June 12, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Fashola slashes LASU fees by 34-60 per cent •Govt to unions: end strike

•Emenike: I’m no Messiah

NEWS Page 8

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2875 THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

•Messi, Ronaldo, Brazil, Spain to watch as show begins SPOR TS SPORTS Pages •Enyeama’s ‘form crucial’ 17,24&68 •Keshi rated 28th in pay chart •www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

EKITI 2014 Protest over CJ

N150.00

•APC: Clampdown on media strategy to capture Ekiti •‘Fayemi’s re-election ‘ll guarantee more growth’• PAGE 10 •Traditional rulers to IGP: redeploy MOPOL chief

Akunyili’s body in Abuja

crisis in Rivers

•Amaechi signs amendment to High Court Law 2001 From Bisi Olaniyi, Clarice Azuatalam and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

•SEE PAGE 5

T

HERE is a plan to force a Chief Justice on Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi alleged yesterday. He said the National Judicial Council (NJC) is behind the crisis in the state’s judiciary, adding that it plans to force Justice Daisy Okocha on the people as the Chief Judge.

The plot, said Amaechi, is to impeach him.

The governor signed into law the bill for the amendment of the Rivers State High Court Law 2001 passed by the House of As-

•Rev. Sisters consoling widower Dr. Chike Akunyili, at the National Hospital ...yesterday

My life under threat over Sanusi, says Kwankwaso Continued on page 4

‘

How ex-CBN governor emerged Emir, by governor

And I want to put it on record that whatever happens to me, my family and my state, Jonathan should be held responsible

K

•Kwankwaso

ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said yesterday that his life is under threat.

President Goodluck Jonathan should be held responsible, if anything happens

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

to him and his family, he told reporters in Abuja.

He also said the President would be accountable for any breakdown of law and order in Kano State over the choice

APC zones chair, deputy secretary to Southsouth •Deputy chair, legal adviser for Southwest

T

HE chairman of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) will come from the Southsouth, it emerged yesterday.

The party, which was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31, last year, will hold its maiden convention tomorrow in Abuja.

APC emerged from the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (A CN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a section of the All Pro-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

gressives Grand Alliance (APGA). It has been led by an interim national executive under the leadership of Chief Bisi Akande.

A meeting of the party’s leaders in Abuja approved the zoning recommended by the Convention committee, led by Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

The 37 leaders at the caucus meeting are: Prince Abubakar Audu, Borno State Deputy Governor Zannah Mus-

of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir.

Kwankwaso said All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders did not dictate to him who to appoint, adding that Sanusi’s choice was final.

’

Kwankwaso said contrary to the Presidency’s posture, Sanusi’s choice was popular.

“I want to say that I think they are playing a lot of games.

We don’t know their intention; we don’t know what they are

going to do next,” the governor said, adding: “But I have to say, like all other people in this country, everybody is concerned about the insecurity. On the other hand, our lives are in the hands of Almighty God. But the bottom line is we have seen a signal or a sign Continued on page 4 •Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left), German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Geah Mueller and Special Adviser to the Governor on MDG, Mrs Hafsat AbiolaCostello during a visit to the newly built Totoro Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State...yesterday.

Continued on page 4

•FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS FOUND DEAD IN AKURE P8 •DIEZANI’S OPEC AMBITION TO WAIT P4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

2

NEWS

Sanusi a •From left: Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) Lady Onyeka Onwenu, (middle),Vice President, Africa Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr Hiroshi Kato and Chief Representative, JICA Nigeria Office, Mr Tetsuo Seki when Kato visited NCWD.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has pitched himself straight into the front line of the battle against the Islamist insurgents, notorious for holding more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls, by being newly anointed Emir of Kano, writes The Telegraph of UK

N

• From left: Regional Commercial Director (Central Region), Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited Mr. Tunji Akinseesin, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ms Osayuware Idahosa, Edo State Coordinator, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Mr. David West and Edo State Coordinator, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Mr. Okpor Lucky at the launch of the Ultra Bottle by NBC in Benin City... yesterday.

•From left: Publisher and CEO of EMEA Finance Christopher Moore, Director and Head Project and Structured Finance, FBN Capital Limited Patrick Mgbenwelu, Deputy Managing Director and Head Investment Banking at FBN Capital Limited Taiwo Okeowo and Editor, EMEA Finance MagazineTim Burke at the EMEA Finance Awards 2014 in London .

•Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Michael Ikpoki (left) greeting the Chief Client Officer, Mansard Insurance Plc Tosin Runsewe at the signing ceremony of MTN/Mansard collaboration on MTN Y'ello Life at MTN Offices in Ikoyi, Lagos...With them is Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria Babatunde Osho.

IGERIA’S former central bank governor, who lost his job for speaking out against the country’s endemic corruption, has rid himself of his flamboyant pinstripes and bow tie to take up the reins of an even tougher challenge – that of turning the tide against Boko Haram.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has pitched himself straight into the front line of the battle against the Islamist insurgents, notorious for holding more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls, by being newly anointed Emir of Kano, spiritual head of the largest sect of Muslims in the insurgent wracked north of Nigeria.

Mr Sanusi, who cut a swathe through the conference rooms of high finance, used his first appearance in the Emir’s high domed turban and long robes to join the international appeal for the girls safety.

Standing surrounded by the Islamic elders and princes who had backed his succession to the title held by his uncle Ado Bayero since 1963, Mr Sanusi held up a placard pleading for the girls freedom. The handwritten sheet of paper said: “#Bring back our girls.”

Michele Obama, the US first lady, Prime Minister David Cameron, a host of celebrities and millions of social media users around the world have posted the same slogan as part of a campaign to secure the release of the girls from Boko Haram’s clutches.

The girls, thought to number up around 220 in all, were abducted from a boarding school in the remote town of Chibok in north-east Nigeria on April 14.

Nigeria’s government has so far failed to find the girls, some of whom may have already been married off to Boko Haram’s followers and others are thought to have be spirited across the border to Cameroon.

An al-Qaeda ally, Boko Haram has waged a violent war across northern Nigerian to shut down secular schools and impose its strict Islamic regime.

The former Emir had been an outspoken opponent of the sect but its influence grew as his advancing age and illness took hold.

Second only in stature among Nigeria’s Muslim rulers to the Sultan of Sokoto, the new emir has the chance to reinvigorate the effort to reverse Boko Haram’s advances.

William Squire, a former diplomat who began a distinguished Foreign Office career as a district officer in

Sanusi

northern Nigeria, said enlisting traditional religious leaders was an effective strategy for political leaders seeking to undermine Boko Haram.

“Politicians have neglected the old traditional rulers of northern Nigeria, who remain an important element in society. Speaking to his office, the emir of Kano has influence rather than power. With his feet in two worlds given his recent experience at the bank of Nigeria, Sanusi is well placed to be an asset for good in the north,” said Mr Squire.

However the ex-governor’s poor relationship with Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan has overshadowed his election.

Mr Jonathan suspended Mr Sanusi as Nigeria’s central bank governor in February, just months after the dapper figure had been put on the cover of Forbes magazine as Africa’s greatest central banker. The president accused him of “various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct”.

Mr Sanusi was sacked after declaring there had been a £20 billion deficit in receipts from the state oil company to the Nigerian state. The governor said the money had been siphoned off in political corruption under Mr Jonathan’s leadership.

Reports in the Nigerian press yesterday said that Mr Jonathan had retaliated against backers of the emir by preventing their private jet from taking off from Kano International Airport on Sunday night.

The president’s political party was also blamed for a riot in which hundreds of youths ransacked streets around the royal palace following news of the succession.

Fears that friction between the president and the new emir triggered warnings that the security of Kano could be even more fragile following the succession.

“Boko Haram targets Kano precisely because they know it’s the commercial nerve centre of the north,” said Kennedy Emetulu, a Londonbased political commentator.

“Crippling Kano is crippling the north.”

Local analysts believe the new leader will seek to adhere to his traditional role.

“The Emir of Kano is seen as the father of all, more or less like a spiritual leader. He’s not particularly political. He’s supposed to be seen as a

THE NATION

3

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

and the war against terror ‘ Boko Haram targets Kano precisely because they know it’s the commercial nerve centre of the north. Crippling Kano is crippling the north

•Women and children driven from their homes by Boko Haram

‘

PHOTO: VOA

Kerry leads U.S. delegation to London summit on Boko Haram

U

NITED States (U.S.) Secretary of State John Kerry is leading a U.S. official delegation to the London Ministerial Summit on Boko Haram.

The U.S. Department of State said in a statement that the delegation would also attend the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict also to hold in London.

The statement said t the delegation to the international summit would attend the summit from June 11 to June 13.

“The delegation to the summit from the United States will be led by Secretary of State father figure to everybody, irrespective of tribe or religion, who lives in Kano,” Aliyu Yusuf, a resident of

John Kerry. The London Ministerial Summit on Boko Haram is a continuation of the May 17 Nigeria Security Summit in Paris. Peace and security in Nigeria is one of our highest foreign policy priorities in Africa.

“And this summit will underscore the need for a comprehensive, regional approach to countering terrorism, while emphasising civilian security and respect for human rights,’’ the statement said.

It said the U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, would be on the

Kano, said.

If one anecdote from a British consultant who worked with the central

delegation.

The statement said Ms. Sewall would speak at a session of the opening plenary of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflicts.

It said the session would focus on the roles of states and political actors in addressing sexual violence in conflicts and post-conflicts.

The statement said the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Bureau for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, would also be on the delegation.

The delegation also included senior officials

bank is anything to go by, Mr Sanusi already knows the limitations that Nigeria’s terrorist threat imposes on

of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Catherine Russell.

Others are Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, Stephen Rapp and Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russ Feingold.

The delegation will also include principals of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and Bureau of International Organisation Affairs.

even if highest ranking citizens. After inviting the consultant on a safari in the north, Mr Sanusi was advised

the trip could not be sanctioned. “Mr governor, your insurance does not stretch that far,” the aide said.

Boko Haram’s terror targets many, spares few During its five-year insurgency, the Islamist group Boko Haram has driven thousands of people from their homes, including these women and children at a refugee camp in northeastern Nigeria, reports VOA

I

JABULA Seltimari can’t figure out how he managed to survive being shot by Boko Haram militants.

Twice. In the head. At point blank range.

His body, he said, bounced as the bullets hit.

“I tried getting up, but I fell. I tried again, but I fell again. So I lay on the ground and that was when people from the neighborhood arrived,” Seltimari told VOA in an interview. “I am lucky that I am still alive.”

Seltimari, a 29-year-old married father of three who makes a living loading and unloading cargo from delivery trucks, doesn’t know why he was targeted.

Regardless, though, his survival in the attack in February was unusual for those who have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram.

During a five-year insurgency, thousands of people have been killed by the extremist Islamist group battling what it says are pernicious Western influences in mainly Muslim northern Nigeria.

Tactics escalate Over the past year, as the group’s tactics have escalated from localised violence to widespread mayhem that threatens stability across West Africa, an estimated 250,000 Nigerians have been driven from their homes in three northeastern states.

This year, Boko Haram’s campaign has turned decidedly more deadly, with more than 2,000 killed so far.

In April, the group grabbed the world’s attention when it abducted more than 200 schoolgirls from a northeastern Nigerian village.

The kidnapping not only highlighted the con-

fused, sometimes incoherent response of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government in confronting the problem, but it also focused attention on the growing problem of terror groups in West Africa—many espousing Islamist ideals or anti-governments goals, some having ties to al-Qaida.

“Boko Haram can still punch above its weight in Nigeria with attacks that have far-reaching ripple effects on political stability,” analyst Jacob Zenn wrote in an article published last month by the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy.

With the United States and other countries offering military assistance and other help to find the schoolgirls, concern is mounting both in Nigeria and around the world about whether Jonathan’s government is up to the challenge.

Last week, gunmen believed to be Boko Haram attacked four villages in the Gwoza area of Borno state, killing hundreds.

Witnesses told VOA that the militants, who came dressed as soldiers, opened fire on residents and burned down homes and businesses during the raids.

Mike Omeri, director general of Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency, defended the overall government response, which included declaring a state of emergency in Borno last year. “[The] government has risen to the challenge of the moment by deploying and seeking help,” Omeri said. “If government was not doing anything at all, it wouldn’t have sought for help internationally, it wouldn’t have mobilised its own international assets towards providing se-

curity and rescuing the girls.”

Villages terrorised Villages and towns around Borno state— which shares borders with Cameroon, Niger and Chad— have been terrorised by the attacks.

That includes Seltimari’s village, Izghe, a mixed ethnic and religious town located south of the state capital Maiduguri, where most residents eke out a meager living by farming and trading goods.

On the night of Feb. 14, Seltimari was sleeping in a room with his wife and three children in a compound that he shares with various brothers, sisters and other relatives.

At around 9 p.m., four men entered the compound and banged on his door. He lay quietly until one of the attackers called out, “Today is your last day. If you don’t open the door, we are going to use a gun to open it.”

The men, Seltimari said, carried “sophisticated” weapons, apparently Kalashnikov rifles, and wore camouflage army uniforms, but had no beards or head coverings. They asked him first for the registration documents to his car.

After replying that he didn’t have the papers, they demanded the keys to his motorcycle, then went outside and set fire to his car.

Demands increase Then they demanded he gather his belongings and extra clothing.

When Seltimari said he didn’t have any, one of the men hit him with the butt of the gun, and again told him they planned to kill him, ordering him outside into the compound’s courtyard, along with his wife and children.

By this time, he realized that the gunmen had killed other relatives: his half-brother, his halfbrother’s wife and his half-brother’s mother. He never learned why.

After a short disagreement about whether to let Seltimari go, the attackers ordered him to strip naked and lay down on the dirt ground on his back and beg them not to shoot him.

Then, he said, “I was ordered not to look up, I should have my face looking on the ground. So I put my head on the ground, and that was when they shot me twice.”

He lost consciousness.

The men left soon after, taking Seltimari’s motorcycle. His relatives rushed him to a local hospital. He was transferred to the state capital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

In all, four people were killed in the attack, including another neighbor.

Seltimari, who earns a living collecting fares for goods and loading them onto cargo and delivery trucks, said he had no idea why he was targeted; he is Christian and the neighbor who was killed is Muslim.

Seltimari now lives in a refugee camp in Bole, a village in neighboring Adamawa State.

About 120 other people—mainly women and children—also live in the camp, a makeshift operation that gets some funding from the state emergency management agency.

“The right side of my body is paralysed, I can’t feel it. I thank God. We don’t have anything, but we can find something to eat. What we need right now is medicine, so that we can feel better,” he said.

4

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

NEWS APC zones chair, deputy secretary to Southsouth Continued from page 1

•Senator Oluremi Tinubu (right) speaking during the 11th Town Hall Meeting of the Lagos Central Senatorial District at Eko Club, Surulere…yesterday. With her are ; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Dr Oluranti Adebule and beneficiaries of the Empowerment Scheme (from left) Idowu Ogunsanya; Bola Adams; Alao Mudashiru and Jonah Gbolahan.

Protest over CJ crisis in Rivers Continued from page 1

sembly.

The passage of the bill into law was done through voice vote by 17 members of the House at the plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanee.

With Amaechi’s assent to the amendment law, the Chief Registrar of the Rivers High Court can now assign cases to judges and carry out other administrative duties, in the absence of an Acting or Substantive Chief Judge.

The police sealed off the Rivers High Court Complex on Station Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Thousands of Amaechi’s supporters protested the ugly development.

As early as 6 am, Amaechi’s supporters launched a massive street protest over what they described as the “double standard and impunity” of the NJC, with members of the National and Rivers Assemblies, government officials and oth-

House passes Judiciary Bill

M

EMBERS of the Rivers House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, which is chaired by the representative of Etche Constituency 2, Mr. Golden Chioma, yesterday held a public hearing in Port Harcourt on the state High Court Amendment Law 2014.

The Bill was for a law to amend the Rivers High Court Law of 2001 and other connected matters, especially Section 40, which would be amended by adding a new SubSection 2.

The Section 40 (2), according to Chioma, is to read: “Where the Office of the Chief Judge is vacant and it is impracticable to appoint an Acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar shall assign cases to any judge and perform other administrative duties, until an Acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge is appointed.”

Six memoranda were received. They include one from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers chapter, without any representative at the public hear-

Continued on page 59

er eminent personalities involved.

The protesters were angered that Justice Okocha broke into the court complex on Tuesday, in spite of the ongoing indefinite strike by members of the

Judiciary Staff Union on Nigeria (JUSUN), Rivers chapter, on the crisis in the state’s judiciary. Besides, the NJC-imposed “Administrative Chief Judge” (Justice Okocha) held a meeting with some Rivers

tapha, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako and Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko Al Makura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and AbdulAziz Yari (Zamfara).

Also there were Interim Chairman Akande, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Segun Osoba, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, Chief Timipre Sylva, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Senator George Akume, Senator Kanti Bello, Umar Farouq, Sen.Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Sen. Danjuma Goje, Hon Kawu Sumaila, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif, Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, Hon. Bayero Nafada, Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isah, Sen. Bukola Saraki, Sen. Ahmad Sani Yarima, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Buba Galadima and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The Southsouth zone, according to the party’s National Convention Committee will also produce the Deputy National Secretary and the Dep-

uty National Legal Adviser.

A former Edo State Governor, John OdigieOyegun, is the front runner for chairman.

Odigie-Oyegun has promised to take the party to the highest height and to lead it to victory in next year’s general elections.

Odigie-Oyegun said he “remains a true progressive who had never left the fold to team up with the conservatives.”

He was apparently referring to his main opponent Chief Tom Ikimi, also from Edo State.

Ikimi was chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC), the conservative arm of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s two decreed - a little to the right and a little to the left parties – the other being the Social Democratic Party (SDP), on whose platform OdigieOyegun served Edo as governor.

Also expected to contest is a former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva.

The Southwest will produce the Deputy National Chairman, National Legal Adviser Continued on page 59

Alison-Madueke’s OPEC ambition to wait

T •Amaechi

judges.

Fully-armed and stern-looking policemen, however, prevented the protesters from moving close to the main gate of the high court complex, which was barricaded with two Toyota Hilux vans.

The leader of the police team, Clement Okonkwo, politely Continued on page 59

HE ambition of Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to become the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will have to wait.

The 12-member body has extended the tenure of its sitting secretary general till June next year. The election was earlier slated for December.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded the name of the minister for the position. But it will no longer be contested this year.

At the end of a meeting of the Vienna, Austria-based organisation yesterday, its communique confirmed the decision to extend long-serving Secretary General Abdullah al-

Badri’s term till June 30, 2015.

Its next meeting is slated for November 27.

The proposal was intended to solve the deadlock over the post created by opposing candidates from Saudi Arabia and Iran, Iraq’s Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi, said OPEC also agreed to renew its oil production ceiling of 30 million barrels a day for the second half of this year in a widely anticipated decision.

It is satisfied with 110 dollars Brent crude oil price a barrel, above its preferred price of 100 dollars a barrel, ministers said.

Two member countries, Libya and Iran, are producing well below capacity because of civil conflict and sanctions helping to support prices.

My life under threat over Sanusi, says Kwankwaso Continued from page 1

that there is a level of mischief coming from other places. And I want to put it on record that whatever happens to me, my family and my state, Jonathan should be held responsible.

“We have enough crises in this country and when Kano boils it would be a big problem for this country. He should thank us for working with the security agencies to ensure peace.

“But now we are seeing an attempt by them to induce crises because of Sanusi, our choice and because we have done our duty as stipulated in the law. And as I told the six contenders, I wish I had more than one slot to give but in this case, there is only one slot that had to be filled and that is it. It is not the duty of the PDP or the Presidency to approve such appointment and if there is the post of the Emir of Nigeria, let them appoint that one and leave us alone.”

The governor gave an insight into how Sanusi was appointed the Emir.

He said: You know the issue of the installation of an Emir

in Kano has not happened since the appointment of the first governor of the state, Audu Bako, who was appointed in 1967. You can see that this appointment is entirely new to most of us. In fact, among the four kingmakers, who nominated Sanusi Lamido as an emir, only one participated in the selection of the late Emir, Ado Bayero. So, when I came back to Kano on Saturday since I did not want to give room for speculations and mischiefmaking, I decided to invite the four kingmakers and sat down with them and asked them to brief me, especially the only one who participated in the selection of the late emir. They briefed me and I asked them to go back and consult and they came back the following day on a Sunday and told me their position.

“Of course, when I asked them to go back and consult, mischief-makers started their mischief. Before they came on Sunday we started seeing on television and hearing on radio and television that the Peoples Democratic Party people as a ruling party of the Federal Government decided to ap-

point a new emir.

“And that was what started the whole confusion and when my attention was drawn to it I quickly asked the commissioner for Information to ask the radio and television stations to stop the broadcast of the false and misleading announcement. We sat down with the kingmakers and from the list that we received from them, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was the best and number one on the list and from the recommendations, the governor had every reason to choose from among the list of candidates recommended.

“In fact, in some cases, the governor has the right to reject from the list and make his own but in this case the kingmakers made the selection and the governor only affirmed what they did in accordance with tradition of the kingdom.

“So we made our own announcement and you can see that the stage was already being set by the mischief makers under the direction of the Federal Government and at the end of the day confusion started. And the hawks that the Federal Government used in

Kano started meeting in Kano from that Sunday and they began to demonstrate, burning tyres, destroying the good work that we have done, ranging from billboards to traffic light, trees and flowers. In fact, the bridge we built was attacked. They removed so many things from the flyover we constructed.

“I believe that what they did is wrong. But the fact of the matter, in my own opinion, is that the President does not know where the powers of Mr. President start and where they end. There are certain things that are within the purview of the President. Some things are under the local government, others within the state and others for the Federal Government. The mistake they made here was that they decided rather too early to dislike or kick us out of anything the Federal Government is doing, not considering that we are important in our own way. In politics, everyone is important, including the one in my village.

“Even a villager is important where every vote counts because you can lose election by

one vote and you can also win by one vote against your opponent.

“We have been advising the President to bring all the governors together but you will remember what the President did when Governor Amaechi won the election and the President decided to recognise the minority and refused to talk to us and said that we are not important. We have evidence to prove that money was given to non-APC governors to show that they are more important.”

Kwankwaso said the President had acted in bad faith since Sanusi was announced as the Emir.

He said: “In this case, I was expecting Jonathan to call me or to advise me whether he was comfortable or not comfortable with any of the six candidates, who had shown interest in the stool. That the President did not do, but engaged hawks, rotten eggs that we have in Kano; those who are being rejected by our people over the years and decided to go and cause the confusion.

“The selection of an emir has nothing to do with the Presi-

dency or the Federal Government of Nigeria; it is purely a state government affair. We heard so many stories, including the fact that they should go and withdraw my security and still instigate some young men to go and burn the Government House and they tried that and we mobilised our people to protect us.

“The initial instruction they gave was that all my security men should be withdrawn but later on they reduced it to half.

We thank the Almighty God that we are still alive and we thank the Almighty God that there is minimum destruction of property and many people were injured and it was purely done by those who announced the first decision of the Federal Government concerning the selection of a new emir.

“But the truth is that the more I think of the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the more I feel comfortable Continued on page 59

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

5

NEWS

Jonathan, ministers pay tributes to Akunyili at FEC

•Obi promises grand burial

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan led members of his cabinet at yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pay tributes to former Minister of Information Prof Dora Akunyili.

FEC members recalled the life and times of the Amazon, who got into national and global reckoning when she became the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and fought tooth and nail to rid the nation of fake drugs.

They noted that the late Mrs Akunyili gave her best to service the nation, from her times at the defund Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) to NAFDAC and the Ministry of Information and Communication.

Prof Akunyili died in Indian Specialist Cancer Hospital on June 7. She was 59.

•Obi with reverend sisters watching the ambulance conveying Akunyili’s body into the mortuary of the National Hospital, The late minister, the FEC Abuja...yesterday members said, served the country till the end of her life, as she was a delegate at the National Conference till she HE Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja took ill and was flown to InDemocratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has expressed dia for treatment. grief over the death of former Director-General of the Na- Dora Akunyili, in an Indian hospital. Her death came to me as a President Goodluck tional Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control surprise because the feedback I received a few days after she was Jonathan said the late Mrs (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili. flown out of Nigeria was that of optimism, predicated on an Akunyili was a “virtuous Anenih said the former Information Minister died serving observed marked improvement in her health condition. woman”, by Holy Bible’s stan- her country and mankind, adding that she was a rare gem.

“My hope that Dora would make it was also based on the love dard.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Anenih condoled with the shown by Mr. President and other well-meaning Dora’s friends, He said: “I first met her Akunyili family, the people of Anambra State and the Federal whose timely intervention and response saw to her prompt when I was deputy governor Government on the tragic loss. evacuation to India for treatment at a very critical time in her in Bayelsa. She was a very upThe politician described the late Akunyili as “...an Amazon, a battle for life. right and courageous woman; unique political breed, an incorruptible character and a woman “I had the privilege, with other family members, of escorting a role model per excellence. of immense integrity who died serving her nation and man- her to the airport and spoke to her and her husband twice on She made her mark clearly. I kind”. telephone since her arrival in India during which she gave me believe so many young ladies The statement added: “I received with shock and disbelief the reasons to be hopeful of her quick recovery and her return to would emulate her. news of the tragic and untimely death of our dear daughter, Prof Nigeria to continue her services to the nation...”

“Her impact was much more at NAFDAC than as her time.” geous enough to speak up at Akunyili’s tenure at NAFDAC. From Augustine Ehikioya, According to him, the late Minister of Information. But Abuja The Minister of Mines and trying moments of Nigeria’s minister was one of the most she came up with rebranding Steel Mohammed Sada said: history.

Nigeria. Her passion was her life, she continued to per- “Her demise is a great loss.

Nebo said: “A religious and iconic figures in the 100 years sist. She was a patriotic and She was a patriot from whom prayerful woman, the cold of Nigeria’s history. unique.

Within her leadership role “This is how God wants it: dedicated Nigerian. NAFDAC one always wanted to learn. hands of death has taken away God saved her life from the is a sanitised institution be- Even at the expense of her life, a woman who was very hope- in NAFDAC, the Head of Civil deadly bullets of evil men. He cause of her.” she didn’t look back at what ful in all situations. She was Service of the Federation Aji The Minister of Finance, Dr she believed in. She lived for very conversational. As a Bukar Goni said, NAFDAC could still have saved her life from cancer, if He had so Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said: “It Nigerians. She was an ex- country, we have lost a gem. became number one among is a sad time for us as we re- tremely intelligent person.” willed.”

We pray God to give us such a top 10 agencies in Nigeria Vice President Namadi member her. She was a woman Minister of Power, Prof woman of honour and re- with world-class service.

Interior Minister Abba Sambo said Mrs Akunyili’s of strength and conviction who Chinebu Nebo, who recalled spect.” death was a great loss to the fought hard to ensure drug that the late Akunyili became Health Minister Prof. Moro said: “Her death is a dark counterfeiting becomes a thing a professor during his time as Onyebuchi Chukwu noted moment in the life of this country.

He said: “Dora has left an of the past. NAFDAC was con- the Vice Chancellor of the that drug counterfeiting in the country. She demonstrated indelible mark in this coun- sistently voted as the best University of Nigeria Nsukka country reduced from 60 per competence and patriotism. try. Despite many attempts on agency of government during (UNN), said she was coura- cent to 16 per cent during She represented hope for an

T

Ex-minister died serving mankind, says Anenih

NDDC has 4,000 uncompleted projects

T

HE board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appeared yesterday before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs to defend its N322.6 billion 2014 budget.

The board’s chairman, Senator Ewa Henshaw, regretted that the commission had over 4,000 uncompleted projects because of paucity of funds.

He blamed the problem on a faulty budget process.

The agency chief said NDDC was considering partnerships with reputable firms to enable it deliver on its mandate this year.

He said the low pace of project completion compelled the board and management to seek partnerships with some reputable firms for infrastructure development, health care delivery and power generation, among others.

Henshaw also said the partnerships with the private firms to co-fund the uncompleted projects would leverage on

•Agency defends N322.6b budget at Senate From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

the funds available to the commission and ensure their completion on schedule.

The board chairman stressed that the initiative would solve 80 per cent of the challenges militating against the programmes of the commission.

He said the NDDC would seek a review of the 15 per cent mobilisation fees for contractors, adding that the practice caused the series of abandoned projects in the area.

Henshaw said: “We have decided to lay an agenda for NDDC to enable us implement flagship legacy projects within the sub-region. What this means is that we will tackle very important jobs and developmental projects in the areas of roads, power, health sector and the environment.

“We recognise the difficulty we confront with funding, but we have been careful in trying

to identify the sources of funding that will finance this year’s budget.

“In addition to that, we have decided to focus more on partnerships that will help us augment funding for the development of the sub-region.

For example, on roads, we are looking at construction companies that will co-fund major projects with us so that we can leverage on what we have in the areas of available funds and the programme to ensure that the projects are completed on time.

“We are also exploring partnerships that will facilitate power generation, because we believe that if we are able to achieve substantial increase in the provision of power, then we believe that at least 50 per cent of the unemployment problem within the region will be solved.

“We are also looking for partnerships for intervention in the Health sector that will directly affect the health care

delivery system and the efficiency within that system.”

The chairman told the Senate that the NDDC was battling to surmount its major challenges.

He said: “The first and perhaps most important is the provision of 15 per cent in the budget. What I mean is that if you have a project, say a N2 billion project that can be completed within 12 or 24 months, the current practice is that only 15 per cent, which is what is required for the advance payment, is provided for in the budget.

“Usually, what happens is that the contractor will quickly go beyond 15 per cent value of work done within 12 months but there is no further provision in the budget to continue to pay for the work that he is doing.

“The result is the delay and even abandonment, because after the 15 per cent, the contractor now has to wait for next year’s budget.”

average Nigerian.”

Moving the motion on the late Mrs Akunyili yesterday, Information Minister Labaran Maku said: “I move a motion for special and deep condolences to Mr President. So, we condole with you, Mr. President, and the women of Nigeria, for the loss.”

“Also, to Nigerian fashion industry for promoting a national dress code, and to Nigerians for the loss of a mother in public service; to the Igbo nation and to her family.”

Maku added: “An outstanding public servant, she put her life on the line. She took the world to Anambra to battle producers and importers of fake drugs because she wanted the best for her nation. “...She was a warm and friendly person; exceedingly beautiful woman, disciplined.

“She served Nigeria till death. Nigeria has lost one of the African brilliant women.”

A minute silence was observed in her honour at the end of the special session.

Also, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has assured that the late Prof.

Akunyili will be given a burial that will befit her status as a Nigerian icon.

Obi spoke yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja before he received the remains of the former minister.

The late Akunyili was flown to the nation’s capital in a private aircraft from India. It was accompanied by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, and her younger brother, Dr. Anayo Edemobi.

The remains were conveyed at 5.30pm to the mortuary at the National Hospital in Abuja in an ambulance marked: Nigerian-Turkish Nizamiye Hospital.

Obi said the funeral plans would begin since the minister’s body had returned home.

At the airport with Obi to receive Akunyili’s body were: Rev. Williams Okoye, former Aso Rock chaplain; Mr. Chidi Agbapu; Ejike Imoka; House of Representatives member, Uche Ekwunife; Chumash Nzeribe; Chinwendu Iloh, several admirers and wellwishers.

Police can’t stop Chibok girls’ rallies, court declares

•Police restrained from arresting Melaye •NOA decries plan to attack agency

A

HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja, has held that the police lack the powers to prevent or stop rallies or possessions held on the abducted over 200 schoolgirls of the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.

Justice Abubakar Talba declared yesterday that the Public Order Act, Cap. 382, Laws of Nigeria, 1990, which the police purportedly relied on, “does authorise men of the NPF to disrupt rallies or processions on the abducted Chibok girls”.

The judgment was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former House of Representatives member, Dino Melaye.

The activist challenged the disruption, on May 9, of the rally he led in Abuja on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram on April 14.

The judge described as unconstitutional the arrest of and assault on Melaye by police-

From Eric Ikhilae and Bukola Amusan, Abuja

men during the May 9 rally in Abuja.

The suit, which has the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the FCT Police Commissioner as defendants, was not defended by the respondents.

“The arrest of the applicant and the threat to further arrest in respect of rallies or processions is unlawful.

“The disruption of peaceful rallies and processions by agents of the first and second respondents is illegal and unconstitutional,” the judge held.

Justice Talba awarded N150,000 in damages and cost against the respondents.

Also, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has said the agency has received repeated threats of attacks against its personnel.

The NOA, which serves as the National Information Centre, is the venue for briefing reporters on the update on the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

NEWS Niger women pray for girls' release, nation's peace From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

O

VER 300 Niger State women will today round off a three-day inter-faith fasting and prayers for divine intervention to the country's security challenges in the Northeast.

The prayers were organised by the Special Adviser on Women Mobilisation to the Niger State Governor, Hajia Fati Abubakar.

At the opening of the prayers, Governor Babangida Aliyu noted that the country needed divine intervention to end the killing of innocent people, kidnapping and bombings.

Represented by the Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Shehu Haruna, the governor said continuous prayers would lead to restore peace in the country.

He urged Christians and Muslims not to stop their supplication for peace to return to the land.

Babangida prayed for the speedy release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Hajia Abubakar, a former member of the House of Assembly, said the prayers became necessary because of the insecurity pervading the country, especially in the Northeast.

She said the nation was passing through extraordinary times that needed extraordinary measures.

Hajia Abubakar said: "As mothers, we feel concerned about the occurrences in the nation. Everyday, we hear news about killings and bombings.

Now, we are saying we do not support these. We are at pains and we condemn all these evil happenings. We feel that we need to speak out about these things. We are passing through extraordinary times and these require extraordinary measures.

We had to come together for prayers for divine intervention.

"With God, prayers can move mountains and cause the impossible to become possible. We need special prayers as the nation approaches 2015. We also need prayers so that those girls kidnapped in Chibok would be released."

Hajia Abubakar said women in Niger State declared a threeday special fasting and prayers for the peace of the country.

She urged the men to support the women's cause by also fasting.

Group decries clampdown on media

A

GROUP, Media Ethics, has decried the seizure of several thousands of newspapers’ copies and the harassment of vendors by the military.

A statement yesterday by Head of the organisation, Mr Dele Banjoko said: “The continued seizure of newspapers and harassment of vendors by the military, despite public outcry, is unfortunate.

“The Media Ethics Organisation considers the indifference of the government to the assault on the press as a sign of worse things to come. As a democrat and Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan should call the military to order.

“The Media Ethics Organisation cautions that nothing should be done to restrict the free flow of information and prevent media organisations from carrying out their constitutional duties.”

Delegates vote to phase out pilgrims’ welfare boards

N

ATIONAL Conference delegates yesterday adopted a proposal for the gradual phaseout of pilgrims’ welfare boards.

Deputy Chairman Prof Bolaji Akinyemi said over 350 delegates endorsed the proposal, following wide consultations.

The conference also adopted a recommendation for the establishment of a Religious Equity Commission (RECOM) with branches in every state.

Delegates could not reach a consensus on the issues last week when the report of the Conference Committee on Religion was considered and adopted.

The issues divided delegates along religious lines: most Christians supported scrapping of the boards; majority of Moslems opposed the proposal.

The division forced the conference leadership to suspend decision on the matter pending further consultations.

Co-Chairman of the Com-

•Back Religious Equity Commission From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

mittee on Religion, Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu, took time yesterday to explain why delegates should support the committee’s proposal.

Delegates agreed that in place of the pilgrims’ welfare boards, the Federal Government should provide normal consular services for pilgrims through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian foreign missions in the relevant destinations.

The conference, last week, adopted the recommendation that the apex religious organizations in Nigeria be allowed to handle all matters relating to pilgrimage through Pilgrims Commissions duly managed by them under a law to be passed by the National Assembly which will regulate their functions and protect pilgrims.

Delegates also accepted that

in consonance with Section 10 of the Constitution 1999, government at all levels should not use public funds to sponsor any religious pilgrimage for any category of citizens and government.

The recommendation that government should discontinue the sponsorship of official government delegations on any pilgrimage, in consonance with Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, was also adopted.

On the establishment of RECOM with branches in every state, the committee proposed and it was accepted that the mandate of the body would include advocacy, enforcement of constitutional religious rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes and others within the limits of the Constitution.

Lemu explained that the recommendation of his committee was that the government

should no longer sponsor pilgrims, adding that there should be an organisation to handle the welfare of pilgrims.

The delegate said the committee reasoned that there should be government structure to handle the large number of pilgrims, particularly Muslim pilgrims.

He added: “We acknowledge the emergence of one of the most progressive Emirs in the country; we recognise that we have a very knowledgeable and exposed Secretary-General for the Nigerian Supreme Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

“We feel that this is the right time to begin the transition where government should no longer sponsor pilgrims. But we strongly believe that there should be a government body to handle the large number of pilgrims, particularly Muslim pilgrims.”

Lemu said the proposal for the creation of RECOM

should not be seen as the establishment of more government agencies, especially when the committee also recommended a stop to government sponsorship of pilgrims.

The delegate pleaded with his colleagues to adopt the proposals, adding that the recommendations might not be immune to abuse “but we strongly believe that this is the best way to go”.

Akinyemi noted that to be assured that delegates agreed with the proposals, the Conference Secretariat asked for evidence.

“I am happy to announce that over 350 delegates endorsed the recommendations,” Akinyemi said.

Before the recommendations were adopted, Hajiya Bilikisu Bello Aliyu, from Zamfara State, moved for the adoption of the proposals; Chief Mike Ahamba, from Imo State, seconded.

The proposals were overwhelmingly adopted by delegates through a voice vote.

N1.8bn suit: MTN opposes ex-worker’s amended claims

By Joseph Jibueze

T

•From left: Dr. Babatope Oluseun Ajakaiye, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello and Ambassador Danjuma Nanpon, taking their oaths of office during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Permanent Secretaries at the State House, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

A

Alleged $620,000 bribe: Farouk Lawan, Emenalo re-arraigned

FORMER Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime and its ex-Secretary, Farouk Lawan, and Boniface Emenalo, were re-arraigned yesterday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja.

They are facing a sevencount charge for allegedly receiving $620,000 bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr Femi Otedola.

The two allegedly took the bribe to exclude the names of Otedola’s companies - Zenon Petroleum and Gas as well as Synopsis Enterprises Limited - from the list of companies said to have defrauded the Federal Government of bil-

•To remain on old bail

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

lions of naira.

The accused were earlier arraigned on the same charge before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi (formerly of the FCT High Court, Maitama) before his elevation to the Court of Appeal some months ago.

Justice Oniyangi’s elevation led to the transfer of the case to a new judge - Justice Adebukola Banjoko - before whom the accused took their fresh pleas yesterday.

When the case was called, lead prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN),

told the court that the accused were to plead to the charge afresh.

When the judge asked if there was any application pending at the Court of Appeal on the matter, Awomolo answered in the negative. The lead defence lawyer, O. Jolaawo, confirmed same.

After listening to the charge, Lawan and Emenalo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Jolaawo later applied to the court to enable the accused continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them by the former trial judge. Awomolo did not object to the applica-

tion.

Justice Banjoko, however, insisted on sighting the three men, who stood surety for the accused, before the earlier bail was granted, to know if they were willing to remain the sureties.

The case was stood down on that note to allow the sureties, who were not in court, to physically appear in court.

About an hour later, the proceedings resumed, following the arrival of the three sureties in court. Justice Banjoko asked them if they were willing to remain sureties for the accused, and they affirmed.

The judge ordered Lawan and Emenalo to remain on the earlier bail granted by Justice Oniyangi and adjourned till July 7 for further hearing.

Delegate kicks as secretary presides over conference

A

DELEGATE to the National Conference, Hajia Amuna Lawan Ali, yesterday opposed the takeover of the proceedings by the Secretary, Mrs. Valerie Azinge.

The drama began at about 1pm when the Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, who presided over the consideration and adoption of the amendments and recommendations of the Report of the Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources, took a short break and stepped out of the hall.

Before Akinyemi took his leave, he and the Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, as well as the Secretary were seen discussing in hushed tones at the high table.

As Akinyemi stepped out and, in the pres-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

ence of the Chairman, Mrs Azinge took over proceedings from where the Deputy Chairman left off: reading out the amendments to the delegates for adoption or rejection.

On returning to the table after about an hour, the Secretary continued presiding.

About five minutes later, she informed the floor that the Deputy Chairman would take over.

The announcement was greeted with shouts of "No!" from the floor. This forced the Deputy Chairman to ask if the delegates preferred the Secretary to continue.

There was an affirmative responsive from the floor.

But before the lunch break, Hajia Ali raised a Point of Order, challenging the legality of the Secretary's handling of the proceedings.

She cited Order 6, Rule 7, which stipules that the Deputy Chairman, in the absence of the Chairman, would direct the affairs of the Conference with all the powers of the Chairman.

The delegate said the rule book had no room for a Secretary to preside over plenary.

She said: "I do recognise the fact that when the Deputy Chairman came in, he did ask whether or not the soft and soothing voice of the lady was preferred, and there was a unanimous 'Yes' but that was outside our rules of proceedings. “

HE National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Lagos yesterday directed MTN Nigeria Communications Limited to file within six days an amended statement of defence for opposing a suit by its former worker, Mr Paul Odunewu, an engineer.

The plaintiff is claiming N1.8 billion damages for alleged wrongful termination of his contract by the communication company.

MTN Group Limited, South Africa; MTN Nigeria and MTN International, Mauritius, are other defendants in the suit.

MTN’s lawyer, Mrs Ayo Obe, yesterday said she was served with the plaintiff’s amended statement of claim, which she intended to oppose.

“Having seen the amendment, we intend to file our amended statement of defence in opposition,” Mrs Obe said.

The lawyer, a former Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) President, did not allow the plaintiff’s witness, who was in court, to give evidence.

She said the claimant’s lawyer, Mr Kemi Balogun, also served her some documents on Tuesday, which included a notice to produce e-mail exchanges between MTN and Odunewu in which issues on the plaintiff’s “shares” in the company were discussed.

Mrs Obe said: “We need time to search the servers and ask the IT people and ascertain whether the e-mails exist. I apply that the matter be adjourned so that pleadings can be regularised.”

But Balogun said there was no new exhibit the claimant was seeking to tender.

According to him, the amendment to the statement of claim was merely to simplify it.

Balogun said: “What we did is to make the case so simple for my Lord, because the suit is very technical.

“We broke down every detail and terminologies so that my Lord will have no problem understanding them.” Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi directed Mrs Obe to file her response within six days from when she was served, while the claimant’s counsel is to file his reply on points of law afterwards.

The judge adjourned till June 24 for hearing.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12 2014

7

NEWS TASUED students go on rampage

S

OME students of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun in Ogun State went wild yesterday, destroying a school bus and the official vehicle of the Dean of Students Affairs.

The students, who were protesting the decision to prevent those who had not paid tuition fees from writing the ongoing 2013/2014 examinations, vandalised properties of the College of Humanities and part of the Vice-Chancellors office.

Security operatives, including soldiers attached to the OP Mesa, who were drafted to restore order on the campus, were pelted with stones.

The protesters disrupted the examinations, which started on Tuesday, as other students were forced to run to safety.

The management suspended

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the examinations indefinitely.

The protesters, under the aegis of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), went to Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s Office at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, urging him to intervene.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, who stood in for the governor, urged them to conduct themselves peacefully.

TASUED Dean of Students Affairs Dr. Abosede Ewumi told reporters over the phone that the management would look into the protesters’ complaints.

It was gathered that over 40 of the protesters were arrested for vandalising TASUED’s properties.

‘Sanusi’ll develop Kano’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•From right: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola with the Country Representative, United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), Ms. Jean Gough; and his deputy, Mrs, Titi Laoye-Tomori, at the governor’s office in Osogbo...yesterday.

Abiola laid foundation for Nigeria’s democracy, says Ajimobi

T

HE June 12, 1993, presidential election laid the foundation for Nigeria’s democracy, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said yesterday.

He expressed regret that 21 years after the election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria, the ideals the winner of the election, the late Chief MKO Abiola, stood for were yet to be realised.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said June 12, 1993, remains permanently etched in the minds of Nigerians, describing it as “a permanent scar on Nigeria’s politics”.

Tinubu said: “It is our fountain of inspiration to fight on.”

Describing the late politician as a symbol of democracy, Ajimobi praised his “strong conviction” that the ordinary Nigerian must be freed from oppression and poverty.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor said: “It was this conviction that the masses should be freed from their oppressors and that the destiny of the whole nation should not be held to ransom by a cabal that propelled him to stand by his mandate and defend it.

•Tinubu: June 12 is our inspiration to fight on •Immortalise MKO, Ekiti Deputy Speaker urges Fed Govt From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

“The democracy we all enjoy today was made possible by the likes of the late Abiola, the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd.), the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Gen. Alani Akinrinade and others too numerous to mention.

“This is why we must not allow any circumstance to wipe out the memory of June 12, 1993, the day Nigerians put ethnic and religious affiliations aside and took their destinies in their hands by voting for a man of the masses.”

Ajimobi prayed for the repose of Abiola’s soul and that of unknown Nigerians, who died in the struggle to actualise the annulled election.

He said the only thing that could make their sacrifice worth it was to ensure good governance and eradicate poverty.

The governor said the late Abiola’s ideal of good governance propelled his administra-

tion to execute many pro-people projects, adding: “It is the ideal of good governance that is centred on development which Chief Abiola stood for that is the driving force of our administration. We believe that that is the only major way we can keep his memory alive.”

Also yesterday, Ekiti State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Adetunji Taiwo Orisalade urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Abiola by changing Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Taiwo Oluwaleye, Orisalade described the late Abiola as “the true father of Democracy in Nigeria”.

He said the only recognition the Federal Government could grant the deceased’s family and the Yoruba was to clebrate Democracy Day on June 12.

Orisalade said the late MKO paid the greatest sacrifice for the actualisation of Nigeria’s democracy.

For Nigeria’s democracy to grow, he said the political class

must elevate governance through their conduct, adding: “This is the way to immortalise the late philanthropist and not allow his death to be in vain.”

The deputy speaker condemned the “neglect” of the Yoruba by the Federal Government, describing it as “unfair”.

He urged the government to correct this and ensure lasting peace in the country.

Orisalade slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for “insulting” Ekiti people by announcing at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally that he would only develop the state, if Fayose becomes governor.

He said Jonathan cannot dictate to Ekiti people, adding that they would not go cap in hand before him for any development.

Orisalade said the developments in the state in the last three-and-a-half years were done without Jonathan’s help, urging Ekiti people to re-elect Governor Kayode Fayemi, “who has performed beyond expectations”.

Court directs member to put APC on notice over suit

J

USTICE James Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Lagos directed yesterday an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Mr. Bamidele Avoseh, to put the party on notice of his suit against it.

The plaintiff is praying the court to nullify the party’s state congress.

He is seeking an order setting the congress aside on ground that it was allegedly irregular.

Avoseh, through his lawyer, Mr. Aruwayo Omoniyi, is seeking a declaration that the alleged refusal to submit his name as a delegate to the congress was contrary to the Electoral Act. The respondents are the APC, Mr. Joseph Ayodeji, Mr.

By Joseph Jibueze Tayo Sanyaolu, Mr. Tunde Balogun, Lagos APC Chairman, APC National Chairman and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Yesterday, Omoniyi informed the court of his motion exparte and sought to move it.

But Justice Tsoho ordered that the defendants be put on notice.

He said it would be tidier to do so before the motion is moved.

In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff said the APC guidelines required the State Congress Committee to display the names of candidates vying for party positions in wards,

local government and state congresses.

He said the committee was to announce aspirants’ names within 48 hours before the election and forward them to INEC, informing it of the congress venue.

Avoseh said his name and that of four others were listed as state congress aspirants from Apapa Ward C in a harmonised list signed by the second defendant, who is local government chairman.

He said Sanyaolu was listed as an aspirant for the council election in Apapa Ward C. According to Avoseh, on April 25, the list of all wards in Apapa council was published and delegates’ tags were given to aspirants, except him and others whose

names were listed in the harmonised list.

Avoseh said on April 26, the Election Day, he was not allowed into the congress venue, the APC State Secretariat, because he was not accredited.

He alleged that the third defendant was hand-picked as an aspirant for the state congress and elected youth leader.

Avoseh is seeking a declaration that the non-accreditation of aspirants and the exclusion of his name were illegal.

He is seeking a court order setting aside the results of the local government and state congresses.

Justice Tsoho adjourned the case till July 11.

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has expressed happiness on the emergence of former Central Bank Governor (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

He said Sanusi’s reign would bring unprecedented development to the ancient city.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi described Sanusi as “a seasoned technocrat, accomplished administrator and an Islamic scholar, who will bring his wealth of experience from the corporate world and sound Islamic knowledge to bear in the running of the emirate”.

He hailed Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso for acceding to the request of the kingmakers on the choice of Sanusi.

Ajimobi condemned the violence that followed the announcement of Sanusi as the Emir, urging those behind it to sheath their swords. He urged security agencies to prevent a breakdown of law and order in Kano.

The governor described the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, as “an apostle of peace, who left his indelible footprints on the sands of time”.

Ajimobi acknowledged the late Bayero’s contributions to Kano’s growth and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Aregbesola mourns Iwo leader

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the death of a political leader in the state, Alhaji Lateef Katayeyanjue, as “a big loss”.

Katayeyanjue, a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, died on Tuesday at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTHEC) in Osogbo, the state capital.

In a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Okanlawon, the governor said: “The exit of a leading light of progressive politics has robbed the state of a man of immense wisdom and political sagacity. Alhaji Katayeyanjue’s demise is for us a sad occurrence. He was a true religious, political and community leader, and a consistent progressive. He astutely served God and led a life worthy of emulation.”

Ondo lawyers boycott courts From Damisi Ojo, Akure

O

NDO State lawyers protested yesterday a circular issued by the High Court Chief Registrar.

The circular directed magistrates and judges to make the presentation of tax clearance a must for sureties.

The lawyers stormed the High Court premises around 8am, carrying placards reading: “Bail: A constitutional right, not a taxable right”; Mimiko, don’t kill Ondo State Judiciary” and “CJ, Judiciary cannot be used as a fraud institution”, among others.

It was learnt that many suspects facing trial for bailable offences, whose sureties could not afford N75,000 for tax clearance, were denied bail.

Sources said this has led to an increase in the number of awaiting trial inmates at Olokuta Prison in Akure.

The leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch, led by the Chairman, Lawrence Dare, met with the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, requesting reversal of the directive.

Dare said: “It is unconstitutional, null and void for a CJ to impose conditions of bail on his learned brother judges. It is now an avenue for the ruling political party to cause its opponents to be arrested and detained on frivolous charges, majorly during elections. It is unfortunate that Ondo has turned into a Police State.”

Justice Kumuyi said he would not reverse the circular, adding that any judge and magistrate who fails to comply with it would be penalised. A lawyer, Titiloye Charles, condemned the attempt by the state Judiciary to amend and abridge by circular the fundamental human rights of citizens to liberty guaranteed in the onstitution.

The former Akure NBA Secretary said: “We are at a loss that our courts are no longer in pursuit of justice, but revenue generation for the executive arm of government, to the extent of undermining the constitution they swore to protect.”

He urged the CJ to withdraw the circular in the interest of protecting the integrity and independence of courts.

The lawyers said they would boycott courts today.

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

8

NEWS

UNILAG produces Africa’s youngest PhD holder •I want to start another doctorate degree, says awardee

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) awarded yesterday a PhD to Mr. Olaoluwa Oluwadamilola (24), Africa’s youngest PhD holder.

Olwadamilola had the best PhD thesis, titled: “Studies on Fixed Points of Contractive and Expanding Maps in Multi-Dimensional Spaces”. He scored 5.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

Bakre Oluwafemi Abubakar, a graduate of Electrical/Electronics, was the 2012/2013 Convocation Valedictorian, with a superlative CGPA of 4.86.

Oluwadamilola’s parents are missionaries with the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

They gave birth to him while on missionary work in African Central Republic, a French-speaking country, where Oluwadamilola had his basic and tertiary education.

He got a B.SC in Mathematics and M.SC and Physics before returning to Nigeria in October, 2009.

According to Oluwadamilola, he began his PhD in 2010, courtesy of a scholarship from the General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Mission, Pastor Williams Kumuyi. He spent the minimum three years for a PhD scholar in school.

T

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Speaking with reporters at UNILAG Auditorium One, Oluwadamilola said: “I used to come first in my secondary school days, but not always. My performances became better when I entered the university.”

On his challenges during the programme, he said: “As a Christian, my schedule is very tight. I am focused. There were times when I faced distractions from friends who wanted to take me out. There is nothing bad in it, but it can make you concentrate less. There were times when I had job offers and was tempted to take them.

•From left: Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon; Abubakar and UNILAG’s Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Jerry “I was discouraged at the begin- Gana...yesterday.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN ning. One gets a feeling at the beMathematics or Physics.

I will product of good advice.

I chose alumni. ginning of one’s doctorate prothe kind of friends I knew would The week-long convocation gramme that all the research top- think of what topic to choose beinfluence me positively and you wrapped up yesterday with the ics had been considered by previ- fore I eventually go ahead.”

Abubakar, the valedictorian, will always find me in their cominauguration of three projects – ous scholars and so there is nothpany.” the Central Laboratory donated ing else to do, except for the most described himself as someone Executive-Secretary of the Naby an alumnus and the General complicated ones that are most from a privileged home.

Born of banker parents, he said tional Universities Commission Overseer of the Mountain of Fire times beyond one’s ability. “Some(NUC) Prof. Julius Okojie, who & Miracles Ministry, Dr. Daniel times when you send your papers it was not too difficult for him to represented President Goodluck Olukoya; the Biodun Shobanjo to international journals, they re- study Electrical/Electronics, addJonathan, urged the university’s Mass Communication Multimeturn it for one reason or the other. ing: “I will not describe myself management to be more creative dia Centre of Excellence, courtesy That does not mean your work is as a bookworm, as I try to norin boosting its Internally-Generof the Chairman of the Troyka not good enough, but it can be malise everything I do. I am not a party freak, but once in a while, ated Revenue (IGR).

Group, Chief Biodun Shobanjo; very discouraging.”

Okojie, who also commended and the Alumni Jubilee House On his next plan, he said: “I want I attend social functions with my UNILAG for the prudent use of built by the UNILAG Alumni Asto take another doctoral pro- friends. I am privileged to have funds, underscored the need for sociation in collaboration with gramme, which will be in either been born into a comfortable home. I must confess that I am a universities to seek help from the Guarantee Trust Bank.

Holiday in Lagos, Osun, Oyo

HE governments of Lagos, Oyo and Osun states have declared today a holiday to commemorate the annulled June

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

12, 1993, presidential election, won by the late Bashorun MKO Abiola.

Tinubu urges government on security

S

By Musa Odoshimokhe

ENATOR Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security for Nigerians.

She spoke yesterday at the Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos, during the 11th Town Hall Meeting with her constituents.

Urging the government to stand up to its responsibilities, Mrs. Tinubu said the only time the government accepted that there was a problem with its policy was when it increased the pump price of petroleum products, noting that the protest that followed the action forced the government to reduce the price.

She said: “This government has refused to take responsibility for anything it does not do right. A government that thinks it is always right is not doing anything. People do fail, but can always make amends. The only time this government went back on what would have been a blow on the society was during the removal of fuel subsidy. “ Mrs. Tinubu urged lawmakers to be careful about the laws they pass, adding that laws made should be in the people’s interest.

She said the decision to include former speakers and formerSenate presidents in the Council of State was not well thought-out.

The senator said: “Whatever we are doing should be people-oriented. We should be careful about the laws we make.

They said former speakers and Senate presidents should be part of the executive; Are they executive members?”

She said until the constitution is reviewed, thing will continue to be done haphazardly.

Mrs. Tinubu said the idea of a part time legislature for Nigeria was not completely out of place, adding that it was working in Switzerland.

She said: “There is nothing wrong with it. Part-time legislature is alright for the country, but you do not squeeze a sector and leave the other buoyant. Every sector has to be touched.

“If you want the National Assembly to perform its oversight functions well, provide an enabling ground for it to work.

Give the lawmakers what will not make them compromise.”

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, said the practice of true federalism would solve most of the country’s problems, adding: “Those familiar with a good constitution know that we are yet to have one in the country. That is why Nigeria is not getting its acts right. Also, when the right government is established at the centre Nigeria will be better.”

Olusi hailed Senator Tinubu’s commitment to the people’s welfare, adding: “She has represented us well and ensures that we are adequately briefed on happenings at the National Assembly. Her empowerment programmes have revived many lives.”

Five family members found dead in Akure F

IVE members of a family of eight were found dead yesterday in their home at Ijaro Quarters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The home belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Ajayi.

The dead are Mrs. Ajayi’s mother and nephew, and three of the couple’s children.

The couple and one of their children, Samuel, were found unconscious and taken to the hospital.

A neighbour, Mr. Muyideen Raheem, said Mr. Kehinde Ajayi ran to his house last Saturday, urging him to come and pray for his ailing children.

Raheem said: “I and another neighbour rushed to

•Three hospitalised

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

his house and found the children lying weak on the floor.

We prayed for them.

Kehinde prayed over some water and sprinkled it in the house and on the children and they got up. We advised him to take the children to the hospital, but he said it was not a medical issue.

“On Sunday, my wife told me Kehinde came to the house to show his appreciation. But yesterday, we heard shouts from their house and went there. We

‘Kehinde; his wife, Banke; and their son, Samuel, were unconscious’ discovered that his wife’s mum, three of their children and the wife’s nephew, who came to sit for the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examina-

tion, were dead. Kehinde; his wife, Banke; and their son, Samuel, were unconscious.”

He said the police took the bodies to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Ikuomola Ayodele, said five members of the Ajayi family were brought in dead and three unconscious.

Ikuomola said Ajayi and Samuel were referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, adding that Mrs. Ajayi had regained consciousness and was at the emergency unit.

He said symptoms shown by the victims point to food poisoning.

Fashola approves 34 to 60 per cent reduction of LASU fees L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has approved 34 to 60 per cent reduction of tuition fees at the Lagos State University (LASU).

The decision was contained in a 17-point resolution of a committee raised to look into demands by students and lecturers for fees reduction.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Otunba Fatai Olukoga, who read the report to reporters yesterday in Alausa, said the government had agreed to a reduction of tuition fees, ranging from 34 to 60 per cent across faculties and courses.

Olukoga, who was in the company of Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba, Special Adviser on Information Lateef Raji and Special Adviser on Media Hakeem Bello, said the government considered

•Urges staff unions to end strike

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

the reduction of fees for two reasons.

He said: “The first is the fact that some of the fee components have been applied to students across all levels when in fact they can be justifiably limited to students at a particular level. Secondly, some of the charges can be reduced on compassionate grounds.”

Olukoga said the reduction was done in accordance with the law setting up the university, adding that the government’s position had been submitted to the university’s Governing Council for consideration and implementation.

He said the Governing

Council would issue details of “what is now payable by students in each department and deal with other management matters”.

Olukoga said the reduction will not affect the government’s commitment to enhancing scholarships and bursary, adding that the Research Fund sponsored by the government will be maintained to promote research and innovation in the university.

He said the governor expressed optimism that the reduction would prompt staff unions to call off their strike.

The government declined the lecturers’ demand for appointments and promotions to positions already filled.

Olukoga said: “Employees cannot unilaterally insist on being appointed or promoted to positions that are not vacant, especially where there are over 200 vacant positions to be filled in the same institution. In conclusion, it is hoped that all students and workers of the university will immediately resume their respective activities and join the state government’s bid to bring LASU to a preeminent position.”

On the fate of students arrested during protests for fees reduction, who were arraigned for disturbing public peace, Ibirogba said the government had nothing to do with their arrest, but would liaise with the Ministry of Justice to see what can be done.

Raji said the reduction shows that the government is flexible.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

9

CITYBEATS

Fishermen arrested with cannabis

A

N attempt by a West African syndicate to smuggle 1,020.5 kilogrammes of cannabis into the country from Ghana has been foiled by the Marine Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The marine officers attached to the Apapa Port Command in Lagos intercepted the drug on Nigerian waters during a patrol.

Five suspected fishermen comprising Beninese, Ghanaians and a Nigerian were arrested in connection with the importation of the illicit drug valued at N10 million.

The five suspects, who conveyed the drug in a motorised boat, are: Joseph Akpe (36); Gabriel Fokito (32); Zutah Edward (42); Ameriato Tafe (30), and Celestine Azarante (27).

NDLEA Apapa Port Commander, Mr. Nse Jack, said: “Officers of the Marine Unit, Apapa Port Command of the agency intercepted a boat containing 23 consignments of compressed dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa concealed in white sacs wrapped in black polythene. The shipment originated from Ghana through Benin Republic. Those un-

‘Rare mum’ dies at 73 IKERE, an ancient town in Ekiti State, has been thrown into mourning since June 6, following the death of its Iyalaje, Chief Aribake Ogunjemilua, who has been described as a rare mother.

Her first son, Mr Abiodun Ogunjemilua, said she died at 73, adding: “Mummy suffered an ailment for some time until that fateful day when it pleased God to bring her to eternal rest. She lived a fulfilled life as a caring mother, worthy community leader and patriot.”

A shrewd business woman, the late Iyalaje was an wholesale provisions trader, who was widely acclaimed as a philanthropist.

A resident, Julius Ogunrotimi, wrote about the late business tycoon: “... She is an icon. She started with nothing, but ended with something. She was an accomplished business woman of her generation.”

Mr Ogunjemilua said her mother’s remains would be interred at a date to be announced by the family.

• The late Madam Ogunjemilua

Group praises KAI A group, the Nigerian Image Makers, has praised the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) in Lagos State.

Its coordinator, Mr Seun Balogun, said: “Observation has shown that in about two months now, its new Head of Operations, Mrs Alabi Mariam Abiodun, has ensured its smooth operations.

The outfit’s operations’ unit, Balogun said, had put traders on their toes to ensure environmental cleanliness.

The enforcement, he noted, has affected paper vendors on the Third Mainland Bridge, as they no longer operate in traffic for fear of being apprehended by KAI.

• Fokito

• Akpe

• Azarante

• Tafe

• Packs of the drug. Inset: Edward

“We were given N100,000 part payment for logistics. We would have collected a balance of N250,000 if not for the arrest” Akpe told investigators.

Jack said the suspects had owned up to the crime, adding that they would be charged to court soon.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who praised

By Jude Isiguzo and Kelvin Osa Okunbor

der investigation include two citizens of Ghana, two of Benin Republic and a Nigerian.”

the marine officers for their vigilance, added: “This is a warning to drug barons that the agency is prepared to halt their illicit drug activities anywhere.”

Man caught with fresh human head

W

HAT would a man be doing with the fresh head of his fellow human being? This is the riddle that operatives of the Lagos State Police Command are now trying to solve.

Yesterday, the policemen attached to Orile Police Station, arrested the suspect, Mustapha Bakare (38),

By Jude Isiguzo

with the human skull at the Orile area of the city.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed his arrest, said the police team, led by Bernard Oyinlade, an Inspector, arrested the

suspect during a ‘Stop and Search’ duty near White Sand area in Orile.

She added: “Bakare, who was later found to be resident at 63B, Church Street, Ijora Badia, was sighted with a polythene bag. The team suspected him and immediately called for a search. He immediately took to his heels and was

pursued. He was arrested and while searching his bag, the policemen found a suspected fresh human skull. The suspect was arrested and he is undergoing interrogations.

He will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigations.”

Group renews call for Lagoon State

T

O bring governance closer to some communities, especially along the costal line, a group, Lagoon State Movement, has renewed its call for the creation of Lagoon State out of Lagos State.

The non-political, non-partisan and non-sectarian movement, led

by Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson (SAN), made the appeal at its 7th town hall meeting, which was held at the Awolowo Institute for Government and Public Policy and Museum, Lekki in Lekki Local Council Development Area of the state.

Benson said since 1967 when the nation was divided into 12 states, Lagos has remained the only state that has not produced any other state despite its huge population and resources. Besides, the elder statesman said the new state was being demanded for its viability in terms of economic, industrial and farming potentials among other pre-requisites.

He said states like Balyesa, Nassarawa, Gombe, Taraba and

• L-R: Chief Benson, Alhaji Belo, Prof. Wahab and Sir Keshinro … at the meeting.

By Basirat Braimah

Ekiti, if combined, are not up to the proposed new state in terms of population.

The implications of not creating the sought state, he said, include over-population, inadequate representation of Lagosians at the federal level, imposition of heavy taxation on residents, and lack of care for indigenes of the state.

If the state is created, Benson added, it would boost job creation,

reduce tax burden, lead to more representation of Lagosians at the National Assembly and increase in federal government allocation to the state to fast-track grassroots development.

The group’s Vice Chairman, Alhaji Gani Belo, who echoed Benson’s views, added that with the present population of Lagos State, it is too much for an individual to govern.

Belo, a former provost of the Federal College of Education,

Osielle, Abeokuta in Ogun State, said if created, Lagoon State would bring social amenities to rural areas.

Sir Segun Keshiro, a retired Magistrate for England and Wales, who chaired the meeting, said the creation of the new state, if effected, would afford its main indigenes to govern their own land.

Professor Kunle Ade Wahab, Chairman of Ikorodu Leaders, also said the new state would be a huge blessing.

Lawyer, others held for alleged burglary

O

PERATIVES of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a lawyer and nine other suspects for allegedly burgling a warehouse in AmuwoOdofin area of the metropolis.

Police sources said the suspects, allegedly went to the warehouse and carted away goods worth millions of naira.

By Jude Isiguzo

They alleged the lawyer was the mastermind of the illegal act, adding that investigations were ongoing to expose the reason behind his alleged action.

The sources said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of FESTAC station, Shehu Alao, a Chief Superin-

tendent (CSP), received a tip-off that some suspected thieves had invaded the warehouse and carted away plasma television, imported chairs, jerks, and other items.

It was gathered that the Alao, through additional information, arrested one of the suspects at AbuleAdo. His arrest led to the apprehension of two others at the popular

Alaba International Market, Ojo. The confession of the arrested suspects, said the sources, also led to the arrest of others, including the lawyer in Ajah area.

Polices sources said operatives are still on the trail of other members of the gang, adding that the matter would be charged to court soon.

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

10

NEWS EKITI 2014

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over the desperation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government to capture Ekiti State at all cost.

According to the party, the ongoing clampdown on the media “is part of a grand strategy to silence Nigerians ahead of the satanic plan to thwart the will of the people of Ekiti and indeed that of all Nigerians.”

The Interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the multipronged approach to realising the plan started with the harassment and intimidation of the people of Ekiti to prevent them from coming out to vote on 21 June.

“The pre-meditated violence inflicted on innocent and harmless Ekiti people last Sunday by the police, which has now turned itself to PDP enforcers, is aimed clearly at sig-

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

nalling to the people of the state what they should expect before, during and after the forthcoming election,” it said A follow-up to that, the APC said, is the ongoing clampdown on all those who can challenge the Federal Government’s planned impunity in Ekiti, starting with the nation’s fiercely independent media.

“The clampdown on the media has nothing to do with Boko Haram or any “intelligence” report. That is a ruse.

Journalists do not carry weapons. They only fight with words. In fact, this terror band called Boko Haram has had occasions to threaten the media with attack over their reports exposing the terrorists for what they are. Therefore, the unprecedented and utterly indefensible clampdown on the media is part of a sinister plot that is not unconnected with the elections scheduled

for this and next year.

“The PDP-led Federal Government’s strategy is simple: we must capture Ekiti at all cost, even when we may not have the votes to win the state. After that, we can then dare anyone who alleges rigging or election manipulation to head to court.

In the meantime, we must tamper with the freedom of expression and the right to information, of which the media is at the vanguard,” APC said.

The party said anyone that believes this strategy is farfetched only needs to look at the groundwork that has been laid for it by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, who picked both the Minister of Police Affairs and the Minister of State for Defence from the South-west.

“This Federal Government sees the South-west as very critical to the President’s chances of getting re-elected next year, and has thus turned it to a battleground. They are desperate

to capture Ekiti and Osun, which they see as the road to the heart of the South-west next year. That explains their desperation about the elections in the two states,” it said.

APC, however, said that the PDP-led government “has shot itself in the foot, first with the deadly attack on defenceless citizens in Ekiti, including the governor of the state, and then the senseless and irresponsible clampdown on the national media - the same media that no dictator in the history of Nigeria has succeeded in silencing.”

The party urged the government to desist from its satanic plot and allow the people of Ekiti and the people of Nigeria to choose their leaders in free, fair and transparent elections.

It warned: “While a standing army or a tyrannical government can indeed suppress a people, no where in the world have they succeeded in defeating the people, the ultimate reservoir of power.”

‘Fayemi’s re-election ‘ll guarantee more growth’

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu (second left)addressing APC women and supporters at a rally in AdoEkiti… yesterday. With her are wife of the governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi (right) and the state APC Women Leader, Mrs. Olufunke Owoseeni...yesterday.

E

KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu and the governor’s wife, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi yesterday said the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi on June 21 would guarantee the people’s continued enjoyment of socio-economic growth.

The Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Bunmi Ogunmodede, quoted Mrs. Adelabu and Mrs. Fayemi as speaking of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration’s good programmes for women and the entire state when the electorate returns the governor to office.

They spoke during a sensitisation of would-be voters, especially women, on how to cast their ballot in the June 21 governorship election.

Mrs. Adelabu and Mrs. Fayemi took the campaign to the popular Bisi and Oja Oba markets in Ado-Ekiti to educate market women in a move

T

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

to reduce voided votes and to enlighten them on the importance of exercising their franchise.

During the stall-to-stall campaign, Mrs. Adelabu reminded the traders of how the state had been transformed by the Governor Kayode Fayemiled administration through infrastructural development projects and introduction of life-transforming policies.

She pointed out that more women had benefited from the government’s social welfare scheme for the elderly, the free health programme and the free health missions as well as the introduction of several masses-oriented schemes.

“Women should therefore be in the vanguard of the campaign for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi. His re-election is your guarantee

you need to continue to enjoy socio-economic growth in a peaceful atmosphere. The present administration has in stock good programmes in the pipe line for women and the entire state when you return the governor to office with your votes,” the deputy governor said.

Also at a rally organised by the local Women Wing of the APC in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the deputy governor urged women not to be intimidated by the antics of the opposition but to come out on the election day and vote for the governor, who she described as “the best out of the candidates jostling for the exalted seat in Ekiti State.”

She educated the women on the APC’s logo, which will be on the ballot and urged them to be careful not to void their ballot paper while thumb-printing so that their votes for the governor will count.

Also yesterday, the deputy

governor urged commercial motor-cyclists in the state capital to be calm in the face of provocation and be resolute in their support for Fayemi’s reelection.

She gave the advice while addressing the Okada Riders Association who paid a solidarity visit to the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

The operators, who came in their hundreds, were received at the Government House Ground by the deputy governor and Mrs. Fayemi.

Mrs. Adelabu accused the opposition of attempting to pit the operators against the government by circulating falsehood that they will be proscribed by Fayemi if voted into power again.

She alleged that the opposition was deliberately using the campaign of calumny because it was afraid of the rapport between the operators and the Fayemi administration.

Bamidele pledges to integrate NLC in govt

EN days to governorship election in Ekiti State, the Labour Party’s candidate, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has promised to integrate the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) into his government if elected to office.

Bamidele said this will stop recurring disagreements between the NLC, other trade un-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ions and the government.

He disclosed this during a meeting with Ekiti chapter of NLC and all its 26 affiliated unions, where he gave assurances that labour matters would form a priority in his government.

The LP candidate stressed

the need to reverse the dwindling fortunes of ordinary workers in the state, promising that NLC would have better welfare package and unhindered access to his administration.

Said he: “I need more than just your votes. I also need your prayers since I’m one of you. I’m going to be governor of Nigerian workers having been a mem-

ber of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). This is because I will understand the attitude, psyche and language of Nigerian workers.

“We have done a census and x-ray of the workforce in Ekiti and we discovered that our workers need to be appreciated and my government will do just that.”

Alleged assault: Commissioner sues police for N1 billion •e-Eleven condemns Afuye’s detention

E

KITI State Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Funminiyi Afuye, has instituted a civil rights suit against the Commissioner of Police Felix Uyanna and the Mobile Police Commander, Gabriel Selenkere.

Afuye, who filed the suit yesterday, is asking the court to grant him damages in the sum of N1 billion for physical assault by Selenkere and unlawful detention by the police.

The suit, which was filed at the Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rules 123 and 5 of the Fundamental Rights {Enforcement] Rules 2009 and sections 6, 34, 41 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Afuye, a lawyer, was one of the victims of the June 8 assault on Ekiti people and Governor Kayode Fayemi by mobile policemen led by Bayelsa-born Selenkere.

Reacting to the suit, the Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda, said the Directorate of Citizens in the Ministry of Justice is interested in the suit.

He said that the state government was committed to the protection of the rights of all those living in Ekiti State.

Fapohunda added that all cases of alleged police brutality and extra-judicial actions would be investigated with a view to ensuring the prosecution and dismissal from the force of erring police officers.

An Ekiti group, the e-Eleven, yesterday condemned the continued detention of Afuye and other people arrested by the police last Sunday, following a rally by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Chairman of the group, Femi Ajiniran, in a statement yesterday, said its members considered the arrest, transfer and detention of Afuye and others a slap on the face of Ekiti people.”

It called on the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to immediately order the release of those arrested “for exercising their democratic rights.”

The statement reads: “The attack with impunity on the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is an intolerable insolence and affront against Ekiti as an entity while the unprovoked police assault on members of his party is another attack on democracy by one of the institutions that is expected to protect it. Most regrettable is the loss of an innocent life in the process and we commiserate with the family.

“We hereby call on the Inspector General of Police to effect the immediate release of all those arrested in order to calm frail nerves and ensure normalcy begin to return to Ekiti State. With the election so close at hand, we expect that the security agencies will not do anything that will further aggravate the already tensed situation in the state.”

The group called for immediate redeployment and discharge of OC Mopol George Selenkere from the Nigeria Police “for his singular audacity and affront on democracy.

“Interestingly we note he is related to the President and therefore was ostensibly carrying out a presidential mission with unusual zeal and silly overzealousness. If the Police Force is to truly live up to its responsibility, it must be without the likes of George Selenkere.”

Traditional rulers to IGP: redeploy MOPOL chief now •PDP chieftain flays call From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

,

T

APC: clampdown on media part of strategy to capture Ekiti

In all civilised na-

HE Ekiti State Council of tions, police are meant Traditional rulers has appealed to the Inspector to maintain peace and General (IG) of Police Moham- protect the citizens. med Abubakar to redeploy the The barbaric act exCommander of Mobile Police hibited on Sunday by Force, Mr. Gabriel Selenkere.

The council, in a statement a member of the Niby its chairman, Oba Adamo Babalola, expressed displeasure geria Police, gunning over the killing of one Taiwo down an innocent citiAkinola, a native of Odo-Owa Ekiti in Ijero Local Government zen is totally unwaron Sunday when the police ranted and unacceptastopped a rally by members of the All Progressives Congress ble to the Council of Obas in Ekiti State (APC).

But a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Lati Ajijola has described the calls for removal of Commissioner of Police Felix Uyanna and Selenkere as “self-serving and hypocritical.”

Ajijola, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, added that Fayemi should be held responsible for the killing of Akinola.

The monarchs said the incident, which happened barely 24 hours of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state, was totally sad and unacceptable to the generality of the people.

“In all civilised nations, police are meant to maintain peace and protect the citizens. The barbaric act exhibited on Sunday by a member of the Nigeria Police, gunning down an innocent citizen is totally unwarranted and unacceptable to the Council of Obas in Ekiti State. It is condemnable entirely.

“We want such a policeman to be removed from Ekiti State and incarcerated. He is not fit to participate in the coming election. Ekiti people will react if such ugly occurrence rears its ugly head again.

,

BUSINESS

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

OPEC keeps output at 30m bpd •Gives El-Badri six months extension

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

M

EMBERS of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the end of its 165th meeting in Vienna, Austria, agreed to keep their collective production at 30 million barrels per day (bpd).

The decision was taken based on current market fundamentals, which OPEC members considered good for the enough for the global oil market. The organisation’s members after reviewing the market developments, world economic growth, and supply/demand projections for the second half of the year, agreed that the market is well supplied and doesn’t need extra production.

OPEC secretariat said: “The conference reviewed recent oil market developments and world economic growth, as presented by the Secretary General HE Abdalla S. El-Badri, in particular supply/demand projections for the second half of the year, as well as the outlook for 2015, noting that the relative steadiness of prices during 2014 to date is an indication that the market is adequately supplied, with the periodic price fluctuations being more a reflection of geopolitical tensions than a response to fundamentals.

“The conference observed, however, that, whilst world economic growth was projected to reach 3.4 per cent in 2014, up from 2.9 per cent in 2013, downside risks to the global economy, both in the OECD and non-OECD regions, remain unchecked.

“The conference noted, moreover, that whilst world oil demand is expected to rise from 90 million bpd in 2013 to 91.1 million bpd in 2014, nonOPEC supply is projected to grow by 1.4 million bpd, with OECD stock levels, in terms of days of forward demand cover, remaining comfortable.

11 ‘The June deadline is by the corner; Mr. President’s word is a bond. We must generate more power; we are prepared to assist all our agencies in making sure that the ball keeps rolling. We can’t afford to fail in our duties.’

•Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

World Bank lowers economic outlook •Urges developing countries to step up reforms

D

EVELOPING countries are heading for a year of disappointing growth, as first quarter weakness this year has delayed an expected pick-up in economic activity, the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report, has shown.

According to the report which was released yesterday, bad weather in the United States (US), crisis in Ukraine, rebalancing in China, political strife in several middleincome economies, slow progress on structural reform, and capacity constraints are all contributing to a third straight year of sub five per cent growth for developing countries as a whole.

In addition, the structural reform agenda in many developing countries which has stalled in recent years, needs to be reinvigorated in order to sustain rapid income growth, the report noted.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, lamented the stunted growth rate in developing countries.

He said: “Growth rates in the developing world remain far too modest to create the kind of jobs we need to improve the life.”

From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

He noted that “countries need to move faster and invest more in domestic structural reforms to get broadbased economic growth to levels needed to end extreme poverty in our generation.”

The global lender lowered its forecasts for developing countries, now eyeing growth at 4.8 per cent this year, down from its January estimate of 5.3 per cent.

National budgets have deteriorated significantly since 2007. In almost half of developing countries, government deficits exceed three per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), while debt-to-GDP ratios have risen by more than 10 percentage points since 2007. Fiscal policy needs to tighten in countries where deficits remain large, including Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and South Africa.

Current account deficits in some of the hardest hit economies during 2013 and early 2014 have declined, and capital flows to developing countries have bounced back.

Developing countries’ bond yields have declined, and

stock markets have recovered, in some cases surpassing levels at the start of the year, although they remain down from a year ago by significant margins in many instances.

Signs point to strengthening next year and 2016 to 5.4 and 5.5 per cent respectively.

China is expected to grow by 7.6 per cent this year, but this will depend on the success of rebalancing efforts. “If a hard landing occurs, the reverberations across Asia would be widely felt,” the report warned.

It also stated that despite first quarter weakness in the US, the recovery in high-income countries is gaining momentum.

“These economies are expected to grow by 1.9 per cent in 2014, accelerating to 2.4 per cent in 2015 and 2.5 per cent in 2016.

“The Euro Area is on target to grow by 1.1 per cent this year, while the US economy, which contracted in the first quarter due to severe weather, is expected to grow by 2.1 per cent this year (down from the previous forecast of 2.8 per cent),” said the report.

The global economy is expected to pick up speed as the year progresses and is projected to expand by 2.8 percent

this year, strengthening to 3.4 and 3.5 per cent in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Using 2010 purchasing power parity weights, global growth would be 3.4, 4.0 and 4.2 per cent in 2014. 2015 and 2016 respectively. High-income economies will contribute about half of global growth in 2015 and 2016, compared with less than 40 per cent in 2013.

According to the report: “Acceleration in high-income economies will be an important impetus for developing countries. High-income economies are projected to inject an additional $6.3 trillion to global demand over the next three years, which is significantly more than the $3.9 trillion increase they contributed during the past three years, and more than the expected contribution from developing countries.”

Short-term financial risks have become less pressing in part because earlier downside risks have been realised without generating large upheavals and because economic adjustments over the past year have reduced vulnerabilities.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/ barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

•From left: Group Head Revenue Collection and Franchise, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Bola Allinson; Chairman, Ojokoro Local

Council Development Area (LCDA), Benjamin Olabinjo; Council Manager, Rasheed Pedro, and Mr Olajide Ibrahim of Skye Bank Public Sector Group, during the launch of Point of Payment for Levy Collection ... yesterday.

National Conference wants marketing boards back From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HE National Conference is pushing for the revival of the scrapped Commodity Marketing Beards.

The boards will however be driven by farmers to stop middlemen from further exploitation of the farmers.

The boards were scraped in 1987 with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

The boards are expected to protect the interests of the farmers as swell as guarantee stability for agricultural produce.

The delegates, at the resumed consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources yesterday voted overwhelmingly for the revival of farm settlements on large expanse of land.

They however saw no reason why Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centers, accommodation and hospitality centers and other modern amenities that can be assessed at reduced rates should not be established in the farm centers.

In addition, it was recommended that states and local governments should facilitate the revitalisation of existing Skills Acquisition and Agricultural Training Centre in each of the senatorial districts for the purposes of job creation.

It was also agreed, as recommended by the report that in addition to existing budgetary allocation to agriculture, 30 percent of the National Resources Fund be used for the development of agriculture.

Twenty (20) per cent of the same fund was also recommended to be devoted to mechanised deep sea fishing.

The delegates, however, rejected the creation of a National Water Commission on the basis that all issues relating to water should be left to the Ministry of Water Resources.

While the government was advised against funding cross species genetic manipulations, the delegates urged that farmers should be exposed to export opportunities.

Air Peace signs aircraft maintenance, spares’ deal with UK firms

N

EW entrant in the aviation sector ; Air Peace Limited has signed a multi million dollar aircraft maintenance and spares agreement pact with two United Kingdom firms; AJ Walters Aviation Limited and BTC Maintenance Aviation Limited for the seven aircraft in its fleet.

The Chairman Allen Onyema who made this known yesterday in Lagos, said the airline signed the deal as part of efforts to ensure the safety of its operations in an environment where the flying public is still grappling with issues of safety.

He said the airline, as part of

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

its strategy to have the edge in the sector, has acquired both Boeing and Dornier jets to meet the needs of the market, by flying into secondary airports, pointing out that although the maintenance agreement is at a huge cost, “it demonstrates the amount of seriousness Air Peace attaches to safety.”

Onyeme stressed that the airline has zero tolerance for unsafe practices, hence the seriousness it attached to safety with the signing of the agreement with the two UK based companies, adding that he decided to

set up the airline business to create jobs for Nigerians.

He said if his intention is to make money, he would leave his money in the banks where he would be paid double digit interest rate.

“It is about my vision to give back to the society the blessing God has given to me .I know that the aviation industry is a very turbulent industry not only in Nigeria but also worldwide, but I have to ask questions on how to contribute to the growth of my nation by creating jobs.

“Someone told me that one air plane could give about 100

people a job . So I decided to go into aviation because I want to create jobs and not because I want to make money. If I want to make money, I will leave my money in the banks. Nigerian banks give you double digit interest rates over 13 per cent and I will be making a lot of money sitting down in my house,” he said.

Speaking on why he opted for Dornier jet, Onyema said Air Peace chose Dornier aircraft because of it capabilities, adding that the aircraft can take off and also land on short runways.

He said: “We decided to bring in some Dornier jets because of

their capabilities. Dornier is a very powerful jet, it can land in a very short runway and take off in a very short runway, yet it is still a jet. It can land at airports even when there are weather challenges.”

He said that Air Peace is into airline business not only to make a difference but to also provide passengers unparallelled safety and quality service to the satisfaction of passengers.

The airline, he said will deploy the Dornier aircraft for charter and scheduled flights on routes hitherto not operated by other airlines as a result of some challenges.

12

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

W

EEKS after the Founder/CEO of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Ms Peace AnyiaOsigwe, announced her decision to step down as executive officer of the continental award show, another industry practitioner, Fidelis Duker, who founded Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), has announced his resolve to take the back seat.

While Duker will continue with the title of Founder, he has appointed notable actor cum film director, Fred Amata, as director of the festival, which enters its 11th edition this year.

AIFF’s Head, Media Communications, Mr. Louis Okpoto, said: “Amata will be leading a team of creative individuals as the acting festival director of the 11th Abuja International Film Festival, whose theme is: 100 years of Films in Nigeria…A Retrospect. He will be receiving the baton of leadership from Mr. Fidelis Duker who founded the film festival almost 11 years ago, and whose role will be in advisory capacity cum founder of the film festival.”

A film festival is an organised and extended presentation of films, in one or more cinemas or screening venues, where practitioners also converge for networking. By his new appointment, Amata, is expected to run the affairs of

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Fred Amata to direct Abuja Film Festival

By Victor Akande the AIFF, which is billed to hold in Abuja from September 23 to 26.

A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos, Amata was the second director of Ripples, the longest running TV soap in the ‘80s. He has won several awards, including his heartrending role in the 1996 movie, Mortal Inheritance, playing alongside Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde.

Amata has also worked with several TV stations such NTA, Clapperboard TV and DBN Television.

“He (Amata) made his debut as an actor in the award– winning TV series, Legacy in 1986. In a career spanning almost three decades, Fred has earned directorial, acting and performance credits in over 150 productions spanning almost the entire genre of film, theatre, and cinema,” Okpoto said in a statement.

Relaying the new appointee’s huge profile, the statement credited Amata as having “won the coveted Nigerian Best Actor Award (Mortal Inheritance, 1997), Best Director Award (Light and Darkness, 2002), and several other awards and recognitions, including Afro-Hollywood

•Fred Amata

Awards for Outstanding Performance, London (1999); Outstanding Performance and Contribution to the Nigeria Film Industry, Washington DC (April 2004) and Nollywood Ambassadors Award, Kenya (May 2010).

“Fred Amata has consulted for the UNFPA on the use of Nollywood content for advocacy, and was inducted into the Movie Makers Hall of Fame, USA in October 2009.

When off set, Fred is an ardent football, scrabble and chess player, who loves music and dancing, travelling and discovering peoples of the world and their culinary delights.”

•The six finalists with TerryG ID Cabassa and DTunes

Naija Street Champ: Six make third round

A

S the beats keep going up for the Naija Street Champ competition, six contestants have made it to the third stage of the competition, out of 24 that emerged from eight zonal auditions conducted in different parts of Lagos.

The six finalists are Sulaimon Idris (Dabreez) representing Surulere zone; Shanuolu Adesola (Sholz), representing Ipaja Zone; Rodney Brown Edemhanria (Rodney), representing Ikeja zone; Abimbola Olugbenga (Raptitude), representing Bariga/Akoka zone; Christian Olamide (Dakris), representing Agege/Ogba zone and Celestine Ogar (Big Daddy Africa) representing Festac zone.

Victory for the six did not come cheap, as producers of the project, ID

Cabasa, D’Tunes and Terry G, rested the fate of the contestants with the crowd at the Youth Sports Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, last Saturday.

The initial 24 were paired in the first round of the elimination process, where one contestant was favoured with loud cheers, while the other was booed by the crowd. Pruned to 12, the same process was repeated to arrive at the last six standing.

Project Manager, Oladehinde Fajana, during the pre-event media briefing, noted that selecting the 24 contestants who made it to the 2nd round was a herculean task, as each zone produced several potential music talents.

Fajana said the country is blessed with a lot of youth with talents, waiting to be harnessed, while revealing that the six finalists who

emerged from the 2 nd round of the competition would go into the studio with the producers to compete for the coveted prize of N1 million prize money and a three-year recording deal.

According to Fajana, the competition will be determined further through online voting, as the works of the six finalists will be streamed for the public via the show’s website, Facebook and Twitter handles. Those with the lowest votes will be eliminated until the last four contestants emerge.

Fajana said that the remaining four finalists would be groomed and mentored by the producers and prepared for a concert during which the overall winner will emerge on Saturday, July 19, at a venue to be announced later.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

13

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

15

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

17

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Let the game begin

W

•Nigeria’s Super Eagles seeks glory as the world’s football fiesta starts today

HAT has arguably become the world greatest fiesta kicks off today. We speak of course of the World Cup football tournament. The world, or shall we say, the world of football will be riveted to the frills, the thrills and the magic of the round leather game for the next one month. Nothing else excites, unites and concentrates the attention of the peoples of the world today more than the game of football and the World Cup tournament held every four years is the showpiece.

This 20th edition will be held across cities in the South American country of Brazil, following after a tradition that started 94 years ago in Uruguay, also in South America. Thirty-two countries, including the host, will bid for the World Cup silverware, the grandest football trophy of all. The favourites to win the diadem include the host Brazil, her continental rival, Argentina, the defending champion, Spain, and Germany. Any result to the contrary would be an upset of the form book.

Some of the biggest names that make the game tick are abundant among these four top nations. There is Lionel Messi of Argentina who has won the World Footballer of the Year trophy four times in a row; Spain boasts of a host of stars like Xavi Alonso, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos, while the German team has Thomas Muller who won the Golden Boots at the last edition in South Africa, 2014 and Bastian Schweintieger. Brazil has an up and coming Neymar but her strength may be in her all-star that is devoid of any out-of-the-world star in the mold of Pele and Ronaldo. Other big stars

the world would look forward to include Cristiano Ronaldo, the current World Footballer of the Year from Portugal, Mario Balotelli of Italy and Yaya Toure of Cote D’Ivoire.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the reigning African champions will be led to the mundial by its coach, Stephen Keshi, the same one who led them to win the African Football Championship in South Africa last year. Nigerians are hopeful of a good tournament for the Eagles this time, having not made an impression in the tournament after her 1994 debut edition in the USA. That remains Nigeria’s golden era when she paraded world renown stars like Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini (now late), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, Daniel Amokachie and Sunday Oliseh, to name a few.

Regrettably, there are few big names playing in top leagues across the world in this class of 2014. Secondly, Keshi has been rebuilding the Eagles over the last two years and though it managed to pick the African trophy, the team cannot be said to be ready yet to contest creditably at this level of world football. Another point to note is that this crop of Eagles does not seem to be endowed with fleetfooted, young and talented players. While the average age in most countries’ teams may be 25, Nigeria’s team may not have such luxury. But some players in this team we expect to make an impact include the goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses.

Nigerians may not expect their team to lift the cup but they look forward to a respectable performance. They expect good team play and they expect to see the crea-

tivity and pace that make our football fluid and exciting. It is noteworthy that Keshi has included about three players from the home league; that is good for Nigeria’s football development. And win or lose, we hope that the current initiatives for growing the game will continue as bountiful results are already being reaped by way of engaging our youths and creating employment for them.

It is our prayer that this season of world football festival will usher in peace and harmony to a world that has become increasingly fractured. We hope that humanity will ride on the crest of this exciting global show to eschew anger, violence and bigotry which seem to be finding new fervor among the peoples of the world. May the best team win.

‘Nigerians may not expect their team to lift the cup but they look forward to a respectable performance. They expect good team play and they expect to see the creativity and pace that make our football fluid and exciting ... And win or lose, we hope that the current initiatives for growing the game will continue as bountiful results are already being reaped by way of engaging our youths and creating employment for them’

NJC’s self-help

•In its conflict with the Rivers State governor, the judicial council should not undermine the law

T

HE National Judicial Council (NJC) in our view is yet again turning the wrong road in its struggle with the government of Rivers State, over the interpretation of the 1999 constitution, on the appointment of the Chief Judge of that state. That route as we had argued before is the abnegation of the fundamental bedrock of any democratic society, which is the rule of law, as against selfhelp. By resorting to administrative designs to overreach the judgment of Justice Lambo Akanbi, instead of filing an appeal as required by law, the NJC is

‘The National Judicial Council (NJC) in our view is yet again turning the wrong road in its struggle with the government of Rivers State, over the interpretation of the 1999 constitution, on the appointment of the Chief Judge of that state ... By resorting to administrative designs to overreach the judgment of Justice Lambo Akanbi, instead of filing an appeal as required by law, the NJC is applying strongarm tactics, and this must be deprecated by all Nigerians’

applying strong-arm tactics, and this must be deprecated by all Nigerians.

The recent press release by the council’s acting director of information, Soji Oye, reeling out decisions of the NJC which seek to effectively jeopardise the judgment of Justice Akanbi, is contemptuous of the High Court of Justice. This is so, regardless of the calibre of judicial officials who sat in that administrative agency of the Federal Government, the NJC, while that decision was made. For, in the exercise of its constitutional authority over judicial matters, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria as chairman, the NJC is unequivocally an administrative authority. This is in spite of the constitutional fact, that the same Chief Justice, sitting at the head of the Supreme Court in its appellate jurisdiction, is also the highest ranking judicial authority in the country.

The expectation of the drafters of the constitution, in our humble view, is that in each circumstance, the express intent and spirit of the constitution will be the guide. So, while acting as the chairman of the NJC, the Chief Justice is expected to drop the garb and inviolable authority of the supreme judicial officer, as much as he is expected to robe himself in judicial insulation, with law and equity as the only eternal guide, regardless of whose ox is gored, in the discharge of his judicial functions. That is the sacrosanct expectation of the constitution, for to do otherwise, is to invoke anarchy in place of order.

As we stated in our earlier intervention on this matter, the constitution in section

6(6)(b) clearly vests the judiciary with the authority to adjudicate disputes between administrative authorities when it provides that: “the judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provision of this section, shall extend to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person.”

That is why we reiterate that the NJC should, instead of self-help, appeal the judgment of Justice Akanbi, which ruled against its executive prerogatives in the dispute.

The NJC should be humble enough to appreciate that Justice Akanbi, sitting in his court is invested with the express provisions and intent of that section 6(6)(b); and that unless their members who are justices are robed and seated in their own courts, they are divested with that authority. But they must realise that to attempt to ridicule one of their own, in the discharge of his constitutional responsibility, is to subject and expose the sum total of their institution to contempt.

So, it is in their self-serving interest to maintain the awe and sanctity of the courts. Also, as we had argued previously, the incongruity of a federal administrative agency, being imbued with powers to subjugate the state executive authority, over a matter that should be within the purview of the state, should be a matter of worry, in a federal system of government that we claim.

Pre-match nerves before the big game – A triumphant World Cup can lay controversies to rest

W

HAT a difference between Brazil’s performance on and off the pitch. Its footballers are renowned for their dazzling skill and jogo bonito – or beautiful game. But in 2007, when thenpresident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil the rights to host this year’s World Cup, he performed the political equivalent of simply booting the ball up the pitch.

Expecting a nation known for its lousy roads and poor infrastructure to run purposefully after that wildly punted ball may have seemed plausible at the time.

Back then, the Bric club of emerging powers was all the rage and Brazil could seemingly do no wrong. But the Bric brand has since dimmed, and Sepp Blatter, head of Fifa, the international football body, has even said Brazil’s World Cup preparations are the worst he has ever seen. This is not the promising narrative Brazil once imagined.

Still, the tournament’s 12 stadiums will probably be ready in time, even if at the last minute. And as President Dilma Rousseff has commented, un-Chinese-like delays are part of the cost of Brazil being a democracy with a free media and the right to dissent – civil rights that Ms Rousseff, who struggled against the country’s military dictatorship, has fought for all her career.

Whatever Brazil’s shortcomings, these qualities are worth celebrating at a tournament that will take place only a week after the 25th anniversary of the crackdown against the Tiananmen Square protests.

The games kick-off this Thursday when Brazil takes on Croatia in São Paulo. So will begin a tournament that is part sporting spectacle and part the world’s most peaceful demonstration of full-bore nationalism. Indeed, one of the World Cup’s most appealing features is that small countries often do well, even if they are usually European or Latin American. (Apologies to everybody else, but all 10 top-rated teams are from these continents.) Traditionally, they deploy different playing styles: European efficiency versus Latin flair.

But that divide has blurred as Latin-American footballers in European leagues have learnt new ways of playing, and brought them home. Brazil’s team, although the favourite, has even been criticised for being rigid.

Such homogenisation may be the price, or benefit, of globalisation. But that does not mean the games will lack drama.

Nor will the tournament lack for off-pitch excitement either. Fifa faces tough questions in São Paulo this week about Qatar’s allegedly corrupt clinching of hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup. A broader question is whether emerging countries, with more pressing social needs, should hold such events at all; Brazil will also host the 2016 Olympics. If so, then these should be treated as an opportunity: a chance for sporting events to be hauled back from their fixation with money and buildings, and restored to the games instead.

The biggest off-pitch drama, though, will be that of Brazil itself, especially given presidential elections in October. While there is no correlation between Brazil’s performance in past World Cups and subsequent election results, this time may be different. Last year, more than 1m people took to the streets in protest against shoddy public services with a cry for “Fifa standard hospitals too”. The economy is slowing. Ms Rousseff’s approval rating, although still well ahead of her opponents, is sagging. Brazil can feel mired in malaise.

A victorious tournament might lift that feeling – however momentarily. A bad loss, which might crystallise popular misgivings, could deepen it. For many reasons, the country therefore needs to emerge from a tournament that is judged a success, or at least good enough; especially as almost half the planet will watch some of it. Given Brazilians’ natural warmth and optimism, most likely it will. Let the contest begin.

– Financial Times

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 12, 2014

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: When Governor Wamakko defected to the All Peoples Congress, it became obvious that the party was on its journey to a reverberating victory come 2015. Before Wamakko’s defection to the party, the APC was relatively obscure without visible presence in the state so much so that the party had no befitting office accommodation anywhere in the state. With his joining the party, he breathed life into it all over Sokoto State with colorful party offices across the 23 Local Government Areas and the over 240 wards.

He came into the APC with all the serving local government chairmen, their councillors and all the notable politicians within the local government areas. That feat was a solid demonstration of his tenacity of purpose and the fact that, the average Sokoto man will always go for Wamakko irrespective of what party he belongs to.

Governor Wamakko has over the years proved himself to be a politicians’’ politician, a goal-getter, an achiever par excellence, a master strategist and a sagacious mobilizer.

Before he joined his last party that party merely existed in name only, as we knew the exigencies that made him its candidate in 2006. Immediately he joined, he revived the then comatose party, the PDP, and delivered all the elective offices at all

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

APC National Convention and Wamakko spirit levels 100%.

Recently, when the state congress was held, Sokoto State was a blueprint of where consensus really worked out well. The elections into the wards, Local and State Executive Councils of the APC were held in remarkable harmony as they were rancour–free. Wamakko’s personal charisma as a dependable and

reliable leader worked wonders in making the Sokoto State elections unique without any rumpus.

Now that the APC at the national level has appointed Governor Wamakko to head its National Convention, what else do we expect? We expect impeccable results, a rancorfree convention, remarkable exercise that would go into the annals

of Nigerian political history. His emergence as convention chairman is an ample testimony of the conviction of APC’s top echelon that Governor Wamakko is steadfast; dependable, and reliable and a committed party leader who could always brave the odds and break records.

We are confident that, Governor

IR: I write to commend Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State for the astute manner he has handled the finances of the state. I read in the papers on Monday how the share of Osun from the Federation Account for the month of April 2014 has dwindled to N2.6 billion. It was the least collected by any state for that month.

It used to be in excess of N4 billion in the past, until July last year when unchecked oil thefts brought a shortfall of 40 per cent to federally collectible revenues and the conse-

quent spread of this misfortune to the 36 states.

Interestingly, I understand that the state has a wage bill of N3.6 billion, at least from the account I gleamed from the state’s Commissioner of Finance, Wale Bolorunduro. This huge wage bill is a potential crisis generator which has put many states at loggerheads with their workers on account of non-payment of salaries and pensions, slashing of salaries by up to 50 per cent and threat of reduction of the workforce. Many states owe

their workers up to four months salaries, while the Federal Government owes workers in some agencies up to three months.

Aregbesola has been able to beat this menace first, by saving all the state’s excess crude accruals for the raining day and secondly, raising the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR). The IGR he met was a paltry N300 million. When in 2011 he introduced electronic payment system for all government revenues, the figure doubled the next month to N600 million. Today, it

Even in death, Dora remains a force to reckon with. Her rare and startling qualities as displayed both in her private and public activities are handy in grooming future leaders.

God had blessed her with all she needed to be comfortable and remained quiet while she attends to family needs, late Dora chose to hit the streets to serve humanity. Unlike her contemporaries who restricted themselves to their respective cocoons and territories for individual reasons, Dora gave her all just to ensure that people live happily and comfortably.

It will be pretty impossible to forget Dora in decades to come. Dora is like an avatar. People like her come once in every generation. I bless God for gifting Dora to Nigeria and hu-

manity. Patriotism was her other name. Dora’s passion for Nigeria was outstanding. She wasn’t comfortable with the unfair and bad rating Nigeria gets at the world stage. Nigerians, in her estimation should be treated with tremendous respect and nothing less. She was optimistic and confident of the fact that Nigeria deserved much more than what her citizens were/are still according her.

Her sermon was simple: for Nigeria to stand tall and firm in all spheres of human endeavours, Nigerians must be ready and willing to do the right thing, at the right time and for the right reasons.

My hugest satisfaction is that she didn’t allow all the beautiful dreams she had die with her. She shaped, repositioned and improved human-

ity with her dreams and ideas. She wasn’t greedy. She exhausted all the good-tidings that God deposited in her before she transited to the celestial abode. That was vintage, iconic, pragmatic and exemplary Dora.

Even ill health couldn’t stop her from taking part in serious national activities. Many expressed shock and disbelief the first time she appeared as delegate at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. Nigeria has lost one of her leading lights. Her remarkable performances at NAFDAC bear eloquent testimony of the very stuff she had in her. Ma’am, you indeed lived for others. We pray God almighty to grant your sweet soul eternal rest soul.

• Abdullahi Yunusa, Imane, Kogi State.

S

• Mohammed S Umar, Liberal Democrats Media Foundation, Sokoto

Aregbesola, astute manager of resources

Akunyili: An Amazon has departed

IR: If tributes were all late Dora Akunyili needed to be brought back to life, she would have since returned to join her fellow delegates at the ongoing National Conference holding in Abuja.

The barrage of amazing and well scripted tributes that have so far poured in since this amazon breath her last are indicative of the fact that humanity benefited immensely from her. Quite rare, Nigerians across various social media platforms all praised, hailed and spoke so well of Professor Akunyili. Nigerians from all walks of life; diverse backgrounds and different religious and ideological leanings have brought down the wall that hitherto kept them apart to honour and celebrate an amazon.

Wamakko by God’s grace, will replicate the Sokoto example of rancorfree and acceptable convention. It is normal to urge all the party membership to have faith in the APC, shame its detractors by putting the interest of the party above all other interests.

The promise of the rainbow is that, the sun will shine again. Governor Wamakko will by God’s blessings conduct an acceptable and transparent convention that will further enrich and solidify APC on its way to changing Nigeria’s misfortunes into fortunes come 2015.

has risen to N1.6 billion with huge potentials to rise to N5 billion if well tapped. When this is done, he needs not rely on the unstable federal allocations anymore.

He has thus been able to build roads, new schools, create jobs and make government more impactful on the people. He is also said to be frugal and has stopped the partyings and other money guzzling frivolities of the past which was the bane of the state’s development under past administrations.

All the free loaders of the past (including politicians and religious leaders) are now complaining that he no longer patronises them. They allege that he has been busy spreading the commonwealth to the people, instead of squandering it on the elite and a coterie of palace hangers on. Many of them have secretly waged war against him and are the ones accusing him of habouring an islamising agenda.

Without doubt, how he has been able turn the fortune of the state around is a testament of astute and visionary leadership committed to development and welfare of the people.

It is my sincere hope that his mandate will be renewed and he will come out triumphant in the coming governorship election in the state.

• Dele Oluyemo, Ilesa, Osun State

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

19

COMMENTS

Ekiti must not die on day of destiny

A

“

GBA o si ni ilu, ilu baje, bale le ku, ile da horo. Imado iba se bi elede a balu je, eru iba joba eeyan o bakukan.” These are two Yoruba proverbs that capture my feeling about the Ekiti forthcoming election. If there are no elders in Ekiti to speak the truth, our state will become a deserted state without a future. If we allow brutes to take over our government, then we cannot expect progress.If a slave becomes king, no free born person would remain.

The Yoruba people are a culturally wise people and this is why we have gotten this far in our life’s journey. But at the right time in this journey, we have had to fall back on the wisdom of our ancestors as encapsulated in our proverbs and witticisms. As an academic, I have always had the problem on relating to the Nigerian political environment. In fact I always say that my western education has not prepared me well for the hustle and bustle of the Nigerian political environment.

I have always had problems adjusting to understanding the nature of our politics. Yet I have practically lived my adolescent life in an intense political environment. How on earth, in the year of our Lord 2014 can anybody compare Kayode Fayemi, our incumbent governor with Ayodele Fayose, our former governor who we are trying very hard to forget that he ever ruled our state?

How could a state whose citizens are tempered by education and the struggle against a harsh environment of the hilly topography of the Ekiti State find it acceptable to have a man who ran the state aground and down through bribery and corruption and who imposed himself on the generality of the people of the state including traditional rulers by brute force and coercion including roughing up people violently if necessary? How can he be running to rule the same state whose legislators impeached and removed him from office?

This bad dream and nightmare has again come to haunt our people even while we are awake and it seems some people are even giving it a consideration when in fact it should have been rejected outright. On the other hand, we have a good commodity to sell in Fayemi.

This is a man true to his conscience who for the past three and a half years has been tested and proven to be a round peg in a round hole and a governor who instead of shaming us has proved to be an object of pride to all Ekiti people at home and abroad. He is a sober man compared to a man acting like a drunken sailor while in office.

Supporters of Fayose describe him as onijagidi jagan, a roughneck who should never have been governor in the first place. If we are a sensible people, and I think we are, we should not be faced with this choice but the choice is clear.

There is no meeting point between darkness and light, between peace and war, between serenity and confusion, between murder and life, between development and underdevelopment, between progress and backwardness and between

I don't need to be a lion; I don't need to be Nebuchadnezzar; I don't need to operate like the Pharaoh of Egypt, and I don't need to be an army general. I can change this country without these traits. – President Jonathan

B

UT everything President Goodluck Jonathan promised not to be, he has become in the countdown to the 2015 elections. A lion, a general, a Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, all rolled into one. All the president seems to have in mind these days is the election. Do not forget he told us last year that in 2014 he will let us know whether or not he will contest the election. Now 2014 is here, but the president cannot declare his stand because of recent developments in the polity. What has really stopped him from making his position known is the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

It is also because of these same girls that the media may have incurred the president’s wrath. In the past five days, the media has been under siege from a government, which naturally should protect it.

By virtue of his position, President Jonathan is the father of the nation.

He may be in power because we voted for him, but as president he is not expected to be partisan. His office transcends party politics.

59 DAYS AFTER

?

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

education and illiteracy.

Fayemi is a vessel unto honour. He is not perfect, even our Lord Jesus Christ said no one is perfect. He has set his hands on the plough of Ekiti state’sprogress unless we pull him back, it is forward ever and backward never. As an elder, I cannot keep quiet and allow people to be misled, Fayose has no plan for Ekiti.

If he does, he will not be talking about bringing up two new universities when the only one we have is not well funded because the state is not well endowed materially and I speak from experience.

His people are going round telling lies in order to hoodwink our people but they will not succeed. One of them without shame told me that telling lies is what they call “political bomb” and that they are ready to use it against Fayemi. I challenge all Ekiti people in diaspora to send word home about this election. We will not allow uncircumcised people from outside to take our patrimony from us.

Those who are planning to use extra electoral strategy to rule Ekiti state will not succeed because we will not allow them. I will not be a slave to anybody no matter how highly placed he or she may be and my children and my grandchildren and all Ekiti youth now and in future will not be slaves to outsiders.

Our people should be allowed to make a choice and I believe they will make the right choice. Let the word go out that we Ekiti people are inheritors of an intrepid tradition of resistance and if need be, we will resist again, any imposition from outside. Threats have been issued about this election to be a do or die affair.

Huge amount of money will be brought to Ekiti during this time to buy the voters. My advice to my people is to take the money and vote according to your conscience. The development in Ekiti in the last three and a half years provide opportunity for comparison and this is why this election is a referendum on good governance which has been the experience of Ekiti people during the Fayemi administration. We have the opportunity to build on this excellent performance and to lay the solid foundation of an industrialised state enjoying the application of the knowledge of our people for economic development.

Peace is a desideratum for development. We have enjoyed this peace for over three years and we do not want to go back to Egypt. No country today can be developed without external support. The same scenario goes for our state. If we do not have a government headed appropriately by a far seeing person, we will not be able to attract economic development assistance because only the deep can speak to the deep. A governor who is known in and outside his state, who speaks the language of the world, a renaissance man and who is sought after by the haves and have-nots, by billionaires and plebeians for inspiration will be able to attract attention to

our state for the economic upliftment of our people.

Education means a lot to our people because since independence it has provided means of upward social mobility. We need somebody who knows and appreciates the meaning of sound education.

You cannot give what you do not have. We grant Fayose kudos for lifting himself by his bootstrap but he should appreciate what Jide God has done for him Osuntokun and not push his luck too far. He must not allow himself to be used by any external force for their own purpose. If Fayose loves Ekiti people, he himself will accept the fact there is a difference between knowledge and mere understanding, between wisdom and ignorance, between studentship and scholarship.

Ekiti is too important for experimentation, we do not need a repeat of a failed poultry experiment that gobbled up N2 billion which could have built us a bright new Ekiti University Teaching Hospital. Fayose as a patriot must tell Ekiti people the truth that he cannot beat Fayemi in a fair contestation of ideas.

If we do not monitor this election and allow evil to triumph over good, people will laugh last at us that we have so many PhDs but no sense and that we cannot even make a wise choice. We have to stand up and be counted. This is the time to speak out.

At a time like this, silence is not golden. We need to seize the moment and march forward in development under the governorship of Fayemi but if we allow our state to be robbed of progressive rulership, may God forbid, but if we do, let the last man leaving the state shut the door and switch off the light.

‘Ekiti is too important for experimentation, we do not need a repeat of a failed poultry experiment that gobbled up N2 billion which could have built us a bright new Ekiti University Teaching Hospital.

Fayose as a patriot must tell Ekiti people the truth that he cannot beat Fayemi in a fair contestation of ideas’

Jonathan’s futile media war Sadly, he views everything from the narrow prism of party politics.

This is why today he is waging a war against the media. I do not know of those who ever fought the media and won. His cannot be an exception. So, it would be advisable for Jonathan and his men to retrace their steps before it is too late. Some people may be deceiving him that he should go all-out against the media. Those who are giving him such piece of advice do not love him. They are only talking like that because of the benefits therein. Frankly, what has a good leader to fear about the media?

Nothing, absolutely nothing. Only leaders with skeletons in their cupboards are afraid of the media. Is Jonathan such a leader? Is that why he has set the army against the media to search distribution vans under the guise of looking for bombs?

The media does not deliberately set out to probe anybody, not even a leader. Its job is to report events and to comment on them as it deems fit. The media is all about people and their activities. Since leaders are accountable to the people, it is the job of the media to let the people know what their leaders are doing. In doing that, the media must have unfettered access to information and also be free to circulate its products. This freedom is being threatened by the Jonathan administration under the pretence of maintaining security.

Between last Friday and Monday, the media came under siege, the sort of which was last experienced under the Babangida and Abacha juntas. Distribution vans were waylaid by military men across the country. It was a premeditated and clinically executed act, which caught

all the newspapers offguard. The soldiers seized the vans for the better part of the day. By the time they released the vans, it was too late to distribute the newspapers they were carrying. What do you do with such a product, which by then, had become perishable? You count it as unsold and that means a huge loss in revenue. Who should be responsible for that loss? Your guess is good as mine. Newspapers are not like edible products, which can be on display for as long as the vendor wants. It is time-barred and once that time is up the newspaper becomes as good as a tissue paper.

It is all over for a newspaper, no matter how rich its content may be, which is not distributed within time. If there are no vendors to collect the paper at the appointed hour, forget it, it will be returned to the publishers as unsold. The soldiers, who ambushed the vans of The Nation, The Punch, Vanguard, Leadership and Daily Trust, among others, knew what they were doing by holding on to those newspapers until about 5 pm or 6 pm before releasing them. They knew that at that hour, the papers can no longer be distributed to vendors not to talk of selling them.

As expected, the military defended its action. According to the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, the onslaught was launched after security agencies received ''intelligence reports indicating movement of materials with grave security implications across the country, using the channel of newsprint related consignment''. Yes, the military or any arm of the security agencies has the right to enforce security, but it should not be at the risk

of depriving the citizenry of their means of livelihood.

If it was true the soldiers were looking for explosives, why didn't they release the vehicles after searching them and finding no incriminating evidence in them?

Why detain the vehicles until very late in the day when their contents - the newspapers - could no longer be distributed for sale? Does that not show that the government had ulterior motives, and only made up its claim that it was looking for bombs, to justify what clearly is an illegal action? That jester called Doyin Okupe added insult upon the injury when he also spoke on the matter. ''If the security of the country is at stake, some segments may have to undergo some discomfort.

This is what we have to face because our country is under siege''. ur country did not come under siege today. It has been under siege for years and the media has been playing its role to ensure that things return to normal. If our leaders have been as concerned as the media things would not have become this bad.

Are the troops now hunting for newspapers' delivery vans all over the place not in the country when the President said there were Boko Haram elements in government?

O

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

What have they done to fish out these Boko Haramites?

They can go after vans on the roads of Ibadan, Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Abuja, Benin, Ekiti and Lokoja, but close their eyes to the President’s revelation that Boko Haram has infiltrated some government offices. Let the soldiers go and search those offices and even themselves for bombs.

Lest we forget, the matter of the abducted Chibok girls is also still there. How far have these soldiers gone in their search for the girls?

They should keep busy at that and let the media be. As for Jonathan, he should stop venting his anger on the media over what he perceives as a delay in making known his second term bid.

‘Everything Jonathan promised not to be, he has become in the countdown to the 2015 elections. A lion, a general, a Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, all rolled into one. He should stop venting his anger on the media over the perceived delay in declaring his second term bid’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

20

COMMENTS

E

KITI is a land of honour. The enduring characteristics of the people are hard work, loyalty, integrity. and fanatical opposition to any form of injustice. Their nightmare started in 2003 with PDP’s subversion of these cherished values. The coming election is therefore between forces of darkness that is determined to bring back the nightmare we experienced between 2003 and 2010, and forces of light which Fayemi’s administration represents.

Let us remember where the rain started beating us. As a people who never play Brutus, Ekitis don’t betray friends and benefactors. To them honour is everything. In contemporary times, two of our illustrious sons used by forces of darkness retraced their steps and demonstrated they were, above everything else, men of honour. In 1983, NPN capitalized on the bitterness expressed by marginalized restive Ekitis who although constituted over 50% of the population of the old Ondo State but allocated only a third of available distributive resources, to sponsor an ambitious Akin Omoboriowo to undermine Governor Adekunle Ajasin his boss. He was subsequently awarded a stolen mandate in the 1983 election.

The Ekitis who believe you cannot build justice on injustice denounced his action and rejected him. But it is on record that as a man of honour, Omoboriowo rejected a ministerial appointment offer by NPN and died a poor man in his son’s rented apartment in Lagos.

Ex-Governor Segun Oni who was used to prolong our nightmare for almost four years, has according to Governor Fayemi, chosen honour in spite of opportunity to cut deals as a former governor with the presidency’ and like other PDP members make billions to build palaces among the peoples’ squalor. Oni was said to have unconditionally opted to support Fayemi in order to produce the leadership our children can look up to as role models.

The often mischievous ‘sociological explanation’ for what many other Nigerians consider as a ‘strange behaviour’ of the Ekitis by my colleagues in the Department of Sociology here at the University of Lagos is that the Ekiti people are poor and they can as well say the truth since they cannot fall below poverty.

Conversely they say the Egbas are rich and have sworn never to be in the rain again (apology to Chinua Achebe). Thus inarguably illustrious men in their own rights such as Dr Majekodunmi who was used by the Balewa government to legimise illegalities in the old West, an Ernest Shonekan used by Babangida to subvert MKO Abiola’s victory and an Obasanjo who has behaved without grace after becoming the greatest beneficiary of an injustice done to Abiola who would have been treated with contempt by Ekitis were celebrated as icons.

Ekiti: Those who want to bring back our nightmare But this probably explains why Obasanjo who was celebrated for act of treachery back home showed such disdain for the Ekitis and their cherished values through his imposition of an ill-equipped Ayo Fayose on the peace loving people of Ekiti. He was to become the scourge of the people as violence took over an otherwise peaceful land with prominent and highly educated indigenes and traditional rulers capriciously assassinated.

Even after the impeachment of Fayose, Obasanjo who always want to play God thought he knew what was best for Ekiti. He exploited the intra party feud within Alliance for Democracy (AD), brought in General Olurin from Egba to ensure decamping aggrieved members of AD were rigged into office as PDP senators and members of the House of Representatives and Segun Oni as governor. When a rerun was ordered by the court following persistent protest by the people, another of Obasanjo’s confidants, Madam Ayoka was brought in from Abeokuta to conduct a rerun election that had been programmed to fail. It was the Appeal Court that finally put an end to a prolonged nightmare by restoring Fayemi’s stolen mandate.

Now, it is this nightmare that President Jonathan and those Obasanjo described as ‘criminal elements that have taken over PDP in the South-west’ intend to bring back. We must ask ourselves why Ayo Fayose with his antecedents, current disabilities including record of impeachment and pending criminal charges hanging on his neck in the court, is the only credible candidate PDP identified among a motley of about 20 aspirants. Obviously for the president and PDP, this election is not about agenda, it is about who is best suited to reenact the era of Fayose. And Fayose with his tem-

T

Similarly another outsider, Phil Aragbada has called our attention to what he described as “Fayemi’s palpable empathy for the grassroots, his proximity to the rural dwellers , evinced by his novel State Assisted Community Projects Initiative acronym-ed SACPI in contradistinction to one of his opponent’s ‘Boli and guguru’ –roasted plantain and groundnut eating shenanigans”.

I have always thought one doesn’t need to say the obvious. But the Fayemi has embarked on vigorous campaign in the media and romped through 132 Ekiti towns saying the obvious because his opponents who are yet to unveil their agenda nine days to election are busy spreading messages of fear and hate. As the people of land of honour file out to vote on June 21, we must remember the battle is against detractors who have nothing but disdain for our values; that we are up against those who by our standards are half-literates but now insist their standard is good enough for us; that those who, for a pot of porridge, subvert the truth fraudulently proclaiming 14 to be greater than 16, cannot be role model for our children.

Let us remember those who betray friends, their party leaders and their benefactors will betray the people. Never again must we allow our land of honour be desecrated by those to whom honour means nothing.

‘As the people of land of honour file out to vote on June 21, we must remember the battle is against detractors who have nothing but disdain for our values; that we are up against those who by our standards are half-literates but now insist their standard is good enough for us; that those who, for a pot of porridge, subvert the truth fraudulently proclaiming 14 to be greater than 16, cannot be role model for our children’

Still on Akpabio’s pensions law

HE popular aphorism for the media is that”they are the watchdogs of the society.” The moral of this saying is that the media, being “guard dogs” with strong territorial instincts to protect the society, ensure that societal values are kept. The Nigerian media flourished in this regard in its crusading agitation, which led to Nigeria’s independence.

Commenting on this, the late Dr.NnamdiAzikiwe, founder of the West African Pilot Newspaper and first indigenous president of Nigeria, in his reaction to the coup by the five majors, which ended the first republic said: “Violence has never been an instrument used by us, as founding fathers of the Nigerian Republic, to solve political problems. In the British tradition, we talked the Colonial Office into accepting our challenges for the demerits and merits of our case for self-government. After six constitutional conferences in 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, Great Britain conceded to us the right to assert our political independence as from October 1, 1960. None of the Nigerian political parties ever adopted violent means to gain our political freedom and we are happy to claim that not a drop of British or Nigerian blood was shed in the course of our national struggle for our place in the sun.”

The vehicle, which drove Nigeria’s aspiration for independence, was the press. All the nationalists and founding fathers of our nation were involved in a crusading media campaign for Nigeria’s independence. They were the true watchdogs of our society.

Again when Nigeria was plunged into the darkest period of its history (excluding the Civil War) under the late General Sani Abacha dictatorship, the press again rose up as a veritable watchdog of society and battled the Abacha dictatorship admirably until God in His infinite mercies “numbered Abacha’s days” and took the man many described as “a thoroughly nasty piece of work” away. Here again the press proved to be true watchdogs.

Unfortunately, after 15 years of democracy, the media appears to be in its worst state of depravity. Nothing betrayed

‘That Governor Akpabio has decided to ask for these sections to be expunged from the amended law and revert to the openended nature because of pressure of the press signals the death of common-sense – not the victory of the press’

perament, disposition and empty bravado is the only one who fits that bill.

President Jonathan and PDP do not give a damn. That probably explains why they didn’t give a damn about performance in picking a man whose tenure was an unmitigated disaster to face an high achieving sitting Governor Fayemi who has received accolades from home and abroad for the faithful implementation of his eight-point programme in the last three and half years. Honours have come from his grateful Ekiti compatriots who gave him the title of “Ilufemiloye” for faithful adherence to promises made. Independent and credible voices have scored him high. Akin Oyebode, who we all know calls a spade a spade says he has done well. Chief Afe Babaloa, a PDP sympathizer and the chairman of a group Obasanjo used to recruit Segun Oni as governor has since praised Fayemi for his achievements.

Endorsements for Fayemi on the basis of his performance have come from those we all know will never hawk praises to undeserving elements. Professor Tunde Fagbenle, Professor Segun Gbadegesin, and Professor Olatunji Dare who writing on Fayemi phenomena says “under Fayemi, Ekiti is thriving in ways it has never known; there, transformation is not a slogan; it is a lived reality,” asserting that “Unless it is too far gone in its delusion, the PDP must know that it cannot win a free and fair election in Ekiti, much less with a candidate who has nothing to offer.”

Mohammed Haruna, a veteran columnist you can hardly be faulted on facts even when it involves his religion and Hausa/Fulani, his weak points, predicted that despite the desperation of PDP , “Fayemi will retain his job in a free and fair election because for a state with such a meager revenue allocation (N3

billion month compared to Balyelsa’s N24 billion) it is a miracle that Fayemi had been able to achieve most of what he promised nearly four years ago, especially in the areas of education, infrastructural development and social security”.

Even outsiders like Ikechi Emenike has also observed that “While Fayemi speaks of and works towards a future of transparency, good governance and prosperity, Ayo Fayose evokes retrogression, a fall-back to the bad old days of brigandage the intelligent citizens of Ekiti would rather forget” adding that “Try as they may, it is hard to see how the people of the Land of Honour will not queue behind a man who has been so faithful to his promises, come June 21”.

By Joseph Thompson the sordid state of the media in this respect than the case of the Governors and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law in Akwa Ibom State. The part of the law which came under the severest attack was the amendment in the 16 year old law, which put a cap of N100 million on what the state could spend on the treatment of a former governor and his wife and a cap of N50million on what the state should spend on a former deputy governor and his wife in a year. The law clearly states that this money was not a pay-out and should only be paid to health institutions which treated the senior citizens. It was not categorized like an allowance nor was there any part in the law which stated that a former governor or deputy governor was entitled to be paid this money in part or in whole, if he were not ill. A call to the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General, Bar EkpenyongNtekim would have cleared the matter and enlightened any journalist who is thorough and profound in his practice. But this is the era when journalists do not allow the facts to interfere with their conclusions.

In some of the editorials, the writers in lamentable ignorance claimed that the law meant that every former governor would walk away every year with N100 million and every former deputy governor with N50 million every year – whether they were sick or not. This was in spite of explanations given by the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sam Ikon, that this was more like a health insurance scheme and would not be paid out to these persons - but to health institutions if they were sick. But such facts did not fit in with the preconceived conspiracy theory of the biased and compromised media, and they conveniently and shamelessly ignored it.

The real loser as Governor Akpabio has asked for amendment to be expunged from the law is the Akwa Ibom tax payer.

It was courageous and bold for Akpabio to take such an action.

But sane analysts would have noticed that for him to do such a quick turnaround is indicative that he acted in good conscience and had nothing to hide or protect. When the law was proposed initially, labour first indicated its readiness to embark on an industrial action. But when they were made to understand that because the law on the free health treatment of former governors and deputy governors had no ceiling, the state government was spending over N300 million on health refunds

yearly, they backed down and accepted the justification for the law.

Take the case of the late Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon.

He was on life support for eight years before his death. If he were a former governor of Akwa Ibom State (God forbid!), that would have cost the state billions of naira because there is no limit to how much of the tax payers money can be spent on medical treatment for former governors. Records show that sometimes because of this open-ended law some former governors hired air ambulances for their comfort and passed the bill to the Akwa Ibom State government.

Perhaps the most serious omission was that the media failed to remember that man thinks in comparative terms. They should have compared the Akwa Ibom former Governors and former Deputy Governor’s Pension Law to what is obtained in other states of the federation.

Unlike Akwa Ibom, which has a provision for one house for a former governor in Abuja or Uyo, in Lagos State the law provides for two houses for each former governor in both Lagos and Abuja. In Lagos State, the law provides for six brand new cars for the each former governor every three years. In Rivers State the same law provides for three brand new cars every four years for each former governor. In Akwa Ibom, the Law provides for only one brand new car every four years for a former governor. In Lagos and Rivers States this law provides for free medical treatment for all former governors and deputy governors and members of their immediate families, whereas in Akwa Ibom it only provides for the former governor and deputy governor and their spouses with a ceiling of N100 million and N50 million respectively.

Additionally, in Lagos the law provides for two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four for house and four for personal security) for each former governor. In Akwa Ibom State the law only provides for adequate security for the former governor. In Borno State the same law provides for an annual vacation in any country of his choice for a former governor and his immediate family.

That Governor Akpabio has decided to ask for these sections to be expunged from the amended law and revert to the openended nature because of pressure of the press signals the death of common-sense – not the victory of the press. The losers here are the Akwa Ibom taxpayers and posterity. No thanks to the press.

• Thompson is of Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

21

COMMENTS

I

T never stops coming. The truth – the lesson – about Nigeria never keeps coming and striking us in the face. It never stops coming too – our uproarious reactions to the pains inflicted by Nigeria’s truth.

The Nigerian truth came upon us strongly again last Saturday in Ado-Ekiti. And it will keep coming, no matter how loudly we scream our pain. One more mother among us lost a son –the last of the thousands of Yoruba mothers who have lost sons to violence caused by Nigeria’s culture of violent electioneering and election rigging. And more and more mothers among us will keep losing sons in the same circumstance. That is the inescapable ramification of our nation’s membership of Nigeria.

In a speech by Prof. Banji Akintoye to a large gathering of Yoruba leaders in Lagos on April 26, 2010, I find the following words: “In Nigerian politics, the controllers of federal power will never cease rigging the elections, and will never cease using federal resources and power to (do it).

As long as we Yoruba are in Nigeria, there will always be some of our men and women who will be recruited, and some who will think it is smart to take advantage of the things being offered (by the rigging of elections).

The majority of our Yoruba people, on the other hand, will always detest rigged elections and reject the insult that the rigging of their elections represents. What this has meant is that many of our young men have been dying violently and needlessly in the course of elections.

It also has meant that some of our most

‘All I see and know about the Yoruba nation convinces me that the destiny of a nation like the Yoruba nation cannot possibly be to sink forever in a country like Nigeria’

D

ESPITE the gloom that evil men have tried to cast over the nation by their acts of wickedness, the last few days have been one of excitement and rejoicing in Kwara State. Prior to the annual celebrations to mark the Children Day on May 27 and the anniversary of Nigeria’s current democracy two days later, the nation had been thrown into unimaginable confusion by the wicked kidnap of over 200 school girls from Chibok, in Borno State.

This year’s anniversary marked the third edition of Democracy Day that the administration of Governor AbdulFattah Ahnmed would witness and but for the act of the insurgents, it would have necessitated the rolling out of the drums to celebrate a dream and a philosophy; the understanding that current administration can conveniently and comfortably continue from its predecessor without the loss of progress that characterises succession in many parts of black Africa.

But the dastardly act of the insurgents ensured that the usually boisterous Children Day celebrations was reduced to sessions of prayers and intercession by the youngsters and the banners some of them carried in support of the #bringbackourgirls protest only testified to the fact that these are not normal times for Nigeria.

Few days before then, mothers in the state had gathered, under the leadership of Omolewa Ahmed, the humble and humane wife of the state governor, to send our heartfelt cries to heaven to intervene in the matters of the abducted girls.

Yet despite the gloom, the people of Kwara still had reasons to celebrate. For the sake of moderation, the events lined up for the third year anniversary were significantly toned down. But it was the outward celebrations that were toned down, because as for the reality of progress on ground in terms of infrastructure and social amenities that the Maigida administration has added to the face of Kwara in three years, there was no way anyone could tone down those ones.

There was no way, for instance, even the intellectually deficient and jaundiced criticism of the opposition can tone down the reality of the 10,200 people the administration employed in the formal sector in the last three years. Indeed, 5200 of them collected their letters of employment on Democ-

The truth about Nigeria educated and most productive men and women of all parties have routinely had to waste their trained and productive lives before so-called election courts – and that those who find themselves in state governments are never able to settle down and govern properly. For us as a people, it is an awful prospect of “head you lose, tail you lose”. For how long should any people surrender its life to this debilitating bleeding?

All our political leaders are forever blaming one another. But as a perceptive elder in our nation, all I see is that they are all to be pitied – because our whole nation, like other nations in Nigeria, is trapped in a debacle and is not sure of a way out. I see all of our politicians, strong and strongly nurtured men and women, compulsively acting on a stage that we their people did not choose and do not want but cannot quit – like a pet tethered to a post, circling the post perpetually”.

The only way to get out of this terrible prospect, of course, is that more and more of us should commit ourselves to finding the way out of it. As Chief Awolowo often used to say, if you want to go to the moon (no matter how difficult that may be), the first step is to take the firm decision that you want to get to the moon; that way, you create for yourself the problem of finding how a person can get to the moon. People who do not so decide, who do not commit themselves to reaching a goal, cannot reach any goal. All I see and know about the Yoruba nation convinces me that the destiny of a nation like the Yoruba nation cannot possibly be to sink forever in a country like Nigeria. As the ancient Greeks used to say, “One may not be able to prevent the birds of misfortune from flying over one’s head; but one is certainly able to prevent them from settling and making nests in one’s hair”. The Yoruba nation needs to stop and consider the path it finds itself upon. The Yoruba nation needs to stop and take stock – no matter what any Yoruba persons might have gained, may currently be gaining, or may be hoping to gain, from the

corruption, confusion and mess that is Nigeria. The Bible says that it is only a fool that trades without stopping to take account. The Yoruba nation is not a fool – and Yoruba people are no fools.

To return to the Ado-Ekiti incident in particular,and to the probability that such incidents will soon multiply, not only in Ekiti State but also in Osun State, I would wish to counsel the president of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan. As we Yoruba are accustomed to doing, we have been watching you intently, Mr. President. Your attitude to, and relationship with, the Yoruba nation have developed in ways that can only be described as weird.

Hardly any of us Yoruba knew anything about you when your boss, President Yaradua, died five years ago and there arose a strong demand that he be succeeded by another Northerner – according to established agreements in your political party. Yet, out of principle (because we are a people dedicated to principles), we arose stoutly to support your right to become Acting President on the basis of the Nigerian Constitution. While some of our leading citizens at home led great demonstrations in the streets to support your right, some of us abroad spoke out boldly.

You became Vice-President, and later President.

Throughout your tenure in these exalted offices, you have generally treated the Yoruba people with disrespect – in fact with a kind of petty disrespect unusual to the Nigerian presidency. If you are convinced that you are president of all of Nigeria, then you have never, in your appointment of people to high offices in the presidency,regarded the Yoruba people as part of Nigeria. Concerning this, some of our topmost rulers and leaders visited you again and again, all without much effect.

Now, the fear has grown among the masses of our people that, for unknown reasons, federal powers will be used to generate conflict and confusion in the Yoruba Southwest. The calculation, it is said, is that a state

Gbogun gboro of communal collapse in the Yoruba Southwest will somehow help your re-election bid in 2015. Certain recent changes of senior federal personnel in Ekiti and Oshun States, where state elections are due in June and August respectively, are said to be part of the federal preparations for this scheme. And the Ado-Ekiti incident, in which the federal Mobile Police reportedly employed excessive force to break up a peaceful rally, resulting in the death of a citizen, is regarded by most of our people as the kind of federal behaviour to expect in the South-west in the months to come.

Mr. President, I would urge you to reconsider this whole situation, and to use your great power and influence to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections in Ekiti and Osun states. In spite of the usual lines separating citizens belonging to different political parties, Yoruba people know their interests and their friends. And Yoruba people have acquired, worldwide, an enormous capacity to defend the interests of their nation against any person, no matter how high in Nigeria, who may try to hurt their nation. As a friend, I wish you good success, Mr. President.

Needless to say, I speak for, or against, no political party. I speak only for the well-being of the Yoruba nation.

Ahmed: Celebrating excellence

By Abdulwahaab Oba racy Day under the government’s Quickwin programme, a project designed take as many Kwarans as possible out dire unemployment.

Or how could one tone down the reality of the two 2.5MVA, 33KVA/11kV Injection substation at Agunjin/Abayan community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

That project, which cost a sum of N42.8 million, will provide electricity to some 36 communities. There is no way to tone down the quantum leap in sociability and comfort as well as the development that such a project would add to the people of the rural areas.

And there was no way to reduce the intensity of joy among residents over the reality of the rehabilitated waterworks at ObboAiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area.

The project was first commissioned in 1977 and served the community for years before it broke down and was abandoned. But the Ahmed administration, with a policy of ensuring no resident lives beyond 500 metres of access to water, took up the rehabilitation.

Again, except you would ask them to vanish into the thin air, there was no way to tone down the reality of the General Hospitals in Offa, Omu-Aran, Kaima, Share and Ilorin or the roads in Ijara-Isin-Isanlu-Isin in Isin Local Government Area as well as the rehabilitated Oro-Ijomu-Oro Road in Irepodun council area all of which are products of the three years of Maigida’s leadership.

The various projects commissioned during the week and others before then are all proof of a promise fulfilled. As noted by both Ahmed and the Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kishra while commissioning some of projects, they all represent the fulfilment of a promise made by the administration at inception.

For instance, the provision of water was a promise Ahmed made on May 29, 2011 when he took over from the administration of Senator Bukola Saraki. Kishra was proud of this in his speech at Obbo-Aiyegunle: “when we assumed office three years ago, we made provision of potable water one of our core priori-

ties. This decision was borne out of the conviction that water is life, it has no enemy and its availability and accessibility enhance good living. We pursued water supply programmes in all nooks and crannies of Kwara State and most of such projects have been delivered for the use of the people”.

According to the Deputy Governor, government has in the last few years been able to achieve a radical improvement in water supply situation in the state such that today, the water accessibility gap has reduced to 700m in 2011 down from 3,500m across the state.

“The present administration”, he pointed out, “has continued sustained effort in this direction since inception. In 2012 government unveiled a programme to rehabilitate not less than 34 of the existing 94 water works spread across the state. While the scope of works in some of the waterworks was to upgrade them to their designed capabilities, works in others were actually to expand their capacities.

The first phase of the programme, comprising 14 water works has been completed.”

There is no way to tone down the reality of such achievements.

Nor can any one tone down the Joy of Mr and Mrs Abdullahi Yushau of Kuntu in Ilorin who had the first baby at the remodelled Ilorin General Hospital and got automatic employment from the state government in addition to the N200, 000 support for the family from Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

And as the governor himself pointed out, the achievements of this administration are not on paper but on ground; they are not lip service political sloganeering but projects that anyone can verify. As he has done in the area of rural road and electrification, so has he done in the area of health and human capital development.

Hear him: “While we have left no one in doubt as to our determination to build our people’s human capital through functional education and entrepreneurship, we are equally resolved to complement that drive with access to quality healthcare. This is because there can be no development without a healthy population which is the most critical factor of production”.

How can one tone down the joy of the people of Offa who thronged out en masse to celebrate the commissioning of their rehabilitated, modernised and equipped general hospital? The words of Hon. Justice E. A. Adegbite, speaking on behalf of Offa community, that “we are overwhelmed. We are grateful that our perceived political difference has not influenced the Governor Abdulfatah’s administration distribution and spread of infrastructure and other dividend of democracy” cannot be vague.

Ahmed insists “ with all sense of pride” his administration’s reform and promises are not mere lips service, but are visible and concrete all over the state.

The concrete evidence surely include the State-of-Art Kwara Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin, recruitment, training and re-training of health personnel and expansion of Community Health Insurance Scheme across the three senatorial districts among others. At all the occasions, during the week, he promised to do more.

And when you realise that the current successes have come within a very constrained funding allocation, then one would surely rise up to salute the financial wizardry of Maigida.

And as the saying goes, Kwarans can take the governor’s promise “to sustaining the current upgrading of infrastructure across all sectors” to the bank and come back next year to reap the yield.

Surely, in Kwara, it is good here.

• Oba is the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor

‘How can one tone down the joy of the people of Offa who thronged out en masse to celebrate the commissioning of their rehabilitated, modernised and equipped general hospital?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

22

GO VERNMENT OF BENUE ST ATE OF NIGERIA GOVERNMENT STA MINISTR Y OF LANDS AND SUR VEY MINISTRY SURVEY LAND USE ACT L5 VOLUME 6, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA 2004 (DESIGNATION OF URBAN AREASORDER 1996 RE- CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF LAND RIGHTS IN MAKURDI URBAN AREA Notice is hereby given that all holders of Statutory or Customary rights of Occupancy over any parcel of land within Makurdi Urban Area should submit same for re-certification to the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Benue State of Nigeria.

2.

Those who do not have Statutory and Customary Rights of Occupancy but have developed any land within the 16km radius of Makurdi Urban Area should also report to the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Survey for registration and certification of such lands in accordance with section 24 of the Land Use Act. Cap L5 Vol. 8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Formerly Land Use (Decree 1978).

3.

Re-certification and registration exercise is scheduled to last for six (6) months only and shall commence from 30th day of June, 2014 to 30th day of December, 2014

4.

The Ministry of Land and Survey shall assume that land holders who fail to comply with this notice within the stipulated period DO NOT have any claim and such lands shall be taken over and allocated to other deserving applicants.

5.

Re-certification rates are based on the use clause stated in the Certificates of Occupancy. Holders of titles over Residential and Mission properties shall pay N30, 000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira) only while holders of titles to other land uses shall pay a flat rate of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only for recertification.

Dated this 28th day of April, 2014.

SURV. JOHN TONDU Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Survey

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Less than 70,000 candidates write History in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) yearly, as against the almost one million who register for Government. Experts are urging the Federal Government to bridge the gap in the study of Nigerian History in schools.

•War plane used during the civil war at the War Museum in Umuahia, Abia State.

PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

Help ... History faces extinction in schools •Enrolment unimpressive, performance dips as apathy grows

W

HO is Obafemi Awolowo? Our correspondent asked Friday Aaron, an SS1 pupil of Diary Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege on the outskirts of Lagos. "I think he is the first president of Nigeria," he replied.

What of Nnamdi Azikiwe? "I don't know, o!" he said.

Friday represents the average secondary school pupil, who knows little of Nigeria’s history. The Nation quizzed some children between the ages of 11 and 19 to appraise how much of Nigeria's history they know.

Celestine Chiemerie, a JSS3 pupil in one of the secondary schools in Anambra State, remembered the late South African legend,

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Jimoh Ibrahim (Ilorin), Nwanosike Onu (Awka), Nicholas Kalu (Calabar), Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt), Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke (Umuahia), Precious Dikewoha (Port Harcourt), From Damisi Ojo (Akure), Kolade Adeyemi (Kano), Adamu Suleiman (Sokoto) and Damisi Ojo (Akure)

Nelson Mandela, but she remained blank when asked if she knew Nigeria’s first President Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Some other pupils confessed that they had not heard the name of any pre-independence or post-independence political parties.

This has become a source of concern for some academics, teachers and parents, who lament the low level of knowledge of Nigerian History by the youth. They attribute it to many factors, especially the levity with which the subject is

INSIDE

Don’t meddle with schools, Minister warns communities -Page 28

Creative entries impress judges -Page 45

handled in the education system at all levels.

There is even a belief that the subject has been expunged from the national curriculum. But it is not so. The Nation confirmed from the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which handles curriculum matters, that history is still being taught at the senior secondary level and tested by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) in the Senior School Certificate Examination. Some

CAMPUS LIFE Nothing has changed despite June 12’ -Page 29

elements of History is also being taught in Civic Education and Social Studies at the primary and junior secondary levels. However, many advocates of history have described this as inadequate.

In the United States, History is compulsory, from elementary to second year of college. In the United Kingdom, the subject is compulsory up to secondary school level. In Nigeria, the 138 students who successfully underwent the United States Pathway Programme (USPP) at Kaplan College, Yaba, courtesy of the office of the Special Adviser to the Niger Delta, had to study American History before • Continued on Page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

26

EDUCATION • Continued from Page 25

transferring to American universities last month. Also, Nigerian schools that implement the British curriculum, teach British History to pupils sitting for the IGCSE. The British practice used to be the case in Nigeria in the 80s said Prof Siyan Oyeweso, a professor of History at the Osun State University, because the government placed premium on History as a subject.

He said: "History used to be a very fascinating subject to both primary and secondary schools' pupils in Nigeria in the immediate post-independence era up to the 1980s. Also, history was a course of first choice for many students of Teachers' Training Colleges, Colleges of Education and Universities during this period. This was because of the nationalist themes that had been incorporated into its syllabi from the 1950s when the nation was preparing for independence.

“Even after independence in 1960, Nigerian governments still gave formal recognitions to the role of history in national development by not only making the subject compulsory in primary and secondary schools but also by establishing and funding historical research schemes such as Yoruba Historical Research Scheme established by Chief Awolowo's government of Western Region in 1955."

Principal of Sani Dingyadi Unity Secondary School, Sokoto, and one time History teacher, Abubakar Marafa, remembers enjoying history as a subject in his secondary school days.

"If I will recall our days in secondary school, we started history at Form 1 to 4. We were studying History concurrently with Government. We had many history books and students were interested and wanted to read and know much about history of the country and beyond. Today, many schools, students and pupils have lost their historical identities, origin and developmental backgrounds," he lamented.

TOTAL ENTRY FOR HISTORY IN MAY/JUNE WASSCE (2007-2012) YEAR 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

ENTRY 65,077 63,045 63,433 54,411 59,565 64,470

SAT 57,543 55,127 55,127 47,520 53,467 58,317

CREDITS 37.10% 27.97% 28.47% 34.52% 35.13% 38.24%

FAILED 40.05% 47.25% 46.43% 34.18% 38.31% 31.16%

Source: WAEC TOTAL ENTRY FOR GOVERNMENT MAY/JUNE WASSCE (2007-2012) YEAR 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

ENTRY 792,019 824,097 861,390 805,298 925,300 1,015,901

SAT 760,488 788,968 829,204 773,458 894,308 975,166

CREDITS 64.32% 59.98% 60.48% 66.92% 68.10% 64.58%

FAILED 15.38% 20.37% 12.94% 12.59% 12.79% 15.94%

Source: WAEC

Help ... History faces extinction

What the curriculum covers

At the senior secondary level, SS1SS3 pupils learn History under 17 broad themes covered by the curriculum. These themes include: historiography and historical skeels, PreColonial Nigeria 1, Nigeria in the 19th century, British Rule and Nigerian Reaction (1900-1914), Nigeria since independence, Military intervention in governance, post civil war Nigeria, Africa and the wider world, History and global issues among others.

In the Civic Education curriculum for JSS1-JSS3 classes, pupils learn such themes as: Citizenship, National consciousness and national identity, human rights and rule of law, Nigerian constitution, national values, and democracy. In Social Studies, they learn socialization, people and their environment, culture, social issues and problems, communication, family, national economy and world issues, which may infuse elements of history. But many academics are not satisfied with such content.

Influence of policy

In interviews with The Nation, many respondents lamented the inadequacy of history taught in schools.

They blamed it on frequent changes in government policy.

Marafa, Principal of Sani Dingyadi Unity School, Sokoto, said government's inconsistent policy gave rise to students classifying History as optional.

"This summersault has today impacted negatively with consequential regrets in our quest for development, social justice and unity as a nation," he said.

A Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Ilorin, Mrs Alice Arinlade Jekayinfa, also criticized the government for making History an elective to be chosen instead of Government.

She said, "Rather than make the study of History, especially as it concerns the history of the country, compulsory, the Nigerian government has chosen to make it an elective sub-

•Alh. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.

•Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President.

• Obafemi Awolowo, first premier, Western Region.

•Ahmadu Bello, first premier, Northern Region.

•General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, first military head of state.

•Chief Odumegu Ojukwu, Biafran Warlord.

ject alongside Government in the Senior Secondary School level."

A teacher who teaches in Calabar and does not want to be named, attributed the government's attitude to History to a lack of interest.

"I think it is a lack of interest," said a source who teaches in Calabar, "especially from the angle of the government which does not see it as important. If there was interest there would be teachers and more students. Have you ever seen any serious school say they don't have an English teacher?

That is because there is strong interest in the subject hence there will always be a teacher. Many see it as not

important, but there is nothing that could be more wrong. In fact I think it is the most important thing because if you don't know where you are coming from as a country, how can you learn from past mistakes to know where you are going into the future?"

ber of candidates that sat for History in the examination fluctuated between 47,520 and 57,543 (recorded in 2012). The best performance in the period, 38.24 per cent, was recorded in 2012.

In contrast, between 760,488 and 975,166 wrote Government, with the best performance of 68.10 per cent recorded in 2011.

Performance in WASSCE

That History has been relegated to the background in favour of Government Enrolment can be easily deduced from the entry and performance statistics in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Between 2007 and 2012, the num-

Lack of interest by students?

Can the apathy for History be attributed to lack of interest in the subject by learners?

In Anambra, Rivers, Ondo, and many states across the country, few

‘

Rather than make the study of History, especially as it concerns the history of the country, compulsory, the Nigerian government has chosen to make it an elective subject alongside Government in the Senior Secondary School level

’

secondary schools offer History.

Many teachers interviewed by The Nation complained that students seem uninterested in taking History as a subject.

Some of teachers of the subject said many pupils show apathy, resulting in poor attendance.

Mr. Charles Omereji, a History teacher in Rumuakani Secondary school, Obio/Akpr local government of Rivers State, faulted pupils claim, and wondering how many among them are interested in the subject.

Omereji said: "Only few students are interested in joining the History class. The rest just wanted it for fun or to use it to complete their subjects.

To be frank many students in this part of the country are not ready to learn History.

"The funny part of it is that they don't respect the subject and in the same manner they don't respect the teacher. They feel the subject is not important to them. Most of the time when History class is on, they jump out of the class without permission.”

On enquiries at Saint John of God's Handmaids in Amansea, a secondary school in Awka, a pupil, Augustina Okafor, told our reporter that interest in History has waned because pupils see it as a difficult subject compared to Government.

Besides, 13 year-old Uchenna Okonkwo bewailed how difficult it has been recruiting teachers to teach the subject, leading to loss of interest by pupils.

Master Jideofor Obidiegwu an SS1 pupil of Greatness Academy, Port Harcourt lamented to our reporter how non-inclusion of History is already swaying his future ambition.

"My Daddy tells me that the late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu (the Biafrian warlord who started the civil war) studied History. I would have liked to study History, to be a great and strong man like him because of the way my Daddy always talks about him. But I cannot do that now because I have not been taught History since I started going to school. I am now in Commercial class hoping to become an Accountant in future."

However, another History teacher in Aluu Community Secondary School Mr. John Ndukwe, said parental orientation is chiefly a factor pupils fail to understand the importance of learning History as a subject.

"All you see our parent talk about is that my children will be a lawyer, medical doctor, accountant, and scientist, and nobody will say my son or daughter will be a Historian. But I believe that the more parents and the society understand the important of History, the more the children will inculcate it.

On the other hand, pupils are placing the fault at teachers' doorstep for failing to make the subject attractive.

They called on the government to retrain History teachers to teach the subject in line with 21st century teaching techniques.

Chinyere Amadi, a History pupil schooling in Port Harcourt, said teachers are the problem "Our teachers are the ones making things difficult for us, they should teach us well. I think there is a way somebody will teach a subject and students will enjoy it and many people will like to enter the class," she said.

Another pupil of History, Ubima Onyemuche Ibe of Community Secondary School, in Port Harcourt, said her peers describe history students as lazy, noting that teachers have done little or nothing in the face of such reproach.

She said: "Teachers need to work harder because students are yet to be convinced to appreciate the importance of the subject. Most importantly, our parents don't encourage us to study History."

The Principal of a private school Yandutse College Kano Mr Nsikan Ntah, said students' love for History may have ebbed owing to the subject complexity which makes it intellectually tasking.

"Actually, my school is not offering • Continued on Page 27

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

EDUCATION Dr Sule Bello is a teacher of History at the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In this interview with KOLADE ADEYEMI, Bello contends that History is an all-encompassing subject capable of addressing the nation's socio, economic and political challenges. Bello also blamed the government's somersaulting education policy and the structure of learning curriculum.

‘History can address Nigeria’s socio-political problem’

• Governor-General Lord Fredrick Lugard’s residence in Lokoja, Kogi State.

OW significant is History as a subject to national development?

To start with, History teaches you about subjects on nations and countries, people and their way of life.

If you a member of a society, you have to know the history of that society in or- •Dr Bello der to place yourself within it. These are very essential from the historical point of view in order for you to have a social and political background upon which you can guide your activities. Why many African countries today are failing is because their leaders and citizens do not know the history of their own nation. As a result of this, they have no objective, and anybody can teleguide or mislead them.

"You see, the issue is that if you do not know your stand on anything, you can fall for everything. How can run a country, or organise the people to achieve a common goal? It is your history that can make you understand what kind of people lived and are living around you and in which direction they are going. Even in our traditional societies, when a child is born into a community, they teach him to know who the heroes of that community are and where that community came from so that he will be part of that community and share his aspiration with others around him.

Compare how history is taught in Nigeria with other developed countries.

For instance, take these European countries, one of the subjects they teach in every university, in every school is History. A child bred in Europe, Russia, United States of America, or China knows the history of that country, the place of that country in the world, what his people have been through and what their aspirations are today. Therefore such child is in any capacity to contribute positively in that country.

In Nigeria, how can you be patriotic? How can you associate with the country if you don't know anything about it? You can only be patriotic because you know a lot about your country, understand it and therefore can contribute towards it. This is a very important issue and I hope that those in position of leadership will take action on what we are saying here; and learn from what other countries are doing to promote their own history.

One of the major things to do towards nation building is to introduce each individual to History-to make him aware of the History of his own country.

It is so unfortunate that the whole idea of our going to school today is what you can study, and how to graduate and get a job. When you go to school, you should read History. In developed countries, History is taught as a compulsory subject in primary schools, in secondary schools and higher institutions. It is a compulsory subject so that people can know about themselves and can study any other subject, but you must know your History which is the first and most important thing.

In this part of the world, people often believe History is an academic affair which are meant for schools alone.

"I must put this fact clear that the importance of History is not only to be taught in school. It is the only subject that each community must invest on heavily and teach. It is not only in school but even outside.

In other countries, you cannot walk up to one to three streets without seeing some statues of people who have contributed to that society in the past, or some iconic places or memorials. You will see various kinds of documents or documentaries which you will read, or watch about the history of that place. So, whether you go to school or not, you must imbibe the History of your community.

Students are not interested in History nowadays. Would you also blame them?

I feel bad when people blame students for not having interest in History as a subject. Students are not the problem, the problem is the poor policy of government, because they (government) have refused to create avenue for self-awareness. I think it is important that the government put more emphasis on the training of History teachers at various levels so that they can be well equipped to teach Nigerians their own history from their own point of view. It is a bitter truth that low-patronage of History studies is in all Nigerian universities; and you can trace the problem to primary and secondary schools because most of the students did not study History at all before going into the university. So, this is the situation and it is very unfortunate.

H

• First storey building in Nigeria, located in Badagry, Lagos.

History faces extinction in schools • Continued from Page 26

History as a subject. Like in my secondary school days in the 80s, most students prefer to study Government as a subject. Most especially, when the students realised that History and Government couldn't be offered at the same time because they are two related subjects. This development made it possible for students to prefer Government to History because many students complained that History is complex - full of dates and events; so it requires students to study even harder if they must excel in it.

"Based on these reasons, History started declining and students patronise Government; increasing enrolment figure of students studying Political Science to the detriment of those studying History in universities. This trend contributed to the scarcity of qualified History teachers.

History at tertiary level

Few universities still offer History alone. It has become a trend to offer it with other components like: Diplomacy, Strategic Studies, and International Relations to boost enrolment.

At the University of Calabar, which offers History and International Relations, our reporter gathered that not many applied to the department when it was merely History.

A lecturer in the department who did not want to be named said: "A very negligible number of students actually applied to study in this department when it was just History.

Then, a bulk of the students were those who could not get admission to study Law or even English. But as soon as the International Relations was added to it, there had been an influx of students wanting to come into the department. Even those here tend to slant towards the International Relations aspect of the course than the History."

The situatiomn is similar at the University of Lagos which has a de-

partment of History and Strategic Studies. Dr Michael Ogbeidi said the university is able to fill its students’ quota but is restricted by the carrying capacity given by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“We do not have issues with enrolment here. It is the NUC that gives us issues. At any given time, we get at least 300 students seeking admission but the NUC will tell us not to admit more than 70 or 90.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, what is offered is History combined with International Relations, while the course is not offered at its sister institution, Anambra State University ANSU. The Public Relations Officer of the University of Port Harcourt Dr Williams Wodi, also confirmed that to win back many 'lost sheep' and make the discipline again attractive to prospective students, History is now merged with Diplomatic Studies."

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) offer History. However, only few students offer the course. One of them, Adekunle Badmus, described the department as a dumping ground because majority of the students do not pick the course as their first choice.

Patronage of History at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and the University of Sokoto "is nothing to take stock of," said a lecturer who pleaded anonymity.

"Not many students apply to study History like other courses," the source said.

A student of History at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa .

"This is affecting not only the broad knowledge of the history of the nation, but the basic knowledge of our history among pupils.

"UDUS has a History department including lecturers but patronage has to be managed because most candidates don't apply for it.

"Like in our own case, the school authorities have to draw from applicants to other courses to make for the department," he said.

Lack of history teachers

"Does such a subject like History still exist in schools today?" this was a question a history teacher was asked at the Cross River State Ministry of Education.

Recounting the incident, a teacher who teaches in a public secondary school in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state, said the question was directed at the History teacher in his school.

Odey, as he is called, said: "Even people in the Ministry of Education are surprised History still exists in schools. At a time, about four of us received queries and we had to go the Ministry of Education to answer to a panel. When the History teacher stood up to answer for himself, one of those in the panel was surprised and asked him if there was such a subject still in existence.

"As a teacher I must say that History as a subject is gradually going into extinction. In my school, we have only one teacher who teaches SS1- SS3 pupils. In the last SSCE only four candidates wrote the subject."

Another teacher, simply called Bob, from Government Secondary School in Bakassi local government area, said his school has had no History teacher for two years.

Bob said: “There has been no History teacher in our school for almost two years now. The teacher we had got a job somewhere else and since then there has been no replacement.

I feel maybe they believe it is not important otherwise I don't see how in almost two years they cannot shop for a replacement for the teacher since he left.

"At present, no student in the school studies History. During the last • Continued on Page 28

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

EDUCATION

History faces extinction in schools •Continued from Page 27 WASSCE, about five or six candidates wrote the subject, but they just came and registered in the school. Even when the teacher was here, only two students in SS3 were offering the subject. I know that if it was for a subject like Mathematics or Physics, they would have gotten a replacement already. But like I said I don't think they think it is that important."

In Ondo State, a male teacher at Igbara-Oke High School, who spoke in confidence, hinged the low entries for the subject to fewer teachers of History now available in secondary schools. More worrisome, the source regretted, is that many private schools don't even consider having History teacher.

He said: "I don't know the reason for this, there are even some History teachers, who operate in two to three schools but I think this is due to dearth of History teachers.

"Students are not encouraged because there is no one to motivate them.

You can get WAEC registered list, you will discover that only few students registered for History; and due to the fact that they do not have pre-knowledge of the course, how do you expect them to have an interest in studying the course at tertiary level?”

In Kano, checks revealed that pupils dropped History largely due to lack of teachers in the state.

Ironically, the few teachers of History did not study the subject at undergraduate level. Principal, Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary Day School in Kawaji, Kano State, Hajiya Hadiza Bayero, said plenty of quacks now claim to be teachers of History.

"I have no option than to drop History as a subject in my school. I did it not because I do not want the students to have knowledge of history of their own country, but because all my efforts to employ qualified History teachers proved abortive.

"It is not that the History subject is not in the national curriculum, but the frustration most school like mine are experiencing today is because there are no qualified teachers to teach History; and as such, there is no option rather than to drop it and embrace Government which to a great extent imbibes the country's History."

Principal of Sani Dingyadi Unity Secondary School, Abubakar Marafa, said the infiltration of political science into History has also pushed the subject out of the way.

"Political scientists have taken over history in most schools, universities, colleges of education. I know of some political science graduates that teach History without its basic knowledge and they end up impacting knowledge of Government in students,” he said.

Implications for Nigeria Many academics have attributed Nigeria’s failure to grow despite her potential to neglecting lessons from the past.

A Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Ilorin, Mrs Alice Arinlade Jekayinfa, has said that the relegation of the subject is one of the root causes of the social and political problems currently plaguing the country.

Prof Jekayinfa, who made this assertion while delivering the 148th Inaugural Lecture of the university last Thursday, pointed out that History is important to all aspects of human life.

In the lecture, entitled "Essential Education beyond Relegation," the don explained that: "Without a sound understanding of the past, we would find it difficult to fathom how the present challenges evolved and how we might be able to devise solutions to them.

“It is not possible for us as Nigerians to have a proper grasp of the nature of religious and communal clashes, riots, conflicts and violence going on in the country today without understanding our primordial religious, cultural and colonial past, what we were before the arrival of Islam, the colonial masters and Christian missions, and what we became during and after the Islamic, Colonial, Christian, and post-colonial eras. This is what History will give us.

History, an essential education, has been relegated and the country is suffering for it."

In addition to being a conveyor of a society's morals and values, Prof Jekayinfa said History instills a sense of patriotism and nationalism in citizens which Nigerians lack today.

"How are our children supposed to internalise the values of integrity, tolerance and hard work, which are celebrated in the history of our various peoples but which are totally lacking in our public service today?" the scholar asked.

Prof Stella Okunna of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka also believes children's poor knowledge of History will definitely affect their patriotism to their fatherland.

Prof Okunnas who was one the discussants at the 2nd International Conference on Democracy and Good Governance held in Port Harcourt, lamented that the situation has robbed young Nigerians of the opportunity of knowing their past and inadvertently making them not proud of the struggles the country has passed through to get to where she currently is.

A historian and journalist, Mr Bassey Inyang said Nigeria is paying dearly for not studying history because she cannot learn from past mistakes.

"For example we have had civil war in the past, but unfortunately I can say that not much has been learnt historically from that war. What we keep recalling is the pains of the war. We continue trading arguments as to who was at fault or not without actually getting to learn that a civil war cannot do us any good. We have also not learnt the lesson to get to tell ourselves that never again should we allow this to happen.

"What about the technological aspects of the war? I mean people survived in the midst of hardship, being able to invent their local weapons, refine petroleum products and so on from just virtually nothing. Now where have we kept all these things? Because we feel history is nothing so we never bothered. We fail to assemble these artefacts and get to use them in the post war years of Nigeria. That is one of the reason why I think technologically we are where we are.”

What should be the place of History in schools?

Many academics want History to be compulsory from primary to tertiary levels.

Prof Rufus Taiwo Akinyele, a professor of history at the University of Lagos said History should be made attractive from the primary level.

“Go back and start from primary schools. You can refashion the curriculum in a way that it will be interesting. You can also change the methodology to encourage students to follow history,” he said.

Director of the Sokoto State History and Cultural Bureau, Muhammad Bello Idris said for Nigeria to redeem her glory, History should not only be taught at the basic level, but be made compulsory in schools.

Don’t meddle with schools, Minister warns communities •ASUP, COEASU strike to end soon

T

HE Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has warned host communities of tertiary institutions to stop meddling in their affairs.

He said this in light of the mayhem reportedly unleashed by host communities on some tertiary institutions, especially in the Southeast.

The Minister, who spoke at a meeting with heads and chairmen of boards of Federal Government's tertiary institutions in Abuja, said any qualified Nigerian could administer tertiary schools in the country, regardless of his or her state or local government of origin.

He said: "There is something that is occurring that if we do not stop now, it will be a problem…we are trying to localize the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts. For example, in River state, we have the Federal College of Education, Technical, Omoku. You have people from Rivers State who are lecturers; you also have people who are not from Rivers state. For Christ sake, it is not a college of education for that community. It is a federal government school but situated in that community.

"Therefore, it does not mean that if you are from outside the state, you cannot be a provost or rector in that institution. We are not happy about it. And, one has to state clearly, as the government position is that we should stop this idea of localising this position. We are not saying that those who are qualified from that place and

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

who can compete with their colleagues should not be given. But, this attitude that is coming in now that 'he is from Rivers, he is from Anambra, he is from Enugu or he is from Sokoto; no, please make sure that our own sons, our own daughter get it'. That is not the essence of sighting institutions in those areas.

"We have even got to a level where a traditional ruler is telling you whether a Vice Chancellor is performing or not. Is that the question you are supposed to ask? There is nothing wrong in you having a good relationship with your host community.

But, a situation whereby the community begins to decide who becomes provost or who becomes rector, it has never happened. And, if we allow that to continue, by the time it gets to a level where nobody can control it, then, we will be into serious problem."

The minister appealed to the chairmen of councils of the tertiary institutions to promote merit in taking decisions about who runs a tertiary institution, as it is not an easy task.

Wike promised that the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, (COEASU) will soon come to an end.

Meanwhile, the minister informed that the desire to bridge the dichotomy between the university and polytechnic might not be easily realised. He accused the polytechnics of turning down engagement of pro-

•Wike

fessors from universities.

His words: "Now, we are talking about bridging the gap between the university and the polytechnic. The polytechnic is saying that 'allow us to be awarding degree called university of technology which should be equivalent to first degree. Yes, there is no problem about that. Yet, the same people who are saying this don't even want professors. How do want that? You are saying this; you don't even have people who are PHD holders there. And, you want them to allow you to run a programme.

"Those who are doing this should show us that they are serious about this. We should encourage PHD holders; we should encourage professors.

Nobody would want that, and you want to be at the same level. I am happy I support that. But, in supporting that, they should also beef up.

Who are those to man those institutions? It is important," he argued.

The meeting is expected to facilitate the resolution of the lingering strike between the academic staff of polytechnic, ASUP, and colleges of education academic staff union, COEASU.

NECO exam: NSCDC warns intruders

T

HE Bayelsa State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has warned intruders to stay away from the schools serving as centres for the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO).

The State Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said in Yenagoa that trespassers caught in exam centres would face the wrath of the law.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Agu said his men had been dispatched to various centres to monitor the movement of people.

He urged parents to take the warning seriously and threatened to punish candidates caught loitering in the exam centres.

Agu further advised school principals and teachers not to compromise the standard of the examination by collecting bribes from can-

didates.

"Instead of allowing financial inducements, teachers and principals should expose persons engaged in examination malpractices. Anybody caught in this act of examination impropriety will be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law," he said.

While wishing candidates successful outing, he ordered his operatives to be vigilant to arrest exam cheats.

•Pupils of Fountain of Life Primary School, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos with Head, Corporate Head Office branch, Keystone Bank, Zeinab Maduagwu; Business Manager, Keystone Bank, Ajah Branch, Ijeoma Ejiofor; and Product and Market Support, Omua Imuzeze at the bank’s Children’s Day programme.

T

HE Oranmiyan Memorial Grammar School, Ile-Ife Old Students Association has elected new leaders to manage the affairs of the institution.

The leaders who emerged after the keenly contested election include: Dr S.I. Fabarebo (National

Old students elect new leaders President), Mr Julius Olagunju (first vice president), Mrs Philomena Akinwale (second vice president), Wale Opadele (national general secretary), Mrs Fletcher Bunmi Ogunmosu (treasurer), and Pastor

T.A. Olarewaju (chief whip).

Others are: Biodun Ogunlana (public relations officer), Mrs Taiwo Oladipupo (social welfare), Mr Solomon Fayomi (Ex officio 1), and Mr Gabriel Jikeme (ex officio 2).

29

*CAMPUSES *NEWS

Running to keep fit

Enter the new chiefo

*PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 31 Page 42

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Twenty-one years ago today, Nigerians voted the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola as their president, even though he ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket with Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as his running mate.

To mark the anniversary, students will join many pro-democracy groups at rallies and related events. But how many of them really understand the struggle behind June 12? OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (Language Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State) writes.

‘Nothing has changed despite June 12’ “W

HAT is June 12?” Balikis Moyosore, 22, retorted when asked by this reporter what she knew about the date.

The ND II Mass Communication student of the Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY) was a toddler when the Gen Ibrahim Babangida junta organised the June 12, 1993 election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest ever in Nigeria.

The election was believed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola, whose Social Democratic Party (SDP) fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket. However, the election was annulled by the Babangida junta because, according to the government, “the election was inconclusive in some states.”

In the heat of the logjam, Gen. Babangida “stepped aside” and handed over to an Interim National Government (ING) headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Since the interim government lacked legal backing, it was declared “illegal” by Justice Dolapo Akinsanya of the Lagos High Court.

The verdict paved the way for the late Gen. Sani Abacha to remove the interim government, following what was described as Shonekan’s “voluntary resignation”. Gen Abacha, who was planning to transmute to civilian president, died on June 8, 1998.

The failure of successive governments to acknowledge the results of the election and recognise the late Abiola as the winner, gave birth to a series of rallies by pro-democracy activists, which are now held yearly to commemorate the anniversary.

Today is the 21st anniversary of June 12, and

•Timothy

•Damilola

many students have joined some pro-democracy groups to commemorate the day. But, how many of them really know the history of June 12 and what the day stands for?

Balikis said: “How would you expect a 12month toddler to understand what happened at the time? We can only learn about it from the elders or by reading the history of the struggle.”

Damilola Adesanya, a student of English Education at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, who was six years old then, said she could only remember when Abiola died but not the June 12, 1993 struggle.

She said: “Though, I was six years old at the time, but, from what I read, I could feel that majority of the citizens were ready for change and they all went for it. Little did they know

‘

Nothing has changed in the country...people still complain of those things they were complaining about; our leaders are still wicked and corrupt. Many of us are complacent; we can only complain without doing anything about the situation of things

•Hammed

•Suleiman

they would not get what they laboured for.

Nothing has changed in the country. People still complain of those things they were complaining about; our leaders are still wicked and corrupt. Many of us are complacent; we can only complain without doing anything about the situation of things.”

Hammed Hamzat, a 400-Level Educational Management student of the University of Ibadan (UI), who was also six years old in 1993, said: “I cannot recollect anything about the struggle. The only thing I remember was that, my mum came to my primary school and picked me up, telling my teachers there was a problem in the country.”

He added: “I later read about the struggle of the people at the time and, since then, I have been sympathising with June 12 anniversary.”

Hammed said everything June 12 came to

‘

’ •Corps members visit blast victims -P41

There is still injustice and corruption in the system. Against what the late Abiola stood for, Nigerian politics is still being defined by religious and ethnic sentiments. June 12 must be realised to change our politics

’

correct are still in practice today. “There is still injustice and corruption in the system. Against what the late Abiola stood for, Nigerian politics is still being defined by religious and ethnic sentiments. June 12 must be realised to change our politics,” he said.

Rosheedah Owolabi, a 400-Level Language Arts student of OAU, said: “I was a year old at the time, but while growing up, I learnt about the life and times of Chief MKO Abiola and his struggle; how he died in detention. From what I read, he would have made a huge difference in governance.”

Timothy Nwaobilo, a final year student of Mechanical Engineering at OAU, said: “I learnt that June 12, 1993 election was an eye-opener for Nigerians. It was the era people came in contact with democracy face-to-face and became politically conscious. But, it turned out to be an anticlimax. Abiola died in detention and we did not get the kind of democracy we fought for.”

Suleiman Eniaiyewu, graduating student of Economics at OAU, was only five years old then. He said: “I really didn’t understand the political settings of the country at the time, but felt Nigerians were tired of the military rule.

They wanted one of their own to lead but the military truncated the process. I now see the struggle as one between the people and soldiers.”

Suleiman said he read different accounts of what transpired during the election, saying: “I learnt that Abiola flouted the campaign regulation, wearing a cloth that bore his portrait.

This was another form of campaign, thus making it illegal. I read he was over ambitious.”

•New VC for ‘great’ UNIZIK -P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Pushing Out

The fees hike palaver

L

AST Thursday – June 6th – I was on my way to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to attend the 2nd edition of the late Ngozi Agbo Memorial Lecture, which was billed to hold at the Afe Babalola Auditorium when I got stuck in traffic for more than two hours close to the varsity .

My initial thought was that the varsity might be holding its convocation which may have been the reason for the gridlock. But I’d have known if that was the case, I told myself. I then took to twitter that was when I realised that students were protesting the shutting down of the online registration portal and the slamming of a N25, 000 charges for “late registration.”

Authorities of the University immediately rescinded the action as the protest began with the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Research, Prof. Babajide Alo, ordering the reversal of the hiked fees for the course registration and other charges. He told students who had already paid the increased fees to meet their faculty officers with teller evidence for a refund.

While I was pondering the issue the topic came up on Classic 97.3 FM, Lagos. The discussants were discussing the Lagos State University (LASU) fees hike and the UNILAG situation with all of them recounting their days in the university and what they are today. They debated “the appropriate way” of letting authorities know about student grievances other than protests, which oftentimes turned violent. They asked a very pungent question: Is university education a right or privilege; is it for all citizens of a country?

Majority of them felt it is a privilege for those who can afford it.

Issues flashed through my mind while listening to the discussion. In the first instance, there is no doubt that we are at a crossroads regarding tertiary education in the country.

Administrators claimed they have battled over the years on how to provide subsidised quality education against the backdrop of dwindling resources which has forced them to take the unpopular route of fees hike. As we are all aware this often comes with dare consequences.

On Monday, students of University of Port Harcourt took to the streets protesting the

with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com increase of their fees. The fees were purportedly increased from N24, 000 and N51, 000 to N59, 000 and N150, 000 for both returning and new students respectively.

Prior to that, students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife closed a major highway because of fees hike which the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said had become inevitable. He said the N5, 300, which the university charged for 10 years was no longer realistic, saying inflation and the current economic realities did not support the charges, which he described as ridiculous.

OAU recently increased the charges of its newly admitted students from N37,150 and N42,150 to N 82,400, N92,700 and N95,700 (acceptance fee inclusive), depending on the faculties.

The fees for old students of the institution were also increased from N5,300, N7,800, N10, 300 and N12,800 per session to N19,700, N30,700 and N33,700 for different faculties respectively.

What is the rationale for these increments?

The VC explained that high inflation rate and efforts of the management to sustain the academic standard in the university necessitated the increment. “Precisely during 2004/2005 academic session, the university administration reviewed the charges paid then, which were in line with the economic realities of that time. The charges are still being paid to date after 10 years. It is evident that the current economic realities have made those charges unrealistic and unsustainable.”

He also dwelled on the issue of purchasing diesel, paying electricity bill and comparing fees paid in other federal universities which made “charges paid by students in OAU were not only ridiculously low but have become very unsustainable if our university is to sur-

vive.”

Students of Kogi State University, Anyigba and others have also protested fees hike over the last few months. As emotional as this issue is, it is one that has to be handled with tact and the presentation of facts and figures to back up any increase.

We lament fees increase, yet we have hundreds of thousands of Nigerians paying hard currency to foreign varsities, something we dare not dream of here. But this is the new reality.

This newspaper, in its editorial of Tuesday June 10, lamented that 75, 000 Nigerian students are currently studying in Ghanaian tertiary institutions. Presenting facts and figures, the editorial said: “Unfortunately, Nigerian students reportedly spend about $1 billion annually in tuition and upkeep. This is in stark contrast to the $751 million annual budget for all federal universities in Nigeria. We do not need any expert knowledge to recognise that what ails the system is failure of leadership…” This to me is the crux of the matter, leadership failure.

Without mincing words, I make bold to say that the fortune of tertiary educational system in Nigeria is at its lowest ebb. There has been a consistent denigration of the system in the last two or three decades. Graduates of the educational system are not only derided, but are also described as lacking in quality, low in perception and unfit in skills. Employers complain that school graduates are poorly prepared for work. In many cases, employers compensate for insufficient academic preparation by organising remedial courses for new employees. The new normal is that most companies now recruit workers from Nigerians studying abroad to the detriment of “home grown” graduates.

Developed countries subject graduates of our schools to fresh training and examination in an attempt to ensure fitness into their own system, except in mushroom institutions where they’re interested in the fees only. The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our future as a nation and a people.

The national literacy rate is currently under 50 percent with about 49 percent of the teaching force deemed unqualified. There are acute shortages of infrastructure and facilities at all levels. Access to basic education is inhibited by gender issues and socio-cultural beliefs

and practices, among other factors. Wide disparities persist in educational standards and learning achievements. As I have written in the past, our system emphasises theoretical knowledge at the expense of technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education. This is the major reason why polytechnic and technical education is no longer “relevant” to us.

What Nigeria requires at the moment is for us to look ourselves eyeball to eyeball and tell ourselves the home truth. If we have the dollars to burn in some makeshift portakabin Ghanaian university why can’t we hold our government to account to do the right thing and channel such resources into upgrading facilities in our own universities?

The government must take the pivotal role of coming up with immediate, short and long term plans for the sector devoid of unnecessary politicisation. Our later policy makers failed to toe the line of those who instituted the establishment of the first generation varsities. New varsities were not established until over two decades after independence.

Yet population grew rapidly and with it, the need for tertiary education.

The result is that the holding capacity in Nigerian universities was grossly inadequate leaving over 1.2 million mostly qualified Nigerian youths without access to gain admission annually. The same policy failure was what led the Lagos – Ibadan expressway remaining the way it was for more than three decades. Nobody sat down to think that the number of cars in 1978 will not be the same in 2014!

The “politics” of education demands that the good of the people should override political, sectional or individual considerations.

Education formulation and consideration should be for the good of all, not that students who benefited from a presidential scholarship scheme are mainly from “APC controlled state” as a Minister was quoted as saying recently. Must everything have a tinge of politics in it?

There is also the need for a holistic reorientation, re-engineering and rebranding of education, particularly as it relates to teacher training and recruitments into the educational sector. This will not be easy, but it can be done. Ask the Ghanaians, they did it and today we are flocking there to access tertiary education. Making amends after years of decay may be painful, but whether we like it or not, we will have to amends someday.

Rofiat Omodolapo, a student of Mass Communication at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), is carving a niche for herself in Islamic music. The upcoming singer has launched her first album titled: Idunnu Obi (Parents’ Joy). The launch was witnessed by dignitaries. She tells KAZEEM YEKEEN, her classmate, how she discovered her talent.

‘Road to success is full of thorns’

•Rofiat

C

AN you tell us about your background?

I was born on August 17, 1991 and I am a native of Ibadan, Oyo State, although I am based in Ogbomoso. I live with my mum because my dad

resides in Lagos. I had my primary and secondary school education in Ogbomoso. My mom is an entertainer, who specialises in anchoring of engagements and wedding ceremonies.

How did you discover your talent in music?

It happened the day I got home from school and did not see my mum. After a while, I became nervous because I was very fond of her even up till this moment. So, I decided to go and meet her because I was told she was at a wedding ceremony. On getting there, I sat beside the Disc Jockey and I was watching my mum singing. She needed a back-up from her fellow entertainers but nobody was there. So, I got

the microphone from where I sat and did a perfect back-up for her.

Everyone in attendance was shocked including my mum. That was when I knew I have the talent.

How are you coping with your studies and pursuing your talent in music?

It has been tough for me as a student and a singer. I could remember the day I was called from location in Ogbomoso that there would be a test.

Unfortunately, I missed the test. I shuttle between Ogbomoso and Offa twice a week just to pursue my musical career and stay for the rest of the week for my studies. It was not easy when I started, but I give glory to Allah for giving me the grace to cope

with the challenge. The best thing is to have the courage to pursue your passion and ability to accomplish it.

Does your mum help you in anyway?

She is consistent in investing her time and money on me. In fact, my mum is the key to the little success I have achieved. She encourages me every day and advises me to be dynamic. I am not an Islamic singer, who sings for Muslims alone. My message is for both Muslims and Christians, who are the believers.

Who is your role model?

She is Alhaja Hafsat Sideeq popularly known as Ola Fatia. I fell in love with her voice as a child but as time passed by, I realised the unique-

ness of her music.

Where do you wish to see yourself in the next five years?

I wish to feature great Islamic artistes such as Alhaja Hafsat Sideeq, Hajia Aminat Ajao, Alhaji Ibrahim Labaika, Alhaji Qamarudeen Aiyeloyun, Sofiat Qamorudeen, Hajia Basirat Iya Ghana, among others. Though, it is all about prayers but I believe, by Allah’s leave, that my name would be among the top Islamic artistes in the country.

What is your message for upcoming and famous musicians?

To my fellow upcoming artistes, I will say that they must be focused because the road to success is littered with thorns. To the famous artistes, I implore them to do all to assist upcoming artistes. They should also set a good legacy because we are looking up to them and I pray almighty Allah will be with us all.

CAMPUSLIFE reporter receives NYSC state honour

A

N award-winning CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, Johnpaul Nnamdi, last week, received a state honour from the Cross River State government during the passing out of Batch “B” 2013 corps members.

Johnpaul, who served in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state, was honoured for dedication, diligence and developmental programmes he initiated during his service year.

He was a volunteer of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a Community Development Service (CDS) group. As a member of the group, Johnpaul carried out several developmental

•Also nominated for national award From Reuben Agu CALABAR projects in his place of primary assignment and host community.

Some of the projects Johnpaul executed include renovation of a school’s toilet, establishment of school farm, hand washing campaign, scholarship for students, free HIV/AIDS test and counseling, deworming of children and adults, training and enlightenment of MDG volunteers, among others.

Johnpaul, who won the 2013 Culture Report Prize of the Coca-Cola/The Na-

tion CAMPUSLIFE Award, said serving in Bakassi Local Government Area impacted on his life, saying he learnt practical lessons about life. He said: “Service year, for me, was a time when I was exposed to life that is different from my culture and way of life. Though it was not easy at first, I adapted and learnt all that I could to make my stay meaningful. And I have learnt a lot that has positively impacted my life.”

He described National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a viable tool for transforming Nigeria, urging the management to harness the youths’ potentials.

•Johnpaul being interviewed by journalists

He encouraged youths to seize the opportunity of National Youth Service to make difference in host communities.

Johnpaul also gets nominated for the NYSC national award to be presented by President Goodluck Jonathan later this year.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

31

CAMPUS LIFE BrandiQ, a specialised magazine, has embarked on a campus tour to mentor youths on the benefits of marketing communications. The team was at the Redeemer’s University (RUN) to inaugurate the institution’s chapter of BrandiQ Campus Club. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

B

RANDIQ, a leading marketing communications magazine, made its way into the Redeemer’s University (RUN), last week.

The students have established a campus club to propagate the ideals of marketing communication. This came almost four weeks after the magazine established its first campus club in Pan Atlantic University in Lekki, Lagos.

The magazine’s publisher is embarking on a campus tour to drive the idea in all campuses. The magazine offers a platform that gives students the opportunity to meet professionals in the practice and business of marketing communications.

At the Senate Chambers of the university, where the event was held, students had the chance to meet a marketing communications expert and founder of Trends + Intelligence Network (TINK), Mr Franklin Ozekhome, who presented a keynote address.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Debo Adeyewa, represented by the Registrar, Mrs. Bola Oloketuyi, described the BrandiQ Campus Club as a unique initiative. He said: “The inauguration of this club is momentous and memorable because BrandiQ is about building brand masterminds. I am confident that our students will become veritable assets in propagating the progressive agenda of the club, which, I believe, is the catalyst for mind development.”

Ozekhome emphasised the need for youths, especially students of communication, to do away with what he called “zombie culture”, which he described as tendency to follow any trendy conversation on social media without making any positive contribution.

Club for communication whizz-kids He said: “We must re-focus our conversation to have impact. As communicators, we can redirect communication to benefit the society through positive social change.”

Describing social media as a potent tool for mass communication, Ozekhome urged the students to0 exploit the medium for personal benefit rather than joining unproductive discussion.

The Editor-in-Chief of BrandiQ magazine, Mr Desmond Ekeh, who lauded the cooperative spirit of students and management of the institution, noted that the purpose of creating BrandiQ Campus Club was to provide manpower for marketing communications industry.

He said: “We observed that the industry needs a quality professional publication to support the activities of the practitioners. This is why we founded BrandiQ. We also move to the campus to connect students with the communication industry on one hand and to the world of business on the other hand. We hope that our content development initiative and mentoring platforms will spur students on to a level of readiness for the business before graduation.”

He charged the club members to be dutiful and innovative in bringing to fruition the vision and objective of the club.

The Head of Department of Mass Communication, Prof Bayo Oloyede, said: “We believe partnership with BrandiQ will enhance knowledge of our students and nurture to survive in the competi-

•Members of the club with management team of the BrandiQ magazine

tive marketing communication world.”

The magazine’s Deputy Editor-inChief, Mr Agbo Agbo, enjoined the students to use the opportunity provided by the platform to propagate the idea within academic and research circles. He said the club had the objective to make students become anchors and managers of their own projects.

The BrandiQ management presented a 32-inch LCD flat screen Television to the club to aid its activities.

Responding on behalf of members, the club president, Miss Opeyemi Adebiyi, said members had accepted the responsibility to propagate the vision and work for the success of the club.

The Editor of the magazine, Mr Usukuma Ntia, said the publication intended to pursue aggressive reportage of burning issues in marketing communications industry, while also seeking to connect with readers across the globe.

The publication cover events in

areas in marketing communication such as marketing, advertising, branding, media, public relations and event management, graphics and design and research among others.

Other members of the executive include Owolabi Opeyemi, VicePresident; Emmanuel Olowo, Secretary; Temitope Adetoro, Assistant Secretary; Maryann Okonkwo, Public Relations Officer; Ifeoluwa Adetoro, Treasurer and Charles Falade, Welfare Officer.

Hundreds of students participated in the second edition of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) marathon. EDDY UWOGHIREN (200-Level Medicine) and EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (300-Level Pharmacy) report.

Running to keep fit

B

Y 7am, the participants were already at the main bowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Complex of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to collect kits for the exercise. This took some time as participants moved to the track one after the other, after getting their kits.

At 8:15am, all was set for the exercise. It was the second edition of the UNIBEN Marathon organised by the sport department.

Participants looked radiant in their white vests. It was reminiscent of an Olympic contest. The university sports officials led by Mrs Felicia Egbase co-ordinated the exercise. The athletes converged on the take-off point.

Before the exercise started, the school security personnel cleared the marathon route for easy movement and safety. The race started from the sport complex to the main library and Hall 5; it extended to the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge to the Faculty of the Social Sciences and then to the Ransome Kuti Road and back to the complex.

Medical personnel from the health centre and officials of the Red Cross Society were on hand with a well-equipped ambulance to attend to injured.

The marathon started at 8.30am.

As the race progressed, some participants exhausted their energy and could not continue. They were helped away from the race track by the medical personnel.

After 127 minutes, Victor Yinlang, a 200-Level Philosophy student,

•Participants before the marathon began

returned to the starting point, winning the marathon. Victor maintained his lead from the take-off point and finished the race at 9:58am. The last athlete arrived at 10:32am.

The second and the third position in the male category went to Abdulkabir Baiwa, 300-Level Animal Science, who finished at 10:04am, and Prior Chibuzor, 200Level linguistics and African Lan-

guage, who finished at 10:10am.

Omoyemwense Osa-Iyoha, a 200Level English and Literature student, came first in the female category; she completed the race at 10:08am. She was followed by Praise Origho, who finished at 10:12am and Mary Oyewole, 10:15am. Both runners-up are 200Level Computer Science students.

It was learnt that there was no

injured during the exercise.

The participants converged on the main bowl of the sport complex for winners’ announcement. It was a moment filled with anticipation as officials of the sport department and guests mounted the podium to make the announcement.

Participants that won the first positions in both categories were rewarded with cash prize of

N20,000; the second and third positions got N12,000 and N8,000 respectively. Consolation cash prize of N2000 was given to 20 participants in both categories.

Victor said frequent exercise made him to win the race, urging his colleagues to always perform aerobics to keep fit.

Egbase said the reason for the marathon was to officially welcome students to a new session and create awareness of the future events to hold.

Asked why the university did not always give a lecture-free day for sporting events, she said: “There is a policy that every Wednesday should be a lecture-free day for sporting activities in universities.

It is not implemented in most schools, considering the workload the students have to pass through.

Various sports units here in UNIBEN create time for sport using students lecture time table.

Nevertheless, we have been doing well in competitions despite these challenges. We got some medals at the just-concluded Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.” Baye Osagie, Director of Sport of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), urged the students to always participate in sport, saying it would improve their health and fitness.

Abdulkabir said: “I am grateful to the management. I was dejected for days, looking for money to pay some fees. I came here sluggishly to participate in the marathon but emerged one of the winners. I will use the money to pay some bill.”

Meshach Chu, a 600-Level medical student said the event was fun.

“It provided me an opportunity to relax after hectic lectures in weekdays,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

32

CAMPUS LIFE

You are the best, VC tells Corps members

V

ICE-CHANCELLOR of the McPherson University in Seriki-Sotayo, Ogun State, Prof Adeniyi Agunbiade, has praised the corps members that served in the state for their contribution to national development through selfless services.

From Ayodeji Adesina ABEOKUTA The VC spoke at the send-off event organised for the four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who served in the university. He was represented by the Dean, College of

Humanities, Prof Olusola Ojo. The event was held inside the university’s Senate Chamber last Wednesday.

The VC urged the youths to aspire to develop their academic qualification in addition to the skill they acquire during their service year. He described them as best among their

colleagues, who served in the state.

Prof Agunbiade, who described the four corps members as the institution’s ambassadors, urged them to tell their friends about the school.

“Tell them about the serene environment, about the loving people and let them know about the McPherson University anywhere you go,” he said.

The Registrar, Mrs Adebola Abegunde, praised the outgoing corps member for showing readiness to learn despite rigour of work there were made to pass through.

She called out the corps member, one after the other, to publicly acknowledge their contributions to the smooth running of the departments where they served.

Mr Ebenezer Onilado, university Bursar, urged them to remain dedicated to selfless service, saying they

must face challenges of life with determination to succeed.

The Director of Health Services, Dr Adetokunbo Aderounmu, said: “Corps members are not the only one learning here; we have all learnt one thing or the other from you. As you move a step higher, I pray you will be employed immediately but if it is taking longer, employ yourself.”

Responding on behalf of the corps members, Henry Poweide, thanked the management for its support and hospitality, saying the institution created enabling environment to make their service memorable.

Other outgoing corps members are Patrick Ngozi, Augustine Ayeni, and Rukayat Oladapo. They are first set of corps members posted to the institution. They were presented with gifts to as the institution’s mark of appreciation.

Amaechi: we must take education serious

T •The Corps members with management staff displaying their gifts

Group promotes reproductive health rights

T

O solve the reproductive health challenges facing the youths across campuses, the Campus Health and Rights Initiative (CHRI) has been established with the objective to promote reproductive health campaign and protect health rights.

The group has started operation in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Against the backdrop of reports on abortion, including multi-part-

From Tobi Eyinade OAU ner, unprotected intercourse and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) among university students, the group said it would hold a campaign to sensitise students and offer service to stem the rate of the reproductive challenges.

In its recent programme with the theme: Campus sexual and reproductive health promotion initiative, the co-

ordinator of group, Tunde Ajidagba, said the aim of the initiative was to promote access to comprehensive and integrated reproductive health services for young people between the ages of 15 and 24, thereby reducing unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and STDs. Ajidagba said the initiative was borne out of the inadequate attention given to youths on campuses, who could be affected by social vices in the larger society.

HE Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has advised all governors to increase funding for education. The governor made the statement while delivering a lecture titled: Higher Education and Good Governance in Nigeria: The way Forward at the second Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Distinguished Guest Lecture Series, held at the university auditorium in Osogbo campus.

Amaechi advised his colleagues to emulate the school feeding programme of Osun (O Meal), saying the programme would reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country. He said he was amazed with the level of development in infrastructure by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s government, saying: “Every serious governor should take education seriously; though it is common for most gov-

From Abideen Olasupo UNIOSUN ernors to want to concentrate on road construction because people will praise them. It is not enough to construct roads alone. The Aregbesola’s school feeding programme deserves applause and every state must emulate it because it will drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children, which is rampant in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the commitment of his administration to basic education, Aregbesola said: “Basic education is not negotiable, that is why we are doing what we are doing considering the neglect that the sector had suffered. It is our concern to improve its quality.”

Aregbesola expressed hope that UNIOSUN would sustain the tradition of academic excellence.

Law students visit Osun town

T

O contribute to the development of the Oke Ila community in Osun State, law students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) were in the community to sensitise the populace on need to acquire education and make their society a better place.

The students, who are members of Equity Chamber, also visited the palace of Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, to learn about law from the monarch, who was a former Adviser on Legal Matters to the Senate President.

The yearly event had members of the chambers to give free counselling to the populace, urging them to allow their children to go to school.

They also visited some secondary schools in the community to mentor pupils on career and education.

The Lord Chancellor of the chambers, Abdulrazaq Olatinwo, said the students visited Oke-Ila High School, His Grace International

From Lanre Okulaja OSOGBO School, Oke-Ila Grammar School and Oke-Ila Middle School.

The law students encourage youngsters to see education as light to walk in the darkness, urging them to be focus and dream big. The pupils participated in the debate organised by the students.

Prizes were presented to the winners. Abdulrazaq said he elated by the articulation, composure and logic of the pupils, saying he had no doubt that many of them would study law in university.

Oba Abolarin, while welcoming the law students, praised them t=for choosing his domain for their community programme. He urged them never to relent in mentoring the young ones to dream of good future.

Corps members serving in the community also hosted the stu-

•Oba Abolarin with the visiting law students

dents, after which the monarch tearted them to a royal dinner.

The visiting students also played

a friendly match with pupils of the schools visited. Then match ended 3-1 in favour of the law students.

The students visited Okun Waterfalls, describing the experience as “unforgettable”.

UNILORIN elects students’ leaders

S

•Ahmed

TUDENTS of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have elected a new set of students’ leaders in an election held last Wednesday.

The process produced Ahmed Ishowo, a 300-Level Mathematics student, as the president of the Students Union Government (SUG).

Ahmed polled 919 votes to beat five other candidates.

Jeremy Aweda, a student of the Faculty of Engineering and Idris Aloa, from Faculty of Law, were runners up with 505 and 322 votes respectively.

To make the process transparent and credible, the Independent Student Electoral Commission (ISEC),

From Hameed Muritala and Wale Bakare UNILORIN which conducted the exercise, adopted e-voting model, which had students to vote through the university portal. It was the first time such method was used in any university in the country.

The ISEC chairman, Funsho Sulaimon, said the method afforded students to vote for the candidates of their choice through university e-portal anywhere in the world.

A member of the electoral body Shakir Akorede, advised other institutions to adopt the model, not-

ing that it was stress-free and secure.

Before the election, students were told to register through the portal to enable them vote. On election day, voting started at 7am and ended at 6pm.

The ISEC chairman announced the results in the presence of all the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Abayomi Omotesho, his deputy, Dr Abdulraheem Yusuf, aspirants’ agents, security personnel and campus journalists.

Prof Abayomi described the eportal model as innovation that could revolutionised electoral process in Nigeria. He urged the winners to be magnanimous in victory.

Dr Yusuf told unsuccessful candidates to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.

Others elected are Titilope Anifowoshe, Vice-President (main campus), Elizabeth Alabi, VicePresident (College of Health Sciences), Kofoworola Kadiri, General Secretary, Salmat Oseni, Assistant General Secretary and Faith Oludowole, Financial Secretary.

Others are Hammed Bakare, Welfare Secretary (College of Health Sciences), Mohammed Lawal, Welfare Secretary (main campus), AbdulKareem Adeniran, Public Relations Officer, Osaretin Amadasun, Social Secretary and Bashir Ayinde, Sports Secretary.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Anambra decongests roads

Road projects thrill Enugu communities

•PAGE 34

•PAGE 36

PAGE 33

A lift for women, youths •PAGE 38

Mrs. Ekwueme by her bus

‘I’m a mother, S graduate, bus driver’ •Meet Blessing Ekwueme, Abia’s first woman commercial driver

HE is every bit a model. She has made history but does not wear that honour like a badge. She is calm, yet very active, inspired and focused on her responsibilities and vision.

Mrs. Blessing Ekwueme is the first woman commercial driver in Abia State. She is so happy at what she does that she cannot imagine taking her feet off the accelerator in the foreseeable future.

She received a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics from Alvan Ikoku College, Owerri, and tried very hard to work with the Immigration and later the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). None of

them clicked. She set up a trading business, buying crayfish from Calabar, Cross River State, and selling in Abia. One day, some fellows stopped by her stand, bent down and took away her stock.

Why? She was not registered with the market union, she was told.

That was it for selling crayfish.

Undaunted, she turned to driving, starting as a commercial bus conductor and taking home only a stipend. Five years ago, she decided to sit behind the steering herself and do the driving. But first, she needed to learn to do so.

Will her boss teach her? Yes, and she paid attention while he did.

Today, she fills her large bus with

passengers and takes them to their destinations, and back.

Ekwueme is conscious of the fact that she operates in a maledominated environment and not only is she courageous and determined to make the most of it, she is equally aware that she is a model to other people, especially women.

She is married to an oil rigger with whom she has three children. And she is happy to be contributing to the family upkeep, conscious of her role as a helper to her husband on the home front.

•Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

34

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Mother, graduate, bus driver’ •Continued from page 33

Mrs Ekwueme, who now operates a bus on the state youth employment scheme, spoke exclusively with SUNNY NWANKWO, detailing how she combines her many parts. Excerpts: Family and education My dad is married to two wives. My mother is the first wife. We were seven in number, but one of us, the first daughter, is late. Our most senior brother is a politician but he doesn’t stay at home with us.

I come from a responsible home. My dad was a civil servant, while my mum is a farmer.

They trained me well.

I am married with three children. My husband is from Afor Umuda Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

He works as a rigger at an oil company at Port Harcourt. He is at work for about three months and comes back to spend one week with us. In the face of this, I accepted to do something so that I don’t stay idle or join other women in gossiping and creating problems for my family.

I still believe that I am made to be a helper to my husband, so that is why I am supporting him and I think that we have a happy home today.

I had my NCE (National Certificate in Education) at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State. I studied Economics there from 1998 to 2004.

I looked for job but it wasn’t that easy for me. When I was told that Immigration was recruiting, I applied but it didn’t work out. I applied for Road Safety, did their training but after much, my name was unable to come out. So, I said no, let me do business on my own I don’t want to be dependent on any person. That was why I decided to do business.

A stint in business Doing business or trading is all part of my profession. I started with selling crayfish; when I go to Calabar, I will buy them in bags and come down here to sell

•Ready to move with her passengers

not until one day I encountered a little problem when I went to a local market at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area to sell my crayfish when people on union came and confiscated my goods that I was not supposed to sell anything in their market because I didn’t register with their union. I pleaded with them, but they refused to release my goods to me. So, when I went home I started thinking of the alternative because I really want to help my family. Staying idle might cause a lot of things for me in my home because I have seen some other homes that are broken today because the wife was not able to assist the husband in sharing some of the responsibilities in the home.

‘The job actually doesn’t stop me from performing my responsibility as a woman. I do the things I am supposed to do for my husband, although it is not easy but there is nothing I can do because it is the type of world we find ourselves. I believe that one can only rest when he or she is old. But for now that I am still young, that is when I know that I am supposed to lay a good foundation for my family

The road to driving It was at that point that I decided to join transport business as a bus conductor where I was stipends. I joined driving 5 years ago. We were driving from Umuahia to Port Harcourt.

While I was still doing the conductor work, I met one of the drivers and explained my intention to become a driver, but that

depends if he can teach me how to drive even if it is for two weeks.

He eventually did and I started practicing on my own, not until today that I am perfect. I really find joy doing it because I can take care of myself and my family.

Anambra decongests roads T

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

HINGS are looking up in Anambra State. Governor Willie Obiano, taking off from where his predecessor Peter Obi left off, has mounted a campaign to rid the state of criminals, setting up a special task force to realise the objective. Now, his administration has turned its sights on the state’s congested roads, cluttered with all manner of disused and abandoned vehicles. Another task force has been set up for that purpose, and it has started yielding dividends.

The battle began on May 12, and •Continued on page 36

•Mrs. Ekwueme with her twin and children

•A towing van at work

Family’s initial reaction Initially when he heard it, he wasn’t all that happy because he

was saying that since I want to join commercial driving, that it will turn me to be a tout. But I made him know that my mission going into commercial driving was not to be stupid, and that I would still maintain my integrity, and I’m happy today that I’m still making him proud.

My mother in-law, like her son, initially objected to the idea of

me going into driving. But I had to let her know that their own time and ours are not the same; that things were easier for them then, but now things are very hard. I told her that she shouldn’t expect me to fold my arms just because I went to school and therefore shouldn’t do the driving work because they were seeing it that I was going to mess around with men. I assured her that I was going to do the work better. After much battling, she came to understand that I am not the lazy type and that I mind my business.

They are happy with me.

Adapting to driving Commercial driving is not easy, especially when it is seen to be a job for the male folk. So, it wasn’t that easy for me to adapt because I faced a lot of challenges from male colleagues. On many occasions my vehicle was impounded and money demanded from me by these boys that collect money for daily tickets. That stopped when they understood that I am ready for the work.

Contact with Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

35

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT ‘I do relax on Sundays. I attend Sunday Service; I have enough rest that I need against Monday and I still believe that I will not do it forever. A time is coming, by the grace of God, when I will have proper rest. But for now, I don’t think I need rest’ woman in their midst and that they should pamper and carry me. I think they are not happy seeing me coming up to challenge them, but at a time, they begin to see that I am destined to do so; that is my nature. I am born strong to be strong and hardworking. They have no other option than to obey what the chairman said.

Being among male colleagues, sometimes, I feel intimidated but because I know it is something that I am bound to see and a decision I made, I have to take up whatever that I see and now I don’t feel it all that. Whenever they challenge me, I react and I am still there (laughs).

in and children

They have seen me operating on Ubakala-Umuahia route.

When the engine of the bus I was driving broke down, the owner of the bus said I should not be going far distance anymore, that I should be running the local route, so I started driving from Ubakala to Umuahia. The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Mr. Sunny Nwakodo saw me on several occasions driving and made enquiries about me. The people he asked told him that I am a perfect driver, that I driver very well and like men too.

After some time, he called me and asked me some questions which I answered. Satisfied by my responses, he gave me the key to a bus, telling me to drive it to Aba and back. That day, I did well; I went to Aba three times. So, when I came back, I delivered well. That was when he decided to give me key to the bus and until today; I am still driving the bus. I didn’t pay any money to him. He just gave the key. What we normally do is a daily account depending on the number of trips. But basically, each trip is N5,000.

How impactful has the driving experience being At least, I am using it to encourage other women, telling them that whatever a man does, a woman can do it much better.

They should wake up and make Abia a better place just like our governor has been preaching.

Now that I am doing it, there some areas I have been assisting my husband. At times, when they asked my children of their school fees, if my husband is not around, I pay it and don’t necessarily have to wait for him to come back and do it.

It is also giving my parents, my mother and father in-law joy. At least they are proud of me. So the job has really helped me.

Coping with male colleagues It is not easy to be the only woman in the midst of about 30 men. You know that men are “Lions”. Being in their midst looks as if you are carrying a chicken to a lion’s den. At times, our chairman, Sunny Nwakodo used to be there for me when they come up to challenge, humiliate or intimidate me. He will always remind them that I am the only

•The operation in full force

Any plans leaving the business?

I am not thinking of dropping driving for now, unless I am being rewarded by the state government as the first Abia female driver with a lucrative and mouthwatering job (laughs out loud).

One day, one of my passengers said that he was going to talk to Chief T.A Orji, our governor, although I don’t know whether he has the means. He said I need to be recognized, rewarded and promoted for having the nerve to not only break into a field dominated by men, but doing the job even better than the men.

So, I am looking forward to be rewarded with a better job that is better than driving and risking of one’s life on the road. If the job comes, I will have no option but to drop commercial driving. But if it doesn’t come, I will continue with the one that I am doing now at least, I am feeding from it.

Risk in the business I believe that there is no means of livelihood in this life that is easy. Before you make money in this life, you must undergo some

risks. I don’t see it as a risk but a means of survival.

Relationship with passengers Since I know that passengers are always right, when they become funny, I will understand. I will try to pet them so that I will get what I want from them.

On using her gender effectively Just because I am a lady, many of the passengers believe that I drive carefully. Many people do wait for me at our loading bay because, according to them, they feel more relaxed and comfortable because of the way I drive. So, I have many passengers that do patronise me. I am satisfied and encouraged when I hear about the good things they say about me.

Coping with the job and responsibilities at home My husband’s kid sister is staying with me. She helps in some house chores the way I direct her. At times when the kids are ill, she will take care of them till I will come back. The job actually doesn’t stop me from performing my responsibility as a woman. I do the things I am supposed to do for my husband, although it is not easy but there is nothing I can do because it is the type of world we find ourselves.

I believe that one can only rest when he or she is old. But for now that I am still young, that is when I know that I am supposed to lay a good foundation for my family.

To other women who are in other spheres of life dominated by men outside commercial driving, they are just like me. I am advising them to carry on because they I know that they will still experience peace in their homes just like I am experiencing in my own home. I am proud to say that since I got married, there has never been any time my husband visited

•FRSC and ASTA officers team up

police station maybe because of a trouble that I caused. So, women who stay at home to gossip should desist from that and engage themselves into meaningful ventures in order to help their family and also meet their personal needs without depending so much on their husband to do it for them.

Advice to women I want to be a leader which I have equally started through this process (commercial driving). I am advising other women to come out and be up doing because these days are not days that you fold your arms and wait for a man to fend for you or for manner to fall from heaven. They should come up and join me. I need people that could come up and join me to do this job that I am doing. Even if they don’t have their own car, they can drive for someone just as I am doing until when God will give them their own car.

I don’t see it as only for the men, I see it as a general work for everybody. Most of the problems we encounter in some homes today is as a result of idleness; when your husband go out to work and you relax at home, when he comes back and you ask him for something, he might not be able to give you exactly what you asked because you may not know what he is seeing to get that money and he might have other plans for that money that he came back with.

So, you will see that a women staying at home and not helping her husband causes a lot of problems.

At least the people around here are proud of me. When they see me, everybody would want to greet me because I am doing well. I used to tell my younger ones that I am today loved by all is simply because I did not fold my arms and I don’t beg anybody for anything, even in my family I don’t beg anybody for anything instead, I love giving out, so it bring joy and happiness to me, my family and the community as a whole.

Relaxation?

Yes, I do relax on Sundays. I attend Sunday Service; I have enough rest that I need against Monday and I still believe that I will not do it forever. A time is coming by the grace of God, when I will have proper rest. But for now, I don’t think I need rest.

3 THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

36

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Aba no safe haven for criminals’

Anambra decongests roads

•Mbonu

•Continued from page 34 has been on with state Commissioner for Transport, Chuma Mbonu and the Permanent Secretary, Transport, ENC Ogbaji leading the charge.

Also, members of the Anambra State Transport Agency (ASTA) with Emma Onwughalu as the Commander General have been on rampage impounding all damaged vehicles blocking the streets.

The exercise has taken the groups to the capital city, Awka, the commercial cities of Nnewi and Onitsha and environs.

The Agency is working in tandem with the military, the police, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and other paramilitary agencies in the state.

Not only that, the transport commissioner Chuma Mbonu, told the Nation in Awka that Anambra state must be clean before the 100 days in office of Obiano this June.

Besides the transport ministry, other ministries such as environment and local government have also come together to fight the war.

Already, designated parks had been provided to alleviate the hardship the situation could create.

Also, dumping sites for confiscated vehicles had been created appropriately in designated areas in the state, while provisions had been made where people will park their vehicles.

Mbonu warned that defaulters of this directive would have themselves to blame, adding that owners of accidental vehicles should remove them within the stipulated time or have them removed by the task force at an unpleasant cost to the owner.

According to Mbonu, “note that in

line with the programme of activities of the task force, the decongestion exercise has taken off in earnest and we are not joking about it”.

However the commissioner commended the people of the state for their cooperation so far in the exercise.

But one problem has been hampering the movement of the task force and that is lack of vehicles from the Government.

Therefore, the ministry requested for additional two vehicles to be attached to the task force.

The task force has equally requested for identification tags to be provided to them to differentiate them from others.

The Awka Commander of the (FRSC}, Hygenius Omeje has warned the operators of the agency that the exercise must be prosecuted with decorum.

He said that any impounded vehicle that stays for six months without the owner claiming it, the Task Force would not have any other option than to go to court.

“Our high ways are not parking yards, we are going to place further notifications after those sensitisations and already, we have notified transport owners in the state”.

For E.N.C. Ogbaji, the permanent secretary in the ministry told the Nation that the exercise is not to witch hunt anybody or group but to keep in line with the direction of Obiano’s administration of making Anambra the cleanest state in the land.

Furthermore, to show his seriousness in sanitizing the state in some areas, Obiano said on Thursday that his administration would soon strengthen, existing laws to guide unhealthy environmental practices in the state.

He said this during the world environmental day in Awka which had the theme “Small Island developing state”.

Obaino said the state was being confronted with deforestation, bush burning, indiscriminate waste disposal, blocking of flood channels pollution and excavation.

According to the state commissioner for Environment, Evarest Uba “we are planning to introduce into the state government’s statues community service for defaulters who cannot pay fine or those we do not want to send to jail”.

Prof. Frank Ezeonu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, said “Nigeria was yet to embrace the entire spectrum of waste management”.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

T

•One of the roads

T

HEIR joy knew no bounds when the state government initiated road projects in their communities. The people of Umuaga and Umuabi in Udi Local Government Council said their prayers had been answered. The roads had been a huge concern to them. So as it was clear that their nightmares were soon to be over, they started praising Governor Sullivan Chime, even nicknaming him the Great Transformer.

The 14.5 km roads cut across the two communities and connect them with Achi and other communities in Oji-River Local Government.

Representive of the governor at the flag-off, the state commissioner for Works, Engr. Godwin Madueke, said the the flag-off was in fulfilment of Governor Chime’s promise to provide access roads to all local government headquarters and agricultural areas in the state.

Madueke disclosed that the cost of the contract from Amokwe Station to Umuabi Road project which is 7km is N1.216 billion while Amokwe Station to Umuaga Road which is 7.5km, will cost N1.217billion. All will be com-

•Another road

Road projects thrill Enugu communities ‘Commissioner Madueke appealed to the communities to bring whatever complaints they have to the ministry, explaining that payments to the contractor would be made based on the certificates generated or work done’ From Chris Oji, Enugu

pleted in 12 months.

The commissioner stated that there different levels of supervision in order to ensure that standard specifications were adhered to in the execution of contract and they include the resident engineer, directot of highways, multiphase consultant and the commissioner who would

visit the project from time to time.

He solicited the assistance of the people and residents of the communities in locating a borrow pit for laterite and in protecting the road by not burning inflammable materials like trys as well as dumping refuse in the drains to avoid drain overflowing to the road surface.

Madueke appealed to the communities to bring whatever complaints

they have to the ministry, explaining that payments to the contractor would be made based on the certificates generated or work done.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of works who is an indigene of one of the communities, Innocent Onyia confiemed that the people of Umuaga and Umuabi had been yearning for rescue from the state government from the deplorable state of their roads.

Onyia was optimstic that with the flagoof of work on the roads, the people would hope hope of improving in their economic and social lives. “This explains our gratitude to His Excellency, Barrister Sullivan Chime, governor of Enugu State over the road projects. The people will be more grateful if the two roads are extended to link them with neighbouring communities in Awgu and Oji-River local government areas.”

A retired High Court judge from one of the communities in Umuabi, Justice Francis Ezeike described Chime’s gesture as fantastic, adding, “We fought for it before and after

‘We are grateful to Governor Sullivan Chime for the road projects. The people will be more grateful if the two roads are extended to link them with neighbouring communities in Awgu and Oji-River Local Government Areas’ the civil war, several governments and administrators kept promising us of fixing this road, but none of them achieved it. We are grateful to God that Governor Sullivan Chime has achieved it.”

In thie same vein, special adviser to Governor Chime on special matters, Ndubuisi Ugwueze was full of praises to the governor saying, “It is a great day for the people of

Umuaga because we have never had it loke this before as we are known as the best producers of palmwine, palmoil and palm kernel.”

Chairman of Umuabi stakeholders and General Coordinator, Total Mandate for Governor Sullivan, Charlie Chime said that his joy could not be quantified following the commencement of the road construction and commended Gover-

nor Chime for his gesture.

According to him, by constructing the roads, the governor has incresed the life span of the people of the community and the community was expressing total support to his government.

The leader of the women of the area, Mrs. Georgina Eze Ajaga expressed happiness over the projects as according to her, the roads would improve access for the transportation of abundant agricultural produce in the are to the urban for sale.

And the project manager of Greyline Nigeria Limited, the company handling the projects, Mohammed Kenaam assured that the company had all it takes to deliver quality jobs. “This is not a new case for us in road constructio. We have been in this are and the people know us and our camp is around here. I cannot make promises as what we have achieved is a testimony to our competence. Greyline Nigeria Limited is more than enough, we will fulfil our promise and we will finish the project by the grace of God as much as possible before 12 months.”

•From left: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof.

Viola Onwuliri; Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof.

Benjamin Ozumba; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and Executive Secretary, Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof.

Suleiman Ogoro, at the Founadationlaying ceremony of the Prof.

Celestine Onwuliri Centre for Disease Control at UNN

•From left: Chairman, NUJ, Enugu State Chapter, Mr Louis Dilibe; Enugu State Commissioner for Budget Mr Kingsley Agbowo and his Finance counterpart, Mr Godson Nnadi at the state’s 2014 budget breakdown in Enugu

•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (right) with Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho after a church service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Umuaka, Imo State

HE police authorities in Aba, Abia State, have assured residents and investors in the commercial hub of the safety of their lives and businesses.

The new Aba Area Commander, Peter Wagbara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), while receiving members of Aba Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his office, said his administration would be tough on criminals, pledging to make kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent vices unattractive in the city.

Wagbara said that crime rate in the commercial city has reduced since he resumed office, adding that one of his cardinal agenda in the command would be to fight unlawful detention of suspects, indiscipline among officers and rank and file in the command. He also promised to ensure that people have access justice with minimal cost.

He said, “Aba is no safe haven for criminal elements. We are going to be having periodic raiding of suspected criminal hideouts in Aba and within its environs. We are going to discomfort Aba residents. While trying to meet the target, reducing crime to the barest minimum, some innocent persons may be arrested during the raid, but we shall release them unconditionally.

“I am going round the command at the moment to educate and enlighten my men on the need to relate with members of the public.

They must be civil in their dealings with members of the public and must treat people with a human face.

“I am happy that my men here (Area Command) have started imbibing some of the things I taught them. The other day, when the CP (Commissioner of Police) visited us here, he was happy with what he saw. Suspects in our cell have been decongested. Bail is free. I abhor extortion in its entire ramification and that is part of what I will want to instill in my men,” ACP Wagbara stated.

The Aba Police Chief further called for the corroboration of the media and police in crime fighting in Aba and the state at large, adding that the media remains a veritable tool in educating and sensitizing the general public on the need to join forces with the police in achieving a peaceful and conducive society.

Mr. Eric Ugbor, Aba NUJ chairman said that they were on the visit to show solidarity to the police and further stated the resolve of the media to partner with police and other security agencies in the state to promote a peaceful and conducive business environment through their reportage.

‘We are going to be having periodic raiding of suspected criminal hideouts in Aba and within its environs. We are going to discomfort Aba residents. While trying to meet the target, reducing crime to the barest minimum, some innocent persons may be arrested during the raid, but we shall release them unconditionally’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

A lift for women, youths

T

HE Development Support Initiative (DSI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in partnership with Star Deep Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chevron Nigeria Limited, has organised an empowerment programme for women and youths of Anambra State.

The programme also had input of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and the Office of wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebele Obiano.

The NGO initially proposed to train 50 people, especially women and youths in skill acquisition, but the number increased to 100 as a result of the need to empower more people to be self-reliant.

The DSI selected some of the participants from churches.

The training is expected to imbue in the participants enough knowledge in soap making, bakery; bead-making, shoe-making and other relevant skills that will assist them eke out a living.

A former participant of the programme, Mrs. Queen •Some of the trainees in Awka Efutubor, told our correspondent that she used the knowledge she acquired to train inmates of the Sapele Prisons in 2007, adding that many of them are helping their fellow inmates.

Mrs. Efutubor said: “Some of the inmates today in Sapele in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State are into hart making, soap making and production of Izal, among others materials. She said was proud to say she trained 50 of them.”

She further said that after she was trained in Warri, she relocated to the community to impact the knowledge on the prison inmates, adding that all of them today see her as their “Messiah” anytime she visited the prison yard.

Another facilitator of the programme, Winifred Kwentua Aboderin told our correspondent that the students will be equipped after the exercise to expand their businesses.

When our correspondent visited the centre, people were still trooping in begging to be registered despite surpassing the proposed number because such a thing has been lacking in the state.

Former Governor Peter Obi’s administration had claimed it had built a centre at Agu-Awka for such programme which did not work. Today, the environ- •The participants ment has been taken over by reptiles.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka Speaking with our correspondent, the coordinator of the programme, Mrs. Jacqueline acquire skills.

“We have a lot of unemployed Yemi Odiadi, said the participants will be empowered finan- youths; even the graduates are cially to start the trade they were unemployed. We have unedutrained in during the cated young men, women and ladies and we equally have programme.

She further said the those educated but probably, programme was packaged as what they studied in the univerpart of Chevron’s corporate so- sity is not fetching them any cial responsibilities (CRS) meaningful livelihood.”

“These are skill gaps we try to programme.

Odiadi said that DSI had pro- address and we are focused. We posed to train 50 people in are here to train a minimum of Anambra in line with their mis- 50 women and youth for this sion and vision of equipping programme but you can see that women and youths for economic in Anambra State, this kind of development and self-reliance, programme is in high demand.

“We are determined that this but had to contend with an overprogramme must go on and we flow of close to 100 participants because of the high demand in are going to stretch ourselves as much as we can to make sure that the state.

She said: “We are here in everybody is trained because Anambra State to do what we our budget does not cover 100 . “What we know how to do best, that is to people want to ensure is that the first train women and the youth to

‘We have a lot of unemployed youths; even the graduates are unemployed. We have uneducated young men, women and ladies and we equally have those educated but probably what they studied in the university is not fetching them any meaningful livelihood’ 50 to register will not only be trained, but will also be given starter packs. These starter packs are to help them to start their small-scale or micro-credit businesses immediately.”

The beneficiaries, Odiadi said, would be trained free and be assessed by the trainers upon

which performers would be certified and given starter packs containing the raw materials.

One of the participants, Mrs. Ndidi Umeh Okolie from Amichi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area told our correspondent that she had started training on sewing, soap- mak-

ing and few other things.

She said after the training, she would go to her community to train others who may not have the same privilege they had through DSI. Another participant, Okoronkwo Chinedum from Ihiala Local Government Area also told our correspondent that he was focusing on cake-making and other bakeries.

All the participants at the training programme thanked God for bringing the NGO to their area.

According to the facilitators of the programme, the vision of DSI is to eradicate poverty through knowledge-based vocational and learning programmes, even as they said their mission is to equip the Nigeria women and youth both in urban and rural areas of the country through sustainable economic, educational, social and community development programmes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

40

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Neighbours at daggers-drawn over boundary A

BREAKDOWN of law and order looms in two communities in Enugu State, except the state government urgently intervenes.

On March 13, Ikem and Neke communities in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area engaged each other in a clash over a disputed boundary at Ugwu Okwunene.

Machetes were freely used and eight people sustained injuries on both sides.

A house was also torched and two members of Ikem community were reportedly abducted but later rescued.

Different degrees of machete wounds were inflicted on members of the communities. One of them, Vitalis Agbo, from Ikem, lost a thumb.

After the conflict, each community took their victims to different hospitals in Enugu where they received treatment, though one Godwin Odo from Neke was said to have died four days later.

His death, though, was allegedly attributed to complications of a terminal ailment he was said to be suffering before the machete injury.

Following his death, however, four members of the community, namely, Lousia Odo, 60, Alpheus Ushi, 38, Okwudili Nnamani, 40, and Lazarus Eze Idoko, 49, were arrested by the police and detained for six weeks. There was mounted pressure on the police from government and human rights activists to release the arrested persons, but the police did not yield. They were said to have swiftly conducted an autopsy on the dead person and arraigned the detainees on May 14, 2014 at the Enugu Magistrate Court 5 presided over by Mrs. I. S. Oruruo.

The autopsy report was declared missing in the three files submitted to the court by the police that conducted the autopsy.

The Enugu police spokesman, Ebere Amarizu, however, contradicted that claim on the eve of the arraignment of the accused persons. He confirmed that the post mortem of the deceased was ready and that it was one of the reasons for the arraignment.

It was also learnt that the complainants from Neke community failed to show up during police investigation at the scene of the clash. There was also a contradiction on the charge sheet in which the scene was referred to as Akpani Neke whereas it actually took place on the ground ceded to Ikem by the state boundary committee led by

T

Abia PDP too strong to lose, says Orji From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

A

From Chris Oji, Enugu

the Deputy Governor of the state, Sunday Onyebuchi.

The magistrate court had, however, referred the charge of arson and murder to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) while the suspects were remanded in Enugu Prison pending the transfer of the case to a high court that will hear the matter.

Two months after the incarceration of the four accused persons, Deputy Governor Onyebuchi, who is the Chairman of Enugu State boundary committee, was said to have mediated in the matter where he was said to have frowned at the action of Neke community which refused to vacate the Ikem land three years after his committee demarcated it.

The deputy governor was said to have ordered the chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government, Mr. Augustine Nnamani, to immediately secure the release of the four incarcerated Ikem people before they were charged to court but that was not done until they were committed to Awaiting Trial in the prison custody.

The traditional ruler of Ikem community, Igwe Francis Okwor spoke with reporters on the issue, pleading with Governor Sullivan Chime to intervene in the dispute. The monarch said that Governor Chime’s intervention was urgently needed in order to prevent further bloodshed between the twom communities.

Igwe Okwor said that Chime should do everything within his power to see that peace returned to the neighbouring communities and accused the chairman of Isi-Uzo local government, Augustine Nnamani of fuelling the boundary dispute by instigating his people to go to court even though the disagreement had been resolved by the boundary committee years ago.

Hon. Nnamani denied any involvement in the crisis, saying he was being framed up.

The royal father traced the land dispute between the two communities to 1952 when according to him, Neke community encroached on their land and Ikem sought a demarcation. The Uzo-Agu Association, an umbrella organisation of the five communities of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area insisted that the land should not be de-

•The Igwe with reporters

‘The traditional ruler of Ikem, Igwe Francis Okwor pleaded with Governor Sullivan Chime to intervene in the dispute, saying that his timely intervention was urgently needed in order to prevent further bloodshed between the two communities’ marcated among brothers and Ikem people agreed with a proviso that Neke people should not go beyond Ngene Ikwe, a stream.

The two communities, the traditional ruler explained, continued to live like brothers without official demarcation until 1976 when a secondary school was built in Ikem known as Ikem Secondary School, Ikem. He said the people of Neke recently rose up and said the school should no longer be called Ikem Secondary School but Ikem-Neke Secondary School.

To this, the people of Ikem reluctantly agreed to avoid bloodshed and would have left it at that had not some Neke people started building on the land adjacent to the school premises, claiming that the school is not the boundary.

Igwe Okwor also explained that due to the continued encroachment and the erecting of buildings on Ikem land adjacent to the school premises, some people in Ikem rose up to defend their land and were attacked by Neke people.

“As if that was not enough, during the fracas that ensued, one Neke man died and Neke people claimed that it was Ikem people that killed him and thus four people were held in police detention for more than four months,”

Igwe Okwor claimed. He wondered why it was Neke people that took them to court instead of Ikem taking Neke to court.

He said: “Five of our people were taken to the hospital because of machete cut injury inflicted on them by Neke people. Luckily, none of them died but one Neke man died and they said it was Ikem people that killed the man and for this reason, they are charging them for murder.”

Igwe Okwor said that the state government asked the council chairman, Hon. Augustine Nnamani to build a concrete beacon around the Ugwu Okwunene to stop the encroachment by Neke to the school premises which he has not done up till this day.

In the same manner, Ikem youths have also called on Governor Chime to secure the release of ”innocent detainees” of the communal clash. The youths expressed dismay that after the deputy Governor of the state, Sunday Onyebuchi, who also is the chairman of state boundary adjustment committee, had ordered the Chairman of Isi-Uzo local government council to release the detainees; nothing was done about it.

Abia CLO condemns clampdown on media

HE swoop on the media at the weekend by soldiers has continued to draw reactions from Nigerians. The Chairman, Civil Liberty Organisations (CLO), Abia State Chapter Prof. Charles Chinekezi has condemned the action, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to call the army authorities to order to avoid a future occurrence.

Chinekezi who was speaking with journalists in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, described the military action as the “height of irresponsibility and anti-democracy”, stressing that such action could truncate Nigeria’s nascent democracy. ”For me, what has happened is the height of irresponsibility on the side of whoever that was involved; whether the military or government.

Whoever was the brain behind that action is anti-democracy. That person, group or organization is anti-democratic and we cannot go on with people like that. The CLO condemns it in the strongest term and brand such people, irresponsible Nigerians. They are people that want to truncate democracy.”

He added “democracy that is avail-

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

able in Nigeria today was only obtained through the efforts of media organizations, writers who use only paper on pen and mere speech to try to remodel the society up to the level it has gotten to today. And how can we now accept anybody to truncate our democracy; be him a soldier, policeman, secret service agent, public servant or top government functionary who now want to staple the operational methodology of the Nigerian press? That person we cannot tolerate and we will go to any extent and whoever in this action wants to terminate the democracy in Nigeria.”

“Look at the level of trauma, disorganization that we are suffering in the hands of insurgents called Boko Haram and the trouble Nigeria is suffering in the international community. Look at the level of economic and political trouble we are going through inside our country at present and somebody is now targeting to destroy the press, how far can that person go? He asked Reacting on the statement issued and signed by the Director of Defence

Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade on why the military confiscated and stopped the circulation and sales of The Nation and other newspapers across the country on Friday, the civil right activist asked “What type of routine check would warrant soldiers to invade media houses and stopped paper circulation, what kind of routine check is that? Where has that kind of check ever been conducted before? If for example, the military had anything to inquire for, don’t they how to meet the editors, publishers among others to have a personal chat with them and also inquire to be helped in a particular area of information? Why should they take the extreme measure of invading their offices?

Continuing he stated; “the intention of whoever that is carrying out such nefarious activity is to stifle or reduce the effectiveness of the free flow of information. That is the only target they have, but I want to assure them that they have failed. It cannot deter the genuine process and the objective principles of objective and professional journalism and we will not be intimidated by anybody. We cannot be deterred. It is unfortunate that we

will be talking this type of issue by now, it is very unfortunate. That is not the duty we send them to do.

“The duty we send them to do is to help and curb the level of insurgency that is rearing its ugly head in the north which is trying to disintegrate or disorganise Nigeria. They should know that by their action, they are trying to threaten National security by threatening the security of the press.

They want to destroy newspaper and mass media business and investment. They want to also destroy people’s carrier and government by extension. What they are doing is evil.

Even in the draconian Abacha government and all the military juntas that have passed, we have gone through all these things. We have known the methodologies and I am advising the executive president to call whoever that is behind this action to order. He has a duty as the president of this country to call this people to order because they have crossed the Rubicon and are now going haywire and we cannot accept that, the CLO Abia chapter chairman stated.

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party’s strength in the state in the run-up to its national mini-convention at which it will ratify the party’s national chairman, Adamu Mua’azu.

Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia his return from a caucus meeting of the party in Abuja, Orji said the party is still the one to beat in the coming general elections next year.

Orji who has been a member of the PDP caucus said that the discussed the issue of the forth coming national convention where it is expected that the position of the national chairman will be ratified and the plans for the forthcoming elections will be unveiled.

The governor said that there is need for the ratification of Mu’azu as the PDP national chairman since his short tenure has brought peace to the party and reconciliation has been ongoing, “Therefore ratifying his office will strengthen the party and bring more confidence to the members”.

He said that since the new national chairman assumed office, “There has been absolute peace and harmony in the party, as he has been carrying everyone along and the confidence of the party members has returned, thereby making the party stronger”.

Orji, who was bestowed with the honour as the agric governor of the year by AgricExpos West Africa, said that the award was given to him during the agric exposition where agricultural produce of the state and other states were exhibited.

The governor said that the award made him to be a proud Abian and more determined to improve on the agricultural production of the state, stressing that the state is blessed with many agricultural produce.

He maintained that his administration is poised to bring back all the native foods that are being neglected, pointing out that such foods which, “Our people need such farm produce which has been neglected as they are better and good to the body, as our fore fathers lived longer on such food stuff”.

Orji said that his government has done well for the people of the state especially as it concerns agriculture, stressing that a lot of people have been empowered through the liberation farms that have been established all over the state.

The governor said that he is following the footsteps of President Goodluck Jonathan in the agricultural agenda, as Mr President has stopped the issue of fertilizer scandal which has tended to destroy the agriculture sector.

He said that the President has done well in the agriculture sector through the introduction of dry farming and approved the sum of N1 billion to be given to farmers, adding that such move will help to increase food production and security.

‘Our people need such farm produce which has been neglected as they are better and good to the body, as our fore fathers lived longer on such food stuff’

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

41

CAMPUS LIFE

Corps members visit blast victims

M

EMBERS of Environmental Protection and Sanitation, a Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the Federal Capital Territory have visited the Nyanya blast victims being treated in Asokoro District Hospital in Abuja.

The group, on arrival, was welcomed by the hospital’s secretary, Mr Iliyasu Mohammed, who commended the youths for taking time out to visit the victims. He conducted the corps members round the Accident and Emergency (A&E) wards of the hospital.

The corps members divided themselves into two group to see the patients. The first team led by the CDS president, Chibueze Offiah and secretary, Sunday Bello, visited with the blast victims, while the second group was in the hospital’s maternity ward.

From Chisom Ojukwu NYSC OSOGBO The corps members donated gifts to expectant mothers in the maternity wards. The materials donated included pampers, detergents, rolls of toilet tissue, bars of soap and other sanitary items.

They also spent time chatting with the victims of the blast, cheering them up to aid their quick recovery. The youths also said prayers for the victims, who expressed joy at the sight of the visiting corps members.

One of the victims advised the corps members never to allow anyone lure them into committing heinous crimes against innocent people.

Iliyasu thanked the corps members for the gift and the visit. He prayed for divine reward of their generosity and wished them well in their endeavours.

History dept elects leaders

T

HE Students’ Historical Society of Nigeria (SHSN) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has elected new leaders.

The election started with the accreditation of candidates at 9:30am.

Voting started immediately and ended at 2pm.

The exercise, which took place at the association’s secretariat, witnessed a massive turnout of students. The results were announced immediately by the electoral committee led by Victor Aladetan.

Michael Agwuike was elected President, while Natasha Nwanze, bacame the Vice-President.

Others elected are Sylvia Eneogwe, General Secretary, Samson Ugwu, Public Relations Officer, Gabriel Ovinwe, Director

From Sunny Ibeh Jnr. UNIBEN of Socials, Victor Dike, Director of Sports and Sunny Ibeh Jnr, Director of Welfare.

The outgoing president, John Olabanjo described the election as free and fair. He commended members of the electoral committee for organising a peaceful exercise.

A 200-Level student of the department, Chiamaka Anadu, told CAMPUSLIFE that the election was one of the most credible in the history of the department.

“I am happy because this is one of the best elections we have witnessed in recent time. In fact, the result was a clear reflection of the majority’s will,” she said.

•The visiting corps members discussing with some of the blast victims

AAUA women rally for gender equality

W

OMEN in Adekunle Ajasin University AkungbaAkoko trooped out last week to demand for the protection of the rights of women and girl-child.

The rallywitnessed a large turnout of female staff and students of the institution. It started from the Vice-Chancellor’s office and ended at the university’s Sport Complex.

Some of them carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Put on a gender lens”, “No to abduction” and “Bring Back Our Girls”, among others.

The Acting Director of Women Studies and Development, Dr A. N. Duyilemi, urged university management to increase women participation in decision making processes.

She said: “We observed that

From Damilola Olisa AAUA women are always at the receiving end of bad policies. All these are happening because there are no many women in managerial level where crucial decisions are taken.

This is very bad for the women. We are sensitising women to uplift themselves and we are appealing to men to try to bring more women to top position so that there will be

balance in whatever we are doing.”

Dr Duyilemi said the motive for the rally was to create awareness for the International Women Day to be commemorated on Saturday.

“The rally is to sensitise the university community on the need for women in every community to condemn social vices among our female students. We are saying no to cultism, no to sexual harassment, no to indecent dressing and abortion,” she added.

Political Science wins speech contest

N

O fewer than 30 departments at the Ekiti State University, (EKSU) jostled for this year’s interdepartmental speech contest organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI) at the Oodua Hall of the institution.

All contestants spoke on “Challenges of nation building - Nigeria as a case study.”

The introduction of the panel judges was greeted with jubilation by students, who described them as impartial.

Members of the panel included Dr Ade Adeseke, Dr Ojo Ojo from the Department of English and Mr O. Ogunlade, an administrative staff in the university.

Contestants spoke for three minutes each in the first round and two minutes in the last round. Faculty of Management Science had the highest number of representatives at the contest.

From Olatunji Awe EKSU After all contestants have spoken in the second round, certificate of participation was given to the contestants while the three judges compiled the result for the top three contestants.

The President of the organisation, Alao Oluwatosin, a 400-Level student of Educational Management, used the medium in enlightening students on the aim behind the contest.

Participants were excited when Kazeem Oluwasegun, was announced winner of the contest.

Kazeem came third in last year’s edition of the contest.

Dr Adeseke urged the organisation to continue with the good work of developing future leaders.

•Prof Egboka (left) presenting handover note to Prof Ahaneku

P

New VC for ‘great’ UNIZIK

ROF Joseph Ahaneku has been appointed the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka , Anambra State.

He took over from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, whose tenure expired last month.

Ahaneku promised to take the institution to enviable heights during a handover held in the VC’s office.

The low-key event was attended by the Registrar, Mr C.C. Okeke, Director of Academic Planning, Prof Anthony Chiegboka, Dr Godson Okafor, Director of Information and Public Relations, Chief Security Officer, Mr Lawrence Okeke and members of the university Governing Council.

Congratulating his successor, Egboka described the institution as

From Oby Okeke UNIZIK an excellent citadel of learning that needed a good hand to direct its affairs.

He charged Prof Ahaneku to carry everyone along in his administration.

In his acceptance speech, the new VC thanked his predecessor, who he described as mentor, praising Egboka’s efforts in repositioning the institution.

He said: “We cannot write or say anything about the great UNIZIK without mentioning your (Prof Egboka’s) name prominently, even from the inception. This is not only because you were Vice-Chancellor but because you contributed in laying the foundation for healthy academic engagements that we have all

benefitted from.”

He noted that continuing the good landmarks of his predecessor will not be difficult since he had been part of the administration.

“We want a peaceful, quiet and highly coordinated university community, so that whenever we talk about Nnamdi Azikiwe University, people will acknowledge our quality.

This is the dream we have,” he added.

He stressed that the ideals of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe would be pursued at all times, urging all hands to be on deck in taking the university to the next level.

Okeke said: “I want to, on behalf of the university community, express my joy at the manner in which this transition has been conducted.

I thank everyone for understanding and unity, which have brought about this smooth transition.”

•Kazeem flanked by the runners up displaying their trophies

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

42

CAMPUS LIFE The Concorde Hotel in Owerri, the Imo State capital, was agog when students gathered for a beauty pageant to pick Mr Imo and Miss Imo. EKENE AHANEKU (200-Level Medicine and Surgery, Imo State University) reports.

•The contestants during the parade

Imo’s faces of beauty

T

HEIR inviting looks and figures attracted attention. They came from the 27 local government areas of Imo State. On arrival, they moved into the Imo Concorde Hotel, in the state capital.

They were models and contestants for the state beauty pageant. During the week-long event, auditioning was held to shortlist those who would participate in the contests. The models were taken through aerobic exercises and choreographed catwalk and other runway tactics.

On the D-Day, the contestants filed out, one after the other, in choreographed movements. They were decked in yellow polo shirt, looking radiant and glitzy. They entertained the audience with various dance steps.

Afterwards, the contestants changed to traditional attires to showcase the beauty of African culture. The male participants used their display to promote hard work as a virtue in Africa; their female counterparts showed the mode of dressing for an African lady.

The contestants later dressed in suits and gowns; the women dazzled the crowd with their catwalk, while the men displayed their ‘six packs’ and muscles to the applause of the judges.

The judges shortlisted the best 16 female and 10 male contestants, for the next round. There was a music interlude after which the contest proceeded to select winners.

The contestants participated in Intelligent Quotient (IQ) test, which produced Samantha Ubani, a graduating student of the Imo State University (IMSU) as the winner. She was crowned Imo Queen with a brand new car. Marlven Akandu, another student of IMSU, won the male category and got a $4,000 cash prize.

The runners-up were crowned as ambassadors of some of the sponsors of the event, including 360 Cinema, All Grain Noodles, Octagon Night Club and Links Hotel.

The event also featured presentation of awards of patronage to dignitaries, such as the former Minis-

ter of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho (rtd), and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Sir Ralph Uwazuruike.

Capt. Ihenacho donated the car and cash prizes for the winners.

Ijeoma Chinedum, 200-Level Geology student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), said: “Notwithstanding the fact that I did not win the pageant, I am happy to be among the runnersup. It is a good start for me.”

Miss Samantha, who won the Face of IMSU in 2012 and Queen of Trust in 2013, said: “I am happy for the feat and I appreciate everyone that contributed towards this. For me, it is a call for service and I promise to do my best to promote good values that will help to develop my state and the country.”

Marlven said: “I will forever remain grateful to the sponsors of event, which is to empower the youth. Winning for me is a glory of God and I hail Capt. Ihenacho for bringing us this programme.”

•Samantha and Marlven

Members of the Kegites’ Club of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have converged on the campus for the coronation of their new chiefo (leader). The event also featured the initiation of new members, report STANLEY UCHEGBU (Accounting) and EMMANUEL OGAR (Electronic and Computer Technology).

•The new chiefo (covered in white cloth) during the coronation rite

•The outgoig chiefo being led to the shrine

Enter the new chiefo

drenched with palm wine. He was fed with alligator pepper, kola nut, bitter kola, salt and palm oil that were served in calabashes.

He was draped in a white robe and instructed to crawl to where chiefesis were waiting to receive him. Each of the chiefesis scooped palm wine from the keg and splashed it on the new chiefo.

Afterwards, the Methuselah chiefesis handed over the “ancient calabash” that represents a symbol of power and authority to the new chiefo. This ended the succession rite and the new chiefo was unveiled to members.

New members were ushered into the shrine made of palm fronds for initiation. They recited the club’s anthem, which served as oath.

A member, Godwin Abang, said the attendance of the coronation ceremony showed that the club was not violent. He said kidnapping, cultism and lack of respect for elders were not part of the tradition of the club, say-

I

N a carnival-like mode, they gyrated (singing and dancing) round the campus decked in green and white babanriga, drinking palm wine. They are members of the Kegites’ Club, holding a procession in the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to announce the coronation of new Chiefo (leader) and initiation of new comradium (members).

All roads led to the Malabor Square, the venue of the event. From various destinations, the club members walked into the campus, wearing different shades of traditional caps. The Methuselah chiefesis (past leaders) - titles used to describe old Kegites’ leaders - were dressed in unique

regalia, different from others.

The venue was decorated with some cultural objects such as palm fronds, calabashes, palm wine wooden keg, local mats, horsetail and other traditional ornaments. Students and staff watched with rapt attention, the cultural display by members of the club.

As the coronation rite progressed, a drama played out when the outgoing Chiefo, Lucky Obetem, was moved into the ‘labour room’ (shrine). This is in tandem with the belief of the club, which states that “chiefos are born and not made”. He was kept there in the company of Methuselah chiefesis to assist him to ‘deliver’ the new leader safely.

Lucky said: “I must give birth to my successor, who must be a final year student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0; he must be crowned on the day of his birth.”

After he was ‘born’, the incoming chiefo, Etim Ekpeyengong, was stripped half naked and

ing: “What we see here today is Kegites Club is not an association of cultists as many have painted; it is a social group that detests violence but promotes unity and peace.”

Some students at the ceremony, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, praised the club’s members for promoting African culture.

Joseph Orok, one of the Methuselah chiefesis, said there was no way a new chiefo would sworn in without performing the rite of coronation. He noted that there was nothing superstitious with the ceremony, saying: “The rite can be likened to Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem; palm fronds were used to welcome him. That is why we use palm fronds to welcome new members.”

Maurice Bassey, a new member, said: “I joined the club because of the manner in which members dress. Also, because of the gyration with palm wine, which one can use to enliven his mood after academic activities.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

43

CAMPUS LIFE

Will Eagles fly in Brazil?

T

HE 2014 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup will kick off in Brazil today and participating countries are battle ready for the biggest soccer fiesta. Names of the participating stars have been released but the world awaits how the tournament would shape their careers – either for good or bad.

Prior to the release of the provisional list of 30 players by the coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, last month, speculations were rife on the composition of the team.

People tipped their favourite players to fly the nation’s flag at the World Cup. While some players were being clamoured to be included in the list by virtue of their being in good form and playing regularly for foreign clubs, some were completely criticised because of their lack of foreign exposure and experience.

Normally, during a world cup year, players showing their skills in various leagues across the world are favoured and given chance to represent their countries in the biggest soccer fiesta. Players who do not enjoy regular feature in their club sides usually seek for a change of club to boost their soccer participation.

When Keshi finally released the list, opinions were divided as to inclusion of some players and the ex-

clusion of others.

However, the decision left many to wonder as to the real intentions of the coach. This is because the fitness of each player would determine, to a large extent, the overall performance of the team in the competition.

The inclusion of such players like Chigozie Agbim, Joel Obi, Gabriel Reuben and the likes, who are either suffering one injury or the other, or have not played competitive matches for a while has been a source of concern to many football lovers.

The particular case of Chigozie Agbim, regarded as Nigeria’s worst goal keeper of all time by many, because of his bad goal clean sheet ratio. As Nigeria’s skipper to the last Confederation of African Football (CAF) Championship for African Nations (CHAN) last February, his inconsistency cost Nigeria the trophy and many expected that he may feature in subsequent games.

Keshi has kept fate with him and many wonder if it is not a case of sentiment as Agbim cannot even boast of being the best goal keeper in Nigerian Professional League (NPL). He could not even pen a new deal with his local club Enugu Rangers here in Nigeria; it took the intervention of another local club, Gombe United for him to still attach to a club, yet he was named in

the provisional list.

Former Nigeria goal keeper and Atlanta ’96 gold medallist, Emmanuel Babayaro, expressed similar view when he noted that “Agbim ought not to be in the national team.”

The case of Joel Obi and Gabriel Reuben is that of injury. These players have spent more time in the hospital than on the field, yet the Keshi deemed it fit to include them in his list while leaving out talented players.

Keshi has debunked the rumour in the face of glaring evidence that some of the players are nursing one injury or the other. He said of a player, who he particularly invited to camp: “I am not aware he is injured; the last time I spoke with him, which was after our friendly in Mexico, he said he was getting better.”

It is, therefore, obvious that the coach hardly communicates with players, because it has been over three months since Nigeria played Mexico and Keshi does not know how the players are faring in terms of fitness. The coach only knows what the players tell him. This is in sharp contrast with what is obtainable in a sane clime.

For instance, Mario Gomez, a German with Italian club Florentina, was excluded from his country’s World Cup squad because of his

short playing time and inability to score goals since joining the Italian club. Gomez was once regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, especially in the 2011/2012 season when he netted 41 goals and was being compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Due to injury, he lost his starting position in his former club Bayern Munich FC to Mario Mandzukic.

Noticing that world cup was approaching, Gomez changed club to ensure regular feature but due to persistent injury, he was limited to only 15 games in which he scored 4 goals. This, of course, cost him a place in the national team for the World Cup. The exclusion of some players in good form, notably Ikechukwu Uche, is another talking point.

While I will not argue Keshi’s reasons for leaving out Uche, I am worried as to how the team would cope with attack.

In the World Cup, Nigerians expect, at least, a moderate performance from our team. Performances that will see the nation surpass its infamous second-round record, as observed in USA ’94 and France ’98.

If countries like Cameroun could get to the quarter finals in Italy ’90, Senegal and Ghana in Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively, then more is expected of Nigeria as the giant of Africa in Brazil.

By Philip Okorodudu I want to believe that Keshi knows what he is doing. Even though I am not optimistic about the good outing, I believe that “no one does a thing without a plan”. So we must give Keshi the chance to carry out his plans.

Nigerians are eager to see the Eagles fly high in Brazil. But will Coach Keshi give them the wings?

Only time will tell.

Philip is a graduating student of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

Right to agree and disagree

T

HERE is a saying in Yoruba that roughly translates: “You reject what you don’t like with your mouth.” This explains better the fact that one has the responsibility of accepting or declining any offer. But, the Reggae maestro, Lucky Dube, of blessed memory, in one of his albums, noted: “Blessed is the man that giveth and the one that taketh.”

Yoruba would also say: “Blessed is the one that offers foolishness but woe is to the one who accepts it.”

These axiomatic expressions are used when there is an exchange of material between two parties - a giver and a receiver. The relationship is characterised by, firstly, giving and secondly, by either accepting the gift or declining it. Both options in the second part of the social interaction have values attached to them. Each either attracts blessing or otherwise.

Nigeria has a strength (I don’t want to call it a weakness), and this

strength manifests in either not saying “no”, especially to offers, or saying “no” like we don’t mean it.

This has made people and countries to take us for granted. Instances abound.

The recent killings of Nigerians outside the shores of the country show how we are being treated by the world. While our government reluctantly complained about the incidents, did the government take any diplomatic measure to send a strong message to the people murdering our bright and promising youths abroad? After the mass hysteria, the government would go to sleep and another Nigerian gets murdered.

Imagine how badly some multinational companies have been maltreating Nigerian employees, even on the soil of the country after we offered them safe and serene atmosphere for business. Even, let us imagine how our leaders treat the masses. Or how the poor treat their

By Tolulope Olamisoji fellow poor.

Of course, there have been reactions of rejection or somewhat acceptance to these treatments. The receivers of the inhuman dispositions have reacted with either a “yes” or a weak “no”. This is what this piece aims to briefly x-ray.

The ongoing national conference has long been agitated for and when President Goodluck Jonathan eventually agreed to hold it, people answered in “yes” and “no” from different quarters. It could be observed that in every session of the conference, shouts of “yes” and “no” surround issues being raised, depending on where the sympathy of the delegates is.

Delegates were selected and appointed from various walks of life.

As soon as the list was out, there were “yes” and “no” controversies on the ages, capabilities, antecedents

and fears of some delegates. Some forms of nepotism were also observed. These and others observations stirred agitations.

Well, before the conference started, President Goodluck Jonathan’s no-go area list was, in itself, a catalyst of “yes” and “no”.

Nigerians did not wait for the president to finish the line before expressing their opinions about it. Of course, the reactions were divided into “yes” and “no”.

There was allegation of nepotism in the selection and composition of the delegates, but isn’t that part of the system? Those selected through nepotism, of course, knew that they were given immoral opportunity but they did not say “no”. Those who felt dissatisfied did not say “yes”; although, their “no” was not strong enough to move or change anything.

Among those who are favored, having the opportunity to be in the list of delegates, there are those who

opposed the allowance but majority seem to be on the other end.

In the course of the conference, the deliberations are being greeted with “yes” and “no” all through by delegates. By the time the conference ends, there would be more “yes” and “no” when the resolutions and recommendations are made open.

However, it should be our prayer that all the resolutions are favourable to all quarters concerned.

If this happens, which of course, is not going to, it would be good for the country. If it happens otherwise, we would enter another round of argument that may make the recommendations of the conference ineffective.

It should be noted that this “yes” and “no” attitude of Nigerians to social issues is not only seen at the National Conference alone; it is observed in all aspects of our social life. But when are we going to unanimously agree on issues?

Road to Hobbesian society

T

HOMAS Hobbes, an English philosopher, observed that a state without an organised government invites anarchy and a state of nature, where life is brutish, nasty, solitary, ugly, poor and short. According to him, anarchy tends to thrive where there is no established body of authority to guide the conduct of humans in the society.

Therefore, government, constitution and laws are essential ingredients for a society to check vices that tend to turn it to a lawless culture.

The crux of this piece borders on what most people term “jungle justice”, which, to me, is man’s inhumanity to fellow man - a system where judgment is delivered without any room for redress or explanation. This is a system where everyone on the street is deemed qualified to stand as judge, irrespective of age, gender, status, mentality, height, agility or intelligence.

Once you are accused of being a kidnapper, thief, witch and or a

Boko Haram member, you are condemned immediately. The street judges gather from almost nowhere to dispense their brand of justice – lynching.

What informed this piece was an incident this writer witnessed at NNPC Filling Station in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. I was going with a friend on Tanke Road when we saw these ‘judges’ in their numbers, beating a woman, who appeared to be insane. We stopped our vehicle to plead on her behalf.

We were told the lady was part of the criminals feigning madness to kidnap people for rituals.

Moving closer to the victim, we observed there was no trace of sanity because while the “street judges” tortured her, the woman was pleading with inconsistent language, showing she may truly have lost her sanity.

When we could not pacify the mob, my colleague quickly rushed to inform the police about the incident, while I stayed back to give them report of what was going on.

The police came and the woman

was rescued from the mob.

In recent times, there have been cases of jungle justice, which is plaguing our society like a ravaging disease. In October 2012, the nation woke up to the brutal murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) accused of theft and cultism.

In Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, there has been increase in cases of jungle justice almost daily, since the discovery of the dreaded Soka Forest in Ibadan. In April, reports showed that not less than three suspected kidnappers were lynched at various locations in Osogbo. In the three cases, a victim was burnt to death at Ayetoro community, others in Plantation and Igbona areas of Osogbo.

There have also been cases in Lagos and other parts of the country. The question that comes to mind is: why will people find it easy and pleasurable to prey on their fellow man and kill him like a goat?

If it is not cannibalism, what else could one call it?

The incidents speak of injustice

and man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. The rise in cases of terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery has groomed monsters, who take laws into their hands as though there are no security agencies in the country.

This transforms civilians to vigilantes, who daily take it as a responsibility to arrest, kill and destroy suspects’ properties. It is because people have lost confidence in the police to prosecute suspects. Instead, the complainant ends up in jail while the suspect walks on the street freely. This situation is very pathetic and discouraging and for this reason, many Nigerians, even when they are victims of crime, feel reluctant to go to the police station.

The end result is what we witness daily on the street. Whether one is accused rightly or wrongly, the mob delivers its jungle justice. The nation is gradually maintaining a descent into a Hobbesian state of nature.

As a remedy to this, the security and judicial systems must be restructured to restore their lost

By Ibrahim Jatto glory. If this is done and confidence people have for the system is restored, nobody would dare take law into his hand.

Joseph, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNILORIN

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

44

CAMPUS LIFE

CAMPUSLIFE reporters bag awards

T

WO CAMPUSLIFE reporters, Sikiru Akinola and Kemi Busari, have won awards at the final year dinner organised by the department Political Science of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Sikiru received the Most Politically Vast Student of the Year award, while Kemi got award for the Most Influential Student among graduating students of the department.

Other awardees included Adeniyi Adediran, Most Enterprising Student (male category), Titilayo Adegbaju, Most Enterprising Student (female category), Olaoluwa Opaleye, Most Sociable Student (male category), Ginika Joseph, Best Dressed Male and Oyindamola Olaobaju, Best Dressed Female.

Susan Adu and Mofe Aghaye were adjudged the Most Beautiful

From Femi Ogunjobi OAU

and Most Handsome while Shakirat Adesina clinched both the Politically Vast and Most Sociable female student.

Kemi said he was grateful to God for sparing his life to witness his graduation from the department.

He said: “I am very happy for being honoured by my colleagues.

This award will always remind me of my days and activities in the department and the school.”

Sikiru said he would cherish the award forever.

He thanked his colleagues for considering him for the honour, saying he would continue to be a good ambassador of the department The event was held at the Pit Theatre.

•Kemi

•Sikiru

Students reach out to community

T

•One of the medical students checking the blood pressure of a resident

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

HE annual free medical outreach of the Federation Of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) chapter, has been held in Akpabu community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The outreach brought smiles to the faces of the residents of the community.

The event was conducted by students of all departments in the institution’s Medical College.

The services provided to the villagers included blood pressure test, blood group examination, urine analysis, malaria test and medical counselling.

Free drugs were also given to the residents. There was a de-worming programme and sensitisation on

From Boris Nwachukwu UNIPORT

healthy lifestyle while critical medical cases were referred to the community primary health centre or general hospital.

FECAMDS president, Bernard Ossai, a final year student of Medicine and Surgery, said the event was aimed at making impact on the lives of the residents.

“We cannot depend on our leaders to do everything for us. No matter our level in life, there is always something we can do to impact the lives of those around us. Over the years, we have put smiles on the faces of people that we show care for. In most cases, what these people need is not a bag of drugs or injections but a touch of care and

listening ear.

He added that the team chose the community because of inadequate health facilities.

Ethel Anaege, a 400-Level Pharmacy student, said her participation was divine. She said: “It gladdens my heart each time I attend to the health need of other people.”

A resident of the community, who simply identified himself as Pa Chinedu, said: “We are very grateful to this people. Some of us have not been feeling fine for months but we have nobody to attend to us. Even the drugs are costly for us to afford. But the students provided drugs and attended to us genuinely. We pray for the favour of God in all their endeavours.”

Sanitation at FUT MINNA

T

HERE was sanitation in Bosso and Gidan Kwano campuses of the Federal University of Technology in Minna (FUT MINNA), Niger State, last week Students abandoned their engagements to participate in the exercise.

The move was aimed towards promoting hygiene and prevent outbreak of diseases on campus.

The hostel residents cleaned their rooms and the surrounding.

Monitoring the exercise, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr A.N. Saidu, praised the effort and commitment of the students in ensuring that the sanitation exercise was successful, adding that with “proper sensitisation, the need for proper hygiene will be better appreciated.”

While addressing the students in the Bosso campus, the Students’ Union Government President, Segun Abdullahi, 500-Level Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, promised them of better days on campus, saying the union was making adequate plans to attend to the various needs of the students. He also assured them of the continuity of the exercise.

A Hall Representative of Block Q Boys’ Hostel, Zakari Lafiagi, 400Level Biological Sciences, said: “the organisation and preparation was not perfect because, the logistics for the exercise came to us late but notwithstanding, the residents of my hall tried their best in carrying out the sanitation exercise as much as expected. I am impressed.”

Emmanuel Ehizojie, 500-Level Mathematics and Statistics, praised

•A student cleaning his room window during the sanitation

From Uche Ekwueme-Duru FUT MINNA the organisers and urged the school management to make the activity a consistent one.

Jimoh David, 300-Level student of Information and Media Technology, applauded the management for reviving the long forgotten event and recommended that the event should be made an annual one.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

45

CAMPUS LIFE

How to fight insurgency, by don •KWASU graduates 349

T

O counter the Boko Haram insurgency, former Nigerian permanent representative to the United Nations, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, has counseled the Federal Government to invest in the development of impoverished people and their communities.

Speaking at the second convocation of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete at the weekend, Gambari said military action is not enough to address the problem and warned that the insurgency is threatening Nigeria’s stability.

He recalled that he had made some remarks on the state of the nation 15 years ago that are still relevant to resolve the crisis today.

Then, he said he had advised that

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

the government should provide the most basic needs for it citizens, invest in human capital, provide infrastructure that would allow the citizens to realise their potential and evolve social safety nets that take adequate care of the downtrodden and those who fall into bad times.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. Political tolerance, religious tolerance and strict adherence to the secular nature of the Nigerian state and respect for the diversity of our nation are the pre-requisite for a republic that is at peace with itself and consolidates its unity,” he said.

He also recommended collective national response to the insurgency in the northeast, which he described as a national emergency.

“We must regard the insurgency in the Northeast as a national emergency demanding a collective national

response which is comprehensive, carefully calibrated and sustained. In my view, it would be a great mistake to regard the Boko Haram insurgency as a problem of the Northeast of our country. Let us be clear: the Nigerian state is under serious and unprecedented attack,” he said.

Three hundred and forty-nine graduands of the institution bagged first degrees in various disciplines.

Gambari, who is the Chancellor of the university, congratulated the graduands for having the courage, perseverance and resoluteness to complete their programes. He charged them to “prove to be worthy ambassadors” of their alma mater.

In his speech, the Kwara State Governor and Visitor to the university, Abdulfatah Ahmed, praised the institution for the progress it has made in its five years of existence, and restated commitment of his administration to

continue to develop the school.

Ahmed who was represented by his deputy, Peter Kishira, charged the graduands to brace up for the challenges of life after school. He also congratulated their parents for investing in their future.

Earlier, KWASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, urged the graduands to make use of the entrepreneurial training they received in the school to become selfemployed instead of seeking for jobs.

He said: “This is the time to be creative and innovative just as you have been trained in KWASU to be employers of labour rather than job seekers. These days, no one sympathises with a graduate who cannot be of use to the society.

“You have no business roaming the streets (I will repeat this); and it will be a dishonour to your university if you are found not using your entrepreneurship skills to create wealth for yourself and your community whenever you do not take employment from government and industry. You are your own industry.”

Creative entries impress judges •100 battle for enterprise trophy

DVC counsels SU leaders THE Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, has advised the Institution's newlyelected Students' Union leaders to dialogue with management on all issues at all times and provide responsible leadership.

Ajayi gave the counsel at the opening of a two-day leadership retreat, entitled: Leadership and Responsible Unionism, organised by the university at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, NIEPA, Ondo.

The DVC, who declared the annual retreat open, said, "You need to imbibe the culture of dialogue with the administration.

There will be issues from time to time but these issues are to be tabled before the university administration for discussion. I appeal to you to pursue the path of responsibility, responsiveness, decency and good governance."

Ajayi said the university has witnessed five consecutive sessions of unbroken academic calendar, and urged the new leaders not to disrupt the flow by treading the path of their predecessors who maintained the peace and tranquility during their tenures.

Community hails corps members

T

HE quality of entries submitted for the Enterprise Challenge, an initiative of the British Council and Virgin Atlantic Airways has impressed the panel of judges.

Mrs Adetomi Soyinka, British Council Regional Manager, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) said the judges were wowed by the creativity of business ideas that young people aged between 18 and 35 entered for the competition.

The competition tasks participants to showcase ideas they have initiated in the past, doing presently or plan for the future that would create opportunities for themselves and others in three stages within a five week period.

Speaking at a press conference along with Brian Wilson, Director of Education, British Council, and Rachel Coffey, Commercial Manager, Virgin Atlantic last Thursday,

AAUA FILE

• From left: Mrs Soyinka, Wilson and Coffey at the event.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Mrs Soyinka said the panel had a hard time deciding the 100 entries that have made it to the third stage of the online competition.

"It was very difficult actually cutting it down to 100 because we got close to 2,000 entries. Normally when we run competitions like this, we do not receive that number of

entries, and they are not usually very good. I was humbled by the scale of the ideas and the proposition that people put forward or what people are actually doing. We are not easily impressed. The 100 were pretty good," she said.

Mrs Soyinka added that majority of the 2,000 entries received for the competition, open to young people resident in Nigeria or the United Kingdom came locally.

Underscoring the importance of the competition, Wilson said the initiative would help prepare the youth, who will take over the business arena tomorrow, to be innovative and entrepreneurial.

"Nigeria's demographics are changing. It is one of the few countries in the world that will have many young people of employable age. These young people will need jobs and opportunities. We want to identify young people who will create opportunities for others," he said.

Also speaking, Rachel Coffey said it is important to provide the youth with relevant education and skills they may not necessarily get in the classroom, courtesy of the competition. She added that meeting Branson would be a good way to learn some of those skills.

"We have a famous entrepreneur at the head of our brand. As well as entrepreneurship is in our DNA, it is in the DNA of Nigerians as well.

Richard Branson has endorsed this challenge. This whole competition is about development - giving people the opportunity to go ahead and develop their own businesses," he said.

To be among the 10 that will face Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways, top executives from Zenith Bank and others with their creative solutions in the final, the contestants have to shoot a video in which they talk convincingly about their ideas.

The winners, one from Nigeria, and the other, a Nigerian studying or working in the UK, will win flight tickets to the United Kingdom, in addition to sharing a N6 million business grant courtesy of Zeinth Bank.

They will also be mentored by experts who would teach them about running a business successfully and advise/monitor how they use the prize money.

Apart from the winners, the finalists will benefit from mentoring sessions to help breathe life into their ideas.

India woos Nigerian students

E • Agatha Udo, a graduate of International Law and Diplomacy with her parents, Mr and Mrs Silas Okezu when she graduated from Babcock University

DUSOFT Associates limited is partnering with some Indian universities to hold a two-day exhibition next week.

Mr Badri Prasad, director of operations, Edu soft Associates Limited, said the event scheduled for June 18 and 19 at the Nikoms Event Centre, Yaba, Lagos, will provide an opportunity for Nigerian students seeking admission into Indian universities for the 2014/2015 academic session to interact with representatives of

the institutions.

He said those who merit it may also get partial or full scholarship.

This year alone, the firm has facilitated admissions for 400 Nigerians currently studying courses like engineering, medicine and animation among others in India.

He said Indian universities have gained global recognition for training in innovative technology which make their graduates to be sought after.

THE Etioro Community of Akoko South/West of Ondo State, has praised a corps member serving at AAUA, Mr. Godwin Afiene, for investing in the community.

Afiene, a 2013 Batch 'B' Corps Member organised skills acquisition programme on carpentry (PVC Ceiling fixing) for youths in the community, distributed some domestic materials to widows, donated two First-Aid boxes to and gave exercise books to some indigent pupils.

Speaking at the programme, the community head, Chief P. A. Adewumi, said Afiene stands out among other corps members. He particularly lauded the skills acquisition programme, which he said has encouraged the youth and added value to their lives.

"Many corps members have served in this community. But this is the first time a corps member has done these remarkable things.

Afiene has impacted our community positively. We are happy and we appreciate you," he said.

Don gets award A DON in the Department of Philosophy, Dr Lucky-Dada Itanrin, has been appointed Fellow Award of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.

Presentation of the Award plaque and certificate was done at the 2014 Kick-off Summit of the Institute on Saturday, May 24, 2014 in the Bouquet Hall of Owena Motel Limited, Akure, Ondo State.

ICA is an amalgam of all professional administrators who occupy supervisory, managerial or leadership positions across public and private sectors.

In a statement, the Acting Council Chairman of ICA, Dr. G. C. Onyekwere, FCIA, said Itanrin was conferred with the fellowing “having satisfied the requirements for admission to membership and in recognition of competence in administrative, leadership strategies and outstanding performance as an administrator.”

Itanrin expressed joy for the award and thanked the AAUA management for providing a conducive platform for him to work.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

46

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

ADOPOLY FILE

Mass Communication Dept. coming THE much-awaited Department of Mass Communication of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is expected to take off at the beginning of the 2014/2015 academic session.

This was disclosed by the Rector of the institution Dr. Taiwo Akande when the management team of the Radio Nigerian Progress FM, Ado-Ekiti, led by its General Manager, Pastor Kayode Akinsola, paid her a courtesy visit.

She said equipment for the smooth take off of the department are already on ground and their installation is ongoing after which it would only await the resource visitation from relevant authorities and Institutions.

The Rector, who described the media as a very powerful tool of communication, especially the Radio, because of its ubiquitous, urged Pastor Akinsola to remain neutral in dealing with members of the public especially as Ekiti State is just a few days to its gubernatorial election.

She also implored the media to act as the conscience of the people, learn to put political leaders on their toes and hold them accountable to the people.

Pastor Akinsola said the purpose of the visit among other, was to explore areas of mutual benefits between the institution and Radio Nigeria as a way of uplifting the people and unifying the nation.

He, therefore, implored the management of the institution to work out modalities for achieving the aforementioned.

CP praises crime-free record THE new Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Felix Uyana, has commended the institution for maintaining a crime-free record since he assumed the leadership of the state police command.

Uyana gave the commendation during his familiarisation visit to the school’s management, which he described as a major stakeholder in the business of security in the state.

The police boss while seeking the support of the polytechnic in maintaining peace in the state, implored students, who constitute the youth, not to allow themselves as political thugs during the forth-coming governorship election in the state.

The Rector, prayed the Lord to grant Uyana a successful stay in Ekiti.

Akande, who described both staff and students of the insititution as law-abiding, pledged the Institution's support for the successful policing of the state.

APPROACHING DEADLINES QUT School of Accountancy Accelerate Scholarship in Australia, 2014 QUEENSLAND University of Technology is awarding Accountancy scholarship for international and domestic students. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 6 in their previous studies and must be applying to start a Master of Business (Research) (Accountancy) in Semester 2, 2014. Applicants will receive $18,610 per year and If they are an international student, they will receive a QUT fee waiver. The duration of the scholarship will not be longer than the period required completing the relevant course of study. Application should be sub-

mitted till 20th June 2014.

Study Subject (s): Scholarship is awarded in the field of Accountancy at Queensland university of Technology.

Course Level: Scholarship is available for pursuing postgraduate research (master) programme at Queensland university of Technology, Australia.

Scholarship Provider: Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Scholarship can be taken at: Australia Eligibility: •Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 6 in your previous studies •Be applying to start a Master of Business (Research) (Accountancy)

in Semester 2, 2014 •Conduct your research on one of these approved topics: •An empirical analysis of audit effectiveness in light of recent regulatory changes •Assessing accountancy capstone’s effectiveness in the university-to-work transition •Board characteristics' influence on corporate reputation in Australian listed companies •Concurrent independent forensic witness processes in Australia: the impact on quality, independence and effectiveness of forensic independent witnesses •Corporate social and environmental performance information and related accountability practices •Effective management account-

164 Sokoto indigenes for medical studies in Sudan

A

BOUT 164 students of Sokoto State origin, who gained admission to study medical, paramedical and engineering courses in tertiary institutions in the Republic of Sudan will benefit from the state N331.6million sponsorship fund.

The Executive Chairman of the state Scholarship Board, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jelani Kalgo, has said.

The fund, he said, formed part of the state's effort at providing qualitative education to indigenes,

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

would cover tuitions, registrations, upkeeps, transportation and other related expenditures for the 2014/ 2015 academic session.

This was disclosed in a release by the board's information officer, Isah Abubakar Shuni.

According to the release, the breakdown of students who gained admission into Sudanese tertiary institutions include: Khartoum College of Medical Sciences (57);

Ahfad University for Women (23); Nahda International College (39); International University of Africa Khartoum (22); and the National University Sudan (23).

The board, Kalgo said, established contacts with credible institutions with excellent academic track records in the Republic of Sudan.

“The contacts and partnerships were built within five reputable institutions in Sudan to enable the offering of specialised professional training to our youths in selective

ing practices through a dynamic information system environment •Floods and insurance in Queensland •Performance disclosure in relation to elimination of fraud, bribery or corruption: evidence from corporations •Profiling white-collar criminals: differences between offenders in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations •’Social audit’: a tool for enhancing corporate accountability •Social media and risk management •The history of the changing research and development tax concessions

Continued on next edition medical fields," Kalgo said.

Kalgo explained that the essence of releasing the funds by Governor Wamakko is to facilitate easy takeoff of the programmes in accordance with the respective institutions' academic calendar and guidelines.

"The state government places higher premium and emphasis in sponsoring female students on medical and para-medical studies to address the perennial shortage of female medical personnel affecting the state's medical institutions.

"I, therefore, call on all beneficiaries of this gesture to reciprocate by justifying government's efforts. You should be good ambassadors of the state and country while pursuing the programmes," he said.

Don’t encourage quacks, provost warns

T

HE Provost Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/ Ijanikin, Mr Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan, has condemned some private teachers who employ quacks in their schools as a means of cutting corners. The development, he said, is not helping the country.

According to him, it does not only drag the teaching profession in the mud, it also dampens the morale of those with genuine interest in the profession.

Bashorun spoke at the formal induction/oath-taking of some graduands of the college.

The event, a concert between AOCOED and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), held at the former’s premises where the Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Prof. Addison Mark Wokocha conducted the

•First role (standing, in black gown) (from right) Prof Wokocha, Mr Bashorun, AOCOED Registrar Bola Disu and Deputy Provost Mr Wole Ajose with the inductees.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

induction.

The graduands comprised 2011/ 2012 regular NCE graduates and 2010/2013 Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) graduates.

• Member of House of Representatives, Moruf Akinderu Fatai, addressing pupils of Unity Senior High Schools at a seminar on entrepreneurship.

Bashorun urged the TRCN helmsman not to rest on his oars as more work needs be done in clamping down on 'touts' in the profession.

He said: ''As a foremost teacher training institution, AOCOED will on its part, work tirelessly to ensure that we produce sound and high quality graduates fit and proper to be certified as professional teachers.

“In the meantime, the TRCN has a lot more responsibilities on its shoulder. Many private schools nationwide are having a field day encouraging lots of quacks to teach in these schools. The negative implication of this malaise on human capacity development in the country is enormous,” he said.

He added: “The time has, therefore, come for TRCN to intensify efforts with state ministries of education nationwide to clamp down on this unwholesome development.''

He admonished the inductees, to take the oath seriously and comply with the ethics of the profession, asking them to make extra effort on restoring the lost glory. ''Public perception of the teaching profession is determined by you.

According to a Nigerian proverb, if the owner of a calabash calls it worthless, others will join him to

pack rubbish into it. Your worth is determined by the quality of your work. I, therefore, urge you to demonstrate excellence and strong character in the performance of your day-to-day activities. You shall succeed,'' he said.

Responding, Wokocha said the council was doing all it could to ensure that certified teachers in Nigeria are accorded global recognition.

“The TRCN is working with Teachers Regulatory Councils in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa and other countries to ensure that Nigeria teachers wishing to ply their trade abroad are recognised, registered and licensed in those countries automatically.

“Once they have TRCN certification and licence, it becomes easier to pick up teaching appointments abroad. From 2007 to date, we have issued letters of professional standing to hundreds of applicants seeking teaching appointments in various overseas countries who have been employed.

“TRCN is indeed, the headquarters of the African Forum of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) and an active member of International Forum of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (IFTRA),” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

47

EDUCATION

Kaduna tops NNPC Northwest Zonal Quiz Competition

T

HE 13th edition of the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC northwest zonal quiz competition ended in Kebbi State with the corporation describing it as the foundation upon which nations are built.

The competition, which saw

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Kaduna State coming tops, covered core science subjects such as, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English. It drew participants from across the seven states of the Northwest.

The General Manager, Group

UNESCO, Rivers to empower girls

T

HE Rivers State Government has promised to provide logistics support for the launch of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) project on the Empowerment of Girls and Women in Literacy and Skills Development through the use of ICT. The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, made the promise when a team from the UNESCO visited her in Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Lawrence-Nemi said a 10member committee, which includes herself, has been set up to midwife the process.

Other members are the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Minabelem Michael West; Director, State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education, Nuaton Nwanikpo; Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Sir Alli Oruitemeka; a representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs; three

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

representatives from selected NGOs and three UNESCO officials.

The initiative, the commissioner said, would give the girl-child an optional form of education and promote the literacy level among women.

Other members of the committee, including the West and Nwanikpo lauded the programme.

West said the state will continue to prioritise education because it is the bedrock of development, while Nwanikpo said his agency is ready for the planned take-off of the programme.

The Project Coordinator, Dr Sufiya Muhammad said the initiative would empower about 60,000 women and girls in Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who are illiterates or dropped out of school with basic literacy and vocational skills.

She said the project would identify communities that would benefit; identify centres for the project; list classrooms and furniture; list

Public Affairs Division, Mr Ohi Alegbe, said the competition is one of the ways which NNPC uses in touching the lives of Nigerians.

According to Alegbe, the event was in line with the company’s policy. “‘We touch your lives in many positive ways,” he said.

He maintained that the contest,

which was meant for secondary students across the federation, was tailored at testing and encouraging science oriented subjects in students.

Alegbe said the contest is to serve as a supportive mechanism to the federal government’s massive nationwide campaigns at uplifting

standard of education; stimulating interest in science-related courses among the youths and promote unity among others.

Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa States emerged as first, second and third runners up, while Zamfara and Kebbi tied, coming fifth, and Katsina coming seventh.

equitable access to appropriate learning and life skills programmes, achieve a 50 per cent improvement in the levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and

continuing education for all adults.

It will also eliminate all gender disparities in primary and secondary education, thereby achieving gender equality in education by 2015,” she said.

• Dr Muhammad presenting a document to Mrs LawrenceNemi

expected learners per classroom; classify and register learners, including low performing Junior Secondary pupils; identify and list facilitators for the centres.

"These goals are to ensure that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through

Lawmaker urges pupils on entrepreneurship

A

• Head teacher AOCOED Staff School, Otto/Ijanikin, Mr Ogunmade Sunday Adetayo (right) and another teacher, Mr Oguntuashe Gabriel Ojo, leading the school pupils on ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign at the school premises to commemorate Children’s Day celebration.

Indomie fetes children

A

S school children in Lagos and environs enjoyed a week of fun, courtesy, Indomie noodles, Lagos State governor’s wife, Dame Abimbola Fashola has urged them not to forget the abducted Chibok girls.

Mrs Fashola, who addressed the children at the National Theatre Iganmu, venue of the event, used the occasion to pray for the safe return of the over 200 secondary school pupils abducted by the Boko Haram sect on April 15. She also advised them to be focused and studious.

"I want to request that you children should not relent in praying for the abducted Chibok girls’ return safely to their parents. We have many leaders in the country today, but what sets them apart is their ability to perform well. I want to urge you all to be your brothers' keepers, face your studies and be kind to those around you at all times. If you can do this, you will inevitably become good leaders someday," she said.

bouncing castles, swings, face paintings, quiz, and debates among others.

MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Moruf Akinderu Fatai, has counseled secondary pupils to embrace entrepreneurship.

'MAF', as he is fondly called, exposed pupils of Oshodi Comprehensive and Unity Senior High Schools, both in Oshodi, to the rudiments of Basic Economics, Entrepreneurship and Governance last week.

During the programme sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Initiative and Development (FEID), founded by MAF in collaboration with Kids4biz's Project for Africa, the participants were given a book titled: ''Johnny Profit.”

They will also be eligible for scholarships and other prizes if they excel in an essay competition to be organised at the end of the project.

Addressing the pupils, MAF advised them to start thinking of their future careers now.

“You all should begin to think as an entrepreneur at this level. Think of how to start small, it is not compulsory you earn big before

By Sampson Unamka

The Group Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie, Deepak Singhal, thanked Mrs Fashola for gracing the occasion and counseling the children, who are Indomie Fan Club members from schools across the state. He described Mrs Fashola as "a mother in a million."

The firm’s Public Relations/Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said the firm has faith in Nigerian children and would continue to invest in them.

"Dufil Prima Foods believes so much in the Nigerian child and the annual Children's Day is always one good opportunity to show them how much we indeed, treasure them," he said.

Coordinator of the Indomie Fan Club, Mrs. Faith Joshua, said the firm has made it a custom to continue putting smiles on the faces of children.

Activities at the event included dance competitions, train rides,

• The children singing the Indomie song for Mrs Fashola

By Balikis Moyosore

investing, but rather you should think on how to invest whatever little capital you have now, so that you can make it big," he said.

Some of the pupils asked questions about how MAF has aided the search for the abducted Chibok girls.

Responding, the lawmaker said he has donated some money to the cause, which he hoped would not be mismanaged. He also prayed for God to assist the military in executing their duties.

One of the pupils from Oshodi Comprehensive High School, Oseni Arafat, said the programme has inspired her to improve in her academics and also start a business.

"What the lawmaker said has motivated me more since my dream has always been to set up a profitable business, train and inspire others," she said.

Another pupil, Eiuh Maximillian, vowed to start exploiting his talents.

He said: ''It (the programme) has enlightened me on entrepreneurship that even as a student, I don't need to wait until I finish school before making use of my talents.''

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

48

EDUCATION EDUTALK

New library lights up schools

Chibok on world stage

T

WELVE preschoolers sat in the nursery section of the new library donated by the Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) to their schools listening with rapt attention as Mrs Angela Omo-Dare of Stanbic/ IBTC group, read from a big story book, The greedy dog, recently.

The library had just been inaugurated to serve Araromi Baptist Primary School and Ereko Methodist Primary School which share the same premises on Beckley Street in Obalende, Lagos.

Many of the nursery pupils do not speak English and cannot read yet.

They conversed in Yoruba among themselves and likely did not understand all that Mrs Omo-Dare read to them. But Mrs Ifeoma Eziri, CEO, ZODML, is not worried. In a matter of months, she is confident they would catch up.

That has been the testimony shared by pupils from five other schools on Lagos Island, where the organisation has endowed libraries.

At the inauguration, they spoke of their improvement from using the library regularly.

"I was in Primary Three when I started going to the library. Then, I couldn't read. But after sometime The newest library is the first to have a nursery section, which is partitioned with a low wooden rail and has a carpeted area for the pupils to sit, a shelve containing mini books and other books and instructional materials for young learners. The other part of the library has colourful round table and chairs and three bookshelves stocked with a rich array of local and foreign titles on various fields.

The older pupils beamed with excitement as they flipped through pages of story books, comics, picture books and other reading materials they picked from the shelves.

The books were donated by Stanbic/IBTC Bank, which plugged into ZODML's 4,000 books drive to equip the libraries it is planting in schools.

N

IGERIA is dominating the news worldwide for the wrong reasons. The world cannot believe that over 200 girls can just disappear into thin air. It is like everyone has suddenly woken up, three weeks after, to consider the incredulity of the incident. The situation is almost making a mockery of our country and the ability of the government to manage its affairs.

The audacity with which the Boko Haram leader claimed re-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie • Mr Owo reading to older pupils in the library

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Mrs Omo-Dare, head of the bank's legal unit, said members of staff of the bank were happy to be involved in the project. She said many donated books no longer in use in their homes, bought or were compelled to pay fines for coming late which were used to purchase more books.

Underscoring the importance of the initiative, she said giving the pupils access to books through the library would improve their education.

"This does a lot. Education is dependent on what you read. It helps everyone. We had a book drive within the bank. We told members of staff to donate books; we also fined those who came late for meetings and used the money for books.

For us, we all have fun memories of libraries and we felt that it would be nice to give back," she said.

Mr Sanni Owo, Assistant Director of Education, Basic Education Department, Lagos State Ministry of Education also praised the ini-

tiative.

“If there is any other adjective to qualify this, it is more than good.

The drive of this administration is towards education is that private participation is key,” he said.

Mrs Esiri said, thanks to a partnership with the NYSC, each ZODML library is manned by a corps member, who coordinates reading sessions when the pupils visit the library.

She added that ZODML is hoping to establish 20 libraries before Mr Babatunde Fashola vacates office as governor to convince the government to contribute to the initiative.

"We hope that before Governor Fashola leaves we would have 20 libraries. We want to use it as a platform to insist that the government should send certified librarians to man these libraries," she said.

Like has happened with other libraries, Mrs Esiri hopes that the new schools would produce more of the SS2 pupil who wrote an essay that won her the slot to represent Nigeria in Germany.

District flags off eye tests for pupils

W

ITH the flag-off of eye screening programmes in public primary schools in Agege and Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Areas last Thursday, the Lagos State Education District I has keyed into the eye health programme of the state government.

The objective of the initiative is to detect and correct vision impairment and prevent childhood blindness.

The programme, which is a partnership between the school and parents, allows for screening to take place in school courtesy of vision corridors installed to detect vision problems. Once detected, pupils are given documents with which their parents can access medical intervention in general hospitals.

In her address at the launch held at the Oyewole school complex, Agege, the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs Florence Ogunfidodo, urged teachers, who have been trained to use the vi-

By Jane Chijioke

sion corridors, to monitor the pupils to ensure that they are free from eye defects.

She also counseled parents to provide their wards with adequate nutrition that enhances visual acuity.

She said this joint effort would enable early detection of eye defect in pupils and ensure that they get the right attention.

"The assertion of experts is that 80 per cent of learning is visual. It therefore means that if pupils cannot see, they are at 80 per cent deficiency and disability," she said.

With the provision of Vision Field Board in public primary schools, Mrs Ogunfidodo said learning disability and poor performances of pupils would be reversed. She added that Governor Babatunde Fashola has installed 100 vision boards in some public primary schools across Lagos.

Explaining how the vision corri-

dor works, the Education Secretary, Agege Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mr Olalekan Majiyagbe said the vision field board contains letters of the alphabets written in different fonts in descending order which will help test the visual acuity of the pupils, while the vision field corridor is the distance between the board and where the pupils stand to test their sight in school.

He said this self assessment will hasten the need for proper attention to pupils with eye deficiencies.

Mr Taofeek Abiodun, Chairman, Orile Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA), noted that there are many eye conditions and diseases that affect a child's vision which would benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.

He said the most common diseases in children are the common focus and alignment, while disorders like amblyopia ptosis, cataract and conjunctivitis are more serious.

UBEC/SUBEBs condemn Chibok abduction

T

HE management of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEBs) have condemned in strong terms the abduction of school children and all forms of insurgency affecting schools.

Their stand is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 12th quarterly meeting of UBEC management with chairmen of SUBEBs held in Owerri, Imo state.

The delegates, who worried about

with

the far reaching implications for access and retention in basic education delivery, called on Nigerians to support the federal government's war against terrorism.

Other resolutions reached at the meeting included: a determination to address the out-of-school children syndrome, encourage communitybased early childhood centre initiative; budget funds from the teachers professional development fund annually for the training of quality assurance officers, in SUBEB, LGEAS and

schools.

Meanwhile, delegates learnt during the meeting that five out of the 13 Junior Girls Model Secondary Schools under construction in states with low girl-child enrolment have been completed and handed over to the beneficiary state governments, while 103 out of the 125 Almajiri Model schools being constructed by the federal government under the National Almajiri Education Programme, have been completed and handed over to the SUBEBs.

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

sponsibility for the abduction and threatened to sell the girls makes the situation even worse. It is like adding insult to injury. Then, on Monday night, the group visited some homes in the town of Warambe in Borno State, and kidnapped eight more girls - sacking police and soldiers from checkpoints in the process. So short after they succeeded at Chibok, should they have found it so easy to attack again?

Are our security agencies sleeping? Will the disgrace not end? How have we allowed ourselves to get into this mess? Where are our elite forces? Where is the Nigerian version of the American Navy Seals that hunted down Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011?

Many people who participated in protests I covered are also asking questions about the appropriation of the security budget, which is close to N1 trillion. One of them, Chinedu Ekeke, said that photos that recently surfaced from our military camps showing where our officers slept and what they ate were proof that the money appropriated in the budget did not get to the men. So how do we expect them to be motivated to look for our girls?

Parents who went searching for their girls in the Sambisa Forest also said they did not meet any soldier during the 12 hours they spent in the place.

Not long ago, Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State said Boko Haram men were better equipped and motivated than our soldiers.

It was only on Sunday that President Goodluck Jonathan started giving insight into government's effort to search for the girls. Why did he not tell us anything all this while?

However, while we address the present problem of finding the girls, another problem is rearing its head underneath the surface.

The sect seems to be succeeding in scaring people away from school.

Must we allow this to happen? Many schools in the region have been shut, distorting the academic calendar in those areas. How will the issue be addressed?

Another person I spoke with said pupils would go to school if their security is guaranteed. However, without such confidence, when someone has to choose, life comes first. Unfortunately, if the youth do not get an education, what kind of future can they look forward to? Will they not grow up to become disgruntled elements, blaming the present leadership for failing to secure their future?

Will they not cause more havoc than the Boko Haram when they are older?

The activities of the insurgents has destabilised the economy of the affected areas. Productive activities cannot take place in the absence of peace. When there is no production, scarcity sets in, then poverty.

The problems caused by the insurgency are growing bigger by the day. We cannot afford to sit down and fold our hands and think it has nothing to do with us. As Nigerians, we should join hands to end the reign of terror in our land using whatever means we can.

We must not allow the criminals deprive us of peace and progress.

Whoever is aiding the criminals should not be allowed to continue doing so without being exposed and punished. Nigerians deserve a better deal from our government. And we are demanding that we get it from now on.

‘However, while we address the present problem of finding the girls, another problem is rearing its head underneath the surface.

The sect seems to be succeeding in scaring people away from school. Must we allow this to happen? Many schools in the region have been shut, distorting the academic calendar in those areas. How will the issue be addressed?’

From my Inbox Re: Trailing the leaders (Thursday, June o5, 2014) It was a superb write up in short. Our leaders do not value the educational standard of future leaders of the nation. What really touched me was the case of Jeffery Jude and Glory Ibanga of the Air Force Comprehensive School, Uyo. Technology should really call for aid in Nigeria.

From Abegunde Cornelius.

Hello kofo, I always enjoy your article in the nation on every Thursday. Keep it up. Opeyemi Oyetunde

POLITICS

THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

51

THE NATION

JUNE 12 ANNIVERSARY The June 12, 1993 presidential election was free and fair. It was won by the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the late Chief Moshood Abiola. But, it was annulled by the military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU revisits the illusion of hope and the aborted journey to democracy.

21 years after the great betrayal T

WENTY one years after, the pain of the annulment lingers. There was confusion, outrage and condemnation of the barbaric act. But, the military stood against the people. Democracy was subjugated by the barrel of gun. The hope of a peaceful transfer of power to the democratically elected President, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, was dashed. The rest is history.

Successive elections have been tainted by fraud. Had the historic poll been affirmed, perhaps, Nigeria would have laid a solid foundation for the sanctity of the ballot box. In 1999, the presidential election was resolved at the Supreme Court. In 2003, 2007 and 2007, it followed the same pattern. The puzzle is: can the miracle of June 12, 1993 be repeated?

June 12, 1993, was a historic day. Nigerians rose above ethnicity and religion as they chose between Abiola and his National Republican Convention (NRC) rival, Alhaji Othman Bashir. It was a peaceful exercise nationwide.

There was no thuggery. There was no violence. Although it was during the raining season, heaven withheld the showers. Malpractices were not reported. Domestic and foreign observers hailed the poll, saying that Nigeria was coming of age. Through the election, the electorate had issued a red card to the military. But, the sit tight military rulers resisted the change. After annulling the poll, the symbol of the struggle was caged. Consequently, the victor became the villain. The political class was polarised. The faithful were in disarray. Abiola never returned alive from detention. Up to now, the circumstances surrounding his death are in the realm of conjecture.

The history of treachery and betrayal will be narrated from generation to generation. Many were jolted out of their delusion that the military could voluntarily return power to legitimate authorities without a popular uprising.

The blame for the criminal annulment goes to the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The former military ruler had posed as a populist leader, branding deceit and prevarication, and projecting a transition process that was programmed to fail and prolong the military rule.

The Head of State and CommanderIn-Chief did not spare any though for tomorrow. Therefore, he missed the opportunity to write his name in the letters of gold. Babangida’s fate underscored the futility of personali-sation of power. In justifying the annulment, which aborted the dream of his friend, Abiola, to succeed him, he alluded to the conflict between loyalty to friendship and ‘love’ for the nation. “My commitment to the cherished values of friendship has been confronted with the demands of statecraft”, he said. When that confrontation emerged, he said he decided to abandon friendship for national service. “I love my friends, but I also love my country. It is the height of patriotism that whenever the love for one’s country is in conflict with any other love, the love for one’s country takes

precedence”, IBB added.”

Despite the finality of the annulment, Babangida’s life in power, from that June 1993 to his inglorious end in office was full of tension. “History’s judgment will always be harsh on him”, said Comrade Joe Igbokwe, a rights activist, who noted that the former military leader will carry the cross for life because he lacked the opportunity to reverse the annulment.

Historically, it has been difficult for the military to midwife democracy.

In 1979, the electoral process was discredited by the Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, said that the best candidate will not win the presidential election.

When IBB unfolded his transition programme, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, cautioned against the illusion of hope. Weary of the prevailing political situation, he doubted the sincerity of the transition drivers. Awo, who was invited by the Political Bureau chaired by Dr. Cookey to contribute to the debate of the future of the country, predicted that Nigeria was embarking on a fruitless search. He warned that when Nigerians imagined that the new order had arrived, they would be terribly disappointed. When Awolowo returned to Ikenne from Lagos, following his visit to the Evil Genius in Doddan Barracks, he urged his followers to learn to eat and win with the devil with a long spoon.

It was an understatement. IBB started to gamble with the transition timetable very early. He shifted the poll twice. The third attempt was resisted by the human rights community. On poll day, voters were determined.

They were ready for the festival of change. Even, the mood in the army and police barracks was not different.

Soldiers, their wives and children, displayed enthusiasm. According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) chaired by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, 14 million voters participated in the voting. The contest showcased the potency of the Option A4, the open ballot system and the symbolic importance of the two party system.

According to the poll results, Abiola scored 8,341, 309 votes, representing 58.36 per cent of the total votes cast.

Tofa, it was said, was ready to concede victory. In fact, the NRC National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Doyin Okupe, declared that the poll was devoid of rigging, affirming that Abiola won a popular mandate. However, based on the order from above, the announcement of the result was stopped abruptly. The game of deception had reached the peak.

A feeble and spurious explanation

•The late Chief Abiola

for the annulment later came from military Vice President Admiral Augustus Aikhomu’s media aide, Mr. Nduka Iraboh. “In view of the litigation pending in the various courts, the Federal Government is compelled to take appropriate steps to rescue the judiciary. These steps are taken to protect our legal system and the judiciary from being ridiculed and politicised, both nationally and internationally.

“In an attempt to end this ridiculous charade, which may culminate in judicial anarchy, the Federal Military Government has decided to: stop forthwith all court proceedings pending or to be instituted and appeals thereon in respect of any matter touching, relating or concerning the presidential election held on June 12, 1993, the Transition to Civil Rule Political Programme (Amendment No 3, Decree No 52 of 1992 and the presidential election.

“Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provision Decree No 13 of 1993 is hereby repealed. all acts or omissions done or purportedly to have been done, or to be done by any person, authority etc, under the above named decrees are hereby declared invalid. The National Electoral Commission is hereby suspended. All acts or omission done or purported to have been done by itself, its officers or agents under the repealed Decree No 13, 1993, are hereby nullified,” he said.

On June 26, 1993, IBB also came on air. But, his explanation was clearly an after-thought. He said the process of authentication and clearance of the presidential candidates was not thorough. Nigerians also disputed the allegation that bribes were offered and accepted by the NEC officials. When the heat was turned on him by protesters, Babangida was forced to voice out his pre-determined destination.

He declared that, although he knew those who would not succeed him, he did not know those who would succeed him. Television viewers later saw a staggering military President boasting that “we are not only in government, we are in power.”

With the cancellation of the results, Abiola’s vision for Nigeria died. The

businessman-turned politician was very passionate about the masses. His slogan was the abolition of poverty. He had fought many personal battles, but the ‘June 12’ battle was the fiercest battle of his life. Rejecting the annulment, Abiola declared himself as the custodian of a sacred mandate. He said, having voted for him, the people of Nigerian expected him to assume the reins on August 27, 1993. “ I intend to keep that date with history”, Abiola said.

IBB understood MKO. He was not indifferent to his determination to reclaim his mandate. Courage and the resolve to succeed were the hallmarkss of Abiola’s life. In a birthday message to him in 1992, Babangida acknowledge Abiola’s courage, stressing that “ a major feature of your life, so far, is the doggedness and determination with which you pursue any venture embarked upon”.

Abiola was not prepared for the postJune 12 challenges. He was not an experience politician. But, he had the masses behind him. Amid the military onslaught against his mandate, he jetted out to seek international support. By the time he returned home, his party had split. The SDP leaders started to speak from the two sides of the mouth. Also, his business was subjected to torture.

His business investment was ebbing away. The military dictator clamped down on his newspapers, The Concord, and other media organisations sympathetic to the cause. of popular rule.

Former Information Minister Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, now a senator, mounted the hottest propaganda against the just cause. He said, by travelling abroad, MKO had gone down in history as the first Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba to have deserted the battle field.

As June 12 divided the polity, associates were changing allegiance. The Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, engaged in infamous deformation of the struggle, collating imaginary signatures of people against the election.

The late Admiral Aikhomu also doubted the fitness of Abiola for the Presidency. He said the rich man is not the philosophical king. The military accused him of leaving the country illegally to mount an illegal campaign

‘In 1999, the presidential election was resolved at the Supreme Court. In 2003, 2007 and 2007, it followed the same pattern. The puzzle is: can the miracle of June 12, 1993 be repeated?’

abroad against his fatherland. Gradually, MKO was losing grip of the situation. There were conflicts of advice and suggestions by eminent Nigerians.

For Abiola, history merely repeated itself on June 12. A decade earlier, he had sought to rule the country. But, he was edged out of the race in the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1982. On June 12, 1982, he struggled for the presidential ticket with President Shehu Shagari. He could not obtain the nomination form as the gate of the party secretariat was shot against him.

Former Transport Minister Dr. Umaru Dikko told Abiola that “the Presidency is not for the highest bidder”. Two years before, he had also aspired to lead the NPC. But, he was defeated by the more experienced Chief Adisa Akinloye.

However, in the aborted Third Republic, his albatross was the Minnaborn military General, who had assumed full executive powers, without the accompanying checks and balances. Resistance to him by the rights community and the decimated political class failed. Abiola, his wife, Kudirat, the SDP leaders who were loyal to him, human rights groups, labour, students, and the members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) managed to sustain the struggle.

The symbol was ready to lay down his life, which he eventually did. Without a gun, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the military. In his famous Epe Declaration, the President-elect insisted on his mandate. “Never before has there been such a cynical and contemptuous abrogation of solemn commitment and fixed programme”, he said in response to the unsigned statement announcing the annulment.

Abiola explained that Tofa, and the two political parties never went to court to complain about the poll. He wondered why the Abuja High Court granted the unprecedented injunction to the Nzeribe, who was not a candidate and who never voted during the election.

He observed that these diabolical events were planned ahead to create confusion and discredit the poll.

It was a futile struggle. Although IBB left office, he did not hand over to the winner of the election. He stepped aside to save his face.

The interim government led by the boardroom guru, Chief Ernest Shonekan, succeeded him. But, it was short lived. On November 10, 1993, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya of the Lagos High Court dismantled the interim apparatus, saying that it was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. On November 18, 1993, Abacha sacked Sonekan and stepped in as the military Head of State.

The pro-democracy crusaders were back to square one. Abacha abolished all democratic structures at the state and federal levels, disbanded the National Electoral Commission (NEC), banned the two political parties and set up the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC).

Then, he promised to hand over to Abiola. He failed to keep the promise.

Credible progressive leaders, who accepted ministerial appointments, were trapped in the administration. The military Head of State later initiated a selfsuccession plan, which collapsed when he mysteriously passed on.

Abiola was detained, following his self-declaration as the President. He was held incommunicado. The Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded Abacha, did not release him from detention. Few days after Abacha died, Abiola also died in detention in controversial circumstance.

His death in detention provoked outrage and condemnation. Human rights activists alleged that he was killed with style. The autopsy is still in the realm of conjecture. Twenty one years after, the symbol has not been immortalised by the Federal Government.

52

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

POLITICS JUNE 12 ANNIVERSARY June 12 has been widely acknowledged as a vote by Nigerians for democracy. But, 21 years after the milestone, the country is plunging deeper into a socio-political morass because the lessons of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election have been ignored, writes Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI. Additional reports by LEKE SALAUDEEN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE.

I

T is very instructive that leaders of all political parties in Nigeria have agreed to hold a stakeholders’ summit today, to address salient issues that have remained inimical to the nation’s progress. It is symbolic because the meeting is taking place exactly on the day, 21 years ago that Nigerians displayed a spirit of tolerance, inclusiveness and unity of purpose, by voting for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which insisted on a Muslim-Muslim ticket. This symbolism is probably not lost on the conveners of the meeting, which is holding at the instance of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs.

What’s in a date? Today, June 12, 2014, is the 21st anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential poll, which is widely regarded as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s political history. The millions who trooped out cast their ballot on that day demonstrated to the world that they are united. The fact that the flag-bearers of the defunct SDP, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Babagana Kingibe were both Muslims did not matter to them. Their ethnic background was also not a factor during the election. The primary focus of the electorates was the programmes of their party and the personality of the candidates.

Indeed, the argument has been raging among Nigerians for some time: between May 29 and June 12, which day is more appropriate as Nigeria’s Democracy Day? Exactly two weeks ago, the country marked 15 years of uninterrupted civilian rule on May 29; the day the Fourth Republic was flagged off. The day was dubbed ‘Democracy Day’ in states across the country. On the other hand, states in the Southwest particularly have in addition declared today, June 12, as a public holiday, to celebrate the remarkable event. In spite of the symbolism associated with June 12, 1993 election, the central government in Abuja has not yet recognized that date as the true Democracy Day. The argument of many observers is that June 12 should be Democracy Day because it laid the foundation for the return of civilian rule, which is being enjoyed today by the political elite.

For instance, as far as Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka is concerned, June 12 should be celebrated every year as Democracy Day and not on May 29 as federal authorities insist. “What June 12 possesses is exactly what May 29, or any other day, lacks. The former was a spirit of unified purpose, the latter simply an egotistical appropriation of the gift of the former,” Soyinka said.

Soyinka said Nigerians need to remind themselves what June 12, 1993 represents. “June 12 embodies unity of purpose, equity and justice and the manifestation of the sovereign will of a people,” he noted. The Nobel Laureate said those who try to substitute June 12 with May 29 are playing the same unprincipled game of substitution that they have carried even to subsequent elections, substituting names of the rightful winners of elections with others who were never even in contention.

Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, now National Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa concedes that the Federal Government has recognized June 12 as a landmark in Nigeria’s history, but has not gone the whole hog by instituting it as Democracy Day. He insists that the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day would be the highest posthumous national honour they can accord the late Abiola. The CNPP chairman said there is no democracy yet in Nigeria because the state of the nation is still very negative. His words: “There has not been qualitative achievement since June 12, 1993. The state of the nation is back-

• The late Gen. Abacha and the late Chief Abiola.

Memory of June 12 lingers CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS • June 12, 1993: Nigerians voted in the landmark presidential election • June 23, 1993: Military President Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election • Aug. 26, 1993: Babangida ‘steps aside’ and hands over to Chief Ernest Shonekan • Nov. 17, 1993: The late General Sani Abacha shoves Shonekan aside and takes over • May 5, 1994: Pro-democracy and human rights activists establish NADECO • June 11, 1994: Abiola declares self President and Commander-in-Chief at Epetedo, Lagos • June 23, 1994: Abiola was arrested and detained • 1995: Activists intensify campaign; with many fleeing into exile • June 4, 1996: Kudirat Abiola was assassinated in Lagos by agents of the military junta • June 8, 1998: Abacha dies in office • July 7, 1998: Abiola dies in detention under questionable circumstances • July 1998: New Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar unveils a 10-month transition programme • Dec. 5, 1998: Local government elections were held nationwide for nine provisional parties • Dec, 1998: Three parties, AD, APP and PDP, received their certificate of registration • February 1999: Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP was declared winner of the presidential poll • June 13, 2008: Humphrey Nwosu declares Abiola winner of the June 12, 1993 polls • May 29, 2012: Jonathan announces the renaming of UNILAG after Abiola • May 29, 2012: UNILAG students staged a spontaneous protest against renaming of UNILAG • June 24, 2012: A Federal high Court in Lagos restrains FG from renaming UNILAG • July 4, 2012: An Ikeja Federal High Court reaffirmed earlier interim order restraining government

ward. Therefore June 12 will continue to be relevant, until the issues are addressed.”

Cleric cum politician, Dr. Olapade Agoro goes further to say that government should declare June 12 ‘Abiola Day’, in appreciation of the sacrifice of the late business mogul in ending military rule. “Abiola died to ensure that Nigeria remained a democratic nation.

But for the death of Abiola, we would have been moving from one military government to the other,” he argued.

Agoro, who was the presidential candidate of National Action Council in the 2007 election, is of the view that Abiola did not die in vain, since June 12 lives after him. His words: “June 12 will forever remain the watershed; we are merely sidelining it, but it will not subsist because June 12 is moving on.

Abiola can be compared to the likes of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jnr.” The politician lamented however that the only painful aspect of Abiola’s death is the fact that his business empire was allowed to die. “It is painful that friends of Abiola allowed his business empire to die after him. I am appealing to those who benefitted from his political dynamism to revive all his business empire,” he said.

Elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai believes the memory of Abiola has been honoured in view of the change he brought to bear in Nigeria. “June 12 is a political landmark in Nigeria. Abiola has been honoured in view of what he brought to bear in Nigeria. The man is no more alive, the country has moved forward and democracy is now flourishing,” he noted, adding: “What else

can the country do?”

Yakassai, who is the chairman of the Northern Elders Council (NEC), agreed however that some of the ideals the man died for are being trampled upon. His words: “For instance, the clampdown on the media by government cannot be justified. The freedom that should be the hallmark of democracy is being stifled.

The media should be allowed to operate freely because M.K.O provided a medium where people could express their opinion and position.”

Abiola and Kingibe got 58 per cent of the votes in a country almost equally divided between Christians and Muslims. They defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), despite NRC’s choice of a southern Christian vice presidential candidate, Sylvester Ugoh, in an apparent balancing act between the different ethno-religious tendencies in the country. But Nigerians rejected what they deemed an unnecessary balancing. They voted for hope of transformational leadership.

Unfortunately, the will of the people was aborted through the annulment of the election by then military president Ibrahim Babangida. A chain of tragedies followed the annulment of that election.

Abiola died on July 7, 1998 under questionable circumstances in the custody of the General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who took over after the death of General Sani Abacha. Abacha had taken over from the Interim National Government of Ernest Shonekan, whom Babangida hurriedly handed over to when he “stepped aside” on August 26, 1993.

Abiola’s wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, was assassinated in 1996 by alleged agents of the Abacha junta. Others who lost their lives in the course of the struggle

for the restoration of the June 12 mandate include: Pa Alfred Rewane, Suliat Adedeji, Bisoye Tejuoso, Bagauda Kaltho and Toyin Onagoruwa.

While some have proposed a national holiday as a tribute to Abiola, others have suggested the naming of a key national edifice in the nation’s capital after him. Obasanjo, Abiola kinsman who benefitted indirectly from the injustice meted to the late business mogul did not make any attempt to honour him.President Jonathan’s effort, on the other hand, was deemed inappropriate. He had renamed the University of Lagos after Abiola, in his Democracy Day broadcast on May 29, 2012.

The decision was mired in controversy, as stakeholders, particularly students of the institution, kicked against the idea, saying they ought to have been consulted before taking such a monumental decision. The students believe the change of name would affect the reputation of the institution built over five decades. Besides, they see the move as an attempt by the President to score cheap political points. A Federal High ruling has since restrained the Federal Government and other concerned authorities from changing the name of the university to Moshood Abiola University.

But the consensus is that the best commemoration of the momentous electoral event of 1993 ought to be the advancement of democracy in the country. June 12 has come to symbolise the country’s natural spirit of unity in diversity and mutual accommodation. It has exploded the myth of rigid ethnic and religious boundaries among Nigerians, demonstrating that the things

that very often cause tensions between the different sections of the country are manufactured sentimentalisms raised at convenient junctures by the elite to serve their selfish interests.

As Nigeria marks the anniversary of the 1993 election today, there are indications that the country is going through a trying period in its history as a nation.

This is evident in all facets of its national life, from the challenge of insecurity facing the country, economic decay, poor infrastructure to the rising unemployment, particularly among the youths.

Critics say Nigeria is plunging into a deeper political morass following the way and manner issues surrounding the annulment of June 12 election was resolved.

Beyond the declaration of June 12 as a national holiday and the ideal Democracy Day, observers say June 12 should have been a new beginning for Nigeria politically and that the bitter experience and the sacrifice of men like Abiola should have infused a sense of equity, fairness and justice, as well as other ideals of democracy such as ballot integrity and freedom of choice, which would have brought in its wake the reduction of poverty and the enhancement of security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

But owing to the desire of the military to hang on to power, the election was annulled and the lessons inherent in the exercise were thrown overboard. When democracy eventually returned in 1999, it was heavily compromised.

With the benefit of hindsight, many Nigerians now regard June 12 as a missed opportunity to unite the country, and set democratic values to build a just society and join the fast lane of development as a nation. This is particularly because the search for free, fair and transparent elections has not been visible over the years. In 2007 alone, no fewer than nine governorship elections results were either reversed or reruns ordered by election petitions tribunals.

Founding Secretary-General of NADECO, Chief Ayo Opadokun is of the view that the problem of rigging has worsened progressively from 1999 till date. According to him, the election that brought former President Olusegun Obasanjo into power was challenged by between 10 to 15 petitions, while that of 2003 and 2007 were challenged by 506 and 1, 203 petitions respectively. He added: “Let’s not talk about 2011. With the selfishness of the lawmakers, who manipulated some provisions of the constitution, insisting that election petition cases must be heard and completed within 180 days.” As a result, he said more than two-thirds of the petitions against the 2011 election were not heard; “they were just thrown away in compliance with the amendment to the electoral act.”

Following the protracted court battle that came in the wake of the 2007 elections, Yar’Adua reportedly admitted that the process that brought him into power was flawed. To recommend a way out of such mess in future, he immediately set up the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee. But unfortunately government did not accept some of the critical recommendations of that committee. One of them was that the sitting executive should not appoint the electoral umpire. “It is like working to the answer, when a sitting executive who contesting an election is the same person who appoints an umpire to oversee the process,” Opadokun noted. Another recommendation of the Justice Uwais panel that was thrown overboard was that of the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal to try electoral offenders, as well as the one that stipulated that no one should be allowed to assume office until all judicial intervention in his or her election had been determined. In this way, no one would have undue advantage over his colleagues.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

53

NATURAL HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Dietary habit of individuals can endanger their health. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on how to avoid nutrition induced ill-health and diseases.

‘Eat to live, not live to eat’ W

ITH age, muscle mass diminishes, just as the metabolic rate reduces (the number of calories the body burns throughout the day, whether one is sleeping, sitting, or sprinting or walking).

In order to ensure that the body is fed with the right nutrients, especially from age 40, a medical screening called Diet typing has been recommended.

Diet typing has to do with the food we eat. Food, on one hand, provides the nutrients and energy for the body. It helps to build new tissues, powers various organs and aids motion, while dieting has to do with eating habit According to Professor Emeritus of Endocrinology and Human Anatomy, Prof Oladapo Ashiru, there are two types of Diet typing (1& 2).

Prof Ashiru explained: “They are Diet Typing 1 and 2. The primary purpose of Diet Typing 1 is to evaluate your ability to handle carbohydrate. This test measures the ability of a person to metabolise sugar within 90 to 180 minutes of sugar consumption. In essence, within one and half to three hours, the body should be able to have completely metabolised sugar. The test is called Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT).

“Diet Typing 2 is called the blood

acidity panel, which tests how well the blood is functioning. The diet typing tests form the foundation for prescribing a custom tailored nutrition plan for individuals. Most people cannot handle carbohydrate well and as a result, in their diet they subject the body to excessive insult by eating the wrong carbohydrates.”

He said people eat in such a way that the proportion of the rice or Eba taken is huge compared to the meat accompanying it. “That is an overload on the organ, the mechanism that breaks down the carbohydrate. The body has a specialised organ called the Pancreas, which has a tissue called the Islets of Langerhans, which secretes the hormones (insulin) that controls the metabolism, that is, break down of sugar. It is insulin that ensures that the digested carbohydrate (sugar) is evenly distributed round the body and properly handled by the cells,”he said.

Prof Ashiru, who is the Medical Director of Medical ART Centre, explained that when one is so intolerant to carbonhydrate and eats it in excess, it leads to diabetes because it is like over using the pancreas.

“In Nigeria for instance, if you look at the northern population, maybe because they have meat, they eat more of meaty products, plenty of

vegetables and less of carbohydrates, so they are slim built and very few with potbelly. But if you look at the southern distribution, we tend to eat plenty of eba, rice and little of meaty product. So, you see that most of the people in the south are big with potbelly. That is the dynamics of nutrition,” he said.

He continued: “That is when Diet Typing can come handy, as it enables one to categorise him or herself into a particular group, and thereby know what to do. Not knowing your health status as regards diets is not good at all. This ignorance has led to untimely death of many people. For instance, it could lead to high blood pressure and heart attack because the heart, blood vessels and the blood is filled with fat and cholesterol.”

Prof Ashiru said “when a person has not reached age of 40, it is easy to burn a lot of energy as a result of his or her very active lifestyle”.

“The extra load of carbohydrates supply the massive energy needed to sustain such dynamic activities.

However, as the body begins to nudge towards 40, there is a slowing down of energetic processes.

Invariably, this would have certain effects on the body which can lead to diabetes as the carbohydrate is not being properly processed and utilised by the body,” he said.

Hydrotherapy can restore health

W

ATER, whether hot or cold, can serve as a treatment for the body.

Director, Biorepair International Centre for Natural Healing, Dr Chigoziri Moses, said water is an essential natural healing content, which can be used to detoxify the system; thus removing blockages that may result in cancer and other diseases.

According to Moses, every disease is caused by blockage at one point or another within the human body channels of distribution.

He said when the blockage is cleared energy will flow freely across the entire lymphatic, digestive and cardiovascular organs, among others.

“With the clearance effects in place, healing begins immediately,” he said.

Moses said when applied with other natural healing agents (herbs/minerals), water helps to remove toxins and other waste materials from the body, including heavy metals, thereby healing the body of cancer and other degenerative diseases.

He said: “When a roadblock is cleared, the traffic will flow smoothly. And when a vehicle-engine is in a poor state, driving the vehicle becomes troublesome.”

The natural health practitioner likened the human body to a city with road networks being affected by traffic congestions in one part.

His advice: “People should get their system cleansed to experience a renewed health.”

Dr. Moses explained that there can be blockages in nerve flow or nerve force to the area. “There can be blockages of what the Chinese call

By Wale Adepoju

“Chi” or what the Japanese call “Ki” or what the Indians call “Prana” or “life energy,” he explained.

He added: “There can be muscular spasms cutting off all types of circulation. There can even be emotional or spiritual blockage to an area – not enough love moving in, and too much hate and rage building up. If there is one thing one needs to know for sure; it should be noted that every sick area of the body has some type of physical, emotional or spiritual blockage.”

Nothing, he said, removes impurity and drives life back into a blocked and diseased area faster than hot and cold water treatment.

Hydrotherapy, he said, has become a big part of European treatment pattern.

According to him, there are various ways to increase circulation of blood to an area that is blocked or diseased.

He said there are powerful herbs such as cayenne and ginger that a patient can take to increase the blood flow. People, he said, can also thin their blood with garlic.

Describing how hot water works, he said when it is applied to the surface of the body it dilates the capillaries, the veins and allows blood flow.

Hot therapy, he said, also relaxes the muscles, which in turn allows better lymphatic flow. This, he said, in turn takes pressure off of the nerves and allows better nerve flow.

“Hot water is also physically and emotionally sedating. So, here you have an application that brings the blood to the surface of the body and increases the blood

•Moses

flow. It sedates you and relaxes the muscles, which allows the lymph and the nervous systems to flow better,” he said.

Cold water, according to him, has the exact the opposite effect when apply on the body. “Cold water contracts the capillaries and the veins on the surface of the body and drives the blood deep into the centre of the body. It moves the blood in the opposite direction and contracts the muscles, which in turn push the lymphatic fluid out of the area,” he said.

He added: “It serves as a massage for the nerves, thus becoming the opposite of sedating. It is exciting, and invigorating. It wakes you up. On a physical and emotional level, it has the opposite effect of the application of heat,” the natural medicine practitioner noted.

Eat according to your type

W

HEN you identify your metabolic type and finetunes your diet, you’ll learn two primary things: • what foods are compatible with your body chemistry and • how to combine proteins, carbohydrates and fats in a ratio that is just right for you In the metabolic typing diet you will find very comprehensive lists of foods that are compatible with your metabolic type—including specific types of meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits and nuts.

The book provides very detailed information about why specific foods are good for you, and the specific influences they exert on the regulatory (homeostatic) mechanisms that control your metabolism.

Just as importantly, you’ll learn why certain types of food are bad for you, i.e., why they cause you to feel poorly and put on weight, and exactly why they have a negative influence on your body chemistry.

The list below gives you a brief preview of the three general metabolic type categories and the diets that correspond to each category.

But remember that these three categories are just a starting point!

Within each category, there is plenty of variations.

So what you will want to do once you identify your basic category is use the book’s fine-tuning techniques to customise a diet to your own highly individualised needs.

You will know when you have identified the diet that is just right for you because your meals will leave you feeling full and satisfied, and free of hunger pangs and food cravings that many people experi-

ence shortly after eating.

When you eat according to your metabolic type, you will be able to last four to five hours between meals and snacks without feeling hungry.

You will also have lots of physical energy and mental clarity, and be free of fatigue, irritability and other problems that commonly occur when you fail to eat according to your genetically-based needs.

Needless to say, you will experience plenty of longer-term benefits as well, including the ability to lose weight and keep it off, strengthened immunity and stamina, and the ability to prevent, reverse or greatly alleviate many kinds of common health disorders.

Below are brief highlights of the three basic metabolic type diets — your starting point on the road to truly effective, customised nutrition.

The Protein Type Diet In general or simplistic terms, if you are a protein type it means one of two things — either your cells tend to burn carbohydrates too quickly (meaning you are a fast oxidizer), or the parasympathetic branch of your autonomic nervous system is stronger and more dominant than the sympathetic branch. This means you need a high-protein intake in order to strengthen your sympathetic system, and in turn acidify your too-alkaline metabolism. Or you need protein to slow down your overly rapid cellular oxidation rate, thereby alkalinizing your too-acid metabolism.

Protein types do very well on a diet that includes plenty of high-density, high-fat proteins known as “high-purine” proteins.

•Source:www.metabolictypingdiet.com

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

54

NATURAL HEALTH

Does Alternative medicine offer hope for HIV cure?

T HIS question was left unanswered last week for want of space. It came as a twin question to that on how often one may have sex without harming the body in diverse ways. Even this other question was addressed exploratorily, that is without prescriptions, although it sought to make it clear that, these days, the sexual instinct, overfiring, has become a sort of incurable disease in many people. I hope I will be able to untie the loose ends today. Before then, if I can, I would like to make a quick remark ahead of an answer to the question of the day: Does Alternative Medicine Offer Hope for HIV Cure?

How much Sex? Last week, it was suggested that many vaginal problems may arise from frequent sexual intercourse, even with the same spouse, if the alkalinity of the sperm alters the natural acidic environment of the vagina to alkalinity. The alkaline environment protects the vagina less against germs than does the acidic. What I wish to add now in respect of frequent sex being anomalous is that, in the animal world, female animals do not agree to be mated by the males unless they are on heat. I learned this when I reared rabbits and pigs. If the males are brought to females in their off-season, the males may not only be attacked, they could have their genitals bitten. These female animals come on “heat” once a month, depending on the menstrual cycle of their specie. If males are not brought to them at these time, female pigs (sows) may crash out of their pens in search of males (boars) kilometers away! The human females do not keep this order. For many, they let go whenever the male beckons. This supports the Euro-American hypothesis reported last week which links indiscriminate sex frequency to various health problems of the vagina.

Any hope for HIV People?

I do not wish to return to the debate over whether the virus exists, or if it was ever discovered, or if it is all a medical hoax to create public fear, or establish a new income channel for medicine and doctors. The reality is that a disease condition exists on a rapidly growing scale in which the immune function is paralysed and all sorts of parasitic micro-organisms manifesting varied disease symptoms take advantage to grow their own populations. To better understand what is going on in HIV disease and determine if a cure is possible, it is necessary to paint certain pictures with some brief definitions.

The body There are about 100 trillion cells in the mature adult human body. They are organised into tissues, organs and system. While some of these cells, such as those in the heart or bones are immobile, those in the blood such as red blood cells and white blood cells, are mobile. The red carry oxygen to all the cells for respiration and energy production. The while cells are the soldiers (immune system mobile cells) they have different shapes and functions. There are other cells of the immune system such as those in the thymies gland and the lymph nodes which are immobile. They all work together as a system. For the question in reference, one of the most important immune soldier cells are the T4 Cells. They are the ones which are invaded by the HIV and knocked out of action to derail the entire immune system.

Germs and HIV Cells Germs are small organisms we cannot see with the unaided eye. Just as humans wish to live and inhabit specific areas of the earth most suitable to them for this purpose, germs also wish to live and proliferate their populations, and choose specific cells, tissue, organs or system in the human body most suitable to them for the actualisation of this goal. They could do this elsewhere outside the human body.

But the human body offers the best habitat because of the radiations of its blood, which is the strongest in the universe. Any wonder that the female mosquito needs human blood for the maturation of her eggs! So vibrant is human blood radiation that it has been said no disease germ can survive in it at its optimal frequency. And this is why, to stay healthy, the blood must be recomposed always to recharge and energise it, to prevent it going flat, and to detoxify it.

There is hardly a better way to do this outside natural diet, herbs and the consumption especially of greens. With the arrival of liquid chlorophyl on the Nigerian Alternative Medicine Market a few years ago, this column recommended it as a blood builder and cleanser in the feature, LET’S DRINK GREEN… THE EARTH IS NOT GREEN FOR THE FUN OF IT. Chlorophyl makes the plant green. It gives it the power to extract energy from the air, the sun, water and the soil to build itself and its products. It has the same structural formula of HYDROGEN, CARBON, OXYGEN AND NITROGEN with the hemoglobin of the human blood except for the presence of magnesium in its central atom and iron in that of hemoglobin. This green drinks are the best blood tonics on earth! Anyone who is in doubt of the existence of blood radiation need only remember, if he or she is a Christian, the Biblical story of the woman with the issue of blood (bleeding uterine fibroids?) who was healed by “Power” transmitted to her from the Lord Jesus when she touched His garment. When the blood radiation flattens, there is little energy to maintain body system and functions, including immune function.

HIV DISEASE In HIV disease, the virus is said to invade the T4 cell and take control of its nucleus. The nucleus is the core of every cell. It is in this core that all information (the genetic code) is stored about the blueprint for reproducing itself. Taking possession of this control panel, the virus prevents the T4

about four months ago. She isn’t interested in knowing her current CD4 count and viral load. I encouraged her to run a test to enable her know which protocol, are working for her.

Sokoto Man The last time we spoke on the telephone last week, he was not coughing as he used to. I told him that was great. He often put his cold, cough and catarrh to a wet environment.

While I did not disagree, I reminded him we were now in the heart of the rainy season. He, too, is a CD4 count freak.

But, in terms of wellness, he must be on a higher gauge, given the nature of his job in the security furies and his favourable response to work stress.

Ijebu – Ode man We lost touch a few years ago. He was from a well known family. He was weak and thin. His business was suffering.

But within a few weeks of taking some supplements, his energy rebounded. Proudly, he told me of how happy he was when he climbed the stairs up many floors on the skyscraper Western House in Lagos Island when the lifts failed and he did not pant or gasp for want of energy.

cell from producing T4 offspring. Instead, the possessed T4 cell produces HIV offspring. Accordingly, T4 cell population diminishes while HIV cell population grows. In the laboratory, the value of both populations will determine whether one is HIV positive or negative. They are expressed as CD4 Count for T4 cells and Viral Load for HIV Virus.

HIV therapy Challenges In Alternative Medicine, many questions are asked before the therapist or patient embarks on a therapy mould. These questions include: • Why did the T4 cell wall admit an intruder when it is meant to block it? Was the cellular wall poorly configured?

That is, did the diet not supply the right quality and quantity of essential fally acids and other lipids from which a healthy active cell wall is built? Which ones will now be included in the diet?

•What are the herbs or proprietary nutritional formulae that will (a) destroy as many viral cells as possible in the blood (b) as many infiltrated T4 cells as possible?

•Which herbs or formulations will inhibit HIV cell in T4 cells from making the HIV cell replicate HIV offspring?

•How can T4 count be increased without making the increased population of T4 cells new preys of HIV cells?

•As the battle of HIV cells and the immune system produced health damaging free radical fireworks on both sides, which antioxidants offer the best protection and healing balm?

•How can HIV challenged people improve their weight, as the disease tends to eat them up?

•How can opportunistic diseases, such as cough, diarrhea and skin rashes be prevented or stopped?

Before I attempt to answer these questions which border on therapy goals or objectives, I would like to salute the courage of some HIV challenged people I know who have crossed the rubicorn to the other side of health.

Big Mummy’s friend Mrs. Folake Kuku (nee Sanusi of Oshogbo a.k.a ‘Big Mummy’) introduced her to me about seven years ago. Mrs. Kuku came to me from a branch of the Mountain of Fire Church to learn how, nutritionally, she could take care of the health of the female members of the congregation of her church. A member of the church who I choose to call Big Mummy’s friend had just been delivered of a baby and discovered to be HIV positive. As she was not expected to breastfeed her baby, the cat was soon let out of the bag. But her husband stood stoutly by her. Today, she is a happier woman. As her story goes, a re-check during one of her visits to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) confirmed she had turned negative. The sperm suppresses the immunity of a woman, even the growing fetus as a foreign body in the woman’s body will survive in a partially suppressed immune environment. Many pregnant women regain their balance from about the third quarter of pregnancy. It was possible Big Mummy’s friend didn’t until her baby was born!

Edo Woman Infected by her husband who is now of blessed memory, we have met two times in about 10 years during her thankyou-visits to Lagos. She resorted to Alternative Medicine when her CD4 count was found to be 120. Although her progress has been rather slow, she has hovered between 650 and 900 CD4 count…. and down again. In our telephone discussions, I get the impression she is not taking her food supplements as religiously as she should. But she has become energetic enough to go to the University, take a degree and return to her job.

Badagry Man Unless he tells you his story, you cannot associate the virus with him. He is robust, fresh looking, energetic and travels all the time.

Kano Woman This is another case without those tale symptoms. We met

Three Basic Antioxidants Selenium, Zinc and Manganese are crucial for antioxidant protection and treatment of not only HIV disease but all diseases. Selenium has been found to inhibit the replication of HIV cell by the HIV-invaded T4 cell. Also, HIV/AIDS has been found to be less prevalent in places where the land is Selenium-ridden and this probably informs why some doctors now prescribe Selenium food supplements along with retroviral drug protocols. Selenium is the core of one of the three basic antioxidant complexes produced by the body to destroy free radical molecules which torment it and may harm it. In fact, free radicals have been linked to more than 500 diseases, many of them degenerative.

Zinc and Manganese are the cores of the other natural antioxidant complexes. Two of these antioxidant complexes are Glutathione and Super oxide dismutase (SOD). This means that diets which are rich in Selenium, Zinc and Manganese offer support for healthy immune function. In Lagos, Zinc-rich water has been in demand since the debut of LASENA artesan bottled water. This brand of bottled water, arguably, is the healthiest water in Nigeria today, coming from 522 metres deep from an artesian well at 80 degrees centigrade, at a PH of 7.8 which makes it alkaline, and with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and silica. Eno Asam, who lives in Abuja, told me last Sunday that Nestle bottle water now come with zinc, but I have not verified the information.

Essential Aminos Amino acids are the smallest protein molecules from which our bodies are made and maintained. There are two types of them. Essential and non-essential. Non-essential amino acids are so called because the body is hardly deficient in them as it can convert an excess of one to another which is scarce in the body to prevent a shortfall of that one. But the body cannot manufacture non-essential amino acids from anything, and, so they have to come from diet.

Dr. F Batmanghelidj, the Iranian doctor who studied under Dr. Ian Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin, holds the view that HIV/AIDS is caused not by a virus but by such malnutrition which deprives the body of some or all of the eight or so essential amino acids. This view cannot be ignored, bearing in mind that Dr Batmanghelidj revolutionised medicine by letting it be known that drinking water is as important as eating food or inhaling air. Aren’t we all drinking between eight and 10 glasses of water today? Dr Batmanghelidj says fragments of damaged cell nucleus have been mistaken for the so-called virus. In the section titled NEW IDEAS ON AIDS in his book, YOUR BODY’S MANY CRIES FOR WATER, Dr Batmanghelidj says the nuclei of damaged or dead cells are broken down and transported out of the body every day by repair agents such as interkukein 1, Interkukein-6 and Tumour Necrosis factor(TNF), and the fragments are used in new constructions. But where the essential amino acids are unavailable to make repair agents and refix the neclus, a build-up of these nucleic fragments occurs which, in states of resultant disease, are mistaken for a viral load. He adds: ‘‘In laboratory research, it has been shown that CYSTEINE will prevent the production of HIV in cultured cells. In other laboratory research, it has been shown that AIDS patients are short of CYSTEINE and its precursor CYSTINE. In two, simple to understand experiments, a metabolic basis to the development of the disease has been clearly demonstrated. If the cells that are sufficiently abnormal to produce HIV are given CYSTEINE, their abnormality is corrected and they do not produce the HIV. All we need to know now is how these AIDS patients become CYSTEINE deficient. In my opinion, it seems the HIV test highlights the presence of the DNA or RNA of a damaged cell. It indicates the process of a cell nodes breakdown. It could be produced by many other factors, one of them CYSTEINE and ZINC deficiency, particularly in people from underdeveloped and poorer countries’’.

Cysteine is one of the essential amino acids. An inference from what Dr. Batmanghelidj is saying is that, in HIV-challenged people, there may be a massive damage to cells that the dietary amounts of essential amino acids may not be able to cope with. In Alternative Medicine, full spectrum amino acids are given to HIV patients. Some of the brands available in Nigeria is BRAGG’S LIQUID AMINOS. Another is Da Vinci’s L– ACELYL CYSTEINE. All the 23 amino acids are present in SPIRULINA, a super food of the century. Many of them are available in whey protein.

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

e-Business

Ericsson urges compulsory infrastructure sharing G LOBAL telecommunications technology provider, Ericsson has called on the regulator of the telecoms sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to enforce mandatory infrastructure sharing, especially in the rural areas, to deepen telecoms penetration and improve quality of service (QoS).

Its Managing Director (Nigeria), Kamar Abass, said there is passive infrastructure sharing, stressing that active infrastructure sharing will do the industry good.

He spoke during the unveiling of Ericsson Mobility Report in Lagos, adding that though the sector is expected to keep growing through the years, “poor network coverage remains a cause for concern.”

Abass said with more than 130 million subscribers, it will be

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

wrong to feel held back by infrastructure challenge, adding that the country has got to the advanced stage of base transmission station (BTS) management. He who said Ericsson manages about 11,000 out of the over 20,000 BTS in the country, insisted that power availability is about 90 per cent, at the BTS adding that the networks will keep on getting smarter with improved technology.

He said: “As telecommunication technologies become a central part of the way businesses and society function, key stakeholders in the region such as government and network providers need to put resources in place that assist in dealing with consumer demand

“More spectrums will need to be allocated to support networks as their capacity is not growing as fast as the increase in data traffic.”

In the report, the firm said by the end of this year, there will be over 635 million subscriptions in subSaharan Africa which is predicted to rise to around 930 million by the end of 2019, stressing that there was an ongoing data revolution, with traffic growth doubling past years.

It said by 2019, there would be 557 million smartphones in use and 710 million broadband subscriptions.

The Mobility Report shows that this year, phone users accessed 76,000 Terabyte (Tb) of data per month – double that of last year’s figure of 37,500 TB per month.

In 2015, the figures are expected

NCC, NSA, others tackle security challenges

T

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it is leading a high level multi-stakeholders group, consisting of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Directorate of State Security Service (SSS), telecoms operators and consumer bodies to tackle security challenges.

Speaking on the sideline of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF-2014) in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr Euegen Juwah, said security is a multi-stakeholders’ affair, adding that the group will come out with guidelines on the security the telcos need to do to secure their networks against intrusion.

Represented by the executive

Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr US Maska, he said the idea is to come out with a system that will address the security challenge in the industry, lamenting that one of the challenges besetting the industry is the non-admissibility of electronic evidence He said: “Security is a multistakeholder issue. The NCC is driving the process that involves all key stakeholders particularly Office of National Security Adviser, NITDA, SSS, operators, consumer groups. Everybody is on board. The whole idea is to set up a system that will first of all set out guidelines on security; what each service provider needs to do to ensure that their network are secured; set up enlightenment programme for users put schemes of detecting intrusion, eliminating it and where fraud

has been committed, come out with how to track down the offender and perhaps, get the offender punished.

“Unfortunately as you are aware, the legal system is still a problem.

There are cases where during the trial of such crimes, you discover there are no provisions for such crimes in the law books. So we are also working with the judiciary to develop legal framework for security.

“But on top of all these, there is also a bill which will also make all these legal. That is the cyber security bill pending before the National Assembly. We do hope it will be passed as soon as possible.”

According to Maska, in the case of financial transaction, there are already constitutional provisions that spell out punishment for any infraction.

to double again with mobile phone users accessing 147,000 TB per month.

Ericsson disclosed that the rise of social media, content-rich apps and video content accessed from a new range of cheaper smartphones had prompted the rise.

Regional Head of Ericsson, subSaharan Africa, Fredrik Jejdling, said consumers in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya were also increasingly using video-television and media services from their smartphones.

“Sub-Saharan Africa is currently undergoing a mobile digital revolution with consumers, networks

and even media companies wakening up the possibilities of 3G and 4G technology.

“We have seen the trend emerging over a few years but in the past 12 months, the digital traffic has increased over 100 per cent forcing us to revise our existing predictions,” Jejdling said.

The report’s findings show that in the next five years, the voice call traffic in sub-Saharan Africa will double and there will be an explosion in mobile data which will grow 20 times between 2013 and 2019, twice the anticipated global expansion.

DataPower, Primex train youths

A

TECHNOLOGY firm, Data Power, and human resources management firm Primex Consulting have partnered to train fresh graduates and jobless youths to enhance their chances of getting jobs.

Chief Executive Officer of Primex Consulting Frank Oyorhigho said in the 21st century, computer literacy is taken for granted in other climes, adding that the idea is not for profit but a social responsibility project (SRP) by the two organisations.

According to him, the alarming unemployment rate in the country coupled with the fact that the certificates the youths bag do not necessarily speak to the available jobs informed the preparatory capacity building so that their chances of employability will be expanded.

He said beneficiaries of the initiative will be trained in basic computer applications that will assure them a space in the labour market while his organisation will handle the human resources development aspect of the two-week training programme

which is expected to start from Lagos before its being extended to other parts of the country.

Business Development Manager, Data Power, Michael Adeniyi said there is enough infrastructure to accommodate the first 1000 beneficiaries who are not going to pay the cost of the training.

He said: “It is our way of complementing government’s efforts in reducing the army of the jobless in the country. beneficiaries will not pay for the training programme. It is entirely a social responsibility programme designed to help the youths. Application will be done online while a transparent raffle draw will also be done to select the final people that will pioneer the training.

“For people who are already engaged, they will only take the programme for four weekends while those still looking for job will be occupied for two weeks because they will be available for the training full time.”

Samsung, Glo partner on Galaxy S5

S

•A cross section of young participants at the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF-2014) at MUSON Centre, Lagos

Ethical hacking will curb cybercrimes, say experts

I

NFORMATION technology (IT) security experts have said giving employment to ethical hackers will reduce, to the barest minimum, cybercriminals in the country.

An ethical hacker is a computer and network expert, who attacks a security system on behalf of its owners, seeking vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could exploit.

According to experts at this year’s conference on IT security tagged “Hackcess Technology Security” in Lagos, to test the efficacy of a security system, ethical hackers use the same methods as others, but report problems instead of taking advantage of them to defraud organisations and persons.

Chief Technical Officer, Digital Encode, Oluseyi Akindeinde, said

ethical hacking is all about helping to make the internet a safer place to do business while Enterprise System Engineer (Security), Cisco Systems, Adeola Kukoyi said 100 per cent of organisations ignorantly connect to domains that harbour malicious files and services.

Chief Operating Officer, Tobeit Consulting, Tobechi Ndubuaku said ethical hacking remains one of the ways to build trust in the cyberspace.

Akindeinde said ethical hacking prevents identity theft and the leakage of other personal and corporate vital information, stressing that whenever an organisation identifies any security lacunae on its security network, it should take proactive steps to implement stronger security measures.

He said: “Hacker doesn’t break into networks one day, while they are attempting there are signs if you don’t understand how they work you won’t see those signs.

Good people need to learn these skills to be able to use it to protect their organisations.

“Apart from companies, ethical hacking is also beneficial to help government and other corporate entities to protect major computer systems from being compromised in a way that national security would be challenged,” he said on the sideline of the security forum.

Kukoyi said though organisations have acknowledged security threats, they are still being held back that their security policies may be difficult to enforce because of changing business models.

AMSUNG Electronics is partnering with Globacom to offer in-store experiential activity on Galaxy S5 to the telco’s customers in its chain store, Gloworld.

The Galaxy S5 experiential drive is taking place in several Gloworld stores simultaneously, including the Gloworld shops in Palms Mall, Lekki and Ikeja Mall.

One of the highlights of the Galaxy S5 Smartphone is the unique ultra-power saving mode that shuts down all the device’s key functions to allow users make the most of their last bit of battery power. According to Samsung, the Galaxy S5 can run for up to 24 hours on a 10 per cent battery charge when this mode is activated.

During this in-store activation, premium Samsung accessories will

be given to consumers that buy the Galaxy S5 from Gloworld. In addition, Samsung Professional Consultants will be present at the stores to educate customers on the phone’s features and put them through the rudiments in the use of Galaxy S5.

According to Head of Glo World, Brenda Akhigbe, “the one-day instore activation which holds on Monday, June 9, is designed to avail Gloworld visitors with a first-hand experience of the Samsung device which is bundled with High Speed Internet service from Globacom.”

“Globacom has bundled a free 1GB data plan, valid for 6 months, with the Samsung Galaxy S5, giving customers a unique opportunity to enjoy instant internet connection from their Samsung Smartphones,” Akhigbe said.

MTN begins 21 Days Y’ello care

M

TN has begun its annual staff volunteerism programme tagged 21 Days of Y’ello Care, with this year’s edition focusing on education.

With “Education in the Digital World” as this year’s edition, which began on June 1, will have workers of MTN Nigeria engaging in a number of activities to promote a conducive learning environment as well as draw attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation. Reiterating MTN Nigeria’s commitment to giving back to communities in which it operates at the flag-off of the programme in Lagos, Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, described education as a vital tool for social and economic development.

“The weeks ahead are filled with various initiatives that will enable MTN, through the 21 Days of Yello

Care programme, continue to contribute its quota towards improving educational standards in Nigeria. Under the Digitech Classroom Project, digitally equipped classrooms will be established across the country to drive access to digital learning.

Access to the Internet and education will position a great number of pupils on the same platform as their counterparts in other developed countries, helping to ensure that they do not suffer learning disadvantages even though they live in a developing country,” he said.

Initiated by the MTN Group in 2007, the annual programme encourages MTN staff across its 21 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to help others and the communities where they live and work.

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

NEWS ‘We are tackling load-shedding’

T

•From left: Akande; Abulwahab; President, Go Green Nigeria Light Up Nigeria Project, Engr. Oyebode Oyeneye; and Secretary-General, AIP, Mrs. Grace Omuya during the signing of the MoU in Abuja.

Bulbs recycling plant coming, as T firms sign pact HE first-ever compact fluorescent lamps recycling plant in Nigeria and West Africa is to be installed by Go Green Nigeria Light Up Nigeria and its partner, the American bulb giant, TCP (Technical Consumer Products).

The National Coordinator, Go Green Nigeria Light Up Nigeria, Dr Wale Akande, said the recycling plant has been released for the country by Technical Consumer Products, adding that the plant will ensure that end-of-life and waste bulbs will no longer litter the Nigerian environment.

Akande spoke in Abuja, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Go Green Nigeria and the Association of Illumination Professionals (AIP).

Akande said Go Green Nigeria was the partner of TCP, and the recycling plant shall take care of the environmental impact of the energy conservation project, which it is implementing in Nigeria and West Africa. The project involves the distribution of 100 million energy-efficient lamps to Nigerians.

The MoU signing between the

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi

two organisations took place at the headquarters of the Association of Nigerian Professionals, Mabushi, Abuja. The epoch-making event, Akande said, is the first for both parties and also AIP’s first MoU with a private sector group.

Akande said that Go Green Nigeria sprang out of a research based concept, designed to complement the Federal Government’s effort at ensuring sustainable electricity in Nigeria by providing a platform for individuals, families, communities, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments at all levels to take action at achieving the goal of power sector reform.

He said: “We are so excited about the progress to be made by this MoU, which shall ensure that the Go Green Nigeria goals are achieved. This is why we are happy to be working with the Association of Illumination Professionals,

a body of true professionals in the sector, who love to contribute to nation building with their technical savvy.

“The Go Green Nigeria project seeks to distribute 100 million energy efficient bulbs throughout the nation over a period of four years so as to catalyse power conservation and energy efficiency culture.

“Through this, we hope to achieve stable electricity, poverty eradication, employment opportunity and job creation, improved security and mitigating the effects of climate change.”

The President of AIP, Ajadi Y. A. Abdulwahab, an engineer, said Nigeria needed a regulatory framework to enable professionalism in the lighting sub-sector. He said: “Most of the citizens misunderstood the issue of light. When you say lighting, they think only of electricity, without knowing that it goes beyond that. The truth is that even when there is no electricity, there is light and lighting.

For example, there is day light-

ing, and our task as professionals is to utilise them effectively for national development.

“We are happy to associate with Go Green Nigeria Light Up Nigeria. The organisation is focused and is set to help the Nigerian power sector through energy efficiency and conservation. This is the first MoU we are signing with any of such private sector based body.”

Go Green also plans to sign more MoUs with federal, state and professional bodies such as National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (Energy Commission of Nigeria), and the Lagos State Waste Managment Authority (LAWMA), among others, before it fully commences operation.

AIP is a non-profit membership society whose objective is to provide an interactive forum for all lighting professionals and transform their knowledge into actions to benefit the public. Members include lighting engineers, designers, consultants, lighting equipment manufacturers, sales professionals, electrical contractors, architects, researchers and academics.

person of the Olugbo and other monarchs by the Front-Liners.

Pastor Ola Judah said that the executives of Ilaje O ni Baje’s were allegedly said to be part of petition.

He denied that and said that the group’s primary goal is to see that all the pressure groups in the oil rich Ilaje fight for the unity and development of the area.

He said that despite being an oil producing area, Ilaje remains the most undeveloped part of the state because of in-fighting and disagreement between the Ilaje communities, the opinion leaders, a situation that has made the area remain without electricity and potable water supply over the years.

Rev. Omotayo Adebanjo said the common adage in Yoruba land is that the Ilajes don’t have a common front, which is a development they want to address because the infighting has not helped anybody over the years rather it has stalled development.

One of the Front-Liners’ accusations was that Olugbo appointed the chairman and vice chairman of AICECUM, Mr Kunle Alli and Mr. Odudu Igbambe respectively, both from core oil producing communities, which is against the stipulated rule.

But explaining reason for that, Judah said the oil communities were divided into seven groups for easy coordination and governance.

The seven groups has an acronym, which is AICECUM and stands for: Actual, Indigenous, Concessional, Eight United, Core, Ultimate and Major. (Actual has five communities, Indigenous-five communities, Concessional-nine communities, Eight United-eight communities, Core-seven communities, Ultimate-nine communities and Major-seven communities.

Judah said in view of the efforts and contributions of Mr. Odudu Igbambe in development activities of the area both in money and time, the monarch appealed that he be compensated with the position of vice chairman of AICECUM, a request that was granted by all but coincidentally the nominated AICECUM chairman and Igbambe come from Core.

It was in view of this development that the Front-Liners are demanding that the monarchs should keep away from the composition of community executives, while Chevron and Express Shebah should disregard the list and OSOPADEC should withdraw the list as a matter of urgency.

Ilaje oil community bickers over appointment

T

HE two major non-profit groups in Ilaje, the oil producing area of Ondo State, the Ilaje O ni Baje and the Front-Liners, have taken divergent positions on the petition for the withdrawal and dissolution of the newly-constituted executive committee that would represent the various communities in the area.

The Nation learnt that following the expiration of the tenure of the previous executive last year, though dissolved in January this year, new executive committee were constituted and inaugurated.

It was learnt that the process of selecting the current executive committee members started in November last year and was concluded in April.

However, members of Front-Liners were not satisfied with the committee’s selection and constitution. The group in a letter to Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chevron Nigeria Limited and Express Sheba – the oil firms operating in the area, expressed their displeasure, saying the process that led to the emergence of the new executive committee members, was unacceptable.

They want the list to be disregarded as the process of selection was undemocratic and didn’t follow due process.

In the letter, the Front-Liners, accused the Ulogbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, who also is the chairman of Obat Oil, of conniving with OSOPADEC to undemocratically handpick, constitute and inaugurate the executive committees of AICECUM communities, Ilaje Regional Development Council (IRDC) and Express Shebah Host Communities Association, a responsibility they said was meant for the producing oil communities.

The National Coordinator, Ilaje O ni Baje, Pastor Ola Judah, the Deputy National Coordinator, Rev. Omotayo Adebanjo and the Secretary, Isaac Eduwa, who spoke to The Nation on the issue, explained that based on their findings, due process was followed in the nomination and inauguration of members of the executive committees. Documents made available to The Nation showed all the processes from nominations to inauguration.

The group dissociated itself from being party to the petition, disrespect and aspersions cast on the

HE Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has said it is addressing the problem of load-shedding being experienced by customers in some areas under its network.

Its Managing Director Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Ajifowobaje, disclosed this during a meeting in Lagos with the Community Development Committees (CDC) within the distribution company.

The committee members represent the company’s entire customers, and some of them complained that there was heavy load-shedding in their areas and demanded that the problem be solved quickly. In response to their demands, Ajifowobaje said the company was doing its best to ensure that customers got service and value for their money.

He said when the new owners of the company took over in November last year, 72 transformers were out of service completely because of thieves and vandals.

These developments, he said, accounted for the loadshedding in some areas but assured that the problem would be addressed soon.

The IKEDC chief also said on taking over the company last year, the new investors hired experts to carry out a study on the network. The study was centred on overall ways to improve supply and service delivery.

The report of the study, according to Ajifowobaje, has been submitted and is awaiting the board’s approval. He said with the full implementation of the report, estimated billing would be a thing of the past, while supply would also improve significantly.

He said IKEDC, a few months ago, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egbin Power Generation Plc to get 1,200 megawatts (MW) directly to ensure stable power supply.

He told the committees that IKEDC had 600,000 customers and only 200,000 customers were metered. Out of the metered customers, some use obsolete meters, he said, adding that the company needs 1,250MW but only gets 300MW for the 600,000 customers.

Ajifowobaje said the company has drawn a roadmap on metering, which is awaiting the board’s approval. He added that he expects it to be approved before the end of this month. The roadmap’s target is to get every customer metered.

He appealed for customers’ continued support in safeguarding their meters and ensuring they are not tampered with, noting that the company is working hard to have good customer relations and doing everything possible towards that.

He said the company was partnering the Federal Government to improve power supply and IKEDC was exploring alternative sources of power supply outside the grid through embedded and captive power generations.

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

INDUSTRY

Manufacturing grew by 36.9 World Bank to invest $50m in Anambra per cent in 2013, says MAN T M ASSIVE investments in the last two years, stability in macro-economic indices and various government incentives channeled towards the manufacturing sector resulted in improved performances recorded in the sector at the end of 2013, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said.

MAN, in its economic review for 2013 said manufacturing output increased by about 36.9 per cent, as against 19 per cent in mid-year report of the period under review.

According to the report, about 121 per cent increase was recorded for the same period (end of the year) in 2012, translating to N483.53 billion at the end of December 2013. This is against N353.2 billion recorded in mid-year of 2013.

The association attributed the improvement to several factors, which include stability in macro-economic indices, increased investment by operators and various government incentives channeled towards the sector.

The country’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for instance, according to the report, grew by 6.93 per cent in the third quarter of 2013, which was higher than the 6.18 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, and 6.48 per cent in the third quarter of 2012.

The economy, the review said, recorded an inflation rate of 8 per cent (year-on-year) in December 2013. The December 2013 inflation was 0.1 per cent higher than 7.9 per cent in November 2013, and 0.2 per cent higher than 7.8 per cent recorded in October 2013, as government consolidated on policies that ensured inflation remained low.

Similarly, according to the review, exchange rate remained fairly stable at the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) segment of the market.

“Foreign exchange demand by the

Stories by Okwy IroegbuChikezie

authorised dealers for Q3 2013 was estimated at US$10.12 billion, indicating an increase of 24.4 per cent and 53.1 per cent above the levels in the preceding quarter (Q2) of 2013 and the corresponding period of 2012 (Q3 2012),” it said.

The review said the nation’s external reserves increased to US$45.37 billion as at November 2013 from US$44.10 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2013, which experienced a decline of 1.95 per cent below the US$44.96 billion recorded at the end of the 2nd quarter of 2013.

The value of Nigeria’s export trade totaled N3, 573.4 billion in the third quarter of 2013, accounting for 63.2 per cent of total trade value. Crude oil contribution to exports, however, increased from 72.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2013 to 86.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 The Review also stated that imports stood at N2,084.8 billion in the third quarter of the same year, representing an increase of N486.5 billion (30.4 per cent) from N1,598.2 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2013.

“This increase was as a result of the rise in the import value of machinery and transport equipments, beverages and tobacco and food and live animals, among others,” the report said.

The review estimated the manufacturing sector’s capacity utilisation for the end of the year stood at an average of 52.7 per cent as against 46.3 per cent at the mid year. “This is an appreciable performance when compared to the same period last year, which recorded an average of 46.6 per cent,” it said.

According to the review, information from manufacturers showed that most of them seemed to have found ways of adapting to local raw mate-

rials.

“Aggregate inventory information revealed that as at the end of last year, manufacturers had reduced the level of inventory of finished goods by 35 per cent from what was obtained as at mid –year. In value terms, the level of inventory has reduced from N21.75 billion to N17.34 billion,” it said.

The improved performance recorded in manufacturing output, capacity utlilisation, and employment, according to the review, were results of massive investments by members in the last two years.

MAN, however, regretted that surveys carried out across various sectors revealed that members’ access to credit, particularly for expansion, has been priced at high rates ranging from an average of 17 to 21 per cent.

It noted that it was because electricity supply remained a major challenge to manufacturing as it dipped by 450 Mega Watts (MW) from the peak generation of 4,517 MW. The MAN’s review also revealed that manufacturers are still grappling with high tariffs under the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) designed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) despite reduced availability of power supply.

The association in the review, however, pointed out that the challenges limiting the potentials of the manufacturing sector are surmountable. It expressed optimism that “the sector would pick up this year provided there are no distortions in the macroeconomic stability as well as security threats or environmental disasters.

“It is also hoped that the international oil market will remain stable and Federal Government will continue to extend fiscal and other incentives and support to the manufacturing sector,” it said.

HE World Bank said it will invest $50 million in revamp ing technical and vocational colleges in Anambra State, Southeast of Nigeria.

A Senior Education Specialist with the bank, Dr Tunde Adekola, disclosed this when he visited Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra at the Government House in Awka.

The visit followed an inspection of facilities at the Government Technical College, Ontisha, by the team.

Adekola, who noted that the role of the bank was to support and accelerate governments’ development efforts, said Ekiti and Bauchi States would also benefit from similar grants.

The fund, he said, would improve the State Education Programme Investment Projects (SEPIP) of benefiting states by improving on quality of technical and vocational studies.

He expressed delight at the innovations made by the students despite the constraints they faced in school. “With more support for these children from relevant donor agencies and government, we are sure that their future is better,” he said.

Adekola stressed the need to involve the private sector, especially in the demand for technical and vocational skills. According to him, professional associations in technical and vocational skills must be involved for the programme to suc-

T

ceed. “The essence is to link Nigeria with international best practices and standard,” he said.

Responding, Obiano said three standard vocational and technical schools would soon be established in the state.

He said the government is working to jump-start water transportation to reach difficult areas where education is lagging behind.

Obiano said his administration was working out a structure to assist teachers in the state with car loans, saying the state was working to improve the industrial, agriculture, oil and gas sectors to complement efforts made in the education sector.

The governor assured the bank of proper utilisation of all World Bank-assisted grants.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, said the assistance was geared towards creating self-employment opportunities for technical and vocational students. He said the support would also be channeled into teacher deployment and their retention in the rural areas.

She said the Obiano-led administration has approved the payment of 20 per cent of basic salary as allowance to teachers deployed to rural areas.

According to her, teachers who teach science, mathematics and English subjects are to receive three thousand naira extra as incentive.

N569b saved from contracts’ reduction in 7 years, says BPP

HE Bureau of Public Procure ment (BPP) said it has saved over N569 billion through contracts’ reduction in the last seven years.

Its Director-General, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said this in a lecture entitled: “Public Procurement Process, Public Accountability and National Development”, at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.

He said the bureau has restored confidence in the procurement processes in Nigeria. “You do not have to know anyone anymore to get a job in most cases,” he said.

Ezeh said it was important for NDC’s senior military officers to be familiar with good procurement processes as a strategic tool for good governance, pointing out that it was important to ensure prudent management of funds allocated to the defence sector.

The director-general said at the moment, procurement in the sector was riddled with poor procurement practices. “There is currently no strategic procurement plan in

place for a long-term procurement agreement as applicable in other countries. This has led to procurement of the same type of products over a period of time. No adherence to the format of the bid security as indicated in the standard bidding documents,” he said, adding that there is also political interference while the scope of work is not properly defined in most cases.

NDC Commandant, Rear Admiral Ndidi Agholor, said it was important for leaders to respect the law in different aspects of leadership. “As a strategic leader, you must realise that resources are scarce. And to that extent, it is good that before the participants graduate, they know the provisions of our public procurement. Knowing this will ensure that they (officers) are able to provide due diligence when they eventually take positions of responsibility,” he said.

He pledged to ensure that procurement of goods and services were done in collaboration with the bureau.

EPA will lead to revenue loss, products’ un-competitiveness, says MAN

•Left to right: Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. John Isemede; National Vice President, Mallam Ahmad Rabiu; Managing Director, Intrass Nig Limited, Mr. Femi Awogbade and Rep of Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Mrs. Mary Bamgbose at the National Dialogue on Shipping Gridlock organized by NACCIMA in Lagos

T

LCCI urges CBN governor to reduce interest rate

HE Lagos Chamber of Com merce and Industry (LCCI), has called on the new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to focus on the reduction of the high interest rate to stimulate growth and job creation.

Commending the governor on his appointment, LCCI President, Alhaji Remi Bello noted that the adverse consequences of persistent credit squeeze and high interest rate on private sector performance cannot be over-emphasised.

In a release by the Director-General of LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf the chamber asked for the adoption of employment numbers as a key parameter in determining the direction of monetary policy and the deepen-

ing of the role of the apex bank in development finance to promote the development of agriculture, industry, Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs), and the power sector.

The LCCI Council urged the CBN to unveil its implementation guidelines on new policy direction to allow for a more robust conversation and engagement.

LCCI, however, expressed concern at the slow pace of the power sector reform and stressed the need to manage expectations.

“We acknowledged the progress so far in the power sector reform, but the weak links in the power deliv-

ery chain should be identified and fixed. Where necessary, the Federal Government should support the power sector investors to tackle the current challenges. This has become necessary because of the strategic nature of the power sector in the economy,” the release said.

The chamber welcomed the global coalition against insurgency and advised the Federal Government and security agencies to take maximum advantage of the backing to put an end to the menace of terrorism in the country, noting that if not contained, it would have dire consequences on the economy and job creation.

T

HE recently negotiated Eco nomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would result to potential revenue loss to government and make local products uncompetitive, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said.

Under the EPA, a trade liberalisation agreement being pushed forward by the EU, the EU will offer the 15-member ECOWAS and non-member states full access to its markets. In return, ECOWAS will gradually open up 75 per cent of its markets, with its estimated 300 million consumers, to Europe over a 20-year period.

But MAN in its ‘MAN Economic Review,’ covering the trend and key economic data in the manufacturing sector for the 2nd half of 2013, said signing the EPA would have negative impact on the nation’s quest for industrialisation when made operational, noting that the zero per cent import duty on goods

By Chikodi Okereocha

which are produced in Nigeria or can be produced in Nigeria will make local products uncompetitive.

“Arising from the un-competitiveness of Nigerian industries, there could be a massive shift away from local manufacturing to importation, thereby reducing the country to an import-dependent nation.

This will amount to transferring or exporting jobs from Nigeria to Europe, which Nigeria could ill-afford,” MAN said in the review signed un-behalf of its Director General, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun and made available to The Nation.

The manufacturers expressed concern that all the government policies on agricultural transformation will be affected as the nation’s agric sector is still at embryonic stage compared to the EU agric sector that is heavily subsidised by their governments despite the advanced stage of development of that sector.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

58

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Subsidise power, PENGASSAN urges govt

T

• Peterside; Aremu and General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Bayo Olowoshile at the workshop.

NLC warns National Assembly over delay in passing PIB T HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the National Assembly over what it called the continued delay in passing the Petroleun Industry Bill (PIB).

Its Vice President, Comrade Issa Aremu, said the lawmakers should not wait till NLC pickets the National Assembly before they passed the bill.

“Should the lawmakers fail to pass the bill before the next general elections, all the efforts at lobbying for the passage would result to nothing.

“We shall add our voices to the existing mass pressure. Don’t forget that there has been series of demonstrations by non-govern-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

mental organisations (NGOs). NLC will add its voice to ensure that PIB becomes a law,”he said.

Speaking at an Interactive Enlightenment Workshop on PIB in Abuja, Aremu described the bill as one of the progressive laws that can be bequeathed to the country.

Looking at the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) Hon. Dakuku Peterside, he said: “It is good that chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) is here. I think they

will not wait for us to picket them before they can pass this bill.”

Aremu said the bill could culminate in the creation of 19 companies from the unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), adding that it also provides for local content.

His words: “In other words, the PIB will lead to the engagement of Nigerians from different professional background. Local content means we must have the value for Nigerians to operate in the sector instead of being dominated by foreigners. So any law that will engage

Nigerian technicians and accountants is a progressive law. We will support it as much as possible.

The PIB is designed to strengthen the capacity of indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector to compete with international companies.

Peterside said although the bill is tailored to tackle corruption even though it would not solve all problems of the oil sector.

According to him, if the PIB becomes law, it would tackle the perennial environmental challenges in the Niger Delta- the base of oil production in Nigeria. Three years after the passage of the bill, he said, gas flaring, which is a major environmental threat to lives, farming and fishing in the oil producing

BATN has created over 500,000 jobs, says director

T

HE British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), has created of over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to its the Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in West Africa, Fredick Messanvi.

He told reporters in Lagos that BATN is also training and retraining its over 600 farmers.

On the law passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly on tobacco regulation, which takes

T

Stories by Toba Agboola

effect from August 17, Messanvi said: “The BATN is known to have opposed strict regulation of tobacco business and smoking culture in Nigeria for decades.

What we want is that it must be enforced in a just manner as this is the only way it can achieve its intent.”

BATN Head of Corporate Unit, Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George, said the interactive forum was

necestary to enable Nigerians, know the role the company is playing in boosting the economy.

“As a nice story is always well told by the person that knows its roots, we bring in journalists today to know more about BATN to enable you tell the general public about who we are and what we do. There have been calls for regulation with stringent laws backing up the regulation.

“We are not against regulation

of cigarette or tobacco, in fact, we were the first to mute that regulation because we don’t want it to sound as if we are forcing people into smoking, no, we want smoking to be controlled. What we want is full improved regulation, we want well coordinated control so that enforcement of the ban of smoking in some selected places will be restricted only to such places as specified by the law,” she said.

HE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged labour unions to mount pressure on the Federal Government to subsidise power, rail transportation, healthcare and education.

Its President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said in Lagos that subsidising these key sectors would engender real growth.

He said: “Power is the bedrock of any country’s development and with regular power supply, the small and medium scale and the informal sector of the economy can grow.

“Instead of erratic and epileptic power supply and the irrational hike in electricity charges, labour should channel their protest and struggles to ensure that this important sector that can jumpstart and grow the economy is subsidised.

“Also, rail transportation can alleviate the suffering of the masses and reduce congestion on our roads. Rail is a veritable means of mass transportation in the developed countries. The nation’s healthcare and educational system are in sorry state and the government can subsidize these all important sectors to the benefit of the Nigerian masses.”

Ogun advised other trade unions to stop supporting payment of subsidy on petroleum products.

The payment of subsidy on petroleum products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, he said was not to the advantage of the masses.

According to him, subsidy only benefits few individuals who have constituted themselves into a cabal.

“It is high time labour stopped saying no to the removal of subsidy and look beyond ordinary reasoning to support the government against a policy and process that has been bleeding the country’s revenue as well as stunting the growth of the nation’s downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

“The money being used in payment of subsidy to these few individuals who are enriching themselves at the expense of the entire Nigerians can be channelled towards other developmental projects, especially the nation’s ailing and dilapidated infrastructures,” he said.

He urged the government to encourage the establishment of refineries to be run in partnership or as a Joint Venture (JV) with private investors so that Nigeria can be producing to meet its local demand and create employment.

Judiciary workers shelve planned strike

HE Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has suspended its planned strike over the non-implementation of the court order on financial autonomy for the judiciary.

It issued the ultimatum last month in a communiqué jointly signed by its President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha and General Secretary, Isaiah

Adetola, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

Speaking with reporters, JUSUN’s Publicity Secretary Kayode Igbarago said the planned strike was called off following an invitation to a meeting with the Accountant General of the Federation.

“The meeting will also include

the accountant generals of the 36 states. So we decided that there is no point embarking on a strike and be discussing from the outside,” he said.

In 2012, JUSUN challenged the piecemeal payment of funds accruing to the judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund contrary to the provisions of Sections 81(3), 121(3) and 162(9) of

the 1999 Constitution.

On January 13, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit by JUSUN ruled that the Federal Government and the 36 states are breaching the Constitution as regards judicial funding, adding that the executive should act decisively to avert a constitutional crisis.”

• Ogun

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

P

lease sir/ma. I have mouth odour and it is very embarrassing. What can I use in curing it? And also white tissues come out of my private part. Thanks – Gloria.

Gloria it is normal for the mouth to have that stale smell in the morning because it has been closed all night and deprived of air circulation. All you have to do is to brush your teeth thoroughly and scrub your tongue very well.

Odour causing bacteria are found mainly on the tongue.

Poor quality tooth paste can also encourage mouth odour due to its ineffectiveness. I know Oral B tooth paste to be of very good quality so you can try that. But if the smell persists after brushing your teeth properly with good quality tooth paste, it is either of two things. It is either you need teeth cleaning(plaquecould have built up on the base of your teeth over the years) or that you have a type of chronic mouth odour called as halitosis. In both cases, you need to see your dentist to schedule the appropriate procedure and medication for your condition.

Regarding the vaginal discharge, it may not be anything serious. The vagina has many secretory glands that maintain its healthy moist rate. A non-smelly clear or white discharge is not caused by any particular disease or infection, but is an exaggeration of the normal slight discharge that all women experience naturally. If you have an infection, this discharge will not be white or clear. It will likely be greenish or discolored and smelly. In any case, go for a hospital checkup to keep your mind at ease – Uche Hello sir. I read your column about the erection products Exploding Thunder and Max for Men Arousal Oil. I am 62 years old and healthy. Which of these products is best from me? I have not had an erection in two years – Chima ChimaExploding Thunder supplement is a stronger enhancer and is best for you because your type of erectile dysfunction is age related and therefore more serious. The Max for Men Arousal Oil is for men with mild erectile

difficulties that happen once in a while – Uche I got married as a virgin and I have little sexual experience.

Please how can I learn to be good at this stuff? Jeremiah Jeremiah you can get your sex education from the right books and films. I will recommend two adult educational films. Get The Art of Oral Loving and The Art of Sexual Positions.

Between these two instructional videos, you will learn a lot – Uche I am 39 years old and I have been having difficulties with getting in the mood for sex with my husband until I came across the Pure Desire for her supplement. It saved my marriage and restored my sex drive. Thank you so much - Vivian Please what is your best penis enlarger and can I use it with my Exploding Thunder erection supplement? James If you are taking Exploding Thunder supplement already, then it is better to enlarge your penis with a penis pump like the Machismo Pump. It is not advisable to combine two erection supplements with similar functions – Uche Hey. I have received the My First Rabbit Vibrator. I don’t usually kiss and tell but I had my first orgasm last weekend and I am quite please. Keep it up. Nigeria needs you – Pat I have been experiencing weak erection for some time and eventually bought a Penis Pump. My erections are harder after pumping. It is just that when I start having sex, it will get soft again – Paul If you are using a penis pump to get an erection, you must use it with a Cockring. Once you pump and get your erection, wear the Cockring immediately to maintain the erection– Uche And that’s it for today. Adults in need of these novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

61

MONEYLINK

Institute urges CBN to upgrade technology

T

HE Surveillance Auditor of the British Standards Institute (BSI), Vikas Mulkutkar has called on the Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to consider upgrading the certification of its technology.

He said the apex bank should upgrade from the ISO 27001: 2005 to the current version (ISO27001:2013) of the standard and also engage other system certifications like the Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard and Service Management Standard to ensure an all-round certification for the bank.

S

Stories by Collins Nweze

Mulkutkar, who spoke during the closing ceremony of the ISO 27001 surveillance audit at the CBN’s headquarters in Abuja, said that 11 CBN departments audited showed high knowledge of information systems security controls and had complied with the ISO 27001 standard exhibiting minimal deviation.

He however, commended the staff of the CBN for their work culture and commitment to the Information Security Management System, noting that the auditors checked all of the infor-

Ecobank launches ‘Go Team Africa’campaign

E

mation security controls and found them to be in strict compliance and handled by very committed staff.

In his response the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, represented by the Deputy Governor (Operations), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu said the first surveillance audit, which was conducted in the between June 5 and 10, was to review the CBN Information Security Management System (ISMS) processes, procedures, documents and records.

Continuing, he said sample departments were selected from the five directorates of the bank, where depart-

COBANK Group has launched a new multi media campaign “Go Team Africa” in support of African teams participating in the 2014 World Cup. The campaign encompasses television commercial, press and radio advertisement amongst others, expresses the Ecobank’s mode of sharing pan-African passion.

Ecobank is the official broadcast sponsor of Optima Sports’ coverage of 2014 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria and official broadcast sponsor of Octagon in the rest of Africa.

The Head, Marketing & Communication of Ecobank Nigeria Adetola Oshomah said “the launch of this campaign is in line with our pan African vision. We are again showing our commitment to the African continent and we are highly optimistic that the teams representing Africa will do the continent proud in Brazil”.

According to Mrs. Oshomah every arrangement is in place to ensure maximum support for the participating African teams in the tournament, stating that apart from the campaign, the bank is also sponsoring some customers in an all-expense paid trip to Brazil to lend their support to the teams during live matches.

Africa is being represented in the sports fiesta by Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire. The World Cup is among the world’s most widely viewed sporting events; an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany.

•Emefiele

mental processes and business areas were checked for compliance with the standard, including improvements to the CBN’s ISMS since the certification of CBN in July, 2013.

Emefiele, urged CBN staff to work harder in order to achieve zero nonconformity standards.

Sterling Bank lends to Facebook, Twitter users

TERLING Bank Plc yesterday launched a ‘Social Lender’ scheme that would enable it grant loans to its customers on Facebook.

Speaking at the product launch, the bank’s Head, Social Media, Kelvin Steve-Igbodo said approval of the loan happens within 10 minutes, and that borrowers can make the request online and get their accounts credited with the fund.

He said the bank is starting with N3,000 and will gradually raise the amount with time. He said the scheme is targeted at customers with urgent cash need.

Steve-Igbodo said the bank is collaborating with BINCOM ICT to ensure that the product succeeds in the market. “Social Lender; the first in Nigeria is a modified peer to peer lending solution using the Social Media Platforms through which micro-credit will be offered to members of these communities. The scheme provides a

platform for online fans, followers who are customers of Sterling Bank to obtain Micro-credit loan via social media channels starting with Facebook and Twitter,” he said.

He said the application will integrate with existing financial structures of the bank such that users of the online platform can access small loans by normal methods of withdrawing cash without collateral. These funds are easy to access and are delivered via a convenient platform.

Explaining how it works, he said: “Our friends on Facebook or Twitter can apply for Micro-credit by visiting the Social Lender site. Users who request for the loans on the Social Lender platform are rated by the algorithm that calculates their social reputation using various criteria. Based on this, the loan is either granted or rejected by the back-end Social Credit Officer.

Most importantly, the applicant must have an account with the bank”.

He said the bank understands that one of the basic functions of a bank is to provide loan access for its customers, but we have also observed that the

inconvenience of the processes often dissuades potential customers from applying for loans.

Citi marks global community day

C

ITIBANK has marked its ninth annual Global Community Day in Lagos. In a statement, the bank said over 500,000 volunteers in 479 cities spanning 93 countries around the world engaged in service activities to benefit their local communities.

In Lagos, volunteers served students and teachers of Lagos State Model College, Badore by refurbishing the school’s library. This involved painting the building, providing books, donating chairs and air conditioning.

Citi employees, family and friends also engaged in gardening as they beautified the school grounds with flowers and cleared out the school’s field.

Managing Director/CEO, Citibank

Nigeria Limited, Omar Hafeez and Chief Operating Officer, Akin Dawodu delivered lectures on Financial Literacy and Personal Leadership. The bank also facilitated a quiz session in partnership with Spelling Bee Nigeria.

Hafeez said: “Across Nigeria, more than 700 Citi volunteers today, are working with secondary school students in the country to support their academic performance, inspire their career aspirations, and draw out their natural talents. For 30 years in Nigeria and over 200 years globally, Citi has remained committed to providing our communities, stakeholder and clients with the best responsible outcomes, which we will continue to do.”

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

O/PRICE 57.00 3.66 1.83 1.03 1.12 17.25 0.96 126.00 0.52 16.00

C/PRICE 59.85 3.84 1.92 1.08 1.17 18.00 1.00 131.05 0.54 16.59

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 11-06-14

SYMBOL CONOIL ETERNA CUTIX RTBRISCOE COSTAIN UAC-PROP WEMABANK MOBIL MBENEFIT BETAGLAS

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

CHANGE 2.85 0.18 0.09 0.05 0.05 0.75 0.04 5.05 0.02 0.59

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

SYMBOL

O/PRICE 4.99 4.48 3.20 37.50 12.30 2.56 10.30 6.85 2.40 50.65

C/PRICE 4.75 4.28 3.10 36.55 12.00 2.50 10.06 6.70 2.35 49.60

CHANGE -0.24 -0.20 -0.10 -0.95 -0.30 -0.06 -0.24 -0.15 -0.05 -1.05

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name 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 HERITAGET FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND

Offer Price Bid Price 157.99 157.07 9.17 9.08 1.09 1.08 1.18 1.18 0.68 0.68 1.39 1.33 1,664.78 1,661.81 1,087.24 1,086.78 119.02 118.19 1,087.30 1,087.00 1.67 1.62 1.05 1.03

LEGACY FUND NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND STANBIC IBTC ETHICAL FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

LOSERS AS AT 11-06-14

NAHCO TRANSCORP LIVESTOCK PRESCO NASCON MANSARD UBN DIAMONDBNK UBCAP UNILEVER

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

143.11

142.62

0.78 1,944.64 13.62 1.07

0.76 1,936.31 13.28 1.05

1.3379 1.3544 1.0146 1.1770

1.3271 1.3544 0.9967 1.1770

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

62

THE NATION THURDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

EQUITIES

Oil, cement stocks rally equities to N40b gains

L

EADING petroleum-marketing and cement-manufacturing companies rallied the Nigerian stock market to a modest gain yesterday as investors upped demand for quoted shares.

Against the background of a decline of 0.21 per cent in the previous trading session, substantial gains recorded by several large-cap stocks drummed up the market momentum. The stock market recorded average day-on-day return of 0.29 per cent, propping up the average year-to-date return to 0.76 per cent.

The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), rallied to its week’s high at 41,642.55 points as against its opening index of 41,521.40 points. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies increased by N40 billion from N13.710 trillion to N13.750 trillion.

While there were noticeable bearish sentiments in the insurance and

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

consumer goods sectors, the market leveraged on the positive market situation in the petroleum-marketing, banking and industrial goods sectors.

The NSE Oil and Gas Index rode on the back of gains by Mobil Oil Nigeria, Conoil and Eterna to close at 432.94 points as against its opening index of 430.09 points. The NSE Industrial Goods Index, where the cement stocks are categorized, also rose on the crest of gains by Dangote Cement, Ashaka Cement and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) to close higher at 2,580.11 points compared with its opening index of 2,576.29 points.

Mobil Oil Nigeria led the 30-stock gainers’ list with a gain of N5.05 to close at N131.05. Dangote Cement rose

by N3.40 to close at N230. Conoil added N2.85 to close at N59.85. UACN Property Development Company garnered 75 kobo to close at N18. Beta

Glass chalked up 59 kobo to close at N16.59. Guaranty Trust Bank rose by 41 kobo to close at N30.91.

Ashaka Cement gained 25 kobo to close at N26.30. Eterna added 18 kobo to close at N3.84 while CCNN rose by 17 kobo to close at N10.27 per share.

Losses recorded by Nestle Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries weighed in on the consumer goods sector. Nestle Nigeria led 23 other stocks on the losers’ list with a drop of N10.01 to close at N1,070. Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria followed with a loss of N2.29 to close at N109.70. Unilever Nigeria dropped

by N1.05 to close at N49.60.

Guinness Nigeria declined by N1.01 to close at N179. Nigerian Breweries lost N1 to close at N179.

UAC of Nigeria slipped by 99 kobo to close at N59.01. Presco dropped by 95 kobo to close at N36.55. National Salt Company of Nigeria dwindled by 30 kobo to N12 while

Nigeria Aviation Handling Company and Union Bank of Nigeria dropped by 24 kobo each to close at N4.75 and N10.06 respectively.

Total turnover stood at 468.91 million shares valued at N3.85 billion in 5,347 deals. Transactions on Mass Telecommunication Innovation (MTI) Plc pushed the information and communication technology sector atop activity chart with a turnover of 202.64 million shares worth N101.37 million in 18 deals. Financial services sector followed with a turnover of 176.18 million shares worth N1.44 billion in 2,627 deals.

MTI was the most active stock with a turnover of 200 million shares valued at N100 million in five deals.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) placed second with a turnover of 35.16 million shares valued at N150.97 million in 490 deals while United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc recorded a turnover of 35.14 million shares worth N281.97 million in 339 deals.

June‐to‐Date Pricing Trend at NSE P o i n t s

41700 41650 41600 41550 41500 41450 41400 41350 41300 41250 Mon

Tue s

W ed

Thurs

Fri

Mon

Tues

Wed

Tim eline: June 02‐11, 2014. Index: N SE's ASI. Source: The N ation

N

Investors swap 4.1% stake in MTI

EW strategic investors appeared to be taking positions in Mass Telecommunication Innovation (MTI) Plc as about 4.1 per cent of issued shares of the telecommunication-infrastructure company were swapped yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Against the background of Tuesday’s announcement of a plan by a new shareholder to acquire majority stake in MTI, the company came atop the activity chart at the NSE with a turnover of 200 million shares valued at N100 million in five deals.

The transactions yesterday represented 4.09 per cent of the company’s issued shares of 4.89 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo

each. The transactions were crossed at 50 kobo. MTI has struggled at its nominal price of 50 kobo as it contends with declining bottom-line.

Tingo Mobile, a Nigerian mobile phone manufacturer, had on Tuesday stated that it had agreed to buy a majority stake in MTI for about N4 billion to develop rural broadband in Nigeria.

Chief executive officer, Tingo Mobile, Dozy Mmobuozi, said Tingo will acquire 51 per cent of MTI. According to him, MTI will be rebranded and remain listed on the NSE. “We’re using the acquisition to reach out to the mass market,” Mmobuozi said. Lagos-based MTI’s “assets from base stations to license and goodwill and other things, will

help penetrate rural Nigeria.”

Bloomberg reported that Telecommunications companies including China’s Huawei Technologies Co. and Johannesburg-based MTN Group Limited are expanding in Nigeria to tap a growing market for mobile and data usage.

Africa’s biggest economy had 169 million mobile-phone subscriptions as of March for a population of about 170 million, the Nigerian Communications Commission said on its website.

With many users owning more than one phone, subscriber numbers are expected to grow to more than 200 million in 2017, according to London-based research company Informa Telecoms & Media.

Tingo said it will start selling

every six months.

When it becomes operational in 2015, the aircraft simulator centre will operate the first commercial aviation training centre in the subSaharan African region.

The purpose built facility to be located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos will feature six (6) simulator bays equipped with a CAE 3000 Series AW 139 helicopter full-flight simulator (FFS), a CAE 7000XR Series Boeing 737 NG full-flight simulator (FFS) and two CAE Simfinity Integrated Procedures Trainers (IPTs).

The collaborative effort will have CAE providing a turnkey solution that will include the start-up, maintenance and operation of the centre for a specified period pending the full transfer of knowledge and skillsets.

This will strengthen Caverton’s position as a leading provider of aviation logistics and training ser-

vices in the sub region.

Caverton’s foray into this segment of the industry in collaboration with the number one provider of advanced simulation training solutions will allow Caverton to diversify its income base, while improving its efficiency and also the efficiency of third party users such as airlines and other helicopter operators in the region.

The centre will eliminate the challenges experienced by many pilots in the region striving to obtain their re-currency training and type ratings and it is expected to boost local capacity development, while curbing capital flight and improving overall safety in the Nigerian and regional aviation sector.

“Over the years our pilots have been training in helicopter training centre’s in the UAE, Qatar, the USA, Brazil, Italy and Norway

three smartphones in Nigeria, the first time its devices will be made available to the public rather than to government or corporate customers.

The Tingo T5, T500 and T561 models cost N10,000 to N18,000 and are made locally, Mmobuozi said. The Abujabased company also has operations in Kenya and Malaysia.

Tingo is making GPS tracking systems and mobile point-of-sale devices that can be attached to its phones as it looks to expand its Internet-based services business. New products include a chat application that localizes emoticons, using Nigerian cultural references.

“In the next two months, we must have hit a 10 million subscriber base for our Tingo Chat app,” Mmobuozi said.

Share price rises as Caverton Helicopters, UK firm sign pact

C

AVERTON Offshore Support Group (COSG) Plc’s share price rose by 3.58 per cent yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange as its helicopter subsidiary-Caverton Helicopters Limited, signed agreement with the United Kingdom- based CAE for the establishment of an aircraft simulator centre in Nigeria.

Caverton’s share price added 15 kobo to close at N4.34, indicating a major recovery for the pricing trend since listing in May 2014.

Caverton made history last month as the first oil and gas service company to go public in Nigeria.

The contract for the landmark flight simulator centre was signed yesterday in Montreal, Canada between Caverton Helicopters and CAE, a global leader in the provision of flight simulators, which are devices that artificially recreate aircraft flight for training that pilots are required to undergo

and we are very excited to be building the first ever simulation training centre in Lagos, Nigeria, with CAE as our partner,” said Adeniyi Makanjuola, Chairman of Caverton Helicopters.

According to him, CAE’s market leadership and “one-stop-shop” philosophy to training solutions and capacity development make them a strategic partner in the company’s strides to enhance local content commitment to the region.

“CAE is honoured to have been chosen by Caverton Helicopters for both our leadership and our ability to provide a comprehensive portfolio of training solutions tailored to meet their specific needs, we look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with Caverton to support their growing pilot training needs in the region.” said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services.

Global stocks fall from record highs

S

TOCKS retreated from recent highs on Wednesday while the euro was pressured by rate differentials and oil prices rose on fears of disrupted supply from Iraq.

Stocks on Wall Street opened lower in broad selling. Analysts, however, saw no threat to the recent strong trend.

“There’s a bid underneath this market, and anytime we’re lower it isn’t long before buyers materialize, which should allow us to keep grinding higher until the next earnings season,” said Chris Bertelsen, chief investment officer of Global Financial Private Capital in Sarasota, Florida.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 97.10 points, or 0.57 per cent, at 16,848.82. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 7.39 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 1,943.40. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was down 6.87 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 4,331.13.

Reuters reported that MSCI’s global stocks gauge fell 0.3 per cent after earlier flirting with a record high. The FTSEurofirst 300 index lost 0.5 per cent, weighed by a profit warning from German airline Lufthansa LHAG.DE. Japan’s Nikkei .N225 gained 0.5 per cent after MSCI’s decision to keep South Korea and Taiwan indexes in the emerging markets classification guaranteed Japan will retain its status as the only developed market in the region.

In a cautious note, the World Bank late on Tuesday cut its global economic growth forecast for 2014 to 2.8 per cent from 3.2 per cent due to the impact of the Ukraine crisis and a harsh United States (US) winter. The bank was, however, confident economic activity was shifting to a stronger footing.

Benchmark US Treasury yields retreated from a one-month high hit early in the session, though the 10-year Treasury note US10YT=RR was up 3/32 to yield 2.624 per cent.

The euro hovered near a fourmonth low versus the dollar, down 0.12 per cent at $1.3531 EUR=, under pressure due to a widening yield gap between euro zone bonds and their peers.

Speculation that the US Federal Reserve could raise interest rates sooner than previously expected has supported the dollar and put pressure on the euro this week.

“Against the dollar, we will see a slow grind toward the $1.35 level, where there will be some support from sovereign players,” said Jeremy Stretch, head of currency strategy at CIBC World Markets.

Oil markets watched the unfolding crisis in Iraq as militants who seized Mosul, the secondbiggest city, advanced into an oil refinery town.

“We already have Libya out, Iran’s exports are low, and there is no prospect of an immediate return for either of them,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, analyst at SEB in Oslo.

Brent rose 0.4 per cent to $109.98 while US crude also added 0.4 per cent to $104.75.

Palladium rose one per cent to hit a more than 13-year high, underpinned by a five-month strike in South Africa.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

63

64

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

NEWS

Court restrains suspended Edo lawmakers

A

N Edo State High Court has restrained the four suspended lawmakers from entering the Assembly and the legislative quarters.

The court also restrained Festus Ebea (Deputy Speaker), Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogieriakhi, the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police Zone 5, Benin City and the Commissioner of Police, from interfering with the sitting activities and other functions of the Assembly, pending the determination of a motion on notice before it.

Ruling yesterday on a motion exparte brought by Speaker Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader Phillip Shaibu and the House of Assembly, Justice V. O Eboreime ordered substituted service of the originating summons on the suspended lawmakers by advertisement in a national newspaper and a local newspaper within 48 hours.

The plaintiffs are seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the four defendants by themselves or agents, assigned privies or other persons acting for, through or by them from forcibly gaining entrance into the premises and legislative quarters or interfering with the sitting activities and other functions of the third claimant, pending the determination of the motion on notice”.

Justice Eboreime adjourned the case till June 23.

The applicants were represented

by Gabriel Oladejo; Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) represented the suspended lawmakers.

The lawmakers began a peace process to resolve the leadership impasse in the House.

Don’t destabilise Edo, youths warn

Y

OUTHS, under the auspices of Edo Youth for Good Governance, have warned lawmakers against using their personal interest and parliamentary disharmony to subvert progress in the state.

The youths also warned the lawmakers against impeaching Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Speaker Uyi Igbe and suspended Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea.

The group’s President, Osaro Iya-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

mu, urged the lawmakers to embrace peace and warned political detractors against causing confusion.

According to him, “We are not fools in Edo. We are ready to resist any attempt to subvert the developmental progress in the state.

“We want to advise the governor to remain focused.”

Osaro urged Edo people to rise up against any attempt to destabilise the state.

•Peace talks end in deadlock •Lawmakers procure fake mace From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The lawmakers’ resolve to discuss the crisis began with a fight in the morning.

Assembly workers, who resumed for work, were chased away by policemen and other security operatives.

Only the lawmakers and their personal staff were allowed into the premises.

Trouble started when All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers learnt that Ebea led eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to begin sitting at 6:30am.

It was learnt that the APC lawmakers, led by Speaker Igbe, stormed the hallowed chamber and a free-for-all broke out.

Three glass doors were destroyed.

An intervention by the Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo,

stopped the fracas.

The police commissioner was seen brokering peace among the lawmakers, who later sat at a round table inside the chamber. Igbe presided over the meeting.

Adebanjo supervised the peace meeting for over five hours before leaving.

He told reporters that the lawmakers were matured enough to handle the situation.

The commissioner said he would maintain law and order and ensure security of lives and property.

The 10-hour peace meeting, however, ended in a deadlock.

There was a disagreement among the lawmakers, who were to begin sitting at 5:30pm, over the presence of the four suspended lawmakers.

A lawmaker said they wanted them to leave but Ebea refused.

The arguments lingered over

what another lawmaker said was Ebea’s insistence that he was elected speaker.

Speaker Igbe displayed a copy of the court injunction which restrained the suspended lawmakers from entering the Assembly complex.

In a sitting that lasted 10 minutes the Speaker read the judgment and informed the lawmakers that those suspended should leave but Osayimwen said they have not been served.

The sitting was adjourned till Monday.

It was gathered that two of the suspended lawmakers were in Abuja yesterday to meet with a PDP chieftain, who procured a mace for them.

The mace will be used for the suspended members’ sitting outside the chamber.

Security was beefed up as the police increased the number of vehicles and personnel at the Assembly.

There was traffic congestion on roads adjoining Oba Ovoramwen Square as some of the roads were sealed off.

The APC warned the PDP not to promote violence in the state. It said the plan for a state of emergency would not work.

Its Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon, at a press briefing, accused the police of allowing PDP supporters entry into the Assembly but chased APC youths away.

Erhahon said the lawmakers acted constitutionally in the suspension of the Deputy Speaker and three others.

He praised APC members for being law abiding and urged residents to be clam.

•From left: Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwane; Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Golden Chioma and Deputy House Leader, Ewhor Robinson, during a public hearing on amendment of State High Court Law 2011 in Port Harcourt ...yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

S

Youths destroy 10,000 tons of crude, illegal refineries From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Y

OUTHS under the aegis of Crusaders against Oil Theft (COT) have destroyed 10,000 metric tons of stolen crude oil in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The youths, who decried the increasing rate of oil theft and proliferation of illegal refineries in the area, were led by their Coordinator, “General” Felix Timilaemi.

It was gathered that the youths set ablaze two illegal refineries operated in the creeks.

Timilaemi, an ex-militant leader, said COT fighters seized the illegal refineries at night and destroyed tanks containing over 10,000 tons of crude oil.

He said he led 29 members of his group for the operation, adding that the operators of the illegal refineries tried in vain to resist the raid.

“We overran the illegal refineries at night. It was a planned operation.

We also destroyed four local boats, four pumping machines and other equipment worth millions of Naira used by oil thieves.

“When the illegal refinery operators saw us, they tried to resist our action but when they discovered that we were more in number, they abandoned their camps.”

He said the destroyed illegal refinery camps were located in Azagbene and Egbemangalabiri.

Timilaemi said his resolve to confront oil theft had pitted him against operators of the illegal business.

He expressed his commitment to the crusade, despite threats to his life.

“There have been threats to my life. It is expected because when you begin to destroy people’s misplaced and illegal means of livelihood, you expect them to react,”the ex-militant said.

He asked the government to partner with his group, explaining that they have the local intelligence to eradicate economic sabotage.

Timilaemi said with government’s backing, his group would expand their operations to other states.

He reiterated the need for the government to provide security for members of his group.

He said: “Government should partner with us to enable us fight this cause to the end. We need government’s backing to stop this sabotage.

I am calling on oil communities and companies to partner with us.

“We know the people and their locations and we have the capacity to stop them. Our next line of action is to check the ships coming into the creeks. We are going to burn anything related to oil theft.

“Our boys are on patrol 24 hours.

We patrol the sea but most times you won’t know that we are there. So, we are calling on the government to support this cause because if nothing is done, this thing can sink our economy.”

Ndoma-Egba raises alarm over loss of tourist sites to Cameroon

ENATE Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has raised the alarm that Nigeria would lose most of its tourist sites to Cameroon.

His statement followed the boundary adjustment between Nigeria and Cameroon by the United Nations (UN) as a result of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

Last week, there was tension in Cross River State over the presence of the UN Boundary Adjustment Team, led by Isaac Baya of Zimbabwe, and some soldiers at Danari in Boki Local Government Area.

He said: “There is a boundary delineation exercise going on as a result of the Green Tree Agreement.

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

“The Agreement necessitated some boundary adjustments and that exercise started somewhere from Lake Chad and it is supposed to go right down to the Atlantic Ocean in the South.

“But in Danari in Boki Local Government, the Anglo/German boundary of 1913 has been there and a particular beacon stone, Beacon 113, we heard cannot been found.

“The rest have been found and that is the one they are trying to locate. The UN Team is insisting on taking a straight line, but the communities believe that beacon is somewhere in Cameroon.

“If they do a straight line as they want to do, then we will be losing

some communities to Cameroon, including the famous Agbokim Water Falls.

“So, I am in touch with the Cross River State Government and the community, we are looking at it so that I will bring a formal motion to the floor, you know I came under Order 42 the last time just to give notice about my intention to bring a motion.

“We are going to lose some substantial territory that is what I can say.

“I am still getting briefs on it.

Now the good thing is, the boundary communities, we have Danari in Nigeria and we have Danari in Cameroon. That is Danari 1 and Danari 2.

“They know their traditional

boundaries and they have had no problems with that.

“So we want to make a case for the UN Team to just accept the traditional boundaries that the two communities agreed on and let sleeping dogs lie.

“What is even more worrisome is that few days ago, the team was there with soldiers and we have been wondering where did these soldiers come from, without the knowledge of the government.

What is actually going on?”

On the recent recommendation by the National Conference that Nigeria should adopt a part-time legislature, the Senate Leader said it was not feasible in a presidential system of government.

“Not in a presidential system of government, so how do you oversight the executive arm?

“The oversight will be part-time oversight. Now I am told that their reason for that recommendation is to save cost.

“The budget of the National Assembly has remained at N150 billion in the last three years.

“The current budget is N4.6 trillion, by the time the SURE-P component is added, it is N4.96 trillion.

“What percentage of that is the budget of the National Assembly?

It is under three per cent.

“So even if you are to scrap the National Assembly, you will only be saving three per cent of the budget or less. Is that the savings that you want to make?”

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

65

NEWS

Gunmen kill six policemen, 13 N others in Plateau INETEEN people, including six mobile policemen and 13 civilians, were killed yesterday by suspected Fulani militia in Jol and Rim villages in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The gunmen also set ablaze several churches and houses.

The six policemen were among the team of security agencies drafted in the area.

They were ambushed on their way to a place which the gunmen were allegedly using as a training camp.

The Special Task Force on Jos Crisis, codenamed Operation Safe Haven, on Monday discovered a

•Churches, houses burnt

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

catchment of arms, including five sub-machine guns (SMG) and an undisclosed number of AK-47 rifles.

A resident of Jol, Amos Dangyang, said the gunmen stormed the village at 1:30am, shooting sporadically.

Dangyang said: “We were sleeping when they came; they

overpowered our local vigilance group and entered the village.

“We woke up to the sounds of their guns. I managed to escape into the forest; I slept in the bush till dawn.

“I came out from my hiding place at dawn to see our people killed in Garko-Rim village.

“Five people were killed and their houses burnt.

“In Jol, eight people were killed. A church and seven hous-

es were set ablaze; their occupants escaped.”

Two weeks ago, communities in Riyom raised the alarm that they noticed a Fulani training camp behind a hill near Rim village.

The Fulani denied the allegation and described it as a false alarm.

The member representing Riyom, Daniel Dem, said his constituency has been under siege in the last one month.

The STF did not confirm the casualty figure; residents said two Armoured Personnel Carriers have been deployed in the area.

‘Gunmen’ attempt to arrest undergraduate

T

HERE was tension yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as three gunmen invaded Al-Hikmah University to “arrest” a female student.

Some vigilant male students rebuffed the attempt to take away the 200 Level student.

The institution’s management condemned the behaviour of the gunmen, who claimed to be security agents, whose action sparked a melee that disrupted lectures.

Policemen from nearby Adewole Police Station came to douse the tension.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulKareem Alege, said it was wrong

T

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

for security operatives to carry out any operation within the campus without formally notifying the management.

His words: “What happened yesterday was a case of misjudgment by a law enforcement agency.

“They came to the campus and tried to arrest a female student.

“We intervened because students insisted that their colleague cannot be arrested without the knowledge of the authorities.

“It is very unfortunate that anybody will come to the campus and to make an arrest without inform-

ing the authorities.

“We thank God I was the only person injured. I was trying to clear the debris that the students put in the vehicles.

“These people were in mufti.

That is what is more disturbing. If you come in uniform and you want to make an arrest, you still need to tell the authorities.

“We called for the police and they came. The people who came to make the arrest are with the police now and the student is safe here.

“The situation is calm now. We cannot obstruct the police from carrying out their work but this time we are going to make sure that some-

Plateau Assembly to probe Jang

HE Plateau State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate allegation of financial misconduct levelled against Governor Jonah Jang.

A group, Plateau Patriotic Front, petitioned the House, alleging financial misconduct of over N20 billion.

A copy of the petition, obtained

by The Nation, titled: “Allegation

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

of gross misconduct against Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State” contains allegations of extra budgetary spending, misappropriation, inflated contract sum and unauthorised bank loans.

The Speaker, Titus Alam, said: “No one in the House is saying the matter will not be looked into but what we are saying is that let the

right thing be done, there is a process of attending to any petition in the House.”

Chairman of the Committee on Public Account Sambo Musa Gondina will chair the investigative committee.

Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development John Clark Dabwan and his Finance counterpart, Dalyop Mancha, will serve as members.

Group holds business seminars ‘Sanusi’s

T

By Bode Monogbe

HE Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, South West 3 District, is holding two seminars in this year’s edition of its annual business dialogue. The themes are: Maximising Contemporary Opportunities for Business Growth and Business and Careers Growth Essentials.

The seminars are coming up simultaneously at Sheraton Hotel and Towers and NECA House respectively on June 13 and 14.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, the District Coordinator, Mr Fola Aguda, said the purpose of the seminar is to invite members of the business community learn new tricks about how to succeed in their various endeavours. He said the programme has been on for the past 15 years, teaching and encouraging their members on how to succeed in their business ventures but it is just about time to extend this to members of the larger business community.

Prof Pat Utomi, Director of the Lagos Business School and National Director of the group stressed the need to exchange and update knowledge as we live in a changing world. He said: “We live in an age of knowledge and we need to constantly expand this knowledge through interaction of this sort.

“The rate of learning is growing higher by the day, so if you don’t develop yourself, you expire. The good news is that there are opportunities everywhere and anybody who does not take care of these opportunities is doing a great disservice to himself. Therefore to keep members of the fellowship and their friends relevant and useful, we have to organise this programme.”

Minister lauds firm over local products

T

HE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has lauded the PRIMLAKS Group for what he called its innovative Sympli brand of convenience food products, which were the star attractions at the third edition of the AgrikExpo and FoodBext exhibition held in Lagos.

Adesina, who sampled a range of Sympli products that included local delicacies that were exhibited by Venus Processing and Packaging Ltd, a member of the Primlaks Group, praised the organisation for pioneering Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) solutions in Nigeria.

“I have always said that one of the reas ons our yam production does not boom is because we eat yam in the same old ways as our forefathers; Sympli has shown that we can cut yam, deep freeze it and prepare it with its freshness still intact,” he said.

The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment to encourage the private sector to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture in Nigeria.

appointment not nullified’ From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

K

ANO State Commissioner for Information Danburam Abubakar Nuhu dismissed yesterday rumours that the appointment of Malam Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano has been nullified.

Speaking to reporters in Kano yesterday, Nuhu urged the public to disregard the rumour and go about their business.

He urged them to accept Sanusi’s emergence as the will of God. The commissioner said the appointment followed due process, adding that all necessary consultations were made by the four kingmakers in the emirate.

He described the appointment as well deserved and the most suitable option, when compared with the other contenders.

Nuhu described the Emir as a man of integrity and prudence as proven in all the establishments he worked throughout his professional career.

The commissioner said with the dynamism of today’s world, Sanusi is the most suitable to occupy the stool, coupled with additional advantage of his vastness in both western and Islamic education.

He expressed optimism that with Sanusi’s unique qualities, he has no doubt that he will take the emirate higher.

body accompanies the lady.”

The state police command confirmed that the gunmen were policemen, but berated their “unprofessional attitude”.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi said: “The command wishes to inform the public and concerned parents/guardians of students of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin that the feeling of disquiet that occurred yesterday at the university was as a result of an unprofessional attitude displayed by some policemen.

“They are being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabor.

“The occurrence is not in any way a security breach or a scare or failure of police standard operational procedure.

“The command is hereby advising the people to go about their businesses.”

APC: Wada administration worst in Nigeria From James Azania, Lokoja

•Wada

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has labelled the Idris Wada-led administration the worst in the country.

Its Chairman, Haddy Ametuo, said this yesterday after the inauguration of state and local government chairmen and secretaries in Lokoja, the state capital.

Ametuo cautioned the people not to misinterpret statements credited to former governor and APC leader Prince Abubakar Audu.

Ametuo said Audu lauded Wada because of his efforts at rapprochement and not because of any development.

His words: “APC did not endorse Wada. When Prince Audu said Wada is God-sent,

K

he was not talking of projects.

He was talking about reconciliation which the governor is initiating.

“Wada is the worst governor in the country. He is not doing anything. Next year, we are going to sweep the state. I am not boasting, but we are going to dislodge PDP from Kogi State and we are going to repeat it at the national level.”

The government, however, countered the opposition, saying the Wada administration is the best in the country.

Wada’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Jacob Edi said: “Let APC hold a successful convention and sort out its internal problems before it can have the moral locus to comment on an issue that has to do with credibility and performance.

“Of course, everybody knows Idris Wada is the best governor in the country. The government is not perturbed with the unnecessary distraction which APC’s diatribe is.”

Gwoza gets Emir ING MAKERS in Gwoza Emirate Council of Borno State announced yesterday Alhaji Muhammad Timta as the Emir of Gwoza

Muhammad replaces his father, Shehu, who was killed by Boko Haram members on his way to Gombe two weeks ago.

The emir was chosen after a meeting of the king makers in Gwoza.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coronation was low keyed due to security challenge and continuous attacks on Gwoza by Boko Haram insurgents.

The emir promised to unite and strengthen the relationship between Christians and Muslims in the area.

66

THE NATION THURSDAY JUNE 12, 2014

NEWS Don proposes APC anti-rigging think tank

By Joseph Jibueze

T

O help prevent rigging during elections, a university don, Prof Amos Awodiya has proposed a national think tank for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to develop a scientific means of preventing the subversion of the electoral process.

He said the broad based think tank, when set up, would work with the APC towards “raising a standard against the election rigging antics of the ruling party” ahead of next year’s general election.

Awodiya, in a statement, said the think tank would “identify the jiggery-pokery usually going on with figures during elections”, which he said is “the one menace to our national security.”

The think tank, he said, would be self-funding, and would work with APC in advisory capacity while deploying its “scientific and technological synergy.”

“The National Think Tank is all about self-service revolution.

The congress (APC) has nothing to do about the funding of our activities. We have long-term strategy to discover the true secret to rigging antics. We have up-to-date training methods,” Awodiya said.

Noting that the “ruling party” has been “notorious” for fraudulent conduct of elections for dishonest purposes since the rebirth of democracy in 1999, the professor said the think tank would ensure APC does not lose elections due to rigging.

Court refuses Obiano’s request for stay of proceedings

J

USTICE Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday refused an application by Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and two others for an indefinite stay of proceedings in a suit challenging his competence to participate in the governorship election.

Instead, the judge granted a temporary stay, to await the decision of the Court of Appeal on an application of stay of proceedings pending the determination of an appeal filed by a commissioner in Obiano’s administration, Tony Nnacheta.

Obiano, his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Nnacheta prayed the court for an indefinite stay of proceedings to await the outcome of Nnacheta’s appeal against an earlier ruling by the court.

They argued that in view of the pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings, it was ideal for the court not to take further steps in respect of the case but await the decision

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

of the appellate court.

Nnacheta’s appeal is against the court’s ruling on June 3 refusing his application to be made a co-plaintiff.

The court hinged its decision on the grounds that Nnacheta was not a necessary party in the case.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Chief Abdulrasheed Ajana, objected to the application for stay on the grounds that Nnacheta was not a party in the case and that the court could not stay proceedings in a case on the basis of an appeal by a non-party.

Justice Mohammed held that in view of an evidence that NNacheta’s appeal had been entered at the appellate court and that there was also a pending application for stay before the court, it was prudent for his court to await the outcome of the application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.

He adjourned till July 9 for parties to report the decision of the appellate court on the application for stay of proceed-

ings.

The plaintiffs, Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Keneth Moneke, filed the suit before the governorship election held on November 16 last year, asking the court to disqualify Obiano for being in possession of two voter registration cards.

Before hearing could begin, Nnacheta, who claimed to have participated in the primaries and lost to Obiano, sought to be added as a plaintiff.

Ruling on June 3, Justice Mohammed held that the case had nothing to do with APGA’s primary election.

The judge held that there was “an apparent conflict of interest” between the existing plaintiffs and the party seeking to be joined as a plaintiff.

“Conflict of interest with the plaintiffs on record is being played out in this suit. A person seeking to be joined as a plaintiff must not have conflicting interests with the plaintiff on record,” he further held.

Justice Mohammed noted that Nnacheta would become “a

‘Boko Haram threat to national unity’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T •Obiano

strange bedfellow” with the existing plaintiffs if his application to be made a co-plaintiff was granted.

“I am of the view that the application for joinder, if granted, will only make the plaintiffs strange bedfellows. They are being represented by different counsel and the causes of action or interests are fundamentally different.

“I find no merit in the application for joinder dated May 6 and same is accordingly dismissed.”

It is this ruling that Nnacheta appealed and sought an indefinite stay of proceedings pending the outcome of his appeal.

NIM gets Registrar

Madam Kufeji for burial tomorrow

T

HE Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) yesterday appointed Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Sulaiman as the substantive Registrar/Chief Executive with effect from June 1.

He was the Director of Membership Services.

Sulaiman is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same university.

Foundation holds walk

T

HE Dabma Foundation will next Thursday hold a Red Umbrella Walk and Conference in commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Day. The walk will begin from Bonny Camp on Victoria Island, Lagos and end on the premises of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, where a Paediatric Oncologist from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba, Prof.

Edamisan Temiye, will speak on “Sickle Cell Disorder Drug Management”.

Baptists’ quarterly assembly

T

HE second quarterly assembly of the Itesiwaju Baptist Association will hold on Saturday at Araromi Baptist Church, 17/19, Ibiwoye Igbaja Street, OkoMallam, Ilasamaja, Lagos, from 9am.

It will be presided over by the Moderator, Rev. Gbenga Ojo of Araba Baptist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos and Consultant, Rev. Femi Ajayi of Victoryland Baptist Church, Isolo, Lagos.

HE Dean, Immanuel College of Theology and Christian Education, Ibadan, Ven. Benjamin Adedapo has described the Boko Haram insurgency in the country as a threat to national unity.

Adedapo stated this on Wednesday during the 56th graduation ceremony of the college, held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

According to him, the menace of Boko Haram is not only a threat to lives and property, it is equally a threat to the unity of this country.

“To a large extent many Nigerians have regulated or avoid traveling to the North Eastern part of the country due to the fear of this dangerous group. Under whatever guise they carry out this nefarious act, the who exercise of Boko Haram is criminal” he lamented Charging Nigerians, Adedapo said:” We should be united in saying that bombing, killing, abduction of faithful Nigerians will not solve our myriads of our political problems.

He also pointed out that the menace of Boko Haram has led to an abuse of religion, which he said can be counter productive in resolving our numerous political problems.

The negative impact of their acts according to him has giving the country a bad image abroad, hindered investors from coming to Nigeria and has portrayed us as dangerous people to the international community.

T

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (second right) cutting the tape to inaugurate 10 additional patrol vehicles procured by the state government for the use of the state security outfit, Operation Burst, at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan...yesterday

Ihedioha under fire over comments on Okorocha

H

OUSE of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha has come under fire over his comments on Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

He accused the governor of perpetrating acts that could affect peaceful coexistence by withdrawing the certificates of recognition of two monarchs.

The deputy speaker was slammed for his allegation that the state is indebted to the tune of N230 billion.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the government accused Ihedioha of jumping to conclusion on the dethroned monarchs without having information on the incident.

The governor’s aide said: “Since Ihedioha joined other aspirants in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship race, he has never made any public speech without casting aspersions on Governor Okorocha as if that is his manifesto or one of the conditions given by his party to guarantee him a

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

ticket.

“For instance, less than 24 hours after the government dethroned Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as the traditional ruler of Obinugwu autonomous community and Eze Cosmos Onyeneke as the monarch of Lagwa autonomous community, the first person to attack the governor was Ihedioha and he did that without proper information on the incident. He has remained the only Imo indigene who has attacked the governor over the popular action.

“Ihedioha accused Okorocha of incurring N130 billion as internal debts, which contradicted his party’s claim of N250 billion. These are lies fabricated and aimed at undermining the popularity of Governor Okorocha. By the virtue of his position, the deputy speaker has the capacity to access any document within and outside the country. Let him bring the document to back his claim or stop disturbing the peace of Imo people.”

Kalu, Ohakim meet to enhance Southeast’s fortune

F

ORMER Abia and Imo Governors Dr. Orji Kalu and Chief Ikedi Ohakim have begun moves to mobilise the Igbo to enhance Southeast’s fortune in the Nigerian project.

The ex-governors met behind closed doors yesterday to appraise the interest of Igboland in the national polity.

The meeting, held in Lagos, was attended by prominent people from the Southeast.

In a communiqué made available to reporters and

signed by Kalu and Ohakim, they urged stakeholders in the Southeast to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness to move the zone forward.

The duo said the bitterness among Southeast’s leaders was the cause of the region’s setback.

They said: “Today marks a beginning in Igbo land. Today’s meeting is a demonstration to the world that forgiveness is the key to progress. Our differences have been resolved

in the interest of our people.”

The politicians noted that the zone needed to support the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to ensure the completion of the new Niger Bridge, the implementation of the gas master plan, the completion of the railway, among others.

The meeting condemned politicians’ disrespect for the Southeast traditional institution, saying they remained fa-

thers to all.

The former governors said it was regrettable that the Southeast produced the highest number of graduates, but the youths are unemployed.

They urged government to support the entrepreneurship spirit of Igbo youths by creating an enabling environment and empowerment schemes.

The top politicians enjoined Nigerians to remain steadfast and prayerful to overcome insecurity.

HE death has occurred of Madam Margaret Taiwo Kufeji (nee Titcombe). She died in her home at Shagari Estate in Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on April 26, after a brief illness.

She was 70. Madam Kufeji was born in Lagos on October 5, 1943, although she was from the popular Titcombe family of AkeAbeokuta in Ogun State. She attended Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School, Ebute-Meta, Lagos and St. Agnes Catholic Secondary Modern School, Maryland, Lagos.

For several years, the late Madam Kufeji worked with Beecham Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (now GSK), where she retired.

She will be buried tomorrow at Atan cemetery, Yaba, Lagos after a requiem mass at the St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, Boystown, Ipaja, Lagos. Reception follows at the Federal College of Education, Akoka event centre.

She is survived by her twin sister, Mrs. Philipa Kehinde Thomas, elder brother, Pa. Anthony Tunde Titcombe, niece, Mrs. Agnes Olajumoke Shobande, cousins, Mrs. Cecilia Idowu and Mrs. Francisca Adebayo, among other children and grandchildren.

•The late Madam Kufeji

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

67

NEWS My life under threat over Sanusi, says Kwankwaso Continued from page 4

•Malawian President Peter Mutharika (second right) with (from left) Mr. Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, Mr. Michael Anyiam-Osigwe, Honorary Consul of Malawi to Nigeria and Mr. George Anyiam-Osigwe after meeting with the President in Lilongwe

Protest in Rivers over CJ crisis Continued from page 4

told the protesters that they were at the gate to ensure peace and to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

Daisy is the immediate elder sister of a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), O.C.J. Okocha (SAN), who is also a member of the NJC. Amaechi, who spoke through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, who doubles as his Political Adviser, expressed disappointment on the attitude of the members of the NJC, who were accused of taking sides.

Okocha said: “The confusion in Rivers State Judiciary is caused by the NJC and the powers that be (the Federal Government of Nigeria/President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration). NJC is a body of eminent lawyers and judges/ justices, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) as its Chairman. The CJN knows better.

This one is trite in law. It is not subject to interpretation.

Whose interest are members of the NJC serving?

“We also heard that their intention is to concoct a scenario where six Rivers House of Assembly members will claim to have sat and impeached Governor Amaechi and hand over a paper to her (Justice Daisy Okocha) to set up a kangaroo

panel and on the same day, a decision is reached that Governor Amaechi has been impeached, just to cause confusion and crisis in Rivers State.

“The crisis in the Rivers State Judiciary is indeed uncalled for. The law is clear. The person who has the powers to appoint the Chief Judge is certainly the Governor of Rivers State. It is not about the Governor of Rivers State; it is about the law.

“The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has appointed a Chief Judge (Justice Peter Agumagu), but the NJC is interfering. To the extent that the person who was appointed was suspended by the NJC and the matter is in court.

“We heard that NJC is appointing an Administrative Chief Judge (Justice Daisy Okocha), that is not known to the law. The powers to appoint, no matter the nomenclature it is given, do not reside with the NJC. You can see the entire confusion.

“To make matters worse, we heard that the woman purportedly appointed by the NJC as Administrative Chief Judge, went to the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt yesterday (Tuesday) and met with some judges. As a lawyer and a judge, she knows that it is a crime in the Nigerian law that you do not break and enter, for

whatever it is worth.

“That is why you saw millions of Rivers people, who spontaneously came out to say there are no two governors in Rivers State. The Rivers State Governor must be allowed to perform his functions, part of which he has done.”

The NGF chairman also stated that the way out of the Rivers judiciary crisis would be for the people to obey the law, since the Constitution binds all the citizens together.

The governor said: “Let the Constitution be obeyed. We are not asking for any other favour.

“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly this (yesterday) morning organised a public hearing on amendment to the law. There seems to be a lacuna and the law does not allow vacuum.

The lawmakers observed that litigants are suffering and people can no longer access the courts. So, the best they intend to do is to amend the law.

“It appears there is a little difficulty in the appointment of Chief Judge and the lawmakers want to give the powers to the Chief Registrar.”

The NJC last week announced Justice Okocha as the Administrative CJ of the state.

The Judge of State High Court reportedly assumed office on Tuesday, after the CJ’s office was allegedly broken into with the backing by heavi-

APC zones chair, deputy secretary to Southsouth Continued from page 4

and the National Financial Secretary.

The Southeast has the National Organising Secretary, the National Auditor, Deputy Finance Secretary and Deputy Women Leader.

From the North Central will come the National Publicity Secretary, the National Women Leader, the Deputy Treasurer and the Deputy Welfare Secretary.

The National Secretary, the National Youth Leader and the Deputy National Auditor will come from the Northeast.

The North West will have Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, National Treasurer and Deputy National Organising secretary.

The committee said: “Each of the six geo-political zones will produce the following - One

Zonal National Vice Chairman, one Zonal Women Leader, One Zonal Youth Leader and One Ex-Officio.”

A member of the convention committee and former Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu praised the Wamakkoled committee for resolving the zoning matter amicably.

Members and elders of the party expressed their appreciation on the consultations carried out by the committee with other stakeholders and elders to resolve the stalemate.

Audu said the party had achieved a significant progress with the mutual understanding which culminated in the favourable conclusion.

Another leader, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, noted that following the progress, the party is desirous to change the county for the better.

Baraje said he would be the

happiest man for the “achievement”.

He said that with the accomplishments, their decision to join the party would not be in vain. Hon. Kawu Sumaila thanked the committee for settling the zoning arrangement.

Wamakko thanked the elders and members of the party for the cooperation given to his committee carry out its responsibilities.

He promised the members of the party that his committee would not disappoint the party, because it is filled with experienced, patriotic and committed members who were ready to make all the necessary sacrifices for the party.

Wamakko assured all that the convention would set the party on a successful path to winning the elections next year.

ly-armed security operatives.

The youths, protesting her appointment, came in over 100 buses. They gathered at the main gate of the High Court where they moved to register their concern at the Government House.

They were received at the Government House gate by Rivers National Assembly members and the state chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oji Ngofa.

Addressing the protesters on behalf of the national lawmakers, Senator Abe condemned the NJC for appointing Okocha the Acting CJ. Abe reiterated that the appointment of state CJ is the constitutional right of the governor. He alleged that the five anti- Amaechi lawmakers: Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Kelechi Nwogu(Omuma), Martin Amaewhule(Obio/Akpor 1), victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt 3), and Micheal Chinda (Obio/Akpor 2), were making frantic efforts to impose Justice Okocha on the state to clear their way towards Amaechi’s impeachment. He vowed that the people would not allow that to happen.

Ngofa said the state would not relinquish her right to appoint the CJ to any group or body. He warned those he called “Abuja Politicians” against dragging the Judiciary into politics.

and happy because all the people who are friends to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the government and the good people of Kano State are very happy with his selection because he is qualified by all standardseducational standard, Islamic education and a proud grandson and son of an emir and all the qualities needed to appoint an emir, Sanusi Lamido has all of them in abundance. I believe he is the best.

“The truth is that some few people may not be happy with him and they want to do everything possible to create tension and crisis in the state but they seem to forget that crisis is not good for anybody, especially leaders, because you can start it but you don’t know how it will end.

“We are a state government and are determined to ensure that peace reigns in the state.

We are appealing to them to stop and allow Kano to remain in peace because we want a peaceful Kano. We have seen situations in the past where the government at various levels, especially at the federal level tried to squeeze the government at the state level and the outcome has never been the best for the country. We are politicians and we are working hard to ensure that our states are not on fire and certainly we will not fold our arms to watch that and we have one thousand and one ways of handling issues and I hope that they will understand so that we can work together for the peace and stability of this country.

“This country has sufficient crises now, going by what is happening in the Northeast and the North in general and I don’t think we need additional crisis.

Asked if he was really under pressure from APC, Kwankwaso said his party leaders made no input into the choice of Emir Sanusi.

He added: “For those who know me, they know that nobody can put me under any pressure. By the grace of God, we have unlimited capacity to do things and I also go with my conscience and conviction in doing what I am doing. If something is right, it is right and I will go ahead to do it whether it has to do with my party or not. If something is wrong it is wrong and I will not do it, no matter who is involved.

“I can assure you that even in APC people have got differ-

ent opinions about Sanusi.

Some support him, others don’t. So, it is not true that all members of APC back Sanusi.

But the truth is that most of the people support Sanusi because he is qualified to become the emir of Kano.

“In all items, he emerged number one and, therefore, it is not right for anyone to say that there was any political consideration in his emergence.

“Maybe one can say that we need someone who is qualified to do the job and do it very well. In that wise, Sanusi is not only a known figure in Nigeria and Kano but is also an international figure.

“I have been receiving calls from across the world congratulating me for the decision.

And this is the sort of person you need as an emir-somebody who can project the image of the state and stand by the right thing and is contented with what he has-and not somebody who will be going to beg for alms from them.”

The governor denied using Sanusi’s appointment as a bait to secure the presidential ticket of APC. He said: “Sanusi is not a member of our party, even though he is a progressive person, who wants to see progress in this country. I am sure Kano will reap from his wealth of his experience.

“In all, six people showed interest. Three were recommended and presented and Sanusi was on the top of the list and as a result, we picked him.

“But let me tell you, that is not even the issue: the governor has the right to take number one, two or three or reject all and call for a fresh list. That is the position and nobody under the law can go and dictate to the state what it should do in appointing an emir.

“The problem we are facing is that we are not in PDP because recently there was vacancy in Gombe and nobody instigated any violence when the new emir was chosen.

What they don’t know is that they are the absolute minority.”

Asked whether he has received petition from any of the princes against the selection of the Emir, Kwankwaso said: “Petition against what? If the man is not qualified you can say so and we look at the requirements. But he is one of the six that applied and he was recommended and I approved and where is the problem and what is the basis of the petition?”

House passes Judiciary Bill

Continued from page 4

ing.

The Bill may be cited as the “Rivers State High Court (Amendment) Bill No. 1 of 2014”.

Opening the public hearing, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, said members of the 7th Assembly could not be intimidated or harassed from performing their constutional duties, especially of making law, stressing that the gathering would backed the resolution of the crisis in the Rivers judiciary.

The representative of the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe, who is also a lawyer, said it was in order for the Chief Registrar to be as-

signing cases and performing other administrative duties, in the absence of an acting or substantive chief judge.

This was also corroborated by Senator Wilson Ake of Rivers West Senatorial District.

The representative of Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the interests of Rivers people must be protected at all times, stressing that the administration of justice must not be obstructed.

Peterside also noted that there was an intent to create mischief by an institution not allowed by law (NJC) to do certain things, insisting that the right

things must be done - in line with the constitution.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Worgu Boms described the public hearing and amendment as steps in the right direction. He condemned the partisanship of the members of the NJC. The leader of the proAmaechi Save Rivers Movement, Igo Aguma, noted that Nigeria’s democracy was evolving, stressing that what was going on in the state was healthy for better democratic culture.

A litigant from Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Chief Christian Chukwu, called for urgent amendment of the high court law to end to the people’s suffering.

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

68

FOREIGN NEWS

Egypt activist Alaa Abdul Fattah jailed for 15 years

A

COURT in Egypt has sentenced one of the country’s most prominent pro-democracy activists, Alaa Abdul Fattah, to 15 years in jail for illegal protest and attacking a police officer.

Mr Abdul Fattah’s family said the verdict was issued in absentia as he was refused entry into the court.

Mr Abdul Fattah played a key role in the 2011 revolt against Hosni Mubarak.

The sentence comes three days after ex-army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi took office as president.

The authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists and secular activists since former

President Mohammed Morsi was removed by the military in July 2013.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested.

Mr Abdul Fattah was arrested in November after taking part in a protest calling for the repeal of a new law that banned unauthorised demonstrations.

On Wednesday, his mother Laila Soueif told the BBC Mr Abdul Fattah had not been allowed into the court.

“I believe that the judicial system in Egypt has nothing to do whatsoever with law and justice.”

She added that the family would challenge the verdict.

The campaigner was previ-

ously detained under Mr Mubarak’s government and questioned over demonstrations against the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

The harsh sentence will deepen concerns about democracy and free speech in Egypt, the BBC’s Orla Guerin in Cairo reports.

In a recent BBC interview, Mr Abdul Fattah said the authorities intended to jail him for a very long time, and the current regime was worse than Mubarak’s, our correspondent adds. he new president, Mr Sisi, won 96.9% of the vote in May’s elections.

However, turnout was below 50%, as Mr Morsi’s Muslim

Amina Agboola murder: Mother gave accused Dean Harris ‘benefit of doubt’

A •Fattah

Brotherhood and some liberal and secular activists urged a boycott of the poll.

Mr Sisi’s victory came almost a year after he ousted Mr Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, following mass protests against his rule.

Mr Morsi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down after mass anti-government protests in 2011, following nearly three decades in power.

MOTHER whose boyfriend is accused of murdering her child said she gave him “the benefit of the doubt” despite being warned by social workers that he had a history of domestic violence.

Amina Agboola, two, of Scott Drive, Peterborough, died of a ruptured liver after being kicked by the accused on 21 November, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Dean Harris, 19, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.

Amina’s mother Sarah Racqueman, 29, denies causing or allowing her death.

Ms Racqueman told the court a social worker had visited her and said he believed Harris was violent.

She said Harris told her some of it was not true. He told her he “wasn’t convicted” and

some matters had not been taken any further.

Harris had been left alone with Amina on the day she died.

Parris initially claimed Amina had fallen off the toilet, however, he later admitted be had kicked her 6ft across a room after becoming “a bit frustrated” when she repeatedly soiled herself.

The court heard Ms Racqueman had taken Amina to see a GP on one occasion after noticing a lump on the child’s arm.

“I said to Dean, ‘Do you know anything about this?’. He said no, he’d not seen it before,” she said.

Asked why she had not ended the relationship with Harris after hearing what was said about him, she said: “I believe in second chances. I gave him the benefit of the doubt.”

Ukraine ‘won’t fall into Russian gas trap’ •Plural Left MPs held up placards in parliament calling for a referendum ...yesterday

Spain Felipe: MPs back royal succession

P

ARLIAMENT in Spain has backed the abdication of King Juan Carlos and accession of his son Prince Felipe by a large majority.

The succession had the backing of both the ruling centreright Popular Party and the opposition Socialist party despite some Socialist misgivings.

Radical leftists in the chamber had demanded a referendum.

Madrid and other cities have seen anti-monarchy rallies since Juan Carlos, 76, announced on 2 June he would step down.

He said he was abdicating after nearly 40 years on the

throne to make way for a “new generation”.

The government had said parliament had to approve the transition under the terms of the 1978 constitution.

Referendum campaigners reacted furiously to the vote on Twitter, with the topic “We want to vote” quickly trending.

The bill was passed in Congress by 299 votes in favour to 19 against, and 23 abstentions.

It will now have to be approved by the upper house of parliament, the Senate, which is expected to vote on 17 June.

The prince is expected to be proclaimed King Felipe VI on 19 June.

All eyes on Messi, Ronaldo, Brazil, Spain as World Cup begins

T

HE 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, arguably the world’s biggest sporting event, gets underway at Sao Paulo in Brazil today with the hosts taking on Croatia.

The opening ceremony, to be staged at the Arena de Sao Paulo and preceded immediately by the opening match, will kick-start a 32-day football spectacle.

It will involve a performance

by Pitbull, Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and Olodum, climaxing a ceremony which starts at 15.14 hours Brazilian time.

The performance is set to thrill the public by paying homage to Brazil’s three biggest treasures – its nature, people and football.

Billed to last 25 minutes, the cast is made up of more than 600 people, the majority of whom study at dance or circus schools or at cultural workshops.

In addition to the 62,600 fans present in the stadium, the ceremony will be shown on television in 200 territories around the world.

This will involve more than 160 principal rights-holders broadcasting to all four corners of the globe, making the event one of the most watched in recent times.

But the real action, which the whole world has waited for with bated breath since 2010,

comes with the opening match.

It is a game from Group A, and the hosts will be hoping to set off their campaign for a sixth title on a good note by beating Croatia.

The group looks tight with Mexico and Cameroon as the other contenders, but both Brazil and Mexico look likely to get the second round tickets.

But any one of Cameroon and Croatia hold the outside chance, with any one of them good enough to beat Mexico to the second ticket from the group.

Brazil have an edge over all others in the group, having met them all in past World Cups and beaten them, with Mexico the only one capable of standing up to them.

But since the history of World Cup opening matches is replete with shocking results on such grand occasions, Brazil may well have to watch it in this opening game.

Thereafter, the competition offers a different mixture of excitement, suspense, gritty action and finesse, with Group B harbouring one of the other competition favourites.

Defending champions Spain take on top side Netherlands on June 13, in a repeat of the 2010 final game in South Africa, which the Spaniards won 1-0.

Both sides are expected to

advance from the group comfortably, and only Chile is expected to threaten them, even though Australia will make them bring out some sweat.

Group C has Colombia, Greece, Cote D’Ivoire and Japan, with any one of them capable of leading the pack and any of them also capable of losing out disappointedly.

In Group D, Uruguay, England and Italy are the teams with the chance to advance to the next round, even though Costa Rica should not be disregarded.

1998 champions France are alongside Switzerland and Ecuador, with the latter more at home to pick the second Group E ticket, but Honduras can create some little headache for the unwary.

Group F will be difficult a bit, with Argentina holding the key to Nigeria’s progress, while Iran should find things tougher than they can keep up with.

Bosnia-Herzegovina will be a strong proposition for the others, and look good to jostle with the South American giants for the group’s top spot, which may be too bad for Nigeria.

Already dubbed ``group of death’’, Group G will be another interesting pack, with all four of Germany, Portugal, the U.S. and Ghana looking good enough to advance to the next

round.

But, Germany stand out as favourites to advance and also move on to challenge for the title, with any one of the others good enough to move to the second round.

Group H has Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea, and the form book will give the two tickets to the European sides.

But if inexperience does not stifle Algeria’s performance and South Korea find their bearing early enough, then expect that a surprise awaits either of Belgium and Russia.

However, it is not going to be all about team performance at this World Cup, notable players have given indications they would use the competition to raise their personal ratings.

Brazil has the likes of FC Barcelona’s Neymar, as well as Fred and Thiago Silva, while Croatia have Mario Mandzukic and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric to boast of.

Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, Spain’s Andres Iniesta, Xavi Alonso and Fernando Torres are also waiting in the wings, with Chile’s Alexis Sanchez equally looking ready to shine.

Colombia’s Radamel Falcao has been injured much of the season and now has the opportunity to live up to his name if injury permits.

U

KRAINE has rejected a deal to decrease the price it will pay on a disputed Russian gas debt during longrunning price negotiations.

Ukraine said that an offer from Russia of a discount of $100 for every 1,000 cubic metres of gas was part of a “trap”.

Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Ukraine would not agree to any discounts within its current gas deal. Russia and Ukraine are in talks in Brussels to try to resolve the issue. The two countries are locked in a disagreement over a rescinded Russian gas rebate.

Ukraine wants a new gas deal based on “a contract, rather than on the basis of whether Russia likes the Ukrainian government or not”, Mr Yatsenyuk said.

Before the rebate was cancelled, Ukraine’s gas bill was heavily discounted by Russia to $268 per 1,000 cubic metres.

After the discount was withdrawn, the price went back up to $485.50 per 1,000 cubic metres, the highest in Europe.

Doctors join German cave rescue

T

WO doctors are on their way to an injured man trapped in Germany’s deepest cave to assess how he can be brought to safety, officials say.

Moving in two teams, they may reach Johann Westhauser, 52, within hours. He was injured in the head and chest by a rock fall on Sunday in the 1,000m-deep (3,280ft) Resending cave.

Rescue official Robert Nagel said the cave’s vertical shafts and narrow passages meant it would take

about six days to bring him out.

The alarm was raised by a companion of Mr Westhauser, who took about 12 hours to return to the surface while a third member of the party waited behind.

PUBLIC NOTICE

KALU I formally known and addressed as UKAH IFEANYI KALU now wish to be known and address as EGWU IFEANYI. All formal documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I MR. OLATUNJI AGBAJE of No 9,Teslim Adeosun Street, Ago-Okota wish to inform the general public that I have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area, that the street named as TESLIM ADEOSUN STREET off Alhaja Agbeke Street, via Last b/stop ,Ago palace way, Ago be rename as OLATUNJI AGBAJE STREET in my favour. This is for the information of Isolo L.C.D.A and the general public.

PUBLIC NOTICE JOINT FARMERS MICRO FINANCE BANK LTD This to inform the general public that the above named propose microfinance Bank has applied to the corporate Affairs commission and central Bank of Nigeria for registration under part c' of the companies and Allied matters Act 1 of 1990.

The promoters/proposed shareholders are 1. MR ADEKUNLE MUIDEEN ADEBAYO 2. CHIEF LATEEF AJIBIKE 3. MR MAKINDE AKINSOLA ALABA 4. MR SHEHU USMAN 5. DR JAMES ADESOKAN OJEBODE 6. MR COLINS AGUAKUN 7. MRS AREMU BAMIDELE ABIODUN 8. DR OGUNSADE DAVID 9. MR ADELEKE KAZEEM ADESINA 10. PASTOR OLORUNNIMODIMU OLUFELA 11. MRS AKINSOLA OLUWADAYO ABIDEMI Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

69

70

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

71

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 8, NO. 2,875

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

A

FTER dithering for weeks, President Goodluck Jonathan finally made it to Ado–Ekiti last Saturday.

Dr Jonathan, I am told, felt to be accused of gross insensitivity so soon after dancing with turncoat former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano while the nation was mourning the Nyanya bomb victims would have been too much to take.

He would rather not repeat the offence.

Besides, some of his henchmen thought the journey could be a wasteful venture, considering many factors.

The governorship election, which Vice President Namadi Sambo described as a war – his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with police backing, has been prosecuting it as so – is now nine days away. It was time the other day in Abuja to review the battle plan, a kind of reconnaissance – in line with the PDP’s language of war.

It was a long meeting. Jonathan presided.

There were party chiefs, including an elder statesman whose counsel – opponents see it as foxy and wily - many have found useful in times like these. His bag of tricks seemed exhausted after the PDP lost major elections in his Southsouth home state.

But, to many in the PDP, he remains the fixer. Pardon the digression. Also, there were presidential aides and top politicians of the conservative mould, those to whom politics is war and an election a battle in which heads must be smashed and limbs broken. All is fair so long as the prize is secured.

Details of the meeting remain the subject of a conjectural indulgence. There was no communiqué. An unconfirmed but usually reliable source, who swore to me that his uncle’s friend met at an Abuja pepper soup hang-out an influential fellow who claimed to have shared a drink with the son of one of those at the meeting, related what went on at the talks. Here is his account, which, as I said earlier, Editorial Notebook could not confirm: The President walks in briskly, an aide bearing a lean file in tow. No cap. All smiles, he shakes hands with the group of men who are all standing, muttering greetings. He then sinks into a seat adjusted by the aide, the national flag resting behind him. He opens the file.

“Gentlemen, I greet you all. I thank you for finding the time to attend this all-important meeting. I’m sure you all know why we are here. Ekiti. We want to take Ekiti. Can we do it? Are we ready? What is the situation on ground?”

All is quiet for a short while as the message sinks. The old man stands up to speak. “Sit down, chief; sit down.” The chorus rings through the gathering. The man speaks softly, his voice inaudible. He then clears his throat, summoning from the pocket of his white ‘agbada’ a white hand-

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Ekiti is too important for experimentation, we do not need a repeat of a failed poultry experiment that gobbled up N2 billion which could have built us a bright new Ekiti University Teaching Hospital.’

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

Ekiti: Recce time in Abuja

kerchief with which he wipes his mouth, “Mr President, thank you for calling this meeting. I was going to call it, but you beat me to it. You see, an election is not an owambe party. Neither is it an obito where you call people to eat, drink and make merry. No. It is a serious business. A battle. Are we ready?

And this is crucial as the election will say a lot about 2015, which concerns me more than any other thing. I suggest we fight the election with everything.

“You are the President. I don’t have to teach you what to do, but I will like to tell you that my style is not to lose elections. Some people may say, ‘but this is not a presidential election’. They are right and they are wrong. In case you don’t know, this is a fight between you and that man in Lagos. I don’t want to mention any name. I don’t have to.

“Give me the go-ahead to take charge. Logistics and all that. This is a battle we must not lose. Thank you.”

An aide struggles to stand up, rocking sideways before he eventually makes it to his feet. His seat

RIPPLES POOR SALARY PUSHED ME INTO ARMED ROBBERY-Robbery Suspect

Yes, POOR SALARY and ‘LONG-THROAT’

I

T is becoming clearer, despite claims to the contrary, that there may indeed be puppeteers pulling strings in connection with controversially desperate manoeuvres to have Justice Daisy Okocha occupy the position of Chief Judge of Rivers State. It would appear that these behind-the-scenes manipulators are playing blind to the important fact that she is not favoured by the State Judicial Service Commission which, from all indications, is the body lawfully empowered to make recommendation to the state governor on the matter.

The revelation that her younger brother, Chief O. C. J Okocha (SAN), a former Attorney General of Rivers State and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), actually wrote a letter to Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, an ethnic association, seeking its intervention, effectively betrayed his interest in her elevation to the point of trying to take advantage of his connections to make it happen. Against this background, his claim of noninterference collapsed, suggesting that as Chairman of Legal Education in Nigeria and a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), he may not be innocent of the accusation by the Rivers State government that his role helped to fuel the appointment crisis.

moans as if in pains. It goes quiet as it is relieved of the massive frame.

“Your Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, our leaders here present, my colleagues. I thank you for giving me the floor. My position is simple. Whatever we do, we must carry the media along. Public opinion should be on our side. We must be seen to be in a position to win clean and clear so that we don’t face any backlash after the election. I would like to be assigned that role.”

The old man stands up again. The President shifts in his seat. His chin resting on his right hand, he listens as he takes notes on a little jotter provided by one of the attendees.

“Your Excellency, there is no need to start going up and down. There are three options before you and our great party. We can choose to go in there and use federal might. We can get the military to put up a big show of force on the eve of the election. Armoured tanks will be positioned in strategic towns where our opponents are strong. Soldiers can storm the major towns, singing war songs and shooting into the air several times. There will be so much fear. Who will come out to vote the next day? Nobody. We can then have the ballot all to ourselves.

“Even before our man is announced as winner, you issue a message, congratulating him and our great party. INEC must be told in clear times where we’re going and that we won’t tolerate excuses, like that rerun in Ondo. No. There will be some noises.

Opponents will remind you of Chibok, Nyanya, Jos and others. Well, you can’t stop people from doing that. In fact, the place may be on fire. You allow the military to do their job, with the police providing some back-up. Our goal is simple; the prize or nothing. Remember you’re the President; you must not fail.”

He goes on to paint what he described as the

JIDE OSUNTOKUN

second option, which he says is less strenuous.

“My President, you can also choose to allow a free and fair election in which the better side wins. Chikena! That way, you will be hailed at home and abroad as a statesman who allowed democracy to blossom. Fine. It’s up to you.”

Jonathan takes his eyes off his notes, shakes his head and sinks into a moment of reflection, a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind.

The chief resumes his postulation.

“The third option, my President. You may wish to cut a deal with the incumbent ahead of 2015. You need only 25 per cent in Ekiti.

That’s all. Tell him you won’t interfere and in return he should support you to have 25 per cent in your own election, which is what is uppermost in my heart. I rest my case, Mr President.”

All is quiet for a while. Jonathan drops his pen and the sound reverberates all over the room.

He launches into a moment of deep contemplation.

“I thank you all. Honestly, I have been thinking about this election. Did we get the right candidate? Almost all the other aspirants have quit the party. Many Ekiti indigenes have told me we got it wrong. The other day I read the security report on our man; full of murders and other atrocities.

Corruption. There are cases in court. They said he stole N1.3 billion poultry fund. And I said to myself, na wah o!. Some of you here insisted that he was the kind of man we needed. Anyway, I have gone there to campaign for him. I have played my own part.”

The party chair, who has also been taking notes, stands up to speak. He adjusts his dress as if to ensure he is looking smart before the audience.

“Mr President, my elders and colleagues.

If I got the President right, we need to mind the image of our great party. We can’t continue to be called a party of thieves, thugs and touts. I’m not saying our candidate is any of these o; get me right. But fee dee fee needs a new image. The party must wear a new dress. And this is where I come in. The President will eventually decide whatever we do in Ekiti.

“The other day I saw the video of how our man’s podium collapsed during his campaign. The story all over the place is that he didn’t spend the money he got to build a good podium. A village carpenter cobbled the podium together. I was disturbed. Where is the trust? He is said to be running the campaign all alone. There is so much bitterness in the party.”

The President looks up from his note-taking, smiles a little and closes his notebook.

“Gentlemen, I thank you, once again, for your time. The candidate will be here to see me. And whatever I decide, I will let you know. Goodnight.”

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Unexemplary use of influence

to imagine that he could as well do the same in his professional circle. Strangely, the NJC seems hell-bent on having its way in imposing Justice Okocha on the Rivers State judiciary as Chief Judge, and it is going about the mission with ironic contempt for the law. The body’s latest manoeuvre was its communication to Justice Okocha directing her to begin to assign cases and take charge of related administrative duties. It also copied all the Judges in the state, and directed them to accept her authority. In a defensive statement, the NJC stated that it was guided by the need to fill a supposed vacuum that was negatively affecting the administration of justice in the state.

But this veneer of concern is a red herring.

NJC’s refusal to respect a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court voiding its recommendation of Justice Okocha is inexcusable.

According to the judge, “The body that is most suitable to make recommendation of a nominee as a chief judge of the state is the state Judicial Service Commission (SJC) because they have local knowledge of the most suitable candidate than the National Judicial Commission.” For unexemplary use of influence, look no further.

There is no doubt that Chief Okocha’s February 3 letter to the President-General of the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, Professor Augustine Onyozu, was suspicious, although he reportedly denied that it was written to influence his sibling’s appointment to the preeminent position. It is noteworthy that the letter personally signed by him appealed for Onyozu’s “kind intervention in the matter.”

Interestingly, he reportedly clarified the nature of the intervention he desired, saying that his effort was aimed at preserving what he described as “Ikwerre’s good fortunes” at the present time. This appeal to ethnicity could be interpreted to mean that he expected the Ikwerre leadership to prevail on Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to review his rejection of Justice Okocha, considering the fact that they were from the same ethnic circle.

If Chief Okocha could employ such means in his ethnic group, it is not difficult

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

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