The Nation June 29, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Controversy trails Senate approval of N170b airport project

FIFA WORLD CUP

Brasil

–Page 6

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.08, No. 2894

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

JUNE 29, 2014

Brazil beat Chile on penalties Keshi: Eagles not under pressure Ghana axe Sports Minister after World Cup exit –Pages 78,79

Today’s Netherlands vs Mexico(5pm) matches: CostaRica vs Greece(9mp)

N200.00

Peoples Hotel, Bayan Gari, Bauchi after the bomb explosion on Friday night. Photo: NAN

53 killed in Bauchi, Kaduna attacks Yuguda condemns act

Christians, Muslims should live in peace –Gowon –Page 5

–Page 4

Bomb scare in Osogbo –Page 76

WHERE ARE THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15?

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

PAGE 2 Fury as boy, 7, does a Suarez in school

CAPTURED

SEVEN year old pupil in Suffolk, England, has sparked fury after sinking his teeth into a classmate on the wrist, hours after watching his football idol, Luis Suarez bit an opponent in the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. Schoolboy Harvey Eaglen, a Liverpool supporter, was reported by The Sun of London as having told shocked teachers he tore into a playmate because it was “what footballers do”. Suarez who has since been expelled from the competition has been banned from football activities for four months by FIFA. Harvey was punished with a ban from the “pitch” and his breaktimes for the rest of the day cancelled. His stunned mum Kathleen Cooke was called to Poplars Community Primary School in Lowestoft, Suffolk and told her son was on a final warning. The implication is that he could be expelled if he puts another foot wrong. And the mum fumed: “I thought what Suarez did was disgusting. When I found out my son had done it too I was furious. We're trying to teach Harvey right from wrong but what are we supposed to do when he sees his heroes doing things like that? “Suarez is supposed to be a role model all footballers are but he never acts like one. It's not fair on boys like my son.” Harvey is described as a promising defender with no previous record of biting.

It’s Ramadan A Pakistani resident tries on a cap at a stall ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Karachi yesterday. Muslims are preparing for Islam's holy month of Ramadan, which is calculated on the sighting of the new moon, and during which they fast from dawn until dusk. Photo: AFP

BAROMETER

Aggravating Kutigi's Freudian slip

N a plenary last week at the ongoing national conference, a different but disturbing attribute of Justice Idris Kutigi came to the surface. Throughout his years on the bench, particularly at the apex court, the jurist had not been known for intemperate remarks or regrettable verbal lapses. But on Wednesday, Justice Kutigi, who is also the chairman of the conference, unleashed a verbal fusillade against journalists covering the conference. The chairman of the Committee on National Security, Albert Horsfall, had requested the chairman to excuse reporters covering the conference because of the sensitive nature of some of the things he was about to disclose. Rather than issue a simple directive, which could not have been discountenanced anyway, Justice

social status, achievements or even religion. It is a uniquely Nigerian problem that only the right, visionary and intelligent national rian leaders. It is not just an leadership can deal with. As the unthinking detachment from sen- security agents who enforced the sible reality, as some are wont to order also showed, the problem is say, or a carry-over of colonial men- even worse among law enforcetality, as many analysts think. ment officers who have sometimes Even if that official haughtiness executed directives thoughtlessly. was influenced by the conde- Neither political leaders, broadly scending attitude of colonialists to speaking, nor security agents fully their subjects, still colonialism appreciate the fundamentals and does not fully explain the long- nuances of power. Unable to hanlasting problem that disgraces dle power with the circumspecNigeria and the black race and also tion it requires, and inured to the enervates the system. Colonialism responsibility that accompanies it, ended more than 54 years ago. If Nigerian leaders continue to celeNigerian leaders still retain the suf- brate the perks of power without focating and dislocating economic paying corresponding attention to and social structures of colonial- its obligations. ism, it is not because they had a legWe are used to and dismayed acy to keep but because they lack by the law enforcement agents' the understanding and depth to irresponsible use of power. What know any better. is disturbing is that the Kutigi That Justice Kutigi could suc- lapse, which he is said to have cumb to such unflattering meth- regretted, is so pervasive among ods indicates that the problem is the elite that there seems to be no much deeper than previously hope the problem can be remedied thought. It is ingrained in their sub- in the foreseeable future. conscious. The problem, it is clear is not ameliorated by education,

sunday@thenationonlineng.net

Kutigi brusquely ordered the journalists to disappear. A newspaper quoted him as follows: “Disappear from this place immediately. Pressmen clear yourselves! The pressmen should disappear from this place! I say pressmen disappear, shut your cameras down, shut everything and get out from the gallery right now. Clear and get out from there! Disappear.” Another newspaper quoted overzealous security men as telling journalists they had been described as security risks. In their indecent scramble to enforce Justice Kutigi's orders, the officers bellowed at reporters: “What are you still doing there? Did you not hear what the chairman said? You have been tagged security risks; leave immediately in your interest.” Justice Kutigi's order and its enforcement by security agents unfortunately reinforce the suspicion that something is fundamentally wrong, perhaps irredeemably, with the orientation of Nige-

Jelili Adesiyan undermines integrity of government

hen President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Jelili Adesiyan as Minister of Police Affairs, and Musiliu Obanikoro as Minister of Defence, perceptive Nigerians knew immediately something was afoot. The Ekiti governorship election illustrates just what a potent combination the duo has become, though that potency is unlikely to go beyond the Southwest for obvious reasons. But let us for the moment leave Mr Obanikoro alone. Let us instead focus on the more obsequious Mr Adesiyan, the minister who became lachrymose when the Senate screened him a few months ago. Recall that Mr Adesiyan was alleged to have been involved in the

murder of the former Minister of Justice, Bola Ige. Though he admitted he had altercation with the late minister, he swore he had no hand in his murder. Few believed him; yet the Senate confirmed him. But while he was yet to live down that unsavoury image, he incredibly involved himself in another altercation with a former Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, whom he accused of instigating a furore at a function somewhere in Osogbo, the state capital. The circumstances of that latest fight were muddled up, and the public was uncertain whom to believe. But at last the unperceptive and thuggish Police Affairs minister has cleared the air in a most exasperating manner. He

said he did not fight the minister, but would have loved to flog him, a punishment he hoped to inflict on Chief Adeleke in the coming years. Said Mr Adesiyan: “My regret is that I did not beat him as he claimed. If I had not been a minister, I would have flogged him like a baby. You know that he could not withstand one blow. You know Adeleke is sick; maybe he would have died that day…I thought he was tough but he ran away immediately. He is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in the hospital. You know me…” And for a minster who was accused of involvement in a murder case, he ended his account of what transpired in Osogbo with this

boast: “Who is an elephant hunter in the presence of a hunter who kills human being? I will one day leave office as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and anytime I leave office, I will fight Adeleke.” The minister's statement is not just a reflection of his appalling humanity, or of the mire in which the country has sunk implacably; it is also a reflection of the dreadful judgement exercised by those who appointed him minister. This is the same man whom the president, in his unfathomable wisdom, has made a minister of the Federal Republic against the advice of Nigerians who know better. God help Nigeria.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

COLUMN

Ekiti as Kulaks Archipelago

EMEMBER to praise your enemy and to admire your tormentors. This Orwellian admonition is not from 1984 or any work of fiction. It is from a cameo of contemporary Nigeria. When tormentors begin to commend the tormented for their patience and grace, when famous hooligans lavish praise on their victims for their exemplary civility and courtesy after a heavy beating, you can be sure that the manipulation of human emotions has reached its zenith. Aleksandr Solzhenitysn might have had contemporary Nigeria in mind when he wrote his great novel of tyranny, Gulag Archipelago. The novel is a tribute to the indomitability of the exceptional human spirit in the face of state terrorism at its most savage and sublime. In its roiling contradictions, its fertile and volatile political lunacies, contemporary Nigeria often recalls both pre-revolution and post revolution Russia. In the face of harsh repression, even the most exceptional spirit can suddenly collapse. Faced by pure terror, the greatest of human beings slander themselves and tell unbelievable lies against themselves. When Stalin hauled his intellectual superiors and more gifted rivals before the law for treason, they confessed to unimaginable crimes they had not committed and asked for forgiveness. To clinch matters for the terrorist state, they dismissed themselves as being unworthy of mercy and deserving of the most cruel treatment ever imaginable. It is the political equivalent of having an out of body experience. You view yourself with clinical severance, as if it was someone else. As a result of the frenetic pace of events and the programmed disruption of normal perception, the general disorientation of most Nigerians proceeds apace. Tormentors praise the tormented when they meekly submit to their own brutalization. The meek will surely inherit the earth if they continue to show meekness, they chorus . They will be remembered and honoured for their brand loyalty, they trumpet in alleluia. They are future leaders, they chant to the already enchanted. The ploy is to drum out the ethical horror of the crime in the universal refrain of giving peace a chance, thereby making it impossible for the few discerning ones to think out of the box. In the event, it is now impossible to make sense of what has just happened in Ekiti. Yet it is our business to make sense out of the senseless. Otherwise, there is no point in writing a column. Is this a major electoral shellacking of the APC and Kayode Fayemi’s much rhapsodised elitist developmental politics, as we are programmed to believe or an elaborate hoax as we are forbidden from thinking? Let us make a confession because there is no point playing a superman in these matters. For most of the week, Snooper himself has been too distressed and pole-axed to make any sense of the bewildering turn of events. One felt like a boxer so disoriented by punishment that he went and sat on the laps of his opponent. But this time around, it is the thief who has fled with the evidence that has returned to nail himself. When the congenitally ungallant praise others for their gallantry, something fishy is surely afoot. It is surely curious when the ranking members of the PDP, notoriously truculent and unsportsmanlike in defeat, begin to praise a Fayemi for his quick surrender and hasty capitulation to the PDP rigging leviathan. Up till this moment, the same PDP buccaneers did not raise an eyebrow about Jonathan’s public refusal to congratulate the new Emir of Kano. Nor did they demur about his unsportsmanlike rectitude in congratulating the opposition for successfully holding a national convention

nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

•Fayose

against all odds. The two examples are instances of bitter defeat for the PDP which its leadership have refused to graciously swallow. He who comes to gallantry in political sweepstakes must come with clean motives. While the PDP and its accomplices and collaborators in the corrupt sections of the Nigerian media were deliberately muddying the water in an attempt to obscure another major electoral crime against humanity, it was the electorally humbled Fayemi who was trying to provide a sane and sober rationalisation of what has just happened in the land of rugged hills. In what historians may judge a moment of painful clarity and clairvoyance, Fayemi described his defeat as owing to the emergence of a new sociology of the Ekiti people. If the PDP power mongers actually understand the nuanced and sophisticated dimensions of this statement, it would have occurred to them

S the Mundial truly got underway in the land of soccer and samba, Okon has been as busy as a bee, smiling all the way to the red light districts of Mushin and Awoyaya. The scam was typically and quintessentially Okonian. What began as a huge and outlandish joke soon turned into a major money spinning machine, with Okon emerging as a soccer pundit, a webless blogger and historian of the mass hysteria induced by football. Whenever there was a missing historic link, you can be sure that the old rogue would come up with the facts. For example, Okon explained to a swooning crowd of admirers that despite the fact that the team from Mobutu’s Zaire went to the 1974 World Cup in Germany with their witchdoctor and private supply of monkey meat, it did not prevent them from a 9-0 shellacking from Poland. Okon also revealed that the hero of the Cameroun team that qualified for the 1982 World Cup in Spain was their goalkeeper, Thomas Nkono. Furthermore, Okon disclosed that the name of the witchdoctor of the great Camerounian team of !990 was Baba Bamenda. That was the team that almost caused a civil uprising in Columbia when Higuita,

that they rejoice too soon. Fayemi himself might have been speaking tongue in cheek in a moment of tormenting despair. Known for their rural hardiness, their folksy heroism and abhorrence of foreign tyranny, the Ekiti people have always acted in unison when they set the template for political integrity and fidelity to a noble cause. The nature of Fayose’s resurgent ascendancy is so deeply polarising that it has set the Ekiti people against themselves. Irrespective of party affiliation, there is now a Maginot Line between the Ekiti business and educated elite on one hand and the peasant and emergent lumpen-proletariat class on the other. Fayose, a petit-bourgeois with crossover appeal to the lumpen and peasant subclasses, has once again positioned himself as a champion of both. The canons of political contention will be booming in Ekiti land for some time to come.

The kiriji sound of canon-firing will not be coming from Igbajo this time around but from the Ekiti hills. If you cannot scale the hilly ascent in haste, then do not visit the land of birds and eggheads for some time to come. If this is truly a revolt of the masses, Ekiti has had it coming for quite a while. Long-rhapsodised and eulogised as the land of the educationally over-achieving, Ekiti has been falling by the wayside for quite some time. It now boasts of one of the worst records in secondary school certificate examination. In addition, there had been a growing alienation among the youth as the education industry froze up sending thousands of educated but unemployable young people swelling the ranks of the gainfully unemployed. As for the peasants fabled for their political fidelity and integrity, it would appear that over the years, they have grown cynical and weary of succeeding governments that could not significantly improve their lot even as they worsen the plight and prospects of their children. In the event, they have reverted to the traditional Yoruba skepticism about millennial political expectations. It is now the politics of the belly or stomach infrastructure. In the absence of any overarching social constructs that significantly improves their lot, what the bird eats is what the bird flies with. It is Ekiti as Kulaks Archipelago. Remember the kulaks? The kulaks were the upper-deck Russian peasant class. They were notorious for their bizarre fetishes, their superstitious idiocies—according to Marx— and above all their counter-revolutionary consciousness. Lenin waged a violent and vicious war against them before he could succeed in collectivising their farms for the major agrarian reforms necessary to launch the new socialist republic on the path of agricultural self-sufficiency. Lenin killed off quite a lot of them . Stubborn and hardy, the kulaks could not understand why they should give up their long-held feudal family holding for some new fangled experimentation in collective farming. They

Suara bites again (The World Cup according to Okon)

their goalkeeper-sweeper , was spectacularly dispossessed by Roger Mila the great Camerounian striker. There was also the case of Benjamin Massing, the robust Camerounian striker, whose own soccer boot flew out from his left foot after a particularly wicked stud and was promptly red-carded. Massing sheepishly begged the referee to allow him retrieve his boot from far afield. Everyday, Okon’s football crowd began to multiply in the backyard. He had acquired a second hand generating set and a brand new Hitachi television. He was charging a hefty fees for entrance. A typical day began with Okon’s commentary of the day pasted on a makeshift board which usually attracted passionate discussion from other soccer louts and loonies. It was a paradise of libel. One of Okon’s efforts was titled: Barlotelli is a baboon. The crazy rogue claimed to have privileged information that the gifted but anarchic Italian maestro was the product of a forced union between a mountain gorilla and a Nubian woman. On Thursday afternoon, Okon’s

commentary of the day attracted Snooper’s attention. It was about Luis Suarez, the gifted but troubled Columbian forward , who seemed to have developed a bizarre taste for human flesh on the field of play. Dubbed the cannibal, the Columbian wolf-boy often makes a meal of opponents’ earlobes with the relish of a professional headhunter from Papua New Guinea. But the last one was an ear too far. It has landed the cannibal in soup. When Snooper queried Okon as to why he insisted on calling Suarez by the name Suara when he was not a Nigerian not to talk of being a Yoruba chap, Okon retorted. “Ah oga dem mad boy be Yoruba boy. He get one Yoruba boy for Mushin like dat and him name be Suara. Anytime we dey fight him go dey bite you when dem thunder blow come dey dabaru him head. So each time I been ask am why him dey use him teeth, him go reply say biting na part of fighting. So I think say dem Suarez be Suara”. On that note, snooper withdrew to his boudoir.

fought off Lenin with savage ferocity and the state response was equally savage. In the event what was supposed to be a revolution for the masses became a social laboratory for their clinical extermination. Peter Ayodele Fayose does not claim to be a revolutionary or intellectual. He wears his HND badge as if it is rare honour from the British Empire. His mind is uncluttered by books or learning. This gives him a ferocious focus with an eye on the main chance. Fayose is an equal opportunity contrarian and rabblerouser. If there is something initially endearing about his populist bravura, the opportunity cost would soon be found very prohibitive. Those who thought that they have used Fayose to unhorse the progressive tendency in Ekiti would soon find out that Fayose’s abiding animus is not against the progressive tendency as such but elite tendency as a whole. Irrespective of party affiliation, the much lionised Ekiti professoriate will have to run for cover. It is not going to be a battle against APC but a war against traditional power barons, including traditional rulers who must now look furtively over their shoulders, if the heavy duty beads permit . Snooper does not think that General Obasanjo would be in a hurry to visit soon so as to update himself on Fayose’s poultry farming. Poultry politics is not for poltroons. As for the Lagos boys who were collecting monthly tithes during Fayose’s first coming, they will discover to their peril that you cannot cross the same river twice. Fayose is a shrewd businessman who knows his real political IOUs. As this column never tires of propounding, rigging comes in three stages. There is rigging before the election, rigging on election date and rigging after the election. By encouraging Opeyemi Bamidele to desert his political homestead, the PDP, through its political doppelganger the Labour Party, managed to simulate a riggable environment on Ekiti. By covertly simulating public discourse praising Fayemi for his gallantry, his urbane diffidence and statesmanlike capitulation to obvious electoral heist, the PDP has been trying to fake a public consensus in order to make what happened in Ekiti look like a flawless and transparent electoral subjugation. This is a classic instance of rigging after the election. But while the collateral damage to the progressive cause and consciousness is enormous and the setback for the regional integration agenda is substantial, the reversal is not fundamental. The reason is simple. Fayose is congenitally and constitutionally incapable sober rationality and nuanced political judgement. After all, a revolt is not a revolution. A revolution requires intellectual philosophers. Very soon, Ekiti will be embroiled in major political tumults and tempests. Whatever may be their current political ire, a love and respect for orderliness and sane hierarchy is wired into the political DNA of the average Ekiti person. After liberating them from Ibadan tyranny, Fabunmi asked for a crown and was promptly driven out of town. Very soon, they will be looking for philosopher-kings again. And the birds and bards of real freedom will sing on the Ekiti hills once more.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

NEWS

NLY rubbles remained yesterday of a hitherto boisterous People’ s Hotel, Bauchi, after a night bomb attack by terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram. Thirteen persons died in the attack, 10 of them were killed on the spot while the others died during treatment in the hospital. Some of the victims were football fans who had converged on the popular brothel’s bar to watch highlights of the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. Time was about 9.50pm. Twenty eight persons were injured, some critically, according to the police. Governor Isa Yuguda condemned the blast and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to book. A man was arrested in connection with the explosion which occurred about six hours after policemen in nearby Kano discovered 13 high calibre Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) close to a mosque in the metropolis, and three days after explosives ripped the busy Emab Shopping Plaza, Wuse, Abuja. Twenty-one people died on the spot in the Abuja incident while two others, hit by shrapnel from the explosives died 24 hours later. The Bauchi hotel blast occurred at Bayan-Gari area of the metropolis as business was in full swing for the call girls and their customers. Residents of the area said as many as 23 people may have died, 13 more than the 10 confirmed by Police Commissioner Lawal Shehu. The injured were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital [ATBUTH] Bauchi for treatment and the corpses deposited at the mortuary of the hospital. The hotel had over 30 rooms, a bar and a restaurant. A 21-one year old sex worker at the hotel, who merely identified herself as Ladi, said many of the victims were “either drinking or seeing their girls when the blast occurred.’’ An eye-witness, Malam

13 killed in Bauchi hotel blast

Ahmed Maidoki told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that five persons in military uniform carried out the attack by detonating explosives and shooting at random. “We were watching highlights of the ongoing FIFA World Cup at the viewing centre located in between the two story building of the hotel when five men dressed in military uniform strolled in. “We thought they were security personnel, who came to relax. I noticed they all positioned themselves in the four corners of the hall. The next thing I heard was an explosion, after which the arena was covered by thick smoke. My friends and I lay on the ground. “We were trying to get out when the five men started shooting sporadically at any one who tried to stand up, and in the process, killed many of the

•14 injured •Victims include football fans •One suspect arrested From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

survivors of the blast,’’ he said. Another eye-witness, Usman Hassan, said he was about entering the hotel when the blast occurred and immediately ran away from the scene. “As soon as I was a bit far from the scene, I heard gunshots. A few minutes later, a white Toyota Hillux vehicle zoomed out of the hotel at a high speed with men wearing army uniform”, he said. Friday’s was the second attack on the hotel by suspected terrorists.

Briefing reporters on the incident yesterday, Police Commissioner Shehu advised the public to “pay special attention to persons and objects, particularly at motor parks, market places, schools, places of worship, shopping malls, eateries and hotels. “They should report any suspicious persons or objects within their neighbourhood, to the nearest police station for prompt response, using these numbers - 08151849417 and 07013490795.” The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami told newsmen separately that 34 in-

•L-R: Edo State Governor ,Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Delta Sate Governor, Dr. Emmanual Uduaghan; Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka; National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; APC Public Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the burial of Madam Ariteshoma Abeji Amuka-Pemu, mother of Sam Amuka in Sapele, Delta State.

Gunmen kill 40 in fresh Kaduna attack

UNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, returned to villages in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Friday night killing about 40 more people. Attacked were Ambie and Paa Villages, according to the National President of Ninzom Progressive Youths, Bezard Wuyah. About a hundred people in the local government area had earlier been killed in raids by the gunmen between Monday and Wednesday. The victims of those attacks were given a mass burial on Thursday. “As I speak with you, another village called Tarri is under attack,” Wuyah said by

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

phone from Gwantu. He added: “I am in Gwantu currently with the Commissioner for Water Resources, Ado Dogo Audu and he can confirm what I am telling you. We are now in the Gwantu Police Station, because they are now attacking one village, called Tarri. We are with the police DPO. And he is mobilising his people to go there. “The problem is that when there is an attack here, and the security men go, there will be another one somewhere. There is lack of enough personnel. But there is an attack on Tarri going on now.”

He said the incessant raids have rendered about 50,000 homeless and the number may rise, he warned. He said the displaced people are taking refuge in schools and Police Stations in Gwantu. Many of them are starving children and women. Some have fled to Akwanga, Nasarwa State and nearby towns like Kafanchan, Kagoro and Gidan Waya. Wuyah said:”We are yet to see NEMA or SEMA. There is no food, no medicine for the sick, no place to sleep. This is a life of uncertainty. The Fulani are still in the bush. No one is challenging them.” When contacted, spokesman of the state police command, SP

Aminu Lawan denied any such attack. “We are not aware of any further attack. Normalcy is returning to the place,” he said. However, the local government chairman, Emmanuel Adamu, confirmed the fresh attacks, saying: “Up to today both SEMA and NEMA have not come here and the people are suffering. But the problem is that they are careful about their movement because of the news of that several attacks are going on. “I have only been able to arrange some few things for them. I am sure that NEMA and SEMA will arrive anytime from now. And we need well meaning Nigerians to send assistance.”

Ramadan: Jonathan charges Muslims on tolerance, fairness

HE Ramadan got underway in parts of the country yesterday after the sighting of the moon late on Friday. News of the moon sighting was subsequently relayed on national television and radio early yesterday by the Chairman, Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof. Sambo Junaidu on behalf of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar. He said the directive fol-

jured people were taken to the hospital on Friday night. Seventeen of that number, according to him, had minor injuries. They were treated and immediately discharged. He added: “There are 17 others with varying degree of injuries, who are still on admission, but we are hoping that many of them would be discharged today (Saturday) while a few others will have to go to the theatre because of the seriousness of their injuries. “Unfortunately, 13 people have so far been confirmed dead. 10 dead bodies were brought to the hospital yesterday (Friday) night and three more victims died in the hospital. “What the hospital did was a process where the doctors decide those who are critically injured that must go to the theatre, those who are injured but

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

lowed the sighting of the new moon in Gwandu and Argungu in Kebbi State, as well as Durbawa and Isa in Sokoto State. President Goodluck Jonathan in a goodwill message to Muslims on the commencement of the Ramadan fast urged them to be tolerant and fair to all. He urged them to use the period to pray for greater peace

and security in the nation against the backdrop of the insurgency in the Northeast. He reassured the generality of Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to work tirelessly to curb insurgency, terrorism and other criminal acts. He urged Nigerians not to succumb to despair, but to remain steadfast in the firm conviction that with courage, determination, focus, decisiveness and collective support for the

Armed Forces and security agencies, the country will ultimately overcome the evil agents of sectionalism, sectarianism and international terrorism who seek to disunite the nation. He asked Muslims to “rededicate themselves in fuller measure to the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, honesty, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Holy month promotes.”

can be managed at the trauma centre and those who can be treated and be discharged immediately.” The Bauchi State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross condemned the attack, describing it as ‘barbaric and inhuman’. The state’s secretary, Malam Mohammed Bashir, told NAN that the organisation received a call around 9.50 on Friday night, about the attack. “Immediately I received the call, I and my men rushed to the scene to provide First Aid treatment to the victims. Afterwards, we, along with the State Emergency Management Agency, police, military and the SSS personnel, evacuated them to the hospital. “We still carried out search and rescue operation at the scene this morning (Saturday) to ensure that every injured person was evacuated. It was a terrible experience,‘ ‘Bashir said. Reacting to the blast, Governor Isa Yuguda condemned the act of terrorism. He commiserated with the families of the victims and wished the injured a quick recovery. The Governor regretted that the incident came just at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan but assured the people of the state that his government remains committed to the protection of life and property He asked them to go about their normal and legitimate businesses without any fear of harassment from anybody and should be mindful of the person next to them for security reason. He wished all Muslims a successful 2014 Ramadan fasting and prayed that Allah might grant them all the bounties of holy month. President Goodluck Jonathan said on Friday whilevisiting the scene of Wednesday’s Abuja bomb blast. that Nigeria had entered one of the darkest phases of its history.

Suswam eyes Labour Party for senatorial ticket •It’s not true, says Benue PDP

OVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State may be on his way out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following alleged moves by the party chieftains to concede the senatorial ticket for the Benue Northeast to former PDP national chairman, Chief Barnabas Gemade. Suswam is warming up to go to the Senate in 2015 at the expiration of his second term in office as governor. Gemade currently represents the district in the Senate and Suswam sees him as his biggest obstacle to his senatorial ambition. Gemade, sources say, is heavily favoured for the slot by the party’s hierarchy on account of his position as a former national chairman of the party and a life member of its Board of Trustees (BoT). He is presently holding the seat in the Senate. This development, The

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Nation gathered, has not gone down well with Suswam and his supporters who are now putting pressure on him to cross to the Labour Party. PDP leaders are understood to have asked Suswam to allow Gemade have the ticket while he (Gov) will be compensated with a ministerial appointment. But he reportedly declined the offer. His political associates reckon that he has all it takes to defeat Gemade in the senatorial election. However, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Godwin Ayihe told The Nation there was no any such move by Suswam. He said by phone that primaries are yet to be conducted and so there is no reason what so ever for the governor to dump PDP.

NEWS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Amnesty will demobilise Controversy trails Senate Boko Haram, says Onaiyekan approval of N174billion T S airport projects From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

TAKEHOLDERS in the aviation sector are questioning the rationale for the alleged inflation by the Senate of the estimated cost of the third phase of the airport remodelling project from N148 billion to N174 billion. Sources in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) say they see no reason for the N26billion added by the Senate Committee on Aviation to the original cost in the budget estimate submitted by the Federal Government. The projects cover the rehabilitation, expansion and restructuring of airport terminals, the building of 14 fresh cargo terminals and the provision of equipment for the Accident Investigation Bureau and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET). The projects are in three phases with the contract value of phase one estimated at N12.81 billion. The Nation gathered that N11.22 billion has already been paid in respect of phase

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

one leaving a balance of N1.58 billion. The contract value of phase two of the projects is put at N93.43 billion out of which N53.97 billion has been paid to contractors. The balance is N39.50 billion. The third phase of the projects is estimated to cost N63.02 billion. N4.21 billion of the sum has been paid out, with outstanding payment put at N58.81 billion. Sources said that "the total debts therefore are at variance with the N174billion declared by the Senate Committee on Aviation by about N26 billion." Officials of aviation agencies have declined comments on the issue. The projects , investigations revealed were being funded from three sources: ac-

cruals from the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), appropriations and internally generated revenue and this year there was plan to introduce other sources of funding which include airport development levy and security surcharge. Funding came from approval for Presidential priority projects on February 21, 2011 for the utilisation of the sun of $60 million in the BASA fund. This was submitted to the National Assembly for appropriation to be supplemented by a further N14. 6 billion from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of FAAN. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had conveyed approval for the aviation sector to procure critical infrastructure such as perimeter

fencing, airfield lighting, water hydrant systems and firefighting equipment as follows: N43 billion from the 2013 budget (as proposed); N25 billion from the BASA fund and N44 billion from sources to be identified by the Ministry of Aviation, totalling N112 billion respectively. But the available funds which have not been secured by the Ministry of Aviation include the current balance of N175 billion Power and Aviation Intervention Find (PAIF) from which N75 billion was supposed to be allocated to the aviation sector that is still outstanding. There is also the additional funding of N25 billion from BASA fund to be made available for urgent infrastructure upgrades and currently the BASA fund with accrued revenue of about N30 billion, which is not yet utilised. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Chief Hope Uzodinma could not be reached by phone yesterday.

HE decision of the federal government to grant amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents has been described as an effective way of demobilising the group. The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said the move will end the recent terrorist attacks by the sect members. He made this known in his fifth letter from Rome on the Boko Haram sect titled: Amnesty for Boko Haram: Calculating the risks and counting the costs. In the paper made available to newsmen in Abuja, Onaiyekan, described the decision of the government as contained in the Democracy day address by President Goodluck Jonathan as a right step in the right direction. He however called for sincere change of heart on the part of the Boko Haram insurgents. According to him: "Although the duty of government to ensure justice and enforce good order normally entails punishing criminals, this may at times not exclude offering pardon and amnesty. "This is why each case has to be judged on its own merit. It is often a matter of calculating the risks of "tempering justice with mercy" for the higher purpose of peace and reconciliation in the community." Giving examples of how dialogue, reconciliation and amnesty have facilitated some level of success in South Africa and Nigeria, he noted the concept of amnesty can take different forms. Cardinal Onaiyekan however added that amnesty should not be construed as enthroning impunity "which could be become a precedent to blackmail government in future through violence." He explained: "The motivation has to be the pursuit of peace and reconciliation with people who admit wrong-doing and are ready to repent. "It is therefore not enough to lay down arms, perhaps because of superior fire power of government forces. "There must also be a sincere change of heart. And this is a difficult though not an impossible project."

Oil theft: JTF warns vessel owners

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right), his wife, Olufunso, (right); Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ogun Indigenes Entertainment Professionals Forum, Prince Dele Odule (3rd right) and popular gospel artiste,Tope Alabi (left) after the Ise Ya Concert staged by members of the forum at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, yesterday.

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta yesterday warned owners of vessels and tankers against allowing the use of their facilities in oil bunkering activities. The commander of the Task Force, Maj-Gen Emmanuel Atewe declared that henceforth, vessels involved in oil bunkering related activities, would be destroyed. Atewe frowned at the activities of some of the vessel and truck owners, whom he said encouraged criminal conducts by renting their facilities to oil thieves for use in stealing crude oil. According to him, it has become necessary to take stiffer measures because vessel owners often claim that they do not know that their facilities are being used to commit crime. "The command is committed to the protection of oil platforms against oil thieves which is in line with its mandate. Therefore we are advising that vessel owners should always verify the intentions of person or persons before hiring out their vessels to them," Atewe said. The Commander also said that JTF received reports that armed militants from Ekene community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, allegedly invaded Zion community. "The hoodlums harassed innocent people and extorted money and consumable items from their victims before escaping. The same gang also intercepted and diverted two passenger boats and abducted passengers on board. Troops of the JTF are currently on the trail of the criminals," he said. In another development, the JTF has handed over to the EFCC for prosecution, three suspects arrested for illegal oil bunkering. According to the Commander, the suspects were arrested on June 15 this year by troops of the command at Ogale Eleme in Rivers State in a truck.

Why access to Maiduguri airport was restricted-DHQ

HE Defence Headquarters yesterday said access to Maiduguri International Airport was restricted on Friday for security reasons. It denied shutting the airport against intending pilgrims to the lesser hajj. The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a clarification on the inability of 278 pilgrims and Senator Ali Ndume to use the airport to exit Maiduguri said the restriction of the facility was on account of use by the armed forces. He said religious or political meanings should not be read into security issues. He said that assessment of the military operations in the Northeast indicated that "a sudden massive air lift could not be permitted." "Apparently, the implications of such massive air-

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

lift and traffic from the facility in the light of present security situation were not appreciated early enough by

those planning the exercise to enable proper security procedure be installed for the important exercise," Olukolade said, adding that the DHQ took remedial

steps for the 286 pilgrims going for lesser Hajj (Umrah). His words:"An alternative arrangement was, however, worked out in concert

with the relevant authorities in the state, to enable the movement proceed. "This process has continued smoothly despite the inconveniencies which will be

ICPC can prosecute without petitions, court rules

HE Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) has powers to investigate and prosecute cases without receiving petitions. The commission had approached the Court of Appeal, Makurdi division, in June 2011 asking the court to set aside the ruling of the Nasarawa State High Court, discharging and acquitting the chairman of the Toto Local Government and

Director of Finance of the council of corrupt practices. Justice I. A Ramalan, now retired judge of the State High Court 3, Lafia in Nasarawa State, had in his ruling on May 20, 2008 discharged and acquitted the two accused of "11 count charge of conspiracy, to inflate prices of stationeries; and furnishing of false information all contrary to sections 26[1][c]; 22[3]; 19; and 16 of the ICPC Act". Enosa Omoghibo, a lawyer of the ICPC in an application on June 13, 2011 asked the Court of Appeal

to set aside the judgment of the State Court. But on May 2, 2014, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division delivered judgment in the matter in favour of ICPC. The antigraft agency has asked the Appeal Court to determine four issues. One of the issues was "whether the learned judge did not err in law when he held that since inflation of items supplied to the Local Government was not part of the allegations contained in the petition, investigating and prosecuting the ac-

cused was an abuse of the Commission's power." The presiding judge, Justice Obande F. Ogbuinya of the Court of Appeal, in his judgment citing sections 6[a] and 27[3] of ICPC Act said "The court noted that a petition is just a guide and it is not ultra vires the powers of the commission to investigate and prosecute offences outside a petition or initiate investigations and prosecutions without a petition." Consequently, the court resolved the issue in favour of the Commission.

ameliorated as the exercise progress. The sensitivity of the situation in the country calls for due caution and conscious effort to avoid yielding to the pressure from those who are apparently sympathetic to those working frantically to undermine the nation's security. "The public is, therefore, requested to ignore all insinuations inferring religious or political connotations from the security measures put in place in Maiduguri airport. The intention has never been to jeopardise the airlifting of pilgrims as has been wrongly portrayed." The Defence Headquarters appeals to the media not to yield itself to the pressure of those seeking to make political or economic capital out of the security situation by insinuating a religious or political connotation to every effort.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Situation in Nigeria scary, says Tinubu By Oziegbe Okoeki

ENATOR Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) has appealed for prayers for what she described as the prevailing scary situation in the polity. She spoke at the weekend during an award ceremony in honour of the Principal of Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Ojodu, Mrs. Victoria Kolawale by Hon. Lola Akande, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikeja 11 constituency. Kolawole received the award for “dedication to duty, outstanding performance and excellence in management and administration”. She bagged a plaque and got N200, 000 cash award from Akande and N500, 000 from other well- meaning individuals. Tinubu said: “What is going on in Nigeria today is scary. We all have to get our nation back; we all have a role to play by contributing our quota in whatever we do, let us pray for this nation”. While commending Kolawole for raising good, trained and disciplined students as well as efficient administration of the school, she wondered what awaits the army of unemployed youths in the nation. Many of them, she lamented, are going to inherit “a nation of uncertainties, unemployment and insecurity. That is why we must pray for our nation.” To Kolawole, she said: “Your story inspires us. That is why we are here. I know you are a passionate leader; you are bringing out quality to the nation by the training and educating the children”.

EY aviation stakeholders are divided over the confirmation of the Director General designate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Murktar Usman. Usman was nominated for the post five months ago following the sack of the former helmsman, Captain Folayele Akinkuotu. Members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) threatened to ground operations in the sector if the nomination is further delayed. But the Aviation Network International (AN1) dismissed the threat as unacceptable, saying it is not in the overall interest of the sector. It was also gathered that some former workers of Nigeria Airways have written petitions against the nomination of Captain Usman. Usman was the former commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). The petitioners allegedly questioned Usman’s capability as a pilot in command, it also emerged. Investigations revealed that the delay in confirmation of Captain Usman is predicated on a petition by a governor in the South West, querying the circumstances under which Captain Fola Akinkuotu was removed from office as NCAA boss. ATSSSAN expressed worry over the non- confirmation of Usman. It issued a 21-day ultimatum to the National Assembly to act, failure of which it would halt activities in the sector. In a petition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, dated June 18 and signed by Captain Tar Tanongo, Deputy National Secretary of ATSSSAN, the association said the appointment of

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS

e-mail: femabbas756@gmail.com Tel: 08115708536

TARAWIH

HENEVER the month of Ramadan comes around, its first point of call is Tarawih the famous supererogatory prayer that hosts Muslim congregations across nations. Tarawih is a special prayer observed only in the month of Ramadan. It contains many rakats ranging from six to ten and to twenty depending on the choice of its observers. When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) first introduced Tarawih as an attribute of Ramadan, he was the only one observing it every night after Salatul ‘Isha’. But at a stage, some of his companions decided to join him in observing it. First, the Prophet did not talk when the companions joined him in observing the prayer. However, when the congregation began to grow, he observed that the prayer was gradually being turned into another obligatory prayer. He therefore stopped observing it in the Mosque to avoid giving the impression that Tarawih was another prayer of obligatory status. He therefore stopped going to the Mosque for the observance of Tarawih. And when he was asked his reason for stopping observing the supererogatory Salat in the Mosque, he told his companions that he didn’t want it to be misconceived as another obligatory Salat. Thus the congregational observance of Tarawih came to an end. Hence it became an individual Salat. However, when Umar Bn Khattab became the Caliph after the demise of Abubakar, he walked into the Mosque one evening and met a crowd of people observing Tarawih with each reciting the verses of the Qur’an aloud to the disturbance of others. Umar then asked all of them to stop reciting aloud and ordered them to queue up asking the most knowledgeable one among them to lead the rest in observing the Salat while he watched. After the completion of the Salat, Umar said with satisfaction that he had innovated a beautiful tradition. From thence, congregational observance of Tarawih became a tradition. And today, it is a tradition enthusiastically observed throughout the Muslim world. Tarawih being a supererogatory prayer has no definite number of rakats. Some people observe six rakats. Some observe ten while others observe twenty depending on the school of jurisprudence to which individuals belong. Tarawih is one of the two attributes preceding the fast of Ramada. The second is Sahur. But the latter is weightier than the earlier.

NEWS

Intrigues over confirmation of NCAA DG-designate By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

a substantive director general for NCAA is dragging too long. The association said as much as nature does not abhor vacuum with an acting director general appointed, it warned that the Civil Aviation Act does not recognise such arrangement of ‘acting capacity’. But ANI’s president, Mr. Thompson Obafemi, said the

union’s role in a civil society is not to usurp the responsibility of elected leaders by unfairly twisting government’s arms to dictate implementation of government policies or functions. After the presidential nomination of a director general designate for NCAA, it is left for the Senate to delay, deny or approve confirmation of relevant executive officers, Obafemi said. He warned that aviation unions or associations have no

business in such process. According to him: “There’s no vacuum caused by having an acting director general in place in NCAA. “In fact, the acting director general, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, is a consummate and accomplished professional with vast multi jurisdictional international experience of the industry, well respected by his peers and operators, and has brought stability in regulating the sector.”

A source close to Usman said:” There is a process of appointing the director general of NCAA. The civil aviation act is very clear on the process. “And I believe the process is going on. I believe government is doing what is supposed to be done.” The Nigeria Civil Aviation Act 2006 stipulates that a director general be appointed but does not state whether this should be in acting or substantive capacity.

•L-R: Permanent Secretary, Local Government Commission, Mr. Ashamu Fadipe; Permanent Secretary, Local Government Establishment and Pension fund, Mr. Jamiu Adewale Ashimi; Director General Public Service Staff Development Centre, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo and Representative of Permanent Secretary- office of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ekundayo Ajakaye during the 2014 Capacity building for officer of Local Government and Local Government Council Development Areas... at the weekend in Lagos. Photo: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL.

FG to review importation of waste

HE Federal Government will review the importation of waste, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has said. The government, she also said, is committed to the management of hazardous chemicals harmful to the environment. Mallam said government will take a wholesome look into how electronic waste is imported, inspection of container ships and aggravated

From: Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

sensitisation. She also added that the government will embark on campaign and advocacy to farmers on the use of the correct type of pesticides and the need to comply strictly with international conventions on the use of chemicals. The minister spoke at the on -going United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. Mallam, in a statement in

Abuja by her Special Adviser on Media, Josephine Lohor, called for more partnership from other governments to deal with the issue of chemical management. She said: “The role partnership could play to address the worrying issue of chemical management including with small businesses on importing electronic waste cannot be over emphasized. “The commitment of Nigeria on the management of chemicals cannot be rivaled and this includes training on

the importation of electronic waste, reduction of illegal electronic waste transfer through inspection of container ships, information to farmers about the use of pesticide and strict compliance with International Chemicals Conventions.” Other issues to be discussed at the United Nations Environment Assembly include illegal trade in wildlife, financing the green economy, rule of law as it concerns the environment and sustainable development goals.

FIRS, NERC set tomorrow for VAT remittance

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have agreed that outstanding Value Added Taxes (VAT) deducted by power sector operators in the wake of the takeoff of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) must be remitted to the FIRS on or before tomorrow. A statement by FIRS’ Head, Communication and

By Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

Liaison Department, Wahab Gbadamosi, said part of the ongoing discussions are that capital items would be defined according to the standards of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). He stated: “Gas purchases would need to be treated under some form of special dispensation such as input VAT suffered by GENCos (Gener-

ating Companies) would be considered under this dispensation.” The Acting Executive Chairman of FIRS, Kabir Mashi, noted that the collaborative effort was part of the resolve to focus more on the need to grow non-oil revenue to meet the developmental needs. He stated that the FIRS had earlier embarked on similar initiatives in the aviation industry, banking sec-

tor, government‘s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as States through the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and the Local Governments. Mashi said there were ongoing arrangements with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) through the GIFMIS platform and E-Tax Pay to source-deduct VAT from MDAs and remit to the appropriate account.

bombs because of poverty, while others say that these acts of insurgency are politically motivated.” He added: “Much as I will agree that there could be political and economic dimensions to the current security challenges facing the nation, I still strongly believe that the main thrust of all these violent campaign against the state is region. “The leadership of the outlawed Islamic group, Boko Harâm, had repeatedly said that

their mission is to establish a pure Islamic state ruled by Sharia, putting an end to what it deemed westernisation.” He enjoined believers in the corporate existence of the nation to pray to God to equip “our security agencies with eagle eyes to locate all those sponsoring insurgency or sympathetic to the terrorist group as well as members of the group to lay down their arms and join hands to build the nation.”

CAN condemns Abuja blasts

HE National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has condemned last week’s bomb blast at EMAB Plaza Abuja that left over 23 people dead. While expressing sympathy to the families of the dead, the CAN’S helmsman wished the injured speedy recovery. Such premeditated acts of provocation, Oritsejafor said, must stop. The cleric, in a statement, at

the weekend said: “It is absolutely disheartening to know that some persons still take delight in killing innocent persons in defence of a perceived god. “I just cannot find adequate words to describe these things! It is puzzling to always hear people argue in defence of their faith that the Islamic jihadists who daily commit these heinous crimes are not Muslims. “Some had argued that these people are throwing

Ondo gets Federal Poly From Damisi Ojo, Akure

NDO State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has announced the siting of a Federal Polytechnic in Ile Oluji in Ondo State. Mimiko, made the disclosure at the palace of the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Stephen Adedugbe. He said he received the letter announcing the establishment of the Polytechnic from the Federal Government and decided to locate it in Ile Oluji. President Goodluck Jonathan in the letter signed by the Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Nwike said, "The new institution is being established to provide increased access to our teeming youths who are yearning for tertiary education and to provide skilled middle level manpower for national development." While justifying the choice of Ondo State, President Jonathan added, "The establishment of the polytechnic is informed by the fact that there is no Federal Polytechnic in the state as is the case with some of its peers in the South West zone of the country." Mimiko said the initiative is to him in fulfillment of the president's promise to give Ondo State its due in the country and a realisation of his dream to have a befitting institution established for the State. Mimiko expressed the hope that the siting of the institution would put to rest the acrimony within the community and the local government at large.

Aregbesola, Osun APC urge Moslems to pray for peace, security From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

NEWS

S the holy month of Ramadan begins, Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have charged Muslims all over the country to pray for the nation’s peace and security. In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor noted that Ramadan is a month in which Muslims must redouble their spiritual efforts for the attainment of piety. He also tasked the Muslim ummah to use the holy month to pray fervently for peace and security in Osun State and the nation at large. Aregbesola reiterated that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and its adherents have no choice but to be peaceful and peace-loving in their behaviour and conducts. He said: "This is a month that comes once in a year. It is a month designed by Allah to open the door of mercy, favour and forgiveness to His creatures. We should seize this opportunity to pray for the country to overcome all the sociopolitical upheaval and insecurity it has been battling with. In a similar vein, the Osun State chapter has called on Moslems to use the period of Ramadan fast to reflect deeply and pray earnestly for peace to prevail in the country.

'Why agric development is slow in Nigeria' T

HE Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Gbenga Kaka, has said the development of agriculture in Nigeria has been slow because mechanised farming has not been fully embraced by farmers. Kaka noted that with the vast resources at Nigeria's disposal, the country ought to have gone beyond small-scale farming to embrace full-scale mechanised farming.

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Senator, who spoke in Abuja at the weekend, noted that small scale farming alone cannot meet the food demands of the country. He said, “Agricultural development is not moving at the expected pace for a big country like Nigeria. “With vast arable land, large number of the cheapest labour in the world and with

the resources at Nigeria's disposal particularly from crude oil, we ought to have maximised our diversification into agriculture especially when you juxtapose all these with the fact that over 70percent of our people are employed in agriculture. “We ought to have gone beyond all these small-scale implements (hoes and cutlass) into mechanisation and applying modern-day

technology. “The bits and pieces coming from our farmers can never be enough to run a viable agroindustry that will be capable of employing our teeming unemployed youth.” While lamenting the poor budget allocation to the sector, the lawmaker berated the government for failing to meet the Maputo Declaration which calls for 10 percent of budgetary allocation to agriculture.

From left: The Onitire of Itire, His Royal Highness, Oba Lateef Abayomi Akanbi Dauda, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rasaq Balogun, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Hon. AdeJoke Orelope-Adefulire, Chairman, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Adisa Bamgbola, during the official commissioning of the new Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area Secretariat at Surulere, Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

'Abuja Centenary City, a misplaced priority'

HAIRMAN, Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanai Agunbiade, has described the proposed Abuja Centenary City by President Goodluck Jonathan as a misplaced priority by the Federal Government. Agunbiade made this observation during a weekly programme organised by Lagos State House of Assembly correspondents at Alausa, Ikeja. A few days ago, Jonathan

By Oziegbe Okoeki

performed the ground breaking ceremony of Abuja centenary city which will gulp about N3trn. The lawmaker, who noted that the commemoration of Nigeria's centenary was not a bad idea, however, added that the epileptic power situation should be the government's utmost priority. He said, “I would say it is significant that Nigeria celebrated 100 years, however,

there are a lot of contending issues with that initiative. Looking at the cost of that, the best gift the president can give to Nigerians is to tackle the shortage of electricity.” While questioning the rationale for the building of the centenary city, the lawmaker asked, “Who are the people that will live in the city? Is it the downtrodden or those that are already comfortable?” Commenting on the outcome of the June 21 governorship poll in Ekiti State,

Agunbiade said his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has legitimate grounds to appeal the election results, because, according to him, the over militarisation of the election intimidated many voters in the State to vote for the PDP candidate. He said, “APC has made its position known that it would contest the result at the election tribunal. If the party does not feel that it has legitimate grounds to do so, it would not embark on an exercise in futility.”

Emulate Arisekola’s philanthrophic spirit, Obasanjo urges F

ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged Nigerians to emulate the philanthropist gesture of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao for the development of mankind. The former Nigerian leader made this plea during his condolence visit to the family of the late Islamic leader at his residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Obasanjo, who arrived the residence at about 10:28

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

am in company of a Commissioner in the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Lateef Gbadamosi and former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Lasisi Olakojo, were received by Alhaji Abu Arisekola-Alao on behalf of the family. “When the news about his death broke in Ibadan, I was around but I could not believe it because I spoke

with him four days before he travelled. He was a humble man of many parts. He was a community leader, a state leader and a national leader. He appreciated what God has given him both in material terms and used it to benefit mankind. He was a philanthropist of note,” Obasanjo said. He added, “He lived a fulfilled life and he was humble to the core. He lived

his life to serve the masses and the downtrodden.” Describing the void left behind by the late businessman as one that will be difficult to fill, Obasanjo urged the deceased’s children and family members to unite themselves and avoid any act of rancour. Responding, one of the late Arisekola's sons, Isa, thanked the former President for his visit. Shortly after, Obasanjo visited Aare's graveside to pay his last respect.

Stop patronage of quacks, agency urges Lagos residents By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie and Temitayo Ayetoto

AGOS State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), has advised residents to stop consulting quacks and untrained men in order to curtail the incessant cases of building collapse. The agency stated this at a town hall meeting with stakeholders at Eti-Osa local government area where residents were enlightened on the pros and cons of building procedures. General Manager, LABSCA, Dr. Animashaun Odunayo, in her remarks, urged stakeholders especially engineers and architects, to obtain the necessary permits and approvals before commencing on any construction. While enlightening stakeholders on the role of LASBCA, she said the agency engages in the inspection and certification of various stages of building construction, verification of general contractors’ all risk and building insurance policy. Others are the issuance of certificate of completion and fitness for habitation, identification and removal of distressed and non-conforming buildings, public health control in buildings and fire safety requirements of buildings. On the management of waste from construction sites, Odunayo said LASBCA has partnered with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to properly manage wastes that emanate from construction sites to avoid environmental nuisance. The LASBCA boss further called on architects to incorporate the special needs of the physically impaired person while designing buildings, while expressing regret that most structures do not make provision for them. She said, “Our amended building design rules and regulations insist that public buildings should be built in such a way that it will accommodate people who cannot see, hear or walk on their own.” Chairman, Eti-Osa LG, Mr. Anofi Elegushi advised residents to judiciously apply the knowledge gained from the interaction with LASBCA officials, while challenging the agency to adequately and timely enlighten people on the causes of building collapse and how it can be averted. Commissioner for Physical and Urban development, Olutoyin Ayinde, lamented the high patronage of quacks in the building sector. He said the State Urban Renewal Agency and Building Control Agency were set up to properly guide construction, while also enjoining the public to cooperate with officials of the agency in the discharge of their duties.

Probe Ondo local councils’ funds, Ondo APC tasks Assembly

HE Chairman, Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, has urged the Public Accounts Committee of the State House of Assembly and the Auditor-General for Local Governments to probe the fi-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

nances of the local government councils in the State. Lamenting the failure of relevant stakeholders to hold any meeting of the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) in the past 17 months, Kekemeke ex-

pressed concern over how the revenue accruing to LGs in the state from the Federation account is being expended. He said the release of funds to LGs at will by the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is capable of engendering

abuse of even the little sums released. Citing a case of the alleged N2billion released to LGs in the wake of the inconclusive bye-election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency, the APC chieftain said the fund was allegedly wasted on the elec-

tion under the guise of drainage clearing and other invisible projects. Kekemeke added that the people of Ondo State deserve a better treatment from the Mimiko-led government, while stressing that governance has gone to sleep in the State.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

â&#x20AC;˘ Larry Diamond

VEN in advanced democracies, the search for true democracy continues. More so, for developing democracies such as Nigeria where the understanding and practice of democracy is still superficial or better still just taking root, in countries that have practised democracy for close to a century we still find a refinement of processes, re-definitions, and institutions. This constant evolution of democracy has kept the shine on this style of governance while exposing the dross and rot within. There are indeed no perfect systems of government anywhere in the world, but the practice of democracy comes close enough for Nigerians hence our subscription to it. However, how well a democracy works or survives is a function of the strength of the institutions, the honesty and allegiance of its operators. Where the institutions of democracy are violated, weak or non-existent or the operators are pseudo democrats, the system falters and overheats. The demands and dividends expected of democracy are the same world over. A system that is equitable and just. One that rewards and never discriminates, one that empowers and helps to unleash the potentials of its people and operates a value system that is non exploitative. Nigeria's search for such a workable democracy remains a continuum,

The unending search for true democracy As the Inaugural lecture of the Freedom House Democracy Lectures holds tomorrow, Sunday Dare examines the objectives of the series and interrogates the very notion of democracy and what it portends and frightening a mirage. Hence, the inauguration of the Freedom House Democracy Lecture series is meant to keep in the front burner the issues that can make our democracy viable and relevant but above all to interrogate current issues that seem to confront us as a people and a nation. This first in a series looks at Nigeria's Governance Predicament: Poverty, Terrorism and Democracy, Professor Larry Diamond, an authority on Democracy and Ethnicity in this instance takes a stab at the issues of poverty, terrorism and democracy. These are critical issues that pervade Nigeria's current situation and tugs at its survival. How do poverty and terrorism erode democratic rights and privileges? What kind of governance produces

these deadly issues of poverty and terrorism? Is there any link between poverty and terrorism? If yes, what conditions have perpetuated or created such a deadly mix and what is being done about it? The kidnappings, abductions, bombings, killings and non-stop violence perpetrated by Boko Haram continue unabated. Nigeria is under the cloud of a rising intensity insurgency that is gradually spreading across the country. The more the government promise to halt the atrocities of Boko Haram, the more deadly they strike back. And while those at the top fiddle, the nation burns and citizens continue to die in droves. What is democracy worth without security and personal freedoms? Nigeria remains perched

on the tree of disaster. The present trend of mindless bombings and attacks depict a country at war with itself. A country in the hands of power amateurs and myopic leaders who only see what they want to see and believe what they want to. Yet, the slide into anarchy has become a daily and frightening possibility. Democracies around the world tend to pursue peace with all vigour alongside the promotion of social welfare and protection of rights and freedoms. Functional democracies go the extra mile to provide safety nets for the poor, weak and vulnerable in their societies. The security of the individual is embedded in the nations and an injury to any citizen is an injury to the entire nations. In these climes, the

patriotism of the citizens is assured just as the institutions function to make the people feel the impact of government. Some may argue that what is stated above is just the ideal and not real for our situation. But that is not true. Though there are no perfect democracies, there are functional ones and Nigeria is not one of them. How we can get Nigeria to the level of a true federation and a functional democracy is the challenge of our time. The Freedom House Democracy Lecture series an initiative of Dr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos Governor is an independent think tank. It is an initiative that coincides with the ideals he holds dear and his desire to see democracy take firm roots in Nigeria. The series of Freedom House Democracy Lectures will seek a continuous interrogation of the issues that surround democracy and good governance. It will promote simultaneous clash of ideas and expand the space for Nigerians and other intellectuals to hold crucial conversations about the present and future of our country. Nigeria's future can only be secured if it embraces the tenets of democracy and accountable leadership. Anything short of this prescription is a recipe for disaster. Dare is Special Adviser Media to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed

WORLD/COMMENTARY

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Why ISIS won't take Baghdad

The jihadist-led Sunni coalition that's swept through parts of Syria and northwest Iraq strikes where there's local support and the least resistance. That's not the Iraqi capital.

â&#x20AC;˘Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces (Background) patrol a road as displaced people fleeing the fighting between government forces and Sunni militants wait with their car near a temporary camp at the weekend in Aski kalak, 40 kms west of the Kurdish autonomous region's capital Arbil. International agencies have raised alarm bells over the humanitarian consequences of the fighting, with up to 10,000 people having fled a northern Christian town in recent days and 1.2 million displaced by unrest in Iraq this year. AFP PHOTO

IGHTERS loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) have at times been as close as six miles to Baghdad, according to Iraqi and Kurdish commanders interviewed by The Daily Beast. But the Iraqi capital may well be "a city too far" for this ferocious al-Qaeda offshoot that is determined, as its name says, to establish a state of its own. While there's no solid consensus among intelligence analysts in the region about ISIS's precise strategy, several interviewed in recent days say the jihadists are likely to launch demoralizing commando raids and a suicide bombing blitz in Baghdad, probably timed to coincide with the arrival of the main contingent of US military advisers. (An advance guard arrived Tuesday.) The Americans presumably will make the defense of the capital a priority, but that may be precisely what ISIS hopes they will do, because it has other interests. "The priority, I think, for ISIS is to build their Islamic State straddling the Syria-Iraq border - that is their ultimate objective-and trying to capture Baghdad would be too big for them to accomplish; it could also sidetrack them," says a US intelligence official based in the Middle East who is closely monitoring ISIS. ISIS has not picked difficult battles. It has calculated carefully where it could move with the biggest impact and the least resistance. Mosul was not Stalingrad, holding out against a powerful siege; it was more like

By Jamie Dettmer Copenhagen in World War II, folding without a fight. A concerted ISIS campaign to capture Baghdad would no doubt trigger greater military reaction from the Iranians -- key backers of the Shia-dominated government of beleaguered Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - who already have sent members of their Revolutionary Guard and military supplies to bolster Iraqi security forces. The Iranians reportedly are flying surveillance drone flights on behalf of Maliki's government as well. Such attacks as do take place in and around Baghdad will likely aim to sow political discord and fan sectarian divisions, keeping Maliki's government wrong-footed and on the defensive. Iraqi troops and allied Shia militiamen are holding a line north of Baghdad and trying to establish what army commanders call the Baghdad Belt around the capital. But they are making little headway mounting an offensive, relying on instead on the spotty use of airpower to take the fight into ISIS territory. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and other ISIS leaders have made clear their ambition to establish a caliphate stretching from Aleppo in Syria right across northern and western Iraq. "ISIS is not only talking the talk about establishing an Islamic state, it is walking the walk," jihadist expert Aaron Zelin notes in a research paper on the group released Thursday by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a D.C.-based think tank.

"Further, the reality of a proto-state and ISIS's willingness to try to governthis khilafa project, as many within the group call it-is quite appealing to jihadists," says Zelin. It is helping to attract recruits and undermine the standing of al-Qaeda, whose leadership disowned ISIS earlier this year, partly over its state-building aspirations. On Baghdad, Zelin told The Daily Beast that ISIS has always had a presence in the capital. "I don't think they can take it, though," he said. "With 80 percent of the population being Shia, it would pretty much be impossible, though they may take Sunni neighborhoods." Mideast expert Jonathan Schanzer of the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies says ISIS lacks the manpower to hold Baghdad even if it could succeed in storming the capital. "Strategically for ISIS, invading Baghdad would therefore seem like a mistake," says Schanzer. But he adds the caveat, "We also don't know what kind of quiet support it enjoys from the disaffected Sunnis -- former Baathists are said to be among ISIS base of support -who could help the group conquer and hold the seat of power in Iraq." The Mideast-based American intelligence official says al-Baghdadi and his inner core of advisers made up of experienced Iraqi jihadists and military veterans -- as well as some Chechens -- are unlikely to make the mistake of trying to mount a full-scale assault on the capital. He argues the group's leadership has shown a remarkable grasp of military strategy, astutely withdrawing from towns in rebel-controlled provinces in

northern Syria when faced by a backlash from Syrian rebel groups and thus avoiding defeats, negotiating with local Sunni tribes in both Syria and Iraq and entering a pact with former Saddam Hussein-era military officers and Iraqi Baath party members to unleash an audacious Sunni insurgency in Iraq. Most ISIS military operations have focused on isolating the capital by securing important land routes around it or consolidating their hold on Sunni towns already captured, and by overrunning pockets of resistance in the majority-Sunni zones of western, south-western and northern Iraq bordering Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Another priority target has been refineries and oil wells. Already in eastern Syria ISIS has been smuggling and selling oil from wells captured in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad. It's a lucrative trade that has helped swell the jihadist group's coffers and transform it into the world's wealthiest terrorist organization. Taking a chunk of Iraq's oil production could make it much richer still. The insurgents are continuing an intense fight at Iraq's Baiji oil refinery, the country's largest, despite Iraqi government claims that its forces have asserted full control over the facility. Meanwhile, a jihadist bombing campaign in Baghdad appears to have started. Two car bombs hit Baghdad's suburbs during the week, the latest killing 19 and wounding more than 40. Infuriated Shia vowed revenge. Source: www.Dailybeast.com

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Damascus market blast kills two

Explosion at Cairo telephone exchange kills woman

CAR bomb exploded in a busy market in a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital yesterday, killing at least two people and wounding dozens as Muslims went shopping a day before the start of their holy month of Ramadan, activists said. The blast in Douma came nearly two hours after Russia's deputy foreign minister called on the United States and Europe to take "serious" steps to combat terrorism during a visit to Damascus, warning that several Middle Eastern countries are threatened. "Russia will not stand idle toward attempts by terrorist groups to spread terrorism in regional states," Sergei Ryabkov told reporters, apparently referring to the rapid advance of the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant across eastern Syria and northern Iraq.

Libyan militant in US court

SPOKESMAN for the U.S. attorney's office in Washington says a Libyan militant charged in the 2012 Benghazi attacks is in federal law enforcement custody and there is heightened security at the city's federal courthouse. Spokesman William Miller declined further comment regarding Ahmed Abu Khattala (Kah-TALL-ah) at this time. Khattala faces criminal charges in the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans. U.S. special forces captured him in Libya two weeks ago, marking the first breakthrough in the investigation of the Benghazi attacks. A criminal complaint filed last year was unsealed after his capture. U.S. officials had been questioning Abu Khattala aboard a Navy amphibious transport dock ship that brought him to the United States.

Thai army to hold elections in 2015

HAILAND'S military leader has promised a return to democracy but says elections will only take place after October 2015. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said in a speech that an interim constitution would be adopted next month. A temporary cabinet would then govern until elections next year. The military seized power on 22 May, saying it wanted to return stability to Thailand after months of political and social unrest. Gen Prayuth, who led the coup, said any new election would have to take place under a new constitution, which would be drafted by an appointed body. "We want to see an election that will take place under the new constitution... that will be free and fair, so that it can become a solid foundation for a complete Thai democracy," he said in a televised address.

â&#x20AC;˘Injured Syrian children being treated at a makeshift hospital yesterday, following a reported car bomb explosion at a popular market in the rebel-held town of Douma, northeast of the capital Damascus. AFP PHOTO

WO bombs exploded at a small telephone exchange on Cairo's outskirts yesterday, killing an 18year-old woman, security sources said, days after a string of small bomb explosions hit the Egyptian capital's metro network. The two bombs had been stored the exchange building which was still under construction, security sources and a judicial source said, adding they assumed the devices had been intended for use elsewhere. The unfinished concrete building partially collapsed in the blast, which killed the daughter of a construction site guard and injured his wife. The family lived in an annex to the building in 6th of October City, an eastern satellite district of Cairo. State television reported that two people were killed in the blast but security officials were not immediately able to confirm the higher toll. An official at the site told reporters telephone services would return within two days to around 800 people whose lines were affected.

Russia accuses US of fueling Ukrainian crisis

Iraqi troops push to retake Tikrit from rebels R

RAQI government forces backed by helicopter gunships began an offensive yesterday to retake the northern city of Tikrit from Sunni Islamist militants while party leaders pursued talks that could end Prime Minister Nouri alMaliki's divisive rule. Politicians in Baghdad and world powers warn that unless security forces recover cities lost to the jihadi insurgents in tandem with a rapid formation of a government that can bring Iraq's estranged communities together, the country could rip apart along sectarian lines and menace the wider Middle East. On the battlefield, Iraqi troops were trying to advance on Tikrit from the direction of Samarra to the south that has become the military's line in the sand against a militant advance southwards to within an hour's drive of Baghdad. Iraqi Special Forces already have snipers inside Tikrit Uni-

versity who were dropped by air there in a bold operation on Thursday. Helicopter gunships fired at targets in Tikrit on Saturday and ISIL fighters abandoned Tikrit's governorate building, security sources said. More government troops had been air-dropped in a pocket just north of the city. Iraqi military spokesman Qassim Atta told reporters in Baghdad on Saturday that 29 "terrorists" were killed on Friday in Tikrit and that militant commanders were struggling because "their morale has started to collapse." However, the militants were showing resilience and enjoyed the backing of some local Sunni tribes, as well as former ruling Baathists from the era of late Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein - whose hometown was Tikrit - alienated from Maliki's government. Since early June, the radical ISIL have overrun most major-

ity Sunni areas in the north and west of Iraq, capturing the biggest northern city Mosul and fanning southwards. ISIL vows to re-create a medieval-style caliphate erasing borders from the Mediterranean to the Gulf and they deem all Shi'ites to be heretics deserving death. They boast of executing scores of Shi'ite government soldiers captured in Tikrit. In a stunning political intervention on Friday that mean the demise of Maliki's eight-year tenure, powerful Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani urged political blocs to agree on the next premier, parliament speaker and president before a newly elected legislature meets in Baghdad on Tuesday. Saudi King Abdullah pledged in talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to use his influence to encourage Sunni Muslims to join a new, more inclusive Iraqi government to better combat Islamist

insurgents, a senior U.S. official said yesterday. Abdullah's assurance marked a significant shift from Riyadh's unwillingness to support a new government unless Maliki, a Shi'ite, steps aside, and reflected growing disquiet about the regional repercussions of ISIL's rise. "The next 72 hours are very important to come up with an agreement..., to push the political process forward," said a lawmaker and former government official from the National Alliance, which groups all Shi'ite Muslim parties. The lawmaker, who asked for anonymity due to political sensitivities, said he anticipated internal meetings by various parties and a broader session of the National Alliance including Maliki's State of Law list to be held through the weekend. Some Sunni Muslim parties were to convene later yesterday.

Building collapses kill 11 in India

WO building collapses in New Delhi and Tamil Nadu states killed at least 11 people yesterday and left dozens trapped, highlighting the need for increased monitoring of construction across India where such incidents are common. Ten people including five children were killed in New Delhi after a 50-year-old apartment block with 14 occupants collapsed early yesterday, a police spokesman said.

"Building collapse in Delhi brings forth need to adhere to safety requirements," tweeted Vijay Goel, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party that controls the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Numerous building accidents in India's large cities have killed about 100 people in the past year, according to local media reports. More than 50 people were killed when an apartment block collapsed in Mumbai last September. Deputy

Commissioner of Police MadhurVerma told reporters an investigation into the cause of yesterday's building collapse in New Delhi had been launched. Former Delhi chief minister ArvindKejriwal called the incident a "nexus between the builder mafia and the municipal corporation". The corporation did not a answer phone call requesting comment. Later yesterday, an 11storey building under construc-

tion in southern Tamil Nadu state came down, killing one worker, said K. Shanmugasundaram, a spokesman for the state police. "Some 10 workers are in hospital and one of them is in the intensive care unit," he told Reuters. "Many more are still feared trapped." Local media reports said more than fifty people were feared trapped in the debris of the block.

USSIA'S foreign minister yesterday accused the United States of encouraging Ukraine to challenge Moscow and heavily weighing in on the European Union. Speaking in televised remarks yesterday, Sergey Lavrov said that "our American colleagues still prefer to push the Ukrainian leadership toward a confrontational path." He added that chances for settling the Ukrainian crisis would have been higher if it only depended on Russia and Europe. Lavrov spoke after Friday's European Union summit, which decided not to immediately impose new sanctions on Russia for destabilizing eastern Ukraine, but gave the Russian government and pro-Russian insurgents there until Monday to take steps to improve the situation. Ukraine on Friday signed a free-trade pact with the EU, the very deal that a former Ukrainian president dumped under pressure from Moscow in November, fueling huge protests that eventually drove him from power. Moscow responded by annexing the mainly Russian-speaking Crimean Peninsula in March, and a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine erupted the month after, leading to the developments that have brought Russia-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War times. The U.S. and the EU have slapped travel bans and asset freezes on members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and threatened to impose more crippling sanctions against entire sectors of Russia's economy if the Kremlin fails to de-escalate the crisis.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Ropo Sekoni

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Jelili’s metamorphosis Yesterday’s humble ministerial nominee now something else tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

LHAJI Abduljelili Adesiyan needs little or no introduction. A man like him rarely does. He was the ministerial nominee that wept at the senate chamber during screening, over the killing of Chief Bola Ige, until his murder in cold blood on December 23, 2001, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. And, barely four months after catching cold before the senators and weeping like a baby during his screening, Alhaji Adesiyan, now police affairs minister, is now a man of his own. He has found his voice. He is no longer weeping; indeed, he is no longer sad Jelili but happy Jelili. That is what government appointment does to people in Nigeria. It can make you hit a masquerade in the face, slap a policeman and crown the audacity by stoning even a judge. You will understand what I am saying as we proceed on a guided tour of what transpired at the senate that fateful day in February. And what happened at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state secretariat at Gbongan Road, Osogbo, last weekend, when the minister opened up on the allegation by Senator Isiaka Adeleke, former Governor of Osun State, who alleged that the minister beat him up during the party’s stakeholders’ meeting with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo a few weeks back. First, the drama at the upper legislative house. This began when the Senate President, David Mark, asked Adesiyan to tell the senators those things that were not included in his Curriculum Vitae, which he submitted to the senate as part of the screening process. I never knew Mark could be that witty. Of course everyone knew what was missing that the senate president wanted the (then) humble Adesiyan to fill the gap: Chief Ige’s murder. Who dunnit? Adesiyan himself got the message. He launched into a sermon: “It may interest you, distinguished Senators, to know that I am one of those wrongly accused to have had a hand in the death of my mentor, Chief Bola Ige. “It was all political blackmail because I knew nothing about the death of Chief Bola Ige. I was detained for three and half years for something I knew nothing about. “I stand here to say that I knew nothing about the death of Chief Bola Ige.” That was Adesiyan, the then ministerial nominee. Compare and contrast to Adesiyan, the Minister of Police Affairs. Level has changed. Adesiyan is now operating in the realm of a Minister of the Federal Republic. And the difference is clear. How do I know? Concerning Adeleke’s allegation, hear him: “My regret was that I did not beat him as he claimed I did. If I had not been a minister, I would have flogged him like a baby. You know that he could

“The man who is supposed to pilot affairs in the law enforcement department is not done yet: “I thought he was tough but he ran away immediately. He is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in hospital. You know me ... Ta lo nje ode aperin niwaju ode apaayan? (who is an elephant hunter in the presence of a hunter who kills human beings)”? Ode aperin; ode apaayan? Hum!

Take a bow Fayemi

•Once upon a sad Jelili

•Now happy Jelili

not withstand one blow. You know Adeleke is sick, maybe he would have died that day. It was Sogo Agboola that gave Adeleke a dirty slap and he tried to caution him from being violent and he gave Sogo an elbow jerk, which Sogo quickly returned with a dirty resounding slap”. The man who is supposed to pilot affairs in the law enforcement department is not done yet: “I thought he was tough but he ran away immediately. He is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in hospital. You know me. Let me tell you, Adeleke is a liar. After running to his people in APC, they perfected the story for him. You know they are good at propaganda. Ta lo nje ode aperin niwaju ode apaayan? (who is an elephant hunter in the presence of a hunter who kills human beings)”? Ode aperin; ode apaayan? Hum! My appeal to Adesiyan’s principal, President Goodluck Jonathan, is to ensure that he keeps Alhaji Adesiyan permanently in the cage by making him minister, probably for life so as to save him from himself. That, President Jonathan owes his police affairs minister so he does not have blood in his hands or get accused for murder again. In

Yoruba land, we have a saying that it is he that gave birth to a bad child that has the responsibility of taming him. President Jonathan may not get the message, but Minister Adesiyan, as a man of proverbs, should There are many Adesiyans in Jonathan’s cabinet. Then tomorrow, someone would say he wants to rebrand Nigeria and accuse the media of painting it in bad light. With the Adesiyans in government, does anybody have to say again the manner of government we have in Nigeria? But they should go and ask Sunday Adewusi, the inspector-general of police what has become of him after his questionable role in the Second Republic, especially after the 1983 general elections. Of course we also owe the senate a big thank you for approving Adesiyan’s nomination to be minister. If not, maybe Adeleke “would have died” on the day of the encounter that Adesiyan said never was. And if that happens this time, all the angels in heaven swearing that he knows nothing about the sad incident would amount to nothing. On this note, I rest my case. Court!!

Engineering: NLNG to the rescue

N June 8, I wrote a piece titled “Hungry for knowledge: Nigeria’s tertiary education crisis in perspective”, in which I focused on the issue of funding as a major challenge facing the government universities, state or federal. The article could not have come at a better time, given the reports about the universities in the media. At least five universities in the country have had one crisis or the other over school fees in the last few weeks. Without doubt, there could be other challenges facing the Ivory Towers, the point is that funding is about the main issue. Even when the Academic staff Union of Universities went on the last protracted strike, funding was a key element of the demands. This explains my joy when last week the media carried the report of Nigeria LNG Ltd. which has decided to boost engineering in six federal universities in the country with N2billion. The beneficiaries are:University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Port Harcourt, Port harcourt; University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri and University of Ilorin, Ilorin. Nigeria LNG Ltd. deserves commendation for this kind gesture. But then, the first thing that occurred to me was why the gesture to engineering came when it did from the company, given that the company’s business revolves around engineering? Even when we realise that the company instituted two awards in 2004 - the Nigeria Prize for Science

and Nigeria Prize for Literature, as part of its efforts to boost education in the country, many Nigerians will readily agree that the Literature prize remains the more celebrated; the more talked-about. Each category started with $20,000 in 2004, moved up to $30,000 in 2006, then $50,000 in 2008. Another significant change in the administration upped the prize money to $100,000 in 2011. For the Literature category, the $100,000 reward is Africa’s most prestigious reward for literary excellence and it ranks among the world’s top 100. This is big money by any standards. However, when it is realised that of the two categories of awards, there were no winners for the Literature Prize only twice – in 2004 and 2009, while that of Science had no winners in four years, 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012. The import is that in all these years, no work merited the award. This is serious for education in the country, and more so for the sciences (including engineering) in particular. It is against this backdrop that one would better understand and appreciate the company’s helping hand to this important area of our national life. It is hoped that the universities would make good use of the funds so as to encourage other organisations to emulate Nigeria LNG Ltd. It is in our collective interest to support education because that is the only way for all of us to be able to sleep with our two eyes closed. Thank you, NLNG.

HE outcome of the recent governorship election in Ekiti State is indeed shocking in many ways. Not many envisaged the defeat of the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, by a former impeached governor of the state, Ayo Fayose. With the widely acclaimed performance of his administration which has impacted positively on Ekiti State, many had expected that getting a second term to build on his achievements was a foregone conclusion. Even when it became clear that the surprise candidacy of Fayose on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and the insistence of Opeyemi Bamidele, a former member of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) to try his luck as a candidate of the Labour Party, was going to pose some threat to Fayemi’s expected victory, the projection was that Fayemi would still have won even if it was with a slight margin. However, that was not the case as Fayose recorded a surprise victory that has left analysts wondering what must have gone wrong with APC’s dominance of Ekiti state. Instead of rejecting PDP’s victory like he did when Segun Oni was declared winner of the 2007 Gubernatorial poll, Fayemi conceded victory in a manner not common in our political clime shortly after Fayose was declared winner. But what is really intriguing about Fayemi’s defeat is that he didn’t lose due to poor performance. Normally, incumbents are supposed to be voted out when they fail to live up to their electoral promises, but what have emerged as possible reasons for Fayose’s victory have been largely what some term as Fayemi’s inability to be ‘politically correct in some respects. He has been accused of being elitist in his approach to governance and not pandering to some political interests within and outside his political party. I am not sure how valid these accusations are but they do not seem sufficient basis to warrant voting out a governor who has been acknowledged to have performed creditably well in the discharge of his duties. I can’t understand why a former governor who was impeached for various wrong doings which adversely affected the development of the state would be preferred to the one who doesn’t have questionable political baggage. While conceding to voters their rights to vote for candidates of their choice in elections, it is important that their decisions are well informed. While Fayemi may have his own faults, what the voters in Ekiti seems to have done appears to me as a case of throwing away the baby and the bath water. Fayemi deserves all the commendation he has been getting for choosing the path of honour on this matter. Election is not supposed to be a do or die matter. By his action he has indeed proved to be a true democrat as even the PDP has acknowledged. He should be proud of his accomplishments in office which will definitely remain a reference point. He has raised the bar in service delivery by elected office holders. History will be kind to Fayemi for always standing up to be counted on the side deepening democratic tenets in the country when it matters most.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

COMMENT

Militarisation of Ekiti election was an anathema

Once citizens are made to believe that it is safer to stay home than to go out to vote on an election day, then the democratic project becomes a still-birth in such communities

“Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together….To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people thank you for staying the course. The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities for the records.”—Kayode Fayemi, Outgoing governor. “I want to be the Awolowo of the Southwest….These four years would be four years for all of us in government. There will be no winner, no loser. Whatever projects are left by our predecessor we will continue. It is not about Fayemi, it in the interest of the people. It is about Ekiti.” – Ayo Fayose, In-coming governor.

ITH the two foregoing conciliatory statements from two mortal political economies until the gubernatorial election in Ekiti eight days ago, no other state has made as much contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s so-called nascent democracy as the state of Ekiti. Apart from the vibrations of Ekiti nationalism in the statements of both Fayemi and Fayose, the desire to save Ekiti and its people from the kind of post-election violence and instability in Ekitiland is unmistakable from both leaders: one ready to overlook all pre-election intimidation of Ekiti people by agents of the Right of the Nigerian state and the other enthusiastic about overlooking all forms of partisanship in the ways he governs the state after the exit of Fayemi. Historically, Ekitiland and Ekiti people have never been found wanting any time there was need for the show of courage and resoluteness in the advancement of democracy in Nigeria. In the first republic when in 1964 the federal election was rigged in favour of the Northern Peoples’ Congress and the Western Nigeria parliamen-

tary election was rigged in favour of the Nigeria’s National Democratic Party (NNDP), an affiliate of the NPC, the Ekiti were in the forefront of the struggle against electoral manipulation, marked then by blatant stealing of votes cast for the Action Group for counting in favour of the NNDP. In the first election organised by the military under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo, the gubernatorial election in Ondo State (which included then the present Ekiti State) was also rigged in favour of an Ekiti son, Chief Akin Omoboriowo of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). At that time, Ekiti voters, like their counterparts in Ondo part of the state, voted for Chief Adekunle Ajasin of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). They believed that their votes had been counted for Omoboriowo instead of Ajasin to whom they had given their votes. The people of the present Ekiti State came out in the fashion of reflex of character of people of courage and integrity, to fight against their own son, Omoboriowo, against Ajasin. Similarly, when Ekiti people believed that their votes were stolen for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2007 under the presidency of Obasanjo, they also came out to make their feelings known to the local authorities and the appropriate authorities at the centre, and the rest is history. If at the instance of their two most important political leaders of the moment, Ekiti people are quiet over what Dr. Fayemi aptly described as brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights of Ekiti people, then the imperative to grow Nigeria’s nascent democracy must be high on the development agenda of Ekiti State and its people. Although Ekiti State calls itself the Fountain of Knowledge, rather than the Pace Setter, it has definitely set the pace for other states and the federal government with the instant reconciliation of Fayemi and Fayose to avoid any post-election litigation capable of creating instability in Ekiti State. But the decision of both leaders to put aside the culture of political partisanship does not put to rest the nuances of an election that is likely to induce more research on the challenges of electoral democracy in Africa’s

largest economy and society. Without any party going to the election tribunal, it will be hard for people to say for sure how free and fair the election organised by Jega’s Independent Electoral Commission in Ekiti State in an atmosphere of fear or intimidation is, just as it will be difficult for any expert on electoral behaviour to determine how unfree and unfair it is. But as it is with all forms of human behaviour and constructions, time is capable of unearthing the truth. This writer is thus not concerned about making any claim either way. However, there are questions that can assist Prof. Jega to achieve his goal of making subsequent election, especially in Osun State, better than the one in Ekiti. Prof, Jega promised Nigerians after the last gubernatorial election in Anambra that his organisation would avoid problems experienced in Anambra in subsequent elections. It is too soon to determine if all the problems seen in Anambra were avoided in Ekiti by the Independent Electoral Commission. It is also too soon to confirm if new problems came up for Jega’s INEC in Ekiti. Questions being raised by the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) regarding the Ekiti election are important enough for the federal government and all democracy-loving states to ignore. Some of the NHRC’s questions were also given as categorical statements in Fayemi’s concession speech when he praised the people of Ekiti for remaining calm in the face of brazen harassment, intimidation, and infractions of their human rights. If too much security presence frightened voters and scared them from coming out to vote, then our country’s democracy is not likely to grow just on account of Fayemi’s good sportsmanship and stellar statesmanship to let bye-gone be byegone with respect to federal government’s use of federal power before and during the election. If Ekiti with a population of 2.6 million people and about 1.6 million eligible voters with about 700,000 duly registered voters only had a little over 300,000 voters at the polls to ‘vote out’ Fayemi and ‘vote in’ Fayose, then the new government represents just about 30% of the people of Ekiti State. This may not be enough to disqualify Fayose from

assuming power as governor of the state, but it raises serious problems about voter’s apathy or voter’s discouragement by agents of federal power in Ekiti. With the presence of ferocious federal power in Ekiti before, during, and after the election, Fayemi’s concession could have come not just from the growing infectious Ekiti nationalism (invoked by Fayemi and Fayose) but also from a nonhawkish statesman’s desire to avoid violence. Fayemi’s decision to let the matter rest may not be because he is weak, as some have already started saying. It may be because he has some Solomonic wisdom to prefer protecting the baby he loves to survive and thrive to hacking him or her into two to be taken home by two rival owners. If about 50% voters felt too scared to come to the polls, then Ekiti, like many other states, would have commenced a culture of deep political mistrust. Voters who could not come out to vote but choose to remain calm (in their desire to save Ekiti from violence) must harbour deep mistrust that raises issues of democratic mandate and legitimacy. It is an irony that the alienation of citizens from government that thrived under military dictatorship is being re-fuelled in a post-military polity in citizens feel scared by armed soldiers and fangsbearing dogs in front of polling booths. Once citizens are made to believe that it is safer to stay home than to go out to vote on an election day, then the democratic project becomes a still-birth in such communities. Most of the paragraphs in this piece start with conditional sentences, simply because there is no way yet to confirm what actually happened during the Ekiti election. But one thing is clear. Fayemi’s non-hubristic acceptance of the result of the election in the interest of democracy in Nigeria and in the interest of peace and progress in Ekitiland, like Fayose’s promise of ending the culture of partisanship in governance may not be enough to make democracy work in Nigeria as a whole. What is needed for democracy to work fully in the country is more than the magnanimity of the loser and the generosity of the winner to overcome the winnertakes-all mentality. A truly credible electoral process that citizens can come out to hail as free and fair and that is devoid of do-or-die attitude to gaining power is the only signpost of a culture of democracy.

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Memorialising Biafra Forty-four years after Nigeria’s gruesome civil war ended, not a monument stands in its commemoration

ll over the world, monuments great and small stand solemnly in remembrance of wars great and small. A memorial is man’s atonement for the dead and spiritual re-edification of the living. It is a defiant re-affirmation of life after the apocalypse of war; a war memorial can thus be described as the small unending spring of a post-war humanity. This may explain why since the end of the First World War (WW 1), the advanced world seems to have made a duty of memorialising nearly every war. Monuments can be seen dotting small towns, counties and cities, some localised for neighbourhood fallen heroes. However, the Nigerian civil war, otherwise known as the Biafran War which ended 44 years ago in 1970 has remained unremarked with nary a stone placed anywhere as a memorial to what has been described as one of the bloodiest and most internecine wars in the history of modern conflicts. In a fratricidal war that was estimated to have claimed the lives of about two million Nigerians, the Nigerian authorities have been shy to reflect on that national calamity in order to situate it and bring it to a logical end. But the ghost of our fallen compatriots seem to still be on the prowl as a political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in collaboration with governors of the southeast, are planning what they have termed ‘Burial of those who died in the Biafran War of 1967 to 1970.’ According to the chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, the ‘burial’, billed to take place sometime in August, “becomes necessary in view of the need for their souls to stop hovering and settle properly.” He was worried that the ‘burial’ was delayed till now and he noted that bereaved families would be made to join. He explains further that all Nigerians who died in the conflict would be accommodated in the ceremony.

O one can deny that the Civil Service is a key player in the horrendously endemic corruption crippling the nation from attaining its oft-mentioned potentialities of growth and progress. Public service reform is long overdue since the excessive baggage of corruption that dogs its service delivery is anathema to good governance. Something needs to be done. In response to the need to reposition the public service and retrieve it from the brink of collapse, government set up the Adamu Fika Presidential panel in March 2011. The 16-member committee was set up to review the tenure of top civil servants such as directors and permanent secretaries, an issue that raised up such dust that it led to the resignation of the country’s first-ever female Permanent Secretary and vice chairman of the committee, Mrs. Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel. In its controversial recommendations, it sought to elongate the tenure of directors and permanent secretaries till age 60 or 30 years in service. Not satisfied with the controversies that surrounded the Adamu Fika Report, President Goodluck Jonathan set up the Steve Oronsaye Committee to further examine the breaches within the public service and find creative ways of strengthening the service. The Oronsaye Report recommended, among other

While the Anambra State governor would spearhead it, all southeast governors would be involved in what he has determined would be done “in grand style.” While we acknowledge the initiative of Chief Umeh and his sense of history, we wish to advise that a memorial and the attendant monument to Nigeria’s historic civil war are not matters to be left to a political party or an ethnic group. They are national affairs that require careful articulation and execution. The Federal Government must necessarily initiate and drive the effort if she truly understands the import and enduring benefits of a memorial. Apart from being a national infrastructure for rebirth and spiritual atonement, a war monument serves the purpose of being a place of lasting honour to the spirit of the dead. It is a shrine for reconnecting with the souls of compatriots who laid down their lives in the course of nation-building. It is a place of remembrance and homage. War memorials also help a nation record and document history about cataclysmic periods in a country’s march to nationhood. In the build-up to the physical monument, a careful account of the event would have been taken as part of the intellectual database of a nation. For instance, while the story of the Biafra War is being told by all and sundry as

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

individual accounts, in enacting a memorial, we will have to necessarily construct the authentic archival story of our civil war that is acceptable to all. In other climes, major war monuments come with war museums which have metamorphosed into great tourist attractions where people from all over the world troop to and not the least, war veterans. Some of the greatest and most imposing works of architecture across the world are war monuments. Some of the world’s most remarkable and imposing war monuments include the Liberty Memorial, the National World War 1 Memorial located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. It is just one of the hundreds of such across the expanse of America. The Monument to the Dead of World War 11 commemorates Brazil’s participation and losses in that war; The Motherland Calls was the tallest building in the world when it was constructed, measuring 279 feet from plinth to the tip of the sword. The monument commemorates the Battle of Stalingrad and was built in Russia in 1967. While some come as well tended cemeteries like the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Dublin, Ireland and the Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore, others are in the form of The Yasukuni Shrine in Japan. Memorials and monument come with ample controversies all over the world but bickering have not reduced the number of edifices remarking the catastrophes of war. Nigeria has seemingly lived in denial of the human carnage of her civil war but she cannot do that for much longer, it seems. We urge that the government, as a first step, should take the forthcoming anniversary of the war in July to empanel a body to begin work towards building a proper museum and memorial to the civil war. We wager that it will turn out to be perhaps one of the most noble causes ever embarked upon by any government in Nigeria.

LETTERS

The Nigerian Customs Service: Case study in presidential inaction

things, the merging of certain ministries, agencies and parastatals. It suggested the reduction of federal agencies from 263 to 161, among others. Its flagship recommendation, however, was on tenure regime. It suggested that heads of government agencies and parastatals should only do one term in office in order to allow younger officers upward movement within the service and that federal character principle be upheld, to allow equity and justice in public appointments.

HE fear of Sambisa Forest is the beginning of wisdom to the Nigeria Army. The forest is a no go area for them despite the fact that we all know it is the major settlement of the members of Boko Haram. The military is in a perpetual fear of booby traps (explosives) set around this forest by the insurgents which made penetration of the forest impossible for the soldiers and at the same time stalls “Bring back our girls” operation. To break this deadlock, I want to suggest this operational method which I fervently believe will break this jinx about Boko Haram. If the Nigeria Army can apply the method of using some

The challenge is that the nation’s archives are not in short supply of reports but the political will to implement them is always lacking. For example, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, is a major agency that plays very critical roles in nation building. Its primary functions include trade facilitation, antismuggling activities and tax collection, under the oversight of the Federal Ministry of Finance. The Comptroller Gen-

eral, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, who hails from Katsina State, and was appointed to the office, in 2009 by President Musa YarAdua, heads this critical agency. Under Dikko, admittedly, the NCS has undergone reforms which started with the payment of 100% salary increases at all levels, and has continued with capacity building for officers and men, provision of arms and ammunitions, the building of barracks as living quarters,

provision of infrastructure, etc. However, in spite of these achievements of the Dikko administration, he is not perceived as a saint. For example, he is accused, by some, of running the Customs like a personal estate, where decisions are taken without due consultations with the appropriate agencies of government. This came to the fore recently when a new destination inspection regime was embarked upon by the Customs, despite opposition by

The fear of Sambisa Forest cows driven by Police dogs into the forest, whatever traps set by these evil people will be destroyed by these animals, after which the Army will follow the route created by these animals to enable them engage the Boko Haram sect in order to rescue the abducted girls. Nigerians assumed that the military has run out of war tactics to topple Boko Haram which has become an albatross to the federal government, the Nigeria Army and the country in general. Instead of the Nigeria Army to face the area of their

core jurisdiction of defending the country against both internal and external aggression which they are paid to do, they left that undone. They are now harassing media houses, claiming that they have intelligent reports concerning newspaper distribution vans carrying explosives. Nigerians are surprised that if the Nigeria Army is so good in intelligence gathering why is it that they did not get information about the bomb explosions around the country, even the one at Nyanya under their nose in

the federal capital? The people of Nigeria now believe the government is confused and the Army is also confused hence they are chasing shadows by embarrassing the media. Should Nigerian Army fail to crush the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria soonest, I think there will be no need to use the tax payers money to sponsor them for foreign peace keeping again as their non performance has ridiculed the country in the international community. Israel Oyegbile Sabo Tasha, Kaduna.

both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, who claimed the new regime, was ill timed. This opposition seems to have been justified, as the nation’s many ports are beginning to experience long delays slowing down the economy, since Dikko’s Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR new regime was introduced. Also, there are complaints that while, in the last four years, the Service has received several billions of naira from the federal government as subventions, payment by the NCS to the Federation Account have been dwindling. In fact, the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently issued a formal query to Dikko to explain the consistent shortfall in payments. But more salient, now, is the question: Hasn’t CG Dikko, whose tenure in office ended long ago, overstayed his welcome as head of this very sensitive agency? Why is Dikko still in office? Previous CGs such as Nwadialor, Ahme and Buba, served one tenure each. Why is President Goodluck Jonathan not doing the needful and letting Mr. Dikko bow out of office? These are legitimate questions if you realise, as earlier established, that there are laws governing the appointment and tenures of public officers in the country. By Louis Ade-Philips Abuja.

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 500 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS: sundaynation@yahoo.com

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Nigeria: The road to full blown autocracy APC must either get to the bottom of this imminent national political enslavement or simply withdraw from the Nigerian political space as it would otherwise be clinically evaporated

F Olatunji Dare, up there in a class of his own, could get it wrong, who the hell am I to dare proffer another reason for the APC ‘shellacking’ in the Ekiti election? Hear him: ‘The only problem was that we analysts attended for the most part to people like ourselves; we read for the most part what they wrote and heard for the most part what they said. Therefore, for all practical purposes, we did not see what was out there; instead, we saw only what we wanted to see, heard only what we wanted to hear and believed only what we wanted to believe about the candidates and the electorate’. Venturing further, he wrote, ‘We should be prepared for the taunts and the jeers of the other side, given the triumphalism arising from the Ekiti verdict and the vindictiveness that is their trademark. And concluding, he added: ‘Personally, I will not be surprised if, henceforth, they reflexively dismissed those of us who got Ekiti wrong as “failed analysts,” or even more damnably as “failed and discredited analysts” - vintage Professor Olatunji Dare. Personally, I have experienced that and I concede the bragging rights of ignoramuses. But how I wish they were right! Those who planned the Ekiti capture were deliberate and painstaking. They made sure the process was seemingly ‘credible’ as far as INEC was concerned, but rogue elements within it, the government and the PDP, fooled all and succeeded in foisting the ‘Zimbabwe model’ on Ekiti, if not on Nigeria.

Come the 2015 elections - Osun governorship election has already been signed, sealed and delivered same way to the PDP but it will extend to all - Presidential, legislative as well as the remaining 34 governorship elections. That way, rogue scientists have clinically gifted President Goodluck Jonathan a life presidency well in advance if he so wished. When Galileo, the Italian scientist who laid the foundation for modern physics and astronomy claimed that ‘the sun rotates, and that the planets orbit around the sun, not around the Earth, he was laughed at and was promptly accused of heresy by the Church and made to recant. Today, the world knows that the world is not flat. Therefore if little minds, clearly incapable of deep thinking and unable, therefore, to decipher a PDP that has morphed into a curse on Nigeria, I serve them and my dedicated readers, this Sunday morning, the ZIMBABWE MODEL. ELECTION RIGGING SCANDAL DEEPENS IN ZIMBABWE: www.theindependent.co.zw/2013/ 08/election rigging deepens. ‘ELECTION rigging allegations involving Nikuv International Projects (NIP), a shadowy Israeli security company deepened this week amid revelations the former Mossad spooks used several methods to fix elections in favour of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF. The row over Zanu PF’s ‘Made-inIsrael’ landslide has delayed Mugabe’s inauguration as his opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, intends to challenge the

disputed election results. This comes amid revelations Nikuv hastily shut down its Avondale offices in Harare three days after elections and relocated to an unknown Ballantyne Park address as part of on an ongoing cover up mission. The sudden closure also suggested the company’s executives were running scared as the rigging racket escalates. Sources said Nikuv officials also worked out of army headquarters at KGVI where there is a “Situation Room” in which they converge with Joint Operation Command (JOC) chiefs to map out election scenarios and the way forward. “Last week’s results would have been worked out in the ‘Situation Room’ at KGVI or some such command centre.” Sources said Asher and his colleagues were in charge of the voters’ roll which is riddled with duplicating of names, names of people outside the country, names of dead people and other irregularities which could have been manipulated to engineer results’. Apart from Zimbabwe, the company has made a fortune through its activities in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Lesotho and Zambia where it was taken to court in 1996 on allegations of election rigging. It was also a bidder in Ghana’s US$60 million national identification card project in 2004 which got entangled in a web of corruption in neighbouring Nigeria where former strongman, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, had to sack some ministers. Nikuv reportedly also issued fake voter registration slips which were used by Zanu PF supporters to vote at multiple polling stations. This was prevalent in Harare where police arrested individuals in Hatfield found in possession of multiple copies of voter registration slips, as well as in Mount Pleasant where busloads of bald headed youths masquerading as police recruits were unearthed. Nikuv’s

rigging allegations were worsened by reports by a private South Africanbased intelligence, Nasini Projects which said the Israeli firm supplied A Special Water Marked Ballot Used To Give Mugabe A Resounding Victory. “From Our Findings So Far We Are 99.9% Convinced The Election Was Rigged Via A Ballot Paper. A Speial Watermrked Ballot Paper Was Used To Give President Mugabe A Resounding Victory” Nasini Ceo, Lucia Mordi Said. “The Ballot Paper Had A Water X Against Mugabe’s Name Such That If Any Ink Is Placed On The Paper The Substance On The Paper Will React And Remove The Ink And Activate The Water Marked X Into Print.”- (Caps mine). Please note that I am not saying here that NIKUV INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS is involved, in anyway, in the Ekiti election of 21 June, 2014. I have only reproduced what happened somewhere else in Africa, quoting a story that has not been successfully controverted. Without the slightest doubt, I believe that the above scenario is what has just played out in the Ekiti election. The PDP’s umbrella must have been specially watermarked and the special ink, which voters observed barely made a clear imprint on the ballot even after as many as three times try, must have reacted with the substance pre impregnated on the ballot paper, remove the ink and activated the water marked PDP space into a bold print of the same brightness, size and colour during vote counting as voters have since testified. Voters confirmed that ballot papers were placed face down on the table and were rolled up before handing over to them just so it will not be exposed to sun’s rays in which case it might activate with a print against a party even before a voter had voted. The ink promptly

dried from their fingers. This is the only way the complete crush of the APC and Labour becomes intelligible at all. Therefore, every lover of this country must insist on this Armageddon being exhaustively investigated and whichever persons or government funded this manner of electoral conquest, and complete destruction of our electoral system must be run out of town. Whoever has a hand in this electoral heist does not deserve to live among human beings. Since the result, all manner of analysis have been bandied about. Some who publicly endorsed Fayemi’s performance have since come out to insult us about the desideratum of Ekiti never being in opposition to a federal government whose head, the president, early this month confessed he never did a single thing for. Even the U.S embassy in Nigeria got misled, for once. We were told, for instance, that Fayemi lost because he did not locate the state’s treasury at the Erekesan Market in the state capital, for all Ekiti to take their pick. Whoever believes Fayose’s votes almost doubled Fayemi’s or that Engr Segun Oni, the APC Deputy National Chairman, who went to his polling unit with 10 members of his family is so hated in his home that his party, the APC, got only one vote and that a sitting governor Fayemi did not win a single local government because he does not eat boli and epa (roasted plantain and groundnut) on the streets of Ado-Ekiti - hogwash - will believe anything, and must, in fact, be a moron. This time around, PDP has stolen more than the owner and it must not go scot-free lest Nigeria be destroyed. APC must either get to the bottom of this imminent national political enslavement or simply withdraw from the Nigerian political space as it would otherwise be clinically evaporated. It must insist on a forensic/scientific examination of that ballot paper or it would suffer real annihilation in the Osun election. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

Living life on the rebound It is time to throw Amala politics into the grave of Adedibu and concentrate rather on how to make Nigeria and Africa great in the comity of world countries and continents respectively

ET me start this week by recounting for you some of the reactions I got to last week’s entry on déjà vu becoming déjà vus; it’s a real déjà vu. As usual, I have tinkered with the grammar, spelling and all so as not to offend my grammatical sensibilities, and of course so that you can make better sense of them than I have. Enjoy. Oyinkan, please always ensure you get your facts right before putting pen to paper on any issue. Your write-up on Ekiti on Sunday 22 is a clear departure from the reality on ground. Ekitis are not fools and they …(sic) a leader who cares about them regardless of how much such a leader is persecuted by paid agents like you. The Nation needs to remedy its unenviable reputation of being the propaganda arm of the APC who are unfortunately not any better than the PDP. 2348035632285 Dear Oyinkan, congratulations to Fayose and the PDP. I wish to use this medium to congratulate the governor elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and the PDP. I also wish to thank the Ekiti electorate for giving Ayo Fayose and pdp this decisive victory. Ekiti people have spoken, and loudly too. God bless Ekiti voters. Things are turning better for democracy in Nigeria! Thank you. C. D. Owerri. 2348166933115

Yes ma, it is very easy to enthrone errors. The people of the fountain of knowledge have just turned knowledge on its head. They have told the whole world ethics and morals are irrelevant in choosing leaders. One can be impeached, misappropriate people’s funds, have numerous cases of alleged murders on one’s neck and the people of the land of honor and integrity will just overlook those trivial issues, and (sic) nothing wrong for the perpetrator to be made Gov. What a sick people. If the guy chooses to kill even more and steal even more money it could just be exactly what Ekiti people deserve. Ordinarily, this guy they voted should either still be in gaol or an ex-con and not a Gov elect. 2348064286736 Madam, your piece déjà vu…, and others like Femi Orebe’s on same page (Nation 22/06/14) are pathetic reminders of what obtains when a group of highly resourceful, well advanced and divinely blessed people choose to remain in an enclave of all-comers, including morons, at all costs. Tant pis (sic). J. 2347051305477 Right, I think that’s enough for now, especially as some of them don’t really like me. More importantly, so many issues have been mixed up here I am practically reeling. Have you noticed how the spirit of last week’s essay was completely confused with

the results of the election? Let me recap. Last week, we deplored the manner in which the federal powers used their might to flood the election grounds with state paraphernalia of security and deny some people the right to movement and the entire state in the jitters due to the presence of thousands of soldiers. An election, we said, need not be grounds for conducting a symphony of the guns of Navarone, if there are no hidden motives. In any case, why should the entire state lose its head over some rice grains and promises to Okada riders of being allowed to run wild? Let me make one thing clear from the outset. I do not hold brief for any candidate in any election. I assure you that I do not have any inkling what either candidate looks like. Zilch. What I consider that I hold brief for at any time T is right action that translates to good governance. True, I may sometimes miss the mark in that myself but at least, you can say my heart’s in the right place. Can we truly say that the people’s hearts were in the right place in this Ekiti election? Was it not their stomach that spoke for them? Clearly, there is something very wrong in the state of knowledge if such antics could so easily sway the people to spur them to produce the kind of election results that seem to enthrone what….errors? Contrary to some of the claims above, I do not regard this to be a victory for the people at all; it is a victory for annihilation. Come; let us reason together on this matter. From the beginning of Nigeria’s ad-

ventures in politics, primordial instincts seem to have helped to preserve the colonial masters’ implantations of horror on the psyche of the state. Indeed, it is said that the first set of politicians and ministerial office holders were so bereft of ideas and morals that the state was sure to flounder under them. That, we heard, was actually what instructed their respective choices. From that time, the fate of the state seemed to have been sealed. Flounder on, beloved state, national now, not ‘state’ state. More than fifty years on, and much technological advancements in the civilized world later, these primordial instincts still dominate you and I and, especially, the people of Ekiti State. Things like the stomach, rather than the head are allowed to dictate weighty matters of state. Mmmmn. Troubling, really troubling. Take a look at the logic of message one and the effusions of message two (don’t worry, I am not about to give you a lesson in stylistics; for that you have to pay), and you will be struck by lightning. The writer of the first message is in serious need of some shaking up while the writer of message two needs to have someone clap his hand over his mouth so he does not say the rest. I would have done it myself but what do you know; he had already sent me the message! Anyway, I think we need to remind us of a few facts. Good people of Ekiti State, in this millennial age, we need to begin to demand of our rulers much more than a few miserable bags of rice and the freedom to run wild on Okada. We need to aim

for leaders who will take us into the twenty-first century without grinding our noses into the dust or do for us the dance macabre. It is time to throw Amala politics into the grave of Adedibu and concentrate rather on how to make Nigeria and Africa great in the comity of world countries and continents respectively. Rice cannot do this. It can only happen when the people demand governance, not Amala, from their rulers. True, the people of Ekiti have spoken but I doubt they know what they are saying. I repeat, I am not interested in who becomes governor; I am only interested that the people be given trains to ride in some comfort, energy to power their appliances WHEN they need them, potable water in their homes, good health delivery for the least of our brethren on the streets and cheap food for the stomach without being blackmailed with it. I ask you, is this too much to ask? If you think it is, listen to what a spokesman for a village told a visiting dignitary: ‘As I am standing here perpendicurary to the ground, horizontary, verticary and otherwise, I want to tell you that my people need fire, engine water and painted roads.’ Shikena. One thing is sure, these things mentioned above will not come through voting the way Ekiti people did last week. It portends too much of what we might be facing in 2015. Tch, tch, tch, that will only take us back to the beginning of time in Nigeria. Come on, people, we got this one more chance to make this democracy right; let’s make something good of it.

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

(71) I

ADMIT it: like most progressive, fair-minded and truly democratic Nigerians that do not belong to any of the ruling class parties, I was bitterly disappointed that Dr. Kayode Fayemi was defeated in the recent Ekiti governorship elections. [I use ‘governorship” because, for no apparent reason, I intensely dislike the word “gubernatorial”!] When Fayemi was declared winner of the previous elections at the Election Tribunals, I was so pleased and excited that I wrote a column about him, expressing what I knew he was capable of doing and giving an indication of what he could expect to achieve given the fact that the depth of the corruption, injustice and rot in the present political order in our country is so great that it involves the rulers and the ruled, the elites and the masses of our peoples. [Parenthetically, I must say that I was rather taken aback when the day after that article appeared, Fayemi sent me an email thanking me for my best wishes for his success and assuring me that he hoped not to disappoint his constituents, the people of Ekiti State, and people like me] In this piece, I wish to raise the question as so many editorials and commentators have not done, not of what went so wrong that Fayemi was defeated, but counterintuitively, the issue of what went right in his shortlived administration. In other words, I want to raise the issue of the possibility that given a different constellation of political forces and alignments in our country at the present time, what Fayemi did right could have secured his electoral victory at the recent polls. At the base of my reflections is the simple but profound view that the lessons of Fayemi’s defeat are not for him alone but for all progressive, fair-minded and truly patriotic Nigerians. In pursuit of this objective, let me quickly deal with some crucial circumstantial aspects of the recent Ekiti polls that not only Fayemi but every thinking and patriotic Nigerian must bear in mind, especially as we approach the general elections of 2015. For this, I want to juxtapose two central facts of the conditions under which the elections were held that are usually kept separate. These are, one, the overwhelmingly heavy militarization of the voting exercise and two, the extremely low voter turnout of the electorate. As for this second fact, here are the relevant details: Ekiti State has a population of 2.3 million people; of this figure, about 1.6 million are eligible to vote; and of this figure itself, only a little over 700,000 people were on the voters’ register. Finally, less than half of this figure turned out to vote for all the three main candidates. Is this extraordinary expression of voter apathy a product of the heavy militarisation of the voting excise in the last Ekiti elections? Yes and no. Yes, because military and security personnel in battle gear deployed for an election is not only extremely intimidating, it was precisely calculated to be so. However, as much as we must condemn the militarisation of the elections exercise and going before condemnation prepare ourselves for repeat performances in 2015, we must recognise that voter apathy in our country has roots much deeper than the deployment of troops who should be pursuing Boko Haram to Ekiti State to make nonsense of the civil integrity of elections in a truly democratic country.

Kayode Fayemi: not what went wrong but what went right

Dr. Fayemi, not what went wrong but what went right”

Indeed, we are talking not about voter apathy per se but something far more alarming, more tragic. The simple fact is that we are not using language properly, we are not giving words useful, productive currency by calling what just happened in the Ekiti Elections voter apathy. If we must call a spade a spade, we must recognise that what we call voter apathy is really a raging fire in the hearts and minds of our people waiting for the right conditions, the right moment to burst into a conflagration. It is not that voter apathy is inapplicable; the fact is that it hides and represses the deep anger, frustration and alienation of our peoples from the dominant discourses of our political elites and their apologists. It is rather like having high fever and terrible headaches from cancer and either willfully or unknowingly ignoring the cancer and attending to the fever and headache. You may get temporary relief from the symptoms, from the fever and headache, but sooner or later, the underlying cancer will strike with all the aggression of that which has for long been repressed. Seven out of every 10 Nigerians live in absolute poverty and the vast majority of them are young people and you expect them to turn out for mostly meaningless elections that they are hundred percent sure will make no difference to their lives?

Let us be very clear on one thing: Fayemi lost the election but only a skewed perception of the charade that elections have become in our country since the electoral victory of M.K.O. Abiola and the Babangidaformed Social Democratic Party in 1993 would regard the defeat as an electoral referendum on Fayemi and his policies and programs. Since 1993, elections in our country have been won and lost not on the basis of policies and programs, but for the most part either by using the financial and repressive ‘capital’ of incumbency to overwhelm the opposition or by an opposition that shows itself manifestly capable of matching incumbents naira for naira, rigging for rigging, violence for violence. I mean, 200,000 people voted for Ayodele Fayose out of an eligible electorate of 1.6 million voters and you call that a referendum on Fayemi’s administration? Some commentators have even used the word “populism” to describe Fayose’s victory but how can a small fraction of the eligible electorate amount to a populist groundswell? How can the billions of naira openly spent by the PDP to bribe a good number of those who voted and those who did not vote conduce to populism? The oil subsidy scam of 2011 that involved the stupefying figure of 2.53 trillion looted from the Nigerian treasury within eight months went mostly for the elec-

tion budget of Jonathan. With the open spending of billions to “elect” Fayose in the recent Ekiti state elections, how much will Jonathan spend for his election budget in 2015? At this point, it is important for me to state clearly what went right with Fayemi’s administration, from the perspective a Nigeria that one day, in the ripeness of time, would have wiped away the rule and the ethos of the election fraudsters, intimidators, riggers and their spin doctors. Fayemi showed that he was a governor, not a gubernator. He cut down all the costly and ostentatious trappings of gubernatorial power. He drastically reduced the cost of governance by plugging all the holes – loopholes and sinkholes – by which government or public officials steal unconscionably from the government or the people. In this column, I have said again and again that we have 37 heads and mini heads of states in this country and that this is too costly, so costly that relatively speaking, no country in the world can afford the sheer astronomical cost of governance that has been in force in our country in the last three to four decades. Remember what I once reported on the pages of this column about our Minster of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that she would be happy if by the time she left office she would have saved Nigeria only 4% of the corruption and

waste in the Nigerian political order? I cannot give you the exact figures, but I am sure that from reports I have read and heard of, Fayemi set his goals a lot higher that Okonjo-Iweala’s 4%. Much has been made of Fayemi having been either unable or unwilling to satisfy the masses of the good people of Ekiti State on the matter of “stomach infrastructure”. By this phrase is meant that the people cared far less for spending the state’s meager handouts from Abuja on the development of physical and institutional infrastructures than giving our largesse to cronies and not keeping from workers, teachers and students what they can consume now in the name of sacrifices for the future – the future of the young people of today and those yet unborn. Actually, the Cameroonians coined a more apt term for this phenomenon and this was “the politics of the belly”. As a matter of fact, a French Africanist scholar, Jean Paul Bayart, wrote a bestselling book based on this phenomenon that he gave the title, The State in Africa: the Politics of the Belly. The book led to a whole school of Africanist social science that became identified as Afro-pessimism. It is not difficult to see the “pessimism” in the “Afro” here for any nation, any region of the world in which the belly, not the head, not the intelligence, rules the body politick, is doomed, irredeemably doomed. Since 1999, Fayemi’s administration, for its all too brief duration, has been the most resolute of all the state governments that we have had in the complete rejection of the “politics of the belly”. Many African countries have since the publication of Bayart’s book and the popularisation of the social science school of Afro-pessimism to which it led, broken free of this insulting and degrading “politics of the belly’. But this rejection is yet to show up in any significant manner in Nigeria. Definitely, it has not made it into the electoral platform of any ruling class political party in Nigeria, including Fayemi’s party the APC. The sad, ironic fact is that the ending of the politics of the belly or “stomach infrastructure or the politics of the belly cannot be a one man’s job, a one man’s revolution. And it cannot be done without carrying the people with you. Above all else, it must be at the heart of any truly progressive party’s electoral platform, especially those claiming to be different from the PDP. If significant reform, not to talk of revolution, is to take place in our country to avert the possibility of a terrible bloodbath to cleanse all the cheating, the looting, the suffering and the insecurities that attend “stomach infrastructure” or its more proper designation, the politics of the belly, then perhaps, but only perhaps, this fundamental differentiation between our ruling class parties might be a starting point. What went right in Fayemi’s administration is one out of many presages of that possibility. Biodun Jeyifo bjeyfo@fas.harvard.edu

COMMENT

HEN President Yar’Adua was alive, I wrote an open letter to him about pensioners and their condition in Nigeria. I told him how primitive it was for the federal government, through its Director of Pensions, to wickedly and senselessly direct poor pensioners to always report at Abuja for verification. Thousands of pensioners would travel from different parts of the country to Abuja for the senseless verification. In effect, many of them haddied on the road while those who managed to get to Abuja would sleep under the bridges or anywhere, as Abuja is a very expensive city where no Nigerian pensioner could afford an accommodation, not to talk of feeding. Luckily, I had stumbled on a newspaper report, the Tribune to be precise, in those days, which reported how a young man who wanted to collect his late father’s gratuity was asked to cough out 40% by the officer-in-charge at the pension house of horror, before he could get his father’s gratuity! I then included the report in my letter to the president that the reason for asking people to come to Abuja was for them to negotiate away 40% of retiree’s gratuities and pensions. No wonder the pension house of horror became a goldmine for pension officers. On this matter Yar’Adua, as a listening president, acted swiftly and cancelled the corrupt system of verification in Abuja. Now, things got worse under president Jonathan who kept quiet when Pension officers were caught stealing billions of Pensioners’ fund, which explained why pensioners could not get their pensions as and at when due. The corruption that rocked the pension house got into the Aviation Ministry and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources still haunted by the exorbitant $20m missing money. Surely, the retirees would have benefitted from this whopping amount of public fund. The retirees’ problem with government was not helped by the ineffectiveness of the Labour Unions and members of the National Assembly. While the Labour Unions forget that they would one day graduate to retirees and suffer the same fate being suffered for the current retirees, and they keep quiet and do nothing about the plight of retirees, members of the National Assembly usually feel unconcerned because the matter does not concern them or affect their jumbo salaries and allowances. To them, the pensioners can go to hell, if there is hell, even though many of them have relatives and friends as retirees. But I was surprised and happy when the Senate President David Mark, in one of his rare utterances about pensioners, was so angry about the plight of pensioners that he pronounced curses on pension officers for stealing pensioners’ funds and for the habitual non-payment of pensions and gratuities as and at when due. I wrote in praise of the Senate President and asked him to work out a legislation that would make it mandatory for the government to pay gratuities and pension arrears with interest because it is money owed to pensioners. If interests are payable on the arrears which should be treated as money borrowed from pensioners by the government, pension thieves would no longer be interested in fixing pensioners fund for making quick money because whatever interests accrue from the arrears of pensions and gratuities

O not be surprised that I am writing you an open letter. Shortly after you died, Nigerians went into a season of writing open letters; the bug has bitten me. I know this letter will meet you well, but I wonder if you are still interested in some of these issues judging by the posthumous message you sent through our friend. But first things first, we are fine. Doye (your wife) and the children are doing okay. It is tough without you. Our occasional visits and calls cannot compensate for your absence, but they are fine. Mama too is fine, shaken but doing okay. The rest of us are doing fine, although some of us are still in shock. It is tough coming to terms with the suddenness of your death. But our faith in God remains intact. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, absolutely nothing. So much has happened on the political scene since your departure. If God had not said otherwise, you would have been in the thick of it. General elections are less than a year away and the political tempo has increased. Some usually dormant volcanoes have become unusually active and some hitherto active volcanoes have gone quiet. The sand dunes have shifted so dramatically within the entire desert; many are helpless, clueless, stranded and confused. The continued alignment and realignment of the sand dunes is not helping matters. Very few people seem to be spared. Who can truly tame nature? Who can accurately predict nature? Nature definitely has a mind of

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Okonjo-Iweala and pensioners

•Okonjo-Iweala By Moses Akinola Makinde

belong to the pensioners and not to the pension thieves. Unfortunately, the Senate President never followed up his fierce gesture which now looks like a political gimmick. Now, the issue of the moment – Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President Jonathan’s current Financial Minister. For once, we should appreciate President Jonathan’s kind and favourable disposition to the issue of arrears of 53% increase on pensioners’ monthly salaries from 2009 to date. It was reported, as I did mention in my last open letter to the President (see The Nation, January 24, 2014, p21) that President Jonathan had signed an approval for the payment of 53% from July 1, 2009 to date, as calculated by his Technical Committee. We later understood that, out of this, 33% had been paid to the military who are gunning for the balance of 20%. The pity of it all is that Mr. President seemed to have been dictated to by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, his controversial Finance Minister, who was alleged to have insisted on cutting the 53% to 33% even after the Wages Commission and the NUC were said to have prepared 53% payment of arrears for inclusion in the budget. For now, I want Mr. President to read over my letter to him as stated above (just in case he has not read it) to realise the possible effects of thousands of curses that might have been placed on him and his government by dead and living pensioners whose curses, among curses from other sectors, might have been the cause of the problems Nigeria had faced, is facing, and will continue to face until these curses are reversed, if at all they are reversible. Unfortunately, if it

could take about 40 years to reverse one generational curse, one wonders how many years it would take to reverse several thousands of curses from poor pensioners, dead and alive! For ever, you would say. The new trend now is that the pensioners have extended their curses to the Finance Minister for her wickedness and sin committed on this matter of increase in pension arrears. While discussing with some of the pensioners at Ile-Ife about three weeks ago, they said, rightly or wrongly that it was Okonjo-Iweala who prevailed on the president from paying 53% increase that was originally granted by him through the National Wages Commission and which was already prepared for payment by the NUC. Okonjo-Iweala was alleged to have insisted on the cut from 53% to 33%, and this she perfectly executed by submitting 33% arrears of increase from July 1, 2009 to date to the National Assembly as part of the budget. Well, the pensioners already saw OkonjoIweala as a very wealthy woman who might have benefitted in no small measure from her position as Minister of Finance. They then asked what else did she want? If she and her family are swimming in Naira and foreign currencies, why then create financial problems for the likes of poor pensioners? Then came the bitterness and raining of curses which they vowed would cover the present and future generations of individuals or group of government officials who do not wish the hapless pensioners well. They were extremely bitter and prayed to see judgement done to those depriving them of their entitlements before they die. They mentioned some of their members who had died of hunger, humiliation and lack of drugs to treat themselves and their families in a land full of milk and honey! They wondered why some government officials who have so much money in Nigeria and abroad should be so callous as to work against poor pensioners who are denied enjoying the abundant riches of the land that are shamelessly cornered by people like OkonjoIweala whom they see not only as a “satanic” economist (some say voodoo economist) but who has sinned against the poor people of Nigeria by her penchant for hoarding money meant for the general welfare of the people. The pensioners’ complaint which was first about Mr. President and now about his Finance Minister reminds me of what I said about

Letter to Pius Ewherido By Francis Ewherido

its own. Sometimes even the most powerful man on earth can be so limited and vulnerable that he looks the least powerful. The heart of the king is really in God’s hands. Truly only God is omnipotent. Some people are painting Nigeria red; it is a cocktail of religion, misplaced ideology, politics, ineptitude and political strategy gone awry. There are bombings, mass killings and uncertainty. Over 200 of kidnapped Chibok school girls are still unaccounted for over two months later. We are gradually sliding into a Hobbsean state of nature; life has become so tentative and uncertain. Some people need to learn that a cheetah does not necessarily enjoy a kill because it made it. Sometimes lions and other stronger predators do snatch a cheetah’s kill. Anyway, a National Conference to chart a future for Nigeria is on. Hopefully, it will address the major contentious issues and I pray that the will to implement the recommendations will be there. Your bill on corporate manslaughter is still where you left it, but we were promised that it will be passed into law before the end of the Seventh Assembly. They are honourable and distinguished men and women and we believe them. We have also written to remind them and received reassurances. Whatever happens

ultimately, however, will not take away anything from you. You have played your part. Not much has happened on Delta Steel Company, Aladja; another project that was dear to your heart. A few months ago, we were told that the former leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly ordered that your photograph be removed from among those of former Speakers, that you were never one. People who heard wanted the family to write to the leadership of the Assembly. I told them that this matter was on before you passed on and you actually mentioned it to me. I also told them the family will not get involved. Sometimes in life, some things are better ignored. Moreover, I thought your death should have ended all forms of political rivalry and acrimony. Anyway, your legislative imprint in the Delta State House of Assembly is massive – you sponsored eight bills that were passed into law in eight years and over 40 motions that were adopted. Those bills and motions, like your children, carry your DNA. They are not subject to interpretation, genuine, mischievous or dubious; nobody can take them away from you. Expectedly, a bye election was held to fill the vacant seat you vacated. The state chairman of your former party said in a newspaper interview that even if the party fielded a goat

Nigeria as a country of sinners where evil triumphs, (See chapter 17, “The Triumph of Evil”, of my book, African Philosophy; The Demise of a Controversy, Ile-Ife, OAU Press, 2007, pp 353-370). But then, a renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sofyullah M.K. Al-Adabiyy, while condemning Boko Haram insurgency and the federal government’s “powerlessness” to stop the mindless killings in the land, said, “we are paying for too many sins”, and that the solution to the nation’s crisis is for Nigerians “to seek God’s forgiveness”. (The Nation, May 19, 2014, p7). Nigeria is a nation of incurable sinners, of various descriptions, against their fellowmen and women and even children. The greatest sinners are those in government, from the States to the National Assembly and the Presidency. The poor Nigerians are the people more sinned against than sinning, and it is the curses of these hapless Nigerians that are working effectively against Nigeria and Nigerian government, and it will surely work on some individuals in our land of sins and evil. Just in case we do not know, all the efforts of “Nigeria Prays” by General Gowon and all the clergy men in Nigeria put together can never change the situation in Nigeria for the better. Boko Haram may remain a child’s play unless Nigeria does the following: acknowledge her sins, confess, repent and then ask for God’s forgiveness before we can embark on any prayers that could be answered. As the Bible says: A ki i wa ninu ese ki aso wipe ki ore-ofe Olorun ma po si (we cannot be in sin and expect the grace of God to multiply). A Yoruba adage also says “A ki i fi ete sile pa lapalapa” (we do not ignore leprosy while we treat a minor ailment like rashes). I hereby submit that, as from today, we should acknowledge our many sins first, then confess these sins, then repent and, lastly, ask God for forgiveness of these sins as necessary steps to the last act - prayers. This means that Nigeria has a long way to go before her prayers could be heard. General Gowon’s “Nigeria Prays” should be replaced by “Nigeria acknowledges her sins”, to be followed by “Nigeria confesses”, then “Nigeria repents” and, lastly, “Nigeria asks for forgiveness” before Gowon’s “Nigeria prays” can have any meaning and effect. I believe our arrays of prominent clerics should follow these necessary steps if they truly and sincerely want their prayers about Nigeria to be answered, otherwise they are just putting the cart before the horse. I wonder why all our clerics put together have never thought about this as it appears to me that, even as a vociferous praying nation the more we pray, the more calamities of various kinds befall Nigeria on a daily basis precisely because Nigeria is full of sins (worse than Sodom and Gomorrah) and ungodly acts perpetrated by the people that govern us – past, present and future. Professor Makinde, FNAL, writes from Osogbo, Osun State. to replace you, it would win. Very typical; does the leopard change its spots? Well, the Nigerian constitution does not allow political parties to field animals as candidates in an election, so the party fielded a regular human being. The outcome of the bye election with the ensuing controversy has been in the public domain. I was not there so I have no firsthand knowledge of what transpired, but I suspect the absence of the cat provided the rats the opportunity to dance Azonto and Skelewu. Surely, your electoral value is now apparent and indisputable. A Malaysian plane with over 239 people on board disappeared on March 8 this year and it has not been found. What a tragic and painful way to lose loved ones? It is true what people say that “no matter how bad the situation is, it can be worse”. Thank God you died surrounded by family (your wife and five of your seven siblings). Even if in tears your children paid their last respect. The Senate honoured you with a valedictory session aired on national television. The entire Urhobo nation - only for the second time in history also honoured you with a valedictory session. There were many other honours and accolades too numerous to mention here, not to talk of the outpouring of emotions and love within and without Nigeria. A lot more has happened, but let us leave them for God (Ejovwok’Oghene). Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord, our Ahwotu (crowd puller). We will always love you.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Why Ekiti election was violence-free PAGES 20

Impeachment: Nyako moves to save job

Five power blocs battle for Ogun 2015

PAGE 21

PAGE 24

2015: Cracks in Jonathan’s camp As President Goodluck Jonathan’s handlers prepare for a formal kick- off of his reelection bid, ahead 2015 presidential polls, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that there are cracks in the president’s political family.

HERE seems to be a growing gale of concern in the political family of President Goodluck Jonathan as his camp prepares to launch his re-election bid ahead of the 2015 presidential election. Sources within the camp told The Nation that some key elements in the family are showing discontent the way the second term bid of the president is being handled. On top of the list of those

threatening to severe their relationship with the re-election efforts of the President, according to insiders’ reports are coordinators and other officials of the various pro-Jonathan ca mpa ig n org a ni sa t i ons across the states of the federation. Citing various reasons, these aggrieved loyalists of the President are expressing displeasure with the current situation of things within the political family. “There is anxiety among

leaders of the president’s camp over threats by some of our people in the states to dump the campaign for the re-election of the President over perceived imbalance in the system as well as alleged injustices meted out to some of them. “In recent months, we’ve had complaints from states like Bauchi, Oyo, Rivers, Enugu, amongst others. We’ve had complaints of abandonment, insensitivity and failed promises. The President is worried

by these growing gale of discontent and he has directed that all such issues be looked into and resolved immediately,” a source said. Few days ago, supporters of the 2011 Bauchi State President Goodluck Jonathan campaign Coordinator, Alhaji S h u ’ a i b u Ah m e d G a rd a m a , threatened to dump the PDP, unless positive steps are taken to correct the anomalies bedeviling the party in the state. Supporters of the PDP chieftain, led

by Hon. Umar Faruk, made the threat while briefing newsmen in Bauchi. Faruk said “since after the 2011 general election, our pillar was dumped by both the state and the national chapter of the union and the leadership of the party. They alleged that PDP presently is diminishing in the state because the executive leaders of the party were only given rec•Continued on Page 22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

POLITICS

WO weeks to the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, most Nigerians were afraid it would feature another orgy of violence. This was because aside unguarded comments by some of the major candidates, violence erupted in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on the day President Goodluck Jonathan attended one of the final rallies held for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose. The fear was understandable. Ekiti State has been known as one of the states associated with large scale political violence. Some of the victims of such violence included a World Bank consultant, Dr. Ayo Daramola, who paid the ultimate price in August 2006. There was also Mr. Kehinde Fasuba, an official of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, who was reportedly assassinated soon after he signified intention to contest an election. Also the movie-like terror that characterised the April 25, 2009 re-run governorship supplementary election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office was set ablaze remains fresh in the memory of keen observers. Given these realities, many feared the last governorship election in Ekiti State may be marred by violence. Such pessimists were however disappointed as the election was largely adjudged violence-free by observers and monitors. So what happened? Why did the election turn out the way it did? Dr. Aborisade Adesoji, a political scientist in Ado Ekiti told The Nation that several factors combined to make possible a violence-free governorship election in Ekiti State. According to him, “The major factor is the personality of the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He has a political philosophy that is remarkably different from that of an average, crude Nigerian politician, who sees power as a do-ordie affair. It takes only a broadminded political leader like Fayemi to allow such an election, especially when it became obvious, even while the voting were still going on, that the electoral umpire will end up declaring his major opponent, Mr. Ayo Fayose of PDP, as the winner. I dare say that if Fayose was the sitting governor, he would not sit down and watch himself defeated in the name of maintaining peace. He would not. He would, judging by what we all know him to be, allow his supporters to foment trouble thereby casting doubts on the credibility of the election. But Fayemi, a gentleman, did not allow his supporters to make trouble. So, I think he is primarily responsible for what INEC and the world are celebrating today as a violence-free election in Ekiti. “In fact, it is not out of his character. You can quote me, apart from few skirmishes here and there, since October 2010 when Fayemi’s government took over, Ekiti political scene has not been as hot and volatile as it used to be, so, I think what we are seeing today is made possible because the major political actor involved believes in violence-free election,” he said. Apart from the Fayemi factor, which many other respondents corroborated, security arrangements before and during the Ekiti election have also been identified by many as being responsible for the violence-free election. The nation investigation shows that seed of violence has been planted weeks before the election and it was as if everybody was only waiting for the time bomb to explode. An example of the charged atmosphere was the day PDP organised an award ceremony. Unfortunately, the day of the ceremony coincided with the day a contractor handling the rehabilitation of Ado/Ikere Road started work on a stretch of the road in front of Ifelodun Hotel along Ajilosun Road, which was the venue of the ceremony. Eyewitnesses to the confusion and gun shootings that ensured said the road work infuriated PDP members who insisted that “it was aimed at preventing people and vehicular movement to the venue of the ceremony.” The confusion led to the suspension of the award ceremony. In his reaction to the development, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, had pointedly blamed Governor Kayode Fayemi for the incident. According to him, “The governor brought in miscreants to disrupt an award ceremony of a youth wing of our party. “He brought caterpillars to start work at the entrance of the hotel.” He accused APC of sponsoring the people that started shooting at the event. But an eyewitness told newsmen that the “trouble started when some policemen at the venue of the event prevented the contractor from starting the rehabilitation. When the work-

Why Ekiti election was violence-free

Weeks before the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, keen observers feared it would be another violent election. But the election has come and gone with reports that no large scale violence was recorded that day. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, examines the factors that made it possible

•Fayemi

•Fayose

•Abubakar (IGP)

ers at the site called their boss, he reported to some government functionaries that some persons were hindering them from executing the project. At that point, it seems, some unidentified people fired guns in the air. Although nobody was injured in that incident, it not only led to the suspension of the award event but also signalled that except something drastic was done, the governorship poll would be another violent election. Security network So, weeks before the election proper, an elaborate security network was put in place to assuage the fear openly expressed by all stakeholders. Announcing the final security measures on Thursday, June 19, the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, said “The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has deployed the Assistant IGP Bala M Nasarawa and five commissioners of police (CPs) to supervise security arrangements. One of the CPs will be in charge of Ekiti State, three CPs will be specifically supervising security arrangements in Ekiti-North, Ekiti-Central and Ekiti-South senatorial districts, and an-

other one will be overseeing the operations of the Police Mobile Force and other special Strike Forces. He added that movements in and out of Ekiti state would be banned 6pm Thursday till the elections are over. On the Election Day, movements will be restricted within the state between 6am to 8pm. Consequently, the neighbouring states of Kwara, Kogi, Ondo and Osun will have increased police presence with all entry and exit points in and out of Ekiti maximally policed. He explained that “The order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.” This measure, though considered rather too strict by some observers, helped to assuage fears among Ekiti indigenes and election officials. For example, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Alhaji Halilu Pai, and the Police Commissioner of the State, who attended a pre-election sensitisation seminar organised by Senator Ben Obi-led office of Presidential Adviser

on Inter-Party Affairs on Wednesday 28th May, 2014, gave elaborate details of security arrangements put in place to ensure a violence-free election. Pai told newsmen that his commission was worried because of the spate of violence and attacks during rallies and campaigns. Regretting that politicians in Nigeria always devise strategies to outsmart each other, especially during campaigns and elections, he however pleaded that if the participating political parties and candidates will adhere to INEC rules guiding elections, Ekiti election would be violencefree. One of such rules, he explained, is a section that forbids politicians to use abusive language and insinuations. In an earlier interview the INEC boss was quoted as saying: “Campaigns should be strictly on issues. During a campaign, you are not allowed to carry weapons. Also, there are places where you are not supposed to campaign. Campaigns are not allowed at places of worship like churches and mosques. People in masquerades are not supposed to be used for campaigns. All these provisions are there and we, in INEC, will continue to admonish politicians to play the game according to the rules.” He admitted that the violent attacks before the election are a source of concern to his commission but explained that they “have measures put in place to ensure that the election is free of violence and I am assuring everybody that the election will be free, fair and credible.” Some respondents who spoke to The Nation said that so much credit ought to be given to a secret work done by the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for Ekiti State. The agency, according to security source has in the group, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Department of State Security and heads of other security agencies, who, according to our source, met severally with the candidates and the leaders of all the political parties to remind them of the provisions in the Electoral Act. This was followed by the physical deployment of unheard of number of security personnel in a governorship election. While virtually all Nigerians are expressing happiness that Nigeria successfully organised a violence-free governorship election in a politically volatile state like Ekiti, they are however not generally agreed on the acceptability of President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to deploy such a large number of military and other security personnel for a civic activity like an election. One of the activists that have commented on this include is Mr Femi Falana (SAN). Reacting to the election result the legal practitioner said the credibility of the election depended on certain factors. On whether the election was free and fair, he was reported earlier as saying, “In terms of the accreditation, in terms of the actual voting and the collation of results, the Independent National Electoral Commission did very well this time and there was a noticeable improvement. “But when you look at the totality of the election, militarisation of Ekiti State, harassment by security forces, disenfranchisement of some people by the military forces, and the fact that the place was invaded with 30,790 policemen, soldiers and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, you can’t say that was a free and fair election. You must have an election in a free and fair atmosphere.” Falana applauded the incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, for accepting defeat and congratulating Fayose. The human rights lawyer said, “Fayemi’s action is very commendable. The governor acted as a patriot and he hasn’t disappointed me. When you are defeated in an election, you must learn to congratulate the winner and he had said it earlier that ‘if the election was credible and I lose, I will congratulate the winner’ and that is what he has done. “I think other Nigerian politicians should emulate that. But the duty is on INEC; if INEC conducts a good election, nobody will go to court. That is what Fayemi has shown. He is an enlightened guy and a patriot.” So, as political scholars continue their studies on the last weekend’s Ekiti governorship election, it has become certain that the issue of what number of security personnel should be enough for an election in the country has emerged a major topic. The questions that remain to be answered therefore includes if we must militarise our polity in order to achieve violence-free elections or if, as some have argued, all that is needed is to change the conservative thinking of an average Nigerian politician and resolve to play fair as Fayemi has done, not minding the bitter consequences. The debate is just beginning.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

POLITICS

Impeachment: Nyako battles to save job

•Nyako

•Kawankwaso

•Ngilari

Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, is presently facing the biggest test of his political career over the impeachment axe dangling over his head from the State House of Assembly. Will he survive the onslaught? Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, attempts to provide an answer in this report

HE move by the Adamawa State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Murtala Nyako did not altogether come as a surprise to watchers of recent political developments in the state and the nation at large. While Nyako’s relationship with the presidency and his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been frosty at best, the inclusion of Nyako’s deputy, Mr. Bala James Ngilari for impeachment, may have caught many political pundits napping. Ngilari was initially thought to be in the good books of the Presidency following his refusal to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside his boss, Nyako, but the latest developments in the state may have put paid to that general impression. Until the impeachment saga surfaced, the deputy governor was considered a frontrunner in the 2015 governorship race on the platform of PDP, with alleged promises of the party’s ticket from the powers that be. But the governor’s travail was long foretold. Having defected to the APC, his trenchant and relentless criticisms of President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the security challenges in the North-East had singled him out as a marked man. The last straw for Nyako was his allegation that Jonathan is allegedly committing genocide against the North-East zone, a charge that rattled the Presidency and the PDP to no end. Sources disclosed that from this point, the plan to cut the governor to size became a project that assumed a life of its own, but with those behind it only waiting for the right opportunity to strike at their target. That moment finally presented itself with the defection of three APC lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Wafarninyi Theman of Hong constituency,

Simon Issa (Song constituency) and Abubakar Jarengol of Mubi North constituency. Though the governor, whose admirers and supporters prefer to call Baba Maimangoro, being arguably the biggest Mango farmer in the North could rightly be described as the proverbial cat with nine lives when it comes to battles for political survival, but his current attempt to stave off the impeachment threat from the House is generating subdued tension in the North-East state. But then, this is not the first time the state legislators would make an attempt to impeach Nyako. Sometime in 2009, the Assembly under the speakership of Hon. James Barka, now Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Tunisia, initiated a similar move. The Nation gathered that it took the intervention of late President Umar Yar’adua, who directed the then VicePresident, Goodluck Jonathan, to mediate and broker peace between the governor and his lawmakers. There were also interventions from several other quarters, among them prominent PDP stakeholders from Adamawa State led by Prof. Jibril Aminu, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, late Comrade Paschal Bafyau and members of the National Assembly from the state. Eventually, the legislators thawed. Nyako got a breather as the hold on his jugular was relaxed. The peace that was achieved, however, came with certain conditions. First, was that the governor should sack his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Bello Tukur, arguably considered as the most powerful figure in his cabinet, while the presidency would provide a soft landing for Tukur via an appointment in the presidency. But Nyako allegedly reneged, and was to later use Tukur to frustrate the third term bid of Aminu to return to •Continued on Page 24

•Tukur

POLITICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

2015: Cracks in Jonathan’s camp •Continued from Page 19 ognition during ceremonies but no positive activities is going on in the party. “All efforts by the federal government to carry their kinsman, Shu’aibu at the federal level was blocked by the leaders of the state chapter of the party and the state government. He stressed that, politics is ‘’give and take’’ and that they have suffered in the party, adding that they will dump the party and look for another alternative party to contest future elections. Confirming his supporters’ claim, Alhaji Shu’aibu said he received thousands of his supporters who asked him to dump the PDP and contest election under the umbrella of any political party , but he begged them to be patient a little to enable him contact the national leadership of the party to intervene in order to correct the mistakes, problems and undemocratic attitudes going on in the affairs of the party in the state. It would be recalled that Shu’aibu had contested Bauchi gubernatorial seat with Governor Isa Yuguda and former secretary to the Bauchi State Governor, Nadada Umar, in 2007. He was appointed as Acting North East Campaign Coordinato r fo r Jo n a t h a n / Sambo in 2011, while Governor Isa Yuguda was appointed as the Coordinator Jonathan /Sambo campaign organisation. Similarly, the subtle drive to crave support for the President’s next political ambition, took another dimension recently in Enugu as armed policemen stopped a solidarity rally for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election. As ear ly as 9 a m , s co r e s o f armed policemen had taken over the entire Michael Okpara square, originally scheduled for the rally put together by a body, believed to be operating under the banner of Goodluck Initiative for Transformation (GIFT). Speaking to newsmen outside the square – where the rally eventually held amid tight security, the National Coordinator of the group, Chinedu Okpalanma, regretted that they were denied access to the square, despite formal communication earlier to use the place. He explained that the essence of the zonal rally was to sensitise the people of the South eastern geo-political zone of Nigeria on the need to support Jonathan for a second term. Efforts by reporters to get reaction from the manager of the square hit the brick wall, as he refused to take several calls put across to his mobile phone. But investigations revealed that the lockout may not be unconnected by the rift between the governor of the state and some chieftains of the ruling party. “GIFT, the group that organised the rally is no doubt a pro-Jonathan initiative but its loyalty and close-

•Chime

ness to a PDP chieftain, who is at loggerheads with the governor probably makes it unacceptable to the government of the day in Enugu State. While the administration of Governor Sullivan Chime is committed to Jonathan’s reelection, it is alleged to be opposed to the candidate the organisation is supporting for the Enugu 2015 governorship race. Hence the lock-out,” a source told The Nation. It was also gathered that the issue has been analyzed by the President’s handlers following complaint by the leadership of GIFT to the presidency about efforts by the Enugu State Government to suppress its activities in the state. “The leaders of the group were told to continue to support the re-election bid of the president while efforts are being made to reconcile them with the leadership of the PDP in the state and the state government,” a source said. In a related development, the five northern non-partisan groups campaigning for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 also threatened to quit for what they described as obvious insensitivity on the part of the president’s handlers. The five groups, led by the Northern Emancipation Network (NEN), based their grievances on the alleged selfish and insincere manner those purported to be handling Jonathan’s campaign were going about the project. Rising from a joint meeting in Abuja, the Coordinator of NEN, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, warned that while their members had come under intense pressure, the president’s team on the other hand, does not appear to appreciate their efforts. “Instead of recognising and incorporating genuinely committed groups, Jonathan’s men prefer to do business with the old inconsequential politicians from the

•Alao-Akala

North that are incapable of adding value to the campaign,” Suleiman said. He said the Jonathan team had failed to appreciate that there was a fresh thinking in the North today that had forced the old political order to crumble. “We have on several occasions tried to make them understand the need to identify these changes and to utilise them for the success of the Jonathan project in the North which obviously, is going to be the main battle field in 2015,” he explained. He added that since politics was a matter of interest, and people cannot waste their time, resources and efforts on people that do not appear to appreciate that efforts, they would soon open discussions with other political groups that have shown interest in their activities. The groups warned that those close to the president are not telling him the truth on the enormity of the task of selling his ticket in the north. “Rather they give the president the impression that they are in control whereas they merely hide behind the fireworks we provide and our domination of the propaganda space on media and social networks. “The people that support us cannot continue to be exposed to the antagonistic risk associated with the project in the north while some clearly unproductive elements cont i nu e t o t a k e t he cred i t , ” Suleiman warned. Not to be left out, some youths in Rivers State, under the aegis of Rivers Youths Democratic Movement, RYDM, recently threatened to dump PDP for the APC, over perceived determination by President Goodluck Jonathan to frustrate Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s developmental efforts in the state. Leader of the group, Mr. Jackson Manna, who spoke af-

ter a meeting of the youths in Port Harcourt, said unless Jonathan resolved his differences with the governor, Rivers youths may be forced to join the governor in his new party and dump their agitation for Jonathan’s re-election. RYDM cautioned that rather than see Amaechi as a threat to his political interest in next general elections, Jonathan should close ranks with the governor, who they believe meant well for the president and the entire South-South region. He said: “We gave President Jonathan the highest votes during the last general elections, but his fight against Amaechi is a fight against our votes in 2015. We may be forced to foll o w Am a e c h i to th e AP C , where we will give him our total support if the squabble is not rested.” He said their position followed signals that the Presidency and national leadership of PDP are plotting to displace Amaechi as governor of the state. In Oyo State, chieftains of the three factions of the PDP are waiting for the outcome of the recommendations of the reconciliation committee recently set up to settle squabbles in the state chapter of the ruling party. But a group has declared that the next party governorship candidate should come from the Oloye Jumoke Akinjide/Arapaja faction. At present, the three factions of the party in the state are those of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Senator Teslim Folarin and Jumoke Akinjide/ Arapaja. The reconciliation team headed by Chief Finnih, has submitted its report with a recommendation that the Oyo State party executive should either be dissolved or harmonised in order to find a lasting solution to the crisis which caused the party’s de-

feat during the last election. Former Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Alhaji M. Majekodunmi Aborode, an ally of Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, said the party leadership must get it right in the interest of the party. “We are still waiting for the outcome of the report and recommendations of the reconciliation committee. We believe it will come out with an acceptable results based on justice”, he said. Aborode threatened to quit the PDP and contest on the platform of another party to the House of Representatives if, according to him, the wrong faction is accorded further recognition to the detriment of the real members of the party as the case has been for a while now. A recent release by the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of not fulfilling promises he made to them during his 2011 Presidential Campaign is also causing ripples within the President’s camp, according to sources. The Igbo youths said President Jonathan has neglected them and their area in infrastructural provision. They said his promises prior to the elections made them to vote massively for him. The group, led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the Igbo youths will not support Jonathan in 2015 unless they see tangible actions to provide for the welfare of the youths in Igboland. Isiguzoro stated, “we worked assiduously to ensure that President Jonathan emerged, but three years after, we are yet to feel the impact of his administration”. The Ohaneze Youth leader noted with regret the high ra te o f u n e m pl o ym e n t among Igbo youths, and appealed to the President to accommodate them in his transformation agenda with regards to youth development and empowerment. “I keep saying it that we mobilised, canvassed and worked seriously to ensure that he (Jonathan) won, but since then, the Igbo youths have not seen any impact of his administration on us. So, we call on him to ensure that Igbo youths are accommodated in his transformation agenda. That is the only way we can assure him of our support in future”, the OYC leader said. Isiguzoro called on the federal government to set up a South-East Development Commission like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cater for welfare of millions of unemployed Igbo youths in the country or include them in the N59.9 billion Amnesty Programme. He said the inclusion of Igbo youths in the Amnesty Programme would reduce kidnapping in the SouthEast and help the zone to reclaim its position as the foremost commercial hub of the country.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

POLITICS

Choosing the less travelled road

INCE getting involved in nation building as opposed to my regular calling, I have come to realise the failings of our elite who are saddled with leadership in our dear country Nigeria as they flow with the wind when they are expected to take up the challenges of correcting the anomalies in our political sub-culture. The idea of political gains in Nigeria appears to contradict what the benefits of political participation connotes. Notable anomalies are inherent as we operate a “government of the few, by the few, for the few”. It is however disturbing that these anomalies continue to thrive in spite of the influx of enlightened and educated (some will say “halfbaked” going by the unexpected and surprising anti-development statements by some of them in Ogun State in recent times) participants into the political space. Although Rome was not built in a day, my expectation for progress is for sanity to get embedded gradually into our political processes, thereby correcting the abnormal practices of the past. After all, that is the normal trajectory of the evolution of a state. However, the opposite is the case as evidenced by the growing prevalent negative practices that we witness on a daily basis. The general expectation of gains in political participation, especially by the actors and the ordinary people, appears to be severely corrupted. The gain here is what in local parlance is referred to as dividends of democracy. Dividends of democracy differs in our sub-culture to that of developed,or even better still, some similar growing democracies. Ours is about what we can gain immediately without any gestation period. This amounts to less interest in sacrifice. Most successful democracies endured sacrifices to achieve economic development. Most economic policies that were introduced immediately after the mortgage crunch that befell the United States last decade are still molded daily to attend to changing needs. HARP to HAMP, HARP2 to HARP 3 and so on. The economy endured, and both the people and the government endured and sacrificed to get desired results. Up till now, the effects and lessons of the mortgage crunch in the USA still linger after almost a decade. However, it is palpable that the country and its citizens have come out stronger and are certainly in the right evolutionary direction . This is expected in any macro-economy in which the governed and the government recognise the interrelatedness of every component of an economy. In Nigeria, our political elite have failed to educate the political actors and the voters on the need to nurture economic policies and actions. They seem to prefer the path of least resistance- just flowing with the tide and taking care of short-term needs of the actors and the populace without pursuing sustainable policies and development programmes needed to solidify our economy. They appear not to have the capacity for deep rooted strategic thinking nor the moral fortitude to take hard decisions today in furtherance of a stronger, more prosperous tomorrow. In most cases, such short-term solutions only lead to lining of the pockets of a few people to the detriment of the impoverished poor who yearn for better quality of life. The most successful people in life are those that are ready to pursue a path less travelled by others.

The new penkelemesi in Ekiti

•Amosun

By Bunmi Adebayo

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State falls into the rare category of those who dare to make the difference. He decided to pursue the path less travelled by others in order to achieve his goals in life. That’s the same path he has chosen in directing the affairs of Ogun State as well - THE LESS TRAVELLED ROAD. He has chosen the path of sustainable growth as a way of achieving economic development for Ogun State. The sustainable growth comes in many shades: Infrastructural development, re-invigoration of the education sector, integrated health care, security, reformed land administration system via the innovative “Home-owners charter” programme”, agricultural development and industrial development. The most visible and desirable of the programmes is the infrastructural development that is necessary for any serious economy. Infrastructure is what drives industry. Industry is what drives employment. Employment is what drives prosperity. Without quality infrastructural development, there is no economy that will develop and its people will continue to live in abject poverty. SIA-NOMICS, Amosun’s economic policy, took into cognizance the interdependence of the component parts of any economy and that of Ogun State in particular, and decided to prioritise infrastructural development that will in turn inspire other variables. No investor wants to bring his money to where there is no accessible and quality road, to where there is no power supply or other enabling facilities for business to thrive. This brings me to the concept of value proposition in marketing which is applicable to political patronage as well. What is the value proposition of SIA-NOMICS? It is the total benefits of what the Ogun State populace receive or benefit in return for Amosun’s governorship which they made possible with their freely given mandate. It is a concept

on why Ogun State people should continue to support Senator Ibikunle Amosun as governor. The value proposition is to convince Ogun State citizens that the path to economic development he has taken them through is bound to add to their total wellbeing. That the difficult road is better than the short term economic empowerment of the few being practiced in the past, and being sold by his opponents as the best route. In the local lingo, they call the policy of sharing money among some supporters ‘empowerment’. Empowerment, according to Amosun’s opponents is the enrichment of the few to the detriment of the majority. That’s the path SIANOMICS avoided by travelling the path less travelled by others. SIANOMICS has focused on the creation of assets that can be shared by all. He has sought to add value to the commonwealth and creating avenues for more people to fulfill their individual aspirations. The idea is to give both the rich and the poor equal access to state assets and prepare the whole state for economic development by creating enabling environment for businesses and industry to thrive. The value proposition of SIANOMICS is very clear. It identified the long-term needs of the masses, by providing the necessary impetus for economic well-being. The populace, both the governed and the government sacrifices for the future of our state. SIA-NOMICS is not about vote-catching palliative. It’s about sustainable growth for the state. There have been consistent clamour to attract businesses to Ogun State. In the first four months of 2014, 46 new industrial facilities, each investing nothing less than 100 million dollars, berthed in the state, including those belonging to Procter and Gamble and Unilever. Industrial concerns will not come to town without a meaningful belief in the infrastructural development outlook. That is why Ogun State has become the preferred investors’ destination. •Adebayo is Senior Special Assistant on ICT to the governor of Ogun State.

IFE is full of surprises. The conduct and outcome of the governorship elections in Ekiti was too phenomenal to be ignored this week. Earlier, I had planned to continue with the piece on the Attorney General of the Federation, but given the incredible verdict of the Ekiti voters, it became imperative to review what happened, and attempt an assessment of the new equation in the West. First, the grace displayed by the All Progressives Congress’s Dr. Kayode Fayemi has shown that decency may be strange to Nigerian politics, but it is not absent. As soon as he received word from his campaign organisation that the battle had been lost, and the electoral commission had declared Mr. Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party winner, Fayemi went on air to congratulate the winner and pledge his cooperation. Fayemi’s action was enough to put away all trouble makers, douse tension and assure all doubting Thomases that the PDP victory was real. What analysts are left with is a study of the how and the why. This cannot be accomplished in a hurry. It calls for a thorough inquiry by scholars and journalists. What matters to me is what could have instructed such a shift, given the choice available. Fayemi versus Fayose; APC versus PDP. Fayemi- urbane, polished, an achiever and principled. There was also Fayose- background still shrouded in mystery, not known to be a policy man and quite abrasive. Yet, as the people told Pilate when he asked who to set free between Jesus and Barabbas, the people said they wanted the Christ crucified and the criminal Barabbas set free. It was their choice. The Ekiti, too, asked for Fayose. The setting is similar to the situation when the late Adegoke Adelabu took on the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Adelabu was an incomparable orator. He was devastating on the soap box and chose to sway the people against progress. He had the appropriate word for every occasion. He knew what to say to each crowd to send the audience to frenzy. He could say one thing in Ogbomoso and another to people in Ijebu. Adelabu made waves in the cities across the Western Region. When he surmised that the campaign crowd was made up largely of illiterates, he threw in his clincher: what a peculiar mess. And the drummers showed their dexterity. The people took the word to town: penkelemesi. It was a proof that Adelabu could defeat a native speaker of the English language at any competition. It stuck. The stunt worked In Ekiti, contrary to the contention that the people are highly principled and educated and would easily see through cheap gimmicks, they decided to see Fayose as a modern-day Adelabu. Although Fayose was incapable of pulling stunts on the soap box, the theatrics on the road was not lost on the artisans, the youth, the teachers and civil servants. They accepted the PDP candidate and warmed up to him. He did not have to sell a programme; that would have been unlike the party. His tactics were simple. He made to sell himself as a friend of the common man. At every point, he identified with him. From one campaign station to another, he elected to jump on any available motorcycle and reward the okadaman handsomely. He became an instant friend of every garri seller. All he needed to prove to them that he would patronize them was branch once at a stall, buy some and soak it there. The news spread that he would continue to patronize them if only he got elected governor. The youth had their grouse against the incumbent. They had expected that, as reward for supporting him in the epic battle to reclaim his stolen mandate in 2010, Fayemi would open the till and pour out Naira. It did not matter to them that a modern economy could not be run in such manner. Fayose promised he would provide the much needed “stomach infrastructure”. Despite last minute moves to pacify the work force, and intervention by labour leaders from Abuja, workers in the state did not mind cutting their noses to spite their faces. They opted to pay Fayemi back in his own coin having “humiliated” them by suggesting that they needed to undergo tests to ascertain areas of deficiency in order to plan what could be done to improve the quality of education. They insisted that the governor ought to have stopped at giving the schools facelift. They waited for the power conferred by the ballots to teach him also a lesson he would never forget. But, is Fayemi a loser? Is Fayose a winner? Of course, Peter Ayodele Fayose has been declared winner of the June 21, election. By October 16, John Kayode Fayemi would no longer call the shots at the Ado-Ekiti Government House. That, however, is not enough to dub Fayemi a loser. He went into office with an eight-point agenda which he has followed through scrupulously. I see him as a winner as he kept his integrity all through. At the risk of losing at the poll, he stuck to what he considered right as Awolowo did in 1954/55. Awo emerged from that experience stronger. The lie in the Adelabu stunt was exposed and the people chose to stay on the side of light; of principle thenceforth. I do not see Fayemi a loser. He has entered his name in the history books as a governor with a difference. He worked assiduously for the people. He ran a good campaign showing off his scorecard. He warned about the danger ahead should the electorate make the wrong choice. The Ekiti case shall be reviewed when Fayose marks his mid-term in 2016.

POLITICS

•Amosun

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

•Osoba

•Akinlade

•Kashamu

allegedly polarised the party from the state to ward levels. The two contending groups had tried to manage the crisis away from public glare, but the aftermath of the APC state congress resulting in the two groups holding parallel congresses was the final straw that exposed the gravity of the crisis. The formal recognition of the Amosun group by the national headquarters of the APC has further raised fears that the two groups may not resolve their differences in time for the party’s governorship primary. Currently, the Osoba group has in its fold the deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, all APC members in the National Assembly from the state and in the House of Assembly. Unconfirmed reports have it that the leadership of the PDP, Accord Party and also the Presidency, have been wooing the Osoba group to join their fold. And not ready to take anything for granted, the new leadership of the APC, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has also commenced moves to broker peace between the SIA and Osoba groups. Not surprisingly, Osoba has kept his group’s next move close to his chest. Buruji Kashamu group This group with wealthy businessman, Prince Buruji Kashamu as the prime mover is in firm control of the PDP in Ogun State. In the last couple of years, Kashamu has steadily emerged as a power broker in the party both in the state and at the zonal levels. His foray into the party was at the instance of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel whom he supported in the battle with other stakeholders for the soul of Ogun PDP. Using the caucus of the OGD/Omo

Ilu group, both Daniel and Kashamu proved a handful for the other rival caucuses in the party. But over time, the two men went their separate ways over issues not unconnected with alleged fears by Daniel that Kashamu could hijack the party structures from him. The ensuing battle allegedly resulted in Kashamu using his immense wealth and goodwill to win the loyalty of majority of party members in the state. It is to Kashamu’s credit that a party that was at the brink of collapse in the state prior to the 2011 general elections has regained its groove in the last three years. Presently within the Ogun PDP, Kashamu practically determines who gets what and how. OGD Group From the PDP to the PPN, this group headed by ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel, is currently the arrowhead in the Ogun LP. Expectedly, the handing over of the party structures in the state to Daniel by the national leaders of the party, led by Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, did not go down well with other stakeholders in the party, who refer to themselves as the ‘original LP members.’ Sources revealed that these LP members have vowed never to work with Daniel, who they accuse of giving them a raw deal during their sojourn together in PDP and PPN. Daniel, it was learnt, is unperturbed about the opposition to his leadership. Sources say he wants to use the LP to regain his political leadership, which suffered a huge blow in the aftermath of the 2011 governorship elections. Abiodun Akinlade Group Gradually but steadily, this group has over the years become a force to reckon with in the political equation of

the state. Headed by Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives from Owode Federal Constituency in Ogun West Senatorial Zone, the group has in its fold other formidable politicians, including two former commissioners in the Daniel-led administration, Dr. Kunle Salako and Hon. Waliu Taiwo and also about 10 members of the state House of Assembly. In the last three general elections, Akinlade has proved that he is no pushover in Ogun State politics. His first electoral victory came in 2003 following his election into the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP. He was re-elected in 2007. Under a new political platform, the ACN (now defunct) the lawmaker again won his third term almost with ease. Though yet to formally declare his interest in the 2015 governorship race, strong indications have emerged that it was just a matter of time before Akinlade throws his hat into the ring. Some weeks ago, top leaders of Ogun PDP, led by its chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, were guests of Akinlade at his residence in Sango area on the outskirts of Lagos urging him to return to PDP. Two weeks later, chieftains of the party from all the local governments in Ogun West also met with Akinlade in Owode to pledge their support for his governorship aspiration. So far, sources say Akinlade, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, may turn out to be a serious candidate. As the 2015 general elections draw nearer, it is not unlikely that a realignment of forces among the five power blocs in the state is feasible, but until then, the waiting game continues.

with five members who are sympathetic to him. But, there are fears that majority of the House members apparently acting at the behest of external forces are determined to follow Nyako’s impeachment to a logical conclusion. And if the impeachment process sails through, the implications will, no doubt, be far reaching. The speaker, Hon Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, who is also from the Madagali Local Government as the deputy governor, will take over as the Acting Governor for a period of 90 days when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), would organise a fresh governorship poll in the state within three months as required by law. But in view of the current state of emergency in place, will INEC

be able to conduct elections within three months? And what happens if after three months, INEC fails to organise the polls? A lacuna, sources aver, could creep in with its attendant consequences. Already, there are speculations that the charges against Ngilari are just a smokescreen to make the impeachment move not appear as being solely targeted at Nyako. The plot, according to reports, is to give the deputy governor a clean bill by the seven man panel to be put in place by the state Acting Chief Judge to investigate the 20 allegations of gross misconduct leveled against Ngilari and his boss. Once that happens, Ngilari would step in as the new governor, while Awwal Tukur,

the eldest son of the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, will be picked as the new deputy governor. But the governor, it was learnt, is not giving up. He is alleged to have also sought the intervention of his northern colleagues both within his party and PDP to prevail on Adamawa lawmakers to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign. For the PDP governors mediating in the crisis, their fear is that the consequences of Nyako’s ouster may snowball into an unimaginable crisis not just in Adamawa State but across the north. However, for now, Governor Nyako seems to be having a breather.

•Daniel

Five power blocs battle for Ogun 2015 The 2015 governorship race is gradually taking shape with five T political blocs contending for the control of Ogun State, writes Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo HE battle for the Oke Mosan Government House in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital promises to be an interesting contest. In the last few weeks, the political temperature in the state has been witnessing steady rise following moves by the leading political parties in the state to implant themselves in the hearts and souls of the people. Currently, the All Progressives Party (APC), which is the ruling party in the state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), appear to be the major contenders for the soul of the state politics. Within these three parties however, certain powerful individuals are believed to be the rallying points of the power blocs, all contending for prominence ahead the 2015 governorship elections. Ibikunle Amosun’s group Popularly called the SIA group, an acronym of the names of the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, this group has, over the last 10 years, entrenched itself on the political firmament of the state. The group came into being sometime in 2005 after Amosun fell out with the then governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, with whom he had formed a political partnership to dislodge ex-Governor Olusegun Osoba from office in 2003. The parting of ways between Amosun and Daniel created a lot of tension in the state in the run-up to the 2007 governorship elections, with Amosun dumping the PDP on which platform he was elected as Senator for the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to contest for the governorship against Daniel. Daniel eventually won the election, the ripple effects of its outcome seems to have signaled the almost irreconcilable differences between the two politicians till date.

Though bitter with his defeat in 2003, Amosun simply went back to the drawing board to re-strategise for the battle ahead. Sources revealed that the former lawmaker quickly commenced the urgent task of rejuvenating his political machinery much to the discomfort of the Daniel camp. Amosun’s opportunity to exact his pound of flesh from his political foe finally came in 2011 following his victory at the governorship poll. Contesting under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Amosun defeated Daniel’s anointed candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, who contested on the platform of the relatively new Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). And in the last three years, the SIA group has, arguably, taken firm control of the levers of government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which came into existence last year, sequel to the merger of three opposition parties, the ACN, ANPP and CPC. As preparations for the 2015 general elections gather momentum, there are strong indications that the governor is poised to contest for another term in office, banking on his formidable political structures to ensure his victory at the APC primary coming up later in the year and in the general elections proper. The Olusegun Osoba group Formidable in its own right, this group is headed by ex-Governor Olusegun Osoba, whose image looms large in the state. In the last few months, the Osoba group has been embroiled in a supremacy battle with the SIA group over the control of the APC structures in Ogun State, a development that has

Nyako moves to save job •Continued from Page 21 the Senate in 2011. Tukur, who has since also fallen out with Nyako, now represents Adamawa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. But Nyako has proved adroit so far by avoiding the impeachment notice to be served on him as required by law. This strategy, sources say, was to enable him buy more time and come up with counter measures that will pull the rug off the feet of the lawmakers. Now the big question is: who will save Nyako from impeachment? Unconfirmed reports have it that the governor has been mobilising stakeholders within and outside the state, including top politicians, elder statesmen

and respected traditional rulers to intervene in the crisis. The contacted peacemakers are said to have reached out to the lawmakers individually, appealing that Nyako’s alleged transgressions should be forgiven in the overall interest of the state. Most importantly, the lawmakers were told that Nyako’s impeachment could complicate the already fragile security situation in the state. Only last month, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kawankwaso, visited Yola at the instance of Nyako to talk to the leadership of the House to let sleeping dog lie. But already, 20 members of the House have appended their signatures to the impeachment document, with Nyako only left

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

HAT are the challenges Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been contending with in his commitment to deliver the dividends of democracy across the 44 local government areas of the state? Well, his most daunting challenge is that of time, with which to complete the numerous human-oriented projects he initiated. His goal is to achieve so much within a short time and this does not seem to be in his favour. He is very ambitious in his desire to make Kano a better place than he met it. His mind set for now is to, as much as possible, complete all the on-going projects he initiated, while he would also make sure that an appreciable progress is recorded on projects, so that by the time the next government comes on board, it would complete them, while the projects that could not be started would be left to the next administration to complete them. Do you foresee the governor fulfilling his promise to complete all the projects he initiated in 2011 when he mounted the saddle of leadership in Kano? You should acknowledge the fact that government is a continuous process and therefore not possible to complete certain projects it started within a particular period. You should also recognise the fact that all succeeding administrations inherit projects but the idea is to endeavour to complete them as much as possible. For example, Governor Kwankwaso met with all the contractors on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, who are handling all the projects, and with all the local government chairmen on June 18, 2014, so the bottom line is that it is not a oneman project, as he is not a field worker. As long as he is determined to complete the projects, they are other interplaying variables. During the governor’s meeting with contractors, he mandated them to ensure the completion of the projects on schedule, suggesting to them to run on shift basis, so as to complete the projects on schedule. The battle for who succeeds Kwankwaso must have begun, what is the governor’s plan over his successor? Well, you see, Kwankwaso has said it several times, as he is presently working with a team and he would be satisfied with anybody that would be picked from the team of his party who will continue along his line but he cannot determine who will succeed him. But the idea is that you should do the best you can, so that whoever emerges for now is between him and the people, so it is the people, who will determine the appropriate successor and if they want the work to continue, they know who to vote for and anybody that the governor says that this is the man that will do it, I am sure the people will vote for him because he knows individuals’ capabilities and of course the party, which is very critical, so if they do not vote for the party, they will not enjoy the ongoing dividends of democracy because they have tested other parties and individuals in the past, all of who failed them and this is the person they are comfortable with because he delivered in his first tenure and also delivering right now. So, whoever comes from the team would be capable of continuing with the policies and programmes of the transformation agenda, aimed at transforming Kano to a mega city. In the last local government election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) swept the positions in the chairmanship and councillorship positions. Are you optimistic that it will take same pattern in the forthcoming governorship elections in 2015? The outcome of the last local government elections is a signal that all the forthcoming election results would follow same pattern. You see, people are surprised that the APC has about 82 percent, while the other parties shared the remaining eight percent in terms of party strength, so we are even surprised that they have up to eight percent because Kano is tilting towards 100 percent of an APC controlled state. You see when Kwankwaso mounted the saddle of leadership in 2011, he captured not less than 48 percent votes on the platform of Kwankwasiyya Movement within the PDP but now with the merger, you have ANPP, led by the elders and former commissioners of the ANPP and Bashir Tofa, who was the Chairman of the Elders Committee and 100

POLITICS

‘APC will retain Kano in 2015’

Malam Halilu Baba Ibrahim Dantiye is the Director of Press and Public Relations to the Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The governor’s image maker was until his appointment the Weekend Editor in the defunct Triumph, a state-owned newspaper and the former president of Nigeria Guild of Editors. He spoke to newsmen on his boss’ landmark achievements, plans for Kwankwaso’s successor and the determination of APC to retain power in Kano in 2015. KOLADE ADEYEMI was there. percent of CPC members led by General Jafaru Isa, who was a gubernatorial candidate, the then ACN led by former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Engineer Abdullahi Gwarzo, who was also their gubernatorial candidate of the ACN, so this was what gave the party 92 per cent and they are still there, which means that they are not only going to maintain the 92 percent but is should be noted that before the commencement of the general elections, most of the on-going projects must have been transformed to reality, which will gladden the hearts of the electorate, most of whom will make up their minds on who to cast their votes for, so based on these realities, we do not have any problem, as Kano is just like one party state. Following the emergence of former CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir of Kano, mild protests erupted, how did the governor succeed in managing the situation and subsequently dousing the tension within three days? Well, majority of us believe that the protests were pre-determined and organised protest and it was like some people were acting a script. Also, at the time the protest was in progress, it was announced in so many places that it was concluded that the name of the eldest son of the late Emir had already been approved which was not the case, also, the PDP had already congratulated whoever that was announced by the medium. Moreover, this kind of attachment that the son of the late Emir must emerge as the successor of his late father is a historical antecedent as it happened when the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero ascended the throne, there was similar riot, which lasted for about 10 days and just last week, the former Emir of Gwandu, Haruna Dokola was in Kano to commiserate with the people of Kano over the death of the Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero and recalled that in 1950 or thereabout, when one of his great grand-fathers ascended the throne, which sparked off riots, which lasted for about 50 days, which informed his decision to commend Governor Kwankwaso for the wisdom he applied to control the riot, which lasted for about three days. However, up to this moment, nobody has questioned the eligibility of the Emir; nobody has questioned the fact that he is royal blooded, nobody has questioned the process and nobody has questioned the choice, the only mind set of the people is that since the Emir died, why not give it to his son, just as nobody also argued that it was wrong to appoint him as the new Emir. One can understand that the Emir died, who everybody knows but among the three contenders that were recommended to the governor, Alhaji Muhamad’s name was the first on the list, assuming it was second, so people will ask why did the governor, just as he has the prerogative to select the Emir from the three shortlisted contenders but he picked from number two or three of the shortlisted contenders for the throne, people would equally ask why did the governor circumvent the process. It should however be noted that the process was not under the state government’s control but was started by the kingmakers, who made a recommendation as provided by law, which the governor also approved as •Dantiye

provided by law, so what was the problem? However, as noted earlier, it was a script and after some time, the people have exhausted the parameters they were given and the bottom line was that it was ill-advised. The new Emir after he led the last Friday prayer at the Government House relocated to the palace. So far, we thank God that those who were misled into rioting were the same people, who escorted the new Emir to the palace. Meanwhile, they appreciate the fact that the issue was politicised and those that misled them were partly embittered because they lost the local government elections and just wanted to prove a point. In your candid assessment, would you say that calmness has returned to Kano after the protest that followed the emergence of the new Emir? Frankly speaking, all is calm in Kano for now, just as you too can testify as everybody is going about his business. I n y o u r opinion, has the n e w Emir been wholly e m braced b y K a n o people? Y e s . He has absolutely been embraced by his people. This is based on the background of Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi 11. He has what it takes

to take the Emirate council to another level. That is basically behind the reason why the state government approved his appointment as the new Emir, just as the kingmakers made him number one on the list of contenders to ascend the throne, due to his unique qualities, which nobody has disputed. You need to see the multitude of crowd of those yearning to pay homage to the new Emir, both from Kano and beyond, you will be overwhelmed and we are happy that Kano would be a lot more greater in so many respects because the new Emir is an internationalist who will attract a lot of development that is why we are happy with the combination, with him as the Emir and Kwankwaso as the governor. With this combination, the sky would be the limit for the ancient city of Kano. What is Kwankwaso’s message to Kano people? People should embrace education as it is very central, people should look after their wards and ensure that they go to school, as well as to ensure that their children are vaccinated against poliomyelitis so that Polio mist be kicked out from Kano and the entire country and we are happy we are making a headway. People should make good use of the established 24 institutes and take the opportunity of these openings, as well as happy that street begging has been banned. People should endeavour to be self-reliant. Free education still abounds for all Kano indigenes in public schools; all you need do is to secure admission and get registered and forward the total bill to the state government for payment.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

-- Page 53

Worries as cashless policy kicks off nationwide

Page 58, 59

•Ebebe

Page 60

Insurance business peaks at N285bn

R Remi Olowude, the Chairman of Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), says the nation's insurance industry business grew by 15 per cent in 2013 in spite of apathy of Nigerians to insurance. Olowude made the disclosure while providing an overview of insurance industry business in 2013 at the NIA 46th Annual General meeting (GM) in Lagos. He said that the worth of insurance business conducted in 2013 stood at N285 billion compared with N247.58 billion achieved in 2012.

By Joe Agbro with agency report "The improvement in the

2013 performance of the industry is as a result of the stability and growth of the nation's economy. "Also, this was due to increasing insurance awareness, government's patronage, innovations and improved service delivery by member companies as well as the growing confidence in insurance by the general public," he said. The NIA chairman said that the performance was also aided by better regulatory supervision.

According to him, the growth was assisted by the insurance industry regulator guidelines on risk-based supervision, anti-money laundering, the combat against financial terrorism and the adoption of the international reporting standard. Olowude said that the enforcement of the "No Premium No Cover" policy, regulation on premium collection and remittance also yielded positive results. He said that the enforcement curtailed large volume of premium debts in the balance sheet of members

companies. Mr Olorundare Thomas, NIA Director General, said that the association was able to produce the operational guidelines for NIA Customers Complaint Bureau. He said that the association ensured that the industry lived up to its responsibilities by ensuring that claims arising from Dana Air Crash were being settled. Thomas said that NIA had also set up committee to review the management of the Dana insurance business with a view to learning relevant lessons from it.

• From left: Former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, founder, Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) Prof. Pat Utomi, his wife, Ifeoma, Oba Samuel Osunlade, Olugbon of Orileigbon, and the celebrator, Chief Micheal Ade Ojo, and his wife Taiwo, during 12th edition of the CVL Leadership Colloquim in honour of Chief Ade Ojo by the Centre in Lagos...recently PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Shareholders approve N3b share capital for NPF Micro Finance Bank

HE shareholders of NPF MicroFinance Bank Plc have urged an increase of the bank's authorised share capital to N3 billion from N2 billion with the creation of additional two billion shares. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the shareholders gave their approval at the bank's 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Thursday in Lagos. Under the approval, the company's new authorised share capital stood at three billion divided into six billion ordinary shares of 50k. The shareholders also approved N228.7 million as

dividends for 2013, or 10k per share. Mr Boniface Okezie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), commenting on the outcome of the AGM, commended the company for sustainable growth. Okezie told NAN on Friday that the company had maintained a steady dividend profile since its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Dec. 1, 2010. He also urged the board and management of the company to maintain the growth and create value for shareholders in the future. Another shareholder, Mr Solomon Akinsanya, lauded

‘Our major asset is human resource’

'Why Ogoni is at logger heads with Shell'

the outgoing Chairman of the bank, Mrs Florence Adebanjo, for her achievements in the past nine years. Akinsanya said that the company should compensate the shareholders with dividend bonus. Mr Moses Igburude, a member, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), advised the bank to embark on branch network expansion to improve its revenue generation capacity. Igburude said that the bank should ensure compliance in all its operations to avoid sanction by the regulators. The banks' chairman, Mrs Florence Adebanjo, said that

the board and management would focus on efficient service delivery to increase its customer base. Adebanjo said that the company's practises would be anchored on good corporate governance and robust risk management. She told NAN the bank was well positioned to offer competitive returns to shareholders on a sustained basis. Adebanjo said that the bank would redirect its focus to increase micro finance activities by tailoring its services and delivery channels through improved technology that would meet clients' needs.

Page 62

•Olajide

GOtv vs StarTimes: Who's winning the digital migration race?

By Tade Shogunro

O debate exists on which one of GOtv and StarTimes got to the market first. There is similarly none on which one blazed the digital migration trail in the country. The Chinese-owned StarTimes, launched in August 2010, arrived in the Nigerian pay-TV market a year before GOtv did. StarTimes is the child of a joint venture agreement between its Chinese owners and the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. The product of the agreement was christened NTA-Star TV Network. StarTimes' stated mission at launch, according to Pang Xin Xing, its chairman, is to ensure that pay-TV becomes considerably more affordable. It fulfilled its promise as a down market offering, providing its subscribers with more than 35 cable television channels at the pocket-friendly price of N1000 monthly. It seemed exactly what a bargain-hungry public wanted. StarTimes' broadcast kicked off with the Digital Video Broadcast on Terrestrial (DVB-T) technology, something at variance with what the Federal Government described as the mandate of the NTA/StarTimes partnership-to assist the country in its march towards digital migration. With its low-priced decoders at just N9000 and with no satellite dish required, many in the low income bracket flipped for StarTimes, which was hugely assisted by a degree of parsimony with the truth. It turned out that not a single item of StarTimes communication indicated that the technology adopted for broadcast was one that was on the verge of being outmoded. GOtv, which came later, was described by its promoters, MultiChoice, as "low cost digital television service offering the greatest selection of local channels, made in Africa for Africans as well as the best international channels." It kicked off with 20 channels, which later rose to 30. GOtv came with the advantage of being sired by MultiChoice, the continent's dominant pay TV operator. That, naturally, gave it an edge, as it could feed off premium content from MultiChoice's DStv platform. The gap in content quality provoked comparisons, with subscribers complaining about StarTimes' lean offer of local language channels, which the operator tried to compensate for by filling time with Chinese language channels. It was not enough to quell the complaints. StarTimes' broadcast with DVB-T technology, despite agreeing with the National Broadcasting Commission in 2008 to deploy DVB-T2, also gave grounds for bother. The spark for this was the increased awareness of the march towards digital migration. GOtv, from the off, deployed DVB-T2, the technology prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, at its conference in Geneva in 2006 and to which countries, including Nigeria, signed to adopt. DVB-T2 offers considerably better audio and video quality than DVB-T. Its adoption by GOtv also signified the operator's readiness for the digital switchover of June 2015, the terminal date for analogue broadcast. The implication was that the technology adopted by StarTimes was on its way out and subscribers would need to purchase new decoders at the digital switchover or risk inability to receive television signals. Thus from the start, StarTimes was playing catch-up despite launching first. It came up with an immediate response: a price slash on its decoders, the same response to demands by its subscribers in Uganda and Kenya, where the importation of DVB-T had been banned in readiness for the digital switchover. In the two countries, consumer rights advocates openly fought StarTimes' attempt to continue importation of its DVB-T decoders that were on the verge of being outmoded. In addition to the price slash were a series of sales promotional efforts designed to stave off the fierce competition from GOtv, whose new technology and bouquet of top class content neutered StarTimes promotional efforts. GOtv also responded with its own promos. "We have excited the market by adding more channels to the bouquets-from 27 channels at launch in 2011, GOtv Plus now has 40 channels, although subscription rates have remained unchanged," said Elizabeth Amkpa, GOtv's General Manager. It was not until last year that StarTimes got on the digital migration train, when it started importing DVB-T2 decoders to key into the nation march towards digital broadcasting, which has begun in Jos as the pilot city. And in readiness for the digital switchover, GOtv is already planning to increase the number of programmes on its bouquet, fully aware that the switchover will make enormous demands for new content.

BUSINESS

As banks across the country braze up to begin full scale implication of the much touted cashless policy introduced by the nation's apex bank few years ago, Bukola Afolabi in this report takes a look at the challenges and teething problems associated with the policy thus far

ULY 1 is the D-day. It is the day the Central Bank of Nigeria would extend the cashless policy to other states of the federation, thereby bringing them at par with Lagos State where the policy commenced two years ago. Road to cashless Nigeria The policy was introduced by the former Governor of CBN, Lamido Sanusi Lamido with the aim of reducing the handling of cash by Nigerians and replaces it with electronic transactions. The policy also specifies charges for individuals and corporate organisations that want to withdraw or lodge cash above prescribed amount. For an individual accounts, withdrawal should not go beyond N500, 000 per day while N3 million is pegged per day for corporate accounts. Explaining the rationale behind the policy, Sanusi had said that the ambition of the CBN is to make the Nigerian payment system the envy of other African nations. "You get on a plane; you want to go to Kenya or Tanzania or South Africa. You don't bother to look for the Kenya shilling or the local currency of that country to put in your pocket. No! You simply go with your card. "We keep going to the rest of the world with our cards and we never asked why it that our own country is not like this?" he asked. Before the commencement of the policy, Nigeria was known to be a cash economy where large sums of money are carried in cash on daily basis. This has resulted into several reports of armed robberies. It also encouraged corruption and made it difficult to trace stolen money both in the public and private institutions. The Head, Shared Services, CBN, Mr. Chidi Umeano, had said the decision to extend the policy to other states was as a result of the success recorded in states where the policy had been implemented. "From the success we have recorded in those areas, we have now decided as an industry to move it to other states in the country. In other words, by July 1, we are going live in all the states of the federation. As you well know, this is a critical part of the payment system modernisation and the success registered so far has been very impressive." Outcome of pilot scheme When the policy was first introduced, several challenges almost marred its operation as in some of the states like Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Ogun, Abia, Rivers and Anambra states where the operation commenced as Nigerians struggled to come to terms with the policy. Though alternative means were provided by the CBN for easy transaction such as Internet banking, mobile money transfer, Point of Sale Terminals (PoS) and the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), yet it took Nigerians a long time to get used to the system.

Many complained about the non availability of some of the alternatives most especially the PoS. Trouble with cashless Nigeria With the policy now spreading other states, there have been concerns on the challenges that people would face in those states. One of such is the PoS. The Central Bank was criticised for failure to provide enough PoS before the operation commenced. Several stores, supermarkets, malls, and offices had no PoS, thereby making transactions difficult for people. Therefore it is expected that there would be the same challenges in the new states that are to start experiencing he policy. As art now, investigation revealed that in states like Lagos, Rivers and others where the operation had commenced two years ago, Nigerians are still grappling with the non availability of these PoS, thereby giving an insight into what would happen in other states. Another challenge is the issue of illiteracy. With much of the Nigerian economy being driven by semi-literate individuals, the challenges of educating traders such as market women and men, the Babalojas and the Iyalojas, on the use of PoS would be daunting. Many of these traders prefer to do their transactions in cash rather than going through the 'rigors' of using a PoS. In spite of the challenges, the former CBN governor had explained that the policy was successful in all the states where it was test run. He said the policy has helped the cost of cash management in the central bank's balance sheet to reduce to N35 billion in 2013 from N49 billion in 2009. He also said the central bank now spends fewer amounts in printing money, transporting cash, managing and centralising cash. "We have got more money now being transferred through electronic channels. Our concern now is how we put in checks and balances to minimise fraud because as you move huge money via electronic channels efficiently, you run the risk of fraud itself being more efficient," he said. Another challenge is in the use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM). While ATM machines are not new to Nigerians, however the occasional loss of service sometimes makes it difficult for Nigerians to make use of it. Many of the ATMs also hardly have cash. It is a common sight to see long queues at ATM machines buttressing the fact that few of them are in circulation. Where they are many, investigations revealed that only few functions. Unintended consequences People in these states are going to face constant excuses of network failures and cash retract as a result of the machines being overworked. Apart from the ATMs, it would also require sensitisation on the need for people to make use of the

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Worries as cashless policy kicks off nationwide

â&#x20AC;˘Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja

mobile banking system which allows transactions to be carried out on a mobile phone. While it is a known fact the whole world has gone digital, yet the level of illiteracy might prevent people making use of it. Mr. Temitayo Salami, who deals in the sale of computer accessories in Lokoja, Kogi State said that while the extension of the policy is a good development, there is need for the CBN put in place measures that would

mitigate the expected difficulties the operation would face in these new states. "I expect that the CBN would have learnt a lot having experimented the policy in some states. I expect that enough PoS would have been provided in the states where the policy would kick off, banks also would have upgraded their network and provide more and efficient ATM machines so as to reduce the stress of people queuing before ATMs. I

also expect that sensitisation programme wold have been carried out to inform the people on how the policy works." The Head of Research at BGL Securities Limited, Mr. Femi Ademola, shared the same sentiment. In one of his comments, he emphasised the need for sensitisation of those in the rural areas. "When we say cashless, we are not saying there won't be cash at all. Most of the places you see

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

â&#x20AC;˘ Emefiele

huge volume of transactions are the commercial centres. The CBN was smart to have started it in places where the transactions are large enough. But the only challenge we may have with the policy is illiteracy," he said. Likewise, the Head of Research at Sterling Capital Limited, Mr. Sewa Wusu had also expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure to make the policy successful nationwide. He explained: "All over the

globe, particularly the advanced economies, they are mostly operating a cashless economy. The advantage of cashless economy is that people would be able to do transactions without cash. There would be credibility and that removes the burden of moving large volume of cash all around. "Now, Nigeria's situation is peculiar in the sense that if you want to talk about cashless economy, infrastructure is very

critical. We are still having some challenges with power and information infrastructure which are vital for cashless. "So it is going to be a huge project. The security situation in the three northern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe should also be considered. But I think it is a right step, but the enabling environment should be created for it to succeed." Mr. Gbenga Alabi, an architect expressed the same concern. "I think it is a good thing but I am worried about the alternatives. How many Nigerians know how to operate a mobile banking or a PoS? Who will educate the market women on how to operate them? As at today, few Nigerians make use of PoS not to talk the illiterate ones. The most annoying thing is the ATMs which disappoints in most cases. There must be improvement if the policy is going to be successful nationwide." Prince Ifeanyi, a trader at Westminister , Apapa, said the expected challenges could only be solved if proactive measures are taken to correct them. "The policy has recorded a considerable successful so far in Lagos though not as expected but my concern has to do with those that live in the rural areas." According to financial experts, the move is too idealistic in a country like Nigeria, with larger percentage of the population residing in the informal sector. However, they believe that as much as the apex bank hopes to enhance the country's payment system, it needs to understand that the failure of past regimes to achieve this objective is not as a result of the inadequacy in their plans or policies, but their inability to effectively locate the relationships in the systems as one holistic entity. Some believe that it would take a long time for the policy to be effective because little is being done to provide the necessary infrastructure. They opined that there is a need for a huge base of infrastructure, which needs to be put in place in the form of magnetic card readers and the technology that makes them work. Similarly, they believe that while security concerns remain in many financial transactions, the need to reduce the number of unbanked in the country is also necessary to achieve cash-less economy. For instance, some of the reasons adduced as to why there is still a large number of unbanked in the country is communication problem and the issue of bank charges which are not properly communicated to the customer during the account opening process. A former bank official, Oluwaseun Popoola also shared the same view. "Extending the policy to other states is not the issue but the issue is whether the CBN has corrected lapses witnessed in the states where the operation took off. Up till now, there is still problem of ATMs not working; the mobile banking is not too effective while few people make use of the PoS. That is why many Nigerians still prefer to withdraw across the counter. I would like to see a situation whereby one can use the ATM without stress not cases of the ma chine debiting you without releasing the cash. Be that as it may, I belief there will be improvement," he said.

Institute charges new members over emerging global challenges

RESIDENT of Institute of Planning Nigeria (IPN), DrMccarthyIjiebor, has charged the latest inducted members to face up to the emerging international challenges. Speaking at the first induction ceremony in Lagos on Thursday where 103 new members were inducted,DrIjiebor said in the light of the new globalisation, IPN's aim is to create a new generation of planning professionals who can face emerging challenges of international nature with confidence while remaining committed to acceptable and ethical processes. The new professional planners are drawn from the academics, government, media, business, multinationals, agriculture, and other fields of endeavours. The colourful ceremony chaired by Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, the Isekhure of Benin Kingdom, was attended by Director-General of Centre for Management Development (CMD), Dr Kabir Kabo Usman, the guest speaker and IPN governing council members. DrIjiebornoted that the institution has fine-tuned its initial concept, to a more goal-oriented and globally accepted institute by ceaselessly modifying its training programs to suit all academic fields because planning forms an integral aspect of all professions, while decrying the plan less attitude of Nigerians. "The recent and unparalleled growth rate of GDP in India and China demonstrates the inherent strength of planned economic growth," DrIjiebor said. "Over the years in Nigeria, we have not taken planning as seriously as we should, and this has reflected in the poor implementation of development plans in the country. I hope that the recent rebasing of Nigeria's GDP will ginger us to put on our thinking caps and leverage on the professed benefits." IPN was established in 2003 and registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Nigeria in line with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990 in 2008.It was set up to advise the government, the organised private sector, communities, and individuals on major issues relating to economic and social policies.

KIND educates people on business governance monitoring By TosinAdesile

HE need to foster joint decision-making between communities and local government has been brought to the fore by a Governance training with focus on community score-card by the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND). The project tagged Governance and Citizens development, aimed at ensuring social accountability, is to be implemented through two projects in Ogun and Ekiti State with fund support from the World Bank and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The commissioner, Ekiti State Ministry of Budget and Economic, BiodunOyebanji, represented by a director in charge of budget, Faniyan Daniel, said the programme which has been on for the past two years has come to the final stage which is the dissemination of results gotten from data collected. According to him, "This programme is aimed at empowering them about their rights and to negotiate their position with the Government especially at the time of election when their votes is needed." The three-day programme was held at Ikere Local Government, Emure Local Govermnent and Ekiti West Local Government respectively with Civil Society Organisation, (CSOs), Community Development Association (CDAs) and Community Based organisation (CBOs) in attendance while it also held at Abeokuta South local government hall with civil servants, NGO and a host of others. The meeting deliberated on Democracy Works: increasing local communities' participation in governance after which community score card was presented. KIND is a non-governmental organisation named after the Late KudiratAbiola who was murdered for fighting to realise a true democracy and it is run by her daughter- HafsatAbiola Costello, Senior Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Ogun State Governor.

Fashion designers association seeks FG's support

FASHION designer, Mrs Tope Olanre-Alade, at the weekend urged the Federal Government and other investors to show more interest in the fashion industry. Olanre-Alade, a member of Fashion Designers Association (FADAN), spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. She said that investing in the sector would further aid progress as the country's fashion industry was beginning to compete favourably with its foreign counterparts. ``Stakeholders in the Nigerian fashion industry are of the opinion that the sector has begun to deliver on its mandate. ``Since fashion industry is one of the biggest employers of labour around the world, the quality of Africa style is competing with international standard. ``The government must show more commitment toward the development of the industry. ``The Federal Government can do more by creating an enabling environment to boost the development of the sector, especially in the area of incentives,'' Olanre-Alade said. She said there was the need for government to support talented citizens with soft loans to sustain their businesses. ``The major challenge the industry is facing is fund, most fashion designers go out of business due to insufficient funds. ``If the government can address that area, it will boost the nation's Gross Domestic Products (GDP),'' she said. Olanre-Alade added that the government would generate huge revenue in the investment in return.

Dr. Prince James Bebe is the N a t i o n a l President, Oil Field L a n d l o r d Contractors Association of Nigeria (OFLCA) and the Chairman of Ogoni Surveillance Contractors. In this interview with P r e c i o u s Dikewoha, he gives fresh insights on the lingering crisis between Shell and its host community in Ogoni land

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

BUSINESS

HAT is the cause of the recent war between Shell and Surveillance Contractors? My brother Shell wants to kill us. We are stakeholders in Shell business as landlord contractors under the body called Oil field Landlord Association which is dully registered in Nigeria. In 2011 Shell came up with an idea of GMOU, forming a cluster in local governments and communities to have direct contact with the communities. This is like liaison, in case they want to do anything with the communities it will be their own liaison. At that point, as a body we got information that this has to do with our contract but they denied and said their coming to the community does not have anything to do with our contract but to form a cluster. Late 2012 the Ikwerre axis which is a chapter in our association called me and complained but Shell said the GMOU, does not have anything to do with surveillance contract that they need GMOU that can oversee and supervise the activities of the contractors. Then I said no problem. So I did not bother much about it, because somebody who gives you work to do may decide to ask somebody else to supervise you. I saw it as a proper thing to be done. Last year December they called a meeting that they want to embark on GMOU in Ogoni that they will not continue with surveillance contractors but with Clusters Board. The question now is: why should Ogoni GMOU and Cluster Board be different from other ethnic groups or local government in Niger Delta region? Until today, Shell has not answered this question. I told them categorically that if any contractor is found wanting by not doing his work, there are rules which Shell should apply, those rules are to caution such contractor, send him a query letter probably or terminate his contract. This is because if we are having oil spill in Ogoni area or any problem in Ogoni Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) it will affect the people and it will affect the environment. Some of us are worried of Shell's trick, always wanting communities to clash every time.

'Why Ogoni is at logger heads with Shell' Shell is your employer; did your Association at any time call Shell to order or complain about the strange behaviour? We did, and after our complaint, on December 31st and 2nd of January 2013, we were sent text messages that we should leave the sites that we are no longer needed as surveillance contractors. I immediately called and asked one of the managers if they know what they are doing. After my reaction they asked us to go back to the site. In May, we received a message from Shell that we should come for a meeting; more than 50 contractors were in attendance. When we heard of the meeting we were very happy because we have sent series of letters seeking for audience with Shell to discuss the issue of fuel subsidy and under payment of workers by Shell but all proved abortive. We have been eorking with Shell for over six years yet our salary has never been increased, you don't know the value of what they are paying us as salary. So when we heard about the meeting we thought it was another opportunity to discuss with Shell, but we got it wrong. When we got there, the pipeline manager, Mr. Princewill Werike, came up that he is a messenger, that people don't kill a messenger with his message. He said a lot of contractors have done well yet some other contractors are not doing well. He added a parable that if oil touches one finger, it will soil others that our contract ends by June 2014. Then I stood up as the chairman and told him sir, if you are a messenger I see you as not being capable of giving us the real message. He told us to sign the minute of the meeting, I said to him no, because I know Shell's tricks, they will allow you sign the minute of a meeting and they will attach it to any other document. That meeting ended in a deadlock and he said he will fix another meeting and get back to us. Did Shell fix another meeting after the alleged inconclusive meeting? As I told you, it was not alleged that the meeting was inconclusive, I am telling you now as the chairman of Ogoni Surveillance Contractors, and in fact I will say there was no discussion at the meeting with the behaviour of the man who said he is a messenger to Shell. After the meeting which ended in deadlock the next thing Shell did was to send termination letters through Corral Company inside the communities forcing people to sign against us. Their action took us by surprise so we decided to seek advice of Ogoni Restoration Team on the development. Mr. Austin of Ogoni Restoration Team after listening to us frowned at Shell's behaviour and told us to put another letter to Shell. He was amazed at the action of Mr Princewill Werike who claimed to be a messenger with his class in Shell as manager. Let me tell you, Nedo Osayande, the General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, is such person who wants the communities to clash Shell. We have written series

â&#x20AC;˘Bebe of letters to Ogoni Council of Chiefs and other recognised bodies in the land and they have warned Shell to stop it. I don't know who else Shell wants to kill after Ken Saro Wiwa because all Shell wants is for us to kill ourselves. Since the crisis started, have you complained to Ogoni elders and other stakeholders in the area? We have done that and they have said no to what Shell is doing to contractors, the chiefs and the communities are saying no, this action is bad. Because taking contract from landlord contractors to the community is nothing but to create crisis among the Ogoni people. Shell must know that lands are been owned by individuals in Ogoni and not by the community. Shell knows that there are kinship problems in Ogoni land and they are taking the contract to the community. Do they want the people to kill themselves? Some Ogoni communities today are facing chieftaincy, political and economic crises; there are many cases in court. When you now take the issue of contract to them what do you think will happen? Right now there is chieftaincy crisis in Tai Local Government over GMOU, in Gokana and Eleme axis. There are court cases here and there against communities and individuals. This is how it started in 1993 when Shell betrayed the people and Ogoni people said no we must fight for our right. Shells want to repeat what happened in 1993 but I am appealing to them to stop hunting the contractors. If there is any of the contractors that is found wanting they should discipline that contractor. I have called on the

Rivers State government including the federal government to look into this matter to avert bloodshed in Ogoni land. Some of your contractors or members have been accused of not paying salary to workers, how do you react to this? Shell gave contract to individuals. As a body or as the chairman of the body, I have advised contractors to pay their workers and any contractor who is not doing his work I support Shell to deal with that contractor as a person and not to cause trouble in Ogoni land. If a contractor is not paying his workers as and when due, the workers will not go to work. How did Shell know that some contractors are not paying salary yet they are paying them every month? I am accusing Shell of conniving with those contractors that are not doing well because, if a contractor is not doing well you don't need to pay him but they are paying them. Now it will interest you to know that Shell gave all the contractors work completion certificate (WCC) which also has service entry sheet; it means they are doing well. How come they are alleging that some contractors are not paying salary? They should stop causing trouble in Ogoni. Did Shell ever inform the Ogoni contractors or council of chiefs that they want to disengage the contractors? What Shell did is to come to the community and invite community leaders based on their developmental strides in the area. They told the community that they want to develop the area and promised to give them certain amount of money. They said the

community will help them to gain access; of course, Shell has access to Ogoni land already. So I don't know the kind of access they are talking about. The issue of surveillance was not discussed in the meeting and Shell has not called us to say this is the reason we want to remove the contract from the surveillance contractors. The only reason why Shell is doing what they are doing to us today is that they want to cause another problem in Ogoni. Shell wants to divert Ogoni mind away from United Nation Environmental Programme report (UNEP). So that we can start killing ourselves and they start going about their normal business in Ogoni land. I pray for Ogoni to realise what is happening on time so that we would not be used by Shell to kill ourselves the second time. Are you saying that your members are not sabotaging Shell's efforts thus far? If Shell gave contract to a contractor and they are suspecting sabotage on their facilities, the question would be what Shell has done through the GMOU, to sanitise the situation. Can they quantify the sabotage in Ogoni area and other riverine areas? I am not encouraging sabotage anywhere. We were always asked to report any act of sabotage, but the question has Shell ever punished any suspect brought before them? When we arrest the suspect and call Shell, they will advise us to call the police, at the end of the day Shell will abandon us with the suspect. No case of this matter has ever been executed. Sometimes police will arrest and arraign the suspect before the court, there will be no evidence, even Shell will not send anybody to represent them at the court. At the end, the suspect will be allowed to go home and the suspect will be chasing contractors from one place to another. They know what they are gaining from sabotage; we have reported the matter several times, telling Shell that this is our problem. Even when the security people got to know about it, they invited us and we openly told the Army colonel handling the matter that we are accusing Shell of anything about sabotage. Because when we arrest suspects, we send them to police but Shell doesn't assist us to prosecute any suspect of sabotage, we are stakeholders in Shell business as landlord. I remember there was a time the Ogoni contractors were fully in support of Shell activities in Ogoni land, what has fallen apart? It is just that we are bold enough to say no, what you are doing is wrong; that makes us to clash with our people. The contractors that Shell are accusing today are the same contractors that stood by Shell when they found it difficult to enter Ogoni land. Some of us were beaten by our people; some even ran away from their homes and lost their properties for safety purpose. Now they want to dump them. They should not forget the dark days. Exploration of crude oil started in 1957 from Ogoni and from then till today if Shell wants to assist anybody it is not by

knocking two heads together. Shell came up with Community and Shell Togetherness (CAST) which was meant to employ people within the community, so I don't know what Shell is calling greed. I have told them the last time they invited us that if they are living in a glass house they should not throw stone, the contractors are not greedy; if Shell wants to develop Ogoni they should go ahead and do that. But how many Ogoni people have been employed by Shell? If the new cluster board wants to employ more than 400 workers as Shell claims in their press release, why can't Shell give those workers to contractors who were working with them to add? We have written series of letters seeking a peaceful negotiation, but Shell General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Mr. Nedo Osayande Nedo said he has a remote to control Ogoni anytime he wants, he said our contract is not a life contract. But if Ogoni contract is not a life contract and we had GMOU in Ikwerre axis and Bayelsa where the landlords are still working, is their own a life contract or are they different from Ogoni people? The answer is no. So, what is the way forward? We have many ways we want to address our matter with Shell which may not be disclosed on the pages of the newspapers. For now we are calling on Shell to respect the voice of the traditional rulers, the contractors cannot fold their hands and allow Shell to dump them after using them, we are not knife or dog that people use to cultivate or cut meat and dump. It cannot happen. The most annoying part of this matter is that Shell doesn't want to respect our elders. If you are talking of Ogoni elders the first person you can think of is the Royal Majesty Chief G.N.K Gininwa. He has advised Shell to stop their trouble with us. The Royal Majesty of Eleme Samuel Egire has written to Shell advising them to make peace with us but they have refused to listen to these respected elders of Ogoni land. If they cannot respect those kings who do you think Shell will respect? In one of their press briefings, Shell said their presence in Ogoni is not for oil production; what is your take on this? Only what we can benefit is the job we are doing today with Shell, our environment, livestock, everything you can think of is gone. Our environment has been sentenced to death with the activities of Shell. Even if Shell decides to uproot their pipeline today, we cannot make use of the land because it has been polluted. There is no Ogoni man that is a manager in Shell. I read the publication where Shell said they are not going back to Ogoni for oil production; that is their business. But we are begging them to come because if they do we will do more business with them. We are not pursuing Shell, but we can only pursue them when they terminate our contract. If they say they will no longer accept us, we also as a community will not accept them in our land. Yes, because if you say I should not come to your house what are you doing in my house?

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

BUSINESS

Police housing, others receive boost

HEN the sorry state of the Nigeria Police College was made public, the clamour for a better standard of living for the Nigeria Police Force was advanced. Early this month, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned 1000 housing units for the rank and file and officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Dakwa, Abuja. The 1000 housing estate named Sunday Adewusi Housing Estate consists of three, two and one-bedroom housing units. While launching the project, Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, disclosed that in the past two years, the Police Force has so far built 2000 housing units. According to him: "This occasion is significant because it shows the commitment of the police authorities towards the overall welfare and the provision of affordable houses on owner-occupier basis. It is instructive and commendable to note that these 1000 units of three, two and one-bedroom houses at Dakwa, Abuja, were developed through public private partnership between a reputable developer and the police cooperative limited which financed the project." The president announced that officers and men, who are beneficiaries, will pay for the houses through the National Housing Fund loans which the Nigeria Police Force has access to through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) He noted that "the public private partnership development model and attention to practical model through financing initiatives are key pillars in the transformation agenda of this administration. The present leadership of the police force has been focused on the balanced development of all aspects of policing. It is encouraging that the Nigeria Police Force has built 2000 housing units just in the last two years." The president commended the initiative of the Nigeria Police in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMBN) to provide affordable housing for its officers and also reiterated the commitment of his administration to provide affordable housing for Nigerians. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, an

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja excited President Jonathan said this was the first time in Nigeria's history that the Nigeria Police would achieve such a laudable venture. He also emphasised that the federal government is committed to improving the standard of living of all police officers in the country, irrespective of their rank or status. The president commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police for "taking the initiative to develop an estate for its members. Not only is this commendable, it is remarkable because it goes a long way in complementing the efforts of the federal government in providing low cost housing for the citizenry." This government, he said, "places a huge emphasis on housing, because the housing sector has the potential of increasing the productivity of every person. A viable housing sector creates jobs and enhances employment opportunities." Jonathan also noted that one of the ways in which government was aiming at improving the standard of living of police officers in the country was embarking on massive transformation of all barracks in the country. "This will cost the government a lot of money to achieve, but at the end it will be worth it," he said. President Jonathan thanked the police boss and his management team for the estate. Also recently, President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan launched the National Housing Fund (NHF) e-Card and inaugurated the FMBNfinanced 'Aviation Village' Housing Estate. The inauguration ceremony which took place at the premises of the estate along the airport road, Abuja was attended by some members of the Federal Executive Council, National Assembly members, businessmen and women as well as actors in the real estate business. The 'FMBN Aviation Village' Housing Estate was developed by Suntrust Real Estate Investment Limited, a private developer, based on funding for both construction and infrastructure financing provided by FMBN to the tune of N2.4 billion. The estate which covers a land mass of 11.9 hectares

comprises a total of 270 housing units of 144 units of 2-bedroom flats, 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows and 76 units of 3-bedroom detached bungalows. In his address, President Goodluck Jonathan described the housing sector as very critical to the economy of any country, he expressed joy at the number of practical steps the current administration has taken in resolving the housing problems in the country since the Presidential Retreat that was held in December 2012. President Jonathan said he expects a strong collaboration between the newly established Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) and the FMBN to stimulate affordable mortgage financing to reduce the cost of housing in Nigeria. He said, "We are moving forward as a nation in our quest to reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria and I wish to commend FMBN for successfully delivering this project through the estate development loan granted Sun Trust Investments. Our economic programme as a government is to provide the enabling environment for the private sector to drive the economy and not to play a monopoly." He expressed the total commitment of his administration to create jobs and provide quality and affordable housing to Nigerians, adding that the commissioning is an indication of the commitment of government to collaborate with the private sector in housing delivery. Earlier in his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, disclosed that the housing units, which would be made available for different cadres of police officers was completed over a period of eight months. Though he did not disclose the cost of building the estate, he declared that each flat would be given out to interested police officers at N8 million adding that each buyer would be expected to repay through a mortgage scheme made available by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He pointed out that similar estates were currently being built in other parts of the country including Kaduna and Kano. He admitted that lack of

â&#x20AC;˘ Vice President Namadi Sambo, Police IG, MD Abubakar and others at the launching of the housing units

housing is one of the challenges facing police officers and their families all over the country. In his speech, Managing Director of FMBN, Kimba Ya'u Kumo, commended the president on his commitment to ensuring that the current housing deficit which now stands at 17million is reduced drastically. Kumo announced that since the introduction of the National Housing Fund (NHF) collection to the fund has improved by more than 500 per cent and has also assisted to ensure transparency and accountability. He said, "The NHF e-Card being launched is a huge step forward in delivering the advantages of speed, accuracy, transparency, accountability and superior customer experiences to NHF contributors. Mr. President would be pleased to know that we have begun to harvest the benefits of the NHF eCollection Platform, especially in the volume of NHF collections. "For instance, the rate of NHF collections rose significantly from about N700 million to over N2.2 billion per month. We estimate a further 100% increase in monthly collections to achieve about N4 billion per month before the end of Year 2014," said Kumo. The FMBN in June 2013, he said, "launched the NHF eCollection Platform to ensure proper record-keeping, transparency and accountability for NHF collections. The platform prevents the flagrant violation of the NHF Act and unlawful practices by employers who fail to effect statutory deductions, remit deductions to the FMBN or provide remittance schedules by which contributors' monies are easily misappropriated." He said that the estate which covers a land mass of 11.9 hectares comprises a total of 270 housing units of 144 units of 2-bedroom flats, 50 units of 3-bedroom semidetached bungalows and 76 units of 3-bedroom detached bungalows. Kumo said: "As a further step, FMBN is advancing concessionary mortgages to NHF contributors at 6% interest rate in line with government's directive for a single-digit interest rate regime under Mr. President's programme of easy access and cheap housing finance to lowincome earners. Regarding this estate, FMBN has approved mortgage loans to 171 NHF contributors to the tune of N1.4 billion, out of which about 20 beneficiaries are occupying their houses as we speak. Mortgage loans for the remaining 99 units are being processed and would be concluded shortly." Regarding the estate being commissioned, the MD/CEO said FMBN has approved mortgage loans to 171 NHF contributors to the tune of N1.4 billion, out of which about 20 beneficiaries are occupying their houses presently and Mortgage loans for the remaining 99 units are being processed and would be concluded shortly.

The failure of telecommunication network providers

E may never appreciate how much technology has advanced and how rapidly the world has evolved especially over the last decade if we do not take into account, the series of events and our current position. Going down memory lane, I recall vividly as a child in the early 90s that only those who belonged to the middle - upper class and the upper class of the society could afford to have a telephone box connected to NITEL. It was common practise for friends and families of such people to pay scheduled visits to their homes which would coincide with the time they intend to make or receive mostly international calls from relatives far away. The advent of the Global System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) in 2001 however marked the beginning of a major transformation. From the era of Sagem 930, Trium, Ericsson and Motorola walkie talkie with a sim and mobile phone costing as much as 30,000 NGN, call rates as high as 50.00NGN and on per minute billing, SMS at 20.00NGN per text gradually to the era of phones with polyphonic ring tones with the likes of Samsung free eye, being the brand of choice for the classy and down to the trending world of smart phones with BlackBerry, Android and Windows phones taking the lead. Call rates are now as low as 20kobo per second while SMS are charged at 4.00NGN per text which makes it affordable for many This development now ensures that irrespective of the standard of living, every home is equipped with at least one mobile phone. With the current trend in the global village of technology, less is done with hard copies of files and papers. Smart phones affords everyone the opportunity to move around with all vital documents in their palms. Manufacturers of mobile phones however remain on top of their games as they anticipate the needs of the end users and keep evolving with apps and functions which offers ease, convenience and efficiency. However hard they try, the success of their effort lies in the consumer being able to get value from such innovations which leaves them at the mercy of of network providers in various countries. Have you ever wondered why majority of the telecommunications subscribers in Nigeria easily tolerate poor signals when trying to dial out or when receiving calls during stormy weather? Perhaps it's no news that data signals are lost at these times and downloads as well as other heavy data needs or important calls are best reserved for off peak periods. The question here is what happens to those urgent and important business or safety calls, text messages or emails that cannot wait? Who is to be held liable for the cost of a failed service? Who is to be held liable for the cost of a failed service? Has anyone taken a moment to consider why an average Nigerian has more than one mobile telephone with each bearing SIM cards registered on different network. It's simply getting a ready alternative which we hope would serve the need when the primary network of choice fails.Why do most people base their choice of network provider on the signal strength at their most visited spots and tarrifs This discussion is focused on a comparative review of the major network providers in the country MTN, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat, and the answer is that none of them has been able to provide a service worth the the nunber of years of their existence. This is because Nigeria is not one of those countries that experience such force majeure as tsunami tornadoes and the likes of it and this hardly affects the network in advanced part of the world. Most of these network providers have mastered the act of sending unsolicited messages to all their customers not minding what irritating reaction it generates, they however deem it unnecessary to apologise for poor services even when it is evident or provide a compensation as little as extending the validity period of their customers bu the numbers of hours or days affected Subscribers who rely heavily on their mobile phones for data service however cry about how they are defrauded since its more challenging to estimate one's use unlike what the case is with call credit. The data bundles come in different packages and each provides a specific data volume for a given period of time. While the network providers never fail to cut off the service once the time frame elapses, they however never roll over the unused data upon renewal of the subscription. The anguish of subscribers who use android phones are however more. For instance the BIS monthly subscription which averages between 1,000NGN and 1,500NGN is suppose to provide the following service- undenied access to the blackberry instant messaging service, email accounts as many as five, Facebook, Twitter, and so many other applications all of which run independently of the 1GB data volume or more available to surf the Internet during this period. For their counterparts using Android phones, a subscription of 1,000NGN will only provide a data bundle of about 350MB or less for a period of one month with most of the installed applications running on it. This implies a spending power of at least times times three of a BIS subscriber to be able to match up with an equally efficient use of such devices. This has been observed as a major deterrent to the judicious use of many Internet based apps. Furthermore, if the advice of the leaders to the youth on the use of the Internet for self development would be anything to go by, then service providers are to be made to realise that they have a major role to play in ensuring that the services their customers have paid for is available and genuinely affordable. More is also expected from NCC by the consumers as subscribers are yet to feel a direct impact of their various interventions.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

64 BUSINESS

Nigeria adopts full digital visa regime

ENUINE foreign investors whose dream to berth businesses in Nigeria had been deterred in the past by difficult visa processing may now heave a sigh of relief, as the Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new visa that could guarantee them fluid entry into the country. The new Visa regime, known as Nigeria Intelligent Visa Administration (NIVA), makes Nigeria the first country in Africa to completely digitalize its visa acquisition procedure. Information from the Interior ministry, under which the project was birthed and nurtured, has revealed that the new visa administration would commence in less than three week time across not less than 140 Nigeria’s foreign mission with a formal launch in London, United Kingdom. It is also expected to significantly increase the

number of genuine visitors, especially business people that are granted entry permit into the country per year from the current estimate of over 400,000 per year. This is in view of the renewed interest by foreign investors in the country since Nigeria’s economy was rebased as the largest in Africa. It has also been designed as a tool to prevent, track and clampdown on foreigners who come into the country with unscrupulous motive masked in phony investment portfolio. The new visa vignette is fitted with security features that carry the biometric data and other information of applicants that could unveil every available information about them prior to being granted entry permit into the country. In cases where the person is granted a visa into the Nigeria, the NIVA visa would also help the respective

authority to keep surveillance on them, especially where there is suspicion that such a person may be engaging in activities that compromise security of the country. Our findings have revealed that the visa vignette, laced with high profile tamper proof features, are being produced for Nigeria by a security printing firm owned by the government of Austria, Austria State Printing House, OSD (Osterreicuiche Staatddruckerei GMBH). Nigeria’s minister of Interior, Abba Moro, under whose supervision the new visa administration was conceived, made a personal visit to Austria to vet the quality of the production, alongside other technical staff of the ministry and gave it the nod. He has also inspected the Abuja server hub, which is still being worked on. Speaking on NIVA, Moro said a state of the art visa on

arrival lounge, fitted with automated, secure and networked immigration visa on arrival processing desk, electronic passage control, and event monitoring facilities will be created in all international airports across the country. “One of the fundamental objectives of NIVA is to provide platform for visa issuance to genuine business people and investors on arrival at our ports,” he said. NIVA is advanced platform that combines the latest technology for biometric identification and verification through the use of advanced computer imaging, MRZ stripes, 3D, hologram and printing technology. The minister also disclosed that the new e-visa vignette which is at the heart of the whole concept is not dissimilar in appearance to either the US or Schengen visas, but much higher in security features.

•Moro in company of officials inspecting the workstation in Abuja, recently.

Real estate investment eases migration to US By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

OUSTON EB5, a Real Estate investment company, is offering potential investors, the opportunity of investing in Real Estate development in one of USA's most desirable Real Estate market, Houston Texas. In addition to the prospect of a handsome return on investment on the project, a luxury apartment complex in Downtown Houston, investing in this project will qualify investors for permanent residency in the United States through the EB-5 program. The EB5 investment program is administered by the U.S. Citizens Immigration Services under the Department of Homeland Security. It allows investors who make a qualified investment to fast track permanent legal residency in the United States for themselves and their immediate family without the usual roadblocks or red tape associated with the immigration process. Following the success of Houston EB5's newest Real Estate project, Astoria a $70 million residential tower near the Houston Galleria tapped into a federal program targeting wealthy foreigners whose investment amounted to $30 million of the total cost of the project. In a document made available to The Nation by 3INVEST one of Africa's leading real estate brands with technology driven innovations, the new project which will be at an investment level of $500,000 has Randall Davis, a Houston Luxury Condominium Developer and his partner in Houston EB5, Roberto Contreras excited. On the type of development, Contreras said it will consist of 240 unit, 8 story Block 384 luxury apartment including a 30-story condo tower on Post Oak Boulevard. Prior to this time 30 investors from countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia invested $1 million each to the EB-5 Regional Center, a company set up to raise money from foreign investors for a job-creating commercial enterprise. In return the investors will become lawful permanent residents of the United States. "Astoria was really made possible thanks to these foreign investors, because one of the reasons there are not more condominium projects is because it's very hard to finance them," said Contreras. "Banks love to finance apartments, but don't love to finance condominiums. The EB5 program has allowed us to complete more projects in the Houston area and we look forward to expanding our investor reach in countries like Nigeria and Vietnam." Previous investors in EBS projects are from Mexico and other Latin American countries with Nigeria close behind, said Managing Director, Houston EB5 Regional Center, Acho Azuike, "For future projects we plan to attract more investors from Nigeria because Nigerians are already familiar with the Houston area and we now have a track record of success because of our Astoria project", he quipped.

NEPC sensitises exporters on market penetration strategy

ITF seeks government, stakeholders support for skills development

HE Industrial Training Fund, ITF, has called on g o v e r n m e n t , stakeholders and the private sector to support the country's industrialisation policy in order to develop the needed skills and the only way to achieve this is through patronage of the ITF's training programmes as well as prompt remittance of training contributions.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja The Director-General, ITF, Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, disclosed this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the sixth management retreat of the agency in Asaba, Delta State, with the theme, 'Mastering the art of leading change' organised by the body to come up with strategies that could be used in

achieving its mandates. She said: "We appeal to both the private and public sectors to support the ITF. On our part, we shall not relent in providing appropriate need-based performance improvement intervention of all our clients and stakeholders. I want us to have a stronger presence in the south-south. This is because it's only in the south-south that we

don't have a training centre. "There are training centres in other zones and I think it is important to have such in the south-south considering the fact that the oil and gas is about 90 per cent of our revenue and we are not yet playing strongly in that sector. We are looking at ways at which we can collaborate with the south-south governors and get their full support.”

• From left: Representative of Execuitive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC), Mr Mathew Iranloye,Assistant Director,NEPC Lagos, Mrs Azuka Ikejofor and Mr Oluwole Monehin, Assistant Director Market Development Department, NEPC Abuja, at a workshop on export market penetration strategy organised by the Council in Lagos...recently. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

N its effort to educate and also provide an enabling environment for exporters and prospective exporters, the NEPC has held a sensitisation workshop on market penetration strategy. In a key note address delivered by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Mr Segun Awolowo, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Mr. Mathew Iranloye, said the market access involves application of strategies which are keys that opened up target markets, adding that the activity of the council has largely succeeded in exposing Nigerian companies and organisations to the international markets and opened up market contacts that have yielded much dividend to the individual companies and the nation in terms of increased in-flow of foreign exchange. He also said the NEPC would regularly reach out to the business communities through educative programmes because of the consistent nature and effort in developing export culture in Nigeria and also enhance export activities of the people. The zonal coordinator, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike, who was also represented by Mrs Azuka lkejiofor, Assistant Director Lagos zonal office, said that overtime the NEPC has further developed a culture of service on how to access the international markets. She also noted that knowing how the international markets operate is very important because they are different, because of the distinctive terrains which only a knowledgeable mentor can make people understand. She, however, noted that the workshop would enlarge the knowledge base of the international markets procedures through trade fair participation, adding that the NEPC has further used the medium to enhance its performance base in the international markets. Mr. Oluwole Monehin, an assistant director of market development, said that quality issues and challenges in export trade hamper the growth and development in the sector, adding that exporters and potential exporters alike must first have in-depth knowledge of available markets entry strategies to be able to know which strategy to use in the market.

Retail marketing in Nigeria witnesses vast transformation Page 66

AN you tell us a bit about yourself and CCHub? I'm the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, CoCreation Hub, CCHub Nigeria, a social innovation centre. We're passionate about how you apply deep thinking and knowledge to solve serious problems and I have a major focus on social issues. How do you make societies better - by getting smart people to think about solving the problems in society? That passion drove me and Femi Longe, my partner, to start CCHub back in October 2010 and we set up the innovation centre in September 2011. We did this to create a platform where the average individual, who believes he has some great ideas that can change things and probably also build a business out of it, can come and get required networks they can work with, to take such ideas to the market place. Our thinking is that people tend to think that funding is the biggest problem in starting a business but we have realised that there are many excellent ideas out there but the difficulty is in moving from the idea phase to having a product. There is a massive gap and people don't support that which is what we set out to stand for. We understand that there are many issues in Nigeria, and the people within can address so many of these problems - not the government, not foreign organisations because often times we are part of the problems and there are those among us who can help to proffer solutions to these challenges that confront us. We are set up to identify people with ideas, help them through the process of building their ideas, getting into the market, and finding the right partners to work with. Our lives are like a script and every part of it counts to take you to that place where you are supposed to be. I started my work life with Hewlett Packard, HP at the main HQ in Geneva, where I started as an intern after finishing my first degree in the University of Jos. There, I was project support lead for social innovation for projects across Africa. HP was simply exploring opportunities where technology can be used in schools and societies. I moved from there to join a UN body, the International Trade Centre, Geneva, where I also worked on how businesses in developing countries in Africa can use technology to export their goods. After this experience, I left for an MBA - Information Systems in the UK from where I picked up another innovation consulting job for three years working with leading researchers, industry bigwigs across Europe trying to help them find funding for their research while also commercialising their research. In a nutshell, the trajectory

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

'How social media is boosting small business' Bosun Tijani is Chief Executive Officer, Co Creation Hub, (CCHub), a social innovation centre dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity. Over the past two years, CcHub has worked with aspiring tech entrepreneurs who are finding interesting ways to address social issues in Nigeria in areas such as governance, education, trade, water, extractives and entertainment. In this interview with Bukola Afolabi, he speaks on the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Nigeria. Excerpts: of my professional work experience has led me to where we are today. At CCHub, the biggest business model is community. We understood from the beginning that if we are going to be successful, we needed to have a community of people who can create solutions. We set out to gather people and help them build ideas to prototypes and to market ready solutions. And for us to be able to do that we needed a strong pool of people who believe in that ideology, creative people who believe that they can start something new, organisations that want to support such initiatives like this, investors and government. The secret and business model for CCHub has been to focus on building a virile community and meeting its needs. Then clearly, your monetisation becomes a lot easier. As its stands today, we have over 3,500 individuals as part of our community. On a daily basis we see close to 250 people come into our facility which is now on four floors. In terms of our business model, we build a community, add value to it, then you can monetise aspects of it. What has been your experience operating in Nigeria's mobile application development space? The experience has been fantastic. But clearly we've seen a lot of barriers as we move on - the fact that talents are not everywhere. Having an idea is different from having the talent to build it and because we are in the technology space, you need to have the technical know-how to convert that idea to real product. Nigerians are quite ingenious. We have seen a lot of great ideas from different quarters. The challenge is that our universities are not producing talents - the best computer scientists and most of the people we work with are self-taught. People have to learn on their own to do these things. The

â&#x20AC;˘Tijani

pool of talent we have is limited but over the last three years, the growth in the quality of work which people are building is so enormous that you wonder at the transformation. Three years ago, the mobile applications you see in the market were really basic - poor user interface, poor user experience. Today, the quality is there for all to see. Also, the increase in the diffusion of mobile phones especially the smartphones has helped because many more people have access to affordable phones courtesy of Nokia, Samsung and especially Techno. Internet is also getting better when you look at where we were three years ago. Based on these factors, the interest in mobile applications is growing, more people are using and

appreciating mobile apps and we expect to gain a lot of traction in the next one to two years. How has it been running CCHub? In a way, it has been fulfilling, not in the sense that we have made so much money but that you see there's hope for Nigeria. You see a lot of young and middle aged people who believe in the country and apply their skills and expertise in being part of the change. Seeing so many things like that gives us hope that we are headed in the right direction. Also, quite a number of people in the market have been receptive to the idea of an innovation centre and as such we have enjoyed a lot of goodwill. But it has got its own challenges. As an innovation

centre, our spirit has been attuned to the fact that challenges exist for us to solve. We don't necessarily feel the pain. For example, we run a 200KVA generator which costs a lot of money to purchase and to maintain: we spend about N800, 000 every month on diesel just to run the business. That amount would pay the salaries of five employees, entry level or mid-level in Nigeria. We have had to work around a whole lot of challenges to ensure that we continue to generate enough income to cater for power which is very sad. Also, systemic challenges to support the kind of thing we are doing. Some of the systems we run in Nigeria are archaic and not suited to help start-ups grow. The pain of registering a business is quite demanding, the tax system also doesn't encourage start-ups. Also, the fact that you have to pay for almost everything like security, which in most societies are taken for granted, also does not help matters. But problems are the reasons why we exist. The Yaba area led by CCHub is becoming the centre of gravity for a lot of techie companies. We are working with Main One and the state government to lay fibre optic cable in the whole area, which was concluded last year and only waiting to be turned on. The internet experience in this area would soon be one of the very best in the country. We are also hoping to work with the state government to ensure that the area has its own dedicated power especially during business hours so that we can spend less on power. These problems present a platform to engage the right authorities to ensure that we find solutions. What have been your greatest achievement and lowest point? For people who understand the industry, our greatest achievement is that people now take tech seriously with the

investment gradually improving. As a key player in the sector, that's the way we measure ourselves. The average person out there would measure us by the number of successful start-ups we have - BudgIT, a small group that focuses on budget transparency and is one of the best in Africa today; Effiko is also doing quite well, they have piloted in Lagos and moving to five other states; Wecyclers is also part of the Hub and they are doing very well; Traclist is also gaining traction and other successful start-ups that we have incubated. We've seen people come with just an ordinary idea and watch them build a proper organisation that can make money out of it. All these have been encouraging for us. Well, we haven't gotten to that point where we would want to pack it all up and go. Where is Nigeria's own Silicon Valley? It is here in Yaba, Lagos State and not just because CCHub wants to declare it as such. In the whole country, this is the only place where you have all the key ingredients for innovation. If you look at clusters or Silicon Valley itself, they are backed by universities, Stanford and the other big schools around to power the knowledge that drives the place. It's also backed by an aggregation of businesses doing similar things as well as a conducive environment where top minds want to work as well as accessibility. Here in Yaba, you would find all these traits magnificently etched. In Yaba, we have Unilag, the nation's university of first choice, you have LASU extension at Jibowu, there is Yabatech, the leading art and design school in the country and a heavy concentration of secondary schools. In terms of accessibility, Yaba is quite close to the Island, it isn't as expensive as the Island and from here you can easily get to the airport and every other part of Lagos. It's a no-brainer - the ingredients needed for the ecosystem are here in Yaba. Where do you see CCHub in the next two to three years? As we go on, we would like to play a more knowledgedriven role. I know the yardstick in our society is to calculate how many successful start-ups you have, how much dollars you are generating but our interest in this sector is more long term. It's not about a few start-ups making money but helping to build a robust ecosystem in Nigeria so that we have a sector that can power all the other different sectors of the country and make us more competitive as a nation. We are going to be doing more research, invest in long term thinking, hoping to grow our capacity by 100% or even 200% in the next two to three years. The implication of this is that we would then be managing a bigger organisation which is needed to make the required impact in the sector.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

BUSINESS/SME REPORT

Ebonyi to display newly produced rice brand at trade fair

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, President, Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Godfrey Iyke Nwosu and Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue, at a stakeholders forum organised by the bank in Lagos…recently

Over two million Africans tell leaders at AU summit to boost smallholder farmers

S the 23rd African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit gets underway in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, ONE.org's Do Agric petition which calls on African leaders to recommit to spending at least 10% of national budgets on effective agriculture investments - has gathered more than two million signatures of support from African citizens across the continent. The petition has been hand delivered to a number of Heads of State, including Presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Yayi Boni of Benin, John Mahama of Ghana, MahamadouI Nssoufou of Niger, and Macky Sall of Senegal. The petition has also been hand delivered to VicePresident Guy Scott of Zambia, to Prime Ministers Moussa Mara of Mali and Brigi Rafini of Niger, as well as to Minister for Agriculture of Nigeria Adesina Akinwumi, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security of Burkina Faso Mahana Zougrana, Nigeria's Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana. It would be recalled that ONE.org officially launched

its "Do Agric, It Pays" campaign on 20 January 2014 along the margins of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in support of the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture. The campaign encourages African governments to keep their 2003 Maputo promise to invest at least 10% of national budgets in agriculture, and makes a case for better strategic policies and transparent public investments that will better support smallholder farmers, especially women, and lift millions of Africans out of poverty. Receiving the petition on June 10 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, President Jakaya Kikwete said: "I will champion this cause at the AU Summit. I will present this petition to the other Heads of State. We as African governments cannot succeed in taking agriculture forward unless we modernize it, instead of our people continuing to use the hand-held hoe and other farming implements from pre-biblical times." Ghana's President John Mahama accepted the petition in Accra, Ghana on June 20. He hailed the initiative and reiterated Ghana's commitment to

improving the lives of smallholder farmers, adding that "your campaign is preaching to the converted as we in Ghana are already stepping up the policies and investments in agriculture." In April, D'banj and 18 artists representing 11 different countries came together to record the single "Cocoa na Chocolate" in support of the Do Agric campaign. Addressing African leaders on behalf of the artists, D'banj said: "We came together because we know Africa is rising. Yet the farmers who produce most of our food still struggle to survive. 70% of Africans are employed in agriculture. This week's AU Summit in Malabo is a historic opportunity for you to change the lives of millions of Africans and create a better future for our youth through better agricultural investment." Ahead of the summit, Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, ONE.org's Executive Director for Africa, said: "It is time for our leaders to step up and Do Agric at this year's summit during the AU Year of Agriculture. Millions of smallholder farmers are counting on you-including the over 2 million African citizens who have signed the Do

Jigawa to supply harvesting machines to rice farmers

HE Jigawa government said at the weekend that it had concluded arrangements to procure mini-combine harvesting machines to accelerate paddy rice production in the state. AlhajiIdriDanzomo, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said this during a farm demonstration exercise at Hago rice plantation in Hadejia, Jigawa. Danzomo said that the state Agricultural Supply

Company (JASCO) was mandated to supply the machines to small and medium-scale farmers at subsidised rate. He said that the state government had entered into partnership with an indigenous firm, Messier Agro-Allied Company, Zaria, Kaduna State, to facilitate smooth distribution of the machines. Danzomo said that the measure was to enhance agricultural mechanisation

and specialisation in rice processing and packaging. "We are geared to change the rudimentary and derogatory approach in rice harvesting. "Farmers rely on manual labour and we want to change to a technologicallyadvanced method of rice processing." Danzomo, who did not give detail of the number of machines to be bought, said that the machines would be sold at JASCO outlets in rural communities. The secretary explained

Agric petition and the 400 million who live on less than a dollar a day." Over the weekend, ONE.org and 120 partner organisations from across the continent released an open letter addressed to AU Heads of State reminding them of their 2003 promise to end hunger and extreme poverty for millions of Africans by 2024. The partner organizations also laid out 10 joint policy recommendations to accelerate economic development on the continent through an African-led agricultural transformation agenda steered by the AU's own CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme). Djibo Bagna, President of Pan African Farmers Forum (PAFFO), one of the leading partners of the Do Agric campaign, said: "The smallholder farmers know it: Africa future is in their hands. They are ready to take their responsibility of feeding Africa, ensuring food and nutrition security for all African citizens, growing jobs and boosting the continental growth but only if African heads of State and Government take theirs as well. So I am asking you: Are you ready?" that the state government had adopted practical measures to support farmers develop their enterprising skills and add value to the produce. In his remarks, the company's Managing Director, Alhaji Hassan Idris, said that the firm had introduced modern machinery to ease planting, cropping and harvesting methods. Idris said that the company was also supplying quality seeds,fertiliser and inputs to farmers, adding that over 60 sale outlets were established to enhance farmers' access to inputs.

HE Ebonyi Government plans to display its parboiled and packaged ``Satteckee Rice'' to the public during the forthcoming local trade fair in the state. Addressing a news briefing in Abakaliki, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, DrIfeanyiIkeh, said that all was now set for the trade fair tagged ``Ebonyi Agro Industrial Development and General Goods Trade Fair'' to commence. Ikeh said that the rice produced from the Satteckee Rice Mill from Japan. "We are using the trade fair to showcase the Satteckee rice from Satteckee mill built from Japan. "We are also going to showcase our fertiliser because we have our fertiliser blending plant. "The fair would afford the state the opportunity to showcase the fertiliser processed from our fertiliser blending plant in the state.'' The commissioner said that the trade fair with the theme "Harnessing the Agro Processing Potential of the Small and Medium Enterprises'', was the 5th to be organised locally in the state since its creation. According to him, the fair will have participants from Lagos, Nnewi, Aba, Enugu, Onitsha as well as Ikom in Cross River and indigenous traders and marketers in Ebonyi. He urged the people to take advantage of the fair to showcase their products.

Retail marketing in Nigeria witnesses vast transformation

RESIDENT, DMS Retail West Africa, Mr. Joseph Ebata, disclosed that Nigeria’s retail marketing has witnessed vast transformation in a short space of time. Ebata said this in his welcome address at the 2014 ‘Retail Leaders Conference held in Lagos, “In less than 10 years, a lot of change has occurred with the entrance of multi-national food chains and mega malls and supermarkets. Not many would have thought that concepts like online shopping would be a success in Nigeria,” he said. Ebata explained that “Guarantee is when a manufacturer says they will be responsible for something, and if that thing does not happen, the manufacturer, takes responsibility for it. It depends on the contractual relationship between the buyer and seller.” He said the issue of guarantee and warranty fell under the Sales of Goods act in the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Supply chains in Africa are more challenging than many other markets in the world. The key to success understands these challenges in order to offset the risks versus the opportunity which the continent offers. This knowledge will allow retailers to service markets with a supply chain that is agile enough to respond quickly to sudden or unexpected changes, flexible enough to customize products and efficient enough to protect margins.” While delivering his key note address, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said that Nigeria’s retail sector holds huge potential for growth. The UBA boss, who was represented by the bank’s Director of Consumer Banking, Mr. Ilesanmi Owoeye, listed several factors driving the growth of Nigeria’s retail industry. These factors, according to him, include the ongoing reforms in key sectors of the Nigerian economy aimed at bridging infrastructural gap, reducing unemployment levels, improving literacy level and improving access to funding by SMEs, which will significantly impact the level of disposable income and effective demand in the near future, affording the sector unprecedented growth opportunity. He also identified increasing technology penetration in Nigeria as another factor driving the growth of the retail sector as this is giving retailers access to valuable market information about purchasing trends as well as segment preferences, making it increasingly easy to adapt sales and marketing approaches and improve consumer experiences. Another factor is the increasing penetration of the informal sector by retailers. “Without doubt, the continuous rise in mobile technology will be pivotal to the next stage of the retail market development, fuelling its integration with the global retail trade economy and significantly increasing its ease of doing business. This prospect is already becoming evident in the rising trend of online retailers are increasingly gaining traction and matching the emerging sophistication of Nigerian consumers’ changing demand and payment patterns.” Oduoza said. He called on banks to adopt on more collaborative financing mechanisms to enable retailers develop their capacities, expand operations and adopt innovative practice production standards to reduce operating cost and optimize value. He said innovative partnerships among retail financial service providers will increase focus on the funding of retailbased infrastructure development and product distribution projects.

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Global outrage and protests trail jailing of ‘Al-Jazeera 3’ It has been one whole week of mass outrage and protests across the media and diplomatic world, as it woke up to the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists accused of endangering national security by the Egyptian authorities, writes Gboyega Alaka.

HE journalistic world and indeed the global community was outraged last week, as the Egyptian government finally passed guilty verdicts on three Al-Jazeera journalists; Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. The three journalists who had been held in custody for months were found guilty on charges of endangering national security and consequently handed jail terms of between seven and ten years. It all began in December 2013, when the trio were arrested for allegedly spreading false news and aiding a terrorist organisation in the country, following their coverage of the military ouster of the country's former president, Mohammed Morsi, in July last year, and the ensuing civil unrest. Consequently, Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed were clamped in detention, joining Abdullah Elshamy, another Al-Jazeera journalist attached to the Arabic section, who had been arrested much earlier. Characteristically, the whole world had condemned the arrests in strong terms and watched in apprehension, hoping that the journalists would eventually be released or acquitted, since all indications pointed to the fact that the charges were spurious and that the journalists were only carrying out their lawful duties in the country. Things, however, reached an unsavoury climax last Monday, when an Egyptian court thought otherwise and found the trio

guilty. The fourth, Elshamy, who had embarked on over five-month hunger strike in protest, was set free for lack of evidence. The prosecution said Greste, an Australian, and his Egypt bureau colleagues aided the proscribed Muslim Brotherhood organisation and produced false news reports of the situation in Egypt. Part of evidence items produced, according to reports, include “a BBC podcast, a news report made while none of the accused was in Egypt, a pop video by the Australian singer Gotye, and several recordings on nonEgyptian issues.” Reports also say much of the evidence against the students consisted of recordings, allegedly taken from their person, that were almost entirely unintelligible. But the Egyptian foreign ministry has backed the judgment by saying that “due process was adhered to” in the prolonged trial, creating an impression that it was a fair trial. But the Guardian (London), which was the only newspaper to attend and report all the trial's 13 sessions, said it “witnessed a litany of flaws.” Amnesty International, the global human rights body which also observed every session, declared that "the prosecution failed to produce a single shred of solid evidence." And the defence maintained that the journalists were wrongly arrested and that the prosecution failed to prove any of the charges that have culminated in their 'conviction'. In swift reactions, media personalities and organisations, and top diplomatic personalities across the globe have risen to condemn the judgment, arguing that it is persecuting, obnoxious and an attempt to gag journalists and deny the Egyptian people their right to information.

•Muhammed

•Femi Adeshina

Some of the earliest voices to condemn the judgment include the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who described the judgment as “chilling and draconian.” It was followed by a statement by the White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, who urged the new president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to “pardon these individuals (journalists) or commute their sentences so that they can be released immediately and (to) grant clemency for all politically motivated sentences.” UN rights chief, Navi Pillay, also lent his voice, when he said journalism "is not a crime" and urged Egypt to "promptly release"

those jailed for doing their job. And Foreign Minister of Peter Greste home country, Australia, Ms Julie Bishop, expressed the mood amongst Greste's countrymen, when she said "We are deeply dismayed that a sentence has been imposed and appalled at the severity of it." Al-Jazeera also condemned the verdict in strong terms, when its managing director, Al Anstey, said the verdict defied “logic, sense, and any semblance of justice.” In a statement that apparently captured the mood in Al Jazeera newsrooms all over, Anstey said that "Today three colleagues and friends were sentenced, and will continue to be kept behind bars for doing a brilliant job of being great journalists.'Guilty' of covering stories with great skill and integrity. 'Guilty' of defending people's right to know what is going on in their world. Peter, Mohamed, and Baher and six of our other colleagues were sentenced despite the fact that not a shred of evidence was found to support the extraordinary and false charges against them. At no point during the long drawn out 'trial' did the absurd allegations stand up to scrutiny." In the same vein, media houses and national journalism associations have also been s t a g i n g protests and condemning what they have termed Egyptian government's attempt at gagging the press. All over the world, journalists have staged postures with their mouths

gagged with black tapes, while others have simply carried the message 'Journalism is not a crime.' In London, hundreds of journalists from the BBC and other news media held silent protest on Tuesday, in support of the jailed journalists. The journalists, who had black tape over their mouths, gathered outside the BBC headquarters to express their support for their embattled colleagues. The BBC Head of News, James Harding, said the judgment is “unjust” and the case against the Al-Jazeera team “unfounded'. He also said the Egyptian authorities are not just robbing three innocent men of their freedom, but also intimidating journalists. BBC investigative reporter, John Sweeney, who has experience working in Afghanistan and North Korea said the verdicts were “wrong, wrong, wrong.” The New York Times on its part left its back page virtually blank, save for the message: “This is what happens when you silence journalists,” along with the #FreeAJStaff and the URL Aljazeera.com/freeajstaff. In Ireland, the country's National Union of Journalists also staged a protest on Thursday outside the Egyptian embassy in Dublin. Among the protesters were Patricia King, vice president of the Irish Congress of Trade unions and NUJ executive member, Seamus Doole, amongst others. The group was, however, appalled at being denied access to the embassy ground and at not being able to convey their message to the ambassador or any of the diplomatic staff, even as they eventually handed the letter to a member of staff over the railing. Principal media personalities in Nigeria have also lent their voices to the outcry, starting with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Garba Muhammed, who condemned the jail sentences and revealed that the union will be organising a mass protest by its members come next week. In his words: “The Nigerian Union of Journalists will be organising a mass protest against the judgment, as we condemn it in totality. The judgment cannot be justified because you cannot criminalise press offences. And we are going to join in the protest and ask the judge to take another look at the case.” The president, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adeshina, also said that “Anywhere in the world, where you jail journalists, other than for criminal purposes, can only be termed obnoxious and condemnable. We are not saying journalists should be above the law, but jailing them for doing their job is totally unacceptable.”

•Irish NUJ protesting

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

A commitment to ‘brain gain’

ewabara@yahoo.com

Steak, not ‘steak meat’! D

O you know that it is wrong to say ‘steak meat’? Just steak (countable and uncountable noun) which means ‘good quality BEEF, a large thick piece of any good quality red meat. Steakhouse: A restaurant that serves steak’. (Reference: Longman Advanced Dictionary of Contemporary English/New Edition) Thanks to Mr. Kola Danisa for provoking this introduction. An aside: red meat is cancerous! How about this my own register: ‘stick meat’? What do you think? National Mirror of June 26 exploded the English language: “A medical personnel in the emergency room of the….” ‘Personnel’ is a collective (plural) word referring to ‘people who work in a company, organisation or military force’—use employee, official, worker…. “Police smash car snatching (car-snatching) syndicate” Except if the car was snatching the syndicate! “Residents uncover ritualist (sic) den in Lagos” Get it right: rituals’ or ritualistic den National Mirror interrogation continues with its Views Page: “Many see this piece meal (piecemeal) approach as doomed due essentially to the absent (absence) of political will and hypocrisy involved in such exercise (such an exercise).” “…whom he accused of serially demanding for bribe by proxy before he would admit him to bail.” (National Mirror Editorial) Delete ‘for’ in the interest of lexical justice. “Ondo students elect new leaders” What is the function of ‘new’ here? Campus News: If they were old leaders, it would have been ‘reelect’! So, yank off ‘new’. “Biotechnologist potentials (potential/potentialities) lay (lie) idle in Nigeria—Expert” THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 22 comes next with a few headline wrongdoings: “FUNAAB produces 81 first class (first-class) graduates” “Benue, Cross Rivers receive $5m grant for sanitation” Cross River and Rivers states are different. “Jihadists execute three Syria (Syrian) rebel officers” “Firms delivers homes in pilot scheme, plans 5,000 units” How did this subject-verb disagreement (S-VD) arise? “LCCI frowns at protracted Poly teacher’s (teachers’) industrial ac-

tion” “Nigeria will not go down, cleric assures” Who did the cleric assure? “We congratulate the team over (on/upon) the victory of the Bosnian dragons.” (Full-page advertisement by Guinness Nigeria PLC) Finally from THE NATION ON SUNDAY: “All Nigeria (All-Nigeria) Athletics Championship” The only dual contribution this week is from Mr. Kola Danisa ( 0 8 0 2 8 2 3 3 2 7 7 / 07068074257): Health authorities often commence deworming (worming) programme. Worm (verb) is ‘to give an animal (man inclusive) medicine that causes worms to be egested in faeces.’ And to buttress Danisa’s intervention, the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (New Edition for Advanced Learners) describes ‘worm’ (verb) thus: ‘to give an animal medicine in order to remove PARASITES that live inside it.’ Therefore, ‘deworming’ is non-existent. Just one of the copious Nigerian awkward creations! Still from Mr. Danisa: ‘I am not ease with ‘witchcraft confessor’. A Catholic priest hearing confessions by believers is the confessor, not someone who admits to being a witch. Page 350 of the above dictionary states: ‘confessed’ (adjective) only before noun—Example: a confessed criminal (witch), self-confessed. “The situation whereby parties get more confused and hence worse than they were before approaching to (sic) the courts is rather unpleasant and detestable.” Delete ‘to’. DAILY SUN INTERNATIONAL NEWS Page of June 12 circulated three headline blunders: “South Sudan govt, rebels (rebels’) leader agree to end war” “Iraq (Iraqi) rebels seize Saddam’s home town (hometown)” “Uganda (Ugandan) rape survivor speaks at London summit” DAILY SUN of April 7 committed a series of mistakes: “Pakistan: 9-monthold fingerprinted, charged for (with) attempted murder” The EDITORIAL of DAILY Sun under focus contained four gaffes: “…slammed governors in the zone for trying to make the Federal Government feel guilty by shifting the blame for the insecurity in the area on (to) it.” “…with majority (a majority) of the youths having never attended primary

schools….” “Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State had, at (on) the occasion, accused the Federal Government of fuelling terrorism….” “It has become necessary to retool the campaign against Boko Haram to end the menace and restore peace in (to) the affected parts of the country.” The following two goofs are from the OPINION Page of the above edition of DAILY SUN: “…a few of them were preoccupied in using the positions and powers invested (vested) on (in) them to accomplish selfish interests.” “Indeed, people seat in their comfort zone and blame President Goodluck Jonathan for not doing one thing or the other (one thing or another)….” “The Board of Trustees and the entire membership of Ikemba Solidarity Front…congratulate His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, for (on/upon) his well-deserved election as the Executive Governor of Anambra State.” (Fullpage advertorial) “Regiments do not brook of distractions.” Delete ‘of’. DAILY SUN of April 8 advertised telecoms wrongs: “Glo Borrow (Lend) Me Credit” (Fullpage advertisement by glo Unlimited) “Asokoro district of Abuja, an area that houses amongst (among) others….” (EDITORIAL) “…in addressing the reoccurring (recurring) acts of vandalism of Nigeria’s gas pipelines.” “…there have (has) been a lot of chest-thumping by government and its officials.” “Education reform pitches (pits) teachers against Oshiomhole” “Seventh Day Adventist Church celebrates 100 years anniversary in Nigeria” From my chronicle: celebrates 100 years or marks 100th (centennial) year. ‘100 years anniversary’ is an anathema in collocation. “Decrying the ‘nonchallant’ attitude of students towards learning….” Campus Sun: nonchalant “Parents (Parents’) forum donates cafeteria to crescent varsity (Crescent Varsity)” “NFF reads riot act to Falcons, Eaglets coaches” Sports: the riot act and Eaglets’ coaches. Do not say ‘a small accident’. Say ‘a minor accident’. (From Longman…)

•Jonathan

ORE than any other time in the nation’s history, the academic profession in our universities is having a field day with an unparalleled determination by President Goodluck Jonathan to inject fresh blood and make the profession globally competitive. The President has instituted a well planned and properly funded framework to discourage academics from seeking greener pastures abroad. As they say, the President has created the enabling environment in the nation’s universities to ensure that academics are duly motivated to build future leaders for the country in an atmosphere comparable to any in the world. Under the current scheme, the President has attracted very senior academics from developed economies to contribute the setting up of the 12 new Federal Universities. The idea being that these academics with foreign backgrounds will team up with their Nigerian based colleagues to change the academic environment for optimal results. Two of such key academics who are part of the President’s determined programme to attract Nigerian academics in the Diaspora to help rebuild a moribund system are: Professor Bolaji Aluko, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke and Prof Geoffrey Okogbaa, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari. Both Academics were engineering professors in the United States before they were drafted to join the transformation agenda. Several other proven academics have been recruited

By Simeon Nwakaudu by the Jonathan administration from the Diaspora to help the 12 new Federal Universities effectively take off and assist the administration achieve the goal of building world class institutions with the required proven intellectual philosophy. For thousands of Nigerian trained academics in the existing and new state and federal universities, President Jonathan has expanded the scope of several international and local scholarships to bring them up to date to modern realities in university education. Today, several Nigerian public universities are processing applications from Nigerian academics in the Diaspora and foreigners who are keen to participate in the functional reforms taking place in the system. The President is implementing the Needs Assessment report to improve infrastructure in universities with N1.3trillion, he has established a national books development fund to encourage Nigerian academics to write quality books and he has facilitated a research fund for the same academics. Therefore, every single academic in a public university ready to make his mark, has the Presidential leverage to do so. The academic environment has been completely transformed. Beyond making available funds for research, journals and books, the National Universities Commission, NUC, has organised several training workshops for academics on proposal writing to access these funds and make positive impact

on the university system. The President has effectively sustained the transformation of the academic class of Nigerian public universities. The training and re-training programmes for the academics have developed a new era of academic excellence never imagined as of 2010. Of course, a reassurance that willing academic professionals needed to key into the Presidential initiative for a new era of academic excellence in public universities was provided by President Goodluck Jonathan during the recent 2013/ 2014 convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos. President Jonathan declared at that convocation that he remains committed to sustaining the brain gain achieved by his administration through the consolidation of a functional enabling environment for teaching, research and community service. The President pledged his commitment to continue his administration’s initiative to allocate substantial financial resources to academic programmes and development of public universities. A quality public university system is beginning to evolve from the ashes of previous years of neglect. Those who understand development know that there can be no quick fix to the system. They also know that the evolution kick-started by President Jonathan for public universities is a step in the right direction. •Simeon Nwakaudu is the Special Assistant (Media) to the Supervising Minister of Education.

•(L-R) Guest Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises; Chairman of the occasion, Mallam Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN; and President of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, Mr. Jerome Green-Amakwe, at the maiden Just Friends Club of Nigeria Annual Lecture held at the weekend in Abuja

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

ASSAN Ibrahim whose stage name is King Zule Zoo Kerewawa of Africa started out in the early 1990s with his musical counterpart named Michael. For many years the duo whose musical group was known as Zule Zoo of Africa thrilled their fans with their own peculiar style and dance movements. But midway into that career, the duo parted ways. Even though Hassan Ibrahim is still plying his trade here in Lagos, he is in the throes of re-establishing his musical groove and touch. “Yes, I have done several albums in the market which includes Kerewa, Chimpa and Destiny. All these were done when I and my colleague were together. Ever since then, I have been trying to repackage to produce more albums.” But what must have caused the separation of these two singers who stormed the musical scene with unique stage antics that quickly endeared them to so many music fans? “After I and my colleague parted ways I came out with an album. The circumstance of the quarrel was beyond my control. The title of the album was: E dey pain you? It was not only successful, I took it round some states of the federation where my fans received me with open hands. Right now I am working on my second album. For a long time, many people thought that Mike and Ibrahim were twin brothers. They looked so much alike and that also got them along so well. “Well”, Ibrahim tried to rationalize reasons for the misunderstanding, “when money started coming in, my colleague began to have numerous friends, and so was I. However, I didn’t know he was getting involved in other nefarious activities and behaviour which I cannot name here. It came to a climax and when we felt we could not resolve it, we decided to call it a day. But before then, I thought his problem was more of spiritual and so I took him to special places hoping that he’d get better. We spent a lot of money and later when his mother took him to a specialist doctor it was discovered that his problem was more than spiritual.” Ibrahim explained that in order that they didn’t allow the spirit of Zule Zoo to die, when his colleague got better, he made attempt to bring him back so that together they’d continue their career. “To my surprise, I saw he was not ready. So I had to be on my own. Since then we’ve been on talking terms, he’s still my brother and we give each other a lot of advice. Even now, he does his own stuff and I’ve been telling him if he needs my assistance he should not hesitate to consult me. For now, I need to know where the shoe is pinching me.” But how come you look like twins when you are not even from the same parents? “Ah!, that one is the work of God. Most people thought that we were twins because of the striking resemblance. And this was what helped us to go far to build our fan base across Nigeria and beyond. However, we are brothers from different homes. We are not even from the same tribe or state. While he is Tiv from Benue State, I am Igala from Kogi State. But we grew up together in Makurdi. It was while growing up that we saw that we had some things in common, in terms of performances; love for music, stage antics and so on.” So on and on, the duo began to perfect their act in the areas of acrobatics, dance, musical compositions and more. Right from their secondary school days, their love for entertainment, their innate craving to create their own niche, began to manifest in them. Even their teachers and classmates foresaw a bright musical career for Ibrahim and Mike that by the time they were through with school, the sky was already their limit. They had done a couple of gigs here and there to create their own imprint on the sand of time. “However, after my secondary school, my parents were so poor that they couldn’t af-

‘How we formed Zule Zoo’ When the duo of Mike and Hassan formed the Zule Zoo Musical band in the 1990s, they took the entertainment scene in Nigeria by surprise. That group had a unique dance pattern that thrilled people to no end. But today that shine is gone, for the duo has gone their separate ways. In this interview with Edozie Udeze, one of them called Hassan Ibrahim, who now goes by the stage name, King Zule Zoo Kerewawa of Africa explains how the journey began and why he and his colleague parted ways and more. Excerpts.

•Mike and Hassan (standing)

ford to train me through the university. Thereafter, I came to Lagos to begin to find my bearing while my colleague found his way to a university. He studied Theatre Arts while I was doing my own on the streets of Lagos. It was then I met that strong American artiste called Chuck Mike who trained many of us.” Having learnt choreography, stage performances and all from the likes of Chuck Mike, Ibrahim felt he was fully prepared to hit the street on his own. “It was then I came across the Late Professor Ola Rotimi. It was he who helped to hone my skills further. Then dance practical formed the greatest part of my encounter with Rotimi. That, indeed, was the height of my theatrical apprenticeship and I came out much better, much exposed and stronger.” Giving credit to his parents for the op-

portunity to play music, Ibrahim delved into his childhood which he said helped to prepare him for what he is today. “Yes, right from childhood, I knew I’d be a musician. And my mother even made me to understand that my father as a young man was a powerful dancer. But he didn’t want us to know because of the mentality of their own time. Then if you were into entertainment or if you were a dancer, people would consider you as a nobody. But you cannot suppress talent or even hold it back and that is why music flows in me.” As time went on, Ibrahim and his partner thought it fit to device their own music style and mode. It was what they took time to think over in order to give the society something different from the rest. “Yes, it was an invention started by me. I named it Jakoroko beat. Jakoroko beat simply means,

black beat. It is not an Igala word. But because I am not selfish or narrow-minded, I borrowed a lot from the Tiv language to arrive at that name. I brought it from Tiv and it means all the children of Tiv. You see, when you listen to all these Tiv traditional music, you would notice how well they are arranged as if it is done by a musicologist. It was from there I picked interest in the arrangement of their songs, the uniqueness of it, their patterns of dance and costuming.” From all these, they were able to make music out of it. They also went beyond that to include some musical elements from other parts of north of Nigeria. “It was for us to make the musical output total and more encompassing,” Ibrahim said. “Even then, we also borrowed from the East, from different parts of Africa. As a kid I picked special interest in marshal art, choreography and so on. I was also a dancer and performer, all these helped me to be well disposed to total music that entertains on stage.” By the time Ibrahim joined Ebony dance group when he left school, he had positioned himself well enough to create his own antics. “So I can say that professionally, I started from the Ebony theatre. That was way back in Makurdi, Benue State. I learnt from them and later went on to teach some other groups and children. As at that time Ebony theatre was learning from the National Troupe of Nigeria and they had a lot going for them. It was through this connection that I came to learn how to do other stage movements like the Atilogwu dance, egwu odum, most of the Ijaw dance movements and so on. I speak virtually all tribes when it comes to music, dance and stage movements. All these are the combination of what you see in my ideas.” With their own unique costumes and props, Zule Zoo went into their career with pomp. “We discovered we could adapt different costumes to suit what we needed on stage,” he explained. “We began to design our own costumes. Mike also sometimes designed costumes for our needs. He is very good in drawing and he could sketch what we needed to wear for each occasion. His love for those colourful costumes you saw us wear on stage gave us our own peck and class. Kwali, his new album titled in Tiv is done to educate on the dangers of drugs. “It is an album that has a lot to say to the youths. If you remember, the word in Tiv means it is happening. And this is the time for us to say it loud and clear that what is bad is bad. When you use the local traditional dances of the people and bring them to limelight with the appropriate message it will sink betterinto the ears of the people. “Even Zule Zoo simply means old soldier never dies. We created it to be able to send our messages down to the remotest places in Nigeria. No matter the situation, anytime you call upon me to perform, I will be the best. It was a concept that was created in 1997 and before we danced a lot makossa in different night clubs and social events. Our first song, Kerewa, I composed it alone. So, when it eventually formed part of our first album we decided to improve on the type of mokossa we exhibited in the dance. Mike has always been a dancer and together two of us made that album what it came out to be.”

ARTS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

Celebrating Onitsha and its Royal Majesty Title: His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu and Achebe Onitsha at the Millennium Author: Uwechia Nzegwu Publishers: Africa Resource Press Year of Publication: 2014 Reviewer: By Ovwe Medeme

S the traditional ruler of Onitsha, a town in South East Nigeria famed for its commercial activities marks a decade on the stool, author, Uwechia Nzegwu, ceased the opportunity to come out with two publications, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu and Achebe Onitsha at the Millennium. While His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe Onitsha dwells on the biodata of His Majesty, the traditional ruler of the town, Achebe Onitsha at the Millennium is focused on the assembly of studies bearing on Onitsha since the mid-nineteenth century, that is, the beginning of Onitsha contact with the Europeans who arrived as traders, missionaries and colonizers in addition to the complex reaction of the indigenes to these developments. The book, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, celebrates His Majesty’s accomplishment in the sphere of human endeavour, especially as it translates into success in another. With over 600 pages, the book is described by Sylvanus J. S. Cookey as an unfolding manifestation of promises fulfilled, born of a singular commitment to serve a community. In his review, Cookey says that within a decade on the throne, the author portrays the monarch of Onitsha as rewriting the responsibilities of a modern traditional ruler. As a consequence, his kingdom is witnessing a renaissance unprecedented in living memory. “The overwhelming popularity of his choice as the 21st Obi of Onitsha is being justified. The volume can also be seen as a Report Card on the monarch, by the monTitle: Author: Publishers:

Can we Talk and other Stories Shimmer Chinodya Heinemann African Writers’ Series, London No of Pages: 154 Reviewer: Edozie Udeze

HIMMER Chinodya, the author of Can we Talk and Other stories, was the winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1990. In 2000 Can we Talk and Other Stories was also shortlisted for the Caine Prize in Literature. To date he is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s most prolific and ardent writers. He is known to write with deep wits, using puzzling titles and themes to tease the resolve of readers. For this and more, his works have come to dominate literary circles in not only Zimbabwe, but the whole of Southern Africa and other parts. He writes with a peculiar zeal aimed mainly at unearthing the socio-political and economic situations in his immediate surroundings. His penchant for social issues, and the attention he particularly pays to important problems of the common people are some of the themes he tackles in this collection. It is book of 11 short stories ranging from his childhood days to teenage years then to his adulthood in which he traces these stages to show a society where issues of race, vitimisation, inequality, tribal lineage, parental care and otherwise, government’s attitude to the citizenry and so on, manifest brazenly. His power of description exposes a lot about the terrible situation in most African societies. In his first short story in this collection entitled Hoffman Street, he begins this way: “Our house was blue. It was not the end of the street. At the front there were banana trees and sugar-cane. At night the bananas shivered and shook.” “There were ghosts in the banana. I dreamt about the ghosts. One of the ghosts had a sword. One night the ghost stabbed me with his sword and I died. Then I woke up. Mother was lighting the candle. She gave me a cup of tea and a scone. Then she said, go back to sleep.” This is a story of a little boy growing up in a family of many relatives, each trying to dominate his attention. But the boy tries to learn from each person – his father, mother, uncle, cousin, all, on how to live and man-

arch, and for the public, covering a decade of intense activity, physical as well as mental,” says Cookey. Cookey also described the book as an answer to those who question the relevance and possible role of traditional rulers in governance. He list the roles as including playing a natural role in the preservation and development of culture and tradition; performing the judicial role of resolving disputes among individuals, families, kindred, etc; exerting moderating influence in periods of instability among others. “The Obi of Onitsha from the evidence of this book has excelled in all these functions and even gone further. In the concluding part of the book, a revealing dimension is added to the role of the traditional ruler when the contribution of his consort is factored into the governance of the community,” Cookey adds. The Dedication page of second title, Onitsha at the Millennium, states that it honours all those who in various ways have conducted research on or about Onitsha, and subsequently published books, book chapters, articles, pamphlets, and journals on any aspect of their research. “Whether the contents of the volume should actually fall within the ambit of Igbo Culture Studies or stand entirely on its own could and should be debated. But this can-

not be undertaken here. We shall be content to admire and marvel at the rich and diverse materiel on Onitsha uncovered by the editor and brought together in this massive book. In all, they help to explain why the Onitsha people hold themselves, and are held by their Igbo neighbours, to be distinctive - just like the Aros (obviously for different reasons) at the Eastern border of Igboland,” Cookey opines. Divided into seven parts, the subjects are critically examined by several authors in Parts Three, Four, Five and Six which evidently form the core of the volume. European trade and missionary enterprise clearly enlarged the world view of Onitsha indigenes and offered them opportunities for advancement in a dynamic modern environment. “Part Six, titled Zik of Africa: The Holy Agitator, deserves special interest and is rightly accorded considerable space. The articles included provide an engaging analysis of the early years of this well-known panAfricanist who became a foremost Nigerian nationalist and then the Owelle of Onitsha. The contribution of Nnamdi Azikiwe himself to this section titled “Essentials for Nigerian survival” bears careful reading especially by the ladies and gentlemen currently assembled in Abuja under the banner of a National Conference,” Cookey says.

Poetry

Kidnapper Neither mercy nor love counted when I abbreviated your day I have neither to give my soul perpetually longs amidst parched brewers ask my father or mother or the guardian of the street of my breeding every meal and every night of sleep soaked with blood trails I, a potential prey daring dens I docked the feints of fate in creeks of terror bread and butter proceeded neither from God nor scripture but from my bare-handed adventures so weep or whimper little girl but I have no ears faint I have no pharmacy speak I have no philosophy tears and tragedy are my vital tools for toils I’m sorry By Sam Omatseye

Into the heart of Zimbabwe age sensitive issues that matter in life. A very persuasive story, it teaches a way to be a wise child in a polarised environment, how to be a nice and responsible boy in the home front. Using the boy as the narrator, Chinodya depicts a typical family to the fullest and the boy is allowed to learn through the exemplary lives of his people. “Then mother said to Kelvin and Dorothy and me, you’re too small to hold the baby. Then we went out to play.” Playing outside in the dirty fields and using the company of his peers to climb the ladder of life, proves the age-long aphorism that the child behaves true to his age. In another story captioned the Man who Hanged Himself, he tells the story with unbridled suspense. It is the story of a ‘crazy’ teenager who finds himself in a ‘crazy’ society and then endeavours to do ‘crazy’ things to prove that he is a strong, smart and brave boy. The Matroko Bush is a symbol of funny happenings in the neighbourhood where Bhudi Edwin lives. His strange habits, however, often baffles his cousins and other relatives. At eighteen years of age, he finds himself between the age of maturity and innocence. In order to distinguish himself from the rest who are much younger than him, he begins to indulge in all sorts of mischief. He invents stories to impress his younger ones. He also finds it convenient to enrich them in areas of local wisdom. To a large extent, the children try to stomach his stories, line, hook and sinker. But the story of the man who hanged himself in the forest of Matroko somewhat becomes an eyeopener to reveal the real Edwin who himself has suddenly grown into a murderer, a ‘terrorist’ and a little criminal,’ a suspicious character, sort of. Eventually, when the true story is discovered by other equally inquisitive children, the real Edwin is also unmasked. Is he really the man who killed the Matroko man in the bush? Does he have any excuse not to inform the police or government officials that he saw the man dangling on a tree with a rope tied on his neck? Why is he evasive and secretive? On page 19, the author brings the events

leading to the discovery of the true killer of the Matroko man nearer home. “As I was looking around the place (bush) I detected a bad smell, then I almost stepped into a day-old mound of excrement. Stepping back, I spotted the last irrefutable evidence – a set of footprints in the dust, pacing away from the mound, round the two soft marks in the dust and the circle of Pafa trees and then heading in the unmistakable direction of the township. Size 8 tenderfoots”. And, of course, Edwin’s size fits the description of the footprints and the boots. Then, what

other evidence do you need to reveal the real culprit? Here, indeed, lies the very unmistakable power of the prose style usually employed by the author to make his stories stick in the conscience of his readers. In Going to see Mr. B. V., he situates the story of Indian shop owners in Zimbabwe who have come to occupy an essential part of that society. They use all sorts of cunning habits and wisdom to do business and cheat the people to their marrows. B. V. Wholesales is a departmental shop long known for its habitual tendency to hoodwink the people. In all his dealings with the people, B.V. shows that business does not have to come with a mixture of friendship and pleasure. This is what young George has just discovered as his father, one of the employees of B.V. sends him to the man. The other stories that can easily capture your attention are: Among the Dead, Snow, Bramson, Can we Talk and more. Each story reveals a lot about the author and why, indeed, he is considered a master story-teller in Southern Africa. Since short story telling is a different craft in the prose genre of literature, Chinodya is world’s apart from his contemporaries. He knows the style, he rummages in the proper usage of prose to tell his tale. He has mastered how to create the necessary story ideas to suit the short story genre. And his style of telling them draws you gradually into the fold. Now, you’d like to be part of the story and then begin to imagine the circumstances and promptings of the story. It is within this context that the book is viewed. And in 154 pages, it is a book that readily offers you the opportunity to travel through the pages to Zimbabwe, to Southern Africa and into the heart of the author.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014

HAT is your reaction to the alleged proposal at the national conference for religious organisations to start paying tax? It is evil. It is borne out of lack of knowledge of the roles that churches carry out in this country. Even in other climes, religious organisations, including churches are exempted from payment of tax. They are even subsidised because they realise churches are partners in progress. The church and government are partners in progress; we solve socio-economic problems. That is why I say its ignorance of the roles of the church. People talk about pastors flying private jets. How many pastors anyway? There are just three of them, as far as I know. How can you use the few pastors to judge all of us? And in any way, what offence have they committed by buying private jets? We should consider whether their works are worth it or not. There are MDs of banks and oil companies flying jets and nobody is raising eyebrows. Someone like Pastor Adeboye has a church with branches worldwide; Oyedepo is chancellor of four, five universities. Oritsejafor is father of nations. I just think its satanic deception. Our church has a branch in the UK. For every one pound that people pay, we get 40 pence back from government. That is 40% percent of every donation to the church. People will say why that happens is because churches file their financial reports. Why are churches reluctant to do the same here? A church is a registered charity organisation. There are a lot of churches involved in charitable activities that people don’t get to hear. They take people from the streets and rehabilitate them through preaching and training. We affect communities, building schools and hospitals. We are helping government do what they should be doing. Unfortunately, churches don’t talk about them as much as they should do. I know there could be one or two abuses here and there fuelling all these but the truth is the church is a charity organisation and should be treated as such. But why are churches not filling their financial reports? That is what should happen. You know there are many laws in the book that people don’t obey. We have a problem with enforcement here but that is what should happen. The church holds money in trust, as a charity and should not spend monies without approval. There should be a Governing Board that should be functional and approve all spending of the church. In the UK and USA, the government is not asking churches not to spend their monies as they like. But all of the expenditures must be approved by the Trustees and the papers filed.

‘How the church can raise successful politicians’ The Presiding Pastor of the Living Spring Chapel International, Lagos, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, was a Deputy Speaker of Oyo State in the aborted Third Republic. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on how Christian politicians can emerge and sundry issues. Excerpts:

•Emmanuel

I believe God will be unhappy with Nigeria is churches are taxed and harassed. Are churches in Nigeria ready for enforcement of this law? I believe they are ready. I believe so with all my heart. If they are registered under the law, it must have its course. That is not punishment; that is probity. Government is not asking you not to spend your money but it must be under the law. I am against pastors spending church money anyhow. If you are unregistered, then there can be a clampdown. Having been so registered, churches must operate within the law. Were you already a Christian when you joined politics in those days? Yes, I was. I was already walking with the Lord. What inspired you back then? I was motivated by anger. I was frustrated with the system. I just felt we can’t just fold our arms that we needed to get involved. And even now, things are worse. Christians have to be involved. The absence of light is the continuation of darkness. But then your first electoral stint was unpleasant.

You were defeated by a meat seller I was defeated because I was a novice. You see politics is a game and I had not mastered it. I came straight from the pulpit to the political terrain, thinking it’s the same out there. In church, we make announcements and everybody move but never in politics. You need much more to persuade people. Out there, it is a game; it is about the people and having

grassroots support. I was not at the grassroots and a meat seller, who is strong there, defeated me. I thought my honesty and good heart will see me through. I didn’t know passion and vision are never enough and I had to sell myself to the grassroots. So, how long did it take you to do that? Within two years, I was already the toast of the party. What did you do differently?

I started connecting with them; I wined and dined with them. I went to their houses and listened to them. I assisted them in their issues and challenges. Those who were bereaved, I had to intervene. Those who roofs were leaking, I fixed. So, you started spending money? Well, I was assisting them. I mean if you talk about politics being expensive, that is where you get it. You just got to assist people out. One of the biggest problems in this country is poverty. So, when you see people in politics, the kingmakers and godfathers that is what they do. He who has the people gets the posts. That is what politics is. So, I had to go to the grassroots and identify with them. I was seen to love them. Within two years, they were clamouring to have me. When the election came, I had the highest number of votes in Oyo State. I think what people want is somebody who listens to them. If you want to be a successful politician, there must be no dogs to chase people from your house. There must be no security to stop them. They don’t want protocol to hinder access to you. Grassroots illiterates get pissed off when you take them through the protocol of filling forms and waiting in the lounge before seeing you. They want unhindered access to you every time. You see that I still operate like that today. You won’t find protocol around me. People can access me anytime, anywhere. I learnt that in politics. Some pastors can never operate like that. You need to wait for days to see them. So, politics even for Christians is beyond an ideology and desire to bring changes? It’s not about fasting and prayer. It is not about ideologies but connecting to the people. It’s about being friendly

NEWS

‘Proposed tax on churches, a product doing to help the of illiteracy’ been churches and mosques?”

T would be a show of illiteracy to tax churches, chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Cross River State, Bishop Emmah Isong, has said. He told reporters in Calabar: “It is going to be a policy somersault to tax a non- profit organisation. It shows illiteracy.” Isong, who is the founder of the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI) in Calabar said: “The wonderful life of pastors is what is attracting this jealousy. “People now notice that

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

pastors live well. But they fail to understand that pastors live on goodwill. “Living well simply means the pastors are impacting well on lives of people who show them goodwill. If someone buys me a jet or a fine car or a house, is that why I should be taxed? “Some of these churches are helping government in their responsibilities but what has the government

He went on: “In my church for instance anybody above 70 earns a salary, over 800 orphans have benefited from scholarships and fees among others. Is the government going to take care of these or are they going to tax me because of the car I drive? “Like I said pastors live on goodwill. They don’t have salaries. I studied Banking and Finance and I know a taxable person must be assessed.”

with people. What made you quit after going that far in politics? I have a higher calling. I believe God took me there to learn valuable lessons. The way I pray for this country is different from how many other pastors do. How do you pray? You pray more for God to raise people to go into politics. Ninety-nine percent of the people going into politics are doing so to make money. It is not to serve but to be served. So, I pray and work for more God-fearing people to get involved. I have been there. The truth is politicians can’t change. Their minds are made up. So, I’d rather pray for changed people to get there than to pray that God should change the people there. You can’t dislodge them by praying. You have to vote them out of office. Sadly, many churches still preach politics is evil. Meanwhile, we have people in church that will not take money to vote. Many of them don’t have voting cards and lack political reawakening. But why can’t the church support Christians in politics? Those so-called Christians, did they originate from the church? Did the church send them there? He who pays the piper dictates the tune. That somebody shows up and bears Joseph does not mean he is a Christian. That person also realises the church did not send him there. The biggest hurdle to climb in politics is the primary election. That is what presents who to vote for. It’s the godfathers that dictate who go there because they have people behind them. If the church leaders and general overseers play that role, that will be good for all of us. Thankfully, the people will not demand money from them. Next to God’s power is political power. It shapes the policies and direction of a nation. With one policy, you can destroy everything and everybody. Political power is too awesome to be left to the ungodly. At the end of the day, the liberation of Nigeria lies with the church, which is unfortunately asleep. Those politicians that you see know who sent them to offices. They can come to your services because they need votes but they know who they are loyal to. They are not loyal to the church because we did not send them. But why can’t the church make the difference considering the large followership it commands? How many church people have voters’ cards? How many of them belong to political parties? You can’t find serious Christians at party level and there is no room for independent candidacy yet. So, if you are going to produce good Christian politicians, you have to be at the ward level, party level. If you are not there, you are no where politically. Many Christians are far from those places.

xxx

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, WORSHIP JUNE 29, 2014 Nine steps to effective prayer The calling, the church and the clergy just as loving and also a terri-

Pastor Amanda Ogunro

TOTAL FREEDOM

OD loves and cares for you and wants you to communicate with Him always, not when you feel like. Your communion with God should be like the Hart that pants after the water brooks, so let your heart and soul pant after God. The Hart is an animal which when is thirsty will forsake everything to look for water to drink. As soon as it finds the water it jumps inside and begins to drink. As the water is so important to the Hart so is our prayer to Him.God is never tired of prayer of His people because He loves fellowship. Prayer is fellowshipping with God. Many believers are frustrated because of unanswered prayer. Is it because God is wicked or on holiday? No! After all, He permits us to call upon Him (Jeremiah 33:3). The more you fellowship with Him, the better you are known of Him. The reason why certain prayers don’t receive answer is due to the following: (1) lack of knowledge of the principles of prayer (2) We abuse His sovereignty and take God for granted forgetting that He is

ble God if foolishly proved.(3) We see God as a spare tire, only used when needed. (Proverbs 1:24-30). God will always be God. No one can remote control Him. What is Communion? Communion means sharing, participation,intimacy, friendship and comradeship. We collectively share the grace after fellowship by declaring (2 Corinthians 13:14): (a.) Jesus – grace (b.) The fatherly love of God (John 3:16) (c.) A deepening fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14c). If this three-fold reality is our abiding blessing, then our everlasting salvation will be assured. As you move from adoration into communion, your prayers are no longer just words. True prayer comes from the heart and is based upon relationship. It is the language of heaven, the avenue by which we enter the throne room of heaven and commune with our loving heavenly Father. Who are you in communion with? You can either be in communion with God or with the devil, depending on the attitude of your heart (Matthew 5:8). Who do you submit to? Who do you obey? A wicked heart cannot communicate with God. All believers are meant to be in communion with the Lord. Communion is communicating with God. Wonderful reader, can you believe the love, faithfulness and awesomeness of God? Isn’t it exciting for a mortal man to communicate with a living God in the supernatural and

who at the same time dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit? It is only by taking each of the steps we have already discussed that your heart is prepared for effective prayer and becomes ready to talk with God on this level. Thanksgiving, confession, supplication, adoration and communion brings peace. Communion is the key and without communion there will be no true breakthrough. Who are those who can communicate with God? It is only those who are genuinely born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. No believer can communicate with God without the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, 26-27). Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. You can be born again today by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner. Forgive my sins and wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan. I invite you into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for saving me. Write my name in the Book of Life. I am born again in Jesus name, Amen. Write and share your suggestion,questions and testimony with me through: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos Nigeria. Or Call this number 07064733154. Also E: mail: info@rlwm.org.

NEWS

•General Overseer of Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church Lagos, Bishop Chioma Dauji with the children during the annual children anniversary of the church... recently. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Americans should stop insulting us, says Akinola

MERICA can help in finding the abducted Chibok girls but should not insult the country, the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church Ota, Ogun State, Bishop Taiwo Akinola, has stated. “America must be told: assist us in finding the girls but please don’t insult us,” he reiterated. The cleric frowned at recent utterances of American officials on the insurgency challenges, saying many of them are lacking in decorum. Akinola spoke last Thursday with reporters ahead of the forthcoming friends and family day of the church on July 6. He said: “Why will the America Under-Secretary need to insult us just because

By Sunday Oguntola

the US government offered to assist us in the unfortunate scenario of the abduction of our girls? “What has critical corruption talk got to do with tracking of the abducted girls? Why would Senator John McCain refer to our President as a guy called Goodluck?” He described insurgents as a bunch of devilish powers who have sold their souls to hellish powers. Akinola called for complete overhaul of the security agencies, saying they must be held responsible henceforth for any breach. According to him: “The terrorist activities in Nigeria are pointers to the need for the upgrading of the security ap-

•Akinola

paratus of the nation. “The time has also come when every security agency should be held accountable for the discharge of its duties.” He advised Nigerians to embrace patriotism and desist from negative utterances that paint the nation bad in the international community.

The calling

HE calling of the Church in the world is to carry on the message and mission of Jesus Christ. The message, right from the Lord’s mouth, is sharp and clear. “Change your ways: the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). The mission is even more, crystal. “Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). Jesus hinted at how great a sacrifice he made for salvation when he declared: “There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13). Such immense, unconditional love should normally attract corresponding appreciation and love. But it had been clear right from the episode of Christ’s crucifixion that the world does not necessarily function that way.

The call to Calvary

In fact the experience of Jesus at Calvary simply crowned many manifestations of his rejection on previous occasions in the Gospels. People said, “What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also performs such miracles? Who is he but the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?… So they took offense at him” (Mk. 6: 2-3). Jesus got on inexorably with his work in the face of such ingratitude and he warned his disciples to expect the same. He told them that if anyone wanted to be a disciple of his, such a one should carry his cross and follow him. “Still more, the hour is coming, when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God” (Jn. 16: 2). It was because Jesus knew the nature of the calling that he trained his disciples. He kept them with himself for the entire stretch of his ministry so that they would learn to obey his word and be his friends. Many followed him, yes, but few were his real disciples…He himself demonstrated knowledge of this when he confirmed “Know that many are called but few are chosen” (Matt 22:14). He

By Bishop Emmanuel Ade Badejo

also admonished them “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many go that way” (Matt 7:13).

The Church

This was the life that Jesus called his Church to witness to. One is often constrained to relate this context to the correlation between the crowds claiming to follow Jesus today in his Church and the moral temperature of the world in which we live… As Christians, how come we are so exuberant, so many and yet so ineffective? Christians constitute about half of Nigeria’s population. This means that if indeed all non-Christians were corrupt, evil and immoral, a fact which is unthinkable, the mere numbers of Christians if we were playing our part right, should be a moral counter-weight to the mess in society. Could the problem be that the Church today has more people desiring more success rather than salvation, riches other than redemption? How many today come to Church to ask, like the teacher of the law, “Lord, what shall I do to receive eternal life” (Lk. 10: 25). Who is heeding anymore the warning of Jesus to the rich young man, worried about the possessions of his family. “Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life” (Lk 12:15)? This has become an archaic message Nevertheless, the Church if it must remain such, must reclaim this moral high ground, like Jesus as the watchdog of souls rather than act as a mere dispenser of earthly riches, success and possessions which do not lead to salvation.

The Clergy

However if the Church is to play that role adequately she needs well-formed and disciplined clergymen. Today’s phenomenon of mass production of “clerics” prophets, visionaries, pastors and evangelists, deacons and founders is intriguing. It really seems everybody is called to ministry from busi-

nessmen to civil servants, from artisans to academics and labourers. It is quite impossible however to relate this numerical explosion of “clergymen” to the moral degeneration of our society. Mass production of anything always comes at a price compromised standards. “Ubi multitudo, ibi peccata” so goes the Latin dictum. “Wherever there is a crowd there sin is found”. The current “massification” of clerics may seem holy and nice but it really attenuates the authentic Gospel. Pope Emeritus Benedict spoke of it as the danger of subjectivity and relativism. We see it in Nigeria where presidents and governors, ministers and traditional rulers, no longer quite satisfied with the services of palace prophets and pastors, themselves, with or without training, assume clerical titles and then endorse their own very actions and teach others too.

The Wisdom of the ages

These are confused times and we need God’s help. The separation of powers between the Church and State, Church and civil authority without denying their working together, is one of the most precious gifts which the Catholic Church has bequeathed to the world over history. It is a valuable lesson that the Church learnt over the ages for when political, economic and spiritual powers are invested in any single individual, corruption, impunity and the general canonization of evil becomes inevitable. A situation in which all interpretations of scripture and morality carries the same weight merely disestablishes authentic religion from public space and discourse. It is the source of unimaginable evil perpetrated in some quarters today in the name of God, the Calling, the Church and the Clergy. Christians need to begin to differentiate between vocational and business pastors, shepherds and churches. May God have mercy on us all. Badejo is Catholic Bishop of Oyo and Chairman, CBCN Directorate of Communications

NEWS

‘FG should keep citizens informed on MINISTERIAL body, Association of Pro- Chibok girls’

phetic Ministers in Diaspora (APMD) DallasTexas, USA, has called on the federal government to regularly update Nigerians on search and rescue efforts for the abducted Chibok girls. The body, in a statement by its President, Apostle (Dr.) Andrew Igene, an ex-chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State chapter from 1988-1992, emphasised that the issue of the missing girls should not be allowed to fall below the radar or overshadowed by political activities. It said regular briefings are necessary to renew awareness on efforts to find the missing girls. According to Igene: “Clearly, where there is lull in communication, rumour

By Joke Kujenya

mongers and mischief makers will find common breeding ground for their nefarious activities. “We call on the security agencies to intensify efforts to fish out those who sponsor and collaborate with the Boko Haram terrorists which to us, is an agent of blackmail and an enemy to the Nigerian nation and her teeming populace. “We believe that those who have chosen the paths of violence and mayhem against innocent civilians must be exposed.” He added: “There is also the need to watch and be alert because it is not every act of organised criminality that

•Igene

must be hastily ascribed to the Boko Haram insurgents. “And while we continue to pray for peace and stability in the nation, we renew our call on President Goodluck Jonathan to be his own ‘foot soldier’ in confronting these challenges.”

The Nation on Sunday June 29, 2014

* The late Olayemi

OTIMI Fambegbe looked dispirited when The Nation visited him. He shook his head and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What pained me most was that my late wife was childless. We were all consoling her telling her to trust in God that God can still do it as He did it for the Biblical Hannah and Sarah. She was not fighting over property as she was contended and comfortable. I never knew the suspects could deal this fatal blow on her." The property in dispute was said to belong to the deceased's late grandmother. The argument over who should be in charge of the property led to the gruesome murder of Olayemi . According to Rotimi , his late wife Mrs. Olayemi was a former staff of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC). He claimed she was a gentle woman who could not hurt a fly but since she had no child of hers she was being taunted, jeered at by her cousin and called male duck because of her childlessness while living in her grandmother's house. Rotimi further said the property is a - one storey building of about eight rooms which is located at 10, Alo Street in Ondo Town. He stated that the building was bequeathed to his late wife and her cousin, Mrs Akinkuade) whose daughter , Damola Banner lives with the same h o u s e . Rotimi said he was aware that there was no love lost between his late wife and her cousin over who should control the eight rooms in the building. In his own words, "My late wife was the older sister and always complained that her cousin was not cooperating with her over the building they inherited from their grandmother .The suspects , Foluke and her daughter ( Damola ) always taunted my late wife, calling her names and saying she is a barren woman that did not deserve to have property since she was childless. But each time I went there I

Woman killed over inheritance

Mr. Rotimi Fambegbe , 57, an estate agent is grieving over the death of his wife, Olayemi Fambegbe , 53, who was allegedly brutally killed by her first cousin, Mrs.Foluke Orobola Akinkuade (Adefenisaye) and her daughter, Miss Damola Banner, over a property in Ondo Town . Taiwo Abiodun reports.

* Damola

always told them that my wife decided to stay in the controversial building because that was her decision and it was not that I wanted it like that .But the suspects (Foluke and Damola) always made jest of her. And my late wife always warned them to stop. I had gone there several times to settle rifts. It was like the suspect was arrogant as she worked in the Ondo West Local government Area office. She became bossy to the tenants of the house while my late wife would always tell her

* Foluke

to be humble and emulate Christ's humility.â&#x20AC;? Rotimi spoke further, "My wife was said to have been allegedly stabbed with broken bottles by Foluke while her daughter, Damola, was said to have stabbed her with knife in the stomach. Her neck was wounded along with her two legs .But when the suspected assailants saw that the deceased had slumped and was bleeding, they quickly rushed her to a local clinic where she was said to

* The house in dispute PHOTOS: TAIWO ABIODUN

have given up the ghost on arrival. She was, therefore, rejected and referred to a general hospital. Instead of taking the deceased to the general hospital, the suspects brought her back home and dropped her. The two suspects fled and went into hiding .It was one Baba Ibeji whose wife was a tenant there that went to report at the police station .The case was reported at Enuowa Police station , Ondo , while the case was later transferred to the homicide department , Police Headquarters in Akure. The two suspects have since disappeared and are now declared wanted by the police." According to Rotimi, the corpse was deposited at the State Specialist Hospital mortuary for three months after a postmortem had been carried out. ."The body was released to me later for burial, while she was buried early this month", he said in tears. Rotimi went down memory lane and narrated how he met his late wife in 1988 and got married to her. In his words: "When we met in 1988, we were both advanced in age , we courted briefly and quickly got married in 1990 .She gave birth in the year 2000 but the baby died at the age of two after a brief illness in 2002. We tried to have another child but none was forthcoming .We went to hospitals , made several efforts to make sure she had a child of her own but all these did not yield anything .Later I went to marry another lady that gave me children, which annoyed her and made her to pack out from our matrimonial home and went to be living in her grandmother's house at , 10,Alo Street, Ondo .We did not separate. We were still husband and wife .I used to see her every day., She used to prepare my food everyday .Though I later had children from another lady but that did not stop our relationship. We used to see every day until that fateful Sunday in March when she was killed".

Oddities The Nation on Sunday June 29, 2014

* Mysterious leaf

* Ojo

T the entrance of the village is the billboard that reads" Welcome to Upo Community." Upo is a hamlet. It is very close to Iyere, in Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State. It is along Benin Road, about 35 minutes drive to the ancient city. Apart from the community's royal palace which is still under construction, there are thatch-roofed houses, bamboo sheds, mud houses and also a few buildings made of bricks with corrugated iron sheets. The villagers are mainly peasant farmers, tilling the ground and grazing animals. Majority of the villagers are Christians and Muslims while only few openly practice African traditional religions. This notwithstanding, they all live in harmony .The environment is peaceful and neat with different plants and shrubs dotting the landscape. The spiritual and community leader, Chief Adewale Ojo, 75 years old, who is a peasant farmer, did not hide his profession as he was met with his cutlass in his hands and his hoe placed on his shoulder- evidencing that he was just arriving from the farm. Road to Upo At the Iyere junction along Benin Road is the beautiful signpost showing the road to Upo Village. According to Chief Gbenga Alade, an historian and a researcher (and also the Vice Principal of Ijebu Community High School), the name Upo was inherited from Ile Ife. There is also a hamlet in the main Ile-Ife Town. The monarch of the village, His Highness Adewale Ojo, said it is forbidden to offload or carry load on one's head at the entrance of the gate leading to Upo. He said, "We don't do it. It is forbidden and it is calamitous, no one should carry load or offload or place load on his head at the entrance of this village here. We all know that it is forbidden." Asked what could happen if that is done, the village head shook his head with pity and said, “That is how we met it and we must obey it." Mysterious ditches Going round the village one could see ditches dug round it though the ditches are shallow but it was deeper than this when it was dug. According to one of the most respectable sons of Upo , Mr. Akinwale Francis Oladimeji, "These ditches were dug round Upo during the period of our forefathers. If you go round the village you will still see them, we call it yara. Enemies had

PHOTOS: TAIWO ABIODUN

* Mysterious rock

Upo Village and its mysteries In the small village of Upo in Ondo State are various and interesting ancient things that would make one marvel. Taiwo Abiodun reports never been here to fight us. Anytime they were preparing and organising to wage war, they would be destabilised and confused and they would change their mind by fighting themselves. Examples abound. We had never been at war with anybody. I remember when 'Ado' people (Benin) came to wage war against us, they could not enter the town as they were confused and while many were jumping into the ditches others were drowning, and we never went to war with them.” “We won the war not only because of the ditches we dug to safeguard us here. Traditionally, that in the history of Yoruba race, no warrior had ever succeeded in coming here to wage war against us or conquered us here and, it had never been witnessed here for they would all have perished. History is there to attest to this," he said with confidence, beating his chest, and added, “That is how it is from time immemorial, you can see that this place is small, our population is not many but the people here are very, very powerful. Our forefathers safeguarded this town with unseen powers that can never be unravelled. That is why that neighbouring towns and villages still fear us till today, for they did not understand where we got the power from." Though they were feared, believing they had powerful soldiers and armaments, they were despised because of their number, they fought with their trenches, supported by the rivers that also surrounded the village. One of the villagers recalled: “The

Ogboho River used to defend us in the past; it would rise and cover the enemies who came against us during war times. War could never get here. It was once a big river where. Today, we the indigenes use to bathe in it.” The village head declared, "We used to kidnap healthy and robust people in the olden days and they were made to work for the progress of the town unlike nowadays when they use human beings for rituals. All these things were done during the slave trade, unlike now when they are killing them .We did not kill any kidnapped victim then and we called it kodokodo. If you wanted your hamlet to be beautiful, you have to kidnap hefty and healthy men and make them work for you , make them work in your farm or for the town.” According to investigation, the village has been in existence since the 18th century. No one knows exactly the date due to lack of records. But the story has it that the people migrated from Ile Ife, where the Yoruba progenitor, Oduduwa the founder of Yoruba race, came from. Mysterious leaf! There is a mysterious leaf in the town. In local parlance it is called Ewe Ayira (Wandering leaf). According to the villagers, no stranger, however smart he is, plucks the leaf and goes scot free. Any stranger that plucks it would be restless, moving from one place to another and would not leave the vicinity until he drops it. It is difficult to differentiate the leaf as it

looks like ordinary ones and could be mistaken for the ones used for wrapping moinmoin, pounded yam, pap or whatever. The village head told the story of the mysterious leaf. He said, "Our forefathers migrated from Ile Ife in the 1880s, they came with many mysterious things and they planted and buried many fetish things here for our security and to make sure war will not be experienced here. This leaf is among those security measures they added to it. “We have caught strangers who stole our agricultural products but added this leaf in their load, not knowing its implication, because the leaves could be taken for the ordinary household leaves meant for wrapping pap, moinmoin and many other things. It is now due to civilisation and pressure that we are trying to have a police station here now. We don't have a police post here and nobody steals here but now due to civilisation and in order to follow the trend of time, the community has now donated some plots of land to the police to build a police station there in order to fulfil all righteousness in this modern world." The mysterious stone (Ota Kobo) Discovered in the village to the amazement of the community is a strange stone called Ota Kobo (Kobo stone) .The mysterious stone has holes of shoe sizes that will fit in a newly born baby' s feet and also matured men and women of all ages. According to Madam Ajike Filani who is one of the residents of the community, “We discovered it a long time ago but with no access to the media, we could not publicise it. We also discovered special natural artistic drawings on the stone .We cannot read them and they have meanings .We called it Ota Kobo. It has many designs on it. We don't know how they came about. We called it Oyinbo Kaa ti (The White men found it difficult to interpret. On the stone are designs of chairs, legs and other natural things engraved on them naturally." "We were glad that we could see this stone among the precious things what our forefathers left behind for us. Now we have inherited it and many people have been coming here to have a look at it. We were told by our parents that our forefathers used to offer sacrifice to it whenever there was calamity, such as when it failed to rain or during outbreak of diseases. We all do this irrespective of our different religions.”

NEWS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014 CHANGE OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Mrs. Maxlino Sikeoye Sera is the same person as Mrs. Ajayi-Maxlino Serah Sikeoye. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

AROWOSOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Arowosola, Abimbola Marvellous, now wish to be known and addressed as Arowoogun, Abimbola Marvellous. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADIAKA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Favour Carolyn Adiaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Favour Carolyn Joshua Amalaonyedue Ayaya. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Polytechnic and general public should please take note.

YINUSA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Yinusa, Amudalat Folashade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebimpe Amudalat Folashade. All former documents remain valid. Lagos Sheraton Hotel and general public should please take note.

FATUNMBI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fatunmbi, Omolola Olajumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyetunji, Omolola Olajumoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AINA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aina, Dorcas Oluwayemisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebiyi, Dorcas Oluwayemisi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

WILSON

I, formerly known and addressed as Wilson Ifeoluwa Promise, now wish to be known and addressed as Onifade, Ifeoluwa Halimat Promise. All former documents remain valid. LASU, NYSC and general public should please take note.

AKINPELU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinpelu, Ololade Odunayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adediran, Ololade Odunayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IKUGBAYIGBE

I, formerly known and addressed as Olukayode Adetila Ikugbayigbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Olukayode Adetila Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME OKPALA-OSIMIRI

I, Okechukwu Josephat and my family members formerly known and addressed by the surname Okpala Osimiri, now wish to be known and addressed by surname GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IDOWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu, Blessing Aderonke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwadare Blessing Aderonke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHIME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Violet Azuka Chime, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Violet Azuka Nebo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EZUGWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezugwu, Ngozika Priscilla, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Daniel, Ngozika Priscilla. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEYEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyeye, Caroline Idowu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bbaatunde, Omoya Caroline Idowu. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public should please take note.

AKINGBASOTE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akingbasote, Olubukola Janet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajayi, Olubukola Janet. All former documents remain valid. Federal government Girls College, Akure, Ondo State and general public should please take note.

OLUSUYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Foluke Joyce Olusuyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Foluke Joyce Oluwaniran. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Ilorin and general public should please take note.

ALONU-BLESSED

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Alonu-Blessed, Ajoke Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alonu, Ajoke Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABEJIRI

OJEKUNLE

I, formerly known and addressed as Abejirin, Sola Theresa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeeko, Sola Theresa. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OBIORAH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gbadebo, Nimotalahi Adetosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. LawalGbadebo Nimotalahi Adetosin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Johnson Gbenga Ojekunle, now wish to be known and addressed as Olugbenga Johnson Olakunle. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as Obiorah Uzoma Synthia, now wish to be known and addressed as Uwadiegwu Uzoma Synthia. All former documents remain valid. All concern and general public should please take note.

OWATITE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owatite, Ejaita Sarah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Atumah Erhuvwu Sarah. All former documents remain valid. The Delta State Institute of Continue Education (I.C.E) Asaba and general public should please take note.

ABIODUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiodun, Yemisi Motunrayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aromolaran Yemisi Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid. Central Medical Store, Ado Ekiti State government and general public should please take note.

FAPOHUNDA

I, formerly known and addressed as Fapohunda Ifedayo Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Adetayo Ifedayo Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc., Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe and general public should please take note.

FAPOHUNDA

I, formerly known and addressed as Fapohunda Ojo Adetayo Francis, now wish to be known and addressed as Adetayo Francis Ojo. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Ado-Ekiti and general public should please take note.

AKINLEYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinleye Fatimah Adeola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lawal Fatimah Adeola. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note .

GBADEBO

JUMBO

I, formerly known and addressed as Lasbery Jumbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Lasbery Onome Akpeki. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABDULKABIR

I,formerly known and addressed as MR. OMEIZA ABDULKABIR, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. OMEIZA OHANI JAMES. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MGBABOR

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS GERALDINE NWANKAEGO MGBABOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GERALDINE NWAKAEGO NWOBA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AWOTUNDE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Taiwo Awotunde now wish to be known and addressed asMrs. Deborah Taiwo Olarewaju. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

EHITE

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS EHITE NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UKAH NGOZI All former documents remain valid. ASBEB, Umunneochi LGEA and general public please take note.

AWOLUMATE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abimbola Margaret Abike Awolumate, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abimbola Maegaret Dayo-Aiyetan. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OSERE

NYAMSE

ALAO

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS. OSERE OBIANIBERI ONYEKACHI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ELUKE ONYEKACHI KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nyamse, Agnes George, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agnes Anthony Okon. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ESHEMOGIE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Effiong, Anita Bassey, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udofia, Anita Imeh. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS. ESHEMOGIE FRANCISCA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JEARO EDIDIONG FRANCISCA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, MR. CHUKWUEMEKA, KENNEDY UGOCHUKWU and MR. ONYEGBOSI, KENNEDY UGOCHUKWU refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as MR. CHUKWUEMEKA, KENNEDY UGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, TIMOTHY FRANCIS and ILELEJI FRANCIS refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as TIMOTHY FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUNDEPO

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNDEPO WUMI ELIZABETH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OPEFEYITIMI WUMI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Education, State of Osun and general public should please take note.

ODUNJO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odunjo Adenike Gbemisola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeleke Adenike Gbemisola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IGBO

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS IGBO VIVIAN IZUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ASOMS VIVIAN IZUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ARIWOLO to ARIWODO

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS PEACE ULONNA OGBONNA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PEACE MARTINS ARIWODO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DURU

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS NKIRU PATIENCE DURU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NKIRU PATIENCE NDUBUKA. All former documents remain valid. Civil Service Commission, Abia State, Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagonistic Centre and general public please take note.

ADEYOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fakolade, Adurayemi Adeyola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olu-Timehin Adurayemi Adeyola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKINRULUDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinrulude, Yetunde Tokunbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Yakub, Yetunde Tokunbo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IKOROJE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikoroje Ufuomah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kadiri Ufuomah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EFFIONG

FABIYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Fabiyi, Titilayo Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as George Titilope Felicia. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ALABI

I, formerly known and addressed as Alabi, Mobolaji Tajudeen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mac-Alabi, Mobolaji Tajudeen. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ETUM

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Maryrose Akubueze Etum, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maryrose Akunna Ude. All former documents remain valid. ESUBEB, Aniri Local government Education Authority and general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, wish to confirm that Chinedu Rita Obiageli and Nebo Rita Obiageli is one and the same person but now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs. Iyiaka Rita Chinedu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IGWEONU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Igweonu Nkechi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkechi Ayoola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLADEJO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladejo, Funmilayo Dorcas now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeoti, Funmilayo Dorcas. All former documents remain valid. Dulux Colour Centre, Lekki Ajah and general public should please take note.

SIKPI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Kome-Ere Sikpi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Deborah KomeEre Tammy Africanus. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JOSHUA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Joshua, Funmilola Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olorunrinu, Funmilola Rebecca. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKUO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okuo, Onave Roseline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Burata-Bawo Onave Roseline. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Customs Service and general public should please take note.

AKINSEHINWA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinsehinwa Yetunde Folajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mrs Abu Yetunde Folajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BOLARINWA

ADENIYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bolarinwa Mojisola Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adediwura Mojisola Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKANBI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Opesemowo Yetunde Iyabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladeji Yetunde Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODUAH

I, formerly known and addressed as Senuwa Babatunde Rasaki, now wish to be known and addressed as Balogun Rasaki Babatunde. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeniyi, Idayat Omotoyosi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dawodu, Idayat Omotoyosi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akanbi, Oyekunbi Ololade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyelade, Oyekunbi Ololade. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gigi Oduah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gigi Okunwobi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LAWAL

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal Rrisikat Atinuke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs TaiwoRrisikat Atinuke (née Lawal). All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OPESEMOWO

SENUWA

JOLAOSO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jolaoso Aid Jar Oluwabunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kazeem Khadijat Oluwabunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alao Oluwatosin Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fagunwa Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. Lagos state government and general public should please take note.

KENYERE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Phina Ijeoma Kenyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chiemeziem Phina Kenyere. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONYENDI

I, formerly known and addressed as Onyendi Uche Geoffrey, now wish to be known and addressed as Onyendi Chiemezie Uche Geoffrey. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODULATE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odulate Kehinde Oluwafunmilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ojibara Oduntan Ayomide. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ITEGHITE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agartha Ogechi Iteghite, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Agartha Ogechi Chikwendu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGBODO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Patience Ogochukwu Ogbodo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Patience Ogochukwu Ihiekwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NNAJI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnaji Miracle Daberechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ani Miracle Daberechi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLUFEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Morenikeji Afusat Olufemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Morenikeji Divine Collins-Ikhene. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number 2017220392 Account Name - VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide@ y a h o o . c o m orthenation.advert@ gmail.com. For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, Emailgbengaodejide@yahoo.com or our offices nationwide. Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

2015: Ikorodu elites demand Lagos guber slot By Adetutu Audu

HEAD the 2015 general election, indigenes and residents of the Ikorodu Division in Lagos state have urged leading political parties in the State to zone the governorship position to the area. They argued that of the six administrative divisions in the state, only Ikorodu and Badagry have not produced a governor in the state. They noted that it was the turn of Ikorodu to occupy the position. The Chairman of Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Otunba Afolabi Gbadamosi, disclosed this at the weekend. Gbadamosi said the people, traditional rulers and elders would support candidacy of any Ikorodu indigene irrespective of his political affiliations. He said: “We want Ikorodu to produce the next governor of Lagos. IKODASS is not doing this alone. Our mission is to have Governor who comes from Ikorodu come 2015.” The agitation of the division, he added, “is legitimate, timely and rooted in due principle of equity, justice and fair play.” H said the Ikorodu Division, being the most populous and the only standing division in Lagos comprised Imota, Isiu, Ijede, Igbogbo, Bayeku, Ipakodo, Egbin, Owutu and Ishawo, among others.

Freedoms House democracy lecture holds tomorrow By Dorcas Omunagbe

HE Freedom House democracy lecture series is to hold its inaugural lecture tomorrow. It holds at Shell Hall, MUSON, centre Onikan, Lagos by 11:00am under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, a former chief of Army Staff. The lecture with the theme “Nigeria’s governance predicament: poverty, terrorism and democracy” is to be delivered by Professor Larry Diamond from the Centre on Democracy, Stanford University, USA. Organised in retrospect of the state of the nation, the lecture is held in the belief that constant intellectual dialogue is a necessary catalyst for change in the country. The Freedom House is the brainchild of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is open to members of the public.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

Five in coma after multiple accidents From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

MULTIPLE accident on the Auchi-OkeneAbuja highway yesterday left no fewer than five persons in coma. The incident, which occurred around the Jattu junction in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, involved articulated vehicle belonging to Total Nigeria Limited with Registration Number Edo XB 325 AKA and seven other cars. The truck, which was said to be carrying petroleum product coming from Okene, ran over other cars in an attempt to escape from being arrested by sanitation officers. An eyewitness, Paul Oshiomokhia, said that the incident occurred when the driver tried to escape arrest. “The driver of the articulated vehicle was trying to beat the queue and escape from being arrested by officers, unknown to him that another truck was descending. “At the process of avoiding a head on collision with another truck, he rammed into other cars thereby destroying their cars and leaving five people injured,’’ he said. Some officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were available to control traffic on the highway while the injured were taken to a nearby hospital from treatment.

Alumni to FG: Appoint candidates with poly background as rectors From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ORRIED over the poor state of Polytechnic education in Nigeria, the Forum of Nigeria Polytechnic Alumni Associations (FONPAA) has suggested to the federal government that the appointment of rectors of polytechnic should be made among candidates with polytechnics education background. The forum also appealed to the government to co-opt members of the alumni association of various polytechnics into the Governing Councils as practiced in various universities and state polytechnics. This resolution was contained in a communique by the forum’s chairman, Mr. Olawale Ojo and secretary, Olayode Omorayewa, shortly after meeting representatives of the Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, on how to resolve various challenges facing polytechnic education in the country. Expressing worry over the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the forum added that the non resolution of the crisis clearly portray government’s neglect of Polytechnic education. It further noted that appointing candidates with polytechnic background as rectors would go a long way in solving some of the challenges being faced by polytechnics in the country.

Residents jittery over bomb scare in Osogbo

HERE was a bomb scare in Ido Osun in Egbedore local government area of Osun State yesterday following the discovery of an object suspected to be an explosive device. The object was allegedly discovered around the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers

From: Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

(NUT). It was learnt residents of Ibikunle estate in the town allegedly vacated their homes to escape the anticipated explosion. The police from the bomb disposal unit of the Osun State police command were quickly deployed to

the area. Anxious residents were not allowed access to the area for the better parts of the day. The police used bomb detectors and other devices to discover where the explosive device was planted. A source however said the police operatives did

not find any explosive after intensive search. It was learnt that residents of the area who did not abandon their houses stayed indoor all through the day. The police spokesperson for the state police command, Mrs. Folashade Odoro, said there was no cause for alarm because the object was not a bomb.

•Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (3rd left); First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola (3rd right); The Senior Pastors Taiwo Odukoya (2 nd right) and Nomthi Odukoya (right); Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo(2 nd left) and the Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo (left) during the dedication service of The Fountain of Life Church Ilupeju in Lagos… yesterday.

Why Nigeria is failing, by Nda-Isaiah

IGERIA is reeling due to corruption and bad governance, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Sam NdaIsaiah, stated yesterday. Speaking on Kadunabased Liberty Radio programme as guest of the week, Nda Isaiah said Nigeria is in urgent need of rescue. He pointed out that the country is exhibiting serious signs of a failed state such as lack of quality education and lack of quality health care. According to him: “Our country needs to be rescued quickly as a matter of fact. This is why I want to run for the presidency on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna “What is happening is the consequences of corruption. This country has collapsed as a result of corruption and bad governance. “We are at a point in this country when our dear country needs to be rescued. Nigerians should actually be sorry that we didn’t do more than we talked. “We are at this point of rescue. This is not a time that we will lie to ourselves; we are about to lose a country that we all love. This is not a time to play with the sorry state of our country.” Speaking on the state of the nation, he said: “I don’t think there will be enough adjective to qualify what is happening to us

now. All of us should be scared of what is happening to us as a nation. “We are tired because it is like Nigeria has become very hopeless. This is a classical definition of a failed state. The government is incapable of protecting it citizens, its children and the women.” He, however, expressed confidence that the situation is redeemable, saying “the good thing is that a failed state like Nigeria is reversible with quality leadership. “Our biggest problem to national security today is the incompetence of our leaders.” He insisted that there was no need for the country to spend so much money convening a National Conference.

Nda-Isaiah argued: “I am critical about the national conference because it is very funny. They are discussing what the President should be doing and I think that they should pack their luggage and leave the stage.” The presidential aspirant opposed the creation of state police. He said: “I am against it because the state governors are going to use the police the same way the federal government is using the federal police today. “And if the governors use the state police the same the president use the federal police, then there would be a civil war between the state and federal police in the states. We are just not ready for state police.”

other states to bring total harmony to the party. According to him: “We are in the eye of the storms. The whole world expects a lot from Edo. It is my hope that we are able to build the kind of movement others will be jealous of. “The process of total reconciliation within the party has commenced. The healing process is underway.” He praised Oshiomhole

for the courage to be neutral when two persons from the state contested for the chairmanship position of the paper. The APC’s helmsman said he has tried to ameliorate issues that arose from the convention. Oshiomhole said the state would work with Chief Tom Ikimi, adding that people must be ready to make sacrifices for peace.

Ekiti election was a warning sign, says Oyegun

HE National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John OdieOyegun, has stated that the outcome of the Ekiti governorship election was a warning sign to the party. Oyegun, however, said the APC has also demonstrated the kind of politics it wants in the country. He spoke while addressing journalist at the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Benin Airport during his visit to Edo State yesterday. At the state government house where he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Oyegun urged the party leadership to work towards reconciliation of aggrieved members. He said Edo should be leading the example for

NDLEA to prosecute staff, four others over drug trafficking By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

STAFF of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) attached to the Anambra State command, Ibidayin Godwin, will be prosecuted for allegedly aiding and abetting a suspected drug trafficker, Adetoye Taiwa, in smuggling three kilogrammes of methamphetamine to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This was disclosed by the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade. He said the trafficker was arrested at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) shed by NDLEA operatives. The agency, Giade assured, will remain transparent in its operations and spare no one involved in drug trafficking. He said: “The indictment of Godwin is in line with our policy of follow-up operation on every arrest and seizure made. “I have institutionalised a culture of transparency in the NDLEA. “Anybody indicted must be thoroughly investigated no matter how highly placed and if found guilty the law will take its course.” The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that more arrests have been made and investigation is ongoing. According to him: “We apprehended one Adetoye Taiwo who is a clearing and forwarding agent with three of methamphetamine meant for export to Malaysia. “In the process of investigation, he indicted Ibidayin Godwin an officer of the NDLEA working at the Anambra State command. “We have also arrested three others Taiwo Ososanya, Fatai Olawale Akera and Alhaji Yusuf Olayemi Bankole who are being quizzed by our investigators.”

NIMASA donates life vests to boat operators From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

O enhance safety in the waterways among small boat operators, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has donated 60 life vests to three jetties in Calabar and Bakassi local government areas of Cross River State. This was part of the programme lined up for the 2014 maritime safety awareness campaign tagged “Commuter and boat drivers routine safety principle”. NIMASA’s Director General, Ziakede Akpobolokemi, charged boat drivers and passengers to be guided by the routine safety principles to avoid water accidents. The DG represented by the Chief Maritime Labour officer, Mr. Rueben Antifon, said: “There is a need for boat drivers and water passengers to stay alive from the point of embarkation to their destination through acceptable code of conduct and approved speed limit.” He said NIMASA would not compromise its safety guidelines, hinting that efforts have reached an advanced stage to enforce total compliance to the recommended safety requirements.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

With Adeola Ogunlade 08083127847

Hello kids, I hope you had a splendid week? I feel your pain and anguish when I remember the over 200 Chibok girls that were abducted in Borno State since April 14 and are still in the net of their abductors. It makes my heart bleed, but I am hopeful that the girls will definitely be brought back alive. While we expect them to come back home, let’s remember that we must put violence to shame, there must be peace and love in Nigeria; teach it, live it and you will never regret it.

Where are our girls? T

•Oluwasemipe Favour Akinnagbe, 7, one of the pupils of Cosmos Nursery and Primary Schools in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos...whose school has been holding prayer sessions for the release of Chibok Girls abducted by Book Haram since April 14

ODAY is the 76th day when over 200 girls from Chibok Government Girls Secondary School, Borno State were abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect. This has led to a serious outcry concerning the release of the girls and their safe return to their families.. Children, my heart bleeds every day and I share in your grief for our children who are innocent, harmless, dependent, and defenseless. Like the Executive Director of Action Health International, Mrs. Adenike O. Esiet, said “The recent declaration by Boko Haram’s leader that the girls should not be in school but should be married is appalling, and his flagrant boasting to sell them at slave markets is even more outrageous. It reeks of the most extreme

POEM

Nigeria

IGERIA Home of corruption Where children face adoption The nation crumbles in greed And we all watch with ease Where our diverse culture Makes a man a vulture Religion makes us to kill But not to heal But what about me? The little African tree Am I simply to grow

and rot? Has my nation decided my lot? No! For I choose to be free From poverty and greed And pray that my wisdom Will someday mean my c o u n t r y ’ s freedom Vanessa Bassey SS 1 Art Debiruss College Lekki, Ajah, Lagos

forms of oppression - an attack on the girls’ individual freedom and liberty, unabashed abuse of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and a usurpation of their right to education.” I appeal to the Boko Haram sect to please release these girls. The deadly activities of these sect have thrown up a challenge to everyone to rise up and help develop and train today’s children to become responsible leaders tomorrow. It doesn’t matter whether they are our children or not, let’s teach them how to think right, act right, live right and say no to evil in whatever guise. It will do us good. It is the responsibility of all of us because we may also fall victims of their dasdardly acts if we fail to help lead them in the path of godliness.

JOKES

HAT did the ting picked on! ground say to the earth- How do you get quake? straight A’s? - You crack me up! - By using a ruler! Why did the music teacher need a ladder? - To reach the high notes.

What did the pen say to the pencil? - So, what’s your point!

What’s the worst thing you’re likely to find in the school cafeteria? -The Food!

Why did the kid study in the airplane? - Because he wanted a higher education!

What kind of plates do they use on Venus? - Flying saucers! Why did nose not want to go to school? - He was tired of get-

How did the music teacher get locked up in the classroom? - His keys were inside the piano!

•Pupils of Bethesda Nursery and Primary School celebrating May 27th Children’s Day programme organised by Lafarge Cements Limited at the school premises in Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos.

OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH

2014 school enterprise challenge

OIN hundreds of other schools from over the world in the school Enterprise Challenge Community; help your students to become the business leaders of the future. Increase their employability and support their university and college applications. Win up to USD $2000 as part of our inspirational Teacher Awards. Establish a new source of income for your school. On the average, each school participating in the School Enterprise Challenge generates USD $1,000 per year through their enterprise. The School Enterprises Challenge is a unique international business competition for school students, aiming to identify and reward the social entrepreneur of

tomorrow For more information,

click http://www.school enterprisechallenge.org/

BIRTHDAY

•10th birthday of Temidayo Tinuoye with her class teacher, Mrs. Angela Nwaneri recently

WORD WHEEL

N E

M C Send in your stories, poems, articles, games, puzzles, riddles and jokes to sundaynation@yahoo.com

T R

How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at centre of the wheel, can you make from all this diagram? We have found 43, including one nine-letter word

SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Super Eagles have nothing to lose, says Owubokiri

EXTRA

JUNE 29, 2014

Suarez: Uruguay coach threatens to quit FIFA posts

By Olubanwo Fagbemi, Salvador, Brazil

IGERIA has an equal chance of making the quarterfinal of the Brazil 2014 World Cup as its second round opponent, France, followers of the Super Eagles have decided in Salvador, Brazil. Citing the team´s last 16 qualification feat and improvement in the course of the tournament, liaison officer of the Nigeria House in Salvador, Misbah Wale Akanni and Nigeria-born fans visiting from Europe and the United States of America believed progress in Brazil overshadowed the 3-2 loss to Argentina in the last round of preliminary matches of Group F. Said Alhaji Akanni: ´Ýes, they didn´t play so well, but they managed to qualify. We´ll take that and move forward. Anything can happen against France. We´ll UPER Eagles coach, Stejust have to support them phen Keshi believes and see how far they can that African champions go.´´ Nigeria are the apparent Former Nigeria interna- underdogs in Monday's FIFA tional and Esporte Clube World Cup Round of 16 Vitoria of Bahia star, Rich- match with France in Brasilia. ard ´Ricky´ Owubokiri He reasoned that the presshared the sentiment. ´Ít sure would actually be on (the match) will be tough their opponent. but Nigeria has nothing to Said he: “I said before the lose,´´ he said. ´Íf they have tournament that our mentalqualified for this game, ity must be strong. Our they should be ready to approach to every match has play well. They know they always been the same: to win. should not make mistakes Whether we are playing because if they lose they are against Spain at the FIFA Conout. federations Cup or playing ´´Based on the output of against Liberia in a friendly the past week, the Eagles match, I always tell the boys can surprise any team. that victory is non negotiable. “For us, we will go into France is a good team, but it´s a game that anyone who Monday's match aiming to makes the less errors will win. But as I also said before win.´´ Reacting to criticism of Mikel Obi´s performance in the Super Eagles midfield, Owobokiri who topped the scorers´ charts from South America to Europe and EMBERS of the Asia, called for tolerance. NFF delegation to ´Éveryone is complaining the 2014 FIFA about Mikel. It happens to World Cup finals have conplayers. Some days they are tinued to heap plaudits on not just on top of their the NFF leadership for seamgame. We should remem- less arrangements in all ber that he has given so areas at the championship. much to the country. He is (Coach Stephen) Keshi´s The Nigeria delegation backbone in the team. So were ferried to all three let´s give him the moral sup- group stage matches of the port to come out and play Super Eagles and have only good words for the Aminu well again.´´ Parading a competitive Maigari administration for midfield and potent attack the huge efforts invested in that have fetched champi- making everything smooth onship ratings, Les Bleus for all persons. offer the stiffest opposition The NFF delegation at the for the Eagles yet. The Nige- tournament has included ria lads are however members of the NFF Execuexpected to respond with tive Committee, Managetrademark counterattack ment, some members of orchestrated by a more will- Staff, members of the NFF ing Mikel. The encounter is Congress (Chairmen of slated for tomorrow at the State FAs and some SecreEstadio Nacional Mane taries), some officials of the Garrincha in Brasilia.

Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Emenike #9 jumps over Giorgos Tzavellas of Greece

Keshi: Eagles not under pressure

run of 'venue hopping', finished second of Group F with four points after drawing with Iran, pipping BosniaHerzegovina and a narrow defeat by Argentina. There is only one recorded clash between Nigeria and France at senior level, and that was a mere international friendly in Paris on June 2, 2009, which the Super Eagles won by a lone goal, scored by Joseph Akpala. Reward for the winner in Monday's clash that starts at 5pm Nigeria time (1pm Rio de Janeiro) is a visit to the elegant Estadio Maracana (venue for the Final on 12th July, and which also hosted the final when Brazil lost 1-2 to Uruguay in 1950). The winner will play the victor of the tie between three time champions Germany and African flag bearers Algeria, who have reached the Round of 16 for the first time ever. Six of Nigeria's leading National Sports Commis- names play in the English Presion, a number of Senators miership alongside nine of the competition, we take it one match at a time. We don't even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win; we are not bothered. All we know is that we must win on Monday,” Coach Keshi reiterated as his team flew into Federal District on Friday. The Les Bleus, expectedly, finished top of their Group E with seven points, following wins over Honduras and Switzerland and a draw with Ecuador, and boast an embarrassment of talent in all departments. Nigeria, who flew into Brazil's administrative capital on Friday, bidding a final bye to their Team Base Camp (Vitoria Hotel Concept) in Campinas as they begin the

Delegates commend NFF seamless arrangements

and Members of the House Committee on Sports (including the chairman, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya), members of the various Leagues, a number of media representatives and other stakeholders. There have also been former NFF boss, General Dominic Oneya (rtd), former NFF General Secretary, Mr. Fanny Amun, former WAFU President Jonathan Ogufere, former Nigeria coaches James Peters, Christian Chukwu and Shaibu Amodu, former Nigeria captains Olusegun Odegbami, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu, directors of some federal agencies and departments and members of NFF SubCommittees.

France's best, making this a potentially explosive session in all ramifications. Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo, who will reach the historic 100th cap mark if featured against the French, features for Norwich City, with Osaze Odemwingie (Stoke City), John Mikel Obi and Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Liverpool) and Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) also involved. They are quite familiar with Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) and Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool). Debuchy, Remy and Sissoko are Ameobi's team mates at Newcastle while Moses and Liverpool mate Mamadou Sakho will embrace before hostilities commence.

Uruguay to appeal Suarez ban

IFA has been formally informed of an appeal against Luis Suarez's ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. The Uruguay football federation will now have a further seven days to prepare the paperwork for the appeal. Fifa head of media Delia Fischer told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: "We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening. "The reasons for the appeal must now be given in writing within a deadline of seven days after the three days has expired." Suarez was banned from all football for four months, plus

nine international matches, and fined 100,000 Swiss francs (just over £65,000) for biting Chiellini. On Friday, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez suggested the English media were to blame for the "excessive" sanction and announced he was standing down from his role on FIFA's Technical Study Group because he thought the World Cup record ban was too harsh.

Suarez

RUGUAY coach Oscar Tabarez said he will resign from two FIFA posts in protest at the "excessive severity" of Luis Suarez's ban. "He announced he would take no questions and went on, uninterrupted, to outline the injustice he and the whole of Uruguay feels has been inflicted on Luis Suarez. "The veteran coach claimed the punishment was of 'excessive severity' and pointed the finger at the British media for pursuing the story, saying: 'I don't know what their nationality was but they all spoke English.' "Tabarez went on to expound 'the theory of the scapegoat' before announcing his resignation from Fifa's technical study group in protest at the sanctions taken against Suarez. "He concluded his speech with a call to arms for his players to use the emotions stirred by the Suarez affair to inspire them to victory against Colombia on Saturday. "Tabarez then rose and left the room to loud applause from Uruguayan journalists - an ovation not joined by those of us in the English media." The 67-year-old says he will leave his roles with Fifa's technical study group and strategic committee. "It isn't wise to be in an organisation with those who exerted pressure to promote this decision," he said. Tabarez, addressing a news conference for more than 10 minutes ahead of Uruguay's last-16 encounter with Colombia at the 2014 Fifa World Cup, claimed Suarez's suspension was "more focused on the opinions of the media". He added: "We know the mistakes he's made, but there's another side to this person. The severity was excessive.

Liverpool set to sign Lallana

IVERPOOL are expected to confirm Adam Lallana's £25m arrival early next week. Lallana, 26, will complete his medical and other formalities of the move from Southampton this weekend, before being announced as the club's latest signing. Liverpool had two bids for the England midfielder rejected before the World Cup began, but reopened talks after he returned from Brazil. Lallana will be reunited with Rickie Lambert at Anfield, while Luke Shaw has left Saints to join Manchester United. Lallana has been at Southampton for 14 years, having joined the club as a 12-year-old from Bournemouth, who hold a 25% sell-on clause.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 29, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Brazil beat Chile in penalty shootout

WORLD CUP

DIARY OLUBANWO FAGBEMI Africa and the World Cup jinx

RAZIL beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday. Chile's Gonzalo Jara missed the vital spot-kick after Neymar had converted for Brazil. Brazil went ahead after 18 minutes when Thiago Silva nodded on Neymar's corner and David Luiz was on hand at the back post to bundle the ball over the line, though replays suggested Chile defender Gonzalo

Jara got the last touch. Chile got back on level terms in the 32nd minute when sloppy defending let in Alexis Sanchez, who fired past Julio Cesar from close range. Hulk had a goal disallowed for using an arm to control the ball and although Brazil dominated the second half and extra time, Chile almost stole it in the final moments when Mauricio Pinilla hit the bar. Brazil, who beat Chile 3-0 at the same stage four years ago in South Africa, will face Colombia or Uruguay in the quarterfinals.

Flying Eagles name 30-man squad for final AYC qualifiers

IGERIA U20 team, the Flying Eagles, on Saturday named a 30man squad ahead next month's final 2015 African Youth Championship qualifier against Lesotho. This followed a two-week rigorous screening exercise at the FIFA Goal project in Abuja. The Flying Eagles will host Lesotho on August 16 with the return leg match in Maseru a fortnight later and the overall winners advancing to the 2015 African Youth Championship to be staged by Senegal. The bulk of the squad remains the FIFA U17 World Cup-winning squad like skipper Musa Muhammed, Kelechi Iheanacho and Dele Alampasu. There is also a sprinkling of players from the Nigeria Premier League like Obinna Nwobodo of Enugu Rangers and the Sunshine Stars duo of Olulayo Seun and Adeniji Tunde. THE FULL SQUAD: GOALKEEPERS Joshua Enaholo (MFM Lagos), Adamu Abubakar (Flash Gombe), Olorun Leke

(Giwa FC), Dele Alampasu DEFENDERS Musa Muhammed (Besiktas Turkey), Ifeanyi Nweke (Riverlane Youth Club Enugu), Mustapha Abdullahi (Spotlight Katsina), Zaharadden Bello (Dabo Babes Kano), Prince Izu Omego, Adebayor Ademuluwa, Wilfred Ndidi MIDFIELDERS Olulayo Seun (Sunshine Stars), Chidiebere Nwakali (Manchester City England), Wasiu Jimoh (Kwara Academy), Musa Yahaya (Tottenham Hotspur England), Bernard Bulbwa, Ifeanyi Matthew (El Kanemi Warriors), Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Chisom Eze, Akinjide Idowu, Abdullahi Alfa STRIKERS Taiwo Awoniyi (Kalmar Sweden), Sulaiman Abdullahi(El Kanemi Warriors), Segun Alebiosu (Kwara United), Adeniji Tunde, Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City England), Obinna Nwobodo (Enugu Rangers), Isaac Success (Granada, Spain), Alhassan Ibrahim (FC Hearts), Abubakar Lawal (Sokoto United)

John Utaka tasks Flying Eagles

OLIDAYING Super Eagles star John Utaka has tasked the Flying Eagles to rise to the occasion when he paid a brief visit to the team at their training base in Abuja. “You are lucky to be considered for the national team and you should therefore give everything to justify your selection,” said Utaka. “This is a very demanding profession, but I trust you will continue to work hard to actualise your dreams.” He also wished the team the best of luck in their final qualifiers against Lesotho next month. “I expect you to go past Lesotho and qualify for the AYC in Senegal,” he urged. Utaka features for Turkish club Sivasspor and was at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. He heads the John Utaka Foundation, which caters for the poor in the society. Meanwhile, Nigeria U -20 Women team

the Falconets,were held to a goal less draw by Ghana in one of the first of the two warm up matches. The match was played at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the Abuja National Stadium and indeed lived up to its billings. The Ghanians are expected to play two matches against the Falconets as part of the return leg earlier played in Ghana in the month of may. Media officer of the Falconets, Elizabeth Kah who spoke with the head coach, peter Dedevbo said his team gifted the ball too easily which paved the way for their opponent dictating the pace of the game. " These girls played as if they had nothing was at stake, i am disappointed with the way they played. I cannot tolerate this in the next match. The Ghanaian side is good i must confess and this showed in the way they played. We can not put up this kind of display at the world cup, that is why such games afford us the opportunity to correct our lapses". Dedevbo noted.

or a brief period, Africa appeared set to rule the world. Ivory Coast, the only team from the continent to commence their Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign with a win - a 2-1 triumph over Japan in Group C - seemed poised to grab the elusive second round ticket in the last round of preliminary matches before a determined Greece netted the tie-breaker for the umpteenth first round exit of Africa´s most promising representative. After losing 2-1 to the USA in their first Group G match, Ghana marked characteristic gutsiness with a stirring 2-2 display against Germany in their second Group G game. The Black Stars eventually flunked the decider with Portugal, but they were more consumed by internal conflict than the ´Group of Death´ as yet another match bonus row hampered Africa´s hopes of lifting the coveted trophy. Cameroon, devoid of icon, Samuel Etoó´s usual contribution had been ruled out of contention through consecutive losses to Group A opponents before the concluding 4-1 rout by hosts, Brazil. From relatively easier groups, Nigeria and Algeria progressed to the second round. The North Africans recovered from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Belgium in the opening match of Group H to outscore South Korea 4-2 in the next and encourage forecasts of African renaissance in the South American heat. They finished behind Belgium for Group H´s second ticket and will confront Germany on June 30 for a quarter-final spot. Through Nigeria´s dull goalless draw with a cagey Iran in their Group F opener and the not-so-convincing 1-0 defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina emerged Stephen Keshi´s magic formula: deploying the team´s most recognised ball-holding striker, Osaze Odemwingie, as Emmanuel Emenike´s strike partner in a squad thin on experience. Tested late in the game against Iran, the partnership worked to a large extent in the next match but hardly clicked against Argentina, 3-2 victors on a thrilling afternoon in Porto Alegre. But blame not the mostly lethargic lot in lemon green. And finger not opposition magician, Lionel Messi for the Super Eagles´ colourless display. Nigeria lost not because Messidona´s Argentina were superior, but because Keshi´s Eagles looked inferior. For limiting his options to players who should be on the fringes of the set-up, the ´Big Boss´ is the name to blame. Keshi may have rectified initial technical blunder by installing Odemwingie in the hole behind Emenike but it is a move that should have naturally followed Brown Ideye´s omission. How sad that many clamoured for Ideye´s exclusion without a thought for his replacement. And it is even sadder that Keshi lacked the will to substitute Mikel Obi in the three matches played as the midfielder appeared to have started his summer vacation early. While match results cannot be predicted to an absolute degree, it may be safe to say that another second round exit looms after the efforts of USA 1994 and France 1998. Recent displays and the material available for selection are two reasons. The fact that Keshi counts the evidently less accomplished duo of Babatunde Michael and Juwon Oshaniwa among the First Eleven is one more. In other words, Nigeria are not in Brazil to win it. It is a situation that contrasts the purposefulness and commitment of tournament favourites Germany, Netherlands, France, Argentina and Belgium. Regardless of the outcome of the round of 16 clash with France tomorrow in Brasilia, Nigeria will always have a pool of exceptional talent to call upon. What the country needs is a coach well-versed in technical matters; one devoid of sentimental considerations and one who puts the country´s yearnings far above egotistical inclinations. That coach may not be Keshi, unless he achieves a spectacular turnaround in philosophy and mends relations with a possibly aggrieved football federation who, to be fair to the other party, tends to manipulate its employee. Keshi must be credited with bringing back belief associated with the Eagles of old, though. His enforcement of discipline and blooding of young talent, home and abroad, reined in early reward in form of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup trophy. But who better to launch revival than the player that best represents the golden era of the late 1980s and early 1990s? The ex-national team skipper´s approach to management often seems like something straight out of former national team coach Clemens Westerhof´s manual. It can only be hoped that against France, Westerhof´s manual, or any other one employed, would yield ample instructions for astute defending, creative spark and overall confident display - qualities missing in the Eagles´ play so far. No picnic in Brazil Clearly, I am on a working holiday. Sometimes, it feels like an overworked holiday. It probably looks like that too as a sympathetic hotel staff wondered if I had visited any tourist site or done any swimming or played football at the beach yet. All you do is sit at the computer and type, he said in our mutual communication vehicle of Brazilian Portuguese and sign language. I have indeed abandoned tourist sites (there are so many) or the beach in hot pursuit of human-angle stories. Even when watching games, I note comments, mentally analyse matches or typeset articles, lest my muse vacates the premises. And it just gets better (read harder). I am forever yearning for the computer system, and when out and about, always on the lookout for THE story. Always a holiday I once commented on the peculiarity of an aspect of Brazilian, nay, Salvador life. I do so again. There appears to be too many holidays as locals readily admit. One told me that added to one-week carnivals as well as bank, cultural and religious holidays are match days featuring Brazil at the ongoing Mundial. That sounds like a lot? Wait, once there´s a holiday on Thursday, many declare Friday for themselves to enjoy a long weekend and when a holiday falls on Tuesday, forget Monday. I have wondered how work gets done around here. It gets done, though, otherwise Brazil would not be years ahead of Nigeria. Salvador may be Brazil´s third most populous city, but it dwarfs Lagos in infrastructure. The city works, inspite of a difficult topography and laidback populace. An example to note Talking geography, I am no less astonished every time I walk on the streets. I note the ingenious approach to bridging structural gaps caused by the criss-cross of canals, rocky outcrops and undulating landscape. Here and there, small pedestrian bridges overcome gullies and valleys while sculptural pieces beautify the roadside and complex fountains decorate roundabouts. The city´s efficient road network incorporates expressways carved into the cliffside, overlooked by hillside dwellings. The overwhelming effect of the scenery is not lost on the first-time visitor as captured by Julian Fountain, a tourist from the Bahamas. ´´The people´s effort to inhabit this city is impressive. It must have taken the locals centuries of back-breaking work to achieve!´´ Considering the climatic and cultural connection, Salvador is worthy of reference for an ambitious Nigeria, if ever there emerges one.

QUOTABLE

“I had to remain quiet about the continuing efforts by Nigeria’s security agencies to find the (Chibok) girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists. But my silence has been necessary to avoid compromising the details of our investigations have spared no resources, have not stopped and will not stop until the girls are returned home and the thugs who took them are brought to justice.”

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 8, NO. 2895

O one can sensibly challenge the right and freedom of Ekiti people to vote into office whomsoever they like. Two Saturdays ago, they exercised that right effectively, admirably and remorselessly to enthrone their 2006 reject, Ayodele Fayose. The balloting – not the processes – was done freely, and it largely reflected the will of the people. Many nations and peoples have similarly and lawfully exercised the same right. Germany voted in Hitler in 1933, France first denounced and later embraced De Gaulle; and even more appositely, in 1945, Britain rejected their heroic war leader, Winston Churchill, who had just led them to victory in World War II. Moreover, more than 2000 years ago, Jews also rejected Jesus Christ and preferred that their Roman overlords release the criminal, Barabbas. In the June 21 poll, Ekiti took a good look at itself in the mirror and didn’t like what it saw. It saw in Kayode Fayemi, the incumbent governor, a reflection of themselves as aloof, inconsiderate, egotistical, elitist, cruel and sanctimonious. Promptly, Ekiti cut its nose to spite its face. I am persuaded they will rue the choice they have so cavalierly made, for they have shown neither the learning nor the strategic reasoning Ekiti needs to engage and project the finer values and virtues of the Southwest, values and virtues they were for a long time the palladium of. It turns out Ekiti is human after all. After its candidate in the just concluded Ekiti governorship poll gracefully and heroically conceded defeat, and was praised for the unusual gesture, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unexpectedly announced its readiness to challenge the constitutional breaches that attended the election process. The party identified at least seven of those breaches. Nothing will of course come out of the court case. The petition will neither affect the poll result itself nor make a dent on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose adrenaline in the Southwest is surging to a crescendo. Nor, it seems to me, can a court in the land be found to make any philosophical or nuanced constitutional pronouncements on the noticeable breaches. Rather than serve any useful purpose, therefore, the court case may prove futile, even dampen the value of the statesmanlike action of Governor Kayode Fayemi in conceding defeat, and distract from the more cogent discussions of Ekiti’s postelection future and the unsuitability of the PDP candidate in that election, Mr Fayose. There have been many analyses of what went wrong for the APC in the poll, most of them, save one or two, put squarely at the doorstep of Dr Fayemi. He probably accepts blame with the same aplomb with which he concedes defeat. Idiosyncratically aloof, too cerebral, inflexible, and insufferably apolitical are among the many faults attributed to him. In consequence, his transformation agenda for civil servants, teachers, local governments, and educational sector were said to have cost him thousands of votes and the election. When he conceded defeat and read his statement on television, he appeared shaken, as anyone who has just lost an election would be. But whether he regrets his policies, most of which have borne and are still bearing fruits, is hard to say. We couldn’t tell from his television address or from his melancholic look. He however claimed credit for redefining governance and setting a solid foundation for the state. He hopes posterity will judge him fairly and probably well. The APC will regard this defeat as a setback both for its political agenda in the Southwest and its national ambition to form the next government at the centre. Indeed, they may fear that the loss of Ekiti could trigger the loss of other APC states in the Southwest. Conversely, the PDP has begun to express the boundless enthusiasm that the winning of Ekiti may lead to the gaining of more states for the PDP in the region. They speak expressly of the vulnerability of Oyo, Osun, Ogun and even Lagos. Indeed, Information minister, Labaran Maku, PDP chieftain Buruji Kashamu, Governor-elect Mr Fayose, President Goodluck Jonathan himself, and other top PDP leaders indicated a few days after the election that the regaining of the Southwest was imminent. How they can hinge such

—President Goodluck Jonathan defending his seeming silence on the abduction of 219 female students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

APC’s Ekiti defeat

•Fayemi

•Fayose

gargantuan ambition on one election is difficult to tell, and especially without a concise programme, manifesto, ideology or even philosophical direction for the present and the future. Mr Fayose himself, it will be recalled, won the Ekiti election without articulating any programme. He had enough time to do so. That he chose not to present a programme is perhaps a function of his general paralysis and disinterestedness in intellectual exercises, and the plain fact that he is an impulsive and spontaneous politician who lacks both the discipline and the sagacity to form and conform to a systematic body of thoughts. He ran on the basis of appealing to the emotions of frustrated voters, voters long overrated by analysts and politicians alike. He deftly exploited their anger against Dr Fayemi who was accused of a disconnect between himself and the Ekiti people. If Dr Fayemi was accused of hiking school fees, then Mr Fayose, in his sophomoric dualism, would promise to slash them. If Dr Fayemi was accused of eating, then Mr Fayose would starve. If Dr Fayemi acquired knowledge, then Mr Fayose would acquire ignorance, literally and metaphorically. Dr Fayemi’s policy of industrialisation, said Mr Fayose incredulously to cheering Ekiti electorate, was a trap and a fallacy. Well, from October and for the next four years, Ekiti will be ruled by a man besotted to hunches, plebeian tastes and boyish and proletarian fantasies. After Mr Fayose was announced winner, there was some jubilation. But on the whole, Ekiti seemed transfixed and sobered by their fateful choice, for they know full well that having ordered the crucifixion of Dr Fayemi and asked for the release of Barabbas, the mortification that follows the betrayal of the irrefutable legacies of Ekiti’s proud and learned past is inevitable. The election of Mr Fayose twice in 11 years is already prompting hard discourses about the constituents of Ekiti persona and tradition. Even if they were

angered and mystified by things too deep for them to comprehend, which things were enunciated by Dr Fayemi, was it a sufficient reason to embrace the proven tomfooleries of Mr Fayose? If, as Dr Jonathan said of the Ekiti, they had more professors per capita than any other state, could that professorial gravitas have failed to permeate the entire Ekiti society? These and other questions will be answered in the near future, for the state Mr Fayose so spectacularly misgoverned barely eight years ago has morphed so comprehensively under Dr Fayemi that the difference between the two gentlemen could become tragically stark. Overall, however, the value of the Ekiti election will be felt more by the chastened and chafing APC than even the exultant PDP. The PDP of course hopes that Ekiti will open the door dynamically rather than ideologically to the Southwest. Iyiola Omisore is loosely perambulating in Osun, naturally without a concise programme or vision. And seeing how Mr Fayose returned to office, the PDP is priming Adebayo Alao-Akala for a return to Oyo. He will rely on federal might and the conspiratorial actions of the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan. It is the future replay of this conspiracy that the APC hopes to prevent by challenging the Ekiti election processes in court. In their first coming, the PDP had no programme or vision for the Southwest. They hope to enact a second coming on the same aversion to programmes, ideas and vision. The APC on the other hand needed the Ekiti defeat in order to prevent electoral disaster in 2015. Had they won, they would probably have smugly and blithely walked into a trap, if not total disaster, in 2015. Now, I think the party will be better able to gauge the quality and worth of the voters it hopes to convince to abandon their superstitions, prejudices, ignorance and

“There are moments when I hope that what transpired in Ekiti is that Dr Fayemi knowingly and stoically stuck to the integrity of his programmes even when he knew the pitfalls. But at other times, I fear that he was in fact politically naïve, a feeling underscored by his reported desperation to woo the electorate in the closing weeks of the campaign, when the signal of defeat had broken through his characteristic imperturbability. If, however, he was appalled by the political behaviour of the Ekiti electorate; if he mocked and defied the offensive vacuity of his opponent; if he superiorly refused to engage in the demeaning ritual of seducing voters with the same kind of sorcery Fayose used, then he can in the truest Kiplingian sense say his costly defeat sneers at the cheap victory of his opponent, and that he had become a man in a sea of political and ideational dwarfs”

sham reasoning. APC leaders must now look inwards to find the inner strength, resilience and intellectual subtlety needed to face what is certain to become a steamrolling, ungainly and coarse PDP. They must pay closer attention to how the states under their control are governed, find a balance between their vision and mission, and engineer a delicate equilibrium between leading and kowtowing to the electorate. Importantly too, they now more than ever need to reassess their programmes in order to convince themselves that the integrity of those programmes is worth defending, even at the risk of losing an election. There are moments when I hope that what transpired in Ekiti is that Dr Fayemi knowingly and stoically stuck to the integrity of his programmes even when he knew the pitfalls. But at other times, I fear that he was in fact politically naïve, a feeling underscored by his reported desperation to woo the electorate in the closing weeks of the campaign, when the signal of defeat had broken through his characteristic imperturbability. If, however, he was appalled by the political behaviour of the Ekiti electorate; if he mocked and defied the offensive vacuity of his opponent; if he superiorly refused to engage in the demeaning ritual of seducing voters with the same kind of sorcery Fayose used, then he can in the truest Kiplingian sense say his costly defeat sneers at the cheap victory of his opponent, and that he had become a man in a sea of political and ideational dwarfs. It is also argued that Dr Fayemi lost as a result of the obtruding politics of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This position was advanced on television and in newspapers a few days after APC’s Ekiti debacle. But the fact is that Dr Fayemi, knowing the people he governed, and sensing negative campaigns in Ondo and elsewhere, actually distanced himself from Asiwaju Tinubu. But neither his efforts nor that of Bourdillon – mythically so-called – has mitigated the campaigns. The truth is that there is nothing anyone in APC can say, and there is nothing Bourdillon can do, to erase the impression that Asiwaju Tinubu meddles in Southwest states. On the contrary, what APC leaders need to do is fine-tune their programmes, push the Southwest legislative houses closer to civic culture where Houses of Assembly stand up to their governors and offer the checks and balances the region has been famous for even before the signing of the English Magna Carta, and courageously and with equanimous firmness enact such developmental feats that those who now call for paradigm shifts will know that paradigms indeed shifted many years back. I have always indicated in this place my sympathies for the APC because I shudder to think what four more years of mediocrity and inaction by Dr Jonathan’s government could cause Nigeria. I would therefore advise APC leaders to approach the loss in Ekiti with the same fortitude great leaders faced setbacks. Let them convince themselves and their consciences that their programmes, their humanistic politics, and their vision for the country are impeccable. If they waver, their programmes could become diluted and diffused, and they would be unable to enjoy in the long run the approbation which only iconoclastic posterity can give. Dr Fayemi himself, notwithstanding his “insufficient politics”, has a great political future ahead. Mr Fayose, who is already thundering boyish vituperations and inflating himself with the vaulting ambition to eradicate APC from the Southwest, can be trusted to make Ekiti sorry to let Dr Fayemi go. And if some opinion leaders in the Southwest, many of them Dr Jonathan’s lapdogs, still see the rapprochement between Southwest politicians and Northern politicians as an unsustainable and unsuitable alliance because of the prejudices and bigotries of the past few decades, then they deserve our pity. If the APC stays the course and holds firm; and if they produce the right candidates for the defining elections of 2015, then notwithstanding the Ekiti setback, a new Nigeria could still emerge, perhaps against the run of play.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE