the following day, free blood donation, health counselLing and free checkup on blood pressure, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were carried out.

Paul told CAMPUSLIFE that “the inspiration behind the humanitarian programme is not for a routine check but basically to touch and affect lives of our fellow students who are suffering from one ailment or the other.”

Also speaking on the programme, the head of the eye

care unit, Mosun Akintomide, a student from the Ophthalmology department in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), said: “The free medical checkup programme is really worth doing and targeted at students who are careless about sensitive parts of their bodies to prevent loss or untimely death.”

She said the fellowship included free eye care service into the programme to educate the students more on blindness-causing disease, lacunae, that always affects the optical nerves of human eyes. She advised students to go for regular eye check up to tackle sight defects.

The blood donation exercise, which started around 10am on Friday May 25, recorded high number of students, who voluntarily came out to freely give out pints of blood to the needy. Sharing his experience with CAMPUSLIFE after he donated blood, Olurotimi Oyebode, 300-Level Law, said: “It makes no difference after the exercise but one will feel the emptiness that something is going out of his body, but donating blood is like giving a life to somebody dying.”

Taiwo Ojajuni, the Vice-President of the fellowship said: “I see blood donation as an avenue to reach out and bless lives of others, because

you might have the money to buy the blood but not the type a sick person needs.” He urged the students to always reach out to the needy in the society through such exercise.

Mrs B. Bolarinwa, an official of the Haematology Unit of OAUTH, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said: “The pints of blood taken from the donor will be made available for victims of road accidents, sick people in hospital wards, pregnant women and infants undergoing blood transfusion. The blood would not just be given out but we will ensure they are screened and free of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis and Hepatitis B Virus (HCV).” About 115 students had donated blood by the time the exercise was concluded.

They say trend comes and goes. Some are sore to the eyes while others attract attention. This scenario captures the phenomenon of colour blocking, the newest fashion fad on campus. HANNAH OJO (400-Level English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) writes about the newest trend in fashion.

Colour squash: Crazytivity or “A creativity?

year ago during the summer fashion week in Paris, a young designer who worked as the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) created some pieces for their models to go on the runway. This raised a lot of eye-brow. How could this be this; the colours don’t match. Is this is a fashion? No!” This was the thought in the mind of a seasoned fashionista.

The crème de la cream of the fashion industry denounced the new development in the industry as the height of blasphemy. Unknown to majority of them, the person who will decide the fate of this faus pas was already tweeting from her front row seat: “this is the new face of fashion; colour blocking (an assemblage of two primary and secondary colours of fabrics) is the way forward. Now women can relax from the matching syndrome and play with ranges of colours”. That person is Anna Wintour, the woman who has held the reign of the fashion magazine vogue for the past 30 years.

“Trust Nigerian students on the abuse of the concept”. This was the submission of Bimbo AdeusiOkpabi, a graduate of Economics, Lagos State University (LASU).

When the comedy flick, Jenifa, made debut few months ago, viewers had thought the main character had knack for mismatch colours. In

2012, with the reigning trend in fashion, Jenifa may no longer be seen as weird or crazy character in the movie but as a fashionista. Colour rioting has now turned to colour squash or blocking as some will like to see it.

The trend colour blocking started in 2011 with celebrities donning various combinations of colours at the red carpet. American celebrities like Kim Kardashian made public appearance with orange and purple and soon, many began to catch the bug and it spread like wild fire.

It was Liz Tilberis, a one-time American Editor of Vogue who said that: “A love of fashion makes the economy go round.” This can be said to be the scenario because doing colour blocking does not come cheap. Here, feminine bags which cost between N4,700 and N5,000 are matched with jean and expensive tops of varying colours. Heart sinks, knees fold, stomach retch and faces blanch at the sight of different colour combos these days on campus.

Couture is said to be an art. So some have come to see colour blocking now known as “squashing” as a creative adventure.

Ore Badmus, a 400-Level student of English, who does colour block-

ing shared her view with CAMPUSLIFE. She saw it as a way of expression through dressing.

“Wearing different colours in a way that will not be offensive brings attention by making one look colourful and cheerful. It reminds one of summer sunshine”. On the attention it brings she says: “You should be ready to face the consequence of what you are wearing.

Some do it because it is the trend.

And fashionistas go with the trend; yellow on pink, orange on green!”

Another student, who shared a similar view, was Munirat Ali, also in the same department. “Fashion blocking to me is creativity because it is expressing yourself in whatever colour you can. It is the trend that makes people focus on you”.

She however observed that there are limitations.

“One can go wrong if the colours are too much else you will end up looking like a rainbow. The aim is to look classy and not like a masquerade,” she quipped.

Should an emphasis be placed on colour blocking? Folashade Olusule saw it as fashion extremism. The 300-Level Law student says some girls always take it to the extreme.

“When some girls do it, you get this view of a walking rainbow. It is like troubling oneself over a matter of no importance. When it first started, it was creativity but now, it is crazitivity”.

•Munirat... combining blue, yellow, red and brown colour

To achieve a balanced view, CAMPUSLIFE sought the attention of some male students, who most times are the center of attention.

Fisayo Soyombo described it as “crazitivity- just for the sheer creativity of coining the word”. “Either

•Ore... in green chiffon top, black pant, brown bag, blue shoe and yellow head gear

creativity or crazitivity, it shows that something different is on the fore and the eyes can’t help but gaze”, Christian Moses, a 400-Level English, said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Where is Aunty Ngozi?

By Oyinkansola Sadiq-Mabeko

W

ITH tears rolling down my cheeks and not much assurance of what the future holds, I write this piece knowing full well that the recipient – the late Mrs Ngozi Agbo - won’t read this.

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The first two days I spent at the last workshop she organised for Campus Life writers on May 18 to 20 were the most delightful hours of my life. This was probably the first time I would meet people of diverse backgrounds, who converged at the expansive premises of the Citilodge Suites, Lekki, for the first phase of the yearly programme.

Meeting young aspiring leaders and achievers at the workshop, which I was attending for the first time, was, for me, an assurance that I am growing in intellect and productive as a youth. I had the thought that my future is pregnant and eventful. “If I can be in the company of these productive youths, then I must continue to put in my effort to make our country and the world a better place,” I told myself.

However, there was one person that made this happen. This was Aunty Ngozi. She amazed me. She was the classic story of an achiever.

She walked comfortably on the terrain many men feared to tread. She was practical evidence that proved wrong the popular notion that women are second fiddle to their male counterparts in the society.

Aunty Ngozi raised men and emancipated women through Campus Life section of The Nation newspaper.

To me Aunty was a man. She gave ego to the female gender and inspired us through her weekly column, Pushing Out. She gave teeth to our creativity and intelligence by engaging us through campus journalism. I have been following the CAMPUSLIFE pages since I gained admission into university but I only

knew Aunty Ngozi for few hours.

But those hours were the most educative and inspiring period of my life. As she held the microphone to address us, I beamed and muttered: “This is a mentor.”

With misty eyes, I can only think of one thing: why us – the Campuslifers? Life is so unfair to us.

Nigeria has lost a gem. Death cheated us and snatched this Amazon away from us. In my rage, I realise that I am helpless, and that could not pacify my already devastating spirit. How would a child that comes into the reality that his mother won’t be there any longer to scold, to laugh, to educate, to inspire and to nurture us be pacified? And so I wonder why we are involved in a race we never know the destination.

What determines a fulfilled life is

not how one lives on this cruel earth, but what matters is the number of lives one is able to touch positively.

Given the number of lives Aunty Ngozi touched while she was with us, I believe her demise will not us all Campus Life students and her family in grief.

Aunty, we all love you but it appears God loves you the more. Perhaps, time has come for you to leave but we will never forget all that you taught us every week. You were a mother to us, your students, but we never knew we will be left alone.

None of us can question God why he chose this time to invite you upstairs but I take solace in the fact that you in the gathering of saints.

Journey well Aunty, I won’t cry again and give death the chance to mock me. Your good heart breathes on. Let Nigeria and the world know that an irreplaceable gem has been lost.

Oyinkansola, 200-Level Mass Comm., LASU

What manner of democracy dividends?

IGERIA is a land where hypocrisy flows like its oil. Her people are so used to hypocrisy that they are afraid to face the truth.

Hypocrisy is in the home, church, mosque and in government offices. We celebrate everything from the first 100 days office to Democracy Day. Even this year, the ritual is not going to be different from the usual vainglorious self-adulation of individuals in power and their “fellow patriots” who praise the “achievements” of “my government”. But why is the term “dividends of democracy” so abused in this land?

With a “brand new” Government House, the governor and his cabinet are better positioned to “deliver dividends of democracy” that will “impact” the lives of the people. Meanwhile, the “cost” of these Government Houses is far more than their worth. And it has become a tradition in Nigerian states that every governor that comes to office will want to construct for himself, a “befitting” structure called Government House. Yet we have in these states, school children who are being taught by ill-motivated teachers, who never get salaries frequently.

By Msonter Anzaa How does a “modern” or even an ancient Government House benefit the jobless man, who also has the legitimate right to resources of state? Another dividend of democracy being bandied at both the state and national levels is appointment into political offices.

We hear thank-you messages on the state-owned radio appreciating “our amiable governor” for “appointing our sons and daughters” into “his government”, thereby, bringing “dividends of democracy” closer to the people.

Clearly, this is nonsense! Their appointment in itself does not constitute any dividend for the masses.

This will be the case, however, if these people are not appointed to work, but to partake in “sharing” or cutting the “national cake”, and redistributing it among “my people”. And even if that is the case, how many people in the constituency receive this “dividend”? No doubt, such appointments will not translate into good governance. If anything, they will lead to the waste of the state’s finance.

Also accompanying the so-called dividends of democracy is an unsolicited advice to the people to “shun opposition politics” and embrace the government in power.

If the sun does not rise early enough, “elements within the opposition” must know something about it! If you dare complain about non-payment of salaries, you can be dubbed a “disgruntled politician”. Even medical students whose programme has been intolerably delayed, risk being “used by the opposition” to cause “disaffection” and “confusion”. What manner of democracy is this that does not encourage freedom of expression? Why are our God-sent “servants” so seemingly allergic to fresh ideas?

The most hypocritical roles of all will be played by the state radio or television. We are going to hear of hurried “completion and commissioning” of various “projects” including renovated nursery schools, repaired culverts and repainted market stalls. Meanwhile, indi-

Who are the culprits of subsidy scam?

Msonter, 200-Level Medicine, BSU

Mr President, let NILAG be

I

T

HERE is a wise saying that goes thus: “Friday determines whether an approaching weekend will blow good wind or not.”

From the outset of the oil subsidy probe, many a Nigerian had envisaged that there would be cover ups and expressed doubt over the deregulation policy of the Federal Government.

The reason why Nigerians expressed uncertainty is because programmes launched by the government to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal were not properly communicated to the masses. The programmes were seen as avenues for public officials to loot more money and enrich their pockets. If this notion is wrong, where are the buses the government launched to cushion the effect of high cost of transport after the subvention on oil was removed today? Alas, many lives were lost during the protest that greeted the deregulation policy.

Embezzlement of public funds is an endemic we are facing as a people. There is too much poverty in the land yet politicians and the colluding civil servants have made good governance impossible in this country. In Nigeria today, there is no programme that can make the entire citizens of the country to believe in government. Little projects they embark on end up in controversy.

In the subsidy probe, we saw ineptitude and greediness on the part of our leaders and officials that were commissioned to disburse the money on our behalf. When the Farouk Lawan-led committee started opening the can of worms in the subsidy scam, we had thought the people indicted would be brought to justice. But how wrong are we. Now, the report is going the way of PTDF scam, Ette’s renovation fraud and many other

viduals seeking political favour will seize the moment to, “on behalf of the good people” of their local government areas, ministries, state assemblies, universities, churches, mosques or nursery schools, congratulate “His Excellency” on this “great” occasion of Democracy Day. Then, basking in the euphoria of fake glory, the “chief servant” of “our” state will “give account” of his stewardship. “My government” carried out a “youth empowerment” scheme in which university graduates were “empowered” in skills acquisition in areas like shoe repairs, recharge card selling and cloth sewing. All of these are done because of “my government’s vision” of creating job opportunities for our “teeming youth” who are “leaders of tomorrow”.

At the national level, security will be top on the agenda with the federal government promising to “crush” Boko Haram in three months. The honorable ministers of the federal republic have already been “giving accounts” of their

365 days service to the nation.

In the area of education, the president is “surprised” that 60 per cent of university teachers do not have a Doctorate degree. I also expect him to express “sadness” that more candidates who are qualified in this year Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME) will have no place in the nation’s tertiary institutions in spite of his “presidential” intervention by ordering the establishment of nine new universities.

He will express “satisfaction” at “my government’s” progress on power sector “reforms”, reinstating “our commitment” to reaching the target of 6000 mega watts. Now remember that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua promised 10,000 mega watts by December 2009. We are in June 2012, no light!

In the end, crowds of hungry and expectant citizens will nearly suffocate themselves under the sun, listening to promises of delivering dividends of democracy to them in the next 100 days.

And Bishops and Imams will fall over one another to deliver sermons and offer prayers to wish God a “happy” Democracy Day “celebration”.

By Oladele Oge

cases that have been asphyxiated.

This portends negative omen image for the present democratic experience. It has the potential of eroding whatever achievements we might say we achieved in the current civilian rule. Government must tell us who benefited from the subsidy money. The spirits of the people that lost their lives during the subsidy protest are crying for justice. The culprits must be brought to book.

If they fail to listen to us, we will lose confidence and trust in Jonathan’s government. If the main reason of existence of any government is the welfare of the masses, let there be head rolling over the disappearance of the subsidy funds.

Now that Mr. President has declared that he has no skeletons in his wardrobe on the matter, every Nigerian is demanding justice.

Oladele, 300-Level Mass Comm., UNN

F the media reports and what I witnessed in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last week anything to go by, the crisis rocking the institution and the uproar that snowballed into protests by students is far from over. It came on the heels of President Goodluck Jonathan’s proclamation on Democracy Day, that the university would now be known and addressed as Moshood Abiola University, Lagos (MAUL).

The pronouncement has generated and is still generating reactions with a view to ascertain the sincerity and suitability of the president’s declaration.

I have listened to some argument by government officials on the matter, and I have equally read few analyses in newspapers by education cum political pundits. I dare say that only few of them were objective in addressing the issue. To me, most of them based their argument on sentiment, prejudice and possibly benefits they get from the late politicians.

The students of the institution believe the honour was bestowed on the late industrialist cum politician, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO), as a ploy to win the support of the Yoruba people as 2015 polls draw nearer. This will greatly affect the neutrality of the institution on political matters.

UNILAG should not be polarised or divided on political ground. What makes an ivory tower is her strict adherence to values and virtues that promote merit, fairness, excellence and professionalism.

From what I have seen so far in UN ILAG and generally from what I know as an insider, the authorities, staff and students are striving day and night to sustain the tradition of excellence and maintain her dignifying position among the comity of tertiary

By Juliana Edet

institutions in Nigeria and by extension in Africa. Nobody can deny the fact that the institution is one of the few universities that are worthy of their achievement.

If such name will be change therefore, due consultation with all the stakeholders is a sine qua non. The outburst and public outcry clearly suggest the government has abdicated the stakeholders in reaching the decision.

The announcement of the change came just three days to the final burial of the deceased Vice-Chancellor, Prof Babatunde Sofoluwe.

Management, staff and students are still mourning the death of the people’s VC who served the university from 1974 till the time of his death. His death was a big blow on the institution. It was clear he had big dream for the institution. To postpone the MAUL declaration till after Sofoluwe’s final burial would have been appropriate.

For the Information Minister, I was disappointed that he portrayed UNILAG students as novices. He said: “Students protest in Lagos are misguided and are group of young people without a sense of history, who probably too young to understand the significance of Abiola’s sacrifice in Nigeria’s democracy”. Students were not misguided in any way. I believe the right of reply and peaceful protests are cardinal principles in democracy.

The deployment of the police force obviously suggests that the government does not want us to express ourselves. Not allowing the students to express their discontentment about policy, programme and pronouncements is undemocratic and a sign of despotism. I strongly believe Mr. President is natu•Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE

‘The Nation builds future leaders through CAMPUSLIFE’

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ACTS have emerged on why The Nation created the weekly CAMPUSLIFE section of the newspaper. It is to develop a new leadership and engender intellectualism among students, the Editor, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, has said.

Through the section, students have enough space in the paper to write their own stories, he said.

Omotoso spoke at the newspaper’s Matori, Lagos Mainland corporate headquarters during a visit by students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. The students, under the banner of the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), said the visit was to introduce the new executives and strengthen the bond between this newspaper and the association.

Omotoso said CAMPUSLIFE has grown bigger over the years, adding that students have been able to change their living conditions on campuses through CAMPUSLIFE reports.

He said:“This newspaper seeks to open a new chapter in youth development and build new leaders, writers and intellectuals through the initiative of CAMPUSLIFE. It will surprise you to hear that CAMPUSLIFE has now gone beyond campuses; parents, guardians and government officials now read the pages to find out how their wards have been faring and what they are going

‘This newspaper seeks to open a new chapter in the area of youth development and to build new leaders, writers and intellectuals through the initiative of CAMPUSLIFE’

•From left: Olusegun Adeleke, Temitope Olowoniwa, Samuel Adegbola, Wale Ajetunmobi, Innocent Ekejiuba, Joseph Akinyanmi and Adekolawole Longe From Wale Ajetunmobi LAGOS

through on the campus.”

He advised the student- journalists to engage in programmes that will be beneficial to all members of the association, urging them to

be united.

Omotoso said: “As Yoruba will say, scattered brooms cannot sweep the floor; they must be put together.”

The visiting students, through their president, Samuel Adegbola,

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

400-Level International Relations, and immediate past president, Joseph Akinyanmi, thanked the editor for the warm reception accorded them. Samuel said the association planned to bring all campus journalists under one um-

brella and host an international campus journalists’ summit.

“So we believe The Nation can help us achieve these objectives through the CAMPUSLIFE section of the newspaper,” Samuel said.

The editor said the idea was nice but advised the students to approach multinational companies and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) for support.

The students praised the Editorial Board of the newspaper for incisive analysis of burning national issues, adding that they enjoy reading Omotoso’s Editorial Notebook.

Hard life at French Village •Continued from page 31

Other respondents who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said unionism has been systematically outlawed in the school. Students’ opinions on issues have been said not to be meaningful to the management and the structure of students’ union in place, the students complained, has been rendered ineffective.

Upholding this view, a student of the Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), said: “From all indications, it appears the Students Representative Council (SRC) is dysfunctional. People experience darkness in their hostels due to faulty electrical appliances and when complaints are channeled, nothing gets done. Several complainants have visited the Department of Works for various problems but nothing has been done. So where is unionism?”

Adeolu Esan, a student of the University of Ibadan, fumed: “The male and female hostels reek of stench. The toilets are dirty and there is overpopulation in the rooms. Our colleagues undergoing their year-abroad programme in Togo are living like kings with all the comfort you can imagine. We deserve better treatment in our country.”

‘Our colleagues undergoing their year-abroad programme in Togo are living like kings with all the comfort you can imagine.

We deserve better treatment in our country.’

Sunday Alabi, a student, is of the view that learning in the institution was hard and expensive.

He said: “Things are expensive here despite the fact that this is a government institution. One pays through the nose to do photocopies on campus. How do you expect someone who attends classes from 9am till 5pm and another class from 8pm till 9:30pm to cope? Lecturers here are quite excellent. They know their onions. But I believe we can achieve more if our institutions propagate the ideals of qualitative teaching.”

Mr President, let UNILAG be •Continued from page 35

rally not despotic but he is showing the signs.

Additionally, we might be young in the June 12 era as the Minister rightly said but there are more than enough historical materials on Abiola, his principle and travails we can read. We don’t need to be an adult to grasp the happenings in the period.

Mr Labaran Maku’s comment is inappropriate. Personally, I have watched him discuss issues that occurred years before he became a politician. And sincerely, it would be an affront to accuse

him of ignorance on the matter he has adequate information on.

In a situation like this, issues should be addressed and not personality.

What UNILAG needs is actually not a change of name. What the institution needs is support from all stakeholders to continue to make positive impacts in the society. I use this medium to appeal to Mr President to let UNILAG be.

That is what the public wants, and the people are right! Just let UNILAG be.

Juliana Edet, 200-Level of Mass Comm., UNILAG

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

37

EDUCATION

'Food, drug safety education infused in school curriculum'

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OOD and drug safety education is to be infused in three weeks into the basic and senior secondary education curriculum to safeguard public health and stimulate behavioural change on public health issues among pupils.

According to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof Godwill Obioma, this will enable pupils to learn basic values of drug and food safety.

Obioma, who briefed reporters at the planning and writing workshop for the infusion of food and drug safety education into the basic education curriculum, added that the infusion is ongoing, and would be ready in the next three weeks.

He said the project was made possible through the collaborative effort between the NERDC and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which came up with the initiative.

He said the Federal Government has approved N700 million for the project, adding that NAFDAC also supported with N15.8 million.

Obioma said the project

By Wale Adepoju

would be submitted to the Joint Consultative Council for Education (JCCE), before it finally moves to the National Council on Education (NCE) for approval.

He said teachers would apply their guide to teach the subjects on infusion, noting that it would not be an additional burden on the teachers and pupils.

"We used to have 20 subjects from which pupils select 14, but these subjects were collapsed to 10. So, we have removed repetition and redundancy," Obioma said.

NAFDAC DirectorGeneral, Dr Paul Orhii, said the agency has come a long way to safeguard the health of the people. He said the infusion is an added responsibility to sensitise pupils about food and drug safety.

Orhii, represented by the agency's Deputy Director, Pharmacognosy Vigilance, Food and Drug Information, Mrs Ijeoma Osakwe, said part of the problems facing the agency is poor orientation. She said if pupils are well-informed through additional instructional materials, the burden of educating the public would be reduced on NAFDAC.

School enters UNICEF Hall of Fame

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HREE 15-year-old Senior Secondary School pupils of the Rainbow College, Mowe, Ogun State, have been awarded certificates of outstanding achievements for their performances in the World Science Day Competition.

They are Alamu Tolu, Ajia Oluwatobi and Ladenegan Olasuade.

Tolu received an award for coming first in Africa, while Ajia Oluwatobi and Ladenegan Olasuade got Ruby awards in the same competition.

According to the Senior Principal, Mrs. Christiana Ebion,the school management ensures coverage of the syllabus to get the pupils wellequipped for the UTME. "Our pupils are well-

CHILDREN'S DAY

By Ramat Musa

behaved and the welfare of the school is our priority. If you train a child without discipline, he is like a potential rod," she added.

Mrs Ebion advised pupils, who want to prepare for UTME to read little beyond their syllabus, because according to her, UTME questions go beyond O 'level syllabus.

She added that since the school is not only meant for i n t e l l e c t u a l developmentseveral opportunities have been given to pupils to exhibit their talents in co-curricular activities.

By these achievements, Rainbow College has entered the United Nations International Children Educational Fund (UNICEF) Hall of Fame.

•A cross section of students of the University of Ibadan during a town hall meeting at the institution’s premises … on Monday.

Old boys seek review of edu. policies, others

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The was made known by its President, Tayo Orekoya, when the state Governor, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, visited the school to inaugurate some projects.

Orekoya said: "It is our belief that the state should consider taking the step to return secondary schools to its initial owners, and in the specific case of our school, to the Catholic Mission."

According to him, the

A

AAUA inducts freshers

HE Old Boys Association (OBA) of St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, Osun State, has appealed to the state government to return secondary schools to their original owners, starting with St. Charles Grammar School.

It also advocated the review of the state's education policy on catchment area, among others.

TOTAL of 2, 930 students of the Adekunle Ajasin University have taken the oath of matriculation for the 2011/2012 Session.

The institution's ViceC h a n c e l l o r , P r o f . Fe m i Mimiko, admonished the students to imbibe hard work, diligence and discipline, and shun social vices that could be injurious to their academic pursuits.

Mimiko, who said the university was proud of its merit-driven admission policy, congratulated the new students on their admission.

He said out of 24,600 candidates, who applied to study in AAUA, and the 16, 750 that were later selected for post-UTME screening, only 2, 930 passed.

He said: "This university has zero tolerance for all forms of social vices, including but not limited to examination misconduct, cultism, rape, robbery as any student caught engaging in any of form of social vices will be expelled from the university.

“As you are formally admitted into this university today, I urge you to be builders of this academic edifice b u i l t o n t h e b l ocks of discipline, hard work, diligence, determination and courage."

FUNAAB former VC gets five titles

T

•Prof Balogun

HE immediate past ViceChancellor (VC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has been honoured with five Chieftaincy titles by monarchs in Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba in Ogun State.

The honorary roll call started in Odogbolu, where he was honoured with the Chieftaincy title of Ologben of Odogbolu by the Alaye of Odogbolu, Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa.

Next was the Otunba Atuluse of OdeLemo by the Lemo of Odelemo, Oba Samuel Talabi Solesi.

This was followed by the title of Akinfimojoye of Isaga-Orile by the Onisaga of Isaga,Oba Joseph OladeleTella.

He also recieved the Chieftaincy titles of Baloye of Gbagura by Oba Halidu Olaloko, the Agura of Gbagura and Fimogbayi of Egbaland by Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV. In a statement by the Information Unit of the Palace, the Alaye of Odogbolu said the reasons for giving him the titles was because of his brilliant policies, excellent transformation of the fortunes of FUNAAB and his exceptional leadership styles, during his tenure as VC. "The establishment of the Communitybased Farming Scheme (COBFAS) programme in his domain impacted overwhelmingly on the socio-economic lives of his community,” it stated.

The Alake of Egbaland said the ViceChancellor did not disappoint the people of Egbaland as a worthy son of the soil.

initiative which is being implemented in some states, including Lagos, should be replicated in the state.

"At the least, we advise that a number of schools, including St. Charles Grammar School, could be utilised as a pilot scheme, to ascertain the benefits of this initiative.

He said the association is prepared to give their support both to the government and the mission if approved.

He spoke on the policy that limits admission to secondary schools to a catchment area, defined by two kilometres radius.

He said: "It is our belief that a return to the days where admission is based on merit, regardless of where prospective pupils come from, will engender healthy academic competition, thereby uplifting success

performance rate of schools in the State."

The group also recommended that the government considers provision of matching grant as incentive to support initiatives by responsive old boys and students associations in the state, and a motivation for others. Members requested for the renovation of the dilapidated government constructed buildings in the school.

According to Orekoya, the legacy of St. Charles is an enduring one as a boys' school, with enviable history and attainments over the past 52 years. "We, therefore, respectfu l l y request that the state government retain and maintain the legacy of the school's name, continuity in its being a boys' only school, without merger with any other school."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINES

• Dr Modibbo

UBEC boss gets award THE Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, has been conferred with the Father of Peace Development Award.

Presenting the award, the President of Tiv Youth Forum for Peaceful Co-existence, Mr Ime Ikyaagba, said it is their way of recognising worthy people who wiil be of benefit to them.

"We are aware that you are someone who calls a spade a spade and will only tow the part of truth to ensure equity and justice. This is recorded by the way you have handled the encompassing Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) by ensuring the developmental purpose the Universal Basic Education Commission was established across the country," he said.

Responding, Modibbo thanked the forum for recognising the role of the commission in crisis management, adding that Nigeria will continue to stay together.

In a related development, the Chairman Governing Council and members of the Microfinance Management Institute of Nigeria has commended Dr Modibbo for prudence in the disbursement and utilisation of UBE fund.

A letter from the Institute signed by the Registrar, Dr Omotere Alex and dated May 15, this year praised Modibbo for the publishing of Community Accountability and Transparency Initiative (CATI) document on UBE Project, giving Microcredit to communities for Execution Of UBE project, and involvement of stakeholders in all stages of UBE implementation, among others.

Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship Awards DEEWR/Australian Gov't MS/PhD Degree Deadline: 30 June 2012 (annual) Study in: Australia Course starts 2013 Brief description: The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards provide full financial support for international students for 2 to 3.5 years to undertake a postgraduate qualification at a Masters or PhD level either by coursework or research in any field of study in Australia.

The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards aim to: • enable high achieving international students to undertake a postgraduate qualification either by coursework or research in their chosen fields of study in Australia • strengthen bilateral ties between Australia and the participating countries • showcase Australia's education sector • strengthen mutual understanding between the people of Australia and Award Holders' home countries • build international linkages and networks.

Host Institution(s): Universities or Higher Educations Institutions in Australia. Visit the Study in Australia or Going to University websites for a list of accredited institutions that provide higher education to international students.

Field(s) of Study: Masters or PhD level coursework or research in any field of study in Australia.

Number of Awards: Not specified.

Target group: Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican

Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (Republic of), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Middle East: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Pacific: Fiji, French Polynesia, French Guinea, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated states of), Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand* (including Cook Islands), Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam. Scholarship value/inclusions: Total Award Value - Up to $AUD228,500 for PhD and $AUD118,500 for Masters •Travel Allowance: $AUD4,500 •Establishment Allowance: $AUD4,000 •Monthly Stipend (up to 3.5 years, pro-rata basis): $AUD2,500 per month.

•Tuition Fees per semester (for up to 2 years for Masters and 3.5 years for a PhD): Up to $AUD12,500 per semester/trimester for Masters and PhD •Health and travel insurance will be provided.

Eligibility: To apply for the 2013 Endeavour Postgraduate Awards, international applicants must first satisfy the eligibility requirements detailed

Lagos Council to reposition schools

By Akinyemi Oluwayemisi

P

• Chairperson, Badagry Local Government Mrs Hustode Olubukola Yemisi (middle) flanked by the council's Vice-Chairman Mrs Elizabeth Kappo (left) and education consultant Dr Sojinu Olatunbosun. From right is CEO, Tride Consult, Uwaechie Jessica and Senior Special Assistant on Education Samson Apata, during the Children's day seminar/party, at the council’s Secretariat in Badagry.

Obi opens school amid praises

I

T was jubilation galore when Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State inaugurated a fourclassroom block, a perimeter fencing as well as a library at Capital City Secondary School Awka.

Principal of the school, Mrs. Esther Akujieze in her speech, identified Capital City Secondary School, Awka as one school founded and built on unity, love and peaceful neighbourliness of the host community.

She praised Nwogbo family for constructing three blocks of classrooms with art facilities, Ayon na Okpala youths for fencing the school and the host community for plastering, flooring, fixing of doors and windows in the two-storey building constructed by them some years ago.

Mrs Akujieze said her joy knew no bounds as she thanked the Obi-led administration for providing the school with a bus, a generator set, some computers and for equipping the science laboratory.

Performing the function Obi charged pupils of Capital City to maximise the benefits of the various

below: 1. International applicants must be citizens and/or permanent residents of a participating country (see Section 4.3) and may not hold dual citizenship with Australia. 2. International applicants who currently hold a valid Australian student visa are not eligible to apply. 3. Applicants who have completed an Endeavour Award and/ or AusAID Scholarship in the preceding 24 months (2 years) before the current round of the Endeavour Awards are not eligible to apply. 4. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree (minimum) at the time of application, demonstrating high academic achievement. 5.

Applicants must have applied for and gained admission to a Masters or PhD course in Australia.

Conditional letters of offer will be accepted at the time of application. Please note that you will not be funded for Masters level study leading to a PhD - you must choose one, either Masters or PhD level study.

Application instructions: Applications for the main round of the 2013 Endeavour Awards is now open and will close on 30 June 2012. Applications open 1 April 2012.

Applicants undertaking study for a Masters Degree or PhD must provide a confirmation of enrolment or an offer of admission letter from the host university/institution they have applied to.

Please note that a conditional offer of admission will be accepted. A letter to potential universities to assist in your application for admission is found at the last page of the application guidelines (see link below).

To be considered for a 2012 Endeavour Postgraduate Award, applicants must complete an online application and attach the supporting documentation as listed in the guidelines (link found below). It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

projects built by the government and some philanthropists from Ayon na Okpala Community, Awka.

Commissioner for Education Dr. Kay Onyechi, who represented the governor, lauded the school for hosting its Second Inter-house Sports competition and charged them to make proper use of the projects for the benefit of the students.

The governor expressed happiness, describing it as another round of harvest in the publicprivate partnership, adding that posterity would never forget the Ayon na Okpala philanthropists such as Hon Nwogbo Emeke, whose family built the classroom blocks and youths of the village, who did the perimeter fencing.

He prayed God to continue to replenish the purses from which these projects were funded.

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Joseph Ikebudu, enjoined the pupils to make judicious use of those facilities put in place by the government and private individuals.

He described sports as a major event that helps in the early development of a child as he identified its importance as an event that helps in student's physical, social, mental and recreational

development.

In the match past, which was one of the major events to mark interhouse sports, Ndefo - Yellow House- came first with 237 points; Umuayom - Green House came a distant second with 211 points while Linus Nwunya - White House - came third with 210 points.

• Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin and Chairman of the Governing Council, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Jide Owoeye, exhanging gifts when the latter paid a courtesy call on the former in Abuja.

ARENTS and head teachers from Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Lagos State and members of Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) rose from a four-hour meeting last week on how to reposition and manage schools in the area.

The meeting under the auspices of the Ifako Ijaiye Local Education Secretary, was a forum to prepare the parents and school administrators on how they can offer good and quality education to pupils in the local goverment.

According to the Education Secretary, Mr Balogun Murisik Taiwo, the forum was initiated to create a platform for the ESSPIN, teachers and parents to rub minds on the way forward for the school, given its significance in total development of the children.

He said: "Education, all over the world, is a vital instrument for development. In any state quantity is used to replace quality, education will be at a point of serenity."

He urged the education stakeholders to consider the enormous projects of the state in the local government and assist in the development, management, and monitoring of schools towards achieving a sound and quality basic education.

Also speaking at the forum, the representative of Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) Mr Fowomola Abiodun commended the efforts the Education Secretary, teacher and parents for the job well done, urging them not to relent on their effort because hands must be on desk to save the future of the children. Fowomola added that if the children fail, they would join bad gang and terrorist the nation in future.

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

EDUCATION

A

Why Almajari schools may collapse,

by Islamic cleric

N Islamic scholar Sheikh Sayyadi Ibrahim Bauch, has predicted that the integration of Almajari Islamic education with western education by the Federal Government may collapse because Islamic educationists are not involved.

Bauchi stated this in Minna, Niger State at the end of a week prayer for the peace and stability of the nation organised by the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Islamic Foundation

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

in Niger State.

Though Bauchi applauded the efforts of the government, he expressed disappointment that the programme started on a wrong footing.

According to him, the Almajari Islamic system of education has

existed for years, adding that the recruitment of professors of Islamic Studies will not save the new schools.

Sheikh Bauchi pointed out that the Federal Government should have involved Islamic scholars in the planning and execution of the integration process, stressing that the pupils of Islamic schools must

derive their knowledge from the Holy Koran to recite all its verses in accordance with the tenet of Islamic religion.

The cleric called on leaders and people to turn to God in prayers.

He advised the government to ensure justice in governance and work to solve the challenges facing the nation which he attributed to corruption, injustice and lack of love among others factors.

•Minister of Education Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i

Oando offers 280 scholarships •Adopts 28 primary schools WO hundred and eighty pupils from the 28 public primary schools the Oando Foundation has adopted nationwide will enjoy scholarships up to secondary and tertiary levels.

Ms Tokunboh Durosaro, Director of the foundation, a Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Oando Plc told The Nation in an interview that the scholarship is part of the package to improve access to quality education for the less privileged.

"We have adopted 28 schools in Lagos, Kaduna, Bauchi, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Katsina and Cross River. We are going to give out scholarships to 280 kids, 10 from each school, up to their secondary and tertiary levels," she said.

She explained further that beyond infrastructural development of the adopted schools, the foundation will be providing them with instructional materials to enhance learning, upgrading the pedagogical skills of teachers, and assisting in the effective management of the schools.

T h i s w a y, Durosaro said the foundation will achieve more as its intervention will not only improve the learning environment, but influence the quality of knowledge taught in the schools as well.

"We used to renovate schools but found that it is not enough. We now want to contribute to the content

T

• Rukkie Sanda, Nollywood actress (far left), Bolanle Jenfa; President, Rotbol Foundation (far right) with pupils of Surulere Nursery and Primary School during Democracy Day celebration by the Foundation.

Corona graduation Sat.

A

TOTAL of 74 outgoing pupils of the Corona Secondary School, Agbara, Ogun State will take a bow at the school graduation coming up at the school premises on Saturday.

The graduands codenamed CSS Class 2012, have been described as 'impressive', 'excellent' and 'magical' in their performances by the school’s Director Mrs Folasade Adefisayo.

To honour the pupils for living beyond expectation, Mrs Adefisayo said weeklong activities had already started since Sunday.

Some of the activities, she added, include send-off from the school various clubs; visit by the school' old students for motivational talks; church service, among others.

Adefisayo spoke at a briefing at the school premises in Agbara.

Mrs Adefisayo said a talk with the theme: They made magic , would be delivered by the Chairman, African Leadership Academy in Jonnarsburg, South Africa, Mr Fred Swaniker on Saturday .

'Though I must admit we've had brilliant sets every other year, this Class 2012 is exceptionally wonderful. I recall when their prefects were being sworn in, they made a promise that they would motivate their set to perform magic and truly they did. Many among them were well-cultured, many demonstrated intelligence.

Some had the best results in the ICGSE. Two of them had As. The headboy had six As and has won a United World College's scholarship which the global organisation only gives to two students alone from Nigeria."

Though their WASSC results are still pending, Adefisayo expressed optimism that the achievements the pupils recorded in the ICGSE ( International General Certificate of Secondary Education (abbreviated IGCSE) is an internationally recognised qualification for pupils,

By Adegunle Olugbamila

typically in the 14-16 age group.) is a testimony that the WASSC results would go same way.

Adefisayo said CSS has made an impressive record in the outgoing year with the school scoring another first in the Association of International Schools in Nigeria.

The director, who also thanked the teachers for doing a good work, attributed the success to the management which believes in the training and motivation of teachers to give their best to the pupils.

"The most critical factor is the quality of our teachers. Our teachers have done well.

“Even when you have a child that is not too brilliant but with teachers that are trained and willing to motivate, the best can be brought out of such pupil."

Unlike the previous graduation, where a pupil of the school Paul Brumeh, dwarfed others with many awards, Mrs Adefisayo said this edition was quite competitive, as many of the pupils did excellently well, with almost neck-to-neck performances.

"I'm moved that I won't see them again. All of them are very dear to me. I have trepidations that they would be leaving. But I'm sending them off proudly because I'm confident they are going to be great leaders, "she added.

•Mrs Adefisayo

• Deputy Leader of the Legislative arm of Oriade Local Council Development posing with some of the pupils of Salvation Army Primary School Irede and Local Authority Primary School Iyagbe during the distribution of free exercise books and other learning materials to flag off the Aregbe Babatunde education support initiative (ABESI).

Ekiti to sanction exam fraudsters

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ERPETRATORS of examination fraud will henceforth face serious penalties in Ekiti State.

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Chief Bisi Fayemi, saidstated this during a campaign at Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko-Ekiti.

Mrs. Fayemi, who spoke on behalf of the state Governor Kayode Fayemi, particularly warned parents, guardians and teachers against offering untoward aid to

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

of knowledge to improve the quality of education in the schools.

“We adopted schools with infrastructural needs and as we renovate, we are going to improve the curriculum implementation, provide teaching aids and embark on training of the teachers. We will also assist in managing the schools better by supporting the Local Government Education Authority, the S t a t e Universal Basic Education Board, and the head teachers," she said.

The foundation is seeking NGOs with focus on education to act as partners in the adopted schools.

Also, as part of its programme, the foundation hosted 500 pupils drawn from the five adopted schools in Lagos to a day a fun to mark the Children's Day celebration.

The programme hosted by one of the adopted schools, the Arch- Bishop Taylor Memorial Primary Schoo l , Victoria Island, featured motivational talks, games, dance, face painting, and other activities.

The four other schools adopted in Lagos are: Idi-Odo Primary School, Makoko; Metropolitan Nursery and Primary School, Orile; OgoOluwa Primary School, Gbagada; and Temidire Primary School, Gbagada.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

their children and wards to compromise ethical examination standards. Erelu said anyone caught indulging in the act would be dealt with. She noted the administration in the state has no accommodation whatsoever for all manner of exam fraud.

Mrs Fayemi said: "There is no short-cut to success except that you are determined, work hard in life and assume greatness."

She read an earlier letter dated May 14, this year, written by the Governor and addressed to pupils in state public schools, restating that its importance is for the pupils to make honesty their watchword and be "courageous, industrious, knowledgeable, passionate and patriotic to all the values the State is noted for."

Commissioner for Information, Funminiyi Afuye, regretted the general falling education standards in the country, adding that the

administration "will not tolerate any form of miracle exam centres."

He noted that the menace of examination frauds have overrun fabric of the nation's socio-political life, adding that even primary schools are not spared of the rot.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Eniola Ajayi, has said severe penalties await whoever is caught breaching laws against exam malpractice.

She said: "Illegal schools and perceived miracle centres operating in the state had been given three months to adjust or get deregistered by the ministry."

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

40

EDUCATION

Firm, FUNAAB partner on industrial EDUTALK with training So unpopular A

N indigenous engineering firm, Male Integrated Science(MIS) Ltd, has offered to partner with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) for the yearly industrial training of its water engineering students.

The initiative, which would be between MIS and FUNAAB's Department of Water Resources Management and Agrometerology(WREMAM), would see no fewer than six students of the department being sent yearly to MIS for six months.

MIS Chairman, Mr Michael Ale, disclosed this while delivering a lecture on a Wednesday on the topic: Water management and Nigerian labour market. It was organised by FUNAAB's chapter of the Water Resources Management and Agrometerology Students Association (WREMAMSA).

Ale, a Hydro engineer, said there is the need for science and engineering students to have a experience of

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the world of theories and that of practical to equip them for life outside the classroom.

He said it is up to the Head of the Department of WREMAM to set the parameter for determining students to be sent to MIS, adding that the firm has been offering itself as platform for students from various institutions to enjoy routine exposure to practical issues in water management and related matters.

"From my experience as water professional, my company had been doing that for other universities Federal University of Technology, Akure, University of Ibadan, the Polytechnic Ibadan and few others where they send in their students for six months practical training.

"I thought I should extend same gesture to FUNAAB since it will al-

ways have the need to send its students out for practical training," he said.

He allayed fears over gnawing the minds of students about their prospects of finding jobs after graduation given the thinning local labour market, saying they face a brighter future as water resources managers in an increasing global demand for safe portable water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use.

The MIS boss noted that with the new paradigm shift in Nigeria from oil-based revenue to agriculturalbased revenue generation, there would be a great demand for water resources experts to handle the management of water for agriculture.

"You are the power of the nation.

You have a bright future and hope.

There are jobs for you outside there, but you have to stay focused in your study. Although everybody wants to work in the banks, the truth is, the distress economy and advancement in technology are narrowing the jobs in the banking sector," he said.

• Assistant Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Youth, Sport Development & Social Welfare, Mr Biodun Ogunrinde; Director Lagos Empowerment & Resource Network (LEARN), Mrs. Bisi Awoyomi; Director, Legal Services, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Adeola Idowu and Counsellor, Agindingbi Junior Grammar School, Agidingbi, Lagos, Mrs. Fanika Williams, at the Etisalat Career Counselling Session in partnership with LEARN, at the Event Centre Ikeja, Lagos.

K

A

From Kolade Kano

pointing out that the primary objective of the government's adult literacy drive is not just to enable the people to live progressively but also to create more jobs.

"Adult literacy, which was launched in Kano between the late 1970s and early 1980s, and which has recorded success, has suffered a setback for many years. We are determined to revitalise the sector for the good of our people", Kwankwaso added.

He appealed to individuals and organisations to support his government in wiping out illiteracy in the state.

•Gov. Kwankwaso

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Agency for Mass Education, Prof Fatima Umar, assured that the agency would deliver on its mandate. She urged participants of the programmer classes in Kano to pay more attention to their studies.

Ex-Rector condemns disparity in HND/Bsc graduates

A

FORMER Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, Ayodeji Iginla, has decried the lack of respect for Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates in the country.

Iginla, who was the Rector of institution between 2007 and 2011, spoke at the Third Public Lecture of the school's alumni association in Ikeja, Lagos. It has as theme: Issues on the dichotomy between HND&BSC graduates in Nigeria educational system: The way forward.

He disclosed that a recent examination conducted by professional bodies and firms shown that HND

S

O many significant things are happening to the University of Lagos too fast. When Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe addressed journalists in January before the 2010/2011 convocation, he expressed delight about being the Vice-Chancellor at the time the institution clocked 50. He was about the preparations for the anniversary when he died. Little did he know then that he would not witness it.

The university community was still mourning and grappling with the changes that must immediately result from his death when President Goodluck Jonathan announced a change of the institution’s name in honourof the late M.K.O. Abiola.

While Abiola, who many regard as a symbol of our democratic struggle, deserves the highest honour, not a few faulted the renaming of the university after him. The protest by students, their parents, alumni of the university and a wide range of others is by no means to disrespect the late politician. For many years many in the Southwest have called on the Federal Government to immortalise Abiola by declaring June 12, on which day the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history took place, the Democracy Day instead of May 29. Had the President done so Tuesday last week, he would have won for himself many friends in the zone. Had he even named the Abuja Stadium after him, same would have happened.

However, despite the seeming noble intention behind the gesture, it is not a popular change. Many are against it. One of the reasons is that the institution has built a reputation for itself both at home and

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

abroad that people perceive the name change could adversely affect.

Like a colleague of mine pointed out, why change a winning brand?

Also, while the acronym, UNILAG, sounds and looks pleasant, the new acronym that would result from the name change, MAUL or MKOAUL does not compete favourably with its predecessor. Though I do not know if anybody has mentioned it, but I also think people perceive the acronym sounds too ‘local’ for a university that has the reputation of being ‘sophisticated’, not to mention that nobody would ready like to be associated with the dictionary meaning of the word MAUL. Yes, the President had noble intentions. However, since the name change is so unpopular, it will not make him less the President if he listens to calls to maintain status quo. He can honour MKO Abiola by naming of the newly-created federal universities after him. Or, he should also think of honouring him with something more of a national monument, so that it does not sound like he is trying to placate only the Southwest.

Adieu Ngozi Agbo

Kwankwaso launches literacy campaign

ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has launched the Mass Literacy Campaign in the state with a commitment to ensure that every person in the rural and urban areas of the state becomes literate by 2015.

He has also directed that adult literacy classes be established in the 8,074 polling units in the state with provision of an equal number of literacy instructors to man the classes.

Speaking during the launch of the exercise at the Government House in Kano, Governor Kwankwaso added that under the Building a Learning Society initiative of the government, the tutors will be given monthly allowances, while the 44 local government administrations in the state would recruit 10 supervisors each to monitor implementation of the programme.

He explained that the adult literacy programme shall conduct within six months during which participants are expected to read and write, adding that besides learning to read and write, the pupils would be taught religious and civic education.

The governor, who directed that the adult education tutors, should be given specialised training to enable them to handle their job well, also instructed that female and male students should be taught in separate classes, handled by teachers of their respective gender to fast-track the training.

According to the governor, adult literacy is a serious challenge,

a change

graduates are better than their university counterparts.

He enjoined the government not to scrap the HND programme but provide a means of empowering polytechnic graduates.

He said: "We should pressurised the Federal Government to ensure power stability, which is the basis of industrialisation.”

The manufacturing industry is crippled because of power supply.

If there is stable power supply, HND graduates will explore their entrepreneurial skills to set up their small scale industries, which in future could become a fully-fledged industry, he added.

S my six-week old son demanded to be fed for the umpteenth time and I, drained of energy, grumbled about the stress, I remembered Ngozi Nwozor-Agbo, our Campus Life Editor, is not around to do same for her son.

We shared our antenatal experiences with each other, and compared notes about shopping for our babies. I love moving around, and I relished any opportunity to inform her about new places I found to buy baby layette.

Three days before her death, I called to ask her about her maternity leave, like she did when I went on leave. The network was bad, and I had to call her back several times. We were finally able to speak for two minutes, 17 seconds after I tried her other line. We both hoped that her baby would not delay in coming. We never knew that would be the last time we would speak on this side of the divide. I received the news of her death with disbelief on May 28.

Ngozi is gone. I would have paid a fortune for our conversation to extend to nappy changes, feeding routine, circumcision, and sleepless nights that are the result of having a new baby. But that is not to be.

Thirty-Seven is a young age to die. Nevertheless, when I reflect on the impact that Ngozi made, I am comforted. As a result, I have prayed to the Almighty, the prayer of the Psalmist: “Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Ngozi’s life aptly fits the say-

ing: “It is not how far but how well”. She did so many things but her coordination of CampusLife is in a class of its own. She fought for the undergraduates who wrote for the section with such passion.

She did not joke with their bylines – which she described as their only reward. Many times, she sent money to the CampusLife correspondents from her own pocket. She was angry when they were maltreated by authorities of their schools because of stories they wrote, and she took them under her wing.

I witnessed her kindness to an elderly cleaner in our organisation. She did not know that I saw her speaking kindly to the woman and giving her money. When she got married July 30 last year, the elderly woman graced the wedding. She was not clad in the colourful aso-ebi members of staff wore but she bore a gift, which I knew she presented with many blessings. This woman is among the many that will miss her badly.

Ngozi may be gone, but she lives on in the hearts of the students and others whose lives she touched. She was a mother many times over before the arrival of her own biological son. The lad should not be surprised if favour comes his way from the many students his mother touched in future.

Adieu Ngozi, yours was a life well spent. I pray God will comfort your family, especially your husband and the son you left behind.

43

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Associates and followers of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, recently converged to mark the 25th anniversary of his demise at Ikenne, his Ogun State birthplace. Will the reunion of Awoists pave the way for fence-mending among the quarrelsome members of the polarised and crisis-ridden political family? Asks Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

25 years after: Can Awoists reunite?

T

HE crowd was huge at Ikenne. The two factions of Afenifere apapeared to have closed ranks to give honour to a befitting leader. The joy of the political and biological children of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was palpable as they met to give thanks for keeping the legacy for 25 years. But, will the truce last?

Twenty-five years after, the name towers and his legacies have endured, constantly reminding the people that a great leader had passed through the political firmament.

His achievements as Premier of the defunct Western Region and war-time Federal Commissioner for Finance have remained the benchmark for successive administrations. Young ideologues in search of heroes perceive him as a mentor and role model. To his adversaries and conservative rivals, he was a tribal champion and symbol of ethnic politics. But to his admirers, he was a foremost nationalist and man of ideas deliberately under-utilised by a beleaguered nation-state thirsty for transformation.

While alive, the indomitable Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo was described as the main issue in Nigeria’s politics by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida. At his demise, he was described by the former Biafran warlord, the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, as the best President Nigeria never had. But the dark side of post-Awolowo era is that the political machinery he built is in now in disarray. Awoists are now scattered across some political parties like sheep without shepherd. Things have continued to fall apart and the centre cannot hold. The political idea subsists, but the men and women on the field in the Awoist political vineyard are at loggerheads.

They are not divided by the idea, but by conflicting approaches to the targeted goal.

At the 25th anniversary of the demise of Awo on May 9, his followers turned up en masse as loyalists and guests of the widow, Mrs. Hannah Awolowo. But they came from platforms locked in the hot race for power and influence, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Labour Party (LP), two factions of Afenifere led by Chief Reuben Fasoranti and Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Afenifere Renewal Group, and lesser known groups. At Ikenne, it was a reunion of old comrades, but it did not lead to the renewal of contact.

More worrisome is the turn of events as Awoists in the conservative bloc in the Southwest have joined die-hard reactionary collaborators to wage a curious war against the progressive fold in the zone. Politics of principle and cultivation of value seem to have given way to the pursuit of money and political relevance, with endless personality clashes among Awo loyalists serving as the tonic. The height of the derailment found expression in the regress to emotion by an Awolowo devotee, who cried in the public for failing to emerge as the national secretary of the ruling PDP, an incarnate of the proscribed National Republican Convention (NRC), National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), which were clear opposites of Awo’s ideal.

Awolowo, teacher, stenographer, journalist, produce buyer, philosopher, author, and nationalist politician came into limelight as secretary of the Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM), Ibadan branch, at a time when the late Chief Ladoke Akintola was Lagos NYM secretary. He had acquired a bachelor’s degree in Commerce through private study before travelling to London to study Law at the School of Economics and Political Science. He was the moving spirit behind the formation of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, which later metamorphosided into the Action Group (AG). In 1947, he released his book, Path to Nigeria’s Freedom, in which he set out what he considered the panacea to the multi-ethnic country’s myriad of challenges critical to the survival of the fledging federation.

Awo started elective political career as a councillor in old Remo District Council presided over by the Akarigbo, Oba Williams Adedoyin. Like

• Awo’s associates: The late Chief Adesanya, Chief Ajayi and Chief Adebanjo.

• The late Chief Awolowo

his colleagues, who were pioneer members of the Western Regional House of Assembly, he became a legislator at a time when township associations and unions served as political platforms. However, when AG was formed, these legislators, many of whom were members of Egbe Omo Oduduwa, and some who had intimate relationship with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), formally joined AG on the floor. When AG commanded the majority in the House, Awo became the Leader of Government Business and Minister of local Government.

As Premier of Western Region, Awolowo presided over a dynamic, pathfinding and productive administration that was second to none. His free education programme gave the region a head start. Two years after, ZIk replicated it in the Eastern region, he retraced his steps due to failure. Awo tarred more roads in Western Region within eight years than the British did in 40 years. At a time France did not have a television station, Western Region had opened a station in Ibadan, the capital. Cocoa House, Liberty Stadium, schools, farm settlements, hospitals sprang up. Before he left for the House of Representatives in 1960, paper work on the proposed University of Ife was ready.

Awo was aided by the cabinet of talents he assembled. He had the vision of building AG, which was one of the best organised parties in Africa, to rival foremost democratic socialist parties in Europe and America. While alive, the Awo camp was not for the feeble-minded and intellectually lazy elements who suffered from ideological malnutrition. Foremost Awoists were, therefore, competent experts in diverse fields, ready to devote and deploy their talents, wit and energy towards the propagation and furtherance of AG causes and implementation of its laudable programmes as encapsulated in its slogan of ‘Freedom for All, Life More Abundant’. The careers of these disciples blossomed, with Awo serving as their collateral assets during electioneering.

As the Leader of Opposition in the Federal Parliament, Awo and other AG members and their

allies were like sheep among wolves. He proffered the alternative route to national greatness, but his suggestions were ignored to the country’s peril. Unable to withstand his power of logic, he was roped into a ‘coup plot’ and jailed for treason. A pall of darkness enveloped the nation for four years. By the time he left jail, leading actors who arranged his imprisonment had been consumed by the effects of inferno they engineered.

Awo met Yorubaland in turmoil as members of the farmers’ union, “Agbekoya” was on rampage. The Odemo of Isara, Oba Samuel Akinsanya had been chased out of his palace.

The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jide Olayide, was not that lucky. Awo promptly restored order into the state of pandemonium. Yoruba elite were impressed by that outstanding performance, and during the preparations for the ad-hoc conference, he was nominated by the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya for the honorary position of ‘Asiwaju of Yoruba’. Later, as Finance Minister and Vice Chairman of Federal Executive Council under Gowon Administration, he successfully managed the war economy. Before the administration derailed, he had called it quits.

In 1979 and 2003, he lost the presidential contest to Alhaji Shehu Shagari. In May 1987, he bade Nigeria farewell.

However, cracks have appeared before the wall before Awo died. The first test was the split in the AG in 1962, when Awo and Akintola could not agree on principle. It was evident that, though AG leaders believed in the same principles, they differed on how to attain the goal. Tension brewed between the protagonists of mainstream politics, represented by Akintola, Chief Ayotunde Rosiji, Oba Cladius Akran, Chief Adisa Akinloye and others and Awo, Enahoro, Chief Ohu Akin-Olugbade, Alhaji Soroye Adegbenro, Dr. Samuel Ikoku, Chief Bola Ige and others who loathed fraternity with the conservative forces. Efforts to find a common ground failed. Ahead of the critical party congress in Jos, Awo and Akintola’s mutual friend, Venerable Emmanuel Alayande, the AG chaplain, had, in a letter, admonished the Party Leader to demonstrate “extreme sacrifice and self-abnegation”, adding that Awo should be less inflexible and more tolerant. The appeal came too late. The struggle within the fold led to polarisation and parting of ways at the Jos Convention, with dire consequences for political unity and national progress.

In the Second Republic, old allies had deserted Awo in droves. When he resigned from the Gowon government, it was curious that his as-

sociates, Chief Anthony Enahoro and Joseph Tarka, stayed on in the cabinet. In 1979, when the UPN was formed, the seats of Enahoro, AkinOlugbade, Ikoku, Toye Coker, Akanbi Onitiri and Tarka were vacant. Enahoro, Ikoku and Onitiri, who were heroes of the treasonable felony trial had gone to NPN, PRP and NPP. However, in their new parties, they did not fire any salvo at their former leader. Also, in Remoland, two promising lieutenants; the late Chief Ola Yesufu and Chief Olu Awotesu, quarrelled with him over the Constituent Assembly election of 1978. Awo, who had declined to participate in the constitution making exercise, supported Chief Awoniyi. But Yesufu and other “Awolowo boys” supported Awotesu who defeated Awoniyi. Reflecting on the incident in his memoir, Yesufu said that Awo later discouraged them from joining his party, UPN, when it was being formed and he and other ‘rebels’ joined the NPN. In 1983, Awo’s camp was further decimated by the internal struggle for power. Deputy governors and commissioners led onslaughts against governors ahead of the governorship nominations. When the five UPN governors- Adekunle Ajasin (Ondo State), Bola Ige (Oyo), Bisi Onabanjo (Ogun), and Ambrose Ali (Bendel) and Lateef Jakande (Lagos) won nominations again, hell was let loose in the party. At that critical stage when Awolowo was seeking the highest office for the last time, he was deserted by hitherto trusted allies, including Chiefs Akin Omoboriowo, Sunday Afolabi, Soji Odunjo, Busari Adelakun, Joel Babatola, Olawumi Falodun and Sikiru Shitta-Bey. Before his passage, a succession battle had started among core loyalists, especially Jakande, nicknamed ‘Baba Kekere’, Ige, who was described by fans as ‘Arole Awolowo’, and Onabanjo, the veteran journalist with the pen name, ‘Ayekooto’. Out of envy, Ige’s political career was to be liquidated at the UPN congress in Yola, when Adelakun reported his romance with former Military Head of State Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo to the party. Obasanjo had waded into the conflict between the former governor and his deputy, Afolabi. To the UPN, that amounted to anti-party activity. Awo saved Ige during that night of long knives. When Onabanjo died, his family complained that the testimony of a top UPN member before the military tribunal made the military send him to prison where his health suffered.

On Awo,s demise, the mantle of leadership fell •Continued on page 44

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

POLITICS

25 years after: Can Awoists reunite?

•Continued from page 43

on the First Republic federal parliamentarian, Ajasin, who in 1966 was the last President of Egbe Omo Oduduwa. This did not go down well with some young turks who continued to hold meetings in the Ikenne home of the late sage because they felt that the widow, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo, should lead the political family.

Awo’s children had exhibited the same feeling, but their argument was ignored. When his last born, Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu, aspired for the governorship of Lagos, she was rebuffed by Jakande, who said he was not ready to serve father and daughter in quick succession.

At a ceremony in Ibadan, Oluwole Awolowo, had also canvassed the dynasty route to power, wondering why Nigeria refused to take after India and other Asian countries, which gave permission for political authority to flow from one family for generations.

Ajasin, fired back, asking: “Is any of them deep enough for political leadership?” Of course, circumstances made Ajasin as the natural successor to Awolowo at a critical time in history when the military chose to toy with the destiny of the country.

It appeared that Awo’s men were in a hurry to embrace the dubious transition programme of Babangida regime, contrary to the sage’s counsel.

Awo had warned his camp to dine with IBB, the “evil genius” with a long spoon. When the Political Bureau chaired by Dr Cookey set out, Awo declared that the country had embarked on a fruitless search for democracy, stressing that when they imagined that the new order had arrived, they would be terribly disappointed.

To avoid the danger of political exclusion, Awo’s disciples participated in the prolonged exercise, which culminated in the annulment of the most credible presidential election won by the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola. Ajasin died during the imbroglio. The mantle of Afenifere leadership fell on Senator Abraham Adesanya, a staunch National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain and man of principle and honour.

Predictably, Awo’s camp rejected the interim contraception led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. However, the group somersaulted when two foremost members, Jakande and Ebenezer Babatope, former UPN Director of Organisation, were accepted ministerial appointments under Abacha regime, following persuasion by Abiola, who deluded himself into thinking that the military would hand over power to him. When representatives of Yoruba race asked them to resign at the historic Ibadan conference, they turned a deaf ear, because, as it was later rationalised, it was dangerous to pull out. However, when the tempest was over in 1998, Jakande and Babatope, who had been kicked out of the cabinet, could not be re-admitted into the Afenifere, the panYoruba socio-political group, where Awolowo aides called the shots. In the absence of the time-tested culture and machinery for reconciliation in the fold, the door was effectively shot at them. Babatope joined PDP and Jakande, who first stayed in APP, and later another mushroom party, could not regain his lost political influence.

However, Afenifere/Alliance for Democracy (AD) did not fare better.

When its 23 wise men selected by Adesanya, Ige, Adebanjo, Olaniwun Ajayi, Solanke Onasanya and other elders converged on D’Rovans Hotel, Ibadan, little did they know that their action would forever affect the future of the group. Then, the presidential ticket was zoned to the Southwest, apparently to placate the zone for Abiola’s demise and accord it a sense of belonging. Confidence and trust were crippled among the men of the old order who were to choose be-

•Chief HID Awolowo

• The late Chief Ige

• Chief Falae

‘Today, what unites Awoists is not Afenifere or any political group, but the yearly post humous birthday of the sage and activities of the Awolowo Foundation, which was set up to immortalise him. Personal interest has often displaced collective interest in the post-Awolowo era.

But Awo lives on in the minds of the people, the nation and country he served diligently for almost 60 years of active politics’ tween Ige, former AG National Publicity Secretary and Olu Falae, former Secretary to Federal Military Government and Finance Minister. It was not clear why Ige decided to travel out during the shadow poll. When he was rejected by his colleagues in preference for Falae, he cried foul. Apparently to spite them, he accepted a ministerial appointment under President Olusegun Obasanjo. His colleagues said he was on his own. Although plans to suspend him as the deputy leader of the group was mooted, Adesanya objected to the idea.

Promptly, there was renewal of old rivalries in the Awolowo political family. Two Afenifere chieftains; Venerable Alayande and Justice Adewale Thompson; rejected Adesanya’s leadership of Afenifere and they became President and Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), which people thought had the backing of Ige. “Is it because we asked him (Adesanya) to carry the gown of Dingle Foot that he now sees himself as Yoruba leader?”, Emmanuel Alayande queried.

Ige, who was bitter, decided to wield more influence in AD, having lost the confidence of the Ijebu Igbo “Mafia,” which Wale Oshun described as the “controlling leadership” of Afenifere. He anointed Ahmed Abdulkadir as the national chairman. Alhaji Lam Adesaina and Chief Bisi Akande, governors of Oyo and Osun states also sponsored Michael Koleoso for deputy chairman, thereby robbing Adebanjo of the chance of bouncing back to the position. Adebanjo, Dawodu, Okunrohunmu bloc queued behind Ambassador Tanko Yusuf as chairman.

The state chapters of Afenifere/ AD were also not at peace. Remarkably, many politicians who did not believe in Awo credo had joined the Afenifere/AD to realise their ambitions. But even among the old order, there were suspicions. In Osun, Akande and his deputy, Iyiola Omisore, were locked in a war of attrition. In Lagos, former Governor Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Senator Kofoworola AkereleBucknor, never saw eye to eye. in Ondo, the 2003 governorship battle had divided Governor Adebayo Adefarati, Health Commissioner

Olusegun Mimiko and Dr. Akerele Adu. In Ekiti, there were frictions between Governor Niyi Adebayo and two Afenifere chieftains; Dayo Adeyeye, national publicity secretary and Funminiyi Afuye. Fed up with the protracted crises, Afenifere advised deputy governors who could not cope with their bosses to resign. Omisore and Bucknor later went to PDP. Two Afenifere chieftains had warned that the group was running out of ideas. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and another diplomat, Dr Dapo Fafowora, who had joined the fold, bowed out. They were surprised that Afenifere was not adapting to modern trends and ideas in this age of dynamism. “Nigeria and Africa have been plagued with the tensions arising from making a transition from political systems dominated by founding fathers to systems managed by first among equals’, noted Akinyemi, whose father, Canon Akinyemi, was an AG regional and federal legislator.

Others in Ige’s camp were later to allude to double standard in the fold, for while Senator Cornelius Adebayo, a non-AD member of Afenifere, was appointed minister

by Obasanjo, criticisms by Afenifere did not trail his acceptance of the slot, unlike when Ige accepted similar offer. Also, some people felt that the former secretary, Ayo Opadokun, was asked to vacate his position for a fracternising with former ANPP Kwara State Governor Mohammed Lawal, pointing out that the punishment was rather too harsh for an allegation was not proven by an organisation that had not approved of a pact with PDP President Obasanjo. Instructively, as crisis polarised Afenifere/AD, politicians who had come on board in 1998/99 because of the group’s popularity left for the PDP, citing the crisis in the party as reason. Among them are Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Senator Wahab Dosunmu, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, Hon. Onimole and Sunday Fajimi.

Adesanya saw danger coming ahead of 2003 polls, urging a truce in Lagos. That was in post-Ige era, the colourful politician having been

assassinated in December 2001. The Ajayi Committee, which was set up suggested a 60:40 formula for distribution of appointive and elective offices. It was turned down by Tinubu/ Hamzat/Ogunleye/ camp. Dawodu ‘pulled’ out of AD, but Tinubu won re-election, making people to now embrace the fact that, with or without Afenifere, political success was still possible in Lagos. Although Afenifere backed other governors, they all lost their deposits to the curious pact sealed between them and Obasanjo, with Afenifere as witness.

AD, owing to this understanding, did not field a presidential candidate in 2003.

Shortly after the 2003 elections, the crisis deepened as AD prepared for national convention. Now, Ige’s camp had split, with Akande Alayande or Thompson and Senator Mojisolowa Akinfenwa, slugging it out. Afenifere leadership and Obasanjo government backed Akinfenwa, but the five AD governors supported Akande. At separate conventions in Abuja and Lagos, Akinfenwa and Akande emerged as factional chairmen. When Adesanya died, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, inherited the crisis. However, at the Akure meeting of the group, Fasoranti, declared Akinfenwa as the authentic AD national chairman, claiming that the convention that produced him appeared to have satisfied laid down requirement.

AD was seized by tension. The party was finally balkanised. Akande/ Tinubu/Osoba/Adebayo forces rejected the ‘Akure Declaration’. However, by the time a High Court pronounced Koleoso as the authentic chairman, Ad had become a shadow of itself. Tinubu and other governors, except Adefarati, formed Action Congress (AC) and other Afenifere leaders floated Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA). Then, the battle shifted to Afenifere. Tinubu, Adesina, Akande, Osoba, Olabiyi Durojaye and Niyi Adebayo rejected Fasoranti’s leadership and proclaimed Senator Ayo Fasanmi, who is based in Osogbo, as the Deputy Leader in succession to the late Bola Ige. But Ajayi, Adebanjo, Okunrounmu, Falae and Wumi Adegboamire insisted that Fasoranti

was appointed by Adesanya as his before he passed on, based on the counsel of Adeyeye and Afuye, who complained that making another Ijebu or Remo man his deputy would make other sub-Yoruba ethnic groups feel that they lack a sense of belonging. Both Fasoranti and Fasanmi joined AG in 1951.

When it appeared that the two Afenifere factions would not close ranks, concerned youths who had looked up to them for direction and leadership decided to regroup under the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG).

The group, led by Oshun, former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, brokered peace, but without success. The Ibadan retreat, which was organised for that purpose, failed to reconcile the two factions. Key members of the two factions appreciated the need for reconciliation, but they backed their dream of unity with hypocritical commitment.

On the eve of the reconciliation meeting called by Mrs Awolowo, Fasanmi’s group stormed Ikenne, tendering reasons why key members would not attend the meeting.

Adesina and Olusi were asked to represent the group at the meeting. The meeting failed to achieve a truce. Although Adebanjo’s 80th birthday provided another opportunity for both camps unite the inflammatory media interview by the celebrator angered Tinubu and Osoba because the octogenarian put the blame for the crisis in Afenifere on the two former governors, who he described as new comers into the fold.

Osoba reminded Adebanjo of his contributions to the progressive cause in the country as a journalist, stressing that, though he may be his senior in the Awolowo political family, he was very close to the late sage who had categorised him, Peter Ajayi and Felix Adenaike as the “three media musketeers.”

In 2011, Afenifere finally lost its grip and influence. The Controlling Leadership, which had become an ally of the PDP governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, supported the governor’s candidate on a new platform outside PDP. When Akande, Tinubu, Osoba, Adesina, Adebayo, Durojaye, Hamzat, Olusi, Koleoso, Rafiu Ogunleye, Gbenga Kaka and others were locked in the battle with the PDP for the soul of the Southwest, the absence of the Afenifere Controlling Leadership was not felt.

Today, what unites Awoists is not Afenifere or any political group, but the yearly post humous birthday of the sage and activities of the Awolowo Foundation, which was set up to immortalise him. Personal interest has often displaced collective interest in the post-Awolowo era. But Awo lives on in the minds of the people, the nation and country he served diligently for almost 60 years of active politics. Also, his ideas are imperishable, serving as guide for progressives. They also evoke passion and loyalty arising from what Prof. Akinyemi described as “fond memories of freedom for all, life more abundant; a lasting benefit of this being free education”.

Awolowo associates and members of his political family still alive include Mrs. HID Awolowo, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, Jakande, Adebanjo, Ajayi, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN), Fasanmi, Fasoranti, Professors C.O Taiwo, Akin Mabogunje, David Oke, Banji Akintoye, Muyiwa Igbalajobi, L.D. Oyediran, Tayo Soyode, Akande, Akinfenwa, Adesina, Koleoso, Olusi, Segun Adegoke, Adu, Rafiu Jafojo, Ehinafe Babatola, Osoba, Opadokun, Sesan Soluade, Dr. Bolarinwa Balogun, Okuroun-mu, Adegbonmire, Alhaji Karimu Laka-Orelope, Hamzat, Alebiosu, Babatope and wife, Biola, Akin Omojola, Bimbo Awofeso, Supo Sonibare, Femi Lanlehin, Tunde Onakoya, Odunsi, Hon. George Sadiku, S.K Kolawole, Olawale Idris and Willy Akinlude.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

MKO, UNILAG, Jonathan and the rest of us

B

Nigerian Newspapers put together sell more than 250,000 copies every day. We may try to explain the circulation crash in terms of the emergence of the multi-media or convergence media. But didn't these new media originate in Europe and America? And have they wraught monumental media damage there? In any case, why, again, did Obasanjo not tamper with the New Nigerian, Voice of the North? I disagree with critics of President Jonathan's renaming of UNILAG that the action was pre-meditated to kill the university.

While I agree that the brand UNILAG could be damaged or even destroyed, I do not think this was an original plan. At best, it would be a possible emanation of a self-serving political ball game. In that case, we cannot speak of the President having made a genuine mistake because his intentions to honour Abiola and heal a political injury were not pure. Purity, in this case, would imply there was no other consideration. Was there none? If there wasn't, why was the matter not thrown open for debate as Balewa did?

When you hide something that is important to people from them till the D-Day, there is wuruwuru to it. The President wanted to honour Abiola, the story goes. Abiola was a man of Yoruba proverbs. One of his proverbs was that you cannot shave a man's head in his absence. In the matter in reference, can you heal the political injury of the Southwest in its absence? In a civilised society, can you take such a weighty decision on a university without the Pro-Chancellor, Chancellor, Senate and Council and even psrlisment being informed? By law and by university tradition, who takes decision on the matters of the internal affairs of the university? Is it the university or the government?

We are imperfect human beings. And, as such, we are still subject would capture Biafra in six hours! Didn't the war drag for 30 months? to human foibles and make mistakes, sometimes with good intenHas the annulment of Abiola's election helped Babangida's polititions. How we react to our mistakes is a mirror of our inner worth cal dreams? Obasanjo bulldozed his way to power and sought as humans. If we do not get angry when a superior other view of amendment of the Constitution to give him a third term. Buhari has our action is shown to us, and we humbly and gratefully adopt the not been forgiven in this region for Decree 4 which clamped down superior, option, we unknowingly reveal that we meant well but on the press, retroactive laws which took the life of citizens unjustly, only didn't think out the action deep enough. But if we fight off and abrogation of a contract which in 1983 would have given Lagos what is good, simply because it didn't come from us, and force our rail transportation. President Jonathan is following in their tracks inadequate option on other people, we are like the King holding although he is not a military man. He ambushed the nation in the sceptre of power and quivering, like a slave, inwardly before January to hike petrol prices, claiming the government was merely his subjects. The civilisation of Egypt collapsed simply because removing heavy subsidies. He turned deaf ears to cries of the poor Pharaoh Amenhotep refused to reverse himself on who would that it was the thieving of government people and their friends in marry his eldest daughter, Nafertiti. He had only daughters, and the petroleum industry that was killing the industry. He sent solthis lucky man would be the future Pharaoh after him. In that civilisadiers after the protesters. And even now that grave corruption in tion, pyramids were built. Rocks as huge as a storey building were the industry is coming to light, he wishes to impose another round lifted and mounted one on another at a time pulleys and machines of price hike. Shouldn't he have changed his mind about a second had not been invented. How did they do it except through the help hike after disclosure of shady deals at the Nigerian National Petroof Nature beings who taught men of that time about how to counleum Corporation (NNPC)? One of these is a N1 billion contract for teract the force of gravity and make things weightless and floatable, which 48 N1 billion cheques were issued to 48 different contractors however huge and dense. The most competent man in the kingin one day. In other words, a N1 billion job ended up costing N48 dom to sustain the tempo of this civilisation was, in today's parlence, billion! Who knows how many such deals exist? To President the Pharaoh's Chief Security Officer. His disqualification was that Jonathan, if the thieves cannot be caught and punished, the poor he was not of royal blood. An opportunistic Prince from another must continue to pay for the massive stealing? Did the nation elect land won the prize. The Pharaoh knew in time he had made a a President who robs Peter to pay Paul? mistake. But he failed to reverse himself, despite all entreaties, beNigeria is not made of non-skull people or idiots. And that's why cause, to him, Pharaohs didn't reverse themselves. The Prince was they raise alarm when they think the President is mis-stepping, to murder the Pharaoh and dismantle everything sublime in the blundering. Unfortunately, there are many any-how people in the kingdom. Africa thus lost an opportunity to, once again, lead the country. An any-how person doesn't see anything wrong in whatworld, as it once did in the time of Atlantis. ever the President does, right or wrong. An any-how person will Finally, to my Southsouth friends, the Southwest isn't a spoiler tell you the Federal Government owns the University of Lagos and, for Jonathan. Remember, this region stuck out its neck to make Vice so, can do with it whatever it likes. He forgets the government is a President Jonathan become, first Acting President and, later, Presiservant, not the master, of the nation, and that this nation is founded dent. And arguably, it paved the way for him, to defeat Buhari in the on laws. When it comes to President Jonathan, some of my Presidential Polls. But the Southwest has no place for absolute rulSouthsouth friends do not rise beyond the herd instinct. If a herd ers because that is against its tradition and culture . The Oba wishes to cross a highway, it files in a row. If the one farthest from (King) was not absolute. His powers were checked by the a trailer crosses because it is safe, the one only one meter from death Oyomesi, the Council of Minsters. If the Council thought the makes the deadly dash. They lambast the Southwest for challengOba had blundered beyond redemption, its members would ing Jonathan on UNILAG. One even told me he was sure President head for the Palace with a calabash. They would send for the Jonathan consulted with everyone in the Southwest and asked if it Oba and open the calabash right before him. That was a meswasn't Southwest interest President Jonathan was pushing. Of course, sage that he should commit suicide. The Kabiyesi would reI replied the Southwest wasn't illiterate. To start with, we must tire to the inner chamber and take his life. This provision in recheck the spirit under which Nigeria, through its servant, the Federal the unwritten Constitution of Yoruba governmental system Government, set up a university in every state of the Federation. We must also made the Oba behave himself and responsive to public opinnot ignore the principle of autonomy for the university worldwide. Nigeria ion. He could not act without consulting the Council and other did not invent the University. It merely subscribes to it. I recall that when Prince institutions. So that no action comes as a surprise to the man Charles wished to enroll at Oxford or Cambridge University, his application in the street, his ward leader would have been informed, and wasturneddownbecausehedidnothavethree"A"LevelAs.Theseuniversities he would have addressed the ward residents. The history of did not bent their rules simply because Prince Charles was the Queen's son and the founding of Ile-Ife reminds us, also, that the collective future king of England. When allusion is made to the renaming of the Univerwisdom of the old and the young made it possible. In prisity of Ife after Chief Obafemi Awolowo, it is not stated in balance that the mary school, we were told folk stories of the tortoise. One of change by General Babangida was initially vigorously opposed with many them was that it tried to make itself the wisest animal on lecturers quitting. What I believe, eventually sold was that Chief earth and make idiots of others. He gathered into a gourd all Awolowo's government built the University of Ife, and, arguably, the wisdom chips he could find. When he thought he had all he was the founder of modern day Western Region of Nigeria and wisdom chips in the gourd, the tortoise tried to hang it on a architect of the pre-emiment economic stature of the region in Nitall tree where no other animal would see it. He hung the geria today. What didn't he give the West to make it a leader region gourd with a string on its neck, and made it dangle on its in Nigeria? In fact, many of his followers think today that he blunbelly so it could see it. This made the climbing difficult. Sevdered politically by quitting politics of the West for Federal politics eral times, the tortoise fell. And it became frustrated. Just with the aim of transforming Nigeria globally. Had he remained in before he gave up, another animal passing by stopped to ask the West, it is said, there possibly would have been no military what the trouble was. When the tortoise told the animal its coup in 1996, Tafawa Balewa would have plodded on in Lagos, and mission, that animal reeled in laughter for many minutes. the West would have experienced such monumental development Why don't you sling the gourd on your back? it asked the that would have made it not seem a part of Nigeria! But there are tortoise. The tortoise hadn't wanted the gourd stolen as he other people who see this view as myopic. If the West became an Elwas climbing. But when it discovered this was a better opdo-ra-do in a sick and poverty-stricken Nigeria, wouldn't it be ention, which suggested he hadn't possessed all the world's wisvied and destroyed in the end? There is no doubt that envy breeds dom, the tortoise angrily smashed the gourd to abandon its fruitless hatred and destruction. Obasanjo, as military leader, was misled to desire. try to destroy the West. He took away the short wave Western This is a lesson we learned in primary school‌ that there is no Mr. Nigeria Broadcasting Service and Western Nigeria Television ServKnow All. It is in the union of ideas that growth and perfection comes. ice. To hide the intention, corresponding media in the Eastern ReIt is a good lesson for us all, from Mr President down to the man in the gion were similarly downgraded to FM status. But the North kept street. It has been suggested that Abiola's election being Federal, its Shortwave Radio Kaduna till this day. Babangida tried to derather than regional, Mr President should consider a Federal rather stroy Newspapers classified as the Lagos -Ibadan Axis media. The than regional honour. The Eagle Square has been mentioned. What Guardian, the Punch and I believe the Vanguard were closed at variabout the proposed N5,000 Nigerian currency note? The ous times. Before him, Obasanjo gave the privately owned vibrant Southwest loves Abiola. But he cannot be equated to Awolowo the Daily Times, the pride of us all, to the Federal Government which in this region. So, there is no comparison with the renaming killed it. To understand what has happened, it is important to state of the University of Ife to Obafemi Awolowo University. that the Sunday Times under editor Gbolabo Ogunsanwo was sellIs the President wide awake and listening? ing almost one million copies every week. Today, I doubt if all e-mail: www. olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

EING imperfect, all of us are prone to making mistakes, sometimes honest ones. If we mean well but end up blundering, it is probably because all the acts of our action do not fit intelligently in the jigsaw puzzle. A honest mistake arises from pure motive. Imagine yourself unknowingly bumping into someone in the crowd and causing him to trip and fall. Imagine, also, a footballer on the soccer pitch brought down unknowingly by a friendly tackle. You, like the tackling footballer, will be the first in the crowd to make a rescue move, apologising, giving assurances that it was all a mistake. But where the action was preconceived to achieve an objective, you are the least bothered about the after effects. You are stone faced, and when you are asked if you are aware of what has happened, you reply, Eh he... so what?

On May 29, President Goodluck Jonathan changed the name of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University with presidential fiat in a democratic system. The University was mourning its departed vice chancellor, which made the timing offensive. The University was also just about to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

Such an anniversary, especially for a successful university such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is an opportunity to transform the brand to a higher level. UNILAG is a successful brand name worldwide which sells not only the university but also the City of Lagos, Nigeria's former political capital and the country's financial dynamite, and Nigeria as well. Currently, the government of Lagos State is building, in this city, a mega city on the Atlantic to house about four million people. To sell this package, the city has to be packaged, and UNILAG is one of the major attraction, of such, packaging. Anyone who is involved in business, not people who come by cheap political money, that is people who sweat for every kobo they have, knows what branding and brands are all about. In successful economies, the brand is protected with all it requires. I grew up to learn about Omo and Surf, both detergents, Guinness stout, Star lager beer, and the name NIGERIA. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa tried to change Nigeria's name to SONGHAI. A humble and simple man, he wished to make Nigeria become the third leg of the tripod of three great historical African empires, GHANA, MALI, and SONGHAI. Ghana and Mali already existed in the new political map of Africa. So, he thought it would be a great idea. If Nigeria, a name coined by Europeans, became Songhai. But Songhai empires did not cover vast area of Nigeria. The Southwest, for example, belonged to Oyo Empire which spread up to Benin Republic . There was also Benin Empire, which was governed from present day Benin City.

As a feature of a democratic society, Balewa didn't take anyone by surprise. He threw up the matter for debate, and he lost as already stated. Having lost, he did not behave like President Leboa Jonathan of Lesotho of that time who , having lost an election, cancelled the result, abolished the opposition party and re-installed himself President, the consequences of which were that his days became numbered.

President Goodluck Jonathan says he meant well with the renaming of UNILAG. His party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the kernel of the forces which, like Leboa Jonathan, cancelled the 1993 Presidential elections after it became obvious that Abiola won it. The chief executing officer of that kernel was military President Ibrahim Babangida, who, because he planned to re-contest the Presidential election as a civilian this time, threatened Jonathan, then a hapless Vice President, with fire and brimstone should he run in the PDP primaries. I remember that, twice, this column defended Jonathan's constitutional rights to run with the article, ESTABLISHMENT, EVER HATEFUL OF THE NEW FRONTIER. In the PDP, also, as a thorn in Jonathan's flesh, is two-time former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who, even when Abiola was dying in detention for daring to say he won the cancelled elections, declared on a South African visit that Abiola was not the messiah Nigeria was waiting for. Obasanjo, with political fixtures by Babangida and the kernel, was to usurp Abiola's place in a teleguided election after Abiola's death. We should not forget that Abiola's death led to a political crisis which forced many Nigerians to flee the Southwest for their villages in the North and East, some dying on the way in the mass movement. The North retreated from the Presidency and manipulated into the chair Obasanjo who it thought it could still lead by the nose as he was during his military Presidency years.

Obasanjo became a turn-coat to his PDP masters, as Jonathan, too, has now become. For the 2015 Presidential polls, Jonathan has to neutralise them all well ahead of time in the Southwest. Ditto the irrepressible and still promising former military head of State General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). He has, also, to remind the Southwest that Babangida and Obasanjo are its political foes. To do this, he has to identify with a major Southwest political event. That event still is Abiola. Nothing politically has towered beyond Abiola.

Literally speaking, the rest of the country has forgotten about Abiola.

That suits Babangida and Obasanjo. But not the Southwest in which June 12 has been declared, a public holiday every year. If Jonathan identifies with the feeling, as Shagari did in granting Biafran rebel leader Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu State pardon for treason, to offset Obafemi Awolowo's election promise to do so in order to win Igbo votes, he could be a political hero within this region which is unlikely to show interest in the 2015 Presidential election. So, the idea of healing the political grief of Abiola's annulled election, detention and death or murder was ammunition to hack Babangida Obasanjo and Buhari.

Thus, renaming the University of Lagos after Moshood Abiola was a master stroke. So, was the intention pure? Was it self-serving?

In the Law of Nature that anything false must inevitably collapse, this project is crashing. UNILAG students are rioting to protest it.

The government has sent the police after them . The university has been shut. The alumni association is up in arms. A group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria are going to court to prove that the President's action is illegal because the university was set up by an Act of Parliament Meanwhile, the President characteristically says his decision is final. But is there on earth any human being who can speak with finality? Isn't finality Divine? At the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War in January 1967, a northern field commander said he

46

THE NATION THURSDAY,JUNE 7, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

Pharmacist unveils antimalaria herbal vaccine A NATURAL health expert, Dr Benjamin Amodu, is exploring phyto-medicine to boost the treatment of malaria.

According to him, his interest in research and development of his polyherbal formulation for the treatment of malaria, called SAABMAL, is based on the fact that many Africans use alternative medicine without informing their physicians.

He said more than 80 per cent of the population in the underdeveloped and the developed countries depend on herbal medicines.

He said: “The major problem with herbal medicines in Africa still remains their poor and sometimes unhealthy presentation, as well as scientific data supporting folkloric use. Standardisation of herbal medicines, therefore, should be a major interest for researchers, especially in Africa.

“A major aspect of this standardisation process includes the assessment of the efficacy and safety of such herbal medicines, as well as development of suitable dosage forms and stability,” he said.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Explaining the formulation, Amodu said studies were conducted on SAABMALA, “including a presentation on the standardisation of SAABMALA at the Fourth African Network for Drugs and Diagnostic Innovation (ANDI)/World Health Organisation(WHO) stakeholders’meeting and donors conference at a United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“In the study, SAABMALA, this is already a trademark and has been evaluated for its activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65 strain) in their different experimental animal models for vivo antimalarial activities (prophylactic, suppressive and curative) in mice.

“Chloroquine and pyriimethanine were used as standard drugs for comparison.

The formulation showed significant (P<0.01) antimalarial activities that were either comparable or better than those of the standard drugs. The result obtained established the effi-

•Dr Amodu and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, at the event

ciency of this polyherbal formulation against malaria infection and suggests that, with proper scientific validation and standardisation, herbal medicines can be developed for integration into our health care delivery systems in Africa.”

On the formulation of the polyherbal antimalarial and malaria vaccine, Amodu said the components are from Nigeria (precisely from Igala). “The constituents of the product are under scientific analysis at the National Institute of Pharmaceu-

tical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja. The poly-product contains seven different plants Allium sativum, Cymbopogon citrates, Vernonia amygdalina, Saccharun officinarum, Amaranthus caudatus, Aloe barbadensis and Sesamum indicatum,” he added.

Malaria is not the only area of interest of this pharmacistturned traditionalphytotherapist, but diverse health conditions, and all the ingredients are well-researched and clinically certified by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and development (NIPRID). He is operating under the name Halamin Herbal Products (a subsidiary of Halamin Chemicals Nigeria Limited).

So far, honour has come the way of this industrial pharmacist, who is a Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Defence. For using herbal leaves, spices and roots to provide cure for diseases and ailments, the African Leadership Magazine conferred on him a Lifetime Achievement Award in Lagos.

UNIPORT, firm partner on herbal medicine research

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N indigenous research institute in natural medicine Pax HERBAL Clinic and Research Laboratories (Paxherbal) in Ewu, Edo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on research in herbal medicine.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Joseph Ajienka and Rev. Fr. Anselm Adodo, chief executive officer,

Paxherbal, signed the agreement.

The Vice-Chancellor said the advantages of the MoU include harnessing the unique strengths and experiences of the two institutions for the development of herbal therapies and health care. That will involve, among other things, a review of the curriculum on alternative medicine for undergraduate Pharmacy students in the institution, with the opportunity for practical

training at the Pax Centre, Ewu, Edo State.

The terms of the agreement include the parties promoting inter-institutional co-operation, science and knowledge exchange; establishing and encouraging mutually beneficial research studies and activities; exchange in research among academic staff members for training, research, teaching and presentation of special courses in their fields of herbal thera-

pies, health care; and share knowledge and expertise in herbal therapies and health care which involves the establishment of an outlet for displaying and sale of PaxHerbal products at the University of Port Harcourt.

In their remarks Prof. Ajienka and Rev. Fr. Adodo re-affirmed their resolve to ensure that the MoU is not just a partnership on paper but one that works and that will impact on the society.

• Prof Ajienka

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

47

e-Business The battle over telecom masts With the Federal Government’s intervention, the frequent friction between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) over telecommunications mast erection is expected to end. Will it? ADLINE ATILI asks

W

HAT should be the ideal set back for the erection of telecoms masts?

Should it be five or 10 metres from the closest building? This is the bone of contention between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards Regulatory Enforcement Agency(NESREA). NCC says it should be five metres, but NESREA insists on 10 metres.

This is why both agencies were on the warpath before the Federal Government intervened to restore sanity. Before the intervention, NESREA was sealing off masts which didn’t meet its 10 metre set back requirement, while NCC was unsealing them.

NCC regulates for the telecoms industry, while NESREA is charged with overseeing the environment.

On the erection of masts, NCC claimed that its guidelines are in accordance with international best practices and standards on their acceptable distance to the nearest property or residential buildings.

But to NESREA, the siting of masts “too close” to residential houses has adverse health implications for people.

NESREA is concerned about electromagnetic emissions from Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in residential areas.

But the operators and other stakeholders claimed NESREA’s actions conflict with the statutory regulatory powers of NCC on installation of masts, towers and other telecoms facilities.

They cited an instance when NESREA had unlawfully sealed operators’ base stations in Abuja, which NCC had unsealed in lawful exercise of its statutory powers, saying: “Extant laws require NESREA to obtain a court order before sealing any offending installation, but the agency has continued to carry on as if it is not subject to either the laws of the federation or the supervisory authority of the Minister of the Environment.”

But the Federal Government has waded into the constant face-off between the operators and NESREA. Last week, it barred NESREA from sealing any completed telecoms masts that met the five metre setback requirement as prescribed by the NCC. During a meeting between the Minister of the Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia and the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Director General of NESREA, Mrs Ngeri Benebo was also directed to reduce the duration of completion of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from 18 months to 12 weeks.

EIA is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of telecommunications infrastructure deployment are taken into account before the decisions are made.

A source close to the NCC, who asked not to be named, said henceforth, all new base stations to be built in future would observe NESREA’s prescription of 10metre setback until NCC and NESREA’s regulations are harmonised and the impact of this prescription experienced along the way.

“The EIA directive to NESREA for reduction of the duration for carrying out EIA report, will bring relief to telecoms service providers who had to wait for about two years to be able to make a base station go live, as NESREA had insisted that such assessment must be carried out during rainy seasons, dry seasons and interfacing weather conditions, lasting for at least 18 months.

“With the development, operators can install base stations within three or four

• A telecoms cellsite antenna

‘My worry about this directive is that it will only worsen conditions of telecoms services delivery. Look at the industry, poor Quality of Service is still an issue and the only way you can improve services is by deploying more base stations’ months as they have only 12 weeks to complete the report,” the source further said.

This pronouncement has, nevertheless, elicited mixed feelings from industry players who feel this move would do nothing to improve the already worse Quality of

Service(QoS) in the country.

The National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS), which described the indiscriminate closure of BTS sites by NESREA as irresponsible, said it was unlawful for the agency to shut

down base stations in the country due to “unfounded reasons such as electromagnetic emmissions.”

He flawed the 10-metre set back prescribed for operators for siting of base stations, saying it was a great deal of distance in city centres where a bulk of telecoms subscribers reside.

President of the association, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, speaking on the directive said: “My worry about this directive is that it will only worsen conditions of telecoms services delivery. Look at the industry, poor QoS is still an issue and the only way you can improve services is by deploying more base stations.

“Now with this 10-metre set back, how do you do that? In city centres such as Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Aba, where will you find 10 metres?

For God’s sake how would you improve QoS with this? Five metres would have been alright. This may not be a big deal now, but in future it will.

“Then NESREA’s claim of electromagnetic emissions is ridiculous. The actions of any responsible agency of government should not be predicated on sentiments but by facts provided by recognised bodies and experts in the field, such as the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) among others.

“We have already noted that WHO has not confirmed that electromagnetic emissions from BTS is harmful to human beings.”

According to Ogunbanjo, NESREA’s sole focus on telecommunications infrastructure was questionable in the face of various environment issues begging for attention. PHCN high tension wires and transformers installed in residential areas, Ogunbanjo stated, were even more dangerous than telecoms masts in terms of electromagnetic emissions.

He pointed out that in many countries, telecoms masts/radios are installed on the rooftops of high rise buildings and skyscrapers, adding that NESREA’s indiscriminate closure is a source of concern for subscribers who have continued to clamour for improved quality of service and “an embarrassment to the Federal Government.”

Ogunbanjo stressed that NESREA’s duty was to enforce regulations and not to regulate the industry.

“NESREA is only an enforcer of regulations and not a regulator. The agency is only out to mess up the telecoms industry and make rubbish of its achievements in the last 10 years.

We have a fledgling industry that requires every assistance it can get to grow,” he said.

An official of NESREA, who asked not to be named because she was not authorised to speak on the issue, disagreed with Ogunbanjo on the duties of NESREA. She said: “For him to say NESREA is merely an enforcer and not a regulator, shows he does not really know the duties of the agency.

Though NESREA was set up by the Federal Government to enforce compliance with laws, guidelines, policies and standards on environmental matters, it has powers to equally prohibit processes and use of equipment or technology that undermine environmental quality.

“This is where EIA report is required of telecoms operators and set back requirements for base stations come in.”

Managing Partner of TransitIt, Mr Femi Akinyemi, advised stakeholders to exercise caution. He called for constant liaison and cooperation among concerned regulators in order to ensure the gains of the sector are not eroded.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

48

e-Business Learning Curve applications to aid ICT devt

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•From left: Mr Jimi Solanke of the Story Land fame; Director, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Adebayo Hezekiah; Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, and Nollywood actress, Mrs Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, at the opening ceremony of MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care, in Lagos.

‘IT is key to achieving transformation agenda’ P

ROPERLY situating Information Technology (IT) in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government and leveraging on same could bring about the much desired national development, the Computer Professionals’ (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) has said.

CPN, charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing profession and practice in Nigeria, identified IT as prerequisite for real growth, sustainable development and accomplishment of the objectives of the government as stipulated in the agenda.

At a media briefing in Lagos ahead of CPN’s IT Professionals’ Assembly and Annual General Meeting 2012, CPN’s President and Chairman of Council, Mr Ibrahim Tizhe, said IT, in addition to aiding the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, can help the nation achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Tizhe said with innovative and dy-

Stories by Adline Atili

namic IT policies in place Nigeria can be transformed from an IT consumer nation to a producing one, in addition to joining the league of fastest developing economies in the world.

He said: “There is no gainsaying that I T, over the decades has become a tool for building a better life through the acquisition of knowledge and experience. IT is also a tool for participating in global markets, promotion of political accountability, improving the delivery of basic services and enhancing local development opportunities. It also has the potential of eradicating poverty and assisting tremendously in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“With innovative and dynamic IT policies in place, a country like Nigeria could leapfrog from being an

IT-consuming nation to an IT producing one. Through proper policy articulation on IT, a nation could transform its status from being a backward nation to the fastest developing economy in the world.”

To this end, Tizhe said the CPN’s IT Professionals’ Assembly and Annual General Meeting 2012, which would be held today and tomorrow, would focus on the role Information Technology, as a vehicle for rapid transformation, can play in actualising the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.

He said the event, which is the flagship of all IT programmes in Nigeria, is a platform for stakeholders to showcase their products and services and for participants to discuss and strategise on emergent issues in I T in order to come out with recommendations and decisions that will impact positively on the industry and the nation.

Nigeria lags behind in financial data management

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REPORT by technology solutions firm, Oracle and management consultancy firm, Accenture, has revealed that the country trails behind global trend of investments in financial reporting systems.

The report said this has left organisations in the country with ineffective solutions and a lack of visibility, quality and confidence in financial data.

The report, which surveyed 1,123 finance professionals in large organisations in 12 countries, including Nigeria, highlighted that businesses are unable to fully understand the cost of their financial reporting, with 74 per cent of finance professionals unable to identify total cost as well, suggesting a lack of investment in proper software and an over-reliance on spreadsheets and e-mails.

This, according to the report, increases costs and results in ineffectual financial reporting and missed key deadlines; recommending that investments need to be made in performance management, which is critical to financial re-

porting. “Without these investments, businesses can no longer have complete confidence in their financial reporting data,” the report said.

While acknowledging companies’ investment in financial management solutions, the report stated that it is critical for the investment to be correctly applied to ensure that the data integrity issues are identified and addressed, processes are optimised and financial reporting is improved through the application of a feature-rich unified reporting solution.

“80 per cent of surveyed companies in Nigeria have made changes over the last three years to their close, filing and reporting processes. Meanwhile, only 18 per cent have invested substantially in at least one of these three areas over the past 12 months,” the report said.

Vice President, Product Marketing at Oracle, John O’Rourke said: “It is clear from the report that businesses are well aware that financial reporting needs to change. The good news is that many

are doing something positive about this by investing in new reporting systems.

It seems, however, that these investments are too piecemeal and sporadic to have the desired effect.

“With businesses still looking to invest, our advice is clear: Take the time to find a truly effective solution that can address data integrity issues and optimise processes. By doing so, finance organisations can be more efficient, while accuracy can improve and reports are more likely to be completed on time.”

Executive Director, Accenture Finance and Enterprise Performance Consulting Group, Scott Brennan, said: “These results show why companies increasingly find it necessary to invest in performance management. Those that tend to be happiest with the results of their enterprise performance management are those that have a vision – they understand their company’s strategy and they know the importance of integrating an enterprisewide Enterprise Performance Management solution.”

MTN lines up activities for 21 Days of Y’ello Care

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TN Nigeria has put together several activities to mark its 2012 edition of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, an MTN Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and staff volunteerism initiative, observed annually across its operating units.

With the company’s commitment to improving the nation’s education sector, emphasis will be placed on improving educational standards, providing an enabling environment for learning and promoting gender equality in education by investing in the education of the girl child.

In his opening remarks at the flag off of the initiative in Lagos, the company’s

Corporate Services Executive, Wale Goodluck said specific projects lined up for the event include: MARCH (Make Reading a Child’s Habit) which, he said, is the flagship project of this year’s programme.

According to him, MARCH, which would be executed in partnership with an educational services company, Proact Educational Services, is designed to promote reading culture among pupils.

He said the company would deploy six readingclubsacrossLagos,AbujaandPort Harcourt.

Said Goodluck: “Another project is Teachme Reachme, which involves actual classroom teaching, motivational talk and

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) awareness workshops.

“Other projects lined up to mark the event are the GCE (Girl Child Education) pledge which will require staff members to make pledges to support girl child education; the Y’ello Spelling Bee, which will give school children an opportunity to improve their learning ability; the library upgrade project under which we plan to upgrade libraries in 15 schools across the country; and the BeNice initiative, which involves donations of books and other educational materials, as well as the traditional Y’ello Basket for staff members to make donations in support of the project.”

N order to encourage development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the country, as well as address underperformance of students in Nigerian schools, leading ICT firm, Learning Curve, in collaboration with Delphi, Microsoft and other technology companies, has introduced ICT applications for learning in schools.

According to the South Africabased firm, the application packages were introduced to aid digital classroom study for teachers and students in Nigeria.

Managing Director of Learning Curve, Mr Tim Smith, said for the country to achieve its Vision 20:2020 and play effectively in the digital economy, there is the need for full take-off and development of ICT in Nigeria.

He described this as a prerequisite for sustainable socioeconomic development in the current global economy and information age.

He said: “As Nigeria is at its embryonic stage of ICT development, the country needs to open up itself to opportunities to compete with other technological giants in the world such as India, South Africa and Malaysia.

“It is against this backdrop that Learning Curve is set to enhance teaching methods and develop young people in vocational training, backed with international certification which will be included in the school curriculum from primary to tertiary levels across Nigeria.

“This will make Nigerian youths to be innovative and creative before and after leaving school; enable self-sufficiency and to encourage a career in IT. The ICT packages, including Acrobat, Photoshop, Dream weaver, Flash professional and InDesign, will aid students in Mathematics, English Language, History, Geography, and other subjects.”

Firm floats document mgt solution

I

NFORMATION Technology company, Calm Global Information Technologies, in partnership with US-based firm, Computhink, has introduced a new document and record management solution that manages the entire information and documents for small and mediumsized enterprise markets.

The solution, ‘ViewWise,’ which is targeted at financial institutions, oil and gas sector, telecommunications and government at all levels, is designed to operate in multiple network environment and allows organisations to share information among its employees, while ensuring that only authorised members of staff see the documents they need.

At the launch of the solution in Lagos, Chairman, Calm Global Information Technologies, Mr Deolu Ireyomi said: “The solution manages the entire life cycle of information and

documents from creation to retention, and provides integrated document management and email archival solutions that are flexible, connectible, simple to use, reliable and secure.

“This can dramatically lower costs in terms of reducing reliance on paper and printing and alleviate the administration costs associated with filing, searching and storing hard copy documents. It allows organisations to capture and archive any vital documents into a centralised repository so that they can be accessed by all employees with the proper security and rights from anywhere.

Speaking on the product’s security features, Ireyeomi said, with encryption at page and enhanced level, the solution enables creating saved files in their native format, in an encrypted form, such that no one opens the files without proper authentication.

E-commerce bidding portal launched

A

N electronic commerce (ecommerce) auctioning firm, 3Sbids, has been launched. According to the promoters, “3Sbids is a fun-filled retails auction website that offers a simple, safe and secure bidding system, set to redefine online shopping in Nigeria.”

The online auction portal, which has over 1000 products up for bid daily, makes it possible for users to purchase products at a fraction of the retail price.

Chief Executive Officer of 3Sbids, Mr Frank O’Neil, at the launch of the portal in Lagos said: “The world of online shopping has evolved since the inception of the Internet. In the beginning there was Amazon as the first major direct discount online retailer. Then along came eBay as a virtual auction site selling a wide variety of items to higher bidders.

Now, the next big thing in the ecommerce evolution for Nigeri-

ans is 3Sbids.com, adding a unique twist to the online auction model that is sure to please consumers.

“These days when many people are forced to do without certain basic necessities of life as a result of the harsh economic conditions, 3Sbids is giving you an opportunity to get that new luxury item you couldn’t otherwise afford.

For N500 or less, you have the chance to get that television, laptop, iPhone or car you have always wanted for up to 90 per cent off the retail price.”

Explaining how the system works, he said: “It is a pay-to-bid system that requires four easy steps—register online, buy bids, browse through the list of auctions and choose products, place bid and win. Bids can be purchased on the website using a MasterCard, Interswitch debit card or a VisaCard, in addition to any branch of Zenith Bank.”

Firm’s super cable goes live 2014

T

HE African leg of a new s u b m a r i n e telecommunications system that will serve markets in the North and South Atlantic will be ready for service in the first quarter of 2014. The cable will offer highspeed global connectivity to South Africa, Angola and Nigeria.

Wasace Cable Company, which is building the multibillion-dollar Wasace system made this known recently. The company said it had commenced the procurement process to select a system supplier for the cable’s construction.

An invitation to tender has been sent to four potential suppliers and

Wasace expects to select the successful bidder in July.

The company has retained two financial services companies, including Aterios Capital, as financial advisors to source funding for the project.

International telecoms consulting firm, the David Ross Group, is administering the procurement process and leading the development of the project.

The 40Tbit/s cable will connect South Africa, Angola and Nigeria to the US, as well as to markets in South America and Europe, using the latest “100G” fibre-optic technology.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

e-Business Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

F

ROM the Stephen Orosanye Presidential Panel on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, couldn’t have come a more damning recommendation on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The panel recommended that the NITDA should become a ministerial department in the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology (ComTech). It also advised that NITDA’s function as the clearing house for IT in the public sector should be taken over by Galaxy Backbone, a publicly-owned commercial entity that majorly supplies government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with connectivity links.

The Orosanye panel was inaugurated August 18, 2011, to appropriately recommend the best ways to prune down on government’s MDAs regarded as over-bloated and costly.

Since the report entered the public space, it had drawn cheers and jeers in reflection of the divergent views stakeholders have on issues within the industry.

Cutting down on the high cost of governance is a welcome effort on the part of the Nigerian government which has gained notoriety for running one of the most expensive governments on earth. If the report is implemented, the Federal Government is expected to save over N862billion between 2012 and 2015. But sending NITDA to measured extinction may be one of the blights of an otherwise fine submission. In all, the panel submitted that 38 government agencies be abolished, 52 should be merged and 14 should be reverted to become departments in the relevant ministries. NITDA is

Why Orosanye’s report may kill NITDA

one of the agencies recommended to become a departmental unit within the ComTech Ministry.

The first casualty for the emasculation of NITDA would be the erasure of its core mandates. Among others, they include: To operate and implement the national IT policy and to give effect to provisions of the National information Technology Development Agency Act (NITDA Act) of 2007; to ensure that the entire citizenry is empowered with Information Technologies through the development of a critical mass of IT proficient and globally competitive manpower; to enter into strategic alliance with the private sector as well as international organisations for the actualisation of the IT vision; to develop and regulate the Information Technology sector in Nigeria; to ensure that Information Technology resources are readily available to promote efficient national development; to create IT awareness and ensure universal access in order to promote IT diffusion in all sectors of our national life; to ensure Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) governance, using the instrument of Information Technology; to eliminate waste and ensure that governance and business are done in the global standard of using IT for easier, faster and cheaper delivery of services; the transformation of the Nigerian economy from a natural resource-based economy to a knowledgedriven one; to encourage local production and manufacture of IT components in a competitive manner in order to generate foreign earnings and create jobs; to serve as a clearing house for all IT procurement and services in the public sector; to take Internet governance and su-

pervision of the management of the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD.ng) on behalf of all Nigerians.

To go by recent history, ministries have never been effective in achieving government set goals within specific time limits. Inherently, and depending on the orientation of the government agencies, there have been much more practicable engagements, particularly since the start of this new democratic dispensation, between government and the private sector through its (government) agencies. One good model is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

In the last 10 years, the NCC has evolved to become one of the most effective government institutions that has more than, and consistently, met its set goals without the usual encumbrances as would be associated with government ministries. If Nigeria’s telecoms licensing regime and the entire regulatory functions were assigned to a department under the Ministry of Communications or the ComTech Ministry as it is now known, it is not certain that the much touted achievements in the sector would have ever been achieved.

Reducing NITDA to a department, therefore, would bring a higher degree of loss than gain.

What NITDA needs is a sharpening of its functions and greater engagements of its managers to step up the game to actualising its mandate. As many stakeholders may claim, the Stephen Orosanye panel may have erred on the part of ignorance as to understanding the founding vision and core mandates of NITDA. That ignorance, as some other critics have also claimed, may also have resulted

from the absence of plethora of mandate-led activities by NITDA to continuously justify its existence. That claim in itself is a subject of contention.

However, what is not in contention is that NITDA with all the positive consequences it can assert on governance and the national economy risks being erased by one singular action to ‘departmentalise’ an entire agency into an insignificant ministerial unit. Government and stakeholders must have a rethink on this.

The continuous existence of NITDA is a declarative admittance that government accepts the need to infuse governance with more IT elements. It also shows a structured commitment to engage other stakeholders, outside the burdensome and bureaucratic tendencies of the civil service, to achieve the clear goals for which NITDA was set up. If the Orosanye panel is led to its recommendations to shrink NITDA’s value by the conviction that the agency has brought little impact to the state, it need not be beclouded to the overall picture of what NITDA as an agency can achieve.

This is where critics of the panel may have a point. They want the larger picture of NITDA’s mandate to remain the over-riding motive for which NITDA’s structure must be retained as it exists today. However, if government chooses to go in its adoption of the Orosanye’s panel submissions, it should be guided by the vision of what NITDA was set up to achieve; not its failings. Those visions and those mandates must not be boxed in a ministerial department.

NCC to develop industry corporate governance code

T

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to develop industry corporate governance code for telecommunications operators , in order to ensure they operate with high sense of responsibility, in addition to sustaining a level playing-field.

The governance code, among others, would guide infrastructure sharing among operators, accountability to subscribers, responsibility, information sharing among operators, as well as efficient use of scarce resources in the commission’s market regulation efforts.

Stories by Adline Atili In a welcome address at the corporate governance forum in Lagos, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Eugene Juwah, said corporate governance demands that NCC sets and continuously monitors the ethical framework within which telecommunications companies operate.

“Responsibility for decisions, therefore, will run through both ends of the spectrum, that is, the board and management.

“Operating companies have to take account of its responsibilities to industry in decision making, but

the industry, through the regulator, has to accept its responsibilities for setting the standards against which those decisions are made,” he said.

He said in order to shape the behavioural relationships through which Telcos are directed and controlled; the commission would consider organisational know-how, managerial talent and compliance with standards, processes and procedures.

According to him, NCC is critical of regulatory failure that could arise from negligence of organisational responsibilities of operators, there-

Global Internet users to hit 3.4billion

T

ECHNOLOGY firm, Cisco, has released results of the annual Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) forecast (2011-2016) which showed that in Middle East and Africa, peak Internet traffic will grow 13-fold from 2010 to 2015, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 66 per cent.

The VNI forecast quantitatively projects the significant amount of Internet Protocol (IP) traffic expected to travel public and private networks, including Internet, managed IP, and mobile data traffic generated by consumers and business users.

According to the forecast, in the Middle East and Africa regions, average Internet traffic will reach five Tbps in 2015, the equiva-

lent of 4.5 people streaming Internet High Definition video simultaneously, while by 2016, there will 3.4 billion Internet users around the world.

The forecast described Middle East and Africa’s IP traffic in 2015 as equivalent to 6billion DVDs per year, 505million DVDs per month, or 691,466 DVDs per hour.

“This significant level of traffic growth and service penetration is driven primarily by: increasing number of mobile devices, more Internet users, faster broadband speeds, more video and Wi-Fi growth,” the forecast revealed.

General Manager, Cisco Nigeria, Said Rechchad, said: “Times are certainly chang-

ing with VNI data projecting that there will be 72 million Internet households generating more than 200 gigabytes per month in 2016, and 19 billion networked devices. The network is more important today than any time in history, as more and more people rely on it everyday to live their lives and run their businesses.”

fore, “we would like to start by first looking at compliance with standards, in particular, processes and procedures from which every other corporate governance question is simply a derivative.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, urged stakeholders to operate within the dictates of the law to encourage active cooperation between corporations and stakeholders in creating wealth, jobs and the sustainability of financially-sound enterprises.

Mrs Johnson, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mrs Ngozi Ogujiofor, said operating within the dictates of the law governing the industry would ensure required corporate governance.

“Stakeholders are expected to team up with the administration, to perfect the implementation of the planned strategies by contributing their quota through cooperation, cordial business relationship, according due recognition and respect to investors, consumers and workers alike,” she said.

Firm to strengthen e-commerce platform

T

O give impetus to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s cash-less initiative, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) distribution firm, Westgate Technologies, is set to introduce an electronic shopping platform that will enable its customers buy ICT products online.

Managing Director of the company, Mrs Ijeoma Ezeudu, gave this indication at the inauguration of the company’s corporate head office in Lagos.

Mrs Ezeudu recalled that when Westgate opened its first retail outlet in Ikeja eight years ago, the aim was to make the company a household name in Nigeria and the West African sub region. “We also had the vision of being an ICT one-stop shop for products of choice with innovative approach in retail that would meet the needs and aspirations of consumers in an ever changing world. Today, the vision has been realised,” she said.

She said at the early period of growth of ICT in the country, it was difficult to differentiate between genuine and fake ICT products, saying Westgate

Technologies championed distribution of genuine ICT products, developed the ICT retail channel and rid the market of counterfeit products.

“Once Westgate came on board, she became the game changer. She built a record of credibility and reliability with the distributors. She encouraged the distributors to bring in more products. In effect Westgate was instrumental in the development of the retail channel business of the ICT hardware market in Nigeria,” she said.

With the Federal Government’s campaign for patronage of indigenous ICT products, Westgate Technologies, she said, may venture into manufacturing of indigenous ICT products, such as Personal Computers.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Mrs Ezeudu disclosed that the company has concluded plans to equip two schools within its areas of operation, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu, with a complete set of desktop computers, annually, in line with its mission of ensuring that schools are fully computerised.

•From left: Chairman, Calm IT, Mr Deolu Ireyomi; Mr Seun Kujebe; Executive Vice President, International Sales and Marketing, Computhink, Mr Joseph Wharram and Managing Director, Mr Taiye Iranloye, at the presentation of certificate of partnership to Calm IT in Lagos.

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 6-6-12

T

Stock market loses N80b as high-caps shrink

HE downtrend at the Nigerian stock market persisted yesterday as aggregate market capitalisation of quoted equities shrank by N80 billion, sustaining a seven-day losing streak that has seen equitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; value dropping from N7 trillion mark to N6 trillion level.

In spite of preponderance of gainers to losers, losses by the duo of Dangote Cement and Nigerian Breweriestwo most capitalised companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) coloured the overall market situation.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities dropped from N6.899 trillion to N6.819 trillion, representing a decline of 1.16 per cent. The benchmark value index- the All Share Index (ASI), which tracks prices of all quoted equities, slipped by 1.15 per cent to 21,383.61 points as against its opening index of 21,632.11 points.

The continuing downbeat cut the average year to date

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

return at the stock market to 3.15 per cent, raising fears the market might retrace back into the negative.

With 15 losers to 22 gainers, Dangote Cement, the most capitalised stock on the NSE, topped the losersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list with a loss of N5.61 to close at N106.64, shedding the maximum daily allowable percentage change of five per cent. Nigerian Breweries followed with a drop of N1.20 to close at N99.80. Ashaka Cement lost 44 kobo to close at N9.07. Cadbury Nigeria slipped by 15 kobo to N15.35. United Bank for Africa and Union Bank of Nigeria lost 8.0 kobo each to close at N3.65 and N3.32 respectively. Guaranty Trust Assurance dropped by 7.0 kobo to N1.48. Skye Bank declined by 6.0 kobo to N2.83 while Ikeja Hotel Plc and Fidelity Bank lost 5.0

kobo and 4.0 kobo to close at N1.13 and N1.20 respectively.

On the positive side, Zenith Bank led the advancers with a gain of 60 kobo to close at N14. Guaranty Trust Bank followed with a gain of 27 kobo to close at N15.14.

University Press Plc added 21 kobo to close at N4.42.

Presco rose by 20 kobo to close at N14.70. Access Bank chalked up 19 kobo to close at N6.44 while National Salt Company of Nigeria added 14 kobo to close at N4.51 per share.

Investors staked N1.25 billion on 205.7 million shares through 3,331 deals with banking subsector accounting for more than half of aggregate turnover. Banking stocks posted a turnover of 105.7 million shares valued at N873.9 million in 1,930 deals.

However, Equity Assurance Plc was the most active stock with a cross deal for 50 million shares valued at N25 million. First Bank of Nigeria trailed with a turnover of 30.88 million shares valued at N350.99 million in 554 deals. Guaranty Trust Bank ranked third with a turnover of 15.94 million shares valued at N241.3 million in 306 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 6-6-12

51

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

MONEY LINK

Credit to private sector falls OANS from the banking system to the private sector in April contracted marginally by 0.1 per cent and expanded by 43.4 per cent.

In a report credited to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Capital Research, the lending to the private sector has not been

L

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

encouraging.

"The provisional data is a little disappointing, given the prevailing view that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Nigeria’s bad bank, has finally cleansed the balance sheets of rescued and healthy

Infrastructure key to Africa’s devt, says AfDB

A

FRICAN Development Bank (AfDB) has said development of infrastructure is key to the growth of the continent.

The bank, made this known during its annual meeting in Tanzania.

The meeting culminated in a debate where it was agreed that the only way to encourage the growth of African economy is to provide good infrastructural base. The debate was christened: ‘Africa transforming Africa.’

Speaking during the event, the President and Chief Executive officer, African Development Corporation (AFC), Mr Andrew Alli said many infrastructural projects are currently being implemented by indigenous financial institutions.

He noted that Main One Undersea project is one of them. Alli said there must be better co-ordination among regional countries to facilitate administrative procedures in the sector.

He said: “The advantage is that an African will have a much more nuanced understanding of what’s happening in Africa and how to over-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie & Akinola Ajibade

come certain problems.

Also, the President, African Finance Corporation (AFC), Dr Donald Kaberuka, said institutions such as New Economic Programmes for Africa Development (NEPAD) has helped in developing frameworks for growth in the continent.

Kaberuka said the bank has financed various projects in the continent to encourage growth.

“What was also generally agreed was the size of the infrastructure gap. Whichever way you see it, is a massive $50-$100 billion annually.

There is money out there and Africa needs to be better at mobilising the emerging sovereign wealth funds and the funds which are idle in other countries”, he said.

In his own contributions, the Chief Executive officer, Ethiopian Exchange Commission, Dr( Mrs) Eleni Gabre-Madhin said regional economic communities can create the necessary templates that would scale up successful initiatives.

She said it is good to engage the

banks, and that the banks are talking of loan book expansion.

Lending to the private sector at end-April has contracted year of date by 0.2 per cent.

“We should recall from the latest cycle of quarterly conference calls that the larger banks are guiding to loan book growth this year of 15 per cent and the middle-tier institutions to as much as 20 per cent," the report said.

According to the report, the year to year data has been complicated by what is taken to be the AMCON transactions in the first seven months of 2011.

It said AMCON does not have the capacity to produce pro-

duce surprises.

The market did not expect the magnitude of the sector-wide new round of provisions in fourth quarter of 2011. Banks’ results, led by first-tier institutions, were, however, transformed in first quarter of 2012..

The report said CBN s decisions to tightening the regulatory environment has raised some hopes, adding that it is a sign that the well documented mistakes will not repeat itslelf.

CBN’s liquiidty tightening measures via issuing of treasury bills(TBs) among other financial instruments has been applauded by industry watchers

T

HE Group Managing Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc Mrs Funke Osibodu has called on banks to make agricultural financing attractive and profitable for shareholders and depositors.

Osibodu made this call during the African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA) workshop in Abuja yesterday. The workshop was sponsored by the bank.

She said the development would lead to increase in productivity for farmers, and also enable them to meet the growing needs of the consumers.

The Union Bank boss said the issue would lead to increase in per capita income, employment generation, rural development, and em-

powerment of citizens. She listed other benefits to include a reduction in Africa’s food import bill and sustainability of Africa’s food security.

She commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for providing a platform for banks to support agriculture, adding that CBN’s efforts are being complimented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture that has introduced innovative measures into the sector.

Osibodu said AFRACA is expected to assist the central banks, development agencies and related ministries that want to align themselves with policies in the agricultural sector.

Also, the Secretary-General of AFRACA, Alhaji Saleh Usman Gashua

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 ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

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 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 6-6-12 SYMBOL

UPL NEIMETH TRANSCORP FIDSON RTBRISCOE MAYBAKER ZENITHBANK PAINTCOM JAPAULOIL LIVESTOCK

O/PRICE

4.21 0.63 1.06 0.85 1.28 1.55 13.40 1.14 0.70 0.94

C/PRICE

4.42 0.66 1.11 0.89 1.34 1.62 14.00 1.19 0.73 0.98

113m

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

O/PRICE 112.25 9.51 1.55 1.18 0.52 1.24 3.40 3.73 2.89 1.65

C/PRICE 106.64 9.07 1.48 1.13 0.50 1.20 3.32 3.65 2.83 1.62

CHANGE 5.61 0.44 0.07 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.03

29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

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

Dec ’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% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date

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%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 6-6-12

SYMBOL DANGCEM ASHAKACEM GTASSURE IKEJAHOTEL UNITYBK FIDELITYBK UBN UBA SKYEBANK CUSTODYINS

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.21 0.03 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.07 0.60 0.05 0.03 0.04

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

called on African leaders to refocus their energies on policies that would attract investors to the sector.

He said Nigeria, like other emerging countries has not been able to provide proactive solutions to the problems in the sector. Experts such as Professors Victor Okoruwa, James Olukosi, Dapo Adedire and Dr Ilo said agriculture would not improve until an enabling environment was provided. They called on stakeholders to work together to achieve food sufficiency in the continent.

Union Bank has been in the vanguard of agriculture financing for many decades, a development that has earned it national and international awards and laurels.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

who believe that the initiative would check inflation in the nearest future.

Osibodu seeks increased funding for agric

FGN BONDS

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 123.93 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 105.00 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.75 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,710.94 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 9.42 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,690.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 123.81 104.34 0.73 1.08 0.88 1,703.76 8.96 1.33 1.80 7,486.02 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS Church begins Synod From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

T

HE Second Synod of the Anambra Anglican Diocese of Amichi will begin today at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Ebenator, Nnewi South Local Government

Area.

It would be presided over by Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor.

Governor Peter Obi and the Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion are expected at the programme.

During the orogramme, the church would educate its members on the importance of writing and executing wills.

Imo CPC calls for council polls

T

HE Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Imo State has urged the State Government to conduct elections in the 27 local governments.

It said the management of councils by transition committees is “undemocratic and unacceptable”.

CPC Secretary Mr. Ogu Chikaodi told reporters in Owerri, the state capital, that it is criminal for appointed persons to run the councils, when elections can be conducted for the emergence of democratically elected leaders.

Chikaodi urged Governor Rochas Okorocha to dissolve the caretaker committees, which he said are against the

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

tenets of democracy and the constitution, and conduct council polls.

Criticising the proposed Community Government Council (CGC) of the Okorocha administration, CPC threatened to mobilise mass action and sue the government, if it fails to conduct council elections.

It regretted the “worrisome” state of education and urged the governor to revamp the sector.

The party lamented the alleged commercialisation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the increasing cases of kidnapping.

Imo identifies 460 erosion sites From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

T

HE Imo State Government has identified 460 erosion sites across the state.

It urged the World Bank to come to its aid.

Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment Chief Steve Ahaneku told reporters in Owerri, the state capital, that Ideato North and South local government areas; Mbaise and Umuozu in Isiala Mbano council; and Umumbuzu Nekede in Owerri West are the worst hit erosion sites.

Ahaneku said the government has educated the public on the causes of erosion and trained over 350 people on basic erosion prevention and control techniques.

He said his ministry has started executing corrective measures, which include the development of an integrated waste management system.

Ahaneku said the government is determined to create a safe and clean environment, as well as awake the people’s consciousness on the need for a decent healthy environment.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE IN THE LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT LAGOS SUITE NO. LD/295/2009 BETWEEN UACAN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC.......CLAIMANT AND 1. DISC TECHNODATA BHBM LIMITED 2. DR. PATRICK I. ADIGWE…………......DEFENDANTS

•People at the collapsed building...yesterday

One killed in Anambra building collapse

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N uncompleted three-storey building collapsed yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, killing one person.

The incident occurred about 3:30pm.

It was gathered that seven workers were on site when

•Four trapped From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

the building collapsed.

One body and two persons, who were injured, were evacuated by officials of the Federal Road Safety

Court grants 50 MASSOB members bail N Onitsha Magistrate’s Court, Anambra State, yesterday granted bail to 50 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

The MASSOB members were arrested on Tuesday by a combined team of policemen, soldiers and men of the

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State Security Service (SSS), who raided their offices in Onitsha and its environs.

They were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of fire arms.

Urging the court to grant them bail, MASSOB counsel Mr. Okechukwu Odimgbe said his clients were not ar-

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N advertising agency, Media 2 Limited, has de-

bunked a media report (not The Nation) that someone was killed when its iconic billboard under construction collapsed.

It said the structure, which is being handled by renowned engineers and experts in design and construction, collapsed without any casualty due to an identified technical defect during a quality assurance inspection.

Notice is hereby given that the suit by the above named UACN Property Development Company Plc is still pending against the above named Defendants:

Further take note that the original Statement of Claim field this suit and which was served on the Defendants through the second Defendant has been amended. A copy of the amended Statement of Claim is available for collection at the Offices of the Solicitors to the Claimant the address of which is shown below.

Further take notice that the suit is presently listed on the Causes List of Honourable Justice Okuwobi sitting at the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere Road, Lagos Island, Lagos State and will come up in Court on 25th day of June 2012.

DATED THIS 6TH DAY OF JUNE 2012

SIMON EVIVE SIMON EVIVE & CO. SOLICITORS TO THE CLAIMANT 3, MONTGOMETRY ROAD, YABA, LAGOS. 07025024186, 08023138966

rested at a crime scene and described the charges as “frivolous”.

Prosecutor Tunde Odeola kicked against it, but Magistrate Vivian Udedike Granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each.

They are also to provide one surety each, who must have a national identity card.

Hearing was adjourned till

July 18.

MASSOB Director of Information Uchenna Madu said some of the organisation’s members, who were injured and arrested during the raid, were not arraigned.

He said: “We are demanding that our injured members should be arraigned or released.”

Billboard collapse: Firm debunks death report

NOTICE OF CONTINUATION OF SUIT

1. DISC TECHNODATA BHBM LIMITED 2. DR. PATRICK I. ADIGWE

Commission (FRSC), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and some students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

It was gathered that the injured were taken to an un-

disclosed hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, four persons are still trapped in the building.

FRCS spokesman Godwin Omeje confirmed that one person was killed.

Omeje said they were still battling to see if there are people trapped in the debris.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT LAGOS STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPECIAL OFFENCES (ENFORCEMENT) UNIT ALAUSA, IKEJA

PUBLIC NOTICE The general public is by this Notice informed that vehicles impounded by the agency and which remained unclaimed for a period over Six Months as at DECEMBER 2O11 shall be auctioned if at the expiration of (7) Seven days after this Notice, Owners fail to reclaim same.

SIGNED: ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY

In a statement, the company’s General Manager, Mr. Ekeke Fidelis, described the report that someone was killed as “a figment of the writer’s imagination”.

He said a similar structure that was erected by Invent Media, the parent company to Media 2, last

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year on the same axis remains a cynosure of all eyes and an attraction to tourists.

He urged the media to be fair in the discharge of its duties.

Ekeke assured stakeholders that his company will always deliver top of the market services.

‘RUN isn’t on fire’

HE Redeemer’s University of Nigeria (RUN) has debunked a report that the institution was razed.

Its spokesman, Mr. Akinlemi Omosola, said there was no truth in it.

He said there was a fire incident in an hostel room, but PUBLIC NOTICE OHANENYE I formerly know as Miss IJEOMA TECULAR OHANENYE now wishes to be known and address as Mrs. IJEOMA TECULAR OKPARA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public that an international passport issued at Lebanon and driver license issued

by FRSC belonging to Hussein Ali Alawie got lost in transit and all efforts made to trace it proved abortive.

If found kindly take them to nearest police station or call: 08023535654

By Joseph Jibueze

it never spread beyond the room.

In a statement, Omosola said: “During the heavy downpour last night (Tuesday), an air-conditioner in one of the students’ rooms caught fire and this was quickly put out by the camp’s fire fighters and a military dispatch.

“Nothing was lost, apart from the air-conditioner and a mattress. The fire did not extend to another room.

“So, the fire outbreak reported by that unknown writer must be the figment of his or her imagination.

“I urge members of the university community and the public to disregard this rumour and remain calm, as the students are busy writing their second semester examinations.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

NEWS Committee on collapsed building From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Benin Branch, has set up a six-man committee to investigate the cause of the collapse of a section of the Central Hospital.

It said it would collaborate with the state to achieve the best practice for infrastructural development in the state.

A statement by its Chairman, Obanor Victor, said its Engineering Regulation and Monitoring team met with the Commissioner for Works, Francis Evbuomwan, who promised to assist the committee.

Dickson to banks: empower Bayelsans

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•Gowon commissioning the projects...on Tuesday. With him are Oshiomhole (left); Oshiomhole’s daughter, Winnie, and Commissioner for Works FrancisEvbuomwan

Gowon inaugurates 10 roads, street lamps in Edo

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ORMER Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon has inaugurated 10 road projects, including street lamps, built by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The projects include Iheya Street where former governor Samuel Ogbemudia lives. gen. Gowon urged the people to continue to support Oshiomhole for more projects to be done.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The ex-head of state said: “We are very grateful for his performance. You should continue to appreciate the governor.

“I’m sure that very soon you will prove that you love Oshiomhole and will want him to continue.

“I don’t belong to any party but if anyone is doing well, he deserves our gratitude.

“I will like to say how proud I am. You remind me of my action governor during my days.

“I know he had the best interest of the people at heart that is why Oshiomhole is doing so many things on behalf of the Federal Government.

“I want you to give him your support to continue with the good work he is doing. I will continue to support so that he can be able to do good

for this state.”

The governor said Gowon was chosen to inaugurate the projects because he fought for the nation’s unity and stability.

“For a government that relies on one man one vote, it is in our own interest that we deliver services to the people where they are. We are clear on what we need to do.”

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has advised banks in the state to employ more indigenes.

Dickson gave the advice when the Deputy Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Nwigwe, visited him at the Government House, Yenagoa.

Dickson said as companies doing business in the

18 bodies abandoned in hospital From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE management of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State are searching for the owners of 18 babies, whose bodies have been abandoned at its morgue. Also abandoned are the bodies of six adults.

A statement by the hospital’s spokesman, Ohue Odigie Ernest, said the bodies were deposited between February 2010 and December 2010.

The statement said efforts to get the owners to remove the bodies were abortive.

It warned that it would disposed them in any manner it deemed fit if the owners refused to claim such in two weeks.

‘Reverse UNIPORT fees hike’ GROUP, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC),has called on the management of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to reduce the fees of part-time students.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, H.T Soweto, the ERC said it supports the students’ call for a fee reduction.

“The ERC supports the protest of students and urge

A JTF kills two robbery suspects in Delta •Two arrested for alleged kidnap T HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Delta State has killed two robbery sus-

pects.

The army commandant of the detachment in OwaOyibu, Ika North East Local Government Area, Capt Ubachukwu Agbo, said the suspects were shot after they stole a motorcycle.

Agbo said security forces were tipped off by a local vigilance group.

According to him, one of the suspects was identified as Lucky Johnson. The identity of his accomplice could

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From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba and Osagie Otabor, Benin

not be ascertained.

It was gathered that the suspects dispossessed a resident, Mrs. Ngozi Oginze, of her belongings and a motorcycle.

Agbo said another victim, Jeremiah Njokwuemene, was robbed by the gang.

Recovered were one live cartridge, a locally made pistol, a motorcycle, DT 394 MA.

Aide: Sylva will be vindicated

ORMER Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has assured his supporters that there is no cause for alarm.

The embattled former governor was detained on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following a Federal High Court, Abuja, order. He is

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

charged with alleged fraud and money laundering.

His media aide, Doifie Ola, yesterday, said Sylva would be vindicated, if the judiciary is not swayed by external pressure.

Ola said: “Sylva would come out of the trial with his

Bayelsa lawmakers boycott meeting

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In a related development, a cleric’s driver was arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap his boss in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The cleric was said to have received threat messages to pay N2million or be kidnapped.

The syndicate ran out of luck when the police arrested Iyoto Emmanuel, who attempted to collect the money where it was dropped at Uwasota.

The suspect was said to have named the driver, Ogie

Omorotiomwan, as the mastermind.

Also, a security guard, identified as Chris Moses, was arrested for allegedly kidnapping his boss.

Moses allegedly stole his boss’ personal effects and fled to Akwa Ibom after collecting the ransom.

Commissioner of Police Olayinka Balogun said the police trailed the suspect to Uyo, where he was arrested.

He said the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

HE crisis rocking the Bayelsa State House of Assembly is far from over. T he lawmakers yesterday boycotted Governor Seriake Dickson’s monthly transparency meeting.

Chairs meant for the lawmakers at the briefing, which took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, were empty as none of them showed up.

Dickson said his administration must be prudent in its dealings because the state’s monthly federal allocation was reduced last month.

“Last month, we got far lower than we expected and

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

this means we have to be prudent, we have to be transparent because we don’t know what will come tomorrow.

“We shouldn’t spend the resources of the state the way we cannot spend our personal resources .”

He said the state has taken over the construction of the Sagbama/Ekeremo Road, which is being handled by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“I asked NDDC to stop work, I will take over the road because work has been too slow , for 12 years now,” said Dickson .

credibility intact, if the system is not manipulated.

“He is innocent; the charges against him are politically motivated. The judiciary has the capacity to do justice.”

The former governor was removed from office in January by a Supreme Court judgment, along with four other governors.

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them to continue until all demands are met.

“We call on the management of the institution to listen to the demands of the protesting students by reversing the fee hike.

“At the same time we warn that no student be victimised for participating in the protest.

“We in the ERC call for reversal of the hiked fees. The government has the responsibility to fund public education adequately.”

Youths protest exclusion From Clarice Azuatalum, Port Harcourt

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OUTHS in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State have threatened a showdown with the management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) following the exclusion of their names from the just released Technicians Training and Employment list.

Some of the youths, yesterday in a statement in Port Harcourt, said they are more than ready to fight the matter to a logical end.

They called on Governor Rotimi Amaechi to intervene in the matter.

NLNG’s Community Relations Officer Andy Odey said: “I am not in a position to speak about this because we have an external relations manager. I am not in a position to talk to the press.”

Parcel bomb scare in Cross River •Sylva

Ex-JTF man heads security group ORMER Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta MajGen Charles Omoregie is now the chairman of the Edo State Neighborhood Watch Committee.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House in Benin City, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the law under which the committee is set up was enacted in January 2002.

He advised members to work with the local governments and wards to find

state, it was only proper for such banks to employ Bayelsans as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The governor, who described Access Bank as Bayelsa-friendly, expressed government’s willingness to do business with the bank.

Nwigwe said the bank was ready to key into the restoration agenda of the present administration.

criminals wherever they are.

Gen Omoregie said the committee would be guided by its commitment to serving the people.

Members are drawn from the army, police, State Security Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), NAtional Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), civil society groups, non governmental organisations, the Youth Council of Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria and traditional rulers.

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ORKERS in Cross River State have been put on the alert by the government about parcel bombs.

They are to watch out for bombs concealed in an envelope bearing the seal of the Presidency, Governor’s Office or other high ranking officer posted and deliv-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

ered by a messenger or couriered to the person targeted for elimination.

Security Adviser to the Governor Rekpene Bassey, in a circular, advised civil and public servants to be wary of the letters sent to them.

Relief for windstorm victims From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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ESPITE came yesterday for victims of the May 1 windstorm in Boki, Cross River State.

Building materials worth millions of naira were donated by the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The victims said the gesture, which they described as unprecedented, gave them hope.

Presenting the relief materials, the Director-General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani Sidi, who was represented by the Director of Training, Clem Aisueni, said NEMA has repositioned itself to exploit every avenue in disaster management.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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NEWS Ogun council polls: Three parties align in Yewa North From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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EOPLES Party of Nigeria (PPN), Progress Action Congress (PAC) and Labour Party (LP) in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have adopted Mr. Bolarinwa Omololu as their chairmanship candidate for the July 21 council polls.

This followed series of consultations among the leaders of the parties. Their alliance may be aimed at forming a formidable force against the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

PPN National Publicity Secretary Mr. Raheem Ajayi said: “Omololu is a grassroots man. He is a true democrat and the people of Yewa North have identified him as the person that can turn their fortunes around.”

Omololu, a media consultant, said he aims to facilitate the financial autonomy of local governments, so that more funds would be available to develop the grassroots.

He said he would improve agriculture and healthcare, empower the people, as well as get rid of ghost workers, if elected.

Good governance’ll curb human trafficking, says Aregbesola O SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the underdevelopment of Africa is one of the factors responsible for the trafficking of black Africans.

Speaking at the inauguration of the State Working Group of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) on Tuesday at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo, Aregbesola said economically weak nations are the targets of human traffickers.

He said good governance is all that is required to prevent trafficking.

The governor said when the citizens are empow-

‘The number of victims shows that the problem may be worse than we think it is. As we speak, thousands of Nigerians, who are victims of human trafficking...’ ered, they would resist whatever bait is offered by traffickers.

Explaining thatwomen are particularly susceptible in this regard, he cited cases of girls that have been lured

to Europe and forced into prostitution and other forms of abuses.

Aregbesola said: “Since its establishment, NAPTIP has been dealing with these issues, ranging from repatriation to counselling, empowerment and rehabilitation. Late last year, NAPTIP facilitated the repatriation of 104 Nigerians from Mali.

“The number of victims shows that the problem may be worse than we think it is. As we speak, thousands of Nigerians, who are victims of human trafficking, are said to be spread across West African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Sen-

egal and Cote d’Ivoire.”

The governor said his administration is working strenuously to ensure a good life for Osun people, so that they will not be susceptible to the deceit of criminals.

He said he has put several policies and programmes in place to banish poverty and unemployment.

Aregbesola said: “It is a cardinal principle of our administration that all people must be free and democracy must translate into liberty for them. The electoral mandate we received is to ensure that our people have a good life

and are free from all forms of enslavement. We are determined to help them realise this to the fullest.”

He said his administration will support NAPTIP in carrying out its duties.

The Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, regretted the growing trend of child trafficking, adding that over three million children are being used for cheap labour in Nigeria.

She said: “Children are being used for cheap labour. Instead of parents providing for their children, it is children you find on the streets fending for their families. We seek the cooperation of the Osun State Government in bringing human trafficking to its barest minimum.”

Ekiti IRS condemns attacks on revenue collectors From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

HE Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has condemned attacks on its officials by the public.

The Chairman of the Service, Mr. Isola Akingbade, said the attacks have become a daily occurrence in Ifaki, Ido-Osi Local Government Area.

Akingbade said efforts are ongoing to enlighten the public on tax issues.

He said the implementation of the new Consolidated Tax Relief introduced by the Federal Government would reduce the tax paid by workers.

The IRS chairman said it was impossible for the state government to overtax its workers as is currently being rumoured.

He said the amount deducted as Pay as You Earn (PAYE) tax is fixed by the Federal Government and cannot be altered by any state.

Akingbade said: “The new tax law is an Act made by the Federal Government and no state can do anything about it. It is workers-friendly.”

On the state’s internal revenue, he said though the implementation of the new tax law, which started in April, has reduced the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N600 million by nearly 58 per cent, the board is determined to improve it to N1 billion by the end of the year.

Akingbade said: “To achieve the monthly IGR target, we have concluded plans to bring informal sector operators into the tax net.”

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•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (third left); District Governor, Rotary International, Lagos, Kennedy Ejakpomewhe (second left); his wife, Merrytime (left); Past District Governor Sabhash Sahu (third right); his wife, Sabya (middle); Past District Governor Tayo Alabi (second left); and Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa; during the visit of the Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria (Ogun and Lagos states) to Amosun at the Governor’s Office, Abeokuta...yesterday.

Fayemi says second term campaign premature

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said the campaign for a second term by his supporters is premature.

At a special session marking the one year anniversary of the Ekiti House of Assembly, which was also attended by his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, Fayemi said second term calls at this early stage are distracting.

The governor, who was reacting to comments by the lawmakers, said he is not half way into his first term and wants to focus on fulfilling his electioneering promises.

He urged the lawmakers to

From Sulaiman Salawudeen , Ado-Ekiti

continue to support him to ensure rapid growth.

The governor said while it is impossible to represent the people without joining partisan politics, “what the people want is development, which is without partisan colour”.

He said: “However, after putting in place the desired development, the people would still identify such efforts with a particular party.”

The 26-member Assembly unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the governor. They said his achievements have made them proud.

By this vote of confidence today, you have placed a big burden on me to do more and revive all facets of the state’s economy The lawmakers, including the two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, praised him for handling issues dispassionately and treating people as equals.

Fayemi said: “By this vote of confidence today, you have placed a big burden on me to do more and revive all facets of the state’s economy.

“But let us limit the encouragement you are giving to the vote of confidence and forget about the second term or 2014, because we have a lot of work to do for our people now.”

Following a motion moved by Majority Leader Churchill Adedipe and supported by Mr. Ayodeji Odu, the Assembly urged President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure the management of Dana Airline compensates the victims of Sunday’s plane crash.

Council office wears new look

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LESA East Local Government Secretariat, built in 1976 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration, is wearing a new look.

The secretariat now has a legislative building and all its structures have been repainted.

The Council Secretary, Mr. Lanre Balogun, said the legislators, who have been squatting in other offices, can now do their job in a conducive environment.

Balogun said the renovation is in line with the state government’s campaign for a clean and healthy environment.

Jonathan names nine-man airlines audit committee •Continued from page 4 within which they are operating are very faulty. So, we are fixing that with this measure.

Mrs Oduah added: “The current airline economic regulatory regime will be reviewed again within the next three months to make it more effective, current and relevant to safety needs. The safety measure in aviation is like the cardinal; it is not

negotiable; it is not subject to discussion. It is what must be done and it is what is done on a regular basis.

Everything is safety.”

On reports of past crashes, she said: “I wasn’t there before and cannot answer for them now. I can tell you what is happening now. I also want to say that all the reports of past air crashes, the Sosoliso, ADC etc are ready and when we get the proper approval to release to the public, we will do so because it serves no purpose

to keep it because it is for public knowledge; because there are lessons we should learn from such incidents and not allow them reoccur.

That is the purpose.”

The minister also said the crashed aircraft was not the one that was investigated over the concern raised by Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio. She said the aircraft involved is abroad for repairs.

Mrs Oduah assured Nigerians: “Air transportation is still the

safest mode of transportation. Our airspace is very safe. I hear people say our airspace is not safe, that is not true; we have the safest airspace in the world; we are very safe.

What happened has nothing to do with the safety nets of our air space. And so I want to assure Nigerians that what happened on Sunday will not reoccur, by the grace of God. We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that we

enhance our safety policies and procedures and we are doing that now to ensure that NCAA becomes stronger and their regulatory oversight is enhanced.

“With all the approvals we have got and with the transformation measures that is currently ongoing, in addition to institutional reforms that we started about a year ago, everything is on course. All these are to ensure we have safe aviation sector in Nigeria. “

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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NEWS Nigeria, US hold talks on Boko Haram From Vincent Ekhoragbon, Gombe

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HE United States plans to work with the Nigerian Army to help it combat the threat of Boko Haram.

But Washington has still not decided whether to put the group on a blacklist of terrorist organisations — even as gunfire and explosions erupted in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital yesterday.

“This is an issue of ongoing internal deliberations within the United States government,” Assistant Secretary of African Affairs Johnnie Carson said after two days of high-level talks with Nigerian officials in the US capital.

The administration was “trying to make a decision which is both appropriate, rational and useful” while “taking into account the significance of any decision that we might make on Nigeria and the Nigerian government.”

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Abuja in August which killed at least 25 people.

Its deadliest attack yet occurred in January in the northern city of Kano, when coordinated bombings and shootings left at least 185 people dead.

Four killed in Plateau village raid

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N officer of the Mobile Police (MOPOL) 42 Abuja serving with the Special Task Force (STF) on the Jos crisis codenamed “Operation safe haven” has been allegedly killed alongside three Berom youths at Tanjol village, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

An eyewitness said the attack was carried out at about

•Policeman body yet to be found From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

6:30am on Monday by armed men suspected to be Fulani.

The source said while the bodies of the youths have been recovered and buried by their relations, that of the mobile police officer is yet

to be found.

We learnt that the STF has continued to search for the body of the policeman.

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Emmanuel Abu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the incident, said: “The police

officer is missing. We have not seen him and we can’t find his body. The search is on. We plead with the public to assist us in the search.”

The STF spokesman, Captain Markus Mdahyelya, could not be reached for comments. It was, however, confirmed that soldiers are combing the community for the body of the MOPOL officer.

JTF claims 16 suspected terrorists killed in Borno

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IXTEEN suspected terrorists died on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and five others were arrested in an onslaught against the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named “Operation Restore Order”.

The JTF spokesman, LtCol. Sagir Musa, who spoke in Maiduguri yesterday, said the offensive took place in locations in Maiduguri, including Lawan Bukar, Railway Quarters,

Gwange and Budum Ward.

“The JTF wishes to inform the public that on June 5, at about 4pm, some terrorists attempted to launch simultaneous attacks in Maiduguri, using AK 47 rifles, bombs and rocket-propelled grenades.

“They also used other deadly weapons in the attacks,” he said, adding that the JTF successfully repelled the attacks after a gun battle with the terrorists.

“We successfully repelled the attacks and 16 suspected terrorists were killed while five others were arrested.

“A soldier sustained minor injury during the battle,” Musa said.

He stated that the JTF also defused several Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) buried at Lawan Bukar ward by the terrorists.

“In fact, we completed the operation in the morning by defusing some IEDs bur-

ied by the terrorists.

“We were unable to defuse all of them in time because they were buried in different spots,” Musa said.

According to him, the JTF recovered seven AK 47 rifles, an anti armoured tank rocket launcher, a pistol revolver and 200 assorted live ammunition.

“We also recovered 12 AK 47 magazines and two gas cylinders used in making homes bombs,” Musa added.

‘Insecurity: Northern governors lied’ From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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HE Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Danyaya, yesterday debunked claims by the Northern governors that the current insecurity in Nigeria is caused by the high poverty level.

He carpeted “politicians who only consider themselves, their families and friends even if these people are wrong, provided such actions are taken to feather their nests.”

The monarch made the remark when he spoke to reporters in Bauchi.

He lamented that “people no longer have confidence in our judiciary as defaulters or those convicted of any crime are given a pat on their back for their wrong deeds, and no punishment for such perpetrators of evil acts. The national treasury looters are not jailed.”

•Chairman, Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Lawi, preaching at the funeral...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Bauchi suicide bomb victims buried amidst wailing

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IVE victims of last Sunday’s suicide bombing at the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) and Harvest Field Church, Yelwa Tudu, Bauchi were buried yesterday amidst wailing.

On Monday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, said 20 Christians and one Muslim died in the blast. It also said 45 persons were injured when a suicide bomber in a blue Honda Civic car stormed the church premises.

Among those buried was Irmiya Hassan Dodo, 67, a

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Second Republic House of Representatives member, Joseph Kehinde Aiyedipe, 30, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Samuel Olusegun, 16, an SS II student of the Divine International School, Bauchi, Augustine Effion Ita, 32, an adolescent health specialist and Suru Gbamgboshe, a final year student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University , Bauchi.

The remains of the deceased, who were members of the Winners Chapel, were interred at the

Bauchi Christian Cemetery, Yelwa Kagadama at 12:32 pm.

The pastor of the church, Gauis Biyal, in a brief sermon, urged Christians not to seek revenge against anyone.

“Vengeance belongs to the Lord; vengeance belongs to Jesus Christ who was persecuted for our sake. It is He that can fight on our behalf. He knows what to do. If we try to do it ourselves, we will die in the process,” he told the wailing crowd.

The Chairman of CAN in the state, Rev. Pokti

Lawi, stressed the need for Christians not to take the law into their hands, adding that CAN as a body, would not support such an action.

He decried the killings by soldiers who were drafted to the scene of the blast, saying God would avenge the killings of the people without a just cause.

The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Emeka Emefesi, noted that the Christian community has been thrown into sorrow by the incident.

Don’t leave Southern Kaduna, govt urges Fulani herdsmen

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HE Kaduna State Government yesterday asked Fulani herdsmen living in the southern part of the state not to leave, as the government has taken adequate measure to ensure their safety.

The government also urged individuals and groups carrying out night raids in some parts of the state to desist from such actions and embrace peace and dialogue for state’s development.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

In a statement made available to The Nation in Kaduna yesterday and signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs (Christian Matter), Rev. Joseph Hayab, the government also asked the Fulani herdsmen to go about their normal business as the government is taking measures to ensure their safety.

The government was reacting to a recent statement by a

group which called itself Akwat Akwop asking the Fulani herdsmen resident in Southern Kaduna to leave the area within two weeks or risk being killed.

The government asked residents of the state to embrace dialogue and avoid vengeance and actions that could further bring instability.

The statement entitled: “Appeal To ‘AkwatAkwop’ For Peace” reads: “Last week,

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there was a statement by a group known as AkwatAkwop going round Kaduna State and the nation at large.

The group gave one week ultimatum to the Fulani herdsmen to leave the whole of Southern Kaduna or face spontaneous attacks by a group which is said to be a militant sect who are seen as Christian militias.

“For the records, Christianity does not in any way encourage killing, act of evil, or

any intent by man to cause harm to fellow human beings.

“As the Special Adviser, Christian Matters to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, I find it imperative to categorically state that violence under any guise will not provide any solution to the deepening problems the state and the nation are facing at the moment and is not in any way a panacea for peace and development of Kaduna State.”

PHCN denies wrongdoing as family buries electrocuted girl From Marie-therese Nanlong, Jos

FOLLOWING the electrocution of two siblings at Kabong in Plateau State and the death of one of them, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has denied any wrongdoing, claiming nobody lodged a complaint in its office until the electrocution occurred.

A statement issued yesterday in Jos and signed by the PHCN’s Principal Manager (Public Affairs), Isah Rafee, said the attention of the company has been drawn to a newspaper publication of June 5, which portrayed it as being callous and careless.

According to Rafee, “the truth of the matter is far from the impression the newspaper publication gave the public. We have said it several times that residents should stay away from the area where two No. 33Kv lines pass through, in addition to another 132 Kv line that goes to Makurdi through Kafanchan.

“We have no control over nature, hence the breaking of the cross arm on that fateful day by the windstorm could not have been averted. When the line cut, it did not trip the line, through which the control would have sensed a danger. But when we became aware of the incident the next day, the line was immediately opened, but before then, the unfortunate incident (electrocution) had occurred.”

The Gambo family insisted that a complaint was lodged at the PHCN Kabong Station and that the manager and engineer visited the victim at the hospital and even attended the funeral of Faith which took place on June 5.

Jerry Gana heads Bafyau’s funeral committee AN 18-member committee for the burial of former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Paschal Myeleri Bafyau, has been constituted.

The committee, headed by a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Jonathan Silas Zwingina as members.

Others include: the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Chief Daniel Richards, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator U.J. Yohanna and Mr. A.A. Salam.

The list also has Comrade Hamilton Okere, Comrade Chris Uyot, Comrade Owei Lakemfa and Comrade Salisu N. Muhammed. The rest are Elder Joel R. Binauto, Col. H.I. Stephen (rtd), Dr. Pogu Bitrus and Azumi Namadi Bebeji.

Garba Yedimakudon is to serve as secretary of the committee.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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Benue governorship dispute: Don’t apply technicalities Supreme Court urged

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HE Supreme Court has been urged to deemphasise technicalities in deciding the Benue State governorship dispute.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and a group, the Coalition of Civil Society in Africa (COCSOCA) said the apex court, and indeed the judiciary will help the nation’s democracy by deciding the case on its merit.

CNPP, in a statement by its General Secretary Willy Ezugwu, said the Benue suit a test case for the judiciary to redeem its image and help restore the people’s hope in its ability to do justice.

“The Supreme Court must hold unto its sanctity and in-

By Eric Ikhilae

tegrity as a temple of justice; that the Benue issue is a national and international matter because serious issue bordering on qualification, non presentation of certificate or presentation of a forged certificate in an election which is a constitutional requirement for election were raised.

“The judiciary and democracy in Nigeria is on trial here, the world wants to know if one can be president, governor or even councillor in Nigeria without certificate because I do not know why it is becoming difficult to answer this, even when the Supreme

Court, which is the highest court in the land, has said the case be heard on its merit,” it said.

COCSOCA claimed, in its statement, that the apex court’s interpretation of Section 285(6) of the Constitution, in respect of 180 days time line, denied the citizens right to fair hearing. It added that it constituted the biggest threat to democracy judging from the level of resentment arising from the interpretation.

“The last and only pending governorship election petition (Benue State case) before the Supreme Court presents an opportunity for the court to remedy the past injustices.

Gowon’s group prays over Boko Haram

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•ACN candidate Prof. Steve Ugbah

“We strongly believe that since the Supreme Court gave an order for retrial in the matter, sustaining that order is the only way the Supreme Court can demonstrate its commitment to fairness, justice, rule of law and thereby redeem the image of the judiciary,” it said.

A sober FEC meeting •Continued from page 4 was well conducted but not so in Nigeria. Rescue team had herculean task to reach the victims at the crash site.

We have to reintensify our campaign of national reorientation. Personal letters of condolences should be written by you, Mr. President, to all bereaved families that cannot be visited. The problems in the country are too many. When certain things become too much, we have to draw closer to God. In addition to national mourning, there is need for three-day fasting and national prayer for God to be merciful and clear the cloud hovering on our nation. In the Bible, nations like Nineveh did it and God intervened and so did Queen Esther and God intervened and saved the Jews.”

•Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: “To the bereaved, we cannot replace their loved ones. But we can enhance safety so that our airspace will not become a place of carnage and loss of lives. We should also look at the financial and economic strength of the airlines to work towards consolidation.”

•Agric Minister Dr. Akunwunmi Adeshina: “We must take every measure to say never again. The number of economic operators not in aviation sector alone but in all sectors. Investigations are always conducted without implementation. This must not continue. A total over-

haul of the aviation sector is necessary.

•Federal Capital Territory Minister Bala Mohammed: “Aviation sector has witnessed a lot of turnaround.

We have a lot of gaps in terms of infrastructure, personnel etc. But still, we have done a lot. We have to make a lot of sacrifice, financially, to get equipment and training.

Compensation and insurance should come quicker than before.”

•Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke: “I watched the take off of the aircraft at the airport before I left Abuja. We saw the fire when we were landing and we asked ourselves what was causing the fire and was very sad on landing to hear that the plane had crashed. We lost five of our trusted hands.

It is a turbulent time for Nigeria. Our prayers must be deeper because deep must call to deep. We must further tighten our delivery. We need to say that 20 years old plane can fly; they do all over the world. But we must ensure that engines are replaced when due. Punitive measures must be taken when we found out the cause must be fully implemented.”

Head of Service Isa Bello Sali described the incident as “tragic” as many professionals perished in the crash. “We join all Nigerians in mourning,” he said.

•Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke was poetic in his speech. He spoke about the abrupt end of

dreams, the innocent infants and capped it up philosophically, saying: “Infants who had no knowledge of the world, young adults with visions and ambitions, professionals who have contributed immensely all perished.A critical lesson to the living is that the future is not in our hands. Those who have the opportunity to serve this country must ensure love bond and know that every minute counts. I was lucky to be navigated around them and ushered into another flight which was not my preferred flight.”

•Mnister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide: “We can use it to show that we value every life and that we can transform Nigeria, especially the aviation. There should be no cover up. Ensure thorough job. Ensure all airlines, domestic and international, passenger and cargo, should be covered. International aviation experts should be included in the investigation.

•Minister of State Agric Bukar Tijani: “It’s a period of reflection. Our destinies are not in our palms. God decides when and how we return.” *Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Zainab Maina said: “I have phobia for aircraft. I am always tensed when I enter aircraft. It is a national tragedy. We have been praying but we need to intensify our prayers. So many things have happened.”

•Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe : “75 per cent of plane crashes worldwide is attributed to human error and further to finance.

A lot of money needed for equipment, capacity building etc. We need to create a framework to make funds available to the sector. It is another wake up call.”

•Minister of State (Trade and Investment) Dr. Samuel Orthum: It was a trial and setback. “Do not be distracted.

It is important that we draw closer to God at this time.

Nobody has its destiny on its hand. He qouted 2 Chronicles 7.14, saying we need healing and God can do that for us.”

•Minister of State for Education Wike: “I see the mood of people who are in pain and sorrow. Most trying

period of this administration.

It occurred at a time the transformation agenda is on course. Nigerians should be patient and await the outcome of the steps taken so far.”

•Minister of Communication Technology Mobola Johnson decried the insentive manner the use of communication gadgets were deployed. “A few hours after the incident, causes were speculated. A victim’s wife got to know about the crash through BB used to spread manifest.

Nigerians should be responsible as we use the technology.”

•Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu: “It is shocking and unbelievable; it is a total calamity. Children orphaned, family wiped out.

I commend Nigerians who started rescue operations before agencies of government arrived. People found culpable should be dealt with. People should exercise duty of care.”

•Minister of State (Niger Delta) Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi: “Destiny can’t be changed.

Prayers are necessary. We need to give the necessary support to the Aviation Minister to put an end to the incessant tragedy. Build more capacity in rescue work.”

•Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman: “Investigate properly and take appropriate steps.

We need to take certain steps ourselves. We can’t just say it is predestined. Issue of corporate governance and ethics of work of Indians have gotten to their country and they are also concerned. Nigeria is not being villified on this.”

•Minister of Education Prof. Rukiyyah Rufa’i said her Ministry lost six persons including the husband of the Mjnister of State 1 on Foreign Affairs, who were on national assignment. Those culpable should be punished to serve as a detterant to others, she said.

Vice President Namadi Sambo said the reports by the presidential committee would help in sanitising the industry. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and fortitude for their love ones to bear the losses.

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HAIRMAN of the Lagos State chapter of Nigeria Prays, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, has said there is no amount of security measures that can stop the bloodletting by the militant sect Boko Haram if prayers is neglected.

He spoke against the background of the planned one-day prayer summit slated for Sunday at the Christ Church parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Gbagada, Lagos.

Nigeria Prays, a body set up by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon has been at the vanguard of praying for Nigeria since the June 12 1993 crisis.

Rev. Kehinde said: “Because the people we are dealing with are not just bombers but suicide bombers. If somebody is ready to die and he is prepared to take others along with him, there is no security measure that can be put in place that will work if a divine force is not in operation,” he said.

VC hails ASUU President

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HE Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has congratulated the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for electing Dr. Nasiru Isa Fage as its president.

The Vice Chancellor, in a statement by his media consultant, Malam Waziri Isa Gwantu described Dr. Fage’s election as a demonstration

of the union’s commitment to sustain its age-long and principled position of voting leaders of impeccable character.

The Vice Chancellor said ASUU has again proven that it is the only union that has outgrown ethnic, religious and regional sentiments in the election of its executives.

“It is for this reason that I am congratulating both the union and the new president”, he said.

Stakeholders kick against Oronsaye’s recommendation

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TAKEHOLDERS have frowned at the recommendation of the Steve Orosanye committee, which called for the rationalisation of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

They said the commission is indispensiable for the peace, unity and stability of Nigeria.

In a communiqué at the end of a three-day workshop in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital,

by FCC Executive Chairman, Prof Shuaib O. AbdulRaheem, and Prof Gbenda Batur-Laha, the stakeholders noted that “under a democratic dispensation, it is the view of the workshop that the efficiency

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

and effectiveness of the FCC would be impeded due to political interference and, therefore, calls on the Federal Government to insulate the commission from partisan politics”.

The workshop was entitled: “Fulfilling a constitutional mandate in the implementation of the Federal Character principle and guidelines at the three tiers of government.”

Prof AbdulRaheem read the communiqué.

The workshop noted that youth unemployment was responsible for the insecurity across the country.

Two poly students remanded in prison for allegedly killing mate WO students of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mufutau Saheed and Adeeko Olamilekan, have been ordered to be remanded in Ilesa prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly killing a fellow student.

The accused were arraigned before Magistrate Olusola Aluko on a twocount charge of murder and conspiracy.

The accused, who were said to be members of a paramilitary corps in the institution, were arraigned for allegedly

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

killing Adeola Balogun.

The accused alleged that Balogun was a member of a cult group and that they intended to make him confess to the allegation.

But the deceased was said to have denied the allegation.

He was, therefore, tortured until he died.

The accused were said to have suspected that Balogun was a cultist and thereby arrested him with intent to compel him to confess his involvement in cultism.

62-year-old man remanded for ‘raping’ 10-year-old girl N Osogbo Magistrate’s Court has ordered that a 62-year-old, John Osunade, be remanded in Ilesa Prisons in Osun State for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.

The accused is facing a count charge of allegedly having forceful canal knowledge of the little girl on May 27.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Elisha Olusegun, told the court that the accused lured the girl into his home at Tonkere village, near Gbongan, in Ayedaade Local Government

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Area of the state, to commit the alleged act.

He averred that the accused, through his action committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.

The prosecutor said the matter was reported at the Gbongan Division of the Nigeria Police immediately it happened.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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ICPC arrests Ondo council’s pay master, others

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FFICIALS of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested some officials of Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The anti-graft body also seized some “vital documents” and computers of the local government.

The Nation learnt that the ICPC officials arrived at the council secretariat around noon and arrested the woman in charge of salary schedule, Mrs. Toyin Falade. She was reportedly taken to Abuja for questioning.

It was learnt that the anti-graft body had received a petition from some of the workers on the controversial new secretariat complex as well as an alleged salary fraud.

It was learnt that the anti-graft agency had written the council’s top officials to provide the salary schedule from January to Decem-

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ber last year. But the council allegedly turned down the request.

Some aggrieved council workers told The Nation in confidence that there have been series of fraud allegations against a former auditor of the council, Mr. Marcus Akinduko. He was accused of “unwholesome acts” when he was in Akure South Local Government Area.

The ICPC, a source said, summoned the caretaker Chairman, the Accountant, the Treasurer and other top officials to appear before it in Abuja tomorrow at 10am.

The council chairman confirmed the visit of the anti-graft men on phone, saying they were doing their normal duty.

The ICPC Investigation Officer in charge of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti zone, Mr Kole Olubunmi, confirmed the arrest.

But he declined further comments.

Reps to Jonathan: stop paying HE House of Representatives yesterday urged N80b judgment debt

President Goodluck Jonathan to order the immediate suspension of judgment debts of N80billion, pending verification by the House Committee on Justice.

This followed the adoption of a motion brought before the House by a member, Robinson Uwak (PDP, Akwa Ibom).

In a motion, entitled: Negligence by the Federal Ministry of Justice in the prosecution of cases involving Federal Government resulting in huge judgment debts, the lawmaker noted that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice appeared to have been inadequate in representing and protecting Federal Government’s interests.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

He said the AGF has fallen short of expecting in allgovernment’s contractual transactions, including litigations against it by some parties.

Uwak said: “It is a great concern that piling up of judgment debts against the Federal Government and the apparent zeal and willingness of the AGF to pay same, instead of diligently defending litigations, does not reflect competence and or commitment to the discharge of this fundamental duty of protecting the interest of the Federal Government.”

The lawmaker cited a particular case of Interstella

Comunications Limited, in which the plaintiff is claiming, among others, N14,256,000,000 in a matter that is before the Court of Appeal.

He said: “The AGF has commenced payment of this claim to Interstella, even where NITEL insists that it had already paid Interstella N52,349,460.

“It is, however, worrisome that the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General may have wittingly or unwittingly been encouraging the procurement of judgment debts against the Federal Government through gross negligence or nonchalance in prosecution, thereby exposing the scarce public resources and tax payers’ money to misuse and waste.”

President sends UNILAG change of name Bill to National Assembly •President seeks to rename other federal varsities

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday submitted a bill seeking to formalise the change of name of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola University (MAU), Lagos, to the National Assembly.

The President announced the change of name in a national broadcast marking this year’s Democracy Day on May 29.

Despite the protest among the students of the institution, the government has said it would not revert to the old name.

Other stakeholders also criticised the name change, accusing Dr Jionathan of not consulting widely enough before changing the institution’s

From Onyedi Ojiabor (Assistant Editor), Sanni Onogu, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

name.

The President sent the bill to the National Assembly with a covering letter, dated June 5, entitled: Forwarding of Bills for Acts to rename three Federal Universities.

It reads: “I forward herewith for your kind consideration and passage into law, the attached Bills for Acts to rename three federal universities as indicated.”

Jonathan also submitted a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Procurement Act, No. 14, 2007, and a Bill for an Act to provide for the enforcement and punishment of crimes

against humanity, war crimes, genocide and related offence.

When House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal read the letter, the chamber erupted in an uproar.

Besides UNILAG, the other universities the President proposes to rename are: the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Imo State, to Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, to Adamu Modibo Federal University of Science and Technology.

Dr Jonathan proposed stiff punishment for war crimes, genocide and related offences and the reinforcement of punishment against humanity.

Senate confirms FERMA board

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HE Senate yesterday confirmed Mr Ezekiel Olajide Adeniyi as the Chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) board.

The confirmation followed the consideration and approval of the report of the Senate Committee on Works on the screening of those nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan to serve on the board.

Also confirmed are: Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, Air Commodore Indongesit Nkanga (rtd), Mr Ubah Maigari, Mr. Olatunji Shelle and Mr. Samuel Gwomma, as members of FERMA board.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Ayogu Eze (Enugu North), who presented the report of the screening of the nominees, said the delay in submitting the report was due to the need to clear some legal issues.

The members of FERMA’s old board had kicked against the President’s dissolution of the board without recourse to the National Assembly, as stipulated in the FERMA Act. Eze said members of the committee resolved to seek legal opinions on the matter to do a proper job.

Five states get police commissioners

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CTING Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has named new police commissioners for five states in the ongoing restructuring of the force.

The information was posted on the website of the Nigeria Police and was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) by Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

Mba said Malam Mamman Sule is the new Commissioner of Police for Ebonyi State; Danladi Mshebwala for Ondo State and Patrick Egbuniwe for Yobe State.

Others are Ibrahim

Maishanu, for Taraba State and Sontonye Wakama, for Ekiti State.

The police spokesman explained that Mr Lawal Tanko, a Commissioner of Police, is the new Deputy Force Secretary.

He said 57 senior officers were affected in the new postings.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

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www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO.2,149

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘The DANA crash was a disaster waiting to happen because of the failure of the regulatory authorities to do their jobs. They cannot claim to be unaware of the bad state of aircraft not only in DANA’s fleet, but also in the fleet of all the airlines in the country today. If these airlines are audited, a lot will be revealed’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

COMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

AST week, President Jonathan announced that, to mark ‘Democracy Day,’ he had decided to rename the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Moshood Abiola University in memory of Chief Moshood Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, elections. Chief Abiola died tragically in mysterious circumstances in 1998 while in the custody of the military junta, still trying to claim his electoral mandate. He never succeeded in doing so. But in the process he suffered severe mental and physical deprivations, including the assassination of his wife, Kudirat, by agents of the brutal Abacha military regime. But he became an instant national hero through his suffering, audacity and great courage. The military, now badly divided and shaken, decided to withdraw from power in the face of strong civilian resistance inspired by Abiola’s heroism. Abiola’s death paved the way for the transition to civilian democratic rule in Nigeria.

Since then, there has been a persistent clamour for his immortalisation by naming a national monument after him.

To his eternal credit, President Jonathan is the first national leader to do so 14 years after the tragic death of Chief Abiola. His two predecessors, presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, had the opportunity of honouring Chief Abiola but failed to do so. President Obasanjo, like Abiola, a Yoruba, from Ogun, the same state, as Abiola, was never going to do so. He was openly disdainful of Abiola. When Chief Abiola was in detention and was being hailed as a national hero, Obasanjo declared flatly that Abiola was not the political messiah Nigerians were expecting. When he was in office, a feat made possible by the huge personal sacrifice of Chief Abiola, President Obasanjo never once mentioned Abiola’s name publicly.

He found the mere acknowledgement of the name distasteful. It is possible that, had he not died prematurely in office, President Yar’Adua would, as he promised, have found a way of honouring Chief Moshood Abiola. He had the potentials of a good leader and was not unmindful of the heroic part played by Abiola in ending military rule in Nigeria. After all, his own elder brother, General Musa Shehu Yar’Adua, a former deputy to Obasanjo, in the military regime of 1976-79, was killed while being held in military detention by the Abacha regime in equally mysterious circumstances.

Like Chief Abiola, he was suspected to have been poisoned by the agents of the Abacha regime. President Obasanjo was himself in prison at the time on life sentence for allegedly being involved in an attempt to overthrow the Abacha regime.

So, the decision by President Jonathan to honour Abiola is highly commendable and, in different circumstances, would have been hailed throughout our nation as an act of great statesmanship. It would have earned President Jonathan some political mileage with the Yoruba which is what he had hoped for. Instead, it turned out to be a political embarrassment, and a damp squib that could prove to be politically costly to the ruling party, the PDP, in the Southwest. Every one believes that

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DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

The renaming of UNILAG

•UNILAG logo

Abiola deserved the honour. Regrettably, President Jonathan’s decision to name the University of Lagos after Chief Abiola has divided the nation and has been greeted by the students of the University of Lagos with indignation and widespread demonstrations. What was intended by the president as a good gesture went awry in its implementation. As it turned out, the renaming of the University of Lagos after Chief Abiola has generated a lot of opposition to President Jonathan from the students of the University and other well meaning critics of the decision. No one doubts President Jonathan’s good intentions over the matter.

What his critics question is his lack of judgment in naming the University of Lagos after Chief Abiola.

Many critics also say that President Jonathan did not consult widely enough before announcing his decision to name the University after Chief Abiola. Others point out that the necessary constitutional and legal processes were not observed by President Jonathan before announcing the renaming of the University after Abiola. In defence of the President, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Wike, a public functionary, resorted to intemperate language that could not have helped matters.

But the issue even goes beyond the alleged failure by the president to follow due process in this matter. It involves our collective judgment on the manner in which names of national institutions are often changed in Nigeria without showing a due sense of propriety or

of history. In our effort to wipe out part of our colonial history, most street names at Ikoyi in Lagos have been changed and named after those whose contribution to Nigeria’s history or progress is not so self evident. No harm would have been done in retaining the original street names. In fact, it is far better to remember our colonial past than trying to forget it. For instance, after the civil war in 1970, Broad Street in Lagos was named by the military governor of Lagos after General Gowon, the war time military head of state, for whom I have personal admiration. Definitely, Gowon was a great leader and deserved to be honoured. But to name the main street of Lagos after him showed a singular lack of judgment on the part of the military governor of Lagos.

Of course, after he was swept out of power, the new military government got Gowon Street changed again to its old name of Broad Street.

This was in response to the strong opposition of Lagosians to the Street being named after General Gowon, or anybody else for that matter.

My old school, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos, the oldest secondary grammar school in Nigeria, once had a similar embarrassing experience of a name change which was considered insensitive and provocative by its students and old students. In 1959, the Church Missionary Society (the CMS), after which the school was named when it was founded in 1859, wound up its operations in Nigeria and, as its proprietors, handed over the school to the newly created Anglican Diocese of Lagos.

Promptly, the new owners of the school, the Anglican Diocese, decided to rename the school as the ‘Lagos Anglican Grammar School for boys’. Of course, we the old boys were not going to accept this change. In protest, the ‘old boys’, led by Chief Akintola Williams, his brother, Chief Rotimi Williams, Chief Adeyemi Lawson, Chief T.O.S. Benson, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Mr. S.O. Wey, among other old grammarians, rejected the name change and embarked on a long and sustained boycott of the school and its new proprietors.

In the end, the Anglican Diocese recognised the force of the opposition to the name change and reverted to the school’s old name, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos. The response of the old boys to the name change was sentimental, no doubt, but sentiment remains a powerful

HARDBALL

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O fate seems so sealed as dying in an air crash, and no crash seemed so evocative, so surreal and so hauntingly final as the one on Sunday involving Flight 0992 operated by Dana Air. Plane crashes are neither new nor a rarity in Nigeria. Sunday afternoon stridently reminded us how fiery death can be, how unsparing its pangs are, how overpoweringly it beckons, how ephemeral it makes life itself, and how it locks in ghoulish embrace the destinies of people born and bred diversely in age, background, race, religion and tastes. And consider also how, in plunging to its fiery end, extinguishing the hopes and aspirations of more than 153 people, the plane took along with it in its mangled frame and surreal end the lives of six other people in the densely populated neighbourhood where it crashed.

But, with apologies to the newshounds who did an excellent job of bringing the account of the crash and its aftermaths to our breakfast tables, the real news, which will never be told but can only be conjectured, is how the passengers in that ill-fated craft received the pilot’s

If you had only five minutes to live warning of an impending crash.

It is said that death row transforms an inmate unlike any other thing. His very visage, it is said, wears a cadaverous look so spectral that no one beholds it without shuddering.

When he talks, his voice often sounds distant, as if the speaker spoke from nearly half a kilometre away. His reasoning is often rambling and incoherent, his plans desultory, and to him everything acquires a fresh form of meaninglessness. Eleven nautical miles and probably 10 minutes of flying time to the Lagos Airport, what raced through the minds of passengers on that jet as their pilot prepared them for emergency landing? Did he tell them the whole truth that a crash was inevitable? If he did, did they comprehend the full implications of the crash, even if the crash happened at the airport? Did they think they would survive the crash? What flurry of activities took

place in those frightful few minutes before the crash? Did passengers see anxiety or fear on the faces of cabin staff?

There are more than a hundred questions for which we are certainly never going to get answers, for the lips of those who could give them are forever now silenced. But at a point, perhaps five minutes to the crash, when the plane hurtled down to earth faster than expected and lower than was safe, and as passengers awaited the crunching impact of steel upon bricks and trees, what went on in the minds of those now bound together by a common destiny of death and chaos? It is impossible to be composed or lucid in the face of death, or to compress into a few minutes a lifetime of thoughts, ambitions, disappointment, love, hatred, children, wife, husband, wealth and other unfinished businesses. They would have known instinctively that it was no longer nec-

force in human reaction to certain situations, such as that involving a name change of a major national institution such as that of the University of Lagos. No one who has been associated with a reputable national institution such as the University of Lagos would like its name changed so capriciously.

I entered the University College, Ibadan, as a student in 1961. Later, in 1962, it became a full fledged University, the University of Ibadan, as it is known today. But I never really got used to the new name of the University of Ibadan and still call it, even today, the University College, Ibadan, fifty years after its name was changed. I still remain nostalgic about the old University College, Ibadan, and believe most of my contemporaries at the old UCI still do. In fact, without meaning any disrespect to either the memory of Chief Obafemi Awolowo or his family, I have always had difficulty in referring to the former University of Ife, later named after Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the Obafemi Awolowo University. Ditto for the old Nigerian College, Zaria, named later after Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

As several critics have pointed out, there are many other public buildings, such as the National stadiums in Lagos and Abuja that the federal authorities could easily have named after Chief Abiola without attracting any opposition to such a gesture from any one. But a University is a different thing altogether. It has a personal ring to it. Its students and past students remain attached to it and would always think of it in sentimental terms. It would, for instance, be unthinkable for any British government to seek to change the names of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, considered to be national monuments in Britain. Churchill College, Cambridge, was founded by private endowment to honour Winston Churchill, the British war time hero. But no one would dare think or suggest that any college in Oxford and Cambridge, or the Universities themselves, be named after any British leader, no matter how distinguished he is. New private foundations are welcomed. But there can be no change of the names of the existing colleges in those two Universities or any major British University for that matter.

The question is often asked, what is in a name? There is a lot, even if it is only sentimental, in a name change, which could generate a revolt such as the one in the University of Lagos. The students and staff of the University are not opposed to Chief Abiola being honoured. What they are against is their University being named after Chief Moshood Abiola even when they acknowledge and admire him as a national hero. President Jonathan will lose nothing by admitting that an error of judgment has been made in this matter. He should allow the University to revert to its original name and end the controversy.

May I use this medium to offer my deep condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Lagos last Sunday, June 3.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above essary to even think, and that it would be better to suspend thoughts, for thoughts had become sterile and useless.

Five minutes to death, or perhaps even shorter, what would be your thoughts? Would the body’s nerves hold up, or would they yield to uncontrollability in much the same way as a computer infected with virus crashes? Maybe tears, maybe mournful prayers, maybe fainting spells, maybe songs, maybe dry mouths…and one final, desperate struggle to hold on to life, to shield it from the onrushing Grim Reaper. Whatever they felt in those last few disconcerting minutes and seconds, the end came furiously, unremittingly, punctuating every thought, and bringing ghostly silence and thick, enveloping stillness. Wherever they are in the massive void, defying gravity and wafting in new dimensions, can the victims of Flight 0992 crash see their loved ones grieve? Are they angry those who could have prevented the accident didn’t? Or are some of them happy to go, taken away from the evil to come?

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