The Nation June 1 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News EFCC, House in cold war over Bankole’s invitation P2 Sport Siasia heaves sigh of relief Messi won’t be in Abuja P24 Business BUA Group builds $500m cement plant in Edo P16 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1777 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

•Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Office Sterling Bank, Mr Yemi Adeola and Chairman Sterling Bank Alhaji Suleiman Adegunwu during the 49th Annual General Meeting of Sterling Bank Plc held at Golden Gate PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS Complex Glover, Ikoyi, Lagos ... yesterday.

N150.00

•From left: Group Chief Operating Officer, BUA Group, Mr Chimaobi Madukwe, Mr Per Majnert Kristensen, Vice President FL Smidth, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group and Mr Martin Strouhal at the signing of the 500 million dollars contract sum for the construction of an ultra modern 2-5million metric tonnes of cement line per annum in Edo Cement Company in Okpella, Edo State at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja ... yesterday

Jonathan to ex-ministers: some of you will return I

T was an emotional meeting, devoid of the usual conviviality that attended the weekly gathering at the seat of power.

All was quiet as the President spoke at the unusual session with the cabinet.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) usually meets on Wednesdays. In fact, the last of such meeting was held last Wednesday when the President asked the ministers to carry on.

President Jonathan unveiled what had been

Cabinet list likely for Senate next Wed From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

widely speculated – that some ministers will return.

He said: “I have worked with each and every one of you. And except for one or two incidents, I have not seen any compelling reasons to drop most of you.

“But the reality is that some of you will go, some will come back. But I consider ev-

But the reality is that some of you will go, some will come back. But I consider everybody as part of the government.

– President erybody as part of the government. Those who may not return to the cabinet may still be engaged one way or the other.”

The list of ministers is

ready, President Jonathan hinted.

The list is likely to be sent to the Seventh Senate next Wednesday, barely 24 hours after it is convened.

Jonathan reportedly told the ex-ministers that were it not for a last-minute legal advice, he would not have dissolved the Federal Executive Council.

But he asked the former Ministers to remain in Abuja because he might need some of them for clarifications on a few things in their handover notes.

The valedictory session was held between 10am and noon

– in camera.

A Presidency source, said the President told the ministers that he might have left most of them to continue, “but certain changes are necessary”.

The source quoted the President as saying: “I want to make one confession. I felt I should take my time before dissolving the Federal Executive Council but there were various legal opinions that you cannot remain in your posts beyond Continued on page 2

Four dead in Ekiti bank robbery F

•A victim, Mr Francis Afolabi ... yesterday PHOTO: TOYIN ANISULOWO

OUR persons died yesterday in a daring bank robbery in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Guns boomed and residents rushed indoors as the robbers shot their way into the bank in Okeyinmi.

There were about 20 robbers, including two women – according to residents who claimed to have seen them. They spent nearly an hour at the bank, shooting sporadically.

Ten residents were injured.

They included 15-year old Fasuan Samuel, Mr Francis Afolabi (75), Olumide Olusola (22), Owoyede

Governor lashes police From Sulaiman Salawudeen, AdoEkiti

Yusuf (23) and Ifeanyi Ukafor (25).

All of them are hospitalised.

One of the injured, Fagbolagun Oluwafemi, said: “I was at Ijigbo Junction around 10 when I heard the first gunshot. I tried to run, but the bullet hit me in the leg”.

Omotayo Zacheus Ajayi, an eye witness, said the robbers invaded the area about 10a.m. in a convoy of four cars, including a Toyota Hilux Van, two Hiace buses and a

Hummer. They pulled down the bank’s main gate with a dynamite and a hand-held rocket launcher.

It was a chilling sight of blood at the University Teaching Hospital where doctors, led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Patrick Adegun, battled to save the lives of the victims.

Another eye witness, Olaiya Olatunji, said: “I just met them at the operation. I was shot at but the bullet missed me. I want to say that we do not have police here in Ado-Ekiti. I rushed to Okesha Police Station but

the DPO said he would not dispatch his men to the place. And none of them came. That is why we are protesting that the Ado-Ekiti people have been treated badly by the police.”

The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of the University Teaching Hospital in the state capital.

Some police officers attached to the governor’s office, led by the Senior Special Assistant on internal security to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Mr Deji Adesokan, challenge the robbers, but could not match them.

The robbers, according to Continued on page 2

•CBN GRANTS 17 LICENCES P2 •NEW ELECTRICITY TARIFF COMING P15

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

NEWS Four die in Ekiti bank robbery

CBN grants 17 licences

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Continued from page 1

Adesokan, escaped through the Afao – Ire – Ilupeju road. One person was also reported to have been shot as the robbers escaped.

The late response from the police, who reportedly arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after the raid, spurred an outrage from the inhabitants of the city who made bonfires and attempted to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Okesa Police Station, before being dispersed by teargas launched by the police.

The protesters barricaded Okeyinmi and Okesa roads, as they advanced towards the Okesa Divisional Police Station in protest over what

•One of the victims of the robbery in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Olumide Olusola on his hospital bed in Ado-Ekiti ... yesterday.

they called police’s “gross incompetence and poor response”.

Some of the buildings around the bank and vehicles parked at the vicinity, including a two-storey structure housing the three-bedroom flat Office of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel and a Mercedez Benz car belong-

ing to the local NUJ Chairman, Mr Tai Oguntayo, were riddled with bullets.

The protesters, who made bonfires, also staged another protest in the premises of the UTH in Adebayo, when some people suspected to be butchers wanted to take away the body of one of their members.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, shelved his tour of road

projects around the capital.

He assured residents that the government was in control of the situation.

Fayemi commiserated with the families of the deceased and promised to do all within his reach to prevent such occurrence.

He lashed the police for failing to do their job.

The governor said he might

PHOTO: NAN

request for soldiers to consolidate the police patrol team if that would guarantee security of lives and property.

He visited the hospital to see the injured.

Police Commissioner Olayinka Balogun said some items, such as expended cartridges and a driver’s licence, were recovered from the scene.

EFCC, House in cold war over Bankole’s invitation

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COLD war erupted yesterday between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the House of Representatives over Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s invitation.

He is expected to be quizzed over some allegations against his leadership.

The EFCC in a statement yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plot to launch campaigns of calumny against it.

The EFCC had expected Bankole to turn up for interrogation yesterday. He did not.

He had asked to be allowed

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

to report at the EFCC’s Abuja office yesterday, after he failed to meet an earlier appointment.

As at last night, no official reason was given for the nonappearance of the Speaker.

It was however learnt that the House leadership had informally reported to President Goodluck Jonathan that the EFCC was trying to disrupt the inauguration of the 7th House of Representatives on June 6 by inviting Bankole for interrogation.

The House was said to have

described the invitation as “ill-timed and a dangerous precedent”.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are aware that the House considers the invitation of Bankole as an act of sabotage and a threat to the inauguration of the new House of Representatives on June 6.

“There is no way the EFCC will go out of its way to disrupt the inauguration of the House of Representatives.

“There are fears that the Speaker may be detained by the EFCC. It is unthinkable that some leaders of the House are acting on suspi-

cion.

“Nobody is saying that Bankole or any leader of the House is guilty of the allegations levelled against the House leadership.

“It is a standard practice all over the world to invite anyone who has a petition against him for interaction. It is not a big deal.”

It was gathered that there is pressure on the EFCC to “wait till after the inauguration of the 7th House of Representatives before interacting with Bankole”.

It could not be immediately ascertained if the EFCC will succumb to the pressure.

But the EFCC Bankole saga took a new twist following an alarm raised by the anti-graft agency that a high-profile suspect and a few other suspects are out to discredit the commission.

The EFCC raised the alarm in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi.

The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by a high-profile suspect to launch campaigns of calumny against the agency and some of its officials.”

President seeks transparency as Anyim takes office

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday charged Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government business.

He told him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in coordinating the incoming cabinet.

The President also urged him to further the transformation agenda of the administration.

Jonathan spoke at the inauguration of the former Senate President.

Anyim takes over from Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

Political heavyweights mostly from the Southeast attended the ceremony among whom were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Dr. Charles Soludo, Dr, Andy Uba, Chief Ifeanyi Araraume, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba, Prince Chibudum Nwuche, Mr. Austin Opara, Chief Tony Anenih, former PDP National Chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Mr. Frank Nweke, and immediate past Minister of Health, Dr. Chukwu Onyebuchi The oath taking and appending of signatures, which started at 12.25 lasted 30 minutes.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The President also thanked Anyim’s predecessor Yayale for his service to the country.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is part of a team of champions that we are putting in place to drive our transformation agenda. He is to coordinate government policies, ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies including the Cabinet Office.

“I therefore, urge you Senator Anyim to bring these virtues and experience to bear to the service of Nigeria as you coordinate the activities of the government.

“The challenge before you therefore, is to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government’s business. Nigeria must have a government that truly palaces itself in the service of its citizens.

“All of us must together commit ourselves to the entrenched of good government at all levels.

“We must live by example in words and deeds. We must show the people that this time around, we are determined.

“My distinguished senator, you are called to serve at the most challenging time,

a time that we are determined to transform Nigeria, a time that we are determined to do things differently, a time that we are calling for sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector, a time that we are calling on all Nigerians to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country.

“We must alleviate the suffering of our people; we must create jobs, provide electricity and deliver on our electoral promises. This is the most urgent task before this government. Senator Anyim, the time for transformation has begun, welcome on board.

“Today, as Alhaji Yayale bows out, Senator Anyim P i u s Anyim

•Anyim .. yesterday

is stepping into his shoes after a careful selection process that was anchored on high national expectations,” he said.

Speaking on the selection process, the President said the former senator was considered based on his past track records both in private and public service.

“In selecting Senator Anyim, we took into cognisance his records of public service, his career as a senator, his role as the President of the Senate and his leadership skills that our nation needs at this time. “Our nation needs men and women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to learn and lead at the same time,” the President said.

Anyim, who said he least expected to be appointed, said he shares the vision of the President and will be ready to drive it to the best of his ability.

He said: “Within the limits of the responsibilities of my office, I will fit into the vision of Mr. President. I will help to drive his vision to the best of my abilities.”

Anyim said: “The party has zoned the position to the Southeast and as a loyal party member, I’m bound by the decision.

Every loyal member of the party should be bound by the decision of the party.”

Later during the taking over from Yayale, Anyim said he had no regret over his failed ambition to be-

come the National Chairman of the PDP in the past. He also described his appointment as the SGF as an act of God. He said he was not conversant with the workings of the office of the SGF but would be willing to learn from his predecessor.

Yayale said: “The office of the SGF is not only a position of trust but also of high expectations from both the high and low. Therefore, the President does not and will not accept failure from the office while the Nigerian public would only accept the best”, he cautioned.

He also pointed out to the new SGF that his position is that which demands competence, courage knowledge, high connection and exposed; patriotic, loyal, committed, humble, firm, sincere and above all God fearing.

“As the custodian of institutional memory and key implementor of government policies, such a person must understand his/ her political masters and facilitate the execution of their programmes.

The SGF should be a reliable shield to whoever are the masters in the interest of the nation.

In the discharge of his duties, a great deal of caution, tolerance and perseverance must be exhibited”, he said.

Alhaji Ahmed also told Anyim that the Office of the SGF faces gradual eroding of the functions and responsibilities of the office.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved requests from 17 banks for new licences meant to ensure better minimum capital standards. The apex bank said it had granted approval in principle to nine banks to operate as international lenders, which require minimum capital of N50 billion. Six banks have been granted approval for national licences, with a minimum capital requirement of N25 billion. Two banks have been approved as regional banks, which can operate in 6-12 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

They are required to have a minimum of N10 billion capital.

Four of the banks have been granted approval to keep subsidiaries and adopt a holding company structure. The regulator stopped issuing universal banking licences last year and said it would enforce new minimum capital requirements for different categories of banks in a bid to avoid a repeat of 2009’s near collapse of several banks.

Most of the banks granted approval for the new licences have opted to divest from non-banking subsidiaries to comply with the tighter regulations. “For banks that are proposing a monoline banking licence, the CBN expects them to fully divest from nonbanking related businesses

by May 2012,” said Kingsley Moghalu, CBN Deputy Governor (Financial System Stability).

The reforms aim to overhaul a banking sector long characterised by swollen institutions concerned primarily with outstripping their rivals’ asset growth at the expense of creating loans and growing their business.

The regulator has said its main objective is to ensure banks are effectively supervised and to protect depositors’ funds. The CBN bailed out 10 banks with a N620 billion rescue package in 2009 after reckless lending left them so weakly capitalised they posed a risk to the entire banking system.

Moreover, the apex bank has mandated that rescued Continued on page 6

Jonathan: some will return Continued from page 1

the Inauguration Day. “After the inauguration, the Legal Department brought a paper on the implications of the ministers staying beyond May 29. We have to comply with the law.

“While we are dissolving the Council now, I want some of you to stay around because I will be needing you for a few clarifications pending the reconstitution of the cabinet.”

A former Minister said: “The President was emotional because a bond existed within the cabinet.

“We acted as one family and it is not easy parting just like that. We all took turns to praise the President for his humility, hard work and sincerity.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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NEWS Activists urge trial of Wigwe

ICPC: Judiciary system delays our work

By Yusuf Sanusi

From Kunle Johnson Calabar

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) has said the country’s judiciary system has impaired its work.

The commission also blamed its ‘inactivity’ on the Act establishing it.

Speaking through the chairman of the Public Enlightenment Department of the Commission, Mr. Mike Sowe at an enlightenment forum in Odukpani, Cross River State, the commission’s chairman, Dr. Rose Abang-Wushishi, said: “The judiciary needs to be urgently reformed, so that justice can always be quickly dispensed. Presently, the judiciary contrtibutes to delaying our work. There’s the need to look at the way all the corruption fightingagencies and the law courts are functioning with a view to overhauling them for swifter dispensation of the judgment.”

Sowe added: “We have made several presentations to the National Assembly so that they should deliberate and amend the Act that established the Commission. This way, it will allow us to be pro-active”, Sowe said.

“Without this, we cannot readily prosecute anyone on mere suspicion or allegation. For now, these have to be backed up by written information from persons.”

Sowe said the Commission is inaugurating AntiCorruption Vanguards on University campuses across the country and AntiCorruption clubs in primary and secondary schools in order to fight corruption.

Corruption case aganst Nnamani resumes today From Chris Oji, Enugu

HEARING resumes today in a case of corruption against the former Enugu State governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.

Justice Benedict Agbata is handling the case.

The former governor was last Thursday arraigned before an Enugu High Court on 15 count charges of corruption and embezzlement of various sums of money meant for roads reconstruction in Enugu State.

He was charged alongside an Enugu based contractor, Chief Jacob Nwatu as well as four companies, which include Jac Nigeria Enterprises Ltd; Jetman Nigeria Limited; Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd and Hillgate Nigeria Ltd. The prosecution made up of lawyers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the accused persons committed the offences between August 3, 2002 and November 1, 2002.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The companies charged along with them pleaded not guilty as well.

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• Tinubu speaking with reporters...yesterday

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

Reps should elect credible leaders, says Tinubu

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ORMER Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged the House of Representatives to choose credible leadership, which should not be selected along either partisan or regional lines.

He spoke at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos yesterday.

Tinubu denied the speculation that he is supporting Saidu Ismaila Tambuwal as speaker.

He described the development as “pepper soup joint speculations.”

Tinubu said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) will accept whoever the House of Representatives members select as their leader.

•’No tussle over Senate Minority Leader’

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

He said: “I am not a gambler. How do you expect me to respond to such gambling speculation as those who play coupon do? I do not play coupon that I will now start to permutate. Whoever the House of Representatives selects as speaker and other leaders is solely their choice.

What Nigeria needs now is stability and action, not this kind of speculation.

“The House of Representatives has the right to choose whoever they want as their leader. All we have to do is to ensure that democratic principles are applied and the

question of zoning is not necessarily applicable.

“One, we must allow constitutional democracy to prevail; we must encourage standard of performance, experience of the members and the integrity of the individuals must come to play to ensure stability of the polity and the transformation that Nigeria needs.”

On whether he is supporting former Benue Governor George Akume for Senate Minority Leader, Tinubu said : “The issue of Akume is our party’s question, and that question can be directed at the national chairman of the ACN. Akume is my very good

friend. I know him; he has been a governor. He governed Benue for eight years; he is a senator; he has served the first term and now going for the second term; he has good character. If he leads the Senate as minority leader, we will not find him lacking.”

On the chances of Senator Ganiyu Solomon, who is from Lagos State, Tinubu said : “ Ganiyu Solomon is very , very good.

He is a committed democrat, and he is not there to struggle for himself. His sense of patriotic duty is to the nation, not to himself. So, whoever emerges is our member. We will always encourage them.”

Tinubu said the party would have the final say on the matter.

ACN calls for national security summit

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently summon a national security summit to give stakeholders a forum to proffer solutions to the incessant bombings now ravaging the country, saying the problem should be treated as a national emergency.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in reaction to the latest spate of bombings in Abuja, Bauchi and Zaria that left many dead and injured, the party said such a summit should involve all those who have positive contributions to make to end the

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

epidemic of explosions, irrespective of their political leaning.

ACN said it has become obvious that the government alone cannot stop the explosions, which have left hundreds of innocent Nigerians dead or maimed, and which risks scaring away foreign investors at a time the federal government says it is embarking on a journey to transform the country in all spheres.

“After every bomb attack, the government will vow to get the culprits and punish them. Then more explosions will occur and

the government will repeat its vow. This is not reassuring to the people of Nigeria as well as foreigners who may want to do business in the country.

“Therefore, it is now clear that, in spite of its best efforts, the government alone cannot stop the bombers. It is time for all patriots to all put heads together to identify the culprits and their grievances, and seek the way forward,’’ it said.

The party observed that the way the explosions went off on the outskirts of Abuja as well as in Zaria and Bauchi, shortly after the inauguration of President Jonathan, shows that the only reason the inaugura-

tion itself was spared was because of the lock-down of Abuja and the shutdown of telecommunications services as part of stringent security measures put in place during the ceremony.

“But what happens now that the lock down of Abuja has been lifted and telecoms services restored? Is it not worrisome that those behind the explosions have continued to target public institutions and security agencies? Is it not becoming clear that these terrorists can now strike at a place and time of their own choosing, if they can detonate explosives in such high-security areas as military barracks?’’

ACN queried.

Reps pass National Tobacco Control Bill •Environmentalists urge Jonathan to assent bill

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HE House of Representatives yesterday gave concurrent passage to the National Tobacco Control Bill.

The passage, which coincided with the World No Tobacco Day, was a wholesale adoption of the bill as passed by the Senate on March 15.

The bill sponsored by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora is a domestication of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) rati-

By Olukorede Yishau

fied by the country.

When signed into law, it bans illicit trade in tobacco products; sales to and by minors; and support for economically viable alternative activities.

It also offers protection of public health policies from the vested interests of the tobacco industry; protection of the environment; national coordinating mechanism; international cooperation, reporting and exchange of in-

formation and institutional arrangements.

In a statement the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) commended the concurrent passage of the bill, describing it as a milestone in the history of public health in Nigeria.

ERA/FoEN Director of Corporate Accountability & Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the bill into law.

•Mamora

He said: " This House of Representatives will be remembered for taking a bold step that will safeguard the health of Nigerians today and in the future."

HUMAN rights organisation, Women Arise, yesterday called for the prosecution of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Chijioke Wigwe, over alleged wife battery.

Wigwe’s wife, Tess, alleged that the High Commissioner physically assaulted her.

The group, in a statement, said Wigwe must be brought to justice.

The statement reads: “The gross misconduct by the Ambassador apart from being a shame for a man of his exposure and education is also a national embarrassment to us as a people because the offender is the face of Nigeria in Kenya.

“It is doubtful if there is any enlightened wing of humanity that would have any respect for a country that posts a barbarian as its Ambassador.

“It is good to note that the Federal Government has recalled this wife beater from his post but that is just the beginning.

“All civilised beings would like to see the full weight of the law being brought to bear on Dr. Wigwe. He must face criminal prosecution to serve as deterrence to other bestial beings who have developed a neurotic appetite for wife battering. This is one case that must not be swept under the carpet if we want to repair our image that has been badly damaged by this grave misconduct.”

Court refuses move to reopen Al-Mustapha’s, other’s trial

By Eric Ikhilae

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LAGOS High Court yesterday refused moves by the state to re-open the prosecution’s case in the trial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Gen.l Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha and two others.

They are on trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Ruling yesterday, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Igbosere division of the court, held that the application lacked merit.

It was argued by the state’s Solicitor General, Lawal Pedro (SAN).

Justice Dada further held that the application amounted to “prosecutorial rascality”. She added that it was an insult and an affront on the court.The judge frowned at the prosecution’s request.

She held that it strange that five months and four adjournments after the court had closed the prosecution’s case, it (prosecution) was requesting the court to reopen same to enable it call a witness who had opportunity but refused to attend court..

The court closed the prosecution’s case some months ago due to their inability to produce witnesses in court.

In its application dated April 13, 2011 the prosecution urged the court to re-open its case to allow its witness, Mr. Fari Yusuf, a Commissioner of Police to complete his evidence and be cross-examined by the defence.

THE NATION TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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NEWS EU submits observers’ report to INEC

Police rescue 32 expectant teenage mothers from Abia ‘baby factory’

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•Proprietor: I run a charity home F found guilty as alleged, Dr Hycinth Orikara, the proprietor of The Cross Foundation would soon be charged to court to disclose who authorised him to run a maternity home described by the police as “illegal Baby Factory” in Aba, Abia State.

The state police command had raided the baby factory and rescued about 32 teenage expectant inmates from the clinic known as The Cross Foundation, where teenagers are kept until they are delivered of their babies.

According to the police, the babies are usually taken away and their mothers discharged after being paid certain amounts ranging between N25, 000 and N30, 000, depending on the sex of the babies.

Parading the proprietor, who was accused of paying off the teenage mothers N30, 000 for a male child and N25,000 for a female baby, the

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From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

Abia police claimed that such babies are thereafter sold to the highest bidders.

Speaking while parading the suspects, state Commissioner of Police Bala Hassan said that the syndicate (Orikara) provides food and shelter for the inmates who inturn produce babies for him to sell, adding that it was inhuman for medical personnel to engage in such activity.

Hassan alleged that some of the babies are in most cases sold to ritualists, who in turn use them for different rituals, stressing that the police will not relent until are such criminal activities have been banished from the state.

The police commissioner said that baby factory Orikara and the inmates will soon be charged to court for child trafficking, child labour and abuse after thorough investigations would have been

concluded.

But in a chat with reporters, the proprietor denied running a baby factory, but a foundation for teenagers with unwanted pregnancies, who do not have anybody to help them.

Orikara, who graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1998 and also an employee of the Abia State Health Management Board (ASHMB), Umuahia, the state capital, insisted that he has been running a charity home in consultation with the welfare department of the state government.

He claimed that the department has a record of every child that will be put up for adoption, even as denied that he has been smiling to the bank with millions of Naira from the proceeds made from the babies.

Besides, Orikara informed that the parents and guardians of the inmates are aware of the

•Abia Governor Theodore Orji

whereabout of their children and wards, adding that the foundation is being sustained with donations by public-spirited individuals.

However, Ifeoma Orji, an 18year-old inmate and a student of Girls High School, Umuahia, contradicted the proprietor’s claim with her admittance that a friend had introduced her to the clinic about two weeks ago.

Another inmate, who simply identified herself as Chikwendu, confirmed that she earned N25, 000 after her baby was sold immediately after delivery.

N10bn loan: Clerk misled Bankole, says Ndume From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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PEAKER Dimeji Bankole may not have secured the controversial N10 billion unilaterally after all, as more facts emerged yesterday on the involvement of other principal officers of the House of Representatives in the deal.

The immediate past House Minority Leader, now a Senatorelect, Muhammed Ali Ndume, told reporters that the speaker was allegedly misled by the House Clerk, Mr. Sani Omolori into taking the loan.

Promising not to dissociate himself from the decisions jointly taken in the past by the House, Ndume insisted that Omolori should be held responsible for allegedly misdirecting Bankole to take the loan.

According to him, he warned Bankole that it will be difficult for the House budget to sustain the huge allowances being demanded by members.

He said: “Not that I am dissociating myself from what happened but the fact remained that I warned Bankole that the House budget would not be able to sustain the allowances of members in the report submitted by the 37 wise men. “ At the meeting I objected to the jumbo pay and the Clerk of the House was asked whether the House budget would be able to sustain the allowances and he answered in the affirmative that the budget would be able to sustain the payment of over N42 million quarterly allowances as against the previous N27 million.”

The “37 wise men” was a committee of 37 members set up by the House in April last year to workout the welfare of members.

Members of the committee were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja .

Part of the recommendations of the committee was to collapse all funds of the House to ensure that enough funds were raised to accommodate members’ jumbo allowances.

HE European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) yesterday in Abuja submitted its report of the 2011 general elections to teh Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Alojz Peterle, leader of the delegation, said that the just concluded elections had laid a foundation for successful elections in the future.

He said the exercise marked a remarkable improvements on the previous ones.

“Overall, the 2011 elections marked remarkable improvements than all other elections in Nigeria,” Peterle said.

He said the report contained 50 recommendations related to areas they thought the electoral process should be improved upon.

In his highlights of the recommendations, Peterle said that the role of INEC should be respected in the legal framework.

“More attention should be paid to voter registration, political parties, media and greater involvement of women in the process, he said.

Receiving the report, INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega said the commission was inspired by commendations on the conduct of the elections for better elections.

Jega said that the commission would study the recommendations “and implement as quickly as possible to enhance a better electoral process”.

He said that preparations for the next elections started from the last day of the elections.

Jega pointed out his commission’s determination to develop institutional capacity “so that it becomes one of the best election management body in Africa if not the world.

“The future is clear and we will continue to meet the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair and credible elections,” said the INEC boss.

Ohanaeze hails Anyim’s appointment AN Igbo political organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday hailed the appointment of former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim’s as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Its leader Ambassador Ralph Uwechue said Anyim’s name tops the list submitted by the group to the president for consideration.

He also said though Anyim’s appointment is a service to the nation, it also marks a new beginning for the Igbo race.

He said: “The SGF position is one if well-managed can be of great benefit both to Nigeria and to relations of the manager himself.

“We consulted heavily among ourselves and the governors and we contacted the President that if we are having this position, it is important that we help to suggest the names of people he could work with.

“That was how the list submitted by Ohanaeze came out. The person on top of that list has just been sworn -in by the President.

“The position is very important.

Anyim is young. For somebody of his age to have quickly risen to the position of the Senate President shows that the young man has something in him and we believe that that thing in him is going to flower more and more when he becomes the SGF for the benefit of the whole of Nigeria and the community where he comes from.

“It is the sign of a new beginning for Ndigbo. People said Igbo have no king, but the truth of the matter is that the Igbo are the easiest people to govern”, he said.

P

•The 47th President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Prof Francis Ojaide (middle) being decorated by the immediate past President Maj-Gen. Sebastian Owuame (right) and Mr Olutoyin Adepate at the PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Institute’s investiture at ICAN sectariat, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday

Shehu of Borno’s brother killed by Boko Haram

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USPECTED members of the Boko Haram have shot dead the younger brother of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai EL-Kanemi, Abba Anas Umar Garbai ElKanemi.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Lawal Abdullahi an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said that the Shehu’s brother, was shot by gunmen on Monday night at about 9pm at his house in

Gangamari of Shehuri North in the Maiduguri metropolis.

Abdullahi who describe the incident as unfortunate assumed that with the new strategy adopted by the police, the culprits will be fished out soon and charged to court.

A member of the family who preferred anonymity, told reporters that at about 9pm Monday night they were with the Shehu in the palace

when the emir received a call that his brother had been shot by some unknown gunmen and he immediately asked them to move to the scene with police escort.

The family source revealed that on getting to the scene, they saw the deceased in a pool of his blood and that where they took the remains to the Shehu’s palace.

Yesterday, sympathisers besieged the palace to condole the Shehu, the remains of Abba Anas were interred at the royal cemetery within the palace.

Mimiko wades into Ondo Assembly leadership tussle

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OLLOWING growing agitations from lawmakers from the riverside communities of Ondo State for the speakership position of the House of Assembly, GovernorOlusegun Mimiko may have waded into the crisis.

The Nation learnt authoritatively that Mimiko prevailed on the lawmakers at a meeting held Monday night at the Government House.

Mimiko allegedly pleaded with

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the lawmakers not to allow the call for change in the leadership to degenerate into full-blown crisis.

Barring the unforseen, the Seventh Assebly will be inaugurated today at the assembly premises along Igbatoro road, Akure.

A source at the meeting informed that Mimiko urged the assembly members to maintain the

status quo since 25 out of the 26 members are from the ruling the Labour Party (LP).

The source added that the governor convened the meeting when it became apparent that some lawmakers have been scheming for the position of the speaker Those eyeing position include: the incumbent Speaker Samuel Adesina from Odigbo II, Oye Aladetan (Ilaje I), Gbenga Edema (Ilaje ii) and Akinwe.

6

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

NEWS Police strengthen security in Kogi From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

THE Kogi State Police Command yesterday beefed up security to forestall criminal activities.

There have been rumours that some armed robbers were threatening to strike in the state.

But the Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), denied the rumours, saying there was no cause for alarm.

Although Okasanmi said the command had not received such a threat, he added that the command got information that some robbers ad struck in some parts of Ekiti, a neighbouring state.

He told The Nation on phone that the command beefed up security as a precautionary measure.

At the time of filing this report, there was no reported case of a breach in Lokoja, the state capital, and its environs.

Kwankwaso appoints SSG, HOS KANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Head of Service (HOS).

A statement by the Director, Administration and General Services, Government House, Kano, Abdullahi Umar, named Dr Rabiu Bichi as SSG and Dr Hafizu Abubakar HOS.

CBN grants 17 licences Continued from page 2 banks have until the end of September to reach recapitalisation deals with new investors or face liquidation, if they refuse to accept funds from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

AMCON, which is a resolution company, was set up to restore them to zero shareholders’ funds. New investors have been sought to bring them up to minimum capital adequacy.

Should the banks fail to reach merger agreements, the Central Bank has said AMCON could inject funds, effectively nationalising them, but there has been resistance to this from some bank directors and shareholders. “We can’t keep the process open indefinitely,” CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said.

“If there is no agreement (with new investors), clearly option B is AMCON recapitalisation and option C liquidation.”

Four of the banks – Afribank, Finbank, Intercontinental Bank and Union Bank have already signed merger deals. Two more – Bank PHB and Oceanic Bank –have held talks with potential suitors, but have so far been unable to agree commercial terms. “September 30 is a very firm deadline for the consummation of all mergers and acquisitions,” Moghalu said.

Senate, Reps fail to pass Petroleum Industry Bill

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HE much-talked about Petroluem Industry Bill (PIB) will have to await the in-coming National Assembly for its passage, the out-going Senate and House of Representatives said yesterday.

The two chamber said in Abuja that it is impossible for them to pass the bill before the expiration of their sessions.

This contradicted their earlier position of passing the bill before winding up.

Addressing reporters at the end of plenary, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Ayogu Eze, said the bill could no longer be passed as the sixth Senate closes to-

From Augustine Ehikioya and Onyedi Ojiabor (Assistant Editor), Abuja

morrow.

But he promised that the bill would not die with the present Senate.

Eze said: “We made promises, but you know man proposes; God disposes. If we made promises and it is the schedule of our activities and genuinely because we made promises about the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill, we made promises about other activities too, these activities fall behind one another and we take them in their order.

“If we are not able to get to PIB in the sixth Senate, it does not mean that the Senate has

failed in its promises, because we have the seventh Senate starting next week. It is not starting next year; it’s just a gap of few days. So, the PIB will come on board. I assure you, as I did before, we will pass the PIB; we will pass it.”

He urged Nigerians to bear with the National Assembly for failing to pass the bill now, adding that the amendment of the 1999 Constitution was a good reason for the people to trust the Senate.

Saying new states would be created by the seventh Senate, Eze added: “We have proved that it is possible within a civilian dispensation to amend the Constitution. This was unthinkable in the past.

“Now we need to prove

that through negotiations in civilian dispensation that we can create states. We can balance the structure for the country, we can do things that will correct the imbalances in the system. I think that is one assignment that I think is in progress.”

The House of Representatives suspended indefinitely the consideration of the bill.

It also threw out a proposed amendment of the Pension Reform Act which seeks to exclude the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other paramilitary agencies from the scheme.

With the suspension of its further consideration, the fate of the PIB, which was intro-

duced in 2008, now hangs in the balance.

The PIB seeks an Act to provide for the establishment of legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Petroleum Industry, establish guidelines for the operation of the upstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Though resumption of consideration of the report of the House Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources, Gas and Justice was listed on the Order Paper, members did not show any enthusiasm to consider the report when Speaker Dimeji Bankole signalled for the resumption of debate.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 ‘Barracks bomb 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 blasts aimed at 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 inciting Army’ 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 From Augustine Ehikioya, 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 Abuja 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 ENATE President Dav1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 id Mark yesterday said 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 the bomb blasts at 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 Army barracks were aimed 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 at inciting the military.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 He noted that had the sol1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 diers not been patriotic and 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 disciplined, they would 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 been pushed into tak1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 have ing the law into their hands.

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 Mark spoke when the sen1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 ators made a resolution 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 a motion by the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 through Chairman of the Senate 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 Committee on Information 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 Media Ayogu Eze on the 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 and 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 spate of bomb blasts in 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 which many people have 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012 died.

To forestall further occur-

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•Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola (left), presenting a gift to Senator-elect Gbenga Ashafa (middle) at a sendforth ceremony as his wife, Folashade, watches with admiration.

Kwara ACN, PDP quarrel over polls’ materials

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HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have again accused each other of plans to doctor electoral materials used in the April polls.

In the past two weeks, the ACN has been accusing the PDP of attempting to alter the polls’ materials to prevent its governorship candidate, Dele Belgore, from carrying out detailed inspection, copying and making forensic examination of the materials as ordered by the tribunal.

But PDP’s new chairman Ishola Balogun-Fulani told reporters in Ilorin, the state

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

capital, that the materials were in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the party could not have doctored them because, like ACN, it obtained the tribunal’s order to inspect and copy them.

He said PDP secured additional prayers that it should be present any time ACN was inspecting the materials, a relief he added the ACN did not obtain.

According to him, it is ACN that can doctor the materials to prevent PDP from inspecting and copy-

ing the materials.

Balogun-Fulani accused ACN of intentionally making the allegations to create the impression that it has a serious issue to tackle with PDP at the tribunal.

But in a statement yesterday, ACN, through its Chairman, Kayode Olawepo, said: “Our party has made it abundantly clear what the intentions of the PDP are and what they are doing to frustrate our case, having discovered that they stole the mandate in a hurry and that their tracks remain embarrassingly open for the world to see.

“It is interesting that

PDP, as usual, merely stopped at refuting allegations without stating its own side of the stories. This is a sure way to know rabblerousers. To quote a former Ghanaian opposition spokesman: ‘Figures don’t lie; it is the liars that will be figured out’.

“We watch while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does its job on the true position of how the Bukola Saraki administration squandered public fund throughout his eight years’ tenancy at Kwara Government House. We hope he will make himself available or else...”

ICPC grills Oyo officials over alleged N8.2b fraud •Five may be declared wanted •Tough bail conditions for six

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OR about seven hours, six former commissioners in ex-Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s administration were yesterday quizzed by a team of investigators of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

There were indications that five others may be declared wanted by the anti-graft commission, should they fail to show up.

Those grilled are Chief Bayo Bankole (Finance), Alhaji Mukaila Aborode (Environment and Water Resourc-

From Yusuf Alli and Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

es), Alhaji Muslim Oyedemi (Works and Transport), Barrister Kunle Isola (Agriculture) and Dr. Kola Balogun (Commerce and Industry).

The former commissioners were battling to meet strict bail conditions last night.

Investigation showed that upon arrival, they were dispossessed of their phones before taken into the interrogation office.

The commissioners were then asked to write statements in relation to their tenure and how specific contracts were

awarded in the state between 2008 and May 2011.

It was gathered that some of the ex-commissioners allegedly requested the presence of the Accountant-General of the State to reconcile contract figures.

A top source said: “Only six of 11 former commissioners in Oyo State came for interaction with our team. We may have to declare the remaining wanted.

“As for those who came, issues for response were duly highlighted from five petitions. The commission just asked them to write what they knew about the allegations in

question.

“After doing that, we decided to admit them to administrative bail on three conditions.”

The source explained the bail terms as follows: “Each surety of the ex-commissioners must be a director in a Federal Ministry, parastatal or agency in Abuja; he or she must have landed property in Abuja; and at least, he or she must have a minimum of N5 million in his or her account.”

As at press time, the excommissioners were still struggling to meet the bail conditions.

rence, he said security agencies should fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Mark said: “These are being done by professionals.

Going to leave the bomb somewhere, timing it is not something that you can give to an armature to do. I think the security agencies generally must share a lot of the blame in not getting these people ahead of time or after doing it… still not being able to identify them.”

Deaconess dies at 77

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EACONESS Isabella Ademola (nee Obianwu) is dead.

She was 77.

Fondly known as “Bella,” she was born to the Obianwu family of Onitsha and Ani Eniang Offiong royal family of Ikoneto, Cross River State.

She first married Dr. G. O. Iketubosin, who died when she was 29 years.

Bella later married a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, the late Justice Adenekan Ademola.

She worked at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, and retired as the Chief Pharmacist of Jaja Clinic, University of Ibadan (UI).

1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 1234567890123456 •The late Mrs Ademola

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

7

NEWS Ibadan poly students protest fee hike •Authorities close school From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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TUDENTS of the Ibadan Polytechnic, Oyo State, yesterday violently protested a hike in tuition fees by the immediate past administration of Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala.

Authorities of the institution closed the school to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The fees were increased from N80,000 to N120,000 and N35,000 to N45,000.

The students blocked the entrance of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, preventing people from entering or coming out of the complex.

Brandishing placards with various inscriptions, they called on Governor Abiola Ajimobi to reduce the fees.

There were long queues of vehicles on Mokola-Secretariat, Agodi-Secretariat and Bodija-Secretariat roads.

But for the quick intervention of mobile policemen, the aggrieved students would have disrupted the interdenominational prayer session organised for Governor Abiola Ajimobi, as some of the invited guests were prevented from going into the complex.

One of them said: “Things are very hard for us. Apart from the non-availability of water and incessant power failure on our campuses, our tuition fees are varied from N80,000 to N120,000 and this depends on our state of origin.”

A senior government official assured the students that their complaints would be looked into, but they were adamant.

The police had to fire several canisters of teargas to disperse the protesters.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Soladoye Adewole, condemned the actions of the students, describing it as “uncivilised.”

He said the authorities and the students had held several meetings, where it was agreed that the students would pay 60 percent, which they did last semester, and pay the remaining 40 per cent this semester.

Aregbesola hails Osun Assemblymen

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has dissolved the House of Assembly. At a valedictory session yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, Aregbesola praised them for refusing to plot his impeachment a few days after he was sworn in as Governor last year.

He said: “Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plotted to stage my impeachment, but the plot failed woefully.”

Aregbesola decried the introduction of the controversial Constituency Project Fund, describing it as absurd and in contrast with democratic practices.

He praised the eleven members of the House elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for demonstrating patriotism and integrity by refusing to be part of it.

Aregbesola said: “The position of the ACN is that this is unethical. It will blur the dividing line between the executive and legislators, when lawmakers turn into contractors and are executing projects.

“The function of each arm of government is well cut out.

Lawmakers make laws while the executive executes. It amounts to a mockery of the principles of separation of power if lawmakers carry out executive functions. The lawmakers rejected the money and returned it to the state treasury.”

For taking this stand, the governor said the ACN lawmakers were persecuted. He said: “It was not surprising that some of them were framed alongside other ACN members in the state for murder on account of the June 4, 2007, bomb blast at the state secretariat.

“The PDP government spared no effort in its diabolical bid to send them to the gallows. But in a mark of integrity and honour, they stood their grounds, withstood inducement, persecution and illegal and unjust imprisonment. And the Almighty and the people of the state were behind them, as PDP failed woefully.”

Aregbesola praised Speaker Adejare Bello and his colleagues for their contribution to the achievement and success of the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and the 2011 Appropriation bills.

He said: “I must however put it on record that I enjoyed a good working relationship with this House, the whiff of mutual suspicion notwithstanding. Two issues are distinct. I was able to push through the OYES and the 2011 Appropriation bills.

Kindly accept my appreciation for your maturity, focus and diligence.”

Amosun appoints SSG, media aide From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday appointed Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa (48) as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Amosun also appointed Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama as his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Communication.

Adeoluwa is an alumnus of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the Nigeria Law School, Lagos.

Until his appointment, he was a Managing Partner at Taiwo Adeoluwa and Associate, a legal firm in Lagos.

Adeoluwa is a member of many professional bodies, including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA) and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom (UK). He is married with children.

The SSA, Mrs. Wakama, is a graduate of Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.

Until her appointment, she was a staff of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Programme Manager, Media and Outreach, International Republican Institute (IRI).

Mrs. Wakama has Post-Graduate Diplomas in Public Relations and Journalism, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

•From left: Wife of the Deputy Governor Mrs. Janet Adeyemo; Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, Ajimobi and his wife, Florence; and the State Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji; at the service...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Ajimobi to computerise Oyo civil service operations

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PERATIONS of the Oyo State civil service are to be computerised, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said yesterday.

He spoke at the inter denominational service organsed by civil sevants to mark his assumption of office at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi also urged religious leaders not to relent in their prayers for the state and the success of his administration.

He said his administration would introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to civil service operations.

Ajimobi said: “We are aware that our civil service is bedeviled with challenges. One of the first steps we will take is to restore the sagging confidence that the Oyo civil servant has been forced to contend with in recent years.

“On the heels of this is a task that this government will undertake to expose our civil servants to appropriate in-service training programmes that will hone their skills and prepare them

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

for efficient service delivery.

“One clear way of doing this, is to revolutionise the service in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), so as to make them faster, secure and more efficient in their delivery of services. I am by this alerting the civil service on the need to brace itself for the challenges of this restoration.”

He urged them to shun partisan politics, saying: “In the midst of these eulogies, I admonish the service on the need to concentrate on their jobs and resist the temptation to dabble into partisan politics. Let us leave the turf of politics for politicians, so that we can restore the service to its hallowed days, when a civil servant was a study in patriotism, honour and diligence.”

Head of Service Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu pledged the support of the civil servants for Ajimobi’s administration. He said the workers were anxious to embrace the innovations promised by the governor.

Ogun Assembly revokes Daniel’s decisions A FTER nine months of closure, the Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday held plenary session under the leadership of Speaker Tunji Egbetokun.

It vacated all resolutions passed by the Soyemi Coker-led minority lawmakers on September 6, 2010.

The House also nullified all deals, appointments, recruitments, promotions and the upgrading of traditional rulers in the last three months.

It approved the renaming of the Gateway International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, to Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in honour of the slain Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the April 14, 2007 polls.

This is sequel to a letter written to the House by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, requesting approval to re-

•House back after nine months From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

name the stadium as proposed in his inaugural speech.

Hon. Wale Alausa (IjebuOde) raised the motion for the approval and it was seconded by Hon. Akeem Abdulsalam (Ijebu-East).

The former speaker, Mrs Titi Oseni, and minority lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel, led by Soyemi Coker, were all absent. Coker and his group had allegedly held a valedictory session a week earlier in the Assembly chamber.

The Chief Whip, Musa Moruf, was absent. Egbetokun said the House could not proceed with plenary without a Chief Whip. The

House removed Moruf and replaced him with Akeem Abdulsalami (Ijebu-East).

The House also established, through the testimonies of Sergeant at Arms Mr. Tajudeen Shodeinde and Clerk of the House Mr. Demola Badejo, that the Coker-led group never formed a quorum, and that a “fake mace” was used at their “illegal sittings.”

The duo alleged that they were forced to play their roles at a September 6, 2010, pre-dawn sitting of Coker and seven other lawmakers, where many decisions were taken.

The House declared the purported sitting illegal and voided all its decisions.

Consequently, the House held that the 2011 budget of

N100.9 billion prepared by Daniel and passed by the minority lawmakers should be ignored by the new administration.

It nullified the appointment of Elder Yemi Akinwonmi as Commissioner for Education; Tunde Akinosi as Agric Commissioner; and appointment of members of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) by Daniel.

The House ordered that all money received by the affected appointees should be returned to the coffers of the state.

It reinstated resolution 67, which bars financial institutions from granting credit facilities to the state government.

The N26 billion supplementary budget presented to the House by Daniel last year, which was approved by the “illegal sitting” of minority lawmakers was also nullified.

Fashola promises more productive second term

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged public servants to support him to make his second term more productive.

Fashola spoke yesterday at a prayer session organised by the public service, held at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

He urged them to ignore the success of his first term and concentrate on achieving more in this new administration.

Fashola said: “Let us focus on this second term with new energy and commitment.

We’re all public servants; let us go out there and serve the people.

“The truth is that of the 1,460 days, we have used two.

We’re already using the third and the clock is counting down. Whatever we do, I know that by May 28, 2015, I will never address you again as the Governor of Lagos State.

•.Deputy pledges good governance

By Miriam Ndikanwu “If we make things work while we are here, it will protect us when we leave. If you build that road which we assign you to build, you will be able to drive safely.

“If you protect that public water supply, you and your children, cousins, in-laws and many more will benefit from it. If you manage that school very well, even if your children are not there, the less privilege members of your family, who cannot send their children abroad to be educated, will benefit from it.”

He urged them to be honest and responsive to the needs of the people.

Also yesterday, Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, who resumed at the Round House, Alausa, for her first working day, was re-

ceived amidst pomp and pageantry by the staff.

Mrs. Adefulire pledged to complement the efforts of the governor to deliver good governance to the people.

She said Lagosians sacrificed a lot to ensure Fashola’s victory at the April elections and deserve to reap the fruit of their labour through improved services.

Mrs. Adefulire praised the achievements of the former deputy governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, especially in the education sector and prayed for God’s blessings on her family.

The Head of Service, Prince Olusegun Ogunlewe, and permanent secretaries in the civil service were also on ground to receive her.

Ogunlewe assured Mrs. Adefulire of the support of civil servants.

Mrs. Adefulire urged the staff to rededicate themselves to their duties, saying: “I’m a workaholic, so prepare for more work. My priority is to help our Governor achieve his set goals and electioneering promises. I’m always ready to receive ideas. I cherish innovation and information.”

She warned that she would not condone any act of indiscipline, such as truancy, lateness, gossip, laziness and other vices that can undermine the growth of a virile civil service.

Mrs Adefulire said there would be regular rewards for hard working staff to encourage them to put in their best.

She directed the Permanent Secretary in her office to set up a welfare committee for the staff, adding that regular medical check-ups would be organised to ensure that they were kept in good medical condition to discharge their duties efficiently.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

8

NEWS Certificates for council chiefs

Uduaghan warns pipeline vandals

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

THE Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) yesterday in Port Harcourt presented certificates of return to elected local government chairmen and councillors in 21 of the 23 councils.

Elections were not held in Degema and Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni local governments.

RSEIC Chairman Prof Nimi Briggs called on the chairmen to improve on their services to the people.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi inaugurated the chairmen and councillors yesterday.

But, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) faulted the inauguration.

ACN’s Acting Publicity Secretary Jerry Needam said the inauguration was uncalled for.

The party said: “We condemn the hasty administration of oath of office and allegiance on council chairmen, illegally elected.”

Six kidnap suspects arrested From Osagie Otabor, Benin

SIX suspected kidnappers were yesterday arrested by the Edo State Police Command.

Also 40 suspected cultists are currently cooling their heels at the Police Headquarters.

The suspects were arrested at Auchi and Benin after attempts to kidnap their victims failed.

Three were arrested at Auchi after their victim, Okharunuah Tijani, struggled with his abductors, which resulted in an accident.

Commissioner of Police David Omojuola said they were arrested with the help of a vigilance group.

Two of them, however, escaped.

Omojuola said the others were arrested for kidnapping two children at Ugbekun in Ikpoba Okha Local Government.

The children are yet to found as the suspects denied involvement in the kidnapping.

Among those involved in the failed Auchi kidnap attempt was a National Diploma student of the Auchi Polytechnic, who gave his name as Raphael Oshiobile.

Oshiobile said he was invited by Tijani’s nephews, whose names he gave as Suraj and Rafiu.

Omojuola said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

D

•Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed unveiling his portrait as he resumed office at the Government House, Ilorin... yesterday

Jonathan gets acting Chief of Staff

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HERE were strong indications yesterday that the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali, may have been appointed acting Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Igali succeeds Sir Mike Oghiadomhe, whose fate is still uncertain in the new administration.

According to findings, Igali, a former Secretary to the State Government in Bayelsa State , is expected to hold the fort, pending the appointment

•Oghiadomhe’s fate uncertain From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

of a substantive Chief of Staff.

It was learnt that Igali was at the swearing-in of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, yesterday.

A top source said: “The President has asked Igali, who was the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government when he was governor, to serve in acting capacity.

“The choice of Igali has underscored the President’s determination to reorganise the Presidency.”

Asked of the fate of Oghiadomhe, the source added: “I think he has been technically dropped because if the President wishes to reappoint him, he would have done so immediately.

“There were some pressure to retain Oghiadomhe but it is left to the President to choose his team.”

The source added that Igali and two others are in the race for consideration as the next Chief of Staff.

“I can assure you that three nominees, including Igali, are being screened by security agencies as Chief of Staff.”

As at press time, the drastic changes in the Presidency caused anxiety, with many former presidential aides involved in intense lobbying.

“Nobody is sure of who will be retained; they are all lobbying those who matter in the scheme of things.”

Igbinedion’s brother remanded in prison custody A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Benin City yesterday remanded in prison custody Michael, the younger brother of former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

Also remanded is a former Special Assistant to Igbinedion, Patrick Ebogboidin.

Justice Adamu Hobon said they would remain in custody till June 8 and 13 when their bail applications will be heard.

The former governor; Michael; Eboigbodin; Gava Corporation Limited; Romric Nigeria Limited; PML Security Limited and PML Nigeria Limited were charged with corruption and money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They are facing a 66-count charge of corruption and money laundering allegedly perpetrated during Igbinedion’s eight-year rule.

Michael, Eboigbodin and four others, excluding Igbinedion, were docked but they

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

pleaded not guilty.

Michael wept after Justice Hobon refused them bail based on oral application by their counsel, Ricky Tarfa (SAN).

Tarfa said one of the accused had back pain that required adequate treatment which could not be provided in prison.

He said the accused would deposit their passports.

His words: “We can produce their passports. They can be at the police command. This is a bailable offence.”

But EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Jacobs argued that the only place to keep an accused is prison, saying: “It is not the law to beg police to take them.”

Jacobs insisted that an application for bail should be written to enable them have a direction upon which to argue .

“We can demonstrate that the accused has jumped bail

and escaped jurisdiction. We need all these to canvass our points.”

Igbinedion was full of smiles yesterday after the court ruled that it would amount to double jeopardy and abuse of court process to try him again.

He had in 2008 entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC. Justice Hobon held that Tarfa was able to show evidence that Igbinedion was tried and convicted of similar offence by the Court of Appeal, Enugu, in 2008.

He held that the preliminary application by the accused to strike out the 66-count charge succeeded in respect of the former governor but failed in the case of the second to the seventh respondents, who the court said did not prove that they have been tried and convicted before.

“However regrettably, none of the second to seventh accused have shown or ad-

and people whose business is politics, rigging and fixing elections.

Jonathan’s inaugural speech, he said, was a “reflection of his heart, his conviction, and it is also an attempt to set an agenda to put on board, to focus the minds of

the people to the direction that he wishes to go. I think it was a good speech.”

Oshiomhole, however, said the problem lies in the ability and courage of the President to observe the address to the letter, adding: “what is left is to “operation-

•Igbinedion

duced evidence to show that they were earlier tried and convicted before.

“The doctrine of double jeopardy and abuse of court process is not available to them. In fact, some of them escaped from jurisdiction while the trial was on.

“Their application has failed and is hereby dismissed for lack of merit, frivolities and wanting in evidence,” Justice Hobon said.

Michael and Eboigbodin were later smuggled out of the court in a black Chrysler car with registration number DY 03 BEN, allegedly belonging to his father.

ELTA State Governmentwill not tolerate indiscriminate destruction of oil pipelines and facilities by illegal oil bunkerers or persons hiding any guise to sabotage assets of oil firms, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said.

Uduaghan, who spoke at the site of the fire at the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) in Eko-OvworoAmukpe in Sapele Local Goverment , warned that the perpetrators’ activities posed threat not only to their lives and property, but to residents around the scene.

“I want to use this opportunity to advise those who go into illegal bunkering and indulge in pipeline vandalism to desist from it. It is illegal.

“We should stop this act of sabotage against government facility that yields revenue to the nation.”

Elechi nominated as ICPC chair •Auta now Chief Judge of High Court From Gbade Ogunwale and Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has written the Senate seeking the confirmation of Francis Elechi as chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a May 26 letter to the Senate President, David Mark, Jonathan said the screening and confirmation process should be effected soon.

Similarly, the President is also seeking the confirmation of Dr. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu as chairman of the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission.

He nominated 13 others as members of the board.

The President also approved the appointment of Justice Ibrahim Auta as Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Information of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Mr. Soji Oye, said “the approval is sequel to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate on May 11.

“Hon. Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta will be swornin by the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Aloysus I. Katsina-Alu, on June 2 (tomorrow) at 10am in the Conference Room of Supreme Court.”

President should step on toes to succeed, says Oshiomhole

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to step on toes, including those of his close associates, if he must succeed in moving the nation forward.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole gave the advice on Monday night at the Benin

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Airport when he returned from Abuja, where he attended the Presidential inauguration on Sunday.

He said the President must be ready to cut off those who always feed fat on the state

alise” that is where the challenges are.”

His words: “He has got a legitimate mandate, this is important. He is not hunted by crisis of illegitimacy.

When you are elected by the people that gives you the confidence. Whatever anybody

wants to say I believe he has Nigerians’ mandate.”

On the choice of ministers and advisers, Oshiomhole said the new cabinet must comprise of fresh blood and men of integrity.

“Not the same old bad guys of the past.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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NEWS

Jonathan signs FoI bill into law •NPAN, Editors, Fayemi, Adeyemi hail President From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Freedom of Information Bill, 2011 into law.

President Jonathan assented to it on Saturday, May 28.

The president had hoped to sign the bill last Friday alongside the two others bill that he assented to but could not as it was not ready.

Administrative work on it was not completed on time.

The objective of FOI Act, according to statement issued yesterday by Justus Abuah Deputy Director (Information)Office of the Special Adviser to the President(Media and Publicity,: “ is to make public records and information more freely available, and to also protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.

“The Freedom of Information Act also seeks to protect serving public officers from any adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation, and to establish procedures for the achievement of these purposes.”

The Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), commended the timely assent by the President.

A statement signed by NPAN President Mr Nduka Obaigbena urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the Freedom of Information Act,

to enhance transparency and good governance and to work towards achieving a zero tolerance for corruption and impunity.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) hailed Jonathan for assenting the bill. In a statement by its president, Gbenga Adefaye, it said: “President Jonathan has really started well with this sign-post for good governance.

“By signing the FOI bill into law, the President has more than anyone else empowered the citizens to participate in the governance of their own affairs. The people can now legitimately seek public information, corroborate their facts and make useful suggestions towards achieving greater good for the majority. With access to information, citizens can fight corruption and closet government and confront the few who misappropriate our resources to themselves alone “For the media, the signing of the FOI law has expanded the frontiers of press freedom for Africa’s most vibrant press. No more will it be permitted for the journalists to hurry to press with half truth and misinformation when they can officially verify their facts.

“While the NGE congratulates every Nigerian for this all important citizen’s law and commend the out-going National Assembly for freeing the democratic space for citizens’ involvement in our democratic adventure, we call on everyone to use the law, responsibly.”

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi hailed Jonathan for signing the law.

In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), the

governor said: “The signing of the bill would enhance probity, accountability, transparency and entrench the much-needed good governance in all tiers of governance in Nigeria.”

A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NU) , Senator Smart Adeyemi described the signing of the Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan as a good omen for the nation.

He said the President’s assent is the beginning of the transformation of Nigeria .

Adeyemi, who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate, said: “By signing the bill into law, the President has kick-started the transformation of this nation.

“I am so elated because the President’s decision will help in accelerating the socio-economic development of our nation. Nigerian journalism will benefit tremendously because access to information will now be easier.

“The FOI Act will certainly assist in fighting the war against corruption. No more hiding place for the corrupt elements in the society.”

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Coalition , comprising about 150 civil society organisations and professional groups, also welcomed the signing into law of the bill.

The group, in a statement, said: “The FOIC salutes the courage of all its members and many other interest groups for remaining steadfast during the twelve-year struggle to have the FOI Act enacted in Nigeria.

“The FOIC calls on all such groups, especially the media and the civil society to brace up to use the instrumentality of the FOI to hold the recently elected politicians accountable for their promises.

EFCC arraigns Akingbola on fresh N47.1b theft charges •Remanded in Kirikiri Prison

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FTER several attempts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr Erastus Akingbola for allegedly stealing the bank’s N47.1 billion.

He was docked with General Manager of Tropics Securities Limited, Mr Bayo Dada at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on an amended 22count theft charge.

The EFCC alleged that Akingbola, while being the Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc, and Dada, with intent to defraud, obtained various sums of money from the bank and converted them to their personal use under false pretense between March and May 2009.

According to the agency, some of the stolen money was fraudulently converted into loans to Tropics Securities Limited and Tropics Properties Limited, in which Aking-

By Joseph Jibueze

bola is also a director.

The offences contravene Sections 390 (7) and 427 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C. 17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

Akingbola and Dada pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding judge, Justice Habib Abiru, ordered that they be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons.

He adjourned till June 6 for hearing of their bail applications.

Akingbola had urged the court to restrain the agency from arraigning him on fresh charges, and to order his release from its custody. In an application through his counsel, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), he also sought an order of the court declining jurisdiction to entertain the case.

The former bank chief had also prayed for an order dismissing the charges on the ground that the EFCC had no statutory powers under the

Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos 2007 to prosecute the matter, adding that the charges were in bad faith and amounted to an abuse of court process.

But Justice Abiru struck out the applications and held that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the case. He said the EFCC law was passed by the National Assembly and therefore supercedes any state law, adding that the EFCC was competent to file any matter before a state High Court.

According to the judge, the charges being faced by the defendants at the Federal High Court were not similar to the ones before him.

He however, struck out seven of the 29-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and stealing initially brought against the defendants by the EFCC. EFCC counsel, Mr Godwin Obla, had urged the court to strike out the counts as they were meant to be answered

by Akingbola’s wife, Anthonia, said to still be at large.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

NEWS Imo Speaker impeached, nine others suspended From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

THE Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Goodluck Opiah has been suspended. Nine others were suspended by the House.

Opiah represented Ohaji/ Egbema state constituency.

He was impeached yesterday during a plenary session.

The House has elected Amaechi Nwoha representing Nwangele state constituency as the new Speaker.

Ifeanyi Agwu representing Ehime Mbano constituency was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

The suspended members include the Deputy Speaker Jonas Okeke, Stan Dara, Oyibo Nwaneri, Declan Madu, Chukwuemeka Egbuchulam, Bede Eke, Josephat Emenaha, Ray Emana and Louise Chukwu.

The new leadership of the House has directed the suspended members to hand over all properties of the House in their possession to the clerk.

They also directed the Director of Account to stop further financial transaction and to forward the statement of account to them with immediate effect.

The new Speaker said the action was taken because of the highhandedness and corrupt practices of the former Speaker.

Presidency withholds assent to NASS Commission Amendment Bill

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday returned to the House of Representatives the National Assembly Service Commission (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2011 to the House of Representatives.

The president said he has reservation about the proposed administrative structure as contained in the second schedule.

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

The National Assembly Service Commission (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2011 is seeking the establishment of three directorates for the National Assembly with each having its own Director among who the Clerk of the National Assembly can be appointed.

In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole , the President said: “ Upon careful consideration of this bill, I find that I have reservations about the proposed administrative structure as contained in the second schedule which is at variance with the structure of similar commissions in the federation.

“I, therefore, wish to remit

the bill to the honourable House so that you can have another look at the structure with the view to reviewing it and re-presenting the bill for my assent.”

But President Jonathan in rejecting the Bill wants the House to have another look at the said structure with a view of reviewing it and re-presenting it for his assent.”

ACN has ‘over 60 petitions at tribunals’

A

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Legal Adviser Dr Muiz Banire yesterday spoke on the post-election litigation process involving the party, saying that it has filed over 60 petitions against the victory of its opponents across the country.

However, he could not give the exact number of petitions against the party filed other parties. Banire said that the petitions were still being collated.

The former Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State told reporters in Ikeja, that many of the ACN petitions, which were against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emanated from Benue and Akwa Ibom States, where the elections were rigged against the party.

He lamented that certain politicians still succeeded in

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

rigging out popular candidates in those states, despite the enhanced climate of electoral sanity offered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Banire said the party is irrevocably committed to the restoration of its stolen mandates at the governorship and parliamentary elections, adding that the mandate of ACN would also be defended where the party is being challenged.

“There are over 60 petitions at the tribunal and more are still coming. But I can’t give you the number of petitions against us at present”, he said.

Banire, who became a commissioner in Lagos State in 1999 at the age of 31 ruled out the possibility of serving as a

member of the State Executive Council under Governor Babatunde Fashola for the next four years.

He explained that more young people should be given the opportunity to contribute their quota to the progress of the state.

The former commissioner said that his primary focus now is to endow his new position at the national secretariat of ACN with honour and visibility as he did in his previous portfolios at the Ministries of Special Duties, Transport and Environment.

He however, said that he would continue to play politics in the state and act as advisers to many actors in the party.

Banire spoke on the House of Assembly Speakership tussle involving the Speaker, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji and the Majority Leader, Hon. Kola-

•Banire

wole Taiwo, saying that both are eminently qualified for the position.

He disclosed that the party has resolved the issue when the Lagos East Senatorial District conceded the slot to the Lagos West District at a recent apex leadership meeting of the party.

Describing the decision of the party as final, Banire said party members are bound by the doctrine of party discipline and supremacy.

Court halts Access Bank’s planned acquisition of Intercontinental

By Eric Ikhilae

A

FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has halted the planned acquisition of the troubled Intercontinental Bank Plc by Access Bank Plc. The court presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke, in a ruling, restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disposing of or altering the shareholding structure of Intercontinental Bank in favour of Access Bank.

The ruling was on an exparte application by the sacked Group managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola and a director of the bank, Bayo Dada and argued by their lawyer, Onyebuchi Aniakor.

The judge also restrained Intercontinental Bank and Access Bank from taking further step on the purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for business combinations signed by both banks.

The court restrained the CBN “from selling or taking any steps and/or further steps to dispose of and/or sell in any manner whatsoever Intercontinental Bank Plc’s investments and other assets including but not limited to the bank’s business, operations and affairs to Access Bank Plc”.

The court ordered the plaintiffs to file an undertaking to pay damages to the defendants in the event that it turn out later that the orders should not have been made.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Interbank opens with IOCs dollar sales

By Collins Nweze

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HE Inter-bank Market opened yesterday after a one-day public holiday declared by the Federal Government to mark Democracy Day with two International Oil Companies (IOCs) - Mobil Producing and Addax Petroleum, selling $36.36 million to foreign exchange operators. Mobil sold $34.36 million while Addax sold $2 to different buyers.

The market opened at a bid and offer rates of N156.50/N156.60 respectively. The day’s low was N156.10 to dollar while the high was N156.60. The rate closed at N156.30. Based on current rates, the spread between inter-bank offered rate and CBN effective rate was at N 1.27.

Traders said more liquidity will be introduced into the market as the government distributes the monthly allocations to the three tiers of government for the month of June by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The foreign reserve remained at $32.57 billion while inflation is 11.3 per cent. Also, 91-day treasury bills are still at 9.5 per cent while the Standing Lending Rate also stood at 9.5 per cent. The interbank also maintained an average rate of about 11.26 per cent within the week, from about 10.59 per cent the week before. The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) was unchanged from the previous week at 8.50 per cent.

It takes a lot more to run a good business than just trailing commissions or kickbacks otherwise everybody would succeed, wouldn’t they?

- John Ilhan

New electricity tariff begins January, says Jonathan P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has granted approval that the revised electricity tariff that is expected to emerge from the on-going consultative process should become effective from January next year.

The approval is due to the recognition of the enormous challenge and Jonathan’s commitment to address the challenges in the power sector.

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Dr Sam Amadi, disclosed this yesterday at the workshop on the review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

The expectations, he said: “Are hinged on the ability of price to play its natural role of catalysing efficient allocation of resources, thereby promoting availability, affordability and accessibility of electric power to all Nigerians.”

He added that the approval will among other things enable the Commission engage further with all stakeholders

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

for their understanding and also align the review date with calendar of most business especially those in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Amadi, explained that the workshop is one in a series of consultation process that would culminate in the major review of the current MYTO and publication of a second MYTO 2.

He stated that the Commission would spare no effort in ensuring that data supplied by operators for the process is subjected to the highest level of scrutiny and verification to demonstrate fairness to all stakeholders. He added that MYTO provides for periodic review of the cost parameters through the minor annual and major

five-year review windows.

The annual review of framework takes into cognisance changes in gas price, inflation and exchange rates, while the major review considers holistic changes in major parameters.

This review, Amadi said: “Is aimed at ensuring that prices at all times reflect the prevailing economic circumstances in Nigeria. It is on record that between 2008 and now, the MYTO has undergone two minor reviews in line with the methodology.”

The chairman lamented that despite these attributes of MYTO, the market is yet to become robust, adding that the market has failed to achieve optimum efficiency and milestones as envisaged by the Commission.

He said: “The much needed private sector investment especially in the distribution sector has not materialised and

this is likely to continue, as long as the Federal Government continues to hold on to the responsibility for policy making, regulatory and operational management across the three sectors of NESI. “Such market imperfections as low generation capacity, low private sector participation, high and unprecedented operating costs and overheads, still abound in the industry today as in 2008. Prompt payment for gas feedstock has persistently been difficult even as gas supply has improved in the last few months.”

Amadi observed that the general belief in the electricity sector is that current MYTO prices still cannot support investments therein as they are much lower than in most developing countries.

The NERC boss, claimed that as daunting as these challenges seem, “we cannot give in to

FBN Capital appoints heads for depts

F

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$115.9/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N8.1 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -11.3% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve -$33.86bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 216.9 £ 248.4 $ 153.05 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

these frustration if we must succeed. We must confront the pricing challenge while taking into consideration the prevailing economic situation of our countrymen. All over the world , prices have played a dual role in achieving efficiency in the distribution of goods and services to consumers and in driving private investment into the economy.”

This, he acknowledged, Nigeria can do by establishing a pricing regime that will sustain massive private sector investment and guarantee a positive return on investment, while also being fair to the underprivileged consumers.

He said it was for this reason that the commission, in 2010, decided to bring the Major Review forward to 2011 instead of the scheduled 2013 date.

Amadi, who urged the stakeholders to lay bare their minds at the workshop, said: “there is no guarantee that the tariff will go up or down, it is this consultation that will determine it.”

•From left: Minister of Commerce for the Republic of Guinea, Mohammed Dorval Doumbouya, with the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Minister of Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises of the Republic of Guinea, Hadja Rahamatoulaye Bah, after a business discussion with Dangote in Lagos ... on Monday

Reps reject Pension Act Amendment Bill HE House of Representatives yesterday rejected a bill for an Act t o amend the Pension Reform Act, 2004.

The bill seeks to exclude members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from the application of the 2004 pension scheme.

Others are the Nigeria Prisons Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

This was sequel to a motion by the Chairman of the

T

House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun) which was unanimously rejected when put to vote by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole.

Leading the debate, Oke argued that since the listed organisations undertake special duties it was the practice in countries like Argentina where Nigeria copied from.

Solomon Agidani (PDPBenue), who spoke against the bill, said that it would be wrong for the listed organisations to be excluded from the scheme.

He noted that the Armed Forces was allowed to exit because of their specialised

operations and warned that any attempt to allow others to leave the scheme would not mean well for the nation.

Deputy Speaker Bayero Nafada, who supported Agidani’s view, said that if the House allowed the bodies to exit, the scheme would be left in a mess.

Meanwhile, the House has urged the Petroleum Product Marketing Company and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to effect repairs on the burst pipeline at Ovwore Amukpe, Sapele, in Delta State.

It also urged the NNPC to put machineries in place to

improve the surveillance of all oil pipelines to avert occurrence.

This was sequel to a motion

by Overah Joyce (PDP-Delta), which was unanimously adopted when put to vote.

Leading the debate, Joyce said that there was a need to put some measures in place to contain future occurrences.

Halims Agoda (PDP-Delta) attributed the incidence to old pipes, which were laid some years back.

He said that it was unfortunate that government could not put in place a mechanism to check the incident in a community it was benefiting from.

BN Capital Limited, the Investment Banking and Asset Management arm of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, has appointed Bunmi Asaolu, Gregory Kronsten and Wale Adebayo as joint Heads of Research and Head, Institutional Sales respectively.

Asaolu, who assumes the role of Head, Equity Research served in a similar capacity at CSL Stockbrokers (a subsidiary of FCMB UK) while Kronsten who until his appointment was the Director of Africa Research at Trusted Sources Limited, will Head the Macroeconomic and Fixed Income Research team, FBN capital said in a statement.

Adebayo, the Head of Institutional Sales, prior to his appointment was in charge of the Financial Institutions Sales and Derivatives business for Nigeria with Standard Chartered Global Markets. Their wealth of experience in extensive banking, risk management, operations, asset management, publishing/forecasting, technology and equity research will help to position FBN Capital as the leading provider of investment banking and asset management services in the country.

According to the CEO FBN Capital and MD/CEO of Investment Banking and Asset Management for the group, Mr. Osaze Osifo: “The new members to the team will bring a wealth of experience, adding depth to our product and service offerings. Their appointments come at a time when our goal is to have the best quality team in the region and to provide best-inclass investment banking and asset management services to our clients.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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

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

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Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

tomers, which they submit later to prevent money laundering.

He said: “The provision of the law being referred to would definitely scare some people. It is not anything close to misdemeanor. Sometimes, you get a serious customer who wants to open an account. And to keep the customer, you tell him to open the account and bring some documents later. The documents that were referred to have been returned to the bank.

He said the bank will implement the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), adding that KPMG Consulting firm is already taking the bank through the process of adopting it.

He said two people that joined the board have outstanding qualities, stressing that their nomination into the board followed due process as stipulated by CBN.

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By Akinola Ajibade

tional Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, urged the bank to grow its deposit and further prevent negative effects of N150,000 minimum withdrawal policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He said it was imperative for the bank to increase its branches in order to get more earnings in the future.

Another shareholder, Mr Boniface Okezie, urged the bank to grow its earnings by creating more branches.

The Bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr Yemi Adeola, said the bank would try and surpass its achievements in subsequent years.

Adeola said the bank usually demand certain documents from cus-

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OR the financial year ended 2010, Sterling Bank Plc has recorded profit after tax of N5 billion.

This marked a remarkable improvement over the N7.2 billion net loss in 2009. The bank’s total assets grew from N221.3 billion in 2009 to N277.1 billion in 2010. Also, deposits grew by 26 per cent from N161.3 billion to N203.1 billion.

Net loans and advances rose by 25 per cent from N82.9 billion to N103.8 billion.

The bank’s non-performing loans dropped by 44 per cent from N22.8 billion to N12.9 billion. The performance delighted the shareholders at the bank’s 49th Annual General Meeting in Lagos yesterday, as they urged the management of the bank to replicate its stellar performance in the future.

Speaking at the event, the Na-

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

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Sterling Bank records N5b profit, adopts IFRS T

ABUCCIMA laments closure of 5000 industries

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

•From left: Principal, Archbishop Taylor Primary School, Lagos, Mrs M. A. Musari; CSR Manager, Oando Plc, Mrs Adekanla Adegoke; representative of the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Bunmi Oteju and Director, Oando Foundation, Ms Tokunbo Durosaro, at Oando Plc’s Children’s Day celebration, which took place in one of its adopted schools.

‘Niger can’t pay new minimum wage’

G

OVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State yesterday said payment of the N18,000 new minimum wage will be difficult for the state.

The governor, who was reacting to a statement issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urging all states to start implementing the new wage, said based on what accrues to the state from the Federation Account, payment of new wage would be difficult.

The NLC had also asked gover-

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

nors who cannot pay the new wage to resign.

Governor Aliyu, who spoke during a vote of thanks at a lecture in Minna, tagged: “Towards the Economic Transformation and viability of Nigerian States”, called for a review in the federal revenue allocation formula to allow states pay the new minimum wage.

Lamenting the fate of states that get lower monthly revenue alloca-

tion from the government, he said: ”A colleague of mine in another state gets N10 billion per month and I get N2.4 billion per month. ”Then somebody in Abuja said that the person collecting N2.4 billion as federal allocation per month must pay the same salary with the person collecting N10 billion per month. From the report of a committee available to me in the state, we need N4.5 billion per month to pay the new minimum wage.

BUA Group builds $500m cement plant

A

N indigenous company, BUA Group, has embarked on the building of a $500 million cement plant at Okpella community in Edo. The plant, when completed, would produce 2.5 million tonnes of cement annually.

The Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, announced at the contract signing ceremony for the building of the plant yesterday in Abuja that the building of the “Edo Cement Plant’’ would be completed in August, 2013.

“The building of the Edo Cement will take 28 months to be completed and it is expected to offer jobs to 4,000 skilled workers and

over 20,000 indirect jobs to Nigerians,’’ Rabiu stated.

He explained that the management of BUA Group settled for a Danish company known as FLSmidth to build the plant, stressing that the establishment of the facility was to assist the country to attain self-sufficiency in cement production.

The industrialist said that the company expected that the plant would generate mass employment for teeming Nigerians.

The financing of the project is to be provided by FLSmidth and a consortium of banks led by EcoBank, which has since provided an initial $50 million for the take off of the plant’s construction.

Other banks in the consortium are First Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, FinBank Plc and Bank PHB Plc. The President of the Cement Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Mr Joseph Makoju, lauded the management of BUA Group for the investment, saying that the plant would contribute significantly to the quest of the Federal Government to make Nigeria a cement-exporting nation.

He lauded the government for its back-integration policy in the cement sector, saying that the policy would assist in the effort to reduce the high cost of cement and other building materials in the country.

HE Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA), yesterday in Abuja lamented the closure of more than 5,000 industries in the recent past.

Consequently, Director-General, ABUCCIMA, Mr. Joseph Wenegieme, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to create an atmosphere conducive for the rejuvenation of the industries.

Wenegieme told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was only an atmosphere conducive to industrialisation that would address many of the social problems in the country.

“We know that in the last how many years, over five thousand industries in this country have shut down because goods produced by these manufacturers cannot compete with the good coming from outside the country.

“Because of the high cost of production, which in most cases has been the excessive cost of energy, most industries were being run on generators; the cost of diesel has been excessively high; then the cost of importation of raw materials and all this and so most of them shut down and then created social problem of unemployment.

“If the electricity is fixed, then many other things will be fall in place.’’

Wenegieme also enjoined President Jonathan to make a departure from the seven-point agenda of his predecessor and choose only a three-point agenda for maximum results.

He said the only way to get the closed industries back on track was for the president to really work on the energy sector so as to bring back the lost glory of industrialisation.

He stressed the need for Nigerian industries to reopen so as to reduce dependence on foreign goods and conserve foreign exchange.

He also urged government to put the country’s refineries into full production so as to end the importation of petroleum products.

Oil rises to $116 as dollar weakens

O

IL rose over one dollar yesterday with Brent crude above 116 dollars a barrel as the dollar weakened on improved prospects for a bailout for heavily indebted Greece.

Oil remained on track for an overall fall in May. The euro rose to a three-week high against the dollar as the European Union raced to draft a second bailout package to release loans next month for Greece.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany could make concessions on efforts to put together a bailout.

Brent crude futures were up 1.34 dollars a barrel to 116.02 dollars, and U.S. crude was up 1.31 dollars a barrel to 101.90 dollars. London and New York were closed on Monday for public holidays.

“The weaker dollar is the main reason why oil prices are up this morning, on hopes that an aid package for Greece will be struck,” said an analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Carsten Fritsch.

The dollar was down 0.55 per cent against a basket of currencies.

A weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for those holding other currencies.

Despite the rally as traders returned to their desks, both oil contracts are still down for the month of May, Brent is down about nine per cent and U.S. crude is down about 12 per cent following a broad commodities sell-off at the start of the month.

The market’s focus is now turning to the upcoming OPEC meeting in Vienna in June.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

ISSUES

• Cargo ship

Has seafarers’ lot improved under Cabotage Law? Under the Cabotage Law, Nigerian seafarers are expected to be given priority in job placement. But it has not been so as they still find it difficult to get jobs. Of what use is the law? The embattled seamen are asking why the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is expected to implement the law, appears helpless.

TAIWO DISU reports.

• STORY ON PAGE 18

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

ISSUES

Has seafarers’ lot improved under Cabotage Law? T

HE dearth of employment among seafarers, despite the existence of the Cabotage Law remains a source of concern to many.

To watchers, the need to enhance local capacity in the maritime sector has been an issue of grave disquiet to all stakeholders, because for years, the industry has been under the control of foreigners.

For this reason, the Nigeria Maritime and Cabotage Legislation (Act 2003) was introduced to develop human capacity and create employment for indigenous seafarers. The Act provides that vessels which carry goods and passengers within the Nigerian Coastal Waters, its Inland Waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone, must be manned by Nigerians.

However, sources revealed that more than 75 per cent of seafarers operating in Nigeria are foreigners, and they are paid huge salaries, since remuneration in the industry is mostly dollar based.

Conservatively, experts estimated that the nation is losing over N284.5 billion in capital flight following the domination of the local shipping industry by foreign firms and their crew.

A recent study, indicated that there are about 120,000 seafaring jobs in the shipping industry, and that fewer than 800 seafarers are Nigerians. Regrettably, a good number of skilled personnel trained at huge cost in foreign institutions do not get employment upon return to Nigeria, and that half of those who are currently employed, are engaged in jobs unrelated to their training.

It is no surprise that the Nigerian seamen in February, demanded the scrapping of the Cabotage Department of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the agency responsible for the welfare of seafarers, because it has failed, in their opinion, to perform the functions for which it was created.

Speaking during a protest march by the maritime workers, the seafarers said they have been rendered redundant by NIMASA because their job has been given to foreigners.

Their spokesman, Mr. Adeola Lawal, said NIMASA has acted contrary to its mandate.

The Cabotage Department, according to Lawal, was supposed to take care of job placement of the seamen but it is not doing so, he alleged.

Largely, he said all areas of local maritime employment are dominated by foreigners at the expense of Nigerian seamen, and this is actually killing the Nigerian economy.

He said: “Nigerian seamen roam the streets while other nationals occupy our positions. Capacity building in the maritime sector is almost non-existent in spite of the huge sums of money voted for that purpose annually.”

According to the seafarers, some of NIMASA’s officials own recruiting companies known as manning agencies and carry out job placement.

These companies, Lawal alleged, do not deal with their association directly, but through

NIMASA, where they connive with foreigners to engage foreign nationals.

They pointed out that government is not helping the cause of indigenous seamen, as it allows its functionaries saddled with the responsibility of manpower development to use its agency to sabotage the Cabotage regime.

They alleged that some antiCabotage groups have successfully frustrated every attempt to establish a functional regime.

Former president of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners(NAMM), Captain Adewale Ishola, said the National Maritime Authority (NMA now NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) trained cadets in the past but made no effort to retain them.

Some of cadets, Ishola said, graduated to masters, and first class engineers’ levels but went elsewhere to find jobs.

Other stakeholders in the maritime sector insisted that Nigeria has traded its future by opening strategic positions in the maritime sector in the hands of foreigners.

They noted that the country’s crude oil is being transported on foreign vessels, while refined products were brought in with foreign ships. Above all, the ships are also being manned by foreigners, which eventually leaves nothing for the citizens.

Comparing the situation with the United States where the Cabotage has worked, a researcher, Mr. Augustine Nweze said there were over 124,000 persons in maritime employment in USA on jobs directly related to its Cabotage.

This he listed, include 20,000 workers in the shipyards and 14,000 on board ships involved in direct repair and maintenance of fleet.

The concern of Nweze is why Nigeria cannot implement Cabotage Act, but keep talking about empowering more Nigerians to get involved in ship owning, building and manning.

A clause in the Act, observers noted is not helping actualisation of the goal of the government.

This is section 10 of the Act which provides that the Minister of Transportation may grant a

• Minister of Transport Yusuf Sulaiman

waiver of the requirement that Nigerians must man the vessel where applicable. The ministerial waiver is sought for and obtained through NIMASA. However, the waiver is monetised. They further revealed that the problem could be beyond NIMASA, relating different angles to the predicament.

According to experts, the foreign employers of vessels often has no power to employ more men because the team already on board are under employment contracts with a crewing Company which itself has a contract with the ship–owners. This means the vessels come to execute projects in Nigeria with their crew already in place. So the party who has power to employ is not in Nigeria and most often has no relationship with Nigeria – other than that a Client has hired its vessel to transport cargo to Nigeria. At the point of sailing to Nigeria, the personnel on board these vessels have already been determined by the project the vessels are employed to execute.

They further said that the nature

• NIMASA DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi

of vessels, especially in the Oil and Gas Industry are of extremely specialised models, which the local seafarers can not operate. The training required to manage these vessels are usually done in house by the ship owners.

They also noted that the minimum safety requirement of specialised vessels which the personnel must possess has also been identified as one of the reasons why it is difficult to employ indigenous seafarers on foreign ships. The mandatory Basic Offshore Survival Induction and Escape Training (BOSIET), Helicopter underneath Stow Escape Training (HUET) and STCW 95 Certificates as well as vessel induction and clearance, are not obtained by many indigenous seafarers.

The technicalities involve in discharging heavy cargo is cumbersome, and the lack of space in the foreign vessels are other problems facing the employment of indigenous seafarers.

Recently, stakeholders have been unrelenting in their call for

‘A clause in the Act, observers noted is not helping actualisation of the goal of the government. This is section 10 of the Act which provides that the Minister of Transportation may grant a waiver of the requirement that Nigerians must man the vessel where applicable. The ministerial waiver is sought for and obtained through NIMASA. However, the waiver is monetised. They further revealed that the problem could be beyond NIMASA, relating different angles to the predicament’

the Federal Government to do something about shipping and international maritime business in Nigeria. Many of the stakeholders feel the collapse of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) is one of the major factors causing the dearth of manpower in the maritime sector.

NNSL was used as the flagship that helped to train Nigerian seafarers that later became master mariners and marine engineers.

Retired master mariner, Captain Temitayo Omotosho, said that the several attempts made in the past by government through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) failed to yield expected result on indigenous participation in the maritime activities, thus failed to correct the imbalance in seafaring personnel against Nigeria. He urged government to act swiftly and systematically by implementing necessary legislations that will help seafarer recruitment, provide quality training and support developmental programmes.

Experts urged the government to provide training vessels on which products of the maritime institutions can earn sea experience.

They asked that the curriculum of maritime training institutions be extended and the facilities improved upon. They advocated relevant interfacing with crewing companies in other parts of the world as it could facilitate employment opportunity for sea personnel. Section 10 of the Cabotage law relating to waiver, they urged should be amended to include training of indigenous seafarers on foreign ships.

Apart these, that Nigeria should own a national fleet, even if in partnership with major stakeholders.

That the disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) should be properly monitored so that the purpose for which it was established is not defeated.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,JUNE 1, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Governors’ Forum •Amaechi, as new chair, should re-invent the body to deepen governance

G

OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State’s emergence as the new chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) last week ushers in a new opportunity for the body as a rising force in politics.

The process of picking a head is usually a matter of peer pressure. Even while it is sometimes controversial, they have to abide within their own rules. It has a new head all the same and dare we say that Amaechi stands tall by every measure. He will therefore be expected to bring to bear on the NGF, some of those leadership traits that have stood him out of the crowd of governors in the last four years.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum which emerged by default after a seminar for governors by the Nigerian Democratic Institute in April 1990 has grown into one of the most potent bodies of influence in the land today.

Modelled after the National Governors Association of the United States of America, the NGF has its core purpose as: “to make the sum of the parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stronger and greater for the benefit of all.”

Operating in the first few years, like a high-profile palm-wine club that gathered regularly to sample choice wines and repast, pat each other on the back, party late into the night, it upgraded its activities in the last four years under the leadership of Governor Saraki.

Most remarkable is its attempt to peer-review, a notable idea it has been toying with for quite some time but which has been stalled by perhaps, an expected negative result of the review.

However, work seems to have been concluded in this regard. This is good news. It is akin to what NGF’s American Counterpart (NGA) has achieved over the years.

Despite its modest efforts, the NGF is still perceived by Nigerians as a band of people who are too quick to hold the presidency to ransom on crucial national issues and who always want to share excess crude oil returns which ought to be saved for the rainy day.

Though the NGF had in the past intervened and mediated to mitigate certain national crises, Governor Amaechi has a challenge to change the negative perception of Nigerians towards the forum. First, he should make the peer-review mechanism to work in such a way that Nigerians can see the different developmental stride or lack of it in each state.

He must do this particularly in areas of education, local government administration and agricultural production. There are also states in which for eight years, they have had no local council election or conducted sham ones which produced stooges of such governors. This is the situation in many states today and it is unacceptable. Why is agriculture which ought to drive the economies of most states

so badly stumped? Who says states cannot generate export earnings through agricultural exports? Where are the palm, pineapples and citrus plantations?

This is a delicate task though. Peer reviews are no excuses for one governor to impose paradigms on others, or to brandish one world view over another. Each governor was elected and they all have their mandates.

The body could also help foster the idea of a federal state and no organization is better placed to appreciate this. These are some of the issues Amaechi should tackle and bring to the fore of national consciousness.

That way, we will see how our governors are working and feel the impact of the NGF as an august body.

‘Though the NGF had in the past intervened and mediated to mitigate certain national crises, Governor Amaechi has a challenge to change the negative perception of Nigerians towards the forum.

First, he should make the peer-review mechanism to work in such a way that Nigerians can see the different developmental stride or lack of it in each state’

Predatory police • The continuing tragedy of “accidental discharge”

T

HE recent sentencing to death of police sergeant Kalejaiye Ola for the murder of Paul Erimafa, a Benin resident, in 2003 brings closure to a particular incident of the misuse of lethal force by members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). However, the basic problem of reducing such tragic occurrences to the barest minimum continues to challenge the Nigerian people.

As a legally-constituted law-enforcement agency, the police are obliged to use weapons in carrying out their statutory functions. No rational person expects police officers to go after dangerous and well-armed criminals with their bare hands. In fact, there have been continual calls for better-armed police as an essential part of the overall rehabilitation of the country’s police force.

Over the years, however, it is quite apparent that a small but significant

‘Clearly, the impunity of uniformed murderers bodes ill for the peace and progress of the country and must be brought to an end.

One sure way of making this happen is to hold the relevant senior officers responsible for the behaviour of the men under their command’

percentage of police personnel have taken advantage of their governmentissued weapons to harass, intimidate and even kill their fellow-citizens. It is rare for a week to pass by without tragic tales of the murder of innocent citizens by policemen. Bus drivers and passengers are shot because of a twenty naira bribe; long-distance traders and other travellers are murdered for the money they carry on them; even road-users who are slow to obey a police order have been shot at pointblank range.

Sometimes, the officers guilty of these crimes may be drunk or on drugs, but more often than not, they are driven by a sense of their own power and the belief that they will not be made to answer for their actions.

This attitude is not helped by the knee-jerk reaction of most police commands to these unwarranted murders: police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) routinely deny the NPF’s culpability, even when the evidence clearly shows otherwise.

Erring police officers are only brought to trial after sustained pressure by the media, non-governmental organisations and activist lawyers.

Even then, aggrieved families are forced to endure drawn-out trials and unnecessary expense as they seek justice for their loved ones.

Nigeria can no longer continue to witness the avoidable tragedies wrought by trigger-happy policemen.

These killings have continued for as long as they have mainly because the

upper hierarchy of the police force does not appear to be willing to ensure that they are reduced to the barest minimum. Instead of taking decisive action to investigate and punish errant policemen, they often seem to be more interested in shielding offenders and putting obstacles in the way of further enquiry.

They probably do this in a misguided notion of solidarity and espirit de corps, but fail to realise that killer policemen tarnish the reputation of the police force as a whole.

When a society begins to regard its own police officers as being no better than criminals, the task of effective law enforcement is made all the more harder.

Last week in Badagry, soldiers reminded us that they too could be involved in such acts of barbarity. Two policemen were allegedly killed by soldiers after a soldier in mufti was fatally shot by a policeman on checkpoint duty.

Clearly, the impunity of uniformed murderers bodes ill for the peace and progress of the country and must be brought to an end. One sure way of making this happen is to hold the relevant senior officers responsible for the behaviour of the men under their command. This will ensure that they have a personal stake in seeing that their men conduct themselves with greater professionalism. It will also prevent them from trying to cover up any officer who engages in the inappropriate use of deadly force.

Another war in Sudan?

T

HE world breathed a sigh of relief in January when southern Sudanese voted overwhelming to secede and the government in northern Sudan accepted the results. But with the July 9 independence date approaching, north and south Sudan are on the brink of war over the oil-rich border region of Abyei. The United States, the United Nations and the African Union will have to press hard to get the two sides to back down.

The January vote was part of a 2005 American-backed agreement that ended two decades of fighting between the Arab Muslim north and the largely Christian south that killed two million people. The fact that it went off reasonably peacefully was a testament to American and other international mediators who worked assiduously to persuade President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to forgo disruption and violence — at least then.

The question of who would control Abyei was left unresolved. It is quickly descending into chaos. On May 19 southern Sudan forces ambushed a convoy of northern army troops escorted by U.N. peacekeepers. President Bashir, author of the murderous war in Darfur, reacted excessively, sending more forces to bombard and occupy Abyei’s main town. Thousands have fled. Mr. Bashir also unilaterally disbanded a north-south civilian council that was jointly administering Abyei.

Abyei is one of many unresolved issues, including borders, citizenship protections for minorities and how oil earnings — the south has 70 percent of the reserves — will be shared.

The two sides need each other to succeed.

Southern Sudan needs the North’s pipeline to get its oil to market. Northern Sudan needs oil money to help pay its bills. Both need foreign investment and the North in particular needs debt relief. They have a better chance of winning international support if they are at peace.

The Obama administration set out a road map for removing Sudan from the terrorism list and normalizing relations with Khartoum. That must be held up until Mr. Bashir negotiates a settlement for Abyei. To get maximum benefits, progress on a peace settlement in Darfur is also required.

International mediators must make clear to southern Sudan that international assistance will not be forthcoming if it continues to pick fights with Khartoum. The U.N. needs more competent troops.

Mr. Bashir and Salva Kiir, the president of southern Sudan, need to resume negotiations on all issues, starting with Abyei. We are encouraged by reports that the two sides will meet with mediators from the African Union on Saturday. Another war serves no one’s interest.

- New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: The article entitled “Poll tribunals: the world is watching”, credited to Mr. Godwin Nzeakah and published recently in The Nation was timely. However, the author somehow failed to hit the nail on the head. We should always bear in mind that the numerous ills besetting the nation have their root chiefly in political corruption which manifests itself principally in election malpractices. Therefore if we must fight corruption generally we have to start from elections and every commentator should be prepared to call a spade a spade. To simply warn election tribunals that the world is watching them may be quite apt but to my mind it doesn’t go far enough. A more courageous headline would have unequivocally admonished the various tribunals to steer clear of lucre by saying no to politicians’ blood money.

I used the word “blood” because

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

Re: “Poll tribunals: the world is watching” that is the right label for any pecuniary inducement that may take place in the course of trying to correct the grievous anomalies that characterized the April 26 elections in many states, especially Akwa Ibom, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and any other states where members of the main opposition party who were apparently poised for victory were not only brazenly battered and bruised, but also needlessly forced to make the supreme sacrifice before, during, or after the elections. And those Nigerians must not die in vain.

Personally, I partly blame the excesses of our politicians on incurable ignorance of history even our recent history as demonstrated in Edo, Ekiti and Osun states where electoral justice was pressed to the earth only to be courageously unearthed by judicial fiat. Perhaps no other Nigerian opposition candidate ever suffered the degree of harassment, intimidation and persecution meted out to Engr Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State, but now he is laughing last; thanks to the intervention of incorruptible judges. Similar verdicts no doubt

will go a long way this year in sanitizing the system preparatory to 2015. Luckily for us judicial precedents abound which should enhance expeditious hearing as well as courageous verdicts.

A good example is the 1983 governorship contest in the old Anambra State between Jim Nwobodo (NPP) and Christian Onoh (NPN). Like in that particular instance, today, time is not on the side of the tribunals. There should be no need therefore for copious evidence of rigging where two or three instances taken one

New leaders must read Iyayi’s Violence

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IR: With the 29 May inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan administration and 26 state governors taking oaths of office, Nigeria has again successfully managed her democratic experiment. New leaders that will pilot the national affairs for the next four years have thus been put in place. As the political leaders begin to settle down for state craftsmanship, I humbly request them to spend a night to read through Festus Iyayi’s novel entitled Violence. If indeed, leaders are readers, and readers are leaders, they need to read this classical portrayal of Nigeria’s extremes of poverty and wealth. It will certainly help.

The 1979 Longman published novel does not suggest physical and brutal assault but rather, a characterization and depiction of a slow and gradual debasement of humanity, as a result of corruption, greed and injustice in Nigerian society which our president and governors were sworn-into office to correct.

The novel is not just a fictitious creation, but a vivid description of our stifling situation. It is a novel that touches the raw flesh of abject poverty and cruel exploitation of the poor by the leaders. The poor are cynically manipulated by the wealthy, thus, creating violence in

the society. Is that not true?

Favourable conditions for violence, according to the book, are created when one man has more than enough to feed himself, his dogs, cats, children and monkeys, whereas many other men are weak and thin from hunger and their children are suffering from kwashiorkor. When in one public hospital, in the same society, one patient can sleep in a large air-conditioned room, whereas other ordinary patients – men, women and children – have to sleep in corridors, on mats, on the hard cold and roughly cemented floors.

Your Excellencies, this is not an exaggeration. It is real in Nigeria!

Acts of violence are committed when a man is denied the opportunity of being educated, of getting a job, of feeding himself and his family properly, of getting medical attention cheaply, quickly, and

promptly.

Nigerian leaders, these are the conditions you are expected to ameliorate. You were elected to heal the land. It is definitely the lack of opportunities that drives people to crime, to madness, prostitution and adultery! Your Excellencies, you had promised to help the poor with various developmental programmes, here is an opportunity, having being elected to fulfill your campaign promises. You were not elected to become a vulture, picking at the flesh of a helpless prey. You are not expected to loot the treasury for your personal comfort, neither are you expected to further devastate the already impoverished people by stealing our commonwealth.

Kindly come up with innovative ideas that will herald a paradigm shift from the ugly past. You can do it. Be creative with our avail-

able resources. Write your name in gold like the legendary Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who gave a poor person like me a free education. Imitate iconic Nnamdi Azikwe whose contributions to Nigeria remain enviable. Take a cue from Tafawa Balewa who did not steal public fund to enrich himself.

As Nelson Mandela will say “there are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way”.

Be imaginative, be pragmatic, be proactive and be forthright but don’t create violence. As you smile along with your wife or wives into Government House, remember that four years is around the corner when you shall be evaluated by the electorate.

• Sunday Saanu University of Ibadan

each from the three senatorial zones of a state will do, as demonstrated in Enugu in 1983 by Chief RotimiWilliams, counsel to Nwobodo, who cited instances of 11 rigging centres out of the 23 LGAs in the state then. Due to time constraints Chief Williams only concentrated on places like Njikoka, Oji River and Igbo Etiti to prove Nwobodo’s allegation against Onoh. Njikoka in the then Onitsha senatorial zone had 266,335 registered voters, but the actual total votes cast in the governorship poll was 71,176 or about 26.7% turnout, with the NPP scoring 38,686, NPN 30,643 and the rest of the parties about 1,797 votes.

But the falsified results as presented by the returning officer, showed total votes cast as 166,786, with NPP scoring 76,178 and NPN 80,832 (or about 157,010 between them) which when added to the votes of the rest of the parties yielded a turnout of about 59.6%. In Oji River with about 53,186 registered voters, where only 26,613 or about 50% turned out with the NPN scoring only 4,082, NPP 21,688 and others about 843 votes, the final results released by FEDECO awarded the NPN 23,518, NPP 27,591 and other parties approximately 1,000 votes, giving a total of 52,109 or about 99.6% voter turnout!

Perhaps the worst rigging in that poll took place in Igbo Etiti which had 120,750 registered voters out of which only 26,196 or about 16.1% turned out with NPN scoring 11,702, NPP 13,293 and others about 1,201 votes. In the final and falsified results, NPN scored 59,652 and NPP, 56,767 which when added to the votes of the other parties yielded a total of 118,182 or about 73% turnout! In this way Onoh instead of Nwobodo, emerged eventual winner, but Justice Araka had no problem quashing that fraudulent victory.

• Dr. Aniefiok E. Bassey Abuja.

Appeal to Governor Aregbesola IR: I wish to passionately appeal to our amiable governor,Engr.

Rauf Aregbesola,to intervene in my predicament and frustration in getting my dues from Oriade LGA. This is in respect of unpaid constitu-

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ency allowance of 2006; even after the project was completed in 2007 and certified by the relevant agencies in Osun State, the money was not paid because those in charge claimed that I belong to the ACN and the PDP government of Mr Ogunsemi refused to

pay the money.

I am therefore using this medium to appeal to you to use your good office to intervene and bring succour to those of us that were brutalised and victimized in the course of the struggle to liberate Osun State in order not to

be mocked.

Finally,l fecilitate with you on your recent birthday celebration. Sir, more power to your elbow and more fruitful years of service to humanity.

• Hon Akinrolabu B. Ikeji-Ile, Ijesa

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

No time: Run, do not crawl; Make ‘The Ward’ the policy unit; Potholes, books, exhibitions, jobs pls!

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ONGRATULATIONS to the excellent people of Nigeria for employing President Jonathan and governors and particuTony larly Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State, all inauguMarinho rated on May 29 . Good, wise speeches. Each state is larger than several countries, so governors must see themselves as ‘In-loco-Presidents’ and think holistically, power and provision of amenities, of their people and not wait for federal or blame it for failure. Now for fast and furious action. Year 2015 will come too soon and you will all have regrets about how slow you have been.

The one thing politicians in office must realise is that there is no time. There is never enough time. Time starts running out now. ‘Pace-setting’ demands a high speed, professional and ‘private sector mentality’ and ‘Problem Solving’ approach. Run forward, do not crawl.

Start with the ‘anonymous’ civil service hiding behind office doors and unavailable often except for a bribe! They will hinder, bury, frustrate or execute your vision. SERVICON was a start. Re-training, upgrading, exposure to foreign civil services and more close monitoring of civil servants must be done now at the beginning of this regime during the next three to six months and then continuously. They control our lives.

Their telephone numbers and email should be released to the public as with Lagos State. ‘Call Your Civil Servant’.

Every unfilled pothole at Mokola or uneven railway crossing at Sango is a civil service failure, costing millions of daily commuters money in time or financial losses and ruining the reputation of government. But who can we call? Who are the civil servants in charge of these eyesores disgracing the governor? There is no time to play around and only work in the last three months. Your Special Duties Commissioner must be above all ministries to show them up for their failures and hold power to solve problems. The people are impatient. It is only a matter of time before the failures of the past government are transferred to be your failures

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HEY are called law officers or law enforcement officers, but a good number of them are extremely lawless. For years, not much improvement has been noticed in their behavioural pattern or attitudes towards their fellow men and inter-service cooperation.

Perhaps, nothing else signposts the moral, attitudinal and behavioural degeneration among the uniform services in the country than the recent display of madness in Lagos.

The setting of the theatre of the absurd was Ibereko, a suburb of Badagry on the outskirts of Lagos.

Badagry is a sanctuary of sort for thieves and trans-border criminals.

Although there are law-abiding citizens in this ancient town which has since assumed cosmopolitan features, there is a tinge of criminality attached to it. In the booming business of smuggling, the smugglers are aided and abetted by the plethora of security agents in the town. The countless checkpoints or ‘cheque points’ which are ubiquitous along the road to the town are manned by the personnel of almost all the uniformed services. By implication, there are hardly any of these agencies which do not partake either directly or indirectly in the notorious smuggling ring along this axis.

No proper account of what happened on Sunday, May 22, has been given. But from the little that has been forthcoming, a sergeant in the army, serving in the 242 Recce Battalion based in Ibereko, Badagry, was said to have driven his scooter motorcycle on the wrong lane on the fateful day. A policeman accosted the sergeant, who was obviously in mufti. One thing led to the other and the sergeant alerted his

also. So please solve them quickly.

Jobs must be created. Nigeria needs an army of 21st Century fire fighters for markets and buildings. We need an army of psychologists in the armed forces and police to prevent stray bullet, human rights abuses and inter-service bloody warfare. We need in the army, photographers, or a digital camera/police station, to photograph suspects and criminals to prevent ‘extra-judicial’ beating and murder in our ‘human rights abusing’ police cells. We need an army of forensic technologists and photographers skilled in forensic sciences in the police stations and CID HQ, for crime detection, ‘crime scene assessment’ and to analyse blood and murder weapons and crime scenes. We need an army of pothole fillers to fight the over 10 million potholes in an ‘Anti-Pothole War’.

We need an army of skilled artists and scientists to develop the thousands of different posters totalling 100 million posters for school, community education and enlightenment in health, school and MDGs for the 1.2 million classrooms and 10,000 markets and community halls and youth centres [when they are opened]. We need ‘One Youth Centre/ Ward’ policy 16,400- as a strategic development tool to achieve the MDGs and for two way information between government ministries and the youth in the ward.

To nip problems in the bud, forward-thinking governments use a network of monitors with notepads, monitoring papers, radio and television and the marketplace to identify problems ‘pinching the people’. This is done through ‘An Emergency Troubleshooting for Problems Team’ for ‘President/ Governor’s Eyes Only’ with subsections for areas of interest. Such a unit should be set up at ward, LGA, state and federal level to receive problems from the public and even initiate problem identification in each state and LGA. Just as ICPC and EFCC should be able to initiate investigations and not wait for petitions, so this group should send out feelers to monitor and anticipate problems that can be solved before they explode into political and social upheaval.

Nigeria must redraw the development map and apply a new strategy. Since politics has made ‘The Ward’ the unit of politics, then the unit of socio-economic development at

LGA, state and federal levels should also be ‘The Ward’16,400. Most states have 3-400 wards, an easily managed number on a computer which monitors the presence or absence of the fundamentals of development. What do people want in a ward to make life worth living and worth staying? They want recognition, Best Ward in LGA, state and federation.

Each ward needs good quality kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, a youth centre, library, primary health centre, market, public entertainment/ recreation space for sports and community activities.

The Fashola-built mini-stadium in Campos Square Lagos is a good template for all wards in Nigeria. A proper sports pyramid, academic pyramid and other talent pyramid, by age and sex, from ward to LGA to state to federal require the employment of talent hunters, coaches, teachers and IT experts.

The President/Governors must pencil down what they have seen abroad and enter into negotiations with local and foreign exhibitions and museums to have a linkage for inspirational educational development with the Smithsonian, The Natural History Museum, The Transport Museum, The Science Museums around the world. Every city in every state should have a tourist plan for an ‘Ancient and Modern Arts, Culture and Science and Technology Exhibition’ to employ local creative and scientific genius and attract tourist money and inspire and educate citizens.

‘The Fashola-built mini-stadium in Campos Square Lagos is a good template for all wards in Nigeria. A proper sports pyramid, academic pyramid and other talent pyramid, by age and sex, from ward to LGA to state to federal require the employment of talent hunters, coaches, teachers and IT experts’

Lawless law officers colleagues who stormed the place in anger. Before anybody could say “Jack Robinson”, bullets started flying from every direction, and the sergeant was badly hit. He died. At this point, tempers rose to effervescent level on both sides.

Last Tuesday, less than 48 hours after the bloody encounter, bedlam was let loose. Samuel Saliu, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ibereko, and Samson Okedusi, the Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, were mowed down in a gruesome manner. Other policemen in the entourage of the two senior officers on their way to seek peace at the army barracks sustained gunshot wounds. One of them, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, later died in a hospital.

Not done with the initial casualty figures, the soldiers were said to have invaded the police barracks at Ibereko and inflicted injuries on the occupants. Policemen on guard duties in nearby banks and those commuting inside public transports were not spared. Some were killed, while others were ‘lucky’ to have been ‘maimed’.

Wasting of precious lives by security agents has been a regular occurrence in this country. The annoying thing is that each time this occurs, what follows in the normal buck-passing. A military spokesman even assaulted our sensibilities after the senseless killings by exonerating soldiers from the reprisal killings on the stupid excuse that “soldiers had no ammunition to waste”. What sort of unprofes-

‘There is nowhere in the civilized clime where the barbaric act of security agencies assaulting one another is practised as we witness in Nigeria every time’

sional grandstanding is that?

The misuse of firearms either by a soldier, a policeman or any other law officer is tantamount to indiscipline and disobedience of the law of the land. Many times, innocent people have met their untimely death in the hands of ruthless law enforcement officers who take delight in harassing innocent people they are paid to protect. In such instances, what you hear is “unknown soldier”, “unknown policeman” and all that. In the mid-1970s, those who burnt the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s house and flung his 80-year-old mother from the fourth floor of the building were soldiers. But up till today, the verdict that was returned by a kangaroo panel that was set up to look into the incident attributed everything to “unknown soldiers”. That was probably how “unknown soldier”, “unknown policeman” and “unknown civilian” crept into our national lexicon.

There is no justification for anybody – soldier, policeman or civilian – to open fire on any other person. In the services, there is what is called the rule of engagement, which is mostly observed in its breach. It only allows for the use of maximum force when every other thing has failed and the life of the law enforcement agent is threatened. In the case of a soldier riding a motorbike in mufti, he could not have been armed and so could not ordinarily pose any threat. If it was his colleagues who were invited to the scene that escalated the commotion which resulted in the exchange of bullets, I thought the situation could have been prevented in the first instance after the soldier was identified as such. This could have prevented him from ‘inviting’ his colleagues whose arrival caused him his own life.

It is unfortunate that security

agents especially the police derive sadistic joy in the maximum use of firearms even when they are not under any threat or in any form of danger. That is why in the past, any form of argument or mere verbal exchange between policemen and drivers or ‘bus conductors’ often resulted in fatalities. It is common for a policeman to say “look here, I will shoot you now and nothing will happen.” What is meant by “nothing will happen” is that once the killing is done, tissues of lies are immediately invented or concocted to cover up the savagery with such inanities as “he wanted to disarm me. It was an accidental discharge” and all that.

There have been numerous cases of police/soldiers clash all over the country in the past. The most recent was in 2005 when a contingent of soldiers raided the Ojuelegba Police Division in the Surulere area of Lagos. That confrontation left many people, including policemen and innocent passersby, dead or maimed. More than 60 vehicles were torched while the station was razed. It is still under construction.

A panel was later set up, but up till this moment, nobody has been sanctioned for that orgy of violence and arson. We are again being inundated with empty promises by the army and police hierarchies that these latest killings will be thoroughly investigated and the culprits will be brought to book. At the risk of pre-empting the panel which is yet to be set up, I do not think anything meaningful will come out of such a panel.

There is nowhere in the civilized clime where the barbaric act of security agencies assaulting one another is practised as we witness in Nigeria every time. By the way, it took more than 24 hours for the incident to snowball into a major conflagration that claimed many

Dele Agekameh lives. What were intelligence officers in the army and their counterparts in the police doing that they could not nip the violence in the bud? That speaks volumes of the operational competence and efficiency of the intelligence arms of the two services.

In future, they need to be proactive to arrest such a situation. I believe if they had been up and doing, what happened last week would have been avoided, especially the rampage that followed the death of the army sergeant.

Even the sergeant’s life could have been saved if proper monitoring mechanism had been put in place.

How will fully armed soldiers move out of a barracks (in their numbers) to avenge perceived injustice meted to their colleague without the knowledge of a superior officer? And even when the fracas claimed the life of the sergeant, what efforts were made to prevent the reprisal attacks? These are questions for the military authorities to answer. As for the police, the careless use of firearms should be discouraged. Or like the liar-army spokesman said: Is it true that the police have ammunition to waste?

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘I think the President should review the whole constitution instead of sections. Constituency allawance should be abolished; legislators are for laws making, executives are for projects. Each state should be represented by five people - two for senate and three for reps and ministers to 27 to cut expenses. Jumbo pay stories have died just like that? When do we have such revelation again? We should all say no to looting and injustice of our leaders! Anonymous’

• Yuguda For Prof Segun I felt encouraged for so many reasons after reading “A question of stucture.” The issues raised are genuine and very fundamental. As the book of wisdom puts it, “if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Anonymous Your best piece for me! weldone, sir! But won’t the sovereign national conference run against the national assembly? franklyn, calabar.

Greetings sir. Your piece today on “A Question of Structure” comes at good time.

I will contribute to the interrogation by asking you to see p.9 of the Guardian today for full text of our position on the country. I will forward the text electronically.

Tony Nnadi Esq Sir, I want to commend you on your write-up titled ‘A Question of Structure.’

Sir, today in Nigeria our major problems are bad governance and corruption. Example can be seen of the last ammendement of the constitution by our so called lawmakers, they only amended provisions that suit their interest and electoral act where they basterdize the letter.

But during the elections, God intervened and most of them lost the election. May God give you more energy to discharge your duties. Mustapha Imam, Kano.

Dear Segun, Sovereign National Conference is the only answer to the National Question Debacle period. Please forge ahead with your planned discusion of alternative visions. I suscribe to looking forward to reading from you. Akinbami Femi Mr. Segun, thanks for your beautiful article on ‘A Questn of Structure.’ I am looking forward to your interrogative alternative visions. The North just don’t know that we see through their parasitic mentality and childish double-speak. Clearly the North is blind to the writings on the wall, their deceptive divide and rule within the minorities is open. Anonymous Sovereign National Conference can not work but a representative committee of 100 people to write a new constitution to be aproved by 2/3 of state asemblies.

From J.Olopo, Ado Ekiti Prof Segun, concerning your column ‘A Question of Structure’, I think the President should review the whole constitution instead of sections. Constituency allawance should be abolished; legislators are for laws making, executives are for projects. Each state should be represented by five people - two for senate and three for reps and ministers to 27 to cut expenses. Jumbo pay stories have died just like that? When do we have such revelation again? We should all say no to looting and injustice of our leaders! Anonymous I am not all that sure that Yuguda is a normal human being. Expert surgeons should check whether or not his heart is that of a beast. I pity his children for having such a heartless imp as a father. How would he feel if he were the father of the murdered corpers? From Adebamiji Ogunyinka, Ilesa, Osun State.

For Dr Dare Hello Mr writer, you have to be eloquent in what you write in order not to confuse the readers and what is on grand in this country now is not the matter of mistake.

Take time from your friend. Anonymous.

Ola hi, what country do we leave in?

My kid sister graduated with 1st class and now she is the only west African to be given an schorlarship for masters($23,000) and she is a Niger Deltan. All entreaties to get a required sum of $6000 from our leaders here have been mute. Is it fair? After bringing pride to the Nigerian women. Lawson Sir, your “Its all about the juice” applies to all governments including the next cabinet of BRF where Tinubu holds the swetest juice. Barr Tony Keyamo With gratitude to Almighty God, for a tenure terribly spent, we regret to announce the sudden NATIONAL DISGRACE of our dear political maradona...Chief Sir Dr. Ikiri Imo [ochi ka nwata]...

Till his sudden disgrace he was Survived By: •Oguta Wonder Lake -Billboard •Oak Refinery Ohaji -Billboard •Nworie River Resort -Magazine •Owerri Ring Road -Billboard •10,000 jobs for imolites -Newspaper •300 roads in 30 days -Signboard •Imo Int’l Cargo Airport -TV Advert •Okigwe Int’l Stadium -Billboard •Imo Twin Towers -Newspaper and a host of other relations.....

Please attatch your tributes for publication.

For being magnanimus enough to leave a feedback number in contrast to some other top columnists, we Nigerians are grateful. May you live a long life.

Chris, Unijos.

I read your article on the February 1, 2011.’The wages of bad faith’. I think the situation in Benghazi, Libya,Yemen and Bahram will answer for caption.Governor Ibrahim Idris betrays our own son, Arc,Dr. Stephen Olorunfemi who see the Governor through his re-run election to Laugard House. I want Idris to note the development in Arab States that people will fight to get what belong to them and that is the more reason why the Federal Government must not fold hands on what is happening in Kogi state and states where group turn themselve to an imperialist. Playing the game of winner has it all.Very soon the minority will stand and this rage will not be in the forest but among our people.Only then we will know Kogi belongs to everybody, and resources, project, and office should be shared in fairness to equity, justice, and good conscience.Thanks for the article Olatunji.

Boluromi Funsho.(Legal practioner) Kabba.

Prof. Sir, thanking you for writing on the side of Kogi masses in the misgoverning of the state by Ibrahim Idris. His rejoinder is criminally hollow. Some ten thousand state civil servants have not been paid salaries for over 24 months! He claimed their appointments were not approved by him.

Yet he has been including their names and salaries in the annual budgets and collecting the salaries. I would love to speak wth you sir. Pharm. Chief. Olayemi from Ejiba God bless you for your write-up. Amen!

It’s all about the juice’, is unquestionably fantastic. However, it is not generous to believe the worst of a man when you have not got any power over him. I think you might try and use it to make him better; but that is what our public commentators seldom do. Most aspirants for cabinent

posts are regrettably not conversant with the words ‘honour’ and ‘service’ as against ‘quick money ‘ and ‘treasury looting’.We shall all appreciate your redeeming the situation soonest. Adegoke O. O., Ibadan Your article on “It’s all about the juice” is a masterpiece. What baffles me is whether our leaders ever have time to read newspapers or listen to radios.How can the country move forward when people without credibility are appointed to head positions of authority.We proclaim to be Christians and Moslims but end up looting the masses wealth at every given opportunity. How can the country move forward when our leaders surround themselves with sycophants who gossip the praise them on daily basis. God help Nigeria. Amadi Nicholas, Imo Poly,UmuagwoOhaji Brilliant article of yours! In my view, the polticians, those you mentioned and those you didn’t are not our problem for as long as the media as a watch dog of society is not doing its job, the country will not move forward, there is no media that carried it out as a single investigative report for public good. In other lands, politicians respect and fear the media, here they look at you with contempt cause most of your colleaques have become pay as you go press men. The fact that 50 years after independence the policians continue to rape the nation and drink the Juice with impunity is going to be bussines as usual, sir. Anonymous OD,’Its all about the juice’ is really an indication of shame of our nation of several egg-heads who america wil be happy to have to run her affairs,are the very people who are sidelined when it comes to governance,while those who are not better than mere laborers in countries like america are our first choice for ministerial appointment.what a nation! How do we aspire to meet our developmental goals,when only under achievers and people with saturated ideas are the chosen.can jonathan’s list be different?

The world is waiting. From Adey Corsim,oshodi-Lagos.

For Gbenga Omotoso Your piece on tongues of trouble was a work of a sharp and thoughtful person.From the begining of time, the tongue has been a man’s blessing or curse. It baffles how vain and profane human beings are. Knowing that nobody gets out of this life alive, is it not wise then to do good instead of evil? One day the game will be over and everyone will stand before God and give account of his life.

From Dr Dekah .I. Joseph Re: Tongues of trouble. What you said is the gospel truth, nothing destroys a man’s reputation like women. From Likita Oga Omotosho, your write up on And woman palaver made a very good reading, but the one I expected to read more than any of them was the general Abacha’s apple story with the Indian ladies. Keep it up. From Sgt Simon, NPF, Abia state Gbenga, good afternoon. This is yet another master piece. Tongues of trouble and woman palaver. The last election has shown how desperate some of our politicians are both old and new. The death of Nigerians does not matter to them so long as they win. Don’t forget Marley’s song No woman No Cry. I rest my case. From Etuna Chidi.

In response to your article titled ‘The end,’ Osama Bin Laden could not justify his action by his believe no matter how

•Oyinlola

extremely fanatical he was. Through his cruel act, thousands of innocent people around the world were sent to their early graves. Only God can justify whether he deserves his brutal death. Concerning the slained Corps members, their killers are at the door. Perhaps, Buhari and Isa Yuguda can unravel their killers. May they know no peace . Victor Ntah- Akwanga.

Some people think they can just kill human beings in the name of religion and go scot free. Except those people are fetched and jungle justice meted on them, we have a long way to go. Imagine doing same to them where they are minority!

Zumji from Pankshin. Plateau state.

Now is the time to do something about the recurring killing of non-moslems and southerners in the north. And one way to do it is to make paramount rulers and religious leaders of theaters of such carnages bear the weight of the law should they fail to identify the culprits.

Anonymous Oga Gbenga, is it true that CP Doma was removed from Kano because he exposed the sponsors of, and how they planned the post Jonathan Victory Jihad? Anyway help me tell Jonathan to seek out visionary heads for both arms of the NASS to help us get true federalism/devolution of powers to states, sharing revenue between FG and States only, and allowing states to create and fund LGs as they like.

Anonymous I see no connection between Bin Ladin’s death and the corpers death after the elections in Bauchi. Anonymous Dear Gbenga, I wonder what inspires you to writing. Your column is the most crisp, concise, but yet detailed of all in the land. I hope to make it to the pinnacle as a columnist some day. Do you mind sharing your secret? Ocheje Emoche Ernest, Mass comm., dept., UNN. To we fundamentalist Muslims as they refer to those who are conscious of their Islamic responsibilities, Osama was a hero. 9/11 was a watershed in the world history as America was given a big dose of what she had been doing to other Nationalties in the world. Why should America’s cruel monstrocity in the world produce orphans, widows and physically handicaped people when Americans are unpertubed and enjoying their lives to the fullest? With the 9/11, they can now experience what other people sufer when they create wars to enable them sell their weapons. Osama was trained by US to fight against the Soviets but after the war thinking American involvement was altruistic he told them of the need to unite the Mujahideen factions but Americans told him in confidence that the US profits on their disunity. That was what fired his Islamic zeal or patriotism and established Alqaedah ostensibly to route Americans out of the Muslim world. Osama has inspired many Osamas and the Islamic world can never be the same again.

I. K. Sanni People Earnestly Against Corruption and Exploitation (PEACE).

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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NATION SPORT Scholes retires, eyes coaching role MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from playing but will remain at the club in a coaching capacity.

Scholes, who came through the United academy as part of the club's famous group of youngsters in the mid-1990s, played more than 650 times for the Old Trafford outfit and is widely acknowledged as one of the finest English footballers of his generation.

A one club man, Scholes picked up 24 winners medals during his time with the Red Devils, including 10 Premier League wins and two Champions League successes after making his debut in September 1994.

However, having struggled to secure first-team football this season, the 36year old has opted not to sign a new playing contract at the club but will remain alongside Sir Alex Ferguson in a coaching role.

In a statement released on the club's official site, Scholes said: "I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do and to have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour.

"This was not a decision that I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing. To have been part of the team that helped the club reach that 19th title is a great privilege.

"I would like to thank the fans for their tremendous support throughout my career, I would also like to thank all the coaches and players that I have worked with over the years, but most of all I would like to thank Sir Alex for being such a great manager, from the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership."

Moratti: Pastore good enough for big clubs

INTER PRESIDENT Massimo Moratti has made it clear that he will not sack coach Leonardo in the summer and has also stated his belief that Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore is ready to play for a big club.

Speaking to journalists outside the Saras offices on Monday, Moratti expressed his faith in Leonardo, who replaced Rafael Benitez in the Inter hotseat in December, and also revealed his joy at his side’s Coppa Italia triumph on Sunday evening.

"I'm especially happy for the players and the coach, who can have this satisfaction after putting in all that good work - it wasn't easy to come into a new environment and deal with all the various controversies,” the Inter president told the club's official website after the 3-1 win against Palermo in the final in Rome.

“So I'm happy for him and for the players, who have shown once more how consistent they are and that they still have the hunger needed to keep bringing home trophies, which are important whichever ones they are."

When pointed out that Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas will be in Milan

on Tuesday, Moratti remarked: "I certainly don't think he's coming here for us.

“We know him and we know he's very talented, but we're not going to change coach."

SPAR EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Idowu comfirms tussle with Tamgho

•Idowu

Argentina suffers injury blow

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RGENTINA will be without injured FC Porto defender Nicolas Otamendi for their high-profile challenge match against Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

Argentina spokesman, Andrea Ventura, told MTNFootball.com that Otamendi, one of the more experienced players in the largely experimental side for this friendly, copped a muscle strain while in action for his Portuguese club.

The 23-year-old centre back has won 10 caps for the two-time world champions since he was first capped in 2009.

The South Americans had their first work out in Abuja Monday evening at the Goal Project pitch of the Abuja National Stadium with Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta the most recongnisable

Argentina star.

Ventura would defend the absence of Argentina top stars like Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

“Lionel, Tevez and others couldn't come as a result of club commitments. But we are in Nigeria with our best squad and we expect a good match on Wednesday,” he said.

The Albiceleste did not look like they are missing any player as they dazzled batteries of journalists and fans who besieged the FIFA/NFF Goal Project Arstro Turf pitch Monday with coach Sergio Batista in charge of the training.

19 June, marked in his diary.

He also revealed that his friendly rival with France, world and European indoor champion Teddy Tamgho, should also be in the Swedish capital, which leads to the thought that the triple jump could be one of the highlights of the weekend.

“We meet in New York next month on 11 June – the scene of his (Tamgho’s 2010 world-leading) 17.98m jump last year, the third best of all-time – and then the European Team Championships in Stockholm,” Idowu told the British newspaper Metro.

“However, I know I can’t afford to disregard anybody in my pursuit of a second world title and the Olympic gold medal next year. Sweden’s Christian Olsson also remains a threat, although if you believe everything you read you would think it’s just between me and Teddy for the world title in South Korea this August.”

The 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist Olsson, as one of the darlings of the host nation, is also expected to be jumping in Stockholm next month.

NIGERIA/ARGENTINA FRIENDLY

Sergio Batista explains Messi's absence A

RGENTINA Coach Sergio Batista has declared emphatically that the team he brought to Nigeria is a high class team, with quality players that would give the Super Eagles a run for their money

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja in today’s Grade ‘A’ friendly match holding at the Abuja National Stadium.

According to the Coach, there are many factors that led to the absence of Lionel

•Argentina’s Gabriel Heinze heads the ball into the top corner of the net against Nigeria during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

We've plotted Eagles downfall –Pablo From Andrew Abah, Abuja RGENTINA stand in captain Zabaleta Pablo has boasted that his team is really prepared for today’s match against the Super Eagles in Abuja.

According to him, having played the Nigerians severally at various level, he discovered that the Nigerians are very strong, and have a good team that would want to prove a point in today’s match. “we also got a good team, with quality players, we would also want to continue our dominance over the Nigerians here on their home ground, but I know very well that it wouldn’t be an easy task, but we are optimistic that at the end of the day we would win”.

He said that they are not singling out any player in the Nigerian team, but would be focusing on the entire team “it is going to be a good match” he concluded.

UPER EAGLES Captain Joseph Yobo has revealed that the pride of the Nation is as stake today as they meet the Argentina National team in the friendly match today at the Abuja National Stadium. He said that the boys are geared towards the match, and would ensure that they don’t disappoint the country.

Yobo disagreed with the statement

Messi, which in no way would be a minus to the team he would present in today’s match “we want to use this match to prepare our team for the COPA America qualifier coming up very soon and at same the World Cup qualifiers.

We are also rebuilding our team, and we don’t want to rely on individual players, but the team in general. My players are well focused to give Nigerians the best of the game”. He affirmed though the match is a very important one to them, but, he is not under any pressure whatsoever, even if his team loses the match today in Abuja.

QPR got Seyi Olofinjana English FA calls for FIFA to on radar postpone presidential election

Q

UEEN Parks Ranger (QPR) are set to offer Nigerian international and Hull city mid-fielder Seyi Olofinjana a return to the Premier League.

The Ealing Gazette says Olofinjana is on R's boss Neil Warnock’s radar.

The Nigerian international, signed for fellow Championship team Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal. He scored his first goal for Cardiff City against his parent club Hull City. He made a total of 42 senior appearances for Cardiff, including their two games in the play-offs.

He is available on the cheap as the Tigers want him off the wage bill.

Nigeria, England clash over Akpom’s international future

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Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports

GREAT BRITAIN’s current world and European triple jump champion Phillips Idowu has confirmed that he has the 2011 SPAR European Team Championships in Stockholm, on 18-

NATION SPORT

Messi: Siasia heaves sigh of relief

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HE absence of Barcelona whiz kid Lionel Messi in today’s friendly match against has been described as a blessing in disguise by the Super Eagles Chief

Yobo: We are ready to break the jinx •Moratti

41

that the Super Eagles has always been disgraced by the Argentines whenever they met. He said that instead they have been unlucky against them. “in whatever happens at the match, I want to tell you that we would hold our heads high.

Whatever team Argentina brings, would also be an exciting one” he said.

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja

Siaone boasted.

Coach Samson Siasia.

Speaking yesterday in the Media briefing to usher in high profile match, the former International said the absent of Lionel Messi in the team has reduced the tension on him, and he would have to put up a formidable team that would subdue the Argentines tomorrow.

“It would be a great thing to beat the Argentines here today. I want to assure Nigerians that I scored them the last time we met in USA 1994, this time around, someone else will score them. I don’t want Nigerians to expect much from us, because we are just rebuilding, but at the end of the day we would come out victorious”

•Siasia

HE Nigerian FA are attempting to dissuade Arsenal under-16 striker Chuba Akpom from pursuing his international career with England by attempting to encourage him to commit to the Super Eagles.

Akpom’s good form for Arsenal at schoolboy level saw him propelled into the England under-16 side this season despite him not being eligible to sign scholarship terms at the club until 2012. He impressed as the Three Lions retained the Sky Sports Victory Shield and is considered a promising player by the English coaches, having already been assured of a scholarship and subsequently a professional contract.

However, Akpom, who is of Nigerian descent, has seen his stock rise in recent months to the extent that the African country, who have monitored his recent performances, are keen to incorporate him into their set-up and intend for him to be named in their next under-17 squad, with the possibility that he will be propelled further up the ranks should he impress sufficiently.

Akpom is currently mulling over the proposal, but, if he was to commit to Nigeria then he would follow the lead of fellow Arsenal player Chuks Aneke, who succumbed to the Super Eagles’ advances, as well as several other Gunners youngsters, such as Emmanuel Frimpong and Samir Bihmoutine who have chosen to represent African countries rather than the Three Lions.

Akpom is one of several impressive schoolboys currently at the club. Jack Jebb, Austin Lipman, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Isaac Hayden have all also represented England at under-16 level, with the latter poised to join Anthony Jeffrey and Zak Fagan as full-time scholars next season. Also accompanying them at London Colney will be Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin, recently signed from Barcelona, as well as fellow new recruits Serge Gnabry, Kristoffer Olsson and Leander Siemann.

•Akpom

N

•Uchechi

football for you” Coach Austin Eguavoen stated while confirming the injury.

“We definitely would miss the services of Chima in the game against Tanzania but we have players that can fill the vacuum but surly we would miss him” he added.

Uchechi, who has played in all the Dream Team V qualifying matches, scored three of the sixteen goals recorded by the team so far in the qualifiers.

According to the Team Media officer Arafat Aliu, Coach Austin Eguavoen is expected to name Uchechi’s replacement on Wednesday.

Meanwhile the Dream team V suffered their first defeat under Coach Austin Eguavoen losing to an 88th minute controversial goal against Costa Rica in San Jose in an international friendly on Sunday.

Coach Austin Eguavoen prosecuted the game with 12 outfield players and two goalkeepers after Gbolahon Salami, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Fatai Kehinde failed to show up for the game.

The Dream Team V is expected to depart for Dares-Salam on 3rd June ahead of the June 5th Olympic game qualifier.

ANDREY ARSHAVIN has revealed manager Arsene Wenger is keen to keep him at the Emirates this summer.

The Russian playmaker has been linked with a move away from north London this summer, with clubs in Turkey, France and Spain all thought to be keen on signing the 30-year-old.

However, the former Zenit St Petersburg star has confirmed that Wenger is keen for him to continue plying his trade with the Gunners,

despite struggling to hold down a first team place with the side last season.

"The manager wants to continue working with me," he told The Sun. Arshavin's quotes come a fortnight after Wenger insisted he was keen to keep the player at Arsenal amidst claims he was looking to cash in on the £15 million purchase from January 2009.

"Yes, I expect him to be at Arsenal next season," Wenger told Arsenal TV earlier in the month.

•Arshavin

suited for English League

WAYNE ROONEY revealed he is still reeling from the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, but has claimed it would be difficult for Lionel Messi to have the same devastating impact if he played in the Premier League.

Rooney joined talkSPORT pundits Richard Keys and Andy Gray while his England team-mates trained ahead of the EURO 2012 qualifier with Switzerland - a game the Manchester United forward will miss through suspension.

He agreed with Sir Alex Ferguson that Pep Guardiola's side is the best he's ever encountered, but believes Messi would need the support of the Barcelona midfield to prosper in England.

Radio rental: Rooney joins Gray and Keys in the talkSPORT studio Asked if Messi could dictate games in the England as he does in Spain, Rooney said: 'If you bring Xavi and Iniesta with him, yes. But it would be difficult, almost impossible for him to play as he does in Spain.

FA CHAIRMAN David Bernstein has released a statement confirming that the association wants FIFA to postpone the presidential election.

Current president Sepp Blatter is the only person in the running for the position after Mohamed Bin Hammam pulled out following his suspension after bribery allegations.

The FA has already confirmed that they have chosen to abstain from voting in the elections following corruption allegations, and now Bernstein is urging other national associations support them and has called for a "genuinely independent external party" to make

Indonesia to get second chance FIFA HAS offered the Indonesian Football Association a second chance to elect new leadership after a vote was abandoned in chaotic scenes earlier this month, an official said Tuesday.

The Indonesian football body, also known as the PSSI, has been in crisis for months over how to organise the game in the perennially underperforming nation of 240 million people.

"We are very happy with FIFA's decision to give Indonesia a second chance to hold a congress before June 30. They've been kind to us," PSSI spokesman Tubagus Adhi said.

"If we fail to do so this time, there will be no more mercy from FIFA." Most officials had expected football's global governing body to sanction Indonesia by banning it from international matches after the PSSI failed to meet a May 21 deadline to elect new leadership.

A vote on May 20 descended into

acrimonious rancour between supporters of rival camps, forcing a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee to call off the election.

Indonesian football is divided between an old guard of long-standing PSSI leaders and "reformers" backing the breakaway Indonesian Premier League, founded earlier this year by oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro.

In an effort to bring the crisis under control, FIFA has banned Panigoro, army chief of staff George Toisutta and former PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid, who is tainted by corruption, from running for the leadership ballot.

Indonesia were runners-up to Malaysia in Southeast Asia's AFF Suzuki Cup last December, and were successful co-hosts of the 2007 Asian Cup, but the national team's record is poor.

Indonesia is 130th in the FIFA rankings -- below Ethiopia and Yemen -- and has never made the World Cup finals.

Fresh call for reforms

Injury knocks out Uchechi Arshavin set for Arsenal stay Rooney admits Messi best, not IGERIA and Leicester City attacking midfielder Uchechi Daniel is ruled out of the Tanzania Nigeria first leg second round Olympic Games qualifier billed for this weekend in Dares Salam.

Uchechi suffered a muscle tear four minutes into the Dream Team V international friendly against Costa Rica at the weekend.

“Its sad considering the fact that we have a qualifier this weekend but that is

•Bernstein

recommendations to FIFA. The statement reads: “On 19 May 2011 The Football Association announced it would be abstaining in the forthcoming election for the Fifa Presidency.

“There were two main reasons for this decision. First, a concern, that a series of allegations relating to FIFA ExCo Members made it difficult to support either candidate.

"Secondly, a concern about the lack of transparency and accountability within the organisation, contributing to the current unsatisfactory situation.

“Events of the last few days have reinforced our views, and we call on FIFA and ask other national associations to support us with two initiatives.

“First, to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for President.

“Secondly, to appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures and structures throughout the Fifa decision making processes for consideration by the full membership.

'The game is more physical here, going to the likes of Birmingham and Stoke away is very demanding.

Cristiano Ronaldo is more suited to the English game than Messi.

Cristiano is taller and good in the air.'

On defeat in the showpiece Wembley final Rooney said: 'It hurt.

I watched the game again because you can always learn by watching football. It was very disappointing but you have to put your hands up and say they were the better team.

•Rooney

FIFA FACED fresh calls for sweeping reform Tuesday despite denials from President Sepp Blatter that football's corruption-tainted governing body was in crisis.

Senior Australian officials led by FIFA ethics committee member Les Murray said the organisation needed wholesale changes after weeks of explosive allegations that have exposed the murky world of football politics.

"I think the reform has to be very deep," Murray told the Sydney Morning Herald. "In all reality, there probably has to be complete structural and also constitutional reform.

"The structure of the organisation at the moment is too political. Decisions are based on political motives, and that's not healthy for any organisation.

That simply has to change."

Murray was speaking in the wake of the suspension of Blatter's election rival Mohamed bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner following allegations they offered bribes in the campaign to oust long-serving supremo Blatter.

The suspension of Asian football chief bin Hammam, who has denied any wrongdoing, has left the way clear for Blatter to be re-elected unopposed at FIFA's congress on Wednesday.

The suspensions followed weeks of

revelations which have alleged several other members of FIFA's executive committee were involved in corruption during the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

However embattled president Blatter adopted a defiant stance in a press conference before journalists at FIFA headquarters on Monday where he denied the organisation was in crisis.

"Crisis, what is a crisis?" a clearly irritated Blatter said. "We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties and these will be solved within the FIFA family.

•Blatter

EMPOWERMENT

ADVOCACY

N111m voted to fight filth

Farmers get loans

Children’s rights must be protected

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SANITATION

Sokoto 28

Abuja

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Lagos

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2011

Page 25

Cross River boosts infrastructure Roads open up rural areas Monarchs hail Imoke

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NFRASTRUCTURAL development in Cross River State has continued with the construction of more roads.

In the past four years, the administration of Governor Liyel Imoke has focused on improving school infrastructure, building classrooms and installing furniture where they scarcely existed.

The health sector and rural communities have also got a huge facelift. Health centres have sprung up, electricity installed in remote areas. Newly constructed roads have linked up hitherto inaccessible places with other parts of the state.

The Imoke administration has stepped up the construction of more roads, attracting praise from residents, including traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts of the state.

“I am glad that the party has finally brought back peace to the people of Obaniku after the protracted in-fighting and it is my hope that it would bring further development and cohesion among my subjects,” said Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, His Royal Highness Achua Cyprian Achang at his palace.

Achang said the party has done very well in repositioning the Obanliku communities as tourist destinations.

The traditional ruler of Obodu, HRH Oti Julius Agba, showered encomiums at the leadership of the party for embarking on an assessment and sensitisation tour of the councils, giving the people the opportunity to meet their leaders and make their demands known.

Oti Agba, who celebrated his 50th year on the throne recently, told the visiting team led

by Chief Peter Ojie, Deputy Chairman, that the party has well in the state. He said the dividends of good governance have been

From Kunle Johnson, Calabar

streaming to the people.

Paramount Ruler of Ogoja, HRH Ntoe Gregory Adima said: “We have given you our blessings; please go ahead and continue to do us proud.”

Imoke is seen to have considerably reversed the deplorable situation in the education sector by embarking on a massive renovation of existing schools while new ones are being built in places where there were none.

Daniel Ebong, Deputy Director, Projects, Ministry of Education, spoke on efforts of the government to breathe life into public schools in the state.

“We are aware that before the coming of this administration, the state of public schools had been in a sorry state of dilapidation,” he said.

“And so one of the first things that the Commissioner for Education did was to undertake a needs assessment tour of the schools to identify the problems of schools. The outcome of the needs assessment tour was the approval of the Ministry of Education to intervene in all public schools in Cross River.

“We call it comprehensive renovation.

It is in four phases of 60 schools per senatorial district and the comprehensive nature is that we are going to work on all school buildings in all our secondary schools.

“We would provide adequate blocks, renovate where we need to renovate, build new structures were we need to build.

“We are also going to equip the laboratories. We are also in the first phase of the comprehensive renovation of sixty

Imoke (middle) inspecting road projects, with government officials schools and we are currently embarking on the construction of school blocks.

The Commissioner of Education, Professor Offiong Offiong, said changing the face of schools also entailed recruiting teachers and instilling discipline in staff and students.

On capacity-building, Offiong said the ministry organised a retraining

programme for 2,034 English teachers at primary level and a retraining workshop for junior secondary schools teachers while a total of 149 teachers were recruited.

Apart from the capacity building for teachers, provisions have also been made to provide chairs for teachers in all the secondary schools in the state.

Continued on Page 26

Sokoto employs 30,000 youths

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Wamakko

VER 30,000 youths have been trained and gainfully employed in the last three years by the Sokoto State government, its Commissioner for Youths, Social Welfare and Sports, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu has said.

The development, he said, has further demonstrated the Aliyu Wamakko administration’s determination to tackle unemployment and usher in a self-reliant state.

Speaking at an event

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

commemorating Nigeria’s Democracy Day, and three years in office of Governor Wamakko in the state, the commissioner said through his Ministry, youths have been gainfully engaged in various specialised vocational trades after undergoing training sponsored by the state government.

He said: “These youths are now self-reliant and gainfully employed. Most of them have

also become proud employers of labour.

“These youths are excluded from the teeming unemployed youths who were also made selfreliant under a myriad of other programmes under the religious affairs ministry, the poverty eradication programme and women affairs ministry, among others.”

He said the youths are being trained in ICT, agriculture and a host of other skills.

Aliyu also said the youths were

given free working tools and take-off grants upon graduation to assist them in establishing their businesses.

“The youths should however reciprocate this noble gesture by being law abiding and patriotic,” he said. “Without peace, there will be no meaningful socioeconomic development.”

The commissioner further urged the people of the state to regard government as a collective affair and endeavour to guard government projects jealously.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

26

Robbers reject journalist’s phone S

OME reporters returning from an assignment in Nasarawa State fell into the hands of armed robbers, but the thieves stunned their victims when a mobile phone belonging to one of the newsmen was rejected by the hoodlums.

The reporters discovered that the robbers found the phone too old and unattractive.

The thieves preferred to take the reporter’s N10 instead.

Three journalists, Cheke Emmanuel of the Nigerian Compass, Aloysius Umalo of the Voice of Nigeria and a local newspaper (Thinker) publisher, Joel Ogapa were returning from Kokona Local Government Area where they had gone to cover an event when they encountered the men of the underworld on their way to Lafia, the state capital.

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

After ordering them and others also caught up in the operation to lie down in a bush by the roadside, the robbers immediately started dispossessing their victims of cash and other valuables.

After robbing the men of N4,000, one of them was asked to turn out his pocket. He obliged, throwing up the mobile phone and a mini-recorder.

One of the robbers took the recorder but flung the Motorola phone at him, saying it was too old and unattractive for him to use.

The thief took the sum of N10 found on the reporter.

Narrating the story to Newsextra in Lafia after the incident, the reporter whose phone was rejected, explained said their attackers

They asked us to bring out our money and when one of them got to me and demanded for my money, I told him that one of his colleagues had taken it. He taught I was lying and hit me on the head with a machete

•The rejected phone set a trap into which they fell. He said on sighting their car in which they were retuning from the assignment, the hoodlums fled into the bush, as though they were fleeing from some attackers or something.

The reporters reversed and tried to flee into the bush too. But no sonner had they entered the bush than the robbers came out with guns pointing in their direction and when they tried to make a U-turn to drive back to where they were coming from, the robbers ordered them to stop or be killed.

“When we wanted to turn, they started cocking their guns and asked us to surrender,” he said. “Then we immediately surrendered by raising up our hands and they now asked us to lie down in the bush by the side of the road.

“Before you knew it, they started calling

Cross River boosts infrastructure

The Imoke administration anchored its vision for rural development on the improvement of the quality of life of the state’s rural populace through the provision of standard infrastructure

•Continued from Page 25

He called for cooperation from everyone in order to improve education in the state.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure quality standard of education in Cross River,” the commissioner said.

The area that the Imoke administration has received the most commendation is rural development.

Imoke holds strongly believes that the rural dwellers that constitute at least 70 per cent of the state’s total population are in the dire need of feeling the impact of government.

Imoke demonstrated early in his regime that this segment cannot be neglected hence he created the state Rural Development Agency (RUDA), with a novel funding approach involving the local government councils.

The Agency is under the charge of Mr. Eko Atu who occupies the position of Managing Director.

Atu said the key objective of the Agency is to improve the quality of life of our rural dwellers and reduce the number of people living below a dollar day.

Atu said, “The result of the needs assessment survey conducted by the Agency (an exercise that covered the length and breadth of the state) revealed the very sorry and poor state of our rural areas.

“It is our hope however that in the next few years, our rural areas would be greatly transformed to immensely improve the quality of life of our rural people”.

Speaking further, Atu said: “Available statistics indicate that over 70 per cent of

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HE General Overseer, Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, Pastor Victor Muoka has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the newly elected governors to be guided by the fear of God and the interest of the masses in decision making.

The cleric, who congratulated the leaders, also charged those who lost out in the elections to accept defeat in good faith and extend a hand of fellowship to those who won.

“For the past 12 years, the last general elections as we can see are still the best in the

on others which immediately started coming out of their hiding places, well armed.

“They asked us to bring out our money and when one of them got to me and demanded for my money, I told him that one of his colleagues had taken it. He taught I was lying and hit me on the head with a machete”.

He further explained that when they taught the robbers were done with them, “they started moving amongst us again for the second time and were speaking in Hausa, saying that we were trying to withhold some monies from them “It was when they were done with us that they abandoned us there and left. Later we got up and started making our journey back to Lafia.”

•An ongoing road construction work

the state’s population resides in the rural areas of the state. In spite of this large rural population, efforts at rural develop-

ment over the years have largely been nonconcerted with the state and local governments pursuing their rural development

agenda in different ways and with varying standards. In the end very little actually had been done to improve the lot of the rural populace.

“Against this background, and with a firm desire to transform the rural landscape of the state, the Imoke administration therefore anchored its vision for rural development on the improvement of the quality of life of the state’s rural populace through the provision of standard infrastructure in the areas of roads, water supply, education and health care. The provision of relevant rural infrastructure is to serve as a catalyst for improved standard of living of the people in rural areas.”

Atu said the roads being constructed have reached advanced stages of completion, and that government has paid about N11 billion to the contractors handling the road projects.

Cleric advises elected leaders history of Nigeria. That is why the elected leaders should see the opportunity to govern as a privilege to influence the nation positively. They should ensure that the interest of the masses and the fear of God be their guide,” he said.

Muoka gave the charge in Lagos while addressing reporters about the church’s crusade which would hold on Friday and Saturday.

.According to the cleric, the crusade themed ‘The God of Miracles’ is targeted at winning souls for Christ, being part of the church’s evangelical campaign to rescue the masses from spiritual problems.

Muoka urged Lagosians to be part of the programme, saying adequate security and transportation would be provided across the city.

“This crusade is unique and peculiar in the sense that God would be visiting his children with miracles of all sorts, ranging from salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, healing, deliverance and breakthroughs. We have also ensured the provision of free transport for participants. Adequate security would also be provided to forestall breakdown of law,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

28

Upper Benue Basin trains farmers

Sokoto boosts sanitation with N111m machines

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• Wamakko

N its bid to ensure a clean environment, Sokoto State government has approved N111 million to procure town cleaning machines.

The eqiupments include: sweeping machines, sewage suckers and garbage converters among others.

The move is part of the administration’s effort to position the state as one of the most cleanest states in the country.

Prof Musa Garba Maitafsir,the former Commissioner for Religious Affairs, disclosed this at the end of its bi-weekly executive council meeting last week.

NEMA hands over refugee camps to states T HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has handed over the Internally Displaced People Camps (IDPCs) of persons displaced by the recent postelection violence, to the various governments of the affected states in preparation to tackle the forecast problem of floods in some parts of the country in the rainy season.

Director General of the Agency, Muhammad Sani-Sidi who spoke in Kaduna during post-

Church holds programme HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, Covenant Peace Parish, is beginning a 30-day vigil programme from today.

The theme is: When men slept, and it begins 10.30pm daily but activities on Wednesdays and Saturdays are from 6pm.

Speaking on behalf of the host pastor,Pastor Toyin Lukula said the programme is designed to right the wrongs in people’s lives as the evil one has truncated many destinies. The programme,, he said will liberate many from sin, tardiness and uncertainties.

Ministers expected include Pastor J.K. Kalejaiye, Prophet P.A. Olowoporoku, Rev. Blessing Ajayi, Rev. Bolaji Akinyemi, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, Prophet S.K. Abiara and Evang Adelakun (Ayewa Gospel Group), among others.

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Kaduna

assessment tours of some of the temporary refuge camps in the country said that NEMA have supported and stabilised the conditions of the displaced persons, therefore it was now expected of the state governments to carry on in the rehabilitation of the IDPs. He said the forecast of heavy rains this year and rise in sea water have begun to manifest resulting in the disaster which has already sacked some communities, adding that NEMA would soon embark on awareness campaigns over the hazards and need to mobilise resources for immediate responses on the threat of floods.

He said the agency had also delivered additional supply of relief assistance to the IDPs and would give further support as may be requested towards their full recovery from the crises. He urged affected state governments to initiate moves towards the rehabilitation of the IDPs, noting that it has become necessary for the states to become active in dealing with disaster issues in their areas and only refer situations that overwhelm them to the Federal Government.

Sokoto

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UNDREDS of farmers in Adamawa and Taraba states are under going training by the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority [UBRBDA] to equip them with modern farming techniques.The aim is to ensure massive food production.

The management of UBRBDA said it hopes to introduce farmers to new methods of farming by applying herbicides and handling seeds for enormous storage. The Managing Director of the UBRBDA, Engr Suleima Naibi Musa, who spoke at the event,said farmers across the two states have been selected to be trained in new methods’ instead of the consistent misapplication of chemicals which often

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Maitafsir said the gesture was in line with a religious teaching that cleanliness was a component of faith.

He further explained that the dirty nature was unbefitting of the Seat of the Caliphate “as purity is one of the major requirements of Islam. “ Sokoto is very dirty which is unbefitting of the seat of the Caliphate as purity is one of the the major requirement of Islam”, he said.

Maitafsir also disclosed that the state executive council approved the offer by the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc to supply the state government with 66 brand new 307 Peugeot cars at the cumulative cost of N184 million . He said that the unit price of each of the vehicles was N2.7 million rather than the N3 million market unit cost price.

He further explained that the modusoperandi for the distribution of the vehicles on loan basis would be finalised in the subsequent meeting.

The commissioner further stated that government approved the contract for the building of a modern conference room and furnishing of the Sokoto Government Lodge in Abuja at N119 million.

He said the gesture was aimed at putting in place modern facilities at the Government Lodge that were befitting of the state and the fact that the lodge was not

• Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleman (left), congratulating Governor Isa Yuguda after PHOTO: NAN taking his oath of office in Bauchi

Kaduna gives assistance to postelection violence victims

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HE Kaduna State government has begun the disbursement of monetaryassistance to victims of the last post-election violence across the state with an assurance that it would do its best to provide other basic essentials so that the displaced could be reintegrated into the larger society.

Ex-militants in Malaysia advised

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BOUT 72 ex-militants undergoing various degree programmes in Malaysia have been advised to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by being of good conduct during their stay in the country.

A Special Adviser to the Presidential aide on Niger Delta, Hon. T.K Ogoriba, who gave the advice during his recent visit to the exmilitants, also assured them of President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to their welfare.

Ogoriba, who is the Special Adviser to Hon Kingley Kuku also advised that their stay in Malaysia was an opportunity to exhibit the needed patriotism to their fatherland by conducting themselves in ways that would promote the good image of the Niger Delta region and the country at large.

A former activist of the Niger Delta struggle,

Bayelsa From Isaac Ombe,Yenagoa

Ogoriba, recalled that during their time of the struggle, such scholarship opportunities were not available, and urged them to maximally utilise the opportunity and take over leadership from the older generation.

Comrade Solomon Kuro Ikpaikpai, President of Niger Delegates in Diaspora, on behalf of others, noted that his corporate social responsibility for the Niger Delta oil region and Nigeria was to work tirelessly to ensure sustainable peace in the region.

He expressed gratitude to God for the emergence of a son of the Niger Delta as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the first time in the history of the country.

•Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Mrs. Rehila Cudjoe (left) swearing in the state governor Mr Patrick Yakowa in Kaduna

BRIEFS

Book fair

• From right: Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou; National Missioner, Ansarud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad; President, Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN); Alhaji AbdurRasheed Salako and Executive Secretary, Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Rajee Adenowo during the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at TBS, Lagos

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THE annual book fair organised by the Christian Booksellers Association Nigeria is currently holding at Maryland Business Plaza, 350/360 Ikorodu Road by BRT Harbour Works Bus stop, Maryland Lagos.

The fair, regarded as the biggest Christian Book fair in Nigeria, began yesterday to end Saturday, June 4, 2011.

The theme for the fair is Read the Book.

According to the President of the organisation, Pastor Samuel Assiamah, readers should avail themselves the opportunity offered by the fair, which showcases books and Bibles, computer Bibles, church supplies, Christian gifts, music, messages, CDs, DVDs and audios.

Also on display are motivational, business and leadership books.

He enjoined everyone to take advantage of the fair as members of the Christian Book sellers Association would converge from different parts of the world giving room for variety as well as discounts.

Amaechi’s wife advocates special court WIFE of the Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi has advocated the establishment of special court which will punish violation of the rights of the child.

Mrs. Amaechi in her goodwill message and signed by her Media Assistant Dike Bekwele, said the special court will enforce the implementation of the child rights act and promote the universal rights of the child to acquire basic education.

The governor’s wife submitted that children are abused daily in Nigeria while a growing number of children can’t access basic education.

She frowned that despite the domestication of the Child’s Right Act in the country, over 11 million Nigerian children are out of school.

This, according to her, is a pointer to the fact that the relevant authorities have not mustered the political will to implement and enforce the act.

She added that actualising education for all in 2015 as well as meeting the millennium development goals may become a mirage.

Kaduna From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Speaking while disbursing the money to the victims at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Chairman of the Committee on Displaced Persons, Alhaji Saidu Adamu said that the government’s decision was part of gesture to enable them find houses to rent and not compensation.

According to him, the assistance was in response to the passionate appeal to the government by the internally displaced persons through their representatives who indicated willingness to leave the camps once they have money to pay rent. He advised them to use the little money judiciously.

“The governor has already inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and is saddled with the responsibilities of trying to know the causes of the problems, how many people lost their lives, property and houses.

“After the submission of their report, government would take another decision on what ought to be done for those of you who lost everything. Our mission is to give you a minor assistance to enable you secure new accommodation before the main committee comes up with a comprehensive report,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Commandant, Nigeria Army Depot, Zaria who together with his officers and men, took a very good care of displaced persons and ensured that they were protected and fed.

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• Babangida Aliyu

Barnabas Manyam Yola leads to damages in food storage and management.

Musa pointed out that over 2000 farmers have been trained and discharged to apply new ways of farming and handling machines as well as chemicals.

Some of the farmers interviewed praised the Federal Government for arranging such programme because they have learnt so much within a short time. They were able to find solutions to their frustrations during farming season as they relate to production,harvesting and storage.

Mallam Umar Pate pointed out that ‘’ this training has helped us to learn some few things that are very important especially in rainy season farming, and dry season farming and maintenance of large crops. We had been wasting so much crops but now the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority has taught us how to handle rice, beans and others so that they can last for long without going bad’

Akwa Ibom to improve healthcare system

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HE Akwa Ibom State government yesterday said that effective healthcare delivery will remain a cardinal programme of governor Godswill Akpabio administration in the second term.

The Deputy Governor, Obong Nsima Ekere, made this revelation at Primary Health Centre, Ebughu in Mbo council area during the free medical service provided by Pro-Health International in conjunction with Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA. Ekere said that governor Akpabio was passionate about healthcare delivery and that informed the heavy investment by his administration in the health sector in his first term.

He enumerated such investment to include construction of new general hospitals, renovation of existing ones as well as free medical service for children under five, pregnant women and the elderly and commended the Pro-Health International team for the quality of the free medical service.

His words: “My belief is that whoever invests in health is investing in the future and God will bless him.”

Ekere assured the people of Mbo that he would take up their plea for a general hospital with the governor.

He lauded the Mbo Local Government Chairman, Victor Antai, for renovating the primary health centre used for the free medical service and promised to liaise with him on the possibility of extending the service by another five days.

The deputy governor restated

Niger to establish Ministry of N its bid to prevent further occurrence Religious Affairs of the post-election violence which

erupted in the state, Niger State has expressed its intention to establish a Ministry of Religious Affairs and Poverty Alleviation which will deal with religious matters and the coordination of religious activities in the state.

Dr.Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who announced government intention in Minna while receiving the report of the 2010 Christian pilgrimage, said that the ministry

Adamawa

Akwa Ibom Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

government’s commitment to making Mbo an industrial hub in the state through the construction of a deep seaport and the establishment of the Ibaka Industrial City and charged Mbo people to be peace-loving and friendly to the non-indigenes that would soon move into the area.

He thanked Mbo people for the 80 per cent votes they gave the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded general elections.

• Governor Nyako Another farmer Stephen Ibi said: “I can now increase my farming, I have learnt many things and I know how to handle machines, combined harvesters or even how to apply herbicides so that they are not harmful to humans or domestic animals”.

The training session will cover other sectors of farming techniques according to the management of the UBRBDA and more farmers are expected to participate from time to time to broaden their knowledge in farming.

Vehicle owners warned HE Lagos State Police Command have warned owners of vehicles parked at Igando Police Station to remove them immediately or forfeit same to auction.

They are: 1. Volkswagen Vanagon Bus-XK649SMK 2. Primera Nissan car-BM567APP 3. Hiace Nulge Bus-unregistered 4. Primera Nissan car-CG145ABJ

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Lawmaker denies snubbing PDP chairman

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OUSE of Representatives member-elect from Akwa Ibom State, Hon Robinson Uwak, has denied the report that lawmakers-elect boycotted a scheduled meeting with the acting National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Haliru Mohammed.

Uwak regarded the publication as the figment of imagination of the reporter, while confirming that the meeting actually held at the Fountain Hall, Rock View Royal, Abuja , with the elected members, describing the meeting as “interactive.”

According to him, “I really do not know how they gathered their information. We have an attendance list that shows that members responded and turned out for the meeting.

Several others who were out of Abuja called to plead their inability to make it to the meeting either due to the short notice given or other engagements holding in their various states like the election petition tribunals and

preparation for the swearing in ceremonies.

“The national chairman was unable to make it to the meeting, however, we had the SA to the president on National Assembly matters, the national adviser of the party presided over the meeting”, he said.

“Issues bothering on promoting internal democracy and party supremacy were discussed during the meeting which lasted for an hour. The meeting was more of an interactive session between the party leaders and new elected members.”

Uwak wondered how elected members would snub the chairman of the party on which they secured the mandate, adding that it will be uncharitable for anybody to ever think so.

Besides, he said that it was more of a family meeting to which every stakeholder was committed as demonstrated by high level representation at the meeting.

From Jide Orintunsin And Justina Asishana, Minna

Niger will be in charge of both the Christian and Muslim leadership in the state and put a check on those individuals that use religion for selfish purposes.

He stated that these individuals use religion as a means to exploit other people and say things that are not in their Holy book to mislead them. He added that the setting up of the ministry is part of government efforts to ensure security in the state.

Aliyu said that all residents are important and as such they should report all cases of threat or molestation to security agents at the right time.

He called on the religious institutions to assist the government as it is going into a new dispensation so that the government can concentrate on providing more dividends of democracy. He said government will ensure that all unemployed youths, both educated and illiterates will be provided with employment.

He called on the people to call their religious leaders to order particularly if they are not representing them well.

• His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedeji Onagoruwa, the Alaye of Odogbolu (left) with the Obiri of Aiyepe, Oba Bisi Akinsanya at the conferment of Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce award on Mr Abiodun Oduojukan and others at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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Life

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Text only: 08023058761

JONATHAN’S INAUGURATION

Lifting Ajegunle through ‘trash’ drama –Page 32

Fayemi’s wife hails PanAfricanist –Page 34

•President Jonathan and Esiri

How desperate can a Nigerian woman get?

–Page 34

A feast for Nigeria ‘Nigerian artists are self appointed ambassadors for our beloved nation and they have been doing well within and outside the country’ – SEE PAGE 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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On Sunday, the nation rolled out the drums for the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Fine artists were not left out of the epoch-making event. Twenty of them displayed thought-provoking works that depict the country’s journey to nationhood at Nigeria, our Nigeria, an exhibition, held in Abuja, reports OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Assistant Editor (Arts).

A feast for Nigeria

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O fewer than 20 artists lent their creative energies to give President Goodluck Jonathan a befitting inauguration on Sunday, with the display of artworks at a group exhibition entilted: Nigeria, our Nigeria. The exhibition, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja, was organised by the 2011 Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies Committee. It ran from Wednesday last week till Monday, as part of the programme for the inauguration.

Among the exhibitors were Octogenarian J. D Okhai Ojekere, Septuagenarians Bruce Onobrakpeya and Tam Fiofori, Kolade Oshinowo, Don Barber, Baba Shettima, Jerry Buhari, Ndidi Dike, Olu Amoda, George Esiri, Onyema Offoedu-Okeke and Aldophus Opkara. Others were T Y Bello, Afolabi Sotunde, Anthea Epelle, Ebenwezer Akinola Samuel, Richardson Ovbiebo and Taye Idahor.

Jonathan, who declared the exhibition open, said in the coming months, his government would work hard to support the efforts of those in the creative sector, which more than any other celebrate Nigeria daily.

He described the collection of works as a reminder that the culture of diligence and excellence is still alive in our great country, noting that viewing the works afforded him the opportunity to reflect on the nation’s rich heritage and images of our majestic landscape.

“It is all a reminder that Nigerian art is for all Nigerians. These works also remind one why it is critical for Nigerian creative capital to be accorded due recognition and applause for the role it is playing in creating jobs and helping to build the private sector by deploying their technical and creative expertise.

“Nigerian artists are self appointed ambassadors for our beloved nation and they have been doing well within and outside the country,” he added.

Nigeria, our Nigeria is one show that attempted to showcase the very best visual expression of Nigerian artists in relation to the theme as well as time in the nation’s history - when ethnic rivalry is rife amid dynamics of power play in the political landscape. But the strong message of the outing is not lost in the colours and aesthetic appeal that characterise most of the works.

Without undermining the variety of media, quality of forms and contents used by the artists to express themselves, the 20 artists’ works may not have been representative enough considering the importance of the show.

Still, there were abundant reflections by the artists on the political, socio-economic and even historical life of the country. Take Pa Ojekere’s vantage black and white photographs of the then University College Hospital in Ibadan (1966) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs building in 1974, which are embodiments of history. The same can be found in Baba Shettima’s classical photographs of the first Prime Minister, the late Sir Tafawa Balewa, and the captain of SS Humufuss Instructively, and in reaction to the unfortunate postelection violence in some parts of the country, Jerry Buhari’s Children of martyrs, National issues and Ndidi Dike’s Pieces of our past signpost the trials and travails of Nigerians as a people. The many unanswered national questions which manifest in different forms of injustice find expression, though subtly, in these works.

One striking departure from past exhibitions is the adequate window created for the photographers in Nigeria, our Nigeria. Interestingly, half of the exhibiting artists are photographers, which seems a deliberate attempt to compensate the genre that has been missing in most national art exhibitions like the independence exhibition held at the Velodrum, National Stadium marking Nigeria @ 50 anniversary.

Beyond the beauty and craftsmanship demonstrated by the artists, the exhibits are visual commentaries on the many unanswered national questions. Where have we succeeded and where have we failed? When and who will stop the daunting streak of failure of nationhood, of failed politics, of dashed dreams and wasted hopes? The time is now.

One of the exhibiting artists, Jerry Buhari, situates the show within the concept of cementing the oneness of Nigerians and healing of wounds. To him, Nigeria, our Nigeria is a body of works that speaks about ‘our oneness, inclusiveness. And if you use this concept to look

•Photo by TY Bello. Beijing 2008

VISUAL ART at the current political happenings in Nigeria, you will find the title very apt for an exhibition at this momentous period of the nation’s history - when the process of bringing a new government has traumatised the politics and caused lots of division and contention.’

‘It is all a reminder that Nigerian art is for all Nigerians. These works also remind one why it is critical for Nigerian creative capital to be accorded due recognition and applause for the role it is playing in creating jobs and helping to build the private sector by deploying their technical and creative expertise’

He stressed the need to host an exhibition that will heal or address some of the most fundamental issues of life - about healing, forgiveness, hope and future is very apt.

“Also, maybe, with all due respect to those that have suffered and died, there is a sense in which this will seem to be the history of every nation moving towards integration and development.

“But the question people keep asking is: Must it be this painful and must it be this destructive? I want to agree that it must not be. But this is the nature of our experience and it is our reality,” he added.

Undaunted by the imbalance in the nation’s politics, he canvassed a regional conference for the northern region where issues of national implications will be addressed.

Lofty as the ideas behind the hosting of the exhibition might be, the absence of an official professional curatorial team was a big minus Of what use is the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation as well as specialised agencices, •Continued on Page 31

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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Call for re-visitation of Africa’s culture

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HRISTOPHER Iyumoga’s Fragments in the Air is a poetry collection that readers would find inspiring. The poems in the collection call for a cultural rebirth. It raises questions of the existence of the African in the face of globalisation.

Published by Kraft Books Ltd, the 86-page collection is illustrated. It is written three parts. The morals in the collection would serve as a lasting antidote to the vagaries in the life of an African man. In his poems, the poet asks to know if the African man is truly conscious of his existence and helpless around. He bemoans the fading African tradition and culture and the helplessness of the people to savaging them. This is evident in the poem Cultural deluge.

Its chief preoccupations are courage, passion and patriotism. Iyimoga’s collection is inspired by the need to make a positive contribution in the lives of his generation and posterity. It draws attention to the evils of cultural abandonment, wickedness and greed ravaging the society, which has destroyed the core values and identity that united the people.

The reader would find that there is a feeling of nostalgia in some of the poems; the need to return to the virtues of African value system. The poet employees a free verse technique to freely drive home his point and make the book readable to a wider audience.

The language is simple except for local languages that the poet uses to establish the ‘Africanness’ of the pieces. The local languages include Mbaya, Kudung, sombi,

BOOK REVIEW TITLE: Fragments in the Air AUTHOR: Christopher Iyumoga REVIEWER: Morgan Otuihegeme ganga, among others.

Iyimoga effectively made use of figures of comparism such as Metaphors and simile.

There is also the good use of figures of sound which characterises African folktales and cultural festivals. Such as ‘Matching tempo, cresendoned, diminuedoed’ in the poem An air of music; oja, ogene in Atilogwu, etc.

He compares the situation of the African and its people with images and symbols that painted a true picture of their situation.

However, the poet exaggerates in some his poems to hammer home the devastating effect of the foreign culture that the African man has surrendered to.

The simplicity, with which the poet draws attention to the negative effects of the western civilizations in Africa and how its values have been replaced with hatred, is commendable.

With simple diction, clear thought, straightforward themes and easy to decode images and symbols, Fragments in the Air is a true modern poetry collection that talks about the contemporary African society, its beauty, ugliness and the way forward.

Gofestival kicks off in Ibadan

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HE 2011 edition of Gospel Film Festival, (Gofestival) begins today in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state.

Festival Director, Olaitan Faranpojo noted that the event, which is in its third year is leveraging on the success of the two previous editions. He revealed that key speakers at the event would include the Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Afolabi Adesanya; veteran actress, Joke Silva; and gospel film notables, Gloria Bamiloye and Mike Shola Agboola.

The speakers, he said, would be doing justice to the theme of this year’s edition of the festival tagged, Our Stories… Our Audience… Our Future at an opening ceremony slated for 3pm at Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

Faranpojo disclosed that notable movie personality, Victor Okhai, is chairman of the jury, while Sandra Obiago, Busola Holloway and Mike Bamiloye are recipients of gospel media award at the close of the festival on Saturday.

He said the festival was borne out of the desire to discover, nurture and establish

Nigerian Christian filmmakers for the future adding that participants would be exposed to series of workshops, seminars, business forums and informative chats with industry professionals.

This year’s event, the convener said, would attract some of the biggest players and experts in the media who would effectively work together to promote, encourage, mentor, entertain and bring financial opportunity to the practitioners whose business is the recreation of the heart.

“The aim and objectives of this event is to celebrate the video and film industry, which has emerged as a major form of dramatic expression and create international exposure and bring African Christian moviemakers under one roof to share versatility of message and ingenuity and re-engineer structures, systems and psyche that will develop the Christian film industry and create an avenue for the nurturing and promotion of African Christian filmmakers to meet with the challenges of the 21st century and striving to bring everyone to the obedience of Christ,” he said.

Search for Next Super Model 2011 begins •National issue by Jerry Buhari

A feast for Nigeria •Continued fro Page30

such as the National Gallery of Art that should have some professional inputs into the packaging of the show? The inauguration committee might have looked the other way if the ministry or agency expected to supervise the mounting of the show had requested for funds ‘the government way’- over-bloated budget. Or what is the excuse for not involving the ministry?

Also, one wonders what informed Oronto Douglas’ recognition of young T Y Bello to speak on behalf of the 20 artists where the likes of Pa Ojeikere,

Onobrakpeya, Oshinowo and Barber were present. Nigeria, our Nigeria is not T Y Bello’s solo exhibition and so she was not competent to carry out such assignment. This was a national assignment that was expected to be guided by protocol.

It is, however, surprising that, despite the abundance of space (74 pages) brochure of the exhibition could not accommodate the photographs of the exhibiting artists. It wouldn’t have been out of place to have the photographs of the artists considering the significance of the exhibition to national history.

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RGANISERS of Nigeria’s Next Super Model Compe tition have announced their readiness for this year’s edi tion of the show. Isis Model boss, Joan Elumelu, said this year;s screening was launched at Enugu because of the unprecedented number of girls who registered from that axis. “In the past, what we used to do was for the girls to register and later come to Lagos for the screening.

But we found that there are more people who have registered outside Lagos and it would not be easy for us to bring all of them to Lagos. There is the need to do this year’s screening in different places,” she added.

She explained that on May 27, 2011, they were in Enugu for the casting, which was followed by a fashion party. Red Bull, Daviva and other sponsors are coming on board. This year, the organisers have decided to include girls from Ajegunle. “I have essentially de-

cided to pay for the forms obtained by some desperately poor girls who couldn’t afford to pay like some girls from Ajegunle,” she noted.

On June 5, 2011 at the Scintilla, kilometre 20, Lekki Expressway, Lagos, 16 girls will be selected in addition to the ones from Enugu. Monday after that, there will be another fashion party at Apapa for the girls in Ajegunle as places like Ajegunle will always have these kind of hidden beauties and talents. Accordding to her, one can’t rule that out saying that hopefully, she hopes to explore and tap into that area.

“It is a life changing affair. Like the last three winners, who kept by the rules of the game, are all driving cars around town. MODA Magazine is part of this year’s edition. Apart from the car prize, the winner of this year’s show will be on the spread of MODA Magazine. She will go to Dubai and Beirut to do a photo shoot with some top designers. The lucky girl will also go to New York and do the fashion week” she maintained.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

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•Participants in waste collection for the ‘waste installation’

•A scene from the drama

To stage a performance where the backdrop is rubbish can only be seen in Ajegunle (aka AJ City). Empty bottles, broken basket, pure water sachets and more welcome guests to the rousing performances of participants at the Bantu and Crew BornTroWay Project. The environment advocacy drama brought to life the reality of Ajegunle before its audience. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

Lifting Ajegunle through ‘trash’ drama

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HAT Friday afternoon, the sun seemed to blaze down with an unusual ‘anger’ as students of Bola Ige Millennium Secondary School in Tolu Complex, Ajegunle, gathered to watch participants of the Ade Bantu and Crew BornTroWay Project perform in the open air.

After four days of intensive training on acting, music and dance, the 41 participants of the project staged an open performance entitled BornTroWay (abandoned or bastard) for the public. The performers wore T-shirts bearing BornTroWay. With their body movements and coordination it was evident that they were out to impress the audience comprising classmates, friends and family members, among others, without losing the focus of the messages of their lines.

The presentation was a blend of the three aspects of the workshop, including poetry. The participants comprised those who made it during the BornTroWay audition and the Blaze Up the Ghetto projects. The training instructors included AJ Dagga Tolar (Spoken Word), Segun Adefila and Ahmed Taiwo (Dance), Bantu (Creative Director / Music) and Ropo Ewenla (Theatre).

The free-for-all event gave guests the opportunity to romance with nature.

Like a typical ‘jungle’ drama, the show had the trappings for which Ajegunle is known. The audience did not seem to mind that there were no chairs to sit on but grasses; and, that, ants had a fieldday on their skins.

They were captivated by the street-reality show which was borne out of the talents’ workshop that discovered, motivated and inspired Ajegunle’s youths.

Speaking on the project, Bantu said: “It is an alternative art and community advocacy movement that seeks to reach out to the youth. We want to empower them and go beyond the exploitative talent hunt shows.”

One thing that caught the eyes of guests was the way the rubbish that littered the stage was constructively used to make costumes, musical instruments and more. The BornTroWay performance had as its backdrop wastes that the participants picked from the river behind the complex and in the area. The back-

THEATRE drop of rubbish on trees presented an interesting sight that could pass for an award-winning art rubbish installation any day.

Alongside the presentation, the wastes were used to highlight the implication of littering the environment, especially our waterways with trash.

Beyond the installation, drama and poetry presentations, the lyrics of accompanying songs spelt out the messages of its preoccupations to the audiences who watched with rapt attention.

Advocating against discrimination by the larger well-privileged society, songs like I no b borntroway, E dey pain say dem call me borntroway also inspired hope in Ajegunle youths.

Although the members of the audience could not understand what the message of presentation was at first, as they listened to the songs and watched the unfolding scenes, it became evident that the actors were telling their stories… one that they could relate with.

If the drama is anything to go by, the organisers said, they hoped that it would inspire a new culture in the people of Ajegunle. According to them, aside seeing themselves differently from the way people see them, they also hope that Ajegunle residents would learn to care for their environment by keeping it clean.

On their part, participants said they were seeing themselves and their environment in a different way for the first time.

For 15-year-old Umar Maryam, the waste was her greatest teacher. “Aside the workshop, I have learnt that nothing is a waste. No matter how people look at you, what is important is how you see yourself. As we were able to create important things from wastes that is how

we can create something out of our lives no matter how bad it is,” she said.

2Tek Odey, winner of the Blaze Up the Ghetto project, was the lead vocalist. The undergraduate of Lagos State University (LASU) said the workshop had helped him hone his musical skills. “It has helped me understand creativity and that dance and acting is part of music. I have also learnt how to blend the three. This, I know, would be useful in my musical career.”

Many, like Blessing Ese, had their parents watch them perform. For Mrs Margaret Ese, her mother, it was a thing of pride watching her 23-year-old daughter perform. I dey very happy. Na d talents wey God give am be that. Before, before, I go dey ask am say ‘u go write for school? Na so so sing im go dey sing. But I see say I suppose encourage am. I wan go market when she say make I come look wetin dem dey do, so, I come to encourage am. I dey proud for wetin I see.

Although Sarah Nejo’s mother did not come to watch her perform, the Ojora Memorial Secondary School’s student said her mother is proud of what she had become. “I am fortunate. My mum is proud that I was picked and participated. It is what I have been praying for and now it is here. I hope it would lead me to wherever God wants,” she said.

Seeing their mates on the road to stardom, inspired a challenging effect of some sort in other students. Rukayat Bolaji, a junior secondary school’s student of one of the schools in the complex, said she was inspired by the songs.

She said: “It was as if they were talking to me. I would want to be part of it because of what I saw. I learnt a lot, especially that we, in Ajegunle, can still make something out of our lives no matter what people say.”

It was the first time that Onuga Vivian, a student of Ojoku Junior High School,

‘Aside the workshop, I have learnt that nothing is a waste. No matter how people look at you, what is important is how you see yourself. As we were able to create important things from wastes that is how we can create something out of our lives no matter how bad it is’

would come face-to-face with the popular musician, Bantu. It was also a wonder to see cameramen shooting the performance, one that her elder brother was a participant. “I felt jealous at first. But I feel proud now. My friends were all saying see your brother… see your brother.

I wish I was part of them though; I know I can do better,” she said.

The Vice Principal, Bola Ige Millennium Secondary School, Mrs Fatoki Elizabeth Modupe, said the programme was inspiring. “They are trying to restore hope on the children who do not have hope. You know that people tend to look down on people from a place like Ajegunle. I see it as a way of developing the youths and you can see that the students are interested in it. In fact, they are challenged seeing their makes performing.”

Mrs Osuocha Blessing, an English and Literature teacher, said she hoped the project would continue, saying it would help reduce the menace in the society.

She said: “If we have this kind of project everywhere, then the menace in the society would be reduced. This is because I have been with them since the workshop started and I discovered that it is engaging and if the participants properly harnessed what they have learnt it would be able to influence their world positively.”

According to the project coordinator, Chessa, the drama, poetry, and songs performed were the ingenuity of the Ajegunle’s talents. She said the project would hit slums in Port Harcourt and other parts of the country soon.

“Ajegunle has got lots of talents. The script for the play, poetry and the songs were the creation of the kids at the workshop. And it was not as if they had a pre-knowledge of the entire thing. I guess the workshop has helped them discover more about themselves and how far they can go when working as a team. The essence of it all is building teamwork.”

At the end of the presentation, Ewenla urged the youth, thus: “We came to plant a seed in the entire community. Do you want to continue to treat your talents as BornTroWays? We have lit a small candle in a small part of the world, you need to light that candle in your corners and keep the work going.”

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Last Wednesday, as Nigeria joined its counterparts to commemorate African Day of Liberation, some Pan-Africanists and friends of the late Dr Tajudeen Abdulraheem held a memorial lecture in his honour in Abuja. The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, was the guest speaker. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

Fayemi’s wife, others hail Pan-Africanists

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HIS year’s edition of the lecture and symposium in honour of Dr Tajudeen Abdulraheem was more than a reunion for activists, scholars, panAfricanists, friends and family of the deceased.

The symposium held at Cyprian Ekwensi Centre For Arts and Culture, Garki, Abuja, climaxed in the evening with the performance of Odia Ofeimun’s dance drama, A Feast of Return, in support of Tajudeen Abdulraheem Education Trust Fund.

The lecture, chaired by Mallam Kabir Yusuf, the chairman of Daily Trust Newspaper, witnessed papers from speakers led by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

Others were the executive director, African Centre for Leadership, Dr Otive Igbuozor; Dr Mohammed Kuna and Hajia Saudattu Mahdi. It was also attended by students from Hauwa Memorial College, Funtua, established by Abdulraheem and other schools in Abuja. This, the organisers said, was to carry the young ones along in the struggle for the development of Africa.

Abdulraheem was a former deputy coordinator of Millennium Development Goals (MGD) in Africa. He died two years ago in Nairobi, Kenya. He contributed a lot to the development of Africa.

With the theme Linking elections to good governance – Don’t agonise, organise, the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), the event’s organisers, said it was to immortalise the late Abdulraheem and deliberate on his ideologies with the mind of keeping them alive. Abdulraheem was a former chairman of CDD and a man of many sides. He was a columnist with Daily Trust Newspaper, among other papers.

Yusuf described him as a ‘practical pan-Africanist that was bubbling with rage and the vigour of his ideas.’ He said Abdulraheem’s contributions to the development of the African people were borne out of his passion for Africa. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to ensure that they contributed to the development of their environment to have their names engraved on the sand of time.

He said: “He was someone with a lot of passion for the people of Africa and worked relentlessly to better the lots of the people around him. This lecture is a platform where we can talk about him and his ideas with the mind of reminding us that there is still more work to be done.”

According to CDD Chairman, Dr Kole Shettima, it was not a coincidence that Abdulraheem died on Africa’s Liberation Day, May 25, because of his contributions to the development of Africa. He said: “Tajudeen would have been 50 years old this year, if he were alive; and I am sure he would have been in the forefront of Africa’s development. One can imagine what his thoughts and ideologies would have been on events across the continent. He was one of the civil society people who could speak to any African president if he was going wrong. Everybody said he was the first African president that Africa never had.”

Shettima said the Ekiti State Governor’s wife, whose husband was a former CDD Director, had also been passionately involved with the work they did with Abdulraheem; and

•From left: Hajiya Mahdi, Igbozor, Mrs Fayemi and Yusuf

SYMPOSIUM other progressive activities across Africa in her portfolio as the president, Africa Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).

This, he said, influenced their choosing her as the symposium’s guest speaker.

Mrs Fayemi noted that Abdulraheem would have been actively involved in the goings-on in Africa’s, particularly Nigeria’s political scene. She described the late activist as a social commentator who was involved in activities to better the lot of Africans, adding that Nigerians, the youth, especially, should emulate him. According to her, Nigerians should play more active role in governance by taking a cue from Abdulraheem’s slogan: Don’t agonise, organise.

She said: “On October 15, 2010, when my husband was declared the winner, I cried. The first reason I cried was tears of joy; the second reason was that Tajudeen would have been proud of the restoration of true democracy in Ekiti State as well as the attendant development in state. He was a thinker of our generation, a social commentator with deep love for Africa, its people and culture. He built bridges across continents.

“If Tajudeen were alive, I am sure he would not have been happy at what is going on in Africa where many, who fought for the freedom of Africa, have refused to relinquish power after many years of ruling. He would have been sad that Africa has democracy without democrats. However, he would have been proud of his in-laws in Tunisia for dislodging the sit-tight ruler, what happened in Egypt, rebels of Libya; and the young demanding the kind of leaders they want.”

Mrs Fayemi said civil societies should be involved in politics to bring about change, adding that they should go beyond advocacy to participating in governance for a lasting change.

“Nigeria is in want of the critical mass of progressive people. You can only bring about change if you are part of the

process,” she said.

She disclosed that Ekiti State Government was working tirelessly to change the face of governance, adding that young people should think and look beyond their borders, organising, and not agonising, about what is happening.

She urged the youth not to be discouraged by some inherent flaws in the socio-political structure, saying they should be more determined to work for a better Nigeria where there will be freedom, social justice and equity. “The youth should get involved in the political processes of their country to help others achieve their aims in life,” she said.

Delivering her lecture, Hajiya Mahdi took the gender approach of the theme as it affects good governance. She highlighted the agenda for women in governance, urging that women should aspire for political positions. She said women in leadership positions should have a working agenda to achieve good governance.

Igbozor spoke on the alternate developmental strategies that government needed to adopt to achieve good governance.

On his part, Kuna, who works with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), gave an insider’s account of the challenges that confronted the commission in the last elections. He noted that the active involvement of the public added to the credibility of the outcome of the elections and the choice of leaders that emerged in most of the elections. He spoke on the commission’s plan to audit the election, adding that it would learn from its mistakes in forthcoming elections.

He said: “We had the challenges of registration process; there were names without registers and registers without picture; election machines, redeployment of sensitive materials. However, many agreed that the registration and election was much better than what we have had in a lot while. Nonetheless, the pockets of achievements have to be consolidated. The commission would learn from past mistakes to ensure more credible elections in the future. It is contemplating doing a proper audit of the elections.”

How desperate can a Nigerian woman get?

•Essien-Nelson, her son and fans at the event

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HE economic depression has certainly added to the desperation of the womenfolk. But how desperate can a Nigerian woman get? To find out, you need to read Bola Essien-Nelson’s latest work, The Dairy of a Desperate Naija Woman in the year 20-ten.

Booklovers were taken into the world of

LITERATURE

By Evelyn Osagie

a desperate Nigerian woman at Debonair Bookstore, Lagos. Essien-Nelson, who is the bookstore author of the month, had an interesting interaction with her fans. She literally dazzled the audience with the motiva-

tional feel of her work.

As the word ‘desperate’ connotes a negative drive, guests said they were first attracted to the book because of the title. Hence, they came seeking to hear the story of a really ‘desperately’ desperate Nigerian woman. They were disappointed.

Instead, they found a woman desperately focused and ambitious for God. Essien-Nelson took booklovers into the world of the woman determined to go the extra mile for her Creator.

This led to the question: why the word ‘desperate’ in the title since it negates the idea she intended to pass across. The author said: “It does not connote anything bad because I am desperate for Jesus.”

According to the author, there is nothing a woman cannot achieve if she puts her mind to it. She challenged women to dare to be different and unique. She said to be desperate is a good thing as long as it is for God. She fielded questions on when she conceived the idea of the book; when it was published; how long it took to put the book together; her relationship with her father and more.

Dressed in a flowered gown, Essien-Nel-

son spoke with passion about her conviction. She did not force her belief on the audience. But, through her musings, one could see where her passion lies. The audience had the opportunity of sharing her personal thoughts as she read from the book. They said they found it inspiring and highly poetic.

The book is a sequel that began in The Dairy of a Desperate Naija Woman in the Year Two Thousand and 9.

Like the first, the book is a collection of the author’s daily musings on her blog that capture the musings and, sometimes, the mad rage of a Nigerian working woman who is both a wife and mother who desperately wants to be like her Saviour – Jesus Christ. She took the audience into a journey of musings in 2010 in which she tried to keep her head up to fulfill her greatest goal – to be an authentic Christian.

She said: “I did not set out to write a book.

But when the 2009 edition was published, people who read the blog said it was good and that it would help inspire others.” That was how the idea of the book that has given birth to two other books, including Pride Must Die! And other Random Poetic

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CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, LAGOS

•Children performing the Atilogwu dance

•Benin dance

Skye Bank, Rainbow Book Club partner for charity

By Ozolua Uhakheme

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KYE Bank Plc in partnership with Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt, has donated 600 books to three charity homes in Lagos. They are the Little Saints Orphanage, Bethesda Child Support Agency and The International Women’s Society. It is part of Rainbow’s new reading culture project which is a call to everyone to ‘give a child a book’, especially the underprivileged children across the country. All the children who benefited from this initiative received a bag of books as a special gift. It is hoped that this collaboration between Rainbow and Skye Bank will spur other individuals and organisations to ‘give a child a book’ in their communities.

Little Saints is a unique refuge for orphans and abused or abandoned children, where youngsters are cared for and re-integrated into society. Bethesda’s focus is on putting an end to poverty by providing schools and scholarships for disadvantaged children to ensure they have a brighter future. The International Women’s Society has its fingers in many charitable pies - among which are scholarship schemes for young girls, a trolleylibrary at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and a Motherless Babies’ Home.

For Skye Bank, it was an opportunity to fulfil its corporate social responsibility while partnering with organisations that impact on the lives of young people.

This gesture underscores the power of books which is priceless. It is the magic and potential of books and education that prompted the Rainbow Book Club to join forces with Skye Bank to donate books to these special children in Lagos.

Rainbow Book Club is known for promoting the reading culture and it is an integral part of its long-term vision of building a new Nigeria where knowledge is pivotal to everyday activities and national life.

Rainbow founder Mrs Koko Kalango said giving gifts of books shouldn’t be a huge endeavour. She explained that parents, teachers and small community groups as

•Some beneficiaries displaying their books

CHARITY well as organisations could choose to give children books as presents instead of opting for other items.

Mrs Kalango noted that “children are our legacy and we should invest in that legacy by ensuring that we broaden their minds and improve their prospects through

New arts academy opens in Abuja

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O discover talents that will grace the world’s stages, a new arts institution, Afrique Arts Academy, has been established in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The chief coordinator, Mrs Chetachukwu Teena Iroegbu, said the primary goal of the institution is to nurture young talents into stars and refine talents.

Mrs Iroegbu said prospective students would be empowered with not just artistic prowess but also entrepreneurial and leadership skills, adding that the academy would serve as a finishing school for students and graduates of performing arts.

She said: “Afrique Arts Academy is an arts institution that nurtures creativity and encourages self expression through the arts and a full theatre ensemble. We are building a world class academy that will accommodate all classes of students.

“The academy is unique because our curriculum has a solid educational foundation comprising of basic communication arts and social science in addition to our world class advantage in the performing arts thereby giving our products a completely rounded training.”

She explained that prospective students would be empowered

FACILITY From Tayo Owolabi and Genevieve Ajewole, Abuja

with not just artistic prowess but with entrepreneurial and leadership skills, adding that the academy want to make people stars.

According to her, the aim of the academy is to equip students with life skills and professional ethics that will stand them out in the entertainment world.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, who spoke through an official of the ministry, Mrs. Lizzy Ihezue, assured the management of the academy of an enabling environment for the programme to thrive.

She urged prospective students to take advantage of the platform and become their own masters.

She said: “The mandate of the ministry is to provide enabling environment for initiatives like this to be strengthened and we promise to ensure we do everything possible to ensure that the academy takes off. I want to appeal to the teeming youths to take advantage of this and be a master of yourself.”

reading. When you give a child a book, it is a gift that will touch his or her life in many more ways than one can imagine. I urge everyone to help us create a society in which reading becomes a normal part of every child’s life and not just a hobby for a few lucky children. Rainbow is working towards making this vision a reality with a drive to establish libraries and book clubs around the country.”

Kentebe’s book for launch

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HE public presentation and launch of Chief Patrick Suny Kentebe’s biography The journey of selfless telecoms service will hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday June 9, at 1 noon.

President Goodluck Jonathan is special guest at the launch.

MJSC turns 10

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LORENCE and Lambard (Publishers and Book sellers) will hold the 10th anniversary of its Monthly Judgments of the Supreme Court (MJSC) edited by Prof Taiwo Osipitan at 11 am on Thursday, June 2. Venue is Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. Guest speaker is Prof Yemi Osinbajo, while Mrs Folake Solanke is the guest of honour; and Chairman is Mr. Bode Emmanuel.

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ABUJA REVIEW

FCDA disburses loans to farmers

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HE former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade has disdursed about N140m loan to the first batch of 50 co-operative farmers’ group in the city The fund, according to Olubolade, was sourced from the N1b commercial agriculture loan allocated to the FCT by the

Stories from Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Federal Government.

Handling over the cheque, he said that if well harnessed and commercialised, the agriculture sub-sector guarantees the creation of jobs for the rural populace and youths.

Olubolade said the FCT Administration

The fund was a loan and not a grant. This means that you should make conscious efforts to repay within one year as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria •Olubolade, former Minister of State, FCT

DOUBT if we would have been alive to tell this story, because the mob were seen to be battle ready.

We can never forget how we escaped. We thank God. Governor Isah Yuguda’s action and that of the SSS will remain green in our mind.”

This is the tale of Ibrahim, one of the corps members rescued during the postelection violence that erupted in Bauchi State following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of the April 16 election.

He is among the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) brought to Abuja by a civil society organisation.

In an interview with Newsextra, Ibrahim and Ifeoma Nwaoni narrated their ordeal in the hands of hoodlums who unleashed terror on the innocent citizens staying in the hitherto peaceful state.

Before the violence, the corps members described their stay in the state as “a fruitful” one with a lot of hope under the Isah Yuguda administration.

Ibrahim said: “As soon as the violence erupted, the state government came to our aid. Indeed, the Bauchi State governor is a saviour and he is worthy of commendation because he proved himself as a father, a humane leader and a patriot by immediately gathering the 3,500 corps members in the state to the SSS Training School within three hours for to ensure our safety.

“Equally, he went further to ensure that the school is secure by armoured tanks, an action which gave us the requisite psychological feeling of safety.

“Had the governor not taken this proactive measure, I doubt if we would have been alive to tell this story.”

The corps members narrated that while at the State Security Service (SSS) training college, as they were assembled in a hall, they kept on wondering why they suddenly became the target of the transgressors.

“Fears written all over us, the governor came in and when he saw our countenance, he wept. He promised to bring the perpetrators to book and to secure us. He said we should see ourselves as his children, as he will do everything to protect us on behalf of our parents and the Nation.

“The presence of the NYSC DirectorGeneral from Abuja to the state also gave us some form of comfort. The Governor couldn’t control his emotions. He said corps members don’t deserve to die that way, even as he promised that those behind the gruesome killing of these innocent patriots will not only face the full wrath of the law but will also have Allah’s punishment awaiting them.

“The Governor went further to give all the corps members in the state little support of N10,000 as he expressed his sympathy on behalf of the people of Bauchi State to the families of the slain corps members. He also promised to immortalise

“I

is poised to do all it could to improve agriculture and the lives of farmers in the territory, adding that the loan will go a long way to expand their productive capacity as well as ensure their better living standard and food security in the territory.

He however reminded the beneficiaries that “the fund was a loan and not a grant.

This, he said, means that you should make conscious efforts to repay within one year as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

The Secretary for Agriculture in the FCDA, Adamu Buwai explained that the 50 beneficiaries were selected from the 433 applicants that met the selection criteria.

He added that the secretariat is doing everything possible to ensure that farmers in the FCT area councils benefit from the Commercial Agriculture Scheme.

The farmers expressed their gratitude to the administration and promised to do their best to repay the loan within the stipulated period.

Rescued Corps members relive ordeal them for their sacrifice to the nation’s democracy. Thus, the SSS College was, indeed, our home of refuge before our evacuation.”

The National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN) has demanded an apology from the Congress for Progresive Change, (CPC) over the death of 10 corps members in Bauchi State.

The body also described the call for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Scheme as baseless.

The group called on all civil society organisations to rise up against national tragedy as one injury too many.

They urged politicians to stop politicising the death of the corps members.

NYCN President, Comrade Ajani

As soon as the violence erupted, the state government came to our aid.

Indeed, the Bauchi State governor is a saviour and he is worthy of commendation because he proved himself as a father, a humane leader and a patriot

Olawale James who spoke on behalf of the group appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and the National Assembly to ensure that all corps members that volunteered to serve as Adhoc staff be given automatic employments by the Federal Government.

“It is now obvious and true that the youth corps members were not left unprotected. All agencies actually played their roles, hence the call for the scrap of NYSC is baseless but rather its challenges be reviewed,” he said.

The group, while condemning the mayhem, urged the Lemu-committee set up to probe the violence should ensure that nobody is above the law.

“We call for thorough investigation of the cause of this act of terrorism by the Presidential Committee on the post-election violence,” he added.

President of the National Association of Nigerian students, NANS, Jude Imagwe also led a prayer for the repose of the souls of the dead corps members.

•M. S. Evita Moussalli (sixth from right) presenting cartons of books and drinks to Chief Operating Officer (middle) Lady Bethel Obieri, PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES founder, Living Fountain Orphanage, Lagos

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Government does not have regard for the rights of Nigerian children. That is why children are abused; they are used as house helps, thereby taking away their human dignity

‘Children’s rights must be protected’

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HE Chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area Hon. Ibrahim Tunde Sanusi has said that protecting children’s rights is crucial to the future of the country. He said children deserve all the assistance they can get to help them grow.

Hon. Sanusi who made the declaration while speaking during this year’s Children’s Day celebration held at the council secretariat insisted that children should be shielded from poverty.

He said that children are God’s greatest gifts to mankind, even as he added that they are tender-hearted, peaceful in nature, pure in mind, highly submissive and full of forgiving spirit.

The council chief noted that for a special day to be set aside to celebrate them indicates that they occupy a prime position in any country’s social strata.

Hon. Sanusi maintained that any society that is not genuinely commited to the physical, social and mental development of its young ones is preparing for a disastrous future. For a society’s future to be secure, he said, all that are necessary for children’s growth and development must be put in place.

Sanusi said: “Our children need peace, love, care, healthy and serene environment and reassured commitment towards their survival.

They also need also need adequate healthcare, good nutrition and protection from killer diseases for appropriate physical and mental growth. Over and above these, they need quality education which is a catalyst for societal total development.”

Continuing, the council chief said: “It is in recognition of the above that the Oriade LCDA has made frenetic efforts towards improving its education sub-sector. For instance, the council has rehabilitated several blocks of classrooms at almost all the primary and secondary schools in the council area. This aimed at providing environment conducive enough to teaching and learning.

“It has provided desks, chairs, magic boards, text books and exercise books for schools within the LCDA. The council has as well encouraged full participation in the Spelling bee competition and instituted the one-day chairman programme all in a bid to promote academic excellence and hard work among the pupils.”

He pledged that the council will continue to focus on policies that will enhance the welfare of the people, especially those that affect children.

Despite the rain that nearly ruined their day, the pupils were cheerful as they exuded joy in celebrating a day earmarked for them. They marched, danced and played in the rain.

Some of the pupils who spoke to Newsextra on the significance of the day expressed their worries about certain things that are not put in place for their development. They wished life could be a bit simpler and easier. They also wished that they could have all their rights enforced.

For Miss Success Nwokoro of A. A. International School, Satellite Town, Nigerian children are deprived of many things that should be their rights. She was more concerned about the plight

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HE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to give assent to the National Health Bill as soon as possible considering its impact on women and children.

The organisation, however, urged careful implementation of its provisions with adequate funding for the health sector if the country’s poor health indices must be improved on.

In a statement, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, an officer of the global organisation, while commending the National Assembly for passing the bill, noted that the National Health Act would be the best gift to Nigerian children.

It reads: “The health status of children and women in Nigeria remains poor but we believe that with careful implementation of the National Health Act, along with

By Chinaka Okoro

of pupils from poor homes and government’s lack of commitment to address the situation.

She said: “Government has not done much for children. Those from poor homes find it very difficult to go to school because their parents could not pay their fees. Public schools lack facilities like laboratories and libraries.

Most times, going to school is a problem for some children as their schools are very far from their homes and there are no school buses to take them to and from school. Government should provide every child the opportunity of getting good education since we are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Master Ajegwnmo Femi is a primary five pupil of Satellite Town Nursery/Primary School 1. The 14-year-old pupil was of the view that the government has not lived up to its responsibilities.

“Government does not have regard for the

rights of Nigerian children. That is why children are abused; they are used as house helps thereby taking away their human dignity.

Government has failed us in this aspect,” he said.

Miss Khadijat Waheed is a pupil of IjegunEgba School 1. She is disturbed by the poor state of most schools. She told Newsextra that most schools lack good classrooms. This, she said, makes the environment not conducive to teaching and learning.

She added: “The chairs and desks are few and most libraries are not well equipped. Government should look into these issues in order to make learning easier for us.

“Another area which gives us children much concern is that of child labour because you can still find many children hawking on the streets during school hours. This will affect the future of these children. Government should try to eradicate child labour and ensure that all children are in school.”

•Nwokoro, one of the children at the event

•Children enjoying their day

UNICEF advocates child-friendly Health Bill From Dele Anofi, Abuja

sufficient funding for and close monitoring of the National Strategic Health Strategic Development Plan, Nigeria will take

firm steps to reverse this trend.

“We expect the National Health Act to translate into the release of much needed funding from national revenues for the health of children and women. “Its focus

We expect the National Health Act to translate into the release of much needed funding from national revenues for the health of children and women

on an essential minimum package of care to tackle the health problems which cause the highest number of deaths and illness in children and women is highly commendable.

“Scaling up the implementation of an essential package of proven, cost-effective and high-impact interventions in all primary health centres will bring Nigeria closer to attaining the health related MDGs. In doing so, we encourage the Government and its partners to leave no child behind, as this momentum is really about securing quality primary health care with equity - for every woman and every child, “ Dr. Suomi Sakai, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria was quoted as saying.

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MONEY

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CBN, SEC reforms to sustain economic growth, says Rewane

HE reforms embarked upon by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), must be sustained to move the economy forward Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited Bismarck Rewane has said.

The CBN reforms led to the injection of N620 billion into 10 rescued banks, and the sack of eight of their chief executive officers.

At SEC, the reforms led to the change in leadership of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and introduction of new trading rules to improve the capitalisation of the Exchange.

Rewane said the exercise must be sustained by the new government. According to him, another major hurdle that could undermine economic success is the pos-

Stories by Collins Nweze sible meddling with the autonomy and independence of organs of government, such as the CBN, SEC and the National Communication Commission.

“Frustrating these champions of reform could easily lead to suboptimal economic performance and be counterproductive,” he said in a financial statement.

The analyst said the economy has not performed well based on resources at its disposal, insisting that the economy has failed in terms of growth, structure and momentum. For this to be reversed, the new leadership must develop an agenda that reduces the

focus to no more than four key targets and pick a team that can deliver on the plan.

According to him, as the losers lick their wounds and winners share the spoils, Nigerians are waiting in anticipation for the impact of the 2011 elections on the economy and quality of their lives.

“President Goodluck Jonathan’s new administration has an opportunity to implement an economic reform agenda that will be both incremental in aggregate output but also transformational in overhauling the structure of the Nigerian economy whilst positioning it for accelerated, sustainable and optimal growth,” he said.

Rewane explained that the expectations from the international community of Nigeria becoming the next African country to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), the most important frontier market may not be feasible unless some of the challenges that confront resourceendowed nations at economic crossroads are addressed.

The most important challenge is the prioritization and sequencing of the macro-economic issues, constraints and problems. For him, there is wealth illusion in Nigeria especially in the public sector that oil revenues only go up, but never decline. Following from this is the deceit that natu-

ral wealth is equivalent to produced wealth. In my interaction with public officials, there is an entrenched view that oil price shocks are temporary whilst oil prosperity and peaks are normal, he said.

Rewane said that the new economic team must in the formulation of their Marshall Plan for Nigeria, develop a fall back (plan B) just in case there is a precipitate or sudden drop in oil prices, production and revenues. For instance, on May 5, oil prices fell 15 per cent in one day to $109 per barrel. The revenue impact of this fall on Nigeria is approximately $11 billion per annum. This has serious consequences on exchange rate, inflation and public finance. The Nigerian economy has to brace up for future volatility and exogenous shocks, he said.

Forex supply hits $4.32b in five weeks

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HE Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) got $4.32 billion including $160 million worth of maturities between March 23 and May 18, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

The CBN noted that, despite persisting demand pressure in the foreign exchange (Forex) market within the period, the market remained relatively stable because of the apex bank’s deliberate policy of increasing supply to the market.

This is expected to maintain the exchange rate within a band of plus or minus three percentage points, complemented by funding from autonomous sources.

At the WDAS segment, the naira versus dollar exchange rate opened at N152.63 to dollar (including 1 per cent commission on March 23, 2011 and closed at N154.74 to dollar on May 18, 2011, representing a slight depreciation of 1.38 per cent.

The interbank rates opened at N155.97 to dollar and closed at N156.70 to dollar, a depreciation of 0.47 per cent.

The premium between the rates at the WDAS and other segments of the market narrowed towards the end of the review period, the CBN explained, noting the modest accretion to the external reserves in recent months.

It, however, noted that the inflow into the CBN is not consistent with the high oil prices and, this underscored the need for tighter fiscal controls around oil revenues as well as first line charges including Joint Venture Companies (JVC) deductions and subsidies.

A higher rate of retention of oil revenues should facilitate the efforts at maintaining exchange rate

•CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi

stability as an antidote to imported inflation without excessive reliance on monetary tightening measures, the apex ban stated.

The apex bank at its Monetary Committee Meeting urged that in a highly import-dependent economy with large pass-through effects of import prices on domestic prices, it is necessary to create a climate conducive to larger foreign capital inflows through appropriate fiscal measures, particularly in the light of the gains that could be made in the current context of high crude oil prices. The MPC, therefore, stressed the importance of continuing structural reforms and infrastructural development to enhance domestic production to reduce the import bill and its passthrough effects on inflation. It also noted the inflationary impact of the likely deregulation of petroleum product prices.

The Committee held that it would be prudent to adopt a monetary policy stance that is consistent with the need to address inflationary expectations associated with excessive liquidity and pressure on foreign exchange market.

Although the fiscal authorities have declared their intention to fiscal consolidation, the MPC recognises that time will be required for fiscal adjustment to take place. In the interim, monetary policy will have to bear the burden of adjustment through further tightening in order to rein in inflation to maintain price stability, as well as continuing with the progress toward positive real interest rates.

Provisional data showed that the growth in broad money (M2) during the first m four months of 2011 was 3.24 per cent, or 9.72 per cent when annualised. Aggregate credit continued to decline largely as a result of reduction in credit to the core private sector, and to state and local governments. Net foreign assets, which posted positive growth in February and March, declined in April 2011.

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

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

• L–R: Assistant Director, Office of the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Taxation, Mrs Kemi DurosinmiEtti; former Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Mrs Olusola Oworu and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Mr Ade Ipaye, during a seminar on local government revenue enlightenment in Lagos

Bank unveils MasterCard for premium customers

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UARANTY Trust Bank (GTB) has strengthened its alternative banking channels through the introduction of the MasterCard World Card for its premium customers.

The card, which was unveiled to high-end clients in Lagos, makes the bank one of the only two banks in Africa licensed to issue the card - which is also the most prestigious within the MasterCard range. The product grants the holder access to numerous services, rewards, benefits and offers from MasterCard and their high-end partners world-

wide.

Speaking at the presentation, Mrs. Ronke Kuye, Head of e-business & Card Services Group, said the card is only available to a few niche clients worldwide. She added that the card, which is to be issued by invitation only, would appeal to a large number of high-net worth clients who would enjoy personalised relationship management service from a dedicated Lifestyle Manager.

Some of the services available to holders of the card include priority pass access to over 600

VIP lounges in more than 100 countries worldwide, Emergency assistance services from over 79 dedicated centres worldwide, and international insurance services.

With the introduction of several innovations, such as online banking, mobile banking applications, drive-thru ATMs and the first naira-denominated MasterCard in the world – the Naira MasterCard – Guaranty Trust Bank has, over the years, set the pace for e-business services in the financial services industry.

FirstBank introduces Hifi Young Savers Account

F

IRSTBANK has created a special savings account for young people of 18 years and below.

Tagged, ‘FirstBank HiFi Young Savers Account,’ it allows the young to become financially independent and secure early in life.

The bank explained in a release that the young savers account is designed to inculcate a savings culture among Nigerian youths, saying that by imbibing the habit, “the tendency to grow up with the right financial skills is high.”

On the modalities for operating the account, the bank said It could be opened and operated for a child right from birth untill such a child attains the age of 18 years, thereafter, the statement said the beneficiary is at liberty to convert the account to a regular current or savings account when the child attains

the stipulated age of 18.

According to the bank, intending operators, are expexted to open the Hifi account with N5,000. The release, said account holders are entitled gift packs on the respective child’s birthday, a customised welcome pack” when the account balance reaches N50,000 and eligibility for a N1 million raffle draw on account balances from N750,000 and above, the statement added.

The bank explained that the Hifi account is also eligible for cash collaterised loan of up to 80 per cent of account balance, could be converted to a chequing account when the young saver attains 18 years of age, and could be used as standing order for the payment of school fees.

•MD/CEO FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

e-Business Making mobile payment fraud proof The proliferation of mobile devices, growth of the telecommunications sector and the desire for financial inclusion for all have stimulated interest in mobile payment. Experts are, however, worried about the security of such payments, writes ADLINE ATILI

•Source: Mobio-chart

I

N the past, the mobile phone was used basically for voice services. Today, we have phones for data, Voice Over Internet Protocol, video and other amazing services, that experts say, are adding value to life.

Mobile payment, an advancement of the use of mobile devices, is set to change the face of commerce worldwide.

Mobile payment (or mobile wallet), is an alternative payment method. Instead of paying with cash or cheque, a consumer can use a mobile device to pay for goods and services.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), mobile payments have exciting potentials within Nigeria given the low infrastructure requirements and rapidly increasing mobile phone penetration.

The market for mobile payments is expected to grow significantly, reaching $618 billion by 2016, according to a report by a consulting firm, Edgar, Dunn & Co., sponsored by MasterCard.

Mobile payment has been well adopted in many parts of Europe and Asia. The combined market for all types of mobile payments is expected to reach over $600 billion globally by 2013, which will be the double of the current figure.

Varieties of competing business sectors — from telecoms to financial institutions to Internet companies — are the launch pads of new technology they hope will replace consumer reliance on credit and debit cards with the tap of a mobile phone.

In the past few months, CBN has begun to move closer to a tipping point that would lead to the popularisation of mobile payments.

The CBN, in anticipation of the preponderance of mobile payments, issued the regulatory framework on such payment.

The framework identified three major models for the implementation of mobile payments services namely: bank-led, bank-focused and non-bank led.

It also identified methods through which mobile payments can be carried out and unveiled rules for their operations.

The method could be card account-based,

bank account-based and stored value (emoney) account-based. Last year, it issued approval-in-principles to 16 mobile payments schemes for a pilot scheme in preparation for the mass roll out of their live run.

However, as with all financial systems, security of transaction is one of the challenges operators have to grapple with when the service finally takes off.

Though the system is an arrangement that has a lot of potential, but it also has a lot of potential for perpetrators of fraud. This, experts said, can make a difference in adoption rate.

Director of New Media and Information Security, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Sylvanus Ehikioya said security is an essential consideration for mobile payment.

He added that mobile payment has particular security and privacy challenges because of the underlying technologies, and mode of transportation which requires wireless service providers.

Ehikioya said of all the mobile applications, mobile payment is the one in which security is of paramount importance because of the financial value at stake, adding that the integrity of the telecoms systems underpins other underlying technologies.

According to him, four properties have always been essential for secure transaction: authentication, confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation.

Speaking at the techno-interactive forum on mobile payment organised by the e-Payment

Providers Asociation of Nigeria (e-PPAN), Ehikioya said: “Authentication is concerned about verifying the identities of parties in a communication and confirming that they are who they claim to be.

“Confidentiality is about ensuring that only the sender and intended recipient of a message can read its content. Integrity is concerned about ensuring that the content of the messages and transactions have not been altered, whether accidentally or maliciously.

“Non-repudiation is about providing mechanisms to guarantee that a party involved in a transaction cannot falsely claim later that they did not participate in that transaction. In order to perform a security analysis of a mobile payment scheme, it is necessary to understand the underlying standards, technologies, protocols and platforms used.

“The security framework of mobile payment includes a clear understanding of the assets that need to be protected, the threats against which those assets must be protected, the vulnerabilities associated with the assets and the overall risks to the assets from those threats and vulnerabilities.

He listed the threats to include: general security threats and mobile-oriented security threats.

“General security threats are threats that might exist in any open network while mobile-oriented security threats might exist due to the characteristics of mobile communications.

“Some of the general security threats are:

‘Confidentiality is about ensuring that only the sender and intended recipient of a message can read its content. Integrity is concerned about ensuring the content of the messages and transactions has not been altered, whether accidentally or maliciously’

eaves dropping, where anonymous attackers can ac tively intercept transmitted data, causing a leak age of data; communication jamming; where an intentional or unintentional interference overpowers the sender or receiver of a communication link, thereby effectively rendering the communication link useless; injection and modification of data; where an unauthorised entity inserts, changes or deletes information transmitted between a mobile terminal and an application server.

“These attacks occur when an attacker adds data to an existing connection with the objective of hijacking the connection or maliciously sending data; interruption, that could result in the destruction of a component of a mobile terminal or a network element; unauthorised access attack is when an unauthorised entity gains an illegal entry by masquerading as a real mobile user.

“Other threats include shoulder surfing and lost or stolen mobile terminal. Protecting the integrity of a payment transaction requires the addition of some form of explicit ordering such as sequence numbering, time stamping, cryptographic chaining and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

“PKI technologies help to ensure the integrity of a transaction and in setting up secure environments for mobile payment.

“It is a system of digital certificates, certification authorities, and other registration authorities that provides solutions to enable a secure mobile commerce,” he explained.

Also speaking at the forum, Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs Ify Umenyi, said considering that the mobile payment technology is new, due care has to be taken on security of financial transactions.

Mrs Umenyi called for operating guidelines to be adopted by banks and operators.

She urged operators of mobile payment services to be transparent in disclosures of risks, responsibilities and liabilities of the customers in doing business through mobile phones either on their Websites or printed material.

She recommended covering of risks arising from fraudulent and disputed transactions through appropriate insurance schemes.

According to her, government, regulators, operators and consumer protection groups, should work together to educate consumers about mobile payment, to foster informed decision-making by consumers participating in it and to increase business and consumer awareness of the consumer protection framework that applies to their mobile banking activities.

“It is my belief that mobile payments will enable the unbanked consumers in the economy access banking services at an affordable cost.

“However all regulatory and institutional protection framework should be in place in order to safeguard the consumer who is the reason for the operators being in business,” she said.

Director of Banking and Payment Systems Operations of the CBN, Abayomi Atoloye, assured that the Payment System Oversight office of the CBN will intensify efforts in monitoring compliance to guidelines and regulations on payment system.

He said: “Like in most parts of the world, payments system in Nigeria is not free from risks and other challenges.

“Nonetheless, the CBN has take necessary steps in forms of guidelines, rules and regulations, circulars, initiatives and infrastructural development to address all the payment system issues. The Payment System Oversight office will intensify efforts in monitoring compliance to guidelines and regulations on payments system.”

46

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

e-Business

Expert seeks regulation on local software development M

ANAGING Director, Netop Business Systems, an Information Technology solutions provider, Cyril Asuka, has called on the Federal Government to enact policies to encourage local software development. He said such step is necessary to tackle the menace of software piracy.

He added that the copyright laws should be strengthened to serve as deterrent to would-be offenders.

Speaking at the launch of Netop’s Digital Evidence, a document management and biometric solution, Asuku said: “Effective policy is important in fighting software piracy in Nigeria. The copyright laws in Nigeria do not allow you to fight when you see your software being pirated.

“Policies need to be put in place to correct this. If we choose to use our locally-developed software, the issue of piracy will reduce because it is difficult to pirate local software. What the government needs to do is encourage development of local software.

Countries such as India got to where they are today because their government made policies to encourage local software development.

“Incidentally, the government spends a lot of money trying to create employment; if they spend

Stories by Adline Atili

a large chunk of that money to develop IT parks for young people to learn how to develop software, it’s a very big industry.

That’s what India is living on today. Even America outsources its software development to India.

Nigeria has the population, the human and material resources to make this happen.”

He noted that the policies would produce better results if the government leads by example.

“You can say, for example, a government body should not buy any foreign software. In some categories, you can say for accounting software for instance, any accounting solution that is going to be purchased by a government parastatal in Nigeria should be a locally-developed solution.

“With such policies in place, software companies will be able to employ more people and encourage people to come into software development. The local content policy in the oil industry, though commendable, is not specific about percentage of local software to be used. You can say some very critical software in perhaps, engineering, cannot be

got locally. But for human resources, accounting and other basic fields, you should get local software,” he said.

He explained that the Digital Evidence is a multi-purpose image/document management and biometric solution designed to capture in digital form, all images and documents associated with banking transactions, including biometrics.

He said the solution uses fourlayer architecture-Point of Capture, Manager, Data Mover and HQ-to provide enterprise backbone for imaging, document and biometrics requirements of any bank.

Deployed in 733 bank branches with 1,542 points, the key benefits of the solution in financial transactions, according to Asuku, is its ability to, among others, provide central image and documents repository that can be referenced in future, especially during fraud investigation, reduces customers’ turnaround time, removes security related exposures to the customer and prevents fraud using biometrics.

He noted that the solution can be used to: capture images of teller transactions and cheque truncation, capture customers biometrics information for KYC compliance, verification during withdrawal and tagging in case of fraud.

Motorola alerts consumers to dangers of counterfeit products

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HE dangers inherent in the usage of counterfeit products have been brought to the fore

by Motorola Solutions, a provider of mission-critical communication products and services.

The company said apart from losing warranty claims, consumers could be exposed to harmful adulterated components used in the manufacture of counterfeit products.

Speaking at the launch of the MOTOTRBO, the company’s latest two-way digital radio technology, Regional Sales Manager of the firm, Nicolas Coussinoux noted that counterfeit products are a source of worry to many consumers who may not know how to spot genuine products.

He urged consumers to buy only from accredited distributors and dealers, adding that the dealership certificate which is unique to Motorola dealers and distributors should be demanded from dealers as proof of genuineness. He added that the company is concluding plans to establish a regional service centre in the country to consolidate its presence and provide an avenue to tackle influx of counterfeit products.

Corroborating, Director, Sales and Marketing, Briscoe Technologies, Aloy Ezugwu, said: “Because of the success and trust in the Motorola brand, a lot of our products are being faked.

Instead of buying original Motorola products from the right source, people buy from counterfeiters, usually at cheap prices; price then becomes an

issue.

“The effect is that if the trend is allowed to continue, employment of thousands of people will be threatened. We all have a duty to ensure the industry does not go under. Consumers who buy from unaccredited dealers not only lose their warranty, but they may be exposing their health to danger. Many of the counterfeit products are harmful to health.”

According to Coussinoux, Africa is seeing an increase in the use of latest digital two-way radio technology that provides government entities and companies with clear, reliable communication to improve functionality in the workplace.

He said: “MOTOTRBO combines the best of two-way radio with digital technology to bring increased capacity, clarity, spectral efficiency and integrated data applications. Two-way digital radios are scalable over Internet Protocol networks; support data transfer along with voice, consume less power, work for longer ranges with excellent voice quality, reducing external background sounds in noisy environments and provide locationbased tracking and services.

“Customers will benefit from the improved performance of radios which include noise cancelling technology that results in high quality, clear communication. Using IP technology, multiple locations can be connected together over the Internet using Motorola’s IP Site Connect. This means that distant locations, even across countries, can be connected as one site.”

MTN drives SMEs efficiency with HyNet

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•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Resourcery, Tani Fafunwa; Managing Director, Cisco Nigeria, Richard Edet; Managing Director, Main One Cable Company, Funke Opeke and Service Sales Director, Cisco Emerging Central Theatre, Serge Dupuoy, at the first regional Cisco CIO leadership conference in Accra, Ghana.

NITEX to showcase software skills

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RESIDENT of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Charles Uwadia has praised the brilliance, strength of character, and resilience of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the Information and Communication Technology sector, saying these were necessary ingredients in expanding the nation’s economic opportunities.

In order to create a forum for creativity, innovation and healthy competition among these entrepreneurs, NCS has concluded plans to host the Nigeria Information Technology Exhibition (NITEX) 2011 in June.

Addressing a press conference on the upcoming exhibition Uwadia noted that NITEX is an avenue for promoting and encouraging indigenous, local entrepreneurs, and emerging markets to showcase their products and services.

He said: “Having realised that most of the software application running in most of the government establishments and industries were those developed locally by Nigerians, it then became expedient to come together and exhibit such soft-

ware products and add commercial value to it for the purpose of patronage and to also, export it and serve as income earning for the country.

“Through these efforts, it is hoped that the menace of unemployment in our country will be redressed. The event will be an allinclusive exhibition, bringing together IT hardware and software manufacturers, developers, vendors and resellers; service and solution providers will also be in attendance.

“We also expect prospective buyers from government and the industry, policy makers, students and members of the public. We want to start exposing our children to IT solutions at a very young age. We need to start seeing technology as what it is-adopt, adapt, deploy and solve problems.”

Corroborating, Chairman, Publicity, Events and Trade Services Committee of the NCS, Mr Tajudeen Ejalonibu said: “Mathematics has been a nightmare for students and the software industry is not having enough population

as envisaged.

“This is an opportunity to make our students embrace the software development culture for the benefit of Nigeria and for employment creation; it is obvious today that whitecollar jobs are no longer there. We want to make our society wholly IT-driven, especially our youths. We want to encourage innovation and creativity for employment generation and economic empowerment through IT.” The NITEX exhibition, according to the organisers will serve as an opportunity to promote latest technologies in the field of software as they relate to organisations, ranging from SMEs to large enterprises.

“The exhibition provides an avenue for the demonstration and appraisal of software engineering initiatives, research and related developments by authors/developers, companies, government agencies, particularly policy makers who will be privy to latest research findings and innovations from relevant IT bodies and chart a direction for software development in Nigeria,” Ejalonibu said.

IANT Telco, MTN Nigeria has re-launched its MTN HyNet broadband Internet service, aimed at bringing affordable Internet access to the country’s unconnected masses.

According to the company, MTN HyNet is a prepaid high speed Internet service that offers true multiuser capability at extraordinary speeds of up to 1 Mbps, with unlimited data downloads; one of many services from the stable of MTN Business, the part of MTN that offers dependable and reliable business communication solutions to Nigerian businesses.

Speaking at the re-launch in Lagos, Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer of the company, Babatunde Osho, said: “MTN HyNet combines the speed and reliability of a fixed broadband Internet with the convenience and flexibility of a mobile Internet service. It is a service that is primed to bring efficiency and convenience to offices and homes in Lagos.”

He explained that the service with multi-user wireless functionality enables unlimited download with speed 16 times faster than a telephone line.

“With the installation of MTN HyNet modem in your offices or homes, you enjoy wireless connectivity anywhere within 50 metres radius of the modem.

“With the in-built Wi-Fi capability, various computers within an office or residential premises can wirelessly connect to the service simultaneously. This makes this service an excellent choice for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Small Office Home Office and other such set ups,” he said.

The company’s Senior Manager, Regional and SME Accounts, Omotayo Ojutalayo added: “With MTN HyNet, customers don’t have to wait endlessly for other users before accessing the Internet. They simply access the Internet wirelessly from their own PCs. This helps to boost SMEs efficiency and productivity.”

The service, which is provided over MTN’s WiMax network with coverage spanning prime areas of Lagos, allows customers to choose Internet speed suitable for them based on pattern and volume of usage.

Telecoms chief for confab

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HIEF Executive Officer of Geoid Telecommunications, an Internet Service Provider, Mr Olubiyi Ismail, has been selected as speaker at the West and Central AfricaCom conference and exhibition, scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal.

Ismail will speak at the panel session on the theme: Building the Infrastructure to Connect the Region – What Next? During the panel discussions, he will assess the improvement in regional connectivity and the impact of the submarine cables and the requirements from regulatory and governmental initiatives to support the building of infrastructure.

He will also speak on the optimisation of the optical transport layer; touching on key areas such as capacity, connectivity and cabling infrastructure. Further discussions during the panel session will harp on the distribution of the capacity inland, whether by satellite or cable.

Other speakers expected to join Ismail on the panel session are: Regional Vice President, Africa, O3b Networks, Omar Trujillo; Vice President, Sales, Africa, SES Nicolas Baravalle, as well as Sabine Devinck of Global Information and Communications Technologies, IFC. Ismail said: “I feel honoured by the invitation extended to me to speak on the session dedicated to discussing regional connections via telecoms infrastructure. I believe the topic is apt given the importance of the various ICT initiatives geared towards improved telecoms infrastructural development across the West African continent.”

“West and Central AfricaCom is an ideal forum for discussions on the various issues affecting the region’s telecoms sector. It also offers immense networking opportunity for operators to exchange ideas on how best to improve not only telecommunications, but the ICT sector in general.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2010

47

e-Business

Production Team: Femi Jolaolu, Lekan Hammed, Yomi Oseni, Ugo Ananaba, Michael Ojo, Lanre Malik Marketing: Adeline Atili, Nkechi Nwabaogu, Kemi Makinde, Lillian Nsi-Enodien, Mariam Adeyanju Edited by: O’seun Ogunseitan

Pls. send Questions to oseun2@gmail.com or text to

080 5511 9009

PC Users open Facebook forum for 24/7 access T

HE Nation Databank’s PC Users forum, PCUser2user, is now live on the internet with an archive of more than more than 100 published solutions to computer problems.

Facebook, the world’s largest social networking website and Blogspot, the internet’s premier blogging website, are now hosts to Nigeria’s first public forum for users of information technologies and tools.

Computer users and enthusiasts in Nigeria and outside, now have access to an archive of all that has been published on PC User pages in The Nation over the last three years.

Access to the new online computer users library, is merely by visiting PCUser2User pages on facebook by typing www.facebook.com/pcuser2user.

Direct access is provided to the blog pages of the premier PCUser forum through any internet browser by typing www.pcuser2user.blogspot.com The Nation newspaper and its Databank and Archives Unit have over the last three years, maintained a weekly section for Computer Users. Leading moderators of the forum, collectively have more than 100 years experience in computer usage. They include some of the earliest PCUsers in Nigeria.

PCUser2User’s new online platform, complements its robust compact disc and printed paper publications. The forum’s weekly discs, distribute essential PC utilities and software tools, along with thousands of pages of PC user solutions and answers to questions sent by readers of The Nation’s IT pages and users of the discs.

...with three years published archive With the launch of the new web-based platform, Nigerian PCUsers now have the opportunity of around-the-clock access to a single digital library of tried, tested and published solutions to unique challenges they face in the country, while also benefiting from the experience of other computer users worldwide.

In Nigeria, one of the most popular publications in demand by PC Users over the last one year and which is now available for free download from the new web-based library is a publication: How to remove stuborn viruses from USB Drives.

Other equally popular write ups, such as those dealing with the setting up of a single computer to run multiple Operating Systems (OSes) such as Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 are available free on the online site, which also lists hundreds of useful tips and tricks for effective PC maintenance and Operations.

Before now, the PCUser2User offered a good round-the-clock user support to its members who also have privileged access to a members-only website. The forum’s members also have access to several thousands of software tools and utilities available with one of the world’s largest software databanks.

Kemi Makinde, spokesperson for the PCUser group, said the launch of the new platform on Facebook is in recognition of the possible gamechanging power of the world’s number

one social networking site, in an infrastrurally disadvantaged country like Nigeria.

The group promises to broaden its reach among Nigerian PC Users, by making available many free services on its open online sites to a larger audience. Many of services hitherto exclusively enjoyed by members only may now be available to patrons of the new social network sites.

The opportunity of a web-based discussion board, makes its possible for PCUsers, newbies and veterans alike, not only to ask questions and share answers, but also to interact and meet.

The experience of international blog sites with similar goals, suggest that the arrival of Nigeria’s PCUser2User on Facebook may

herald an era of more positive and impactful use of the social networking website in the country.

With Facebook access as an automatic offering for the near three million BlackBerry service subscribers and users of Nokia’s Ovistore in Nigeria, the suggestion is of an immediate easing of the hassles of interactive PC troubleshooting and exchange of ideas on nutty issues between PC newbies and techies.

Managers of the new PCUser2User Online group also promise to provide weekly lists of web links to useful software for free download. The lists will include access to many of the high utility software that remain largely unsong on a worldwide web that daily receives more than 80,000 software, mostly from unknown programmers and obscure software publishing companies.

JAMB examination video tutorial debuts on Facebook

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UBLISHERS of Nigeria’s first-ever e-learning software Fashola.exe have produced the country’s first digital -age examination practice video tutorial for television and computers.

A 10-minute video preview is now available on Facebook, courtesy of The Nation newspaper. It is an extract from a multimedia disc package that promises to reverse the trend of mass failure in English language examinations across the country.

41,962 phone users have used Open Market ™ Have you?

The Nation Databank’s O’seun Ogunseitan created a flash-based examination test and practice tutorial software which he named Fashola.exe, as a model e-learning software tool and aid for Nigerian secondary school students. The software was adopted as a campaign medium by ex-students of Lagos-based Birch Freeman High School, in honour of Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola, himself an exstudent of the school.

The software which runs on virtually every type of computer available today, uses answers options and answers to past examination questions, to teach the principles of the particular subject.

It was developed from a database of more than 65,000 past examination questions and answers spanning the last 30 years and available with The Nation Databank.

Multimedia archivist and Chief Technical Officer of The Nation Databank, O’seun Ogunseitan, said the mass deployment of phone and multimedia computer technologies, hold the key to a reversal of mass failure in Nigerian schools.

Tosin Akanmu, spokesperson of North Carolina, US-based Media Tools and Technologies Llc, who midwifed the development phase of the novel multimedia e-learning package, announced the arrival of the pilot video in Lagos at the weekend.

Ms. Akanmu, a budding e-learning tools development expert herself, said the successful creation of the new video tutorial, opens a new vista for creative learning in Nigeria. She added that it is one good effort to arrest the decline in quality and standard of education in the country “by teaching digital-age children with digital age tools”.

The new video version of the interactive software, teaches young students, with animated texts and graphics-based videos, playable on any regular home DVD player or computers. The discs also contain tens of e-books and software when used on a computer.

Send text requests to oseun2@gmail.com to download Fashola.exe. Watch the new JAMB-NECO-SSCE-SAT Video tutorial on

www.facebook.com/PCUser2User.

48

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011

e-Business

Digital divide and national unity

Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

W

E may begin to imagine a political space where our children would be completely

different by virtue of the varying levels of exposure they have had to IT resources.

We may begin to imagine political zones that are completely under-developed in terms of information resources and those that are highly developed and have a more defined universal world view by virtue of their exposure to information resources.

Because the information age would inherently put those that know ahead of those that do not know, we may as well begin to prepare for a new political equation of dominance that has nothing to do with the size of a tribe or its large geographic space. Unlike ‘oily’ business, the business of information has capacity to empower a tiny minority to politically and socially dominate the majority.

Welcome to the new reality.

Because nothing is ever new under the sun, what the future would look like may be considered from this little illustration from the US. The Jews are a tiny minority but they control Wall Street; they are small in number but are strategically positioned economically within the US to influence the domestic and international politics of the world’s super power with over 250 million people.

The Arabs may have all the oil and a larger population but they are not strategically positioned within the dynamics of US economy to influence its political direction. It is the Jews. Small but powerful.

The mantra of the new ‘wireless and borderless’ economy would magnify the strength of the fading ‘brick and wired’ economy. All you need to be strong is not the size of your tribe or race but the functional attributes of your tribe or race in terms of digital knowledge.

The beauty of the knowledge economy is that it has little room for mediocrity. It has no sympathy for the size of a tribe.

Everyone comes to level zero. Only the best would flourish. The first condition is that there must be access created for all, to IT structures irrespective of race or tribe

or social standing or gender.

Once this is in place, each individual may then decide whether to plug into the global village or remain aloof from happenings around him. What this means is that government whether national or regional are under obligation to invest in setting p information structures to create access and expose their citizens to the fundamentals of the new economy.

We should be alarmed that most state governors are practically unconcerned about setting up IT infrastructure in their respective states. There is much concentration on satisfying the base instinct of the atavus man and practically no attempt at meeting the exigencies of a rapidly unfolding future.

There is so much noisy politics about

‘Because the information age would inherently put those that know ahead of those that do not know, we may as well begin to prepare for a new political equation of dominance that has nothing to do with the size of a tribe or its large geographic space’

M-Payment: ChamsMobile leverages biometric authentication

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HEAD of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) deadline to mobile payment licencees in the country to deploy products and services, ChamsMobile, one of the non-financial institutions licensed to provide mobile banking services, has successfully transited from pre-pilot phase into the pilot phase of its services in Lagos.

According to the company, in the pre-pilot phase the ChamsMobile Solution enabled basic transactions such as airtime vending, utility bills payment, international remittances, cardless withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines, (ATMs) as well as fund transfers, without the customer visiting a bank.

Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mathew Ogunbukola, said the company embarked upon the pre-pilot testing of the solution before rollout to mitigate potential mistakes.

He said: “We have tested our mobile banking software, using end users and agent networks to ensure that they meet the regulatory standards of the CBN. This is because we are cognisant of the fact that mobile payment services have not been implemented before in Nigeria and we cannot afford to make mistakes.”

He explained that the service is a virtual account solution that interfaces with all traditional payment switches or bank accounts, enabling customers to transfer money from their regular bank accounts into virtual accounts and effect payments for goods and services using any connected mobile device across all telecoms networks.

According to him, “The solution provides flexibility and convenience for users of the system to use one or multiple channels to access their accounts. It supports financial, informational and automated interactions through the mobile channel. An account holder can originate a transaction by initiating transfer from any payment card into their virtual account at a point of sale location, ATM, kiosk, merchant location or the Internet.”

Chairman, ChamsMobile, Demola Aladekomo identified identity fraud as a major challenge in the mobile and electronic payment environment because users are only identified electronically using PINs or password.

He, however, assured that the company

building mosques and expanding churches, about feeding the hungry with scrumptious meals, about the best sharing formula for our oily mess, and about some many other less than noble things that practically 90 per cent of the states do not see a reason why they should invest in IT. What does e-tax mean to many of the states? What does e-learning mean to many state government? What about egovernment and other e’s? We are led on by a vicious political atavism that is completely innocent of modern realities and practically incapable of advancing the course of digital enablement. You don’t tell a non-miner to go dig for diamond in rough soil. We are entering a future meant for everyone with less than one per cent of our citizens equipped to be part of that future.

The most tragic part of our circumstance is that it is a future that enables leap-frogging or catch-up to take place seamlessly and without much stress once the political willpower is there on the part of the leadership to invest in IT. Unfortunately, we are led by mediocre schooled in the primitive order of allowing the worst to dominate the best. The information society will not suffer such aberration.

•Concluded

MainOne in partnership to expand global footprint

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•From left: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Taiwo Adedeji; President, MTN Nigeria Employees Multipurpose Cooperative Society, (MEMCOS), Mr Victor Akintunde and Human Resources Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Amina Oyagbola at the foundation-laying ceremony of Y'ello Estate, Lekki Phase 2, Lagos.

Stories by Adline Atili

had put in place security measures to prevent its customers on their platform from falling prey to fraudsters.

He said: “We have put in place a system that requires the use of biometric authenti-

cation for crucial transactions to checkmate fraud and encourage users to embrace our solution. In addition, we have a strong customer service and agent management team positioned to provide effective and on-time dispute resolution following best practices in process and procedures.”

Airtel introduces two SIM offer

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IRTEL Nigeria has unveiled a value-based 2SIM offer, which comes with two matching numbers in one single starter pack.

According to the Telco, customers on the package, available to pre-paid customers only, can make calls at one Kobo per second at midnight to a SIM partner, 10 Kobo per second in the day and 120 free

monthly SMS. Other benefits of the offer include: One month subscription-free Caller Ring Back Tone and free delivery of breaking news and ringtone from Airtel live to owners’ phone. Furthermore the customers will have free access to Facebook and push email (gmail, hotmail, Yahoo,) on a 30-day promotional basis.

AINONE Company, the submarine cable company, has announced its decision to deploy a new portfolio of Internet Protocol-enabled services in partnership with Global Crossing, an IP solutions provider, to bring global connectivity to its customers.

This alliance will enable MainOne further extend its customers’ connectivity in countries where it does not have coverage by being part of the Global Crossing’s Tier 1 Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network that reaches more than 700 cities in more than 70 countries.

According to the cable company, with the strategic partnership, customers will now be able to extend their connectivity through MainOne across the US, Canadian and Latin American markets. In addition to expanding MainOne’s reach, the partnership will increase flexibility with its new set of products and provide significantly reduced transit charges for customer terminations.

Main One’s Head of Marketing and Strategy, Adebayo Oyewole, said: “We chose Global Crossing for its regional strength. Our partnership with Global Crossing enhances MainOne’s position as the one-stop shop for accessing the public Internet via the MainOne network, which is designed for high capacity service.

“The new product portfolio enables the company to deliver a wide range of connectivity options to geographically dispersed locations, while reducing customers’ costs by converging previously disparate data, voice and video networks.

With MainOne, you can start small and grow with confidence that you are connected to a provider who is tuned in to the fast changing needs of its clients.”

MainOne joins a select list of top-tier service providers offering Global Crossing Fast-Track Services portfolio to their enterprise end users.

In addition to Converged IP Services and Private Line, Fast-Track Services include Ethernet, collaboration and Managed Services.

Global Crossing’s Head of Carrier Sales for South Europe, Middle East and Africa, Habib Issa said: “We are pleased to join forces with MainOne in offering its customers global access and IP-based solutions. Our Fast-Track Services combine the business processes, products, services and system tools necessary for service providers to offer their enterprise customers end-to-end global data solutions, backed by consistent service Level Agreements.”

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HE Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo has been named the first Chancellor of the Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo (WUSTO), Ondo

Wesley varsity celebrates Founder’s Day • Confirms Osemawe’s appointment as Chancellor State.

His appointment was for-

malised at the university’s third Founders’ Day, celebrat-

ed with pomp and funfair last weekend.

The royal father was also conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Management Science by WUSTO, owned by the Methodist Church, Nigeria, and which got its operating license in May, 2007.

Its Vice Chancellor Prof Tola Badejo, said: “In accordance with the tradition in the

universities all over the world, the chancellor is the only person who has the statutory responsibility of conferring degree awards on graduating students.

“For the chancellor to be able to perform this duty, he must posses the degree of the university. So, this is the reason we are holding this special convocation for our chancellor.”

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-05-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name ELLAH LAKES PLC FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 2 8 13

Quotation(N) 4.26 0.50 0.50 7.99

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 100 426.00 1,413,296 706,648.00 21,500 10,750.00 125,000 998,695.00 1,559,896 1,716,519.00

Quotation(N) 2.10 8.82

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 2,100.00 303,843 2,605,044.93 304,843 2,607,144.93

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.43

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 192,000 96,000.00 35,254 82,655.22 227,254 178,655.22

Quotation(N) 7.90 1.60 5.88 4.00 7.75 2.60 13.48 0.65 16.30 10.50 1.35 1.76 1.16 8.38 1.09 2.08 6.25 2.77 1.05 1.08 15.10

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 13,631,108 107,739,595.48 340,607 544,971.20 1,303,010 7,647,388.53 313,294 1,261,716.97 724,063 5,602,596.93 6,931,138 18,018,061.18 23,425,080 316,034,158.92 5,275,929 3,484,041.14 8,436,521 136,733,376.99 1,053,332 10,740,487.03 1,701,629 2,299,839.88 6,971,270 12,067,406.95 2,593,480 3,008,436.80 10,275,013 85,415,126.70 18,000 18,720.00 1,576,263 3,169,939.37 3,540,354 22,313,585.17 2,416,547 6,563,995.52 8,104,048 8,175,201.29 293,026 318,261.07 34,746,880 527,776,123.45 133,670,592 1,278,933,030.57

Quotation(N) 251.00 6.17 89.01 0.93

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 320,711 80,477,794.53 68,692 412,694.79 918,062 81,244,382.83 1,000 890.00 1,308,465 162,135,762.15

Quotation(N) 23.99 10.76 131.00 8.69 44.31

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 58,981 1,401,472.95 637,080 6,965,686.80 114,252 14,948,806.36 3,000 24,780.00 321,802 14,392,128.02 1,135,115 37,732,874.13

Quotation(N) 11.70 24.28 1.52 0.95 10.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 577,501 6,216,348.82 12,630 321,938.70 6,000 8,700.00 27,000 24,570.00 200 2,002.00 623,331 6,573,559.52

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 40 41

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 5 8 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 171 13 50 20 42 110 602 62 525 55 51 97 35 155 1 26 268 116 47 25 354 2,825 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 71 24 126 1 222 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC NIGERIAN ROPES PLC. LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 32 18 37 1 47 135

Investor confidence raises indicators, say brokers

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T the close of business yesterday, key indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued their upward movement with an additional 0.15 and 0.14 per cent respectively.

Market capitalisation improved by N12 billion to close at N8.271 trillion, followed by the All-Share-Index (ASI) growth of 36.87 points to close at 25,866.62 basis points.

The performance moved the cumulative Market capitalisation in the last three consecutive trading days by N85 billion or 1.04 per cent, while the index gained 248.09 points or 0.97 per cent over the same period.

In the same vein, all sectoral indices appreciated except the NSE Insurance with a drop of 1.91 points or 1.13 per cent, representing the highest compared to the difference recorded among the four sectoral indices.

It opened at 169.59 points to close at 167.68 points.

Analysis of the daily official list of the NSE, showed that out of the 24 quoted companies listed on the insurance sector, only 14 were

By Tonia Osundolire and Eshiet Uyoatta

traded upon, with seven retaining opening figures, six reduced in price, while one made the gainers table.

The insurance sub-sector recordrd the highest number of losers.

NSE 30 index gained 0.33 per cent followed by NSE Food beverages with a gain of 0.10 per cent. NSE Banking and NSE Oil/Gas improved by 0.12 per cent and 0.78 per cent respectively.

However, operators said that Tuesday’s performance can only be attributed to the natural law of demand and supply without any sensitive information to drive the market northwards.

“The market again closed higher with marginal increase opening the week on a positive note. There is no specific price sensitive information responsible for the drive except that it is an indication that investor confidence appears to be growing day by day,” it was learnt.

In all, investors traded 210.466 million shares worth N2.250 billion across 4,960

deals. The banks, as usual, led with 133.671 million shares worth N1.279 billion in 2,825 deals.

This was distantly followed by the insurance subsector with 18.372 million shares, while Conglomerates, Foreign Listings, Food beverages and Information & Communication Technology traded 11.112 million shares, 9.380 million shares, 7.787 million shares and 6.263 million shares respectively.

On the price movement tables, 53 quoted companies recorded price change with 24 appreciating, while the remaining 29 reduced in value. NAHCO led the gainers table with 5.00 per cent.

On the losers table, May & Baker, dropped by 4.93 per cent, followed by Bank PHB, Fidson, Costain, Prestige and Union Homes.

Meanwhile, the NSE marked down the prices of Portland Paints Nigeria plc for a dividend of N0.16 and NPF Microfinance Bank for a dividend of N0.05. Payment dates were fixed for June 10th and 9th respectively.

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC I. P. W. A. PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 38 5 1 1 1 46

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC Secure Electronic Technology PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 3 11 16

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.06 3.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 71,500 35,750.00 950,100 1,007,106.00 565,100 1,686,310.00 1,586,700 2,729,166.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 3.42

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,000 3,250.00 1,000 3,250.00

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 11 1 53 58 75 76 274

Quotation(N) 2.20 7.21 35.00 0.94 38.30 28.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 39,232 83,907.20 1,000 6,850.00 5,159,589 189,957,465.02 3,402,805 3,283,635.77 1,533,762 58,466,220.93 975,480 27,404,827.99 11,111,868 279,202,906.91

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-05-11 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 24 4 31

No of Deals 3 4 7

Quotation(N) 4.72 58.49 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 59,700 281,784.00 37,543 2,091,297.74 151,135 75,567.50 248,378 2,448,649.24

Quotation(N) 2.00 0.60

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 16,000 32,300.00 217,600 130,560.00 233,600 162,860.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 15 50 118 77 86 14 1 124 20 27 3 8 16 559

Quotation(N) 46.00 21.75 18.50 13.57 90.00 4.56 1.96 6.40 36.99 400.00 29.20 0.51 0.69

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,384 378,882.03 550,180 11,769,087.93 813,700 15,063,248.17 1,811,660 24,635,885.03 666,788 59,996,004.39 131,100 590,588.00 500 935.00 2,603,308 16,570,835.44 45,825 1,628,972.60 99,124 39,424,369.97 3,006 83,386.44 508,000 258,730.00 545,000 365,200.00 7,786,575 170,766,125.00

Quotation(N) 1.26 1.95 26.02 3.86

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 15,500 18,630.00 1,430,747 2,796,639.34 275,702 7,201,371.12 531,000 2,079,726.52 2,252,949 12,096,366.98

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 16 25 17 61 HOTEL & TOURISM

Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 3

Quotation(N) 1.44 4.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 104,800 150,912.00 200 862.00 105,000 151,774.00

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 5.85

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 8,664 48,918.40 8,664 48,918.40

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC MASS TELECOM INNOVATION NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 17 19

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 0.58

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 14,925 7,462.50 40,000 20,000.00 6,208,009 3,598,945.22 6,262,934 3,626,407.72

Quotation(N) 0.82 1.01 2.90 0.50 1.60 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 3,124,500 2,586,232.50 4,444,100 4,730,893.00 1,137,460 3,348,481.90 10,000 5,000.00 4,864,175 7,854,126.44 256,000 128,000.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC.

No of Deals 37 6 15 1 13 3

195,000 59,500 1,000,000 500,000 1,092,069 1,453,183 52,000 140,000 17,502 27,000 18,372,489

97,500.00 29,750.00 570,000.00 250,000.00 572,165.88 1,094,147.21 104,000.00 70,000.00 8,751.00 13,770.00 21,462,817.93

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 1.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 171,600 214,500.00 171,600 214,500.00

Quotation(N) 1.26

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,111,222 5,287,759.41 4,111,222 5,287,759.41

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,000 2,550.00 25,500 12,750.00 30,500 15,300.00

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 72 72 MEDIA

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

0.50 0.50 0.57 0.50 0.52 0.77 2.00 0.50 0.50 0.53

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

2 5 2 1 18 25 3 2 1 2 136

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 9 10

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 36 37

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200,000 100,000.00 3,535,437 2,178,107.57 3,735,437 2,278,107.57

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,701 2,350.50 4,701 2,350.50

Quotation(N) 2.40 3.60 1.33 13.97

Quantity Traded Value 1,845,060 97,534 50,000 450,000 2,442,594

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC POLY PRODUCTS (NIGERIA) PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 87 4 1 3 95

of Shares (N) 4,411,799.07 333,566.28 66,500.00 6,216,465.00 11,028,330.35

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC. BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 35 4 8 48 39 22 99 11 266

Quotation(N) 20.50 0.50 72.00 41.89 5.55 163.50 52.98 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 54,693 1,144,898.50 251,622 125,811.00 7,073 483,916.30 88,608 3,720,698.15 1,630,867 8,328,814.82 24,961 3,967,288.48 1,270,028 67,844,346.00 68,699 13,430,654.50 3,396,551 99,046,427.75

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 4.99

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 94,592 475,613.28 94,592 475,613.28

Quotation(N) 17.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 202,695 3,562,702.25 202,695 3,562,702.25

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 16

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 45,000 30,150.00 45,000 30,150.00

Quotation(N) 0.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,209 785.85 1,209 785.85

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 41 41

Quotation(N) 15.10

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,380,350 144,929,524.19 9,380,350 144,929,524.19

4,958

210,416,104

2,249,448,338.85

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NEWS

•Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan demanding for a reduction in their school fees at the main gate of Oyo State Secretariat as Governor Abiola Ajimobi resumes office... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

FOREIGN NEWS

Gaddafi will not quit, T says Zuma ALKS between South African’s president and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli have ended with no announcement towards an end to Libya’s conflict.

Jacob Zuma said Col Gaddafi would agree to a ceasefire but would not step down, as demanded by Nato and Libyan rebels.

The ceasefire proposal was rejected last month after a mediation mission by Mr Zuma on behalf of the African Union.

A spokesman for Libya’s rebels dismissed calls for a ceasefire, and promised to continue their offensive.

Italy Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was expected to visit the rebel-held city of Benghazi on yesterday.

Mr Frattini will meet members of the Libya Transitional National Council, the opposition alliance against Gaddafi.

His visit comes a day after a news conference in Rome where eight senior Libyan army officers announced their defection from Col Gaddafi’s forces.

We discussed the necessity of giving the Libyan people the opportunity to solve their problem on their own” Zuma emerged from the talks saying Gaddafi is ready to accept an African Union initiative for a ceasefire that

would stop all hostilities, including Nato airstrikes in support of rebel forces.

“He is ready to implement the road map,” said the South African president.

He added that Nato raids were undermining African mediation efforts.

“We discussed the necessity of giving the Libyan people the opportunity to solve their problem on their own,” he added.

But the calls for a ceasefire were immediately rejected by rebel Foreign Minister Fathi Baja, in Benghazi.

“We refuse completely. We don’t consider it a political in-

itiative, it is only some stuff that Gaddafi wants to announce to stay in power,” he told the Associated Press news agency.

Baja added that the rebels were preparing to launch an offensive against Gaddafi.

The BBC’s Andrew North, in Tripoli, said Mr Zuma appears to have made little progress in his attempts to find a peaceful resolution to Libya’s crisis.

Both Nato and Libya’s rebels had already rejected the AU plan, on the grounds it does not call on Mr Gaddafi to step down.

With the Libyan leader

Egyptians decry ‘virginity tests’ on protesters

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•Gaddafi

standing firm, it looks like both sides are deadlocked, our correspondent said.

It looks likely that Nato will now intensify its military campaign, with Tripoli already brac-

Serbia extradites Ratko Mladic to The Hague

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AR criminal suspect Ratko Mladic was flown from Belgrade to a United Nations tribunal in The Hague yesterday after a Serbian court rejected an appeal against his transfer.

Serbia’s justice minister said she had signed the extradition order. After the hearing, the former Bosnian Serb army chief was taken to the airport.

He faces genocide charges over the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s.

His lawyer had argued he was too ill to be tried. But doctors said he was fit enough to be extradited.

The 69-year-old was seized last Thursday in Lazarevo village, north of Belgrade, having been on the run for 16 years.

Yesterday, a Belgrade court ruled that Gen Mladic was fit enough to be handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.

Later, a police convoy was seen leaving the court building, raising speculation that the defendant was already on his way.

Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic then announced she had signed the extradition papers and that Gen Mladic was already on the plane.

He is accused of crimes against humanity, including the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of at least 7,500 Muslim men and boys.

Iran refuses German Chancellor Merkel’s plane over flight

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ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel’s flight to India was delayed yesterday after Iran’s government refused it permission to fly over the country.

Mrs Merkel’s plane was forced to circle over Turkey for about two hours as a result, the German government said.

Germany has summoned the Iranian ambassador to explain the incident.

Last week saw the European Union extend sanctions against Tehran over the lack of progress in talks about its nuclear programme.

“We have never experienced anything like this before,” Mrs Merkel’s spokes-

man, Steffen Seibert, said.

He said the incident was “unusual to say the least”.

“Strange start to Indian trip - Iran temporarily denies overflight to chancellor’s plane. Delayed landing in Delhi,” he tweeted.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, commenting on the decision to summon the Iranian ambas-

sador, said: “Hindering the German chancellor’s passage over Iran is absolutely unacceptable.

It shows a lack of respect towards Germany that we will not accept.

“That is why I have summoned the Iranian ambassador.

We shall make it very plain that such a breach of international conventions will in no way be tolerated by Germany.”

CTIVISTS and bloggers are pressing Egypt’s military rulers to investigate accusations of serious abuses against protesters, including claims that soldiers subjected female detainees to so-called “virginity tests.”

Bloggers say they will hold a day of online protest tomorrow to voice their outrage, adding to criticism of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took control of the country from ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February.

In the face of the criticism, four journalists along with a prominent blogger were summoned for questioning by the military prosecutor, according to a rights group. They were released without charges.

Hossam al-Hamalawy, the blogger, tweeted: “The visit to the military prosecutor became a chat, where they wanted clarifications for my accusations.”

The virginity test allegations first surfaced after a March 9 rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square that turned violent when men in plainclothes attacked protesters and the army intervened forcefully to clear the square.

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NATION SPORT Uchenbo pulls out of Olympics qualifier in Dares-salam

GUINNESS THE MATCH

Match must produce winner V A

winner must emerge in today’s international friendly match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Abuja National Stadium, NationSport can exclusively report.

From Ade Ojeikere, Abuja If the match ends in a draw, there would be a penalty shootout as both teams agreed at the pre-match

• Penalty kicks to decide meeting held around 7 pm last night.

Both teams practised penalty kicks thereafter at different

training sessions.

Argentines concentrated on set pieces especially corner kicks.

NFF drafts over 5,000 security personnel

O

VER 5,000 security persons have been deployed to the National Stadium, Abuja, for the hyped friendly match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Albiceleste of Argenitna slated for 7pm today.

The Nationsports gathered

By Stella Bamawo that the Inspector General of Police had approved the deployment of a full complement of security agencies, including anti-terrorist, mobile police, surveillance squad, bomb disposal and mounted troop forces for the

match tagged ‘biggest match of the decade’ All spectators are expected to pass through the Area 1 Gate leading to the Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will wear their familiar all-green jersey, while the Argentines will turn out in blue-and-white stripe top

2011 FEDERATIONS CUP

I

Police Machine eliminates Campos FC in Port Harcourt

MO State second representatives at the 2011 Federations Cup, Campos FC has been eliminated by Police Machine FC of Enugu.

In a first round knock out game played at Sharks FC Stadium, Port Harcourt Police Machine came back from a goal down to beat hard fighting Campos of Imo 3-2.

Campos FC’s Onyewuotu Chinonso gave his side a 51st minute lead when his volley found the back of the net but The Police Team stormed back in style with three goals of theirs including two

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri within the spate of two minutes from Ajah Chizogie in the 62nd minute from the penalty spot and another in the 63rd minute after a goal keeping error from Iwu Emmanuel gave substitute, James Nicholas the leeway to slot the ball home.

The defining moment came in the 71st minute when Ozor Anthony got Police Machine’s third goal while late minute forays at goal by the Imo representatives could only yield an 84th minute goal through

goal keeper Iwu Emmanuel who made amend from the spot kick awarded his side to make the tie a respectable scoreline at 3-2 .

Speaking with Nationsports shortly after the match, the Team Manager of Police Machine FC, Ebere Amarizu stressed that he was happy his team made it to the next round despite the hard time from the Imo reps while appreciating the good works of DSP Kefas Go’ar who is the Police Sports Officer for the zone 9 for his gesture towards the progress of the team.

Turf Club celebrates Democracy Day in honour of Jonathan, Wamakko, Caliphate

T

HE Sokoto Turf Club Monday staged an International Horse racing competition to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, just as arrangement are in top

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto gear by the club for President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Aliyu Wamakko

AFTERMATH OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

Fan relishes Wembley experience

•As Heineken sponsors trip

A

banker with the FCMB, Adewale James has commended the Nigeria Breweries Limited (NBL) makers of Heineken beer for giving him and four others the opportunity to watch the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona at the Wembley Stadium, London.

An elated Adewale had told the Nationsports, that this was his first time of visiting the Queen’s land courtesy of NBL. He said: “Words are not enough to explain the wonderful experience, we were hosted in the VIP part of the stadium. I want to tell the world that is real they should take part in the NBL draws to be a part of next year’s Champion League final.”

It would be recalled that the winners of this year’s Heineken promo which included Agiobasimi Osivue, Odion Akpan, Saheed Lawal and Evaristus Bassey had taken part in a lucky dip dur-

By Stella Bamawo ing matches of the Champions League which saw them watch live the thrashing of Manchester United FC 3-1 by Spanish side, Barcelona.

and the Daular Usmaniya (Sokoto Caliphate) competition scheduled for Saturday.

Also to be competed for is late Sidi Mamman Asirkawa trophy which will add colour to the event expected to attract more participation.

Speaking in Sokoto, the state Turf Club Chairman and Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Tsalha Sidi Mamman Asirkawa said the competition was an annual event to boost the sport among enthusiasts, adding that ‘’ this year we decide to give it a unique torch and participants must respect the rules of the game.

• Heineken consumers who travelled to Wembly Stadium In London to watch the Champions league final, on their arrival at the airport in lagos.

PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

and black shorts. The referees will be in red.

There will be a one-minute silence for Super Eagles’ defender Olubayo Adefemi, who died in a car crash in Greece on April 18, and the two teams will wear black armbands in his honour.Megastar musician TuFace will sing the Nigeria National Anthem in a duet with the winner of a Guinness Promotion for the rendition.

Organizers have also provided the incentive of an exquisitely shaped trophy for the winner, with medals for the losers and match officials.

Though the first time on Nigerian soil, it is the fifth meeting between both countries at senior level, with Argentina having narrowly edged three of the previous meetings while a group stage clash at the Intercontinental Tournament for the King Fahd Cup (now FIFA Confederations Cup) in Riyadh in January 1995 ended scoreless.

VV Venlo of Holland striker and Under 23 invitee, Michael Uchenbo has hailed the stay of his Dutch Eredivsie side in the top flight after securing the berth in the play-off win over Zwolle but has ruled himself out of the Dream Team V party to Tanzania for the Olympics Qualifier.

Uchenbo in an exclusive chat from Holland told NationSport that it was a really close shave to relegation and life in the lower league but was thankful that they were able to make use of the available opportunity during the play-off to ensure at least another season in the Dutch First Division.

“I am relieved and happy that we were able to survive the relegation war. We were indeed very close but I believe we have learnt something

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri from what we faced before securing our stay in the First division and I know it is our collective duty to ensure we correct those mistakes next time.”

On the call up to the Under 23 extended to him, the former Rangers International of Enugu towering forward expressed his sadness over his inability to make it for the next game again Tanzania but told NationSport that he would honour future call ups because it has always been his dream to don the colours of the country.

“I won’t be available for the Tanzania game but will be in future engagements. Nigeria is my country and will not trade it for another one I am happy to play for my country and will definitely come if given another opportunity.” Uchenbo hinted NationSport.

• R-L: President Jonathan Goodluck in a handshake with Minister of Sports, Taoheed Adedoja.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 6 NO.1777

Tomorrow in THE NATION

‘The late Professor Ade Obayemi has in fact identified seven other Ifes in different parts of Yoruba land including one in present day Kogi State close to the Benue-Niger confluence which Professor Ryder suggests may have been the location of original Ife’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

F

OR six years from 2004, he served as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, making him easily one of the longest serving ministers since the return of civilian rule in 1999. Dr. Hassan Mohammed Lawal from Nasarawa State served first as Minister of Labour for four years up to 2008, doubled as Minister of Health for a year following the suspension of the erstwhile minister and his junior colleague over allegations of fraud, before he was finally moved to the more “juicy” – to use a Nigerian parlance Ministry of Works, arguably the largest in the land, in 2009. He served there for only one year.

As a long serving minister in the highly visible ministries of Labour (workers form an important constituency in any country), Health (health, as the aphorism goes, is wealth) and Works which handles the important portfolio of infrastructure, roads especially, Dr. Lawal enjoyed high media visibility. And that, as we shall see presently, was the root of the trouble he has been in with the authorities in the country since he had the temerity to leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the much hated – in official circles of course – opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the run-up to April’s general elections.

Last month, he faced a two-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Abuja, first, for money laundering and conspiracy in the sum of not less than 24 billion Naira – the exact amount seems indeterminate - along with 15 others, and second, for money laundering only in the sum of 42 million Naira with two others.

Both charges revolved around the concession contract awarded in 2007 – two years before he was moved to Works - for the construction of the Guto/Bagana bridge across River Benue linking Kogi and Nasarawa states. Those accused along with the minister were some individuals and assorted companies, notably Swede Control Intertek Ltd. Their pleas were taken before Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu at the Federal High Court 6 early May for the first charge and then on May 17 for the second charge.

Every one of them, including those who appeared for the accused companies, was given bail. Every one of them, that is, except the minister.

The only inconvenience they suffered was that they were asked to deposit their international passports with the authorities.

The case got curiouser with the second charge. First, the EFCC withdrew the

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

The persecution of an ex-minister

•Lawal

charge against the second accused, Ms A’ísha Okuboye. It did not say why. Second, the third accused, Mr. Adesanya Adewole, was said to be at large.

Apparently, EFCC does not seem to be in as much hurry to find Mr. Adeboye as it is in getting the case heard with speed; to date it has not declared the man wanted as it is wont to in many a celebrated case, sometimes even when those declared wanted are already in its custody.

EFCC’s interest in getting an accelerated hearing is all the more curious given speculations that none of the monies involved in the first, and by far bigger,

RIPPLES I’VE NO REGRETS STEPPING ON TOES IN MY FIRST TENURE–Uduaghan

...and I guess you’ll step on HEADS this time!

charge, has been traced to the minister.

Instead some of it, as the speculation goes, has been traced to the account of the second accused, Dr. Adeogba Godwin Ademola, and some to the account of a highly visible female minister in the last cabinet.

So far, the proof of evidence against Dr Lawal does not seem to be ready. Or if it is, it is yet to be served on him or on his counsels, Messrs Yahaya Mahmoud & Co. This means the accused does not know the kind of evidence he will be confronted with when the case resumes from the 8th of this month. Of course, it also means that his counsels cannot prepare his defence. Yet these are some of the basic requirements of a free and fair trial.

That the man has been remanded in prison custody at the rather infamous Kuje prison on the outskirts of Abuja, the Federal capital, in spite of the fact that his alleged offenses are bailable, and again in spite of the fact that the case against him look as watertight as a sieve, suggests that the authorities are only interested in persecuting him rather than prosecuting him.

And his crime, as I said earlier, seems to be his decision to quit the PDP and join the CPC in what has turned out to be an epic battle to end PDP’s misrule of Nasarawa State.

His trouble seems to have started long before he quit the ruling party in the runup to the April elections. The word in town then was that the state’s governor, the rather lacklustre Aliyu Akwe Doma, had complained to the authorities in Abuja that the minister was using his high profile jobs to destabilise the state and replace the governor at a time when only the governor’s return can guarantee a win for President Goodluck Jonathan in the state as an integral component of the president’s

HARDBALL

B

ARRING fresh revelations, the congress of world football governing body, FIFA, is expected today in Zurich to elect Sepp Blatter as president for another four years. A few days ago, his only rival, Mohammed Bin Hammam, pulled out of what had become a bitter and acrimonious contest – turning today’s event into more of a coronation.

But what should have been a triumphant cap to the Swiss bureaucrat’s many decades of service to football has been marred by the biggest scandal in FIFA’s 107-year history; one that dwarfs the organisation’s near bankruptcy in 2002, following the collapse of the International Sport and Leisure (ISL) marketing company The run-up to today’s vote has been scarred by questions raised over the legitimacy of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes. As a result, Bin Hammam, President of the Asian Football Federation (AFC), and FIFA Vice-President, Jack Warner, were suspended by the ethics committee over allegations that cash was offered to Caribbean Football Union members by the Qataris.

Blatter was also investigated following allegations made against him by Bin Hammam. The committee held that he had

FIFA’s house of scandal no case to answer.

Perhaps stung by his suspension, the voluble and controversial Warner who had threatened a “tsunami” of revelations then stirred things further by unveiling an e-mail in which FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, appeared to suggest Bin Hammam had “bought” the 2022 World Cup. This latest storm is further fall-out from the scandals that led to the suspension of Nigeria’s Amos Adamu and others after they were found guilty of breaching ethics rules last year.

Despite the punishment meted to Adamu and others, FIFA never really succeeded in dealing with the sense that its system was corruption-ridden. Further drip-drip revelations in the British media and parliament would snare the likes of CAF President, Issa Hayatou and Warner. By the beginning of the week, world football was in disarray.

At an awkward press conference on Monday

much ballyhooed strategy of creating a bridge between Southern and Northern minorities in the face of stiff opposition from the so-called “Core North.”

Sources close to the minister said he denied the accusations to no avail. In the end, when the President reshuffled his cabinet following the death of his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yar’dua, Dr. Lawal was, at the insistence of Governor Doma, replaced by Mr Labaran Makun, a former deputy governor of the state and a protégé of Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, the two term governor of the state and now a senator from Dr. Lawal’s senatorial district.

Mr. Makun, the youthful Minister of Information and Communication in the cabinet the president dissolved this week was, naturally, in the forefront of the president’s campaign.

As if to vindicate the governor, not only did Dr. Lawal quit the PDP and join the CPC to fight the governor. He was a strong pillar of the Nasarawa peoples’ successful rebellion against the governor.

To make matters worse, PDP lost even though, as in many states, it pulled all stops to ensure victory in all North-Central states, never mind the fact that it lost only by a whisker – by less than 2,000 votes, something which paradoxically must have made the loss the more painful.

At least two related lessons should be obvious from Dr. Lawal’s predicament.

First, President Jonathan’s commitment to fight corruption, a commitment he reiterated in his inaugural speech last Sunday will ring hollow if, as in the case of his mentor and benefactor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his fight is selective. Which is what it looks like with Dr. Lawal’s case. And already there are rumours that the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, another prominent PDP turn-coat, is next in line to suffer the same fate as Dr. Lawal’s.

Similarly, the President’s commitment to deepening democracy will also ring hollow if people are seen to be punished less because of their alleged offenses than because they change their minds about the political company they choose to keep.

Alas, so far the president does not seem in a hurry to change tack from his mentor’s bad old days of “political business as usual.”

This, of course, can hardly augur well for the prospects of fighting corruption in the country and for transforming our facade of a democracy into the real thing.

•For comments, send SMS to 08054502909

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Blatter clashed with the media and tried to dismiss all talk of a major storm threatening the organisation. “Crisis? What is a crisis?” he asked. “We are not in a crisis. We are only in some difficulties.”

Despite his best efforts to downplay what is happening, he is probably the only one that still thinks world football is just facing “some difficulty” that will quickly blow over. Even major sponsors like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Emirates and Visa have voiced their concern over the allegations.

For years, people have called for profound reform of FIFA. When such demands were made by the English they were quickly derided as sour grapes over the failure to win the rights to host the World Cup in 2018.

But those calls have now become irresistible on account of the stench oozing out of Zurich.

Everything from the way the bidding process is run, to the organisation’s finances as well as day-to-day management, must come under scrutiny. But any such audit must be handled by an independent body.

That is the only way that delegates can restore credibility to the organisation – especially as they look set to re-elect as president a man who stands accused of looking the other way when all manner of malfeasance was going on.

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