The Nation Mar 23, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Gunmen attack David Mark’s convoy Abia gov condemns attack –Page 5

Ekiti: Olubolade, 20 decomposing 14 others boycott bodies found in PDP guber primary Ibadan forest As Fayose emerges party’s governorship candidate

23 kidnap victims rescued

–Page 6

–Page 4

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.08, No. 2796

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

N200.00

MARCH 23, 2014

Pope Francis is greeted by a member of the Nigerian delegation during a private audience with President Goodluck Jonathan (L) at the Vatican yesterday. Photo: AFP

N10BN JET EXPENSES

Reps secure AlisonMadueke’s travel log –Page 4

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

PAGE

CAPTURED

New Kenyan law allows men to marry many wives

Where on earth are they? More than a week after it disappeared, the world remains puzzled over the whereabouts of Malaysia Airlines MH370. As part of the global focus on the tragic disappearance of the aircraft, a woman leaves messages of support and hope for the missing passengers at a location in central Kuala Lumpur recently. Photo: REUTERS

BAROMETER sunday@thenationonlineng.net

The Kneeler-in-Chief

Giving Tambuwal a helping hand

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

COLUMN

On form and social discontents W

nooping around

E have received quite a robust and large volume of responses to the piece last week which was titled The coup against capital. As usual, the responses range from the peevish, the perverse to the profound. In their different ways, they all speak to the social and intellectual ferment in the country today. A thousand conferences about the state of the nation are currently on-going and only a political fool would ignore the dire and ominous signals. One of the joys of the columnist is reading these intellectual slugfests, not just when they cross swords with the writer but when they cross swords among each other, that is when the commentaries become meta-commentaries producing their own contextual and inter-textual tensions. They speak to far from finished business, one hundred years after amalgamation. An amalgamation is not designed to produce a unified society or a homogenous national conscious-

ness. To get by, Nigeria has always relied on exceptionally strong individuals who impose consensus from above until the national fabric gives

“T

Advertisement for my style

HE style,” says Comte Buffon, an 18th Century French biologist and popular writer, “is the man himself.” In my much younger days, I viewed this statement with scorn and disrespect. I had then, this unrelenting hostility towards all maxims. This was because of what I considered their premature arrival at the “truth.” Well, I used to console myself, what else do you really expect from a buffoon? It does appear, in retrospect, as if Monsieur Buffon was right, that the joke was probably on me. When you read Wole Soyinka’s prose, you come away with the impression of a man of immense vitality: a human Mississippi; tempestuous, charging and laying waste acres of lies and deception. The urbane lucidity of Chinua Achebe’s works speaks of immense self-possession, of a man of considerable charm and reticence. Charles De Gaulle, another master, wrote the French language with the same authoritarian elegance, the same oracular conviction and irritation with small men and minds, which is a projection of his towering personality. And Jean-Paul Sartre’s often clumsy syntax and deliberate refusal to write “well” bear eloquent testimony to his everlasting contempt for the virtues of the French middle-class. I must confess that there is a bit of all of these gentlemen in me, which makes maters even more

NOOPER, your co-ethnic saw to it that those of your brethren; made prostrate by military defeat, who showed, and still show the most valour in capital accumulation and husbandry, were rendered destitute. See how far they’ve come from 20 pounds per diem. While we moan about metropolitan capital flight, let us ponder on self-inflicted injuries. - Obinnna77 It is not for lack of trying or the possession of the requisite branial capacity that tempered our tendency for the accumulation of capital. Rather, it was the nature of the traditional economic system that was adopted by some African societies. We were basically an agrarian society. The Yoruba for example adopted the Aro system which was a communalistic form of arrangement in which members of a particular commune took time to work on one another’s farm. This is hardly a system that encourages capital accumulation. Add to this the fact that the legal tender of the Yoruba, for example, was the cowrie shell. It was not enough to accumulate capital, but one must be able to carry same around for business transactions. It thus required

•Saro-Wiwa

tricky. Having conceded this, I must also submit that there is a sense in which a writer’s style itself might serve as an index of the social unease of his generation. For the truly creative mind, style is a question of infinite possibilities and endless permutations. A particular stylistic tendency, then, may be nothing but a particular response to grave social pressures. When I was invited to write this column, I promised myself that I would review the reactions to it after a year. Before the advent of this column, one thing that had been sadly lacking in Nigerian journalism, despite its enviable strides in the past decade, is the direct and sustained involvement of people within the ivory-tower in journalism. This has been the case in several western and oriental societies. It is, indeed, a tribute to the vision of Newswatch editors that the floodgate has since opened with several people within the ivory-tower writing for several magazines on a regular basis. The reactions to this column have been varied and quite interesting. One accusation that keeps cropping up is that the writer’s syntax is often difficult and his vocabulary invariably inaccessible. D.A. Olaosun fired the first salvo, attacking the writer for polysyllabic madness. It is interesting,

way. From Lord Lugard himself, to Ahmadu Bello in the First Republic, Babangida’s democratic chicanery until the master scam overwhelmed the scam-master, Abacha’s frantic terrorism until prostitution became a noble profession again, Obasanjo’s messianic despotism until the Third Term fiasco exploded in his face and now Goodluck Jonathan’s beguiling political levitations. It is trite to observe that an unhappy society also provokes formal uneasiness among its serious and genuine writers. How do we capture the turbulent and toxic realities of these unhappy times without doing fundamental damage to the integrity of writing and the writer? This is what has been described as the unhappy consciousness at the stylistic level. An abiding concern of many readers of this column is about its mode of production; its obdurate and incorrigible stylistic bravura. There is often more than a hint of desperation and frustration with the column-

however, to observe that a few months later when this column wrote a rather friendly piece on Awo, the same Olaosun of Surulere wrote to say that he found the piece very illuminating. In a fit of anger, another reader wrote to ask whether I was the Wole Soyinka of Newswatch, a development which effectively ruined my lunch that day. And after writing a particularly devastating and irreverent piece on Jesus Christ and our church leaders, somebody wrote from a Seminary near Ijebu-Ode telling me about how “truly impressive” a writer I was. But perhaps, the most touching reaction of all came in the form of a full-length rejoinder from somebody who is a chief typist in a ministry in Kaduna State. Titled: Squandering of Opportunity, the letter bears quoting at length. It charges: “By speaking in a language which only the privileged few, who have benefited from an elitist form of education, can understand, you are, perhaps unknown to you and by implication, entering into negotiations with the oppressor… and squandering our chances of dealing devastating blows to the present unjust order.” Several important issues are

With

Tatalo Alamu ist. Just tell us what you want to say in plain English or get lost. Many think that the mandarin and elitist style is massively alienating and therefore an exercise in intellectual futility. A very good friend and ardent fan of the columnist, Dr Ezenwa F’ Chizea, roused Snooper up last Monday and rued laconically: “My friend, who are you writing for?” Before Snooper could volunteer an answer, the redoubtable son of the Omu of Asaba, roared: “These things are too intellectual and deep for most readers!” In this, there was a hint and subtle plea to the absconding academic to return from whence he came to disturb the peace of the polity. Actually, this is an old ghost and

raised in these rejoinders and they speak for the social and intellectual ferment in the country today. I must admit right away that this column is not modeled on the canons of “lucidity” and “simplicity” which are taught in Fleet Street and American night schools of journalism. It is indeed such “simplicity” which is ironically opened to misappropriation by our dominant culture. This column confesses to intellectual tyranny. It is not one that is designed to be run over with a bottle of beer or read over a bale of suya in our country clubs. I believe that the ruling class already has enough circus-clowns, court-jesters and intellectual acrobats attending to its needs. The intellectual intransigence of this column must then be located within the context of a society overtaken by mindless materialism, a society in which subsidized illiteracy is part of an elaborate power game. Only a style that is at once tempestuous and tyrannical, I believe, can match the dynamics of these tempestuous and tyrannical times. It might, of course, be legitimately objected that such an authoritarian style risks massive alienation, that the “message” might be lost in a jungle of inaccessibility. Such an objection ignores the seductive power of tyranny.

Re: The coup against capital men of immense might and main to ferry a million in cowrie shells from one location to another. With the advent of paper money, moving capital was made easy. - Rufus O. Neither Abacha nor Mobutu, the two avatars in this piece, was a capitalist. We should be asking why the capital formations attempted by Abiola, Iwuanyanwu, Odutola, Dantata, Ojukwu, etc., did not make it to the stock exchange. Or, if they did, why they soon fizzled. We should ask why Adenuga and Dangote watched on the sidelines as Nuhu Ribadu was trashed while he was fighting for the discipline necessary for capital sustenance. - Omotaye Omobosede. The Zairois and Nigerian political histro-political paths are hardly the same. Nigeria did NOT have a Sergeant Joseph Desire Mobutu in 1966....could NOT have had. We KNOW those who created Mobutu.....the Nigerian HISTORY created an Abacha. Nigeria, even now, is NOT the near-tragedy the

Congo has become, the paradox is that the historic fault lines of Nigeria collectively cushion Nigeria from falling into the abyss. Their existence may yet induce Nigeria into a working federalism or it may well be the components will go their separate ways....though that will be a sad commentary on the valiant efforts that have gone to save the union. - Oluwole Omotaye Omobosede. Yes, sir Congo cannot happen here, reason why the foetus of Abacha tyranny was clinically aborted before it reached maturity, thanks to patriots like WS, late Alao Aka-Bashorun, Barrister Femi Falana, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti, Ndubuisi Kanu, Colonel Abubakar Umar Dangiwa, one Prof A Williams, et al. Legendary luck be damned, there are Nigerians super patriots working round the clock, burning the midnight oil so that this fatherland will actualize its manifest destiny, if it is still standing bloodied but unbowed despite the thousand cuts it has sustained

and continues to endure from its traitorous diabolical offspring ,it has nothing to do with luck, it has all to do with the indomitable spirit of its noble patriotic offspring waging titanic battle and war on tactical and strategic level to keep the the soul of this fatherland sacred and noble. As to this question of yours “Is there a historic or genetic conspiracy against capital and its useful accumulation in Africa?” I will respond that yes there is a historic conspiracy against capital and its useful accumulation in Africa, after all the thematic focus of colonialism is primitive accumulation of capital through barbaric and primitive exploitation of the colonial subjects and his resources, and when colonialism metamorphosed into imperialism and neo colonialism ,brutal, rapacious and unscrupulous under valuation of neo colonial subjects and his capital(property) became the norm, reason why original inhabitants of Lekki were uprooted from their property ,which was latter up-

Snooper is more than happy to rouse the old apparition once again this morning. We publish an old response about Snooper’s stylistic engagement, titled, Advertisement for My Style. We do not add or remove a word. Written 28 years ago in Newswatch, it is as if nothing has changed in this much abused country, as if the nation has remained frozen in time and space. But this is nothing but a reflection of the travails of a society in the throes of a traumatic transition. Think back. Things do change, but sometimes it appears for the worse. What sustains some of us is what Antonio Gramsci has called pessimism of the intellect but optimism of the will. A badly digested idea is like a huge piece of bone lodged in the throat, you can neither swallow nor easily throw it up. Only a style imbued with such suffocating alienation can come to terms with the massive alienation of this terrible age. As for the “message” being lost, this particular issue of whether the “masses” can and must be taught has been one source of my constant irritation with the left in this country. This talking down to the masses in all its arrogant condescension and weknow-it-all bravura would have been laughable in its astonishing innocence but for the fact that it contains the seeds of left-wing fascism. The greatest teachers of this age are hunger and misery. No amount of simplistic prose and simplistic analysis of our condition can supplant the hard teachings of these modern masters. This column, then, must be seen as a child of its time, an attempt to enhance our political and literary culture and a desperate intervention against the philistine culture that has been foisted on us by our elites. Perhaps, future generations in a Nigeria rid of toil, misery and feudal chicanery will stumble across it and glimpse behind the style and the man the ugly scars of these unhappy times. First published in Newswatch, October 22, 1986. Feedback. Re: The coup against capital graded and reevaluated to worth millions, and then parceled out to the neo colonial running dogs, whereas all that was needed to be done was empowered the original owners by given them deeds or C of O to their land and develop the land ,so as to enhance the value, thereby enabling them to use the title to access capital.(for further enumeration sir, I urge you to read the Peruvian economist Herman De Soto on this issue), where are still waiting for what is going to become of Mkoko. As for anti Okonjo I aver in the past that she is a Trojan horse, her first time around was as a debt collector for her western masters, and having accomplished that ,she was sent on another errand, that of destroying our fatherland economically, so as to make it regionally politically ineffective and irrelevant ,hence incapacitate it to actualize its manifest destiny, and in the process hand over our sovereign wealth to Goldman Sachs, an accomplice. But Sir, you know what, all this shall pass, we are indomitable, we are exceptional and we shall overcome. - Bola Awoniran.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

NEWS

HE travel logs of the jet chartered by Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke are now in possession of members of the House of Representatives as they prepare to launch their probe of the N10 billion allegedly spent by her on the plane. The logs, The Nation authoritatively gathered, cover the minister's trips to China, South Africa, United States and United Arab Emirates. There are also indications that the House may demand movement logs of the Challenger jet from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). One of the parastatals under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been fingered in the hiring and payment for the jet. Upset by the media attention generated by what many Nigerians see as waste of public funds, the minister has suspended a foreign trip with

N10b cash on jet: Reps secure travel logs of Minister's plane From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

President Goodluck Jonathan to prepare her defence for the House of Representatives. Investigations in Abuja showed that some representatives have obtained travel logs of the minister which they intend to present to the Public Accounts Committee for verification from FAAN, NAMA and NCAA. A reliable source said the fact-sheet available to some members indicated that the average cost of a trip on the jet was about $300,000. It was also learnt that the parastatatal in question maintains the jet with $500,000 per month. The source said: "This probe is a result of painstaking efforts by some members

•Alison-Madueke suspends trip to prepare defence in the last one year. Some of these members, including those from PDP in the House, have secured the travel logs of the minister to and from Nigeria. "For instance, she had been to China, South Africa, United States, the UK and the United Arab Emirates with the jet. At a point, the jet was relocated to Ghana when controversy arose on the jet in August last year. "Even if FAAN, NAMA and NCAA decide not to release the records of movement of the Challenger Jet, these countries will oblige the House of Representatives. Also, the leasing company is foreign owned, it cannot hide the records if it wants to re-

main in business." Another source said: "We have identified some issues for Diezani as follows: • What informed the hiring of the jet? • Why will the parastatal be paying for the jet? • Why will the minister travel in a private jet while on the delegation of the president to some countries? • Assuming that the hiring of the jet was due to exigencies, what informed the extension of the privilege to members of her family as was the case during the 2013 Easter Break trip to Dubai in UAE? "We are not after the person of the minister but we want probity in government. We won't allow a serving

public officer use the public treasury for personal purpose. "And what we are doing is not new because a group, Crusaders for Good Governance (CGG), sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the same issue last year." But the probe has caused anxiety in the presidency following recurring scandals trailing cabinet members. A source in government said: "The presidency is worried that the series of probes targeted at ministers might be attempts to bring down the government by some forces. "We are waiting for the

investigative process and how it will go. The government will certainly pay keen interest on the probe." Mrs. Alison-Madueke has already suspended an overseas trip with President Jonathan to her enable prepare her defence for the House of Representatives. A source close to her said: "The minister is just upset with the allegation, she decided to cancel her schedule abroad to clear her image. She believes the allegations are too grave to ignore. "She is already preparing her defence; she has devoted the weekend to do this. The minister has told everyone around her that there is a total misconception and misplacement of facts and purely an act of political blackmail against this administration "By the time she is through with the facts and figures, Nigerians will know the truth. She was seriously upset that some people are personalizsing the issue. She said the figures they are quoting were exaggerated; when the Minister opens up, it will be revealing too."

Couple, sister, unborn child die in generator fumes

T was only three months ago that Victor Oluluwe and Precious became husband and wife. But by yesterday morning, the couple were dead, killed by fume from a power generating set just bought by them. A 10 year old girl living, Nneka, with them also died from the inhaled fume at their Chukwu Street, Elekahia, Port Harcourt residence. The lone survivor, identified as Sopuruchi, is receiving treatment in hospital. The landlord of the couple, Mr. Chikeson Chukwu, told The Nation that the couple were found dead yesterday morning. Neighbours had noticed at about 9am that they were unusually late in emerging from their apartment at that time of the day and proceeded to knock on their door.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

When there was no response, the door was opened only to find Victor and the pregnant Precious stiff dead. Nneka (10) and Sopuruchi were said to be unconscious and were rushed to the hospital. Nneka later died. Mr. Chukwu said little Nneka might not have died if she had been given prompt attention at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH). The landlord said: "This couple were just three months old in my house. They were newly wedded and had no child yet. At about five minutes past nine this morning (yesterday) one of my tenants called me and said they had discovered that the new tenant and his family were dead.

Boko Haram: Troops move to stop fleeing insurgents

ROOPS have launched pre-emptive plans to block Boko Haram insurgents from escaping to Gombe Bauchi and Taraba States. All military formations in the three states have been put on the alert to be on the lookout for any such fleeing insurgents. The military authority has also concluded plans to fly wounded officers and soldiers in Borno State abroad for referral treatment. Some hospitals in Borno State and adjoining states are currently treating injured officers and other ranks with various degrees of injuries. A military source, who spoke in confidence, said the incursions made by troops in the last two weeks have left the insurgents in disarray. Intelligence reports confirmed that the insurgents were trying to regroup in Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba prompting the red alert on troops and all military formations. The source said: "From attacks and counter-attacks against the insurgents in the last two weeks, it is typically a war

•Injured officers, soldiers may be flown abroad for referral From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation situation as earlier stated by the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. "The insurgents had been attempting to flee to the neighbouring states of Jalingo, Gombe and Bauchi to go and regroup. This is their usual technique. "Troops have however been directed to stop them from fleeing to these states. Also, all military formations in these states are on red alert to deal with the escapees. "There is no more hiding place for these insurgents until they are routed out from their enclaves. "It is purely an insurgency and not any religious war which must be curtailed once and for all. The source said volunteers known as the civilian JTF have been doing well in helping to provide information in the zone and the state.

•From left: National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Mr. Yusuf Alli (SAN); celebrant and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, Alhaji Liad Tella and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the 80th birthday celebration of Ajibola in Abeokuta yesterday.

It was also learnt that the troops are also monitoring all market days in Borno and Yobe States where the insurgents get food supply. The source added: "On each market day, there are usually flurries of attacks because the insurgents usually come to get food stuffs to re-stock . "We want to cut the sources of their food supply. If it means shutting down these markets, we will do so. "The only challenge we are having is that we do not want the innocent civilian population to suffer." Another source said that some injured officers and men might be flown abroad for referral treatment. One of the sources said:"Hospitals in the metropolis are littered with injured officers; majors, colonels and captains with various degrees of injuries. "No adequate care is neither provided for them nor their families. We call on the military authority to do something." In a response to our enquiries, the spokesman for Defence Headquarters, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: "Well, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and the service chiefs have placed premium on health care for the injured.

20 decomposing bodies found in Ibadan forest

O fewer than 20 decomposed bodies were yesterday discovered in what is believed to be a ritualists’ den at Soka forest in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. Twenty-three other people -18 men and five women including one who had just been delivered of a baby – apparently on the captors’ ‘death row’ were rescued from the bush. Each of them looked dishevelled having been chained together for many days and denied food and any form of comfort. Nine of them lay on the ground, too weak to stand on their feet or talk. Human skulls and other parts littered the bush. The nursing mother’s condition was particularly bad: she had been delivered of a baby without any medical attention a few hours before rescue.The baby was seized from her and apparently sold by her captors. She was still covered in

From: Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan blood yesterday. She was too weak even to talk. Asked how she got into the bush, she merely stared at her interrogators and fainted. There were several versions of how the discovery was made yesterday. One version is that a commercial motorcycle operator had been hired by a man to take him to the bush but on getting there heard voices from a container pleading that they be rescued. He then raised an alarm which attracted passersby. Another is that people around the area having grown suspicious of movements around the place raised an alarm. All over the bush were shallow graves in which mangled corpses were dumped. Bodies were also seen in open containers and dried up wells.

Residents said ritualists were selling human parts in the bush. A resident said Fulani herdsmen often take their cattle to the bush for grazing. One Akeem Isiaka (38) was arrested at the scene and taken away by security agents to Sanyo Police station . Also in the bush is an abandoned factory which the ritualists apparently used as slaughter slab. On the floor was a wooded platform caked with blood as was the floor itself. Some mechanics around the area confirmed that many high profile people usually visit the area especially at night to patronise their clients When contacted , the Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, Mrs Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor said some arrests were made yesterday, but the prime suspect is at large. The Police spokesperson said some security personnel have been detailed to the scene to prevent residents from taking the law into their hands.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Pope to visit Nigeria •Vatican seeks inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria, other countries From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

OPE Francis is to visit Nigeria in due course after meeting yesterday in the Vatican with President Goodluck Jonathan. There is no time frame yet for the visit. He has already committed to travel to the Holy Land and South Korea this year and said he wants to visit the Philippines and Sri Lanka in coming years. Emerging from the meeting with the Pope yesterday, President Jonathan said they discussed the promotion of inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria and other parts of the globe. Jonathan said that his administration was already working in close collaboration with John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the team leader for the effort to strengthen inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria. He assured the Pope of his administration’s continued commitment to the promotion of religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of people of all faiths. He also assured the Pope that his administration will continue to work diligently to alleviate poverty in Nigeria through more inclusive economic growth and development. The Pope, he said, also assured him that he would continue to pray for God Almighty to bless the country and its people. He said: “My coming to see the Pope was to discuss issues, especially that of inter-faith dialogue which the Vatican has been promoting. “Also the Pope has been advocating that the world should do more to eradicate poverty and make sure that the ordinary people of this world are in a position to live more decent lives. The Pope is very dedicated to poverty alleviation and I also interfaced with him on how we can collaborate more with the Vatican on what we are already doing in this regard back home,” the president said. After his private meeting with President Jonathan, Pope Francis received the First Lady, Dame Patience , the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and his spouse, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his spouse, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, and other members of the president’s entourage. Others present at the enlarged audience with the Pope included Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr. Francis C. Okeke, the Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.

NEWS

Gunmen attack David Mark’s convoy in Imo G

UNMEN, on Thursday night, opened fire on the advance team of Senate President David Mark in the Orlu axis of Imo State. The team was going ahead of the Senate President who was scheduled to attend the funeral ceremonies for the late businessman, Sir John Richard Anyaehie, in Nkwerre, Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state. It could not be confirmed whether Mark was the target of the gun attack. He was not in the convoy after opting to travel to the function by helicopter. Security men in the convoy returned fire and repelled the hoodlums. However, one of the vehicles in the Senate

•Abia condemns ambush From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri/ Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

President’s advance team convoy was riddled with bullets but no life was lost. Senator Mark confirmed the attack while speaking at the funeral. He saw no reason for the attack, especially during the burial of an illustrious son of the area. He described the late Anyaehie as a truthful man and good adviser, from whom he benefited as a young military Major in Port Harcourt. He described his first

encounter with the deceased as the greatest part of his life. But the State Police Command denied any such attack. Spokesperson for the command, Mrs. Joy Elemoko, a Superintendent of Police, said no report of any attack was lodged with the police. “It was not true that the convoy of the advance team of the Senate President was attacked in the state as widely claimed. We knew that the Senate President flew to the state in a helicopter and so we are not aware of any attack, and if his convoy was attacked it could not have been in the

state,” she said. Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State condemned the attack, and described it as a bad omen ahead of the 2015 elections. He challenged security agencies to fish out the brains behind the attack and bring them to book. He said: “We should try at all times to be united as the action of those who attacked that convoy should not be tolerated. It was aimed at eliminating the senate president and should not be tied to Boko-Haram. “I do not want to say that it is either this political party or not but those who are behind it must be apprehended.That is all I am saying.”

•L-R: Chairman, First City Group, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona; Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and the Chairman, Council of Otunbas, Otunba Oshinusi during the governor’s re-union visit to his maternal kits and kins in Fidipote ruling house in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Photo: Lucky Francis

Politics of religion dangerous for Nigeria, says Tinubu N

ATIONAL leader, All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday decried the resort to religion by some politicians to curry votes, and said it was a dangerous signal for the country. “The current religiously divisive politics our current leaders are playing will not augur well for our body politic. Religion has been elevated to a point where it is now used as a tool to curry and win votes,” Asiwaju Tinubu

said at the church dedication of the Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry and 60th birthday of its General Overseer, Rev. Ogedengbe Samuel, in Lagos. He said that while morality could not be taken out of politics, “I must serve notice that governing the country along religious lines and manipulating religious sentiments will endanger our body politic.” Nigerians, he stressed, should be conscious of the fact that “no nation has ever survived a religious

war. No religion has ever being able to wipe out another.” He asked Nigerians not to look at politics purely from the prism of religion but from the perspective of development. “We can only make progress if we begin to look at progress from the perspective of development and the capability of people we want to lead us and not from the prism of religion as many would want to do. The desire to hold power must stem from a commitment to rid Nige-

ria of frustration, lack of medical care, good roads, insecurity and poverty,” Tinubu said. In the audience were Lagos State Works Commissioner Femi Hamzat, former Health Commissioner, Dr. Leke Pitan, Pastor Kalejaiye, the leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim worldwide and His Eminence Olufemi Akinsanya. Rev. Samuel doubles as special adviser on religious affairs to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

Fulani attacks: Benue may ban beef consumption

HE Benue State House of Assembly has begun consultations with stakeholders as a prelude to the enactment of a law banning the consumption of beef in the state. The move is a fallout of the incessant attacks on Tiv villages by nomadic Fulani

From Uja Emmanuel Makurdi

herdsmen who supply the bulk of the cows slaughtered for consumption in the state. Scores of people have been killed and houses razed in the raids. Majority Leader of the State Assembly, Mr. Paul Biam, dropped hints of the

planned bill at the funeral of Madam Celina Ayom at Ihugh in Vandeikya local government area of the state. The legislature, according to Biam, has identified the consumption of beef as a major contributory factor to the Fulani attacks, hence the need to shun beef from

the herdsmen. He said if the initiative was accepted by the people, the bill would encourage Benue natives to rear other domestic animals for their own consumption. He said violators would be punished once the bill sails through.

Dickson visits Awujale’s Palace, traces root to Fidipote family From: Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

OVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland, in Ogun State, Oba Sikiru Adetona, saying he is related to the Fidipote Ruling House of Ijebuland. The governor who was accompanied by some members of his family and commissioners arrived the Awujale’s Palace at 12: 23pm. Dickson, whose great grandmother Bola was a daughter of Oba Fidipote said they “have come to identify with their royal line” not only to make their great grandmother feel fulfilled where she is, but also to foster greater bond of royal affinity. He said:”this visit is a very important one for me at personal level and for members of my family to reconnect with our kiths and kin back home here in Ijebu, but beyond that it is also shows that in the end, we are all one people. A lot of people would think how can a man from the heart of the Niger Delta be so closely connected to the heart of the Yoruba nation, that is Ijebuland. “That is humanity. All is one, all one human being and members of one Nigerian nation. This is the message that should go out: that we should learn to build on the borders and boundaries of people, to deepen our bond of unity and then work to improve our common humanity. “It is (the visit) not going to be once in a while thing. Let me inform you that Kabiyesi has graciously offered me a plot of land for me to build my own little home. That is to seal it. I have a cousin of mine who is an Otunba. So, this cannot be a one off thing. I’m here to showcase the relationship and it has to go one.” Oba Adetona who received Dickson in company of some Ijebu Obas, founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun, his son, Prince Adedire Adetona, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Otunba Wahab Osinusi, among others, lauded him for coming to re -unite with his Ijebu royal family.

Fleeing suspect knocks down EFCC operative FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that a fleeing suspect knocked down one of its operatives, Mr. Jonathan Barde, last Tuesday in Lagos. The suspect, Tajudeen Oluwanishola, is being investigated for alleged N5.5million internet banking fraud, according to EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren. Oluwanishola was, however, rearrested soon afterwards by a Rapid Response Team and was subsequently handed over to the anti-graft agency. Barde sustained a serious injury and was rushed to the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos for medical attention.

News

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Ekiti: Olubolade, 14 others boycott PDP guber primary •As Fayose emerges party’s governorship candidate

R. Ayodele Fayose yesterday emerged the PDP governorship candidate in the forthcoming June 21, 2014 election, after a rancorous primary in Ado-Ekiti. It was boycotted by 15 other aspirants who had alleged manipulation of the process leading to the primary. Also absent was the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, former deputy governor of the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko and Prince Dayo Adeyeye had faulted, in particular, the conduct of the ward congresses across the 177 centres in the state, alleging that they were “massively rigged” in favour of Fayose. Fayose, who governed the state from May 2003 until his exit in controversial circumstances in October 2006, got the backing of 462 delegates out of 544. The immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), came a distant second with seven votes, while Adeyeye got three votes and Mrs. Margaret Ogundipe received one. Four votes were voided, according to the Chairman of the Special State Congress Committee and former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili. Fayose’s 15 opponents in the primary protested the conduct of the primary and its outcome. They called for the cancellation of the result and Fayose’s disqualification on the ground that he was ineligible to contest. Addressing reporters, Mr. Abiodun Aluko, condemned the processes which led to Fayose’s victory. Another aspirant, Senator Gbenga Aluko, urged the leadership of the party to “cancel the outcome of the primaries.” He said: “First is the eligibility of former Governor Ayo Fayose to contest. He is not a bonafide member of our party, the PDP. Legally, he cannot contest the primary and we are in court over that. “Also, the ward delegate congress conducted last Wednesday was seriously skewed in favour of Fayose. In five local govern-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti/ By Dare Odufowokan, Lagos.

ments including Ikere, Ado, Gboyin, Emure. Ise/Orun and Efon, no congresses took place, yet results were compiled for those areas. “Apart from that, the other places where the election held, there were electoral malpractices such as snatching of electoral materials. Since July last year, the leadership of the party, including President Goodluck Jonathan have been harping on the need for consensus to avoid acrimony. “You can see what happened today (yesterday), it was only this Fayose who opposed the consensus method and we are going to see what happens next. We are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan and wellmeaning PDP leaders to right the wrong that has been done.” The aspirants maintained that Fayose was not a member of the PDP, as his readmission into the party did not satisfy Chapter II, Section 8 (17) of the party constitution. “Therefore, an appropriate candidate for the party, not Ayo Fayose will be chosen by our party. That candidate will go ahead and win the June 21 election by the grace of God,” they vowed. On the primary, the aspirants said; “A supposed primary is said to be going on now. But we all know that a primary election is not done by only one person. A primary is done by at least two people. “13 out of the 14 governorship aspirants of the PDP in Ekiti State are here present. It is only Ayo Fayose, a non-member of the PDP that is at the Eagle Centre doing the fraudulent primary. Some of the aggrieved aspirants, including Olubolade, Adeyeye, Dare Bejide, Biodun Aluko, Modupe Ogundipe had gone to the venue, protesting the conduct of the primary. The police would have none of that and proceeded to fire gunshots into the air and canisters

of tear gas at the protesters and their supporters. One of the aspirants, Mr. Deji Ajayi, had, during the week, filed a suit on behalf of the 12 other aspirants against the candidature of Ayo Fayose while another aspirant, Adeyeye, declined participation in the party’s primary election. He said in a statement on Friday that in spite of the glaring flaws in last Wednesday’s ward congresses, the primary election was still going to hold on the basis of the grossly doctored delegate list purportedly generated from the exercise. “As we speak, list of delegates that they fraudulently compiled four weeks ago in connivance with some Abuja people are the ones they want to use for the primary. They have replaced the names of the authentic delegates elected in the 11 local councils where the ward congresses took place with those of Ayo Fayose’s men,” Adeyeye alleged. But in its reaction, the Ayò Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO) said the aspirants who went to court are bad losers who should be ignored by the people. Speaking on behalf of AFCO, its Director of Publicity and Research, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said: “They are deceiving the people of Ekiti State and Nigerians. The people that went to court know that going to court is not the same thing as getting an injunction. The case has not been assigned to a judge. So, there was no injunction against the primary election. Nigerians should ignore them.” Another aspirant, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni said the conduct of the primary was unthinkable and unrealistic. In a statement at the end of a meeting with his supporters at Ikere Ekiti, Omoyeni described the purported primary as the biggest joke of the decade. “This is a charade and one of the biggest political jokes of the decade. It is the figment of the imagination of a clique of people whose integrity and credibility have long been thrown into the trash can, because of their

self-serving and parochial interest,” he said, adding: “Ekiti people are bigger than a single individual. If 13 aspirants can come to agreement with Mr. President because of the need to maintain the unity and sanctity of our party, I see no justification for that show of shame that took place in Ado Ekiti. This is laughable, mischievous and an indication that if urgent attention is not taken by the national leadership of the party to redress the situation, PDP may be heading into a serious crisis in Ekiti”. Moments before the primary kicked off around 11 am, there was palpable tension especially around Ajilosun area down to Great Eagles Events Centre, venue of the event, as loyalists of all other aspirants, apart from those of former Governor Ayo Fayose, massed at the main road opposite the venue, singing abusive songs against those they perceived to be out to thwart the yearnings of the people. However, Odili in announcing the result of the primary described the conduct of the primary as transparent. He said this was done in accordance with the determination of the party leader, President Goodluck Jonathan and its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu to “reposition the PDP through internal democracy and this we have demonstrated today.” Fayose pledged to undertake a process of reconciliation with those aggrieved by the outcome of the primary. He said:”Nobody can run a government or party all alone. Losing an election or getting the governorship ticket is not the end of the world. There are other positions like the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives or Senate which they may have interest in. We have to work together for the aspirations of all of us to be met.” He claimed to have ‘brought’ Governor Kayode Fayemi into government in 2010 and “I am more determined than ever to return him to where he belongs.”

ICPC gets judgement against two police officers

WO Police Officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Kwara State Command, Ilorin have been sentenced to three and two years imprisonment without option of fine for violating the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The two accused persons: Police Sergeant Alih Tenimu and Corporal Salawooden Abubakar were each sentenced to three and two years imprisonment respectively for demanding and collecting N800,000 as bribe from a suspect involved in a criminal matter. The two police officers alongside with one Amodu Adamson, now deceased, were said to have asked Mr. Bello Manisara to pay them N800,000 in order to close the case of

criminal breach of trust, and threat to life, being investigated by them. Following their persistent demand, Bello Manisara forwarded a petition to ICPC and a sting operation was carried out. The first accused person was arrested in his office while counting the bribe money he had received from the petitioner. Consequently, the ICPC preferred a four-count charge against the accused persons on the 1st of June, 2013. The accused persons were said to have contravened Section 26(1)(c) and Section 10(a)(ii) of the ICPC Act, 2000. In the course of the trial the accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge preferred against them. The ICPC prosecution team led by O. J. Ochigbo called four witnesses and submitted evidence to

support his argument while the two accused persons called six witnesses, but no evidence to back their claims. In his judgment, Justice A Mohammed of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin convicted the two accused

persons on all the four-count charge. The first accused person, Alih Tenimu was sentenced to three years imprisonment while the second accused, Salawooden Abubakar, bagged a two-year jail term both without option of fine.

Man gets 16 years for putting infant in freezer

25-year-old Washington man accused of putting his 6-week-old daughter in a 10-degree freezer for about an hour to stop her crying was sentenced on Friday to 16 years in prison. Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said Tyler Deutsch pleaded guilty on January 31 to firstdegree assault for beating his infant daughter and putting her in the freezer. She has fully recovered, but the prosecutor

calls the crime horrible and inexplicable. Authorities said the child’s core temperature fell to 85 degrees in the freezer, after Deutsch put her there and then went to his bedroom and fell asleep. She also had a broken arm and leg and a head injury. The mother, who had left the baby in his care, saw Deutsch pull her out of the freezer as she was returning home and called 911.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Don stresses need for healthy living

IGERIANS have been advised to cultivate the habit of living as against the common habit of just existing. Giving this charge is the former Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof Yinusa Oyeneye, who advised Nigerians to live healthy lifestyles. Speaking at the annual celebration of the World Social Work Day organised by the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Oyeneye stressed the need for government to promote social work from primary schools to tertiary institutions in the country. Oyeneye, who is the current Provost of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, said this would curb social vices and injustice. He admonished social workers to use the unique training to help save Nigerians from the endless problems facing the country. In his address, the president of the Ogun State chapter of the association, Mr. Olagunju Balogun, called on all social workers to use the day to impact on their local communities. He called on governments to pay more attention to the social welfare problems plaguing many sectors of the country. The association also presented awards to individuals who have contributed to social development and welfare.

Ekiti 2014: Group warn against use of unemployed as thugs

S the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election draws closer, a group of eminent sons and daughters of the state, Igbimo Ure Ekiti, has called for a very credible, transparent, fair and just, successful election. Berating the do-or-die politics of some politicians, the group warned members of the political class against use of the unemployed as thugs, ballot stuffers and snatchers before, during and after election. It, therefore, charged the political stakeholders, especially security operatives and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid being used by desperate politicians. The group made the call after a two-day advocacy tour, which began with a visit to the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Thereafter, members of the group visited the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu; Director of the State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Samuel Tamuno and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, during which they respectively prayed for a very peaceful transparent and credible. Those on the advocacy tour, according to a release signed by Aramide Tola Noibi, included the former Secretary of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Chairman, Chartered Standard Bank Ltd, Sir Remi Omotoso; former Registrar, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Chief Esan Ogunleye, to mention but a few.

NEWS

Oduoye, ex-MILAD of Niger, Ebonyi dies at 69 A

FORMER Military Administrator of Niger and Ebonyi States, Senator Simeon Olasunkanmi Oduoye, is dead. According to a family source, Oduoye aged 69, died at his GRA residence in Osogbo, Osun State on Friday evening.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Oduoye, who represented Osun Central senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2003 to 2007, ventured into politics after retiring in 1999 as an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

The late senator was born in Ikirun, the headquarters ofthe Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State. He contested the governorship primary election of the PDP in the state in 2003 but lost to Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who ruled the state from 2003 to November 2010. Confirming his father's

death, the eldest son, Mr. Kayode Oduoye, said his late father had been suffering from illness for some time. He further disclosed that the deceased, who was planning his 69th birthday celebration, died inside the bedroom at his Osogbo residence. He said the family would soon meet to take a decision on the burial.

‘Mischief makers behind my posters’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE Chief Whip of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olatunji Dairo, has pointed accusing fingers at some political opponents whom he described as 'mischief makers' as the brain behind the pasting of his posters in some towns and villages across Owo/Ose Federal Constituency. The lawmaker also debunked rumours that he was gunning for the House of Representatives seat of the federal constituency next year. He said the posters were the handiwork of his political rivals who are eyeing the seat he is presently occupying in the State Assembly. The Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Owo Constituency 11 in the House of Assembly told reporters in Akure, the State Capital on Friday that immediately his attention was drawn to the controversial posters, he informed the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who promised to unravel those behind it. He said, "I did not tell anybody that I am interested in the National Assembly seat; if I want to contest any election, I will not do it in secrecy.”

Haven Homes opens new show home

• From left: Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd), during the 2nd Oba Okunade Sijuwade Annual Leadership Lecture and Awards, where the First Lady bagged the Distinguished Award for Exemplary Leadership, in Ile-Ife... on Saturday

Mimiko advocates increase in corp members allowances

HE Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has called on the Federal Government through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Governing Council to increase Corp members' monthly allowance. The governor made this known when the NYSC Governing Council led by Alhaji

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Tijani Adekanbi paid him a courtesy visit in Akure, the state capital. Mimiko assured the council that the state would remain committed to the social welfare and security of the Corp members. He maintained that the state has been at the forefront of en-

hancing the objectives of the NYSC, particularly in its efforts at promoting national integration and youth development. Mimiko, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, pledged the readiness of the government to liaise with relevant government parastatals in order to prioritise the welfare and

security of the corp members in the state. Speaking earlier, the chairman, NYSC National Governing Council, Chief Gordon Bozimo, who was represented by the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Tijani Adekanmbi, lauded the state government for promptly releasing its subvention to support the Scheme.

Osun to issue circular on boards' duties

HE Osun State Government will soon issue a circular on specific duties and responsibilities of all the recently inaugurated Governing boards in the state. The commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, dropped the hint when members of the gov-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

erning Board of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) paid a courtesy visit to him in his office. Akere, who congratulated the board members on their appointments, implored them to justify the confidence reposed

in them by the state government. Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Governing Board of OSBC, Mr. Kola Akanji, expressed the appreciation of the Board to the commissioner for always being at their beck and call. He praised the state govern-

ment under the "dynamic leadership" of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the monumental transformation that has been recorded in all the arms of the broadcasting station. He assured that the board would not relent in complementing the Rauf Aregbesola's transformational drive.

Alaafin endorses son for House of Reps

HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Saturday endorsed his son, Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, for the House of Representatives in next year’s National Assembly Election. The endorsement came at the laying of foundation of Samu of Oyo’s palace located at Agunpopo area in Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State.

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

Prince Adeniyi is currently the Caretaker Chairman, Atiba Local Government. Alaafin, who berated past administrations in the local government for their insensitivity to the wellbeing of the people, said his son’s endorsement for the federal legislative seat was in tandem with voice of the people in the

constituency. The traditional ruler added, “The era of shirking responsibilities by those elected into offices has gone for good. Every serving and aspiring candidates into political offices will be subjected to thorough scrutiny by the peoples’ court. Whatever your verdict is not only acceptable, but binding on the Alaafin and the Oyo-Mesi. I

endorsed my son based on your (peoples’) demand.” The House of Representatives seat is currently occupied by Hon. Kamil Akinlabi, who is serving his second term. In his address, Prince Akeem Adeyemi thanked the people for their support and asked for their continued support to the state government.

‘Lagos committed to infrastructure upgrade in LASU’

HE Lagos State Government said it is d e v e l o p i n g infrastructure of the future that would last between 200 to 300 years to meet the challenges of the next century. The commissioner of

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Femi Hamzat, said this accounts for the time taken to build the substructure of the current infrastructure upgrade in the state.

He stated this over the weekend at a tour of duty that took him to the Lagos State University (LASU) where he inspected ongoing projects such as the Senate building, central library, lecture theatre, School of

Management Sciences and the Law library theatre. The other projects inspected include the Students’ Union building, auditorium, LASU radio, Lagos Homs and the International School.

AVEN Homes, a foremost luxury home builder is set to inaugurate an ultra-modern show home located in Lekki in Lagos. The new show home, exquisitely furnished by internationally renowned interior architects, Ledyvine, will open for viewing on March 29, 2014. The event will be graced by top government officials, members of the public and notable celebrities in the entertainment industry.

Immigration jobs death: Cleric calls for monetary compensation

N Islamic scholar has called on the President Goodluck Jonathan to give monetary compensation to the families of the victims of last weekend’s Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment fiasco. The Grand Mufti of Conference of Islamic Organisation (CIO), SheikhDhikrullahi Shafi’i, made the call at the 5th Conference of Imams and Scholars organised by the CIO at the University of Lagos main auditorium, Akoka, yesterday. The revered scholar said the option of giving automatic employment to three members of the family of each of the victims is inadequate. “In a country that the government is serious with governance, the president or any other concerned should resign from their position because of the incident,” Shafi’i said.”In fact, from Islamic perspective the members of the families of the victims should be compensated by paying blood money. The monetary equivalent of blood money for anybody killed unnecessarily is N36, 549,289 million. “

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

NEWS

70 million Nigerians lack safe water, says UNICEF From: Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

EARLY 70 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said at the weekend. The Chief of Water and Sanitation sector, UNICEF Nigeria, Mr. Kannan Nadar who was represented by Dr. Boluwaji Onalede WASH specialist, stated thus in Abuja at the 2014 World Water Day. She said a staggering 768 million people do not have access to safe drinking water worldwide, according to a joint report from UNICEF and the World Health Organisation(WHO) published in 2013. The report, according to her, placed Nigeria as the third country with most people without access to safe water. Onalede said with support from EU and UKAid, over 1.9 million people gained access to safe water in rural Nigeria in 2013 through its Water and Sanitation Hygiene school programme. The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, called for collaborations with stakeholders and agencies to tackle the challenges of access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Ochekpe, who was represented by the Director, Dam Operations Department in the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Adanu, said no nation can develop without adequate supply of water and energy. “We have over thirty dams in this country. The ministry of power conducted an engineering design of these dams. It is hoped that a total of about 147.60 mega watt will be generated from these dams,” the minister said.

2015: NYSC DG cautions corps members By Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

EMBERS of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that will serve as electoral officials in 2015 must resist inducements from politicians. NYSC’s Director-General Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, gave the warning yesterday in Bayelsa State. Olawumi, who paid an unscheduled visit to the temporary orientation camp at Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, said corps members would play crucial roles in the 2015 general elections. Addressing the 2014 Batch “A” corps members, he asked those who would be ad hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free and fair polls. He said INEC had promised to provide all needed logistics to enable corps members discharge their functions effectively. Addressing them, he said: “You are aware that some of you would be engaged by INEC as electoral officials. You are, therefore warned to reject any inducement from politicians. Do not allow yourselves to be used for any gains. “In all that you do, the national interest must come first. And I can assure you that INEC is going to provide all logistics that you need to carry out your services.”

Teachers shun Edo assessment test

ESS than 200 teachers in Edo public schools turned out yesterday to write the much-anticipated assessment test for primary and secondary school teachers. The test was conducted at the University of Benin, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. It was learnt that about 80 teachers wrote at UNIBEN, 14 wrote at AAU while 15 were present at Auchi Polytechnic. Accreditation for the examination commenced at 8am and the exams began at about 11:45am. Some teachers who did not participate in the examination were present. Those who spoke on condition of anonymity said they would have written the test if the National Industrial Court (NIC) had not issued a restraining order on the exercise. Some who came for the test said they wrote the test to save their jobs and because of their

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

families. A teacher said: “I came here to vindicate myself and prove the governor wrong. “We have so many qualified teachers. I expect to score 85%. The questions are what I have been giving students every day. “This is an assessment for learners. The questions were too low for teachers to handle. It was as if I was counting naira and kobo.” Counsel to Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASSUS), Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi, said it was sad that the government conducted the test even when a subsisting court yinjunction ruled otherwise. Afolabi said the court’s ruling was pasted on the walls of their government offices when officials were evading them. According to him: “The moment you fail to obey court order, it is contempt of court. “Edo state government is

not above the law. It is on record that a former AttorneyGeneral of this State went to prison because of contempt of Court order. “If they go ahead with the test, we will file contempt charges against the government of Edo state and we will jail them,” Afolabi said. Chairman of the Assessment Test Committee, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, declined interview with newsmen. Commissioner for Higher Education, Washington Osifo, insisted that the state government was not served any court injunction stopping it from conducting the test. The commissioner said the test was not punitive but to secure the future of the children. He explained that cameras were not allowed into the test venue so as not to harass the teachers. “Government is set to conduct the assessment test. Nobody will force anybody to do what is right. “The test is in the interest

of the teachers and Edo children. We are not aware of any restraining order stopping the test. “An attempt to get an order does not in itself translate to an order stopping the conduct of the test,” Osifo said. Ruling on a motion Ex-parte brought by Counsel to the secondary schools teachers, Olayiwola Afolabi, the National Industrial Court, presided over by Justice B. A. Adejumo, granted an interim order of injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, agents, servants or privies from conducting any competency test for the claimants/applicants pending the determination of the substantive suit. The Court also ordered that neither of the claimants/ applicants nor any of the defendants shall involve itself in any act of commission or omission that may lead to break down of law and order as a result of the subject matter contained in the Motion Ex-parte or Motion on Notice.

•L-R: The celebrator, Bishop Sunday Onuoha; National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; First Lady of Imo State, Mrs. Chinyere Okorocha; Abia State governor, Theodore Orji; wife of the celebrator, Rev. Mrs Ugonna Onuoha and Prelate of The Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Samuel Kanu at the 50th birthday thankgiving of Onuoha at the Methodist Theological Institute Mission hill, Umuahia... yesterday Photo: Ibeabuchi Abarikwu

Remove Moro, cleric tells Jonathan

HE General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Port Harcourt Rivers State, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has called for the immediate removal and prosecution of the Interior Minister, Abba Moro. He said the minister should be charged for accessory to the murder of Nigerian youths

By Sunday Oguntola

who died during the recruitment exercise of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) across the federation. Chinyere accused Moro of incompetence, wondering why a simple recruitment exercise could create so much stress and deaths for job

Soyinka, Anyaoku, others for debate on Nigeria

ROMINENT Nigerians would on March 26 discuss critical issues affecting the nation. Tagged the inaugural edition of the Public Service Debate organised by St. John’s Forum, the debate will be moderated by former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Speakers include Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; former External Affairs Minister, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN); Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and renowned Oxford University scholar, Dr. Abdu Raufu Mustapha. The theme of the debate,

By Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

which holds at Agip Hall Muson “Will Nigeria be better served by a parliamentary system of government?”

seekers. Chinyere, in a statement yesterday, said: “If the ministry and NIS did the needful, there wouldn’t have been so much deaths and pains for Nigerians. “The fact that the minister could not conduct a simple employment test shows he is incompetent and should be sent packing for immediate prosecution”. He appealed to the President to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate why Moro nullified the recent recruitment exercise conducted by former Controller General of the agency, Mrs. Rose Uzoma. The preacher also alleged that officers of the Immigration Service have been on stagnant

ranks for over 15years, with the outcomes of the promotion interviews they attended in August, November and December 2013, not released. He described acceptance of N1, 000 online payments from each of the applicants as fraudulent and an attempt to further impoverish jobless Nigerians. He wondered where the agency and the minister expect jobless Nigerians to have money to apply for jobs they knew were not available. Chinyere condemned the entire recruitment exercise as a death trap designed to fleece the army of unemployed Nigerian youths, insisting the minister should face the music for the action.

Workers protest cut of N91b from judicial budget From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) yesterday described the reduction of N91billion from the 2014 Appropriation Bill of the Judiciary as a ploy to underfund the arm and turn it into a toothless dog. It accused the executive arm of moving to weaken the judiciary that has vowed to improve the justice system in the country. JUSUN’s President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha, in a statement, said the cut portends grave dangers ahead of the 2015 general elections. The statement reads: “JUSUN calls on Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economic, Dr. Ngozi Nkonjo Iweala and the xxx of the BudDirector-General get Office, Dr. Bright Okogu to listen to the voice of reasoning by addressing the monumental reduction of budget of the judiciary from N159.8 billion to N68billion. “We also want to state that the continued non-compliance with the recent court order of the Federal High Court, Abuja as delivered on 13th January 2014 regarding sections 81(3), 121(3) and 162(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), by the relevant institutions, will spell doom and the union would not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony in the sector. “The union notes that its peaceful disposition to dialogue should not be taken for weakness as the union recently suspended its planned three days warning strike, following an understanding with Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu. “JUSUN appealed to well meaning Nigerians including, the traditional rulers to prevail on the Federal Government, with a view to saving the Justice system in Nigeria”.

Discovery for men holds today

UNDREDS of men will today gather by 4pm at Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos for another edition of Discovery for men. Participants at the interdenominational programme men would be taught practical wisdom for tackling daunting challenges and pressing personal difficulties in these times. The theme of the outreach is Time for exploits Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, the visioner, will be ministering while fast-rising gospel act, Kenny K’ore, will inspire men with music at the event.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23 2014

•Jonathan

•Boro

• Crowd of applicants at the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment in Abuja

UNEMPLOYMENT TRAGEDY

The people's rage

ROM the National Assembly in Abuja, to the remotest communities North and South of Nigeria, the people's anger cannot be hidden. "Abba Boro must go." Institute a detailed probe of the recruitment killings." "Jonathan must explain why his government would kill desperate job seekers." "Immigration must fish out the killers for prosecution." "Pay adequate compensation for the dead and the injured." "Government must provide jobs for our youths, our jobless fathers and mothers." "Resign if you can't create jobs....." The rage continues even as various groups take to the streets to express their anger. In his first reaction to the national tragedy, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Federal Executive Council meeting, directed immediate cancellation of the recruitment exercise. He set up a committee, headed by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mrs Joan Ayo, to conduct the employment test for the existing vacancies in the Nigeria Immigration Service. The President also directed that families of the dead would be given "automatic slots for three applicants, one of whom must be a woman," adding that "henceforth, ministers and heads of government agencies, where any death is recorded in the course of recruitment exercise, would be tried for culpable homicide." Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, articulating Jonathan's position said: "He instructed all MDAs never to

One week after the Immigration job recruitment tragedy of Saturday, March 15, 2013, in which 19 applicants died and many others were injured, the federal government's failure to explain its inability to fix unemployment problem has continued to fuel the anger of Nigerians. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, presents the people's rage. embark on exercises of this nature in recruiting people into the public service because what happened could have been avoided.” The people's rage Instead of placating angry Nigerians, government's reactions, including the buck-passing gimmicks by top officials of the Ministry of Interior and Nigerian Immigration Services to evade blames and Mr President's offers to victims, rather fuelled the fire of protests and condemnation. For example, within the week, four persons, Charles Ugwuonye, Friday Danlami, Chinedu Onwuka and Samson Ojo, acting for themselves and as representatives of the applicants to Nigeria Immigration Service 2014 recruitment exercise, dragged the federal government, minister of interior, Abba Moro, NIS Comptroller-General, David Parradang, and others before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over tragic

exercise. They are praying the court to declare that the conduct or the execution of the recruitment exercise was illegal, unwarranted, and in violation of the applicants' fundamental rights to life. They also want the court to order the respondents to refund the recruitment money back to the applicants, pay the sum of N1m to each applicant and N50m to the families of deceased applicants as general damages. Both the Senate and House of Representatives lawmakers were not left out. The two houses separately devoted their plenary sessions lastTuesday to deliberate on the tragedy. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, who moved the motion on the floor of the Senate along with 10 other Senators recalled that as far back as 2011, the office of the Head of Service of the Federation granted approval

for the recruitment of a total of 4,556 personnel of various cadre for the Nigeria Immigration Service ranging from Assistant Superintendent 1&2 to Immigration Assistant 111 but that it took the paramilitary outfit three years before coming out with an open attempt to utilize the approval which however ended in national calamity. Other Senators, who spoke after him demanded the sack of the Interior Minister, Abba Moro and the Comptroller-General (CG) of Nigerian Immigration Service, David Parradang. For example, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central ) said "Politicians in the country across party lines should start preparing to run for cover on account of looming revolution in the land to be carried out by the large army of unemployed youths or graduates in the country as clearly shown with the mammoth crowd of unemployed Nigerians who besieged

NIS recruitment centres nationwide" Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP Enugu North) said the tragedies could have been easily averted if those saddled with the responsibilities did what were expected of them. Other organisations, groups and individual Nigerians have either staged protests or voiced out their anger. While the Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions ( NASU), for example, called on Jonathan to sack the interior minister, Abba Moro and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it had commenced investigation into the tragedy. Moro's case is not helped by the revelation that he acted without the support of the relevant board. During the week, Board of the Immigration Service, National Security and Civil Defence, Prisons and Fire Service Board, came out to indict him, alleging that the Board was sidelined. A member of the Immigration Board, Mr S. D. Tapgun, said,"only the Interior Minister and the consultant he engaged for the exercise can tell Nigerians exactly what happened. "Even the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service was not involved, he was not part of the recruitment at all, there was no Board resolution to recruit anybody. * Contd on page 10-11

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

NEWS REVIEW

UNEMPLOYMENT TRAGEDY Lagos lawyer, Fred Agbaje, in this interview with Gboyega Alaka carpets Nigeria's elite for deceiving the people and calls on Nigerian youths to come together and start asking questions.

HE recent immigration recruitment exercise confirmed the fear of Nigerians that unemployment has indeed reached an alarming rate in the country, do you think the government has been deliberately deceiving Nigerians? One regrettable characteristic of democratic governance in Africa and the West African sub-region in particular is political deceit, where leaders lie to the people from both sides of the mouth. It means the government is deceptive and that is why the people don't have trust in their leaders. It is in this part of the world that local government councillors and chairmen will go about their wards making empty promises just to get votes and once they get elected, they begin to go about in tinted glasses, such that you no longer have access to them. It is a pity how we have got to this level, but the truth is that our rulers have no respect for truth in governance. What we have is political demagogy and dishonesty. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been in government almost as long as this democracy, yet she cannot tell the simple truth about our situation. And then the fact that the Central Bank Governor, Lamido-Sanusi has been kicked out means Nigerians are worse off for it. There is nobody else to tell us the truth. If they cannot create jobs, then they should at least not create death. What we witnessed penultimate Saturday was absolutely immoral. The people expect security and welfare from them, not death. Enough of the shenanigan! The Immigration recruitment exercise was a tragicomedy; but it opened our eyes to the reality of our situation. Don't forget that it is this same Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment that claimed Nigerian lives a few years back. It's been said that a people is as well-off as the government they're willing to tolerate; what's your take on this? I agree with you in totality. Nigerians are too politically docile. We don't want to die; we worry too much about my father, my mother, my wife, my childâ&#x20AC;Ś. Look at South Africa. Look at how they fought the apartheid white rulers to a

Nigerian youths need to start asking questions - Agbaje standstill. They never gave up despite the harvest of deaths. Look at the scenario that unfolded in the Ukraine just recently; look at the Arab Spring. A governor recently said that Nigerians don't ask questions, and he's right. We have to start asking questions and fighting for our rights. The civil liberty organisations should call out the people and demand explanations. The caliber of people we have in government today are not voted for, so you cannot expect them to be accountable unless you force them. The All Progressives Congress (APC) roadmap is clearly focusing on solving the unemployment situation; does this portend any hope for Nigerians? While not holding brief for APC, I think they seem to have a better understanding of the problem at hand. However that is not to say that they will automatically win the election. They

â&#x20AC;˘Agbaje must present the right candidate first and foremost or lose out. As it is, what do you think the youths can do to rescue the situation? I think they should mobilize themselves, form associations and work towards a better future. The reality on ground is that they need to take their destiny in their hands. Look at the confab that is currently unfolding in Abuja; look at the manner of people they have assembled to deliberate on Nigeria's future. Are we in a gerontocracy? The same old people who have wrecked the economic ship of the nation have been assembled yet again. What manner result can we expect from them? I think the youths should come out and fight the old cargoes. They should use the immigration tragedy as a standpoint and shine their eyes like they say

APC's roadmap to the rescue Even as the mammoth army of unemployed youths hit us , many youths have cited the APC roadmap promise of one year allowance to unemployed corps members as a welcome idea. They shared their thoughts with Gboyega Alaka.

â&#x20AC;˘Akande, APC National Chairman

S part of its plans to effectively push the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the cleaners and take over control of power at the federal level, the All Progressives Congress (APC) early in the month unveiled its 10-point roadmap. It promised amongst other things, 20, 000 jobs per state immediately it assumes office for people with minimum qualification of secondary school leaving certificate and who have participated in technology and vocational training; direct conditional monthly cash transfers of N5,000 to the 25million poorest and most vulnerable citizens; provide allowances to discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for 12 months while they seek jobs or acquire training and skills for job placement or entrepreneurship; establish plants for the assembly and ultimately the manufacture of phones, tablets, computers and other devices, and pay a guaranteed indexed-linked price to farmers to ensure that there is always a ready market for their produce. These, it figured, will create more jobs, agricultural-related employment and sustain existing jobs. It also promised to deal decisively with corruption, create a vibrant economy, where jobs and opportunities are more readily available and strengthen legal provisions to prevent stay of proceedings and other delays in corruption trials. It thus appeared clearly even before the disaster of Saturday March 15 that the APC fully recognised Nigeria's biggest problem - unemployment, and is therefore poised to attack it firing from all cylinders. Many unemployed youths, who have since come to the realisation that it may after-all be foolhardy to continue waiting for job largesse from the federal or even state governments, have begun to think of self-employment. But a good number of them have rightly lamented a lack of access to funds of any kind, citing it as another stumbling block in their resolve towards the actualisation of their entrepreneurial dreams. It is on the backdrop of this that a good number of them see the new APC roadmap, promising one year allowance to unemployed

graduates, as a major relief and a welcome idea. They figure that if indeed the APC would make good its promise and pay the money in bulk to the fresh NYSC graduates, then many of them, who already have business ideas or vocational skills would not suffer the usual problem of lack of initial capital. Besides, they argue that horrors, such as the one the country witnessed on March 15, 2004, would never have arisen. According to Seun Benjamin, a Political Science graduate of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, if he had access to that kind of money, his business of clothes distribution, which he once went into right after school would have blossomed. He figures that one full year of his NYSC allowance, if given to him in bulk, would have amounted to around N240,000, which was more than enough to pursue a business like that. He added that this was one business he would have taken more seriously because while he engaged in it as a mere commissioned distributor, he made stipends that sustained him and that would have really grown, had he the means to purchase the clothes independently and sell at his own prices. Somehow, he fell out with the producers of the clothing line and he is now unemployed and scrapping a living, three years after youth service. Benjamin was also at the Lagos National Stadium Immigration Service recruitment exercise and laments that he escaped being trampled upon by 'God's grace.' "Except you were at the stadium, you really will not understand. Aside the pictures you saw on television, almost half of that number still languished in the sun outside, hoping to get into the stadium. I can tell you that it is the desperation of people to just give it their all that gave vent to the catastrophe that ensued. Right beside me, a lady fainted, and we all had to be fanning and dowsing her with water. It was indeed a terrible sight and the applicants should have been warned not to attend if they were not strong physically, as it was an exercise for the fittest." Benjamin agreed that some of those who came to the interview do have some kind of job or the other, but he asked almost rhetorically that "What kind of job will pay a graduate N25,000? Is that why they went to the university? Why wouldn't they try for a better job that also has security and pension? Johnson Peter graduated from the Lagos State Polytechnic almost a decade ago. After years of fruitless job hunt, he worked briefly with a Lebanese car tyre distributing company as a freelance marketer. As has become the case, the poor condition of service was suffocating and he had to quit. But that was not before he had built a network of clientele for whom he could regularly supply the products. The problem, he however lamented, has been lack of funds. To Peter, the kind of bulk money the APC is promising unemployed fresh corps members would certainly have gone a long way, even

as he admits that it will be a far cry from the kind of money he really needs for his business. "It is good money, depending on the kind of business you're into." Peter began. "Although it is a bit too low for my kind of business, I would nevertheless have appreciated and collected it, especially because I do a cash and carry business." Peter also lamented the Immigration recruitment disaster, saying that a programme such as the one APC is promising would have helped several of those youths who went to suffer at the various stadia. According to Peter, the Immigration Service recruitment disaster also pulled the rug off the feet of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) that have for long regaled Nigerians with 'impressive' figures of jobs it has created in the last three years of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He contended that the news that over 6million youths initially applied for that exercise, out of which a whopping 520,000 was shortlisted for a recruitment exercise of just 4,500 was therefore a volte face and an embarrassment to the government of the day. The situation has also got many more Nigerians thinking. The mammoth crowd definitely speaks of a very despondent situation, except something drastic is done. It might just be time to try the alternative, many of them have reasoned, especially since the opposition is promising so much in that direction. For Ayisat Adeyinka, who graduated from the University of Lagos about five years ago, such money would always go a long way in resettling freshly discharged corps members, since the days after NYSC have been known to be really tough. As an orphan, who struggled through school and had nobody to cater for her, she confessed that such allowances would have helped. Being a young lady, she also contends that there are so many things she could have done with the money. Of course she agrees that many would most likely squander it on the fast lane; but say people like her, who have experienced the harsh realities of life, would never have been so carefree. Adeyinka also says it is high time Nigerian government come out with welfarist packages. "Everyday, we hear of billions of dollars disappearing. These surely are moneys that could have taken care of the Nigerian youths. Our government should begin to invest in the future. The kind of money they invest on paying oil marketers as subsidies, could surely have built us refineries over and over, which would surely have provided jobs. What has happened to young oil thieves of 2012? What is happening to the missing N20billion, or the Abacha loots? Surely, a fraction of these moneys could have gone into such welfare packages as the APC is promising. I only hope that even they will make good their promise if voted next year."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

NEWS REVIEW

UNEMPLOYMENT TRAGEDY

Blame govt policy for unemployment -Nweze O

N Saturday March 15, 2014, about 18 people died in the Nigeria Immigration Recruitment stampede across the country, when over 700,000 job seekers struggled for placement for 4,556 available jobs . This is the most recent confirmation of the depth of unemployment problem in Nigeria. What is the solution to unemployment in Nigeria? Before answering your question directly, I want to say, as the President of the Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN), that what happened that day could have been avoided, if the recruitment exercise was done with any iota of professionalism. Yes, the job of recruiting for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) was outsourced but the consultant they gave the job to is neither a member of the Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria nor that of any other relevant professional body we are aware of. Having said that, I think the problem of unemployment in Nigeria is all about bad governance. There is no way the kind of crisis we are having can happen without the fundamentals. Nigeria has been very unfortunate to be saddled with bad leaders. What is happening is that over the years, there has been no viable strategy to tackle unemployment problem in Nigeria. And how do you tackle unemployment challenges? By building industries; building capacity so as to absolve young graduates and other job seekers. Are you saying Nigerian governments have not been making efforts in that direction? In that direction, governments have been establishing specialised agencies, bodies and projects like SURE-P, etc? Government cannot create jobs that will solve unemployment problem in a country like Nigeria. That is why you see some state governments employing thousands of people as governor's aides. It's all a joke. As for projects like SURE-P or whatever you call them, they should simply be scrapped. SURE-P is creating problems. You don't have to create problem to solve problem. Even the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not helping matters. CBN under Sanusi made policies that encouraged importation instead of industrialisation. That is the root of the problem. To solve unemployment problem in Nigeria, government should encourage local production and not importation as CBN under Sanusi did. Is it just Sanusi's CBN that caused the present unemployment problem in Nigeria? Do you know it's cheaper today to import goods than to manufacture them here? They all work together and it is Sanusi, as CBN governor, that managed the exchange rate. At the interest rate of 12 percent, how can an industrialist survive? How? Many viable

Dr. Austin Nweze, a political economist with Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, is the President of Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN). In this interview, he told Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, that government policy on manufacturing is responsible for soaring unemployment situation in Nigeria. Excerpts industries have closed down. Look, the cost of funds for banks is about 20 percent before they start lending. Given that foreign competitors get cheap funds to invest in production, most local manufacturers cannot survive the competition. So, they close down and the end result is that there are no jobs anywhere. But the Immigration recruitment tragedy happened because government wanted to solve unemployment problem. What would you have recommended as the solution? Outsourcing. There is the need to make Nigeria the outsourcing hub for Africa. Government should concentrate on providing infrastructure and leave the task of recruitment to professionals. I mean, what is the immediate solution to the problem of unemployment in Nigeria and not just the solution to the task of recruitment? The immediate thing to do is to encourage local and domestic entrepreneurship. Government should make deliberate policies that will encourage her people to invest energy, resources and time on manufacturing. For example, it is clear that once you knock down interest rate and make sure that our borders are well policed to stop smuggling of cheap inferior goods, local manufacturing will pick up and local demand will also increase. Right now, government has been making conflicting policies. A recent example is the report that government created a situation that enabled local investment of over N2billion for the production of electricity metre in Nigeria, thereafter, the same government threw it open. How can you do such a thing? It amounts to creating contrary policies. Also our policy makers always talk about waivers. Let us forget these waivers and think of how to encourage local production of goods for that is what will help solve the unemployment problem and save our people from this type of tragedies.

â&#x20AC;˘Nweje You said at the beginning of this discussion that the Immigration recruitment tragedy should have been outsourced to a professional to avoid the blunder. But the exercise was actually outsourced to a company. What are the specific things the company did wrongly, which resulted to this tragedy? First, you don't invite such number of applicants to a stadium to do aptitude test. No! You should anticipate a stampede. We are in an age of technology. Given the circumstance, given the large number of applicants, you should first of all screen online. Our members have done such recruitment exercises for organisations like CBN, etc. In this 21st century, you don't recruit like this. A professional should do that job. But Mr. President has already set up a committee to handle it? Are you not satisfied with that arrangement? The President should not go into this kind of a thing. Setting up such a committee is not the solution to this problem. The members of that committee, what do they know about recruitment? Are they professionals in that field? The answer is no! So, that effort is a waste. It will not work. There will be biases and his kind of recruitment should not be done that way. If I were Mr President, I won't set up such a committee. I will give in out to professionals.

Paying to serve As Nigerians continue to vent anger on the process adopted by Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) recruitment exercise, Joe Agbro Jr. reports on criticisms against demand to pay for recruitment forms.

S The people's rage * Contd from page 9 Human rights activists across the country, human resources experts and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), amongst others also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the consultant that handled the recruitment exercise. Unemployment as a nightmare Since late 1980s unemployment problem has remained a nightmare for various governments in Nigeria. Wherever there exist any hint that a company or an agency may have some vacant positions to fill, hundreds of unemployed Nigerians would flood the vicinity, blocking adjoining streets. This is even as ban placed on employment in many government ministries and agencies remain intact. To solve the riddle, several governments have toyed with many ideas. Starting from the then military government of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who floated a youth employment scheme which it tagged. "Operation Feed the Nation' (OFN), other efforts include National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), National Directorate of Employment among others. But experts, who have reviewed the activities of these agencies dismiss them as waste of time and resources. Dr. Austin Nweze, a political economist with Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, is the President of Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria (AOPN), told the nation that most such organisations should be scrapped as they have failed to stop rising unemployment. Over the years, unemployment rate has continued to rise, notwistanding the billions of Naira allegedly invested in such efforts. For example, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in December said that 54 per cent of Nigerian youths were unemployed in 2012. This was contained in the "2012 National Baseline Youth Survey Report'' issued in Abuja by the NBS in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youths Development. By October 2013, the National Population Commission confirmed that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria rose from 21.1 per cent in 2010 to 23.9 per cent in 2011. In reality, the picture is more bleak as idle youths in millions continue to loiter around the streets.

ATURDAY March 15, 2014 will remain a bad day for friends and families of the 19 victims who died during the nationwide recruitment exercise conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) across the country. While a segment of people from the population have complained about modalities used to examine the intending recruits, others are wondering why applicants have to 'buy' entrance forms to be recruited into public service? Already, many of the applicants, who have sued the government over the tragic experience are demanding for a refund of the monies expended, plus other claims.They contend that in many countries of the world, a jobless citizen do not have to pay in order to be given a chance to serve the country. And even in Nigeria, paying to serve one's country has not always been the case. "In my time, we did not pay any money," said Mrs. Bilikisu Affinih, a retired police officer who enlisted in the Nigeria Police in October 1967. "We were just selected to serve, after considering the applicant's height, chest, and whether someone had K-legs (knocked knees) or bow legs." According to Affinih, it was the same scenario for joining the Army and Navy at that time. "I also attended the Army recruitment at Marine Beach, Apapa. It was the same. Nobody was asked to pay any money." Reacting to the victims who lost their lives, Affinih, said things are deteriorating in the country. "In our time, we used to get free uniforms, shoes, and everything we need," she said. "Uniforms would have been sewn and everybody would pick his own according to his or her size. Nobody used to buy uniforms. I don't know where Nigeria is going to." The reality is that in recent times, various military and paramilitary institutions in the country have in one way or the other sold forms to intending recruits. It is not only Nigeria Immigration

â&#x20AC;˘Immigration applicants paid to serve

Service that is affected. Also affected are the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy, and Nigeria Air Force. Others include the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs, as well as some others. Seeing the large turnout, relative to the spaces requiring to be filled, it becomes imperative to question not only the mode of recruitment but also the fact that applicants paid fees to be able to serve their country. A Navy Rating who recently joined the Navy also said he paid to procure, a development he said wasn't the norm. "I didn't think it was right to pay for form," he said. "But that is the situation." And on a recruitment portion of a website of Nigeria Navy recruitment, www.joinnigeriannavy.com, under the information section is a notice which bluntly says, 'Application fee is two thousand, five hundred Naira (N2, 500) only.' An applicant, Azeez Olajumoke, four years ago, had applied to join the Nigerian Army. Asked to buy a scratch card for N2, 000 so as to be able to access the internet portal to register, Olajumoke approached a bank. But instead, he had N3, 000 deducted from his bank account. "We were told to wait to hear from a selection board," Olajumoke said. "But I never heard anything and my money just went like that." According to reports, over 500, 000 applicants had paid N1, 000 each to designated banks as application form. But according to Mr. S. D. Tapgun, a Commissioner on the Board of Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Prisons and Fire Service, the board did not approve the recruitment exercise. Tapgun said a consultant, Rexel Technical Global Nigeria Limited, fixed the N1, 000 fee, which it claimed was administrative charges. A lawyer, Onyekachi Monday Ubani, the current chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Lagos State, said the practice of collecting fees for employment is " absolutely illegal" and similar to "organised crime against the citizens." Saying government has a duty to employ its citizens, Ubani, reacting to the deaths recorded during the recruitment exercise by the NIS, said, "It becomes criminal for you to collect N1, 000 from hapless citizens. If they (NIS) choose to use consultants, there should not be any fee (on the part of the applicants." While commending President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to cancel the tests and refund the application fee paid to all the applicants, Ubani however advocated that the compensation be raised. "The victims' family should be given N100m each, the minister (of Internal Affairs) should be sacked, and everyone responsible for causing their (victims) death should be prosecuted." In some western countries, joining the public service does not attract any form of fee on the part of applicants. For instance, in the United States, enlistment into the army does not attract any fee. Same is the case with enlisting process of the Royal Air Force in England.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Ropo Sekoni

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Immigration of death tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

Nigeria’s govt gives death for jobs

URS must indeed be a country of taught nothing, learnt nothing people. Otherwise, we would not have lost the 19 youths, including pregnant women and their unborn babies that died in their desperate search for jobs on March 15. It is bewildering that a recruitment exercise would turn to such a blood-sucking demon that would consume three pregnant women in Benin, eight applicants made up of six women and two men in Abuja, three in Minna and five in Port Harcourt. We would see that we were taught nothing and so learnt nothing when we realise that no fewer than 20 people died in various states of the federation during a similar exercise conducted by the same Ministry of Interior, for Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Customs Service, in 2008. In the 2014 episode, some of the applicants were flogged by security men brought in to control the crowd that turned up for the exercise. So, what is the difference between people looking for what to eat in the country and those who, out of desperation, get killed in their bid to get to some foreign countries where they believe their lives could be bettered? The NIS tragedy merely tells us how much we value lives in Nigeria. Indeed, if what happened here had happened in some other countries where the level of social consciousness is high, the story would have been different. By now, interior minister Abba Moro would have become a former minister because even the government would be struggling to extricate itself from the mess. So, there won’t be any question of the minister having the audacity to say he won’t resign. If he failed to do the needful, the government would have done something about him so that something would not do the government itself. But Nigeria’s leaders are so contemptuous of the people because they know Nigerians, as the happiest people on earth that they are said to be, will tolerate anything. That is why state governments would have the temerity to suggest that fuel subsidy should be removed without fearing any backlash. And that is why the Federal Government itself would accept the suggestion hook, line and sinker, because it agrees with its own plan for the people. Now, less than a week after the incident, President Goodluck Jonathan jetted out of the country to Namibia. Many of us would be wondering why this should be so. Well, may be the president has seen the frequency of these sad occurrences and has made up his mind not to be distracted by them because, at the rate at which people are dying needlessly in the country, the president would do nothing if he decides that flags must fly at half mast with every occurrence. Anyway, he did not travel out without leaving comforting words for the victims’ families as well as the injured. While three family members of the former were offered three job slots, the latter would get automatic employment. But it is only a matter of time , there

•Moro

would soon be infighting among some of the relations; whether the beneficiary should be the wife, husband or the younger or older ones of the deceased, etc. Unemployment is such a serious issue in the country that there would be a series of family meetings to resolve who should take the benefit of the deceased in some cases, with people who were sworn enemies of the dead now coming forward as the closest to them in their lifetime. The government’s gesture is tokenism, at best. But, because our leaders have always known us to be minimalists, they throw such things at us and we also accept so appreciatively. I won’t be surprised if people from the towns and states where the beneficiaries come from start praising the government for its kind gesture, perhaps taking advert space in the media to express their profound gratitude. Yet, everything about the tragedy encapsulates the Nigerian situation. It captures the way we are; from corruption in government to its ineptitude, and then to the people’s legendary docility. Why would 520,000 job seekers be running after 4,556 openings? The answer is simple: because government has not done the necessary things to expand the economy. Even Minister Moro’s statement on Wednesday that more people than expected came for the NIS interview because they learnt they could be posted out to other countries and be pensionable, leading inexorably to the uncontrollability of the crowd was still an indictment of the government. Why are Nigerians always anxious to leave the country at the slightest opportunity, after all, it has not always been like that? It is because the government has refused to make not just the business environment, but also the general environment, conducive. It is so harsh in here; you don’t have light; you don’t have water; the roads are bad; there are no jobs. In fact, nothing works here; and astonishingly so in a country where people still scramble for power despite the fact that we regard many people in government as thieves. Even the Minister of Finance and

“ Indeed, if what happened here had happened in some other countries where the level of social consciousness is high, the story would have been different. By now, interior minister Abba Moro would have become a former minister because even the government would be struggling to extricate itself from the mess … If he failed to do the needful, the government would have done something about him so that something would not do the government itself”

Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was employed to redirect the economy appears so clueless as to the way out of our quagmire that she submitted that we must be under some resource curse. May be the minister is right, otherwise, why would government become Agbalowomeri (someone who takes from the have-nots)? How on earth can government ask people looking for jobs to pay to get jobs? It is the same syndrome that is driving the so-called removal of fuel subsidy. Government has become a gaming machine and no amount of money is enough to satisfy it. Now, instead of the minister accepting responsibility and throwing in the towel, he has been blaming everyone else but himself for the calamity. He blamed the police, the doctors, teachers, bankers, etc. for the stampede that led to the applicants’ deaths, in spite of the fact that the Board of Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Prisons and Fire Service claimed that he sidelined it in the tragic exercise. So, it was his sole show. Therefore, he should carry the can now that things have gone awry. And that, it seems, is what he dislikes. Perhaps the sad aspect of it all is that it is not unlikely that NIS had already known those it would employ; yet, it wanted to give the impression that the recruitment was transparent. If that is the case, it is almost certain that those to be taken would not have been in any of the centres as their letters of employment would be taken to them at home, courtesy of their parents who know somebody who is somebody that also knows somebody either in the bedroom of power or at its corridors. So, we might just have wasted those youths who died in the false hope that they were going for a transparent recruitment exercise. As usual, there would be probes into the disaster; but we need not live by probes that bear no fruit alone. Let those with the locus standi take the matter to court. They should sue the hell out of the government. If anything, government itself would know that important appointments should go to people who are capable only and not just as job for the boys. We cannot just bemoan our plight each time we suffer this kind of fate. The best way to make people learn is by making them pay for their negligence or incompetence, especially when it involves loss of lives. We must grow; and we cannot grow when people lose their loved ones in these avoidable circumstances and they are only left to mourn and grief alone or get rewarded with tokenism. Yes, the dead cannot be brought back to life; but the lesson would have been taught and learnt that people must be up and doing in their respective official capacities. We also need to know into which account the about N520million that was collected from the applicants was paid. I hope you are not beginning to have my kind of fears as to why the government is yet undecided on sacking the minister? As I have always said, ‘to a carpenter, every tool looks like a nail’; in the same vein, to most of our politicians these days, every money looks like campaign fund.

Moro’s untenable defence

ENULTIMATE Saturday’s avoidable death of about 19 job seekers during the recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is yet another sad commentary on the state of our nation. What should have been just another routine recruitment has turned out to be another national tragedy that has further damaged what is left of our image in the international community. How can the NIS justify organising such a massive exercise without making necessary arrangements to prevent the kind of stampede witnessed in all the centres nationwide during which many applicants were also wounded. With the number of applicants, it should have been apparent to the NIS that other options should have been considered to conduct the exercise. There was just no way a hitch-free recruitment test would have been conducted with the crowd of applicants that turned out for the exercise. Even though NIS claimed that some of the applicants were not invited for the interview, there is sufficient indication that the pre-test screening was not thorough enough. More applicants should have been screened out by raising the qualification requirements to reduce the number of those who should have come for the test. Even if the number of those qualified was still high, the recruitment should have been in phases to accommodate a manageable number in the various centres at a time. I find it difficult to accept the excuses offered by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro and the NIS. They should count themselves lucky that we have a president who is ready to accept any lame excuse for a shoddy performance instead of penalising them for not living up to expectations. Normally, the Minister and the Comptroller of the NIS should have resigned considering the tragic outcome of the exercise instead of passing the buck for what they should have envisaged. Just as in other instances of shoddy handling of official assignments, Moro and the Comptroller are getting away without being penalised. Despite the public outcry over the unfortunate incident and the demand for the sacking of those responsible for bungling the recruitment, the president has not responded in a way that is commensurate with the magnitude of the casualty recorded. We didn’t need this kind of tragedy before the federal ministries and agencies would be directed not to conduct the kind of exercise NIS did. With the level of technology we have access to in the country, the NIS test could have been conducted without having the mammoth crowd we had at the centres nationwide. What the NIS has confirmed is that many government organisations are either not in tune with modern ways of doing things or that they prefer to stick to old options for reasons best known to them at the expense of the country. As many have noted, the large number of applicants for the NIS job is an indication of how bad the level of unemployment is in the country. Why would so many applicants, including those who were not invited, turn up for the NIS test if not for the desperation of many graduates to get jobs? While the number of higher institutions and other training institutions keep increasing, vacancies have been declining. The unemployment situation in the country has to be urgently addressed by not only the creation of more job opportunities by the government and the private sector, but provision of a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to thrive. It is bad enough that graduates are unable to find jobs years after graduation and have to roam the streets in search of anything they can do, but to subject them to the kind of treatment NIS gave them is not acceptable.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

COMMENT

On the wind of change in education from the north That northern leaders from various political parties are now convinced that progress in the north depends on the level of literacy in the region is good news for the whole country

HOSE who criticise the propensity of Nigerians to have faith in miracles do not seem to understand the metaphysics of change. Change sometimes comes in the manner of miracles, without any visible connection to logic. At a time that a section of the north is killing innocent citizens in the belief that education is sin, major leaders from the north are creating revolutionary ideas about education in response to the logic of lack, lack prolongation, and lack liquidation. Perhaps, the age of Nigeria’s miracles has arrived, even before delegates start sitting to create constitutional change in Abuja. Although the quality of education has declined considerably in all parts of the country, the number of children in schools and colleges in most of the north has remained small in relation to the south, despite several attempts to redress the imbalance over the years. The low enrollment across levels of education has not resulted from Boko Haram’s Education is Sin philosophy. Long before the grandparents of Boko Haram adherents were born, the gap between school enrollment in the north and in the south was very wide. It was so wide in the 1970s that the federal military government designated most states in the northern part of the country as educationally backward or disadvantaged. Only two states: Rivers and Lagos were in this category from the south at that time. These two states outgrew their disadvantage, simply because their leaders took deliberate decisions to redress educational imbalance as the only way to participate in the culture of modernity. But most states in the north have remained disadvantaged even four decades after the federal government created several affirmative action programmes to change the culture of education in the region. Schools of basic studies were started in the region, to prepare students

for tertiary education. Nomadic education was established by the federal government to give education to itinerant animal farmers. Joint Admission and Matriculation Board was created to control admission to federal universities, with a view to ensure a level playing field for candidates from the north and the south. Up till today, JAMB has different levels of scores for college admissionfor citizens from the north and the south, all in an effort at educational equalisation between the two regions. More recently, the federal government also initiated a new version of nomadic education, called Almajiri education. But none of these affirmative action programmes seems to have worked well to induce the culture of modernity in the north, in relation to the rest of the country. All the time that the federal government devoted huge resources to affirmative action, northern leaders did not show as much enthusiasm about changing the mindset of citizens and improving facilities for learning as the federal government did. The result is the widening gap between the two sections of the country even fifty years after independence. That northern leaders from various political parties are now convinced that progress in the north depends on the level of literacy in the region is good news for the whole country. Once all the states are on the same page on the relationship between literacy and development, the entire country will be on its way to solving most of the other problems that militate against peace and progress in the fledgling federation. New ideas about how to position the north favorably for development are now coming from within the region, without any stimulation from the omnipotent federal government that often confuses creating bureaucracies with providing education. The good thing about the new ideas from northern leaders is that they can also help the south to come to grips with changing demands for modernisation and globalisation. For example, nothing captures the theme of education in a federation better than Nuhu Ribadu’s advice: “As part of a federal

system, the north can legitimately articulate its own philosophy and tools for development to achieve whatever agenda is for the north….In this journey we are making, we have to continue to evaluate and from time to time, shake up or shake off practices, norms, and dogmas that hinder our progress.” Another seismic change in worldview or ideology is captured by Atiku Abubakar’s recent suggestion: “We cannot significantly improve education in this country if we continue with the current overly centralised system with suffocating federal control….Federal schools should be handed over to the states in which they are locatedand the budgetary resources hitherto expended on them transferred to those state governments. In addition to decentralisation and geographical diversification we must also diversify our curriculum and educational programmes. The one-size-fits-all approach will not help us.” Just like Ribadu, Atiku is responding creatively to the realities of the north in particular while also pointing to the way out of the educational decline that has affected the whole country in the last four decades, particularly since federal government’s take-over of commanding heights of education during the era of military rule. Still on the theme of miracles happening when the time is ripe, the Northern Governors Forum put the icing on the cake when it announced the group’s intention, shortly before going on an investment drive in the United States last week, to take the matter of education into the hands of the rulers of the north. To show that the governors are ready to use home-spun methods to increase school enrollment and retention, they have, without apology, decided to re-establish two-year teacher training colleges that the federal government had abolished nationwide, to abolish school fees for secondary school students; and to re-establish schools of basic studies to prepare school leavers in the region for university admission. These ideas from the north should be of interest to politicians from the south as well.

They are likely to be as useful to the south as they are to the north. Northern political leaders have, in the statements quoted earlier, set the tone for re-federalisation of education in the country. They have come to grips with major issues in the design of education provision. First, major northern leaders have recognised the umbilical cord between literacy and development. Second, they have acknowledged the relationship between culture and education. Third, the leaders have come to realise that federal bureaucracies cannot develop education effectively in a federal system. Fourth, they are ready to do whatever is necessary internally to solve a problem that is largely internal to the region. The unintended consequence of this paradigm shift in the north is the groundwork it has done indirectly for delegates at the national conference. By recognising the failure in centralisation of education, especially the stifling of innovation caused by an “overly centralised curriculum,” to borrow Atiku’s vocabulary, northern political leaders are signalling to their southern counterparts that they are ready for far-reaching decentralisation in the provision of education in the country. National conference delegates need to congratulate themselves for having the advantage of starting the conference on a note of consensus on a major area of revenue and responsibility allocation. Just as Femi Folorunso said in a recent lecture in Lagos: “Make or Break: the Imperative of Cultural Democracy in Nigeria,” delegates should accept the need to put the matter of education at all levels to the states and leave only quality assurance and specialised research to the federal government. The old approach started by military rulers to give funds and functions that should have been better left to subnational governments to the central government are now being deconstructed by political and cultural leaders from a region that has contributed more to unitary rule than any other part of the country. The call for decentralisation of education by the north is the way to go for the entire country, especially now that it embarks on re-designing itself for a future of peace and progress.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

COMMENT

Tentative confab Everything appears tentative about the ongoing National Conference. Yet, the country is at a crossroads

SIDE from the fact that its delegates number 492 and that it was inaugurated on March 17, nearly everything about the ongoing National Conference is tentative. For starters, it has no enabling legislation, for which a lobby is already in court. For another, nobody knows for sure if it would ever take any decision, since it is proposing a consensus option. Besides, even if it is able to take decisions, no one appears to know how those decisions would be implemented — by referendum? The president is not definitive on this: he said the decisions may be implemented by referendum. Why ‘may’? This leaves the matter hanging and susceptible to manipulations by the executive, depending on the confab’s outcome. Now, if done by referendum, what would be its effect on the next general elections? Is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ready for such a task? Or, would it be by submission to the National Assembly to cherry-pick according to its whims? And should the National Assembly decide to play the turf war, knowing the conference has no legal fundament, what happens? Add the notorious fact that the N7 billion bill, from which each delegate would take home no less than N12 million each. This suggests some form of subversive generosity that further enriches a few, further beggars the majority and sets up the beneficiaries to have little choice but to dance to the tune of their benefactor. Put more starkly, different people would appear to be taking different agenda to the conference. Though President Goodluck Jonathan claimed at the inauguration that he had no personal agenda by the conference, he could just tell that to the marines! No one needs any especial acuity to know that the president sorely needs the conference to shore up legitimacy for himself, to polish his chances in 2015, even after a parlous first term that should fairly earn him a democratic ouster. But aside from the president, many of the delegates were old hands who had actively contributed

to Nigeria’s ruin. So, while some greenhorns would shout themselves hoarse on the imperative to remake Nigeria, these old hands would seriously work to maintain the status quo. The president would probably go with that, so long as it boosts his second term chances. More fundamentally, the imperative for a national conference is the notorious fact that Nigeria is orbited on virtual injustice, which delivers lollies to a few, but impoverishes the majority. Besides, there are the notorious geo-ethnic fault lines, which confer privilege without responsibility to whichever band in power. That band in turn delivers criminal cronyism to its acolyte and cells nationwide. This again, reinforces the ruinous socio-economic paradigm that enriches a few but beggars the majority. These are serious issues that have stalled Nigeria’s journey to nationhood; and may yet stall it for years if these serious anomalies stay uncorrected. Yet, delegates appeared to underscore their lack of appreciation of the dire situation by everyone appearing to tout his “Nigerianness”, as if a tiger, to use the famous Wole Soyinka quip, needs to proclaim its “tigeritude”! In the face of serious danger, one even appeared to crave for a state, where he could perhaps dominate and live happily ever after, even if such clannish thinking results in permanent damage to the polity! These perpetual “ifs” and “hows”, on the confab,

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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

•Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

LETTER

COULDN’T stop tears from dropping down my eyes last Saturday when I saw our youths, unemployed graduates, who ended their lives untimely in the quest for the Nigeria Immigration Service job. This, no doubt, was an avoidable tragedy but for the state of the nation. Every leader, both past and present, has his share of blame in what our country has turned to. In those days, as I was told, a secondary school leaver was a ‘gold’ while a university graduate was seen as a ‘god’ who had surmounted all hurdles to gain knowledge. As such, the tradition was that the gradu-

ate should choose and pick the most preferred job out of the many juicy ones that came begging for his attention. Today, the opposite is the case as a graduate could even lose his life in the process of looking for a manageable job that may help ‘put body and soul together.’ This is the picture of the experience of over five hundred thousand youths who applied for less

Ogun government’s efforts to curb hawking/roaming

IR, permit me space to applaud efforts of the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in ensuring that the menace of street hawking/roaming in the state is eradicated. The ministry recently held a rally during which it warned parents that it would arrest any child caught in the act after issuing yellow cards to their parents or wards twice. Also, such children would be taken to juvenile remand homes and would only be released after their parents pay fines. It is glad to know that street hawking during

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

ought to trouble any right-thinking Nigerian, since the country is at a terrible pass, with an urgent need to remake it for future survival. But it would appear where some see real danger ahead, others, particularly in the political establishment, see yet another opportunity to ingrain old ruinous way. Yet, it needs to be drummed into the hearing of every delegate that Nigeria faces clear and present danger, if it the country is not remade along productive federal lines, with a new national ethos of hard work, productivity, justice, equity and fair play. The delegates must know that though Nigeria is a geographical territory, its peoples — yes, peoples — have, at times often, radically different points of view and cultural outlooks. The challenge before this generation, therefore, is to work on an economic formula and socio-economic template that would morph these different peoples into a physically and spiritually united people, leveraging their supposedly different tongues and culture as potent economic tools. That is the whole gamut of arguments for regional federalism, from which platform every segment of the country would develop its own resources, and contribute its rich quota to a prosperous Nigeria. There is, so far, no consensus as to the way to go. The reason for this is simple: old habits die hard and old privileges, particularly when not earned, are very difficult to abandon. But it is on this hard and narrow road that lies the country’s salvation. Besides, the whole idea of a palaver is to knock together a consensus that would at least give the country a fresh start. The farcical beginning of the confab itself, with arguments about sitting arrangements and all that gives cause for concern. However, inasmuch as the president may have his agenda for the National Conference, it is the bounden duty of the conferees to be patriotic in their thinking; and to do the right but painful things that would save Nigeria from chaos and possible disintegration. But that would not be done by empty crowing about some non-existent Nigerian national ethos. If those ethos were there, ab initio, there would be no need for any National Conference.

Unemployment and our shame

school hours is now a crime in the state as the recent Child Rights Acts signed in to law recently prohibits such and the state government has set up a multi-sectoral committee to ensure effective implementation. Parents should note that the government has been committing huge resources into funding free and qualitative education so as to make them useful adults that would be able to contribute to the socio-economic growth of the state. Teachers have also been

than five thousand Immigration job slots. Should I even say, ‘this generation is at the suffering end of the omissions of our leaders and fathers’ generation.’ Because, to me, it seems there is no solution in sight yet. This is the same generation that Boko Haram is unleashing its dastardly acts on with bombings of university campuses, secondary

cautioned to stop sending their students on errands during school hours. This effort is worthy of commendation as these children are our future and leaders of tomorrow and, therefore, all hands must be on deck to curb the menace so they can become better, responsible citizens in future. Taiyese Ebunlomo Boluwatife via ebunlomo.okuwa@gmail.com Abeokuta.

schools, maiming and killing of corps members, thereby reducing our number in spite of being tagged, ‘ leaders of tomorrow.’ Those who escaped the horror of terrorists are made to die of hunger, joblessness or stampede during a recruitment exercise. Unfortunately, the children of the high and mighty who are more instrumental to what Nigeria has become either have an enviable job awaiting them on graduation from the university or have to travel abroad to continue life ‘in a greener pasture.’ Besides, many of them do not even have to school here. They see our higher institutions as glorified secondary schools with little or no facilities to run it as a plague within while incessant lecturers and other unions’ strike is the plague without. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, General Household Survey((1999-2011), Nigeria’s unemployment rate jumped from 8% in 1999 to an average of 13.3% in 2000 to 2008, and then jumped again after

the global crisis to an annual average of 21.66% in 2009 to 2011, to peak at 23.9%. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s economy has grown very fast in the last thirteen years in response to global oil and non-oil commodity prices. In particular, as stated by National Bureau of Statistics (1999-2009), Nigeria’s nominal Gross Domestic Product doubled from N20 trillion in 2007 to N40trillion in 2012. In spite of this paradoxical growth, we keep hearing, ‘Nigeria is broke today, Nigeria is bankrupt tomorrow.’ I pray we will not wake up someday to hear that our country has been sold due to lack of resources to run it in the face of plenty endowments of natural resources. One of the responsibilities of government in a sane environment is job creation. However, this should not be based on ‘who knows who’ but on merit. Also, good jobs should not be the destiny of the few privileged while the poor are asked to make do with the crumbs that fall from the table and even die in the process of scavenging for it. Government should be committed to creating an enabling environment

where business can thrive; where investors can freely operate. Then, the scourge of unemployment can be reduced. We are tired of the activities of insurgents today, militants tomorrow, and kidnappers the day after. There should be a renewed commitment on the part of our leaders to ensure security of lives and property. The leadership class should see the Saturday’s Immigration recruitment stampede which resulted in the loss of nineteen promising youths as their failure and shame. They should take deliberate steps in the name of posterity to salvage this nation from collapse and put an end to avoidable loss of human lives. Unemployment should be tacked head long and be made a thing of the past. In addition, recruitment exercise should not be a death trap for our teeming youths. We should seek improved ways of conducting interviews without having to put the lives of our people in jeopardy. The Saturday’s deed had been done. May God console the families of the departed souls. By Femi Onasanya via femlandcommunication @yahoo.com

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

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

COMMENT

Fayemi-four more years (2) It is important that our people be made very aware of PDP/LABOUR/ACCORD satanic plans for the coming elections so that we will all be on our guard

“W

E are not confused. We are very clear about where we have come from, where we are and where we are headed. When we started this journey, we said it is a collective rescue mission. That is the journey that has brought us this far. We are on the march again and we are unstoppable. We know that the journey has not reached an end because we have not finished the job. That is why we are in this race. It is to serve our people.” Gov. Kayode Fayemi. Fifty years ago, back at the prestigious Christ’s School, AdoEkiti, the young journalist who covered the unveiling of ‘Domestic And Foreign Dimensions Of Nigeria’s Politics’, another from Prof. Jide Osuntokun’s stupendous brain and wordsmithery, would promptly have got me Into ‘imposition’ or even the far stiffer ‘Detention’ for having the audacity to write that I was the Professor’s ‘friend and classmate’ at The School’. O yes, for a less ‘humongous’ sacrilege as that, or even for no offence at all, you could very well be wacked into any of those two purgatories and should any reason be needed at all, it could be ascribed to something as nebulous as ‘urinating all over the compound’. Boy, that journalist should be careful next time as his ascription should have gone to Seniors Bode Fadase and Sanmi Ajaja who

had come to celebrate one of their own: the distinguished Prof of History and Diplomat, who belonged with them in the witheringly brilliant class of ‘60’. Sir, I hereby apologise on behalf of the journalist. It is just as well that we are continuing our celebration of another distinguished alumnus of The School, and the Executive Governor of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who, this past week, picked his nomination form as an APC aspirant in Abuja and later arrived AdoEkiti to the waiting hands of a tumultuous APC members and, a knowing and appreciative Ekiti citizenry, who would love nothing better than to see Fayemi continue his wizardry of impressive multisectoral development of the state. What a huge democrat Hon Opeyemi Bamidele would have been called today if he had waited to be denied the same opportunity of picking that same form before porting to the Labour Party, a mere PDP under party, claiming he was snuffed off when he never at any time as much as officially informed his ward of his intention to contest on the APC platform. Without a scintilla of doubt, no single edition of any newspaper in the country today can exhaustively do justice to the multi-sectoral development the Collective Rescue Mission, spearheaded by Dr Kayode Fayemi, through the grace of the Almighty God,

has accomplished in the state underpinned, as it were, by his ramifying 8-Point Agenda. I therefore do not have to start repeating his achievements on this half page. Rather, as was the practice of the column in the pre-rerun election days of 2009, this piece will be dedicated to enlightening the electorate in both Osun and Ekiti states but more specifically Ekiti, where the first of the two governorship elections will come up. Happily, these are two states which emerged from the old Western Region where the Avatar, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, made the difference more than five decades ago by his strategic investment in education which he provided free of charge to the entire children of the region. The result is that today, no governor in any South-western state can ask newspaper editors to publish just about anything, however odious about him and his administration, because five percent of his people can neither read nor write. Awo’s trail-blazing revolution further ensured that, today, there is no family where you would not find at least one or even more graduates, just as it ensured that my small town, Are-Ekiti, with a population of about 30, 000, has produced 10 University professors, three of them from one single family. I state all these because of the totally pedestrian logic of the PDP and its client parties which informs them that to get votes in the coming elections in either Ekiti or Osun state, all their Abuja suzerain has to do is make kerosene available to our people. The cheek of it is that this is a product through which they steal daily in billions of naira in the name

of kerosene subsidy whereas the Nigerian poor and their children daily line up at filling stations where kerosene is bought at over a N100.00 per litre when available, at all. PDP will have to go locate its Somalia elsewhere, far, far from Ekiti or Osun. The electorate in these two states, thanks to education and an innate intelligence, can very easily make a distinction between Ekiti and Osun states of a mere four years ago and today. They remember the days of the locust just as they can see the developments all around them. I think at this point, we should allow Mr Femi Awoniyi, a Germany- based Ekiti Diasporan, give his testimony. Answered Femi to the question: What changes have you noticed in Ekiti? In an interview published in The Nation of Sunday, March 16, 2014: ‘Many. First, the peace that reigns in the state today is a marked departure from the insecurity that ruled before Fayemi’s coming to power when political violence and urban banditry were pervasive. For me, a revolutionary feat of the Fayemi administration is the introduction of social security scheme for the elderly. It has greatly helped to alleviate abject poverty in the rural communities. Look at Ikogosi. The place has been completely transformed and it is drawing tourists from all over the country. That is a boost to the state economy. Programmes such as the Youth Commercial Agricultural Development and Youth Volunteer Corps Employment Scheme have taken thousands of our youths away from the streets into productive economic activities.’ He went on and on. It is therefore the height of the illogic for the PDP to think that as

On wealth creation and distribution S

OMEONE who read my piece last week on this column averred that I had become the voice of the turtle heard in the land. To him/her, I had become a prophet just because I had talked about poverty, unemployment, and what may happen if graduates somehow found themselves in some desperate situations such as being shoeless. Well, since I was not able to foresee that it would happen during the NIS examination which occurred the day after that piece had been submitted, I am returning the money I collected from those who came into my tent to consult my crystal ball. That was a very unfortunate day, considering the number of people who died as a result of that NIS examination. I really feel for their families and loved ones. I decline to agree, however, that I have prophetic powers. If I did, my dog would not have had indigestion from chewing pieces off my plastic bowl (I would have foreseen it), I would not have gone out on the day an errant knave of an okada rider removed the back fender of my car (I would not have gone out that day), and I certainly would not have attempted to clean inside my electric kettle while it was plugged. I would have foreseen that no good could come from that. Even though the government is the largest employer of labour in our land at the moment, we all know that that is a very unnatural situation. It has happened because the govern-

The over one hundred universities in the country are bringing out graduates each year faster than anyone can track. If the government is not prepared for how they will be gainfully employed, the results will be catastrophic in a few years’ time

ment has bitten off much. Just check. Wherever you find in the world that the government is the largest employer, there is bound to be trouble. The reasons are quite clear. Where private entrepreneurs can close their eyes and ears to the cries of their families and friends, the government cannot. Where businesses are only interested in figures and balance sheets and more figures, the government’s eyes are on poll figures, voters, cronies, touts and, yes, more cronies. I have grown to be suspicious of the call or argument that the government should create wealth by citing industries, sponsoring projects, backing research products, etc. Forgive my ignorance but I don’t think any government exists in the world that can do all these. As a matter of fact, I do not think it is its business to do them. From the little I know about the rise of the nations, the government has largely been in the background, holding a cane to beat everyone in line. As far as I am concerned, governments exist to regulate socio-economic and political behaviour. I do not agree that governments are to make jobs available for everyone. I make bold to say that the problems we are witnessing in Nigeria began as far back as the sixties and seventies when the government forgot its own limitations and began to attempt to create wealth. That was when its problems began

and the nation began to fail, like a train that is filled beyond its capacity. I am willing to be corrected on this but I believe that even the rail transport system of the western countries began as private efforts. The rails were built by private entrepreneurs before being nationalised by the state and converted to the social services sector; and according to my informant, that was when they began to lose money. However, this was due to the fact that the governments could not decide whether to run them as businesses or as social services. I think they are finding ways round the problem now. That’s just an example. Listen, I am an unapologetic crier that the government owes us everything. It does. But you see, it is because it has unwisely put its own head in the noose by bringing everything in the state under its watch. The oil money may have had a hand in that, but the point is that it has largely not done what it should have done, and done those things it shouldn’t, to use the biblical parlance. To prove this point, just look at the telecommunications industry. While it was solely under the control of the government, it was completely under the weather and the wires were forever tangled. I still have in my head a seventies cartoon showing a telecoms worker right up a ladder at a telegraph pole trying to untangle thousands of wires that had gone, yep, tangled. Today,

you and I can talk from anywhere to anywhere, and you my reader can berate me by text messages on any of my write-ups. We owe all these developments to the dogged pursuits of scientists and inventors who partnered with private entrepreneurs, and wise governments which only created enabling atmospheres. That’s right; what we all expect from the government is for it to create an enabling environment where everyone might be able to work or create something that would ensure their upkeep, that’s all. There are ways to do this. First, it should provide a collation centre for collating all activities related to inventions in the land. Don’t scoff; you will be surprised how little the government regards statistics and how non-existent that kind of information is. I believe that all the youths and young adults seeking employment can easily fall into one or other of these activities. They may not so easily get jobs, but they may easily be encouraged to become entrepreneurs if there is a collation centre that oversees such activities. Then, it should really encourage banks to give soft loans and not to be so greedy. Secondly, just as it has unbundled the electricity company into private hands, the government should also turn to the rail system of transportation and put it back on track. It still remains the cheapest means of intra and inter-city movement which

long as they can inundate our streets with soldiers and men of the PDP police, they can scare off educated and intelligent individuals who know, like the palm of their hands, the difference between the PDP seven years of the locust and today when all the Southwest states under the banner of the APC are aggressively pursuing an integrated economic development paradigm for the entire region. It is important that our people be made very aware of PDP/LABOUR/ACCORD satanic plans for the coming elections so that we will all be on our guard because we will never go back to those harrowing days in ‘Egypt’. One of them is for the president to financially starve the Southwest states even up to a point governors in Ekiti and Osun may not be able to pay salaries. To this end, federal allocations to states had plummeted by about 40 percent in the first quarter of the year whilst states friendly to the president are more than fed from grants from such funds as the ecological fund. Naturally, those of their clients who get away with murder through oil subsidy, pension scam, kerosene subsidy scam etc will all be requested to make huge donations to their war chest. But this is where they will remember we have a saying here, dating back to the First Republic: BO ROWO MI, O RINU MI meaning, ‘yes, you see my hands taking your bribe, but you can’t know my mind.’ Our people must take these monies when offered, indeed, ask for more because they were stolen from all of us in the first place. not only makes life easier for people, but also makes money for its investors. As a matter of fact, everyone in the land can be encouraged to invest in it while they go back to plying their original trades. It would be a way of making everybody work for everybody. More importantly, it would reduce the volume of tankers, lorries, trailers and other accidents waiting to happen on our roads. Listen now. The over one hundred universities in the country are bringing out graduates each year faster than anyone can track. If the government is not prepared for how they will be gainfully employed, the results will be catastrophic in a few years’ time. Obviously, the government never for one day tried to calculate just how many graduates would have been produced by what year before granting licences for private universities. It did not even try to find out how many were required before opening the portals of more universities. The result of this unpreparedness is what we all saw last week at the NIS examination. Clearly, the government cannot provide labour for them all, no matter how much it prunes up its own civil service; it must do it by proxy. Wealth creation is hardly in the purview of the state; wealth distribution is though. The state distributes and redistributes wealth when it creates an industry-friendly atmosphere to ensure that everyone has a fighting chance to access the most basic things. Such an enabling environment will prevent a single individual from illegally and selfishly appropriating all the state resources to him/herself at the expense of the rest of the society. These resources do not even have to be cash only. However, when the government becomes the entity that corners all the resources to itself at the expense of the society, then we have a serious problem indeed.

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

(57)

The national conference: things it will talk about and things it will not talk about (2)

•Lugard: Amalgamation through colonial administrative fiat

CONCLUDED last week’s originating piece in this series with the claim that the topic of power and wealth sharing amongst our political elites and between our elites and the masses of Nigerians throughout the country will be the biggest thing that the Jonathan National Conference (JNC) will not talk about. I said, I asserted that JNC will be entirely, perhaps even exclusively dominated by deliberations on power and income sharing among our elites. Of course, I should have added that at the JNC confab, they will not call it power and money sharing amongst the wealthy and the powerful of all ethnic groups and geopolitical zones in the country. No, they will give it other names, other designations. They will call it “fiscal, political and administrative federalism”. They will call it power sharing between the North and the South, between major ethnic groups and minorities. They will call it “rotational presidency”. They will even call it replacement of the 1999 Constitution with a new, more truly “federal” Constitution. But compatriots, don’t be fooled by these fine-sounding appellations: the bottom line, the overriding subject of deliberations at JNC will be how to share power and wealth amongst our elites, to the unanimous and almost complete exclusion of the sharing of power and wealth between our elites and the vast majority of Nigerians from every part of the country. My suggestion, my claim in this series is that since they will not talk about this all-important subject at JNC, all truly democratic, patriotic, progressive and fair-minded Nigerians must talk about nothing else during the duration of JNC and even after it has ended. This is not only because it is too important a subject to exclude from conferences and deliberations on the future of our country, but also because in virtually all forms of representative democracy throughout

the world, equitable and “civilized” power sharing and wealth and income distribution between elites and the rest of society is the cornerstone, the foundation of good governance, social and economic justice, peace and sustainable development. This means that we cannot talk of one and exclude the other; we must talk simultaneously and substantially about both, power and wealth sharing amongst the elites and between the elites and the rest of society that actually constitutes the demographic and human majority of the country’s citizenry. In making this observation or claim so assertively, I have in mind the fact that many progressives, democrats and radical activists are of the view that all fair-minded and patriotic individuals and organizations in our country should completely ignore JNC and have nothing to do with it. I am not unsympathetic to the reasoning behind this stance, this being the largely indisputable fact that Nigerian elites and Nigerian ruling class parties and politicians are, with few exceptions, completely indifferent to the economic and social conditions of deprivation, immiseration and suffering of the majority of Nigerians in every part of the country. But while I readily acknowledge this fact, nonetheless I think it would be a mistake to completely ignore or be indifferent to the deliberations at/of JNC. We must take issue with any and all deliberations on power and wealth sharing among the elites, the purpose being, unambiguously, to show its lack of connection with power and wealth sharing with the vast majority of Nigerians. Let me explain what I mean by this carefully. Power sharing and wealth and income distribution among our elites is a subject that massively dominates political discourses in our country, even and especially among the masses of Nigerians who are themselves substantially excluded from the sharing

•Amalgamation through trade and commerce

of wealth and power. Which person reading this piece is unaware of the fact that Nigerians of all walks of life, elite and non-elite alike, are obsessed with the sharing of power and high political offices between the North and the South, between “Christians” and “Moslems” and between major ethnic groups and minorities? Who is not aware of the largely unwritten but nonetheless ironclad, nation-wrecking post-civil war “agreement” between politicians of almost all the other ethnic groups that the time is not yet ripe to have an Igbo as the President of Nigeria? Which person reading this piece is not aware of and perhaps not disturbed by the fact that across the length and breadth of the country, hundreds of thousands of ordinary Nigerians, perhaps even millions, are ready to respond to the calls, the mobilization of professional politicians of their ethnic group and religious affiliation to come out and protect the interests of their ethnic group or religious community in the sharing of the country’s wealth and political power? Aren’t we all fearful, perhaps even terrified of what looms ahead of us in the forthcoming elections of 2015 precisely because many politicians have been threatening Armageddon if power does not come to their part of the country? And who is not aware of the fact that outside Nigeria in the wider world, most commentators and analysts see the sharing of political power in our country precisely along these same lines of deep cleavages based on ethnicity, regionalism and religious fanaticism? Indeed, don’t we all know that when the American government, through its State Department or the CIA, makes its periodic prediction on the looming breakup of Nigeria, it bases itself on “tribe”, “region” and “religion” as the ineffable political fault lines? But as the late Chinua Achebe, basing himself on an Igbo proverb, used to say, “where one thing stands, an-

other thing will stand beside it”. For side by side with the tendency of the masses of Nigerians to let themselves be mobilized and manipulated along the lines of “tribe”, region and religion, Nigerians also know, they know in their millions that apart from ethnicity, region and religion, they are divided by power and wealth. They know, in every part of the country, that while a few hundreds or thousands have power and wealth, the populace in its millions lack power and wealth, lack the basic necessities of a dignified existence. Nigerians know also in their tens of millions that they are united by the operations of market forces; they know that if the paths of trade and commerce between the different parts of the country are impeded or blocked, people will suffer all over the country. For this numberless masses of Nigerians, it is not the 1914 amalgamation of the North and the South that united Nigeria since most of them have never heard of Lord Lugard; rather, what effectively unites Nigerians is the concrete fact that we trade and do business across the different parts of the country and moreover, have a dominance in economic and commercial relations over the whole of the West Africa region. Finally, the Nigerian masses in all parts of the country have a deep distrust, a deep hatred of the looting frenzy and incurable squandermania of our political rulers and public officeholders. Like the CIA and the State Department of the American government, the Jonathan National Conference is only driven by considerations of the things that cause quarrels and disunity among our political elites. In this, they are bolstered by the fact that, as I have remarked earlier in this discussion, they are often able to mobilize and manipulate the passions of the Nigerian masses around ethnicity, region and religion. But if the CIA and the State Department cannot see that Nigerians in their

millions are also acutely aware of the things that unite them, things like the forces of the market and their deep anger and resentment of the looting frenzy and squandermania of the political elites, why cannot the JNC see these things? Why are the handpicked delegates to JNC so sure that this time around, as in previous cases, they can exclude from their deliberations these things that unite the masses of ordinary Nigerians in their powerlessness and their faith in the forces of the marketplace? These issues will be the composite starting point in next week’s concluding piece in the series. In concluding this particular essay, let me give a short preview of what I shall be discussing more substantively in next week’s piece. Nigerians in all their ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity lived together, traded together and made cultural exchanges together long before British imperial and colonial amalgamation of the North and South administratively “united” the country. [We must not forget that they also made war against one another]. Moreover, Nigerians have been active along trade routes across the whole of West Africa for at least a millennium before modern relations of regional and global capitalism became the dominant framework of national, regional and continental affairs. At the end of JNC, whether we will have a looser or stronger federation is only one part of the epic drama of the times we are living through now. The more important thing is the fact that our peoples will always have to live together. If we are to live together in peace, justice and equality, what unites our peoples beyond their imagined and real differences must take precedence over what the political elites broker as appeasements to their greed, their megalomania and their bankruptcy. Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

sms only: 08116759748

Immigration: Comedy in a time of tragedy

OVERNMENT officials scrambling to explain the inexplicable have offered all sorts of excuses for the avoidable deaths of 19 young, job-seeking Nigerians. But the only explanation that makes sense is that when a similar tragedy happened six years ago, those who presided over it got away scot free. Back in July 2008, a recruitment exercise conducted by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) produced a grim toll of 17 dead across the country. That is why I totally agree with President Goodluck Jonathan who has reportedly told his cabinet that the next time this sort of debacle occured, the minister responsible would be tried for culpable homicide. Our prayer is that we never experience the likes of last weekend’s horror show. But if history repeats itself and someone actually faces justice for it, I would be one of those cheering the government of the day to the rafters. However, the tough talk was about the only thing of worth to come out of official quarters all week over the matter. The rest was just sentimental slop and annoying phrases like “the deaths were unfortunate.” It makes you wish officials would clam up when they don’t have anything to say. Take the case of the sorry Minister of Interior, Abba Moro. Salt has been rubbed into compounded injury by his continued stay in the cabinet. Decency would have required he stepped aside without being pushed. President Jonathan who could have put him out of his misery would leave him to twist in the wind a little bit longer in order not to seem to be caving in to pressure from critics. While he goes through the motions of presidential posturing, it is our lot to suffer Moro who, as he fights to stave off the inevitable, appears to have come down with a bad case of foot-in-the-mouth disease. Trying to come across as empathetic after his initial stumbles, the minister referenced his past as a labour activist and said he understood what it meant to be unemployed. Thank God he’s been a unionist; but he’s never been dead. So he cannot appreciate what the victims or their families feel. Rather than accept that the buck stopped at his desk, he’s been looking everywhere for someone to pass it to. He blamed the social media. He accused doctors, bankers, teachers and other gainfully employed people who he said swarmed NIS recruitment centers looking to be hired and triggering stampedes. Why would they do that when they already

•Moro had jobs? According the minister’s aide, a certain Mallam Salisu Dantata Muhammed, it was all about greener pastures. “The crowd got more desperate when they learnt that they could get Foreign Service postings and then become pensionable. So doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and all manner of people who had paid jobs turned up and increased our dilemma.” Let’s assume for a moment that there’s something to Moro’s theory. What does the picture he has painted say about Nigeria of 2015? What does it say about the competence of the administration in which he serves? He speaks of a country from which

thousands of doctors, bankers, nurses, teachers and others are looking desperately to flee courtesy of Foreign Service posting. Aside the prospect of deliverance through foreign posting, we are to believe that thousands also stormed the stadia in different cities just imagining the glorious pension benefits the NIS offers! There’s no other way to spin it. What happened last Saturday was a catastrophic public relations outing for the government of the day. It captures the inability to provide jobs in graphic and unflattering terms. It illustrates the people’s desperate economic plight in terms that not even the harshest opposition critic could have done.

Aware of the gravity of what just took place, the president has moved into damage-control mode. He rolled out palliatives to soothe the grief and rage of bereaved families. For those who died, their families would be given three employment slots. Those who were wounded were given one slot each. I dare say that a job with the NIS is poor exchange for a life. Luckily for the living, some would soon become families chock full of Immigration officers! For the merely injured who did not pay the supreme sacrifice to ensure their families would be employed by the Federal Government for generations, there is still much to celebrate. Even if you are a dullard and probably got yourself wounded by making a dumb move last weekend, a few bruises here and there have yielded spectacular dividends. This brings us to the hundreds of thousands who went home in one piece. Imagine how they rejoiced seven days ago that they did not return home in body bags or in airconditioned Ministry of Interior ambulances. Now, seeing what luck has befallen the departed many, surely, would be wishing they were dead, or at least, injured! Now they are left high and dry. If only someone had been visionary enough to engage in some self-inflicted injury! Well… People would argue that the government had to respond in some way. I agree. The point of cavil is that whatever was to be done should have thought through, and not be some cynical, self-serving, sentimental, knee-jerk sop. This is because parallels would be drawn. What, for instance, makes the victims of the Immigration recruitment tragedy more deserving of compensation than the faceless, nameless thousands who have fallen to the brutality of Boko Haram? Many have campaigned for some sort of compensation for them. But government has stated over and again that it would do nothing of the sort. So what logic now makes compensation right for one set of victims and wrong for the other? Don’t look too far for answers: it’s all down to political expediency. Given the vociferous outcry over what happened last Saturday any politician’s prospects could be damaged - even in a crude, desensitised environment such as ours. Desperate situations, to succumb to an equally desperate cliché, call for desperate actions – even if that means being accused of hypocrisy and double standards from now until February 2015!

Jonathan and his ‘sponsored’ troubles

N the world according to PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh, all of President Goodluck Jonathan woes have been sponsored or engineered by the opposition in their ‘desperate’ bid to deny him another term in office. The troubles have also been stirred apparently because our longsuffering leader is from a minority ethnic group. Without doubt the pressure of having to respond to quick-fire attacks of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) must be immense. But that is no excuse not to think about the credibility of statements that are made in the name of not just any organisation – but the country’s ruling party. Although, Metuh might find it hard to believe, Nigerians are not brainless idiots who can’t think. They still have the capacity to see through much of the spiel that gets projected into the political space by dueling party spokesmen. Aside this latest outlandish serving, the PDP scribe has in the past accused the sus-

pended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, of giving billions of naira to unnamed APC leaders. Till date he has conveniently not named the recipients of the dodgy contracts. He has equally accused the opposition of having a so-called “Janjaweed ideology.” The Janjaweed militia is notorious for its atrocities in the Darfur region of the Sudan. By lumping APC with this group, the PDP spokesman is returning to his party’s old line of trying to paint the opposition as biased in favour of Muslims. This is dangerous territory because in his excitement, Metuh has not thought of how much offence he is causing amongst a segment of the populace who follow a particular faith. He is also opening up his party and our church-hopping president to charges of subscribing to a “Vatican or Canterbury ideology.” If APC is for Muslims, is PDP for Christians simply because the president is a Christian? Nothing could be more nonsensical.

But now Metuh has outdone himself. The Boko Haram insurgency is about the biggest security headache confronting the government. It didn’t start under Jonathan. Indeed, the extra-judicial slaying of the sect’s erstwhile leader, Mohammed Yusuf, occurred under President Umaru Yar’Adua. It has festered because it took the current incumbent four long years to understand that the terrorists operating in the North East could not be handled with kid gloves. Again, the communal clashes and killings involving Fulani militias and the indigenous communities across the MiddleBelt didn’t start under Jonathan, and therefore could not have been sponsored by an opposition that didn’t exist three or four years ago. In Metuh’s world it was the opposition that invited 700,000 hapless young Nigerians to test for 5,000 job spaces. The APC then set off stampedes across several recruitment centers just to discredit Jonathan! Instead of being paranoid, the ruling

party should face the fact that after five years in power the president now has a record over which he can be challenged. If it seems as if he’s always being attacked, it is because there’s so much to attack in his record! Yes, some people in heat of the electoral contest for the PDP presidential ticket in 2011 said they would make the country ungovernable if Jonathan won. Can we then credibly link the recent kidnapping of the president’s uncle in Bayelsa to this threat? Has it occurred to the likes of Metuh that the infamous 2011 statement might just have been hot air coming from frustrated old men who didn’t have the means to carry out their threats? In any event, since the PDP is certain that these same persons working in league with the opposition are behind the turmoil in Nigeria, why haven’t they used the security agencies they control to arrest and prosecute the offenders? I suspect it is because not a shred of evidence exists to support the wild charges.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Delta 2015: Ochei’s exit raises new options PAGES 21

2015: Taraba South in search of consensus candidate

APC will take over Abia in 2015

PAGE 22

PAGE 25

2015: Battle of the deputies

INCE the return of democratic rule 14 years ago, the relationships between most state governors and their deputies have been mostly frosty. From reasons ranging from alleged disloyalty, mutual distrust and lack of confidence in the ability of their deputies, to mention but a few, many state governors have deliberately kept their deputy governors at arm’s length in the running of their states. The crisis of confidence between some governors and their deputies got to a boiling

From 1999 till date, only one deputy governor, Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara State, has had the fortune of succeeding his boss, Sani Ahmed Yerima. Will the trend change in 2015? Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, reports on the current intrigues point between 2001 and 2003 resulting in some deputy governors either voluntarily resigning their positions, while others were impeached by the state Houses of Assembly allegedly at the behest of the governors in those states. But out of the lot, only the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi,

managed to take over from his boss, Sani Ahmed Yerima, in 2007, a relationship that soon went awry following Shinkafi’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before the 2011 general elections. Shinkafi subsequently lost

his re-election bid to a loyalist of his former boss, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, who is also a former member of the House of Representatives. As preparations for the 2015 general elections gather momentum, about seven deputy governors are alleged to be warming up to contest the governorship election with vir-

tually all belonging to the ruling PDP. Will Shagari be this time lucky? Until fate played out a fast one on him, Muktar Shagari, the incumbent deputy governor of Sokoto State, was generally acknowledged as the governor-in-waiting shortly before the 2007 governorship elections. Shagari, it would be recalled, had just won the PDP governorship primary, with not a few political •Continued on Page 20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

POLITICS

•Ikuru

•Odubu

•Continued from Page 19

stakeholders in the state tipping him to win the general election due to the crisis in the then ruling party in the state, ANPP. The then governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, and his erstwhile deputy, Aliyu Wammako, were at loggerhead over the latter’s governorship ambition, which Bafarawa was not favourably disposed to. Desperate to win the state for his party, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, convinced Wammako to defect to the PDP with the offer of being handed the governorship ticket. Wammako’s gain was Shagari’s loss. The latter was persuaded to relinquish his ticket for Wammako. The calculations of the PDP apparatchiks worked, as the party coasted to victory in the Sokoto governorship election in 2007. One year to next year’s election, Shagari is believed to be reactivating his political machinery for the battle ahead. With speculations rife that he is strongly favoured for the PDP governorship ticket as compensation for his refusal to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Wammako, the former Minister for Water Resources is hopeful that he may just be lucky this time around. How Shagari intends to out-maneuver the intimidating political machinery of Wammako in 2015, however, remains a subject of debate. Ngilari toes Shagari’s path Until recently, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngilari’s name never featured as a governorship contender in the northeastern state. But Ngilari’s decision to remain in PDP, unlike his principal, Murtala Nyako, who has joined the APC, has since altered the political dynamics in the state. The Nation gathered that Ngilari, a

2015: Battle of the deputies lawyer, is now the toast of the presidency and the national leadership of the PDP, with some reports claiming that he is now the leading contender for the party’s 2015 governorship ticket. Can Lawani succeed Suswam? Amongst all the deputy governors interested in becoming governors in 2015, only Chief Steve Obekpa Lawani, the number two man in Benue State, appears to have formally declared his intention. Sometime last year, Lawani, who came into political limelight as a member of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the Third Republic, announced his plan to vie for the PDP governorship ticket. Fondly called Ochagwu K’ Idoma by his supporters, Lawani contested for the PDP ticket in 2007 but lost to then incumbent governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam.

From Otukpa, the headquarters of Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Lawani comes from the Idoma tribe, which is the second largest ethnic group in Benue State. Suswam’s disposition to his deputy’s ambition cannot be ascertained, as the governor has not publicly endorsed anyone to succeed him. Ikuru and the underdog status The battle for the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State may go down as one of the most keenly contested in recent times. Within the two dominant parties in the state, APC and PDP, names of some elected and appointed political office holders are being bandied about in political circles as top contenders for the governorship seat. They include two senators, Magnus Abe and George Sekibo; a member of the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside; Senator

“Amongst all the deputy governors interested in becoming governors in 2015, only Chief Steve Obekpa Lawani, the number two man in Benue State, appears to have formally declared his intention.”

Lee Maeba; the Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesome Wike, amongst others. Sources revealed that the state Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, may also join the race. Those who favour Ikuru’s candidacy point to his unalloyed loyalty to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his level headedness as attributes that may place him in good stead in the race for the coveted seat. In the heat of the onslaught against Amaechi by political opponents, Ikuru has remained loyal to his boss, allegedly shunning all forms of tempting inducements to ditch the governor. Ikurun served briefly as deputy to exGovernor Celestine Omehia and was retained by Amaechi following his victory at the Supreme Court in 2007. Odubu silent on ambition Although Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, is still keeping sealed lips over his governorship ambition in 2015, sources disclosed that he is working behind the scene for the governorship election in 2015. Odubu, from Benin, who plans to contest on the APC ticket, served previously as a member of the House of Representatives before his election as deputy governor. Utuama also in the fix Having served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for eight years under ex-Governor James Ibori from 1999 to 2007, incumbent Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama, is also alleged to be eyeing the governorship seat come next year. From Otu Jeremi in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Utuama’s alleged ambition to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan may rupture the unwritten zoning policy in the state. With the Anioma zone (Delta North) clamouring for power shift to the area, it remains a matter of conjecture how Utuama will actualise his alleged ambition to govern the south-south state from next year.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

POLITICS

Delta 2015: Ochei’s exit raises new options

Last week’s exit of Victor Ochei as Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly has further complicated the race for 2015 PDP governorship ticket, reports Okungbowa Aiwerie

•Uduaghan

FTER barely three years in the saddle as the Speaker of Delta State of Assembly, Victor Ochei’s turbulent reign as speaker of the

fifth assembly ended last week. The embattled ex-speaker’s headship of the legislature has been fraught with endless controversies. In fact, he had hardly settled into office as speaker when he was jolted by reports of the nullification of his election into the State House of Assembly in 2007 by an Abuja Federal High Court. Victor Ochei represents Aniocha North Constituency. He was sworn in on June 6th as speaker. Next was the furore over what many termed a “jamboree” by Delta lawmakers at a retreat in faraway Abuja, at great cost to taxpayers despite the state playing host to several quality resorts. Media attention was soon turned to the alleged N27 billion IPP project involving his erstwhile company, Davnotch Nigeria Ltd, in June 2009. Not to mention the never-ending speculations that have continued to trail the multi-billion naira street lighting contract awarded to the company by the state government. Davnotch installed and currently has the maintenance contract of the diesel-powered street lighting projects in Asaba - the Delta State capital and Warri, the state commercial capital. But how could a man like Ochei, with so much connections in Delta politics fail in his bid to save his job? What went wrong? Some analysts are of the view that Ochei’s problems may be largely traced to intrigues and politicking around the 2015 gubernatorial contest in the state. A source, who craved anonymity, maintained that Ochei’s resignation may have been instigated by some members of the executive that were growing increasingly uncomfortable with his

•Ochei

rising profile. The Nation gathered that Ochei’s intense consultative visits across the state has also raised concern among some PDP members who feel the exspeaker may be a difficult proposition to stop as 2015 gubernatorial election inches closer, except his influence is whittled down. Opponents of the ex-speaker believe the office of the speaker has offered Ochei a highly visible platform to promote his governorship ambition. A PDP chieftain who pleaded anonymity said Ochei’s use of his office was disadvantageous to other aspirants, adding that public functions attended by the ex-speaker were veritable campaign opportunities which he utilised maximally. His words: “Ochei days were numbered since he started using his office to promote his governorship ambitions. This will not be the case after his forced resignation as he will be like every other aspirant aiming for the top job in Delta State. He is arrogant even as a speaker, what do you think will happen if he gets the top job in Delta State?” Another factor may be the fact that he may have stepped on the toes of powerful persons within the party hierarchy and the legislature who accuse him of highhandedness and lack of transparency, especially in the use of funds and execution of projects. It was also gathered that some lawmakers were uncomfortable with his leadership style with many accusing him of highhandedness and lack of transparency in the management of funds. Many lawmakers had the belief that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was backing his governorship ambition, but when some people dished out information to the contrary, his opponents moved against him. A ranking member of the legislature, who pleaded anonymity, said, “House members thought that the governor was carrying him and preparing him for 2015, so many members played along, afraid that if they did anything against Ochei, they would be stepping on the toes of the governor. The kind of

approvals he got and the way he carried himself drove fear into many members. “The whole state thought he was being prepared for 2015and that was why people started drifting to him and you know many people with interests in 2015 did not want to hurt him or the governor.” The Nation learnt that Uduaghan recently disowned his patronage of Ochei’s governorship ambition, paving the way for his opponents to launch their attack. But will Ochei abandon his gubernatorial ambition following the recent reverses suffered? What are the new permutations following Ochei’s exit? The Nation gathered that despite Ochei’s fall, he is not about to relinquish his governorship ambition. But on which political platform will he realise his 2015 gubernatorial ambition? Will he ditch the ruling PDP in favour of the opposition? Some analysts speculate that the former speaker may be on his way to joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), following an uncertain political future within the PDP fold. But a chieftain of the opposition, who pleaded anonymity, debunks such insinuations. But with Ochei’s political future within the PDP now seemingly in doubt, other leading contenders for the PDP ticket that may benefit from the development, should the ruling party insist on zoning the governorship ticket to Delta North Senatorial District, include current chief of staff to the governor, Dr Festus Okubor, Senator Arthur Okowa, Ndudi Elumelu, Clement Ofuani and a host of other eminently qualified Deltans. Some analysts also warned that as 2015 election draws nearer, the tactical manoeuvre that sidelined the ex-speaker may be still be resurrected with many other politicians being the likely victims. So, as the intrigues deepen, the big question today is, who will PDP anoint to lead the party in the 2015 governorship elections?

POLITICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

2015: Taraba South in search of consensus candidate

F Governor Danbaba Suntai was in charge of the reins of power, this scenario would not have been playing out in Taraba State. But when he got involved in an air crash in October 2012, the political configuration began to change. The governor hails from Central Senatorial zone and is willing to relinquish power to the south. He took over on May 29, 2007 from Jolly Nyame who hails from the north and ruled for 10 years. Although Taraba does not practice rotational politics, Suntai was said to have argued that the fairest thing to do was to help the southern zone produce governor when he bows out next year after serving his two terms. But after he was hit by the blow of fate, his deputy, Garba Umar, who is from the north of the state, has reportedly consolidated his hold on power and is kicking against power shift. Umar has declared his intent and his posters are already out. Faced with this phenomenal challenge, Taraba South is in a frenzied search of a consensus candidate that will likely face Umar at the PDP primaries. The essence, according to insiders, is to build a formidable moral and financial support for any aspirant who emerges as the zone’s consensus candidate. That would also help delegates to concentrate their votes on the said candidate. But that seems to be a hard nut to crack. Over 10 well-known sons of the zone are rumbling for the preeminent office and it has been pretty difficult picking just one man out of the crowded contenders, especially as they have to make the choice by themselves. Initially, it was thought that former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, would anoint a candidate but he turned down the task. Sources say he asked them to go and slug it out by themselves. Danjuma, an elder statesman from Taraba South, has not hidden his opinion that power should shift to the south. However, he is said to have considered all the aspirants as his sons. When the aspirants converged in Abuja last week, it was like trying to fetch water in a basket. None of them appeared to be ready to back down for another. Reading from their faces, it was discernible that each of them seemed determined that if he was not the chosen one then there would be no consensus. It is obvious some of them have scores with one or two others to settle. The situation is counting seriously against them but to the advantage of an enchanted Umar. Damian Dodo, Joel Danlami Ikenya, Emmanuel Bwacha, Agbu Kefas, David Sabo Kente, Efraim Kifasi and Darius Shaku are among the array of aspirants who are coveting for a consensus candidate from Taraba South but are being selfish going about it. Behind them is former Governor Jolly Nyame who has now changed his mind to support power shift. Nyame became governor at the creation of Taraba State from 1991 to 1992. He did another eight years from 1999 to 2007. He initially wanted to handover to a fellow northerner until providence compelled him to pick a successor (Suntai) from the Central zone. Of late, he reconciled his long-standing feud with Suntai and is wishing to assist him get a successor from the south. The southern geopolitical zone, with five local government councils: Ibi, Wukari, Donga, Takum, Ussa and a Special Development Area known as Yangtu, has only played second fiddle during Nyame’s reign. The incumbent governor, now serving as a ceremonial figure, picked all his deputies from the north. Suntai’s first deputy, Sani

Taraba South Senatorial District is in a frantic search of a consensus candidate that would effectively wrestle with the Acting Governor, Garba Umar, for the ruling PDP governorship ticket. Senior Correspondent, Fanen Ihyongo, explores the scenario in the ongoing race in a state that is being run by two governors - one in acting capacity and the other as a ceremonial figure.

•Umar

•Bwacha

Abubakar Danladi, is a kinsman of the acting governor from Karim-Lamido Local Government Area. It was Danladi’s impeachment that paved the way for Umar to come to the limelight. When Umar came on board, he was thought of as a neophyte without a political machinery on ground. But as time went on, he systematically exerted ascendancy over Suntai loyalists. Umar started by embracing Suntai’s foes, then he infiltrated his boss’ camp unimpeded,

• Kente

•Kefas

wooing many to his side. He has tested many waters and passed the experiment of his potentiality in emphatic fashion against a dismal Suntai group. One of such tests is the fact that a candidate he sponsored, Daniel Tsokwa, won the Takum House of Assembly bye-election to occupy the vacuum left by the late Speaker Haruna Tsokwa. This was against the wish of Suntai’s loyalists who sponsored a different candidate.

Minister Darius Ishaku, a gubernatorial aspirant from the south, was in Takum to support Yakubu S Yakubu against Umar’s candidate. Unknown to him, Darius was working with Tsokwa who worked behind the scene to ensure Umar’s candidate won. Umar is gradually polarising the south by embracing those who are not obsessed with the clamour for power shift to the zone. For instance, Tsokwa and former minister, Mrs. Salome Jankada, are among those who do not feel that power must shift to the south. Thus, they have embraced Umar’s candidacy. Sources said the acting governor will also pick his deputy from the south to polarise the people of the zone and it is alleged that the speaker is his choice. Kente’s supporters said the speaker may accept the offer if he is jettisoning his ambition to run for the House of Representatives. Umar refused to revert back to his constitutional position as the deputy governor when Suntai returned from his medical trip abroad last year. The governor purportedly dissolved his cabinet (Commissioners and Special Advisers) but Umar ordered them to return to their duty posts. He and the late speaker, Haruna Tsokwa, proclaimed the governor as unfit to take charge despite a letter he transmitted to the House of Assembly informing lawmakers of his readiness to resume duty. Suntai sued the Assembly over the matter, but the acting governor and the speaker, Josiah Sabo Kente, have continued to ignore court injunctions reportedly restraining them from screening and swearing in new officials. To assert himself for power next year, Umar has rejigged the composition of his Special Advisers. He appointed 24 new Special Advisers and 24 Special Assistants. In the new composition, Umar scrapped some offices and created new ones. There are growing questions as to whether it is legitimate for him to make such changes when his boss, Danbaba Suntai, is back in Government House. Although Umar has always pledged 100 percent loyalty to his boss, that the government he is running is the Suntai administration, his latest appointments is a sign of a man who feels he is fully in charge as the executive governor. Some political elites have advised Umar that his 2015 governorship project is a risky venture not worthy of getting on, but Umar has insisted on taking the gamble. This makes all the aspirants from Taraba south to plot against him and they have not hidden their disapproval of his scheme to run for the governorship. Umar’s sin, they alleged, is that he has betrayed his boss who brought him from obscurity to be his deputy a few days before he was involved in the plane crash. For now, the southern zone has not gotten a consensus candidate yet. Their earlier meeting was a stalemate. To reach consensus, the aspirants must resolve their internal squabbles. The ‘consensus’ candidate must also be the choice of the entire zone. If they fail to get such a candidate, the crowded contenders would have to test their popularity. Already, some of them are threatening to run against Umar under the opposition APC should Umar hijack the ruling party’s ticket. Meanwhile, reports say Suntai is getting stronger by the day. He is also banking on his court case to take charge. If he does, he can pick up his bedraggled loyalists and groom a successor from the south, a development that may neutralise the influence of the acting governor. But Umar is not leaving any stone unturned. He is allegedly thrilled that choosing a consensus candidate from Taraba south so far seems to be an exercise in futility.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

POLITICS

Fresh intrigues over Kaduna missing mace The decision of the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate the whereabouts of its missing mace, six months after, has sparked off fresh fire in the intriguing Kaduna power game, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

S the Committee on Ethics of the Kaduna State House of Assembly investigates the whereabouts of the missing mace, observers of the lingering leadership crisis of the House are hopeful that the move, which has already kindled fresh sparks amongst political opponents in the state’s power game, may finally break the ice and open up the politics of the state for the future. It would be recalled that when the mace disappeared on September 24, 2013, shortly before the controversial removal of former speaker, Alhaji Muazu Gangara, close observers cried for the need to reduce the heavy burden that was threatening to drown the state politically. Reacting to the development then, the President of Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Shehu Sani, in a statement, said the removal of the Kaduna State Speaker, Alhaji Gangara, was nothing but “an elitist exercise in the game of power.” Sani added that there was “nothing to mourn about the exit of the old speaker neither is there anything to celebrate about the entry of a new one.” He said: “The impeached speaker deserves no sympathy and the new one deserves no hope. I call on all legislators to save the House from its present image and stand by the spirit of their mandate and of their conscience in the best interest of the state and its people.” That reaction, in a way, captures the complex political web associated with the missing of the mace last September and the impeachment that followed. How Gangara lost out The leadership crisis and the intrigues surrounding the Kaduna missing mace can be traced back to June 6, 2011, when Alhaji Mu’azu Usman Gangara, representing Giwa East constituency, and Dr Mato Dogara, representing Lere West constituency, took the oath of offices of Kaduna House of Assembly as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. We gathered that their emergence was not supported by many members of the House, who swore not to give them any breathing space. So, from that very day, the House was largely divided and, soon, impeachment plots against them became almost a routine. The Nation gathered that the plot then was not only against Gangara and his deputy, but also against most of the other principal officers of the House. Aware of the situation, they also set out to survive but they could only hold forth for two years and three months of intense politicking and intrigues. Insiders said within this period, they narrowly survived not less than three impeachment plots before that fateful Tuesday, September 24, 2013, when Gangara and his deputy tactlessly absented themselves from the sitting, thus making it easier for their opponents to execute the pre-planned impeachment. The first legislative session was relatively easier for Gangara. But at the end of that session, his opponents had become more determined as some of them held a special meeting immediately after the plenary session, where they demanded for the impeachment of the speaker, alleging that he was too weak. At this point, the aggrieved members began an impeachment process but this failed as they only secured the signature of 20 members instead of the required 22 signatures. Our source, a member of the House, who would not want to be named, also recalled that at this stage another closed-

APC’s roadmap to recovery

•Yero

door meeting of the dissatisfied members and others who wanted to save the then leadership was held on August 14, 2013 at an undisclosed venue, after which “members gave the leadership of the house a 30-day ultimatum to either change its leadership style or resign.” So, when, on September 14, 2013, the 30-day ultimatum expired, the political tension in the House peaked. It was under that circumstance that Gangara and his deputy were impeached. On that day, Gangara and his deputy stayed away from the House sitting without notice. Also, most of his supporters stayed away, leaving only 18 members. Our investigation also confirmed that when the members present resolved to continue with the day’s business, they discovered that the mace, the symbol of authority of the House, was also missing. So, they decided to open the store and collect the back-up mace, with which they convened the sitting. The drama began when the Clerk of the House, Barrister Umma Hikima Aliyu, told members that the speaker and his deputy did not communicate the reasons for being absent to her. She then explained that order 1, Rule 8 of the House rules allows the house to appoint a Speaker Pro-tempore to preside over a sitting in the absence of the speaker and his deputy. So, the 18 members present nominated Philemon Gidan-Mana Usman as Speaker Pro-tempore to preside over the sitting. Immediately after going through the agenda for the day, the members present proceeded to impeach Gangara and Dogara. Before moving the motion for their impeachment, the member representing Zonkwa constituency, Hon. Irimiya Kantiok, denied allegations that they were influenced monetarily and that the impeachment plot was hatched at a meeting linked to Vice President Namadi Sambo. So, when the Speaker Pro-tempore asked the members if they wanted Honourable Muazu Gangara and his deputy, Matoh Dogara, to be removed, they all echoed ‘Yes’. So, he declared: “Honourable Mu’azu Gangara and Matoh Dogara cease to be the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of this honourable Assembly beginning from now.” Soon after this, Hon. Esther Abu nomi-

nated Shehu Usman Tahir as the Speaker. Hon. Bala Yunusa also nominated Hon. Peter Adamu as Deputy Speaker. There was no objection to these nominations, so the oath of office was immediately administered on the duo. Though the impeached speaker vehemently opposed his removal, describing the sitting that led to his impeachment and that of his allies as illegal, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero put paid to the debate as he immediately recognised Tahir and Adamu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, respectively. The new order It was on Wednesday last week that the Kaduna State House of Assembly directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the whereabouts of the official mace. Speaker Tahir gave the directive following a motion by Alhaji Aliyu Jigo, a member representing Kakangi Constituency in Birnin-Gwari Local Government of the state. Jigo had argued that the reason for moving the motion was to protect the integrity of the House. “It has been noticed that the mace usually used for conducting the business of the House is not there, the House has been using the back-up mace to conduct its business,” he said. He further described the mace as the symbol of authority of the Assembly, adding, “I feel it is very wrong for any member to remove it from the house.” But now that the House has directed its committee on ethics and privileges to investigate the disappearance of the mace, we gathered that each of the groups in the House has been meeting to streamline their position. Some insiders, who allege that it was the impeached speaker that came to the House earlier that fateful day to remove the original mace, are saying his group is now deliberating whether to release it or not in order to find final peace in the House. “Some of us are already tired of the icy relationship although we know that what transpired that day was pure political injustice,” one of the Gangara allies told The Nation on Friday. He confided that many of their members, when they met on Thursday, do not want to be so cheated, “but some elders are persuading us to allow peace to reign in the state,” he said.

HE launch of the All Progressives Congress’s draft position on key national issues ahead of the 2015 general elections is a positive development and a progressive step. For too long, we have held elections based mainly on abuses and personality clashes. Politicians therefore promise nothing and deliver nothing. I have pored through the skeletal document and, as a first step forward, a trailblazer in recent times, it is commendable. It provides a deed by which the party could be taken to task during electioneering, and on which it could be held accountable if installed in power. Such decisions as a commitment to establishing a state police, granting mining rights to the communities and people and paying serious attention to the poor and needy shows that the party actually cares about the future of the country. However, the document’s silence on issues such as federalism, that is, what should be the federating units; devolution of power and resource control could not have been mere oversight. It is obvious to all that this country could no longer be run as one from the centre. Dodging this very serious issue is playing ostrich on an issue that is at the heart of national unity, stability and security. The failure of the APC to take a stand on resource control, to me, is indicative of inability to generate a consensus on it. It speaks to the inorganic nature of the party and what could yet afflict the country if it should win the presidential election and control majority of seats in the National Assembly. We would also like to have more details on how it intends to achieve its limited objectives. It does not help to say the party is unwilling to publish its working documents since they are trade secrets. The essence of the roadmap is to convince the electorate. It does not amount to much to pledge a commitment to free education at primary and secondary school levels and to science and technology students of tertiary institutions if we have no way of understanding that the party realises the enormity of the cost implication. The social welfare scheme is quite ambitious, especially if taken along with the resolve to provide jobs. The party is promising the creation of 20,000 jobs in every state as soon as it takes over. It is promising to introduce a re-orientation of the education system towards science and technology. It is committed to the care for the youth post-National Youth Service Corp, pledging to keep them on the payroll for 12 months after the service. The APC has a duty to convince us that it did not hurriedly put together a document to win votes. We cannot afford to travel the same way we did in the Second Republic when the National Party of Nigeria said it stood for Green Revolution and massive delivering of Housing to Nigerians. At the end of four years in office, asked what his administration had achieved, Alhaji Shehu Shagari said, “peace and stability”. Three months after it forced itself on an unwilling people again, the regime was overthrown by the military. In a similar circumstance in 1955, prior to introducing the revolutionary free education programme, the Action Group released a blueprint on how it would be accomplished. It comprised how many children were in school at the moment, how many more were expected to be accommodated, how many classrooms had to be built and the cost of doing so. It also explained how to recruit the teachers. The likes of Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin, S.O. Awokoya and Sanya Onabamiro worked out the details. This is a challenge to other political parties. Let us hang the next elections on development issues. Let the PDP and APC come up with their manifestos and roadmaps. Let’s take the federal and state governments to task on what they have done for the people. There is no doubt the system as it is has failed to work; the Nigerian state is failing and the ship of state is threatening to sink. We can no longer pretend that it is business as usual. Playing politics with religion, ethnicity and other primordial values has made us all victims. Only a leadership that could think out of the box is suitable for this period. An inept, confused and clueless administration can only compound the national crisis. The next elections must be about the party that has the best agenda for pulling Nigeria out of the woods. It must be about the Nigerian children and their future. We cannot afford to fail the coming generations. In 2015, Nigerians have a duty to ask all the necessary questions and demand answers. Politics is too serious an issue to be left to politicians alone. The critical mass, the educated, the professionals, must rise now.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

POLITICS

‘APC will take over Abia in 2015’ Donatus Nwankpa, a former Minority Leader in the Abia State House of Assembly and former House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPA) for the Obingwa/Ugwunagbo/Osisioma Federal Constituency in 2011 is the current state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State. In this interview with Sunny Nwankwo, he speaks on the party’s readiness to win the state in 2015, his emergence as the chairman of the party in the state and the activities lined up to strengthen the party for future challenges in the state. Excerpts…

HERE is this claim that there is no APC in Abia State. Is the APC really dead or is it on ground in the state? There is a book which says that Africa did not have a political system. In my response to the book, I noted that when Lord Lugard, the colonial master, came to Nigeria, he said the aim of the indirect rule was to start from the existing political system in Africa and not to destroy the existing political system at that time. My question was this, if Lord Lugard, who came, saw and felt the system at the time in Africa, declared that it existed, then how come that someone who was in Europe said there was no existing political system? Who is right and wrong? You are talking to the state chairman of the APC in Abia State and before this interview, we just had a state working committee meeting. You can now decide whether the APC exists or not. When did you become the chairman of the party in the state? I became the state chairman in late December and I was given the flag for the state last Saturday at the inauguration of the South-East party executive, which took place in Owerri. Why was Owerri chosen as the venue for the inauguration? It was a South-East meeting and not a state meeting. The states in the South-East, namely Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu and Abia were represented. At times, the people in the PDP go to Abuja to collect their flag while ours was done in Igbo land, so I think we should be applauded. It was reported some time ago in the media that there was tussle over the chairmanship position of APC in Abia State. Was there any harmonisation before the inauguration? Yes! It took place in December. What you said was happening before then, from October to December, and you should know that it was a teething problem of the fastest growing party in Africa. It was not peculiar to Abia State and it can be seen in any place where there is prospect. It was the challenge of a new dawn and we have overcome it. It has been alleged that the National Vice Chairman, South-East, of your party, Dr. Nyerere Chinenye Anyim, imposed you on other members as the state chairman of the party. How true is the insinuation? How can somebody impose me on other members? Don’t I have a political origin? I am a household name. So, with my political experience, that cannot happen. I have been a minority leader in the Abia House of Assembly, which inherently means the leader of the opposition in the state. The allegation arose because I am now taking on a ruling party. Initially, Hon Ndukwe Adindu, who is also my friend and a former minority leader before me, had a stake at the leadership position, which I also had. In our usually parliamentary disagreement to agreement method, we settled our differences and remember that the two of us have come a long way. Can we know the other executive members of the party in the state? Well, there is Dr Ndukwe from Bende Local Council, who is our state secretary. We have Prince Eguatu Egbulefu from Aba-South, who is our state treasurer . And Comrade Ben, our state publicity secretary, who is from Ukwa. The list includes Obi Aham from Umunneochi LGA, who is the state organising secretary, Austin Anyaegbu from Ikwuano is our state youth leader, while Hon Mrs Helen Ojukwu is our state women leader. I will not forget to mention our state administrative secretary from Obingwa in the person of Erondu Junior Erondu. This is an interim executive. What is the mission of your executive in Abia State? Our mission is to pilot the transformation of

the APC in the state and give it a winning streak and mentality. We want to position it for the great task of administering Abia come 2015 when we will take over the mantle of leadership in Abia State. We also seek to formulate policies that will lead to a congress and to register members for the APC. There will be a nationwide registration of APC members because we do not want fictitious names in our register. We want people to know the realistic members of the APC, which is why we are going to register members from their units to the national level. Therefore, this foundation team will pilot the party to its objective. People have alleged that some of the national executive positions appear to be dominated by Muslims and there is no prominent Igbo name there. What is your take on this? That is not true! The National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, is an Igbo man, the Deputy National Organising Secretary; Senator Osita Izunaso, is an Igbo man. The National Women leader, Mrs. Sharon Chiazor, is also an Igbo person. The National Youth leader, Mr. Uzo Igbonwa, is an Igbo man, so I do not know what else you are saying. You either may be talking about a speculative list or probably listened to information that is intended to give a wrong impression and sabotage our party. What is the highest position held by an Igbo man in the PDP? Olisa Metu, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, holds the highest position by an Igbo man in the PDP executive. For your information, the National Chairman of our party is a southerner, a Yoruba man. Given the slow rate of activities in the APC, do you think the party can make an impact in Abia State come 2015 general elections? Abia is a progressive state and APC is written in the heart of the people because it did not emerge today. Will you tell me that Lord Lugard created Nigeria? All he did was to bring the Northern and Southern protectorates together to form a central administration. Having said that, APC is an amalgamation of ANPP, ACN, CPC, DPP, a faction of APGA and other interest groups. These interest groups include the new PDP, which is now in our party. Is there anywhere they manufacture new people to play politics? You start from the known to the unknown and these people are already on ground. What is needed is the administrative tinkering, restructuring and reengineering. It is a transformation to a new level because this is the first time in Nigeria we are having a pre-election merger and not an alliance. What we have had previously in this country is a makeshift alliance and not a merger. As I speak to you, the APC is making wave in the House of Representatives and I can assure you that APC will take over the House of Representatives, if not now, in 2015. The senate is not an exception, mind you. I also want to tell you without any fear of contradiction that we already have 16 governors in our fold while others are on the sidelines waiting to join us. There is therefore no ground to ask if we are ready for the election. Why was the Anambra State election an embarrassment to the country? It is because it was a game plan to undermine the APC and in the course of doing that, it became a show of shame to INEC and the federal government because they were unable to find a rigging style to undermine the majority of the people who believed in the APC and our candidate, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige. By the grace of God, the stolen mandate will be upturned through the judiciary. Are there big wigs in Abia State politics who are in the APC? Prince Benjamin Apugo is a member of our party. Hon Acho Obioma is in our fold too. The former National Chairman of PPA, Barrister Sam

• Nwankpa

Nkire, is with us while the former deputy governor of our state, Chris Akoma, will soon join us. We also have people like Chief Ikechi Emenike, Sir. Stanley Ohajuruka and Barrister K.C Ugboaja, who have equally embraced us. There are other names too numerous to mention now. APC is interested in generational change and transformation. I know the APC is written in your heart because you are a progressive and any media person who is not a progressive has problem. APC has come to change the mentality of the PDP. What is the mentality of the PDP? It is taking Nigerians for granted and that is why the helplessness of Nigerians before elections is obvious. There has always been a lackadaisical approach amongst Nigerians towards elections because they know that whether they vote or not, the PDP has already written results and nothing will be done about it. As at today, Nigeria has technically arrived at what it should be; a two party system, which means that Nigerians now have alternative choices. Like other political parties, has your party zoned positions in the state? I am a team player. I will not arrogate to myself powers that I do not have. The state executives, congress of the APC and members of the party will determine where they will zone the various offices. I assure Abians that in whatever we do, we are conscious of fair play, fairness and equity. We are conscious of the feelings of the people and will not play with their sensibilities. Abia is a PDP state, do you not think that the APC will have a serious challenge in trying to win power? Are you a believer in “as it is in the beginning, then forever it shall be?” That principle only belongs to Almighty God. The time of change has come and the wind of change is blowing across the globe and Nigeria. Abia cannot be an exception! For the past 16 years, Abia has been in political wilderness and now progressives will take over

the state and lead it to its natural place, which is among the committee of civilised, advanced and comfortable states of this country. There is a divine hand that is saying ‘Pharaoh, set my people free; PDP, let my people free’, and that is what is going to happen. Political opponents have often referred to the APC as an amalgamation of strange bedfellows and that sharing of political offices will disintegrate the coalition. It is also said that the primaries of the 2015 general election will sound the death knell of the party. What is your take on these? Those are statements of our detractors who are consoling themselves. They said we would not last three months but we have lasted until this very moment. We participated in an election where they used the apparatus of the state brutally to the point that the Chairman of INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) admitted that the election was an embarrassment. We had an interim executive and it has worked. They said the new PDP members would not join us, but today they have joined us. This is the first time, the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, SouthSouth and Middle Belt are coming together to seek for change. Tell me a revolution in the world which has been carried out by strata of persons? Did strata of persons carry out the Russian Revolution? People of distinct origins, environment, and mentality carried out the industrial revolution that is taking place today in Malaysia, India, and China. The most important thing that binds us together is our ideology of positive thinking, change, fair play and equity and that is because the APC is rooted in the culture of social justice. Any last word for Abians? Abians should take charge of their destiny and embrace the change that the APC will bring to them come May 2015.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

POLITICS

HE decision of the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, to remain quiet over his successor as he completes his second term in 2015, has created serious uncertainty over the political future of the northeastern state. The governor’s silence, amidst insinuations that he may have plans to install an ally of his in office come 2015 has led to a situation where many of those being rumoured to be interested in governing the state are finding it difficult to openly declare their ambitions. And with unending underground moves, both within and outside the ruling PDP, aimed at determining who rules the state after Yuguda, the inability of the political class in the state to read the mind of the governor over his choice of a successor, is adding to the political tension that is daily enveloping the state. Recently, the state was agog with the rumour that the governor may have settled for Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), as his anointed successor. The SSG from Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, who is perceived as Yuguda’s most dependable associate in many quarters, has been in office since Yuguda’s emergence as governor in 2007. To add fillip to the rumour, Dandija is not hiding his desire to succeed his boss. Close associates of the SSG say he has declared his governorship ambition to his supporters and political allies, seeking their support to help him prevail on the governor to endorse him. But contrary to insinuations that the governor may have secretly endorsed a particular person for the job, the governor seems to be finding it difficult to make up his mind over who to support among his array of allies and political associates. Sources close to him say he is under immense pressure from many quarters over the issue. “What many people seem not to know is that the governor is under severe pressure over who will take over from him. There are many issues to consider in this matter. While some of us want him to be concerned about the good works he has done in the last eight years when making that choice, there are those who daily remind him of the zoning issue. There are associates and allies who want him to remember past political alliances. “In all these, I can tell you that the governor is yet to endorse anybody. He is studying the situation critically with a view to determining what is best for the state. Those saying he has endorsed them are merely flying political kites. The governor, though willing to ensure that Bauchi gets the best, is not a dictator. He will allow due process to be followed in arriving at that decision,” an associate of the governor told The Nation. Another source revealed that the governor is currently busy, working at resolving some of the crucial issues threatening the political equations within the state. “With issues like zoning of political offices currently threatening to tear the state apart, the governor is not endorsing any candidate yet. I can tell you that his pre-occupation currently is how to resolve the nutty issue of zoning. Until there is an agreement on that issue, the governor cannot throw his weight behind any of the aspirants. “You must also understand that all the aspirants currently jostling for the job, especially within the ruling party, are allies and associates of the governor. Consequently, there is need for him to tread softly and seek popular opinions before deciding who to support. “He is cautious enough to learn from what happened to his predecessor, who supported an unpopular candidate and gave room for Yuguda to win even on the platform of an unpopular political party. It is not just enough for people to say

•Yuguda

2015: Uncertainty in Bauchi over Yuguda’s successor Governor Isa Yuguda’s refusal to make public his choice of a successor in 2015 has further complicated the Bauchi State’s politics, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan the governor has endorsed them,” our source said. With politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) scheming to succeed Yuguda, the cloud of uncertainty that now hangs over the politics of the state can only get darker as there are no inkling of which way the 2015 gubernatorial contest is likely to go. As the election draws nearer, all the three senatorial zones in the state are clamouring to produce the next governor. These have led to unending arguments and counter arguments between the agitators, creating a situation where the next gubernatorial contest appears to be between the zones and not political parties. While the people of Bauchi South have produced the state governors from 1999 to date, namely former Governor Adamu Muazu and current governor Isa Yuguda, Tatari Ali who ruled in 1979 came From Bauchi North. This forms the bases for

the agitation of the central zone that it should be allowed to produce the next governor of the state. But gladiators from the southern and northern zones are quick to put a lie to the demand, saying all the three zones have had chances to govern the state. To this school of thought, the 2015 contest should be left open for aspirants from all the three zones to slug it out. Adamu Tatari is a chieftain of the ruling party and a leading campaigner from one of the aspirants from the southern zone. According to the politician, it is wrong for the central zone to say it has never produced a governor for the state. “Dahiru Deba from Old Bauchi Central, now Gombe State, was governor in 1983 in the old Bauchi State. He was elected as governor when Gombe was still part of Bauchi Central. This fact must not be swept under the carpet. This is why we are saying all the zones have had their fair share and it is time to start all over again,” he said.

to address the huge economic challenges of the region. Terab said, “funds provided for future purposes under the Capital Supplementation Head of the 2014 budget do not compare in priority when the country is losing one sixth of its territory to unimaginable magnitude of destruction. If the effort for reconstruction is not taken seriously despite the quantum of destruction, public confidence will continue to dwindle, while also vindicating the sympathisers of the insurgents that the country does not care about its masses at all,” he said. Deputy leader of the House, Rep Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) while contributing on the motion, cautioned on the earlier prayer of the motion mover to increase the allocation to N12 billion.

Rep Ogor (PDP Delta), opposed the motion, saying if the House adopted the motion, it would open the floodgate of members coming up with issues of their constituencies to be inserted in the 2014 budget, which would spell doom for the fiscal year. Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal while ruling on the matter said the Appropriation committee would have to look inward and find ways of increasing the amount, without having to take N10 billion from the Sinking Fund in the budget.Tambuwal tasked the committee to find avenue of increasing the amount, saying that since the House agreed for the review of the allocation, there would not be specific amount for the monies to be increased to.

The inability of the gladiators to reach an agreement on how the zoning issue should be approached has given rise to a scenario where all the three zones are currently fielding aspirants who are viewed as serious contenders for Yuguda’s job. In spite of producing both the incumbent governor and his predecessor, Bauchi South is currently parading aspirants that include the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed; Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, a former Minister of Police Affairs; Senator Abubakar Maikafi and Mallam Ali Wakili. From Bauchi North are Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa; Alhaji Muhammadu Garba Gadi; Alhaji Baba Tela; Alhaji Yayale Ahmed,;Dr Musa Babayo; Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Senator Nazif Muhammad Gamawa; Engineer Sadiq Mahmud and Engineer Nuhu Gidado. Bauchi Central Senatorial District has in the race: Alhaji Ibrahim Makama; Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP); Barrister Dandija and Alhaji Nadada Umar, amongst others. Offering what analysts say may be the mindset of the ruling party in the state, a state official of the PDP in Bauchi State, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam, said it is wrong to zone the position to one zone. According to him, the party must avoid repeating the mistake made by former Governor Mu’azu in 2007. “Although we have not started talking about 2015, the best interest of democracy is to allow whoever is eligible to contest from any zone because Tatari Ali, who ruled in 1979, came from Bauchi North and ruled under the then NPN. After him, Dahiru Deba from Old Bauchi Central, now Gombe State, was governor in 1983 in the old Bauchi State. Mu’azu and Yuguda are from the south,” he said to further compound the many uncertainties about 2015 in the state. While the inability of the governor to make up his mind about who succeeds him and other issues within the ruling party are directly or indirectly responsible for the cloudy nature of politics in the state ahead of the 2015 general election, political analysts are also of the opinion that the emergence of the APC as a formidable opposition party is another factor currently heating up the political landscape of Bauchi State. “The coming of the APC has provided an alternative platform for aggrieved members of the PDP who will not mind rocking the boat to scuttle the chances of the ruling party come 2015. Bauchi is no longer a one-party state and this will be proved for all to see in 2015. Now the people have choices. They are going to have alternatives and options to choose from. It is not just about what the governor or his party wants. It is going to be about what the people want. That is what the APC has done by coming to Bauchi,” a chieftain of the opposition party said. And with the APC daily gaining new grounds and winning converts in the northeastern state, the opposition party is becoming very popular especially with the masses at the grassroots and pressure to alter all known and unknown political calculations ahead of the general election in 2015. Already, chieftains of the opposition party are vowing that the APC has what it takes to dislodge the ruling PDP during the next election. According to Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo, spokesperson of the party in Bauchi State, whatever is the calculation within the PDP, the party will not win the election in 2015 because the party has failed the people. “PDP has failed to address the problems of insecurity, poverty, water, electricity, infrastructure, unemployment during its 16-year rule. So, Bauchi people need positive change in 2015,” Darazo said.

Ripples over Boko Haram at the House of Reps

S Boko Haram members continue to wreck havoc in the

North-East, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to review upward its earlier allocation to the region from N2 bn to N12billion. The House also told its Committee on Appropriation to find a way of increasing the allocation in the 2014 budget’s Sinking Fund for Infrastructural Development, which is under the capital supplementation head. The lawmakers’ decision was reached sequel to a motion under the matters of urgent national importance moved by Rep Abdurrahman Terab (APC, Borno), who said that the N2billion contribution by the federal government for the rebuilding process could not be adequate

•Tambuwal

26 POLITICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

ripples

Abdullahi's next move

ontrary to the rumour that he may soon go for an elective office, the former minister of sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, is not thinking of occupying any political position, at least in the nearest future, sources have disclosed. The cerebral journalist, it was gathered, will most likely proceed for his doctorate degree at an Ivy League institution in the United States once he takes a brief rest following his tour of duty in Abuja. Abdullahi, a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, also holds a Masters degree from the University of Essex in the U n i t e d Kingdom.

IN VOGUE By Kehinde Oluleye

Tel: 08023689894 (sms) E-mail: kehinde.oluleye@thenationonlineng.net

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

GLAMOUR

32 GLAMOUR

Social

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

ADETUTU AUDU (E-mail: crownkool@yahoo.com, Tel: 08023849036, 08112662587)

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

GLAMOUR 33

34 GLAMOUR/OUT & ABOUT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Turkey

Sick man of Europe? Think again

38 MAGAZINE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

MAGAZINE 39

40 MAGAZINE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

MAGAZINE 41

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

MAGAZINE 43

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

44 MAGAZINE

•Awo

READ EXCERPT FROM ‘BLOOD ON THE NIGER’ BY EMMA OKOCHA IN TOMORROWS EDITION OF THE NATION

23,

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

POLITICKLE

The country between

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

Fact or fiction; myth or reality; the physical or virtual: determining which better describes the government’s performance in service delivery here occupies the writer. It’s an attempt, in regular fashion, to home in on a few truths, and the reader is invited to share a reflection more sober than usual with the expectation that all things considered, the day when the take home pay finally takes him home is conceivable. Virtual: 4, 000 megawatts, rising to 6, 000 mw daily by December and, ultimately, 10, 000 mw by 2017. Actual: Plus or minus 3, 000 megawatts, as corroborated by consumers. Hardly ever less on paper, 6, 000 mw is government’s everlasting wish for a powerstarved population that is scarcely backed by sincerity of purpose and efficiency of methods. It’s a primitive target compared to South Africa which at about a third of Nigeria’s population generates roughly 10 times more electricity. Yet, deficiency comes at a high price. ‘Crazy bill’, crooked metering and indiscriminate disconnection define services while outage and outcry describe consumption. Prescription: N97 per litre of petrol. Abuse: Usually N97; now and then anything from N120 to N300 from Kano to Calabar and from Yola to Yenagoa. The matter remains intractable, regardless of official explanation. For every damaged oil pipeline, gas turbine explosion and delayed importation, read rampant bunkering and smuggling, official sabotage, fuel subsidy scam and the consequent fuel price hike. Immaterial: Inflation rate in single digit. Material: More like triple digit, fuelled by unfriendly economics. Until the Central Bank’s formula of high interest rates to discourage investment borrowing and encourage savings (really?) succeeds, the poor consumer is locked in a vicious financial circle. Propaganda: ‘The Police is your friend’. Information: Which is more dreadful: ‘the masked marauder’ or ‘the man in black’? Hard to tell, away from the public, in dark corners or at notorious police stations where the innocent or the accused attracts the ‘condemned criminal’ treatment and the luckless criminal meets swift and crude judgment. What’s that you say? The Police is your fiend? You are forgiven. Sin some more. Fable: ‘Security is under control’ or ‘We’re on top of the situation’. Verity: Rather trite these days, the government’s rallying cry in the face of overwhelming crime hardly reassures. Try ‘Terrorists rule!’ or what better describes the campaign of terror waged across the land by armed robbers, kidnappers, assassins, fundamentalists cum terrorists and, it bears telling, archaic and inept policing sustained by clueless leadership? Really, it seems that the government is in wonderland and the citizen in no-man’s-land. Model: Federal character; quota system; zoning. Reality: Despite the posturing of party officials in power or the civil service, none of the unifying ideals truly exists. At best practiced in some bastardised form, all three concepts are abandoned when they are most relevant. Consider the oft-criticised composition of the executive arm of government and recent recruitment by ministries and the armed forces, for instance. Imagination: Vision 20: 2020. Existence: Illusion 20: 2020. Eradication of poverty? Health for all? Basic education for all? Not with health tourism in vogue and the annual S.S.C.E. exam pass rate hovering around 30 per cent. And not when the average Nigerian grapples with poverty described by a standard of living below $1 dollar a day and life expectancy of 52 years, according to international standards. Yet, government officials are preoccupied with plundering the national till ahead of elections and muffling whistleblowers. Saga: 18, 000 naira minimum wage. Obtainable: Outside government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and some states, anything from less than 10, 000 naira for teachers in private primary and secondary schools to less than 20, 000 naira for casual yet hazardous positions in factories essentially run by foreigners. Ideal: Free and fair elections. Usual: ‘Do-or-die elections’, the kind that characterises Nigerian elections. The Anambra 2013 governorship election fiasco remains the benchmark for flawed and fiery polls, and it doesn’t get worse than that – if you can ignore INEC’s track record and President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s combustible approach to 2015. Fallacy: Nigeria: Giant of Africa. Truth: Nothing could be farther from the truth. Despite warnings of socioeconomic and climatic catastrophe, Africa’s most endowed country in human and material terms continues to squander resources and play catch-up. Dread the predictable in the event of political collapse; Nigeria: Albatross of Africa, nay, the world.

Jokes Humour

Magic Pill AN elderly woman went to the local clinic and asked to speak with the doctor. When the receptionist asked why she was there, she replied, “I’d like to have some birth control pills.” Surprised, the doctor thought for a minute and then said, “Excuse me, Mrs. Mabuda, but you’re 80 years old. What would you possibly need birth control pills for?” The woman said, “They help me sleep better.” The doctor considered this for a second, and said, “How in the world do birth control pills help you sleep?” The woman said, “I put them in my granddaughter’s orange juice, and I sleep better at night.” Wrong Clock FRUSTRATED at always being corrected by Jimi, Janet decided the next time it happened, she would launch a retort. That moment finally arrived, and Janet was ready. “You know,” she said, “even a broken clock is right once a day.”

John looked at her and said, “Twice.” The Result AN efficiency expert concluded his lecture with a note of caution. “You don’t want to try these techniques at home.” “Why not?” asked somebody from the audience. “I watched my wife’s routine at breakfast for years,” the expert explained. “She made lots of trips between the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets, often carrying a single item at a time. One day I told her, ‘Honey, why don’t you try carrying several things at once?’” “Did it save time?” the person in the audience asked. “Actually, yes,” said the expert on a sad note. “It used to take her 20 minutes to make breakfast. Now I do it in seven minutes – alone.”

QUOTE We must try not to sink beneath our anguish ... but battle on. —J.K. Rowling •Adapted from the Internet

Writer’s Fountain EALING with the pain of writing: Some of the best their art? Must they grapple with hardship, tragedy and inner demons to write stories writers the world has ever seen ended up that reach out and touch the soul? Can they committing suicide. In fact, the list of writers be happy and well adjusted as well as being who have taken their own lives reads like a successful writers? Or can they, indeed, tap who’s who of the literary world. And for unhappiness or tragedy as a resource? those who have battled severe depression, Everyone suffers from depression at some the list is even longer. point in life. It’s natural and healthy. As But do writers have to suffer to pursue writers and many involved in the creative Animal print: arts may find, the loss of a loved one can •Lions are the only truly social cat species, inspire an enduring piece of work. But and usually every female in a pride of five suppose a writer, by a cruel twist of fate, is to 30 individuals is closely related. But male not genetically predisposed to clinical lions sometimes kill their own young if depression or some other cool mental illness they seem a threat or take the attention of (there seems to be a new one to choose from their mate. every day). •Leopards are so stealthy that they can Suppose his parents had blown his chances roam around a city with the chances of not of a tragic childhood by being kind and nurturing and, even more unreasonably, not being seen! dying when he was very young? Suppose that •Jaguars are frightened by dogs. •Leopards were originally called Pard, alcohol and other mind-altering substances held no great attraction to him? What chance Pardus and Panther. •Lizards can self-amputate their tails for would he have then of becoming a successful protection. It grows back after a few months. writer? Perhaps a very good chance. Because, we •Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat may think, the actual act of writing provides all the trauma that a writer needs. of arms for that reason.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Three years of Islamic banking: So far, so fair Page 58, 59

•Ogundeyin

Page 61

E-clearing system: Importers fault high demurrage, bank charges

OME importers and a u t o m o b i l e manufacturers have blamed the current high demurrage and bank charges on the failure of electronic clearing system of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). They called on government to improve the power supply and the

Internet service at the port for the electronic clearing system to work effectively. The importers association made the call in a statement in Lagos on Friday signed by its Chairman, Mr Okeke Chukwuma. The association said that it was worrisome that importers were bearing the demurrage and high bank

-- Page 53

'Nigeria has capacity to produce armoured vehicles'

charges due to the failure of the electronic system. ``We have been paying so much on demurrage since December. Importers are not happy," he said. Chukwuma urged the NCS to start implementing the electronic clearing system at container terminals on a pilot stage. He said that the importers

were happy with the electronic system of transacting business, but there was the need for effective power supply to facilitate the delivery of containers. Chukwuma also complained of incessant checks on containers already cleared at the terminals along the highways.

‘I’m a big picture person’ •Okusanya

Page 62

Kaduna spends N100m in tourism development

HE Kaduna State Government over the weekend said it had spent N100 million in the development of tourist sites in the state in its effort to boost tourism and generate revenue. Abdulmuminu Ashafa, the Director, Planning, Research, Statistic Department, state Ministry of Culture and Tourism, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that contract for the project was awarded in 2013. He said that the present government had developed tourist sites neglected by past administrations. Ashafa listed the sites to included the Queen Amina site at Turunku, Zaria Dam Resort, Multipurpose Theatre at Gamji gate and Mini Zoo at Hassan Katsina park. He explained that work was still in progress at the Queen Amina site and on the second phase of Zaria Dam resort fencing while the Multipurpose Theatre was undergoing renovation. According to Ashafa, the government is also constructing a Mini Zoo at Gen. Hassan Katsina park. ''The government is buying wild animals from Bauchi State Government and the process of evacuation of the animals is in progress.'' The director said all the project would be completed as scheduled, adding that the government was also identifying new tourist sites across the 23 local government areas. Ashafa noted that the state was blessed with various tourists sites and expressed government's commitment to transforming them into world class centres. He said that the effort of the government was aimed at boosting tourism, enhancing the state revenue base and placing the state on the world's tourism calendar.

Plateau Fadama procures tractors for farmers

•From left: Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank Limited, Mrs. Mary Akpobome; Managing Director, Mr. Ifie Sekibo; Executive Director, Manila Banking, Mr. Niyi Adeseun and Managing Director, Fund Adviser UK, Paul Evans, during a dinner to mark the bank's one year anniversary, in Lagos…recently. PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE JIMOH

BPE attributes power sector unbundling success to FG's commitment

R Benjamin Dikki, the DirectorGeneral, Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE), has attributed the agency's success in the unbundling of the power sector to the removed all inhibitions by the Federal Government. In a statement at the weekend in Abuja, Dikki said

that the roles of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo greatly accounted for the success of the power sector transactions. The statement by BPE Head of Public Communication, Mr Chigbo Anichebe, said the director general spoke while receiving

"2013 Man of the Year Award" in Abuja. Dikki recalled that during the signing of the industry's documents for the transactions, some of the critical stakeholders were footdragging until the President gave marching order to them to expediently play their roles. He said that Jonathan's

courage and confidence in the unbundling of the power sector aided BPE to pull through with issues associated with the power transactions. He dedicated the award to the President for "his focus, determination and meticulous follow-throughs which saw to the success of the power sector transaction".

would achieve the feat through collaboration with Coca Cola company, adding that the company's interest in water was not limited to commercial use, but provision of water across Africa. Adetu said the company's collaboration with Coca cola in the last 10 years had provided water for two million people in 14 states. He pledged the commitment and support of the company in ensuring access to water for the Nigerian

populace. Speaking on the theme of the celebration: 'Water and Energy,' Adetu said that the company recognised that water was the medium through which energy was being transferred in industries. ``A research has showed that over seventy percent of the energy within an industrial site is done by water. ''It takes a lot of water to produce electricity energy both for cooking and steaming. ''A significant amount of

energy is needed to transfer, to treat, to convert and to discharge water during production cycle in any industry,'' he said. Kanan Nadar, Chief Water Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) Specialist, said the poorest were disproportionately being affected. He said the poorest households were two and a half times less likely to have improved water sources than their rich counterparts.

Guinness to provide 5m Africans with water

R Seni Adetu, the Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, at the weekend said that the company aimed at providing about five million Africans with water in the next few years. Adetu, represented by Mr Sesan Sobowale, the company's Director Corporate Relations, made the remark during the World Water Day celebration in Abuja. He said the company

HE Plateau Fadama III Coordinator, Mr Gideon Dandam, has said the office was liaising with companies and agriculture-related institutions to obtain tractors and other machines for farmers. Dandam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos over the weekend that the arrangement became necessary due to the new phase of the Fadama III projects focusing on large scale farming. The coordinator explained that the World Bankassisted project was expected to end in Dec. 2013, but was extended to 2017 with large scale farming as the focus. ``It has been extended because of the impact it created nationwide and the relevance it has with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government, ``The programme is expected to focus on large scale production this time around and they are going to spend the resources to encourage farmers in groups. ``No more forming of new groups; no more going to service of small unit farmers but this time around we are going to bring a congregation Fadama groups to be based on commodities. ``We are talking with Kia Company and Stanbic Bank. They have some tractors which they want to give fadama III farmers in Plateau'', he added. He said the farmers would arrange themselves in large commodity-based groups; like rice farmers, maize farmers, among others, and acquire the tractors for their use. ``Farmers that are now into large group of commodities would now acquire these tractors and used on the commodity-based formations. ``This will go a long way to fulfill the Federal Government's ATA and the Plateau Government's 10Point Agenda which also has agricultural transformation as one of the points'', he said. Dandam stated that his office was also liaising with other companies to get other farmer inputs and machinery for the farmers to enhance large scale agricultural production.

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Three years of Islamic banking Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Joe Agbro Jr. in this report review progress made thus far three years after the apex bank approved licence for the takeoff of the first zero-interest banking, popularly known as Islamic banking

HEN the news went abuzz that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was tinkering with the idea of issuing licenses for the operation of noninterest banking aka Islamic banking in the country, it elicited mixed reactions with many arguing over its propriety or otherwise. But the rash of criticisms notwithstanding, proponents of the Islamic banking model in the country were more than convinced at the time that it is a welcomed development owing to its socio-economic benefits. Concerned over the welter of criticism against Islamic banking, CBN's Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (FSS), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, had a hectic time trying to convince the aggrieved parties on the propriety of the idea of Islamic banking at the time. Moghalu who spoke at different fora at the time, emphasised that Islamic banking and other forms of non-interest banking were part of effort by the apex bank to stimulate financial inclusion in the country. Non-interest banking is not new banking model he said, adding: "It is a form of banking under specialised banking model. The reason for an expert advisory council in the guideline is because of the nature of non-interest banking under the principle of Islamic commercial jurisdiction. All banks that are Islamic banks have that type of council. So the regulator in this context felt the need to have a council that advises it on the compliance of the products that those banks will issue with the principle of Islamic commercial jurisdiction. "I will like to very clearly assure Nigerians that non-interest banking is part of our plans to increase the inclusion into the financial sector, people who have stayed out of the financial system for various reasons.

HREE years down the line, how would you assess the performance of the Islamic finance window, in terms of success? Jaiz Bank is the first and currently the only fully fledged non-interest Islamic bank in Nigeria. It got a regional license to operate in North East, North West and Abuja from the Central Bank of Nigeria in November 2011 and commenced operations in January 2012. It started with three branches in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano. It has since increased its branches to 13 located in Katsina, Gombe, Gusau, Sokoto, Maiduguri, and Bauchi and with plans to open additional 25 branches before the end of the year. We have also applied for a national license which will enable us to open branches and be present in all the state capitals across the country. Our intention is to be at every nook and cranny of the country so that we can provide banking and financial services to a large segment of the society that are unbanked. We want to largely drive the retail banking to ensure we provide financial inclusion to many people that are financially excluded. Looking at the performance of Jaiz Bank since it started operations in 2012, one will say so far so good. We can say Alhamdulillah. We commenced operation with zero-customer and today as we speak we have over 60, 000 customers banking with us. Our customers cut across all the regions of

There is no agenda; it is simply finance and not religion. I want to further assure Nigerians very clearly that non-interest bank application is welcomed at the CBN", he further explained. Subsequently, the CBN after a rethink, changed the initial N25b capital requirement and issued a revised guideline on non-interest banking as well as prescribed a capital base requirement of N10b and N5b for all prospective Islamic banks applying for national and regional licences respectively in the country. Of all the prospects, Jaiz Bank Plc, earned a regional license to operate the first fully fledged non-interest Islamic bank in Nigeria in November 2011. Three years down the line, the rest as they say is history, as Jaiz Bank has since achieved some height of success as adjudged by some of its patrons. In an interview with a crosssection of individuals, they spoke not only spoke glowingly of the Islamic bank project but noted that Jaiz Bank has come to symbolise everything good about non-interest banking. In the view of Mallam Abdulkadri Kassim, a finance expert, he said of Islamic banking: "The three most distinguishing factors that make Islamic finance unique from the conventional system are prohibition of Riba (interest) in all its forms, risksharing and asset-backed. The last factor eliminates speculation, extreme uncertainty, etc in financing and encourages growth of the real economy - this made it (Islamic Banking & Finance) more resilient during the world economic meltdown! "Islamic banking and finance has become very popular and widely accepted as a reliable financial system that has been integrated into the global financial system. For over three

decades it has appeared on the world scene as an active player." While stressing the numerous benefits of Islamic banking, Kassim said: "The basic principle of Islamic banking is the sharing of profit and loss as opposed to charging of usury (interest). For example, when it comes to the profit from the financing of a project, the financier and the beneficiary share the actual or net profit/loss rather than throwing the risk burden only to the entrepreneur." Speaking with The Nation, Mr. Idris Salihu, Head, Corporate Communication Department, Jaiz Bank Plc, gave useful insight on the operations of non-interest banking from the point of view of an operator. Apparently amused by Jaiz Bank's status as the only Islamic bank in the country, Salihu chose to rub it in. "Currently, there is only one fully fledged non-Interest Islamic bank in Nigeria and that is Jaiz Bank. There are however a couple of others that have been licensed by the CBN to provide an Islamic banking window

alongside their conventional banking platform. I know of Stanbic IBTC and Sterling Bank operating an Islamic bank window." Pressed further, he said: "Whereas the minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) expected of all Nigerian banks are respectively set at 10% and 35%, Jaiz's actual CAR and SLR over the past two years averagely never went below 70% and 75% respectively, making us one of the most capitalised and liquid in the industry by this yardstick. The story is same for Islamic banks in other jurisdictions globally which is inherently due to the unique attributes of our operating model." On the economic prospects of Islamic bank, he declared matter-offactly: "Interestingly, as at the end of 2013 the industry has further grown by nearly a double fold to $1.6trillion from the 2008 estimate though with Islamic banking at the heart of this quantum leap in the industry but the growth can be said to be partly buoyed by the development in the other

complimentary sectors (such as Sukuk and Takaful)." He was however, quick to add that: "In Nigeria, currently, the industry is lacking depth in terms of complimentary institutions in the non-bank Islamic Finance space. But the few operators that are available and the activities in the area are recording laudable achievements. For instance, the notable operator in the capital markets where it offers ethical investment management services following Shari'a principles asset management, private wealth management and financial advisory services is doing well. Its Islamic Stock Index has been a winner at the bourse. "The Sukuk sector is still in its infancy, but there is evidence of growing interest in the exciting products it can offer; this is evinced by the recent issuance of the first Sukuk in the market by Osun State, which was 20% oversubscribed. On the Takaful sector, a lot has been achieved essentially by the regulator (NAICOM). In 2013, it released the

'Nigerians have embraced Isla m Mr. Idris Salihu, Head, Corporate Communication Department, Jaiz Bank Plc, in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf gives useful insight on the prospects of Islamic finance as pioneered by Jaiz Bank. Excerpts: the country and from different religious background. Between 2012 and 2013, our deposits surge up by more than 1500% while investments grew by 381%. We started with N5 billion capital base and this has increased to over N10 billion. This we can say is a success. Jaiz has become a reference point for non-interest Islamic banking in Nigeria and we are happy and proud to be pioneers of this unique type of banking in the country. Jaiz is one of the first to get approval for Islamic finance among others. What is the total number of thriving Islamic finance institutions operating in the country currently? When you say Jaiz is one of the first to get approval for Islamic Finance among others, you are saying there are others operating alongside Jaiz. Let's get this right for the purpose of educating and enlightening the public. Currently, there is only one fully fledged non-Interest Islamic bank in Nigeria and that is Jaiz Bank. There are however a couple of others

that have been licensed by the CBN to provide an Islamic banking window alongside their conventional banking platform. I know of Stanbic IBTC and Sterling Bank operating an Islamic bank window. Let me use this medium to correct certain inaccurate information that makes some rounds sometimes. We are aware of a text message purporting that you can open a Jaiz Bank account with Stanbic IBTC. This is completely misleading. Jaiz Bank Plc has no relationship whatsoever with Stanbic IBTC or Sterling Bank, but we do collaborate to advance this new concept in banking. You cannot open a Jaiz Bank account with Stanbic IBTC or any other bank for that matter. A prospective customer interested in having account with Jaiz Bank should do so by visiting any of our branches and locations or visit our website: www.jaizbankplc.com and follow the corresponding link to fill our online account opening form and submit. From N25 billion capital base, the CBN issued a revised guideline on non-

interest banking as well as prescribed a capital base requirement of N10 and N5 billion for all prospective Islamic banks applying for national and regional licences respectively. Do you think this is adequate enough judging by the quantum of business involved? The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the only Bank authorised by law to set operating limits for different categories of financial institutions and they have done excellently well in stabilizing the financial sub-sector. They are regulators and also professionals and for them to set those limits it means it is adequate. Moreover, our experience has come to validate this fact; for instance, whereas the minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) expected of all Nigerian banks are respectively set at 10% and 35%, Jaiz's actual CAR and SLR over the past two years averagely never gone below 70% and 75% respectively, making us one of the most capitalised and liquid in the industry by this yardstick. The story

â&#x20AC;˘Salihu

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

king: So far, so fair

Takaful framework to guide the licensing and operations of Takaful companies. I am aware that there are already a number of applications for licensing that are currently receiving attention in NAICOM. "The development of the market shall on the one hand depend on the ability and commitment of government and regulators to develop enabling guidelines, policies and instruments. And on the other hand the mutual cooperation among market operators." Growing fame of Islamic bank To many financial pundits, Islamic banking and finance has many benefits and opportunities for the entire population of Nigeria, including Muslims and non-Muslim faithful alike. Some of these include ethical, transparent, non-discriminatory financial offering, high potential market size with Muslims making up over 50 per cent of the population of the 155million population. Besides, it is capable of

encouraging the large unbanked and informal sector, estimated to contribute at least 55 per cent to the country's GDP, just as it has the potential to offer over 30% return on equity.Unlike in decades back, when Islamic banking was only common in the Arab and the Muslim worlds, it has since spread to the Far East, Asia, Europe, America and Africa. It is estimated that there are more than 200 non-interest financial institutions operating in about 75 countries across the globe and still counting. Though it is said to constitute less than five per cent of the global financial market, the Islamic banking and finance market was growing between 15-20 per cent before the world economic recession of 2008 and thereafter at an average of 15 per cent p.a. In the last four decades, the system has evolved from a small niche visible only in Islamic countries to a profitable, dynamic and resilient competitor at an international level. Although there are still challenges regarding uniform regulation of Islamic banking and finance, a lot has been achieved by countries that have been in the forefront such as Bahrain, Malaysia, UK, as well as other organizations purposely established to help regulate and standardize Islamic finance practice. According to a recent IMF study, the global body revealed that Islamic banks performed better in 2008 in terms of profitability, credit and asset growth compared to most of the conventional banks worldwide. Malaysia has been developing the necessary infrastructure to support the legal and regulatory framework for Islamic finance industry since the 80's. The Islamic Banking Act was enacted in 1983 and Takaful Act in 1984. The UK (FSA) has also reviewed some of its statutes to accommodate Islamic Finance since 2003. The industry has also developed self regulatory bodies such as the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Finance Institutions (AAOIFI), the Islamic Financial Service Board (IFSB), International Islamic Financial Markets (IIFM) and International Islamic Rating Agency (IIRA) among others. The AAOIFI which is based in

sla mic banking' is same for Islamic banks in other jurisdictions globally which is inherently due to the unique attributes of our operating model. It is estimated that there are more than 200 non-interest financial institutions operating in about 75 countries across the globe. Is this adequate? Honestly, if resources of the society must be evenly distributed among different classes of people in the society, I think we need more noninterest Islamic financial institutions. People should embrace this system of banking and financial inclusion which is characterised with high ethical standard, transparency and fairness. Islamic banking abhors interest-based system and focus more on profit and loss sharing. Everything about it is for the benefit of humanity and it also shy away from things that are harmful to man and the society. Looking at the history of Islamic banking, I think 200 non-interest financial institutions operating in about 75 countries in the world is not too bad, but it is an evolving concept and more are sure to come on board. The basic principle of Islamic banking is the sharing of profit and loss as opposed to charging of usury (interest). From your experience how practicable is this?

Very practicable! Jaiz and others operating a window have been operating it for over two years and Nigerians are beginning to understand and accept it irrespective of their religious background. To many financial pundits, Islamic banking and finance has many benefits and opportunities for the entire population of Nigeria, including Muslims and non-Muslim faithful alike. Do you share the same sentiment? Yes of course. The size of Islamic banks around the world was estimated to be close to US $850 billion at the end of 2008. While Islamic banking remains the main component of the Islamic financial system, the other elements, such as Takaful (Islamic Insurance), Mutual Funds and Sukuk (Islamic bonds and financial certificates), have witnessed strong global growth, too. Can this be said of Nigeria too? Interestingly, as at the end of 2013 the industry has further grown by nearly a double fold to $1.6trillion from the 2008 estimate though with Islamic banking at the heart of this quantum leap in the industry but the growth can be said to be partly buoyed by the development in the other complimentary sectors (such as Sukuk and Takaful).

Bahrain issues standards governing accounting, auditing, corporate governance and capital adequacy for the industry. Similarly the IFSB is an international body headquartered in Malaysia with more than 150 members including the IMF, IDB, World Bank for International Settlements, Central Banks, market players and professional firms. The body issues Standards and Guidelines on risk management, capital adequacy, corporate governance, etc. In Nigeria, as part of the ongoing reforms of the banking industry, the Central Bank (CBN) has abolished the Universal Banking Model (of the onesize-fit-all minimum capital of N25bn introduced in 2005) and released new guidelines for different categories of conventional banks as well as that of the Non-interest Banking (NIB) or Islamic banking. The size of Islamic banks around the world was estimated to be close to US $850 billion at the end of 2008. While Islamic banking remains the main component of the Islamic financial system, the other elements, such as Takaful (Islamic Insurance), Mutual Funds and Sukuk (Islamic bonds and financial certificates), have witnessed strong global growth, too. According to a reliable estimate, the Islamic financial industry now amounts to over US $1 trillion and projected to hit $1.6tr by 2012. Given its fast-growing nature the industry is estimated to double in size in less than a decade - other things being equal. Global financial institutions offering Islamic Banking services include HSBC, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Capital and ABN Amro. These institutions are leveraging on their skills, resources, expertise and access to capital to drive the Islamic finance industry to higher levels. There are also other local/regional banks especially in the GCC countries which have started to expand their operations across their borders into other countries. These include Al-Rajhi Bank of Saudi Arabia, Dubai Islamic Bank, Kuwait Finance House, and Al Baraka Group. In Africa, the countries that have embraced Islamic Banking include South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Tunisia, and Benin Republic.

In Nigeria, currently, the industry is lacking depth in terms of complimentary institutions in the nonbank Islamic Finance space. But the few operators that are available and the activities in the area are recording laudable achievements. For instance, the notable operator in the capital markets where it offers ethical investment management services following Shari'a principles asset management, private wealth management and financial advisory services is doing well. Its Islamic Stock Index has been a winner at the bourse. The Sukuk sector is still in its infancy, but there is evidence of growing interest in the exciting products it can offer; this is evinced by the recent issuance of the first Sukuk in the market by Osun State, which was 20% oversubscribed. On the Takaful sector, a lot has been achieved essentially by the regulator (NAICOM). In 2013, it released the Takaful framework to guide the licensing and operations of Takaful companies. I am aware that there are already a number of applications for licensing that are currently receiving attention in NAICOM. The development of the market shall on the one hand depend on the ability and commitment of government and regulators to develop enabling guidelines, policies and instruments. And on the other hand the mutual cooperation among market operators.

â&#x20AC;˘From left: Mr. Edoka Onyeke and Mr. Temisan Omatseye, lawyers representing Polmaz Limited, in a lawsuit involving NNPC, PPMC, NIMASA and foreign shipping owners over failure of cabotage procedure, after the hearing at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śrecently. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

O'Neill, for Airtel premier launch

OREMOST British Economist and honourary Professor of Economics at the University of Manchester, Terence James "Jim" O'Neill, who is best known for coining BRIC, the acronym that stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China has been confirmed as lead speaker at the unveiling of Airtel Premier, an exclusive event for distinguished personalities. O'Neill, a former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, also coined the term MINT-Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey-in order to differentiate among the variety of emerging economies, will speak on the theme, "Nigeria: How the 'N' in MINT is going global". The exclusive event, which will also feature the unveiling of the prestigious Airtel Premier Club as well as good music and comedy, holds today at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at 6.00pm. Speaking about the event, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, stated that the company is committed to creating opportunities that will offer platforms for reasoned discourse and also set the tone for the continuous growth and development of the Nigerian economy. "At Airtel Nigeria, customer-centricity is embedded in our DNA, forming a harmonious blend with our corporate vision of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians. We are passionate about promoting constructive dialogue and also partnering with our esteemed stakeholders to realize their dreams and aspirations," he explained.

House of Chi stresses benefits of Chivita Active

OUSE of Chi Limited, makers of the popular range of 100 per cent Chivita Premium fruit juice, have impressed on prospective consumers, the need to consume Chivita Active, due to its health benefits as well as enhancement of active lifestyle. Speaking on Chivita Active's 'Be Active - Do More" promise, Managing Director of the CHI Limited, Mr Deepanjan Roy said: "One thing we have always tried to do is provide our consumer a complete and balanced range of fruit juice offerings, so that we are ready to fulfill her needs irrespective of whatever they may be from the product or the lifestyle standpoint." As competition in the marketplace for consumers' loyalty gets fiercer and fiercer still, lifestyle positioning has become an increasingly popular approach among brand managers, especially in categories where functional differences are hard to maintain. Because lifestyle brands get recognition through the experiences they are associated with, their radio jingles and television commercials are usually developed to draw attention to the positive emotion that is likely to accrue through experiences with the brand.

NDE to organise extra-mural classes for 1,350 candidates

HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Gombe State said it would organise extra-mural classes for 1,350 school certificate holders with deficiency in their results. Alhaji Abdulkadir Mabudi, the NDE Coordinator, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe over the weekend that the programme, tagged ``graduates coaching scheme'', would begin on Monday. He said the aim of the programme was to coach those who had deficiencies in their results to enable them to pass the papers and subsequently gain admission to higher institutions of learning.

He said the candidates were selected from the three senatorial zones in the state with the help of community leaders and the Gombe State Ministry of Education. According to him, there are three centres in each of the zones and each centre will accommodate 150 students. Mabudi said the directorate had already employed graduates in diverse fields to teach the candidates and each of them would be paid N10,000 monthly as allowances. He called on the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity. "We are expecting all of them to pass your examinations after the programme.â&#x20AC;?

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

BUSINESS

Nigeria withdraws from EPA

IGERIA has finally withdrawn from the E c o n o m i c Partnership Agreement (EPA) due to negative national impact. In a statement by the National Association of Nigeria Traders NANTS, the Federal Government has consulted widely among stakeholders and civil society and has come to the conclusion that the EPA is deadlier to the nation's economy than any other agreement ever entered. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga who represented the government said the result of the conclusion of EPA

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja agreement were more deadly than originally envisaged. The outcome shows a more than 50% decline in tariff revenue over a period if Nigeria signs EPA, and about 0% if Nigeria remains He said, "Nigeria's current account will deteriorate with EPA liberalisation scenario at about 3.5%, Impact on the GDP growth path becomes dramatic from 2025 with about 3% as deviations between the two scenarios not too distinctive before 2025. "Total government revenue drops relatively to the baseline due to tariff cuts, resulting in

fall in government savings, drop in national savings, drop in public and private investment demand, fall in domestic investment and increase in EU imports demand which will likely lead to a fall in import-competing sectors and this would create a drop in urban skilled employment. "Sharp increase about 5.5% in general unemployment compared to 0.3 under no-EPA, high fall in household consumption I%. Increase about 28% in interest rates over time under the EPA, negative impact on investment 14% against -2% under a no-EPA, substantial fall in domestic output; bigger fall in sectoral domestic output, substantial

increase in imports from EU. "The study which used the same model provided by ECOWAS concluded that the Nigerian manufacturing sector would suffer profusely and concluded that Nigeria is better off without the EPA. Stakeholders including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), government officials made assertions against the EPA. In the end, there was a unanimous voice by Nigerians against the EPA. ECOWAS and the government of Nigeria were told in clear terms and for the last time that Nigeria does not need the EPA as conceived.

Group condemns sack of 100 workers From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja HE alleged sack of over 100 workers of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, by UC RUSAL, the Russian firm currently in charge of the plant has drawn the ire of BFIGroup, the company that emerged preferred bidder for ALSCON in 2004. According to the Executive Vice President PR of BFIG, Mr Frank Shearer, BFIG which has won a Supreme Court judgement as a step towards acquiring the plant, said he was "extremely disturbed with the level of decline in both physical and human resource assets of the company since the Bureau of Public Enterprises, handed over the plant to UC RUSAL in 2006." According to Shearer, "BFIG is outraged at the latest information that over 100 workers of ALSCON were to be sacked by UC RUSAL effective Monday, March 17, 2014. We are disturbed by the level of wastefulness and dissipation of human resources at the plant. When BFIG bided for ALSCON in 2004, apart from the physical assets, we also considered the robust human resources, which we hoped to rely on in our effort to turn the fortunes of the plant around for the economic benefit of the people of Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta region." He lamented that "the value of the physical assets as at 2006 when UC RUSAL took over the plant stood at over $1.1billion, but based on the auditor's financial reports the value of the assets has since deteriorated to only $89 million in 2011." Another source of worry to BFIG is the recent engagement of Ime Inyang as the Managing Director of ALSCON to manage the plant along with some indigenous officials. BFIG is worried that "the decision to hand over such a technical plant to inexperienced personnel after sacking a large chunk of the technical personnel was for UC RUSAL to create room for it to continue ripping the plant of all sensitive components without resistance."

Lakaji opens new vista for food sufficiency

â&#x20AC;˘Dr Adetunji Haastrup, Wisconsin Professor of Management was recently sworn in as the President of Human Resources Development Institute of Nigeria.

'Transportation, telecom'll drive Delta economy'

USINESSMAN and governorship aspirant in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Delta State, Tony Prest, has said investments in the transportation and telecommunication sector will drive Delta State economy outside oil. Addressing reporters during his volunteer recruitment exercise at Warri North and Ethiope East Local Government Area, he noted that it is time to beam the searchlight on other sectors other than oil. Prest added that when transportation and telecommunication systems

are efficient, they provide economic and social opportunities and benefits that result in positive multiplier effects such as better accessibility to markets, employment and additional investments. He described transportation and telecommunication as important social and environmental load, which cannot be neglected. "Thus, from a general standpoint the economic impacts of transportation and telecommunication cannot be overlooked in the development of Delta State. "We will provide metro

rail system for commuting and also ensure the full development of River Niger as a Port, which has not only economic but historical significance to the Delta people. This will also generate ancillary economic spin offs, which are attendant to port development. "We will develop rail line services crisscrossing the state, to facilitate transportation of goods and passengers and thereby enhance commercial and business activities. We also revamp Delta State Transport Service to provide affordable transport for the movement of goods and passengers," Prest added.

He said his administration will make Delta the most Information Communication Technology (ICT) enabled state in Nigeria by laying fibre optic cables all over the main cities and automatically make land line local phone calls cheap with attendant benefits on communication, trade and commerce. "Subsidised Wireless Internet Hotspots will be created in all the major cities thereby giving access to a wide group of Delta residents and indigenes to the internet with its attendant effect on information gathering and sharing and development of knowledge economy," he stressed.

From left: Mr. Freddy Messanvi, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director, Mr. Francisco Toso, Area Operations Director, West Africa both of British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) and Senator Adeniyi Ademuyiwa, member of the committee on Agriculture Oyo State, at the 2014 British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy Farmers' Productivity Award ceremony held in Iseyin... recently.

HE formal launch of the Lagos-Kano-Jibiya agricultural growth corridor in August 2013 marked a coming out of sorts for a project that had been quietly built up to change the face of the Nigerian agro-business industry. The Lakaji Agricultural Growth Corridor Investment Summit brought together no less than 230 Nigerian and international participants who spent two days to discuss the immense opportunities this corridor presents to investors - seen as it links the largest consumer market in West Africa (Lagos) with some of the highest potential agricultural zones in the region. Lakaji is still primarily driven by the United States Agency for International Development, through its project - the Nigerian Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) project that is managed by multinational development agency, Carana Corporation. Alf Monaghan, the chief of party of the NEXTT, said the project stand to raise Nigeria's non-oil exports to N6.4trn by 2017. He said the need to reduce road congestion and facilitate adequate distribution along the corridor will require a functional rail system with the benefits of predictability, speed, competitive cost, minimum breakdown, no road blocks, reduced pilferage and containerization - which equals faster handling of volumes which is usually attractive to investors. One of the drivers of the project, Dr. Mima Nedelcovych, said it was designed to assist the Federal Government's push to expand trade volume and efficiency within the ECOWAS region and beyond. Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Agency for International Development to expand the exportation of agricultural products by 30 per cent within the next three years, the Executive Director/ Chief Executive of the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, said Lakaji would help to promote inclusive economic growth through improved trade and transport competitiveness.â&#x20AC;?

Opeifa, Kuye for traffic management workshop

HE Honourable Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Ademorin A. Kuye is billed to attend the opening ceremonies of the two day Traffic Management Control Workshop for the officials of the Lagos State Local Governments as well as the Local Council Development Areas on Tuesday 1st April, 2014 as Special Guest of Honour, while his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation, Hon. Kayode Opeifa is also billed to witness the second day events of Wednesday 2nd April, 2014 as Special Guest of Honour; representing the Lagos State Government at the event. Billed to declare the workshop open with a keynote address on "Urban Traffic Management: Views on the Lagos State situation" is Mr. Fatai Kayode Lawal, President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria & MD/CEO, Sterling Assurance Nigeria Limited, while the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc will close the workshop with another keynote address on: "Putting Human Face to Traffic Management in Lagos State." The workshop's guest speakers will be led by the erudite scholar and the HoD, Geography Department, University of Lagos, Professor Samuel Iyiola Oni who will speak on: "Urban Traffic Safety Management," while Dr. Emmanuel. E. Ege of the same department is to speak on: "The Roles of Local Government Councils in Urban Traffic Management." A paper presentation on: "The Bridge between Law Enforcement and the Rights of pedestrians, the cyclists and motorists," is to be handled by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, while the Chief Registrar/National Executive Director, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Mr. Francis A. Ehiguese, FCILT, will speak on: "Rebuilding Attitudes of Traffic Regulatory Officials."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

ET up for business in 2008, Proforce Defence Limited is the only licensed automobile manufacturer that specialises in making armoured vehicles in Nigeria. At its innocuous Ode Remo Assembly Plant located in Ogun State, the gates are tall and strong, the fence is solid, high and there is no chance for just any prying eye to know what is going on inside. Even some residents of the town are not in the know of the company's existence. It doesn't bother people there. In fact, it's all part of the plan. On a recent visit to the factory, there was a constant din from hammering, grinding, and welding. Such noise is to be expected when the factory's sole business is to armour vehicles. But no sound however escaped beyond the factory hall. The Group Managing Director of the company, Adetokunbo Ogundeyin confidently noted that "people who need us know how to reach us." Why armour? That may be a trite question to Ogundeyin, whose scope of entrepreneurship boils down to seeing opportunities and creating value therein. On a board in his office are newspaper reports of successful men like Warren Buffet and Carlos Slims. He says those were put there years ago. "The people I read about now are even younger people who have done so well," he said. "When you read about them, you know the kind of strength that you have." Being the only one involved in making armoured vehicles in Nigeria, Ogundeyin surely needs all the strength he can muster. Prior to setting up Proforce, he was involved with running Ola Kleen, an office and industrial cleaning outfit. "We were actually into cleaning offices, cleaning factories, cleaning homes," he said. "And then we went into waste management. At the same time, we were running our real estate business, although the real estate business wasn't the common type. We were not catering for the living, we catered for the dead." And following a 2007 directive from the top echelon of the police, including the president, that bank bullion vans, should be armoured because armed robbers were killing a lot of security officers in the bullion vans, a spark lit in his head. "Around that time," Ogundeyin said, "a lot of Nigerians were importing armoured bullion vans into Nigeria." But he wanted to make the cars locally. And following that, a research and development unit to start was set up. Apart from loss of foreign exchange and job opportunities, Ogundeyin said he knew that with craze for importation, "technology-wise, Nigeria would not grow." The company which currently has about 200 employees has produced more than a 100 armoured vehicles and many more have been repaired. To make that possible, over $30m has been in-

BUSINESS

‘Nigeria has capacity to produce armoured vehicles’ Adetokunbo Ogundeyin, Group Managing Director of Proforce Defence Limited, an indigenous company specialised in making armoured vehicles, in this interview with Joe Agbro Jr., speaks on why Nigeria is more than ready to build its own vehicle and prospects for the future

•Ogundeyin at Proforce’s Ode Remo Plant

vested into the project. And a dynamic team of skilled Nigerians supported by experienced expatriates work tirelessly to produce the vehicles to world-standard. In the process of armouring, the whole vehicle gets stripped. After this, each section, is lined with ballistic steel while the windows and the windscreens are replaced •Akinkuotu with bullet proof glass. All the sensitive components like the battery, radiator, electronic computer unit, as well as fuel tank are also protected. The tyres too are fitted with 'run flat' inserts which is made from composite materials that ensures that the tyres have the capability to carry the vehicle out of danger for more than 50 kilometres at about 70km/ hr after being shot. One major factor to note is the additional weight of armouring - which posed a burden for ordinary shock absorbers that bore the initial weight of the vehicle. However, to check this, the original shock absorbers are replaced with heavy duty ones It is after this that the finishing stages of upholstery and painting are done. This laborious process notwithstanding, the installed capacity is for 40 vehicles every month. The company has also produced armoured boats and can armour all kinds of vehicles. While the number of armoured cars being imported to Nigeria amounts to only a fraction of the vehicles, it constitutes a chunk in Naira terms. According to Ogundeyin, Nigerians spend about N10bn annually on armoured cars. Nigerians are beginning to adopt the use of armoured vehicles. While security men in bullion vans have become serial targets of

firearms attacks, other targets are high-net worth individuals like politicians, businessmen and even clerics. There is also the possibility of being caught in violent cross-fires. In a bid to combat what it termed as indiscriminate importation of vehicles, the federal government last year had drafted a policy which sought to make imported cars more expensive. The policy sought to make imported cars attract a duty of 70%. The policy is poised to benefit indigenous auto companies and Ogundeyin is appreciative. "Now, we clear air freight within 24 hours, and sea freight, maybe maximum four or five days," he said. "These things were not there last year." Before the latest auto policy review, as at 2012, Nigerians imported 200,000 used-vehicles and 80,000 new-vehicles at an annual cost of N400bn. And the policy, if properly implemented, may also force the country to develop its steel sector, given that steel makes about 60% of vehicle components. Towards this, Ogundeyin thinks the country is on the right track. "We're starting off a steel rolling mill," he said of the federal government's commitment to the steel industry. "Once we produce our steel here, that's it. The tyres can be produced in Nigeria. The transmission line can be made here. After all, when you look at other developing countries, when you look at Malaysia, all these things are produced there. So what are we talking about?" According to him, Nigeria is more than ripe enough to manufacture its own vehicles. "If you look at our local content here," he said, "it is almost about 40%. Look at the chas-

sis: we bring those chassis from Toyota. But I can assure you, with time, we'll start making our chassis locally. To make chassis is not a big deal at all. All you just need are forging machines." To this end, the company has purchased various machines to make this possible "With time you'll now have a developed value chain where different companies would start making different parts." Though there is the challenge of inadequate power supply, Ogundeyin said, “as of now, we have Nigerians that can armour a vehicle perfectly. A lot of technology transfer has taken place within a short period of time. So we don't even need to import Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in Nigeria again with what we're doing." The average cost of armouring a vehicle starts from about N10m, excluding the cost of the vehicle and is largely dependent on the customer's requirements. And it usually costs in the region of $80, 000 (about N12.8m) and $100, 000 (about N16m) to armour an SUV. As at present, Proforce's Ode Remo plant can churn out 480 vehicles annually, while another plant the company is setting up in Abuja will have capacity to produce over a thousand vehicles annually. But Ogundeyin foresees Proforce not just satisfying the Nigerian market, he also has his eyes trained on export. "In fact, by next year, we're going to start exporting all over the world," he said. "In five years time, I can assure you that we'll surpass South Africa in Africa."

Customer experience is the next competitive battleground - Jerry Gregoire, CIO, Dell Computers

What determines customer loyalty? Customer service or customer experience?

USTOMER service refers to the range of information, support and service offered to clients before, during or after making actual purchase of a goods or service. Interestingly, customers are not limited to the group of people who currently are consumers of a brand or item. It also includes those sects who by virtue of age, sex, location, need or a combination of any of these factors can make use of the manufacturers' product or service. In other words, everyone who falls into the category of the manufacturers' target market while a product was being designed or redesigned is a customer. As such, product manufacturers and service providers begin to offer service when they are not even aware of it and the recipients of these services are consciously or unconsciously making informed decisions. Beginning with the information provided on print media, TV and radio jingles and owner's manual to that moment when a customer finally comes in contact with the service providers or the product. The customer expects to receive value in return for every resource spent on purchasing a product or service. This is often intangible and can only be measured by the client. They also have their expectations extended to the item bought or service paid for and how it is sold to them. These two put together determines a Customer's Experience. Where customer service exceeds the client's expectation, the quality of the service is rated EXCELLENT. In a situation where customer service meets the customer's expectation, the quality of service is rated GOOD. However, where the service offered falls short of the customer's expectation, the quality of service is rated POOR. While service providers in the rural areas may enjoy great ratings based on customers' feedback due to the literacy level, low expectations and understanding of their rights as clients, their counterparts in the developed cities may have to work multiple times over for a similar rating because expectations there are usually higher. Knowing full well that no one in business enjoys monopoly forever, in this context, everyone in your industry offers service, what therefore distinguishes you from the rest is the experience you leave your customers with which may be pleasurable or otherwise. Contrary to expectations, consumers only get served with little or no concerns about the impressions they leave with. Business leaders who desire to always call the shots in their industry, however, understand that the ability alone is not sufficient but the ability to provide the same service uniquely and of course, competitively.

•Business Centre

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

â&#x20AC;&#x153;N

OLLYWOOD is getting set to take over the world. I recogniSe the role of entertainment in the Nigerian economy and this government will support an industry that makes Nigerians happy. I have given them direct order to make sure entertainers have $200 million worth of loan to work with. Make more movies, write and produce more hit songs, provide jobs and give hope to our people." President Goodluck Jonathan It bears similarity with Hollywood. A number of Nollywood actors and actresses are destined to superstardom before they attain the middle age. It is not about instant fame and fortune. But by sheer productivity and masterful performances, actors and actresses become veterans before they attain the golden age. Musicians even tend to operate across generations. The reason for these is the entertainment industry does so well in harnessing the power of youth. A lot is feared about the demographic structure of Nigeria, for now and for the future. By current estimates, the Nigerian population has over 100 million people under the age of 45. Will this army of young people find gainful employment today? If they don't, how are they to vent their energy? From, say the year 2054, when the potential demographic dividend of today will yield to something of an inverted pyramid population structure, what percentage of private and public resources would be required to support the pension system and care for the aged? Fiscal relief First, let's take a close look at the last question. Most artistes across the genres of entertainment are early starters. They start to contribute to the GDP at relatively young age. Their careers prop a broad range of economic activities that define the entertainment industry value chain. Because artistes remain economically active in their old age, and some of their past works gain even greater value much later, they hardly pose any burden on government or society. Instead, they keep both together happily. Furthermore, outside of policy-making and regulating the industry, entertainment is a sphere of activities for the private sector. It is not a place where huge pension liabilities will accrue to the government. Therefore, the growth of the entertainment industry does not pose corresponding additional burden on fiscal management. Indeed, the entertainment industry has been growing in leaps and bounds in the last decade. Nollywood has risen to number two position (behind India's Bollywood) in the global film markets, in terms of volume of production. In revenue, Nollywood is third, behind Hollywood and Bollywood. Nollywood produces about 50 movies per week. Current estimates put its annual revenue at an impressive $590 million. Africa Renewal, a publication of the United Nations, reported in its May 2013 edition, that the African film industry (in which Nollywood is by far the dominant), would contribute significantly to the expected 5.2% GDP growth projection for the continent last year. Euromonitor International and Reed Exhibitions, the organisers of the World Travel Market, a global event for the travel industry, were cited by Africa Renewal saying that the Nigerian film industry will continue to drive domestic and regional tourism. The entertainment sector is job-rich. It is now reputed to be the second highest employer of labour in Nigeria after agriculture. Characteristically employing pools of young people with diverse skill sets, the Nigerian film industry alone currently employs more than one million people. International interest In the earlier part of its history, Nollywood struggled to attract the interest of funders. It basically relied on angel investors and personal finance of a few people within the industry to maintain production. Then, its distribution infrastructure was hijacked by pirates and other agents of unauthorised distributorship. Today however, the industry is raising a new breed of savvy entrepreneurs whose exploits have internationalised the movie industry. One

BUSINESS

Value of the Nigerian entertainment industry

â&#x20AC;˘Nollywood stars By Roberts Orya of them is 33-year old Jason Njoku of Iroko Partners, who was recently listed by Forbes as one of "top 10 young African millionaires to watch." His firm with offices in Lagos, London and New York, distributes Nollywood and Ghanaian films and music. Seen as Africa's version of Netflix, Iroko Partners attracted further $8 million in funding last December to boost its ondemand video platform and drive it toward profitability in 2015. With the rising funding profile, several Nigerian actors and actresses have starred in international films. Some of the Nigerian films have been shot in exotic locations outside the country. One of the exponents, Genevieve Nnaji has been a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Omotola JaladeEkeinde is currently a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations. In the music sphere, Femi Kuti has received two nominations for Grammy Award, while 2Face Idibia and D'banj are winners of MTV Music Awards. Around Africa, Europe and America, Nollywood actors and Nigerian musicians are showcases of the abundance of raw talents in Nigeria, and how we are a people that is up and doing. Africa Magic channel on DSTV (Digital Satellite

Television) is about the magic of the Nigerian creative zest and industry capacity; no pun intended. Less than a decade ago, it was almost unthinkable that a local Nigerian musician would collaborate with international stars. Today, such collaborations are commonplace. U.S. mega stars Kanye West and Snoop Lion have worked with D'Banj and Don Jazzy, while Senegalese-American star Akon has signed Tuface Idibia, PSquare and Wizkid as the African representatives of his record label, Konvict Musik. Apart from signing a lucrative deal with SONY Music Entertainment, D'Banj's was recently unveiled at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa as the Ambassador for ONE Campaign, an advocacy that calls African governments to commit at least 10 per cent of national budgets on agriculture investment. Nigeria's Kings of Comedy, Ali Baba, Basketmouth, Julius Agwu, AY, among others are also celebrated across Africa and beyond. Basketmouth and Julius Agwu have individually organized sold-out shows at the O2 Arena, United Kingdom. Apart from having sold-out performances at home and abroad, video and audio recordings of comedy shows have also become huge sources of revenue for these

comedians. Harnessed demographic advantage Nollywood bubbles with the energy of youth. The predominant genre of the Nigerian music ruling our airwaves is youthful. That means perfect symmetry with the huge Nigerian youth population. The population universe of 170 million people provides a big market for retail of entertainment products. At the same time, businesses tapping the huge Nigerian consumer market, especially the mobile network operators (MNOs) and food & beverage, are propelling Nigerian entertainers to new levels of financial success with incomes from endorsements, Caller Ring Back Tones (CRBT), etc. In effect, Nigerian youths have the right motivations for success in the examples of the stars that grace our television sets and rule our airwaves. When cinemas arrived in Nigeria, much of the movies that moviegoers were treated to came from Hollywood, Chinese and Indian films. However, over the last decade, Nollywood films have become staples of Nigerian cinemas. This experience has further deepened the cinema culture in Nigeria as Nollywood film producers and directors, with considerable investments in both equipment and training, have significantly improved the quality of Nigerian films. The Nigerian entertainment industry has invalidated the excuse of poverty as a reason for the youth to operate in the underworld of crime. Many music stars and comedians have emerged from poor neighbourhoods, including Mushin and Ajegunle, two suburbs in Lagos. We therefore hope that the demographic dividend that is associated with the Nigerian population structure will be realised. The threat of a large youth population, which will turn against the larger society because of lack of the right motivation and opportunities, therefore diminishes. Presidential vision It is to the credit of the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan that he made the connection with the entertainment industry as early as 2010 when he succeeded late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. On November 6th of that year, he announced an intervention fund for the entertainment industry. He expressed his vision for the industry and commitment to growing it with these words. "Nollywood is getting set to take over the world. I recognize the role of entertainment in the Nigerian economy and this government will support an industry that makes Nigerians happy. I have given them direct order to make sure entertainers have $200 million worth of loan to work with. Make more movies, write and produce more hit songs, provide jobs and give hope to our people." This show of foresight, and the consequent recognition of the body of artistes by Mr. President, with the audience he granted the industry stakeholders, was thought to be an election gimmick ahead of the 2011 presidential election. Assuming that was the case, it would mean that the youth, given their visibility in the entertainment industry and their career successes, have become a critical bloc in the Nigerian political calculus. However, soon after his election in 2011, Mr. President kept his promise. He has continued to renew his commitment to the industry. The Nigerian Creative and Entertainment Industry Stimulation Loan Scheme (NCEILS) was launched with the funds pledged by Mr. President. Having facilitated the drafting of the operational guidelines for operating the Fund, and as the trade policy bank of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, has managed it. NEXIM Bank flagged-off funding support for the Nigerian movie industry with its first film financing facility for the production of "Dr. Bello" Movie on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos. The Bank has since been providing funding support for the improvement of distribution infrastructure/platforms and establishment of new digital production studios. â&#x20AC;˘Orya is Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export-Import Bank

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Brands & De-marketing

HE key components of a brand are product (offer), name and promise. It is interesting to note that all that takes place around brands in whatever name revolves around these three components. So, there is the offer or product, the name for reasons of identification and differentiation, and the promise, that establishes the reason(s)-why for such brand person. Immediately the product on offer assumes a personality, it becomes responsible for all that happens as a result of its being, such as keeping appointment (timing), presence, fulfilling promises and communicating. So, when professionals say a brand is a product with a name, the objective is always to underscore the basics in the definition of the brand’s person; it’s all little technicalities in the world of brands and brands management that are pieced together in telling interesting stories. Part of such story is the consumer’s experience, trade influences, price mechanism and movement, sales activation and promotion; it involves other imperatives such as research and planning, advertising, brand line extension…on and on. All these mentions must be coming as spinoffs to many of professionals at this point, but we are coasting home somewhere. There is also this very interesting marketing tool (or should I call it instrument) known as DE-MARKETING. At the beginners’ class, we were told this is a tool used by practitioners to limit a brand’s pursuit towards achieving some aspect of set-marketing objective for bigger gains in the future. So, managers of a given brand may decide to hold back in distribution to limit market or shelf presence, for some reasons. Or, a brand may just be over-priced in such a manner that may initially be considered injurious to its market performance, for reasons considered of strategic importance to the managers. Now, when marketing decisions that are not manifestly in the immediate interest of the brand is taken, it is termed a de-marketing move. But in such moves are always expectedly made in the interest of the brand. Otherwise, every action taken or decision made for any given brand should be towards growing the brand in the face of prevalent market situation. To do this effectively, begins with proper brand positioning statement (exclusive area for consultants). The BPS is a statement that establishes who the brand is and what it should be known and taken for. It serves as the steering wheel for its managers, towards presenting or representing such brand to the public. It is the BPS that shapes the image of the brand towards achieving its desired image. Interestingly, the culmination of a brand’s impression at the market place and the consumers’ perception of any brand is a function of how much it aligns itself with its positioning statement in delivering on its promise. So, a brand fails as a person soon as it permits a disconnection between its performance and the promise it made. Suffice, therefore, that the success of any brand depends on the consumer’s perception. I am yet to see any brand that continues to exist at the market place when the consumers see it as not fit to continue. However, the consumers’ power is dependent upon some factors, primary of which is the power to vote disposable income. The primary consideration in the definition of a brand’s market is ability to pay the price for such brand. So a brand can only be influenced by those who BUY it the consumer’s influence is also dependent on socio-dependent variables to include literacy, sophistication, media habits, lifestyle, etc. when all the variables are under the consumer’s control, then we have the ideal market situation THE BUYER’S MARKET. To a

large extent, that is the situation with markets in developed and sophisticated economies; markets where the brand adheres to all the expectable. In those markets, the brand either keeps to its promise(s) to the last detail or dies. The judgment is instantaneous. Whereas such markets are equipped to check any form of consumer abuse, same cannot be said of the primitive ones with all their short-comings. Consider this very sad story involving FedEx in Southern California, USA presently streaming (as at Thursday December 22, 2011, about an irresponsible employee. According to the footage captured in a surveillance camera, the FedEx driver was to deliver a customer’s parcel, which is a computer monitor. On getting to the address, the guy just carelessly tossed the monitor over the fence. That was awful in any case, but it is worse so because at the time, the recipient was not only at home, the gates to the house were wide open! Can you ever imagine that? Whatever stopped the guy from simply knocking and going in to carefully deliver the parcel, he did the unimaginable. FedEx is spending more than can be imagined to undo the damage this unfortunate development is costing the brand presently. In a market like ours in Nigeria wouldn’t the driver and the company have been free to go? Where would have been the surveillance camera to pick the driver? Even if the consumer complains, it would have been

his/her word against the driver’s. Fed Ex has not only replaced the damaged monitor, its senior vice president Mathew Thoraton just posted an unreserved apology on the net for the driver’s misbehavior! But I still recall my experience with NIPOST speed delivery service some time in 1988/ 89, I sent a parcel from Sokoto to Lagos till date, it is yet to arrive. Within the first week of their failure to deliver the parcel to the destination I made my complaint, wrote letters through Sokoto office to Lagos headquarters, without response. In fact, the most senior officer at the Sokoto office then advised I forgot about the matter because nothing will come out of it. So it turned out. So, the efficiency of any brand is to a large extent dependent upon the extent of the market’s development and sophistication. The prevalent situation in the underdeveloped or developing markets is the reason why brands will not keep to their promises, compromise, abuse and cheat consumers without consequence. How else would one describe a situation where sales promo based on raffle draws are never won by anybody and so much lies are told on newspaper pages of winners. Often times you find that names and addresses of publicized “winners” are not given to easy independent verification. Sometimes you see awkward combination of names from places so far away from common imagination, it dis-

courages further questioning. Unfortunately, consumer protection is not popular in this market, so the consumer remains at the mercy of persons ad brands that decides to abuse the system. Bad as the situation is today with the consumers, however, we like to put it before all such brands careless with delivering on their promises that they are gradually burning their candles (from both ends) , with the consumers. Indications are that the population of discerning consumers is growing, and very soon brands will be accountable for their deeds, in this market. When that happens, it will reverberate as the consequence of involuntary DE-MARKETING to all such brands that are presently taking us consumers for granted, such that will not be unto any good. It is bad enough that nobody cares for or about the consumer, irrespective of the horde of non-governmental organizations signed up for that role and even the government institutions established for same reason. Even when brands flaunt their NSO and NAFDAC numbers, it all amounts to nothing before the consumer. But to all you liar-brands, rest assured you are compromising yourselves for the future, as you continue to abuse consumers for immediate gains. Or could be you are all experimenting with DE-MARKETING dangerously. 2012 business year could just turn out a new beginning.

Booming trade of events marketing Page 66 & 67 â&#x20AC;˘Ogunjimi

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

HEN did you realise you wanted to become an app developer? I have varied interests actually. Sometimes I fear I suffer from a little attention deficit disorder (ADD) because I want to do so many things. Consequently, I dabble into buying and selling; I also have some fair knowledge of photography and do an occasional shoot here and there. I'm in the process of writing my first novel and have actually finished the pilot episode of a visual novel. But that one is strictly for grown-ups. In my spare time, I enjoy music a lot. I also enjoy cooking, reading and having intellectual discourse about topical issues. My love for mobile application development was quite accidental really. I came across a visual novel online and I liked it. So I decided to do a Nigerianbased one. When I started, my thoughts jumped to something similar I could do for kids. And that is how AfroTalez was born. So what steps did you take? I did a lot of research, which included visiting my mom, my grand-mom and aunts for a refresher course in some of these folktales. I then chose "The Tortoise, The Elephant and The Hippopotamus" as the pilot episode of the Afrotalez series. I rewrote the story to suit modern day language and designed the entire game including the interactive parts on paper. Sadly, I have no art or programming skills but I was determined to see this app come to life, so I contacted Idamiebi IlaminaEremie , the head of the team behind Titi Tilapia(a PC Game http:// www.tititilapia.com) and shared my idea with him. He was very interested in the idea and we sat down to work on it. I also contacted another long-time friend and music producer Christoper 'CikkO' Ogbuehi to help create the music for the game. And that was basically it. A few months later, we had

OME finance experts, over the weekend, urged private investors to establish specialised banks to help in bridging the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) finance gap. The experts, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said such banks would expand the country's business horizon. They explained that the availability of SME banks was a profitable venture

'Producing local apps for SMEs is gold mine' Elizabeth Kperrun, who has a diploma in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and currently pursuing a B.Sc in Business & Entrepreneurial Management at the National Open University of Nigeria, developed Afro Talez, which presents traditional African Folktales in a fun, entertaining and interactive way for kids. The app won the Best Entertainment & Lifestyle App, in the MTN App Developer Challenge. Kperrun shares her experience in this interview with Bukola Afolabi AfroTalez. It's an awesome interactive android app that tells African Folktales while improving the mental capabilities of young children. We expect to create more stories every few months but would really love to see people's response to this first one. What was the first app you developed? This is my very first app. Where do you get your inspiration for the app you created? On one hand, I have this indescribable love for children. Caring for them, playing with them, there's a charm and innocence that comes from that experience. On another hand, I loved folktales growing up. Sitting with my grandma and being regaled with tales from back in the day was an enthralling experience. These two loves came together to birth AfroTalez What were the high points of your preparation? Research was the bedrock. Looking at the uniqueness of our product, it had to have solid grounding which is what research gives any work of art. Researching the stories for the app was an extreme high point. It took me straight back to childhood; to a time when life was simple, easy and fun. Did you know that you were going to win MTN App Developer Challenge? I was confident of what we put out there. I loved my app very much. It came out bright and colourful and beau-

xxx

â&#x20AC;˘Kperrun

tiful. But it was still a contest and while I felt my app stood a very good chance, I was modest in my expectations. How do you feel about winning? I feel very elated, of course.

It's always nice to see efforts yield positive results. Also bearing in mind that this is the very first app I would be making, it has a very good vibe to it. How do you plan to

maximise the platform which your winning has brought? I'll ride on the six month publicity that MTN is so graciously providing and work hard to churn out an episode of AfroTalez in each quarter of 2014. The next episode should be out before the end of March and will be available on the MTN App Store, Google Play, Samsung App store and will also be available for download on our website www.afrotalez.com How have mobile users embraced the app and what kind of numbers have you churned out? I think AfroTalez has been received very well by almost everyone who has seen it; old and young. I was actually humbled by the number of downloads it got since it was uploaded onto the app store. We hope to gain traction with the publicity of our winning the best lifestyle and entertainment app in the challenge. Have you been able to monetise the application? No, not yet. But we plan to start selling subsequent episodes. Our pricing would not be exorbitant of course; just enough to keep us going. How do you intend to deal with the competition within the mobile industry and how will you differentiate yourself? I will keep researching new ways to entertain and educate children using interactive apps and games like AfroTalez. There will always be a novel idea out there or in my head. I think what differentiates me is the fact that I

am creating uniquely African content but in a style that is universally appealing. How would you assess current level of local mobile applications development? I would say the MTN App Developer Challenge was an eye opener. I never knew there were so many Nigerian app developers with so much versatile content. It was really a pleasant surprise seeing what other young Nigerians were churning out. We've got great talents in abundance. We have decided to take our future into our own hands and create self-employment as well as provide a sustainable model for scalability. MTN has launched the MTN NextApps store for various platforms, how will this impact the development of mobile applications and related content for mobile uses? This is a very, very welcome development. MTN has inadvertently provided an enabling environment for up and coming talent to showcase what they can do and also put uniquely Nigerian apps on the global map. I think that this is the starting point and with greater support by all stakeholders, the industry will bloom. Would you say Nigeria has the local capacity to effectively support the growth and development of mobile content and applications? Yes we have sufficient local capacity to grow the industry. The contest has proven that many talented young individuals had been waiting for an opportunity like this to come up. With partnerships like this between MTN and CCHub, I see Nigerian mobile content and applications going places in the next few years. What advice do you have for the government or corporate bodies in a bid to strengthen the local mobile application industry? MTN has taken the first step. It is my sincere hope that the government and other corporate organisations will follow suit in a bid to support, promote and strengthen local talent and content.

Finance experts urge investors to establish specialised banks for SMEs which required short period to make substantial returns on investment. Mr Femi Adetola, Business Feasibility Consultant, said entrepreneurs were faced with several obstacles in accessing finance from regular commercial banks. ``The regular banks are not patient enough with entrepreneurs and so rich individuals could venture into the financing of businesses

through the setting up these specialised banks. ``This will also help to complement the activities of the existing finance institutions being managed by the government. ``Accessing funds from such institutions run by government takes quality time and involves difficult conditions'', he said. ``We are not saying that the SME banks we are proposing should grant loans with

collaterals. Rather, their existence will bring about competition in the sector.'' Another expert, Mr Romeo Kolawole, said ``SME finance is the funding of small and medium sized enterprises, and represents a major function of the general business finance market. ``In this environment, capital for different types of firms are supplied, acquired, and priced. ``The capital is supplied

through the business finance market in the form of bank loans and overdrafts, leasing and hirepurchase arrangements and equity/corporate bond issues'', he said. Kolawole held that SME banks owned by private investors would be better positioned to attract more entrepreneurs into businesses that the banks would use in consolidating their profit margins.

Funds Manager, Mr Chris Okafor, said that actors in the economy were under-served, especially in terms of finance, adding that a fresh avenue must be created to bridge the deficit in funding businesses. Gbenga Adefila, the Managing Director of S&B Finance Consulting Firm, said a substantial portion of the SME sector might not have the security required for conventional/collateral based bank lending.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

66 BUSINESS

'We face different challenges based on the type of event'

Booming trade of even ts m

SELF-STARTER and a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Temitope Ogunjimi, is a BSc. degree holder in Computer Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, and the CEO Enytiana Planners. Ibrahim Adam spoke with her

Getting started It's really true that the Event planning industry is growing. Many people are now interested and willing to try their luck in this field. From my experience with planning large Events in different parts of the country, I would say planning and organisation is a very crucial job. An event planner must put it in mind that event planning is about visualising the overall event down to the smallest details and giving the guest a treat they would never forget. I wouldn't want to scare young entrepreneurs away from this line of business because I started small. I started my own business from my home to save cost on rent and gradually we have built up the business to where it is today. The first year was the most challenging in-terms of decision making and logistics, but thank God we are reaping the benefit of the hard work over the years. Basically my advertising was word of mouth, hand bills and referrals. I believe that is the best type of advertisement for a small-medium scale enterprise like mine. I did some voluntary jobs at church and for friends which gave me exposure and experience. I would advise people setting up any business not to despise small beginnings. Challenges Well, we face different challenges based on the type of event we are handling but permit me to discuss the commons. Getting the right venue for an event can be tedious atimes, based on client choice and the nature of the event. Logistic was also a challenge during the early stages. Atimes the client might change the scope of the event at the last minute, thereby disrupting the original plan, making one to think fast and get everything re-arranged within a short period. Inclusively, the industry as you know is competitive and still growing. This has posed a challenge to us. As we grow, we have learnt new things which have improved the quality of service we render to our client because customer satisfaction is key. Does it require training? Event planning is not as easy as it may sound. A lot is needed to be known before venturing into the business. And even while in the business, it's mandatory to keep learning so as to meet up with the evolving environment

â&#x20AC;˘Ogunjimi

â&#x20AC;˘Ake

Whether it is a one-off or regularly with special occasions, events play a major part in today's world. Be it business, leisure, or something in between, there is never a want for events. This plethora of events has over the years generated a unique business - event planning. The event planning sector has witnessed much boom now that that a body, Association of Party Planners and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN), led by Mrs. Omolara Akande, has been formed. In these interviews with budding entrepreneurs engaged in the business of event planning, Lanre Williams and Ibrahim Adam find out more about this venture of the business. There are training centers where certificates are issued after completion of the program. One can also get trained as an apprentice. Aside from all the forms of training, one needs to examine oneself and ask crucial questions like; 'Am I creative?' 'Can I think outside the box?' 'Can I handle pressure?' 'Can I work with different people at different stages?' Questions like this would assist to develop an excellent skill and attain professionalism in the industry. Is it a profitable business? Yeah, it a big-time lucrative business. At first,, one must try to gain a stand in d evolving market. There are also three major things that determine the profit margin of this business market segment to be served (social or corporate), geographical location, and experience and reputation. All these have a way of rewarding an event planner. How much does someone make on the average in a

month and per day? As I said earlier, this business is lucrative. Profit margin is deem to increase as time goes on, you know there are times we envisage on four or more events in a week, but it's not always so. So, profit margin has to do with job handled, figuratively N150,000 to N250,000 can be made in one month. How long have you been in the business? To God be the glory as an adage says "it's not how far but how well." It's not up to three years we started officially, though we have been doing it underground. We thank God thus he has helped us this far. Is there a body that regulates this business? Actually, to the best of my knowledge I have not heard of any for now. I would tell you this - I have been doing this business on my own and with the help of workers and few loved ones, because this kind of business is not what one person can handle alone, most especially when the business starts growing.

In compliments of our event planning activities we also make classic cakes, small chops, cocktail drinks of various flavors, and event dĂŠcor for all events.

'You need focus'

LORIA Ake sits atop Glovillez Catering Service Concept as Managing Director, Chief Executive, which she set up in 2011. In this interview with Lanre Williams, she shared her experience Your experience before running the business? Initially, I was afraid of capital and how to get client. Those were my major fears when I started this business, but one thing I came to realise is (that) no matter how many birds are in the sky, they don't hit each other. There is always place for each bird to fly. And basically, no matter how many people do the same

thing you do, and no matter how the businesses look like, you will always get your nature of people, who will patronise your business. It was not easy at first for me but for that mindset that I had, that what is mine is mine, and it was able to move forward, and it's been so good. Challenges Like I said earlier, getting clients. That was the major challenges in this business, and we all know that a lot of people run this kind of business. And truth to be told, Nigeria is a beautiful place, with a lot of people who have good thinking and as a result know what they are doing. It takes you to be outstanding, to be able to create a niche for yourself, and so getting client was not easy. How did you overcome the challenges? It is by being outstanding. There are lots of good ones out there, but you have to be outstanding with the way you run your business. You have to know what you want, and you have to ask yourself some basic questions (like),

what to do I want?, How do I what to do this?, And where am I going to?, and What do I see myself doing? When you have all these at the back of your mind, you will be able to focus, there will be no distraction. It takes you to have real power not to be able to give up and the determination to do better every time because at every stage of my business, I have come to realise that good things, new things keep coming up, once you are well focused. How many employees do you have? I have more than 10 employees. Does this business require any training? Yes it requires. I actually went to a school in Ilupeju (Lagos) area to study this business. I also made internet a good friend of mine. One will be surprised at what you learn when surfing the internet. I also learnt from someone. She is a caterer. It was just me learning and learning. I learn a lot then, how to make cocktail, methods of producing it and the real basic things about cocktail. A lot of people think that cocktail is just about taking this and that and mixing it together but no, it is just like you telling a child that you don't just walk, you have to put the child through, first by crawling. So, I had to go through that training which was very crucial at that point in my life where I learnt the basic, the ingredient, the taste, the presentation. So, that school was very basic for me. How much is required to set up this kind of business? Trust me, a lot of SME people believe that you need millions to start any business but the truth is, you really do not need that huge money to start. What you need is that mindset, focus that I want to do this. That is the first and basic thing you need to know, it's something you need to be sure of. Then the capital is there but is not a major factor, because as you grow you put more money into it, like what I did, I didn't blow in with a lot of money. I started with the little I had and every profit I had then I put back into the business. So, I wasn't making money instantly. A lot of people started business with the aim of making money instantly, which is wrong. Though you start business with the aim of making profit but not instantly. I started and I wasn't making money instantly but every little penny I had from every job I will put back into the business until the point where I started making my profit. At that stage I have made a name, that is I'm well known in this business. So, it's basically that SME are not things you will enter just for money. You have to have that passion. So, it's only when you have the passion for something you can do without making profit

THE NATIO N ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

BUSINESS/SME REPORT

ven ts marketing

â&#x20AC;˘Abiodun

at the first stage but at the end of it all you will surely not regret running that business. How do you describe the rate of income? It has been beautiful and that is what I do for a living. It has been something I don't regret doing and something I enjoy doing. I have my time, I can surf the internet for more information and it's interesting. Catering is beautiful. I have flair for it. I have passion for it. What is your educational background? I went to primary academy like other people went to. I attended Air force Secondary School, Ikeja. Then I had a Diploma in the University of Benin. Then I went to University of Lagos for BSc. in Microbiology.

'My plan is to expand this business into a restaurant'

RS. Adenike Olorunisola, 36, formed Dee Best Catering Service in 2012. She talked to Lanre Williams on how she operates her business

Your experience before running the business? Actually, I learnt this business from a friend of mine who encouraged me to run this business (saying) that I will not regret doing and that it is profitable. Now, I realised that what she said then about the business was just the truth. I never regret doing it. Challenges No challenges How about getting clients? Getting clients was easy for me with the help of my friend who introduced me to this business. She helps me with the connections of meeting client. How many employees do you have?

I have four employees. Does this business require any training? Yes it requires. How much is required to set up this kind of business? It requires at least the sum of seventy thousand naira (N70, 000) to set up a business like this. I started with that amount to buy the necessary equipment needed. How would you describe the rate of income? The rate of income is profitable and good. My plan is to expand this business into a restaurant where people will come in for their meals.

'We work as a team'

ADMUS Ridwan A b i o d u n , Executive Director of Noble Pride Events Planner, spoke with Ibrahim Adam about his business. Getting started? Basically it does not require a particular amount but depends on individual financial status. No amount is too much to start this business, but one thing about it is that one cannot get all the materials needed at once, (the) reason being that it will cost so much and also we need to keep upgrading the materials every time. And on the other hand, one can start with no capital, reason being, that the materials needed are also available for people to rent. So in this business, we work as a team, giving each other helping hand. How long have you been in business? Not quite long. I started it all in 2009 taking it to be fun then but got fully engaged in it in 2010. So, it's been up to five years. What have been your challenges thus far? All professions have its

own challenge, but those challenges vary. In terms of event planning, there are quite lot of challenges which starts from how to get events from people because this business really deals with getting connected to so many people, also there are quite number of people that are already in the business for years and people has already know them for their outstanding performance, such are the colleagues you will be competing with and which one won't find very easy. Another is in terms of capital, as I have said earlier no amount is too much to start this business reason being that there are lots of materials that are needed for this work. From the clothe materials, flowers, different types of lights, flower vase to mention but few. If it's someone that also deal with catering service, there are lot to mention their as well. Also no matter the amount you make ad profit from an event, one will still need to invest it back into his or her business. How much is required for the registration of the business? Registration of the business is not mandatory but depends on individual. For those that care for such, you can only register your brand and company name with the Cooperate Affairs commission (CAC). But since I have been in this work I never heard that there is a body that regulate the business or where you need to go for registration before starting the business. Is the industry regulated? No. How much does someone makes on the average in a month? Basically, there is no average profit or I should say income in a month or per day. As I have stated earlier, this work really deals with getting connected to people. If you are not well known, (there is) possibility of not making any event within a month or even more than that. On the other hand, billing and prices in this business varies. It depends on how our clients want their event to look like - that will be the basis of the amount they will have to pay. And in terms of getting connected to people, I will say it is in two ways: one is getting connected to individuals, and the other is getting connected to your fellows. If you could recollect, I stated earlier that we work as a team. There is no way you can do this work on your own. If you have any event, you will need to invite your colleagues to give you helping hand to make that work a success. So, if you are connected to your colleagues that will give them the chance of inviting you for work and with that you will make money from it.

NGO advises FG on SME grants

R Felix Adelabu, Convener, Youths Go Green Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, at the weekend urged the Federal Government to create enabling environment to attract more youths to agribusiness. Adelabu, an agriceconomist, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. According to him, the efforts of government to revolutionise agriculture is in the right direction. He said that the redirection of youths to embrace agriculture would help to solve the country unemployment rate drastically. "This is because youths constitute about 70 per cent of the nation's population. "Successful agribusiness entrepreneurs in the country are the elderly because youths are more interested in

white collar jobs that are not readily available. `` Agriculture used to be the backbone of the Nigerian economy with robust proceeds from export of cocoa, groundnut, rubber, cotton and oil palm produce. ``This remained the trend because of the involvement of able-bodied and agile youths in agriculture. ``These days, our youths have left farming business to the aged in the rural areas who are practicing subsistence farming that contributes little to the nation's GDP,'' he said. Adelabu said that with more encouragement from the government, the erroneous perception by the youths that agriculture was a menial job would change. ``Many youths believe that agribusiness is not lucrative and as such should be left for the uneducated people. ``It is amazing that majority of the agriculture

graduates detest the idea of farming or working in a farm ``Government has a lot to do in terms of increased awareness and incentive programmes that will reveal the profitability and lucrative nature of agribusiness to youths. ``There should be availability of funds in terms of grants for youths that are interested in becoming agricultural entrepreneurs, '' Adelabu said. He also advised youths to explore the World Bank's recently approved 400 million dollars (N65 billion) for the implementation of the FADAMA III project and the Commercial Agricultural Development Programme in Nigeria. NAN reports that Karen Brooks, Sector Manager, Agriculture and Rural Development Unit (African Region), World Bank, said 150 million dollars (N24 billion) out of the grant was for commercial agriculture.

DHL restates commitment to SME

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A

FRICA is not only the last frontier but possibly the biggest frontier for business". That comment was made by Ken Allen, Global CEO for DHL Express. This probably highlights how serious Africa is being taken in the global boardrooms of large corporations. Charles Brewer, Managing Director for DHL Express SubSaharan Africa shares his sentiment and adds, "More than ever, companies are now looking to expand into Africa. More than ever, companies are looking to invest in its diverse markets. More than ever, commercial opportunities abound across the continent. It's clearly time for Africaâ&#x20AC;Ś" DHL, the world's leading postal and express group announced its full year results. The group posted revenues of more than EUR 55 billion with boosted profitability once again in 2013. These improvements have been particularly attributed to the company's exceptional market position in the world's emerging markets, including Africa. Brewer adds, "DHL

Express is the market leader across Africa, and our unparalleled footprint and continued investment in the continent is testament to that. During 2013, we continued with our expansion plans throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, investing heavily in facilities and increasing our vehicle and aviation fleet. We have continued to showcase our commitment to Africa and have a firm belief and vested interest in Africa delivering on its obvious promise." Brewer points to the recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airline Industry Forecast 2013-2017 report, which revealed that Africa is estimated to be the fastest growing region globally over the forecast period, with an expected five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0%, while a growth rate of 3.2% (CAGR) is expected for international freight volumes. "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted economic growth of 2.8% in 2014 for South Africa, and 6.1% for the subSaharan African (SSA)

region, and with the continued growth from intra-Africa and international trade, the outlook for the SSA logistics industry is extremely positive," says Brewer. He says that the routes expected to experience the most significant growth in Africa in 2014 are linked to the fastest growing markets which include Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria. Brewer attributes DHL's positive trade forecast to more than just the economic statistics, and adds, "Africa is an unbelievably entrepreneurial and dynamic continent and I firmly believe that the SMEs will be the engine of growth for the years ahead". Brewer says that this year, the company has various planned investments into SubSaharan Africa, including the opening of a number of new facilitates, and planned expansion in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Angola. DHL Express SSA, will also be expanding its dedicated air fleet adding a number of new planes to the West Africa region, including a Boeing 737.

Agric loan: Female farmers accuse ministry of sidelining them

EMALE farmers in Kano State under the aegis of All Farmers' Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have accused the state's Ministry of Agriculture of sidelining them in the distribution of application forms for the N2 billion agricultural loans. The leader of the women farmers in the state, Hajiya Fatima Kiru, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano at the weekend. She said that no woman farmer has been able to access the form since the

ministry started the sale. ''We have small, medium and large scale farmers among us. We see no reason why we should not benefit from the facility. ''The only one I got came from the chairman of the males' wing of the association.'' According to her, there are over 25 registered women farmers in all the 44 local government areas of the state, adding that the farmers are operating under the auspices of AFAN. She said that she had made several efforts to see the Commissioner for

Agriculture, Dr Baraka Sani, but failed as she was always blocked by her aides. She, therefore, called on the state government to investigate how the application forms were distributed and sold to farmers in the state. When contacted, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Baraka Sani, denied the allegation. The commissioner, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Alhaji Yunusa Garba, said the forms were sold to all interested farmers in the state.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

BUSINESS

Cement upgrade: Dangote Group blazes the trail It’s a matter of days before the cloud that surrounded the quality of cement to which Nigerians have been exposed, clears. While the sector regulator, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) busies itself with a solution, Dangote Cement has blazed the trail by setting very high standard, reports, S I M E O N EBULU • A typical cement plant

F the concern shown by cement manufacturers for unified standards of cement were to be replicated in resolving national issues, Nigeria would be one of the best countries in the world to live in. It remains one of the best though, potentially. Since the lid was blown-off the quality of cement manufactured in Nigeria about a month ago, a flurry of activities have been initiated, some by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and others by the Cement Manufacturers Group, all aimed to addressing the urgent need to close the quality-gap, not only in made-jnNigeria cement, but also in some imported brands. There is agreement, or so it is perceived among the stakeholders, that cement, whether locally manufactured, imported, and whether it is 32.5, it should be so designated and labeled, so that the consumer is left to make an informed decision as to which quality standard, or brand he, or she wants to buy. The era of conjecture, where customers make buying decision based on limited information, or lack of it, should be done away with and consigned to history. It is based on this premise that the SON inaugurated a Technical Committee, made up of experts and critical stakeholders, to draw up standards that are expected to guide cement manufacturers in Nigeria, and as well assist the regulatory agencies in determining the type of cement that should be allowed to pass through our borders, either by sea, or land. Already, the Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has clearly underlined Federal Government’s

expectation from the technical committee at its inauguration, when he alluded to the fact that many of the buildings that have collapsed over the years resulting in the avoidable deaths of innocent citizens, have been linked to the usage of poor quality cement. As he put it: “We have seen a lot of building collapse in the country, and we know that most of these have caused avoidable deaths and we cannot allow it to continue,” stressing that the technical committee meeting is expected to come out with expert opinion detailing technical insights on the way forward in standardisation of cement. There’s no doubt that the composition of the committee exudes confidence. Its membership is drawn from the academia, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), cement producers, Research institutes, as well as end-users. Take a look; University of Lagos, Akoka, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Dangote Cement, Ibeto and Cement Manufacturers Association

of Nigeria (CMAN). It also included the National Association of Block Builders, UNICEM, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and Julius Berger, arguably one of the leading construction giants in the country, amongst others. It’s not for nothing that Odumodu took time and care, to constitute the membership of the technical committee. Feelers from government and a segment of the build-industry, have noted that the issue surrounding Made-in-Nigeria cement should no longer be looked at as a local, or an isolated one, as the country is now known to be an exporter of cement. The argument being that, if Nigeria has started producing for the international market, what product quality is it going to export, if the standard of the exportitem is being called to question? “This is the challenge and the dilemma confronting the regulatory authority and which SON must resolve,” said a stakeholder who asked that his identity be veiled. He explained that addressing the issues posed before

the technical committee has gone beyond “finger-pointing,” pointing out that the outcome of the committee’s resolution, or recommendation is something that will both impact on the local market, as well as the international arena. “Do you imagine that the committee will come up with a recommendation that will lower standards to the detriment of the larger interests of safety and international trade? he asked, “that would be unthinkable, but let’s allow them the requisite time to complete this onerous assignment and put a stop to this menacing threat,” he said. The technical committee in its recommendation which is been packaged for consideration by SON’s Council and eventual transmission to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment for approval, The Nation gathered, would restrict the usage of the 32.5 cement grade to plastering only, and no more. Every other activity, such as building, molding blocks and erection of high-rise structures will be carried out only with 42.5 and 52.5 higher grades of cement.

‘

Manufacturers’ capacity In about 30days from now,

or less, the outcome of the Technical Committee’s recommendation will be known. What is almost certain is that Nigeria’s cement manufacturers willing to play in the 42.5 and 52.5 league must upgrade their machinery to align with the expected outcome of the committee’s report. Besides, there must be willingness on the part of cement producers to show commitment to producing the required higher grade that satisfies the requirement being promoted by SON. So far, Dangote Cement has been in the forefront in announcing the upgrade of its installed production capacity, in all its plants to meet the required standard. The Group announced the completion of the calibration of its factories across the country to produce 52.5grade of the product. It confirmed that not only has it upgraded, but that it has actually commenced production of the upgraded 52.5 at its Ibeche plant in Ogun State, Obajana, in kogi and Gboko, in Benue State.. “We have demonstrated our commitment to delivering high grade quality and safe product to Nigerians by raising the quality bar beyond the high grade of 42.5 cement to a much higher grade of 52.5,” the Group Manag-

Do you imagine that the committee will come up with a recommendation that will lower standards to the detriment of the larger interests of safety and international trade? Tthat would be unthinkable, but let’s allow them the requisite time to complete this onerous assignment and put a stop to this menacing threat

’

ing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin, said. The need for the upgrade from the prevailing 32.5 grade to the higher grades, is the challenge that other producers are now confronted with. While the industry awaits SON to do the needful in its regulatory function by ensuring compliance with the recommendation of its Technical Committee (when it eventually unveils its report), feelers from the sector tend to indicate that the transition may not be as smooth- sailing for others, as it was with the Dangote Group. Sources who asked not to be identified, said there are a couple of other producers who are inclined to upgrading their facilities to be able to produce the higher grades, but are constrained by cost consideration. Unlike the Dangote Group which opted to absorb the attendant higher upgrade costs without adjusting the price of its products, others are concerned that upgrading their machinery to be able to produce the higher grades will affect products pricing, which in effect will alter the competition. Overcoming the dilemma is the crucial decision facing the other cement producers, the source, said. Asked on the direction of the Technical Committee’s report, the Deputy Director, and the Head of Department, Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Engr. B.E. Obayi, said, the much he knows is that much work has been done in addressing the issues bordering on cement standards. He said the Technical Committee is right now putting its report together for the Management of SON to consider, thereafter, it would be sent to the Council and eventually to the Minister for ratification, he added. However, The Nation’s finding has revealed that the world over, countries have migrated from using the lower grade 32.5 cement to the higher 42.5 and 52.5 grades, “leaving Nigeria with no option,” a stakeholder noted, “than to follow suit,” he added. He said it is common knowledge in the industry, that some producers that were on 42.5 cement grade at a time, reverted to 32.5, apparently succumbing to cost pressures. He said if SON eventually comes up with the policy that prescribes 42.5grade as the minimum cement standard in Nigeria, “ then it must go a step further to ensure compliance by effectively monitoring the producers, otherwise,” he warned, “some manufacturers will cut corners.” Meanwhile, a Senior official in SON, who asked that his identity be veiled, disclosed that the regulatory agency would likely adopt a policy whereby cement manufacturers will be required to “ inscribe boldly the exact grade, whether 32.5, or 42.5, or 52.5 on every bag of cement to give consumers the chance to decide,” he said.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We just want to do good journalismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Publisher of new Western Post, Tunde Rahman, speaks on the motive behind the new community newspaper, his reason for focusing on the old Western Nigeria, plus his ThisDay experience. He spoke with Gboyega Alaka

Seye Joseph appointed Media Career Development Officer

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

An introspective look at Osun schools policy W

HETHER the bashing Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s school reform in the State of Osun is currently receiving is the work of mischief makers or is a result of outright misunderstanding of the policy, a nongovernmental organisation thought it patriotic and fit to intervene by way of a symposium and put the record right to avail the citizens and the media the factual perspective on the matter. Realising the policy’s potential to throw up more dust in the wake of the noisy controversy it has already generated, and given the approach of the governorship poll in Osun and its latent impact on the stability of the polity, a group, Osun Movement for Peace, held a programme to throw more light on the reform. The group says it stands for peace and would therefore not want it seen as a positive policy converted into a tool for negative politics, especially with the August ballot around the corner. The leader of Osun Movement for Peace, Comrade Temidayo Bankole, says that as a “body that desires peace in the State of Osun,” it cannot be silent in the face of a debate over a policy designed to benefit the present and the future of the people. “There is a foul atmosphere all over the place (Osun), “he says. According to the activist, “everything is being sacrificed on the altar of politics… We don’t want to be criminally silent… To be silent is no longer golden.” The symposium then can be classified as one way of intervention by a civil society group to arbitrate between those who have hammered the Osun education reform as a retrogressive measure and those who hail it and say it is a progressive step long due for introduction and implementation to halt the decay in the sector. It was held in Osogbo the state capital on March 12, 2014. Participants included practitioners drawn from the print and the electronic media. Of course the owners and executors of the policy were well represented. The Deputy Governor Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori was there to argue the case for a better appreciation of the reform. She doubles as the Education Commissioner. Two figures in charge of the schools reclassification agenda, Dr. Isiaka Ayodele Owoade and Mr. Layi Oyeduntan spoke forcefully in defense of the measure. The symposium also hosted a large audience of those who sympathized with the policy and Muslim and Christian clerics along with bureaucrats and non partisan observers. One watcher wondered why the organizers Osun Movement for Peace did not bring in other critical players like representatives of the political parties notably the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which is at the forefront of criticisms of the education reform. Was it because their position was predictable? But this seeming lack of the presence of the “opposition” appeared to have been taken care of in the presentation of well known columnist and don, Professor Ayo Olukotun of Lead City University, Ibadan in his presentation. The theme of the symposium, Osun Education Policy in Perspective: Issues, Challenges and imperative, had and attractive tinge that provoked not only an animated discussion but also it led to proposals for the media to be more involved in enlightening the public on the school re-classification policy. The question then is: If the media is so important for the success of the project why was a practicing jour-

• New school under construction

By Innocent Ogundele

nalist not brought in to present a paper? The Deputy Governor appeared to have answered the question in a paper by saying that Rauf Aregbesola runs an open door administration of the education sector. She said it was one of the reasons government honoured the invitation to the symposium where members of the media and public were free to ask questions on the policy. Mrs. Laoye Tomori spoke glowingly of the school reform, insisting that it is the correct policy needed to put a halt to the rot in the sector. The Deputy Governor said the reform has a salutary impact on the society in addition to improving the health and education of the students and pupils. Her speech made profuse allusion to Chief Obafemi Awolowo who launched Nigeria’s most revolutionary education policies in 1955. She declared: “…While addressing the Nigerian Union of Teachers in 1947, Chief Obafemi Awolowo described education as “the process of physical and mental culture whereby a man’s personality is developed to the fullest.” In 1993, as if to elucidate further the need for the development of our human resource, the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr. Frederico Major while addressing the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century in 1993, pointed out that “Education is not only instilling knowledge, but awakening the enormous creative potential that lies within each one of us, enabling us to develop to our fullest potential and better contribute to the societies in which we live. “In the same vein, the education policy of the Aregbesola-led administration in the state of Osun, is to produce students who can compete effectively and perform excellently like their counterparts in advanced countries of the world. Osun education policy seeks to empower the youths to be roundly relevant in meeting the challenges of their immediate environment and the society at large. This is the thrust of the education policy of Osun. “As the Commissioner of Education in the state of Osun, it is within the purview of my official responsibility to present the Aregbesola-led administration’s

Education Policy, and explain, where necessary, some of the definitive interventions of government in the education sector. “For the records, we inherited a moribund Education Sector from the immediate past government. Public school buildings were dilapidated, instructional materials and teaching consumables such as chalk, board-dusters, other teaching materials and resources that could aid learning such as lesson notes were non-existent. Teachers’ morale was at its lowest ebb as they neither were motivated nor assured of a better tomorrow in their chosen career. Students were not only disoriented, they were disinterested. The statistics tell it all; showing poor and abysmal performance of students of the State of Osun in both internal and external examinations. Indeed, only 3%, (representing a miniscule percentage) of products of our public schools system used to move on to the next phase of their anticipated education plan. However, I am happy to inform you that within three years of our administration, records show that 43% of our students now qualify to matriculate in any university. Notwithstanding, the state packaged intervention still goes on, indeed, a total overhaul. “The underpinning philosophy of the Osun Education Policy is to produce complete and totally rounded persons who will not only excel academically, but morally too. In addition, they would possess relevant skills that could compete favourably, at the international fora and among the comity of nations. However, the aforementioned could only be made possible if certain infrastructural facilities are in place. “ Isiaka Owoade, Vice-Chairman of Osun Schools Reclassification Committee is also Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development had Understanding Aregbesola’s Education Reforms in the State of Osun as the subject of his discourse. He traced the reform to the recommendation of an education submit in February, 2011 which was chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka. Owoade said one of the goals of the reclassification of schools in Osun is to produce what he called “the complete child” in the society. He claimed that following the reform, the risk of pupils dropping out of the school system in Osun

after Primary 6 has vanished. “Osun education reforms,” he said, “have probably been the most discussed public policy in recent times. For the benefit of those in the audience that have only just arrived the country, the key elements of the reforms are listed below: · Education Infrastructure in O’Schools: massive building of new school structures to replace the present dilapidated ones, within the framework of our schools reclassification system. · Standardised school uniforms in O’Uniform: to rebrand Osun public schools as well as create employment for designers, tailors and allied artisans, as employed by Omoluabi Garments Factory, the biggest of its type in the whole of West Africa. · Innovative teaching materials and learning aids, which clear showpiece is the award-winning Opon Imo, the computer tablet that captures all the textbooks in the school curriculum for high schools. · Good nutrition to fully develop the physical and mental readiness of our children for life-long learning: in O’Meals, the schools feeding system for the elementary cadre, in the first four years of school life, with a possible extension to the higher cadres of schooling when resources allow. · Co-curricular activities as integral parts of the school curriculum: in O’Calisthenics, physical education drills, since a sound mind sits pretty well in a sound body; ad educational competitions in quiz and debates; games and sports; and subject co-curricular societies like the Literary and Debating Societies, Science Clubs, Geography Societies, the Omoluabi Boys and Girls Clubs, etc.” In his paper, Layi Oyedutan, the Chairman of O’School Committee, said the “systematically dysfunctional education” in Osun led to the radical reform the citizens are witnessing at the moment. He told the gathering that the policy is meant to identify Osun as a competitive global player. “We want Osun to be the strategic supplier of critical manpower,” he said. “Only sound education such as we are offering can do it… Osun students under this school reclassification agenda will graduate early and make them have a competitive edge… we are doing all these through the building of new structures fit for teaching and learning.

He concluded by predicting that the policy will “frog-jump” Osun into the future. Ayo Olukotun’s paper was titled Media Social Responsibility and the Non-partisan Communication of Government Policies (Special Reference to Osun State Education Policy). Those in the audience who were familiar with Comrade Olukotun’s scholarship, integrity and finesse in writing and intellect were not disappointed. He warned at the opening of his presentation that “vision does not guarantee acceptance.” In other words, a policy may be good; it may be visionary and far-sighted. Still some critics may decide to look for loop holes and lampoon it. Olukotun also dropped this maxim: objectivity isn’t neutrality. Taking off from these abstract observations, Ayo Olukotun warned the media not to fall into the trap of being used by “partisan contestants”. The media must be careful not to manipulate facts. He criticised a columnist in a weekly who threw caution to the wind in his comment on the school reform. Professor Olukotun described the reform as visionary saying the merging of schools under the programme is effective”. According to him: “It is to be regretted that in the discussion which has gone on so far on the Osun state Education al policy attention has been focused on sensational and emotional aspects such as the merger of schools and wearing of uniform rather than the substantive content of the policy which encompasses a holistic reform process aimed at creating the rounded, educated personality in the mould of the Yoruba Omoluabi. It also, based on a blueprint drawn up after the educational summit of 2011, intends to create forward and backward linkages to the reform process in the shape of job creation, self employment, infrastructural renewal and the upgrade of the welfare of teachers. “…For the avoidance of doubt, the major objectives of the reform …include the following among others; A. Education infrastructure in O’ Schools: massive building of new school structures to replace the present dilapidated ones, within the framework of its type our schools reclassification system. B. Standardized school uniform: to rebrand Osun public schools as well as create artisans, as employed by Omoluabi Garments Factory, the biggest of its type in the whole of West Africa. C. Innovative teaching materials and learning aids, which clear shoe piece is the award winning Opon Imo, the computer tablet that captures all the textbooks in the school curriculum for high schools.” The argument at the end of the day was that even if there was a consensus that the school reform programme was the right prescription for the rot brought in by Aregbesola’s predecessor, the government must constantly seek the “help” of the media to transmit its good intentions to those who do not view the policy from its own perspective. Many who were at the symposium believe that the organizers, Osun Movement for Peace, succeeded on that score. The forum allowed the media personnel and those present to have a better understanding of the issues in contention through the papers presented. Perhaps if more of such interactive programmes had been held to examine government policies, the polity might have been spared needless resource – and timeconsuming friction and tension, arising from what has clearly been identified as the handiwork of mischief makers.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

‘No credible elections in a dishonest nation’ I

S Nigeria working? Nigeria is not only working, it is very healthy. You see part of our problem is what one can call the problem of ignorance. I am surprised that people expect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Party (APC) to say the same thing always. No they shouldn’t say the same thing always. All of us learn by the opposite views. APC should give their opposite views; they should give us an alternative that the government is doing these but they should have done that. That is what the opposition is all about. Secondly a nation that has no problem has no future. Life has no trouble-free zone. I am yet to see a nation that has no problems. In fact, when we speak of corruption, people amuse me and this is because corruption is in every nation as well. The degree of corruption may not be the same but certainly corruption is in every nation. What I am trying to say is that Nigeria is in a beautiful shape. Life is made in way that we all grow by the lessons we learn, by the problems we solve. So, you consider the presence of the APC as a good omen for the polity? It is good, for life without problems is useless; any man that has no enemy is an idiot. We need people who will push us so that we can do better. Therefore, the emergence of (APC) is a beautiful and wonderful omen from my point of view. God is in control and command of the nation we call Nigeria. How would you x-ray the performances of President Goodluck Jonathan in critical sectors? Well, I am sure that the country knows that in the area of power reforms, he has tried and struggled to change things positively. Do

Popular evangelist, Rev. Uma Ukpai, spoke with newsmen recently on affairs in the nation. Sunday Oguntola was there. Excerpts:

not forget that it is not easy to change that sector within three years. So I score him very high because something is certainly happening. In the area of corruption, a country where you have so many illiterates and those who are poor is bound to be corrupt. I don’t know how others define corruption; corruption to me is an attempt to find the shortest road out of every given trouble. Refusal to follow the law to its logical conclusion and transmitting easy way out of problems, it is almost inbuilt in us all; nobody likes trouble. Nobody wants to be delayed by police officers when you can expedite all you want to do but you will be breaching the law by doing that. So corruption is almost part of our second nature and only God can change us. Therefore, for anybody to boast of giving us a government that will have no measure of corruption, that person is a liar. Will somebody please tell that person that he is telling us lies that a new person will emerge as a new leader and everything will change overnight? Some of us have lived long enough to know that things are not done that way. In the area of economy, I think the economy is doing fine. The value of naira in our hands has not yet gone down. The ability to confront government that abused Nigerians is something he has done very well also that is a plus for him. In the area of education, I may not know much why ASUU keeps going on strike but the little I know is that they don’t really have too many reasons on why they keep going on strike. However, the establishment of new universities is another

•Ukpai

plus. Security has improved a great deal at least where I live. I don’t stay in Abuja; I don’t know what they are going through but where I live, security has improved greatly. You hardly hear of kidnapping in Akwa-Ibom State and that is a big plus for him, a very big plus. I think these ones are enough to show that he is do-

ing very well but I want to say that three years cannot be enough for any man to change things in this country even if you are a Nigerian. Do you think the forthcoming 2005 elections will be free and fair? That question amuses me. Don’t forget the fact that these elections we are talking about involve Nigerians and not Ghanaians. It will be done the

same way we have always done things. Have we always been honest in the areas of elections? Can the first person that knows about election in Nigeria raise his hand and tell how elections are conducted in Nigeria? Those of them that know the secrets, the hidden things of election, can they please tell us how elections are conducted in Nigeria? Maybe they don’t know we know that there is no element of honesty in the whole game. Why? This is because we ourselves are not that honest. How do they expect a community of dishonest people to do things in an honest way? It is not possible. So, can we please continue with the game of fooling the non-politicians? If that will bring peace. But if you are asking that election be done the proper way, then all of us must repent between now and 2015 and practise honesty, sincerity and legality. If we cannot repent, can we all shut our mouths and stop these noise making and continue with the way we have always been fooled by the organisers of the election? But do we just shrug and continue like this then? It’s all up to us to decide if we really want a change. All the stakeholders should be honest and repent between now and 2015 and stop deceiving us because we cannot have credible elections without repentance. We have to repent first, everybody and then when we repent, we then practice honesty and sincerity before God and before our own conscience. The national confab kicks off soon. Do you think it will fix Nigeria? It was the former Ameri-

can President Bill Cliton that said contact dissolves conflict. If contact dissolves conflicts then let them meet and iron out our differences and maybe suggest how best to rule this country, it will help us. Do you agree there should be no-go areas at the confab? Whatever will bring confusion should be avoided. Only what will help us and build us up should be touched and focused on for discussions What fears do you nurse about Nigeria? Nigeria is a beautiful river that filters itself. So these things people are doing in our view shall certainly be filtered out at the appropriate time. The insurgency in the North continues unabated despite the emergency rule in the northeast. How can we destroy the Boko Haram menace? We need to tell ourselves the home truth that Boko Haram is a prepared organisation, prepared to harm and destroy Nigeria. An enemy of that class cannot be wished away, an enemy of such magnitude cannot be destroyed within days. As long as God is on the throne, Nigeria is on the safe side and we shall overcome. How do we move Nigeria forward? All that they need to know is to find out what are the questions. You cannot give or provide answers to questions you don’t know. What really frightens me is that the Bible says when God wants to punish a nation he gives them young men who don’t know the questions and to lead the nation. So when you don’t know what the questions are, you cannot give the answers. So all those who are stakeholders and all those who have interest in Nigeria should again find out what the questions are and find solutions to those questions.

xxx

NEWS Fountain of Praise lifts orphans with N3million Commit to giving, Adventist President charges Christians

FAITH-BASED nongovernmental organisation, Worship for Change, has donated over N3million to the Centre for Destitute Empowerment Idimu, Lagos and God’s Will Orphanage, Ayingba, Kogi State. The fund was raised during the Worship for Change benefit concert held at the Shell Hall, Muson centre Lagos last October. Artistes that graced the event include Bob Fitts, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Flo, Frank Umoh, PITA and Psalmos. The convener, Pastor Wale Adenuga, said the goal is to lift children in orphanages.

By Adeola Ogunlade

The ace gospel musician said the orphanages were nominated through online voting by the general public. The lead worshipper of Fountain of Praise said: “I think there is a whole lot that needs to be done because everywhere around us there is so much squalor and poverty. “I think that if people realise that their lives is not just for themselves then the idea to make a difference will spring up in their mind.” The Centre for Destitute Empowerment Idimu with over 82 children received a cheque of N1.55 million.

Its president and founder, Pastor Samson Okoliko, appreciated the gesture. He said: “The amount is not the important thing but the effect it makes on the lives of the children. We are assuring you that the money will be invested well and we would continue to update you”. Another 1.55million went to God’s Will Orphanage founded by Mrs. Elizabeth Opanachi. The home caters for 45 children. She said: “I feel thrilled today because this work that we do needs support and without helping hands, you cannot succeed with the children’s needs.”

HE Seventh Day Adventist Church in Nigeria has canvassed for more commitment to philanthropic gestures among Christians. The church said that is the only way to fight poverty among Nigerians and demonstrate the love of Christ. President of the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Ted Wilson, stated these last week during the centenary celebration of the church at the Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State. Wilson, who led other officials of the church in Africa and Nigeria during the thanksgiving service, stressed that giving is the best way to touch others and emulate Christ.

By Sunday Oguntola

He lamented that the middle class, which used to be the powerhouse of economic development, is gradually disappearing. According to him: “What we have now is the rich getting stupendously richer while the poor even become poorer.” He explained this is why the church is spearheading efforts to alleviate poverty and uplift the downtrodden through several outreach programmes. Illustrating with Mary of Bethany’s decision to pour expensive perfume on Jesus, Wilson said: “If the woman did not do what she did, when she did, I bet you that perfume

will not have a better opportunity for its use. “Sometimes, you keep what you shouldn’t keep and it rots in your hand.” Addressing privileged Christians, he said: “Are you giving what you should give or you are keeping what you should give?” He wondered if contemporary Christians wouldn’t have diverted the resources that early missionaries used to build schools, hospitals and other facilities across the nation. The church, Wilson explained, is all about helping people and empowering them to do something good for themselves and the country.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

WORSHIP NEWS

COLUMN

Cleric bags NANS outstanding leadership award

HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has conferred its outstanding leadership award on the general overseer of Faith Revival Apostolic Church (FRAC) Lagos, Apostle Paul Adenuga. The presentation, which held at the church’s headquarters along Idimu- Egbeda Lagos last Sunday, was attended by church members and executives of the students’ body. Explaining the choice of the cleric for the award, NANS president, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo said: “It is an honour that is well deserved by him. He has stood by NANS over the years to promote peace and quality education. “He has come around on several occasions to defend the average Nigerian students. He has been very philanthropic to many students to enable them acquire good education.” Gbadebo added: “He has on so many occasions helped the association to rise above

•Apostle Adenuga By Innocent Duru

board. During the last ASUU strike, there was a time many people did not even understand the reason behind the strike and at that moment, we needed

somebody that would broker peace for us to have a way forward and he came up and played that role. “We intend to involve him more in the building of NANS because a lot of us do not have character and charisma anymore because we are all interested in our personal gains.’’ Adenuga appreciated the students for counting him worthy to receive the award and dedicated it to God. He said: “I dedicate this award to the Almighty God. I appreciate the students because they are the future of the country. They love the truth that is why they are appreciating men of God that are putting more effort to preach undiluted word of God.”

•General overseer, Amazing Grace Pentecostal Church Lagos(middle) Bishop Chioma Dauji(middle); her husband, Apostle Edward Dauji(left) and The Presiding Bishop of The World of Life Family Church Worldwide, Archbishop Dazzling Buthercann, during the first wedding anniversary of the son of Apostle and Bishop Dauji, Kingsley... at the weekend in PHOTO:MUYIWA HASSAN Lagos.

Nigeria’s ills diagnosed at convention

HIS is an outing that every public office holder in the country should attend. It is one that everyone who is at a loss for the cause of the various catastrophes in the land should witness. The main solution to our various problems is here.” This was the submission of Ogbonnaya Okike after listening to various sermons that held guests spellbound at the kick-off of a three-day national conference of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), Christ Universal Spirited Children Fellowship (USCF). It held at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, with the theme: Unified uni-

Church holds special service

OVING from shame to glory, a service by Pillar of Faith Christian Centre International Ministries holds from March 26-28. The service is from 9am-2pm at the church’s auditorium 80, Shylon Street off Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove Lagos. Ministers expected at the service include Pastor Anthony Akpata, Prophet Sunday Adebayo, Evangelist Dare Melody and Prophet Rotimi Amos, among others.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

versal theocracy on earth. From the soul-stirring renditions of members of the choirs who, like other members of the brotherhood, appeared angelic in all-white robes, to the priests, love was on the lips of everyone as the soul of human co-existence. To Pastor Sunny Ekanem, Lagos State leader’s representative and others who spoke at the gathering, unrepentant lovers of materialism are enemies of Christ. They said have no place in the kingdom of God, which the brotherhood represents. The mammoth crowd shook in awe-inspiring tumultuous ovation when the Chairman, BCS Executive Council, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu was

ushered into the gathering by his pastors, led by the Chairman, Planning Committee of the convention, Anita Reginald Anyalor. After an outpouring of hearty songs by the various choirs and speeches that bordered on the need for love, righteousness and selflessness among humans, Obu blessed all and admonished the congregation never to depart from righteous ways. The brotherhood’s spokesman, Bishop Theophilus Idabre, debunked the seeming controversy surrounding the brotherhood. He said: “Brotherhood of the Cross is neither a cult nor a society; it is the kingdom of God on earth. It was established according to the prophesies of our Lord Jesus Christ.’’

Rededicate yourselves to God, By Segun Ajiboye cleric charges Adeboye, who recently

HE General Overseer of the Miracle Prayer Ministry Ile-Ife, Osun State, Reverend Emily Orubu, has called on men of God across the country to keep praying for the nations and her leaders. She made the call as part of activities to round off a week-long programme organised by the church to pray for the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Eneuch

marked his 72nd birthday. Citing the security challenges and increasing rate of corruption in the country, she said they are signs of desperation on the part of the people because of the failure of the nation’s political leaders, but urged Nigerians to continue to pray for God’s intervention. Maintaining that God truly loves Nigeria, she called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of God to benefit from His blessings.

Living Faith By Dr. David Oyedepo

Understanding the blessedness of prayer and fasting! (2)

ELCOME to your regular column. Last week, I tried to explain what fasting is all about. Fasting, I said, is a big-time business with high-level profiting. It is not just staying away from food, which can be equivalent to dieting, but it includes fervent prayer in accordance with the will of God. Also, I gave some reasons why we fast and pray. I said, among others, that we fast and pray to overpower all the opposing forces on the path of our glorious destiny in Christ. This week, I will be teaching on the profitable approach to fasting and blessings that accrue to us in fasting. May God give you understanding. The profitable approach to fasting: For our prayer and fasting to deliver maximally, we must observe the following protocols: •Be thankful, praiseful and worshipful: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4). You don’t have access in prayers, without following this protocol in prayer. Don’t come complaining, murmuring or accusing, because until we thank God adequately for the past, we do not qualify for further blessings. •Come boldly and not beggarly: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). If we must obtain anything from God, we must come boldly and not beggarly (Proverbs 28:1). Every child of God is the righteousness of God in Christ Je-

sus. So, when you are confronted in life, no accusation permits the devil to defeat you. You wear His righteousness in battle. •Come with faith: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a must. Prayer and fasting will be wasteful without faith. Faith is your covenant signature for taking delivery of your possessions in Christ. We are not begging the devil to leave us; we are commanding him to flee. Therefore, we must build our faith to a level of command. Faith comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God (Romans 10:17). •We must engage in Kingdom promotion as a priority in our prayers: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). The place the Kingdom of God occupies in our prayer life, determines largely the level of answers to prayers we can experience. So, by investing in the well-being of others, God takes care of our own. It is a mystery of the Kingdom that gives us mastery over the issues of life. Blessings that accrue to us in fasting: Fasting is a spiritual platform for outbreak of revelations: Every outstanding breakthrough you notice in the Kingdom, is a product of an outbreak of revelations (Isaiah 58:8, 10). Every time you experience an outbreak of revelation, a revolution takes

place. Those that fly as the cloud are those that have received light (Isaiah 60: 1, 8). Therefore, as you engage positively in this fast, your light will come and it will shoot you up in the air. It empowers our access to the high places of life: Fasting and prayer are a spiritual platform for our flight into the high places of life (Isaiah 58:14). You will never meet a Christian in an extraordinary place, who is not given to the discipline of fasting and prayer, because oppositions will not allow him to get there. It facilitates empowerment for dominion: God has ordained that we rule in the midst of our enemies, and fasting is a platform that empowers us for dominion (Psalm 66:3). Therefore, as we build up spiritual empowerment, our dominion is enhanced. It is also common knowledge that every aircraft is powered from the ground for a flight. Until adequate power is generated, no aircraft takes off in the air. This shall be our most awesome and colourful year, but we must take responsibility to adequately power the year. Receive grace to engage maximally in this fast! Be blessed! Friend, the power to engage in a fast, is available if you are born again. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are set for this, please say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Deliver me from sins and satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now, I know I am born again!” Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Winning Prayer and Keys To Answered Prayer and Born To Win. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

NEWS

ECWA Agbelekale celebrates 20

T was triple celebrations for Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Agbelekale under Mushin District Church Council Lagos last Sunday. Members and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the church, dedication of the Walter Gowans Multi-purpose hall and elevation of the parish pastor, Femi Ikusagba, to a Reverend. Ikusagba said the assembly started as a prayer centre under ECWA Agege in January 1993 at one of the members’ residences in Ekoro area of Abule-Egba. ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Prof Samuel Kunhiyop, charged leaders to choose to be servants like Jesus did. According to him:”The rights and privileges of a leader

•Elevates pastor

•Ikusagba with wife at the celebration By Sunday Oguntola

diminish as his responsibilities increase”. He paid special tributes to pioneers of the assembly, saying their contributions and sacrifices made the church

grow. Kunhiyop said every servant has rewards and charged the newly ordained to remain good ambassadors of Christ no matter where they find themselves. Former President of the church, Rev Anthony Farinto, advised the new reverend to stay clear of internal politics, saying it could overwhelm and cloud his ministry. Chairman of the anniversary committee, Elder Bamigbade, described Reverend Ikusagba as man filled with the Holy Spirit who has brought numerous achievements to ECWA Agbelekale. Ikusagba attributed his elevation to the hands of God, declaring that he remains a ready tool in the hands of God for propagation of the gospels.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Abuja Writers’ Forum hosts trio

•Oyegbile

ONTINUING the tradition, the regular Guest Writer Session of the Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF) will on Saturday, March 29, beam its spotlight on three artistes. This was disclosed by Abdullahi Abubakar, AWF’s Public Relations Officer, in a statement. Of the trio, two of them, Iresiri Samson and Olayinka Oyegbile are writers, while third is Zainab Sule, a musician. Iresiri, a reporter, editor and social media manager with the Abuja-based Daily Trust (Media Trust Ltd) holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and two certificates in Film Making and Television Production from the National Film Institute and the Nigerian Television College respectively. A web content manager, across several CMS platforms, and public speaker, especially on creative writing, Iresiri writes and executes social media campaign plans for all budgets and manage social media profiles for individuals and corporate organisation. He published his debut poetry collection, ‘What Can Words Do?’ in 2013. And one of the poems from the collection, ‘Where is The Breathe of Fresh Air’, won the Orange Crush 1st Prize for Poetry 2012. Iresiri also founded the Words Rhymes & Rhythm Group, an initiative

•Sule

•Iresiri By Joe Agbro Jr.

which started from a single blog and Facebook page but now has a combined fan base of over 15,000 across several social media networks. Oyegbile, the author of Home Away From Home: History of Ogbomosho Peope In Jos’ is also the deputy editor of The Nation on Sunday. He was born and raised in Jos, Plateau State. Although his parents are from Ogbomoso in Oyo State, he never left the north until he was almost a teenager. Until his secondary school days, his hometown was just a name because he felt at home in Jos and other parts of the north where he had lived and travelled widely. After his secondary education in Kwara State, he worked in Jos for about four years before he proceeded to Bayero University, Kano (BUK) where he graduated with a degree (Second Class Upper) in Mass Communication. He also holds a Postgraduate degree from the University of Jos. It was while working in Jos that he honed his craft as a writer and journalist by freelancing for The Nigeria Standard Newspapers and writing play scripts for both radio and television stations. His stories have been published both at home and abroad. The love of journalism took him away from Jos to join The Guardian newspapers in

Lagos. He has since worked with The Punch, Daily Independent, TELL magazine, NEXT Newspapers where he was Associate Editor from where he joined The Nation. Although ‘Home Away From Home: History of Ogbomosho Peope In Jos’ is his first published book, he has written a couple of short stories and travelogues. He is one of Nigeria’s most travelled journalists and has won several international awards. Among these are World Health Organisation (WHO), Public Health Reporting Fellowship, American Cancer Society Fellowship, the prestigious Knight Fellowship and a host of others. He is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and has been the lead Country Reporter for the Washington DC based Global Integrity yearly publication titled CORRUPTION NOTEBOOK. In a recent interview he said, “Journalism has snatched me from writing fiction. My dream was to be a writer and that I have achieved with my journalism and I have been rewarded with numerous awards that have taken me to almost all corners of the globe. My book, Home Away From Home, is my offering to making Nigeria a great nation as some of the ones I have visited.” The third Guest, Sule, is a professional web designer and also a singer and songwriter who

Commission says museums are not shrines

Usman said that the museums served as tourists’ HE National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has said centres to showcase what the country has to the rest that museums in the country are not of the world in terms of artefacts. He said that every state in the country was exshrines but tourism sites, contrary to the bepected to have at least one museum, adding that there liefs of some people. Malam Abdallah Usman, the Director- were also specialised museums like traditional arGeneral of NCMM said this in an interview chitecture museum, which were suitable for sightwith the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on seeing for members of the public. . According to him, the Thursday in Abuja. commission has 48 museums “There is need to across the country and some correct the misconstates like Osun, Ondo, ception that museGombe, among others have ums in Nigeria are two. shrines, where idols He said that the commisare being glorified sion was working on a proand worshipped,” he gramme to establish a musaid. seum in the states that do not Usman said that have, including one for the the perception had nation’s capital. affected the nation’s Usman disclosed that the museum as parents commission has 100 monudo not find it suitable ments across the country, but taking their children •National Museum, Onikan, Lagos stated that only 65 had been to museums for tourclassified because of their functions and significance ism. The commission’s boss said that a lot of in terms of artefacts or history. He called on the Federal Government to provide publicity was needed to correct the impression, while calling on the media to help insecurity in all the museums across the country, addform the citizenry and salvage the nation’s ing that the commission had to rely on community policing to provide security at the museums to avoid museum from collapsing. He said that the commission had em- theft of the items. “What we have is priceless and must not be albarked on sensitisation to correct such impression, adding that it would not do any- lowed to be stolen by unscrupulous elements who body any good to equate museums with want to sell our heritage,” he said. shrines.

does rock music. Her music has been described as being a “mixture of Tracy Chapman and Avril Lavigne, mixed with a touch of soul.” Zainab also holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Jos, and 3 CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster) Certifications in Web Design. When she’s not writing songs, or on some musical tour somewhere, you’ll find Zainab working as a consultant to some major companies under her company name and alter ego, Pishon Designs. Just three years into her blossoming career as a professional musician, Zainab already has two full length albums, some amazing singles, countless reviews and many performances in Nigeria and beyond. Her albums are available on iTunes and other online stores, and she also has a book of Poetry available on Amazon Kindle. She’s currently working on her live acoustic sessions and more music videos to promote her sound. The Guest Writer Session, which started in June 2008, holds at the prestigious Nanet Suites located at the Central Business District in Abuja, and runs from 4-7pm on the last Saturday of every month. It also features side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition, a raffle-draw for books, and a stirring dose of live music.

Books on the New Deal and an Indian Massacre Win Bancroft Prize

OOKS on racial politics during the New Deal and on an 1864 massacre of American Indians in Colorado have won the Bancroft Prize, considered one of the most prestigious honors in the field of American history. Ira Katznelson’s “Fear Itself: The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time,” published by Liveright, was cited for its “fresh interpretation of a much-studied topic, exposing the racial politics that enabled Franklin Roosevelt to secure Congressional support for many New Deal measures.” Ari Kelman’s study “A Misplaced Massacre: Struggling Over the Memory of Sand Creek,” published by Harvard University Press, was praised for its even-handed treatment of the 1864 massacre of Arapaho and Cheyenne by Colorado Territory militia, in an account that judiciously weighs “the fraught politics of inconclusive and contradictory archival records, the goals of National Park memorialists, the claims of property owners, and Native American efforts to have a historic injustice marked and recalled without perpetrating further violation of the spirits of murdered ancestors.” The BancroftPrize, established in 1948 by the trustees of Columbia Uni-

By Jennifer Schuessler

versity with a bequest from the historian Frederic Bancroft, includes an award of $10,000.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 CHANGE OF NAME AZUBUOGU I, formerly known and addressed as Azubuogu Chukwuemeka, now wish to be known and addressed as Azubogu Emeka Peter. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODUTEMOWO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odutemowo Adesola Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adekunle Adesola Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LASISI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Temitope Oluwaseun Lasisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Temitope Oluwaseun Adeniyi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ODEY I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Victoria Agbo Odey, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Agbo Anaughe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LASISI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gbemisola Ayisat Lasisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gbemisola Yetunde Olufemi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLABISI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olabisi Caroline Tolulope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osunseyi Caroline Tolulope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AYENI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayeni, Olajumoke Ibukun Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Falodun Olajumoke Ibukun. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME UFOT

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mponobong Ebene Ufot, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mponobong Favour Alozie. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FAGBAMI

TEMIONU I, formerly known and addressed as Temionu Adunola, now wish to be known and addressed as Omotayo Adunola (Nee: Temionu). All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IYASELE I, formerly known and addressed as Iyasele Philomina Obehi, now wish to be known and addressed as Odusile Philomina Obehi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

KELECHI-OSUOHA

I, formerly known and addressed as Uloma Kelechi-Osuoha, now wish to be known and addressed as Uloma Nwakaego Okoro. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FAMUAGUN

BANJO

MOHAMMED I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Mohammed Soliat Adeleye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayodele Soliat . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABIODUN

OFONMBUK

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

AYODELE

I, formerly known and addressed as Evang. Isaac Olaide Akanfe, now wish to be known and addressed as Evang. Isaac Olaide Testimony. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ofonmbuk Ime James, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ofonmbuk Anieno Inyang. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as Adijat Adekemi Adedokun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayodele Adijat Adekemi. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State and general public should please take note.

IDOWU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu, Tosin Oluwatoyosi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Coker, Tosin Oluwatoyosi. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

AJADI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajadi, Idowu Boluwatife now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kolawole, Idowu Boluwatife. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

UBUO I, formerly known and addressed as Edet Edet Ubuo now wish to be known and addressed as Chris Ubuo. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

OBA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibifubara Joshua Oba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibifubara Raymond Udoh. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

ONYEAKAGBU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Offiong-Anwan Okon Inameti, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Offiong-Anwan Francis Iso. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abosede Jesukemi Banjo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abosede Jesukemi Jegede. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

TIJANI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyinyechi Charis Igwegbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyinyechi C. Okafor. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University, Owerri and general public should please take note.

ODUNUYI I, formerly known and addressed as Adetutu Oluremi Odunuyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Adetutu Oluremi Jaiyesimi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AJUMOBI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tijani Adijat Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tijani Khadijat Lamid. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

OSUNTADE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyeakagbu Chinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mbaeri Chinyere Monica. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajumobi, Temitope Modinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebanjo, Temitope Modinat. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan,NYSC and general public should please take note.

IGWUE

CHANGE OF NAME

IGWEGBE

I, formerly known and addressed as Fagbami Ebenezer Dele, now wish to be known and addressed as Fagbemi Ebenezer Dele. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State University, ICAN, NAFDAC and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Opeyemi Oluwole Famuagun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Opeyemi Oluwole Obamuagun. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Igwue Juliet Idomoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebojehu Juliet Idomoh. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKANFE

OFFIONG

EJE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eje, Mishael Ofie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ivara Mishael Eni. All former documents remain valid. University Of Calabar and general public should please take note.

EBIE

I, formerly known and addressed as Ebie Victor, now wish to be known and addressed as Peter Victor. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Navy and general public should please take note.

AJIBOYE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajiboye, Victoria Moradeke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bankole Victoria Moradeke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. IROALA MAUREEN CHINWEUZO, now wish to be known as MRS. OKECHUKWURAPHAEL MAUREEN CHINWEUZO. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ATILISON BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKHIGBE BLESSING OMOMATI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Achulonu Gloria Osinachi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Nwaordu Gloria Osinachi All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

ATILISON

AMADI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS PAMELA IHUNNA AMADI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PAMELA IHUNNA DOZIE. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Immigrations, Federal Government College Owerri, Micheal Okpara University of Agric Abia State, NYSC and the General public should please take note.

OGAH I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHARITY JOHN OGAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHARITY ENUMAJE MARTINS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLOWOLAIYEMO I, formerly known and addressed as MS ESTHER OLAYEMI OLOWOLAIYEMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ESTHER OLAYEMI OYEKANMI. All former documents remain valid. AMAC, ACSC, UNIABUJA and general public should please take note.

ELEAZU

INANIA

FAGBEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. JECINTA MICHEAL KALU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JECINTA ACHINIVU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as (Mr.) Fagbemi Kehinde Oluwaseun Cornelius, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Robert Kehinde Oluwaseun Cornelius. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ologun Obitade Abike is the same person as Ologunala Obitade Obiyemi Abike All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

JEGEDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Jegede, Mary Ozavize, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Enang. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKINYEMI

KALU

OGENE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ONWUMA CHIKA OGENE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHIKA OGENE ENOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ERIBO I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ERIBO FAITH OMOYEMWENSE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ENABULELE FAITH OMOYEMWENSE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NWOKO I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLUCHI B. NWOKO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUCHI B. UKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKE

I, formerly known and addressed as Akinyemi Segun Micheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinyanmi Segun Micheal. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, TAMINOBELEMA SUNDAY FRESH and TAMUNOBELEMA FRESH refers to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Oke Folake Ayoola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tunde-Dada Folakemi Ayoola. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Local govt. Service Commission, Postgraduate School, Ekiti State University and general public should please take note.

OKAFOR I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor, Ukamaka Doris, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoro, Ukamaka Doris. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc. and general public should please take note.

OLALEYE

ADISA SAMUEL I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Samuel Iyabo Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olayemi Iyabo Grace. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti and general public should please take note.

OGUNMILUYI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoyin Christianah Ogunmiluyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omoboriowo Oluwatoyin Christianah. All former documents remain valid. Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti and general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Abulwahab Ibrahim Ayinde and Abdul Ibrahim Wahab are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as Abulwahab Ibrahim Ayinde. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adisa, Mariam Toyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Durosimi Mariam Toyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LIADI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Liadi, Shakirat Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Durosimi Shakirat Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. Ebunoluwa Omolara Sterl 976437 of BALE-NDII 20/3/14 I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Meelubari BaleNdii(Nee Bale-Ndii), now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Meelubari Paul-Badey. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGUNTADE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oguntade, Aminat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abiona Aminat Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IROALA

I, formerly known and addressed as Osuntade, Adebukola Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onisuru, Adebukola Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ELEAZU CONSTANCE IJEOMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OCHE OKECHUKWU IJEOMA .C. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Inania Ka-Alenebari, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oode P. Ka-Alenebari. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS DEBORAH MOROUNFOLUWA OLALEYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS DEBORAH MOROUNFOLUWA ABIOYE. All formal documents remain valid. The Nigeria army and general public should please take note.

HAMED

I formerly known and addressed as Hamed Adebayo Ayorinde now wish to be known and addressed as Ahmed Adebayo Ayorinde. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OKENLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss OKENLA ADETUTU TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs AKINLEYE ADETUTU TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ARIBISOGAN I formerly known and addressed as Miss ARIBISOGAN EUNICE TOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs JAMIU EUNICE TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME I,AMADI EMMANUEL EMEKA and ELLIS SOYE refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known as ELLIS SOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ACHULONU

ADETUTU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adetutu Ganiat Mojisola, now wish to be known as Miss AjoseAdetutu Ganiat Mojisola. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

IHUOMA I formerly known and addressed as MISS IHUOMA JOY CHIGOROM, now wish to be known as MRS. NWAGWU JOY CHIGOROM. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

AGEDE I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Agede Adetola Adenike Susan, now wish to be known as Mrs Agede Oloruntola Aina Comfort. All former documents remain valid National Institute for Hospital and Tourist and general public please take note.

AKINYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Akinyemi Oluwayemisi Comfort, now wish to be known as Mrs. Egberongbe Oluwayemisi Comfort. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLOJEDE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olojede Aderonke Anthonia, now wish to be known as Mrs. Mrs. Adegun Aderonke Anthonia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZE

I, formerly known and address as Miss Eze Chinyere, now wish to be known and addresses as Mrs. Igbo Chinyere. All former documents remains valid. ASUBEB and Umunneochi Local Govt. Educational Authority and general public should please take note.

NWACHUKWU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. AMARACHI NWACHUKWU, now wish to be known as Mrs. AMARACHI HUIBAN. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

PEPPLE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. IBINYE PEPPLE, now wish to be known as Mrs. IBINYE PROMISE ALANEME. All former documents remain valid general public please take note.

NTAGU I formerly known and addressed as Miss. NTAGU VIVIEN NEBECHI, now wish to be known as Mrs. OKOYE VIIVIEN NEBECHI. All former documents remain valid. (NMA) NYSC, and the general public please take note.

UKACHUKWU I formerly known and addressed as Miss. UKACHUKWU MAUREEN AMARACHI, now wish to be known as Mrs. ODIRICHUKWU MAUREEN AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. UNION BANK and the General public please take note.

TAMUKEY

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. EVA EFUA TAMUKEY, now wish to be known as Mrs. EVA EFUA DESTINY MOMODU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGBOOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Agboola Adejoke Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olawale Adejoke Precious. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AGU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agu Benardine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okeke Benardine. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

OLASINDE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olasinde, Felicia Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bolatito Felicia Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FAPOHUNDA I, formerly known and addressed as Fapohunda, Lase Ezekiel, now wish to be known and addressed as Fapohunda Olaosebikan Olaosebikan Ezekiel. All former documents remain valid. WAEC, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) and general public should please take note.

EKECHUKWU I, formerly known and addressed as Ekechukwu Patience Nkeiru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odu Patience Nkeiru. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MUSARI

I, formerly known and addressed as MUSARI OLADUNNI TAIBAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ILESANMI OLADUNNI MUSARI. 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@ yahoo.com or thenation.advert @gmail.com. For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, E m a i l gbengaodejide @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.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

Life without sugar: One family’s 30-day challenge

ewabara@yahoo.com

Presidential goof N

ATIONAL Mirror of March 20 welcomes us this week with error superfluity: “One injured, five cars burnt in Lagos fire outbreak” We can do without ‘outbreak’! “The SSG, apart from being corky (cocky) and arrogant….” “I can get the information in few (a few) minutes.” “Post harvest (Postharvest) loss threatens Nigeria’s agricultural transformation” Still on National Mirror: “Shell commissions (launches) $3m Centre for Environmental Management and Control at UNN” “Alumni donates (donate) building to college (alma mater contextually preferable) “New FUNAABSU executive sworn-in (sworn in)” “Education students elect new leaders” Yank off ‘new’: you either elect or re-elect leaders—one of which takes care of ‘new’ or ‘old’! “Minister assures on job creation” Who did the minister assure? Lastly from National Mirror under review: “Southern Kaduna protests persistent herdsmen (herdsmen’s) attacks” DAILY SUN of March 19 comes next with a fullpage advertisement faux pas by the Transformation Network and other slipups by the voice of the nation: “2 nd Niger Bridge flagged off: I have come, as your President, to flag-off (sic) this vital bridge project….” A promise kept: 2nd Niger Bridge inaugurated, not ‘flagged off’! “Confab: I won’t support break up (breakup)…” “National Confab: Don’t trade-off (trade off) Igbo future” “One of the death victim” (Abuja Metro Caption) A rewrite: One of the dead victims From DAILY SUN we move over to THE NATION ON SUNDAY of March 16 which circulated copious errors: “As the curtains for this year’s National Conference opens (open) tomorrow in Abuja…politics of delegates (delegates’) selection and disagreements trailing the confab.” The next observations in the preceding medium were made by Mr. Kola Danisa: “Political forces arraigned (arrayed) against….” “A grand plan to pitch (pit) people against the rul-

ing party….” Wrong: Air Marshall; right: Air Marshal Finally from Uncle Danisa: “The bill passed by the State Assembly has not been accented (assented) to by…. “Consequent to (upon) skirmishes between cattle rustlers and local residents in some communities in Katsina State… Government condole (condoles with) the families of those who lost their lives and sympathize (sympathizes) with the injured. The Katsina State Government has therefore constituted a Committee (unnecessary capitalization)… to immediately swing into action to access (assess) the unfortunate incidence (incident), renderassistance (sic), advice (advise) on measures to stamp out the banditry and forestall future occurance (sic) (forestall recurrence).” (Full-page advertorial press release signed by Katsina State Government) THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of the edition under review fumbled: “…to seek divine intervention to (in) the insurgency that has led to killings of….” SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of March 15 goofed on a few occasions: “PDP petitions INEC over voters registration in Ekiti” Get it right: voter registration “I mistaken ammunitions for tubers of yam, says arrested driver by customs” A rewrite: I mistook ammunition for yam tubers, says driver arrested by Customs “As is peculiar with (to) every other country….” “Right from childhood…has (had) always shown exceptional qualities that stood him out among equals.” “N584m debt: Engineer offers out of court settlement with bank” In the dock: outof-court settlement “Quincy Ayodele calls it quit (quits)” “…was one of his most successful work (works)” “Baptist Girls (Girls’) Academy holds inter house (inter-house) sports competition” “A spinster, before her death, Toyin worked with one of the leading banks in the country.” The burden of aging: You work for (or in) an organization, but with people. “Hence, Fashola’s order to the water corporation to immediately put its acts together and perform was welcomed by the long-suffering people of the state.” This way: get its act together.

“It would be recalled that sometimes (sometime) last year (a comma) the water corporation had muted the idea of fully commercializing its operations so as to generate part of its targeted revenue of N100 million monthly.” It is astounding that an editorialist cannot distinguish between ‘mute’ and ‘moot’! “…if at all it does settle and after the looser community has (had) retreated to lick its wounds…” No clash: loser-community. “Lack of strong moral values and chastity undermine societies…” Error of attraction: lack of values and chastity undermines. “The offence was allegedly committed at about 5.a.m last week” Stick to one: at or about 5 a.m.; don’t leave readers pondering! Timing is all about exactitude. “…the craze for titles seem to have reached unprecedented tragic proportions.” Error of attraction, again: the craze for titles seems. “The existence of the cult and many others seem to have.…” Yet another error of attraction: existence…seems. “The speech started with an historic, conciliatory concession.” Some currency: a historic concession. “The fears expressed over the controversial trial by counsels to the former bank executives….” ‘Counsel’ is uncountable. “The lie spurn by Ochendo and his accomplices have become a reality, as women….” Not yet time for proximity: The lie spurn by Orji and his accomplices has (not have). “Sokoto swears-in revenue recovery tribunal members” Phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation. “…they leave innocent citizens about their honest business devoid of money, wristwatches, jewelleries” ‘Jewellery’ (jewelry) is non-count. “The craze for everything foreign is now the vogue in all circles.” ‘Vogue’ implies currency and thus makes ‘now’ redundant. “There were instances where the credibility of Nigerian certificates were queried abroad.” Not time for verbal proximity: credibility of certificates was queried….” “He is believed to be financially virile enough to do battle with his fellow noveau rich (sic) that are angling for the Government House.” Standard expression: nouveaux riches (plural).

•Suger •Continued from page 47

Week Three Two people tell me I look "fresh". I haven't been "fresh" for years. I'm waking up refreshed, which I've been craving for the last 10 years. Briffa had predicted this: my blood sugars have stabilised. The children seem to have forgotten about cereal and fruit juice. We make our own pizza on Saturday night. Working mostly from home means I'm around at teatime, making it easier to control and plan the menu. I've abandoned kale smoothies, which even Briffa said were hardcore, and we've settled into a scrambled egg/granola/ yoghurt breakfast routine, with a bit of Weetabix for them too (shoot me). I'm working out that I resent hidden sugars more than the obvious sugars. In other words, yoghurts, sauces and cereals are worse than biscuits for me because I consciously choose to allow the biscuits in moderation. Being the mother of three girls is a factor. Perhaps an important change in women of my generation is that none of us wants to create in our daughters food/ body issues from things having been "forbidden", hence the biscuits in moderation. But my school-age girls surprise me: they have already learnt about traffic light food labelling in class. I never got any of this as a child. With a history of mild dieting (and teenage years of pretty extreme dieting), I am resisting the urge to get on the scales. This is not about being on a diet. I have to keep reminding myself of James Duigan, personal trainer to Elle Macpherson, who in his own books agrees with Briffa: "Sugar is a nuclear fat bomb explod-

ing all over your body," he says. The magic formula is to fill up on good fats and proteins and stabilise your blood sugar. So I continue to eat and snack on (mostly) good fats: nuts, avocado and a bit of cheese. I relax about bacon. After three decades of anti-fat programming, this feels like I'm breaking some kind of diet law. The week closes with a spectacular display of bad behaviour. During a dinner party, I knock back a lot of prosecco (the worst), red wine and potato gratin. At the end of the evening I throw up in our bathroom. Classy. This has to be the sugar since I've drunk more before and not been such a wreck. I feel poisoned. WEEK FOUR I go running four times! A miracle given how I felt in week one. The children and I agree to photographs in our home with all the food and drink we have cut out. Piles of it are laid on the table. My kids fall upon the sugar stuffs like locusts, clinging the packets to their chests and shouting requests for smoothies, chocolate bars and jelly babies stuff they had supposedly forgotten about. They are slightly out of control and it panics me. This, is what happens when food is forbidden. I resolve to undo this psychology of the forbidden food by calibrating them ever so slightly in the opposite direction next week, when it's over. As the week draws to a close, I feel relief like a convict waiting by the prison gates. On day 31, I wake up and the girls present me with chocolate cup cakes they have made in secret to celebrate. I eat one because my eldest daughter wants me to. I go downstairs and

find a box of Belgian chocolates. I taste one. You know what? I don't even like it. Only Gwyneth Paltrow could be more annoying than that. POSTSCRIPT Two weeks after my 30day diet ends, it pains me to say that I continue to eat in the same way. I thought I'd be liberated free from the tyranny but my palate has been retrained. I find bread heavy now. I don't want rice or chocolate biscuits or pasta. Protein fills me up and keeps me going. I don't buy juice, smoothies, yoghurt or Cheerios for the children and I carry on putting raw vegetables and nuts alongside fruit in their lunchboxes. I'm certainly not going to be a militant anti-sugar mother, but I cannot find it in my heart to allow them a can of Coke, however much it's "a treat". They continue to have their two chocolate biscuits after school, though, along with their treats on Saturday, whether it's popcorn, pizza or an iced bun, but I am now more conscious of their daily tally. Two biscuits, with juice, combined with a banana and grapes and perhaps a pasta sauce and a bowl of porridge with honey? That's too much sugar for my children in one day. I don't believe that the levels of sugar my children eat compromise their health. They are fit and slim. But equally, I'm not prepared to be hoodwinked by products stuffed with hidden sugars. Thirty days of being on this diet has, ultimately, made me sugaraware rather than permanently sugar-free. And only now can I say it: if I carry on, I'll drop a jean size too, although for the first time in my life, that's really not the point. Courtesy: The Telegraph

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Confed Cup: Warri Wolves eye victory against CA Bizertin

How Mine secure late win over Bayelsa Utd

EXTRA

MARCH 23, 2014

Chelsea crush Arsenal on Wenger's special day

Mourinho confirms Eto'o hamstring Injury

Toure nets hat-trick to thrash ten-man Fulham

... Wenger may quit Arsenal!

Obasi enjoys victory with Schalke 04 Sunday Mba sent off in France

Emordi rues defeat at Rangers RESULTS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

Ancelotti pinpoints El Clasico deciders

Benzema, Pique fit for Clasico

SPORT EXTRA

QUOTABLE “Those in favour of allowing the geopolitical zones to become federating units that have their own state police and local governments as well as control their resources are those agitating for a week centre that can presage the split of this country… I believe any arrangement which can lead to the splitting of the country should be avoided.”

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 8, NO. 2796

—A northern delegate to the National Conference, Mr. Anthony Sani, warning against resource control by states, which he feared could disintegrate the country.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan generates both excitement and puzzlement whenever he makes speeches. While inaugurating the national conference in Abuja last week, he was at his most robust best with this fallacious supposition: “In our history as a political entity, we have experienced highs and lows but have always forged ahead. To my mind, the fact that we have weathered all storms and continued with the mission of evolving a truly national identity signifies that we are going in the right direction.” But there is absolutely nothing in what we are doing or how we doing it that shows we are headed in what the president describes as the right direction. If we were headed in the right direction, why would we need a national conference to remake the country’s template? The speech was indeed full of many other false and homiletic suppositions and propositions, disjointed efforts to stir the people with tired and worn-out phrases, not to talk of many sweeping statements the president himself, by his antecedents, never embraced nor endorsed. Predictably, too, he all but ended his speech, which massaged the ego of the national conference delegates and listeners around the country, with the equally untrue and vexatious proposition: “We need a new mind and a new spirit of oneness and national unity. The time has come to stop seeing Nigeria as a country of many groups and regions. We have been divinely brought together under one roof. We must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affects one part of the community affects the other.” Both in his past political campaigns and present disposition, including his unguarded and insistent deployment of religion as a tool of political mobilisation, Dr Jonathan evidently repudiates the ‘one community’ spirit he so facilely recommends. As proof that he and his speechwriters hardly read contemporary materials and analyses on grave national issues, he restates the false theology of attributing divine permanence to national borders, a deeply mendacious and ahistorical theology rebutted in this place several times and in many other writeups elsewhere. What is clear is that Dr Jonathan and his national conference delegates repose an unrealistic confidence in the conference both as a sacrifice for our national slothfulness and indiscipline and as the ultimate panacea for the woes afflicting the body politic, woes almost entirely manmade. Apart from the fact that a significant number of the conferees had before now dedicated their lives and careers wholly to the subversion of the national interest and to nurturing and benefiting from the status quo, Dr Jonathan has himself deftly appointed many delegates – though he pretends to altruism – whom he is confident will either ingratiatingly rally behind his battle cry when the need arises or are too enfeebled by ideological stasis to challenge his frequent brainstorms. Given the flattering stipend voted for each delegate, and the fact that some of them even celebrated their appointments as delegates with newspaper advertisements, the doubts of sceptics are more likely to grow and be reinforced. For in the final analysis, we are more likely to get a highly compromised constitution, in the spirit dictated by Dr Jonathan, than tackle the real problems undermining the country. There is also the expectation that Dr Jonathan, conference delegates and many other Nigerians hope the conference will arrest the country’s dangerous march towards the precipice, in addition to providing a road map to peace, unity and prosperity. I am an advocate of sovereign national conference as a tool for formulating a framework for national coexistence and cohesion. But I have never imagined that even if that template was designed, peace and prosperity would inevitably be

Tottering on the brink

•Jonathan

•Kutigi

guaranteed. The 1999 constitution might have presumptuously claimed to be a people’s constitution, like all other constitutions before it, but that presumptuousness did not indicate that the constitution could not be redeemed by intelligent and altruistic leadership and citizenry through patriotic and substantial constitutional amendments. In his speech to the conference, Dr Jonathan makes the trite argument that a constitution is a living document needing periodic review and possible amendment. It is good that that elementary fact has dawned on him. That epiphany, it must be added, did not escape his predecessor, the highly animated but obtrusive Olusegun Obasanjo. Yet neither Dr Jonathan nor Chief Obasanjo made conscientious effort at the beginning of their presidencies to remedy the situation. For both Chief Obasanjo and Dr Jonathan, the fact is that they think constitutional review, mechanically done through legislative work or national conference, can replace the need to devise a philosophical framework upon which the country’s government must be anchored if it is not to experience persistent disruptions or atrophy. Had that philosophical framework been devised and applied, the passion to build a great nation, one that eschews the kind of injustice rife in the

land and eliminate the massive alienation and politics of exclusion undermining the polity, would have seized the hearts and minds of Nigeria’s rulers. Historians recognise this philosophical framework in Rome under the first two Caesars, Britain in Pax Britannica, the United States in Pax American (and its discredited variant, the New American Century), and Stalin’s and to some extent Vladimir Putin’s Russia. It also existed under Tito’s Yugoslavia, France’s Gaullism, Hitler’s Germany (in a perverse way), and contradistinctively in Bismarck’s Germany and Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire, among others. The point is that there is a crushing and suffocating absence of knowledge-based leadership. Most Nigerian leaders have either been ordinary men or, if active and passionate, nothing more than practical men. They are not philosophical because they are unable to be. That philosophic state of being comes from the inside and is based on the depth of knowledge and understanding one has acquired. Constitution reviews do not teach, and cannot imbue, that essential quality of a knowledge-based or philosophical leadership. Recall, for instance, the drafting of postwar Japanese constitution, how Gen Douglas MacArthur all but framed it, though it was

fleshed out by the technocratic expertise of men like Shigeru Yoshida. That constitution has philosophical underpinnings that have made it to endure. Recall also that the framing of France’s Fifth Republic constitution and its military doctrine, especially the now discarded Force de Frappe nuclear policy, were essentially the work of Gen Charles de Gaulle. Italy’s constitution did not have the benefit of that Gaullist touch, making its constitution often inadequate in addressing the country’s contemporary needs. Dr Jonathan has transferred the responsibility for the making of a new constitution, as it were, to his national conference. Understandably, he has no original ideas to contribute, because his knowledge of history and politics, like Chief Obasanjo’s, is severely limited, if not obfuscated and jaundiced. Indeed, whatever the conference comes up with is unlikely to arrest the drift towards chaos, for the problems are so fundamental that this conference, not to talk of the Jonathan government itself, is hopelessly incapable of inspiring the structured and disciplined approach to national political renewal. Consider, for instance, the fact that Dr Jonathan has not ensured a legal basis for the conference. Worse, he has left the outcome of the conference open-ended, unsure whether it should be validated with a referendum or be a part of the National Assembly’s constitutional amendment process. Would this not create extreme dissonance in the system, and given the intellectual conceit and volubility of some of the conferees, would the stage not be set for a major political clash possibly ending in the deliberate or accidental extension of the electoral timetable? A national conference may be underway and a new constitution in the works, but the country is proceeding blithely towards catastrophe with its troubles over kerosene subsidy rip-off, fuel subsidy financial abracadabra, rape epidemic, political violence, religious conflicts, pension heists, and Boko Haram insurgency, among others. There is no plan or deep thinking to fashion a way out of these symptoms of grave and precipitous societal decline. Indeed, we are in far worse trouble than we think. It is, therefore, urgent that we come to the realisation of the limits of Jonathan’s conference, and appreciate why we need to compel this government to do what is intelligently necessary in the few months it has left. Above all, there is a far more urgent need to vote a thinking government into office, or we perish.

Mugabe’s vitriolic attack and Jonathan’s Namibian response

OBERT Mugabe, the bellicose and tenacious nonagenarian President of Zimbabwe, gave Nigeria such a hefty piece of his mind during his birthday luncheon last week that many people were left nonplussed. A few Southern African leaders, including the late Nelson Mandela, often felt disgusted by Nigeria’s mediocre achievements, but until now they vented their frustrations behind closed doors. Last week, however, Mr Mugabe could no longer hide his exasperation. Said he while reproving Zimbabweans at the luncheon hosted by his country’s Service Chiefs and Public Commission: “Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done? You see, we used to go to Nigeria and every time we went there, we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything. You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dallying without taking off as they want you to pay them to fly the plane.” Not quite one week after Mr Mugabe made the scathing remark about Nigeria’s wellknown romance with corruption, President Goodluck Jonathan visited next door Namibia. Meeting with the Nigerian community in Windhoek, the country’s capital city, the president described talk of corruption in Nigeria as unduly celebrated. Corruption is everywhere in the world, he said tersely, but because Nigerians talk about it effusively (perhaps he meant

to say report it), the country is stigmatised everywhere. Contemplate the president’s weird logic for a moment, if you can. His problem, it seems, is that talk of corruption is celebrated in Nigeria, not that it exists on the scale the world is familiar with. If only we could bury it or de-emphasise it, all would be well, so thought the president in Namibia. But did Dr Jonathan rebut Mr Mugabe’s conclusions? Was the Zimbabwean president’s perception coloured by our boisterous celebration of talk of corruption, rather than the plain, hideous fact of our corruption? Indeed, is there anyone, Nigerian or foreigner, who needs anyone’s report to appreciate the maddening delight Nigerians take in corruption? Can anyone truly get anything done in Nigeria without, as Mr Mugabe put it dishearteningly, paying for it? There is absolutely no doubt what the answers are, even if Dr Jonathan buries his head in the sand, pretending not to know how he has by his lack of diligence magnified the inventiveness of corrupt Nigerians and coloured the sham heroism of the anti-corruption agencies. In Windhoek, Dr Jonathan also talked

about the futility of fighting corruption with a sledgehammer. Alas, he gives the false impression he is fighting corruption with anything at all, sledgehammer or plastic hammer. If anyone requires proof of how Dr Jonathan is fighting corruption, assuming any fighting is going on at all, let him ask the president’s ministers, especially the former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is alleged to have frittered away billions on egotistic plane junkets. Mr Mugabe did not exaggerate. On the contrary, it is Dr Jonathan who is living in denial. Africans know us well for who we are. So, too, do many other world leaders, even if they humour us with sympathetic words and gestures. The reputation of a corrupt Nigeria is not one Dr Jonathan can get rid of with his feather touches and kitchen midden policies, not even if his past years of slack policies and bureaucratic lassitude were rewarded with another four undeserving years.

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