June 11, 2015

Ajimobi cuts Page 8 ministries from 23 to 13 NEWS

Newspaper of the Year

•EFCC arraigns 14 foreign nationals for illegal oil deals P7 •Anxiety as Catholic priest is kidnapped in Ekiti P8 •Bombs kill would-be female suicide bombers in Borno P2 •Jaiz Bank transfers N502m haram proceeds to charity P55

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3242 THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Pay cut coming for public office holders

EFCC to quizz Lamido, Elechi

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited ex-Governors Sule Lamido and Martin Elechi for questioning for alleged diversion of funds.

Lamido is to answer questions on alleged money laundering. The allegations against Elechi border on mismanagement of the State/Local Government

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Joint Account.

Although Lamido’s invitation is dated June 9th, he is expected for quizzing on June 17th.

Elechi, who ought to appear on June 8th, wrote through his counsel that he would be available on June 16th.

He sent his son, Nnanna, to the EFCC to explain why he

could not make it.

A highly-placed source in EFCC gave insights into the two ex-governors’ invitation.

The source said: “We are going to quiz Lamido on allegations relating to money laundering. The EFCC had earlier put one of his sons on trial and secured his conviction.

“We invited three of his Continued on page 4

N150.00

•Remuneration Act 2008 for review From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

T

HE Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is to seek a review of the Remuneration Act of 2008, which prescribes Salaries and Allowances for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders — in line with its constitutional mandate.

A statement from the RMAFC, signed by Ibrahim Mohammed, Head, Public Relations, said Elias Mbam, Continued on page 4

•EFCC chair Lamorde

•INSIDE: WHY NNPC IS YET TO REMIT NLNG’S $11.6B DIVIDENDS P12 MARWA BACK IN APC P59

Presidency: Saraki, clerk snubbed Buhari, APC Saraki group: no information on meeting Lawan, others head for court

T

HE Presidency yesterday accused Senate President Bukola Saraki and National Assembly Clerk Salisu Maikasuwa of defying President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct Tuesday’s election.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said there was a request for the National Assembly to move the time of the inauguration of the Senate for the meeting between the President and the All Pro-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

gressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to hold.

Shehu, who spoke on Channels TV, said Buhari declined to meet the 51 APC lawmakers at the International Conference Centre (ICC) because the process of the election of the Senate President had already begun as he was about to leave his house for the meeting.

According to Shehu, the point of going to the ICC was lost once the process of election had begun.

Ex-governor to refund N2.9b T HE Niger State Government yesterday asked former Governor Babangida Aliyu to refund N2.9 billion.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor Dr. Ibrahim Dooba said the money was taken as loan on the eve of Aliyu’s departure.

It stated that although Governor Abubakar WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS B e l l o KIDNAPPED ON would not APRIL 15, LAST witch-hunt YEAR EVER any past RETURN?

?

leader, “the misappropriated money belongs to the people.”

He added: “They took this loan on the eve of their departure. And as was customary with that administration, they did nothing with the money.

“You can’t collect a loan on behalf of the people and share it among yourselves. That’s literally what they did. They simply raised a list and allocated money to those on the list.

“The office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), for example, was given N600 million. The records did not say what he would do with the money. Well, we want our Continued on page 4

‘

They chose to be absent. They chose to disrespect their party and the President A controversy ensued on Tuesday at the Senate, as only 57 of the 109 senators elected the president. The others went to honour President Buhari’s invitation .

Saraki was elected President. Minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected

’

Deputy Senate President.

Senator Ahmed Lawan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected Saraki’s election.

Shehu said: “Well, President Buhari had planned to be there to show support for the party and once the process had begun, the point had

been lost. Let me make this clear, I think somebody just wanted to bump into the President because the President had discussed what he wanted with Saraki directly or indirectly. The clerk of the National Assembly was reached directly or indirectly and they would have shown that respect for Mr. President but the process went ahead. And that is it.

“I am talking about the clerk, Saraki, the key characters ... had sufficient information directly or indirectly

coming to them that the President will be meeting the party members and the party chairman was on the ground. Assumption would have been that every loyal, committed party member would have presented themselves to the party and to their President. That did not happen yesterday.

“I mean the information had been made available to people who would have decided this process. Respect should have been for the Continued on page 4

ALL FOR A NEW PRODUCT

•Skye Bank Group Managing Director /CEO M r Timothy Oguntayo (second left) with (from left) Deputy Managing Director Mrs Amaka Onwughalu, Executive Director, South/ South Retail Banking Mrs Ibiye Ekong and Group Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli at the unveiling of the bank’s Retail Transfomation Project in Lagos...on Tuesday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

•SPORTS P23•EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •NATURAL HEALTH P45•FOREIGN P61

SylvaPage 59 cleared of N19.2b fraud charge NEWS

Newspaper of the Year

•EFCC arraigns 14 foreign nationals for illegal oil deals P7 •’YES workers’ll be absorbed into Edo civil service’ P8 •Bombs kill would-be female suicide bombers in Borno P2 •Communities plan showdown in Delta, Bayelsa P58

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3242 THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Pay cut coming for public office holders

EFCC to quizz Lamido, Elechi

T

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited ex-Governors Sule Lamido and Martin Elechi for questioning for alleged diversion of funds.

Lamido is to answer questions on alleged money laundering. The allegations against Elechi border on mismanagement of the State/Local Government

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Joint Account.

Although Lamido’s invitation is dated June 9th, he is expected for quizzing on June 17th.

Elechi, who ought to appear on June 8th, wrote through his counsel that he would be available on June 16th.

He sent his son, Nnanna, to the EFCC to explain why he

could not make it.

A highly-placed source in EFCC gave insights into the two ex-governors’ invitation.

The source said: “We are going to quiz Lamido on allegations relating to money laundering. The EFCC had earlier put one of his sons on trial and secured his conviction.

“We invited three of his Continued on page 4

N150.00

•Remuneration Act 2008 for review From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

T

HE Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is to seek a review of the Remuneration Act of 2008, which prescribes Salaries and Allowances for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders — in line with its constitutional mandate.

A statement from the RMAFC, signed by Ibrahim Mohammed, Head, Public Relations, said Elias Mbam, Continued on page 4

•EFCC chair Lamorde

P577 OBIANO OPENS NKPOR ROAD P5 P577 •INSIDE: OKOROCHA APPROVES LAND FOR VARSITY P5

Presidency: Saraki, clerk snubbed Buhari, APC Saraki group: no information on meeting Lawan, others head for court

T

HE Presidency yesterday accused Senate President Bukola Saraki and National Assembly Clerk Salisu Maikasuwa of defying President Muhammadu Buhari to conduct Tuesday’s election.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said there was a request for the National Assembly to move the time of the inauguration of the Senate for the meeting between the President and the All Pro-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

gressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to hold.

Shehu, who spoke on Channels TV, said Buhari declined to meet the 51 APC lawmakers at the International Conference Centre (ICC) because the process of the election of the Senate President had already begun as he was about to leave his house for the meeting.

According to Shehu, the point of going to the ICC was lost once the process of election had begun.

Ex-governor to refund N2.9b T HE Niger State Government yesterday asked former Governor Babangida Aliyu to refund N2.9 billion.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor Dr. Ibrahim Dooba said the money was taken as loan on the eve of Aliyu’s departure.

It stated that although Governor Abubakar WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS B e l l o KIDNAPPED ON would not APRIL 15, LAST witch-hunt YEAR EVER any past RETURN?

?

leader, “the misappropriated money belongs to the people.”

He added: “They took this loan on the eve of their departure. And as was customary with that administration, they did nothing with the money.

“You can’t collect a loan on behalf of the people and share it among yourselves. That’s literally what they did. They simply raised a list and allocated money to those on the list.

“The office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), for example, was given N600 million. The records did not say what he would do with the money. Well, we want our Continued on page 4

‘

They chose to be absent. They chose to disrespect their party and the President A controversy ensued on Tuesday at the Senate, as only 57 of the 109 senators elected the president. The others went to honour President Buhari’s invitation .

Saraki was elected President. Minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected

’

Deputy Senate President.

Senator Ahmed Lawan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected Saraki’s election.

Shehu said: “Well, President Buhari had planned to be there to show support for the party and once the process had begun, the point had

been lost. Let me make this clear, I think somebody just wanted to bump into the President because the President had discussed what he wanted with Saraki directly or indirectly. The clerk of the National Assembly was reached directly or indirectly and they would have shown that respect for Mr. President but the process went ahead. And that is it.

“I am talking about the clerk, Saraki, the key characters ... had sufficient information directly or indirectly

coming to them that the President will be meeting the party members and the party chairman was on the ground. Assumption would have been that every loyal, committed party member would have presented themselves to the party and to their President. That did not happen yesterday.

“I mean the information had been made available to people who would have decided this process. Respect should have been for the Continued on page 4

ALL FOR A NEW PRODUCT

•Skye Bank Group Managing Director /CEO M r Timothy Oguntayo (second left) with (from left) Deputy Managing Director Mrs Amaka Onwughalu, Executive Director, South/ South Retail Banking Mrs Ibiye Ekong and Group Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli at the unveiling of the bank’s Retail Transfomation Project in Lagos...on Tuesday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

•TENSION AS ABIA LAWMAKERS ELECT SPEAKER P5 P577 UMAHI DISSOLVES BOARDS P5 P577

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

2

NEWS SENATE PRESIDENCY

Sagay: Saraki’s •He must be swept away Eminent Law professor Itse Sagay believes the election of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu by some senators smacks of legislative impunity. In an interview on Television Continental (TVC), the senior advocate is of the view that the emergence of the duo of Saraki and Ekweremadu cannot pass for a victory for democracy but a victory for impunity, fraud, desperation and indiscipline.

JOSEPH JIBUEZE monitored it.

•Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (left), his wife, Dolapo receiving a present from the Pastor-in-charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 10, Emmanuel Ibitayo at a welcome/thanksgiving service for the vice president and his wife at the Church in Abuja...on Tuesday.

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) flanked by President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left)and Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro when the industrialist visited the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday.

S

SARAKI’S election fraudulent

If you look at the moral point of view, that purported election was fraudulent. When you purport to hold an election deliberately in the absence of your opponent, knowing that he is absent, and intending to win at any cost unopposed by ensuring that absence, that constitutes fraud. Not only that, I think it’s an act of gross indiscipline, not just against his party, but against the whole country because we are all stakeholders in the electoral process, in who becomes the Senate President and we all felt cheated because there was no proper election. Again it’s also an act of gross impunity. In effect, he was saying ‘I know my opponent is keenly interested in contesting, I know my opponent is not here yet, and therefore, I will rush an election in his absence in order to be certain of victory at any cost.’ It’s absolutely unacceptable in a decent democracy.

The leadership hold-up in the National Assembly The emergence of the new leadership for the Senate and House of Representatives after the proclamation of the Eighth Assembly on Tuesday will remain controversial for a very long time. In its editorial, huhuonline.com says the elections were anything but dignifying.

I •Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku (left); Bank of Industry (BoI) Managing Director Rasheed Olaoluwa (middle) and Executive Director Rasheed Olagunju after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Taraba State government and BoI on Entrepreneur Development Fund in Abuja...yesterday. P HOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Member, Board of Directors, Jaiz Bank Plc., Malam Falalu Bello (left); Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Nurul Islam; Chairman, Dr. Umar AbdulMutallab and Company Secretary, Mrs. Rukayat O. Saludeen, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE:

F Nigerians ever thought that nobility found its way into the nation’s high offices with the conduct of the last general elections, the unfolding drama in the National Assembly, has banished that thought.

If Nigerians ever hoped that high offices would ennoble their occupants, the disgraceful conduct of some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, who conspired to torpedo the election of the new leadership of the National Assembly, have indicated how misplaced that hope was. Rancorous and highly distracting, the fallout is a sickening reflection of the despicable depth of politicking in Nigeria and testifies to the incapacity of the governing class to even self-govern.

This is bad for Nigerian democracy; this is not how serious nations do things. It is just as well that the APC has read the riot act against the clandestine election of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and House Speaker respectively.

The bizarre development is also a damaging comment on the abysmal failure of the governing APC to meet the very basic requirements of unity of thought and action, discipline and coherence. This is best illustrated by the fact that the crisis is engineered by greed and ambition of some APC lawmakers, who refused to submit to the dictates of the party on whose platform they were elected. It is a shame that individuals in whose hands the destiny of Nigerians is placed can hold a rancor-free mock election into their own leadership and desperation for power would not al-

low graceful concession of victory to the winners! It speaks volumes about their credentials as democrats. Contrary to the desire of Nigerians who rallied behind the APC war cry of change, the APC has become another distraction, turning its internal troubles, fuelled by ego and vanity, into the trouble of Nigeria and its people.

This is evidently a betrayal of trust and a great disservice to the nation.

Against the euphoria and hope for change, engendered by the last election, what transpired in the Senate was indicative of leadership dysfunction and a failure by the President (Muhammadu Buhari) to exercise control over his party’s caucus. The theatre of the absurd that unfolded on Tuesday saw Senator Bukola Saraki (APC, Kwara Central) sworn-in as President of the Eighth Senate, while Ike Ekweremadu (PDP, Enugu West) was sworn in as Deputy Senate President.

Saraki’s swearing in by Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa, followed his nomination

by Senator Ahmed Yerima (APC, Zamfara West) and seconded by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).

Saraki was elected unopposed by 57 out of 108 senators-elect. Ekweremadu was sworn in as Deputy President of the Senate, after he polled 54 votes to defeat Senatr Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), who polled 20 votes, while one vote was declared invalid. Fifty-one senators, including Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North), were absent when Saraki was elected. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Lawan alongside other supporters

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

3

NEWS SENATE PRESIDENCY

s election has brought shame to Nigeria

y

tion in their absence. So, there was fraud. Who was responsible? Somebody summoned that meeting. The Clerk of the National Assembly was fully aware that only PDP senators were present in the Chambers. A sprinkling of APC members there were there and trying to remind him and he ruled the person out of order. So, for me, that gives the impression that the clerk of the National Assembly was involved in the conspiracy. That is the impression. What is more, even if that did not happen, I will accuse him of involvement because he knew without being told that only one party was present and that surely cannot have been the spirit of the Constitution when it says that once the proclamation has been made, members of Senate who have just been elected would then appoint their officers. That’s not what it intended. It didn’t intend that some people would be diverted away and one party would then come there in their absence and fraudulently elect somebody of their wish in the absence of the hapless group that has been deceived out of the Assembly. Who do I blame? I blame the clerk of the National Assembly, because he’s the person responsible for all this.

He might have been pressured and all that, but nothing would have happened if he did not participate in the conspiracy. So I blame him primarily.

•Prof Sagay

Quorum for electing principal officers

Assembly Clerk culpable To start with, there is an aspect of deceit in the whole thing. That’s why I think it is also illegal and fraudulent.

The APC Senators were told that the President was going to have a meeting with them and that they should all gather there (International Conference Centre). Clearly, in such circumstances, the last thing they would think of is that there would be an elec-

There is the law, and there is the spirit of the law. If you practice the law, or implement the law, or enforce the law without the spirit, it is void. It’s just like a body which doesn’t have a soul or spirit, that body is dead. The law says that a quorum is one-third, and that when you are taking decisions, unless it is exceptionally stated, generally when you are taking decisions, then a simple majority is all that is required. Those are the dry letters of the law. In this particular issue, we have a new Senate being proclaimed. We have a Senate which has many parties. What has happened is that the party that has the majority was somehow deceived out of the premises and other people went behind and surreptitiously and fraudulently purported to have Senate proceedings going on. That fraud cannot be legitimate regardless of the technical words of the Constitution, because the spirit is not there.

The legitimacy question Certainly, Senator Saraki cannot enjoy any legitimacy because he is there by fraud; he is there by impunity; he is there by the grossest act of indiscipline of the worst type of political culture. So, he lacks legitimacy. He may be sitting there now but nobody has any respect for that seat as long as he sits there because he has brought shame on the whole country. Now, as far as I am concerned, this people have a right to go to court, because a fraudulent election cannot constitute a legitimate basis for establishing Senate leadership. It was a fraudulent election. What really happened yesterday, in my view, is not a victory for democracy, but a victory for impunity, a victory for fraud and a victory for political desperation and indiscipline, and it must not stand. If we in this country are to go with the new change brought by the fresh breath of air that is blowing across the country, if we are to sustain it, then what happened yesterday must be swept away because it is contrary to the fibre of the whole Nigeria.

Alleged moral “baggage” My opposition to his sitting illegitimately in that office is not because of his (Saraki’s) “baggage”; he may not be my first choice. But if he had won legitimately, in a fair, square and equitable way, I would have no objection. Yes, he has a huge baggage. Presently as far as I know, he’s under investigation and possibly a lot of inquiry by the EFCC. The matter has not been cleared. Normally, it would be better for the first arm of government – that is what the legislature is, and he is the third most senior political personality in the country – for that person to have a clear table; not to have any baggage hanging around his neck, because if you have a heavy baggage like that hanging on your neck, and you’re presiding over such an important establishment, then that establishment is also going to carry that heavy weight of a burden along with you, and it will necessarily affect the respect and intergrity which his decisions will have and the whole process of operation of that institution will be impeded by that heavy load.

‘

It speaks volumes about their credentials as democrats.

Contrary to the desire of Nigerians who rallied behind the APC war cry of change, the APC has become another distraction, turning its internal troubles, fuelled by ego and vanity, into the trouble of Nigeria and its people.

‘

had allegedly gone for a meeting with the President aimed at resolving the impasse among the contenders.

The bizarre development has challenged sundry observers of Nigeria to query the meaning of politics in the country. If there ever will be a vote of “presidential distrust”, then this must be it. And it is truly regrettable. The APC leadership had endorsed Senator Lawan to be the next Senate President and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as House Speaker. It is an indication that the party moved to consolidate its election victory strategies (President (Daura), Katsina, Northwest), Vice President (Ikenne, Ogun, Southwest), Senate President (Yobe South, Northeast) and House Speaker (Lagos, Southwest). But it is a pity that Saraki and Dogara, propelled by greed, decided to subject themselves to a reversal of party discipline. For a man who decamped from the PDP to the APC; and to whom much had been given; much was expected. The elec-

•Saraki

•Lawan

•Ekweremadu

•Akume

•Dogara

•Gbajabiamila

•Yusuf

•Monguno

tion was anything but dignifying; not only did it drag Saraki’s reputation to a new low, it took down the reputation of the office he purports to hold as well. It’s a shame!

The debacle in the Senate is representative of corrupt, greedy, and conscienceless politicians, who gain power only to use it to serve selfish interests. The rapacity for political power is translated into avarice for filthy lucre and a sustained impoverishment of the citizenry. Indeed, the brazenness has become so widespread and has become something of a culture of governance.

In the face of the current debacle, the APC has been an untold embarrassment. Instead of calling its senators to order, it stands idly by, helplessly as its officials are used against each other by the PDP to break the party into factions. This is no time for prevarication; the APC must ensure Saraki’s election does not stand, or face irreparable reputational damage.

In jurisdictions where the current style of government is borrowed from, elections into leadership positions in the legislature are more or less procedural. The desperation, to the point of blackmail, with which the PDP endorsed aggrieved APC candidates for leadership positions in the legislature is however baffling. And the point must be made that, the practice in other climes does allow for direct involvement of opposition legislators only in the case of a coalition government. But as is the case with the Nigerian politicians, ideas are borrowed and implemented with all the wrong motives – self-interest, group interest and everything in-between.

By their defiant decision to feather their own nest, Saraki and his supporters have shown utter insensitivity to the prevailing conditions of the average citizen as well as a lawless arrogance of power. Given that this is a new government which took power less than two weeks ago, it is difficult

not to conclude that their primary and foremost motive for public office is pecuniary benefit. This is a pity because rather than signalise a new and better dispensation, this action falls squarely in line with the attitude and behavior of most of their former counterparts in the Seventh Legislature. Indeed, if as it is popularly stated, democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people, then the Saraki and Dogara-led National Assembly chambers are defying Nigerian democracy.

It is a crying shame that so soon after general elections, Nigerians are being provoked by their so-called elected representatives. They cannot but wonder in amazement if these are the same persons that begged to serve and were duly obliged with a mandate to govern for the greatest good of, not the elected only, but the greatest number in the polity. If the behaviour of the rebel senators is a sign of things to come, then Nigeria may be

in for rough times. And the blame will lie squarely upon the self-seeking political class. The hold-up by Saraki and his gang is an affront on the sensibility of Nigerians and creates the impression that the wrong people are in the National Assembly.

By this circuitous rigmarole to get elected after losing the straw poll, Saraki and Dogara reinforced the image of Nigeria as a country with deeply dysfunctional institutions where bizarre things can happen. The APC leadership is sufficiently outraged by this malign display of indiscipline and anti-party activities, to summon the courage to vow that the party will resolve the matter, using all constitutional and legal means available to it.

This bare-faced exercise in self-indulgence should not be allowed to stand.

Nigerian lawmakers need to be told that governance is about the people and not about their prebendal privileges. To assume this mindset is to misunderstand the goal of governance.

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

NEWS EFCC to quizz Lamido, Elechi Continued from page 1

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left); Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11 Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye and Executive Secretary, Odo-Otin Local Government, Mr. Tope Adejumo when the AIG visited the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo.

children over money laundering allegations too. All the transactions having to do with money laundering were allegedly traced to some companies where ex-Governnor Lamido has interest.

“On Elechi, he will face a team of interrogators on alleged mismanagement of funds in the State/Local Government Joint Account.

“We have had outstanding allegations against these former governors but they all pleaded immunity. Now that they are out of power, we can interact with them.”

The EFCC in January quizzed the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Works, Cornelius Onwe; the Accountant General, Edwin Igbele; ex-Commissioner for

Pay cut coming for political, public office holders

Presidency: Saraki, clerk snubbed Buhari, APC Continued from page 1

President, even if the outcome would have been the same. They chose to be absent. They chose to disrespect their party and the President; 51 APC senators decided to answer the call of the party and the President and were present for this meeting. It was not as if it was a secret meeting.

“The party had begun a process and concluded it and some of these actors were part of that process. They knew what had happened.

There was a shadow election of some sort. It is clear that there was nothing accidental in all of this things that happened. The APC as a party had begun a process for choosing leaders. There was a shadow election in which leaders were chosen on the platform of the political par-

ty and it was complete. There was no doubt about it.

“A meeting was scheduled for 9 o’clock because the president needed the meeting in order to show solidarity with the party. The president wanted to show that he stood with the party. The process had begun and it was complete and that good party men should respect that process. The President was about stepping out when you guys on television were showing this action live. So the whole point had been missed. There was no point going ahead.

Well, understand me correctly, in terms of protocol and all of that, the President would not have moved out of his home if he had not received confirmation that all was set for the meeting. It was nearing 10 o’clock when party leadership said ‘you can now come’.”

Shehu debunked claims that the meeting was secret, adding that the invitation for the meeting was online and all efforts had been made to notify the key people involved in the drama that played out.

He also denied that President Buhari deliberately kept the 51 APC lawmakers at the ICC in order for them not to participate in the election.

He, however, said Buhari will work with whoever is the Senate President, adding that the President will support whatever decision the APC takes.

Shehu added that the President had not congratulated the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara for their victories.

“The President is a democrat. He acknowledged that the process had been com-

plete and he is not the one to interfere in the affairs of the National Assembly. He has to respect the constitution of this country and in essence he is saying ‘I will work with whoever is there, whether they are happy or they are not happy, that is a different thing. He had to obey the laws of this country. The President is a constitutional man. He will abide by the laws of the country and he will work with whoever is there. In this case, he has never committed to any single candidate.

“The point we are making is that the President stands with the party... You have a situation in which constitution says majority of the members of the Senate will be choosing their leaders. 51 senators have not been given the chance to take their own Continued on page 60

Ex-Governor Aliyu to refund N2.9b Continued from page 1

money back. The money belongs to the people,” it said.

The statement added that the administration had prioritised the needs of the people, stressing that such looted but recov-

ered funds would be expended on projects.

“Our people need food, shelter, security, roads, water and so forth. For example, the governor wants to start with the provision of potable water and in the coming weeks, we’ll pro-

vide water at predictable intervals to Nigerlites.

“On the problem of electricity, we have started an arrangement to rent a power plant from overseas to provide regular electricity before a permanent solution is found.

“Also, Minna-Kataeregi road, Kontagora-Tegina, Minna-Suleja, Bakeko-Katcha, Kaffin-koro, Kuta-Sabon Gari and Maitumbi-Maikunkele roads among others, are receiving urgent attention,” it said

Continued from page 1

Chairman of the Commission made this disclosure in Abuja yesterday while inaugurating members of the Remuneration Committee charged with carrying out the review.

In carrying out the task, Mbam urged members of the Committee to be conscious of the prevailing economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance so as to free more funds for development.

He also explained that “the Commission is constitutionally empowered to undertake the review of the remuneration packages as may be required

T

S

ENATORS who raised points of order in an attempt to question Tuesday’s election of the Senate President were ruled out of order during the first plenary of the Eighth Senate yesterday.

After the inauguration of about 28 mostly All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, the inaugurated senators filed to shake hands with Senator Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary – his fisrt as Senate President.

But Senator Oluremi Tinu-

Saraki reaches out to senators as Lawan plans suit

B

ARELY 24 hours after the controversial inauguration of the Eighth Senate, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his loyalists have started reaching out to his rival, Senator Ahmed Lawan and 50 other aggrieved senators shut out of the process.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "The President of the Senate and members of his group of Like Minds, have started reaching out to Lawan.

"They have also sent emissaries to him on how the issues arising from the choice of the Senate President and Deputy can be resolved. They are asking for what can be done.

"It was learnt that at a stage, Lawan had to switch off his phone when the pressure became persistent from some senators and eminent Nigerians who were soliciting on behalf of Saraki group."

Also yesterday, Dr. Saraki, in a statement From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

hari who requested to have a brief meeting with all APC elected senators at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

He said the National Assem-

From Yusuf Alli, Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

from his media office, urged all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislating.

"Our country is going through very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the Northeast. The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by mako fall in revenue. All these against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately. Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place."

bly’s Clerk, Alhaji Salisu Maikasua, knew that the Senate had not formed a quorum when he hurriedly kick-started the process for the election.

Gemade said the quorum required for the election of the President of the Senate is two-

He expressed his readiness to embrace every member of the Senate, regardless of their political leanings in the leadership elections.

Saraki described President Muhammadu Buhari's reaction to Tuesday's election of National Assembly leaders as a "great mark of leadership" and a demonstration of the President's commitment to democracy.

He lauded Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in National Assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise.

"This shows that Mr. President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belong to everyone and to no one," he stated.

Saraki denied that he planned to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

thirds of total members instead of the one-third used by the clerk.

He insisted that the process remained unconstitutional and cannot, therefore, confer legitimacy on Saraki.

Gemade added that their

from time to time so as to reflect current economic realities; advise Federal and State Governments on Monetization policies; generate cost of living indices for revision of allowances among others.”

Mbam charged the Committee to undertake wide consultations with all critical stakeholders, including all arms of government of the Federation, the national and state Assemblies, states and local governments, professional economic bodies, the organised labour, the academia, the media and public so as to enrich the process.

Continued on page 60

Saraki rules senators out of order

Saraki’s election lacks legitimacy, says Lawan’s supporters HE last may not have been heard of Senator Bukola Saraki’s election as the President of the Eighth Senate.

A group of Senators under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum yesterday faulted the process that produced Saraki, saying his election lacks legitimacy.

The Like Minds Senators, a pro-Saraki group, however, insisted that Saraki emerged through due process and should be embraced by all Senators irrespective of their political leaning.

The Senate Unity Forum, a group of All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, led by Senator Barnabas Gemade, spoke at a news conference in Abuja.

They were the main backers of Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President.

Gemade, who spoke for the Forum, noted that the insinuation that members of the group boycotted the election was unfounded.

He said that they only went to honour the invitation of President Muhammadu Bu-

Finance Timothy Ogbonnaya Odaa; and ex- Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Cele Nwali.

They were all drilled on alleged “illegal deductions” from the Joint Account for a failed Asphalt Project in 13 Local Government Areas of the state by the Elechi administration. Funds running into billions of naira were allegedly deducted from local government accounts.

On January 29, the ex-governor’s son, Nnanna, was also quizzed for alleged money laundering.

When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “We have invited the two former governors for interaction.”

Continued on page 60

right to participate in the election of the Senate President is constitutional, which cannot be taken by any person or group of persons.

His words: “The Clerk of the National Assembly, knowing Continued on page 60

bu did not shake his hand when he offered a handshake.

She instead took a respectful bow and moved on.

Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara State) raised the order of privilege, but Saraki ruled him out of order.

Marafa said: “June 9, 2015 was slated for the inauguration of the National Assembly. Mr. President, who is the head of the government and the leader of the most populous party in West Africa and Continued on page 60

Saraki group: no information on meeting

T

HE group backing Dr. Bukola Saraki for Senate President —The Like Minded disagreed with the Unity Forum.

Its Spokesperson Dino Melaye, who addressed reporters, said President Buhari in his constitutional duty had sent a proclamation that the inauguration at the National Assembly was to begin at 10a.m. on June 9. He wondered how the president could have called a meeting for the same time.

He said there was no official communication that the President wanted to have a meeting with the members.

“If Mr. President wants to meet legislators, the Defence House, the Banquet Halls are there, so why at the ICC. “He didn’t attend to anyone in ICC. “The President has consistentContinued on page 60

ADVERT HOTLINES

08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

5

NEWS

What Transition Committee, KPMG recommended to Buhari, by report A

REPORT in yesterday’s Financial Times has revealed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration plans to plug leakages in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as part of its shortterm remedies.

The administration also plans to implement quick fixes to curb electricity blackouts, fuel shortages and salary arrears.

The report said: “The action plan for the president’s first months in office was drafted by an APC transition team with the help of consultants KPMG, and makes priorities of short-term remedies for electricity blackouts, fuel shortages and salary arrears.

“It also suggests that a new government will move

Your threats are empty, PDP tells APC From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the new leaders of the National Assembly as “empty boasts”.

A statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the APC was not adequately equipped to handle the affairs of government at the centre, noting that events would continue to prove the PDP right in this regard.

“Nothing can be more astonishing than the whining by the APC that the PDP at the last minute expressed its preference for Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively after it had earlier stated that it was not interested the positions.

This calls to question the capacity, experience and skills of APC leaders.”

quickly to plug leakages at the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, these allegedly cost the treasury billions of dollars in potential savings against an eventual fall in the price of oil, on which the state depends for about two-thirds of earnings.

Mr Buhari returned from meeting G7 leaders in Germany on Monday, having won international commitments to support his government in the fight against Islamist insurgents who stepped up a campaign of suicide bombings in his first days in office.”

The report, however, feared that the outcome of the National Assembly election could work against the reforms the administration planned to implement.

It reads: “Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, faced the first political storm since his inauguration when both the Senate and House of Assembly

elected leaders on Tuesday in defiance of the ruling party’s choice of candidates.

The vote for the nation’s number three and four positions followed weeks of festering division among newly elected legislators and officials within Mr Buhari’s All Progressive Congress and came as politicians jostle for influence over appointments to the new government.

The 72-year-old former military ruler became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to unseat a sitting president in April elections, after pledging to stamp out corruption, spread wealth more evenly and defeat Boko Haram insurgents.

Inaugurated on May 29, he is under pressure to take decisive action in his first weeks in office to head off the effects of the oil shock.

“The fall in the price of crude has left state coffers depleted, fuel in short supply and the incoming government facing up to $20bn of short-term liabilities, including salary ar-

rears, according to a draft action plan for the president’s first months in office seen by the Financial Times.

Mr Buhari must quickly determine whether to maintain multibillion-dollar fuel subsidies that the state can no longer sustain or remove them and potentially stir popular unrest, the document advises.

“But tension between newly elected legislators and APC officials have raised concern within the business community of a drawn-out process for approving cabinet appointments, which could in turn delay action on the fiscal front.

“Bukola Saraki, a former state governor and flamboyant, at times controversial force in Nigerian politics, was elected as Senate president by just over half the chamber, with the majority of his support coming from the former ruling People’s Democratic Party, from which he defected only 18 months ago.

The APC’s preferred candi-

date was not even presented for the vote because he was at a party meeting at another location.

APC officials and advisers to Mr Buhari were still trying to make sense of the setback late on Tuesday. However, they played down its significance, pointing out that Mr Buhari had remained studiously neutral and had pledged to work with whoever came out on top. “‘The Senate has chosen their own person. That doesn’t mean they will oppose everything. It is something to celebrate. We are coming of age — we have proved we can change a sitting government, we can also allow the Senate to make its own choices. This is the separation of powers at work,” a close adviser to the president told the FT. Other political insiders pointed out that Mr Buhari’s ability to press forward with reform will be determined in part by his relations with members of the Senate and House of Representatives, where voting also went against the APC hierarchy’s choice.”

•Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah speaking with reporters at the Military Command and Control Centre in Yola, Adamawa State...yesterday.

With him are military officers.

PHOTO: NAN

Applause for ex-Minority Leader on NYSC Act From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

E

RSTWHILE House of Representatives Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila drew the admiration of his colleagues on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday when he halted attempt to amend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act without due process.

Gbajabiamila’s intervention followed the debate of a motion of urgent public importance

by Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers).

Chinda regretted that over time, youth corps members have been subjected to undue injuries and the deaths in areas where they were not familiar with around the country.

He said there was a need to review the terms and conditions under which the corps members served.

Gbajabiamila raised a point of order after which he congratulated Dogara over his victory as Speaker on Tuesday.

Members broke into a loud applause in appreciation of his sportsmanship.

He said the review of terms and conditions can only be carried out as an amendment to the Act that established the institution which the motion was not capable of.

The intervention led to an amendment to the resolution of the motion which led to the removal of the prayer on the review of the Act. Sani Zoro (APC, Jigawa) said there was a need to review all dysfunctional institutions set up by the Federal government to foster unity in the country.

In their resolution, the lawmakers urged the Police to investigate all killings involving the NYSC members in the country.

The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, put the motion to a voice vote and it was unanimously passed.

Dogara to Gbajabiamila, others: you did not lose

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has assured that his leadership will not not be vindictive against those that contested against him for the coveted position.

Dogara, while receiving former leadership of the House yesterday in his office promised to reach out to and mend walls with his opponents.

He said a rancour - free House is needed to compliment the Executive on the delivery of electoral promises that brought the All Progressives Congress (APC) to power.

Former Speakers and Deputy Speakers in attendance include Agunwa Anakwe; Ghali Umar Na’aba; Patricia Olubunmi Etteh; Aminu Tambuwal; Babangida Nguruje; and Emeka Ihedioha.

Others are immediate past Leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, her Deputy, Leo Okuweh Ogor, immediate past Chief Whip, Mohammed Ishaka Bawa, his Deputy, Muhammed Mukhtar and the immediate

Speaker writes Buhari, Saraki

Y

AKUBU Dogara has written to President Muhammadu Buhari of his emergence as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Olasunkanmi Sulaimon as the Deputy Speaker.

The Senate President was also notified officially of the development.

In the letter read on the floor of the House yesterday, Dogara said the emergence of the two House leaders followed the assembly of a quorum of the House that elected them.

The letter further directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to notify the President through the SecFrom Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

past Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu.

“We are committed to the peace and stability of the House with a view to attaining our legislative agenda that will compliment the efforts of the Executive in trying the bring about the change Nigerians voted for.

“Talking about healing the wounds and division that has been caused by yesterdays

•House adjourns to Jan. 23 From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

retary to the Federal Government (SGF) that, having assembled and properly constituted, the House is ready to recieve any message he may wish to transmit.

Plenary was however adjourned to 23 June, 2015 without the selection of Principal officers of the House.

In its first sitting, the 8th House debated a motion of urgent national

(Tuesday) event, I assure you that we have been together and we know ourselves.

“We will come together and mend walls because some people may feel that they have lost.

“I want to tell them that they have not lost anything, as this remains a leadership that is for all”.

He also assured the former leadership that his emergence as Speaker was for no other purpose than for the delivery of dividends of democracy to

importance by Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

The motion was unanimously supported and passed.

Before the adjournment, however, the Speaker informed members of the provisions of the standing rules of the House on the selection and composition of principal officers and Standing Committees.

He said the Principal Officers and the Selection Committee to be chaired by the Speaker would be compared soon.

Plenary resumes on 23 June, 2015.

Nigerians.

“Electoral victory was delivered to the APC because Nigerians were tired of excuses.

“They can’t wait any longer, and that is why we must as responsible leaders compliment the efforts of government.

“Because as legislature, we must work with the Executive to achieve the needed change that Nigerians voted for which is why we can’t begin to engage the executive in unnecessary bickering that

does no good to the general wellbeing of Nigerians,” he said.

The group urged the leadership of APC to view the process that produced Dogara as victory for the independence of the legislature.

Na’aba spoke on behalf of the gruop saying, “Lawmakers yesterday (Tuesday) achieved another democratic revolution against a conventional wisdom of imposition of leaders by political parties.

“This has happened not to

spite our party but that the legislature under a democratic setting must be independent.

“What happened yesterday was an effort by lawmakers of both the APC and the PDP to ensure their independence as lawmakers.

“Whatever must have happened, the new leadership must not be castigated and scorned but should be seen as a means of charting a new legislative course for the benefit of all Nigerians”.

The group also tasked the new House to be courageous in revisiting the constitution amendment while urging Dogara to be magnanimous in victory.

“We believe that the constitution needs to be amended, and this was done by the last Assembly but never saw the light of day.

“This Assembly must take up that responsibilty to revisit the issue of constitution amendment.

“What we need now is reconciliation, because the House as it is now is divided and i believe the process should not be difficult,” Na’aba added.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

NEWS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP CRISIS ‘There was coup in Senate’

Kwara APC hails Saraki

A

FORMER Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Adebamigbe Omole has likened the emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President as a coup.

Omole said: “No reasonable person would have envisaged that 51 Senators-elect would have been disenfranchised from exercising their voting right to participate in the election of the leadership of the senate.

“The principle of separation of power is not watertight and nothing says that the party cannot have a say in who becomes what in the political offices available to the party.

“Party politics is about party supremacy and it amount to political naitivity or gross indiscipline for any member to see himself as being above the party.”

A member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi described the scenario that played out at the floor of the national assembly as “unfortunate and unexpected” within the ruling party.

He argued that it was morally wrong for the candidates that emerged to have done what they did against the party’s wish.

In his view, party supremacy should have been respected and not abandoned on the altar of ambition.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

•House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara being led into the first plenary session at the National Assembly, Abuja ...

PHOTO: NAN yesterday.

Saraki: no plan to defect to PDP

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki yesterday said he had no plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the insinuation as “absurd and laughable.”

According to him, “it is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

“And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principle when the party was in power.

“Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return having worked so hard

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

for my party in the last general elections?”

He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal party member and a leader of the party, committed to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it to deliver its promise of change to Nigerians.

He urged all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislation.

Saraki said: “Our country is going through very trying times. We have the challenge

of insecurity in the NorthEast.

“The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by the fall in revenue.

“All these against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately.

“Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people, without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place.”

He stated his readiness to embrace every member of the Senate regardless of their political leanings following the leadership elections just con-

cluded.

He described President Muhammadu Buhari’s reaction to Tuesday’s election of National Assembly leaders as a “great mark of leadership” and a demonstration of the President’s commitment to democracy.

In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, Saraki lauded Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in National Assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise.

“This shows that Mr. President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belong to everyone and to no one,” he stated.

Agbaje, Quakers, others okay Assembly leaders’s emergence

T

WO lawyers yesterday described as constitutional Tuesday’s National Assembly elections that saw the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker.

Constitutional lawyers Norrison Quakers (SAN) and Fred Agbaje said the lawmakers complied with constitutional provisions in selecting their leaders.

They argued that in line with Section 50 and 52 of the Constitution, the procedure for selecting the leadership of the National Assembly are unambiguous.

According to Quakers, the APC should accept the outcome of the elections and work with the Saraki-led Senate because his emergence is valid and constitutional.

Citing Sections 50 (1), 52 (1) and 52 (2) of the Constitution, Quakers said: “Once Senate is convened, members appoint their President and Deputy before the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office is administered to any member. This

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Precious Igbonwelundu

is because the constitution states that the members will each take their Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office before the Senate President or Speaker of the House.

“The issue of quorum does not even arise because it comes to play after the NASS has been properly constituted.

“The APC should know that what it is trying to do is political suicide. The argument of disenfranchisement does not hold water. There is nothing in the constitution that says all the members must be present during the election.

“APC should embrace the outcome of the process because any step taken will be contrary to the constitution.

The entire process was also carried out by the Clerk of the National Assembly and followed the laws accordingly.”

Agbaje described the poll as the best thing that could have happened in the nation’s democracy.

He said the process was constitutional because the legislators took charge of the process of electing their leaders without external influence.

“What happened is in clear tandem with Sections 50 of the constituion, which enjoins members of the NASS to elect among themselves, their leaders. The constitution did not say leaders of the Assembly should be selected from outside.

“Provided the elections took place within the walls of the NASS and by the members themselves, it is constitutionally sanctioned.

“Therefore, what the party ought to have done was to lobby the members long before the election. Lobbying is not illegal, it is a part of democracy.

“But APC was rather carried away by the euphoria of victory and refused to lobby lawmakers to support the party’s candidates.

“APC must accept the incontrovertible verdict of the NASS as exemplified in the election of leaders of the two

Houses.

“Who asked the absent Senators not to be in the House? Why did they choose an important day as that to be distracted?”

Also the Senator representing Cross River South, Geshorm Bassey said the inauguration of Eight National Assembly had the full blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bassey spoke to journalists in Abuja on the controversy trailing the election of the presiding officers of the Senate.

He said that since President Buhari issued the proclamation memo, the Clerk was right to inaugurate the Senate.

He said: “You know the President signed the proclamation and in the proclamation which was read to us, it was actually the President that convened the Senate by signing a proclamation.

“Everybody knows that it was going to start at 10 am and the President himself had asked us to start at that time. So, I think that a proclamation was superior to any

other thing messages.

“I think a proclamation that was signed by our president is superior to any other message.

“You know, once you enter the Senate chamber, a lot of party considerations are secondary.

“What we did yesterday (Tuesday) was to consider the interest of the nation. Some people may be upset, some people may not be happy about it but that also is democracy.”

Senator Shehu Sani said that what transpired on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday may be a true reflection of a brewing crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sani noted that that if the party is unable to manage its electoral victory, the country may be heading for a major crisis.

The Kaduna Central lawmaker said that he has no problem as an APC member for an APC person to occupy the office of the Senate President, but has problem with

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has hailed the emergence of Dr Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

The party also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his position on the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly and his unalloyed respect for the independence of the legislative arm of government.

Spokesperson of the APC in the state, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, in a statement, said the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president shows that the train of change has fully taken off.

The statement reads: “We are particularly excited because the newly elected Senate President is a leader, who has risked everything including his life to campaign and entrone an APC-led federal government in Nigeria.

“His ascension is a landmark due to the fact that he enjoyed support from his distinguished colleagues across party affiliations.

“We hereby commend President Buhari for his statesman-like position on the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly and his unalloyed respect for the independence of the legislative arm of government.

“We are confident that the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Saraki will work closely and cordially with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to deliver true change to Nigerians.”

•Dr. Saraki

the party sharing positions with the PDP. Sani, who is a member of the Senate Unity Forum, was of the view that the inauguration of the Eight Senate was constitutional.

He noted that the inauguration had been done and cannot be canceled, saying that it is left for those that felt aggrieved to go to court.

Sani also urged Buhari to take steps to heal the wounds within the two factions and bring them together.

NJC rejects two judge nominees for poor knowledge of law

T

HE National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected the nomination of two individuals for appointment as judges of the state High Court.

Their rejection, the NJC said, was as a result of their poor knowledge of basic law after being interviewed by a panel constituted for that purpose by the NJC. NJC’s Acting Director, In-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

formation, Soji Oye, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, was silent on the names of the nominees and the state from which they were sent to the NJC for interview.

He said the state’s Judicial Service Commission had sentthem to the NJC for interview as required under the

new rules in the Revised 2014 Guidelines and Procedural Rules on appointment of Judicial Officers of the Federation, that all candidates for appointment as judicial officers to superior courts of record shall be interviewed by the NJC. Oye said the NJC, at its 73rd meeting presided over by the Chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed

also embargoed that appointment of judges in 26 courts in the country.

The NJC spokesman, who was equally silent on the names of the affected courts, disclosed the council summoned three High Court judges from two states to appear before it for low performance and show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

The NJC “at its 73rdMeeting, considered the Report submitted by its Committee on Performance Evaluation of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record in the Federation and decided to invite three High Court Judges from two States to appear before it for low performance and show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

“Council had two years ago

introduced Freeze List of Courts that do not have sufficient work load and are not allowed to forward recommendation for new appointment of Judges to it until their workload improves.

“At its recent Meeting, two Courts were put on the Freeze List by the Council bringing the total number of Courts in the Federation on the Freeze List to 26,” Oye said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

7

NEWS

EFCC arraigns 14 foreign nationals for ‘illegal oil deals’ F

OURTEEN foreigners were arraigned yesterday before a Lagos Federal High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products.

They are three Russians – Arthur Pakhladzhian, Vasaliy Shkundich and Kretov Andrey; one Japanese, Sergio Abgarian; three Ukrainians - Vitalis Biluos, Laguta Olesksiy and Chepikov Oleksan.

Others are seven Britons – Hilarion Teofilo Regipor, Cadavis Gerardo, Baduria Benjamin, Naranjo Allian Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Carantiquit Micheal Bryan.

Three vessels – MT Anukt Emerald, Monjasa DMCC and

Glencore Energy UK Ltd – were confiscated from them.

The foreigners, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing and storage of petroleum products without lawful authority.

According to the charge, the accused committed the offences on February 27.

It alleged that they stored 1,500 tonnes of automated gas oil inside the MT Anuket Emerald’s Cargo tank.

The charge also alleged that they stored 3,035 tonnes of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) in other

tanks.

EFFC said the offences contravened Sections 4, 17, 19 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Petroleum Act, Laws of Federation.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending their trial.

But Mr. Babajide Koku, the defence counsel, in an oral application, urged the court to grant his clients bail on self-recognition.

Koku told the court that if the accused could not produce

sureties, they would provide N750 million bank guarantee.

Oyedepo opposed the application, saying the authority cited by the counsel did not apply to the case because the accused were not Nigerians.

He urged the court to impose stringent bail conditions on them.

Justice Ibrahim Buba granted the accused N50 million bail with one surety each in the like sum.

Justice Buba added that the accused should deposit their international passports with EFCC. He directed that they be remanded in prison custody until they perfect the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till June 17, 18 and 19 for trial.

NLC seeks action on fuel scarcity

T

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to oppose any plan to remove subsidy on petroleum products.

It urged the Federal Government to ensure that filling stations are dispensing petrol at the approved pump price.

In a statement by its acting president, Kiri Mohammed, the congress urged the Buhari administration to take charge of the situation and declare an emergency that will address the country’s fuel challenges.

The congress lamented that scarcity of the petroleum products has been allowed to linger for four months in an oil producing nation.

It added those accused of mismanaging fuel subsidy “are still walking the streets free without any of them being brought to book”.

The statement reads: “The current scarcity of petroleum products entered the fourth month, this month and a credible solution is yet to be provided other than media reports of promises to end the crisis, a crisis that has already further slowed down our national economy and caused hardships to many families and homes,

•’Don’t remove subsidy’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

with workers, both in the formal and informal sectors, being the most hit.

“It has become extremely difficult for workers to get to work because of the perpetual scarcity of petroleum products, which has burdened their salaries as they now have to pay exorbitant transport fares to commute to work, even as majority of them have not received salaries in months.

“This has become worse as public transportation is scarce due to unavailability of fuel, and this might cause workers to stop resuming at work.

“While we appreciate the fact that the present government is new, it is important that it takes full control of the situation and declare an emergency that will ensure the pumps at all fuel stations across the country are selling effectively, and at the official price of N87 per litre.

“Government must not allow itself to be blackmailed, not even by petroleum marketers, to abandon the delivery of goods and services that help our economy out of prevailing dol-

drums. The unavailability of petroleum products and lack of electricity are some of the reasons our economy is down and any serious government must direct serious attention to this.”

It added: “While we commend the present administration for taking firm steps at confronting the prevalent terror attacks in some parts of the country, we urge government to also see the scarcity of petroleum products as yet another major challenge that must not be treated with kid gloves.

“This scarcity must end and the government must do much more to ensure it ends, otherwise our economy will suffer higher damages.

“We, however, make haste to restate our opposition to the removal of subsidy, if the scarcity is a ploy to arm-twist government to do so. Being a major plank of the economy, the petroleum sector should be subsidised. The current scarcity lends more justification for this, given the monumental effect it has negatively impacted on our national economy.

“It is apparent that the petroleum industry is enmeshed in

‘Real estate sector ’ll grow by 10 per cent yearly’

T

HE Infrastructure Bank (TIB) Managing Director, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, said yesterday that the nation’s real estate sector is projected to grow by 10 per cent yearly over the next 10 years.

He spoke while delivering a paper: “The Infrastructure Banker’s Perspective - International Funding for Real Estate,” at a business forum in Lagos on Tuesday.

Oyinloye asked stakeholders to take advantage of the huge opportunities that would abound with the progressive growth in the sector.

He noted that the residential real estate segment has massive untapped potential.

He quoted the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as saying: “Nigeria real estate market was valued at approximately N1.4 trillion in 2011 and has risen to N6.5 trillion in 2015.’’

The sub-sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at 7.7 per cent in 2012, rising to 11 per cent in 2014.

Oyinloye said growth in population, burgeoning middle class economic expansion, building hospitality industry among others were catalysts for further growth in the real sector.

Eighty per cent of the adult population was living in rented apartments in Nigeria compared to Ghana and South Africa, which separately have between 20 and 25 per cent, he said.

Oyinloye said 50 per cent of Nigerians are either homeless or living in inadequate shelter.

He said TIB was already working on modalities that would provide solutions to the challenges in the country’s residential real estate market.

The banker said TIB was collaborating with local and international financing and funding communities on the bankability process in getting funds of the right makeup best suited for real estate projects. The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), a Public Private Partnership (PPP), will help make it easier for the working low and middle income earners to purchase homes, Oyinloye added.

•Buhari corruption, totally seized by a cabal of criminals, who have been beneficiaries of a loose system. But government can’t abdicate its responsibilities on mere grounds of a tiny few using the ineffectiveness and sleaze of the system to deny the Nigerian people quality and productive life.

“Till date, none of the people accused of compromising fuel subsidy funds have been effectively prosecuted, jailed or compelled by any court to return money looted to the public treasury. Ordinary Nigerians should not be made to suffer the consequence of the ineptitude of any arm of government, and the new government must also not allow itself to be trapped in helplessness. We need fuel, and our government must endeavour to ensure we have it shortly.”

P

Buhari, Service Chiefs meet

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari met yesterday behind closed-doors with Service Chiefs at the Defence House, Abuja.

The meeting, which was aimed at stepping up action against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, started few minutes to

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

4pm.

The President before embarking on trips to Niger Republic and Chad last week met with the Service chiefs.

Yesterday’s meeting was still on-going as at the time of filing this report.

NPDC workers protest unpaid salaries

T

HE Nigeria Petroleum Development Company’s (NPDC’s) contract workers yesterday protested the alleged non-payment of their six months’ salaries and bonuses.

The workers under the aeges of Eriemu Field Workers Forum, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, vowed that they would not resume duties until their demands are met.

They said the company would not operate until their entitlements are paid.

The workers, in a letter addressed to the Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, decried their condition, alleging the non-payment of pending arrears “of last year and this year” as well as the non-provision of personnel protective equipment.

The letter signed by the forum’s chairman, Mr. Free-

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

born Adjanakpo and Secretary, Benjamin Ogbidjara reads: “NPDC has proposed to handover surveillance and flow line guards contracts to the communities through the Community Development Board (CDB) to enable the communities pay the surveillance and flow line guards with effect from January, 2015”.

The workers, who handle production operation support, maintenance, security surveillance and housekeeping, alleged: “In the meantime, NPDC has neither implemented the GMOU nor funded the CDB to in turn pay the workers since January 2015 and yet they continue to explore crude oil for sale for their self enrichment”.

The communities have also written several letters to the firm’s managing director without any reply, they said.

CU’s e-governance forum begins today

T From left: Chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) Gbenga Falabi; Chairman, Association of Pharma Importers (APIN) Sir Nnamdi Obi; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Olumide Akintayo; Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) Okey Akpa; President, Indian Pharma Manufacturers and Importers of Nigeria (IPMIN) Varkey Verghese, during Akintayo’s meeting with pharmaceutical industry stakeholders in Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Military chief restates commitment to ex-servicemen’s welfare

N

IGERIA Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Commandant Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan has restated the military’s commitment to the welfare and capacity development of ex-servicemen.

He spoke on Tuesday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the N1.5 billion NAFRC Unity Market and Plaza.

The project is being funded by the Amas Works and Global Service Limited under the

•NAFRC starts N1.5b market, plaza

By Adeola Ogunlade

NAFRC Pubic Partnership Scheme at the centre’s premises in Oshodi, Lagos.

The Air Force chief said: “Soldiers all their lives have served the country meritoriously and the most important thing for any serviceman is to have a good and lovely exit point for serving the nation.”

The model market, he said,

would generate funds to expand facilities at the skills acquisition centre and create a pool for ex-servicemen to access funds for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).

“Our own donation is the land as equity. The land has been valued at a particular amount and the project will be administered on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement that will benefit NAFRC as an insti-

tution,” he said.

The unity market franchise will be leased for 30 years before the plaza becomes solely owned by the resettlement centre, he said.

Chairman of AMAS Works and Global Services Mr. Abdulmalik Salawu said the project would include a grocery plaza, warehouses and service outlets, adding that different merchants will be accommodated in a serene environment where security is guaranteed.

HE Second Covenant University Conference on e-governance will begin today at its CEDS Multipurpose Hall in Ota, Ogun State by 9am.

It has the theme: “e-Governance in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges for Civic Engagement and Participation”.

Director-General, Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Mr Peter Jack and founding Managing Director, Edo State Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Ms Yemi Keri will be the guest speakers.

The facilitator, Prof. Patience Akpan-Obong, of the Arizona State University, United States (U.S.), said the conference would feature several break-out sessions, where speakers will present research and policy papers on e-governance.

“Nigeria presents an interesting case for an understanding of egovernance in Africa because of its vast population, increased ICT diffusion and the equally high level of corruption in government practices in the country.

“These are the issues that prompted the establishment of the annual Covenant University Conference on E-Governance in Nigeria (CUCEN). The conference is organised by the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

“It provides a platform for academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners to discuss these issues from various perspectives with the specific purpose of bridging theory and practice and strategising pathways toward effective utilisation of ICTs for good governance, civic engagement and participation, particularly in the context of emerging democracies,” she said.

8

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

NEWS

A

CIVIL society group, Pan Yoruba National Alliance (PAYNA), yesterday urged non-Yoruba in Lagos State to respect its culture, norms and heritage to foster peaceful co-existence.

At a rally, the group said the assertion by some people that Lagos “is no man’s land” is false.

It said the state is a legacy of the Yoruba, who inhabited the land about 5,000 years ago.

“Telling the people that their land is no man’s land shows a lack of respect.

“This kind of pronouncement is capable of causing disharmony,if unchecked,” it said.

The group consists of Oodua Covenant Movement (OCM); Oodua National Initiative (ONI); Oodua Hunters; Oodua Agbekoya; Oodua Traditional Herbalists Association (OTHA); Yoruba Progressive Alliance (YOPA); Oodua Traders Union (OUT); Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and South West Progressive Move-

Pan Yoruba group calls for peaceful coexistence in Lagos •Members of the group at Aswani Market Road in Lagos...yesterday

By Wale Adepoju

ment (SWPM).

PAYNA accused the Igbo of carrying out hate campaigns against the Yoruba.

SWPM National Coordi-

nator Taiwo Ajayi said no ethnic group would take it kindly if its land is referred to as no man’s land.

“The Igbo will not take it kindly, if the Yoruba called

Onitsha no man’s land as it rightfully belongs to them.

“Besides, the Hausa will certainly not agree that Kano is no man’s land.”

ONI National Officer

Catholic priest kidnapped in Ekiti A

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

ther parked or turned back so as not to be caught in the protest.

Akingbade, who is also a lawyer, was born on September 9, 1971. He was ordained on July 18, 1998.

The cleric is also the Assistant Director, Justice, Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI) of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti.

The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaye said the kidnappers ordered one of the occupants in the priest’s house to lead them to the cleric’s room.

Bishop Ajakaye said the Commissioner of Police, Etop John James, has been informed.

According to him, the kidnappers made away with the priest’s laptop, mobile phone and an undisclosed amount of money.

He described the incident as “very sad and devastat-

ing”, adding that the church has not been able to contact the abductors.

“They told the priest that some amount of money had been paid for his life, except if he could pay them N20million.

“They asked him to put on any cloth he likes and drove him away, since then we have not been able to contact him,” Bishop Ajakaye said.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said the command is working to free the priest.

Adeyemi said: “We are aware of it and we are following it up.

“The DPO in Ido informed the command about the incident and we are trying our best to get him released.”

Governor Ayo Fayose has described the kidnapping as a challenge to the state.

His Chief Press Secretary , Idowu Adelusi quoted the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

O •Akingbade

governor, in a broadcast, as saying plans were underway to rid the state of kidnappers, Fayose, who emphasised that the modalities of dealing with kidnapping was different from other crimes, appealed to the people to remain peaceful.

He said there must be cooperation to ensure peace reigns in the state.

The governor confirmed that the kidnap suspects earlier arrested were still in police custody.

According to him, kidnapping goes beyond political matters.

He promised to give N2 million to anyone who can provide useful information that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.

The governor said there would be police checkpoints at strategic places.

Ajimobi reduces 23 ministries to 13

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yes-

terday reduced the state's ministries from 23 to 13.

He spoke at the inauguration of the eighth House of Assembly.

As early as 8am, over 100 security operatives blocked the two entrances of the Parliamentary Building in Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

Two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and five patrol vans were also at the entrance.

Guests were searched before they entered the building.

A source said the heavy security presence was to prevent violence by supporters of the two contenders for the speakership.

The two contenders are

•Inaugurates eighth Assembly From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Michael Adeyemo (Ibarapa East) and Olusegun Olaleye (Ibadan North I).

It was gathered that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ajimobi have appealed to Olaleye to step down for Adeyemo, but he insisted on contesting.

The election was supervised by the Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the House, Deacon Gbola Akinyanju, in the presence of the governor, party leaders, supporters, traditional rulers and civil servants.

Adeyemo was nominated

by Kehinde Subair and his nomination carried the majority.

Other elected officers include Musa Abdulwasiu (Saki West) Deputy Speaker, Kehinde Subair (Ibadan South West 1) Majority Leader and Oyatokun Oyeleke Adeyemo (Afijio) Deputy Majority Leader.

Others are Joshua Olagunju Ojo (Oriire) Minority Leader. Wasiu Olafioye of Lagelu and Olusegun Ajanaku of Ibadan South West 11 are Chief Whip and Chairman, Parliamentary Council.

Adeyemo assured the governor that the Assembly would cooperate with the Executive to give the state a well coordinated direction in governance and politics.

Ajimobi said the ministries were reduced to cut the cost of governance and also

OLM’s spokesman Sunday Akinnuoye said: “We will not give in to any molestation by people we allowed to earn a living on our land.”

One killed in youths’ clash

•Abductors demand N20m •Fayose: he’ll be rescued CATHOLIC priest has been abducted in IdoEkiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Rev Emmanuel Akingbade, the parish priest of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, was kidnapped by a threeman gang from his house on Tuesday night.

The kidnappers are said to be demanding N20 million ransom.

The abduction has led to youths protest in the community.

The protesters blocked the highway that passes through the town with used tyres, logs of wood and other objects, demanding the priest’s release.

The irate protesters wondered why the town was being targeted by kidnappers as many people have been abducted in the community and its environs.

Many motorists plying the Ifaki-Ido-Otun Road ei-

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Martins Adeleke said some people were offended because of the support the Southwest gave President Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 election.

restructure the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for optimum performance.

The governor urged the legislature to cooperate with the Executive. ``Our desire to embark on the foregoing, among others, is borne out of our ardent desire to make life more abundant for the people. ``Likewise, for the state to attain the desired global status that she deserves.''

He expressed his admiration for the people, who ''defied all known distractions to break the mythical or contrived yoke of 39 years of “no second term at Agodi Government House''.

Ajimobi said his vision is to make the state a place where people could realise their aspiration.

NE person was killed yesterday in a clash between residents of Ifetodo in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) workers.

It was gathered that some youths allegedly attacked the workers, who wanted to carry out mass disconnection of power supply.

Sources said the youth resisted because there had been blackout in most parts of the community.

The situation became rowdy and the BEDC officials called in the police.

The crisis degenerated when a protester died after being hit by stray bullets.

Traditional rites begin for Deji From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Deji of Akure, Oba Patrick Aladetoyinbo, yesterday began the traditional rites for his installation.

The monarch was on Tuesday presented with his staff of office by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Oba Aladetoyinbo was said to have gone to Ayere village in Akure North Local Government Area, where he will stay for days before he moves to the palace.

Palace sources said the monarch would be incommunicado for seven days at Alakure forest, where some traditional rites would be performed before he starts exercising his authority as the Deji.

It was gathered that the palace will remain closed, until the rites are concluded.

The traditional ruler has promised to promote peace and tranquility.

‘Saraki, Dogara planned coup against APC’ From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan

A

POLITICAL scientist, Dr. Gbade Ojo, yesterday described the emergence of principal officers of the National Assembly as a “civilian coup”.

He said the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, did not consider the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ojo, a Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, said their action was against the party’s constitution, noting that it was absolutely unacceptable to have the opposition hold key position in the Senate.

He said: “The voting pattern can be described as a civilian coup against the APC. The legislators’ action is disobedience to the party’s directive. It’s lack of discipline on their part. There is party supremacy, which must be respected.

“Nigeria is a deeply divided and plural society in which federal character should be in operation, which will hold all the ethnic groups together. But this was thrown into the bin.

“The electorate voted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out but it now came back to the National Assembly through the back door. That is not acceptable.

“The APC members are supposed to bury their inordinate ambitions for national integration. Principal positions are to be distributed taking into consideration religious and zoning cleavages. The party believes in zoning to achieve national integration.

“We are supposed to operate a guided democracy. It has worked in many countries.”

Ojo called on the leadership of the party to quickly revisit the issue before it is gone out of hand because if not properly managed, PDP may use the avenue to topple the president.

9

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

NEWS Ambode to fight cancer

L

AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday dedicated his 52nd birthday celebration to the fight against cancer.

Ambode, born on June 14, 1963, called on his family, friends, political associates and well wishers wishing to place congratulatory advertiorials to channel the resources to the fight against cancer.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor sought their understanding to respect his wish to use the birthday as his modest way of reaching out to the distressed.

“As a modest way of touching the distressed and making an impact on humanity, I have decided to associate with ‘The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria)’ in fighting the big war against cancer,” the governor said.

He urged interested people to send such donations to the First Bank Account of The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria); No: 2026761622.

Ambode said the project is being anchored by Dr. Christopher Kolade and Prof Pat Utomi.

The governor assured prospective donors that all such gestures will be acknowledged and appreciated.

LUTH doctors threaten strike

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

T

HE Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (ARD LUTH) has threatened to go on strike over what it described as “issue of skipping of non-doctors”.

The body has given a seven-day ultimatum to the hospital to implement skipping, which it hoped, will serve as a window of opportunity for productive dialogue.

Should there be no truce, the association would go on a three-day warning strike, before a declaration of an indefinite strike.

To this end, it has given a 21-day notice of an indefinite strike, to be concurrently counted with the above.

Its President, Dr Moronkola Ramon, said the problem is recurrent because, “the NMA/NARD strike was suspended last year, following an agreement with the Federal Government to extend skipping to doctors in centres where non-doctors were being skipped and this was circularised.

Skipping is a system where workers enjoy what is apparently a double promotion.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Bode Chris, said his management is yet to receive any official statement regarding the stance of the doctors.

According to Prof Chris, “The hospital is not aware that its resident doctors want to down tools. The hospital does not pay salaries. The Federal Government does that.”

Pensioners protest in Osun

P

ENSIONERS in Osun State yesterday marched on the House of Assembly and the secretariat on Gbongan Road in Osogbo to protest the non-payment of their allowances.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Pensioners are suffering”; “Pay our pension”; “We can’t suffer anymore, stop deceiving us”, among others.

The state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Adesoji Adedire, said the protest was to press home their demands.

According him, no fewer than 236 pensioners have died in the last seven months, since the government failed to pay their pensions and gratuities.

He said the union resolved to protest because former

Govt: we’ll pay From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

President Goodluck Jonathan said no state was being owed monthly allocation.

Adedire, who lamented the hardship facing his members in the last eight months, described the pension as their only source of income after retirement.

He said they are tired of “empty promises” by the government, noting that many pensioners cannot afford medical treatment.

The protesters called on Nigerians and the Federal Government to intervene.

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Taiwo Adeyemi, urged the protesters to be patient.

He assured that the gover-

nor would soon find a solution to the problem.

But the government said it was not unaware of the plight of the pensioners.

In a statement by the media aide to the governor, Semiu Okanlawon, the government said: “We are aware of the protests by some pensioners yesterday morning.

“It is obviously in continuation of the expected pressure on the government to fulfil its obligations.

“However, we must state that this is not the best of time to embark on such protests because the pensioners themselves know that meetings of their representatives with the government have been focused on this.

“We have assurances that very soon this situation will be resolved and all the backlogs cleared.

“If no one can accuse Governor RaufAregbesola of wasteful spending in his four years of governance why now would anyone say he is wasteful.

“It is ironic that those making these allegations today saw in him and applauded the very prudent manner he had managed the affairs of the state even with the meagre resources at his disposal.

“Where has he been wasteful? The accusation of insensitivity cannot be true because they know that but for the revenue crisis, payments of salaries and allowances were major priorities of this government.

“We are aware that at periods like this, the head of any administration becomes easy target for pillory but this is just a phase that will soon pass.”

Ikere ruling houses meet EKITI State Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola has said neither he nor Governor Ayodele Fayose has a preferred candidate for the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti stool.

He said they would not interfere in the ongoing selection process.

Kolapo spoke at a peace meeting with the “Omo Owa”, a body comprising the Akayejo, Agaba Ola and Ogbenuotesoro ruling houses, to proffer a solution to the bickering over the selection of the new monarch.

Olusola said filling a vacant traditional stool is purely a traditional affair, which has comprehensible traditional and statutory procedures to be followed.

He said as long as these fundamental procedures are followed, any candidate who emerged from the ruling house would be accepted by the government.

The deputy governor said all what the governorand other state officials have been doing is just to ensure that peace continues to reign in Ikere.

He appealed to all parties to jettison their personal interest and allow due process.

‘Name election contractors’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

• Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left), Speaker of the House of Assembly Michael Adeyemo (middle), Joshua Olagunju Ojo (second right) and Kehinde Subair (right) and Ajimobi’s wife, Florence, at the inauguration of the eighth House of PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI Assembly at the Parliament Building Secretariat, Ibadan... yesterday.

Police arrest three for ‘abduction, death of 11-year-old’

O

PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspects for the “abduction and alleged poisoning” of a 11year-old girl.

The suspects are Babatunde Aderonmu (21), Sina Damilare (40) and Taofeek Kola (50).

The minor was said to have been kidnapped on May 21 byAderonmu, an ex - em-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ployee of her father, who runs a bakery at Ijoko Ota. It was gathered that Aderonmu allegedly took the girl to Osun Jegede, Ogbere in Oyo State, where she was kept in seclusion.

She died after a poisonous substance was administered on her.

The suspects contacted the minor’s parents and demanded N2million. They later re-

duced it to N300, 000.

An account number of a prophetess, whom they claimed had blessed the operation ,was given to the victim’s parents.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who paraded the suspects yesterday in Abeokuta, said the victim’s father informed the police about the case.

“Upon investigation, the prime suspect, Aderonmu, was arrested on May 29.

Adejobi added that the suspects had confessed that an Islamic cleric, they had engaged, administered a substance on the girl, which unfortunately led to her death.

“Her remains were later dumped few metres away from the divisional police station in Ogbere Tioya in Ibadan, Oyo State.”

He said a woman operating a petty shop near the site alerted her neighbours and also invited the police.

Lagos remains investor’s haven, says Dangote

A

FRICA’s richest man and President of Dangote Group of Companies Aliko Dangote yesterday said Lagos remains an investor’s haven.

He spoke when he visited Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Dangote, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja noted that when the various projects being done in Lagos are completed, the emergent mega city will be an attractive business hub that will command investor’s respect and attention across the globe.

Governor Ambode said his administration will support the Dangote Group where it is necessary towards ensuring that investors have a comfortable life.

“I will just call on other investors that wherever it is that we can assist , we are willing and ready to make

•Doles out N400m to empower women

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

sure that investors have comfortable life and business profile in Lagos State.”

The governor, who described the visit as very significant, promised that his administration would open up the state for greater business just as it is also interested in attracting foreign investors through its creation of an Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment.

“This visit is highly significant. We said it that we are going to open up Lagos State for greater business and we also said we are interested in bringing in foreign investors and also create an Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment.

“This visit is symbolic in the sense that the bottom line is creating jobs for our youths and Dangote has

shown full commitment as a great Nigerian that he is interested in investing in any part of this country.

“But most significantly in Lagos we are ready to support him and support all his businesses because he is adding value.

“I will just call on other investors that wherever it is that we can assist, we are willing and ready to make sure that investors have comfortable life and business profile in Lagos and once again I want to thank you for being here,” he added.

The governor thanked the Dangote Group President for donating N400 Million through the Dangote Foundation to 2,000 women in 20 local governments towards improving their businesses.

After the meeting, the businessman said he and his

team were at the Lagos House to congratulate the governor on his electoral victory.

The business mogul said the visit also afforded him the opportunity to assure the governor of his commitment to finish ongoing projects being embarked upon by his company as well as his continued support to initiatives geared towards securing lives and properties.

“I have assured him that we really love doing business here, it’s a friendly state for doing business and also to assure him of all the projects that we are doing that we are on course; that is building the largest refinery of 650,000 barrels per day, which is by far more than the consumption of Nigeria and that would satisfy our consumption at least for the next seven to ten years by the time we finish. “

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has challenged a former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Chief Bandele Falegan, to name the election contractors drawing money from the state’s treasury.

The party in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, described the allegation as “very frivolous and unfortunate”.

It challenged the exbank chief to produce evidence to substantiate his claim that N650 million is being deducted monthly from source into the coffers of the election contractor.

Chief Falegan had said: “How many sons and daughters of Ekiti know that the governorship election was contracted for the contractor to be taking N650 million from the state’s treasury via the State’s Federal Allocation drawn at source every month effective from October 2014 after the swearing in of the governor?

“This is a standing order exclusive of recurrent benefits in contract awards.”

Falegan also alleged that records existed for an agreement of resignation over failure to fulfill contract terms.

The statement reads: “We first thought the octogenarian was quoted out of context but after waiting for some days for a denial showed that the former banker has thrown caution to the wind.

“As far as we are concerned, we don’t know where Chief Falegan got his own information because the poor allocations and its attendant problems are not peculiar to Ekiti State alone.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

10

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Hotel attendant beats up lover

Three injured as bus’ break fails HREE persons were injured at the Cappa bus stop on Agege Motor Road in Lagos yesterday when a LAGBUS vehicle marked APP 466 XJ had a brake failure.

The 45-passenger bus, The Nation learnt, ran into a fence along the road around 2pm to mitigate the disaster.

Passersby rushed to save the injured victims after the Ikorodu-bound vehicle, which was said to have taken off from Oshodi, stopped.

Three passengers were rescued with bruises, while the bus’ driver who suffered shock was taken away from the scene.

One of the victims, who claimed anonymity, said: “The bus was driving normally from the beginning of our journey, but within a minute, what I heard was noise from other passengers

HOTEL attendant, Adie Fidelis-Ugbe, 26, yesterday appeared before an Abule Egba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly beating up his lover.

The accused, who lives on Omo Israel Street in Oke-Odo, in Abule Egba, Lagos is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting Police Inspector Racheal Williams said the offence was committed on June 2 at the residence of the accused.

Williams said the accused and another person still at

A

T

INCE the rains started, residents of Owode Street, Abule Egba in Ijaiye Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have been living in pains. Going and coming have not been easy because of their deplorable road.

“The road, despite being in the metropolis, has been neglected for many years by the local and state governments.

Many residents, business owners and tenants have relocated elsewhere because of the condition of the route, while many car owners have been forced to park them,” a resident, Mrs Folu Adesiyan said.

There are huge craters on the road, which make it even difficult for tricyclists to manoeuver.

Our reporter was forced to park his car on a neighbouring street when he visited the place on Monday.

Angry residents lamented how once flourishing businesses on the street crashed because of the bad road.

No fewer than 15 shops were have been shut following their owners’ relocation to other areas.

Workers in the three hotels on the street said sales had plummeted.

A worker at Jydab Hotel, who identified herself as Cyntia, said it had been over three months since a new customer visited, adding that the hotel has been running on deficit.

This, she said, has affected staff salaries and the running of the hotel.

At DSK Hotel, one of the managers, Mr Adebisi Sosanya, said only the old and loyal customers still patronise them “out of sympathy”.

“Despite the huge revenue being generated on the street from taxes and the great employment opportunities provided by companies, the bad state of the road has made it impossible for any business to make profit,” he said.

A resident said: “This is really lamentable; ordinarily, this should be the work of the

large beat up Ugbe’s lover, Blessing Michael.

“The complainant met another woman in FidelisUgbe’s compound and a fight ensued between the women.

“As the fight raged on, the accused took sides and started beating Michael. And when Michael wanted to take some of the electronics she allegedly bought with her money, Fidelis-Ugbe and his accomplice beat the complainant,” she said.

Magistrate Adenike Shonubi granted the accused N50, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

She adjourned the case till July 22.

Man charged with N218,000 theft •The accident scene...yesterday

By Toluwalogo Olugbenga and Angela Abu

who were shouting ‘Jesus’.

Before I could figure out what the problem was, our bus had crashed into the fence.”

Another survivor praised the driver for his experience

S

PHOTO: OLAWALE BALOGUN

and his promptness at deciding to crash the bus into the fence.

“If he had rammed into other cars on the expressway, he would have created more damages and even deaths. I thank God that we are all alive and well,” he said.

The third injured victim

was seen sitting under a tree near the scene of the accident.

Apparently still in shock, she thanked God for not having any critical injury.

“I’m fine and I bless God for that. I just sustained a minor scare in my thigh; it is nothing to worry about,” she said.

‘This road is giving us hell’

31-YEAR-OLD man, Akin Ibrahim, was yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alleged obtaining N218,000 from a customer under the pretext of supplying him goods.

Ibrahim, who resides at Layinka Street, Ajegungle, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

According to the prosecuting Corporal, Friday Inedu, the accused committed the offence in January at his apartment.

He said Ibrahim collected the money from the complainant, Sulimon Afasa.

“The accused did not supply the goods as promised or refunded the money. Ibrahim converted the money to personal use.’’

The offence, Inedu noted, contravened Sections 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Senior Magistrate Adeyemi Amos granted the accused N50, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum and adjourned the case to July 9.

A

Man ‘dupes’ woman of N5.2m

A

•Owode Street...yesterday

By Seun Akioye

local government, but despite all our entreaties to the last administration, the local government refused to fix this road. We pay taxes and we contribute to the economy of the state and this is how the government has chosen to pay us back”.

Many of the residents criticised the former council chair, Benjamin Olabinjo, saying he rebuffed all their entreaties to fix the road.

Mrs Bisola Bello said: “When anybody gets to our street, he would wonder if really human beings are living here. This is not a village in a suburb; this is Abule Egba and this street is one of the

most important ones here.

There are so many business concerns here. Also, you see that this is a major link road to the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.”

A community leader, Alhaji Salaudeen Tiamiyu, said the bad road has resulted in “huge economic sabotage”. “There are some things we should not even think about as it is too shameful; this road is one of them. How can you imagine seeing Owode Road in this state of utter disrepair and disregard? It seems both the local and state governments are not interested in the people who live here, yet we are citizens. Look at the three hotels

here and tell me if they can make any profit with this state of the road?” he said.

Another resident Mrs Olaitan Olaonipekun said: “On some occasions, our children have had to stay in their homes because their school buses cannot access the street.

It is that bad.”

The residents pleaded with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to come to their aid to prevent disaster.

“Our governor said he wanted to make life simpler and make us happier; we are yet to feel that here. But we hope he will make good his pledge. Now, we wait for him to fix the road,” said a resident.

Woman ‘chases out’ niece,9, for meat theft YABA Chief Magistrate’s Court on Lagos Mainland yesterday granted N100,000 bail to a woman, Mercy Akinsode, 46, who chased out her nine-yearold niece for allegedly stealing a piece of meat.

Chief Magistrate A.O. Soladoye ordered her to provide two sureties in like the sum and adjourned the case till July 6.

Akinsode, who lives on Bajulaiye Road in Somolu, Lagos, is facing a charge of child abandonment.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Anyanwu told the court that the accused chased out her late sister’s nine-year-old daughter for stealing a piece of meat.

A

Anyanwu said the accused committed the offence on June 5 about 8 p.m., at her residence.

The victim, he said, was brought to Lagos from Ekiti some years ago to live with her aunt following her mother’s death.

“The family’s nanny, one Esther, had brought some raw meat from the market and directed the victim to prepare it. The nanny saw the victim eating part of the meat and reported her to her aunt. After scolding her, the aunt drove her out of the house.

“However, a good Samaritan saw the victim wandering around in a market, and took her to the Alade Police Station, Somolu.’’

The accused pleaded not guilty.

63-year-old man, Patrick Amaechi, was yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly obtaining N5.2 million from one Bonny Allison under the pretext of securing a German visa for her.

Amaechi, 63, who resides at Zaechaeus Lane in Ajegungle, Lagos, was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

He denied committing the offence.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Soji Ojaokomo, said the ac-

cused committed the offence on April 15 at his residence.

He said Amaechi collected the N5.2 million from the complainant with a promise to secure a German visa for her.

“Instead of securing the German visa for Allison, the accused converted the money to his personal use,’’ Ojaokomo said.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Senior Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya granted the accused N100, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till June 17.

Domestic violence training holds

By Adeola Ogunlade

A

TRAINING has been held on the need to study and actualise the provisions of the domestic and sexual violence law by reporting perpetrators in order to reduce the menace in

Lagos.

The one-day training in domestic and sexual violence was organised by the Lagos State Accountability and Voice Initiatives (SAVI), and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The programme, which held in Ikeja, involved 30 civil society groups, representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), traditional rulers, trade unions, members of the physically challenged communities and lawyers among others.

A former Senior Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akingbolahum Adeniran, said: “No law is selfenforcing; it is the affected people that will sacrifice their time to make use of the law which will help to strengthen its provision.”

Adeniran noted that over 140 convicted sexual offenders had been registered by the state ministry of justice because some people came out of their shed without resorting to self-help or revenge, but allow the law to run its full course.

The lawyer, who lamented the spate of sexual violence in the state, said: “In many cases when victims of domestic and sexual violence don’t come out and report, the perpetrators continue in their unwholesome acts and yet, the state government will not be unable to do anything.”

The Director, Office of Public Defender, Mrs Clara Ibirogba, said children should be instructed not to follow strangers, respect people no matter their gender, adding that the male should not strike a woman; be patience and have self-control at all times.

She also charged the police to take matters of sexual offence seriously and avoid settling them out of court, particularly when there is enough evidence from the victim.

Mrs Ibirogba said the police station should not the first point of call for sexual violence committed, but hospitals where evidence can be prescribed and any form of sexually transmitted diseases can treated within 48 hours.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

11

CITYBEATS Court ends two-year-old marriage Father in court for caning son, 5 A A A

FATHER was yesterday arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for caning his five-year-old son.

The accused, Sikiru Mustapha, 29, is standing trial for assault.

Mustapha, a resident of Pedro Street in Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, however, pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Anyanwu told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 5 about 9.30 a.m. at his residence.

The victim, he said, lived with the accused and his step-mother.

Anyanwu said the accused beat his son because he defecated on his body as he was preparing to go to school.

“The victim’s teacher saw the injuries on the boy’s body and rushed him to hospital.

“The teacher and those who treated the boy called the Public Defender’s Office to report the case.

“The accused was arrested by officers of the Sabo Police Station at Yaba after investigations,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said the victim was still undergoing treatment.

Chief Magistrate A.O. Soladoye granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case till July 20.

Man charged with assault 22-YEAR-OLD MAN, Sakiru Mohammed, was yesterday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly assaulting three men with cutlass and other dangerous weapons.

Mohammed, a resident of Ajegunle area of Apapa, is standing trial on a twocount charge of conspiracy and assault.

The accused denied the charges.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Soji Ojaokomo told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 25 at Tessi Street, Ajegunle.

He said the accused and others at large assaulted Umoru Kaisa, Salisu Ibrahim and Mohammed Isah with razor blade, cutlass and broken bottles: “The complainants reported that the accused and his accomplices were harassing people with those dangerous weapons,” he said.

Ojaokomo said the offence contravened Sections 172 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Senior Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya granted the accused N50, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

Further hearing in the case was fixed for June 17.

A

N Ojo Customary Court in Lagos yesterday dissolved the two-year-old marriage of Mr and Mrs Saliu Yekini for infidelity, excessive drinking, lack of care, constant fighting and threat to life.

“Its president, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, ruled that the allegations of the petitioner, Saliu Yekini, 60, against his wife, Latifat, indicated that there was no more love in the union.

Ogunmola said: “The court is not in doubt that the marriage between Saliu and Latifat Yekini has broken down irretrievably. The court hereby officially dissolves the marriage. The custody of a one-year-old baby girl from the marriage is hereby awarded to the respondent, under the supervision of the sister-in-law.

“The petitioner is directed to pay N5,000 monthly to the respondent for feeding of the baby and should also take charge of medical and education needs of the child.

“Any party, who is not pleased with any section of this judgement, should appeal within 30 days of the judgment.”

Earlier, Latifat, 34, denied the allegations, saying her husband was trying to cover up his inability discharge his marital responsibilities.

“My husband was only looking for a cover up to justify his irresponsibility, I am also fed up with the marriage and do support the divorce,” she said.

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

‘My wife is carrying another man’s pregnancy’

BUSINESSMAN, Samson Muse, yesterday urged an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his three-year-old marriage because his wife is carrying another man’s pregnancy.

Muse said his wife, Tunrayo is unfaithful, adding that such a woman should not be seen as his wife.

“My wife fights a lot, uses dangerous weapons to attack me, she is too troublesome, does not take care of our son, I’m no longer in love with her.

“A woman that sleeps about with different men is not worthy to be a wife; in fact, the seven month-old pregnancy she is carrying is from an unknown source.

“I cannot live with a woman

•Woman: I don’t know who owns it who has become promiscuous, sleeping around, in fact, she has become too troublesome and does not have any regard for me,’’ Muse said.

He said he would obey the court’s order to pay N30,000 monthly feeding allowance for their two-year-old son to ensure the divorce.

“I need this court to dissolve our marriage and also grant me permission to be in possession of my son because she cannot take good care of him.

“My son, legally named Faruk is currently referred to as ‘Park well’ at the motor parks, I cannot take it any longer, I need quick action,’’ he said.

Tunrayo, 38, however, denied Muse’s claims, saying her husband abandoned her and she had to seek help from other men.

“My husband does not take care of me, he has carried out deals of over N2 million in my presence. His sister is the Deputy Iyaloja of Okoko Market, yet he cannot even pay my dowry, I cannot say who owns this pregnancy, but I cannot release my son to him,’’ she said.

The court’s president, Chief Joseph Ogunmola, advised the husband to keep his promise of giving feeding allowance to his son.

Ogunmola adjourned the case till June 29 for judgment.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

12

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

I always like to emphasise that I am never too keen on bailouts because they are always fraught with malpractices just like waivers and things like that. It’s always better to have a level playing field.

-Managing Director of Cocosheen Nigeria Limited, Henry Boyo

West African capital markets’ integration ’ll boost growth

Why NNPC is yet to remit NLNG’s $11.6b dividends From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

By Taofik Solako

T

T

HE integration of capi tal markets in West Af rica will mitigate challenges of liquidity and depth and create a large pool of funds that will boost regional growth and development.

Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ghana, Dr. Adu Antwi, said this yesterday in Lagos while presenting a paper on ‘Integrating West African capital markets: Issues, challenges and prospects’ at the 11th Annual PEARL Awards Public Lecture for capital market development.

Antwi noted that most capital markets in emerging countries like those in West Africa have been described as narrow and illiquid and investors are usually discouraged from investing in these markets because of these risks.

According to him, the evidence to support the view that West African stock exchanges are still underdeveloped could be found by considering the few listed companies, low market capitalisation, low liquidity, limited range of investment products, and low level of capital market knowledge among the populace, among others.

He said integration of the capital markets within the region would deepen and create more efficient pool of capital that will address the present challenges and promote economic development within the region.

According to him, in integrated capital markets, capital moves freely across borders and investors and users of capital have the same opportunities within a region, whereas in segmented markets, the capital investment of firms in one country is limited to the savings provided by the country’s consumers.

He, however, noted that although the West African Capital Market Integration Council (WACMIC) had been inaugurated in 2013 and some landmark decisions had been reached, the integration has been contending with challenges of converging national objectives with regional aspirations and obtaining political support and buy-in by market operators and other stakeholders among others.

He outlined that lack of uniform taxation rates and fiscal policies across the region and the absence of a single currency are also part of the challenges, assuring that the WACMIC will work to resolve the challenges.

He expressed the confidence that the integration would be successful this time around as its importance and benefits were huge. He also expressed the belief that ECOWAS and all the sub-regional organisations viewed the integration of West African capital markets as a very important tool for the integration of West African economies.

•Chairman, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), Alhaji Aliko Dangote, addressing shareholders during the firm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday in Lagos. With him are Managing Director Mr. Paul Farrer (left) and a director Knut Ulmvoen

Cost of borrowing to rise, says World Bank

D

EVELOPING coun tries seeking to ob tain credit from the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral bodies, would pay higher interest rate, World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim., has said.

In a statement yesterday, The Kim said these countries will face a series of tough challenges in 2015, “ including the looming prospect of higher borrowing costs as they adapt to a new era of low prices for oil and other key

By Simeon Ebulu

commodities, resulting in a fourth consecutive year of disappointing economic growth this year.”

He however said that developing countries are now projected to grow by 4.4 per cent this year, with a likely rise to 5.2 per cent in 2016, and 5.4 per cent in 2017.

Kim, in the release, signed by the Manager, Online Media Briefing Centre (OMBC), David Theis, explained that although Developing countries at a time acted like en-

gine of global growth following the financial crisis, regretted that “but now they face a more difficult economic environment.

“We’ll do all we can to help low and middle-income countries become more resilient so that they can manage this transition as securely as possible. We believe that countries that invest in people’s education and health, improve the business environment, and create jobs through upgrades in infrastructure will emerge much stronger in

the years ahead. These kinds of investments will help hundreds of millions of people lift themselves out of poverty,” Kim said.

The World Bank Group’s chief, said with an expected liftoff in U.S. interest rates, borrowing will become more expensive for emerging and developing economies over the coming months, adding that this process is expected to unfold relatively smoothly since the U.S. economic recovery is continuing and interest rates remain low in other major global economies.

Embrace capital market, SEC urges governors

T

HE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has urged state governments to take advantage of the numerous benefits inherent in the capital market to bring about desired development to Nigerians.

A statement from the SEC said its Director-General, Mounir Gwarzo stated this in Katsina at the SEC Day at the ongoing 18th Katsina State Trade Fair, adding that such advantages can be accessed through equities, bonds or mortgage bond securities.

Represented by its Head, Kano Zonal Office, Malam Adamu Sambo, Gwarzo, said the capital market has the capacity to provide long term funds needed to solve the

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

infrastructural challenges in the country and act as a springboard that would fast track development of their states.

He said the Commission was attending the fair in order to manifest one of its broad functions which is to carry out enlightenment on the activities in the market.

“We are here to enlighten the Katsina State government and its people on the need for them to take activities in the market as a means for development. We have a new government in place and we hope that they will access the capital market to raise floating funds to meet their development needs.

“The president has already said he is keen on the development of the country and we therefore urge the state governments to use the capital market as a channel to raise funds. States have a lot of potentials and we believe that they can use the capital market as one of the means of achieving their potentials,” he said.

He noted that both the federal and state governments in the last dispensation raised over N500 billion from the bourse through bonds by various states for infrastructure development between 1999 and 2013.

Gwarzo expressed dismay at the attitude of some state governments who claim they do not want to borrow funds

for development in order not to leave the states with huge debts saying such attitude is counter-productive as it is better to borrow to meet infrastructural needs than to be contented with just paying salaries.

He said: “Indebtedness is not bad, what is bad is a situation where such funds are used for consumption. If there is commensurate infrastructural development on ground, there is no regret in borrowing. Even abroad, states borrow for development.”

Gwarzo therefore urged the state governments to embrace the capital market in their economic strategy in order to meet the needs and aspirations of their people.

Shareholders praise NASCON on diversification

S

HAREHOLDERS of Na tional Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), a subsidiary of Dangote Group, yesterday, commended the company on the huge investment made in production of tomato paste, vegetable oil and seasoning.

The shareholders, who spoke during the 2014 yearly general meeting of the company, held in Lagos yesterday, urged the board to strengthen its research and development de-

By Chikodi Okereocha

partment to achieve optimal result and enhance operations.

One of the shareholders, Kazeem Olayiwola, expressed satisfaction on the successes recorded so far in the production of other food condiments apart from salt, adding that the investment would translate into more values for stakeholders.

He charged the management of NASCON, especially the marketing division to be more innovative as to drive more

sales of the several range of products now available within the company. He specifically tasked the management to pay more attention to staff training and incentives as these are essential to drive productivity.

Another shareholder, Sotunde Sopeju also commended the management for turning around the fortunes of NASCON, which has now gone beyond salt refining.

He also said NASCON has done well in paying of divi-

dends.

With a dividend of N1.32 billion, culminating to 50 kobo per share due to every investor of the company for the 2014 financial year.

The company’s Chairman, Aliko Dangote assured shareholders that the company’s new business lines will impact significantly on returns to shareholders.

He said the company is now known as Nascon Allied Industries Plc.

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora tion (NNPC) yesterday clarified the circumstances surrounding the reported non-remittance of the $11.6bn LNG dividends as alleged by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

In a statement, NNPC disclosed that contrary to the impression created by NEITI that nothing was being done to get the money remitted, the matter has since been referred to the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) for reconciliation and resolution.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe of the corporation in the statement noted that: “At the last meeting of the IMTT, it was resolved that the Minister of Petroleum, Chairman of NEITI, Executive Secretary of NEITI, and the Group Managing Director of NNPC should meet on the issue of NLNG dividends and report back to the IMTT. “Unfortunately, that meeting has not held. However, another meeting of the IMTT is coming up next week and the issue will be taken up from there.

“NEITI as a member of the IMTT is aware of the ongoing efforts to reconcile and resolve the issue of NLNG dividend remittance.”

Huawei mulls shipment of 100m smartphones •Makes top global brands list

By Lucas Ajanaku

C

HINESE original equipment manufac turer (OEM), Huawei has said it is targeting the shipment of 100 million units of smartphones this year.

Director Communications & Brand Management, Huawei, Nigeria Consumer BG, Mr. Olaonipekun Okunowo, said the OEM did well in its first quarter this year, adding that the firm will keep rolling out unique smartphones that will delight its global customers.

He said: “Looking ahead, Huawei Consumer BG aims to sustain the growth momentum created in Quarter 1 of 2015 and further consolidate Huawei’s leading position in the mid-to-high-end smartphone market with a 2015 shipment target of 100 million units. With Huawei’s strong technical capability, Huawei Consumer BG will continue to create extraordinary brand experiences to consumers all over the world and realising dreams for people everywhere.”

Huawei was listed as one of the world’s top 100 brands last year and is known as the first Chinese company to achieve such a feat.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

13

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

15

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Despite its challenges, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is striving to bridge the manpower gap through aggressive training. The agency has trained 237,561 persons from 5, 815 organisations in the last one year, reports TOBA AGBOOLA.

How ITF is bridging manpower gap F

OR the nation to be out of its economic woes, constant training and retraining programmes are required for the youths to fit into new and existing jobs. One of the reasons for its economic woes, according to experts, is lack of training, which has created a huge gap in manpower. This, perhaps, was the reason for the establishment of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) some 43 years ago.

According to its Director-General (DG), Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, the agency has intensified efforts at closing the industrial gap. Since its inception, the ITF has fed the industry with able hands, thus sustaining the measured growth that has so far been recorded.

The fund, under the current DG, has trained many youths on skills acquisition in the last one year. In the last year, the ITF has trained 237,561 Nigerians from 5, 815 organisations.

Also, 704 special intervention programmes were implemented, out of which 202,560 trainees secured employment. Not done, about 16,211 Nigerian women benefitted from specialised intervention programmes of the ITF and 83, 050 students equally participated in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme.

The agency has also helped in training 1000 youths each from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). All these efforts were geared towards bridging the wide industrial gap in the country.

In a chat with the DG, at the gradu-

ation ceremony of the inaugural set of automobile technicians trained by Truck Masters Nigeria Ltd, under the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP), she claimed that her administration has upgraded the bandwidth of the Fund’s communication system to serve current resource requirements, just as the agency’s library was digitized and revenue and reimbursement portals established.

The agency, she said, also entered into collaborations with Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria, for the training of 4000 artisans; Wavecrest College of Hospitality, for revamping MSN Culinary Department. Others are Nigeria Institute of Builders and Shell Petroleum Development Company.

According to her, the agency also strengthened its collaboration with Nigerian’s Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and expanded the ITF/DVT (Germany Chamber of Crafts and Commerce) to train apprentices in line with Germany’s dual system. She noted that her administration last year graduated the first batch of MSTC Trainees, reviewed and secured approval for a new staff regulations and conditions of service.

The ITF, Dr Chukkas-Onaeko said, is also engaging relevant stakeholders on training and effective implementation of its mandate, and sensitising Nigerians on the need to transit to non oil economy.

Highlighting how the fund is initiating proactive measures to achieve its mandate, Onaeko said students

under its training programmes are challenged to impart knowledge provided by the fund and take charge of leading the nation and the continent into an era of sustainable economic development.

She said the vision of economic leadership on the continent by the country can only be achieved when adequate attention and commitment are shown by stakeholders in the quest to imbibe the nation’s youths with continuous vocational and technical knowledge that can create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for them and others.

According to her, trainees sponsored by the Fund in collaboration with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and other organisations would soon get international certifications.

She said ITF is working on getting an international certification programme for its trainees to enable them work anywhere in the world.

According to her, the Fund has also been working with various established players in various industries such as agriculture, oil and gas, and automobile maintenance in order to train more youths.

The ITF’s continuous training through these collaborations, she said, is a move to support the government in reducing the rate of unemployment by placing technical education in the front burner. “I want to congratulate the graduating students, being the first set under the Automobile and Heavy Duty Maintenance and Technician Programme.

With government’s automobile policy, I think this is the best time to take up such a task as taking up a skill in automobile industry, especially for heavy duty trucks, which are more complex,” she said.

According to her, the initiative is a major move to support government’s efforts at reducing the rate of unemployment among the youths. “Most importantly, it has been helping the players in the various industries to raise new breeds of excellently skilled youths to work for them here instead of relying on expatriates,” she said, adding that, “the ITF has been working on certifications for our trainees so that they can work anywhere in the world, because our programmes seem not to be enough”.

“The certification, when ready will have our trainees take exams to qualify them for a diploma in the field of their training,” she said.

Dr Onaeko said this was necessary because it has been difficult to attract young people to technical skills because of the poor remuneration and recognition that the sector has been suffering. ”We have, therefore, been training our students not only on skilled manpower, but alongside good work ethics, good customer care, and also entrepreneurial skills,” she said.

NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, said the purpose of the synergy is to reduce the rate of unemployment among youths by training them on how they can create jobs even with little capital at their disposal. “By being here, we hope to

create jobs by getting the youths trained so that they can stand on their own,” he said, noting that there are huge potentials in the agricultural sector especially, in the area of aquaculture.

The NECA boss appealed to the government to support the initiatives with funds as both organisations lack financial capacity to carry out their assignments.

Managing Director, Truckmasters Ltd, Mr Tony Arenyeka, lauded the ITF-NECA collaboration for impacting the lives of the youths through technical skills acquisition. Arenyeka said Truckmasters Academy was training in areas of specialisation in electronics, mechanical panel beating and spraying, and workshop administration.

The Project Manager, TSDP, Mrs Helen Jemerigbe, said the training was a baby of the project, which has been on for six years. She said the project had been working with 12 companies, and technical colleges all over the country, and the training with Truckmasters Nigeria Ltd was the result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014.

She also said the project, through ITF had also been responsible for the lunch, stipends, and tools and some of the infrastructure needed for the training environment. She said the project has also been working with some of the technical colleges across the country, especially in Lagos state. ”The project provides tools, lunch, and monthly stipends for the trainees,” she said.

NLC seeks ILO’s help over Boko Haram, others

F

ACTIONAL leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has said the issues of endemic poverty, unemployment, and low wage regimes combined with the Boko Haram insurgency have worsened the condition the Nigerian child.

Speaking at the ongoing International Labour Organisation (ILO), Conference in Geneva, Wabba said the situation is so manifestly grave, and demands immediate global attention.

Wabba argued that these circumstances were man-made and were therefore curable.

He requested ILO to avail the government of President Muhammadu Buhari the necessary technical and institutional support to revive the culture of social dialogue in the country, pledging that the NLC is deeply committed to genuine participation in the revival of social dialogue.

One of the ways of ameliorating

this situation, according to Wabba, is the institutionalisation of a robust social dialogue mechanism reminiscent of the presidency of the late Umoru Yar’Adua, which he said substantially benefitted the industrial relations practice in the country during the late president’s tenure.

He said NLC is ready to discuss the core issues of labour interest including job creation, migration management, social protection floors implementation and the broader issues around the structural transformation of the Nigerian economy.

Wabba welcomed the announcement by the ILO Director General that a Global Commission would be put in place to look at the issues within the world of work as well as serve as a debate document during the centenary of ILO. Wabba maintained that for Africa, industrialisation is key to development and both the state and the public service have an immense role to play.

• The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) (right), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the General Secretary, NLC, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson at the opening ceremony of International Labour, Organisation, ILO, Geneva.

PENGASSAN urges Buhari to support oil workers training

T

HE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to support the workers in the oil and gas industry for training, research and development in all aspects of petroleum operations and technology to enhance the acquisition of skills and foster competitiveness.

The oil workers’ union has also

called for effective utilisation of the seismic data and other discoveries made under the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) research partnerships as well as the exploration of values created by the PTDF trained scholars to augment the industry’s skills/expertise gap.

PENGASSAN’s President, Comrade Francis Johnson made the call in Lagos while briefing reporters.

He said: “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to aggressively support the workers in the oil and gas industry to deepen training, research and development in all aspects of petroleum operations and technology to enhance the acquisition of skillset/ expertise and foster competitiveness because the key driver of any industrial and economic growth is Research and Development.

“The need to continuously

train oil workers and improve on research and development is one of the most important factors that will cause the effective drive which will make the oil sector accomplish optimal performance”.

According him, the PTDF has also done extensive research which led to the development and patenting of Zeolite, a catalyst for the improved refining of heavy crudes, which is produced from local clay.

“In view of the position of President Buhari on the need to resume exploration activities in the Chad Basin, we are aware that the PTDF has done extensive research on the chad basin from 2003 to date through one of its upgrade facilities at the University of Maiduguri on the “effect of volcanic and intrusive generation and accumulation of hydrocarbons in Nigeria’s flange of the Chad Basin,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

17

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

What governors can do •With a new dispensation kicking off under the gale of an economic crunch, governors must do things differently

R

EGARDLESS that some candidates had to literally climb over the mountain to become governors during the last election, it does not seem this is the best of times to hold that position. The reasons are plain for all to see and indeed, one common manifestation of the dire times we are in is huge arrears of wage bills in about half the states of the federation.

What this shows clearly is that the nation’s economy has dipped to its nadir.

The federal allocation which remains the main source of revenue for states has dropped to about half its size since same time last year. The crash in crude oil price late last year has triggered a sharp drop in Nigeria’s earnings and with all the attendant negative up-thrusts.

Sadly, and as nearly everyone knows, there is no end in sight. In other words, oil prices are not going to shoot up anywhere near the $100 per barrel level of the past couple of years in a hurry. First, the world has found alternatives to crude oil fuels.

Second, the US has built up so much reserve she now has a glut. In fact, she will soon become a major exporter of crude oil. Finally, Nigeria mismanaged successive oil booms over the years, including that of the last four years.

She never diversified her economy despite enormous petro-dollar revenues.

She did not even build refineries and petro-chemical complexes as other major oil producers did. Today, the cost of importing various petroleum products is a major crippler of her economy. Today, both the federal and state governments are really in a quandary as to how to meet

such immediate needs as staff salaries.

The situation is indeed dire but it is also a time that calls for quick-minded leaders, especially governors in the driving seats of states.

It is trite to begin to admonish about prudence and diversification of revenue bases. State governors must think out of the box now. They must first cut the fat and strategically trim their bloated workforce. Nearly all ministries and agencies of government down to the local councils are always brimming with ‘ghost workers’. They must bring in the exorcist immediately. In fact they must punish the culprits and accomplices to sound a warning that ‘ghosts’ must remain where they belong – the tombs.

While at the civil service secretariat, they must make the workers work. Many government agencies and departments like transport companies, land registries, commerce and tourism departments really should be money spinners but for leakages and graft. These holes must be blocked and these areas revamped to run more efficiently and yield more revenues.

So much waste goes on around the executive offices and the political appointees. A governor’s convoy can actually be shorter, travels can be fewer and frivolous but expensive ceremonies must be discouraged. Government must begin to be more business-like or better still, run like business. No serious governor engages hundreds (some thousands) of aides and turns around to bemoan large wage bills. Budgeting must be the serious business it is meant to be and that is at the heart of planning.

How many state governments truly plan their finances and stick to it even on an annual basis? So many projects and programmes with little economic value to states litter the country.

Lastly, a concerted effort must be made by governors to extract an urgent review of the constitution to free up some matters on the exclusive list such as mining and value-added taxes (VAT) so that states can earn more revenues from these areas. We wager that it is not exactly correct that some states are not viable.

It is basic economics that every state has its areas of comparative advantage.

Besides, wealth is always in the mind of leaders and their people and not under the ground. The viability of any economic entity lies first in the ingenuity of the leader. It is a time like this that we know those who can truly govern and the pretenders.

‘It is basic economics that every state has its areas of comparative advantage.

Besides, wealth is always in the mind of leaders and their people and not under the ground. The viability of any economic entity lies first in the ingenuity of the leader. It is a time like this that we know those who can truly govern and the pretenders’

Agenda for 8th national, state assemblies •Time for duty

F

AILURE of the legislative arm of government at all levels to effectively and conscientiously play the critical lawmaking and oversight functions has been one of the signal failings of this democratic dispensation. It has been a major reason why democracy since 1999 has not delivered the developmental dividends desired

by Nigerians. An indication of the laxity with which the legislature has approached its task was the haste with which the 7th National Assembly passed 46 bills in 10 minutes, as the end of its tenure loomed.

This was an indication of tardiness, lack of seriousness and unproductive use of time by an institution with a fixed tenure of four years.

If the change for which most Nigerians voted in the last election is to become a reality, there must be a drastic change in the approach of the 8th national and state assemblies to their responsibilities. Law making is serious business in a democracy.

The quality of governance is significantly

‘Another monumental obstacle on the path of development in this dispensation is the unconscionable degree of corruption by public office holders. One of the reasons for this unsavoury scenario is the failure of the national and state assemblies to honestly, conscientiously and meticulously carry out their oversight responsibilities over ministries, departments and agencies’

a function of the worth of legislation. It is not a vocation for unprepared and unserious minds. We thus expect the 8th national and state assemblies to invest adequately in their institutional capacity to enact qualitative laws emanating both from the executive and the legislature.

It is, of course, no secret that legislators in Nigeria rank among the most highly and obscenely paid in the world. Yet, this unjustifiable and immoral remuneration has no bearing on their productivity individually and collectively. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to describe our legislators as one of the most indolent set of Nigerians. The drain, which the sundry allowances of Nigerian legislators, particularly the scandalous constituency allowances, constitutes on national resources, has become a serious drawback on national development. It is an issue, which President Muhammadu Buhari working closely with the leadership of the National Assembly and the political parties must urgently address.

Another monumental obstacle on the path of development in this dispensation is the unconscionable degree of corruption by public office holders. One of the reasons for this unsavoury scenario is the failure of the national and state assemblies to honestly, conscientiously and meticulously carry out their oversight responsibilities over ministries, departments and agencies. Indeed, there have been several incidents in the past where legislators were discovered to have exploited the pretext of investigating agencies under their watch to engage in stupendous self-enrichment. A key agenda of the 8th legisla-

ture must, therefore, be to urgently sanitise the oversight process and move to improve the image and moral integrity of this important arm of government.

The incessant and dysfunctional wrangling between the National Assembly in particular and the Executive over the budgetary process has, over the years, had negative implications for economic policy and development. While such differences are not necessarily inimical to development and may even have their positive side, they can certainly be handled more efficiently and positively so that delays in budgetary implementation no more remain a permanent fixture of our economic process.

It was also most unfortunate that the 7th National Assembly and the presidency could not agree on necessary constitutional reforms despite the humongous resources, including time and energy, expended on the process. Nigerians are unanimous that certain constitutional changes are needed to strengthen the country’s federal practice as well as improve the democratic process. Therefore, the 8th legislature must work in concert with the executive to make this a reality.

What obtains at the national level is almost the same even with the state houses of assembly. We consider it necessary to stress that the state assemblies in particular must cease to be mere rubber stamps to imperious governors as the case in almost all states today. More authoritative, autonomous and assertive state houses of assembly will help considerably to enhance the quality of governance in Nigeria.

President Buhari and NASS elections IR: How can a president who promised the populace change, stay non-aligned in the workings of the National Assembly?

Having the National Assembly as partner would ensure that the goals of his administration are met, and not frustrated. Is non-alignment a good strategy?

Recent elections for leadership positions in the house revealed the usual attitude of “what’s in it for me?” instead of “how may I genuinely serve?” Was the change mantra we were promised an empty bubble?

Personal ambition still seems to be the driving force behind most of our politicians. If their goals aren’t met in one party, they cross the floor to another. It’s evident that there exists a deplorable lack of philosophical purpose rooted in true service beyond self-interest.

How else can you explain away a situation where a crucial election in the Senate was held in the absence of sizeable numbers of members? How can party principles be discarded for personal principles? Isn’t it odd to have two northern candidates lead both houses of the federal parliament? The APC certainly has chosen to follow the path that led to the implosion of the PDP. Don’t you agree?

It is easy to see that our politicians do not support the ethos of zoning and rotation for equity any more. No one can convince me that they do. If they do, how come Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila were side-lined despite being the party-preferred choices?

Please do not tell me that caucuses and party principles don’t exist anymore. I am left to wonder how Lateef Jakande would have succeeded in Lagos as governor if he had not followed his parties’ cardinal points.

The buck stops at the desk of this president.

To avert failure, he needs to keep a worm’seye view as well as a bird’s-eye view of the workings of the parliament. Years ago, the late Kenule Saro-Wiwa said that, “Nigeria is on the brink of disaster” and, today, the nation is still struggling with continued existence.

Unlike great nation-states where leaders give citizens hope, ours engage in swapping denunciations that detract from the tough tasks of nation-building.

It behoves the Eighth National Assembly to work together for development. It would be detrimental to our democracy if the light beamed on political affairs continues to flicker and if we refuse to take cognizance of our country’s place in the world. We are a backward country and need to get over our lassitude if we truly have an interest in the wellbeing of future generations.

• Simon Abah Port-Harcourt

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I read with amazement Mobolaji Sanusi’s article in The Nation of Friday, June 5.

There’s no doubt Mobolaji Sanusi is a highly cerebral columnist. You do not expect anything less from someone who has training in law and journalism.

However, in writing the piece in issue, I believe that Sanusi only succeeded in elevating pettiness into an art. I had to read the article twice to really discover the signal of ‘ingratitude’ that was the focus of Sanusi’s diatribe against Babatunde Fashola, SAN, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State.

Fashola’s crime that necessitated the said article was his ‘omission’ or ‘commission’ to publicly mention the name of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his address at the inauguration of Akinwunmi Ambode as the 14 th Governor of Lagos State.

According to Sanusi, “Fashola consciously missed during Ambode’s inauguration, being his last public official opportunity, to show the entire world that he is capable of showing gratitude to whom it is robustly due. What a repulsive example-and indeed a bad signal-from a supposed former governor of example!”

Having worked with Fashola, first as his Senior Special Assistant on Taxation and Revenue during his first term in office, and later as his Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform in second and final term, I know without a shadow of doubt and without holding brief for him that Fashola is forever appreciative of every good deed.

It strikes me as very strange that Sanusi would devote an entire article to the omission of Fashola to mention our revered Asiwaju by name and thereby concluded magisterially that Fashola was ungrateful to his political benefactor and leader. If the article is Sanusi’s personal opinion, he is perfectly entitled to hold such.

S

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Re: Fashola’s signal of ingratitude However, the columnist went off tangent when he became the judge of people’s mood and facial expression when he declared with magisterial air that: “…At this point at the venue of inauguration of the new governor, the mood of the crowd and facial expressions of many showed stern disagreement to the ungrateful posturing of Fashola by skipping Tinubu’s name which could not have been an oversight.”

In the paragraph, Sanusi became the judge of people’s mood and expression. He was also able to read Fashola’s mind that the omission to mention Tinubu’s name could not have been an oversight. What an

omniscient columnist!

It is very doubtful that Asiwaju Tinubu, our hero and leader, would conclude that Fashola is ungrateful by this oversight. It is my personal opinion that Asiwaju, like all other great leaders, did not attain Olympian height by dignifying molehills as mountains the way my brother sought to do in his article under discussion. Asiwaju has demonstrated in words and deeds that the politics and governance is not about individual but about the country, the state and the people.

Contrary to the picture that Sanusi seeks to paint of Fashola as an ingrate, BRF is not a stream that

forgets its source. The best form of appreciation that BRF could have ever shown to Asiwaju is that he did not let him down as a worthy successor. It is a matter of common knowledge that Fashola stood out amongst successors. Whilst other successors became estranged from their benefactors immediately after entering the State House, Fashola is arguably one of the few that did not allow power to becloud his reasoning. Fashola was able to build upon the illustrious foundation laid by Asiwaju to raise the bar of governance in Lagos State.

Fashola also shows that he is forever grateful to his mentor by en-

suring continuity of Asiwaju’s projects and lofty ideas. Unlike successors who thrive on dismantling the building blocks of their predecessors, Fashola consolidated and expanded the good works of Asiwaju. That Lagos today is a success story is due, in the main, to the combination of Asiwaju’s vision and Fashola’s dedication. Is it therefore surprising that Asiwaju himself observed that: “What we have achieved politically in Lagos and Nigeria is a result of team work, political compatibility and vision”?

Whilst Sanusi is entitled to his opinion and to express same in any manner he may deem fit, there is no need to be uncharitable to Fashola by crying wolf where there is none. Fashola will forever be appreciative to God who used the instrumentality of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to allow him to serve the good people of Lagos State.

•Lanre Akinsola, Lagos

Osun: Sympathisers or mockers?

S

IR: I read with dismay a media report in the dailies that the Osogbo branch of a Pentecostal church has opened a food basket for Osun workers who are going through hard times occasioned by the delay in payment of their salaries by the state government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Although the church asked its members and the public to contribute to the basket, a later report claimed that the call has been largely unheeded.

Around the same time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state also charged the governor to sell the state’s security patrol helicopter and use the proceeds to pay workers salaries. How can any sane person ask that a security pa-

trol instrument be sold?

Randomly, we hear the voices of other miserable comforters shedding crocodile tears for the workers, in a false show of pity.

It is strange and regrettable that a church will lend itself so easily for political use. Jesus instructed us that when we give alms and render assistance to the poor, we should not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. Why then would a church call a world press conference over helping the needy? For the records, I am aware that some churches in the state have been assisting civil servants since the salary problem began and have never publicised it. God sees and will give them their due reward. Christians must know that those who adver-

tise their ‘good’ works for others to behold have no reward with God since they already received their reward from men.

How many of these emergency sympathisers are sincere? A lot of the people pretending to be concerned about workers are just using this crisis as a platform to attack the governor and score a cheap political point. They are actually praying secretly that the governor would never find the money to pay the workers so that they will use the failure to destroy the governor and his party politically. But they have failed because the governor will find the money and will pay; and the state will move forward.

Where were these people when the governor was paying workers

13th month salary for four consecutive years? Where were they when the governor increased pension from N200 million monthly to N530 million? Where were they when the governor resuscitated overseas training for senior civil servants and gave workers housing and car loans?

Where were they when the governor was paying salary on or before the 25th of every month?

These false sympathisers are just mocking the workers by pretending to be concerned about them. We must all know God will judge every intention of the heart, irrespective of what we say to the world and our fellow human being.

• Michael Ogundele, Osogbo, Osun State

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

19

COMMENTS

Terrorism: A historical perspective – 1

T

ERRORISM is popularly defined as the unofficial or unauthorised use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. The other more comprehensive definition of terrorism by the US Code of Federal Regulations is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

For me, it is very difficult to define what constitutes terrorism. However, I define terrorism as violence directed at innocent people or institutions without any rational reason and for no cause or purpose other than those known to the terrorists and even if there is cause for such violence there should be respect for laws of military engagement protecting children, women, the infirm and old people as contained in the Geneva Convention. Terrorism is not a new thing.

There are many incidents in human history that struck terror in the minds of the victims. The pogroms against the Jews in Russia, the Turkish massacre of the Armenians, the killings of Igbo in the North, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the various inter- tribal attacks and killings in many parts of Africa and Asia, the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in BosniaHerzegovina by the Serbs in recent times all constitute acts of terrorism but are better treated under the rubric of genocidal acts and crimes against humanity rather than as terrorism as we have come to understand the term.

What can be described as terrorism stretches back in history. It may even be difficult to arrive at what to call terrorism because one man’s terrorist may be another man’s nationalist fighter. It will surprise many that until 1994 the revered Nelson Mandela was on the official United States list of terrorists.

Condoleezza Rice, the then National Security Adviser to President George Bush and General Colin Powell the then Secretary of State claimed to have been totally embarrassed and

‘Wars have been part of human history since the beginning of time.

Kingdoms have risen and fallen as a result of victory or defeat by one group or the other. The various empires of the world whether in Asia, Africa or Europe were established as a result of imperialistic desires of man and the ability to fight for whatever they believed’ I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which overleaps itself and falls on the other - Shakespeare

P

OLITICIANS can do anything for power; some of them can sell an arm and a leg to achieve their ambition. It is good to be ambitious, but when the ambition becomes inordinate it turns to another thing. This is what we saw play out in the National Assembly on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Senate and House of Representatives following the proclamation of President Muhammadu Buhari in line with Section 64 (3) of the Constitution.

It was an event many Nigerians had looked forward to because of the acrimony among All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators- and members of House of Representatives (MoHR)-elect on who should be the presiding officers in both chambers. Among the Senatorselect, the choice was between Ahmed Lawan and Bukola Saraki and among the MoHR-elect, it was a straight fight between Femi Gbajabiamila and Yakubu Dogara.

The battle for the Senate Presideny and House Speaker was thrown open when Buhari said he had no preferred candidates. Then the party also said it had not zoned the posts to any part of the country.

Perhaps, it would have been better if the posts were zoned. This would have saved the party the drama witnessed on the floors of

423 DAYS AFTER

STILL WAITING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS’ RESCUE

had to do something quickly to get his name out of the list.

Between 1095 and 1297 or even earlier than that, Christian crusaders fought unsuccessfully to liberate the Holy Christian sites in the Middle- East from the Muslims and in this crusade they fought with considerable ferocity and violence to terrorise the Muslim community. Western knights killed and were killed in the defence of their faiths. The Muslim Saracens obviously thought the Christian knights were terrorists and the thought was equally reciprocated.

Although we can say that the Christian crusaders had a purpose in their courageous fight against the Muslims whose religion they neither understood nor appreciated. Even in biblical history before the birth of Christ, the conquest of what is now Palestine by the people of Israel was not without violence. I do not want to go into what historians have called ‘just and unjust wars’. The point that I am making is that what today is terrorism did not just happen. Man’s long history has witnessed different types of terrorism in the past. However, the terrorism of modern times is quite different from the old form of terrorism which was either politically or religiously inspired.

The conquest of the North American continent by white American settlers in order to realise what they call the American manifest destiny as well as the conquest of Southern America by the Spanish and the Portuguese conquistadores was done with tremendous ferocity and violence against the native peoples who must have considered them terrorists. The conquest and carving out of colonial empires by the West was done with much violence; Africans and Asians did not stand a chance against the maxim guns of Western imperialism.

To come nearer home, when Sir Frederick Lugard was sent to Nigeria for its conquest and pacification, his mandate was to subdue all opposition by military force. As Sir Frederick Lugard while reporting home about his successes always claimed that he had to inflict maximum mortal casualties on Nigerians because according to him, black people value lives less than white people. Since western historiography is written from the perspectives of the victors rather than the vanquished, the violent aspect of colonial rule is hardly mentioned.

Western historians will of course defend this violence as being necessary in order to save the Africans and Asians from the barbarism and superstition of traditional bondage. They would say, ‘we cannot make omelette without breaking eggs’ and that the end of western colonial rule must be judged in the globalisation of the world following westernisation and modernisation of the so-called primitive and underdeveloped areas of the world. The dark continent of Africa was lit by the light of western imperialism, they would argue. I am not one of those who would put all the blames of the underdeveloped world as being due to western colonialism. In any case, my late teacher, Professor J.F Ade-Ajayi dismissed the colonial phase as a mere episode in our long history.

Wars have been part of human history since the beginning of time. Kingdoms have risen and fallen as a result of victory or defeat by one group or the other. The various empires of the world whether in Asia, Africa or Europe were established as a result of imperialistic desires of man and the ability to fight for whatever Jide they believed. The Osuntokun wars of conquest can therefore not be seen STRICTLY in terms of terrorism no matter the millions of casualties suffered by people as a result of them.

At least there were war aims that were sometimes carefully articulated by the leaders for which the ordinary people were mobilised to fight for. At least by our definition of terrorism, the First World War in which the whole world was involved and the more gruesome Second World War in which six million Jews were industrially murdered and close to 25 million Germans, Russians, English, Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Australians and New Zealanders, Africans, Indians, Chinese, to mention just a few, were killed, belong to different category of violence.

Obviously, the Jews who suffered in the hands of murderous German SS officers would have seen their tormentors as terrorists. But their tormentors felt that they were removing the Jews who constituted a troublesome presence in Europe.

So however weird, wicked, and unacceptable their reasons might have been, the National socialists of Adolph Hitler had their reasons for the so-called final solution of Jewish problem.

In modern times in Europe, terrorism can be said to have become first a problem in mid 19th century when an anarchist ideology propounded by Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian ideologue advocated that the destruction of the then existing states and building new ones on their ashes was the way forward for Europe out of its problems. His ideas were quite complex and were to influence communist ideology and syndicalist movement in Spain without their acknowledging him. Many acts of terror were committed in his name all over Europe and governments then found it extremely difficult to understand what it was all about. But when his ideas are studied very well, they constitute important basis for the communist ideology.

Tyranny of the minority both chambers on Tuesday as the Saraki and Dogara loyalists defied it to ensure that their candidates became Senate President and House Speaker. Of all the strange things in the world, the Senate, in connivance with the Saraki group, voted Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a member of the minority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Deputy Senate President - an absurdity that never happened in the 16 years PDP was in the majority in the National Assembly.

By returning Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, a post he held for eight years, between 2007 and 2015, the Saraki-led senators not only played bad politics, but also sold their party’s birthright, so to say, to occupy that post. Even when PDP MoHR courted the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 to get Aminu Tambuwal elected as Speaker of the 7th Assembly, they never sold their right to take the seat of Deputy Speaker to ACN and CPC, so why should the reverse be the case for Saraki to become Senate President?

With only 12 APC members to PDP’s 45 in the Senate when it was inaugurated, the minority might have picked the Senate Presidency, if it so wished if not for its understanding with the Saraki group.

Having had their way, the Saraki and Dogara groups now have their party, which has condemned their actions, to contend with, except if they are saying they no longer belong to APC. The Constitution highly esteems parties, especially in the contest for power. No candidate can contest election if he is not fielded by a party; so the party serves as a platform for contestants to achieve their dreams. The 1999 Constitution specifically states that anyone interested in elective office must be ‘’a member of a political party

and sponsored by that party’’. What this means is that all those holding elective offices today whether as president, governor, senator, MoHR, et al were sponsored by parties.

They are, therefore, bound by the rules of their parties. They cannot be above their parties; whatever their interests may be, such must be subsumed under the parties’.

Being the vehicles in which elected officers rode into offices, parties owe it a duty to oversee their activities because as the saying goes, the party is supreme.

Before the inauguration of the National Assembly, APC tried to put its house in order by holding a straw poll to pick its candidates for Senate Presidency and House Speakership.

Senators Lawan and George Akume emerged Senate President and Deputy Senate President candidates.

Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Monguno were elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker candidates. Saraki and Dogara kicked, insisting that National Assembly members have the sole right to choose those to lead them.

They may have a point there since that is a settled matter in the Constitution. But should they have gone against their party on which crest they got to power?

The answer is no. They should not have brought their party to ridicule like that on the floors of both chambers. There is nothing wrong in standing up to your party, but where the party has made a pronouncement on an issue, it should become binding on all members. A true member is known by his willingness to abide by party rules and pronouncements, no matter how bitter they may be So, it is a clear case of affront for those members to have colluded with their PDP friends to elect Saraki and Dogara as Senate

President and House Speaker in defiance of their party’s directive.

Is there any joy for the recalcitrant APC senators and House members; and their party in what happened on the floors of both chambers on Tuesday? There is nothing to gloat about it because give or take APC is the loser. Sadly, the only beneficiaries are its members who became Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

PC is not hiding its displea sure with these people whose actions it described as unacceptable and the highest level of indiscipline and treachery. ‘’Senator Saraki and Hon. Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker. ‘’The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members.There can be no higher level of treachery, disloyalty and insincerity within any party’’, its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said. Where did the Saraki and Dogara groups get the courage to do what they did? Did they do it because they see themselves as untouchables? What do their actions portend for the party?

Will the development not also set other members against the party, if they are allowed to get away with their actions?

Were they emboldened by the president’s statement that he would not interfere in the selection of National Assembly leaders and would work with whoever emerges?

In a statement after Saraki’s and Dogara’s emergence, he reiterated his position, saying he would have wished that the process followed the dictates of the party. To the president, ‘’a constitutional process has somewhat occurred’’ , whether or not the party’s directive was fol-

A

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

lowed. And the president, it appears, is ready to live with it. Where then does this leave the party, which has threatened to sanction the ‘offending’ lawmakers? Should it go ahead and sanction them? Or will it take a cue from Buhari and let sleeping dogs lie?

What has happened has happened.

I pray that APC will handle the fallout of the National Assembly’s inauguration with care to avoid a major internal schism, which could cost it a lot. Otherwise, it will create the impression that it cannot manage its electoral success.

‘Is there any joy for the recalcitrant APC Senators and House members in what happened on the floors of both chambers on Tuesday?

There is nothing to gloat about it because give or take their party is the loser’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

20

COMMENTS

P

RESIDENT Buhari at his inauguration two weeks ago identified some of the enormous challenges facing the nation as ‘insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages’. Others include Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, and unemployment especially among young people’.

While admonishing us not to ‘succumb to hopelessness and defeatism’ and insisting ‘We can fix our problems’, he also assured us he was going ‘to tackle them head on’. For Nigerians, who struggled against all impediments erected by PDP to secure their permanent voters card, and waited long hours to ensure their vote counted, ‘hope rises eternal in the human breast’. Their faith in Buhari to make a difference in their lives after 16 years of locust by PDP remains unshakable.

But the president who vowed the ‘Federal Government under him would not fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments, not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account’ even after admitting the constitutional limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government must realize winning the election is just the beginning of the task ahead.

He must be neck deep in politics because democracy is a game of bargaining. To maintain an air of aloofness while PDP surreptitiously took over the leadership of the house is not reassuring.

Undoubtedly, corruption in the LGAs is just a symptom. The fundamental problem that supports and sustains corruption at all tiers of government is the unwieldy and unviable 36 states and 774 LGAs structure. The president can do very little except the structure is changed. For this to happen, the president has to be a politician because those who are expected to change it are the same set of people benefiting from what Charles Soludo, the former CBN governor recently described as ‘a dysfunctional unitary system’ often erroneously referred to as a federal system. Tink-

Buhari and corruption in the LGAs ering with the structure as the National Assembly has tried to do in recent times is not the solution. And for President Buhari to assume 36 states and 774 LGAs can be monitored is to assume the president is still being haunted by his military antecedents.

Monitoring 36 states that survives on handouts from Abuja is an impossible task. Even if the president opts for that unviable option, he will still have to first sponsor a bill to the National Assembly to redefine the relations between the federal government and the states assemblies empowered by the constitution to create LGA and ‘to hold officials of local government accountable for management of financial resources’. The state assemblies unfortunately have often in the name of promoting financial accountability in the LGAs only ensured appropriations are appropriately and legally made from Abuja without institutional arrangement to guarantee judicious disbursement of such resources.

The federal government on its part has its own demons to face. Holding to 51% of the

‘Buhari as a former military man understands the philosophical base of the current structure which stemmed from military idea of total control and sharing of resources of conquered territories. He has an historic opportunity of not only fulfilling the expectation of those who expect reparations from those who looted our resources and shared among themselves our common patrimony but also of putting an end to our nightmare by working towards removing a structure designed to sustain corruption’

O

N February 25, three very senior members of the European Union, EU, Jean Claude Juncker, Miguel Arias Cañete and Maros Sefcovic, sat down in Brussels to brainstorm the idea of an Energy Union, EU within the EU. They are President, Vice President responsible for the Energy Union and Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy respectively of the EU. One of them, Maroš Šefèoviè reportedly told his comrades: “Today, we launch the most ambitious European energy project since the Coal and Steel Community. A project that will integrate our 28 European energy markets into one Energy Union, make Europe less energy dependent and give the predictability that investors so badly need to create jobs and growth. Today, we set in motion a fundamental transition towards a low-carbon and climate-friendly economy, towards an Energy Union that puts citizens first, by offering them more affordable, secure, and sustainable energy.

That concept of an Energy Union that Sefcovic referred to is to be based on a framework strategy for an energy union tied to a climate change policy. Information gleaned from the EU website indicate that the EU is the largest importer of energy in the world, with 53% of that import amounting to a record Euro 400billion. For its transport needs, the EU relies on oil and most of it is imported from Nigeria, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. If we look at the records at the site a little closer, it may surprise a lot of people that of the 12 European Union member states that cannot meet the EU’s minimum interconnection target – that is, to meet at least 10% of installed capacity production capacity, includes the United Kingdom. In addition to that, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are among the countries in Europe depend on a single external supplier – Russia – for one commodity that Nigeria flares daily - gas.

Therefore, arising from that meeting, the European Union plans that by 2030 – about 15 years from today – they will cut green house gas, GHG, emissions by at least 40%. They will also boost renewable energy and improve energy efficiency by at least 27%. As we have this discussion, a Southern Gas Corridor intended to develop the establishment of liquid gas hubs with multiple suppliers in Central and Eastern Europe is already being developed. Since most of Europe would soon depend absolutely on renewable energy – solar, biomass, wind and hydro power for their electricity needs, part of the plan of the EU Energy Union includes a full implementation of existing legislation and market rules to integrate these renewable into all European markets, and a promotion of more research into renewable energy production and the decarbonisation of the transport sector.

I have read two documents indirectly related to this plan by the EU to start an Energy union. One is an ongoing, unfin-

budget allows the federal government to deploy huge resources in form of patronage to some departments that are better handled by the states. How, for instance, does the president intend to stop leakages in UBE across the country? The government appropriates billions to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture annually even when it does not control land.

Instead of first asking the northern states for their preferences, an irresponsible federal government in control of huge resources embarked on building new universities for the northern states even when 50% space in the existing ones are taken up by southerners and students of Middle Belt states. Precisely because the federal government that controls over 51% of our resources and is not accountable to anyone, it is spending over N9.2b to import cooking stoves for rural women ostensibly to fight desert encroachment in a situation where urban dwellers have no access to kerosene. Roads infrastructure, the health sector, agriculture and education etc, that can be better handled by the states are held onto by the federal government because they are veritable source of patronage and corruption.

Fighting pervasive corruption at LGAs , the states or even at the federal level is an impossible task under the present structure, a product of military adventurers determined to control society using the only method they know – hierarchical control from the top to he bottom. They created states and LGAs without any known objective criteria. The military baked ‘new breed’ politicians that inherited power either as highest paid lawmakers in the world, state governors that never both-

ered about how to generate revenues but preside over billions including security vote they don’t have to account for, and dropouts who earn more than university professors as councilors are determined to sustain the structure.

Charles Soludo, a former CBN governor also recently threw a challenge. He wants anyone to give him ‘examples of federal systems in the world where the local governments directly receive statutory allocations from the federal government and with statutory powers to spend as they wish without performance-based criteria attached to such receipts.

We can also add there is nowhere in the world where the centre creates LGAs for states or regions. It is like climbing the palm tree from the top which is only possible in Nigeria. How can the president fight corruption at LGAs when their creation is in itself fraudulent? Or how does one explain Kano with lower population than Lagos having twice the number of federally funded LGAs than Lagos?

Local government itself as a ‘veritable agent of local service delivery, mobiliser of community-based human and material resources, organiser of local initiatives in response to wide range of local needs and aspirations, and provider of basic structures and conditions for grassroot participation in the democratic process’ must reflect the local idiosyncrasies of the local communities.

Until now when in the name of democracy and even- development contingent on sharing of oil rent, local developmental activities are handed over to social misfits or known rascals, community affairs among many groups in the country were handled mostly by respected members of the community usually on voluntary basis. This was the philosophical basis for the consensus among our founding fathers and the colonial masters that indigenous form of government was to become the basis of self government in order to ensure ‘each group develops at its own pace without interference from others’.

Buhari as a former military man understands the philosophical base of the current structure which stemmed from military idea of total control and sharing of resources of conquered territories. He has an historic opportunity of not only fulfilling the expectation of those who expect reparations from those who looted our resources and shared among themselves our common patrimony but also of putting an end to our nightmare by working towards removing a structure designed to sustain corruption which was arrogantly imposed on the people by a selfserving ‘army of anything is possible’.

Will Nigeria survive EU energy union?

By Bob Majiri Oghene Etemiku ished 324-page research thesis by Maruf Mallick, a Bangladeshi doctorate student from the University of Bonn, Germany, titled Politics of Climate Change. Mallick and I go way back in Germany on a training tour of the environment and how to report on it as journalists. In that document of his, I find that there is a certain concerted effort by Europe and Asia to form alliances, the BRICS, the BASIC, LMDC and etcetera, all geared towards one goal – to jettison the old political alliances based on military and economic might for the new ones that will ensure that they would no longer rely on oil for their economic and military power. Presiding over this new balance of power and world order of new alliances to which the US has already been supplanted is the behemoth itself - China.

More than any other country of the world, China, once known to be one of the highest green house gas emitter, has nearly completed a domestic programme of renewable energy that would make it impossible for it to ever buy oil again from Nigeria, Venezuela or from Iran. When that happens, Mallick says in his thesis that those who would hurt the most are the countries in the Middle East, and Nigeria, that depend on oil for her income.

The other document is an article by my colleague, Charles Iyare, of our monitoring and evaluation department, titled ‘Curtailing the curse of the energy sector’, and published with the Punch, May 21, and May 24 with the Daily Independent newspaper. In that article, Iyare was adamant that we seem to be under a curse, from our inability to translate the huge potentials from our natural endowment to a blessing for our people. According to Iyare, ‘part of the challenges of poor electricity supply in Nigeria is the lack of alternative energy source (Nigeria has hydro, thermal, solar and wind electricity sources to tap from to boost her power supply but has not managed to do this effectively over the years). Government should understand that electricity is a major economic booster that can make a country self-sufficient in job creation, economic productivity and growth. It is the means of encouraging young entrepreneurs to advance in business and shun crime and corruption’.

Two common denominators emerge from this plan by the EU for the EU – one, if the plans to replace the EU transport sector dependence on oil succeeds, wouldn’t that mean that we have lost our national garri? Second, with China, the second biggest emitter of Green House Gases, GHG, taking the lead to reduce its carbon emissions by as much as 40%, wouldn’t that translate to a Post-Kyoto Nigeria where our oil and gas becomes irrelevant?

Just last week, OPEC celebrated its 167th Conference and its golden anniversary at a time of great glut. A barrel of oil is only $45, and instead of tinkering with the idea of joining the Conference of Parties, COP, in the climate change mitigation and adaptation debates going in the world as an interested party, OPEC is still pumping oil. And Nigerians, we are still carrying on as if all is still well. But all is not well. There cannot be any time than now for us to ‘change’ and begin to seriously diversify and join alliances and create the kind of domestic programmes that China is creating, to mitigate and adapt to the coming catastrophe of climate change and dwindling income from oil.

•Etemiku is of the Africa Network for environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Benin City.

‘If the plans to replace the EU transport sector dependence on oil succeeds, wouldn’t that mean that we have lost our national garri? Second, with China, the second biggest emitter of Green House Gases, GHG, taking the lead to reduce its carbon emissions by as much as 40%, wouldn’t that translate to a PostKyoto Nigeria where our oil and gas becomes irrelevant?

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

21

COMMENTS

W

HEN most Nigerians talk about President Muhammadu Buhari, what we talk about most is his strong rejection of public corruption – his very strong anti-corruption credentials. Almost all of us Nigerians are persuaded by now that this man is not just using hatred of corruption as a ruse to attract popular support. He sees public corruption as an intolerable evil and he wants to get rid of it.

To realize how sincere Buhari is in his hatred of public corruption, we need to know that, though an anti-corruption stance is popular with the masses of ordinary Nigerians, it is very risky at some levels of the leadership of Nigeria. At such levels, Buhari has experienced rejection and hatred ever since he dared in 1983 to sack the huge corruption edifice that our Federal Government was becoming under President Shehu Shagari. There are even some who believe that Buhari committed an unforgivable sin against God by dismantling the Shagari presidency.

For instance, one of our country’s most revered Islamic scholars, the Sheik Ahmad Gumi, wrote in an open letter to Buhari some months ago that Buhari’s weaknesses as a leader are “compounded further” by his “strict and obsessive rejection of corruption”. Reminding Buhari that the Islamic religion allows the use of public money “to pacify and lure influential people” and that “men are also controlled by money”, Alhaji Gumi warned, “So, if your policy of governance is obsessibly (sic) centred on sealing tight the use of money, you will have great problem with men”. It says much for the depth of Buhari’s anti-corruption commitment, therefore, that he continues in that commitment, even in the face of such serious opposition by many influential members of the Nigerian elite – most of whom are from his own nationality.

But strong feelings against corruption never stand by themselves alone; they are messages from certain deeper tempers of the soul. He who is given to passionate rejection of public corruption is expressing, in effect, his belief that all citizens –the strong, the weak, the smart, the dull, the influential, the unknown and obscure, etc – all are entitled to the benefits belonging to their country, and that it is evil for a few powerful and influential citizens to corner off all the benefits for themselves alone. It is because the masses of Northerners (especially the masses of Northern

O

N returning to the United States from Nigeria where he had had a monthlong vacation after his retirement from Commonwealth Edison, an energy company that provides electricity to the entire Midwest region of the US, Disu, a Nigerian electrical engineer lamented his disappointment with his home state. On seeing the utter darkness to which the people of his small town were subjected, he had approached the agency saddled with rural electrification in his home state of Osun when Olagunsoye Oyinlola was in the saddle for the permission to provide electricity to his small village free of charge.

He said he had wanted to do this so that the agency would not give cost as an excuse. He also said he wanted to demonstrate that generating and distributing electricity was not rocket science. In what he later admitted to have been his naiveté about how the Nigerian system works, he eagerly met with officials for briefings. He went sheepishly to meet everyone and anyone as directed until it dawned on him that he had only two days left to departure – without any headway – not to talk of many hours of waiting for some of these bureaucrats. “I just couldn’t understand why an agency of the government could be so insensitive to people’s plights. I found out that they really had little or no clue about the job they’re paid to do when I started to ask questions. It beats my imagination why they ran me ragged without any results at the end of the day when they had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Disu exclaimed.

Best, another Diaspora Nigerian professional from Enugu State with a Criminal Justice background and more than two decades of employment with the Chicago Police Department thought he had found an ingenious and productive way to spend his time whenever he’s in his fatherland. He had written a formal letter to his state Police Headquarters stating his desire for volunteer work with the hope that the police personnel under his supervision may learn a thing or two from his years of experience investigating crimes in the United States. He never heard from the headquarters.

These are just two examples of how Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora met brick walls when all they wanted to do was give back to

President Buhari: Respond to your soul youths) see this spirit in Buhari that they have been heavily supporting him for years – even in spite of his repeated failures in the elections. It is also the reason why, in recent months, large numbers of Nigerians in other parts of Nigeria have stepped out to endorse him too. The northern masses held on doggedly in their support of him, until the masses of other parts of Nigeria came at last to their aid.

In a foreign country during the 2011 Nigerian presidential election campaign, I participated in a meeting addressed by Nuhu Ribadu’s campaign managers, who had come to urge us to support and help their candidate. I remember remarking in that meeting that there were two northern political leaders whom the masses of South-west voters could easily vote for – one being Ribadu, and the other Buhari; and I added that both had some appeal in the South-west because of their anti-corruption records, which showed that they were concerned about the well-being of the common people. I am not surprised, therefore, that the voters of the South-west have endorsed Buhari so strongly this time around and, thereby, enabled him to win an election at last.

So, now that Buhari has made it to the presidency, he must respond to the message of his soul. Fighting corruption per se, penalizing some of the corrupt public officials, and recovering as much as possible of stolen public assets, is not unimportant in the prevailing circumstances of our country, but it is not as important as actually spreading the material benefits of Nigeria into the lives of the masses of Nigerians, especially into the lives of our youths who constitute the majority of our total citizenry. Stories already beginning to be told about the enormity of recent public robberies by public officials are almost impossible to believe. It is beginning to seem probable that very many highly placed public officials will end up before criminal courts and in prisons. But President Buhari must see to it that we devote more of our country’s atten-

tion to the task of pulling our people out of poverty and bringing some dignity into their lives. Nigeria’s notorious public corruption has meant that most of Nigeria’s public resources, incomes and assets have been regularly stolen and shared by Nigeria’s rulers at federal, state and local government levels, by elected and appointed public officials, by professional civil servants, and by the secret friends, cronies and fronts of all these. Buhari owes his friends – the masses of Nigerians – the duty of bringing this brigandage to an end, and of creating a new culture whereby the resources of Nigeria shall be employed in a resolute and disciplined manner to empower the masses of Nigerians to enrich and dignify their lives and to build and enrich their country. In short, we Nigerians expect Buhari to lead us through a whole revolution.

How would we achieve this? Let’s see what other Third World countries have done. Japan, starting in the last years of the 19th century, was the first; and within 40 years, Japan had become a technological, industrial and economic world power. When the Korean War ended in 1955, South Korea was far behind Nigeria in development. When, as a Nigerian Senator, I was invited to give a lecture at the Korean Institute of International Affairs in Seoul in 1982 and I had to brush up my knowledge of South Korea, I was staggered to find how much South Korea had surpassed my country in virtually all fields of development. In 1965, Singapore, then a state in the Malaysian Federation, was so terribly poor, so crime-ridden and so politically violent that the Malaysian federal parliament voted to expel Singapore from the federation. By the time I visited Singapore in 1976, the world was already singing the praises of Singapore as “Asia’s Success Model”. Other examples are Brazil, Argentina, China, Israel, etc. The revolutions took only a few decades in each case.

The secret is investment in the people – education (with emphasis today on science and mathematics); training of the youths in modern job skills and work ethics; training in en-

Nigerian thoughts trepreneurship; setting up of policy, financial arrangements and o t h e r programmes for helping the starting a n d growth of b u s i nesses; Banji Akintoye emphasis on energy supply; emphasis on product quality and on exports; incentives for attracting foreign investments and businesses, etc. This package has worked in every case.

In our case, as in other multi-nation countries (such as India), we must empower our state governments to implement the details of the new growth. An attempt at federal execution of the details can only lead to a return to massive corruption. For best effects, our Federal Government should be limited to the commanding heights of our economy (fiscal policy, currency, etc), defence and foreign policy.

Buhari can lead us to accomplish these things. It is all different from what we are used to. But most Nigerians believe that Buhari is different from the general run of our politicians.

‘Buhari owes his friends – the masses of Nigerians – the duty of bringing this brigandage to an end, and of creating a new culture whereby the resources of Nigeria shall be employed in a resolute and disciplined manner to empower the masses of Nigerians to enrich and dignify their lives and to build and enrich their country’

Buhari and the Nigerian Diaspora

By Femi Odere their country. They had no plan to ask what their country could do for them but rather what they could do for their country, yet they were rebuffed. These were few of tales of woes and frustrations told to me when I was US Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs under the Chairmanship of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

So much has been said, and continue to be said, about the change that the Nigerian electorate must, as a matter of right, experience in the new Buhari government. But not much is being emphasized about the quality of people that must of necessity be integral to and drive this change. As the president himself said in his inaugural speech that while the challenges facing the Nigerian nation are no doubt daunting, there also exists tremendous opportunities to turn the country around for the better, once and for all. The Buhari administration is, therefore, at a critical juncture in the nation’s history to redirect the nation from the ruinous path to which she had been subjected in the last 16 years towards the path of sustainable socio-economic regeneration. Since there’s a consensus that the country’s condition has never been this bad to the point that the citizenry have become despondent, it goes without saying that every decision that President Mohammadu Buhari makes must not only be the right decision, butmust also be seen as critical to the advancement of the nation’s development objectives. With his projection of bringing seriousness into governance and his honesty of purpose, the Buhari government cannot afford not to harvest the critical mass of Diaspora Nigerian professionals. Many of them have not only built the capacity that even surpasses their nation’s present requirements in their various professional fields, but have also imbibed different sets of social ethos of honesty, hard work and integrity which are Buhari’s hallmarks. Injecting a significant number of these professionals who are on top of their games should be a

significant component of Buhari’s overall recruiting strategy in what looks like Nigeria’s last opportunity to embark on an irreversible and enduring socio-economic growth. A different energy and a different set of people are needed to spur this growth.

Nigerians believe that they possess the bragging right to tell the world who and what they are, such as being the most populous country in the African continent with the highest literacy rate. But the rest of the world also knows who and what we are not. They know that we’re largely unthinking, pathetically poor country that lacks capacity in just about all the socio-political and economic indicators that engenders growth despite our huge population, higher education per capita and resource endowments. But building capacity, which is a necessary catalyst for enduring growth, can only be achieved in a relatively short period of time if there’re deliberate, conscious federal government policies for inclusion of a significant dose of professional Diaspora Nigerians into the country’s developmental matrix. For some of these Nigerians, emoluments are the least of their motivations to serve. Rather they’re yearning for new challenges in a different environment. Furthermore, some of these Nigerians are already retired in their host countries. Their pensions and other gratuities would probably be more than enough to live in relative comfort in a Nigerian environment. And these high-end Nigerians in the Diaspora dot the global landscape waiting to be ‘harvested.’

Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji is one of these Nigerians in the Diaspora whose antecedents I have been privileged to watch over the years.

His professional activities and community service leaves you with no doubt that while he’s actively engaged in the United States of America, he has been simultaneously involved and interested in making significant contributions to his fatherland. Having arrived in America in 1981 before his 17th birthday, he had obtained his doctorate degree in Administration (Education) from Rutgers

University, New Jersey by the time he was 29. At Trenton State College where he obtained his first degree, he was an active member of the college community, having served as President of the International Students Association and Chairman of the Campus Life Board (the highest student body which comprised of heads of major student organizations) among others at the College. Ugorji was elected the Homecoming King of the College in 1983, becoming the first Black to be so elected in the over 100-years history of the institution where he used that veritable platform for those issues and challenges that included Divestment of US companies from the Apartheid economy of South Africa; the campaign to free Nelson Mandela and others; the recruitment and retention of minority students to graduation; the recruitment, hiring and promotion of Black faculty and administrators at the college among other things.

As the Executive Director of the New Jersey based African Writers Endowment where he raised funds to subsidize the publication of over 25 books by writers in North America and Africa, his organization has brought attention to the works of African writers and provided guidance to over 100 new and established writers in the development of their craft. He was appointed to the Zoning Board of Trenton, an independent, quasi-judicial body that grants variances and hears appeals of rulings as well as interprets the township’s Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance. It was in recognition of his service to the Nigerian Diaspora community that Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo once referred to him as Nigeria’s unofficial ambassador to the US.On Saturday, July 18, the African Writers Endowment will host an event captioned Ugorji at 50/35: A celebration of 50 Years and 35 Years of Community Service. The event, co-sponsored by over two dozen groups, will pay tribute to Ugorji’s 50th birthday and his legacy of service.

• Odere is a media practitioner.

22

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

Former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed vice chancellors for the four colleges of education upgraded to universities before his exit last month. The appointments are generating ripples, report LEKE AKEREDOLU (Akure), ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE (Kaduna) and OKODILI NDIDI (Owerri).

•The new face of Adeyemi University of Education.

‘The VCs education varsities need’

T

HE euphoria over their new status was shortlived. Hardly had the celebrations over the upgrading of four colleges of education to universities begun than they stopped. The schools are Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Federal College of Education, Zaria and Federal College of Education, Kano.

At the Adeyemi College of Education, workers and students who hailed the government for the move are now bickering about the appointment of a vice chancellor (VC) for the university.

Their hope that the Provost, Prof Olukoya Ogen, would be made vc

was dashed. Instead, the Federal Government named Prof Richard Peter-King, a zoologist from the University of Uyo as the VC. His appointment did not go down well with the lecturers and alumni of the institution.

They argue that the provost's tenure has not yet ended while also, noting that the new VC does not

‘

-Page 28

He was Chairman, Technical Subcommittee, Presidential Monitoring Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2011 till 2015.

Born on May, 17, 1958 in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Peter-King was former President Goodluck Jonathan’s mate at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

The hasty appointment of vice chancellors for the institutions which already have chief executive officers interviewed and appointed by the same Federal Government is counter-productive and could lead to administrative crisis INSIDE

Nigerian don on U.S. commission

have background in education.

The workers and alumni are also worried by the claim that Peter-King has been away from the ivory tower for long on political sojourns.

The Nation gathered that PeterKing, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested the party’s governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom State.

Babcock varsity to perform open heart surgery -Page 37

CAMPUS LIFE Mystery death of lovers in hostel -Page 29

’

Those criticising his selection said that it is a compensation for his contribution to PDP’s growth.

Peter-King obtained his first school leaving certificate from St. Gregory's Primary School, Ikot, Ebok, Eket in 1972. He proceeded to the Nigerian Christian Secondary School, Ukpom, Abak Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State where he wrote his Ordinary Level examination in 1976.

He was a pioneer student of UNIPORT, where he earned a second class Honours (Upper Division) in Zoology in 1981. His masters in Hydrobiology and Fisheries Biology came in 1985; his PhD in Zoology (with major in Fisheries •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

26

EDUCATION

The VCs education varsities need’ •Continued from page 25 Biology) came in 1994 Peter-King taught at the University of Calabar, Cross River State, as a lecturer and research scientist in 1984. He joined the University of Uyo, (UNIUYO ) when it was created in 1991.

At UNIUYO, Peter-King was Head, Department of Zoology; pioneer Head, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Acting Dean, Faculty of Agriculture; pioneer Director, Centre of Wetlands and Waste Management Studies; and Director, Remedial Directorate.

He has attended, at least, 35 major national and international scientific workshops, conferences and symposia and has over 70 journal articles; six edited conference and workshop articles; seven Technical Reports; five Book chapters; and nine scholarly articles.

But, it was not shown if Peter-King has any teaching qualification.

Chairman of the institution’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr Akintunde Akinrinola told The Nation that the union expected the government to have considered two factors, the legal process and professional procedure, before upgrading the college and others.

The laws guiding the upgraded colleges, he said, have not been amended up till now.

Akinrinola said: "We observed that two things are involved in the upgrading of the college to a university. The first one is that you have legal angle, and also have professional angle to it. In the aspect of the legal area, you look at it, you have a law that established Adeyemi as a College of Education and since we are not in a military era, that law has not been replaced.

"The fact that the Federal Executive Council pronounced the college upgraded is a good and welcome development for us but we believe that things must be done properly.

The first thing is to get the law establishing Adeyemi College of Education amended to become a university before you start talking about the appointment of a vice chancellor. That law is still there; it has not been replaced."

The COEASU chair also faulted the government for treating the colleges like they are new institutions, ignoring the fact that they have principal officers whose tenures have not expired.

"Looking at the appointment of the VC, it is faulty because we are not a new institution. If it was a new university that was established, all you needed to do is to appoint a VC and a governing council.

"But this is an established institution where we have staff and you are talking about appointment of a vice chancellor when you have a sitting provost whose appointment has not been terminated.

His letter of appointment is still with him and has not been revoked.

"Are we saying that the provost should continue to head the college of education within the university structure because up till now, he has not been given any other letter either to resign or to become an acting vice chancellor or to leave as a provost?” he said.

Akinrinola also blamed the government for ignoring the professional procedure that should be followed in the appointment of vice chancellors for specialised institutions like the new universities of education.

He said: "The issue of appointment must follow a professional procedure. If you are establishing a special university like our own University of Education, then, you must be mindful of who comes in as

the Vice Chancellor.

"In as much as you cannot take a teacher to go and head the university of medical sciences, or university of science and technology, so if you are talking of a University of education where you are to train teachers, the head of that institution should have teaching qualification because he is going to head the institution and provide leadership in terms of curriculum development, positioning the faculties and knowing what is expected of the faculties.

"But if you bring in somebody who is a novice in education, someone who does not know anything about the theories of teaching and learning, how will that person cope?

I don't think we can cope with such person as lecturers.

"So, the appointment of the Vicechancellor should not be politicised.

It is not about politics, it is about putting the right peg in a round hole."

The union chairman urged the government to revisit the appointment, saying: "We are putting it back to the government to review that appointment. We are not adverse to anyone. We are not saying that anyone should leave but we are saying that someone who is a professional teacher, who has teaching qualification, should be made to head the institution.

"We are talking about sensitive issues that can boomerang because with someone who cannot harmonise between the old system and the intended new system there will be problem. But if the provost is promoted to the acting vice chancellor, he will assist in the transition and the appointment of the substantive vice chancellor can come properly through, normal procedure by the governing council.

"Don't think the Provost is the one pushing us to react on this issue but we are concerned about the institution. We are talking about due procedure, professional ethics. I am a teacher and you ask me to go and head the state teaching hospital. I believe that the medical doctors and nurses will not allow me to sit on the seat," he said.

National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the alumni association, Yemi Olugbamigbe also urged the Buhari administration to revisit the issue and appoint a credible candidate with teaching qualification.

The association said there were challenges that might undermine the smooth take-off of the university if the government refused to do the right time.

He said: "A period of moratorium is required within which there would be the necessary harmonisation of supervision, programmes, staff cadres etc. And this period of transition should be jointly monitored by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) while the existing governing council is retained.

"The hasty appointment of vice chancellors for the institutions which already have chief executive officers interviewed and appointed by the same Federal Government is counter-productive and could lead to administrative crisis.

"The governing council ought to draw the criteria for the selection of vice chancellors after the period of moratorium and qualified candidates should be made to sit for an interview where only the most suitable should be appointed."

A lecturer, Akeem Baderinwa, said it may be difficult for the vicechancellor appointee to add any value to the institution.

•Olugbamigbe

"He has no teaching qualification and his professional course is not being taught in our school. How will he add value to the school?

Government must revisit his appointment and do the needful in order to avoid backwardness in our great institution," he said.

Another worker, Festus Dada, alleged that he was informed that the appointed VC has been away from the academia for over 12 years, wondering how such a person would cope in the institution.

But, a non-teaching staff, Haruna Akinrinmade cautioned the stakeholders against taking any action that might delay having a substantive vice-chancellor in the institution.

"As this issue is going, the government may like to revisit the matter and at the end terminate the appointment of the VC, Peter-King, thereby giving room for an acting vice-chancellor and you know the long process that involves in the selection of a vice-chancellor?”

A student of English, Korewole David, recalled that in appointing provosts for the college, people with teaching qualifications were always considered, wondering why government did not follow the same path in appointing the VC. He said the immediate past Provost of the college, Prof. Idowu Adeyemi, and his successor, Prof Olukoya Ogen are alumni of the college.

"I think the appointment of the new VC is political and should be revisited. Adeyemi has remained one of the best colleges in the country and the reward was what gave us the chance to be upgraded as University of Education.

Adeyemi was able to be among the

• Prof Ogen

best colleges just because the appointment of previous and present provost have always been done in line with professional procedure.

"Now that the institution is now a university, we want more progress that will make the school to be ranked among the best in the world.

For the institution to get the best status, it must start from the head which involves the appointment of a credible vice-chancellor and Governor Council,” he said.

But, student of History, Jumoke Lawal, said they can't wait to receive the new vice chancellor.

Defending the appointment, the Director of Information, University of Uyo, Mr Godfrey Essien, who confirmed that Peter-King is a Professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the university, noted that he was qualified to run the new university of education.

He described the position of a vice chancellor as more administrative than academic.

"As a professor, Richard King is qualified to run any university. One does not need to be an education professor in order to qualify to manage an education university," Essien said.

Things are not different at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. The workers and students are not excited with the appointment of Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Alvan Ikoku University of Education.

According to The Nation findings, the majority of the workers believe that it is a political settlement for the appointee.

They condemned the appointment, noting that it will

‘As a professor, Richard King is qualified to run any university. One does not need to be an education professor in order to qualify to manage an education university

• Prof Peter-King

hamper the smooth take-off of the university.

They argued that the Provost, Dr Blessing Ijioma, an associate professor, would have been in the best position to pioneer the new university.

It was also learnt that the appointment has divided the leadership of COEASU. Many members are kicking against the government.

The Chairman of COEASU, Mrs. Ukachi Wachukwu, declined comment. However, she is among those who expressed confidence in Dr Ijioma's ability to run the upgraded institution.

Another member of the union who did not want to be named, expressed fears that the incoming VC will not keep the pace of activities in the institution.

"The Alvan Ikoku College of Education, now a University of Education, cannot be compared to other conventional universities. We have a different makeup, which requires in-depth experience to manage. If the Federal Government wants the university to succeed, the key appointments should not be used for political settlements, it should be based on merit and capacity," the source said.

The new Vice Chancellor for the Federal University of Education, Zaria (former FCE, Zaria), Prof Mohammed Abdullahi Kolo, has resumed.

Kolo was the Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai in Niger State.

The Nation gathered that, Kolo reported at the institution early in the week.

When our correspondent visited the school, the issue dominated discussion among students.

The Head of Public Rations Unit, Hajia Rakiya Sidi, also confirmed that the new Vice Chancellor had reported.

She also said the Provost, Dr. Mukhtar Ibrahim Maccido, would automatically become the Deputy vice chancellor after the expiration his tenure.

She said there is no formal communication yet to the college on the conversion.

•From left: Babcock University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kayode Makinde, Chairman Pacific Holding, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, his son David (a.k.a Davido), Prof Yetunde Makinde, and Pro-Chancellor, Dr Oyeleke Owolabi, at the 13th convocation of the university during which David graduated with Second Class honours (Upper Division) in Music and Creative Arts.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

27

EDUCATION

Be change agents, provost tells new doctors HE Provost, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof Folasade Ogunsola, sent 83 new doctors and dentists into the world with the charge that they should solve problems in Nigeria's crisis-ridden health sector.

In her address at the induction of the 2014 medical and dental graduands of the college last Thursday, Prof Ogunsola reminded them that the task ahead was herculean.

"Too many lives depend on you and that is an awesome responsibility" Ogunsola warned. "Health care in Nigeria is in crisis, so you must be a part of the solution and not the problem. That we have tried to teach you."

However, she expressed confidence in their abilities, congratulating them for enduring to the end of the six-year training.

"I know that for you to get here today you are over comers. You are hardworking, persistent and there is

T

• Ezegwu (second left) reading the Hippocratic Oath with other graduands. Inset: Sandra.

By Sampson Unamka

a leader in every single one of you.

There is in each and every one of you the ability to be change agents, to be builders of the positive because you

are products of the best medical school in the country.

"I can also see hope, curiosity and excitement, and know that you cannot wait to go and change for good the landscape of our health sector,"

Ganduje warns Kano teachers against truancy

G

• Ms Anadozie (middle) with the members of Team Galactic.

OAU team wins ticket to Global Business Challenge

T

she added.

She enjoined them to be builders of their alma mater, and think of what they can do to add value to it, so as to leave lasting legacies for those behind.

EAM Galactic of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has won the ticket to represent Nigeria in the CIMA Global Business Challenge (GBC) final in Warsaw, Poland in August.

GBC is an international competition designed to exploit the potential of young business leaders in business analysis and presentation.

The team beat three teams from three universities in the national final organised by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in Lekki last Saturday.

Their presentation of a business case study in the oil and gas sector was rated above those of Team NErgy of OAU, FUTOITES Business Team of the Federal University of Owerri, and Dream Team of the University of Ilorin.

The panel of judges comprised of distinguished business leaders such as Sir Demola Aladekomo, Chairman, SmartCity Resorts Plc; Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group; and Mr. Seni Adetu, immediate past

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc. Other members were Ms. Megha Joshi, CEO, Lagos Court of Arbitration and Ms. Anita Dele-Dickson, Head of Relationship Management, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited (SIPML).

Sir Aladekomo, described Team Galactic's presentation as outstanding and expressed confidence in their ability to excel on the world stage.

"I would like to commend Team Galactic from the Obafemi Awolowo University on their outstanding performance and on becoming Nigeria's first CIMA GBC national champions.

Team Galactic really stood out for the judges because of their consistent outstanding performance across all points of evaluation.

"The first runner up, the FUTOITES Business Team and second runner up, N-Ergy Team also demonstrated good understanding of the case study but were no match for the exceptional Team Galactic which can hold its own against any of the other 25 teams

‘The first runner up, the FUTOITES Business Team and second runner up, N-Ergy Team also demonstrated good understanding of the case study but were no match for the exceptional Team Galactic’

from across the world that will be competing at the global final," he said.

The entrepreneur also praised CIMA for creating the challenge to showcase new talents, and for extending the competition to Nigerian undergraduates for the first time.

Country Manager, CIMA Nigeria, Ms. Ijeoma Anadozie, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the competition and the winner that emerged.

"The competition has been a phenomenal success and Team Galactic should be truly proud on making it through to the global final," she said.

She also thanked those that collaborated in making the competition a success.

"I would like to thank our esteemed panel of judges, sponsors and partners for their support; and of course the multitude undergraduate students from across the country who attended the national finals to cheer their favourite teams thereby ensuring we have a truly successful national final," she said.

This will be the first time that Nigerian undergraduates will participate in the prestigious annual global business competition. The Nigerian final was sponsored by SIPML, and supported by Guinness Nigeria Plc, Lagos Court of Arbitration, Nigerian Breweries Plc and KiishiLagos Limited.

The best graduating student, Dr Kingsley Ezegwu, who also clinched three awards and N500,000 cash prize shared his experience studying in the school.

He said: "I feel very elated that a journey of six years plus is ending today and it is a thing of joy personally for me, my parents and other grandaunds. I believe Medicine is quite a tough course as people say, but with God, hard work consistent reading, it is something one can pull through.

"I am satisfied with the training. I believe this is the best training I can get in Nigeria," Ezegwu added.

Another graduand, Sandra Onwuekwe, sought increased funding for medical education.

She said: "Well considering the situation of the country, I think they (lecturers) have actually done their best.

Although it is not really as qualitative as we want to get but at least it is the best in the circumstances. There will always be room for improvement.

"I would like more money to be spent on medical education. I would like students to have a more conducive academic environment where they can actually study. We want more scholarships for students, for those that are poor, but academically sound."

OVERNOR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has warned teachers in public schools against dereliction of duty saying they must be epitomes of character and learning.

The governor gave the warning during a visit to some public schools in Kano City, saying his government intends to make teaching a profession to be proud of.

"Teachers should not come late; that is not acceptable. They should be disciplined in order to command respect and to inspire discipline in their students. We want to bring change in this important sector but that is not possible unless teachers regard what they are doing as a profession", he said.

The schools visited were Government Girls Secondary School (G.G.S.S.), Magwan; Government Day Science College, Kofar Nassarwa; Government Technical College, Kano; G.G.S.S.S. Shekara; G.S.S.S, Kofar Nassarawa and Kofar Nassarawa Model Primary school.

Ganduje also warned principals against leaving the school environment dirty, saying such actions negate the essence of education and wholesome living.

He expressed dismay over the poor sanitation at G.S.S.S, Kofar Nassarawa,

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

especially the dirty toilets.

The governor warned that the government would not tolerate filthy environment in any school because of the potential danger to the lives of the pupils and teachers.

Ganduje advised the teachers to be more practical and encourage pupil participation in their lessons.

He also pledged that the government would do its best to make teaching and learning result-oriented, and continue to increase access to education, with special emphasis on science and technical education as well as girl-child education, despite dwindling resources.

The governor's advice to the pupils was that they should pay more attention to sound ideals and learning, and work hard to earn good grades to further their education and become respectable leaders of tomorrow.

At Kofar Nassarawa Model Primary school, the governor was particularly impressed by the practical teaching methods of the teachers in the two classes he entered. He promised to provide teaching and games facilities for the early childhood classes of the school.

Methodist Girls alumni give back

W

ORKERS and pupils of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba enjoyed medical examination during a one-day health clinic courtesy of the 74-78 set of the school's old girls association.

The exercise which was done in conjunction with Arise Women Mobile Clinic, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that enlightens less privileged women about health issues. The exercise held at the school premises on Thursday last week, also featured a health talk by Dr Biodun Abraham, an alumnus.

The Vice-President of the set, Mrs Ann Olorunrinu, said the programme was done to give back.

"This is all about giving back to our school. The idea is actually to give back part of what we benefitted. So in this exercise, we bring health professionals-doctors, nurses, councilors, and give them various talks," she said.

The gesture, she explained, was not only limited to pupils of the 135-yrear old school but extended to their teachers and family members.

The impact, she stressed, would help in no small measure in teaching younger students the art of giving.

In her remarks, vice-principal of the school, Mrs Abimbola Ali, appreciated the old girls.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Another old girl, Mrs Olugbon Collins of the 1948-53, praised the initiative.

"It is a very good idea and should be commended," she noted.

The initiator of Arise, Mrs Siju Iluyomade, said the group is increasingly focused on sensitizing secondary school females to embrace preventive healthcare.

"We have been to Queen's College.

This is our second undertaking. We want to teach the girls how to look into their health from early stage and thereby put in place preventive as opposed to curative healthcare. We found that above all, preventive healthcare is a lot cheaper than curative. We realise that if you take care of yourself quickly enough, you are more likely to live longer than when you do not," she said.

Head Girl of the school, Kehinde Bello, 14, thanked the alumni on behalf of the school.

"The challenge is that wherever we find ourselves after here, we should not just forget the school that made us. We should come back and do something greater than this. Also we must leave a legacy for those ones also coming after us," she said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

28

EDUCATION

UK varsity woos educators with online early childhood programme

Nigerian don on U.S. commission

F

ORMER Vice Chancellor of the Redeemer's University (RUN), Prof Oyewole Tomori, has been appointed on a commission to conduct research and suggest an effective global framework to reduce the threat of epidemic infectious diseases.

The 15-man commission raised by the United States Institute of Medicine is to submit reports by December, 2015 after considering contributions from four institutes of medicine workshops that would deliberate on preparations for future response in the following areas: governance for global health; financing for global health preparedness and response; health systems strengthening; and improving product research, development, and acquisition.

A statement from the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) noted that the commission would also consider literature published on lessons learned on the current

By Jane Chijioke

Ebola outbreak and other outbreaks of global impact such as H1N1 influenza, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Tomori, who is a former regional virologist for the World Health Organisation (WHO), African region, is currently the president, Nigeria Academy of Sciences.

He has led research efforts that investigated viral infections including Ebola, hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever and yellow fever.

The commission was initiated in partnership with World Bank, World Health Organisation, the United States, United Kingdom and West African countries.

The initiative also enjoys the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Ford Foundation, Moore Foundation, Paul Allen

E •Prof Tomori

Family Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Other Africans on the commission include: Executive Director, African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation, Francis Omaswa; Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Irene Akua Agyepong; and Cyvette Gibson, Acting Mayor, City of Paynesville, Liberia.

Varsities need effective communication to motivate workers, says don

W

ITH Nigerian universities sourcing workers from a limited pool of qualified experts, the Dean-elect, Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof Chris Ajila, has advised university administrators to communicate effectively with their workers.

Ajila said this was the only way to discover what triggers their drive to succeed and maximise their performance.

Ajila said this while delivering the second Registry lecture series of the Bells University of Technology, (BELLSTECH) Ota, with the themed: "Managing Human Resources in the 21st Century University System: Challenges and Prospects" last Wednesday.

Ajila, who has served as Dean, College of Management Science, BELLSTECH, lamented that the shortage of university workers has led to competition for them and also affected productivity as they prefer universities that can provide better condition of service.

Quoting Maslow's Hierachy of Needs, Ajila said except their physiological needs (food, sleep, thirst),

By Jane Chijioke

as well as safety (stable environment), love, esteem and self realisation needs are met the human resource department is just paying a lip service.

He, therefore, advised administrators to foster a close working relationship with every subordinate on an individual basis through effective communication.

"A smile or a word of greeting when we see a colleague or boss reassures him that he matters. Have the sense not to monopolise conversations. A good talker avoids annoying mannerism of speech or gesture. We need to develop good listening skills and at times be at social ease with others whether they are clients, superiors, colleagues or juniors," he said.

With humans, being the most critical resource for national development, facing a lot of challenges, Ajila said managing human resources in the 21st century appears more complex.

He noted that one of the forces affecting employees' performance in the 21st century is technology, which keeps evolving. He there-

fore charged employees to upgrade their skills.

"Human resource management is being revolutionalised by the continuing advances in technology. Automation and other technology innovation may reduce the number of employees needed but they also increase the level of skills needed by employees who operate the new machines or systems.

"There is need for today's employees to get acquainted with and equipped for the new technology that is being introduced into the workplace,” he said.

In her remarks, the registrar, Mrs Oluwayemisi Gbadebo, said the lecture provided administrators with the opportunity for professional development, which they need to remain in the system.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, said the registry is the heartbeat of any university which is connected to the achievement of the educational goal and the school's objective.

He advised non academic members of staff to stop feeling inferior to academics as they all contribute to the success of a university.

Nigerian education needs creativity, says Provost

P

ROVOST of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State, Dr Sijibomi Olusanya, has proposed educational creativity as a major tool for national development.

He made the proposal at the opening of the fourth school conference of the School of Education last Wednesday.

Olusanya said: "If education has been rightly regarded as the major tool for national development, then it appears that among other things, our education needs some impression of creativity in order for it to bring the nation to the realm of competitive and sustainable economy.

Unless fundamental changes take place in our educational system, the much anticipated economic development would continue to be a mirage."

Keynote speaker, Prof Joel Babalola of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, said in his address that technology can solve Nigeria's problems.

Describing it as the connecting factor between the country's present economical state and its anticipated position, Babalola advocated that the economy should embrace the changes that come with the demands of the 'smart society', which he said is the way of life of the 21st century.

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

"Technology is the connecting factor and with it, there would be transformation in policy directions, research, diversification of the economy, industrialisation, innovation and education at all levels, he said.

The don added that to achieve a sustainable economy means engaging in a balanced thinking of how today's progress will not compromise the ability of upcoming generation to enjoy future prosperity.

Representative of the Ministry of education at the event, Mrs Eyitope Olateju, advocated for more application of knowledge by academicians in the country, from results gained from conferences such as this.

Chairperson local organising committee of the conference, Dr Stella Anumnu, advised fellow teachers to engage in workshops, seminars and conferences that would keep them abreast of information and developments in their areas of specialisation.

She said: "Without conferences, we cannot get information in our areas of specialisation. This conference is therefore important for people, especially lecturers, because a teacher cannot give what he does not have.

But when we meet like this, we get to brainstorm, get new ideas, people

who do not know certain things in certain areas get information from colleagues and beef up their knowledge and skills and they can be enlightened and up to date."

DUCATORS and professionals working with young children can apply for University of Roehampton's online Master of Arts in Early Childhood programme.

The course, designed to prepare professionals to understand young children's development in a bid to ensure their success in school and life, is not restricted to graduates of early childhood education.

Dr Peter Elfer, a principal lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the university, said the course would enhance educators' skills in caring for young children.

"The first years of a child's life are of critical importance for growth and development, which is why

the University's new online MA in Early Childhood programme aims to prepare educators and those who care for young children with the skills, knowledge and attributes needed to become leaders and advocates for the positive development of young children by building on the strengths of them and their families and by responding to the challenges they may face," he said.

The MA in Early Childhood programme joins a suite of online education programmes, including the MA in Educational Leadership, MA in Learning and Teaching, MA in Inclusive Special Education and MA in Technology and Learning Design run by the university.

FUNAAB FILE New chancellor THE Federal Government has approved the appointment of a new Chancellor for the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB). He is HRH Edidem Ekpo Okon, Abasi Otu V, the Obong of Calabar, Cross River State. He was appointed alongside 37 traditional rulers as chancellors for all Federal universities.

The 66-year old monarch attended St. Patrick’s Convent and St. Mary’s Schools for his primary education (1963). In 1968, he obtained his West African School Certificate from the popular West African Peoples Institute (WAPI), and later a Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering, having earned the International Telecommunication Union Best Student Award.

The Chancellor spent his working years in the telecommunications sector. He rose to the position of Operations and Maintenance Manager in the Domestic Satellite Division, Federal Ministry of Communications.

Agriculture can create jobs COMMERCIAL agriculture, if well-developed and implemented, is capable of curtailing the scourge of unemployment pervading Nigeria, says Prof Akin Omotayo, Director, Institute for Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), FUNAAB. Omotayo, who said this on a radio programme, recently, added that agriculture can create four million jobs through its value chain channels.

Omotayo who spoke on the topic, “How to Resolve the Nigerian Economy through Agriculture”, advised governments at all levels to focus on agriculture, and train young people to earn income in agriculture, especially as the few existing farmers are becoming old. The don, who was a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State, also highlighted various ways FUNAAB could partner stakeholders in the industry.

Praises from WAAPP A TEAM from the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), Nigeria, has lauded the FUNAAB management for facilitating the existing collaboration between it and IFSERAR. Welcoming the team, IFSERAR Director, Prof Akin Omotayo, who also coordinates WAAPP activities in the university, thanked the university management and WAAPP for supporting the institute’s quest to be at the fore-front in research and increasing food productivity.

Since the collaboration started about a year ago, Omotayo said a lot of progress has been made in cassava seed and fingerlings multiplication, distribution, technology dissemination and adopted school project.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who is also the President of Association of African Universities (AAU), thanked WAAPP-Nigeria for its contributions through IFSERAR, in strengthening the university’s extension village farmers.

He added that the FUNAAB recently bought a Toyota Hilux Van to support the programme and urged WAAPP team members to visit various ongoing farm projects on campus.

• From left: Pastor Gbenga Mustapha, his wife Oyeyemi, Miss Orhorho Charity, Dr Adetola Osibanjo, his daughter Mariam, her mother, Olaitan, and Mr Tunde Osibanjo, during Babcock University’s 13th undergraduate convocation.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

When restrooms are shut...

*CAMPUSES

Promoting unity, love

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 34

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Mystery death of lovers in hostel Igbariam, host community of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State, lost its serenity last week, following the mystery death of two students in a room in their offcampus residence.

CHISOM ANYANWU (200-Level Mass Communication) reports.

H

OW did Kelly Okonkwo and her boyfriend, Gerald, die in their room? This is the puzzle residents of Igbariam, host community of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), are trying to unravel? The community woke up, last Monday, to find the students dead in a room at Diamond Lodge. The building is an off-campus hostel.

The late Kelly, who was a student of Entrepreneurship Department, was said to have visited her boyfriend, simply identified as Gerald, who was a 24-year-old 200-Level Public Administration student, in his hostel for the weekend. But, three days after they had been to-

•The late Kelly

•The Diamond Lodge

‘I saw Gerald pulling down his curtain and also shifting his generator’s position. So nobody knows for certain what actually happened’ gether, the love birds were brought out of the room dead. Other occupants reported the matter to the nearby Oyi Police Station.

When the door was forced opened by the police, Kelly’s body was found beside Gerald, who was said to be unconscious at the time. They were almost naked.

The police rushed the unconscious Gerald to the university’s Teaching Hospital in Amaku, where he died.

The late Gerald was the president of Diamond Lodge.

Other occupants, who spoke to our correspondent, described the incident as mysterious, saying the hostel was not attacked by either

armed robbers or cultists. Other students living in the hostel and a nearby building, Gift Lodge, fled in fear.

While Igbariam residents are still pondering over the deaths, there are speculations that Kelly and Gerald may have died from some abuse. Some attributed the mystery death to generator fume and food poisoning; others said they could have been attacked by cultists.

It was learnt that the late Kelly had bruises around her shoulders, fuelling fears that she might have been raped to death. Some students believe the death was spiritual, because the victims were said to have attended a vigil together at St.

Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otoko on Friday, where the preacher warned students on immorality and premature death.

The late Gerald’s friend, who declined to give his name, said: “After the vigil, we all came back home to sleep. The last time I saw Gerald was on Saturday morning after he had his bath. At that time, I knew the late Kelly was around. Gerald and I even exchanged pleasantries before he returned to his room.

“There was a downpour on Saturday and I saw Gerald pulling down his curtain and also shifting his generator’s position. So nobody knows for certain what actually •Continued on page 30

•Student, two others die in road accident• Fire guts girls’ hostel-P32

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

30

CAMPUS LIFE

The new normal

W

E are definitely living in interesting times, a time where technology, travel, and international commerce blur geographical and cultural boundaries with a redefinition of how things used to be and how they are now. Because of technology, events thousands of miles away can have far reaching repercussions in different corners of the globe at the click of a button.

In today’s flashy and vain world, so much attention is given to the immediate day-today details of living while broader and more significant questions are either ignored or, deliberately deferred until a more “convenient” time. Take the media and publicity buzz surrounding Bruce Jenner’s public transformation into Caitlyn Jenner as an example. Ordinarily, it’s an event that took place in faraway United States of America and shouldn’t “concern” us; but it should concern us.

Perplexed by economic crises of immense proportions and dominated by the craze for money and the politics of the moment, we have become distorted in our orientation and deluded of any deep consciousness of our past, values and history. We live as if all that matters is today. In private and in public, our citizens are routinely treated to dreary lectures on the irrelevance and insignificance of a systematic knowledge of our “past” values and history.

From a vantage point of view I can see that we seemed determined to go on record as the first nation to make meaningful “progress” without reference to the accumulated values, experiences and culture of the past. We consciously, or unconsciously, do this because the discipline of history is routinely dismissed as dispensable. History which used to be an attractive subject has dropped to the bottom of the ladder of priorities for intending undergraduates.

This is happening – to a large extent - because of postmodernism, a late-20th-century movement in the arts, architecture, and criticism that was a departure from modernism.

As a movement, it includes skeptical interpretations of culture, literature, art, philosophy, history, economics, architecture, fiction, and literary criticism.

In all form, postmodernism is however difficult to define because to define it would violate the postmodernist’s own premise

Pushing Out

that no definite terms, boundaries, or absolute truths exist. This is why it will remain vague, since those who with claim to be postmodernists have varying beliefs and opinions on issues. This is where the problem actually lies and why most people view 08116759750 it as a call to rebellion.

(SMS only) They question truth seeing it as an •aagboa@gmail.com illusion. They detest religion of all forms and question how Christianity – for instance – should claim priwrong” in what Jenner did. If majority of our macy or “dictate” morals. They perceive reli- youths reason this way we should be congion as continued reliance on “ancient” and cerned. “traditional” perspective on morals. They This movement may be gradually creeping even attack nationalism, capitalism and po- in on us without our knowing it because of litical systems. the powerful influence of a highly manipulaAccording to the postmodern worldview, tive western mass media; not only on this isthe western world society is an outdated sues, but others that runs counter to our collifestyle disguised under impersonal and face- lectively shared values. Questions seemed not less bureaucracies. Hence it should move be- to be raised about Jenner’s four adult chilyond the primitiveness of ancient traditional dren, the youngest being 31. Some of them thought and practices. They believe that truth are confused on how to relate to him – or is relative and is up to each individual to de- should I say her - now. As I was pondering termine for himself. “Postmodern thinkers” this, I came across this comment - which I behave promoted and defended a “New Age” lieve was posted by a woman - in an online way of conceptualising and rationalising hu- story. man life and progress. As a result, they are “Bruce Jenner is not a woman. He can never typically atheistic or agnostic. be a woman. He doesn’t have the slightest Because they challenge core religious val- idea of what it takes to be a woman. It goes ues and ethics, many prefer to live under a beyond an inverted pe—s, b—bs! It goes beglobal, non-political government without yond the glitz and glamour. We have bad hair tribal or national boundaries. Postmodernists days, mood swings, menopause and equal do not attempt to refine their thoughts about work for less pay. Motherhood, wife duties, what is right or wrong, true or false, good or and don’t even get me started wýth mornýng evil. They believe – in the first instance - that sickness, spitting, vomiting food cravings for there isn’t such a thing as absolute truth. A nýne months, and ultimately havýng to push postmodernist view the world outside of him- out an object as big as a water melon out self as being in error, that is, other people’s through a hole the size of a lemon, in a room truth becomes indistinguishable from error. full of people.

Therefore, no one has the authority to define “The indescribable excruciating pain, the truth or impose upon others his idea of moral blood and water, this man has no idea. Oh right and wrong. and breastfeeding? It’s not all sunshine and It is therefore not surprising that many rainbows. It’s like an endurance trek. Somechoose to believe in naturalism and evolu- one sucks and chews your nipples at will for tion rather than God and creationism. The six months, exclusively then some more. Stop bottom-line is that they stand against any- trivislisýng womanhood abeg. Bruce Jenner, thing we consider normal. park well jare. Money miss road…”

I have monitored the social media since Beyond the Jenner and other issues that add Bruce - or should I say - Caitlyn Jenner’s story nothing to the progress of society, there are broke. I’ve also spoken to some Nigerian fundamental issues that need to be looked at youths to try and gain insight into how they especially the changing landscape relating to view the issue. I knew we need to revisit our employment, which to me is critical to our value system as most of them see “nothing

Agbo Agbo

youths.

In the 1970s and 80’s kids were told to work hard in order to enter school so they can get the required jobs that will make life less stressful. Life in school then was relatively easy compared to what it is now. But the landscape has radically changed with fewer and fewer jobs in the country. The 70s and 80s have come and gone.

While interacting with some students’ penultimate week on this issue of postmodernism, I was told some of them were “gainfully” employed as “internet warriors” in the last elections. Instead of engaging them as thugs, these youths were “armed” with laptops, smart phones, internet connections and loads of cash to do the bidding of their political masters.

One of the fallouts from that election is the growing interest of our youths in politics and governance issues. Another fallout was how divided they were about the opinions they hold and how “truth” was defined.

Interestingly, I was told their “job description” includes “storming cyberspace to harass, intimidate and persecute” those with views opposed to that of their paymasters.

They intimidate political opponents by planting stories that most times are totally false. Some were in form of the “documentaries” we saw on television.

Some, I was told, work from home while others work from an office rented by consultants to politicians. They often work round the clock. Most of the offices are fully established with coordinators providing the direction the “the online battle” will assume. If you doubt this really took place, ask yourself why you suddenly stopped seeing all those intimidating stuff on social and even traditional media, after the elections were won and lost.

Funny as it may sound, one said his job specification was to “distort and correct public opinion.” How? With different pseudonyms, they “attack” news websites, Twitter and blogs where they write articles about their paymasters with positive comments, and blast those of his opponents with negative posts. These “internet warriors,” while not stealing ballot boxes or bullying electoral officers, were deliberately engaged in manipulating the electoral process through dubious “public opinions.”

Some of them were promised “real jobs” should their paymaster wins. Welcome to the new normal, the postmodern world where values are gradually being - if not eroded.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition.

Details are as follows: Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using practical examples Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples.

•Gerald...moment before he died

Mystery death of lovers in hostel •Continued from page 29

happened.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered an autopsy was carried out on the bodies.

The late Kelly’s course mate, Chizoba Onyechi, said the incident shook the department. She said the late Kelly was expected to join a field assignment being undertaken by her colleagues when the news hit the campus.

Chizoba said: “We were working on a farm when the assistant class governor screamed and started to cry. She said she got a

call that Kelly had died. Many of us did not believe the news because she was being expected to join the assignment. We all rushed to her hostel, Gift Lodge, only to discover that the incident occurred at Diamond Lodge.

“I noticed she had bruises all over her shoulders. We carried her body into the waiting police vehicle, because the policemen refused to touch the body. We have been hearing different reports on what caused the death but nobody can say what happened.”

Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry, which contains work of another author.

If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper.

On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile phone number.

All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted.

Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015.

PRIZES 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to23, 2015 4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

31

CAMPUS LIFE University of Calabar (UNICAL) students are angry over their toilets since the cleaners were dismissed on February 28. They now ease themselves in the open, inside the bush or any other available space. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Graduate School) and IKECHUKWU OFILI (400-Level Public Administration) report.

When restrooms are shut...

MONG Prof James Epoke’s first duties on resumption as University of Calabar (UNICAL) Vice Chancellor (VC) was the renovation of toilets.

He changed the toilets’ materials and installed water systems in some of them.

But the toilets have been shut since February 28, following the cleaners’ sack. The management said it could no longer keep them as part-time staff. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the cleaners were paid N10,000 monthly.

Since the facilities were closed, students said, it has been difficult for them getting a place to ease themselves.

John Etido, a 200-Level Management Science student, said many are now forced to walk a long distance before they can use the toilet.

Charity Enung, another student, said she prefers to use the public toilet in the academic area to the one in her hostel, which, she said, is always messy. But, with the public toilets shut, Charity has been compelled to use the “dirty” lavatory in her hostel.

A 300-Level student of History and International Studies, Cynthia Ando, said: “It is very frustrating to come to school and start to see public toilets under lock and key.”

Their closure has forced students, who read in classrooms at night, to pass excreta indiscriminately. To many of them, areas around the classrooms serve as toilets. CAMPUSLIFE discovered a spot at the New Art Theatre messed up with urine.

Students of the Faculty of Social Science pee at a spot behind the Department of Public Administration.

Other spots reeking of urine include alleys around Abraham Ordia Stadium, New Library, Natural Science Lecture Theatre (NSLT) 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Those who sweep the classrooms and surroundings are not happy with the development. They described the students’ behaviour as “very bad”.

A

A sweeper, who simply identified herself as Florence, said: “We don’t understand why students urinate everywhere they see when they have toilets in their hostels. The other day, I picked up a sanitary pad along the corridor. Why should girls be so careless in disposing such a material? Students should know that some of us are old enough to be their parents.”

On why the school toilets were shut, a former cleaner, who gave her name as Mrs Idiongesit, said: “We were sacked by the management. They told us to stop working with them since February. That was why we stopped working. They said they don’t want us again because we are not staff. They want to employ full staff. They asked us to leave and we all left.”

A cleaner, who works at Political Science Department, told CAMPUSLIFE: “Initially, we were working as part-time staff before the school management said they did not want part-time workers any longer.

They asked us to leave. But, after a period, some of us were recalled and we have been fully employed. Others have not yet returned.”

On their return, they met the toilets messed up. Madam Margaret, a cleaner, said: “We discovered some students broke into the toilets and defecated indiscriminately till the toilets became messed up. The excreta could not be flushed away because the sewers were blocked. The students used all manners of paper to clean up. I don’t know why some students will be so heartless. We reported the development to the authorities.”

While some of the toilets have been re-opened, others are still locked.

When our correspondent visited toilets between Pavilion 2 and 3, the doors and burglaries were locked.

For the disengaged cleaners, it has been a tale of woes. One of them, who gave her name as Mrs Adams, said she was owed 10 months salary before her dismissal. “I beg the people

•A public toilet in the academic environment

in charge to pay us. They said they will pay us but we are still waiting on them,” she said.

The school Information Officer, Effiong Eyo Bassey, said the disengaged cleaners were absorbed on part-time.

He said: “When they were absorbed as cleaners, we made it clear to them that their task would be part-time.

Now, we are engaging some of them as full-time staff. The management

will pay their outstanding wages. It is a matter of time.”

Using some of the school toilets in the academic area is not free. To urinate, user will pay N20. To defecate, it is N50. The cleaners said they charge the money because some of the toilets lack water system. So, they provide water for the user and for the washing of the toilets.

But, students want the management to make the use of toilets free. Nkeji

Obiora, a 300-Level Education Administration and Planning student, said: “The toilets should be free for the students. I don’t know why we are asked to pay before using toilet.

The cleaners are exploiting us. The management should make the use of toilets free of charge.”

To Nathaniel Bamidele, a student in the Faculty of Agriculture, only visitors should be made to pay to use the toilets.

President of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students Union Government (SUG) has been suspended over allegation of financial misconduct, throwing the institution into crisis, KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (Material and Metallurgical Engineering) reports.

B

ARELY five months after it was restored, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has been hit by crisis. Its President, Peter Oji, has been suspended for alleged financial misconduct.

Peter, a 400-Level Veterinary Medicine student, was also accused of trampling on the privileges of his colleagues in the executive arm of the union. He was said to have sidelined Students’ Representative Council (SRC), the legislative arm, and embarked on projects without approval.

The SRC accused the embattled president of single handedly setting up an unapproved a task force to sell tickets and stickers to vendors during matriculation for freshers. The tickets, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, were sold for between N1,000 and N2,000.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that Peter’s colleagues in the executive council described his activities as illegal at a meeting, saying the president did not carry them along in the running of the union. Peter, it was learnt, apologised for the lapses. He promised not to repeat such again.

The executive ordered the presi-

dent to remit all revenue realised from the sale of ticket and stickers within 72 hours through the Treasurer, Kelechi Nwachukwu, a 300Level Civil Engineering. But, this did not happen.

Two weeks after, Kelechi sent a petition to Privileges Committee of the SRC to investigate the president and Director of Welfare, Chinonye Elochukwu, for unauthorised billing of shop owners on the campus.

When the SRC members convened a meeting to deliberate on the petition, it was learnt that Peter invited the security men to disrupt the “unapproved meeting”. The sitting was stopped. The SRC members described the action as an affront on their right. They dispersed in anger.

The matter got worse when Peter and Financial Secretary allegedly applied for take-off grant without informing other members of the executive. Peter was also accused of stopping the union’s transaction alert at the bank. This prompted Kelechi to request for the union’s full bank statement, where he allegedly discovered illegal withdrawals by the president and Financial Secretary.

The SRC members lost their patience with the president when Pe-

•Peter

•Kelechi

Torn apart by scandal ter allegedly gave out the union’s secretariat for letting without the consent of other members. The SRC clerk, Victor Emenike, a 200-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering student, said: “Peter did not seek the consent of other members in executive and legislature before collecting rent of N250,000 each from the people who he gave our vacant

spaces at the union’s secretariat.”

Kelechi also accused the president monopolising union affairs, saying: “When the union building was to be renovated, Peter did not make the processes and plans open to anyone. He also turned the SUG secretariat into a marketing plaza without consulting members of executive and the legislature. He handles the union’s assets as if they are his

personal properties.”

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was Peter’s walkout at a meeting where the union members were considering budget harmonisation. A participant at the meeting said Peter rained abuses on members and left the meeting. Infuriated, the executive members passed a vote of no confidence on the president and forwarded their decision to the SRC. The SRC members, after deliberation, suspended the union president and set up a committee to investigate all allegations against him. The Vice President, Joy Nebo, a 300Level Combined Social Sciences student, was sworn in as Acting President.

Reacting, Peter denied he sidelined other members, saying he sought service of any executive member when needed.

He said: “I never ran the affairs of the union alone. I approached anyone whose service was needed. For instance, the renovation of the union building was handled by the office of the General Secretary and I. So, I did not need to meet the Treasurer on that.”

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

32

CAMPUS LIFE Student, two others die in road accident •Varsity declares two-week break

A

STUDENT of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) died in an accident on Nsukka Road on Tuesday. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu confirmed that three persons were killed in the mishap.

The late Miss Nkolika Anatogu Sylvia was 300-Level Veterinary Medicine student. She hailed from Onitsha in Anambra State. The late student was travelling home for a two-week holiday declared by the school.

Other victims could not be identified as at the time of this report, but their bodies have been deposited at Our Saviour’s Hospital Mortuary by the FRSC personnel, who were assisted by the police.

•Students gathered to mourn the late Nkolika From Oladele Oge

UNN Reacting to the incident, the UNN Public Relations Officer, Chief Okwu Omeaku, described the student’s death as shocking, noting that the management shares in the grief of her parents.

According to the FRSC officers, the accident was caused by a diesel-laden tanker with number plate AWK 311 XB, which was said to have lost control, following a brake failure. The tanker collided with two passenger buses with number plates UWN 406 XA and UWN 57 Xa and a motorcycle, before falling into a ditch.

Fire guts girls’ hostel

T

L

AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged Corps members to support his administration and champion the cause of national rebirth.

He spoke during the swearing-in of the Stream II 2015 Batch “A” Corps members in Lagos at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Iyana Ipaja.

Ambode said: “The youth must be in the vanguard of a good cause that will move the nation forward. To achieve the dreams of our founding fathers, Corps members must prepare and join in the important task to keep the nation united and prosperous. Without doubt, the current situation in our country calls for unity, commitment and hard work for its development and everyone must be involved.”

The governor, who was represented by Dr Aderemi Desalu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Spe-

RUN HERE was panic at the Redeemer’s University

•Charred materials left in the room

power surge in the roof. All electrical sockets in the room were in-

PHOTO: SEUN ADISA

tact but some wires melted and fell off from the roof.

Increase education vote, NANS tells Buhari

T

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his inauguration, urging him to increase funding to education.

In a statement by its president,

From Temitope Yakubu

ADO POLY Tijani Usman, NANS said improving education allocation would bring development, adding that the president should look into the fees

paid at Federal Government-owned institutions to make tertiary education affordable to all.

NANS also appealed to Buhari to renovate facilities and equip laboratories to produce excellent graduates.

LAUTECH elects union leaders

S

TUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State went to the polls last Tuesday to elect their leaders but the exercise was marred by controversy, which almost disrupted the process.

The electoral committee chairman, Oluwaseun Oke, declared Olumide Bakare as the winner of the presidential contest, who beat his closest rival, Samuel Ayeni, with 20 votes. Although, the process was tainted with skirmishes arising from poor management.

The election, which was initially arranged to hold on May 28, was re-scheduled to last week, following wrangling by the candidates.

for two weeks, after which students would return to write their examination.

Students said they were not informed about the break, describing it as impromptu. They said management should have informed of its decision a week before the announcement.

Ambode to Corps members: champion national rebirth

From Maryann Okonkwo

(RUN) last Wednesday following a fire at Queen Esther Hall. The inferno broke out in Room 20 in Block 25 of the girls’ hostel.

Its lone occupant, Funke Alade, a 100-Level Psychology student, said she was in her colleague’s room when the incident happened.

An eyewitness, Kelechi Ogunleye, said she alerted the hostel’s occupants when noticed smoke coming out of the room. She said students ran to the porter’s office to draw attention to the incident. The porters on duty, it was learnt, moved to the scene with two fire extinguishers to put out the inferno.

Funke said she was informed about the incident by a friend living in the block. Her mattress, wardrobe and gadgets, including iPad were burnt. She now stays with her friend in Block 23.

Although the cause of the fire was not clear, eyewitnesses said the inferno may have been caused by

The school management, previous day, announced a compulsory twoweek holiday, ordering students to vacate the campus, following the announcement.

A senior member of the management said the holiday was part of the institution’s academic calendar. Academic activities would be suspended

Ridwan Adelaja LAUTECH The school management moved in to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

The authorities resolved the rift and offered to supervise the process. Olumide’s emergence as president was greeted with excitement by his supporters, who described as “voice of the masses”.

In a display of sportsmanship, Samuel congratulated the president-elect, urging his supporters to remain calm. He stated his plan to work with him in the interest of the union.

•Olumide

LAGOS cial Duties, said the youth must give their best in the service of the nation.

The governor said the role of Corps members as change agents would be harnessed if they are productively engaged. He promised that his administration would unveil a comprehensive youth empowerment scheme to tackle challenges facing the youth.

He hailed the NYSC’s Hope Alive Programme (HAP), saying the initiative would give hope to Corps members who become disabled or incapacitated during the service year.

The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr Cyril Akhanemhe, used the occasion to congratulate the governor on his inauguration, pledging his commitment to work with the governor to actualise his programmes.

‘The youth must be in vanguards of a good cause that will move the nation forward. To achieve the dreams of our founding fathers, Corps members must prepare and join in the important task to keep the nation united and prosperous volved’

40 postgraduate students matriculate

T

From Israel Fawole and

From Medinat Kanabe

HE Redeemer’s University (RUN) has admitted no fewer than 40 students into the School of Postgraduate Studies. The freshers matriculated on Wednesday last week at the school auditorium in Ede, Osun State.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Debo Adeyewa, said the event was a giant step in the realisation of the institution’s vision to widen the frontier of knowledge.

The VC said adequate provisions had been made for materials for quality research.

Prof Adeyewa said the mission of the university is to create, preserve and disseminate quality knowledge, saying the school also aims to be the best institu-

From Hammed Olamide

RUN tion for research. He urged the students to be role models to their undergraduate counterparts, advising them to embrace the university’s culture of excellence.

Officials at the event included the Registrar, Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi; Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof E. Happi; Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof.

E. O. Bamiro; Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof E.O. Akinnawo; Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof T. A. Bamiduro and the school chaplain, Pastor Gbenga Akosile, among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

33

CAMPUS LIFE

Unionism not licence for lawlesness, student leaders told

S

TUDENTS’ leaders have been urged to make unionism a tool for development and not of destabilisation. The Acting Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, Mr Boniface Ologunagba, gave the advice during the inauguration of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) and part-time students’ union leaders.

Congratulating the union leaders, Ologunagba urged them to make the welfare of their colleagues their priority.

He reminded them that, being a student leader was not a license to contravene the rules, warning that his administration would not allow acts capable of undermining the smooth running of the school.

The rector assured them of his readiness to provide conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning, as well as sustaining development in the polytechnic.

He said: “Arrangements have been concluded to build structures that will improve learning. Students must reciprocate the gesture of our Visitor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, towards the by conducting themselves in a responsible manner that will promote the image of the school.”

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Mr Ben Opawale, advised the students’ leaders to complement the management’s effort in curbing

•Ologunagba (middle) with the students’ leaders From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi,

RUGIPO vices among students and to promote, transparency, discipline, accountability, due process in their dealing with students.

Mr Yomi Alo, an official of the institution’s legal unit, adminis-

tered oath on the students’ leaders.

In their inaugural speeches, the SUG president, Temitayo Orimolade and chairman of the Part-Time Students’ Union, Adeyemi Olowe, promised to promote the school vision. They also pledged their support for the management’s drive to improve

the rating of the polytechnic.

Other members of the union are Agnes Enioghilen, Vice President, Busayo Olaiya, General Secretary, Emmanuel Balogun, Treasurer, Israel Duyile, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Akeem Ahmed, Sport Director, Bamidele Ojo, Social Director, Oluwaseun Oluyade, Welfare Director and Theophilus

Abiodun, Assistant General Secretary.

The part-time students’ leaders are Sabbath Adejoro, General Secretary, Folajomi Tugbiyile, Financial Secretary, Abiodun Adegbeyemi, Treasurer, Damilola Olofinte, Social Director and Olufemi Ariyibi, Sports Director.

How to prevent hypertension, obesity, by US don

A

UNITED States-based Associate Professor of Public Health, Solomon Okosun, has advocated the need to step up efforts to control and manage the growing cases of diabetes and hypertension in the country.

Okosun made the call at a public lecture he delivered at Obong University in Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State, on the topic: The epidemiology of metabolic syndrome in populations of African descent.

Okosun, a lecturer at Georgia State University in United States, defined metabolic syndrome as a cluster of conditions that result in manifest increased blood pressure, high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels, which occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

He traced the medical problem to unhealthy lifestyles among the people, especially those living in the urban areas.

The lecturer said apart from an unfortunate situation where people deliberately reduce physical activities and exercise from their daily routine, it has become common among the people to use obesity as an index to measuring affluence, stressing that the notion

•Okosun

•Members of the audience at the lecture

From Bassey Borono

UYO has continued to act as a catalyst for the rising cases of diabetes, hypertension and stroke among Africans.

He said: “It is common to see Nigerians living in urban areas showing off affluence by going for junk foods, which have serious health implications. People who eat these foods try as much as possible to

avoid all forms of physical activities like walking, cycling and jogging, which would have helped in the prevention of obesity, which in turn leads to metabolic syndrome.”

To stem the rising cases, Okusun said it was imperative for individuals to pay attention to dietary habits by avoiding food that increases risk to becoming obese, while also engaging in more physical activities.

He said his reason for visiting the university was to initiate discussions with the management on areas of collaboration, especially on research, staff and students exchanges between the host institution and Georgia State University.

He said he would give scholarships at the Post-graduate level to graduates of the school wishing to study Public Health in the United States.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor (VC),

Prof Udoudo Ekanemesang, remarked that the institution is passionate about research and development, reiterating the management’s willingness to collaborate on research that will proffer solutions to pressing societal problems.

He expressed optimism that the proposed collaboration between Georgia State University and Obong University in the area of Public Health would be mutually beneficial to both school.

VC urges support for his vision to put varsity among best

I

N his effort to reposition the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, the third substantive Vice-Chancellor, Prof Akii Ibhadode, has urged stakeholders to support his vision to make the university one of the best 500 in the world.

He made the appeal during a press briefing held on Tuesday, where he reiterated his determination to exploit opportunity windows to produce high-level manpower for the oil and gas industry.

Prof Ibhadode said as a specialised institution, FUPRE has certain privileges in the nation’s petroleum industry, which it can

From Gilbert Alasa

FUPRE develop to attract special privilege among oil companies to get funding for researches and training equipment.

He said the university also has plans to generate income from consultancy training. He promised to leverage on existing resources, such as physical facilities and others to increase staff motivation and improved learning.

He said: “There are ongoing talks to collaborate with the industries and foreign universities. The programme of the university is structured to meet global require-

ments in the industry as prevalent in the other petroleum universities of the world. I also want to use students’ projects to solve real problems in the petroleum and allied industry, which would increase the school reputation and boost income for the school.”

The VC said quality of teaching and learning in the school had enabled students to excel in global competitions, noting that alumni of the institution, who did their Master’s degree at the Institute of Petroleum Studies of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), emerged the best and were sponsored for doctoral programme abroad by the McArthur Founda-

tions.

If substantially implemented, Prof Ibhadode assured that his programmes would attract massive development to the school. He promised to improve laboratory performance of students through workshops and research to bolster the academic status of the university.

He said he would maintain the accreditation status of the school, promising to get approval for programmes still in interim accreditation stage.

Pledging to strengthen relationship with the host communities, the VC hailed the traditional rulers and people of Uvwie, Ugbmro and

•Prof Ibhadode

Iteregbi communities for their commitment and support for his vision.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

34

CAMPUS LIFE Despite the Boko Haram insurgency, students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) still found time to share love and promote their culture at the Nativity Night organised by the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF). TAIWO ISOLA (400-Level Human Anatomy) report.

Promoting unity, love

D

ESPITE the Boko Haram insurgency, students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) rolled out the drums, last week, to celebrate culture and spread the message of peace among themselves. It was all at Nativity Night, a yearly cultural fiesta organised by the institution’s chapter of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF).

The event with the theme: Unified praise in Christ held at the university’s Ecumenical Centre.

It was witnessed many students.

Major ethnic groups, such as Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Kanuri, Ibibio, Idoma, Urhobo and Efik, among others, were all represented. Students turned out in their various native attires to showcase their cultures.

Yoruba students were beautifully dressed in Aso Oke (Damask) with Abeti Aja caps to match; their Igbo counterparts were resplendent in their native attires, while Arewa students adorned various shades of Babanriga with caps to match. Ijaws, Kanuri, Tiv, Igala, Fulani and Ibibio students too were not left out. Each group carried its cultural symbols, such as beads, calabashes, baskets and tubers of yam with elegance during the stage performance.

The event started with cultural exhibition during which various local delicacies were served. Participants had the opportunity to eat delicacies prepared by other ethnic groups. Michael Iwuagwu, a student from Imo State, tasted Amala (yam flour) and Ewedu (pasty vegetable) for the first time during the food exhibition. He described the food as extremely delicious.

The event also featured a drama, which emphasised the need for unity, peace and love among the people, irrespective of ethnicity and religion.

•Students from South-south during their performance

This is the best way to achieve unity and love in this country. We should not be fighting ourselves because we are people created by the same God.” Speaking, the RCF President, Joseph Ogunbameru, said the purpose of the event was to foster unity among students, irrespective of their cultural background. He said: “We, as a people, have decided to come together to celebrate God under one umbrella of love and unity. It is the zeal to worship God and the pursuit of unity that has kept us going over the years. We want to show the world that we can

overcome all prejudices dividing us and unite. This is the kind of event we need at a time ethnicity is tearing apart our common humanity.”

The highpoint was cultural performance and pageantry by all ethnic groups, with each tribe entertaining members of the audience its traditional dance. The performances attracted drew thunderous applause from the audience.

The guest artiste, Patience Maji, a

gospel singer from Bauchi State, said she defied security situation in Maiduguri to perform at the event because she believed in united country.

Describing the event as successful, the chairman of the organising committee, Temidayo Adesina, said the fellowship held the event to glorify God for keeping the university safe despite the many attempts by insurgents to invade the campus. She said: “We are showing to world that we can achieve great things despite our diversity.

This is why we asked each ethnic group to praise God in its own language.”

A participant, Faith Hadison, said: “The event has added value to my life by helping me learn how

to relate with people from different cultural backgrounds. The Shata dance by Hausa students and the Tiv dance fascinated me the most. I also love the Igbo’s presentation because they showcased their heritage very proudly. This is the best way to achieve unity and love in this country. We should not be fighting ourselves because we are people created by the same God.” Another student, Bege Newton, who could not conceal her excitement during the Arewa cultural display, said: “The event gave me an opportunity to interact freely with other people and learned their cultures. I felt excited to be part of the event.”

The event ended with entertainment by Aladura Dance and Drama Group.

The Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu has held a special convocation to honour some personalities, for distinguishing themselves in their chosen fields. UCHECHUKWU AMANZE (100-Level Medicine and Surgery) and FAVOUR NNADI (300-Level Medical Laboratory Science) report.

T

HE Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu was a beehive penultimate Saturday. People from various walks of life thronged the institution for its third special convocation held to honour personalities who distinguished themselves in their various fields.

The Dr Uche Ogah Auditorium where the ceremony held was filled hosting high-profile dignitaries, including traditional rulers, politicians and business men. They all came to show solidarity with their kinsmen, who were being conferred with honorary degrees.

Notable among the honorees is Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

For Onu, it was a home-coming to a state where he was the first civilian governor and to institution, where he was a Visitor between 1991 and 1992, before Ebonyi State was carved out of old Abia State. Onu was conferred with Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).

Also, a Doctoral degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Eze Nwachukwu Okere, the tradition ruler of Oheiyi-Ukwu community in Ahaba Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

The Chancellor, Sir Francis Orji, congratulated the honorees, recount-

Honour well deserved •Onu (middle) being decorated in academic gown by Senator Nwachukwu (left) as Prof Ogbuagu watches

ing his relationship with Onu, saying: “Dr Onu has had a long-standing relationship with my family from his childhood till present date. He has been a good friend and shining politician of this era.” He wished the honorees success in their endeavours.

Orji appealed to public-spirited individuals to support the state government in improving the quality of uni-

versity education.

His words: “It has been stated and being re-emphasised by stakeholders in the education sector that, government alone cannot adequately fund education, especially in the face of dwindling resources. This is why I appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the university in ensuring quality education for our children

by providing funds and facilities that will promote learning. Their support will complement the government’s effort to keep the school afloat.”

While praising the awardees, the Pro-chancellor, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, said the honorees were carefully chosen based on their achievements.

He said: “All of them are pre-eminently deserving of the honour and

recognition bestowed on them by the university based on their track records of achievement and contribution to nation-building. By virtue of their admission into the fold of our cherished graduates, they have become life members of the university community. I urge them to freely identify with the noble cause and aspirations of the university.”

Nwachukwu expressed gratitude to the Chief Executive Officer of Masters Energy, Dr Uche Ogah, for donating the 600-seater auditorium to the school.

Responding, Dr Ogah promised to employ the best graduating student at the Department of Accountancy and also the overall best graduating student. He said the gesture would be shown every year to make students improve in their performance.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Dr Onu, thanked the school management for finding them worthy of the honour. He dedicated the award to the people he worked with while he was the governor of Old Abia State. He explained how he resisted the pressure to cede the university to the Federal Government at a time the state got N65 million monthly allocation from the Federation Account.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Nigeria: A paradigm shift from the past

I

T was Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers and logicians, who noted that “the secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new”. This statement, perhaps, applies to the present situation in the country as we begin a new phase in our bourgeoning democracy and history.

Africa has, over the years, had challenges of transition, especially transfer of power from a ruling party to opposition. Given the paradigm set by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the notion that a sitting president cannot be unseated has now been completely punctured and this is a good omen for citizens of a continent that has witnessed the most flawed electoral processes in the history of humanity.

Prior to the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari, there was palpable tension and anxiety among the populace, with many predicting violence and war. But, the diplomacy and statesmanship of the outgoing president set a good precedent and it showed that personal interest and desire to stick tenaciously to power at all cost can only blow an ill-wind across the country.

This is evidence that Africa can get it right if leaders can sacrifice their personal wishes for general

“W

HEN a despot becomes too overbearing, his subjects put on masks to give him a collective piece of their minds.” – Anonymous The present age has witnessed the depletion of the tribe of despots in the world. Although, there are still some of them around but their number is becoming fewer each day. People have become vociferous in rejecting despotic tendencies from their leaders and it takes courage before any leader see despotism as virtue in a world whose tentacle of freedom extends each day.

The crux of this article is to discuss some issues discussed in articles published in the journal of Law students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. One was the issues concerned the police and human rights volitions.

It is a cliché to state that Nigerian police have a long and ugly history

I

T was 10:51am. That marked the beginning of a new dawn in a country that has been on a long wait for change. Finally, Nigerians have their president; one they can call their own. The excitement that followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s swearing in told it all - Nigerians now have a fresh breeze that they were promised six years ago.

Never a time in the history of the country has citizens placed such massive trust and believe in their president like is being demonstrated in the Buhari/Osinbajo presidency.

No doubt, the duo offers the most experienced and trustworthy leadership Nigeria has craved for. The president, who some now refer to as Nigeria’s Abraham Lincoln, is well known for his uncompromised stance on the issues of corruption and indiscipline, which was clearly demonstrated in his fierce battle against those two monsters in his first shot as military Head of State.

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on his part, is honoured as the best chief law officer of Lagos State. His love for equity and justice cannot be overemphasised.

Coupled with his deep-rooted Christian faith and professionalism, Osinbajo may also qualify as Nigeria’s most dynamic vice president.

It should not be difficult for anyone who has seen the beautiful wives of these two illustrious lead-

wellbeing of their people. This is why Africa must congratulate Nigeria for this precedent.

The Buhari administration rode to power, singing the gospel of ‘change’ to bring about a paradigm shift in governance and public accountability. This paradigm shift, of course, is a huge responsibility on the part of those elected into political offices to show the world that African politics has passed the Rubicon of ethnicity and bickering.

Let there be an end to the notion that, nobody is untouchable or too big to be made to be accountable for his deeds or misdeeds. It will take doggedness, determination and stepping on toes to keep the nation on its feet.

Our new president has promised to change the direction of governance. He promised to revitalise virtually all sectors of economy and oversee a new Nigeria where justice, honesty, equity and transparency would reign, while corruption would remain a deplorable vice.

This commitment and enthusiasm should, therefore, be matched proportionately with actions to win the trust of Nigerians, who stood long hours under the scorching sun to vote for paradigm shift.

The youth, users of the new media and untapped human resources, have bigger expectation from the new administration, because many of them believe that the long

awaited saviour has finally come their way. Many of them are quick to point to the fact that the new administration has promised not just to create jobs for the unemployed among them, but also to engage them in vocations that will boost their entrepreneurial skills.

What is fundamental to job creation and skill acquisition programme of the Buhari government is the appropriation of up to 20 per cent of the nation’s annual budget to education, which will ensure that an estimated 10 million school dropouts will return to classroom to study. If this is realised, the coming generations will be educated and have requisite entrepreneurial skills to be job creators and not job seekers.

These promises are hard to ignore especially when placed side-by-side with the potential of this country.

The challenge, however, is not how to achieve the lofty promises but the execution of the blueprints to bring the country out of the woods.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is heavily blessed with resources in human and material.

But the years of aborted dreams and wasted journeys can only be compensated by introducing far-reaching policies that would encompass the future plans of the country.

All indices of human capital development indicate that Nigeria has hardly spent its huge income

to bring about improved quality of life for its over 170 million people and in the estimation of many, the primary objective of a functional government is to be seen how it deploys the resources to emancipate the citizens.

Thus, the stakes are high for the Buhari government and only a change in status quo will end the suffering of the people. There is no room for experiment; only positive results are expected.

The economy must be revitalised; our roads must no longer be the death trap, consumable goods and all consumables, such as petroleum products, must be made readily available to all citizens, irrespective of their status.

The fight against insurgency, which has interestingly received accelerated attention with the promised relocation of the military headquarters to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, must be matched with adequate supervision and review.

The cost of governance must be reduced; energy crisis which has seen power generation and distribution plummeted to a pitiable level must be revamped. Increasing incidents of abominable vices must be checkmated with appropriate laws, and the Niger Delta question must be put to rest once and for all. Corruption, the chief amongst the challenges facing country, must be dealt a deadly

Keeping faith with a legacy

By Ezugwu Okike of brutality against the citizens.

Their brutal actions, over the years, have negated the spirit of freedom and constitutional rights of the people. The slogan - policeman is your friend - is, to the ordinary people, the greatest and most heinous lie ever told by the people empowered to protect the citizens.

If policemen know that they are friends of the people, why are they indulging in terrorising, intimidating, and with unconcealed impunity, carrying out abuses of human rights and violations of civic rule daily?

Like an aged vice, this culture of unprovoked brutality and harass-

ments has been integrated into the psyche of the police, making it almost unlikely for victims of their brutality to seek redress in court.

It would appear the police are empowered to trample on human rights and harass the people at will.

Successive governments have watched the police inflicting pain of the people without restraint. The enlightened citizenry and public commentators have also been seen to have succumbed to the impunity.

A student, Ezenwaka Macdonald Chijioke, re-awakens the gory details of cruelty, hostility and convention of impunity of the police in an article titled: The Nigerian police force and human rights violations implication for the nigeria democratic

stability, published in the journal.

The article internationalised the crime of police brutality and the writer dug deep into the injustice being meted out to the people.

His arguments were well articulated and his facts were marshaled to bring out a new dimension of human rights violation by the police.

Another article that has a sound intellectual delivery is the one written on whether or not, the religious institutions should be taxed. This issue was courageously addressed in an article also published in the journal titled: Shall God’s money be taxed? I recommend that every student should get a copy of the journal and read.

By Philip Ogaga blow without being selective in so doing.

This is not a time for vendetta; it is a time to look within and purge our country of its many ills. All resources must be focused on rebuilding the country torn on ethnoreligious line and not fighting the old war. This is the only true definition for change and a deviation from this will be relapse to the old regime. Posterity will remember the Buhari administration for good if the president sets a good example as seen in the words of Robert Lee, who says: “I think it better to do right, even if we suffer in so doing, than to incur the reproach of our consciences and posterity.”

Philip, a youth advocate, writes from Delta State The law publication, which is dedicated to Barrister E.E. Egbunonu and to the memory of the late Prof. A. Amadi, is timely and it is coming at a time the youth are rising up to the task of nationbuilding. The journal is a good advocacy platform for human development. The exploits of the late Prof Amadi, the former Dean of Faculty of Law should be espoused by contribution of life-changing articles to the journal, which is being generously sponsored by Mr Uche Anyadiegwu.

I must commend the journal’s Editor-in-Chief in the person of Nwaora Obiora, a final year students, who combined his excellence and brilliance to make the publication readable. The journal is, indeed, an uncommon academic feat for Law students of the UNN. Ezugwu is a Law student, UNN

A new dawn ers to agree to the saying that behind every successful man is a woman. Truly, the faces of Hajia Aisha Buhari and Oludolapo Osinbajo radiate the success stories of their hubbies. One good thing about these women is that, their beauty does not just end in their outward appearance. Internally, one can easily smell the beauty of these women - humble and submissive.

Indeed, Nigerians could not have asked for anyone better.

The handover ceremony was a very memorable one just like the speech of Mr. President. Sitting in front of my television for over two hours was quite exciting to me. Even as a young adult, I could only imagine what must have been going through the minds of the likes of Ayo Fayose and Femi Fani-Kayode as they watched the “ailing” President Buhari stood strong at those hours of his inauguration. Did they also know that the president arrived the country at 5am on Thursday prior to his inauguration and someone still says he cannot ascertain Buhari’s fitness level? Perhaps those still in doubt of the president’s fitness should first jog to Otuoke to ascertain theirs before questioning Buhari’s agility.

I listened keenly to President Buhari summarising his proposed

course of actions over the next four years in an under 20-minute speech.

Thank God it was not as verbose and highly ambiguous as those of some of his predecessors. But as simplified as it was, the message was weighty and very lucid for all to understand.

As I watched the president reeled out his policies, I could see a man with direction, purpose, passion, concise plan and determination to bring about the change Nigerians have always clamoured for. Before me was a man who clearly understood the problem of Nigeria and was drunk with the determination to solve it.

As expected, his inaugural speech was hinged on three main issues insecurity, corruption and unemployment. One thing worthy of note throughout the president’s voyage to Aso rock is the precision of his goals and singleness of purpose that characterised his speeches. The president is wise enough not to have borrowed a leaf from routine politicians who shower us with innumerable promises and voluminous unfeasible blueprints. He sometimes was heavily criticised by some as one who had nothing tangible to offer, because his manifestoes were kept short and straight.

Well, I have always known my country as one that loves doing things big. Corruption is big; insecurity is big and unemployment too.

The rather unusual drift by our president in keeping his manifesto short and concise can best be captured in one word - change. Perhaps, the magic that ensured victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the simplicity of the word ensured that every Tom, Dick and Harry understood what was being offered them. And who did not want change? In a country that seemed to have mastered the wrong routes and was headed for outright failure, who does not desire change? I believe only those heavily soaked in the rising waters of corruption will. But thanks to democracy which gives the majority the power to always have their way. And majority voted for change.

No doubt, the story of Nigeria is about to change. Nigerians everywhere in the world can feel the wind of change blowing across the country. From homes to the streets, to the market and private businesses, everyone is set for this great move away from the norm. Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion and culture, have come together to

By Chidudem Njoku chart a new course for this sinking ship called Nigeria.

And with a man who has said that he is for everybody and for nobody; a man who is set to tackle Nigeria’s challenges head on and more importantly, a man who is trusted by a majority of his compatriots, there is no doubt that the awaited change is here.

Yes, the change is here fah. Nna, this is true o. Beni, it is true— change noni. President Buhari and Prof Osinbajo are the ones we have been waiting for. Those that are for you are much more than those against you. We dey your back. Sai Baba!

Chuidubem

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

36

CAMPUS LIFE Fanfare as Ondo college becomes varsity From Gbenga Ojo

AKURE

I

•Provost of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Prof Gbemiga Adewale (fourth left), being joined other principal officers of the school to receive Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award of Excellence presented to him by West African Students’ Union Parliament (WASUP)

Protest rocks Ondo college over fee hike

M

EMBERS of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have led students in protest to the Ondo State School of Health Technology in Akure, following a hike in fee. Although the protest was peaceful, students described the hiked fee as outrageous.

The protesters, who visited the state Ministry of Health, lamented the state of facilities in the school, saying it was callous on the part of the management to “deliberate attempt to make learning unbearable” for students by hiking the fee.

A protester said: “Our poor parents are in a

From Adelowo Oguntola

AKURE difficult situation to cough out money to pay the fee. Where do they want them to get the money to pay additional fee? Students can no longer suffer in silence. The evil and callous increment must be stopped. Students have been intimidated and oppressed by the management when attempted to reject the increment.”

Another student, who preferred to be anonymous, said: “We can’t tolerate with how the management has treating us. Most

of us now depend on menial jobs to support ourselves financially, while some ladies do not have any choice than to turn to prostitution.”

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, was joined by the permanent secretary and directors to address the protesters. It was learnt that the provost fled when he learnt of the protest.

NANS Vice President (National Affairs), Gbenga Ayenuro, urged the government to call the school management to order, stressing that students would not relent in their demonstration except the fee is reverted.

T was a week of fanfare at the Federal University of Education in Ondo State as students celebrated the upgrade of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) to Federal University of Education. ACE is one of the four colleges recently elevated to university by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

President of Students’ Union Government (SUG), Kamorudeen Isiaka, described the upgrade as landmark achievement, saying the school could no longer be under the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to issue degree certificates. With the autonomy, he said, the school’s certificates would now be acceptable.

Joy Thomson, a student of Home Economics Department, said she was happy about the development, pointing out that the school would no longer take approval from OAU. Ayomikun Iwamitigha, a student of Biology Department, said the upgrading was a good development that should excite its alumni.

Oreoluwa Adeniran, a Physical and Health Education student, concern was whether the National Certificate in Examination (NCE) students would be issued degree certificates.

She said: “What will be the fate of the NCE students? Are they going to be dragged out of the campus like their counterpart in Tai Solarin College of Education (TASUED) after it was upgraded to university of Education?”

The Provost, Prof Olukoya Ogen, said no student would be sent away after the upgrading. He said: “Students should put their minds at rest; I assure them that their interest will be considered. We are also trying to make Direct Entry easy for NCE holders.”

Union leaders take oath

M

EMBERS elected into the offices of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Thursday, took the oath in a ceremony held at the Oduduwa Hall.

Omotayo Akande, the union president, in his inaugural address, pledged to work harmoniously with the school management, saying peace would be the union’s watchword.

He said: “We will hand-in-hand with the management and alumni association in the interest of the school and its development.

But, we will not compromise on matters bordering on students’ welfare.”

The president urged the management to repair some facilities on campus, rather than patching them up yearly. He said: “School fee has been increased, but welfare of students keeps going down.”

Students expressed confidence in the

From Afeez Lasisi

OAU Omotayo-led administration.

Hamid Opeyemi, a 300-Level Political Science student, said from what he heard about the union president, he believes the SUG would work for students. “Our expectations from the new administration are high and I believe he would perform better than his predecessors,” Hamid said.

Ayoade Adeiye, a 100-Level student, said the challenges before the union are enormous, noting that only a visionary leader could surmount those problems.

The inauguration was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Prof Ayo Salami, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole Others are Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Lateefat Durosimi, Prof Yinka Adeshina, Halls of Residence masters and Chief Security Officers.

Leaders for campus journalists HE Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State chapter of the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) has inaugurated its leaders.

Zubair Ja’faar Alabi, a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was sworn in as president of the writers’ club, having defeated his opponents in a keenly contested election.

Other members of the executive are Ajiboye Adegoke, Vice President (Administration), Israel Fawole, Vice President (Editorial),

T

From Azeezat Busari

LAUTECH Samuel Oniwinde, General Secretary, Mikail Abdulhameed, Financial Secretary and Azeezat Busari, Public Relations Officer (PRO).

In his speech, the electoral committee chairman, Oluwatomilola Boyinde, urged the executive members to promote values of the pen profession, urging them to bring sanity to the students’ union.

Torn apart by scandal

•Continued from page 31

He also denied collecting N250,000 rent from the union secretariat, saying only one occupant paid and the money was used to renovate the building. He said: “The rent paid for the space at the secretariat was used to renovate the building. We could not wait for the management to give money for the project, because it would take time. So, we approached people to help with funds and promised them they would be considered during allocation. But only one person gave us N250,000. We also borrowed other money to get the renovation done.”

The union’s Information Officer, Maximus Anyanwu, a 300-Level Public Administration and Local Government student, said: “We have a good plan for the union building, which does not have to do with turning the place to a business plaza. This building is the union’s secretariat. But, since the matter is being investigated, we must wait for the outcome before taking the next step on the suspended president.”

The history of the union has been marred with crisis, which had led to impeachment and suspension of its leaders.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

37

CAMPUS LIFE The couple who graduated together

S

•Prof Makinde (left) presenting the certificate to Akpabio (second right). With them are Chancellor, Gilbert Wari (second left) and Pro-Chancellor, Dr Oyeleke Owolabi (right)

Babcock varsity to perform open heart surgery

T

HE Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, is set to perform the first open heart surgery in Nigeria in collaboration with Florida State Hospital, U.S. next month.

Its Vice Chancellor, Prof Kayode Makinde, who announced the plans at the university’s 13th convocation last Sunday, added that medical students would begin the international students’ exchange programme at the same hospital in the USA this year.

They would also be posted to Manila Hospital, Philippines and Mutual Trust Hospital, India.

Makinde expects that successes from the medical school would reverse the fortunes of Nigerian health sector.

“By next month, the first open heart surgery would be conducted at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital. From there to renal services, cancer service, ophthalmological services, to different specialties, which would turn the tide of medical tourism in the country,” he said.

The VC also said that the institution currently has 16 computer science students on exchange programme at the Polish University,

Stories by Oluwatoyin Adeleye

Poland, for one year study and internship privilege.

For this year’s graduation, there were 1,607 undergraduates and 191 postgraduate students (141 masters and 50 PhD).

The best student (undergraduate) was Charles Makpa, with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.91 from the Department of Christian Religious Studies; while Blessing Akhidime with CGPA of 4.92 in Public Health led the Master’s category. The best doctorate student was Oguchi Uwom, with GPA of 4.74.

For her excellence in leadership, performance and spiritual service, Joyce Ajah, with a CGPA of 4.75, was awarded overall best student of the university, while Mr and Mrs Amao Gbenga-Johnson were awarded parents of the year.

Among the undergraduates, referred to as the eagles graduating class, was Nigeria’s music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who bagged a second class upper degree in the department of music and creative arts, where he was the only graduating student.

The eagles graduating class donated a campus heritage square worth N120 million to the institution. Its ground breaking ceremony was done last Friday.

One of the highlights of the event was the conferment of honorary degree to Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom.

Akpabio was to be honoured along with two other former governors.

Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) during the Postgraduate convocation last Thursday, but was absent.

Receiving his award on Sunday, Akpabio awarded a scholarship to the best graduating Law student, Chiamaka Ojiako to do her masters; and N1 million scholarship to Chioma Nlemchi, a graduate of the Department of Nursing, for coming back to complete her studies after an accident that left her in coma for eight months.

While Prof Makinde charged the graduands to: “Go out there and stand for truth, integrity and honesty. Prove that you cannot be rubbished;” Chairman, United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, who delivered the commencement address

PEAK of convocation peculiarities! The best graduating doctorate student of Babcock University, Oguchi Uwom of the Mass Communication department, graduated with her husband, Mr Chigozerem Ajaegbu, of the Computer Science department, last Thursday.

They got married just less than two weeks to their convocation.

The couple was called forward together for a handshake with the vice chancellor, Prof Kayode Makinde, of the university during the conferment of degrees at the postgraduate graduation last Thursday.

Rather than wear the honorary medallion on their necks, as he did for all the other students, Makinde called Ajaegbu to wear it for his wife and he made her do the same.

The couple, who are lecturers in the university, are both from Abia state but different local governments. Oguchi is from Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area, while Chigozerem hails from Osisi Oma Ngwa.

Though they met as undergraduates of the university, they did not start dating until after they started their PhD programmes.

Twenty-nine-year old Oguchi, who also graduated as best student in the department of Mass Communication as an undergraduate, now lectures in

the same department.

She said her passion for children drove her to choose her PhD thesis as: "Press coverage and stakeholders' perception of child labour in Nigeria", from which she had a 4.74 GPA. Oguchi said she discovered that: "While the media are actually trying, they are not doing enough. The press gives more attention to other issues and I am not saying they should give all attention - but at least they should give reasonable attention to children.

So the media should put in more efforts when it comes to the welfare of children at least through their coverage and their reports."

To her students, she advised: "Just put in your best. Greatness doesn't happen in a vacuum. It is something that should have started long ago.

Hard work is important and with God, all things are possible."

She had as advice for the government, "please the majority, even if they cannot please everyone."

On his part, Ajaegbu also lectures in the Department of Computer Science, where he studied as an undergraduated, finished with a second class upper degree and also had his masters. His doctoral thesis was in networking and telecommunications.

He advised students to: "be committed in whatever they are doing and trust in the lord."

• Makpa and wife, Uwom.

at the postgraduate graduation, urged them to be innovative in wealth creation.

He also advised them to steer clear of religious and ethnic discrimination, which could limit one’s success in life.

“Do not allow your religion, ethnicity or personality to become threats that limit your successes, rather, use them as bridges to express your worth and embrace these principles of humanity: solidarity, charity and honesty,” he said.

Kwara Poly honours ex-student for award

M

• Rhoda Robinson (left); Consul General Hawkins (second left); with youth, community and business leaders at the reception.

U

.S. Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins, has urged alumni of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) to continue to impact on their communities.

He spoke when he hosted some youths, community and business leaders at his home last Saturday.

The Carrington Youth Fellowship Alumni Network (CYFAN) was launched at the event. It is made up of young leaders who previously participated in the CYFI, a year-long programme in which outstanding

ANAGEMENT of the Kwara State Polytechnic has honoured an alumnus, Akeem Ojetola, for receiving the 2013 National Youth Service Corps (NSYC) presidential award.

Ojetola, a 2011 graduate of Banking and Finance who served in Abia State between 2011 and 2012, was one of the corps members honoured by former President Goodluck Jonathan and promised jobs.

Speaking at a reception organised for the institution's medalists at 2014 Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's Second Term Athletics Competition, the Rector, Alhaji Mas'ud Elelu noted that Ojetola and other students had written their school's name in gold.

Elelu said: "Mr. Akeem Ojetola has passed through the Kwara State Polytechnic and he allowed the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

polytechnic to pass through him. I want to say this polytechnic has given him enabling environment to discover himself.

"I recognise performances of awardees. They have represented us effectively at various capacities.

And today history is made and it is forever and ever."

The Rector also promised the institution's support for Ojetola, while challenging the sports honourees to merge sports performances with academic excellence.

In his remarks, the Registrar, Pastor Moses Salami, said that the honour done to the institution by the students was worthy of celebration.

Replying, Ojetola thanked the management of the institution for the reception, saying "I feel honoured and I'm very happy."

U.S. envoy urges youths to impact their communities

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

young Nigerians are selected as fellows and grouped into teams to design and implement a project with social impact.

In a statement by the U.S. Consul, Hawkins said he was optimistic that the alumni network would add value to the initiative and continue impacting on their communities.

"CYFI exemplifies the way in which the United States and Nigeria

fit together. I have no doubt that the alumni network's energy and enthusiasm will allow the programme to continue its success," he said.

CYFAN President, Rhoda Robinson, said that the network would help young people making efforts to solve society's problems.

"We have pulled our collective energy into the Alumni Network to create a platform where young Nigerians can access support and build

their capacity in addressing society's development challenges," she said.

Named after a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, CYFI is a youth-based initiative that was launched by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos in 2011.

It brings together Nigerian youths of exceptional vision, skills and experience to design and implement projects that have a positive impact on Nigerian society.

CYFI Board member and Political Officer Erica Chiusano, said the initiative exploits the resourcefulness of young people to make a difference.

"Youth can be the world's greatest innovators. Ask Carrington alumni, and they will tell you about a time they solved a problem in their community. And if no organisation existed to solve that problem, they created one," he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

38

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

AAUA FILE

VC delivers FUTA's inaugural THE Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, has identified agriculture as a potent tool for poverty reduction, job creation and food security.

Ajibefun said this while delivering the 69th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure titled: ‘Nigeria’s agricultural policy, productivity and poverty: The critical nexus’.

"Agriculture is a powerful poverty reduction tool. According to the World Bank (2010), for every one per cent growth in agriculture, poverty declines by as much as two per cent. Given the fact that majority of those who are hungry live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods, investing in agriculture is the most efficient way to target those in need," he said.

Ajibefun described food security as availability of food and ability to purchase it.

"Agriculture provides the livelihoods of over two-thirds of Africa's poor and assumes even greater importance in the continent's poorer countries," he added.

He regretted that despite the policies and laudable programmes, abundant natural resources, and a favourable tropical climate, "Nigeria is yet to achieve remarkable progress in raising agricultural production and productivity."

The event, which was chaired by FUTA Vice-Chancellor Prof Adebiyi Daramola.

DVC lauds Rotary on donation THE Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), AAUA, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, has praised the Rotary Club of Akungba, Ondo State, Nigeria, for donating books to pupils of the university's staff school. Adebowale, who represented the VC at the event, thanked Rotary for the kind gesture and encouraged other clubs and individuals to follow suit.

The DVC said: "On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, I appreciate the Rotary Club of Akungba for this initiative and act of charity. The university is appreciative of this. I want to sincerely commend the club and encourage other clubs and individuals to emulate this gesture and reach out to the children and the needy around us."

The President of Rotary Akungba, Rotarian Olu Fawehinmi, promised that the club would continue to render support to AAUA from time to time.

The head teacher of the staff school, Mr. J.O. Ehineni, who collected the 250 exercise books on behalf of the school, promised to use the books judiciously.

APPROACHING DEADLINE Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program, 2015 THE United States Department of Agriculture invites applications for Borlaug Fellowship Program available for fellows from eligible developing and middle-income countries.

Applicants are selected based on their academic and professional research interests and achievements, level of scientific competence, aptitude for scientific research, leadership potential, likelihood of bringing back new ideas to their home institution, and flexibility and aptitude for success in a crosscultural environment. The U.S. mentor will later visit the fellow's home institution to continue collaboration.

Fellows may also attend the annual World Food Prize Symposium, held each October in Des Moines, Iowa.

Study Subject(s): Fellowships are awarded for research and training focused on a wide array of agriculture-

related topics, including agronomy, veterinary science, nutrition, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, natural resource management, agricultural biotechnology, global climate change, agricultural economics and agricultural policy.

Course Level: Fellowships provides training and collaborative research opportunities for generally scientists, researchers or policymakers who are in the early or middle stages of their careers.

Scholarship can be taken at: USA and applicant's home country (Applicants demonstrate their intention to continue working in their home country after completing the fellowship).

Eligibility: To be considered for the Borlaug Fellowship Program, candidates must: •Be citizens of an eligible country

•Be fluent in English •Have completed a Master's or higher degree •Be in the early or middle stage of their career, with at least two years of practical experience •Be employed by a university, government agency or research entity in their home country •Demonstrate their intention to continue working in their home country after completing the fellowship Scholarship IS Open for International Students including Nigeria Scholarship Description: The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program promote food security and economic growth by providing training and collaborative research opportunities to fellows from developing and middle-income countries. Borlaug fellows are generally scientists, researchers or policymakers who are in the early or middle stages

of their careers. Each fellow works oneon-one with a mentor at a U.S. university, research center or government agency, usually for 6-12 weeks. The U.S. mentor will later visit the fellow's home institution to continue collaboration. Fellows may also attend the annual World Food Prize Symposium, held each October in Des Moines, Iowa. This program includes various kinds of fellowships.

Duration of award(s): Fellowship is awarded usually for 6-12 weeks.

How to Apply: Candidates must apply through the online application system with completed application form, 2-3 page program proposal and action plan, signed approval from applicant's home institution, two letters of recommendation, official copy of transcript for college/ university degree(s) received and copy of passport identification page.

Scholarship Application Deadline is September 30th, 2015.

Teachers seek review of legal education curriculum

T

HE Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), has called for an immediate expansion of the curriculum of legal education in Nigeria. The proposed expansion, meant to insulate Law graduates from the ever expanding unemployment market, accommodates new areas such as Agriculture, Medical Science, Physiology, Nursing, Sociology, Psychology and Marketing among others.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s 48th annual conference held at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), over the weekend.

NALT reasoned that improving and expanding the curriculum would guarantee rapid development of different facets of the society, while making law graduates employable across varying fields.

The communiqué signed by NALT President, Smaranda Olarinde an associate professor, also seeks conscious efforts to adopt the comparative and global perspectives to legal education in Nigeria both at the law faculties and the Law School against the current trend which focuses mainly on domestic/municipal laws but which cannot guarantee legal practitioners who can respond effectively to the growing challenges of globalisation.

Olarinde, who is also the Provost, ABUAD College of Law, equally advocated practicing Nigerian lawyers who desire to play at the global level to tow this path.

In addition, NALT wants members

• From left: Aare Afe Babalola, his wife Yeye Modupe and Justice Ibrahim T. Muhammad at NALT conference held atABUAD.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

to pay more attention to ethical issues in the admission of candidates into the law programme of universities, graduates into the Law School and above all, admission of Law School graduates into the Bar. This, according to NALT, is to checkmate “infiltration of men and women of questionable character into the legal profession and

ensure the sustenance of the sanctity and nobility of the law profession.”

Against this background, Olarinde suggested that the teaching of professional ethics should start from institutions’ law faculties and be consolidated upon at the Law School before lawyers are finally released to practice.

In view of the importance of the legal profession to national development, NALT said henceforth,

‘Improving and expanding the curriculum would guarantee rapid development of different facets of the society, while making law graduates employable across varying fields

those to be admitted to study law should be mature with broad knowledge in Arts and Sciences as is the practice in the United States and Europe, where Law is studied as a second degree to ensure those offered admission to study Law are matured minds.

Olarinde also urged universities in Nigeria to ensure that undergraduates, especially in Law, undergo entrepreneurial training to endow them with skills and competences capable of making them job creators.

She said there is an urgent need to re-evaluate and re-engineer the Nigerian postgraduate education in Law in terms of designing more suitable research methodologies with a view to accommodating new frontiers of knowledge, Information and Communication Technology, as well as entrepreneurial studies.

Syncronise traditional, modern communication systems, says don

A

PROFESSOR of English Language at the University of Uyo, Desmond Wilson, has called for the matching of traditional systems of communication with the modern system if the society must fdevelopment.

Wilson lamented that traditional communication systems with its advantages have been abandoned for too long to our own detriment.

He spoke at the 44th inaugural lecture of the university. His lecture was titled: Ethnocommunicology, tradomodern communications and mediamorphosis in Nigeria: An iconoclast's demystification of some communication traditions.

Desmond, a lecturer in the Communication Arts Department of UNIUYO, described as a mistake the exclusion of the indigenous, interper-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

sonal and group channels of communication as practised now, since the advent of modern communication.

He said government and political leaders have failed to communicate effectively with citizens, while employers and labour unions fail to understand each other; ditto for patientdoctor relationship, while students also fail to understand their lecturers. This, Desmond blamed on too much dependence on imported communication systems, relegating indigenous communication systems to the background.

Desmond believes there is no way the nation can either develop or communicate well or teach the process effectively, when the nation's indigenous systems which account for

more than 50 per cent of the communication traffic in more than 70 per cent of the communities is ignored.

According to him, Mass Communication involves the use of machinedriven technology - print and broadcast - to disseminate messages. Nonetheless, he added that many or most human communication contexts do not directly involve the use of machines or modern technology.

He maintained that: “beyond the mumbo jumbo of some of the technical language details of modern communication, we can understand communication better when we talk about the basics and small details.”

Desmond underscored the need to find out channels which the ancestors used before Western media took over, and seek to know their relevance in today's world.

He insisted that in spite of the complexities of the new information and communication technologies and their pervasive nature in the lives of people across societies, indigenous systems of communication still continue to play important roles in the lives of people as well.

Wilson said because Nigeria does not have a clearly articulated and stable communication policy, its leaders become susceptible to international manipulations and this leads to their abandonment He said though many are using the imported communication gadgets to communicate with one another, the bulk of the credible information traffic pass through the often neglected traditional media system, which at present, has not been formalised and jugged into the trado-modern com-

•Prof Wilson

munication. He therefore challenged the authorities in Nigeria to expand the horizon of indigenous communication studies in Nigeria, adding that most other African states are waiting for Nigeria to lead the way.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

39

EDUCATION

$98,500 transforms two school libraries

P

UPILS and teachers of two public schools in Lagos are yet to get over the new stateof-the-art libraries that were endowed by Western Union in collaboration with some banks.

The donation to Archdeacon Adelaja Senior High School, Bariga, and Community Senior High School, Ketu, was facilitated by Gabasawa Women and Children Initiative, a non-governmental organisation.

The library buildings were renovated and fitted with tiles and PVC ceilings, ceiling fans, 20 desktop computers, and books worth N7 million for each school.

The project, which cost $98,500, is part of the Western Union Foundation "Read to Succeed" initiative, designed to awaken the passion for books among pupils of benefitting schools.

It was implemented in partnership with UBA Plc, Skye Bank, Ecobank, GTBank, and Diamond Bank.

Responding on behalf of the benefitting schools, Principal of Archdeacon Adelaja Senior High School, Mrs. Onagbesan Olubunmi Omobowale, said the donation would boost pupils' interest in their books.

"I am looking forward to better results from the students. With this library now, the issue of no textbooks will no longer be there. Al-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

though the government gave the students textbooks, it is only in core subjects. With this addition, it will boost the reading nature of Nigerian students that is currently waning," she said.

An SS2 pupil, Omotayo Ogundiya, is particularly excited about the computers in the library as it would provide opportunity for the pupils to practicalise all they have been taught about Information and Communications Technonolgy.

Emmanuel Okpala, also in SS2, said his last session in the school would be spent in the library.

"With what I saw in the library, I am sure it will help me to perform better. Though, I have a year left in the school, I will ensure I read most of the books and master the use of the computer applications before I leave next year. We now have more books, chairs and also computers," he said.

On his part, Senior Prefect of Community High School, Ketu, Hamod Yunus, said the ambience of the library would attract pupils to study in it.

"The beautiful environment here will attract many students to visit the library regularly. These computers here will also make us computer literate. We will have a better performance in our examination", he said.

‘The basic ability to read is what makes the ability to learn possible. It is also the way we are able to seek out and acquire information ourselves, without relying on biased viewpoints’

SUBEB honours retirees

C

HAIRMAN of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, has urged teachers to keep on discharging excellence in their duties regardless of appreciation from the public.

She said this to newsmen at the send-off for former executive members of the board held at SUBEB multipurpose hall at Maryland, Ikeja.

Mrs Daodu said: "I congratulate and appreciate them (teachers) and urge them to continue to strive to excel in their chosen career and make sure that all our children excel in the their various exams like the placement tests that are coming up in July."

She appreciated the retired board members for their contributions to the development of education in the state, noting that there is still room for improvement.

"In spite of the fact that we still have a lot to do to make education be at the highest level in terms of quality, delivery, efficient and effective service, each person we are honouring here has contributed in no small measure to take us to the level we are today. So this is just a token of appreciation.

We value the contributions they put in while they were here," the SUBEB boss said.

Giving the opening speech earlier, Director, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board, Olawumi Gasper, an engineer, urged the present executives to build upon the achievements laid by the out-gone executives.

"You have dedicated your time and resources to improving the quality of infrastructure, learning and the lives of Lagosians. We really appreciate what you have done. You have supported us

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

through the 'support our schools' initiative. The private sector has come into our primary schools and we have seen improvements that are currently going on. I always refer to it as work in progress. They are all layers of block. You do your own bit, hand it over to somebody, add one or two more blocks and then you have a building. We do not expect board members serving four or five years to finish all the work," he said.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, urged the retirees to act as consultants to the present administration.

She said: "They should write books so that those coming behind would learn from their experiences. Experience is not something you go to the market to buy. It is something that you acquire. They should continue to be there for us as consultants each time we need them, give us words of advice and just be there for us."

Reminiscing on their experiences, the retired board members advised the present administration to unite and remain focused on the priorities of education in the state.

One of the retirees, Mrs Modupeola David, advised them to work together in order not to lose the confidence placed on them by the state .

Retired permanent secretary and board member, Otunba Ayo Obajinmi, said: "Ensure that you do not rock the boat, do not allow personal involvement to overshadow the main objective of the board.

The priority should be what is best for Lagos State, what is best for the future of Nigeria, which are those little children in primary school."

• Pupils of Community High School, Ketu in the new library

Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Education District II, Mrs. Titilayo Margaret Solarin, praised the benefactors for the laudable project; while a Civic Education teacher, Mr. Owolade Emmanuel, said the library's transformation was impressive.

"We are really happy because it was like we did not have a library before but now, we have a fullfledged library where students will be happy to learn," he said.

With the inauguration penultimate week, Regional Vice President for North, Central and West Africa, Western Union, Aida Diarra, expects better academic performance from pupils of the benefiting schools.

"The basic ability to read is what makes the ability to learn possible.

It is also the way we are able to seek out and acquire information ourselves, without relying on biased

viewpoints. At Western Union, we believe that education, access to financial services and economic opportunity go hand in hand - to advocate for a world where economic opportunity is in reach for everyone," she said.

Patrick Gaston, President of Western Union Foundation, added that it would boost access to quality education "Project ‘Read to Succeed’ is in line with the Western Union's ‘Education for Better’ programme which supports access to education that provides resources and tools to people in the society that need to live better lives," he said.

A representative of Western Union at the inauguration, Mr Ebere Nwaolikpe, expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the modern libraries.

On her part, the Executive Direc-

tor of Gabasawa Women and Children Initiative, Mrs. Doris Yaro, congratulated the schools and urged the pupils to take advantage of the facility and invest their time wisely.

"Education is all about reading, understanding and development, and as such, reading opportunity has been strengthened through this project. Western Union in partnership with our foundation has opened the doors. The students, today, have the opportunity to read and succeed," she said.

Since 1990, she said Gabasawa Foundation has been advocating for girl-child education, women empowerment, poverty alleviation and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and in the process helped over 5, 000 families and 13, 000 children from various parts of the country, including some victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Following the completion of a hostel by Haven of Light Schools, Edo State to accommodate junior secondary school (JSS) pupils, its proprietor, Mrs Irene Okoene, told ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA about the school’s humble beginning as well as efforts that went into the new multi-million naira facility.

‘Running a school in a rural setting is stressful’

• Mrs Okoene

C

OULD you go down memory lane on how the school started?

Haven of Light Schools (HLS) commenced academic activities on September 15, 2008 with just six pupils in Nursery 1, 2 and Primary 1. For the next three years, the number slowly increased to 28. The secondary school section started on September 23 last year. It might interest you to know that today we have a total of 162 pupils across nursery and primary sections and eight in JSS1 who are products of the nursery/primary section.

What inspired the boarding school idea?

With the success of the primary section, parents had requested that we consolidate by starting a secondary school which they expect their kids could continue, especially with respect to the culture of discipline which HLS stands for. We then decided that if we were going to start a secondary school, it is going to be a boarding school. In this way, we would be able to monitor our stu-

dents, thus eliminating cult and other harmful activities. Day students are more difficult to manage because once they are off the school premises, you have no control over their movements and activities.

What are the challenges you encountered while putting up the project and much has gone into it?

Running a school in a rural setting has been very stressful. There were times in the past when I felt like just 'throwing in the trowel'. So far, huge amounts of money have been invested in building this school, yet we are still building. Half of the time we had to get skilled workers from out of town - like Benin, Lagos, Abuja - both construction workers and teaching staff who could help bring our vision into reality. The classroom block, a three-storey building and two bungalows have been completed.

Also completed are the administrative buildings for the primary and secondary sections, buildings housing the cyber café and computer room, another for the Art and Home Economics rooms, and the lawn tennis court. There is a three-bedroom structure to house the Principal, as well as two-bedroom apartments each for the Vice Principal and and the accountant. Nearing completion are seperate two-storey buildings for the boys and girls hostels.

Each can comfortably accommodate 150 students.

The school has its own water borehole, a 200 KVA transformer, two stand-by generators, solar powered security lightening, and trained security guards. The street on which

the school is located has been reconstructed by the proprietor.

What stands you out as exceptional?

HLS pupils sat for the first school leaving certificate examination and passed with merits. Since the inception of this school, no child has either failed or died, not even those under the care of their parents or guardians. We are a praying family.

What is next after the project?

We want to start the Senior Secondary School arm for which a site has been acquired and construction work will commence in the near future. It is our wish that other likeminded individuals or organisations who are interested in the development of the rural areas, will partner with us in this cause.

We also have plan - in the short to long term - to partner with foreign higher institutions to facilitate the admission of HLS graduands into institutions abroad.

What is the vision of the school and where are you hoping to be in the next 10 years?

Our focus right now is to produce future stars, students of enviable honesty and integrity, who can compete fearlessly with other students from other internationallyacclaimed schools. In a society where a lot of children are becoming morally bankrupt, we aim to produce real princes and princesses, who are intelligent, beautiful (morally and spiritually), and a blessing to our country, Nigeria; students we will be proud to identify with long after they have left this school.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK with Punish parents who compromise education, says politician Conversion

L

AGOS State Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) chieftain, Mrs Pauline Adegbe, has urged parents to desist from engaging their children in trading during school hours.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, she said a situation where children who are supposed to be in school loiter around motor parks, highways and other places, hawking not only exposes them to criminal activities but the risk of being killed.

Mrs Adegbe said: "Parents who

By Musa Odoshimokhe

use their children as means of earning a living should stop doing so.

That is not the purpose of God who gave them to us. As parents, it is our responsibility to cater for them.

"This is one area I want to call on the Lagos State government to look into. There should be stringent laws to punish parents who try to compromise the education of their children by preferring to allow them to hawk instead of being in school."

The PPA chieftain urged Lagos State government to increase its financial budget for education, noting that it will lessen the burden of parents who are not able to cater for their wards' education.

"With government increased budgetary allocation to education, it will be affordable by parents with minimal effort to send their children to school. School enrollment will increase, this will benefit the state and the entire country in the long run.

•Pupilsof Model County Junior Secondary School, Ikwerre Etche, Rivers State with MTN workers in the digital library.

I

MTN workers invest in education for 21 days

T is easy to criticise pupils participating in quiz competitions for not getting certain 'simple questions' right. However, some MTN workers had a feel of what it is to be on the hot seat during the flag-off of the firm's 21 Days of Y'ello Care last Monday.

The theme of the initiative, which is a workers' volunteerism scheme that requires them to commit time, resources and skills to better their communities, is Investing in Education For All. Three members of each of the firm's nine divisions (Human Resources; Network Group; Sales and Distribution; Marketing, Brands, Customer Relations, CSD, Enterprise Solutions; and Finance) participated in the 80-question quiz competition that featured mostly secondary school level and general knowledge questions. Who wants to be a millionaire host, Frank Idoho, was the quiz master, while Music sensation, Nyanya, was the time keeper.

Some of the quiz questions included: "How many lobes does the brain have?"; "What is the longest river in the world?"; "What theory is Albert Einstein most popular for?" "What year was Wole Soyinka born?" "When did MTN arrive Nigeria?" "What vitamin deficiency is scurvy?" "Who are the governors of Delta/Akwa Ibom states?" "How many Senators are elected into the National Assembly?" "How is the

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

chemical name of Helium written?" among others.

Like in any competition, some of their answers were wrong. But it did not detract from the excitement of the workers who cheered their representatives during the competition held at the headquarters of the firm in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos.

At the end of the two-round competition, Sales and Distribution won with perfect scores in each round. Human Resources came second.

Speaking on the significance of the 21 Days of Y'ello Care, which would end in 10 days, the Managing Director/CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr Michael Ikpoki, said the programme enables the firm to connect to communities it serves in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East in a special way.

He added that the initiative's focus on education in the past four years is in line with the company's desire to improve digital learning.

"As limited access to quality education continues to plague Africa's growth and development, the role of digital learning in this ICT era is becoming more compelling.

This is because digital learning brings to the table, immediate, diverse and customized access to

‘As limited access to quality education continues to plague Africa's growth and development, the role of digital learning in this ICT era is becoming more compelling’

world-class education and beyond that, a multiplicity of opportunities for advancement," he said.

Corporate Services Executive, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, urged the workers to give financial assistance to support the initiative. He announced a short code they could use to give directives for deductions from their salaries.

In the course of the week, the firm donated digital libraries to PortHarcourt Technical College Ahoada, Rivers State, Model County Junior Secondary School, Ikwerre Etche, Rivers, which were also painted in MTN colour by its workers. The pupils were trained to use the computers.

Other schools lined up for the digital libraries include: Government Secondary School, Enugu; Nike Grammar School, Enugu; Gbaja Girls Senior High School, Surulere; and Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja.

The initiative also covers teacher-training workshop for 100 teachers at New Era Secondary School, Surulere, book reading sessions in select schools, and The Y'ello Tutor initiative, an e-learning hub that will be made accessible to primary and secondary school pupils across the country to access learning materials, tutorials, examinations practice questions and other educational resources.

Top management executives of MTN like the Human Resources Executive, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Corporate Services Executive, Mr Akinwale Goodluck; Sales and Distribution Executive, Mr. Tsola Barrow; Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Olubayo Adekanmbi; General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, Mrs Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, among others, witnessed the flagoff.

controversy

J

UST few weeks ago, we were felicitating with four colleges of education upgraded to universities by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The workers and students were hoping that with the conversion the institutions would enjoy better recognition, attract more funding from the public Kofoworola and private sectors, as well as admit more students.

But it seems that the fine details of Kofosagie@yahoo.com the conversion may not be so easy 08054503077 (SMS only) after all. Already, the chapters of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in the various institutions are beginning to kick against the way the vice chancellors were appointed.

They have a point. These are existing institutions, not brand new ones starting out from the scratch. At least one of them had a professor at the helm of affairs. His tenure just started in February. To name another person to replace him because of the upgrade, if not wrong, is awkward.

COEASU has also fought for its qualified academics to be allowed to run the colleges. Though not professors, the other provosts are no less qualified to be administrators. They should have been assessed for suitability and guided on how to run the former colleges as universities.

The template for running the institutions should be designed by the relevant regulatory bodies (National Universities Commission, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education) in collaboration with the managements of the institutions as well as the unions. That way, a smoother transition can be achieved.

Belo-Osagie

‘The template for running the institutions should be designed by the relevant regulatory bodies (National Universities Commission, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education) in collaboration with the managements of the institutions as well as the unions’

From my Inbox Re: Letter to Buhari (published 04-06-2015) I disagree with you that private universities be included in TETFund.

Doing so will increase the number of private universities which by international standards are glorified secondary schools. Most cannot justify the fees charged vis-a-vis the quality/standard of teaching given. How many of Nigerian varsities are among top 50 in the world? Funding TETFund through private sector is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of companies. NUC issuance of approval to private universities is mostly political. TETFund should focus on public schools alone because these schools admit over 70 per cent of students and produce greater manpower needs of the nation. Investors in private universities are into it for profit. Education is a social responsibility to the public. The rise of mushroom universities should be discouraged. Please let us be objective on issues. Thanks. Pharmacist Adegbite Jonathan.

You wrote well. My advice is that we should get our priorities right. Let us not confuse the President. Please let the President just give us light and protection. I mean electricity and security and all of us will triumph. Let your petition be directed to the governors to follow Chief Awolowo's footsteps. From 08095126----.

Well done on your writing in The Nation newspaper. Emma from Imo State.

Re: What conversion means (published 28-05-2015) Your column of last Thursday on: "What Conversion Means" refers. The story of the English student reminded of what my junior brother who did his B.ed at ATBU told me. He read Mathematics/Economics Education.

As students of Mathematics, they usually received lectures with their BSc counterparts; and they were always derided and looked down as inferior not only by the Bsc students, but even the lecturer. This happened until one day they were given Mathematics test. The lecturer was shocked to find out that the top five scores were from Education. The lecturer and his BSc students were forced to eat the humble pie. Nigeria will never break into the first world for as long as we glorify paper qualification over and above what people can actually do. Thanks.

Gagara Nehemiah Kwablang, Jos. Only NCE graduates are qualified to handle the educational system, but today even a graduate of business administration also handle the chalk in a classroom and he/she will be promoted above the NCE holder, which is very bad. In an educational system, there is no way a university graduate can compare him/herself with an NCE holder because the teaching techniques will not be there. One thing is to teach and another thing is to impact in a child's brain. Mr Tolu, Ondo State.

Hi Kofo, I am Victor by name. I came across your piece in one of the daily newspapers. Kofo, you see, conversion of two or three of our polytechnics to universities is not the issue. The issue is: can they employ fully qualified professors to tutor them? Would they pay them when due? Would the students of those converted institutions beat their chest and challenge those in conventional universities academically?

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

43

THURSDAY JUNE 11, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Renowned journalist and one of the founding editors of TELL magazine, Mr. DARE BABARINSA, tells the story of the June 12 annulment from his recollections of what took place at the time. The story could not have been better told; Mr. Babarinsa, as a former Executive Editor and Member, Board of Directors of TELL, was a participant-observer who witnessed some of the events surrounding the saga first hand.

Abiola, June 12 and the road not taken T

WENTY-two years down the road, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the centrality of Chief Moshood Abiola’s sacrifice in bringing us the Fourth Republic. Chief Abiola was the winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election whose victory was voided by the military dictatorship of General Ibrahim Babangida. It was Abiola’s and other heroes’ and heroines’ sacrifice that has given us the long democratic dispensation we have been enjoying since 1999.

The Abacha coup of November 1993 was a turning point in the struggle of Abiola to claim the presidency of Nigeria. With his victory in that year’s presidential election, Abiola became Nigeria’s President-presumptive and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, the Vice-President presumptive. Then Abacha seized power and the struggle entered a new phase.

The Abacha putsch was a coup-foretold. It was indeed, a creeping coup in which Abiola may have actively participated. A few days after the coup, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the Director of Organisation of the defunct Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, during the Second Republic and a pillar of the Awoist Vanguard, came to my office at the then corporate headquarters of TELL, on Acme Road, Ikeja. He looked agitated.

“Abiola has collapsed,” he blurted out. He said that morning, a meeting had been held at Abiola’s residence in Ikeja, and it was resolved that the Abiola group would support the new Abacha junta. He said the resolution of the meeting was communicated to the Awoist group which was then meeting regularly at the Ikeja home of Chief Alfred Rewane, the liberal businessman and former private secretary to Chief Awolowo. He said in view of Abiola decision, the Awoist group would be nominating members into the new government. He said because of this, Abacha had agreed that supporters of Abiola would be nominated as deputy-governors to military governors that would soon be announced by the junta. He said most likely, Kingibe, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the popular former Lagos State Governor and several top politicians who were close to Abiola, may also join the Abacha cabinet. He said he, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and Mrs Mobolaji Osomo, may also be joining the cabinet on the strength of a recommendation from the Awoist group.

“I do not have full details of the deal,” Babatope said. “But if Abiola intends to reclaim his mandate, he has no business allowing his supporters to join a military regime.

His only deal should have been to support it until they hand over to him. If they join the government, how would they look forward to the revalidation of his mandate?” Would he take up the appointment if it was announced?

“I will,” he said. “I am only obeying my leaders. But if I were Abiola, I will not go the same route. Our leader, Papa Awolowo would not have agreed to that also.” Chief Awolowo died in 1987, but for Babatope, he forever remains a reference point.

Babatope left me puzzled and troubled.

Few days earlier, we saw on national television, the fuzzy footage of Abiola’s visit to Abacha in Lagos. We were told later that he was accompanied on that visit by many of his top supporters including Kingibe, Jakande and a young Senator from Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was promised the post of deputy-governor. Few days later, Babatope, and most of the other nominees of the Awoist group and the Abiola group were appointed ministers. Abacha reneged on his promise to appoint civilian deputy governors and he was determined to do worse.

In the early days of the regime, Babatope, Osomo, Alex Ibru (publisher of The Guardian who was also made the Minister of Inter-

•The late Abiola

•The late Abacha

nal Affairs) and Onagoruwa were briefing the meeting at Rewane’s house regularly. In the end, most of them, claiming they were occupied with state’s assignments, were not showing up. It was also clear that they were under serious security watch. I went to see Papa Rewane with my friend, Funminiyi Afuye, (Baba Abraham Adesanya nicknamed him Afemo!) to complain about the turn of events.

We had not formed Idile Oodua then, but we had an informal group which included the likes of Engineer Adebayo Adenekan, Prince Ademola Oyinlola, my colleague in TELL, Kayode Anwo, an engineer, Biodun Bamkefa, also an engineer and now a pastor, Paschal Idowu, an insurance executive, Prince Adedokun Abolarin, lawyer (now Kabiyesi, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun State) and Barrister Rotimi John. Papa Rewane said the Awoist group cannot refuse to collaborate with the Abacha junta if Abiola was in league with the regime.

How to actualize Abiola’s victory had been a matter of contention among his supporters, especially those of us were ready to join the fray. In the wake of the June 12 annulment, there were many theories and suggestion on which road to take. One of the biggest supporters of Abiola originally was General Olusegun Obasanjo, the retired military ruler who was then living on his farm in Otta, OgunState. He was a big pillar for TELL in our confrontation with General Ibrahim Babangida, the head of the ruling junta. Each time they seize copies of our publication, we always run to him for intervention. He had come out openly that Babangida must honour his pledge to hand over to an elected successor come August 27, 1993. After the election, my colleagues at TELL, NosaIgiebor, Editor-in-Chief and KolawoleIlori, Executive Editor, visited Obasanjo in his farm house.

He was on the phone most of the time monitoring the result state by state.

“This is a great day for Nigeria,” he told them. “Abiola is going to be President. The reputation of the military has been saved.”

After the annulment was announced through a press statement distributed in Abuja by NdukaIrabor, the press secretary to military Vice-President Augustus Aikhomu, I went to Otta in the company of Dele Omotunde, the deputy Editor-in-Chief of TELL. Obasanjo was in a bellicose mood.

“Annulment or no annulment, Babangida must leave by August 27,” he said. “He made the promise, he has to keep it!”

Then through a convoluted route that involved serious muscling and pressure from General Obasanjo, the military led by General Sani Abacha, the political class led by Abiola and his old friend and lately rival, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the civil society, led by BekoRansome-Kuti and Gani Fawehinmi and the Press, Babangida “stepped aside” on August 27, 1993. He left power in the powerless hand of an Interim Government allegedly led by Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan, a corporate titan who was at sea in the turbulent terrain of Abuja high-wire politics.

After Shonekan’s ascension, my colleagues in TELL, Igiebor, OnomeOsifo-Whiskey, the Managing Editor, Ilori, and Ayo Akinkuotu, the Senior Associate Editor, who were earlier captured “as prisoners of war” by the agents of the Babangida dictatorship, were released.

Few days later, Shonekan sent a message that he would like to see us and we asked Igiebor and Osifo-Whiskey to go. They met Shonekan at the Akinola Aguda House, Abuja. The denizens of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa claimed they were refurbishing the Presidential Palace and would not allow Shonekan to move in. My friends said they would like to drink coffee. Shonekan called the steward and ordered for coffee. The coffee was never brought until the meeting ended 40 minutes

‘

How to actualize Abiola’s victory had been a matter of contention among his supporters, especially those of us were ready to join the fray. In the wake of the June 12 annulment, there were many theories and suggestion on which road to take. One of the biggest supporters of Abiola originally was General Olusegun Obasanjo, the retired military ruler who was then living on his farm in Otta, OgunState

’

later. This showed how powerful Shonekan was!

Yet some of our leaders were ready to invest him with possibilities. At a meeting with some members of our group, one of our leaders said the public opposition to Shonekan would not work in our interest.

“We need to support Degunle (Shonekan) to stabilize the country and conduct another presidential election,” he said. “The alternative would be military rule.”

“If they refuse to install Abiola, we will go to war,” one of us said. “We don’t want military rule again.”

“You don’t know war,” the big man replied.

“This is war: You send 10 of your best reporters to go and cover a story in Maiduguiri.

Five of them are killed, three are wounded and only two came back home. Then you are requested to send another batch of 10 reporters to Maiduguri and all the ten are killed.

That is war!”

We did not agree with him. Few days later, I tried to no avail to see Chief Abiola. I complained to General Alani Akinrinade, who advised that I should see Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye, former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, who was destined for the gulag under General Abacha. Durojaiye linked me up with Kudirat, Abiola’s senior wife who advised me to come 8 a.m the following morning. Sure enough, I met Abiola the following day by 8 a.m. I told him the advice of the bigman that he should cooperate with Shonekan so that another presidential election can be held.

Abiola shook his head and said this was unacceptable.

“I did not vote for myself,” he said. “Nigerians voted for me. I have already won the presidential election. You cannot re-sit for an exam you have already passed.”

Indeed at that point, Abiola’s options were limited. He had expended huge amount of his personal vast fortune on the 1993 presidential elections. I do not know of any group of Nigerians that donated money to Abiola’s campaign. He funded it virtually singlehandedly. To ask him to ‘re-sit for the exam,’ would have been very difficult considering the resources still available to his opponents, especially the enigmatic Major-General Yar’Adua and the shadowy elements in the military bent on stopping him at all cost.

I gave him a one page recommendation from our own group. He should continue to encourage “solidarity visits” from prominent individuals and groups. Elected governors too should be persuaded to place solidarity and congratulatory adverts for the President-elect in the newspapers, especially in Abiola’s National Concord. Abiola concurred to these suggestions. Two days later, adverts started coming out from the SDP governors congratulating the President-elect. We were very happy.

The American ambassador, like many other diplomats, visited Abiola. So was Lt. General Yakubu Danjuma, retired Chief of Army Staff.

Danjuma visited and read an encouraging poem to him and other visitors.

It was around this period that the Lagos State high court ruled that the ING was illegal. With this judgment, Nigeria was in a legal limbo. We expected that Abiola would be sworn-in as President in a revolutionary step.

There were protest across the country in his support, but the President-elect was looking at another direction instead of a direct revolutionary face-off with the government. It was at this period that Professor BolajiAkinyemi, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote an article in the newspapers asking the military to intervene and save Nigeria from political uncertainties.

After the judicial pronouncement, events were moving at a frenetic pace. We were dis•Continued on page 46

44

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 11, 2015

POLITICS

Abiola was in a cagey mood like a tiger at bay. I told him we were confused ‘about the turn of events. What is going to happen now about his June 12 mandate?

He admitted errors had been made. He pointed out two “significant errors ’ ’

Dr. Rotimi Oladele was a member of the National Conference convened by the immediate past administration last year. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he highlights the importance of the outcome of the conference and why the present government should implement it.

‘Why National Conference report must be implemented’

A

S a member of the National Conference, are you bothered about the fate of the conference recommendations?

My feeling is that the change that we are ultimately looking for as Nigerians has come, whether we belong to the governing class or those of the governed. The ingredients that will make the change possible are embodied in the report of the conference. It will be the wisest thing, for the new government to look diligently into the report and implement those aspects that have not been overtaken by events. It was a thorough job by people from all walks of life. We disagreed to agree on issues, but I can tell you that the conference was one of the best things that have ever happened to Nigeria. Apart from the way former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat and handed over power, the conference is another plus for him. I want to put it on record that I recognise his contribution to nation building, by establishing that conference and by also conceding defeat. These are the two sides of the coin that I will like to look at in term of nation building.

Which of the constituencies did you represent at the conference?

I represented the professional group. I did not belong to any political group or religious interests. I was one of those who represented the professional group. We were after the betterment of the economy. We were concerned about the improvement of Nigeria and for the country to be respected in the comity of nations. We were after Nigeria being self reliance

I did not belong to any political group or ‘religious interests. I was one of those who represented the professional group. We were after the betterment of the economy ’

as a nation.

What would be the implication of not implementing the report by the new administration?

I believe very sincerely that President Muhammadu Buhari will run his administration with a team and as an individual in a government. I also believe he will listen to the ideas of others. I equally believe he will work with intelligent and patriotic Nigerians. If anybody will jettison the whole content of that national conference report, the person will not be doing this nation any good. I don’t see President Buhari as someone who will do that. I believe sincerely that he may not take everything in the report, but he will take what is good for Nigeria, especially since he has promised us change. He has promised to move this nation forward. He has promised that all that he will do will be to look for what will help Nigeria. Based on the promises he has made during the campaigns and his antecedents, I don’t expect him to throw away the report. If the report is thrown away, anything good that anybody will do to move Nigeria forward would amount to recycling the content of that report. It will be a political manoeuvre to say I did not use the report. But, when you go back to the report, you will find that what

was done by such a person would be in the report.

What were the most important things the report highlighted?

The report actually addressed a lot of Nigeria’s challenges. And I can tell you that we looked at governance, the future of governance and cost of governance. We looked at education, gender, infrastructure, resource control, political agenda, historical challenges and how to correct them. We looked at religion as a challenge and so many other things. We looked at the economy, transportation, industry and security.

What are the critical areas you want the new government to focus on?

For me, President Buhari should not see himself solving all our problems. It should not be a generalist; he should be a selective combatant. He should identify energy, security, education, agriculture and transportation. If he concentrates on these five areas, we would be able to overcome them, I can tell you that this country will be a paradise. And other things will take effect and change naturally.

If there is effective transportation system, where we can leave our home and get to work by the next one hour, then there will be adequate use of time which is often being wasted.

You will discover that entrepreneur-

•Oladele ship will grow when the infrastructures are available. I know everybody will be able to engage himself. It is important for us to redesign our education curriculum. We should look at the education that can put food on the table from primary to tertiary levels. We should look at a situation whether a man or woman can have access to his or her rights. So, it is important he knows that he cannot solve all the problems. Under the situation, all the resources that the environment can give the country will be fully developed. This is what I expect from the new government.

How can the new leader get patriots to work with him to achieve his set goals?

To get patriot to work with him, first of all President Buhari must assist to de-emphasise the monetisation of politics. We must let the system of getting patriots on board come by ensuring that we are not over pricing political offices and the benefit of

the office. People who want to serve the nation, those who have contribution to make, should be the ones that should come forward. It should not be that people who want to make money, people want to milk our country dry, people who want to mortgage our future that seek to hold political offices. It should not be people who want to borrow money that our children and grand children will be paying. Such people should not be encouraged into governance. We just need to de-monetise politics and governance.

With defectors rushing to the ruling party, there are fears that Nigeria may become a one-party state…

It is because the politics we are playing is monetised. They are not playing politics of philosophy, ideology and services. They are only playing politics of stomach infrastructure.

The assignment and primary role of the opposition is to find the alternative ways of doing things better than the government in power. This is by putting the party in power on its toes by preventing them from making mistakes and by ensuring they make no mistakes. You pass information to them by way of criticising and not condemning them.

Today, some states in the country cannot pay their workers. What is the way out?

This is the reason why the report of the National Conference is important.

This issue was debated robustly and the committee that worked on it brought out a very good report. We don’t have reason to even create some states in the first place because they are not viable. They are just drainage pipes; they are just political support instruments. They were created to appease certain people. That is why the conference was looking at a programme, a structure that will give the country structural capability and ability to make the states self-reliant.

Abiola, June 12 and the road not taken three years later, our country deserves to know the truth about ‘Twenty the June 12 annulment. General Babangida has repeatedly accepted responsibility for that singular act that derailed his expensive but ultimately futile transition programme, but our country and posterity deserves to know the facts that led to that decision

’

•Shonekan •Continued from page 45 appointed that Abiola did not make efforts to get sworn-in as President.

For us, this would have been the ultimate sign of defiance against the illegal ING. The atmosphere was charged with rumour of an impending coup which may be the result of a showdown between the military faction led by Major-General Dongoyaro and the other by Abacha.

Soon, Dongoyaro and many other top military officers were fired.

Then, the Abacha coup. Shonekan resigned with a gun literarily pointed at his head. He was shown on television claiming he was handing over power to “the most senior minister.” The sacked ING chairman was allowed to pick his suitcase from Aguda House and he quickly returned home. Lucky man.

Many weeks after Abacha had settled into the bosom of power, I was admitted into the small private sit-

ting room of Abiola. As I was approaching the landing of the staircase, several framed pictures of Abiola and some of his “friends,” starred from the wall. Dominating that wall was the picture of Abiola and Babangida. It gave one an eerie feeling. I think (but not too sure now) that there was also another picture of him and Abacha on the same wall.

Abiola was in a cagey mood like a tiger at bay. I told him we were confused about the turn of events.

What is going to happen now about his June 12 mandate? He admitted errors had been made. He pointed out two “significant errors.” One was his choice of Kingibe as his vice-presidential candidate. One of the earliest papers we presented to him was on the choice of a running mate. We had recommended a candidate from the Middle-Belt, preferably, Dan Suleiman, a retired air commodore and former military governor. But the SDP governors preferred Kingibe and Abiola went with them. He said he did not know then that Kingibe had “extensive connections and relationship” with the security agencies and the military high command.

The second error, he said, had to

do with the emergence of Chief Anthony Anenih as the chairman of the SDP. He said if he had shown sufficient interest, instead of trying to placate his old friend Yar’Adua, he would have been able to ensure the victory of Chief SergeantAwuse.

With Anenih in charge, Yar’Adua came to virtually control the machinery of the SDP and it took a lot of efforts for Abiola to defeat Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Yar’Adua’s protégé, during the presidential primary of the SDP. When the annulment came, Abiola said Anenih did not consult him before “he negotiated away our victory.” It was obvious then that Abiola had given up on his old friend, Yar’Adua, and the chairman of his party, Anenih.

It was to be our last meeting. Soon, the struggle would take on new dimensions corralling into its ever expanding vortex the likes of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, Soyinka, NdubisiKanu, General Akinrinade, Dr Amos Akingba (a man of unfathomable courage and daring), Durojaiye, Rewane, Tola Mobolurin, Dr Frederick Fasheun, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, Kola Omojola, Chris Anyanwu, Gbenga Adebusuyi, Baba

Omojola, Wahaab Dosumu, Ayo Opadokun, Chief OluFalae, Arthur Nwankwo, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Reuben Fasoranti, Dr Falaye Aina, Ayo Opadokun, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Otunba Solanke Onasanya, Chief Frank Kokori, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, Mrs Kofoworola Buknor-Akerele and many, many more, especially the redoubtable old men (and young men and women) of Afenifere. Many people do not remember now that the opposition National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, was formed at a meeting in the Ikeja home of General Adeyinka Adebayo, former military governor of the defunct Western State.

Few weeks later, I met with Chief Babatope at a guest house in Ilupeju, owned by one of the parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

He had now settled in as an Abacha minister. I asked him pointedly whether and When Abacha was going to hand over power to Abiola.

Babatope said the situation has changed dramatically. “The National Assembly is gone, the state assemblies are gone, the governors are gone,” he said. I reminded him that General Diya, the Chief of General Staff and deputy to Abacha had said “our stay will be brief.” Babatope

•Kingibe said the situation has become more complicated. “Only one man knows the answer,” he said unhappily. “I don’t know. Even Dipo (General Diya) doesn’t know!”

Twenty three years later, our country deserves to know the truth about the June 12 annulment.

General Babangida has repeatedly accepted responsibility for that singular act that derailed his expensive but ultimately futile transition programme, but our country and posterity deserves to know the facts that led to that decision.

President Mohammadu Buhari owes us the duty to let Nigerians know the truth about this singular event that has led us to where we are and ultimately gave us the current democratic dispensation.

Knowing the truth does not mean apportioning blames or dishing out punishment. The truth is necessary for our liberation and progress as a country.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

45

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Many women are afraid of menopause, but experts say there is nothing to fear, reports WALE ADEPOJU.

Natural ways to handle menopause A

RE you afraid of menopause? Don’t be; all you need do is to prepare adequately for it and make it pleasurable, says Dr Leye Popoola, Chief Executive Officer, Nature Healing Alternatives. A way of doing this is by ensuring that half of their daily meal is raw.

This, Popoola said, would ensure that women complete their transition to menopause without any hitch. He said menopause is not a disease, noting that it is a point when a woman stops ovulating and menstruation.

He said: “Many years before a woman gets to menopause, her ovaries slow down the production of important hormones- estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Estrogen is very important for a woman’s reproductive activities. It also performs non-productive functions. Estrogen can act on the cell of the skin, mammary glands, especially the breasts, heart, liver, bones, arteries, brain and the vagina wall. These cells have estrogen receptors and require hormone to stimulate the receptors to function at optimum.”

Popoola said there are early symptoms a woman would experience as pointers to her arriving at the menopausal stage. “These are hot flash, irritability (mood swing) and frequent vagina infections, cold hands and feet, night sweat, fatigue, headache, decreased sex drive, breast tenderness, palpitation of the heart, insomnia, dry skin and

vaginal irritability because the body flora and fauna are affected.

“Others are dizziness, inability to concentrate, urinary incontinence, weight gain, anxiety, reduced stamina and the feeling that they are bloated.”

These symptoms, Popoola said, are normal, stressing that the problems often subside when a woman gets into menopause because a new balance has been achieved in all the hormones present in the body.

“But, this also is a difficult period for the woman because new health challenges will emerge, especially cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy. Osteoporosis is the major problem women often face after menopause with about 75 per cent or more experiencing it,” he said.

He warned women in their menopause to avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugar, so also spicy food, hot soups and drinks.

The women, he said, should ensure that they are not stressed out with tasks.

Dr Popoola recommended the use of salt substitute because salt increases urinary excretion of calcium, which might lead to bone loss in the long run. “Salt substitutes are low-sodium table salt alternatives marketed to circumvent the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease associated with a high intake of sodium chloride while maintaining a similar taste. The salt substitutes are currants and raisins, white beans, dark leafy greens (spinach),

bakedpotatoes (with skin), dried apricots, baked acorn squash, yogurt (plain, skim/ non-fat), fish (salmon), avocados, mushrooms (white), bananas.

“Sun-dried tomatoes, sweet potato (with skin), kale (raw), green (snap) beans, cowpeas, pigeon peas, yam, beans, walnuts, cashew nuts, carrots, onions, sugarcane, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, papayas (pawpaw) and dates. They should drink not less than two and half litres of purified water daily. It is advisable at this stage for such women to avoid fried food and junk meals.”

Menopausal problems, he said, showed that there was a transition and as such: “Some women experience frightening symptoms that suggest they have terminal diseases but that is usually not the case. That is why we encourage women to try natural medicine approach to their condition. Menopausal symptoms could be very disturbing; it may look as if the life of the woman getting into menopause is in danger when the situation arises. This is why most people treat it as a disease instead of a natural transition that women experience as they grow,” he stated.

Popoola said: “Medics usually prescribe various medications to ameliorate the symptoms. Whereas, all they need do is to aid the body to overcome the symptoms naturally.

The use of hormonal replacement therapy by orthodox medicine practitioners has its disadvantages that outweigh the benefits.

•Popoola

Primarin is commonly used in the treatment but it contains estrogen that is derived from the urine of pregnant mares.

The danger of synthetic progesteron is that it has many reactions, which are adverse to the woman system. They are present in the blood. It is always good to stay close to Mother Nature at this phase of a woman’s life.”

How to improve traditional medicine, by board chair

L

AGOS State Traditional Medicine Board Chairman Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi has decried the lack of legal framework for traditional medicine regulation despite last year’s passage of the Health Bill.

The bill recognises traditional medicine as part of the National Health System.

Omosehindemi was addressing delegates from Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health that came to understudy his board’s management of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). It was a consensus stakeholder meeting.

The team included former Health Commissioner, Dr. Emem Bassey; Director Public Health, Dr. Ebuk; Dr. Udoh of Public Health department; Director PRS, Dr. Emmanuel Ekong; SAPC AKSASCP, Dr. John Markson; PMTCT focal person AKSASCP Mrs. Emem Xavier; PHC Director, Uyo, Mrs. Ubong Abasi Victor; Director Med Services HMB, Dr. Adiakapan; Technical Advisor MSH, Iboro Nelson; Technical Advisor MSH; Lami Samaila; Senior Technical Advisor MSH, Salami Musa and Associate Director MSH, Funmi Esan.

Speaking on “Engaging traditional birth attendants for improved Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Services-Lagos State Experiencee,” Omosehindemi said, his board derived its legal backing from the Health Sector Reforms of 2006.

He said: “The vision of our Primary HealthCare (PHC) System in Lagos State, which is the closest to the people, is to develop a sustainable system where health promotion and disease prevention are emphasised and quality of life is enhanced through integrated services. Lagos State has formally recognised the value of traditional medicine in health systems, particularly in relation to the PHC System in particular and the overall healthcare system in general.

“But the challenges faced include The Traditional medicine healthcare sector is somewhat challenging to regulate due to the following: Absence of uniform structure and standard protocol; lack of human resources in building the capacity of TBAs; inadequate funding for development of traditional medicine; lack of institutional framework

The human resource of health within our country is quite inadequate see the data:

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

to the development of traditional medicine and socio-cultural barriers and lack of cooperation from conventional health practitioners.

Dr Omosehindemi said that despite these challenges, the board was able to train 4,780 TBAs; collaborating with PATHS-2 (Partnership for Transforming Health System 2) a DFID sponsored project aimed at improving maternal and child outcome in Lagos State to develop a database of all registered TBA facilities.

“Indications for database are ante natal care (ANC) attendance; maternal deaths; immunisation; and a three-way referral – HIV screening, Pallor cases (deemed useful in the evaluation of patients suspected of anemia) and complications. As part of the strategies to reduce maternal mortality, the State is developing an incentive-based relationship with the TBAs to attend ANC Clin-

ics with their clients or ‘permit’ their clients to attend ANC clinics in the PHC Centres and also encourage prompt referral of challenging deliveries. One of the incentives considered is the upgrading and furnishing of their clinics to create an enabling environment for the practice of Traditional Medicine.”

“Identified best practices include Legislation Section 125 subsection 8 and section 126 subsection 161 of the Health Sector Reform Law allows linkages with relevant health institutions. The role of TBA in reducing maternal and infant mortality cannot be overemphasised. Hence there is need to build the capacity of the TBA in order for them to perform this essential role. There is need for proper integration of the TBAs into the mainstream Health Care System as provided for in the Health Bill of 2014,” stated Dr Omosehindemi.

He encouraged the Akwa Ibom State government to sustain its interest in the development of traditional medicine because, “A

larger percentage of Nigerians reside in rural communities where we lack properly trained hands in modern medical practices.

The TBAs are usually their first point of contact. However, Traditional Bone Setters, Herbalists, Traditional Birth Attendants etc., already exist in our rural communities providing care for our people at affordable prices. In addition, Traditional healers have the ability to build more trust in the entire healing process due to the high depth of cultural competence applied and the close proximity to the patients.”

The participants expressed their satisfaction over the weeklong event as they were able to visit the Lagos State General Hospital Agege to observe internship sessions and training of TBAs at hospital; review the 10week internship/training curriculum and timetable and obtain copies and speak to the TBAs regarding their assessment and rating of the internship and the implications on their services.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

46

NATURAL HEALTH

Heartburn, Spondylosis, neck and back pain

A

S the bells which remind us of Love, Purity of Justice rang in sequence on May 31, following a prayer for Victorious work in the world, loving, prayerful wishes welled in me for some people. It was the third and final day of the observance of Pentecost, that yearly event, for planet Earth, known spiritually as Ephesus, during which the Holy Spirit, as reported last Thursday, send Power into Creation for its maintenance. One of the people I remembered in prayer, apart from myself, was a woman I met in Lagos about 38 years ago. We lost touch, as they say, about 20 years ago. Someone introduced her to this column from where she obtained my telephone number. Soon after, she called to request a meeting. I obliged. And she came over. I was shocked at the spectable I beheld.

About three-quartres of her mass had been eaten up by disease and malnutrition. She was suffering from cancer of the throat, the same condition a gentleman in the Administration of former Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola suffered from but survived. He was a chain smoker, and learned, again as we say, by ‘’force and fire’’ to quit the habit. This woman was a caterer. Her problem began with what many people believe is a simple health challenge. .. heart burn. When I touched her throat, it was wood hard. She couldn’t eat anything. Even a spoonful of water would ‘’hang’’ in the upper part of the throat and, then, trickle down in drops as though the throat had become an hospital drip set or line. But, surprisingly, she could almost freely drink a glass of water at 3 a.m or 3 p.m. so, I promised to keep the vigil with her. In such a glass of water, she could dissolve her medicines or whatever food she had liquefied. But such feeding didn’t help much, and she lost weight dramatically. I had given her a product called THROAT EZ, which her doctors agreed she could use, and another named MARIA TREBEN SWEEDISH BITTERS, a great recipe given to Maria Treben, that great Austrian herbalist, by a gentleman who die at the age of 104 after falling off a horse he was riding.

From the clinical reports of Maria Treben, on cancer cases she successfully treated, there should be need, also, for herbs she could impact externally on the throat as poultices.

I

N her epic book, HELP THROUGH GOD’S PHARMACY, Maria Treben offers suggestions which may be found useful for mouth and throat disorders. She says, for example: “Sage tea is used for ulcerated throat and mouth inflammation of the tooth pulp, tonsilities, and throat disorders. Many children and grown-ups could have saved themselves a tonsillectomy had they taken sage tea in time. When the tonsils, which are the policemen of the body for toxic substances are missing, the toxic substances go directly to the kidneys. A decoction of sage is useful gargle for loose and bleeding teeth or ulcerated or receeding gums. A small piece of cotton saturated with sage tea can be applied.

In a section of the book which addresses DISEASES OF THE LARYNX, Maria Treben says: “Mallow loses one third of its medicinal properties during the drying process, therefore it is essential to use only fresh plants. One heaped teaspoon per cup is used and two and half litres of tea are needed daily. The herbs are steeped in cold water overnight, warmed slightly the next morning and strained. The tea is kept warm in a thermos flask which has been rinsed with hot water, or the required amount is re-warmed in a water bath. Four cups of this tea are taken in sips and six cups are used in rinsing and gaggling.

These 10 cups bring about the abatement of the malignant disease of the larynx very soon, even when the disease is advanced. The residue from the daily tea preparation is left in the pot, in the evening re-warmed with little water, mixed with barley flour (available from health food stores) and warmed again. This poultice is spread on a piece of linen and applied to the larynx. A warm cloth is wrapped around. After the first application, the person will feel a mark relief and often, four to five days later, he regains his voice. This same treatment is used for disorders of the oesophagus(also esophagus). Besides the warm barley meal poultices, warm hot Horsetail poultices are applied overnight.... Results of the latest research, according to the Austrian biologist Richard Wilfort justifies the assumption that tumours are inhibited in their growth and finally eliminated through the use of horsetail tea for long periods. This is also useful for polyps in the abdomen or anus. For greater benefit in both cases, horsetail steam poultices and sitz baths are used. These poultices are also useful for stomach pains, liver and gall bladder attacks, bursitis and for painful congestions which press upon the heart.

“On December 19, 1977, I received a call from a 49-year old farmer, who had a very painful hard growth in the sole of his foot and was, therefore, unable to step on it. He spent a few days in hospital but was sent home again. I recommended horsetail poultices which can even eliminate malignant tumours. I was quite surprised when on December 22, he called again telling me the growth had disappeared. The skin still felt soft and flabby but the hard growth was gone. A new miracle from God’s pharmacy!”

I hope the woman in reference has the money for this therapy.

She has been dependent on the generosity of a few friends since she lives alone with her children. When she telephoned me last week, to ask when a carton of LASENA alkaline water, I promised her would be delivered by the supplier Mr Shoboyede, she told me she had gained about two kilogrammes in weight. The miracle was achieved through a hole which doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) bore into her stomach. They passed a feeding tube into this hole.

Through the tube, she feeds on liquid food. Such food includes fruit juices and juiced banana. Her stomach and intestine still work. Someday, if the throat cancer does not disappear, the doctors plan to remove the cancerous throat and replace it with another throat formed from a part of her intestine. This scares

her as it makes me shiver about the kind of life that may follow this. She is ready to do anything possible to make her escape from this ordeal. Meanwhile, the feeding tube she uses is not the right kind and, besides, the improvisation is not the right size. A proper feeding tube costs about N70,000, as she is told, but even then it is not readily available in Nigeria. So, a catheter was improvised. The catheter is the tube passed through the penis to bring urine from the bladder of men who cannot urinate on their own, into a urine bag they wear on their persons. Women, too, use it in special circumstances. Being undersized, the improvised catheter pull out of the stomach on its own from time to time, and she has to clean and fit, raising the risk of infection, bleeding and pain. This is a case worthy of the attention of Nigeria philanthropists.

Heartburn As this case arose from heartburn, I wish to briefly, address it.

Many people complain of heartburn as they do gastritis without paying serious attention to it. In heartburn, there is too much acid in the stomach which the intestine will not accept.

The throat connects the mouth to the stomach. At the connection with the stomach, a spincker muscles stands as a gatekeeper.

At the point where the stomach is connected to the beginning of the small intestine, the duodenum, another spincter muscle stands as gatekeeper. That is why if you stand on your head after a meal, the food you have just eaten is unlikely to come out through your mouth, if the gatekeeper is strong and healthy and does its work well. That is, also, why, as the stomach is mixing (churning) and digesting food, the food does not readily escape undigested into the intestine. The stomach is made to stand some acid, but not very harsh acid. The intestine cannot stand acid. It prefers alkalinity. Doctors used to think the vagus nerve made the stomach produce excess acid in some situations and, so, surgically tempered with it in conditions of gastritis or peptic ulcer. But new light has emerged from the works of researchers such as Dr. Robert Young who have shown the stomach has no acid pumps which produce acid. In their view, it is the food we eat which may cause the stomach to become overly acidic. A standard Nigerian breakfast of, say, bread, milk, sugar, tea, margarine, fried or boiled egg, is nothing but acidic food. Red meat, fried foods, organ meats and many brands of sachet and bottle water are acidic. So are carbohydrate foods. Hardly are vegetable eaten generously. Even then, they come to the kitchen, fertiliser grown and wilted, are overcooked and the addition of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to enhance taste worsens the diet.

HEREAS not more than half of the stomach should be filled during a meal, some people exert their stomachs to the elastic capacity by overeating. As the lower gatekeeper would not let acidic food pass into the intestine, the acidic meal is kept longer than necessary in the stomach. For many people, water is not taken about 30 minutes before a meal to guarantee extra supply to the pancreas for the manufacture of pancreatic juice, which is alkaline and neutralises acidic content of the stomach when it is set to leave the stomach. Irritated by the acid, the stomach tries to expel it through the throat to the mouth. But the throat gatekeeper, too, would not budge. The acidic food thus begins to burn the lower end of the throat in what we call heart burn or acid reflux. The acid actually cooks the lower throat tissue. And, so, over time, the spinter muscle may present as “boiled or cooked” meat rather than fresh meat. When the gatekeeper becomes run down, the gate flings open and acid engulps the throat, damaging its tissue.

Other effects including cancer may develop.

Happily there are many natural products in the Nigerian market today for tackling heartburn. The cheapest among them is alkaline water. My first choice is LASENA water.

There are other brands made from coral calcium. Once the pain is felt, one should drink two glasses of water, according to Dr. Batmanghelidj. We are about 70 percent water.

When we speak, walk, run, jump, or urinate or defecate, we lose water. When water is not adequately replaced, rationing among organs may arise. If the pancreas is thereby dehydrated, alkaline digestive substances cannot be adequately produced. These findings lead Dr. Batmanghelidj prescribe two glasses on rising from sleep in the morning, two glasses

W

e-mail:johnolufemikusa@yahoo.com or johnolufemikusa@gmail.com

about 30 minutes before a meal, two glasses about two hours after a meal and two glasses before retiring to bed at night.

Horsetail, because of the high silica content, helps alkalise acidic stomach. So does DIATOM, with a higher silica content. Coral calcium, magnesium, potassium (potato juice) beet root juice etc, do the job also. I obtain good result from the proprietary product bells Acidic Stomach and alkaline balance. Among the 12 biochemic cell or tissue salts, No 10 does the job. The list is so long to mention here.

Spondylosis As the bells rang, memories of other people filled my heart.

Some of such people are hooked on drugs and need help. To reach them with help, I longed to re-read Horse Wetzel’s and Daniel Swarovski’sTRIP INTO ILLUSION which I first read in the 1980s. It would appear the book is out of circulation because used copies cost about N 20,000 in Europe. Happily, I’ve got a clean copy from Mr Emmanuel Dike who treasures a well-kept library. I will speak more about this in future. In the interim, it would appear Nigeria isn’t doing enough about the hard drugs problem eating it up. Hard drugs joints exist in almost every town some are close to police stations or right on major roads. When petrol tanker vehicles run into crowds, dwellings or shops or fall from overhead bridges, killing, maiming and damaging property, is it all a question of plain accident (there is no accident in creation) or the effects of drug use? Hasn’t the time arrived to routinely check the blood of motorists for evidence of drug taking? Is the alcohol breath test enough in our circumstances?

S the bell rang and my mind wandered to the woman with a throat challenge, I remembered also some people with back or spinal column challenges. One of such people was a former manager of the defunct federal savings bank. An otherwise buoyant man, he suffers from a 30 degrees or so curvature sideways and walks with difficulty even with the aid of a walking stick for balance. His doctors say it is pointless operating on his back to remove the problem. The wife of one of my cousins thought her back problem came from a “spiritual attack”. She frequented many churches for “deliverance” and finally ended up at LUTH where a surgery was performed. Today, she stoops at an obvious angle and walks with a walking stick. There is the father of one of my younger acquaintances whose hip bone cracked while he was bathing. Doctors inserted a piece of iron into his pelvic bone to enable him make limited movements. There are many people in this condition. Their problems most probably began with back pain which may have been under rated and suppressed with pain killers, forgetting that something is going wrong which must be addressed. All too often, what is going on is a degeneration of the bones and discs of the spinal column. But that is not saying all back pain come from the scenario. For other causes may include constipation, bad posture which causes muscle, nerve ligament and tendon tension, obesity, high-heel shoes, nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis (loss of calcium in the bone structure), spinal misalignment etc. The case I wish to address is degeneration of the bones of the back, which may not present symptoms until the havoc is wrath, and about which many people have no clue.

From the neck to the hip bone, the bones of the spine (spinal vertebrae) are arranged one on top of the other with a load bearing disc or shock absorber placed between two vertebrae to protect them against shock. The middle or center of each vertebra has a hole through which the spinal cord travels downwards from the brain. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves in a casing through which the brain governs the whole body. At the basement of each vertebra, there are two small canals on each side through which branch nerves from the spinal cord exit to particular parts of the body, further branching on the way. For example, branch nerves serve the eyes as they serve the liver or the prostate gland. Like the joint of the arm or knee, these vertebrae are maintained by many nutritional supplements, including calcium, magnesium, glucosamine etc. They are also subject to free radical damage like any other part of the body and protected by antioxidants.

Spondylosis is degenerative osteoarthritis of the joint in the vertebrae. In the dangerous situations especially in condition of magnesium deficiency or misbehavior of the parathyroid gland (it controls calcium metabolism), calcium is not well absorbed, is extracted or deposited in wrong places.

I painted a picture for an 85- year old man who can no longer move his leg. His doctors read a scan image which shows that calcium has infiltrated the exterior of the vertebrae, causing bone spurs which have lain over the branch nerves. Since the malaise occurred in the nerves which control the muscles of his legs, he naturally lost mobility in those legs. The picture is that of a burning candle. The hot wax forms wax spurs on the sides.

Similarly, wrong deposition of calcium may form bone spurs in the spinal column. Pressure on the nerve route causes inflammation, tenderness and pain. The muscle becomes weak.

Many people are familiar with cervical spondylosis, that is degeneration of vertebrae in the neck. It causes neck pain and neck immobility which may be helped by the neck collar. I wore a neck collar for months in the 1980s. Pressure in the neck may affect vision. There is a hazard in jobs which require long spells of reading and writing on flat desks which means the head has to be tilted forward for long hours, overworking a set of muscles and weakening them. Should a misalignment occur in the balancing act of these pressed muscles and the opposite counterbalancing pairs, the vertebrae may shift from their own aligned state, and the shift may make them pinch the nerve jotting out of the nerve root. This may cause excruciating pain and deterioration of organs served by these pinched nerves.

A

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 08116759749

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

47

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Nigeria spends about N1.3 trillion yearly on food import. But a rethink in favour of using the industrial sector to enhance the agricultural value chain through private sector-led strategy holds promises of reversing the trend. Asst.

Editor, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes that the strategy, which encourages the involement of industries in storage, processing and export of agricultural raw materials to create jobs, enjoys the support of experts as well as the new administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

How industries can boost agric value chain E

FFORTS at making agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive are on course. This time, the strategy is to find a way of riding on the back of the industrial sector to further enhacethe agricultural value chain. Essentially, the new rethink is in favour of encouraging industries to be involved in areas such as storage, processing, and export of finished agric produce to create more jobs for Nigerians.

To this end, experts and stakeholders in the agric and industrial sector are canvassing private sector-led strategy to boost the agric sector and make it a cash-cow for Nigeria. In doing so, they noted, for instance, that Nigeria has huge agricultural potential with over 84 million hectares of arable land, of which only 40 per cent is cultivated.

Also, Nigeria’s estimated population of 170 million makes her Africa’s largest market. Besides, the country has some of the richest natural resources.

Regrettably, the country has so far failed to properly harness these opportunities and derive benefits there from.

However, a new dawn may be in the offing for the sector following renewed emphasis on private sector-led involvement in the agricultural value chain. The strategy is intended to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive through improved food production for domestic food supply. It is also hoped that the strategy, which already enjoys the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, would help create more jobs along the agricultural value chain.

At the 55th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in Calabar, Cross River State, recently, Buhari said agriculture must cease from being treated as a development programme but as a business.

The President said the urgency of unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential is pertinent because Africa spends $35 billion yearly on food import, with Nigeria taking the lion share. The development, he said, boosts the economies of countries and continents where such food items are imported from, leaving African economies depleted. “Africa has no business being a food importing region. With over 65 per cent of the arable land left to feed the expected nine billion people in the world by 2050, Africa should become

• From right: National President, Nigerian Association of Chamabers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief Bassey Edem, Cross River State Deputy Governor Prof. Ivara Esu; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Baba Umar Farouk and first Deputy National President of NACCIMA Iyalode Alaba Lawson at the association’s 55th AGM in Calabar.

a net exporter of food,” he said, adding that the size of the agriculture and agri-business sector in Africa is expected to grow to $1trillion by 2030.

He projected that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in agriculture in Africa will increase from $10billion in 2015 to $45billion in 2020.

“To unlock this potential, we need to direct resources, both public and private, to agriculture, the sector which employs close to 80 per cent of Africans and accounts for about 40 per cent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

The president, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Baba Umar Farouk, noted that a nation that does not feed itself becomes a threat to its sovereign existence.

“Growing our own food, processing what we produce, becoming competitive in export markets, and creating jobs all across economy, are crucial for our national security,” he stated.

The President added that as the nation drives a private sector-led agricultural transformation, government is also paying close attention to potential challenges, such as inequality and impact on small holders.

According to him, there is need to embrace growth and make it work for farmers and rural communities.

Hear him: “Agri-business, with their huge market pool and demand for raw materials for their factories can unlock the much needed market opportuni-

ties that have eluded farmers and expand jobs so crucial for the rising youth population in the rural areas as we have a policy that allows agribusinesses to have secure access to land, working closely with states, local government and communities.

Such arrangements allow for transfer of technology, development of infrastructure, creation of market facilities, while unlocking shared prosperity between small holders and large commercial farmers.”

Buhari regretted the ugly turn of events where Nigeria grew from being a major player in the global agricultural market in the past as the world’s largest producer of groundnuts and palm oil in the 1960’s, and the second largest producer of cocoa before the emergence of oil in the 1960’s to the current level she cannot boast of anything. “Today, seven of the 10 fastest growing economies of the world are in Africa.

But there exists a paradox. The growth is not inclusive, as hundreds of millions only hear about the growth numbers, but feel alienated from the growth process. Africa’s rural economies habour the greatest share of those being left behind or excluded,” he said.

He, therefore, said there is need for a new growth model in Africa, one that will stimulate shared prosperity, create jobs for millions of rural youth and unlock the huge sleeping potentials of Africa’s vast agricultural lands.

He urged experts in the field to come

up with recommendations for the government.

Acting National President, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, called for enhanced productive economic activities that would bring about growth and development, improved GDP and by implication, enhance the nation’s domestic and foreign exchange earnings as well as more clout for the country in the comity of nations.

He also called for a sustained growth and development in all areas of the economy where everyone would have equal opportunity to contribute his quota, and where justice and equity will reign.

Edem assured of NACCIMA’s support, encouraging his members to ensure that they continued to partner the government and other private sector stakeholders with genuine intention to move the economy forward to build a virile nation on the part of sustainable growth and development.

He said the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Policy consistency in agricultural value chain: A key to social economic development’ came at the right time considering the state of the economy in particular and the global economy in general. He was referring to dwindling crude oil prices in the international market.

He harped on the need to look inwards and go back to the basics to appreciate the importance of agriculture in the socio-economic development of the nation.

“The business community is facing

serious challenges. In order to ease these problems and to chart a course for the nation’s sustainable growth and development, we make a clarion call on the various tiers of governments especially now that we have a new democratic regime in place to create conducive environment that will make the economy a private sector driven one. This is a sure way of making our country a prosperous nation that we all will be proud of,” he noted.

Executive Director Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, who was guest speaker at the event, said Nigeria spends much of its foreign exchange to import food items.

He called for Public-Private Participation (PPP) to leverage on economic transformation of the agricultural sector. He also made a case for innovations in small scale holders regarding harvesting, processing and access to markets.

“It will take three things to move the agricultural sector forward. We need to enhance science, research technologies that improve production of the small holder. There is a need to leverage ICT to improve risk management through effective and efficient market linkages, enhance preservation of nutrient quality,” he said, adding that there was also the need to expand entrepreneurship of groups of women and youth, improve productivity via access to improved seeds, fertiliser, water management techniques and equipment financing.

BoI unveils loan application tracking system

B

• Olaoluwa

ANK of Industry (BoI) has in troduced an online real time request platform to assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to grow their businesses.

The bank took this path to stem the failure rate of applications and the inconveniences encountered by business owners to come to their office to make requests.

BoI Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said: “We have come up with a loan tracking system in such a way that when you apply for loan we give you a code.

We have also appointed 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to help the businesses write good proposal that will attract loans from banks.

“Our newly introduced SME Customer portal, where we have

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

value proposals and contact details of all our customers. Currently we have data base for over 400 SMEs. This also makes for easier interaction amongst our customers where they can be encouraged to do businesses together.”

He further revealed that BoI also has an online loan application portal and encouraged deserving businesses to take advantage of it as the bank in partnership with one of their consultants has modeled an SME mobile application demo to ensure business template models to assists prospective clients.

Another BoI executive, Mr. Philip Ikhile said the dearth of

SMEs has reached an alarming rate mainly due to poor accounting skills and IT illiteracy.

To check the trend, he said a package that works for both accounting and non accounting business people that allows up to 20 sub titles, profit and loss account and indeed to keep track of income and expenditure of every business is up to their customers.

He said for now it sells as a flash drive for N20, 000 but to encourage a lot of businesses to buy into it the bank, he said, is giving it out for N10, 000 for the first 100 businesses that will show interest.

He said it is accounting made easy for small businesses to run efficiently to meet not only daily modern business demands but in

compliance to international accounting profession ethics and demands.

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji, commended the bank for the innovation and said it would help his members to stay in business.

He also reiterated that many businesses have not grown because of the lack of requisite skill in financial literacy, information technology and funding.

Ubiji said with his position in NASME he would spread the message to his members and encourage them to key into new technological models that would grow their businesses.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

48

INDUSTRY

African Standards bodies’ forum for June 22 A HEAD of the President’s forum of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), leaders of African Standards bodies have concluded plans to explore issues and frameworks to drive economic integration in the continent.

Billed for June 22 in Abuja, the forum is expected to address issues bordering Africa’s standards development, especially in terms of harmonisation of standards, building of vital institutions and facilities needed to fast-track regional and continental trade.

The forum which features the largest turn out of African standards managers will also serve as occasion for the induction of African states that currently have yet to join the global quality movement.

Of the 54-member countries of the African Union (AU), 35 belong to ARSO while the AU Council of Ministers of Trade has expressed commitments to work towards ensuring that all African countries get on board by 2017.

The AUC had set a target of an African Free Trade zone by 2017 and also declared the date as the African Year of Standards to jumpstart intraAfrica trade that is currently around five per cent and symbol of the heavy dependence of Africa on the rest of

By Chikodi Okereocha

the world.

According to ARSO President, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, the prime objective of the forum is to remove the restrictions to trade between African countries placed by the differences in the standards governing trade in the different countries.

He said: “Every organism prospers by utilising the material which every part supplies. But hardly does Africa draw strength from the trade the different countries in the continent engage in because, separated by standards, the countries hardly trade among themselves.

“Now, ARSO President’s Forum Abuja 2015 is bringing 55 heads of national standards bodies (NSB) in Africa together to open the gates of harmonisation of standards and let goods and services flow smoothly across the continent.

“Sitting at a roundtable with 55 NSB CEOs is a rare opportunity for entrepreneurs to expand their business to other African countries. By participating in the ARSO president’s forum, companies are automatically at the gates of 55 African countries and

are a step to the 1.1 billion consumers in the continent. Imagine when they now establish relationships with the NSB CEOs,” he said.

Odumodu explained that what ARSO is doing now is to create a forum for everybody to be part of the association in preparation and for realisation of the 2017 CFTA agreement. “One of the things I must say or two things we must take out of what we will be doing by June 22-25 in Abuja is to aid membership growth of ARSO. If you look at Africa, Africa remains the major dumping ground for sub-standard products and the reason is obvious.

“Technology is not advanced and the people are fairly ignorant, there is a high level of poverty and of course, we have a very fairly weak regulatory framework and we make products to enter and leave even when we know they do not meet the criteria,” he stated.

According to him, “there is need to under the auspices of ARSO support other countries to build capacity to be able to understand and appreciate what sub-standard products do and how they harm us but even more importantly, to ensure that under the African forum and using ourselves as a pressure group to AU, begin to challenge dumping on African soil”.

WHO urges Nigeria to ratify law against tobacco

T

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has ad vised the Federal Government to expedite action in ratifying the United Nations Protocol to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products.

The Coordinator of WHO in Lagos, Dr Sunday Abidoye, made the call in Lagos at an event organised by the UN Information Centre (UNIC), the Nigeria Heart Foundation and the UN Association of Nigeria.

The event, organised to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, had as its theme: “Stop Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products”.

Abidoye said it was not enough for Nigeria to only sign the protocol.

“Recognising the enormity of illicit trade in tobacco products, the international community came together with a protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.

“To date, only 14 countries in the African region have signed the protocol and just two have ratified it.

We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to urgently join other African countries that have ratified the protocol in their countries,’’ he said.

The WHO official said Nigeria’s domestication of the protocol would protect her from financial, legal, social and health consequences associated with the illicit trade.

The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban

By Chikodi Okereocha with agency report

Ki-Moon, in a message presented on his behalf by UNIC Administrative Assistant, Ms Adeola Adedeji, said the trade was luring younger and poorer groups into addiction.

Ban said the illicit trade had continued to deplete the ability of states to charge taxes that would have supported health services.

Director of Tobacco in the Nigerian Heart Foundation,Mr. Dapo Rotifa, said advantage should be taken with the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s signing into law of the Anti-Tobacco Bill.

According to him, the global tobacco epidemic kills about six million people yearly out of which 600,000 are non-smokers.

A lawyer and Coordinator of the Coalition Against Tobacco, Mrs Olatoyosi Onaolapo, urged the government to increase taxation on tobacco products to discourage children from smoking.

She called for the implementation of the ban on tobacco advertisement across the country and the government’s commitment to the enforcement of the anti-tobacco law.

The event was attended by 40 pupils from three secondary schools in Lagos State.

The World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 yearly to encourage abstinence from tobacco use and to create awareness on the negative health effects of tobacco products.

Firm introduces Hyfiba food

S

•Sales Director B2B, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Udochi, presenting the key to a Hyundai Grand Blanc and plaque to Alhaji Abdul Wahab Shagumba as the No. 1 Golden Penny Food B2B Distributor Northwest during the company’s Customers’ Forum in Lagos.

Flour Mills celebrates customers, launches new products

F

LOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc has held its Golden Penny Customers’ Forum in Lagos.

At the event, its customers were rewarded for their loyalty to the company and its products.

It was also an opportunity for the company to share information on its plans.

Such plans include the launch of three new products - Daily Delight Instant Cereal, Golden Penny Margarine and Golden Penny Vegetable Oil, which were unveiled and are available in the market and in stores.

Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Paul Gbededo, said the occasion was

unique because it was the first time Golden Penny Business partners of both B2B and B2C are rewarded the same day as one Team with One Dream.

He referred to the customers as partners because without them the company was not complete hence the need to celebrate them. He added that the company has continued to maintain leadership through production of quality, healthy and affordable products to meet the demand of the growing population.

The company’s Chairman, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the forum was to appreciate the distributors for their unwavering loyalty and

commitment in the past 54 years which has seen Golden Penny brands remain the number one family’s choice in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) segment in Nigeria.

Coumantaros said the customers of new brands that would be introduced into the market during the year. He reiterated the company’s plan to make Golden Penny brands the first choice for consumers by meeting the needs of all age groups in Nigeria and West Africa.

Mega Food Basket Distributors were rewarded with mouth-watering gifts ranging from Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), overseas trips, to the latest 4K Smart TVs.

PECTRA Industries Limited, a food company, has launched Hyfiba food in Lagos.

Its Managing Director, Duro Kuteyi, said the product is good for mental growth and protection against cholesterol.

He said it would boost growth and development in children, adding that it is also an high-quality product for diabetic and hypertensive patients.

It is also good for those who are slimming. He advised them to take it for breakfast.

Hyfiba, he said, is made of various vitamins and minerals.

Kuteyi said hyfiba can also help to optimise the release of sustained energy from food.

The product, he said, has high lecithin content.

Hyfiba is a three-in-one food that can be served as cereal. He said it is ideal for all ages as it is smooth to swallow and does not need to be sieved before preparation.

Kuteyi noted that local foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, stressing the need to build mechanical processing so that they would serve the people’s need and be more convenient to prepare.

He said: “Nothing is wrong with our local food; only that non-professionals have spoilt the market, so it it’s time for the professionals to actually come out do what they know best.”

On the safety of the food, the company boss said hyfiba is a natural food product that has no added chemical or preservatives.

“As food professionals, we do not

By Ambrose Nnaji

believe in adding chemicals. When you we know the implication of chemicals then we should not add it to this type of food that the whole family will eat”, he expressed.

“With time this chemical will start to accumulate and then give complications. We are preaching against food that can cause cancer, why should we now start adding chemicals in our food, we don’t do it. We don’t even add colour to any of our products,” he assured.

The product, which was approved by the National Agency of Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), he said, would last for about two years Kuteyi said Hyfiba Food has spread to about 13 states, including Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti, adding that efforts were ongoing to make the product available in the East.

General Manager of the company, Olusoga Awonuga, stressed the importance of creating awareness for people to understand what they eat.

According to him, people these days consume what they don’t know. “They just consume something for the sake of it,” he said, adding: “ hence the introduction of the functionality of hyfiba food product to the public.”

He said the company is committed to making the product available to Nigerians and at affordable price.

He assured that the product would be improved upon.

Taraba Govt. approves N8.5m to refurbish water plant

T

ARABA State Governor Darius Ishaku has okayed N8.5 million for the overhaul of the Jalingo water plant to ensure potable water supply in the metropolis.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo.

He said the governor had mandated the Taraba Water Supply Agency to commence work on all faulty water pipes in the capital.

“The governor’s concern is informed by the acute water scarcity in the town, which has forced residents to find alternatives in unsafe water sources that are hazardous to community health.

“He has, therefore, mandated the overhaul of Jalingo water plant and repairs of boreholes that serve the state capital through pipe networks,” Giwa said.

He urged officials responsible for carrying out the project to be diligent, adding that the government would not tolerate laxity.

He further said the government was committed to providing essential services to the people of the state in the months ahead.

49

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE NATION

e-Business e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

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

lukajanaku02@gmail.com

Businesses suffer as cyber crooks get more daring Cyber crooks are becoming more daring. They are not deterred by the innovative security designs put in place by information technology (IT) experts. Analysts say a third of small- to medium-sized-businesses (SMBs), are under threat by their activities, reports LUCAS AJANAKU.

T

HE rise of the internet has revolutionized the way businesses are conducted.

The ease with which selling of goods and services across long distances and international borders ‘with just a click’ on the keyboard of the PC or a smartphone has created almost endless opportunities for businesses, both large and small.

The liberalisation of the telecoms sector in Nigeria also added a new fillip to this new era of doing business online. With this new vista of opportunity also came the challenge of unscrupulous elements wanting to explore the loopholes in the system to fleece unsuspecting people of their hard earned money.

It is therefore not a surprise that cybercrimes have taken various shapes beginning with the advanced fee fraud or 419 to identity theft and hacking into the servers of key government agencies, business organisations such as banks and others. This has become a cause of global concern to organisations such as the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud education, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Speaking during the 24th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference, ACFE founder and Chairman Dr. Joseph T. Wells expressed concern over the rising attacks on small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) across the world.

“We all know, or should know, that there is really no such thing as a secure computer — one that can’t be eventually hacked. We’ve all read of data thefts of millions upon millions of individual records. Most of these are committed by international gangs, which makes them exceedingly difficult to stop and even more difficult to prosecute.

“But what is not as well known is that small business has been increasingly made a target.

As large organisations develop stronger controls over their networks and digital data, attacks on small enterprises have mushroomed.

What this means is that anti-fraud experts serving small businesses must educate them of the threat and encourage them to invest in the proper resources to reduce their vulnerabilities,” Wells was quoted to have said on the group’s website.

According to an online platform, PC Pro, the statistics for cybercrime, online fraud and data theft make for disturbing reading. It lamented that the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) estimated the cost of cyber frauds to businesses in the UK to be £4,000 per year, with around a third of FSB members falling victim to online crimes such as malware infections, hacking attacks or data breaches.

It lamented that for the SMB owner, the impact of such attacks go beyond the immediate financial loss and disruption to the daily work schedule, adding that there’s loss of reputation and customer trust. Despite this, it is SMBs that have the most difficulty finding affordable and applicable security measures because of their scope of operation.

Experts at PC Pro have provided useful tips that will help SMBs overcome the challenge of these cyber crooks. Some of them are:

Data knowledge Not all data is equal. The starting point for any business must be to understand what data is business-critical or sensitive. How it is used and where it is stored must be identified. The most basic of audits could be accomplished just by considering what might happen if a breach were to occur and data, such as financial data, or employee or customer records, was compromised.

Once the likely effect of data is established on business, there is need for a blueprint for business-impact levels.

“High-risk data needs to be appropriately secured, and you can devote more of your resources to ensuring it is. Just note that your

• Data centre

job doesn’t stop there – you can’t ignore data that you’ve classified as less risky; rather, you must prioritise your security efforts accordingly,” the experts averred.

Password management Passwords are at the core of every security policy yet ensuring that they’re secured and enforced isn’t easy. Consumers have services such as LastPass to help generate and manage their passwords, but should a business use password managers?

LastPass and other such services have enterprise versions available at a low cost per user.

These offer all the basic secure-password-generation options that would be expected, with a variety of business-orientated extras: for example, one could set company-wide minimum password standards to meet one’s policy requirements, or apply customised policies to restrict access to specific devices, groups or locations.

“Then there’s Active Directory (AD)/Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) integration. This can import existing AD profiles, automate reporting tools to highlight weaknesses in the password security chain, and offers real-time syncing across devices to help with the rise of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture. It can be protected by a master password, which could be reset or revoked by the administrator,” PC Pro added.

Education/communication Everyone in business must understand the company’s security policy and know why it is important to strictly adhere to it. It doesn’t need to be expensive: it could be integrated easily into the staff-induction process, and one could consider six-monthly refreshers to bring existing employees up to date with any changes – including threats of which they should be aware.

Only an hour is needed every now and then to sit with an employee to explain how security applies to their particular role and to answer any questions. Education and communication are just as important as tools against

cybercrime as the computer technology used to defend the firm’s data.

However, in order to be effective, it has to be implemented from the bottom up and the top down – that is, everyone from the CEO to the summer temp needs to be on board if a security policy is to work. That doesn’t mean the same training should be given to all; the best training is tailored to the specific role of the employee and the threats they may encounter.

Encrypt or not?

Of all the security tips, encryption is probably the most controversial. But it is also the most valuable in terms of data protection. It is controversial because encryption has always been seen as being the realm of the ‘nerd’ and thus beyond the ken of ordinary business owners; plus there’s the small matter of convenience to consider.

Both arguments are becoming weaker as encryption technologies become easier to deploy and work with. If a laptop/storage device is lost or stolen and the data on it is encrypted, then it’s far less likely to pose a security risk to your business. However, every business needs to weigh up the protection/ convenience ratio before jumping in.

The same goes for data in transit. It is far safer to make sure all online transactions are carried out using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) than over an insecure connection. The bestpractice advice is to investigate what encryption options are available to suit your data, devices and business usage.

Experts say the bottom line is that, from SSL and encrypted USB containers at one end of the scale to on-the-fly encryption at the other, encrypted data is more secure than data that is not.

Adopt cloud computing

While the idea of encrypting everything may be controversial, the idea of embracing the cloud technology for professional work purposes is seen by some as positively scandalous. However, the cloud could be a genuinely secure choice for most SMBs.

‘We all know, or should know, that there is really no such thing as a secure computer — one that can’t be eventually hacked. We’ve all read of data thefts of millions upon millions of individual records. Most of these are committed by international gangs, which makes them exceedingly difficult to stop and even more difficult to prosecute’

In particular, it makes sense if the firm does not have the time or knowledge to be on top of all the security issues, and the updates and implementations it needs, because a good cloud service provider (CSP) does have time.

Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), MainOne, Vodacom Business Nigeria and some of the telcos have invested fortunes to build state-of-the-art data centres in Nigeria.

Experts say there is no need to be scared of the cloud for data storage or application-serving usage, since a reputable CSP will be more proactive than you at maintaining software patches and implementing security – in order to survive, CSPs have to take security seriously.

They could also do so at less cost to your bottom line than you can.

The anytime/anywhere nature of cloud access even provides a good disaster-recovery route for smaller businesses. Of course, the cloud is not 100 per cent secure, and you need to think about where your data is located and who has access to it.

Frequent update, patch The experts said: “If you want your business to be secure, you need to stay up to date. Specifically, you must update all the software you use day-to-day in your business: the operating systems of all the devices, from smartphones to servers, plus the software that runs on the security systems that protect them all.

“It is a no-brainer that keeping your antivirus software up to date will ensure it offers the best possible protection, yet for many small businesses this is low on the to-do list. Security software, generally, automatically checks for and installs updates. While the same might be said of operating system updates, auto-updates are usually switched off due to the resource drain and disruption they can cause.”

Larger companies have patching policies and automated patch-management systems, but these are beyond the financial and implementational reach of most SMBs. Useful alternatives include deploying scanners to run regular system checks for unpatched or vulnerable software, and then scheduling those updates during your business’s off-peak times.

Doing nothing isn’t an option, especially if a patch has already been made available. Think about it: if the patch is out, then would-be attackers will be aware of the problem and will be finding ways to exploit it. Patching is relatively low-cost, especially at the smaller end of the business scale, but investing your time in it will bring invaluable rewards when it comes to security.

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

e-Business

Mobile subscriptions in Nigeria, others hit 910million

I

N the first quarter of this year, total number of new mobile subscriptions in Nigeria and other parts of Africa moved up to about 910 million including 21 million new subscriptions. It is also expected by 2020, advanced mobile technology will be commonplace globally with smartphone subscriptions will more than double, reaching 6.1 billion while 70 per cent of the world’s population will be using smartphones, and 90 per cent covered by mobile broadband networks.

According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report made available yesterday, growth in mature markets comes from an increasing number of devices per individual, adding that in developing regions, it comes from a swell of new subscribers as smartphones become more affordable; almost 80 per cent of smartphone subscriptions added by year-end 2020 will be from Africa, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East.

According to the report, in subSaharan Africa, GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions will remain predominant up to 2020, due to the high number of lower income consumers using 2G-enabled handsets.

With the continued rise of

smartphones comes an accelerated growth in data usage: smartphone data is predicted to increase 10-fold by 2020, when 80 per cent of all mobile data traffic will come from smartphones with average monthly data usage per smartphone in North America increasing from current 2.4 GB to 14 GB by 2020.

Speaking on the report, Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Ericsson, Rima Qureshi, said: ‘This immense growth in advanced mobile technology and data usage, driven by a surge in mobile connectivity and smartphone uptake, will makes today’s big data revolution feel like the arrival of a floppy disk.

We see the potential for mass-scale transformation, bringing a wealth of opportunities for telecom operators and others to capture new revenue streams. But it also requires greater focus on cost efficient delivery and openness to new business models to compete and remain effective.’

Ericsson said an expanding range of applications and business models coupled with falling modem costs are key factors driving the growth of connected devices.

Added to this, new use cases are

emerging for both short and long range applications, leading to even stronger growth of connected devices moving forward. Ericsson’s forecast, outlined in the report, points to 26 billion connected devices by 2020, confirming we are well on the way to reaching the vision of 50 billion connected devices.

Each year until 2020, mobile video traffic will grow by a staggering 55 per cent per year and will constitute around 60 per cent of all mobile data traffic by the end of that period. Growth is largely driven by shifting user preferences towards video streaming services, and the increasing prevalence of video in online content including news, advertisements and social media.

When looking at data consumption in advanced mobile broadband markets, findings show a significant proportion of traffic is generated by a limited number of subscribers. These heavy data users represent 10 per cent of total subscribers but generate 55 per cent of total data traffic. Video is dominant among heavy users, who typically watch around one hour of video per day, which is 20 times more than the average user.

• From left: Two lucky customers-Okeze Success Ebierebo (Abuja) and Alex Tse (Benue); Segment Specialist, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Adline Okeke and another lucky customer, Ikechukwu Agu (Abuja), during the departure of 20 subscribers to Jerusalem, for this year's pilgrimage, sponsored by MTN, at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos.

How winners emerged for Jerusalem pilgrimage, by MTN T

HE General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, has said the 20 customers who emerged winners and have been sent to Jerusalem for the holy pilgrimage were selected electronically, adding that the sponsorship was in appreciation of the life-enriching Christian Value Added Services (VAS) they subscribed to.

Speaking on the electronic selection process of the customers, he explained that subscribers were selected, based on the Christian VAS they subscribed to.

Represented by the telco’s Senior Manager, Segment, Saidat LawalMohammed, she said: “The selection was based on the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers, hymns, religious callertunez and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching content, they subscribed to. The lucky winners were therefore selected through a draw.

“This is one of the ways we decided to reward our Christian subscribers for their adoption of our Christian VAS. Every subscriber is important to us and we must show

appreciation. We will keep going the extra mile to show just how much we care.”

She admonished the pilgrims to remember Nigeria in their prayers as they embark on this journey, due to the challenges facing the nation at this time in its history.

Its Chief Marketing Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi explained that the strategic focus for this initiative is to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

“We are committed to the total well-being of our customers as we strive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and VAS. This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God. Through our bold new digital VAS, we will keep them connected to their Maker on a daily basis.”

He went further to state that the company will continue to provide exciting innovative initiatives geared at enhancing its customers’

whole new digital experience, while encouraging them to be better in their various fields of human endeavour.

The pilgrims, who departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at the weekend, will be spending eight days in the holy land. They were full of excitement and praises for MTN, as regard the rare privilege the company has given them in fulfilling a life-long desire through the all-expense paid trip.

One of the pilgrims, Bolaji Adeola, from Ondo state said before their departure, “I really feel blessed being among the selected few. Going to Jerusalem is like a dream come true.

I have always wished for travelling to the holy land to build my Christian faith and God has used MTN as an instrument to make my dream come true. I am very grateful to MTN for this rare and wonderful opportunity. This journey to Jerusalem will uplift my spiritual life and move me closer to God.”

Vodacom takes internet connectivity to Lagos school

V

ODACOM Busines Nigeriahas stepped in to provide WiFi services for students and teachers in classrooms, laboratories, workshops and staff offices. The firm also sponsored a 250KVA powered generator to help keep the school connected during power outages. The firm donated the facility to the Federal Science and Technology College, Yaba, to help improve the productivity of the teachers and students of the school.

Speaking on the occasion, its Managing Director, Guy Clarke said: “Internet penetration in Nigeria is still low, especially in public schools. With the Power to You Project, we aim to bridge the digital divide that exists in communities and schools without access to ICT. It’s for this reason that we’re proud to be able to provide this connectivity to

The Federal Science and Technology College, Yaba.”

Responding, the school’s Principal, Chris Ugorji said: “The vision of the college is to provide the scientific and technical skills, required to produce self-reliant young men and women, ready for tertiary institution and the ICT industry. The sponsorship of high-speed internet access and power generator by Vodacom guarantees this vision and we are happy to be beneficiaries of this project.”

The Vodacom Power to You Project supports public and private schools in the country by ensuring that students and teachers have access to ICT and new telecommunication technologies.

The power of the internet is invaluable and connectivity has the potential to transform education and accelerate economic growth in Nigeria.

Airtel unveils Wi-Fi service

A

IRTEl Nigeria, has launched ultra-high speedWi-Fi service to enhance customer data experience in Lagos.

With this development, residents and visitors to Lagos will have access to super-fast internet in public places and be able to connect wirelessly to the internet through their smart phones, tablets, laptops and other smart devices.

The service is available to all mobile phone users irrespective of their network and as part of the incentives; Airtel also offers free 15 minutes per month to every user.

Already, Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed to Ozone Cinema, Yaba, Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island and Alausa Shopping Mall, Ikeja.

Its Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Maurice Newa, described the service as a major milestone in the company’s effort to strengthen its relationship with customers.

“This serviceis designed to delight our customers with ultrahigh speed internet service. We want to connect with them in smarter and rewarding ways, to fulfil their communication needs,” he said.

According to him, as an innovative company, Airtel will continue to redefine the telecoms landscape with revolutionary products and services that will provide rewarding experience to its customers.

“Our mission is to enrich the lives of Nigerians through the provision of exceptional experience and the introduction of this service is an attestation of our commitment,” he said.

He noted that at full implementation, the service will be rolled out in malls, airports, universities and other areas of public interest in other major cities in the country.

To enjoy this service, customers will need to purchase data bundles which are categorised into five time-based bundles; 30mins, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours and five hours respectively.

The bundles can be purchased using Airtel recharge cards and debit cards while Airtel subscribers can buy bundles with their airtime. The service, which is also aimed at promoting the use of internet, will provide customers wider opportunities to connect with friends, family and business associates.

WeChat, others boost learning at Babcock University

G

LOBAL mobile voice and text chat app, WeChat, has partnered with MrsCEOnaija.com, the online female-centric blog and several other organisations to promote a workshop to provide career counselling tips for graduating female students of the Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

Speaking at the workshop which had ‘After Graduation, What Next?

It is Limitless opportunities,’ as its theme, WeChat’s Regional Manager, West Africa, Mr. Idemudia Dima-Okojie Dima-Okojie stressed the need for businesses in the country, especially, young start-ups to embrace and incorporate the mobile app technology in business plans if they are to grow and become successful.

He described the mobile phone business as one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world, with the smartphone practically taking over the lives of half the world’s population. According to him, today at least 50 per cent of the global smartphone users are hooked on touchscreens and mobile apps, especially the latter, due to its inherent benefits for business.

He said WeChat app has been enhanced with several features to help businesses reach out and interact with both their customers

and prospects. One of these features, he said, is the Official Account, whereby companies and organisations open an account within the WeChat app.

“With these Official Accounts on our app, these organisations can now interact with their customers and prospects like never before, and more and more businesses are utilizing this feature. Today we have the likes of Etisalat, Airtel, MTN, Jobberman, Dstv, Super Sport, Jobberman, Careers24, Beat FM, and many more on our Official Accounts platform.

“With this feature, customers can now follow and interact with their respective telecoms service providers, make payments on Dstv, listen to live radio and text into TV programmes, apply for jobs instantly on Jobberman and lots more. All these can be done within the app, thereby helping the user save the data consumed by using multiple apps and browsers to carry out these transactions,” he said.

Founder of MrsCEOnaija.com, Mrs. Tolulope Adedejian, said the organisation was established to help raise financially empowered females for more balanced homes and community, by inspiring, coaching, enabling and facilitating women to have enhanced sources of income, either through career progression or business start-ups.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

51

e-Business

NCC’s 20 PCs not enough for 10,000 girls, say students

S

OME students of Girls Senior High School, Agege, Lagos, have urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take a critical look at the number of students in their school with a view to increasing the number of personal computers (PCs) it gave the college.

The students who spoke on the sideline after the official commissioning of a computer laboratory under the Digital Access Programme (DAP) of the NCC, expressed gratitude to the regulator for the gesture, adding that it will assist them to prepare very well for their final examination.

“I have seen computers before but I have not interacted well with it. I sometimes go to cybercafé with my aunt who tries to teach me how to operate it. Now that almost all external examinations, including the one conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are becoming computer-based, it will help us.

I am grateful to the Commission. It will help us a lot but the PCs are too few for our population here,” one of the girls said.

Another student of the school said the gesture of the NCC is good but lamented that the PCs are far too few to make any appreciable impact in the short run on the students. She said: “You can see that this is a large school. You heard the principal saying the number of students in the school is about 10,000 and here are only 20 PCs. Anyway, the school authority will find a way of planning it in such a way that all of us will benefit.”

Like the students, the school’s Principal, Tajudeen Adeyinka, expressed his gratitude to the NCC for the gesture. He however urged the regulator to explore the possibility of powering the facility with alternative energy source such as solar. He said this will reduce the cost of fuelling and maintenance of the generators.

Speaking on the occasion, NCC Executive Vic Chair, Dr. Eugene Juwah said DAP is one of the programmes which the NCC introduced to bridge the digital divide existing in secondary schools, adding that its concept is a designation of a classroom fully equipped with computers and other ICT facilities, including a generator and

internet connection to enable the schools and its immediate environment to have access to the internet.

He said: “Many of the secondary schools, including those in remote villages of this country have testified to how this programme has facilitated their online examination activities such as subscription to JAMB, WAEC, NECO among other examinations.

The idea is to ensure that students, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are early adaptors of ICT, especially the internet which has limitless resources.

It is also designed for the surrounding communities to have access to the internet, especially when the students are not available to ensure maximum use of the bandwidth subscription for the affected school. So far, more than 200 schools have benefitted from DAP. “Apart from DAP which is designed for secondary schools, we also have the Digital Access Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI) under which we provide about 110 computers to the beneficiaries to equip the lecturers with new ICT skills in order to impact same on their students. “So far, more than 300

institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have benefited from the programe since its introduction in 2008. This is in addition to the introduction of the Wireless Cloud, a complimentary package comprising of laptops with wireless internet facilities. Another 144 institutions, including some who already have ADAPTI, have benefited from the Wireless Cloud.”

He said the key objectives of these programmes are to prepare the nation for a digital future and equip the youth with the necessary skills to tap into the potentials of the digital age, adding that in the case of DAP, it is aimed at building a foundation for young generation and to also prepare a good background for the broadband revolution that is being currently pursued by the commission.

He added that the Commission is vigorously pursuing a programme to provide pervasive broadband availability and affordability across the country. He expressed hope that some of these programmes would create a fertile ground for usage and exploitation of broadband for the benefit of the economy.

• From left: Chief Technical Officer, Arit of Africa Limited, Mr. Olusola Ogunsola; Marketing Manager, Cisco, Morenike Alder; Managing Director, Arit of Africa Limited, Mrs. Ronke Okeremi and Systems Engineer, Cisco, Adeola Kukoyi, during an event organised by both companies in Lagos.

Nigeria requires $200b to develop broadband infrastructure

N

IGERIA needs $200 billion to build and develop the requisite broadband infrastructure required to take the nation to the next level between now and 2019.

KPMG’s Partner, Management Consulting, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, who spoke at an international forum to woo investors to the nation’s broadband sector, said over the past years, the country has witnessed massive investment, adding that the explosion in data brought about by the growth in the social media space has catalsyed the growth in broadband infrastructure in the country.

He said in the micro wave and optic fibre infrastructure provision space, Nigeria has demonstrated a readiness to accommodate foreign investors who would only be required to plug into the existing infrastructure, adding however that there is still limited coverage.

“In the metropolitan transmission ring, what you see is limited coverage. Only about 10 per cent of the cities and towns are covered today.

Moving to the homes, we

have extremely limited coverage. These two top layers provide a huge opportunity and gap in the broadband supply chain “For investors in this room, an estimated $200billion is required annually over the next five years to meet this infrastructure gaps. Nigeria offers the best returns on investments, according to recent studies,” Africa Telecoms & IT, quoted Tegbe as saying at a forum organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to Tegbe, the Open Access Model of making broadband ubiquitous being championed by the regulator aligns with the Federal Government’s National Broadband Plan, stressing that over the past years, the diversity and growth in the information communications technology (ICT) sector has been due largely to the regulatory environment which has been friendly to investment.

He emphasised on the market potential of Nigeria which would always assure return on investment (RoI) to investors, adding that the World Bank has projected that the coun-

try’s population will overtake that of the United States (U.S) and even going to be the third largest populated country in the world next to China and India.

Said Tegbe: “Interestingly, the World Bank has projected that Nigeria will surpass the U.S in population by 2050 and most likely to become the third largest population by 2050 after China and India with a population of about 460 million people. That represents the size of the population that the investors have the opportunity of exploring.”

He said investors stood to gain incentives such as tax holiday and pioneer status in addition to a ready-made market as a result of the large population and current low spread of broadband which is also a potential high growth market because of the expansive uptake of smart devices in the country.

He recalled that in less than three years, the Nigerian market had grown from being N162million in 2011 to N150billion to date, adding that it is the evidence of the widespread demand for broadband internet service.

“Just in less than three years, this market has grown from N162million in 2011 to N150billion to date. This is evidence of the widespread demand for broadband internet service in Nigeria,” he said.

Tegbe expressed confidence that with improved infrastructure spurred by foreign direct investment (FDI) that the market has the capacity for substantial growth in the next couple of years. He lamented that with existing gap between supply and demand in the broadband infrastructure across the country, the question whether the supply can match the demand, arguing that there are some gaps in the broadband market in Nigeria.

According to him, there is already a glut in undersea cables in the country but lamented the absence of complementary hinterland and metropolitan fibre network usually referred to as middle mile and last mile.

“We have currently about four submarine cables in Nigeria with terabytes capacity which only few countries in the world can actually match,” he said.

52

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

SPACE FOR SALE

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

53

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-06-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-06-15

Total Nigeria seeks new ways to boost growth T OTAL Nigeria Plc plans to step up its business diversification programme by investing further in solar power business while consolidating the safety and efficiency of the current business.

Chairman, Total Nigeria Plc, Momar Nguer, told shareholders yesterday at the annual general meeting of the company in Lagos that Total Nigeria is constantly seeking new ways to expand its offerings and the company is currently implementing strategies to ensure that the company remains brand of reference and leading energy solutions provider.

“We plan to increase the number of our solar powered stations this year by eight additional stations and will be introducing our offer of solar home system.

The solar home system is a solar power driven energy solution for homes,” Nguer said.

He said the company would be seeking to align its business and structures with the dictates of the environment

•Shareholders get N3.8b dividends

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

in which it operates and through all these, create sustainable value for all the shareholders.

Shareholders yesterday approved distribution of additional final dividend of N3.1 billion, bringing the company’s total dividend payout for the 2014 business year to N3.78 billion. The company had interim dividend of N679 million. Shareholders will receive a final dividend per share of N9, in addition to earlier interim dividend per share of N2, bringing total dividend per share to N11.

Nguer said the 2014 business year was a year in which the company experienced several challenges and difficulties which affected her performance and operating results.

Total Nigeria’s turnover increased slightly from N238.2 billion in 2013 to N240.6 billion. Profit before tax decreased from N8.1 billion to N5.5 billion. Profit after tax reduced by 17 per cent from N5.3 billion to N4.4 billion.

He noted that interest expense was N2.6 billion, which was 32 per cent higher than the previous year mainly due to huge interests on borrowing as a result of unpaid sums under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund.

Managing Director, Total Nigeria, Alexis Vovk, assured of better days ahead, saying that the board would continue to do things solely in the interest of the shareholders.

Shareholders who spoke at the meeting commended the performance of the company.

Shareholders who spoke at the meeting included Sir. Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) and Shehu Mikail, National President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-06-15

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

55

MONEYLINK Jaiz Bank transfers N502m Haram proceeds to charity

BDCs recapitalisation: 2,688 operators make CBN’s list

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday approved additional 70 Bureau De Change (BDCs), bringing the total approved operators to 2,688 since the recapitalisation deadline elapsed last July.

The CBN had in May, published a list of 2,618 licensed BDCs which it said had complied with its new capital requirements of N35 million as at July 31, 2014.

There were 3,208 registered BDCs in the country before the expiration of the deadline on July 31. The CBN had in June announced a new minimum capital requirement of N35 million for the operation of BDCs in the country, up from the N10 million it was previously.

In order to ensure that the foreign exchange dealers comply with the new capital requirements, the CBN had extended the deadline to July 31,

I

By Collins Nweze

2014 from previous July 15 timeline.

The apex bank had also stated that interest would now be paid on the mandatory cautionary deposit of N35 million, based on banking industry savings account rate.

The regulator had pointed out that on the expiration of the deadline on July 31, 2014, that it would cease to fund any BDC that failed to comply with the new requirements, adding that “only BDCs that meet the new requirements would qualify to be engaged as agent by the licenced international money transfer operators for inward and outward transfer business in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has said that the $30,000 weekly sale to each BDCs by the CBN is inadequate to cover op-

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

erating costs.

“Considering the difficulties that BDCs are currently facing, due to the volume of the weekly sales granted to BDCs as against the associated costs in the business, we are strongly suggesting that the CBN consider increasing the weekly sales to BDCs to $50,000, the Association said in an appeal letter to the CBN Governor.

N keeping with Islamic teachings, Jaiz Bank has transferred N502 million for charity purposes because this amount was realised from nonSharia compliant transactions (Haram).

This information is contained in the bank’s annual report released yesterday in Abuja at its third annual general meeting (AGM). “All the gains (N502 million) made from Haram (prohibited by Islamic sharia law) sources have been set aside in a separate account and transferred to Jaiz Foundation for charitable purposes,” the report read in part.

These Haram sources include interest made on deposits with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and penalties realised from defaulting customers which Islam considers as Haram. The bank said it did not finance any business activities

Access Bank assures Visa card users on security

Stanbic IBTC to raise N20b from shareholders

S

TANBIC IBTC Holdings Plc, one of Nigeria’s strategically important banks (SIBs), plans to raise N20.4 billion from its shareholders as Nigerian banks continue to raise equity and debt to create proactive buffers against possible new capital requirements.

A regulatory filing obtained yesterday by The Nation indicated that Stanbic IBTC Holdings would be issuing 800 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N25.50 per share. Stanbic IBTC Holdings’ share price remained unchanged at N27 per share yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The rights issue will be pre-allotted to shareholders in the book of the company on the basis of two new ordinary shares for every 25

By Taofik Salako

ordinary shares held by the close of business yesterday.

The financial-services holding company has already filed the rights’ documents for the approval of the NSE, a regulatory process required for subsequent listing of the supplementary shares on the Ex-

change.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Olumide Oyetan, said the award underscored the firm’s deep understanding of the local market, backed by expertise and experience in developing quality investment products that address clients’ needs.

DMO to issue N70b bonds next week

T

HE Debt Management Office (DMO) plans to raise N70 billion ($353 million) worth of Treasury bonds with maturities ranging between five-year and 20-year at an auction next week, the debt office said yesterday.

The DMO said it will issue a five-year bond to raise N40 billion, a 10year paper to raise N15 billion and 20-year debt note to raise N25 billion on June 17, using the Dutch Auction System. The papers are re-openings of previous issues.

Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest economy, issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

From Nduka Chiejina

involving tobacco, gambling and alcohol.

In the last three years of its existence, Jaiz bank said it paid N502 million to Jaiz Foundation “as part of cleansing exercise of the preoperation non-allowable income in line with the directive of the CBN.” The charitable activity of Jaiz Foundation is in the area of providing groceries to more than 20,000 internally displaced persons in the Northeast of the country during the year.

Last year, the bank transferred N146,063,000 to its foundation from non-Sharia compliant income during the year. Other sources of charity funds to Jaiz Foundation include undistributed charity fund set the beginning of the year, pre-operating activities and non-Sharia compliant income during the year.

A

CCESS Bank Plc has reaffirmed the uniqueness of its range of Access Visa cards especially for holidaymakers during the summer period.

The lender in a statement, assured customers of the security and convenience of electronic payments whenever Access Visa cards are used travelers. The Access Visa card is an international card which allows cardholders to securely pay for goods and services across all electronic payment channels globally. It is a safe and convenient alternative to cash.

The card, which is available in Classic, Gold, Platinum and infinite variants is accepted on Point of Sale (POS) terminals globally

free of charge and can be used for web transactions. It is also accepted in over 30 million merchant locations, two million Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in 220 countries.

Head Card Products, Access Bank Plc, Justin Ijeh said the card relieves customers of the stress associated with foreign exchange. “Access Bank cards are internationally acceptable and can compete favourably with any payment card either locally or internationally. There is no need for our customers to bother about the stress associated with foreign exchange rate and carrying wads of cash whenever they travel. The Access Visa card is a convenient and acceptable alternative to cash,” he said.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

FO PZ LIVESTOCK MAYBAKER RTBRISCOE MANSARD NPFMCRFBK UBCAP HONYFLOUR GLAXOSMITH FCMB NB

158.60 30.66 2.26 1.53 0.70 2.80 1.10 1.44 3.81 44.11 3.00 147.00

173.23 32.19 2.37 1.60 0.73 2.91 1.14 1.48 3.90 44.99 3.06 147.00

14.63 1.53 0.11 0.07 0.03 0.11 0.04 0.04 0.09 0.88 0.06 0.90

LOSERS AS AT 10-06-15

BETAGLAS NAHCO STERLNBANK WEMABANK COSTAIN JOSBREW MCNICHOLS STANBIC ABCTRANS ZENITHBANK VITAFOAM

O/PRICE 42.00 5.81 2.10 1.05 1.06 1.74 1.57 28.00 0.58 19.84 5.40

C/PRICE 39.90 5.52 2.00 1.00 1.01 1.66 1.50 27.00 0.56 19.20 5.25

Inflation:April

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -2.10 -0.29 -0.10 -0.05 -0.05 -0.08 -0.07 -1.00 -0.02 -0.64 -0.15

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) May 28, 2015 Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

$28.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$67.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 10-06-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Tenor

16.5%

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

May 27

May 28

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices 27 May Statistics 5 May All Share Index 34,649.3 29,383.93 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 11.8 9,804.36 Deals 3,385 3,714 Volume (mn) 564,28 377,75 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80 6,568.66 GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

57

NEWS

Okorocha approves land for Ayo Babalola University

T

HE Imo State government has approved some plots of land for the establishment of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) campus in Imo State.

Governor Rochas Okorocha made the donation when he

received leaders of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at the Government House in Owerri.

The governor praised them for sustaining the university, saying it was a welcome development for the denomination to extend its educational services

to Imo State.

“The days of sectional differences are gone as every Nigerian should be treated as one, irrespective of tribe.”

Okorocha noted that through the Rochas Foundation Colleges in Ibadan, over 70 per cent

Oyo APC chieftain greets Ajimobi, lawmakers

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Mr. ‘Niyi Adeagbo, has congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the 32 members of the Oyo State House of Assembly (OYHA) on the inauguration and election of principal officers of the Assembly.

Adeagbo, who hails from Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government of the state, urged the lawmakers to work harmoniously with the governor to ensure sustained development across the state, adding that they should not derail from the peaceful template laid by the Seventh Assembly.

From Tayo Johnson and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

According to the security expert, it is only by working together with other tiers of government that Oyo State can sustain its pacesetter status.

He said: “In the history of this state, especially the years after 1999, we have not been blessed with a governor like Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

His interest in making Oyo State the economic hub of the Southwest is unrivalled. We are all witnesses to this development. In the last four years, we have seen how corporate investors have trooped into the state.”

of the school’s population, who are Yoruba, have gotten free education and thus urged church leaders to embark on laudable projects that will benefit Nigerians.

Okorocha added that financial assistance and other incentives will be extended to ensure a quick take-off.

The General Superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, Pastor Samuel Oladele, described Okorocha as a governor whose regard for God has brought tremendous achievements to the state.

Pastor Oladele said as part of activities to mark the university’s 10 th year, church leaders have come to Imo State to conclude arrangements for the establishment of a campus and seek the government’s assistance.

Obiano with Chinwuba and others during the commissioning...yesterday.

Obiano inaugurates Nkpor–Amawbia road

A

NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday opend the Nkpor–Amawbia road in Idemili North Council and the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) road at Awada.

At the inauguration, Obiano said the construction was in line with the best standards in road construc-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

tion around the world.

He said: “I have to make it clear that this road was started by my predecessor in 2008 and was done up to a few kilometers.

“My administration has completed 28 kilometers of the road with end-to-end drainage, clear road signs

and markings, as well as the street-lighting which will soon be completed”.

Obiano also hailed the quality of work of the PHCN road, saying: “My administration started and completed this road which provides access to an important facility.

“I want to assure Ndi Anambra that despite paucity

of funds, we have not abandoned any road awarded by my predecessor. This is in line with my promise of ‘3 Cs’: to complete, to commission, and commence new projects”.

Commissioner for Works Lawrence Chinwuba said the Nkpor-Amawbia road cost N9.2 billion while the PHCN road cost N490 million.

NDLEA arrests four drug trafficking suspects

O

FFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four suspected drug traffickers, among who is a commercial tricycle rider.

The suspects were apprehended at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu when they attempted to smuggle 8.876kg of various narcotic drugs to India, Turkey, Hong

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Kong and China.

Two of the suspects concealed the drugs in their luggage. The other two ingested theirs. NDLEA commander at the Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh, said that the suspects were being investigated.

He said: “Four persons were arrested and they are: Samuel Rapuruchukwu Anele, 45,

from Ichi village, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State, a tricycle, rider was caught with 4.892kg of methamphetamine on his way to Bombay, India; Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Ifeanyichukwu, 31, hails from Ezioko in Orumba North LGA of Anambra State was caught with 1.293kg of cocaine on his way to Istanbul, Turkey; Ukaeji Eric Tochukwu, 38, from Ukpommili village in Dunukofia LGA of Anambra

State was found with 1.408kg of cocaine on his way to Hong Kong while Nwoye Ekene Godfrey was caught with 1.283kg of cannabis which he had wanted to smuggle to Guangzhou, China.

“The suspects are helping our team of investigators”.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said the agency will step up security checks at the nation’s entry and exit points.

Court dismisses N19.2b fraud charge against Sylva •Ex-Governor: I’ve been vindicated

J

USTICE Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja has dismissed the N19.2 billion fraud charge brought against former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2013.

The EFCC had on June 1, withdrawn another six-count charge, involving about N2.45 billion it earlier filed against Sylva and for which he was arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court. The commission claimed it intended to merge the charge with the one before Justice Mohammed.

Ruling on a notice of preliminary objection filed by Sylva, Justice Mohammed dismissed the N19.2 billion charge. He held that EFCC was wrong to maintain two similar charges against Sylva simultaneously because according to him, it amounted to an abuse of court process.

Justice Mohammed held that the N19.2 billion charge was an abuse of court process since it was based on the same set of transactions involved in the N2.45 billion charge.

“It is thus clear that even with the withdrawal of charge at Court 8, when a ruling is being awaited in the application to quash the charge before this court is in itself an abuse of court process.

“The withdrawal of the charge at Court 8 (Justice Chukwu’s court) is clearly intended to interfere with the decision of the court on the motion dated May 15, 2015 (Sylva’s notice of preliminary objection). It is an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice. It is also a clear admission that by the prosecution, both charges in Court 8 and this court should not exist side by side, “ Mohammed said.

Justice Mohammed maintained that if the prosecution wanted to prosecute the accused person, it should have withdrawn the charge before his court, which was filed after the one before Justice Chukwu, which the EFCC chose to withdraw. ”By withdrawing the charge

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

at court 8, the prosecution didn’t really want to prosecute the matter. I say so because the allegation of abuse is against the charge before this court.

Whatever decision the prosecution arrived at did not prevent them from continuing the charge at Court 8 since it was earlier in time and was not targeted by the allegation of abuse.

“Based on the above findings, the charge, FHC/ABJ/ CR/167/2013 amounted to abuse of court and same is accordingly dismissed, “ the judge said.

Charged with Sylva are: Nide Francis Okonkwo, Gbenga Balogun and Samuel Ogbuku and three companies Marlin Maritime Ltd, Eat Catering Services Ltd, and Haloween-Blue Construction and Logistics Ltd. Sylva, reacting to the ruling through his media aide, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement said: “The ruling by Justice Ahmed Mohammed has at long last vindicated Chief Sylva and ended an elaborate game of cat and mouse being played by EFCC on purpose to frustrate the political life of the former governor.

“The judge clearly accused EFCC of interfering with the administration of justice and abuse of court process while dismissing all the corruption charges against the former governor”.

Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over

by Justice Chukwu had struck out similar charges against Sylva instituted by the same EFCC. Buokoribo said: “All the multiple charges by EFCC against Sylva and his associates had a single aim: to persecute, intimidate, and harass him, and in so doing, destroy his political career.

“We are happy that at last, justice has been done in this matter. We are very much relieved that all the attempts by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to keep Sylva away have failed.”

NAN editor loses mum From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

HE mother of Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, an assistant editor-in-chief with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is dead.

The deceased, Alhaja Risikat Ajoke Balogun, passed on peacefully in her son‘s home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last Friday. She was 80.

Alhaja Balogun was buried the next day according to Islamic rites in her Lagos home.

The deceased’s eldest child, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said in a statement that the eighth day Fidau would hold at 10, Ogundipe Street, Alapere, Lagos on Saturday.

He said Islamic clerics from Oyo, Lagos and Ogun states as well as relations and friends are expected to attend the prayer.

She is survived by six children and 19 grandchildren.

National Daily editor loses dad

T •Godfrey, Ifeanyichukwu, Tochukwu and Anele...yesterday

HE death has occurred of Pa James Omodara Otokiti, father of the News Editor of National Daily, Mr. Segun Otokiti.

He died on May 29 after a brief illness. He was 80.

The deceased was a supervisory senior pharmacy technician with Ido/Osi Local Government in Ekiti State before he retired.

Christian wake and lying-

in-state will hold on July 16 at his home, 69, Ayetoro Street, Ijare, Ondo State.

He will be buried on July 17 in his home after a funeral service at St. Michael Anglican Church, Ijare.

Entertainment of guests follows at Anglican Grammar School’s field, Ijare.

Pa Otokiti is survived by wives, children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and other relations.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

58

NEWS Cross River, Ebonyi to end communal clashes

Urhobo ex-militants urge Buhari to restructure Amnesty

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

C

ROSS River Deputy Governor Ivara Esu and his Ebonyi counterpart, Kelechi Igwe, have resolved to end the incessant boundary disputes between Adadama and Amagwu communities in both states.

They made the resolution yesterday at their maiden meeting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Esu said, at the meeting, they were briefed by the parties on the lingering skirmishes for speedy resolution.

The deputy governor said the people must live in peace with their neighbours.

Development, he said, could not take place in a rancorous environment.

Esu said the Cross River State Government would do everything possible to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people for the overall development of the state.

He hailed his Ebonyi counterpart for promptly responding to the meeting, adding that it showed his commitment to a quick resolution of the clashes.

Igwe said the states were anxious to resolve the crisis between the affected communities.

The states, he said, would not rest on their oars until they resolved the perennial clashes.

Wike: we must fight crimes From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

G

OVERNOR Nyesom Wike has said there is need to fight crimes so that more investments can get to Rivers State.

The governor said his administration would partner the business community to transform the state.

Wike spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when he hosted representatives of the business community, comprising the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHACCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Petroleum Technical Association of Nigeria (PTAN).

The governor described the business community as key to the development of the state.

He said his administration would create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and interface with them to transform the state.

Wike said: “What is important is commitment.

The government has the political will to create a conducive environment.

If we want investments to come into the state, then we must fight crimes.”

The governor promised to tackle multiple taxation and appoint a professional to head the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to check the menace.

T

•Captain of Eyanogie Primary School, Benin City, Job Isenalume (second left) and Vice Captain, Efe Ugiagbe (right) presenting the trophy the school won in the seventh Channels National Kids Cup competition to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his wife, Iara, at a reception for the champions at the Government House in Benin...on Tuesday.

33,000 bpd threatened as communities plan showdown in Delta, Bayelsa

N

IGERIA’S crude oil export faces imminent threat from Ijaw oil producing communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.

The host communities have threatened to shut down oil facilities in their domains because of an alleged breach of agreements by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Addressing reporters yesterday in Warri, Delta State, Chairman of Ijaw host communities in Bayelsa and Delta states, Chief Favour Izuokumo, said youths were

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

threatening to attack oil facilities.

He said his organisation and other leaders had restrained them from carrying out their threats.

The threat, it was learnt, might cost the nation over 33,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to shut-ins.

Izuokumo said the community leaders’ action followed the consideration that any attack on oil facilities would lead to enormous

economic loss to the nation.

He said: “A new government has just got into the saddle, so that such actions are not misconstrued.”

Izuokumo listed some issues that had caused disagreements among oil producing communities, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) and its contractors, Nestoil Plc. The Ijaw leader said the reentry agreement between the company and its host communities included a 40 per cent job placement, which he said had been violated.

He said Nestoil, which had been operating on behalf of NPDC, carried out its re-entry repairs after sourcing for money without carrying the host communities along.

Izuokumo said: “The brewing crisis between the company and some communities was caused by the failure of the company to pay for the legitimate oil spills which occurred in Ajuju/Batan fields of operation. Host contractors of NPDC do not get paid for executed jobs for upwards of six months to one year, even after promises to settle the backlog.”

How Rev. sister was abducted, rescued, by DSS

A

REVEREND sister, Mary Okoli, 24, who was abducted by gunmen in Bayelsa State, has been rescued by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Miss Okoli was abducted on Tombia-Amasoma Road in Yenagoa, the state capital, on May 21 at 5pm when she was returning from the Niger Delta University (NDU).

Her abductors reportedly lured her into their car under the pretext of giving her a ride to Yenagoa.

Immediately she boarded the car, the hoodlums brought out their guns and advised her to remain calm.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

They were said to have driven her to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and later to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Bayelsa State DSS Director L. B. Baba said the command got information about the incident on May 22 and immediately initiated plans to rescue her.

The DSS chief said on the same day Miss Okoli was kidnapped, the hoodlums used her phone to call the founder of her congregation, Little Friends of Mary Missionary Sisters. They forced the reverend sister to cry because they

did not utter a word.

He said the kidnappers, on June 2, forced her to call her older brother that she was not being kept for ransom.

Baba said: “When the calls were eventually traced to Uyo, the command dispatched a highly-trained anti-terrorist team to rescue the reverend sister. But this was hampered by poor network communication.

“The rescue operation continued until June 6, at 3:50pm, when the rescue team closed in on the kidnappers in their hideout.

“For fear of being killed or arrested, the kidnappers fled and abandoned the reverend

sister in an uncompleted building near Itu Road, Uyo. There, the operatives rescued her at 6:25am on the same day.

“Investigations revealed that the kidnappers were four in the first two days but increased to six. They were armed. The command has launched a manhunt for the kidnappers.”

The DSS director described the state as too hot for kidnappers and other criminals.

He said DSS, in collaboration with other security agencies and the state government is working to fight kidnapping, sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering and cultism.

HE “generals” among former Niger Delta militants, under the aegis of Urhobo Gbagbako, have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The exercise, they said, would accommodate those who surrendered their arms and were issued Joint Task Force (JTF) certificates but have not been documented for payment and training.

They alleged that their allowances were being collected through the back door by a cartel at the Amnesty Office.

The “generals” noted that since the inception of the Buhari administration, there had been emphasis on the scrapping of the Amnesty Programme and the Oil Pipeline Surveillance Contract job.

They said: “There has not been any mention of oil blocs being allocated to a few highly placed individuals outside Niger Delta or plans by the Federal Government to ameliorate the continuous despoilation of the Niger Delta environment with unending exploration and exploitation of our crude oil.

“No one has talked about relocating the head offices of oil producing companies from Lagos and Abuja to the Niger Delta region.

“Our President must be reminded that the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme was not initiated by the late Umaru Yar’Adua administration because of his love for the Niger Delta but because of its mass production.

“If the essence of scrapping the Amnesty and pipeline surveillance programmes is to save cost, what has the Buhari administration planned to do to cushion the negative impact of the exploitation of oil in the Niger Delta region?

“Times have changed. The era of exploiting the resources of the Niger Delta region to develop other regions while the people of the region stood aloof is long gone.

“The earlier our President realises this, the better for Nigeria. We stand on our mission statement that being the fifth largest ethnic group, we intend to force the Urhobo into the consciousness of the nation.

Never again shall the sons and daughters of Urhobo land eat from the crumbs that fall from the tables of other ethnic nations...”

Edo JUSUN members defy resumption order

T

HE Edo State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) yesterday shunned another directive by the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that its striking members should resume work or risk dismissal.

The union described the order as “laughable”.

Some JUSUN members were seen yesterday in Benin, the state capital, discussing the directive opposite court premises.

But they did not enter the premises, despite the gates being opened.

Security operatives were

•Edo commission orders union to resume work From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

around, apparently to prevent the harassment of those who might wish to work.

A statement by JSC’s Secretary Isaac Sanu ordered the workers to report for duty at 8am on June 10 (yesterday) or risk dismissal from service.

This is coming a month after it issued a similar directive.

The statement reads:

“The Edo State Judicial Service Commission, at its meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, decided that all Judiciary workers should report for duty at 8am on Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

“Any worker who fails to report for duty, as has been specified, should consider himself/herself as having been dismissed from the service. The commission here guarantees the safety and security of all workers.”

JUSUN’s State Chairman

Uyi Ogieriakhi told reporters that the commission resorted to self-help rather than adopt proper means to address the issues.

Ogierhiakhi urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to implement the court verdict on the dispute between the parties and pay the union members their outstanding wages.

The strike, he said, would end if the government obeyed a garnishee order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, that the Accountant-

General of the Federation should pay N1,066,341,66.67 “due to the Judiciary to the NJC’s account”.

He added: “It is laughable as you can see. None of our workers has come to work now. I advise the Judicial Service Commission to take proper means to resolving issues. You don’t do self-help to call workers back to work.

“What we are fighting for is even for the benefit of the JSC. It is very unfortunate that a system that is supposed to protect legality is doing otherwise.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

59

NEWS

El-Rufai to lawmakers: cut your salaries, allowances

K

ADUNA State Governor Nasir Ahmed ElRufai has asked the lawmakers and other political office holders to emulate him and his deputy by cutting their salaries and allowances.

According to him, this would enable the state generate enough money for development.

He lamented that 80 per cent of the state’s resources was spent on salaries and allowances of civil servants and political office holders, and 20 per cent was left for the state’s development.

The governor addressed the legislators yesterday during his maiden official visit to the Assembly.

He said: “Once done with paying salaries, allowances, overheads and pensions, the state is unable to do much by way of building infrastructure or providing services.

The fact is Kaduna State spends 80 per cent of its total revenue on public servants and political office holders.

“Can we as elected leaders deliver any significant service or implement progressive actions or attain desirable outcomes for the majority of our people if we devote only 20 per cent of available resources to their needs?

“Would we not be undermining the rationale of democracy if, after being elected by the majority vote, we uphold a system that serves the pleasures of a servantminority? How many good roads or decent hospitals can

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

we build and maintain when we leave little money for the things that matter?

“The elections that have thrust the responsibility of governance on us reflect the yearning of our people for leaders that are competent, responsive and willing to offer dedicated service. As elected officials, we must view our massive mandates as instructions by our people for unrelenting work on their behalf. The change they voted for is for substantive improvements in the delivery of public goods, a new way of doing things and the prioritisation of their needs.

“As you are aware, the executive arm of this govern-

ment has been taking briefings from the ministries, departments and agencies that constitute the public service of Kaduna State. The preliminary findings indicate that our Kaduna State is in dire straits. Its finances are in a shambles, with huge debts and other liabilities, including pension arrears and pending obligations to contractors.

“This highly indebted state is also dependent on allocations from the federation account, without which it will be unable to pay its workers their salaries and allowances.

“One damning consequence of this skewed expenditure pattern, for instance, is the education of our

children.

“According to the briefing we received from SUBEB, 50 per cent of our primary school pupils sit on the floor.

Many of our schools lack decent toilets, and there are obvious issues with the quality of instruction. The transition ratio from primary to secondary school is also dismal. Be it in security, jobs or healthcare, the task is immense.

“Honourable members, this is a small sketch of the nature of the challenges we confront. It is our duty to overcome, or at least navigate, the impediments of low revenue and unsustainable recurrent expenditures and overheads. This will enable us to responsibly concentrate on applying our best efforts

to meeting the justifiably high expectations of our people. We have been invested with hope, we cannot deliver despair.”

El-Rufai told the lawmakers that in meeting their people’s hopeful quest, the elected officials must be in the vanguard of change and must lead by letting their conduct manifest hard work, sacrifice and humility.

His words: “The deputy governor and I have signalled our intention in this area by announcing that we are taking a pay cut of 50 per cent of our salary and allowances until the fiscal situation improves. We appeal to political office holders to embrace this example and attitude of sacrifice.”

Jigawa Assembly Speaker emerges

J

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone One, Kano, Muhammadu Tambari Yabo, said yesterday that the police special squad had arrested five suspects believed to be responsible for the murder of the late Prof.

Ahmad Mustapha Falaki of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

During investigation, the suspects were found to have participated in the killing of Falaki and assault on his brother. They are Iliya Musa, Marcus Ahmed, Muntari Mato, Bello Hassan and Nura Ibrahim.

The incident reportedly occurred at Fala village in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State.

The controversy surrounding Falaki’s death four months ago has been put to rest by the police, as it has been proved that the deceased was not shot dead by the insurgents, but was killed by the villagers, who mistook him for an insurgent.

Yabo, who addressed reporters at the zonal headquarters in Kano, dismissed the allegation that Prof.

Falaki was shot dead by the police. He said the deceased was killed by over 2,000 angry youths.

The AIG said five policemen, who were in mufti when the incident occurred, were overwhelmed by the over 2,000 people, who carried out the dastardly act by lynching Pro. Falaki, following a case of mistaken identity.

Plateau Assembly elects Speaker

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

IGAWA State 6th Assembly yesterday elected its leadership.

The member representing Jahun Constituency, Idris Garba Kareka (APC), emerged as the Speaker. He is a first-timer.

Alhaji Ahmed Garba Maikudi, representing Hadejia Constituency, who is in the House for the second time after a break of eight years, emerged as the Deputy Speaker.

Kareka emerged unopposed after being nominated by Sani Isyaku, a lawmaker representing Gumel Constituency and seconded by Aliyu Ahmad Aliyu representing Kirikasamma Constituency. Maikudi was nominated by Surajo Mohd representing Birnin-Kudu and seconded by Usman Haladu representing Kanya Babba.

Kareka promised to uphold the honour and integrity of the Assembly, assuring that the new majority would work on non-partisan basis within and outside the precincts of the House.

He stressed that during his tenure, there would be no minority concept except oneness, pledging to operate an open door policy.

The Speaker thanked the members for the confidence reposed in him.

He said: “It is a great honour to me because I’m not the most qualified among you.

Everyone has the capacity to lead. So, I will do my best to carry everybody along. I’m soliciting your support to bring a positive change as promised earlier.”

Falaki’s death: Police arrest five

•Kogi State Governor Idris Wada inaugurating the free distribution of two maize varieties to farmers in Lokoja…yesterday.

With him are the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Zacheus Atte, the Chairman of the board of the state Agricultural PHOTO: NAN Development Project, Mr. Simon Maha (right) and the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Ali Ajuh.

Marwa, supporters return to APC

F

ORMER Lagos State military governor Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, yesterday returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with thousands of his supporters across Adamawa State.

Marwa, an ex-envoy to South Africa, resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) barely a week ago.

This was contained in a statement yesterday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, by his media aide, Bello Zubairu, who said “the decision to return to the APC was reached at a well-attended meeting yesterday between

Gen. Marwa and his supporters under the aegis of The Marwa Organisation (TMO).”

Speaking at the parley, the ex-military governor of Borno and Lagos states told the gathering that they had no reason to leave APC before, but for the fact that thousands of TMO members were denied registration into the APC in Adamawa State when the party was newly formed.

Before the emergence of the APC, Gen. Marwa was the governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in

Adamawa and after the merger of CPC and other opposition parties to form the APC, thousands of his supporters from several local governments in the state were technically denied the opportunity to register in the new party.

He said: “Efforts to seek redress through the appropriate channels were to no avail, thus leaving thousands of you, TMO members, without a party.” Marwa urged them to forgo their grievances and let bygones be bygones, stressing that “with President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle, such im-

punity won’t happen again.”

The statement said after listening to the views of others, the body resolved to return to the party it joined others to form, work for its growth and contribute to national development.

TMO members noted that at their first meeting after the formation of the new government, they congratulated President Buhari, Adamawa State Governor Ahmad Bindo and the National Assembly.

Marwa enjoined elected and appointed officials to support President Buhari and work for a positive change in the country.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

MR. Peter Ajang Azi has emerged as the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker, who represents Jos North West Constituency, is one of the 11 All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House.

His opponent, Istifanus Muansat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Pankshin South Constituency, stepped down.

Azi was a member of the Assembly from 2007 to 2011, but was not re-elected in 2011. He, however, contested the April 11 election and won.

Yusuf Gagdi of the PDP, a new member representing Kantana Constituency, was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

Police hold boy, 15, for alleged murder of neighbour in Kaduna

A

15-year-old boy at Saminaka in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Ashimu Lawal, is in police custody for allegedly killing a neighbour, Malam Nura Maishago.

The suspect was alleged to have killed the trader after he apprehended him for breaking into his shop.

Ashimu told our reporter at the Kaduna State police headquarters that he took the action to revenge against the deceased whom he said publicly disgraced him by apprehending him after he broke into his shop.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

He said he broke into Nura’s shop and stole items, including phones and N4,500.

The suspect said he gave the items to his paternal grandfather on the pretext that someone gave him for keep, but he kept the money.

Ashimu went on: “It was when the items were with my grandfather that Nura’s wife came to our compound and saw one of the phones with my uncle’s wife. She later informed her husband.

“The late Nura came to

meet my grandfather and told him that the phones were part of the items stolen from his shop and he had been looking them. My grandfather then brought out the other items and Nura confirmed that they were his. My grandfather gave them to him.

“Later in the day, I returned from the farm, because I’m a farmer and the late Nura confronted me that the items I stole from his shop had been returned to him by grandfather. He said his N4,500 was still missing and grabbed my clothes.

With the assistance of other neighbours, he removed N3,200 from my pocket. I was angry because some of them slapped me before they set me free.

“I went into my room and removed the remaining N500 under my pillow. About 11pm I saw Nura sleeping in front of his shop. I ran to buy a litre of petrol and matches, poured it all over his body and lit matches. Immediately, his body was on fire. This attracted neighbours, who put out the fire. They took him to hospital where he was certified dead.

“When he was burning, I

heard him shouting ‘Ashimu did this to me. Ashimu did this to me.’”

The suspect said he did not feel guilty about his action, because according to him, Nura wanted to dent his image in the village.

Police spokesman Zubairu Abdullahi said Ashimu was a notorious thief, who broke into people’s homes and shops, adding: “He is a member of the ‘sara suka’ gang fond of killing people.”

He said investigation had been completed and the suspect would soon be arraigned.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

60

NEWS Senate President rules senators out of order Continued from page 4

the party that controls the majority of this Senate, I and all the members of APC were summoned to a meeting with Mr. President through a wellsigned and delivered message to all members-elect of the APC. “Mr. President, while I was away and a lot of other members of this Senate, especially of APC extraction attending a meeting with Mr. President, this Senate went ahead to commence the process of inauguration, thereby infringing on my rights and privileges as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by disenfranchising me and my colleagues from participating in the election of the Presiding Officers of this Senate.

More strange is the news item that the Senate was inaugurated with 57 members and the 51 Senators-elect absent.

“The word absent portrayed me and many of my colleagues as some kind of irresponsible members of this hallowed chambers to absent ourselves from an event that was well-announced, well publicised that everybody was expected to attend with his spouse, well-wishers and constituents.

“That singular act also caused an unwarranted embarrassment and a lot of other members here, our families that felt embarrassed by

the announcement that I was absent during the inauguration of this National Assembly.

“Mr. President, I want to put it on record that after being sworn in today, I was handed over the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended. Mr. President, I want to say that as an active member of the 7th National Assembly, I cannot recall when the Senate Standing Orders were amended or tabled before this hallowed chambers for any amendments or corrections. I think it is worthy of notice that this act was perpetrated and I think Senate should call for a full investigation of what happened and where this document emanated.”

Saraki ruled that since Marafa came under Order 15 and Order 43, “I am sure you read both and in reading it Orders 15 and 43 came out and said categorically that you must have previous discussion with the President of the Senate and I think to the best of my recollection and yours, this did not happen.

Based on that, I think I have to rule you out of order.”

Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) who was one of Saraki’s loyalists, said that those who went to meet President Buhari were on their own.

He cited Section 64(3), which provides that the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nige-

ria, is empowered to order the proclamation of the Senate.

Goje noted: “What happened yesterday was in compliance with that Constitutional provision. Not only that, yesterday in this hallowed chambers the Clerk of the National Assembly read a letter written and signed by Mr. President himself.

“So for anybody to now say this hallowed chamber should ignore that constitutional provision, which was backed up by a letter from Mr. President, I think it is for that person to say that we should disobey the Constitution and disobey Mr. President.

“Therefore, let it be on record that whoever decided to go for another meeting is on his own.”

Saraki ruled that since Goje “came under the order of the Constitution, which is in line with what is in the constitution, so the Order is sustained.”

Gemade again raised a matter of privilege that he was not allowed to participate in the election of the Senate President, but Saraki also ruled him out of order on the ground that the matter had already been addressed.

Before the end of the plenary, 28 Senators, mostly APC lawmakers, were inaugurated in line with constitutional provision.

Also yesterday, the Senate

adopted a motion to write President Muhammadu Buhari to inform him that the presiding officers of the Eighth National Assembly had been elected.

The motion was raised by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

The motion, which was unanimously adopted, said: “That a message be sent to President and C-in-C informing him that the Presiding Officers of the Eighth National Assembly of the Senate have been elected as follows: 1.

Senator Bukola Abubakar Saraki, Senate President 2.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President II. “That a congratulatory message be sent to the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Speaker on their election. iii. That a message be sent to the following bodies, informing them that a quorum of the Senate of the Eighth National Assembly has assembled and ready to receive any communication” Ekweremadu listed the bodies to include African Union (AU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Pan African Parliament and Association of Senate, Shoora and Equivalent Council in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA).

Saraki group reaches out to Lawan as 10 SANs volunteer to handle brief Continued from page 4

He described the insinuation as "absurd and laughable".

"It is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it," he said, adding: "And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principle when the party was in power.

"Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return, having worked so hard for my party in the last general elections?"

He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal party member and a leader of the party, commit-

ted to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it to deliver its promise of change to Nigerians.

It was also learnt that a team of 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria on Tuesday night met with Lawan and volunteered to handle his brief in court.

Lawan is expected in court today to challenge the election of Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

The position of Lawan is that the Senate was not "properly constituted" for the election of its principal officers.

According to the legal advice made available to Lawan, if two-thirds of members of the Senate can remove a Senate President or deputy, only two-thirds must be present for the election of the same officers.

Pay cut coming for political, public office holders Continued from page 4

work they do.

Mbam stressed that the exercise, which is expected to reduce cost of governance in line with the current realities where the economy is characterised by inflation and downturn in international oil prices, amongst others, is envisaged to be completed before the end of September, 2015.

In his remarks after the inauguration, Abdullahi Lawal Inde, RMAFC Federal Commissioner and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of the Commission, assured the Chairman that the Committee will do a thorough job of the task assigned to it and called “In order not to duplicate for Nigerians’ support. things on the bases of zoning and so on, it is traditional that Presidency: Saraki, the Senate elects its leadership clerk snubbed first and then the House does after. We had to rush from the Buhari, APC meeting of the President, knowContinued from page 4 ing full well that there will be a delay to accommodate but sud- oath. Do you have a complete denly we were told at that meet- Senate in that situation? ing that elections were going on “The President is a party and that nominations had al- man. He is not above the parready closed. This we found ex- ty. He is subject to control by tremely unusual.” the party and, therefore, he But the Like-Minded senators has been involved in all of fired back at their own news these processes and he is not conference. Saraki also held a the one to tear down the parnews conference. ty that put him there.”

The chairman reminded members of the committee of the need to ensure that the review effectively minimises wastages and abuses.

“The Committee is expected to holistically review the existing Remuneration Act; identify areas of wastages and abuse, examine the implementation of the Monetisation Policy by MDAs and advise on appropriate remuneration for Political, Public and Judicial Officers commensurate with the

Saraki’s election lacks legitimacy, says Senate Unity Forum Continued from page 4

full well that the quorum for election of the Senate President had not been met, went ahead to conduct an election that shuts the door to about 53 other Senators which would remain unacceptable until what would meet would meet democratic parameter is done.”

He said the group would use all political and legal means to address the situation.

Gemade said: “The attention of the Unity Forum has been drawn to conflicting report about the activities that took place on the floor of the Senate yesterday (Tuesday). For the record, we wish to present the following for clarification.

“We received an invitation through the office of the National Chairman of our party, the All Progressives Congress, which indicated the request of Mr. President to have a brief meeting with all the APC elected Senators and House of Representatives members at the International Conference Center

before the inauguration of the National Assembly at 10am.

“The insinuation in some quarters that we boycotted the election is totally unfounded.

As loyal party members, we would take all necessary political and legal means to strengthen our democracy and democratic process in line with the change that we promised our teaming supporters during our electioneering .

“In our effort to meet with the time for the inauguration, we rushed to honour the invitation of Mr. President and while at the Conference Centre, news filtered to us that the Clerk of the National Assembly had started the process of the election of the Senate President in our absence.

“This process, which remains unconstitutional, cannot confer legitimacy on the elected Senate President. Our right to participate in the election of the Senate President is a constitutional right which cannot be taken by any person or

group of persons.

Asked to throw more light on the question of quorum, Gemade said: “We did not say that quorum was not formed for the inauguration. We said quorum was not formed for the election of the Senate President and that should be twothirds of the Senators present and 53 Senators were out and the remaining 56 were not enough to elect the President of the Senate and that is a clear position that we take.

“We are not considering the register of that day - attendance to connote the quorum in the Senate because many senators came there after the event was done and the most important aspect of electing any presiding officer in the Senate revolves around nomination. Every Senator eligible must be present when nominations are made and closed.

So when 53 Senators are outside and you close nomination, definitely quorum has not been formed.

Senator George Akume,

who was at the briefing, said: “I also contested the position of Senate President and I lost gallantly. But this is the first time we are witnessing this sad event that took place yesterday.

“In 2007, all of us were present. In 2011, all of us were also present. Yesterday, only 57 or 56 were present. That is unprecedented in the history of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Why was the Clerk in a hurry to conduct that election, knowing full well that the quorum had not been formed?

This is a very sensitive issue.

“It is a constitutional matter as well and a legal issue. You can’t elect a Senate President through the ballot by using only 57 Senators and shutting out 53 others. Correctly too, it is wrong. It is unacceptable and unconstitutional and we want you to take note of this.

It is unacceptable and it cannot work.”

On whether there was communication between President Buhari and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Gemade said: “We like to make it very clear that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gave the letter for the proclamation and if he invites us for a meeting at 9 O’clock and states that due communication had been made to the National Assembly and before leadership is elected, the Clerk is the one that receives the communication of the President.

There must be a slight delay in order to enable him speak with the Senators of the APC before they come and commence the process.

“In the House of Representatives, they were able to catch up because their own happened after the Senate.

‘No information on meeting’ Continued from page 4

ly said he does not have a hand in the election and is ready to work with whoever emerges as the Senate President but some people have decided to drop the name of Mr. President.”

In addition, he said a text message was sent on Monday for the lawmakers to meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the same venue and no one showed up.

“We waited for the VP for hours but he didn’t show up.

“Having seen that the previous day, you get another text at 7:30am in the morning to meet with the President at the same venue.

“Do you think anyone who is rational will go for that meeting?

“I want to believe that it was a calculated attempt,” Melaye said. Dino Melaye disagreed with the Unity Forum, saying there was no information on the 10:00a.m. meeting.

At a new conference, he said: “President Buhari in his constitutional duty had sent a proclamation that the inauguration at the National Assembly was to begin at 10a.m. on June 9. He wondered how the president

could have called a meeting for the same time.

He said there was no official communication that the President wanted to have a meeting with the members.

“If Mr. President wants to meet legislators, the Defence House, the Banquet Halls are there, so why at the ICC. “He didn’t attend to anyone in ICC. “The President has consistently said he does not have a hand in the election and is ready to work with whoever emerges as the Senate President but some people have decided to drop the name of Mr. President.”

In addition, he said a text message was sent on Monday for the lawmakers to meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the same venue and no one showed up.

“We waited for the VP for hours but he didn’t show up.

“Having seen that the previous day, you get another text at 7:30am in the morning to meet with the President at the same venue.

“Do you think anyone who is rational will go for that meeting?

“I want to believe that it was a calculated attempt,” Melaye said.

61

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Pakistan executes man who was minor when convicted

P

AKISTAN has executed a man who was 15 when he was sentenced to death for murder and who rights groups say was tortured into confessing.

Bahadur, a Christian, had been convicted of a double murder in the city in 1992. Campaigners called his execution “shameful”.

Aftab was subjected to almost every injustice conceivable,” said Maya Foa, director from international human rights group Reprieve.

“To the last, Pakistan refused even to grant his lawyers the few days needed to present evidence which would have proved his innocence. This is a travesty of jus-

tice, and tragedy for all those who knew Aftab,” she added.

Reprieve said Bahadur had been convicted on the basis of testimony from two eyewitnesses.

They both later retracted their statements, saying they were made under torture.

Aftab Bahadur painted about his situation whilst in prison In an essay written for Reprieve before his death, Bahadur protested his innocence: “I just received my Black Warrant. It says I will be hanged by the neck until dead on Wednesday, 10 June. I am innocent, but I do not know whether that will make any difference.

A

Africa creates free-trade zone

FRICAN leaders have agreed to create the continent’s largest free-trade zone, covering 26 countries in an area from Cape Town to Cairo.

The deal, signed in Egypt, is intended to ease the movement of goods across member countries which represent more than half the continent’s GDP. Since the end of colonial rule, governments have been discussing ways to boost intra-African trade.

The poor state of roads, rail-

ways and airlines have made it difficult.

Three existing trade blocs the Southern African Development Community (Sadc); the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) - are to be united into a single new zone The plan is to make it easier to trade goods across Africa With this agreement comes into fruition a century-old dream to link the continent from the Cape to Cairo. Explorers and freedom fighters

alike all shared the vision to integrate African economies.

And on paper it looks like a progressive step for a continent that has seen average growth rates of 5% in recent years.

However, it needs parliamentary endorsements from all member-nations and once governments start reading the fine print, the mood may change.

Many of them have small economies that produce few exportable goods. A free-trade protocol would mean they

would have to compete with larger industries that could threaten their economies.

Africa’s many regional blocs have not really aided continental trade so far and the African Development Bank has often said that the focus should rather be on developing infrastructure.

Nevertheless if it is implemented in a reasonable timeframe and there is sufficient political will to follow through, then it marks a new beginning for free-trade zone work?

Aung San Suu Kyi arrives in China for first visit

Venezuela battles Guyana over oil exploration

A

ENEZUELA’S President Nicolas Maduro demanded yesterday that neighbouring Guyana stop oil exploration in a disputed offshore territory.

The exploration is being carried out by US oil giant ExxonMobil.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez called the exploration “a dangerous political provocation”.

Venezuela has been claiming the disputed mineral-rich region west of the Essequibo river as its own since the 19th Century.

An international tribunal ruled in 1899 that the area formed part of Guyana, which at the time was a British colony.

David Granger was elected president of Guyana last month Venezuela never accepted the ruling, arguing it was unfair.

On 20 May, ExxonMobil announced “a significant oil discovery” in the disputed area.

A week later, President Maduro issued a presidential decree claiming sovereignty of the disputed waters.

Guyana’s newly elected President, David Granger, in turn released a statement on Sunday calling Venezuela’s decree a “flagrant violation of international law”.

He also accused Venezuela of wishing “to trample on the rights of a smaller country in order to obstruct the sovereign right of Guyana to develop its natural resources”.

President Granger insisted that Guyana would continue to develop the offshore natural resources it considered its own.

He advised Guyana “not to take bad advice from ExxonMobil or from (local officials) bribed by Exxon Mobil”.

Speaking on state television, he said that “with dialogue and diplomacy we should be able to iron our these historical differences”.

Relations between Venezuela and ExxonMobil have been tense since 2007, when the country’s thenpresident Hugo Chavez nationalised the company’s assets.

Last year, an international arbitration tribunal ruled that Venezuela must pay ExxonMobil $1.6bn (£1bn) in compensation for the expropriated assets.

UNG San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s opposition leader, has arrived in China on her first visit at a time of tension between the two countries.

Ms Suu Kyi will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, but no other details have been provided.

Relations between the countries have cooled in recent years, partly because of violence near their mutual border.

Myanmar has been fighting rebels in its eastern Kokang region, which borders China’s Yunnan province.

China is concerned about violence spilling over and has sent patrols to the border in response.

Rebels have been fighting in Myanmar’s Kokang region, near the border with China A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told reporters on Wednesday that Ms Suu Kyi’s visit would “move forward China and Myanmar’s friend-

ly and co-operative relations”.

He added that China hoped Myanmar “would answer to relevant requests put in by China, stop the warfare, ease the tension, and restore peace, stability and normal order to the China-Myanmar border area at an early date.”

This visit is meant to improve ties between Myanmar’s opposition leader and China but her comments will be closely scrutinised.

The Chinese dissident and writer is serving an 11-year prison sentence for “inciting subversion of state power”.

But authorities said on Wednesday they would not release him as there was “no reason to alter the judgment”.

Analysts say the government was furious after he was awarded the prize a year after being imprisoned, and will not take kindly to any criticism from Ms Suu Kyi. When China’s state news agency announced Aung San Suu Kyi’s imminent arrival in

V •Kyi

Beijing, she was described as a parliamentarian, the leader of a key political party. The fact that she is also a Nobel Peace prize laureate did not merit a mention.

And that hints at the political risk that Beijing is taking by hosting Ms Suu Kyi. Her presence will highlight the notable absence of China’s own Liu Xiaobo.

While Myanmar’s military junta was under Western sanctions and Ms Suu Kyi was under house arrest, China remained a loyal ally.

Paedophile priests: Pope Francis set up tribunal

P

OPE Francis has approved the creation of a tribunal to hear cases of bishops accused of covering up child abuse by paedophile priests.

The unprecedented move followed a recommendation from the Pope’s newly created panel on clerical sex abuse.

The tribunal will have the power to punish bishops who failed to protect young victims.

Survivors’ groups have long called for the Vatican to do more to make bishops accountable for abuse on their watch.

Last year, the UN strongly criticised the Church for failing to stamp out abuse and for

T

allowing cover-ups.

A statement from the Vatican said the department would come under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Its aim would be “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors”, the statement adde •Germany - A priest, named only as Andreas L, admitted in 2012 to 280 counts of sexual abuse involving three boys over a decade •United States - Revelations about abuses in the 1990s by two Boston priests, Paul Shanley and John Geoghan, caused public outrage

•Belgium - The bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned in April 2010 after admitting that he had sexually abused a boy for years •Italy - The Catholic Church in Italy admitted in 2010 that about 100 cases of paedophile priests had been reported over 10 years •Ireland - A 2009 report found that sexual and psychological abuse was “endemic” in Catholic-run industrial schools and orphanages for most of 20th Century Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said bishops could also be judged if they had failed to prevent abuse from taking place.

Obama to boost army trainers in Iraq

HE US is to send up to 450 military trainers to Iraq to help “train and advise” local forces fighting Islamic State, the White House says.

President Obama made the decision following a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, it said.

The troops will be deployed to the Taqaddum military base in Anbar province. IS seized Ramadi - the capital of Anbar - in May. It has made gains across the region despite US-led coalition air strikes.

The move is aimed at enabling more Iraqis - mostly Sunni tribal volunteers - to integrate into the Iraq army and reclaim territory from Islamic State.

“These new advisers will work to build capacity of Iraqi forces, including local tribal fighters, to improve their ability to plan, lead, and conduct operations” against IS in

Anbar, the White House statement added.

Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Shia militias to help government troops battle IS Islamic State took control of Iraq’s second city Mosul a year ago. It has also captured the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra.

The deployment of military advisers to Taqaddum brings the number of US training camps in Iraq to five.

Some 9,000 Iraqi troops have already been trained at AlAsad, Besmaya, Irbil, and Taji, the White House said.

After the fall of Ramadi and then the suggestion by the US defence secretary that the Iraqis didn’t have the will to fight, this announcement is an admission that the strategy isn’t working.

What is striking is that these additional troops will be operating from a military base

in Anbar province, where Islamic State has made major gains.

The aim is to bring Sunni tribes into the fight against IS - they have so far refused to get involved out of their mistrust of the Shia dominated government in Baghdad.

Involving them is now a key component of Pentagon strategy.

But it will mean the US trainers will be operating close to IS front lines, and that will present its own security concerns for the US, and an opportunity for Islamic State.

The decision to send more military advisors follows months of behind-the-scenes debate within the White House on how to retake Mosul and Ramadi, the New York Times reports.

US officials believe a major factor in the fall of Ramadi was a lack of training of Iraqi forces.

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

L

ET’S begin from the beginning. The foxy game of wits that has just ended somewhat at the National Assembly started as a small family dispute. It dragged on for days and weeks. After several attempts by elders and leaders to arrest it failed, it became an open brawl and the world was asking: where in the world is the President?

President Muhammadu Buhari was determined not to interfere in how the National Assembly chose its leaders, but the matter was like the fabled wasp on a sensitive part of the body; it had to be dispatched with tact.

Wisdom.

By the time Buhari decided to intervene, the various actors in what has now become a major crisis shaking the faith of the ordinary man in the political class had already gone too far to return. The President called a 9a.m. meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakerselect and leaders to resolve the matter at the Conference Centre in Abuja. All was set, but he did not show up.

A few minutes away at the National Assembly, 57 senators-elect were already seated to get on with the business of formally opening the Eighth Senate. In less than 30 minutes they were done. Senator Bukola Saraki had been returned unopposed as Senate president.

He was nominated by Sani Ahmed Yerima (remember him?), the former Zamfara Governor who fought a vicious battle to keep his newest wife, the one who child rights advocates insisted was under aged and should, ipso facto, not be dragged into conjugal responsibility. Grinning through it all was, among many others, Godswill Akpabio – he is also a senator now – the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom after whom the state’s multi-billion naira stadium has just been renamed by a grateful successor, among other prizes for his sacrifice of serving the state for eight long years.

Dino Melaye, the exuberant and excitable activist from Kogi State whose election is being hotly contested by Senator Smart Adeyemi, seconded the motion, picking his nose and smiling like a kindergarten undergraduate who has just got a pack of chocolates.

Now, let’s get it right from the outset. This is no attempt to pee in the champagne of all those toasting the emergence of Dr Saraki as Senate president and Yakubu Dogara as House of Representatives Speaker. No. Dr Saraki is qualified to be Senate president. No doubt about this. The process, many have observed, is the problem.

A lot of questions came up after the session.

Why convene the Senate when over 50 senatorselect were waiting for the President? Was there a deliberate plot to disenfranchise these lawmakers-elect and shut them out of that critical decision? Any conspiracy from the top?

If so, was – I shudder to think of this – President Buhari, who had earlier said he would not intervene in the matter - part of it? Why rush in with a cup of water when the roof was already on fire? Isn’t that taking the I-won’t- interfere-

RIPPLES

12% OF NIGERIANS HAVE TRAITS OF INSANITY – Report

Hmm... HUNGER-INDUCED MADNESS

VOL. 10, NO. 3242

‘Wars have been part of human history since the beginning of time. Kingdoms have risen and fallen as a result of victory or defeat by one group or the other. The various empires of the world whether in Asia, Africa or Europe were established as a result of imperialistic desires of man and the ability to fight for whatever they believed’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (DAME)

Of change and strange agents

•Saraki

•Dogara

stance too far? Is this the true meaning of “I belong to nobody…”?

The answers, I am sure, lie in the belly of time.

There is also the argument that the Senate’s reliance on the number of those at the session to form a quorum was dubious. Why talk about a quorum when the Senate had not been formally opened for business? Couldn’t the officials have ensured that those 51 senators-elect attend the session by waiting a few minutes? Was the timing cast in iron?

The APC was furious, like a man who lost control of his home. In fact, the popular thinking is that the party has been overwhelmed by its internal contradictions. Seems so. It saw it all as an act of “indiscipline” and “ treachery”, vowing to punish all those involved.

The party was said to have met to pick its candidates for Senate President and Speaker of the House. Its decision was shredded by some members who connived with the PDP to bring about the present scenario. Talk about “the falcon no longer hearing the falconer”.

In some political circles, the scene at the Senate is being viewed as a prelude to the rebuilding of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party that has been in disarray since it lost the general elections after running–and ruining–the country like a disorganised motor park, hurting the treasury in a manner beyond comprehension and sending many into poverty and darkness. Now, a PDP chief, Ike Ekweremadu, is the Deputy Senate President.

Will he also be part of the change agenda?

Strange, indeed, are the ingredients of change and its agents.

President Buhari issued a tepid statement, saying although he would have preferred that the election – selection, if you like – followed the party’s recommendation, he was pleased that a “somewhat democratic” process had occurred.

Sophistry? Somehow. Somewhat.

But Itse Sagay, the respected Law professor, has disagreed with those toasting the Senate election.

He said yesterday on TVC: “There are two ways of looking at it, that is from the moral point of view and legal or constitutional point of view.

“If you look at the moral point of view, the purported election was fraudulent. When you purport to hold an election deliberately in the absence of your opponent, knowing that he is absent and intending to win at any cost unopposed by ensuring that absence, that constitutes fraud and not only that, I think it is an act of gross indiscipline, not just against the party but against the whole country because we are all stakeholders in the electoral process in who becomes President of Senate. We all felt cheated because there was no proper election.

“Again it is also an act of gross impunity because in a setting he was saying, ‘I know my opponent is keenly interested in contesting; I know

OSUN AND ITS TRADUCERS

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has been under attack for not paying workers’ salaries. The state is not alone in this financial quagmire. Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Cross River, Benue, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara are also in the same boat. For the helpless workers, the trauma is so much. They deserve praises for their perseverance. My sympathy. They seem to understand that Ogbeni Rauf has not diverted state funds into his pocket; it is the crash in allocation from the federal purse that has shattered the state’s finances, making it difficult for it to meet its obligations.

If the workers are showing understanding, not so some politicians and writers. I read one article at the weekend in which the writer said Osun State earned N868b in allocations in four years. In other words, by the writer’s weird calculation, the state was making N15.7b monthly. It never did.

Facts, as they say, are sacred; comments are free. Journalism respects facts; we journalists should.

Aregbesola explained it all when he told the state’s lawmakers: “The contrasting state of our allocation from the federation account is highlighted by the peak of our allocation of N5b we received in February 2013 against the N466m we just received in April.”

What the debtor – states are passing through, awful as it is, will soon pass. May God give our leaders the wisdom to find a solution to this national shame.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL

I

LORIN history speaks of a dynastic coup in the 19th century by Alimi (formerly, Salih Janta), a Fulani Islamic scholar and adviser in the court of Afonja, the Ilorin Yoruba ruler.

Though the religious nomad, Alimi, came to Ilorin with Afonja’s help, when Afonja was assassinated in 1824, Alimi’s son, Abdulsalami, became the first Fulani ruler of the town.

But many insist — not without fairness — that Afonja got his own comeuppance; because Afonja himself, as the Aare Ona Kakanfo to the Alaafin of Oyo, rebelled against the Alaafin, with Alimi’s help. So, when Afonja himself was put to Alimi’s sword, it was one treachery cancelling out another.

Whatever the matter between the two personages, that very act sentenced Ilorin to its neither-nor political geography. Though it is southernmost enough to be part of Western Nigeria, it is geographically North. Though Ilorin’s dominant culture is ethnic Yoruba, it remains a Fulani suzerainty.

On June 9, an Alimi-like coup took place in the hallowed chambers of the Senate, in the National Assembly. The major player in that coup was Bukola Saraki, incidentally an Ilorin indigene and head of the second-generation Oloye political dynasty — the Oloye himself being the senior Saraki, now dead, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

my opponent is not here yet and, therefore, I will rush an election in his absence in order to be certain of victory at any cost. So, it is absolutely unacceptable in a decent democracy.”

Sagay’s verdict is not just a commentary on the Senate matter, it is a biting indictment of our political class – rude and crude. I agree with the eminent scholar.

Elsewhere in the land, the change era has been manifesting in many ways. In Rivers State, where scores of people have just died after consuming a local gin, Ogogoro, the one also called akpeteshi or “push-me-I-push you” and “Sapele water”, Governor Nyesom Wike has been sulking about the state of affairs. He says his predecessor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi looted the Government House of furniture, including television sets, chairs and cutlery sets. He took people round the facility and released some photographs to the media. Amaechi disagreed. He also released pictures of the state of the facility before he left.

Everything was glittering. Who should we believe? Will His Excellency consider setting up a panel to find out the immediate and remote causes of this disagreement in order to prevent a recurrence?

How times change. Former Niger Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu must have recovered now from the shock he got at the Bako Kotangora Stadium in Minna where his successor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, was taking the oath of office. He was booed and pelted with all manner of objects, including water sachets. Soldiers and other security agents formed a ring around him, fired teargas canisters to scare away the mob and ferried him and his wife out of danger.

Not to be left out in this season of change is the Federal Ministry of the Environment, which is set to suspend the N9.2b clean cook stoves contract. The contractor has collected N1.3b, but the ministry says it has failed to meet the deadline. Should the contract be just suspended? I think it should be terminated – if the spirit of change must endure – because it symbolises the profligacy and misplaced priority of the past.

So much for change and its strange agents.

Alimi coup It was the election of the president for the eighth Senate of the Federal Republic. Senator Saraki had disagreed with his party, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) official nominee for the position. But striking a deal with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, Senator Saraki got 12 of his party’s 59 votes with wholesale bloc votes from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to nick the Senate presidency with 57 votes. It was a rebellion so brazen!

In the aftermath have been emotive responses, charging the Saraki camp with treachery, indiscipline and self-ambition over collective interest — not totally illegitimate or unfair allegations. Not a few have even linked the Saraki coup to the Alimi coup in 19th century Ilorin, therefore seeking historical justifications to suggest something eternally slimy and treacherous about the Saraki political persona.

But Saraki’s supporters and sympathisers have countered that what happened was the Tambuwalisation of the Senate; and from the PDP it was simply payback time! Aminu Tambuwal, former House of Representatives Speaker and now Sokoto governor, became speaker, against PDP’s wish, with the vote of the defunct Action

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), both legacy parties now merged into APC. But after justification and counterjustification, the APC stakeholders must realise one chilling fact: PDP would be damned to have APC succeed, being the party that ended its 16year rule. In PDP’s shoes, APC would probably behave the same way. It is politics, after all!

Then, a no less chilling follow-up: with Saraki doing a deal with PDP, APC has a potent enemy in the house. Why, for instance, would the PDP vote that powered Saraki to the Senate presidency zealously power the APC agenda which, if successful, would forever bury PDP? That is why the winners in the APC camp should stop gloating and the losers stop threatening. APC was elected to make a definitive change in Nigerians’ lives. It should shake off this crisis and do exactly just that.

Nigerians would be the ultimate losers, should this crisis — as major as it is — derail the promises APC enunciated so brilliantly during electioneering, against the background of a hugely disappointing PDP Jonathan presidency.

APC should activate its internal crisisresolution mechanism. Let the bickering stop.

There is work to do for Nigeria — and the task is tough and arduous.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516.

Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO