The Nation March 01, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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•Court frees seven of students’ murder

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VOL. 8, NO. 2415 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Pope Benedict exits to pilgrim

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HE Pope left the Vatican in a motorcade before boarding a helicopter to the papal retreat yesterday.

Pope Benedict XVI officially resigned, saying that he now “will simply be a pilgrim” starting his last journey on earth.

The pontiff, aged 86, was earlier flown by helicopter from the Vatican to his retreat at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.

His deputy, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is now in charge of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics until a new pope is elected next month.

Benedict vowed “unconditional obedience and

•Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI waves to faithful from a balcony in Castel Gandolfo ...yesterday PHOTO: AFP

SEE ALSO PAGES 2 &3

Continued on page 60

Governors dare bombs to attend APC talks in Borno Party to begin national outreach

PAPILLO AT THE NATION

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

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T was an exciting scene yesterday in Maiduguri, the beleaguered capital of Borno State.

Nine governors and one deputy (Zamfara’s Abubakar Aliyu) walked freely in a market waving at crowds who hailed them - apparently for their bravery and solidiarity.

Borno State is the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The governors of the parties in the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) were in the city for their third meeting.

They unfolded plans to begin a national campaign for the APC to mobilise Nigerians for change. Besides, they donated N200million to the victims of the Boko Haram crisis.

The governors said they chose Maiduguri to prove a point that “there should not be a no-go area for any Nigerian leader”.

President Goodluck Jonathan has not visContinued on page 4

THE ROLL •Kashim Shettima •Babatunde Fashola •Rauf Aregbesola •Tanko Almakura •Rochas Okorocha •Ibikunle Amosun •Adams Oshiomhole •Abdulaziz Yari •Kayode Fayemi •Abubakar Aliyu

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There should be no-go-area for any leader that means well for his people

’

Senate to review budget process

•Soccer icon Kanu displaying the winning ticket...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Kanu picks The Nation promo winner

•STORY ON PAGE 6

HE Senate yesterday renewed the row between the National Assembly and the Presidency over national planning and budgeting.

The upper chamber, through a unanimous resolution, mandated its committees on National Planning and Finance to review the national planning and budgeting linkage with a view to recommending immediate improvement.

This followed a motion by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) and 46 others titled, “A call for review of the national planning and budgeting process.”

Senate President David Mark lamented that some government officials had become “too powerful”, hijacking duties meant for other people and refusing to allow those charged with specific responsibilities to do their work.”

Adetunmbi, in his lead debate, observed that the traditional five-year development plans the country used to operate had been replaced by a medium-term expenditure

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

framework.

He believed that linking multi-year development plans to the national budget is fundamental to economic growth.

The budget, he said, is the mechanism by which development policies are converted into spending priorities. The MediumTerm Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is a strategic, multi-annual perspective to the budget process.

Adetunmbi observed that national plans allow the government to develop a holistic perspective that promote equitable distribution of resources and drive targeted economic growth compared to the narrow approval of MDAs, which is aimed at maintaining and or expanding resource allocation to them, based on the annual incremental approach to budgeting.

He was concerned that the current national budContinued on page 4

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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NEWS POPE RESIGNS Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right) and Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga at a meeting of the National Council on Privatisation at the Presidentia Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

End of chapter of Yesterday marked the end of the era of Benedict XVI’s eightyear papacy, which, for many across the world, will be remembered for allegations and scandals, reports The Telegraph

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• Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso (left) presenting a Braille machine to Master AbdulAzeez Balogun, a visually impaired student of Crescent College , Victoria Island , who participated in the recent national essay competition organised by the foundation. With them are AbdulAzeez's mother, Kudirat Balogun and Vice- Principal, Crescent College in Lagos, Mahmud Abdul Ganiy (right) ...yesterday.

Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike (right), Principal, Federal Government College, Rubochi Mrs Asta Ndayiwo (left), Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry Of Education Malam Shehu Aliyu (second left) and acting Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Prof.

Charles Onocha during the minister's inspection of Federal Government Library Projects in Abuja ...yesterday.

• From left: Babaloja of Oyo State Alhaji Dauda Adisa Oladapo, Business Director, Glo Oyo 1, Mr. Lawrence Okpako, Iyaloja of Oyo State Alaja Wuraola Asake Daisi and Business Director Glo Oyo 11 Mr. James Akpewenue presenting a special sheme for market men and women. At the Introducing of Globacom Oloja scheme in Oyo State, held at Civil Center Agodi, Ibadan...yesterday. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI IBADAN.

ENEDICT XVI’s eight-year papacy formally came to an end after Swiss Guards in ceremonial uniforms clanked shut the giant wooden doors of the main entrance to Castel Gandolfo, the 16th century castle outside Rome that the German ex-pontiff will call home for the next two months.

On the stroke of eight o’clock local time, two Swiss Guards, wearing black berets and black winter cloaks over their red, orange and blue striped uniforms, closed shut the wooden doors.

The final moment of the papacy was witnessed by just a few tearful well-wishers, who were easily outnumbered by hundreds of reporters and television crews.

Inside the castle the Swiss Guards presented arms to three members of the Vatican Gendarmerie, in blue uniforms and white gloves, who formally took over the job of protecting the man now known as Pope Emeritus.

The closing of the gates initiated a period known in Italian as the “sede vacante” - the empty Seat of St Peter - and initiated the countdown to the secretive conclave that will elect Benedict’s successor sometime in March.

It came after a spectacular helicopter ride over the terracotta rooftops of Rome, the winding Tiber River and the Colosseum.

The 85-year-old German pontiff etched his place in history after becoming the first Pope since Celestine V in 1294 to willingly step down from the holy office, in a move likely to change the papacy forever.

Benedict closed the final chapter of a papacy marred by paedophile priest scandals and allegations of feuds and corruption within the Holy See. It was the culmination of a tumultuous 17 days, which began on Feb 11 when he stunned the world by announcing that he no longer had the mental and physical capacity to carry on as the 264th successor to St Peter.

Benedict broke centuries of precedent with his dramatic abdication, which shattered the tradition by which only death could bring about the end of a papacy.

His last day in office was clouded by unusually forthright criticism of his decision to resign by a senior cardinal.

George Pell of Australia said Benedict’s decision to resign set a disconcerting and potentially dangerous precedent for the Church.

“People who, for example, might disagree with a future Pope, will mount a campaign to get him to resign,” said Cardinal Pell, 71, the Archbishop of Sydney, who will take part in the conclave to elect a new Pope, which is expected to start in the next two weeks.

He said Benedict had been “well aware” that his resignation would be “slightly destabilising”.

Benedict’s last day as the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics began with his final meet-

•A photographer taking pictures next to a poster showing Poepe Benedict XVI prior the arrival of the pontiff for his last address upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo… yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

His final public address

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EAR friends, I’m happy to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of creation and your well-wishes which do me such good. Thank you for your friendship, and your affection. You know this day is different for me ing with 144 cardinals in which he told them he would pay “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor.

“One of the people in that room will be his successor and Benedict pledged allegiance to him,” said Father Tom Rosica, a Vatican spokesman.

Benedict said he would pray for the cardinals in the coming days, as they gather together for meetings known as General Congregations, prior to beginning the secretive election process known as the conclave, which will take place beneath Michalengelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

At 5pm Benedict, looking tired and walking slowly with the aid of a black cane, left the papal apartments for the last time and emerged into an internal courtyard of the Vatican, where two ranks of the Swiss Guard stood to attention in ceremonial dress and plumed helmets.

He was then driven in a black Mercedes, its driver overcome with emotion and in tears, through the Vatican’s landscaped grounds and immaculate gardens to a helipad in a corner of the tiny city state.

Saying farewell to members of his staff, cardinals and Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, he climbed into a white Italian air force helicopter as the sinking sun splashed golden light across the cupolas and rooftops of the Vatican.

As the bells of St Peter’s rang out, the helicopter lifted into the winter sky and swooped low over the stone bridges, palaces, cobbled lanes and rooftop gardens of central Rome.

In television images that no tourism authority could have bettered, the helicopter swept over the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill – home of the caesars – and then the Colosseum, where Christians were put to death 2,000 years ago.

The helicopter clattered over the re-

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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NEWS POPE RESIGNS

another papacy

With the Pope Benedict off the stage, now is the time to begin a new era.

Here is what to expect in the coming weeks.

The search for a new Pope

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HE Catholic Church enters a period known as “Sede Vacante” (Vacant See) starting at 1900 GMT on Thursday during which a senior cardinal takes over interim powers until a new pope is elected.

The cardinal, referred to as the “camerlengo” (“chamberlain”), in this case will be Italy’s Tarcisio Bertone - a powerful prelate whose handling of Church affairs in recent years has been hugely divisive within the Vatican hierarchy.

The camerlengo has traditionally had the role of officially certifying the death of a pope - he once did so by tapping the pontiff’s forehead three times with a special silver hammer and calling out his birth name.

The Vatican post office on Friday will issue stamps for use during the “Sede Vacante”.

General congregations

than the preceding ones: I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until 8 o’clock this evening and then no more.

I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last leg of his pilgrimage on this Earth. But I would still ... thank you ... I would still with my heart, with my love, with my prayers, with my reflection, and with all my inner strength, like to work for the

common good and the good of the church and of humanity. I feel very supported by your sympathy.

Let us go forward with the Lord for the good of the church and the world. Thank you, I now wholeheartedly impart my blessing. Blessed be God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Good night! Thank you all!

‘ You know this day

do me such good. Thank you for your friendship, and your affection.

“You know this day is different for me than the preceding ones: I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until 8 o’clock this evening and then no more.”

He said that from that moment he would be “simply a pilgrim beginning the last leg of his pilgrimage on this Earth.”

Tearful well-wishers chanted “Benedetto” and “Viva Il Papa”, waving the yellow and white flags of the Vatican City State.

He finished his short address by telling the crowd: “Thank you, I now whole-heartedly impart my blessing. Blessed be God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you, and good night.”

At 5.40pm local time he turned and stepped inside the castle, never to be seen again as Pope. Two hours and 20 minutes later, at 8pm, the Swiss Guard sentries outside the main entrance to the 16th century palazzo left their posts, Benedict’s official title officially changed to Pope Emeritus and his papacy formally came to an end.

He will spend two months at Castel Gandolfo, contemplating the enormity of his abdication and giving renovators time to prepare a former nunnery in the grounds of the Vatican as his permanent retirement home.

Benedict has said he will retire to a quiet life of prayer and theological study, “hidden from the world”.

But the fact that he will live within a stone’s throw of his successor throws up a situation without precedent – a Pope and an exPope living almost under the same roof, amid concerns that the former pontiff could overshadow his successor.

is different for me than the preceding ones: I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, or I will be until 8 o’clock this evening and then no more

‘

mains of aqueducts that once brought water to the imperial capital before landing in the grounds of Castel Gandolfo, a palazzo set on the knifeedge ridge of an extinct volcano in the hills south of Rome.

Benedict was driven in a cavalcade of black cars through the estate, past paddocks full of goats and cows, part of a tiny farm that produces milk, cheese and yoghurt for the papal breakfast table. He entered a concealed elevator in a tower adjoining the castle, and appeared on the balcony over its main gate a few moments later.

Raising his arms in greeting to the few thousand well-wishers crammed into the piazza below, Benedict told them: “Dear friends, I’m happy to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of creation and your well-wishes, which

Starting on Monday, cardinals from around the world will hold a series of meetings known as “general congregations”.

The roundtables are ostensibly aimed at identifying the priorities for the Roman Catholic Church of the future but they are also a good way of vetting “papabili” - possible candidates for next pope.

Cardinals over 80 cannot vote in the conclave but are allowed to take part in these meetings, which also include meditations.

The cardinals will decide on a date for the conclave, which Benedict has decreed may begin earlier than the traditional timetable of 15 to 20 days after the start of the Sede Vacante, given that no mourning period is needed.

The conclave

•Swiss guards standing a few moments before closing the entrance door of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo …yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to choose the next pope from among their peers under a system adopted in the 13th century.

Conclave literally means “with a key”, reflecting the cardinals’ seclusion without permission to leave until a new pope is found.

All conclaves have been held in the Sistine Chapel - a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo’s frescoes on its ceiling and walls since the late 19th century.

The cardinals are sworn to absolute secrecy, under pain of excommunication, during the voting.

Two ballots are held in the morning, and two in the afternoon, until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes.

At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a stove by the chapel, releasing smoke above the Apostolic Palace. The smoke is black after each unsuccessful ballot, white once the vote succeeds. The bells of St Peter’s will peal to

accompany the white smoke.

The new pope will be led into a tiny sacristy by the Sistine Chapel known as the “sala delle lacrime” or room of tears where he can ponder the immense duty before him.

The dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Angelo Sodano, will ask the newly chosen pontiff if he accepts his election, and if the answer is yes, he immediately becomes the bishop of Rome and pope. He also chooses the name he wishes to use, a centuries-old tradition.

The new pope is helped into his vestments (three sets are prepared of different sizes), and one by one the cardinals pay homage to him.

Shortly afterwards he appears on the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica. The senior cardinal deacon, currently Jean-Louis Tauran, will then pronounce the famous phrase in Latin: “Habemus Papam!” (We have a pope!).

Source: AFP

Inside the Emeritus Pope’s new home

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VEN though Pope Benedict XVI is leaving the papacy, he’ll remain in sumptuous, familiar surroundings — at least for a few weeks.

Sometime in April, Benedict will take up permanent residence in Mater Ecclesiae, a modest convent for cloistered nuns at the Vatican. The convent is under renovation, however, so in the meantime, Benedict will live at Castel Gandolfo, the small town of about 8,000 people a few miles southeast of Rome that has been the summer retreat for popes for almost four centuries.

Vatican records indicate that Benedict has spent an average of five weeks a year at the grand Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo since he assumed the papacy in 2005, so he should feel quite at home.

And what a home it is. The complex, which overlooks Lake Albano and what’s left of the enormous villa of the first-century Roman Emperor Domitian, actually dwarfs Vatican City by almost 400,000 square feet. It comes complete with landscaped gardens, an arboretum, natural conservatories, museums and fish ponds.

The sculptured gardens, which make up more than half of the estate, are a favorite retreat for popes, who have been known to frequently take long walk along their paths.

And don’t forget the 25 dairy cattle, which are reputed to produce some of the finest milk in Europe.

The town is named for the castle of the Gandolfi family of Genoa, which was built around 1200. It was originally a fortress against marauders, which explains its high walls and other ancient barriers.

• A garden at his new home

Formally speaking, the Vatican assumed control of Castel Gandolfo only in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty, which formalized relations between Italy and the independent state of Vatican City. But in reality, it has been the church’s domain since 1596, when Pope Clement VIII seized it from the Savelli family in lieu of unpaid debts, according to the Vatican’s official history.

Today, it’s home not only to the Apostolic Palace but also the Vatican Observatory (where visitors can see a moon rock collected during the Apollo XVII mission), the Villa Barberini (where many remains of Domitian’s palace are still visible), Villa Cybo (which is used by school of the Maestre Pie Filippini religious community), apartments for 21 employees and the Pontifical Church of

St. Thomas of Villanova.

The complex itself is the setting for stunning works of religious art, as well, among them frescoes by Jan Henryk de Rosen and Angelo Righetti’s statue “Madonna of the Park.”

The Pontifical Church, designed in 1658 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the leading sculptor of his age, features interior domes and statues by Antonio Raggi, famous for grand pieces such as the “Virgin and Child” in Paris and the marble “Death of Saint Cecelia” in Rome. One of Bernini’s own masterpieces, a fontana, or fountain, adorns the the piazza facing the Apostolic Palace.

At Castel Gandolfo, “I find everything: a mountain, a lake; I even see the sea,” Benedict remarked in 2011.

Those words are now engraved on a plaque in the town hall.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

NEWS IBB, Okorocha hail APC

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ORMER Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has described the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as good development.

Also yesterday, Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha, described the APC as a child of necessity because Nigerians are tired of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s failure to address their needs.

Gen. Babangida said the merger of political parties into one formidable force has vindicated the two party system his military administration introduced in 1992.

Speaking to reporters yesterday at his Minna, Niger State residence, Babangida recalled that he was criticised when he introduced the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) during his government’s political transition programme.

Babangida, a card-carrying member of the PDP said: “I was a very good advocate of two party system. When I introduced two party system, you people said I am a soldier, now you have seen why I went for two party system. I am happy for the emergence of APC. It is a welcome political development’’.

On the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) leadership crisis, which led to the formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the former leader said the crisis was elite and media-induced.

He lamented that instead of mobilising and enlightening the masses on the programmes and policies, political leaders are struggling for power without carrying the masses along.

The former leader cautioned political leaders saying: ‘’we cannot continue to dissipate our energy talking about appointments, when you don’t allow the ordinary man to be in-

•The governors of the parties forming the APC in Maiduguri...yesterday. From left: Fashola, Oshiomhole, Amosun, Aregbesola, Fayemi, Shettima and Almakura

Governors dare bombs to attend APC talks in Borno Continued from page 1

ited Borno State since the insurgency, which has claimed several lives, began in 2009. Vice President Namadi Sambo was there recently.

The meeting climaxed with visits to the Monday Market, which is the biggest in the state capital, and the Government College , Maiduguri .

The meeting was attended by governors of Borno, Lagos , Ekiti, Nassarawa, Imo,Ogun, Osun, Edo and the deputy governor of Yobe State.

Although Zamfara State Governor missed the plenary, he was part of the visits to the market and the college.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who read a communiqué after the meeting, said the meeting had demonstrated the position of APC that “there shouldn’t be a no-go-area for any leader that means well for his people.”

As the governors’ meeting was going on, there were reports of explosions in Customs and Bolori-Baga road in the city.

The communiqué read by Aregbesola said: “Rising from our meeting held in Maiduguri on 28 February 2013 and atFrom Jide Orintunsin, Minna and Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

volved. ‘’The ordinary man does not know what is happening, you have not been able to ginger the

tended by the governors of Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, and Yobe and apologies from governors of Zamfara and Oyo States.

“The Forum reiterated our irrevocable commitment to the emergence of the new party, All Progressive Congress (APC). In solidarity with the Government and people of Borno and Yobe States, we are pleased to witness an upsurge of tranquility and happy that the situation has calmed down considerably in Maiduguri .

“Contrary to the image of rampant violence that has been painted to the whole world, we have discovered the people going about their businesses without let or hindrance. We wish to commend the efforts of our brother-Governors in the two (2) states (including Yobe) and the security agencies for the restoration of peace and stability.

“We also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and properties and wish to donate a sum of N200m to the two States Government for emergency relief and support.

“We wish to commend the Central Merger Committee of the APC on the progress so far made in the establishment of the new party, particularly the recent inauguration of three major committees on Constitutions, Manifesto and Legal/INEC Compliance.

ordinary man to believe in a course to fight for unless we achieve that, we still have a lot to do’’.

Reacting to former United States President Bill Clinton’s statement on the squandering

“Finally, we wish to inform Nigerians that we shall soon embark on a National outreach and sensitisation activities and we call on all Nigerians to support our effort to rescue our country from a visionless leadership.

The governors sang solidarity songs to reaffirm their political struggles.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State explained that they were making individual contributions to help Borno and Yobe states to share in their pains and support their governments that are bearing so much burden, dealing with the crisis.

Aregbesola explained why the governors chose Maiduguri for the meeting.

He said they wanted to share in the pains of the people and prove that leadership is about courage and decisiveness.

He said: “There shouldn’t be a no-goarea for any leader that means well for his people.” Aregbesola said Maiduguri was “painted as a no-go-area, but they (the governors) have confirmed that things are different from what they are meant to look like.

Governor Rochas Okorocha praised Governor Shettima’s transformation efforts in Borno State.

of the nation’s oil wealth, Gen. Babangida said: “You don’t need a foreigner to tell you about the waste in the oil sector, you (media) write it yourself and they read it’’.

Okorocha told reporters yesterday that his decision to be

Senate to review budget process Continued from page 1

geting process makes the legislature less involved and, at best, reactive; relying solely on the information provided by the executive.

Adetunmbi said, “Under the current arrangement, there is an absence of coherent and systematic means of exerting legislative control over the fiscal priorities of the Federal Government.

“The existence of an open and inclusive national planning process will strengthen the power of the parliament over public expenditure.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senator underscored the need to evolve a “coordinated approach to public revenue and expenditure monitoring and authorisation and strengthen the planning-budgeting-performance-oversight and auditing elements of our fiscal policy management.”

He said that there are three key issues on the planningbudgeting relationship which need to be exhaustively debated. They are: .How prominent a role should planning play in a developing country, especially one with substantial natural resources and massive infrastructural deficit; .What steps should the country take to integrate its planning and budgeting functions and processes; and .What are the appropriate

institutional arrangements for example, unified budget and finance, or unified planning and budgeting functions.

He is concerned that Nigeria needs evidence based budgeting that is rooted in planning that is based on demographic information from a credible census and reliable socioeconomic data from the national and states statistical bureaus.

He is further bothered that current annual incremental envelop based budgeting being used by the Ministry of Finance is arbitrary and not pro growth and is one of the factors responsible for the slow shift from recurrent to capital led annual budget in Nigeria.

The lawmaker urged the Senate to mandate its committees on National Planning and Finance to review the national planning and budgeting linkage and recommend improvement.

Mark, who summed up contributions by Senators said that motion was one of the most important ever presented on the floor of the Senate.

He said, “While the debate was going on, I decided to read up the National Planning Commission Act and everything we said is contained in the National Planning Commission Act. “The problem is that people have failed to do what they

are supposed to do. Some others have become too powerful and hijacked other people’s work and refuse to allow those who have been charged with specific responsibility to do what they are supposed to do.

“If you go through the National Planning Commission Act, the objectives and the functions of the commission are precisely what we have said here.

“A system that has not worked, people who are operating it resist changes, they do not want to change the system because changing the system means that they will lose some authority that they have arrogated to themselves.

“I think that that is not in the best interest of Nigeria .

“Our budgets over the years have not brought growth; it has not improved employment rate; it has not brought dividends of democracy as far as they have expected it.

“I think that there is basically a problem with the envelop system and that has to change.

“Our committees will take full responsibility if in the 2014 budget they are not able to effect changes.

“Because, if on paper things are alright and practically on ground things are not already, there is need for a review the way we are going about it.

part of the merger of opposition parties was because the PDP of which he was a founding member has disappointed the people of the Southeast and Nigerians.

He said he had nothing

against President Goodluck Jonathan but against the PDP. Okorocha said the APC would promote internal democracy, which he said is missing in other political parties. “In the APC, the people’s view and opinion will be respected, there won’t be imposition of candidates as it is done in other parties”.

He added: “There is an urgent need for change, Nigerians are tired of the PDP which is no longer what it used to be after failing to address the needs of Nigerians. The APC has become a child of necessity, capable of providing the much-needed change in the Southeast geo-political zone and the entire country.

He said the crisis rocking the Nigerian Governor’s Forum was caused by panic by the PDP to checkmate the APC, adding that the emergence of the merger, which he hinted was the first of its kind in the political history of the nation, was a wake up call for the PDP. “The PDP has formed their own Governor’s Forum to weaken the existing one all in a desperate bid to checkmate the APC but I can tell you that we have PDP members who have already joined APC. By the time it will be made public, it will shock the PDP”.

Two policemen killed in Taraba •Explosions in Borno

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•Mark

“The inconsistency of policies, ensuring that projects are completed, is simply unimaginable.

“We start a project this year, next year it is abandoned; a new one is started and abandoned. It is not good enough both for our image, democracy and for our country.

“I agree that the military did well but as well as they might have done, we have asked them to remain permanently in the barracks and do their constitutional responsibilities.”

The two committees were given four weeks to turn in their recommendation for necessary changes.

WO soldiers and a yet to be specified number of civilians were yesterday killed in Maiduguri after four explosions in the beleaguered Borno State capital.

The explosions occurred at Customs and Bolori - Baga road where a series of blasts occurred last week.

Spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, insisted that the explosions, targetted at a patrol vehicle, killed a civilian and injured three others including a soldier. He denied that soldiers were killed.

Governors of the parties in the All Progressives Congress (APC) were meeting at the Borno State Government House when explosions occurred.

In Taraba State, also in the northeast geo-political zone, gunmen killed two policemen in a failed attempt to abduct some expatriate workers.

Taraba police confirmed that the gunmen attacked a company in a raid on Tella village at a site owned by Triacta Engineering firm. Three Lebanese engineers were working on a bridge project.

But an official from Triacta, who requested anonymity, told AFP that “based on what has been happening, we have every reason to believe that our expatriates were the target”.

“It was a clear case of a failed kidnap,” he added.

“Last night, there were shootings around the house where the expatriate construction

From Abiodun Joseph, Maiduguri

workers are living,” said resident Yonana Dauda. “Two policemen guarding the house were shot dead.”

The company official and other residents confirmed those details, adding that the Lebanese engineers ran when the gunfire broke out and escaped unhurt.

Police spokesman Amos Olaoye said: “There was an incident in Tella last night… details are sketchy.”

Police Commissioner, Jibrin Olawole confirmed that the two policemen guarding the residence of PW Road Construction were killed Wednesday night.

Olawole, who briefed the Acting Governor of the state in the Jalingo Government House on the security situation, said the gunmen who came in a Honda Car took away the rifles of the policemen after the incident.

He said the command had beefed up security around all sites where expatriates were executing various construction jobs across the state.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 Continued on page 60 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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NEWS

British High Commission gives Commonwealth boxing champion nod to defend title A boxer’s hope of defending his title in the United Kingdom has been rekindled by the British High Commission, which rescinded its decision refusing him and his trainer entry visas, reports OLUKOREDE YISHAU

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HREE days ago, it looked like his dream was dead. But now, Kareem Yakubu Olaitan is all smiles. His dream of defending his Commonwealth Super-flyweight boxing title will be realised. The British High Commission, which earlier refused him and his trainer, Isiaka Olatunji, visas to enter the United Kingdom, has rescinded the decision.

The secretary of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, Mr. Remi Aboderin, said: “I just got a call from the British High Commission in Abuja informing me that the visas have been issued for the boxer and trainer andf that I should come to Abuja to pick them up.”

Olaitan exhumed confidence yesterday when he spoke with The Nation. He said he would return with the title after the fight.

He won the title in Accra, the Ghanaian capital Olatunji, who was in an expansive mood over the High Commission’s new decision, said the fight has now been shifted from March 8 to April 12.

The High Commission had argued that Olaitan was not personally qualified to receive a visa because he had no fixed income and that no part of the money for the trip was his.

“Whilst I acknowledge your statement that your proposed trip to the UK is to be sponsored by your sponsor, I must take into account your personal socio-economic circumstance in Nigeria when reaching my decision. The Immigration Rules require me to be satisfied that you personally qualify for a visa.

None of the money being used to fund your trip is your own. I am

•Olaitan (second right), his supporters and trainer after winning the title (below) in Accra.

not satisfied that you have sufficient economic ties to Nigeria to suggest you would not seek to remain in the UK if admitted as a visitor now. Given the statements you have made and the documentary evidence you have presented to support your application, l am not satisfied that your circumstances in

Nigeria, coupled with your reasons for wishing to travel to the UK, are such that you have shown your intentions are as stated or that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the proposed visit,” the High Commission said in the rejection letter.

With the rejection reversed, the fear that the challenger would be declared as the new champion without throwing a punch has evaporated.

The boxer said he has no plans to stay back in the UK. His words: “After the fight, I will come back home. I am going there to win and return home with the belt,” he said.

He will be fighting the British

Super-flyweight Champion Paul Better to earn $7,500.

The bout, being promoted by UK’s biggest boxing promotion company, Frank Warren Promotions and supported by the Chairman of the Commonwealth Boxing Council, Phillip Brook Smith, will hold at the Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, UK. Warren is a licensed promoter of over 30 years. He has promoted some of the major Championship contests in Britain, including those featuring well-known boxers, such as Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Nigel Benn, Maseem Hamed, Richard Hatton and many others.

Oyerinde: I was never confused, says AGF T

HE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN) yesterday said his office was never confused in the investigation into the murder of Oyerinde Olaitan, a former Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He also said it is the responsibility of the Nigeria Police to handle investigation into the murder and not the State Security Service (SSS).

He said the Federal Ministry of Justice has no power to prosecute all suspects arrested in respect of the killing of Oyerinde.

Adoke made the clarifications in a February 28, 2013 letter to the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to the representations made

by Mr. O.T. Olaitigbe, Deputy Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation on behalf of my office and the Federal Ministry of Justice at the Public Hearing organised by your Committee on February 27, 2013 on the alleged complicity and improper investigation in the murCORRECTION The caption on a congratulatory advert, which appeared on page 56 of Wednesday, February 27, 2013 and signed by Osun State House of Assembly, should have read Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, instead of Chief Bisi Akande and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti. The mix-up is highly regretted.

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

der of Oyerinde Olaitan, an aide to the Edo State governor.

“It has been widely reported in the electronic and print media that Mr. Olaitigbe, while making his presentation to the Committee, stated among other things, that the Ministry of Justice was confused as a result of the investigation reports it had received from the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service (SSS), which appeared to have indicted different suspects for the alleged murder of Oyerinde and that the Ministry could not proceed further with the prosecution of the suspects because of the need to harmonise the two reports .

“I wish to completely dissociate myself from the comments purportedly made on my behalf by Mr. Olaitigbe as the comments were at best, a figment of his imagination and very far from the truth. Mr. Olaitigbe was under firm instruc-

tions to inform the Committee that: (a) the Federal Ministry of Justice had examined the powers of the State Security Service as provided

by Section 3 of the National Security Act, Cap.N.74 LFN, 2004 and the powers of the Nigeria Police Force as provided by section 4 of the Police Act Cap. P.19 LFN, 2004 and had come to the reasoned conclusion that the power to investigate crimes of the nature under consideration (murder) resides with the Nigeria Police Force while the power to gather intelligence lies with the State Security Service, and (b) the offence allegedly committed by the suspects is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the States in the Federation. The Criminal Procedure Act, Cap., C. 38 LFN, 2004 is very clear on this matter. The Federal Ministry of Justice therefore has no power to prosecute murder cases as murder is a state offence committed against State law and that the matter was al-

ready been handled by appropriate authorities in Edo State.

“In view of the foregoing clear instructions and position, I am shocked, embarrassed and utterly disappointed by the representations reportedly allegedly made on my behalf by Mr. Olaitigbe. I have accordingly instituted an internal investigation to unravel the mystery and appropriate measures will be taken to discipline any officer found wanting in this deliberate propagation of falsehood.

“In the meantime, I wish to assure your esteemed Members and the general public of the principled stance of my office on this matter as already elaborated above and to inform you that my office was never at any material time confused as to the steps to be taken in this matter. I sincerely regret the misrepresentation and the apprehension that it has generated in the minds of members of the Committee, as well as the general public.”

Wike to headteachers: monitor library projects

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INISTER of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has urged headteachers of the three Unity Colleges in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) to work closely with contractors and consultants executing the electronic libraries in their schools to deliver their projects by April.

Wike spoke yesterday during his visits to Federal Government College, Kwali, Federal Government Girls’ College, Abaji and Federal Government College, Rubochi. He advised the headteachers to closely monitor the library projects in their institutions.

Wike was particularly unhappy with the siting of the electronic library at the Federal Government College, Kwali. He said the headteacher acted in error by directing the contractor to site the library far from the classrooms.

The minister directed the headteacher of the Federal Government College, Kwali to convert an existing library hall under construction to an Assembly hall.

Wike said: “Aside the slow pace of work at the Federal Government College, Abaji, I am satisfied with the quality of work at Kwali and Rubuchi. I encourage the principals to closely work with the consultants and contractors to deliver the projects in April.

“The electronic libraries for the three schools in FCT were awarded in the second phase and we believe that progress has been made along the line.”

2015: NOA seeks more space for women

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HEAD of the 2015 general elections, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has advocated for the participation of more women in politics.

The Agency made the call at a national workshop on “Women Political Empowerment, for Peace and Security in Nigeria”, which held in Asaba, Delta State.

Director-General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, flayed the dismal performance of women in politics.

He said: "Nigeria is blessed with brilliant, resourceful intelligent women. Therefore, the nation needs your wealth of knowledge and experience to further consolidate and sustain our democracy."

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was represented by his deputy, Prof.

Amos Utuama, said the workshop was vital to empowering women.

Uduaghan lamented what he called "cultural and religious contraints" standing in the way of women to "realise their full potentials at all levels of political participationin Nigeria."

He said despite the constitutional provisions that guarantee freedom of equal participation in politics, the country is still bedevilled by religious and cultural biases against women.

The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Joseph Edozien called for concerted efforts to remove obstacles against women.

USAID holds pan-Afican conference on shea in Abuja HE United States Aids Agency (USAID) will hold the annual shea industry conference in Abuja from Monday to Wednesday.

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who is expected at the conference, said: “We’re very excited to host Shea 2013 in Abuja. Nigeria welcomes stakeholders with open arms and assures you of our support and an exceptional experience in an important part of the shea world.”

The conference will address the

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economic, social and environmental aspects of shea. Speakers will discuss virtually all aspects of the business today: sourcing logistics, quality regulation, processing innovations, business modelling, social accountability, sustainability marketing, cosmetic formulation, soap-making, biodiversity and parkland enrichment, and much more.

More than 15 million women across West Africa participate directly in the shea industry – millions

collect shea nuts across the savannah area stretching from Senegal to Uganda and South Sudan, the three million square-kilometre “shea zone.”

Millions make shea butter that millions more West Africans consume daily – in food and skin care products, said USAID. “Shea is critical to the livelihoods of millions of women in West Africa,” said Eugenia Akuete, president of the Global Shea Alliance.

•Aliyu

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

•From right: Omatseye, Kanu and others during the draw...yesterday PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMIAND NIYI ADENIRAN

•One of the winners

Kudos as winners emerge in The I Nation's promo

T was a lucky dip. A large crowd came from all over the country for the draw. Many in the crowd are readers of this newspaper who participated in a promo which ran between October, last year and January 21.

The promo was tagged “Buy The Nation and Sporting Life and win brand new cars”.

Two lucky readers, Samuel Daramola and Ganiyu Adeleke won the star prizes of two brand new cars.

The 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos corporate office of The Nation , brimmed with people.

Daramola, with serial number 2352, was picked by footbal legend, Kanu Nwankwo; Adeleke, with serial number 1423, was picked by seasoned actor, Ejike Asiegbu.

Other lucky winners smiled home with consolation prizes which include LCD TVs, home theatres, refrigerators, pressing irons, radios and microwave ovens.

The crowd-pulling event was

•L-R: Popular musician, 2face Idibia; Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries and another musician, Wizkid, at the unveiling of a special music application

by Nigerian Breweries for Star brand at the Civic Centre, Lagos...on Wednesday night

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

anchored by the Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr Sam Omatseye, who, on behalf of the Managing Director, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, delivered a well-applauded welcome address.

He talked about the transparency of the promo, saying that officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB) were invited to prove that it was real. He invited Kanu to pick the first star prize winner. Asiegbu picked the second winner.

Kanu hailed The Nation for giving back to the society. The former Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Portsmouth striker congratulated the winners, urging them to continue patronising The Nation and Sporting Life.

Daramola, a Relationship Officer with Zenith Bank in

‘Any human being will feel happy winning a car. I'm short for words. It's like I'm still dreaming. I buy The Nation everyday because I enjoy reading columns of Omatseye; Gbenga Omotoso and Haruna Muhammed’ Abeokuta, Ogun State, was emotional when he learnt that he was one of the star winners.

Speaking with The Nation after the draw, the father of two described the paper as his choice.

"Any human being will feel happy winning a car. I'm short for words. It's like I'm still dreaming. I buy The Nation everyday because I enjoy reading col-

umns of Omatseye; Gbenga Omotoso and Haruna Muhammed," he said.

According to the 35-year-old, The Nation has restored his belief that not all promotions in the country are deceitful.

"Since I buy The Nation everyday, I believed that I did not have anything to lose if I entered for the draw. Though, I have a Toyota Corolla car, it is not a new one. Now, I am a proud owner of a brand new saloon car, courtesy of your newspaper. My investment in your company has finally paid off. I thank God," he said.

Adeleke, another ardent reader of the newspaper, described his emergence as a miracle. The Nation, according to the 59-year-old, is simply the best among the national dailies.

"When I wanted to submit the entries, I prayed along with my family members to be one of the star prize winners and God answered our prayers. I give glory to God. The car has come at a time the one I am using is giving me problems. It is indeed a miracle," he said.

Adeleke, who retired from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 1997, now markets Agro-Chemicals at a building materials' market in Jos, Plateau State. He hailed The Nation’s management for the paper’s balanced reporting.

"The Nation is the only newspaper that is current and presents true reports; it is very current unlike other newspapers that publish stories we have read in The Nation a day earlier," he added.

Mr Chidi Nwachukwu from Niger State who won a microwave also expressed happiness.

Nwachukwu, a businessman, said the event showed that the country was changing for the better.

"I never doubted the newspaper when I read about the promo; I knew it is for real and your paper did not disappoint me," he said.

Other lucky winners include: Ini Raphael Willie (Radio); Odulami Oludare (Iron) Oluwole Omotola (Iron); Musibau Adisa Gbadawiyu (Iron); Sunday Olaitan (Iron); Lawal Mohammed (MicroWave); Adinoyi Ozgis (Iron); Olabode Samuel (Iron); Linus Eze

•Another winner (Iron); Ezekiel Elochukwu (Iron); Onabanjo Fehintola (Iron); Bamidele Idowu Ade (LCD flat screen TV); Michael Adelakun (Iron); Chidi Nwachukwu (Microwave); Oladele Ajayi (Fridge); Kehinde Oboh (Iron); Peter. Y. Shok (Fridge); Comfort Omowunmi Fabayo, and Okafor Uzondu Nelson (Iron).

Mahmud Ahmed Gazali (Radio); Bakare Saheed Abolore (Home Theatre); S. A. Bamidele (Home Theatre); Allwell Owabie (Fridge); Omoniyi Akintunde (Fridge); Yusuf Ahmed Audu (Microwave); Erinfolami Sunday (Microwa ve); Agbo Chinonso Emeka (Microwave); Abusomwan .E . Kingsley (Iron); Tewogboye Amao Jayeola (Radio); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Radio); Agberayi Solomon (Home Theatre); Godfrey Gabriel (Radio); Akinkunmi Farinto (Radio); Chi Martins Akpeji (Radio); Agbomoniyi Olajide Kehinde (Radio); Anayo Akabogu (Radio); Knazu Abdullahi (Iron); Olaniyi Rasheed Olawale (LCD flat screen TV); Festus Olajide Ayodele (LCD flat screen TV); Ishola David Abiola (Radio).

The promo requested readers to send in 90 promo pages to qualifie for the draw. Thousands of readers sent in entries from among whom the winners emerged.

7

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

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HE was discharged from hospital for being what the management called a “pauper”. Four-year-old Margaret Agogo, who now goes about with a lifethreatening ailment, is a walking corpse. Even, her parents according to her grandmother, “are waiting for her to die because they have exhausted everything within their capacity on her medical bill”.

Margaret was hale and hearty until around April, last year. She was a paragon of beauty at the Little Flower Nursery School, Ipong-Obudu, Cross River State, which she attends.

She had already already begun to give an account of herself.

Her story changed when her health suddenly deteriorated. She was diagnosed with round blue tumour, a form of soft tissue cancer, at the Paediatric Ward (Haematology/Oncology Unit) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

Ever since, she has become a problem to her aged grand-mother, Mrs Felicia Agogo, an amputee who walks on crutches.

Mrs Agogo told The Nation that Margaret was on

Girl, four, needs help to survive cancer ‘Fouryear-old Margaret Agogo, who now goes about with a

lifethreatening ailment, is a walking corpse.

Even, her

parents ... are waiting for her to die because... ‘ •Margaret... before her trouble began From Nicholas Kalu, Obudu

June 25, 2012, "declared a pauper in UCTH,

where she was undergoing treatment," adding that in July, she was

Suspected cultists kill rising singer Damoche

By Ahmed Boulor and Ebele Boniface

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ewd lyricist, Damino Damoche, a student of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, was shot dead yesterday by suspected cultists. The artiste was shot in front of the university’s gate.

Sources said his assailants (suspected to be LASU students), operating on a motor-bike, shot him several times before he died.

He was said be on his way home, after writing a test, when he was killed. At the time of this report, it was not confirmed if Damoche was a cultist.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent, confirmed the incident.

She said the incident happened around 4pm, adding that Damoche’s killers shot him and also hit his neck with a matchete to ensure he died on the spot.

His corpse has been deposited at Badagry General Hospital for autopsy.

Christened Olaniyan Damilola Ibrahim, Damoche was a 400-level Banking and Finance student.

Damoche began his music career with a group known as Middle

•The late Damoche Guys before he decided to pursue a solo career. The 'Obo to che' crooner collaborated with others artistes, including Drama, DJ Zeez, Prince

Banton, Shanko Rasheed, Konga and B.O.Y. His last self-titled album, Damino Damoche, was released in 2011.

Four-year-old allegedly raped to death

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33-year-old man, O n y e b u c h i Ejinkeonye, has allegedly raped a four-year-old girl to death.

The suspect hails from Umuezeala community in Oru East Council area of Imo State.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Musa Katsina, paraded Ejinkeonye and some suspected kidnappers at the Command Headquarters in Owerri, yesterday.

He said that victim was on her way to school through a bush path when she was intercepted by the suspect who had laid ambush at a nearby farmland. The suspect was said to have carried the girl into the bush, where he allegedly raped her to death.

He said: "The suspect is a serial rapist who has a criminal record of raping minors and af-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

ter he murdered the little girl, he threw her into a shallow pit, but on a second thought, he jumped in to properly bury her. But our men swooped on him and arrested him".

Also paraded was a suspected kidnapper and robber, Uche Mathew Alaribe, alias, Nze M, who the police said, was responsible for series of robbery and kidnapping in the state.

The Police boss said Alaribe was arrested at a Mechanic Village in Nekede, Owerri West Council Area while planning for a operation with Emeka Opara and three others suspected to be members of his gang.

According to him, the gang was responsible for the kill-

ing of Uchenna Emmanuel Alaribe, Achumba Samuel, a beverage firm’s manager’s wife, and a pastor, among others.

Two other suspected kidnappers, who abducted a 75year-old man, Dominic Ibemesi of Nneni in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, were also paraded.

The suspects, Ogechi Onwuka and Ihohi Charles, where arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they had gone to withdraw part of the N15 million ransom paid by the police in a bank.

The duo, abducted their victim on his way from his farm at Umuchia Umuapu in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State.

officially discharged as a patient (with tag number 305941) for lack of funds.

She regretted that after spending more than N300, 000, Margaret's condition did not improve. Thus, she was

referred to a hospital in Enugu for further treatment, but she lacked the funds to go there.

Now, Margaret, who carries a heart-rending mouth protrusion, can hardly ingest solid food.

Mrs. Agogo said Margaret's parents, who hail from Igwo in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, are in Lagos, living from hand to mouth and searching for jobs "They are unable to afford further medical bills for her, having exhausted everything within their capacity.

In other words, they are waiting for her to die," the grandmother said.

Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica), an organisation founded

by Rev. Fr Peter Obele Abue (who is also the Parish Priest in Igwo), is now seeking financial assistance for Margaret’s surgery here or abroad, if the need arises.

Dr Godwin Abeng, who is handling her case, said surgery would reverse Margaret's condition if the funds are there.

Drivers hail Lagos traffic law

C O M M E R C I A L transporters under the popular Ojuelegba Bridge in Surulere, Lagos Mainland , yesterday endorsed the state’s new traffic law. They also promised to always secure the area and keep it clean.

In a statement by the spokesman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Comrade Olalekan Amusan, the transporters also dismissed fears that the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, might attack the state.

The group said it attached value to passengers’ lives and properties and would never expose them to danger.

It said it had redoubled efforts at strengthening passengers' security with 24-hour surveillance by its men in conjunction with other security agents.

Amusan, in the statement, also stated that the issue of sanitation of the area had been addressed by the association with the employment of sweepers by the RTEAN to always keep the environment clean.

The RTEAN, however, frowned at the underground moves by a local government boss in the area to hatch his plot to build a privatelyowned eatery at the park, adding that the issue had remained the crux of a longstanding enmity between it and the council boss.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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NEWS Lagos trains Accountants IN apparent bid to raise up the standard of financial reportage and bring the accounting standard in Lagos State into international accounting system, the Lagos State AccountantGeneral, David Obajimi Adewale Sunmoni, has called on workers to brace up with the oracle financing system.

Sunmoni, who made the call when he opened the three days training , organised for Lagos State Treasury Office by The Way Global Consulting, urged the participants to pay rapt attention to what they are being taught to enable them catch up with the oracle financing.

Sunmoni, who is also the Permanent Secretary in Treasuring office, charged the workers, saying “as the purpose of this training is to make you more effective in your job and to bring you to international accounting standard, the state government will expect you all to show sign of improvement in your accounting statements in line with international standard.

Korean firm to buy 70% of Egbin Power Plant for $407.3m •Fed Govt approves NIPOST Reform Bill •Otedola’s firm pays $33m for Geregu station

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HE National Council on Privatisation (NCP) yesterday approved the sale of 70 per cent of Egbin power plant in Lagos to a Korean firm, KEPCO at $407.3 million.

The Council, chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo took the decision at its meeting in the State House.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the Technical Committee of NCP, Atedo Peterside, said the Egbin power plant is currently valued at over $670 million, which is more than the $549 million it was valued in 2007 when the Federal Government began negotiations to sell 51 per cent equity of the plant to the same firm.

He said: “What we have done today (yesterday) is after negotiations and approval by the NCP, is to agree to sell 70 percent of the plant to KEPCO which is a South Korean company.

“KEPCO will pay

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

$407.3million. At the time the transaction was done in 2007, Egbin was valued at $549million and they actually paid a deposit of 10 per cent of the amount based on that valuation.

“Based on that valuation, we have agreed to more or less ratify that previous transaction. But we have done and increased transaction and they are paying a larger sum of money. The evaluation that we have done with Egbin at a value of $670m which is higher than the original evaluation of $549m.

“In total, they are going to pay $407million to the Federal Government and that evaluation was comparable to the evaluation that was done for Geregu, Sapele and Ugheli Power Plants.

He went on: “Equally approved for sale as part of the plans to privatise the nation’s power generation plants, are

Omotosho (Ondo state) and Olorunsogo (Ogun State) to the Chinese firms which are almost done with construction.

He said that NCP thought it wise to offer the plants on right of first refusal to the Chinese firms since they would naturally understand the plants better.

According to him, they have agreed to a sale price, which the Council considered reasonable enough.

The plants, he said, were offered for $166 million, and except for Afam plant, “every other power plant owned by PHCN now has a core investor”.

Femi Otedola’s firm Amperium consortium also presented a confirmation of payment of $33 million including local component of N519.12 million into Bureau for Public Enterprise’s (BPE) account, being 25 per cent down payment for acquiring 51 per cent of Geregu power plant.

The CEO of Forte Oil, a partner of Amperium consortium, Akin Akinfetiwa, made the public presentation at the end of the meeting to the Acting Director General, Benjamin Dikki.

The firm was given 15 days grace but it paid the purchase sum immediately after the approval was granted.

The NCP yesterday also approved a NIPOST reform bill, which will make the postal agency to return to its role of regulating the industry and also as an operator.

But the two functions will be separated since a Postal Commission will be created to act as the regulator.

The Acting BPE boss, also announced the NCP’s approval of five draft bills for onward transmission to the Federal Executive Council for further approval, including Inland Waterway; Ports; Railways; Road sector; National Transport Commission.

The NCP also deliberated on the report of the progress

Court okays Babalakin’s medical trip

Surveyors seek intervention fund PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Emeka Eleh has called for a review of the mortgage policy and a housing intervention fund from government as has been done to other troubled sectors of the economy.

Eleh spoke ahead of the institution’s 43rd Annual General Conference (AGC) which holding in Benin, Edo State from March 12 to 16 President Goodluck Jonathan as special guest of honour.

The guest lecturer will be Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, the immediate past Vice President of the World Bank and former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili.

Addressing Nigerians inability to access mortgage facilities from banks, Eleh identified high interest rates as a major challenge of the Mortgage banking sector and said it will require a special intervention fund from the government

N107m contract scam: I’m innocent, says Ogbulafor From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

FORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday insisted that he is innocent of the alleged N107 million contract scam against him.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, is prosecuting Ogbulafor, who was Minister of Special Duties along with Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro on a 17- count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts.

The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

being made by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, on the issue of arbitration delaying the privatisation of the Ajaokuta steel plant and Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

According to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada, the feuding parties had their initial meeting trying to settle out of court and some useful discussions to take the resolution further are ongoing.

He said: “We are beginning to see that very soon we are likely to conclude some of those issues, such that BPE will take full charge of these two important facilities and are appropriately privatised, not the way it happened before that is now putting us into these issues.

“This time, it will be in such a way that they will come back to contribute the way that they are expected to as major industrial backbone of the Nigerian economy.” He added

By Precious Igbonwelundu

J

•Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment. Mr Tajudeen Muyideen Akinsanya (left) speaking during the inspection of projects in Surulere by the Commissioner, Mr Tunji Bello (middle)…yesterday.

With them is Managing Director, Dredging Construction Ltd, Mr Yomi Pearse (right), an engineer.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Govt borrows $300m to finance transport

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$300 million has been approved for the Federal Government by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AFDB) Group.

The facility is to enable the government to finance the transport sector and economic governance reform programme and the Nigeria

By Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2013-2017.

The approval which was granted on Wednesday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aims to support the government to accelerate reform implementation in the areas of transport sector governance, and pub-

lic expenditure management.

A statement from the AfDB listed the reform measures targeted by the loan to include: the establishment of a Federal Road Authority, National Road Maintenance Fund, Road-Tolling Policy, and Axel Load Control Policy.

In the areas of public financial management reform, the

programme will involve the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Internal Audit Modernization Plan, Treasuring Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Public Financial Management (GIFMIS), and Transparency and Compliance in Procurement and Audit Practices.

Senate bemoans plight of awaiting prison inmates

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F a bill seeking the amendment of the Criminal Justice system in the country sails through at the National Assembly, awaiting trial inmates may no longer be consigned to lives of uncertainty.

The bill seeks to mandate the Comptroller-General of Prisons to make monthly returns of inmates to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the states’ Chief Judges.

The CJN and Chief Judges will in turn order the release of any person unlawfully detained or detainees who have overstayed the period they should have served if they were timely sentenced.

“A Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Justice

•Motion on detainees timely, say Senators Tinubu, Lanlehin From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

(Release from custody) Special Provision) Act Cap C 40 laws of the Federation of Nigeria to provide for the ComptrollerGeneral of Prison to make monthly returns to the CJNigeria and the Chief Judges of the states to order the release of persons detained in prisons unlawfully and those who have overstayed the period they would have stayed if timely sentenced,” was sponsored by Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East).

The bill aims specifically to address the nagging issue

of prison congestion.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) described the bill as timely and urged her colleagues to support it.

She said the prison congestion cuts across every part of the country and should be addressed holistically.

Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South) said the bill speaks for itself because it raises the issues that are not hidden from Nigerians.

Lanlehin noted that the Constitution provides for the protection of the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.

He said: “We are all aware that some times some awaiting trial inmates are forgotten

in prison, some times their files get missing, at other time they stay in prison more than the time they are supposed to stay if they are timely convicted.”

The lawmaker prayed the Senate to use the opportunity of the bill to address the anomaly in the interest of natural justice.

Omoworare in his lead debate said that the thrust of the bill is to address the problem of prison congestion that has defied almost every regime in the country.

He added that the disheartening bleak truth is that prisons in the country host almost 70 per cent of inmates who are awaiting trial.

USTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, said that the embattled chairman of BiCourtney Limited, Wale Babalakin, can travel to attend to his failing health.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), had arraigned Babalakin and a banker, Alex Okoh before the court for allegedly aiding convicted former Delta governor, James Ibori to steal N4.7 billion from government treasury.

Join in the suit are their companies: Bi-Courtney Limited; Stabilini Visioni Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited.

Babalakin had on Monday, urged the court to allow him sit at the bar or adjacent the dock as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), but the application was turned down by Onigbanjo, who insisted that Babalakin, like all other defendants, must be inside the dock.

Counsel to Babalakin, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), had earlier urged the court to order the EFCC to release his client’s international passport so that he can travel out to attend to his health.

Fagbemi in the application, informed the court that Babalakin was hypertensive and needed treatment in a South African hospital.

Although the counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, (SAN), did not oppose the application, he urged the court to ensure that Babalakin returned to the country by the next adjourned date for commencement of trial.

In his ruling, Onigbanjo ordered the anti-graft agencyto release the international passport to Babalakin so that he can go and treat himself.

He also ordered that the passport must be returned to the EFCC before the next trial date. He adjourned the matter to March 27.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

9

NEWS

Ondo ACN to LP: stop intimidating opposition

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo South Senatorial District has condemned the alleged intimidation of the opposition by the Labour Party (LP).

The party’s Chairman in the district, Mr. Wale Akintimehin, spoke during the ACN’s Executive meeting in Okitipupa Local Government.

The meeting was attended by the deputy governorship candidate in last October’s election, Dr. Paul Akintelure; wife of the former deputy governor, Mrs. Kemi Iyantan; Prince Fioye Bajowa; the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Agbede; Prof. Akinfaderin and Mrs.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Ogunfeyimi, among others.

The zone consists of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Irele, Okitipupa, Odigbo, Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas.

Akintehinwa condemned the LP-led administration’s “discrimination” against opposition members and their supporters.

He said it is not mandatory that civil servants should belong to the ruling party, stressing that they must remain apolitical.

Akintehinwa urged the LP leadership to execute peopleoriented programmes rather than “witch-hunting” the oppo-

sition.

He hailed the initiative of ACN National Leaders in the merger of progressive parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akintehinwa urged ACN members to support the move, adding that it is aimed at saving the nation from “maladministration” by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akintelure briefed the party leaders on the latest development at the Election Petition Tribunal and urged members to remain resolute.

He urged the tribunal to dispense justice without fear or favour.

Policeman’s killing: Group seeks justice

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group, the Defence for Yoruba People’s Right (DYPR), yesterday demanded justice in the killing of a Police Inspector, Mr. Lawal Adelakun, in Ondo town.

The late Adelakun, who was attached to Yaba Divisional Police Station in Ondo town, was allegedly murdered at a bar by his friend, Mr. Kazeem Shehu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

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Speaking with reporters, DYPR President Otunba Muyideen Olamoyegun urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet.

Olamoyegun decried the “slow pace” of the investigation and the police’s failure to arraign the suspect.

He said: “Our demand for

justice and the intervention of the IG is not to jeopardise the investigation. We are disturbed that several days after the crime was committed and the suspect was arrested on the scene with the gun he allegedly used in killing the police officer, he is yet to be arraigned.”

Olamoyegun said DYPR and other rights’ group would not relent until justice is done.

Man, 27, charged with murder

N Ekiti Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded a 27-year-old man, Fatogun Idowu, in prison custody for alleged murder.

Fatogun allegedly killed a woman, Kemisola Coker, who was living with him. He allegedly suffocated her with a pillow pressed over her nose and mouth.

Fatogun allegedly committed the offence on February 6 around 11pm in Ifaki-Ekiti.

Police prosecutor Bankole Olasunkanmi told the court that he had forwarded a copy

Stay off, GOC warns soldiers From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Tijani Jibrin, yesterday warned soldiers against interfering in civil matters.

He addressed military officers and men at the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Jibrin, who was on a tour of Ondo and Ekiti states, said: “We must cultivate a good relationship with civilians. We do not have any business with civil matters. If civilians are having their problems and you are there, please turn your eyes away from them.

“You must avoid getting involved in civil matters. You can only intervene when we order you to do so. Your jurisdiction is within the barracks.

When the GOC visited the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the monarch urged the army to release some of the unused land in the barracks to the community.

He thanked the military for maintaining peace during last October’s governorship election.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

of the case file to the Justice Ministry for legal advice.

Although Fatogun’s plea was not taken because he did not have legal representation.

He said the deceased committed suicide by taking poison after they had a disagreement.

Fatogun said: “I saw her chatting with a man one evening and I asked her who the man was.

She said he was her hairdresser and I asked why she preferred

a male hair dresser.

“That evening she came home and begged me. She gave me food but I rejected it.

She went into her room and after some time, I started hearing sounds of discomfort. I rushed there and met her gasping. I saw a bottle there smelling of Gamalin 20.”

The Magistrate, Simeon Ojo, remanded the accused in prison custody pending legal advice.

The case was adjourned till April 3.

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Osun State has urged the public to shun the claim by Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the people of the state are clamouring for a change in government.

It was reported in a national newspaper that Akinlabi said the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration has not achieved anything.

Akinlabi reportedly said he had a template to defeat Aregbesola in the next governorship election.

In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, ACN described the senator as “a typical PDP politician, who cannot see anything good in the opposition”.

It said: “If a person of Akinlabi’s stature can descend so low as to deny the improvement in Osun, he would be deemed to lack the integrity to lead and the capacity to govern and the people will discountenance him.

“Akinlabi is not even sure of winning his party’s ticket, not to talk of the governorship election. Like most PDP aspirants, Akinlabi is hallucinating because his party has no antecedent of progressive achievements in the Southwest.

“PDP’s record in Yorubaland is one of unmitigated tragedy, which has set us backward in every sphere of human endeavour. The Yoruba nation suffered neglect and was removed from its position of preeminence to that of marginalisation at the federal level when the senator was a minister.

“All the infrastructure created by the late Chief Obafemi

Osun indigenes urged to shun senator’s claim Awolowo were destroyed within the eight years of the PDP in the Southwest. So for Akinlabi to be talking of wanting to govern Osun after this abysmally destructive record of the PDP at the national and state levels is an insult to our people.”

Oyatomi said Akinlabi is free to contest the governorship election, if his party presents him as its candidate.

He said: “The senator will meet his waterloo at the polls, if the PDP does not show him the way out of the race at its primaries.”

Oyo ACN alleges incitement of traders by opposition

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has alleged that a prominent opposition leader is inciting traders against the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN alleged that the politician has held several nocturnal meetings with traders with a view to causing disaffection between them and the government.

It said the politician, whom it described as lacking in credibility, met with traders at Ogunpa Market recently, where he discredited the government’s urban renewal programme and claimed that it was deliberately aimed at inflicting pain on the people.

ACN said: “While Ajimobi has been receiving accolades for his administration’s urban renewal programme, which has changed the aesthetics of Ibadan and other parts of the state, the politician has been embarking on campaigns of calumny against the government.

“His aim is to set the state on fire and disrupt the peace the people have been enjoying since the inception of the Ajimobi administration.”

It said the politician, who wants to contest the 2015 governorship election, has been circulating an anti-government CD. ACN urged traders to be wary of the antics of the politician, explaining that the administration’s programmes are in the people’s interest.

It said the government is building neighbourhood markets for street traders.

ACN said work has been intensified on the N1.3 billion Scout Camp Market at Challenge, where traders under Molete Bridge and Challenge Round-about would be resettled.

It said over eight similar markets are being built in Ibadan.

The party said Ajimobi has directed the 11 local government councils in Ibadan to build, at least, three markets each and work has begun in some councils.

THE NATION FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2013

10

NEWS ‘Owode -Ketu has three ruling houses’ •Saba House to produce next ruler From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Ogun State Government yesterday said there are three Ruling Houses in OwodeKetu, Yewa North Local Government.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Basorun Muyiwa Oladipo said documents before it proved that are three ruling houses in the community, contrary to the claim by some people that there are two ruling houses.

The ruling houses are Asipa, Amore/Olaibi and Saba.

Oladipo said the records are well documented and could be verified by anybody who wishes to do so.

He spoke at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the state capital, while mediating in the matter at a meeting of the stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by the Alaye of Ayetoro, representatives of the Ayetoro Council of Chiefs, Iwoye Ketu Council of Chiefs and representatives of the three Ruling Houses.

Oladipo said: “The prescribed authority for the Baale of Owode-Ketu stool is the Alaye of Ayetoro in Yewa North and not the Alaketu of Ketu because Ketu falls within Benin Republic.

“Section 25 sub-section 5 of the Chiefs Law, Laws of Ogun State, 2006, Nigeria, as well as the submission of the

Oyo shuts 60 hospitals in three months

Council of Chiefs in OwodeKetu on January 28, 1986, clearly state that there are three ruling houses in Owode- Ketu.”

He said Saba Ruling House has produced only one Baale since the community was founded and should be allowed, as a matter of justice, fairness and equity, to produce the next Baale.

Oladipo said: “Thorough investigation and records of succession show that Asipa and Amore/Olaibi have produced the Baale twice each.”

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ORE witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in last October’s governorship election, Mr. Olusola Oke, yesterday appeared before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital.

Idowu Isiaka from Arigidi Akoko said the PDP initially won her polling unit, but it was rigged in favour of the Labour Party (LP).

She said she was forced to sign the result after it was changed.

Deborah Oyedemi from Ile

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Oluji, a trader, identified her statement and left without cross examination.

Gbenga Adugbo, a trader from Oke Igbo, alleged that LP thugs were present at his polling unit.

Adugbo said he voted at Unit 1, Ward 1 in Ile Oluji and the result was announced at exactly 4pm on the election day.

Iyabo Isiaka, a trader from Ute in Ose Local Govern-

ment, said people voted without accreditation at her polling unit.

She said only LP agents signed the result sheet initially, but other agents were forced to sign in order to have a copy of the result.

Ominidoha Bonsue from Ijaw Arugbo, Unit 4, Ward 1, said he served as Ward Coalition Officer of his party and was at his unit from 8pm until the election was over.

He said the votes were

counted before all agents but a different figure was recorded in the presence of the presiding officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Alaba Kazeem from Ikare Akoko said there was no accreditation in his unit and LP thugs disrupted the peace there.

Suleiman Ganiyu from Ikare Akoko said voting materials were brought to his unit late.

As at the time of filing this report, more witnesses were still appearing before the tribunal.

•Muslim pupils protesting the prevention of pupils dressed in hijab from writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations at the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

LAUTECH students get dress code

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

HE Oyo State Government has shut 60 illegal hospitals in the last three months.

Commissioner for Health Muyiwa Gbadegesin said this yesterday while speaking with reporters in Ibadan, the state capital.

The shut hospitals include specialist hospitals, clinics and maternity centres.

Gbadegesin said 80 per cent of them are in Ibadan.

Six hospitals were shut in Ogbomoso, four in Oyo and eight in Saki.

The commissioner said their offences include nonregistration with the government, failure to renew their registration and unwholesome practices. Some lacked the required facilities and others were run by quacks.

A hospital in Ibadan was shut for unwholesome practices that led to the death of a baby at childbirth.

Gbadegesin said: “Practitioners who want to run hospitals, clinics and maternity centres in Oyo must register with the state government. We are here to change things for the better. Previous administrations were unable to do this due to lack of political will, but the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration has the political will to do the right thing.”

He said 40 of the hospitals have been reopened after they met the requirements.

Gbadegesin urged the public to support the ministry’s effort to sanitise the health sector.

PDP witnesses insist Ondo poll was rigged M

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HE Senate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has approved a dress code for students of the institution.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Niyi Gbadegesin, announced this during the institution’s matriculation ceremony.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He said the management would ensure strict compliance with the dress code.

Gbadegesin warned the fresh students against vices, adding that the university is determined to produce disciplined, excellent and independent students, who will

impact positively on the society.

He said: “Our transformation agenda can only be achieved by total adherence to all the rules and regulations guiding students’ behaviour in this university.

“I admonish our new students to complete their registration at the stipulated time, attend lectures regu-

larly and conduct themselves well during examinations because we are not going to tolerate examination malpractices in any form.

“Unlike what used to happen in the past, the university will not for a single day extend the registration period. You are, therefore, warned against late registration.”

Falana seeks probe of Nasarawa Varsity students’ killing

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CTIVIST lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Nasarawa State Government to raise a committee to probe the killing of four unarmed undergraduates of the state university during a protest.

He said those found culpable should be prosecuted.

In a statement yesterday, the Lagos lawyer slammed the school authorities for allegedly inviting armed soldiers and mobile policemen to disperse the protesters.

The students on Monday held a peaceful rally in Keffi to protest the reported lack of water on the campus.

Four of them were allegedly shot dead by security men.

Falana said the students were exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

He said: “In its rather belated denial, the army admitted that its armed members collaborated with the Police

By Joseph Jibueze

to restore law and order.

“While the Nigeria Police Force is yet to comment on its involvement in the brutal killing, the university authorities must accept full responsibility for the wanton killing of the students.

“In particular, they should explain to Nigerians why they invited armed soldiers to attack unarmed student protesters.

“In view of the official denial by the Army, the Nasarawa State Government should set up a judicial commission of enquiry to probe the murderous attacks by a combined team of armed soldiers and mobile policemen.

Those found culpable should be prosecuted without delay.

“Under Section 217 of the Constitution, it is only the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces that are empowered to deploy the armed forces in any part of the Federation to help the

police restore law and order, if there is insurrection or mutiny.

“According to the Army spokesman, Brig-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, “the soldiers that intervened in the crisis were patrolling the Keffi-Akwanga Expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes, before the incident broke out and they waded in to restore normalcy.

“The official statement of the Army Headquarters is a confirmation of the fact that the armed soldiers that attacked the students took the law into their hands by deploying themselves in violation of the constitution.

“It is a shame that the army has come out openly to justify such brazen impunity by armed troops.

“All the troops involved in the criminal action should be rounded up and tried in a court martial for conspiracy and murder.

“The Federal Government should stop the increasing

•Falana

militarisation of the country.

Even under the defunct military rule in Nigeria, armed soldiers were never involved in curbing students’ protests.

“The excessive use of armed soldiers for routine police duties, including the monitoring of elections in a democratic society, is a threat to law and order.

“The police should be equipped and trained to maintain law and order while the armed forces should be limited to the defence of the country from external aggression and peace keeping operations.

“They must never again be involved in curbing protests by students and other unarmed Nigerians.”

Global Fund tackles malaria From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

HE Global Fund in Osun State has begun the second phase of its malaria control project, tagged: “Intensifying Malaria Control Intervention toward Universal Access in Nigeria”.

Presenting microscopes to secondary health facilities in Osogbo, the state capital, the Programme Manager, Mr. Bimbola Faloye, said the second phase would end in October 2014.

He said the Global Fund, through the Society for Family Health, is partnering the private sector in providing malaria controlling services, such as the provision of long lasting insecticidal nets and the treatment of malaria with the Artemisinin combination therapy.

Other areas of malaria treatment through which the Society for Family Health is implementing the project include diagnosis with the use of rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy; behavioural change communication through advocacy; social mobilisation and mass media and health care improvement.

Items received by selected health facilities include microscopes, methanol, microscope slides, time series, microscope cord hangers, dark field, reflection mirrors, microscope covers, filter holders, optical tissues, giemsa stain, xylene gpc, immersion oil, inverted cup and microscope eyepiece.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

NCC slams N22m fine on GSM operators

By Lucas Ajanaku

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OUR mobile service providers, Airtel Net works Ltd, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Ltd (Etisalat), Globacom Ltd and MTN Communications Nigeria Ltd, are to pay a total N22million as sanction to the Federal Government.

The fine stemmed from contravention of the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over ban of promotion and lotteries on their newtworks.

According to the NCC, while MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd is to pay N10 million for five promotions at N2 million for each promotion, Etisalat is to pay N6 million for three promotions in its network. Airtel and Glocbacom are to pay N4 million for running two promotions against the ban N2 million for one promotion.

Reuben Muoka, the Head of Media at the NCC, said in a statement yesterday that all the operators have seven days to pay their sanction amounts from date of receipt of the sanction notice on February 22, this year, and are liable to pay N1 million for any day that the contravention persists.

Giving a breakdown of the sanctions, he explained that sanctions on MTN were as a result of five promotions, which were identified as “Free Airtime for MTN to MTN calls (8am – 5pm), MTN to MTN SMS and free MB for Data. Dial *559#; free N100.00 airtime for MTN to MTN calls, Airtime Bonus valid for life. Dial *559#; MTN Super Saver, get 500 per cent, bonus valid till midnight. Dial *507#; and recharge with N100.00 today and get N500 FREE credit instantly. Hurry and recharge before January 22.”

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -11.7% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $43.5b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

We want a SONCAP programme that would serve its purpose; a programme that would be dynamic, where all the identified loopholes would be effectively plugged thereby making it difficult for the plaque of substandard products to continue to dominate the Nigerian business space.

-Dr Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

FIRS chair row: Lawyer sues Finance minister A • Urges court to stop

N Abuja-based law yer, Max MaxOgar, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Minister of Finance from screening six candidates for the office of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

He also asked the court to restrain the Senate from confirming any candidate emerging from the screening conducted by a consultancy firm put in place by the Minister of Finance.

A fresh row had broken out over the short-listing of six candidates for interview for the vacant office of the Executive Chairman the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Minister of Finance, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the

screening of aspirants

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Economy, has raised a panel to interview the six candidates on March 3.

But the plaintiff, in an application dated February 27, 2013, said it was not within the prerogative of the Minister to do so.

He sought four reliefs: •A declaration that the appointment of the Executive Chairman of FIRS is the exclusive prerogative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

•A declaration that no Minister (including the Min-

ister of Finance) has any statutory power to constitute any committee to screen people for appointment into the Executive Chairmanship of the FIRS. •An order restraining the Minister of Finance acting directly or through her proxies/privies/agents (Phillips Consulting, Ifueko-Omoigui-Okauru, Nike Ogunlesi etc) from screening any person or persons for the purpose of appointment into the office of the Executive Chairman of FIRS. •An order restraining the Senate from confirming any-

one likely to emerge from the screening committee constituted by the Minister of Finance.

In a written address in support of the Originating Summons, the plaintiff averred that the Minister of Finance cannot usurp the power of the President to appoint the Executive Chairman of the FIRS. The written address reads in part: “By the law regulating the activities of the FIRS and providing for the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the service, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the exclusive right to appoint any qualified person subject to confirmation by the Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

100m Nigerians to be registered in 30 days, says NIMC boss

By Lucas Ajanaku

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HE National Identity Management Commis sion (NIMC) will register 100 million Nigerians within the first 30 days of the flag-off of the exercise, its Director- General, Dr. Chris Onyemenam, has said.

Speaking in Abuja after a media tour of the company’s facilities, and its Data Recovery Centre in Minna, Niger State, Onyemenam, lamented the dearth of connectivity, power, geographical reach and front end funding of the porgramme.

He said, in the past, Nigeria had focused too much interest on the issuance of identity cards, noting, however, that the mandate of NIMC is not to issue ID cards, but to issue National Identity Numbers (NIN) to duly registered persons in the country.

He explained that NIN is a non-intelligent set of uniquely assigned numbers to individuals upon successful enrolment, saying it consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data, capturing of the 10 fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and digital signature, which are all used to cross-check existing data in the National Identity Database to confirm there is no previous entry of the same data.

N4.1b for cassava farmers From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

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•President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Aina (right) exchanging pleasantries with Executive Director, Central Directorate, Unity Bank, I.T. Mohammed when the former paid a visit to the bank. With them (from left) is Vice Chairman, Abuja Chapter, Frances Bekey.

NSE suspends three firms for market manipulation T

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) yesterday fined three stockbroking firms N21million for allegedly engaging in market and price manipulation at the stock market.

The firms - Apel Asset & Trust Limited, Calyx Securities Limited and EDC Securities Limited - were also suspended from trading.

In a statement, the NSE indicated that the brokerage firms were found culpable variously of market and price manipulation at the stock market, a technical reference to abusive movement of share prices or market situation.

Apel Asset & Trust and EDC Securities Limited were sanctioned for allegedly getting involved in market manipulation, while Calyx Securities Limited, was sanctioned for alleged price manipulation in specific relation to DN Meyer Plc, one of the market-making stocks.

Apel Asset was suspended from trading for one week and fined N15 million, EDC Securities was also suspended from trading for one week and fined

• Slams N21m fines

By Taofik Salako

N5 million, while Calyx Securities was suspended for a week and fined N1.5 million.

Calyx Securities alleged to committed the price manipulation between September 18 and October 23, last year.

Calyx Securities allegedly admitted its guilt, co-operated with the investigators and pleaded for leniency as a first time violator upon which its fine was reduced to N1 mil-

lion.

The NSE stated that the public announcement of the sanctions was part of the deterrent actions against the firms.

The sanctions were sequel to investigations and deliberations by the Disciplinary Committee of the National Council of the NSE. A source close to EDC Securities said the company was not directly involved in any market manipulation but was a victim of inter-party trans-

actions.

According to the source, the NSE had investigated alleged market manipulation by another brokerage firm and noted that EDC Securities sold stocks to a particular brokerage firm.

“The sales to this particular brokerage firm was not in line with EDC Securities approved procedure and certain staff were found wanting. EDC Securities did not benefit in any form and appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against involved staff. The issue did not result in a loss to EDC Securities or any of EDC Securities clients,” the source stated.

HE Federal Government in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) yesterday signed a N4.1 billion credit facility to support cassava farmers in the country.

The facility with eight percent interest rate is expected to be repaid within 24 months.

Speaking on the occasion in Abuja, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, (BOA), Dr. Mohammed Santuraki, said the gesture was part of the bank’s contribution to improve agricultural productivity.

He explained that the loan would make available N205, 000 per hectare of land for 20,000 farmers nationwide.

However, Santuraki, who was represented by Executive Director, Wholesale and Finance, Mallam Waziri Ahmadu, noted that the benefitting farmers must meet up with the requirement and must have paid outstanding loans.

House of Reps probe $60m ‘waste’ by NNPC

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HE House of Repre sentatives has ordered an investigation into the alleged wastage of $60million by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on MT Tuma, an oil vessel owned by the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

Consequently, the House

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

mandated its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) “to investigate the rationale behind the prolonged stay of the ship in Brazil and ascertain those individuals or organisations responsible for its delay.”

The resolution was sequel to adoption of the prayer of a motion sponsored by a member, Mudashiru Kamil Akinlabi, under matters of public importance.

The motion was entitled: “Motion on the need to investigate the colossal amount spent in the NNPCPPMC M.T Tuma vessel.”

According to Akinlabi, MT Tuma left the shores of Nigeria in 2007 for a routine dry docking exercise(maintenance), which was expected to last three months. He, however, alleged that the ship left Nigeria without a proper scoping of the work to be done on it.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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AGRO-BUSINESS USAID partners Kwara on agric reforms

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HE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is to partner with the Kwara State Government on the realisation of the State’s agricultural development master plan.

The USAID Country Director, Ms Dana Monsuri, said the partnership is expected to lead to the training of 500 sorghum farmers in Kwara state on modern cultivation methods, group dynamics and leadership in order to build their capacities, while cassava farmers would also be trained on cassava production and field management, as well as access to credit facilities.

Ms Mansuri, during a joint courtesy call with Professors of Agriculture from Cornell University, New York on the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the areas of cooperation will include building of institutional capacities of farmers, farmer organization and agricultural business associations; strengthening of market linkages for small scale processors as well as the development of the capacities of local service providers.

She added that 5,000 farmers would be mobilized

By Daniel Essiet

and trained on improved production, have access to quality seeds and agro-inputs as well as link farmers to processors while 198 farmers involved in aqua culture would be trained on water quality management, fish health and disease control.

Other areas of aqua culture training that the farmers would enjoy, according to the USAID Country Director, include training on floating case, tank culture system of tilapia and improved hatchery techniques.

The country director recalled that USAID had also worked with 16,000 farmers in Patigi, Edu and Ilorin South local government areas of the State on improved rice yields, adding that 120 farm groups have been formed.

Leader of the Cornell University team, Ronnie Coffman, who is an International Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, in his remarks, said his team was in Kwara State to assist in the implementation of the Kwara State Agricultural Modernisation Master Plan (KAMP) which was jointly developed with the State Government.

He said the Cornell University team will be following up on the essential units of the KAMP such as soil

and water analysis, and that it was expected that cooperative groups would be primary means for the implementation of the master plan.

In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed expressed optimism that the partnership with Cornell University and USAID would revolutionize agricultural practice in the State.

Ahmed, who identified poor planning and lack of access to finance as problems facing agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, said KAMP will develop the agriculture value chain in the state and pool innovations in farming in order to accelerate commercial agriculture.

He disclosed that ten farmers from each of the 16 local government areas of the State would be used for a model scheme under KAMP with a focus on rice, cassava, soya and maize cultivation.

“Hopefully, the success of these ten farmers per local government will serve as a learning ground for other farmers and test ground for challenges that will be faced with in the implementation of this programme. One thing which comes out clearly here is that Kwara State is on the path of growth and development in agricultural transformation”, the governor emphasised.

•From left: Regional Sales Manager, Nestle Nig. Plc. Dayo Adekoya; Finance Director, Martin Krugel; Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company (OSIC), Bola Oyebamiji, and Nestle Managing Director, Nestle Nig. Plc. Martin Woolnough, during the conferment of outstanding distributors’ award on OSIC in Lagos.

Commodity group targets 500,000 tonnes of cocoa yearly

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HE Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria

(FACAN) is working to increase cocoa production to 500,000 tonnes per year in the next five years,its President, Dr Victor Iyama, has said.

He said the private sector would work with the government to tackle poverty.

He said cocoa would be used to tackle the problem,giving its production figure as 300,000 tonnes. The production figure, he noted, is lower than those of Ghana and Ivory Coast, which stand at 1.5million tonnes and 1.7 million tonnes yearly.

The aim, he said, is for at least 1.5 million Nigerians to be gainfully employed in the cocoa industry. The association, he said,would work with its members to develop a new processing and manufacturing market for cocoa.

Iyama said the association is

• Iyama

determined to develop a sustainable supply chain for cocoa, rice and sesame seed to provide jobs for Nigerians.

He said Nigeria meets a host of essential criteria, including abundant resources to boost food production and that the association is determined to

carry out a sustainable agricultural development programme in coordination with agricultural groups in the country.

He said the association is committed to integrating food growth initiatives to impact socio-economic and rural development.

He said farmers will expand their cultivation areas to meet market demand.

Iyama said ensuring food security and the supply of major farm products will always be a top priority for the association.

According to him, work will be done to accelerate the development of modern agricultural industry and strengthen material and technical support for agriculture.

He said the nation needs to address food security, household incomes and increase exports by promoting the production of key food crops, such as corn, grains and cereals.

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AGRO-BUSINESS

‘Hike in staple food prices can A increase poverty’ N agricultural economist, Prof. Peter Okuneye, has warned that a hike in staple food prices will push more people into poverty.

Okuneye of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said at the moment, expenditure on food accounts for 80 per cent of the total budget of low-income households.

Rising food prices, he said, are causing the people hardship. According to him, this is especially for the poor, to whom food expenditure constitutes a significant portion of their budget.

He said state governments must step up support to spark another “green revolution” to lift

Stories by Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

output and help develop crops more resistant to extreme weather.

More investment in infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, Okuneye said, would help to stabilise price volatility and improve food security during times of shortage.

Okuneye said more work should be done to improve irrigation and water conservation projects, encourage scientific innovation

in the agricultural field.

He said weather forecast this year says flooding may be devastating for farming communities in the Southwest and Northeast.

The floods, he noted, would bring destruction to crops and the situation will worse dramatically.

In view of this, Okuneye urged the government to devise robust programmes to respond to floods to minimise their impact on farmers.

Apart from flooding, there are still fear of the threat of locust in-

festation in most parts of the north . Experts say a locust infestation can produce a new generation almost every two months, with each insect consuming roughly its own weight - about 2g - in vegetation daily.

When swarming, they can cover up to 100km a day and eat everything that is green,while the deteriorating security situation is also hampering anti-locust operations.

Meanwhile, prices of essential commodities that are also the key raw materials for the food processing sector are once again rising. Onions, potatoes and tomatoes, selling at N100 for small heaps. Inflationary trends are being blamed for this fresh rise.

• Okuneye

Govt urged to use peace missions to boost food exports

T

From right: Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolohan Lawal, Lagos State; General Manager, Agricultural Land Holdings Authority, Mr Adeyinka Omirin and Director of Fisheries, Mrs Olufunmilayo Bamtefa; during the stakeholders meeting on agricultural estates in Lagos.

Pig farming threatened, say farmers

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ISING cost of animal feed is forcing pig farmers out of business, Managing Director, Latosa Farms, Oyeleye Babasola Olumide, has said.

He lamented that farmers are counting their losses with every hog sold and his colleagues are feeling the squeeze caused by rising input costs.

According to him, feed forms a greater proportion of the costs for pig producers.

Poor weather has impacted on crop growth. The knock-on effect has seen a hike in feed prices by 25 per cent in the last one year. This is pushing up the cost of production.

Olumide said the cost of one tonne of palm kernel has risen from N22,000 to N27,500.

He said pig farmers are either being forced out of the market or to cull livestock as the price of producing pork continues to rise.

For watchers, if the cost of feed continues to rise, more pig farm-

ers would go. He said farmers are struggling to cover the extra costs, a situation made worse by consumers reluctant to pay more for pork products.

Pigs and poultry rely on grain and soyabean based feeds and this have been impacted heavily upon by the recent weather events. Alternative use of corn is impact on the tightening demand for animalfeed ingredients. Typically feed represents 60 per cent of pig meat production costs and this has risento over 65 per cent in recent months.

The impact of the dramatic rise in livestock feed prices has been to increase the cost of pig production.

Unless pig prices improve, this could result in pig farmers losing much in the year ahead.

With feed costs skyrocketing, he said improving feed conversion has never been more important.

He said transport, energy, labour are key cost areas for producers.

Olumide said many farmers have been plagued by short-term supply chains and volatile costs, which have prevented them from investing for the future.

The rising cost of feed means that pig farmers are struggling to make a living and many small and medium producers may not survive.

Olumide said the economy is burdened with many hidden risks for the average farmers and raised concern about economic instability, citing risks carried over from last year.

He argued that farm businesses can only survive in a relatively stable macro-economic environment, enabling their access to important resources such as capital and markets.

Due to limited resources, he said the government should ease difficulties confronting businesses, unfreezing capital for instance, to generate jobs and stimulate economic growth.

How to boost sugar production, by minister HE Minister and Deputy Chairman,National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, has called on state governments to work out a mechanism that will ensure effective implementation of the national sugar master plan.

He spoke a workshop on the development of sugar and wheat value chain in Nigeria organised by the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) and supported by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria in Lagos.

The programme brought together over 200 participants from research

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By Adeola Ogunlade

institutes, banks, farmers, national planning commission.

According to him, state governments have a key role to play in the promotion and the implementation of the sugar master plan if the desired objectives are to be achieved.

He said this is true in terms of their role in facilitating access to land and in providing an enabling investment climate for the various actors in the value chain to enable them to derive appropriate returns.

He assured that the Federal Government remained committed

to the development of sugar and wheat industries in the country, adding that steps have been taken to improve the prospects of the sugar and wheat industries and boost the contributions of the manufacturing sectors to Gross Domestic Product from less than five per cent to double digit rates in future.

“The key thrust of the plan is to urgently raise the country’s level of self sufficiency in sugar production from its current rate to double digit rate during the plan period which will require huge investment and technical knowhow from the state and other stakeholders”, he said.

HE Federal Government can use peace missions to boost food exports, according to an agriculturist, Dr Kola Adebayo.

Adebayo, the Project Manager, Cassava Adding Value (C:AVA), said the government should take advantage of such missions to promote food trade because of their advantage to local producers.

Opportunities, he said, exist for Nigerian firms in the agrifood businesses to take advantage of the growing consumer base in places such as Mali by producing high quality food products.

Adebayo said Mali and other troubled spots need more food after their crises to meet the needs of a growing population.

Adebayo said the policy should be long-term, urging the government to link the export trade directly with producers to help both sectors.

Exporters of agricultural and value-added products, he said, should note the World Trade Organisation’s (WT’s) agreement on sanitary and

phytosanitary measures (SPS), to avoid the rejection of their export consignments.

SPS and food safety, he said were major factors in export and that safety measures at every stage of the food supply chain, from production to value addition need to be taken care of.

Standards, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in food safety, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good retail practices (GRP),the don noted, need to be recognised to ensure the availability of safe food.

According to him, standards of products, hygiene, additives and pesticide residues are some factors which affect the trade, and therefore the up gradation of the laboratory facilities to check them would help in the export of quality products.

He said public expenditure focusing on the rural areas and risk mitigation policies are also important.

He called on the government to infuse more money into the purchase of storage.

‘Why livestock growth is hindered’ OOR pasture, persistent livestock diseases and lack of infrastructure are among challenges of the livestock industry, an expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo, has said.

Adeyemo of the Department of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, said persistent tick and tick-born diseases and lack of facilities, veterinary services and extension officers in rural areas have for long retarded the growth of the livestock sector.

According to him, people rely on livestock for their livelihoods, yet their lifeline livestock are commonly wiped out by diseases, adding that ensuring welfare is a major concern for producers.

He said many Nigerians are afraid of going into the livestock industry because of disease outbreak. For so many people, he said money raised through livestock and animal products pays for education and health care and animals supply manure and traction to support crop production, create employment and provide business opportunities.

P

The loss of animals through disease, he said, devastates the lives of individuals, families and communities.

He noted that there is dearth of modern abattoirs in the country that would help meet the demand for standard and quality processed meat for both local and international markets.

Adeyemo said the industry needs infrastructure to booast production.

• Adeyemo

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Castro pledge is chance for change

NIMET’s alert • Governments should take the agency’s warning seriously

T

HE seasonal rainfall prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that heavier rains should be expected in 12 of the 36 states of the federation this year is scary. In recent years, heavy rains in parts of the country have left behind deaths, sorrow, tears and devastation. Many have had their homes and means of livelihood destroyed. Last year, floods sacked whole villages and left hundreds dead in about 27 states, leading to empanelling of a presidential committee to combat the after-effects.

Early warning that NIMET’s prediction should not be dismissed came with the first rains in Ibadan and Owo in the South West. On February 18, an all-night rain in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, made the people panicky and called the attention of the state and local governments to the immediate task at hand. The

‘The NIMET prediction that there could be a repeat of the flood disaster of recent years in 12 states in the North West, North Central and South West is therefore a call to duty. While the governments at all levels should take the blame for the devastation and must take the lead in arresting the trend, corporate institutions, research institutes, foundations and wealthy individuals do not have to wait for disaster before they team up to prevent further tragedies arising from heavy rains’

storm that accompanied the downpour fell only a little short of that which trailed the 2012 ceaseless downpour.

The sad tales have now become familiar to the people of the ancient city. In the Second Republic, the angry flood and storms that accompanied a similar heavy rain pushed River Ogunpa beyond its shores and washed away homes and took whole families. Both the federal and state governments immediately promised to rechannel the river and save the people a repeat occurrence. Successive governments failed to keep the promise. Thus, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, it was the lot of the people to be left at the mercy of natural elements whenever heavy rains caused floods to sweep through Ibadan city.

Indeed, the 2011 flood was an eyeopener that things could go worse. The University of Ibadan was jolted as property worth more than 10 billion Naira were said to have been destroyed or swept away. In 2012, the community around The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and Apete village where majority of the students of the institution reside had an experience they may not forget in many years. The village linking the ever-expanding Apete to Ibadan main city was washed away. Economic activities in many parts of the city were disrupted for days.

The Governor Ajimobi administration’s methodical efforts wll hopefully, when mature, ease the burdens.

In Owo, a major town in Ondo State, the first rain of the year on January 26 left many with sad tales to tell. About 200 homes were reported to have been badly damaged with occupants turned to refu-

gees. Landmark institutions like Imade College, the General Hospital and stadium also succumbed to the fury of the flood.

While both the Oyo and Ondo states’ governments have swung into action to check any recurrence, it is obvious that token attention may be inadequate to combat the perennial menace. It is an indication that agencies of government saddled with the task of ensuring that houses conform to standards, rules and laws have failed in their responsibilities over the years. Moreover, climate change is real and all governments in the world have realised that it could no longer be business as usual. Town planning rules are laid down for the benefit of the people and those who fail to conform to standards must not be allowed to endanger the lives of others.

The NIMET prediction that there could be a repeat of the flood disaster of recent years in 12 states in the North West, North Central and South West is therefore a call to duty. While the governments at all levels should take the blame for the devastation and must take the lead in arresting the trend, corporate institutions, research institutes, foundations and wealthy individuals do not have to wait for disaster before they team up to prevent further tragedies arising from heavy rains.

In years past, rains were regarded as soothing and harbingers of good harvest. Today, because of the gross irresponsibility of man, what nature provided to guarantee food security has compounded the insecurity of Nigerians.

Justus Esiri (1942-2013) • The actor who brought dignity and avuncular glow to his trade

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N an ironic reversal, he ultimately embraced the TV drama he once disdained; he became the unforgettable pivot of the play, and acted the title role to the admiration of a nation-wide audience. By his account, “Before I featured in that programme, I never liked The Village Headmaster because of the pidgin English.” But between 1985 and 1989, Justus Esiri was the eponymous hero in the long-running TV drama series, one of Africa’s first, created in 1968. It was in 1989 controversially rested by the Nigerian Television Authority. His part as an educated character in a bucolic inter-ethnic setting demanded a mastery of English, which perhaps explains his conversion. This was the turning point in a stage life that raised him to celebrity. According to him, he subsequently acted in “over 140 network television programmes.”

His numerous roles in Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry, seemed a logical extension of his acting talent, and he grew into an exemplary father figure in the sector. Various entertainment awards for excellence crowned his efforts; but the icing on the cake was, without question, the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Federal Government in 2007, for his services to the country’s movie industry.

There is no doubt that Esiri had become a household name across the country by the time he died on February 19, aged 70.

It is a credit to him that he remained focused and passionate about his art up till the end of his life. His last movie, Assassin’s Practice, hit the screen four days after his death. Esiri plays the lead role of a failed stock investor, Eviano, who

hires an assassin to stage his suicide and make it look like a botched robbery so his wife and daughter can live off his life insurance. But he later discovers that the assassin is delusional and will not spare anyone, and he must do something to undo what he starts. “His professionalism could not be faulted, “said the film’s director and producer, Andrew Ukoko.

Indeed, Esiri was a consistent advocate of professionalism, both in acting and production. He stood for quality, and continually emphasised the need for good scripts and well-trained actors and actresses; as well as the importance of using the best modern production equipment.

Nollywood should take his insight seriously. The movie industry has had to contend with criticisms of poor scripts, illtrained thespians and shoddy production, which are not altogether unfounded. It is a potent irony that Esiri’s acting trajectory moved from the sublime to the low. He began with high-scale drama with The Village Headmaster and ended with an industry far less accomplished, a trajectory that reflects the history of Nigeria.

It is interesting that Esiri nursed big dreams about the place of Nollywood in the country’s socio-economic development. He was of the view that the movie industry could “bring a lot of foreign exchange to Nigeria if properly harnessed.”

Also, he argued, “I know that this is an industry that we can use to cement a country. I know that it is an industry you can use for culture all over the country.” His inspiring vision is a challenge to the authorities and industry stakeholders.

One of his concerns, despite his own relative comfort, was that Nigerian thespians are materially under-rewarded. His

observation shows that it is necessary to tackle such issues as industry organisation, access to funds and antipiracy efforts, among others. On this point, it is regrettably true that there have been a number of cases in recent years involving popular actors who died in penury. Such unfortunate incidents are always a thought-provoking embarrassment.

Untainted by scandal, Esiri was a positive example in an industry well known for its dark sides. He demonstrated the extensive possibilities of acting by his versatility. He travelled a remarkable road. From his birthplace in OriaAbraka, in present-day Delta State, he attended Urhobo College, Effurun, Warri; Maxmillian University, Munich; Prof Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, and Ahrens School of Performing Arts in Germany. This trajectory produced the Esiri we mourn.

‘It is a potent irony that Esiri’s acting trajectory moved from the sublime to the low. He began with high-scale drama with The Village Headmaster and ended with an industry far less accomplished, a trajectory that reflects the history of Nigeria’

Lifting US constraints on Cuba will speed regime’s demise

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EVER underestimate Havana’s ability to delay change. Raúl Castro became de facto president of Cuba in 2006, and has long said the government needed to renew itself. As he even admitted on Sunday: “It’s really embarrassing that we have not solved this problem.” Now it has. Sort of.

Last weekend Mr Castro, 81, said he would step down in 2018, when his second presidential term finishes. He also appointed Miguel Diaz-Canel as first vice-president, putting the 52-year old former electrical engineer first in line to succeed him. For the first time since bearded rebels swept down from the Sierra Maestra, Cubans can now imagine a day when the government will not be led by someone who fought in the 1959 revolution, but rather grew up within it.

Cubans have long suffered under the stifling weight of a gerontocracy. Just appointing a 52year-old is therefore an advance. Unlike other young flyers – who were promoted quickly and later fell, Icarus-like, just as quickly from grace – Mr Diaz-Canel is a cautious and reportedly personable figure, who rose slowly through party ranks. So he may last longer. He is also faithful to Mr Castro. Continuity, at least within the island, therefore remains the name of the game – and any internal change remains, for now, on Havana’s terms.

However, outside the island change is potentially proceeding at a faster pace. To the south lies Venezuela, which is undergoing its own transition as Hugo Chávez, its cancer-stricken president, fades from political life. Havana can therefore no longer count on Caracas’s indefinite financial support. To the north lies the US and its outdated, failed embargo. This is often used by Havana as an excuse for its own failings and has unnecessarily poisoned US relations with the rest of Latin America as some senior officials acknowledge.

The point of closer US relations with Cuba is not to give succour to a dictatorship. It is to speed change and the regime’s eventual demise through a peaceful transition, while acknowledging the reality that this may take years. The US has done business with non-democracies before. Take Mexico, its third-largest trade partner. Washington signed a freetrade deal with Mexico in the 1990s when it was still governed by the Institutional Revolutionary party, which, in the famous phrase, was “a perfect dictatorship”.

A new leadership can be won over to change by rapprochement rather than isolation, which only increases Havana’s bunker-like mentality. True, the Helms-Burton Act ties the executive’s hands because lifting the embargo needs congressional approval. But there are areas where the executive can still act. Cuba could be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, an overdue move. Or it could be allowed to seek advice from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund on economic and institutional reform. Finally, the US could loosen travel restrictions to match the gradual easing launched by Mr Castro. The White House has the tools to promote change.

It should use them.

- Financial Times

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I recall that sometime in 2010, the UN declared Onitsha alongside Morocco, China, Malaysia, and Brazil among the five fastest growing cities in the world.

The choice of Onitsha, going by the report, was because of its peculiar significance and attributes. This significance and attributes, I am sure, derives from everything but the squalid markets that dot that town’s border with the Midwest.

Governor Peter Obi, who at the outset of his administration brought the town in focus, has since worked hard to enthrone order. But the disorder at the bridge head still blights the effort. With the decay of the portion of federal road, traffic in this area is also frustrating. Though the Obi government, after years of pressuring the federal authority has been able to get it to repair it. Clearly, without relocating the markets, including the livestock sellers, the effort will come in vain. Besides the fact that wastes from the stalls spill over the express, blocking the drains, they also suffuse the environment with thick stench.

Unfortunately this effort by the Obi government to correct the ugly development has spawned reactions from marginal elements in the state.

Writing in a letter column of Sunday Vanguard of February 17, one Cletus Okereke, said the planned relocation will have adverse effect on the traders. He thinks it will neither humour the Hausa livestock sellers nor augur well for the existing entente cordiale between the trad-

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Trading on the Onitsha Bridge-head gateway ers and the state. He believes the planned relocation to Nkwelle Ezunaka, after nearly 50 years on the bridge head, “would not only affect their volume of sale but their children who attend schools within and around bridge head market”. Beautifying the gateway, he said, can be achieved “but not at the huge cost to a community that has stationed there as a trading post”. He has an advice for the government. “The market could be made to look better than King’s Cross Station London if the

government has the wherewithal to make it very glamorous”. Lastly, he asked what the government is doing about Zik’s / Borromeo round about which he said has become an eye sore.

Governor Fashola of Lagos State is today acclaimed as one of the best governors in Nigeria on grounds of sanitizing Lagos, including, as it were, relocation of traders in the state. For example, Berger motor dealers have been relocated to a portion of land on the Lagos – Badagary

expressway. Balogun and Idumota markets hitherto on Lagos Island were long relocated to trade fair complex on the same Badagary expressway. Nobody made any fuss, nobody raised a whimper. Lagos on its part did not, for fear of losing friendly relationship with the traders who are in the main Igbo, refrain from carrying out the act. Some markets which could not be relocated because of space constraints, the traders were asked to get absorbed in any of the markets or go

Kudos to Ajimobi on Ikoyi-Ogbomoso road project

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IR: The commencement of work on the dualisation of Ikoyi road-Ogbomoso Grammar School end of Ogbomoso-Igbeti highway has shown that urban renewal programme of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led government in Oyo State is fully on course. From Ogbomoso Grammar School end through Takie to Ikoyi road, construction equipments are working to the chagrin of sceptics who had

the notion that the proposed dualisation of that road is a hoax and mere ‘politics’.

With the little work that has been done, there is evidence that the road when completed, would change the face of the city for good. Also, Senator Ajimobi’s name would be engrained in the consciousness of appreciative Ogbomoso people, just like the pioneering road developers and past leaders like Late Chief SLA

Akintola, Late Chief J.O. Adigun, Late Chief Areegbe, Chief Ayantayo Ayandele, Late Eng. Adigun and Hon. Peter Oluremi Odetomi.

In addition, the construction company handling the work and security agents attached to them equally deserve accolade for their comportment and maturity thus far. People were allowed to remove all movable items and properties from the structure being cleared to give way

Bayelsa govt. should tackle job creation

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IR: On February 14, the Bayelsa State government celebrated its one year anniversary. So much was promised to unemployed people, hundreds of thousands of who sacrificed to vote the Restoration Government into power.

We have waited, albeit indefinitely, for government intervention in the plight of unemployed persons of Bayelsa State who struggle daily with economic hardship, emotional and psychological anguish. We are not fortunate to live in a society that operates a welfare state were unemployed persons are assured of their social security and receive a token unemployment benefit from government.

Government’s placing of embargo on employment is a totally condem-

elsewhere to ply their trade. Fashola has since received plaudits rather than condemnation.

It is not known anywhere that the proximity or otherwise of the schools attended by the children of those traders was part of the considerations. Nor was the effect on volume of sale.

Retaining the bridge head market, and making it look better than Kings Cross London is a welcome idea but it is doubtful if this writer and others like him will give support. How many of these people who are wont to criticize every effort of the government are willing to abide by their responsibility to the state? Surprisingly the writer appears the only one yet to notice that the reconstruction of the Bridge head – Upper Iweka express way, which necessitated the relocation in the first place, will take care of the Borromeo Roundabout.

• Ejike Anyaduba Abatete, Anambra State

nable and retrogressive policy in any progressive society. As articulated by US President Barack Obama: “the state of the economy calls for actions, bold and swift, and we will act- not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.” If the Americans with all their level of advancement and constant threats of economic recession still have reasons to create “new jobs”, then nothing on this earth, we repeat, absolutely nothing on this earth must stop our various tiers of governments from doing so. The blatant refusal of government to create opportunities for the large army of unemployed persons is a gross violation of Human Rights as enshrined in Article 23 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and

favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.”

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Bayelsa State tops the unemployment chart by having the highest composite rate of unemployed skilled and unskilled workers in Nigeria; and this phenomenon is still increasing in an alarming geometric progression.

This situation is unacceptable to progressive thinking youths of Bayelsa State.

For one thing, the claim that the Nigerian Economy as a whole is growing without a corresponding increase in job creation is a badly cooked economic deception aimed at blindfolding the defenseless masses to the country’s precarious economic situation.

We are not prepared to become

graduate armed robbers, vandals, kidnappers, sea pirates or a brand new set of militants, which we are sure are more grievous problems with greater social, political and economic implications. The penalty for kidnapping here is death. Does the government want to hang all of us before the state feels our pain?

We call on all unemployed people to stand up and embrace the struggle for their rights and say no this blatant act of social oppression. It is a struggle to reclaim our human dignity and social identity in the universal brotherhood of mankind.

• Comrade Binaebi Oyeghe (Ag. State Coordinator) Bayelsa Unemployed Graduates Forum and The Unemployed Youths of Nigeria, Yenagoa

to the expanded road. They were respectful, accommodating and friendly, no harassment, no molestation. Equally, Ogbomoso people affected by the demolition exercise also deserve commendation for their disposition to the exercise. There was no opposition from the people as previously expected because of the fear that government may not compensate the owners of the demolished structures.

Although, the exercise is painful but, the equanimity that the people took the exercise shows their support for Senator Ajimobi-led government in Oyo State and their yearning for development of their city.

Oyo State government should replicate the support by paying commensurate compensation to those affected by the demolition exercise. As a matter of fact, many of the houses that are being demolished are ancient families compounds dated 1900 or earlier, which have no survey plans or certificate of occupancy. Government is implored not to use this as an excuse to deny them compensation for the lost properties. The people affected have been disorganised already and it may take long time to put their acts together again. One hopes the compensation paid by government would go a long way to ameliorate their sufferings.

• Adewuyi Adegbite Apake, Ogbomoso.

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COMMENTS

Hero or nothing like it

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OWARDS with columns pass as men of valour. I am a columnist and perhaps a coward. But you would never know. You could never tell if I am true to the calling or just another character pushing pen and idle rant to make ends meet.

It is never my intent to arrogate to myself some blundering heroism or self-abnegating priesthood, there is too many of my ilk doing just that. I write to vex your ego and caress it, as your prejudices dictate. I write to contend and affirm those defining moments in which you have discovered me to be a coward or villain, time and over again. But Nigeria has taught me that heroism is overrated; villainy could be relative and cowardliness is a virtue where perverted will consorts with ill.

You are entitled to whatever you think of me. And I am entitled to what random thought I deem worthy of your readership – knowing the tenor of my rant inadvertently guides you to define me. So, if I am your hero, I believe you think too much of me. If I am your villain or contemptible coward…well, what can I say?

But if you consider me to be an idiot, I hope you finally get to understand that no one can be a Nigerian without being in the strictest sense, an idiot. The average Nigerian is a special fool. The higher his status, the more adroit he is in perpetuating his folly. But this is hardly flak for the Nigerian fool in high places; it has always

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being his luck to find some greater fool to admire him. This is about the greater fool.

This is about men and women of which every nerve is disoriented and every fiber that isn’t could be certified handicapped. This is about men and women presumably of higher learning and good breeding; those extraordinary Nigerians by whose talent and individuality Nigeria customarily channels pride and banalities of a better tomorrow. This is about the Nigerian columnist, the one whose dazzling intellectualism Moliere’s riposte of the knowledgeable fool fittingly substantiates.

Today, we grovel at the feet of the ruling class, like mongrels.

Today, we recognize the stench of the looter with the fattest envelope and our trained eyeballs hardly passes over the prospective interviewee with the promising smile which sooner breaks into a sneer.

In our calling, there are still nogo areas. We can never question religion save the instances we get to castigate one faith to elevate another, in the heat of povertyinduced pogroms we have learnt to call ‘religious crises and ‘politics.’ Need I say people are simply hungry? They are jobless too.

That is why they become cannon-fodder in needless genocides.

The labourer still goes home with heavy steps, and the heart of the casual worker resuming night shift shrivels desolately, like fresh mutton sautéed with

RECISELY because yours comradely is involved as a member of the National Institute, (National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS), I bear witness that the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) assumes a special importance. The AGM which holds this Saturday March 2, at the Institute in Kuru, Jos inaugurates new participants of Course 35. It will conduct election for a new 10-mnisNational Executive Committee which according to the association’s constitution consists of the President, the Vice-President, Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary General, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Secretary, Welfare/Social Secretary, Internal Auditor and the legal Adviser. Immediate Past President, a Past President and all chapter chairpersons also serve on the executive. The General Assembly of the Annual General Meeting is the supreme highest decision making organ that importantly sets the agenda for the association.

Understandably, the alumni association is as old as the National Institute. National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS was established as part of the national institutions for capacity building to drive the development agenda of Nigeria. Three postcolonial decades of 1960s, 1970s and 1980s can very well be said to be development decades in Nigeria. Long before, President Barack Obama admonished Africa to build

local gin. Even the newborn arrives sorrow-clad; he probably wishes that he had waited till never. Within this unbearable cheerlessness, the masses stare resignedly at our cover pages with knowing glares. They know they would never hear the infinitesimal clangour of chilled truth neither shall they enjoy the comfort of temperate hope because we have become the aberration of their desperate circumstances.

The Nigerian columnist thinks himself a national hero; a noble intellectual and man of letters.

Such is the wonder of a newspaper column; it goads many of us columnists to think too highly of ourselves. Add to the mix, a mass of fawning and frosty readership, and you have a perfect cocktail that makes a narcissist and lapdog of even the most modest journalist.

How far we evolve depends on the quality of citizenship exhibited by his most patronizing and hostile audience. Yet it would never do to lay the blame for what we have become on society; that would be tantamount to perpetuating the “Nigerian factor” – that ageless pretext we have learnt to incite every time we fall short of measure.

Who is your columnist? Is he truly that great, heroic man speaking and pricking conscience as a tireless patriot? Is he that uncommon, high-cultivated

man of letters that has eluded our nation for so long? Is he a heroic seeker of truth and shiner of hope?

It could be honourable to be all that and much more. But alas, we are no heroic bringers of light and that is because our readers aren’t heroic seekers of it. We do not seek to fight and conquer persistent monstrosities our ruling class manically visit upon us.

Many a columnist live to echo the cynicism and intolerable disloyalty of all manners of readership.

And many a reader live to applaud the treachery to the Nigerian State and posterity. The result is a gang of conscienceless and fortune-seeking citizenry.

If we could overlook such decadence in our readership, we couldn’t justify a smidgen of it in Nigeria’s Fourth Estate even if we tried. Now that we have replaced our heroes past, we embellish their truths into absurdities and bad lies. Every day, we fail our people with shame we do not feel. We have become the stamen that lets down the azalea, the comforter that brings grief, the emissaries of needless hate. We have become slaves to the tyrants we ought to remove.

Did we fight the military to a standstill so that we may become their instruments as democratic tyrants? Shall we forever be gutchallenged?

We offer no direction folks save

‘If we fail to change, our twilight will malign us. And in death, we shall lay rapt in the indecency of our lowly graves, our ears keen for the least abrasive diatribe we may get to treasure as the eulogies we never had’

our shenanigans in the interest of the ruling class. Today every columnist seeks friends in high places but then, we are only being Nigerian. It’s time we inspired by the wisdom of dead writers; sages from whose ashes we struggle to rise. It’s time we held a cup of water for the dying veterans to sip. It’s time we searched their eyes to learn the gleam of courage and earn it.

It’s time we screamed in coherence. It’s time we usurped the dominant order and rid our lives of the blanched bubus that makes us the vacuous wimps that we are. It’s time we congregated to produce the leadership that we crave. Now that the die is triplecast, let us put our hearts where our pens write.

And if we fall to the inanities we chasten and yet ennoble in others, then we shall know we are the broken clay pots calling the kettles black. We could midwife the dawn that would herald our freedom, yet.

Let us become the conscience of the ruling class and the pulse of the breadlines lest we become dead to future generations; lest they never get to read of our selfless beginnings; lest they only get to know of the noon that confused us and the sunset of our debauchery.

If we fail to change, our twilight will malign us. And in death, we shall lay rapt in the indecency of our lowly graves, our ears keen for the least abrasive diatribe we may get to treasure as the eulogies we never had.

Let us brighten our world with truth. Let us imbue it with wisdom and deep delight; that we may strive more victoriously and make our world the best it can be.

Repositioning the National Institute for development

By Issa Aremu strong institutions, not strong men, Nigeria had seen the need to build institutions such as NIPSS to produce strong men and women that can drive development. It is neither one nor the other but both; Africa needs both strong institutions and persons to promote growth and development.

As part of the vision to drive national development, the Federal Government, in 1979, established NIPSS “ to serve as a high level centre of reflection, research, and dialogue where academics of intellectual excellence, policy initiators and executors and other citizens of practical experience and wisdom drawn from different sectors of national life in Nigeria would meet to reflect and exchange ideas on the great issues of society, particularly as they relate to Nigeria and Africa in the context of the dynamics of a constantly changing world.”.

Thirty-five years after, as many as 1,523 members of Senior Executive courses have been turned out from the prestigious Institute in Kuru, Jos Plateau State. Of course, the number of graduands could be higher without the natural wastages engendered by deaths of some members that included notables like the late Admiral A. A. Aikhomu,

‘We can debate the extent to which AANI members drawn from federal establishments such as civil service, army, police, customs, state civil services, para-military institutions as well as non-state institutions like Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), TUC and Bar Association have added value to Nigeria. But what cannot be doubted is that in close to four decades, NIPSS has produced quality research papers on policy issues, which with political commitment of the successive governments could have accelerated the country’s development process’

former military Vice President and member of AANI’s Board of Patrons.

The Institute has “Towards a Better Society” as its motto. The objectives and aims of AANI were formulated with the main goal of realising the noble vision of the institute; “Towards a Better Society” , promote understanding, unity, brotherhood and cooperation among the members; strengthen the relationship between the association and the National Institute with a view to maintaining synergy; interact with the federal and states governments of Nigeria, other organisations or associations, with similar objectives; establish the means of contributing objectively to national discourse on any issues affecting the positive development of Nigeria and proffer appropriate recommendation and implementation strategies to the government; serve as think-tank to the federal and states governments of Nigeria; maintain the highest standards of conduct, etiquette and discipline among its members; establish schemes for the promotion of the welfare, security and economic advancement of members; and create and maintain an endowment fund for the proper observance and discharge of any of the objectives of the association”.

We can debate the extent to which AANI members drawn from federal establishments such as civil service, army, police, customs, state civil services, para-military institutions as well as non-state institutions like Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), TUC and Bar Association have added value to Nigeria. But what cannot be doubted is that in close to four decades, NIPSS has produced quality research papers on policy issues, which with political commitment of the successive governments could have accelerated the country’s development process. A quick visit to the active web site of AANI will show that Nigeria does not need policy advice from abroad as it is the case today, if various governments can draw on the original studies carried out by the graduands of the institute

over the years after a year long academic engagement, local and global tours and inclusive critical group and integrated work.

The remarkable successes of most successful emerging economies such as India, China, Pakistan and Brazil are attributable to the original policy ideas from their national think tanks like the National Institute.

The outgoing national executive members led by tireless President, Engineer Janni Ibrahim OON and selfless Secretary General, Rear Admiral OU Emele, have undoubtedly set a standard in corporate governance for AANI. The out-going executive, notwithstanding the limited resources and time, have truly repositioned AANI in the last four years. The incoming executive therefore has the great responsibility to consolidate and improve on the remarkable achievements of the outgoing executive. Most recent achievements include engagements with government on issues of development and security of the nation, building of Abuja centre and strengthening the network among members as well as annual presidential dinners that have featured thoughts-for-food lectures on topical issues of national development. Will AANI add its voice to the national discourse on power sector reform and constitutional reforms among others? AANI must first re-invent NIPSS in line with its original vision, deepen relationship with the National Institute with regular interactions of members at all levels. With functional committees such as the Heritage Council that parade eminent personalities like His Eminence Sultan of Sokoto and the Obi of Onitsha, there are enough structures to drive AANI to the next level in the coming two years. Here is wishing my fellow mnis another rewarding AGM and further repositioning of AANI towards a Better Nigeria. With AANI, there has been and definitely there is still a country which must certainly get better.

• Aremu, mni, writes from Kaduna

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

22

COMMENTS ‘Architects of grandeur are often the master builders of disillusionment.’ — Bryant H. McGill

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HAT a man! His people call him Mr Fix-it; they see him as the unrepentant and consistent point-man for the establishment. The politics of this man has no conscience; it has no empathy for the feelings of the majority in so far as the interests of his minority followers would be served. The man finds it easy to flock with the sheep and also dine with the wolf at the same time. He was at home with military despots just as he presently covets ‘democratic’ impostors. He is a status quo ante man that is always courted by men of power that crave his over-estimated knowledge, understanding and supposed strategy for the entrenchment and protection of conservatives in power.

The man yours sincerely is describing is Chief Tony Anenih who, by August, will clock 80. Out of these years, he has spent, since the Second Republic, 32 years as an active participant in the nation’s political odyssey. The Republics in which Anenih played prominent roles actually laid the foundation for the problems being faced today in the country. Can he be extricated from, especially the socio-economic cum political problems, that have riddled the country in about four decades? If yes, does he still have the energy, drive and agility to continue to hold active political position and do hatchet jobs for the establishment? If no, what else does this old man want? What does he derive from his politics of inimical effects?

The afore-stated questions become pertinent in view of Pa Anenih’s recent ‘unanimous’ election as chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT) of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) - not at the party’s Wadada Party headquarters but within the cosy confines of Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. He occupied the position until 2007 when he was ousted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was his close ally. The same intrigue that surrounded his ouster as chairman in 2007 paved way for his emergence as head of the BOT in 2013. The last ‘election’ was severally postponed because other contenders for the seat including ex-Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani and former PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Ali initially refused to step down for Anenih, obviously President Jonathan’s preferred candidate.

Anenih, through the ambition-driven be-

I

T is one of the most thrilling passages in the Bible. It is at once profound, dramatic, deep and a touch comical. The story as told in the Gospel of John chapter 8, goes about how early one morning while Jesus was teaching in the temple, a mob of scribes and Pharisees, His haters and mortal enemies who sought for any excuse to nail him, dragged a woman before him. They said to Jesus: “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such a one should be stoned. But what do you say?” Of course they were testing Him, seeking for something of which to accuse Him.” Having read their minds, he remained mute and busied himself doodling on the floor. When the mob remained persistent in demanding an answer, He looked up and said to them: “He who is without sin let him throw a stone at her first.” He resumed His scribbling. When he looked up once again after a while, the mob had slinked away, leaving only the alleged adulterer standing there. “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

I have opened this piece with this little story to illustrate how bestial and murderous men had always been towards the women folk. There is even a Mosaic law somewhere in the Bible which escapes me now, that stipulates that if a man as much as suspects her spouse (yes, mere suspicion) of any hanky-panky, the woman could be made to drink a poisonous potion. Should the hemlock kill her, then her accuser would have been vindicated. If on the other hand she survived it, then life resumed as usual and the man suffers no consequence from his ‘false’ accusation.

Such is the fate of the ‘fair sex’ that has left her in a perpetual state of victimhood and at the mercy of her other half who is supposed to be a partner and soul mate. Where is all this coming from you might ask? Well, the above illustration may well be a child’s play in today’s world. My fears were triggered by the unprecedented carnage against the women folk today. A recent report that by 2016, the world would have achieved a land-

2015: Can Anenih ‘fix’ Jonathan?

Tony Anenih nevolence of President Jonathan has finally paid back the man (Obasanjo) that caused his infamous removal in 2007 in his own coin. President Jonathan ensured that Anenih against all odds emerged as BOT chairman just because he perceives him as the man that can make his re-election dream of coming back as president in 2015 come true.

Having achieved this goal of foisting Anenih on the party, the question to ask is; how realistic is this presidential thinking?

The presidency must have been convinced

by Anenih’s touted track records in electoral rigmarole and power misapplication. Even Anenih at 80 seems to be optimistic of his capability of turning, one again, the electoral table against Nigerians that are fed up with Jonathan’s administration in the com-

ing 2015 elections through his moralising statement that he was elected as chairman of the BOT which he calls ‘…the conscience of the party,’ by consensus so as to ‘make meaningful contributions’ to the progress of the party. He sent a signal of his political ruthlessness when he re-echoed that “PDP is on the move again... APC is not a threat to PDP. We never had a strong opposition. Let us see how strong APC will be.” He erroneously believes that PDP cannot be stopped by any merger of political parties in the country.

At his age, Anenih must note that there are still some Nigerians with a good sense of history. A recap: In 1981 when Anenih was first elected chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria in the then Bendel State, he sat over the massive rigging/fraud against the Unity Party of Nigeria’s Ambrose Alli.

In 1992/93, he became the chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party that won the June 12, 1993 Presidential election before he later compromised as the party leader who negotiated that significant mandate for Abacha’s despotic reign.

By 1999, when democracy came on board, he served as Minister of Works under former President Obasanjo. A speck on his white linen came in October 2009, long after he had left office, when a Senate ad-hoc committee on transportation, led by Heineken Lokpobiri, released a damning report, detailing how Anenih allegedly mismanaged billions of naira meant for the rehabilitation and construction of Nigerian roads. The committee report, though nowhere now to

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8181624757, email:steve.osuji@yahoo.com

One billion women… put down by men mark record of the one billion mark in the number of women that might have suffered at least one form of violence including, murder, rape, assault, battery, acid attack, in the hands of their men folk lends credence to my observation. Sound the alarm! This has surely gone off the handle. And the statistics emanating from across the world is indeed horrific.

South Africa (SA) seems to be the rape capital of the world as numbers coming out from various institutions show; with the United States coming a distant second. About 500,000 rape cases are said to be reported in SA annually while a whopping 25 per cent of SA men have admitted to committing rape. And how about this: one out of every three (yes, 3) SA women are said to have been raped.

Could it be that raping of women is the primary vocation of South African men? But they are not the only terribly depraved hunks on earth. It is said that 230 cases of rape are reported in the United Kingdom everyday while a woman is forced into sex in the US nearly every six minutes, bringing the total of the number of women that may have been raped in the US to about 22 million. Phew! Demon, thy name is phallus, or vice versa.

Nigeria has not done badly in this despicable orgy of violence against women, VAW. Unlike in the human development indices in which she often performs woefully, she has acquitted herself

well in this department. Though Nigerian men may not be overly suffering from testosterone trouble like their US and SA counterparts, they seem to excel more in the area of physical violence like battery, acid birth and outright killing.

It is thus estimated that about 25 million Nigerian women may have been violently abused. Listen to the news, read the newspapers daily and there is a streaming of reports of violation of the female gender. Here are a few samples from last weekend newspapers: a 46-year-old church worker in Abeokuta raped a 12-year-old-girl kept in his care. “I raped her and later gave her Panadol. I also threatened to kill her if she told anybody. I blame the devil for my action,” says the fiend. Another ‘monster’ called Jegede in Ibadan strangled his fiancée and her two-yearold boy. Yet another ‘ogre’ in Asaba called chukwudi, beheaded his wife after a dispute.

We still remember the infamous case supposedly of four Abia State University students who made a video of their rape scenes and posted it on the internet exposing their victim. In a part of Nsukka in Enugu state, elderly women usually from 70 years are on the verge of becoming an endangered species as they have become the rape targets of much younger men who probably have fetish motives. In Plateau, Benue and some northern states, pubescent young girls seem to be their favorite. All across the country, women, young and old are abused and savaged at will by bestial men and at every turn; sadly, most of these

be found again, reportedly blamed Anenih and his successors in the ministry for the poor state of Nigerian highways during the period and called for their prosecution. He was deeply entrenched in the infamously aborted Third Term plot of Obasanjo. He contributed immensely to the rape of democracy in his home state, Edo (formerly Bendel state), and Nigeria in general.

For attaining these infamous feats in politics, President Jonathan has rewarded him twice by appointing him as chairman of the Board of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). And now with the so called chair of PDP’s BOT from where he is expected to galvanise, organise and mobilise support for the reelection ambition of the nation’s non-performing president.

Perhaps, what Anenih and Jonathan, including their other supporters in political crimes, do not realise is that the current political consciousness among Nigerians has zero tolerance for the trademark electoral mischief of PDP. That is why most Nigerians are unanimous in their thinking that if the All Progressives Congress (APC) can get it right, then the days of PDP at the centre are numbered.

One thing is clear: Anenih’s leadership of that BoT, like that witnessed under Obasanjo, his once-upon-a-time friend, would be devoid of conscience and very likely honour.

Let Anenih continue to plot evil against the wishes of Nigerians as the 2015 elections draw close. He should have dumped the idea were he not to be a poor student of history.

As chairman of NPN in early eighties, the consequence of his plot against Ambrose Alli is there for all to see today. His plot against June12 election with Ibrahim Babangida destroyed any iota of honour in the former military president till date. Anenih connived with despotic Sani Abacha on his transmutation agenda and we all saw how Abacha ended. The same thing he did with Obasanjo on his truncated third term agenda and the former president has become an object of mockery on issues of democracy around the world.

Whilst he came out of previous onslaught against Nigerians unscathed, his current move with Jonathan needs circumspection.

The ominous signs are there for lack-lustre Jonathan to see, that Pa Anenih might probably be his waterloo ultimately. The message is crystal clear: This Mr ‘Fix-it’ that unceremoniously lost his base and hold on to Edo politics cannot fix anything for Jonathan. Let us wait and see; 2015 beckons! demon-possessed men walk away unpunished.

According to rights groups, only a small fraction of these heinous crimes is reported. This is because sexual abuse and violation of the woman person come with so much stigma. There is also sex for appointments, for jobs and for favors to the point that few female folks can get anything without the debasement of giving sex in exchange. And the chain goes all the way from the highest echelon to the street corners and village paths.

Legislation is weak, prosecution is almost zero and advocacy is poor and haphazard. Apart from Lagos state and Ekiti (where action is being driven by the wife of the governor), most other states have inadequate or non-existent legislation to effectively tackle this monster. In fact many states still don’t consider VAW an important issue. But indeed, assault on the women folk is perhaps the worst scourge afflicting the world today. The UN, governments across the world, must step up campaigns and devise actions against the indignities and outright butchery of the woman folk.

In our various communities, in home and at personal levels, we all have a duty to frown at any trace of violence and abuse of women. Fathers must more than before, exhibit love towards their wives and the women around them, especially where there are children. Let men who are men indeed, seize every opportunity to show that it is most cowardly of any man to as much as lay a finger on a woman; not even to raise his voice.

Let real men never shy to show that the feminine gender is the most exotic creation of God; she is to be doused with love and not acid. Let us teach our boys that with love, you can never go wrong with a woman; and to our girls: resist any form of indignity from any man.

LAST MUG: NNPC’s $1.5b fuel subsidy yarn: This oil ministry and NNPC people will lie until all their teeth fall out. Were we in a decent country, all the top people in our oil industry today would have been arrested and given a summary treatment. When did NNPC incur this subsidy debt of $3.5b? How does NNPC justify her plan to supply some fictitious creditors 15,000 barrels of our crude oil DAILY for FIVE YEARS to offset just $1.5b most likely phantom debt?

Why should we believe Diezani AlisonMadueke about foreign subsidy debts when she is so befuddled about the local ones? This must be the foreign leg of the fuel subsidy scam; the House must probe every detail.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

PEOPLE THE NATION

AN EIGHT-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba in Ogun State, was 75 last Tuesday. The doctormonarch had a lavish celebration of the day. He also conferred chieftaincy titles on some eminent persons, including former Supreme Court Justice George Oguntade. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports.

•Oba Tejuoso flanked Justice Oguntade and wife Modupe (left) and Chief Okoya and wife Sade

A monarch’s 75 ‘glorious’ years A

VISITOR would have mistaken it for a meeting of first class traditional rulers and other dignitaries.

The gathering was no meeting; it was a ceremony to celebrate a distinguished monarch. The Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, who turned 75. The doctor-monarch’s expansive palace in Sapon brimmed with his fellow monarchs, friends, associates, captains of commerce, relatives and subjects. Many of them wore the uniform Ankara fabric with the portrait of Oba Tejuoso on it.

The police and members of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) controlled the movement of vehicles and persons in and out of the area.

The birthday bash coincided with the honouring of Mrs Folasade Noimat Okoya, Justice George Adesola Oguntade and his wife, Modupe, with chieftaincy titles. Their friends and relatives came with them.

The three-leg event portrayed the people. The event featured a church service; conferment of chieftaincy titles and reception to celebrate “God’s grace and faithfulness” in Oba Tejuoso’s life.

Freelance drummers and other itinerant entertainers welcomed the dignitaries. Evangelist Ebenezer Obey’s band entertained the dignitaries at the reception.

At St. James African Church, Idi-Ape, Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, in his exhortation titled “God blesses the faithful,” extolled the virtues of the monarch at 75.

Udofia said Oba Tejuoso loves God and is committed to the advancement of the knowledge of God on earth.

The cleric said the monarch is always showing gratitude to God because of His grace in his life.

In his personal birthday message at the church,

the monarch, urged humanity to be grateful to God at all times.

He said this is the way those who believe and serve God could curry more of His blessings.

Oba Tejuoso, also talked about a life of discipline and integrity.

“I am a unique being just like each and every one of us. As regards the secret of my success and looking young, I am sure that you all know that the only thing that can make you look glorious, healthy and fit is the presence of Jesus Christ in your life. I have seen it all. God has led me through every aspect of this world. I have been in the secular and I have been in the spiritual.

God has enabled me to have a very good start.

Fortunately, I was born into a Christian home and to parents who led us to the right path where the Bible is loved and taught. I have no regrets whatsoever from my childhood days," he said.

The celebration peaked by noon at his palace with the conferment of the title of Ajisewa OkeOna Egba on Mrs Okoya, wife of industrialist Chief Razak Akanni Okoya.

The train moved to the Bishop Court, Onikolobo, where friends and relatives including the Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun and wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, eulogised the monarch.

Mrs Amosun described him as a cheerful, easily approachable honest man and a traditional ruler of integrity.

The monarch, she said, believes that the people's tradition should also move with the time and receive a touch of civilisation to enhance societal growth.

Prince Adesegun described him as a role model and leader.

To Mrs Okoya: “Oba Tejuoso is a big Daddy and mentor who dispenses Godly counsel to her when occasion demands.”

She prayed God to grant him long life.

•Oba Tejuoso’s queens (from left) : Oloris Omolola; Yetunde and Labisi

"Honouring me with the title of Ajisewa of Oke-Ona Egba is a big privilege and honour. I see this as a call to service; it motivates one to do more. I am highly appreciative of His Royal Highness Oba Adedapo Tejuoso's gesture,” she said.

One of the Kabiyesi's wives, Olori Yetunde said: "Kabiyesi is a God fearing man, a very good husband and father. Kabiyesi is an very honest and humble man, an evangelist, a preacher of the word and a man of many parts."

According to her, what she also found quite fascinating about her husband is his leadership quality, his unifying power in the family and zeal for Christ.

In attendance were Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo;

Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Suraj Adekunbi; Hon Adijat Oladapo representing Ifo 11 constituency in the Assembly; Secretary to State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa; Mr Segun Awolowo; the Ebumawe of AgoIwoye, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adenugba; Chief Adebutu Kessington; wife of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Olori Kemi Adetona; Chief Abba Folawiyo and Chief Titi Ajanaku.

Others were the Olu of Itori, Oba Fatai Akamo, ace juju musician, Sir Shina Peters; former Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Chief Titi Oseni and Ambassador Folake Marcus Bello.

•More pictures on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

26

SOCIETY A MONARCH’S 75 ‘GLORIOUS’ YEARS

•Governor Amosun (right) and Dr Banire

•Prince Adesegun

•Oba Taofieek Owolabi of Obafemi Owode; Oba Adetunji Osho (Alaye Ode-Oderemo); Oba Adebisi Okubanjo (Obiri of Aiyepe) and and Oba Abdurazaq Adenugba (Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye)

•Olori Adetona (right) and Mrs Atinuke Abioro

•From left: Oba Akinloye Adetunji; Hon Ademorin Kuye and Chief Samuel Adedoyin

•Alhaja Okoya (right) and Alhaja Fatimah Bintu Tinubu

•Prince Kayode Tejuoso (left) and Chief Olu Falomo

•Prince Robert Clack (Right) and Dr Lekan Tejuoso

•Mrs Amosun

•Evangelist Obey •From left: Chief Emmanuela Aisiel; Mrs Jaye Egba; Chief Ireti Asemota; Hajia Abah Folawiyo and Princess Sowande Onilere

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

SOCIETY A reception has been held for the Secretary to Lagos State Government, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who received Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Curriculum Studies from Lagos State University (LASU) last Thursday. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

Her date with history S HE is the engine room of the Lagos State Government. As Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaja Idiat Oluranti Adebule occupies a prime post. Last Thursday, she added a feather to her cap when she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Lagos State University (LASU).

Dr Adebule bagged (PhD) in Curriculum Studies after three years of research.

LASU’s auditorium complex was filled to brim. People in different colourful academic attires were seen moving in and out of the auditorium.

Majority of the guests were also in academic gowns except for the traditional rulers who shone in colourful attires with royal beads, waxing horsetails to the admiration of guests.

The event began with a convocation procession led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa. The graduands were also in the procession.

Soon as they entered the complex, the convocation package comprising Order of proceedings, Convocation brochure and souvenir magazine were distributed.

The graduands were robed in the colour prescribed for each faculty.

The Post-Degree recipients put on their caps, with the tassels placed at the left hand side, indicating that they already have their first degrees. The female graduands showed courtesy when they shook hands with the ViceChancellor; their male counterparts bowed with their caps on still their heads.

Shortly after, LASU Pro-Chancellor, Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas presented the certificates the receivers of Doctors of Philosophy (PhDs) Dr Adebule received applause as she exchanged pleasantries with the guests on her way to receive the certificate. Her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule watched keenly.

Decked in flowing blue agbada, Alhaji Adebule, a Computer Scientist later hugged his wife, congratulating her on her feat.

There was photograph session outside the auditorium before guests joined the celebrator at Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside LASU Sporting Complex for a lavish reception.

The hall was tastefully decorated in yellow and chocolate colour satin clothes.

The Adebules received guests comprising members of the state executive council, lawmakers, council chairmen, eminent jurists, captains of industry, academicians, party faithful and students.

LASU band entertained the gathering. Sumptuous cuisine - African and International dishes were at the guests' mercy.

Choice drinks were also in abundance to eat in and take away.

A cake, placed on table at the centre of the hall was later cut by the Adebules assisted by some of the guests.

“Congratulations, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule on your great achievements” was boldly written on the cake.

There were no speech making as the gathering was simply to wine and dine.

But those who chose to speak with The Nation showered encomiums on Dr Adebule.

Her colleague in the state exco, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, described the feat as result of hardwork.

Mrs Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Education said: "She deserves today's honour. She is a hardworking person; very cerebral and passionate about her job. God has crown her ef-

•The celebrator, Dr Adebule (second right) assisted by her husband, Alhaji Adebule; Mrs Oladunjoye (right) and former LASU Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Ibiyemi Bello

•Prof Abubakar Momoh

•From left: Alhaji Oyefeso; Hon Abiodun Mafe; Hon Ramota Akinola-Hassan and Hon Jubreel AbdulKareem

•LASU Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council Mr Bode Agusto

•Prof Oderinde and wife Laide

•Hon Fatai Olukoga flanked by Oba of Odo Noforija Kingdom, Epe, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja (left) and Oba of Igbooyeland, Epe Oba Michael Onakoya

forts; I wish her the very best."

Magistrate Sheri Solebo described her as a humble person.

"She is not just a politician, but a focus one that is academically upright.

She is a woman many women would learn from. I love her and wish her more success," she said.

Prof Babatunde Oderinde who supervised her thesis described her as a brilliant person.

Prof Oderinde who came with his wife, Laide said he had no regret for supervising her.

"She is ever willing to learn, correct her mistakes diligently and argue her way out where necessary. Her humility is another factor. Lagos State is lucky to her among the executive. I'm proud of her," he said.

Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso, a former Commissioner with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) said Dr Adebule has added value to state’s affair.

"She has been mobilising women in

•Magistrate Solebo

•Prof Cordelia Nwabuno

•Hon Toyin Suarau

Badagry Division to key into the policy of the government even before she became the SSG. Aside this, she usually carry out lot of responsibilities on behalf of the state government diligently," he said.

Her earning a PhD, Oyefeso said, has

struck a balance between her educational pursuit and political career without influencing her way out.

"She worked hard for it; that is why she deserved all the honour. I'm not surprise because being a member of the

Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in her school days, the training she received then has continues to influence her way to success," he said.

Dr Adebule thanked all for coming to relish in her joy.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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The remains of Mrs. Elekhia Ayiyi Giwa, mother of the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, the late Dele Giwa, was interred along the Auchi-Ekperi-Agenebode Road, Estako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, last Saturday.

OSAGIE OTABOR was there.

•Mama’s first Son, Mr Tunde Giwa with his sisters

•From left: The late Dele Giwa’s widow, Funmi ; Mr Akinrinade and Mr Ekpu

•Mr Igiebor (left) and Mr Iyare

• Mr Soyinka

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HE questions on the lips of many journalists that attended the funeral of Mrs. Elekhia Ayiyi Giwa, mother of the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, the late Dele Giwa was the shape the burial would have taken if Dele Giwa were to be alive to bury his mother.

As expected, dignitaries from all walks of life would have graced the occasion but the event was attended by close associates of the late Dele Giwa.

The funeral for Mama Giwa was held at the Church of God Mission, Ugbekpe-Ekperi in Estako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, a predominantly Muslim community.

The church was wearing a new look while the remains were laid in a wooden coffin brought to the church by well-dressed undertakers.

Mrs Giwa died on January 8 after a brief illness. She is survived by five children, 42 grand-children and 12 great-grand-children.

She died 26 years after her first son, Dele, was killed by a parcel bomb in October 1986.

• Mr Ogunbiyi

Mama Dele Giwa goes home An autobiography of the late Mrs Giwa said the murder of Dele destabilised and shattered her life which led to uncontrollable high blood pressure as a result of thinking and weeping continuously.

The deceased, born in Udaba Ekperi in 1925, got married in 1946 at the age of 21 to the late Bagadu Giwa.

The service at the church commenced at 9am and was led by Rev. Abraham Ikpotokin, who spoke on the need to praise and thank God in situations of life.

Rev Ikpotokin reminded the congregation to live a good life and remain steadfast in the Lord despite setbacks.

He said death was a necessary end that must come but what is important is the kind of life one leads.

He said, “Whatever you sow you will reap.

Our mother has lived a good life.”

The interment attended by the late Dele

Giwa’s associates evoked the memories of Dele Giwa as Madam Giwa’s remains were buried beside her son’s grave along the Auchi-EkperiAgenebode Road.

Dignitaries led by Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi prayed for few minutes at the graveside and Dele’s sister, Ronke Aboaba wept.

Kayode Soyinka, who was with the late Dele moments before the bomb exploded said his presence was a necessary thing for him to do because of the close relationship between them.

According to him, “Immediately I heard of this occasion I made it a point of duty to be here to give that last honour to Mama.

“I was a victim of that bomb. We know those who did it, those who sent the bomb to us.

They are still alive. They are walking freely.

Nigerians know who killed Dele. We will all die one day. Dele has done his bit. He did well as a journalist both in Nigeria and

internationally. His legacy cannot be erased.

For those of us still alive, we will make sure his legacies continued:” Soyinka said.

Dr Ogunbiyi said the sight of Dele’s grave was a very emotional experience for him. He said he felt close to Dele at that moment said Ray Ekpu: “It is some kind of nostalgia. We were happy the grave has been maintained.

We hope to keep his memory in whatever way we can.”

Ekpu urged journalists to continue with the investigative journalism started by late Dele.

Last daughter of Ayiyi, Ronke described the last five years of her mother as wonderful.

A Reception was later held for guests.

Others in attendance included DeleGiwa’s widow, Funmi; Yakubu Mohammend; Editor-in-Chief Tell Magazine, Nosa Igiebor; Dan Agbese; Soji Akinrinade and former Media Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Tony Iyare.

WHAT AND WHERE Convocation

Nikkah

Wedding

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HILDREN of Pastor Olatunde Akintajuwa and Mr Peter Owolabi, Opemipo and Oyedele will tomorrow be joined in the Holy Matrimony at the Gospel Faith Mission International, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Wedding

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HE Adqun Nikkah (wedding solemnisation) between Raheemah Olabisi and Jamiu Olalekan, children of late Alhaji Mikail Badru and Alhaji Munirudeen SekoniDairo will hold tomorrow at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Secretariat, Oshodi, Lagos.

S

PECIAL convocation ceremony and launching of N50billion Phase 11 Development Project Fund of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria will hold tomorrow at Mamam Kotangora Square, Samaru Zaria, Kaduna.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the special guest of honour while Nigeria’s former Head of State Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is the chairman of the development project.

The state’s Governor Alhaji

A

•Yero

Mukhtar Ramalan Yero is the Chief host.

Burial

funeral service for the late Emmanuel Abayomi will be held today at the Methodist Church, Ketu, Lagos.

Interment follows immediately after the church service at his Ikorodu home.

Marriage

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T

HE Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos will host the family members of Mr Emmanuel Ademola and Rev Samson Adebimpe to the wedding ceremony of their children, Feyisayo Cecilia and Aanuoluwa John.

HILDREN of Alhaji Atanda Sanni and Alhaji Adigun Ariyo, Sheriffdeen Olalekan of The Nation and Kafayat Folashade will be joined in the Holy Matrimony tomorrow at the Flamingo Garden, Ikorodu, Lagos.

•Abubakar

Games

T

HE 10th Biennial Nigerian Police Games will start on Sunday at the Liberation Stadium, Port Hacourt, Rivers State.

President Goodluck Jonathan is special guest of honour on the occasion and the chief host is the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

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Programme

EAL Women Foundation will tomorrow hold a programme entitled celebrating womanhood, at the Daystar Christian Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

Guest speaker on the occasion is Nike Adeyemi.

COMPILED BY OCHUKO ETABE

29 FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Vol 4. No. 1791

Sponsorship has become an acceptable marketing tool for many organisations to position their brands for optimal gain. The concept is fast gaining ground as one of the most sought after leveraging platforms used for consumer engagement, writes WALE ALABI.

Two brands, one concept

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OR firms, sponsorship is a window of opportunities. It enables them to unlock potentials and broaden their horizon.

Many organisations have exploited it to sustain customer loyalty, win new prospects by encouraging trials, and ultimately gain and heighten brand visibility. The truth is obvious. Firms are aware of the leveraging potentials of sponsorship! That is, its ability to create significant opportunities for distinct marketing and competitive advantages, as well as showing support of the event.

Amstel Malta partnered Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) as the programme’s headline sponsor. The connection is, however, not far-fetched. Amstel Malta’s payoff is “Be The Best You Can Be”.

The AMVCA, going by the name, obviously seeks viewers input in the quest to seek the very best of movies/actors in various categories.

The Marketing Manager, Non Alcoholic, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Tokunbo Adodo, described the partnership as timely.

He said: “Amstel Malta is a brand that inspires individuals to be the best they possibly can at everything. What better opportunity to anchor that value than a gesture that is aimed at giving back to people who have indeed worked very hard in our very own continent.” He aired his views at the nominee event ceremony where various nominee actors and movie categories were revealed.

Amstel Malta is also proud to have produced a Nigerian actor who is also a nominee for this year’s event. The brand congratulated Okechukwu Chukwudi Ukeje on his nomination for the maiden edition of the AMVCA. Ukeje, a former winner of the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality TV show, is a nominee in the ‘Best Actor In A Drama’ category for his role in the movie Two Brides And A Baby.

Ukeje is, however, up against Fabian Adeoye Lojede and Kenneth Uphopho for their roles in Jacob’s Cross and Down & Out respectively. Also nominated in the same category are Edward Kagutuzi for Mirror Boy and Jafta Mamabolo for his character in Otelo Burning.

Ukeje attained national prominence when he emerged winner of the 2007 edition of the Amstel Malta Box Office. This earned him a lead role in the movie, White Waters,

for which he won the highly coveted ‘Best Upcoming Actor’ award at the 2008 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards.

Mrs. Owotomo, described the actor’s nomination as an affirmation of his acting prowess. She said: “O. C Ukeje first shot to limelight when he won Amstel Malta Box Office in 2007; and this earned him the lead role in White Waters, for which he won Best Upcoming Actor at the African Movie Academy Awards, for his splendid performance in the movie. His recent nomination for the AMVCA for his lead role in ‘Two Brides And A Baby’ is a confirmation that he is indeed one of Africa’s best. As the Headline Sponsor of the AMVCA, Amstel Malta, is proud to have produced such a worldclass actor.”

According to her, at the core of the Amstel Malta brand is the conviction that everyone has what it takes to be the best. She added that the brand believes in providing platforms that give opportunity to young talented individuals to excel and be their best.

The partnership between Amstel Malta and AMVCA is to reinforce the brand message of “Being the Best You can Be” by recognising and celebrating exceptional, world-class talents in African entertainment.As the first and only premium low sugar malt drink in the country, the Amstel Malta brand is proud to be a part of the first ever AMVCA as it continues to refresh its consumers with its unique low sugar formulation. This unique part-

nership will enable the best in African entertainment and Nigeria’s number one low sugar malt drink to showcase the best of young talented Nigerians, and inspire the future generation to be the best they can be.

The AMVCA will hold on March 9.

While voting commenced for the viewing audience on January 28, it closes at midnight CAT on Sunday, March 3. Viewers can vote via SMS, WAP and also via the Africa Magic website (www.africamagic.tv).

Amstel Malta has also chosen to engage its audience via social media. The premium low sugar malt drink from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc., launched a series of consumer engagement activities for the maiden edition of the AMVCA. The series of unique campaigns are geared towards connecting Amstel Malta’s target audience with the first edition of the viewers’ choice awards; thereby enabling them to win tickets to the event as well as other fabulous prizes.

The ancillary scheme activities are tagged ‘Name & Match’, ‘Do You Know Your Stars’ and Amstel Malta Video Awards; and all campaigns would be driven via Amstel Malta’s social media platforms. For the ‘Name and Match’ campaign, Amstel Malta’s target audience would be required to predict which actors would emerge winners from the categories recently revealed by the AMVCA nomination panel. They would then match the actor with a word representing the attribute he/she shares with the Amstel Malta

‘The AMVCA will undoubtedly be populated by movie stars from the African continent. These are stars whom many individuals have seen on TV screens.

However, Amstel Malta is presenting a selected number of Nigerians the opportunity of attending this unique event and interacting with some of these movie stars whom many regard as their screen idols’

brand.

‘Do You Know Your Stars’ is a three-stage game which entails an individual matching an actor’s name with the actor’s picture within the shortest possible time. Individuals have to complete a 12, 16 and 24 box grids in stages I, II & III respectively.

For the Amstel Maltavideo awards, viewers are to upload a short movie clip in which they are portraying a role. Fans on the Amstel Malta FaceBook page would judge the best of the lot by casting votes. Asides the social media platform, Amstel Malta would be engaging its target audience for the AMVCA via radio. Listeners would be asked to act a popular role (or a situation script) from a nominated movie or mimic a nominated star.

The brand is also introducing the Amstel Malta Radio countdown. The programme is a five day interactive countdown dedicated to the AMVCA. According to Mrs. Owotomo, Brand Manager – Amstel Malta, Nigerian Breweries Plc, the premium low sugar malt drink is launching series of interactive scheme activities to enable its target audience have a feel of the AMVCA. “The AMVCA will undoubtedly be populated by movie stars from the African continent. These are stars whom many individuals have seen on TV screens. However, Amstel Malta is presenting a selected number of Nigerians the opportunity of attending this unique event and interacting with some of these movie stars whom many regard as their screen idols” she said.

She added that individuals who may not attend the event, but who participate in the scheme activities will be given consolation prizes.

Mrs. Owotomo further remarked that Amstel Malta’s sponsorship of the maiden is hinged on the need to promote excellence and innovation. “Even though some of the categories of the awards will be voted for by the viewing public, the winners will reflect the best choices which the audience feel have excelled in the various categories.

This is in line with the Amstel Malta brand theme of being the best with the best,” she said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

30

Brandnews

Firm engages consumers via mobile salon D

ARK and Lovely AntiBreakage, the premium hair product from the stable of L’Oreal Nigeria has continued to engage major stakeholders in its business line as it takes the first ever hair treatment mobile saloon to University of Lagos.

Other tertiary institutions lined up for the activation include College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo and Ikorodu, Lagos State University, Ojo and Yaba Tech, Yaba amongst several other designated institutions in Lagos.

It would be recalled in 2012, L’Oreal embarked upon pan-Nigeria hair professionals activation campaign in Lagos, Aba and Abuja for Dark and Lovely AntiBreakage, which was proved to be more than successful.

Speaking on the consumer’s focus campaign this time, the Head, Education and Training, L’Oreal Nigeria, Mrs. Titilola Igri-Offor, said the brand activation this time is to engage the end-users by offering free hair touch up to students, and enlighten them on benefits of anti-breakage product.

On whether the campaign will be limited to Lagos, Mrs. IgriOffor said, for the schools, “we have decided to go to schools in Lagos such as UNILAG, Yaba

By Raji Rotimi Solomon

Tech, College of Education, LASU, Lagos Polytechnic amongst other, therefore, we will be going to other states of the federation when we are done with Lagos, certainly other locations will be picked but Lagos is the first locations.”

Giving an insight into the campaign that took the industry by storm in 2012, Igri-Offor said: “The first set of activation we had or we did was actually for hair professionals, we spoke with the hair professionals because in the industry they are the first point of contact between the product and the consumers. So, when the product was launched we called them together and they endorsed it, they actually say it is the best hair product that is being launched into the market, so the next step is to speak with consumers so that is what we are in schools because the consumers are in schools and they are our target audience.”

Dark and Lovely anti-breakage contains wheat germ oil and reparative ceramide. The wheat germ-oil nourishes while the ceramide repairs the hair, therefore, the brand offers a two way benefit to women.

Beyond offering free hair service to consumers, the Head, Education and Training of the company also share the business strategy to retention and provoke repeat call. She said: “The first strategy that would provoke repeat call is the efficacy of the product, the outcome and the result of the product, I don’t believe there is any woman that would have her hair put back on track and want to go off track again. So, many hairs we have seen have been damaged because of bad products, so many of them not really kept but we try to treat and put back on track, we are sure that they will keep to it because it actually suits them and they like it.”

A second year student of Mass Communication in UNILAG, Miss. Mojisola Adeleke, who benefited from the mobile saloon campaign said, she never realised how good the product is until her experience at the mobile saloon.

“I am amazed at the efficacy of this brand, it can never be compared to any other hair beauty brand, it is just exceptional and unique. Really, I can’t imagine going back on it. I encourage other women to embrace it and they would not regret choosing the product.”

Airtel pre-orders BlackBerry Z10 LEADING telecommunications service operator, Airtel Nigeria has provided Nigerians the opportunity to own the latest BlackBerry Z10 smartphone by pre-ordering for the device via www.ng.airtel.com or through its shops across the country.

The company says customers who pre-order for the latest BlackBerry® Z10 smartphone would be provided with the opportunity of having the device delivered to the nearest sales point of their choice for pick up.

For N100,000 only, Airtel customers would have the privilege of owning the latest device from BlackBerry complete with smart features that would provide them with distinctive communication experience.

Airtel’s Chief Marketing Officer, Olu Akanmu, said the company’s superior and widest 3.75G coverage across the country would complement the unique computing features of the smartphone to provide customers with a delightful internet experience irrespective of their location.

Our partnership with BlackBerry to serve Nigerian consumers with one of the best in-class telecommunication technology product firms up Airtel’s resolve to dictate the pace of innovation and value creation in the Nigerian telecoms market in our quest to become the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians,” Akanmu added.

Emirates SkyCargo wins global awards SKYCARGO, the freight division of Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has been named Global Cargo Airline of the Year, by The STAT Trade Times, organisers of the Air Cargo Africa 2013 event recently held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The STAT Trade Times, which forms part of the STAT Media Group, is an international multimodal transport publication, and has since 2006 presented awards in various categories to encourage excellence in the air cargo industry.

Winners are chosen by the worldwide readers of the publication, who nominate their choice in various categories through online participation over a period of a month, and the winners are determined on the basis of the nominations received.

“Many thanks go out to all the readers who voted for Emirates SkyCargo. Winning this award is a direct endorsement by our customers of our continuous drive and focus on delivering the highest levels of service,” said Ram Menen, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo.

The award was presented at a ceremony attended by leaders in the air cargo industry, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hotel Royale unveils status HOTEL Royale has raised its status to accommodate preference for finesses, satisfaction by launching dozens of five star facilities, which include, swimming pool, conference hall (capable of accommodating 500 guests at a sitting) in-built sound proof discotheque hall.

Other services readily available to those decorous quality hospitality include, gym section, cyber café above all, stern looking uniform security men in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force who are charged with 24 hours patrol.

Speaking during the unveiling at Ogun River Street in (Isheri) Community housing the corporate office, the Executive Chairman/ CEO, Ogbuefi Tony Ike Omekannaya, said he decided to improve facilities they have on ground as a result of non availability of such in Omole Phase II, Isheri Phase II, Isheri, Magodo phase I saying other adjourning communities are prospective encatchment.

He stated that all the additional facilities are readily available providing security and guarding unwanton risks involved in moving out of the hotel community.

MTN pledges support for culture, tourism From left: Head Customer Relations Sony, Ugoh Anyanwu; Director, Sales, Middle East and Africa, Mukaida Shinya and the Vice President, Services, Middle East and Africa, Redington Sethu Raman at the opening of the new Sony service centre in Lagos.

Adidas berths in Nigeria

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DIDAS, the global sports brand, has opened two stores in Nigeria through its strategic retail partner, Mopheth Sport Nigeria Ltd. The move demonstrates Adidas’ intention to strengthen the brand in the vibrant Western African country.

“Although we have always had a strong presence in Nigeria through the sponsorship of the Super Eagles, our product offering has been limited. As part of our growth into Africa, we have identified a well-established retail partner who is responsible for the rollout of Adidas

monobranded stores in Nigeria,” says Astrud Meintjes, the Senior Business Development Manager at Adidas South Africa.

The Adidas brand entered the Nigerian market, when Mopheth opened the first Adidas store in Lagos’ Ikeja City Mall in October 2012.This has been followed up, by the opening of a second store in the nation’s capital, Abuja, in December 2012. Both offer the latest in Adidas products including footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids in the following categories: football, running, basket-

ball, training and Originals.

Adidas retail partner, Mr Adekunle Oyegade, says he is excited by the partnership with a well-known global brand like adidas and sees it as a way of strengthening his already strong business in Nigeria. “Adidas brings the Nigerian customer a wide variety of world class product for both the sports and style enthusiasts. This partnership also means we are able to communicate the brand concepts and styles that were previously not accessible to our customers,” he says.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant, MTN has pledged its unflinching support for initiatives directed at promoting and projecting the country’s cultural heritage, even as it threw its weight behind one of the biggest cultural festivals among Ndigbo, “Igu Aro,” recently at Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State.

Samuel Arewa,the Regional Marketing Trade Manager, South East, MTN, while reiterating MTN’s commitment to enriching lives, stated that, MTN, through its KultureFest initiative, has been able to identify and get involved in cultural festivals, across the country.

“MTN prides itself as a caring brand that enables people, do more of what they love. Our culture and tradition are part of who we are; they play a significant role in our lives and so, we are very passionate about them. MTN recognises these facts and that is why, year -in year- out, we support different cultural festivals, across the country, through our KultureFest initiative,” he said.

Outlining activities for the year, His Royal Majesty, Eze Nri, Obidiegwu Onyesoh drew attention to the gradual decline of culture and tradition.

He maintained that the loss of values in the society is as a result of the decline in cultural values.

Admonishing Ndigbo, the Eze Nri, stated that there is the need for the re-awakening of Igbo culture, especially, among the youths. In his pronouncement for the year, Onyesor declared bountiful harvest and abundance of farm yields.

The 2013 Igu-Aro festival witnessed a large turnout of sons and daughters of Igbo origin, from all works of life, including former Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Alex Ekwueme.

Nri is the ancestral homeland of Ndigbo and the citadel of Igbo culture and tradition.

THE

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SHOPPING THE NATION

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

•ATM queue at Lagos Island

Catching the cash-less bug

The cash-less policy was initially rejected. But gradually, it is being embraced. Shoppers too have caught the bug. They no longer go to the market and shopping mall with loads of cash. They now flash their ATM cards at payment counters.

Will this romance last? TONIA ‘DIYAN asks.

•STORY ON PAGE 32

Quality wine, quality taste Page 33

Other side of students’ shopping Page 34

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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SHOPPING

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S new innovations unfold, life tends to become easier and much more sophisticated for the Nigerian shopper.

Electronic-payment has been a way of life for decades in developed countries such as the United States , the United Kingdom, Sweden and France. These countries run their economy electronically without stress.

It is gaining grounds in countries like Ghana, South Africa and Kenya where people enjoy stable electricity. This innovation is helping shoppers handle less cash in line with the trend globally.

Nigeria is not left out of the trend. It was introduced by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi. The cash-less policy is also targeted at reducing the huge volume of cash transactions, which impose tremendous cost to the banking sector and the consumer.

In Nigeria, the introduction of the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) paved the way for cash-less transactions. Now people are getting used to not carrying cash around. Banks now have their branches in most markets to ensure traders deposit their money in the bank and no longer in their shops. With the establishment of shopping malls in some parts of Lagos State in particular, formal retailing is made possible as people enjoy more convenient shopping.

Though, most banks have ATM cards accredited for use in any part of the world, many shoppers are informed of this facility, yet not all of them get involved for fear of fraudsters.

To Mrs Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Country Manager, West Africa, Master Card Worldwide, the idea is to create a world beyond cash where cash-less transactions will assist in improving the lives of the consumers by removing the risks and expenses associated with carrying, using and handling cash.”

“When you buy online, you are expected to make all transactions on line as well. It assists a country drive its yearning for a cashless society .But many Nigerians who have this master card hardly use them in Nigeria because of the notorious activities of internet scammers. Of course, the advantage of the internet era is that people can buy and sell items of all sorts through the website. But we hear of many cases of fraud in the developed world, despite its sophistication.”

Transactions such as payment of utility bills, school fees, hotel bookings and house rents, among others can take place through a mobile phone.

One important thing about this innovation is the fact that it thrives on agency network, thereby taking traditional banking and its cumbersome processes in the cities to the streets in suburban areas where accredited mobile money agents also operate.

The policy is also designed to provide mobile payment services, break down the traditional barriers hindering financial inclusion of millions of shoppers with lower costs. It has, however, become a burden to some elite, the poor, uneducated and traders.

Others who are pessimistic about the system say a nation without stable electricity cannot run a successful e-payment system. Most times in banks, you will find a long queue of customers waiting for transactions because servers are down.

For instance, in a market environment, how many traders will trust that customers will make a cash deposit in the bank when most of these traders transact their businesses with cash. Their usual slogan is: na cash and carry o!

Shoppers speak Mr. Kolawole Amusan, a banker in one of the old-generation banks, blamed the situation on education, stressing that some people are yet to be adequately enlightened.

A shopper, Mr Nduka Madu, also said there was no adequate enlightenment before the take-off of the policy in Lagos.

A trader, Mr. Polinus Ironsi, spoke on the policy and its adverse effect on his

Catching the cash-less bug

•Some people still carry cash

•PoS

•ATM queue

•ATM machine

business, pointing out that the CBN policy would discourage customers from patronising him. Saying that his trade is cash-intensive and requires cash transactions before goods would be offered out. “My business involves using money before I can give out my goods.”

But a currency trader in Lagos Island, Malam Usman Abubakar said cashless banking would have a valuable effect on businesses in the economy, urging the CBN to put sufficient infrastructure to support the system. He also called for more enlightenment, stressing that such requirement should have been made available before the policy took off.

Similarly, a trader at Yaba market, Mr Keneth Ukomadu expressed dissatisfac-

tion with the new policy, which he described as a calculated attempt by the banks in support with the CBN to extort money from people.

Traders at the Owode Onirin market, Ikorodu do not understand the cash-less shopping, talk less of practicing it. They asked questions like what are you talking about? Does something like that exist? Some say they only see the advert on BRT buses when they ply Ikorodu road.

According to Mr Ishola Agbaje, the policy cannot work in their market. “We believe in seeing the cash after purchase.

We prefer to take money to the bank ourselves. The closest bank to us is Diamond Bank at mile 12. We prefer to go that far.

Anyone who wants to transact business with us must pay us cash, that is what

keeps business here going” he said.

Another trader, Baba Bamgbose, who sells car horns, said “we believe in the cash that we see. We have to be very careful in this our line of business. We do cash and carry business; therefore we don’t trade with cards. Alternatively, some of us may allow our regular customers pay into our accounts if they don’t have cash due to some personal reasons”.

Mr Lasisi Aina was found fixing his car in the market. He said: “ I don’t think the e-payment system can work here.

Likewise in other traditionally markets.

Sometime if these traders do not have what you want to buy, they take money from you and buy it from their another trader who has the item.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

SHOPPING For wine lovers, there are no standards of taste. Everyone’s taste is the standard.

Reason: people have unique preferences and taste. Writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

Quality wine, quality taste

This glass is designed for rich, full bodied red wines. Its stems are machine made, which creates a sturdier glass that will not break easily. The wide bowl enables the wine to breathe and brings out its rich aroma. Since the glass is tall, the wine proceeds directly to the back of the mouth, allowing for maximum flavour. It is durable and beautiful.

W

HEN planning to buy wine, one can minimise the risk of buying a poor one with just a little knowledge. Most people are at the mercy of buying wine they are most familiar with, or they simply buy blind.

Though, taste in wines is personal, it is not recommended to purchase wines strictly on a wine’s “score.” Sweet wines are often a person’s initiation into wine drinking, but this doesn’t make them inferior choices as it is commonly believe that because sweet wine is the cheapest, anyone can afford it.

Remember that a more costly wine doesn’t necessarily mean a better type and that high rating doesn’t mean that you are going to like it. Being able to interpret the label and buy from a reputable and knowledgeable source is your best chance to find the right wine.

It is not rare for an individual to initially prefer sweet, light wines such as Isabella, Black Swan, Cariju and Shiraz. As a person’s taste matures drier, more complex white wines may be required. The initial leap to sweet wines may include lighter, fruity wines such as Merlot , red table wines, or Eva Most individuals tend to like certain specific characteristics of wine, whether red or white, alcoholic or non-alcholic. Many wine bottles have a label that contains the winemaker’s notes or describes the characteristics of the wine, endeavour to read before making a choice.

Mrs Sherifat Olayinka, simply called Iya assorted at the Balogun market in Lagos Island, is a major dealer in all kinds of Wine ranging from Eva to Isabella, Black swan, cariju, Shiraz, Dnasty Hox, etc.

She told The Nation shopping that these bottles of wine are of different prices depending on their taste quality as well as their brands. ‘what you want depends on how much you are ready to pay.” They vary from N400 and N4,000 per bottle.

“The environment in whichthey are stored is also important. They will last longer if stored on their sides; Wines are best stored in a constant, cool environment and away from direct sunlight.” She explained Since personal taste is vastly different among individuals, it is always best to first describe the types of wines using its flavours.

Avoid buy wine based on rates and recommendations; it might not suit your taste.

Whether your preference is for a sweet or sour wine, make the best choice. There is a range of sweetness, from some being not very sweet to those that are considered dessert wines.

Spiegelau Vino Bordeaux wine glass

Schott Zwiesel Tritan red This boasts of having the world’s best crystal glass ware. Schott Zwiesel is known by many wine connoisseurs as one of best companies to produce the perfect wine glass. It is very affordable yet luxurious. The tritan series collection is lead-free and durable with a crystal stemware which reveals the richness of your wine.

Riedel Vinum Extreme wine glass

•Sweet wines

To enjoy the best of your red wine, this classic glass is one of the top wine glasses. Claus Riedel, the inventor of the functional wine glass, realised the importance of a glass shape and how it affects the overall taste, aroma and experience of a great wine. It comes in at 247mm, with a capacity to hold 281/4 ounces. Its price is moderate.

White wine glass

•Wine glasses

If you wish to buy in large quantity, check out superstores for buying in bulk. Prices are better and some are sold at lower prices than the local shops, especially for larger orders.

When stores offer discounts on older wines i.e when they need to restock,it is a great buy for anyone who is interested in purchasing wine. Therefore look out for such offers.

Wine glasses All wine glasses are designed to direct the wine to the tongue where its flavour would

be most appreciated. Proper selection of a particular wine glass is important, as the glass could influence its perception.

Each type of wine glass follows the same tulip-shape and has three essential components: the base, which keeps the glass upright, the stem which allows one to hold the glass without transferring one’s body heat to the wine and the bowl which holds the drink. It is recommended that wine glasses be composed of crystal or thin glass since thick glass is thought to influence the taste of wine. There are many types of wine glasses but four are common.

These are smaller to help keep the wine cool. For crisp white wine, you will need a glass with an opening that is slightly larger than the body of the glass. This allows the wine to dispense at the tip and sides of the tongue to better enjoy its sweetness.

Here are other glasses a connoisseur might enjoy having in his collection: Champagne flute: They are tall and thin, which allow the bubbles to build up properly. Sweet wines such as desert wine require smaller glasses that dispense the wine to the back of the oral cavity so the sweetness does not envelop the whole tongue.

Rose glasses are similar to white wine glasses in that they are smaller though their bodies are wider to allow aromas to better develop.

Burgundy wine glass: It is also a good idea to have a burgundy glass to use for other full bodied wines. It is larger than Bordeaux and large bowl allows the wine to dispense to the tip of the tongue where it is easier to taste the sweetness of the wine.

Sherry glass: Sherry glass is a drink ware generally used for serving aromatic alcoholic beverages such as aperitifs and liquor.

Beautifying an apartment does not only require painting and furnishing, it also needs a good and attractive floor cover to bring out the look of the room. TAIBAT IDOWU writes

Make the best rug choice

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RUG is a thick warm fabric that does not only serve as a cover, but also as a way of decorating a floor.

It accommodates and absorbs water, in a home.

You can get good bargain at Pako bus/ stop, Lawanson road in itire, Yaba, Oshodi, Ikotun and other places in Lagos. Some are affordable depending on colour, size, country,and name or type.

According to a rug seller Mr. Okechuku Chukuma said urgs are sold based on sizes, name, country where it is imported from and colour. I sell 4by 4 which is equivalent to 13 by 13metres. At the rates of N13,000 if its Lupaiy. Other type like Vip, Macaroni, Vip, Hi-paiy, and France rug are more expensive, most especially colors like red, wine blue, orange and black.”he said. He said Germany, America, France, China and

•Rugs

Swizerland are some of the countries they are imported from.

Another rug seller Mr. Ike Nnamdi supported Okehucku on his statement.

Mr . uche okoro who was at the market to buy said “I use rug for my apartment

floor because it durable.

When buying a rug you need to consider the colour of your room so that a perfect colour can be selected when you get to the market. If you are using a deep colour for your room make sure your rug

is light coloured with a touch of your room color for balancing.

Don’t forget to check a catalogue before going to the market. This will give you a very nice clue in making the best, suitable rug for your home.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

34

SHOPPING MY SHOPPING

‘Online shopping’s taking the centre stage’ Raphael Afaedor and Tunde Kehinde are the co-founders of Nigeria’s pioneer online store, Jumia

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HAT is your focus?

Online shopping being the buying and selling of products or services on the Internet, has come of age in Nigeria and has been the source of millions of jobs and revenues, a success story for which we at jumia.com.ng are glad to be proud of. At Jumia our focus has been to bring the marketplace to our loyal customers taking care of their needs irrespective of time or day or wherever they may find themselves at the click of a button.

What makes you the number one online retail store in Nigeria?

As Nigeria’s No. 1 online retailer, jumia.com.ng plays big within the Nigerian market, with a vision to being the solution to online retail in subSaharan Africa. As a place for direct retail shopping online, we implement 24-hour availability, a local and global reach, with the ability to interact and provide custom information and ordering, as well as multimedia prospects”.

How is online shopping helping the mobile market grow?

It is no doubt the internet has come to stay and it’s amazing possibilities a fulcrum for millions of jobs and revenue to be created in the near future.This rapid growth has also stemmed into the mobile internet market, and has seen in our experience the possibility of our loyal customers shopping from their various mobile devices.

How has online shopping expanded since its existence?

The rapid growth in Nigeria’s technological base has opened the nations market to homegrown online retail markets, with an estimated 25 per cent growth in online shopping with revenues valued at N62.4 million in 2011, a N12.5 billion increase from 2010, according to a report

by Euro monitor international, a global market research organisation.

How have you stayed competitive in this business and how are you facing challenges?

These successes haven’t been amiss of its challenges. One major concern is that of infrastructure, referring primarily to power, available technological expertise and poor funding for startups. Being an online retail company, it is of utmost importance to keep our power structure up

By Tonia ‘Diyan

and running all day, seven days a week; so one can wonder its financial implications on the business and how we manage to stay competitive with our pricing. Also as a company driven by targets and customer satisfaction we have built a mesh network of top local and international brands with a mission to bringing best quality products to our customers at the best price deals anywhere in the country, this in turn has helped us see a steady increase in our customer base, giving us the capacity to manage challenges.

With supply and logistics playing a key role in our business, we have had to deal with the issues of bad road network, and increased cost of transportation, With no excuses for disappointing our customers we increased our fleet to serve our increasing customer base and even extended bases to Abuja and Port Harcourt, serving those regions as we implement plans to expand into other markets.

What are your strategies for this year?

Persistently doing our best to overcome these challenges, the Jumia brand has in a few months of operation; established itself as the number one online retail store in Nigeria, positioned as the eigth most visited local content site, according to Alexa.com, an online marketing research organisation, consolidated our business with various foreign partners, grown from 15 to 150 employees in six months, with plans for an additional 100 jobs this year.

What do you offer?

Known as the country’s biggest online retailer with the widest stock of products that cut across fashion, mobile phones, computing, electronics, games, beauty, books and much more, Jumia also places high premium on qualitative manpower which is why employees’ development is given top priority within the organisation’s operational structure.

How have Nigerians accepted this new innovation?

“Irrespective of the highs and lows and challenges of doing business within this environment, the single most important reason for success has been our people, who have driven targets be-

•Raphael Afaedor

•Tunde Kehinde

yond expectations through their various expertise and to who we are most grateful.

Researchers say that the rise of technology is as a result of numerous innovative minds within Computer Science and Information Technology (IT) who have created and developed many great skills and ideas around certain human needs (technologically or otherwise) leading to people embracing such technologies.

Ultimately from a standpoint, there have been quite a number of entrepreneurs and technopreneurs who engage in different ventures not only to cash in or to expand their business, but also in one way or the other to give some comfort to our way of living.

How have you helped unemployment in Nigeria?

Jumia seeks to continue leading the online retail sector by empowering its best hands and skilled personnel to function at their innovative peak. Through this we have also created an environment where transfer of knowledge is fostered between highly skilled and competent staff that have passed through various notable local and foreign institutions. With its devotion to skills acquisition and manpower development, Jumia’s growth has led to employment of young Nigerians in the fields of merchandising, information technology, accounting, customer service, sup-

ply, logistics and public relations. In addition to 100 people hired for full-time jobs since September 2012, the company has recently added 50 more to the staff strength, with plans to creating over 100 more jobs in the coming year.

Being an organisation driven by results and one that understands the value of its manpower in driving organisational objectives, we have put in place processes to continually empower and protect our employees, which in the long term will be more beneficial to us as an organisation, our employees and the economy at large. We want our employees to understand the competitive market we operate in as a way of empowering themselves as individuals for any other work conditions.

Also in line with the organisation’s commitment to manpower development, skills acquisition and raising the standard of living for its employees and partners, Jumia has implemented an affiliate programme which is run for website owners and bloggers who are non-employees of the company.

This programme integrates a banner or text link from Jumia on such websites and in return, commissions paid to such individuals per sale through the banner.

Phone prices vary

T

HE patronage of mobile phones is on the high side. Places like Ikeja, Oshodi, Lawanson, Surulere, Ikoyi stock more phones. They are mainly imported from countries like Mexico, China, Italy Neartherland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland etc.

Citizens from the easrtern part of the country earn a living through selling of mobile phones.

According to a phone seller Kingsly Nnadozia “phones that are on top are Asha, 200s which is sold for N1,200, Samsung galaxy, Blackberry curve and Bold five, Nokia torch, Techno. Most people that patronize me are youths but ladies are common

By Taibat Idowu

among my customer and what they buy mainly is Blackberry and Nokia torch. I sell 10piece of nokia in a day.

TheAsha 200s and 300 to 308 cost N1,200.

LG Optimum is sold for N91,000. Nokia 603 is N32,00, infinix surfsmart cost for N19,000, Nokia 701 is sold for N43,500, nokia Lumia 900cost N66,500, Blackberry Torch cost N55,000. Blackberry Pearl N28,500.

Samsung galaxy cost N20,000. Techno trinity cost N10,000. Techno cost N6000.

Samsung galaxy grand N65,000 and Nokia torch which happens to be the smallest price among phones is sold at the rate of N2,500.

Other side of students’ shopping

S •Phones

TUDENTS are associated with academic materials for their studies. However, they also buy some basic needs such as clothing, shoes, gift, wristwatches, underwear, etc. The Nation Shopping spoke with some students at the Yaba College of Education to find out what they preferred buying aside from academic materials.

Violine Okudi said “ I love shopping for bag, clothes and shoes buying mainly from katagora .

By Taibat Idowu

According to Iyabo Oloko who sells various kinds of clothes, shoes and bags at Idumota she said “If I sell 4 different type of clothes in a day, I sell the same number of shoes and bag.

Some students said they preferred to buy flower vase. Tina Nneka Nwanzuru said “when I am not buying my school items, I am buying flower vase and picture frames.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

A

FRICAMAGIC’S ‘Big Brother Africa’ has smashed records since it first launched and with its’ eighth season already in production, this week the show’s fans emphatically proved that it remains arguably the biggest and most popular television series on the continent when they helped the show to hit a milestone one million facebook likes!

Having championed the concept of audience engagement from its very first day on air, Big Brother Africa has reached out to DStv viewers in a variety of innovative ways including the option for viewers to send messages directly to the screen of the live 24/7 broadcast, and in that way sharing their thoughts, opinions and feelings about the show directly with others watching in 47 countries.

But as social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have grown rapidly across Africa, so too has the reach of the series as fans dissect actions in the Big Brother house, anticipate twists and turns and share breaking news in what is a remarkable display of African dialogue around a program that is both hugely entertaining and at the same time, socially informative.

“This is social engagement at its finest. At one level, it’s simply Africans gathering around a specific topic whose conversations are centralised around Big Brother. But on another level, it speaks to the continuous desire for connection that Africans have. It clearly demonstrates the growing reality of panAfricanism, the increasing sense that Africans are stronger together

35

When BBA hits one million likes on Facebook She continues, “Fans of this show challenge us every day to make something that they will than separately. It’s a remarkable achievement for a show like Big Brother Africa and one that is only possible because a million people made it so,” says Biola Alabi MD for M-Net Africa, they push us every day to keep the concept fresh, they motivate us every day to keep Big Brother Africa dynamic. So this is their success. Our thanks go to every single one of them.

And from May 26 we’ll bring them something fun and new that they will not want to miss!”

The entries for the show closed on Valentine’s Day. Big Brother Africa 8 is set to run live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv, starting May 26. In addition, GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show ensuring that Biggie reaches a new and emerging audience. For more information on the series, check out these online homes: www.africamagic.tv ; https:// twitter.com/bigbroafrica; w w w . F a c e b o o k . c o m / bigbrotherafrica;http:// www.youtube.com/officialbigbroafrica Produced for AfricaMagic by Endemol SA, Big Brother Africa has 279,000 Twitter followers. In 2012, the show drew over 2.3 million messages to TV, over two million unique online browsers and 128,000,000 website page views.

Niche IMC now ICOM+IN member

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ICHE IMC, one of the Nigeria’s integrated marketing communications shops, has joined the fast growing ICOM+IN, a global network of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies.

According to information from the global network, Niche IMC becomes the ninth agency member of the rapidly growing ICOM+IN Africa Network, joining agencies in Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. With the appointment, Niche IMC, Lagos, will represent the network’s businesses and interests in Nigeria.

Peter Jackson, regional director of the ICOM+IN Africa network and CEO of the Volcano Group, South Africa, says “Niche’s appointment reinforces what is already the largest group of independent agencies stretching across Africa”.

“With other regional key appointments in the works, ICOM+IN is on track to be the largest network of advertising and marketing communications agencies most effectively covering sub-Sahara, North Africa and the Middle East,” Jackson declares.

Speaking on what he describes as partnership for growth, Ola Awosemo, Chief Executive Officer, Niche IMC, explains that the arrangement is aimed at human capital development for the agency which supports its inclination to continually enhance its clients’ businesses.

“It allows us to share resources with other members as well as access to other extensive global tools, which form the

currency of this business.”

When this happens, it is only natural that as applicable to other ICOM+IN’s members, the agency will be able to extend its frontiers through joint business opportunities through ICOM+IN’s international and Africa network, Mr. Awosemo further discloses.

Founded in 2006, Niche IMC handles a variety of local and international consumer and B2B accounts in insurance, finance, beer, power generators, telecom and other categories. The agency’s clientele include Nigerite, Leadway Assurance, Etisalat, Addide (Supermarket chain), Grand Oak, Morpol Engineering among others.

ICOM+IN’s Managing Director, Gary Burandt rationalised Niche IMC’s appointment and the network’s African expansion policy as follows; “Africa is an increasingly important part of the world and increasingly important to our network”.

Founded in 1950 with headquarters in Rollinsville, CO (USA), the ICOM network which recently merged with IN, has over 100 agencies based in 80 countries and a revenue in excess of $3.5 billion.

Member agencies have many of the benefits of a major multinational agency group – providing effective integrated communications resources to clients internationally — while maintaining their independence and local ties. It’s the best of both worlds: Global capability; local control. Of equal importance, the network provides a forum for a free exchange of ideas, information and support for members.

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IGERIA is trending. Dame Patience ‘Lazarus’ Jonathan is trending. Super Eagles and Steven Keshi are trending.

Carl and Oscar Pistorious are trending. Pope Benedict XVI is trending. You know why they are all trending; therefore, you do not need a rehash. However, for the uninitiated, an overview of ‘what’s trending’ would suffice. The Twitter micro-blogging site operates a procedure. This process determines topics that are the most discussed through Twitter users at any given time. The most popular topics are termed as “trending topics.”

Noteworthy world events, global international sports results such as [the Super Eagles of Nigeria that recently won the just concluded African Cup of Nation (AFCON) in South Africa after 19 years in the wilderness]; news about celebrities such as [the French cyclist Lance Armstrong who confessed to using performance enhance substance for seven consecutive years or the untimely death of Goldie Harvey of the Big Brother fame]are among items that are commonly “trending” on the Twitter site.

Due to its few words advantage (140 characters) Twitter users can be tweeting about the same topics at the same time. Twitter’s trending procedure identifies these topics by detecting when words or phrases are being frequently mentioned in tweets. Twitter then lists the current top 10 topics on your Twitter home page. You can click on any of the topics in the “Trends” list to view a feed of all the recent tweets containing the trending topic. This includes tweets from all Twitter users, not just those you have chosen to follow.

However, Twitter users commonly use “hashtags” to participate in trending topics.

To use a hashtag what you need to do is include the name of the topic after the hash (#) symbol within your tweet. For example, during an international sports event such as AFCON, Twitter users would append “#Afcon” to the end of their tweets to show their tweet is related to the topic. The tweet would then appear as part of the feed if people click on the “#Afcon” topic on the Trends list.

As if that is not enough, Twitter also sorts trending topics by geographical region. As such, if you click the “Change” link near the Trends list, you can choose to view worldwide trending topics or view the topics trending in a specific country or city. If a topic does not trend on Twitter, should not mean such a topic is not ‘hot’. It depends on what you termed as ‘hot’. So, what is trending in Nigeria? Many topics are trending right now. Are they related to our conversation?

That is a different ball game.

Nevertheless, beginning with this conversation, efforts would be made to identify topics that are trending or the ones that are not trending but by their sheer weight and relevance ought to be trending, and we would make them trend on this page. To make this participatory, if you come across issues that you would like to see trend, send them. Now what is trending?

Nigerian farmers and Akinwunmi Adesina are trending, if not on Twitter, then on this page, now. At an interactive forum with reporters in Lagos, Adesina who is the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said the country would save N25 billion annually through the direct supply of fertilisers to farmers. You cannot fault him on that.

However, how would he achieve that? Wait for it.

According to him, aside giving over 20 million farmers direct incentive, government would provide N5 billion subsidy for

What’s trending? the provision of the fertilisers.

This way, the fertilisers would go directly to the farmers and not some fat-cat-importers-distributors-politicians, as was the case in the past. Under the new regime, farmers are expected to dole out N7.5 billion, state governments N3.8 billion and Federal Government N5 billion. The plan involves the release of 40,000 metric tonnes of food from the Strategic Grains Reserve to the affected families, which would include the provision of free seedlings and fertilisers to the affected farmers.

Now, this is the interesting portion of the fertiliser saga. Government’s subsidy to the farmers would be delivered via vouchers, which would empower the farmers to buy phones. This is how Adesina puts it: The farmer takes the voucher to the local mobile phone operator and pays the balance, which is the difference between the value of the voucher and the cost of the phone. Once a farmer buys a phone and a SIM card, his new phone number will be updated on the e-wallet database and he will receive his e-wallet voucher, which will entitle him to purchase fertilisers and seeds at subsidized rates.

The local mobile phone service providers would sell the phones directly to the farmers. Government would subsidise the cost of the phones. Adesina said interested mobile phone service companies would be involved in the scheme in order to achieve the goal. There is an international dimension to the fertiliser story as Rockefeller Foundation would work in partnership with Nigeria in the agricultural sector and about 10 million mobile phones would be distributed to smallholder farmers in 2013 in a scheme that would also involve Ministry of Communications Technology.

To make it user-friendly, the phones would contain tips on climatic conditions, market prices of farm produce, extension workers and how farmers can access agricultural funds and such information. The summary of this long tale is this: federal government would subsidise the cost of fertiliser and seeds through an electronic distribution channel known as thee-wallet. Under the ewallet process, a registered farmer would pay 50 per cent of the cost of farm inputs, while the federal and state governments would pay 25 per cent each.

Hmmm, the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. So, from the minister’s perspective, is the plan realistic? Is it what the farmers need now? Is this the best approach to overcome the challenges of fertilisers conundrum? Has this same idea been executed successfully in any country in the world? How did the first mover do it? Anyhow, whatever the case, the mobile phone should not be the sole channel of information distribution to the farmers. Traditional media should be involved to ensure adequate information dissemination.

Handbills, brochures, custom publishing, radio and television programmes should be developed to reach the farmers with timely information on pricing, climatic change, farm input updates, planting season etc. The farmers could relate with that. But, mobile phones, e-wallet, e-voucher? Would it work as planned? Would the mobile phones get to the realfamers? Do you remember Computer for All Nigeria Initiative (CANI) and its outcome? Most of the good plan hatched by the government always ends up as another ploy to rehabilitate some fellows.

However, if this scheme works, and works well, it would be a trending topic.

‘The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.

So, from the minister’s perspective, is the plan realistic?

Is it what the farmers need now? Is this the best approach to overcome the challenges of fertilisers conundrum?’

*Editor - Wale Alabi *Consulting Editors - Rarzack Olaegbe, Sola Fanawopo * Correspondent-Jimi David * Business Development - Kenny Hussain * Legal Adviser - Olasupo Osewa & Co Brandweek is powered by Brandz Republic Consulting and published every Friday in THE NATION newspaper.

All correspondence to the editor - 0808.247.7806, 0805.618.0040, e-mail: korede2000@gmail.com © All rights reserved.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

36

COMMENTARY

FEMI ABBAS ON

“C

ONSCIENCE is an open wound; only the truth can heal it”.

Uthman San Fodio

Nest, to the hornet, is a sanctuary. Whoever wants to stir it must be ready for painful sting. It was the words of Nigeria’s lotus eaters against those of the former American President, Bill Clinton in Abeokuta, Ogun State, last Tuesday. When the latter opened up on the cause of insecurity in Nigeria particularly concerning Boko Haram, hardly did he realise that he was stirring the hornet’s nest. As a man who knows because he is in a position to know, Bill Clinton openly identified poverty as the main cause of insecurity in Nigeria without minding whose ox was being gored.

Commenting as a guest speaker on Nigeria’s insecurity at ThisDay Newspaper’s awards ceremony, the former US President canvassed some ways by which Nigeria could effectively deal with Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity in the country. Among the ideas he suggested were poverty eradication, thorough education at all levels, equitable distribution of wealth and job creation for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths.

Highlighting some desired programmes urgently necessary for curbing the spate of violence and general insecurity in the country, Clinton said: “You have to somehow bring economic opportunity to the people who don’t have it. You already have all these political problems — and now violence — that appears to be rooted in religious differences as well as all the rhetoric of Boko Haram and others, but the truth is that poverty rate in the North is three times that of Lagos”.

Counselling on the need to re-design the country’s economic management to the delight of all and sundry while pointing out that “too much inequality” was capable of limiting growth and opportunities among the citizens of a country, he stressed that only a redistribution of wealth would go a long way to address the prevalent violence and insecurity in Nigeria. He went further to say: “You have about three big challenges. First of all, like 90 per cent of the countries who have one big resource, you have a number of ways with your own money. It shows you have different ways.

Now you are at least not wasting the natural gas, you are developing and selling it through the pipelines. You have to do better job of managing the natural resources”.

“Secondly, you have to somehow bring economic opportunities to the people who don’t have. This is not a problem peculiar to Nigeria. In almost every place in the world, prosperity is heavily concentrated in and around urban areas. So you have all these political problems for now even violence. There appears to be political and religious differences and now, the rhetoric of Boko Haram and all that. You have to build a powerful state and local governments as well as a national policy that works along.

If you just keep trying to divide the power if you will, into loosening strategy, you have to figure out a way to devise a strategy that will help share the prosperity.”

He then went further to advise that education should be used as a tool to tackle poverty among Nigerians, saying that if citizens were well educated they would be economically empowered and hence have less inclination towards violence. He opined that: “Nigeria, which earns billions of dollars from her oil industry and is a major supplier to the US, must not take a “divide the pie” approach towards attacking poverty”. He therefore advised that governments at all levels needed to tackle youth unemployment which, according to him, is a major source of instability across the world.

Bill Clinton was not the first experienced public figure to make such truthful but painful comments about Nigeria and her style of governance. On January 27, 2010, the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton also spoke in the like manner about Nigeria in Nigeria. And the reactions that followed her statement were not in any way dissimilar from those that are now greeting Bill Clinton’s statement of last Tuesday. Incidentally, both Clintons are a couple but spoke differently and in different capacities. While the wife spoke in official capacity, the husband spoke in private capacity.

But the coincidence in their speeches is not just in the similarity of their statements but also in the similarity in the reactions that greeted both speeches.

Speaking in blunt terms at a “town hall”

Femabbas@yahoo.com 08122697498

Clinton’s hornet’s nest

•Clinton

in that meeting with Nigeria’s State Department officials in Abuja Mrs. Hillary Clinton said “....The most immediate source of the disconnect between Nigeria’s wealth and its poverty is a failure of governance at the federal, states and local levels … Lack of transparency and accountability has eroded the legitimacy of the government and contributed to the rise of groups that embrace violence and reject the authority of the state.”

Nigeria, she continued: “Africa’s biggest energy producer and second-largest economy, “faces a threat from increasing radicalisation that needs to be addressed. Describing corruption in Nigeria as unbelievable, she reiterated that the government’s failure to deliver basic services helped foster extremism in young people...adding that: “The failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can’t just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others”. She lamented poor governance and deteriorating living conditions which she said made Nigeria’s disaffected young people ripe targets for militants looking for recruits to attack the West.

Substantiating her assertion, Mrs. Clinton said, when she met with a group of Nigerians in the capital city of Abuja, “people were … standing and shouting about what it was like to live in a country where the elite was so dominant, where corruption was so rampant and criminality was so pervasive”. And “that”, according to her, “is an opening for extremism that offers an alternative world view”.

However, in a spontaneous reaction, some members of the ruling party who were then in government virtually told Mrs. Clinton to shut up and mind her own business by leaving Nigeria alone. The resentment came through the mouth of the then Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who, in a swift statement, said Mrs Clinton’s remarks were baseless.

He recalled that the ruling party had cause to comment on the relations between Nigeria and the United States, following President Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana, “which was viewed by some commentators as a slight to Nigeria”. In his words: “ Although the ‘ruling party’ saw Mrs Clinton’s “visit to Nigeria as a further expression of the age-long strong cordial diplomatic relations between both countries, we are at the same time concerned that some of her remarks are not only way off the mark but also based on misinformation. Her sweeping statement on what she calls a ‘failure of leadership’ does not correspond with the reality of present day Nigeria where a committed leadership operating within the realm of the rule of law holds sway”.

Professor Alkali said the ‘ruling party’ found Mrs Clinton’s “condescending statements against our country and leaders not contextualised,” adding that she “seems to

have taken her briefs from individuals or groups and other failed politicians who have an axe to grind with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

He added: “It is a fact that the present administration inherited a lot of challenges that were entrenched in the body polity for a long time since assumption of office in May 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has demonstrated a rare but firm commitment to right the wrongs of the past, using constitutional instruments in order to strengthen democratic governance in the country.”

Despite leaving a bad taste in the mouth, Alkali’s statement did not bother Mrs. Clinton who knew Nigeria better than the respondent Nigerians. Her reaction was rather that of a Yoruba adage that says ‘a dog that refuses to respond to the warning whistle of the hunter is surely destined to stray into permanent perdition’. If Bill or Hillary Clinton were a Muslim, some fanatics especially in Nigerian media would have characteristically accused him/her of wanting to Islamise Nigeria just for telling the naked truth.

However, to the great delight of reasonable and patriotic Nigerians, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), in a statement signed by its then President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said it wished “to align itself with the statement credited to the US Secretary of State the summation of which was that corruption, amongst other factors, has caused failure of governance in Nigeria”.

“We cannot agree less and note that President Yar’Adua admitted that Nigeria was facing challenges in its war against corruption and bid to reform its electoral system, which has underscored failure of governance at the federal, state and local government levels,” it said, adding: “This intervention could not have come at a better time than now when agents of the government are on the prowl, deploying viciously the weapon of blackmail against the leadership of the NBA who has long identified this and continues to clamour for change” .

He continued: “Secretary Clinton having reiterated the position of the Bar it would, perhaps, not be out of place for those who are quick to stand logic on its head to satisfy greed, to conclude that the top diplomat, being a lawyer, must also belong to Action Congress or any of the opportunistic organisations dubbed parties.”

It is not strange therefore, that last Tuesday’s comments by Bill Clinton have drawn similar parochially partisan reactions from those who are benefitting directly from the ongoing rot in the country. It seems that politics in Nigeria is an animal carcass on which idle vultures must feast without caring about the pollution which the odour there from would cause to the environment.

Even a blind person can perceive the poverty in Nigeria or smell its odour. It is rather an added assault on the public to say that Mrs. Clinton in 2010 and Mr. Clinton in 2013 must have been briefed by certain individuals who are antagonistic to the ruling government. Such a statement could only have come from people of feeble minds who exemplify the ineptitude of Nigerian government.

Just last December 22, (2012), the Nigeria Muslim Forum, UK, held its 22nd Annual Winter Conference at Stamford Court University of Leicester. Among the dignitaries from Nigeria who spoke at the conference were Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, a senior lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi who is currently undergoing a PhD course at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General (Retired) Abdur-rahman Dambazau, who is also a fellow at

Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, US; former Minister for Federal Capital Territory Dr. Aliyu Modibbo and publisher of a Hausa newspaper, ‘Rariya’; the President, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) and highly respected medical practitioner Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmad; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Reverend Dr Mathew Hassan Kukah, who was unavoidably absent but made a pre-recorded video presentation; and Dr Abdullahi Shehu, a consultant neurologist at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry, a founding member and one of the trustees of Forum.

At the conference, General Dambazau’s paper titled ‘Poverty Alleviation, Security and Stability’ addressed the question from social, economic and political points of view. In the paper, he made the meaning of poverty clearer, using verified statistical indexes to buttress his arguments. The retired general also looked at the ranking of Nigeria on the poverty table which showed Nigeria as one of the 20 most poverty stricken countries in the world; and the North-West as the most hit while SouthWest of the country as the least affected.

“In his own contribution to the discussions the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Mathew Kukah stressed that poverty was one of the main causes of intolerance in the society, which in turn leads to conflict and insecurity. He said people react to poverty in various manners and that they respond to conflict in ways they feel would bring them justice. He also blamed the deterioration of the situation in Nigeria on injustice and warned that injustice would continue to breed violence in the country unless something was quickly done to ensure equitable dispensation of justice. He explained that diversity should be seen as an advantage to the society as it enhances growth, “although in Northern Nigeria the reverse is the case due to the failure to manage it well in view of the crises the region now faces”. He therefore advocated respect for human dignity as opposed to simply tolerating each other and significant boost to governments’ poverty alleviation policies. He also urged the Diaspora communities to lend financial support and contribute constructive ideas towards tackling the challenges in order to elevate the status of the country internationally”.

In an earlier similar statement he made in January 2012 about Boko Haram and causes of insecurity, Bishop Kukah said inter alia: “We live in a state of ineffective law enforcement and tragic social conditions. Corruption has destroyed the fabric of our society. Its corrosive effect can be seen in the ruination of our lives and the decay in our society. The inability of the state to punish criminals as criminals have created the illusion that there is a conflict between Christians and Muslims. In fact, it would seem that many elements today are going to great extremes to pitch Christians against Muslims, and vice versa, so that our attention is taken away from the true source of our woes: corruption. As Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, we must stand together to ensure that our resources are well utilized for the common good. This is why, despite the hardships we must endure as a result of the strike, the Fuel Subsidy debate must be seen as the real dividend of democracy”.

“Three, religious leaders across the faiths must indeed stand up together and face the challenge of the times by offering a leadership that focuses on our common humanity and common good rather than the insignificant issues that divide us. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the tendency by some religious leaders to play politics with the issues of our collective survival.

Rather than rallying our people, some of our religious leaders have resorted to divisive utterances, wild allegations and insinuations against fellow adherents of other religions. In the last five or so days, text messages have been circulating across the country appealing to some of our worst demons.

We are told that many senior clerics either believed or encouraged the circulation of these divisive and false text messages. We must condemn this for what it is....”.

‘THE MESSAGE’ needed to add a voice of reason to the ongoing brouhaha over Bill Clinton’s admonishing statement not only because Islam is the total way of Muslim life but also for posterity sake. Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and everyone has a right to express his/her feelings on any matter that commonly affects all of us. God bless those who continue to stand out in spite of man’s inhumanity to man.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

37

SOCIETY Provost of Ogun State College of Health Technology (OSCOTECH) Dr Tunji Dawodu’s daughter, Afolakemi got married to her beau, Ayodeji Adeniji of Etisalat Nigeria in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. KUNLE AKINRINADE was there.

‘She’s a gift from God’

T

HERE were exotic cars everywhere.

They brought guests to the Adeola Odutola Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. For the holy matrimony of Afolakemi, daughter of the Provost of Ogun State College of Health Technology (OSCOTECH) Dr Tunji Dawodu, and Ayodeji Adeniji of Etisalat Nigeria. Security men paced up and down to ensure that everything went well at the car park.

The joy of the groom and bride knew no bounds as they walked down the aisle. Family members, friends and colleagues came to rejoice with them.

Afolakemi’s father led her to the altar, where the couple was pronounced husband and wife by the officiating ministers led by the former Primate of the African Church of Nigeria, Bishop Abraham Onanuga.

Quoting copiously from the Bible, Bishop Onanuga urged the couple to eschew bitterness and unholy friendships that may frustrate God’s purpose for their marriage adding that the sanctity of marriage as God’s ordained institution must be respected. The service lasted three hours.

After the solemnisation, the bridal train moved to the Prime Hall, Ijebu-Ode for the reception. The expansive hall was beautifully decorated in yellow and pink.

The bride, a graduate of Veterinary Medicine, stood out in a flowing wedding gown as she stepped into the hall with her husband at 3pm.The groom was enchanting in his well-tailored cream suit. They both hit the floor immediately for a dance that lasted more than an hour to the admiration of guests.

Prof. Segun Odunuga, who chaired the occassion, admonished the couple to employ communication as a vital strategy towards strengthening their relationship. He cautioned them against inviting third parties to resolve their differences.

Prof Odunuga said: “You have just started your life as a couple. You must be patient with each other and be tolerant as well. But above all, always communicate very well with each other so as not to give room for undue interference by those around you. When we communicate as partners, it prevents unnecessary elongation of differences and in

a way strengthens the marriage, hence, I want to advise you to always share views together, iron out issues without necessarily asking for the intervention of outsiders whose counsels might lead to eclipse of your fledgling marriage. May God be with you as you sojourn in your marital life and I pray your union will be fruitful”.

Shortly after his speech, the couple cut the cake; Afolakemi knelt to do her first assignment by feeding her husband while the groom also fed his wife to the admiration of the audience.

The bride beamed with smiles all day while the groom, was no less either as he flashed winsome smiles.

The obviously elated groom, who could not hide his joy, described his wife as the best gift from God. “I am so overwhelmed with joy today for walking down the aisle with the love of my life. She is everything a good woman and wife should be; she is caring, dutiful and humane.

She is indeed the best gift from God and I am so happy to have someone like her as wife,” Ayodeji said.

Afolakemi described her beau as a straight forward companion and reliable confidant.

“He possesses everything a woman can wish for in a man. He is honest, straight forward and a reliable confidant, anytime any day. I am just happy to have someone like him as my husband,” she said.

The couple with their parents, families and friends posed for photographs.

The bride’s father, Dr. Dawodu, thanked God for making the day a reality. I pray God should grant them the fruit of marriage, long life and peace of mind. But more importantly, I want to encourage them to be tolerant of each other because that is the secret of a happy matrimony. I also want to urge them to always hold firm to the teachings of the Bible and display maturity in their conduct as husband and wife.”

Guests included, the Deputy Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tola Banjo; Senator Lekan Mustapha; Senior Assistant on Water Resources to Ogun State Governor, Mr Kunle Otunkope and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lanre Ogunbote among others.

•The couple, Ayodeji and Afolakemi

•Bride’s parents Dr Tunji Dawodu and his wife, Funmi

•Prof Odunuga and his wife, Alaba

•Hon Banjo (left) and Mr Otunkope

UNION OF LOVEBIRDS

WEDDING •Former Miss Saidat Kareem and her beau Mr Moshood Ajibola after their wedding at Badore Primary School, Badore, Ajah, Lagos •Olatunji Adebayo and his wife, former Miss Brenda Akika during their wedding at Ikotun, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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S OCIETY The Chairman of Zinox Computers, Leo Stan-Ekeh, gave out his daughter, Andrea Chigozie in marriage to Tolu Ijogun, at a colourful ceremony in Lagos, NNEKA NWANERI reports.

•Brides’s Parents, Mr Stan-Ekeh and wife Chioma

•The couple Tolulope and Chigozie

Union of two soulmates

•Groom’s Parents, Mr Olusoji Ijogun and wife Olusola

T

HEY first met on his way to see a friend at Loughborough University in February 2008. He was travelling from London. It was on the trip that Tolu met Gozy, as she is fondly called. ”I met Gozy on that trip and I was struck by her beauty, brain power, kind heart and willingness to help other people. I dare say that it is always easy for like minds to experience instant connection.”

This is the story of Imo State born daughter of the chairman of Zinox Technologies, Chigozie and her Ondo State beau Tolu.

A colourful wedding reception to welcome the bride into her new home was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Their marriage was solemnised at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Victoria Island, Lagos with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, officiating.

The bishop said it is marriages such as this that help build “a strong bridge across ethnic boundaries”. Such marriages, he said should be encouraged as a way of cementing national integration.

In church were many Christians and Muslims, who are friends of the couple’s families. The couple’s attire was breathtaking. It is one fit for princes and princesses.

From the grandeur of the church, guests moved to the splendour of the reception held at Eko Hotel & Suites.

The colour of the day was purple and the venue was draped in a carnival-like display of different shades of purple. From the hallway, there was a ceremonial route where big shots took.

The walkway was adorned with exquisite pictures of the couple which were displayed to the admiration of guests.

Gozy and Tolu walked through this ornamented aisle before being ushered into the grand ballroom of Eko Hotel for the reception. The couple made a dramatic entry into the hall.

The high point of the occasion was the live performances of top Nigerian artists Akin Sugar, Tiwa Savage, Nato C and Iyanya.

The Chairman of the occasion, and Chairman of MTN, Mr Pascal

•Senator Ekuweremadu his wife and Governor Fashola

•Asiwaju Tinubu and wife Senator Oluremi

•Mr and Mrs Pascal Dozie

•From left: Senator Chris Ngige; Hon Dabiri-Erewa and Mr Ndkwe

Dozie, spoke on the choice of colour and the majesty of the hall as a symbol of how the minds of the couple work: an expression of their intelligence.

A documentary of how the journey of the couple started and commentaries and impressions of their friends and parents were shown.

The hosts left no stone unturned as they ensured that their guests had a memorable outing. From the decor of the venue, to the guests’ dressings, it was a spectacle. There were lots of wines and assorted dishes.

Ace comedian Ali Baba was on ground to ensure there was never a dull moment.

Tolu and his bride both share the same vision. Even before they met, they had established and begun their different Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Genteel Plea, Gozy’s NGO serves as a means of providing quality education for indigent students to develop a mathematical foundation and build a science oriented young generation.

Tolu runs Access for All, a project that empowers the physically challenged through Information Communication Technology (ICT) educational skills and empowerment.

The ICT background of Mr Ekeh and his son-in-law underscored the digital props that attended the event.

In attendance were former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife Oluremi; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church Taiwo Odukoya; wife of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola; Senator Chris Ngige and House of

•Senator Effiong Bob and Mr Alaibe

Representatives member Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Ms Arunma Oteh; former Special Adviser to the

President on Niger Delta Affairs Timi Alaibe and former Chirman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Ernest Ndukwe.

•More pictures on page 39

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

39

•Continued from page 38

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

Mass Communication

C Chief Ephraham Faloghi and Mrs Oteh

•Mrs Bola Obasanjo (left) and Mrs Tallen Pauline

•Chief Mike Nnegbese and his wife Mary

PHOTOS: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

AWARDS

•Provost of the London Graduate School, Albion College Prof Bruce Duncan (left) presenting a certificate of Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities by the Commonwealth University Belize and the London Graduate School to Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole ently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

OMMUNICATE with yourself and you will develop a strong self-confidence and personality. Communicate with a few other persons and you will become influential. But, what happens when you communicate with a mass audience? Wait for it, that's what we shall discuss today. Mass communication is a lot more than the course you merely study in AMODU LANRE OLAOLU school. The theory of it may help (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. you pass examinations, but the ap07034737394 plication of it is simply beyond your wildest imagination.

Let's start simple. The word "mass" in this context means a large number. Therefore, we can simply define mass communication as the communication between a source and a mass audience through an impersonal medium. The medium is impersonal because there is no direct contact between the source and the receivers, and since it reaches a great crowd of people, it is referred to as a mass medium. Have you watched television lately? If you have, you have come in contact with a mass medium. Have you listened to radio or read a newspaper? If you have, then you are familiar with the mass media. While these are not the only ones, they are generally referred to as the traditional media. But what exactly is your business with all these? To answer your question, let's check out some elements of mass communication: •It has heterogeneous audience: mass communication, through the aid of the mass media, has the ability to reach divers people in different locations. When a programme is on TV, there is no limit to the gender, race or social status of those who can watch it. Same goes for radio, newspaper or magazine. In fact, if you don't want something to be seen by the general public, you better not put it in the media. Someone mentioned to me that his parents mustn't know that he was into music, yet he wanted to appear on TV and be seen across the nation! When you are in the media, everyone who has access will know you. Consequently, if you want your business or activities to be seen by a vast number of people, mass communication is a good idea.

•It is larger than life: if you see your neighbour or your close friend on TV, he/she suddenly increases in your estimation. As a matter of fact, you may even start to tell everyone around that you know that person on TV. That is because the mass media make ordinary things seem big.

Can you now imagine what you will do if your own face should appear in a newspaper! I can bet that you will keep a copy of it for life. You may even call all your loved ones to get a copy. Because of the number of people who have access to it, information in the media tends to spread fast. Let me give you another example. This very article you are reading now seemed ordinary on my computer. Several people saw me writing it but it didn't catch their attention at all. But after it has been published by this highly reputable newspaper, it suddenly became a subject their interest. That is because the mass media magnify messages.

•It aids credibility: there is this general feeling that everything you listen to, watch or read in the media is credible. We wait to hear the announcement of public holidays from the media. We believe what we hear about other parts of the country or the world from the media. We even believe that celebrities (actors or musicians) are really the way they are portrayed in the media. Whether we like it or not, the mass media have the aura of credibility around them.

•It breaks through barriers: information placed in the mass media can get to places that the source may never dare to venture into. For instance, a politician may not be liked by members of an opposing party, but that does not stop his/her campaign messages on TV, radio or newspaper from coming into their very homes or even into their bedrooms. While you may display aggression towards a source if he/she is physically present, the most you can do to a media message is to refuse to expose yourself to it, but one way or the other, the information still gets to you.

It makes you famous: to develop a strong personality, use intrapersonal communication. To become influential, use interpersonal communication. But to become famous, the only option you have is mass communication. Think of your favourite musician. Would you ever have known him/her if not for the media? How many times have you actually come in physically contact with him/her? For such a musician, doing without the mass media is like performing on a stage without light or sound- an exercise in futility for sure. Have you ever listened to some celebrities' interviews and they claimed that they had been active for several years, but you only heard of them recently? They are not deceiving you; the time they got media attention was the time you became aware of them.

Mass communication is very powerful, use it smartly.

Dr. Amodu lectures at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

40

SOCIETY DINNER HELD FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE SOUTH-WEST EXPO IN OSUN SATE

•Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) chatting with his Chief of Staff Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola

•Prof Sola Adeyeye and Osun State Deputy Governor Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori

•Comrade Biyi Odunlade and Alhaja Folake Adebayo

•Hon Bisi Odewunmi (left) and Mr Femi Faduroti

•Mr. Soji Omotunde (left) and Dr. Charles Akiola

•Rev. Adetunji Adebiyi and Ara ‘The Drummer’

PHOTOS: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

50TH BIRTHDAY OF LAGOS STATE COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVTS AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS HON ADEMORIN KUYE

•The celebrator Hon Kuye and his wife Teniola

•Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Salawudeen Oyefusi and his wife, Olori Muyibat

•Dr Pius Akinyelure (left) and Senator Anthony Adefuye

•From left: Alhaji Ganiu Badmus; Mr Yomi Tijani and Dr Muiz Banire PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Friday, March 1, 2013

42

marches on in Acapulco

•Nadal •Wozniacki

Wozniacki slips to shock defeat in Malaysia

Venus advances to quarters in Brazil

•Venus

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir el-Rufai spoke with JEREMIAH OKE on the Jonathan Administration and prospects of the new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

‘2015 is terminal year for PDP’ D O you think that the APC has what its takes to tackle the PDP in 2015, considering the power of incumbency wielded by President Goodluck Jonathan?

The APC will not only withstand the so-called power of incumbency and harassment of the PDP in 2015, but it will flush them away. The money they are looting in preparation for the 2015 elections will amount to nothing. The people of Nigeria have learned their lesson from their error and mistakes of the past and they are determined to change their ways.

You cannot give them a peanut and steal trillions when you get to the office. Our people have realised this mistake and they are ready to change for the good of the nation. Nigerians have been pushed to the wall by the PDP and I think the end of the PDP is very near.

People said your recent attack on former President Obasanjo in your book shows that you are an ingrate biting the finger that fed you because you came into limelight under his administration. How will you react to this?

I don’t react to the people’s opinion because everybody has the right to say whatever he thinks is right. I worked for the federal government of Nigeria and not in Obasanjo’s farm.

Obasanjo farm is Obasanjo’s personal business and the federal government of Nigeria is everybody’s problem. People that think that because President Obasanjo gave me a job, then, I am a slave for life and I don’t have the right to think on my

own, I think they should go and repent. Relationship and fidelity are separate concepts.

Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. But let me reiterate here that my book is not an attack on anybody, but it is a statement of fact that happened. I have nothing against anybody and I don’t care what people say about me as long as I am doing what will make Nigeria a better country to live.

The federal government has given itself a pass mark. But do you think the administration has really performed, considering the indices of economic performance, anticorruption war and fighting other social vices?

Don’t mind them. Do you believe them? Has electricity improved? Are you more secured? Has the level of corruption gone down? Can they compare it with what they met on ground? These are questions we don’t just need to answer because you will find out that it is mere propaganda. Nigerians are not daft; they are very intelligent people and nobody can fool them. We go to the market and we buy things on daily basis and, instead of prices to go down, prices are going higher on the daily basis. So, I am sure every Nigerian should be able to determine whether the economy is improving or not.

Even, small children will tell you nothing is working again in the country. They can tell you where we are in this country. That is why APC is coming to despatch the propagandists from office in the 2015 general elections. I can bet it with you, 2015 election is the end of the PDP in this

• el-Rufai

‘The APC will not only withstand the so-called power of incumbency and harassment of the PDP in 2015, but it will flush them away. The money they are looting in preparation for the 2015 elections will amount to nothing. Nigerians have been pushed to the wall by the PDP and I think the end of the PDP is very near’ country.

People said you are among the people behind the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) pending in the House of Representative...

What is my business with PIB? I am not in government and I am not in the legislature. I don’t have any influence in the House of Representatives. The bill has been pending in the National Assembly since 2009. So, what is now my business with that? I think when some people’s wives don’t get pregnant, they will

blame it on me. Please, let them look for another reason for the passage of the PIB or nonpassage of the PIB and they should let me be. They should not push it to some of us that we are minding our business and not having anything to do with the government.

Your attack on former President Obasanjo in your recent book is believed by Nigerians to be connected with your struggle to position yourself as a presidential candidate in 2015. What is your

reaction?

If they don’t know how Presidents emerge in Nigeria, that is their business. I want them to tell me which former President has ever written a book before he became the President?

People think because Obama wrote a book two years before his election, and that anybody that writes a book is interested in running for office. In my book, I have demystified all the godfathers in Nigeria’s politics.

People still think I did that for a political advancement, but it is absolutely wrong because people who contest for elections in Nigeria, they keep quiet and praise all their political godfathers. They don’t do what I have done. My book is a contrary statement and I disclosed what will make the country better and not to blackmail anybody. I don’t have any presidential ambition. And if people don’t understand that, they should tell me how many presidential candidates in the past had written a book before elections and tell me who had upset every political godfather in Nigeria and yet became the President.

You said that you are not eyeing the Presidency. As 2015 is fast approaching, what political role do you intend to play?

2015 is still far because some people will still die in 2013, 2014 and even in 2015. Look, I don’t understand why people are still talking about 2015. You don’t know if the economy will survive this year or not. Just last week, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) issued a statement that the economy could collapse this year the way the federal government is running the government. I don’t know whether people have noticed it or not, but I know it is dangerous.

We may not have an economy running before the end of the year, according to the ACN, and they are thinking of 2015. They are stealing in anticipation of the 2015 elections. They don’t even know whether they will survive 2013. I think we have serious challenges, which we need to address first before the 2015. I can understand that politicians make calculations in the advance of their dreams, but they don’t take cognisance of the fact that Rome is burning and, like Nero, they are doing something else.

Igbokwe: PDP cannot capture Lagos

L

• Igbokwe

AGOS State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said that the threat by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to capture the state in the 2015 general elections will collapse before the polls.

The ruling party said the opposition party should perish the idea of winning elections through the back door in the Centre of Excellence.

ACN Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe described as a wishful thinking the plan by the PDP to hijack power from the progressives in their stronghold.

Igbokwe spoke against the backdrop of PDP’s comment on the proposed Eko Atlantic City project and the on-going monitoring project monitoring by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

According to the PDP chairman, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), the stae

government is promoting propaganda.

But Igbokwe, in a statement, accused the PDP of blackmailing the ACN-led administration to curry the favour of Lagosians.

He said: “Lagos PDP’s hopeless hopes and pathetic lies to win the hearts of Lagosians are nothing but a struggle for a seat in a filled train and at best, an exercise in futility.

“While Lagos PDP continues to struggle on daily basis to find something negative to say about ACN- controlled government in Lagos State with the hope to win the hearts of Lagosians, Governor Fashola continues to record landmark and ground-breaking achievements.

“From the Iganmu-Okokomaiko Light Rail project to the New Cable Car Transport System; from

the world-class Eko Atlantic City to the successful Lagos Security Project; from the massive rehabilitation and renovation of public schools in the state to the current reconstruction of inner roads in Lagos; and many other projects too numerous to mention here, our take is that there is no hiding place for the PDP in Lagos.

The Publicity Secretary also querried: “How can a party that wants the world to take it serious call the dedication of 5,000,000 square meters of the great Eko Atlantic City a propaganda; a serious event witnessed by President Goodluck Jonathan, former United States President Bill Clinton, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and many eminent Nigerians?

“How can a party that says it wants to take over leadership in

Lagos says Fashola is deceiving Lagosians by going to inspect and inaugurate completed projects in the metropolis?

Igbokwe said Fashola Administration has justified the confidence reposed in it by Lagosians, adding that he is a model worthy of emulation by other governors.

He said the voters will reject PDP at the polls in Lagos because the impact of the PDP federal government is not felt in the city-state.

Igbokwe added: “We in the ACN believe that Fashola has proved beyond reasonable doubt that good governance is possible in Nigeria.

“Governor Fashola will ever remain focused; he will continue to fix his eyes on the ball and he will continue to show the way forward for others to follow in Nigeria in many years to come.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

POLITICS House of Representatives member Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja Constituency) is the Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Values and Ethics. He spoke with VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI on the local government autonomy, constitution review and other issues.

How APC can succeed,

by PRONACO chief

‘Local councils can perform A without autonomy’ A S a former council chair man, what is your reaction to the agitation for local government autonomy?

I am the former chairman of Ojodu LCDA, Lagos. I served for two terms. Coming to the issue of autonomy for local government, I think the problem we have really has to do with those operating it; whether you have autonomy or you don’t have autonomy, it is the person that is operating the law that really matters.

What I have observed generally is that, we tend to bend the rules, we tend to bend the laws to favour us personally. If you have the interest of the people at heart as an elected local government chairman, you will definitely perform. So, the issue of local government autonomy that we are pushing in the House, it has to do with the experience in other states.

As far as Lagos State is concerned, we can clearly say that we are free, we are not under the state government’s total control. It is normal for the state government to want to know what you are doing with the funds that is allocated to the council. It is normal for the state to supervise the job you have done with quality in mind, rather than just do a shoddy job. In Lagos State, my own experience was that, each time we had our monthly allocation meetings, the state ensured that we used our funds for what they were meant for, rather than diverting the funds to personal pocket or doing shoddy jobs or programmes.

Basically, my experience across this country and what some of my colleagues in other states told me, is that their governors do not even allow them (local governments) to have access to the funds, because when they (governors) get the money (monthly allocation), they just give them money to pay salaries and that is all.

In the northern part of this country, I am made to understand that the chairmen and councilors only go to the office at the end of every month when there is allocation. So, the interest of the people, in term of project development and community development, is not there and that brought this idea of local government autonomy. They should be getting their money directly from the Federation Account.

Are you in support of autonomy?

The local governments make up the state; the state cannot operate with-

• Faleke

out local governments. So, if you give the local government autonomy, it means that the local government chairman will just see the state as nothing, they do not work together, they don’t plan together.

Meanwhile, the state may have its own overall plan, town planning issues, structural designs that should be done. For example, in Lagos State, you cannot just come and build a school anyhow, it must be of a standard. If you don’t allow the state to have a say, then, it becomes a problem,. A local government chairman can just come and say no, you cannot control me, this is what I want to do because I receive my money directly from Abuja. So, what is the essence of this federating unit? Are we talking about federal, state and local government or is it federal and state? Because, constitutionally, as it is today, it is the state that controls the local governments. The creation of the local government by the constitution and the funding are controlled by the Houses of Assembly. So, I still don’t see what we have to gain or what we have to lose because the people operating the constitution is what we need to address.

Do you also think that the House of Assembly should enjoy independence from the executive?

In Lagos State, the House of Assembly has its own freedom. Its fund is on the first line charge and it has been able to achieve that because

true democracy is been practiced there. The situation where the governor is too over-bearing or powerful, that if you argue with the governor, you may not return. But I think, as at the time the Sixth National Assembly approved financial independence for the state Assemblies, they were afraid of those governors. They don’t know their rights. Honestly speaking, I strongly believe that the legislature should be on its own. That is the reason for checks and balance in the constitution.

Are you saying that the agitation for council autonomy lacks justification?

We once had autonomy at the local government and the situation then was that funds were being diverted to private pockets. If you create the autonomy today, it’s the people that actually operate it. Many people come into the office with the objective of just making money and not serving the people. And so many people come into office with the mind set to develop their local government so that their name can be written in gold thereafter. What I am saying is that, whether we give them autonomy or not, honestly speaking, it is the person elected that matters, even if you send money straight from Abuja. It is sad that when you go to some local governments, you just discover that the state has stifled them of funds. As it is today, my own understanding is this: the local government in a state does not have boundaries different from the boundaries of the state. So, if you give them autonomy, are you going to give them autonomy of boundary also? Is it just funding or the existence itself? This is my own personal opinion. Of course, the House has resolved that there should be autonomy for them, which I have to follow as a true democrat. But the issue of autonomy for local governments will complicate so many things. For example, the Lagos State House of Assembly passed a law banning Okada and a local government chairman can come up and say, “ no, as far this constitution is concerned, I have my own independence, that law cannot be effective”. It is not going to be issue of funds alone by the time this law come into effect, so many local government will go to court and say, “no you cannot put that law on me I am independent”. That is the area I am looking at.

•Participants at the Special Task Force peace meeting with youths in Jos South/Riyom and Bakin-Ladi Local Government Areas, Plateau State.

HUMAN rights activist, Comrade Linus Okoroji, has urged the labour, civil society, and other non-governmental organisations to support the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said the merger, which was borne out of the need to get the country back on track, would succeed, if the pro-democracy movements team up with the new party.

Okoroji, who spoke with our correspondent, commended the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) for forming a united front to wrest power from the ruling party at the centre.

He said that, with formation of APC, Nigeria was set to regain its lost glory, stressing that Nigeria has suffered from 14 years of maladministration.

Okoroji called on APGA leadership to urgently put its house in order so that the party would not be left behind. He said APC will resolve insecurity, infrastructural decay and corruption in the country.

He said: “I congratulate APGA for the vision and boldness it took to join the merger. APGA is a progressive party and it should work in the interest of the nation. It should not take side with those who are blind with material acquisition.”

The rights activist said that Governors Rochas Okorocha and Peter Obi should consider the interest of the people before making any political move. He warned against threading the path of doom.

He said: “As long as their pockets are full, some people don’t care whether anybody goes to bed with empty stomach. For this reason, all the progressives must come together to restore the dignity of man and put the country back on course.”

Okoroji said that the merger should be concerned with how to save the country, instead of sectional or ethnic fulfilments. He added: “I think there should be no parochial motivation in the merger. Governor Obi and Okorocha are one, but I think that Peter Obi has sympathy for President Goodluck Jonathan.”

The former PRONACO chieftain maintained that, if the labour and the civil societies are brought into the merger, the new party will make a great impact during elections.

• Okoroji

Youths urge INEC to quit council secretariat

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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HE Vice President of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Vanguard, Mrs Oluyomi Coker, has called for the restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). She said INEC policy should exclude it from sharing offices with local government secretariat.

She said the commission should set up its offices in neutral premises outside the control of local government.

She said: “The electoral commission shall not share office accommodation or premises with any other government or non-governmental establishment.”

She remarked that, if INEC separate its offices from council secretariats, the undue influences they face during elections will reduce and it would give credibility to elections.

She added: “It will further boost the public confidence and affirm integrity of the commission.

Abia PDP protests Kalu’s return From Ugochukwu Ugokji-eke, Umuahia

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HE members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State have protested the return of the former governor, Chief Orji Kalu, to the party.

The protesters, who came from the 17 local governments, demonstrated at the Government House, Umuahia, urging Governor Theodore Orji to convey their feelings to the national leadership of the party.

The spokesman for the protesters, Mr. Emma Ukwu, said Kalu’s return would spell doom for the party in the state.

Ukwu said Governor Orji had liberated the state from a particular family that had held the state to ransom, adding that,if Kalu is allowed to return, he would bring confusion to the chapter.

He said that, since Governor Orji assumed the reins, “the relationship with the federal government had produced good results and dividends of democracy for the state unlike before”.

Ukwu said: “Orji Kalu is a man who was defeated during the last general election when he vied for the senate in the Abia North and he was roundly defeated. Now, he wants to lead Ndigbo through his Njiko Igbo. A man who cannot get a senate seat wants to lead Igbo people”.

Ukwu urged the governor to inform the PDP national leadership about the protest “so that they will know that it is not a Bendel affair, but that the entire Abia PDP are against Kalu’s return”.

He added: “With the peace that exists in the party now, which the governor had brought to the party, we do not want confusion again as doing that will take us back to the dark days of the state, which we do not want to go back to”.

Responding on the governor’s behalf, the Chief of Staff, Cosmos Ndukwe, assured that their message would be delivered to Governor Orji. He charged them to maintain peace He said: “The crowd that came has shown that the party members know what they want. Your actions and protests will be forwarded to the party office in Abuja for proper action. Popularity in politics is tested on the election day. This man was defeated during the last election. So, he has no political relevance again.”

PROMISE

EDUCATION

ASSISTANCE

Council chief pledges more gains of democracy

Firm holds career fair for unemployed graduates

Obi donates N200m to hospitals, schools

Lagos

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Rivers

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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Anambra

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

•From left: Uche Jombo; Funke Akindele; Rita Dominic and Kate Henshaw

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IQUED by the increasing cases of domestic violence against women, some prominent Nigerian actresses, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo and Funke Akindele, have decided to pool resources to fight the trend. They intend to achieve this through a movie entitled New Horizon in which they highlight the trauma which women go through.

Before them, other wellmeaning individuals and organisations, over the years, have championed the cause of women who suffer domestic violence in order to minimise the trend.

Experts posit that violence

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ETERMINED to take its urban renewal policy to the grassroots, the Ogun State government has announced plans to constitute road gangs to open up several community roads across the 20 local government areas.

The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite said four different gangs would be established to work on roads in Egba, Yewa, Remo and Ijebu divisions.

He further explained that these roads are not part of the 12 “Ogun Standard” road projects which the government has contracted out to some firms.

While addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, Adegbite stated that the gangs were expected to open up, grade and construct culverts where necessary.

He noted that government ar-

A fight against domestic violence Movie to highlight problem From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

against women, especially in Africa, has remained a thorny issue. They are also of the view that this phenomenon manifests in psychological and threatened acts of violence. They also add that it plays out in form of physical acts such as pestering, assault, battery, rape and homicide.

It is, they insist, marked by one individual’s attempt to dominate and control another, often through a pattern of intimidation.

The actresses maintain that ending violence against women is a cause all well-meaning individuals should participate in.

They also uphold the view that the wall of silence and taboo that still surround violence against

women and the sheer scale of this human rights violation often become obstacles that prevent ordinary people, as well as celebrities, from getting actively involved in fighting the trend.

However, these walls of silence and the taboo associated with the trend which various individuals, governments and organisations have been working actively to combat through vari-

ous programmes seem to be caving in. These notable Nigerian actresses have braced up to fight this phenomenon definitely.

As part of their own contributions, these Nigerian actresses have come together to create more awareness about the situation in a short film entitled New Horizon.

Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo and Funke Akindele said they felt that •Continued on Page 46

Ogun opens up rural roads Government is trying to provide basic motorable roads for the people to ensure easy movement of people and goods from one place to another.

This, I believe, will go a long way in realising the urban renewal and rural development components of the five point agenda of Ogun State government From Osagie Otabor, Benin

rived at the decision to open up the community roads to ensure access to all the nook and cranny of the state as well as enhance movements of goods and humans; espe-

cially the evacuation of agricultural produce from the rural areas to the cities.

“Government is trying to provide basic motorable roads for the people to ensure easy movement of people and goods from one

place to another. This, I believe, will go a long way in realising the urban renewal and rural development components of the five point agenda of Ogun State government,” Adegbite said.

He added that each gang is expected to spend two weeks in a local government area, promising that the ministry would do its best to address all requests from the State House of Assembly and local government areas.

The commissioner therefore appealed to members of benefitting communities to cooperate with the gang of engineers by offering assistance as their preoccupation is to open up roads in the rural areas.

•Governor Amosun

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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A fight against domestic violence •Continued from Page 45

there was an urgent need to challenge all forms of social prejudices and constructs against women.

They expressed their determination to fight all manner of social, religious, cultural and psychological issues that boost subjugation of women.

At a press conference to announce their plans at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel in Calabar, Henshaw, who spoke on behalf of other actresses, said they had to highlight the issue in order to protect African and Nigerian women in particular, not just from the menace, but also from the attendant mockery, fear and isolation.

She said: “New Horizon is the story of the triumph of four women from different walks of life who came together within a self-help group for women. They help each other to get through their various challenges and arrive at a new horizon in their individual lives.

“We needed to take a step further to do something that would create more awareness for the

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MOVED BYpitiable condition of some members of the society, the General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangelical Mission (ALEM), Port Harcourt, Apostle Eugene Ogu has given scholarship to about 700 indigent students to enable them to pursue their desired disciplines in various higher institutions in the country.

Most of the beneficiaries of the scholarship are not members of his church. Rather, they cut across orthodox and Pentecostal churches.

New Horizon is the story of the triumph of four women from different walks of life who came together within a self-help group for women.

They help each other get over their various challenges and arrive at a new horizon in their individual lives women. These ladies showed up to partner with me to come up with a script, get a director, shoot a film which we hope to take across the world to show to men and women all over the world. It is a start. We are adopting this mode because visual form of passing messages and information is very powerful.

“When people see things, it would stick in their minds and hopefully it would cause a change in their hearts to stop domestic violence.”

•Violence against woman

She noted that domestic violence affects all social groups and can consist of physical, sexual or psychological abuses.

The prominent actress further said that although men can also be affected by domestic violence,

T

domestic violence continue to trivialise the problem,” she said.

She revealed that the movie which is not intended to be a means of money-making would be premiered on Ebony Life Television.

Cleric gives scholarship to indigent students From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Ogu, who made this known in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said he decided to shun ostentatious lifestyle which some men of God indulge in, to enable him to render some helps to indigent people.

Besides offering scholarships to needy students, Apostle Ogu,

through his Arm of Hope World Outreach, a non-governmental organisation, has rendered assistance to thousands of orphans, the less-privileged people, widows and other needy persons across the country, not excluding victims of religious crises.

The cleric said: “I have chosen to live for others and derive my own joy from the happiness of others.” He also condemned the

•Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan (middle) signing the approved copy of the council’s 2013 budget into law in his office. With him are the Leader of the council’s legislature, Hon Adeniyi Abayomi (left) and Secretary to the Local Government, Mr Remi Gbadegeshin

HE Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademorin Kuye Chairman, has praised the efforts of chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area Kehinde Bamigbetan for making government easily accessible to the people at the grassroots through the provision of amenities.

Hon, Kuye gave the commendation while inaugurating the new Jakande area office and market hall built by the council.

The commissioner, who had earlier flagged off the distribution of free school uniforms to 8, 000 pupils in the area, said the

it is the women who suffer it extremely.

“This tendency is present everywhere in the world. But Africa’s discriminatory laws and prevalent culture of silence and stigmatisation against victims of

Council inaugurates projects

By Duro Babayemi

giant strides made by Bamigbetan and other chairmen of councils in Lagos State has justified the creation and existence of the additional 37 local council development areas in the state.

Hon. Kuye further stated that the creation of the area office will enable people residing in Jakande Estate to easily relate with the council without necessarily travelling to the council secretariat when they want to

pay their rates and levies.

Hon. Kuye also commended the council chief for providing a market hall for traders where they will meet and discuss issues concerning their business activities. He urged the traders to make the best use of the hall.

The traders, led by the Iyaloja of Jakande Estate Market, Mrs. Adebiyi praised Bamigbetan for providing the hall.

She assured the council chief that they would continue to support his administration through payment of their rates and levies.

wrangling that reared its ugly head in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the past few weeks, even as he said that the body should “to ensure that the family of Christ remains undivided to be able to speak with one voice against any issue of common interest. Such situation should not arise again.

Ogu, who is also the immediate past Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rivers State branch, also noted that despite the various Christian denominations, the body of Christ remains one and should not allow internal strife and bickering.

Since Christians profess “one God, one baptism and one spirit, all Christians in the country should see the need to co-operate and see one another as brothers and sisters,” Ogu advised. He appealed that “the Catholic Church as the father of the big family, is supposed to be proud of the progress of his children (the Pentecostals) and rejoice for the

steady growth of the branches of the Christian faith as all the appreciations still go to Him.” He further condemned the idea of going to press over minor issues that ought to be settled in-house, stressing that threatening to pull out of the umbrella body should not have been contemplated as such could create a false notion of disunity and disaffection in CAN and expose the entire Christians to danger in the face of unprovoked attacks against them as witnessed in other parts of the country in the past.

“The focus,” Ogu noted, “should be righteousness and holy living and using our positions to advance the good news of salvation through good works, evangelism, church projects, helping the less-privileged and sacrificial giving.

“In heaven, it’s all this that will speak and testify for us and not which denomination, since there is no particular church in heaven.”

Apostle Ogu, through his Arm of Hope World Outreach, a non-governmental organisation, has rendered assistance to thousands of orphans, the less-privileged people, widows and other needy persons across the country

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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Council chief pledges more gains of democracy

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HE chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State Hon. Olajide Jimoh has said that his administration would provide infrastructure for people living in the area in order to make life meaningful for them.

Some of the amenities his council would provide include hospitals. Others, he said, are education, good roads, water, electricity as well as adequate sporting facilities for the youth.

Speaking during the clinic organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos chapter, the council chief revealed that his administration had provided free ambulance services for the people in the locality. This, he said, is in line with the healthcare delivery system of Lagos State government that aims at ensuring that adequate attention is paid to the people in times of emergency.

On welfare package, he revealed that about 100 elderly people receive a monthly stipend of N10, 000 each. This, he said, would cost the council about N36m during the current administration’s period in office.

Meanwhile, Jimoh has endorsed the merger of four political parties that engendered the All OPES for a better future rose for unemployed graduate job seekers in Lagos as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) organised its maiden career fair for them.

For most of the participants at the fair who came from different parts of the country, it was a rewarding experience to meet with employers of labour at the interactive forum, who willingly revealed to them the ‘secrets’ of securing jobs in their establishments.

The fair, aside from offering the applicants opportunity to interact with employers of labour and have an onthe-spot assessment, also availed fresh graduates the opportunity of acquainting themselves with self-enhancing skills.

Some of the participants who spoke with Newsextra during the one-day session held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos said that they were overwhelmed by revelations at the fair.

One of the participants, Deborah Ojeabulu who is a graduate of Accountancy said that she had received assurances from three reputable organisations that she would be invited for interview.

H

By Ambrose Nnaji

Progressives Congress (APC), saying the ruling Peoples Democratic Party had performed below expectations.

According to him, the economic situation of the country had not improved since the present democratic dispensation, even as he added that something needed to be done to effect a change in the system.

Recall that the APC was unveiled recently in Abuja following the merger of the major opposition parties in the country comprising the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

The chairman of NIPR, Lagos State chapter Mr. Jide Ologun stressed the need for leaders to be responsive to the yearnings of the people that voted them into office.

He further said there were visible signs of progress in Yaba council area because the council chief was able to communicate and link up with the people at the grassroots.

This is in line with the Lagos State government’s commitment to put in place infrastructure that would

•From left: Mr Jide Ologun; Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun, former Chairperson NIPR, and Hon Olajide Jimoh and other participants at the event give the people a sense of belonging.

“If we don’t begin to consider that we need to develop the people and the environment in line

with global benchmark, those who are alive in years to come may not enjoy the same environment,” he said.

Mr. Ologun maintained that the

local council development areas and the local government areas are the closest to the electorate and therefore needed to be given serious attention.

Firm holds career fair for unemployed graduates

By Precious Igbonwelundu

She said: “I know the number of times I have submitted my Curriculum Vitae to firms for job offers. I have never received any response. At a point, I began to feel that something was wrong with me. But my coming here today opened my eyes to a lot of things I did not know before now.

“I learnt how to write a CV that is fit for a purpose. I also got some tips from the human resource managers of the companies I have interest in.

“After that, I was assessed on the

spot and they have promised to invite me for in-house interview.

“So, with the information I have gained here today, I can tell you that I am better positioned to know the right answers to questions; know what to do at any point. The least I can say right now is ‘bye bye to unemployment’ and a very big thanks to ACCA.” Continuing, she said: “Really, it is hard to get this kind of opportunity, unless for the very privileged few in our society. So, I really appreciate ACCA for doing this for some of us who would not have had the oppor-

I think the forum has been useful. I would not have known that some of the organisations I have been sending my CVs to are sticklers for first-class graduates. I also had the opportunity of meeting the recruitment personnel of these multi-national and big firms one-on-one.

So, to me, it was a great experience

•Mrs. Ademola and Ampomah at the career fair

tunity. I now have contacts of the human resource personnel of these going concerns. So, it was indeed worth the while.”

Another participant, Joke Adebayo said she received tips on how she can fit in.

She said: “Out of the three companies I interacted with here, two told me they employ strictly first-class graduates and the third gave me tips on how I can fit in.

“I think the forum has been useful.

I would not have known that some of the organisations I have been sending my CVs to are sticklers for firstclass graduates. I also had the opportunity of meeting the recruitment personnel of these multi-nationals and big firms one-on-one. So, to me, it was a great experience.”

The Country Manager, ACCA, Mrs. Toyin Ademola said that the fair was the organisation’s way of giving back to the society because the organisation has realised that it was not easy for young job seekers to meet with their prospective employers.

“We have discovered that a lot of Nigerian students have the technical skills but sometimes lack the ability to meet with potential employers.

Many of the employers of labour want to talk with either fresh graduates from universities or technical colleges.

“So, we decided, as part of our corporate social responsibilities, to organise this fair where employers of labour who are our partners will interact with these young ones.

“There are jobs out there. Employers of labour are looking for workers but most job seekers do not have the right skills, neither do they know what their potential employers are looking out for.

“ACCA recognised this avenue as an opportunity to offer both the potential employers and job seekers the opportunity of meeting themselves.

“In trying to link the professional students with their employers, we discovered that they lack the soft skill to excel. That is why we brought in recruitment consultants as well to teach them what to do; how to write CVs and how to respond to questions at interviews, among others.

“We intend to let people know they have the opportunity of getting a good job; a situation that will help in reducing the rate of unemployment,” she said.

Ademola, who said the maiden edition, was strictly for graduates of Banking and Finance noted that the organisation decided to start with them because that was its area of specialty.

“We have been doing this in-house for ACCA student members for a while. But this is the first time we are bringing the employers together as well as involving graduates of finance who are non-members.

“You can see that everywhere is busy. We have some students from Abia and Benue states as well as Abuja. We also have some graduates from Lagos. This is an evidence that our efforts are appreciated; it shows this is actually the avenue young graduates need and it makes me happy that the students are appreciating our efforts,” she said.

In a chat with Newsextra, Director, sub-Saharan Africa of ACCA, Jamil Ampomah, said that the fair was geared towards bringing employers and potential employees together in a bid to reducing unemployment in the country.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

Obi remained the best governor Anambra State has had since the creation of the State…Whenever I say this, some people are not happy. But we cannot shy away from proclaiming obvious truth because some people prefer propaganda and falsehood

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N its determination to improve the lives of the people, the Anambra State government has donated cash worth over N1b to missionary schools and hospitals.

Governor Peter Obi made the donation to the institutions to enable them to build and rehabilitate school and hospital buildings that are in deplorable conditions.

While making the donation, Governor Obi informed the Bishops and Pastors-in-charge of missionary hospitals and institutions that government is erecting over 25 buildings in various parts of the state. He reminded them of the need to double their efforts towards the completion of the projects.

The governor, during his routine visit to some of the hospitals; including St. Joseph Hospital, AdaziNnukwu; Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi; School of Medical Laboratory of Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, Umuoji; Old People’s Home, Nkpor, Girls’ High School, Agulu, among others, said government is building various structures worth several billions of Naira.

He assured them that money is not the problem as his government, through savings and prudent management of resources, as well as support from development partners, has enough money for all ongoing projects as well as those that will be started in no distant time.

Governor Obi, who distributed cheques totalling N100m Naira to these institutions, explained that government’s support for missionary schools and hospitals were informed by the fact that those institutions render quality services to the people of the state at subsidised rates.

Speaking while receiving the cheque for support for Old People’s Home, the Superior-General of Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother Mary Claude Oguh said that under Governor Obi’s administration, Anambra State has been the better for it.

She described the governor as an exemplary leader who led by example and with the fear of God, even as she noted that Governor Obi has the zeal to build a better society for posterity.

She assured him that the money would be used judiciously.

At St. Joseph Hospital and Girls’ High School, Agulu, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor said that Obi remained the best governor Anambra State has had since the creation of the state.

•Governor Obi presenting a cheque of N10m to Archbishop Valerian Okeke for the on-going school of Midwifery Hospital project at the Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital Waterside, Onitsha

Obi donates N200m to hospitals, schools From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

He said: “Whenever I say this, some people are not happy. But we cannot shy away from proclaiming obvious truth because some people prefer propaganda and falsehood.”

He prayed God to bless the state with another governor better than or at least as good as Obi. Governor Obi has also presented a brand new 16-seater Nissan bus to Convent of Saint Mary, Diocese of Ihiala, Anglican Communion.

While presenting the bus to the convent during a visit to the school, he said that the gesture was an appreciation of the commitment of the Diocese in complementing government’s efforts towards promoting functional and quality education in the state.

He praised the Bishop for his hard work and dedication in uplifting the Diocese, even as he expressed his satisfaction that government’s partnership with the Church is yielding

the expected results.

The Anglican Bishop of Ihiala, Right Reverend Raphael Okafor said that the vehicle will help to promote academic activities in the school. He further said that Governor Obi had made a lot of impacts in all sectors of the economy; particularly in promoting functional education through the rebuilding and equipping of schools.

He thanked him for encouraging the work of missionaries in building better society. He prayed for a worthy successor who will emulate his commitment, integrity, and transparency.

At Abbot Girls’ Secondary School Ihiala, the governor also issued a cheque of N3m to its management for rehabilitation of its collapsed borehole and other projects.

He pledged that no effort will be spared to ensure that the school’s source of water supply was restored as quickly as possible to save the students from avoidable difficulties.

He also assured that government will provide the school with funds for a functional library as well as rebuilding some of the school’s dilapidated structures.

Governor Obi further explained that his visits to schools enables him to evaluate the real conditions of facilities and challenges. He described as unacceptable the level of infrastructural decay in most schools.

The Principal of the school, Lady Ada Anulimadu as well as the students expressed their gratitude to the governor. They noted that he has been responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people while at the same time remained a man of his words.

Governor Obi also laid the foundation of a refectory at Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Onitsha.

Apart from the foundation laying ceremony, Governor Obi presented a cheque of N10m as part of the N60m for the erection of an ultramodern refectory building in the school.

The governor revealed that the money was a donation from a pub-

lic-spirited Nigerian who responded to his call to individuals to support the present effort to rebuild and reposition the education sector in the state. He urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the donor in order to put in place a better learning environment conducive to teaching and learning.

The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, who praised Governor Obi for his humility and tenacity of purpose, said that his foresight will benefit future generations. He noted that the governor not only returned schools to their missionary owners, he also continued to rebuild and equip them.

The governor also presented another cheque of N10m to Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital Waterside, Onitsha for the ongoing school of Midwifery Hospital project.

In another development, Governor Obi promised that he would rehabilitate the Mmiata Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Centre wrecked by the recent flood disaster.

Association caters for widows, orphans

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•Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Hon Yusuf Adisa Shakiru (second right), presenting drugs to one of the patients at the Eko Free Health Mission Programme organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area. With him is the Council Manager, Mr Akanji Shadare (right) and the Vice-Chairman, Alhaja Falilat Ajijola (left).

HE Navy Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) has assured that it will adequately cater and protect widows and orphans of naval officers.

President of the association, Mrs. Vivian Ezeoba, who was in Calabar on a familiarisation visit to NOWA facilities said: “Some of our members who are widows will receive appropriate attention. Measures have been put in place to ensure that they are adequately protected and catered for.

“I want to ensure that widows and orphans among us are taken care of. These children are intelligent but have nobody to pay their way to school.”

She said her priority was to ensure that members of the association acquire necessary skills to help them in their endeavours.

Ezeoba, who was at the head-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

quarters of the Eastern Naval Command, said that plans were already on to set up acquisition centres for the less-privileged ones among them.

“I am interested in setting up skills acquisition centres for members to help them acquire the necessary skills for their endeavours as this will empower them and further boost their economy well-being,” she said.

Responding, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Joseph Aikhomu said that the command was ready to support the activities of NOWA. Aikhomu said the command was doing its best to ensure the safety of the maritime environment within Calabar and other states under the it.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

53

NEWS I’m alive, says monarch

Abia demolishes kidnap suspect’s property

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

A FORMER Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Chukumela Nnam Obi, who is also the Oba of Ogbaland, has said he is alive and well.

The royal father spoke yesterday at his palace in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, through his Media Assistant, Charles AmadikeOtoboh.

The king said: “I was not sick. I am not sick and I have not passed on. God will forgive those spreading the rumour. I wish to advise the rumour mongers to stop forthwith. I am hale and hearty. “

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

T

HE Abia State Government has demolished Akoto Bar and Resort Ltd, a bush bar belonging to kidnap suspect Olisagbo Ifedike, alias Ofeakwu.

The demolition team, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Task Force and Allied Matters, Awa Udonsi Agwu, proceeded to Agbaama Housing Estate where the suspect built a twin bungalow, which was demolished.

Speaking with reporters after the demolition, Agwu said the buildings were discovered to belong to the suspect and that after investigation, the government decided to demolish them.

The special adviser said the suspect’s wife had allegedly removed valuables in the two buildings, of which the police have recovered some of them.

He said he had also discovered a plot of land belonging to the suspect close to the Akoto resort.

“I will report back to the governor on the new development and he will give us directives on the next line of action.”

Agwu said the land where Ifedike had the buildings automatically belong to the government.

Chime hails Fed Govt From Chris Oji, Enugu

E

NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has hailed the Federal Government for setting up a committee to investigate the Ezu River incident.

Over 20 bodies were dumped in the river, which is the boundary between Anambra and Enugu states.

The governor spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Amechi Okolo, when the committee visited the Government House, Enugu.

Chime affirmed the state’s readiness to assist the committee in its investigation.

He called for a collaboration between the committee and security agencies.

The chairmen of the Senate Committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence, Paulinus Igwe Nwagu and Mohammed Mogoro called on the people to assist the committees in their investigation.

•Chime

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi presenting a N40 million cheque to the Anglican Bishop of Onitsha, Owen Nwokolo, for the construction of Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi ... yesterday

Gunmen hold five passengers hostage

F

IVE passengers travelling to Lagos from Warri in Delta State have been abducted by gunmen near Ogbemudia Farms on the Benin-Lagos road.

The victims were among passengers, who boarded a Greener Line space wagon Sienna bus.

A source said the kidnappers blocked the road with a truck, which made the driver to slow down on sighting the barricade.

The source said the kidnappers emerged from the

•Three kidnapped in Anambra From Osagie Otabor, Benin and Odogwu Emeka Odogwu,

to set his son free.

The retired colonel said he pleaded with the kidnappers to release his son as it would be difficult for him to raise the money.

Police spokesman Awhara Ejiroro said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Three people were also kidnapped yesterday in Anambra State.

Eyewitnesses said some gunmen invaded Abagana

Nnewi

bush and took five of the passengers away but allowed the driver and one passenger to go.

A father of one of the victims, who is a retired army colonel, said his son lives in Lagos and was returning after the naming ceremony of his baby in Warri.

He said the kidnappers were demanding N3 million

APGA condemns demolition of Ojukwu’s library

T

HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday condemned the demolition of Ojukwu’s Memorial Library project in Owerri, Imo State.

A statement in Abuja by the Acting National Chairman, Maxi Okwu, said: “APGA strongly condemns the demolition of the Ojukwu Memorial Library project in Owerri, Imo State, being erected by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazurike.

‘

It is a sacrilege in Igboland for any person or group to conspire and destroy a befitting movement in honour of the people’s general.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

’

“It is sad that some misguided elements destroyed the structure slated for inauguration this month.

“Dim Chukwuemeka

Odumegwu-Ojukwu lived a selfless life; he loved Ndigbo with all his heart and worked for the well-being of all Nigerians until his death. “ It is a sacrilege in Igboland for any person or group to conspire and de-

A

stroy a befitting movement in honour of the people’s general.

“We call on security agents to fish out the perpetrators of this wicked act and bring them to book.

“We urge all those who loved the great Ikemba in particular and Ndigbo in general to support this library project and ensure its prompt completion. “ Ojukwu desired the best for Ndigbo and deserves the best structure as he lives in the minds of his loved ones, supporters and followers.”

Ogun PDP boss woos members

T

HE Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Adebayo Dayo, has thanked party faithful for their steadfastness during the post internal wrangling.

He appealed to all citizens, including members of the opposition, to join him to reposition the party and develop the state.

In a statement yesterday, Dayo thanked party men and women “for their civility and maturity, and for maintaining the highest level of re-

straint all through the period the crisis lasted”.

He thanked God that no life was lost during the period.

The PDP Chairman said: “All party men and women who are yet to join the winning train should come on board; so we can work together for the interest of the party.”

He said now that the much-awaited declaration by the national leadership of the party on the state exco has been made, “it behoves

on all genuine party members to join hands with us to take the party to the next level and restore its lost glory.”

The party boss recalled that the declaration came on the heels of similar endorsements by the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said much as it was inevitable for people not to disagree in a big organisation like the PDP, “what matters most is our

We’re prioritising projects, says Orji BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has said development is being spread across the state based on economic exigencies.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Ben Onyechere, yester-

and snatched a popular cyber café owner and later kidnapped two unidentified persons.

But the police said they confirmed one kidnap case but did not have details.

According to police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka details of the kidnap would be communicated later.

The kidnappers were said to have parked at a place in Abagana and held some men at a drinking spot hostage, until they got their target.

day, Orji said the decision was taken against the backdrop of the huge infrastructural neglect accumulated by past administrations.

The statement said: “The era of the politics of settlement is gone for good

in Abia because there are so many contending issues craving for attention simultaneously.

“My administration has adopted silence as an ideology because it is the only way to save time and money

in the face of challenges of infrastructural deficits confronting the state.

“My promise to Abia people is to develop the state and generate more employment opportunities directly for the youth and women.”

ability to manage the disagreements in such a way that all parties concerned would feel a sense of fair play, equity and justice.”

Dayo thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Dr. Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for their commitment to the enthronement of the Rule of Law.

Imo Head of Service sworn in IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has sworn in Mrs. Nkechi Scholastica Onumajuru as the Head of Service.

Okorocha said he was optimistic that in her time, civil servants would give quality service delivery.

He said the civil service is the pivot on which activities of the government are steered.

The governor congratulated Mrs. Onumajuru for her well deserved appointment, noting that she merited the post having worked for it.

Lawmaker gives N2.5m to students A MEMBER of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, representing Ekeremor Constituency 1, Mrs. Agatha Goma, has presented a cheque of N2.2m to 40 finalyear students from her constituency.

Mrs. Goma said the Educational Trust Fund initiative was floated by her constituency office as her contribution to the socio-economic growth of the area.

The only woman lawmaker in the House said the initiative has nothing to do with politics.

She said good education equips children with the skills to maintain a healthy existence, to grow into resourceful adults.

Commending the free education policy of the Seriake Dickson-led administration, she said education transmits more abstract qualities such as critical thinking skills, healthy living, resilience, and selfconfidence in young persons.

A beneficiary and a final year student from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Okporu Akpoeyinmowei, thanked the lawmaker for her gesture.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Equities lose N212b in single largest decline

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-2-13

T

HE Nigerian equities lost N212 billion yesterday in the steepest decline so far this year as investors scurried to take profits from highly capitalised stocks.

Dangote Cement accounted for 72 per cent of the entire loss as investors in the cement manufacturing company lost N153.03 billion.

Dangote Cement’s market consideration dropped by N8.98 to close at N146.02 per share.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities dropped by N212 billion to N10.584 trillion as against its opening value of N10.796 trillion, representing a decline of 1.96 per cent.

The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), also slumped by 1.96 per cent to close at 33,075.14

By Taofik Salako

points as against its index on board of 33,736.81 points.

The decline shrank the average year-to-date return at the stock market to 17.79 per cent.

Other highly capitalised stocks on the top losers’ list included Guinness Nigeria, which lost N17 to close at N276; Nestle Nigeria, which dropped by N15.06 to close at N888; Mobil Oil Nigeria, which declined by N1.50 to close at N128.50 and Nigerian Breweries, which lost N1.30 to close at N165 per share.

Market analysts said equities came under early sell pressures, which endured throughout the trading session, implying overwhelming open sale market orders that most times underline profit-taking and portfolio

rebalancing.

Turnover stood at 411.25 million shares valued at N7.59 billion in 5,523 deals.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) was the most active stock with a turnover of 40.76 million shares valued at N68.13 million in 218 deals. FBN Holdings followed with a turnover of 36.37 million shares valued at N721.1 million in 399 deals. FTN Cocoa Processing placed third with a turnover of 33.68 shares valued at N17.61 million in 68 deals.

Banking subsector was the most active with a turnover of 162.34 million shares valued at N1.66 billion in 2,137 deals.

However, Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria led the advancers with a gain of N2.50 to close at N67.50. Presco trailed with a gain of N1.19 to close at N25.53. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria gathered N1 to close at N11.05.

UACN Property Development Company chalked up 69 kobo to close at N14.69 while Unilever Nigeria added 50 kobo to close at N50 per share.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-2-13

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

55

MONEY LINK Fidelity Bank’s customers win cars, cash

CBN: Automation of e-Form ‘M’ enhances audit trail

B

ANKS’ full compliance with the automation of electronic Form ‘M’ (e-Form ‘M’) as mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will enhance audit trail in the financial system, Musa Batari has said.

Speaking yesterday at the a customers’ forum organised by Access Bank, Batari, who is CBN Director, Trade and Exchange, said the e-Form ‘M’ as it is commonly known is completed by importers while bidding for foreign exchange for importation of goods.

Mr Batari, who spoke on ‘e-Form ‘M’ and its significance in management of trade in Nigeria’, he said that before now, Form ‘M’ was manual, which made it difficult for

Stories by Collins Nweze

banks to process forex transactions for their customers. “Prior to the automation, there were delays in handling forex transactions. There were lots of challenges in tracking transactions done by banks audit trail,” he said.

He said the full automation gives banks the opportunity to adapt fully to the process and master the challenges that come with the e- version of the process. Despite the achievement of full eversion of the process, Batari said banks still face challenges bothering on Tax Identification Number (TIN), discrepancies in e-mail address, network instability, high

F

spect of leadership options and development strategies,” he said.

“Transforming from poverty to prosperity is a reality closer than many people believes. There is a formula for success which we have seen in China, India, Brazil and South Korea. We can add Malaysia and Indonesia for comparative analysis with Nigeria.

“In order to avoid bleak prospects in the future of the country, those entrusted with the public finances must endeavour as managers of our various economies to pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening fiscal responsibility, public procurement and effective management of debts.

The government must confront corruption head-on,” said Babalola, who is the Vice Chairman of Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc.

• CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

Ebenezer Anifowose said the forum provided the bank opportunity to engage its customers and find areas of improvement. He said the bank is committed to achieving improved efficiency in processing of its forex transactions.

AfDB approves $300m loan to Nigeria

Babalola tasks govt on corruption ORMER Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola, has advised the Federal Government to tackle corruption in the country and focus on employment creation policies.

Babalola, who gave the advice as a guest at this month’s edition of Speaker Series Africa in Lagos, was however, upbeat about Nigeria’s future outlook.

The former minister, who was asked questions ranging from the economy to politics and his public service experience, noted that unbridled corruption, lack of accountability and impunity were major challenges bedeviling governance in the country. “I am an incurable optimist on Nigeria. I believe the future is so bright you may need to wear a shade. But then it’s all about choices we make as a nation in re-

F

down time frequency among other factors.

He explained that the process allows the importer to complete and submit the form ‘M’ online. It also allows for the attachment of supporting and regulatory documents. For Initiation and Submission of the e-Form M on the system, TIN is required to access and register the e-Form M on the system. He said importers with valid TIN can access the Single Window Trade Portal and register as importer under the Federal Inland Revenue Services window.

Access Bank Executive Director,

T

trol Policy.

In the areas of public financial management reform, it said the programme involves the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Internal Audit Modernization Plan, Treasuring Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Public Financial Management (GIFMIS), and Transparency and Compliance in Procurement and Audit Practices.

The programme, it said will also create fiscal space for increased investment in road infrastructure development. It is an integral part of a broader set of interventions of the bank designed to support Nigeria’s Transformation Agenda with emphasis to economic governance and infrastructure development.

HE Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AFDB) has approved a loan of $300 million for Nigeria.

The loan, which was approved in Coted’Ivoire is for financing the Transport Sector and Economic Government Reform Programme and the Nigeria Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the period 2013 to 2017.

Reuters said the loan aims to support the Federal Government to accelerate reform implementation in the areas of transport sector governance, and public expenditure management. Reform measures include the establishment of a Federal Road Authority, National Road Maintenance Fund, RoadTolling Policy and Axel Load Con-

FGN BONDS

DATA BANK

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 28-2-13

SYMBOL CCNN FIDSON PRESTIGE WEMABANK UNITYBNK AIICO REDSTAREX CILEASING JOHNHOLT UAC-PROP

O/PRICE 10.05 1.55 0.65 0.99 0.77 1.01 3.59 0.60 1.82 14.00

C/PRICE 11.05 1.70 0.71 1.08 0.84 1.10 3.80 0.63 1.91 14.69

CHANGE 1.00 0.15 0.06 0.09 0.07 0.09 0.21 0.03 0.09 0.69

O/PRICE

TRANSCORP GUINNESS DANGCEM LIVESTOCK MULTITREX UTC CUTIX ROYALEX CORNERST ABCTRANS

1.80 293.00 155.00 2.40 0.83 0.83 1.90 0.81 0.55 0.57

C/PRICE 1.62 276.00 146.02 2.28 0.79 0.79 1.81 0.78 0.53 0.55

Rate (N)

Date

350m

150m

150m

155.2

2-7-12

350m

138m

138m

155.8

27-6-12

350m

113m

113m

155.7

22-6-12

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N)

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.18 17.00 8.98 0.12 0.04 0.04 0.09 0.03 0.02 0.02

Exchange

Sold ($)

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 28-2-13

SYMBOL

Amount

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

IDELITY Bank Plc yesterday gave out five Hyundai Accent cars to five winners in its ongoing Cars and Cash Savings Splash held in Lagos.

Twenty one other winners also went home with cash prizes ranging from N100, 000, N500, 000 and N1 million.

Some of the customers that won cars are Arinzechi Victus, Nwambu Chinwetara, Tansi Grace & Josephine, Umorem Etido Akpan and Maduka Stepenie. Also, Ozoeze Ndidi Amaka won N1 million while Oku Felix and Samuel Emua won N500,000 each.

Those that won N250,000 are Paul Abraham, Elizabeth Korgba Nkwa Eze while Nnachi Franklin among others won N100,000.

Speaking during the promo draws, the bank’s General Manager Commercial Banking Lagos, Mr Emeka Obiagwu said the draw was the third in a series to mark the 25th anniversary of the bank. He said the lender took the decision in order to reward its customers who have been supporting it since it commenced business 25 years ago.

According to him, the exercise was also meant to deepen the financial inclusion plan of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “We started to say thank you to our customers since last year and the savings promo is one way of doing that. Customers of the bank should cultivate a savings culture to enable them start a business and solve other financial problems on a rainy day,” he said.

The promo draw was monitored by representatives of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 137.30 147.01 0.80 1.13 1.02 100.00 1,000.00 1,756.93 14.66 1.39 1.87 10,616.45

9.08 1.00 136.89 146.64 0.78 1.13 1.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,753.94 13.95 1.33 1.80 10,305.95

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

56

NEWS

UNIPORT Four: Monarch, 10 others N to face charges A CHIEF Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday said the Monarch of Omuokiri, Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hassan Walewa and 10 others are to face charges over their alleged roles in the murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), last year.

Lloyd Toku Mike, Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Tekena Erikena and Bringa Chidiaka were lynched by a mob at Omuokiri Aluu on the suspicion that they were thieves.

The court discharged seven of the suspects.

Their release was in compliance with the legal advice by the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who absolved them of any involvement in the killings and directed that they be discharged.

They are Cynthia Chinwo, George Nwadei, Daniel Ekpe, Gabriel Ochie, Endurance Edet, Lucky Agburum

•Court frees seven

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

and Finebone Jeffrey.

The legal advice dated January 25 and read in court by the Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Woke, said: “No prima facia case of murder contrary to Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code has been disclosed against them and as such the charge against them should be dropped and they be released forthwith.

“They were suspects who were arrested based on mere suspicion by police.

“It is a trite law that suspicion, no matter how strong, cannot take the place of legal proof without concrete evidence to substantiate it, and as such, they were victims of circumstance.

“Charging and prosecuting them will be an exercise in fu-

tility.”

Jeffrey, a 300 Level Theatre Art student of UNIPORT, who was in tears, thanked God for vindicating him.

He said he was arrested in the examination hall .

“I just thank God for vindicating me, I never knew I will come out of this trouble.

“God knows that I am innocent and my colleagues also know that I am innocent.”

Woke said: “On the other hand, Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel are guilty of the offence of neglect to prevent a felony disclosed against them, for which they will be charged accordingly.

“From the totality of facts in the case file as outlined

earlier and from the outcome of the police investigation report, it is my considered opinion that a prima facia case of murder has only been disclosed against the following persons: Lawal Segun, ExSgt. Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe and Abang Cyril.

“Also, there has not been disclosed any prima facia case of murder against the following persons: Patrick Choosen, Nsirim Tasie Ogadima, Anyanwu Amarachi E, Egeride Prosper Ejiro, Uwemedimo Johnson, Etuk Ugwem Sampson and Kalio Ibinabo Greenson, who were not charged or arraigned in court, but were granted bail after their arrest.

“The charge against them should equally be dropped and they be released forthwith from custody.”

The case was adjourned till April 25.

Amaechi: I’m under oath to protect life

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said he is under oath to secure the lives and property of the citizens.

Amaechi spoke at a Town Hall meeting with the people of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area at the council headquarters in Omoku.

“The only responsibility in the constitution that the governor has is the responsibility he swears to on oath that I will secure lives and property.

“That is my responsibility to you. I promise you as I stand that I will continue to do that, to protect life and property.

“We will continue to give all the necessary support to security agencies to restore law and order in this council.

“You know, there are two angles to this. One angle is me, I will give my necessary support but the police must also be ready to do their work.

Amaechi said his administration has completed five primary health care centres in the local government with the sixth one under construction at Akabuka.

The centres are located in Ase Azagah, Omoku, Mgbede, Okwuzi and Ebocha.

“You know, I promised to tell you the truth all the time.

“So here, of six, five of them (primary healthcare centres) are completed and in use, so here we have done 90 per cent.”

He assured that his administration would complete ongoing road projects in the local government and reconstruct internal roads and drainage in the council headquarters, Omoku.

•Amaechi ... on Wednesday

INE people have been arraigned at an Asaba Magistrate’s Court on a two- count charge of conspiracy and illegal association.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, were alleged to have committed the offence in OgbeIjoh, Warri South-West Local Government.

Prince Phillip Moses, Great Alex Francis ,Tamunuene Sunday , Freeborn Torenyebue Ekeremor, Edike Nadike ,Towei Agbedeyi ,Johnbull Kogbodo , Fine boy Mike and Royal Orupade and others at large allegedly joined an association, known as Niger Delta Peace Keeping Force, also known as Nigerian Paramilitary Soldiers.

The Chief Magistrate, Sylvester Ehikwe, adjourned the matter till March 16.

In another case, Ehikwe convicted Elohor Mark Uvietoyobore to six months’ imprisonment for threatening to kill his wife and family using the social network media, Facebook.

In a one-count charge, the convict is charged with “knowing that the content of a Facebook message of December 1, 2011, caused Rita Elohor to receive a message threatening to kill her and her family and thereby committed an of-

Nine arraigned for ‘illegal activities’

‘

I have listened to the defence counsel but I would quickly add that while considering his plea, the court will be failing in its sacred duty if those found guilty are not punished.

’

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

fence punishable under Section 323 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol.1 Law of Delta State”.

The magistrate ruled that “Everybody is a stakeholder in curbing this ugly menace.

“The burden, however, lies on the court.

“Those found guilty ought to be punished adequately to serve as a deterrent.

“I have listened to the defence counsel but I would quickly add that while considering his plea, the court will be failing in its sacred duty if those found guilty are not punished.

“The accused is to serve six months in prison custody.”

Navy parades 33 suspects From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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HE Commander, Nigerian Naval Ship (NSS), Pathfinder, Comm. Emmanuel Effedua, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, paraded 33 persons for their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and sea piracy.

The Navy also impounded a vessel, MT Divine Favour, which was operating without a bill of laden and fake papers, with 820 tonnes of crude oil.

Effedua, while handing over the 33 suspects to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said they were arrested at various locations in Rivers State.

He said the Navy had been following the impounded vessel for almost a month.

The commander said: “Some of the suspects were arrested in the last three days, off the coast of Bonny and the open sea in Akuku-Toru Local Government. Most of the suspects have confessed to the crime.”

But one of the suspects, Albert Kayone, said he was a fisherman doing his business on the Bonny River, before he was arrested.

Kayone added that he recently came back from Cameroon and was fishing on the Bonny River, when he was arrested.

The Assistant Commandant, Operations, of the NSCDC, Rivers Command, Mohammed Paiko, assured that the suspects would be charged to court next week.

Akwa Ibom refutes claim

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KWA Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Communications Aniekan Umanah has said the dualisation of the Eket-Ibeno Road was awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Umanah recalled that Governor Godswill Akpabio requested that the project be handed over to the government for immediate completion.

“It is difficult for the government to mobilise to site because there is a subsisting contractual obligation and li-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

abilities between the NDDC and the contractors.

“The allegation of abandonment by the government does not arise at all.”

The commissioner said the people of Eket have not been left out of the transformation agenda of the government.

He noted that the administration has built 49 urban roads in Eket and several rural projects.

“Although the delay in the completion of the road project is regrettable, the government is working to ensure that all issues are resolved.”

Slain journalist buried From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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HE remains of the slain Editor of Anambra News, Ikechukwu Udendu, were yesterday buried in his home town, Ogidi, in Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State.

The 11-year-old son of the deceased, Daniel, said his father was a great man, who fought for peace and unity in Ogidi community through his reports.

“You were always ready to render useful advice and believed so much in raising us in the fear of God which I promise you would remain our guiding principle.”

Speaking during the funeral mass, Rev Cletus Asiobi advised Christians to use the late Udendu’s death for sober reflection and build their faith in Christ.

He added that death is not the end of life but a transformation of life.

Udendu was killed by suspected assassins on January 12.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

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NEWS Kebbi approves payment of leave grant to workers

Pensioners urged to pray From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

•NLC decries withholding salary From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

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EBBI State Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari has approved N350 million for the payment of leave grant to local governments employees for the 2012 fiscal year.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu Dakingari, said this when he spoke to The Nation.

He said the payment starts immediately.

Dakingari appealed for understanding, cooperation and support over the ongoing verification of local government employees.

He said the exercise is aimed at restoring sanity to the management of councils’ finances and not to witch-hunt anybody.

The government urged members of the Verification Committee to be just and fair without fear or favour.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kebbi State chapter, has described as unfortunate, the withholding of local government workers’ salaries for the past two months because of the verification.

The Vice-Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Yunusa Ismail, while fielding questions from The Nation in Birnin Kebbi, said: “It is unfortunate that the government is withholding local government workers’ salaries until the end of the exercise.”

He said when a similar exercise was carried out in the state civil service, workers’ salaries were not withheld.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Rabiu Koko, said government sympathised with the council workers on their plight, adding that that was why it decided to pay them outstanding leave grants for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

•From left: Council Member, University of Maiduguri, Mr. Duro Diri; Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammed Daura; and Registrar, Malam Babagana Aji, at the inauguration of Unimaid Gardens Hotel in Abuja…yesterday.

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Taraba PDP moves against Suntai’s loyalists

HE crisis in the Taraba State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist as the party’s stakeholders are calling for the dissolution of the Executive Committee (Exco) put in place by the ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.

Suntai is undergoing medical treatment in Germany for the injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Adamawa State last October 25.

Last week, the governor’s personal effects were evacuated from his official home in Jalingo, the state capital.

A delegation of the stakeholders, led by the former governor of the state, Rev. Jolly Nyame, yesterday protested the continued stay in office of members of the Exco, who are Suntai’s loyalists.

Two serving senators from the state, Senators Aisha Alhassan (Taraba North) and Abubakar Tutare (Taraba Central) were also in the delegation. The former chair-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

man of the state PDP, Alhaji Abdumumini Vaki, was also in the entourage.

The group alleged that members of the Exco were single-handedly imposed on the party by Governor Suntai against the wishes of the majority of party members.

They added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had written to the party, saying the congresses that produced the Exco were not conducted according to the commission’s guidelines.

Vaki, who read a position paper on behalf of the group, said many of them were disenfranchised from participating in the congresses.

He added that aggrieved members, who felt short changed by the exercise and demanded that internal de-

mocracy be observed in the process, were being persecuted by the governor before he was involved in the plane crash.

Vaki said: “What Governor Suntai did was to handpick his cronies, whom he charged with the responsibility of selecting who should be the party executives at all levels.

“The governor’s cronies produced a list of so-called party executives at all levels without any election as confirmed by INEC or consensus by stakeholders as directed by the national headquarters and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“As the chairman at the time, I was sidelined because I advised that internal democratic rules be observed.

“Also, none of our two serving senators, Alhassan and Tature, was contacted or involved in the process of

producing the so-called consensus list of executives. The executives were imposed on us by the governor.”

The group also alleged that the governor had handed the machinery of the party to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from where he defected to the PDP. “His affiliation with other political parties was displayed when he appointed many members of his former party (ANPP) into key positions in the current PDP Exco, when there were many founding, original and authentic members of the PDP, who were interested in contesting but were denied,” the group said.

The Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Sam Jaja, who received the delegation on behalf of the National Chairman, assured the group that their complaints would be looked into and that appropriate action would be taken to redress the anomalies.

Arson: Kwara vows to penalise culprits

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•Dakingari

WARA State Government has resolved to deal with anyone or group that causes violence under whatever guise.

In a statement issued in Ilorin, following reported arson on churches in the state capital by unidentified persons, the Commissioner for Information and Communi-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

cations, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, decried the attacks and said the police have been advised to identify and prosecute the perpetrators, regardless of their status.

He said government would no longer tolerate

criminality and threat to public peace, adding that legal measures would be used to ensure that Kwara retains its reputation as a peaceful state.

The commissioner advised anyone with a grievance to use dialogue and seek redress in court, as there is

no justification for the killing of people and destruction of property under any guise.

He said development would only thrive when there was peace, stressing that the government would not allow trouble makers to distract it from creating economic prosperity for the indigenes.

ACN: Fitch Ratings’ decision on Kwara shows dire condition

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WARA State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said the decision of the Fitch Ratings to withdraw ‘stable outlook’ ratings for the state is a confirmation of the party’s concern that the state is in a dire financial situation.

The Fitch Ratings, an international financial forecast body, on Wednesday withdrew Kwara’s Long-Term foreign and local currency ratings of ‘B+’ and LongTerm National Rating of ‘AA-(nga)’with Stable Outlooks. The agency also dropped the Long-term ratings of ‘B+’ and ‘AA-(nga)’ on the state’s N17billion bond

maturing in 2014.

The withdrawal, according to a foreign news agency, Reuters, followed Kwara State Government’s decision to stop participating in the rating process. Fitch will no longer provide ratings or analytical coverage of Kwara State, Reuters reports on.

ACN said in a statement by its Chairman, Kayode Olawepo, that the government’s decision to pull out of the process, just a year before the 2014 deadline to repay the N17billion bond, was a smart move to evade unfavourable rating commensurate with Kwara’s messy financial situation.

Olawepo said the fact that

Fitch dropped its ‘acceptable risk level’ ratings for Kwara, months after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) blacklisted the state over its inability to repay its debt, is a cause for concern.

The statement said: “The Fitch Ratings’ decision, as published by a foreign news agency, Reuters, on February 27, to drop ratings for Kwara, is another confirmation of our worry that the state’s finances are in a deep mess. As the story indicated, it is clear that the Kwara State Government opted out of the exercise as a smart move to avoid low ratings that match the state’s current financial crisis, occasioned by corruption and mismanagement of

public resources.

“Last year, the CBN banned financial institutions from lending to Kwara in response to what the agency deems as its low credit ratings and inability to repay outstanding loans. Today, the CBN hammer still hovers over Kwara State. Other groups and institutions erroneously blacklisted by the CBN have been removed with apologies where required - while Kwara remains there. This of course undermines the noise that the state government was wrongly included on the list.

“Now the Fitch Ratings is dropping its credit worthiness rating of the state, just a year to the time Kwara is sup-

posed to repay the N17billion bond accessed from the capital market to, as they claim, execute projects whose viability and relevance to the state economy are being questioned. It is instructive that the state government has borrowed additional N10billion to execute the same projects for which N17billion was sourced from the capital market.

“These point to corruption, reckless mismanagement of public funds and deceit of the PDP-led government - all of these painfully at the expense of the people of Kwara who are bearing the brunt of these recklessness and debt burden.”

PENSIONERS have been urged to pray in churches and mosques to quicken the payment of their entitlements.

The Sokoto State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Ahmed Ciroman Tangaza, who said this when speaking to reporters in Sokoto, added that pensioners should pray to find a solution to the problem.

He said: “We have to seek Allah’s intervention on the matter, which is affecting our lives.

“I enjoin pensioners to pray in churches and mosques for the Almighty’s intervention.”

The NUP chairman, who acknowledged the efforts of the federal lawmakers, also hailed the Senate for standing up for justice on the issue of the former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina.

He said the pensioners were proud of the legislators’ efforts and concern over the matter.

“We are proud of the Senate. We are happy with the lawmakers for ensuring justice,” Tangaza stressed.

Mass wedding in Kano From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Kano State Sharia Enforcement Agency and the Hisbah Board have concluded arrangements for the third phase of a mass wedding.

It will involve two thousand men and women, comprising widows and divorcees.

The Deputy CommanderGeneral of the Hisbah Board in charge of Special Operations, Nabhani Usman, a lawyer, spoke to our reporter in Kano yesterday.

He said to ensure a hitchfree exercise, government has provided funds for the mass wedding, which will also involve young ladies from less-privileged backgrounds.

Usman said the board has begun the screening of prospective suitors in the 44 local governments, adding that the final screening would be carried out on the premises of the board.

“We have formed committees made up of intern management officers of local governments, district heads, divisional police officers, among others,” he said.

Jonathan greets Attah of Igala PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the new Attah of Igala land, Prince Idakwo Michael Ameoboni.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan hailed Igala Traditional Council’s and Kogi State Government’s adherence to due process and Igala native laws and customs, which ensured a peaceful and orderly succession to the revered Attah of Igala throne.

The statement reads: “As Prince Ameoboni prepares for his formal coronation and ascension to the highlyrespected throne of the traditional rulers of his people, President Jonathan urges him to do his best to foster peace and progress in his domain.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

FOREIGN NEWS Rebels approached Nigeria for endorsement, says Fed Govt ….Nigeria, UK join forces on Mali

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HE military junta in Mali approached Nigeria for endorsement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru said yesterday.

According to him, the Federal Government declined.

He said the intervention of Nigeria in the Maili crisis has reinforced Nigeria’s leadership role on the continent.

Ashiru, who spoke after a session with the House of Representatives joint committees on Defence, Navy, Army, Foreign Affairs and National Security, said the development in Mali has grave national implications for Nigeria.

The minister said the issue of terrorism first reared its head in Mali, adding that it was when the African continent was considering a full-fledged democracy in Mali that a group of soldiers seized power.

He said: “A number of countries in Africa looked up to Nigeria to take the lead in the campaign and I am happy that Nigeria is leading.”

The session was over the deployment of soldiers to Mali. Represented at the session were the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chief of Defence Staff Ibrahim Ola Sahad was also at the event.

The session, according to the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence and the Chair of the joint committee, Bashir Adamu, was to find out what was the way forward for the country.

He said: “ When the deployment to Mali started, we had a joint meeting in the National Assembly as to the implication from a diplomatic angle. Nigeria has always been the Big Brother in Africa for sometime and Nigeria has waded into this without thinking of the implication and we want to be sure that what we are doing is the right thing.”

The Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, expressed the need to look critically at what the displacement of the rebels from Mali portends to the country in terms of vulnerability of Nigeria’s interests across the world as well ad the possibility of the evacuation of the Nigerians in Mali should the violence escalates.

She said: “After Benghazi, we need to ask ourselves: are our missions sitting ducks? The funding for the operation, does it cover the missions? And we have to talk of the proliferation of small arms. Then what do we do about the back-flow of arms after the war and what about the evacuation of our people if the situation gets more volatile?”

The United Kingdom yesterday promised to assist Nigeria in the onslaught on insurgents in Mali.

The United Kingdom also expressed readiness to intensify collaboration with Nigeria to tackle the challenges of insurgency and crude oil theft.

Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru and the United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Mark Simmons met in Abuja.

Ashiru told reporters at the end of the meeting:”if these countries had not quickly taken the steps they took, we may have had situation where we have a terrorist nation next to us, and that would be a very serious issue.”

U.S. to provide food, medicine to rebel Syrian fighters T

HE United States stepped further into Syria’s civil war Thursday, promising rebel fighters food and medical supplies — but not weapons — for the first time in the nearly two-year conflict that has claimed more than 60,000 lives and laid waste to large portions of the country, according to CNN reports..

Secretary of State John Kerry said the aid would help fighters in the high-stakes effort to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a conflict that has already spawned an enormous humanitarian crisis as refugees flee the fighting.

The ongoing fighting also poses the persistent threat of widening into a destabilizing regional crisis.

“The United States’ decision to take further steps now is the result of the continued brutality of a superior armed force propped up by foreign fighters from Iran and Hezbollah, all of which threatens to destroy

•$60M to Opposition Council

Syria,” Kerry said after meeting opposition leaders in Rome.

Kerry didn’t say how much that aid would be worth, but did announce that the United States would separately give $60 million to local groups working with the Syrian National Council to provide political administration and basic services in rebel-controlled areas of Syria.

That’s on top of $50 million in similar aid the United States has previously pledged to the council, as well as $385 million in humanitarian assistance, Kerry said.

“This funding will allow the opposition to reach out and help the local councils to be able to rebuild in their liberated areas of Syria so that they can provide basic services to people who so often lack access today

to medical care, to food, to sanitation,” he said.

That aid is partly an effort to hem in radical Islamist groups vying for influence in Syria after the fall of al-Assad, a senior State Department official told CNN. “If the Syrian opposition coalition can’t touch, improve and heal the lives of Syrians in those places that have been freed, then extremists will step in and do it,” the official said.

Sheikh Ahmed Moaz alKhatib, president of the Syrian National Council, said concerns about Islamist influence had been overstated.

“We stand against every radical belief that aims to target Syria’s diverse social and religious fabric,” he said.

U.S. officials hope the aid will

help the coalition show what it can do and encourage al-Assad supporters to “peel away from him” and help end the fighting, the official said.

The opposition council will decide where the money goes, Kerry said.

But the United States will send technical advisers through its partners to the group’s Cairo headquarters to make sure it’s being used properly, the senior State Department official said.

In addition to the decision to give rebel fighters food and medical supplies, President Barack Obama is thinking about training rebels and equipping them with defensive gear such as night vision goggles, body armor and military vehicles, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

LENTEN TALK Rev. Henry O. Adelegan

Storm cannot stop you. Part I Text: Mark 4:35-42 THE disciples of Jesus Christ were transiting from one side to the other side as Jesus instructed them. Along the way, a storm arose that occasioned fear of death and inability to get to the other side. Jesus rebuked them that they were of little faith.

He admonished them that with faith they should have taken a stand against the destructive storm. The disciples of Jesus were afraid and could not take their stand because of Ignorance, which would have made them perish (Hosea 4:6, Isaiah 5:13).

What is a storm? A storm is a spirit that lifts its head for people never to get to where God has purposed for them. It is a sudden distraction of people from God’s way. A storm can manifest in varying ways like church problems, office issues, financial turbulence, evil conspiracies, unimaginable marital squabbles, unexplainable issues with children, sudden death of benefactor etc.

It can also come to bear in the life of a person when the devil knows that a promotion is at hand as it happened with Joseph when his brothers conspired against him because of his dreams and coat of many colours. It was same with Mordecai when Haman suddenly saw

a competitor in him and Daniel too had that bitter experience when the other Presidents saw him as a King’s favourite and were envious of him.

Brethren, it will interest you to know that storms are part of life because without a test, there is no testimony.

Jesus told us that in the world, there shall be tribulation (John 16:33). From biblical examples too, it is known that there is possibility of believers running into trouble without getting into sin as it happened with Joseph, Daniel and the 3 Hebrews. Jesus said in His beatitudes that “Blessed are you when you suffer persecution for righteousness sake” ( Matt 5:10).

When storms come, please note that big Bible, position in the church, how vociferous you are with Speaking in Tongues among other outward show of spiritual status cannot help you. What you need to overcome the storm of life is Faith. The epistle of Paul to the Hebrews brings it closer home that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrew 11:6).

As you have faith in Jesus Christ this season, every storm in your life shall be no more in Jesus’ name.

Prayers: Father, give me grace to have faith and know that the storm of my life is a passing phase that will soon give room to testimonies in Jesus’ name.

•A Palestinian protester throws a smoke grenade back at Israeli soldiers during a protest in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in the city of Nablus ...yesterday. Palestinians demanding the release of hunger-striking prisoners clashed with Israelis in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, as three fasting inmates were taken to hospitals.

AFP PHOTO /JAAFAR ASHTIYEH

Man dies after being dragged by South African police

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HEY bound his hands to the rear of a van, and then sped off, dragging the slender taxi driver along the pavement as a crowd of onlookers shouted in dismay.

The man was later found dead.

A gut-wrenching video of the scene is all the more disturbing because the men who abused the Mozambican immigrant were uniformed South African police officers and the van was a marked police vehicle.

The graphic scenes of the victim struggling for his life shocked a nation long accustomed to reports of police violence.

The Daily Sun, a South African newspaper, posted video

the footage Thursday and it was quickly picked up by other South African news outlets and carried on the Internet. It sparked immediate outrage. ‘’They are there for safety, but we as a people fear them more,” said Johannesburg resident Alfonso Adams. ‘’You don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Some of those in the crowd who watched the scene unfold in the Daveyton township east of Johannesburg shouted at the police and warned that it was being videotaped. The police did not seem at all concerned by all the witnesses and the presence of cameras as they tied Mido Macia, a 27-year-old from neighboring

Mozambique, to the back of a police vehicle, his hands behind his head. At least three policemen participated in the incident. Macia was found dead in a Daveyton police cell late Tuesday.

“We are going to film this,” several onlookers shouted in Zulu as the police tormented Macia. One bystander can be heard on the videotape shouting in Zulu: `’What has this guy done?”

A murder probe is underway on the evidence that Macia suffered head and upper abdomen injuries, including internal bleeding, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the police watchdog agency, said Thursday. The in-

juries could be from the dragging and he could also have been beaten later in police custody. ‘’The allegations are that he was dragged behind a vehicle and his head was bent on the police vehicle. There are also allegations of assault,” said the investigative unit’s spokesman Moses Dlamini.

The video evidence of the abuse renewed concerns about brutality, corruption and other misconduct by a national police force whose reputation has suffered in recent years amid reports that many officers lack training. Some have been charged with committing the crimes they are supposed to prevent, including rape and murder.

Indian teen pleads not guilty to Delhi gang rape, murder

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N Indian teenager pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges that he took part in the gang rape and murder of a trainee physiotherapist in New Delhi, Reuters has reported quoting a juvenile justice official.

Police say the youth and five men on December 16 lured the 23year-old woman and her male friend on to a bus where they repeatedly raped her and beat her with a metal bar before tossing the bleeding couple on to a road.

The woman died of internal injuries two weeks later in Singapore in a case that sparked violent protests and turned a global spotlight on the treatment of women in India.

The 17-year-old defendant has been charged with the same 13 offences as his co-accused, including rape, murder and robbery, by the juvenile court. His trial begins next week.

“The court has framed charges against the boy under relevant sections,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“He has pleaded not guilty and claimed trial in the case.”

The teenager will be tried separately from the other five, whose trial began earlier this month. A Juvenile Justice Board comprising a magistrate and two other members will start hearing the case on Wednesday.

If found guilty, he would face a maximum penalty of three years in juvenile detention, while his adult co-accused could face the death penalty.

Last month, authorities accepted school records showing the juvenile, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, as having been born on June 4, 1995, making him under 18 at the time of the crime.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

NEWS $1.5b loan: Nigeria’s rating at risk, says NNPC

Henry Okah’s legal team withdraws

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HE lead counsel of Henry Okah’s legal team yesterday at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg announced the teams withdrawal from the terrorism case.

Okah is the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

Defence counsel, Lucky Multulanta, told trial Judge Neels Claassen that they were withdrawing from the case to allow a new legal team take over the trial of the case that might go to appeal.

“Having discussed with my client, we came to agreement that it is appropriate for us to step down from handling the matter and allow a new legal team to take over from the mitigation of sentence to the appeal court hearing.

“My client has the right to change his legal team, and now

he has decided to change the legal team representing him in this case, we are both happy about the decision,’’ Multulanta said.

The defence counsel had asked the court to grant them postponement to call at least five witnesses from Nigeria and the United States to testify at the mitigation of sentence hearing.

Justice Claassen granted the defence the postponement for Feb. 28 to March 4 to call their witnesses. “We have experienced a lot of frustration in getting out witnesses to come to South Africa to testify on the mitigation of sentence for my client “I don’t know the reason why it is difficult for the South Africa Embassy in Nigeria to issue visas to our witnesses. We have made all efforts to get the visas but up till now their visas have not been issued,’’ Multulanta

said.

Justice Claassen expressed his disappointment in the withdrawal of Okah’s legal team.

“On the last sitting of the court I told you that there will be no further postponement in this case, now you are coming to announce your withdrawal from the case.

“I must tell you that I am very disappointed about this decision, how am I sure that is not a deliberate attempt to further delay the administration of justice.

“I just hope this is not a tactic to further delay the court processes, both of you may be happy about the change of the legal team, but it is against the legal procedure for you to take such decisions after several postponements.

“Changing the mainstream at this is stage is a very serious thing to do. I have to show my displeasure about the way and manner

you have handled the case,’’ Claassen said.

The new lawyer, Gerrit Miller asked the court for an adjournment to allow him prepare and consult with his client.

Claassen adjourned hearing in the matter to March 18 to March 20.

“This is really the final adjourment, I will grant your application for this first and final adjournment, you must tell your client that I will no longer tolerate any further adjournment even if he decides to change his legal team again at the 11 hour,’’ Claassen said.

Okah, the convicted fractional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), was found guilty of a 13 count charge of conspiracy to commit terrorism by masterminding two car bomb attack in Abuja on Oct. 1, 2010.

Pope Benedict: I’ll simply be a pilgrim Continued from page 1

reverence” to his successor.

He is the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, citing his frail health.

Benedict officially ceased to be the Pope at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) The resignation was marked by the papal Swiss Guards stepping down from their posts at Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican.

In his retirement, Benedict will wear a simple white cassock rather than his papal clothes, and swap his famous red shoes - the colour is symbolic of the blood of the early Christian martyrs - for brown.

His “Fisherman’s Ring”, the special signet ring which contains the Pope’s name and is impressed to validate certain official documents, is expected to be destroyed along with the lead seal of the pontificate.

The German pontiff, who was born Joseph Ratzinger, will continue to be known as Benedict XVI, with the new title of “pope emeritus”.

The long-time theologian is expected eventually to retire to a monastery on a hill inside Vatican City, with officials saying he will not be able to intervene publicly in the papacy of his successor, though he may offer advice.

Earlier yesterday, church bells rang across the Vatican as Benedict boarded the helicopter for a short flight to Castel Gandolfo Before that, the pontiff was greeted for the last time by top officials in the Curia - the administrative body that runs the Holy See. Benedict then appeared at a window overlooking the public square in Castel Gandolfo to bless a cheering crowd.

“Thank you very much for your friendship,” Benedict said.

“I will simply be a pilgrim who is starting the last phase of his pilgrimage on this earth.

“Let’s go forward with God

for the good of the Church and the world.”

Some in the crowd were in tears listening to what could be Benedict’s final public words as pope.

“What a joy to see him, but how sad to think it is for the last time,” local resident Giuseppina was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. In his final tweet, Benedict wrote: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives”.

The Vatican now enters the Sede Vacante - or period of transition between two pontificates.

T

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

ber, Toby Okechukwu and 16 other lawmakers.

Okechukwu, while presenting the motion, noted that there were a lot of shrouded issues besetting assets seized by the EFCC. He said though one could not shy away from the fact that the EFCC had tried in the reduction of corruption in the country, a situation whereby vehicles, houses or business concerns seized by EFCC were allowed to go to waste by the commission was unacceptable.

According to him, the EFCC

had seized over 200 mansions in the past through court orders, but the assets were not accounted for.

The lawmaker said the agency had seized assets from accused and convicted persons, including prominent Nigerians and corporate organisations through court orders in accordance with its powers, adding that the Assets Forfeiture Unit of the agency, which came into being in 2008, mandated the EFCC to ensure that all assets it confiscated for the Federal Government were identified and verifiable.

Okechukwu said the forfeited assets estimated at over

A •Tambuwal

N2trillion were made up of landed property and business concerns, bank accounts, shares in blue chip companies, exotic vehicles, fuel stations, hotels, warehouses, shopping malls, schools, bakeries, housing estates and radio stations in and outside Nigeria.

CORONER’s inquest into the ill-fated Dana crash of June 3, 2012 at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, yesterday denied the request by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to call an additional witness.

The Coroner, Oyetade Komolafe, who turned down AIB’s request, described it as belated, saying all parties to the case have had adequate opportunity to bring in their witnesses.

AIB had through its counsel, Chinedu Anene, applied for additional witness to refute certain claims by the Consultant Pathologist, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof.

John Obafunwa, who testified on the medical examination conducted

Subsidy was done on short-term certificate, witness tells court

A

N Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday heard that the calculation of fuel subsidy was done on short term certificate.

This was the testimony of a prosecution witness, Omolare King, in the ongoing trial of the son of a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Arisekola Alao, Abdulai Alao, before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on September 26 last year accused the defendants of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act (2006).

EFCC said: “Opeyemi Ajuyah, Majope Investment

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Limited, Abdulahi Alao, Axenergy Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi on or about February 14, 2011 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain N1,110,049,444.35 from the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely claiming that the money represented subsidy accruing to you under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation into Nigeria of 15,206,733 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS), which representation you knew to be false.”

The defendants were re-arraigned in February for alleged theft of N1.1billion subsidy fund.

King, a senior field officer at the Petroleum Product Pricing

Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), as second prosecution witness, said the process of calculation was beyond Lagos, adding that she was not a party to the calculation of the figures that arrived at 15, 000 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

She testified that she got a call from the representatives of Majope Investment notifying her that they were expecting a vessel from a lister jetty in Apapa and she notified the zonal head about the vessel.

King told the court that the surveyors are the ones who determine the figures and give her, while her job was to send same to the office.

“I signed and approved all 37 documents presented to me by the marketers after discharge and I presented same

second such forward sales arrangement as well as internal resources.

Lawmakers have questioned the fund-raising deal, saying NNPC is not allowed to take out loans under rules set out in the Constitution.

The NNPC said it was not a loan.

“The exposure of domestic banks is about $1.5 billion, and a default of this magnitude of exposure could lead to another round of banking crisis,” the NNPC said in a statement.

“The NNPC GMD stated that the continued delay has dire consequences ranging from a major negative impact on the sovereign credit rating to costly litigation against the federal government in foreign courts,” it added.

The House of Representatives committee asked to see NNPC’s documents and said it would investigate.

Credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s upgraded Nigeria in November, citing improved financial stability and optimism over banking and electricity reforms. Its ratings from the three major agencies are still in junk territory, however, at BB- from S&P and Fitch and Ba3 from Moody’s.

Nigeria’s banking crisis ended with a sharp recovery in bank earnings last year after a 2009 credit crisis led to the near collapse of nine lenders.

Dana crash: Coroner rejects AIB’s request for new witness

Reps probe status of N2tr assets seized by EFCC HE House of Representatives yesterday said it would perform an integrity test on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by investigating the status of over N2trillion worth of assets seized and sold by the anti-graft agency.

The House said as a spin-off of the large volume of complaints and petitions received by the public, the Committee on Crimes and Narcotic should investigate the status of the seized assets by the EFCC and report to the Chamber.

The resolution followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion sponsored by a mem-

T

HE Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said any move to block its deals to finance payment of $3.5 billion owed to fuel traders could expose the country to a sovereign credit downgrade or a banking crisis.

The country owes major oil trading houses, including Vitol, Glencore, Trafigura and Mercuria, millions of dollars for fuel deliveries, according to a governmentcommissioned report released last year.

NNPC accumulated the debts to traders, some of which are three years old, due to non-payment of fuel subsidies by the government, NNPC Managing Director Andrew Yakubu told the National Assembly on Monday.

The Finance Ministry did not respond to calls for comment.

Trafigura, Mercuria, Vitol and Glencore also declined comment.

The NNPC MD said the oil giant was borrowing $1.56 billion through a special purpose vehicle to offset part of the fuel import debts. He added that the NNPC allocated 15,000 barrels per day of oil output for a period of up to five years to pay back the money.

Standard Chartered, which managed the banking deal, also declined official comment.

Yakubu said the company planned to settle the remaining debts through a

to the zonal head.”

The first prosecution witness, Victor Chidok, in an earlier testimony, told the court that the second defendant, Majope Investment, met all the requirements and was paid subsidy on face value.

“We need at least 37 documents for verification before we can pay any oil marketer the subsidy money and where the oil marketers are unable to meet the target, we return their documents to them without processing it.

“All documents on our desk are very important and are cleared, based on the mother vessel for payment,” he said.

Chidok denied knowing Alao, the fourth and fifth defendants, adding that King, who was supposed to report to

him when the final discharge was done at Lister Jetty, was on maternity leave at that time.

He told the court that they do not have direct dealings with Sterling Bank, but that they were sent a letter stating that they financed transactions that did not apply.

He said in his earlier evidence that he had stated that once they made transactions, they gave directive to their customers to open account with a bank, since the bank played a vital role in financing cargo.

The prosecution witness said the empty tank report does not emanate from their office, but from Val Enterprises, who issues empty tank certificate.

Trial in the matter continues today.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

on the victims of the crash.

Anene said Obafunwa’s comment that what AIB wanted to refute was about his client and Prof. Kunbi Banjo, a professor of Anatomical Pathology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“There were assertions by Obafunwa at the last proceedings of what AIB did or did not do; what was said and what was not said; what Banjo said or did not say. We need to have the opportunity to refute, challenge or even corroborate the testimony.”

Although the lead counsel for AIB, Babatunde Irukera, had queried the exclusion of Banjo from the team of pathologists, who carried out the postmortem on the deceased, Obafunwa explained that her exclusion was deliberate because she did not share the belief that autopsy needed to be carried out on the victims.

Dana’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and counsel to Nigerian Airspace Management Authority, Obi Okusogu (SAN), supported the call for Banjo to appear before the court, but the court maintained that it was irrelevant.

Ruling, Komolafe said: “AIB has had the chance to call several witnesses. All parties had adequate time to come. We are concluding because there must be an end to litigation. Asking the court to summon another witness has no relevance at this time.”

The court adjourned till March 15 and April 18 for cross-examination of Dana’s Director, Flight Operations, Oscar Wilson and Obafunwa.

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

61

SPORT EXTRA INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Flying Eagles lose to Tunisia F

LYING EAGLES lost 20 to their Tunisian counterparts in a warm-up match played on Thursday at the Esperance training ground complex.

The Nigeria U20s fell behind after 20 minutes through a glancing header inside the six-yard box, which goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel helped

into his goal.

The hosts doubled their lead six minutes later through another header inside the box off a free kick from the left.

Coach John Obuh made three changes by the 37th minute, replacing Azubuike Okechukwu, Abubakar Aliyu and Nzube Anaezemba with Ovboka Agboyi, Chidi Osuchukwu and Moses Orkuma.

These changes seemed to stabilise the Flying Eagles and just before the start of the second half, Alhaji Gero came on for Bright Osagie and Umar Aminu replaced Oluwaseun Taro.

Gero sparked the Junior Eagles strike force. His header after 46 minutes went wide and five minutes later, his shot at goal missed target as the

Flying Eagles took full charge of proceedings.

The African champions continued to dictate the pace with Uche Agbo failing to make hay when clear on goal after 65 minutes, before Gero created yet another opening only for his chip to go wide.

On 70 minutes, Metz midfielder Saliu Sodiq replaced Agbo.

Gero was again involved in two serious incursions by the Flying Eagles to the Tunisia goal area.

First, in the 77th minute, his header from inside the box brushed against the post before it rolled out for a goal kick.

And in the 82nd minute, Aminu’s header off a cross by Gero missed its mark.

The Flying Eagles will play a second test game against Esperance on Sunday.

… Edafe Egbedi to join team Tuesday

D • Obuh

ENMARK-BASED winger Edafe Egbedi will join the Flying Eagles in Tunisia on Tuesday after he encountered a visa hitch.

Egbedi has residence permit in Europe, but that was not enough to get him into Tunis.

He will now have to fly to Nigeria to obtain an entry visa and then join the squad on Tuesday.

“He will join us on Tuesday.

Nigeria Premier League now starts March 9

A

FTER the timely intervention by the Honourable Godfrey Gaiya-led House of Representatives Committee on Sports who summoned the Nigeria Football Federation Executive Board led by the President Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the League Management Committee to the National Assembly yesterday to explain why the Nigeria Premier League has not commenced, the League Management Committee gave assurances to the House Committee and was unanimously agreed that the March 9th, 2013 kick off date of the Nigeria Premier League proposed by the LMC (League Management committee) should be agreed on.

Honourable Gaiya told NationSport after their deliberations that , “the House Committee on Sports was concerned about the lack of take off of the Nigeria Premier League having seen that in other countries their elite leagues have commenced. After an exhaustive discussion with the League Management Committee and the assurances from the League Management Committee that the Nigeria Premier League would commence on the 9th of March, 2013 across all centers in Nigeria.

“We also had the opportunity of interactions between the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, the General Secretary of the Football Federation and top members of the NFF and Chief Rumson Baribote (the deposed former Nigeria Premier League Chairman) with a view to resolving other issues bothering on the league”, Gaiya disclosed.

But the former Chairman of

•House of Representatives broker peace •Baribote alleges court contempt From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja NPL, Baribote was not a satisfied man and told NationSport that since the case was already in court he would be banking on the courts to resolve the issue legally.

“NFF President Aminu Maigari do not own the league, the Nigeria Premier League is owned by Nigeria and it is only myself and Senator Bukola Saraki that spend our money for (our clubs) Nigerian league today and you cannot push me out of the management of the league just like that because you are not more Nigerian than myself.

“This is not a lawless place.

There are rules guiding football. Let the President of Nigeria Football Federation come to tell me where there is

in FIFA and CAF statutes where there is League Management of Interim Committee in league. What is provided for in the NPL, NFF statutes is the League Football Committee headed by the First Vice President. We should not bring ethnic sentiments to football.

“What is provided in the NPL statutes is that there must be 20 clubs and seven (7) elected members. So at what point did you amend that statutes to contain 33 members, that is 20 clubs and 13 appointed people.

I am a law abiding citizen. The matter is before a competent court of jurisdiction. If they feel they has the right to disobey court so be it. But if the court feels they don’t have the right to disobey them so be it”, Baribote submitted.

Blackburn seeks Etuhu’s replacement

C

HAMPIONSHIP side Blackburn Rovers are seeking to make loan additions to their injury hit squad before the game against Peterborough on Saturday following the absence of Dickson Etuhu and others.

Nigeria’s Dickson Etuhu who has been an active member of the Rovers squad has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem while Lee Williamson, Colin KazimRichards, Martin Olsson have all picked up fresh injuries in recent days.

Blackburn manager Michael Appleton says he wants to add at least one new signing

to the squad before the visit of Peterborough on Saturday but that the additions must be quality additions.

“I’ll be amazed if we haven’t got a couple of players in by Saturday. I hope they can have a positive and immediate impact.

“I’ve got to make sure I get the balance right, in terms of bringing in players that are going to actually play in the 11.

There’s no point me bringing in players that are going to sit on the bench. Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire.

The loss at Leicester kept the gap between 11th-placed Rovers and the play-off positions to seven points.

We have put everything in place to ensure he comes on this day,” said team secretary Aliyu Lawal Ibrahim.

Otherwise, Metz midfielder Saliu Sodiq and Mikel Agu from FC Porto have joined up with the squad as expected.

Sodiq arrived on Wednesday, while Agu was received by assistant coordinator Abdulrahman Umar at the Tubis Airport on Thursday afternoon.

7,000 schools for 15th MILO Basketball Championship • Tournament dunks-off March 4

A

total of 7,000 schools are expected to slam the nets as the 15th Nestle MILO Secondary School Basketball Championship dunks off March 4 in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Martin Woolnough, Managing Director & Chief Executive, Nestle Nigeria Plc stated in Lagos on Thursday in a press meeting with reporters.

With this year’s theme tagged ‘’Champions, it is time to dunk’’, Woolnough said: “With MILO’s commitment to the slam and dunk, in 2007, 2, 500 schools were engaged, and had the number doubled in 2012 to 5, 000. So in evident of the firm’s actions 7, 000 schools in Nigeria will be engaged this year as the company intends to reach the six geo-political zones despite the difficult times.”

Nestle’s Category Business Manager, MILO, Mrs Adedoja Ekeruche in her remarks infomed that the state preliminaries will commence on March 4 and end on the 18th, and will be followed by the Four Conferences (Atlantic Conference in Enugu, Western, Akure, Confluence, Lokoja and Central in Ibadan) which will run for a month from 15th April to 15th May. And for the first time in the MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, two new Conferences of Ibadan and Enugu have been introduced.

Each participating teams, she explained will to get N160, 000 each and the teams which qualify for the National Finals will be given N200, 000 each.

The Four Conferences

winners are expected to take home the sum of N30, 000 for first, while second and third placed teams will receive N25, 000 and N20, 000 respectively.

Above all, this year’s champions will be celebrated in their schools and states.

Further, Ekeruche said that: “The 15th MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship will continue to expose, and harness the enormous potentials of our youths and the abundant basketball talents in our country.

“The national champions are been exposed to international competitions as the 2011 champions last year traveled to South Africa for an international basketball competition (Youth Fit Africa U-17 Tournament) and they emerged winners.”

“Some talents spotted at previous MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship have also found their way into the national team, major leagues around the World and more recently, the 2012 London Olympics.

“Knowing that sports is a great teacher, we believe that these children are learning essential social values like determination, discipline and respect which will prepare them for the great game of life. To this end, MILO, the energy food drink of future champions, remains committed to the development of sports at the grassroots,” Ekeruche stressed.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

THE NATION FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

RIPPLES NORTH CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT OIL –Ex-Governor

...of course, HORSES and CAMELS don’t use fuel

VOL.8 NO.2,415

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

T is undoubtedly very easy to give in to despair. You work hard with little to show for it, and very soon you convince yourself that cruel fate is at work. Just as it is for an individual, so it is for a collective. The narrative of the past fifty-two years, which has almost always been about the avoidable road bumps that characterise our journey as a nation, would appear to justify a pessimistic outlook on life. What with an inept and ego-driven leadership and a wretched and submissive followership always content on the crump from the table?

A leadership without the proverbial fire in the belly cannot dream greatness for the nation. A followership that resigns itself to the hopelessness sanctified by a fatalistic belief system cannot be the gadfly that leadership needs. And so we trudge on aimlessly and despondently, leading ourselves to believe that there is no greatness in our future.

That is, until such a time when one or a few of us defiantly challenge the tale that we tell about ourselves and inspire us to unlock the door of greatness in us and uncover the greatness in our future. They ask of that which is not, why it is not and then call upon the deep that inheres in them to bring it into existence.

Great leaders who leave behind enduring legacies work at greatness. They are disciplined and well-focused. They have no room for small-mindedness. They are dreamers.

The greatest need of our society, the most good we can do for its perpetuation, is to understand the psychology of the dreamers and visionaries among us and create more of them.

Regrettably, we have taken a different path, choosing to reward mediocrity and honour small-mindedness. Even the honour and merit systems we designed are crumbling under the weight of political and bureaucratic incompetence. We not only disparage high-achievers in positions of leadership, we also endeavor to ruin the reputation they build over a lifetime of commitment to goodness. Think of the Golden Era of the West and the inspirational leadership that wrought it.

These thoughts overwhelmed me as I read about the Eko Atlantic City Project and there comes gushing in an exciting stream of hope that the spirit of the 50s is once again beckoning us to greater heights. The first skyscraper was built with a similar vision. So was the first Olympic style stadium. And virgin land was turned into an industrial estate.

What the visionaries of the day saw as the greatness of our future, detractors saw as wastage of resources. And now we are reliving the same old intriguing tale of vision versus blindness, foresight versus shortsightedness.

The Eko Atlantic City initiative by the Lagos State Government under the visionary leadership of Governor Babatunde Raji

‘‘If we fail to change, our twilight will malign us. And in death, we shall lay rapt in the indecency of our lowly graves, our ears keen for the least abrasive diatribe we may get to treasure as the eulogies we never had’’

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Greatness in our future

•Fashola

‘What has motive got to do with this? Assume that Babatunde Fashola was motivated by self-interest, the question is whether the end result of the policy that he has put in place benefits the greatest number of people’

Fashola is becoming a reality even in our lifetime. The project, continuing the tradition of Public-Private Partnership for development, which the state government has launched in other areas, including transportation, has been described as an engineering marvel. Former United States President Bill Clinton saw it as “an ingenious engineering feat” and excitedly predicted that “there will be countless numbers of people coming here to study (it).” And for President Goodluck Jonathan, “Eko Atlantic City is bringing us happiness.” So the happiness that this project generates is supposed to be a bi-partisan one.

We should all be in celebratory mood in a renewed hope for a changing narrative. Why?

The pride and celebration that Eko Atlantic City project warrants is not just because it is a gigantic project. I can think of two more fundamental reasons. First, in the midst of our national malaise, with our disproportionate share of angst, we are now able to point to such “an ingenious engineering feat” as Bill Clinton describes it, coming out of the vision of an indigenous leadership. It is redemptive. It is a spirit-uplifting narrative.

Second, there is a more practical reason.

While the project has been described in idealistic terms, we must not forget the pragmatic dimensions that make it a worthwhile investment. Lagos has an estimated population of more than 15 million people and still

HARDBALL

OLATUNJI OLOLADE

growing. As a typical African population without the sense or discipline of population control, with a projected rate of growth of 2.7 per cent, Lagos is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Sound planning demands that adequate account be taken of the pain that comes with growing and appropriate steps taken to cushion its impact.

With a projected 250, 000 homes and offices on 10 million square meters of reclaimed land, this engineering feat, and idealistic city project is also a practical solution to a real problem.

In spite of the tangibility of its projected results, and the happiness that, in the words of the President, the project is bringing us, not everyone is in the mood for celebration.

In a rather caustic statement, the Lagos State branch of the PDP accused the state government of misplaced priorities with respect to the Eko Atlantic project. The party, well aware of the praises from President Jonathan and former president Clinton, implied that both presidents were simply ignorant about the intentions of Governor Fashola and his ACN administration. According to media reports, the PDP suggested that the reclamation of the beach was only done for selfish reasons.

Not being a utilitarian myself, I can see where the theory makes sense in this kind of context. What has motive got to do with this?

Assume that Babatunde Fashola was motivated by self-interest, the question is whether the end result of the policy that he has put in place benefits the greatest number of people. And while the answer to this kind of question cannot be fully known prior to the full implementation of the policy, a utilitarian would argue that we have history as reference. We cannot wait until after the fact to make a determination. If we do, we would never know what to do. The question is whether this kind of action or policy has the tendency to promote the most good. And the answer is yes, it does. And the Presidents are right.

Let us then celebrate our collective achievements in a bi-partisan spirit. Let us applaud the creative genius and the visionary leadership that gives us something that we “can be very proud of” even as we look forward to the successful completion of the project.

•For comments, send SMS to 08082036515

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Boko Haram abductions: The French approach

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N a terse statement issued shortly after Nigeria’s Boko Haram terror sect released a video recording of the seven French citizens its militants abducted from Northern Cameroun on February 19 and ferried to Nigeria, France has declared there would be no negotiation. Instead, said the statement, “France will use all possible means to secure the release of the hostages.” The statement is all the more interesting for the contemptuous manner it declared that “(France does) not negotiate on these bases with those groups.” In more than a dozen commentaries published in this place, Hardball had declared it was folly to negotiate with terrorists or kidnappers. Negotiating with Boko Haram, the column warned repeatedly, showed national weakness and mocked the memory of the innocent who were murdered in cold blood.

After considerable dithering, the President Goodluck Jonathan government finally decided to negotiate with Boko Haram if leaders of the terror group would show their faces. And as an example of good faith, the government persuaded the rest of the world not to declare the sect a terrorist organisation, arguing that it would hurt the country and its travelling citizens more than the terrorists. Analysts even supplied the government the theoretical foundation for its indecisiveness. They urged the

government to use stick and carrot approach to pacify the group and its splinter groups. Relying on economic arguments, they suggested that poverty triggered the uprising. During his recent visit to Nigeria, former United States President, Bill Clinton, also seemed to endorse this perspective, except that his endorsement was more nuanced.

This column will not revisit the arguments he had made in this place against negotiation. But he will restate the imperative of defeating the group before an economic rejuvenation plan is enunciated for the poor regions of the country. To do otherwise is to encourage alienated groups to levy war against the state in order to wring concessions out of the government. But much more than this, the outright dismissal of negotiation by the French is relevant to the discourse to the extent that it showed character in the face of both extreme danger and direct threat to the lives of French citizens. The implication is that France will use all means to free its citizens, but that even if it feared failure was a possibility, it would still not negotiate.

Nigeria needed to show this sort of steely resolve in the early days of the fight against terror. Instead, it displayed lack of national resoluteness in the face of danger. The country also showed lack of philosophical appreciation of what terror is all about and the dangerous

precedents negotiating with it could set for future generations.

By dismissing outright the possibility of negotiation, France indicated she would neither allow its policies to be undermined by fear nor its people and leaders to be blackmailed by terrorists.

More, she seemed conscious of the need to set a proud precedent for future generations, and to indicate that the country was ready to rigidly stand by lofty principles rather than by expediency, no matter the cost.

Instead of belittling the French approach, Nigeria should take a cue from that country’s spontaneous response, a spontaneity that by all considerations exhibits depth. Nigeria has seemed to stumble on what seemed to be a sensible approach against terror groups, but it is hoped that the tentative resolve to fight to the bitter end will not collapse in the face of Boko Haram raising the ante by indiscriminate and extensive projection of terror.

Nigeria will also hope that the rather desperate decision of the sect to embrace a tenuous ceasefire would not be jettisoned. However, it is hard not to feel that the government has kept on fighting, no matter how inexpertly, not because it hopes to win the war but because it expects that at a point, the terror sect would lose steam either through attrition or age.

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Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO