Mar 28, 2014 by The Nation

Policeman kills wife, self, six others in Ogun

NEWS

Page 8

Newspaper of the Year

News Ibadan forest: Eight in police net P6 Sports W/Cup: Osaze hopeful on call-up P24 Business Unity Bank gets interim chairman P56

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2801 FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

EKITI 2014

N150.00

•I’m best for the job, says Fayemi •Fayose in court •Eight governors at re-election rally •SEE PAGE 10 •Half of exco members with me, says Bamidele

‘Strange’ $1b in Excess Crude Account •Fulani herdsmen’s attacks in 17 states From Yomi Odunuga and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

“STRANGE” $1 billion payment into the Excess Crude Account has boosted states’ revenue. The meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), which was held yesterday in Abuja - nine months after the last one - would have been put off if the Federal Government had not made the lodgment, a source said. According to a governor who attended the meeting, the aggrieved governors who have questioned the failure to convene the meeting, resolved not to demand for the source of the “strange payment”. The NEC, which is chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo and other members of the President’s economic

•LET’S DO IT AGAIN: Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, his Ogun State counterpart Ibikunle Amosun (right) and Fayemi’s wife Bisi dancing to the music of hip-hop star Olamide at the opening of his re-election campaign at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti…yesterday.

16 job seekers’ death: Moro, Immigration boss disagree Continued on page 4

Senate panel hears conflicting accounts

The Board...laid out all the recruitment procedures necessary to conduct a hitch-free exercise —Moro

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

IGERIA Immigration Service (NIS) boss David Parrandang told the Senate yesterday that he simply obeyed the “last order” in the ill-fated NIS recruitment. Parradang consistently insisted that the NIS was never the “driver” of the recruitment, but it simply complied with the Ministry of Interior’s directives. But Interior Minister Abba Moro said the Board knew about the tragic exercise. The Comptroller-General noted that throughout his years in the Service, nobody had ever taken away the power of the NIS to recruit operatives of the Service from levels 17. He also told the committee that he was opposed to the collection of money from applicants, adding that he advised that the exercise be staggered and state of origin be adopted. Continued on page 4

•REGRETS: Moro before the Senate Committee...yesterday.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

We were all seated here... that was the first day I heard that. I did not hear from any board; there was no board meeting to that effect. ‘As a man in uniform you obey the last order —Parradang

•SOCIETY P15 •SPORTS P23 •BRAND P26 •AGRIC P39 •POLITICS P45

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

Concerns a •Nigeria LNG Managing Director/CEO Babs Omotowa (third left)after giving a speech titled : “Nigeria, In Need of Dreamers of a Certain Kind” at the elite Harvard University in the United States…With him are (from left)Dr Jeleel Ojuade, Mr Tunde Ajibulu, Mrs Olupona, Prof Jacob Olupona a member of Harvard's Faculty, Mrs Arese Carrington, her husband Ambassador Walter Carrington and Wale Akingbade.

By June, all pay TV channels in the country plan to go digital. But as operators and the regulator prepare for this long-awaited switchover, there are concerns centered around the fact that such switchover in some countries on the continent has been characterised by anticompetition that undermines service quality, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

N •From left: Managing Director/CEO Media Craft Associates, Mr John Ehiguese, Corporate Affairs Adviser,Nigerian Breweries Plc., MrProject Kufre Smile,Dr. Ekanem, Representative of the Jury, speaking Mrs Nkechi Alimedia Balogun, and Corporate and Brand •Innitiator, Amy Traore Shumbusho at the launch of Project Media Smile in Lagos ...Public at the Relations NB.Brand Mr Edem Vindah,duringManager a news Oral conference on the 6th Nigerian Breweries Golden Penand Award in weekend. Manager, With her are Communiocation B,Tomiwa Ajewole (left) and Brand Operations IntegraLagos... yesterday. PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU tions Manager Oral B,Ojo Folarin.

•Head, Brand Management, KeystoneRegulation, Bank Plc, Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule, Divisional Head, Lagos Helen •From left: Director, Air Transport Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Justus Island Wariya2, , Mrs. Managing Eriyo, Executive Director, and West, Mrs. Yvonne Isicheiand and Commercial Acting Head,Manager Products Gambia and Market Support, Mrs. Obiageli Director Bytol Travel andLagos Tours, Mrs. Biyi Tunji Olugbodi Bird West Africa, Sodieri Ibennah, during the unveiling bank's 2014 Small andAirline Medium Enterprise (SME) Forum in Lagos….yesterday. Osei - Bonsu at the ofAnnual GAMBIA BIRD in Lagos.

•From left: Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Valerie Ebe, President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors (NIES), Mr. Emeka Eleh, Minister of Housing Mrs. Ekon Eyakenyi and former Director -General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho, during the launch of the Estate Surveyors City Data as part of activities at the 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM )of the (NIES) at Ibom Plaza.. yesterday.

IGERIA’S pay TV market players are leaving no stone unturned to go digital by June, six months ahead of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) December 31 deadline. This is also coming a year and one month ahead of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline. The other players in the non pay TV categories are, however, working with the NBC deadline. The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, at the weekend when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, said early this year, the pilot digital switchover was started in Jos, the Plateau State capital. Mba said: “We started that process in Jos, we saw the state governor, Jonah Jang, and we have the full support of the state, full support of all the broadcasters in Plateau State both public and private media, NTA and all the free to air television stations and privately-owned ones. We launched a committee which has all the elements, all the stakeholders involved.” Mba said the complete digitalisation of broadcasting, involving pay TV and non pay TV, would be achieved June next year. He explained why the digitalisation must go on no matter the challenge. He said: “Imagine that today the NTA signal that you are watching in Abuja, only that one channel on an analogue capacity uses an amount of spectrum on the UFH band by eight mega heads. “With digital compression, we can actually switch up to twenty channels into that space that NTA is occupying today. In other words, you can have up to 20 NTAs in the space NTA occupies today. “So, it’s not just a question of quantity but also quality because digitalbased signal will have crisp (pictures), the picture will be sharper and you will have the opportunity to do digital sound and so many other applications.” Mba said digitisation implies that some Nigerians who have analogue TV would not receive the signal as their television sets were not compatible with the new system. The NBC chief said with digital TV, Nigerians could know what would come next on the TV and could easily monitor what children watch on the screen.

The pay TV concerns But there are fears the players might step on one another’s toes as a result of their strategic advantages. The pay

TV environment across sub-Saharan Africa has grown massively in the last two decades with some interesting drama between market leaders and followers. The industry has transited from a monopolistic market to a competitive environment where new entrants confront the hitherto unchecked dominance of South Africa’s MultiChoice brands, Dstv and GOtv- a lowend market offering. The expansion of the market in terms of content supply, distribution networks as well as deployment of technology to create value proposition for the market, despite market challenges, has made it to draw attention of more players. However, with digital migration set to empower market followers against the market dominance by Multichoice brands, which has continued to innovate to keep its market share across the continent, unauthorised licence, interference of competitor signals, which leads to poor service quality, illegal termination of subscribers when their airtime has not expired has continued to characterise competition in some African countries, such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda which switched over to the digital platform last year. For instance in Rwanda, the Chinese-owned pay TV, StarTimes, had said competitors have made it difficult for its subscribers to enjoy quality service after they went digital last year. The StarTimes Chief Executive Officer in Rwanda, Mr. Hans Huo, alleged that since Kigali and its environs went digital last year, the subscribers’ experience had been terrible just as it became a headache for the pay TV service provider. “GOtv came into the market without testing their equipment which is why we are facing these problems,” he lamented. Although the GOtv’s Communications Officer, Mr. Kim Kizito, reportedly declined to comment on the allegation, Huo noted that the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) also failed to address the issue, leaving StarTimes frustrated. Also, a major consumer burst happened in Zimbabwe after GOtv reportedly shut down, causing an upset to subscribers who are screaming on the Facebook page of the pay TV. In addition, the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA), mid-last year reportedly issued a warning to Multichoice (Malawi)

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

s as television goes digital ‘

Imagine that today the NTA signal that you are watching in Abuja, only that one channel on an analogue capacity uses an amount of spectrum on the UFH band by eight mega heads. With digital compression, we can actually switch up to twenty channels into that space that NTA is occupying today

‘

• Mba Limited for launching GOtv without a valid licence. Its Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Moses Kunkuyu, said: “What I have on my desk is that GOtv was stopped from rolling out because there are irregularities with its licensing.” MACRA published the warning for a week in what it said was against Section 54 (3) of the Malawi Communications Act. Dated June 7, last year and signed by the Director-General, MACRA, Mr. Charles Nsaliwa, the statement reads: “The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority hereby issues a warning to Multichoice (Malawi) Limited for launch of GOtv Services without authorisation and licence contrary to Section 46 of the Communications Act.” He stated that the warning followed a meeting that was held at MACRA offices on April 23, last year between MACRA and Multichoice officials where the dominant pay TV brand acknowledged that they did not follow both the law and procedures in launching GOtv. Also, last year, media report in Nigeria raised issues against GOtv that it was not authorised to operate in the market. However, NBC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Maimuna Jimada said this was not true. She said the pay TV has the licence to operate in Nigeria. She said Detail Nigeria Ltd, owners of GOtv and Multichoice, have upgraded their licence, which allows them to operate on both mobile and terrestrial.

“Detail Nig Ltd has licence to do Multipoint Multimedia Distribution System (MMDS) and DVB (H) – Digital Video Broadcast (Handheld). Dititeam Nigeria has the mandate to advise the government on licensing. DVBT is the technology while DVBH is the licensing type. In the case of Detail Nigeria Ltd, they have deployed the DVB-T2 technology, which has the capability of DVBH and DTT,” she said. Mrs. Jimada, however, said she was not aware of any scheming by Detail Nigeria. “I am not aware of any such plans,” she said. But, a source claimed otherwise. “How can a licence for Mobile Frequency for Handheld devices be upgraded to operate terrestrial? Since the NBC gave one licence to NTA as national carrier for Digital terrestrial Television for Digital Migration in 2015, the ploy of Multichoice is using the mobile frequency to operate a DVB T2 decoder that functions with a mobile frequency to run their DTT business, which is illegal (DTT which they don’t have a licence for) on the same platform with licensed NTA STAR TV,” the source told The Nation. But the PR Manager, GOtv Nigeria, Efe Obiomah, said the problem in Zimbabwe was due to a shareholding dispute and not digital switch-over challenges. Shareholders have jointly and individually been in discussions with the relevant authorities to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, this is some-

thing beyond our control. However, we will continue to engage the relevant authorities in order to have the GOtv signal restored as soon as possible. GOtv is a legal business and has met all the legal requirements in the various countries that we operate in. The GOtv service is a viable and sustainable service and there are no other countries in which there are any issues with regard to this service. GOtv has been successfully launched in nine countries, and has enjoyed tremendous customer support,” she said. Obiomah added that GOtv does not terminate its customers illegally. “The issue is that GOtv is a relatively new product and what we have realised is that some of our subscribers haven’t fully understood the product features and the way our decoders function. Subscribers will normally get disconnected when their subscriptions fall due. However, a lot of subscribers are not aware of the dates their subscription fall due and accuse us of illegal termination,” she noted. She also said GOtv has joined the digital TV revolution. “It is delivered to homes in Nigeria via the use of the latest DVB-T2 technology, which guarantees a one-off migration to the digital age. This means that when the analogue-switch off happens, our subscribers will not require a new decoder.” However, she complained that despite all the accusations against Gotv, the pay TV signal was also interrupted last August, as a result of a third

party transmitting on its frequency, hence, causing apathy among customers of the brand before it was later resolved. “It was due to a third party operator transmitting on our frequency but the issue has since been resolved and GOtv subscribers have been enjoying uninterrupted service since then,” she addedd. Meanwhile, NBC has been urged to check all anti-competition practices from players. “The message is that from the experience in other African countries, NBC should check the excesses of the market leader, such that customers’ complaints will be addressed; quality service will be assured while big players should not be allowed to trample upon the signal of market followers in an attempt to drive market share away from competitors,” a Chief Executive Officer of Lima Pay TV Marketing, Mr. Leo Adelugba said. With the growing strength of new entrants, CONSAT, from the stable of Continental Broadcasting Service (CBS); MyTv, and StarTimes, can Multichoice survive some of the new threats in the race for digital switchover? Industry players believe survival in the market milieu lies on quality service and prompt customer care.

Are non pay TV ready for the switch? The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON has promised to meet the switchover deadline. It appealed

to the Federal Government to establish a fund to enhance a seamless digital transition programme. Its Chairman, Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, said government’s encouragement would assist broadcast outfits meet the 2015 deadline. He said: “The challenges in the broadcasting sector are becoming more complex as we move closer to the switch over date of 2015. We, therefore, want to call for a marshal plan to assist broadcast stations with the needed funds to actualise our goal of transiting seamlessly by 2015. We are not saying government should give subvention to stations. It should be a loan with a generous repayment arrangement so that our members can have access to funds to address all grey areas ahead of the switch over date.’’ Minister of Information Labaran Maku, who was represented at a forum by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Folashade Esan, urged all players in the broadcast sector to endeavour to ensure that the transition was hitchfree and beneficial to all. The Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Bello Tukur, said the National Assembly would support successful transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. For the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, Victor Ogene, said the House would give legislative backing to the digitalisation.

NNPC wins 10-year dispute over $31m contract

HE United Kingdom Commercial Court in London has ruled in favour of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in a suit filed by IPCO Nigeria, a subsidiary of the IPCO Group, a turnkey contractor and investor in energy infrastructure projects, over a dispute that arose from a contract to build an oil terminal in Port Harcourt. A statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim explained that the case which stretched for a decade initially arose from a dispute following IPCO’s claim that NNPC should bear the cost of variations (alterations to the scope of works in the original construction contract), which caused a 22-month delay to the works. NNPC said: “Following arbitration proceedings in Nigeria, IPCO was awarded $150m in 2004, together with annual interest running at 14 per

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

cent, a ruling which was challenged by NNPC in the Nigerian courts. However, since then, IPCO repeatedly sought to enforce the award in England before the conclusion of the proceedings in Nigeria resulting in three reported judgments in the case: IPCO (Nigeria) Ltd v Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [2005] EWHC 726 (Comm); IPCO (Nigeria) Ltd v Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [2008] EWHC 797(Comm); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation v IPCO (Nigeria) Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 1157.” According to the corporation, it was established that during IPCO’s previous attempt to enforce the award, NNPC discovered evidence that IPCO had forged documents relating to the claim and the related arbitration in Nigeria, and as a result the parties agreed in 2009 to adjourn the enforcement proceedings and await the outcome

of the challenge in Nigeria. The statement reads in part: “ However in a strange twist IPCO again sought to enforce the award in England in 2012. Delivering his judgement, Mr. Justice Field of the UK Commercial Court ruled that IPCO failed to establish any change of circumstances justifying a further application to enforce the award in whole or part in England, and that it is in Nigeria where the enforceability of the award must be decided. “Justice Field also held that even if he had been persuaded that it were appropriate to consider enforcement afresh, he would still have refused to enforce any part of the award because NNPC has a good prima facie case that IPCO practiced a fraud on the arbitral tribunal that undermines the validity of the whole award. “The long-running dispute has also highlighted important issues regarding the

interpretation by the English Courts of the New York Convention 1958 and the Arbitration Act 1996 in the context of enforcement of an arbitration award when a challenge is pending against it in the home country where the award was made (Nigeria in this particular case). “The current judgment forecloses the door on IPCO’s attempts to seek enforcement in England. The NNPC expressed gratitude to its legal team led by the UK based law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP. “We are very pleased that the English courts have found in our favour protecting the interests of the Nigerian government and its people in this matter by concluding that IPCO Nigeria has no right to levy the original award against us.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

NJC rejects Rivers CJ Agumagu

•From left: Alake of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Gbadebo presenting an award to Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowder Univeristy, Oyo, Prof. Kolawole Timothy and his wife, Adebola, at the 3rd Venerable Emmaneul Alayande Memorial Lecture & Awards held at Ibadan Grammar School…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

•Judicial body acted in error, says Amaechi

HE National Judicial Council (NJC) said yesterday it would not recognise Justice Peter Agumagu as the Chief judge of Rivers State. The council said it would not deal with him in that capacity in addition to suspending him as a judge. It issued Justice Agumagu a query, directing him to explain in writing, within four days, why he should not be removed from office as a judge for his alleged failure to abide by his oath of office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the country. NJC’s Acting Director, Information, Soji Oye in a statement said the decision was taken at its 10th emergency meeting on Wednesday, where it considered the issue of Justice Agumagu’s appointment by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Oye said the NJC believes that

‘Strange’ $1b in Excess Crude Account Continued from page 1

team, meets monthly to deliberate on the economy. Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had accused the President Goodluck Jonathan administration of deliberately stalling the meeting to prevent a discussion of the allegation that over $20bn had not been remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Governors said also that the breach gravely affected revenue accruing to the states in the nine months when the meeting was never convened. But yesterday, one of the governors at the meeting told our correspondent that it was needless to be adversarial in asking the Federal Government the source of the payment as this could lead to further crisis. The Governors’ Forum has been split into two factions, with Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang holding sway in the other faction. The governor said: “We were surprised to see the $1billion credited to the ECA, which has accordingly boosted our monthly allocations but the source of the

money has not been indicated. “We decided to attend the NEC meeting so as to know how the money came about and to know why our monthly revenue has been declining steadily over a period of nine months.” Another governor said: “Whatever happens, we are happy that our monthly revenue allocations has been slightly raised even though the Federal Government has not bothered to tell us why our allocations were slashed for nine months and where it is suddenly raising money to beef up our allocations. Even the commissioners of finance in the states agree to this logic because many projects have been stalled in the past nine months due to the failure of Abuja to summon the meeting. “If they claim money is not being kept away from the federation account, where did they suddenly get the $1billion into the ECA; we just want an answer.” The Federal Government yesterday identified 17 flashpoints where cattle rearers are confronting farmers. Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio told reporters at the end of the NEC meeting

that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki briefed the council on the discovery. Akpabio, who was accompanied by Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, said the NSA assured the Council that steps were being taken to stop the crisis in the identified states. Akpabio said: “Council also discussed the issues pertaining to the current conflicts between the farmers and the pastoralists across the entire country. We received presentations from the NSA on the incessant conflicts being experienced across Nigeria, especially the one of sacking so many villages by criminals in Benue State and other adjoining states in the north. “According to the NSA presentation, 17 states have been identified as flash points. Of course such states include Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Niger , Nasarawa, Kwara, Kaduna and Oyo. We also reported issues bordering on the conflicts in the southern parts of the country like Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross Rivers, particularly in the Ogoja area. “The NSA reported to Council the efforts been made by his of-

fice to involve international agencies on the issues, one of which is that it will invite all stakeholders to an international conference to deliberate adding that the agency based in Geneva, Switzerland, is working out the modalities to involve communities in the affected states to find means of settling the conflicts in Plateau and that will now be used as a pilot programme across the entire country.” “At the end, the Council resolved that a Committee on grazing reserves headed by Governor Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State) had earlier been set up and had been working to provide solutions to the problem. So, Council recommended Governor Suswam should join that committee as co-chair in order to ensure that at least during the next Council meeting, a report on it is presented to Council.” He also said the Council also resolved to set up a technical committee to come up with recommendations to resolve the conflict between the farmers and the pastoralists. The committee, which is to meet with all stakeholders withContinued on page 58

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja and Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcort

due process was not observed in Justice Agumagu’s appointment. He said the council found among others, that the appointment of Justice Agumagu violated the provision of Section 271 (1) of the Constitution. The statement reads: “At its 10th Emergency Meeting, which was held on March 26, 2014, the National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, considered the purported appointment, confirmation and swearing-in of Justice P. N. C. Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State on March 18, 2014. “In the course of deliberations on the matter, council noted as follows: *That it is expressly provided in Section 271 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) that:- The appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the governor of the state on the recommendation of the NJC, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state. •That the NJC did not, at any time, make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State that Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, President, Customary Court of Appeal be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State. “Council therefore resolved as follows:*That the NJC does not and will not recognise Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State. *That the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, be notified and informed that the NJC will not deal with Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State; *That a query be issued to Justice P. N. C. Agumagu to explain

16 job seekers’ death: Moro, Immigration boss disagree Continued from page 1

No fewer than 16 applicants died during the recruitment test for which each applicant paid N1,000. Parradang said on September 9, last year, Civil Defence,

Fire, Immigration and Prison Services Board placed advertisements in some national dailies for appointments into the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Immigration Assistant cadres. He noted that the advertisement was signed by the then Board Secretary, Dr. Attahiru. “I immediately placed a call to the secretary that I am not aware that the board met on this issue. I also placed a call to the permanent secretary too whether there was any decision of the Board to place an advert in the paper. “I also placed a call to the two commissioners that are seated before you here whether they were aware that the Board met and agreed for a publication to be made to recruit in the Service, but they all answered in the negative,” Parradang told the lawmakers. The Immigration boss said that he wrote the then secretary to express “my dismay that as a stakeholder, as the head of a Service that is supposed to recruit, I was not aware of this exercise.” Parradang said that the secretary pleaded that “I should understand with him that he was under immense pressure to put up the advert”.

Minister: Board involved in recruitment

INISTER of Interior Mr. Abba Moro spoke yesterday on the Nigeria Immigration job tragedy that claimed 16 lives, blaming it all on the devil. The minister, who spoke at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Interior, said he had taken full responsibility for the March 15 death of 16 job seekers during a recruitment test. Moro said his ministry had good intentions to institutionalise due process, transparency, honesty but never envisaged that the devil had other plans. He noted that as the Minister of Interior, under whose purview the exercise took place, he could not abdicate his responsibility. The minister said on his assumption of office as Minister, “I took cognisance of the unprecedented challenges facing the recruitment processes, procedures and practice in the Paramilitary Services under the superParradang quoted Attahiru to have said “I should not write the letter, but I said no, this is an official matter; it is not an issue to do with Mr. David Parradang but with the Nigeria Immigration Service.” He added: “So I wrote him a letter that I was not given any benefit of a reply till way back in October when he had been removed from the ,inistry. Along the line, we were asked to look for funding and I had to look for funding for this exercise from the office of the Director General of Budget.

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

vision of the ministry. “Such experiences were characterised by incoherent procedures, favouritism, job racketeering and unequal opportunities, among others, and therefore needed immediate attention.” The minister noted that the noble task before him was to institute measures that would ease the application procedures, enthrone an open and transparent process, allow for equal opportunities, institute a process for the engagement of qualified and deserving persons and also to ensure the reflection of federal character pursuant to applicable federal laws. He explained: “In December 2012, the Immigration Service approached me with a waiver for the recruitment of 4,556 personnel from the office of the Head of Service of Nigeria.

“I wrote him a letter that we have waiver from the Federal Civil Service Commission to recruit 4,556 operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service. “He told me categorically that government was very conscious of overheads and there would be no money made available for it. I thought he was just being reluctant. “So, I kept pressurising him. I went to that office practically every day for the whole of that week and subsequent weeks. “The last concession I got from him is that I should wait, that

“The conduct of that recruitment was marred by controversy and accusations of tribalism, nepotism, job racketeering and lopsidedness. The exercise was cancelled. “The recruitment procedures into the Services as contained in the Act establishing the Board and guidelines for Appointment, Promotions and Discipline for use in Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services. “Consequently, upon our public expression of the determination to conduct a more credible exercise, a consultant made a proposal to the Ministry for the adoption of a modern and efficient method of conducting recruitment exercise through the “eRecruitment Platform.” “The management subsequently constituted a committee to scrutinise the proposal and make recommendations. The committee evaluated the proposal and made rec-

maybe it would be captured in the 2014 budget. “So, along the line, the Committee of the Board met; we discussed this issue of Drexel (consultant) being the service provider and I said ‘look, I am not in support of anybody collecting money for recruitment’. “I remember very clearly during that meeting where the two commissioners were. I told them that I read in the papers that in Niger State there was recruitment and people were meant to pay and there was a lot of outcry in that state and the gover-

Continued on page 58

nor had to step in and cancelled it. “I said, ‘look we may go this line gentlemen if we don’t take time’. But we kept going and we had no other board meeting, to my knowledge, till when the secretary called us to the Steering Committee Meeting in January. “I told them that it is advisable for us to stagger the exercise and to go by states of origin. But when we appeared before this Committee of the Senate in one of the committee rooms here, we were all seated here and we got Continued on page 58

in writing within four days, why he should not be removed from office as a judicial officer, for his failure to abide by his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “In the meantime, council, in exercise of its powers under Paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, has suspended Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect” But the Rivers State Government said the NJC acted in error because there is an appeal on the matter. It also said the NJC had become political with its action. Amaechi said the NJC, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, should have waited for the decision of the appellate court. The Rivers governor, who spoke through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, accused the NJC of taking sides in the Rivers judiciary leadership issue. The NGF chairman said: “The suspension of Justice Agumagu by the NJC is still a rumour. The Rivers State Government does not have any communication yet on the issue. If it is true, it was done in error. “NJC, as the highest decision making body in the judiciary, ought to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The matter is in court. NJC’s hasty decision is subjudice. “We will not allow imposition of candidate as the Chief Judge of Rivers State. Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in his judgment of March 18, maintained that Justice Agumagu is the most suitable, the most qualified and the most senior judge of the Rivers State Judiciary, who should be appointed as the substantive Chief Judge. “NJC was a party to the suit and after the judgment; its lawyer spoke with journalists within the premises of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, promising to stand by the judgment and would liaise with his client to decide if the judgment would be appealed. NJC ought to have appealed the judgment. “Justice Daisy Okocha has filed an appeal on the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt and awaiting a date for hearing. Suspending Justice Agumagu by the NJC should not have arisen. “Prior to suspending somebody, there is need for fair hearing. NJC did not hear from Justice Agumagu and he was not queried by the council, before the shocking suspension, which will Continued on page 58

No sacred cows, says Mark

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ENATE President David Mark said yesterday that there would be no sacred cow nor a cover-up in the tragic Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment. Mark spoke at the inauguration of a two-day public hearing on the ill-fated NIS recruitment in Abuja. Represented by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Mark described the death of the applicants as an “unfortunate and embarrassing incident.” He told the Senator Atiku Bagudu-led Interior Committee to do its all to unravel what happened and who was responsible for what.

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

Troops kill 11 Boko Haram members •Recover 70 motorcycles •Governors condemn killings

HE Defence Headquarters said yesterday troops killed 11 Boko Haram fighters in two separate encounters while trying to escape to Cameroon. Besides the recovery of some arms, some suspects were arrested including a heavily armed insurgent, who claimed to have Chad and Burkina Faso citizenship. Besides the recovery of a large number of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and rifles, the troops also seized 70 motorcycles from the insurgents. The DHQ gave the update on the encounters in a statement by its spokesman, MajGen. Chris Olukolade. The statement said: “A group of terrorists attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti in Adamawa State have come under heavy fire from troops on patrol of the area in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. “The terrorists who had been trapped as a result of ongoing offensive by troops along the borders were given out when some of them could no longer bear the hunger in their make shift camps in the forest. “Those who were apprehended led troops to other hideouts where fierce fight-

•The suspects (inset are suspected explosive devices seized from them.) From Yusuf Alli and Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

ing ensued. Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and rifles were recovered including over seventy motorcycles. “Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of four other terrorists. “Meanwhile, sustained patrols and searches by the Multi National Joint Task Force have led to the arrest of more terrorists including a heavily armed suspect who is claiming dual nationalities of Chad and Burkina-Faso. “He was arrested with different calibre of arms and ammunition along the Chad borders and is currently helping in ongoing investigation by the Special Forces. “Patrols are still ongoing around the Lake Chad in-

cluding Kwatan, Kanwa, Kwatan Yobe and other Islands. Governors aligned with the Jonah Jang faction of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have condemned the killings in Katsina, Kaduna, Benue and some parts of the Northeastern states. Rising from a meeting yesterday, the governors urged Nigerians to give the National Conference the needed support and encouragement. The governors expressed their sympathies for the governments and people of the affected states where insurgents and other armed groups have killed and maimed innocent citizens at at will. In a communique read the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko the governors said: ”The Forum de-

•The bicycles seized from the suspected terrorists

liberated on the security situation in the country and strongly condemned the killings in Benue, Katsina, Kaduna and some of the Northeastern states and sympathise with the governors and people of these states.” Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam lamented

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna and Morakinyo Abodunrin

the infrastructures the government is laying down for us.” He said: “I am happy that the Niger State government has found it worthwhile to construct this hospital and name it after me. I am honoured with this humanitarian magnitude. It is of particular significance as we refocus and re-strategise towards building institutions and infrastructures for the good of the people, it is my prayers that this approach in the health sector is sustained.” Inaugurating the N923 million health facility, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said the selfless services

the former Head of State has rendered informed the naming of the hospital after him. Aliyu said the commitment of the former military leader to democracy has earned him reputation as the father of modern democracy in the country, adding that the nation is a beneficiary of his efforts towards bringing democracy to the country. “General Abdulsalami Abubakar is one of the illustrious sons of Niger State and Nigeria, he has earned himself the reputation as the father of modern democracy in Nigeria who disciplined himself and transit the country from military regime to democracy. He has given us the foundation and we would continue to build on it”.

T •Abdulsalami

Earlier, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Babaminin Sule said in the last six years, the state government had employed 450 health workers including 80 doctors who have been motivated with the new salary scale for health workers approved by the federal government, regular trainings and courses.

Justice Olotu sues EFCC, ICPC, others Minister proposes 15-year imprisonment

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

RETIRED Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Gladys Olotu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and 16 others at an Abuja Federal High Court for the enforcement of her fundamental rights. In the suit filed by her counsel, Chief Okey Obikeze, is seeking a declaration by the court that threat of victimisation, harassment, intimidation, arrest and detention by the 7th to 18th Respondents using the machineries of all or any of the other respondents is a gross violation of her fundamental rights. Justice Olotu also wants the court to declare that her arrest, interrogation and detention by the EFCC “from about 10. 00 am to 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 18, March 2014 was unreasonable, unwarranted, vindictive, arbitrary and amounts to a flagrant infringement of her fundamental right to liberty”. She also want a declaration that the resort to the use of the offices of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents or any other agencies/agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria to pursue, intimidate, harass, victimize, arrest and or detain her on account of her seeking redress at the Federal High Court Abuja by way of the prerogative orders of Certiorari and prohibition against the said 7th and 8th respondents and four others in Suit No, FHC/ ABJ/C5/169/2014 for the reasons contained in the said action is wrongful, illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of her rights to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”

for importers of contaminated goods

meeting, I went to the Chief of Army Staff to brief him. I gave him details of the intelligence that we gathered of people who are carrying out this dastardly act. We received strong promise that some serious decisive actions will be taken to address the security situation in Benue.”

2015: Tambuwal assures UN on speedy constitution amendment

Give peace a chance, Abdulsalami urges Nigerians ORMER Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has said the country can only record meaningful progress when the people peacefully co-habit. He spoke at the inauguration of a 110-bed ultra modern Niger State-owned General Hospital named after him at Gulu, in Lapai Local Government Area. He urged Nigerians to play their role in maintaining peace and harmony in the country. Gen. Abdulsalami said: “I want to appeal to all Nigerians to play their role in maintaining peace and harmony of our country. We need to give peace a chance. Without peace, there will be no country and without peace, we cannot use

the deteriorating security situation in his state, describing the development as unfortunate. Suswam said: “I have fully briefed the President about the situation. I have briefed the security agencies as well. Some serious measures will be taken very soon. ”Before I came for this

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

INISTER of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina has proposed a 15-year imprisonment for importers of contaminated commodities. The minister spoke yesterday at the first leg of a two-day public hearing on ‘New Rice Regime’ held by the House Committee on Customs. The minister, in a 15-page document presented to the Sabo Nakudu-headed Committee noted that from “historical perspectives on Nigeria’s rice policy,” there’s a need “why we should not go down the same disastrous road of waivers for Lebanese and Indian importers”. He said: “We don’t want to encourage perverse incentive because no importer cares about the health of our nation’s economy.” The minister said the 36 states and Abuja have the capacity to produce rice. The minister urged the National Assembly to pass two bills for the inclusion of high quality cassava in bread and confectionaries and Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) programme capable of saving N254 billion annualy. He said 358,993 jobs were created during rice production activities for 2012/2013 wet and dry seasons, with gross value of paddy produced worth N149.512 billion while net value at N79.691 billion.

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

HE National Assembly is desirous of a timely amendment the 1999 constitution for the purpose of conducting a free, fair and violent-free 2015 general elections, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said yesterday. He spokewhen the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Jan Eliason, visited him. He said: “On 2015 elections, I would like to assure you and your delegation that National Assembly is doing everything possible to achieve violence free and fair elections in Nigeria through amendment of the electoral laws.” Tambuwal, while commending the UN for it’s support to the Nigerian economy and Africa as a critical part of the African Union 2063 Strategy, noted that the Nigerian parliament has played major roles in ensuring pro-poor policies that form the core focus of its activities.

Supreme Court grants Eletu family ownership of Osapa London

HE Supreme Court of Nigeria has granted the full ownership of the 216.758 hectares of land in the Osapa village in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State to the Gbadamosi Eletu family. This follows a ruling delivered by Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen (JSC) on March 18. This ruling overrides paragraph one of an earlier ruling of July 12, 2013, on the matter in which the apex court had ceded only 10 hectares of the disputed land to the Eletu family. This brings to rest the court process that lasted over 10 years between two families- the Eletu family and the Ojomu royal family of Ajiran land represented by Oba Tijani Akinloye and their accredited representatives.

Residents flay govt for short notice on WEMPCO Road closure

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

ESIDENTS of Omole Phase 1 and other communities bordering WEMPCO Road are not happy with the Lagos State government over the short notice served them to close the road to traffic. The closure is to enable the construction of the underground channel across the Lateef Jakande Road. The government has proposed to close the road to traffic between midnight of March 28 and April 9. But rising from a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, (LAMATA), at Ashton Garden yesterday, the stakeholders said the two days’ notice served them ahead of the closure was too short to prepare them for the hardship and inconveniences ahead.

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS Six states benefit from $1.3m immunisation equipment From Chris Oji, Enugu

QUIPMENT worth $1.3 million has been donated to six states to improve and expand cold chain infrastructure in local governments in the states and improve access to immunisation. The equipment, donated by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), with the support of the Japan government, in collaboration with the state governments, was to reduce the number of children not immunised through the Reach Every Ward (REW) strategy. The six states benefiting from the consignment comprising 158 solar fridges and accessories out of the 10 states covered by UNICEF Enugu field office are Enugu, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo and Ebonyi. Handing over the equipment to the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, George Ezeh, on behalf of other states, the Chief UNICEF Field Officer- Enugu, Charles Nzuki, said UNICEF was committed to the collaboration with the state governments and other development partners to address the bottlenecks in the routine immunisation system, to ensure children were given the right vaccines at the right time and at the right place. He said: “We envisage that the cold chain infrastructure will be improved to ensure vaccine security at the ward and health facility levels.” Ezeh hailed UNICEF and the Japanese government for ensuring that every Nigerian child is immunised. He described UNICEF as the back bone in the immunisation programme, aimed at procuring a good future for Nigerian children.

Fashola, others launch centre

EFCC investigates five judges

ORE than five judges are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency said yesterday. The commission said it would release the list of the suspects as soon as a prima facie case has been established against the judges. It also said the fact that there is a petition against the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu before the anti-graft agency does not mean he is guilty. The commission at a briefing by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said at the appropriate time it would release the details of its investigation into the N255million car scam involving a former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah. Although Uwujaren refused to disclose either the name or number of judges under investigation, it was learnt that they comprise four high court judges and a judge with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The CCT judge, who was asked to appear before a team of investigators yesterday, was still being awaited as at the time of filing this report. The EFCC spokesman said: “The Commission has in the past few weeks stepped up investigation into cases of alleged corruption in the judiciary. “As we speak, some prominent judicial officers have been quizzed while others have been invited for interrogation. “At this stage of the investigations, it will be premature to state details as the charges are still mere allegations. The media will be briefed in due course once prima facie cases have been established.” On the alleged $49billion Nigerian National Petroleum

•Opens up on petition against Muazu

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Corporation (NNPC), he said: “When the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, appeared for budget defence in the National Assembly, he was asked the same question and he did explain that various agencies cannot be shouting at the same time about a single matter. “The National Assembly has embarked on investigation on that matter and it is proper for us to wait for the outcome of that investigation. I believe that the investigation, which is fact-finding in nature, will shed more light on the issue because various figures are being bandied about. “Be patient; once the National Assembly finishes its work, something will come from the commission.” Regarding EFCC’s probe of the N255million car scam involving a former Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, Uwujaren said: “I think at the last briefing and I recalled that I said we were already on that matter. “As some of you will know from the issues involved in that case, it is a complex case; it has many dimensions. We are taking our time to ensure that we investigate thoroughly. It is premature now for me to tell you how far we have gone. But I can assure you that we are still on that matter and at the appropriate time, we will give you details.” Concerning the petition against Muazu, the EFCC spokesman went logical. He said: “On Adamu Muazu, what is happening to him? In our environment, you hardly find any public officer (somebody holding a highprofile office in Nigeria as of today) who does not have one

or two petitions against him. “The fact that there are petitions against an individual does not mean the person is guilty of an offence. What we do when petitions come to EFCC, we take such petitions through a screening process to sieve the wheat from the chaff. “Like I said, the fact that you have a petition does not mean there is a prima facie case against you. It certainly means that information has been deposited with an agency, which is statutorily charged with the task of investigation. And we take such petitions through our process. Where we find that a prima facie case has been established, we proceed and where we find that a petition is frivolous, we leave it. We ask people to write because we get information from sources.” On the emergence of exGovernor Ayo Fayose as the governorship candidate of PDP in Ekiti State, Uwujaren said: “I think that question should really be for INEC, not EFCC. “EFCC is not statutorily charged with clearing candidates for an election. It is for an electoral umpire to clear candidates and determine whether they are fit and proper persons to contest election. “It is for INEC to look at the background of whoever candidate a political party is featuring for an election to determine whether that candidate is suitable or otherwise. It is not for EFCC.” The spokesman confirmed that a suspect on trial for pension scam, Dr. Shuaibu Teidi, has forfeited a N329million hotel. He said: “The Commission was able to push through an asset forfeiture process that resulted in the final forfeiture

of Brifina Hotel to the Federal Government. “The hotel was among assets seized from Dr. Shuaibu Teidi, a former director, pension account, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. “The property located at Plot 1106, Cadastral Zone B02, Durumi District, Abuja was allegedly acquired by Teidi through his company Badawulu Ventures, for N309 million with proceeds of crime. “However, the accused denied ownership of the property against claims by the original owner that he sold the property to Teidi. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court consequently granted the final forfeiture request brought by the EFCC. The Commission had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on the property from Justice Adamu Bello. “The pension fraud cases, both police and Head of Service Pension, are progressing in court. As we speak, several witnesses have been called by the prosecution, especially in cases at the pension account, office of the Head of Service of the Federation. “We urge the media to take more interest in the proceedings in order to inform Nigerians on the progress being made.” “Still on the subject of assets recovery, there has been an issue in the media regarding the assets recovered by the Commission from a former governor of Bayelsa State, Dieprieye Alamiyeseigha. It is in deed unfortunate some people decided to stir a needless controversy in an otherwise settled matter.” Uwujaren said assets worth over N3, 128,230,294.80, in-

By Nneka Nwaneri

N ultra-modern health care outfit, Clinix Diagnostic and Dialysis Centre, has been launched in Lagos. It is expected to provide international standard health services. The centre, which boasts of the state-of-the-art equipment, is a major milestone in the health industry. It has technological screening tools, which are of international standard. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by his Commissioner for Health, Mr. Jide Idris, said such initiatives are vital in giving Nigerians quality care, adding that the new facilities would be used to train people. He thanked the company for complementing the effort of the company in adopting the vision of the state and bringing transformation to the healthcare industry. The multi-billion naira centre was established for early detection and successful treatment of diseases At the launch were Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, Senior Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Dr Olumide Akintayo.

•From left: Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii; Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo; Chief Executive, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs. Stella Okoli; author of the book and Vice President, Global Health Programmes, Mr. Patrick Lukulay; and National President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, during the launch of the book: “The Executive in You”, in Lagos... yesterday. PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Policeman ‘kills’ driver over N500

MOBILE policeman attached to the 18 Squadron of the Police Mobile Force, yesterday in Owerri, Imo State, allegedly shot dead a trailer driver, Makachi Ibrahim, for refusing to pay N500 at a check point.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

A witness, Dan Sabo, said the policeman shot the victim, who was carrying goats from Kano to Port Harcourt, three times, killing him and injuring three people. The source, who spoke to

The Nation amid tears, said the deceased was stopped by policemen at the checkpoint, who demanded N500, but he begged them to collect N200. He said instead of listening, one of them shot him at a close range and killed him. Police spokesperson Joy

Elemoko confirmed the incident. She said the policeman would be dismissed if found guilty and prosecuted. She, however, said it was the conductor, who was killed and not the driver.

cluding Chelsea Hotel had been returned to the Bayelsa State Government. He said: “I am sure some of you were witnesses in 2010, precisely July 10, 2010, when the assets recovered from Alamiyeseigha were handed over the Bayelsa state government. Timipre Sylva, then governor of the state, was on hand to receive the assets which included Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, from former Chairman of EFCC Mrs. Farida Waziri. “In all, assets valued at N3, 128,230,294.80; $441,000; 7,000 Euros and 2,000 pounds were returned to Bayelsa State government. “The Commission acted professionally in the management and return of these assets - in line with the order of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which convicted the now pardoned former governor. “It is, therefore, regrettable for anyone to want to make a media issue out of a settled matter. However, it is gratifying that the Bayelsa State Government acted responsibly by distancing itself from the action and withdrawing the case filed in court. “Of course if there are issues arising from the handling of the case, or any other case(s) for that matter, the Commission as a responsible corporate organization is willing to entertain such issues. However, EFCC will not succumb to the blackmail of anyone.”

‘Lagos to witness 263 days of rains’ By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

AGOS State is expected to experience 263 days of rainfall with severe thunderstorms and strong winds this year, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, has said. He spoke at a news conference to present the 2014 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and Socio-Economic implication for Lagos State, Southwest and Nigeria. At the event, held at the conference room of the ministry, Bello said the total length of rainy season for this year in Lagos has been predicted to be 263 days, with a marginal error of nine days. “The Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) rainfall onset date for this year began in the first week of March in the southern part of the country and will begin late in June in the far northern parts. However, rainfall onset in Lagos began from March 14. A three days marginal error was given,” he said. The commissioner said the rainy season had been predicted to end between the first week of October and fourth week of December in most parts of the country, noting that the rainfall cessation was predicted to be earlier than normal in most parts of the country. He said in Lagos, the cessation date was predicted to be December 21, with a marginal error of three days. According to Bello, using the 2014 SRP, the rainfall pattern would be similar to that of last year, adding that this year, August was expected to be drier than last August.

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

’APC to give women voice’

HE leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Forum in the Southeast, Mrs. Tina Ekwueme Adike, has assured party women the APC will give them a voice. She said APC was a better alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mrs. Adike said the emergence of the APC was the beginning of a new era. “A new dawn has come for Nigerians with the formation of the APC,” the woman added. Speaking in Umuahia at a sensitisation visit to the state, the woman leader said PDP had denied Ndigbo a voice. She said the era of women being relegated to the background was over.

•Members of the Joint Action Front (JAF) at a rally over the fate of unemployed Nigerians in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

Ex-Ebonyi official found dead in forest

HE former Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Mr. Ihebunandu Okorie, who was kidnapped five days ago, was yesterday reported to have been killed by his abductors in Afikpo South Local Government.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

It was learnt he was shot in the chest by the kidnappers after collecting a ransom. The victim was kidnapped inside the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Obioha Okposi about 1 p.m. after service.

The gunmen waited for him on the premises and whisked him away in his car, a Toyota 4runner Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV): NCA 94 AA. The kidnappers came in a green Mercedes Benz 230: BS 559 KJA. The deceased’s car was burnt and abandoned at

Gunmen kill tricycle operator in Aba

UNMEN have shot dead a tricycle operator, Chidera Agu, in Aba. The incident occurred Wednesday night at Nwanguma Street, off Obohia Road in Aba South Local Government of Abia State. A source said the gunmen, after allegedly shooting the man, stole his tricycle.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Eyewitnesses said the tricycle operator was shot about 9 p.m. when residents were watching a Premiership football match. He said: “When we got to the scene, the gunmen had left.” The deceased’s family could not be reached. A police source, who pre-

ferred anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said the victim’s body had been taken to an unidentified morgue. Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu confirmed the incident. He said his men were searching for the suspects and urged people with information to inform the police.

Rice millers seek Jonathan’s intervention From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

•Dr. Jonathan

ICE millers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on Governor Martin

Monarch marks 80th birthday

HE Oniganun of Gaunun land, Oba Sunmonu Seidu Akanbi, in Ogun State will mark his 80th birthday on Saturday. The five-day ceremony began on Wednesday with the Egungun Day celebration. It will end on Sunday with prayers at the African Church, Gaun, at 10am.

Elechi to reverse the plan to relocate them. The millers were asked to relocate to three new mills in the senatorial zones. They sued government at the State High Court and lost, but appealed at the Federal High Court, Enugu. Chairman of the millers Chief Joseph Ununu, who spoke yesterday in Abakaliki, noted that the relocation would affect the agricultural transformation agenda of the President. He said “maximum production from the mill will help in achieving the President’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“When the President visited Ebonyi in 2011, he said he would use Abakaliki to revolutionalise rice production. “We also petitioned the Senate. We are genuine farmers involved in rice production.” He said traders from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country come to the mill to buy rice. Ununu said the relocation would render the over 4, 500 workers jobless. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Romanus Nwasum, said the new mills were equipped to enhance rice production.

CDA elects officers

PE Oluwa Community Development Association (CDA), Shibiri in Oto Awori, Lagos State, has elected officers to run its affairs in 2014/2015. Those elected are Alhaji Bayo Adedokun (chairman); Jerome Chukwuemeka (1 st vice chairman); Mr. Michael Okerinde (general-secretary); Alfa Hafees Oladele (financial secretary) and Mr. Richard Emi (treasurer). Others are Mrs. N. Nwangwa (welfare officer); Mrs. Patience Otomewo (social secretary); Mr. Timothy Ibeto (auditor); Mr. Rilwan Owolawase (PRO); Elder S.A. Adetunji (ex-officio) and Alhaji Fatayi Akanmu (exofficio).

Afikpo North Local Government. Sources said a combined team of Military, Police and State Security Service (SSS) found the body. “A suspected leader of the kidnappers has been arrested by law enforcement agents,” they said. A source close to the family said the decomposing body was found in a forest. Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the development, said the command would brief reporters today.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-eke, Umuahia

Mrs. Adike urged members to stop accusing the Abia woman leader, Mrs. Helen Ojukwu, of ‘cornering’ everything, saying no APC leader got money to run the party. She said she wanted to sensitise Abia women and their counterparts in the Southeast to see how far they had gone in data base collection. Mrs. Adike enjoined them to be active. Mrs. Ojukwu sought financial assistance to run the forum, “since we don’t have a sitting governor.” The Chairman of APC in Abia State, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said there was no division in the state chapter of the forum.

NCC confiscates N60m worth of pirated books

20-feet container loaded with 60,000 copies of suspected pirated literary works estimated at N60million has been confiscated by the operatives of the Nigerian C o py r i g ht C o m m i s s i o n (NCC), at the Apapa seaport, Lagos. NCC Director-General, Afam Ezekude, made this known in a statement. The statement noted that NCC’s Port Monitoring Officer, Mr. Joe Ojika, said the seizure was made possible, following the information gathered by the commission. The container marked

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

BMOU 2575217, was confiscated on March 24. According to the statement, the container was loaded with 1,200 cartons of literary works totaling 60,000 copies of foreign and Nigerian books, including Holy Bible, Every Woman, Fundamentals of Economics, Clinical Oriented Anatomy and other books. The commission said investigation is ongoing to unmask the identity of the importer for prosecution. The seizure brings to 18 the number of containers of suspected pirated works impounded so far.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

Policeman kills self, wife, six others in Ogun

Twas a like a scene from a movie yesterday at Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State. A Corporal, Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi and six others, before shooting himself. It was learnt Ogunbiyi failed to return his official AK-47 rifle to the armoury after a night shift He got home about 7:05 a.m. when his wife, a police corporal, was about leaving for work. Ogunbiyi shot her dead. The late Faremi was attached to Obantoko Divisional Police Headquarters. Ogunbiyi ignored his two children, who were dressed for school, and came out of his apartment. He shot a commercial motorcyclist, simply identified as Kunle, who was there to

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

take Ogunbiyi’s wife and children to school and work. As residents ran for safety, Ogunbiyi entered the apartment of his landlady, Iya Basira, who was sleeping on a mat and shot her to death. He also killed the landlady’s two sons, Taofeek, an SSII pupil at Nawar-u-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his elder brother, Sikiru. The woman’s daughter, Basira, and her two-year-old daughter, Jesutofunmi, also fell to Ogunbiyi’s bullets. At the last count, eight persons, including Ogunbiyi, were dead. The police gave the figure as six. Three survivors, who sustained injuries, were rushed to

the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba. The remains were taken to the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye. Eyewitnesses said the late Ogunbiyi had been warning the late Iya Basira to stop accommodating his wife and children whenever they had a misunderstanding. Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi described the incident as “unfortunate”, adding Ogunbiyi had been having “domestic conflicts” with his wife. Adejobi said: “The unfortunate incident occurred this morning when the corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons with his rifle, including his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin

Faremi; his landlady; a twoyear-old baby girl; two males and one female. ‘’Three persons were injured and are being treated at the FMC. The corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead. “The Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, described the incident as unfortunate. He visited the scene with other senior police officers to assess the situation and sympathised with relations of the deceased and members of the Akingbala Ifelodun Estate at Eleweran, Abeokuta. “The command has commenced forensic investigation into the killing and promised to ensure justice is done. ‘’The commissioner appeals to the public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police based on it. The police are committed to the protection of life and property and will not tolerate violation of people’s rights.”

Ibadan ‘forest of horror’: Eight in police net

•Reps raise probe team

HE Assistant InspectorGeneral (AIG) of Police, Zone 11, Femi Omolaja, has assured Nigerians the people behind the Soka “forest of horror” in Ibadan, Oyo State, will be apprehended. The forest was discovered on Saturday, littered with human parts and decomposing bodies. Dying men and women were rescued and taken to the State Hospital in Yemetu. Omolaja, who is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, spoke yesterday when he visited the forest. He said his visit was on the directive of the inspector-general of police and assured the people those arrested in connection with the incident would be charged to court soon. Omolaja said: “Investigation

Lagos kicks as court declares tolling of Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge illegal

USTICE Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the collection of toll on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge is illegal. Delivering judgment in a suit filed against the state government by a lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the judge said there was no law in Lagos State authorising the collection of toll on the bridge by the government. Justice Saidu held that the power to control the Lekki Lagoon and other Federal Navigable Waterways lies with the Federal Government. He said although the Federal Government gave some authority to the state to build the bridge, there was no law authorising or permitting the collection of toll on it. Justice Saidu said: “The bridge is not a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative for which the collection of toll can be allowed. The question is: Has the third respondent, Lagos State government, made appropriate law to enable it collect toll on the bridge?

‘

The fact before this court is that the bridge was built with the third respondent’s money. I uphold the construction of this bridge as of right. The third respondent has power to generate revenue from the subject matter, but the existing law does not cover it. Before the state can collect toll on the bridge, an enabling law must be in place.

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Bisi Onanuga

“The third respondent only cited Section 27, 28 and 29 of the Lagos State PPP Law, 2011 as making provision for collection of toll. There is nothing before me to show that the subject matter in this case was as a result of the PPP Law. “The fact before this court is that the bridge was built with the third respondent’s money. I uphold the construction of this bridge as of right. The third respondent has power to generate revenue from the subject matter, but the existing law does not cover it. Before the state can collect toll on the bridge, an enabling law must be in place.”

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS This is to notify the general public that the Original Offer Letter, Original Acknowledgement and Original Receipt in respect of Plot No. 490, measuring about 1751.35sqm with file No. CR 21501, belonging to Sen. Prince Bassey E. Otu got missing. All efforts made to trace the missing document proved abortive. If found please return it to the nearest Police Station.

’

Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye said the state would appeal the judgment. Addressing reporters at Alausa, Ipaye said the claimant never sought a declaration that there was no law to cover the collection of tolls on the bridge. Ipaye said Section 29 of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Law allowed the government to collect toll on any public infrastructure. He said the court’s pronouncement was out of place and was not one of the nine declarations sought by the applicant. Ipaye said the judgment contained two fundamental errors, adding: “We are filing an appeal and an application for stay of execution.” Ipaye said the court was wrong in holding that the N10 million payment made by Julius Berger to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) before build-

ing the bridge amounted to a concession that NIWA was the only authority to regulate the inland waterways in Nigeria. He said: “With utmost respect for his Lordship, the Lagos State government never made such concession. The payment of N 10 million was made by our contractor when NIWA was stalling the multi-billion naira project. In fact, we indicated to the court that we filed the proof of payment by our contractor without prejudice to our comprehensive arguments on the right of the state to control its inland waterways. It was not a concession to the applicant’s claim. “There is no constitutional requirement that for any tolling, there must be a separate law backing it. Tolls chargeable under the law can clearly be on any public infrastructure or asset, not necessarily on those built with private sector partnership. In any

case, the maintenance and tolling of the bridge is, in fact, by a private sector company to which a concession was granted by the state. “The judgment did not address many of the questions raised by the applicants; neither did it grant any of the declarations sought. No order was made. However, the pronouncements are capable of being interpreted as court orders, hence our decision to appeal and seek a stay of execution.” Adegboruwa said: “For now, everybody in Lagos State should be free to pass through that bridge without paying any money. It was built with the peoples’ money. We cannot pay tax to build a bridge and pay another money to use it. It was not built through concession. “The court said they cannot apply the PPP Law to a bridge that was built with state funds. This judgment is a warning to statutory and government agencies, because our people are burdened. The economy is bad. On behalf of the people of Nigeria, we must continue to challenge impunity and taxes that have no backing. We are going ahead to challenge other taxes imposed on our people.”

From Tayo Johnson, and Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

is on. We do not want to disclose the identity of those arrested not to hinder our investigation.” He thanked Oyo people for their cooperation and patience since the incident happened, urging them to be alert and report suspicious movements to security agents. The police chief warned the public against taking the law into their hands when they suspect anyone, urging them to report to law enforcement agents. The AIG said the demolition of the building used for the horrible act was postponed to allow forensic experts examine the place. Police spokesperson Olabisi Ilobanafor said eight people had been arrested, adding investigation is on. Ilobanafor said since the incident occurred, the public had been lynching mentally-ill persons suspected to be ritualists. She said two mentally-ill men had been lynched and 10 rescued by the police. The House of Representatives has mandated three of its standing committees - Human Rights, Police, Intelligence and National Security to probe the incident and present their report in four weeks. It urged the inspector general to direct his men to take over the area and preserve the material evidence. The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion raised by Mr. Ibrahim Olaifa (AccordOyo), which was unanimously adopted. The House urged the Federal Government to establish a Judicial Commission of Enquiry. Also yesterday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Zakari Mohammed condemned activities at the “forest of horror.” Speaking at a symposium and award presentation organised by the Humanitarian and Refugees Studies Association (HURESSA), University of Ibadan, he urged parents to raise their children to be Godfearing.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHIEF (DR) BUARI ABU-OLOTO FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990. BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: Chief Olatunji Adisa Dauda Chief Yaya Idris Chief Osayemi Kamorudeen Chief Adele Shamshdeen Alhaji Ajagbe Wahab

Chairman Member Member Member Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide free health care services to the widows and aged 2. To provide financial and material support on education to the less privileged 3. To provide material assistance to the motherless and orphanages 4. To complement government effort towards a better nation Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 42 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P. M. B 198 Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication. SIGNED Alhaji Ajagbe Wahab Secretary

Author of a Book - “Broadcasting and Politics in Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Eigboboh Okoduwa (left); Publisher, Leadership Newspaper Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah (presenter) and Chairman, ABG Group, Dr. Bawa Garba, at the book launch in Abuja, yesterday

•

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS EKITI 2014 Half of Ekiti commissioners are behind me, says Bamidele

HE governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, has alleged that many of Governor Kayode Fayemi‘s commissioners and aides are supporting him (Bamidele). According to him, the commissioners and special advisers, among others, are not only supporting him, “they

are also doing so financially”. Bamidele spoke yesterday in Ido-Ekiti, during his campaign for the June 21 election. He said the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members “backing him” was based on their belief in his “cause”.

EFCC presents witnesses against Fayose

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday called two of its witnesses to testify against former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose in the alleged N1.2 billion fraud case against him (Fayose). The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the June 21 governorship election is on trial for allegedly misappropriating N1.2 billion meant for a poultry project during his tenure as Ekiti governor. The witnesses are Mr. Emmanuel Alejo, a Relationship Officer with Skye Bank Plc, and Mr. Taiwo Sanusi, Head, Bank Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting, Keystone Bank Plc. Alejo tendered five documents, including a certificate of identification, two statements of account - one for Avian Specialties and the second for Biological Concepts Nig Ltd, and the opening of account forms for both companies. During cross-examination by Fayose’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, Alejo admitted that the name of the accused was not mentioned anywhere in the documents linked with the transactions. EFCC Counsel Rotimi Jacobs urged the court to admit the documents as relevant to the case, supporting his arguments with sections of the Evidence Act. Although Raji urged the court not to admit the documents, the court admitted them as Exhibits 1-5. The second witness, Sanusi, came with three documents, which were examined and accepted as exhibits PW1-P3. Raji sought an adjournment until after the governorship poll, to enable his client concentrate on the campaign. He said: “As a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, I can say campaigning is not an easy thing to do. A lot is involved, both officially and unofficially. I did indicate earlier, that the accused left Abuja for Ado-Ekiti today and he is going back immediately. “We plead that we come back in the first week in July,

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

so that the accused can give maximum attention to the noble call by the people of the state. Your lordship is urged to take judicial notice of the coming election fixed for June 21 and my client is a contestant. “Hearing can be accelerated but need not be pre-judicial. Any attempt to muzzle the accused into a very hasty pace when he should be campaigning is very pre-judicial. Ten days ago, Ekiti people spoke by nominating him. All we plead for is to enable him have time. If he is ill and has to go abroad, will the court not grant him adjournment?” Jacobs kicked against an adjournment, saying: “I urge the court to note that my learned counsel is advancing political arguments. The purpose of this case would be defeated if an adjournment is fixed for after the election.” He said he would prefer an earlier date to enable the accused dispense with the case, so that he can face the election “on a clean bill of integrity”. Jacobs said: “This case should be settled first before other political considerations, so I urge your Lordship not to adjourn to July. “It is in the interest of the accused to know his fate before the election. It is in his interest that the matter be heard so that his character can be cleared before he faces the electorate.” An argument ensued when Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti urged the two counsel to agree on a date for the next hearing. Jacobs said: “We want the court to take its jurisdiction on the case, immediately after the election and if elected, the court will not have jurisdiction again on the case. My Lord, do not allow my learned friend’s plea by adjourning till July.” Justice Hobon cautioned the two counsel and advised them “to agree on an acceptable date”. After a few minutes, they agreed on June 6 and the judge adjourned till then.

•Wamakko speaking at the rally...yesterday. With him are (from left) Modu-Sheriff; Yari; Nyako and Amosun.

PHOTO: OYO GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

I’m best for the job, says Fayemi

HE Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was yesterday filled with supporters of Governor Kayode Fayemi as he kicked off his re-election campaign. The event was attended by eight All Progressives Congress (APC ) governors - Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara), represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kishira; Alhjai Yori Abubakar (Zamfara); Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Aliu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Muritala Nyako (Adamawa). Also present were former Ekiti State Governor and APC Interim National Vice-Chairman, Southwest, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; the three Senators and five House of Representatives’ members from Ekiti, joined by their colleagues from other states; APC National Woman Leader Sharon Ikeazor, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and the Iyaloja-General of lagos, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. Popular actors, actresses, musicians and comedians were in attendance. Fuji maestro Adewale Ayuba, rap artiste Olamide and traditional musician Elemure Ogunyemi thrilled the people with their songs. Trade associations, students groups and artisans appeared in Ankara, vests and fez caps with “Kayode Fayemi for Second Term” and the APC’s logo boldly imprinted on them . The 15,000 capacity stadium was overstretched. Those who could not go into the stadium stood outside watching. Major streets in the state capital, especially those close to the stadium, were guarded by fierce-looking security agents.Policemen and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil

•Eight governors at rally From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the State Security Service (SSS) controlled the crowd at the stadium. Fayemi urged the people to protect their votes from being stolen by “election riggers” and “vote robbers”. He said no one can deny the achievements of his administration and urged the electorate to ensure that the good work is continued. Pledging to work harder, if re-elected, Fayemi said he has faithfully implemented his Eight-Point Agenda and fulfilled all the promises contained in his inaugural address when he assumed office on October 16, 2010. The governor explained that he has brought transparency and accountability to governance, adding that no official of his administration had been summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said the June 21 governorship election was not about him, but about “consolidating on the achievements of the last threeand-a-half-years and ensuring that the state does not go back to the dark days of one-weekone-trouble, violence and looting of public funds”. Fayemi urged the electorate not to be deceived by “the propaganda of the opposition” that he would ban commercial motorcyclists and sack teachers, if re-elected, saying: “They know Ekiti is the state of teachers and are trying to poison the minds of teachers. Fayemi will not sack teachers. Fayemi will keep employing teachers. Fayemi will remunerate teachers. Ekiti is the only state that

pays 20 per cent Rural Teachers’ Allowance in Nigeria. We are also the only state that pays 20 per cent core subjects allowance in Nigeria. There is nothing that is independently verifiable that they can use against us with teachers and the teachers know better.” Also debunking claims by the opposition that he would demolish markets, if re-elected, he said the administration has built modern markets across state. Fayemi said: “There are people who will come and promise heaven and earth. There are people who will tell you what they want to do. The advantage that I have as your son, as your brother, as your leader, is that I can tell you what I have done on education. I can tell you how I have made the lives of the people better in Ekiti and how I have banished poverty in the lives of the elderly. “I can tell you what I have done in the area of infrastructure. I can tell you what I have done in the health sector. I can tell you what our women have benefitted by having a gendersensitive leader. I can tell you what is happening in tourism in Ikogosi. I can tell you what we have done in reviving industries. I can tell you how we have made lives better by creating jobs and empowering our people.” Okorocha said Fayemi is ordained by God to institute change in Ekiti, adding: “If Fayemi contests for governor in other states, he will win.” Amosun said Fayemi has done all the things his predecessors said were impossible, adding that unlike before, Ekiti now has good roads, social security for the elderly and many other life-enhancing programmes.

He said: “Do not allow the deceivers to plunge you back into the dark days. Everyone agrees that Fayemi has performed. The other parties do not have anything to offer. All they want to do is rig. You must insist on one- man-one-vote.” Ajimobi said Ekiti is a land of intellectuals and should not be governed by non-intellectuals. Sheriff described Fayemi as a “performing governor”. He said Ekiti has changed from what it used to be the last time he visited, urging voters to return Fayemi to office to continue the “good work”. Wamakko said Fayemi is a leader that should be celebrated, judging by his performance, “which is being acknowledged within and outside the country”. He said APC is about performance and transparency adding that the party will continue to ensure that Nigerians are united in their resolve to enthrone good governance. Nyako said local and international agencies have adjudged Fayemi as a transparent leader with honesty of purpose and described him as “one of the most focused governors in Nigeria.” Abubakar said the huge turn out at the rally showed that the people appreciate what Fayemi has done in the last three-anda-half years. Ahmed said Kwarans are solidly behind Fayemi. Ekiti APC Interim Chairman Chief Jide Awe urged the electorate to be peaceful as the election draws nearer. He said the APC does not need any external force to win the polls because it has Ekiti people on its side. Awe said: “Despite the threats and portents of coercion against the re-election of Dr. Fayemi, the people of Ekiti have already made up their minds to re-elect him.

Lagos may professionalise teaching, says Fashola

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said the state is thinking of professionalising teaching. He spoke yesterday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa during the one day training programme on the Teachers Competency Framework. Fashola said the teachers have no reason to fear, adding that the basic salary of teachers would still be applicable to all of them. He said: "The basic income of teachers would remain the same, but instead of everyone clamouring for the same salary increment, that

would be a function of what the person can offer as a professional. Those who improve themselves will always have something to gain. "What will change is that just as it is obtainable in professional football, where members of the same club earn different match allowances based on their rating and qualifications, additional emoluments for teachers would be based on what each teacher can offer." The governor explained that if, for example, the state decides to focus on Information Communication Technology (ICT) for a particular period of time, it would provide in-

centives for teachers with competencies in the field. Fashola said classrooms and beautiful schools do not teach pupils, but committed teachers do. He said the state government has a responsibility to also regulate private schools, adding that the difference between a public and private school is comparable to what is obtainable in a private hospital compared to a public hospital. The governor said the tendency of finding an unqualified doctor in a teaching hospital is almost zero while there is a possibility of finding an unqualified person running a private

hospital. He said: "The chances that you would find an unqualified teacher in a public school is almost zero, but the chances exist of meeting somebody who has no knowledge of classroom management running a private school." Fashola said the issue of teachers' competence has become "acrimonious", adding that teachers must admit that they have shortcomings to be able to learn. Explaining that there is no margin for errors in the competence of teachers, he said the number of teachers at the programme showed that teachers were not against it.

Fashola urged corporate organisation that want to support the education sector to do so by training teachers in ICT. He said teachers whose additional qualifications have not been recognised would be tested and given the deserved recognition. Fashola observed that Colleges of Education are affiliating with some universities outside the state. He criticised this and urged them to affiliate with the university in the state. The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, District 5, Mrs. Mary Iji, explained what the Teachers Framework is about.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

CITYBEATS Two held as community battles ‘vandals’ ‘ T

WO suspected vandals believed to be among those behind the March 20 fire at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Ilare/ Imagbon in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, have been arrested. Rotanna Ifeanyi, Soji Omomoyesan and others at large, were said to have torched the pipeline to enable them steal petroleum products. The suspects fled the scene before security operatives, community vigilance groups and fire fighters arrived. They were caught by men of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism with the aid of residents, who trailed them to a herbalist’s house where they were being treated for burns. Twenty-two-year-old Ifeayi said he was lured by his friend, Tony Olabanji, to join others at the NNPC pipeline at Imagbon. He said: “At about 2am, my best friend, Tony Olabanji, who lives at 14, Ayegbajeje Street, Majidun-Ikorodu, asked me to follow him to Ilara area to assist vandals. He said I had nothing to fear in terms of our security. When we got there, there were so many people men and women. A wom-

Here in Ikorodu, our children are no longer interested in going to school. Every child is a potential vandal because most of those involved in this illicit trade are building houses and driving big cars. Our waters are polluted because of their activities

•The suspected vandals...yesterday By Jude Isiguzo

an, Mama Ibeji, agreed to pay N200 for each jerry can that we moved into her vehicle. “Suddenly, I saw smokes coming from the site. I

tried to run away but the heat was too much. I collapsed and when I recovered, I felt so much pain from the burns I sustained. I rushed to one Baba Seriki’s house; Soji was al-

ready there. We were there for herbal medication. Shortly after, villagers stormed the house and beat us up. They tied us and alerted the police.” Saying that Jide started the fire, he explained: “There was an argument over who to fetch the products first when Jide, out of annoyance, threw the cigarette he was smoking into the pipeline.” Omomoyesan, 40, from Imayin, Igbokoda in Ondo State, said: “I am alive today because the police rescued me from the villagers who wanted to set me on fire. I was informed by the engineers that they were going to fetch fuel from the Imagbon NNPC pipeline. I decided to go and make a living because for vandals to operate successfully, they must employ the services of engineers, boat paddlers, load carriers and buyers. “I was employed as a canoe paddler. When we got there around 2am, things went on smoothly until an argument ensued. Then, the fire started. I nearly got burnt but my skin was affected. I quickly ran to the herbalist’s house. He had been assisting us during fire incidents. It was then the villagers stormed the house and arrested us. The police rescued us. I am sorry that I have failed my family and my country. It’s just that since the NNPC refused to supply enough fuel for people in

’

Lagos, we moved in to bridge the gap.” The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Task Force, Friday Ibadin, said his men acted on a tip-off. “Policemen led by the Lagos Sector Commander, Samson Olawoyin, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), moved to the scene. The vandals fled when they realised that their game was up; some were roasted to death. I appreciate members of the community who assisted the police in tracking down these suspects. I encourage other communities to emulate them to end pipeline vandalism.” Olawoyin said the suspects were moved to a standard hospital where they are being treated, adding: “They will be arraigned before a competent court as soon as their health condition stabilises.” An elders in the community, simply addressed as Baba Toyin, who assisted the police, said: “If all the security operatives are willing to guarantee that these men will be prosecuted, we will assist them in fishing them out in this area. Over here in Ikorodu, our children are no longer interested in going to school. Every child is a potential vandal because most of those involved in this illicit trade are building houses and driving big cars. Our waters are polluted because of their activities.”

‘Please, save my son’ •Man whose baby’s manhood was severed cries out for help

ATHER of the 18month-old baby whose manhood was severed by a suspected ritualist in Lagos has cried out for help to save his child. Mr. Ibrahim Akintoye said Baby Bashiru’s surgery is being delayed because of fund. He said N350,000 is required for the surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja. Akintoye called on the government, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to help his son to live. He gave his account details as: Akintoye Ibrahim Olasunkanmi; United Bank for Africa (UBA), number: 2059283926. The boy’s mother, he said, was being detained by the police for further interrogations. He described his son’s situation as unfortunate, saying: “The doctor attending to him said he should have

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Land owners appeal to Adeboye

N appeal has gone to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to facilitate payment of outstanding compensation to some land owners in Ogun State The RCCG is building its new auditorium on a land in Oso and Aguntoye villages in the state. The intervention, according to the landlords, is to avoid clashes between the displaced villagers and heads of the communities. They also urged Adeboye to increase the money payable to tenant farmers (Elebuko) on the land for their damaged crops from N20,000 per acre to N50,000. Speaking in Lagos on behalf of the Agunfoye and Oso villages, the Baale of Agunfoye land, Chief Yekini Babatunde Agunfon and Chief Sikiru Ososanya, said the appeal became imperative, following series of letters to Adeboye. The spokespersons said the displaced villagers and tenant farmers were becoming restless because they believe the heads of the families have been settled by the church. They, however, assured the church that this will not hamper on-going construction works. The communities are demanding additional N200,000 on every acre of the land purchased by the church as well as N50,000 per acre as compensation for damaged crops on the land acquired for the new auditorium. The spokespersons said the family secured a court injunction against hoodlums who attempted to disrupt the project to show their support for it. They described as unfounded the rumour that the church had paid some money meant for the communities to some hoodlums instead of the heads of the villages. Based on the rumour, the families said they had been inundated with demands and threats from the displaced people who thought they had collected money from the church.

Eko Boys get new president

•Ibrahim By Wale Adepoju

the surgery performed as quickly as possible to save his life.” Akintoye expressed optimism that his son would be able to father a child in future. “But the surgery needs to be performed first for him to have any chance of achieving that,” he said.

HE 1979 set of the Eko Boys’ High School Old Boys Association (EKOBA ’79) has unanimously elected Taiwo Mamuromu Gbegbaje, a pilot as its new president for the next two years. The election was held during the Annual General Meeting of the association in Lagos. Stephen Gbadebo was elected as Vice President; Olumide Mefful, General Secretary and Olusegun Jadeogo, Assistant General Secretary. Gbegbaje is an alumnus of Saint Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Surulere, Eko Boys High School, Mushin; Rose of Aviation and Spartan’s School of Aeronautics both in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America. He holds a Diploma certificate in Business Administration and the traditional chieftaincy title of Omo-Ruvie of Uvwie Kingdom in Edo State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SIX -PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

• The couple, Ediri and Prince Osama with queens of the Oba of Benin

Oba of Benin Omo N' Oba Erediauwa’s son, Prince Osama, has got married to the daughter of Chief Simeon Ebbah, Ediri Patricia, in Benin, the Edo State capital. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

A royal affair •Oba of Benin’s son weds in style

ORMER Miss Ediri Patricia Ebbah, a History and International Diplomacy graduate, met her beau, Prince Osama Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, in March 2010. It was at a graduation party held at the palace for one of the princesses who was her classmate at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Ediri exchanged contacts with Prince Osama and their love story began. Four years later, they returned to the palace, where they first met to cement their relationship. Prince Erediauwa is the Executive Director the Government House, Edo State, and goes by the nickname “The Prince is Here”. Two days before the wedding, the prince led a large entourage of Benin chiefs and subjects to Ugbeyiyi Okpe in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State to perform the traditional rites. After the engagement, guests moved to the Athletic Club, Sapele, for the reception. Many dance groups showcased the rich cultures of Sapele and Benin. The dancers shook their bodies to the rhythms of drum beats. The couple made a grand entry into the field. The bride was in the regalia of a princess. She was dressed with the crown by her mother-in-law, signifying her acceptance by the royal family. The traditional ceremony was a foretaste of what to come at the wedding. It seemed the whole Benin came to show solidarity

• Governor Oshihomole (left) and Hon Etim

with their prince. Comedian Gordons tickled the gathering with jokes. It was royalty at its best. Everything from the colours, the songs and other aesthetics had the trappings of a royal union, depicting class and tradition. There were many palace chiefs in white gowns, beaded necks and half shaven heads. The cake was rich in colours. White, according to the cake maker, stood for purity; blue, love and yellow, royalty. Guests wore customised yellow and blue Ankara, a special fabric for the ceremony. When The Nation visited the Oba's Palace on Kings Square, Benin City, a day before the wedding, the arena was a beehive of activities. The marriage was held at the home church of the prince, Firm Foundation Ministries, a marquee inside Edo Hotel in Benin City. It was conducted by the Lead Pastor, Rev Benson Akhigbe, who urged the couple to honour each

PHOTOS: NNEKA NWANERI

other by looking out for the other's interest to make their union a success. To the groom, the cleric said: "You are the driver of your home; love is a feeling and not a choice or action. You have to constantly remember the love you had at first and encourage each other”. At the service was the president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev Felix Omobude. Guests proceeded to the palace for reception. The large turnout of guests caused traffic jam on Ring Road. All other roads leading to the palace were blocked. The ancient city rose in celebration. The marquee in the palace wore a green and gold décor. Radio personality Helen Paul, alias Tatafo, began the event in her baby-like voice. Just as guests were wondering where the voice was coming from, she began dishing rib-cracking jokes. She was later joined by comedians I Go Die and Youngest Old Man. With DJ Efex and the Cool Ice Band, supply-

ing music, despite changing from her white ball wedding gown to a shiny fitted sleeveless gown, the tiara on the bride’s head remained, giving her the look of an Indian goddess. Akwa Ibom State Governor Goodswill Akpabio, the chairman of the occasion, was represented by his Commissioner for Works, Mr Don Etim. Marriage, he said, is an interesting industry. "While some are struggling to run out, many are struggling to run into it," he said. It was laughter galore when Prince Osama was asked to sing for his wife. He sang the first lines of the Barney and Friends TV Series slogan song: I Love You, You Love Me... Thereafter, the couple cut their eight-stepped cake that towered above them. They were later joined on the dance floor by the monarch’s three wives. The bride described Prince Osama as the best thing to happened to her. "He is my world and means everything to me," she said. Prince Osama said his wife meant everything to him, adding that, that is why he calls her 'My Sweet Sweet'. The bride’s father Chief Simeon Ebbah, said he would miss her laughter. "Today makes me remember when she was a little girl. Then, I had a pet name for her which when I call her, she would smile. Now, she is a woman and it makes me a proud man," he said. In attendance were: Edo State Governor Adams Oshihomole, his Deputy Pius Odubu; royal fathers from across the country, the eldest daughter of the revered monarch Princess Theresa Erediauwa; the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas, was represented by Constance Olotu; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by his Special Assistant on Taxation Bola Sodipo; Sir Gabriel Igbenedion; Osun State governor was represented by his Assistant Chief of Staff Hon Oguntola Toogun; Ondo State Governor was represented by the Commissioner for Transport; Otunba Nicholas Tofowomo; and Kogi State Commissioner for Lands Housing and Urban Development, Mr Stephen Mayaki. •More picture on page 16

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SOCIETY BENIN OBA’S SON WEDS IN STYLE

•Bride's parents Chief Ebbah, and his wife Rita

•Hon Odubu (right) and Executive Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue and the Okaoivbiore of Benin Chief Oseni Elamah

• Sir Igbenedion (right) and the Obasogie of Benin Chief Ehuwu Obasogie

• From left Oluresi of Iresi Oba Sikiru Adeseun; Alaagba of Aagba Oba Rufus Ogunwole and the Onigbaye of Igbaye Oba Joseph Okunlola-Oni all of Osun State

• Princess Erediauwa and Enogie Osarete

• Hon Toogun (left) and Otunba Tofowomo

• Rev Omogbode (right) and Rev Akhigbe

• Mayaki (left) and Alhaji Usman

PHOTOS: NNEKA NWANERI

THE CRITERION (ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSION) SYMPOSIUM IN LAGOS

•Member, Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Muhibat Rufai Adeyemi (left) and former Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Bursar Alhaja Monsurah Alli-Oluwafuyi

•Guest speaker Alhaja Sururat AbdulMajeed

•From left: Amirah (Female President) The Criterion Lagos District, Alhaja Rahmat Egbeyemi; Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso and Alhaji Tunde Popoola

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SOCIETY

The Faculty of Law ‘Class 83’ of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held its 7th Reunion at Chida International Hotel in Abuja. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

Reunion of a ‘unique set’ I

T was two days of fun and rekindling of fond memories of their alma mater. Between March 14 and 15, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Faculty of Law ‘Class 83’ gathered at the Chida International Hotel in Abuja to celebrate its 7th Reunion. For those who passed through the UNILAG Faculty of Law in the 80s, there is something striking about ‘Class 1980-83’. It is a set of achievers. Although they left school over 31 years ago, they always showcase the faculty that brought out the best in them. For instance, the ‘Unique Set,’ as they are referred to, has produced eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), 17 judges, several professors and lawyers of repute. Also on the list are Generals in the Nigerian Army, legislators, senators, business men and women and those in the Diaspora who have distinguished themselves. Initiated seven years ago, the essence of the Reunion, is to bond with fellow classmates and their families, network and render assistance and support to one another and their beloved alma mater. The two-day event kicked off on March 14 with a dinner. On March 15, there was a Business Session where issues affecting members and their alma mater were discussed. The train moved to Sen. Effiong Bob’s palatial home where they were treated to a sumptuous meal. Drinks flowed amid banters. They returned to Chida International Hotel for dinner where their former lecturers spoke glowing about them. “This is the most visible set ever produced from the Faculty of Law, UNILAG,” the Dean, Faculty of Law, UNILAG Prof Imran Smith (SAN), said. Prof Isaac Agbede added: “They are unique and trail blazers. There is no one like you.” Extolling the members’ virtues, Prof Smith said he was happy to celebrate with the “wonderful set”, adding that coming together like this means celebrating the best university in the country. “I’m proud to associate with the faculty that has not failed accreditation. The faculty that has the highest number of professors in the university; our students have recorded great height in their endeavours. Out of 15 First Class produced by the Nigerian Law School last year, five of them came from University of Lagos. We are making progress. We thank you for being part of that progress in terms of moral and financial support. We are happy with this set and your achievements,” he said National President of the Reunion, Justice Adedotun Onibokun, said it was a privilege to be among the achievers. “Over the years, we have improved on the aims and objectives of this Reunion. We network among ourselves and that has improved especially now with the publication of the directory of members,” Justice Onibokun said. “This year, we have elevations and promotions. Chief Godwin Obla was made a SAN; Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN) got the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Arbi-

•Justice Daniel Okungbowa; Mr Omoruyi Omonuwa (SAN); Chief Obla (SAN) and Senator Bob

• Justice Onibokun (left) and Justice Yusuf

• Prof Smith (SAN) and wife

• Mrs Chidinma Iheme; Mr Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) and Mrs Aky MbaleweOnuoha

• Mrs Oti Ovrawah and Prof Osipitan (SAN)

trators of Nigeria. In our private lives, we are celebrating marriages for our children. This year, we have the largest number of our set from the Diaspora. Seven of our members are based in the United States and five of them were in attendance this year. We have had a very cooperative set since 33 years and it has been so till this day. I thank God for the bond, love despite the fact that we are from diverse areas,” Justice Onibokun said. Chairman, Board of Trustees and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Benin, Senator Effiong Bob, was full of praises for his mates for staying together. Senator Bob said: “Staying together for three years has extended to 33 years. It is heart warming to have in our midst today as usual, our most cherished teachers and mentors, our heroes and role models, who, many years ago, not only volunteered to but passionately and

about 31 years ago that we will still be standing together? Who would have believed that those little boys and girls, who were hardly in their twenties, will today become professors, judges, respected lawyers, lawmakers, topflight business men and women, respected military officers, politicians, and policy makers? Surely, God Himself has turned us into what we are today and we are grateful”. According to Senator Bob, the decision to assemble every year is not meant to dine and wine and renew contact with one another, rather it is an opportunity to look back and reappraise where they are coming from to purposefully and fruitfully forge ahead. Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Justice Baba Yusuf thanked members for ensuring that this year’s reunion is a success. Justice Yusuf said coming together yearly is good but emphasised that their responsibility to their alma

•Justice Alaba Ajileye

diligently molded us like clay in the hands of the esteem porter and guided us into what we have become today. “I know the UNILAG must be proud of your products. Who would have believed, when we left the Faculty of Law, of UNILAG

mater must not be lost to the merriment of the event. Retired Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte said he got to know about the Reunion last year but was thrilled because it was fashioned after American universities. “There is nothing as good as remembering your alma mater, which brings about remembering your teachers and classmates. UNILAG Law Faculty is unique in the sense that students were free with their lecturers. Then we used to hold tutorials in my sitting room, which showed that UNILAG is a nurturing institution. The most important thing is that the confidence students had in their lecturers as at that time is still there. Your gesture has brought hope as the faculty grows. I feel proud to be associated with you,” he said. Among the dignitaries at the event were former lecturers such as Prof Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) and Prof Kassim Momodu.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY,MARCH 28, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIAL

Fayose’s candidacy

•A new low in Nigeria’s amoral politics

HOEVER a party chooses for an election should strictly be the business of that party. If the market decides on the quality or otherwise of a good or commodity, the voter should decide on the suitability or otherwise of a candidate. He or she is rewarded or punished with votes. Even then, there are extraordinary cases that go beyond strict party business, just as damaged or toxic goods do not fall under the strict purview of selling and buying, but becomes the business of the state, to guarantee its pre-transaction wholesomeness. Such is the case with Peter Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, who exited government in a blaze of impeachment on October 16, 2006, with 22 out of the 24-member Ekiti State House of Assembly adjudging him guilty of the alleged embezzlement of state funds, in the Ekiti Poultry Project of his government. But now, Mr. Fayose is back as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, for the June 21 Ekiti governorship election. Much has been alleged about the March 22 PDP primary that delivered Mr. Fayose the party’s ticket. Many of his opponents claim the process was skewed “from Abuja”; and that it should be cancelled. That claim is neither here nor there. On one hand, Nigerian politicians are such notorious bad losers that, were Mr. Fayose to be in the losing camp, he probably would have embarked on similar exercise to discredit the process. On the other hand, you can seldom vouch for the integrity of any electoral process, as the

stock-in-trade is to skew it that, you always feel maybe the complainants do have a point. But that is not the focus of this editorial. The focus is rather the very nadir Mr. Fayose’s candidacy has plunged Nigerian politics, as soulless, amoral or even proudly immoral. But this is with a huge sense of responsibility and without prejudice to Mr. Fayose, if he is cleared of all the allegations hanging on his neck. After his ouster as governor, Mr. Fayose was docked for alleged sleaze and alleged murder. These cases are still in court; and it is trite to repeat that every suspect is presumed innocent until he is proved guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Still, in most Western democracies, anyone with such a hanging stain would automatically disqualify himself, until at least he clears his name. But should he display the wilful folly to want to run for public office, when by public perception — no matter how legalistically inconclusive — he is judged not fit and proper, public outrage would shellac him at the polls. Even in African traditional society, such outrage was not unusual, as the society moved fast to sanction anyone perceived to have run afoul of mores and values. The big question then is: though Mr. Fayose remains innocent until he is convicted, is there any morality in political recruitment? And if law is most times nothing but codified morality, does his PDP party not have any iota of morality in it, thrusting somebody with a highly compromised image to run for the governor of Ekiti, the highest political position in that state? If the court finds the candidate

guilty, what happens to his moral authority as governor, if he wins the election? Mr. Fayose’s emergence, even if he won the primary fair and square, is bad commentary on the morality of Nigeria’s public space. It is sheer heart of darkness; for with the allegations hanging on his neck, his gubernatorial tenure is disaster waiting to happen. If the Ekiti electorate is rational — and there is nothing to suggest it is not — it should show no hesitation with bombing the candidate with nay-votes. But that is beside the point. The point is that no sane system should have presented the electorate with such a bad choice.

‘Mr. Fayose’s emergence, even if he won the primary fair and square, is bad commentary on the morality of Nigeria’s public space ... If the Ekiti electorate is rational — and there is nothing to suggest it is not — it should show no hesitation with bombing the candidate with nayvotes. But that is beside the point. The point is that no sane system should have presented the electorate with such a bad choice’

Alarming inhumanity •The Soka forest tragedy reflects the savage hunt for wealth and prosperity in Nigeria

NQUESTIONABLY, the detection of an unlawful place of captivity and death managed by still unknown people in a forest in modernday Nigeria is a chilling development that not only heightens the danger of insecurity in the land; it also mirrors the depth of depraved materialistic instinct in the society. At least 20 decomposing bodies were reportedly found in the forest, while 23 people in various states of disorientation and poor health were rescued from impending elimination. The environment was strewn with human skulls and other body parts, as well as personal effects such as clothes, shoes and necklaces believed to belong to captives who were kept in buildings in Soka forest in Ibadan, the

‘Not surprisingly, against the social background of familiar ritualism based on human sacrifice, many concluded that the motive of the captors could be linked with desperation for easy money and supernatural power. Indeed, it would be unrealistic to gloss over this mystical dimension, which could well be the driving force behind the alarming inhumanity, especially in a society where many of those at the top worship at the temple of Mammon’

Oyo State capital. It is noteworthy that insight into the mode of operation of the captors, provided by some of the rescued victims, is useful for social awareness. According to Nafiu Shittu, a native of Ibadan and pile medicine vendor who said he was kidnapped four months ago, “After going round the area where I had customers, I felt tired, and decided to rest. It was at the Gate area. Suddenly, a bus stopped by my side and two men came out and rushed me into the back seat. That was all I could remember. When I regained consciousness, I was in a room in the forest, chained to a wall.” Another victim, Titi Adeniyi, a 45-yearold woman and Ibadan resident, said, “Two months ago, I was in front our house when some men grabbed me and said I was under arrest. Before I could protest, I was put in a bus and driven away. We did not go to any police station and I still don’t know how we reached the bush.” Not surprisingly, against the social background of familiar ritualism based on human sacrifice, many concluded that the motive of the captors could be linked with desperation for easy money and supernatural power. Indeed, it would be unrealistic to gloss over this mystical dimension, which could well be the driving force behind the alarming inhumanity, especially in a society where many of those at the top worship at the temple of Mammon. The disturbing truth is that many members of the country’s political class particularly, by their dazzling display of obscene and often ill-gotten wealth, represent negative examples that encourage

extreme and unrestrained materialism in the society. It is a sad and thoughtprovoking illustration of the dangerous degeneration of values that a band of hooligans reportedly scrambled for human parts uncovered at the site, suggesting that they considered them useful for some purpose, most likely supernatural enrichment. In the first place, it is tragic enough that such a horrific space existed, but the tragedy is certainly compounded by the fact that it had apparently been in existence for “over 10 years”. Furthermore, it is a clear testimony to poor citizen vigilance that such criminal activities went on for so long in the forest unnoticed by the local residents. Interestingly, there are conflicting versions of how the dark enclosure was illuminated, but it is significant that in the end it was the citizens who exposed the evil. It must be one of the wonders of the country’s state of development that people with the kind of unprogressive orientation that sustained the despicable activities carried out in the forest are still very much around. In this age of forward-looking advancements in education and science, it is a disgrace that the country still harbours such backwardness, which makes no optimistic statement about its future. Nevertheless, it is commendable that the state administration has reclaimed the land from private interests, and the police have arrested six suspects in the ongoing investigation, which should be taken to a logical conclusion.

Measured progress on nuclear security

LTHOUGH the summit meeting was overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine, 53 international leaders in The Hague this week made important progress on securing nuclear materials around the world and keeping them out of the hands of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. There is still a long way to go to address the challenges of a world awash in nuclear materials and weapons, but many countries are taking constructive action. The most dramatic gesture came from Japan, which announced that it would turn over to the United States for disposal an estimated 1,100 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium. That is just a small fraction of Japan’s cache, but, even so, the decision has practical and political significance. Japan uses its nuclear materials for power generation and research, not weapons. But its politics has turned more nationalistic, and hard-liners sometimes suggest the country should produce its own nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, security at Japanese storage sites has long been considered vulnerable to theft. Iran, in negotiations with the major powers on its nuclear program, has cited Japan’s stockpiles of bomb-ready material as proof of a double-standard used in evaluating which nations can be trusted. China, too, has denounced Japan’s supply. Italy and Belgium also pledged at the meeting to reduce their stocks of highly enriched uranium and plutonium. Since President Obama initiated the nuclear security summit meetings in 2010, 12 countries have completely eliminated their nuclear material stockpiles and 15 others have removed or disposed of portions of theirs. The number of countries that possess enough nuclear materials to build a weapon has fallen to 25 from 39. While this is undeniably good news, that means 25 countries still have such materials at hundreds of sites, many of which are not sufficiently secure. Moreover, pledges by government leaders to improve security and combat illegal trafficking in nuclear materials may not be fully carried out. At this week’s summit meeting, only 35 of the 53 countries agreed to enact into their laws international guidelines on nuclear security like criminalizing unauthorized acts involving nuclear materials. What is needed are binding international legal standards, applicable to all, and a treaty to ban the production of fissile material altogether. – New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Dep. Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Though some Nigerians have expressed scepticism that a National Conference at this time would be tantamount to a waste of time and financial resources, others have described it as a “Greek gift”, a ploy by the PDPled government to pull diverse people together and enrich their pockets in order to ensure support in 2015 general elections. Now that the conference has finally started and members are at last settling for serious business, they should be mindful of the fact that beyond the scepticism and reservations about the viability of the conference to really address and redress some of our problems, most Nigerians who believes in this confab and indeed the common people

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Now that the conference has begun

look forward to them to arrive at recommendations that would turn their lives around for good. Nigerians expect recommendations and reports that would address issues of indigene-ship, we have a situation on our hands whereby an indigene of Kogi State for example, who was born and bred in Kwara State still cannot claim to be from Kwara despite spending about 40

years in that state. We have also heard of cases where women from a particular state get married to men from a different state yet they are not allowed the privileges of an indigene in their husband’s state of origin. All these should be looked into and addressed if this country is to move forward. Delegates need to look at issues like rotational presidency among

the six geopolitical zones that make up this country and not the NorthSouth arrangement that some politicians prefer. Even in the states, a situation whereby all the governors that had ruled a state since 1999 came from a particular senatorial district does not augur well and it is unacceptable; local government autonomy should not even be a matter for debate in this 21st Century if

lem; the problem was that you made a lot of pledges and that no misconduct would be tolerated. The notable one was the pledge you made that if the number of vote supersedes the number of voters registered in any state, such vote would be cancelled but sir, there were cases like that especially in the presidential election. Why did you not cancel the vote? The election that took place in Anambra state, in 2013 was marred with irregularities that even you, the electoral umpire publicly ad-

mitted, why did you not cancel the election and conduct fresh one? In 2011, your INEC was given an elephantine amount of money based on your request, and when you were asked to provide the ballot papers in the election petitions tribunal for cross examination, you could not. Ordinarily, if the money were channelled to some sectors of the economy, perhaps, education, it would have helped improve it tremendously if properly utilized. Sir, I hereby use this avenue to call

on you to rise up to the big task ahead of you. The politicians are desperate; the president and his party are desperate too; all that Nigerians require of you is to create a level play ground for all parties that may be involved. Nigerians are hoping that you get it right come 2015; that may be the only chance you could get to repolish your image and reputation which you took many years to build.

2015: Open letter to Prof Jega

IR: When you were first appointed as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians went berserk with joy and elation because of your record as the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the fact that you were able to face the threat of the then military government of Ibrahim Babangida in the early 1990s. Nigerians saw you as an astute intellectual with a strong sense of ethics, morality and a man of his words. As a Nigerian, I believe you are very conversant with what is happening in the country. Nigerians are being oppressed everyday by politicians who do not have anything to offer to move Nigeria forward. They want to win elections by all means and thus, could be looking to put pressure on you to compromise and go against the wish of Nigerians. Many groups had written to you to redeploy the top management and other officials who had been accused of electoral misconducts and bring in people of your calibre who can be trusted but you paid deaf ear and opted to work with the old firewoods which your predecessor left. That was not actually the prob-

• Waziri Mohammed, IBB University Lapai, Niger State.

not that some people are hell bent at drawing back the wheels of progress of this county. Financial and economic autonomy should be returned to the local governments to give a sense of belonging to common Nigerians at the grass root. Creation of an anti-corruption tribunal to serve as a special court to speedily hear corruption cases should be on the cards of the delegates; declaring a state of emergency on unemployment as a means of checking youth restiveness and insurgency is not negotiable; the issue of BSc/HND differentiation should be made a criminal offence; NYSC reforms should be extensively looked into; agricultural revolution and an amicable resolution to issues of Fulani herdsmen/ farmers clashes should be on the card. The recommendation and outcome of this august conference should not fail to ensure that the rights of women and children are protected, wife battery and all forms of violence against women should be made a criminal offence as well as child hawking and other forms of abuse against children; a critical look should be made into the issue of public smoking and the proliferation of open-bars in the nook and crannies of this country. Common Nigerians look up to you the delegates to make things right again. • Hussain Obaro, Ilorin

Tinubu @ 62: National Conference beckons

IR: I wish to express my humble birthday wishes to this great Nigerian, humanist and political icon who clocks 62 this weekend. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu requires no introduction in our clime, having started as a senator in the botched third republic; he was in the trenches against the military during the annulment of June 12 elections, one of the darkest spots of our nation’s history. On the advent of the present political dispensation, he became governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He has since then remained a leading political figure with progressive spirit in our

country. More than anything else, his tenure as the governor witnessed a revolution-like development both in human capital and infrastructures. His revolutionary developmental strides range from road construction, e.g. Awolowo road, Kudirat Abiola road,(formerly Oregun road), Itire-OjuelegbaYaba road, Abaranje road etc, to the health sector where the story of the conjoined twin ended well and the popular ‘jigi Bola’ to the private sector driven gigantic power generation plants brought-in to improve electricity supply. Indeed his administration set the template for his high performing successor,

Babatunde Fashola who today has raised the stakes even higher. More than Tinubu’s 62 birthday anniversary, I must impress it upon this detribalized Nigerian the need for his political party to reconsider its non-participation in the ongoing national conference. That a political party with progressive credentials is missing from the conference does not augur well for our polity. In fact, if for nothing at all, we need people who will keep the conference on its toes all day and in my opinion this can be provided by the All Progressives Congress (APC). More importantly, the calibre of the members of the conference will

surely allow for cross breeding of ideas on some of the contending issues like fiscal federalism, state police, revenue allocation formula, industrialization and employment generation etc. It is in lieu of the above that I call on Asiwaju to cause a re-think of his party’s non-participation at the National Conference on the occasion of his 62nd birthday for the sake of generations unborn, for something good might still come out of this conference. We need to give the conference the benefit of the doubt. Happy birthday sir! • Badejo Adedeji Nurudeen. Surulere, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 16

COMMENTS

Youth, like dried flowers Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

HAVE seen courage flower in the face of the impossible. Such valour is frequently ascribed to an innate strength and unparalleled humanity of the courageous. It is no physical strength. And very few of the world’s bravest warriors possess such valour that defies brawn and accentuates moral vigour. Victor John, 15, showed such courage in a damning moment; thanks to John, the entire clans constituting Ungwan Sankwai, Tyekum and Ungwan Gata villages of Bondon district, Kaura LGA of Kaduna State were saved from total extermination by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Although many of the bereaved are wailing the brutal massacre of loved ones even as you read, the survivors owe their lives to the 15year old who sighted the invaders marching on the community. John alerted his father and reportedly went from house to house to wake up their neighbours and warn them of imminent death. Eventually, his father evacuated some of his siblings but his mother and other siblings weren’t so lucky; they were hacked to death by the invaders. Like the Kaduna teen, Hugh Thompson, an American army pilot could be said to have exhibited moral courage in the face of odds.

Thompson landed his helicopter between a platoon of American soldiers and 10 terrified Vietnamese civilians during the My Lai massacre. Then he ordered his gunner to fire his M60 machine gun on the advancing U.S. soldiers if they began to shoot the villagers. For this act of moral courage, Thompson, like John, suffered repercussion; he was hounded and reviled by the American establishment. Such is the consequence of moral courage. It begets a price. In the case of Victor John, it cost him his mother and siblings. And for being morally courageous, Thompson was vilified by the American military – the establishment attempted to conceal the massacre and courtmartial him. Moral courage encompasses the nerve to do the right thing and speak the truth always. In involves defying the mob as a solitary individual; to spurn the invigorating embrace of comradeship; to be disobedient to authority, even at the risk of your life, for a higher principle. And with moral courage come persecution and any other form of repercussion that more often than not, exposes the individual as defenseless mark to be preyed upon.

‘The Nigerian youth has been flipped upsidedown and inside-out that it has become increasingly difficult to identify by them what constitutes acceptable values and culture of civilization representative of the Nigerian spirit and psyche’ “Forgetfulness, and I would even say historical error, are essential in the creation of a nation”-Ernest Renan

WILL begin this intervention on the raging tragedy involving the Tiv And the Fulani in my home State of Benue with Renan’s theory of anthropological “forgetfulness”. Not forgetfulness in the nihilist sense of altering moral values, religion, tradition and ethnics differences, but the kind of forgetfulness that rises above conflict and the reasons there in. I am a Benue indigene, but a part of my formative years were happily spent in Keffi, the then Plateau State, and now Nassarawa State. I shared my eventful childhood with the Fulani and several other ethnic groups; a veritable meltingpot situation that we took for granted As Renan’s disquisition on the subject of forging differences into nations found, some of the greatest countries in the world today are peopled by citizens who do not share lineages. For the purpose of this opinion, I would like to say there are two kinds of forgetfulness: the one that makes nations and the other that destroys unions long forged by trade, politics and other means. The latter kind of forgetfulness is the reason for the senseless and unabated killings in Benue State at the moment. It is shocking that in less than three decades of a carnage wrought by the Maitatsine in parts of the Northeast and Kano State, a second round of Maitatsine is with us and leadership appears to be lacking to quell it. The persistence of this unprecedented crisis feeds on the acute lack of leadership, competence and decisiveness. Like the Maitatsine in the 80s, and unlike earlier land disputes between the Fulani and Tiv, these latest killings appear to be done by mercenaries from the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad and some studies suggest from Mali, sponsored by highly placed individuals in the country. This time, the situation threatens to consume not just my beloved state, but there is a frightening possibility that this would soon spread to the neighbouring South-south state of Cross River and even the South-east through Enugu, which is just a few miles from the southern part of Benue. Taraba State, another Benue neighbour, is already revving to take the cue. Already, pockets of skirmishes have been recorded between the Tiv, Fulani and Jukun in the area, with the possibility that Jukunoid ethnic groups like the Etulo and the Nyifon in Buruku and Katsina-Ala local governments would soon join the fray. The tragedy is taking no prisoners. Not even the Benue people of the Guma-Makurdi-Gwer axis who have had long association with the Fulani dating back to 1943, through Mallam Audu Afoda are spared.

Gani Fawehinmi had moral courage, so did Martin Luther King. Malcolm X had it and Wole Soyinka epitomizes it. Predictably, perpetuators of such morality are either maligned by fate or ascribed rogue status by the State. Routinely they are accused and charged for treason. But in their touted notoriety subsists the irony of an incontrovertible metaphor; they usually represent the best of mankind and civilization in their time. The contemporary youth however, personify a very sad contradiction of humanity and courage epitomized by John, Thompson, and the late Fawehinmi to mention a few. Essentially, they represent Nigeria’s sad decent into the gallows of inhumanity. Like a fugitive quirk you find no word for, the contemporary youth grows like a scar on his clan and the nation’s psyche. Much of what he symbolizes indicates decadence and rot thus the manifestation of a Nigerian youth divide incapacitated to the finer traits of citizenship and humanity. This glaring lack manifests virtually in every aspect of our life as a nation; the Nigerian society evolves as a perfect reflection of the nation’s youth. Given the quality of the nation’s youth, the country suffers the preponderance of cowards and shadows of men populating its youth divide and the future of the Nigerian State. From a tender age, the Nigerian youth is socialized to be corrupt and inhumane; the process starts very early in life, in the family unit. Many parents look upon it as a sign of great wit and astuteness to see their child cheat and oppress his peer by some malicious treachery and deceit. It gladdens their hearts to see him evolve into a ‘lovable’ brute at a tender age; they claim it’s a worthy demeanor for the very tough world out there.

Thus from adolescence through adulthood, many parents applaud dishonesty perpetrated by their wards, as long as it translates to stupendous wealth, higher status and the comfort of knowing that their children are “smart” and inured in the ways of the world. These are the true seeds and roots of cruelty; parents nurture them in their wards and the latter perpetuate them in attitude, till they start procreating and perpetuating within their lineage, grosser forms of shamefulness and bestiality. It starts from the very little things; like grooming the child to be fraudulent through adolescence. Hence the multitude of “peaceful, hardworking and God-fearing” families engaged in desperate pursuits to enroll their wards and university hopefuls in “special coaching schools” while they purchase for them, seats at “special centres,” as they write the S.S.C.E and JAMB exams. Such wards, dutifully trained to circumvent the straight, moral path to progress and self-actualization, eventually mature into foetal adults. All through their lives, they navigate the depths and shoals of challenging realities with the courage of a weevil and the wit of a hyena. Eventually, the seeds of indolence and monstrosity sown in them grow to prodigious bulk, cultivated by society and custom; and at the end, we have brutes and foetal adults running our lives and determining our future. At this juncture, many may dispute, claiming such shameful lot constitute just a minor fraction of the country’s 160 million-strong families or thereabouts. Really? If that be the case, why is it that their voices and deeds resonate and tower above the humanity of the ‘moral few’ if ever such divide exists in contemporary Nigeria?

As you read, Nigeria manifests as the tainted fantasy of a perverted mob, home and abroad. The virtues that builds character, fosters community and sustain a nation-state, from honesty, self-sacrifice to transparency, are ridiculed everyday in public sphere and every night on TV as rubes stupid enough to cling to unrealistic fantasies and bestiality are celebrated on network news, perverted sitcoms and the now ubiquitous reality TV charade. It is due to a lack of moral courage and character that the Nigerian youth tirelessly obsess about the decadent and perpetrate the obscene just to be seen as hip and flowing with the times. Hence the attractiveness of the vulgar, such as the fast-circulating homosexuality and trans-sexuality bugs, internet scam, terrorism, bribery, official fraud, wild, rampant and uninhibited sex. The Nigerian youth has been flipped upside-down and insideout that it has become increasingly difficult to identify by them what constitutes acceptable values and culture of civilization representative of the Nigerian spirit and psyche. Today we praise the woman who tries to be the toughest career girl in the office and applaud the man who tries to be the prettiest drag queen in the bar. Consequently, the country embraces depravity and perpetuates society on series of pathetic illusions thus amplifying the kind of twilight disconnect that accelerates the disappearance of dying empires. Day after day, one lurid saga after another, whether it is agitation for acceptance of homosexuality, acquittal of a corrupt public officer or glorification of an insidious civilization, Nigeria takes surefooted strides into infamy and extinction. •To be continued

Ending the Tiv/Fulani crisis By Emmanuel Jime In only three months, more than a thousand deaths have been recorded, with properties and crops worth billions of naira destroyed by the rampaging herdsmen and foreign mercenaries hired to torment, kill, torture, destroy our civilization and reduce our economy which began to pick up last year to rubbles. These sponsored marauders in cahoots with Fulani herdsmen, have gone as far as even attempting to take the life of our Governor Rt. Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam while he was on his way to one of the affected communities. The mercenaries and their internal collaborators have also taken their merchandise of blood to the Agatu, the first part of Benue State to embrace Islam and the Hausa-Fulani, long before 1928, when some part of Idoma was excised from the South-east and joined to Benue. The vestiges of our long association with the Fulani are there: for example the Yelwata area in Makurdi is named by the Fulani, same for Wadata and several others. But the politics underlying the willful forgetfulness of our political leadership would not allow sleeping dogs lie. These bandits and terror merchants working with powerful people in the country and outside it are threatening to break the legendary willpower, courage and resilience of the Tiv in particular, and the Benue people in general. They are bent on demonizing Islam and rubbishing the basis for a long association of peoples of the Benue valley and their neighbours. The economy of Benue State continues to slide, as death toll rises even with the recent intervention of the federal government. My own village in Guma Local Government has been sacked, same for the village of our paramount Chief, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula. Makurdi, the state capital has become a huge refugee camp. As a member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency since 2007, I have worked with other lawmakers to end the crisis in the state, but in the course of this patriotic and very necessary duty, I and my dutiful team, have found that there are underlying reasons for this conflict beyond the reasons of grazing routes. Some of these reasons are disunity among the Tiv and Agatu communities affected, lack of planning and the sheer vulnerability for such attacks, because of lack of adequate security measures by the state and federal governments. This now reinforces the All Progressives’ Congress(APC) call for state policing, and of course community policing, in line

with the true spirit of federalism. The government of Benue State has worked hard to contain this crisis, but it requires the continued assistance of other leaders of the state and the federal government in the interim. This tier collaboration must not be half-hearted and must be sustained. The National Assembly must also enact a law on cattle grazing and vest the powers of enforcement of the law on veterinary officers and district authorities in all parts of the country, in line with the Uganda model. The East African country is one of the earliest in the world to enact a far reaching legislation on cattle grazing. The Cattle Grazing Act of Uganda, was enacted on October 31, 1945. The law prescribes punitive measures against indiscriminate grazing of cattle on unauthorised lands. Section 2(1) of the Act states inter alia: “no person shall cause or permit any cattle belonging to him or her or under his or her control to graze on any land in respect of which there is in force an order made by a veterinary officer prohibiting grazing or in respect of which there is in force any order or rule made by a district administration prohibiting grazing”. Another subsection goes further to prescribe for the impoundment of offending cattle by a veterinary officer or district authority. In the case of Benue in particular, or Nigeria in general, it could be a second class traditional head. In the case of the United States, we have the Bureau of Land Management established in 1946 to work with the United States Forest Service to oversee Public lands grazing in 16 states of the United States and issue sanctions for offences of indiscriminate grazing. We can also take these examples and produce tough sanctions against unauthorised grazing by herdsmen and also amend our immigration laws to raise tougher sanctions against border offences amd improve on border surveillance. But I will also suggest that the Tiv leadership must, as a matter of urgency, convoke a Tiv Ethnic Conference to wager a resurgence of our positive values, create a new and more progressive value pool, discuss ways of avoiding future attacks and displacements and chart the way forward for the Tiv people, to avoid a possible (God forbid) extinction of the Tiv race before the middle of this century. • Rt. Hon. Jime represents Makurdi/Guma FederalConstituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

COMMENTS ‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so’ - Charles de Gaulle’

HERE is an interesting puzzle that many politicians currently in power across the country have found a hard row to hoe. That riddle is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu - the Jagaban of Borgu land, Asiwaju of Lagos and former governor of Lagos State. Tomorrow, the man will clock 62; yet, he is still waxing stronger within the nation’s political firmament as a dependable torchbearer of the progressives. Without sounding immodest, it would not be out-of-place to state that today, he remains the most-sought-after politician and perhaps, the most influential one of the progressive hue in contemporary Nigeria. At a point in the history of this country, the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, was the issue. Even after the great man’s death 27 years ago, most politicians in the south-western part of the country still use his name to deceive the electorate during electioneering periods. Momentarily, Bashorun MKO Abiola appeared on the political horizon, but was cut short by the feudal military oligarchy that denied him his electoral mandate before the killer tea helped him into an early grave. Since the passage of these two men, I doubt if there is any Nigerian that has taken the political emancipation of his people from the yoke of tyranny seriously as much as Tinubu has been doing. The political ignoramuses might deride him; the grovelers of centrist governments are used to impugning his character, but that is the man still standing like the rock of Gibraltar. Asiwaju has the power of political liberation; he is imbued with a rare economic skill, being a shrewd accountant with vast international experience. This man of unquantifiable goodwill has this uncanny nerve for discovering a talent which was reflected in the membership of his mostly well-endowed cabinet team which he assembled during his eight-year rein as governor of Lagos State. The man turns 62 tomorrow, but many people merely criticise him simply because they are oblivious of his steadfast commitment to finding solutions to the challenges facing the country. Tinubu thinks Nigeria, dreams Nigeria, lives Nigeria and sleeps Nigeria. From the north, east, west and south, people call him at random to seek his help or input. These men and women are not necessarily members of the political elite class. The former governor is also at home with the downtrodden whose interests form

AM proud of my brother, Governor Peter Obi. I entitle my talk on him: ‘He came, he saw, he conquered’. His governance of Anambra State was full of experiences worth-sharing and indeed worth capturing in a book (if not books). It is evident that he really conquered. It deals a lot with his approach to governance over the years. His ways compel us to appreciate his personal qualities, his quiet strength, his passion to make a difference, his dignified and dignifying carriage and conduct, and his never-say-die spirit. I also respect him for what he achieved as a governor of one of the toughest states in the country - Anambra. Alhaji Aliko Dangote said that even people in Yobe know that it is not easy to govern Anambra State. I agree with him. In fact the totality of Nigeria knows how tough Anambra State is; such that until Obi, no leader succeeded to offer them exhilarating leadership. I so envy what Peter Obi has been able to do here because he gained total control of the state after the initial storm. Many of the policies he tried here are the things we should be doing at federal level, both with our finances and policies, but, of course, we are totally hampered by the kind of structure we have. You know when Peter Obi tried to change the schools, he did not just throw money at them, he was very careful about how he spent the money. He only spent when he was sure he was going to get results and sustainable improvement. On the network of roads he constructed, I want to acknowledge the fact that few of the roads were completion of roads Senator Chris Ngige started; even though when you go there now, everybody calls them Ngige road. It does not matter to him that people would not attribute them to him, as long as the roads serve Ndi-Anambra. Elsewhere, some will abandon them and embark on their own projects. I think that he deserves a big applause. He also initiated and completed many road projects that today Anambra is regarded as having impressive network of roads. He attracted serious investors into the state. I knew when SABmiller came, he brought them to my office and they prob-

07011117777

Asiwaju: The progressive torchbearer turns 62

• Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the thrust of his concern for a better country that we all can be proud to call our own. Some, out of sheer envy of his large heart and vastly spread goodwill, will query his source of wealth. Simply because the man is doing what they cannot ever do or are not privileged to do since they are not in a position to do it, they harbour the ache in their bellies. Some see him as being immoderate. But Benjamin Distraeli had an answer for them when he said: ‘Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.’ There are empirical examples of Nigerians, irrespective of tribes and especially among the Yoruba, the man’s

cradle, that have benefited immensely from his largesse. But sadly, these same people still hypocritically relish speaking ill of him. That is one of the inherent sacrifices of greatness, being paid by Tinubu. Who is doubting Asiwaju’s progressive credentials? That person needs to embark on historical excursion. At a time that the Yoruba states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Osun and Ekiti were falling to the gangsterism of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003, it was only Asiwaju’s Lagos that stood to absorb the heat of conservatism before eventually launching, single-handedly, the worthwhile battle that liberated the former western region but Ondo, from the grips of ruling party’s rampaging agents of neo-colonialism. The giant strides that the region is witnessing today are a consequence of Asiwaju’s political sagacity. Everything is falling in place in the west that has extended to Edo State and this gives credence to Walt Whitman’s statement: ‘Produce great men, the rest follows.’ Who still doubts the fact that progressivism is indeed taking firm root in the west and beyond today in the country? Indeed, Charles de Gaulle was right by saying: ‘Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men and men are great only if they are determined to be so.’ It is this uncommon determination to be great and to fully liberate the masses from the yoke of reactionary politics that compelled Asiwaju to take with zeal, progressive politics, since the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with other opposition parties - far beyond the west and to every nook and cranny of the country. The move is generating spite, covetousness as

Peter Obi came, and conquered By Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ably felt they do not know how much money they could make here. They made an investment of about N20 billion equivalent. They are now expanding in the state, building more factories and thinking of other investments they can make. There are many other such examples with companies like Distell, GlaxoSmithkline Beecham, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, among others. What I love and admire most in what Governor Obi has done in Anambra State is the fact that he did not neglect the indigenous people who have invested here for a long time. If Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company is known by everybody today at the federal level, it is simply because Governor Obi made him a showcase. Such patronage is worthy of emulation. He has kept on soliciting federal support for him, as he himself has supported him through various ways. We have to remember such investors and support them because they invested here first. That is what Obi has done and I commend him for that. The development-oriented approach to governance which he has followed while pursuing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is again very important. I will tell you that we have special commendation of the World Bank, and other international agencies have endorsed the way Anambra State pursued its MDGs programmes. I see Peter as the true face of Igbo man, given the qualities for which he is known the humility, the hard work and the prudence. He does not spend easily. He is very intelligent and extremely hardworking. These are quintessential qualities Igbo people are known for. As the Poet, Virgil says, love conquers eve-

rything (Omnia Vincit Amor), Peter conquers people by love. He can love you to death. If he has an enemy or somebody in conflict with him, instead of approaching them belligerently, he approaches them with respect and love so that even if they do not want him, they are won over. I think we should all look at those qualities. That does not mean that when the time comes to be tough, Peter runs away. I am sure people can tell stories of occasions Peter had been very tough. I know he has even bulldozed houses of people who did not do the right things. In Nigeria, you have to combine being kind and good with also being very tough. By the sheer power of his personal examples, Peter tells us eloquently the way we should behave and the way we should govern. Though Anambra State has one of the tightest federal allocations, he has been able to save a lot of money for the state. He has shown so much in development which some other states that receive more cannot boost of. Most importantly, he is leaving Anambra State with no debt but with huge savings. Let me tell you, at federal level, he is one of the few governors that came out clearly in support of our stand to save. We don’t just spend everything. Every smart and sensible person knows that no matter your income, even if it is one naira, you must keep something aside. You never know the day you will need it for your children. So, on his own, he has saved money for the state and I am very envious. Yes, we managed to save a little at the federal level, just a little, but we can do so much more. Even the one we managed to save, we have been spending, because somebody does not believe federal government should save anything. I want to strongly commend Obi for what he has done. Now, do not be deceived by

much as cynicism from those who always see impossibility rather than possibility in laudable initiatives. The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others remain political jellies. His often-talked-about political superiority complex does not mean pride, although it might appear to be so in the eyes of the mischievous among politicians who want to see it so. Tinubu feels a higher esteem over the obstacles he desires to surmount and he is blessed with the rare courage of overcoming them, with enough energy reserved for any eventuality. Like Awolowo during his life time, Tinubu has, in contemporary Nigerian politics, become a thorn in the flesh of the centrist rulers who believe that despite their brazen ineptitude, it is a taboo to think or even contemplate wresting power away from jinxed leaders like them. This syndrome is the major headache of the current presidency. And it is what Tinubu, alongside other progressive-minded people, has firmly promised to upstage in the coming February, 2015 general elections. This writer felt the unwavering determination in Asiwaju’s voice when he called him on phone last week. Obviously, from the discourse with the great man when he picked his phone, he justifiably looks forward to celebrating his birthday next year in highly victorious mood. Then, Nigerians will have had the golden opportunity to look back and say: We are free at long last! This column wholeheartedly wishes you plenteous happy returns of tomorrow in sound health and continuing political relevance. Happy birthday to you sir. And as the Yoruba would pray: Igba Odun, Odun kan!

‘His often-talked-about political superiority complex does not mean pride, although it might appear to be so in the eyes of the mischievous among politicians who want to see it so. Tinubu feels a higher esteem over the obstacles he desires to surmount and he is blessed with the rare courage of overcoming them, with enough energy reserved for any eventuality’ Peter Obi. When you ask him who he is, he would say I am a trader. Maybe he is, but he is also one of the most enlightened governors in the country today. He has a strong intellect combined with practical grasp of real situation. The thing with Peter is that he can play both sides. It is not for nothing that the President invited him, among just the two governors that are Honorary Advisers on Finance. He is equally a member of the Economic Management Team. When Peter needs to show the intellectual side, he does, but when he needs to show the practical side, after we would have talked too much theory, he will say, ‘Wait, I talked with traders in Onitsha yesterday, and this is what they said.’ So he combines a strong intellect with very good grasps of realities on the ground. He is a good economist. Peter is a true leader and we always call on him at federal level when we need examples. I want to say something about the incoming governor. I hope you will continue to uphold the relationship at the federal level. We always advice Anambra to be part of federal programmes. The one we are working on now is the one on housing. We have launched the National Mortgage and Re-finance Corporation which by end of June, will start pumping money into primary mortgage institutions that actually lend to the people. We need to give hope to the young people in our country. So this country has to change. To put a programme like that in place we invited 14 states and Anambra was one of the first to enrol as a pilot state. The state has to meet certain criteria in terms of fastness in allocating land titles, working with us on land infrastructure so that we can get builders to come and build. This programme is going to take off by the middle of this year and we will want Anambra to be an example. All in all, by giving his End of Tenure Report, Peter Obi has shown another example in good governance. We applaud him and wish him well. • Excerpts of speech delivered extempore by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the presentation of “End Tenure Report” of the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

At the moment, there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap. - Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

How to boost national competitiveness, by NCCN chief

No going back on Aramex’s ban, says NIPOST

By Lucas Ajanaku

HE Chief Executive Of ficer of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN), Chika Mordi, has said collaboration and engagement with the relevant stakeholders in the Nigeria project are some of the strategies that will enhance competitiveness in the country and make the economy to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI). Speaking in Lagos yesterday at an event to raise awareness on competitiveness and its attendant effect on businesses operating in Nigeria, he said the ranking of the country by various organisations showed that there is still much to be done to place the country on the path of glory. He said: “Nigeria ranked 147 out of 189 on the 2014 World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report. This simply means that when measured against 189 global economies, many of whom are also African; our environment is more challenging for starting and growing businesses. “Nigeria has one of the most entrepreneurial people on earth and a large domestic market. Poor competitiveness shackles our potential. Personally, I believe sustainable growth and poverty reduction can only come about by market-led growth. We need to build a business friendly environment to combat the problem of unemployment and secure our prosperity.” According to him, a high productivity environment could only be realised when the private and public sector come together to implement an agenda for competitiveness; to bridge the gap between opportunities and supporting infrastructure, bureaucracy and policies.

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

• From left: Associate, National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN; Ms. Nihan Siriklioglu; its Chief Executive Officer(CEO); Mr. Chika Mordi and Senior Adviser, Economic; Ms. Nneka Ekwuozor at a press conference held in Lagos.

Stolen crude, deferred production hit 250,000bpd O

IL firms have contin ued to cry out over the impact of insecurity and oil theft. They say stolen oil and deferred production have reached an estimated 250,000 barrels per day (bpd). Deferred gas production runs into hundreds of millions of cubic feet per day. The Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, said non-payment of counterpart funding by the government in oil and gas joint venture operations, among others, is another challenge facing operators. He said the impact of the loss of oil production alone translates into about $9 billion revenue loss yearly, and that this has significantly reduced the funds available for distribution to the various tiers of government through the federation account. “The result of this is missed opportunities to develop essential services that positively impact the lives of Nigerians. Additionally, when one considers

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

the huge oil revenue loss and its knock-on effects, coupled with impact of gas losses and associated power shortages, the overall impact is enormous. “This state of affairs, if allowed to continue, will not only stifle growth in the oil and gas sector but will also undoubtedly thwart Nigeria’s efforts to achieve its 20:2020 vision,” he said. On funding of oil and gas joint venture operations, Onyejekwe said the perennial joint venture funding challenges, and the financing challenges faced by indigenous operators and service companies, is another important industry specific issue that needs to be addressed for sustainable development of the oil and gas sector. He said: “Due to competing national needs, it has become difficult for the government to meet its required funding for joint venture operations.

“Although the industry has typically used alternative mechanisms to address this problem, these are short term in nature, costly and time consuming to negotiate and therefore, not sustainable. These funding constraints should be addressed so that the industry can achieve its full potential.” He explained that financing is not only a problem faced by the joint ventures, but also a major challenge for indigenous operators and service companies. He noted that the limited access to finance restricts their ability to achieve the aspiration to increase indigenous participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. He said some international oil companies (IOCs) have initiated contractor financing schemes to help promote the growth of indigenous service providers and increase their ability to support the industry. While this is a commendable initiative, a more holistic strategy is ur-

gently required to energise full participation of all categories of indigenous companies, he added. Onyejekwe spoke on behalf of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), an arm of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which has about 24 oil firm-member including the IOCs and indigenous operators. He noted that all over the world, governments seeking to attract investment need to ensure that adequate security measures are in place for safe and stable operations, adding that Nigeria faces security challenges, including kidnappings, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and chronic vandalism of oil and gas facilities. The consequence of these can be seen in high cost of doing business, decline in oil production and exports and inadequate supply of gas to meet Nigeria’s power needs. He also drew government’s attention to the need for efficient and effective regulatory institutions, stable policies and implementation plan.

BRICs, MINTs strong despite emerging market wobbles T HE large, fast-growing emerging market countries dubbed the BRICs and MINTs are still likely to be the most promising investment destinations over the next decade, despite emerging market turbulence, Jim O’Neill, who coined the terms, said. Former Goldman Sachs economist O’Neill came up with the name BRIC in 2001 to group Brazil, Russia, India and China as countries whose growth will shape the world economy in the coming decades. This year, in a series on BBC radio, he championed the MINT group of countries, similarly blessed with fast economic growth and large, young populations - Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey as the next economic giants after the BRICs.

“The BRIC and the MINT countries, if I’m right, over the next decade will ... shape the world economy’s development,” O’Neill told Reuters on Tuesday on the sidelines of an Africa Finance Corporation conference in Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos. “And if that’s the case, they will be the most successful places in terms of investments too.” O’Neill’s coining of the BRIC acronym spurred a rash of funds focusing on these countries - a consequence he told Reuters he never intended - but anxiety about emerging markets has triggered a pullback over the past year. BRIC funds held 9 billion

euros ($12.41 billion) at the end of last year, from 21 billion euros at end 2010. This has been largely driven by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s tapering of its bond-buying program, which exposed how vulnerable frontier and emerging markets can be to hot money. It also has begun to dawn on investors that economic growth does not always mean higher stock market returns, which can be hindered by corporate governance problems or dodgy accounting. “Fed tapering is why the masses are exiting emerging markets but that’s because they’re all like sheep,” O’Neill said. “Greed and fear are close

cousins. People are in love with emerging markets one year, next minute they hate them.” But O’Neill said two countries that responded to tapering with sound policies - India and Indonesia - had done well. “What the whole episode of the last years shows is that emerging markets can’t rely on generous external circumstances being persistent,” he said. “You’ve got to do better.” The underperformance of BRICs over the past three years has put many investors off investing by acronyms, but O’Neill said a fairer comparison was to look at the way the BRIC index has outperformed the developed markets since 2000. Global companies had had huge successes by focusing on them.

HE Federal Govern ment has said it is not going to rescind its decision to ban Aramex International Limited, over its alleged indictment for unethical practices and maneuvering of the nation’s courier companies. Following the ban, the Jordan-based courier firm, a subsidiary of Global Distribution Alliance (GDA), has been stopped from undertaking courier business either directly or indirectly through any courier firm registered with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). The Assistant PostmasterGeneral of the Federation and Head, Courier Regulatory Department of NIPOST, Dr. Simon Emeje, who spoke in Lagos, said NIPOST would enforce the ban in accordance with the Postal Act Cap. 127 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to sanitise and ensure a level playing field in the courier industry. He said: “We are empowered by the Act to regulate the activities of courier companies, amongst other responsibilities. So, we thereby notify all courier operators in Nigeria and the public that Aramex International LLC Ltd has been banned from undertaking courier business either directly or indirectly through any courier company registered with NIPOST.” He recalled that Aramex transacts courier business outside Nigeria and had entered franchise agreement with some registered courier companies in Nigeria at different times. He said the ban however became imperative as a result of incessant reports of unethical practices including breaches of agreement, non-payment of cost of clearance and delivery of shipments, transacting courier business with other courier companies without recourse to contractual agreement despite the fact that the franchise agreement is exclusive and non-transferable, among other issues. “Aramex has been placed under surveillance and you are required to report to the Courier Regulatory Department if you notice any courier business undertaken by Aramex for our further action,” he admonished courier operators. Managing Director, ABX World and country representatives of Aramex International Limited, Captain John Okpaku, said his firm lost close to $6 million while doing business with Aramex. He said ABX World had entered into franchise with Aramex International as a member of GDA, lamenting that Aramex failed to keep to its part of the agreement thus leading to the collapse of the agreement.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

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

Sustaining a nostalgic brand Since Nigeria became an independent state, many brands have come and gone. But in the banking sector, the ability to reinvent and rebrand have made some old generation banks to become a heritage brand. ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI examines how the old banks have transformed to blend with modern market demand.

USTAINING old brands in the challenging modern market could be a task. For a country that has faced market challenges over the last 100 years, seeing some old brands that are even older than the country itself around, could be a mystery, considering the notion that the nation’s operating environment makes brand life transient. While some brands have gone into extinction, conforming to the product lifecycle principles, which argues that products transit from introductory, growth, maturity, decline to death stage, some brands have continued to sustain their brand essence, innovating along modern market realities to sustain and uphold brand equity. With competition becoming stiffer than the days of old, some of the brands have remained market leaders through constant innovation, strategic foresight and dynamic brand building efforts. These have made them to become the industry benchmark for competition. That doesn’t come easy in a market inundated with growing consumers, unstable social economy life. A brand expert, Jamie Gordo of North Start Hob, United States while citing how Levi’s attained a heritage brand status and a century of category leadership, saidLevis is one of the few (if not only) brands that have existed since the dawn of industrialisation in America. He said: “While they have been adept at reinventing themselves from a product and marketing perspective over the years to be in line with changes in consumer culture, Levi Strauss & Co. has never strayed from their core identity as influenced by the original 501 – “superior quality and fit for all.” “Levis’unparalleled accessibility means that regardless of your demographic realities, or function versus fashion inclinations, if you walk into a shop to buy a pair of jeans, you can be guaranteed to find a pair of Levis that fits your price range and preferences. What’s also notable is that, as at their 140th anniversary, they will have remained a stable corporate presence in an ever-changing consumer landscape. “You can probably count on one hand the number of global brands that can make such a claim.” Like Levi, since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, only a few brands that have existed before 1914, are still around. As UAC and Unilever have been the only surviving consumer good firms, Lintas Advertising to the advertising industry, so are UBA and FirstBank the only banks that have continued to sus-

tain their brand equities despite turbulent marketing landscape across the century. The industry, which used to parade once-upon-a-time brands, such as Nigerian Mercantile Bank Limited, Nigerian Farmers and Commercial Bank Limited, British and French Bank (which transformed to UBA), the Agbonmagbe Bank in 1945 (which later transformed to WEMA Bank) and African Continental Bank. But for FirstBank, which traces its existence to 1894 as the Bank of British West

the eyes, looking upwards. More noticeable in the refresh identity, is the absence of the hind legs of the elephant which has instead been replaced by the company name. According to the bank, the raised head of the elephant in the refreshed identity is a promise to customers that with the bank in their corner, they can face challenges with their head held high. The new deep blue, on the other hand, represents momentum, innovation and evolution. With the new logo, recreation of its iconic elephant logo, it has not been an easy one for an old brand to break the jinx of corporate culture. “There has always been a major contention surrounding the bank’s logo, which has always featured a walking African elephant. Although the use of the elephant signifies its leadership position as the first financial institution in the country, as well as its legacy of permanence, confidence and dependability, for many critics, the brand symbol of an elephant also suggest sluggishness. A

Africa, the bank has sustained its brand equity to the country’s largest bank by assets. Anchoring its success and brand sustainability on value creation, resounding dynamism and relevance, some brands have gone with the bank for relying on mere slogan rebranding which failed to sustain their market share. The Group Managing Director of SO & U, Mr. Uffot Udeme, said rebranding goes beyond logo recreation and sloganeering, but about creating value and respect. “Branding is not arrived at through sloganeering, it cannot be conjured through any wishful thinking, it must be delivered through actions and attitudes that have been shaped by values and principles that are held dear. Those values over time become a part of the culture of the people,” he said. But formerly perceived as slowpaced in service delivery, shrewd with old marketing concept that drives away modern customers, FirstBank after various strategic acquisition of some banks to get ready for global market frontiers, this year is marking 120 years of brand sustainability and used the occasion when the country is celebrating centenary to refresh its corporate identity, 10 years after the previous attempt. The brand, synonymous with blue and iconic elephant, kept the elephant, but with a few changes. The elephant’s head has been lifted, the tusk is larger, the forehead wider, the ear’s less pointy, the trunk longer and

brand’s logo is its birthmark and is a way to be recognised subliminally. They advise that consistency should be adopted, which perhaps explains why FirstBank is being tactical not to do away with the elephant element in its logo. The bank understands the need to retain the elephant, which has always been, from time immemorial, a vital object in its positioning and imagery,” brands analyst critique. The FBN Holdings Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the refreshed identity embodies the group’s internal values and the direction the group was headed for. She added that the group is on a mission to build a strong global presence to reinforce their leadership position while constantly striving to find better ways to service customers and drive growth. “In 120 years, FirstBank has built a heritage on courage, foresight, innovation and dynamism. As far back as 1912, we showed business leadership through our acquisition of the Anglo African Bank, the first of its kind in the region and a testament to our resolution for longevity,” the bank said. The bank takes pride that as a heritage brand, it has produced formidable minds. “We have produced formidable minds, that have gone on to become other bank MDs, MDs of government organisations, commissioners, ministers as well as prime ministers; our story of success can only be told through the successes of our people,” the bank added.

APCON, NBC to rejig trado-medical marketing communications

HE Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are to restructure trado-medical marketing communications to sanitise their advert space from unwholesome messages in their campaigns. APCON made this known during a stakeholders’ forum with trado-medical practitioners. Its Chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, said the council had been making efforts to address violations of adverts code by trado-medical practitioners. With realisation by the government that the two regulating agencies need to do their job well, Akinwunmi said the bodies should be involved in the tradomedics since it launched the new APCON code. “The government does not want to stop or completely control the prac-

titioners in terms of advertising, but it is part of the government’s responsibility that the communication being dished out is true, honest and credible,” he affirmed. Akinwunmi urged the practitioners to partner with APCON. “We are going to organise seminars so that people who are spoilers of the credibility of the genuine practitioners are not allowed to operate. So we need your support,” he said. The Minister of Health, represented by the Director of Traditional Medicine in the ministry, Mr. Moshood Lawal, maintained that new move is in the interest of all, especially the practitioners. Also, the Minister of Information, represented by the DirectorGeneral, NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, said there are guidelines for broadcast of trado-medical programmes and maintained that nobody could stop the practitioners from advertising.

Project Smile, Oral-Bon WOHD partner

RAL-B, an oral-healthcare brand from the stables of Procter & Gamble, may be a major sponsor of its initiative tagged Project Smile. Speaking during the media launch of Project Smile on World Oral Health Day, the initiator of Project Smile, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumbusho, said this year’s edition, which seeks to impact the lives of those individuals unlucky to be affected by dental flaws that has had them stigmatised all their lives, is being redesigned to allow more contestants to stand the chance of being beneficiaries of the free smile make over pro-

gramme worth millions of naira. Dr. Traore-Shumbusho explained that the decision to partner with Oral-B as major sponsor and Medplus was a strategic move to synergise efforts in giving smiles to more Nigerians who have flawed dentition, but cannot afford the treatment programme. She stressed that Oral-B’s tagline ‘All-Round Protection’ has good intent. Also, the Medplus brand known as a one-stop shop of pharmaceutical and beauty products is in alignment with its philosophy of “Look Good, Feel Great”.

Airtel showcases customers’ elite club

IRTEL Nigeria has launched the Airtel Premier Club, a special VIP programme designed to offer exceptional and personalised services. The event attracted several important dignitaries, including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina; Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri A. R. Ghanshyam; former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Funsho Amosun, foremost British Economist, Jim O’neill and Arsenal legend, Ray Parlour. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, described the club as a platform for offering exceptional and personalised service to High Networth Customers and VIPs. According to Ogunsanya, customers who enrol in the Airtel Premier platform will enjoy sev-

eral benefits, including dedicated helpline, exclusive emails and website, dedicated Relationship Manager, enrolment into Airtel Rewards Programme, exclusive access to designated service points at Airtel showrooms and access to over 600 premium lounges across the world, among other benefits. The event, however, hit a high point when the Airtel Premier logo was unveiled. Ghanshyam commended Airtel for turning threats into opportunities and for leveraging on innovative mobile telecoms solutions to empower the local communities it served. He cited how the mobile phone revolution transformed the lives of poor farmers in India, making them complete entrepreneurs. On his part, O’neill urged the government to pay attention to education, saying it is only a skilled population that can bring about the level of productivity that will improve an economy.

Coca-Cola unveils World Cup campaign

OCA-COLA Nigeria has unveiled its marketing communication plans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil. The company unveils local adaptation of its global TVC using local artiste, Waje, MI to connect with the local consumers in the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2014. The firm also plans to fly lucky winners of its promotion to the competition. The Marketing Manager, Colas for Coca-Cola Nigeria, Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, described Coca-Cola as the ideal brand to connect con-

sumers with the best global soccer entertainment. “This campaign is our way of inviting the consumers to participate and celebrate with fans worldwide as they experience the Brazil World Cup.” The World Cup theme song, “The World is Ours” was performed by a Brazilian born artiste David Correy, Brazilian Percussion group Monobloco for football lovers to celebrate and bringing the World Cup to the world. There is a Nigerian version of the song that featured MI & Waje.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

BUSINESS

‘How to meet 10,000Mw power target’

•From left: General Counsel, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Joseph Ujomu; Director-General Mr. Benjamin Dikki; Chairman, SEPCO-Pacific Dr. Adetunji Adeleke; Director, SEPCO-Specific Energy Company Ltd, Li Xianlai, and Chief Executive Officer, Olorunsogo Power Plc, Phillip Ugwu, at the firm plant in Olorunsogo, Ogun State.

Local content: Erring firms will face sanction, says Board T HE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will sanction any firm that flouts the local content regulations, its Executive Secretary, Ernest Nwapa has warned. Nwapa said in Abuja, that those who fail to comply with the Nigerian Content Act would not go scot free. He said work stoppage would be applied to ensure compliance with the Act, noting that the Board had dialogued, corrected and cautioned non-compliance in the past. He said the NCDMB had given operators adequate opportunity to comply, and that it would ensure the the law was complied with. Nwapa said the operators were given enough time to adjust to meet NCDMB’s goals. He said the Board focuses on consolidating its Capacity Development Intervention (CDI) initiatives, and creating awareness on the Nigerian Content.

By Akinola Ajibade

He lamented the slow pace of development of the manufacturing capacity of indigenous players, stating that if the manufacturing capacity of the firms is not developed, all the achievements recorded under Local Content would fizzle out. According to Nwapa, the performance level of indigenous operators, in engineering is 90 per cent, fabrication – 60 per cent, while manufacturing is 10 per cent. “If the manufacturing capacity of the indigenous players is not raised, we will not get the much needed growth of Nigerian content,” he said. He said $5 billion (N800 billion) had been invested in the development of new yards and upgrade of existing ones since the introduction of the Nigerian Content initiative, adding that the solution to growing indigenous capacity through local content lied in taking and keep-

ing value. According to him, Nigeria should focus on developing indigenous capacity instead of looking for assistance, adding that the country has lost a lot of money, as a result of failure of companies to develop local capacity.

•Nwapa

By Akinola Ajibade

ducers to form a synergy to help youths. On amnesty programmes, Pepple said the government has helped in developing the skills of militants, and urged the communities and the oil firms to assist youths to prevent them from becoming security risks. He said: “Creation and sustainability of empowerment opportunities between the host communities and oil and gas operators would help in preventing pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and other untoward developments affecting the industry. In order not to go back to where we are coming from, such as incessant attacks on oil installations, the youths need to channel their energy to better and productive use.’’ Weli said opportunities should be created for the contractors in the host communities to improve their fortune and that of the oil exploration and production services’ firms.

By Akinola Ajibade

electricity needs of its people. Fatona said power firms must be discouraged from fixing the price of gas if the sector would record growth. ‘’Infrastructure is the major problem in the sector. As a way of addressing the problem, the utilities firms must be prevented from fixing the price of gas. They have no right fixing the price. The time has come for the companies to completely hand-off such responsibilities. They need to allow people to invest in gas infrastructure. When this happens, the firms would not have problems accessing gas for operation.’’ he added. Ene said 80 per cent of the power plants are gas-based, stating that they need un-impeded access to gas to survive. He said each of the turbines need certain amounts of gas to function well since they have different capacities. He said the turbines are designed to meet certain production targets, stressing that gas is critical to their success. He said there is enough installed capacity in power plants to increase electricity generation from 6,000 to 10,000 megawatts if enough gas can be supplied. He said: “What I know is that millions of standard cubit of gas would be needed by the turbines to function well. Due to the complex nature of their production, the turbines need volumes of gas to survive.” He advised the government and private operators to help in fasttracking gas projects across the country, saying that such investment would boost the power sector operation.

PENGASSAN, NUPENG to protest refineries’sale

Experts seek firms’, communities’ partnership to check pipeline vandalism O reduce youth restiveness and attacks on crude oil installations, stakeholders have advocated a synergy between the oil producing firms and their host communities on how to create employment. The stakeholders, who spoke to The Nation in Abuja, include the Head, Re-integration Department, Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Lawrence Pepple, the Acting Group General Manager National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Fidel Pepple, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Petroleum, Igo Weli and Vice President, Development, Delta Afrik Engineering Limited, Tunde Elesin. Pepple urged oil operators and the host communities to create sustainable employment opportunities for youths to check pipeline vandalism, stressing that the government alone cannot provide everything for the populace. He advised the host communities and local and foreign oil pro-

O meet the 10,000 megawatts (Mw) of electricity target by next year, the Federal Government requires about three million standard cubit feet of gas daily (mmscf/d) to fire the turbines across the country, experts have said. The Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Exploration and Production Company (NDEPC), Lai Fatona, and the President, Petroleum and Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Emeka Ene, said the only viable option to improve electricity supply is to provide the plants with the required volume of gas. Fatona said the cubit of gas needed to place the plants in utmost capacity is in millions, adding that 200,635 standard cubit feet of gas is needed per day to produce 1,000 megawatts, while 2.635million standard cubic feet of gas per day would give the country 10,000 megawatts of electricity. He said: ‘’10,031 standard cubit of gas would produce 50megawatts; 20,063 standard cubit feet of gas would provide 100 megawatts; and 200,635 standard cubic feet of gas would be needed to generate 1,000 megawatts. To generate 10,000 megawatts, the power plants would need 2.635 standard cubit of gas.’’ He said power generation companies must access gas constantly, if they want to perform optimally. He explained that infrastructure is inhibiting the growth of the power sector, arguing that inability to address the problem is affecting generation and distribution. Investment in infrastructure, he said, requires a paradigm shift to enable the government to meet the

He said Shell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with contractors to enable them to supply vessels for the company. Shell, he said, holds meetings with contractors in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to engage them more in productive activities. “We established a fund for the host communities to enable them access money for operations. The fund has prevented the host communities from approaching the banks for credit. We went to Bonny and set up vocational centres for the youths. We have helped in getting $1billion from banks to assist contractors in the communities. Over $700million has been disbursed. Based on this, the communities and the oil firms are working to build the future of one another.’’ Elesin said mutual trust between the oil companies and the host communities would help in growing the industry. He urged the two groups to work together to create opportunities in the area of youth empowerment. The communities, he said, could come up with skills acquisition programmes, and further solicit supports from the government.

NY attempt by the Federal Government to revisit the privatisation of refineries in the future would be resisted by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), PENGASSAN’s spokesman, Oluwaseyi Gambo has said. He told The Nation that the two unions were not unaware of the undercover moves by the government to re-open the issue of selling Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt 1&2 refineries in the future, and we were ready to resist such ideas. He said the two unions have agreed to engage the government in ideological battle, in case it revisits the issue in the near future, adding that the bodies would organise a roundtable discussion, as well as set conditions for the government on the issue. He called for the evaluation of the assets of the refineries by an independent organisation and listing of the refineries’ assets on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), making Nigerians eligible to buy shares in the refineries. These are the conditions the two bodies are planning to set before the government, in the event that such idea comes up again, he said. Others are ensuring that the government, the core investors and the two unions supervise the pre and post

By Akinola Ajibade

privatisation process, as well as guaranteeing the jobs of workers of the two unions. ‘’ The two unions: NUPENG and PENGASSAN that are operating in these refineries on behalf of Nigerians must be on the committee that would decide on the privatisation model to be used, should the issue come up in the future. We would ensure that Nigerians have greater participation in the operation of these national assets by way of public quotation on the Stock Exchange. ‘’ We would jointly evaluate the worth of the assets so that Nigerians would not be short-changed as there are valid reasons that the refineries would be sold in the future to government’ cronies. We would like to know the nature of the core investors, their capacity to turn around the refineries in case the idea is re-appears on the radar of the government.’’ He said the sale of Eleme Petrochemical Limited was shrouded in secrecy, adding that the two unions do not want that to happen to the refineries in the event that the government offers them for sale in the future. Security of workers, he said, must be ensured to encourage economic growth. ‘’We have to agree on the welfare of our members who have been on the front-line risking their lives in the hydro-carbon environment for years,’’ he added.

‘The two unions: NUPENG and PENGASSAN that are operating in these refineries on behalf of Nigerians must be on the committee that would decide on the privatisation model to be used’

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS SHOPPING

E-mail: toniaitose@gmail.com

sms only: 07035302326 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Rising crop of small retailers There are fears that the informal retail sector may go into extinction as a result of the emergence of big players. Analysts have, however, insisted that rather than be driven out of relevance, small retailers have continued to innovate to increase their market share of the retail shopping business, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

HEY are called small retailers. They appreciate that profit can be made if consumers are satisfied; hence they are stepping up their game to ensure the satisfaction of customers. Of course, they understand that the major goal of production and distribution is to enhance consumption. They are evolving strategies to be on top of their game, working to retain their market share through the offer of lower prices that are far lower than those offered by big shop owners that have invested much to achieve international standard. One of such rising small retail shop is the Home Store at Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos. It sells gift items. By all standards, it is a small retailing outfit. Its owner, Mrs Aina Shobowale, said she relied on her ability to gather intelligence information about what customers want and then order such products immediately. The ability of small stores to react quickly and directly to customers is one of the most effective weapons they have, Sander Norman, Centre Manager, Ikeja City Mall, said. He said: “They can easily determine what is selling and then place orders without wading through a cumbersome bureaucracy. They don’t have to go to the corporate office, wait for their request to be analysed and then shipped to them. They are finding a variety of creative ways to play up the benefits of their size.” Norman said these retailers are also using marketing tactics like the usual extra emphasis on customer service and sales promotions. But their most important step may be that they are trying to make the most of their inherent advantages over larger competitors. A beauty consultant, Miss Grace Chinemerem- Israel, said almost daily, she spends a lot of time calling wholesalers directly when popular items get exhausted in my shop. Now, she has to go the extra mile, paying extra to get her parcels delivered. Similarly, Proprietor, Cake Treat, a cake shop at Omole in Lagos, Mrs Deborah Faleyimu, said she had also been watching sales more attentively than in the past. “After the weekend, we will figure out some items we do not have on Sunday night, and then make them available the next morning. We do this to ensure that our customers don’t come and discover they can get what they need,” she said. Also, small store owners say they often hear directly from their customers about new products and then see how the items sell. A year ago, Mrs Modupe Shopeju of Delightsome Gifts Concept, said customers began telling her how much they

• Reporter Chris Green goes grocery shopping at the Clifton Speedy Shop.

A village shop without shopkeeper: can it keep the customers satisfied? N a sunny spring morning in the quiet village of Clifton in Derbyshire, steady streams of people are making their way towards the cock inn. They are not early-rising drinkers; the pub is not yet open. Instead ,they head around to the car park at the back. Here sits the United Kingdom’s (UK) first “automated shop” – a bus shelter-sized giant vending machine selling everything from fresh milk and eggs to umbrellas and cat food. Designed to look like a quaint village shop, yet with the advantage of more reliable opening hours, it is intended to lead a quiet, mechanised revolution in rural areas across Britain, filling the gap left by the widespread closure of traditional stores. The Clifton SpeedyShop, as it is formally known has been gratefully welcomed by residents, who haven’t had a village shop for more than a decade. “They pretty much emptied it on Monday evening. It was great,” says Lorraine Garside, the landlady of the Cock, who admits that she has already fed her hungry customers using a loaf of bread bought from the machine. “We haven’t had a village shop for about 13, 14 years and there are no bus services through the village anymore, so if you want a pint of

milk you have to walk into town if you don’t drive. It’s very reasonably priced- i think it’s marvellous.” The machine is the brain child of peter fox, a 50-year old electrical engineer who used to live in a small village and became frustrated at coming home late from work to find nothing in the fridge. Having spent more than two years designing the prototype, he now hopes that similar machines can be rolled out nationally, but says he doesn’t have the resources to expand as quickly as he would like and is now actively seeking a business partner.”i own all the intellectual property, but i don’t have a factory with 500 people and i cant manufacture hundreds of these a week,” he says. “ i certainly intend to roll it out myself anyway, and i’ve already got other machines in my factory which are almost complete... But obviously i can’t instantly start making hundreds of machines and sending them all over the UK. To do that I’ve either got to grow organically, which will take time, or find somebody who wants to jump in with me” Accepting cash or credit cards, the machine emails Mr Fox whenever it despenses an item , so he can keep a trak of stock levels. Although he is reluctant to reveal just how good business has been so far, on the grounds that it is “ early dayz”, he says there has been a teady stream”

of villagers buying everything from washing powder to toothpaste and bags of sugar. Last weekend, The independent contributed to the machine’s coffers by buying that key houshold staple, a can of eight hot dogs (89 pounds). Other items on offer included six eggs (1.75 pounds), bacon (2.69 pounds), a pair of sticky toffee puddings (1.99 pounds) and a book of first class stamps (3.60 pounds). Although the machine is attracting more publicity than Clifton has received in years, most customers’ yesrterday seems happier to browse rather than buy. Barbara Goodwin, out for a walk with her husband and their two dogs, was among the window shoppers. “I’m not quite sure,” she says. “There is a general store a couple of miles away. But having said that, late at night, you dont have to go far, and it’s very convenient.” The machine carries another benefit for Mrs Garside: relieving the pressure on her pub to act as an informal grocer for naive tourists who rent self-catered cottages, only to be left baffled at the village’s lack of Tesco Express. “You do get some southerners ... who come up and think that every quaint village has a shop, and of course it doesnt anymore, “she says. “So, now, we have.” • Source: The Independent Saturday

liked an egg shape flower vase called the Arewa vase. So she started stocking it. A week later, she sold all out. She re-ordered, and it sold out again in a week. Now, she keeps a steady supply of the vase “You’ve got to pay attention to the feedback,” she said. Small retailers also have an advantage over bigger competitors

in other areas, particularly customer services, said Mrs Folashade Akinremi, a home management consultant. “Stores are upping the ante with more personalised customer service, particularly if they’ve depended on that for sales in the past.” The General Manager of Green Mount Global Limited, Mr Kenneth Okeiyi, said he makes

sure his workers have a list of recommendations they can offer to panicky shoppers. He also offers free gift wrapping services to them. Taking advantage of those more personalised relationships, some retailers are also doing more direct marketing, especially through e-mail messages and short message services

(SMS). Proprietor, Corner Cafe, Ms. Joan Philips, employs this personalised services to her clients. According to her, she mails special promotions to all the people on her email list. “I probably wouldn’t be doing so much direct e-mail marketing if I were expecting a different shopping climate,” she said. At Delightsome Books & Coffee Shop, Ilupeju, a gifts exhibition was held for employees and clients to promote sales. According to the owner of the retail outlet, Mrs Juliet Morgan, the promotion could add about five per cent to the revenue of the business. Another crucial area for retailers of any size is smart use of the Internet. Consumers are expected to do 30 per cent of their shopping via the Internet, according to the National Retail Federation. Executive Buyologist of Buyology.com,Yeye Arogundade, said a web site has become a sine qua non in the retail business. She said: “If you don’t have a web site in this business, you’re at a competitive disadvantage.” According to her, in some cases, shoppers make their purchases in the store, but using the Web for comparison shopping, checking out prices and ensuring that products are in stock before making the trip. Small retailers are also borrowing a leaf from the big stores through increasing their advert spend. Though they cannot match that of the big stores, they try improve. Many of them now cater to more affluent customers; and stores that sell to that market will most likely do better. There is need to stress the fact that “small shops” and “big shops” are rather indistinct and that the classification of a unit of business as big or small is different in different places and has changed significantly with the passing of time. A survey of the small and big shops revealed that prices vary according to commodities; some items are sold cheaper in the smaller stores than the big shops and vice versa. A shopper, Mrs Chinaka Azuka confirmed that over time, she had discovered that some items cost less in small and traditional open markets than the big modern shops. For instance, she buys serviette tissue paper for between N50 and N100 from a small shop in her neighbourhood; the same item goes for N350 in a place such as Mega Plaza in Victoria Island. “It’s not everything that I buy from the big shops. You’ll find out that the smaller shops and open market still sell cheaper than the big shops we have today,” Mrs Azuka added. For Mary Ukah, she cannot buy items like children’s toys in the big shops, which she alleged are imported and sold at very exhorbitant prices.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

•Eruotor

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

PAGE 29

FILMMAKER

B AYELSA POLICE BA

JUSTICE AT LAST

A Canada-based film producer, Henry Eruotor, speaks on his determination to, through his films, change misconceptions about the Niger Delta and Nigeria in the international community.

BAYELSA STATE Commissioner of Police Hilary Opara and other stakeholders are worried about kidnapping and other crimes. Opara believes if every community can effectively police itself, peace will reign evrywhere.

A Rivers State High Court has sentenced three policemen who killed innocent bus passengers to death and life imprisonment. But, all eyes are still on the police to release other accomplices to face the music for their deadly actions.

•PAGE 34

•Opara

•PAGE 35

•The late Kamalu

•PAGE 31

•FEDERAL GOVT COLLEGE OLD STUDENTS INAUGURATE N92.7M PROJECTS IN WARRI P30

Oil cash fuels dispute between Bayelsa, Delta communities

•A house near Okia

A boundary dispute between two communities in Delta and Bayelsa states may snowball into a bloody war. SOUTHSOUTH REGIONAL EDITOR SHOLA O'NEIL, who visited the area, reports that at the root of the crisis is a N305m court victory by one of the feuding parties against an oil giant SEE STORY PAGE 30 • YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Oil cash fuels dispute between Bayelsa, Delta T

HERE is no visible attraction on Okia’s landscape to indicate why two communities are locked in a fierce tussle over its ownership. The tussle is between the people of Agge community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and Okia, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Okia is disappointing. Apart from a lone weed-overtaken multimillion naira civic centre, which sits forlorn in the middle of the bush, there is no suggestion of any other asset in the town. The emptiness is accentuated by the imposing multimillion naira, Civic Centre, built by SPDC, operator of the NNPC/SHELL/TEPN/ Agip Joint Venture. An abandoned (or failed) project – a solar power water scheme lies besides the centre. The civic centre is as divisive as the community. One of several residents of neighbouring hamlets who spoke with our reporter said they could not comprehend why the company “would commit dozens of millions to build and furnish a massive structure in the middle of nowhere.” Okia may just be another hamlet in the creek; yet for over a decade there have been lingering scrimmages between Agge community (a clan of four brothers) over the ownership of this strip of land on the tip of the Ramos River. The sound of the war drum increased towards crescendo recently when the Okia (the Gbeneyeis) won a N305 million suit against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The case was instituted in 2001 after one of several crude oil spillages from the company’s facility. Pius, one of the Gbeneyei brothers, alerted security and governments’ agencies to a ‘brewing boundary clash’ between Okia and Agge in Delta and Bayelsa states. He accused the people of Agge of using resources from Delta land to service another state – Bayelsa. The move was seen as a ploy to drag the two state governments into the brewing crisis. The comical and effervescent Pius told Niger Delta Report that Okia had borne the brunt of several aggression by their counterparts, explaining that the activities of the Agge people kept his town undeveloped. He said Okia was a thriving community until it was razed by the people of Agge nearly a decade ago: “They attacked

•The interior of the Okia Civic Centre

•The frontage of the Okia Civic Centre

us, killed our people, wounded some and laid the community to ruin.” His claims, like several others over the community, could not be independently verified by our reporter, who found neither stumps of the former houses nor graves of those killed in the empty town. Our independent investigation though indicated that until a few decades ago it was just a fishing camp. But it became strategic when the Trans Ramos Trunk Line was built by Shell to convey crude from oil wells in the area to the Forcados Terminal for export. Okia is the point where the pipeline crosses from one state to the other. Oil Royalty the root of the crisis – Pius Gbeneye With its strategic position, the community became attractive to the oil firm and locals. Confirming this, Pius Gbeneyei told our reporter that Okia “is a very small community, but it is also very rich”. First sign of trouble emerged when Shell awarded the Integrated Production Surveillance Service (IPSS) to an indigene of Agge community, much to the chagrin of Gbeneyei and other claimants to the Okia title. The

Gbeneyei brothers kicked and sued the SPDC to court. But HRH David Isiayei, the traditional head of Agge and its Federated Communities, told our reporter that it was the right of Agge to get any contract from Okia. The traditional ruler, who spoke extensively on the tussle, recalled that the land was acquired from his community by Shell even before most of the claimants were born. He explained that Okia was merely separated from his community by the necessity of using the Ramos River as a boundary between the two states, adding that Okia is used by fisherman for seasonal fishing expeditions. “When the time for a particularly fishing in the area comes up, people leave Agge and other communities in Bayelsa and Delta to settle there for weeks. They fish, dry their catches and sell or take them to Agge, which has been a fishing depot for centuries. “When Julius Berger was building the Trans Ramos pipeline, people came from all over the country to look for job here. That was how the Gbeneyeis came here. They settled

and worked, but because they lived in Okia, at a point they started parading themselves as owners of the land. So we went to court and got a judgement, which ordered them to leave the land. “You see, we are all Ijaws and we do not discriminate, but problem usually arises when some people want to take our hospitality for granted. Okia is part of Agge in Kou Kingdom, nobody can dispute that. That it falls on the other side of the river that has been marked Delta doesn’t change that,” he added. While saying that there is no contest over the land, the aged monarch also revealed that Agge had recorded series of legal victories that conferred the ownership of Okia on his community. Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of Agge and its Federated Communities, Mr Stephen Fiyapade, accused oil multinationals of using divide-and-rule tactics to create trouble in oil communities. He said the latest crisis was instigated by some Shell staff who used “some persons” to make money for themselves by making Okia a host community.” Fiyapade particularly noted that

the civic centre built in the bush was part of the concept adopted by the oil workers. “Which sane person would conceive a project like that in the bush? How many people are living around there for the company to build a town hall that can sit up to 1,000 person? Doesn’t that tell you anything?” The mutual suspicion between the two communities is the major reason the Civil Centre had not been used for nearly three years since it was built. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, hinted that the project may have been a conduit pipe by some persons to make easy money. “It is part of the deliberate programme of some oil companies’ staff to create ‘communities’ that they can use to hijack money meant for Corporate Social Responsibility. Tell me, if Shell’s headquarters in The Hague comes here would they be happy that their fund was put into a project that would benefit no one?” the source asked. The source explained that the “Civic Centre might just be a contract awarded to empower some contractors and to benefit some powerful in-

FGC Old students inaugurate N92.7m projects in Warri

HE Old Students Association of Federal Government College (FEGOCOWOSA), Warri has inaugurated four projects worth N92.7million executed by it in the school. The ceremony, which was part of the events to mark the Annual General Meeting of the Old Students Association, was attended by old students from across the world. Outgoing National President of the association, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the National President of the association, who presided over the ceremony, said the projects were executed to give back to the school which had given them so much. “My vision was to do everything we could to make Federal Government College, Warri, remain great, to inspire the next generation of the school’s Students to be the best they can be and to motivate them to aspire for greatness,” he said. The former Accountant Gen-

eral of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance, described education as “the most potent weapon against poverty”, adding that “if the youths have good education, they will be better placed to overcome the challenges ahead”. The four projects commissioned include a new state-ofthe-art Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre, a 500KVA electricity generator, an expanded Infirmary (sick bay) and a renovated dining hall. Ambode thanked Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, the former Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and an old student of the college and other members of FEGCOWOSA for their cooperation and dedication towards the realisation of the projects and successful completion of his tenure. He assured that he will continue to support the incoming executive committee and the

• Ambode inaugurating the renovated Dining Hall… With him are from left: A student, Dauda Ilya(National Ex-Officio), Peter Ilya(National Financial Secretary), Paul Edemu (National Secretary) and Mr. Abiodun Fabiyi (School Principal).

association in general to greater heights. The AGM was preceded by a procession held within the school premises in honour of the 59 students recently killed by suspected terrorists at the Federal Government College in Yobe State. The procession was concluded with a symbolic ringing of the school bell in the

college assembly ground 59 times. Ambode during the solemn procession called on the Federal Government to protect students and youths, who are the future of the country by putting an end to their mindless killing in parts of the country by insurgents. The AGM was climaxed by a public lecture delivered by the

Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof Patrick Muoboghare. In his paper entitled, “Watering the Labour of Our Heroes Past”, Muoboghare, who is also an old student of the College as the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, noted that Nigeria could only move forward as a

nation if the people become more conscious of their history and were inspired by the sterling achievements of men and women who made sacrifices to keep Nigeria together after the amalgamation of 1914. Muoboghare stressed the importance of education in the development of the individual person, the family, community and the nation, stating that the contribution of Ambode to education must be acknowledged. He commended the leadership style of Ambode, which he noted not only led to the revival and expansion of FEGCOWOSA nation-wide, but the remarkable achievement that saw the completion of four major projects in the college within the three years he was the national president. He urged the new executive committee members to build on the achievements of the Ambode-led committee in the interest of education and national development.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

a communities

Justice for killer policemen's victims Though three of the policemen indicted in the killing of two bus passengers in Port Harcourt have been sentenced to death, all eyes are on the police to release the other accomplice to face the law, writes PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA

terest within the JV operators. Don’t be surprised that this same Okia may have been awarded other ’projects’ in the past. This kind of corporate social responsibility is irresponsible, to say the least.” Furthermore, our finding revealed that in line with the Shell GMoU with communities, such projects as the civic centre are not conceived by Shell, but the community. A high ranking Shell official told our reporter, “You can blame Shell or any other oil firm for this kind of project because the people of the community usually determine what they want and the company merely provides fund to execute them. That is how the GMoU model of community development operates.” Meanwhile, Pius Gbeneyei debunked reports of court victory conferring the ownership of the community on Agge. Touting his own legal victories, he explained that Agge only won against Okibou, a boundary community in Delta State. “Agge has never won any court case against us.” He traced the latest “aggression” of Agge people to the landmark Federal High Court judgment, which

awarded him and four others N305,637,381.60 as special and general damages caused by Shell crude oil spill. Gbeneyei said prior to the ruling Agge, had sort to “gain through the backdoor” by asking to be joined in the case, adding, “They were denied and ordered to pay me N40,000. But they ran away and up till today we did not seen them. “The Agge people do not have any oil well; they are looking for an opportunity to benefit at all cost that is why they want to annexe our land in order to continue to deal with oil companies as host communities. We are not going allow that,” he added. “They have continued to go to oil companies in the area to collect money as host. With all these, I do not know why they are still troubling us. We are preparing to return to our community and they cannot stop us,” Pius Gbeneyei added. But, the Agge traditional head said the ‘court victory’ being bandied by the Gbeneyeis was merely a criminal case when some persons were arrested by Agge indigene for erecting an illegal signpost on Okia land and not on the ownership of the land.

Group commends NDDC, Turner on youth empowerment

NIGER Delta group, Women Initiatives for Values Empowerment (WIVES), has commended the Managing Director and board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for their efforts towards sustainable peace in the region. The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Tonbra Kasikoro, the group said the recent Niger Delta Conference on Ethics, Values and Re-orientation organised by the commission was the right steps towards the peace and youth development in the region. Kasiboro made the remark during the programme organised by the Special Assistant to the MD on Youths, Sports, Culture, Conflict Resolution and Women Affairs, Mr. George Turner. She said: “I want to commend Barrister Turner on the success of the conference as well as the youths for their patience and willingness to engage in meaningful deliberation geared towards bettering the lives of the people toward sustainable development. “While WIVES understands and appreciates that although development

is a process, we also know that it can add beauty and values to the existence of humanity when properly managed. “It is a process that when given the necessary cooperation it yields the needed changes we all craved for security wise, but there is need for more engagement of our youth.” Meanwhile, the WIVES Coordinator has urged youths of the region to remain focussed and committed to the development of the region. “We must shun divisive tendencies, criminality and all acts capable of portraying the region in bad light. It is in our interest for the Niger Delta region to move on at the pace that will ensure peace and development. “That is why WIVES is appreciative the effort of the SA to MD for his efforts in this regards. The conference was apt and timely in this critical time in our lives. There is need for reorientation and value change,” she added. She charged the NDDC management to always find ways to engage the youth for purposeful development in the region in line with the President Goodluck Jonathan’s vision for the people.

LEMENT Indyel is waiting for the hangman. His fellow police operatives, Sergeants Ali Bello and PC Auwalu Kwale, are also getting used to the prisons where they are to spend the rest of their lives. For the three policemen, the journey to hell began on January 17, 2010 when they killed passengers of a bus when its driver refused to part with a N100 bribe. They were sentenced by Justice Biobele Georgewill, who until some weeks back was of the Rivers State High Court. He has since been promoted to the Appeal Court. The families of Ugochukwu Harcourt and Chinyeaka Kamalu, who were shot to death by the convicted police officers, said the victims were inside the bus heading to their various destinations before the policemen killed them. "When they got to Agip Junction, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, the driver was confronted by police officers who demanded for the usual bribe of N100. The inability of the bus driver to say no to such illegal transaction made the officers to pursue him until they got to the point where they shot at the bus leading to the death of two passengers with many that got injured," said the Kamalu family. On the day of the judgment, Justice Georgewill's court was filled to its capacity. While reading the 51page judgment, Georgewill said the only way the souls of the victims could rest in peace was for justice to be done. He thus declared: "Ali Bello and Auwalu Kwale are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment." He entered his inner chamber and changed his Law gown to red and black, which signified death. He came back and said: "Clement Indyel is hereby sentenced to death by hanging." When the presiding Judge pronounced the death sentence on Indyel, the crowd at the court showed little sympathy for Indyel and his partners in crime. The judge, who presided over the three-year long case, said the victims were sent to early grave by the armed police officers who were supposed to protect them. The judge said the evidence given by ASP Emmanson Udoh, who works at the Forensic Science Laboratory FCID, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos as a Ballistician with the Nigeria Police, confirmed the policemen's guilt. The ballistician stated that on 21/1/2010 seven guns were brought to him from State CID, Port Harcourt for examinations and he carried out the examinations and issued a report on them, including four AK 47, one FNC Riffle, one K2 Riffle and one Beretta Pistol, three expended Shells of ammunition and one distorted bullet. He said as a ballistician he fired test shots with the suspected firearms and only the empty ammunition of the AK 47 Riffle that was brought to him while the rest did not have empty shells. The judge said the evidence given by ballistician however showed that the death of the passengers resulted from the act of shooting at the bus. Justice Georgewill, while delivering the judgment, said: "The souls of these young boy and a girl, the hopes of their respective families and the future of this great na-

•Mrs. Christiana Alikor, one of the passengers who sustained bullet wounds.

•The late Kamalu

‘

It is uncalled for to have officers using the guns bought with tax payers' money to send the people they are supposed to protect to early grave. So, we are ready and willing to partner with state through the ministry of justice to ensure that extrajudicial killing will be minimised in our society

‘

tion, cut in their prime of life lies in the grave crying for justice from all those including the 1st ,2nd and 3rd Accused persons and the confederates of the 2nd Accused person in the Hilux Van on 17/1/2010 by whose hands they met their untimely gruesome death. The law is not a respecter of any persons. All those police officers and men in the Hilux Van should be re-arrested immediately and charged and tried fortwith for the murder of the deceased persons, for which the 2nd Accused has been convicted of manslaughter." Two days after the judgment was delivered, the counsel to the deceased Chidi Ekeh, who appeared for state, wrote a letter on behalf of the Attorney General of Rivers State directing Rivers State Commissioner of Police to produce the remaining officers who were suspects in the matter to face trial. Mr. Prince Obiajunwo Dike, the President of Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum (NIDAF) who was in the court room when the judgment was delivered, said: "In a case of this nature, I was expecting that more journalists would have been here to create awareness on the judgment so that people, especially Nigerian Police can read

to learn. "I just wonder if the state didn't take up the matter, what would have been of the matter today? We are aware of the recklessness of officers of Nigeria police and as I speak to you, we are doing everything possible to ensure that we put a stop to the madness exhibited by officers of Nigeria Police. It is uncalled for to have officers using the guns bought with tax payers' money to send the people they are supposed to protect to early grave. So, we are ready and willing to partner with state through the ministry of justice to ensure that extrajudicial killing will be minimised in our society." Chigozie Orlu Orlu, a human rights activist, said: "Remember the law is not a respecter of anybody. This is not just a crime but a murder case. If one will not consider the law to take the life of others, then the law will be considered based on merit to look at his legality or illegality of taking the life of others. But the truth is that there are a lot of extra-judicial killings in our society." For Kingsley Nwagwe, a lawyer, said "inasmuch as we cannot rule out crime in our society everybody must work hard to minimise it".

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

East-West Coastal Road takes centre stage W

HEN the big wigs in the Niger Delta gathered in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for a retreat to set the agenda for the new board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) recently, the big dream of seeing a road running from Calabar, the Cross River State capital to Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos, took centre stage once again. The road is known as the EastWest Coastal Road. Members of the executive management of the NDDC were unanimous in endorsing the coastal road project. They agreed that the project was key to opening up the Niger Delta region. The NDDC top shots said it would be a catalyst for the long awaited rapid development of the oil-rich region. Things must be done differently this time to bring the required change. "Posterity will not forgive us if we just want to dance in the comfort zone so that we don't offend some people." That was how the NDDC Managing Director, Sir (Barr) Bassey Dan-Abia set the tone for the three-day retreat for members of the board and management of the commission held at the Ibom Le Meridien Hotel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat, which held from March 12 - 14, was anchored on the theme: "Re-focusing NDDC for better service delivery." It was, more or less, a house cleaning exercise for the interventionist agency. In the words of the Chairman of the NDDC board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw: "I believe that it is now time to tell ourselves some home truths. It can no longer be business as usual. Substantial and immediate changes for the better must take place." Indeed, it was three days of soulsearching and frank talks. All the skeletons lurking behind closets were exposed and the eerie cobwebs in the inner recesses were laid bare. At the end of the day, the board and management of the NDDC, agreed to evolve robust and innovative strategies in the drive to deliver on the mandate of the commission. One of the keynote speakers delved into core issue of a regional infrastructure that was bound to

By Kazeem Ibrahym transform the Niger Delta. It was the lot of Mayne David-West, a design engineer, to give a presentation on the proposed East-West Coastal Highway. He said the East-West Coastal Road was pivotal to the rapid development of not just the Niger Delta but the entire nation. He said that by strategic design the road would be the Nigerian extension of the Trans-West African Coastal Highway segment linking Dakar-Banjul-Monrovia-LomeLagos. Engr. David-West, a lead consultant on the engineering design of the coastal road, said the design of the East-West Coastal Road had been completed and just waiting to be awarded. He suggested that the East-West Coastal Road should be undertaken through a multi-lateral funding arrangement. The design expert, who described himself as a "born again" Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) advocate, urged the Federal Government to seek for funding window through the PPP and concessionary loans, since the capital resources needed for the actualisation of the coastal road was huge. David-West stressed the importance of the 704-kilometre coastal road, which stretches from Odukpani Junction in Cross River State to Ibeju on Lekki-Epe expressway in Lagos State, traversing over 1,000 communities. "The unique alignment of the EastWest Coastal Road, coupled with the abundant natural resources available along its corridor, easily qualifies it as natural 'trade corridor'," he said. He noted that the economic potentials of the road were bountiful as it passes through nine states, namely Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos. He said further that the road would link up major industrial facilities such as the Tinapa free Trade Zone in Calabar, the Bonny LNG, the Brass LNG, the Koko Free Trade Zone, among others. The NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Dr. Henry Ogiri, could not agree more

•The computer-generated prototype of a bridge on the East-West Road

with the presentation of Engr. David West. He noted that the idea of the coastal road was conceived by the interventionist agency and articulated at an international conference held in Port Harcourt from December 10-12, 2001, under the aegis of the commission and the UNDP. He said: "I believe that we are going to have a new Niger Delta that will be propelled by important infrastructure. I want to see a Niger Delta where Lagosians will move on Friday evening to go and enjoy fresh fish in Port Harcourt, in Yenagoa, where investors will come from all over the world," He said that a good road network connecting the entire Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the rest of the country is viewed as the beginning of economic development and emancipation in the region. He noted that the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan identified the challenge of paucity of transportation infrastructure. It is hoped that the region will be greatly transformed with the successful actualization of the coastal road project. In a 12-point communique issued at the end of the retreat, the NDDC leadership outlined its strategy to transform the commission in order

Chevron leads campaign against HIV in Bayelsa C

HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL) is leading a campaign to reduce the spread of the pandemic, HIV/AIDS in Bayelsa State. The company has received accolades, especially for championing a campaign tagged Prevention of Motherto-Child Transmission (PMTCT) which is popularly known as PROMOT. Indeed, Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan, has a case with the virus. It has the third highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country with 9.1 per cent after Benue State (12.7 per cent) and Akwa Ibom State (10.9 per cent). The state of Governor Seriake Dickson occupies a higher step on the ladder than Rivers State (7.1) and Delta State (4.1). One health expert once said sex smells in Bayelsa. What worries stakeholders, especially health experts, is not the high libido in the state but the entrenched and pervasive ignorance entrenched in most people on sex matters.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Curiously, most people in the state still do not believe that HIV/AIDS is real. They still frown at the use of protective measures such as condom during sex. A report presented by the Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health, Bayelsa State, Dr. Wakiente Omubo, referred to the state as a priority state for HIV/AIDS control including PMTCT. It is one of the states that contribute 70 per cent of Nigeria's PMTCT burden and that have been earmarked for phase one scale-up towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. The report breaks down the percentage prevalence rate of the virus according to the eight local government areas in the state. Sagbama, the local government area of Dickson is the highest with 12.7. This is closely followed by Ekeremor, Kolokuma/ Opokuma, Nembe and Ogbia which have 9.1 each. Brass has 7.6; Yenagoa, 8.7 while Southern Ijaw has the least

with 3.5. The statistics further shows that 6,072 pregnant women are living with the virus. Yenagoa has the highest number with 1333; Sagbama, 1032; Ekeremor, 1067; Ogbia, 711; Nembe, 518; Southern Ijaw, 590; Brass, 608 and Kolokuma/Opokuma, 314. The spread of the virus in the state is caused by intense transactional and intergenerational sex and low condom use; high rates of sexual intercourse with multiple and older partners with low condom use rates and low personal risk perception. It is also reported that women in the state have poorer comprehensive knowledge of HIV, routes for motherto child transmission, utilizing a healthcare professional in pregnancy and obtaining HIV testing and counselling. Apart from that, the 2010 National HIV zero-prevalence sentinel survey estimated that 98,000 women were pregnant in the state but only a quarter of them accessed ante natal care

•Ewa-Henshaw discussing with Dan-Abia at the retreat.

to achieve better service delivery and align with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. The resolutions, jointly signed by the Chairman of the NDDC board, the Managing Director, as well as the two executive directors in the commission, stated that the agency would actively seek the cooperation of other stakeholders to achieve the vision of the commission as captured in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan. Senator Ewa-Henshaw, who flagged off the retreat, said it was very timely, coming at a critical time in the history of the NDDC. He noted that the Bureau of Public Service Reform had in 2013 "observed that the commission has a large pool of capable personnel, which is constrained by poor leadership, weak institutional systems and a culture of impunity." The NDDC chairman was in no mood to pull punches as he warned members of staff of the commission that it would no longer be business as usual. He said he was hopeful that the retreat would re-orientate the minds of members of the NDDC family and re-focus their attention to address the image problem of the commission. He charged the participants to leave Uyo with a more

positive attitude and a greater commitment to achieving the goals of the NDDC. Toeing the hard line of the chairman, the MD admitted that the commission was losing focus but quickly added that the critical question was how to get back on track. According to him, "holding this 2014 board and management retreat is our first step at getting back on track." He said the priority of the current board was to re-position the commission for better service delivery which would contribute immensely to achieving the objective "to offer a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta region." Sir Dan-Abia conceded that the quality of some of the infrastructure projects undertaken by the NDDC fell below acceptable standards and this had made the people of the region to differentiate NDDC projects from other well delivered projects. He, however, traced some of these shortcomings to inadequate funding, noting that the release of funds from contributing partners were not following the funding provisions of the NDDC Act of 2000. The issues raised by the NDDC leadership, were crystalised in the

resolutions they signed at the end of the retreat. The document noted that some external constraints hinder the commission's efforts to effectively discharge its duties. "Some of the constraints pertain to compliance with provisions of the NDDC Act of 2000, Public Procurement Act of 2007, funding and issues surrounding the ownership of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan." The resolutions further stated that there were internal challenges "which include weaknesses in the management systems and procedures; corruption, defects in the organisational structure, disconnect between staff performance and reward system; weak interface between head office and state offices; poor corporate communication culture and in-fighting within the commission." They said in-line with the recommendations of the Master Plan, NDDC would embark on medium and long-term planning beyond the annual budgeting exercise. The resolutions stated: "it is important to underline the fact that the master plan is a regional plan in which all stakeholders, including state and local governments and the NDDC are required to take ownership and play their part in the course of its

during pregnancy. The development prompted Chevron to partner with Pact, the state government and others to prevent motherto-child transmission of the virus. The partnership especially with Pact started in 2012 and recently the company expanded funding for the project in a ceremony that was held in Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa. Chevron's Chairman/Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop, says the company's partnership with Pact is part of a larger, multi-organisation, $20million United Nations Millennium Goal commitment to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. Fawthrop whose speech was read by the company's Area Manager, Mr. Joe Jakpa, said the partnership had achieved many results in the state. He said it had helped to reach more than 6,500 people with critical HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention information, test more than 7000 women during prenatal care and arrange for a HIV counselling for nearly 700 people. He said the company's additional $1.7million for PROMOT has raised its five-year investment in the project to $5.3million. "The additional funding support will facilitate the expansion of the PROMOT project to all local government areas in the state. Chevron is

proud to expand our partnership with Pact to support initiatives like PROMOT. "This is a proven model that we are motivated to expand as we work together to deliver real, measurable results towards ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV", he said. He said Chevron's $55million investment in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria has helped millions of people in Africa and Asia since 2008. He said at the Global Funds Replenishment event which was held last December in Washington DC, the company announced its commitment to an additional $5million over two years to Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. "This commitment raises Chevron's investment in the Global Fund to $60million, making the company the single largest private sector partner to the organisation. "Working with partners globally and at the local level, Chevron will continue to dedicate a great deal of resource capabilities and effort to support initiatives that build local capability and deliver real, lasting gains in the fight against the devastating diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria", he said. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Anapurere Awoli, said the expanded Chevron's social investment in the

state was a reminder that people should save lives by eliminating transmission of mother-to-child. The commissioner lamented that despite the efforts of the government, new cases of HIV infections had continued to rear their ugly heads. But he emphasised that prevention was the only to halt the spread of the virus. He said the state was in support of Chevron's efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. Describing the oil company as Nigeria's greatest trading partner, Awoli expressed optimism that the expanded programme would cover all the local government areas. But he added: "PMTCT is not an easy topic. It requires vocal and concerted leadership in all sectors. This campaign will have the greatest chance of success if political, traditional, faith, and civil society leaders all talk openly about deeply entrenched cultural norms, gender relationship and other challenging issues that make elimination difficult". During his presentation, Omubo said the war against the virus in the state was far from over. He commended Chevron for its investments but called on other corporate entities to imitate the oil company. He said the state needed about N8billion (51.5million USD) to effectively tackle the pandemic.

implementation." The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the SGF office, Mr. Linus Awute, charged the new board and management of the NDDC to change its strategy to fully align the activities of the commission to the roadmap set by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms. Anyim said Jonathan had directed that the NDDC should be "supported to develop a management structure that is fit-for-purpose, that can ensure that the board and management team of the commission work effectively and harmoniously to deliver on its mandate." He said:"The signal we are getting now is that the commission has started operating with the development templates that are built on the condition for mutual accountability. To us, such stride is commendable as it is in alignment with the principles of transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, which is also in tandem with our collective national vision as articulated in our National Strategic Development Plan to address the enormous challenges facing Nigeria in the quest for economic prosperity."

•Dickson

To underscore the importance of creating awareness especially on prevention of mother-to-child transmission, an entertaining and educating drama piece was presented to the audience by the state's cultural troupe. Chevron also rewarded persons who have been playing crucial roles in implementing PROMOT with awards. The highpoint of the programme was cutting the ceremonial cake to launch the expansion.

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE Peterside: Mbu a politician in police uniform

HE immediate past controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, is settling down to his new posting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and his successor, Tunji Ogunsakin, is proving to be his opposite. For a long time to come, the people of Rivers and politicians, especially those in the opposition will remember Mbu. Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, in an interview, said forgetting Mbu easily would be difficult given the fact that “he was a politician in police uniform”. On whether or not Mbu’s transfer to Abuja may signify the beginning of peace in Rivers State, he said: “Yes and No. Yes because I believe that the police authorities have replaced him with a more professional and competent public officer. CP Mbu who was at the center of the show of shame in Rivers State is simply a politician in police uniform. In the discharge of police responsibility, integrity and impartiality are fundamental if the people you are supposed to police must have confidence in you. Joseph Mbu did not earn and could not have enjoyed the confidence of Rivers State people. “Conversely no, because the insecurity in Rivers State is an institutional problem facilitated by the same persons whose duty it is to care about the protection of lives and properties of the people of Rivers State. The transfer of Mbu could be change of strategy due to the persistent pressure of the people and concerns raised by both Chambers of the National Assembly and other, well-meaning members of Nigerian society. You know evil cannot thrive for a long time. Our approach is to wait and see.” Peterside, who represents the Andoni/Opbo/Nkoro in the House of Representatives, said Mbu and those who sent him could not have affected the fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State. He said: “APC is actually a mass movement whose time has come. APC offers Rivers people hope as the platform that will restore the dignity of the Rivers man. APC is waxing stronger and stronger by the day as more persons realize that the dynamics of national politics has changed. The reality that PDP will soon be an opposition party stares everybody at the face. The non performance, avoidable mistakes and insensitivity of PDP has further contributed to strengthening APC. The difference between APC and PDP in Rivers State can be likened to the difference between light and darkness. Rivers people would once more be rewarded for their contribution to the national economy. Rivers people know that a good friend is better than a bad brother. The days ahead will show that the ordinary people of Rivers State would love quality service as represented by Governor Amaechi to continue and will outrightly reject corruption and politics of exclusion.” Speaking on how APC can retain power in Rivers after the next general elections, he said: “Retaining power in Rivers State is a combination of factors. Who among the gladiators will protect in a fair and equitable manner the interest of all Rivers people against the interest of a particular clan. From the antecedents of the political actors and leaders, who will work for the interest of Rivers people above personal consideration? Who among these political actors have character and competence? Character will be key in Rivers people deciding who to follow. APC in Rivers State is led by men of character who have shown that given the opportunity they will place the interest of Rivers State above their selfish interest. Leaders of APC in Rivers State are those who can give youths in Rivers State hope that there is a future for them against the current regime of hopelessness, exclusion and violence. APC in Rivers State has proven beyond doubt that they have capacity to bring about change. Most importantly, APC leadership in Rivers State is populated by God fearing men and women. The recent party registration exercise in Rivers State has shown that majority of registered voters in Rivers State registered as members of APC to the chagrin of our detractors.” He disagreed with people who believe that Governor Rotimi Amaechi is stubborn. As far as he is concerned, Amaechi is only vocal and forthright, adding: “Nobody will take away the fact that Amaechi is fighting for the right ideals. Nobody will deny the fact that Amaechi has performed well, has character and can go to any length to protect the things dear to the minds of Rivers people. Governor Amaechi is not our everyday politician who quite often lacks courage and do not have principles and ideals to live for. Love him or hate him, Governor Amaechi represents the new face of democracy in Nigeria. Whenever Governor Rotimi Amaechi has cause to challenge the establishment it is certainly in the interest of the people and not for selfish interest or ego. A few persons would have preferred the status quo to remain, yet hopes for change. What a contradiction? It is almost obvious that nobody is comfortable with the way things are going currently in the country but very few are ready to risk the comfort of their life and office to champion change in society.” He faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) belief that the APC would disintegrate with time, describing the view as unfortunate.The PDP, he said, is behaving like the proverbial woman who cannot give birth and is blaming her mate. Peterside also spoke on the allegation that some of the movements from the APC to the PDP were induced. “You are aware that there is allegation that some of these movements are influenced by inducement. I may not know the veracity of that allegation but it is definitely a scenario.

•Peterside By Olukorede Yishau

Ultimately what I am sure is that most members of the National Assembly identity with the philosophy of APC which is change. Very few persons are comfortable with the current dysfunctional system. Most persons yearn for change meaning they believe in APC though local factors vary. You cannot ignore the influence of local politics thus you have a few persons whose heart is in party A but they are physically in party B.” Peterside, who recently walked out on the budget defence of the Ministry of Works, gave an insight into the action. He said he was not playing into the gallery. Said he: “I looked through the budget proposal of the Executive and confirmed that there is absolutely no intention to do any project in Rivers State in the year 2014 despite our contribution to the national economy and the votes we gave to the current government. I raised alarm that the implication of denying ordinary Rivers people infrastructural projects is akin to declaring war on innocent Rivers people. I perceive this zero allocation to all federal road projects in Rivers State as an extension of the political persecution Rivers State is going through for some time now. I considered it morally indefensible to sit in a session where Rivers State will be denied its due. I had to loudly register my protest by staging a walk out. I am told the Hon. Minister did not deny my assertion but explained that the Ministry discovered that Ahoada-Omoku road dualisation has been awarded by NDDC thus his Ministry is not proceeding with it. The Minister said the money meant for that project will be applied to Degema-Abonnema road which is nowhere in the budget. How he will do that is yet to be seen as there is no budgetary provision for such. The Minister is not the National Assembly that appropriates. The Minister claimed that Bonny-Bodo road will be executed under public private partnership after being listed in the budget for several years. On rehabilitation of EnuguPH expressway, the Minister said it will be given adequate attention this year but refused to acknowledge that Rivers State government has awarded the section that is in Rivers State to JDP Limited, an Israeli firm. JDP is on site, so Enugu-PH Expressway cannot be said to be a project in Rivers State. Eleme flyover is a project started and executed by Rivers State government through Julius Berger though it was allocated no fund. Eleme flyover to Onne awarded to RCC is not funded. It is obvious that there is a deliberate plan to exclude Rivers State from infrastructural development but like all their previous attempts, this one will fail too. Rivers people will respond to all these injustices at the appropriate time.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

‘Living in Niger Delta prepares you for a A Canada-based film producer, Henry Eruotor, speaks with SHOLA O’NEIL on his determination to, through his films, change misconceptions about the region and Nigeria in the international community. Interest in movies WAS born and raised in Warri, Delta State, where I worked in my family’s video rental shop. It was only logical for me to watch most of the films we offered so I could market them to patrons. My favourite part of watching a DVD was always the extra features section where the director described the making of the movie. I remember always wishing that these sections were longer. My exposure to these foreign films piqued my interest and curiosity about the art of filmmaking. Many Nigerians seem to have certain preconceptions and misconceptions about foreigners and life abroad. My experiences in both countries have helped me portray life in each more accurately. After my final undergraduate exam, my project supervisor invited me to join the production crew for another adaptation project. It could be that my niche is adapting established stories for screen. Upon arrival in Canada, my quest to improve my filmmaking skills drove me to study Documentary Production at Algonquin College, Ottawa. I also have a Masters of Information Studies from the University of Ottawa. For some time, like all of us, I was more of a Nollywood critic

than a content creator. “Why is that woman waking up with full make-up? Where’s the wallet he was holding in the last shot? Why are they speaking proper English in the house?” Finally, someone told me, “That’s all well and good, but what have you done?” That put fire under my ‘yansh’ and forced me to start producing. That humbled me, because I learned that nailing these details—costuming, continuity, diction and a million other things—is not as easy as they seem. But it also motivated me to learn by doing. Practice, practice, practice. The goal is always to make the next project better than the last. What do you hope to achieve with your works? I am inspired to tell African stories, not just Delta or Nigeria. I want to tell the good, evil, tragic, funny, common and incredible. I’m repeatedly stunned by the number of people who are unaware of the talents and prospects of Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. They are blinded by the negative stories they have heard or seen in the media. I want to broaden their perspective with my films. I’m not trying to recreate Nollywood in Canada. Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world

•Eruotor in an editing suite

by number of films. Nollywood tells our stories very well, but it can do better in terms of generating content and improving the technical aspects of film production. Though Nollywood has done well, we should be aiming for more than just quantity. Nigeria has such tremendous writers and amazing stories to tell. I admire Jeta Amata and Kunle Afolayan, who have been able to marry Nollywood themes with Hollywood quality. I aspire to do the same. This winter, I attended the premiere

of Half of a Yellow Sun at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was incredible. I also saw Fela! on Broadway in New York City and loved it. Sitting in those audiences, I felt very proud to be Nigerian. I look forward to the day when we can turn more of our incredible stories into high quality, widely seen productions. I’ve seen wonderful Indian stories on film, and several have won prestigious awards. I would love to see a Nigerian film in serious contention for an Oscar or a Golden Globe. I have

resolved to be a part of the generation of Africans and Nigerians that takes Nollywood to a different level and a wider audience. We have the talent, the drive, the creativity and the industriousness to do it. About his works My filmmaking journey continues. Each play, television show and film I watch is a learning experience, and every project I undertake is an opportunity for me to expand my skills. Since earning my undergraduate degree, I’ve produced documentary profiles (Mr. In-

dependent, From Kaduna to Canada, Greener Pastures) short films and promotional videos. The No-Nonsense Wife and Otito are two of my favourites. I faithfully read Nigerian news and blogs. When I read Abimbola Dare’s short story The No-Nonsense Wife online, I was drawn to the message. I’m a big believer in not passing judgment unless you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes. I immediately contacted Abimbola, who graciously agreed to my adaptation proposal.

Protests trail non-appointment of Edo ND

ORE than three months after the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was inaugurated, the commissioner representing Edo State is yet to be appointed. The state is waiting on President Goodluck Jonathan to send a name to the National Assembly for clearance out of the many names forwarded by interested parties. Among the many nominees, the names of Henry Okhuarobo and Courage Enofe stand out as it could not be confirmed who the state Peoples Democratic Party nominated. Okhuarobo was nominated by Governor Adams Oshiomhole while Courage was nominated by four communities of Oben, Iguelaba, Ikobi and Obozogbe-nugu in Orhiomwon local government area. Oshiomhole picked Okhuarobo because of his performances during his two year tenure at NDDC. Several roads were rehabilitated within Benin City and environs, transformers and water were provided for communities in need in Okhuarobo’s two year tenure. Okhuarobo, in an interview before the end of his first tenure, said the NDDC has a comprehensive plan to electrify Orhiomnwon and some neighbouring local councils to stop the people of Orhiomnwon from depending on Delta state for electricity. He said: “But we have put in place some electricity projects that will en-

•The protesters From Osagie Otabor, Benin

able them now generate electricity within. We are already renovating and reactivating all non-functional NDDC electricity project with a cost of N150m. “We constructed an inter town connection line linking thirteen villages. We are generating power from Sapele road substation to a substation at Ugo. The other half is the sub-station itself at Ugo which is a 30MVA substation which is another project on its own. When completed, it will light up

Orhionmwon and even extend power to some part of Uhumwonde and Ikpoba Okhai.” Courage was picked by the communities to address what the communities termed 41 years exploitation of the communities’ rich mineral resources. The communities houses the largest gas reserve in West Africa and currently has about 60 oil well head. The delay in the appointment of Edo NDDC commissioner has however led to series of protest from youths and several communities

across the state. A socio-political group, the Edo/ Delta Movement for Equity and Progress in a protest letter urged President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the nominee of Governor Oshiomhole since the President confirmed the Delta State Governor nominee, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli. National Coordinator of the group, Victor Aigbe said the president should consider the performances of Okhuarobo within his two years stay at the NDDC board.

Also, on March 6, members of the Edo Youths for Good Governance (EYGG) and other Bini youths stormed the premises of NDDC office in Benin City and sealed it up. This followed the expiration of a two weeks ultimatum the protesters gave to the Presidency to appoint Governor Oshiomhole’s nominee. The protesters who chased NDDC staffers out of their offices hinged their action on non-appointment of Edo commissioner into NDDC board. They said the delay was impeding development in oil producing communities in Edo South Senatorial district and warned Senator Ehigie Uzamere to stop playing politics with the Edo NDDC nominee. Inscriptions on placards carried by the protesters read: “President Jonathan respect Edo people and give us NDDC Rep”, “Uzamere dont destroy NDDC in Edo because of your selfish interest”, “Mr President stop playing PDP politics and resptect Oshiomhole’s nominee”. Leader of the protesters, Iyamu Osaro, said they want all the stakeholders to reach an accord on the choice of the state NDDC commissioner in order not to destroy the laudable projects embarked upon by NDDC in the state. “We heard that there is disagreement between Governor Oshiomhole and Senator Uzamere on the issue and that is why the President has not appointed Edo NDDC Commissioner.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT NEWSMAKER

any challenge in life’ C

Bayelsa police boss’s headache

‘

I was born and raised where I was; growing up in the Niger Delta prepares you to face many challenges of life, and has really helped me distinguish what’s really important. Life in Africa is full of drama and interesting experiences and these inspire my work most

‘

I cast eager, talented friends and acquaintances that were available to film. Some were more experienced than others. In some ways, we were learning together. In fact, I had to scrap the first version of the film; I knew we could do better. I met Omodudu Onidada Osun (Toni) through a mutual friend in Toronto. She had no formal acting training, but she is expressive and creative, and I could tell she would be a natural on screen. I have known Efe Mike-Ifeta (Biyi) since we were

classmates and flatmates in Abraka. We work together on film projects often, and he’s talented both on- and off-screen. Hans Oreva (Dennis) and Divine Emeovrode (Dayo), incidentally from my hometown, are actually siblings. I thought this might make it easier for them to be comfortable playing out a difficult scene together. They’re both very skilled. The cast worked very hard, often in very cold weather and late into the night, and I’m so happy with their work. Otito (Truth) came out of my desire to lay out some of the innocuous ways Nigerians are stereotyped in the West. Ade’s experiences are just a sample of some of the frustrations I’ve experienced since emigrating. Individually they seem small, sometimes even humorous, but together they illustrate everyday prejudice. Once again, friends came through: John Eke (Ade), Jeti Olafimihan (Otito) and Robert Sykes (professor) were great, as were the management and staff of Le Dôme Bar-Lounge, where we shot the bar scene. Misconceptions about the Niger Delta and Nigerians There are a couple of misconceptions I experience regularly. The most common one is people asking me if I’m a boxer or a fighter. I could not understand their curiosity until someone explained that they are confused because of the scars on my face. I have facial tribal marks and back home it’s pretty normal to meet people with marks. Of course, I’m exposed to quite a few negative misconceptions, often framed as jokes, about Nigerians being loud, boastful or crass (I especially get

this from other Africans!), and about Nigerians engaging in fraud. People have asked about my village, and have assumed my upbringing was more impoverished than it really was. (This goes with general lack of awareness about Nigeria’s educated middle class.) I generally don’t mind, because I get opportunities to educate people about Nigeria and Africa. But generally, I would say Canadians are quite openminded and worldly, and other African immigrants always greet each other kindly and engage each other as in Africa. How has your background as a Niger Deltan affected your life in Canada? There is a reason for everything in life. I’m very happy that I was born and raised where I was; growing up in the Niger Delta prepares you to face many challenges of life, and has really helped me distinguish what’s really important. Life in Africa is full of drama and interesting experiences and these inspire my work most. At the same time, being exposed to a very different society has helped me reflect on life in the Niger Delta. I’m constantly confronted with ideas and experiences that challenge some of the beliefs I held growing up, and it forces me to really think about the good and bad of the Niger Delta and the good and bad of my new home, and what I can learn from each. I think this comes across in my films, and will continue to. I want my films to showcase the experiences that are unique to Nigeria and to Africa (certain customs, for example), but also to showcase our universal experiences like love and loss and laughter.

DDC Commissioner But our argument is that the Governors of other states were asked to produce the NDDC commissioner in their states why will Mr President listen to a senator who did not know how Oshiomhole made efforts in ensuring that Edo people supported President Jonathan in 2011 and voted for him immensely,” he said. The four communities are also not left out in the protest frenzy in order to get their son

nominated for the NDDC board. They protested in December last and also carried out another protest two weeks ago. In the first protest that took place in December last year, the communities threatened to stop oil and gas production in their locality. The second protest saw members of the communities came out in large numbers and shut down the operation of Seplat Petroluem at Oben.

Women, chiefs, students joined in the protest march through the streets of Oben to flow stations and oil well heads. Secretary of Oben Community, Comrade Johnbull Omokaro, said they took to protest because they are craving for their son, Courage, to be appointed into the NDDC board. He said: “We have not gotten anybody appointed into positions of such nature.”

Light shines on Akwa Ibom community after three years

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio was holding town hall meetings in the constituencies in the state. It was the turn of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and the people used the opportunity to tell the governor that they had been in darkness for three years. Their sad years are now over as light has been restored in Ikono. The Senior Special Assistant on Power to the Governor, Dr. Victor Udo, in collaboration with the Chairman of Ikono Local Government Area, Emmanuel Ukpong and other power sector stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene Business unit, accomplished the feat of restoring power supply to the people of Ikono in three days. Residents of Ikono, who have been in a state of euphoria, have not stopped expressing gratitude to Akpabio for keeping his promise and the SSA on Power for the prompt response.

The Paramount ruler of Ikono, HRM Edidem Nyong Obop, said: "The governor has honored his promise by giving Ikono people light and so I give my unreserved appreciation for what he has done to Ikono people. I very much thank the Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency on Power because he has meticulously carried out the directive of the governor." Ukpong said the restoration of power supply to Ikono would increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and help small businesses to grow. In a statement, the SSA on Power said: "It was a pleasure to have worked with the Chairman of Ikono LGA, Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong, who provided the funds and logistics to accomplish His Excellency's mandate. The Chairman has demonstrated a new model of partnering with the LGAs to accelerate steady power supply across the state consistent with the vision of His Excellency."

ONVENTIONALLY, a typical security meeting has in attendance security commanders and some appointed and elected government officials. But a similar gathering that occurred recently in Ogbia local government area, Bayelsa State, was different. It was an expanded security meeting involving only the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, and other stakeholders within and outside the local government area. The gathering was the initiative of Hilary, a professional police officer, whose achievements were being threatened by a gale of kidnapping sweeping across the state of President Goodluck Jonathan. Hilary is rated as “the best commissioner of police in Zone 5” comprising Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Delta states. The state has the lowest crime rate. When the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Argungu Hashimu, visited the state recently, he praised the efforts of Hilary and described his command as the best in the zone. No wonder, the commissioner has been jolted by the recent incidents of kidnapping especially in Ogbia. Daredevil kidnappers appear to have laid siege to the council which has multiple creeks and waterfronts. They struck in consistent operations and whisked their victims to unknown places in the mangroves. Hilary was restless as he battled the gunmen terrorising his domain. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the abduction of the cousin of President Jonathan, Chief Inengite Nitabai. Having formulated strategies that set the septuagenarian free after about 18 days in captivity, Hilary was worried over the abduction spree in Ogbia. He was angry that other stakeholders had abandoned security of their territories to only the police. He, therefore, decided to reawaken their security consciousness by calling for a security meeting. As expected, he chose a hall in Ogbia as the venue of the meeting and by coincidence the parley held on Thursday last week, the day, Nitabai, was rescued from the kidnappers’ den by the police. Before the meeting, he said: “It is not acceptable for the local government chairmen to be parading themselves as the chief security officers of their areas while people commit crime with impunity. “What are the chairmen of the various community development committees doing? What are the efforts of the traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders in various communities in tackling kidnaping and other crimes? It is unacceptable.” Little wonder, chiefs, chairmen of the eight local government areas, traditional rulers, chairmen of community development committees and youth leaders attended the meeting. Hilary did not mince words. He told the gathering the truth. He asked them to take responsibility for the security of their various communities. “Don’t try to secure other communities. Just secure your own community and there will be peace everywhere,” he said.

•Opara

try to secure other ‘ Don’t communities. Just secure your own community and there will be peace everywhere

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

He insisted that persons committing the crimes in the state belong to communities. He wondered why such communities always claim ignorant of the identities of such criminal elements. He said failures of communities to assist the police would amount to complicity and an indictment on its various leadership. He said to the stakeholders: “If you see something, you should say something not just keeping quiet. When you see these boys moving around, alert the police and other security agencies. That is the only way we can handle them. We are not magicians. We work on information. “We don’t want your communities to be used as hideouts for kidnappers. We don’t want your waterfronts to be used as areas of operations. So, you assist the police and security agencies to assist you too. Help us to help you. Give us information. We are resolved to serve you and that is the message for today.” He insisted that he convened the meeting to reawaken the security consciousness of the people. “We came here to awaken the security consciousness of the people. We came to alert them that we must partner with the police and other security agencies to curb criminality in the society. “We need that partnership because there is no way we can go on alone. After this meeting we expect them to give us useful information. I told them,” he said. Though the police boss was a little disappointed at the response he got from some of the

‘

speakers, he believed that the meeting had achieved its objectives. Some of the community leaders begged for mobilisation and stipends to enable them fight crime in their domains. Such contributions did not go down well with the local government chairmen who attended the meeting. The Chairman of the Association of Local Government in Nigeria (ALGON) who is also the council boss of Yenagoa local government area, Mr. Chubby Walson, did not hide his feelings. He told the people that it was wrong to demand mibilisation before securing their environment. “When issues of managing security in our various communities were raised, people stood up and were talking about mobilisation and stipends. This is wrong. “The jobs of CDC chairmen and youth leaders are voluntary.it is when you have done your homework well that you can ask for encouragement from the government. It is not every issue that we should be talking about money”. He described the meeting as very important. He said: “This meeting is very important. That is why almost all the chairmen of various local government areas are in attendance. “It is a security meeting and we know that as chairmen, we are the chief security officers in our LGAs. We treat security matters very paramount and there is none of the chairmen here that don’t hold security meetings.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

OME days back, I boycotted a competency test organised by the Edo State government for teachers in its employ. Many of us shunned the test. I don’t know the real reason others avoided the test, but I know why I did and was very glad the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) gave us its backing to hide our inadequacies. The committee headed by Prof Denis Agbolanhor would have unravelled the fraud in me. Please you need to hear my long story for you to appreciate where I am coming from. It is not that I am pleading for mercy or any of such nonsense. I have gone too far to care about that. Whatever happens to me as a result of my actions, I take as act of God and will not blame anybody for it. I was born into a polygamous family. My father had ten wives. Our father, who had 22 of us, claimed that his religion and tradition supported his polygamous nature. Growing up in our home in Auchi was interesting and intriguing. Wives were always engaged in one intrigue or the other to take the slot of the favourite wife. Fights broke up once in a while, but like a born polygamist our father had a way around those things. He fixed them accordingly. To our father, we were tools he used on his big farms. We, the children and his wives, were the farm hands. Education was not a major agenda for him. He managed to send a few of us to secondary school. After my secondary education, an uncle brought me to Benin, the Edo State capital. It was in the early days of the state. I was roaming the streets looking for job when a man I met on a primary school field told me teachers were to be recruited for secondary schools. Before I could tell him I was not qualified, he made me know that he was one of the state officials who would pick the successful applicants. He assured me that he was going to fix the neccesary documents for me. It did not take long before I was issued an appointment letter. All this while I was wondering what the man was after. He told me the day I received my letter of appointment. I must be giving him half of my salary every month. To make sure I did not fail him, we swore an oath and in the last decade he has been taking half of my pay. He is still a big man in government and is actually one of those telling the NUT not to take the competency test. The other day one of our colleagues was discovered to be incapable of reading well. I dare say there are many like that. Their own category is different from ours. Really, people in that category do not really teach. They are ghost workers if you like. The person that was caught was most likely just hired to come and shop face at the verification centre but was unfortunate to have been pounced on by the governor. You may wonder how I was able to cope with teaching job despite my inadequacy. The truth

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

An Edo teacher’s confession

‘

You may wonder if I do not have a conscience to be involved in such a scam. Well, my conscience died the day I realised that many of our leaders do not have our interest at heart. So, why should I bother myself? They are thieves and armed robbers rolled into one. We mean nothing to our leaders whose greed is bigger than our needs •Oshiomhole

is I have not been teaching in the real sense of the word. My godfather makes sure I am always posted to one remote school or the other where teachers really do not bother to impart any knowledge on the pupils. Most of the time I do not even go to school. Over the years, I have managed to acquire some skills to teach some nonsense to the pupils. You may wonder if I do not have a conscience to be involved in such a scam. Well, my con-

LAST WORD

THE WEEK’S QUOTE

‘

The insecurity in Rivers State is an institutional problem facilitated by the same persons whose duty it is to care about the protection of lives and properties of the people of Rivers State. The transfer of Mbu could be change of strategy due to the persistent pressure of the people and concerns raised by both chambers of the National Assembly and other wellmeaning members of Nigerian society. __

‘

Rep Dakuku Peterside .

‘

science died the day I realised that many of our leaders do not have our interest at heart. So, why should I bother myself? They are thieves and armed robbers rolled into one. We mean nothing to our leaders whose greed is bigger than our needs. I know that Governor Adams Oshiomhole is sincere. But, I care less. His sincerity will not put food on my table. So, sincerity my foot. As long as the NUT’s backing is there, I will con-

Fact Sheet by the Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations has spelt out how it is promoting non-violence in the Niger Delta. Last September , the U.S. State Department launched a conflict mitigation initiative in the region. In launching this campaign, the fact that Nigeria plays a critical role in Africa’s stability was not lost on it. Also not lost on it is its strong interest in the country’s peace, prosperity and security. Also of particular interest to America is the undisputed fact that the resource-rich Niger Delta is vital to Nigeria’s economic health and its stability, which America considers a top priority. The Fact Sheet on the initiative reads: “The U.S. initiative in the Delta aims to address the risk of destabilising violence and increase confidence in the power of nonviolent problemsolving among citizens, government, and other key actors. “Despite the difficulties facing the Niger Delta, leaders are challenging the social acceptability of violence and striving for a future of peace and prosperity. Teachers, journalists, and religious leaders are joining forces to strengthen the social contract by increasing accountability between citizens and government and condemning violence. NGOs and Nollywood stars are teaming up to give voice to communities shaping a legacy of nonviolent civic activism. If amplified, these inspiring stories can drown out the adage that

tinue to hide under it to get paid for a job I am not qualified for and my godfather will continue to receive his cut. Nigerian leaders must act with courage, conviction and be decisive to stem the rot in the education sector. Like Oshiomhole said at the 20th National Economic Summit in Abuja, leadership, I believe, is about courage, about conviction and being able to act. Our political leadership must go back to the basics if cheats like me must begin to see reason to give up our bad acts. Like Oshiomhole, I believe that the quality of the Nigerian leadership deteriorated from the days of the military. They helped spoilt everything. Misfits like me got in during those era. Please don’t be deceived by the good English in which this confession is written. Someone helped me out. Of course, at a cost.

A cop’s advice “Don’t try to secure other communities. Just secure your own community and there will be peace everywhere,” said Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police Hilary Opara at a meeting with some communities on how to curb kidnappers. Like most states in the Niger Delta, Bayelsa has been battling kidnapping. It became serious recently with the kidnap of a relative of President Goodluck Jonathan. I believe there is a lot of sense in the advice of the police chief. If every community can monitor their own area very well, criminallyminded individuals around will be easy preys for the law enforcement agencies to catch. But, if communities look the other way round when their sons and daughters engage in nefarious activities, the world will be the worst for it. Law enforcement officers are not magicians. Without the people giving them information, they can never crack any case. They need the cooperation of all. Governments at all levels, be it local, state or federal, must give them all they require to do their work. A situation where they are given operational vehicles but no provisions for maintenance and others will continue to make a mess of our security agencies. Kidnapping has not only embarrassed us. It has ridiculed us before the world and the Niger Delta has played a leading role in the kidnap of foreigners and citizens alike for ransom. We must stop it and the best way to go about it is to heed Opara’s advice. Do not cover the bad boys. Expose them so that the law can grab them. They are not spirits. They live among us and we can help make our communities better by revealing the face of the evil doers so that they can be confined to where they truly belong: the dungeon.

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

For a non-violent Niger Delta “violence pays,” and set the tone for a new public narrative of peaceful problem solving. Partnering with a core group of Nigerian activists, businessmen, media entrepreneurs, and thought leaders that comprise the Niger Delta Legacy Board of Directors, the U.S. government is catalysing the launch of a mass media campaign supported by community and government outreach. “The Niger Delta Legacy Board of Directors is launching TV and radio shows and social media content that will capitalise on these rapidly expanding media platforms. Featuring prominent celebrities and public figures, the campaign’s centerpiece is a television show called “Dawn in the Creeks.” It will showcase stories of communities and government working together to non-violently solve problems, in order to inspire similar efforts. With leading broadcasters, producers, and creative artists as partners, the engagement will produce popular media products that will continue paying stability dividends after U.S. government support phases out. “Building on successes showcased in the media campaign, the Board of Directors has identified practical ways to help communities and governments use non-violent methods more broadly and effectively to resolve problems and meet their priorities. The U.S.

Government will work with state and local governments to reinforce the impact of these efforts. “The goal is to see the Niger Delta emerge from the 2015 election period without destabilising violence and on a path toward peace, accountable governance, and prosperity. We will measure impact by: Tracking frequency and intensity of violence using opensource “big data” tools and monitoring public perceptions of and behavior regarding violence, civic activism, government responsiveness, and the social contract.” This approach by the American government is welcome and it is hoped that all hands will be on deck to ensure it is not derailed. A violent Niger Delta is not just in the interest of the region, its people but also of Nigeria and the international community. The oil for which the region is known is consumed by several countries of the world and it is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. That is why the country has always gone out of its way to ensure that there is peace in the region. Efforts such as this one can compliment that of the Amnesty Office. No one should frustrate it. .

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SHOPPING MY SHOPPING

‘I‘m careful of what, where I buy‘ The Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), Mr Tam Tamunokonbia, speaks with TONIA ‘DIYAN on his choice of shopping places, fear for online stores and advice to consumers.

HERE do you buy from? There are some supermarkets and shops that get their products directly from manufacturers. Therefore, I feel comfortable buying from such places because I am sure of what I am buying and one can hardly find fake items in such places. How careful are you when making buying decisions? I am careful of what I buy and where I buy from. I only go to retailers who get supplies directly from the manufacturers. There is a neighbourhood store close to where I live and I happen to see company vehicles making regular deliveries to them. I patronise them because I know they stock original items. How has the way people buy transformed in Nigeria?

The way people buy has greatly transformed especially with places like Shoprite and other Mega Stores where people visit for sightseeing and family picnics to purchase items and so on. However, majority still buy from neighbourhood organised stores. That is why at CPC, we encourage stores to sell original products, not expired or off the shelf policy items to consumers. The problem with some of these shops is that there is negligence on the part of their staff. Sometimes, in six months they wouldn’t remember to change or replace items on the shelves. But many Nigerians still buy from the open market. Do you buy online? I haven’t started shopping online. It is a new and upcoming market. It is just emerging and so far, I am not impressed with their services.

I have a lot of complaints from consumers concerning some of them. But recently I visited a few and they assured me they are doing something about the complaints. What advice do you have for consumers on making decisions? Some traders would ask a buyer if he wants the original or the fake of a product because of the slight difference in price. Some products look very similar such that one can hardly identify the original from the fake. It is important to buy from the man you are confident in. But we will continue to check and remove expired products from such places. How prudent are you? I don’t spend heavily, but I am not a good keeper of money. I am very generous and give out money a lot; as a result, money

• Tamunokonbia

doesn’t stay long with me. My wife does my shopping most of the time. When it comes to giving I am not prudent, but I am, when it comes to shopping. I am not extravagant when it comes to buying material things. Do you buy spontaneously? I don’t buy spontaneously and I am certainly not crazy about what is in vogue. I am not fashion-conscious. There are people who are prone to such lifestyle.

Hellofood.com berths in Port Harcourt

ESIDENTS of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital can order food from their favourite restaurants in Port Harcourt courtesy of Hellofood.com, an online food store, which has berthed in the city. Some of the restaurants partnering this facility include The Promise, Pepperoni, Just Relish, Eldorado, Skippers and many more. The Managing Director of the firm, James Gibson, said: “After the phenomenal response in Lagos and Abuja, we are extremely excited to be launching in Port Harcourt. We aim to offer the widest range of cuisines and cover every area of the city.” The expansion, according to Gibson, is part of Hellofood’s strategy to increase its footprint across Nigeria. Hellofood Nigeria works with over 250 restaurant partners, which it intends to grow to 500 across seven cities by the end of the year. He said: “We plan to expand our services to four cities in 2014, including Kano, Kaduna, Benin City and Ibadan. Apart from reaching out to a wider audience, we are completely revolutionising the way customers interact with restaurants, providing the simplest, fast-

• MD, Hellofood Nigeria, James Gibson with Nollywood movie star, Rita Dominic (2nd left) and Hellofood staff.

est and most convenient way to order food” The firm with its affiliate brand Foodpanda is the world’s fastest growing online food delivery marketplace. It reaches over three billion people and operates with more than

22,000 restaurant partners across 41 countries. Hellofood helps restaurants to increase sales through online and mobile platforms and provides them with constantly evolving technology and analytics. For consumers, it

is a platform that offers an online marketplace with the widest gastronomic range from which customers can order food delivery online or via Hellofood’s iOS and Android applications.

Lagos moves to protect consumers

HE Lagos State government has reiterated its determination to tackle headlong the issues of consumer rights protection in the state, its Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has said. Represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Commerce and Industry, Hon Oluseye Oladejo at the Lagos Consumer forum organised by the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) in conjunction with the state government, she said protecting consumers is one of the primary duties of the government. She said: “As a government, it is our mandate to guarantee the welfare of the citizenry while also promoting the economic development of the rights of consumers to ensure that they get value for money spent on goods and services.” According to her, if consumer rights are protected, it would bring economic development to the state. “This would no doubt sustain production activities, boost the gross domestic product (GDP), guarantee employment and ultimately engender economic development of the state,” she said. The deputy governor said the forum was meant to discuss consumers’ rights in the telecoms industry. “The creation of a platform of this nature where consumer rights issues in the telecoms sector is being examined with a view to ascertaining the extent of the level of abuse, exploitation and options available for redress is a step in the right direction,” she said. The Lagos Consumer Forum streamlined

• From right: Oladejo; Ms Salako and Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr John Isemede, at the forum.

By Amidu Arije the consumers’ day to press for value for money in telecoms service. According to the deputy governor, the essence of the modification of the theme is meant to address the immediate needs of the people of the state and the country at large. “The theme has been modified to ‘Value for Money in Telecoms Services’ in order to address our immediate consumer rights challenges in the state,” she said. Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said to show the state government’s commitment to protect-

ing consumers rights, a bill on Consumer Protection Agency had been passed into law. “To underscore the seriousness of the state government in protecting the rights of our people especially as they relate to consumer issues and to ensure that they get correct value for their money on purchases, the state governor has signed into law the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Bill,” she said. Speaking on ‘Consumer Issue in Telecoms,’ president of CAFON, Ms Sola Salako said the consumer rights to quality service from the telecom providers has been

violated by the telecom services providers. She said the five-point agenda of the telecoms which are to provide consumer with access to an affordable and reliable service, provide consumer with fair contracts explained in clear, complete and acceptable and accessible language, provide consumers with fair and transparent billing, provide consumers with security and power over their own information, listen and respond to consumers complaint have not been met by the telcos. Ms Salako said the telecoms sector must provide the consumer with better service. “Consumers deserve better services from the telecoms; the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as a regulator must do better than fines to ensure compliance, consumers must be discerning in signing up for any telecoms services (voice or data) and telecoms service providers must realise communication is not just business, it is an essential service,” she added. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Wale Raji, in his welcome address, said the forum was meant to address issues in the sector and proffer solutions to consumer rights violations. ‘’This forum is meant to address some of the critical consumer rights that are being infringed upon on daily basis by service providers in the telecoms sector. Some of these issues are unsolicited text messages, high drop call rates, poor customer service, high call tariff, exploitation of consumers through lotteries and privacy issues,’’ he added. He urged Lagosians to seek redress with the state’s Consumer Protection Committee whenever their rights are trampled upon.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS

AGRICBUSINESS

e-mail: agrobusiness@thenationonlineng.net

For farmers in rural areas, the use of high-yielding crop varieties holds the key to bountiful harvest. DANIEL ESSIET writes that unless urgent and deliberate efforts are made to encourage rural farmers to embrace the use of highyielding varieties, hope of boosting the productivity and yield of rural farmers would remain a mirage.

‘How high-yielding seeds can boost productivity’ H AJIA Asabe Musa (not real name) is luckier than most farmers in the Northern part of the country. She heads a women farmers group in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, a position that allows her access to tolerant varieties to help farmers in her group to overcome the negative effects of climate change in the region. The varieties, which are either early-maturing or drought-tolerant, have more than doubled her yield and those of farmers under her group. She has since been tapping into the opportunities presented by the use of improved seeds and agronomic practices to better her life. Other farmers in the state have also seen their yields double, using improved varieties and agronomic practices on the same plot of land. However, the beneficiaries are few. Most of the farmers have been witnessing crop failure in their farms in the north in particular and the country generally. This is because in most cases, the farmers do not have access to improved seeds, which makes their situation critical because of climate change and decreased rainfall. Experts attribute this largely to farmers’ lack of adoption of improved varieties, which is responsible for the low yields. Although, huge resources have been invested in breeding better crop varieties, the adoption rate of the improved varieties is still considered very low by agric experts. Addressing a workshop on ‘Seed Production Planning’ organised by West Africa Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria in Minna, its National Project Coordinator, Prof. Damian Chikwendu said production of high-yielding varieties of crops gives communities easy access to improved seeds. He said efforts are underway at a number of universities, institutes and organisations to make agriculture and farming practices more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly. The ultimate goal, he said, is to increase crop yields, which will result in a greater quantity of food being produced per area of farm land. Chikwendu noted that as farmers get improved commercial opportunities for their crops and processed products, chances of accessing and purchasing improved seeds and other input increase. Sadly, however, he said the percentage of farmers with access to improved seeds in the country is about five per cent, compared to 25 per cent for East Africa and 60 per cent for Asia. This gives concern when agric machinery use is about 10 tractors /1000 hectares compared to 241/1000 hectares in Indonesia, for instance. By targeting small farmers, he said the programme intends to change the situation in line with the vision of the Agricul-

• From left: Managing Director, Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Authority (NAMDA),Baba Kutugi Madugu; Lawal Wase, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension, Chikwendu, and Matane at the event.

tural Transformation Agenda aimed at achieving a hungry-free Nigeria through the agric sector. One approach the programme is taking, he said, is to get community-based seed producers move in to fill the gap. Through this means, the programme will help to increase the availability of improved and quality seed varieties to small scale farmers. It will also support the government to open seed markets to private enterprises. Last year, he said WAAPP-Nigeria inaugurated seven private seed firms to provide various quantities of certified maize, rice and sorghum seeds. The firms produced 432.5 Metric Tons (MT) of different improved varieties of maize seeds, 434 MT of various varieties of rice seeds, and 150 MT of improved varieties of sorghum seeds. Out of these, 150.986 MT of maize, 172.25 MT of rice and 15.603 MT of sorghum seeds have been distributed to some farmers in the adopted villages of National Agricultural Institutes (NARIs), universities and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs). WAAPP Nigeria has been funding National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi to produce improved rice breeder and foundational seeds; Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, to produce maize breeder and foundational seeds; Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR),

Zaria, to produce maize and sorgum breeder and foundational seeds. He said the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike is producing improved cassava stems and seed yams. Besides, WAAPP, he said, is working with some universities in seed multiplication. The seeds will be introduced by local extension agents to farmers through farmer-managed demonstration plots. The Deputy Director, Seeds, Katsina Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Yusuf Abubakar, said improved varieties have become popular among farmers who are impressed by the performance of the improved seedlings hence, they accepted them. He said deployment of improved seeds, backed by the dissemination of innovative agricultural practices, have improved the lot of farmers. For instance, when the programme introduced improved maize, the farmers got over 15 bags for a quarter of an hectare. Abubakar said rebuilding rural supply networks and marketing systems is critical to encouraging farmers who have the means and incentives to produce more. The difficulties of transportation mean that out-lying areas are often not covered by private buyers, a problem faced by suppliers of fertilisers, seeds, and other farm inputs as well. For him, expanding private sector involve-

ment in rural marketing and supply activities is a long-term solution. Programme Manager, Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme, Mr. Onyema Nwodo said the adoption of improved varieties by farmers has brought relief to those who face poor harvest. He said the fortunes of farmers have improved in terms of increased crop productivity as a result of using new maize varieties. So, an increase in yields can have effects on livelihoods. Nwodo said the challenge, however, is lack of proper storage drums to eliminate losses to weevils and vermin. He said the government needs to train groups to store their improved seed varieties. He noted that “seed production is a serious business, which needs proper planning to make good quality seeds available to farmers at affordable prices”. WAAPP is also working with scientists and agronomists to develop high yielding seeds that are also more nutritious and drought and climate resilient. The Head, Rice Research, NCRI, Dr. Myimaorga Abo, said the institute has achieved success in producing rice, soyabeans, beni-seeds and sesame seeds with higher yields. He said the institute is working with high-yield varieties that are suitable to the country’s climate. Abo added that the sector should apply science and technology to agricultural problems to get solutions

‘Farmers with access to improved seeds in the country is about five per cent, compared to 25 per cent for East Africa and 60 per cent for Asia. This gives concern when agric machinery use is about 10 tractors /1000 hectares compared to 241/1000 hectares in Indonesia, for instance’

quickly. For him, good seeds are not just the driving force behind good harvests to eliminate poverty and hunger, it’s the foundation for rapid economic growth. For farmers to improve their livelihoods and increase their income, he said the sector needs to ensure simple science such as improved seeds is available to people. “If we do not get our acts together, the continent will be left behind,” he warned. He said the programme has supported the development of new seed varieties and the commercialisation of over 200 firms. The challenge however, is how to address the gap between the released varieties and the commercialised ones. Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu thanked WAAPP for hosting the meeting. Aliyu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, said the state has 10 per cent of the arable land in the country, adding that it has water bodies that would add aqua culture. The governor stressed the need for mechanisation, saying that less than one per cent of fish farmers has access to facilities to dry their fish. He therefore, solicited the support of the private sector for the programme, saying that the state had allocated 50,000 hectares to Dangote Group to cultivate rice in the state. He assured WAAPP of government’s support to make the programme a success. The meeting was attended by chief executives of some Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs). Others are the Agricultural Research Institutes and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

Cocoa Foundation to train 70,000 farmers

• Abang

ORLD Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to train 70, 000 cocoa farmers and 100 groups in 10 cocoa producing states. The states are Ondo, Cross River, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Ogun, Abia, Oyo, Kogi and Akwa-Ibom. Socodevi Nigeria, a Canadian non-governmental organisation (NGO), is managing the programme for WCF. The Country Representative for WCF, Mr. Neil Abang, said the programme is geared towards increasing cocoa production from 450 kilogramme (kg) per hectare to about 800 kg per hectare. Addressing a

train-the trainers farmers business school workshop in Akure, Ondo State, Abang said the training had become necessary because many farmers have limited access to information and education on improved farming techniques that could enhance their yield. Abang said for the nation to achieve its goal of food sufficiency, farmers must have access to quality inputs such as sowing seeds, herbicides and pesticides, or to critical information such as accurate weather forecasts that could help them improve the quality of their crops. Such inefficiencies, he said, increase transaction costs and slash potential profits for farmers.

He said the farmers business school (FBS) is a channel for the dissemination of management knowledge among farmers. The success of the programme in improving farmers’ income through increased yield and savings on production costs has stimulated an upsurge of demand for more programmes in other communities. On the workshop, he said trainers are drawn from Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) offices across the country and department of cooperatives of states involved in the programme. At the end, he said 100 cocoa farmers’ groups would be banded into vi-

able cooperatives, linking them with partners for sales of their products. This will lead to certifying the cooperatives. Cocoa farmers under this programme will be paid premium by chocolate firms of WCF. He said using the FBS model, 70, 000 cocoa farmers would be trained as entrepreneurs, thereby increasing their capacities to effectively manage their farms as businesses. The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, commended Socodevi Nigeria for introducing the business school, adding that the initiative will help promote agricultural growth.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

AGRICBUSINESS

Shrimp export facing certification challenge E XPORT of shrimps is facing certification challenge, the Programme Manager, Developing World Fisheries, Marine Stewardship Council, United Kingdom, Oluyemisi Oloruntuyi, has said. Speaking with The Nation on the sidelines of the first regional workshop on shrimp fisheries management plans for Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria in Lagos, Oloruntuyi said foreign buyers require imported shrimps that meet ecological and fair trade certification. She said the programme was intended to educate farmers on best practices, and that the government had taken the problem seriously. According to him, the programme would help businesses in Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroon

Stories by Daniel Essiet

export shrimps to foreign markets. The shrimp industry, according to experts, is worth over $18 billion annually. To be eligible for export, shipments must have certificates of origin, such as the name of the fishing vessel and the area. This regulation may pose a big challenge to fisheries’ businesses. But the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, said at the workshop that Nigerian shrimps have been recertified by the United States. This was after its State Department determined that the country’s commercial shrimp fishermen have taking measures to protect the endangered sea turtle during harvesting.

Mrs. Odusote, who was represented by a Director of Fisheries, Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), Foluke Areola, said the US State Department recertified Nigeria last year after the government enforced measures to ensure that fishermen were using sea turtle excluder devices (TEDs) during fishing. The TEDs prevent the accidental drowning of the turtles in the trawlers’ nets. She said the contributions of the fisheries sub-sector was significant in terms of increased food security, employment creation, income generation and poverty alleviation, among others. The subsector contributes five per cent to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she said, adding that government endorsed the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Man-

agement (EAF) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to assist African countries prepare their fisheries management plans. Odusote explained that the approach was developed in response to the need to implement the sustainability principles embodied in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Nigeria, she said, is collaborating with Cameroon and Gabon to implement the management of shrimp fisheries, adding that the government had taken steps to promote sustainability of marine fisheries and the ecosystems where they occur. To foster the development of the industry, Odusote said government was focusing on promoting a conducive business environment for operators.

• Oloruntuyi

‘Erosion threatening food production’

• Director, Western Africa, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Robert Asiedu (right) and staff member, Oyeyemi Azeez (left) checking on wireless weather station, Vantage Pro2 at IITA Station, Ikene, Ogun State.

Group decries smuggling

OVERNMENT’S failure to curb smuggling is hurting legitimate businesses in the agric sector, the National President, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr Victor Inyama, has said. Citing rice, which he claimed, is one of the most commonly smuggled products, Inyama said the government should be more serious with its anti-smuggling policy, as smuggling is compounding the problems of the sector. He added that the sector is facing challenges such as lack of technology and facilities. Inyama said the smuggling of rice, vegetables, meat and other products is slowing growth in the sector, which employs a good percentage of the country’s workforce. He said initiatives that would boost productivity and employment in the sector should be pursued, adding that development initiatives for the sector should go with strict measures against smuggling. Besides, Inyama advised youths to change the notion that they cannot build a career in agriculture, pointing out that the sector is embedded with opportunities that could help promote youth entrepreneurship and employment. While noting that most young people believe that

they cannot build a career in agriculture, he said groups needed to educate the young ones that agriculture is not just farming, but involves other aspects such as food production, processing, marketing and advertisements. He said many young people would not take the risk of establishing their own mid-sized farms, rather they would opt for a combination of part-time farming and supplying services to their neighbors such as machinery service, transport, simple veterinary services, and equipment repairs. Others may choose from an even wider range of wage-

‘Government should be more serious with its anti-smuggling policy, as smuggling is compounding the problems of the sector. The sector is facing challenges such as lack of technology and facilities’

based work, from unskilled labour to highly skilled ones on large commercial farms or in food processing. All of these options, he said, represent opportunities for young people. Inyama emphasised that farming could be the key to solving growing youth unemployment. He explained that youths are seeking to establish farms that are different from those of their parents and grandparents, but they are facing hurdles. According to him, youths want to move into high-value forms of production that earn higher incomes, but such farming requires skills and capital. Young people entering farming, he said, do so by renting land. But the poor development of rental markets is a major barrier to such opportunities. FACAN, he added, would work with government to make lands available to farmers. Those who can obtain land, he added, would need advice and mentoring to manage it well and access to grants or affordable loans to use as start-up capital. To take advantage of the opportunity, he said young farmers need skills to handle tasks and equipment, adding that FACAN is ready to assist. He said if effort is not made to encourage youths to take to farming, the nation will not produce cash crops.

AFEGUARDING the soil is critical to food production to increase in Nigeria, the Soil Science Society of Nigeria has said. The group warned that more topsoil from farms and forests are being washed away by wind and rain yearly, jeopardising efforts to increase food production. Arising from its 38th Annual Conference in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the society said soil erosion is reducing the quantity of food grown and increasing the risk of flooding. With the loss of soil, approximately 24 billion tones of food is lost yearly by wind and water erosion. The society said appropriate legislation is required for the regulation of land use and planning, proper land utilisation and soil management and exploitation. The society said the adverse effect of wind and water erosion is being felt in all agro-ecologies of the country. In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the society said farmlands are being lost at an accelerating rate, adding that agricultural land has become less fertile. If these problems are addressed, the society noted that food production would be boosted. The

society therefore, called on government to pay more attention to the soil and learn from how soil restoration measures have helped to increase crop yields. The society maintained that soil and land resources are vital to the achievement of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, food security and job creation initiatives, but lamented the non-involvement of soil scientists in erosion control programmes, as well as poor use of soil information among farmers in the farms visited. The society urged the government to address the absence of a land use policy to guide utilisation and management of lands/soils as well as enact appropriate legislation to regulate land use planning, utilisation and soil management and their exploitation. The society urged the National Assembly to consider the approval of the Nigerian Soil Science Institute Bill to address the soil resources management problems of the country, advance the education, science, technology and art of soil science to promote soil quality management, enhance agricultural production and environmental integrity.

FAO wants more budgetary allocations to agric

HE Food and Agriculture (FAO) representative in Nigeria, Ms. Louise Sethswaelo, has urged African Heads of State and Governments to increase their budgetary allocations to agriculture to achieve set goals. She made the call in an interview in Abuja. According to her, this has become necessary in view of the declaration of the year as the ‘Year of Agriculture‘ by the Heads of State and Governments at a summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January. “It is for the governments to increase their budgets on agriculture to have a facilitative role in promoting agriculture in the agriculture transformation in the African region. The private sector will then come in; but when they see us just talking, there is no demonstration in terms of providing resources, in terms of making sure that all the instruments that need to be put in place are there, then it just becomes talk with no action and very little result on the ground, “ Sethswaelo said. She commended African leaders for

demonstrating the political will by the various declarations on agriculture, thereby increasing the sector’s visibility. She however, regretted that African leaders failed to backed the declarations with resources to facilitate agricultural development on the continent. “We have had so many summits by the African Heads of States and Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). I think that what we need more is to make sure we implement the programmes because the declarations have been made. Whether I should call it the political will, maybe it is, but it needs to be backed up by resources to facilitate agricultural development in the African region. This is something that is still lagging behind,” she argued. Continuing, Sethswaelo said: “That is why for so many years after signing the CAADP and approving it, we are still lagging behind in terms of implementing the CAADP programme that was developed then and approved by the Heads of States and Governments.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL Emerging stock rally gains ground

• From left: European Union (EU) Monetary Affairs European Commissioner, Olli Rehn; Spanish Finance Minister, Elena Salgado; Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti and Luxembourg Prime Minister and President, Eurogroup, Jean Claude Juncker, at an EU event in Brussels. PHOTO: EPA

Cisco votes $1b for cloud technology

ISCO Systems Inc. is to invest $1 billion in pursuit of becoming the world’s leading hybrid cloud player, including the construction of “the world’s largest intercloud.” The vendor will be selling its enlarged Cisco Cloud Services portfolio directly, but has asserted that “the vast majority” of sales will still go through partners, and denies its cloud plans represent a “covert direct strategy.” The cloud of clouds will encompass private clouds built by both Cisco and its partners, Cisco Cloud Services, and public clouds — possibly including the likes of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google. Partners to have already nailed their colors to the Cisco cloud mast include Logicalis and Ingram Micro. Services will be offered under the Cisco brand — both direct and via a commodity resale model — as well as co-branded with partners and on a white-label basis. To offer services in a co-branded or white-label model, partners must be accredited under the Cisco Managed Services Program. Speaking at the vendor’s Partner

Summit in Las Vegas, Nick Earle, Cisco’s vice president of cloud sales, compared the mixed go-tomarket model to the vendor’s creation four years ago of 500 “transformational accounts,” which allowed top customers to choose whether they worked with Cisco, a partner, or both in unison. “Since then the data shows that the vast majority of sales [to the transformational accounts] is still through partners,” he explained. “We will take a similar approach [with Cloud Services], and we believe that the vast majority of sales will go through partners — this is not a covert direct strategy.” Chris Gabriel, chief technology officer at Gold partner Logicalis, gave his backing to Cisco’s cloud play and claimed “I do not see it as any kind of threat”, pointing out that Cisco has always been partner-friendly. He predicted that his firm will operate across all go-to-market models. “We need to be really smart about borrowing capacity from Cisco, blending it with our own, and creating a seamless service

for our customers,” he said. “[There will be] a bit of integration, a bit of Cisco-branded services, and a bit of our own-brand services. I see no reason why we wouldn’t be exploiting a little bit of all of those.” The Logicalis man forecast that the creation of an intercloud giving end users increased sight of different cloud models from different providers across the globe will lead to a degree of price standardization. But Gabriel asserted that the profitability opportunity for channel partners is similar to that in the product world. “It will force a little bit of price competition and price flattening, but that is not going to happen overnight,” he added. “Instead of margin coming from systems integration, it will come from service integration.” Services offered in the Cisco Cloud Services portfolio will cover infrastructure- and platform-as-aservice, collaboration, security, network infrastructure management and other remote management services, virtual desktops, mobile internet, video tools, and energy management.

Citic to expand Hong Kong presence

ITIC Group Corp., a stateowned company that de-

scribes itself as a pilot of China’s economic reform, plans to list the majority of its assets in Hong Kong by injecting them into its subsidiary Citic Pacific Ltd. Citic Pacific has signed a framework agreement to acquire Citic Group’s main operating unit — called Citic Ltd. — according to a statement today. The unit has total shareholder equity of 225 billion yuan ($36 billion), Citic Pacific said, without providing a total value for the deal. Citic Pacific will pay for the purchase in cash and new shares, with the terms still being negotiated, the company said. The move will expand the company’s presence in Hong Kong,

serving as a boon to the city after China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said it plans to conduct its initial public offering in the U.S. As part of the deal Citic plans to move its domicile to Hong Kong, two people with knowledge of the matter said earlier today. “With its established legal framework, high governance standards, international connectivity and strong talent pool, Hong Kong remains the ideal place for the next phase of our development and we are deeply committed to this market,” Chang Zhenming, Citic Pacific chairman, said in the statement today. At $36 billion, the deal would top China Mobile Ltd.’s $32 billion purchase of seven wireless

networks from its parent, to be the largest such asset injection into a Hong Kong-listed unit by a Chinese company, data compiled by Bloomberg show. China’s stateowned companies transfer assets to their listed entities in Hong Kong to raise funds and increase access to capital markets. Citic Pacific currently has a market value of about $6 billion. “The Board believes the proposed transaction would greatly increase the breadth and scale of our business,” Chang said in today’s statement. Beijing-based Citic Group, China’s first state-owned investment corporation, was set up in 1979 as part of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s push to modernise and open up China’s state-controlled economy.

BoE to sign agreement with China on Yuan clearing

HE Bank of England and People’s Bank of China plan to sign an agreement next week to enable the clearing and settlement of yuan transactions in London as the United Kingdom(UK) seeks to become an offshore hub for trading the currency. An initial agreement stipulating cooperation between the central banks will be signed March 31, the U.K. Treasury said in an e-mailed statement today. The accord will be the first of its kind outside Asia, according to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, who said he is looking forward to the appoint-

ment of a clearing bank soon. “Other Western countries will follow, but London now has the critical mass of infrastructure, helping to put Britain at the front of the global race,” Osborne said in the statement. London is competing with European cities, including Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich and Luxembourg, to lure Chinese investment by becoming centers for yuan trading. The BOE in June became the first central bank in Europe to establish a currencyswap facility with the PBOC, supporting yuan traders by providing liquidity when needed.

More than 60 percent of yuan payments outside China are made in London, the Treasury said, citing SWIFT data. London asset managers can invest directly in Chinese stocks in the currency, unlike fund managers in other Western nations. Prime Minister David Cameron and Osborne sought to boost trade with emerging-market economies, with both leading business delegations to China in 2013. Cameron and President Xi Jinping discussed cooperation between the two central banks at a meeting of the Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands.

N EMERGING-MARKET stocks rose for a fourth day, heading for the longest stretch of gains since October, as corporate profits in China beat estimates while the highest US consumer confidence since 2008 boosted sentiment. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index added one per cent to 967.96 at 11:19 a.m. in London, the highest level since March 7. A gauge of Chinese shares in Hong Kong climbed 1.6 per cent. China Mengniu Dairy Co. surged the most in 10 months after posting larger profits.Russia’s Micex Index climbed to a one-week high and the ruble strengthened for a fourth day versus the dollar. India’s rupee rallied to an eight-month high. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., the nation’s third-largest lender, reported higher earnings and improved margins. Data today will show higher United States durable goods orders and faster services growth, economists estimate. The International Monetary Fund will deliver an assessment to Ukraine on its bailout request as the US musters support for penalising Russia for its annexation of Crimea.

“News flow on the positive side, combined with low valuations and oversold markets, is luring some investors back to” developing nations, Hertta Alava, the head of emerging markets at FIM Asset Management Ltd. in Finland, said by e-mail. “There have been some good corporate results in China. Russia is seeing a bit of a relief rally after things haven’t escalated more in Ukraine.” The emerging-markets gauge has fallen 3.6 per cent this year and trades at 8.6 times projected 12-month earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The MSCI World Index is little changed in the year, and is valued at 14.7 times. All 10 industry groups in the developing nation gauge climbed, led by technology stocks and energy companies. Samsung Electronics Co., which gets about 30 per cent of its sales from America, gained 3.1 per cent in Seoul, the most since February 21. OAO Gazprom, the world’s largest producer of natural gas, climbed 3 percent in Moscow, while Johannesburg-based Sasol Ltd. added 2.2 per cent.

UK Treasury raises 4.2b pounds in Lloyds share sale

LLOYDS bank sign sits outside a branch operated by the Lloyds Banking Group Plc in London. The United Kingdom (UK) government sold a 4.2 billion-pound ($6.95 billion) stake in Lloyds Banking Group Plc, its second disposal since rescuing the lender in the financial crisis. The government sold the shares to money managers for 75.5 pence apiece, 4.6 per cent less than yesterday’s closing price, UK Financial Investments Ltd., which oversees the government’s stake in the bank, said in a statement today. The sale cuts the UK’s stake in Lloyds to less than 25 per cent from 33 per cent. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, constrained by the biggest austerity programme since World War II, could use the proceeds from the offerings to fund tax cuts or more spending before the next general election, due next year. “The sale has secured further value for the taxpayer and will be used to pay down the national debt,” the Treasury said in a statement. “It is part of the government’s long term economic plan to build a stronger and safer banking sector.”

The U.K. last sold a 3.2 billionpound holding, about six per cent of Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, to money managers in September. The shares were sold for 75 pence each. The stock fell 4.9 per cent to 75.20 pence in London trading today. That’s still above the 61 pence price at which the government says it will break even after providing a 20 billion-pound rescue in 2008. Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley and UBS AG managed the offering. Lazard acted as capital-markets adviser. The government has agreed not to sell any more shares for 90 days following the disposal. This week’s sale may be followed in coming months by the first offering of Lloyds shares to individual investors. Lloyds Chief Executive Officer Antonio HortaOsorio said last month he will ask regulators in the second half for permission to restart dividend payments, the lender’s first since 2008. The Treasury said in December it plans to give taxpayers the opportunity to buy Lloyds shares “when the time is right” after a sale to money managers.

US aid for Ukraine soon, sanctions underway for Russia

ROSPECTS are improving for United States’ congressional approval of an aid package for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, as House and Senate lawmakers resolve differences between the chambers. A bill could be ready for President Barack Obama’s signature by week’s end. Capitol Hill is rife with bipartisan desire to respond to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and congressional action has never been in serious doubt. “The world is watching,” said Democrat Robert Menendez, the Chairma, Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And the world’s superpower cannot be seen as incapable of rising to Russia’s challenge.” But the exact formulation of a bill to assist Ukraine and punish Russia hit a partisan snag earlier this week. Some Republicans objected to a provision in a bill before the Democratic-led Senate that would have shifted U.S. contributions to the International Monetary Fund so as to

facilitate IMF loans to Ukraine and other nations in times of duress. Democrats and the Obama administration defended the measure as beneficial to Ukraine and the global financial system. Skeptical Republicans said it would impose costs on U.S. taxpayers. While Senate debate dragged on, leaders in the Republican-led House of Representatives signaled the provision would not pass their chamber. Late Tuesday, Senate Democrats conceded defeat and dropped the IMF measure. “You are going to get your way today,” Menendez told his Republican colleagues. “And I would hope that the rest of this package - which provides a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine, that provides sanctions against the Russian regime and others who corrupted the previous Ukrainian government and who have violated its territorial integrity - all other elements of this legislation should have universal support.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28 2014

COMMENTARY

NIGERIAN of global recognition, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Lemu, an erstwhile Grand Qadi of Niger State and Chairman of Presidential Panel on Nigeria’s Post-Election riots in 2011, is one of the five winners of this year’s (2014) King Faisal International Awards. He won the Prize not only for Service to Islam but also in recognition of his efforts towards educational development particularly his defence of Muslim women’s rights as well as his initiative in combating religious extremism in Nigeria. Other winners of the award in various categories this year include: Prof. Gerd Faltings of Germany (for Science); Prof. Yuk Ming Dennis Lo of China/UK (for Medicine); Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim Allawi AlBussabah of Iraq (Prize for Arabic Language and Literature), and H.E. Professor Abdul Wahab Bin Ibrahim Abou Sulaiman of Saudi Arabia (for Islamic Studies). The monetary value of the prize in each of the five categories consists of the following: 1. A hand written Diwani calligraphy certificate, summarising the Laureate’s work. 2. A commemorative 24 carat 200 gram gold medal uniquely cast for each prize. 3. A cash endowment of SR 750,000 (US$200,000). Co-winners in any category share the monetary grant. The Prizes are awarded during a ceremony in Riyadh Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia.

FEMI ABBAS ON

MKO’s role

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Sheikh Lemu’s award that they enjoyed fundamental human rights while enhancing their well-being. However, the established calm was shattered in 1865 by a renewed Ottoman campaign which sought to further extend its Middle Eastern empire into the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, faced by a much larger and better equipped army, Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Saud was forced to abandon his struggle in 1891. He sought refuge with the Bedouin tribes in the vast sand desert of eastern Arabia known as the Rub’ AlKhali, or ‘Empty Quarter from where his family left for Kuwait to settle down until 1902. With him on that trip was his young son Abdulaziz, who was already making his mark as a future leader.

Profile

Sheikh Lemu who is Chairman, Council of Trustees, Islamic Relief Commission Office, will join other four other winners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the conferment of the award on Sunday, March 30, 2014. A devout Muslim, composed intellectual, and an advocate of moderation and open-mindedness, Sheikh Lemu is a member of several international Islamic organisations worldwide. He is the second Nigerian to win the prestigious award the first being the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi who won the award in the same category in 1987. Sheikh Lemu’s legendary efforts towards enhancement of education, development and call to Islam are evident in his series of lectures, seminars and class tutorials. He has authored many Islamic books, pamphlets and school references thereby fulfilling a significant part of the needs of Nigerian community. He also serves as an important resource person for many Nigerian Muslim generations, helping them to understand Islam and to expand their knowledge of the religion. Sheikh Lemu is a frontline scholar playing a significant role in defending Muslim women’s rights an effort that culminated in the establishment of the Union of Muslim Women’s Societies in Nigeria and promotion of peaceful co-existence among the various religious and tribal groups against sectarian violence. It is also due to his effort that the Islamic Da‘awah (Propagation) Institute aimed at combating extremism was established. He has won several national and international accolades and prizes for his services to Islam. Lemu has a solid educational background in both Islamic and western systems. He started his career as a teacher under the Bida Native Authority and was at different times, principals of the School for Arabic Studies (SAS), Kano, and the Arabic Teachers’ College, Sokoto. He was appointed Grand Qadi of Niger State after the creation of the state in 1976. Born 85 years ago in Lemu, Niger State, Sheikh Lemu is a national and world acclaimed Muslim scholar and jurist. The President of the Minna, Niger Statebased, Islamic Education Trust (IET), he is married to a British woman, (Aisha Lemu) who embraced Islam at his instance and also became an author of several Islamic books. The delegation to the occasion which will take place on Sunday, March 30, 2014 will be led by Nigeria’s VicePresident, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo.

King Faisal Foundation

The King Faisal Foundation was established in 1976 by the sons of King Faisal who was just murdered. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Foundation is Prince Muhammed while its Managing

of Federal Republic (CFR). Six months later, the King Faisal Foundation announced Sheikh Gumi as a winner of the Foundation’s prize thereby making him the first black African to win that prestigious award. At that point, the same federal government that rallied round Wole Soyinka decided to switch off and pretended not to hear of Gumi’s award winning.

The Modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia •Sheikh Lemu

Director is Prince Khalid Al-Faisal. The foundation is one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the world. The Arabian Peninsula now called Saudi Arabia consisted of two major components (Hijaz and Najd) which existed independently of each other until 1932 when the two were fused together by a Prince called Abdul Aziz Bn Abdur-Rahman AlSaud who named it Saudi Arabia and became its first King. People had inhabited Hijaz and Najd since 15000 to 20000 years before the coming into existence of the modern state. But in the early 18th century, a Muslim scholar and reformer named Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab began to advocate a return to the original form of Islam. For this, Abdul Wahhab was initially persecuted by local religious scholars and leaders who viewed his teachings as a threat to their power bases. He therefore sought protection in the town of Diriyah, which was then ruled by Muhammad Bin Saud. Both Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahhab and Muhammad Bin Saud jointly resolved to dedicate themselves to the restoration of pure Islamic teaching in the community. With that resolution, Bin Saud established the First Saudi State, which prospered under the spiritual guidance of Bin Abdul Wahhab, simply called Sheikh. By 1788, the Saudi State was already ruling over the entire Central Peninsula called Najd and by the early 19th century, its rule had extended to most parts of Hijaz, including Makkah and Madinah. However, the popularity and success of the Al-Saud rulers aroused the suspicion of the Ottoman Empire, the then dominant power in the Middle East and North Africa. And in 1818, the Ottomans dispatched a large expeditionary force armed with modern artillery to the western region of Arabia and besieged Diriyah, which by then had grown into one of the largest cities in the peninsula. Ottoman forces leveled the city with artillery and made it permanently uninhabitable by destroying all its social and economic means of living including wells and date palms.

The Second Saudi State

In 1824, the Al-Saud family regained political control of central Arabia and the then ruler, Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud, transferred his capital to Riyadh, some 20 miles south of Diriyah, and established the Second Saudi State. During his 11-year rule, Turki succeeded in retaking most of the lands lost to the Ottomans and endeared his rule to his people by ensuring

The young Abdulaziz was determined to regain his royal patrimony from AlRashid family which had taken over Riyadh and established a government there backed by an Ottoman garrison. Accompanied by only 40 men with implacable determination, AbdulAziz staged a daring night march on Riyadh to displace the city garrison known as the Masmak Fortress. This historic event marked the beginning of the formation of the modern Saudi state. And on September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Islamic state with Arabic as its national language and the Holy Qur’an as its constitution. The Prize award wing of King Faisal Foundation is dedicated to the support of intellectual development and knowledge. While announcing the names of 2014 winners of the award recently, the Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees said “Every day, in every corner of the (Saudi Arabian) Kingdom, we are working to build educational establishments to improve the lives of our people. This prize is an expression of that”. The yearly King Faisal International Prize is the Arab world’s most respected award, often referred to as the “Arab Nobel Prize” as many of its recipients have also received the Nobel Prize in their respective fields. The Foundation rewards individuals and institutions whose accomplishments are not only exceptional in their own right, but also make significant contributions to human knowledge and development.

Memory Lane

A mild drama occurred in 1987 when the late Sheikh Gumi won the Prize. Gumi’s award was announced barely six months after Professor Wole Soyinka won Nobel Laurel in September 1986. General Ibrahim Babangida was then in the saddle as President. The latter’s government and Wole Soyinka did not see eye to eye, before then, for many reasons. But when the award was announced, the government saw an opportunity in it to silence a chronic critic by appeasing him with a governmental largess. On the order of President Babangida, the then federal government quickly zoomed into action by arranging a large entourage to accompany the first black African Laureate to Stockholm where the award was to be conferred. The group was conveyed in a national air jet. All the expenses were borne by the government. And on arrival at the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Lagos, Wole Soyinka was met with the national honour of Commander

It took the singular effort of the late business mogul, Bashorun MKO Abiola to arrange for the reception of the award in Riyadh as he chartered a jet for that purpose. Abiola quickly invited some prominent Nigerian professionals, technocrats, clerics and academics (200 of them in all), to form a befitting entourage for Sheikh Gumi and he bore the cost. Abiola’s action was to prevent any feeling of rejection in Gumi as a Nigerian. Observing this obvious injustice, yours sincerely, then a journalist and a columnist in Concord as well as a Personal Assistant to MKO, decided put pen to paper and exposed the government’s hypocrisy querying its decision to favour a citizen and disfavour another on a similar issue in the same country where both were freeborn citizens. The article reverberated across the length and breadth of the country and sent jitters to the government even as the matter became the talk of the town. Sensing the implications of such a discriminating attitude, General Babangida’s government suddenly changed gear. An official message was sent belatedly to Abiola asking him to hands off the arrangement, saying the government was ready to take it over and bear its cost. But Abiola, a democrat to the core, would not take a unilateral decision on such a sensitive matter. He summoned his think-tank cabinet, including yours sincerely, to a meeting for deliberation on the matter and a consensus was reached that the government should appoint a delegation to meet with a private delegation from the plan already on ground to reach a compromise. The two teams met at the office a Colonel (name not remembered) who then served as secretary to the then military Chief of Staff at the old Senate building, Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. Alhaji Liad Tella, (an editor in Concord and a member of MKO’s kitchen cabinet) and I were the chief negotiators. At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that the entourage be divided into two equally (i.e. 100 for the federal government and 100 for the private arrangement. The understanding was that the federal government would bear the cost of its nominated members while MKO would bear the cost of the private team). Yours sincerely was part of the entourage to Riyadh.

Philanthropic Magnanimity

Meanwhile, since 200 people had been invited for the Abiola team while the government came up with extra 100 nominees what would then become of those earlier invited with their passports already submitted for ticket and visa? This was a big question which also took MKO some time to answer. Abiola said since he had fully budgeted for the trip, it would be unfair to return people’s passport without travelling. He then announced that those who could not make the Riyadh list should proceed to Makkah for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) a decision that satisfied everybody. And on reaching Saudi Arabia, MKO just went ahead to cater for everybody not minding the list or the team they belonged. At least, nobody received less than $2000 from MKO’s personal pocket. Some people were even paid $5000, some received $4000 and some were paid $3000 depending on their respective status. We pray the Almighty Allah to bless the soul of both MKO Abiola and that of Sheikh Abubakar Gumi. Today, with a second Nigerian (Sheikh Lemu) winning the prestigious award, history seems to have rekindled its brilliant glow in favour of Nigeria and we are lucky to witness the fit. ‘The Message’ hereby joins all well-wishing Nigerians in congratulating Nigeria’s latest Laureate for achieving this exemplary glory and wishes him longer life with sound health and the best of AL—AKHIRAH. Amin!

POLITICS

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

TINUBU AT 62 All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is 62 years old this week. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the political struggles and ideas of the acclaimed opposition leader.

Tinubu: His vision, battles and 2015 calculations

HE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stands before the mirror of history as he celebrates his 62nd birthday. What is discernable from the mirror? He is a consummate politician, consistent democrat, tested and trusted leader, towering progressive arrowhead, seasoned administrator, financial surgeon, great organiser, powerful mobiliser, master strategist, defender of the oppressed, apostle of the rule of law, foremost philanthropist, and a citizen of the world. But, what will occupy his mind on his birthday, despite the festivities, is the plight of Nigerians who lack access to electricity, good roads, employment, health care system, security and other good things of life. Like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Asiwaju of Lagos will be thinking about the problems of Nigeria and how to make life more abundant for the people. As the polity gazes at 2015, Tinubu has a mission to fulfill. Between 1999 and now, he has played the role of an indomitable opposition leader, firing shots at the centre for debasing the principles of true federalism. With the release of the APC manifestos Tinubu and his colleagues in the main opposition party are now pushing for power shift. The alternative ideas that he is canvassing are being tested in 16 states with measured success. For the fledgling federation to survive, the former Lagos State governor has maintained that the ruling party should take a break from governance at the centre next year. Many commentators have argued that Tinubu’s struggles and his compatriots’ battles for a better society can only be worthwhile, if there is a paradigm shift in governance at the centre. They also believe that, with uncanny courage, the soldier of democracy, who is endowed with mega capabilities to spearhead the legitimate agitations, can lead the progressives to explore the alternative route to solutions to the fundamental questions. The APC has declared that this exploration has become compelling, in view of the obvious poor performance of the Jonathan Administration. In the view of observers, the resolve, resilience and determination to get to the promised land must never fail the great leader in this challenging period. Yet, Asiwaju’s platform is on the weighing scale. Eyes are also on the politician, who a political disciple and Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Bosun Jeje, described as a formidable leader and an oak tree offering shades to a vast progressive followership. How will the APC resolve the challenge of formalising its leadership at its inaugural convention? How will its presidential candidate and his running mate emerge? How can the party dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power? Last year, the umpire bungled the Anambra State governorship election. Can the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guarantee free and fair polls? More than the wining and dining, these are the issues that agitate the APC leader. Tinubu kicked off the liberation struggle from his Southwest base. Thus, he is not a prophet without honour at home. In 2003, he agonised over the loss of the region to the conservative interlopers. Except in Lagos, progress was at a standstill for the next four years. Tinubu successfully coordinated the battle for the restoration of progressive administrations in the five states. To displace the progressives from regional power, the PDP hawks penetrated the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and crippled the platform. That was when the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, the Afenifere, was in a serious crisis.The anti-Obasanjo leaders of the Action Congress (AC) were heart-broken. The old party, the AD, was in ruins. Tinubu, the lone AD governor, was troubled. The man of foresight, working in concert with like minds, spearheaded the establishment of the AC), which later metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In 2010, the party reclaimed Ekiti and Osun states from the PDP. A year later, it dislodged the PDP from power in Ogun and Oyo states. The epic battle served as the bridge that connected the past to the present. The late Awo, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya and Ige had advocated that only rational governments reputed for progressive tendencies should steer the affairs of the Southwest. The dream was fulfilled, with the ascension of Kayode Fayemi, Rauf Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi to power in Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states. Tinubu grew up in a political family. Her mother, the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, was a popular politician and women mobiliser in the days of the Action Group (AG), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). Little did he guess that he would later emerge as a political colossus. It can be said that he became a politician by accident. During the long military interregnum, some old politicians dragged him into the fray. When he crossed the bridge from the board room to politics, the promising auditor took the polity by storm. He started politics at the top, emerging as a senator in the Third Republic. The two worlds of business and politics moulded the character of the

• Asiwaju Tinubu

‘How will the APC resolve the challenge of formalising its leadership at its inaugural convention? How will its presidential candidate and his running mate emerge? How can the party dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power? Last year, the umpire bungled the Anambra State governorship election. Can the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guarantee free and fair polls? More than the wining and dining, these are the issues that agitate the APC leader’ professional accountant-turned political megastar. In the board room, he was a shrewd businessman and core investor, manager of men and resources and a benevolent capitalist. But when he entered politics, be became a consummate activist, prolific analyst, strategic thinker, humanist, philanthropist, astute administrator, visionary leader, man of foresight, courageous fighter, a peoples’ politician and a soldier of democracy. Tinubu has a notion of power. To him, politics is a vocation and the scramble for power is only meaningful, if power, which, in his opinion, is never served a lacarte, is used to create a new lease of life for the generality of the people. Between 1999 and 2007, Tinubu used power to raise the status of Lagos State. His achievements are indelible. Indeed, he laid the foundation for the Fashola Administration. Had Tinubu listened to his colleagues’ advice to shun politics, the story would have been different today. His former boss, Chief Pius Akinyelure, recalled that Tinubu was a workaholic Mobil treasurer, who never compromised the organisational goals of productivity, efficiency and office ethics. The chief from Ondo State had initially discouraged him from leaving his lucrative job. But, Tinubu insisted on moving on. Akinyelure only assured him that he was free to retrace his steps, if the political field proved to be hot. However, since 1989, when Tinubu placed his hands on the plough, he has not looked back. His senatorial form was obtained for him by his cousin, Alhaji Kola Oseni. In Lagos West Senatorial District, the technocrat deployed political prowess, mobilisation acumen, organisational ability, and masterful logic. During the senatorial screening, Tinubu, a green horn, scored the highest mark. He answered highly technical questions with immensurable wit from the panel headed by Chief Lanre Rasak. Old politicians on the panel, who had written off the new breed, had to change their mind. “We predicted that Tinubu will shake Lagos politics and it has been so”, recalled Rasak, who is now an APC chieftain. During the historic senatorial contest, Tinubu defeated the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, Mrs. Kemi

Nelson, with a wide margin. He scored the highest number of senatorial votes in the country to represent the largest senatorial district. His compatriots in that turbulent Third Republic Senate of Dr Iyorcha Ayu and Ameh Ebute often marvelled at his sagacity. The Lagos West senator was a high flyer, tactician, and thorn in the flesh of the Babangida regime. He was on the firing line, challenging the regime to a duel. When the regime fell, the chain of events that followed aborted his career in the Senate. As a senator, he had objected to the annulment of the free and fair presidential election won by the SDP candidate, the late Basorun Moshood Abiola, the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland. The poll was conducted on June 12, 1993. Tinubu joined the pro-democracy crusaders in their demand for the deannulment of the credible election. He was an inspiring and principled fighter for justice anchored by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). His dedication, courage of conviction, untiring fighting spirit and financial backing for a noble cause sustained the crusade for justice. But, the battle was not totally won. The annulment was not reversed, despite the cries of despondency. But the military was forced out of power. During the June 12 crisis, which lasted between 1993 and 1998, several attempts were made against the lives of pro-democracy crusaders by the military. Their houses were razed. Tinubu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and Gen. Alani Akinrinade went on exile. From there, he fired salvos at the military. He inspired many pro-democracy groups at home and abroad, whose activities led to the restoration of civil rule in 1999. In 1998, the former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, announced a transition programme. It was distressing to Tinubu that the symbol of the struggle, Abiola, was not released by the former military leader. He died in mysterious circumstances in detention. When Gen. Abdulsalami unfolded his transition programme, the radical wing of the political class was skeptic. There was division in the ranks of the pro-democracy movement. A section supported the transition. Another would not participate. When Tinubu returned to Nigeria, he told his supporters that he wanted to return to the Senate. But the Lagos-based Afenifere leaders of Ogun State origin, including Pa Adesanya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, preferred Tinubu to the late Mr. Funso Williams of the Network Alliance, who had the support the late Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, for the governorship. He emerged as the AD candidate and defeated the PDP flag bearer, Chief Dapo Sarunmi, at the election. Tinubu made history as the governor of the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for eight years. The shrewd administrator was on top of every situation. His attention was diverted by litigation over his university certificate. But, he triumphed over his foes. The former governor jerked the internally generated revenue from the N6,000 monthly to billions. Tinubu fought the infrastructural battle in the city state. He constructed roads, built hospitals and schools, created opportunities for employment and sanitised the transport sector. The judiciary reforms he introduced were legendary. When his term was about to expire, he groomed a competent successor. Also, Tinubu said that the continuity of the development agenda was important. The former governor created additional 37 councils in Lagos State. The move was resented by the Federal Government. When the Lagos State allocation was seized by the Federal Government, his creative engineering paid off. The state survived because it relied on its internally generated revenue. This is a lesson Lagos State will continue to treasure. Today, he is perceived by the governors of the Southwest as a role model and pride of the region. His sphere of influence cuts across the 16 states, which are the strongholds of the APC. In politics and private life, Tinubu is reputed for philanthropy. He is a cheerful giver, benefactor and godfather to the oppressed, like his friend, the late MKO Abiola. But more than that, Tinubu is a detribalised apostle of national unity. Rewards for politics and community service have come in various dimensions. He has received many honorary chieftaincy titles. They include the Asiwaju of Lagos, conferred on him by the late Eleko of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, the Aare of Ile-Oluji and the Aare Ago of Egbaland. As the polity prepares for the next year’s elections, attention is focussed on Tinubu and the APC. It is now the fastest growing party. The APC is in control of 16 states. In these states, the governors are performing. In 2015, it hopes to form the government at the centre to replicate these achievemnts. This is Tinubu’s priority. Paying tribute to Tinubu, former Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince Rotimi Agunsoye described him as a mentor and role model to many politicians. He said the APC leader spearheaded the return of the Southwest to its glorious past, adding that the region is now better under the APC governments. Agunsoye also said that the former Lagos State governor deserves commendation •Continued on page 46

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

POLITICS TINUBU AT 62 In this piece, Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Alhaji Toyin Balogun extols the virtues of the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who clocks 62 tomorrow.

“L

EADERSHIP is the capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character to inspire confidence”. This statement by Field Marshall Montgomery is apt today as the progressives celebrate the indomitable leader of opposition, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at 62. Tinubu is a great democrat, indefatigable leader; steadfast and committed to worthy principles; an apostle of good governance, a philanthropist and an advocate of true federalism. A leadership contest is naturally won not only by electoral processes, but by certain demonstration of leadership skills in all ramifications. Hence, Tinubu had picked the gauntlet and battled the challenges of his rather traumatic and difficult youth with courage only attributable to the lionhearted. Tinubu was born in Lagos on March 29, 1952 to the illustrious Tinubu family of Lagos State. He left Nigeria for the United State of America in 1975 in search of the proverbial golden fleece with an unrelenting determination to achieve his vision. He was on the honours’ list at the Richard Daley College. He subsequently transferred to the Chicago State University, Illinois, graduating in 1979. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management). During his stay at the Chicago State University, Tinubu was given the rare privilege of partly teaching other students in the remedial tutorial classes. Most of his colleagues and contemporaries at the University attributed their improved grades to his tutorial lectures. Throughout his undergraduate years, he was on the Dean’s list. He was also honoured with the ‘Outstanding Student’s Award, the University Scholar’s Award and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance. He was also awarded the prestigious “sumna cum Laude” for scoring 3:54 out of the possible 4.00GP. After his graduation, he cut his professional teeth at the Arthur Anderson, Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now Deloitte

• Asiwaju Tinubu, Mr Bola Obale and Balogun at a political function in Lagos.

Tinubu: An iconic leader at 62

Haskins and Touche) and GTE Service Corporation, the largest communication and utility company in the USA. At Deloitte Haskins and Sells, the young professional broadened his experience by participating in the auditing and management consultancy services of General Motors, First National Bank of Chicago, Procter and Gamble, International Harvester, GEC and other Fortune 500 firms. Armed with international experience in financial management, Tinubu joined the Mobil Producing Nigeria as a Senior Auditor. He rose to the position of Treasurer before he retired. As a pragmatic, charitable, articulate and grassroots’ person, Tinubu saw communal service as a veritable tool for social development. He never hesitated to serve his community. He spearheaded several financial contributions and fund-raising for community development programmes in Lagos State. He was active in the Primrose Group, a political organization pushing for fundamental changes in the politics of Lagos State. He opted for public service, instead of staying on lucrative job at Mobil. His first foray into active politics was as a founding member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1992, he was elected as a senator to represent the Lagos West District. In the Senate, he distinguished himself as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency.

Following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Tinubu became a member of the famous pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which, for several years, protested the annulment. He subsequently suffered many arrests and political detention, harassments and constant threats to his life, which forced him to flee Nigeria for his personal safety. He however, did not give up the struggle as he joined NADECO abroad to continue the agitation for the restoration of democratic governance and the rule of law . In 1998, Tinubu returned to Nigeria. A year later, he was elected as the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). As an astute political strategist, he survived the massive incursion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Southwest. He was always on collision with the PDP-led Federal Government, especially when his administration created additional 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) for Lagos State. When the Federal Government withheld the allocation to Lagos State, the Supreme Court gave a judgment in favour of the Tinubu Administration. Despite the unconstitutional suspension of Local Government allocation, his administrative intelligence did not

only put the cosmopolitan state in the socio-politico-economic transformational pedestal, but his leadership maturity and interpersonal relationship brilliantly impressed the cooperate bodies, multinational companies, civil servants and well-meaning Nigerians to chart a common view in support of the new councils. Tinubu has Chief Obafemi Awolowo as his hero and role model. He is a progressive politician. He is bold and he determined to pursue a good cause. He spearheaded the battle for the restoration of stolen mandates in Ekiti and Osun states. His fearlessness, consistency and leadership qualities were are assets to the Southwest. Without any iota of doubt, the beneficiaries of this political revival in the Southwest have good tales to tell. Tinubuwas actively involved in the formation of the defunct Action Congress (AC) as political recourse to the decimated Alliance for Democracy (AD). The AC later metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In 2011, a spirited attempt was made by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to forge an alliance for the purpose of winning presidential election. But, it did not yield the desire results, owing to some irreconcilable differences. But, the APC came into existence. The prospect of an alternative platform has ultimately rekindled the

surely do well on the House. I am happy that I have not disappointed him and other leaders.” The legislator said that the task before Tinubu is that of leading the APC to victory in 2015. Taraba State APC leader Senator Joel Ikenya described Tinubu as an electoral reform curator, adding that he is passionate about the sanctity

of the ballot box. He said: “Many people follow Asiwaju because he has the qualities of a leader. He is forthright, sincere, dedicated and committed to the cause of the common man.” Lagos APC stalwart and Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Council Hon. Ayodele Adewale lauded the disposition of Tinubu to the youth. He

hope that the opposition can overcome the weakness imposed by their slight differences. The prediction of Awo came into reality. Awo had said that “one day, the best in the progressives and the best in the conservatives will come together to rule this nation” In retrospect, the leadership roles of Tinubu in the historical development of progressivism in Nigeria cannot be ignored. He had successfully mobilised other progressive personalities and some notable conservative leaders to form a mega party, the APC. It is a conglomeration of political parties with the determination to rekindle a deep sense of patriotism and nationalism, powered by sound ideals and lofty programmes, making it a credible alternative to the PDP within a few months. The APC National Leader has leadership acumen. He is a visionary leader. with distinguished policy. He has deployed his talents and resources to the betterment of the masses. He rallied eminent Nigerians in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) led by General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd); the All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP) led by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) led by Chief Great Ogboru; the Action Congress of Nigeria and a splinter of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Chief Rochas Okorocha. It is very important to note that BAT not only sold sound ideals and programmes on the fresh platform, but he has also projected the party as the platform that will find lasting solutions to insecurity, unemployment, corruption and the need to reposition the country for rapid development. Today, the legacies of Tinubu form the foundation on which his successor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), hs former Chief of Staff, has continued to build. the Executive Governor of Lagos State, who had served as his Chief of staff. It is quite interesting to note that the continuation of Tinubu’s outstanding policies makes the present administration of Lagos State a model in Nigeria. Tinubu is married to the equally vibrant and indefatigable wife, Yeye Asiwaju Oluremi Tinubu, the APC senator from the Lagos Central. At 62, the Asiwaju of Lagos still has a lot to offer to Nigeria. He is a man of honour. He is a dependable leader. He is a man of courage. On your mandate we shall stand, Bola. March on to the actualization of your anticipated true federalism in Nigeria. Tshe sky is your starting point in your quest for service to humanity. Happy birthday and many happy returns of the year. Great lofty heights attain.

Tinubu: An opposition leader and his 2015 calculations

•Continued from page 45

for his patriotism, love for Nigeria and push for change at the centre at a time the polity is fed up with the inept Federal Government. Also, he hailed his commitment to the resolution of the national question, noting that he has championed the crusade for true federalism, decentralisation of power, state police and good governance. “Our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, is the opposition leader today. I believe that he and his colleagues in the apex leadership of the APC will lead the party to victory in 2015,” he added. Lagos APC chieftain Olajide Jimoh, described Tinubu as “the Tutor-General of Nigerian politics”. “He has raised many leaders who are serving society at various tiers. He is a leader who does not discriminate. He has a milk of human kindness”, said Jimoh, who is the Chairman of Yaba Council. Lagos State Special Duties Commissioner Dr. Wale Ahmed also paid tribute to Tinubu, saying that he is a lover and developer of talents. He recalled that the former governor set up a cabinet of talent in Lagos State, which was second to

none in the country between 1999 and 2007. “Tinubu has proved himself as a nationalist fighting for true federalism and entrenchment of due process,” he said. Urging him not to relent on raising the fundamental question, the commissioner emphasised that the national question cannot be resolved without social and political agitation. The House of Representatives member from Ikorodu, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described Tinubu as a caring and compassionate leader. He also praised him for mentoring the youth. The lawmaker said many leaders of the Southwest owe their rise to power to the indefagigable leader. Tinubu deserves applause for political mentoring, she said. Mrs DabiriErewa also hailed Tinubu for initiating the idea of regional integration, which may return the Southwest to its glorious days. Mrs DabiriErewa said Tinubu played a great role in her emergence as a legislator. She said: “When I signified my intention to go to the federal parliament, there were some opposition to my bid. But he was discreet as a leader. He observed that, if I had been able to perform well as a broadcaster, I would

pointed out that, as a leader, he has given opportunities to many youths to excel. “He has interest in the younger generation. That is why he always give opportunities to youths and women to participate in politics and contribute their quota to development. He is a leader who is building other leaders for the purpose of the future,” Adewale added.

APC chieftain lauds Tinubu’s qualities

AGOS State All Progressive Con gress (APC) chieftain Hon. Kola Okesanjo has lauded the leadership qualities of the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He described him as a master strategist with vision for a new Nigeria. Okesanjo told reporters in Lagos that the former Lagos State governor has become a political institution, urging his followers to remain loyal to him. He said that, in a country where leadership is critical to national development, Tinubu has shown a great example. The party stalwalt said that the great leader has an unfinished task of mobilising for power shift at the centre in the national interest. He said

Nigeria has hope, if the APC can form the next government. Okesanjo said: “Tinubu, who is the avatar of the Southwest, is undoubtedly a replica of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and you will quite agree with me that his cap, eye glasses and political sagacity have vindicated him. “In the last one and half decades in this Fourth Republic, there’s no opposition as formidable as the APC. The important thing to note is that Asiwaju’s leadership has helped to formulate and implement sound polices that have contributed to better the well being of the people either when personally running government or when his disciples are in charge in the APC state.

“From all indications, we hope to see greater development and improvement in the lives of Nigerians from 2015 when Nigerians will likely confer the leadership of the country on t0he APC and when this happens, the tireless efforts and astute leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be real. He is a great leader”. The politician said that Tinubu’s disciples, especially Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have also justified the confidence reposed in them. He noted that they are implementing people-oriented policies and programmes. Okesanjo said: “That is why the two of them deserve second term.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SOCIETY

Hon Adekunle Alli, a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic and Lagos historian, has marked his 80th birthday at his Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos home. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports.

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

Brief Remarks

Lagos historian turns 80 •The celebrator assisted by (from left) daughter, Mrs Bisoye Adesola; Sasi of Lagos Chief Lamina Olaseni; Alhaja Oyindamola Kenku; and wives Moyeni and Adetoun to cut the cake

ELEBRATING at 80 should attract the razzmatazz that accompanies a carnival but the celebrator thought otherwise. He believes that such energy and resources should be channeled to other ventures. This informed the reason Hon Adekunle Alli chose to mark his 80th birthday at his Iyana Ipaja home where his neighbours would be part of the activities instead of taking it to high brow places in Lagos. The gathering was modest and devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of big events. From the personalities that graced the occasion, it was obvious the kind of person he is. Alli, a former member of the House of Representatives who joined the club of the octogenarian on March 16, was the toast of political associates, friends and relatives who gathered to share in his joy. Dressed in a blue lace agbada with a native cap to match, the man who many described as the custodian of Lagos history, was at his best, evoking

laughter each time he punctuated his life story. A prayer session was led by Imam Shehu Gbajabiamila with the recitation of the Holy Quran. The celebrator was not alone in this ecstatic mood; his wives, children and grand children gathered around him trying to catch his attention while attending to guests on their arrival as early as 8am. Though there was no particular dress code, most of the guests wore native attires. The canopies erected outside the main building and the decoration on the tables and chair were in blue colour adorned by the Hon Alli. The praise-singers, who intermittently formed a shield around every important guest praised such guest until he or she parted with some naira notes. Being a politician, the presence of the political class was quite loud. Shouts of ‘up All Progressives Congress (APC) did not abate as notable politicians arrived and departed. Many, who hailed Hon. Alli as their benefactor, urged him not

to relent from his fatherly role to the community and those who came his way. Prof. Ade Elebute, the celebrator’s long-time friend, described him as amazing, urging those in authority to tap from Alli’s wealth of knowledge. “He has a fantastic knowledge about Lagos. The amount of material in his possession is colossal and I congratulate him for joining us at the octogenarian club,” he said. Member, House of Representatives, Hon Yakub Balogun, said Alli was not only a blessing to Lagos State but Nigeria. He said: “I don’t know how he comes about this abundant knowledge but I think God just blessed him. He is quite rich with the traditional history of Lagos Island. Such a person has been instrumental to training many of us. “He is the mirror through which we judge ourselves, a mentor and so humble. I cannot say exactly when I met him because I grew up in his arms. I was born and bred in Lagos and have known him to be our father right from the period that we

were young.” His wife, Oyindamola, described her husband as the most-caring person she ever met. “He would risk whatever he has just to make sure others are happy and could hardly say no when he knew he could help,” she said. Alli’s boyish gait pointed to the fact that he lived a wonderful life. He said: “I feel natural and of course I have become more philosophical. The essence of life is for the betterment of humanity.” He described his encounter with former Lagos State Governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande as one of the most valuable episode in his life. He had to risk his life in clandestine exchange of notes with him at the prison. “What I do today is based on the interest I have. It is the interest one shows in what he does that is important in life. If you are interested in reporting events, you become a reporter even though you have not seen the four walls of the class of journalism,” he said.

SENDFORTH/BIRTHDAY

•From left: Lagos State Ministry of Education District VI Personnel Department, Mrs Ramota Oguntola; Director, Inspectorate Zone II, Mushin, Mrs Regina Eneh; Director, Schools’ Admin, Education District VI, Mrs Elizabeth Adejuwon; a Principal, Mrs Fatimah Afolabi; retired Principal, Princess Jolaade Abass; Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Education District VI, Mrs Iyabo Osifeso; the honouree, Mr Rasheed Oyeyinka Adesina; District VI Personnel Manager, Mrs Abiodun Omotoyo; Vice Principal, Mrs Maria-Goretti Nwosu and honouree’s wife, Mrs Abisola Adesina during sendforth/birthday celebration for Mr Adesina in Lagos

'll like to begin by appreciating you all for your messages and support after reading about my mother's transition. May the good Lord bless you abundantly. Last year, we started on our journey through the different types of speeches and we identified five genAMODU LANRE OLAOLU eral types; informative, per( Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. suasive, entertaining and 07034737394 technical speeches, and brief @lanreamodu remarks. Not only did we cover the first four types in our discussions last year, we have also reviewed them in the last few weeks. Presently, we are left with the last one- brief remarks. Some people don't consider brief remarks to be proper speeches so they overlook them. However, they are as important as any other type of speech. Do not be deceived by its name, it is actually one of the most important speeches available. There are several reasons for this, but the most important one is that it is delivered at special events. If those events are truly special, then every aspect of them must be special too. Apart from that, however, brief remarks put some specific people in the spotlight where they are expected to impress, appreciate or commend others in the shortest possible time; not a mean feat at all! What is a brief remark? Its name is derived from its expected duration. It is expected to be brief because it is usually featured in events that don't require too much talking. Examples of such events are dinners, luncheons, award ceremonies, birthday parties, wedding receptions, etc. A brief remark can be simply defined as a speech that 'gives appreciation.' Look at it this way, in an award ceremony, the organizers give their brief appreciation to the recipient to justify their selection, while the recipient appreciates the organizers for their thoughtfulness. At a dinner, the host appreciates the guests for coming, while someone representing the guests in turn appreciates the host for the invitation. It goes on and on. So, if all you do is to appreciate people, how long can that take? Less I forget, it can be quite sensitive to mention names in your appreciation. If you mistakenly leave out some 'important' people, you may not hear the last of it (we should talk on this later). Importance of Brief Remarks Dream with me for a moment- imagine what a wedding reception would be without a toast! Imagine an award ceremony without appreciation from the organizers and acknowledgement from the recipient! Imagine inviting your business partners to a luncheon without welcoming them or even stating the reason for the gathering! Imagine a birthday party without a vote of thanks! Ok, I know some people would rather do without all those speeches, 'let's skip all the stories and get down to business,' they would say. But the truth is that these are aspects of special events that we look forward to. For instance, if your grandparents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, wouldn't you find it interesting to hear them tell the story of how they met (even if you have heard it a hundred times already)? If not for your benefit, you may enjoy how other guests react to the story. Special events will not be complete without brief remarks; of course, for as long as they remain brief. However, if they become long remarks, they will become burdensome. As a child, I once accompanied my Mum to the Inter-house Sporting Event of a school; she was invited as a special guest. I enjoyed most parts of the activities, well, until it was time for the Chairman's speech. O boy! I couldn't believe my eyes when the gentle man started reading from several sheets of paper. Actually, I didn't pay much attention initially, until the speech exceeded my own definition of brief. So, I looked up to see how close we were to its end. To my dismay, I saw that he was only on page three (I think) of a document that looked like seven pages. I can't quite remember how I survived the punishment of having to listen, but I was sure glad when it was all over. In the example above, a school sporting event is a fun programme in which long speeches are definitely not required. I'm sure you have a story or two of your own experience of listening to a speech that was supposed to be brief but turned lengthy. Well, that is why we are here! We have to avoid errors that others have made in the past. Brief remarks are not opportunities to go down the 'long' memory lane; you will lose your audience somewhere along the line. In the next few weeks, by the grace of God, we shall be exploring this very important and interesting type of speech. From the materials I have available on this speech, I can't help but look forward to it myself, do make it a date with me. Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SOCIETY

The families of Prince and Mrs Olufemi Ojugbele and the late Mr and Mrs Olufemi Kadiri celebrated the union of their children, Oluwaleke and Kafayat at Campos Square, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

•The groom’s mother, Mrs Christiana Ojugbele

•Prince Ojugbele

•The couple, Kafayat and Oluwaleke

•Representatives of the bride’s parents Alhaja Gbajabiamila and Alhaji Muyin

A union of like minds I

His bride, Kafayat, a banker, looked gorgeous in a white native apparel with blue head gear/ipele. She also had red traditional beads on her neck. She later joined her husband on the seat. The event continued with Quran recitation by David Dabiri. The Chief Imam of Allahu Nuru, Chief Imam Ibrahim Kosoko led other clerics in prayers. Ustaz Dhulkifli Imran, who delivered the sermon, told the couple that God must be involved in everything they do. "To make it in life you must fear God and be humble". He urged parents to take good care of their children, adding: "When you are old; they would do the same for you." The cleric enjoined Olawaleke not to watch television when his wife needs his attention. The ceremony continued with the husband presenting gifts, including kettle, Quran, cape and tesbih to his bride. The couple later exchanged rings and kissed.

PHOTOS: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

SLAMIC culture was on display when the families of a retired civil engineer, Prince Olufemi Adebowale Ojugbele from Ota in Ogun State and the late Mr and Mrs Olufemi Kadiri became one following the wedding of their children - Oluwaleke Debola and Kafayat Oluwunmi. The Campos Square in Lagos, venue of the event, was well decorated. Family members, friends and well wishers were there to share in the families' joy. The Ojugbeles brought a basket of fruits, cartons of drinks, tubers of yam, a box and other gifts for their in-laws as tradition demands. Guests were resplendent in choice outfits. Most of them wore native and some of the women used capes. The bride's family was on the left side of the Square. Their tent was decorated in

orange. The groom's tent on the right was decorated in red. The late bride's parents were represented by family members: Alhaja RiskatGbajabiamila, Alhaji Haruna Muyin and Olaniyi-Rasaki KoltosHo. The ceremony began with an opening prayer. It was said by Ustaz Jubril Adedeji. The duo of Alhaji Isiaka Akilapa and Lookmon Arisu were the masters of ceremony. The groom, Oluwaleke, a management consultant at LSM and Associates Limited was all smiles. Clad in white native attire with blue cap, he had red traditional beads on his neck. He came into the Square in company of his friends, greeted his in-laws and later his family and others present. Oluwaleke later took to his seat under a small tent decorated in red and white.

The bride, a banking and finance graduate from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH,said she felt great and exited. She said she knew Oluwaleke would be her husband from their first meeting. Oluwaleke, a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the Moshood Abiola Polythenic, described his wife as an understanding person, and a friend. The reception was in the same venue. Mrs Adeodun Bolanle and Mrs Akola Bolanle were the moderators. It started with an opening prayer by Alhaji Baruwa Muideen. Itinerant drummers enlivened the atmosphere. The groom’s father, Prince Ojugbele, described the celebration as excellent. He urged the couple to love God. Alhaja Gbajabiamila told the couple never to quarrel, urging the bride to respect her husband and vice-versa. Alhaji Muyin said she was happy on the marriage of Kafayat and gave all glory to God.

WEDDING

LIONS CLUB DAY

Former Miss Olayinka Ogundipe and her husband Mr Adesina Adewusi during their wedding at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Open Heavens Parish, Adalemo, Sango.

•From left: Mr Hammed Lawal; Olawale Samuel; Lions Club Multiple District 404 chairman Prof Ayoade Adesokan, and Prof Olusegun Awolusi during Lions Club Day with the United Nations (UN) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

SOCIETY

•Alhaji Gbagba (right) and Alhaji Kekere-Ekun

•Prof Noibi with his award

•Alhaja Agbalajobi (left) and the first Vice president of the association, Alhaja Muhibah Folami

•Justice Goodluck with her award

•Member, All purpose Committee of the society in U.K, Alhaja Soliat Saka (right) and General Secretary of the Society, Alhaja Khairat Sodique

HIS is a season of celebrations for the Jama-at-ul Islamiyya Society of Nigeria. It installed Alhaji Muhammed Babatunde Alfa Nla as the new Chief Imam, 20 years after the death of the former Imam at the society’s mosque in Ilupeju, Lagos. The society also marked its 90th anniversary with merit awards/ launch of Commemorative Brochure at the Open Ground of Lagos Television (LTV) in Lagos. Guests came in their numbers. Most of them were on white traditional attires and some of the women had uniformed white cape with blue design/ writing of 'Jama-at-ul Islamiya of Nigeria'. Some exchanged pleasantries and posed for photographs. The event began with the opening prayer by Imam Ismail Balaogun and Ustaz Abdul Hameed Hamzat recited Chapter 18:23 of the Holy Qur'an. Alhaji Gbagba said the occasion was designed to acknowledge the contributions of some outstanding personalities who are worthy of recognition. He told the awardees that the award was a call for further service and enjoined the guests to donate to the society's projects. The Chairman on the occasion, Alhaji Nasirudeen Kekere-Ekun, appealed to everyone to contribute to the growth of the society. The Chairperson of the event, Alhaja

•Oba Adegbesan (right) and Oba Oyero

•Alhaji Alfa Nla

Season of celebrations As part of activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Jamaat-ul Islamiyya Society of Nigeria, the organisation installed a new Chief Imam and held merit award. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and AMIDU ARIJE were there. Simbiat Agbalajobi, urged everyone to live a life worthy of emulation. The award session followed. The awardees were accompanied by friends who took photographs with them. They were awarded in recognition of their contributions to the growth of Islam. They included Prof Daud Noibi; Oba Abdul Ganiyu Adewale Adegbesan; Oba Isiaka Baloogun Oyero;; Alhaja Wosilat Bishi; Alhaja Nurat Suberu; Alhaja Muslimat Subaru; Alhaji Bisi Rodipe; Alhaja Serifat Amuola; Alhaji Abdul Fatai Mayungbe; Chief Rianat Oniru; Alhaji Abdul Fatai Ayeni; Alhaja Serifat Folawiyo; Alhaja Soliat Saka; Justice Sabitiu Goodluck; Dr Hakeem Olatunde Oseni, among others. Kereke-Ekun congratulated the awardees Alhaja Hairat Sodique gave the vote of thanks, followed by the closing prayer by the missioner of the society, Alhaji Kamaldeen Shuaib. At the installation of the new chief Imam

of the society, clerics in large numbers were led by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Ibrahim Garuba Akinola. Alhaji Alfa Nla, the fifth Chief Imam of the society, was the society's Imam at the Kano State branch before his selection. The installation was conducted by the Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou. He prayed on the cap and the white cloth to be used for his decoration. Sheikh Akinola blessed the cap. President of the society, Alhaji Fasasi Gbagba, presented the staff of office to the new Chief Imam. The event was anchored by Alhaji Abdul Waheed Tella. Everybody at the occasion was excited. Pleasantries were exchanged and the event served as a meeting point for some who had not seen themselves in donkey years. Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf

•Alhaji Shuaib PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

Adesoji Aregbesola was represented by Dr Wali Ipaye while Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole stood in for Governor Babatunde Fashola. Alhaji Gbagba thanked everyone for gracing the occasion. He also thanked Allah for sparing their lives to witness the 90th anniversary of the society. The occasion was chaired by business mogul Alhaji Muyibudeen Makanjuola. He was represented by his wife, Alhaja Lateefah. Former Lagos Deputy Governor Alhaja Lateefah Okunu was the chairperson and Alhaja Wonuola Folami was the mother of the day. Aregbesola thanked the society for inviting him as special guest. "It is a sign of the grace of Allah to have kept the society at 90; we should be thankful to Allah. You must not forget the founders of the society," he said. He congratulated the new Chief Imam and wished him a successful tenure. The guest speaker, Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi, spoke on the history of the society. He urged the society to keep the flag flying. Alhaja Okunu said she was grateful to Allah for the society's intervention in her life at a time she needed it most.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

•Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda (second left), Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu (right) signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for National Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Bauchi... on Monday. With them are their aides.

•Kogi State Governor Idris Wada (with mic); his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi (second left); representative of a contractor, Alhaji Aliyu Osazee (left) Ohi of Ihima, Alhaji Abdulraheem Ahmed Ogido (third left) and Chairman of Ajaokuta Local Government Mr Alloy Okino at the kick off of the 16km Otokiti-Ganaja/Ajaokuta bypass road project in Kogi.

•Chairman, Ifo Local Government, Ogun State, Chief Oluwole Enilolobo (right) presenting the council’s budget proposal to the Leader of the House, Hon Kolawole Sobowale at the council chamber. •Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon (right); Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade (left) and chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa at the second Oba Sijuwade Annual Leadership Lecture and Awards in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Omoba Murphy Adetoro (second right) presenting cash and food items to some of the benefiaciaries of Social Security for the Aged, an initiative of Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government Hon Wasiu Eshilokun at the council secretariat.

•Chairman, Orile Agege Local Council Development Area Taofeek Adaranijo (left) presenting the council’s budget proposal to the House’s Leader Seyi Sarumi. With them is Clerk Mr Wasiu Adesina.

•Former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur (right) being received by President, Igbo speaking country-Lagos, Chief Ebere Ubani at the yearly Nnoko and Chieftaincy award at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. With them is Archbishop Samson Mustapha Benjamin of Restoration Praise Ministry for Africa (middle). PHOTO: ISACC JIMOH AYODELE.

•Secondary School Pupils at the 2014 International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and Transtlantic Slave Trade at PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Head Office, Ikoyi-Lagos...on Tuesday.

•Lead Consultant, Mr More Rangnath (left); Group Quality Manager, Fidson Healthcare Mr Olayinka Amoo; Operation Director, Mr Bola Adebanjo and Factory Manager Mr Akinloye Oyegunju during a tour of the company’s plant in Sango, Ota, Ogun State.

PHOTO: ABIOUDN WILLIAMS

•All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaja Ola Williams (right) presenting some materials to one of the beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation programme organised by members of Asiwaju for Life Grassroots Politicians in Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

BUSINESS EXTRA

FRC quizzes CBN chiefs over N500b

HE Financial Report ing Council of Nigeria (FRC) yesterday quizzed officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over why the N500 billion Intervention Fund for the real sector was not approved by the CBN Board yet it was disbursed. Its Chief Executive Officer, Jim Obazee who quizzed the CBN chiefs during its hearing, queried the CBN on why the debenture fund, which was supposed to be warehoused with the Bank of Industry (BoI) never left the CBN books too. “There was no board approval for the N500 billion real sector intervention fund. We can’t find the money in the BoI account which means they may be secret reserves where the money was kept,” he said. At the hearing, suspended CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was absent. Though he was sited around the premises while the hearing was going on, he failed to appear before the panel. CBN Acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade was also absent. CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Deputy Governor, Operations, Kingsley Moghalu and former Deputy Governor, Operations, Babatunde Lemo were present at the hearing. Also present was the Managing Director, BoI, Ms Evelyn Oputu. Obazee also said the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) got N26 billion out of the fund, and wondered why the corporation was benefitting from it. Responding, Lemo said he never handled the fund directly, adding that the focus should be the impact such intervention had on the real sector. He said the apex bank

•Sanusi absent at hearing By Collins Nweze

warehoused the fund on behalf of the BoI. Oputu said the money has been disbursed to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), following CBN’s approval. She said loans from the funds were secured with treasury bills and bonds, adding that AMCON did not get the funds directly from the BoI but the banks sold the assets to the corporation. “It was the deposit money banks (DMBs) that sold the assets to AMCON. AMCON paid the DMBs and we also have security for the loans,” she said. The FRC is investigating the activities of the CBN for financial years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012. The investigation, the council said, includes related matters arising from transactions and events which impacted on the years and have implications for later periods. On Sanusi’s absence, the FRC chief said his absence

cannot stall the hearing since the investigation is not targeted at him, but on the CBN 2012 financial statement. He said the Deputy Governors present, remain his first line executives and are addressing the issues. “Now, that he is not here, the investigation is not targeted at Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The investigation is on Central Bank 2012 financial statement. If the CBN governor is not here, there are capable hands, the Deputy Governors who are his first line executives are also here and they are addressing the issues,” he said. Obazee said Sanusi may still be called to address any issue his deputies fail to address. “If there are issues they could not address, that are now left for him, we will still invite him, to come and speak on the subject, at the appropriate time,” he said. The FRC boss also said the CBN channeled about N10 billion intervention fund to reno-

vation of five royal palaces, an allegation denied by CBN team. Obazee faulted the CBN account reporting standards and inability to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) since 2010. He said the CBN lacks the moral ground to ask commercial banks to comply with the IFRS principles when it is yet to do so. He said the apex bank failed to update its accounts using IFRS even after it got extension to do so. “They were not reporting under the Nigerian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). They were not also reporting under IFRS, so we wanted to know under which framework they were reporting. And then, we also asked several other questions, which Mr President asked the CBN to provide clarifications. It was based on the clarifications from the CBN that prompted the President to ask us to intervene. It is the advisory role that Section 8 of the FRC Act requires us to do for the government,” he said.

• Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) presenting a souvenir to the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, Meg Hillier MP (left) during the British African Diaspora Conference held in Houses of Parliament in London.

Alison-Madueke’s N10b jet probe not selective, say Reps

HE probe into the al leged spending of N10 billion on a chartered Challenger 850 aircraft within two years by the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, is not selective, the House of Representatives has said. Speaking while briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja at the National Assembly, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene (Anambra/APGA) said Alison-Madueke was not unjustly singled out for probe. Ogene spoke against the background that other government officials, including the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal regularly charter aircraft for their travels. He said comparing Tambuwal with AlisonMadueke was misleading as there was no money missing from the National Assembly coffers. He said: “Drawing the Speaker into it (chartering of aircraft) in my simple reaction would be: Are there any money missing from the coffers of the National Assembly? If there is none, why should anybody be worried about how the speaker moves?” While justifying the minister’s probe referred to Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution,

• Blame Ministers for 2014 budget delay From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

saying it gave powers to the legislature to investigate and expose corruption, inefficiency and waste in the management monies appropriated by the National Assembly. “Our duties today and always for the tenure the Nigerian people have bequeathed upon us, is to carry out this assignment wherever public funds are involved and there is an allegation of misuse of inefficiency of corruption, you can be sure the House will not turn a blind eye to such allegation. “You know when such allegations are made, that you are charged to court does not mean you are guilty, so when an investigation begins, we should not be pre-judgemental and say A or B is guilty ab initio.” Speaking on the constant summons of the NNPC (reportedly 46 times) and the Petroleum Minister (28 times) since January, the lawmaker said it was because the issues for which they were summoned has to do with the economic mainstay of the country. “NNPC and petroleum touch on the mainstay of the economy, hence it will attract

the attention of any responsible institution as the National Assembly,” the lawmaker said. Speaking on the 2014 budget, Ogene laid the blame for its delay at the doors of the executive arm. His words: “The budget process is on, and by our original timetable, we ought to have finished work on it by the end of this month. But in budget defence sessions which I am sure you also cover, often times when you schedule appointments for budget defence its either the minister writes you to say oh i had a pre- arranged appointment out of the country, or I’m busy attending one official function or the other. So, you have to re- schedule. “It sets you back by say a week in that particular instance. And budget sessions are not things that you begin to take agencies under a particular Minister without taking the administer first, who has the responsibility over that agency or parastatal. So, all these contribute to the delay.” Meanwhile, stakeholders in the aviation sector have warned its members against making bogus claims and allegations against users of business

jets, as such comments were capable of having negative impact on their business. According to business jet operators, the allegation against Mrs AlisonMadueke over the use of private jets has the capacity to undermine the benefits of the use of jets in the strategic oil and gas sector. Speaking yesterday at a two-day Nigerian Business Aviation Conference, moderator of the forum, Mr Alan Peaford said lawmakers were drawing undue attention to the aviation sector because it is global practice for oil and gas corporations, including the NNPC, to hire private business jets for its operations, which could also serve the minister in charge of the sector. LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED OF THE LOSS of ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY NO:18\18\77 OF A PLOPT 3 BLOCK 01 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAYOUT AT SITE B’ ISHERI-OLOFIN IN ALIMOSHO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE. THE SAID LAND BELONG TO MR. & MRS. EMMANUEL ODEYALE OF 24, SARUMI ALAWO STREET, AGEGE, LAGOS. ALL EFFORT TO RETRIVE IT PROVE ABORTIVE.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

UBA’s gross earnings hit 20.2 per cent

NITED Bank for Africa Plc yesterday an nounced an impressive growth in ts earnings. It released the financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2013 which was submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UBA recorded a 20.2 per cent increase in gross earnings to N264.7billion. This was largely driven by a growth of 40.4 per cent in loans and advances as well as a 25 per cent growth in the Bank’s total deposits. Consequently, the its loan-to-deposit ratio improved from 38.7 per cent to 44.3 per cent. The remarkable growth in loans and advances, especially in the last quarter of the year, puts the bank in a vantage position

for continued revenue growth in the coming years. In addition to achieving this growth, the lender also enhanced its operational efficiency and productivity with the cost-to-income ratio improving by four per cent from 64.8 per cent to 60.9per cent. This improvement was largely through prudent cost management policies, enhanced efficiency of the its network and the impact of other productivity initiatives. Its profit before tax grew by 7.8per cent to N56.06billion, representing a return on equity of 21.8 per cent. It ended the year with a total balance sheet size of N2.64 trillion and a total deposit base of N2.22 trillion.

Subscribers react to Glo’s M-Paper

LOBACOM custom ers who subscribe to Glo M-Paper, a mobile newspaper application, have hailed the service for fulfilling their daily needs for current news about developments within and outside the country. Some of the subscribers expressed satisfaction with the quality of delivery of the service, adding that the service has enabled them to read local newspapers at their convenience, anytime, any-

where. The subscribers described the Value Added Service in glowing terms, asserting that “it stands out as a very convenient and useful information tool, making life easier for users”. One of the subscribers to the service, Zinne Amaka said M-paper is meeting one of her social needs. “This service is giving me fulfillment; I can read all my favourite news on one spot,” she said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-3-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-2-14

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

EQUITIES

Corporate earnings, dividends boost equities’ rally

RANSACTIONS at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday were on the upbeat as investors to react to emerging corporate earnings reports and dividend recommendations. Both volume of activities and pricing trend showed considerable uptrend, with the benchmark index scaling beyond the 38,000 points. Not less than six companies released corporate earnings reports and dividend recommendations yesterday, nudging the bullish rally that had been strengthened in the previous day by the release of Dangote Cement and Sterling Bank’s results. With 29 advancers to 18 decliners, aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose from N12.148 trillion to N12.266 trillion, indicating a day-on-day gain of N118 billion. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), trended upward beyond the 38,000 points to 38,186.93 points as against its opening index of 37,820.22 points. Total turnover was above average with the exchange of 406.2 million shares valued at N6.56 billion in 4,367 deals. The bargainhunting remained focused on the financial services sector, with banking stocks dominating the activity chart. The positive overall market situation reflected underlying investors’ responses to earnings and dividends released in recent days. Six companies including UAC of Nigeria, Total Nigeria, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) and First Aluminium Nigeria Plc released corporate earnings information yesterday. The board of UACN recommended dividend per share of N1.75 while Total Nigeria will be distributing N9 per share to shareholders. Infinity Trust announced a modest dividend of 3.0 kobo per share while Nahco indicated its board has approved dividend recommendation, which will soon be released to the market. On Wednesday, Dangote Cement, the most capitalised stock at the NSE, had announced a net profit of N201.2 billion for 2013, prompting the board of directors of the cement company to double dividend payout by 133 per cent to N119 billion. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Dangote Cement for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that group turnover rose by 29.4 per cent from N298.45 billion in 2012 to N386.18 billion in 2013. Pre-tax profit rose by 40.6 per cent from N180.15 billion to N243.66 billion. Profit after tax rode on the back of tax credits to N201.2 billion in 2013 as against N145.02 billion in 2012. According to the dividend recommendation, shareholders would receive a dividend per share of N7 as against N3 paid for the previous

Stories by Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

year. Similarly, the board of Sterling Bank Plc recommended distribution of N5.4 billion as cash dividends to shareholders. Audited report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 indicated that gross earnings rose by 33.1 per cent while pre and post tax profits grew by 24.1 per cent and 19 per cent. Basic earnings per share rose by 18.2 per cent from 52 kobo t0 44 kobo. A breakdown of the dividend recommendation indicates that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 25 kobo, 25 per cent above 20 kobo distributed in the previous year. Gross earnings rode on the back of a 24 per cent and 31 per cent growth in non-interest income and interest income respectively to N91.6 billion in 2013 as against 68.86 billion in 2012. Profit before tax rose from N7.50 billion in 2012 to N9.31 billion in 2013 while profit after tax increased from N6.95 billion to N8.27 billion. Also, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) and Paints & Coatings Manufacturing Company had on Wednesday announced dividend of 70 kobo per share and 8.0 kobo per share respectively. The largely positive earnings outlook impacted on the overall pricing trend with several stocks with existing dividend recommendations leading the bullish rally. Nestle Nigeria, which has a subsisting dividend recommendation of N24, topped the advancers’ list with a gain of N24.89 to close at N1,025. Dangote Cement followed with a gain of N5 to close at N235. Guinness Nigeria rose by N4 to close at N185. Cadbury Nigeria, which has declared a dividend per share of N1.30, rallied N2 to close at N80 per share. Ashaka Cement chalked up N1.19 to close at N16.99 per share. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance topped the activity chart with a deal 65 million shares valued at N32.5 million. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) trailed with a turnover of 61.76 million shares worth N803.31 million in 122 deals. Zenith Bank placed third with 43.02 million shares valued at N846.73 million in 412 deals. Altogether, financial services stocks accounted for 338.65 million shares worth N2.81 billion in 2,610 deals. On the downside, Flour Mills of Nigeria led the decliners with a loss of N2.25 to close at N65. Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria followed with a drop of N1.10 to close at N109.50. Oando lost 65 kobo to close at N16.91. Berger Paints dropped by 48 kobo to N9.12 while Unilever Nigeria dropped by 35 kobo to close at N45.15 per share.

UBA grows gross earnings by 20% to N265b

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc grew its top-line by 20.2 per cent to about N265 billion in 2013 as it sustained positive trends in several key performance indices. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of UBA for the year ended December 31, 2013 released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed appreciable improvements in the top-line, operational efficiency and customer’s confidence. The report indicated that gross earnings rose from N220.1 billion in 2012 to N264.7 billion in 2013. The top-line performance was largely driven by a growth of 40.4 per cent in loans and advances as well as a 25 per cent growth in the bank’s total deposits. Consequently, the bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio improved from 38.7 per cent to 44.3 per cent. It also enhanced its operational efficiency and productivity with the cost-to-in-

come ratio improving by four percentage points from 64.8 per cent to 60.9 per cent. Profit before tax grew by 7.8 per cent to N56.06 billion in 2013 as against N52.01 billion in 2012. This indicated a return on equity of 21.8 per cent. The bank’s balance sheet expanded to N2.64 trillion while total deposit base closed the year at N2.22 trillion. In his comments, group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr Phillips Oduoza said the results underlined the remarkable growth in loans and advances, especially in the last quarter of the year, which has put the bank in a vantage position for continued revenue growth in the coming years. According to him, the performance in 2013 was largely due to prudent cost management policies, enhanced efficiency of the bank’s network and the impact of other productivity initiatives.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

MONEYLINK

CBN inaugurates e-reference clearing portal for banks

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday instituted ereference clearing portal for banks. In a statement, the apex bank said the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc introduced the portal to fulfill its shared service mandate. Also involved in the project is the Committee of Heads of Bank Operations (CHBO). The CBN circular, signed by Director, Banking and Payment System, Dipo Fatokun said CHBO has agreed to develop an electronic reference (e-Reference) portal, such that account opening processes of banks can be fast-tracked with regards to interbank referencing. He explained that the portal is a web-based document management system, by which one entity can send documents electronically (edocuments) to the other, within the Nigeria Banking System. This system is designed, necessary and important for timely Inter-Bank reference processing. Fatokun said financial services sector in the country has passed through many phases of development within the last decade, as a result of CBN’s active development and supervisory initiatives to evolve a stronger and more dynamic banking system. He regretted that despite all the efforts, only an insignificant percentage of the more than 140 million Nigerians are currently banked. “This is alarming and grossly unimpressive, considering the need for effective monitoring and control of, as well as, planning the economy by both the Government and the CBN. Besides high illiteracy level and low confidence in the Financial System, a major reason for this rela-

Unity Bank gets interim chairman

spond to an inward reference confirmation request after the T+3 cycle, an escalation mail will be sent by the portal to the Authorizer, the Head of Domestic Operations and the Head of Operations of the bank concerned.

NITY Bank has announced the appointment of Lamis Shehu Dikko as Chairman. While the bank awaits his confirmation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his appointment, Mr. Thomas A. Etuh, a Non-Executive Director of the bank will hold fort as the Interim Chairman. The deveopment which is in alignment with the lender’s current rightsising exercise, a process that will see some of the leaders of its old guards relieved of their positions. The process will also ensure that younger and more dynamic seasoned bankers take over the operations of the lender. Sources close to the bank’s Board hinted that at a meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, the Board dis-

pacities of its new members adding that the group’s new policy thrust is benchmarked on quality assurance of the services provided by members to their clients. The accountant explained that the IFRS, though new in the Nigerian environment, it had been in existence in other climes several years before now. Labode added that the international accounting standards board had the responsibility of conceptualizing and crafting Accounting Standards to be adopted for use by various countries or jurisdictions around the globe. He recalled that the Nigerian Accounting Standards Board (NASB) was established in 1982 as a private sector initiative by the institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and became a government agency

in 1992, “By 2003, the membership of the body was enlarged to accommodate the ANAN. The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) which inherited the assets and liabilities of the NASB came into existence by the enactment of the FRCN Act in July 2011. `I make bold to say that the making of the FRCN was not without the contribution of our association because we were ably represented on the Road Map Committee for the adoption of International Reporting Standards by our own Dr M.A. Ayeni while two other members of the association represented different organizations in the committee,’’ Labode said. He expressed appreciation to the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Ireland for its unalloyed support to the association.

Stories by Collins Nweze

tively small number of account holders is the inter-bank reference bottleneck which makes it difficult for new accounts to be opened speedily. At times, the prospective bank customers get frustrated and eventually abandon the process of opening a bank account,” he said. He said the portal would eliminate the manual process of interbank reference forms exchange; enhance the efficiency of reference clearing in Nigeria; ensure accountability of reference documents and reduce the turn-around time for confirming references for new accounts. He said the e-Reference Clearing Cycle shall be T+3 adding that in the event that a bank refuses to re-

•Acting CBN Governor Sarah Alade

ANAN advises accountants on diligence, accountability

HE President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Sakirudeen Labode has said the association would not tolerate mediocrity in the implementation of accounting standards. He spoke yesterday in Lagos while declaring open a two-day workshop on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). “We cannot tolerate mediocrity and we will not. Therefore we all must be up and doing to demonstrate the acumen that we claim to posses. ‘You must be versatile in the new standards so that you do not run foul of the law that stipulates that all financial statements must be IFRS or IPSAS compliant by 2013 and 2016 respectively, ’’ he said. The ANAN boss said the association would continue to develop ca-

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

DATA BANK WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

NIDF

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

GAINERS AS AT 27-3-14

SYMBOL UPDCREIT LEARNAFRCA ASHAKACEM INTENEGINS STERLNBANK NEM UAC-PROP UPL BETAGLAS CCNN

O/PRICE 10.00 1.64 15.80 0.56 2.36 0.73 20.00 3.67 18.15 9.45

C/PRICE 11.02 1.80 16.99 0.60 2.50 0.77 21.00 3.85 19.00 9.87

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

Year Start Offer

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

Current Before

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

(S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

BERGER PAINTCOM RTBRISCOE COURTVILLE OASISINS OANDO FLOURMILL FIDSON ETI WAPCO

O/PRICE 9.60 1.90 1.35 0.70 0.54 17.56 67.25 2.99 13.31 110.60

C/PRICE 9.12 1.81 1.29 0.67 0.52 16.91 65.00 2.90 13.00 109.50

-0.48 -0.09 -0.06 -0.03 -0.02 -0.65 -2.25 -0.09 -0.31 -1.10

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

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

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

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Offer Price

AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 155.16 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.03 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.68 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,618.91 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,090.40 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.02 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 0.78 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,894.68 • • • •

CHANGE

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

NSE

Name

LOSERS AS AT 27-3-14

SYMBOL

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

CHANGE 1.02 0.16 1.19 0.04 0.14 0.04 1.00 0.18 0.85 0.42

closed that with the resignation of the former chairman, Numan Dambatta, the bank will be sending the name of Lamis Shehu Dikko to the Central Bank of Nigeria for approval as the new chairman The Nation learnt that the action is part of the vigorous re-engineering and repositioning of the Bank. It is a further decisive step to shed the weight of the old hands and bring in well-versed economic and banking professionals into its fold. Dikko, a professional seasoned banker, will bring to bear his many years of experience and wide contacts to the current re-organisation and rejuvenation of Unity Bank. Until his confirmation by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The restructuring of the Bank started last year with the nomination and subsequent approval of the new Managing Director/CEO, Henry James Semenitari, as well as the appointment of two new Executive Directors, Arese Alonge and Abubakar Abba Bello, all seasoned bankers with many years of extensive banking accomplishments. Dikko holds a B.Sc. Degree in Economics from Queen Mary’s College, University of London. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School for Management Development. He is currently Chairman of Infrastructure Bank, a Director at Enterprise Bank and Legacy Pensions among others. Reports also say that in addition to the two Executive Directors, the Bank has made further infusions into its core operations team in the last couple of weeks.

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

Movement

1.2557 1.2916 0.9156 1.1552

Bid Price 1548.58 9.08 1.02 1.17 0.67 1.33 1,616.04 1,090.11 113.22 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,894.36 1.2446 1.2916 0.8987 1.1552

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

Illegal fishing: Navy hands over four arrested vessels to fishery dept

HE Nigerian Navy (NN) handed over yesterday four vessels arrested for alleged illegal fishing to the Department of Fishery, Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The fishing trolleys, Sunny one, Sunny two, Golden Golf one and Golden Golf two were arrested by officials of the NNS BEECROFT, Apapa. They were said to have operated in the nation’s waters with expired licences. Another vessel, LURONGYU, belonging to Sunrise Fishing Company, which was arrested by the Navy, was returned to the company after it was discovered that the vessel was duly licenced but did not have its document onboard. Handing over the vessels, Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae said eight vessels were arrested at Lagos and Port Harcourt. He said the arrests were sequel to a request by the fisheries department to the Navy indicating that the vessels were

•Returns one to owner By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

operating without licences. Uwadiae said the Navy in its quest to ensure zero tolerance to illegality and to maintain its collaboration with sister agencies got the vessels impounded. “After arresting the vessels, our preliminary investigations showed that the four vessels being handed over to the fisheries department have been fishing at sea for over one month with expired licences. “We established a prima facie case against the four vessels as alleged by the fisheries department. We found that they have not acquired fishing licences for this year and they have been at sea for over a month, which is a breach to the Fisheries Act. “Moreover, the quantity of fishes onboard the vessels were enormous and there is noway there would have gotten such catch if they were not fishing

and that is why they are being handed over to the appropriate agency for adequate action. “But for the Sunrise fishing trolley, we discovered that at the point of arrest, the vessel did not possess its documents onboard. We realised that the fishing company had its licences, which they produced after it was arrested. That was why we handed over the vessel to the owners. “But, I am using this avenue to warn maritime stakeholders that our maritime domain is properly governed and police and we will not tolerate any form of illegality. “Fishing companies are advised to procure all relevant documents from the fishing department before engaging in the activity and those who have these documents should not keep it at home. “Our men at sea will arrest any vehicle caught operating at sea without its documents because they would not know

who has and who does not,” Uwadiae said. Speaking after receiving the vessels, Assistant Chief Fisheries Officer, Hyacinth Okpe said fishing juvenile fishes was illegal and actionable. He said: “If you have a fishing licence, the minimum size of fish to catch is 76mm when stretched. If it is a shrimping licence, it should be minimum of 44mm when stretched. “The essence is to allow the juvenile to escape to avoid endangering the productivity of resources.” Okpe said it was difficult to give the exact qunatity of fishes caught in the vessels. “I have received some documents including an extract from the log book, which is different from the actual figure that landed. “It is only after we have taken stocks that we will know the actual quantity. “The necessary action to be taken would be determined by the minister after investigations have been concluded,” he said.

•Kogi State Governor Idris Wada welcoming the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Agba to Government House, Lokoja.

Kingship tussle: Oba Oniru urges out-of-court settlement By Precious Igbonwelundu, Staff Correspondent

HERE was a mild drama on Wednesday at the Lagos High Court, following the move by the Oba of Iruland, Abiodun Idowu Oniru, to mediate between parties in the 11year-old suit challenging the ascension of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu to the Oba of Lagos stool. Oniru, who was in the court presided over by Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson had written a letter seeking permission to explore out-of-court settlement for his “younger brothers.” The court’s attention was drawn to the letter by counsel to the state, Pedro Lawal (SAN), who said he was ready for trial but could not proceed as a result of the blackout caused by unavailability of electricity. Though all parties did not oppose Oba Oniru’s intervention, trouble started when the claimants, Princes Sammy Adebiyi and Rasheed Modile urged the court to adjourn for report of settlement/trial. Through their counsel, Babatunde Fashanu (SAN) the claimants told the court that they were prepared for trial, and were ready to give evidence but will accede to Oba Oniru’s settlement option and urged the court to adjourn for report of settlement or trial should parties fail to agree. Being an officer in the temple of justice, Fashanu said he was not opposed to the settlement move but was curious because Oba Oniru is not a party in the case. “My Lord, this letter to me is curious. This is the 11th year of this case. We have gone through all that before the previous judge that handled the matter. “My clients are on over 200 years journey to claim their rights to the throne. The author of the letter should have done so through the lawyers to the parties in this suit. What he has done is even contemptuous,” said Fashanu. Fashanu said: “My Lord, I have my say. The proper thing to do is for the court to adjourn for report of settlement or trial. This will put parties on the proper leverage.” Angered by his submissions, Justice Candide-Johnson said he was mandated to encourage any attempt of amicable settlement in accordance with the rules of court. Justice Candide-Johnson said he does not see the letter as contemptuous, and that there was never anything stopping the monarch from attempting to mediate in the matter and granted Oniru audience. He scolded Fashanu for requesting that next adjournment be fixed for either report of settlement or trial and insisted he would only adjourn for report of settlement. “This is my court. I have the right to overrule you and you have been overruled. So, sit down!” Said Justice Candide-Johnson. The drama continued when the judge while consulting parties on an appropriate date to adjourn the case but was told by Fashanu to do whatever pleases him, which made Justice Candide-Johnson flare up and insisted the lawyer must check his diary for a convenient date. Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to May 5, for report of settlement. Joined as defendants with Akiolu in the suit are Lagos State Governor and the Attorney General; Prince Babatunde Akitoye as well as Chief Junaud Eko.

Boko Haram: Mark seeks UN support From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

From right: Principal Cardiologist, Clinix Healthcare Dr Uche Ejiofor; Dr Obiora Chukwuka; Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris; Chairman, Clinix Heathcare, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Peter Nwosu and Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Waheed Oshodi at the inauguration of Clinix Ultra-Modern Diagnostic and Dialysis PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI Centre in Lagos...yesterday.

ENATE President David Mark urged yesterday the United Nations (UN) to intervene and rescue Nigeria from the clutches of insurgency. Mark told the visiting UN Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Jan Eliasson in Abuja that the security challenges facing the country demands support and assistance from the UN. The Senate President, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said: “We are pained by what is happening to us. The security challenge is enormous . “We truly need assistance from the UN to tackle the situation. If somebody had told me that Nigeria would face this kind of security challenge five years ago, I would have dismissed it. “Our security operatives are applying minimal force to address the situation. We are also appealing to the perpetrators to see reasons and give peace a chance.” He also told the UN chief, that Nigeria rightly deserve a permanent member at the UN Security Council and urged the global body to help Nigeria realize the ambition. Mark was quoted to have said that: “Nigeria will continue to play key roles in international and regional affairs . We have excellent record in peace-keeping operations.” The Senate President also requested the UN to put measures in place to help industrialise Nigeria as part of efforts to create job opportunities and engage the growing army of unemployed youths. He said Nigeria would continue to identify her challenges with a view to finding solutions to them. The Deputy Secretary General of the UN , appreciated Nigeria for the continued support and cooperation to the global body. Eliasson noted that the UN anchors its operations on the peace, security, development, human rights, justices and rule of law which he asked Nigeria to uphold. He promised that the UN would map out strategies to help Nigeria tackle the menace of terrorism now assuming a dangerous dimension in the land. He pointed out that the terrorists have the antics of harassment and intimidation to achieve their purpose but cautioned Nigeria not to be provoked or intimidated but confront them headlong.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS Minister: Board involved in recruitment process Continued from page 4

ommendations for the adoption of the ‘e-Recruitment’ option after due consultations with relevant government agencies, such as the Federal Character Commission, for guidance and the Federal Road Safety Commission, which had previous experience of “e-Recruitment”, and forwarded its recommendations to the procurement department for action. “In line with Part VIII, Para 45(3B) of the Public Procurement Act of 2007, the Procurement Department invited proposals from three other consultants who were deemed to have the requisite competence and experience in the field under a contractor finance management scheme.” Moro said that the procurement department assessed the proposals/business case outlines of the four consultants, namely: Messrs Pyrich Global Limited, Messrs Bosmos Infotech Limited, Messrs Rosebonny Technologies Limited and Messrs Drexel Technologies Nigeria Limited and subsequently made recommendations to the Ministerial Tenders Board (MTB). He said that the Tenders Board of the ministry considered the proposals of all the consultants at its meeting of 10th April, 2013, and approved the award of the e-Recruitment contract to Drexel Technologies Nigeria Limited, having presented the best proposal in the form of similar job experience, amortisation and risk analysis, “to undertake the recruitment project of the ministry, its services and its agencies for a period five years. He said that the contract agreement was signed between the Ministry and the Consultant on April 30th, 2013, and the Board (CDFIPB), the implemen-

tation agency was informed accordingly and directed to liaise with the Legal Adviser and Consultant to implement the contract. Moro said: “Our intention was to institutionalize a formidable, transparent recruitment process that will in turn engage and enlist only the best and brightest into the Paramilitary in service to their nation. With sincerity of purpose, I made this a strategic ministerial objective and characterised it as a mandatory deliverable, bearing in mind the challenges of the Nigerian Immigration Recruitment in 2008 and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps of 2012. “In the 36th meeting of the Board held on 23rd of May, 2013, the award of the e-Recruitment contract and its terms were conveyed to the Board, which noted and approved the non-involvement of the Ministry, the Board and the Nigerian Immigration Service in the collection of Technology/application processing fees. (Annex X). He noted that subsequently, the Board in implementing the agreement placed advertisements in five national newspapers, on the 9th and 10th September, 2013, announcing the availability of vacancies for recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service. Applicants, he said, were directed to the portal for commencement of application. At the close of the portal, a total of 710,110 applications were received, while 522,652 were short listed for the aptitude test and physical examination. “For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Ministry, the Board, nor the Nigerian Immigration Service was involved in the collection and custody of the processing/technology fees of the application process. “This decision was taken,

mindful of the fact it was not a business or profit making venture for the Ministry but an exercise to ensure efficiency and transparency in the conduct of recruitment into the services. This e-recruitment platform has also been in use by other services, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, Federal Road Safety Commission and the National drug Law enforcement Agency,” he said. He said that the power and or authority for appointment, promotion and discipline of the staff in the Services reside with the Board. Moro noted that in line with Section 5, subsection(I) of the Immigration Act chapter II of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the collection and sorting of the applications was outsourced to the consultant who was authorised in consonance with extant regulations, to charge a processing/technology fee of N1,000. According him, the Board, in exercise of its duties and functions encapsulated in schedule 3(a)(b) of the Immigration and Prison Board Act as amended laid out all the recruitment procedures necessary to conduct a hitch-free exercise. He said that the Board, in its 40th Meeting of 9th December, 2013, approved the template for use in the aptitude and physical examination across Nigeria. And, in line with Article 2.1.6 on duties and obligations of the Parties in the Agreement under reference, a steering committee for the conduct of the recruitment was emplaced. “From the accounts available to me regrettably, events turned against all reasonable expectations. We had hoped that our painstaking efforts towards this exercise would avail us the opportunity to add value to the governance process.

“We are deeply grieved and saddened about the way events turned out. We express our sincere regrets once again. “However, permit me to state that our patriotic desire was the pursuit of a more honest, a more transparent, a more cost effective, a more efficient and equitable platform. “We sincerely made appropriate and adequate preparations for a hitch -free exercise, but as most things in administrative and human conditions, the yield curve of expected outcome is mostly undefined. “My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their dear loved ones. I sincerely sympathise with those injured. I share in their grief. I share in their pains. May I at this juncture, assure Nigerians of my respect of the sanctity of human life. “The loss of these young Nigerians, who are needed as a critical human resource factor for nation building, is most regrettable. “As the minister of Interior, under whose purview this unfortunate exercise took place, I cannot abdicate my responsibility. The buck stops at my table.”

NJC rejects Rivers CJ Agumagu Continued from page 4 not stand.” Many Rivers stakeholders, especially the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who would not want to be named, described the suspension of Agumagu as the latest action in the faceoff involving President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Dame Patience; Amaechi and the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, a Rivers indigene, who is scheming to be governor in 2015. Shortly after Agumagu’s inauguration, the APC, Rivers chapter, asked all the persons who were opposed to his appointment to sheathe their swords. Rivers APC, through its Interim Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said: “What Hon. Justice Agumagu needs is not further distraction, but the cooperation of all, to ensure speedy and effective dispensation of justice in Rivers State. Those opposed to his appointment should respect the right of the Rivers Governor to appoint a Chief Judge for the state. “The judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, supporting his (Agumagu’s) appointment by Governor Amaechi, his successful screening by the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and his inauguration by the Governor are steps in the right direction. “Hon. Justice Agumagu is eminently qualified to hold the position of Rivers State’s substantive Chief Judge. He is not only the most senior High Court judge in the state, but also served as a High Court judge for over ten years, as required by law, besides being nominated for the position by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.” The Rivers APC also congratulated the new chief judge on his substantive appointment, while urging him to discharge his duties fairly and with the fear of God, in order to ensure that the judiciary remained the last hope of the common man. It will be recalled that Amaechi, while inaugurating Agumagu as the substantive chief judge, urged him to be dedicated in the official discharge of his responsibilities. Recalling that he was inaugurated after series of legal battles, the NGF chairman pleaded with the new chief judge to see beyond the contest and be fair and treat everybody equally.

Moro, Immigration boss disagree Continued from page 4

to know that we will be conducting recruitment examinations on the 15th of March, 2014. “That was the first day I heard that. I did not hear from any board; there was no board meeting to that effect. ‘As a man in uniform you obey the last order.’ Parradang went on: “Subsequently, everybody that asked me when is Immigration recruitment before then, I used to tell them that I don’t know but subsequently anybody that asked me, I would reply that the Honourable Minister had declared categorically that we will recruit on the 15th of March and that is what we are going to stick to. “Then I sent the DCG Human Resources to attend all subsequent meetings and when it came to the issue of funding, he told me that they had made a budget of N212million to be used for that exercise. “I asked him where the money was going to come from, you know that Immigration does not have such money. He said it was expected that the company should pay for it. I said ‘okay, go and take representatives of the service provider to the Honourable Minister of Interior, maybe he would have funding for the exercise. “He told me there was none till about on 13th of March 2014 when N45million was made available for him to carry out that exercise’. “We were left with the option of having to mobilise all our officers in the state commands to attend to the recruitment exercise. We sent bulk SMS to all of them, saying, look, gentlemen, this is the day we have to work with. “All of them kept calling me to ask how they were going to get money to do this exercise? I told them if any money is given to me I will make it available to you. “No money was made available to the Nigerian Immigration Service and the exercise was supposed to be conducted. “If you notice too there was no advertisement, giving clear guidelines on how to go about it until the 14th of March that people were asked to go to the vari-

ous centres for the tests. “I will like to state that on a stateby-state basis, the Nigeria Immigration Service is deeply pained about the events that led to loss of lives of 16 people. “I want the figures to be corrected. We had seven people that died in the Federal Capital Territory. We had five that died in Rivers State. We had two that died in Niger State. We had one in Bauchi. We had one in Edo. Those are the exact figures. “On the fateful day when we started hearing reports that this was what was happening in the field I came back from Jos and I met the Secretary in his office we sat all through till midnight getting direct reports from each of the state commands. “We had given them clear guidelines on what to do. We asked them to contact the regular stakeholders that we normally meet together, like the FRSC, the NSCDC, hospital authorities, that they should get people to assist us because this is a short notice thing, but on that day the crowd was really overwhelming.” Asked why he did not stop the exercise, he said, “we were not the drivers of this process at all. “So, the decision to stop it would never have cone from me. I was not the driver of this process and my position had been very clear on this.” One why he did not see the tragedy coming, Parradang said: “Of all the capacities that God has given human beings, nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow. “All of us are optimistic, basically. We were of the hope and of the belief that this is a genuine intended activity that nobody would want anybody to lose his life or even get injured. We did not and could not have seen that it was going to fail.” He went on: “For all my years in the Service, nobody has ever taken away the power to recruit from level one to level seven from the NIS.” Parradang said he protested in writing, but was assured that his fears had been taken care of. Most of the state commands of the NIS told the committee that they received only N300, 000 out of N45 million released by the consultant to the board.

‘Strange’ $1b in Excess Crude Account Continued from page 4

in two weeks, he said, include the Minister of Agriculture as chairman. Members are Ministers of Environment, Science and Technology, Interior, Water Resources, National Planning, the NSA, the DG National Orientation Agency and at least a representative from each state of the Federation. According to him, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkokoIweala, also briefed the council and disclosed that as at today, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) has risen to about $3.5 billion after payment for fuel subsidy and SURE-P. He said: “The Council deliberated on it and resolved that there was need for expeditious action to be taken to sort out all the legalities surrounding the issues of the ECA and particularly, the idea of expediting action on the issues pending in court. It was also further suggested that at least two separate accounts be maintained for excess crude and for SURE-P.” Suswam said: “Comprehensive discussion was made in the council and the Governors of Delta and Edo states said people came into their states in trucks without cattle. Cattle grazers move around with cattle but these insurgents now come to town in their large numbers and in trailer loads. “The Governor of Kogi also confirmed that they have condoned an area because these people came in four trucks. They have asked security to condone

it off. It is actually a cause for concern because mercenaries have taken over, what is happening is that this is beyond the Fulani that we know and who are part of us.” He added: “These are different crops of people either parading as Fulani or people who are Fulani from displaced areas because they are heavily armed. The Fulani around us here are never heavily armed. Even their women carry AK 47. So these are not the regular Fulani we are used to who are within are country. These are people moving into our country with a mission we are yet to know. But the NSA assured us that serious actions are being taken to address and contain these people who are moving into Nigeria from destinations that we do not even know.” On the way forward, he said: “We also agreed that we will speak to the Vice President to seek the leave of Mr. President for us to immediately call for a security council meeting inclusive of governors with relevant heads of security agencies. That meeting we expect to take place in the shortest possible time where several approach will be taken and the strategy of how we can resolv it be suggested by individual governors in their various states.” Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang raised the alarm that if the crisis is not resolved on time and farmers allowed to do their work, there would be food shortage in the country.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS 90 still missing in Washington mudslide

Flight MH370: Thai satellite ‘shows 300 floating objects’

HE number of people still missing in Saturday’s catastrophic mudslide in the US state of Washington has dropped to 90, authorities have said. The official death toll remained at 24 on Wednesday night, including eight bodies authorities say they have located but been unable to retrieve. A 177ft (54m) wall of mud buried the town of Oso, north of Seattle. Workers have been scouring the area for survivors and victims, using search dogs, helicopters and laser imaging. On Wednesday night, Snohomish County Emergency Management Director John Pennington told reporters the number of people unaccounted for had dropped to 90 from 176 the previous day, as dozens of people were found to be alive and well.

•Rescuers on the scene of the incident...on Thursday

Additionally, at least 35 people are listed as having an unknown status, because authorities have been unable to determine whether they were in the area at the time of the mudslide. “We need to take a step back and look at the magnitude of what happened,” Mr Pennington said. “The debris field is huge, it’s complex, and it’s danger-

ous. I don’t think we have a lot of answers. All I can definitely say is that we have a number that is 90 and we’re going to pursue that as much as we can.” The sudden, catastrophic mudslide on Saturday destroyed about 30 houses, temporarily damming a river and leaving a square-mile field of muck and debris in its wake.

“This disaster is so enormous, I sometimes think even the pictures don’t always do it justice,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, who represents the area. “The number of families that have been impacted, the number of people that they’ve lost, the number of people who are still missing. It’s truly, truly heartbreaking.”

250 dead in Uganda Lake Albert boat disaster

ORE than 250 people died in last Saturday’s boat capsize on Lake Albert between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, a minister has said. This is a sharp increase on the initial death toll, partly a result of the vessel carrying many more passengers than the official capacity of 80. The boat was taking Congolese refugees in Uganda back to their home country. Boat accidents are common in both countries because of

poor safety standards and overloading. Congolese authorities have declared three days of national mourning for the victims of last Saturday’s disaster - among whom were many children. On Tuesday they made up more than half of the then death toll of 107. About 300 people are now thought to have been aboard. “It is with deep sorrow that we confirm to the nation the death of 251 of our compatriots who had boarded the boat from the Ugandan side of Lake

Albert,” said Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende Omalanga, adding that “we have managed to have something like 50 people who have escaped.” Congolese authorities are helping to support survivors, while arranging funerals for the dead, he said. Saturday’s disaster happened just days after DR Congo launched a campaign to enforce the wearing of life jackets on all boats on its many waterways. It is common for boats in both countries to have too

LENTEN MESSAGE

RAYER is an unseen force that controls what is seen. Every thing in life responds to known commands. Things of this world will follow a natural course of action or known structural dictates and policies unless and until there are prayers for them to be otherwise. When prayer is taken very seriously, divine intervention is provoked for advent of supernatural occurrences. From our text, King Herod used his power to make life very difficult and impossible for Christians in the church, he stretched his hands towards James, the brother of John and killed him, obviously because there was no spiritual intervention for it to be otherwise. When King Herod discovered that the Jews were pleased with the death of James, he stretched his hands towards Peter too. While Peter was in prison, the church didn’t fold their arms again but prayed for divine intervention, which compelled heaven to intervene. Prayer is our spiritual weapon to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build, and to plant. Besides that, it provides us with the opportunity to ask God for whatever we desire with the promise that He would oblige us (Matthew 7:7). It was prayer that gave Nehemiah access to King Artaxerxes and provided him unfettered access to build the broken walls of Jerusalem

Theme: Power of Prayers Text: “........but prayer was made without ceasing of the church..... and behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison.....” Acts 12:5, 7) By The Revd. Henry O. Adelegan

with ease ( Nehemiah 1:4-2:8). Prayer also gave Queen Esther favor before King Ahasuerus, saved her from death, destroyed Haman and his friends, frustrated their plans to exterminate the Jews and promoted Mordecai ( Esther 4:13 ff cf Isaiah 44:24-25) Beloved, when you pray or intercede for others, God will hear you, send his angels to you, His light will shine on you to give your life divine illumination, destroy whatever chain that is being used to bind you to a place ( Isaiah 43:3) and any power waiting for your downfall shall be put to shame like Haman and his friends. Besides that, you are assured that every good thing and years valuable to you that the enemy had stolen or de-

•Revd Adelegan

stroyed shall be restored to you (Joel 2:25). As He lives, the angel of God shall pilot your path, and doors of greatness and opportunities shall open unto you of their own accord as they opened to Peter when he left the prison. During this season of Lent, kindly take Prayers very seriously, pray without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17), intercede for family members and friends that are held captive by negative habits and powers of darkness, pray for our nation and leaders (2 Chro. 7:14) and pray for yourself. As you take prayers very seriously, God will surprise you, give us a better lease of life and make your case a source of awe before all and sundry in the name of Jesus. Prayers: Father, hear my cries during this season of lent, send divine angels to me, deliver me from the hands of my oppressors and make ways for me in Jesus’ name.

few, if any, life jackets on board. ‘Deeply shocked’ On Monday, the UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres said he was deeply shocked by the disaster. “My thoughts are with those who have lost dear ones, and the survivors,” he said in a statement. “I am grateful to the government and other actors who have mounted a rescue-and-recovery operation and are assisting the survivors.’’ The boat was one of two which left on Saturday from Uganda’s Hoima district on the eastern side of the lake, which lies on the border with DR Congo. The boats were carrying refugees who had been living at a camp in Uganda, and had decided to return to eastern DR Congo of their own accord, the UNHCR said.

Thai satellite has detected some 300 objects in an area of the southern Indian Ocean being searched for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The images were taken by the Thaichote satellite on March 24, a day after images from a French satellite purported to show 122 floating objects. Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board. No debris has been recovered from the ocean so far. Searches by planes were suspended on Thursday because of poor visibility. Ships are trying to continue the operation despite the bad weather, Australian officials said. The latest Thai images were carried in The Nation and were said to show some 300 floating objects scattered over

an area about 2,700km (1,680 miles) south-west of Perth. The objects were about 200km (120 miles) from the site of the French satellite images. The newspaper quoted officials as saying the information had been passed on to the Malaysian team involved in the search. Anond Snidvongs, of Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, told the BBC the objects ranged from 2m to 15m (6.5ft to 50ft) in size. He said he could not confirm they were debris from the plane. The French images showed objects up to 23m (75ft) in length and were the first to suggest a debris field rather than just isolated objects. They had been described as the most credible lead so far.

Egypt’s military chief Sisi quits to run for presidency

IELD Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has announced that he has resigned as Egypt’s military chief in order to stand for the presidency. In a widely expected announcement, he said on state TV he was appearing “in my military uniform for the last time”. Field Marshal Sisi led the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July after mass opposition protests. Correspondents say he is

likely to win the presidency, given his popularity and the lack of any serious rivals. To his supporters, the 59year-old former army chief is a saviour who can end the political turmoil dogging Egypt since 2011 when a popular uprising ended Hosni Mubarak’s three decades of one-man rule. But his opponents hold him responsible for what human rights groups say are widespread abuses, and fear that he wants a return to authoritarianism.

Ivory Coast youth leader appears at ICC HARLES Ble Goude,

an ally of Ivory Coast ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, has made his first appearance at The International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr Ble Goude, a former minister, has been charged with committing crimes against humanity during clashes that followed the 2010 election. He denies all the charges including accusations that he

led a militia. His extradition last week infuriated supporters of Mr Gbagbo, who is also at The Hague court, awaiting trial. The warrant against Mr Ble Goude was unsealed in September. Prosecutors at the court accused him of being responsible - “as indirect co-perpetrator” - for four crimes against humanity, including rape, murder and persecution.

THE NATION FRIDAYMARCH 28, 2014

NEWS

Monarch heads for Supreme Court

NOGIE of Ewu in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State Zaiki Razak Isesele Ojeifo has gone to the Supreme Court to challenge his removal by a Court of Appeal in Benin City. Ojeifo has ruled Ewu for 17 years. But the appellate court ruled that Prince Jafaru Ojiefoh was the legitimate ruler of the community. In the appeal filed by his lawyer, Dan Okoh, the embattled monarch urged the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the appellate

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

court of February 14. He said the appellate court erred in law when it held that findings as to successor by primogeniture was not challenged. He added that the lower court erred in law by upholding and relying on the Registered Declaration contained in Bendel State Legal Notice No. 70 of 1979 when same had been shown to be inaccurate in material particulars and or not reflective of the Custom of Ewu.

‘Replicate road maintenance units’

•The scene of the explosion...yesterday.

PHOTO:ABAYOMI FAYESE

Gas explosion causes panic in Abuja •Millions of naira lost • It was not a bomb explosion, say police

HERE was an explosion at the Area 1 Shopping Complex in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Shop owners, customers and passers-by ran away, thinking it was a bomb. A Toyota Rav 4 was burnt beyond recognition. An eyewitness, James Omo, told The Nation the incident started about 5p.m., when a gas cylinder exploded. He said: “There was a boy filling a gas cylinder; there was a spark and before we

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja

knew it, there was flames. There was no fire extinguisher to prevent the fire from spreading and it burnt this vehicle and other gas cylinders around. Firemen put out the fire. “The security operatives are here. The good thing is that God took control of the situation.” A shop owner, Mrs. Achbong Abu, said: “All of us at the plaza started running. There were several explosions

due to the gas tank.” The Federal Fire Service (FFF) Operation Commander, Ime Eyo said the cause of the explosion was gas leakage. Eyo said: “It was a fire and it has been put under control. The cause of the fire is gas leakage. A vehicle and other gas cylinders were destroyed.” Police spokesperson Mrs. Hyelhira Daniel said everything has been brought under control. She debunked insinuations it was a bomb explo-

sion. Her words: “We were told there was an explosion here and our men rushed to the scene and we noticed it was a gas explosion. For now investigation has commenced but we cannot say anything. There was no casualty. “It is not a bomb blast as you can see. If it was a bomb you would have seen something out of the ordinary. No cause for alarm. We are waiting to know the owner of the Gas Mart. It is like a market but our men were able to control the crowd.”

Nasarawa, Benue to deploy air surveillance

HE governments of Benue and Nasarawa states have resolved to adopt air surveillance strategy to curb the incessant attacks along their boundary communities. Governor Tanko AlMakura (Nasarawa) announced this yesterday when he visited Giza, in Keana Local Government Area, which was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday. Al-Makura described the mayhem in the boundary communities as alarming, adding the perpetrators were criminals, who took advantage of the long boundary stretch between the two states to perpetrate their

criminal activities. He said the two states would address the situation, and promised they would ensure that lasting peace was returned to the communities. The governor said government would continue to guarantee the life and property of its citizens. The governor said the recurrence of violent attacks could no longer be handled by the states alone, adding Nasarawa and Benue governments had sought the intervention of the Federal Government. “In no distant time there will be more security presence in the area as part of intervention from the Federal

‘In no distant time there will be a lot of security presence in the area as part of intervention from the Federal Government’ Government,” he said. Al-Makura, while condoling with the people of Giza, assured that adequate security had been put in place to forestall further attacks. He said a detachment of mobile policemen would be stationed in the town, un-

til normalcy was restored. The governor called on the people to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement of unknown persons to security operatives. The Sangarin Giza, Alhaji Umar Elegu said the attackers stormed the village about 6 a.m. and shot sporadically. Elegu said three villagers were killed, while several houses and farm produce were set ablaze. He called for more security presence in the area to avert a recurrence. The governor donated relief materials, including food items, to the villagers, many of who had deserted their homes.

Stop campaigning, Aliyu warns aspirants

IGER State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu yesterday warned political aspirants who are campaigning to stop or face the wrath of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). Aliyu gave the warning while reacting to a face-off between supporters of two aspirants, which nearly disrupted the inauguration of a government hospital named after former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar at Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area. Aliyu cautioned that any attempt to jump the electoral time table by the aspirants

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

could earn any party and its candidates sanction from the electoral body. The governor was irked by the flooding of major cities and towns with posters of aspirants, as well as the unruly behaviour of party supporters. Disturbed by the development Aliyu chided some politicians and aspirants for their “over zealousness to campaign.’’ “If INEC disqualifies anyone, it would be because some people are over zealous, they must wait for the right time. I saw many post-

ers and I said it is only in politics that before you die, they will bury you. Already I can see many people who are eager to take over, please I will beg you to not to overdo it.” The governor said they should not allow INEC to

punish the party because of their over zealousness. “INEC is watching and we should be careful so we do not become the party that will be punished as a result of not following the laid down rules and regulations.”

Kwara PDP to register members

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State yesterday held a sensitisation meeting. Members deliberated on how to conduct a membership registration exercise, which begins tomorrow across the state. A statement by the former council chairman, Segun Olawoyin and Prince Wahab Whyte also hailed the influx of members to the PDP.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

YO State House of Assembly yesterday adopted a motion calling on the executive through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to direct the chairmen of the 33 Local Government Transition Committee to replicate the road maintenance units in the local government. The motion was moved by Kehinde Subair (Ibadan South West I). Subair also moved that the Road Maintenance Units in the local government councils are manned by qualified personnel while feedback should be given to the House within three months. Seconding the motion, Olusegun Ajanaku of Ibadan South West II added that the maintenance unit of each local government should be made functional to justify the establishment. The bill on violence against women slated for second reading was stepped down to allow members prepare for their contribution at the next sitting.

Aviation trainee injured in Ilorin

TRAINEE aircraft, No 5N-BRM, belonging to the International Aviation College yesterday veered off the runway while landing on a solo flight at the Ilorin Airport. According to the Coordinating General Manager of Aviation Parastatals, Yakubu Dati, the incident occurred at 10:20 a.m. with only the pilot on board. Dati said no casualty was recorded. The aircraft, he said, stopped safely a few metres beside the runway. He said: ”A trainee aircraft, No 5N-BRM, belonging to the International Aviation College veered off

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

the runway while landing on a solo flight at the Ilorin Airport yesterday, with one pilot on board. “No casualty was recorded. The aircraft stopped safely a few metres beside the runway. Normal flights to the airport were not disrupted as a result of the incident. “The Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB) and other agencies are investigating the incident. “It must be pointed out that this is normal in an aviation training institution. “This clarification is necessary to guard against mischief makers.”

Two die of heat wave in Adamawa

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

WO people have reportedly died of heat wave in Adamawa State. The Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Lillian Stephen, said: “Two people died in Jada Local Government Area. It was caused by the intensive heat being witnessed here. “It was discovered it was excess heat that resulted in the ailment not cholera.” The commissioner was reacting to a statement by the member representing Jada in the House of Assembly, Hamman Yettisuri, who said four people from Kilbawo and Jada wards of his constituency died of cholera. Mrs Stephen said: “Following the pronouncement of the member representing Jada, we deployed our team of experts who reported there was no cholera outbreak in the area. “Normally, it is not every stool and vomiting that constitutes cholera. Investigations have to be conducted before the veracity of the ailment can be ascertained.”

ABU TETFUND-initiated centre takes off HE Tertiary Educa-

tion Trust Fund (TETFUND)-Initiated centre for Spatial and Informatics Science (SCIS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has started with a round table conference. The Vice Chancellor, ProfAbdullahi Mustapha, who was represented by the DeputyVice Chancellor, Academics, Prof Amos Adamu, praised the foresight and dedication of the coordinator of the centre, Dr.

Adamu Ahmed. The vice chancellor affirmed the importance of the centre and suggested that governments must work with professionals to device a solution to urbanisation problems. Ahmed noted that urbanisation had positive and negative outcomes and should be factored into national development planning.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

OTABLE actress, Clarion Chukwurah has criticised the recent visit, to Aso Villa, by President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima, saying it was politically motivated. Among other probing issues, Chukwurah is faulting Ibinabo’s claim that AGN is the umbrella body for screen actors in Nigeria; a statement which she said demeaned the existence of an older association, the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP). In a two-page release titled: IBINABO FIBERESIMA AND THE AGN VISIT TO PRESIDENT GEJ: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT, Chukwurah said although President Jonathan’s funding of the movie industry has aided the development of Nollywood, Fiberesima’s request for an Abuja secretariat for the AGN, as well as political appointments for actors was uncalled for. Fiberesima, in the company of other guild members, was at the Villa on February 17, to confer the Grand Patron of AGN on the president. It was at that meeting that the request for an AGN Headquarters in Abuja was made. The AGN leader, in a later correspondence, said the request was meant to better the lots of other associations in the industry, as she is in talks with their leaderships on the need to unionise. Apparently embattled, Fiberesima noted that leading people is not easy, especially in the creative sector. “Just re-

By Victor Akande

cently, some miscreants and election losers gathered in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, under the aegis of OLD Chairmen to pass a Vote of no Confidence on me,” she said. Chukwurah’s attack on Fiberesima is the latest in a series of criticisms that trail the leadership of the Rivers Stateborn actress, whose rise to the top as not ceased to amaze many. “While it is not surprising that Ibinabo Fiberisima will display such a lack of knowledge of what advances screen actors professionally in the developed world, since she has not functioned consistently as an actor, and has less than 10 titles to her credit in a career

spanning from the late 80s, it is however surprising that the established actors within her entourage watched in compliance, the denigration of the integrity of Nigerian screen actors, as she read her requests literally begging for crumbs from the president’s table,” said Chukwurah with disdain. She noted that the ANTP had long existed until AGN was established to represent solely, the English language actors. She claimed that the AGN’s bid has been unsuccessful, since members don’t renew their membership regularly. “And this is because to date, AGN brings nothing to the table, to advance her members professionally and socially.” According to Chukwurah, who claimed to be a card-car-

rying member of AGN since 2001, the film industry, the world over, is sustained by private sector investment, and as a competitive industry, what the Nigerian screen actor requires is an enabling structure that creates a level playing ground for all to work. “What will benefit generations of Nigerian screen actors in endowment from the presidency is a national library for the film industry outside Abuja, since there is one already situated within the Nigerian Film Corporation. a national library for the film industry set by itself to function specifically for education, research, motivation and borrowable footages open to students, researchers, historians, foreigners and practitioners them-

selves, stocking history books on the genesis and development of the industry, biographies of practitioners, students’ thesis, documentaries, etc. will move the industry forward in the right direction intellectually and help build the dire needed tradition of record keeping necessary for youth development. Sequel to the AGN’s visit to President Joanathan, Fiberesima, was appointed into the board of National Council for Arts and Culture; this must have also infuriated Chukwurah who called for the resignation of Fiberesima. “The AGN was not established as a platform to canvass for political appointments or pursue selfish interests. Ms Onyeka Onwenu and Mr

Kanayo O. Kanayo listed as examples in her address, became card carrying members of PDP and pursued the realization of PDP’s political goals to obtain their appointments. Ms Ibinabo Fiberisima should resign as AGN president for her brazen use of a body created to serve the creative interests of a group, to gain political appointment while in office. I enjoin her to follow the respectable road of her named predecessors, by joining the PDP and testing the real value of her selfearned popularity as an actress for political appointment,” she said. Meanwhile, Fiberesima is confident of her achievements for the guild. She disclosed that the health plan, HMO, has been fully implemented, while she has also embarked on training of members in Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Abuja, Plateau and Nasarawa. “I just came back from the UK and USA where I had progressive discussions with the British Equity and SAG-AFTRAA on collaborative arrangement for the betterment of my guild and Nollywood in general. “Though yet to be fully launched, but the benevolent fund for the sick and aged members is functional and few members have benefitted,” said Fiberesima who added that her leadership now has a full platform for members database, and is also working on Performers’ Right Society (PRS), which will enable them to draw a standard contract for members.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS Man dies in Benin hotel From Osagie Otabor, Benin

70-YEAR-OLD man, simply identified as David, died yesterday in a hotel after sleeping with his mistress. The incident occurred at the Government Reservation Area in Benin City, about 1p.m. The deceased’s son, who did not give his name, said the father left home 45 minutes earlier. The son said they were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital to identify his dad’s body. Doctors on duty said David was brought in dead on arrival. The woman was also present at the hospital. Policemen took her away to prevent her from being lynched. David’s body was deposited at the Central Hospital mortuary.

Dickson sacks seven commissioners

AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson sacked seven commissioners yesterday. They are: Francis Egele (Attorney General); Ayakeme Massa (Trade and Investment); Anapurere Michael Awoli (Health); Nelson Belief (Tourism); Gesiye Isowo (Special Duties, Federal Projects); Parkinson Macmanuel (Science and Technology) and Sylvanus Abila (Environment) A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the action was informed by “the reorganisation of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for more optimal implementation of the Restoration Agenda.”

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

The governor asked the affected persons to hand over to their permanent secretaries. He thanked them for their commitment to “service, diligence, hard work and contributions to the success of his administration in the last two years.” Dickson wished them well in their future endeavours, saying he could call on them again to serve the state. “The reorganisation of the machinery of government for improved service delivery in the execution of programmes and policies as well as the redeployment of relevant officers will be a continuous exercise.”

MEND attacks Shell Forcados’ pipeline

HE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said it attacked Shell Forcados Sub-C pipeline in the Western Delta. The militant group, in a statement by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, said its scuba divers launched the attack at about 3 a.m. yesterday. Gbomo, in the statement, recalled that MEND on March 1 sabotaged the pipeline. Shell earlier this month closed its Forcados crude oil export terminal, following an undersea pipeline leak. The pipeline handles 400,000 barrels of crude a day, reportedly more than a fifth

• Claims responsibility for Agip pipeline attack From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

of the 2.2 billion barrels produced daily in Nigeria. MEND said its fighters damaged the repairs on the terminal. It said the fighters inflicted “the heaviest toll ever on the oil industry since the commencement of its ‘Hurricane Exodus”. MEND claimed responsibility for the attack on the Agip crude oil and gas pipelines in Ikarama oil fields in Bayelsa State. Holes were reportedly

drilled on pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Ikarama, Yenagoa. The pipelines in Ikarama oil fields were said to be spewing oil from three points into the environment. Ikarama is known as a hotbed for pipeline sabotage in the Niger Delta, with Agip saying 90 per cent of spills in the area were handiwork of oil thieves. Two of the spots were said to be discharging crude oil while the other point was

spewing gas. “At about 0300hrs yesterday, scuba divers from MEND revisited the Shell Forcados Sub-C pipeline in the Western Delta which we sabotaged on March 1. “We were successful in causing damage to the repair works, inflicting the heaviest toll ever on the oil industry since the commencement of ‘Hurricane Exodus.’ “ MEND also takes responsibility for the March 20 attack on the Agip crude oil and gas pipelines at Ikarama Oil Fields in Bayelsa State.”

University of Education Bill passed

HE Edo State House of Assembly passed into law yesterday a bill establishing the State University of Education, Ekiadolor. The law repeals that establishing the College of Education, Ekiadolor, which was passed in 1988. The bill was passed after the House adopted the Standing Committee on Education’s report. The bill upgrades the College of Education, Ekiadolor, as it will now offer courses in education and training for

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

graduate and non-graduate teachers. The law empowers the governor to appoint the governing council and the vicechancellor. The vice-chancellor will appoint two deputy vice-chancellors subject to ratification by the senate. The Speaker, Uyi Igbe, directed that clean copies of the law be sent to the governor for his assent.

Lawmakers approve Imoke’s request

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

HE Cross River State House of Assembly approved yesterday the withdrawal of N1.5 billion from the reserve fund for the execution of projects in education. Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation Jacob Otu-Enyia said the committee carried out a detailed consideration on the need to withdraw from the fund. Otu-Enyia, representing Boki, said the request for approval was sent to the Assembly by Governor Liyel Imoke, on March 5. He said the fund would enable the state provide infrastructure to meet the National Board for Technical Education accreditation requirement for the take off of the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM).

UPTH doctors end strike

HE Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, have suspended its sixweek strike. The strike was called to protest poor infrastructure and poor working environment in the Federal Government hospital. ARD Chairman Dr. Prince Dan-Jumbo said: “Based on the public outcry and sympathy, we decided to suspend the strike. “Although we have not been paid outstanding salary and backlog of allowances since last year, from the public outcry people have died because of this strike. “We felt we should give the management of this hos-

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

pital and the Federal Government till June to pay this backlog. “But if by June the problems continues, we would ask that the leadership of this hospital be sacked.” The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) of UPTH has also suspended its onemonth strike, following agreements reached between the hospital management and the union. The Chairman of JOHESU, Christian Awoebi, called on all members of the union to resume. JOHESU comprises Nurses, Laboratory Technicians, Dieticians, Pharmacists and others.

• Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (left); former president Ibrahim Babangida (right) and Niger State Governor Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at the inauguration of Lapaigulu Road and Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, Gulu, Lapai Local Government...yesterday

Court acquits Rivers House Leader of murder

USTICE Letam Nyordee of the Rivers State High Court, struck out yesterday the attempted murder case against the leader of the House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, by the police. Justice Nyordee also discharged the accused. A fight broke out at the Assembly on July 9, last year, following the attempt by five members, also known as antiAmaechi lawmakers, led by Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), to remove the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree. Lloyd was arrested by the police for allegedly using a fake mace to injure Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor 2), on the head. He was charged with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, intention to cause grievous harm, assault occasioning harm, causing grievous harm, and malicious damage (of government property).

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Lloyd was admitted to bail on N10 million. The matter was being prosecuted for the police by the former Attorney-General of Imo State, Donald Denwigwe (SAN). Following difficulties by the defendant to secure his (Lloyd’s) bail after almost two weeks of incarceration, the state’s Attorney-General, Worgu Boms, applied to takeover the prosecution. The application was granted and the police pulled out of the case. Lloyd was granted bail. Lloyd shortly after filed a motion for the dismissal of the criminal suit against him. The application was filed through his lawyers, led by Beluolisa Nwofor. Hearing in the application was frustrated by the refusal of the police to release the case file to the state.

The matter suffered several adjournments as a result. At the last sitting on February 13, the attorney general said efforts to otain the case file from the police failed. He noted that he had nothing to prosecute the case. The state officer in charge (Legal), Paul Idenyenmin, told the court the file was in the custody of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, where Lloyd gave his statement. Idenyenmin said Lloyd’s arrest, detention and prosecution was effected at the Force Headquarters. He said the headquarters were in a position to release the case file and not the state command. At yesterday’s hearing, the attorney general, represented by the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), I. Otorubio, said he would discontinue the prosecution and

applied for withdrawal. The court granted the request, saying “based on the letter to the court by the prosecution to withdraw from the matter and discontinue the criminal charges against the accused, the accused is discharged and the case struck out.” Nwofor said the prosecution did the right thing, saying the police had no evidence to prove their case against his client. He thanked the court for freeing Lloyd, saying Lloyd has been vindicated. “My client is free. The prosecution could not establish his case.” Asked what would likely be Lloyd’s fate, Nwofor said: “ I would not want to speculate on that, but for now, my client is free. If he commits a crime he is not above the law, but for now, he is an innocent man; he has committed no crime.”

Delta debunks misappropriation of N9b

HE Delta State government has debunked allegations it mismanaged N9 billion Excess Crude funds in December 2012. ,Secretary to the State Government Ovuozorie Macaulay, in a statement in Asaba, said due process was followed and every penny accounted for. The government was reacting to a purported briefing by a former member of the House of Representa-

tives, Dino Melaye. Macaulay urged Melaye to “properly investigate whatever information he gets before coming out with allegations that are frivolous.” The statement reads: “The attention of the Delta State government has been drawn to the briefing by Dino Melaye alleging mismanagement of funds, specifically the N9 billion excess crude funds released to the state in December 2012. “It will be recalled that in

the last two years, the fund allocation from the federation account has been dwindling. “States have, therefore, been requesting the release of part of the excess crude fund to deal with commitments. “The excess crude fund referred to by Dino Melaye came in two tranches” of N1,090,380,894.61 and N8,348,064,864.52 on December 10, 2012. ‘’About N22,677,938,653.12 was owed contractors and

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) mainly for capital projects. The N9 billion was used to offset part of this commitment. “Contrary to the impression given by Melaye that the money was spent in less than three days, payment commenced in mid- December 2012 and closed at the end of January last year, a period of over six weeks. “The payments were duly budgeted for and due process followed.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

Y intention in the next few weeks, other things being equal, is to follow the schedule of the National Conference. Last week, before its adjournment for logistic reasons, Conference leaders alerted the public to its agenda. It would start the conference with a discussion of President Jonathan's address at the inauguration of the conference on Monday, March 17, 2014. This is commendable. It is Mr. President's conference and there is no doubt that his vision for the conference and his hopes for a good outcome could be an invigorating starting point for delegates. This is why I also choose to take a look at the president's address to the conference in this piece. I see two parallel messages in the president's approach to the conference and both are implicated in his address. First, the president recognizes and does not shy away from the diversity of the country. Indeed, some would say that he endorses and encourages that diversity with his extension of invitation to groups, including nationality groups, professional organizations, and civil society groups. "You come to the (National) Conference as nominees and representatives of different interest groups," President Jonathan observed. Second, however, as the Number One Citizen, the president is mindful of his responsibility to protect and promote the national interest. He must therefore not be seen as encouraging division. Hence, his message to the conference delegates: "I call upon you to put the best interest of Nigeria before all other sectional or group interests." Indeed, a very close look at Jonathan's address shows this message as the dominant one. Thus he finds it "regrettable that there are persons who believe that we cannot undertake any collective task in our country without the hindrance of ethnic rivalry even after 100 years of nationhood." The combination of the two messages above appears innocent and indeed, many would argue, statesmanlike. The president recognizes the reality of diversity, but he also prioritizes national interest and admonishes delegates to embrace his vision. That is what presidents do, even if the reality that they face and acknowledge is starker with dire consequences. It is not only presidents that are forced to confront the dilemma of reconciling the obviousness of diverse interests with the urgency of promoting national interest. Philosophical reflections have focused on the dilemma as well, and this is to be expected since philosophy is second order reflection on reality. While idealists see a national interest that is over and above any individual interests, liberals conceive of

FURTHER reflection upon the macabre Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) job interview of two weeks ago brings one to the conclusion that we are being scourged by so many small men occupying big positions. A scan across the horizon reveals that many public officials are ensconced atop such helms that overwhelm them ab initio and leave them floating like waifs all through the duration of their appointment. Since they scant understand the magnitude of their assignments, its essence and strategic imports, they embrace the ephemeral trappings of the office and enmesh themselves in the great money rush. Ministry of Interior is among the most strategic offices in any land. It oversees, immigrations, prisons, fire service, civil defence among other paramilitary organs. Before the NIS deathly job saga did you ever hear of a certain Comrade Patrick Abba Moro? For one who has been at the helm of these strategic agencies of state since 2011, did you ever hear him make a policy statement that envisioned this high office? Did you ever see him visiting our derelict prisons in search of hands-on insight; did you ever see him at far-flung immigration border posts in quest of first hand knowledge of the conditions prevalent out there? Apparently, all he has concentrated his mind on since 2011 would be how to organize a job scam that would fleece thousands of poor Nigerian jobless youths. Because the whole exercise was a grand ruse and his mind was set on a nearly N1 billion stash, Comrade Moro's mind apparently shut down. He stopped thinking; he circumvented all rules, he bypassed NIS which duty it is to recruit; of course he could not conceptualize interview procedures. Only his money was on his mind. Would any serious country appoint such a one to head her interior ministry? And would any man with a modicum of honour still sit in office after his grand heist consumed so many lives and brought national odium? What a dangerously small mind.

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Tinubu has, in contemporary Nigerian politics, become a thorn in the flesh of the centrist rulers who believe that despite their brazen ineptitude, it is a taboo to think or even contemplate wresting power away from jinxed leaders like them’

MOBOLAJI SANUSI

VOL.9 NO.2,801

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

President Jonathan's parallel messages

•Jonathan

national interest as nothing more than the summation of individual interests. Collective interest, for liberals, is at best a myth, and at worst, a deceptive parade of private interests as collective interest. Liberals are more realistic and down-to-earth honest in their approach to political discourse and practice than idealists. A standard conception of politics is that it is the institution that determines "who gets what, where, and when?" Another way of putting this is that it is the forum for sharing goods and services and deciding whose interests are favored. If this is true, and I am almost sure that no delegate to the national conference will honestly deny that a good outcome for them and for their involvement in this conference is that their group, if not individual interests, are favored. Voting, here, as in the larger political context, is the registration of interests, whether as individuals or as groups. I register mine; you register yours. Depending on the procedure we adopt, you may win or I do. This being the case, it is unrealistic, and may indeed amount to demand-

ing the impossible, to ask delegates, as representatives of particular group interests, to jettison such interests in favor of an undefined national interest. Of course, that it is unrealistic does not stop one from trying. We just saw Jonathan try. And before our very eyes, delegates did not allow him to completely step out the door before group interests seeking recognition and advancement flooded the floor of the conference. As of the second full day of deliberations, they had not agreed on modalities for making decisions in the absence of unanimity. Idealism thrives on mythic thinking and Rousseau was the 18th century champion of political mythmaking. Seeing the state of nature as morally depraved, he welcomes the political association formed by social contractors as the best thing that can happen to members. The state of nature is the state in which there is no political authority and where anarchy makes moral norms impossible. Human beings in such a state would want to quit it and voluntarily form a political association. Once they succeed, they have traded their private interests for the general interest, that is, their interest as members of the political association. They will rationally do so because to do otherwise would risk going back to the state of nature which no one wants to do. The practical consequence of this, for Rousseau, is that when these individual members of the new political community meet to discuss issues pertaining to the community, they must come without any attention to their private interests and each of them must vote on the basis of what is good for the community. Rousseau goes on to assume that since everyone will abide by this injunction, deci-

sions could be reached unanimously and whatever decision is so taken must be considered as the general interest. But, of course, there may be outliers whose votes are not in consonance with those of the others. Well, that is too bad because it follows that those outliers have not purged themselves of their private interests. They must therefore be forced to comply with the decision of the super majority. But, for Rousseau, that is actually not forcing them at all because it is really freeing them from the shackles of private interest-forcing them to be free, an oxymoron of the highest order. Surely, our President is no Rousseau, and he is certainly not in the business of forcing citizens to be free. But his charge to make national interest a priority in the deliberations of the conferees comes close to an idealist proposition. In fact, I would argue that Rousseau has a more valid basis for making that charge than the president. In the context of Rousseau's charge, those citizens that just emerged from the state of nature have a greater interest in keeping their new political community from falling apart than they have in going back to the state of nature. In the case of Nigeria, citizens did not emerge from state of nature. They had their precolonial communities. They had their pre-amalgamation provinces. Lastly, they had their premilitary regions. Rightly or wrongly, the majority of the conferees still see themselves in the light of these entities from which they evolved. They can happily go back if the Nigerian project failed and their interest in this alternative reality has been variously expressed. What is even more relevant is that the president himself acknowledges this reality and endorses it by inviting delegates to the conference as representatives of various group interests. But you cannot eat your cake of national interest and still have it. You cannot invite delegates to represent primordial interests only to rail against those interests: "Indeed, I am quite worried when I hear people say that some participants in this National Conversation are coming here to defend and promote ethnic or clannish agenda," says President Jonathan. Really? How can Mr. President be worried? The Presidential Advisory Committee went around the country soliciting inputs from those "clannish" interest groups. The committee presented its recommendation advising the President on which groups to invite. The President accepted the recommendations. Is he now seriously worried that those interests represented by real people are threats to the national interest? What is the national interest anyway? This question will be dealt with next week.

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Small men, big jobs Everywhere you turn under the Goodluck Jonathan dispensation there is hardly a redeeming figure who truly understands the depth of responsibility inherent in his or her high office. All you see are very small people scurrying around with intent only on finding the gravy. Consider Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke at the petroleum ministry: while we are yet to digest her private jet saga, the latest news that streamed in last Monday is that Nigeria plans joint petroleum products refinery with Namibia. She has proven her lack of capacity to the point that she cannot even manage the arithmetic of her job. She cooks the figures from our oil industry so badly that the whole nation is dying of heart burn from the char she feeds daily. Everyday there is an outbreak of sad news and figures from Mrs. Alison-Madueke's quarters like an epidemic. As if these were not enough, a petroleum refinery that will be jointly owned by Nigeria and Namibia is in the offing. This was one of the major decisions reached during President Jonathan's recent visit to Namibia. The refinery, according to report, will be sited in Walvis Bay and will be wholly private sector financed. Now isn't it preposterous that Nigeria would catalyze the building of a refinery in another

country while there is none functioning properly within her shores in the last two decades? We are the only major crude oil producer that imports all her petroleum products whereas the cost of importing these products in one year would build giant petrochemical complexes Nigeria's vast oil and gas sector has ample capacity to turn around the economy of Nigeria in a very short time. Our gas properly harnessed, would drive electricity while the petrochemicals would fire industries and awaken huge export potentialities across sectors, creating massive quality jobs for our youths. But all these are seemingly lost on Mrs. Alison-Madueke, a billowing material girl who is obviously more enamored with jet-setting, jewelry and all sorts of silly lares et penates that would soon fade away. Surely her mind cannot accommodate such intangibles as legacy and history. Why is history not shaped like a giant pearl just for her sake? One thing is sure though, let them spirit away our collective refinery to Bechaunaland if they choose; the day of reckoning will surely come. It is almost an all ramifying phenomenon which is why you cannot single out any outstanding public officials today. Key MDAs that drive our nationhood (health, agriculture, education, indus-

try, science, etc) are dormant and semi-moribund having been sucked of substance and essence. This is what happens to a country when small people take charge of important state affairs.

BOOK BLURB:

Of Conscience and History

TUDENTS of recent Nigerian political history will find "Conscience and History - My Story", by Peter Odili a rich collection. If you overlook the "Detailed Sectoral Achievements" on chapter F, the book offers some noteworthy insights and uncharted perspectives of our current political experience coming from someone who did not only see it all but participated extensively. Dr. Odili was a twoterm governor of Rivers State from 1999 to 2007. Conscience cast some fresh light on the dark intrigues and subterfuge that pervaded President Obasanjo's last days and his endgame; the last minute shenanigans that earned us the late President Umaru Yar'Adua and current President Goodluck Jonathan. The book showcases the devious uses Obasanjo deployed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to. How Odili's presidential quest was scuttled by power musketeers who stood to the last minutes to ensure that not only did Odili not get the PDP ticket, his name was expunged from the already prepared speech of the nominee, Umaru Yar'Adua which was to declare Odili vice presidential nominee. The book is also an interesting story of a brilliant academic career and an all-round sportsman in his innocent school days; it is the story of the Nigerian civil war and its effect on a fledgling young man. It is a book which some of the actions recorded in it still reverberates. A book which details some legal proceedings that are now landmark precedents in Nigeria's jurisprudence. It is history in motion, a great read.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111526725

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO