Mar 29, 2014 by The Nation

2 News

T was uncontrollable emotions and tears as one of the victims of Port Harcourt Immigration stampede Mr. Kalu Sunday Okezie, was buried yesterday in his home town, Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia Local Government of Abia State. Sunday, 30 were among the five applicants that died during the nationwide Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise in Elekahia Stadium, Port Harcourt Rivers State capital. Five victims were confirmed death in Port Harcourt during the stampede. They include Grace Nwokaku Amah 28 years, from Ubima Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Kalu Sunday Okezie, 30 years from Okon-aku Community in Ohafia, Brown Darlington, 25 years from

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

NIS Job stampede: Community buries victim, lambast FG over new committee Precious DIKEWOHA, Port Harcourt Opobo-Nkoro Local Government of Rivers State and two others whose names are yet to be identify by the this reporter. The remains of late Sunday who was the last son of the family of three left Port Harcourt, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) by 6am and was received by his parent, relatives youths of Okon-Aku Community in Ohafia by 12pm. The bereaved parent, Mr& Mrs Okezie Kalu who were

Abia policemen abduct The Sun editor from Lagos

HE management of Sun Publishing Limited said yesterday that policemen from the Abia State Command on Thursday abducted an associate editor of the newspaper Mr. Ebere Wabara, from his Surulere,Lagos, residence. Ebere doubles as Special Assistant, Media to Dr. Uzor Orji Kalu,the immediate past governor of Abia State. The abduction took place between 6.30 and 7a.m in the presence of Wabara’s wife and u n d e r a g e d children,Managing Director of The Sun,Mr.Femi Adesina said in a statement yesterday. The policemen from the State CD ,Umuahia,according to Mr.Adesina, “had identified themselves to Wabara, and told him that some unnamed persons had written a petition against him in Abia State. He was, therefore, asked to follow them to the state, where he would be charged with sedition.” Wabara was first taken to Sholoki Police Station at Aguda, Surulere, and later to Oyingbo police station, also in Lagos. Ebere’s wife,Adanna , said he had gone downstairs to take something from his car. She said:”Shortly after, I heard him shouting, and I ran downstairs. I saw between seven and eight men, who said they were policemen. They said he needed to follow them to Umuahia, that there was a petition against him for sedition. “They took us back into the house, one of them brought out an I.D Card, showing that he was a policeman. They requested to search our bedroom. They did, and collected my husband’s laptop and telephone. “I followed as they took him to Sholoki Police Station, but later, I had to take the children to school. By the time I returned, they had moved him away. His phones could not be reached, and he had not eaten. Now, we are deeply traumatized, the entire family.” The Sun Publishing Limited said the abduction could only have been at the instance of the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Ibrahim, and “perhaps under the further instruction of the state governor, Chief T. A. Orji, as a throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship, when might was right, and the

strong trampled on the weak.” It added: “it is unconscionable, repressive and flies in the face of all that is decent and civil. It has all the trappings of autocracy, rather than democracy. “If Mr Wabara infringed any law, we would have expected the police to invite him to answer questions, and then charge him to court. The approach that has been adopted is Gestapo-like, and unbecoming of those who instigated it. Those entrusted with the upholding of the law are not expected to trample on others. “This is what the policemen from Abia State have done, and it runs contrary to the code of conduct for policemen as espoused by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),Mr.Charles Ajunwa confirmed the development but said the editor was rather invited by the state command not abducted. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Orji,Mr.Geofrey Ogbonnasid his principal was neither aware nor involved in the matter.

•Victim’s father: My wife was hospitalised when she heard the news

weeping when The Nation visited their family house during the funeral of their son said they are highly disappointed with the organizers of the shoddy Immigration recruitment. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Kalu, the father of the decease, a security guard with Abia State Primary School Board accused the organisers of the failed Immigration recruitment of playing politics with human life, which he noted made them to have no regard for human life. The 55 year- old Kalu said the issue could have been a double tragedy in his family as his wife collapsed and was hospitalized after hearing the news of the death of his son. He added that since them his wife is yet to recover from the shock Mr. Kalu said: “God knows why it happened this way, but

I am not happy with those who organised the recruitment; their attitude shows that they don’t have regard for human life. Instead of me to enjoy the fruit of my labour, what I saw was dead body; those who organize the recruitment are wicked and heartless. “The painful part of the death of my son is that I suffered as security man to train him from primary school to University level and now that I am anxiously waiting the day I will eat the fruit of my labour everything has turned upside down.” He said it is unfortunate that he buried his son instead of the other way round, but noted that he has lost hope in anything that has to do with Federal government, “ Don’t believe the Federal government anymore even as they said they will compensate us

with job, it is just a dream I don’t believe them. Decease mother, Mrs. Justina Okezie Kalu said her late son visited her on the night before the ill recruitment to inform her about the exercise. “He came to me that Friday night in Port Harcourt before the recruitment to inform about it. I was surprise when I got message that my own son was among those who died, and it was the only thing I could remember, because I was unconscious for days. Some of the Chiefs and elders of the community who spoke to our reporters expressed dissatisfaction with the setting up of new committee for immigration recruitment when those who died on the last recruitment exercise are still fresh in the memory of the bereaved families.

Chief Joseph Madueme said: “Nobody is stopping the Federal government from setting up a new committee to organise a fresh recruitment. But all my people are saying is that it is bad to do that now when those who died on the last recruitment exercise are yet to be buried. Chief Lucky Chukwuma another elderly man in the community said, “The Federal government is not serious, look we don’t expect any recruitment now untill after one year. This is to respect those applicants who sacrifice their lives because of this job. Any further recruitment this moment is tantamount to betrayal. However, the late Sunday studies Micro Biology at the Ebonyi State University and concluded his one year compulsory National Youth Service Scheme in Oyo State in 2010.

•Governor Rotimi Amaechi cutting the tape to commission the ultra-modern Eketta Igbodo Market in Etche Local Government Area. Left is Hon. Barr Reginald Ukwuoma, Etche LGA Chairman..

Secession is not a northern agenda—Confab delegates

EDNESDAY’s threat by the Lamido of Adamawa,Alhaji Muhammadu Mustapha to lead his people in seceding from Nigeria if the situation warrants it is not a Northern agenda,several Northern delegates have said. Alhaji Mustapha caused a storm when he said at a session of the National Conference that he was prepared to lead his people to join their kith and kin in Cameroun should Nigeria disintegrate. However,several Northern opinion leaders and Mustapha’s fellow delegates , in separate interviews with The Nation ,said that the North should be counted out of any plot,real or imagined, to destabilise Nigeria. Former spokesman for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and now a delegate from the North Central, Mr.Anthony Sani said the media misrepresented the Lamido on the issue of secession. Sani said: “I do not think the media is fair to the Lamido of Adamawa who talked

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor, Dele ANOFI, Abuja and Tony AKOWE, Kaduna

about his chiefdom, and never claimed he was speaking for the North. I believe the Lamido of Adamawa wanted Nigerians to deliberate honestly in hope and with patriotic courage for the good of all, and not for any part of the country to imagine some sections have no options, however defined. “That is to say, there are options for all sections of the country, however limited. What seemed to have irked the Lamido of Adamawa was the manner some delegates were insistent on 2/3 votes against that of Mr President who prefers consensus and the 3/4 vote that inspires consensus” Sani said that since the North did not canvass for the National Conference in the first place, they were attending the conference in the spirit of togetherness and therefore could not have any pre-position for the conference. ”The North cannot have pre-positions for the conference, but certainly would not

lack what to say when those who have canvassed for the confab raise issues of national importance, more so that most of these issues have been in the public domain for a long time,” he said. Spokesman for the Northern Delegates Forum and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Spain, Mallam Yusufu Mamman said that Northern delegates believe in participating fully in the conference and have resolved to make sure that their position on all issues are clear and unequivocal. Mamman ,speaking by phone,said that the northern delegates have never contemplated withdrawing from any of the proceedings at the conference. He said: “The Northern Delegates Forum has a leadership under Alhaji Ibrahim

Coomassie and Prof Jerry Gana. These two eminent Nigerians are the co-chairmen of the Northern Delegates Forum. “At no time has the forum ever contemplated withdrawing or boycotting any of the proceedings of the conference. However, you cannot deny any delegate his right of opinion. The Northern delegates forum at all times believe in consensus driven agenda. “But we are ready to give and take to ensure the success of the conference. Under the leadership of the co-chairmen, there is a constructive engagement with delegates from other parts of the country. “We believe that we will participate fully and we have resolved to make sure that our position is clear and un-

equivocal within the context of the general national interest. This is the position of the Northern Delegates Forum”. Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Junji ,a delegate from Kebbi State said that Lamido Mustapha was provoked into making his controversial statement. His words:”Some boys in the conference were booing him. As a result he was provoked. In a conference like the one we have you find various kinds of people. Some of these people were shouting at him as he spoke, he got annoyed. I think he was simply provoked. “The Lamido Adamawa I know is a perfect gentleman. I have never known him to speak the way he did. I can safely say that he was provoked by those shouting at him.”

Tinubu marks 62nd birthday with colloquium

HE 62nd birthday anniversary of the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will hold today with a colloquium. The Bola Tinubu Colloquium is scheduled for the Lagos Oriental Hotel,

Victoria Island, Lagos, from 4pm. The colloquium, tagged ‘The Summit of the Common Man’, is the sixth edition in the series. Also, a book of quotations by the Asiwaju, entitled Truth Unmasked, will be presented at the event.

...says it’s yet to recognize Kosovo as independent state

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SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

FRCN’s probe is vicious witch-hunt—Sanusi •Says ‘I ’ll rather appear before an impartial body’ Nduka CHIEJINA (Assistant Editor)

HE suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, says he is the target of a vicious witch-hunt and relentless victimization being prosecuted and fronted by the Federal Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), acting outside of the rule of law and well beyond its scope of responsibility. He vowed yesterday that he would only appear before an impartial authority to investigate him and his tenure at the apex bank. Mallam Sanusi who,on Thursday, declined an invitation to appear before the FRCN mandated to probe his tenure, wondered whether the council ”is the appropriate statutory body to conduct such an investigation.” Speaking through his media consultants,Celine Loader, Sanusi, made reference to the enabling statute of the FRCN Act 2011, particular Sections 7, 8, 11, 25, 28, 58(2) and 62 which said “it does not give the FRCN the authority and the powers to conduct the investigation it seeks to undertake.” Celine Loader queried the intent of the FRCN and the source of its mandate,saying the council “has already prejudged what it now purports to be investigating, thereby compromising its integrity and the integrity of such investigation.” It added: “The credibility of the purported investigation is further undermined by the fact that, in reaching its prior conclusions and recommendations contained in the Briefing Note, the FRCN neither heard nor provided Sanusi with the opportunity to respond to the allegations that led to the unfounded conclusions contained therein.” This pre-existing bias, it claimed, amounts to a “breach of the rules of natural justice, the absence of statutory power, the violation of the rule of law and the prejudicial conduct by the FRCN all point to an obvious witch-hunt and victimization against Sanusi Lamido who has already been controversially suspended from office on the strength of erroneous allegations by the same FRCN.” It said that after making weighty allegations, conclusions and attendant recommendations in its Briefing Note dated June 7, 2013 to the President, which formed the basis for Sanusi’s controversial suspension, the FRCN ”is now setting itself up as ‘judge’ and ‘jury’ in pursuing a purported investigation for which it has no authority, competence nor mandate.” Citing words like “incompetence”, “acting outside the object clause of the CBN”, “nonchalance”,”fraudulent activities”, “wastefulness”, “abuse of due process”, and “deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts”, used by the FRCN against Sanusi in its Briefing Note and recommending to President Goodluck Jonathan “to cause Sanusi and the Deputy Governors of the CBN to “ cease from holding office in the CBN, so that the opposition to the Federal Government does not take advantage of the information and use it to attack the government.” On Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of FRCN Mr. Jim Obazee while reacting to Sanusi’s absence from the investigation maintained that Sanusi’s absence cannot stall the investigation since the investigation is not targeted at Sanusi but at the CBN.

•From left: Layode Oyatogun, Mofe Oyatogun, Mrs. Paula Oyatogun (wife), Mrs. Bola Obasanjo and Moyo Oyatogun, the eldest daughter of the late Walter Oyatogun, during his funeral service at Teslim Balogun Stadium. PHTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Alleged N416m fraud: Fayose must face trial before governorship poll, court insists

move by the PDP can didate in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to have his trial for fraud shelved till after the poll, has hit the rocks. The Federal High Court on Thursday rejected Mr. Fayose’s prayer to defer his trial for alleged N416 million fraud until after the election. He said he needed to concentrate on prosecuting his governorship ambition. But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is prosecuting him said it was in Fayose’s best interest to stand trial before the poll to enable Ekiti citizens make up their minds on him.

Sleeping Confab delegate dies, buried

HE National Conference has lost one of its mem bers, Alhaji Hamman Misau. Alhaji Misau,a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) died on Thursday night at the National Hospital, Abuja, aged 67. He was laid to rest yesterday at the Emir cemetery, Bauchi, according to Islamic rites. He had attended Wednesday’s session ill and was, in fact, helped to his seat by an aide. He caught national attention earlier this week when his photograph was splashed on newspaper pages taking a nap while the conference was in progress.

Austine TSENZUGHUL, Bauchi/Augustine EHIKIOYA/Onyedi Ojiabor,Abuja He was nominated to the conference by the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON). President Goodluck Jonathan in a tribute to Misau yesterday asked delegates to the conference to honour the deceased by patriotically working for the country’s unity and progress. The late Misau, according to President Jonathan, patriotically served Nigeria, his state and community throughout his 34 years of distinguished service in the Police Force. He said:”And even in retire-

ment, he continued to be actively engaged with efforts to move the nation forward as shown by his participation in the National Conference. “As he is laid to rest in his home state today (yesterday), President Jonathan should resolve to honour his memory by rededicating themselves to working conscientiously towards further strengthening national unity, and promoting peace, security, political stability and faster development in the country.” He commiserated with the family of the deceased,the government and peopleof Bauchi State, ARPON as well as delegates to the National Conference.

I’ve learnt my lessons, says ex-Ekiti governor ...as he gets certificate of return as PDP candidate Fayose, recalled how he was

HE chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, has said that the era of godfatherism in the nomination of the party's candidates is over. Mu'azu stated this yesterday while presenting the PDP's certificate of return to Mr. Ayo Fayose as the party's candidate for the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. Expressing the confidence that the PDP will win the poll, the party chairman called on the 13 aspirants that lost the

Gbade OGUNWALE, Assistant Editor, Abuja

primary election to close ranks and support the party's candidate at the election. He urged Fayose to be magnanimous enough to reach out to all the aspirants and reconcile with them. Fayose pleaded with the other aspirants to forgive whatever wrong he might have done them along the line, stressing that the party must work in unity to achieve results.

chased out of the Ekiti Government House in 2006 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and said he would not have lost the seat if he had acted differently. "I have learnt my lesson the hard way. If I were wise enough, I would not have lost the seat in 2006. But I am a different Fayose now. "I want to be governor. I don't want to be a senator, I don't want federal appointment. If I lose this election, I will not take up any appointment", Fayose declared.

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman for the EFCC said in a statement that counsel to the former governor, Mr. Raji Ahmed (SAN) prayed the court to adjourn the matter till the first week in July to allow his client concentrate on his electoral campaign. He said: "Ahmed argued that the accused must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. "The request was, however, turned down by Justice Adamu Hobon after a strong objection by the counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who said an accelerated hearing of the matter would help Fayose.” Jacobs said: "It would be in the interest of the accused person, so that his people can make up their mind about him and his name cleared before the election”. Justice Hobon, thereafter, adjourned the matter till May 6, 2014 for continuation of trial. The court admitted eight documents as exhibits by the prosecution. The documents admitted were Certificate of Identification of Biological Concept Nigeria Limited; Account State-

ment of Biological Concept Nigeria Limited; Account Opening document of Biological Concept Limited; Account Statement of Avians Specialties Nigeria Limited and Account Opening document of Avians Specialtiesall with Skye Bank Plc. Others were Certificate of Account of People's Democratic Party, Ekiti State at Keystone Bank, the Account Opening form of the party and Statement of Account. Five of the documents involving Skye Bank were presented before the court by a prosecution witness, Mr. Emmanuel Olajide Alejo, who was led in evidence by Jacobs. The EFCC counsel urged the court to admit the documents as exhibits. He said the witness could not produce the original of the documents owing to short notice. The witness had earlier told the court that he was instructed to prepare the documents for witnessing two days before he appeared in court. His words: "For me to produce the original of the documents, the management of the bank will have to sit, deliberate and agree before the documents can be released and this will not meet the time the court is supposed to sit".

This claim was, however, opposed by Ahmed on the grounds that, the reason offered by the witness was not tenable in law. According to him, even with the short time frame, the management of the bank should have released the original of the documents. In his ruling, Justice Hobon said: “Looking through the Evidence Act 83(2), 84, 89(f) (h) all read together, no doubt, these documents passed admissibility test and such can be admitted as evidence". He subsequently admitted the documents as exhibits N1N5. The court also admitted three documents presented by another prosecution witness, Taiwo Sanusi, Head of Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting at Keystone Bank. The three documents were generated from an account of the PDP, Ekiti State. Jacobs prayed the court to admit them as exhibits and with no objection by Ahmed, Justice Hobon admitted them as exhibits P1, P2 and P3 respectively. Fayose was re-arraigned on November 22, 2012 by the EFCC on a 27-count amended charge bordering on misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N416million.

Why our graduates are not employable — Experts

AILURE of our graduates to possess relevant skills in the areas of their specialization has been identified as a major factor militating against their employment. Three experts, Prof. Sola Fajana, the Vice-Chancellor of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, who was represented by Dr. Ige; Mr. Olusegun Mojeed, a consultant; and Malam Abdul Ganger, identified the factor, while speaking on “Employability – Linking Town, Gown and Plant” during the presentation of the 2014 Learners’ Forum by the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development in Lagos. Speaking on the topic from the educator’s perspective, Dr. Ige said our students should be given education that would give them the skills that would

make them function effectively in their careers. He, therefore, called for the review of our curriculum in order to be in agreement with the demands of our employers who are out to get the best from the labour market. From the talent manager’s perspective, Mr. Mojeed, a member of the institute, said our graduates must possess skills that would make them contribute meaningfully to the organizations they are to work for. He mentioned high potential, crucial role, high performance, among others, as attributes employers want their employees to possess. He further said their skills must be of benefit to themselves, their organizations, communities and the economy of the country, adding that if the skills did not serve these pur-

poses, they could not be called skills in the strict sense of the word. Malam Ganger, a Fellow of the institute, condemned the emphasis being put on general education by our policymakers at the expense of technical education which he described as the key to national development. He advised our policymakers to stop churning out policies which are out of sync in order to solve the problem of unemployment confronting our youths. He said the acquisition of relevant skills should be encouraged by our leaders through policies, so that Nigeria could move away from the imitative society to a creative one, adding that these skills would make our youths employable.

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Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday de clared that the People's Democratic Party lacks power to declare vacant the seats of National Assembly members who defected to other parties. It, therefore, assured the affected lawmakers that the party cannot,in anyway, influence the court’s decision on the two cases it filed on the issue. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a judgment, said that the PDP and its Chairman, having filed two separate suits,praying that the seats of the lawmakers be declared vacant, could no

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

Defection: Why PDP can’t declare Saraki, Goje, Abdullahi, other lawmakers’ seats vacant — Court Eric IKHILAE, Abuja longer proceed with their threat while the cases are pending. The judgment was on the suit by the 79 legislators - 22 Senators and 57 Representatives- who sued the PDP and leaders of the National Assembly over threat by the party to declare their seats vacant. The plaintiffs include Sena-

tor Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, Magnus Abe and Abdulahi Adamu. Justice Mohammed said that since the kernel of the suit by the legislators was the threat by the PDP to declare their seats vacant, the threat no longer existed because the party and its Chairman had realised they lacked any such power and had submitted the issue to the court for deter-

•Gov. Akpabio (right) welcoming the new Commander, NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, Commodore J.I. Ogazi, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Uyo

mination. The court also held that since the issue of whether or not the seats of the defecting lawmakers could be declared vacant was yet to be resolved in the pending cases, the lawmakers’ suit was no longer necessary. The lawmakers’ suit,it said, was now without any life and had become an academic exercise since the threat that informed their filing the suit no longer existed . He held that the lawmakers have the opportunity of arguing their position in the pending cases. He consequently struck out the suit by the lawmakers. The court also dismissed a motion by the lawmakers for an indefinite adjournment, in view of their pending application before the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The plaintiffs had referred a portion of the case, concerning the interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) to the Court of Appeal for interpretation and urged the trial court not to deliver its judgment, but await the decision of the appellate court. In dismissing the motion, Justice Mohammed said that it was strange that a party would seek an adjournment over 60 days after the court had concluded trial in a case and was ready to deliver judgment. In the two suits by the PDP, now pending before Justice

JTF arrests two Britons, 12 Nigerians for oil theft

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State – Operation Pulo Shield – yesterday in Yenagoa paraded two Britons and 12 Nigerians said to have been arrested for oil theft. They were apprehended while allegedly hatching a plot to siphon petroleum product from the pipelines of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at

Chanomi creeks, Warri, Delta State. The Nigerians,according to the JTF, were hired as technicians to facilitate the oil theft which would have been executed by connecting a hose to one of the SPDC's pipelines along the Chanomi creeks for the purpose of siphoning the oil. The suspects were also

World Bank to assist Nigerian universities on e-learning

HE World Bank has promised to assist Nige rian universities in the area of electronics learning in order to align with global standard of learning. A director with the World Bank, Dr. Tunde Adekola, stated this while addressing participants at the just concluded Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Conference held in Lagos. Dr Adekola believed that consistent support of the World Bank and other international development partners, including support from the public and organised private sectors would raise the standard of education to align with the global standard on ICT in the world He pointed out that the universities are very receptive of the e- learning technology, which was why all the vicechancellors of the 12 newly established Federal Universities saw the need to attend the ICT conference not minding the inconvenience. Participants at the conference drawn from the 12 new federal universities included

all the vice-chancellors of the universities, including Professor Oye Ibidapo - Obe, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, now the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Ndufu Alike in Ebonyi State. The organisers of the Conference, Certified System Limited, focused on the need to domesticate global standard in e- learning, which include an integrated tertiary education system where everything is connected. Mr Emmanuel Ochie, a World Bank ICT consultant and Chief Executive officer, Certified System told newsmen that the objective of the conference was to ensure the realization in each of the Nigerian universities, of a smart university setting. During an interactive session, Ochie broke the news of an intervention fund the Central of Nigeria, CBN, has created to support the development of e- learning in Nigeria's new federal universities and urged the vice chancellors to take steps to access the fund.

said to have offered a bribe of N11million to officials of the JTF with a promise to pay an additional N10million if the illicit deal sailed through. But luck ran out on them when the Commander 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Fidelis Azinta, rejected the bribe and arrested them. The suspects, the alleged bribe money and operational tools were paraded yesterday by the Commander, JTF, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, at the headquarters of the security outfit in Yenagoa. Atewe said the suspects, representatives of an oil servicing company, were apprehended on March 17. He said the suspects initially came to the JTF's headquarters on the pretence that they had been authorised to evacuate products from a vessel in the custody of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS). He said they came with an approval letter from NNS and a permit from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). But Atewe said he directed the Sector 1of the JTF to monitor their activities on the waterways. He said: "The Operations Officer of 3 Battalion discovered through their confessions that their actual intention was to hack into one of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) pipelines in Chanomi creeks, Warri, Delta State and siphon crude oil". To cover up their tracks, he said the suspects first gave the officer a bribe of $5000 for recharge cards and $1500 to fuel a gunboat that would es-

cort the stolen crude oil. He said the suspects would be handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS) for prosecution.

Mohammed, the party wants the leaders of both chambers of the National Assembly to be compelled to declare the seats of the defecting legislators vacant. The first of the two marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/65/2013 has the Senate President, David Mark, 12 defecting Senators and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants. The second marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/57/2014 has Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, 40 defecting Reps members and INEC as defendants. The PDP, in the suit against Mark and others, posed three questions for the court's determination: *Whether the 1st defendant (Mark) by virtue of the provisions of the Constitution (as amended) does not owe a legal duty to declare vacant the seats of the 2nd to 12 defendants, members of the Senate who decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) without satisfying the conditions stipulated under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. *Whether the 2nd to 12th defendants, having been elected to the Senate on the platform of the 1st plaintiff (PDP), can in view of the provisions of Section 68(2) of the Constitution and having failed to meet the conditions laid down in Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, validly decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and retain their seats. *Whether having regards to questions 1 and 2 above, the 13th defendant (INEC) are not obliged to conduct elections to fill the vacant seats in the affected senatorial districts They proceeded to seek the

following reliefs: *A declaration that the 1st defendant owes a legal duty by virtue of Section 68(2) of the Constitution to declare vacant the seats of the 2nd to 12th defendants, members of the Senate who decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) without satisfying the conditions stipulated under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. *A declaration that the 2nd to 12th defendants, having been elected to the senate on the platform of the 1st plaintiff cannot in view of the provisions of 68(2) of the Constitution, and having failed to meet the conditions laid down in Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution cannot validly decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and retain their seats. *An order declaring the seats of the 2nd to 12th defendants vacant, the 2nd to 12th defendants having decamped to the APC without satisfying the conditions stipulated under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. Alternatively, it is praying for an order of mandamus directing the 1st defendant to declare the seats of the 2nd to 12th defendants vacant, having allegedly decamped to the APC in the absence of any factionalization of the 1st plaintiff". *An order of the court directing the 13th defendant (INEC) to immediately organise and conduct elections into the senatorial districts to fill the vacant seats. Similar prayers are equally contained in the other suit. Both suits were adjourned to April 17.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE

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Idowu AJANAKU

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‘He still sent distress text messages up till Tuesday but we’ve been combing Soka forest to no avail’ HE whereabouts of a commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada rider, who blew the lid on the evil at the Ibadan forest of horror is still unknown. His name is Kazeem and it was he who sent distress text messages to friends and colleagues while being held captive at the forest. Unfortunately, he was not among the victims rescued by people and minions of law at the forest. And seven days after the Saturday's discovery of the evil forest, curious residents and colleagues of Kazeem said they would not give up until their missing colleague is rescued from the jaws of kidnappers. As at Tuesday, his colleagues claimed they still received test messages from him asking them to rescue him from the kidnappers’ den. Already, a search party has been launched for the Okada rider by his colleagues and relatives, who many believe could still be alive, in the forest with nine others. A source, who asked not to be named, said: “Kazeem is a commercial motorcyclist and was lured by one of the kidnappers to the site. Unknown to his captors, he had hidden a cell phone which he used to send distress text messages to people. "He used his phone to contact some of his colleagues and gave them the description to the site of horror. That was how we came to this forest to search for him. We have searched everywhere but could not find him. We have also

•Some members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), at the scene

n Oseheye OKWUOFU, Ibadan n called his phone severally after but we could no longer reach him. He might have been killed in the forest.’’ One of the Okada operators, who is also a member of the search team, Mr. Babayemi Farinu, described his kidnapped colleague as gentle and focused. Another Okada operator, Dapo Abbey, who spoke with The Nation yesterday, said: “We all came here to show solidarity and to fight agents of darkness. It is not because we know him, he is not under our unit, but he is our colleague because he is an

Okada operator. “His name is Kazeem and he is from Olomi area. From what we gathered from people who know him, he is such a gentle and diligent person. He was said to have brought two passengers here last Saturday but ended up being kidnapped. He has been sending distress calls since Saturday, and this afternoon, we learned that he sent text messages to people. What that means is that he is still being held somewhere in this forest with others," he said. "That is why we appealed to policemen to help us to search for him," said another commercial motorcyclist, who gave his name as

I once dreamt that my mother was in bondage –Son of missing 48-yr-old Mr Victor Obaikhena and his siblings are some of the relations of the Ibadan forest of horror victims. Though the mother disappeared again, she, Mrs Cecilia Obaikhena, was rescued along with other victims at the forest last weekend. Victor shared the family's agony with BISI OLADELE, even as the search for the 72-year-old kidnap victim continues. HERE do you live? Akesan Area of Lagos State. What job do you do? I am a photographer Who are you to Madam Obaikhena? She is my mother. What time did your mother disappear? In 2008 when my elder brother, Femi, was ill. She took him to Ekpoma from Iruekpen to take care of him. So in the process, she would come to Iruepen to bring food for him in Ekpoma and they

were both staying there. Which hospital dis she take him to in Ekpoma? It was with a native doctor. On the market day in Iruepen, she came to the town to buy things and went back to Ekpoma. On that faithful day, people saw her when she came and bought things and took them to Iruekpen market round about. She also dropped her meeting money and went to wait for a vehicle but that was how she disappeared. My brother was still with the native doctor waiting for her to return for close to three days. He had to force himself to come to Iruekpen to check her. He asked for her whereabouts from people in the market but they told him she had gone back to Ekpoma but he said he didn't see her. That was how she called me in Lagos and told me. What job was your mother doing? Yes, she sells in the market, she sells petty things like melon, palm oil and others. After she disappeared, what effort have you been making to find her? When I came down to my village, I met

•Victor, the son the elders and consulted them and they told me how far they had gone. I went to

•72-yr-old Mrs Obaikhena the police station to make a report. I also went to announce her missing on NTA

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

•Different scenes of the horrific discovery

make it possible for us to locate his whereabouts. "We have no doubt that he is still alive; soon God will touch the hearts of his abductors and save his life", he added. Some roadside mechanics, who ply their trade a few metres away from the horrific site, expressed disbelief and shock at the discovery. Soka is one of the new residential areas on the outskirts of Ibadan where the forest is located. Part of the forest was occupied by some construction firms, who left at the completion of their projects, leaving behind the structures used by the kidnappers to perpetrate evil. A cross section of residents, who spoke

72-yr-old Ibadan horror victim about two to three times. We prayed and fasted more than a week but nothing positive happened. We later took my ailing brother to Iruekpen before her wife came to pick him to the neighbouring village, Ozara, because nobody was taking care of him again. Can you remember the strange things you have had to do in search of your mother since she got missing? Some people came with different suggestions. Some said I should go to Benin where they will call her and will appear inside the glass and will stand up to speak if she is dead or not and tell us where she is, but my younger ones went against it. Some also called me that they have a spiritualist who can see all but I ignored it all. I had a dream that she was locked somewhere and that something was covering her and doesn't have freedom of movement. We believe in God and don't do any extra-ordinary thing. What would you say the disappearance of your mother has done to you and your family in the last six years? It has done a lot because in that

process, we lost our elder brother, because his wife later came back to dump him and nobody was really taking care of him. That was when he finally gave up. It was in The Nation newspaper that my junior brother's wife saw the picture of my mother and came to show me and that was how we rushed down to Ibadan. On getting down to Ibadan, we went to the hospital where they kept those that were picked there but the woman they showed me wasn't my mother. Up till now, I have not seen my mother again. I have been searching the whole of Ibadan, I have been to Sanyo Police Station, University College Hospital (UCH), Adeoyo, Yemetu and others. Did you ever think that one day you will see your mother alive again? Yes I believe, because sometimes when I am going out and I see some women, and will think they are my mother. Supposing they hand over the kidnappers of your mother to you now, what would you do to them? I would embrace them and quietly ask them: Why they did it? What led them to it?

with our correspondent, described the area as a dangerous place, especially at night, claiming that the law enforcement agents had for years been informed of the criminal tendencies of some unscrupulous elements found around the area, but nothing was done to address it. About 20 men and women were evacuated from the bush. The victims were bags of bones having been apparently subjected to starvation and neglect by their captors. Among the victims was a woman who claimed that she was delivered of a baby two days before the discovery and that her baby was immediately sold by her abductors. Some appeared like lunatics with deadlocks on their heads. The scene at the forest which stretched over 15 kilometres was repulsive as decomposing bodies, human skulls, graves and human parts littered the place. Abandoned structures, containers and tankers also compete for space. They were allegedly used by the kidnappers to keep away their victims from sight. Not a few of their unlucky victims had been slaughtered there and sold in parts to human parts buyers. Inside the abandoned buildings, there were tell-tale signs of rape and torture of victims. Among the items found are travelling bags, foot-wears, clothes, national drivers licence, wallets and passport photographs . One of the national driver's licence bears the name Akinola James Idowu (Ogun State) of NYSC Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan with expiring date April 4, 2014. Another national driver's licence found is that of one Saidi R. Adetoro of 52, Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba Lagos State. It was issued on March 29, 2003 and expired on November 3, 2006. Some of the mechanics, who operate close to the forest, said the human parts trade had been on for years. They claimed to have sighted on a number of occasions some persons in posh vehicles at the site of the horror. Adekola Abato, a mechanic who spoke with our correspondent, said: “This is surprising. Since I came here for over eight years now, I never knew that this terrible thing is going on here. We ought to have known this but it’s very difficult to detect. We thank God that they have been exposed, but they have caused a lot of pains to the families of their victims."

Ade. Nasiru Akeem, a member of Soka Unit of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), described the disappearance of their member as very painful and unfortunate. “When we rushed to the forest based on the distress call from Kazeem, we searched everywhere, including the building where some of the victims were found, but we couldn’t find him. Some of us shared ourselves into groups and moved deeper into the forest where we discovered more horrifying sights. We have also been to the police in an effort to arrest the fleeing kidnappers. At the moment, we have embarked on prayers and fasting because we believe that God will

Some of us shared ourselves into groups and moved deeper into the forest where we discovered more horrifying sights. We have also been to the police in an effort to arrest the fleeing kidnappers. At the moment, we have embarked on prayers and fasting because we believe that God will make it possible for us to locate his whereabouts

Although, the forest has since been condoned off by security agents, but angry residents have continued to throng the site wielding cutlasses, clubs, shovels, iron rods and other dangerous weapons in an attempt to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Not even the sounds of gun shots and tear gas canisters fired by the police to ward off the crowd could scare them away. Governor Abiola Ajimobi has since revoked certificate of occupancy and reclaimed it for the state government. The Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Hon. Abass Aleshinloye who witnessed the evacuation of the kidnapped persons on Saturday described the action of the captors as criminal.

THENATION SATURDAY MARCH 29,2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

‘I'm not ready for marriage now’ Continued from pages 21

AMANDA EBEYE

I did not sell my body. Anybody who says I did that should come out and say it. It's a wrong mentality that actresses sell their bodies for fame. I know so many people who didn't do that. We still have decent actors-the industry is not a dumping ground for prostitutes

THENATION SATURDAY MARCH 29,2014

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Premiership Top scorers

L a L i g a Ta b l e

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

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THENATION SATURDAY MARCH 29,2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

News 59

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

Oshiomhole to Kutigi: don’t deviate from your mandate

HE Chairman of the on going National Dialogue Conference has been warned against deviating from the mandate given to him by the federal government on the 75% benchmark for voting pattern on any issue for discussion in the conference. Gov Oshiomole gave the warning yesterday in Jos while speaking to newsmen shortly after delivering a lecture to the Course 36 participants at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos,

YUSUFU Aminu Idegu, JOS

Plateau State. Whole reacting to question on prolonged conflict among the conference delegates over pattern of voting, Gov Oshiomole said, “At this point, it does not matter whether you are in support of the abortion of a pregnancy or not, the issue now is the baby has been born, let us all support it to grow to be able to leave a decent life. “The issue of the debate so far over voting, I think that this conference, the participants

need to realize the fact that this conference is the product of the president, it is not the creation of the constitution, the delegates were not elected, they were appointed, and so they must obey the orders of the convener, the convener is the president. “And I know that the president was clear in his statements, that the basis for any decision is 75%, and the whole idea is that we want to see issues of national consensus, we want to see how we can deepen conversation, where

we are not able to reach that level of agreement, it means that we need to persuade each other more.” Gov Oshiomole said further: “The whole idea is we need to task our people to develop the skills to do trade off, to negotiate, to persuade, to mediate and to arrive at something anybody can live with. The facts of our diversity deserved that minimum of 75%. And so it is now up to the conference not to try to change the basis of their convention, they were convened with a clear handout and the

convener is Mr President. “The conference cannot set aside their mandate and I can tell you that the decision to adopt the voting strength was brought to the consideration of the national council of state by the president. We debated it and we agreed that 75% is realistic. We don’t want technical majority, we want overwhelming majority. So that we can say that Nigerians overwhelmingly accept this particular point of view. “So if you ask me, the Chairman of the conference should not have allowed any debate on issue that is completely at variance with the mandate given to him which is based on the resolution of the national council of state. It is the creation of Mr President, the conference is under mandate to do only what the president has asked them to do. Commenting on the issue of national security, Gov

Oshiomole said: “Security matter is an issue of careless talk, it is a serious issues, it is not the issues of bulk passing, it is about all of us Nigerians, we should all be worried over issues of national security. We should be worried that we suddenly wake up to find our country confronting something that we never imagine was possible in Nigerians. “As a governor, I know you cannot decree peace and you cannot decree security, it requires citizens to be vigilant and be security conscious, it requires everyone to be his brothers keeper, it requires every community to refocus. “We should be able to change our earlier perception of what Boko Haram represents, the issue is much more than we usually thought. It is not issue to apportion blame to anyone, all of us Nigerians have the responsibility to the security of our country.”

Boko Haram: Nigeria seeks EU’s support

•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, during their visit to Pope Francis 1 at the Vatican City recently

Amaechi, NJC clash over Rivers’ CJ

HE Rivers State Govern ment yesterday dismissed as clearly partisan and self serving, the suspension of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Peter Agumagu, by the National Judicial Council (NJC). It insisted that the NJC,by its decision, had chosen the path of unconstitutional bullying, lawlessness and injudicious racketeering and described Wednesday as a dark day for Nigeria, when the most senior justices and lawyers in the country “ resorted to highhanded self help, instead of judicial redress.” Speaking for the state government in Port Harcourt,the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, also accused a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), O. C. J. Okocha (SAN) and an NJC member of influencing the recommendation of Justice Daisy Okocha. Mr.Okocha, reacting, said the Rivers State government’s allegation was nothing but absolute balderdash, hogwash, nonsense, falsehood and totally irresponsible. Semenitari said the NJC appeared ”not to have taken into consideration the judgment delivered by Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High court, Port Harcourt in which it is a party. “The state government finds this position of the NJC rather curious especially as Justice Agumagu is the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary and a very respected judicial officer. “The Rivers State government had gone to the courts to seek interpretation of Section 271 (3-5) of the Constitu-

•NJC’s action clearly partisan, says Governor •Allegation absolitely balderdash- NJC member OCJ Okocha Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt

tion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as regards the appointment of a chief judge of the state. That section of the constitution clearly states that ‘A person shall not be qualified to hold office of a Judge of a High Court of a State unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years.’ “To enable it to act within the confines of the law, the Rivers State Government sought the court’s interpretation. The learned Justice Akanbi, in delivering his judgment faulted the deliberate omission of Justice Agumagu’s name among the list of senior judges qualified to be Chief Judge of Rivers State. “Justice P.N.C Agumagu is the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary and was seconded to establish the Customary Court of Appeal in 2008. “The Rivers State government is well aware that there is no constitutional provision compelling the Governor to appoint a Chief Judge based on his or her seniority or even the arm of the judiciary to which such a person belongs. What the constitution requires is a minimum of 10 years postcall qualification. “This is evidenced even by the appointment of the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iche Ndu, who was appointed Chief Judge over his senior at the bench. At the time of Justice Ndu’s

appointment, Justice Sotonye Denton-West was the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary, yet the NJC did not compel the governor at the time to announce her as Chief Judge.” But Mr.Okocha, responding to the broadside from the Rivers State government, said: “As at the time when in July 2013, NJC met and took a decision to recommend Justice Okocha (Daisy) over Justice Agumagu, I was not in the meeting. I had to excuse myself. “Everybody knows that in keeping with due process, if you have a personal interest in a matter and of course, the personal relationship is enough to indicate that OCJ Okocha must have a personal interest. So, I left the room. “The allegation by the Rivers State Government that the NJC has been hijacked by political jobbers for selfish interest is absolute balderdash, hogwash and absolute nonsense. NJC is constituted by the most eminent judges in this country. The CJN is the chairman. “If they are accusing the entire NJC of being politicised, let them point to the particular member that is believed is a politician or being influenced by politicians. It is absolute falsehood and a totally irresponsible statement. “Agumagu is now being investigated. While his investigation is going on, it is only fair and right that he has to step aside, to allow for due process to be carried out. Agumagu is being investigated for what the NJC con-

siders to be a bridge of his oath of office and a bridge of the code of conduct of a judicial officer. He has been asked to step aside and I hope that at the end of the day, we will all hear the outcome.” The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, said that the NJC acted in error over Agumagu’s suspension, which he said would not stand, in view of the pending suit at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, filed by Daisy. Chief of staff also noted that the NJC, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, should have waited for the decision of the appellate court, accusing the council of taking

HE Federal Government yesterday solicited for the support of te European Union in its bid to curb the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram group. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, who made case for EU support when the EU Group of Amassadors led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Erian Mishel, visited him in his office in Abuja, expected the region to have better understand with the country’s situation and support its efforts in trying to get on top of this situation. “I will like to thank the EU for the support and contribution toward on checking the menace of insurgent, Boko Haram in the country. It has been a great concern to us. What is tackled in Sub-Sahara countries is tackled almost in every country. “We look forward to receive your support in this particular area, technical support and we look forward to have a lot more support In that direction. We hope you will better understand our situation and support us in trying to get on top of this situation. “So in this respect the EU has really done a lot in supporting our effort to contend the scourge of terrorism in our

Vincemt IKUOMOLA, Abuja country. Especially ,recently a lot of attacks on various part of the country since we brought to the fore the seriousness of the situation . “And also the potential of this escalating problem needs that we come together to contend the rise of the situation and make sure we arrest this level is scourge from other countries of Africa.” The minister also expressed satisfaction to the EU ambassadors for their support towards the next coming elections in 2015. “I would like to thank the EU for the support that you have been given to Nigeria for our development. For example when you talk about democracy I would like to say we are grateful in terms of the support and the donations of large sum of financial support to the INEC for the forth coming elections in 2015. “I am sure a lot of you are in touch with INEC and at the same time monitoring all that is happening and also give a technical advice to the various institutions in our countries as to how to achieve mandatory free and fair elections. So I thank you very much for support you have given in that direction,” he said.

Taleveras: NEITI clarifies report on crude swap arrangement

ONTRARY to a report in the March 25, 2014 edition of a Nigerian Daily Newspaper that 152,308,878 litres was listed against Taleveras in the Crude Oil Swap Arrangement, The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report lists 52,308,878.00 in USD value against the name of the company Subsequently, the NEITI has refuted an earlier report of $8 billion loss. NEITI’s Director of Communication, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, while denying the $8 billion loss said. “The media report from that presentation attributed to NEITI that the nation loses $8 billion annually through crude oil swap. This is not only

wrong but misleading. What NEITI presented and explained at that hearing was that there is no cost efficiency in the transactions with the offshore processing organisations.” Leonard Kwentua, a Senior Trading and Supply Executive of Taleveras Petroleum, went further to say. “Taleveras’ supply of gasoline under the swap arrangement is ongoing activities and accounts are reconciled quarterly to determine what is oversupplied or under supplied. This barter arrangement is a major factor responsible for the sustainability of supply and availability of Gasoline across Nigeria. “International financial institutions are very sensitive to sensational media reports and most recently these inaccurate reports do more harm than good

in structuring finance for petroleum product supply into Nigeria. Furthermore, It is on record that Taleveras is one of the most active supplier of refined petroleum products in and out of Africa as a whole and in particular PPMC under the Duke/Taleveras arrangement. We are often than not, used as a Performance Example. Secondly, for the swap transaction, there is an underlying security in form of a standby letter of credit in Favour of PPMC, so if you don’t deliver the products, PPMC is in a position to cash your letter of Credit. These letters of credits are issued in favour of PPMC by first class banks and must be bank confirmed prior to an Offtake of the crude. So in essence no letter of credit, no lifting of crude”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

NEWS

JTF arrests two Britons, 12 Nigerians for oil theft •Decries international dimension to economic sabotage n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n •Suspects offer $66,500 bribe HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State, Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, in Yenagoa, paraded two Britons and 12 Nigerians said to have been arrested for oil theft. They were apprehended while allegedly hatching a plot to siphon petroleum product from the pipelines of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Chanomi creeks, Warri, Delta State. The Nigerians, according to the JTF, were hired as technicians to facilitate the oil theft which would have been

executed by connecting a hose to one of the SPDC's pipelines along the Chanomi creeks for the purpose of siphoning the oil. The suspects were also said to have offered a bribe of N11million to officials of JTF with a promise to pay an additional N10million if the illicit deal sailed through. But luck ran out on them when the Commander 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Fidelis Azinta, rejected the bribe and arrested them. The suspects, the alleged bribe money and operational

Cross River has put Nigeria on global map –PENGASSAN HE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN has lauded Cross River State Government for initiating a world-class conference facility, which will serve as an iconic event place in sub-Saharan Africa. Making the commendation during an inspection tour of some of projects embarked upon by Governor Liyel Imoke after their 2-Day Conference in Calabar, Friday, Comrade Frank Esanubi, leader of the delegation and Chairman of PENGASSAN, Chevron Nigeria Ltd branch, said: “The project is a novel idea and one project that I will advise government to ensure its completion before the expiration of this administration because it will add value to the state's tourism drive. “I commend Governor Liyel Imoke for what he is currently developing. I learnt the conference facility has 5000 seating capacity, and currently so many organizations which have large members will always prefer Abuja for their events because there is an International Conference Centre there. But with this facility now coupled with peace and serenity of Calabar, I am sure the traffic will gradually move to Calabar." On the choice of Calabar for the event, the chairman said: “While planning for this conference, we agreed that our choice of a venue must be a place where the people are receptive, a place that we can feel at home, safe and it was the unanimous decision of the executive to settle for Calabar. So, for any institution or organization, Calabar is the best choice whenever you think of Continuing, he said “If you look at the polity in Nigeria generally, Cross River State, since the return to democracy has been blessed with good leadership compared to other states in the federation. It is something that is worthy of emulation and commendable too."

tools, were paraded yesterday by the Commander, JTF, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, at the Headquarters of the security outfit in Yenagoa. Atewe said the suspects, representatives of an oil servicing company, were apprehended on March 17. He said the suspects initially came to JTF's headquarters on the pretence that they had been authorised to evacuate products from a vessel in the custody of Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA. He said they came with an

approval letter from NNS and a permit from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). But Atewe said he directed the Sector 1of the JTF to monitor their activities on the waterways. He said: "The Operations Officer of 3 Battalion discovered through their confession that their actual intention was to hack into one of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) pipelines in Chanomi creeks, Warri, Delta State and siphon crude oil". To cover up their tracks, he said the suspects first gave the officer a bribe of $5000 for recharge cards and $1500 to fuel a gunboat that would es-

cort the stolen crude oil. He said two of the suspects asked the officer to facilitate a meeting between them and the commander 4 Brigade. Atewe said the meeting was convened on March 20 at the Brigadier's office as a bait to further ascertain the motive of the suspects. He said: "During the meeting, the suspects expressed their desire to connect a hose to SPDC pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State so as to illegally siphon crude oil into barges. "While in the Brigade commander's office, they promised to bribe the Brigade Commander with the sum of N20million as well as take

care of the officers and soldiers along the Chanomi creeks. "On March 21, they brought to the commander 60,000USD which translates to N10.2million being 50 per cent of the N20million promised. The suspects were immediately arrested for attempting to bribe the commander and for economic sabotage." He said the 12 technicians hired to connect the hose to facilitate the theft were also apprehended. Atewe said a follow-up investigation led to the arrest of the two Britons who were in alliance with seven Nigerian policemen.

Horror as house boy hacks magistrate to death Barely two days after a police officer, Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, went berserk, killing self, wife and five others in the Akingbala area Abeokuta, another tragedy struck yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, as a house boy, identified simply as David, butchered his former employer, a retired Senior Magistrate (Mrs.) Olufunmilayo Timehin. David, an Igede boy from Benue State, was a former house help of Magistrate Timehin, but was sacked two months ago, following alleged theft of his boss’ phones and gold chains. It was gathered that David was arrested by the police while trying to sell the phones at the Oke - Ilewo area of the state capital, but was later let off the

n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n hook. But yesterday he allegedly stole into the Laderin Estate home of the Magistrate on Ikereku road last night, and scaled the high rise perimeter fence, entered the serene compound and hid himself at a vantage point, waiting for his victim to come out of the house. According to sources, by cruel twist of fate, Mrs. Timilehin was said to have walked into the ambush laid for by David, who attacked her with a machete, as she stepped out of the house to open the gate for her son who was returning home at the time. Unaware of what was happening to

his mother inside the compound, the son was said waited endlessly for his mother to open the gate, while she struggled with her assailant, who had overpowered the old woman at the time. David was about to escape from the scene of the crime when operatives of the Ogun State Vigilante Service Organisation (VSO) apprehended him. He was later handed him over to the police. The remains of retired the Magistrate was later evacuated from the scene at 7:13pm and taken to an undisclosed morgue in Abeokuta in a Toyota Sienna ambulance, marked (Ogun) AY 106AAB, and accompanied by no fewer than seven senior police officers.

Alleged contract scam: Imo Speaker raises panel to probe self, others HE fraud allegation rocking the Imo State House of Assembly yesterday worsened, with the Speaker, Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu, setting up a three-man committee to investigate him and other indicted members of the House. It was gathered that the Speaker was forced to set up the panel to escape an impeachment plot by members of the House who have accused him of down-

n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n playing the allegations brought against him by his former aide. The Committee, headed by Hon Ikenna Emeh, was to investigate the allegations of fraud leveled against the Speaker and other principal officers of the House by a former media aide to the Speaker, Samuelson Ihuoha. The Speaker and his Chief of Staff, Mr.

Kodichi Anamekwenwa, were accused of alleged indiscriminate award of road contracts to selves and cronies by the former aide. The Nation findings revealed that the Speaker’s action was a result of an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is currently investigating the state House of Assembly over the alleged contract scam and other financial fraud.

NEWS 61

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Modern political game changer @ 62

•Continued from Page 8 do it? How did he wrestle back the same zone from the stranglehold of the PDP in 2007 and went on to strengthen his hold on the vastly resourceful and politically sophisticated zone by 2011? And to cap all, the trilogy of the bruising battles won, how did the ACN merge with other progressive parties in the mold of CPC and ANPP, both from the northern fold to form the All Progressive Congress (APC), now giving the PDP sleepless nights? It was the democrat in Tinubu that saw him calling for Resource Control, as a Senator, against the vociferous voices of those who claim to love the country only when it suits their fancies. Today, that clamour reechoes with greater verve and frenzy as the National Conference kicks off its deliberations. But would anyone remember who belled the cat? That is the million naira question. From all these salutary efforts, it would be a disservice to our sense of history to misconstrue Tinubu as a self-serving politician. If he was one, perhaps he would have been contented to cocoon himself with the AD. And he would not have used his political clout to assist incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to send the PDP packing, even though it is controlled by the Labour Party, just as he had done in Ekiti and Osun states. Even when he has been accused of influencing choices for the party, one issue even die-hard critics would not deny is that he makes the best choices, always. Name them: the awardwinning governors of Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Edo ,Oyo and Ogun states do not come to political prominence every day. Do they? That magic wand of his to identify the best man

for the job should be a source of PhD thesis. To all those who, out of sheer envy, label APC as a political party devoid of philosophy, a closer look at the groundbreaking achievements of the states under its purview would be revealing. And that is, the enduring principle of making governance to be driven by the wishes, aspirations, dreams and desires of the average Nigerian. That is, rather than that of a fraudulent family of shameless kleptomaniacs, whose stock in trade is not only to steal the nation blind but to make culprits walk our streets with a sneering swagger under the leaking umbrella of the crass culture of insidious impunity. Asiwaju, no doubt, believes in the sustenance of justice, fairness, equity and people-driven development. He believes, and firmly too, that it all starts with free, fair and credible elections. That always provides the firm foundation for the house of democracy to stand. Only when then would people's votes count. If that is not a political philosophy, what then

is? According to Michael Ciric, an American political analyst, 'voters tend to believe in political ideology much more than those who are actually running for office. Naturally, candidates will more often than not say whatever they must in order to get elected and worry about their promises later…Still, for most people, their political choices pretty much come down to a belief in a particular ideology as opposed to the candidate being the best qualified for the job.' One may say that happens only in America. But evidence abounds here in Nigeria that political ideologies have played their part in electoral cjoices made.It did so with the late Dr. Namidi Azikiwe as it also did for late Chief Obefemi Awolowo. And now, as 2015 general elections move closer by the day, Nigerians would be hard put to trust PDP, a political party that has since 1999 been unable to turn the fortunes of a vastly blessed country in favour of its long-suffering people. With monumental fraud in the form of pension scam, aviation mess, oil subsidy scandal, money allegedly growing wings from NNPC, Nigerians would want to pitch their tents with the ideology of the progressives to make their choices count and their voices heard, loud and clear. That opposition to the PDP is APC. One man, whose political antecedents would provide a credible factor in the yet unbalanced equation in the political landscape, is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. As we celebrate him today, we wish him God's abiding grace and fruitful years in the service of our fatherland. Has the game-changer an ace has under his sleeve, come 2015? Only time will tell.

Alaafin, 10 other monarchs for UK award

O fewer than 10 tradi tional rulers in Oyo State will accompany the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 to the United Kingdom to receive the award to be presented to him by the Oyo State Council (OSC) in the Queen’s land next month. The award, according to the letter signed by Femi Durudola, the Secretary, Coordinating Committee, is in recognition of Alaafin’s contribution to the socio-economic and political development of the entire Yoruba nation, Nigeria and indeed African continent. He explained that special events and programmes had been put in place in honour of Oba Adeyemi , noting that the award ceremony holding at Oasis:6-8 Thames Road, Barking Essex, IG11 0HZ on the 13th of April would climax the event. The programmes, according to Durodola, include Jumat Service which Alaafin will observe with the Muslim community and the appearance of the monarch on a live television programme, among others. Describing the occasion as one that will undoubtedly leave a lasting foot print on the sands of time, he said: “Members of Yoruba Community in the UK are looking forward to this historical and monumental event.” On the preparation for the event, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Atiba Local Government and Oyo Prince,

Gbenga ADERANTI Akeem Adeyemi, said the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, would be the Special Guest of Honour. Similarly, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, will be the

chairman while the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu will lead other dignitaries , including all the four local government caretaker committee chairmen in Oyo Federal Constituency and others to the event.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

Amaechi assures rural communities of electrification projects IVERS State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that all the rural communities in Etche Local Government Area will benefit from the state government electrification project. Amaechi promised to kick-start the electrification project with the sum of N150 million. The governor made the promise on Friday when he commissioned the ultra-modern Igbodo market and the commissioning of the electrification project in Umuohia Igbodo Etche, a boundary village between Etche and Imo State. The governor also commissioned the electrification project at the Council Secretariat, Okehi in Etche Local Government Area of the state. According to him, “Today, I will promise Etche people that I will give N150 million to Etche chairman to fix electricity in all the remaining villages and communities," Amaechi said. He also urged the people of Etche to register with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ensure they vote out the PDP in the upcoming 2015 general elections in order to return their oil wells that have been ceded by the Federal Government. “What you owe us is to go and register with the APC, whether you are a chief or not, go and register with APC. Let me tell you the consequences of not registering. “If you don’t register with the APC and vote them to power, you will never get back your oil wells from the Federal Government. Supposing they call for oil producing communities, you will no longer become part of them. If they say, they like you, they should return the oil wells. We are in court to show you that we are not completely out.’’

‘Yoruba must preserve their tradition’ n Innocent DURU n HE Yoruba people have been urged to uphold and sustain their cultural heritage and traditions. Otunba Gani Adams, a delegate of the south west in the on-going National Conference made the call, Thursday, in Lagos, during the third edition of the annual Eledumare Festival, organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation. Adams debunked allegations that the group does not believe in God, saying: “We believe in God. By this festi-

val, we are trying to sustain our identity and make sure that Yorubas don’t forget their roots. Some people’s impression about this organization is that we only believe in traditional religion without taking into cognizance or recognizing the almighty God. I am using this opportunity to correct this impression. Our organization believes in the almighty God. We are using this festival as a point of contact to almighty God to get all we are praying for in Yoruba land.

Anger, shock as suspected assassins gun down two activist lawyers on way to court in Delta RESH facts emerged yesterday on n Shola O'NEIL, Southsouth Regional Editor n the killing of two human right lawyers in Isoko North Local Gov- Ozoro to hear the bail application for a ernment Area of Delta State on Thurs- defence witness in the case. The witness was dramatically arrested day. Renowned lawyer and human rights by the police while testifying in favour activist, Mr Horrace Egbon Dafiogho of the suspects, who were standing trial and his junior colleague, identified as for allegedly kidnapping the son of the Sam Ekwajor, were shot dead along politician. A source close to the case, said, "We Ughelli - Ozoro road on Thursday. A source said, "Their killers dragged were in the court waiting for them till the them out of the Lexus car they rode in, afternoon. At a point, the judge couldn't shot them and left their lifeless remains wait any longer, so he ruled on the application. on the road side near their car." "As we were there waiting, we got a It was learnt that nothing was taken report that Barrister Dafiogho had been from the victims. It was gathered that the duo were on killed. We were still there waiting when their way to Ozoro, where they are de- they took their corpses to the morgue." The ugly incident has led to shock and fending suspects in a high profile kidnap case involving the son of a prominent anger among legal practitioners and the politician in the state when they were human rights community in the state. The National Coordinator, Forum for killed. It was gathered that Dafiogho and Ek- Justice and Human Rights Defence, Mr. wejor were billed to appear in a court in Oghenejabor Ikimi, told our correspon-

dent that he was stupefied by the development. He said, "It was last night that I just heard the news and it is very surprising to me. Why would anybody kill a lawyer and an activist who spends his time defending the less-privileged in the society?" Our correspondent gathered that prior to his death on Thursday, the legal practitioner had raised the alarm over threat on his life. One his colleagues who spoke with The Nation, said, "He even told the judge hearing one of his cases that his life was being threatened." Contacted, the Delta Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the report in a telephone chat with our correspondent. She said, "We are aware of the incident. The corpses are in the mortuary and we have commenced investigation."

Varsity student arrested with toy gun, ammunition at APC rally •Police to deploy explosive experts in campaign venues 26-year-old student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Famuyide Oluwafemi, was on Thursday arrested by the police for purportedly trying to "smuggle a toy gun and one other expended ammunition" into the venue of the mega rally held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in the state capital. The Police Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna, disclosed this in an interaction with journalists in his office at the Police Headquartres yesterday, stating that the suspect, a 300-level mechanical engineering student, would be charged to court very soon. According to the CP, Famuyide hid

n Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti n the objects in his bag while trying to enter the stadium, advising the youths to avoid acts of thuggery and other bad conducts. Disclosing that investigation was on regarding the Tuesday attempted burning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) office, Uyanna noted, "Whoever is found complicit will be dealt with. From investigations, this is not their property. Even if it is, should it be burnt". Meanwhile, the state police command has directed the Explosive and Ordinances experts to maintain a watch over the campaign venues of all political par-

ties to ensure that no life is lost during the ongoing electioneering campaign for the June 21, 2014, Governorship election in the state. Speaking during a telephone interaction with reporters on Friday, the police spokesman in the state, Mr Victor Babayemi, said the experts have been "mandated to keep vigil at every campaign venue to prevent people from planting explosive devices that could wreak havoc at campaign grounds. He assured the people that the police was up to the task of securing the lives of the people at rallies. According to him, the CP, has sponsored many meetings with the sister agencies on the need for and ways to build a workable inter-agency cooperation towards a safe election experience.

Police arrest Ondo NUJ leaders over protest at OSRC HE crisis rocking the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) took a new dimension yesterday as five workers of the Corporation who are members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were arrested by the Police. Those arrested are the immediate past chairman of the NUJ, OSRC Chapel, Taiwo Ibitoye, Lanrewaju Cole, Akinwumi Abodunde, Sam Adeloye, Obafemi Sogbe and Sola Obagbemisoye. It will be recalled that workers of the organisation

n Damisi OJO, Akure n had on Wednesday protested the poor state of the corporation. They maintained that in spite of their yearly internally generated revenue profile of above 80 million naira, their welfare was not well managed by the management. The workers condemned the state of workers’ welfare, and expressed shock over the presence of stern looking security agents at the entrance of their office. No fewer than 50 police of-

ficers with two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and about five police patrol vans were stationed at the main gate of OSRC in a bid to forestall the breakdown of law and order by the aggrieved workers. The leader of the workers, Ibitoye before their arrest had said they were surprised with the presence of security agents, led by Assistance Commissioner of Police, Mr Edward Ajogun, saying there was no protest in whatever form to call for the presence of security agents.

CAN warns South East Governors over Fulani herdsmen HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South East zone, yesterday asked Governors of the geo-political zone to exercise utmost caution in welcoming Fulani herdsmen in view of their activities in other parts of the country. The group said that giving grazing fields to the herdsmen in the region would tantamount to sentencing their hosts to death. In a statement signed by CAN chairman in the zone, Bishop David Eberechukwu said the people of the Southeast would not allow invasion by the herdsmen. Besides, CAN said that those who were displaced in the North as a result of BokoHaram Menace from the region had not been accommodated. He said: “Let us issue a note of warning to all the people campaigning for this to desist because we do not have land in the South East to accommodate all the people displaced in North. “The Governors of the East

•Threatens protest n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n should not ever accept the idea (at all) of giving grazing fields to Fulani herdsmen. “The Governors of the South East should avoid anything that will make posterity to be against them, the South East CAN is ready to go on demonstration to resist this move”. “How can we give a graz-

ing field to the Fulani/herdsmen knowing full well that we do not have land in the East”. He said the governors should rather focus on accommodating “all our people already displaced in the North as a result of Boko Haram”. “How can this be when we are already experiencing raping of our girls/wives in the hands of the same Fulani cattle rearers?” he asked.

Do not release money to Confab, Senator urges National Assembly n Kolade ADEYEMI. Kano n ENATOR Ibrahim Gaya has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of attempting to plunge the country into confusion with the convocation of the National Conference. Gaya, who spoke to reporters yesterday at the Government House in Kano, urged the National Assembly to deny the National Conference the necessary funds to operate. According to him, “we the politicians saw the handwriting on the wall that President Jonathan was trying to create confusion in the country with his hidden agenda, because the issues of revenue allocation and religion, among others, are too sensitive to be toyed with. It is same with the lopsided selection of the delegates by the Federal Government, which has pitched the north against the south, thereby creating confusion on an agreed voting pattern.”

THE NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

SPORT EXTRA U-17 WORLD CUP Q/FINAL EXIT

Flamingoes apologise to Nigerians

HE Flamingoes have apologised to Nigerians for their failure to progress beyond the quarterfinal following a 3-0 loss to Spain at the ongoing FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica yesterday morning. A brace from Patri Guijarro and one from Nahikari Garcia were all the Europeans needed to book a place in the semi final of the competition at the expense of Bala Nikyu’s side, as the Nigerians once again missed out on making it past the quarters. Speaking after the game, Flamingoes’ assistant captain Uchenna Kanu appealed to Nigerians to bear with the team as it was never their intention to lose the encounter. Uchenna, while admitting disappointment with her side’s loss to Spain and quarterfinal exit, lamented the quality of officiating, but foresaw Nigeria winning the next edition of the tournament. “I’m not happy that we lost, I’m not happy that we are out of the competition. I believe football is a game of luck, it can favour anybody, any day, but we thank God none of us sustained

any injury. “The way it happened today, I don’t know what happened with the referee and everything seemed to be against us. I know it’s not a thing of joy to lose and not only losing, getting out of the tournament; it’s very appalling. “It’s normal for them (Nigerians) to be angry and disappointed when people think you will get somewhere. It is just sad but I don’t think they should kill us because we lost the match or because we are out of the tournament - I believe that one day the trophy will come to Africa, Nigeria to be precise. They should bear with us,” she pleaded. Striker and captain of the Nigerian side, Chiwendu Ihezuo also registered huge disappointment with the Flamingoes’ exit from the agegrade competition, insisting something went wrong in the match against Spain. “I feel very bad about the outcome of the match. I don’t know what happened to us today. I know they (Nigerians) are very disappointed in us. We just appeal to them that we are very

sorry. This is not the end of the world. We will still try our best next time,” the Pelican Stars forward said amidst tears. Although Flamingoes’ head coach Bala Nikyu praised the standard of the competition, he expressed displeasure over his team’s performance and the outcome of the quarterfinal game against Spain. “Although we’re disappointed that our adventure has ended so early, we’ve really enjoyed taking part in this marvellous FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup; it has been fantastically well organised. “It goes without saying that I’m not happy with the way the match panned out or our performance, but there’s nothing we can do about it now except try to put it behind us,” an upset Nikyu said. The Nigerian side departed Liberia, the venue of the quarter final on Friday morning (yesterday evening in Nigeria), for Madrid, from where it will connect a flight to Lagos. The team will then leave for its final destination in Abuja this morning.

Power of television

•Continued from back page shorter. I sighed thinking about when Nigerian matches would be so described and covered. Thank God Nduka Irabor is doing a great deal to transform the Globacom Premier League. Irabor must stay there to withstand the brickbats thrown at him for the good of the game. Issues raised from Sunday’s El Classico in Spain are being handled through the power of television, with the big games getting top priority. I have taken you, dear reader, through what operates in Europe because we will soon have such matters in our domestic league. We must be prepared to handle them with dispatch and ensure that justice is done decisively. The power of television rests not with handling controversies. It is best appreciated when you sit at home to watch how the two teams at the stadium. The behind-thescene pictures of the stadium’s dressing rooms push anyone within such areas in Europe to watch the next game live. The pre-match talks with key members of both teams on what the fans should expect compel those at home to sit tight and not miss any moment. And, of course, the post-match interviews where the most valuable player is given an opportunity to relive what he did on the pitch. It is about time Nigerians at home got a complete menu of everything that happens weekly in the Globacom Premier League. The present right holders are doing well. Yet they still need to replicate what we see weekly from Europe to compel Nigerians to leave their living rooms and head for the stadium nearest to them. What if the rights owners decide to show the arrival of Globacom Premier League teams at match venues? Don’t laugh. The buses will be rickety. Broken windows and marked windscreens. At the end of the matches, the television would capture our players pushing their vehicles to start; just as the smoke from the silencer would suffocate a rabbit in its hole, if pumped into it. The players’ boots would be an eyesore and, of course, different shades of jerseys. These elements would be a bad advertisement for the Nigerian game. It would take such visuals to force our clubs to do the right thing. Since most of the teams are government owned, highlighting these flaws would move the governors to buy their teams good buses and improve players and officials’ welfare knowing, what the implications are if they don’t.

Who can stop Big Boss? Stephen Keshi has unwittingly played into the trap set by his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He is in big trouble because the evidence is overwhelming. Documents leaked to the media show that Keshi left the country without permission. Keshi’s leave request showed that he ought to have proceeded on vacation on February 15 and was expected in the country on March 10. Yet, Keshi travelled to the US, in spite of the fact that the NFF President, Aminu Maigari, told him not to. Indeed, Maigari insisted that Keshi should attend President Goodluck Jonathan’s dinner with the bronze-winning CHAN Eagles on February 13. Keshi defied this directive, according to the NFF. He wasn’t seen at the Presidential Villa on February 13, raising the poser if he could have acted in the manner, had the CHAN Eagles lifted the trophy. Keshi’s leave request showed that he should be in Nigeria on March 11, yet the Big Boss hit the country March 25, 14 days after his vacation had expired. But that isn’t NFF’s major grouse. Keshi, in his wisdom, called the head of technical department, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, informing him that he wouldn’t be able to attend a scheduled meeting for March 25 from the US because he was having connecting flight hitches. This prompted the NFF to shift the technical committee meeting to April 8. Surprisingly, NFF watched in awe as Keshi parleyed with the media on March 25, a day that Big Boss said wasn’t feasible due to flight hitches. Peeved, Ikpeme gave Keshi 24 hours to respond to the query. Let’s hope that he responds or apologises. Like we do here, Keshi can do no wrong; otherwise, when the Big Boss announced his resignation on radio in South Africa on February 11, 2013, in spite of the fact that former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi was there with him, we should have either asked him to apologise for the national embarrassment or wielded the big stick. We didn’t. Keshi was given the red carpet while NFF chiefs were made to look like fools. Is anyone shocked that Keshi could pick personal interest ahead of national interest, which is what snubbing the technical committee meeting amounted to? Please, this insolence must be checked. But who can stop the Big Boss? Just who, please?

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2802

I feel the anger caused by having governments that think their only duty is to squander the nation’s resources in Europe while not providing jobs for its citizens

—Oyinkan Medubi

HAT exactly are the root causes of Nigeria’s persistent and even deep ening crisis of underdevelopment despite her abundant human, material and natural resources endowment? Why has Nigeria over half a decade after independence been unable to actualize her potentials, promote the welfare and well- being of the vast majority of her populace and meaningfully assert her status as the fabled giant of Africa and an influential force in world politics? These are the issues that engage Professor Chibuzo Nnate Nwoke’s mind in his inaugural lecture titled “Rich Land; Poor People: The Political Economy of Mineral Resources in a Peripheral Capitalist State” delivered at the Leed City University, Ibadan, on November 7, 2013. A lecturer at the Leed City University’s Department of Politics and International Relations, Professor Nwoke has over the last three decades researched exhaustively, written extensively and taught in the area of the role of mineral resources in the contemporary global political economy. His lecture demonstrates vividly that, despite the travails of university education in Nigeria, a lot of quality work is still being done by gifted and dedicated academics both in the country’s private and public universities. He also shows that there are indeed refreshing perspectives on the challenge of underdevelopment in Nigeria and Africa and that there are viable alternatives to the neo-liberal policy orthodoxy that has been foisted on the continent with dire consequences in the last three decades. Professor Nwoke’s inaugural lecture is particularly relevant and useful at this time when there are intense debates on the best way to liberate Nigeria’s potentials and set her firmly and irreversibly on the path of accelerated development. While exhaustively documenting Nigeria’s huge mineral endowments in diverse sectors, Professor Nwoke also argues that there is absolutely no reason why, with a visionary, competent and patriotic leadership, these resources could not be utilised to achieve selfreliant industrialization for the country as well as uplift the quality of life of the Nigerian people. He rigorously and ruthlessly challenges received orthodoxies such as the oft-cited ‘resource curse’ as being the root cause of the country’s backwardness. His wide ranging discourse examines the political economy of mineral resources, demonstrates the crucial significance of mineral resources in human civilisation while also xraying ‘the internal and external factors of minerals-related underdevelopment’. His detailed catalogue of the variety and spread of untapped mineral resources throughout the length and breadth of the country prove that there is no excuse for Nigeria’s sustained dependence on oil, which is responsible for over 90% of the country’s revenues. Most of the states, which are dependent on oil revenues from the centre, are shown to have untapped mineral deposits

Professor Chibuzo Nwoke and Nigeria's' paradox of plenty

‘

within the world trade regime, despite its mantra of trade liberalisation, every effort is made, through Western protectionism, to discourage attempts to process, and add value to Africa’s raw materials export

•Okonjo-Iweala

that could have enriched the country’s resource base and facilitated their socio-economic development. A most interesting aspect of the inaugural major is Professor Nwoke’s tracing of the trajectory of the ‘resource curse’ debate in the development/underdevelopment literature. In the early 1950s, he notes, most mainstream development economists theorised that mineral resource abundance of backward or underdeveloped countries was indeed an asset. These resources it was argued would help such countries, who were seen as enjoying surplus labour but suffering from severe shortages of investible capital, to earn revenues through the export of primary commodities and attraction of investment. These revenues would in turn be utilised to provide critical public goods for their people. This predominant view at the time seemed to have been reinforced by the formation in the 1970s of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as other third world producer’s associations for such commodities as copper, bauxite, tin, groundnuts, cocoa and coffee among others. Indeed, the shock caused in the global economy by OPEC’s hike in oil prices in the 1970s led some scholars to

’

speculate on the transition from a bi-polar to a tri-polar world in which the resource rich Third World countries constituted the third power bloc. “Unfortunately, however”, Professor Nwoke notes “I have also observed the gradual and subsequent erosion of the Third World’s “resource power” up to the point where, today, several scholars now speak of “the paradox of plenty” or the “resource curse”, which they say has afflicted Third World countries that God has blessed with abundant resources”. He explains the socalled ‘paradox of plenty’ as referring to the perceived inverse relationship between abundant resource availability and the economic performance of countries possessing such resources. Those who espouse this view contend that there is evidence that states with abundant resource wealth tend to post poorer economic performance than those who are resource poor. Writing from the perspective of radical political economy informed by the works of scholars and thinkers such as Kwame Nkrumah, V.I. Lenin, Samir Amin, Walter Rodney, Bade Onimode, Claude Ake, Paul Baran etc, Nwoke offers a fundamentally different view opposed to the mainstream capi-

tal shortage or resource curse thesis. He argues that Africa’s resource endowment problems must be understood not as a curse but situated within the context of the organisation and functioning of the world capitalist system and Africa’s historically conditioned role in that structure as a supplier of raw materials. He points out that a thinker like Kwame Nkrumah had recognised this as far back as the 1960s when he wrote in his book, ‘Neo-colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism’ that “…If Africa’s multiple resources were used in her own development, they would place her among the modernised continents of the world. But the resources have been, and are still being used for the greater development of overseas interests”. Contending that the validity of Nkrumah’s thesis still endures, Nwoke insists that the origin of the so called resource curse and much of Africa’s underdevelopment is due to the continent’s engagement predominantly in primary resource production, which is controlled by foreign transnational entities merely for export to metropolitan countries. Thus, the “contrived and structural development of underdevelopment is, therefore, largely externally-induced”. Nwoke criticises the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for focussing on internal factors perceived to be responsible for Africa’s social, economic and political problems while ignoring the critical external variables. Hence the ‘resource curse’ argument seems to imply that the abundance of mineral resources inevitably induces moral laxity, lethargy and corruption among African socio-political and economic elites that are the causes of underdevelopment. Nwoke faults this perspective for neglecting the structural, dependent and unequal incorporation of Africa into the global capitalist economy as supplier of raw materials and importer of finished goods, a factor which is indispensable to comprehending the challenge of underdevelopment and backwardness in Africa. As a result of this misdiagnosis, the neo-liberal prescriptions for Africa’s development have been ineffective and even worsened the country’s plight. In his words “Their answer to the crisis in Africa is for us to develop agriculture, but again, with a view to export; and for us to abandon protection of domestic industry, to dismantle the public sector and make greater efforts to attract foreign capital. In short, they recommend policies the effect of which would be to aggravate the problem inherent in the specialization in raw materials exports and foreign control over the economy, which are, in fact, among the major factors causing the country’s crisis”. And this position is compounded by the fact that “within the world trade regime, despite its mantra of trade liberalisation, every effort is made, through Western protectionism, to discourage attempts to process, and add value to Africa’s raw materials export”.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Power of television T

HE European leagues are in their criti cal stages. The contending teams are either targeting the ultimate prize or struggling to avoid dropping into the lower cadre. Players are using their club matches to show their countries’ managers that they are ready to “explode” at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. But the fight for the top prize is fierce in England and Spain. Pundits have watched their predictions go awry to underline the fact that the beautiful game is filled with shocking results. Otherwise, who would have thought that Arsenal won’t be among the top three in the Barclays English Premier League? Many had tagged the Premier League as Arsenal’s to lose, given the way they entertain fans with their scintillating soccer artistry. Arsenal played such inviting flair that their opponents’ fans applaud even in defeat. But things have gone haywire for Arsene

Wenger and his thrillers, largely because the French tactician is so dogged about his philosophy of the game to change. He doesn’t believe in the armada of start which he once said could be problematic, especially when they are on the bench or not being fielded. Wenger’s dogma in Arsenal’s style earned him the stick from Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho, who, when told that the Barclays Premier League had changed, retorted: “You’re saying that the English league has changed. Has Wenger won it since I left?” Vintage Mourinho and his mind games. Wenger dismissed Mourinho’s jibes with the wave of his hand, insisting that he wouldn’t be drawn into discussing silly things. These scenarios were captured on television and they form the butt that rival supporters throw at another before games are played or shown on television. Indeed, the beauty of the European games rests with the way the leagues are packaged

on television. Each contentious act, including those too fast for the referees’ eyes to pick or those the referees forgot to include in their match reports, are captured on television. Decisions are also taken decisively no matter whose ox is gored. A few of the decisions have been questionable. Yet there is the platform to seek redress and such untoward acts rectified with superior judgment. Only last week, referee Marriner mistakenly flashed the red card at Gibbs instead Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain. Tempers rose initially from those who saw the events. Yet no one took the law into his hands because the television captured it adequately. Of course, Gunners’ management rightly appealed against the decision. And by Tuesday morning, Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain were qualified to play against Swansea at the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal was held 2-2. Referee Marriner wasn’t punished. His error was human and he will be in charge of

Southampton’s tie against Newcastle on Saturday. However, the beauty of the decision making had to do with the fact that the arbitration panel didn’t need to secure tapes from the away side like we do in Nigeria nor did it rely on any document submitted by the home team. Instead, it relied on the master tape of the broadcast rights holder to decide the issues raised during last Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea won 6-0. Did you see the goal Wayne Rooney scored against West Ham at the Upton Park Stadium? “Out of this world, Wayne Rooney,” screamed the commentator on television. In a flash, the camera rolled towards the stands where David Beckham sat with his kids. Wonderful. Such is the power of television that a flashback to the goal Beckham scored against Wimbledon that had Nigerian, Efan Ekoku, starring. When that flashback was shown on television, the argument among pundits bothered on the distance where both shots were taken. Quickly, that dispute was settled when the television brought forth the measurement showing that Beckham’s was scored from 60 meters whilst Rooney’s was

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