The Nation June 29 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1805 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

N150.00

Jonathan drops governors choices after PDP pressure SOME NOMINEES AND THE LIKELY QUESTIONS

Unity Govt idea shaky as APGA, LP lose out Orubebe, Adoke, eight others to face screening today

Diezani Alison-Madueke •Award of oil blocks •State of health of the NNPC •N1.2b counterpart funds for a PPP Project in Ministry of Transportation in 2007 •N27 billion PPP concession project to construct 2nd Benue River Bridge at Guto-Bagana Mohammed Adoke: •Rule of law and human rights

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HE President may have dumped his plan to form a Government of National Unity with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP).

In line with the disposition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the nominees of Governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Dr. Segun Mimiko (Ondo) have been struck off the list of cabinet members.

The list was sent to the Senate yesterday.

For supporting his election in April, Jonathan has offered

•State of anti-corruption war •Trial of high-profile suspects Ruqayyat Rufai: •Mass failure in WASCE/NECO •Varsities placement for school leavers •Why more than 15 million children are out of school •Lack of facilities in varsities •Huge allocations to ministry Bala Mohammed •Congestion in the Federal Capital

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

APGA two ambassadorial and two Special Adviser slots. Besides, Senator Joy Emordi is to be Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters.

LP will get one ambassadorial post and a Special Adviser.

Jonathan has conveyed his change of mind to Obi and Mimiko, it was learnt.

Obi nominated a former Minister of Information, Prof.

Dora Akunyili, as APGA candidate. Mimiko nominated Mrs. Omobola Olubusola

Territory •Overstretching of facilities in Abuja •Land allocation in the FCT •Disruption of Abuja masterplan Onyebuchi Chukwu •State of hospitals •Nigerians’ Craze for overseas medical attention

Johnson, who is said to be a daughter of an Ondo Kingdom chief, Bayo Akinnola.

But, following pressure on the President by PDP leaders, the GNU game plan changed overnight.

The President was said to have appreciated the governors’ roles in his victory, but claimed that the PDP was “not favourably disposed to a Government of National Unity.”

“The PDP has chosen to bear full responsibility for its success and failure in government between now and 2015,” a source quoted the

President as telling the governors, adding: “Some top members of the party also felt that a GNU will prevent PDP from effectively challenging APGA and LP during the governorship election in Anambra and Ondo states in 2012. And neither of the governors is prepared to join the PDP.” “The position of PDP leaders is that the two states are naturally PDP enclaves and the 2012 poll is significant to recapture the two states.

“Also, the pressure to retain Continued on page 2

Boko Haram: Senate invites security chiefs

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HE Edo State Government is to amend the law on kidnapping from life imprisonment to death sentence, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said. Oshiomhole spoke yesterday when Edo North Traditional Rulers Forum visited him. He said kidnappers have ‘no right to life’.

NEWS Page 10

Falcons set for German rivals

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IGERIA’s Super Falcons say they are confident they can withstand the anticipated fireworks of Germany women’s team

and unleash some of their own in Thursday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A clash in Frankfurt.

The host nation is hot favourite to take the three points in the encounter on current form and pedigree ...

From Bisi Olaniyi, Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt) and Dele Anofi, (Abuja)

O

N a day the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) expressed deep concerns over the spate of bombings in some parts of Nigeria, the Senate yesterday summoned the heads of all security agencies.

The security chiefs are to brief the upper legislative chamber on the bombings for which the controversial Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has been claiming responsibility.

Sports Page 24

PDP won’t share posts with ACPN

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Continued on page 2

INSIDE: A SPECIAL REPORT ON •LAGOS-ORE-BENIN ROAD •OWO-AKURE-IFE-ILESAIBADAN ROAD

Kidnappers to die in Edo

•HONOUR: Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama (right) and Rev. Gideon Titi-Ofei giving the African Servant Leadership award by the Graduate School of Leadership Governance, Accra to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a ceremony in the Ghanaian capital ... last night.

HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State will not share political appointments with the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), members, its Chairman, Ishola Balogun-Fulani, said yesterday.

Reacting to the rumour that it had reserved ...

News Page 7

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •MONEY P43 •INVESTORS P45

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

NEWS

•From left: Marketing Director, Jacco Ver Linden; Corporate Affairs Adviser, Yusuf Ageni; and Snr. Brand Manager, Maltina, Ngozi Nkwoji of Nigerian Breweries during the Maltina Dance All PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN Season 5 news conference ... yesterday Continued from page 1

They are to meet the senators in a closed session. Their invitation followed a point of order on matter of urgent public importance raised by Senator Ita Enang on the June 16 explosion at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In a joint statement, the US and the EU condemned the act as an affront to the rule of law and democratic process.

Raising the point of order, Enang said the act and other acts of terrorism must be condemned as they were an embarrassment to the country’s security system.

Senator Ayogu Eze said the Sixth Senate had ended its

•Mrs Olufunlola (right) wife and Miss Mode (daughter) at the service of songs for the late Mr PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID Tayo Aderinokun, MD/CEO of GTBank in Lagos ... last night.

Senate invites security chiefs over Boko Haram session on the issue of security and, as such, the matter had gone beyond paying lipservice.

He said intensive and critical investigations must be carried out to determine the issues involved and solutions proffered.

He said: “It is a matter that should go beyond paying lipservice.

“And we should look at some of the critical factors behind what is happening because the terrorists, as they are branded, have some reasons, like failures within the system, that must have

prompted their actions.

“We must begin to look at some of these causes as well as put measures in place to secure our nation because this is gradually becoming a national embarrassment.”

According to him, if a solution was not proffered immediately, it might result in foreigners, especially investors, refusing to invest in the country.

Senator George Sekibo was concerned about the apparent lack of security in the country to the extent that the nation nearly lost one of its chief security officers.

Sekibo said: “How can our security system be so low that we almost lost our I-G (Inspector-General of Police)?

“It is also alarming that the act was carried out in the premises of the chief law enforcement agent where there are bomb detectors and yet a bomb went in and exploded there.

“It has gone out of control and we must support the efforts to find solution to this predicament.”

Senator Olushola Adeyeye challenged his colleagues to summon enough courage to put a stop to violence.

Adeyeye said: “Wherever a society hangs on the toes of daily violence, the political leadership must summon the wisdom and courage to terminate the violence or that political leadership will be terminated by violence.

“What we are witnessing in Abuja has shown that even the Inspector-General of Police cannot boast of his security. How much more the Senate President, senators and other citizens?

“I believe there is sufficient wisdom in this chamber to examine the problems and proffer solution because this is not

PDP forces Jonathan to drop governors nominees Continued from page 1

a former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) by Southwest PDP leaders was enormous,” said a source close to the plans, who pleaded not to be named.

At the Senate, 10 nominees have been shortlisted for the first batch to face the Senate screening.

All senators got the list of the 10 nominees at about 6pm yesterday.

In the first batch are mostly re-nominated ministers.

They are Emeka Nwogu (Labour); Senator Bala Mohammed (FCT); Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke (Petroleum Resources); Elder Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Affairs); Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health); Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade (Ekiti); Mrs. Ruqayyat Rufai (Education); Dr. Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning); Mohammed Musa Sada (Mines and Steel); and Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).

A Senator said: “We have just been served the records of these 10 nominees so that we can study their dossiers. We may start the screening on Wednesday or Thursday. Some of us are looking forward to Thursday but we may get to the chamber on Wednesday and the Senate President may decide that we should start the screening.

“Whatever is the case, we have got the relevant records on these 10 nominees to start the screening any moment from now. We are already analysing these documents.

“Also, some of us have received petitions against some renominated ministers, which we are also looking into.”

It was learnt that Adoke may have to respond to issues on the rule of law, social jus-

Senate gets list of 34 ministerial nominees

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HE Senate yesterday received the list of 34 ministerial nominees from President Goodluck Jonathan. But the President did not attach portfolios to the names of the nominees as the Senate had wished.

Senate President David Mark only read the names on the list at the plenary session.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba told reporters after the session that the Senate would begin the screening the moment it receives the nominees’ records from the presidency.

There are 14 ministers in the previous cabinet on the list; 20 are freshers.

The list was conveyed vide a letter signed by President Jonathan and dated June 27, 2011. “In accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby submit the following names, with their CVs, for confirmation as Ministers by the Distinguished Members of the Senate of the Federal Repubtice, human rights matters, the state of the anti-corruption war and trial of high-profile suspects, among others.

Mrs Rufai is expected to unfold her plans against mass failure in WAEC/NECO examinations; lack of placement in universities for secondary school leavers; why more than 15million children are still out of school; decrepit nature of universities; and huge budgetary allocation to the ministry.

Senator Mohammed may be questioned on the increasing congestion in the Federal Capital Territory, overstretching of facilities, land allocation, and abuse of the FCT Master Plan.

Onyebuchi will answer the familiar question of why Nigerian hospitals are still “consulting clinics” following the craze for medical attention abroad by Nigerians.

Mrs Allison-Madueke’s

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

lic of Nigeria,” the President wrote.

Jonathan pleaded with the Senate to expedite action on the screening process to enable him constitute his cabinet as soon as possible.

He also requested the Senate’s consent for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.

One of the highlights of the day’s proceeding was the announcement of seven principal officers.

Senator Victor Ndoma Egba (Cross River Central) is the Senate Leader.

Senator Hayatu Gwarzo (Kano North) is the Majority Whip. Both are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

First-time member Ayoola Agboola (PDP, Oyo North) is Deputy Majority Whip. The Deputy Majority Leader is yet to be filled. It is being contested by Senators Ali Ndume (Borno) and Abdul Ningi (Bauchi).

screening is expected to generate more interest, following some petitions already sent to the Senate by some stakeholders in the oil industry and the transport sector.

The petitions border on award of oil blocks, the state of health of the oil giant Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and a N1.2billion counterpart funds for a Public Private Partnership project when she was Minister of Transportation in 2007.

The latest of such petitions came from a group, Southsouth Professionals for Good Governance urging the Senate to ask Mrs Allison-Madueke to account for the N27billion Public Private Partnership Concession project to billed the Second Benue River Bridge at GutoBagana.

The project, which was initiated during Mrs Allison-

The two senators were members of the last House of Representatives and they are both from the Northeast geopolitical zone to which the position has been zoned.

In the minority camp, Senator George Akume (Benue Northwest) is the Minority Leader. Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West) is Minority Whip. They are both of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Senator Ahmed Sani (Zamfara West) of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is the Deputy leader. Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina) of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is Deputy Minority Whip.

Attendance at the maiden plenary was impressive, with virtually all senators.

Virtually all the senators were present.

Members were seated according to their political parties. Members of the PDP occupied about two-thirds of the seats. Members from opposition parties sat on the left flank of the chamber.

Madueke’s tenure as Minister of Transport involved the Federal Government (20%); Kogi State (10%), Nasarawa State (10%) and private partners (60%).

Of those involved in the project, only Kogi paid N1.2billion as its counterpart funding.

The petitioners however alleged that the Kogi State’s shares were paid into a project account (number 0891101005231) at Oceanic Bank on August 21 2007 and 9th November 2007 to which only the private partners were signatories.

Mrs Allison-Madueke insists she clarified the allegation in 2009 was discharged by the Senate.

A copy of her defence in 2009, which was endorsed by the Senate, reads in part: “The Concession Agreement provided for a Joint Account in the name of Concessionaire-Digital Toll

Company Limited- with signatories from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the concessionaires. I approved the payment of the funds into this joint account with Oceanic Bank.

“It was my duty as Minister to ensure that I provided approval for funds to be transferred into a Joint Account as specified in the Concession Agreement after which the duty of monitoring shifts to the project team within the Ministry.

“I have a copy of the Letter of No objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement wherein the BPP requested that the payment must be cash backed.”

She also supported her claim with a letter from the BPP. According to her documents already before Senators, Mrs Allison-Madueke said the then Acting DG (now substantive) of BPP, Mr. Emeka Nzeh, had on December 13, 2007 ap-

a problem we can leave in the hands of the executive alone.’’

Senator Awaisu Kuta cautioned the various security agents to guard their utterances in order not to aggravate the matter further.

Senate President David Mark said: “What we are witnessing now is very small. If you go to countries like Israel or Lebanon or some of the countries in the Middle East, they are subjected to a lot of inconveniences because of the security nature of their own environment.’’

Mark described security as an expensive venture that could not be taken for granted and warned that if the issue was not tackled now, it would become more expensive to manage.

EX-MINISTERS SENT FOR RE-APPOINTMENT •Yusuf Suleiman, (Transport) •Ruqaayat Rufai, (Education) •Shamsudeen Usman, (National Planning) •Mohammed Musa SaadaKatsina, (Mines and Power) •Diezani Allison-Madueke, (Petroleum) •Godsday Orubebe, (Niger Delta) •Onyebuchi Chukwu, (Health) •Obadiah Ando, (Water) •Emeka Nwogu, (Labour) •Mohammed Adoke, (Justice) •Labaran Maku, (Information) •Olusegun Aganga, (Finance) •Caleb Olubolade, (FCT minister of state) •Bala Mohammed, (FCT) and •Barth Nnaji, former Special Adviser on Power

THE NEW NOMINEES •Bash Yuguda (Zamfara) •Haliru Bello Mohammed (Kebbi) •Tonye Cole (Rivers) •Mike Onolemmen, (Edo) •Ita Okon Bassey-Ewa (Akwa Ibom) •Viola Onwuliri (Imo) •Stella Odua-Ogiemwonyi (Anambra) •Bolaji Abdullahi (Kwara) •Zainab Kuchi, (Niger) •Samuel Loraer Ortom (Benue) •Abba Moro(Benue) •Olajumoke Akinjide (Oyo) •Akinwumi Ayo Adesina (Ogun) •Olusohola Obada (Osun) •Olugbenga Ashiru (Ogun) •Bukar Tijani (Borno) •Idris Umar (Gombe) •Yerima Lawan Ngama, (Yobe) •Zainab Maina (Adamawa).

proved the release of the controversial N1.2b.

The BPP DG’s letter said: “Please find attached approval for the release of funds ‘on account’ in the sum of N1, 210,500,000 being first part payment of the FGN equity participation of N4,872,000 to Federal Ministry of Transportation in favour of Messrs Swede Control Intertek Limited/Digital Toll Company Limited(DTCL) in respect of the above project.

“This release of N1,210,500,000 should be cash backed.”

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

NEWS For two days last week, JOKE KUJENYA travelled the Lagos-Ore-Benin road, linking Owo-Akure-Ife-Ilesa-Ibadan to feel what many Nigerian travellers experience on these roads to hell. The experience was harrowing

•A spot on Ilesa-owo Road

Roads to hell T

HE reality of the decrepit state of roads hit this reporter shortly before the Shagamu interchange bend towards Ore. Her vehicle suddenly ran into a sharp gulley that almost tore the tyres apart.

The journey had begun on a very hopeful note with thoughts of a smooth ride for at least a few kilometres. It was a dream. The jagged experiences started as early as the journey began.

“Nigerian roads are close to becoming death traps for commuters,” an official of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), who pleaded anonymity, said last Thursday on the Lagos–Ore-Benin Expressway.

The situation of the 105-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has become quite pathetic. From the Lagos end of the highway to the Shagamu Interchange, the entire stretch is riddled with craters and gashes. Of particular note is a gulley at Ewusi-Ijemo Road signpost. The ditch is sharp enough to trigger multiple vehicular accidents, especially when the drivers move close to one another.

At the Lagos-Benin axis just by the FAMAK Filling Station in Odigbo Local Government Area in Ondo State is another deep gorge, with terribly sharp edges.

Every man’s pain is another man’s pleasure. For Ikechukwu Ugwu, a mechanic at nearby roadside mechanic workshop; that bad patch has become his selling point. “The spot is good for businesses

•Ore Road

because most vehicles have to really slow down and for some that their vehicles broke down; they turn to me,” he said, smiling.

Immediately after Ore, at another terrible portion of the road, scary shrieks jolted the reporter to the scene of an accident. Eye witnesses recounted that a speedy trailer, trying to avoid the gulley ran into an 18-seater commercial vehicle and tore the whitepainted bus into shreds. There were cries of anguish. People were flung right-and-left. The sight was horrible.

Sadly, the ‘culprit truck’ fled the scene for fear of being lynched. In the heat of his hitand-run attempt, he ran into a big tyre another driver had used as “C-caution” to warn vehicles that he was under his broken down vehicle, apparently to fix it.

The driver-mechanic, if he may be so-called, on being hit by the big tyre, died instantly.

Travellers stopped to help the slightly injured, maimed and dead victims of the accident. The driver of the commercial vehicle got a broken leg. He was dragged into a waiting pick-up van to be tak-

•A bad spot at Ogere, Ogun State

Bi-Courtney to resume work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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ORK on the complete reconstruction and modernisation of the LagosIbadan Expressway is set to begin, the concessionaire, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, has said.

While speaking with the reporters, Bi-Courtney’s Head of Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, explained that the delay could in no way be blamed on the company, and was due largely to the bureaucracy of having its design approved as required by the terms of the concession.

He said the concession is on Design-BuildOperate-Transfer (DBOT) basis, adding that the company needed to get its design approved by the Federal Ministry of Works before work could begin, and the approval was only given on May 10 because of frequent changes of Ministers. en for medical attention.

The rest of the trip was chilling, up to the dreadful Benin end of the expressway. There was a heavy downpour all the way. Travellers and residents spent close to four hours in the raging floods on Ugbowo road, leading into the heart of Benin city, the Edo State capital. It was nightmarish. From the University of Benin (UNIBEN); traffic was slow all through.

Driving on the stretch of

Kehinde said: “Now that the final design has been approved, we are embarking on restoration work to ease the pains of motorists, and our men have moved out to start the basic things now.

“We have also secured the funds needed, though not from Nigeria. Money is not an issue. We are ready to start work full blast, once the rainy season is over. As you know, there is no way you can build roads during the rains.”

He assured Nigerians that Bi-Courtney would deliver a first-class project that it has become noted for, arguing that the project was given to the company in the first instance because of its track record.

“Every project that we have been given in this country, we were not given because government liked the face of Bi-Courtney, but, it has been based on our track record,’’ Kehinde added..

road at Oluku junction on Friday, a little after UNIBEN, the road leads the reporter to the opening of the narrow road that links travellers to Owo, Ondo State. One was welcomed to a smelly dumpsite at the entrance. The sight was nauseating. A short drive-in showed a road dotted by potholes..

Looking here-and-there for openings on the road it was glaring, Ife-Ibadan road begs for attention. The dual car-

riage way from Gbongan Junction to Ife cuts the image of a road that has not been given any attention in a long time.

Driving through Lajoso under Ikire on the Ife-Ibadan road did not present any encouraging sign. There are countless bad spots on the long, narrow road.

Iwo road in Ibadan is a dreadful stretch on the LagosIbadan Expressway. Travelling from the old Toll Gate to the large roundabout leading to

PHOTOS: JOKE KUJENYA

Ife, Iwo and Oyo is like going through hell. Driving up to the roundabout under the popular Iwo Road bridge is rugged.

Taking the last lap of the adventurous trip to Lagos from Ibadan was not any better. The road was bumpy all the way till one gets to Ishara around Ago-Iwoye bend.

There, travellers had to either slow down or get turned over, if they are not watchful. At the Ibadan end of the Ogere-Remo toll gate were pockets of potholes, bumps, cuts and ditches just as the remaining part of the journey to Lagos equally begged for caution. Plying bad roads has become a routine for Nigerians; the situation is often compounded by the rainy season.

FERMA officials were seen doing partial maintenance between Ogere and a diversion at the old Shagamu Toll Gate. Yet, every driver has to reduce his speed to a snail’s pace to go through.

According to statistics, out of Nigeria’s 194,000-kilometre network of roads, about 75 per cent has deteriorated over the years posing grave danger to lives.

4

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

NEWS Akingbola heads for Appeal Court

By Eric Ikhilae

F

ORMER Group Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola has appealed the decision of a Federal High Court in Lagos, dismissing their suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) planned sale of their bank to Access Bank Plc. They also filed, along with the appeal lodged at the Appeal Court, Lagos, a motion for an injunction stopping the CBN and its governor, Lamido Sanusi from liquidating or revoking Intercontinental Bank’s operating license.

Akingbola and an ex-director of the troubled Intercontinental Bank, Bayo Dada equally want the court to restrain the CBN from withdrawing Intercontinental Bank’s interbank guaranty pending the determination of the appeal.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court, Lagos had in a June 14ruling, dismissed the suit by Akingbola and Dada and upheld the objection by CBN, Sanusi and other defendants in the suit.

Justice Okeke held that the petition was statute barred and belated. He further held that the case constituted an abuse of court process because there was a pending suit by some other interested parties on the same subject matter.

The judge also faulted the steps taken by the petitioners, noting that they failed to issue a pre-action notice on the respondents before commencing the case, a step necessary for the petition to be justified Akingbola and Dada had among others, challenged the propriety of a purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for business combination signed by Intercontinental Bank and Access Bank without recourse to them, being shareholders and former directors of the bank.

•Alhaji Addy (left), Eze Ilumuaya, Dr. Adegbite, Bishop Fearon and Mr. John Amadu, Deputy Chair of the Committee during their visit... yesterday PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Presidential committee urges security-consciousness

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HE Presidential Committee on Public Awareness on Security and Civic Responsibilities yesterday urged Nigerians to make security-consciousness their cardinal principle and a way of life.

Set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to re-appraise the existing strategies on raising awareness on potential security threats, it called for the media’s support in re-orientating the public.

Chairman of the 19-member committee, Dr Lateef Adegbite led others, including the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu; Chairman, Southeast Traditional Council, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon to the Lagos corporate headquarters of The Nation.

By Joseph Jibueze

Adegbite said the recent security challenges have brought the need for increased awareness.

“What is no longer news is the recent unrest, insecurity, flashes of threats and violence in some parts of the country.

This is, among others, due to inter- and intra-political party conflicts, socio-economic agitations, ethno-religious crises, organised rebellion and outright criminality.

“This state of insecurity and challenging threats has thrown up a new dimension in our body polity which has necessitated a renewed strategy in public awareness in the management of security and civic responsibilities.

“The committee in collaboration with the press and

other stakeholders is to galvanise communal commitments, informed nationalistic and patriotic response by all in the interest of our collective security. We all owe ourselves a duty to be ‘our brother’s keepers,’” Adegbite said.

For him, the recent security challenges “are anti-development in a young democracy such as ours,” adding: “We call on you (the media) to join hands with the committee and the good people of Nigeria to inculcate the ‘spirit of consciousness’ as a our cardinal principle and way of life,” Adegbite said.

The committee’s Deputy Director/Assistant Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Addy said with more awareness, Nigerians would get used to giving information to security agencies without fear of be-

ing giving away.

“Very shortly, the idea of sharing information will blossom. The bottom-line is for everybody to log on to the idea of always being security-conscious,” he said.

The Nation Editorial Board Chairman, Mr Sam Omatseye, suggested that the committee should work towards getting communities to adapt to changing intelligence needs, which he noted could be challenging due to the structure and housing nature of communities that need the most security attention.

A member of the committee, Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mrs Marilyn Ogar said the media could help by getting its facts right before going to press.

The Nation’s General Manager, Training and Develop-

TUC insists on N18,000

Jonathan for AU summit today From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will leave for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea today to attend the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The summit will hold tomorrow and end on Friday.

The “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development, it is.”

Aimed providing African Youth with skills at excel, and contribute to peace and security, socio-economic growth and sustainable development.

The Heads of State and Government are expected to ratify and adopt the Decisions and Recommendations of the AU Executive Council of Ministers as well as the Declarations of the Summit.

On arrival in Malabo today, President Jonathan will participate at the NEPAD Heads of State and Government meeting as well as the African Peer Review Forum.

He will also meet with the Nigerian community in Malabo. Newly appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Gregory Okon, said arrangements are in place to give President Jonathan a warm reception on arrival in Malabo.

ment, Mr Soji Omotunde, said the government should be more open in its affairs, adding that shrouding such matters in secrecy could lead to speculations in the media.

Editorial Page Editor, Mr Sanya Oni said the government must go beyond creating public awareness to letting the average citizen know how to “activate” the process of preventing serious security breaches, by for instance, calling a number like United States’ 911.

He deplored the present frustrating method of passing information to security agencies that is hardly clear-cut, saying: “Government should invest in some of these critical institutions. We need to have our version of 911. Lagos has one (767),” Oni said.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle) welcoming the Director General, National Institute for Hospital and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Alhaji Munzali Dantata, who lead a team from the institute to Governor Office in Osogbo.... yesterday. With them is Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori

THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Tuesday warned state labour officers not to concede to any agreement that is not in line with the N18,000 Minimum Wage Act. In a letter addressed to all state chapters, the TUC General Secretary, Chief John Kolawole, said that it was beyond state officers to accept anything less than N18,000.

The congress was reacting to the N14,000 minimum wage accepted by workers in Ondo State which led them to call off their strike on June 26.

The workers said that they were ready to accept the N14,000 as minimum wage from the state government pending when the Federal Government would take a decision on the revenue sharing formula.

Kolawole said that the Act did not attach any strings to the payment of the new wage and that the 36 states would have to pay according to the Act.

Why I won’t not attend Council of State’s meeting , by Buhari

C

ONGRESS Progressive Change (CPC) Presidential candidate in the April general election.

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday said he will not participate in the Council of State meeting until after a ruling on the party’s petition by the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Buhari, whose party is challenging the election of President Goodluck Jonathan spoke in London in a lecture he delivered at Chatham House.

The Council of State meeting is presided over by a sitting president, and attended by all former Heads of State.

In the lecture entitled: “Ni-

geria’s 2011 Elections: Reflections on the Process and Prospects for Nigeria,’’ Buhari said he would await the ruling of the tribunal before attending the meeting.

“I will wait for the outcome of the case before I decide on my membership of the Council,’’ Buhari said.

He added:“After the 2003

elections, I stopped attending the council meeting because we had challenged the outcome of the election that brought Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo to power .“I hope the CPC will not have any cause to go to the Supreme Court just like we did then,’’ he added.

Buhari explained that he

cried during the campaign for the April elections because, according to him, “there is no social justice in Nigeria’’.

He expressed regret that “there is so much decay in the system, which makes it difficult for the average Nigerian to afford basic necessities, including good education’’.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NEWS

My dream for Africa, by Tinubu

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MID fanfare, Action Congress of Nigeria

(ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday received the maiden African Servant Leadership Award’ in Accra, Ghana.

It was at an impressive ceremony witnessed by statesmen, politicians, scholars, traditional rulers and top government functionaries from the West Africa subregion.

The award was organised by the Ghana Graduate School of Leadership and Governance, Accra.

Tinubu was honoured along with 14 others, including individuals and corporate institutions, having been adjudged to have demonstrated leadership in their service to humanity.

The ACN National Leader was nominated for the ‘Political Leadership’ category of the awards. Other recipients are Nana Oyelita ( Legal Leadership), Gifty Chanpong (Enterpreneurship Leadership), Asokoh Koseh (Security), Angela Anguadi (Women Empowerment), Ogyasefo Ajanangbede (Traditional Leadership), Bishop Tom Asari (Youth Empowerment), and Arch-Bishop Duncean Williams (African Mentoring Leadership).

Leading the pack of dignitaries at the ceremony, which was held at Main Auditorium of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, was the Ghanaian Vice President John Aramani Mahama. He described the former Lagos State governor as ‘a Nigerian political colossus, who has brought new ideas and leadership styles to bear on governance and service to the community, society and nation”.

The 2011 African Servant Leadership Awards (ASLA) was a twin-programme, which also marked the convocation of the pro-graduate students of the school and presentation of certificates.

Tinubu was accompanied

by Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Senator Joel Ikenya; Mr Dele Alake, Chief Executive Officer of Television Continental; Dr Muiz Banire; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Al-

•Tinubu greeting a guest at the occasion...yesterday. With them are: Senator Mamora (third right), Mr Alake (fourth right) and others

•Ex-Lagos governor bags maiden African Servant Leadership Award in Ghana

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor,Ghana

haji Yusuf Ali; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Gbenga Obadara; Hon. Wale Oshun; Otunba Dele Ajomale; Alhaji Kola Oseni; Prof Siyan Oyeweso; Mr. Boss Mustapha; Dr Usman Bugaje; Senator Lawan Shuaibu; Comrade Joe Igbokwe; Chief Funso Ologunde; Comrade Kayode Opeifa; Mr Victor Ifijeh and Mr. Kunle Fagbemi.

The Governor-General of the college, Rev. Gideon Ofei, explained that Tinubu and other awardees were honoured because of their diligent services to the people of Africa.

He said: “Through leadership, they have fed the

hungry, clothed the naked, housed the homeless, empowered women, mentored the youth and transformed communities. Let us emulate the examples of these individuals and organisations”.

A short documentary on Tinubu heralded the conferment of the award on him by the Ghanian Vice President. As he was ushered into the podium to receive the plaque, which was the main insignia of the award, the guests rose in his honour.

The ACN congregation also sung the familiar loyalty anthem: ‘On your mandate we shall stand’, immediately the plaque was presented to him, amid cheers by the guests.

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tacks in Borno State.

“The latest of these on Sunday June 26, reportedly resulted in at least 25 deaths.

We condemn such acts, which are an affront to the rule of law and democratic principles.

“There is no place in society for these horrific acts of violence and there should be no impunity for the perpetrators.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and friends of those killed.”

‘We must become the architects of our own economies and not let others plan our structures for us. We have to be smart and stop mimicking those who lead themselves into the ditch’ Tinubu thanked the organisers for the honour, promising to serve the

people throughout his life.

He said: “That you, my brothers and sisters, have given me this award, does not mean I have finished with my contribution. It means the opposite. I have much more to do on behalf of this continent and people, whom I love and this award will encourage me forever onward”.

Tinubu paid tribute to the frontline African leaders, who served the continent to the best of their ability, including Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel and Obafemi Awolowo, stressing that their contributions would continue to inspire present and future generations.

He said the task before

the present generation is to build on their solid foundations and move the continent forward.

Tinubu urged Africa to take its destiny in its hands, instead of depending on Europe and America for leadership and direction.

He said the continent can liberate itself from hunger, poverty, ignorance and inferiority complex by looking inwards.

Tinubu added: “We must become the architects of our own economies and not let others plan our structures for us. We have to be smart and stop mimicking those who lead themselves into the ditch. Africa has to build, invent and create things. Ghana and Nigeria must lead the way”.

‘Visa scam accused not ex-Speaker Bankole’s sibling’

EU, US chide Boko Haram NITED States and the European Union (EU) have criticised the continued attacks on citizens by the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram.

In a joint statement yesterday, they expressed sympathy with the families of those who have died.

The statement reads: “The Heads of Mission of the European Union and the United States of America in Nigeria express deep concern over the bombings and at-

•Lagos West Senatorial District chair of ACN Cardinal James Odumbaku (left) and Mallam Ribadu

•Governors Amosun (left), Rev. Titi-Ofei, Fayemi and Ajimobi

•Bankole

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HE Bankole family has denied that Mr Toyin Bankole, who is on trial in Abeokuta for alleged visa related offence, is a sib-

ling of the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole.

A statement by Mr. Ayo Bankole, younger brother to the former speaker, said: “The family had ignored newspaper reports initially, but it has become necessary to make the clarification as the erroneous report persisted and was beginning to take a life of its own.

“We had hoped at the onset that our hardworking press men and women would check

thoroughly and correct the misrepresentation of facts.

This unfortunate linkage has caused the family and the former Speaker a lot of embarrassment.”

He continued: “The misinformation has also spread through the internet and we have read with dismay the unfortunate comments by Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora which was predicated on inaccurate information. While we have noth-

ing against Toyin Bankole, it is very important that we set the records straight.”

There were a number of news reports in a section of the media which presented Toyin Bankole as the younger brother of the former Speaker.

Toyin Bankole, in May, was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abeokuta, for allegedly defrauding Modinat Odunlami of N2.8million.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NEWS Jang approves funds to tackle diarrhoea From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

PLATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has approved funds to some local governments affected by the outbreak of severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

Addressing reporters at the Ministry of Health, its Permanent Secretary Dr. Jacob Wongdem said the funds would be properly used to curtail the outbreak, adding that continuous surveillance was ongoing in the affected areas.

Wongdem urged local government chairmen to release funds to their Rapid Response Teams to enable them prevent the spread of the outbreak.

He said: “Cases of severe diarrhoea and vomiting were first received officially on June 16. The ministry (of Health) dispatched members of the Epidemic Rapid Response Team to investigate the outbreak and carry out measures to mitigate further outbreaks.

“Laboratory investigations of stool specimen were collected and are being analysed to identify the actual cause of the outbreak; 13 out of the 26 stool samples were positive (60 per cent) for vibrio cholera bacteria through rapid chromatographic stool test.

“Within a period of one week, 185 persons were affected, with five deaths in four local governments.

Within four weeks in six local governments, 374 cases were recorded with 10 deaths.”

Reps roll out legislative agenda S

PEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday outlined a seven-point national legislative agenda for the Seventh Session of the House.

The House also set machinery in motion to raise a constitution review committee.

The new legislative agenda is the product of an over three-hour close door session.

Sources said that besides the legislative agenda, the general welfare of members, the deteriorating security situation in the country and the anticipated cut in the salaries and allowances of members were also discussed at the executive session.

Tambuwal said the legislative agenda seeks to reform the House processes, identify legislative priorities as well as fashion a pro-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

gramme of action to achieve the goals the members have set for themselves.

According to him, the legislative agenda would aim at reviving and diversifying the economy, generating employment, strengthening national security, curbing corruption, tackling electricity crisis and general infrastructure decay, improving health and educational sectors as well as working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The agenda, he added, would also emphasise on the importance of amending the constitution to address several areas.

Assuring that the House would “seek to do things differently and reverse the no-

tion of a business-as-usual approach that has been a source of concern to our people,” Tambuwal said: “We will be sensitive to what the Nigerian people want and increase our public sensitivity quotient.”

He said in the composition of membership and leadership of committees, special attention would be paid to the skills and relevant experience of members in order to achieve greater efficiency.

The Speaker also said strict compliance with House Rules and Code of Conduct for members would be required as a check on chairmen of committees and members who violate them.

He noted that public access to House activities would be improved by timely publication and dissemination of committee reports, votes

and proceedings, order paper, hansard and other parliamentary documents Tambuwal assured that communications from the Senate to the House would be included in the Order Paper to ensure speedy concurrence and harmonisation of bills with a view to expediting the passage of bills and to continue to build on a harmonious relationship with the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

The Seventh Session, he said, would redefine the scope, methodology and effectiveness of oversight as a key function of legislative activity.

His words: “Mzore effective oversight procedures will be put in place, with templates developed to improve the quality of the exercise.

Poly registrars meet in Yobe From Duku Joel, Damaturu

REGISTRARS of Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of technology are in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, for a two-day meeting on the way forward on polytechnic education.

The meeting, which is the 55th, is hosted by the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu.

Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Mohammed Hassan Gora, told reporters that over 50 registrars from federal, state and private polytechnics would attend the meeting.

He said the Conference of Registrars is a regular annual meeting of registrars, which appraises the performance of the educational sector and resolve academic and social vices such as cultism, examination malpractices, among others, on campuses.

The meeting begins today and ends tomorrow.

A communiqué is expected to be issued after the meeting.

•Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Moses Amedu (left), addressing PHOTO: NAN members during their general prayer session in Kaduna...yesterday

‘Don’t compare us with Boko Haram’ HE leadership of the ‘General’ John Togoled Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has dismissed the comparison between its activities and those of the religious sect, Boko Haram, saying there is no correlation between the two groups.

Boko Haram has killed scores of people in parts of the North, including the Police Headquarters in Abuja, using bombs in most cases.

NDLF spokesperson Capt Mark Anthony said Boko Haram had not defined the rationale behind its agitation but NDLF and other Niger Delta groups, including the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), fought injustice in

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From Shola O’Neil, Warri

their areas.

He said: “True Niger Delta agitators never killed innocent people.”

Anthony condemned the seeming lackadaisical approach to the way the Federal Government is handling the Boko Haram menace, urging the government to deploy a Joint Task Force (JTF) or similar military operation used in the Niger Delta against the religious sect.

He said: “The JTF came and threw bombs on civilian population from military planes and used other lethal weapons on innocent Ijaw villagers. It looted and raped our women. We are keenly watching and laughing over

what is happening in Northern Nigeria. The JTF made the Niger Delta region look like Afghanistan or Darfur (Sudan) to justify its continued stay in the region and to engage in its lucrative but illegal oil business.

“The lackadaisical approach by the security forces to Boko Haram group, which kills innocent civilians and destroys property, has justified the claim by the group that it is intelligent and sophisticated than Nigerian Police. It has also made us to believe that some ethnic nationalities in Nigeria are above reproach while others are used as sacrificial lambs for the ‘unity’ of the nation.”

Anthony urged the Federal Government to tackle the

insecurity in the North by exposing Boko Haram sponsors.

He said: “As it is, we the youths in Niger Delta have renounced violence and taken the path of peace. We urge the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Owoye Azazi, and the JTF to bomb Boko Haram towns in the North, to prove before the world that security forces in Nigeria are not biased and are capable of securing people and property.”

Anthony called for the disbandment and withdrawal of JTF from Niger Delta region, saying the special military outfit had outlived its usefulness because of the peace and disbandment of militant groups in the region.

High Court nullifies senator’s election

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FEDERAL High Court, sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, yesterday nullified the election of Yusuf Nagogo, representing Nasarawa Northern Senatorial District.

The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue his challenger, Solomon Ewu-

From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

ga, the certificate of return.

Delivering a 33-page judgment, Justice Awokulehin Marcel declared that Nagogo was not the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

He held that Ewuga was nominated as the CPC candi-

date, the party was declared winner of the Northern Senatorial Zone.

Efforts to prevail on Nagogo to step down for Ewuga in the April election for the senatorial race failed, prompting the party to withdraw its support for him.

Though Ewuga’s name was forwarded to INEC as its authentic candidate by the CPC,

INEC issued Nagogo a letter of return after the election.

Nagogo challenged the substitution of his name but later tried to withdraw the case when he was handed the certificate of return by INEC. His effort to withdraw the matter from the court met a brick wall as the court dismissed his request.

Reacting to the judgment,

Ewuga said: “I have remained very confident in the nation’s rule of law and I am happy that today justice has been done. I am ready to go to the Senate and put in my best on behalf of my state, my party and my country.”

There was jubilation among Ewuga’s supporters, who thronged the court for the judgment.

Police parade suspects in Plateau From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

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HE Plateau State Police Command yesterday paraded three groups of suspected criminals for alleged criminal conspiracy and robbery, theft, causing grievous harm, culpable homicide and receiving stolen property.

Addressing reporters in Jos, the state capital, Police Commissioner Abdulrahman Akano urged residents to refrain from hasty accusation against their neighbours who are from other ethnic groups when crime occur.

He said it is better to allow the Police to investigate crimes to know the truth.

Akano said: “On May 26, some groups of persons invaded the house of Nuhu Saidu of Maijankai village in Barkin Ladi Local Government.

Shooting sporadically, they rustled 60 cows. Neighbours were alerted and the bandits were trailed and arrested at the boundary of Riyom Local Government and Kaduna State and 43 cows were recovered from them.

“The suspects are: Buhari Adamu, Mohammed Auwal, Yunusa Abubakar and Ismail Aliyu, all Fulani attacking other Fulani.”

The Police chief said on May 12, Alhassan Bala Adamu of Angwan Rogo area of Jos North Local Government was attacked when he was on an errand to buy a sachet of pure water.

Adamu was reportedly stabbed with a knife by a group of Hausa boys.

Akano named the suspects as: Auwalu Musa, Abdulrazat Abubakar, Kabiru Bala, Yakubu Datti, Abdulrahman Abdulfatai and Mansiri Musa, all of the same address.

The suspects allegedly stole N510 and a Nokia handset from their victim, who later died at a hospital during treatment.

Benue election tribunal fixes July 7 for pre-hearing

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HE Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, yesterday fixed July 7 for prehearing of the petition filed by the defeated All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate in the April 26 governorship election, Senator Daniel Saror.

Saror is challenging the election of Governor Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tribunal Chairman Justice Ladan directed that court processes be served on the counsel in the matter.

Counsel to Suswam Dr Tony Ijohor (SAN), informed the tribunal that court papers had not been served on him.

Counsel to the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also told the tribunal that the court papers, which were purportedly served them, were sent to wrong addresses and signed by some unknown persons.

To prevent confusion, the tribunal adjourned for over an hour when its members met with the lead counsel to the parties to resolve some fundamentals about the matter.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NEWS

Jonathan to improve education, others RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said his administration would focus on infrastructure, education and health to enable Nigeria to realise its Vision 20:2020 objectives.

The President spoke at the Third Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES), Nigeria annual national conference held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muhammad K. Abubakar, said the three areas could be described as the Achilles Heels in the nation’s developmental history.

He noted that AES’s main thrust of poverty eradication and wealth creation through the development of leadership and entrepreneurial manpower in all human endeavours were necessary for

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•Aregbesola advocates regional integration for national development

By Chinaka Okoro

building world-class leaders and entrepreneurs with character and vision.

Jonathan said: “Entrepreneurship today occupies the centre stage in economic transformation of any country, by creating selfemployment, including dignity of labour and the spirit to excel. It is one of the ways of achieving rapid economic development.”

Former Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku praised the AES for drawing a roadmap for the country’s economic growth and development.

He said: “There is need for President Jonathan to give priority attention to addressing the clog in the wheel of the country’s faster development, especially eradicating the pervasive poverty facing the people.

The Nigerian economy is in dire need of urgent therapy.”

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola identified intraregional integration in educational and infrastructural development as tools for guaranteeing national development.

He said his administration had put in place a machinery to overhaul the education and health sectors’ infrastructure.

Represented by Mr Ade Ipaye, at the evevt, the governor assured that his administration had put in place the machinery to overhaul the educational and health systems infrastructure.

He said: “We have also embarked on the policy of urban renewal and the refurbishment of urban infrastructure.”

Why I can’t pay minimum wage,

by Amosun

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GUN state Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday expressed doubt in the ability of the state to pay the N18,000 minimum wage to civil servants.

He said the state’s parlous financial situation would make the payment a Herculean task for his administration.

Amosun, who was breaking his silence on the new pay, said Ogun was heavily indebted, ranking among the most indebted states in Nigeria.

The governor described its financial standing as “precarious,” saying his government would have to borrow N6billion or more to pay the new wage.

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From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Amosun said: “If civil servants want N18,000 minimum wage, we will have to borrow about N6 billion. All our assets have been concessioned. The minimum wage issue has pitched most of the governors against labour, as it had expressed doubts about the states’ ability to pay.

“Some of the governors had even hinged the payment of the new wage on the upward review of revenue allocation which they said had been tilted in favour of the Federal Government.

“At the meeting of the Governors’ Forum last week, the states’ helmsmen had demanded the removal of the fuel subsidy as a condition for the payment of the new wage. This has, however, received wide condemnation from labour unions and other stakeholders.”

The governor spoke at the Governor’s Office, Oke– Mosan, Abeokuta, when he addressed The Council of Traditional Rulers and Obas.

He said: “What we generate is between N900 million and N1 billion and there is a loan of N50 billion. There is an irrevocable standing payment order. The position we met is so bad.”

Court acquits six Osun ACN chieftains over arson

N Osun State High Court has discharged and acquitted six chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and arson over the announcement of the April 14, 2007, governorship polls in the state.

They are: Mr. Sunday Laoye, elder brother to Osun State Deputy Governor, Otunba Grace Titilayo Tomori-Laoye; Alhaji Fatai Oyedele Diekola; Senator Bayo Salami; Osun State Deputy Speaker Adegboye Akintunde; Olaide Ajibola

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

and Dada Lawrence Dele.

During the post-election crisis in the state, the six were accused of conspiring to commit felony, arson and attempting to kill some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Alhaji Fatai Adeleke, Alhaji Adeleke Odunola and Alhaji Raheem Olakunlehin, on April 15, 2007.

The defence counsel, Mr Wale Afolabi, urged the court to dismiss the case,

saying the prosecution failed to make a prima facie case against the accused to warrant calling for defence.

The defence counsel argued that an essential element of the offence evidence adduced to during cross-examination had been discredited.

Justice R.A. Siyanbola, said the evidence before the court showed that the accused had no case to answer.

He discharged and acquitted the accused on the eightcount charges levelled against them.

Kwara PDP: we won’t share political offices with ACPN

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HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State will not share political appointments with Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) members, its Chairman, Ishola Balogun-Fulani, said yesterday.

Reacting to the rumour that it had reserved some commissionership slots for ACPN, PDP said it did not attach any condition for ACPN to join its fold.

Balogun-Fulani spoke this in Ilorin, the state capital, after a meeting of PDP Elders’ Council, insisting that the party had submitted the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

names for political appointments.

He said: “We are not sharing slots or appointments with the ACPN. We’ve concluded the elections, and the names of those that are to be appointed as commissioners and advisers had been submitted to the party. PDP is working on them. There was no conditionality for the ACPN to join PDP. “There is no sharing of appointments with any political party. All the appointments will be made within PDP members.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NEWS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (centre) and his wife, Abimbola, (fourth right) with some children • Lagos State Governor BabatundeFashola with the Acting Vice Chancellor of and the staff of the Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice, Lagos, when he visited the home to mark his 48th Lagos State University (LASU) Mrs Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello, when he inspected PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Birthday… yesterday. See story on Page 10 projects at the university’s Ojo campus...yesterday

Court adjourns suit against lawyer

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MAGISTRATE’S Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned a suit by the wife of former Daily Times Editor, Dapo Aderinola, Olufunsho, brought against a lawyer, Moses Olatunji, till July 20 for report of settlement.

She sued him for allegedly failing to obey a quit notice after being served with an order to vacate a four-bedroom bungalow at 10 (Plot 688), Redemption Close, Omole Estate Phase II, Ikeja.

The court heard last Thursday that Olatunji had moved out of the house and handed possession to Mrs. Aderinola, but was yet to pay rent arrears.

Olatunji promised to prepare draft terms of settlement indicating how he intends to settle the debt before the next adjourned date.

It was agreed that he would forward a copy to Mrs Aderionla’s counsel for approval.

Mrs Aderinola said she is entitled to the bungalow with its two living rooms, two-bedroom boys’ quarters and an orchard.

She said the house was let to the defendant at N500,000 per annum, but he allegedly refused to pay rent since January 1, 2009.

The plaintiff urged the court to order the defendant to pay her the money, as well as N41,679 per month, being the apartment’s monthly rent value from last March 1, until he gives up possession of the house.

Tokyo submits memorandum to panel

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group loyal to the factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Lateef Akinsola aka Tokyo, yesterday submitted a 120page memorandum to the panel.

At the Olomi, Ibadan State Secretariat of the NURTW where hundreds of members of the union converged yesterday, the group recommended that government and politicians should, as a matter of necessity, “hands-off the affairs of the union and stop supporting one faction against the other to put an end to the carnage in the state.”

The group called for the arrest and prosecution of former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala and the Commissioner of Police, Adisa Bolanta.

The group said Bolanta’s redeployment would make interested officers to be free

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

to give evidence before the Justice Olagoke Ige-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the union’s crisis.

The pro-Tokyo group called for the arrest and prosecution of Mukaila Lamidi a.k.a. Auxiliary whom they accused as the arrowhead of the numerous deaths of citizens of the state “since 2009 including the death of Jelili a.k.a Bruno.”

In the memorandum, the Secretary, Lekan Aleshinloye, said the group attached about 28 direct and documentary evidence, including pictures, court processes, video clips, letters from the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation, among others, to buttress their case that the Commissioner of Police was biased in handling the matter.

Ondo pensioners protest unpaid arrears

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ENSIONERS in Ondo State yesterday blocked the entrance of the governor’s office to demand the payment of the N1 billion pension arrears owed them by the state.

Acting on the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, they obstructed free flow of vehicles at the governor’s office.

The pensioners, who had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum, sat on the floor.

They accused the government of being insensitive to their plight.

The Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi, could not save the situation as his pleas were ignored by the aggrieved pensioners, who insisted that the protest would continue.

The union’s Chairman, Chief Eni Olotu, said government had not been forth-

JNC leaders to sue NLC Gen-Sec From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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HE Ondo State Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) has threatened to sue the Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Owei Lakemfa, over a bribery allegation.

In a newspaper publication yesterday, Lakemfa alleged that Ondo State labour leaders have been bought by the state to agree on N14,000 minimum wage instead of N18,000.

Speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital, JNC Chairman Solomon Adelegan directed Lakemfa to make a public apology and retract his statement within 48hours .

Adelegan said the union suspended the two-day strike, following agreement by the union and state to accept the proposition of adopting the Salary Relativity Structure of 53.37%, which will result in payment of N14,000 as against the minimum wage of N18,000 as stipulated by law.

He said the union was still acting under the directives of NLC .

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

coming on the payment of the increment.

He noted that despite as-

surance from Governor Olusegun Mimiko to pay the arrears, no meaningful step has been taken to actualise

the promise.

His words: “It is disappointing that the government had been boasting of not owing pensioners after it paid local government pensioners and primary school teachers, when it owed almost billions in form of arrears approved by the Federal Government.

“The government gave its workers, 50 per cent of their basic salary as Christmas bonus, we were not given.

“The government gave car loans, we were not bothered, what we are asking for is our entitlement and not privileges.

“At the expiration of the ultimatum, we decided to protest government insensitivity.

“We are not animals; we have served our state, so we deserve to be paid on time.”

Lagos Assembly screens nominees today

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HE Lagos State House of Assembly will hold a special plenary session today to screen the 37 commissioner-nominees and special advisers presented by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The House, which is to resume on July 4, cut short its recess.

The Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, confirmed that the nominees had been notified and are expected to be present at today’s sitting.

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who travellled to Ghana at the weekend, is expected to return today to preside over the session.

Among the nominees are six women, four former commissioners, four former special advisers and others.

The women are: Adebule Oluranti; Mrs. Adesina Yewande; Mrs. Disu Aderino-

la; Mrs. Oguntuase Florence; Mrs. Oladunjoye Olayinka and Mrs. Oworu Senakpon.

Former commissioners are: Benjamin Akabueze; Jide Idris; Obafemi Hamzat; Adesegun Oniru and Tunji Bello.

The former advisers are: Oyinlomo Danmole; Jimoh Ajao; Ade Ipaye; Ganiyu Johnson and Kayode Opeifa.

The fresh nominees include: Adetokunbo Abiru; Wale Ahmed; Olutoyin Ayinde; Dolapo Badru; Ola-

diran Folami and Ayo Gbeleyi.

Others are: Oladisun Holloway; Babatunde Hunpe; Aderemi Ibirogba; Bosun Jeje; Gbolahan Lawal; Adebiyi Mabadeje; Cornelius Ojelabi; Seye Oladejo; Fatai Olukoga; Enitan Oshodi; Lateef Raji; Adebayo Salvador; Abimbola Sodipo and Toafik Tijani.

Of the nominees, 21 are commissioner-nominees and the remaining are to be special advisers.

Court orders Ondo govt to pay man N5.5m

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N Ogun State High Court sitting in IjebuOde yesterday ordered the Ondo State Government to pay N5.5 million to a commercial bus driver, Friday Ekpotor, as compensation for the burning of his 18-seater bus near the boundary between Ondo and Ogun states.

Ekpotor had on July 5, last year, through his counsel, Tope Temokun, approached the court saying Sunday Oga, an agent of the state attached to the Ministry of Nat-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ural Resources, drove recklessly and collided with him.

The crash triggered an inferno, which engulfed and destroyed Ekpotor’s bus at the J4 Area on Ogun stretch of Ijebu Ode-Ore Expressway.

Temokun said Ogar drove without regard for traffic laws and the interest of other road users, adding that the negligent act accounted for the loss of Ekpotor’s bus and other valuables.

The lawyer said the loss caused his client emotional pains and shock and prayed the court to award N12 million as compensation against the driver and the Ondo State Government.

At the hearing yesterday, Justice Catherine Ogunsanya deplored the absence of the state throughout the trial.

She said the act was tantamount to negligence and disregard for the court and constituted authorities.

Justice Ogunsanya said evidences for the case, which had come up for hearing 17 times,

showed clearly that the claimant had been able to convince the court.

She said: “I have no doubt that the claimant had been able to convince the court that he is entitled to the damages he is seeking from the court.

The judge, thereafter, ordered the state to pay N5.5million as damages to Ekpotor.

Temokun said: “Even when the judgment is appealable, I hope that the new administration in Ondo will not use public funds to prosecute an appeal against poor citizens.”

9

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

NEWS Ripples over choice of Ikole monarch

Tension in Osogbo over Ataoja

A

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

HE appointment of Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fashiku on April 7 as the new Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti and his installation on June 24 has generated ripples in the community.

An opposing camp, led by the Oloka of Ikole, Chief Lasisi Omotayo, is insisting that the traditional rites conducted on June 24 was a breach of the age-old process.

The camp also said a substantive case, relating to the choice of the monarch, is in court.

Omotayo said it was not in the best interest of the town that “the tradition of the community would be trampled upon with impunity and we as the custodians of our cul-

•Chief Omotayo

ture would keep quiet.”

He said the installation was against the rule of law since the matter was still pending in court.

The chief said the flouting of tradition was scandalous.

Fashiku was given the staff of office by Governor Kayode Fayemi on April 7 at a ceremony at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.

Oyo Assembly elects officials From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

T

HE Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday elected its principal members.

Abiodun Adigun-Hammed, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member from Akinyele 2 constituency was elected Chief Whip.

Kehinde Subar (ACN) of Ibadan Southwest 1 became the Deputy Majority leader.

Adekunle Tunji Rafiu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member from Saki West became the Minority Leader.

Adesina Adeyemo(PDP) from Ibarapa East is Deputy Chief Whip.

Fatai Salam(ACN) from Iseyin/Itesiwaju is the new Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus.

Ayoola Adeleke (PDP) from Ogbomoso North; Niyi Adeoye(Accord) from Ibadan Northeast and Abimbola Akeem (ACN)Ibadan Northwest became the whips of their parties in the House.

S Osogbo High Court’s ruling voiding the appointment of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun yesterday generated tension in the ancient town.

Already, security has been beefed up around the palace in Oja-Oba to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Immediately after the judgement was delivered by Justice Jide Falola, a group of youths marched from the court premises to the police headquarters to demand the enforce-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ment of the ruling.

By last night, policemen took positions at the main gate leading to the palace.

It was gathered that the monarch had filed an appeal against Monday’s judgment.

Justice Falola, while delivering his ruling on the case filed by the plaintiffs, Mr. Nasiru Oyeniyi, head of Gbaemu compound and Mr Claudius Fayoyiwa, head of Olu-Awooba compound on behalf of Sog-

bo ruling House against Oyetunji and the kingmakers, described Oba Olanipekun as an impostor.

The judge said: “I wish to point out that there is no dispute that this suit was instituted before the applicant (Oyetunji Olanipekun) was appointed as the Ataoja and consequently installed by one of the defendants in this case (former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola).

“After the installation, the matter degenerated and this led to the filling of application

for setting aside of the installation of the appointment of Oyetunji as the Ataoja before Justice Yinka Aderibigbe, who subsequently set aside Oyetunji’s installation on the 18th of February, 2011.

“He has not given any reason why he finds it difficult to comply with the court order that set aside his installation and still come to court referring to himself as Ataoja of Osogboland. The Oba (Oyetunji) appears to be poking his finger at the eyes of the court by disregarding the earlier court order.”

Senators Forum seeks improved security

S

ENATORS Forum yesterday visited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Ayim.

They expressed concern over insecurity in the country.

Speaking through its Chairman, Senator Khairat Gwadabe, the Forum also

•Visits Anyim From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

called on the Federal Government to tackle the security challenge.

Anyim assured the Senators that critical challenges facing the country in

security, corruption, unemployment, education and political stability would be tackled by the administration under its transformation agenda, which would soon be unfolded.

He urged all Nigerians, including members of the Senators’ Forum, to discharge their civic

responsibilities by giving information to the security agencies, and noted that kidnappings Southsouth have reduced drastically.

“On the side of the government, all hands are on the deck to address the security situation,” he said.

The SGF also explained how the ministerial nominees emerged.

Osun 2007 mayhem: ACN accuses PDP chieftain of lying

S

POKESMAN for the Osun State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Mr. Sunday Akere yesterday claimed that there was enough evidence to link a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr Yemi Oladimeji, to the attack on Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Ar-

egesola in the build-up to the April 2007 governorship election.

Akere’s position came in the wake of a challenge thrown at the ACN to substantiate its claim that he attacked its members as alleged in the testimony of Aregbesola before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), before the

curtain was drawn on the panel’s findings.

Oladimeji, who reportedly denied his involvement in any attack on ACN members in the state from his base in the United States, was quoted as saying: “I’m known in Nigeria and the US as a professional. I did not engage in any attempt to murder any ACN mem-

ber or destroy their property. The ACN should substantiate it claims.”

Aregbesola had told members of the TRC that he narrowly escaped bullets fired by hoodlums, led by Oladimeji, to attack the Aregbesola Campaign Office in Osogbo during the countdown to the April 2007 governorship elections.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

10

NEWS

Uduaghan sends commissioners’ list to Assembly

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday sent the names of 21nominees for appointment as commissioners and members of the state executive council.

The list was sent in a letter to the Assembly and read by Speaker Victor Ochei.

Of the nominees, nine were commissioners in the last administration.

The list included Funkekeme Solomon; Charles Ajuyah; Paulinus Akpeki; Christopher Ogeah; Patrick Muoboghare; Hope Eghagha; Ben Igbakpa; Benard Okumagba and Joseph Otumara.

Others are: Betty Efekhoda; Oresi Esievo; An-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

thonia Ashiedu; Gloria Okolugbo; Kingsley Emu; Tony Nwaka; Frank Omare; Misan Kubeyinje; Ebifa Ijeoma; Patrick Ferfe; Newworld Safugha and Richard MofeDamijo.

They are to submit 35 copies of their Curriculum Vitae to the office of the Clerk and to appear before the House tomorrow for screening.

The House approved the request to appoint 12 aides through a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Monday Igbuya and seconded by Patrick Mozea. It was unanimously adopted by the

•Uduaghan

House.

It was, however, not known why the name of Chris Oghenechovwen was not called by Ochei, despite the name appearing on the list.

Fashola marks birthday with children

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday celebrated his 48th birthday with physically challenged children.

The Governor visited the Heart of Gold Hospice, Surulere, one of the homes he built in 2009 to mark his 46th birthday.

He appealed to residents within and outside the community to show more care and support for the children.

Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife, Abimbola, played with the children.

He said the occasion

By Miriam Ndikanwu

helped him to appreciate God for his mercies.

His words: “First we must give thanks to God and be grateful because while we pursue life with its ups and downs, there are children in this home, who cannot eat even though food is available.

“Each time I have this opportunity, I see it as a way of connecting with reality and as a way of expressing gratitude that our case is not as challenging as theirs.”

The governor also called for the support of individuals, corporate organisations to

reach out to children living with disabilities.

He said his birthday signifies a time to show love to the children and make them have a sense of belonging. “ We must reflect and understand that even when we are discomforted, there are some people out there at the lowest part of the society who are less protected and require our require our help to live,” Fashola said.

He reiterated the government’s commitment towards protecting the rights of citizens with disabilities, saying a law was recently signed to protect their interest .

Kidnappers to face death penalty in Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Oshiomhole

T

HE Edo State Government is to amend the law on kidnapping from life imprisonment to

death sentence, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said.

Oshiomhole spoke yesterday when Edo North Traditional Rulers Forum visited him.

He said kidnappers have ‘no right to life’.

Lawmakers have passed a law of kidnapping in which convicted kidnappers would be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“We are amending the law of kidnapping to death. Kidnapping is the worst crime.

We have to be ruthless with them in the same way they treat their victims. We are ready to be ruthless,” the governor said.

He blamed politicians for the rise of crime in the country.

Oshiomhole said thugs armed with weapons by the political class for the purpose of elections, have to survive after the elections.

The governor praised the State Security Services and local vigilance group for their efforts in combating kidnappings in the state.

Cross River dam inaugurated

T

HE Federal Government has flagged off the N3.3 billion Qua Falls dam project in Akamkpa Local Government of Cross River State.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Godknows Igali, the dam is designed would supply water to several communities and irrigate about 500 hectares of farmlands as well as generate hydroelectric pow-

er.

He said the design consists of an earth fill embankment dam of 26 metre high and 530 metre long; a reservoir with capacity of 68 million cubic metres of raw water and hydropower component of about 16 megawatts (MW).

Igali said the project, which is expected to be completed in 24 months, has a 12-month maintenance period.

It is one of the biggest projects to be executed by the

Federal Government in the state.

“I urge you to view this project as belonging to you and to support its construction as this will employ the local labour, empower them and boost the overall rural economy.

“Therefore, we solicit the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the elders, and youths, to provide a conducive environment for the construction exercise,” he said.

Oshiomhole: ICT solution to insecurity

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has identified Information Communication Technology (ICT) as the most potent means of curbing insecurity in the country.

A statement by his Senior

Special Assistant on Media, John Mayaki, quoted the governor as saying “across all spheres of governance, from security, revenue generation and fiscal governance to education and general administration, ICT accelerates the

pace and enhances the quality of service delivery”.

Oshiomhole was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Simon Imuekheme, at the opening of the National Information Technology Public-Private Forum held in Benin.

11

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

The problem of power cannot be solved in a few days! The president has put some measures in place on power, but it would take some time. So, for me, massive investment in education is a priority, to create and build a class of people that will deliver.

- Dr Joseph Odumodu

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NSE targets $1tr market value in five years

Fed Govt earmarks N200b for housing

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BOUT N200 billion has been earmarked for the provision of housing to Nigerians, the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, said in Abuja yesterday.

He disclosed this while declaring open the Fourth Architects’ Colloquium with the theme: “Architecture and the Nigerian Development Agenda IV-Sustainable Built Environment, ” at Yar’ Adua Centre.

He said that a N200 billion loan facility would be provided for prospective beneficiaries through the Federal Mortgage Bank.

“We have a plan to support the Federal Mortgage Bank with about N200 billion for the provision of housing to Nigerians.

“We also have a plan to attract cheap funding from our International Development Financial Institutions to support the building industry in Nigeria.

“Cumulative effect of all these programmes shall be the creation of millions of jobs for our teeming population, ultimately, result in a transformed Nigeria of our dream.

“A nation that by the year 2020, shall be among the most developed countries in the world,” he said.

Sambo also said that the Federal Government was determined to enforce the provisions of the Building Code to stem the incidences of building collapse.

Sambo was optimistic that the ongoing transformation agenda of the gove r n m e n t , including the provision of infrastructure, such as power, water, housing, roads and railway lines, would provide an avenue for the improvement of the quality of life of Nigerians.

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE), whose index has tumbled 67 per cent from its March 2008 peak, is targeting a market value of $1 trillion in five years as it attracts companies and plans to give shares to members through demutualisation, Chief Executive Officer Oscar, Onyema said.

“Our goal is to grow our market capitalisation from $74 billion to $1 trillion in five years,” Onyema said in an interview with Bloombeg in Moscow yesterday. “If we can attract the oil and gas sector, if we can attract the telecoms sector and power ,then we should be able to hit those numbers.”

The bourse, whose index is sub-Saharan Africa’s thirdworst performer over the past 12 months after Kenya and Botswana’s, is the second-biggest by market capitalisation after South Africa’s, which has a value of $494 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the SEC to get oil exploration and telecommunications companies to trade their shares on the Exchange, Arunma Oteh, the regulator’s head, said on February 7.

Oil exploration, power and telecommunications companies aren’t represented on the bourse and “would be totally new areas for the Exchange,” said Onyema. Agriculture is “another area where we will be making a push”as it’s underrepresented on the bourse and makes up 40 per cent of the West African nation’s gross domestic product, he said.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$112.3/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

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

RATES Inflation -11.3% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve -$32.5bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 220.9 £ 253.5 $ 153.59 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

A

• From left: Mrs. Fayo Williams, Executive Director, Rely Supply Limited and Bolaji Osunsanya, MD/CEO, Oando Gas and Power during the opening seminar to mark the 4th Oando’s annual Environment, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) week held in Lagos ... on Monday.

PIB: Fed Govt drops controversial joint venture T

HE Federal Govern ment has expunged the controversial Incorporated Joint Venture (IJV) from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is before the National Assembly.

IJV is one of the provisions in the Bill meant to replace the current Joint Venture arrangement with International Oil Companies (IOCs) where the government owns 60 per cent shares except in Shell joint venture projects in which it controls 55 per cent.

Following government’s inability and undue delays in providing its counterpart funding for JV projects, government proposed the IJV in the PIB to free itself from any form of funding. Had the IJV been in force, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which represents government in the JV and the IOCs would have solely be responsible for funding of all JV projects, which could have become IJV projects on passage of the PIB into law.

According to oil industry sources, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, the PIB has been revised four times before the end of the tenure of the previous legis-

• Let legislators do their job – NNPC From Emeka Ugwuanyi Asst. Editor

lators. “The IJV was removed during the fourth revision of the bill. So, currently, the IJV is not contained in the PIB,” the source said.

Some of the sources said they knew the IJV would not work. They said they have discussed the issue several times at the meeting of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). According to them, the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), an arm of the NNPC, which foresees government investment in the JVs, would be irrelevant if the IJV is put in place and the implication would be massive loss of jobs.

They also noted that members of PENGASSAN and other workers in the employ of the IOCs as a result of the JV might also lose their jobs because the IJVs would be

100 per cent commercially driven and the primary focus would be value creation for the shareholders of the various multinational companies.

Besides, except the NNPC would be fully severed from the government, there is no guarantee that the IJVs would get the independence they require. With the IJV, NNPC being the senior partner with 60 and 55 per cent stakes would fill the boards of the companies with their people as boards’ chairmen and would want to manage operations that they (IOCs) believe are better handled by them.

There were some fundamentals the proponents of the IJV didn’t consider, which could have caused grave damage if it were allowed to be passed into law, the sources added.

They also said there are some provisions in the bill that have been revised and more are expected to be affected before the final docu-

ment gets passed into an Act. What happens is that when a particular provision attracts wide public criticism, the law makers take a second look at it and try to balance it.

“The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, when contacted, said: “The PIB is a work in progress and people should not make it a subject of public enquiry. It is unfair to endanger such an important document through unfounded speculations. They should allow the legislative arm of the government to do its work.”

Nigeria has shelved plans to overhaul its joint venture partnerships with foreign oil firms, according to the latest version of its long-delayed energy reforms, one of the pillars of the original bill, sources said.

The PIB will be represented to the new members of the National Assembly (House of Representatives and the Senate) as a fresh bill but the government sources said the processes would not be delayed as most of the works have been done, but certainly it would undergo the normal readings and public hearings.

Lagarde is first woman IMF head

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RANCE’s Christine Lagarde was named yes terday to be the first-ever female chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), facing an immediate crisis as violent Greek anti-austerity protests rocked the stability of the eurozone.

The French finance minister, widely respected for her leadership during Europe’s financial crisis over the past three years, according to The Associated Press (AP), was chosen to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned abruptly on May 18 after be-

ing arrested in New York for the alleged sexual assault of a hotel maid.

“The executive board of the International Monetary Fund today selected Christine Lagarde to serve as IMF managing director and madame chairman of the executive board for a five-year term starting on July 5, 2011,” the IMF said in a statement.

Her win was assured after emerging powers China, Russia and Brazil declared their support for her and the United States followed with its endorsement ahead of the

meeting of the 24-member board.

Lagarde, 55, will have to immediately deal with an IMF-European Union effort to keep debt-stricken Greece afloat and focus on potentially thorny IMF “spillover reports” that analyse the economic and policy actions of the world’s major economies.

“Minister Lagarde’s exceptional talent and broad experience will provide invaluable leadership for this indispensable institution at a critical time for the global

• Lagarde

economy,” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a statement.

‘Nigeria’s economy can overtake S’Africa’s by 2025’

N

IGERIA’s economy may reach about $400 billion by the end of the decade and could overtake South Africa by 2025, Morgan Stanley said in a research note.

The economy of Africa’s biggest oil producer will probably expand 8.4 per cent in 2011 and 8.5 per cent in 2012, Andrea Masia and Michael Kafe, economists at Morgan Stanley in Johannesburg, said in an emailed report yesterday. The naira may strengthen to N153 against the dollar by the end of the year and reach N150 by the end of 2012, they said.

Morgan Stanley according to Bloomberg news, recommends investors buy shares in Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc , Diamond Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

13

ISSUES

• CBN building

CBN’s hurdles for would-be bank chiefs, others The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the bar for appointment into key positions in banks and discount houses, in a move to promote competency and skill in the industry. Expectedly, the action has generated mixed reactions from stakeholders, reports AKINOLA AJIBADE. • STORY ON PAGE 14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

14

ISSUES

CBN’s hurdles for would-be bank chiefs, others

F

OR prospective bank chiefs, the rise to the top may no longer be easy following the criteria for appointment released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja last week.

Henceforth, to hold top management position in banks, finance houses and other financial institutions, candidates must, among others, be competent, honest, enterprising and be of sound mind.

The criteria demand to know the eligibility of those seeking management positions; their mental and physical status; their competence and skill; their track record; their commitment to corporate best practices.

The circular signed by CBN’s Deputy Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Mr Chris Chukwu, said candidates seeking to be Managing Director (MD), Deputy Managing Director, and Executive Director must have first degree or its equivalent in any discipline, and 15 years post-qualification experience before they can be eligible for these positions.

The circular said those seeking to be managing director must have spent 10 or 15 years in management and leadership positions, coupled with a recommendation from the bank that they possess proven skills, and competence.

Also, CBN requires that those applying for the job of General Manager, Deputy General Manager and Deputy General Manager must possess first degree or its equivalent in any discipline. In addition, they must have 10 years post-qualification experience out of which, at least, seven must have been in the relevant areas of job role.

CBN said the would-be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or top executive will not be cleared if he has been found guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties, or disqualified or suspended from practising.

Besides, CBN will conduct fitness test to assess the competence of candidates for board, or top management positions, as well as determine their capacity to fulfil their responsibilities.

The test will also determine whether the candidates seeking the office of managing director are of sound mind, or not. In effect, what CBN is saying is that the office of managing director is no longer meant for just anybody.

It is for those who are academically, professionally, morally, and psychologically balanced to do the job.

Before now, CBN had relaxed the requirements for the appointment of such people. In the past, candidates vying for the office of managing director usually rase through the ranks. The criteria stipulated that managing director must have been Assistant General Manager (AGM), or Deputy General Manager (DGM), and must have spent 15 years in the industry.

The criteria were said to have been abused, leading to the appointment of unqualified people.

This has affected the quality of leadership of many banks. Worse still, are the various breaches of corporate governance issues linked to some bank chiefs. To prevent a recurrence and further encourage growth, CBN introduced new criteria for their appointment.

Stakeholders’ perspective Industry observers attributed the development to the need to give the banking industry a fresh breath, and make it compete with its counterparts abroad. They said CBN’s reforms seem to be geared toward professionalising banking, at least, at the top level, noting that the apex bank is trying to avert a reocurrence of lax corporate governance issues that befell some banks two years ago.

They said the development would sanitise the appointment process, and bring about a level playing ground for aspiring bank chiefs. In the light of this, certain issues need to be examined to know the level of acceptability of the new criteria.

Earlier signals from CBN As part of the on-going reforms in the banking industry, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamdo had last year reviewed the tenureship of CEOs. Prior to this, the CBN pegged the tenure of managing directors to eight years of two terms. This led to the exit of three MDs – Tony Elemelu (UBA); Jim Ovia (Zenith) and Akinsola Akinfemiwa (Skye Bank).

Shareholders’ groups were the first to condemn the CBN, describing its action as a continuation of the onslaught against the managing directors of the eight rescued banks. The National Co-ordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, accused CBN of inconsistencies in its policy

BOFIA’s position According to Section 44 (1) of the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA): Every bank shall, before appointing any director or chief executive, seek and obtain written approval from CBN”. Section 55(1) of the Act said: “The CBN governor may make regulations, published in the Gazette, to give full effect to the objects and objectives of this Decree.”

Sub-Section (2) states: “Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor may make rules and regulations for the operation and control of all institutions under the supervision of the bank.” So, if the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) is anything to go by, then the CBN governor appears to have acted in order by reviewing the criteria for the appointment of the chief executives of banks.

A top banking official, who spoke under cover, said CBN has done well by reviewing the criteria for the appointment of CEOs of banks, and finance houses. He said the appointment and stay in

• Mallam Lamido

office of all directors of banks was always subject to approval of the CBN governor. He advised stakeholders to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the BOFIA to avoid wrong judgments.

Shareholders perspective Shareholders have hailed the decision of the apex bank to review the requirements for the appointment of the CEOs of banks and discount houses, describing it as a good development to the industry. The Chairman, Professional Shareholders Association (PSA), Mr Augustine Anono, said CBN has through the review, excited the shareholders.

He said the development would improve the industry, adding that banks with quality leadership would not find it difficult to record growth.

“Even though CBN has failed to carry shareholders along in its reform package, the decision to raise the bar for those aspiring to become chief executives of financial institutions has delighted the shareholders. The reason for investing in shares is to get price appreciations, bonus, and dividend.

Now that CBN is to bring the best hands into the industry, there is hope that shareholders would get good returns on investment,” he said.

He said managing directors of banks are expected to have sterling qualities that would propel the growth of the industry, adding that what matters is the ability to turnaround the financial institutions.

Similarly, the National Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr Boniface Okezie, said the decision of CBN to standardise the requirements for the appointment of Chief Executive of banks, and other financial Institutions would impact positively on the industry.

Okezie said the minimum quali-

• GMD, Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola

fication for working in a bank globally is first degree or its equivalent, adding that it would be unfair if CBN accepted something less for those aspiring to become the CEOs of banks.

He urged CBN to involve itself in more sensitive issues bordering the industry, arguing that the reforms have not really yielded the desired results.

Okezie said the decision of CBN to assess and approve shareholders who have more than five per cent equity in banks, as contained in the circular, is not good enough.

“To be honest, CBN has done more harm to the industry through its reforms. I think the best thing to do now is to try and put in place structures that are enduring and beneficial to all the stakeholders. This is not the time to invite shareholders with over five per cent for approval. Shareholders own their money, and should be allowed to use it freely for investments”, he said.

Operators’ perspective Operators have continued to keep faith with the reforms programme initiated by the CBN Governor. They admitted it is the best thing to have happened to the industry. The Registrar, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Uju Ogubunka, said the issue of reviewing the criteria for the appointment of CEOs of financial institutions is a good omen for the industry.

Ogubunka said CBN came out with the criteria to streamline the requirements for the appointment into sensitive areas in the industry.

“It is a good thing that CBN is trying to differentiate between those who are qualified, and those who are not qualified to head the banks and discount houses.

Through this, the industry ‘s operations would be strengthened,”

‘Even though CBN has failed to carry shareholders along in its reform package, the decision to raise the bar for those aspiring to become chief executives of financial institutions has delighted the shareholders. The reason for investing in shares is to get price appreciations, bonus, and dividend. Now that CBN is to bring the best hands into the industry, there is hope that shareholders would get good returns on investment’

he said.

Also, the former acting managing director, defunct Trade Bank Plc, Mr Jamiu Ekungba, said the main thrust of the BOFIA is to set the tone for effective administration of the nation’s financial system.

He said CBN is expected to regulate the operations of the industry from time to time, by making changes where necessary.

“In this stance, the issue has to do with the CEOs of banks. CBN might have taken a lot of issues into consideration, before coming out with the criteria.

Bearing in mind, the body of knowledge, experience, and age that are available to people, CBN would not hesitate to appoint the best for the banks. Considering this current dispensation in the Nigerian and global economy, it is not right to put unqualified people at the helm of affairs of financial institutions. If somebody is not qualified to head a bank, it is not because of the colour of the person. It is because the growth of the industry is paramount to the regulators,” he said.

Ekungba said the law must be obeyed in the interest of the banking industry. He said Nigerians are fond of shifting blames when they are sacked on the basis of poor performance, arguing that the requirements for the appointment of CEOs of banks must not be compromised if the country is to achieve results.

Discount houses Many of the managing directors of banks have played strong roles in the affairs of the discount houses operating in Nigeria. The reason is because the banks they manage have considerable interest in discount houses. This may have conferred on them the right to determine the composition of the boards of those houses. However, the CBN’s decision to review the criteria for appointment into discount houses would bring a lot of changes.

A staff member of Associated Discount Houses, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the issue is expected to improve the fortune of discount houses.

Based on this, it is suffice to say that CBN is bringing changes in contents, ideas, and personalities to the banks, and other financial institutions. But the implementation of the new criteria will determine whether the industry will improve or not.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State in the April election, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), is pessimistic about President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, given some names being bandied about as ministerial hopefuls. He spoke with some select reporters in Ilorin, the state capital. ADEKUNLE JIMOH was there. Excerpts:

‘I‘ve a mandate that’s greater than me’

‘Why would the Federal Government say it wants to build schools in Kwara State, for instance on a land that does not belong to the Federal Government? So, you want to build on school on my land? You do not know what my immediate needs are; you do not know how many children I have and you even do not know the number of schools that I already have. So, these are the imbalances that have to be corrected and these are the things that make the issues of revenue allocation and minimum wage very controversial’

K

WARA people are used for one-way politics. But some believe that your entry into politics has really changed the face of politics in the state. What is your opinion?

I will find it totally ridiculous for somebody in his right senses and mind to say that my coming is a way of disturbing the system. But yes, you could argue that it has disturbed the status quo people that have only served the interest of themselves. My coming in that regard has disturbed that status quo. But what we have done is to give Kwarans a genuine choice. We have opened Kwara people’s minds to the fact that government is meant to serve the people and improve their lives. Government is not looking up to one man in the hope that he may hand out some things to you. That I believe we have demonstrated to Kwara people that life is not all about that. Whatever government has is for the people. Whoever is there is to serve and not the other way round.

What is the drive behind your unshaken belief in winning Kwara?

The drive behind it is the will of the people. I know that Kwara people have voted for change. They want a change urgently. You can see it in the way they go about it and their mood. I have a mandate which is greater than myself. That is what keeps me going and highly determined.

What is your view on the planned removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government?

I am yet to get the full dynamics of that.

But I know that it will cause unnecessary hardship. I believe that while the economics of it might be right, it will be an anti-people policy. And you got to think of the social consequences. First, the same state government has said that it could not pay minimum wage, and at the same time, it is imposing further burden on the workers. If you remove the fuel subsidy, the attendant effect will not be palatable. There is always a multiplier effect: racketeering will set in, the transporters will increase fares; food prices will also go up. Therefore, what it means is that you are taking more money now out of the workers’ pockets at a time when you promised the workers more money which you have not given them. This will bring so many difficulties. The timing is not right, if the politics is right.

Currently, there is agitation for the payment of N18,000 minimum wage. But the Governors Forum is saying that the payment will be dependent on the review of revenue sharing formula…

It does not in any way reflect what the Nigerian people want. I am solidly behind that workers should be paid that money. Fair pay for fair work and the Nigerian workers deserve a lot more than that. The problem is

• Belgore

that we have centralized things so much. The issue of the minimum wage should not be a federal matter. We should let each state develop it. For instance, Lagos may probably be able to pay N50,000 a month, some other states may be able to pay something different. The timeliness and how they do it should be determined by each of the state. But when it comes from the centre and you are not trying to standardize it, there will be a problem. If each state had evolved it, it would have been better; some others would have been getting ready to implement it in its own way but because you have one uniform standard.

And what is your feeling about the contentious revenue sharing formula?

Who is the Federal Government governing and why should it have the largest share of the revenue? All the people are in the state and they have state government administrations. Even in Abuja, it is under the Federal Capital Territory. So, who are the people that the Federal Government is governing? Why would the Federal Government say it wants to build schools in Kwara State, for instance on a land that does not belong to the Federal Government? So, you want to build on school on my land? You do not know what my immediate needs are; you do not know how many children I have and you even do not know the number of schools that I already have. So, these are the imbalances that have to be corrected and these are the things that make the issues of revenue allocation and minimum wage very controversial.

How will you assess the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan so far?

It is difficult to assess the current adminis-

tration of President Goodluck Jonathan. For me, the administration is still young but if the choice of the names of ministerial nominees being bandied about is anything to go by, I am not hopeful at all.

Some people feel that the Electoral Law has changed and that the court cannot declare a petitioner winner and that what the court can do, at best, is to order a re-run.

What is your view on this?

First, let me correct the notion about Electoral Law. Electoral Law has not changed in that regard. The only difference now is that if you did not contest an election, like the Rotimi Amaechi’s case, the court cannot declare you the holder of that office. That is the only change. There is no change in the fact that petitioner comes and says, ‘I have the highest votes, therefore declare me winner.’ That has not changed.

I have heard people say that the law has changed and that the court can no longer declare somebody winner, and that what the court can do is to declare a re-run. That is not correct.

“A situation where you are fighting election petition for three and half years, is totally undesirable. Therefore, any process that will make the process quicker, so that the will of the people or the matter to who the people actually voted for can be determined on time is the ideal situation. But at the same time, you’ve got to know that the court cannot compromise the fundamentals of fair hearing on the matter of giving the parties the opportunities to be able to present their cases. Governorship petition, for instance, where you are covering an entire state, requires more time for one to be able to put the necessary things together and

‘Nigeria had founding fathers with good visions but unfortunately, the next stage could not carry on with that vision. We had founding fathers like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sarduna of Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello. When you look at these people, you will see genuine desire to serve. Those were not people, no matter the criticisms you may have against them, that one will say were really there for themselves. Those remain role models’

compile the evidence. It is not the same as challenging a House of Assembly election.

So, while we do not want the process to drag for too long, at the same time, it should not be too short so that the parties can present their matters. I think that at the moment, the Electoral Act has taken some measures in the sense that the petition before the tribunal must be concluded within 180 days.

That is good, then with an appeal in 60 days.

That shows that a three-and-half-year situation is unlikely to happen.

Some Southwest senators, after a meeting, came up with a position that the constitution of Nigeria is actually unitary in nature and that it needs some changes? What do you think about that?

To be honest, I have been out; so, I was not aware of this resolution. But we need a constitution for the people. The constitution we have is a military constitution. When at the opening paragraph, it says we the people of Nigeria, it is not a fact because the military never consulted anyone. They just handed the constitution over to people. It is not a people’s constitution. We need a constitution of the people. The way we go into that is something that we all must determine. I do not the specific content of what the SouthWest legislators are saying. So, I cannot agree or disagree with their position. We need people’s constitution.

How would you describe politics in Nigeria?

Politics in Nigeria is still developing. We have a lot to learn. But we have moved in leaps and bounds from the stormy old days of wetie and the days whereby after a political gathering, you had to make sure that you dodged through a bush to escape because way down the road, they were waiting for you with machetes, clubs and some other dangerous weapons. We have moved on.

But, we have not quite got to the point whereby it is seen as genuine discourse. We need to move to the point where we are seeing it in terms of ideology and engaging the people with ideas on how best to improve their lives. Politics in Nigeria is evolving and growing but there is a lot more to be put into it in the interest of the people.

How will you describe Nigeria’s founding fathers and our modern-day society?

Nigeria had founding fathers with good visions but unfortunately, the next stage could not carry on with that vision. We had founding fathers like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sarduna of Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello. When you look at these people, you will see genuine desire to serve.

Those were not people, no matter the criticisms you may have against them, that one will say were really there for themselves.

Those remain role models.

Some people hold the view that the governor of Osun State is yet to have commissioners to run the government, hence that is not good. What is your view?

Look at what he has been able to achieve since he took over. He has surpassed his predecessor who was there for about seven years. If you go to Oshogbo, there is a new feeling now that things are about to happen in the state. That is what people want. I remember a few years ago when Lagos had some good changes, people started feeling that Lagos had become a land of opportunities. There is the same feeling in Osun State.

The governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has made giant steps. The issue of running with commissioners, I am sure, very soon, that will happen. I do not believe that the governor wants to continue running like this for the rest of his administration.

But does the constitution support staying so long before having commissioners?

The Constitution did not give time-frame when a governor must appoint commissioners. The governor has not said he is not going to appoint commissioners. He knows what he is doing, all in the interest of the people.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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POLITICS Former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Majority Leader in the Ekiti State House of Assembly Hon. Funminiyi Afuye spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on his botched senatorial ambition, Fayemi Administration and progressive politics.

‘Fayemi deserves support to make Ekiti work’ D

ON’T you regret that you did not emerge as the ACN senatorial candidate in Ekiti South in the last election?

No. I am a party man. I believe in party discipline and the supremacy of the ACN. I believe that the future is still there. Chief Obafemi Awolowo said yesterday is a story told; tomorrow may be written in gold. If there is more than one contestant for a particular seat, one contestant will have it. Life goes on.

One can still become bigger than senator, if God says so. I have no regret whatsoever in my mind and I am working for the party, and I will continue to work for the party.

Many people expected you to go back to the House of Assembly as one of the leaders who served the party and state meritoriously, especially in the days of trouble.

Why did you decide not to heed their advice?

In the first instance, I did not want to disrupt the political arrangement in my town. There is a way our people arrange political leadership.

They shift it from one person to the other, from one area to another. I made up my mind not to go back to the House of Assembly. I thought I could perform at a higher level, to represent my people. It did not work. But I have no regret. I was listening and sensitive to what was happening in my constituency.

Ikere has a way of arranging things. I did not want to be a stumbling block to it. At the risk of being immodest, I was qualified to go to the senate. My friends are now struggling to be governors.

But I want to serve my people at whatever level, even as a councillor. I thought if I had an opportunity to go to the senate, I would not disappoint them. I am satisfied with my present position of being a political leader in Ikere, despite the fact that I am not occupying any position for now.

Why were your supporters protesting that you were edged out of the senatorial contest?

One person will emerge, hook or cook. But somebody, who is a disciplined party man, will abide by what has happened and focus on the future. I will draw your attention to the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I cite the example of Dr Femi Okunrounmu, who later became a senator. He was slated to be deputy governor to the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo. After some issues or facts were discovered, in terms of balancing, Chief Sesan Soluade was made the deputy governor.

Awolowo called Okunrounmu, explained to him and the latter abided by what he said. Later, he became a senator. If he had wanted to protest, he would not have had that opportunity in the future. That is the kind of person I am. I am a party man and I will remain a party man.

When it happened, my supporters were not happy. I called them and said that I needed three things from them, namely, that they should support the party, support the government, support the governor. If you support the party, you will support the candidates. If you support the government, you are supporting the party. If you support the governor, it means you want the progress of the state.

Many feel that it is too early for

•Afuye

you to be outside government.

What are the roles you are expected to play now in this dispensation?

Whatever role I am given, I will do it. I will not run away from serving the people. You know, I cannot appoint myself; it is the government that will appoint me. We are all stakeholders in the party. The party must not fail. The government must not fail. The governor must not fail. If there is no role at all, I will still be supportive of the party.

I am a legal practitioner. I thank God for what He has done in my life.

What is delaying the conduct of local government election in Ekiti State? Is your party not ready?

Of course, at any time, the party is ready. We have won a general election. The party is prepared. I can assure you, the party will win all the local government. The government is just settling down. I can assure you, before December, there will be local government elections because we believe in democracy.

The party and the governor believe in democracy. And the people are in support of the party. Council election will not be delayed in Ekiti like that of Anambra State.

What are the challenges confronting Fayemi Administration in Ekiti State?

It is the challenge of poverty, lack of funds caused by previous administration. The governor is tackling the problem. He is tackling education. He is trying to alleviate the problem of education. These are the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The only thing is that it has to be interpreted and applied, looking at modern realities. The governor is fighting the infrastructure battle. Roads are being awarded for massive construction.

Ilawe-Ado-Ekiti and Afao-Ado Ekiti roads have been awarded.

There is a master plan to make Ado Ekiti a city to be proud of. All these things require real planning. Poverty is everywhere. Empowerment of the people is part of the agenda.

To a large extent, these things are being implemented. It takes time for them to mature. In some areas,

the roads are being patched for now. If the previous governments have done well, we should be going to the tertiary level of government. Now, the government is starting all over. We should sympathise with it.

What can also be done to maintain security in the state, although the federal government holds the security apparatus?

We have to look at security from a holistic point of view. The governor is the chief security officer. But he does not have the power to direct the police. We still have a police of colonial Nigeria in place.

They take instructions from Abuja.

It goes to the root of the national debate, the national question, that there must be devolution of powers in Nigeria. Who controls the apparatus of coercion? In any case, security is intelligence. It is intelligence gathering. Is the governor part of the intelligence gathering of the police? If that thing of magnitude is going to happen in a well ordered society, there should be a sort of intelligence to nip it in the bud. Abuja cannot even help itself.

Look at what happened at the police headquarters in Nigeria. It speaks volumes. An emergency must be declared because of the state of security in Nigeria. The Inspector General of Police only escaped being bombed by the whiskers. But our governor is not sleeping. What happened in Ekiti was to create a situation of insecurity. If you look at the general environment, Ekiti is not an exception. The governor is putting structures on ground to forestall a reoccurrence.

The last House of Assembly, though crisis-ridden, was still vibrant. What is your expectation about the new House?

The present House comprises men of integrity. It is up to them to be alert to their duties. They have the constitutional power, being the first arm of government so recognised by the constitution. Their own personalities would have to come into play. The government is a government of the rule of law and due process. The legislature must not also be a stumbling block to good governance in the state.

Yuguda re-assures Bauchi people

B

AUCHI State Governor, Isa Yuguda, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to placing high premium on security of lives of Bauchi citizens.

He also promised to embark on a ward-to-ward tour of all the 20 local government areas in the state, in compliance with his open-door policy.

In a pres statement signed by his Chief of Staff, Yusuf Musa Gumli, yesterday, Yuguda said: “The state wide tour is to ensure that all ongoing projects are completed within the first 100 days of his second term in office.

Yuguda who was first elected April 14, 2007 and re-elected on April 28, 2011 declared that “a lot of investment opportunities

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

would be explored to create jobs for the teaming unemployed youths in Bauchi state”.

Though the is yet to constitute his cabinet, he has appointed a new Head of Service (HOS) Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin; Chief of Staff; Jibrin Adamu Zungur as Special Adviser on State Assembly Matters, and Ishola Michael Adeyemi as Chief Press Secretary.

Barrister Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, who was appointed as Secretary to the State Government in 2007, was not affected by the governor’s sacking of political appointees May 16, 2011. He was retained as SSG.

More time for Akwa Ibom councils

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HE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has announced the extension of the tenure of the present local government administration in the state.

The current local government councils came into office June 27, 2008 for a three-year term which was to expire on June 26, 2011.

Addressing newsmen during a briefing, Speaker of the House, Hon. Sam Ikon, explained that the Assembly was constrained to extend the tenure of the councils’ chairmen by three months due to the inability of Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commissioner to organise election into the local government councils.

Ikon advised council chairmen to use the three months extension to affect the lives of the citizenry positively, saying that the House would monitor their activities within the given months.

His word: “I have promised that

From Kazeem Ibrahim, Uyo

we would run an open administration and always parley with the press.

The House has taken steps to extend the tenure of local administration by three months because there cannot be a vacuum at the council areas. The house will not hesitate to use the full weight of the law to deal with any council areas that wants to foment troubles.”

Ikon noted that election at the local government would hold before the expiration of the three months, saying that in case of no election, the Assembly would be forced to form caretaker committees since the local government administration law could not accommodate elected officers to go beyond three months after the expiration of their term.

The Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Information, Onofiok Luke, stated that the House acted on the law that established the local government administration

Kudos to Fashola on appointments

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HE Mushin community in La gos State has praised the Gov ernor Babatunde Fashola-led government over the appointment of Hon. Seye Oladejo as one of the new commissioners appointed to serve the state and its people.

Hon Femi Atobatele, a grassroots politician, former Supervisor for Works and Environment and serving Leader of Mushin Local Government Legislature, spoke on behalf of the community, noting that Oladejo’s appointment would foster peace, unity and development in the area.

“As far as I know, both Governor Fashola and Hon. Oladejo share the same spirit of selfless service to their people. They both believe that the essence of leadership is to seek the

good of the majority of their people.

Therefore, the appointment of Hon. Oladejo who has once proved his mettle at the local government level as a shrewd administrator and leader is, to say the least, a right move,” he further said.

He commended the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the emergence of Fashola in his first term and indeed, his re-emergence in the last election.

“Asiwaju Tinubu’s foresight and forthright services to humanity has been momentous. Therefore, at this point, kudos should be given to him because he has proved to be a true leader who knows what the people want,”he said.

•From left: Senate President David Mark presenting a book to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr PHOTO: NAN Andrew Llyod, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY ,JUNE 29, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Money guzzler • Time for result in power sector which has gulped over N2trn ORMER Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Hamman Tukur, reminded us, sadly, of the colossal source of waste that the power sector has become, when he disclosed that we have spent over N2 trillion on it in the last 11 years. He said N1.5 trillion of this amount was spent during the Obasanjo administration alone.

Tukur spoke at the Sixth Engineer Mahmud Urwatu Armiya’u Foundation yearly Lecture and presentation of awards, organised by the Kaduna Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

We cannot but be concerned, not necessarily about the huge amount the sector has gulped in the last decade, but about its lack of positive effect on our power situation. It should be disheartening that we have spent N2 trillion only to generate darkness. Nigeria must be one of the few countries where such an amount would be sunk in any infrastructure without tangible results, and the country would still be at peace with itself.

As if to confirm that Nigeria’s problem is not necessarily about lack of money but how to spend it wisely, the country at a time lost count of the exact amount it had expended on the power sector. Various sums were bandied about by different people in government who should know, the

F

same way they always give conflicting figures on the power situation at any point in time.

The disgusting aspect of it is that as we write, there is little happening by way of inquiry to find out what has actually happened in the sector. The attempt by the last House of Representatives led us nowhere in determining which mistakes made along the line in the power projects were those of the head and which ones were those of the heart.

For instance, it was after some of the power turbines ordered had arrived in the country that we realised they could not be transported by road, and only then that we began to make provision for them to be transported by sea, thus wasting a lot of time and resources in the process, as some of them had to be dismantled to get them to their various destinations.

Part of the problem, as Tukur noted, is that the power sector has been politicised; it has to be weaned of political influences if we are to make any appreciable progress in power supply.

This is a task for President Goodluck Jonathan, especially as he is about to constitute his cabinet. We will continue to grope in the dark until we get things right in the sector. There is no way the industrial and economic sectors would grow when only about 40 per cent of Nigerians have access to what could, at best, be described as epileptic power supply.

The president has initiated a power sector road map which we believe will impact positively on power supply, if well implemented. The emphasis here is on implementation because the problem with the country is not necessarily about lack of good ideas, as many laudable initiatives had crashed at the most crucial point of implementation.

President Jonathan will do well to pay special attention to the power sector. If he is able to make the difference, he would have redeemed the image of the ruling party which had made several failed promises in this regard, as well as make the machines in many comatose industries hum again. Many otherwise idle hands would be provided jobs and this would reflect on the level of security in the country, as well as accelerate the pace of economic development.

‘We will continue to grope in the dark until we get things right in the sector. There is no way the industrial and economic sectors would grow when only about 40 per cent of Nigerians have access to what could, at best, be described as epileptic power supply’

Wage War •Stampeded implementation of minimum wage may cause social upheaval

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HE rumpus being generated by the N18,000 minimum wage approved by the government may well be a proof that the scheme was not carefully thought out. Apart from Lagos State which has been able to manage the new wage regime, crisis looms as different states device ways of handling the matter.

About six states in the north, including Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, Nasarawa and Gombe have taken the option of drastically whittling down the number of their workforce. According to reports, though officials of these states claim their intention is to weed out redundant staff and ghost workers, it well may be a ploy to drastically prune their work force in order to accommo-

‘While we do not encourage the employment of ghosts or support redundancy, states must refrain from a reckless sack of workers as that may inflict more social upheavals than we are already experiencing. There are more creative ways of solving the problem’

date the new wage scheme.

Why would a state government carry on its payroll, redundant workers and ghosts? And why has it become necessary to bust these ghosts now, if they had been on these pay rolls all these years?

The point is that there may be need for a consensus among all parties to allow a bit more time for more reflection and brainstorming on the method of implementing the new salary scheme. In the first instance, while the idea of enhanced pay for public sector workers is salutary, there is need to carefully plan and implement it so that we do not cause more problems than we seek to solve with a wage increase.

Although labour had cashed in on a pre-election anxiety to wrench a very favourable wage regime from the Executive arm (over 150 per cent rise), we urge that it exercises some restraint and allow a period of planning before implementation.

More so, when we consider that there is a change of guards across board, with new cabinets being put in place.

Given a period of, say, six months, different states will dialogue with labour and work out modalities for paying the new minimum wage without bringing the states to fiscal distress. Very few states in Nigeria to-

day can afford to implement the new wage without a cataclysmic consequence on their economies.

We urge state governments to restrain from forcing the line of least resistance like mass sack and minimal development. We also implore labour to show more understanding.

They know the revenue streams and the financial standing of their states.

They also are aware that states have other pressing needs apart from paying the salaries of civil servants.

Labour must balance these facts in the interest of their states.

We salute states like Lagos which is already implementing the new wage, and Ondo which has dialogued with labour and reached a middle ground. Edo State too has agreed to pay and is currently working out the modalities and the mode of graduation from minimum to maximum. Every state, including the Federal Government, ought to have set a machinery in place for the purpose of implementing the new wage.

While we do not encourage the employment of ghosts or support redundancy, states must refrain from a reckless sack of workers as that may inflict more social upheavals than we are already experiencing. There are more creative ways of solving the problem.

What government can do about the income gap

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HERE’S NOTHING NEW, alas, about the increasing gap between rich and poor in America, where the share of national income, including capital gains, claimed by the top 0.1 percent of earners rose from 2.5 percent in 1975 to 10.4 percent in 2008. Still, the details never cease to amaze. In a recent Post report, Peter Whoriskey documented the fact that the average executive’s annual pay has roughly quadrupled since the early 1970s, while average wage income has crept up only 26 percent. No one who cares about the social cohesion of a society premised on the idea that all men and women are created equal can view such statistics indifferently.

The question, though, is what to do about it. Some of the growing income disparity results from longterm social changes or market forces that are either inherently benign or practically irreversible.

The statistics partly reflect the spiraling rewards to superstar talent in entertainment and sports.

The golden age of U.S. income equality — from World War II to the 1973 Middle East oil embargo — stands out as an exceptional time when American wage workers were still mostly shielded from Asian and European competition.

Corporate executives make up three-fifths of the richest 0.1 percent of U.S. earners, a result of the explosion of executive compensation. Government has a role in fixing this situation, but it’s worth recalling past efforts at regulating pay. In 1993, Congress ended the tax-deductibility of top executives’ compensation above $1 million, except for “performance-based” compensation. The resulting huge shift of executive comp into stock options probably left CEOs better off than before.

But if direct suppression of top pay is problematic, government can at least avoid enabling the upward redistribution of income. Certain policies do just that. After executives, the next largest portion of the top-earning 0.1 percent consisted of the following: lawyers, many of whom make their money guiding clients through the ever-growing forest of legislation and regulation; doctors and hospital executives, who gain from the tax exclusion for employer-paid health insurance; and real estate professionals — can you say “Fannie Mae?” As Mr. Whoriskey reported, CEO pay rose by a factor of ten at Dean Foods over 40 years during which the company grew into the country’s largest processor and distributor of dairy products. This was also a time of heavy government regulation and subsidy in the dairy industry. Meanwhile, “other entrepreneurs,” the folks we count on for innovation and job creation, account for less than one in 20 members of the top 0.1 percent.

Given the need for federal deficit reduction, now would seem to be an especially opportune time to eliminate the many ways in which government bestows unearned favors on the well-off. Slashing farm subsidies, which disproportionately favor rich farmers, is one obvious idea.

But the really big money is in the tax code, whose regressive provisions — such as the break for employer-paid health insurance; the favorable treatment of capital gains; and the mortgage-interest deduction — blow out the deficit and enable big earners to avoid paying their fair shares. With Washington forced to contemplate cutbacks in programs for the poor and middle class, it is unconscionable millionaires are still allowed tax deductions for mortgage interest on two houses.

- Washington Post

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: The Nigerian “National Cake” is shared by both the rulers and the ruled. The recent call by Nigerian governors on the Federal Government to immediately remove subsidy on petroleum products implies that our rulers, rather than to think of ways and means of expanding the ‘National Cake’ would rather have the little being enjoyed by the masses denied then. This is callous pure and simple! Just as the Governors are asking for removal of the oil subsidy, I think, the masses should as well pressurize the National Assembly to scale down the monthly take-home pay of our 36 governors.

While I totally agree with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that there is a need to review the revenue allocation formula, which is lopsided in favour of the Federal Government, I totally disagree with them on the issue of petroleum subsidy because it is the only form of

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IR: The menace of kidnapping all over Nigeria and the South Eastern states in particular has now assumed a crisis proportion. So much has been said about the menace by the federal government on its determination to “do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book” while police authorities keep singing their usual refrain of “being on top of the situation and people should go about their normal businesses without fear as we are determined to protect lives and properties.” Yet it makes no news any more that innocent citizens are kidnapped on a daily basis in Anambra State and millions of naira ransom are being paid too. We who are condemned to remain in Anambra State for lack of where else to relocate know that the police have been making some arrests from time to time but they never carry their investigation to the extent of arraignment in court.

Why is it so? We are also aware that all the people they have been arresting for the past three years have been making statements that implicated their collaborators, partners, protectors and bosses, both within and outside the police force.

We also have situations where, very

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

Governors’ demand for fuel subsidy removal is callous welfare the masses are presently enjoying. The demand by governors has two implications; one, that most of them are not familiar with the constitution, the social contract which states the expected roles of both the governors and the governed, or that they know the fundamental objectives of the state as contained in the constitution, but because of selfish interest intentionally ignore them.

Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution which contains the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, in Section 14 (2b) states that: ‘the secu-

rity and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’. In realizing the objective of promoting the welfare of the people, the constitution further states in section 16 (2) that: “The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring: …(b) that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good…(d) that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the dis-

abled are provided for all citizens.”

Since the second military take over in 1983 the welfare of the citizens has been trivialized by our rulers (military or civilian), whereas welfare is the second primary purpose of the state after security. For more than two decades electricity supply has been consistently epileptic. For more than 15 years railway transportation system has been paralyzed. Housing deficit in Nigeria is the most exponential in the world. Pot holes have dotted most of our major highways in the country, turning them into death traps. With the exception of

Lagos, there is no pipe borne water in most states.

To even cook is now problematic, because of the inadequate supply and artificial scarcity of kerosene.

The list is endless, but seriously, come to think of it, should the oil subsidy be removed, then what welfare package will the people benefit from?

The World Bank (2003) notes that despite their control of potentially lucrative personal income and property taxes, the Nigerian states and local councils, in aggregate, depend on federal revenue transfers for 90 percent of their finances. A word is enough for the wise; let our governors look for viable alternatives of financing government expenditures apart from oil-related revenue!

• Olusoji Ajao, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State

How to stop kidnappings credible intelligence are ignored and when they are acted upon, the operations are deliberately mismanaged by the police shooting to death those kidnappers they know could spill the beans instead of demobilizing and arresting them.

Since the efforts of the police so far have proved that this fight cannot be won by prosecution and punishment, I strongly believe that this crime can be stopped in the following ways.

First, the IG should set up a special team that will go to the state commands where kidnapping has

been rampant to collect all the existing case files that have not been rendered useless by in-house officers. This team shall go through all the statements of all the suspects arrested over the past three years and collate all the names implicated by the suspects in their statements but who have neither been arrested nor charged, by design or otherwise.

These names, with their addresses, towns and villages, occupation (which they use as cover-up) and all other data given by the suspects to be published in various national news papers repeatedly as Wanted

Persons.

The result of this is that if anyone feels confident enough to challenge the publication, he should report to the police to face the suspect, or disappear forever from his community, his shop, his office, his family, his residence, his Okada union, his motor park union, his university campus and from his friends and remain a wanted person forever.

The kidnappers have various legitimate activities they do with others and are living as big boys, successful and doing well. They are very well known and very visible and even well respected by unsus-

pecting public who are not aware they are exposing themselves to danger and dining with the devils.

So when they are published, they will become afraid of the whole world, afraid of themselves and even their shadows and shall either surrender or vanish for ever. This will bring a quick end to this saga. I therefore beg the IG to please publish and see what the magic the act will bring.

• Chief Willy Okechukwu (Nnabuenyi) Enu Owa Street, Onitsha .

Party logos and confusion IR: The 2011 elections in Nigeria have come and gone, but the problems associated with the election must be highlighed and brought to the notice of INEC and the National Assembly so as to know what to do about future elections.

For example, the ballot papers used during the presidential election have about 19 logos of the parties that participated in the election out of about over 60 political parties. The ballot papers has only one

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line identifying various political logos and thereby made it easy for electorates to thumb print at the right hand space in front of each logo.

In the case of state House of Assembly elections, we have multiple voting space both right and left with so many logos of parties that did not even field candidates in some states.

For example, in Ondo State, six parties fielded candidates i.e ACN, LP, PDP, ANPP, and CPC. But to our

surprise INEC went ahead to fix logos of all parties thereby bringing confusion to the electorate who were mislead to thumb print any how. INEC was supposed to use only logos of the six parties in Ondo State that fielded candidates for the election; that would have made it easier for electorates to identify the party of their choice with bold logos and right hand thumb printing.

Finally, INEC and the National Assembly should as matter of ur-

gency, reduce the number of political parties in Nigeria to about five or six parties so as to reduce cost and save our electorate from being disfranchised in future elections.

One page ballot paper with bold logo will make majority of ballot papers count and save our votes from multiple left and right thumbprinting.

God bless Nigeria.

• Fatukasi Oluwatuyi Iju, Ondo State

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Decrease Fuel Price and Federal Gov Revenue share; Office of Special Needs in your state?

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HY do we repeat the same economic mistakes in vicious cycles to please some advisors who have never been poor? HavTony ing increased the pump Marinho price of fuel before, Nigerians are the experts in the results - more poverty for the poor and the poorer naira value! A reasonable fuel price is the only financial benefit ‘Fellow Nigerians’ get. Any interference in fuel price, to pay the minimum wage, is a very uneconomic and anti-poor proposal. Why? Unlike popular misguided beliefs in economic circles, it is not only the rich who use fuel. Any increase in kerosene, diesel and petrol costs will increase the cost of living from village to villa, from pauper to princess, by 20-30%.

Maybe the ongoing scarcity of kerosene and diesel was a secret test? The increase will immediately cause Okada and danfo transport costs to go up. Ditto police checkpoint bribes. This will lead to increased higher domestic allowances and salaries sapping up the ‘benefits of the new yet-to-come N18,000 minimum wage- spent before it arrives. The rent rates will go up not by one or four percent but by a geometric 25 or 50%. Nigeria does nothing by halves, especially bill increases. Electricity is going up July 1 even though our power supply is going down and still grovelling around 3,000 MW, after billions while South Africa has 45,000MW. The result of any increase in fuel prices will thus be a massive inflation wiping out any advantage of the incoming N18,000 minimum wage on the individual family. The wage increase will render Nigerians no richer if it is achieved by increased pump price. The only way to get that money needed is change the revenue formula reducing the federal government quantum by 10-20% in favour of the states. Already the recent fall in the naira against the dollar means that fewer people will be lifted out of poverty as ‘living on less than a dollar a day’ is the economic unit of recovery or suffer-

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HE Boko Haram’s issue has generated intense discourse in the country and beyond in the last two weeks. This is coming on the heels of the recent bomb blast at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. That explosion is now a subject of debate among top government officials, security operatives, security experts, public and private individuals, and even in the inner recesses of homes across the country. In addition, it has instilled fear and trepidation in all Nigerians, as nobody is sure where such dastardly act could be re-enacted.

Besides, the police’s handling of the incident has left much doubt in the minds of the people. Shortly after the blast whose devastating sound ricocheted all over Abuja municipality, Olusola Amore, a deputy commissioner of police and seasoned police image maker, met with the press on behalf of Hafiz Ringim, the Inspector General of Police. He told them that the bomb blast was carried out by a suicide bomber of the Boko Haram sect.

Many people doubted this suicide claim and the mention of Boko Haram as the brain behind the blast even before investigation had commenced at all. In their opinion, it was too hasty to jump to such apocalyptic conclusion.

To them, such a novel experience, which is a common occurrence in some volatile Arab countries, is difficult to contemplate in this part of the world where people place much premium on their lives.

The police had promised to follow up their claims with CCTV footage of the incident to back up their assumption, but surpris-

ing, not naira earnings.

Lagos State has initiated an Office of Disability Affairs.

Congratulations. It should be duplicated in every state with autonomous bodies in the LGAs which should also fund them at that level. Those who are in that situation deserve far more than society ever gives them – a few wheelchairs, ‘First Lady Visits’ and a few ‘CSR’ naira, Corporate Social Responsibility naira, from the corporate bodies and friends if they ‘beg’ enough at Christmas, and of course the media political photo-op for the donors! Every state should institute a dedicated N100-200m budget for disability matters including mobility, accommodation with access and IT equipment to help start-up businesses. They were born with or had accidents and illnesses or robbery attacks that thrust them from independence and denied them gainful employment. The Office may guarantee access ramps into buildings and onto pavements for access. It may arrange admissions and scholarships, sports selection and training trips locally and abroad to meet peers and role models and also pay school fees.

A N100-200m annual budget for the Office of Disability/state, for the challenged as all there are several related associations for each body part challenge, which should receive adequate support through the Office of the Disabled. The office would also offer and secure scholarships, corrective surgical operations, special equipment like medical aids, artificial limbs, hearing aids, sticks etc.

Professionally, it is the wrong name for such an organisation. We must plead with the Lagos Government to change the name to a more internationally acceptable name like Office of Special Needs. The Office should look into mass production of suitable functional robotic artificial limbs for its needy citizens. This Office of Special Needs must recruit researchers to explore the web and find breakthroughs, events and activities for its clients. It must look for international universities specialising in robotics in Japan, Germany, and USA etc and link them locally with Nigerian university faculties of technology for exchange visits and purchase of robotic equipment to

facilitate the rapid development of necessary robotic limbs technology for the local production of active artificial limbs.

Have we no shame? This would employ many Nigerians on a wonderful scientific journey of true assistance to the needy. The Office of Special Needs may give N5-10m grants for researchers and trainees to travel abroad to learn and also to equip local departments. This is a N1b business unexplored.

And where does solar feature in your state government’s plan? Solar brings immediate power but there is an expensive initial investment that government can guarantee. State and LGA should lead a ‘Solar Revolution’ especially now that many scientific research successes in Germany, Spain, Israel, France, are rendering 2010 equipment solar batteries and panels more efficient and solar cities are viable abroad. Every state and LGA should start an electricity blue print aiming at 1,000Mw/state i.e.

37,000Mw for all the states and FCT by 2015. Of course industrial and high population density states will need to generate 2-4,000Mw each bringing us up to 4550,000Mw by 2015. God has been kind to give Nigeria the sun. The least we can do is to use the sun like it is used in the UK which has five percent of our ‘Sun-days’. ‘Solar Power to the People’.

‘They were born with or had accidents and illnesses or robbery attacks that thrust them from independence and denied them gainful employment. The Office may guarantee access ramps into buildings and onto pavements for access.

It may arrange admissions and scholarships, sports selection and training trips locally and abroad to meet peers and role models and also pay school fees’

Still on Boko Haram ingly they later beat a retreat. Last week, the IG himself could not pursue this angle when he spoke in Abuja. The reason for this, it was learnt, was that the evidence on the blast gathered from the footage of the incident from the CCTV at the Police Headquarters might have proved otherwise. Also, the examination of the specimen collected from the scene might not have supported the initial police’s claim. Now the police are at a crossroads. Since they had earlier attributed the act to the handiwork of the dangerous sect and a suicide bomber, the authorities seem to be at a loss on what next to tell the public.

In his first reaction after the blast, Babatunde Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and governor of Lagos State, had raised some posers for the security agencies. Hear him: “I think that we’ve come to a very early conclusion. I think that one thing we ought to ask is: was there a suicide bomber? Or did the bomb go off before it was billed to go off? I think that there are two or three questions so that we will know what we are dealing with. We should know if we are dealing with somebody who demonstrates that he does not care for his own life… I think the police should be able to tell us whether it was somebody who self-detonated a bomb on himself or that circumstances made it impossible for him to escape. We have to decide so (as to) know if it is right to come to that conclusion.”

‘The Boko Haram group was obviously inspired, nurtured and financed by politicians at their take-off points in Borno and Bauchi states.’

Nevertheless, the IG has since set up a “high-powered investigation” into the incident, just as security operatives have been drafted to Borno State and its contiguous states to try to apprehend members of the sect.

It is obvious that both the government and the security agencies have been jolted by the bomb blast. The IG attested to this when he said that the incident was a ‘‘wake-up call’’ on the police and other security agencies which need to synergize to combat the security challenges facing the nation. Before now, the agencies had worked at cross-purposes as they engaged in a sort of rat race to outshine one another. In this regard, information was not shared while efforts by one agency were often frustrated by the other on the flimsy excuse of territorial control.

Just as the debate on what actually happened at the Police HQ is raging, another dimension has been added. Many people have been advising the government to dialogue with the sect. While some of them may be sincere, others may not. In the first instance, nobody has come out in the open to declare his membership of the sect. In that case, who exactly will the government engage in dialogue? The operation of the sect has been shrouded in mystery as they carry out their attacks almost incognito. Rather than an open confrontation, they have perfected the act of using guerilla warfare – hit-and-run tactics – to kill, maim and destroy public property.

Right from the beginning, I think the police made a tactical error by summarily executing the leader of the group, Muhammed Yusuf; Baa Mohammed, his father-inlaw, who brought him up; and Biyi Foi, a former commissioner

in Borno State, who was suspected to be one of those who funded the group. On the day Foi was arrested and paraded in an open pick-up van before he was later silenced by police bullets, he had implored his captors to take him to Government House to talk with Ali Modu Sheriff, the immediate past governor of Borno State.

His plea was refused. Instead, he was shot and killed. If anything, the leaders of the sect should have been spared in order to extract vital information about the activities of the sect from them. Nobody knew why Foi appealed to his captors to take him to the former governor, but recent events have clearly shown that the former governor knew more than he had told the world about Boko Haram.

The indiscriminate arrest, detention and alleged extra-judicial killings of the members of the sect by the police have been cited as one of the reasons the group has declared war on the nation. The group also asked for the arrest and trial of Sheriff for his acts of “betrayal”. Similarly, the group has demanded for the prosecution of police officers involved in the killings of their members. To be frank, there are some merits in these demands except for the call for Sharia and institutionalization of ignorance or illiteracy, which leave a sour taste in the mouth.

Like I said in this column last week, the Boko Haram group was obviously inspired, nurtured and financed by politicians at their take-off points in Borno and Bauchi states. From indications, the group had their roots in the two states where they terrorize opposition politicians who were against their paymasters in the run-up to the 2003 general elections. The politicians armed them and later abandoned them after

Dele Agekameh they won their elections. That, perhaps, explains why there is always a resurgence of violence during and immediately after general elections in Nigeria. In most cases, the hoodlums hold on to the arms supplied to them even if the politicians asked them to surrender them. These are what they use to terrorize law abiding citizens.

My opinion is that rather than recourse to dialogue at this stage, as being suggested in certain quarters, government should engage the sect in a battle royale.

Otherwise, other groups may suddenly spring up like mushrooms and expect government to pamper them. This is evident from the fact that some groups had openly commended the sect after the bombing and had even promised to toe the same line if that will give them the needed attention by the government. Perhaps, it was easier to get the Niger Delta militants to the negotiating table after the government returned fire-for-fire. I believe the sect must equally be made to have a taste of its medicine before anything else.

The bitter truth is that no group of terrorists should be allowed to hold the nation by its jugular.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘Nigerians, let’s unite and stop killing ourselves; let’s stop planting bombs, leaving tears and blood. We are not at war with one another. An eye for an eye will eventually leave everybody blind, Therefore; let’s say no to barbaric and satanic acts today. From Ndigbo Peace Crusaders’

•Dominique Strauss-Kahn For Segun Gbadegesin Why is it that you respected columnist from the South west, doesn’t write on serious issues like the ongoing corruption in our land, rather than all this divisible debate, nobody is afraid of break up, and nobody is more important than the other.

Anonymous.

Based on your write up dated: June 24, 2011 in The Nation. I do not think anybody has the right to tell the North what to do. Let Nigeria split into four regions and let the North take care of itself. Enough harm has been done to us so please leave us alone. From Amina Idris, Adamawa.

May God continue to guide you and your colleague. We must continue to drum it to the ears of the powers that be. We can’t continue in a forced union that won’t allow us to develop at our own pace. In the first republic each region has its constitution if not because their colaborators in the west, tried to force themself on us the 1966 coup wouldn’t have occured. Only a restructuring of Nigeria can foster stability in thecountry. From Alh. Adeboye Lawal,Felele,Ibadan.

Your fifth article on structure was good and would appear so simple and easy for anyone to appreciate and accept if we all desire Nigeria to remain as a nation of equality for all nationalities where no one is born to rule and one section does not see itself as a senior partner or even worse that it owns the country from the fringes of the Sahara to the Atlantic Ocean. The question is, if the present situation continues, what other options are left for the Yoruba nation? From Dr. Yinka Afolayan A question of structure (5) it is quite true and interesting to read your above article. thanks, I want assure you that God will do that for his people soon .—From Sam from Zaria Be that as it may, the revived yearning for a sovereign national conference which your article is craving for, and which was fore shadowed by the new leader of the Yorubas, Bola Tinubu immediately after the recent ACN election victory in the South West will not draw water. This same sentiment was re-echoed by some leaders of the defunct NADECO. The only voice that we have not heard so far since the election is that of the South-south on “Resource Control”. It would have rendered the present clamour for revised revenue allocation formulae a child”s play.

Nevertheless, I think there are is only one option that can satisfy the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria permanently - secession.

Why don”t they go ahead and announce it? Common Oduduwa Republic, we are all ears! FromDr Garba Shehu, Wharf Road Kaduna.

Dear Mr Gbadegesin, Re; A Question of Structure As a member of both the 1994/5 Constitutional conference and the 2005 Political reform conference, I am quite conversant with the topic. As you have rightly observed, both conferences threw out the Yoruba idea of six regions and settled for the status quo. The constitution further re-

enforced the status quo by making a provision for the creation of even more states in the federation. Indeed this seems to be the preference of the minority groups who costitute more than 90 per cent of the 240 tribes in Nigeria. These people had been at the receiving end of the injustice that you speak about in the hands of their more dominant neighbours. Anonymous.

For Olatunji Dare Your piece in today’s Nation is a good read and illuminating. I want to conjecture though that in the, there may be ‘no case’ at all. I am talking about the lack of evidence theory. Come to think of it,case has already been played out in the media.

Much regards. From Kole Adebola Re-The billionaire guest and the hotel maid. I believe it’s a setup. Remember the case of Monica Lewinsky and the US Presdent. Straus Kahn is rich and also a politician. His opponents want to use the Guinean woman. From a French speaking person.

For your information sir. Strauss-Kahn is a jew, not a catholic..ajiroghene diden.

From NTA PortharCourt.

I think this issue of Straus-Kahn should be looked into vividly as the house keeper of the hotel may be wanting to gain popularity because she might be aware that a top person might be coming to the hotel. I don’t trust muslims. From Chukwu Nnaemeka Dr Dare, Dominic Straus-Kahn is a jew not a catholic. From Yusuf G.Mshelizza Don’t youthink is a setup. Situations can lead to that, for him to bring himself low it shows that he doesn’t have self control and one thing I will like to add, this lady is from Guinea and is a french spking country I think they found it easier to comunicate with her. That I can say about it. Anonymous.

Strauss Khan File: I can appreciate your sympathy and fears for the Guinean woman, but have you considerdd the coincidence of France & French colony?

Could French Intelligence agency have planted the woman, paid her to ruin Khan’s chances? How much was she promised? How did she get the Sofitel job?

Many questions! From Emeka Daniel, Ilaro.

Dear Dare, what took her to the room when the guest has not checked out or left his key at the counter to confirm he’s not in the room to guarantee her entry? On entry and noticing that guest is very much around and in the bathroom , why continue with the cleaning ? again, while keeping the room, why close the door? all these dare, I think beget the norms of a room keeper- what do you think? well, by the time she’s through with the lie detector and a thorough disection by the defending lawyers we’ll see how she’ll bring herself together. surely politics could be dirty. From Alh. A. Abbas; Wamba, Nasarawa State.

If a man goes into a public life, he must be prepared for the consequences. He must make himself proof against calumny. Regrettably, the force of circumstances was easily too much for Mr Dominique StraussKahn, as it is for most pleasure-loving florid men. For having the courage to go for a female house keeper in an hotel and forgetting his marital vows, the former International Monetary Fund president deserves more than his present travails if found guilty by a court of law. From Adegoke O. O, Ikhin, Owan East L/G, Edo State.

Re: The billionaire guest and the hotel maid. No matter what the attorneys of Strauss-Hhan do to discredit the maid’s allegations or whatever evidence the maid’s attorney have at their disposal, justice will definitely prevail, it is just a matter of time. From Olumide Soyemi from Bariga.

My comment on the case between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the hotel maid (Fulah 4rm guinea,conakry is that he has no self esteem & integrity. A lady was abused sexually and she never consented to him to have sex. As she stands in as witness,it’s her right. Because her fundamental human right was violated.THANK YOU. From Osita Abel Eze, Port Harcourt Thanks Olatunji Dare for exposing and placing the facts where they belong.

Starndard hotel laws allows a maid to clean a room only when a guest is out or on request. How dare she thought that Straus Kahn was not in the room it was a set up. From Andy Girgba Gboko, Benue State.

Mr. Dare, i enjoyed your piece on ‘The billionaire guest...’ of June 21. Can this lady really be telling the whole truth? When does she normally clean rooms? How did she gain entrance to his room without checking from the desk? How could she have easily been overpowered by a 62year-old man? I feel there was a deal struck and may be he treated her like a whore.

She knew the identity of the occupant and just wants to be famous. Thanks, From Dr. Ndoke, Minna.

I refer to ur interesting article of june 14th in The Nation newspaper -The day they couldn’t bury. I have cut it to keep in my file for record purpose. You really analized in updated the records, especially for the young ones in those who might have forgotten. May the lord Almighty continue to sharpen your brain, give you long life to enjoy you-No June 12. No Democracy- From Tunji Lasaki.

The maid should have quietly demanded for compensation from the man.Afterall she is not a virgin. If she was not planted,she certainly must prefer a wad of dollars to all these fuss. From Echendo.

Pity old Straus-Khan. His potential, career and ambition must have attracted booby traps to his path. – From Soji - Port Harcourt.

For Tunji Adegboyega Tunji, you have just hit the nail on the head with your write-up titled “Governors have mixed up Genesis with Exodus”. It is unfortunate that they and their advisers can’t think. From Anonymous.

Tunji, true, the governors are mixing Genesis with Exodus. How else can one explain their decision on removal of fuel subsidy. It shows how insensitive they are to the plight of the people. There is no serious thinking in government. All they are after is the money they would share, even if the people have to suffer. Our governors are lazy and bereft of ideas. How painful!

For the past 12 years, there are no new industries; even old ones cannot be revived.

Our refineries lie in ruins. This is how not to govern. Organised Labour should resist this move. From Anonymous.

Thank you for this write-up. What’s the link between fuel subsidy and minimum wage? Some of these governors lack direction. Apart from Fashola and Oshiomhole, the rest are like members of the former National Assembly. From Tola Agbaje, Garki,

•Jonathan

Abuja.

Re: ‘Governors have mixed up Genesis with Exodus’. Just remove ‘prince’ from their hamlet; ‘honour’ from their honourable and ‘excel’ from their excellency. The Book says surely, they will gather … but their counsel will be … nothing’. Every weapon fashioned against the bakers of the bread by its custodians shall not prosper. Those who queued to vote for them will now know the kind of poli-trickcians that they are. We must sacrifice for them to enjoy! From Dapo.

Tunji, I beg to disagree with you on your headline; Exodus is too close to Genesis!

It should have been ‘Genesis mixed up with Revelation!’ Or, is it not a big revelation? From Kollinton.

Point of correction: ‘By asking the Federal Government to remove the so-called subsidy on fuel so they could be able to pay …’ could mean ‘able’. Just as you can’t say ‘can be able’. Thanks for the analysis all the same. From Itopa A. Yakub, Lagos.

Well said sir. I think your article on the governors and fuel subsidy was great; it was the best I have read in a long time. My heart bleeds anytime I see the way government is run in Nigeria and, honestly, there is no need talking about it; but that does not mean we should fold our arms as if all is alright. Our governors have just shown how myopic their thinking could be. From Bolajoko.

Tunji, I am thrilled by your write-up titled “Just how safe are we?’ which was published in The Nation of June 19. Nothing can be more important than security challenges. Yet, we are taking it for granted.

May God help us. From Henry.

Tunji, see what the Nigeria Police have brought upon the country through the extra-judicial killing of Yusuf, the Boko Haram leader. If the police had not killed him, his backers might have been exposed through investigation. The police killed him to shield some highly placed people connected with the sect. From Alhaji Adeboye Lawal.

Thank you, Tunji. Actually, reading is learning. It was through your write-up on the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram in the June 19 edition of The Nation that I learnt of Musa Mekaliki, leader of the infamous Maitatsine war. My people in the East call it ‘agha matasina’ (Maitatsine War) but I haven’t read about the leader. Well, your powerful essay on Boko Haram was incisive and thought-provoking; it was enough to ignite action in the Presidency. But when will they take action? May be they will when the president or his convoy is attacked. From Abuchi.

Nigerians, let’s unite and stop killing ourselves; let’s stop planting bombs, leaving tears and blood. We are not at war with one another. An eye for an eye will eventually leave everybody blind, Therefore; let’s say no to barbaric and satanic acts today. From Ndigbo Peace Crusaders.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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WEDNSDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

De Gea closer to Man Utd switch

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TLETICO Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea has confirmed Manchester United are to make him an offer as he moves closer to sealing a move to the Red Devils.

The 20-year-old had a medical at

Old Trafford on Monday in preparation for a deal worth about £18.9m.

He wrote on Twitter: “I have been invited by Man U to see the club and the city and to be given an offer.”

De Gea was part of the Spain squad

which won the European Under-21 Championship on Saturday.

A product of Atletico’s youth academy, De Gea spent his first professional season with the club’s reserves in the Segunda Division B before making his senior debut as a substitute in the Champions League against Porto in September 2009.

His arrival at Old Trafford follows the departure of Edwin van der Sar, who retired after the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in May. In May, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that United had been working on the De Gea deal for “quite a while”.

“He’s a young goalkeeper, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for Van der Sar,” Ferguson told the club website.

“We were looking for the same type of qualities as Edwin, because the one great quality Edwin always had was his composure and organisational ability.”

•De Gea

FORMER Real Madrid midfielder Guti has stated that although he feels Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, he reckons that the Portugal international is not of the same level as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi when it comes to performing when it matters most.

Ronaldo smashed La Liga’s goals record last season, netting on 40 occasions, but was unable to help the Santiago Bernabeu side to the league title or to Champions League glory.

“He is a great player and has been decisive in many games. However, what happens in the big games is that he fails to deliver the goods something that Lionel Messi did for Barcelona. The real stars are those players who shine at the big moments,” Guti said to Punto Pelota.

The Besiktas playmaker added that Barcelona remain ahead of rivals Madrid, and expressed his disappointment with the lack of homegrown players in Jose Mourinho’s line-up.

He added: “Madrid have not yet reached the level of Barcelona. It will be very hard to beat them if you line up all players against each other oneby-one. My biggest sadness is that Iker Casillas is the only youth product in the team. We spent some money on new signings, rather than in youth investment.”

Guti is a product of the Real Madrid youth academy and made over 500 appearances for the capital giants, before leaving them to move to Turkey in 2010.

OMAGBEMI TO NKWOCHA, MBACHU

Show your leadership qualities E

•Gerrard

Guti: Messi offers more than CR7 in big games

Falcons face Germany Everton switch: Yobo moves close Thursday N

Gerrard hungry for trophies LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard says the club is ready to start winning trophies again.

The Reds have not won anything since the 2006 FA Cup, but Gerrard insists the structure is now in place to ensure the club can compete at the top level.

“What I can say to the fans is that Liverpool will be back among the trophies sooner rather than later because we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

“We have got fantastic players, the structure of the club is healthy from top to bottom and when that is the case then the team won’t be too far away from winning.”

“We will get the championship again.

It’s difficult to say when because that adds a lot of pressure to the team,” he added on the club’s official website.

X-SUPER Falcons captain, Florence Omagbemi has made a passionate appeal to the senior players in the Nigeria women’s national team to live up to their leadership roles as they engage Germany in their second group A match in the on-going FIFA Women’s World Cup on Thursday.

The match has been dubbed the biggest match in the group due to the significance of both teams. It has sold 75,000 tickets with the last batch ending two weeks ago.

However, Omagbemi who holds the record of being the longest serving captain of the team for 13 years told NationSport that this was the time for the likes of Stella Mbachu and Perpetua Nkwocha to serve as moral boosters to the younger players.

“I watched the match against France and would not write off the team race to this stage. The team has the same chance like the other teams in the to reach the next stage of the tournament,” she said.

“But this is where the senior girls must play their role. This is Stella’s fourth World Cup and Perpetua’s third. So they should be the ones encouraging the others and not the reverse,” added the former Ufuoma Babes defender.

On the support their opponents would get from their home fans, Omagbemi said Falcons must ignore the crowd to remain composed.

“Once they see that we are playing well they would also support us. They must not show stage fright as it will not help them.

IGERIA will need a positive result against hosts and reigning champions Germany when they continue their 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on Thursday evening.

The Super Falcons face Germany at the Frankfurt Arena on Thursday night (kick-off at 20h45 local time), knowing that they need at least a draw to keep alive any realistic hope of advancing beyond the first round.

Nigeria put a brave performance in their opening Group A game against France in Sinsheim on Sunday, but a second half goal from Les Bleus attacker Marie-Laure Delie handed the Africans a bitter 1-0 defeat.

Ngozi Uche’s side created a handful of good scoring opportunities which they failed to capitalise on, and they were duly punished by the French.

The Falcons cannot afford similar profligacy against Germany, who are

looking to win a third straight Women’s World Cup and began their campaign with a solid 2-1 win against a strong Canadian side on Sunday.

MIKE TYSON and wife Lakiha Spicer pulled a fast one on 150 guests in Vegas on Saturday. Inviting pals to what they called a joint birthday bash, the spouses of two years surprised their friends at the M Resort Spa Casino with an elaborate wedding vow renewal.

The former heavyweight champ, 44, and Spicer, 34, first tied the knot in a quickie Vegas ceremony back in 2009.

But for the two-year mark, after announcing the true nature of the party to guests, Spicer changed from her cocktail dress into a mermaid-cut

white gown and veil, Page Six reports.

She and Tyson, wearing a black tux with a satin white tie, then exchanged vows in a traditional Muslim ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by an epic party featuring a live band, a wedding cake and an elaborate candy station. Guests included directors Brett Ratner and James Toback plus Morocco, the couple’s 6-month-old son.

A father of eight, Tyson was previously wed to Monica Tyson (they divorced in 2002) and actress Robin Givens (for one year, in 1989).

•Mike Tyson and his wife, Lakiha Spicer, recently surprised their guests with a traditional islamic wedding in Las Vegas

VITALI KLITSCHKO is “very jealous” of little brother Wladimir after his sibling won their fight to take on bitter rival David Haye this weekend.

Outspoken Englishman Haye has spent nearly three years goading the Ukrainian champions in an attempt to lure them into the ring.

After much trash-talking and protracted negotiations he will finally get his wish on Saturday when he risks his WBA heavyweight title in a unification bout with IBF/WBO champion Wladimir in Hamburg.

Vitali, however, admitted he is “very upset” at being denied the chance to punish Haye for his unsportsmanlike conduct, which has included him wearing a t-shirt depicting the decapitated brothers.

The older Klitschko, who holds the WBC title, said: “I am very jealous of my brother.

“I told (Adam) Booth, Haye’s manager, ‘after my brother beats David, I have nothing to do!’.

“Some people are talking and saying I’ll be the next one to fight him but after Wladimir is finished, I have nothing to do with David Haye.

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2011 in application of acts 34 and 35 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.

This suspension covers all types of matches at domestic and international level, including friendlies. The player has the right to ask for her “B” sample to be analysed.

ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFIERS

Eguavoen confident of progress A USTIN Eguavoen is confident his wards can reach the All Africa Games after at the expense of

•Osinachi Ohale of Nigeria collides with Elodie Thomis of France during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group A match between Nigeria and France at Rhein-Neckar-Arena on June 26, 2011 in Sinsheim

•As NFF denies ‘no-jersey’ report •Stella Mbachu

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IGERIA’s Super Falcons say they are confident they can withstand the anticipated fireworks of the Germany women’s

Falcons need in-depth technical input IFA Licensed agent, Barrister –Braithwaite Olumide Braithwaite has expressed concern over the inability of the

F

Super Falcons to outshine France in their opening game at the ongoing Women’s W/Cup holding in Germany.

Braithwaite, however, advised Coach Uche Eucharia to improve on her technical expertise to ensure victory in subsequent matches.

In a chat with NationSport, he said: “The game of the Super Falcons has revealed two important things: the first being the need for a sound technical input for the girls in the approach to their next game and the impact of the team psychologist if at all there is one. The girls were fit but lost to a side with a worked -out game plan. There was no need to defend when they were a goal down, even the chances we had, were thrown away. It is not possible to hire another coach now but the team’s game plan can be altered for

N

IGERIAN teenager Mikel Agu, who is already being compared to his more famous namesake at Chelsea, is

Colombian player fails dope test HE chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended the Colombian player Yineth Varon in view of the adverse analytical finding of her “A” sample after an out-ofcompetition doping control conducted in Leverkusen on 25 June

the better.”

In the same vein, Braithwaite stated that all hope was not lost against Germany and Canada as he said: “The Germans are good but can be beaten or drawn against, if there is a winning method and mentality. We can do it if the Canadians could put a goal pass the German defense, it simply shows we have an angle, we can explore to our advantage.

Let us forget about the huge loss we suffered against them earlier , the weather and fatigue worked against the team because of the just concluded Women’s Nations Cup then. This is where a good team psychologist comes in. They must forget about the past lost in order to get a good result against the Germans as this is what we need before we can make sense out of Canada game.” method and mentality .we can do it.”

team and unleash some of their own in Thursday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A clash between both countries in Frankfurt.

The host nation is hot favourite to take the three points in the encounter on current form and pedigree, but the Falcons insist Thursday’s meeting will be a different ball game compared to what happened in Leverkusen in November 2010.

In a friendly international inside the Leverkusen Stadium, the German ran riot, scoring eight goals with the Falcons unable to find the net.

“We won’t take anything away from the Germans and their competence but the truth is, there were factors that greatly assisted them in that match. Those factors will not be present on Thursday, and we are all determined to get a result out of this game following the loss to France”, said team captain and goalkeeper Precious Dede as the squad landed in Frankfurt on Monday afternoon.

Venue for Thursday’s match is the hugely impressive FIFA World Cup Stadium in Frankfurt, which can seat

48,817 spectators. The stadium hosted five matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals and also hosted matches during the 1988 European Championship.The Falcons must get a result out of Thursday’s game after losing 0-1 to France on Sunday.

Germany top the pool on goals difference after edging Canada 2-1, with the Canadians also pointless.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has denied a report in a national newspaper that it did not present match jerseys of the National Women’s team, Super Falcons during the pre-match meeting before the game against France.

“That is a shameful report because nothing like that happened. We were asked to present our jerseys and we did that even before the French delegation. That is a blatant lie and it is not good for the nation’s image.

“We could not have failed to present the jerseys because we know it is a requirement for every match coordination meeting”, said NFF’s Assistant General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who led the Nigerian delegation to the pre-match meeting.

Ghana.

Eguavoen’s Under-23 team trumped Ghana arch-rivals Ghana 3-1 in a thoroughly passionate meeting at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City last weekend, and the Nigeria coach is optimistic the job will be finished in Accra.

“We’re one leg in, and I’m sure we’ll go all the way to pick the ticket.

“I’ve always respected Ghana at all categories. The team we played against are good but they can’t stop us from going to the All Africa Games,” said the former international defender.

The Ghana cadets, stocked to the hilt with no less than six senior internationals with World Cup experience, stunned the home side by taking the lead just before half time, and Eguavoen admitted it was a testing contest.

“The victory did not come easy. They made us work hard for it. The result has given us an advantage. All we have to do in the second leg is to score goals to ensure our qualification.

Yobo impressed during his loan spell and scored the goal that sealed the Turkish championship on the final day of the season. The transfer fee is expected to be in the region of £6 million.

New Mikel to lead Porto U-19s

•Mikel Agu

Super Falcons upbeat ahead Germany fireworks

Vitali: I’m just a jealous guy

a regular basis and that has helped me to improve.”

Kenwright said of the 30-yearold’s transfer: “I think a result can be achieved in a few days. I have had no other bids.”

•Eucharia

Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports

Mike Tyson remarries in Vegas

E

VERTON chairman Bill Kenwright has confirmed he expects Joseph Yobo’s transfer to Fenerbahce to be sealed permanently.

The news comes after Yobo expressed a desire to join the Turkish side following last season’s loan move. The Nigerian international said: “I do not want to return to Everton because I have seen the difference in playing in a competitive team on

“It’s not going to be easy; it has never been easy but we’ll keep working hard to get the result.

“There was a missing link in the team and that caused a few problems. I had to instruct them that the wing players should join the midfield each time they lost the ball.”

•Eguavoen

set to lead Porto’s Under19s.

MTNFootball.com has specially gathered that the highly-rated Agu has now signed a long-term contract with the Europa Cup winners after he clocked 18 in May and all his paper work came through this month.

“After training with the Porto first team since the 2009/10 season, Mikel is now officially a Porto player. All his paper work has come through now,” said the youngster’s representative, Emmanuel Echiejile.

“He is highly thought of at Porto and they expect big things from him now that he has a contract.”

He is a classy ball winner, who wins the ball very well as well as being blessed with great vision.

The strapping defensive midfielder (he stands 1.85m and weighs 76 kg) has already captained a Nigerian Under-17 team to win the 2009 Africa Copa Coca-Cola in South Africa.

He was picked as the MVP of both the tournament final as well as the entire competition.

GARDEN CITY GAMES 2011

Liberation Stadium under locks From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt

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HE v e n u e f o r t h e 1 7 t h National Sports Festival, Garden City Games, the Liberation stadium has come under locks. Initially, only the main bowl was the only venue that was barred from been used due to on going renovation works within the premises while the training pitches were still allowed to be used for trainings but currently, the entire stadium has been closed to usage for security reasons.

NationSport reports that the only people who are now found at the venue are the contractors firing down with their final touches and the security men on guard.

Flying Eagles set off for Portugal

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HE National U-20 team, Flying Eagles will on Thursday fly out to Faro, Portugal for a 16-day training camp ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals starting in Colombia at the end of July. The team will travel from Port Harcourt aboard an Air France flight, through Paris and Lisbon.

After spending 16 days in Faro finetuning strategies and tactics for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Sam John Obuh-led squad will depart for Panama, for a four-nation tournament, before flying to Colombia for the finals.

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed on Tuesday that the Flying Eagles will trade tackles with the Portugal U-20 team in Lisbon on July 13.

A number of friendly matches have

also been lined up for the reigning African champions, who reached the Final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup competition in 1989 and 2005.

The team has been in Port Harcourt for the past few weeks intensifying its training programme ahead of the competition. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the delegation will be made up of 24 players and 10 officials, with the remaining five players to join the team later.

The Nigeria Football Federation will submit to FIFA a final list of 21 players for the World Cup next week Friday.

PLAYERS: Danjuma Paul, Uche Nwofor, Chidi Osuchukwu, Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Ganiu Ogungbe, Ramon Azeez, Stanley Okoro, Philemon Daniel,

Abdul Jeleel Ajagun, Terry Envoh, Mohammed Aliyu, Gideon Gambo, Terna Suswan, Ahmed Musa, Gbenga Arokoyo, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Kelly Godwin, Jamiu Alimi, Omoh Ojabu, Kazim Yekini, Felix Udoh, Sani Tahir, Bright Ejike, Kenneth Omeruo, Sani Emmanuel, Eddy Onazi, Seyi Adeleke, Chimezie Mbah OFFICIALS: Sam John Obuh (Head Coach), Samuel Abimbola (Asst.

Coach), Maidajin Yakubu (Asst.

Coach), Suleiman Shuaibu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer), Abdulrahaman Ozi (Team Doctor), Nnaemeka Anozie (Physiotherapist), Sirajo Hassan (Team Secretary), Labaran Akawu (Equipment Manager), Samm Audu (Media Officer), Ahmed Abdul (Coordinator)

INDUCTION

ASSISTANCE

NUJ gets new officers

Committee on electricity inaugurated

Group empowers council women

.

ELECTION

Taraba

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Adamawa

28

Abuja

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY JUNE 29, 2011

Page 25

Wamakko worried over polio immunisation

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Wamakko

HERE is apathy to polio immunisation compliance in Sokoto. But Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has called on the people to comply with the initiatives towards ensuring a polio-free state.

“We are determined to eradicate polio in Sokoto State, but you have to cooperate with us by doing one thing – bring your children to be immunised,” Wamakko said.

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Wamakko, who spoke at Maganawa Village in Wamakko Local Government Area while flagging off polio immunisation exercise, said parents must ensure that their children were immunised against the child-killer disease which he described as counterproductive to the development of the society.

“Parents should bring their children to be immunised against this deadly disease, which has continued to kill our children without notice.

“On the part of the government, we are committing so much resource to ensure that children in the state are no longer prone to polio,” he said.

He explained that immunisation is the one and only

way by which children would be protected from polio attack. “As far as polio is concerned, prevention is the best for the children,” he noted.

The governor also urged staff of the State Primary HealthCare Agency and donor agencies to double their efforts in the fight against the disease, even as he pledged government’s full support in that regard.

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S Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of the African Child last week, stakeholders met in Abuja to discuss ways of curbing stigmatisation against children labeled witches and wizards.

Although witchcraft is recognised as an offence by Nigerian law in Section 210 of the Criminal Code, participants at the Technical Meeting of Stakeholders on Community-Based Sensitisation against Stigmatisation of Nigerian Children as Witches or Wizards have indicated their preparedness to ensure that children are not abused or exploited in the guise of delivering them from witchcraft.

At the opening of the meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Abuja, the participants agreed that tagging children as witches subjects them to the worst form of abuse, rejection, dehumanisation, neglect and abandonment.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Idris Kuta, said although the belief in witchcraft is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa and in Nigeria, the Federal Government takes the phenomenon of child witchcraft and its tortuous consequences as matters of great concern.

He pointed out that the country had already domesticated relevant international instruments to outlaw all forms of violence and abuse against children in addition to the passage of Child Rights Act, 2003.

Kuta, however, stated that: “It is impossible to eradicate the acts of violence carried out against children accused of witchcraft without first having detailed study on them.”

Continuing, he said: “Only a thorough understanding of the systems of representations of specific beliefs, the actions and social mechanisms related to the anti-witch movement (mob justice, churches and traditional healers) and the political, economic and

Alhaji Kuta, flanked by Mrs. Ekaette (left) and Onuekwusi

Stakeholders meet to save ‘child-witches’ It’s a matter of great concern, says government Experts urge religious bodies to be child-friendly

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

social situations of contemporary African societies will enable development of effective actions for child protection.”

He added that every society, no matter its cultural, economic or social background, can and must stop violence and abuse against children, as freedom from violence will only be possible if the rights of children are respected.

Pointing out the difficult

situations the victims are exposed to, Kuta said they are subjected to all manner of abuse ranging from stigmatisation, discrimination, ostracism, severe beating, cutting and starving.

Sometimes, he said, they are burnt, poisoned, raped; abandoned, brutally tattooed, murdered or buried alive, even as he added that some of the ignominious acts are unreported.

In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary, National

Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Offences (NAPTIP), Mr. Simon Egede, said the Child Rights Act (CRA) prohibits all abuses to which the alleged child-witches are subjected which include incision of tattoo or skin marks.

The NAPTIP boss, who was represented by Mrs. Elizabeth Ekaette, regretted that even the institutions that have the primary mandate to care for the children, such as schools, parents and the

community are the ones victimising them the most.

He, therefore, called on the participants to come up with innovative and humanly practicable strategies that would help in stamping out the crime, while imploring states and local governments not to shy away from their constitutional role of protecting the rights of children within their domains.

Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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Students’ population worries V-C

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HE new Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka has stressed that the geometric growth in students’ population is a threat to the institution.

Prof. Asiabaka stated this while presenting his inaugural address as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor at the 17th General Assembly of the university. He noted that the situation has contributed to the non-actualisation of institution’s goals and objectives.

He regretted that “the geometric growth in students’ population arises without corresponding increase in the number of non- aca-

Inadequate funding, examination malpractices, over decentralisation of university governance among others are problems that must be tackled by this administration

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

demic staff.

Inadequate funding, examination malpractices, over decentralisation of university governance among others are problems that must be tackled by this administration.”

The Vice-Chancellor said that part of his vision is to encourage research enterprise to enhance in the development of graduate and professional programmes aimed at producing quality graduates.

He promised to enthrone discipline, transparency, due process, equity, fairness, firmness and innovation in order to move the institution forward.

He disclosed that the students’ welfare would be made a priority, even as he pointed out that hostel accommodation is one of the major problems the university whose students’ population is over 20, 000 is experiencing. He regretted that only four hostels serve this huge population.

He stressed the need for more students’ hostels, adding that he would intensify effort to complete the NDDC students’ hostel.

While assuring that private developers would be invited to build students’ hostels, he noted that the measure would make students acquire university education in an environment conducive to teaching and learning.

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HE decomposing body of Alhaji Sanusi Dantama, a bureau de change operator in Sokoto has been discovered after five days after frantic search.

Alhaji Dantama was the eldest son of a PDP chieftain in the state and holds the title of Baraden Silame.

Alhaji Umaru Dantama was said to have left his house last Sunday for his usual business and could not return home.

His disappearance made his family to go in search of him. They were shocked to discover his body already decomposing at a point near his business premises.

“We are suspecting one of his business partners and we have not seen our late father since last Sunday when he went out,” his eldest son, Abdulakarim said.

Passers-by along the busy Kano-Gusau Road in Sokoto were disturbed by stench oozing out from the decomposing body.

This attracted their attention.

No one could immediately point at or say exactly from where the odour is emanating or whose body was dumped directly adjacent to a two-storey building opposite CBN office where shops and petty trading activities go on.

But some curious persons who suspected the direction from where the odour was coming volunteered to search the

Decomposing body of bureau de change operator discovered From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

immediate environment. They were shocked to discover, after forcing a shop open, a decomposing body which was that of Alhaji Sanusi Dantama who was brutally murdered.

It was gathered that he had divorced his wife with two children, a son and a daughter who recently graduated from the Usmau Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

However, pending the outcome of investigations on the incident, the police believed it was a natural death; a stand Alhaji Dantama’s family refutes.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeola Adeniyi who confirmed the story after visiting the scene said that “as far as we are concerned, we believe it was a natural death but we will conduct preliminary investigations after a post- mortem is conducted on the remains of the deceased.

Stakeholders meet to save ‘child-witches’ •Continued from Page 25

Egede also expressed fears that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would not be achieved if the rate of flagrant abuse of children continues to escalate in the country, adding that the Federal Government frowns at any practice that exposes children to abuse and exploitation as the children become more vulnerable to trafficking.

He said: “It is unfortunate to note, regrettably that the institutions that have the primary responsibility of caring for children have closed ranks against them and are the ones that are victimising them most.”

The NAPTIP boss alleged that the escalation of the problem is closely tied to the proliferation of religious or spiritual organisations, which are independent of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

He however regretted that the institutions that have primary responsibility for the care of children are actually instrumental to their abuse and exploitation, thereby leaving them with no escape route, no hope and nowhere to turn to.

Egede noted that when the various human rights conventions concerning the child’s rights are considered, they correctly appear applicable to human beings but not necessarily child specific and therefore fail to address the peculiar needs

•Participants at the meeting

No child should be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as to be subjected to attacks upon his/her honour or reception of children in their entirety.

“Every child,” he said, “is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person. No child should be subjected to physical,

‘Polio rate in Kebbi still alarming’

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ESPITE the efforts of the Federal and state governments to eradicate polio in our society, Kebbi State still witnesses high rate of prevalence of the disease in some local government areas.

Addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the Director of Polio Eradication in the state’s Ministry of Health Alhaji Sani Yusufu Arugungu who spoke on behalf of the Permanent Sectary of the Ministry of Health, lamented that the cases of polio in Kebbi State is still alarming, even as he added that in the last exercise conducted in the state, the ministry still discovered some affected children in some local government areas.

He said the affected local government areas include Alerio, Suru and Gwanduam among others, adding that Kebbi State government, through the

Stories from Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

Ministry of Health, has also enjoined the traditional rulers and the district heads across the state to enlighten their people on the importance of the exercise as well as the effects of the disease.

Meanwhile, the ministry, he said, has also invited Mallams and Pastors to also preach and educate their people on the dangers of polio.

He expressed dismay over the low turnout of women and their children at the last exercise, adding that for more convenience, the Kebbi State government always declares the last week of the month work-free day to enable the people to stay at home and immunise their children. He then appealed to women to always co-operate with the care givers that will come to their various houses to immunise their children .

mental or emotional injury; abuse, neglect or maltreatment including sexual abuse.

“Also, no child should be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment

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HE Kebbi State governor Saidu Dakingari has described the FADAM 111 Project as a tool for economic empowerment and poverty reduction, adding that it has positively touched the lives of the rural people in the state.

He stated this at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi while receiving the team leader on 4th World Bank /FGN Mission North West zone, Mr.Obadiah Tehmodet. He promised that Kebbi State government would continue to support the project in order to promote the agriculture sector.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu, said Kebbi State government has implemented all the FADAMA projects in the 21 local government areas to ensure that positive changes are made for the benefits of the people.

In his remarks, the team leader of the mission Mr. Obadiah Tehmodet commended the state government for its commitment toward promoting the project in the state.

He explained that Kebbi State government was the only state that pays its counterpart

or punishment as well as to be subjected to attacks upon his/her honour or reception.

The experts at the workshop however called on religious leaders to adopt childfriendly and protective doctrines in their places of worship.

The churches/mosques, they said, are very powerful agent of change and since they are in control of large number of congregation, they have the advantage of directing the thought processes of members of their congregation on child witch stigmatisation.

‘FADAMA 111 project tool for economic empowerment’ funds from 2009 and 2010 to the Federal Government, even as he urged more support for the World Bank-assisted project in order to sustain it.

Early in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dr. Mohammed Sani Kaoje said the state would pay more attention to issues such as conflict resolution within the context of the Local Development Plans (LDPs) and the role of women, youth and the marginalised groups under this project.

He also emphasised that implementing the conflict resolution within the context of the local development plans is a guarantee on the achievement of the project objective which is to sustainably increase the incomes of FADAMA resource users” he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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Taraba NUJ gets new officers

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HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Taraba State council has elected new officials that would pilot the affairs of the union in the next three years. In a keen but rancour-free, fair and peaceful contest which took place penultimate weekend, Alhaji Abdullahi Gambo of the Taraba State Broadcasting Service (TSBS) Chapel emerged as chairman.

He polled 80 votes to beat his rival, Mr. Kefas Sule of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Chapel, who polled 72 votes, out of the 155 total valid votes cast.

Solomon Adjiduku of the Information Chapel garnered 79 votes to beat Haruna Jaoji of the same chapel.

The following members of the new cabi-

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

net emerged unopposed. They included Alhassan Agyo of the Taraba Television (TTV) Chapel (Vice-Chairman); Gamshe Garpiya of TTV (Treasurer); Edison Daddabi of TSBS (Financial Secretary); Oluwale Ayodele of Thisday Newspaper - Correspondent Chapel (Assistant Secretary) and Patrick Gimba of TTV (Internal Auditor).

The officials were immediately sworn in and issued certificates of return by the NUJ National Vice-President North East Zone, Alhaji Mukhtar Moh’d Gidado, who administered the oath of office.

Gidado was accompanied by the NUJ National Secretary, Zone E, Hajiya Aishatu

The new chairman promised not to let his colleagues down. He also gave an assurance to run an open-door policy…He promised to promote professionalism to restore dignity and enhance productivity, unity, welfare for economic security and development of the NUJ Estate in Taraba

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HE Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) has provided relief materials for the seven communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State that were ravaged by a recent oil spill.

The communities affected are the coastal towns of Abiala 1, Abiala 2, Ajoki, Ologbo, Ajamugha and Kolokolo.

A burst pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) damaged farmlands and aquatic life of the people.

Presenting the relief materials to the affected communities, chairman of EDSOGPADEC, Mr Vincent Uwadiae said the action became necessary because of the suffering the people of the communities had been passing through since the spill occurred.

He said: “The fishes and farm produce have all perished and the situation was worsened by lack of potable water the people’s use.

“We have contacted NNPC and we are

Abraham and National Assistant Secretary, Mr. Gbemiga Bamidele in supervising the election.

The supervisors urged the new officers to work in the interest of the union, while asking the losers to be gallant in conceding defeat.

While presenting his manifesto, the new chairman promised not to let his colleagues down. He also gave an assurance to run an open-door policy.

He promised to promote professionalism to restore dignity and enhance productivity, unity, welfare for economic security and development of the NUJ Estate in Taraba.

Gambo extended the olive branch to the losers, promising an all-inclusive government.

Sule, who gave a good fight but lost out only by eight votes, exhibited the spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the winner.

He said: “I had a good blueprint, but it looks like I was misunderstood. That is why I couldn’t win.” Sule promised to join hands in the Gambo administration to move the NUJ in Taraba State forward in order to contribute to nation-building.

Abdullahi Gambo has Bachelor of Art (BA) degree in Language and Communication Arts of the Federal University of Technology, Yola (FUTY). He succeeded Mr. Lynn Adda of the TTV Chapel.

•Gambo takes the oath of office as NUJ Chairman

Oil spill victims get materials From Osagie Otabor, Benin

able.

“The materials are not only for you rephappy that they have fixed the burst pipe. resentatives but for the entire communiBut we have informed them of the need to ties. We will make arrangement for you cushion the effects of the spill so that our to transport them to your communities and people can live a normal life again. We we will want you to videotape the distriare aware that the spill may take time to bution. EDSOGPADEC will be accessible be cleaned, but we must try all we can to to you. We will take the commission to ensure that our people are made comfort- your areas.”

Responding on behalf of the communiThe fishes and farm produce have all ties, Mr. C h a r l e s perished and the situation was worsened

by lack of potable water the people’s use…We have contacted NNPC and we are happy that they have fixed the burst pipe

•Managing Director, Garu Micro Finance, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmed (left), presenting souvenir to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu during his courtesy visit to the Emir in Bauchi

Geoffrey commended the commission for its kind gesture, saying “we have seen the items for the suffering masses of the communities. It is the first time we are seeing that the commission is sensitive to the plight of the people.”

He expressed the appreciation of the people of the communities and assured that the relief materials would be received by the people.

The relief materials included bags of rice, packs of bottled water, bags of sachet water, bags of beans, cartons of sardines, cartons of tin tomatoes and jerry cans of groundnut oil.

Rotary Club donates to less privileged

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ORRIED by the uncomplimentary health situation of the less privileged in the society, the Rotary Club of Jos Central has expressed their love and care for humanity as it put smiles on the faces of the less privileged. Recently, the Club donated wheel chairs, treated mosquitoes nets, food items and toiletries to them.

The club paid visits to Our Lady of Apostle Orphanage and Maternity as well as the School for the Blind all at Zawan in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State where it donated the items.

The recipients expressed their appreciation over the gesture, even as they profusely thanked the Club for its act of kindness.

The Club equally visited the Bimma Hospital at

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

Sabo Barki area where another beneficiary, Mr. Ishaya Seth a patient at the hospital who had sustained injuries from an accident received a wheel chair to aid his movement.

Speaking during the event, the President of the Club, Mr. Mike Ukachi said the gesture was part of the contributions of the various arms of Rotary Club which is noted for its humanitarian services all over the world.

He urged members of the public to partner with the Club to help humanity.

Receiving the items on behalf of her school, Rev. Sister Fidelia Onyejuluwa of Our Lady of Apostle Orphanage and Maternity thanked the Club for the kind gestures and wished the club God’s blessings.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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Nyako inaugurates committee on electricity G

• Nyako

OVERNOR Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has inaugurated a 23member Nigerian/Cameroun Joint Technical Committee on electricity interconnectivity between Cameroon and Adamawa State. He called on members to rise up to the challenges of ensuring the actualization of the project so that the efforts of the government will not be in vain.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Murtala Nyako noted that the desire of the state government to transfer 30 mega watts of electricity from Lagdo dam in Cameroun Republic to Adamawa State in Nigeria is a short term measure aimed at alleviating the acute shortage of electricity that has become the menace to the people of the state.

The governor observed that with a huge

DPR seals off four filling stations

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HE Kano State office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed off four petrol stations in Kano for offences ranging from diversion of kerosene and diesel and hoarding of the commodities.

The operations controller of Kano area office of DPR, Alhaji Usman Sayyadi Abubakar, disclosed this to reporters in Kano, saying that the agency has also unmasked 10 imaginary filling stations that exist only on the papers without physical presence.

According to him, the fake stations had been getting allocation for quite sometime before they were eventually discovered.

The four affected petrol stations sealed off include Kwankwaso Oil, Rabash Oil, SMY and AU Mahalli NNPC Mega station at Rijiyar Zaki.

The DPR, he said, has embarked on aggressive action to arrest the problem of shortage of kerosene and diesel for the end users. Abubakar maintained that the agency is worried over scarcity of kerosene which,

Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

he said, was artificial.

Abubakar, who led the DPR team and some journalists in unscheduled inspection visits to some petrol stations in the metropolis, said a station, AU Mahalli, which was supplied 33,000 litres of kerosene less than 14 hours had claimed to have sold 18,000 litres having only 15,000 left.

The operations controller, who was visibly angry, described the development as a typical case of diversion of the commodity. He, therefore, ordered immediate closure of the station.

Abubakar, however, stated that for Kano to have adequate supply of kerosene, there is need for 42 trucks as against the seven it is getting now. He said Jigawa that needs 10 trucks is currently getting only a truck per day.

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has promised to continue exploring avenues for dialogue with Boko Haram militants in spite of the group’s reluctance to negotiate with the government.

Shettima made the promise in a statement issued in Maiduguri by Malam Usman Chiroma, his director of press.

According to the statement, the governor made the promise when he visited the British High Commission in Abuja.

It quoted the governor as saying that “any responsible government must, as a matter of urgency, initiate measures to address these challenges to better the lot of the people.”

Shettima, who noted that Nigeria and Britain had many years of mutual relationship, sought Britain’s aid in tackling “mass poverty” in the state.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Police

Adamawa

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

population of 150 million people in Nigeria, the growth in industries and agriculture,and inadequate power supply, it has become necessary to explore other avenues to make for the shortfall.

He said his administration is pursuing some developmental programmes in electricity ,saying that the contract agreement to that effect would soon be signed between the state government and a private investor.

The contract, according to him,is for the conversion of Kiri irrigation dam to a hydroelectricity dam, saying the agreement would be signed after the completion of roads by the consultant appointed by the state government.

The governor further explained that under the Nigerian-German Energy Partnership, Adamawa State Government is to benefit

Experts canvass alternative energy • The Kakaki Nnupe, Mr. Sam, Ndah Isaiah (right) paying homage to the Emir of Zauzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris during the turbaning ceremony of prominent Nigerians as part of activities marking the 3rd Nupoe Day Annual Festival at the Etsu Nupe’s Palace, Wadata, Bida, Niger State.With them are the Etsu Nupe,Alhaji Yahya Abubakar and other dignitaries

Vehicle owners warned

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HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at Deuton Division, Ebute Metta in Lagos. They are: 1. Mitsubishi Colt GLX saloon car-AX 390AKD 2. Mercedes Benz 190E saloon carAG 836 FFF 3. Toyota corolla 1.6GL saloom car-DY 489 AAA 4. Honda V6 saloon car - FJ 679 EKY 5. Honda V6 saloon car - RD 128 AAA

Kano to boost library services

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OVERNOR Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has pledged to improve library services to enhance the educational development of the people.

Kwankwaso made the pledge when he paid an unscheduled visit to the state-owned Murtala Muhammed Library in Kano.

“Libraries are veritable sources of knowledge

NOA holds workshop on civic education T HE National Orientation Agency, NOA, has organised a re-trainning programme for Basic Civic educators, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and school administrators.

Speaking at the workshop in Lagos, the Director General of NOA, Alhaji Idi Farouk, who was represented by the Director of Political and Civic Education, Prince Afam Anene, advised teachers in the public, private and military (Army, Navy and Airforce) schools to take civic education more seriously as students will be examined based on the subject from this year.

“Civic Education, which has become one of the five core subjects in both the primary and secondary schools, was reintroduced into schools by the Federal Government few years ago to assist the students to learn the norms and culture of the society as they grow as well as reduce destruction, kidnapping, drug trafficking and other vices happening in the society today,” Farouk said.

The DG stated that Basic Civic Education in both primary and secondary schools was part of the transformation of President Goodluck Jonathan administration to help change the psyche of the Nigerian youths.

He explained that the training was designed to equip teachers with the needed skills for

By Risikat Ramoni

effective teaching of civic education as well as encourage them to appreciate the importance of its curriculum.

While reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure the subject serves as a means of reforming and transforming the country, he advised participants from the entire Southwest,Delta ,Edo and the nation at large, to ensure the training they got is extended to teachers in their various states.

He told participants that NOA had mass produced text books on the subject and it’s being gradually distributed to some schools.

The President/Chief Executive of Amana Publishers, Alhaji Musa Halliru, said the company had sensitised all the appropriate authorities but the government was yet to do this.

He observed that some SUBEBs in some states have not started implementing the curriculum. He linked that setback to the failure of the Federal Ministry of Education through the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to educate the schools as much as possible.

for our students in particular and for our people generally; we will do our best to develop them,” he said.

He specifically promised to complete the projects which had been abandoned at the complex for members of the public to enjoy the facility.

The governor directed the director of the state’s library board to liaise with the vicechancellor of the state-owned University of Science and Technology in Wudil to examine how the institution could benefit from the library.

He directed the university to look at the possibility of using some of the structures at the library as part of its department of library science.

Kwankwaso also urged the library board to partner with international organisations to find ways of enhancing the services of libraries for the benefit of the people.

Earlier, the Director of the board, Malam Ibrahim Garba, informed the governor that the complex was experiencing inadequate electricity supply and a dearth of books.

T •The Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Hon Ayodeji Joseph, being assisted by his vice, Mrs Bolaji Dada during the presentation of GCE form to Master Sheriff Ishola during the 2011 edition of Free GCE forms to youths in Apapa Local Government Area

BRIEFS

LAPOSTECH Alumni Association holds lecture Fashola on Tax Matters and Gabe Fasoto, past president, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria on the theme. Babatunde Fowler, Chairman, Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue Service will be the guest of honour.

Hon Abike Dabiri will the special guest while Otunba Olufemi Deru, President,Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be chairman of the occasion.

The keynote address will be delivered by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Kuforiji. The event is strictly by invitation

Honour for financial manager

• Participants at the workshop

Kano

New exco for ACAOSA

THE Lagos State Polytechnic Alumni Association is holding a public lecture today with the theme: Tax Options and Ways of Curbing Tax Evasion/Avoidance in Lagos State. The venue of the event is De Renaissance Hotel, opposite Agidingbi Junction, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja and the time is 11.am According to its spokesperson, Yomi Opakunle, the event promises to be a great moment as papers will be presented by two great guest lecturers; Mr Ade Ipaye, former Adviser to Governor THE Chief Executive Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Helen Brand, has been honoured with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during Queen Elizabeth’s II official birthday on June 11.

Helen Brand became chief executive of ACCA in September 2008, and under her direction, ACCA now offers businessrelevant, first-choice qualifications to people ambition around the world.

Helen is also a member of the Prince

37

of Wales’ Accounting for Sustainability Supervisory Board which works to ensure that integrated reporting is embedded into organisations’ DNA. Speaking on the honour, Helen Brand expressed delight to be honoured in this such way. “It came as a complete surprise, a very pleasant one, but a surprise nonetheless.

“I truly believe that this honour is in recognition of ACCA’s success, of which I am extremely proud to have played a part, alongside its members, students and its staff around the world.” she said.

HE Anwar ul Islam College Agege (formerly Ahmadiyya College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA), the first Muslim secondary school in West Africa, has elected new officers to run its affairs for five years.

The executive council was elected at the association’s annual general meeting held at the College Hall on June 19.

It comprises: Lawal Pedro (SAN), President; Dr. Gafar Sanusi, Vice President; Alh. Kunle Lediju, General Secretary; Mr. Ayo Afilaka, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Hakeem Tairu, Financial Secretary; and Dr. Olatunji Lawal, Social Secretary; Alh. Muftau Ottun, Publicity Secretary; Mr. Rilwan Shonibare, Auditor; Alh. M.A.O. Olateju, Officio; Alh. K.R. Kareem, Officio; and Alh. Sulaimon Adeyanju, Officio;

E

FFICIENT recycling of waste materials can produce a sustainable alternative source of energy, Dr Moses Oyatogun, has said.

Oyatogun, the National Coordinator of the Green Economy Centre Abeokuta, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said the method of conversion of the waste materials to alternative source of energy was part of the discussion at a twoday training programme in the federal capital .

The programme, according to him, is on “renewable energy and practical hands on training on the production of cooking gas (Methane) from Domestic Food Waste and Cow Dung’’.

He said there was the need to develop other sources of energy due to the increasing demand for cooking gas, kerosene, charcoal and firewood.

The trainees,according to him, would be able to derive alternative source of energy by converting domestic and other biodegradable wastes through scientific processes.

He said the invention of the technology would provide jobs for the Nigerian youth as well as enhance the well-being of the masses.

Oyatogun said the initiative would reduce waste disposal and its hazards caused by indiscriminate dumping of refuse in gutters, drainage and abattoirs.

Governor seeks peace Borno Command has appealed to members of the public to cooperate with security agents in their efforts to maintain law and order in the area.

Mr Lawal Abdullahi, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, made the appeal in a statement in Maiduguri.

“The public should eschew violence, sectarian killings and vandalisation, and embrace peace for tranquility to prevail.

“The doors for dialogue and constructive criticisms with the state government remain open,” he assured the people.

Abdullahi added that the recent security equipment donated by the state government

•Shettima was to enhance security toward protecting lives and property of the people.

“The equipment is not aimed at harming or

Zamfara inaugurates committee on emir’s removal

AMFARA State Governor Abdulaziz Yari has inaugurated a committee to review the dethronement of the Emir of Bakura, Alhaji Muhammad Sani.

The committee, which was given one week to complete its assignment, is headed by a former Assistant Controller General of Prisons, Alhaji Muhammad Jekada.

Sani, who is the elder brother of the former governor of Zamfara, Sen. Ahmad Yarima, was removed last year in the heat of the political rivalry between Yarima and the then governor, Mahmuda Shinkafi.

Shinkafi’s second term bid was, however, truncated by an ANPP opposition led by Yarima which won the April 26 governorship election.

Inaugurating the committee, Yari said the review of the emir’s removal was a fulfillment of his administration’s promise to correct all wrongs irrespective of political leanings.

Yari, who was represented by his deputy,

Z

Zamfara Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, said the committee had the mandate to verify the insinuation that the removal was politically motivated.

He advised the committee to make wide consultations and listen to variety of opinions so as to be guided by the truth in handling its assignment.

The committee was also to examine the evidences contained in the report by the last committee which investigated the emir and recommended his removal.

The governor charged the committee to handle its assignment with the fear of God and recommend to government the best line of action. In his response, Jekada assured the state government that the committee would handle its assignment diligently.

Council spends N1.9m on scholarship

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HE Dass Local Government Area in Bauchi State has released N1.9 million as scholarship for students undergoing studies in various institutions of higher learning within and outside the country.

The chairman of the council, Malam Ado Maigoro, told reporters in Dass that the money would assist indigent final year students of the council to complete their studies.

He said students studying degree

programmes would be paid N10, 000 each as allowances for their thesis while those undergoing HND and NCE programmes would be given N5, 000 each.

Maigoro added that some of the final year students studying Engineering, Medicine and Law would be paid N50, 000 each.

The chairman also said that the council had procured JAMB forms for students in the area that sat for the examination recently.

Uduaghan assures residents on security

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ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has enjoined Deltans not to panic in the face of current security challenges facing the nation as his administration has taken firm measures to check the trend.

Uduaghan, who gave the assurance at the end of the state Security Council meeting in Asaba recently, disclosed that 30 kidnap suspects have already been arrested in the state, adding that they will be charged to court to face the full wrath of the law.

He said his administration was on top of the situation and will deal decisively with criminals in accordance with the law.

“In the last few days, we have had some security challenges in certain parts of the state. I am appealing to Deltans not to

Delta panic; we have taken certain measures to deal with the kidnappers,” he said.

The governor charged Deltans to be vigilant and not exaggerate issues as security operatives were on red alert in the state.

“Delta State is a peaceful state for investors; we have had more serious security challenges in the past and have been able to address them, Deltans should not exaggerate issues, the government is capable of handling all security challenges,” he said.

Dr. Uduaghan said that the security Joint Patrol Teams will drive kidnappers and other criminals out of the state and promised to keep the state relatively peaceful so that investors will have the conducive environment to do business.

He assured that the state government was also dealing with the security challenges in Ibusa adding that some arrests have been made and sanity have returned to the community.

“The security issues in Ibusa have been brought under control, some arrests have been made and sanity has returned to the community,” he said.

NSE urges govt on effective housing delivery

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HE Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal Government to formulate a policy for the use of local materials in building to ensure effective housing delivery.

The president of the society, Mr Olumuyiwa Ajibola, told reporters in Abuja that the only way the government could achieve the Vision 20:2020 was to provide accommodation and other social amenities for the masses.

He said some local building materials were durable, affordable, economical and could be adopted by government policy to be used for standard housing construction across the country.

“In many developed countries, more of the buildings are not made from cement; in America for instance, a lot of the buildings are made from timber and other synthetic materials.

“This is done to reduce the cost involved in

Abuja procuring the building materials, while the policy is made to accept such a building standard for human habitation,’’ he said.

Ajibola said that the society had attempted to proffer solutions to housing delivery programme in the country with little results because the NSE was not directly involved in the policy making.

He said: “We have tried our best within the purview of our profession to continue to develop ideas and policy trust towards solving these problems.

“We have also spent time to build our members to modern standards and tried to work with the government on different issues with very little success because we have not been able to get the government’s cooperation as expected.

• From left: Mr Femi Allah; Pastor Tokunbo Beulah Johnson,Chief Innovation Officer, Megalios and Mr Mike Onouah, at the opening of Java School in Yaba, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

Life

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

•Waldorf Astoria, New York

‘Please help, I’m homeless’ To many Nigerians, the United States (US) is a land full of milk and honey.

But, unknown to them, there are beggars on the streets of New York, one of its most populous cities. – SEE PAGE 30 More than music

Literary feast in Garden

– Page 31

– Page 32

ge 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

30

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Please help, I’m homeless’

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HE streets of New York are not paved with gold; neither are the walls smoothened with diamond. But, so thrilled by New York, a Nigerian poet once wrote: “New York, New York, so nice, they call you twice.”

For me, New York is a tale of mixed fortunes. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying New York is bad or that I hate New York like Rashida Nasamu, a broadcaster with e-TV Ghana, who had her university education in the UK, bellowed after she did not get her money’s worth from a 50dollar credit she purchased for her Blackberry smartphone.

But, I am saying New York has its crazy sides. Ugly sides, if you like. I saw a man, who judging from the way he kept shouting and talking to no one in particular, was insane. I saw a man bearing a card with the inscription: “Please help, I am homeless. Nothing is too small.” I saw men sleeping on the streets. I saw street artists on Time Square, who eke their living begging to do quick portraits of tourists. I saw a three-man street dance group who performed after reminding you that you should not forget to drop some money in a used paint container. I saw a guitar man who performed on the streets for peanuts.

Walking the streets of New York, I saw many who know no other homes than the streets. I saw small girls; old men and women smoking their lives away, despite that smoking is banned in open places. I saw a boy who wanted me to spare some minutes to get educated about gay rights.

I saw open advertisement asking people to come watch private porn sessions. I saw ‘babies’ who have made babies dragging their toddlers in trolleys on the walkways.

I saw a man with a tamed snake around his neck, who wanted money before he could be photographed.

I discovered to my utter shock that America still uses the magnetic strip cards, which less-developed countries, such as Nigeria, have dropped for the more-secure chipand-pin card system. I also discovered that when you want to buy anything in New York, and the whole of the US, the price tag is not the real price. Tax must be added. This is unlike the system in the UK, where the tax is already added to the price tag on the goods.

New York, in a lot of sense, belongs to the rich, especially the Manhattan axis. It is home to the United Nations, the Madison Square Garden, the famous Times Square and the prestigious Waldorf Astoria, where world leaders find home when they come to New York. It also owns Sofitel, the hotel where former IMF boss, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, met his waterloo in the form of a pretty African immigrant maid.

It also hosts amazing departmental stores such as Macy’s, which occupies some ten-floors around Broadway, where the popular Fela! was staged. The statue of liberty finds in New York a befitting home. Thousands troop there daily to identify with this symbol of freedom.

Its famous Times Square hosts hustlers and tourists regularly such that traffic becomes clogged.

In New York, storey-buildings are everywhere. Skyscrapers upon skyscrapers occupy the landscape. New York’s streets glitter with Starbucks and plasma screens, which find spaces on the high-rise buildings.

Car parks are usually in-built, such that one may wonder if no space is left for parking before discovering that basements and ground floors of many of the high-rise serve as parking lots. There are also many pay-as-youpark garages around. Many of the roads also have designated parking areas.

Churches in New York are not many. Only a few in this world’s famous city are church-goers, I learnt. Many of the churches are in neighbourhoods dominated by African- Americans. The names of the few churches I saw read like sentences. Long, and, to me, not of much meaning. I did not see any mosques all through my strolls in Manhattan, West and East Harlem.

New Yorkers encourage you to walk and they tell you ‘it is not far’ only for you to discover it is a 20 or 30 minutes’ walk. They say: “New York is better seen on foot.” And thanks to the fact that the streets of New York are largely crime free, people walk into the wee hours and feel little or no sense of fear. There are even stores that operate 24 hours.

Newspapers are sold through vending machines and in stores. The ubiquitous vendors and free readers on the streets of Lagos have no room in New York.

Many of the business centres in New York are do-ityourself, which means whatever you want to do, no one will assist you. If you want to make photocopy, you operate the machine yourself. If what you need is to print a file or document, you simply operate the printer yourself and pay using mainly credit or debit cards. Cash payments are not encouraged much, especially for huge transactions.

The roads of New York can at times be difficult to navigate, with traffic gridlock. But thanks to New York’s orderly grid which sees streets running from east to west, avenues from north to south, the yellow cab drivers make sense out of the confusion.

New York has succeeded in selling itself as a tourist playground where you can see the best. It boasts of a rail system which is said to make over two and a half billion trips yearly through its network of more than 700 train

•Highrise New York

• Yishau at Madison Square Garden

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News), just back from New York

and subway stations.

Taxi drivers in New York are bound by law to carry passengers to wherever they want to go. But like a Gha-

‘I discovered to my utter shock that America still uses the magnetic strip cards, which less-developed countries, such as Nigeria, have dropped for the more-secure chip-and-pin card system. I also discovered that when you want to buy anything in New York, and the whole of the US, the price tag is not the real price’

naian who works as a cab driver told a friend and I the rule is not obeyed. Cab drivers, especially of Asian origin, avoid black passengers. I actually flagged one who refused to stop.

The Ghanaian cab driver said this was because blacks were fond of asking to be taken to far-flung parts of the city such as Brooklyn or Staten Island only to run away to avoid paying.

I need not tell you that electricity is supplied 24 hours in New York. The streets are well-marked, with bicycles having a track. Traffic lights work well, with drivers obeying them religiously. Zebra crossings are respected.

Police men and women are polite. They drive clean cars and their stations look like corporate offices. If you ask them for direction, they happily lead you aright.

What is left? The best time to visit New York is during summer. This is the time when you will feel like you are on the streets of Lagos. No need for thick sweater or jacket.

Maybe light sweater for the evenings. It is also the time when, on the streets, New York babes decide to flaunt what their mama gave them: their thighs and breasts. After all, there is no cold to fear.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

WORLD MUSIC DAY It was an evening of melody last Saturday at Freedom Park, Lagos. Music enthusiasts and fun seekers were treated to electrifying performances to mark the World Music Day. This year's celebration featured a blend of many genres alongside music acts from within and outside the country. EVELYN OSAGIE writes.

More than music...

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ITH their Sekere in-hand, the all-women singing group, Adunni & Nefertiti welcomed guests with emotive traditional songs to a wonderful evening of music, dance and more.

Their renditions of the popular Benin folksong, Omo n'ogie, and others from across the country evoked a rustic ambiance at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

Their performance ushered in a number of other acts from within and outside the country to mark this year's World Music Day. Musicians and music lovers were not left out in this year's celebration as fans converged to watch their favourite old and contemporary artists in concerts. The event also saw on stage upcoming acts that left the audience excited. This year's edition featured music, dance and drama.

The guests were thrilled to rousing dance dramas by two dance troupes - the Ajegunle dance sensation BornTroWay and Society of Performing Artists of Nigeria (SPAN). The two dramatic presentations advocated for the environment and water. SPAN's presentation was particularly captivating. It drew guests away from their seats following them across the park.

They later watched the re-enactment of the essence of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo on stage. Bodun & the Black Beats band entertained guests, including the legend's first daughter, Yeni to Afrobeat songs and some 'Baba 70' dance movements.

Lekan Babalola & the Lagos Brass Band from the United Kingdom also entertained with tropical tunes of Midnight Crew's Igwe, Kayode Adeshina's Ni gbati mo ji, among others. The band said it got its inspiration from Lagos composers such as Oladimeji Fagbemi. Their performance was also spiced up by Fagbemi's rendition of Fela's song Omi o l'ota o. It caught the audience singing to along.

Yinka Davies gave equally exciting performances. The high point of her performance was when Sehinde Joe, an upcoming musician took the stage, performing in the voice and songs of the late Highlife maestro Orlando Owo. His acts literarily stole the hearts of the audience.

The evening also saw the legendary Fatai Rolling Dollar and his contemporaries such as Prince Eji Oyewole and his band; Edaoto and the Afrogenius band; Alaba Pedro, among others mounting the stage. Seyi Solagbade thrilled fans to his palongo beats.

June 21, the day designated as World Music Day, to celebrate the magical gift of music. This year’s edition fell on Tuesday, which was a working day. This, the organisers said, inspired the shifting of the celebrations to the weekend. The day was first marked in Nigeria in 1991 by Alliance Francaise. And since then, it has kept the trend. However, this year's edition was organised by Alliance Francaise, Lagos in collaboration with Goethe Institut, Lagos and the British Council.

Its origins lie in France. It was first held in 1982 on the first day of summer. On that day, it is said musicians were free to perform their acts in public places without any charge in the celebration of the coming of summer. It gives an opportunity to commune and share a special bond through music. Since then, it has become a worldwide phenomenon, celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide regardless of the season. Free concerts are also organised in parks, museums, train stations, castles, etc.

The use of the venue, Freedom Park, for an event, the organisers said, was seen as symbolic. According to them, historically, the event is borne out of the 'freedom'. “Musicians were free to express their acts for free,” they said.

For Alliance Francaise Director-General Philippe Lebreton, it is a matter of keeping

up with tradition. He said: “As you know, the day originated in France. And it is a day we celebrate music. Musicians are free to showcase the acts in public places for free.

There is no restriction. That is why Freedom Park is symbolic. We have tried to keep alive the tradition here in Nigeria. This is the twenty-second year. We are proud to be part of the musical show.”

Guests praised the organisers for being consistent. Yeni said: “It is a good thing that Alliance Francaise has been consistent. This is laudable. They have also held it in the Shrine years back. This is a great show.”

Oyewole said: “It is good that they have been consistent. It has been good for the musicians. You can see the kind of exposure it gives artists. I have always been part of the show. It is laudable.”

‘As you know, the day originated in France. And it is a day we celebrate music. Musicians are free to showcase the acts in public places for free.

There is no restriction.

That is why Freedom Park is symbolic. We have tried to keep alive the tradition here in Nigeria. This is the 22nd year. We are proud to be part of the musical show’

• Joe (right) on stage with Davies

• Bodun on stage

•SPAN in an electrifying dance.

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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•Students at the book reading

Last year, former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke was the guest reader at the Rainbow Book Club’s Get Nigeria Reading again campaign at the UN House in Abuja. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia took his turn at the forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week, reports OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Assistant Editor (Arts).

Literary feast in Garden City

I

T was yet another literary feast —a tribute to the power of the written words.

The guest readers were the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia and literary icon Gabriel Okara. They both read to the admiration of the audience who were mainly school kids.

The event was the seventh edition of the Rainbow Book Club’s Get Nigeria Reading again campaign. It was organised last week in collaboration with Total E & P Nigeria at their offices on Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ajumogobia read excerpts from Elechi Amadi’s The Great Ponds, bringing the characters in the novel to life. Gabriel Okara read from his books Little Frog and Little Snake after which he also recited his poem Once Upon a Time, which reflects on how children lose their innocence as they grow.

But the heroes of the day, however, were the kids who took advantage of the opportunity to ask Ajumogobia some thought-provoking questions about The Great Ponds and his personal experiences, especially while serving as a minister.

Drawing from lessons of The Great Ponds in conflict resolution, the kids asked the former Minister of Foreign Affairs the role Nigeria played in resolving conflicts in other parts of the world. Ajumogobia, who talked about Nigeria’s foreign policy since gaining independence on October 1, 1960, said Nigeria fought for the freedom of countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa, noting that Nigeria is championing the cause of a ‘United States of Africa’.

From the book, he cited that the war ravaged communities of Chiolu and Aliakoro are not keen to settle their dispute even with the intervention of a third party. He, however, equated this dispute to the case of Nigeria and Cameroon that also clashed over the Bakassi Peninsular. “Except in this case,

•Kalango (left) and Ajumogobia

the involvement of a third party was sought – the International Court – and Nigeria accepted the judgment, despite that it wasn’t in her favour,” he noted, pointing out that the moral lesson in the book is that peace requires compromise.

When asked about his take on corruption and how it should be addressed, he said anti -corruption crusade should begin in schools by instituting a value system where people are taught not to worship money and desire to have it at all costs.

Such was the impact of the reading that

‘Anti -corruption crusade should begin in schools by instituting a value system where people are taught not to worship money and desire to have it at all costs’

the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, who was a special guest at the occasion, requested that Rainbow Book Club should invite Ajumogobia to Port Harcourt weekly for a reading.

Also present was the Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District Total E & P Nigeria, Mr Denis Berthelot, who represented Total. He donated literature books worth over N2 million to schools in Rivers State through the Ministry of Education.

Elechi Amadi, who was not at the event, provided a very good platform for the interaction through his book, whose themes ranged from conflict resolution to ethics and the struggle for scarce resources all of which are still relevant in our society today.

The Get Nigeria Reading again campaign was launched in 2005, in response to the decline in the reading culture in Nigeria. The campaign aims at creating awareness on the importance of reading for personal and national development.

UNICEF rallies private sector support for children

U

NICEF has enjoined its private partners to be actively involved in ensuring that every child has a right to a name and identity. UNICEF’s Country Representative Dr. Suomi Sakai said in Lagos that, as a workforce for children, “UNICEF is interested in reaching out to various sectors of society in Nigeria primarily to have an open and dynamic debate on

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

solutions to the problems that children and families are faced with – problems of today, as well as challenges likely to arise in the future because we firmly believe that Nigeria’s children deserve our collective best.”

According to her, all existing national data reveals persistent low birth registration of children under the age of five. “About 70

per cent of children in Nigeria do not have their births registered going by the National Population Census Report. In legal terms, these children do not exist and violations of their rights will go unnoticed,” Dr. Sakai explained.

UNICEF has been in Nigeria since 1953 working in partnership with government agencies to ensure better quality life for chil-

dren by advocating for the protection of their rights, helping meet their basic needs, and expanding their opportunities to reach their full potential. The organisation has programmes in health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, basic education, child protection, and HIV/AIDS across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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LIFELINE

One Refugee Without Hope is too Many, the theme of this year’s World Refugee Day, brings to the fore the plight of refugees, especially in Nigeria. A civil society group, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has called on West African governments to look into this. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

M

EMBERS of civil societies are worried. Aside natural disasters, the wave of civil unrests and ethnic clashes has increased the number of refugees and displaced persons.

There are more than 43 million uprooted people worldwide, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Reports have it that “UNHCR now deals with 36.4 million people of concern: 15.6 million internally-displaced people, 10.4 million refugees; 2.5 million returnees; 6.5 million stateless people; more than 980,000 asylum seekers; and more than 400,000 other persons.”

Behind the reports and statistics on refugees, asylum seekers, displaced, people, are irksome stories of pain, dreams and hope.

Elizabeth Weah, now 26, is one of them.

She was orphaned a few years ago in Voinjama, Lofa County by mortar shells that killed her parents, destroyed her home, and left her face badly disfigured. But, despite all this, the shells did not wipe out her desire to live in Liberia. She passed through untold pains and suffering. Two years after her life was so tragically turned upside down, circumstances have forced Elizabeth, and others like her to live as a refugee in Nigeria. Women and children, particularly those displaced after the bombing and attacks in Jos, are in the same dilemma. With the recent unrest across the country, civil groups fear the number of refugees and displaced persons may increase.

One Refugee Without Hope is too Many, aptly describes the state of refugees across the world. Once again, the plight of Elizabeth and many like her came to the front-burner as the World Refugee Day was marked on June 20. It was first marked in 2001 as a day people across the world recognise the situation of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. The annual commemoration is marked by a variety of events in more than 100 countries, involving government officials, humanitarian aid workers, celebrities, civilians and the forcibly displaced.

Civil societies in Nigeria also joined their counterparts to lend their voices in highlighting the plights of refugees across the world, particularly those in the West African sub-region.

A civil society group under the auspices of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), like colleagues, also bemoaned the frequent man-made disasters in the West African sub-region.

The advocacy group, in a statement by CDD Director Dr. Jubrin Ibrahim, has connected the trend to elections and population displacement.

It stated: “We reflect on emerging trends in democratic transition and human security in West Africa as the world marks the 2011 World Refugee Day. While natural disasters are the major cause for population displacements in other parts of the world, in West Africa, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the frequency and magnitude of man-made disasters as the leading cause of population displacements.

Although democracy does not promise the removal of all the challenges plaguing communities adopting it, it has always been the hope of pro-democracy activists that democracy would provide a platform for inclusive and participatory governance in which all citizens are given equal opportunities to participate either directly or through their democratically elected representatives in

Homme libre opens at AAF •Women sit with their children at a refugee camp in Jos after last Christmas Eve bombings.

PHOTO: REUTERS

C

OME Friday, the African Arts Foundation (AFF) will play host to the exhibition of the young and dynamic Bob-Nosa entitled Homme libre.

The exhibition will run till July 15.

It will open by 5pm daily. His works are usually abstracts that mirror the world around him. The uniqueness of his pieces has earned him several awards.

POETRY

Upended •Children partying at a camp.

PHOTO: UNHCR

Refugees’ dying hope •Group calls for action decision making. While democratic transition in West Africa since the 90s has been slow and marred by numerous setbacks, we have in the recent past years observed certain disturbing trends that strongly connects our elections and population displacements thus calling for reflection on the day.”

The group urged West African leaders to look into the plights of refugees in the region by investigating into the cause of electoral violence and more. “It is important, therefore, that governments set up machineries to investigate the root causes of electoral violence with the view to conducting future elections with minimal violence and without population displacements. In this regard, we call on politicians to mobilise and educate their supporters in line with the principles of equity, justice and fairness.”

It called on West African leaders to ensure that they (refugees) are resettled, adding they should strive for the prevention of the reoccurrence of circumstances leading to their displacement.

The group stated: “As we join the world to mark the day, we share in the conclusion of the UNHCR that One Refugee Without Hope is too Many and call on all stakeholders to lend their support to the UNHCR, as well as corresponding organs within the AU and ECOWAS as well as National Commissions for Refugees in the struggle to ensure that all refugees and internally displaced persons are resettled

and the conditions leading to their initial displacement are removed and reoccurrence prevented. We seize this opportunity to call for deeper reflection on elections and electoral justice and on citizenship and constitutional reforms in West Africa. We, at CDD, remain committed to the efforts at deepening democracy and promoting violence-free elections in the region and creating a West Africa that is secured, peaceful, economically prosperous and democratically stable and also without refugees and internally displaced persons. We do believe that this West Africa is possible if we all join hands.”

T

HE wrongs of a million years Cannot be MEND with ornamented rhetoric Neither can it with canon balls of violence The spills of fifty years Cannot be cleansed with a mere touching tale Neither can it with the blood of you, our people.

These wrongs you seek to MEND with rod Leave us all, our lives, upended For chaos makes us worse for it.

You blow us up, begrime our land with blood These soldiers don’t shoot dem mama; It is ours they shoot in pursuit of you.

You seize us all and count thieves These soldiers don’t maim dem sisters It is ours they maim in pursuit of you.

These wrongs you seek to MEND with rod Leave us all, our lives, upended The line from complaint to crime Is blurred by immodesty and indiscretion This spill of fifty years and more Cannot be cleansed with a mere touching tale Neither can it with the flaking tears of our mothers Nor the caking blood of our brothers Whose spill leave most degraded the environment of our minds

•Ibrahim

- Iheanyichi Agbai

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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NCC boss seeks review of Copyright Law •Movie industry gets Collective Management Organisation

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HE Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr Afam Ezekude has called on right owners and other key-players in the movie industry to mobilise themselves for the establishment of a viable collecting society that may be approved under the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations 2007 as the Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for the movie industry.

In its bid, the NCC is spearheading nationwide campaigns at effecting appropriate amendment of the Nigerian Copyright Act to match developments and challenges facing copyright administration and enforcement, especially in the digital domain.

According to NCC, the proposed amendments to the commission’s enabling law, Copyright Act Cap C28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, are also geared at providing more deterrent penalties for infringement of the Copyright Law and Regulations.

According to Ezekude, the commission is poised for the issuance of Copyright Regulations for the printing and publishing industry to ensure comprehensive control and supervision of the industry in accordance with international best practices.

Ezekude said that the commission was in the process of issuing Copyright Regulations to regulate the duplicators of optical disc products such as CDs, VCDs and DVDs, a measure expected to complement the existing Copyright Optical Discs Plants Regulations 2006 which regulates the replication of such optical disc products by replicating and mastering plants.

He expressed concern on the lack of an approved

•Ezekude

By Evelyn Osagie

CMO in the movie industry resulting in nonexistence of collective assignment and licencing of movie rights as well as the absence of a legal basis for corporate collection and distribution of royalties for the benefit of right owners in the industry.

According to him, NCC is encouraging right owners in all categories of copyright including the movie industry to consider setting up CMOs to administer their rights. In the case of Nigerian movies which are now being exploited beyond the traditional platform of the cinema, Ezekude stated the need for industry key-players to establish a CMO to serve the interests of the industry.

He said: “The imperative for collective administration of rights is the impracticability of right owners to personally administer and monitor the use of their works. The major players in the movie industry, therefore, need to decide on what is in their best interest and, once they reach such decision, to come up with a CMO to administer their rights,” adding that the structure already provided by the extant regulations will assist them.

Ezekude noted that the major challenge in the implementation of the new regulations is the lack of understanding among right owners on the dynamics of the collective management of their rights and the need for right owners to be constructively involved in the administration of their rights.

Another challenge, he observed, is the unwillingness of the user publics to obtain licences and pay for the use of copyright works.

Ezekude, however, pointed out that the way forward is for the right owners and the user publics to be enlightened on the importance of collective management of rights, its potential for wealth creation and national development as well as its capacity to stimulate creativity.

Ants/Giants: Artist’s work of metaphors

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

L

IKE a drama sketch mirroring the Nigerian society, Deola Balogun’s solo art exhibition, Ants/Giants, reminds reviewers of the seeming disconnect between the rulers and the ruled as well as the perpetual suppression of the citizenry. The exhibition opened last Saturday at the Quintessence, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Unlike many art exhibitions in recent time, Balogun features a collection of satirical mixed media works and drawings. In this metallic and mixed media venom, he shares this thought on the ‘similarities between the strength of supposedly weaker animals – against the arrogance of the so-called king of wildlife – and the struggle of the oppressed people, particularly in the developing nations, for self-determination.’

The solo show also depicts neglect of Nigeria’s natural resources and wastefulness of its workforce. For the artist’s career, the works stress his protruding image as a metal artist whose zeal for other medium appears insatiable.

On the one hand, it is a commentary on the sociopolitical crises plaguing the country since independent, and on the other an aesthetic delight. It simply reveals the conflicting worlds of the leaders and the led in a society that is endowed with rich human and natural resources, yet in abject poverty. The exhibition project which started during the Arab awakening is meant to challenge the statuesque.

The artist uses Ants/Giants as a metaphor of a sort, utilising the contrast of size and power elements often applied in governance and relationship. He therefore offers the exhibition as platform to sensitise the people about their potential power when seeking equity and fairness from the rulers. He notes that power rest in the

•Defence Mechanism

people as depicted in Ten Tonnes, one of the major pieces in the collection. To him, “if we can come together we will achieve our desire objective because power rest in the people,” he said. Buffalo, which is made from waste (tyres), is symbolic of the defence mechanism adopted by the leaders to break the ranks of the people during any collective struggle.

With 25 mixed media and drawings, Balogun simply illustrates that in Africa leaders are giants while the people are the ants. But the unfolding development in the Arab world on the relationship between the leaders and the led has opened a fresh window to resolving some thorny issues of leadership across the globe.

Beyond good governance, the Yaba College of Technology art teacher focuses on issues of over dependence on government to provide all the basic needs of the people. To drive home this message, he showcases works like Disguise future, Sun flower and Green gold to add his voice on the need to run a vibrant agricultural sector, which is the highest employer of labour, especially among the rural populace. He also features works that will inspire the creativity of individuals to survive the near absence of basic amenities like water, electricity and good roads. The works include Council 1 to 3, and Arts/ Giants. It will run till July 9.

•Balogun

9, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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The Return of Our Mother

A

FRICAN Artists’ Foundation (AAF) will present an exhibition of Tola Wewe’s and Moyo Okediji’s recent works, entitled The Return of Our Mother. The joint exhibition marks the return of Wewe’s old mother following her brutal kidnapping on October 15, 2010.

It will open at the Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, from July 8 to 10. Additional works of the artists will be on display during this time at the Foundation’s office at 54, Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Return of Our Mother offers a collection of works from their two-year collaboration.

In them, Wewe and Okediji respond to the social injustice in Nigeria. They make subtle references to the kidnapping of Wewe’s mother and the political factors that have given rise to such violent acts. They invoke the Great Mother to maintain social harmony and continue the preservation of life; and they appropriate diverse motifs to signal the possibility of renewal.

The works are the artists’ individual responses to Nigeria’s current climate and portrayals of its possible future. This joint show is the first time in their careers that they will hold a landmark two-man exhibition.

Wewe and Okediji have been working together since 2010, experimenting with terracotta shards and other media. The 35 works earmarked for the exhibition are products of a two-year collaboration. Selected by US-based guest curator, Janine Sytsma, these examples offer critical responses to the kidnapping and emphasise the need for increased social stability in Nigeria. Okediji’s and Wewe’s lives are closely intertwined. They met in the 80s at the University of Ife, long before Okediji was Associate Professor of African Art History at the University of Texas at Austin and Wewe is Ondo State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism.

Okediji was in the faculty at the University of Ife at the time, having completed his MFA at the University of Benin, and Wewe was one of his most promising students.

They were both committed to the study of Yoruba art and sought to develop a distinctly modern Yoruba art practice.

•Wewe’s Return of our mother

•Okediji’s Untitled

Thus, it is not surprising that in 1989, after Wewe had completed his MFA at the University of Ibadan and started teaching at Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo, the two joined University of Ife graduatesKunle Filani, Bolaji Campbell and Tunde Nasiru-to form the Ona Group as part of this effort. The group had a successful inaugural exhibition at the University of Ibadan, and went on to organise numerous group and solo exhibitions and to publish four edi-

tions of Kurio Africana: Journal of Art and Criticism.

Since the group’s dispersal in the mid 90s, Okediji and Wewe have maintained close ties. Okediji relocated to the United States to pursue his PhD in African Art History at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and then temporarily settled in Denver, Colorado where he was Curator of African and Oceanic Arts at the Denver Art Museum and Associate Professor of African Art History

at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Wewe moved to Lagos and worked briefly as a cartoonist for The Daily Times before establishing himself as a full time studio artist. Regardless of the distance between them, the two remained in contact. Wewe spent part of 2004 in Denver as an artist in Residence at PlatteForum; and since then, Okediji has travelled back to Nigeria with increased frequency, staying with Wewe the last two years in his new home in Akure.

Artists kept by the mercy of God

A

•Chike Obeagu’s Overcomer's Will

T a time when some Christian artists are destroying their treasured art works as a demonstration of their ‘born-again’ faith in Christ, a group art exhibition featuring paintings and photography was held by Amazing Love Assembly, Enugu.

It featured Tony Umunna (Enugu), Akwele Suma Glory (Ghana), Chike Obeagu (Abuja), Enyo Dackey (Togo), Midy Yves (Benin Republic), John Oyedemi (Jos), Uche Chima Joel (Lagos), Lanre Tejuoso (Nsukka), Christopher Eneh (Enugu) and Ayo Adewunmi (Enugu). It was the third in the series organised by Amazing Love Assembly to mark her anniversary.

In a foreword to the exhibition brochure, President and founder of Amazing Love Ministries, Bishop Amaechi Nwachukwu, said the exhibition provided an opportunity to artists from the West Coast of Africa to create an environment for artistic expression on the theme of the exhibition, Kept by the Mercies of God. He described artists as people with a special gift from God to create and design artistic works, adding that a Christian artist ought to use his talent for the edification of the body of Christ and to add interpretative and design value to the gospel.

“The exhibition on the other hand is an articulation of the various stages of the development of the Amazing Love Ministries, bringing to the public view photographic documentation of its experiences, pleasant and unpleasant that God has allowed on our way knowing that His grace is sufficient for us.

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

Reviewing this experience serves as a reminder to appreciate God for His Steadfast Love that never ceases,” he noted.

He said the exhibition was part of the church’s goodwill towards the arts, giving that arts and Christianity have a long history. He added that it is also the church stimulus towards arts appreciation in the societies, and situating art back to its place in Christian education.

According to Mr Chukwuebuka, a lecturer at the Enugu State College of Education (Technical), the exhibition points to the reality that God’s mercies keep people bonded together as one body.

“They embolden us to spread the Good News…strengthen us as we pass through the waters of affliction…declare over our lives that we are still workin-progress…draw us closer to God as His disciples…flow like a river that we can draw from in unlimited supply…rest upon us like a gentle dove…bring forth beauty indescribable,” Chukwuebuka said.

These variant perspectives, he noted, continue to flow out in photographic detail which are scenes from events in the history of Amazing Love Assembly that can never be repeated: stirring up pleasant nostalgia as dormant memories are awakened. The exhibition, which ran from May 24 to June 7, was held in commemoration of the church’s silver jubilee.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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Foundation offers N5.5m for creativity ‘At the end of the day, we would have amazing products. In fact, we are interested in the process of making art. This project is to creatively encourage and empower the artists and the art’

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

D

RIVEN by the desire to encourage creativity among Nigerian artists, the African Artists’ Foundation has charted a new direction for its annual painting competition. This year, the foundation’s priority has shifted to the process of making arts rather than on finished products. It is also keen at encouraging and developing intellectual content of artworks.

To achieve this, the foundation is funding a twoweek creative workshop for 12 selected artists who will produce works in any medium on the theme of the competition at the Abraka Resort, Delta State.

The first prize winner at the competition will go home with N3 million, the first runner-up (N1.5 million) while the third place winner will get N1 million.

The theme of this year’s AAF national art competition sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc is Documenting Changes In Our Nation.

It has, therefore, called on interested artists to propose in writing, a short plan of their interpretation and creative approach to the theme as well as the medium they wish to use. It added that completed or existing art works would not be accepted and would disqualify applicants from the selection process.

Entries should be sent as a Word document or PDF to: nigerianbreweriesaaf@gmail.com. Deadline for submission of entries is July 28.

But entries may also be submitted at the African Artists’ Foundation Headquarters, 54 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, or any of the Goethe Institut/Alliance Française offices across the coun-

amazing products. In fact, we are interested in the process of making art. This project is to creatively encourage and empower the artists and the art,” she said. To reach out to wider participants, the organisers will go beyond the major cities to local art schools in the interland using the social network like email and facebook.

The workshop is expected to hold in November and will feature seminar and talk-shop.

Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institut, DANA Air and Abraka Resort are among supporters of the project.

•Medina

try.

Based on the submissions, 12 finalists will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the retreat at an exclusive location in Abraka Resort, culminating in the creation of works that will be exhibited in Lagos.

According to the C-oordinator of the project, Medinat Dugger, the foundation will provide most of the art materials that will be used by the artists at the workshop. “At the end of the day, we would have

RedHOT: Nigerian Creativity for premiere

M

EDIA advocacy organisation Communication for Change (CFC) is out with a new film series enti tled: RedHOT: Nigerian Creativity.

It is a five-part film series highlighting the amazing growth and talent of Nigeria’s creative industries including film, music, dance, oriki, comedy, photography and visual arts.

Each half hour programme introduces Nigeria’s award winning talent and brings to light a world of astounding creativity.

According to CFC Director, Mrs Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the series would seek to project Nigeria’s talents. “The se-

ries is an important avenue for projecting Nigeria’s amazing and diverse talent to the world while increasing people’s awareness of the important role of Nigeria’s Creative Economy in fostering national development, job creation, youth empowerment and increased export earnings while promoting national pride, cultural and artistic diversity and human development. We are confident that you will find these films very entertaining and informative with high production values and entirely relevant to your audience,” she said.

It will premiere by 6pm today at Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

A dance of colours Cultural display at the TBS, Lagos PHOTO : MOSES OMOSEHIN

Hi-tech studio opens in Lagos

A

S part of its contribution to the growth of the entertainment industry, Princeton Marioghae, a music technology enthusiast, has established a stateof-the-art studio - Solid Sound Studios. It would be formally opened this Saturday at Ikota Shopping Complex, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

The studio would feature the latest and greatest of digital music recording technology. It would offer music production, mixing, mastering, audio post, video editing, scoring and sound design.

“Our goal is to provide for the Nigerian music/ entertainment industry the same Stellar facilities our international contemporaries enjoy and produce master pieces that rival and exceed international standards while in the process, offering the music loving population the pleasure of sonic excellence,” he said.

Arguably one of the most proficient recording engineers in the country today, Marioghae started his career in the Nigerian music industry as a recording engineer 22 years ago. His passion took him overseas to the United States where he has spent two decades honing his skills, recording.

Moved by his love for the industry, he has replicated the same studio he owned and operated in Virginia US in Nigeria.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

38

ABUJA REVIEW

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ORRIED by the manner the departed of the Moslem faith are taken care of, Al-Muhibbah Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has decided to fence the Abaji Burial Ground to protect it from intruders who may want to use it as residential plots.

Also, the foundation provided borehole and lavatory in the graveyard

NGO provides fence, borehole for cemetery Stories from Bukola Amusan

to serve as conveniences for such activity as the effective washing of the departed before burial.

Speaking at the formal commission-

The gesture was in line with the primary objectives of the foundation which are to provide free medical equipment, drugs to community health centres, drill boreholes for as many communities as it can; as well as construct, repair, donate burial material for those of the Moslem faith, so that they may have eternal rest

ing of the project, the founder of the NGO and wife of the immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed, said the gesture was in line with the primary objectives of the foundation which are to provide free medical equipment, drugs to community health centres, drill boreholes for as many communities as it can; as well as construct, repair, donate burial material for those of the Moslem faith, so that they may have eternal rest.

Other objectives of the NGO include the donation of food stuff, learning materials to the less privileged and the vulnerable group among the grassroots people.

Hajiya Bala Mohammed, who was represented on the occasion by the National Coordinator of Al-Muhibbah Foundation, Mr Salihu Gorko noted that while other NGOs may have done much here, the need to complement their efforts could not be over-empha-

sised.

He subsequently appealed to corporate bodies and local and international donor agencies to contribute as a matter of social responsibility to the development of Abaji Area Council.

She said that only recently, the foundation was in the Mando Hajj Camp in Kaduna to donate relief materials to victims of the recent crisis in the area.

This is as they were equally in Karu recently for the commissioning of a borehole to the Motherless Children’s Home there.

In appreciation of the gesture, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yinusah noted that the foundation has been doing much. He urged it not to relent in its good works, as everything good they do for the less-privileged must not go unrewarded.

The occasion was attended by notable personalities such as the Chief Imam of the area.

Councils stall FADAMA III Project implementation

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REA Councils in the Federal Capital Territory have been accused of stalling the effective implementation of the World Bank-assisted FADAMA III project in the capital city.

Task Team Leader of the Project Implementation Unit for the North Central Zone, Dr Abimbola Adobi, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Nathaniel Olorunfemi.

The team, he said, was in the zone to access the level of projects implementation, while using FCT as its office.

According to Dr Adobi, only two area councils namely Kwali and AMAC have paid their counterpart funds up to 2009, adding that the non-payment of the funds by the four others comprising Kuje, Abaji, Gwagwalada and Bwari was hampering effective implementation of the projects in the Territory.

Continuing, he said it was not a good for the World Bank-assisted projects in which FCT is used as a test case for other states in the zone.

He pleaded with the Permanent Secretary to persuade the area councils to pay up their counterpart funds as this would be in the overall interest of the people in areas of food production, improved crop performance and employment opportunities.

Dr Adobi also stressed the need for the sustenance of the programme, saying that was why the payment of counterpart funds was very necessary.

In his response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nathaniel Olorunfemi said they would continue to support agricultural activity; since it was a basic source of food for all.

Dr Olorunfemi added that already a committee has been put in place to coordinate the activities of the FCT Area Councils, so as to make the chairmen committed in the areas of their counterpart funds payment.

•Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi Command, Mr Sule Momoku (left), welcoming the representative of Bauchi State governor, Mr John Maina to the United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Bauchi

FCTA increases UN counterpart funding

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has increased its counterpart funding to the United Nations programmes from N1 b to N1.5b this fiscal year.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi announced this in Abuja while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Annual Work Plan between FCTA and the United Nations Systems in Nigeria.

Olorunfemi said the FCTA took that step to boost the implementation of those programmes for the benefit of the entire Abuja residents.

He revealed that the Administration,

through the United Nations Systems in Nigeria (UNDAF) programmes, has awarded contracts for the building of two police posts in each of the six area councils.

The projects, which are at various stages of completion, he said, are parts of efforts to improve community policing in the FCT and its environs.

While appreciating the support of the United Nations Systems in Nigeria; UNDAF Coordinating body as well as the implementing agencies for a job well done, the FCT boss expressed the commitment of the Administration to always meet its own part of the agreemen.

He intimated the Resident Coordinator of

The idea behind this is to boost food production, empower majority of the FCT residents who are engaged in agriculture and encourage those who are willing to go into farming

the United Nations Systems in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, on the successes the FCT has recorded in various areas including agriculture, health services, education services, policy formulation as well as security services; even as he added that efforts were on to improve the living standards of the residents.

On agriculture services, the Permanent Secretary revealed that approximately 600 hectares of farm land have been opened up across 60 communities in the Federal Capital Territory in addition to the procurement of five tractors, 30 motorcycles, 3,600 bags of fertilisers and other farm implements.

Olorunfemi stated that the idea behind this is to boost food production, empower majority of the FCT residents who are engaged in agriculture and encourage those who are willing to go into farming.

Earlier, Toure appreciated the cordial relationship of UNADF with the FCTA especially the interest Olorunfemi had been showing in UN programmes particularly when he was in the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Toure, who noted that the document being signed was sourced from FEEDS, thanked the FCTA for the wonderful and excellent reception accorded the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon when he visited Nigeria.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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ABUJA REVIEW

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S part of efforts to promote reading and writing culture among students in Nigeria, pupils of the Hillside School have donated the sum of N25, 000 to provide books and educational materials to public schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

The grant was presented after launch of a 100 Book Challenge Scheme at the school.

Coordinator of the Reading Aid Writing (RAW) Initiative, Ms. Gillian Parker disclosed that the programmewa was aimed at promoting an effective reading and writing culture among students.

Parker, who acknowledged the grant, noted that the donation would be used to provide books for public schools that lack educational resources.

Speaking on why Hillside School joined the campaign, the proprietor of the school, Catherine Rotello said that continuous reading promotes good knowledge and makes a student a better person to self and the society.

She regretted that people have failed to identify reading culture as an index capable of transforming the country’s dilapidating education sector.

Rotello, who described Nigerian reading culture as bad, noted that there is need to advocate more on the significance of reading and make books available for pupils, particularly those in public schools who could not afford to own a library.

She said: “Nigeria, generally, is not into reading and that is a very sad thing.

Students donate reading materials to schools From Gbenga Omokhunu and Olugbenga Adanikin

I like my school to be richly involved with reading more because the more you read the more knowledgeable you become. Aside that it makes you better student. I will like all the pupils to go to the university someday, make a better world and promote education in the country.

Nigeria is like a diamond that needs to be polished in terms of education.”

She however traced most pupils’ poor reading culture to the fact that students prefer to play more of video games and watch television to spending more time to study.

The Chairman, Editorial Board of Leadership Newspapers, Dr. Fatima Akilu who harped on the need to improve reading culture in the country lamented that the educational standard has reduced drastically.

Dr. Akilu said government has failed in its duty to integrate the education sector by providing public libraries, infrastructure and other educational resources particularly in public schools to make learning easier.

“It is not only reading that has declined in Nigeria but the education sector. Libraries have collapsed and children don’t even have access to books.

Nigeria, generally, is not into reading and that is a very sad thing.

I like my school to be richly involved with reading more because the more you read the more knowledgeable you become. Aside that it makes you better student

There are no public libraries and bookshops like before. In fact, unavailability of books has contributed adversely to the poor reading culture. So, government has roles to play.

“We were worried that this generation of Nigerian children was not reading any more. In a household where both parents are working and there is no time for interaction, kids at home are glued to the television instead of reading. We want to reverse the trend and get kids reading again. I believe that there is no great nation that does not have readers; all great nations start with great readers,” she said.

Dr. Akilu noted that the scheme is aimed to promote reading culture among pupils as well as encourage pupils to read minimum of 100 books in a year.

While reading eight of her children’s books to the pupils, Dr. Akilu disclosed that each book was aimed at teaching pupils about each of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The goals includes: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women.

Others are reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership.

Akilu said: “It is necessary to write books that identify pupils with their culture because they make them imagine and apply knowledge acquired to everyday activity in their environments, particularly in schools.”

She however urged indigenous authors to make their books accessible.

FCTA seeks reduction in cost ORRIED by the dwindling of income, the Federal of infrastructure W sources Capital Territory Administra-

tion is currently working on possible ways of reducing the cost of providing basic infrastructure to the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi who disclosed this at a meeting with the Head of Taiwan Trade Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Fu-Tien Lin reiterated that the Administration was concerned about the high cost of providing infrastructural facilities without commensurate sources of income in the city.

Olorunfemi urged the Taiwan Envoy to invite the Taiwanese investors and industrialists to seize the opportunity of the environment conducive for investment provided by President Jonathan to invest in the Federal Capital Territory.

He urged the envoy to bring such investors to establish their industries at the Idu Industrial Zone for the benefit of both countries.

The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the Administration is interested in welcoming genuine investors that can

From Bukola Amusan

bring in cheap technology that could produce finished products.

He said: “Such cheap technology will, indeed, have multiplier effects on the economy as cheap products can be produced, in addition to employment opportunities which such technologies could provide to the teeming unemployed graduates in the Territory which will enhance the performance of the entire economy.”

Dr. Olorunfemi noted that there are so many areas of collaboration that could be exploited between the FCT Administration and Taiwan, especially on the most appropriate way of improving effective services to the people.

The Permanent Secretary remarked that the Administration will sternly enforce the law against tree felling in the FCT to conserve the environment and reduce the effects of climate change on the people.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Taiwan Trade Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Fu-Tien Lin sought for cooperation between the FCT Administration and Taiwan.

While commending the staff of the FCT Administration for the expertise exhibited in the development of the Federal Capital Territory, he promised to bring in investors in the areas of transportation and environment sub-sector.

Such cheap technology will, indeed, have multiplier effects on the economy as cheap products can be produced, in addition to employment opportunities which such technologies could provide to the teeming unemployed graduates in the Territory which will enhance the performance of the entire economy •Cross Section of Primary School headmasters attending a train the trainers’ workshop on drug abuse organised by Adamawa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with the state Universal Basic Education Board in Yola

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

I believe if the women are adequately empowered and given some tangible amount of money to start their trade, they will be independent and will be able to sustain their families without begging

Group empowers council women

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Women in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have been taught bread baking and soap-making.

The initiative, according to the founder of Learn a skill Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation Mrs Okpara Nnenna, was borne out of the desire to reduce poverty among the people of the area.

Mrs Nnenna said as a law student in the Bwari Law School some years back, she was sad to see agile women running errands for students in the school when they could be empowered to give their life a meaning.

“I got the inspiration to start up something for women after being touched by their way of life that was not, in any way appreciable. They were jobless and I said to myself that if these women are empowered, the burden on the society would be lessened.

“I believe if the women are adequately empowered and given some tangible amount of money to start their trade, they will be independent and will be able to sustain their families without begging,” she said.

The foundation, she said, had already written to the National Council for Women Development to seek possible ways of assistance for the qualified ones among them that are undergoing some training.

•Bwari women learning some skills From Bukola Amusan

“All the members of this group have a passion and a dream. They want to develop women on how to become some-

G

OVERNOR Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has inaugurated the Sokoto History and Culture Bureau, which houses monuments and legacies of the renowned Jihadist Shiekh Usmanu Bn Fodiyo. His descendants have upgraded it to an ultra- modern multi-purpose hall to serve the people’s socio- cultural purposes.

The structure is one of the historical landmarks that have existed for over 200 years.

While inaugurating the Mu’azu Lamido multi-purpose hall that boasts state-of-theart facilities, Governor Wamakko said his administration will not relent in its efforts in ensuring the establishment of viable projects for the economic development of

thing from nothing, to expose them to things they can create with their hands and with little resources so that they can be wonderful people in the society,” she said.

Most of the women trained in the various skills expressed their satisfaction over the initiative, even as they called on other groups and individuals in the society to bring more of such training to the council.

Wamakko inaugurates multi-purpose hall From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

the state.

He made the promise at the Waziri Junaidu History and Culture Bureau, venue of the inauguration of the edifice contracted to EPSILON Sky Global Nig. Ltd at the cost of over N42m.

He recalled that three weeks ago while on inspection tour of the project, directed the contractor to ensure completion in a month’s time. He expressed his happiness that the

contractor heeded to his directive and hastened the completion of the project for today’s inauguration.

Wamakko said the state requires such facility in view of the increasing socio- economic activities currently hosted by the caliphate, adding that “it is aimed at stabilising such services which the administration considers worthwhile ventures.

“This will further complement the existing facilities already in place within the state capital where it is needed,” Wamakko

added.

The state Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Culture, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu explained that the hall was designed to meet international standard with a capacity of 500 audiences, even as he added that the facility would serve as venues for various events such as seminars, workshops, social and cultural displays, entertainments, dinner and conferences.

“It has a cafeteria and relevant ultra-modern facilities to compete with other international facilities of its kind,” he said.

According to him, the structure, if properly put to use, would serve as lasting revenue earner for the state. He noted that it has significant advantage of location. “It is located within the heart and central point of the city of Sokoto,” he added.

He urged people of the state, especially local communities, to avail themselves of the facilities and benefits derivable there from for their social events.

The hall was designed to meet international standard with a capacity of 500 audiences, even as he added that the facility would serve as venues for various events such as seminars, workshops, social and cultural displays, entertainments, dinner and conferences •Wamakko inaugurating the multi-purpose hall

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

43

MONEY

Fear grips banks’ workers over recapitalisation W ORKERS of the eight rescued banks have become jittery as the deadline for the recapitalisation of their organisations draws closer.

The deadline expires on September 30.

The workers are worried about their fate, if the banks fail to meet the deadline.

Many of them, especially those whose performance ratings fall below 50 per cent industry minimum, were victims of downsizing by banks in the past.

The workers expect that, in the next 90 days, their positions in the sector may be reviewed. The Nation investigation showed that the workers, are either looking for new career path, or lobbying key management personnel, all to no avail, to reassign them to new units.

Like in past exercises, it is expected that if the mergers and acquisitions scale through, many of the duplicated positions in merging banks may be harmonised to save costs.

This means more people will be thrown into the labour market.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said liquidating the banks that fail to recapitalise before the deadline will be the last option.

CBN also said it would withdraw its interbank guarantee by September 30, if the banks fail to recapitalise.

Afribank Nigeria Plc, Bank PHB Plc, FinBank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Spring Bank Plc and

Stories by Collins Nweze

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc are the rescued banks.

Although none of the banks have reneged in meeting its obligations to both local and international partners, a withdrawal of interbank guarantee, will badly expose them.

Some staff of one of the banks that signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foreign partners in April, said the situation may worsen should the international investor obtain a controlling share in the bank. “I think it will be difficult to stop the banks from disengaging staff after making such huge investment. There may be change of key management staff and entire marketing strategy of the bank to enable them to recoup their investments,” the source who asked not to be named said.

Responding to the development, Corporate Governance expert, Michael Solanke, said liquidating the banks will create problems in the sector and ruin the confidence customers have in even the healthy banks. “We are likely to see a situation where bank customers will prefer to keep their funds at home, rather than risk it with the banks,” he said.

Intercontinental Bank Intercontinental Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Access Bank Plc, while Union Bank signed a $750 million recapitalisation deal with a

group of investors led by the African Capital Alliance a private equity firm in March.

But many of the rescued banks have cheery news. For instance, a Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the CBN is free to sale FinBank to First City Monument Bank (FCMB). This followed a suit filed by some members of the past management of the bank to stall the sale of the bank.

Union Bank Union Bank of Nigeria also said it was on track to recapitalise ahead of the CBN’s September deadline and would soon sign the final agreements with its core investors.

“The recapitalisation process has advanced and the necessary approval process might be completed in a month to the deadline,” Chief Executive Funke Osibodu told newsmen last Thursday in Lagos.

Bank PHB The Federal High Court in Lagos also dismissed a petition brought by five shareholders of Bank PHB, who sought to stop the recapitalisation efforts of the bank.

The court, presided over by Hon. Justice Charles Archibong, upheld Bank PHB and Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) preliminary objection to the action of the shareholders. The court accepted the bank’s argument that the sharehold-

ers’ action was incompetent, premature, and accordingly dismissed same.

With this judgement, the bank, in a statement, said it would move speedily towards consummating its recapitalisation deal with the preferred strategic investor and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The bank said it was close to executing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with its preferred investor when the High Court granted the injunction barring the bank, its directors and the CBN from proceeding with the recapitalisation process. With that judgment, the bank can as well move on with its recapitalisation plans.

Spring Bank Spring Bank Plc said its discussion with potential core investors has reached advanced stage. A statement from the bank listed the investors to include the second largest bank in India, ICICI; United States based Cloudleap Partners LCC; CARAM Capital and a couple of other undisclosed firms.

Finbank Finbank Nigeria Plc is also proceeding with its merger with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), after a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled in its favour against case instituted by former Managing Di-

rector and Chief Executive Officer, of the bank, Mr Okey Nwosu and a former Executive Director, Dayo Famoroti.

The case was challenging the legality of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by their former bank and FCMB without recourse to them as shareholders of the bank.

Also, the Management of Intercontinental Bank has assured that it would speedily conclude its recapitalisation programme ahead of CBN’s deadline in September, 2011.

The Group Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mahmoud Alabi, said the bank would fast-track its recapitalisation plans which has reached advanced stage of conclusion. This follows a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, dismissal of a suit challenging the planned sale of the bank by the CBN to Access Bank. Alabi noted that the recapitalisation was in the interest of all stakeholders, particularly shareholders, customers, staff, banking industry and the economy in particular.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said there could be hitches in the banks’ road to racpitalisation but it would be resolved at the end. He said that recapitalising the banks remained a better option than liquidating them.

CITN networks with global tax institutes

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HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) is committed to strengthening ties with tax institutes globally, particularly on mutually beneficial exchange programmes.

CITN President and Chairman of Council, John Jegede, elected last week as pioneer president of the Association of African Taxation Institutes (AATI), said such programmes would be the fulcrum of his policies in the tax body.

According to CITN Assistant Director, Administration and Corporate Services, Gbolahan Bilewu, Jegede’s election was an indication of the enviable height CITN has attained within and outside the country.

“The Council of CITN, having ensured the establishment of the recently inaugurated West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI), decided to use the regional body as a springboard for the establishment of the Association of African Tax Institutes (AATI),” Bilewu said.

CITN Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr. Abayomi Jayeoba, said CITN had, in the past 10 years, been ensuring that Nigeria continues to maintain its key position in the league of professional bodies.

“Our membership of the International Tax Directors Forum (ITDF) has continued to be strengthened through the regular representation and participation of the institute at its conferences and other activities,” he said.

This, according to Jayeoba, is in addition to the leadership role of the institute in the executive council of WAUTI, the sub-regional body of tax institutes in West Africa.

Jegede acknowledged the confidence reposed in him and, by extension, the CITN, by delegates from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Ghana (CITG), South Africa Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAIT) and those from Liberia, Cote d’lvoire, and Kenya. He said the

exchange programmes between these bodies would continue to enrich the tax system in each body’s respective jurisdiction.

Ghana got the post of the Vice President 1, while South Africa was elected to the position of Vice President two. Liberia and Cote D’voire are Honorary Treasurer and Secretary respectively.

The inauguration of the association, whose secretariat would be in Ghana, is scheduled to hold in October, in South Africa, during the Annual Tax Conference of the South Africa Institute of Taxation.

When inaugurated, the association will provide a platform for tax professional bodies in the continent to harmonise ideas towards the development of tax practice and administration in the continent.

• From left: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Managing Director/CEO Wema Bank Segun Oloketuyi and a Director, Ope Bademosi, during the bank’s management visit to Government House, Ibadan.

‘Forex policy to narrow WDAS, interbank rates’

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy limiting sale of foreign exchange (forex) to bureaux de change (BDCs) to $250,000 weekly will ensure convergence between the Wholesale Dutch Auction (WDAS) and interbank rates.

Chief Executive Officer of Bluewall Bureau De Change Limited, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said CBN would have done analytical study of the market and understood its benefits.

He said that the WDAS and interbank rate have been widening in recent months, adding that it is expected that the policy will reduce the wide gap in both transactions.

Another dealer, Mohammed Idris, said the policy will create accountability and restrict dealers from unwholesome practices. It will also help the apex bank to keep better records of the transaction volume within the time frame.

Before the takeoff of the policy

on June 24, the interbank rates eased to 11.08 per cent on average from 12.5 per cent after the disbursal of N243 billion in budgetary allocations to government agencies.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) closed flat at 10 per cent, 200 basis points above the central bank’s benchmark rate and 4.0 percentage points over the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate. Overnight placement dropped to 11.50 per cent from 13.50 per cent, while call money fell to 11.75 per cent from 14 per cent.

The Nigeria interbank offered rate (NIBOR) fell in tandem with the short-term instruments, with 7-day funds easing to 12.0 per cent from 13.95 per cent last week. The 30-day funds dropped to 12.79 per cent from 14.42 per cent, the 60day closed at 13.29 from 14.79 per cent, while the 90-day fell to 13.75 per cent from 15.07 per cent.

The apex bank, last week, lim-

ited banks’ sale of forex to bureau de change (BDCs) to $250,000 per week. It also mandated that each BDC is allowed to purchase from only one authorised dealer per week.

A circular signed by CBN Director, Trade & Exchange, Batari Musa, stated that the new plan is in line with provisions in the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for fiscal year 2010/2011. Musa explained that before this amendment, banks and other authorised dealers could sell autonomous funds to BDCs subject to compliance with the Anti-money Laundering Act 2004.

The apex bank had in January, issued new rules guiding the sales of foreign currency in the country. A statement from the bank noted that the funds purchased from it at the auctions must be used for eligible transactions only.

• Aiyedatiwa

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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MONEY

Credit bureau strengthens loan appraisal process C

REDIT Registry Services (Credit Bureau) has initiated steps to help banks analyse their loan processes for enhanced profit.

The firm, which is one of the three providers of the service, said it would issue credit score for key borrowers and sell same to banks in the next 18 months.

The score will enable banks to decide the cut-off for different classes of loans, and take quicker decisions in loan appraisal and approval processes. Credit score is one of the services offered by credit bureaux in many parts of the world where they operate.

Managing Director/CEO, Credit Registry Services, Taiwo Ayedun, explained that a credit score is a number assigned to a customer based on statistical analysis of his credit files, to represent the credit

By Collins Nweze

worthiness of that person.

Ayedun said his firm has the backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to roll out the product at the stipulated time, advising that customers with low credit score can improve on it to enable them to obtain desired facilities.

Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, Ayedun said the score is primarily based on information sourced from credit bureaux. Lenders, such as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to customers and to mitigate losses due to bad debt.

He added that banks can also use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits.

“Banks also use credit scores to

determine, which customers are likely to bring in the most revenue. The use of credit or identity scoring prior to authorising access or granting credit is an implementation of a trusted system,” he said.

Ayedun further explained that when a customer is handed his credit score, such document can be used to obtain a class of loan based on the cut-off attached to it. “If a customer scored 650 and the cut off for auto loan is 700, then such customer is not qualified to get the loan,” he said.

Commercial banks, primary mortgage institutions, finance companies, discount house, development finance tnstitutions and telecommunications sector, among others, now key into the services of credit bureaux. The bureaux are committed to laying a foundation for fraud-proof large-scale consumer

and small business credit.

He maintained that credit bureaux are expected to provide information, innovation and practical know-how to lenders. “They are committed to growing the middle class and the economy,” he said.

Ayedun said his firm has covered the 24 banks and has 85 per cent successful hit rate on bureau requests.

He said commercial banks are still the major users of credit bureau services, but other sectors are embracing its usage to improve their risk management processes.

“Users of credit bureau will have better opportunity in collecting outstanding debts from customers and also detect fraud using biometric technology. Also, it is part of the CBN directive that banks subscribe to at least two credit bureaux and share information that will assist lending process,” Ayedun said.

He explained that portfolio monitoring, which is part of its services

to clients, enables them to comply with CBN directive on risk-based supervision. It also makes it easier for the bank to be aware of customers’ loan commitment with other lenders as well as create credit marketing opportunities.

But there are challenges which the industry is facing that must be addressed for it to move forward. One of such is the lack of unique identifier where many bank customers have different identity cards, making it difficult for the bureau to harmonise them.

The sector is also confronted with the problem of poor data quality and inability of bankers to utilise the information available to grow their businesses. There is also the problem of slow adoption by other industries other sectors such as the microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions, insurance, employers among others as well as the challenge of automating banking systems to perform automatic credit analysis.

MfBs race to beat CBN deadline

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• L-R: Access Bank Deputy Group Managing Director Herbert Wigwe; Group Managing Director Aigboje AigImoukhuede, MoneyGram Vice President for France/Benelux and Africa Guillaume Dewael and MoneyGram Regional Director Anglophone West Africa Feyi Adebayo at a pre-agreement signing meeting in Lagos.

Basel group pushes for more capital for banks

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HE Bank for International Settlement (BIS) has advised banks across the world to raise their financial standings before a series of deadlines starting in 2013. Regulators should also play a stronger role in supervising banks to ensure they operate within agreed capital levels and balance risk, BIS said.

“Countries should move faster if their banks are profitable and able to apply the standards without having to restrict credit,” the Basel, Switzerland-based BIS, said. National regulators should treat the rules, known as Basel III, as a “minimum” standard that they can surpass if they wish.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s requirements, which will more than triple the core reserves that banks must hold to protect themselves from insolvency, are “the core regulatory response to problems revealed by the financial crisis.

Global central bank governors have agreed on extra capital rules for banks whose size or systemic importance means their failure could cause another financial crisis. Regulators agreed that as many as 30 of the world’s largest lenders should face surcharges that range from one percentage point to as much as 2.5 percentage points of core capital to prevent them from causing another financial crisis.

The Basel III capital rules are scheduled to be phased in from 2013 through 2019. The BIS is the parent organisation of the Basel committee and the Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision, which oversees the committee’s work.

Under Basel III, banks will be obliged to hold core Tier 1 Capital equivalent to seven per cent of their risk-weighted assets, compared with two percent under the previous international rules. As many as 30 of the world’s largest banks will be required to hold the additional capital under the plans agreed, meaning they may have to hold as much as 9.5 per cent in reserve.

The Basel rules constitute “minimum requirements” that individual countries can exceed, the BIS said, mirroring calls by several European Union finance ministers, including George Osborne, that national regulators should be left free to toughen the rules for their banks.

That stance is in contrast to draft plans prepared by the European Commission for applying Basel III in Europe that would leave national regulators limited flexibility to add extra rules on a case by case basis.

The BIS also called for lenders to be forbidden from taking advantage of the 2013 through 2019 phase-in period for Basel III to in-

crease dividend payments.

“Banks should not be permitted to increase their capital distributions simply because the deadline for achieving the minimum standards is still some way off,” the BIS said. This applies “particularly if there are signs of growing macroeconomic risks and imbalances.”

S the deadline for microfinance Banks (MfBs) to file their monthly returns and upgrade their Information Technology (IT) expires tomorrow, the operators are making frantic efforts to beat the deadline.

The deadline followed what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) called the gross abuse of the manual method of operations of the banks.

The Nation learnt that many of the MfBs are now erecting structures for effective migration into electronic system of operations.

The Managing Director, Cedar Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Tokunbo Bakare, said his colleagues are intensifying efforts to meet the deadline handed over to them by the CBN. Bakare said many operators in Ogun State have complied with the directives on on-line submission of returns, while others are at advanced stage of complying with the order.

He said: “We have been sending our returns electronically to CBN for some time now. I can say authoritatively that many of my colleagues in Ogun State, where I operate from have complied.

I think only few are still operating manually. When we are converting from manual methods of operations to electronic, we resolved to abide with all the regulatory directives.

Also, the Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks, Lagos Chapter, Mr Olufemi Babajide, said the banks have achieved between 70 per cent and 80 per cent complaint.

By Akinola Ajibade Babajide said most of the operators have been sending their returns to CBN on-line, adding that others are making frantic moves to meet the deadline.

He said operators have been sending both hard and soft copies of their returns to CBN, to ensure transparency.

“What we doing now is to send the manual and electronic formats or our returns to CBN, as part of efforts to encourage the growth of the banks. I think we would soon move from the stage, based on the fact that all our members have agreed to send their returns to the apex bank on-line,” he said.

The Managing Director, Gold Link Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Lanre Abiola, however, said that most operators are struggling to comply with the directives on electronic rendition of returns.

Abiola said the lukewarm attitudes, and paucity of funds have prevented operators from sending their returns on-line.

He said the cost of procuring the IT equipment needed for sending returns to CBN is high, adding that most banks are cash-strapped.

The CBN’s spokesman, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, said the apex bank has achieved tremendous progress on the issue.

Mohammed said CBN cannot ascertain the level of compliance now until after June.

“All I can say is that we are receiving good responses from the banks,” he said.

CIBN resolves banks’, customers’ disputes

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has resolved 1,000 disputes between banks and their depositors.

The cases include unprofessional attitudes of some officials of banks, lack of good human relations, unnecessary delay of the customers, favourtism, imposition of excessive charges, aiding and abetting armed robbery in the banks.

Others a stealing of customers’ properties through negligence and connivance of security officials attached to the banks. There are also malpractices bordering on fleecing of depositors, diversion of depositors’ fund into private use, among others.

The CIBN’s Registrar, Dr Uju Ogubunka, told The Nation that the body, as a matter of principle does not disclose the names of the

By Akinola Ajibade banks, and their officials implicated in unethical activities.

He said: “We do not mention names because they are private issues. In banking, we don’t mention or disclose the affected parties because of the sensitive nature of the financial industry.”

He said a committee on ethics and professionalism was set up to handle such issues, adding that the committee previously had a lot of cases to contend with.

According to him, the committee has the right to publish only the substance of the case, and not the names of the affected banks.

He said publishing the names of the banks would destroy the industry, adding that such actions are not in the best interest of the economy.

He said anybody working in banks

should endeavour to train, or improve themselves to ensure growth.

He said banking is beyond collecting deposits, advising workers to see it as a professional business.

He said it is compulsory that every staff member in the bank register with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria to foster self regulations, ethics and professionalism.

In a related development, the Chairman, CIBN’s Lagos Chapter, Mr Bayo Olugbemi, said training of bankers is important to ensure professionalism, adding that the body has been using moral persuasion to ensure that people working in banks registered with the CIBN. He said the body was planning to implement its policy on membership registration when the CBN’s audit test started.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

45

THE NATION’S INVESTORS Briefs

NSE to lose N55b over NBC, Nampak delisting

Expert advises investors PRESIDENT, Financial Datanet House Limited (FDHL), Bola Onadele, has advised investors to take a long-term view of investments in the stock market.

Speaking at the online interactive seminar organised by BGL Plc, Onadele said short-term expectations were not favourable because of increased volatility in the economy.

According to him, interest rates will remain high while there will be continued pressure for the naira to remain weak to the dollar due to intended investment for growth by the government, which will require sourcing of funding internationally and domestically. Pressure on the naira will also be affected by increased funding of foreign education and trade imbalances, he said.

On the fixed income market, he said there might be creation of non-sovereign bonds to finance infrastructure projects in the power and housing sector.

In his remarks, Albert Okumagba, GMD, BGL Plc, said the beauty of a Webinar-online interactive seminar, was the ease and convenience that it gives members of the public to participate.

According to him, Webinar enables people to break the timedistance barrier to reach investors especially in the Diaspora, enlighten them on the realities in Nigeria and Africa. “It also allows us to give them a real life picture of what is obtainable and clear any doubts that they have about investing in Nigeria,” Okumagba said.

Frank Nweke Jnr, DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), said the non-passage of the Petroleum Information Bill will be a major obstacle to the transformation of the oil and gas sector.

T

HE market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will be reduced by about N55 billion if the on-going move by the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) to delist its shares scale through courtordered shareholders’extraordinary general meeting.

Already, shareholders have voted for the take-over of the minority Nigerian shareholdings in Nampak Nigeria Plc by Nampak International, placing the foreign investor in a position to cancel the minority shareholdings and delist the company from the NSE. NBC’s Board of Directors recently increased the firm’s share price for delisting of the firm’s shares from the NSE by 9.3 per cent from an initial proposed price of N43 to N47 per share.

The delisting of NBC and Nampak will reduce the market capitalisation of equities by about one per cent, although the impact of NBC would be felt more in the food and beverages sector, where it could shave off about six per cent of sectoral capitalisation.

NBC opened this week with a market capitalisation of about N54 billion; Nampak was valued at about N921 million.

Market operators and shareholders have urged the capital market authorities to look beyond the value of the delisting and look at the underlying issues and

By Taofik Salako

possible causes of growing voluntary delisting.

President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, said though the market operates on a free entry free exit principle, regulatory authorities should learn from the delisting the possible causes of the voluntary delisting.

He said capital market regulators need to determine whether there is anything making the market unattractive to make necessary adjustments to retain quoted companies.

Rederring, to the N45 billion capital project cited for the proposed delisting by NBC, Yusuf said stakeholders need to work to deepen the market and create extensive capital formation to enable the company to source adequate capital from the market.

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS) Dr. Faruk Umar, said the growing cases of voluntary delisting might not be unconnected with what he described as over-regulation by capital market authorities.

According to him, the many overlapping rules and regulations as well as sanctions might make the market unattractive to companies.

Coca-Cola Hellenic, which

already has 66.21 per cent equity stake in Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, is currently seeking to buy out dissenting Nigerian shareholders and delist the shares of the company from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as a precondition for an N45billion investment programme.

The foreign investor said it plans to invest the money in Nigeria towards modernising NBC’s infrastructure, enhancing its supply chain capabilities, strengthening its commercial platform and an expansion of its corporate social responsibility programme.

But the investment programme would be preceded with the cancellation of part of the paid up share capital of NBC and the subsequent delisting of the company from the NSE, which effectively take away the company from Nigerian investing public.

According to the board, an application will be filed before the Federal High Court requesting an order summoning a meeting of the shareholders of the company for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the transaction.

With its existing 66.2 per cent equity stake, Coca-Cola Hellenic only needs additional 8.8 per cent equity stake to secure the threequarter approving mandate for the scheme of arrangements.

JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC Turnover N120.800 billion PAT N3.390 billion DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Turnover N150 million LBT N90.55 million BETA GLASS PLC Turnover N2.859 Billion PAT N373.98 million MRS OIL PLC Turnover N80.560 billion PAT N1.740 billion A.G. LEVENTIS PLC Turnover N4.719 billion PAT N167.83 million GRIEF NIGERIA PLC Turnover N7.230 billion PAT N1.861 Billion UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Turnover N1.335 billion PAT N241.3 million ACADEMY PRESS PLC Turnover N679.72 million PAT N26.13 million NBC PLC Turnover N23.595 billion PAT N100 million VONO PRODUCTS PLC Turnover N300 million PAT N0.272 million

Naspers eyes 30 acquisitions NASPERS Limited, Africa’s largest media company, is in early talks with about 30 companies on potential acquisitions to expand its internet and e-commerce businesses, the company has said.

Koos Bekker, Chief Executive Officer, Naspers Limited, said the company was looking to invest more in existing businesses to continue to grow services in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.”

Bekker said Naspers was also considering whether it should build distribution centers for its Kalahari.net online store in Nigeria and Kenya.

“Whether or not all of those, or any of those, will be successfully concluded, I don’t know,” Bekker said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg.

Naspers, the largest shareholder in Tencent Holdings Limited, China’s biggest Internet company, held talks last year with about 200 companies and ended up signing agreements with only 20.

Naspers acquired a 28.7 per cent stake in Russian internet company Digital Sky Technologies Limited last year in a deal that included contributing its 39.3 per cent in another Russian internet company, Mail.ru, to DST and investing $388 million in cash. In Latin America, Naspers acquired 68 per cent of classifieds business OLX.com for $144 million in August.

Forecasts Q3

GOLDLINK INS GROSS PREMIUM N3.375b PAT N522.54m REGENCY ALLIANCE GROSS PREMIUM N943.77m PAT N187.6m •L-R; Editor EMEA Finance, Tim Burke; MD/CEO, Vetiva Capital Management Limited, Chuka Eseka and Publisher EMEA Finance, Chris Moore, at the presentation of the 2010 EMEA Finance Award for Best M &A Deal to Vetiva Capital in London.

‘NSE not ready for market makers’

T

HE capital market is not in a position to sustain the operations of market makers, the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), President Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf has said.

Yussuf said the Exchange needs to be properly structured before market makers can be brought in.

He said the market was not in a state of equilibrium. Rather, it has been going in one direction and not conducive to market makers.

Market makers are those who establish a band for a company, in which its price is expected to move.

If the price of the company goes out of this band, the market makers are expected to move in and inject money to buy the shares. The injected fund will give the market makers the required support it need to prevent them from consistent price drop.

By Tonia Osundolire

“When the market is going in one direction, it is difficult to support the imbalance where it is not having sufficient buyers and sellers interacting. In the past two to three years, all investors do is to sell.

Market makers are important but can only function properly when the market is operating normally.

That is buying and selling not just one sided,” Yusuf said.

Besides, he said in the Nigerian situation there is no liquidity in the market for operators who originally are the provider for a proper functioning of the market.

He said the kind of buffer the brokers used to provide are no longer there, so the market makers cannot operate.

Executive Director, Market Operations and Information Technology IT (MOIT) of the Exchange, Mr Ade

Bajomo, said market making is a service that the NSE believes will bring more liquidity and competitive pricing into the market.

He said markets that have market makers have a lot more efficient price discovery, adding that having quite number of people who are actually quoting bid and asking price openly would stimulate the market.

“Market making is much more transparent and brings in more liquidity. That is why we are so enthusiastic about that. The numbers have not been set yet but what is happening is that those companies that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have given approval are basically obviously working hard to come up with some guidelines. The Exchange will work very closely with them in terms of making sure those guidelines are robust,” Bajomo said.

TRANS-NATIONWIDE TURNOVER N474.74m PAT N42.51m 7-Up TURNOVER N13.198b PAT N271.77m ABC TURNOVER N1.477b PAT N58.83m UTC NIG TURNOVER N1.164b PAT N54.55m CADBURY NIG TURNOVER N24.981b PAT N1.318bn OKOMU OIL PALM TURNOVER N1.370b PAT N212.11bn

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

46

THE NATION’S INVESTORS

Shareholders hail Conoil as dividend rises

S

HAREHOLDERS have praised the performance of Conoil Plc as significant improvement in its profit last year led to 33 per cent increase in cash dividends to shareholders.

At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Ibadan, Oyo State, the shareholders lauded Conoil’s board and management for achieving what they described as sustained path of profitability in spite of the difficulties in the operating environment.

National Co-ordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said shareholders were happy with the sustained profitability of the company noting that the increase in dividend payout would justify the confidence of shareholders who have always believed in the company.

Audited report and accounts of Conoil for the year ended December 31, 2010 showed that profit before tax rose by 21 per cent from N2.31 billion in 2009 to N2.8 billion in 2010 while net assets in-

By Taofik Salako

creased by 13 per cent from N13.51 billion in 2009 to N15.3 billion in 2010. Turnover also rose from N101.85 billion in 2009 to N102.9 billion in 2010. The increase in profit had enabled the board to increase cash dividend per share from N1.50 distributed for the 2009 business year to N2.00 for 2010, a proposal the shareholders unanimously approved. This translated into gross dividend of N1.4 billion for 2010 as against N1.04 billion for 2009.

Nwosu said that in spite of the weaknesses and loopholes represented by the partial deregulation of the petroleum-marketing industry, Conoil has been able to sustain good margins and returns to shareholders.

Chief Timothy Adesiyan, President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), said both the profit and loss accounts and balance sheet of Conoil showed that the company has strong fundamentals to support its

business growth.

He urged the board and management to continue to explore ways to improve the performance of the company assuring them of shareholders’ supports.

In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ikwue (rtd), Chairman, National Co-ordinating Committee, Zonal Shareholders Association, also applauded the increase in dividend, noting that at the time when shareholders’ values were uncertain in the secondary market, such increase in cash dividends by companies such as Conoil would provide succour to shareholders.

In his address to shareholders, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Chairman of Conoil Plc, assured that the board and management would continue to lead innovations and invest in adequate capacity to ensure the company remains ahead of competition.

According to him, the prospects of the company is bright because the board and management are continuously thinking ahead and acquiring additional capacities that

are necessary for growth and profitability in spite of the challenges in the economic environment.

“Our focus is to achieve our business plans, create competitive advantage and deliver long-term benefits for all our stakeholders,” Adenuga said.

He assured that the company plans to consolidate the progress it has made in the past years and leverage its unique position as Nigeria’s leading oil marketer in the years ahead citing the emerging significant growth pattern indicated by the first quarter report for 2011.

Interim report for the first quarter which ended on March 31, 2011 had showed 714 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to N1.74 billion as against N214.25 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2010. Net profit after tax had also risen from N145.69 million in first quarter of 2010 to N1.19 billion in the first quarter of 2011. Turnover grew by 77 per cent from N21.07 billion in first quarter of 2010 to N37.30 billion

Facts to Facts

PZ Cussons vs Unilever: The face of competition

P

Z Cussons Nigeria Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc are leaders in the fast moving consumer goods market. They are listed as conglomerates given the wide range of their products and business activities.

PZ Cussons and Unilever share many things including to a large extent business model, foreign ownership and management thoughts. They are large manufacturers and marketers of many similar home and personal care products, with global affiliations to international brands.

But while PZ Cussons complements its business with a vibrant home appliances segment, Unilever differs with its vibrant seasoning brands. Also, PZ Cussons is the target of both companies with its assets base more than twice that of Unilever. While PZ Cussons’ equity funds quadruple that of Unilever.

The performance of PZ Cussons and Unilever in recent years shows the lull in the consumer goods market as consumers struggled with declining purchasing power and constraints orchestrated by economic depression. With tight top-line, both companies had to fall on internal cost management to sustain profitability. Although latest performance indices of the two companies fell below two-year averages, Unilever appeared steadier sustaining all-positive ratios and making much more returns, in percentage terms, than its competitor.

Sales Generation PZ Cussons, sales contracted by two per cent last year as against an increase of about 16 per cent in 2009, indicating a two-year average turnover growth rate of 6.75 per cent. Unilever has, however, maintained almost the same steady growth, though marginal, in turnover over the past two years, although its two-year average is lower than that of PZ Cussons. Unilever’s turnover rose by 5.2 per cent last year as against increase of 5.4 per cent in 2009. Average turnover growth for the two years stood at 5.3 per cent.

Profitability Both companies have managed to remain profitable, although the latest performance generally fell below the previous year. While PZ Cussons admirably managed to increase pre-tax profit per unit sales

By Taofik Salako

in spite of a contraction in gross profit, its year-on-year profitability as well as averages largely fell below that of Unilever. PZ Cussons’ gross profit dropped by 8.2 per cent in 2010 compared with an increase of about 16 per cent in 2009. Profit before tax rose by four per cent in 2010 as against an increase of 28 per cent in 2009. Gross profit margin thus shrank below average to 27.6 per cent in 2010 compared with 29.5 per cent in 2009.

Meanwhile, pre-tax profit margin increased to almost 13 per cent in 2010 compared with 12 per cent in 2009, with current cost management better than two-year average of 12.4 per cent. Although PZ Cussons’ net profit growth of 10 per cent in 2010 fell below its 22 per cent growth in 2009 and two-year average of 16 per cent, the latest performance was better than 2.2 per cent net profit growth recorded by Unilever last year.

Unilever sustained no profit indices in spite of obvious slumps in many areas. Gross profit inched up by 0.35 per cent in 2010 compared

•MD Unilever Nig. Mr Thabo Mabe

•MD PZ Cussons Mr Giannopoulos Christos

with 34 per cent rise in 2009. Pre-tax profit also rose by 8.7 per cent in 2010 as against about 37 per cent growth in 2009 while profit after tax left by 2.2 per cent in 2010 compared with a jump of about 58 per cent in 2009. The underlying profitability of the company however, remained enduring with gross profit margin

at 37 per cent in 2010 as against 39 per cent in 2009 while pre-tax profit margin increased to 13.1 per cent in 2010 compared with 12.7 per cent in 2009 and two-year average of 12.9 per cent.

Actual Returns Both companies continued to sustain their returns. Although

Facts to Facts

PZ Cussons Nig.

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

2010 % -2 -8.2 4 27.6 12.7 10 9 13.7

2009 % 15.5 15.5 28.3 29.5 12 22 8.8 13.5

in first quarter of 2011.

Adenuga reassured that the company has a clear and consistent strategy and long-term perspective on how to evolve the right strategies to succeed in today’s dynamic downstream industry, pointing out that the company would continue to maximise the advantages of its portfolio.

“Looking to 2011, we are focused on excellence in execution, advancing our growth projects and generating additional integration value. We are encouraged by the excellent growth opportunities in the ever-dynamic downstream sector. Our focus shall be on integrating our activities across the businesses, aligning them functionally to achieve operating efficiencies and significant improvement in earnings,” Adenuga said.

He added that the company through its liquefied natural gas brand, Congas, plans to become the leading gas supplier in Nigeria and the only one that guarantees safety, quality, quantity and reliability.

Unilever's returns were higher, PZ Cussons Nigeria showed more improvement. PZ Cussons return on total assets rose beyond two-year average to nine per cent in 2010 compared with 8.8 per cent in 2009. Its actual return on shareholders' funds also rose to 13.7 per cent in 2010 compared with 13.5 per cent in 2009 and two-year average of 13.6 per cent.

Unilever’s actual return on total assets dropped below average to 16.1 per cent in 2010 compared with 17.3 per cent in 2009. However, actual return to shareholders improved to 50.2 per cent in 2010 as against 49.9 per cent recorded in 2009 and a two-year average of 50.05 per cent.

The Bottom-line Fast moving consumer goods manufacturers and marketers are the first casualties in a depressing and inflationary economy. The largely positive performance of PZ Cussons and Unilever , in spite of the varied degrees of growths, showed their inherent strengths. But Unilever appeared more nimble and resilient.

It should however, be noted that while PZ Cussons’ 12-month business year ends on May 31, Unilever's ends

by December 31. Whether this will make a difference is arguable.

Unilever Nig. Average % 6.75 3.65 16.15 28.55 12.35 16 8.9 13.6

Pre-tax profit margin (PZ)

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

2010 % 5.2 0.35 8.7 37.3 13.1 2.2 16.1 50.2

2009 % 5.4 33.6 36.6 39.1 12.7 57.6 17.3 49.9

Average % 5.3 16.98 22.65 38.2 12.9 29.9 16.7 50.05

Pre-tax profit margin (Unilever)

47

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

THE NATION’S INVESTORS Corporate Score Board

A

FTER almost five years of losses, beverages giant Cadbury Nigeria Plc is making a gradual return to profit.

The company made appreciable growth in sales and better cost management in its audited report for this year.

The report showed a generally positive outlook, with strong underlying profitability and cost efficiency ratios.

With a zero financial leverage, the balance sheet shows signs of promise as equity funds, which turned positive in 2009, started to build up gradually last year.

Cadbury performance last year indicated a major recovery for the firm which had incurred losses since 2006 after the discovery of its cooked books.

However, liquidity position dropped marginally last year, although it remains adequate on widely acceptable benchmark.

Also, with general reserves still carrying legacy negative, the company could not declare any dividend. The rapid growth in operations also outpaced equity funding, leading to a decline in the proportion of equity funds to total assets.

Financing structure Cadbury achieved a zero financial leverage last year as payment of outstanding bank loans of N261 million turned the debt-to-equity ratio from 2.1 per cent in 2009 to zero in 2010.

The group’s share capital was unchanged at N1.56billion but equity funds increased marginally by 2.2 per cent to N12.94 billion in 2010 as against N12.67 billion in 2009.

Total assets rose by 12 per cent from N25.25 billion in 2009 to N28.33 billion in 2010. Current assets had increased by 32 per cent from N10.9 billion in 2009 to N14.4 billion in 2010. Permanent assets, however, dropped slightly from N14.31 billion in 2009 to N13.94 billion in 2010. Meanwhile, total liabilities stood at N15.4 billion in 2010, representing an increase

Cadbury: Better days are here

By Taofik Salako

of 22 per cent on N12.6 billion recorded in 2009. Current liabilities had grown by 36 per cent from N9 billion in 2009 to N12.3 billion in 2010 while long-term liabilities dropped by 13 per cent from N3.57 billion in 2009 to N3.1 billion in 2010. Current liabilities amounted to 43 per cent of total assets in 2010 as against 36 per cent in 2009 while long-term liabilities represented 54 per cent of total assets compared with about 50 per cent in 2009.

Efficiency Average number of employees in the Cadbury Nigeria Group dropped by about 27 per cent from 1,471 persons in 2009 to 1,081 persons in 2010. Total staff costs reduced by 11 per cent from N5.03 billion in 2009 to N4.46 billion in 2010, indicating average cost of employee of N4.13 million in 2010 compared with N3.42million in 2009.

The company achieved considerable improvement in cost efficiency and productivity in 2010 with four percentage points decline in total costs relative to overall sales. Cost of sales and operating expenses reduced to about 93 per cent of total sales in 2010 compared with 97 per cent in 2009.

Average pre-tax profit per employee returned from a negative N1.6 million in 2009 to N1.8 million in 2010.

Profitability Cadbury Nigeria broke the recent streak of losses in 2010 as impressive growth in domestic sales and more efficient cost management returned the company to profit. With generally positive underlying profitability ratios, key actual profit and loss figures finally returned to green. Gross profit margin increased from 25

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

2010

Nmillion

12 months

29,171 29,171 19,921 9,249 7,192 406 4,404 1,953 1,168 38 0 0 414

•Chairman, Cadbury Nig. Plc, Mr Peterside

per cent in 2009 to about 32 per cent in 2010. Pre-tax profit margin reversed from -9.3 per cent in 2009 to 6.7 per cent in 2010, indicating that the company made an average profit of N6.70 per every N100 unit of sales in 2010 compared with average loss of N9.30 made on similar sales in 2009. Return on total assets stood at 6.9 per cent in 2010 as against -9.4 per cent in 2009.

Actual return to shareholders turned positive with a return on equity of 9.0 per cent in 2010 in contrast with -9.8 per cent in 2009.

Strong underlying profitability ratios underpinned actual growths. Total sales rose by 14 per cent from N25.6 billion in 2009 to N29.2 billion in 2010. The top-line performance was driven by growth in the market where sales rose by about 17 per cent from N22.76 billion in 2009 to N26.54 billion in 2010. Export sales had dropped by 7.1 per cent to N2.63 billion in 2010 as against N2.83 billion in 2009. Cost of sales was moderate at N19.9 billion in 2010, 4.0 per cent above N19.2 billion

Liquidity The liquidity position of the company slipped in 2010, although it remains substantially adequate according to internationally ac-

2009

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

% change

12 months

14.0 14.0 4.0 43.9 26.5 -25.5 56.4 -182.1 -194.5 -145.2 0.0 0.0 2.2

25,586 25,586 19,160 6,426 5,684 545 2,815 -2,379 -1,236 -84 0 0 405

Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net assets per share (kobo)

recorded in 2009. Gross profit thus increased by 44 per cent from N6.4 billion in 2009 to N9.2 billion in 2010. Total operating expenses increased by 26.5 per cent to N7.2 billion in 2010 compared with N5.7 billion in 2009. Market and distribution expenses had increased from N3.3 billion in 2009 to N3.8 billion in 2010 while administrative expenses jumped from N2.4 billion in 2009 to N3.4 billion in 2010. Non-core business incomes however, dropped by 26 per cent from N545 million in 2009 to N406 million in 2010 while interest expenses increased by 56 per cent from N2.8 billion in 2009 to N4.4 billion in 2010. With the significant value built at the top of the profit and loss chart, Cadbury Nigeria retained a pretax profit of N1.95 billion in 2010, its first in the past five years. Loss before tax had stood at N2.4 billion, N2.85 billion, N4.2 billion and N5.8 billion in 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively. After taxes, net profit stood at N1.2 billion in 2010 compared with net losses of N1.24 billion, N2.7 billion, N721 million and N4.7 billion in 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively. With this, earnings per share returned to positive at 38 kobo in 2010 as against loss per share of 84 kobo, 244 kobo, 66 kobo and 428 kobo in 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

However, with general reserve still in negative of N3.5 billion, the company could not declare any dividend. Meanwhile, net assets per share reflected the inbuilt value with a marginal increase of 2.2 per cent from 405 kobo in 2009 to 414 kobo in 2010.

Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets

11,519 13,940 2,665 14,386 28,326

3.4 -2.6 97.4 31.5 12.2

11,142 14,308 1,350 10,939 25,247

Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities

2,680 0 12,286 3,096 15,382

57.4 -100.0 36.3 -13.3 22.3

1,703 261 9,012 3,570 12,582

Equity Funds: Share capital Total Equity Funds

1,565 12,944

0.0 2.2

1,565 12,665

cepted benchmark. Current ratio, which relates cash and easily convertible assets to possibly emerging financial obligations, dropped from 1.21 times in 2009 to 1.17 times in 2010. The proportion of working capital to total turnover inched downward to 7.2 per cent in 2010 as against 7.5 per cent in 2009. Debtors/creditors ratio stood at 99 per cent in 2010 compared with 79 per cent in 2009.

Governance and structures Cadbury Nigeria Group consists of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, the parent company and Stanmark Cocoa Processing Company Limited, where Cadbury Nigeria holds 93.3 per cent equity stake. Cadbury Nigeria is a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes Overseas Limited, a holding company of Cadbury Plc UK; which holds about 75 per cent equity stake in the Nigerian company. With the acquisition of Cadbury Plc UK by Kraft Foods Inc, Cadbury Nigeria has become a member of the Kraft Foods, the world’s second largest food company.

The board and management of the company remained unchanged. Mr Atedo Peterside still chairs the board while Mr Alan Palmer leads the executive management as managing director.

Cadbury Nigeria generally complies with codes of corporate governance and best practices.

Analyst’s opinion Cadbury’s performance last year shows it still has prospects of the company. With a strong balance sheet, streamlined but aggressive product portfolio and marketing strategy and investments in capacity building, the firm appears to be in better stead to consolidate its performance. The membership of the Kraft Foods also opens immense opportunities, which could be catalytic to significant growth in the years ahead. Overall, there are reasonable basis to assume that Cadbury may sustain its recovery.

2010 %

2009 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

45.7 54.3 43.4 0.0

50.2 49.8 35.7 2.1

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

31.7 6.7 6.9 9.0 0.0

25.1 -9.3 -9.4 -9.8 0.0

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Sales Total liabilities/EBIT

1.8 4.13 92.9 886.1

-1.6 3.42 97.1 8170.1

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors Total liabilities/Operating cash flow

1.17 7.2 99.4 343.0

1.21 7.5 79.3 288.7

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

48

INSURANCE

Erring members risk expulsion, NIA warns M

EMBERS of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) who defy its tenets will be expelled, its Director-General, Sunday Thomas, has said.

He said: “We have a disciplinary committee that disciplines errant members. Some members have been suspended and on serious cases some members have been expelled. Ours is a voluntary association not set-up by government.

“If the way a member conducts his affairs is not consistent with the belief of the association, it has the right to excuse the fellow. If the association sees that what you are doing is not helping the interest of the association, it will ask you to move, which is part of the constitution of the association.”

The association’s agreement on sanity rates, he said, has been reviewed, adding that members are encouraged to adhere to the agreement.

“The issue of market agreement is not just about rates, but about

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service delivery. People would have misconstrued market agreement to mean rates. They have actually taken market agreement to be synonymous with rate cutting.

“It is beyond that. A lot of things are meant to be achieved with appropriate rating of risks in the insurance market. I can say the market agreement is working.

“We have had interventions in issues that relate to the market agreement. We had understanding on the perception of our members, hence we had a retreat and its focus essentially is to review the agreement and make it more workable. That is exactly what we have done. So far, members are respecting the agreement. We have not had serious complaints as we had prior to the retreat,” he added.

Former Chairman of NIA, Mr Wole Oshin, said the introduction of the agreement to harmonise the rates charged by underwriters

would check rate cutting and bring best practices, adding that the agreement will enthrone best practices among member companies.

The agreement, he noted, represents the modest efforts by the association’s leadership to encourage professionalism, sound ethics and best practices.

He appealed to underwriters to adhere strictly to the agreement to ensure quality service delivery to all stakeholders.

“The idea behind the market agreement is noble and it is expected that strict compliance will boost the industry premium, solvency and further develop the mar-

ket.

“My appeal at this juncture is for members to strictly adhere to the agreement so that we can make insurance practice better and more beneficial to the policyholders and the society at large,” he said.

He urged insurers to be committed to awareness creation, product development, distribution and implementation of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI), which emphasises the enforcement of compulsory insurances, adding that compliance to the aforementioned will enable the industry to take its

well-deserved position in the financial services sector of the economy.

The Insurance Act states that companies must adhere to laws and ensure they keep to their responsibility.

It states that failure to settle discharged claims shall attract sanctions as stipulated by Section 70 (2) and that consistent failure to settle discharged claims promptly may lead to the withdrawal of the licence of the insurer as stipulated by section 8 (1) (m), and that the insurer would be shut down in accordance with the provisions of section8 and 32 (1) (b) of the Insurance Act 2003.

‘Insurance industry is grossly underperforming’

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ESPITE its enormous potential, the insurance industry is not performing, the Managing Consultant, Terdoz Consulting, Mr Victor Odozi, has said.

Odozi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, said the post-consolidation of insurance firms revealed longstanding weaknesses bordering on image problem, low level of awareness and penetration, poor governance practices and financial performance, others are fraudulent practices, high level of unsettled claims, poor collection efficiency, high level of accounts receivable, stiff competition and price wars, shortage of skilled manpower to undertake life business.

He said: “Despite the gains of the recent consolidation, the Nigerian insurance industry is still grossly underperforming, relative to its great potential and remains largely underdeveloped. It is also a dismal underperformer relative to the banking industry in terms of total deposits vis-à-vis gross premium income and total assets.

“The insurance industry is a key component of the financial services sector. Thus, various countries have

initiated measures for the development and effective regulation of the industry. As a result of these measures, the industry in most Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member-countries has grown over the years, in terms of the number of companies, customers’ base, intermediaries and assets base.

“Their underwriting capacity and risk retention have also increased, especially in those countries that have undergone recapitalisation/ consolidation.

“In spite of these achievements, the insurance industry in most, if not all of the ECOWAS countries are bedevilled by numerous negative features and problems.”

He noted that to enhance operations, insurers should engage in creation of enabling policy and macro-economic environment to minimise or eliminate distortion and competition inequalities, foster the emergence and viability of self-regulatory organisation, conduct outreaches and awareness campaigns, support training and institution-building programmes and foster consultations and dialogue with stakeholders.

• From left:Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc Mr Segun Ilori; Head, Legal and Corporate Services, Kedari Consulting Ltd Iyabowale Fashola; Risk Consultant, Kedari Consulting, Mr Andrew Smart; MD/CEO, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, Mr Yinka Bolarinwa and Head, Risk Management Services, Kedari Consulting, Mr Sola Olowoyeye, at an in-house training on risk exposure and management in Lagos.

Experts canvass proper study of policy

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OLICY holders have been advised to study and understand their policies in order to facilitate claims payments when the need arises Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance and Administration, Mr George Onekhena, told The Nation that studying of policies would enable policyholders to note conditions that could affect the payment of their claims when the unexpected happens.

• From left: Company Secretary Chibuzo Igie-Audu; Chairman, Gbenga Oyebode, and Managing Director, Graham Hefer, during Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc’s 31st Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

He said insurance business thrives on adherence to guidelines, adding that most issues of unsettled claims are connected to exemptions that are not observed by policyholders at the time of taking a policy.

The Head Business Development and Strategy, Boff and Company Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr Adeyemo Damola, said claims settlement is the core of insurance business. Therefore, the insured must understand the fundamentals of insurance contract to maximise the benefits of obtaining policies.

He noted that claims settlement method includes cash payment, repairs of damaged property, replacement and restatement. He explained that claims procedures are notification, on the spot assessment, completion of form, documentations, estimation/adjustment, and settlement offer/discharge voucher and settlement cheque.

He urged the public to employ the services of brokers in undertaking insurance business to enable them to obtain their claims without hassle at the time of risk.

Damola noted that insurance contract is technical, adding that it takes professional knowledge to understand the processes involved.

Said he: “In insurance, contract claims can be made if there is insurance contract evidenced by policy document and the cause of the incident that give rise to a claim is within the scope of the policy.

The following are entitled to claims at the time of risk: the insured or policy holder, third parties, interest noted in the policy.

And in settling claims these meth-

ods apply, cash payment, repair, replacement and reinstatement.

“Claims procedure entails notification, on the spot assessment, completion of claims form, documentation, estimation/adjustment, settlement offer/discharge voucher and settlement cheque.”

He said prior to claims settlement, a claim form is issued to the insured to establish whether or not the claim is within the scope of the policy, to help the insurer to establish whether or not the policy holder or other party entitled to indemnity is legally liable to any third party.

“On receiving the completed claims form, the insured must ascertain, among other things, whether: The policy is in force or was in force at the time of the incident, the premium has been paid, the subject matter insured was the one affected by the incident, all the destruction/damage occurred in circumstances insured by the policy, any excess applied to the claim in question and the policy has any special endorsement, eg lien clause,” he added.

He said some people are denied of claims due to failure to read contact documents issued at the time of taking a policy, adding that most people lack understanding of the working of insurance practice.

“Third party policy holders are entitled to N1million in the normal contract, but this can be increased to N2million by paying additional N1,000 on the stipulated N5,000. Moreso, it is important for people to understand that they can extend cover to other persons in a motor vehicle policy,” he said.

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INSURANCE HINTS

Insurers seek good governance HE President Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Dr Teslim Sanusi, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to foster good governance to propel the nation.

Sanusi at a forum by the NCRIB in Lagos said good government would pave way for the development of the nation and the insurance industry, adding that insurance can only thrive when the president enacts good policies.

He said: “Good governance is really essential for business growth.

I would call on the elected officers to put in place necessary structures that would engender growth in insurance. If there is peace and harmony, security, constant power and provision of other basic infrastructure, businesses will thrive.

The first thing the government should consider is entrenchment of

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good government.”

Former Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association, Mr Nimbe Oviosu, said insurers should look beyond what the president should do for the industry and focus on how they can improve on their services.

“Insurers should continue to improve on their services, for it is not what the president should do for the industry that matters, but how insurers can run their businesses effectively in the best interest of the insuring public and the nation,” said.

Managing Director, Guinea Insurance Plc, Mr Soji Eniola, said the president should sustain the ongoing reforms programme in the industry, adding that Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) should be implemented duly to meet the sets targets.

Congo studies Ghana’s Health Scheme

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DELEGATION from Congo Brazzaville has been taken through a comprehensive implementation of Health Insurance in Ghana.

Congo is preparing to roll-out a similar health insurance policy and considers Ghana worthy to learn from.

Touting the credential of the National Health Insurance in Ghana, the Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Mensah said the country is a proud recipient of the Global Excellence Award by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), owing to its successful implementation of the policy.

He added, however, that the policy in Ghana is not without its own challenges.

Mensah took the seven-man delegation led by Minister of State Sinibaguy Nollet Bayi through a short presentation, detailing the blue prints of Ghana’s Health Insurance Policy.

He explained the types of insurance policies under the scheme, structure, sources of income, expenditure and other issues of im-

portance as far as the implementation of an accessible and effective Health Insurance policy is concerned.

In an answer to a question posed by one of the delegates on the prudence and viability of the one-time premium policy frame work currently being considered by the government, Mensah noted the premium constitutes between four to five per cent of the revenue needed for the implementation of the policy and could be shelved.

According to him, in Thailand, subscribers do not pay any premium at all, and relies exclusively on tax revenue for the implementation of the policy.

He said a one-time policy will eliminate some administrative challenges, including, yearly renewal of cards.

Mensah, however, stated the authority is also considering running the one time premium policy concurrently with the existing policy in order to provide variety to the people.

He said in the next few weeks the law, ACT 650, which establishes the NHIA, will be reviewed but stressed that the one-time premium will not be part of the new law.

CIIN boss promises to transform industry P RESIDENT of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Dr Julius Adetimehin has promised to focus on four key areas to boost insurance operations.

Adetimehin, at his investiture in Lagos, said he would focus on strengthening the relevance of insurance; enhance the quality of insurance education, recognise excellence and create awareness and public enlightenment.

He said his tenure would be dedicated to moving the industry to a lofty height, adding that he is not unmindful of the public perception of the industry.

Adetimehin said: “The theme of my tenure is Repositioning the Insurance Profession, the next 12 months will be dedicated to promoting the relevance of Insurance profession and practitioners.

“Current developments in the country call for our collaborative effort to reposition the profession and the industry. We are not unmindful of the perception of Insurance profession by the public in our peculiar environment. No doubt, the less than optimal perception of insurance practitioners and the Industry needs to be corrected.

“The insurance profession is not immuned from vagaries of eco-

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nomic and political challenges in Nigeria and the harsh business environment that has become a big threat to business and professionals. Going by the current developments, it is high time all practitioners rose up to this common challenge.”

Adetimehin noted that there is need for a reawakening to ensure the continued sustenance of the profession, while urging operators to collaborate to move the industry forward.

“We must all come together to ward – off the encroachment into the core areas of Insurance practice. Evidence abounds of Insurance services being rendered by bodies without the professional training and experience. This is a trend that threatens the soul of our profession, an aberration that deserves our collective attention.

“The repositioning of the insurance profession will be pursued with the following programmes of action.

“Strengthen the relevance of insurance Profession in Nigeria. This programme will be pursued by initiating the Insurance and Gov-

ernmental relations Programme of Activities (IGRP) that will objectively promote Insurance awareness among the three tiers of government in Nigeria.

“A formidable industry team charged with developing inputs on a yearly basis into the national bwill be put in place. There will also be an annual forum to discuss and analyse the budget with a view to bringing to the front burner the opportunities for economic growth and, in particular, the expectations from the Insurance sector. This will be the Insurance voice on the fiscal and economic policies of government which has not been heard for a very long time,” he added He said his tenure would promote the establishment of the Insurance Industry. Forum (IIF), adding that the body will be solely charged to promote industry unified goals, inter-government regulatory understanding and development.

“The forum will be under the chairm anship of the Commissioner for Insurance, while membership will encompass all the various arms of the Industry. Meetings will be quarterly to discuss and resolve industry issues while also initiating agenda that will propel future growth of the industry,” he said.

Tony Blair’s insurance number hacked

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ORMER British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been hit by claims that computer hackers have obtained his National Insurance number.

Details of a file containing his NI number and the addresses of friends, colleagues and relatives began circulating on social media site Twitter.

Mr Blair’s office said the data had not been obtained from his own systems but probably from that of a former colleague.

According to reports, the file was first uploaded to a site called pastebin.com and featured the phone numbers of former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine and Labour MP Denis MacShane.

Contact details for relatives of Mr Blair and his wife Cherie were also included.

A note at the top of the file read: ‘The information in this article was obtained in 2010 December. We still have access to the webmail server. Phone numbers may have changed but all the information is 100 per cent legit.’

A member of a group of computer hackers known as Team Poison tweeted: ‘Tony Blair’s Private Info

is getting leaked tonight, so is his Personal Advisors CV and UK MPs & Lords who supported the war in Iraq.’

More...Unmasked: The computer geek who boasted on Radio 4 about ‘cyber-attack’ that brought down MasterCard ‘We can’t go on like this’: Miliband’s tough line on Labour reform... as he comes under fire over plans to scrap shadow cabinet poll Labour should ALWAYS have a woman as leader or deputy, says Harriet Harman as Miliband seeks to axe Shadow Cabinet elections A spokesman for Mr Blair said: ‘This information has not been obtained from Tony Blair or any of his office systems. This appears to be information from the personal email account of a former member of staff from a few years ago.’

Team Poison, which is led by a hacker who goes by the name of TriCk, appears to have a Left- wing agenda.

Besides details of the former prime minister’s NI number, there were also contact details for a number of other members of his and wife Cherie’s family.

• Adetimehin (left) and Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi at the event.

Law Union and Rock Insurance allays fears over fire mishap

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HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, Mr Yinka Bolarinwa, has urged customers not to panic over the fire at the company’s head office.

In a statement in Lagos, Bolarinwa said the fire which started at the basement of the seven-storey tower house was put out by the combined efforts of the Lagos Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, Julius Berger Fire Service, Union Bank Fire Service and the public.

He said the fire did not affect operations.

“Let me state categorically that the damages done by the fire at the basement of our corporate head office on Saturday affected

the store where we keep old and unused files and materials as well as the service parts for our pool vehicles and sundry items.

We thank God that the fire did not extend beyond this basement and all our operational structures and systems remain solidly intact” he revealed.

The Managing Director, however, stated that the cause of the fire is still being ascertained, while, further assessments of the value of damages is also being compiled by the company’s consortium of insurers who have already appointed capable lost adjusters.

Bolarinwa thanked the Managing Director of Skye Bank Mr Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti and Princess Adenike Adeniran,

Chairman of the company, as well as its other directors and staff who stood by the company using all at their disposal to quench the ravaging fire.

He assured the customers of the company and the share holders as well as the public of continued effective deliveries of quality services that is synonymous with the company. “ I wish to assure our clients, customers, investors and the public that the fire has in no way and will in no way affected our usual effective and quality service deliveries and as such, there should be no cause for panic from any quarters whatsoever as Law Union and Rock remains solid as ever,” he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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EDO NORTH PEOPLES FORUM His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed Force of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Presidential villa, Abuja

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT Our Dear President Sir, We, on behalf of the peace loving people of Edo North senatorial District of Edo State, comprising of Akoko Edo, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Owan West and Owan East local government areas congratulate you and the Vice-President on the resounding victory at the 2011 presidential election which has been adjuged and acclaimed as free and fair by Nigerians and international observers. Permit us to restate, that your election as president is an expression of the confidence and trust reposed in you by majority of Nigerians. Your pronouncements and public statements since your inauguration show your determination and commitment to building a new Nigeria, based on the ethos and principles of equity, fairness equality, truth, justice and the fear of GOD. Sir, we have adopted this approach through the newspapers because we have no other means of reaching you. Edo people, who do not already know you, as much as possible, are “barred” from reaching you. You may not know this, but it is true. Kindly excuse us. But we just have to speak. We have been oppressed, ignored and marginalised enough.

We do not intend to join words on the very unreasonable arguments, half-truths and infantile data which are better ignored as they lack substance and fails to justify the hand picking of Architect Onolememen from Edo Central Senatorial District contained in the publication by a so-called Fresh Air Coalition carried in the Nation Newspaper publication of the 27th of June 2011, and another publication made by the Esan National Congress in the VANGUARD edition of the 27th of June 2011. We suffice to remark that these publications are manifest the product of confused and guilty minds.

For instance, both the Fresh Air Coalition and the Esan National Congress failed to realize that the Governor and the Secretary to state Government in Edo State are not P.D.P members, what they failed to add is that even under the P.D.P arrangement, Edo North has never produced a Governor under the PDP, while Edo South and Edo Central has produced Governors under the P.D.P respectively. They also failed to understand that the NDDC Board is the exclusive preserve of the oil producing areas in Edo State. Rather than confront the facts and issues raised in our ealier publication carried in the Nation Newspaper of the 25th of June, Fresh Coalition opted to using insultive and abusive languages on the highly regarded person of Professor Julius Ihonvbere. This is unacceptable, just because they do not want the truth. We do not need to be sponsored to speak the truth. We are all victims of this unacceptable situation in our dear state. We are not fighting against the peoples of other Zones who are our kit and kin. We are indeed all suffering from the same malady.

We wish to make abundantly clear that Professor Julius Ihonvbere did not in any form, manner or way influence or instigate our agitation for JUSTICE in the appointment of a minister. We see the injustice with our eyes and hear the cry of our people. Our appeal to Mr President is motivated by a PATROTIC and very GENUINE zeal and interest to ensure that the right person is appointed into the ministerial position in Edo State and that our Zone is given its due in spite of the slavish and opportunistic arguments of a misguided few. Our earlier publication was written in English Language and we expected that the issues addressed were clear enough. What we are saying is that no minister has been appointed from Edo North. We reiterate that Ogiadomhe is a personal staff of the President, and the Governor and SSG are not members of the PDP. Are those making these arguments now telling us that the PDP and ACN are now one and the same?

We wish to state that the Chief of Staff to the President is a personal Staff of Mr President and only the President has the exclusive prerogative to appoint whom-soever he wishes to that position. The Chief of Staff to Mr President was not Zoned to Edo State. It is a matter of debate if the influence thrown around by Chief Tony Anenih in this Government is not more than that of Chief Mike Ogiadomeh.With a benefit of hind-sight we wish to state that when Chief Anenih was Chairman Board of Trustees of the Party (P.D.P), the State Chairman of the Party was also from EDO CENTRAL, the National Woman Leader of the P.D.P was also from EDO CENTRAL, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly was also from EDO CENTRAL. What is clear is that the fact is that Edo South Assembly and we Edo North People Forum are crying havoc is an eloquent testimony that the appointment is unpopular and undemocratic. That there are protests within Edo Central against the domination of Uromi, Chief Anenih’s homestead is also testimony to the new consciousness and fierce opposition to dictatorship and one man rule.

YE, Sir, kindly allow us to draw your attention to, and re-echo that the present hand picking not selection of Architect Mike Onomelemen, former minister of state for Defence from Edo Central (Uromi) by Chief Anthony Anenih runs contrary to the spirit and letters of the ideals of your Government. Edo Central senatorial district from where both Chief Anenih and Architect Ononelemen hail is the smallest senatorial district in Edo State with the least voting power. Yet due to the the frequent abuse of office, opportunity, influence and political manouvers of Chief Anenih, Edo Central has produced (4) four Ministers (3)three of whom are from his home town Uromi, and has also produced Chairmen, directors and secretaries of high-profile Federal boards and parastatals such as Nigerian Shippers Council, INEC, Maritime, Nigeria Ports Authority, National University Commission, Nigeria Prisons And Immigration Services too numerous to state here. Owing to the influence of Chief Tony Anenih, as Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Party, Edo North was deprived of it’s rightful share of membership of the Board of Trustees of the Party with his Edo Central having (2) two members, Edo South (1) one, and Edo North NIL. Even when an opportunity opens up for Edo North, Chief Anenih imposes his own personal boys rather than capable persons that would be accountable to the people of the state.

Putting the records as they are, Edo south has also produced (2) two Ministers,

while Edo North is yet to produce a single Minister. This is inspite of the fact that it is the second (2nd) largest Senatorial district in Edo State . The people of Edo North feel marginalized and dis-spirited by the antics and share oppressive and exclusionist regime and tendencies. This is totally unacceptable to us and we shall resist it with our strength. We have vowed not to take this anymore. We have been patient but Chief Anenih who believes that Edo northerners are idiots or robots in his personal backyard will no longer have his way with us. Any one who craves for the truth, will know that Chief Anenih’s despotic positioning has been totally responsible for the present poor outing and mass exodus from the P.D.P in Edo State. All those that left the PDP and continue to do so, hold Chief Anenih and his personal stalwarts responsible for the anger, disillusionment and rejection of the PDP. To stem this tide, we urge that JUSTICE, EQUITY AND MERIT should be promoted and given prominence in the party. Members should be allowed to elect their officers rather than a cabal always writing lists for approval in Uromi. Members should be allowed to speak at meetings rather that hand-picked speakers often followed by feasting to distract people from the truth. We must correct the prevailing situation in the party in Edo State where merit is thrown to the winds and the only qualification for any appointment in Edo State is gossiping to Chief Tony Anineh. This is not good for our democracy and the future of our party.

The people of Edo North expected that with the avid stand of your Government in promoting EQUITY and FAIR-PLAY the choice of the Minister to represent Edo State should naturally and rightfully come from Edo North Senatorial district. If Chief Anenih had bothered to consult with stakeholders as expected in a democracy, he would have found that the people want a minister that would be loyal to YOU, the PARTY and the PEOPLE of Edo State not to any other person or one senatorial zone. It is a truism that the nomination of Architect Ononeleme from Edo Central makes mockery and negates the principles of this Government. At a time when we need to encourage other senatorial Zones with new leaders and new visions, Chief Anenih is concentrating power and opportunities in Edo Central that is already over-loaded with appointments.

Onolememen has been a minister before and no one outside Uromi felt his impact.

During the campaigns, struggles in the party and numerous programmes to rebuild the PDP, no one ever saw him at rallies, meetings, negotiations etc. YET Sir, the nomination dashes the hopes of all Nigerians and gives the impression that we MAY not move away from the unhealthy and unhelpful influence of godfathers and backdoor politics. The appointment is very unpopular, unjust and ridiculous. As this appointment will only serve the interest of his promoters and not your Government or the Nigerian people. We comment that in order to set the tone or a new agenda for a better Nigeria your Government needs men of proven Integrity, Humility and Goodwill. With all sense of good purpose and humility we state that of all the names initially forwarded to you form Edo State for consideration Chief Dan Orbih, the State PDP Chairman and Professor Julius Ihonvbere are highly qualified for appointment.

WE are not afraid to state that in terms of experience, commitment and dedication to the party, track record of performance and qualification Professor Julius Ihonvbere towers higher and dwarfs any other name on that list. We are not patronising you sir.

Just send a team to Edo state to conduct an opinion poll: you will find that accross the entire state Ihonvbere is respected, loved, and regarded as the conscience of the party for his competence, loyalty, patience, ability and qualifications. We still believe that his choice will be popular and calm the anxiety and tension generated by this process in Edo State as your government would have been simply doing what is right or making right a wrong. As a party man Professor Ihonvbere has contributed more to the building, growth and sustanance of the party in Edo State. We assure you sir of our loyalty and commitment to rebuild a new Nigeria. Based on the principle of fairness to all we appeal to you to right the obvious wrong to Edo North by appointing a Minister from Edo North Senatorial Zone and not to sacrifice merit on the alter of mediocrity and ethnic affinity.

We are glad that the Government is encouraging Technocrats like Okonjo Iwelia to participate in this Government, in line with it’s transformation vision we wish to state that professor Julius Ihonvbere is a world class academic, and expert in political economy, presently one of the most published political scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa. He was one of those Technocrats sourced by Obasanjo Government to push his reforms and his track record are there for all to see. Please, save the PDP in Edo State from disintegration and the grip of one-man rule. Save the the suffering members of the Edo PDP from nepotism and undemocratic leadership. Ignore lies concocted and spread about by those people seeking to use their association with you to promote personal interests. We remain loyal party members and we are loyal to your government. We do not want to be frustrated out of our great party.

All we ask for is justice and fair-play.

Signed: ALHAJI KADIRI KASIMU (Etsako West) ENGR. ISAH BRAIMOH (Etsako Central)

BRAIMOH OMOKIDE (Akoko Edo) BARRISTER MOMODU IBRAHIM (Etsako East)

MRS. ALICE OMONKHUDU (Owan East)

ALHAJI ABIBA SILIKATU (Etsako)

OMODUKHEFE AIGBONMONBE (Owan West)

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MONEY LINK

Banks deploy portfolio monitoring to check competition

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ANKS have resorted to the use of a portfolio monitoring device, a tool designed by credit bureau firms to monitor transactions of high networth customers.

The tool which allows subscribers to see customers’ turnover, profitability report and credit worthiness , is now being sort after by banks to improve their balance sheet, The Nation has learnt.

The Chief Executive Officer, CR Services (Credit Bureau), Taiwo Ayedun, who confirmed the availability of the product, said the tool creates awareness of customers’ global performance behaviour.

Aside helping banks to identify and market such customers, it is also a ready tool for the lenders to identify customers with bad credit records.

“The tool has the ability to implement risk mitigation strategies, to reduce delinquencies and losses, as well as provide credit line marketing opportunities,”

By Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

he said.

In places where a borrowing customer has bad credit record, information with the banks is useful in taking credit decisions. The product, which banks are already clamoring for, will help banks channel credits to trusted customers who can pay back.

Ayedun, said the tool is expected to help customers demonstrate responsible credit behaviour and help them enjoy more credit to enable businesses, ading that it the device proactively measures portfolio risk using the portfolio monitoring tool.

“Users of credit bureau will have better opportunity in collecting outstanding debts from customers and also detect fraud using biometric technology. It is part of the CBN directive that banks subscribe to at least two credit bureaux and share information that will assist lending process,” Ayedun stated.

He explained that portfolio

monitoring, which is part of its services to clients, enables them to comply with CBN directive on riskbased supervision. It also makes it easier for the bank to be aware of customers’ loan commitment with other lenders as well as create credit marketing opportunities.

He said there are challenges which the industry is facing that have to be addressed for it to move forward. One of such, he disclosed, is the lack of unique identifier where many bank customers have different identity cards, making it difficult for the bureau to harmonise them.

The CR bureau chief, said the sector is also confronted with the problem of poor data quality and inability of bankers to utilise the information available to grow their businesses. “There is also the problem of slow adoption by other industries other sectors like the microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions,

insurance, employers among others as well as the challenge of automating banking systems to perform automatic credit analysis,” he added.

As dust raised by the CBN

reforms gradually settle, top management staff of banks are secretly unveiling subtle but effective marketing strategies meant to reposition their institutions for competitiveness.

NPC plans scorecard for govt officials

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By Akinola Ajibade

HE National Planning Commission(NPC), yesterday said it is working on a scorecard scheme for public officials and their agencies.

The commission said the scheme would ensure that the performance of the ministers, head of parastatals, and ministries are appraised to know their weaknesses and further facilitate the growth of the economy.

The Commission's Executive Secretary, Prof Sylvester Monye, said this during a media briefing organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG) in Lagos yesterday. The briefing is meant to herald the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit

in Abuja later in the year. The theme of the summit is: ‘Putting Nigeria to Work.’

Monye, said the commission had earlier met the leadership of the National Assembly on the need to ensure effective planning and implementation of the nation’s economic programmes.

He said the commission has also presented a bill on the issue to the National Assembly. He said through the bill, a template for scoring the performance of public officials and their departments would be derived.

He said there is the need to give a scorecard on power sector, to be able to know the fundamental problems af-

the 5-week promo period.

The promo, which ran from April 17-May 24, 2011, rewarded every customer who received Western Union money transfers through the bank with branded instant gift items ranging from umbrellas, wallets, pens,

water bottles and key holders.

The Western Union Money Transfer services is available in all its 376 branches nationwide, offering dollar payout at all locations, as well as the use of PIN pads to forestall fraud.

Oceanic Bank rewards customers

O

CEANIC Bank International has rewarded winners in its 2011 Western Union Easter promo.

The grand prize winners from different parts of the country, expressed joy about the fulfillment of the bank’s promises and its recognition of their loyalty.

The winners said they participated in the exercise based on the quality of service received and the proximity of the service provider.

Some of the prizes include 42 inch LCD TV sets, Generators, Gas Cookers , Blackberry Phones with several months internet

connectivity, DSTV decoders, Water Dispensers, Microwave Ovens and DVD players.

The loyalty points were based on the amounts received as well as the number of times the customers received monies through Western Union at Oceanic Bank during

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 467.7m 400m 452.3m 500m 499,8m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 10-6-11 SYMBOL MAYBAKER CCNN UPL NIGERINS HONYFLOUR OCEANIC UBN TRANSCORP CONTINSURE PRESTIGE

O/PRICE 3.61 9.03 5.24 0.62 4.14 1.45 2.54 1.08 1.09 1.75

C/PRICE 3.79 9.48 5.50 0.65 4.34 1.52 2.66 1.13 1.14 1.83

CHANGE +0.18 +0.45 +0.26 +0.03 +0.20 +0.07 +0.12 +0.05 +0.05 +0.08

LOSER AS AT 10-6-11 SYMBOL AGLEVENT CONOIL NNFM FO COSTAIN UNHOMES ECOBANK AIRSERVICE PAINTCOM UNITYBNK

O/PRICE 2.20 40.00 27.74 21.35 2.85 0.63 3.15 2.76 1.49 0.94

C/PRICE 2.09 38.00 26.36 20.29 2.71 0.60 3.00 2.63 1.42 0.90

fecting it.

He said :" We need to know what is going on in the power sector since it is critical to our economic growth. For instance, Mr President is committed to the effective supervision of the power sector to encourage growth of the economy".

He said the commission would take a critical look at various projects delivered in the country, and their impacts on the people.

He said the government is making efforts to restore the power sector, by privatizing it. He said privatization is key to economic growth, noting that the telecommunication sector has contributed to the growth of the economy because it was opened up.

He said the country now boasts of over 70 million lines, as against the 450,000 lines owned by Nigerians between 1960 -2003.

The Director-General, National Economic Summit Group, Frank Nweke Jn, said the issue of unemployment is worrisome, adding that there must be drastic solutions to it if the economy must grow.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

From new product development, raising additional capital to promises of enhanced customer care, many of the banks seem not to be leaving anything to chance.

CHANGE -0.11 -2.00 -1.38 -1.06 -0.14 -0.03 -0.15 -0.13 -0.07 -0.04

Amount Sold ($) 400m 400m 499.8m

Exchange Rate (N) 153.59 153.4 153.45

Date 25-5-11 23-5-11 16-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

03-06-11 N8.322tr 25.995.54

Name

January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

NIBOR

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

02-06-11 N8.273tr 25,875.31

% Change 0.5% 0.5%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

DISCOUNT WINDOW

Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.72 122.45 0.84 1,575.41 10.12 1.00 1.39 1.87 8,941.08 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.25 121.55 0.81 1,567.25 9.62 1.00 1.33 1.80 8,667.53 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 MAR, 2011

Current 07, MAR, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-06-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name

No of Deals (N) 15 15

PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

8.00

81,137 81,137

639,730.00 639,730.00

AIR SERVICES Company Name

No of Deals (N) 16 48 64

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

2.63 8.26

551,500 401,013 952,513

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.50 2.27

4,928 129,526 134,454

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

7.06 1.41 5.50 3.00 7.24 2.62 12.48 0.59 15.40 9.50 1.15 1.52 0.90 8.00 0.85 1.70 5.60 2.66 0.90 1.00 14.80

7,741,757 3,694,270 1,943,895 365,148 5,354,547 14,577,629 8,026,276 7,522,859 19,161,130 1,174,346 19,324,709 22,610,655 18,587,464 4,077,773 725,765 4,882,208 8,921,614 7,636,313 2,581,210 3,353,338 63,955,787 226,218,693

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

240.00 6.28 2.37 88.02

266,522 200,200 2,000 679,584 1,148,306

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

23.30 9.48 129.99 47.88

937,410 285,881 55,449 58,866 1,337,606

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

3.16 10.43 32.50 0.91 10.53 1.42 5.11

500 30,000 83,611 781 52 3,000,000 500 3,115,444

1,450,545.00 3,257,420.37 4,707,965.37

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name

No of Deals (N) 2 16 18

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

2,464.00 296,504.03 298,968.03

BANKING Company Name

No of Deals (N) 178 68 62 33 40 76 619 40 559 63 197 273 151 139 27 49 285 108 33 55 264 3,319

ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

55,094,253.50 5,098,618.00 10,851,517.98 1,117,769.82 38,798,386.85 38,062,552.77 100,836,106.29 4,438,486.81 296,823,121.27 11,313,732.27 21,794,754.24 33,884,461.09 17,035,712.34 31,565,490.18 616,120.12 8,341,311.64 50,293,403.75 20,312,592.58 2,391,315.80 3,327,894.65 946,463,162.04 1,698,460,763.99

BREWERIES Company Name

No of Deals (N) 92 13 1 121 227

GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC JOS INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

63,920,537.84 1,203,919.90 4,520.00 60,643,558.54 125,772,536.28

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name

No of Deals (N) 80 25 30 27 162

ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

21,997,114.18 2,706,120.18 7,128,780.87 2,765,936.10 34,597,951.33

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name

No of Deals (N)

AFRICAN PAINTS (NIG.) PLC BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC I. P. W. A. PLC NIGERIAN-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

1 2 29 1 1 2 1 37

1,505.00 297,300.00 2,852,807.32 679.47 520.52 4,260,000.00 2,550.00 7,415,362.31

UPL, Consolidated Hallmark to pay N999m dividends

S

HAREHOLDERS of University Press Plc and Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc would receive more than N999 million in dividends payout.

University Press stirred the market with declaration of a gross dividend of N819.4 million, equivalent of 35 kobo per share, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance, would be paying a total dividend of N180 million, which translates to a dividend per share of 3.0 kobo.

The recommendation by the board of University Press, rallied the share price of the printing and publishing company at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). University Press’ market consideration gained almost the maximum five per cent daily minimum, adding 26 kobo to close at N5.50.

There are indications that the share price may rise further in the days ahead. At the opening price today, the recommended dividend represents a dividend yield of 6.4 per cent. However, the board of University Press has not released other key details of the audited report and accounts.

Meanwhile, audited report and accounts of Consolidated Hallmark showed that gross premium dropped from N3.02 billion in 2009 to N2.85 billion

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name

No of Deals (N) 4 7 11

COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.50 2.80

43,000 182,500 225,500

Company Name

No of Deals (N) 3 3 2 8

NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. OMATEK VENTURES PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

5.96 0.50 3.25

8,860 900,500 2,018 911,378

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

2.09 7.22 38.12 6.76 1.13 39.01 27.00

469,590 1,818 82,032 41,207 1,748,541 405,875 371,272 3,120,335

52,805.60 450,250.00 6,235.62 509,291.22

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC CHELLARAMS PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N) 26 1 43 2 32 60 57 221

981,443.10 12,471.48 3,064,451.96 264,961.01 1,975,851.33 15,835,488.43 10,027,509.87 32,162,177.18

CONSTRUCTION Company Name

No of Deals (N) 24 12 36

COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

2.71 56.50

1,046,945 42,414 1,089,359

2,837,220.95 2,396,391.00 5,233,611.95

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name

No of Deals (N) 7 1 8

CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

2.18 0.54

29,825 25,000 54,825

65,218.50 13,000.00 78,218.50

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N) 17 66 90 66 85 14 1 20 33 54 2 2 5 455

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

46.00 17.95 16.56 12.80 91.50 4.34 1.78 5.40 41.00 401.00 26.36 0.50 0.65

14,319 344,706 342,675 391,004 379,485 203,980 1,000 507,442 177,416 69,083 139,959 110,200 41,605 2,722,874

658,994.00 6,189,464.95 5,665,299.11 5,010,977.20 34,791,680.03 882,820.00 1,700.00 2,753,558.50 7,274,401.00 26,705,575.60 3,689,879.24 55,100.00 27,663.19 93,707,112.82

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

1 6 20 43 70

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

1.26 1.83 26.94 3.79

332 61,000 45,772 837,936 945,040

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

3.05 1.41 4.53

360,318 5,762,179 500 6,122,997

398.40 114,337.34 1,200,869.20 3,142,364.04 4,457,968.98

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name

No of Deals (N) 3 57 1 61

CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

1,098,219.90 8,158,262.54 2,155.00 9,258,637.44

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N) 1 1 3 16 21

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

11.20 7.45 0.50 6.05

100 3,000 110,000 303,416 416,516

1,064.00 21,240.00 55,600.00 1,829,875.74 1,907,779.74

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N) 28 28

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.50

4,140,812 4,140,812

2,070,926.00 2,070,926.00

INSURANCE Company Name

No of Deals (N) AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 64 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 23 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 7 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 13 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 9 GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 10 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 7 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 3 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 5 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 7 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 6 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 17 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 31

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.75 1.14 0.50 3.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.52 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 0.57

23,326,072 5,537,424 26,227 612,000 2,275,465 566,500 1,125,358 47,976 260,000 8,161 91,000 720,100 53,067 35,454,401 1,997,267

17,265,302.65 6,137,733.36 13,113.50 1,844,020.00 1,137,732.50 283,250.00 562,679.00 71,122.77 130,000.00 4,080.50 45,500.00 384,053.00 26,533.50 17,727,200.50 1,081,268.18

in 2010. Profit before tax also dropped from N463.5 million in 2009 to N253.25 million in 2010. Profit after taxes stood at N211.57 million in 2010 as against N242.67 million in 2009. Share price of Consolidated Hallmark remained unchanged at the NSE yesterday.

The overall market situation at the NSE remained negative yesterday with all key indicators dropping for the second consecutive day. Aggregate market capitalisation declined

by N47 billion to close at N8 trillion, while the All Share Index reduced by 146.79 points to close at 25,023.84 points.

Conoil Plc led the slackers with a loss of N2.0 to close at N38 per share. Nigerian Breweries followed with a loss of 198 kobo to close at N88.02. Oando lost 151 kobo to close at N45.99, while Northern Nigeria Flour Mills and Forte Oil dropped 138 kobo and 106 kobo to close at N26.36 and N20.29 respectively.

Other top losers included Ashaka Cement, which lost 70 kobo to close at N23.30, UACN Property Development Company, 50 kobo to close at N18.50; First Bank of Nigeria, 47 kobo at N12.48; Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, 40

kobo at N14.10, while Unilever Nigeria dropped by 30 kobo to close at N27.

On the upside, Flour Mills of Nigeria topped the advancers’ list with a gain of 50 kobo to close at N91.50. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria added 45 kobo to close at N9.48.

Honeywell Flour Mills rose by 20 kobo to close at N4.34 while May and Baker Nigeria gained 18 kobo to close at N3.79.

Other top gainers included Union Bank of Nigeria, with addition of 12 kobo to close at N2.66; Nigerian Bottling Company rose by 10 kobo to close at N41; Prestige Assurance added 8.0 kobo to close at N1.83 while Oceanic Bank International and Continental Insurance chalked up seven kobo and five kobo to close at N1.52 and N1.14 respectively.

Turnover stood at 358.772 million shares valued at N2.248 billion in 6,248 deals, indicating increase against turnover of 301.315 million shares valued at N1.837 billion traded in 5,943 deals in the previous day.

The banking sub-sector was the most active sector with a turnover of 226.219 million shares valued at N1.698 billion in 3,319 deals. Insurance sector placed second with 84.198 million shares worth N53.133 million in 852 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

21,500.00 510,200.00 531,700.00

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-06-11 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

25 1 5 1 593 2 5 14 852

0.65 0.50 1.83 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

1,654,167 5,000 139,356 2,000 10,068,000 200 32,886 195,171 84,197,798

1,011,511.39 2,500.00 250,150.74 1,000.00 5,034,000.00 100.00 16,443.00 103,440.63 53,132,735.22

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

1.25

576,650 576,650

LEASING Company Name

No of Deals (N) 10 10

C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

694,830.00 694,830.00

MARITIME Company Name

No of Deals (N) 147 147

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

1.18

3,958,863 3,958,863

4,629,220.69 4,629,220.69

MEDIA Company Name

No of Deals (N)

AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

1 2 3

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.51 0.50

100,000 100,000 200,000

51,000.00 50,000.00 101,000.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name

No of Deals (N) 2 2 12 16

ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

1.44 0.50 0.60

2,145 10,000,000 310,000 10,312,145

2,938.65 5,000,000.00 186,500.00 5,189,438.65

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name

No of Deals (N)

CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

1 1 2

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.50 0.50

2,200 5,445 7,645

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

2.42 12.71 4.30

1,211,448 19,800 0 1,231,248

1,100.00 2,722.50 3,822.50

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

57 3 0 60

2,956,248.08 239,184.00 0.00 3,195,432.08

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N) 4 16 24 3 60 22 148 17 294

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.50 72.00 38.00 4.75 20.29 154.00 45.99 195.50

472,000 21,474 241,420 19,135 347,424 21,898 2,415,413 8,302 3,547,066

236,000.00 1,538,455.65 9,173,960.00 86,490.20 7,049,232.96 3,372,397.70 113,019,000.03 1,628,185.10 136,103,721.64

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

1 13 15 29

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

3.50 5.39 5.50

200 404,900 432,470 837,570

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

18.50

714,154 714,154

666.00 2,180,297.00 2,375,607.00 4,556,570.00

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

28 28

13,212,516.85 13,212,516.85

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

3 3

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.57

36,000 36,000

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

0.59

35,041 35,041

20,515.00 20,515.00

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals (N)

6 6

19,973.37 19,973.37

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals (N) 37 37

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares

14.10

380,000 380,000

6,248

358,771,969

5,433,283.30 5,433,283.30 2,248,103,760.44

58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011

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Tomorrow in THE NATION

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 6 NO.1805

‘This disparagement of one another by the sub-ethnic groups of the Yoruba has persisted even to modern times to the extent that when modern politics came to Yorubaland, political fault lines sometimes followed these primordial pre-colonial divisions’ JIDE OSUNTOKUN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HREE years ago, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, one of the country’s leading traditional rulers as the ninth in the order of precedence of northern first class emirs, instituted Nupe Day for the first time in the history of the nationality. His council set aside June 26 of every year for the celebration of Nupe culture. The choice of the date was in commemoration of the defeat of the British Army by the Nupe on June 26, 1896, at the battle of Ogidi in present day Kogi State, then on the outer fringes of the then vast Nupe Kingdom. Historically, the colonising British met their stiffest resistance from the Nupe as they moved northwards in their eventually successful military conquest of the Sokoto Caliphate of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio.

The Nupe, to which this writer belongs, is among the top 10 or so most populous nationalities in the country. They are predominantly in Niger State but form important minorities in Kwara and Kogi states. Known for their valour in pre-colonial Nigeria, they were principally instrumental in expanding the frontier of Islam all the way to Lagos to their Southwest and to the border with Benin Kingdom to their Southeast, hence their affinity with the Yoruba and the Afemai of Auchi.

In contemporary Nigeria, they have played a leading role in the politics of the North and of Nigeria by producing great politicians like the late Alhaji Aliyu Makaman Bida, the deputy premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Ahman Pategi, the region’s minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Usman Sarki, the Interior minister and Alhaji Tako Galadima, the Army minister.

In celebrating this year’s Nupe Day, the organisers decided to start a lecture series to add an intellectual dimension to the celebration. The first was given last Saturday by the Governor of Niger State, chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum and the Talban Minna, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu. He spoke through his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, on the topic of Democracy and the Development of Nupeland. Fittingly, the venue was the new generation Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.

As far as lectures go, the governor’s speech could not have been better researched. It gave the rich history of the Nupe, dwelt extensively on the potential of their people and rich land for producing enough grains, rice in particular, to feed the whole country and even mentioned the prospects of discovering oil in the valley of Bida, their capital. The richness of the lecture was matched by the eloquence of its delivery by the governor’s deputy.

Easily the most important part of the speech was its conclusion. “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,” he said at the end of the lecture, “if you were to ask me, the ultimate destination for the Nupe nation, taking into account all that we have looked at in this presentation about the Nupes, is EDU STATE... The fairest

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Talba’s Nupe Day lecture

•Aliyu Babangida

thing to do for the development of Nupe land under this democratic environment is for all Nupes (at home and in the Diaspora) to continue to strategise, to agitate, to pressurise, and where necessary, to lobby for the actualisation of EDU STATE. This is the best legacy that all of us in this generation can bequeath to the upcoming generations of Nupes.”

To which the packed hall gave a rather lukewarm applause, apparently to the disappointment of the deputy governor. It seems he had expected a standing ovation for his boss’s endorsement of the long running quest of the Nupe for a state of their own, being almost alone among the top four nationalities of the old North – the others being the Kanuri, the Tiv and the Igala – to have been denied a state in which they can call virtually all the shots.

“It seems you did not hear me well considering the ovation that greeted what I’ve just said,” he said, or words to that effect. He then repeated himself word for word, this time in measured tones obviously for effect. This time he got a much louder applause. My suspicion, however, was that it was more out of courtesy

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than out of a belief in the sincerity of the governor.

Personally, I do not believe the non-Nupe elite, especially in Niger State - an elite to which the governor belongs as an indigenous Hausa - has ever wanted the Nupes to have a state of their own. After all, one of the worst kept secrets in the state is that several of the leading non-Nupe elite worked hard to frustrate the creation of Ndaduma State which would have brought all the Nupe speaking people in the country into one state. This was under the General Sani Abacha regime from 1993 to 1998. I doubt if the minds of the nonNupe elite has changed since then.

In any case, even if the Chief Servant meant what he said, I disagree that it is the solution to the well known feeling of marginalisation among the Nupes, especially those in his state where they are numerically the single largest ethnic group.

Obviously, the only true solution to the feeling of marginalisation by any ethnic group in the politics of any country is good, transparent and accountable governance.

The Chief Servant said as much in his speech.

“With the extensive fadama plains for rice cultivation,” he said in the course of his speech, “Nupe land alone can meet the rice requirements of this nation and even grow enough to meet export demands. We can achieve this if we elect people of integrity, honesty, and accountability, who know the right things to do for the people and how to go about doing the right things, not people who will see public service as an avenue for personal enrichment and aggrandisement. (Emphasis mine).

Elsewhere in the speech he also spoke of the need for people to choose men and women of high calibre and compassion as their leaders.

“It is,” he said, “also pertinent for us to pay attention to the quality of representatives that we elect to represent us in the political environment so that we can realise the full benefits of democracy for the development of Nupe land.

We should always elect and endorse representatives who can relate with us, who understand our problems, our challenges and our aspirations, and not people who will become our lords

HARDBALL

L

OBBYING refers to efforts to influence government decisions by individuals, firms or advocacy groups. In most Western countries where it is developed, governments define and regulate organised group lobbying to prevent abuse.

It is regarded as such an honourable undertaking that it has become a multi-billion dollar business that distinguished former public figures retire to after leaving office.

Where it is properly practised, lobbying is not synonymous with bribery. Lobbyists simply use their friendships and contacts with legislators and executive branch officials to explain the goals of the organisations they represent, and to present those organisations’ points of view. They simply fight their corner using the power of information and argument, not cash.

But ever since the word surfaced in Nigeria with the onset of the Fourth Republic, it has been synonymous with sleaze. If you read that the Presidency was “lobbying” legislators over some issue, it simply overnight truckloads of “Ghana-Must-Go” bags containing mint-fresh naira notes had been ferried into Apo Village.

Now the dirty word has surfaced in the already controversial Goodluck Jonathan cabi-

and masters no sooner than they are elected or appointed to public office to serve us.”

Neither the Nupes nor any other ethnic group need a state of their own before they can elect honest and compassionate leaders to govern them. If that were the case the ethnically homogenous states in the country would have been the models of good, transparent and accountable governance.

The truth is that for much of the history of this country we have had mostly only leaders who do not say what they mean or mean what they say. Leaders who have managed to impose themselves on us through the barrel of the gun or by rigging the ballot. This explains the wide gap between the lofty ideals they preach day in day out and the grinding, worse still, increasing, poverty that stares the vast majority of Nigerians, including Nigerlites, in the face in spite of so much wealth God has endowed this country with.

Hopefully, the Nupe Day Lectures would provide at least one avenue where we can begin to tell each other the bitter truth about the general poverty of leadership in this country.

A catalogue of errors

In the last three weeks, I have made a number of indefensible errors for which I owe my readers and the affected persons, organisations and institutions profound apologies. To begin with the biggest howler of them all, last week I referred to Afenifere, the umbrella Yoruba cultural organisation, as an ethnic militia to be compared with MEND and Boko Haram. Nothing could be more egregious than this misstatement.

The first person to draw my attention to the error was Waziri Adio, former editor and former ace columnist with Thisday, lately a media consultant and back on the newspaper’s editorial board. “Oga, greetings.” he said in the text he sent to my personal line.

“Long time. I read yr (your) piece today. Great as always. But I noticed you referred to Afenifere as an ethnic militia. I am sure you meant OPC. Regards. Waziri.”

I quickly went back to read the piece. You can imagine my horror at discovering that I made such an obvious mistake. As Waziri and many other readers observed, obviously I meant the Odua Peoples Congress, which for years had had running violent clashes with the police.

The less egregious errors I made during the period in question include referring to former chairman of the ruling PDP as Bernard Gemade instead of Barnabas, referring to the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as former Chief Whip of the House when he was deputy, and getting his name wrong in the next article in which I called him Ahmed.

I wish to apologise for all these and other errors I may have failed to mention.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Between bribery and lobbying net formation process. On Monday, Senator Smart Adeyemi, from Kogi State, alleged that lawmakers were under intense pressure from unnamed “lobbyists” representing both local and foreign business interests.

He told the media in Abuja: “We have been under intense pressure by lobbyists and political hired mercenaries to stop some nominees from being cleared or to disqualify some nominees by asking questions to embarrass them and stop them. They have given many of us sleepless nights with offers of millions of naira so as to discredit some nominees.”

This is an astonishing revelation. For one thing, we do not expect a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make such public claims lightly. Also, the last time we checked bribery was still a serious offence on statute books for which givers and takers are culpable.

Although the senator has stopped just short of naming names, he has dropped broad hints that some multinational companies opposed to the reform programme of key sectors of the economy are involved.

In the light of the gravity of the senator’s

charges, he cannot hold back from naming names. Not too long ago, Wikileaks exposed how multinationals undermine the system just to further their interests in the oil sector. Some firms were pointedly accused of having spies in virtually all government departments.

It is important in the spirit of the public’s right to know to disclose whether the same organisations that were accused in the Embassy Cables are the ones Adeyemi is talking about.

Imagine a scenario in which a United States senator is approached by agents of a multinational and offered a bribe to facilitate congressional clearance of a cabinet nominee. What would he do? He would not call a news conference and make allegations without naming names. He would most probably report to the FBI that a felony was about to be committed.

Nigerians deserve full disclosure from the senator as part of a new era of transparency and openness in government. It is only that sort of action that can show the outside world that we are not just paying lip service to our commitment to clean up the system.

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