June 27, 2014 by The Nation

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Abacha loot: Govt to recover $930m more NEWS Page 4

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Ekiti: APC for court on eight constitutional breaches

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) insisted yesterday that the process leading to the just-concluded Ekiti State governorship poll was not free and fair. The APC said a Special Task Force, comprising security agencies, was used to manipulate the poll in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It queried what it de-

From Yusuf Alli and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

scribed as the meddlesomeness of Defence Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and his Police Affairs counterpart, Jelili Adesiyan, in the poll. The party will challenge eight constitutional breaches noticed during the countdown and the conduct of the election. National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed stated

SOME OF THE BREACHES

•militarisation of the state •police attack on APC supporters •arrest and detention of leaders •compromise by security operatives •use of huge funds to induce voters •abuse of national institutions e.g. Aviation •setting up of a Special Task Force for PDP the party’s position at a briefing at the end of the inaugural meeting of the National

Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja. The party listed eight con-

stitutional breaches which it would contest in court. They are: • militarisation of the state; •police attack on APC supporters; •arrest and detention of leaders across the state; •compromise by security operatives; •use of huge funds to induce voters; •abuse of national institutions, like aviation;

•setting up of a Special Task Force to do the bidding of PDP; and •skewing everything in favour of the PDP by the Federal authorities. Mohammed said: “It is no longer news that the governorship election in Ekiti State has been won and lost, and that our candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi, has shown rare Continued on page 4

Abuja blast death toll hits 23 Boy Joshua back with dad More explosives recovered from two suspects From Gbenga Omokhunu, Vincent Ikuomola, Faith Yahaya and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

URNT vehicle engines – remains of what used to be cars – grounds strewn with personal effects, caked blood and people wondering why it all happened. That was the situation yesterday at the scene of Wednesday’s Abuja bombing in which no fewer than 23 people died – going by latest figures. The death toll in the Wuse II Plaza bombing rose by two, as the effect of the third terrorist attack in two months sank in. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. One person each died at the National Hospital and the Maitama Hospital - two of the hospitals where survivors were taken. Family members besieged the major hospitals in search of their loved ones. Some of them went through difficult times in the hands of security men before gaining access to the hospitals. It also emerged yesterday that there was an intelligence report on the blast two weeks ago. The ever-busy EMAB Plaza, scene of the blast, was a ghost of itself yesterday. Security operatives prevented access to the place. Vice President Namadi Sambo led other top government officials to inspect the blast site. Continued on page 4

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15?

INSIDE •Anger over explosion •Sambo: it’s evil •Mark, others warn •UN, NBA, others kick •Insecurity: African leaders okay force •AND MORE ON P AGES 2-4,6,57&59 PA

•SCENE OF HORR OR: Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh HORROR: (right) watching the wreckage of the car believed to have been used for the bombing...yesterday PHOTOS:ABAYOMI FAYESE

‘

I went to a barbing salon there to barb my hair. I was there when a red car parked; it was a Toyota Sunny car. The person immediately left the car and went away and within five minutes, the bomb exploded. The blast affected my mouth and some other parts of my body

’

•A survivor at the Maitama Hospital...yesterday

•HOUSE HALTS CBN ON BUREAUX DE CHANGE P53 •’STATES CAN CREATE COUNCILS’ P6

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (left) greeting former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke during the Nigeria Infrastructure Building Conference 2014 in Lagos ...yesterday. With him is Partner Cowrie Partners, Mr. Sola Adeyegbe (right).

• Left right:Guest Speaker, Prof Oludolapo Akinkugbe, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi, former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo during the inauguration of the academy in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•Left right: Publicity Secretary, FS Club,Ashiwaju Tope, Chairman, Planning Committee, Folorunsho Omosa, Deputy Managing Director ,ADXX Petroterum, Mr. John Mayaki, President, FS Club, Mr. Gbola Adebisi and Vice-President, Mr. Adekunle Adeniyi during FS Club’s Business Quarterly Business lunch in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•From left: Company Secretary, BOC Gases Nigeria Plc., Mr. Gabinus Oriseh; Chairman of the Board, Mr. David Akinbola Akintola and Managing Director, Mr. Johnson Adeyi Idowu, during the 55th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

Anger, sorrow o • Sambo, NBA Southeast governors sad

HERE was outrage in the land yesterday over Wednesday’s bombing in Abuja. Vice President Namadi Sambo, governors and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the act believed to have been perpetrated by Boko Haram. Sambo said the perpetrators of evil cannot dampen the spirit of Nigerians. He spoke when he visited the site of the bomb blast at the EMAB Plaza Wuse II, and the injured victims at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja. According to him, terror would never gain ground in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. He said “This cowardly and unjust act will be defeated. Evil can never be sustained. Insha Allah, this administration and Mr. President will not leave any stone unturned until we defeat these terrorists. Terrorism cannot survive in Nigeria or in any part of this world. We are doing everything possible and exerting every effort to ensure that within the shortest possible time it will become a thing of the past. “I want to assure all Nigerians that the government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Nigerians and our visitors. I urge all Nigerians to be very vigilant and be very observant and report any suspicious act to the security agencies. I want to also urge us to resume our normal duties, our normal services and to cooperate with the administration so that we will jointly succeed in solving this problem.” The Vice-President, after inspecting the site of the bomb blast, visited the injured victims at the Maitama General Hospital. He was briefed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7, Suleiman Abba, on the police preliminary investigations. Sambo was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro, Minister of State Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and the Minister of State, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide. Others included the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (Rtd). The South East Governors’ Forum also condemned the bomb blast. In a statement by the chairman of the forum and the Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, the governors said the continuous bombing by the insurgents would do the country no good. The forum called on Nigerians not to be deterred in the face of terror, but to help the security agencies to combat crimes through giving them useful information to operate with. The governors called on Nigerians to report suspicious movements to the police and other security agencies within their domain, saying that it was one of the ways to help in the issue of combating crimes in the country. The forum said: “We were shocked by Wednesday’s bomb blasts that rocked the Emab Plaza in Wuse 2 Area of Abuja which left

•Some foreign and local bomb experts at the scene of the Wuse 2 blast...yesterday. From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

many innocent Nigerians dead and others injured. “We sympathize with the families of those that lost their loved ones and wish those injured receiving treatment at different hospitals quick recovery. “We condemn this latest bomb blasts carried out by insurgents which left over 21 people dead. This is an act of wicked and devilish which any well meaning citizen of the country should condemn. “We call on Nigerians not to be deterred in the face of terror as Federal Government has the capacity to contain it. All suspicious movements within your domain should be reported to the police and other security agencies for prompt action to be taken. “We want to reassure Nigerians that very soon insurgency and terrorism will become a thing of the past. Nigeria will continue to remain one united and indivisible entity”. The NBA, in a statement by its president, Okey Wali, said: “The Nigerian Bar Association received with shock the sad news of bomb blast in Emab Plaza, located at Wuse II area of Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja on June 25, 2014 which resulted in the unfortunate and untimely death of 22 persons and left many more injured. This latest bomb explosion in Abuja is only part of a series of sporadic bomb blasts in some parts of Nigeria. ”The NBA outrightly condemns this bomb blast, which has caused deaths and grievous bodily injuries to many Nigerians. There can never be any justification for these dastardly and brazen acts of carnage. ”This latest bomb explosion brings to the fore the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify efforts in bringing these acts of terrorism and insurgency to an end. We can no longer afford to keep loosing human lives as if it no longer has value. ”The NBA uses this medium to remind the Federal Government again, that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. We also remind the Federal Government that further to the principle of social contract, Nigerian citizens surrendered their sovereignty to the country in return

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

w over Abuja suicide bomb attack

•Sambo (third left), Ms Akinjide (left), Mohammed (second left), Anyim (fourth left) and others being briefed by AIG Abba at the scene of the Wuse 2 explosion… yesterday. PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYOSE

Mark, Ekweremadu, Ndoma-Egba urge Nigerians to stand up against terrorism

ENATE President David Mark, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba yesterday urged Nigerians to stand up against terrorism. The principal officers of the Senate who who reacted in separate statements to the Abuja bomb blast that left no fewer than 21 persons dead and several others injured, condemned the act. Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja urged the perpetrators of the dastardly act to sheathe their swords. He lamented that in spite of peaceful entreaties, the killings and destruction of property has continued unabated. According to the statement, Mark was visibly angry over the increasing security challenges in the country. He said: “Honestly, this is not our way of life. We are a people who value life. We cherish one another. This new trend of mass murder is alien to us. We must stand up against for protection by the state. So far it seems that government efforts in this regard are not yielding the desired result. We use this

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

this and make Nigeria safe and better again. “There are more than enough channels for anybody or group of persons to seek redress including the law courts. Certainly, resort to killing, violence or destruction of property is not one of them.” Mark urged the security operatives not to be deterred by the development but be strengthened to face the challenges of protecting lives and property in the land. The Senate President enjoined Nigerians to be security conscious at all times pointing out that “ the business of security is no longer the sole mandate of uniform men and women alone but all citizens.” Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, slammed the masterminds of the bombing. He described the act as villainous. He has also condoled with the New Telegraph over the death of its Managing Editor (North), Mallam Suleiman Bisalla who was killed in the incident.

The Deputy Senate President said the sole motive of the terrorists was to “break the spirit of Nigerians and instill fear through acts of mass murder and destruction of property.” He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to stand firm and united in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. He said: “This is another sadistic act to annihilate Nigerians, spurn our religious and cultural values as well as all that we hold sacred as a people. “It is a common saying amongst our people that nobody throws stone into the market square because even his or her kinsfolks could be the victims. “That these bands of terrorists even bomb market places warns us again that something is fundamentally wrong with their values and that we must all stand together to fight our common enemies.” He described the late Managing Editor of Telegraph Newspaper as a “seasoned professional who paid his dues towards national development.” In a condolence letter to the Board and man-

agement of the Daily Telegraph Publishing Company, he noted that Mallam Suleiman’s covered the Senate diligently and described his death as a huge loss not only to the Nigerian media, but also the entire nation. He observed that the void created by the journalist’s untimely death would be difficult to fill up. He condoled with all those who lost dear ones in the unfortunate incident and prayed for the peaceful repose of the dead and quick recovery for the injured. Ndoma-Egba also condemned the Efab Mall bomb blast. He insisted that the bombings have now assumed “frightening dimension” and called on all Nigerians to be on the alert to foil any future attack. He urged the nation’s security agencies not to relent in their collective efforts in securing lives and properties, despite the unrelenting spate of attacks on innocent citizens by people he termed “enemies of Nigeria.”

opportunity to encourage every Nigerian to be security conscious and collaborate with the security agencies for a more secured society.

”The NBA expresses its profound condolences to those who lost loved ones in the bomb blast, and wish those that sustained

injuries quick recovery. ”May the souls of these innocent Nigerians who lost their lives in this bomb blast, rest in peace and may

the Almighty God grant their families the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.”

“We can even set up a group of volunteers to respond to urgent security threats,’’Museveni told the leaders. Uganda has led military interventions in traditional and new hotspots across Africa. Museveni noted that external military interventions have not offered lasting solution to conflicts in Africa. “We need to reframe approaches to contain armed rebellions that have cost lives and retarded Africa’s development,”said Museveni. He decried the radical ideologies that have fuelled insurgency in Nigeria, Somalia and the Sahel region. “To defeat insecurity, Africa must banish sectarian ideology and gender chauvinism that have balkanised societies resulting to loss of lives and property,’’Museveni said. African countries must reorganise their security architecture to deal effectively with armed conflicts, terrorism and transnational crimes. Dozens of African presidents who attended the 10th anniversary since the creation of the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed the operationalisation of a standby force. South African President Jacob Zuma stressed the need for consistent finan-

cial support towards peacekeeping operations in Africa’s hotspots. “We should also rely on our internal capacities and this includes the operationalisation and deployment of an African standby force. “The emphasis should also be on preventive diplomacy to minimise conflicts,’’ said Zuma. The President of Chad, Idris Derby, noted that insurgencies sweeping across many parts of Africa have thrived due to weak internal mechanisms to respond to them. “We need to strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to new crises,’’Derby said. The AU has explored innovative strategies to end conflicts in Africa by the year 2020. The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui said that the plans are afoot to launch an African police force. He added that the AU has prioritised investments in early warning systems. (Xinhua/NAN) The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aminu Wali has expressed delight at improved cooperation between Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against Boko Haram.

Wali, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the ongoing AU summit, welcomed the cooperation of Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger in the fight against insurgency. He said Nigeria was “impressed” by the implementation of an action plan to counter Boko Haram terrorists agreed by the four countries last month at the Paris summit on Security in Nigeria. “The most important that happened between Paris and the follow-up meeting in London to date is the commitment of the neighbouring countries with Nigeria to cooperate and fight terrorism and insurgency. “From the outcome of our meeting in London, the Cameroonians, the Nigeriens, the Chadians and the Beninese have really come all out prepared to link up with us to fight terrorism as if it is happening on their own soil. “We all agree that whatever happens to Nigeria happens to anyone of them, not only to any country in Africa but in our own sub region. “Already these countries have gone ahead to start operating within their own national programmes to combat terrorism.”

He said Nigeria and its neighbours have agreed to establish an intelligence sharing unit to be based in Nigeria. The Nigeria minister welcomed an offer by the AU to send a team of experts to Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries to discuss a proposed regional security force. Wali said he had discussed the matter with AU Commissioner on Peace and Security on the sidelines of the ongoing summit, and that similar proposal was being considered for other regions in Africa. He defended the AU, which has often been criticised for being docile in responding to conflicts and insecurity in member states, saying “the AU had really been sized on the situation in Nigeria.” The minister, who condemned the heinous activities of the Boko Haram, including the latest killings in Abuja, claimed that the activities of the group had been weakened by the operations of the Nigeria security agencies. “They cannot confront the armed forces again and they now go for soft targets, this is cowardly of them and this shows that our security forces are gaining ground on Boko Haram insurgents.”

African leaders back standby force to fight insecurity

FRICAN Heads of State and government have supported the creation of a well equipped standby force to be deployed in new hotspots. Leaders who spoke during the 10th anniversary of the AU peace and Security Council in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea said that Africa required a deployable standby force to combat new security challenges. “We need to build a strong continental army that is able to respond effectively to security threats. “Africa should depend on a wellequipped military force to combat armed conflicts, insurgency and terror attacks,’’ said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on the sidelines of an ongoing AU summit. African heads of state and government have rallied behind home grown interventions to defeat emerging security challenges. Museveni stressed that time was ripe to operationalise an African standby force in the light of new and virulent security threats. “Peace and stability are crucial for our economic growth and we need to build robust armies that can defend our territory from armed infiltrators.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS Abacha loot: Govt to recover $930m more from family

•National Chairman, All Progressives Congress , Chief John Odigie-Oyegun speaking during the party’s National Working Committee meeting in Abuja…yesterday. With him are (from left): Deputy National Chairman, (North), Senator Lawan Shuaib, National Secretary, PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE Mai Mala Buni (second right)and Deputy National Chairman, (South) Mr. Segun Oni

Ekiti: APC for court on eight constitutional breaches Continued from page 1

sportsmanship by conceding defeat and congratulating the winner, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. “We are very proud of Fayemi for his conduct and comportment before, during and after the election, and we hail him as a true democrat in the true spirit of the APC’s belief that election is never a door-die affair, and that Nigerians must always be free to elect those to govern them. ”After all, it is said that the just powers of governments are derived from the consent of the governed.” He, however, said the party had observed that the electoral process was substantially flawed, contrary to the general assumption of some Nigerians. Mohammed added: “Election is a process, and whatever happens on the voting day is only an integral part of that process. What happens before, during and after the voting day complete the process. ”If, therefore, we view the justconcluded election in Ekiti as a process, then we can confidently say that while the events of the voting day itself may have led many to believe that the election was free and fair, the same cannot be said of the events before, during and after the election.

PDP alleges APC plans mayhem in Ekiti

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) plans to unleash mayhem in Ekiti. It also criticized the party for its decision to challenge the breaches it noticed before and on election day. In a statement last night by its National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, the PDP described the position of the APC national leadership on what it termed “the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria, and in which their candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi, had also conceded defeat, demonstrates their ‘preference for anarchy and blind homage to nihilism and destruction of the democratic order”. The statement added: “This is a party that is fully aware that it was trounced in all the local governments of the state and even lost in the poll”We therefore believe that we owe it a duty to the continuous improvement of our electoral system and indeed the sustainability of our democracy to X-ray this election within the context that we have outlined above and draw the necessary lessons. The party listed the anomalies in the countdown to the poll, saying “the events leading to the D-Day in Ekiti negate the principles of a free, fair and credible election. “From the militarisation of the election to the police attack on our supporters, arrest and detention of our leaders across the

ing units and wards of its campaign DirectorGeneral and that of its Deputy National Chairman, yet, it is bent on fomenting trouble to disrupt the peace in Ekiti state apparently out of frustration that it did not get the chance to rig the polls. ”We restate our commendations to security agencies for the roles they played in maintaining law and order and providing level-playing ground for all parties before, during and after the election. ”However, we wish to alert of an orchestrated plot by the APC to now use the instruments of wild allegations and spurious claims to set the stage to unleash mayhem on Ekiti State, using imported armed thugs. We therefore urge Nigerians to note this and hold the APC responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State,” the party said.

state and the use of huge funds to induce voters, the federal authorities skewed everything in favour of the PDP. ”With thousands of armed troops, police, State Security and Civil Defence personnel deployed in Ekiti, the state was simply under a total lockdown. “While we believe that the police and the Civil Defence indeed have a role to play in providing the necessary security for the election, we do not see why soldiers and NDLEA operatives who were armed to the teeth need to be deployed to a nonbelligerent situation like an elec-

tion, especially at a time that their services are more needed in the North Eastern part of Nigeria where over 200 abducted girls are still missing and where innocent Nigerians are being killed daily. ”The questions to ask are: who ordered the deployments of the troops and for what purpose?. Who gave the orders to stop Governor Rotimi Amaechi from reaching Ado-Ekiti, as the army captain who stopped and threatened to shoot him said he was acting under ‘’orders from above’’?. Continued on page 59

HE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke said yesterday that the Federal Government was working with the United States to recover $930million (N153.450billion) and £95,910 from the family of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. He said the recent withdrawal of charges against Mohammed, will lead to the recovery of $380million (US) from the Luxembourg proceedings and $550millio(US) from forfeiture proceedings instituted by the US Department of Justice. The withdrawal of charges was also to deprive the Abacha family of the proceeds of crime. Adoke, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Ambrose Momoh, said “this is not a straightforward case where conviction is assured”. The statement said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently pursuing recovery proceedings against the Abacha family and its associates in Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, and the United Kingdom. “The Federal Government of Nigeria has also made a request for Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters to the United States of America in respect of the stolen assets within that jurisdiction. “Government is also working assiduously with the Department of Justice of the United States in respect of the forfeiture proceedings it commenced against the Abacha family and its associates. “The proceedings will make it possible for the Abacha family and its associates to forfeit over $550million and £95,910 Pounds sterling in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to the Abachas in France, the Britain, British Virgin Islands and the United States.” The Minister explained that the withdrawal of charges was to prevent the Abacha family from benefiting from the looted funds.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He added: “It is pertinent to state that the recent withdrawal of the criminal proceedings against Mohammed Abacha in Nigeria will facilitate the recovery of $380million (US) from the Luxembourg proceedings and $550million (US) from forfeiture proceedings instituted by the US Department of Justice. “This is because the Abacha family has not only undertaken not to contest the proceedings, but to also cooperate fully with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the recovery proceedings. It is, therefore, clear from the foregoing that the suggestion that ‘the Abachas have been allowed to get away with little loss’ is totally false and at variance with the facts. He said the case against Mohammed Abacha and his family was not a straightforward type which could lead to conviction. Said Adoke: “A key objective in the prosecution of corruption cases is the deprivation of the criminal offender of the proceeds of crime. This is achieved by the taking away of such proceeds of crime by the State (regurgitation and restitution). This principal objective has been achieved to a very significant degree in the Abacha proceedings. “While the yearnings for criminal sanctions in form of custodial sentences against the Abacha family are understandable, it should be appreciated that this is a case that has lingered for over 16 years. “It is therefore important to understand that this is not a straightforward case where conviction is assured. The standard of proof in criminal cases of this nature, which is “proof beyond reasonable doubt”, poses great difficulty for the prosecution as any shadow of doubt is resolved in favour of the accused person. “The incontrovertible facts are that the efforts to retrieve the “Abacha loot” predate this administration and have been ongoing over 16 years with varying degrees of success. HowevContinued on page 59

Abuja blast death toll hits 23 as families search for bodies Continued from page 1

He declared the bombing as an “evil act”. National Hospital spokesman Tayo Haastrup said a victim died as a result of serious burns after he was brought to the hospital. The Head of Department of Nursing, Maitama Hospital, Nme Ndanusa, said a victim died in the hospital bringing the total bodies in the morgue to 10. In the April 14 Nyanya blast, a little girl, Baby Goodness, escaped with a scratch. Her mother was seriously injured. In the Wuse II blast, a baby boy, Joshua, survived miraculously, but Joshua’s mother died instantly. It was learnt that Joshua, who was strapped onto his mother’s back, was thrown off by the blast and found sitting on the ground, crying. Sympathisers rushed to the scene and took him to the Maitama Hospital. At the hospital, Joshua refused to eat. He held tight to a woman nurse who attended to him and never wanted to let go of her. He turned down every other person trying to carry him. In the evening, his father came up with pictorial evidence before he was allowed to take him away. Joshua was released to his father after being examined and found to be stable. Ndanusa said 53 people were admitted yesterday. Some have been discharged, and seven transferred to other hospitals. “The ones we have on admission

More explosives recovered from two suspects

ORE explosives were seized from two suspects believed to have coordinated Wednesday’s EMAB bombing in Abuja, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said last night. The DHQ also explained the last moment of the mastermind of the explosion. It said the suspect was defiant till he died, yelling: “More people will die!” No fewer than 103 insurgents were killed by troops in two separate encounters. The clashes occurred in Duguri near the Nigerian - Nigerien border, Miyanti and Bulungu. The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, released the fact sheet at about 9pm. The statement said: “More explosives were seized from two suspects believed to have coordinated the bombing of EMAB Shopping Plaza in Wuse II Abuja on Wednesday 25th June 2014. “Bystanders at the scene of the explosion alerted soldiers on patrol to the two suspects who were speeding off on a power bike. The soldiers swung into action, engaging the escaping suspects and fatally are responding to treatment,” Ndanusa said, adding: “As at yesterday, we recorded nine deaths but one of those brought here alive died bringing the total deaths to 10. The total on admission is 12. The remaining have been discharged and some were referred out.” At the Emergency Ward, the head of the unit, Dr. Haruna, said: “Two patients were discharged today (Thursday) and we have seven now in the emergency unit.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

wounding one of them who fell with his bag as the motorbike rider still made efforts to escape through the crowd. “The bag recovered from the suspect was later confirmed to contain a package of IED and other accessories, including stop clock, mobile phones and other materials used for setting off explosives. “The suspect who was shot by the soldiers finally died in the hospital as he defiantly yelled “people will die! people will die!!”. After the incident, 21 persons were confirmed dead while the wounded victims are receiving treatment in various hospitals.Two more people have died in the hospital taking the death toll to 23. “Two other suspects arrested at the scene of the explosion are being interrogated. “15 suspects have also been taken into custody in Abuja after a raid that resulted in the recovery of seven rifles, pistols, swords and other weapons. Military operations to track armed gangs will be sustained in various locations.” The statement added: “In another devel-

“We have two patients in the female ward, one in the male ward and four in the VIP ward. Some were referred to the National Hospital, Asokoro Hospital, and Wuse, due to inadequate bed space.” Some relatives who were waiting at the entrance of the mortuary spoke with our reporters. They were unhappy that after filling documents, the hospital’s management did not release bodies to them. One of them said: “My broth-

opment, a makeshift camp of terrorists in Miyanti and Bulungu have been sacked during a raid on terrorists’ hideouts in the area. Over 50 terrorists died in the clash. “A fuel dump used for storing fuel for their operations as well as vehicles including Toyota Hilux trucks, Peugeot cars and seven motorcycles were destroyed in the raid while 15 rifles, 11 machine guns and hundreds of ammunition were captured by the troops. “In a separate encounter around Duguri near Nigerian - Nigerien border, troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force stormed a terrorists’ hideout in a raid operation and recovered 18 rifles, five General Purpose Machine Guns, 25 hand grenades and IED making materials. “A total of 53 terrorists died in the encounter while the troops lost two men and five others suffered varying degrees of injuries.” “A suspected gun runner is undergoing interrogation in Plateau State. “He was apprehended during a cordon and search operation by troops tasked to mop up illegal arms in the state.”

er’s name is Aliyu Usman. He sold guava at the entrance of the plaza and he was married with four children and one wife. He hailed from Kano State. “We are four staying in the same location, close to the mosque at the plaza. Farouk is a tailor, Lukman, a shoe maker, Aisha, nunu seller and Aliyu, whose body has been identified; we are still looking for the others. “ At the National Hospital, Hastrupp said: “We have some of

the victims transferred from Maitama Hospital to National Hospital, about two or three of them. As at today, we have eight bodies in the mortuary. Unfortunately, one of them who claimed to be a Senegalese and who said that we should contact his embassy, died as a result of very serious burns. About 90 degrees burns. Medically, it is only God that can intervene in such a situation. We have eight now; seven were brought from the scene of the incident.”

•Boy Joshua...out of hospital

Security agencies said they got a hint of the blast. Department of State Security (DSS) spokeperson Marilyn Ogar told reporters at the scene of the blast that security agencies got a hint of the attack about two weeks ago and that measures were taken to forestall. Ogar said the sponsor of the travellers who were intercepted by soldiers in Abia had been arContinued on page 59

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS COEASU lecturers to review six-month strike July 1

HE Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) will hold a National Executive Council meeting on July 1 to take a decision on its six-month strike. The COEASU Chairman at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka chapter, Lagos, Comrade Taiwo spoke yesterday in Lagos with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the union’s chapter chairmen had been summoned to converge on Abuja for the meeting on Tuesday. Taiwo said: “The meeting will focus on reviewing and updating members on the level of discussion with the government toward ending the strike. After the meeting, we will take a decisive position on the strike.” The union leader said the meeting between the union and the representatives of the Federal Government, which was to hold on June 24, was postponed till next week.

N1.5tr police fund: Jonathan seeks deduction from statutory allocations

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan sought yesterday the consent of the Senate to begin the deduction of one per cent from Federal Government’s allocations to the three tiers of government for the implementation of the proposed N1.5 trillion police fund. In a letter read by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, Jonathan regretted that though the fund was approved in 2008 for the reform of the police, the implementation had been unduly sluggish. He noted that the combined annual contributions from the

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

public sector, comprising Federal, state and local governments, were estimated at N150 billion. Of this, N79.020 billion was to be from the Federal Government. “Notwithstanding this commitment, the realistic flow of funds has met with setbacks to the effect that the reform implementation has been tardy, even as security challenges keep increasing,” Jonathan said. The President said the beginning of the deductions became imperative because of the “escalating security challenges necessitating, more than ever before, the

strengthening of the police force”. The letter reads: “You may wish to note that the Federal Government had, since April 2008, approved the M.D. Yusuf Report for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force, and consequently inaugurated the Interim Implementation Committee for Police Reform Programme (IICPRP). The programme was to be implemented for six years at the estimated cost of N1.5 trillion. “Sixty per cent funding of the programme was to be sourced from the three tiers of government and the organised private and international development part-

ners. “The combined annual contributions from the public sector, comprising Federal, state and local governments, were estimated to be N150 billion, of which N79.020 billion was to be from the Federal Government. “Notwithstanding this commitment, the realistic flow of funds has met with setbacks to the effect that the reform implementation has been tardy, even as security challenges keep increasing. “In a decisive move to address the situation, the IICPRP set up a funding technical subcommittee to advice on the most effective way to

Gowon: Boko Haram infringing on Nigerians’ freedom By Nneka Nwaneri

Four dismissed soldiers re-arraigned on amended charges

OUR dismissed soldiers - Nse Eywdip, 33; Ugwu Mathew, 23; Emezien Uzonna, 24 and Efosa Ikhomoregbe, 23 - were re-arraigned yesterday at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, for allegedly raping four sex workers. The accused were re-arraigned on a 12-count of conspiracy, rape, assault and armed robbery. The prosecution counsel, Mr Adama Musa, told the court that the former soldiers committed the offences between December 21, 2012 and December 23, 2012 at 9p.m at River Plate Garden in Wuse 2, Abuja. Musa said the accused, armed with military rifles and horsewhips, robbed Tina Obassy of N40,000; Jennifer Joseph of N30,000; Precious Okorie of N18,000 and Ruth Madu of N30,000. The offences contravene and are punishable under Sections 97(1) and 298 of the Penal Code, the prosecution said. But the accused each pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Mr Ugboma Nebechi, filed an application for bail, but Justice Bukola Banjoko refused it. The judge ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter. Justice Banjoko ordered that the four men be remanded in the Kuje Medium Prison and adjourned the matter till July 20 for continuation of the hearing. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four soldiers were first arraigned on June 7, 2013, before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, but the case was reassigned after the elevation of the judge to the Court of Appeal. The case started afresh before Justice Banjoko.

•Jonathan

fund the Nigeria Police Force Reform Programme. “The committee, among other things, recommended special funding by the three tiers of government to be sourced in the next six years. “The report of the committee was subsequently presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for consideration.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) acknowledging cheers from the crowd during the eighth edition of an interactive public feedback programme, tagged: Gbangba D’ekun, at Ijesa-Jesa High School, Ijebu-Jesa, Ijesa North Federal Constituency...yesterday

National Conference delegates back state police

ELEGATES to the National Conference have supported the creation of state police by states wishing to have them. The proposal for the creation of state police is one leg of the controversial issue; another leg is whether or not the Federal Government will accept the proposal and if the National Assembly will endorse it. The implication of the proposal is that police issues will be removed from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List to empower states to legislate on how to run their police. The recommendation fol-

•No conflict between federal, state police, say Falana, Okon From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

lowed the delegates’ consideration of a committee report on National Security, chaired by former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Gambo Jimeta. The committee recommended that the Federal Government maintains but decentralise the control of the police. Most delegates argued that state police would enhance cooperation and partnership between federal and state governments to fight insecu-

rity. The committee noted in its report that “after careful deliberation of the subject, the committee recommends the retention of one federal police force that is decentralised in such a manner as to involve participation by states, local governments and communities.” Some delegates said the proposal should be strengthened by empowering states that need their police and can fund them to establish same. The delegates accepted that the federal police should continue to exist the way they are structured. The proposal

was unanimously accepted to the applause of its proponents. The delegates also accepted the recommendation that police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and below be deployed in their states of origin to enhance intelligence gathering and investigation. Some delegates decried the “conflicting roles” between federal and state commissioners of police. But Lagos lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) dismissed the fear as unfounded.

parted colleague, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta. Today, therefore, is my earliest opportunity to raise it, and that is why I raise this matter of privilege. “There is a story carried in ThisDay of June 5, attributed to a distinguished colleague of ours, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the headline is this: Activities in the Senate are Depressing. I will read with your kind permission, parts of the story. “’Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District,

took a swipe at the leadership of the Senate, accusing it of poor performance. Tinubu, at a media parley, to mark her third anniversary in the Senate, said activities in the upper legislative chamber were depressing because its leadership has failed to address a lot of pressing national issues for partisan reasons. “’She accused the Senate leadership of pandering to the wishes of the Executive arm of government, which is led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).’ I will just stop here.”

Ndoma-Egba faults Senator Tinubu’s alleged comment

ENATE Leader Ndoma-Egba faulted yesterday the alleged comment by the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the attitude of some senators. The comment was published in two national newspapers. Ndoma-Egba raised a motion under Order 43 (Privileges) of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended), drawing the attention of the chamber to Senator Tinubu’s alleged dis-

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

paraging comments The Senate leader said the senator representing Lagos Central bemoaned “the rot” in the Senate. According to him, Mrs Tinubu allegedly accused the leadership of the Senate of unduly indulging the Executive under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in taking certain actions. Ndoma-Egba said: “I would have brought this matter on the first day of our resumption but for respect for the memory of our de-

FORMER Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, yesterday said the activities of the Boko Haram sect are infringing on the rights of peace-loving Nigerians. Gowon described the sect’s activities as carnage against fellow beings. The former military leader said he hoped violence had stopped in 1970 when the 30month civil war ended with “no victor, no vanquished” slogan. Gowon noted that though the war was a mare “family quarrel”, what happened during the war was wrong. The ex-Head of State urged Nigerians to unite in making Nigeria a great country, despite its diverse ethnic groups. He regretted that the actions of Boko Haram had some religious connotations because its members were hiding under Islam and giving the religion a bad name. Gown spoke yesterday in Lagos where he chaired the inauguration of the president and fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP). The former leader said insurgency is alien to Nigeria, adding that such acts were mostly carried out in the Middle East. He said the meaning of his name is “the owner of gods” instead of what the media had been using, playing with the acronym: Go On With One Nigeria. Gowon urged Islamic leaders to publicly condemn Boko Haram’s activities, rather than leave the condemnation to Christians. On the kidnapped Chibok, Borno State schoolgirls, the former leader advised Nigerians to avoid politicising the incident. He assured that the abduction saga would soon become history, because something was being done to resolve the logjam. Gowon said: “What is happening bleeds my heart, because the Civil War should have been the end of violence. The Islam they profess is not the Islam you and I know. We know that here, Christianity and Islam live side by side, intermarry and never go into violence against one another...”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS ABUJA BOMBING...DAY AFTER Reps condemn Abuja, Mubi, other bombings

NGE mourns New Telegraph regional editor, others

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

HE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday mourned the Managing Editor (Northern Operations) of The New Telegraph Newspapers, Mr Suleiman Bisalla. The regional editor was killed in the EMAB Plaza, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja bombing in which 21 people were confirmed dead and several others injured. In a statement yesterday, the editors said: “The Nigerian Guild of Editors is disconsolate over the loss of one of its members, Mr Suleiman Bisalla, in the shopping mall bombing, which happened in Abuja on Wednesday. He died alongside at least 20 other people, who got dispatched to their graves prematurely. Bisalla, until his gruesome death, was the Managing Editor (North) of The New Telegraph Newspapers. “As we condole with the Bisalla family, and the

•Bisalla’s boby being moved from Maitama Hospital Mortuary for burial in Abuja ...yesterday. By Olamilekan Andu

families of the other dead victims, we can’t but ask: where and who next? Nigeria, very sadly, has become one huge sepulchre, and death now very cheap. Unnatural deaths have become so commonplace that Nigerians are almost be-

coming inured to the news of them, except those directly affected. This is not good for our common humanity. “We recognise the almost intractable nature of the insurgency in the land, and government is trying its level best. But it remains the bounden duty of the govern-

Insurgency: We must strengthen our security agencies, says Tukur

FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen the security agencies for a more effective counter-insurgency campaign. Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, Tukur said the nation could no longer remain aloof when a few misguided elements were daily killing innocent Nigerians. The politician described the incessant bombings by the Boko Haram insurgents

“Scores are in various hospitals, badly injured from Wednesday’s bombing attack. We wish them divine mercies and speedy recovery. “It is surely time to lock up the hell that has enlarged itself against Nigeria and Nigerians. Delay is not even an option.”

Kalu condemns Abuja, other explosions

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

as unacceptable. He regretted that the insurgents had continued to spurn the government’s offer of dialogue. But Tukur still maintained that the Federal Government needed to leave the dialogue window open. The PDP stalwart advised the insurgents to seize the opportunity the Federal Government was offering to end insurgency in the land. On Wednesday’s explosions in Abuja, in which 21

ment to secure the lives and property of the citizenry. We, therefore, ask that our security agencies will not relent in carrying out their constitutionally prescribed duties. Terrorism must never get the better of us. Never. But we must devise new tactics and strategies to rein in the situation.

PHOTO: NAN

•Tukur people were killed and scores injured, the former PDP chairman said every war fought in the history of mankind, including the First and Second War Wars, always ended with a dialogue.

ORMER Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has condemned Wednesday’s explosions in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Adamawa states. He sent condolence messages to the families of those killed in the blasts. Twenty-one people were confirmed dead in the Abuja blast, including The New Telegraph Newspaper’s Managing Editor (Northern Operations), Mr. Suleiman Bisala. Scores of others were injured. In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr Ebere Wabara, Dr Kalu said: “The consistent killing of

By Olamilekan Andu

people and wanton destruction of property by terrorists are getting out of hand and can undermine the country’s sovereignty, if not confronted headlong. “The time has come for the government to throw in everything in halting this spiraling carnage. The situation is worsening and calls for a drastic solution. Nigerians must rise and collectively tackle this mindless waste of precious lives.” Kalu particularly condoled with the Bisala family for the death of their son in the line of duty for his fatherland.

Conference okays states’ right to create local govts

ELEGATES to the National Conference unanimously endorsed yesterday the right of states to create new local governments. They also accepted the proposal for independent candidacy in future elections. The decisions were taken when the delegates considered the report of its Committee on Politics and Governance, chaired by Prof Jerry Gana and co-chaired by Chief Olu Falae. The delegates resolved that states that require it should create additional local government areas. The conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, asked whether or not the resolution meant that the new local government areas created by states should be funded by the

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Federal Government, as is currently the case. “You have resolved that the creation of local government areas should be done by states as they deem necessary. What happens to the financial implication?” Akinyemi queried. There was a sharp division among the delegates over whether or not the Federal Government should fund new local government areas created by states. The deputy chairman ruled that the matter be kept among issues to be decided before the end of the conference. On independent candidacy, delegates resolved that aspirants, who fail to get a platform to contest in elections, should be allowed to contest as inde-

pendent candidates, provided such aspirants meet the conditions specified in the Electoral Act. On the controversy that the Electoral Act does not recognise independent candidacy in an election, the delegates said relevant sections of the Act would be amended to accommodate independent candidates in elections. The delegates accepted the recommendation that government should not fund political parties. The conference noted that political parties should be funded through registration fees, donations, sales of souvenirs and others. The delegates agreed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should place a ceiling on campaign funds and expenditure. The conference accepted the proposal that political par-

ties should publicly declare their sources of funding. The delegates accepted the proposal that asset declaration be made public. They also resolved that the government should strengthen mortgage institutions to enable individuals own decent housing. The conference resolved that there should be respect for collective bargaining agreement by the government. The delegates agreed that the political space should be expended to accommodate more women, who are usually hindered by lack of finance. The conference accepted the recommendation that the Freedom of Information Act be moved to the National Human Rights Commission from the Ministry of Justice. The delegates approved the recommendation that elected political office holders, who

HE House of Representatives yesterday condemned Wednesday’s bomb blast at a shopping mall in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Twenty-one people were confirmed dead and 17 others injured in the blast. It also condemned the killing of 22 in the terror attacks in some villages in Kaduna and 165 in Mubi, Adamawa State. Also, the House yesterday urged the Federal Government to name the headquarters of the the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) after the agency’s DirectorGeneral and Information Minister, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili. The resolution condemning the bomb attacks followed a motion on matters of urgent public importance brought before the House by a member from Anambra State, Christopher Azuborgu. The lawmaker urged the House to “stand in mourning for those who lost their lives, even as we commiserate with their families in this trying time of bereavement”.

defect from their political parties to another, should lose their seats. They also accepted the proposal that inducement of voters with money/or other material should be treated as criminal offence. The delegates averred that inducement of voter for election victory is the precursor to corruption because elected office holders recover their money once they get into office. The conference agreed that asset declaration form should be made public. The delegates resolved that security agents be empowered to invite anybody they presume to live above his means. Anybody so invited, they said, must prove the source(s) of his wealth and be charged to court, if they cannot account for their wealth.

•Kalu

The frontline entrepreneur prayed God to comfort the bereaved and grant the country the enablement to find a lasting solution to the terrorists’ menace and other acts of insurgency.

UN SecretaryGeneral condemns blast

HE United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, has condemned Wednesday’s bomb attack on a busy shopping district in Wuse 2, Abuja, where 21 people were killed and several others injured. Mr Stephane Dujarric, the Secretary-General’s spokesman, told reporters yesterday in New York that Ki-Moon was appalled by the attack. He said the UN scribe also condoled with the families of those affected in the blast. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed that the blast killed 21 people and injured 17 others in the everbusy shopping plaza. At the scene of the blast, Force headquarters’ spokesman, Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), confirmed it was a bomb explosion. He said: “Our most important assignment now is to secure lives, and secure the crime scene.”

THE NATION FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS

Alaafin close to tears over Arisekola-Alao •Family to launch foundation T HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III fought back tears yesterday while recalling his relationship with the late Aare of Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez ArisekolaAlao. He spoke when the bereaved children visited the him in his palace in Oyo town. The late Arisekola’s childen described the Alaafin as a ‘’foremost traditional ruler whose sincerity of purpose, uprightness and unflinching commitment to truth and social justice contributed significantly to their father’s unparalleled accomplishments during his life time’’. Oba Adeyemi said the death of Arisekola-Alao dealt a devastating blow on him. Alaafin said: ‘’There is nowhere else to go again in Ibadan. The humbleness, respect, honesty purpose and honour accorded of obas have gone with the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland. If ArisekolaAlao received my mobile phone call that myself and Oke-Ogun obas will be com-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan and Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

ing to Ibadan and would stop over at his residence, the obas would be accorded befitting treatment beyond expectations. He was a good listener who would neither shun nor disregard any one who advises him on any issue. Arisekola-Alao was not arrogant, let alone assume too much air. The honour accorded me was so enormous that he attended to me like a servant. He was an embodiment of trust and diligence. No other person has been able to accord such dignity and honour to traditional rulers in the state . Not only that, he (Arisekola) was a bridge builder, promoter of justice, equity and well-being of the down-trodden. The vacuum his death created would be difficult to fill.’’ Thanking the children for the visit, Oba Adeyemi admonished them not depend on anyone but to be guided by virtues of their late father. “Human confidence is vanity. You must beware of fair-

If Arisekola-Alao received my mobile phone call that myself and Oke-ogun obas will be coming to Ibadan and would stop over at his residence, the Obas would be accorded befitting treatment beyond expectations. He was a good listener who would neither shun, disregard and call the bluff of any one who advises him on any issue. weather persons whose hidden motives are to circumvent your desires to greater accomplishments. On my part, I am with you and will continue to be with you at all times. ‘’ Speaking on behalf of others, the first son, Alhaji Ismaila Alao said they were in the palace to commiserate with the monarch, identify him as their next father and seek his royal blessing and guidance. He said: ‘’No one no matter his or her status could penetrate or cause disaffection in the relationship and solid intimacy

between our father and the Alaafin. The joy of Kabiyesi is our father’s joy as no one can offend Iku Baba Yeye and receive Aare-Musulumi’s favour. They were inseparable. Such relationship is uncommon. Having realised this, we thought it wise to pay our father a courtesy visit, ask for his fatherly role as well as royal blessing. We pray almighty Allah to grant our father and foremost traditional ruler in Yorubaland long life and good health.’’ Those who visited the

Alaafin include Ismaila, Kadijat, Lukman, Mustapha and Usman. The family will soon launch a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) to immortalise the late Arisekola-Alao, his son Idris said yesterday. Speaking while receiving the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who was represented by Ogbomoso Committee on Islamic Affairs led by the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomoso Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Owodunni at their Basorun OluwoKekere , Ibadan home. Idris said their father left a worthy legacy. He said: “We thank God for my late father’s life because he has left a good legacy of philanthropy for us to live on with and we as his children and family have to continue in the way he has left us. Allah knows why he has taken him at this crucial time we need him most but we cannot question him on that.” Idris thanked the Soun for his visit to the family, adding that the family would always

•The late Arisekola-Alao

turn to him for fatherly advice. The Soun expressed shock over Arisekola-Alao death. He described him as a great man who contributed to Ogbomoso and Yoruba race. Oba Oyewumi said: “Indeed, Ogbomoso has lost a distinguish compatriot, the Ogbomoso Special Committee on Islamic Affairs has lost a pillar and supporter. The entire Ogbomoso Muslim community has lost a distinguished leader and friend”

Diamond for Freedom House inaugural lecture By Seun Akioye

HE maiden edition of the Freedom House Democracy lecture, will hold on Monday at Shell Hall, Muson Centre Onikan, Lagos. The first in the series of public debate on topical issues to promote the rule of law and democracy is organised by Freedom House, the brainchild of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The lecture will be

• General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke (second right) and Senior Media Relations Officer Mrs Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku second (left) receiving a souvenir from the General Manager, Training, Vintage Press Limited, Mr Soji Omotunde when the NLNG team visited the head office of the publishers of The Nation and PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI SportingLife in Lagos...yesterday. With them is Managing Editor Mr Lekan Otufodunrin.

Lawmaker urges Aregbesola’s supporters not to be intimidated

member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Kamil Oyedele, has urged supporters of Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to allow security agents to intimidate them during the August 9 governorship election. The lawmaker representing Orolu state constituency spoke at a rally to kick-start the second term campaign for Aregbesola in Orolu Local Government Area. Oyedele said Aregbesola performed well during his first tenure, adding that the only way the people can make him do more is to vote him for a second term.

No nation can grow without real sector, says Amosun

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are critical to economic development and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Speaking when he hosted the National Executive members of the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture in his office in Abeokuta, the state capital, Amosun urged the association to sensitise the people on the efficacy of SMEs to

spur both economic and social developments. The governor said: “No nation can develop without the real sector while the SMEs are pivotal to provision of raw materials for the large industries and more probable in keeping our teeming unemployed youths off the street.” His administration, he said, subscribes to a private sector-driven economy, adding that it is also is committed to creating an enabling environment for industries to thrive. The National President of

Owena Dam gets facelift From Damisi Ojo, Akure

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair and credible election. Also speaking, the APC chairman in Orolu Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Ganiyu, said the party would not allow rigging during the election. He advised INEC to ensure that all stakeholders play the game according to the rule.

NACCIMA, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, praised the governor for transforming the state. Abubakar said employing agricultural development in enhancing the living standard of the rural dwellers cannot be overemphasized. Pledging the group’s support to the state, he said. “Some of us who have not been in Ogun for some time now are amazed by the development we have seen and we congratulate you on your success in the mission to rebuild

•Amosun

Ogun State. We would be visiting again when you permit to discuss how we can establish industrial cluster in Ogun State,” he said.

•Tinubu

delivered by Prof Larry Diamond from the Centre on Democracy, Stanford University. According to a statement issued in Lagos, the lecture with the theme: “Nigeria’s governance predicament: Poverty, terrorism and democracy, will seek to proffer solutions to issues of freedom in a democracy and the rule of law through analysis, advocacy and action. The event, which will be chaired by former Chief of Army Army Staff Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau will start at 11:00am. Diamond, an author and academic, has written over 40 books on democracy. He is the author of the book “Class, Ethnicity and Democracy in Nigeria.”

HE rehabilitation of the Owena Multipurpose Dam has been completed, it emerged yesterday. The Chairman, Board of Directors of Benin-Owena Riv-

er Basin Development Authority, Chief Williams Makinde, made this when he led some officials of the organisation to the office of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Makinde said he was in the state to intimate the governor with the activities of the Benin-Owena River Basin, adding that his organisation covers Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and some parts of Kogi State. According to him, there are three major components of the Owena Multipurpose Dam such as Water Treatment Plant, the Water Dam and the Reticulation. tThe only area left to be completed was the reticulation of water from the Dam to other parts of the state. While appealing to the state government to assist in getting the water to the people by laying the pipes convey to the water to them, that other on-going water projects across the state would be completed soon. He said the Ministry of Water Resources would engage a private partner to handle the hydro-power project meant to power the Dam to ensure it functions properly. Mimiko hailed the founding fathers of the Dam, saying those who thought of providing water for the people did a great thing. He said the reticulation of water to towns and villages would involve the joint efforts of his administration, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority. According to him, the estimate for the reticulation already is over N14 billion. He said this amount could not be borne alone by the government, adding that those concerned must work out the technical details of collaboration.

THE NATION FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS

UCH opens N500m health centre From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

THE University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan has commissioned a comprehensive health centre in Sepeteri, OkeOgun area. The facility, first commissioned for use in 1987, was abandoned shortly after due to poor funding. It was later adopted as a constituency project by Senator Ayoola Agboola, who is representing Oyo North Senatorial District. Agboola is the deputy Chief Whip at the Senate. Commissioning the facility yesterday, UCH’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof. Temitope Alonge expressed joy that the dream of resuscitating the health centre became a reality due to commitment of Agboola, the state government, Sepeteri indigenes and other stakeholders. Alonge said the centre would improve access to quality healthcare for Oke-Ogun residents. He called on indigenes and other stakeholders to sustain their commitment to the project for continued success. Agboola said he adopted the centre as his constituency project for the year 2013, after assessing the huge impact it would make on the residents.

NDLEA seizes cannabis in Ondo, Oyo

HE Federal Government will continue to waste billions of naira fighting insurgency, if drug abuse is not cubbed. Ondo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Walter Nicholas has said. Speaking at an event to mark the 2014 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Nicholas said last year, 206 tonnes of cannabis and 22 vehicles were impounded. He said 330 hectares of land used for cannabis plantation were destroyed in 2012. Nicholas said 210 drug peddlers were convicted, adding that drug abuse is worse than Boko Haram. Members of the sect, he said, could only go for heartless operations, especially in the North, after consuming some hard drugs.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

His words: “Nobody who is normal, who is not addicted to drug will just wake up in the morning and say the best job for him is to join Boko Haram, where he will be directed to kill people, bomb cities and also act as a suicide bomber. Most of those members of Boko Haram normally drugged themselves or took some substances of cannabis before going for operations. “That is why government at all levels must support the NDLEA in fighting these drug peddlers. I want you to know that it is possible for drug to finish a whole country within a day. I still insist that before the government can reduce the high rate of crimes, it must first tackle drug abuse”. Nicholas praised his officials for reducing the high rate of Indian hemp

‘Nobody who is normal, who is not addicted to drug will just wake up in the morning and say the best job for him is to join Boko Haram, where he will be directed to kill people, bomb cities and also act as a suicide bomber’ cultivation, attributing it to the enlightenment embarked upon by the agency. In Oyo State, the NDLEA Commander Mrs. Omolade Faboyede said 6,472.460 kilogrammes of cannabis was seized from January till date. Oyo Commander Omolade Faboyede made this known during the commemoration organised in collaboration with Oyo State

Ministry of Health with the theme: “Drug Disorders Preventable and Treatable.” Faboyede stated that the command seized 3,120 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances, adding that 173 suspects were arrested so far. She said the consequences of drug abuse and trafficking included adverse health, upsurge in crimes, insurgency, corruption and destruction of individuals,

Don’t be discouraged, Senator Tinubu tells APC supporters

AGOS Central District Senator Oluremi Tinubu has told All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters not to be discouraged by Ekiti State governorship election. APC, she said, would win the presidential election next year. Responding to cheers from the crowd chanting “Change,” she said the change of leadership would come in the general elections She spoke yesterday during the inauguration of the

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Bola Ahmed Tinubu Legacy House (BATLT), a complex named after APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The BATLT, which will house the council secretariat, bank and other offices, was declared open by Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola.

AGIP EMBARKS ON INITIATIVES TO DEVELOP MANPOWER FOR LOCAL CONTENT

he Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has disclosed the various manpower development initiatives it has embarked on to bridge the gap between skills requirement and available skills in compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010. This disclosure was made by the Vice Chairman/Managing Director of NAOC, Mr Massimo Insulla when he declared open a three-day training workshop for its indigenous contractors that took place at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt from June 24, 2014-June 26, 2014. At the workshop titled Vendor Development Program-Phase 3 for NAOC/ Nigerian Agip Exploration/Agip Energy and Natural Resources/Indigenous Contractors, Insulla listed some of the initiatives which are in human capacity development; masters’program and marine manpower development. Under the human capacity development, the NAOC Boss said that the company has trained about 76 people chosen from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) national data base in various areas like seismic data processing techniques, noise attenuation and use of hydrophones. Others include metering and calibration; welding/pipe fitting maintenance operations for well heads and valves as well as instrumentation. In the masters’ program, the company is presently training about 47 Nigerians in Italy for special programs leading to the award of masters’ degree in drilling engineering; production engineering; petroleum engineering and geology. He also said that later this year, additional 10 students will be sponsored by the company to Eni Corporate University and other institutes in Italy for masters program. In the aspect of capacity development initiative and marine manpower development, Insulla also said that NAOC is supporting initiatives by some Nigerian companies to domicile marine training of Nigerians in-country. This, he explained meant that one of the companies is in the process of bringing in a Class-A Simulator that will be used to simulate practically most Oil and Gas marine activities including subsea operations. Insulla also said that “this will hopefully reduce offshore marine training cost to some extent thereby giving room for more personnel to be trained” adding that the company has had various engagements with main stakeholders and institutions in the marine industry to enable them finalize the training modalities which will commence very soon. Other up-coming initiatives for 2014, he said include vendor gap closure opportunities engagement; vendor awareness sensitization and exhibitions. While listing out these development initiatives meant to improve the lot of indigenous contractors, Insulla also pointed out that NAOC is not carrying out these programs “as a requirement of the law but we are doing these because we want to get the best we can from the local contractors.” The helmsman of NAOC also challenged the participants at the workshop to give him feedback at the end of this phase 3 exercise. In his speech, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Hon. Asita. O.Asita advised the indigenous contractors to pull their resources together to grow capacity as they would be better off when they unite. Asita also advised them to look outside to places like Aberdeen and Milan to get qualified Nigerian engineers and strong business people who can work with them to drive the local content. The lawmaker also disclosed that there is a fund created by the Nigerian local content law and urged the contractors to form alliances and put pressure on NCDMB to enable them access the fund “because if you don’t we will use it to build skyscrapers.” While expressing concern that the Petroleum Industry Bill has not been passed into law despite efforts by many stakeholders, he also challenged Nigerians “to always remind us that we are not doing our jobs well.” Asita further decried the contracting regime in Nigeria for being too long and having many human contacts in it, thus making it susceptible to fraud. Also speaking, an official of International Finance Corporation, Mr Chijioke Nworka urged the participants to prepare for competition adding that they can only benefit from the training workshop “if you unlearn what you have learnt in the past by keeping your minds open.” Welcoming the participants, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development of NAOC, Mrs Callista Azogu said that the company has observed that some contracts given to local contractors have seen poor performances and therefore the workshop is to enlighten them with the belief that it would enhance their abilities.

•

Mrs. Tinubu said the secretariat would facilitate development, urging the council boss, Femi Bamgbola, to continue to work for the people. Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire hailed Bamgbola for erecting the edifice, noting that a conducive atmosphere would boost the morale of staff to perform better. She urged the workers to make good use of the complex. The deputy governor called on Lagosians to be security conscious, tolerant and ensure peace at all times. Asiwaju Tinubu, represented by former deputy governor Mr. Femi Pedro, said the gathering was beyond inauguration of the building, “rather, it is a testimony to what APC believes. “I am humbled by the decision to name this building after me; I am in turn dedicating it to the people. It is my hope that government officials will use this building to discharge their re-

sponsibilities with the best ethics. It is not a matter of how big, but the decision taken by the people using it,” he said. The Federal Government, Tinubu said, has failed to meet people’s demands, leaving grassroots governance as the only hope of the masses. “We must free our people from unemployment and poverty; it is a challenge that APC is trying to meet. I dedicate this building to the service of humanity and democratic values,” he said. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye said the building would improve economic activities and also bring governance closer to the people. Bamgbola said the complex was named after Tinubu in recognition of his creation of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LDCAs) during his tenure and for his contribution to democracy. “Despite the daunting challenges, the then administration of Asiwaju Bola

families and communities. The NDLEA boss said with extensive efforts by government at all levels, the devastating consequences could be minimised. Faboyede said the command’s achievement should be credited to the support of the State government that has partnered with it to ensure that drug demand and supply are brought under control. Governor Abiola Ajimobi said many lives have been destroyed because of drug abuse. Ajimobi urged youths to shun illicit use of hard drugs because it can destroy their lives. He promised that the government would continue to work with NDLEA to tackle drug abuse. The government, he said, has established a drug rehabilitation centre that is performing well.

•Senator Tinubu

Ahmed Tinubu stuck to its legal pursuit. But that was soon to change when the Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government to release the withheld Lagos Local Government funds. “The apex court went further to legitimise the process of creation of the local government area, adopted by the Lagos State Government which it concluded was in line with the 1999 Constitution, hence the legal terminology – inchoate,” Bamgbola said.

Fayemi refused to pick my calls, Fayose alleges

KITI State Governorelect Mr. Ayo Fayose has described Governor Kayode Fayemi’s acceptance of defeat in the last Saturday’s election as a stunt aimed at eliciting public sympathy. Fayose, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) accused Fayemi of not picking his calls since the governor conceded defeat and congratulated him. His words: “The governor said I am conceding defeat. Let me be realistic with you, there is a difference between propaganda and reality. “I have been calling the governor since after our meeting, but he hasn’t picked the call. “If you read all papers now, he said I will create local governments before I go. How do you reconcile these things? “I am not a propagandist, I am a realist. The governor says he will do employment

before he leaves; that means you want to create problem for the incoming government. “So, I see that concession, as good as it may be, we must all be realistic about it; we must not deceive the Nigerian populace. “Their party said we are still studying the ink used by INEC; it is the governor that conceded not our party.” Fayose recalled that in 2003, his predecessor, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, also conceded defeat but went ahead to conduct a mass recruitment when he had only six months left to go. He said: “I respect the governor; he is our leader, up until the October 15, he remains our leader. But I want to appeal to APC not to play propaganda with sensitive issues as this. “If the governor says I am not going, his party too must make pronouncements, otherwise I do not mind them going

to court. “The court will ask you: ‘it is usually the incumbent that rigs, why would somebody who is not an incumbent now rig and defeat you in your ward’?” He said that none of the APC Senators or House of Representatives members, including former governor, Mr. Segun Oni, won in their polling booths. Fayose said he would run an inclusive government and only work with those who were willing to work with him. He said: “With due respect, I know APC more than you. I will not shoot myself in the leg before I start. So, I will rather let us leave it as it is. “It is our government. But we will make sure they have their say; minority will have their say, majority will have their way. We will make sure that there is an environment for them to operate as a credible opposition to government.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS

APC studying election, says Akande

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) is studying last Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, its former National Interim Committee Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, has said. Akande, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, noted that the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s acceptance speech was a conditional statement. He said Fayemi never ruled out the possibility of investigating how the election was conducted. The party chieftain said: “Maybe you never listened to Fayemi’s statement. He said ‘if it was the wish of the Ekiti people.’ If we find out that it was not the wish of the Ekiti people; that it is a rigged arrangement, covered in a woolen velvet, definitely we will not accept it.” Akande said the party would study the election and know whether to take it up at a higher level. His words: “We are looking into it. And we are going to study it. If it is a good election, we are going to take a decision. But if there are impending evidences that it is a bad election, we are going to take it up at a higher level.” The ex-National Interim Chairman however explained that APC would make its position on the matter public after studying the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

elections’ circumstances. “We are going to study our situation. And at the appropriate time, we are going to let Nigerians know,” he said. Akande condemned the manner a curfew was imposed on the state 48 hours prior to the election, noting that it was an evidence of bad governance and impunity, which he accused President Goodluck Jonathan of introducing in Nigeria. He however expressed fear that the country might slide into dictatorship which only the people can extricate themselves. The party chieftain said: “But up till now, I have not seen where Nigerians saw the law for closing down Ekiti in a curfew for 48 hours. It is not in any Nigerian law. That is governance by impunity which Jonathan introduced in Nigerian politics. “And I want to say that to shut down a community like Nigeria did in Ekiti last time, it’s a good enslavement of the sensibility of Nigeria. And it is Nigerians that will extricate themselves from the dictatorship.” On the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, he said: “We are not preparing for rigging because rigging is becoming scientific in the hands of PDP. But we are going to study the situation and wait for it.”

‘Fayemi is our true son’

HE Ekiti Diaspora Europe (EDE) has commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for his service to the Ekiti people, saying that he had laid a strong foundation for the state’s socioeconomic development. “We believe that Governor Fayemi’s achievements will become the benchmark on which the performance of future governors in the state will be measured,” the group said in a statement by Femi Awoniyi and Isaac Atibioke. EDE said by promptly conceding defeat and congratulating his victorious opponent at the election, Governor Fayemi displayed “an uncommon spirit of sportsmanship.” ”He has proved that he is a true son of the Land of Honour...We believe that Fayemi has provided a shining example to the Nigerian political class and thereby furthered the cause of democracy in our land,” the group said.

By Seun Akioye

EDE praised the Eight-Point Agenda of the Fayemi Administration, saying “with that brilliant document of modern development planning, Dr. Fayemi has established a new paradigm of governance in Africa”. The group congratulated the governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, wishing him “plenty of success in the service of Ekiti.” It called on Fayose to sustain the peace that has reigned in the state since October 2010. “We also appeal to Mr. Fayose to take a cue from Governor Fayemi and ensure the completion of all projects, so that the public funds already invested in them are not wasted.” EDE praised the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for creating “a credible environment” for the election and the Ekiti people for exercising their civic duty “with such patience, forbearance and enthusiasm”.

Ekiti to create additional 18 LCDAs

KITI State Government is set to create additional 18 Council Development Areas based on the recommendations of the White Paper Committee it set up. The new council areas are to be created from the existing 16 local government areas after the conduct of a referendum by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, in a statement, said the 18 new council areas are to operate as Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) pending the concurrence of the National Assembly, which would accord them the status of full-fledged local government councils. The new councils and their proposed headquarters as contained in the White Paper and approved by the State Executive Council are as follows: i) Ado West Local Council Development Area ———— Okesha ii) Ado-North LCDA.———————————————Oke–Ila iii) Ado-Central LCDA——————————— ————Ijigbo iv) Ekiti North-East LCDA———————————Kota-Ekiti v) Ogotun/Igbaraodo LCDA——————————Oke- Agbe vi) Osi/Isokan LCDA ————————————————Ifaki vii) Eka Meta LCDA—————————————Erijiyan-Ekiti viii) Okemesi/Ido Ile LCDA—————————Okemesi-Ekiti ix) Gbonyin LCDA—————————————————Aisegba x) Irewolede LCDA——————————————Iloro- Ekiti xi) Irede LCDA—————————————————Ipoti-Ekiti xii) Ikere West LCDA————————————————Anaye xiii) Ajoni LCDA——————————————————Aiyedun xiv) Ifelodun LCDA—————————————Igbemo–Ekiti xv) Araromi LCDA————————————————Iyin–Ekiti xvi) Ero LCDA————————————————————Igogo xvii) Ifesowapo LCDA—————————————Bamisile Land xviii) Ifeloju LCDA———————————————Ilupeju-Ekiti

Senate in rowdy session over Ekiti poll

EMPERS flared in the Senate yesterday over the outcome of the justconcluded governorship election in Ekiti State. But the timely intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, saved the situation from degenerating into a free-for-all. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) moved a motion to praise INEC for what he described as the most credible election in the nation's history. Uba hailed the electoral umpire and insisted that the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election represented a positive deviation from previous exercises in the country that were marred by irregularities. He noted that the election

•Ojudu faults Uba for praising INEC From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

was a tremendous improvement on previous ones. The senator also hailed the people and government of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election that led to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, emerging the governor-elect. He further praised the security agencies for ensuring adequate security during and after the exercise. He urged all the relevant stakeholders that contributed to the success of the poll to carry on with the same spirit in subsequent elections. But also relying on Order 43, Senator Babafemi Ojudu accused Senator Uba's younger brother, Chris, of leading the police to cause havoc dur-

ing the poll. Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: "My colleague (Andy Uba) had already read Order 43, I don't need to repeat it. I will like to commend the governor-elect of Ekiti State and my governor for accepting the result of the election. "But I want to say here, Mr. President, that my colleague who stood here to talk, his younger brother Chris Uba led police to the hotel and smashed all the doors." This comment from Ojudu apparently drew the ire of some PDP senators who shouted at him to sit down. Senators Philip Aduda (representing the Federal Capital Territory) and Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) were

among the lawmakers that moved against Ojudu. This led other senators to move from their seats ostensibly to prevent the altercation. Ekweremadu ordered Senator Ojudu to read Order 43, reminding him that the order prohibits discussing any controversial issue. He then ruled Ojudu out of order. He informed the Senate that Uba informed him of his intention to move the motion, which he approved. He added that Ojudu never discussed any similar intention with him. Ekweremadu earlier commended INEC for what he described as a "job well done" and implored the commission to do better in the 2015 general elections.

curity agencies have the constitutional right to protect and not to bully or force them into submitting to the whims and caprices of some selfish politicians. The governor’s spokesperson noted that the people of Osun, for the past four years, have enjoyed peace under Aregbesola’s government. He added that in as much as the people wouldn’t engage in any act that would tamper with or sap the atmosphere of peace, the security agencies also have a duty to complement the efforts of the peaceloving people by not taking side with any group or political party or being overzeal-

ous in carrying out their lawful duties. According to Okanlawon, it therefore amounts to a contradiction for anybody to think that daring the security agencies would be the ideal thing to do for the peace-loving people of Osun. He continued: “Asking the people to dare soldiers or any security agency at that, will amount to promoting anarchy which a governor like Aregbesola will not do. “The governor is a lover of peace and his government has never treated security issue in the state with a kid’s glove.

Aregbesola: Fayose intoxicated by accidental victory

SUN State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described the outbursts of the Ekiti State governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, as an “over-reaching euphoria of a coincidental victory.” Aregbesola spoke in reaction to Fayose’s accusation that the Osun governor was “dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy” for allegedly calling on his All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to dare security agents during elections. The Osun governor, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said Fayose was only whipping a dead horse by referring to a media report, which had been refuted with the retraction published by the same newspaper that published it. A newspaper last week published a news item, claiming that Aregbesola asked his supporters to dare security agents during election. Okanlawon noted that the misrepresentation of what the governor said was refuted the following day in a well-explained response to the newspaper. He said Fayose, in an overjoyous celebration of a victory, which subtly came through a yet to be ascertained misery, need to demonstrate that his victory at the poll on June 21 was not a fluke. The statement reads: “We think that after his so-called victory, Fayose should be busy with and worry more on how his government hopes to contend with sustaining and surpassing the huge achievements recorded by the Kayode Fayemi administration before the people of Ekiti get impatient with him. “But for the lopsided democracy entrenched in this part of the world, individuals like this, who have no business in front of a Government House, would have today, through a sleight of hand, find themselves in position of responsibility, which they once had and frittered away. “Whatever transpired during that election may be hidden today. Nothing can be hidden permanently from the people. “But it is germane to say that what happened in Ekiti has no bearing or effect on Osun. Here, we are different; the terrain is different; so are the people and politics. “We are not in any way per-

turbed by the pyrrhic victory in Ekiti. Ekiti is Ekiti; Osun is Osun. The two are not the same, neither are they comparable. “Therefore, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ayodele Fayose and their ilk should continue to dwell in their illusory world of ‘as it is in Ekiti, so shall it be in Osun.” Okanlawon reiterated that the governors only called on the police to do their job of protecting rather than intimidating the people, who want to exercise their civic duties. He stated that while the people are exercising their civic responsibilities, including voting, soldiers and policemen and men of other se-

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

• Nigeria pop star Davido (below) performing at the event

Africa Rising: MultiChoice launches campaign in Mauritius

S the effective window for Africa’s showcase to the rest of the world remains a subject of concern, Multichoice Africa, parent company of DStv and GOtv platforms, has again blazed a trail with a patriotic campaign, involving six leading African musicians collaborating in a theme song that not only excites music buffs but celebrates the positive and inspiring culture that Africa can give the rest of the world. In 2012, Multichoice explored its social responsibility objective not only by testrunning the digital TV innovation in Nelson Mandela’s town of Soweto, but also gathering African journalists to interact with experts on the 2015 migration date through a two-day conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Afro-centric campaign on the Island of Mauritius had ignited so much passion and induced nearness, as journalists, artistes, content providers, and management of Multichoice interacted for five days in ‘paradise’ of Trou Aux Biches Resort and Spa. Wednesday night resonated with glitz, as the ‘Africa Rising’ theme song artistes, including MAMAs’ Best Africa Act, Davido; Bongo Flava artiste, Diamond Platnumz; Ghanaian hip-hop sensation, Sarkodie; Eminado singer, Tiwa Savage; budding Nigerian/ Ghanaian talent, Lola Rae and trending South African band, Mi Casa, forced many to dance and mime the lyrics of the much-advertised song during a welcome dinner hosted by MultiChoice Africa CEO, Nico Meyer. Although the song had been playing on radio, the unveiling of the music video came across as another creative piece, judging by its simplicity and musical adventure of the characters across the continent.

•Theme song artistes excite crowd By Victor Akande

The ovation became louder when the artistes in the song hit the stage (except for Diamond Platnumz, who was said to have his flight from Belgium), giving one of the best group performances, as the event transmitted into a dance party. But prior to the party, Multichoice shows brand anchor, IK Osakioduwa, introduced Jara host, Uti Nwachukwu and popular Studio 53 presenter, Eku Edewor, who enlivened the audience with short interactive sessions by bringing Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel, Nollywood film stars, Rita Dominic, Chinedu Ikedieze and producer Mildred Okwo, to the stage. “MultiChoice Africa has an important role to play in both the economic and social transformation of our continent and we believe that this campaign provides the ideal platform to showcase meaningful change amongst the people of Africa,” said Meyer during the dinner. According to the Multichoice boss, apart from the content showcase on DStv and GOtV, the ‘Africa Rising’ campaign promises to unearth what is right about Africa and make a difference in the lives of all Africans. “We strongly believe that the quest for good corporate citizenship starts with an acceptance of responsibility, not only to our subscribers and stakeholders, but to the broader African community in which we operate and are certain that the collaboration with these award-winning African artistes will be the glue that binds communities together, thereby creating a catalyst for change,” he said.

To further give the guests a clearer picture of the event, Meyer said: “You may have asked yourself why you are here… Well, if you still have not figured it out, let me take you out of your misery. We are here to showcase the best of our local and international content that MultiChoice Africa has to offer through our exciting brands, DStv and GOtv. “Ever wondered what the world would be without satellite technology or even TV? Before the birth of modern multimedia, our ancestors were all but cut off from vivid graphics and virtual reality. Never mind access to news and great stories. “I was stunned last week when my son asked me: ‘Dad, did you know that more light comes out of your fridge when you open the door than there was in the whole of an eighteenth-century house in one evening?’ I must be honest, the thought alone frightened me! I guess that’s what they mean when they talk about being born at the right time. “But isn’t it amazing how often we take having been born into the age of technology for granted? I often wonder what life would be like without television and that thought also frightens me. “It is the same thought, however, that makes me proud to be part of a company that has pioneered pay TV on the continent.” The event parades leading content providers in the world, including BBC (BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment); Turner (CNN, Cartoon Network and Boomerang); NBC Universal (Telemundo); Viacom (Comedy Central, MTV Base and Nickelodeon) A + E (History Channel and Crime and Investigation); M-Net (Africa Magic, Ebony Life TV, Channel O, and Super Sport.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS APGA crisis: Okwu heads for Supreme Court HE leadership crisis

rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over the national chairmanship may not have ended, as members have vowed to pursue the matter to the Supreme Court. Last week, an Appeal Court in Abuja declared Chief Victor Umeh the authentic national chairman. He defeated Chief Maxi Okwu. Umeh, addressing reporters when he visited the grave of the late leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, said everything had been laid to rest, following the judgment. But in a statement yesterday in Awka by some party stakeholders, led by Chief Shedrack Anakwue, they said they believed the Supreme Court would do justice to the matter. The stakeholders told their

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

supporters that APGA leadership would be pursued till the end. The statement said: “This is to inform members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) loyal to Chief Maxi Okwu that last week’s Appeal Court judgment, which sought to upturn the wish of the people, is only a temporary setback because truth will prevail at the end. “Chief Okwu and his team of lawyers are working on the judgment based on our party’s constitution. At the end of the day, we believe that the Supreme Court will do justice to the matter while the requested stay of execution at the Appeal Court subsists.

Vehicle owners warned

GUN State CID Eleweran, Abeokuta has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at CID Eleweran, Abeokuta to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction two weeks after this publication. The vehicles are unregistered Murano Jeep, Toyota Camry FT 635KJA, Unregistered Honda Accord, Lexus Car No AGL 475AU and five Okada.

‘Orlu zone can’t be ignored’ From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

HE Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has told Orlu indigenes in the United States of America and in the diaspora that no politician or party can ignore the zone. A statement issued in Abuja by his media aide, Mazi Chinasa Nwaneri, on the meeting with the indigenes, said the zone would not play second fiddle in Imo State politics. Uzodimma said: “Orlu zone with 12 local governments is perhaps the largest senatorial district in the country. In Imo, it is certainly the largest and most populous zone. Therefore, we can never be ignored. Politicians and parties foolish enough to ignore us will only have themselves to blame. “As you and I know, no one will say you are unless you say so yourself. The timeless reality of power business is that power is taken, not given. “With our strategic energy and synergy, Orlu zone must know who gets what, when and how in Imo State. My position is that Orlu should never play second fiddle in Imo politics.” He urged the indigenes to support the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure development.

NURTW moves against fake ticketing

OLLOWING dubious means that criminals now sabotage the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW) sources of revenue, it yesterday read the riot act to the issuers of its fake tickets. Speaking during the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Karsana, Abuja, the President, Najeem Yasin Usman encouraged the union to take legal actions to against the perpetrators. He sought the cooperation of the members with the union’s national headquarters in order to move it to greater height. His words: “I therefore use this medium to encourage all of us to take all necessary and legal measure to root out the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

printing of all fake tickets in your respective State Councils by bring to book the perpetrators of the crime, and ending the illegal activity forthwith. “ “We have come a long way to be where we are now. This is no time to drag down the union, but a time to join hands with proactive leadership provided by the National Headquarters to climb over higher and higher.” He explained that the union could not lay its foundation yesterday as expected , it held its meeting on the site of its Housing Estate in Karsana for members to appreciate the level of work on the project themselves.

Police discover ‘school of kidnappers’

HE Abia State Police Command said it has discovered a ‘school’ where suspected kidnappers are trained. It said the ‘school’ is located at Ugoji compound, Ohuru Isimiri, in Obingwa Local Government. The police said after ‘training’, the kidnappers inflict pains on the public. Police Commissioner Adamu Ibrahim said his command received information that criminals had established a ‘training camp’ where abductors were trained. He said they have been alerted that kidnapping is returning to the state, “but we are equal to the task of containing criminals.” Ibrahim said he was determined to rid the state of criminals. Speaking in Umuahia when parading suspected kidnappers and armed robbers, the police boss said four suspected abductors were arrested and weapons recovered from them. He said his men received a distress call from Mrs. Ogechukwu Chiedogo of 13, Ozubulu Road, Aba that her husband, Ikechukwu, was kidnapped from their compound. “My men went after them and rescued the victim after a gun battle,” Ibrahim added. He said one of the suspects

•Some of the suspected kidnappers From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

was shot and another was arrested with gunshot wounds, adding that the rest escaped. The police chief said one AK47 rifle was recovered from them. He said his men are on their trail. According to him, another suspected kidnapper, Ifeanyi Eluega, was arrested after a gun battle with policemen, who went after him and his gang. He said during the gun duel, Eluega was shot and was arrested. Ibrahim said: “My men received a distress call that Okechukwu Ovimpam was abducted by Eluega and Abuchi Ohaeri at Eluama Isuikwuato. The suspected hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire. The victim was rescued. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects.” He said suspected kidnappers, Jones Nwabeke and

‘The suspected hoodlums, on sighting the police, opened fire. The victim was rescued. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects’ Okwukwe Udo, wrote a letter to Friday Nweke demanding N300,000 or else he would be abducted. The police commissioner said after receiving a distress call, his men swung into action and arrested the suspects while attempting to kidnap their victim at Egbelu village in Aba. He said they have confessed to the crime. Ibrahim said another suspected kidnapper, Chigadi Odinwa, alias Lemon, who masterminded the abduction of Prince Ndubisi Christo-

pher, was arrested when attempting to kidnap another victim. “The victim was rescued and the suspect was shot in the leg when he tried to escape.” The police also paraded four suspected robbers, Emeka Ikpo, Okoronkwo Onyeka and Sunday Udoka of Ndi Okpo Ihechiowa in Arochukwu Local Government and Kelechi Orji. The police commissioner said: “Ajah Ahamefula of Oguta Lane, Ogbor Hill, Aba reported that Ogbonna Chukwudi of 5, Cool Park Street, Ogbor Hill, Aba was seen beating his concubine, Nnenna Awa and policemen were sent to the scene. “The suspect was arrested and after interrogation, it was discovered that he sold his only son to an unknown person through Amarachi Chiemeka, a nurse, who has been arrested. She denied knowing the buyer.”

Court declares defection of Kwara lawmakers legal

HE Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, declared

yesterday the defection of the 22 members of the House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as constitutional. The Speaker, Razaq Atunwa, and 21 of the 24lawmakers last year renounced their membership of PDP. A lawmaker, who stayed back in PDP, Ibrahim illiyasu, sued the defendants, claiming that they should vacate their seats and stand another election having dumped the party. His counsel, Salman Jawondo, assisted by O.J Adeseko, urged the court to declare their seats vacant. Jawondo posited that having left PDP for APC, the defendants’ seats should be declared vacant for them to stand another election. The defendants’ lead counsel, Bola Gold, argued that the defendants had the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

rights to defect to any other party because of the prevailing crisis in their former party. Other members of the legal team are Wahab Bamidele and Tosho Yakubu. Justice Olayinka Faji declared that the defection of the lawmakers was legal and constitutional. The judge relied on judgment by Justice Chukwu which restrained Alhaji Baraje from parading himself as the INEC recognised Chairman of PDP. He added that the defen-

dants would not lose their seats for another re-election because there was indeed an established case of crisis in their party which prompted their defection. Justice Faji said mere ruling that Bamagar Tukur was recognised as the official chairman of PDP and a restraining order was filed for Baraje not to parade himself as the INEC recognised chairman showed indeed that there was a faction. The judge averred that at the time of the defection by Kwara Assembly members, there was indeed a faction in PDP which made the defec-

tion by the legislators legal and constitutional. Reacting to the judgment, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South, Ahmad Ali, said Justice Faji’s judgment has laid to rest the constitutionality of defection by the legislators. He said: “It is a landmark judgment on the issue of defection. This is the first final judgment, compared to various conflicting interlocutory orders, by the federal high court. It supersedes all other previous non-judicial gratuitous statements.

Southeast cleric warns Boko Haram HE Archbishop of Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned Boko Haram insurgents to stay clear of the Southeast. He said the zone has no room for them. The cleric, who spoke yesterday in Enugu, said the warning became necessary

From Chris Oji, Enugu

because of the rumour that the group was planning to extend its activities to the Southeast. Dr. Chukwuma, who is also the patron of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Southeast, was speaking at the 15th presynod news conference.

He said: “We take this opportunity to warn those who call themselves Boko Haram. Let them know that Southeast can never accommodate them. We have heard rumours that they are trying to extend their activities to the Southeast. They should not do this in their own interest.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX -PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

â&#x20AC;˘Mrs Orelope-Adefulire (second right) presenting a plaque to Mrs Kolarinwa. With them are Civil Service Commission chairman, Dr Olujobi Osofonya (left) and Mrs Williams

A reward for diligence The Lagos State Government has honoured 550 workers in celebration of the World Public Service Day, reports OLATUNDE ODEBIYI

HIS year's edition of the World Public Service Day in Lagos was different. Lagos State Government celebrated the day for 10 days. Among others, it appreciated its staff for productivity. For Lagos State, it was an opportunity to reflect on the the journey and progress made towards transforming the state into a modern, innovative and effective instrument of governance and development. It featured a long service award in appreciation of the performance of officers and to motivate them to be more productive. There was singing, dancing and fun when 550 members of staff, who have spent 30 years and above in the civil service were honoured last Thursday. They recieved plaques to commemorate years of service at a ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bayero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Before the awards began at noon, there was exhibition and parade by government agencies and local governments, showcasing the various fields and what the different ministries are into. Wares and fliers were on display. Staff, visitors and passersby visited the stands erected outside the auditorium. There was a resource person by each stand, giving explanations. The arena was a carnival of sort, colourful

and well attended. As soon as the special guest of honour and Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire stepped into the hall, all activities outside stopped. She led the awardees in a singing and dance session; they sang different Islamic and Christian praise songs in the Yoruba language. The awardees were joyous. Everyone was on his feet, wriggling waists and gesturing with their hands. Only a few were in suits, majority wore stylish native attires and headgears. Many wondered if the deputy governor had turned a choir-mistress with the substance thanksgiving songs she provided. She gave a speech, where she explained that the awards were an acknowledgement of loyalty, the recipients, having has spent the better part of their lives solving problems for the state. She thanked them for being partners in progress. "Your handwork has impacted positively on the lives of the people," she told the gathering. The Head of Service, Mrs Josephine Williams, in an address said the award began in 2006 during the tenure of the former governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a symbol to spur recipients to put in their best in service. She said those honoured were nominated by their

ministries. Other activities of the celebration were fitness walk; the health and education aspect, where it offered series of free services to public servants, including free screening and treatment in HIV, blood pressure, sugar level, dental condition, diabetes, eye tests, eye glasses and enlightenment on balanced diets. The education sector showcased talented students in ewi/poetry rendition, drama performance and cultural display from the six educational districts in Lagos. Also, there were quiz, debate competitions, raffle draws, where prizes such as new cars; housing units; land; tickets to Jerusalem and Mecca; plasma TV; refrigerator and generator sets were won. Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the awardees was the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs Olatayo Oladejo who thanked the government for giving them an opportunity to serve and urged her fellow awardees to keep exemplary and industrious conduct. The Nation spoke to some of the awardees. Mrs Adebisi Edith Adeyeye, a director in the Ministry of Information, who served for

32 years said the award will spur her on to perform better and put in more in all that is required to make the state excel. She said she felt highly elated, fulfilled, and grateful to the government for the award. She encouraged those coming behind to put in their best to whatever they are doing. "Do not think that people are not seeing you because you would be rewarded, the state government is always aware of the proficiency and diligence of its workers and will reward as appropriate," she said. Mrs Samiat Omolara Mumuni, a director in the Office of Local Government, Establishment, Training and Pensions, who served for 31 years, said she was grateful to God for the great day. She said so many people that started with her were no more but, she was happy that she was able to get to the peak of her career. "I never knew that I would reach this height, it was the grace of God," she said. She described the award as a driving force to help her build the state in her maximum capacity and to continue to help her community. She urged upcoming civil servants to be contented, hard working, reliable, honest and dedicated. â&#x20AC;˘Continued on page 14

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SOCIETY A REWARD FOR DILIGENCE •Continued from page 13

"They should do their work to serve others effectively and efficiently; This was what I did when I was in service," she said. Among other awardees are, Dr Amid Okanla Balogun, 34 years; Director Chief Clerical Officer Public Service Office, Mr Shakiru Alade Giwa, 35 years; Senior Secretariat Officer, Office of Establishment and Training, Mrs Saulat Olubumi Oladimeji, 34 years; Director, Office of Transformation, Mrs Samiat Omorinola Kolarinwa, 33 years; Chief Assistant Security Officer, Civil Service Commission, Mr Ajayi Adeotan Adegbola; Chief Matron Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Mrs Monsurat Ashabi Ibrahim, 35 years and Assistant Director of Sports, Office of Sports, Mr Akin Ladigbolu, 34 years.

•Some of the awardees, (from left): Mr Munideen Akinsanya; Mr Frederick Odujoko; Mr Morakinyo Hanson; Mr Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan; Mrs Omotayo Olabenjo and Dr Balogun

•Mrs Mumuni PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

INAUGURATION OF APC NATIONAL LEADER BOLA AHMED TINUBU LEGACY HOUSE IN LAGOS

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (second right) assisted by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (middle) and Chairman, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area Hon Hakeem Bamgbola (right) to cut the tape. With them are (from left) Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon Ademorin Kuye; Lagos State House of Assembly Chief Whip Dr Rasaq Balogun

•Representative of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mr Femi Pedro

•Olu of Agege Oba Kamila Isiba (left) and Onitire of Itire Oba Lateef Dauda

•Colonel Rafiu Ajala (left) and Chief Tayo Adenekan

•Alhaja Ashabi Bamgbola

•Alhaji Jubreel AbdulKareem (left) and Hon Adeola Jokomba

•Hon Abiodun Mafe (left) and Hon Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe

•Hon Akeem Sulaiman

•From right: Mrs Anike Adekanye; Mrs Kafilah Salau-Bashua; Mrs Zaynab Adewale; Mrs Doyin Adeniji and Mrs Modupe Elegushi

•All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Publicity Secretary Mr Joe Igbokwe (right) and Captain Dele Shobayo

•Lagos Drain Duck chairman Alhaji Akeem Apatira

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SOCIETY For Alhaja Fatimah Oyekan, the head of Crescent Schools, it was honour all the way as she retired from the school administration. The send-off was held at the school hall inside 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos. AMIDU ARIJE was there.

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS A simple format

•From left: Hajia Saidat Otiti assisting Dr Khairat Sodique and Mrs Sharifah Adeyemi to present gift to Alhaja Oyekan

•Alhaja Okunnu (right) and Hajia Hawwa Mohammad-Salisu

LL roads led to the Crescent Schools inside the 1004 Estate on Victoria Island, Lagos, for the send-off of the school head, Alhaja Fatimah Oyekan, following her retirement after 32 years of service. Parents, old students, friends and colleagues gathered in the school hall for the ceremony last Sunday. The hall was decorated in white and green satins with sparkling lights adding glamour to the occasion. Guests looked resplendent in their attires. Alhaja Oyekan, who was dressed in a flowing lemon lace with hijab, was the cynosure of all eyes. She sat beside her husband, Dr Jubril Oyekan. She was all smiles, acknowledging cheers from parents and guests. Her table was placed separately. All the tables in the hall were labelled which made it easy for guests to identify their seats. The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) led by Alhaji Aliyu Gudaji, gave their all to ensure the success of the occasion. Their seats were strategically placed in the front. Another table occupied by The Muslim Ladies Circle, the group Alhaja Oyekan belongs to, was also strategically positioned. The event began with prayers, followed by reading from the Quran. There were drama presentation and poetry reading by the students. They also read the Quran to the admiration of guests. They praised Alhaja Oyekan for her doggedness and courage in taking the school to greater heights. They said her exit from the school will be greatly missed. They prayed for her continued success in her sojourn in life. In his sermon, the Chief

•Alhaji Gudaji

•Dr Oyekan

Her day of honour Imam of Victoria Garden City (VGC) Muslim Community, Alhaji Taofeek Awwal, urged Alhaja Oyekan to continue her selfless service wherever she finds herself. Alhaji Awwal reminded her not to forget Allah in her endeavours, saying she should be thankful to Allah always. "Beware when the people praise you, always seek Allah's forgiveness because they only see what is apparent not the hidden; don't brag about your achievement for all that you own is in accordance with the decree of Allah; don't be arrogant about what Allah has given you because there is nothing in this life that will remain," he said. He enjoined the gathering to remember that life is vanity upon vanity; hence they should endeavour to indulge in good conduct at all times. Guests on the occasion

praised Alhaja Oyekan for her virtues. Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Latifah Okunnu thanked Allah for the life of Alhaja Oyekan whom she described as a sincere and selfless servant. Alhaji Gudaji said the celebrator was a committed woman who worked tirelessly to bring meaningful development to the school. "She was a committed and sincere person who worked very hard to bring development to the school," he said. One of the parents at the event, Mallam Faruk Sanni, described the celebrator as "faithful, articulate, truthful, innovative, motivational, and accessible and honest." Alhaja Oyekan thanked Allah for the success achieved in office. She described the day as memorable, promising to continue to contribute her

quota to the development of the school. She said she would take up a class that she will be teaching. "It is a memorable day in my life; we worked hard to bring up a school that will meet the need of Muslim students; we thanked Allah today our aims have been achieved," she said. "I will take up a role again in Crescent; it is part of my life, I will never forget Crescent; I was part of a forest of dedicated members of board of directors; they were thorough and sincere in managing the school," she added. Her husband, Alhaji Oyekan said he was grateful to Allah for making the celebration a reality. He praised his wife for her hard work which made a laudable dream come true. Guests, staff and students were later treated to choice food and drinks.

AWARD

•From left: Mrs Mojisola Ahonaruogho assisting her husband, Chief Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, Chairman, Organising Committee of the Victory High School/Victory College Old Students' Association Home Coming and Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony to present award to Dr Omoniyi Fagbemi

F all the types of speech presentations, impromptu speech is perhaps the most believable. The reason is not farfetched; listeners believe the speaker speaks from the heart instead of delivering a premeditated speech. If, for instance, you are given several months notice to deliver a speech on President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged AMODU LANRE OLAOLU ambition to contest during the 2015 election, you will (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. 07034737394 have enough time to think of @lanreamodu all the right words to speak. One of the things you may also do is to assess the nature of your audience. If you don’t fancy the idea of the President contesting, but a government official will be present at the event, you may think of several diplomatic ways of presenting your views. However, if you were not informed of the presentation, you may actually express you real view (or at least something close to it). For this reason, audience finds it easier to relate with impromptu speeches in terms of credibility than some other types of speeches. Think about it, why is it that at press conferences by government officials or other dignitaries, journalists still ask questions after the individuals have delivered the speech? First, the speech delivered was premeditated so the journalists need some heartfelt responses, second, there are areas of concern that were not covered in the speech, and third, there is need for further clarification on some issues raised. In most cases similar to the one we have here, people tend to benefit more from the question and answer session than the initial speech presentation. During question and answer sessions, people get the answers the desire, which are usually beyond what the speaker are prepared to share. Last week, we examined a few elements of impromptu speech. We said that it is immediate, it is brief and it is based on the current situation or event. We also said that you are called to deliver the speech because of your experience or personality. Consequently, it should be presented from your personal point of view, though it should focus on other people rather than yourself. This week, we shall examine a simple format you can adopt anytime you are called upon to deliver an impromptu speech: • Introduction: since the entire speech should not last more than a few minutes, your introduction is not expected to be an extensive one. Nevertheless, it should be catchy enough to capture your audience’s attention. A brilliant way to start your speech is to acknowledge the distinguished people present and appreciate the privilege given to you to contribute to the important subject. You may also begin by referring to the invaluable contributions that have been made before you. While you don’t have a lot of time, it is still fashionable to refer to one or two memorable contributions that others have made for your audience to know that you are not engaging in flattery. • State your point: remember that you don’t have a long time to speak, so, suspense may not be the best idea at this time. Considering that public speaking is an art, I believe you can adapt your speech to any situation or be creative whichever way you like. Nevertheless, I suggest you state your position straight on. Let the audience know what side of the discussion you belong to. • Justify your position: why do you feel the way you do? That is your next assignment. Your justification is perhaps more important than your position. This is because the credibility or soundness of your position will be judged by the reasons you give. For instance, lets assume you are asked at your organization’s board meeting if the company should fire some staff in view of emerging economic realities. If you say yes and you are asked why, you can’t simply say, “Well I don’t know. I just kind of think the company is too crowed.” People will lose respect for you because you are putting others’ jobs on line without any sensible justification. • Illustrate your point: don’t waste time at all, give a practical example that will drive home your point. While there is no time for any lengthy story, you may just call their attention to something around them that supports your line of reasoning. If you can bring the illustration close to them, you are likely to get their attention. The more familiar your illustration is, the more likely you are to win your audience. • Restate your point: make sure that your listeners don’t stray from your line of argument. Remind them of your position again. This time, they should understand it better because you have already provided your justification. • Conclude with appreciation: end your speech by thanking whoever invited you to talk for the opportunity to make a contribution. You should also thank your audience for listening and seeing your point. Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SOCIETY Former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Commissioner Dr Benson Enikuomehin has opened a law library in Akure, the Ondo State capital to mark his 52nd birthday, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Turning 52 in style I

T has always been his dream to build a state-of-art law library. Former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Commissioner Dr Benson Enikuomehin realised him when he celebrated his 52nd birthday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The former representative of Ondo State on the NDDC board unveiled an exoctic law firm in Akure to the admiration of many who came to rejoice with him. A large crowd thronged his Benson Enikuomehin Avenue home on Oba-Ile Road, Akure for the event. The show of love from personalities who came from far and attested to his popularity Akure virtually stood still on May 25 and 26 for the Ilaje man on realising his dream of building law library after his ambition to erect same in Abuja was truncated due to security challenges. Enikuomehin, a philanthropist, who hails from Igboegunrin in Ondo State, has gone through thick and thin to attain his popularity. The twin-celebration kicked off on May 25 with a thanksgiving service to mark his 52nd birthday at the Redeemed Brook of Cherith Sanctuary on Sijuade Road, Akure where the Pastor Amos Timoye preached about finding purpose in life. The church choir ensured guests had a nice time with beautiful songs that uplifted their souls. Pastor Timoye congratulated the celebrator, urging him to keep up with his good deeds. The service over, the celebration’s train moved to Enikuomehin’s sprawling home where guests were entertained with sumptuous meals

•Dr Enikuomehim assisted by his wife Bosede to cut the cake. With them are (from left) Oba Kalejaiye; Justice Kumuyi; Dr Adesida-Ojei and Jegun of Idepe Oba Adetoye Adetuga

•Dr Benji Ajaka and his wife, Adenike

•Chief Omolere Akinfoyewa (left) Mr Akeru

and drinks. Known for his love for songs and music, Enikuomehin was on ground to entertain his guests with good music and dance steps. Surrounded by his wife Bosede and son Boluwatife, after his song ki le o le se olorun mi, ki le o le se meaning what can you not do Lord, Enikuomehin said if a prophet had prophesied that he would stay in Akure 12 years ago, he would have asked him to direct the vision to Lagos. "I opened my law firm Shalom Chambers in Lagos many years ago. I was doing well in Lagos before I moved to Abuja and now in Akure. It was a long dream that came to reality on my 52nd birthday," he said. "It is true but sometimes when you are different from others, it becomes a landmark. When I turned 50, I couldn't celebrate because of some challenges but my wife marked it for me. I can no longer be 50 because it is gone forever so. For me, celebrating 52 doesn't make any difference," he said. Congratulating Enikuomehin, the Odede of Igboegunrin, Oba Olatunji Kalejaiye, described him as a good son

•Chief Owolaye Omotehinse

that has made him proud over the years. "He is loyal, resourceful and ready to be of help to humanity. That is why I could come all the way from outside to honour this illustrious son of the soil," Oba Kalejaiye said. Ondo State Chief Judge Justice Oladeinde Kumuyi, hailed Enikuomehin for building a structure that will enhance the legal profession rather than personal acqui-

•Mr Oke

sition. "What Dr Enikuomehin has done is a big challenge to our colleagues: that legal practice is a serious business. I also consider as part of my achievements as the Chief Judge of Ondo State that during my tenure, I witness something that would boost legal work," Justice Kumuyi said. Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in

Ondo State Mr Olusola Oke described the edifice as "a landmark." "The only thing you can give to the society is knowledge. This newly commissioned law library is the first of its kind in Ondo State. I want to commend his effort, his endeavor and I appreciate the great role he is making in the area of politics. I have a thirst for law so that when there is no politics I return to my law firm. You have laid a good foundation for the upcoming ones to emulate. This noble course law collection is worthy of emulation," Oke said. There was a facility tour of the library by the guests after it was commissioned by Justice Kumuyi while Pastor Femi Emmanuel dedicated it to the glory of God and usefulness to humanity. Among the dignitaries were Regent of Akure, Dr Adetutu Adesida-Ojei; traditional rulers; celebrator's mother, Mama Rosana Enikuomehin; Dr Banji Ajaka; former colleague at NDDC, Hon Ikechukwu Vincent; Rev Martins Enikuomehin, Pastor Adegboyega Dimeji, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, among others.

PRAYERS FOR THE RELEASE OF THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS IN AJAH, ETI-OSA, LAGOS

•Chairman, Eti-Osa Council of Imams and Alfas Alhaji Abdul Barri Afinih flanked by Vice Chairman, Alhaji Isa Olowo (left) and Secretary-General Alhaji AbdulLateef Balogun during a prayer by the council for the release of the abducted girls in Chibok

•From left: Iya Adinni of Eti-Osa and Managing Director Halbis Cafe, Alhaja Ramotallahi Adenopo; Founder/Missioner Asalatu Istijaabah Women Group, Alhaja Fatimah Hamzat and Alhaja Idiat Kenku

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SOCIETY Lagos Local Governments Co-operative Multipurpose Society Limited has commissioned an office complex last Thursday at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Gains of selfless service I

T was yet another landmark achievement by leaders of the Lagos Local Governments Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited as they commissioned an ultra modern complex on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos. Members and executive of the cooperative society left their various offices last Thursday for the ceremony. Their timely arrival paved way for the early kick off of the event by 9am. The atmosphere was convivial; visibly elated members were seen congratulating one another. Within six months of acquiring the property, the society has built it to their taste. But the happiest among the people on the occasion was Mr Anthony Kayin Agbodji, a former president of the society whom the complex was named after. Seated beside his wife, Rachael Abimbola, Agbodji was clad in attractive buba and sokoto with a befitting cap. Soon as the representative of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operative, Dr Yakub Bashorun arrived, the event commenced with prayers and National Anthem. Bashorun, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative, marvelled at the building. President of the society, Mr Shobule Oladipo, said the Lagos Local Governments Co-operative Multipurpose Society Limited was established some 52 years ago with the vision of uplifting and enhancing the economic wellbeing of its members. Oladipo, a lawyer hailed the vision and dedication of past leaders for the numerous achievements over the years. “It was through their vision that this society has continued to wax stronger and helping members to provide shelter of their own and meet other domestic needs,” he said. He congratulated the immediate past president, Wole Ogunlolu and his team for the vision and courageous steps taken to acquire the property. According to him, the society management arrived at the decision to name the building after Agbodji due to his meritorious services in different capacities and ultimately as president between 2002 and 2009. President of Lagos State Co-opera-

•Dr Balogun (second right) assisted by (from left) Oladipo; Agbodji and Ayeola to cut the tape

tive Federation (LASCOFED) Mr Oriyomi Ayeola, praised the Agriculture and Co-operative for supporting the society. He congratulated Oladipo and his team for the “beautiful edifice.” Lagos State Co-operative, he said, has been leading in showing good examples to other states. Dr Balogun congratulated the honouree and his family. “This is the kind of thing we want to be seen in the community; let’s us show the larger society that Co-operative society is working. This edifice is unique and situated in a unique place,” he said. Dr Balogun led the honouree, his wife Rachael, Oladipo, Ayeola and few others to open the building. Amid prayers and cheers, he cut the tape. Guests and members of the society took a walk round the building to inspect the facilities. Disk Jockey enlivened the atmosphere with music. A bevy of beautiful ladies went round to hand pack of food, drinks and souvenirs to the guests. Agbodji thanked all for honouring him.

•Mrs Agbodji flanked by Mrs Grace Olaokun and Mr Lateef Oloto

BOOK PRESENTATION

•From left: The Author Prof Muib Opeloye; Representative of Sultan of Sokoto Amb Hamzat Ahmadu and Olori Ladun Sijuwade during the Public Presentation of a book titled "The Qur'an and the Bible: Common Themes for peaceful co-existence" at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Victoria Island, Lagos

WEDDING

•The couple, former Miss Precious Peter and her beau David Daniel with room’s parent, Mr Udofia Martins and wife, Hellen (left) and Mr Isaac Udoitok and Mary Sunday Okon (bride’s Parents) during a wedding at The Apostolic Church Mount of Zion, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos PHOTO- RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIAL

Unbelievable flippancy DPO’s alleged comment over minor’s rape calls for investigation and possibly, sanction

EWS of a police officer’s reportedly flippant reaction to a scandalous allegation of child rape against a school proprietor in Ogun State has once again brought the country’s police force and its operational methods into sharp focus. The complainant, Mr. Moses Danwanu , was quoted as saying, “I took my daughter to the local police and appealed to them to arrest and prosecute this man but they dismissed me and said there was no evidence and the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in front of my daughter said she would have enjoyed it anyway.” The DPO’s alleged utterance is unbelievable, which is to say that it is highly unexpected and extremely unbecoming, considering his senior position; but more fundamentally, in view of his official role as an enforcer of the law, he ought to have taken the complaint more seriously. It is instructive that Danwanu was reported as saying that he was out “to seek justice for my daughter like it is done in other parts of the world.” Against the background of the disappointing failure of the police to live up to their responsibilities, it is unsurprising and commendable that the aggrieved father took the matter to another sphere of authority by writing a petition to the Ogun State Commissioner for Education. It is hoped that he would get the desired and deserved intervention at this level. Interestingly, the alleged rape of Danwanu’s daughter was said to have happened five years ago when she was just 11 years old, and her London-based father only got to hear of the incident recently. According to him, “When I reported the matter to the police here in Nigeria, I was

told that there was no evidence to prosecute the school proprietor since the incident happened five years ago. I am no more fighting this cause for my daughter’s sake alone, but more for the sake of other innocent victims that are still going through such situation.” Of course, it is easy to fault the argument of the police concerning the passage of time between when the crime was allegedly committed and when it was reported. The critical question is whether the said crime was committed, not how long ago it was committed. Obviously, the more reasonable approach would have been for the police to investigate the complaint, rather than dismissing it on such flimsy and unacceptable grounds. As Danwanu correctly observed, the issue is not simply about his own daughter alone, but also about rape victims generally, and minors in particular. The truth is that it would amount to unrealistic denialism to think that schoolgirls across the country are not exposed to paedophiles in the educational environment, and it is only when cases such as that of Danwanu’s daughter are professionally addressed by the police that society can reinforce the basic offensiveness of adults engaging in sexually abusive acts with children. This is an overriding reason why the police should pursue justice in the matter. Furthermore, the force should be guided by the principle of “justice delayed is justice denied”; and therefore move to deal with the alleged injustice, rather than sweep it aside. Appropriately, in his petition Danwanu cited comments made by the Lagos State

Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, at a press conference on June 16 to mark the 2014 International Day of the African Child. He pointed out that she “called for a collective action to stop all forms of sexual harassment, assault and abuse, particularly rape cases against the girl-child.” In addition, he wrote, “she stated that parents must not hesitate to report cases of sexual harassment, assault and abuse to the police in order to expose and prosecute the offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.” Clearly, since it is the police that will ultimately have to deal with reported cases of sexual crime, the alleged reckless and unhelpful reaction by the DPO in the case of Danwanu’s daughter is unexemplary and stands condemned. It should be investigated because such flippant and insensitive comments are becoming common among police officers and men, which is not good for the system.

‘Clearly, since it is the police that will ultimately have to deal with reported cases of sexual crime, the alleged reckless and unhelpful reaction by the DPO in the case of Danwanu’s daughter is unexemplary and stands condemned. It should be investigated’

America’s meddlesomeness • Again, the U.S. opposes Uganda’s anti-gay law

F only African leaders can think deeply, they would have seen how demeaning relying on foreign crutches for survival can be, with the United States of America’s imposition of sanctions on Uganda for enacting anti-gay laws. The U.S. vehemently opposed Nigeria when the National Assembly passed a similar law. Indeed, America has continued to oppose the enactment of such laws in Africa and it does not seem to be getting the message that one’s man’s meat could jolly well be another man’s poison. “We continue — in Uganda and around the world — to oppose discriminatory practices and champion human rights for all,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said. It is regrettable that America sees the enactment of anti-gay laws as infringing on fundamental human rights. To Africans, allowing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) practices in the continent is alien and cannot be sup-

‘The U.S. vehemently opposed Nigeria when the National Assembly passed a similar law. Indeed, America has continued to oppose the enactment of such laws in Africa and it does not seem to be getting the message that one’s man’s meat could jolly well be another man’s poison’

ported simply because some countries are at ease with such practices. The law criminalises and imposes sentences of life imprisonment for homosexuality and for same-sex marriage in Uganda. It also provides for prison sentences of five to seven years for the “promotion” of, “attempts to commit”, “aiding and abetting” and “conspiracy to engage in” homosexuality. Sadly, the United States reacted by slamming sanctions on Uganda. It said it would discontinue some aid and implement travel bans against Ugandan officials, in protest. The State Department said it would prevent entry into the United States of “certain Ugandan officials involved in serious human rights abuses, including against LGBT individuals”. “In addition, the United States will take steps, consistent with current authorities, to prevent entry into the United States by Ugandans who are found responsible for significant public corruption”. So, America had to wait for the enactment of the anti-gay laws before barring corrupt Ugandan officials from the U.S.? This is the height of ethnocentricity. For sure, Africa has an idea of what fundamental human rights entails, but lesbianism and homosexuality certainly do not belong in the category of human rights, at least by African standards. The U.S. and indeed the global community must concede the right to decide on the matter to every country. There can never be a universally accepted position on the subject-matter now; maybe there will be sometime in the future; but until then, countries should have the liberty to determine what is good for their citizens. It remains to be seen how human rights

are curtailed through legislations duly passed by the legislators of the respective African countries. In the specific Ugandan case, the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs that drafted the report which formed the basis of the law said: “The Bill aims at strengthening the nation’s capacity to deal with emerging internal and external threats to the traditional heterosexual family.” Now, is the United States saying that Ugandan lawmakers do not know what is best for their country? Or that the lawmakers do not have the right to pass the law? Even if they don’t, it does not lie in the mouth of the U.S. to so say. Ugandans should be the ones to protest against the legislation. It is on this note that we commend President Yoweri Museveni who signed the bill into law in February. His unapologetic stand on the issue is praiseworthy; so is his admonition to the United States and other countries that oppose the legislation, that they should mind their own business. “The Constitution was made by Ugandans for Uganda. If we find something we don’t agree with, we remove it,” Museveni said after signing the Bill adding “The West should concentrate on other helpful things because in Africa, homosexuality is no-go area. We shall not accept it.” The point could not have been better made. The law is entirely Uganda’s internal affair and we encourage President Museveni to stand by his words not to tolerate meddling in his country’s affairs by the west or any outsider for that matter on this unnecessarily contentious matter.

Justice and the British media

– Hacking trial shows that journalists are not above the law

OR the past three years, British political and public life has been convulsed by revelations about press misconduct. Claims that newspapers listened clandestinely to the telephone messages of politicians, celebrities and private individuals have not only caused an outcry; they led to the closure of a century-old newspaper, Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World, and calls for statutory curbs on the British press. There have been a number of inquiries into the conduct of journalists by House of Commons select committees and, most notably, Lord Justice Leveson’s marathon investigation into the press. These public inquests have been part spectacle, part expose. Lost in the process is the fact that much of the wrongdoing was already an offence under existing law. Victims of phone hacking have received substantial damages and prominent journalists have been brought to trial, most notably in the so-called hacking case which has been running for the past 130 days at the Old Bailey. On Tuesday, the jury delivered the bulk of its verdicts in one of the longest and most expensive trials in British legal history. Andy Coulson, the one-time editor of the News of the World and former head of communications for David Cameron, the UK prime minister, was found guilty of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages. The other leading defendant, Rebekah Brooks, the former head of Mr Murdoch’s newspaper empire in Britain and a former tabloid editor, was acquitted. The conviction of Mr Coulson has political resonance. Even when Mr Cameron originally appointed him in 2007, there were question marks over the Conservative leader’s judgment. Two individuals employed by the News of the World had been imprisoned for hacking into the voicemails of members of Britain’s royal family during Mr Coulson’s tenure. The prime minister was warned against making such a high-risk appointment, but blithely accepted Mr Coulson’s word and ploughed ahead regardless. On Tuesday Mr Cameron kept a promise made three years ago and apologised for employing him, admitting it was the “wrong decision”. Mr Cameron’s admission is welcome but there are lingering concerns about Mr Coulson’s appointment since he was privy to classified information. He was not properly vetted when he came into Number 10. Mr Cameron will now have to suffer the Labour taunt that he employed a criminal. The bigger question is what this trial and its verdicts signify for the British media in general. Throughout the hacking debacle, politicians and pressure groups have vociferously argued that new layers of regulation were needed to contain a newspaper industry that had become a law unto itself. This led Whitehall and the media into tortuous and ultimately fruitless negotiations over whether new rules were necessary and, if so, what form they should take. The conviction of Mr Coulson for conspiring to hack phones should give pause for reflection. The guilty verdict on that charge shows that legislation outlawing hacking does have teeth. It is proof that even one of Britain’s most powerful and well-connected journalists is not above the law, while another endured six months before a criminal court. The media faces change on an unprecedented scale. Long before the Old Bailey trial, newspapers were under pressure from the rise of the internet and social media. Those business challenges represent a bigger threat than phone hacking which should be dealt with separately under the law. The public must have confidence in the media. Much of the debate has been about whether new rules are needed to inspire that trust. Tuesday’s Old Bailey verdicts show that existing criminal law is a deterrent to press misconduct. – Financial Times

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Enough has been written on the June 21, Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti. INEC suddenly is being hailed for a masterclass performance in delivering that long-sought free and fair election that Nigerians had thought they could only experience in their dreams. The defeated incumbent Kayode Fayemi has equally been receiving accolades for appearing to demonstrate that long-sought un-Nigerian sportsmanship that the people again thought only existed in their dreams. The declared winner, Ayodele Fayose, has become the latest icon in the country, taking over as the toast of supposed leading lights in Nigerian politics. Suddenly, all of Nigeria’s problems are forgotten. The right to vote and be voted for is one of the most potent of all fundamental entitlements, given that it is the strongest pillar on which the Social Contract theory is firmly erected. At the turn of the old millennium, the promoters of this powerful instrument of social re-engineering fought for its enthronement on the basis that they understood it to be the only means to guarantee and safeguard an effective oiling of the electoral process, whereby governments are enthroned and dethroned, at least those that can be said to be governments of the people. This system was of course supposed to work as easy as they had envisaged. However, the obvious shortcoming of those who propounded the right to vote principle, was that, they failed to recognise, too quickly that if Man

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Ekiti: A people’s right to be wrong in the old State of Nature, was a brutish and nasty character who lived majorly for his survival via the infrastructure of his stomach, it stands to reason that the same Man would only understand and exercise his new right, largely on the orientation of the demands of his stomach, except and only if a superior force like the power of education and intellectual empowerment, forces its way into his reasoning, dethrones this perverse orientation and establish a new order. This obvious shortcoming was quickly identified by some leading intellectuals of that time. Thus, when the concept of Social Contract emerged in the West, their leaders immediately set to work to mas-

sively educate their people, knowing fully well that this was and is the only superior force that could substantially overthrow the stomach infrastructure orientation. When the Social Contract theory was sold to Africa, her deceitful leaders simply grabbed the part that favoured them exclusively i.e. that quick opportunity to attain power through the ballot box and callously ignored the other which will transform the people i.e. education. Not only did they ignore this more important other part, even when they were either coerced or pressured into delivering it, it was halfhearted, so much so that they simply delivered half-baked education, which they knew will in no way set

the people free from their stomach orientation, but will rather fill their pockets with more money, and keep the classrooms emptier by the day. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, but only to the extent that the people are enlightened enough. The African continent is saturated with countless so-called democratic governments followed by a legion of ignorant people. For the first time, I saw the Nigerian President smiling lavishing and toasting to Fayose’s victory in AsoRock. The same President, who has not been brave all along to congratulate a Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has quickly found his voice in eulogising Fayose. But can anyone

IR: “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” ¯ Walter Cronkite The situation of things in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye (OOU) at present can best be imagined than felt. While there is no denying that academically and infrastructure-wise, the institution has

improved, the other reality is that OOU is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. While tuition fee in the university was increased, one would have thought the increment would make the state government pay more attention to the development of the school. The reverse, however is the case; not only is the Ogun State gov-

Dora Akunyili, the erstwhile Nigeria’s minister of information and former NAFDAC boss. Her untimely death has thrown the entire nation into a mourning mood. We have taken solace and comfort in the fact that her legacies would endure for indefinite time, and would become the road- map and compass that will guide us in our quest for national renewal and unity. Akunyili lived a life of service worthy of emulation. She achieved fame while heading NAFDAC. She sanitized our drug markets. She was the nemesis of fake drug manufacturers, and importers of noxious and substandard health products. A fearless woman, she risked her life to rid Nigeria of fake and injurious drugs. She suffered two

assassination attempts, but they didn’t deter her from waging a relentless war against merchants of death. As information minister, she demonstrated her unalloyed love for the country when she asked members of Federal Executive Council to do the right thing regarding the political impasse and leadership vacuum caused by late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s health predicament. The death of Akunyili has robbed Nigeria of a great and detribalized leader. She would be greatly remembered for her forthrightness, common-touch, courage and integrity.

ernment not contributing a dime to the development of the school, it has said it would no longer pay even the salaries of the university staff. While noticeable changes can be seen in the school since Professor Saburi Adesanya took over the reins of the university (the university now has hostels in mini campus, the hostels in the main campus are nearing completion, a standard university library is under construction, the sports centre is fully equipped with standard equipments and standard gym, and various buildings are under construction), the fear is that just like other Vice Chancellors before him failed because their state government left them to face the ‘cold’ alone. Why? The salaries of the past three months of the university staff were paid with money from the university account; money meant to develop the school and manage the day to day running of the university. Now, if the money for the daily running of the university is used to pay salaries, what happens to the school? On May 31, the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun claimed that he had committed N21.6 billion as subvention to its universities in the past three years. Yet, the projects being

????????????????? Olabisi Onabanjo University’s ticking bomb

Akunyili: An Amazon goes into the night

IR: A British historian once said, “Death is the consequence of birth.” We are born to die. In fact, our shrouds were sown for us while we were in our mothers’ wombs. Death is an inescapable reality that will fell every human being. It is the lot that awaits us all. Death plants grief and sorrows in any house it visits. But, death cannot obliterate the memories of our heroes and heroines. The memories of Nigeria’s past leaders who had common-touch are ever green in our minds. Their names and memories are forever etched and inscribed in our collective consciousness. And, we remember them with fondness. So, unsurprisingly, grief seized us following the death of Professor

blame the President, Abuja is sitting on free flowing oil money, in the middle of a slum, and the only problem is how to spend it. Gladly for the ruling party, Fayose has proved well how that money can be spent. But it is good for the PDP to celebrate, after all, the continued prosperity of the party is certainly guaranteed so long as the Nigerian peoples’, running with ethnic and tribal sentiments, prefer the insults of recharge cards and yards of Ankara to quality leadership. Fayose’s victory already tells the story of how the 2015 Elections will be. Those who do not yet have a minimart or kiosk, can begin to plan one, given that the next few months will see them empowered with an assortment of PDP Ankara, PDP Sugar, PDP Milo, PDP Milk, PDP La casera, PDP Viju milk, PDP recharge cards and PDP rice. Why should anyone complain that Nigeria is bad, after all, every people deserve the kind of leaders they get? • Olusola Adegbite, Esq. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

• Chiedu Uche Okoye Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

executed in the university has been as a result of the magnanimity of the various education bodies and the interventions of TETFund and other bodies. Even commercial cab drivers pay N100 daily as their contribution to the development of the school. The bottom line is that everyone is toiling and struggling, everyone is paying heavily to ensure that this university regains its status as a leading university in this country and beyond; everybody but the state government charged with the responsibility of developing, maintaining and improving the university. In OOU, the least paid by students is N109,000; some students pay as high as N250,000 per session. Education is germane to Ogun State students and if the current state government is not prepared to pay attention to it, it should be prepared to face the ire of the students. Governor Amosun should step in to bring down the hike in tuition fees, increase funding for the school while also contributing to the infrastructural development of the university. • James Ogunjimi Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014 16

COMMENTS

Hero or nothing like it Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

OWARDS with columns pass as men of valour. I am a columnist and perhaps a coward. But you would never know. You could never tell if I am true to the calling or just another character pushing pen and idle rant to make ends meet. It is never my intent to arrogate to myself some blundering heroism or self-abnegating priesthood, there is too many of my ilk doing just that. I write to vex your ego and caress it, as your prejudices dictate. I write to contend and affirm those defining moments in which you have discovered me to be a coward or villain, time and over again. But Nigeria has taught me that heroism is overrated; villainy could be relative and cowardliness is a virtue where perverted will consorts with ill. You are entitled to whatever you think of me. And I am entitled to what random thought I deem worthy of your readership – knowing

the tenor of my rant inadvertently guides you to define me. So, if I am your hero, I believe you think too much of me. If I am your villain or contemptible coward…well, what can I say? But if you consider me to be an idiot, I hope you finally get to understand that no one can be a Nigerian without being in the strictest sense, an idiot. The average Nigerian is a special fool. The higher his status, the more adroit he is in perpetuating his folly. But this is hardly flak for the Nigerian fool in high places; it has always being his luck to find some greater fool to admire him. This is about the greater fool. This is about men and women of which every nerve is disoriented and every fiber that isn’t could be certified handicapped. This is about men and women presumably of higher learning and good breeding; those extraordinary Nigerians by whose talent and individuality Ni-

‘Who is your columnist? Is he truly that great, heroic man speaking and pricking conscience as a tireless patriot? Is he that uncommon, high-cultivated man of letters that has eluded our nation for so long? Is he a heroic seeker of truth and shiner of hope? It could be honourable to be all that and much more but alas! We are no heroic bringers of light and that is because our readers aren’t heroic seekers of it’

ARE Arisekola Alao was a man born to be great. Arisekola was born to move with kings and dine with serfs until he was raised by his maker to be kingmaker. I was not there when he was born; but I think that God heard him when he asked to be blessed with enough resources so that he could bless others. If we have to postulate on what he asked God for, I dare say that Aare Arisekola Alao asked for knowledge and wisdom whilst on earth to be able to deal with the multi-dimensional problems that he will face as a rich man. Arisekola Alao received the gift of the gab and brain. He took his own education by the strides until he got to the position of commanding posture as a self-educated man. He utilized his wealth in a way that affirms the saying that “Giver never lacks” He would spend and spend until he was spent. Among the agreements he made with God (as I think) was that he would feed the downtrodden with his wealth. The evidence of this was that you will find people every Friday at his place. You will see hundreds of head taking cues to be blessed with food and money. The case heightened on any festive period – Ileya, Ramadan, Eid- El – Moulud, New Year, Christmas and Easter was never excluded. Aare Azeez Arisekola Alao will be remembered for his oversized generosity. Those who relate with him very well will know that though he was a confirmed Muslim of note, yet he would not forget his relatives that were Christians. For those who care to know, they can go to Christ Anglican Church, Mapo. He helped in stabilizing quarrels in some other churches and had made good and reasonable donations in the service of God. (Muslims and Christians). When my father the late Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief John Adeyemi Ayorinde died – Azeez showed himself as a relative per excellence. Aare Arisekola did not miss any of the nine days that the ceremony lasted. He was very prominent in the church service. So also was his presence and participation at the church during the burial ceremony of Otun Iyalode of Ibadanland Chief Mrs. Aduke Vaughan, founder of Omolewa Primary and Secondary School. In short he lived a life of ardent follower of the commandment of God “Love your fellow men as yourself” For those who knew him well they dared not go into Christian religious argument with him. In the same breath he was a revered Muslim throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria – Aare Muslumi –the Aare (Generalissimo) of all the Muslims in Yorubaland.

geria customarily channels pride and banalities of a better tomorrow. This is about the Nigerian columnist, the one whose dazzling intellectualism Moliere’s riposte of the knowledgeable fool fittingly substantiates. Today, we grovel at the feet of the ruling class, like mongrels. Today, we recognize the stench of the looter with the fattest envelope and our trained eyeballs hardly passes over the prospective interviewee with the promising smile which sooner breaks into a sneer. In our calling, there are still nogo areas. We can never question religion save the instances we get to castigate one faith to elevate another, in the heat of poverty-induced pogroms we have learnt to call ‘religious crises and ‘politics.’ Need I say people are simply hungry? They are jobless too. That is why they become cannon-fodder in needless genocides. The labourer still goes home with heavy steps, and the heart of the casual worker resuming night shift shrivels desolately, like fresh mutton sautéed with local gin. Even the newborn arrives sorrow-clad; he probably wishes that he had waited till never. Within this unbearable cheerlessness, the masses stare resignedly at our cover pages with knowing glares. They know they would never hear the infinitesimal clangour of chilled truth nor would they enjoy the comfort of temperate hope because we have become the aberration of their desperate circumstances. The Nigerian columnist thinks himself a national hero; a noble intellectual and man of letters. Such is the wonder of a newspaper column; it goads many of us columnists to think too highly of ourselves. Add to the mix, a mass of fawning and frosty readership, and you have a perfect cocktail that makes a nar-

cissist and lapdog of even the most modest journalist. How far we evolve as columnists depends on the quality of citizenship exhibited by the most patronizing and hostile audience. Yet it would never do to lay the blame for what we have become on society; that would be tantamount to perpetuating the “Nigerian factor” – that ageless pretext we have learnt to incite every time we fall short of measure. Who is your columnist? Is he truly that great, heroic man speaking and pricking conscience as a tireless patriot? Is he that uncommon, high-cultivated man of letters that has eluded our nation for so long? Is he a heroic seeker of truth and shiner of hope? It could be honourable to be all that and much more but alas! We are no heroic bringers of light and that is because our readers aren’t heroic seekers of it. We do not seek to fight and conquer persistent monstrosities our ruling class manically visit upon us. Many a columnist live to echo the cynicism and intolerable disloyalty of all manners of readership and many a reader live to applaud the treachery to the Nigerian State and posterity. The result is a gang of conscienceless and fortune-seeking citizenry. If we could overlook such decadence in our readership, we couldn’t justify a smidgen of it in Nigeria’s Fourth Estate even if we tried; that is because we ought to fare better. Now that we have replaced our heroes past, we embellish their truths into absurdities and bad lies. Every day, we fail our people with shame we do not feel. We have become the stamen that lets down the azalea, the comforter that brings grief, the emissaries of needless hate. We have become slaves to the tyrants we ought to remove. Did

we fight the military to a standstill so that we may become their instruments as democratic tyrants? Shall we forever be gut-challenged? We offer no direction folks save our shenanigans in the interest of the ruling class. Today every columnist seeks friends in high places but then, we are only being Nigerian. It’s time we inspired by the wisdom of dead writers; sages from whose ashes we struggle to rise. It’s time we held a cup of water for the dying veterans to sip. It’s time we searched their eyes to learn the gleam of courage and earn it. It’s time we screamed in coherence. It’s time we usurped the dominant order and rid our lives of the blanched bubus that makes us the vacuous wimps that we are. It’s time we congregated to produce the leadership that we crave. Now that the die is triple-cast, let us put our hearts to words our pens write. And if we fall to the inanities we chasten and yet ennoble in others, then we shall know we are the broken clay pots calling the kettle black. We could midwife the dawn that would herald our freedom, yet. Let us become the conscience of the ruling class and the pulse of the breadlines lest we become dead to future generations; lest they never get to read of our selfless beginnings; lest they only get to know of the noon that confused us and the sunset of our debauchery. If we fail to change, our twilight will malign us. And in death, we shall lay rapt in the indecency of our lowly graves, our ears keen for the least abrasive diatribe we may get to treasure as the eulogies we never had. Let us brighten our world with truth. Let us imbue it with wisdom and deep delight. Shall we now begin to strive more conscientiously and make our world the best it could be?

Good night, Arisekola-Alao By Elder Taiye Ayorinde He was not a Muslim fanatic and he would not be in favour/support of any fanatic – Christian or a Muslim. If I have the power like what Jesus did for Lazarus; I would say Aare Azeez Arisekola – wake up and come forth because you have an unfinished job to do for Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria in general. Aare would not hide behind any one finger. He would call a spade a spade to, for and on behalf of any government in power be it for good or otherwise. He would say his mind. It was never too hard for him to back any political aspirant known to be focused and with good mandate for the down-trodden, and the general public. Though Aare Arisekola is a world-known business mogul of note, yet he was able to find time not only for family issues but also for subjects relating to Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria in general. My knowledge of Azeez shows him as a blunt person who does not speak with double tongue. He was a selfeducated man in the history of the Yorubas – especially that of Ibadan, and a highly diplomatic person where his utterances might cause a hue and cry. As a Muslim leader, he did not treat Christians, be it in his family or outside his community as outcasts. Aare Arisekola is a non-discriminatory person for those who beggar for upliftment. Who are we to blame and stop God for allowing his demise now? If it would need money to stop his death…there is enough of it. If it would be prayers from both Christians and Muslims to stop him going to higher glory, Nigeria, Oyo State and most especially Ibadan, have millions of them ready to beg God. But sorry to say that God has planted a timer in each and every one of us; no matter how much we try, or how hard we pray and fast for God not to take him away, once the time is up for man to go…he has no choice. God’s time is no man’s time. The door God shuts, no man born of a woman can open. Like Dora Akunyili my friend of note, he would send his invitation cards of any of her events to me by Courier Service. We would share discussions on national interests. Her time also stopped when God decreed it to stop. Death is an inevitable end of man’s journey on earth. We will miss our loved ones when they go to sleep till we all meet again. Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao the beloved man of Timber

and Calibre felled by death - please sleep on till we all meet again. Who will take his place in Ibadan as the philanthropist per excellence? Who will become another Aare Muslumi of Yorubaland like him? Tell me who is he or she that can become a rallying point for goodness for the hungry and down-trodden like him? If it is possible for him to see what was in the minds of the public at his funeral, then when he is with papa God, he should be grateful for living a life of an icon and fulfilled life as decreed by God. Let us think of what people will say when we are gone. Let us not be like the Biblical Rich man and Lazarus. When we are gone, be sure that God will sit us down in front of the Television and a Radio by the side to play back our life on earth. Alone, he will ask of us what did we do on earth with the talents he gave us. Azeez, you have by death become older that those older than you. You have also left a legacy of honour. With his larger than large wealth and name, he would prostrate to any older person he met. He did not lack respect for them. To the younger ones he has left a legacy to replicate. May we have the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of a born religious leader, the philanthropist per excellence, the Ibadan State proponent and mover and the man born to uplift the downtrodden. Good night Arisekola Alao…Good night the man of the people. • Elder Dr. Ayorinde is Bale of Ekotedo, Ibadan, Oyo State

‘Who will take his place in Ibadan as the philanthropist per excellence? Who will become another Aare Muslumi of Yorubaland like him? Tell me who is he or she that can become a rallying point for goodness for the hungry and down-trodden like him?’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

COMMENTS ‘In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act’ - George Orwell

ODAY’s column is informed by the startling result of the governorship election held last Saturday in Ekiti State. Many are still in shock that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and current governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi lost woefully to Mr Ayodele Fayose of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). A frank dissection of that defeat calls for some home truth. After all, it was Mahatma Gandhi that once said: “Truth never damages a cause that is just.” Permit me to add that it strengthens it. The cause of progressivism being pursued, especially in the Southwest by the APC, needs critical re-appraisal if the party plans to sustain its power-grip and continue to make meaningful impacts in the political firmament of this important region. The Ekiti electoral defeat portends perilous consequences for progressive politics. Voters in Ekiti, in that free and fair election, have demonstrated that indeed, sovereignty truly belongs to the people and that the people’s power held in trust by the elected officers of any polity can be withdrawn by them during periodic elections. Hitherto, the public had held tenaciously to the belief that the political party in power will always win any election because of what is commonly referred to in this part of the world as ‘incumbency factor.’ This power of incumbency is euphemism for executive tyranny in all parts of the country - without an exception. It is not only President Goodluck Jonathan that is ruling the country with fistic grip; other states’ governors have been ruling their jurisdictions as if such states were annexes of their private homes. This attitude is responsible for why most of the governors have refused to conduct local government elections despite the fact that the lowest rung of government must constitutionally be governed by democratically elected people. Even when such council elections were

‘Something urgent must be done since an admission of this fact will save the national leadership from incurring in future the kind of electoral ridicule witnessed in Ekiti. This column believes that only deep-rooted honest introspection and an embrace of truth can rescue APC’ “You must continue to pull positively against the negative forces”. – Jim Rohn DEAR Nigerian men and women of goodwill, nation-builders and change agents, I really don’t have time for pleasantries! So I will just get straight to the point! You complain, murmur, gripe and whine! You find fault! You criticize! You grumble a lot about Nigeria but you are no match for me. And that is why I have been winning. Your goodness to Nigeria is so little that it is pitiful. Your goodness to Nigeria is so weak that it is pathetic. Your goodness to Nigeria is modest that it doesn’t even register on the gauge. And that is why I have been winning. While you slept, I organized; I collaborated with like minds. I stayed up late into the night and early hours of the morning, studying, planning and strategizing. I am deliberate and purposeful about everything I do. And that is why I have been winning. While you play around with ideas and concepts, I work hard day and night sowing seeds of evil and corruption into the land. I have sown seeds of confusion, chaos and crisis; I have sown these seeds intentionally because I am creating the future I desire to see in my “tomorrow” today! And that is why I have been winning! While you spent hours, days, weeks, months, and years arguing and disagreeing about ways and means and about everything and anything I ran circles around you getting my job done. I closed ranks with fellow evil, wicked, crooked, dishonest, unethical, shady, immoral, fraudulent and corrupt men (and women). I unite with them to take over strategic territories (industries and areas of influences) in the land. And we work strategically to take over more and more territory in the land. I try and make sure we all stay together in unity and agreement. And when we do have disagreements I settle them fast.

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Time for home truth

• Fayemi conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), the party in power clears all the seats. The debacle: Most governors flagrantly disobey the constitution they swore to uphold, while in the other case, some governors and their parties organised elections that do not truly reflect the wishes of the people. This development has been the sad tale in both the PDP and APC-controlled states among others. Unknown to most of these governors, not conducting the constitutionally required local government election will actually deny them the opportunity of knowing the genuine feelings of the people for their government. After all, most governors usually surround themselves with bootlickers who may never be inclined to letting them know the truth until after their individual tenure. This confirms Oscar Wilde’s affirmation: “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” This, in the column’s view, was partly responsible for Governor Fayemi’s ouster from power through the ballot box last week. Most of our governors are so power-drunk that they are usually not ready to test their

popularity through such elections. Yet, Socrates, the inimitable philosopher, once bemoaned that an ‘unexamined life is not worth living.’ The consequence of executive aloofness from the genuine needs of the people was seen in the way Fayemi was massively voted out of power by the voters in that state. As a digression, permit me to say that after June 12, 1993 Presidential election, that Ekiti State election was another unique election that gave hope that the country can, if the right thing is done in the right direction, get it right electorally by the INEC. The election was free and fair and even transparent. Fayemi merely did the honourable thing by congratulating Fayose, the winner of that election. Doing anything contrary under the circumstance would have cast him as an intolerant democrat. What could have further gone wrong in that state? Afterall, Fayemi has reportedly transformed the state to the admiration of all. He builds roads, drainage channels and is turning the state’s environment into admirable sight for all to see. Not much is known by this column about his onslaughts in the realm of agriculture, transportation, education and health to mention but few. But yours sincerely could glean that his relationship with party stalwarts and other important stakeholders is equally poor. However, because of the derelict state of roads in Nigeria generally, it is easier for any governor that embarks on road projects to be easily celebrated by the people. Under the current dispensation, the APC governors have smartly exploited this lacuna in road infrastructure to gain aplomb. But this is not enough developmental efforts in a country where there is huge graduate unemployment, widespread insecurity, insufficient food production capacity and poor transportation system in place. So, in the midst of these largely un-tackled challenges, it will be wrong for any governor or even president to think that tarring and expansion of roads alone will guarantee reelection. The people in power need to ask

Why I have been winning… By Olaboludele Simoyan I cannot afford for anything to slow me down. And that is why I have been winning! While you scatter your energy playing the blame game, I am so focused. I am so focused I have no time for complaining. I am so focused that I am like a laser beam cutting through every obstacle that may stand in my way. I am so focused I eat, drink, breathe, smell, sleep, dream and think endlessly about how I can get the job done faster, better and quicker. I just get the job done no matter what it may cost me. I pay the price for what I want and for what I desire. I follow through to the very end, every time. That is why I get the job done. And that is why I have been winning! So why am I writing you this letter because I want to mock you; to scorn you! I want to ridicule, make fun of your woeful, miserable and deplorable efforts at nation-building. I want you to know that I am in charge. I want you to know that you are the constituent that is wrong with Nigeria – meanwhile you try to blame me. You point accusing fingers at me condemning me for what is wrong with Nigeria but you just don’t get it. You really just don’t get it! It is so sad you just don’t. And that is why I have been winning! You see it is a fight for territory. Every day and in every way you and I are fighting for territory. You and I are fighting to take over the land. You and I are fighting for control. You and I are fighting for power. You and I are fighting for influence daily. You and I are fighting to inhabit the land Nigeria. Fortunately I do get it; and unfortunately you don’t. For now I would say I have a greater sense of ownership over Nigeria than you do. And I

intend to keep it that way for a very long time. I would also say I have a stronger sense of purpose and determination to take over and occupy the land. I permeate, infuse and saturate the land with my evil and corrupt deeds. I douse, drench and flood the society with mischief, trouble and chaos. At any point in time I am many steps way ahead of you. I work extremely hard to maintain the status quo. I always go the extra mile just to get the job done. And that is why I have been winning. I am fulfilling my purpose. I am working daily to achieve my life assignment. You need to understand that I am just doing exactly what I was born to do in the land Nigeria at a time such as this. And if I must say so myself, I am doing a pretty good job at it, and that is why I have been winning. The questions I would like to ask you are “Are you doing what you were born to do for Nigeria? Are you doing a great job at it?” Two simple questions to answer but I bet that you people of goodwill will spend hours, days, weeks, months and years overanalyzing and dissecting that you won’t ever get round to answering the two simple questions. Talk less of even changing things. And even if you finally do answer the two simple questions you will most probably take little or no action. And that is why I have been winning! While you make things unnecessary complicated, I always work hard at keeping things simple – very simple. I make things simple enough for the average person on the street to understand. I make my messages simple enough for it to take hold in the minds of masses. I make my communication simple enough for it to catch fire in the hearts of our people. You guys are just too intelligent

themselves how affordable the services being provided by their governments are to the people that in most cases are poverty-stricken and deprived. It is clear that university tuition is beyond the reach of poor children of struggling civil servants and largely peasants living in virtually all states. The peanuts called salaries and other allowances are mostly paid in arrears by most state governments while elected/appointed people in government live in opulence. How far has the huge construction going on in these states been of benefit to locals? Have such projects benefited members/foot soldiers of the party that worked tirelessly for the election of these governors? Are these governors implementing the manifesto of their party or just following whatever interest them as projects? Do these APC governors give majority of their party loyalists the desired sense of belonging? While this column agrees that these challenges contributed largely to why Fayemi lost in his re-election bid, it equally wants to state that the day he refused to give Fayose the then ACN party’s senatorial ticket was the day the foundation of his political loss was laid. Fayose is reportedly popular among the grassroots people, while Fayemi is an intellectual elite that is far alienated from his people and this further compounded by the fact that he is not schooled in political empiricism. Fayemi’s failure in this regard calls to question the supremacy of political party that was so ingrained in western region’s political culture since the days of late Papa Obafemi Awolowo. Does it mean the leadership of APC across Yoruba land cannot call him to order before things degenerated to what we witnessed last weekend? Now that the man has lost, the problem becomes not only his personal affairs but that of the entire party with the fate of diminishing progressive politics in the region hanging in the air. The election in Ekiti State has come and gone, but the nostalgic feelings of the thrills and trauma will for a long time remain worthy reference point. The APC leadership must come together to save the party from looming danger. Members of the leadership of the party, in most states, are enmeshed in crisis of ego with the governors. Something urgent must be done since an admission of this fact will save the national leadership from incurring in future the kind of electoral ridicule witnessed in Ekiti. This column believes that only deep-rooted honest introspection and an embrace of truth can rescue APC. The haughty disposition of governors can only last a short while. And the reason is simple: Historical antecedents have shown that such always fall in the end like a pack of cards. Simply put, the APC needs more of home truths to sustain power in states that it presently controls.

for your own good. You are just too intellectual for anybody’s good. You are too brilliant that you consistently talk above people’s heads. Your message is just way too complicated that the masses just switch off when you try and communicate your message. And that is why I have been winning! Can you stop my winning sprees? I would say yes. However that is if you would humble yourself and learn from me what I am doing right to get the job done. Is that going to happen? Your guess is as good as mine! Nonetheless judging from past experience, I doubt it because like I said before, you will probably end up over analyzing, talking too much and taking little or no action. And that is why I have been winning! Bottom line: Your hunger to win has to be greater than mine! That is the only way you can beat me at this game and short of that I will just keep on winning! Many hearty cheers! On behalf of the evil, corrupt, malicious and wicked people of Nigeria! • Ms Simoyan writes from Lagos.

‘The questions I would like to ask you are “Are you doing what you were born to do for Nigeria? Are you doing a great job at it?” Two simple questions to answer but I bet that you people of goodwill will spend hours, days, weeks, months and years over-analyzing and dissecting that you won’t ever get round to answering the two simple questions’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

‘Industrial bank ‘ll enhance competitiveness'

25 NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government. -Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

CWG eyes top tech position with 2.0

By Chikodi Okereocha & Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

F local manufacturers must scale up their operations and raise their profitability and competitiveness, there is need to set up an industrial bank to separate manufacturers from traders. This will also put in place inbuilt mechanism or rate specific to the needs of the manufacturing industry, a foremost industrialist and Chairman of DN Meyer Plc, Sir Remi Omotoso, has said. He said the manufacturing industry is operating in an extremely hash business environment occasioned by lack of infrastructure, policy inconsistency, and skyrocketing cost of production, among others, which required the setting up of an industrial bank to specifically cater for the needs of manufacturers. He said: "When you look at manufacturers' total cost of operations, manufactured goods in Nigeria are about 40 per cent more expensive than the same goods manufactured in the West Coast of Africa. “So, the manufacturing industry in Nigeria is not competitive and that is why this importation of all sorts of goods into Nigeria is going on unabated, very profitable for those who are importing because the goods that are produced in this country cannot compete in terms of quality and cost." While pointing out that there is a lot involved in the situation in which the manufacturing sector finds itself today, Sir Omotoso, a former Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said the need for an industrial bank specifically targeted at manufacturers had become necessary. He said: "The manufacturing sector is the most adversely affected by the problem of lack of infrastructure. There is hardly any manufacturing industry in Nigeria today that is not generating its own power, providing itself with water, while a number of them have to connect their factories to the road at their own expense." He said if manufacturers have to bear such a heavy burden of cost and do not enjoy any protection whatsoever, it is recipe for death. He said: "That's why you have manufacturing industries which in the 70s and 80s were contributing about 10 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), now contributing less than four per cent. "Go and find out why the likes of Michelin packed out of this country. Virtually all the textile factories have all died and you know one thing leads to the other. If the value chain connected with these various manufacturing outfits, the one that does the final manufacture is out, what do you think will happen to the suppliers?"

By Lucas Ajananku

•From left: Deputy Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu; Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyeama; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank PLC, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo; Executive Director, IT and Market Operations, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo; and Executive Director, Risk Management, Skye Bank, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, at NSE’s Bell Ringing Ceremony in Lagos.

Forte Oil to increase Geregu power output to 435Mw

HE new owner of Geregu power plant, Forte Oil Plc, has concluded plans to increase its output to 435 megawatts (Mw) of electricity from its installed capacity of 414Mw, it was learnt. An official of the company told The Nation that the company has a robust expansion and efficient production plan for the power plant but cannot go out fully to implement it because of the current interim market rules (IMR). The source noted that in the short term, it is expanding generation from the power plant to 435Mw, a marginal increase of 21Mw. The IMR was introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as short term measures to mitigate the current

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

transitional problems being experienced by the privatised successor companies unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). By the time the IMR ends expectedly by August, and the Transition Electricity Market (TEM), which is a more permanent structure and part of the power sector reform plan begins, Forte Oil will fully implement its transformation agenda, the source said. Amperion Power Distribution Company, the consortium that bought Geregu Power Plant, is a subsidiary of Forte Oil Plc. The company took possession and control of the power plant on November 1 last year. On takeover of the asset,

Forte said as part of its diversification plan from its primary business of petroleum products marketing, to carve a niche for itself in the power generation sector, it will increase the plant’s generation capacity from 414Mw to over 600mw in the short to medium term. The optimisation of the power output from the asset, Forte Oil said, would be a demonstration of its commitment to help bridge the current power deficit in Nigeria and help actualise the expectations of Nigerians in stable power. The plant was commissioned in 2007 with three Siemens open cycle gas turbine power generation units totaling 414Mw. The three operational units have a

rated capacity of 138Mw each, and are fueled with gas from two pipelines. The source also told The Nation that as part of Forte Oil Plc’s transformation, the fuel marketing business is being positioned for profitability and noted that when the new current management took over, most of the retail outlets operated unprofitably, a situation that has now improved substantially. “We want to have Forte Oil’s retail outlets everywhere in the country. We have also put in place a policy that ensures that at any of our retail outlets, customers must get full value for their purchases. If you found any of our outlets that is under-dispensing, report such fuel station to any of our officials,” the source added.

Dangote’s $140m Cameroon cement plant ready soon

HE Dangote Cement plant in Cameroon will be completed and streamed in August. Already, the $140 million (about N22 billion) plant, with initial capacity to produce one million tons of cement per annum has reached 70 per cent completion, leaving the remaining 30 per cent for the construction of access roads within the plant, General Manager, Dangote Cement Cameroon, Abdullahi Baba has said. Briefing journalists on the status of the plant during a facility tour , Mr. Baba said the company will grow its capacity to 1.5 million tons per annum after

By Chikodi Okereocha

two years. He said the plant, which, for a start, will employ about 300 people directly, will produce 42.5 grade of cement. “As a policy Dangote cement worldwide produces 42.5 grade of cement because we take the safety and health of our people very seriously. The price of our products will be quite competitive. “We have a jetty to support this operation. That is why this site is very strategic because it is adjacent to the water front where we are building a jetty of 200 meters long for all our clinker and gymson ship to come and berth here. Right

from the ship side we are installing some of the best equipment in dust control,” he said, adding that contract for the construction of the jetty, which is being designed by PI Engineering, a local contractor, will be awarded within the next two weeks. Baba also said the plant parades a clinker silo with a capacity of 30, 000 tons as well as a VRM (Vertical Roller Mill) with a capacity of 170 tons per hour. He said: “That is the most efficient grinding mill in the world in terms of energy, noise, and pollution. We have two cement silos each with a capacity of 7, 000 tons, so all together we can store

a total of 14, 000 tons of cement. We have three bagging machines and six automatic loading machines. That means all the trucks will be loaded automatically.” He further said the plant will be utilising power from the national grid. According to him, after studying power utilisation and the outages, and being a grinding plant, the firm believes that the national grid can support its grinding operations. While saying the firm has an alternative plan with regards to power supply for its operations, he added that if the need arose, it will build a power plant to support its operations and also feed the host communities.

OUNDER and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Mr. Austin Okere has said the firm has the potential to become the next Google or Facebook from Africa, given the business prospects of its new business model, CWG 2.0. Speaking during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, he said the management of the firm has been relentless in pushing the activities of the firm forward over the last one year in spite of the harsh operating environment. According to him, the CWG 2.0 is a subscription based business model driven by the quest to help Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grow and make notable social impact. This includes Openshopen, a website that affords shop owners open their own virtual store online and SMERP, an enterprise resource planning solution that will help business owners manage their business inventories on a subscription basis. According to him, Openshopen will allow business owners to open their own online virtual stores which will give their businesses visibility leverages. “If a buyer searches for a shop that sells spare parts in your location online, for example, he can get to see your store address and get to buy from you without any stress, if you have registered your presence online” he said. Moreover, the solution will democratize domain possession and give Micro, Small and Medium business owners the platform to compete with known online stores at cheaper rates. Okere also pointed out that these solutions will have significant social impacts on the society. According to him, there are about 17.7 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the country. He said: “With their own online stores and with the aid of enterprise resource planning, we will empower SMEs to be able to keep their own records. Then, they can present their records to get credits from the banks. With these loans, they can be able to expand their businesses. If they are able to expand their businesses, each of them can employ one more person. If each of them employs one more person, we will end up creating 17.7 million more jobs. The unemployment rate in Nigeria is about 23 per cent, which amounts to about 16 million jobless youths. With this development, we will eradicate unemployment and have more jobs to spare.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Despite the sponsorship right war among brands, the World Cup fun is on. The marketing communication industry is awash with promos, which have changed the lives of some consumers, who never thought they could travel overseas. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI reports.

World Cup promos: Bringing dreams to reality

S the FIFA World Cup in Brazil continues with lots of marketing opportunities for brands, promos keep running across the world. Over the years, the tournament has become one of the most effective for brands with sponsorship right with FIFA to connect with consumers. With the ongoing mundial, which boasts of a projected three billion viewers world ways, Nigeria which is expected to house a larger chunk of the projected 20 per cent of the West African viewers, is already rallying about 17.5 million viewers put together as at its last match with Iran. This figure by GeoPoll, the world’s largest real-time mobile survey platform, remain the basis for various national consumer promos in the country. Offering various prizes such as electronics, recharge cards, souvenirs, mouth-watering cash prizes sound like an old folklore. But with aggressive and ambitious marketing budget, consumers are experiencing more thrills from brands like never before as most of the brands running promos are constantly improving their promos reward system. For instance, consumers get prizes that are out of this world like an All-expense paid trip FIFA World Cup in Brazil. This investment is understandable considering market size, growing passion for football among Nigerians which will enhance increased brand equity during the World Cup tournament in Brazil. Although the promos are not just to thrill consumers to such costly all-expense trip, they aim at raising customers’ awareness of a product or brand, generating sales, and creating brand loyalty. On the part of consumers too, winners of overall prizes during promos have either become millionaires, car owners, home owners or even earning salaries from life overnight just as the effect on sales record of companies who get it right has been significant. Despite this, consumers have always been skeptical about promos and their promises as desperate bid by brands to balance the book often make them promise what they can’t deliver. “Dubious corporate establishments have latched in on the adoption of promos by Nigerians as a way of life and have adopted the use of fake promos as a marketing tool to dupe gullible Nigerians. They will promise hundreds of cars but will only give out few; many houses and none will be given out at the end of the day etc. This has led to a high level of distrust in Nigerians towards promos as not many budge today in the advertisement of new promos,” says the Chief Executive Officer, KushMedia, Mr. Yemi Kushimo. Meanwhile, since last year, many top brands have been offering various attractive prizes, and so far there has never been report of default. Industry analysts believe such sincerity is propelled by the vetting of the promos by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) whose representative always show at promo draws and prize redemption, though most consumers and promo participants still have their reservation on promos. However, fulfillment of such promise has

remained a strong bond that encourages consumers to participate. During the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, Guinness Nigeria fulfilled hope of many consumers through its “Fly with the Eagles” Campaign. The Nation observed that about 200 consumers, all overall winners, were sponsored to watch the match live in South Africa. Also, the Nigerian Breweries has also sponsored many consumers to UEFA Champions League through its premium brand, Heineken. As sweet as these sound, many consumers still consider promos as a risk, but with the huge prizes often attached, some of them go ahead to participate and see if they could be lucky winners.Theodora Egbejiogu and Charles Ude are not unaware of the shenanigans that go on in the name of promotions but they took their chances in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup promo and won the star prize of an all-expense-paid trip to watch the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Theodora, who is an undergraduate of the University of Abuja told The Nation that she entered into the competition with fingers crossed, expecting the best, but prepared for the worst. She had submitted entries to different competitions over the years but had never been ‘lucky’ to win any until now. Her interest was piqued this time because of the promise of the star prize. According to her, she had wished she could personally watch this year’s World Cup tournaments live in Brazil and today feels that her prayers have not been in vain as she came out victorious in the Week 4 draws of the promo. Also, Ude, a student of Nassarawa State University, had his belief in promo bloated after he emerged as one of the lucky winners of the Coca-Cola World Cup promo. According to him, his faith in consumer promotions has been restored with his selection in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup promo draws as one of the star prize winners who will have the opportunity to watch the World Cup matches in Brazil. “The Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup promo has both restored my confidence and rekindled my interest in consumer promotions once again. I now know that some corporate organisations are honourable and keep to their words,” said Ude. According to the company, the promo was launched in March this year to reward CocaCola Nigeria’s loyal consumers with an opportunity to watch the World Cup live in Brazil. Coca-Cola, which is one of the four global partners of the biggest global foot-

ball event, has been a keen supporter and sponsor of the games since 1978. “This promo is a testament to the fact that Coca-Cola, as a company, is not only a sport loving brand but one that wants to share its love of sports with its consumers all over the world,” said Toyin Nnodi, Project Manager for the CocaCola Nigeria FIFA World Cup promo. Nnodi further informed that Coca-Cola stepped up its FIFA World Cup promo a notch this year by increasing the number of trip winners from five in 2010 to 22. Also, Star lager, penultimate week, sent off winners of its ‘Trip to Brazil’ promo. The brand had promised to take 11 Nigerian

‘The Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup promo has both restored my confidence and rekindled my interest in consumer promotions once again. I now know that some corporate organisations are honourable and keep to their words’

Consumers to Brazil. The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, noted that the public presentation of the winners mirrors Star as a brand that fulfils its promises. He said: “Recently, Star conducted the Win-A-Trip-To-Brazil Promo with a promise to reward our consumers and customers alike with an all-expense paid trip to the beautiful land of Brazil. Today is another proof that When STAR promises, STAR delivers.” He also said Star brand was planning consumer engagement schemes to reward consumers that did not win any of the 11 tickets to Brazil. But while the country’s national team still remain in the tournament having qualified for the knock-out stages, industry observers believe more promos for the FIFA World Cup is in the offing but its hopeful that such promos will deliver on promise. Meanwhile, with the greater optimum exposure promos give to brands to deepen their brand awareness, some brands who are not official sponsors, partners to FIFA and local football bodies have, however, devised ambush marketing approach to be part of the global football event. But whichever way they go about it, some of these promos have brought dreams of many consumers to life.

DStv plans Igbo movies for Southeast

HE operator of DStv Satellite Television Service, Multichoice Nigeria, is set to introduce Igbo channel in its bouquets. Its General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Martin Mabutho, said Multichoice would engage movie producers from the Southeast to negotiate the deal.

“They have put their hand up to say that they are now ready. When AfricaMagic was structured perhaps they were not ready but now they say they are ready and discussions are underway with our content team – Africa Magic,” he said. Multichoice runs two major languages - Hausa and Yoruba -on its

channels but it appears Ndigbo, major investors in Nollywood with their vast population, have waited for their language channel for a long time. However, industry observers believe “if these discussions with movie producers are successfully concluded, the eventual introduc-

tion of Igbo Channel will not only balance equation but would be a relief to Igbo people who prefer movie stories in their language.” Mabutho further lined up activities for DStv network in the weeks ahead, saying the moment is the World Cup, describing it as the big-

gest party in the world. He said: “As we promised, we are bringing the games live and direct to our subscribers in Standard definition and High definition TV. We also promised that all the matches will come live and some delayed will be shown on GOtv.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

Brandnews

‘Customer service key to firms’ survival’ Many firms have failed because of poor customer service, which is a key factor in marketing success. The Vice President, Somotex Nigeria, Ajay Singh, in this interview with ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI says a company’s approach to customer service will determine its fortune.

N your presentation you talked about opportunities in the market. Can you explain? Based on our research, we held trade partners conferences in three locations, namely Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. These were aimed at providing platforms to share the findings with our partners in the conference tagged: “Innovation for creating new Possibilities”. The crux of it was that Nigeria has enormous potential due to its size and population which is in excess of 160 million, though mostly youths. Nigeria, no doubt, will perform better in the near future, as the country is set to witness an immense growth in civil constructions and Infrastructural development. These facilities requirement for air conditioning will grow exponentially, hence we want our key dealers of Midea and users of commercial air conditioning (CAC) systems to be positioned for the opportunities which will begin to unfold very soon. After-sales service is often the low point of some companies. How does Somotex handle this? First, we ensure we represent and market some of the best brands across the industries where we operate, thus ensuring that what we offer the customer is the best. However, the customer is not left alone or treated with levity after the deal is closed, our personnel are often calling and visiting to ensure the customer enjoy the full benefits of his purchase. Our trade partners and customers alike trust us for efficient after-sales service. We invest

• Singh

in this because we know it’s pretty more expensive to win a new customer than maintaining an old one. A company’s mode of customer service determines its future. What gives you this optimism despite that some businesses are relocating out of the country? Nigeria is one of the few most sough-after countries investors looking for growth in frontier markets across the world. It, therefore, baffles me why businesses relocate out of Nigeria. We find no reason companies should relocate outside Nigeria because Nigeria has the highest business potential compared to any of the other African countries. Growth in infrastruc-

ture will fuel the economy, in the same vein, businesses will experience good growth. That is the assurance we seek to pass across to our trade partners across the country so that they could be better positioned for the benefits. Somotex seems like an octopus. Briefly, what is the focus of the company? Somotex Nigeria is into the marketing and distribution of electronics and machinery to industries and other customers. For instance, it is the sole distributor of Midea Commercial air-conditioning system in Nigeria. Beyond these, the company is also into packaging business and other diverse range of businesses across different industries taking care of the needs of customers in different countries in Africa while creating jobs for thousands and impacting the local economies in positive ways. What are some of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of your company? We have nothing against CSR; in fact, we are a firm believer in giving back to the society. Probably, you are not hearing about our CSR initiatives because we do not make noise about it. As CSR vehicle, Somotex operates the Devibhai Mohinani Memorial Trust funds, which are involved in major CSR activities such as sponsoring indigent students to colleges, establishment of clinics and old age homes, children homes and cataract operation camps. We hold these projects very dear to our hearts.

NB set for Maltina Dance All

IGERIAN Breweries (NB) Plc is set for the Season Eight of Maltina Dance All

(MDA). The competition is expected to excite consumers, families and dancers. The MDA is the consumer engagement and experiential marketing platform that the brand deploys for its consumers. This edition tagged “The rhythm of happiness”, according to the brand managers, will chronicle a new dance style known as Rhythm of Happiness Dance (ROHD). Before revealing the MDA theme to the media, the Atrium of the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos suddenly changed when a group of dancers stormed the stage with unique dance styles to the admiration of the audience. Known as “The MDA All Stars,” the group is made up of past participants of the show from inception. Their moves caught the attention of movie goers and shoppers instantly as their dancing steps were energetic and highly entertaining. As attention focused on them, it was not long before it became apparent that it was a prelude to the popular family dance show, Maltina Dance All (MDA) Season Eight.

The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, after the dance presentation told the media: “The dance performance we have just seen is a tip of the iceberg from this season of MDA. As we all know, it is the foremost experiential and sponsorship platform of the Maltina brand renowned for promoting togetherness with friends and loved ones. The TV show, which made its debut in 2007, has remained Nigeria’s first and only family dance TV show featuring families from various regions across the country.” He added that the show is “about the emotions, excitement, fun and the unbreakable bond that ten families will showcase when they challenge themselves by learning and performing various dance styles in the famous MDA academy”. Also, the Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Mr. Adewole Adedeji, said building any brand is a long journey. “We are glad with the evolution of the Maltina brand over the years and the impact it has made thus far. We are also very excited about what season eight of MDA have in store for us. You will agree with me that eight years is a long time for a show to still be rel-

evant and we’re very glad that Maltina, through MDA, continues to bring the brand experience of sharing happiness and fun to the consumer,” he recounted. The show will be preceded by regional auditions, which will hold at the Atruim Centre,Port Harcourt from July 18-19; National Theatre, Lagos between July 24 and 26 and at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja from August 1 to 2.

69 firms beat CSR Awards deadline TRUCONTACT CSR Nigeria, organisers of The SERA Eighth Annual Nigeria CSR Awards, have announced an increase in the number of companies that have entered for the awards billed to hold on October 18 at the Muson Centre, Lagos. FirstBank, Fidelity Bank, BAT, DHL, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nestle, Shell, Promasidor, Oando, Cornerstone Insurance and 59 others beat the May 30, deadline for the submission of entries. The award, which was launched in 2007, has enjoyed successful seasons The theme of the event is: Creating an enabling organisational structure for sustainability. “All is set for the commence-

ment of verification and facility visits to projects and locations entered by the organisations. The SERA involves the production of an annual Nigeria Social Enterprise Report that documents the CSR and sustainability interventions of corporate organisations countrywide,” Ken Egbas, the coordinator of the awards, said. “It delights us to see the number of entrants we have this year. It is heartwarming that more organisations are getting involved in CSR and sustainability. From what we have seen so far, the jury panel have their work cut out. And the winner for certain is Nigeria and her citizen,” he said.

NB Golden Pen Award holds June 30 NIGERIAN Breweries (NB) Plc has completed plans to hold the Golden Pen Awards on Monday, June 30 at the Lantana Hall of the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the company, 102 entries were received when submission closed for the award which focuses on published reports on education and youth empowerment last year. The award will reward journalists who submitted outstanding reports in these subject areas. The award, which is the sixth in the series will reward The NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year with a special statuette and N1million, the First runner up in the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year category with a special statuette and N300,000, while the second runner up NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Year will get a Special statuette and N200,000. The NB Golden Pen Photojour-

nalist of the Year will get a special statuette and N300,000; the First runner up NB Photojournalist of the Year will get a special statuette and N250,000, while the second runner up NB Photojournalist of the Year will get a special statuette and N200,000. A special statuette and N500,000 will be awarded for the NB Report of the Year. Winning journalists will also get ipads and Samsung galaxy tablets. The company said the award criteria of quality, professionalism and objectivity will remain the filters upon which entries will be shortlisted for the awards. The independent panel will analyse the reports and photographs for their originality, news value, use of resources, credibility and factuality. Other areas of interest would include Info-graphics, lay out/headline, clarity and social impact.

Firm makes debut FOUNDER and Lead Consultant of Uburu, a creative Business Communication consultancy, Tony Usidamen, has said his firm will will be different from others in the provision of services. He spoke at the media launch of the company in Lagos. Explaining the vision of the firm, Usidamen said consumers’ shifting attitudes coupled with new ways of communicating and new communication languages require a full redefinition of communication models. He said: “Dramatic paradigm shifts in the very nature of how we do business are redefining Public Relations (PR) and marketing communications. The new imperative is to develop a dialogue with customers and pros-

pects that are identifiable, relevant, consistent and engaging.” He added: “The name of the game for brand-builders in this new world is listening and responding. Power resides with those who have the best understanding of customer and prospect needs, and can build strong personal connections through creativity and continuous innovation.” “At Uburu, our passion is to help companies tell their stories in the most compelling fashion, and build powerful, enduring brands that people love. We thrive in creating engaging communication campaigns, and entering into a true dialogue with our clients’ principal stakeholders, inviting an empathetic and transformative experience,” he said.

• From left: Media/Brand Public Relations Manager, Edem Vindah; Marketing Manager, Non-Alkoholic Drinks, Sampson Otoche; Presenter, Maltina Dance All Season 8 (MDA8), Osas Ighodaro and Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Wole Adedeji at the briefing in Lagos. PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

Sms : 07035302326

SHOPPING

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

The e-payment system is catching on fast, as most shoppers and retailers ride on the platform to make buying and selling easy and also eliminate the inconvenience of carrying cash for deposits and withdrawals, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

•e-payment system

T took quite some time for Rachel Udenmma to fully come to terms with the cashless payment initiative introduced into the country by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about two years ago. Having savoured the convenience of the cashless or e-payment system, Udenmma has now developed trust for the initiative. Today, she easily makes use of any of the e-payment systems available. Rachel pays with her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card whenever she goes shopping. She now transfers money from her ATM card to someone’s account instead of withdrawing cash. She also prefers to transfer money into people’s account using the money transfer system from one bank account directly to another. Indeed, these and many other e-payment methods, which Udenmma now uses are proves that she has fully embraced the e-payment system cards or any other means of payment other than cash for her daily transactions. While sharing her experience of the enormous benefits the e-payment system offers her, she said, “People do not want to risk their lives carrying cash around, but they still do not know what the initiative entails even after two years of its existence.” She advised that more should be done in the area of awareness particularly at the grassroots level particularly by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NISS), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other stakeholders saddled with implementing the policy. Her advice appears to be late in coming, as not a few retailers

Why shoppers, retailers are turning to e-payment now encourage their customers to embrace the e-payment system. “Retailers are now always willing to accept cards and other means of payment, discouraging their customers and clients from carrying cash, most times because of the stress they have to go through trying to give their customers change after they have made purchases.” Udenmma said. Checks by The Nation Shopping show that many shoppers and retailers who were originally pessimistic about cashless economy have abandoned their conventional ways of transacting business and embraced e-payment. This was after they realised the enormous benefits of the cashless initiative. Some people now shop with e-payment solutions to enable them keep within the CBN daily cash limits and avoid paying huge cash while transacting businesses, among other benefits. The e-payment system has indeed, come to stay. Today, Nigeri-

Jumia expands operations to Kano as it turns two

UMIA, Nigeria’s first and largest online retailer, celebrates two years of delivering smiles and empowering Nigerians. Jumia has pioneered ecommerce in Nigeria and has attracted global recognition to the industry in Nigeria, which has also attracted huge foreign direct investment into the country leading to a rise in the industry’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, with further prospects to emerge within the e-commerce sector in the coming years. Jumia rounded off a stellar year in 2013, by winning the best new retailer at the World Retail Awards, the first time any African retailer has won an award at this prestigious event. In a statement, the co-CEO

It is no longer news that Nigeria has joined the league of countries who have embraced the electronic payment system. The news is that stakeholders have said there are numerous benefits accruable from the adoption of e-payment platforms, therefore; they enjoin more Nigerians, especially those who are involved in buying and selling business to fully embrace the commendable initiative. They have also provided infrastructure upgrade that would strengthen electronic payment platforms, including the Automated Teller Machines, Point of Sales’ terminals and mobile payments in the country. A statement by NISS in conjunction with the Association of Heads of e-channel of banks urges Nigerians to adapt their lifestyle to embrace this quick and convenient payment mode. These e-payment platforms have become a globally acceptable means for financial transactions

and Nigerians cannot be excluded. They are described as highly convenient, safe and efficient. The improved efficiency of the e-payment platforms enhances greater penetration and accessibility to financial services by the people said Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBBS) According to the company’s head of public sector, Osamuede Odiase, an upgraded infrastructure would go a long way to give cash-less economy a boost in the country. Disclosing that a joint technical committee from the financial and telecommunications sectors, with other stakeholders, would look at the possible ways of mitigating the growing network challenges threatening the growth of e-payment transactions in the country Odiase said; He however acknowledge that there had been ‘quantum leaps’ in the volume of e-payment transactions in Nigeria.”You are better off transacting your business through Point of Sale (POS) and Instant Payment platforms.” Also, looking at the security challenge angle, Nigerians have been advised to adopt the global practice of using e-payment platforms to conduct their business transactions, particularly in the face of prevailing security challenges in the country.

reach out to their target audience and increase sales significantly. Most importantly for us at Jumia is the utmost need to empower our customers through providing them

with an organised retail structure backed by world class customer service which was inexistent in Nigeria till the arrival of Jumia,” he added.

‘For shoppers and retailers, the e-payment option is highly convenient, safe, efficient, and fast. For instance, shoppers can make instant payment through mobile devices such as mobile phones, laptops, desktops, notebooks, tablets (i-Pads, etc) and even through Internet banking and from any bank branch, with beneficiaries receiving instant value’

Jumia Nigeria Nicolas Martin said Jumia Nigeria, which began two years ago has created an avenue for customers to shop online at ease with convenience on delivery. Martin who said the company is planning to open a Kano office, said the theme for Jumia’s anniversary as it turns two is “Empowering Nigerians.” According to him, with the e-commerce technology space growing so fast, we have seen many ways Jumia has impacted Nigeria’s technological landscape. “We have created over 1,000 jobs with an average age of 27, while also empowering them to become entrepreneurs, by constantly equipping them with the right tools and training through the recent launch of our Jumia Academy.

ans walk along Broad Street, Marina, and other commercial centres in Lagos and its outskirts with various electronic cards comparable in weight to ordinary call cards. Some e- payment platforms include the ATM, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, and mobile payments. For shoppers and retailers, the epayment option is highly convenient, safe, efficient, and fast. For instance, shoppers can make instant payment through mobile devices such as mobile phones, laptops, desktops, notebooks, tablets (iPads, etc) and even through Internet banking and from any bank branch, with beneficiaries receiving instant value. This removes the attendant risk of being trailed by fraudsters and criminal minded people as a result of being in possession of huge cash. Apart from speedy conclusion of transactions, electronic payments lower the cost of doing business and saves time. It also reduces cases of corruption.

•Jumia Kano

Jumia is also supporting manufacturers of ‘Made in Nigeria products’ as well as other SME’s through the introduction of the Jumia marketplace, helping them

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

MO THERHOOD MOTHERHOOD

SOUTHSOUTH APC

•PAGE 32

•Mrs Enwukwe and her daughter

•PAGE 31

PAGE 29

WATER

At the ceremony to dedicate her first child, Mrs Josephine Ejims Enwukwe, the Executive Director, Pre-eminence Hotel and Tower, Port Harcourt, recalled her search for the fruit of the womb, meeting the man of her dreams and the miraculous conception and birth of her child.

Cross River State-born Mr Hilliard Eta emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Southsouth. He says the party’s concern is to fix the oil-rich region’s many challenges. •Eta

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

Community leaders, oil industry operatives, Niger Delta activists and businessmen and women converged recently at Egborode community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State for the official launch of Peak Table Water, an initiative of Ininidi Global Services Limited. •Bebenimibo

•PAGE 34

•File picture of a classroom at the State School One, Otuoke, one of the two schools created out of President Goodluck Jonathan’s primary school, St Stephen, with no doors and windows. PHOTO: EVELYN OSAGIE

Row over state of Jonathan’s school • SUBEB, head teacher trade words

SEE STORY ON PAGE 30 & 35

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Row over state of Jonathan’s primary school

The attempt by the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to twist the facts over the state of President Goodluck Jonathan's primary school falls flat, reports EVELYN OSAGIE

INCE The Nation published a story on the sorry state of State School, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, peace has literally eluded the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Walton Liverpool. Some days ago, he was still laboring to cast a doubt on the authenticity of the facts expounded by the report. What is known as State School One today is the product of the split of St Stephen School, Otuoke, where Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's President, had his elementary education. At the time Jonathan attended the school, it had a different name, was in a different location and was from Primary One to Three. After completing Primary Three in the school, the President moved to St. Michael's Primary School, Oloibiri, to continue his primary education. When this reporter visited the school, pupils of State School, Otuoke had no chairs. They were learning under unpleasant conditions and trekking a long distance before using a lavatory. Like in the case of the president, some had no shoes on; others wore rubber slippers or 'shoes now turned slippers'. There were tatteredlooking uniforms as there were those who wore neat ones with shoes and/ or stockings neatly folded. Aside Jonathan, the school also has an old pupil, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, now monarch of Imiringi, HRH Augustus Elliot Osomu. "The school was founded in 1937 by missionaries and was known as St. Stephen's Primary School then," said an alumnus and teacher, Mr Obele Isaiah, 34. "At that time it was inside the community, beside the Anglican Church where the Town Hall now stands. Although there are conflicting dates about when it was moved to its present place (I think it was around the late 80s), but while I was a student, the name was changed to All State School under Governor Rufus Ada-George and later to State School. And now it has been divided into State School One and State School Two to manage the number of pupils we have." The L-shaped and M-shaped buildings (split in the middle by an independent building housing the library) located at the far end of the large compound houses the two schools. The school is next-door neighbour to Jonathan's Country Villa, containing three magnificent edifices, with Otuaba road separating both structures. And on the Main Road , it is directly opposite the Anglican Church on the Yenagoa/ Otuoke Road . And not far away from it is the Federal University Otuoke (FUO). Given its choice location and historical background, it is, however, unfortunate that the school is in a state of disrepair. The bright coloured-yellow-and-green paint coating on the wall of what appears as new buildings, with most windows facing the Main Road intact, are deceptive of the decay that lies within. The pupils, particularly those in

State School One, are learning under very harsh conditions and unpleasant environment. Aside Primary Six that has all its doors and windows intact, other classes lack doors with some windows that have fallen off at the back, thus, giving free entry to sunlight and rain. The pupils often suffer the harsh rays penetrating into their room and are drenched, especially when it rains heavily. In some classes, blackboards are held up by wooden or plastic chairs or tables; the floor and ceiling boards have cracks in them; and there are not enough benches and chairs to go round. For instance, in a class of 60 pupils, the benches and chairs might not be more than 10. As a result, the pupils are forced to receive lectures sitting on dusty bare floors. Pupils were seen struggling for the little available seats. Most of their clothes were worn-out, perhaps due to the wear and tear of the constant washing that comes with sitting on a bare floor. "The classrooms are too small for the number of children we have. A single class now has more than 50 pupils; and more are coming every day. In some cases, two classes are merged into one to contain the pupils. The ceiling board and floors are bad. And we do not have enough chairs and tables. You'd find five, six to seven pupils forcing themselves to sit on only one seat. Only recently Christ Embassy donated 50 plastic chairs and tables for only Primary Six and after closing, we'd pack for security reasons. "With the school not properly fenced, security has been a major setback on the development of the school, especially hampering the use of the computer pool. People use here as a walkway because there are no gates and the fence has fallen off. And this is why thieves can have easy access in spite of our security guards. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, next term, we would start teaching computer because we now have better security guards with sufficient padlocks. And the computers that were stolen have been replaced by the guards," Damini said. The nursery classes have a unique arrangement, it was discovered. The benches and chairs in the large classroom shared by Nursery One, Two and Three had not more than six chairs in all. A nursery class which should not be more than 20 by education standard had about 55 pupils in Nursery One and 60 in Nursery Two and Three, which, Damini said, are combined for lack of space. Most of them sat playing on the ground; others loitered about within the room, while their teachers sat separately, each on a bench and chair, as the pupils stepped forward in turns to answer their questions. The headmaster lamented further that the school lacks pipe-borne water and the lavatory is another major challenge the school is faced with. At present, there are no restrooms for both staff and pupils. The two buildings meant for toilets have been long abandoned because they were not properly finished. Pupils are left with

no option than to use the wooden community toilets faraway on the creeks that would take about 10 minute-walk or more, which may also take longer for a child, to reach. The teachers complained about its unhygienic nature and the constant danger their wards are faced with. "It is not hygienic or safe for us but what can we do? Imagine these kids leaving the school and trekking to that place the community toilet is by the bridge when they are pressed! With all these tippers and 'crazy' drivers coming and going on the express, we are always afraid for the children. Even we, the teachers, have no choice but to go there when we are pressed," Obele said. The male toilet was recently refurbished by the construction firm working on site, it was learnt. Covered with thick grasses, which may not be free from snakes and dangerous reptiles, and a fallen cement pole that may be difficult for a child to climb, is the female toilet that is another walking distance away from the male's. At the time of the first report, Liverpool had said this reporter went to a different school, claiming: "Otuoke has the best schools in the state as the school in the President's town. I am sure you visited the old school we have abandoned. " But this reporter would not allow that go unchallenged: "The school I visited is the State School in Otuoke close to the President's house, which he said to be the one he attended. Are you aware the school lacks chairs and toilet and many of the children sit on the floor to receive their lessons?" He then replied: "The problem of chairs is a general one because of the flood disaster that happened. The school is not the only one with the problem. But we are working towards resolving the problem; as it is, it would cost so much to provide chairs for all the schools in the state. The toilet was also affected by the flood. It is not the only school affected by the flood. As I have said, we are working on them." OR whatever reason, Liverpool came up with a slightly different version of the story when our Yenegoa correspondent met him during the week. He said the primary school attended by Jonathan has been remodeled and equipped with learning facilities. He claimed a private nursery school run in abandoned property belonging to the state government within the community has been erroneously referred to as the childhood school of the President. He said: "There is a private nursery school being run in one of our abandoned property. Many people mistake this as the primary school attended by the President. In fact, Mr. President's community has the best primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa State." He claimed the Headmaster used the abandoned school block in the premises to establish his private school without directives from SUBEB. He said: "The abandoned school

•A classroom with a broken ceiling at State School One, Otuoke

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

•A computer lab at the JSS, which SUBEB claims is meant for the State School One and Two, Otuoke

block in question was as a result of the completion of the Mega Junior Secondary School by SUBEB which comprises 12 classrooms, multi-purpose hall, a well furnished computer room , teachers research room with Internet facilities. "There are also 23 toilets with all necessary toilet facilities, with 75 KVA sound-proof generator and airconditioners in all the rooms. A standard borehole is also provided to make available portable water", he said. He said the Junior Secondary School building which has a computer room with Internet facilities was designed to be used by the Jonathan's primary school, raising the question: what has a building referred to as a junior secondary school got to do with a primary school? "As far as I am concerned, the school erroneously referred to as Jonathan's primary school is a private school being run and managed by the Headmaster, without proper collaboration

with the board," Liverpool claimed. He also said the board's commitment to supply seats to all the primary and secondary schools across the state. Liverpool also said the government was set to distribute over 13,000 seats and desks to schoolchildren across the state. HE SUBEB boss said: "In con tinuation of the government's policy to equip schools in the state with necessary infrastructure, the board has concluded plans to provide over 13, 000 seats and desks which will be distributed to all schools soon. "This is in addition to the ones already provided since the inception of the current administration. The target is before September 2014, every schoolchild in the state will have a comfortable seat to study." According to him about 200 seats and desks were ready for some primary schools around Otuoke and other communities in the area that were devastated by the last floods.

• An abandoned toilet in the school

•A toilet for male pupils

Damini laughed when confronted with Liverpool's allegation. He said: "Like I told you when you came, I have sent a copy of the letter to SUBEB; and gave a copy of the letter to the Ministry of Education; but I have not got any reply from them. But after your publication, some people felt as if I reported the school to the world. Even the Education Secretary (ES) of Ogbia Local Government, Mr Fredrick Umegwale (not sure of his name), he heard that I have reported the world that our have no chairs. And he asked. And I told him, 'Yes, that is the truth, we have no chairs'. When he came last month, I took him to the classrooms and he saw it for himself that there are no chairs. And I told him that 'yes, I met you when you came and spoke with you when you came'. We are grateful for what your write-up has done. God bless you." On the issue of supply of chairs, he said: "No, they have not yet brought chairs to our school. Nothing has be-

ing done to the school, but I was told arrangement is on the pipeline, concerning the chairs. Weeks ago, I was told that I should meet the community so that they can provide vehicles to collect some chairs. But I have not got any response from the community chairman whom I spoke to." He faulted SUBEB Executive Secretary's claim the school was erroneously referred to as the childhood school of the President . He said it was wrong of Liverpool to claim the school is abandoned property of the state government within the community, which he has converted to a private nursery school. Laughing, he said: "I am the Headmaster of State School One. It is one of the two schools that they divided the initial school, which was formerly named St. Stephen's Primary School, into. And this is the President's primary school. And both schools are in the same compound and are the only government public school in Otuoke. The school is government public

•Obele: SUBEB economical with truth

•Damini: I run no private school

school and is still in the place you visited. Both the nursery and primary arm are government public school. They have never in anytime moved the school to another place; we are still where we are and you saw it yourself. We heard that a new school was built but we are still where we are. The new building they are talking about is being used by the Junior Secondary School at Otuoke." N the rebuilding of a fence and security post, Damini said: "I don't know. I just came and saw that they were rebuilding the fence and fencing the school round and a security post. Nobody has told me anything. I don't even know who the contractor is. They have not come to me; they are just working on their own." Obele also laughed off Liverpool's claims. He said: "Our school is government school and it is the first primary school the president attended. Everybody knows that. Our school, State School One is one of the two

•Liverpool: Damini runs a private school

schools that the initial St. Stephen's Primary School was divided into. We heard that the government has given money for a proper school to be built but no one has heard anything. So, maybe your publication is making those involved to be afraid." Significantly, the same school the SUBEB boss said was a private school being run in a government premises by Damini was last week supplied with chairs. But because the classrooms do not have doors, the chairs are yet to be allocated to the pupils. So, they still sit on the floor. Damini said: “We thank God for what your report has brought our school. They want to begin renovation work on our school. SUBEB has also given us 100 pairs of chairs and table.” Obele added: “After your report, several big people have been visiting our school. Last week, the Commissioner of Education, Mr Salo Adikumo, visited our school and told us they are going to renovate it. He

also said they are planning to get another site where they intend to build an ultramodern structure for our school. Interestingly, initially, our schools (both State School One and Two, Otuoke) were not on the list of schools because I saw the list initial list when we went to collect the chairs. It took the intervention of our paramount ruler before we were given the chairs. So, School One and Two got 100 pairs tables and chairs each. “We learnt that the President himself also visited the school last month. The day he came was a Sunday and the school was not on then. But those that saw him said he went round the school to see for himself. And weeks after, a contractor, which we learnt was from NDDC, came and started fencing the school round. Although they are yet to complete the fence, they have almost finished building new security house by it. In fact, they are roofing it as we speak.” Additional report by Mike Odiegwu, Yenegoa

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

‘How I was chased out of my matrimonial home’

At the ceremony to dedicate her first child, Mrs Josephine Ejims Enwukwe, the Executive Director, Pre-eminence Hotel and Tower, Port Harcourt, spoke with PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, recalling her painful past and the search for the proverbial fruit of the womb, meeting the man of her dreams and the miraculous conception and birth of her child.

N your testimony, you said you were chased out of your former matrimonial home for childlessness. Can you shed light on this? I’m sure you are familiar with the popular joke that says “Christians are likely to undergo trials and difficulties as part of the tests to receiving money”; thus, combining the word “test” and “money” to bring about testimony. Surprisingly, I had what I considered at that time, a slight delay in marriage, and I would not know why. I settled down in matrimony in 1994, shortly before my 32nd birthday. Expectations were high for me to produce children, but none came. I must admit that the expectation was not misplaced in the African setting. Perhaps, what I did not understand was that God had his own plan for me. In the course of time, I saw a number of gynaecologists, who subjected me to medical examinations and confirmed that I was medically fit for child bearing. As typical Africans, tongues began to wag when children were not forthcoming. From one month to another and from year to year nothing happened in the expected direction. However, throughout the period of the temptation, I held on to Christ. One thing led to another, and for upwards of twelve years, I was not blessed with a child, until I was thrown out of my matrimonial home finally in December, 2006 on account of the so-called childlessness. I was often consoled by Almighty God, through His servants that “None shall be barren in the House-hold of God. Does that mean medically your former husband thought

you would not give birth to your own baby? Only God knows, though the pressure was much on me to give him a child. But with the passage of time, I received inner strength and persevered in my faith, believing God for his promises. Dreams, visions and voices of matrimonial bliss became more frequent; my favour from friends, well wishers, men and women in the vineyard of the Lord, even in the face of obvious matrimonial difficulties. Sometimes, it would seem that these were conflicting and confusing signals. At the crossroads, I was encouraged by some friends, sympathisers and well wishers (many of whom really felt my maltreatment) to “move on” and “show them” that I too could do better than my traducers. In the face of these tribulations, an inner voice kept ringing it in my eardrums that “delay is not denial”. And I held on tenaciously to this consolatory assurance. What was your medical report like? Before the 2006 incident, precisely mid 2003, a medical examination revealed some minor growth of fibroid in my womb, but expert opinions were quick to point out that the level of growth could not prevent child bearing. Medical reports showed no pregnancy, apparently on account of rapid growth of the fibroid seeds. In search of just good health, we decided on a surgical operation to remove the fibroid; and we choose Eli-Johnson Hospital, Rumuibekwe, Port Harcourt. The team performed a complicated surgery and five very sizable seeds of some monstrous

fibroid were extracted from my system. I need to add here that all previous visits to hospitals in and outside Port Harcourt in search of solution to my predicament indicated that my womb will be removed alongside the fibroid seeds. On the 10th of October, 2010 the surgery at the Eli-Johnson Hospital was successful and my womb was not removed. Our primary objective of enjoying good health was realised and I have continued to thank God for His abundant grace in my life. For me, as a mortal, pregnancy was no longer on the cards. However, on bouncing back to life, a pregnancy followed in May, 2013, and the bundle of Joy (Igho) was born on the 28th January, 2014. What is your advice to those who are facing the same challenge? On account of the goodness of the Lord, I want to encourage individuals and families undergoing similar temptations to hold onto the only living God. I cannot thank my God enough. I also thank my husband for allowing God use him to prove a point. I thank our beloved Bishop, Rt. Rev. I.U. Ordu and his wife for their support. My gratitude also goes to the Rector of our church Ven. Akuro Omubor & his wife. At an informal family visit of Venerable Akuro Omubor and his wife to our residence, the man of God led a prayer session. And without prompting or even any discussion leading to the direction of childbirth, he proclaimed that I would bear children, my age notwithstanding. I will not forget my Provincial church leader, His Grace Most Rev. Ignatius C. KatteyArch Bishop and his dear wife.

•Mrs Enwukwe and her daughter

Where did you meet your spouse? A mutual friend introduced us to each other and from there one thing led to another. One thing I did which many women may find difficult to do was to open up to my husband about my past life. I even told him the ones he didn’t hear from people and he accepted me the way I am. My husband is the best thing that has happened to me. He is a sweet man. When I look back and look at the present I say, ‘God, thank you for giving me a perfect man, even when I was small, I desired to have a man of his type’. A man that has something to offer both to the society and within the environment he finds himself. In keeping with this immutable assurance of Almighty God, I met my husband Hon. Mike Ejims Enwukwe in September, 2009. Since then, together we have continued to enjoy peace, understanding, and confidence of every member of the family. In course of everyday living, I began to face same health challenges, arising mainly from excessive bleeding, leading to perennial anaemia, and swelling of the lower region of my legs each time I stood for upwards of 30 minutes, either to cook or tidy the house. My stomach

showed some protrusions. Family background I was born and bred from a responsible parentage in Elikahia Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State. In our household, my father, mother, step-mother, siblings and indeed the entire neighbourhood enjoyed a wonderful relationship. All the same my parents never spared the rod for the children of the house they are devout Christian of the St. Barnabas Anglican Church Elikahia. My mother Late Mrs. Florence Boms was a prayer champion who prayed tirelessly to God at her bed corner, for the security and prosperity of the family. Even as she emphasizes strict adherence to cherished Christian values. My family encourages me to worship the Almighty God. You led a Christian women group where women were blessed with fruit of the womb, how do feel? God doesn’t work that way, I organized and participated more in Christian fellowships, leading women prayer-groups, including the famous Women for Christ International Fellowship, where we preached the word, counselled fellow

women in similar and indeed other challenging circumstances in their home fronts. An appreciable number of women were victorious with the fruit of the womb, while others had their peculiar difficulties restored in their favour. It became intriguing that I, who led fellow women in prayers and supplications, was not so lucky. How many places did you visit in search of solution? I visited only the hospital. Many people with this kind of my problem do not believe that only God can solve the problem. They travel to many places seeking for the fruit of the womb. Some have also drunk the undrinkable just to be mothers. I am not saying that a woman in that condition should not find solution; they should, on the area of medical examination and not to be visiting native doctors and all kinds of herbalists believing that the search for the solution is in the hands of those they are visiting. I encourage women to wait and seek medical intervention because with God all things are possible, just like I waited for the Lord, don’t forget while I was waiting I ensure that I seek all necessary medical attention.

Port Harcourt Drama Group targets family Worried by the lack of family entertainment centres in Port Harcourt, a theatre group led by Mr Tayo Isijola, a graduate of Theatre Arts, University of Port Harcourt, is out to fill this gap, writes CLARICE AZUATALAM

R Jide Kemdi likes to take his wife and children out on family entertainment as he was wont to do while living in Abuja. But he can’t find any place a family could go for relaxation except the fast food shops that dot every corner of the city. “That is why I was elated when Sunday in Theatre came on stage in Port Harcourt,” Kemdi said, adding that they all look forward to when the group will perform. “The Trials”, a comic drama written by Prof Julie Okoh of the University of Port Harcourt which the Sunday in Theatre group staged at Hotel Presidential in the Garden City captures the happenings in many Nigerian families today. From the synopsis, Sotonye is the only son his mother, who is very protective of him and shield him from house chores. As a 40-year old father of four boys, Sotonye lost his job at about the same time his wife, Ibiso resigns her teaching job and joins a sewing institute as a professional seamstress. As Ibiso leaves for work in the morning, Tamuno, a childhoodfriend of Sotonye’s visited. Unlike Sotonye, Tamuno’s mother made him understand that success in life comes through struggles. From childhood she exposes him to hard work, which eventually helps him to be successful in life. At night while Sotonye lies on the couch out of frustration, Ibiso arrives. She explains that the work-load at the institute keeps her late. Sotonye gets infuriated. The situation aggravates when Ibiso accuses him of not helping in the domestic chores. He realizes that in spite of Ibiso’s awareness of his ineptitude concerning

domestic chores, she expects him to do that as well as take care of the children whenever she is not around, simply because she is the one footing the family bills from the proceeds of her sewing. As a result, to assert his authority as the man, Sotonye stops Ibiso from the sewing institute’s job, insisting that she sews from home. Ibiso refuses and a fight ensues. She runs out of their home. Later, Tamuno arrives Sotonye’s house later in fulfillment of his promise to contact him when he finds a job opening for him. Out of frustration, he accepts to work as an assistant cook in one of the hotels belonging to Tamuno with the hope that he could learn to cook while on the job. Having secured a job, Sotonye hits the road in search of his wife. The couple reunites upon Sotonye’s firm promise not to hurt her again and promising to always assist her with domestic chores, including cooking. Okoh who is also the Director, Institute of Arts and Culture at the University of Port Harcourt told The Nation that the story is based on her childhood experience when she used to stay with her older sister at the Police Barracks where the men there refused to help their wives. Okoh also said that “the time our parents used to stay at home and take care of their children is gone. Now, women are going out to work, men are going out to work. So, both of them should be able to help each other. “To make matters worse, this man was unemployed. Yet because of indoctrination, that idea fell to him when he was young, he still feels that no, he will not go to the kitchen. But he

has forgotten that there are contrasts. Like I put there, one has seen life, who thinks that to get life, you must work hard for yourself because the mother taught him that. “The other mother thought that because he was the only son in the family, she was very protective, the son was not going to touch anything, not knowing that she was destroying his life. “Whereas the other mother said no, you must struggle in life. To succeed, you must struggle. And we have seen the difference.” The Creative Director and Producer of the play, Mr Tayo Isijola told The Nation that “I am doing the job to bring families together because I realized that families in Port Harcourt don’t have a place where they can have some kind of family entertainment.” “Drama”, Isijola said “brings everybody together, father, mother and every member of the family together, irrespective of age. “So we want to capitalize on that, using theatre to solve the problem of family entertainment in Port Harcourt.” Despite the seemingly harsh economic situation in the society, Isijola said that it has not affected the attendance as the number of persons who come to watch the drama every time keeps growing with every performance. The reason, he added is because the elites and upper class that are literate are those who like drama because they enjoy the subtle wits from it and they can afford it. “But the illiterates don’t like it because they can hardly read and write,” he said.

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

‘Fixing Southsouth is APC’s priority’

Cross River State-born Mr Hilliard Eta emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Southsouth. He spoke with NICHOLAS KALU on the task ahead.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

OW do you feel about your mandate?

First of all, I want to say that this is a mandate that God and man has decided on. The biblical injunction which expresses that power belongs to God and He gives it to whom He wills has come to play here. So for me it’s a divine mandate to deliver the people of the South-South Zone from the shackles of poverty and strife that the past 14 years of the P.D.P misrule has offered them. It is a divine mandate that has been massively endorsed by the yearning for truth, justice and equity which are reflective of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s agenda. And I can only add that I feel privileged and excited to carry this burden. What is your agenda for the development of the APC in the South-South? Without prejudice to what the people of the South-South geopolitical would yearn for in the current dispensation, we would continue to sensitize our people on the need for change. We believe that the greatest weapon against any act of misdemeanour, against every evil machination is knowledge. Our people have been fed too many lies. Our roads are bad and yet we are told there’s no money to fix roads whereas a few elements are stealing N20 billion. Our educational system is going down under, yet the hegemonists have their children abroad in the best schools; our security system is terrible today because this government prefers to celebrate corruption than to create jobs; yet the youths are daily accused of being the perpetrators and or hirelings as if there would prefer insecurity and criminality to gainful engagements. We would produce facts and figures that will bewilder the people of the South-South about the insensitivity of the ruling junta. Also we will ceaselessly sensitize our people with a view to making them look through the window of opportunities that the APC offer. We intend to build their confidence in the party the more through our road map. Remember that we have a manifesto and road map that will rebuild Nigeria and we will make them believe that. Fixing the SouthSouth is a priority on the agenda of

the APC. I think that the difference between the ruling junta and APC is that while the Junta is a spent force and require some bench-warming, the APC is fresh with the ideas and vitality that will improve our score line as a people. These are some of the issues that our people would come to terms with. The APC in your home state, Cross River, appears divided. How are you going to deal with the issue of disunity in the state? Democracy is like a chess game; the beauty of it is in the disagreement which clearly defines our interest and the ability to agree in the final onslaught. When interests clash, we disagree, but that is not to say we would not sit on the same table to reexamine our commonalities. I can say categorically that we have a State Chairman in Pastor Usani Usani that has stately carriage and believes in reconciling all aggrieved and divergent interests. He has commenced the effort to bring all such members to the table. As the National Vice-Chairman for the zone, I can only supervise that effort and make sure we achieve the best result. As a party, we look beyond frictions, we see a victory that many do not see in 2015 and beyond and this is what defines our concern for reconciliation and purposefulness. The National Chairman of our party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun has already initiated that and it will only spill over to all formations of the party. My office will continue to promote and the agenda of the national leadership is perfected in any zone. With the loss of the APC in the Ekiti polls, what words of confidence do you have for supporters that it is still the party to beat in 2015? One great lesson we must learn is that power belongs to the people and not the incumbents as the PDP has made Nigerians to believe. And unlike the PDP’s do-or-die disposition towards electioneering processes, we in APC believe that power does not rest with the incumbents or the hegemonists. We believe that power actually belongs and should be exercised by the people. And that is what the APC has displayed in the Ekiti election and its aftermath by conceding and congratulating the winner, Mr Fayose. The import of this is that the PDP should equally

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If you give a critical thought to the confrontation of Governor Amaechi by armed agent of the state, you will agree with me that we are heading for anarchy in the way the laws of the land are being abused. We are heading to becoming a pariah nation •Eta

swallow its pride as a ruling party when it losses the 2015 presidential polls because of course, we are set to unseat the PDP at the centre. APC supporters are bracing up for the challenge of ousting the ruling Junta in 2015 and it is one challenge we must conquer. Are you hopeful you will take over power from the PDP in Cross River next year? I had said that the PDP can’t see beyond its own nose. I do not intend to unveil our strategy but I can say again that 2015 is a blessed year for Cross River State. A year of change from barrenness to fertility and

productivity and I decree by the divine mandate conferred on me that victory will come our way in 2015.APC will provide the Midas Touch that will take us out of the woods in Cross River. How do you feel about the perceived clampdown on APC governors, especially those from the South-South? History or posterity has a way of passing verdict on a man’s life. Some people live imprints of good that they are followed as they are remembered, others live scars that they are condemned eternally as they are rebuked. I will continue to place on

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record that the level at which this government celebrates impurity is very alarming, in fact impunity has reached a crescendo akin to the dark days of the Abacha Junta and I fear if the soul of our democracy will still be intact for this. The recent barring of the APC governors including R.t Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and others from the Ekiti mega rally of our party leaves much to be desired of a government that claims decent approach to the sustenance of our democracy. There should not forget that this democracy was being fought and won through

Rotary inaugurates toilet facilities for Delta primary school

T was a festive occasion for pupils of Oneh Primary School, Asaba as members of the Rotary Club, Asaba, District 9140 commissioned a block of modern toilet facilities in furtherance of its goals of improving productivity in Africa through provision of sanitation and potable water. Pupils dressed in starched blue uniforms marched, sang songs to the accompaniment of drumming in praise of the humanitarian efforts of the Rotary Club. The occasion, which coincided with its annual conference held worldwide, attracted the crème-de-la crème of the rotary fraternity including Ron Burton, President Rotary International who was represented by Joe Otin, District Governor, Dr Charles Onianwa, DSP Celestina Kalu, Edwin OgidiGbegbaje, project officer rotary club and a host of others. Project officer, Mr. Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, said the humanitarian club felt that the school should have decent toilet facilities, adding that in the 21st century no group of individuals should be subjected to unsanitary toilet facilities. According to him, after the commissioning of the potable water project, the organisation was compelled to go one step further by building adequate toilet facilities as this will enhance sanitary conditions amongst pupils. Joe Otin, representing Rotary International President, Ron Burton said water and sanitation is important in communities, especially where many communities do not have access to clean, safe potable water.

• Pupils, teachers and Rotary officials standing by the facilities From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

According to him the lack of access to water and sanitation leads to health issues and low productivity, adding that with the commissioning of this project steps have been taken to alleviate this problem of low

productivity. His words: “Water and sanitation is an extremely important part for communities around the world and we are finding it especially in Africa where many communities do not have access to clean, safe

the blood of justice-seeking Nigerians, so it must not fail on the altar of mediocrity and lawlessness. I read our brother, Sam Nda Isaiah’s post concerning that recently and I wish to concur in totality that one day we will be compelled to defend ourselves. Yes, because if you give a critical thought to the confrontation of Governor Amaechi by armed agent of the state, you will agree with me that we are heading for anarchy in the way the laws of the land are being abused. We are heading to becoming a pariah nation and its only God that stopped that near explosion on Thursday. No child or relative of Amaechi nor any well meaning son of the South-South would be happy to hear that Governor Amaechi was brutally killed by state agents. It would become a sad commentary in the annals of our political experiment particularly within the zone. Incidentally, you may recall that ExPresident Obasanjo had told of snipers and how that they are charged to slay their targets about a thousand of them. Remember too that Governor Amaechi had raised the alarm that he was the first on the list of the one thousand targets. I think, Nigerians must learn to think fast and of course not to forget in a hurry what history offers. I feel terribly pained that what we experienced on Thursday with the barring of our Governors only continues to swell the case file of impunity that this Junta has been celebrating. I feel pained that our hard-earned democracy is gradually coming to a crossroads by such acts and I only urge that nothing should happen to our governors or any other member of our party that infringes on their right, lives and properties. I don’t think Nigeria should welcome any crisis whatsoever in addition to the multifarious insecurity in the country. Any last words? President Jonathan and all the democratic institutions in the country should play the game as the rule requires. APC supporters are change agents and the party is on a mission to deliver. Definitely like a cat with nine lives, we would continue to win against odds hitherto put on our way .We borrow a statement from Johnny Walker that “the whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he’s going”.

water . That leads to quite a number of different issues including health issues and with health issues you have productivity issues. People are not able to work as well as they could or consistently throughout the year. This makes communities in Africa less productive. If we solve our water and sanitation problems, where we have clean water for young children and water for communities we will have fewer health issues and eventually we will be able to deal with our productivity issues and we will be able to deliver to our goals and aspirations of our leaders”. District Governor Dr Charles Onainwa assured communities of Rotary’s commitment to uplifting the standards of living of local communities, adding that the toilet project was the next logical step after the humanitarian organisation had completed the water bore hole project. District President Celestina Kalu said the project which was conceptualised by the local Rotary Club consists of four toilets including two for females and another two for males. She said Rotary Club will continue to focus on projects that will uplift rural communities and help restore the dignity of persons.

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Day Adaka Boro was re-buried at home T HE 2014 remembrance of late Major Isaac Adaka Boro has come and gone, but the fond memories of the event have continued to linger. It was not the traditional May 16th Boro Day that pulled the crowd. It was the reburial rites of the Ijaw icon, martyr and crusader, which were held on May 31 and June 1st that made the difference. Boro was killed during the Nigerian Civil War. He died at Okrika, Rivers State, while fighting on the side of the Federal Government on May 16, 1968. His remains were first interred at the Military cemetery in Lagos State but were recently exhumed and reburied in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa State Government. Self-sacrifice, courage and determination were the virtues of the late Boro and the underlining principles of his annual commemoration. Unfortunately, many people who gathered at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa viewed the events as mere cultural festivities. The people of the Niger Delta region are uncomfortable that after many years of celebrating Boro, the region has remained underdeveloped, wallowed in abject poverty and suffered incredible neglect. They are distraught that many of the politicians who profess Boroism appear to have forgotten the significance of Boro’s martyrdom. Therefore, observers believe that Boro is dead and forgotten among politicians who give no damn as they selfishly corner the commonwealth at the detriment of the masses. Boro is history among the egocentric Niger Delta leaders who indulge in corruption and other sharp practices including financial fraud while paying lip service to the late icon. Boro is indeed dead among persons who have abandoned resource control and fiscal federalism, the fulcrum of Niger Delta agitation. However, the martyr still lives among incorruptible, sincere and selfless leaders who use their positions to better the lots of their people. Observers believe that such leaders are always determined despite all odds to promote the principles of Boroism anchored on developmental revolution, transparent leadership and good governance. For Ijaw elders, who gathered at the Ijaw House on that historic day of Boro’s reburial, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is a good disciple of Boro. They commended the governor for his resilience in ensuring that the remains of Boro were exhumed at the Lagos cemetery and brought home to lie among other deceased Ijaw patriots at the Heroes Park in Yenagoa. The former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, was buried there. They were also happy that Dickson deemed it fit to create the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs as a platform to keep Boro’s agitation alive at the national level. The ministry with its pioneer Commission, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, has been promoting Ijaw national affairs including the midwifing and execution of the reburial ceremony. After evaluating Dickson against the backdrop of Boroism, the elders led by the elated Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, used the reburial occasion to endorse Dickson for a second term in office. Clark said the action of the elders was in recognition of Dickson’s track record and his developmental strides in the state in the past two years. The spirited Clark and his team of elders stamped their position by bestowing on the governor a performance award. The elder statesman insisted that the governor would go down in the

• Dickson greeting Chief E.K. Clark. With them is HRH DietteSpiff.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa annals of history in the Ijaw nation as the leader who brought home the remains of Adaka Boro to be buried in his ancestral land. According to him it was one feat that past leaders had failed to accomplish. Addressing the governor, he said: “You are now the Barrack Obama of the Ijaw nation. Today, you have done what many people have not been able to do. You went to the place where the body of Boro was buried, exhumed it and today his remains are being re-buried “Today, you have changed the face of Bayelsa, particularly Yenagoa, the state capital. The structures are new. You have new infrastructure everywhere. What is not new? It is in this regard that, we have decided to present this award to you to show to you that you have to serve a second term to change the face of Bayelsa State.” Even Dickson believes that he has done well to deserve the Boroism tag. He is developing the Boro Town in Kaiama and has already constructed a road leading to the town. He is also paying monthly stipends to many dependents and relatives of the deceased Boro. He has stopped the culture of capital flight hitherto associated with the celebrations of Boro. Instead of taking the annual events to overseas, he has been pulling notable personalities from America, Europe and other states in Nigeria to Yenagoa to witness the event. For this year’s celebration, eminent personalities such as Dr. Martin Luther King 111 from the United States of America and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade, who represented onetime Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, were in attendance. The governor was happy at the compliments of the elders. In the spirits of Borosim, he sounded a warning to persons he described as “unpatriotic Nigerians, who are playing politics with the current security challenges rocking the country to turn a new leaf”. He stressed the need for peace and noted that every crisis situation has its own attendant cost. The governor observed that some positive political developments had occurred since the death of Boro. But he observed that many issues Boro fought against were yet to be realised. Dickson implored the youths in the region to continue the Niger Delta agitation through intellectual engagements. He urged Nigerians to cooperate with President Goodluck Jonathan for a just, equitable and restructured country.

He said: “While we are grateful as a people for the support that you have continued to give to Mr. President, we also want to remind those who want to create crisis; those who are playing politics with terrorism as a political tool to have a rethink because conflict, conflagration and crisis of any kind all have cost. “Today lying before us is part of the cost of war, so let us collectively dedicate ourselves to a just, equitable and egalitarian Nigeria which Boro fought and died for. Our position as a state as presented by our delegates at the ongoing national confab is unmistakable. We stand for an equitable, restructured and truly federal Nigeria where all is equal and none is superior to the other. “To our youths, let me tell you that the frontiers of Boro have changed because they are now intellectual. You are coming into a society that is increasingly knowledge-driven and in the new battle field where you are aspiring to take over from where Boro stopped, you must equip yourselves. “That is why we are building schools and sending a whole lot of you out there. Part of what you have to learn from this memorial activity for our dear hero is that you must all work hard to equip yourseves with the right skills, values and knowledge to serve our people and country.” Even if Boro still lives among politicians like Dickson, what about other politicians in the Niger Delta region even notable personalities from Bayelsa State, the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation, who shunned the reburial ceremonies of Boro? President Goodluck Jonathan said to be the highest beneficiary of Boroism failed to identify with the events. Lawmakers from the state in the National Assembly, Ijaw people at the Presidency and even legislators at the state House of Assembly were nowhere to be found. In fact, kinsmen of Jonathan were angry that he was absent at the historic reburial of the Ijaw martyr. They openly protested the President’s absence and silence over the ceremony at Kaiama, the ancestral home of Boro. They believed that by treating the events with disdain, Boro no longer lived in Jonathan. They concluded that it was an insult on the Ijaw hero, described as the emancipator of the Niger Delta region, for the President not to honour the funeral. They insisted that without the efforts of Boro, there would not have been Bayelsa and Jonathan would not have been the President of Nigeria. They were angrier that Jonathan chose to attend funerals of people in other parts of the country but refused

to honour Boro with his presence. Some of them recalled that Jonathan was present at the burial of former governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, in Epe, Lagos, a day before Boro’s funeral. Angered by the development, the kinsmen of Boro, seized the casket bearing the remains of the Ijaw hero refusing to release it to the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). It, however, took the intervention of notable Ijaw leaders such as the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and Asari Dokubo to release the body. Boro’s son, Phil, had while commending Governor Seriake Dickson for bringing his father’s remains home, knocked politicians from the region for failing to attend his father’s wake and funeral despite riding on Borroism to power. The IYC Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said though the President had a busy schedule, he should have honoured Boro with his presence. “As the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has a very busy schedule and it is not easy for him to attend all functions. “But with regard to the roles Adaka Boro played in the lives of Ijaw people and the Niger Delta people which of course culminated to his ascension to the office of the President, we expected that Jonathan should have honoured Adaka Boro by attending his funereal”, he said. He also said they were angrier that elected and political appointees including Ijaw ministers shunned the event. Apart from Kingsley Kuku, he said no other persons working with the Presidency deemed it fit to attend the final rites of Boro. Omare asked the President to sack persons in his cabinet who did not have the interest of the people at heart. He said: “But our anger is with political appointees and elected officials from Ijawland especially ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet failing to attend the event. Apart from Kngsley Kuku, no other appointee or elected officer was there. “And without Boro, they wouldn’t have been there. Without Boro, there wouldn’t have been Bayelsa State and without him there wouldnt have been the Niger Delta struggle. it is not just that they didn’t contribute anything, they also didn’t attend. “We also call on the President that henceforth people who do not have the concern of the people at heart should not be engaged. “Part of the problem for the President is that he has people around him who do not have the pains of their people at heart. So, they are not doing anything to support his government”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Day Bayelsa residents turned Olympians U

MEKWE Jude Emeka is a busy banker. As the Branch Manager of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Bayelsa State, his schedule is so tight. Last Saturday, Emeka was one of the first residents in Yenagoa, the state capital, who assembled in the morning at Opolo, a suburb of the city. Emeka, who was fully kitted in his sports outfit, came out prepared to join other residents for 10km jogging to mark the 2014 Olympic Day celebration. Opolo was like a beehive. Men, women, elders and youths from different walks of life thronged the Opolo junction. Dressed in various sports outfits, they were ready to jog the 10km distance. They were joined by elected and appointed government functionaries including the Deputy Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Tonye Esinah. Governor Seriake Dickson was supposed to be there, but he was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor. The Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Fred Agbedi, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, the permanent secretary and other top officials of the sports ministry in the state came out ready for the exercise. Most of them wore customised Tshirts with inscriptions and symbols to herald the Olympic Day. Armed security operatives especially the police were at alert to forestall possible security breach and breakdown of law and order. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had a busy day controlling traffic. While the joggers took over one of the dual carriage Mbiama-Yenagoa roads, vehicular traffic was diverted to the other side of the road. Everything including an ambulance in case of exhaustion was provided for the exercise. The joggers were heading for the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, where the exercise was billed to terminate. But Niger Delta Report discovered that not everybody made it to the complex. Some people shortly after the commencement of the exercise became tired and later pulled out from the crowd. Others, after a few minutes crossed over to the other side of the road and boarded vehicles to

•Some of the beneficiaries. From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

the sports complex. Still, some rode in vehicles that escorted the joggers throughout the period. However, many of the participants were determined to finish the race. They pummeled their body, sweating and pushing to the end. They really wanted to gain the benefits of the exercise. Emeka was in a group that added swag and humour to the exercise. "I didn't not know when we completed the 10km distance. It was fun but l felt the benefit of this jogging with this group", he said. Indeed, the banker is a member of, Nobody Dies, a group of joggers that regularly engage in such exercise every Saturday. On that Olympic Day, the group was envied and admired by other participants and spectators. They spiced up the exercise with their slow-and-steady approach. In loud unanimous voices, they chanted morale-boosting songs. They added dance to the exercise as they entertained spectators. In fact, Emeka most times led the group in songs that sustained them throughout the period. He was assisted by a former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bright Yougha, a member of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Emeka Onuigbo and a civil servant in the

state, Abuchi who is fondly called Okon. Incidentally, Yougha is the Chairman, Local Organising Committee, for the programme. The group also boasted of women who never gave up the race. "This is a very worthy exercise. I feel very happy partaking in it. In fact, jogging has become part of me because every Saturday I join this special group of rugged people, Nobody Dies, for a similar exercise. It keeps me fit and healthy and l recommend it to everybody", Emeka said. At the sports complex, Yougha while addressing the "Olympians" gave a brief history of the event. He said: "The Olympic Day which was hitherto referred to as Olympic Day Run is organised by the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC). It was established in 1987 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to commemorate the formation of the IOC which was created on June 23, 1894 under the leadership of Frenchman, Pier De Coubertin". He said the celebration was first held in Nigeria in 1989 and in the state in 1997. According to him, the Olympic Day is an event set aside to reflect on the goals of IOC and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Describing Bayelsa as a strong member of the Olympic family, he said the state government through the local organising committee provided 500 T-shirts and 300 fez caps for the exercise. He thanked Governor Dickson for promoting sports development through the ongoing construction of sports facilities in the Football Academy at Angalabiri, upgrading of sporting facilities at the sports complex and development of the Sports Academy at Asoama. He, however, urged the governor to provide a tartan track at the complex to enable the state host national and international competitions. Diongoli commended the governor for providing funds to host the event. "His Excellency has demonstrated keen interest in sports development and participation through the building of the Sports Academy at Asaoma, Football Academy at Angalabiri, a world-class polo facility in Yenagoa and upgrading of facilities at the sports complex", he said. He also recalled that the governor recently approved the construction of a world-class stadium at Elebele. He promised to sustain the local government sports development committees.

Diangoli assured the governor that the ministry would bring honour honour to the state in the next National Sports Festival scheduled for Calabar, Cross River State, in November. The commissioner thanked the governor for sponsoring the Bayelsa Wrestling Team to the just concluded Chief E.K. Clark Annual Wrestling Championship in Warri, Delta State. He said Team Bayelsa came first in all categories of the championship adding that nine wrestlers, four others in para-athletics and a coach from the state were in the national camp preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland. Dickson observed that the Olympic day run was an extension of the state's monthly jogging. He said his administration had deployed resources in the area of sports development and advised the youths to take advantage of many opportunities in the sports sector. He said nobody had won laurels and medals by breaking oil pipelines and engaging in illegal refining of petroleum products. Criminality will not do you any good. Don't take to crime because nobody has won laurels and medals by breaking pipelines," he told the youths.

Experts, stakeholders make case for safe drinking water C OMMUNITY leaders, oil industry operatives, Niger Delta activists and businessmen and women converged recently at Egborode community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State for the official launch of Peak Table Water, an initiative of Ininidi Global Services Limited. The project, floated by Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, media consultant to Niger Delta activist, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), was preceded by a public lecture delivered by a renowned university don and Geologist at the Delta State University, Abraka, Dr Oghenerhoro Odedede. In the lecture titled: “Water: A recipe for Healthy life”, Odedede said, “Billions of people around the world are still without access to clean, quality, drinkable water because it takes an investment to tap into safe and quality underground water.” Odedede told guests who attended the occasion including chiefs George Ekpemupolo, former Chairman Warri South West LGA; Dennis Otuaro, Keston Pondi, Arch Azaye Piniki, Moses Bebenimibo and Dr Majority Oji, Dan Imani and Ebime Ekperare of Zenith Bank PLC among others, that there are two types of water: Surface and underground. He said the former are majorly creeks, rivers, streams,

From Shola O’Neil and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

man-made structures and other easily accessible water sources. Conversely, he said underground sources are deeper in the belly of the earth, more difficult to access but usually the best source of water because they are not easily contaminated by wastes and other contaminants that make water unsuitable for drinking. He said water is the most important liquid, stressing that regular drinking of pure water washes away waste from the body system and keep the blood pressure stable. He said regular drinking of water prevents kidney diseases, stroke, and cyst formation in the kidney, adding, “Water therapy has a soothing effect, calms the nerve and stimulate the senses. On the other hand, he said diseases relating from drinking of impure water cost much more than money particularly as children, the elderly and weak suffer more. He said it also leads to loss of man hour and reduction in lifespan. Furthermore, he identified the consumption of contaminated water as the major cause of life-threatening ail-

ments and diseases that lead to the failure of vital organs such as kidney, heart and the lungs. “From drinking contaminated and impure water, your vital organs like the kidney could get affected and that simply implies that you will have to live with deadly illnesses, which will require you to spend huge resources to correct or just to manage to stay alive in case it is terminal”, Odedebe said. The university don revealed that contact with animal wastes, radioactive materials and indiscriminate waste dumping of wastes, used aluminium and old newspapers make surface water sources dangerous to human and animal consumption. He said government must provide clean and accessible drinking water to discourage citizens from opting for surface water sources that are easily tainted by human and natural contaminants. Besides, the expert condemned the location of water companies and factories in built-up areas, stressing that wastes from sewages, drains, soakaway pits and other harmful contaminant easily get into the source of those waters making them impure and unsuitable for consumption.

•Bebenimibo (right) with Nahum Rish

Odedede therefore commended the management of Ininidi Global Service for the location of factory outside human dwelling area and for opting for underground source of water. Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Dennis Otuaro, commended state-of-the-arts facilities at the factory, stressing that the sedimentation and filtration and bottling processes were world-class thereby making Peak the best in the market. Speaking to journalists after a tour of the facility, the proprietor of the table water factory, Comrade Paul

Bebenimibo, said the aim of the company is to give quality and safety back to society, adding that he chose to give water because of what it had meant to him over time. He explained that as a young man who grew up in a riverside community of Gbaramatu Kingdom, he was exposed to the danger of drinking untreated water. He said further that he meant to use the company to provide employment for the country’s youth. He said Ininidi Global Services Limited, producers of Peak Table Water, employed 20 persons from the host community.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

HERE is an Igbo proverb which says “when one comes to the land of people without ears, one has to cut off one’s ears, too.” This proverb has an English variant, which is: “If you cannot beat them, you join them”. The first time I came across this proverb was in a novel entitled Men without ears written by Ifeoma Okoye. It was published in 1984 when many thought the corruption level in the country was extremely high. The protagonist, Chigo Adaba, in the novel just came back from Tanzania, then a saner society and was shocked about how bad thing was in the country. At the end of the novel, the protagonist was so sad that he decided to return to Tanzania. Adaba, however, eventually decided to stay back and see how he could keep his own ears when every other person was losing theirs. He refused to join them simply because he could not beat them. The same cannot be said of the Edo State House of Assembly, where men are losing their ears and failing to hear the hunters’ whistle. The first time I wrote about these men, I chose to use a literary style made popular by Professor Kole Omotosho by blending facts with fiction. Since then, things have gone worse. Initially, only few men lost their ears in the Edo House and chose to act like possessed men. Now, the madness has caught more men. The Assembly has been in crisis since June 9, following the suspension of four legislators, including the Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea. On Monday, they became boxers and exchanged fisticuffs outside the floor of the House. The clothes of some of the lawmakers were torn. The physical combat was in a bid to enforce the suspension of their colleagues. Not even the hundreds of policemen who took over the Assembly premises and parts of the King’s Square could stop these men without ears from disgracing themselves publicly. Trouble started when a court bailiff served contempt proceedings on the four lawmakers while they sat with their other colleagues outside the Edo State House of Assembly. The factions called each other unprintable names and those suspended insisted they were going. The suspended lawmakers were said to have refused to receive the notice from the bailiff and he dropped the notice of summon at the feet of some of the lawmakers, an indication that the court might issue a warrant of arrest on the lawmakers. They said to hell to the injunction from the courts. One of the suspended lawmakers, Friday Ogieriakhi, said the process was an abuse of court process. His reason: “There is a valid appeal against that order; there is an application to state the enforcement of the order and an application to set aside the order. All of these processes have not been taken and you are bringing Form 48…this is an abuse of

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Edo’s men without ears ‘ I have watched the Edo

House of Assembly with dismay. I am embarrassed. These men have lost the right to be addressed as honourable members of the House and I accordingly change their title to Dishonourable members of the House...Shame on you all. You don’t have to lose your ears because others are losing theirs •Edo Speaker Uyi Igbe

court process. Until you deal with all the court processes, you cannot be talking about form 48. Nobody is in disobedience here.” The prelude to the free-for-all was a decision the lawmakers took last Wednesday unanimously agreeing to adjourn sitting till Monday to enable them resolve their

LAST WORD

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘

The governor should play a fatherly role because he is disengaging from the government. I think the only legacy he holds the people is giving us that memory of him that we would sit down here and say we have missed our dear governor that if he were around he would have done this and that for us. We want him to disengage with respect and go home with total respect from the people of Akwa Ibom State __

‘

Michael Onofiok

‘

differences. Obviously, they could not resolve the issues and when they resumed, they all gathered in clusters at the main entrance gate of the Assembly complex because they were prevented from gaining entry into the complex by security operatives. Edo State Police Commissioner Foluso

Adebanjo, a day after these men proved that their ears may have been lost forever, warned the warring lawmakers against creating fracas that could be hijacked by political thugs. It almost degenerated to that extent on Monday when thugs who have been hovering around the assembly premises since the start of crisis on June 9 wanted to contribute their own quota. Thanks to Adebanjo’s men. If not for their intervention, it would not have just ended at exchange of fisticuffs. Bottles would have been broken and used to smash heads, pierced skins and draw blood. Adebanjo’s words: “The thugs have been kept away from here. What happened on Monday was unfortunate. I have told them it should not repeat itself and they gave me their word.” It will be surprising if they keep the words they gave to Adebanjo because these men have no ears again. How will they hear, not to talk of keeping their word? After all, the Police Commissioner earlier that Monday warned them and his warning fell on deaf ears. Already there are allegations about plot to kill one another. One that has come in the open is that of the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Kabiru Adjoto, who has instituted a case against his colleague, Patrick Iluobe. He said Iluobe defamed him by saying he was planning to kill him as a result of the assembly’s crisis. Adjoto is demanding N500 million as damages over Iluobe’s alleged defamation of character. Adjoto is an APC member. Iluobe is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), these men were made to lose their ears by men in Abuja. The party believes that through it the people have seen the difference between light and darkness and all should be done to ensure light continues to overshadow darkness. My final take: I have watched the Edo House of Assembly with dismay. I am embarrassed. These men have lost the right to be addressed as honourable members of the House and I accordingly change their title to Dishonourable members of the House. By not complying with a suspension order duly carried out in accordance with their House rules and disobeying a court order restraining them from entering the Assembly, they should buried their heads in shame and so should those who allow themselves to be provoked into exchanging blows and tearing clothings. Shame on you all. You don’t have to lose your ears because others are losing theirs. For now, the law is on holiday and policemen are permanently stationed at the assembly complex to prevent a breakdown of law and order. It is a case of when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The time that should have been used to make laws to move the state to the next level is being wasted. Daris God o.

•Last Word is Niger Delta Report’s verdict on Southsouth affairs

NDDC, action needed on 4,000 projects

HE figure is scary. Scattered all over Niger Delta are projects, which when completed, will have far-reaching effects on the people’s well-being. They range from hostels, roads, drainages and so on. But for reasons which border largely on non-availability of funds the projects have remained uncompleted for years. They are the babies of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The echoes of these abandoned projects came up again when the commission went to defend its budget at the Senate. The projects estimated to be worth trillions of naira are scattered across the region. NDDC Chairman Senator Bassey EwaHenshaw told the Senate Committee on Niger why the commission needed N322.6 billion 2014 budget. Ewa-Henshaw blamed the trend of uncompleted projects on the provision of only 15 per cent mobilisation in NDDC’s annual budget. President Goodluck Jonathan had on June 4, forwarded N322.6 billion to the National Assembly. The budget showed a N7 billion increase, representing 2.1 per cent increase from the N315.85 billion 2013 budget for the commission. Jonathan, in the letter accompanying the budget, said: “Pursuant to Section 18 sub-section one of the NDDC Establishment Act, I wish to submit the 2014 estimates of expenditure and income of the commission for the kind consideration and approval of the National Assembly. “The commission has submitted a budget pro-

posal of N322 billion for 2014 as against N315 billion in 2013 presenting an increase of about 2.1 per cent over last year’s budget. Furthermore, the budget is made up of personal expenditure of N15.80,73 billion only.” The budget consisted of N10.186 billion as recurrent expenditure; capital expenditure of N2.281 billion; personnel expenditure of N15.80 billion and project development expenditure of N295.051billion. The money is expected to come from N23 million revenue brought forward; Federal Government contribution to excess crude arrears of N50 million; another N130 million contributions; ecological fund of N57 million; internally generated income of N100,000 million and unpaid arrears from 2012 approved budget of N12.5 million. But this cash will not go a long way in helping NDDC check this practice of leaving projects uncompleted. Ewa-Henshaw a way is being found out. He said: We recognise the difficulty that 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 also decided to focus more on partnerships, 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 ma-

jor projects with us so that we can leverage on what we have in terms of the available funds and then programme to ensure that these projects are completed in a timely and business like manner. “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 first and perhaps most important is the issue of provision of 15 per cent in the budget. What I mean is that if you have a project, say 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 delay and even abandonment because after the 15 per cent, the contractor now has to wait for next year’s budget. “So we need to change our approach. From now, we will look at the total sum required for the completion and we will try to provide at least one-third to ensure that throughout the year, beyond the 15 per cent mobilisation, the contractor can continue to work and he can continue to get paid.” The time to act is now.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SHOPPING

Boulos joins food and beverages market

ITH two new products Frootzy (fruit juice) and Frootz (Fruit Nectar), the Boulos Group, a household name with diverse interests in automotive and paper conversion announced its entry into the food and beverage industry. Speaking at the launching of the two products which came with unique features and inviting colours, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boulos Foods and Beverages, Mr. Boulos Boulos, said the company has always wanted to go into food production because of the huge business opportunities and the growing potential of the sector. He said the products are packaged in a fresh and distinct packaging that will differentiate them from others in the same category. According to him, while Frootzy has a modern hourglass shape, a built-in straw and a beautiful background picturing a Toucan grapping fruit flying over a green land, Frootz packaged in re-sealable cap sachets is a modern design with the objective to appeal to children while the hourglass-shape helps them to grip the package. He said the company intends to introduce a wide range of innovative and refreshing products into the market before the end of the year. Amongst them are; milk drinks, flavoured milk, evaporated milk, yoghurt drinks and malt drinks. Elaborating further on the prod-

any shelf at home, supermarkets and shops. “The sachet quality is extremely strong and durable and cannot be easily torn. Edges of the sachet are blunt and therefore cannot inflict injury on users or children. And the cork is a firm plastic and cannot be easily broken.

The sachet colour equally stands out and should be easily identified anywhere,” he said. Katsikakis said the two fruit drinks newly launched are products of innovations and are designed to be affordable adding that the company intends to back it up

with consistency which is one of the values it is known for. “Having defined the targeted customers, knowing what they like, even their age bracket and income bracket and knowing exactly what they want, we were able to fashion production and production quality toward these targets and offer precisely what they require, giving people value for money.” The company (Group Boulos Nigeria) has been a major player in a variety of industries since 1936. With a vision of having a business that is unique, independent and vibrant in all ramifications, it comprises of four main companies with interests in automotive assembly through BEL Enterprises Ltd (Suzuki) motorcycles, Piaggio tricycles, Haojue motorcycles, waste paper recycling through BEL Papyrus Ltd; paper conversion through BEL Impex Ltd. Rose tissue paper, towel, napkins tyres and batteries distribution through GISS; Falken tyres and Varta batteries while the newest subsidiary is Boulos Foods and Beverages. The company’s values are based on leadership, integrity, dedication and quality service. One of their major strategies that guarantees brand loyalty is good quality products offerings which according to them, helps them stand above competition in their offerings to customers and with this, they have been able to build a strong distribution network.

the Nigerian Jerseys, an exclusive viewing of the match with their favorite celebrities amongst which were popular Nigerian afro-pop musicians Reminisce and Olamide.

Kaymu and Nigezie brought the world cup to Lagos in an electrifying environment with football lovers showing their support and admiration for the Super Eagles.

The fans were rewarded by a 1-0 victory in favour of the Super Eagles as well as the opportunity to socialise with their favorite celebrities.

•Senior Sales Manager, Boulos Foods and Beverages Limited, Mr, Vasilis Katsikakis and staff at the launch in Lagos. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

ucts, the Senior Sales Manager, Boulos Foods and Beverages Limited, Mr, Vasilis Katsikakis, said the re-sealable sachet is to preserve the remaining content once the package has been opened. The packaging also enables the product to be positioned for display on

E-commerce firms bring World Cup closer to viewers

IGERIA’s safest online market place for used or new products, such as smart phones, computers, shoes, clothing; home appliances for the cheapest price Kaymu.com.ng came together with other e-commerce retail outfits to provide a viewing spot for football lovers to view the FIFA World Cup going on in Brazil. Beginning with the Nigeria vs Bosnia Herzegovina match last Saturday, the centre has been on since then, offering Nigerians the opportunity to view live matches. Kaymu said this follows the pattern adopted every celebration providing an opportunity for e-commerce firms to explore their creativity and come up with unique marketing communications targeted at their consumers. Kaymu.com.ng came up with a unique online and offline marketing strategies such as the “watch a match with a Celebrity event” in partnership with Nigezie TV for

•Fans at the centre

the viewing of the Nigeria versus Bosnia Herzegovina match held last Saturday. The initiative provided Kaymu and Nigezie TV fans fully kitted in

Leisure mall customers’ Appreciation Week kicks off

EWARDING customers goes beyond the sales point offer that is why at Leisure Mall in Surulere, Lagos, rewarding loyal customers have become a norm. Therefore, to say thank you to loyal customers who will patronise the mall for the months of June and July, the mall’s management has decided to come up with a customers’ appreciation week. From June 29 to the July 5, customers to the mall will have the opportunity to win beautiful prices, ranging from free shopping tickets to shop at Mr. Price ( a South African clothing retailer and the Mall’s anchor tenant), Platinium tickets worth over N20, 000 to buy for free from

bheerhugz cafe, movie tickets to see movies at film house, crystal engraved pictures will be made available by Deep arg, there will also be free holiday accommodation tickets courtesy Easy Holiday among other free gifts. To participate, shoppers are to purchase items worth N5, 000 from a store or group stores within the Mall, after which a receipt will be issued to the shopper and he/she can exchange it for a raffle ticket to enter for the draw on July 5. The mall which has promised to continue to reward loyal shoppers that patronize them, says the place has grown to be choice destination for leisure, entertainment and shopping for families.

•Leisure Mall, Surulere, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

Flood-resistant rice to the rescue Floods ravaged many parts of the country last year, destroying crops and livestock. To help farmers, the Japanese government, working with the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) in Niger State, is distributing flood-resistant rice seeds to farmers. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

ITH sea levels rising and weather conditions worsening, plant scientists continue to search for ways to save agricultural plants from environmental threats to sustain food supply. Countries are in need of crop varieties that can tolerate higher temperature and drought, survive prolonged flooding and soil salinity. Being the primary staple food of 70 per cent of the population, the demand for rice has increased astronomically over the years. However, rice variety grown within the country is prone to flooding. This is also because there are many farms close to rivers, marshes and swamps across the country. With the flooding last year, rice shortage was a major threat which the government struggled to avert. This is because the massive flooding destroyed large parcels of rice farmland in the North and some part of the middle belt, opening the possibility of higher prices and leaving the region at greater risk of a food price shock. For experts, the scale of the floods was unprecedented, so was its threat on regional food security. Therefore, the development of rice seeds that are resistant to floods and droughts is wellcome development to farmers. The good news is coming from scientists at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State. Hoping to help farmers adapt to the vagaries of climate change, the scientists developed rice seeds that are resistant to droughts and floods, the twin scourges that annually threaten the livelihoods of poor farmers in the country as well as in lowland areas. Supported by the Japan Rice Emergency Initiative (JERI) hosted by foremost rice research institute in Africa, Africa Rice, Benin Republic, the scientists believe the new seeds will be a boon for famers suffering from the impacts of climate change. Speaking during the kick off of rice seeds to vulnerable farmers in Benue and Nasarawa states, in Lafia, NCRI Executive Director, Dr Mark Ukwungwu said the assistance provided by the Japanese government through the JERI 11 project would increase food security. He said the project kicked off in Nigeria with an awareness/ sensitisation meeting with key players on rice production in May last year at NCRI’s headquarters. JERI11 project has a target of producing 60 certified seeds of faros 44,52 and 61 at wet and dry seasons. Working with the Federal Government and the JICA, Ukwungwu said NCRI produced seeds that were purchased from it and distributed to seed outgrowers for production. The foundation seeds, packed in

25 kg bags are to be distributed to each vulnerable rice farmer for multiplication on 0.5 hectare of land this year. At harvest ,each farmer will retrain 50 kg of certified seed to be shared to other farmers in his/her own community and keep the balance for personal use. This way, he explained that more and more vulnerable farmers will be given the opportunity to use and produce quality seeds. To further assist the institute, Ukwungwu said Africa Rice has donated two milling machines, two power tillers and two threshers for the purpose of research. Coordinator, JERI11, NCRI, Dr Myimaorga Abo sees many farming families lifted out of rural poverty while the region will emerge as a leading area in rice cultivation. According to him, this is because for years, the communities languished at the economic backwater, depending on growing subsistence crops. He said there is tremendous effort to double domestic rice production. This has led to the establishment of rice sector development hubs to boost production. He said Benue and Nasarawa were selected for rain-fed lowland ecology. According to him, the rice sector development hubs are zones where rice research outputs will be integrated across the rice value chain to achieve development outcomes and impact. Abo believes an evolving rice industry is laying the foundation for long-term economic vitality for the communities involved. While the institute is ready to provide field-tested rice lines that are tolerant to flooding, NCRI is ready also to assist government agencies and private seed companies to multiply and distribute seeds to farmers at a faster pace. Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Nasarawa State, Danladi Usha Madaki said the government has put in so much effort towards shifting attention of farmers from using saved seeds as a major planting material to other unexplored areas by Agricultural Development Programmes(ADPs) and government Growth Enhancement Support (GES) to meet high productivity through transfer of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to farmers. He noted, however, that many farmers do not have access to improved quality rice seed due to poor road network, distance from selling point, high poverty level, non availability when it is needed and others which has posed a challenge to the use of quality rice seeds and which results in poor yield output at harvest. He commended the Japanese government, Africa Rice and NCRI for the initiative and discovering this group of farmers to support with quality seed in the three states of Benue, Kano and Nasarawa.

• From left: Permanent Secretary,Nasarawa Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Hamza Gayam; Madaki, Tetsuo and Ukwungwu at the event.

• Abo presenting bags of flood-resistant rice bags to farmers.

He added that effective transfer of rice farming knowledge on high quality seeds to farmers, particularly t across Nasarawa State where rice production has crucial role to play will reduce poverty, hunger and bridge importation gap. He reiterated the commitment of the state government towards enhancing agricultural production and cultivation of rice. In 2010 cropping season, he said the total area put into rice production was 98,220 hectare with an average yield of 264,930 metric tonnes while in 2011, a total area put into rice was 115,100 hectares with an average yield of 305,900 metric tonnes. He said Emergency Rice Initiative II will help raise productivity and achieve the goal of commercial rice production as envisaged under the Nigeria National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS). Regional Representative of Africa Rice Nigeria, Dr Francis Nwilene commended the Japanese government for financing Emergency Rice Initiative Project II. Represented by Seed System Specialist, Dr Gbenga Akinwale, Nwilene noted that JERI was designed to increase access of smallholder farmers to quality rice seeds. Nwilene maintained that seed is a critical and vital input essential to enhance productivity of rice. His said: ”It is estimated that the

direct contribution of quality seed to the total crop production is about 15 – 20 per cent. It is also estimated that for every 10per cent increase in farm yield due to the use of quality seed will result into seven per cent in poverty reduction in Africa and five per cent reduction in Asia. Quality seed not only increases productivity per unit area, but also helps to produce uniform crops without any mixtures which produce high milling recovery and better quality rice. Consequently, he said the rice transformation agenda was designed to optimise the use of seeds of wide range of agronomically superior high yielding stress tolerant rice varieties seeds, fertiliser and other best agricultural practices to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. He said Africa Rice is committed to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa, through research and development. Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Mr Tetsuo Seki said JICA is fully commitment to working with the Nigerian government to achieve its target of self-sufficiency in rice production by next year. He said his government with many other stakeholders within the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARI), aim to double rice production in Africa within a 10 year activity from 2008 to 2018. For Nigeria, the target is to increase paddy

production from 3.4 million tonnes of paddy in 2007 to 13.27 million tonnes by the year 2018. He said Japan has been supporting the Japan Emergency Rice Initiative through AfricaRice since 2009. The objective of the initiative, he maintained is to boost rice production and reduce post-harvest losses in 25 sub-Saharan African countries through the distribution of rice seeds to vulnerable farmers. He called on the NCRI to make all efforts to raise the awareness of farmers and extension agents on the need to plant good quality seeds and build their capacity in all areas related to rice farming. He said the role of NCRI in general seed production and distribution system cannot be over emphasised. Deputy Director, Cereals and Desk Officer, Rice Value Chain, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Victor Ekezie Onyeneke said agricultural research and technologies would reduce vulnerability, when improved varieties of rice seeds and other inputs are made available to poor rice farmers. He expressed hope that JERI will impact on vulnerable rice farmers and improve their livelihoods. For decades, rice makes up 80 per cent of every meal in the country. Thus, it’s a concern that the staple is so vulnerable to elements. Recent events have shown that resilient varieties will continue to play a role in disaster risk reduction.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

AGRICBUSINESS

Create more agro-parks to boost food production, govt advised

N expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo, has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on establishing more agroparks across the country to create more jobs and boost food production. An agro-park is a combination of a working farm and a municipal park that can serve as a transition or buffer zone between urban and agricultural uses. Agro-parks accommodate small farms, public areas and natural habitat and allow small farmers access to secure land and local markets, provide fresh food, for nearby communities. Adeyemo, who is Deputy Director, Department of General Admin-

istration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), urged the government to partner with the private sector to establish such parks to “stabilise the agricultural supply chain, deepen inter-industry linkages, increase competitive import substitution, and activate unutilised rural land and labour.” He said such facilities are important since they provide a space for intensive agricultural production, integrating all the facets within the value chain, from pre-production, such as irrigation, clearing, and others to production, marketing and post-harvest handling. However, to ensure that agroparks are successful, Adeyemo said,

the government must map the entire value chain process in each park so that farmers are trained in critical areas of land preparation, water management, crop production, reaping, transportation, and storage while making sure that farmers’ output becomes the agro-processors input to create high-quality branded products for local and international markets. He said agro-parks should also be integrated into critically needed land reform since the nation still has a major challenge with underutilised land due to the land tenure system. Meanwhile, as part of efforts to enhance economic growth and job creation, the Federal Government has partnered with the Netherlands

to set up a Dutch agro-industrial park in the country. The deal was sealed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, during a meeting with Netherlands Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen, on the sidelines of the Nigeria-Netherlands Business and Investment Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. The ministers have agreed to set up a technical team to ensure expediency in delivering the project. Speaking on the win-win economic relationship with Netherland, Aganga said: “The Netherlands has a well-developed food processing industry. They are also the largest producers and ex-

•Adeyemo

porters of food. This, combined with the availability of raw materials and the large market in Nigeria, will give rise to a successful partnership on the establishment of an industrial zone on food processing in Nigeria.”

Vegetable growers set to tackle food challenge

From left: Dr. Olufemi Ajayi, Prof Ade Banire and Oyedele at the event.

HAT started as small gar dens for some vegetable farmers may become a major foreign exchange earner, Prof. Durodoluwa Oyedele has said. Oyedele, who is the Principal Investigator, Nigeria-Canada Underutilized Indigenous Vegetable Project (NICAN-VEG) Project, said if the government supports the efforts of bodies, such as NICAN-VEG, vegetable farmers and country as a whole would benefit immensely vegetable farming business. Speaking at a programme for veg-

By Gbenga Aderanti

etable farmers in the Southwest, tagged: ‘NICAN-VEG Farmers Field Day,’ at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, he said efforts by some universities in Nigeria and abroad to stimulate local fruit and vegetable production is going to pay dividends, by ensuring ‘a steady rise in producers’ income. He noted that local food producers are ready meet the food needs of a growing global population and called for support to explore the potential for agriculture

Minister urges parastatals to embrace research, development

HE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. AkinwumiAdesina,has charged parastatals and institutes under the ministry to develop new products through Research and Development (R&D). At a meeting, in Abuja, held with chairmen of boards and chief executives of parastatals, under the ministry, the Minister asked them to use viable technologies to develop products for commercialisation, instead of leaving them on the shelves. Adesina directed them to have a compelling vision on how to achieve the mandates of their institutions in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the ministry. The Minister emphasised the need for research institutes and all universities of agriculture to collaborate in R&D, and production of annual R&D reports, and observing annual R&D week for the purpose of discussion and dissemination of reports on new developments and

products. He said: “If you can take our technologies to scale, from the scaling, you can find the amount needed and even convince donors to help.” To enable his ministry keep track of the activities of the parastatals and make government very successful, Adesina directed all the parastatals institutes and colleges of agriculture to submit quarterly reports to his office. The Minister, however, pledged his readiness to devise a means of providing for more funding, to enable the parastatals and institutes deliver on their mandates. The Chairman, Governing Board of National Root Crops research Institute, Umudike, Chief Oluwole Aina, on behalf of the Agric research council of Nigeria (ARCN), called on government to consider timely funding for agriculture because it is a seasonal activity. He said funding should be made available when it would be useful to the farmer.

‘Oyedele predicted that in the next 10 years, vegetable farmers would move from cultivation to packaging and exporting’ to become next great economic boom industry. According to him, vegetable growers have acknowledged challenges and are rising to meet them, with several new initiatives aimed at providing food for export. The vegetable industry, he maintained is to be empowered by several research and market development projects which aim to increase the export market for local grown produce. These initiatives, sponsored by his group will allow growers to rise to the challenges and achieve its po-

tential as an exporting nation. He said NICAN-VEG project was dsigned to bring back indigenous vegetables to the dining tables by popularising their cultivation, marketing and consumption, and also to empower the rural women economically and reduce poverty through proceeds from sale of the vegetables. So far, he said the group is working with farmers to help them plant high yielding vegetable crops that retailers need and link them with large markets in key areas where they can offload their produce and sell them directly to retailers. The three-year project, which has been a huge success, is coming to an end and the coordinator saw the need to sustain it; therefore they decided to give grants to the farmers group from different locations in the Southwest of Nigeria that are involved in the project. Oyedele said the body has lived up to the dreams of the sponsors by reviving indigenous vegetables, empower rural farmers especially women farmers. “What we did was to develop new technology in planting vegetables; we had to domesticate this using improved technology. We introduced the technology to the farmers by working with the farmers to develop the technologies, we empowered the farmers with various inputs, such as irrigation, equipments and farmers have now imbibed the technology,” he said. He explained that they had to give out loans to farmers’ groups because the project was coming to an end and there was the need to sustain it. He said: “We are giving them sustaining loan, a soft loan so that they can use that to sustain the planting.” Oyedele predicted that in the next 10 years, vegetable farmers would move from cultivation to packaging and exporting. “We are looking at post harvest technology, packaging and developing channel

linking the farmers with buyers,” he said. He expressed optimism that vegetable business would continue to grow in Nigeria considering the existence of large groceries market, saying, “ these ones, need vegetables that are fresh at all times. What we are doing is trying to link these farmers to them. And to do that, we still have to train the farmers. It is not that you will get to the store, you will get the quality today, and tomorrow you will get different quality. We have trained the farmers to produce same quality and in 10 years we are looking at farmers being able to supply through their cooperatives, particularly to the supermarket and exporting.” At the well-attended event, the vegetable farmers’ groups were presented with cheques which would help them in their farming ventures. It was another opportunity for these farmers to share their experiences since they were introduced to NICAN-VEG project. The programme has not only exposed farmers to new technology in vegetable preservation, it also assisted them in having the opportunity to discuss ways to solve problems facing the vegetable farmers. Aside NICAN-VEG project assisting areas in areas such as irrigation, seedlings, the programme has had positive effects on farmers as it helps the farmers to prepare the land, make available good while the proceeds from the farm automatically become that of the farmer. A beneficiary, Iya Omidiora said she got pumping machine, Storex tank, seeds and technical supports, especially in the area of applying fertiliser to the soil. Pa Oyedele, a retired teacher who could be in his 70s, said he had benefited immensely from the project. Before he NICAN-VEG project has really helped him, though he complained that marketing remains a challenge.

LACOWA elects president

EMBERS of the Lagos State Cooperative Women Alliance (LACOWA) have elected Mrs Christiana Oluremi Famoroti as their first president. The election and inauguration, which held at Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) saw Mrs Oluremi and other 14 officials elected by affirmation following her role as the Lagos State Coordinator of LACOWA. National President, Nigerian Cooperative Women Alliance (NACOWA), Mrs Esther Bassey Eka, who led the national entourage to the event, advised the new officials to live

By Ibrahim Adam

up to expectation. “Am happy for you people today because you are here to work. I look forward for you people to make change and manage things well. If you are coming for money, the door is open for you to go. “I advise you today not to disrespect your husband regarding your position. Let love supersede everything in your house and also help the needy and the poor.” he said. Speaking with The Nation, the new President, Mr Christiana Famoroti, said she will work harder with other officials to empower the people.

He said: “The journey so far has been very hectic because we started with two gentlemen and I but glory be to God today. I promise to work beyond expectation and harder with my officials in terms of empowerment.” Mrs Eka declared the new president as the national and International Affairs Coordinator to join her entourage at the national level. She added: ‘’The programme we are carrying out today will no doubt positively impact on the capital assets of the vulnerable rice farmers and assist them in constructing a more sustainable livelihood.’’

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

BUSINESS S/Africa miners resume after strike

ENS of thousands of South African platinum miners returned to work this week after wage deals ended the longest and most damaging strike in the country’s history. The five-month strike hit 40 per cent of global production of the precious metal and has cost companies Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum a combined 24 billion rand ($2.25billion) in lost revenue. Industry and union officials said miners were streaming back to work and Reuters reporters saw thousands trudging to Marikana before sunrise on a cold winter’s morning. “Viva AMCU! Viva Lonmin!” one worker shouted on his way to a Lonmin processing plant. Miners in a bus danced and sang in jubilation as it drove up to the gates. Lonmin had set up huge canvas tents in a nearby stadium where miners underwent medical and other checks. Calling for a “living wage” for its members, many of whom live

in poverty, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) had demanded an immediate doubling of basic wages to 12,500 rand ($1,200) a month. In the end, it settled for raises of up to around 20 per cent annually. The companies will find even that increase hard to absorb. Around half of the country’s platinum shafts were already losing money before the strike. Lonmin, the smallest of the three producers, said restructuring was “inevitable” to ensure the business remained afloat, especially while industrial demand for platinum in vehicle catalytic converters remains subdued. Around 1.2 million ounces of production have been lost to date, according to Reuters calculations based on the companies’ estimated loss of 10,000 ounces a day. The industry usually works for 11 days out of 14. But the strike had little impact on the spot price of platinum, underscoring the challenges facing the sector.

Canada targets South Africa market

OUTH Africa might be strike-plagued, on the brink of recession and refusing to sign any foreign investment treaties these days, but it will remain the linchpin of Canada’s economic strategy on the African continent, International Trade Minister Ed Fast says. South Africa was overtaken by Nigeria this year as the biggest economy on the continent, but Mr. Fast is not ready to accept the new Nigerian numbers. He says Canada will keep betting on South Africa as its top priority market in Africa. “I know Nigeria is now claiming to be the largest economy,” Mr. Fast said in an interview in Johannesburg on Monday. “Before we draw any conclusions about that, I think you’d have to allow a number of years to go by. South Africa clearly has been the economic leader in Africa.” Mr. Fast is in the midst of a 10-

day tour of four African countries: Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Tanzania and South Africa. Canada has become the biggest foreign investor in two of those countries, Madagascar and Burkina Faso, because of its multibillion-dollar investment in the gold-mining sector in Burkina Faso and nickel mining in Madagascar. But it’s in South Africa where Canada sees the biggest untapped potential, Mr. Fast said. “We do about $1.2billion of bilateral trade a year right now. That is quite modest, especially when you compare it to some of our other trading relationships. We know we can do more, if we put our minds to it.” Mr. Fast announced on Monday that his government has chosen Johannesburg as the headquarters for the first African branch of Canada’s export credit agency, Export Development Canada (EDC). The office is expected to

open its doors in early 2015. The decision was “probably overdue,” he said. “The fact that we chose South Africa as the strategic location sends a clear signal that we’re looking to really re-engage with South Africa.” After a devastating five-month strike by 70,000 platinum workers, South Africa’s economy has tumbled to the brink of recession. The strike was finally resolved on Monday, but many investors are worried that the country’s labour climate is poor and its government is hostile to foreign investors. South Africa has adopted a new policy of refusing to sign bilateral investment treaties with other countries, and it recently cancelled its treaties with several European countries – a potential problem for Canada, since investment treaties are crucial to Canada’s trade strategy in many parts of the world.

Norway’s $890b wealth fund to invest in more markets

ORWAY’S $890billion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s biggest, will invest in more equity and fixed income markets as it seeks to boost returns, it said this week. The fund, which invests Norway’s vast surplus of oil money and is among the world’s largest investors, will also take direct charge of some future real estate investments. The changes, which will continue a shift in policy since 2011, will be made before 2016. “New frontier markets will be added to our equity investments and the scope of our fixed-income investments will be widened to include additional currencies,” the fund said in a statement on Tuesday. The fund, worth about $173,000 for every man, woman and child in Norway, invests in more than 8,000 firms and across 82 countries.

It owns 1.3 per cent of the world’s listed companies, including 2.5 per cent of European ones. Set up as a sovereign wealth fund in 1998, the fund’s net annual return has lagged its four-per-cent target, prompting a shift in its investments three years ago from Europe to emerging markets. It invests in stocks, bonds and real estate only. The fund has said it plans to take a more active role in some of the firms it invests in, increasing its stake in those companies to more than five per cent. On Tuesday, it said it aimed to increase their number to 100 by 2016, and that two-thirds of them would be in Europe. As of December 31, the fund held stakes of more than five per cent in at least 10 companies, including Finnish forestry firm Stora Enso and Hong Kong’s China Water Affairs Group Ltd.

Don canvasses interdisciplinary approach to solving problems

N easier approach to solving complex problems is to embrace interdsciplinarity, a professor of Chemical Engineering, Alfred Akpoveta Susu, has said. He defines the approach as an integration of innovative ideas, methods and concepts obtained from different disciplines, research centres and institutes. The don, who was the keynote speaker at this year’s annual lecture of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and investiture of the Eighth president, described interdisciplinary understanding as the capacity to integrate knowledge and modes of thinking in two or more disciplines or established areas of expertise to produce a cognitive advancement such as explaining a phenomenon, solving a problem or creating ways that would have been impossible or unlikely through one disciplinary means. He said attention must shift from the traditional to the interdisciplinary approach, adding that the overlapping of areas of discipline concern the awareness that empirical problems are seldom bounded by the narrow dominion of traditional academic disciplines, the recognition of the potential power of examining a specific problem from multiple points of view and the desire of combining and using multiple research strategies and methodologies to tackle a problem. He noted that irrespective of the

By Temitayo Ayetoto

desirability of interdisciplinary inquiry, difficult problems, such as lack of comparability of the various disciplines and inadequacy of the government to fund universities, impede the successful implementation of the strategy. He said: “This vociferation has reached a crescendo and government inability to fulfill this very important obligation has contributed to the inability of the universities to adequately fulfill their obligations to the students in terms of training needs and the larger society in terms of inherent potential benefit from the creation of knowledge-based economic growth.” The immediate past president of the academy, Prof. Ayo Ogunye, said Nigeria can succeed like China if round pegs are put in round holes. He lamented that engineers who should be the thinktank of the nation are not consulted, especially in matters that require their expertise, adding that the academies are underfunded. “The truth of the matter is, engineers are able to work out a longterm strategy for what is best, based on scientific rationale to analyse problems, evaluate means and alternatives, and formulate achievable goals. This has resulted to the growth in the economy of China at 10 per cent a year for two decades and the country now exports more in a day than in a year in 1976.”

• From left: President, Chartered Institute of Administration,Goddy Idaminabo; Ka’oje; Aliyu and APBN 2nd Deputy President Dr. Omede Idris at the meeting. PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

CIPSMN chief warns professionals against encroachment

N appeal has gone to professionals to concentrate on their areas of training to avoid clashes. The President, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), Alhaji M. Jimoh Aliyu, made the call at the Board meeting of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) in Lagos. Praising his institute for not delving into areas outside its core mandate, he advised his colleagues at the APBN to avoid what he called “unhealthy rivalry and acrimony capable of hurting our collective desires to raise the status of this noble body. The concept of Jack of all trade and master of none does not augur well for professionalism”. He said: “A form of practice, where some professional bodies and her members engaged in ‘I can also do it’ with regards to the mandate of others may not augur well for the sustainability of professional comradeship.’’ He said professions, such as law, medicine, accounting engineering, surveying and building, are defined by what outsiders cannot do. “You cannot prescribe drugs if you are not a qualified/certified medical doctor. You cannot do financial audit assignment, if you are not a chartered accountant certified for such responsibility. En-

By Joseph Eshanokpe

gineering also requires certified and qualified professionals before you can be legally allowed to practise the profession and much more engineering audit. Today, our profession is however, been attacked by some of our sister professional bodies whose understanding of the procurement and supply chain function differs from what it largely represents and this practice has continued unabated,” he added. He commended the Federal Government for enacting CIPSMN Act 21 of 2007, which gave birth to the institute. But he decried a situation where the institute was wrongly classified as management/communication instead of commerce and trade at the last outing of professionals in Abuja. Aliyu urged that the anomaly be corrected. He also advised members to be uphold ethics and competence in their duties, noting that only these virtues can move the association forward. While urging them to unite and build a strong APBN to promote professionalism, he said: “Professional development in Nigeria can only succeed if all of us participate actively in planning and implementing programmes that will sustain the development of our country through effective policy implementation that are relevant in

nation building and self-reliance.” On the National Conference, he lamented that representatives of professional bodies were picked without consultation with the APBN. He said as a 28-member body, APBN has come a long way in the commonwealth of professional gatherings and shouldn’t have been ignored. He however asked for more commitment, direction and confidence from members for the association to develop. He listed some of the achievements of CIPSMN as accreditation of its programmes, approval of its certificates/qualifications by the government, creation of a cadre for its members and procurement departments in Ministries, Departments and agencies (MDAs), and the hosting of an internatinal conference/award dinner night, which was attended by Mr Malcolm Youngson, chief executive officer, International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management. APBN President Alhaji Bala Ka’oje praised the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele for his plan to reduce interest rate. He said: “What the CBN governor said is good. It will help to boost businesses. He said the interest rate is too high compared to the figure abroad, adding that as it is, it will be difficult to borrow to build a house. “As professionals, we hope he does it,” he added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27 2014

COMMENTARY

RDINARILY, today’s article should have been a follow up to that of last week in which the sacred lunar month called Ramadan was discussed from various angles. But just about one hour after last week’s article in this column was submitted for publication, the electronic and social media throbbed with the shocking news of the eclipse of a human sun. The echoes of the news were reverberated through the length and breadth of the world confirming the fallibility of man. Aare AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao is dead! What immediately became shocking in that news was not the announced death per se but the consequence of that fortuitous death for hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries of the largess of the deceased across tribal, religious and ideological divide. Before now, there were three great Muslim philanthropists in the Southwest of Nigeria. They were called ‘a tripod of fortune’. Each of them had a national tentacle that formed a formidable fortress against the poisonous arrows of poverty in the land. But with time, they started leaving the stage one by one. First to go was Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the Baba Adini of Yoruba land, a man often described as ‘larger than life’. He was followed by the quiet, easy going but kind-hearted Chief (Dr.) Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, CON, the Baba Adini of Nigeria. Both of them left behind a very big vacuum that kept most Muslims wondering if there could be any replacement for them. But surprisingly, Aare Arisekola-Alao the third but anchor leg of the tripod took up the challenge and courageously combined the vacuums left behind by the duo of Abiola and Folawiyo with that of his own. He extended his philanthropic tentacles to areas hitherto covered by his two former colleagues so much that most people hardly remembered that there was once a tripod. Like Abiola and Folawiyo, Aare was a stupendous philanthropist with an ever open hand that knew no boundaries of tribe, age, gender or creed. His generosity was legendry and unlimited. And he was never tired of giving the same individuals or groups of people repeatedly. At least, his fervent belief in the Hadith which says that “an upper hand is far more reward-able than the lower hand” guaranteed the philanthropy in him. Which area of his largess can one really recount with precision? The story of Arisekola’s generosity can never be fully told either by individuals, groups or institutions in volumes of books. A versatile American poet who came up with the following axiomatic poem could not have imagined that his thoughts might germinate in Africa and nurtured to fruition by an African. Here is how he put it: “Who shares his life’s pure pleasure and works the honest road; who trades with heaping measure and lifts his brother’s load; who turns the wrong down bluntly and lends the right a hand; he dwells in God’s own country and tills the Holy Land”. We are all witnesses. Perhaps no contemporary Nigerian is as fitting to the above quoted poem as Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola-Alao, CON, the erstwhile Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land and Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) who lived like a sun

FEMI ABBAS ON femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Sunset @ noon

•The late Arisekola-Alao

‘He was religious without being a cleric. He was sociable without being a socialist. He was traditional without being a traditionalist. Yet, he fitted perfectly into each of these segments of life like a scepter in the hand of a king. Aare was a man of peculiar lifestyle with a peculiar focus. He lived for service to humanity just as service craved his penchant for philanthropy’

photosynthesising all the ‘living plants’ around and giving all of them the fulfilled dreams of their lives. But like a falcon that suddenly took a flight leaving the surrounding falconers to wonder, this man’s sun fortuitously set at noon when its rays was most needed by the needy. He lived like an era in the epoch of human history and died like an era at the climax of its function. The similitude of Aare Arisekola-Alao among the sundry elite and masses of Yoruba people of the Southwest in particular and other people of tribal and religious diversities in general is like that of the Queen in a bee hive. Take it out and the rest of the bees in the hive automatically become stranded. Aare Arisekola-Alao’s life is a case study for all well-meaning intellectuals and people of wherewithal. He was a unique colossus whose life and death should serve as a lesson from which to learn the conduct of life. He was political without being a politician. He was religious without being a cleric. He was sociable without being a socialist. He was traditional without being a traditionalist. Yet, he fitted perfectly into each of these segments of life like a scepter in the hand of a king. Aare was a man of peculiar lifestyle with a peculiar focus. He lived for service to humanity just as service craved his penchant for philanthropy. It may take Nigeria an-

other century to produce the like of this impeccable colossus. As an adolescent in the early 1970s, this man zoomed into limelight like a crescent of hope despite his limited educational background and subsequently grew into a full blown moon brightening the lives of multitudes that would have remained in rigmarole through the darkness of life. His Midas touch was like an antidote against any potential pecuniary poison. Arisekola-Alao’s death reminds us of a potent question which some companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) posed to him out of fear of the unknown. They said: “Oh Prophet, the men of wealth seem to have gone with all the virtues; they worshipped as we are now worshipping; they fasted as we are now fasting and they competed actively among themselves in the realm of philanthropy. And in response, the Prophet pointed out to them that Allah had equally endowed them with a variety of philanthropic means saying that glorification of Allah was an act of philanthropy, so was gratification of Allah and the like. That dialogue has since become a Hadith due to its entailed spiritual wisdom. There is solace for Muslims in that Hadith which can see them through the ‘Cape of Good Hope’. As a community, they had perennially relied too much on certain endowed individuals in their midst without thinking of what would become of the

community should anything happen to those individuals. Now, the reality seems to be dawning on them. Still, the die is not yet cast. Those who have just prominently departed this world amongst us were men of monetary wherewithal. There are still thousands of others whose wealth was not monetary but who need to be studied and emulated in preparation for their possible departure. Such people are of wisdom and intellectualism. Without adequate preparation for their exit, the shock awaiting the Ummah may be more devastating than that arising from the death of the wealthy few. Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, did not take cognisance of the lifestyle of Arisekola-Alaos of this world when he alluded to it in the introduction to his autobiography published in 1970 thus: “Man comes into the world and while he lives, he embarks upon a series of activities absorbing experience which enables him to formulate a philosophy of life and to chart his causes of action. But then, he dies. Nevertheless his biography remains a guide to those of the living who may need guidance either as a warning on the vanity of human wishes or as encouragement or both”. There was a similarity in the aftermath situation of the death of the trio of Abiola, Folawiyo and Alao which no era before theirs had witnessed in Nigeria. The funeral of each of these great men was either physically attended by everybody that matters including president, governors, ministers, high caliber legislators, topmost personalities of the judiciary and chief executives of the business world as well as politicians and intellectual gurus. In the case of Arisekola which is the most recent, it is almost impossible to enumerate the caliber of people who was present to say ‘we are here to condole’. Of all the comments notably made, no one was more precinct than that of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Governor of Oyo State who described Aare’s death as ‘the end of an era’. But His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto perfected that comment during his condolence visit to the house of the deceased where he said that “if the title Aare is referred, it would become ERA”. In other words, Aare means an era. From all conceivable angles, Aare Arisekola-Alao seemed to have studied and imbibed the thoughtful philosophy of another American of notable fame, William Webster, who once coined the following poem to the benefit of mankind: “If we work marble it will perish; if we work upon brass time will efface it. If we rear temples they will crumble into dust. But if we work upon immortal minds and instill in them just principles; we are then engraving that upon a tablet which no time can efface but will brighten into all eternity”. As the Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and a strong pillar and member of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) as well as a patron of over 100 Muslim organisations, the entire Nigerian Muslim Community bids you fare well and prays for the repose of your soul in eternal bliss. We also pray Allah to grant your immediate and remote family members as well as your close associates the fortitude to bear the agony of your departure. INN LILLAH WA INN ILAYHI RAJI‘UN!

NEWS

Ex-militants to go after fraudulent NDDC contractors

X-MILITANT leaders have warned contractors, who collect money for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects, but do not execute them. The ex-militants, under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, met in Oron, Akwa Ibom State where they reviewed cases of abandoned NDDC projects and decided to constitute themselves into a monitoring team. The group president, Gen. Reuben Wilson, said the contractors were running down the NDDC and denying the people the right to enjoy good projects. His words: “We have come to

brainstorm on how we can work together with the NDDC to encourage and support them in their effort to achieve our dream of total development of the Niger Delta. “The same way we were able to fight the Federal Government and force it to remember the Niger Delta. This is the same way, we will go after fraudulent NDDC contractors and force them to execute every job faithfully. “We will not use guns because we have surrendered them. But we will device our own way of peacefully compelling all NDDC contractors to do what is right. “Let this serve as a warning to all who may have abandoned NDDC projects in any of the nine states. We will soon publish

names of contractors who have failed to execute the projects after they had been paid. The party is over. We will force them to vomit their loot. "Every other month, we hear of contracts that have been awarded by the NDDC. But we are also aware that some of those contracts are either poorly executed or are not executed at all. “Our duty now is to make sure that we monitor the contractors for maximum results. From Ondo to Rivers, from Imo to Cross River, we shall take it upon ourselves to monitor what the contractors are doing with our common wealth passed to them by the NDDC for the execution of projects.

"These are the same people who will empty NDDC funds and turn back to give the Niger Delta people a bad name. The same people who are eating from the NDDC are the people who are painting President Goodluck Jonathan in a bad light. They are the same people who are saying he has not done anything for the Niger Delta. "Now, it is time to say bring back our contracts money for jobs not done. We will go after them. We will force them to do what is right. NDCC contracts will no more be for sale. NDDC projects will no longer be done shabbily. NDDCprojects will no longer be abandoned."

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

POLITICS

FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KWARA POLITICS In Kwara State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to retain power. But, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to resist continuity. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH examines the preparations by the parties for the next general elections.

2015: Battle royale in Kwara PDP

HE political temperature of Kwara State is rising as next year’s general elections draw near. The tempo is more feverish in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governorship aspirants are honing their political skills to outwit one other. The PDP, which has not been the same since the defection of Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and their supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is determined to take over the Government House next year. However, observers say the strange bedfellows in the party jostling for the governorship may be its greatest undoing at the poll. PDPaspirants include the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Dele Belgore and his Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) counterpart, Senator Gbemisola Saraki. Others are the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaib Abdulraheem, and the former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd). But, Senator Gbemi Saraki and Belgore are relying on their formidable structures for victory. To observers, the PDP has a long and tortuous road to travel to dislodge the APC. Unless the stakeholders do something urgently, Kwara State may be a battle ground during the general elections. From all indications, the PDP would muster all it can to wrest power from the APC. Also, it seems that President Goodluck Jonathan and other national leaders of the PDP have given their foot soldiers the marching order to ‘recapture’ Kwara. The President’s comments when he received Kwara PDP leaders at the Aso Villa, Abuja, left no one in doubt about his determination to ensure that Kwara is recaptured by the party. Dr. Jonathan while consoling the PDP chieftains, who claimed that they are like orphans, owning to the present political equation, said reality would soon dawn on those who thought they could run away with the party’s mandate. He said: “In 2015, we will know who owns Kwara. And, if God gives us the opportunity, which I believe He will, probably, we will even test our strength before 2015. All stolen mandates will return to the PDP. And those who think that they can run away with our mandates will know. As a member of the National Assembly who refused to defect, you will have nothing to regret. If they think that the PDP will allow them to run away with it, they will see it. “So, let us continue to encourage you and we will continue to work together with your leaders and supporters and make sure that, just like the Senator said, we will not only win the election at the national level, we will also win at the state level.” The spokesman for the delegation, Alhaji Lasis Jimoh, told the President that, without a PDP governor in the state, party members had been like orphans. He therefore, urged the President to empower them properly through appointments so that they would not become the laughing stock of the APC. Analysts are of the opinion that, for the PDP to succeed, the leadership must persuade the aspirants to step down for a formidable contender, who is acceptable and popular. This is because, before the party’s congress two months ago, the chapter was factionalised. Two caucuses-the Freedom Group and the Unity Group-were locked in a supremacy battle. The two groups are led by Prof. Abdulraheem and the daughter of the late godfather of Kwara politics, Senator Gbemisola.The cracks led to the ban on the factions.

•Belgore

• Bamigboye

The non-inclusion of a Kwaran in the recent list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Jonathan has been blamed on the activities of the interest groups in the party. The Chairman of the PDP, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, who announced the ban, said: “Factional interest will tear the party apart. If we are divided, we shall not be able to chase the ruling APC out of power in Kwara State. This is why we have banned in this party all interests that will not align with the party’s structure that we have jointly put together. “If we desire to run an all-inclusive party administration and we are doing just that,

•Hajia Shagaya

• Senator Gbemi Saraki

why should any group still stand up to promote factional interests when we have enough assignment for all? If we are to prevent division in this party, then, the leadership at this level must be responsible enough, not only to shun divisive tendencies, but also consciously work for the unity.” Oyedepo also said no member of the state executive committee of the party is permitted to be a member of either the Unity or Freedom groups or any other organisation formed to promote factional interests. The chairman, who promised to run an all-inclusive administration, said the ban was to foster unity of purpose and ensure

‘Two caucuses-the Freedom Group and the Unity Group-were locked in a supremacy battle. The two groups are led by Prof. Abdulraheem and the daughter of the late godfather of Kwara politics, Senator Gbemisola.The cracks led to the ban on the factions. The non-inclusion of a Kwaran in the recent list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Jonathan has been blamed on the activities of the interest groups in the party’

the victory of the party at the poll. He also said the party would raise N600 million from members’ annual contributions to achieve the target. “The philosophy behind this idea of membership financial commitment through annual contribution is to create responsible, committed and proud members of the party that will be desirous to continually work for the success of the party,”,he said. Few months ago, the PDP claimed that its factions had been disbanded for the collective interest of the party to hold sway, adding that the intervention of the Presidency has nip the protracted crisis in the bud. The Freedom Group had protested the results of the congress, alleging glaring irregularities during the election. A member of the group, Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem, said: “At a reconciliation meeting held in Abuja between the newly elected Chairman, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, and leaders of the group led by Mr. Kunle Sulyman, a lawyer, everyone resolved to bury their grievances, close ranks and work together in the interest of the party and the state. “The meeting examined the lapses noticed in the conduct of the congress and reviewed the roles played by elders and officials of the party. Although those in attendance recounted their experiences during the campaign and negotiations, prior to the congress, it was resolved that party members should rally round the new executive committee to build a durable party structure for the general elections”. Oyedepo denied insinuations in some quarters that he was sponsored by some vested interests, but admitted that his candidature received the support of opinion leaders and political heavyweights acros the geo-political zones. He promised to run a transparent, democratic and an all-inclusive administration. The reconciliation meeting was attended by Mr. Sulyman, Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, Otunba Sola Alao, Chief Lanre Ogundeji, Mr. Bode Ojomu, Mrs Sola Adeoti, Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim, Mr. Sola Babatunde and Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem. What is as clear is that none of the aspirants can have his or her way without the backing of the Abuja-based, Ilorin born-business woman, Hajia Muina Sagaya. She is the defecto leader of the party. Sources said that she has the ears and eyes of the Presidency. She is also closed to the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. The camp of the Lagos lawyer, Mr. Belgore, is confident that its principal will get the governorship ticket. It was gathered that Belgore has the backing of the business woman and, by extension, that of the President. “We got the assurances of the Presidency before we defected from the APC to the PDP. That is what emboldened us. We are confident that Belgore will become the PDP governorship candidate in 2015,” said a member of the camp. The Director-General of the Mohammed Dele Belgore (MDB) Orange Revolution, Rev Bunmi Olusona, was optimistic that Belgore will fly the flag. He said: “Even, with our defection to the PDP, our followership and support have been growing in leaps and bounds. Virtually everybody defected with us from the APC to the PDP. Even shortly after our defection, many who were not with us came to join the train.” Senator Gbemisola Saraki is also a formidable contender. She is popular at the grassroots. She is generous to party members. Also, she has the support and sympathy of those who have remained loyal to his father in death. But the odds against her is that she is a woman. In a predominantly Muslim Kwara Central, this is a minus. This singular fact was also her undoing in the 2011 governorship election.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

MONEYLINK

Reps reject increase of BDCs capital base

HE House of Representatives yesterday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop the proposed increase of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators operating capital base from N10 million to N35 million. According to the lawmakers, the CBN directive which ought to take effect in abut two weeks is likely to cause massive unemployment and give the dollar an edge over the naira. The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought by a member, Hon. Ibrahim ShehuGusau, PDP, Zamfara with the title: a motion on urgent need to halt the recent increase in capital base for Bureaux De Change by 25 percent. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele has also been summoned by the House. He is expected to brief the House

From: Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

Committee on Banking and Currency headed by Hon. Jones Onyeriri-led on the controversial policy. Gusau, while presenting the motion, said CBN has raised the minimum capital requirement for operation of BDCs in Nigeria from NIO million to N35million, adding that the mandatory cautionary deposit was equally reviewed upwards from N3m to N35m. This, he noted, is to be deposited in a non-interest yielding account in the CBN along with the Licensing fee reviewed from N500,000 to Nl million; and Annual Renewal fee increased from N10,000 to N25,000 while the application fee of N100,000 remained unchanged. The lawmaker said there should be an immediate halt to the proposed CBN policy as the BDCs has provided millions of Nigerians job

opportunities. He further stated: ”Bureau De Change has provided millions of Nigerians job opportunities. I am worried that the new rule will send many BDC operators out of business. The increments are outrageous against the backdrop that the CBN will also reduce the amount of dollars being issued to BDCs from $50,000 to $15,000 per week” Another member, Hon. Asita Honourable (Rivers/APC) was in support of Shehu- Gusau’s argument. according to him, the CBN directive was “super elitist and racist in nature”. Hon. Victor Nwokolo (Delta/ PDP) spoke against the motion saying the CBN is doing the right thing. He posited that increasing the operating capital base of BDCs will strengthen foreign exchange transactions and said this was similar to the 2005 bank recapitalization.

Hon. Hassan Saleh, (PDP, Benue) was of the opinion that insurgency in the country is being caused by unemployment in some parts of the country “and you want to squeeze Nigerians that have been squeezed, this one will not work,” he said. Hon. Karibo Nado, (PDP, Bayelsa) while supporting the motion said the CBN guideline is “a policy that will affect market women, bus conductors and lead to unemployment in Nigeria because it affects all and sundry.” In his contribution, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, APC,Kano said: “I’ve received several calls from relatives and operators who are already complaining of the increase that their blood pressure had already gone up”.

chain to ensure the revival of the sector in the country. Mrs. Awosanya disclosed that the Bank had devoted five percent of its loan portfolio to the sector for the current financial year adding that this will be increased to seven percent by year end. “At the moment, we had utilized 3.5 percent out of the five percent budgeted for the sector this year. We also have plans to increase this to about seven percent by year end. We leverage on the various Central Bank of Nigeria schemes and our Bank’s funds for lending to the sector. The Bank had also been in the forefront of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) initiated by the government since inception and has been actively

The motion was however opposed by other members who include Hons. Friday Itulah, Linus Okorie, PDP, Ebonyi and Sunday Karimi, (PDP Kogi).

Jaiz grows assets to N34b

AIZ bank the first full fledge non-interest bank in Nigeria has grown its assets to N34 billion at the end of 2013 financial year from N14 billion in 2012, representing a growth of rate of 141 per cent. Chairman of the bank, Alhaji Abdul Mutallab said in his statement at the bank’s second Annual General Meeting yesterday in Abuja that the bank’s financed activities worth N9.3 billion in the year under review signifying 365 per cent increase over the previous year. He also disclosed that customer deposits witnessed significant growth reaching N21.9 billion or 567 per cent increase over the previous year. According to him, “these results are assuring and indicate that this alternative banking is feasible notwithstanding the difficult operat-

‘Sterling Bank commited to agric financing’ TERLING Bank Plc has restated its commitment to the strategic growth of the Agricultural Sector by providing adequate funding in alignment with the on-going reforms in the sector aimed at repositioning it as an attractive business proposition and an input provider for the manufacturing sector and a key foreign exchange earner. The Bank’s Group Head, Agriculture Finance, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya who stated this while receiving the leadership of the National Groundnut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria at the Bank’s Head Office in Lagos, assured that the Bank will continue to provide the much needed financial support to all stakeholders in the value

• Emefiele

involved in financing Agro dealers under the scheme”, she restated. Mrs. Awosanya also said at the meeting that the Bank was also involved in the financing of one of the largest rice mills in Nigeria, a state of the art soya bean oil milling plant, poultry which is regarded as a high risk business venture and also provides advisory services to operators in the business. She expressed her optimism that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda will make Nigeria an agriculturally industrialized economy in the medium to long term especially as the efforts of the government has attracted new investors and unprecedented foreign direct investment to the sector.

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

ing environment.” In his address, the managing director of Jaiz bank, Muhammad Nurul Islam said the bank is hopeful of getting its National Operating license before the end of the third quarter which will enable it operate in all the 36 states of the federation. He told shareholders that Jaiz bank currently has 13 branches spread across eight states in the Northwest, Northeast and Federal Capital Territory, and plans to open at least four more branches before the end of the year. He emphasized that the bank’s focus is on exceptional customer services stressing that Jaiz only recently launched its internet banking platform to complement its service delivery channels.

DATA BANK 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

Price Loss 2754.67

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency OBB Rate

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 0.87 180.20 1.24 4.70 0.53 0.57 1.72 3.57 91.00 11.05 60.20

C/PRICE 0.93 189.21 1.30 4.90 0.55 0.59 1.76 3.65 93.00 11.28 61.30

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 26-06-14

SYMBOL ABCTRANS GUINNESS COSTAIN PORTPAINT ROYALEX COURTVILLE MAYBAKER CUSTODYINS 7UP NASCON UACN

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change

Year Start Offer

CHANGE 0.06 9.01 0.06 0.20 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.08 2.00 0.23 1.10

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

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%

LOSERS AS AT 26-06-14

SYMBOL FO OANDO TRANSCORP CAVERTON LEARNAFRCA ETERNA CUTIX NPFMCRFBK IKEJAHOTEL JAPAULOIL

O/PRICE 250.01 30.38 5.23 7.26 1.65 4.78 1.97 0.89 0.90 0.72

C/PRICE 225.64 27.43 4.73 6.90 1.57 4.55 1.88 0.85 0.86 0.69

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

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 CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGET FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Offer Price Bid Price 155.90 156.93 9.17 9.08 1.06 1.05 1.17 1.17 0.72 0.71 1.39 1.33 1,646.05 1,634.24 1,646.05 1,643.24 1,081.88 1,081.39 116.74 115.95 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 • • • •

CHANGE -24.37 -2.95 -0.50 -0.36 -0.08 -0.23 -0.09 -0.04 -0.04 -0.03

NSE

UBA BALANCED FUND UBA BOND FUND UBA EQUITY FUND UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

Movement

143.11

142.62

0.78 1,944.64 12.72 1.07

0.76 1,936.31 12.40 1.05

1.3496 1.3598 1.0204 1.1825

1.3404 1.3598 1.0023 1.1825

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-06-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 26-06-14

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

EQUITIES

NASD lauds SEC’s reforms on securities trading

HE sanitisation of the overthe-counter (OTC) market and regulatory framework would usher in a better environment that provides opportunities for investors in unlisted public companies to trade their investments in a transparent and regulated manner. At the first annual general meeting of NASD Plc yesterday, stakeholders commended ongoing efforts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reform the OTC market and ensure that transactions are done on regulated platforms. NASD Plc is a registered over-thecounter (OTC) trading platform for unquoted securities including equities and bonds. NASD is owned by several investment and financial institutions as well as strategic investors. It is registered by SEC as an organized trading platform for unlisted securities. NASD is promoting a trading network that eases sec-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

ondary market trading of all securities of unlisted public companies. Chairman, NASD Plc, Mr Olutola Mobolurin, said with increased awareness of the OTC market and new regulatory reforms, the NASD is optimistic it will achieve its objectives. According to him, NASD is hopeful that in the course of 2014, sanitization of the OTC business and regulatory environment would enhance transparency and support a market where investors can trade unlisted securities without fear of being defrauded or taken advantage of. “In the long-term, we remain very optimistic about the opportunities to grow the OTC market and we are positioned to capitalise on the ongoing economic reforms by providing and efficient and trans-

parent platform to support this growth,” Mobolurin said. He urged SEC to approve rules preventing selling and buying of securities in the black market, noting that a numbers of people are still trading securities in the black market. According to him, with the establishment of OTC market for non listed securities, SEC should ensure that no company trade securities off the regulated market. “The reason is that when a market is not regulated, if there is a fraud, there is no recourse to anybody. Therefore, all transactions of public limited company should take place in the OTC market in accordance with the law,” Mobolurin said. He added that SEC should ensure that anybody that is not registered by the SEC as a broker cannot trade or represent anybody in the transactions of securities of companies.

He pointed out that if the SEC enforces the law, all illegal securities dealers will go off the market, noting that everybody will do transactions under the purview and supervision of the SEC. “The third one we are asking for which can be done administratively or again by rules by the SEC is that every transaction in the securities of a public liability company must be reported to the SEC and it must show the platform on which it was traded, the broker who traded it and the price at which it was traded including the quantity, the seller and the buyer. That is the standard reporting anywhere in the world on securities of public companies. And if we have that, it will ensure that in any event of dispute, there are records that will show what happens and can be verified,” Mobolurin said.

Managing director, NASD Plc, Mr Bola Ajomale, commended the ongoing efforts by SEC noting that the approval of new rules and amendments on the status and trading in shares of unlisted public companies would play a major role in the development of the OTC market in Nigeria. According to him, investors demand, regulatory reforms and evolving market conditions will continue to shape the NASD business and allow the OTC to explore and create new opportunities. “As our market continues to grow in complexity and across assets classes, we expect regulation to keep pace with the requirements of each new opportunity. We shall therefore work with the regulators and other stakeholders in supporting policies that will help innovative, high growth companies of tomorrow to thrive,” Ajomale said.

Namibia to sell bond in South African market

Profit-taking halts Nigerian equities rally

OST stocks came under sell pressures at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday as load of sell orders from profit-taking investors broke a four-day bullish rally. The key value-based indices at the NSE indicated average decline of 0.61 per cent, implying a loss of about N85 billion. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies dropped from N13.864 trillion to close at N13.779 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), a value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities and doubles as country index for Nigeria, slipped from 41,987.55 points to 41,729.59 points. The decline yesterday depressed the average year-to-date return at the stock market to 0.97 per cent. With 35 decliners to 21 advancers, the market

performance was driven by both the widespread bearish sentiments and especially, the losses suffered by some highly capitalised stocks including Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, FBN Holdings, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), Guaranty Trust Bank and Nigerian Breweries. A total of 129 stocks were traded compared with 119 recorded on the previous day. Twenty one stocks appreciated as against 24 stocks that appreciated in the previous stocks while 35 stocks depreciated; more than 25 stocks that depreciated in the previous trading session. Total turnover stood at 411.48 million valued at N3.42 billion in 6,043 deals compared with 978.54 million shares worth N 8.49 billion traded in 5,983 deals in the previous trading

session. Transcorp remained the most traded stock for the third consecutive day, leading the activity chart with a atruover of 89.53 million shares valued at N427.42 million in 683 deals. Market analysts said they expected the downtrend to persist in the last trading day for the week citing weak investors’ appetite. “We expect the market to sustain the bearish trend, as indicated by weak investor appetite and negative market sentiment. That said, we reiterate our confidence in value names within the financial basket, as relatively cheap fundamentals point to impressive returns in the near future,” analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa) said in an investment note. Oil and gas stocks, which had witnessed the biggest rallies this year, led the losers, underlining the profit-taking sentiments.

Forte Oil, which recorded the highest gain in 2013 and so far this year, led the decliners with a loss of N24.37 to close at N225.64. Oando followed with a drop of N2.95 to close at N27.43. Nigerian Breweries dropped by N1.98 to close at N170.02 while Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria lost N1 to close at N111.

On the upside, Guinness Nigeria led the contrarian stocks with a gain of N9.01 to close at N189.21. Seven-Up Bottling Company followed with a gain of N2 to close at N93. UACN added N1.10 to close higher at N61.30 while Flour Mills of Nigeria rose by N1 to close at N78 per share.

Willsher becomes Etisalat’s CEO

HE Board of Directors of Etisalat Nigeria has announced the appointment of Matthew Charles Willsher as its new Chief Executive Officer. Willsher previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer and in August last year, became Acting Chief Executive Officer replacing Steven Evans. According to a statement, under his leadership the telco recorded over 20 per cent growth in its customer base, increase in

•Willsher

spend per customer, significant strengthening of margins, and has maintained the No. 1 position on customer satisfaction. Willsher, a physics graduate from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Management from McGill, started his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble. He joins Etisalat Nigeria with over 20 years in telecommunications. Prior to Etisalat Nigeria, he was Executive Vice President, Marketing at Etisalat Group from 2011 to 2013. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of the Consumer Business from 2008 to 2011 at Maxis, the leading telecommunications operator in Malaysia, an innovative operator that overtook the incumbent operator in Malaysia to become number one.

AMIBIA plans to tap interest generated by its debut Eurobond almost three years ago when it sells debt in the South African market late this year or early in 2015 to help finance the country’s budget deficit. The government will use the Johannesburg stock exchange’s listed bond program, Finance Minister Saara KuugongelwaAmadhila said in an interview in the capital, Windhoek. The size of the bond depends on Namibia’s “cash flow requirements” and market conditions, she said. Namibia, the world’s biggest offshore diamond miner and fifth-largest uranium producer, projects its deficit to narrow to 5.4 percent of gross domestic product in the year through March, from 6.4 percent in the previous 12 months. The government will build on interest shown in its October 2011 $500 million Eurobond, the minister said. That bond was more than five times oversubscribed, the southwest African nation’s central bank said at the time. “The response on the international bond was very positive,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said. “The margins were quite good given that it was our first time going onto the market.” Bloomberg reported that the minister said the government still planned to raise 80 percent of its debt in the domestic market by issuing treasury bills and other bonds, with the remainder coming from foreign borrowing. The government plans to cut the budget deficit to 3.5 percent over the next three years, while its debt will climb 27 percent to 38.5 billion Namibian dollars ($3.64 billion) next year, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said in February. The country’s GDP is forecast to grow 4.3 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

THE NATION FRIDAY JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS

Oshiomhole lashes aviation chiefs

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has vowed to go to court, if his freedom of movement is violated again. The governor spoke when the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Benin Airport Branch, visited him to apologise for the grounding of his chartered helicopter last week. Oshiomhole, who said he contacted President Good-

•Vows to go to court if stopped again

luck Jonathan after the incident, said: “I’m convinced that he (President) didn’t give the orders that I should be stopped. “The next time I’m so interrupted, I will not fail to go to court and challenge the infringement on my right to movement. “We need to strengthen our democracy. We need fresh air in our multi-party democracy.”

He advised the airport authorities to shun partisan politics and insist on professionalism. “It will be a sad day if the management of a sensitive institution that has to do with air safety joins the club of politicians and political actors. “I am saying this from my experience over the course of my stewardship here.

Twice, my chartered chopper has been stopped by your agents and the airport authority for reasons that have nothing to do with professional judgment but purely for partisan political reason.” The Airspace Manager, Ibekwe Ikechi, said: “If things have happened before, let it be in the past, please.”

Cross River/UN sign $1b pact

HE Cross River State Government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the 2014 Joint Annual Work Plan with investment portfolio of $1,181,165,557.08. The Work Plan, aimed at initiating the working relationship with 12 UN organisations, would be implemented by selected MDAs covering four areas - good governance, social capital development, sustainable & equitable economic growth and human security and risk management. Speaking at the ceremony in Calabar, UN Resident Coordinator, Daouda Toure, who was represented by Mrs. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, said the event was special in the UN calendar in Nigeria as it marked the begin-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

ning of a process of long-term engagement between the state and the UN family. He maintained that the project, which has been captured under the new UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF III) and the “Delivery as One” (DaO) modality which Nigeria has recently been enrolled into, was significant as it would consolidate a long-standing partnership between the duo. Governor Liyel Imoke said the programme would serve as an excellent model for development programme in Nigeria. He said: “The exercise would ensure more meaningful, sustainable, effective partnership, especially in the social sector, grow the economy and create opportunity for our people.”

One million-man march for Jonathan

•New judges of Oyo State High Court taking their oaths of office in Ibadan …yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

‘Youths, women may execute Edo court order’

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole warned yesterday that market women and youths may assist the police to execute a court order restraining four suspended lawmakers from entering the assembly premises. The four lawmakers -Festus Ebea (Deputy Speaker), Friday Ogieriakhi, Jude Ise-Idehen and Patrick Osayimwen- were suspended for alleged misconduct. Oshiomhole said it was regrettable that that the police and the suspended lawmakers refused to obey the court or-

From Osagie Otabor, Beni

der. He said the women and youths may take the action, if the police continue to flout court orders. The governor spoke when some protesters from Edo Central Senatorial District came to demand for Ebea’s recall. Oshiomhole, who described the situation in the Assembly as pathetic, said Edo people would respond to his call to rescue democracy and rescue him from “these gangsters”. He warned ambitious politicians not to import crisis into the state.

His words: “Under the Police Act, the police have a duty to enforce court order. If the police, who are a creation of law, refuse to obey the law, they are the ones who are behaving like the English turkey. “I cannot be governor if there is break down of law and order and the police can no longer be police. “I want to appeal and ask you to also appeal to the police to obey the law and obey the court order. “Democracy is a celebration of the rule of law. People are saying this matter should be settled, do you settle a matter

by disobeying court order? “I watched them on television when they were served the court order and abusing the bailiff. “When they threw the court summons at them they said this is yeye and the police are watching them, dismissing the judge and the court and the rule of law. “This state is greater than any of us, it is greater than the godfather, the police and all of us. “I am committed to ensuring that the business in taking Edo to the next level cannot be compromised by this distraction.”

Court restrains Adamawa Assembly, Speaker N Adamawa State from offrom impeaching Nyako plaintiff/applicant High Court has refice pending the determina-

strained the House of Assembly, Speaker and Deputy Speaker from going ahead with the impeachment proceedings against Governor Murtala Nyako. The order by the Acting Chief Judge, Justice A.D. Mammadi, followed separate ex-parte applications by the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Other defendants in the APC’s application are Abubakar Jarengol; Wafarninyi Theman; Simon Isa; Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice. APC and Nyako asked the court for the following reliefs: An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from taking any action towards im-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja peaching or removing the plaintiff/ applicant from office as the governor of Adamawa State, pending the determination of the motion on notice. An order that the ex-parte orders of the court be served on the defendants/respondents by pasting same at the entrance gate to the Adamawa State House of Assembly Complex, Gibson Jalo Way, Jimeta Yola, Adamawa State. Justice Mammadi said: “Having heard the learned counsel, I have read the motion ex-parte, the affidavit filed in support of the motion, Exhibits MN1 and MN2. I have read the written address filed with the motion ex-parte. “I have also read the reliefs

sought in the originating summons. I have read the grounds for the application. “From the affidavit evidence, the exhibits and the grounds for this application, I hold that the applicant has made a case for the grant of the prayers. “Consequently, the prayers sought for in the motion exparte are granted as prayed. I make the following: “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from taking any action towards impeaching or removing the plaintiff/applicant from office as the governor of Adamawa State, pending the determination of the motion on notice. “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from impeaching or removing the

tion of the motion on notice. “An order serving the exparte order of interim injunction on the defendants personally and/ or by pasting same at the entrance at the Adamawa State House of Assembly Complex, at Gibson Jalo Way, Jimeta-Yola. “This interim injunction shall last from June 26 till July 2. “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from acting upon in any manner whatsoever or taking any further step in pursuance of the notice or allegation of misconduct in the matter of impeachment of the sixth defendant exhibited herein as “Exhibit A” pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. “And for such order(s) as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

From Clarice Azuatalum, Port Harcourt

IGER Delta youths have said they will organise a one million-man solidarity rally in Abuja on July 16 for President Goodluck Jonathan. The Interim Chairman of the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Council (NDYLC), Ebis Orubebe, said the rally would be unprecedented. Orubebe spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday when the youths visited the Special Assistant to the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Youth Matters, George Turnah. He said besides the rally, they would purchase a nomination form for Jonathan. Orubebe said they have formed four groups across the nine Niger Delta states to ensure that at least one million youths turn out for the rally. They assured Jonathan of their support till 2019 when he must have completed his second tenure “because we are impressed with his achievements in office.” NDYLC members praised the NDDC management, saying the commission has tried a lot in development and youth empowerment programmes across the Niger Delta. They said they would hold a Niger Delta Youth Synergy Conference to make their position known on the nation’s politics. Turnah thanked the youths for standing by the President, promising that the NDDC would support them in the rally.

Attacks: Yero alleges sabotage

ADUNA State Governor Ramalan Yero has alleged sabotage in the attacks and killings in Sanga Local Government Area. He said people who were bent on truncating government efforts at addressing insecurity were responsible for the attack. Yero said this yesterday when he addressed secretaries of the 23 local governments. The governor said the timing of the Sanga attacks showed that some people were determined to sabotage government’s efforts. “The attacks were carried out on the same day stakehold-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ers from the federal, states and local governments were in Kaduna for a conference aimed at ending the conflict between pastoralists and farmers in West and Central Africa. As we know, the attacks are of international dimension. “That was the same time that some people decided to attack innocent citizens in Fadan Karshi and other areas. Obviously, their target was to put a dent on the international conference and that was unfortunate.” He warned those seeking to take advantage of the incident for political gains to desist.

Two robbery suspects held

OUTHS of Mile 2 in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, caught two robbery suspects yesterday. The suspects reportedly attacked a woman leaving a bank in Diobu. The youth leader, Prince Amatari Bipeledei, praised the youths for their vigilance. He said the woman surrendered her bag containing undisclosed amount of cash when the suspects accosted her inside a taxi. “The youths were able to apprehend two of the three suspects. While we were chasing them they flung their guns into people’s compounds where one of them jumped in. “When we got to the compound, we saw one of the suspects under a bed. The other suspects tried to scale the

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

fence; we held him down and handed them over to Illabuchi Police Station in Mile 2.” Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammad said the suspects have been handed over to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). He said: “The police went back to the scene and recovered arms, they were being investigated and they would soon be charge to court.”

Our Error

IN our yesterday edition on page 51, we erroneously referred to the former Rivers State Governor Rufus AdaGeorge as the late Chief AdaGeorge. The eminent politician is still alive. The error is regretted.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

NEWS ABUJA BOMBING...DAY AFTER

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (middle); Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim (seventh left); Federal Capital Territory Minister BalaMohammed (fifth left); Assistant Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba and others at the scene...yesterday

•The wreckage of the vehicles at the scene of the blast in Abuja.

PHOTOS AKIN OLADOKUN.

National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki at the blast scene...yesterday

The body of New Telegraph Editor Suleiman Bisalla being prayed over in Abuja...yesterday

Ekiti: Fashola raises posers on how to help the poor •Continued from page 56

“For me, that is the proper way to address poverty; provide work. Though we cannot build forever and at a point we will plateau, but in the foreseeable future this is the way to keep the Nigerian economy going, investing in infrastructure”, he said adding, “If you look at Power alone as part of the infrastructure that is missing and how it affects our lives you will probably be able to connect it with the question of Poverty. Governor Fashola said it has become expedient to put in the front burner of the nation’s political discourse the two emerging ideologies on how to address the needs of the poor in the country adding that the discussion has become more important “because of some events that have taken place recent in this country and because infrastructure has now taken on a new meaning”.

“Now there seems to be at least on this score, an emerging difference of political ideologies now. There is one school of thought that is suggesting that all you need to do is to distribute money and there is another school of thought that is saying “well this is not our way”, he said. According to him, “Some people now say the roads are not important because that infrastructure is not as important as the infrastructure of their stomach. It is a very serious discussion and it is not one I find funny at all”, he said. The Governor said, however, that the two schools thought agree on the point that they want to serve the people. “What is emerging as the point of difference is how that poverty can be reduced. One school of thought is just saying “just give them food, just give them money and rice and all will be well. The other school of thought is

saying “no let us enable them to compete”, he said adding, “If you have not seen that difference or you claim not to know, it is clearly emerging”. Pointing out that the role of government is to provide the enabling environment for the Private Sector to operate, Governor Fashola who named such roles to include institution building, legal reform, security which will make the Public Private Partnerships, concessions, political stability that brings on the business to happen, said, however, that government can only be formed through a political party winning elections. “But you cannot take on government in the country unless you have a political party and you can’t take government unless you win an election and every party, including my own, must win an election”, the Governor said, expressing dismay that the loudest voice that seems to occupy the nation’s

political space is “just share the rice and you win an election”. Governor Fashola described as strange the political development in Ekiti saying “in a place where there was undisputed development challenge, a governor intervenes and everybody says “you have done well, the place has developed but that does not mean you cannot lose an election” adding “I find it inconsistent with human behaviour”. “So if a government comes and decides that its own ethos to deal with the poor is to stop development, it will tell Larfarge, Dangote Cement and others, ‘you may not have to produce cement again because there will be no need to build anything, we are just going out to share the rice and just give out money”, he noted. He continued “For me, that is the greatest ideological debate going on, it is either a debate or propaganda and everybody who

is concerned must weigh in on that debate and let us make a choice. Clearly now, the parties have indicated that we are all concerned about the poor; the difference now is how do we deal with the poor?” On the issue of borrowing, Governor Fashola insisted that the cultural mindset that borrowing is sin or a disease must change if the nation must overcome the burden of mass poverty pointing out that America, which is regarded today as world economic power is also the world’s biggest debtor. “My strongest argument for this is that we are all the very first to quickly board an aircraft and go to the best schools in America and come and describe how efficient the schools in America are and how reliable their train systems are and how dependable the security system there is, how powerful the American Army is. But that same America is the highest debtor in

the world yet it determines, on the world’s money, what happens across the world”, he said. Also, according to him, “If you look at the biggest corporations across the world, they don’t do business with money under the pillow. They do business with borrowed money. So the debate should not be whether or not to borrow money but to insist on the regime of accountability on what the money goes into”. In a goodwill message, at the Digital Reality Print limited, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Segun Aganga said anyone establishing companies in Nigeria is assisting the central government to provide the needed platform to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. Mrs Alakija said the company stood to change the format of printing industry. Digital Reality, which started in the last seven and half years has made significant contribution in the country.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

CITYBEATS

‘How my husband’s friend killed him’

HE is crying for Justice over the death of her husband, Kamilu Yusuf. Yusuf was said to have been killed by his friend Abimbola Alonge. Yesterday, the widow, Mrs Iyabo Yusuf, urged the police to ensure that justice is done. Operatives at the Ogun State Police Command at Eleweran in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, are investigating the case. Sympathisers broke down in tears when she recounted her agony at her late husband’s family house at Akiyode in Ogba, a Lagos suburb, yesterday. She said: “On June 11 at about 10am at Giwa, Oke-Aro in Agbado area of Ogun State, my husband’s friend, Abimbola Alonge, called my husband to come and meet him in his house at 1, Abu Babalola Street, Ifatado bus stop, Adiyan in Agbado. Later, I called about 10 am to find out why he had not come back since it was getting late. His phone set was switched off. He did not

‘... some people called to inform me that they saw my husband lying unconscious at Giwa Junction. When I got there, I saw my husband lying on the ground with his left eye missing. I cried ...’ By Ebele Boniface

come home that day. “The following day, some people called to inform me that they saw my husband lying unconscious at Giwa Junction. When I got there, I saw my husband lying on the ground with his left eye missing. I cried; I saw a police patrol team around. I begged them to help me take

him to the General Hospital in Ikeja for treatment. There, two persons came to see my husband and I asked them who sent them to come and they said they were sent by one Oluomo Ajuwon. I did not believe them. I told them that it was my husband’s friend that asked them to come and see if he was dead. I went inside the ward to see my husband. When I later came out, they had disappeared. “My husband’s friend and his wife later came to the hospital with one policeman and two women. I asked him why he came with a policeman when I have not accused him. On June 13, he came around 7am again with his wife and two women. As I went in to see my husband, three of the people he came with had already entered the car they came with. I told my husband’s friend that my husband’s younger brother would soon join us. He escaped, leaving his wife with me.” Mrs Yusuf said she reported the case at the Area F Police

‘Juveniles’ on death-row regain freedom

HE Court of Appeal in Lagos yesterday freed two “robbery” suspects, Sopuruchi Obed and Otobong Edet, after years on the death-row. Obed spent 10 years on the death-now and Edet, five. They were sentenced to death for armed robbery by the Lagos State High Court on August 29, 2009. They were about 17 years old when they were arrested on September 30, 2004 by the police at Igando, a Lagos suburb. The police claimed that they were part of a group of young men seen by an informant spending lavishly at a liquor joint boasting of their unlawful escapades. The court found that no one testified being robbed by the duo, prompting a rights

By Joseph Jibueze

group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), to file an appeal on their behalf in 2011. The appellate court unanimously allowed their appeals and set aside their conviction and sentence. The court resolved two of the three issues raised for determination in their favour. It held that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses were mere hearsay, adding that they did not sufficiently prove the case. Besides, the accused were under-aged and ought to have been taken to Juvenile Court rather than a High Court, the Appeal Court said. The justices chided the lower court for not making detailed

inquiry into the appellants’ ages . Under the law, persons below 17 have diminished criminal responsibility and those under 18 must be treated as children and only tried at the family or juvenile courts in accordance with the Child Rights Act or Laws. LEDAP’s director Mr. Chino Obiagwu, who represented Obed and Edet, said: “This case presents another opportunity for deep soul-searching by our criminal justice leaders and legislators on continued imposition of death sentences in the country with such imperfect criminal justice system, which range from poor police investigation to inefficient prosecution and unduly protracted trial processes.

• The late Yusuf

Command in Ikeja, following which the suspect’s wife was picked up. “After two hours, my husband’s friend appeared from nowhere and told policemen that he went to buy drugs, but there was nothing as such on him. One hour later, policemen from Ayinla Police Station came to arrest him. They took him to his house and church and recovered charms and other items like calabash, small coffin and his torn singlet. Strange enough, he is said to be a pastor/ prophet,” the widow said.

• Alonge

Alonge was reportedly detained for five days before he was transferred to Eleweran for further investigation. Before his transfer to Eleweran, she saw him at the police station neatly dressed and receiving very special treatment. She said on June 18, the remains of her husband were buried, adding that their children have since been staying with her husband’s younger brother. “I appeal to the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to help me ensure that this mur-

der investigation is not swept under the carpet and see that justice is done, she said. The Ogun Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed that the suspect is in custody. He said the late Yusuf was found injured at a spot not far from his house and was taken to the hospital but later died. Adejobi said Alunge is being interrogated by detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), adding that nothing had been found to indict him.

• CNN correspondent Gina London during a training session at The Nation ... yesterday

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

‘Be good leaders of tomorrow’

UPILS of the Federal Housing Estate Primary School, Sandfield on Victoria Island, Lagos were filled with joy when a nongovernmental organisation, V14 Ventures, donated relief and study materials including computers, cookers, generating sets, printers, books, clothes and shoes to them. The programme, which was held at the school’s ground, according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Miss Valentina Chimonez, is the third edition of its ‘giving back’ charity event. Chimonez said: “It is an annual programme that holds same day every year for the purpose of joining hands with others to build the nation’s leaders of tomorrow and promote the spirit of the communities. The programme encourages the public and companies to join hands in giving back to members of less-fortunate communities”. She urged parents/guardians to encourage their wards to undergo any of the vocational trainings at their young age to make them a self-reliant and eradicate poverty in the coun-

By Olalekan Ayeni

try. A presenter at Rhythm FM Radio, Omoye Uzamere and a Media Personality and Creative Entrepreneur, Yvonne “Vixen” Ekwere taught the pupils the fundamental principles of choosing a career and the importance of working towards achieving goals. “It is important that you choose a career that will help you achieve the sort of lifestyle you want as well as matching your personality,” Uzamere said. Ekwere urged government to improve on the educational sec-

tor, noting: “Many Nigerians cannot afford three square meals a day, while many cannot afford to send their children to school as many graduates are roaming the streets jobless.” She also urged government to establish a well-functioning social development system and make greater progress in improving the quality of people’s lives. The founder, Beyond Usual Care Foundation, Mrs Majiri Oniko, who was represented by her Program Coordinator, Deborah Afadapa, taught the pupils the importance of hygiene and how to protect their lives against diseases.

Sanitation in Lagos tomorrow

THE Lagos State Government has urged residents to use tomorrow’s monthly environmental sanitation for cleaning and clearing of their drainage channels. The exercise, which will be monitored by agencies, including law-enforcement personnel, will last between 7 a.m and 10 a.m. Commissioner for the Environment Mr. Tunji Bello urged residents to join hands with the government to ensure a floodfree Lagos during this rainy season. Bello said the ministry had intensified its mid-rain cleaning programme after completing the pre-rain cleaning exercise. He enjoined motorists and commuters to abide by the movement restriction ordered by the state government while the programme lasts, adding that whoever found flouting the law will be prosecuted.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Meriam Ibrahim freed again after rearrest at Sudan airport

Kerry tells Russia to disarm Ukraine separatists 'in hours' U

SUDANESE Christian woman whose death sentence for apostasy was overturned has been freed again after being detained on accusations of forging travel documents. Eman Abdul-Rahman, the lawyer for 27-year-old Meriam Ibrahim, said she had been released from a police station after foreign diplomats pressed the government to free her. She was detained along with her husband and two small children, one born behind bars, at Khartoum’s airport on Tuesday while trying to leave the country with her family. Ibrahim, whose father was Muslim but who was raised by her Christian mother, was convicted of apostasy for marrying a Christian man from southern Sudan in a church ceremony in 2011. As in many Muslim nations, Muslim women in Sudan are prohibited from marrying

Thai junta to

•Meriam

non-Muslims, though Muslim men can marry outside their faith. By law, children must follow their father’s religion. Sudan’s penal code forbids Muslims from converting to other religions, a crime punishable by death. The sentence drew international condemnation, with Amnesty International calling it abhorrent. The US state department said it was “deeply disturbed” by the sentence and called on the Sudanese government to respect religious freedoms. On Monday, Sudan’s court of cassation threw out Ibrahim’s death sentence and freed her after a presentation by her legal crackteam. down on critical

HAILAND’S military authorities news are setting up a network of panels to closely monitor domestic and international media and crack down on criticism of what the junta sees as its efforts to right the country, a senior officer said on Thursday. Rights groups and journalists have criticized curbs imposed on the press since the May 22 bloodless coup the military says was aimed at ending six months of street protests and political paralysis. Adul Saengsingkaew, deputy head of the National Council of Peace and Order, said the military would monitor reports that were false or posed a threat to national security. Offenders who refused to cooperate could face charges. “There will be five committees set up to monitor local and international media that will report to the military daily,” Adul, a former national police chief, told Reuters by telephone.

S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia yesterday to disarm separatists in Ukraine within "the next hours" as the European Union prepared to discuss deeper sanctions against Moscow. Washington and other Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to take concrete action to defuse the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where a ceasefire between Russian-speaking rebels and government forces has appeared to be crumbling. "We are in full agreement that it is critical for Russia to show in the next hours, literally, that they're moving to help disarm the separatists, to encourage them to disarm, to call on them to lay down their weapons and to begin to become part of a legitimate process," Kerry told reporters in

Paris. He added that EU leaders would discuss possible sanctions on Russia at their summit in Belgium on Friday. Washington has said it also has new sanctions ready to go, but Kerry said the United States would prefer not to be in "sanctions mode" and wanted Russia to take action without pressure. Pro-Russian separatists inspect vehicles at a road checkpoint outside the town of Lysychansk in the … "We would like to see a cooperative effort between the United States, Europe and Russia and the Ukrainians," Kerry added. Separatist rebellions erupted in eastern Ukraine in early April after street protests in

Kiev toppled Moscow-backed leader Viktor Yanukovich, and Russia in turn annexed the Crimean peninsula. Eastern rebels have called for union with Russia. Moscow denies Western accusations that it has allowed fighters to cross into Ukraine along with heavy weapons to confront Ukrainian government forces. The proposed next round of U.S. and EU sanctions would target Russia's financial, defense and high-tech industries, said U.S. officials. Kerry is on a tour of capitals in the Middle East and Europe to discuss Ukraine, as well as the threat to stability in the Middle East from conflicts in Iraq and Syria. He will meet foreign ministers from the UAE, Jordan and

Missing Malaysian plane: New search area announced

NEW search area for the missing Malaysian plane has been announced by the Australian government after further analysis of satellite data. The search will now shift south to focus on an area 1,800km (1,100 miles) off the west coast of Australia, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss confirmed. Flight MH370 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March with 239 passengers on board. Officials said they believed the plane had been on autopilot when it crashed. A 64-page report released by the Australian govern-

ment concluded that the underwater search for the plane should resume in the new 60,000 sq km area. An extensive search of the ocean floor was conducted in April after several acoustic pings, initially thought to be from the plane’s flight data recorders, were heard. However, officials now believe the pings were not caused by the plane. “It is highly, highly likely that the aircraft was on autopilot otherwise it could not have followed the orderly path that has been identified through the satellite sightings,” Mr Truss said. Martin Dolan from the Australian Transport Safety

Bureau said data showed the plane was on autopilot The underwater search for the plane was put on hold to allow more time for survey vessels to map the ocean floor. The new search is due to commence in August and is expected to be completed within a year, Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief Martin Dolan confirmed. Relatives of Chinese passengers met in Beijing earlier this month to pray for the plane’s discovery Submarines will scour the ocean floor to look for signs of the missing Boeing 777. The area has already been

NEWS Ekiti: APC for court on eight constitutional breaches Continued from page 4

“What role did the Minister of State, Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his counterpart in the ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, play in all this, especially given the fact that these two public servants passed by the spot where Amaechi was being molested. ”It is worth mentioning that the physical prevention of Governor Amaechi from joining his colleagues at the final campaign rally of Gov. Fayemi in Ekiti is a direct function of the unnecessary deployment of troops to Ekiti for the election. This event will go down as the biggest affront to democracy in our country in recent times. “Also worth mentioning is the flagrant abuse of national institutions that led to the country’s aviation authorities shutting down airports in Akure and elsewhere on the same day that our party had its last campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti. ”This act of impunity was targeted solely at the opposition, and it runs against global standards. Airports are never shut without the issuance of a NOTAM - Notice to Airmen. Again, who gave the orders for the closure of these airports?” Mohammed said the Federal Government used a special task force to secure victory for the PDP. It expressed concerns that Fayose’s Chief Security Officer, Kayode Adeoye, and Chris Uba addressed the curiouslynamed special task force on Friday on why it must do the bidding of PDP. Mohammed said: ”On the eve of the election and on election day, without any reason, security personnel arrested APC leaders and supporters

across Ekiti, ferrying them far away from where they could vote or monitor the conduct of the election. “This is an attestation to the fact that the security operatives were in the state more for a sinister motive than just to provide security for the election. “In fact, the compromise by the security operatives became more obvious when a so-called Special Task Force comprising Military, Police, SSS and NDLEA officers were summoned to a meeting Friday afternoon - a day before the election, near the Tantalizer fast food eatery at Ado-Ekiti. ”In the presence of AIG Bala Nasarawa, Mrs Florence Ikhanone (National Director of SSS) and Brig.-Gen. Momoh, who was the head of the military to the election, Mr. Ayo Fayose’s Chief Security Officer, Kayode Adeoye, and Chris Uba addressed the curiously-named Special Task Force which included 67 SSS operatives, 30 soldiers, 30 NDLEA operatives and 70 mobile policemen. “Adeoye and Uba reminded the officers of the Special Task Force of their duty to President Goodluck Jonathan, who

was identified as their benefactor, and how the officers must ensure that their benefactor wins the election. “This was the same team that went round the state from Friday evening and throughout the duration of the election picking leaders of the APC from across the state in specially-designated black buses with Presidency number plates. “The case of the Campaign Manager of Governor Fayemi, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, was particularly traumatic and saddening. His fiancée and aged father were harassed by armed soldiers who invaded his country home in the middle of the night, with guns being pointed at them as if they were common criminals. The Campaign Manager himself, an honourable member of the House of Representatives, was hounded into an unknown place by soldiers....all this because of an election! “Also on the receiving end of the brutality by security agents were accredited journalists, some of whom were ‘deported’, so to say, to neighbouring Kwara State by paid agents of state who turned themselves to enforcers for the ruling Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP).” The party vowed to challenge the identified breaches in court to prevent recurrence. Mohammed added: “Voting in Ekiti may have been free of the usual violence or manipulation at the collation centres, but the entire electoral process in the state was neither free, fair nor credible. “Therefore, in order to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Ekiti, especially the militarisation of the process, the harassment and intimidation of citizens, especially those in opposition, my party has decided to challenge in court some of these constitutional breaches and will also encourage our leaders and supporters, who were arrested, harassed and intimidated to seek the enforcement of their constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights that were recklessly abridged by the security agencies. “Our decision to act is not only to ensure that these irresponsible and unconstitutional acts are not repeated in subsequent elections, especially that of Osun in August and next year’s general elections, but also because we have always said that evil thrives when good men do nothing.”

rested in Bauchi and taken into custody in Abuja. She did not name the suspect. At the blast scene yesterday, owners of shops at the popular plaza were worried about their belongings. They stayed a kilometre from the scene, wondering what the next action would be.

Many people have been looking for their loved ones either working or transacting business in the plaza. A survivor, Gabriel Utairo, said: “I went to a barbing salon there to barb my hair. I was there when a red car parked, it was a Toyota Sunny car. The person immediately left the car and went away and within five minutes, the bomb exploded. The blast affected my mouth and

some other parts of my body.” Mr. Ikechukwu Ojah, 50, has been missing, according to Joel Ede, who claimed to be his sister. She said: “We came to check my uncle’s car because he was one of the victims. His name is Ikechukwu Ojah. He is between 50 and 55 years of age. He is one of the taxi drivers that ply this route at Emab Plaza. While I was in the office this morning, I got a

searched by air, and officials say any floating wreckage will have sunk to the ocean floor. Several teams working independently of each other have reached similar conclusions relating to the new search area, the BBC’s science correspondent Jonathan Amos says. The search for the missing airliner is already among most expensive in aviation history. After more than 100 days since the disappearance of the airliner, many of the relatives of the missing passengers have continued to express frustration at the lack of progress in the search.

Loot: Govt to get $930m more Continued from page 4

er, it is the efforts of the Jonathan administration in this respect that has ‘put the icing on the cup cake.’ “As a result of the effective strategies adopted by this administration and the pressure brought to bear on the Abacha family and its associates through sustained recovery proceedings in various jurisdictions, a significant increase, both in the quantum and rate of recoveries has been recorded.” He insisted that the legal actions taken against the Abachas forced them to back down in their bid to use the courts abroad

to frustrate the recovery of looted funds. He said: “The criminal proceedings instituted against the family and their associates have forced them to back down from contesting the cases filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to recover stolen assets in Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. “The Abacha family has also withdrawn their appeal before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg seeking to set aside the forfeiture orders made against them and their associates in Liechtenstein,” Adoke said.

NLC flays search of Speaker’s car

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday criticised the searching of the official vehicle of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, by soldiers in Kaduna. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Chris Uyot, the Acting General Secretary of the congress. “The search violated the honour of his office and we demand that disciplinary proceedings be commenced against those responsible for the

Abuja blast death toll hits 23 as families search for bodies Continued from page 4

Saudi Arabia in Paris on Thursday. Earlier he met Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The rapid advance of Sunni militants across Iraq threatens to split the country and bring more turmoil into a region already hit by the civil war in Syria. Kerry travels to Saudi Arabia todaay for talks with King Abdullah in Jeddah. The United States and Saudi Arabia have both been alarmed by the success of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, in Iraq. U.S. officials have said Kerry will also discuss the possibility of disruptions to global oil supplies from the Iraq crisis during his meetings in Paris and Jeddah.

call from my stepmother that my uncle was involved. “We have gone to four hospitals that we were referred to. We have gone to Maitama Hospital, Wuse General Hospital, Asokoro Hospital and Gariki Hospital but we did not find his body in the mortuary or at the wards. We only saw his son, 20-year-old.” Michael Ojah is undergoing treatment at the Maitama Hospital.

search,’’ it said. The congress said it believed that nobody’s car was above being searched if it was in pursuance of genuine security. It further said that, if this was the intention, the Speaker or his CSO ought to have been in the know since the aim was to secure him and members of his entourage. “In such circumstances, the customary practice would have been to spirit away Mr Speaker from his car. “The soldiers evidently did nothing of the sort because there was neither latent nor manifest danger. “The treatment given to Mr Speaker seems to suggest threat, and it was intended to humiliate him,’’ said the congress. The statement cautioned against using of soldiers to settle political scores, no matter how deep. It called on the political class to know that one of the fastest ways of undermining democracy was to use soldiers to do their bidding in furtherance of their ambition.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

SPORT EXTRA $2 MILLION APPEARANCE FEE:

Eagles refuse to train

LAYERS of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles yesterday refused to train ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against France on Monday because of two million Naira appearance fee, NationSport can report. It was gathered that senior players in the team including Mikel Obi, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, Vincent Enyeama, Austine Ejide and captain Joseph Yobo led the boycott. It would be recalled that a row over such a fee derailed the Super Eagles at the 1998 World Cup in France as players and officials were locked in lengthy meetings to resolve the impasse. Most recently, another pay row almost caused the country to miss out on the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, before the Presidency intervened to avoid an international embarrassment. It is now left to be seen how the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials will handle the situation at hand in order not to derail the team’s campaign as it has happened to fellow World Cup finalists Ghana who could not make it to the Round of 16 after losing to Portugal 2-1 in their last group game yesterday. It would be recalled that in response to the Ghana national team boycotting training, and the increasing threat the side would abandon its final Group Stage match against Portugal, the Ghanian government had to send more than $3-million in cash to Brazil. The money was promised to players as World Cup qualifying bonuses that were supposed to be paid weeks ago. The appearance fees are said to be approximately $75,000 each. According to the BBC, Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin told Ghanaian radio station Citi FM: The players insisted that they

From Ade Ojeikere, in Brazil will want physical cash. The government had to arrange the money and a chartered flight to Brazil. The money is in excess of $3-million. With growing unrest and the threat of a boycott looming, Ghana President John Dramani Mahama personally promised the players that on Tuesday they would receive what was owed to them. According to a statement from the Ghana Football Association: The government is pre-financing the payment of the Black Stars appearance fees which will be reimbursed when FIFA’s prize money for Ghana’s participation in the World Cup is paid after the tournament in Brazil.

Meanwhile Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has dismissed report that suggested his team will boycott Monday’s World Cup clash against France if they were not paid their cash. “We don’t have money issues here, I talk to the players and the NFF leadership every time, so I wonder what some people want to achieve by always drawing us back from our set goals. Please, beg them to allow us concentrate on football and not any other thing,” Keshi said. “We understand that some people are playing politics but they must leave us out of it so that we can do well here and go far in the tournament instead of making press releases and statements that will distract the team”.

•Victor Moses of Nigeria walks to the bench after exiting the game during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Iran and Nigeria at Arena da Baixada on June 16, 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil

Moses out with muscle strain

ONFIRMATION has come through that Nigeria midfielder Victor Moses is out with a muscle strain, the reason why he was left out of the game with Argentina on Wednesday. The Chelsea man has not made an appearance since being taken off during their first game against Iran. The muscle strain was discovered by team medics after the match so he was advised to rest. After avoiding the question at several press briefings underlying some tension between both men, coach

Stephen Keshi has now confirmed the player’s situation via the team’s official GooglePlus page. “We can understand that all players want to play at the big stage but it’s up to us and the medical team to manage their career and balance it with due diligence regarding their health, and that is why we have not played him. We hope he should be back in training later,” said Keshi. Media reports are claiming that there was a bust up between the coach and the player ahead of the game with Argentina.All Nigeria Soccer

claims that Moses refused to sit on the bench, instead prefering to stay in the bleachers after learning he was not going to start against the Albiceleste. But the player has claimed that he was indeed injured in recent tweets. “The lads were brilliant again yesterday and did the country proud. Gutted to miss it again with a muscle strain but working hard to get back fit and strong for France game,” Moses tweeted moments after the team’s official release had been made public.

Glo hails Eagles’s qualification for Round of 16

AJOR sponsor of the Super Eagles and all Nigerian national teams, Globacom, has commended the Super Eagles for qualifying for the second round of the on-going 2014 World Cup holding in Brazil. The Super Eagles lost to Argentina National team, Albicelestes by two goals to three in the third match of the group but still qualified for the second round with four points while the Argentines led the Group with nine points. Globacom in a press statement released in Lagos on Wednesday immediately after the match, commended the

Super Eagles for also qualifying for the second round of the competition. “Even though you lost the match to Argentina, you were not disgraced. You worked hard and contested every ball. We are very proud of you,” Globacom stated further. The Super Eagles will face France in the second round while the group leader, Argentina will lock horns with Switzerland. “The Super Eagles coaching crew should work round the clock and evolve the right strategy to ensure that the team emerges victorious in the second round. We are quite

optimistic that the team is up to the task,” Globacom added. The company enjoined Nigerians not to relent in giving the much needed support to the Super Eagles throughout the tournament. The Super Eagles qualified for the second round in USA 94 and France 98 while the team crashed out in the first round in 2002 in Japan/ South Korea and 2010 In South Africa.

WORLD CUP RESULTS Portugal 2 - 1 Ghana USA 0 - 1 Germany Algeria 1-1 Russia Korea.R 0-1 Belgium

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

Just pray you don’t fall into the hands of a kick -BOXER

will only be scorching the snake if we don’t get to the root of the problem. Governor Obiano’s decision to carve a fresh, bold, path as highlighted in his agenda is quite salutary. His number one priority to mechanise and commercialise agriculture is particularly heartwarming. This will not only create quality jobs, but (processed) cash crops export will generate more revenues than federal allocation. The other twin agenda of industrialisation and trade and commerce cannot be over-emphasised. We need jobs, quality jobs. Most able-bodied young men would rather work than waste away in gang alleys. Beware, you are not King Kong: One final point, can we continue to reform the bureaucracy and make it work better for the people? There is so much to be achieved if the civil service becomes truly a service centre. But more important, Governor Obiano will perform wonders in a short time if he manages to restore

the local government system. Since LG elections are a sham, he could appoint credible people, empower them and supervise them strictly to deliver the goods to every nook and cranny of the state simultaneously. Let them draw proper budgets, present to their people and let them be empowered to execute same. The effect of this would be magical if each of the LGA chairmen delivers nary 70 per cent of such budgets. Lastly, Obiano must be wary of one little bug that bites most men of power, especially Nigerian governors, something I call the King Kong syndrome: they want to be seen to be the ones doing it all. They double as permanent secretary, commissioner, special adviser and even local government chairman. They don’t give an inch, they try to do everything and often end up doing nothing. Your duty is largely supervisory, ‘exemplary’ and ceremonial. Get competent people, empower them, push them, watch them closely and they will perform wonders in your name. It is modern day folly for one man to pretend to run a state. These are my humble thoughts sir. EKITI POLL: Fayose wins, Fayemi victorious In the run up to the Ekiti governorship election, this column posited that it was a contest between light and darkness. So indeed it was and now that voting is over and light could not comprehend darkness, we maintain still that light has not ceased to be light and darkness will remain for us, the blanket and metaphysics of the nether world. The incumbent, Mr. Kayode Fayemi (APC), was kayoed by his challenger, Mr. Ayo Fayose (PDP). It is acclaimed as probably the best election ever conducted in Nigeria since 1999. We say kudos to INEC, kudos to the Federal Government for presenting the enabling environment and kudos most especially to the incumbent for being so graceful even in defeat. Since 1999, never has any politician shown such nobility of nature, such felicity and such dignity in defeat as Dr. Fayemi has displayed since the Ekiti election was concluded last Saturday. He may have lost at the polls, he has won for Nigeria and her democracy, a resounding victory. Fayemi represents what every Nigerian politician must aspire to be, he is a citizen of the future. To the people of Ekiti, they have made their choice and we must defer to the majesty of democracy; the will of the people.

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

For Obiano, a belated agenda

‘

Obiano must be wary of one little bug that bites most men of power, especially Nigerian governors, something I call the King Kong syndrome: they want to be seen to be the ones doing it all. They double as permanent secretary, commissioner, special adviser and even local government chairman •Obiano

street gangstar cannot be replaced with the seeming lawlessness of government. Invoking the rule of law, conscientizing the people to the majesty of the rule of law is a far greater duty than building roads. The state judiciary could carve out something like Express Courts to expedite the trial and conviction of these criminals – especially public trials. There is something inherently unconscionable about pulling down houses. Are they not better confiscated and converted immediately upon conviction to public schools and health centres? Don’t scorch the snake, kill it: We also dare to mention that the festering of crimes and criminal activities does not suggest that virile Anambra honchos are congenitally given to kleptomania and get-richquick-by-hook or crook syndrome. I think not. What we are striving so hard to kpochapu is a symptom of years on mis-governance and mismanagement of the state’s commonwealth, which has left highly ambitious youths frustrated and helpless. We

RIPPLES NO MAN CAN TURN ME INTO A PUNCHING BAG – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS

VOL.9 NO.2,890

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

N the tail of Peter Obi: This belated and indeed better-latethan-never agenda for the 100day old administration of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. Having come to office mid-March, riding on the tail of the exemplary erstwhile Governor Peter Obi, one almost thought he needed no further help rising from that glorious trajectory. But every new leader can use all the sincere advice he can get. Though he enunciated a four-point agenda purely of his own upon coming to office, he has stormed off the starting block chasing after criminals and seeking to cleanse the vermin-infested state. He introduced something called ‘Operation Kpochapu’, a task force to preempt criminals by dislodging them from their hideouts or ‘bunkers’. He pulls down houses of confessed kidnappers and armed robbers with the alacrity only known in martial law. Though an initiative of former Governor Obi’, Obiano has taken it one step further. “I am going after their weapons supply line, I am pulling down their warehouses where they keep their victims and I am going after their command and control centres…” said a charged Obiano after one of such duels. To detox a gangland: His passion to detoxify, so to speak, Anambra State of criminals is understandable. Up to the point Obi started to act seriously about the ‘bad boys’ two years ago, the state had become almost garrisoned by armed hoodlums who rendered the state inhabitable especially for wealthy indigenes. Anyone who had a name or a golden dime in Anambra fled; mainly to Lagos and Abuja. Yet many were abducted easily each time they set feet on their fatherland. It got to a head when traditional functions like marriages and chieftaincy titles were consummated in ‘foreign’ lands. It must be this gangland situation of Anambra that informed the introduction of ‘Operation Kpochapu’ (OK). So far so good but we dare suggest that OK is but a knee-jack reaction that is not only flawed but cannot be sustainable. What is faulty is the state’s criminal justice system and while he is at it, he must revamp that quickly so that crime is tackled in a civilised and sustained manner. While the theatrics and drama of pulling down ‘big’ houses would excite the citizenry, the miscreants know that government would soon wear itself out. Every task force eventually fails doesn’t it? Besides, the lawlessness of the lowly

‘Who is your columnist? Is he truly that great, heroic man speaking and pricking conscience as a tireless patriot? Is he that uncommon, high-cultivated man of letters that has eluded our nation for so long? Is he a heroic seeker of TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE truth and shiner of hope?...’ OLA

T is the eternal lot of the journalist in Nigeria to suffer image problem and poor self esteem. Though we are touted to be the Fourth Estate of the realm, that claim is either a huge joke or the worst self delusion ever invented, for most journalists cannot boast of a tin roof, let alone an entire estate. While half of Nigerians would probably vote the press and its practitioners as necessary evil, the other half would surmise it is an unnecessary evil. But evil it is either way. Thus though the press is tolerated, used and even abused, there is a subterranean disdain for the media, especially among the new, cabalistic elite of today. While an erstwhile president of the United States famously said he would rather have the press than the senate, Nigeria's ruling elite of today will gladly abolish the press and go to bed with the senate (no 'offence' intended!). The above rigmarole of an introduction is an attempt to surmise the thinking of the National Conference administrators when they threatened they would withdraw the accreditation granted to a media house for the covering of the talk-shop if it proves to be 'antagonistic' during the course of the confab. This threat is contained under Order 14 -

’

'Offend' and be damned Miscellaneous of the National Conference Procedure rules, 2014. To quote from the rule books, "The Conference may withdraw approval to the representative of any media to attend the sitting of the conference if the medium publishes a report on the proceedings, which the Conference considers unfair, offensive and not a true reflection of what transpired." Hardball insists that this is an outright gag and intimidation of the press and asks that this Order 14 must be expunged immediately from the confab's Procedure Rules. It is unacceptable that the media is being singled out here for harangue, intimidation and bating. If the confab could do without the press, well and good, the entire independent press would stay away. Otherwise, the press must be allowed to participate on its own terms, according to its professional dictates and without being limited or shackled. This is neither the first conference nor the biggest national event ever to be covered by media houses in Nigeria and never had a special rule of engagement been drawn for the

media. The administrators may also be overreaching itself a little to think that it can bar the press or that it reserves the right to accredit the press to cover the conference. The press, especially Nigerians, need no accreditation whatsoever to report the conference. Let us not forget that the entire junket is being bankrolled by tax payers and that automatically gives us all entry tickets to the confab under the law to play our legitimate roles. Finally, what constitutes an unfair or offensive report? Who determines it? What does the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria admonish in a situation like this? Why do we split hairs about 'unfair' 'untrue' and 'offensive' reports? Is our media law not replete with prescriptions, charges, punishments and even remedies for sloppy, poor and willfully malicious reporting? While we await the confab's rethink of Order 14, let it be noted that should this one too fail, it would not be due to 'offensive' reporting. •This article was first published on March 25

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