Newspaper of the Year
IBB disowns interim govt plot
Buhari: I won’t probe past govts
NEWS
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•Praises for Jega, Card Reader
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•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper
VOL. 10, NO. 3151 THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
•APC reopens campaign
NEWS
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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
•CA UGHT IN THE ACT •CAUGHT CT:: The suspects and some of the arms and ammunition recovered from their hideout in Ajia, Egbeda, Ibadan...yesterday. PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI
N150.00
•Mr. Omotoso reliving his ordeal...yesterday
Bad day for ‘kidnappers’ in Ibadan as police rescue man, 78
•P10
•INSIDE: ALLEGED N6B LOAN: POLICE REPORT ON SARAKI, OTHERS INCONCLUSIVE P6
Jonathan okays oil jobs for Tompolo, Fasehun, others Multi-billion pipelines contracts begin Monday NNPC: it’s in order
T
HE Federal Government is set to execute its new plan to safeguard the waterways and oil pipelines. The Presidency is believed to have directed the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to quit the job for some companies,
?
WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?
From Yusuf Alli, John Ofikhenua, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Bolaji Ogundele, Warri
which have been signed on by the government. The companies are owned by some former Niger Delta militants and prominent citizens. They include Government Tompolo; Mujaheedin Asari-Dokubo and Chief Bi-
pobiri Ajube (aka Gen. ShootAt-Sight). There is also founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun who said last night that his company was being considered for the multi-billion naira contract. The OPC National co-ordinator, Otunba Gani Adams,
who is also said to be part of the deal, declined comments last night, saying he was at a meeting. The takeover is said to be with effect from March 16. According to a source, seven companies have been allocated “regions” or operational areas as follows: Egbe Security River One (Bayelsa);
Gallery Security (Mosinmi Ore); Close Body Protection (Edo State); Adex Energy Security(Rivers) ; Donyx Global Concept(Lagos and Ogun); Oil Facilities Surveillance-(Delta) and New Age Global Security (MosinmiIbadan). The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
will coordinate the jobs. Details of the deal are sketchy as only few in government are in the picture. A source said: “The socalled new deal for the protection of waterways has not been made known to members of the Federal ExContinued on page 4
Anxiety in PDP over Mu’azu T
HERE was anxiety yesterday over Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Mu’azu’s job. It was widely rumoured that the party chief had resigned.
•‘Pressure on chairman not to resign’ From Imam Bello, Abuja
Mu’azu could not be reached for comments last night. A source said the situation was unclear, adding
that PDP leaders were battling to stop “a major division” in the party ahead of the March 28 presidential election.
The source spoke of panic at the Presidential Villa, following Mu’azu’s “resignation”. He was quoted to have said: “I am no more part of
you. Fani-Kayode and Ayo Fayose have destroyed all our campaign strategies. They have turned PDP to an opposition party.” The Nation reported on Continued on page 4
•MOROCCO RECALLS AMBASSADOR FROM NIGERIA OVER PHONE CALL ROW P60
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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NEWS
Southwest •Knocks for PDP governors over meeting in Lagos
T •From left: Senior Adviser, Europe/Africa, Shell International, Mr. Rob Donnelly; Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell (Nigeria), Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Dalhatu Tafida; ex-MD, SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu and Senior Business Advisor to the MD, SPDC, Mr. Ed Ubong during a business visit to the High Commissioner in London.
HE battle for the Southwest geo-political zone is on. Apart from President Goodluck Jonathan and many ministers who have literarily relocated to the region, some governors under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also in Lagos two days ago to complement the President’s strategic move. Partisan meetings were held with various groups critical to the general elections. The governors met with indigenes of their states resident in Lagos to sway their support for the President and the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, at the polls. But, more importantly, the governors held a session with the media and civil society groups at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island. The governors took turns to explain to their audience why Nigerians should not vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the rescheduled March 28 presidential election.
Desperate moves
•Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (second left); Director, Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), Mr. Jon Wood (left); GCERF’s Executive Director, Dr. Khalid Koser (second right) and Director, Planning, Research and Strategy, NOA, Mr. Bonat Tagwai after an advocacy visit of the GCERF to NOA Office in Abuja...yesterday.
Apart from meeting with residentsettlers, especially, people from the Southeast, Southsouth and the North, the President received last weekend, a controversial royal blessing at IleIfe, the cradle of the Yoruba. His endorsement was by selected monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. The President also extended his homage to the palace of Ijesa monarch, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran. But many eminent Yoruba sons and daughters have objected to the endorsement, which they said, underscored the insensitivity of some monarchs to the legitimate aspirations of their subjects. According to the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF), the 12 governors who stormed Lagos, because they believe, it is the seat of the media. Besides, Lagos is also the headquarters of civil society organisations. But, a source said that the battle for the Southwest has assumed a new dimension, following the realisation that the region may be the deciding factor in the presidential poll.
Permutations
•From left: Head, Marketing Information Systems, Edusoft Associates Limited; Mr. Anindya Bhanja; Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN),Alhaji Rasaq Jimoh; Consultant to Heyday School, Mr. Blankson Osim; Head Teacher, Heyday School, Mrs. Oludayo Ayantuji; and Director, Training, Edusoft Associates Limited, Mr. Devesh Varrier at a seminar organised by Edusoft Associates on "Tackling Maths Phobia in Schools" in Lagos.
•From left: An official of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Mr. Balogun Olawunmi; Deputy Director Safety Skills Development Department, Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Mr. Adeyinka Adebiyi; an official of Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, Mr. Sunday Olojede; Chief Technical Officer, LSSC, Mrs. Funto Aina; an official of Yourba Tennis Club, Mr. Andrew Aghagbon and an official of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Mr. Kamal Buhari at a one-day capacity building on safety management system, fire PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL prevention and control at the LSSC Training Hall, Magodo, Lagos.
The calculation is that, since the North may give a bloc vote to Gen. Buhari, the President is left with no other option than to rely on votes from Southsouth and Southeast, while also struggling frantically for substantial votes in the Southwest. But, many civil rights activists, who witnessed the session, were not impressed by the score card of the President as tendered by the PDPGF chair, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State. Many of them have dissected the polity before in radio and television analysis and rated Jonathan’s administration as an inept government that has not lived up to expectation in the last six years. They described the meeting as a mere political jamboree as 99 per cent of those who attended were PDP governors, government officials and their aides. Instead of addressing issues that will sustain democratic values and national development in relation with the theme of the town hall meeting, the governors used the occasion to attack the APC and its presidential standard bearer. Rather than tell the audience what the PDP has in store to develop in the next four years, the governors were busy casting aspersions on the leadership of APC. Before he read his keynote address, Akpabio called for a moment of si-
By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor and Leke Salaudeen Assistant Editor
lence in memory of the martyrs of democracy. One of the pro-democracy crusaders told reporters that the governor was playing to the gallery.
Playing to the gallery “Has the PDP defended the democratic legacies of the fallen heroes of democracy? These people, except, may be Sule Lamido, the governor of Jigawa State, were not part of the struggle. Thus, they do not have the right vision of leadership,” he said. The rights activist added: “If there is electricity, if we have good roads, if there are jobs, if corruption has been dealt with and insurgency has been curbed in time, the President will be perceived as a performer. What they sought to do was to divide the media and the civil society. The tactics may not work because stakeholders are wiser.” Another rights’ crusader said: “The session was not properly organised. The participants were carefully selected. Only pro-Jonathan activists, who are vocal, and have grudges against the Lagos government were attracted. There was no questions and answers session.
Season of doublespeak In fact, one of the senior journalists said that they wasted their time because they were not given opportunity to ask questions. PDP governors said that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos has not performed. But, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu once came to Lagos and praised Fashola to high heavens. He even urged others to come and learn good governance because Fashola is a model. Now, the same governors came to Lagos to say that Lagos is not working. Can people take them seriously?” Southwest APC Director of Publicity Mr. Ayo Afolabi said the PDP has further incurred the anger of the people of the region, adding that the governors insulted the sensibilities of Lagosians. Afolabi said: “I am sure that indigenes of their states who live in Lagos hold a contrary opinion to their vituperations. They reeled out many achievements in aviation and transportation. They cleverly omitted the pressing issues. “They did not tell the people the achievement of the President in the areas of power, job creation and anticorruption battle. They are just attacking the personality of Gen. Buhari. Is that how to win votes from the Southwest?” he queried. In Afolabi’s view, the best strategy that can work in the Southwest is for the President to list his achievements in the zone and ask the people to judge his government, based on his feats. “But, the truth of the matter is that he has none. They say they are doing the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, but for how long? The Jonathan administration has marginalised the Yoruba in the distribution of political appointments and social amenities. They are now invading the region because they need our votes. Our people are not fools. This is a highly educated, enlightened, and politically conscious region. They will always reject inept government and vote for performance,” he added.
Same old tricks The APC spokesman urged the political class to learn from the tragedy of a ruling party that got overwhelm-
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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MAY 29 ...78 DAYS TO GO
impenetrable for PDP, say APC leaders
•Akpabio
ing support four years ago, only for it to be running from pillar to post in a bid for a second term. Afolabi said while the Southwest voted for Dr. Jonathan in 2011, he betrayed the trust by turning his back at the region for six years. He added: “President Jonathan has visited the Southwest in one month more than his total visits to the region in six years. He is visiting the Yoruba people just for votes and not to proffer solutions to their problems. He has been tested and he cannot be trusted.”
Wrong approach Second Republic Senator Ayo Fasanmi said the PDP’s style of wooing the Southwest is wrong, adding that propaganda will fail. Noting that the governors also said that the President has promised to implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, he said there was nothing to implement. The deputy leader of Afenifere said: “Gone were the days when our people can be deceived by those who do not mean well for us. How can the Yoruba reject the APC, whose governors are performing in the Southwest. If President
•Mamora
•Sen. Fasanmi
Jonathan cannot perform in six years, there is no assurance that the renewal of his mandate for another four years will not be a waste,” he added. Lagos State APC led by Chief Oladele Ajomale berated the governors for a shortfall in historical perception. The party said that lying has never endured in the Southwest and warned that the PDP antics will not work during the general elections. APC Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said it was curious that PDP governors have rejected the use of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in preference for the Temporary Voters’ Cards (TVCs).
Last-minute brigandage He said: “PDP governors are afraid of elections. They know that the ruling party cannot win the March 28 election. They came to Lagos to canvass for the use of TVCs instead of PVCs. The fear of losing the election brought them to Lagos to do a lastminute brigandage and bravado. There is no hope for the PDP any longer. I saw the morbid fear in their eyes as they beat about the bush in
Lagos in the name of PDP Governors’ Forum. They will soon come to terms with the reality that Gen. Buhari is Nigeria’s next President.” Civil right activist, Mr Kunle Adebayo who attended the progamme told our correspondent that he was highly disappointed with all that transpired at the so called interactive session. He said: “My expectation was that the occasion would opportune the PDP governors to present a robust programme of what the party intends to offer this country if it wins the presidential election. I thought they will come up with ideas that will further deepen democracy and galvanise economic development. "I can't imagine that a forum organised by governors could be lacking in intellectual discourse. Look at the speech of Governor Fayose of Ekiti State. It was full of motor park language. Some of the governors who spoke contradicted themselves and lied in their presentations. I left the place without gaining anything.”
APC campaign office to Governor Aliyu: you’re a serial liar
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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) yesterday joined issues with Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu for making a wild allegation about its presidential standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. It accused the governor of being an incurable liar who should never be taken seriously by any right-thinking person. APCPCO was reacting through its spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu to a report credited to the governor that Gen. Buhari signed a single-tenure pact with the leadership of the APC. According to Shehu, the governor’s allegation was a figment of his imagination, jaundiced, ill-motivated and irresponsible. He said that Aliyu has made a bad career of misguided claims of this nature in which he presents himself as a clairvoyant fly, perching on the walls of political meetings across the country.
From Tony Akowe, Abuja
•Igbokwe
Southwest votes not for sale APC chieftain Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said the PDP governors are free to say whatever they want to say but no amount of sentiments will change the minds of the Yoruba from voting for Gen. Buhari on March 28. The former minority leader in the senate said: “I can assure you that no amount of money will change the political direction of the Southwest. I can assure you that the Yoruba has taken a wise decision to vote for change as represented by Gen. Buhari. You can't hoodwink the Yoruba people, they are too sophisticated to all the wool to be pulled on their eyes. The Yoruba have already decided on whom to vote for. “The Yoruba know whom they want and who will promote their interests within the Nigerian enterprise,” Mamora added. A lawyer, Mr Okey Nwabueze dismissed the PDP interactive session as a show of shame. “If they have organised the forum to seek votes in the Southwest, then
that plan is dead on arrival,” he said. Nwabueze went on: “My understanding of an interactive forum is for both the organisers and the participants to engage themselves in exchang of ideas that will benefit both parties. “I am surprised that the PDP governors could not use that opportunity to show case their achievements and tell the electorate what the party will do for them if reelected. Instead they used the occasion to denigrate the APC manifesto and its presidential candidate. If anything, the programme has boosted the chances of the APC and the popularity of Gen. Buhari.” He accused the PDPPCO chairman of trivialising issues by claiming that the APC was responsible for the persistent power outage that disrupted the programme even when Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo was in attendance. “In fact at a stage, I had to tune off my television set because the programme was nothing to write home about,” he said.
‘
When has this governor of a grossly underdeveloped state suddenly become a clairvoyant, who knows what obtains in places where he was never been present or represented? Is he an APC member? If not, how and where did he get his information from? And what Northern Nigeria is he representing
The APCPCO dismissed the governor’s recent “vituperation and insinuation as the outbursts of a perpetual rabble-rouser, amateurish ethnoreligious propagandist and unrepentant mischief-maker bent on stocking division and disaffection in the APC. He said the APCPCO was not surprised at Governor Aliyu’s blatant lies, considering that he has also been at the centre of controversy of being in possession of a letter in which his party’s presidential candidate (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) signed a one-term pact with governors of the ruling party. His words: “When has this governor of a grossly underdeveloped state suddenly become a clairvoyant, who knows what obtains in places where he was never been present or rep“Nigerians are wiser now and they resented? Is he an APC member? If not, how and where did he get his information from? And know what to do come March 28 and April 11. For the time being, our suggestion to what Northern Nigeria is he representing? Governor Babangida is that he should use
‘
•Aliyu
the balance of his time in office to right a few wrongs in his state, currently adjudged as the most lacking in the North when it comes to development.”
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
NEWS Anxiety in PDP
I won’t canvass votes for Jonathan, says Danjuma
Continued from page 1
Tuesday that a new crisis had broken out in the ruling party, sparked by the party’s presidential campaign organisation’s and First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan’s attacks on some of the North’s prominent politicians. The hate campaign has ignited a row between President Jonathan and Mu’azu. Specifically, Mu’azu and other Northern leaders in the PDP have kicked against the unrestrained vulgar attacks by the First Lady and Jonathan’s campaign spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, against All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Mu’azu and other party chieftains are said to have taken exception to Mrs. Jonathan referring to Gen. Buhari as being “brain dead”.
F
ORMER Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma yesterday declared that he would not canvass support for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan. Danjuma visited the President at his official residence in the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday. The philanthropist, who also heads the government’s Victims’ Support Fund, stressed that he is not a politician. He spoke with reporters after about 10 minutes discussion with the President. Asked what he discussed with the president, he said: “Confidential. Don’t specu-
•President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Chairman, Victims Support Fund, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, during his visit to the President’s residence ...yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN
Buhari: I won’t probe past govts
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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday began its final push to take the presidency from President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples emocratic Party (PDP). A Northwest rally was held in Kaduna, the first public rally by the APC presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, since the elections were postponed. The polls billed for February 14 and 28 were shifted by six weeks. They will now hold on March 28 and April 11. At the rally, Gen. Buhari vowed not to probe previous governments, if he is elected. The venue of the rally was changed at the last minute, as the Kaduna State Government prevented the APC from using the state-owned Murtala Square. The rally was shifted to the permanent site of the Kaduna International Trade and Investments Centre along Zaria road. However, the crowd at the centre created a heavy traffic along the ever-busy Kaduna/ Kano highway as the candidate struggled through the heavy
From Tony Akowe and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
traffic to get to the venue. An official of the APC in the state and a member of the Media and publicity of the APC campaign, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, told The Nation when asked why they were refused the use of the Square, that “they said it is security reasons”. Buhari arrived the venue of the rally at about 4.30pm in an open coastal box, clad in a sky blue babariga accompanied by a large number of supporters who had to walk for about four kilometres to the venue of the rally. The Presidential candidate of the APC promised not to probe any past leader but will allow the judicial process to run its full course in all cases relating to corruption. According to Gen. Buhari, anyone who embezzles even a single kobo afterwards, will not only be made to refund it, but will face prosecution as from May 29, 2015 if he becomes president. He lamented the high level of corruption in the PDP-led administration. Gen. Buhari, a former Head
of State, reminded the crowd that public treasury belongs to the entire citizen and it should be used to improve the wellbeing of the people by providing good health care delivery, improving the education sector and power among others. The presidential candidate urged APC members and stakeholders to vote for all the party’s candidates. He told them not to be deceived by the admonitions of PDP elements who are preaching selective voting in the different strands of the election. ‘’They have been in power for 16 years and yet they want us to hand them another four years. At the end of the four years that they are seeking for, they would have spent 20 years in power and we would have been so dehumanized that that we can’t even recognize each other,’’ Buhari pointed out. The APC candidate lamented that industries have collapsed and the few ones that are still operating are doing so at a huge cost owing to lack of electricity, adding that ‘’almost all small businesses have folded up.’’
Professor Yemi Osibanjo, Buhari’s running mate, also spoke in Hausa when he admonished APC supporters to vote the party’s candidates all the way. ‘’APC sak, APC sak, APC,sak’’, he said and the crowd chorused after him. Gen. Buhari and his entourage held a rally from Constitution road, through Independence way, before branching off to Ali Akilu way . The entourage inched its way slowly to Kawo, with Gen. Buhari and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso waving supporters from the open roof of his Sports Utility Vehicle. Dignitaries that graced the occasion included National Chairman Chief John OdigieOyegun, North West Vice Chairman, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Governor Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto state and Governor Abdul Azeez Yari of Zamfara state. Governorship candidates of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El Rufai, Kebbi State Senator Atiku Bagudu, Kano State Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and Katsina State Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari were present.
From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
late. I came to visit the president and find out how things are going. I have been abroad. I just came back.” On whether he will canvass support for votes for the president, he said: “I don’t canvass. I am not in any of the political parties. The president is Nigeria’s president.” Gen Danjuma recently called on the president to call some ex-militants who were making what he considered inflammatory comments to order. But the ex-Niger Delta militant verbally attacked him as someone living on the sweat of the oil being produced in the Niger Delta.
Amaechi’s brother hospitalised after machete attack by thugs
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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s younger brother was yesterday attacked by machete-wielding youths in his room at the Igbinedion University, Benin City, the Edo State capital. Chidi Adi Amaechi was injured in his head and arms. He is being treated at an undisclosed hospital. The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it is difficult to see the attack on the younger Amaechi and other people with relationship to the party as “mere happenstance”. It described the attack on the
By Olukorede Yishau
governor’s brother as “freaky”. In a statement in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party added that the killing of nine APC members in two incidents in Rivers on Saturday night raised a very serious concern about the motive of the killings. It said the fact that all those killed, including five at the DLine of Port Harcourt and four along the Eastern By-Pass in the Marine Base near the state capital, were members of the APC Continued on page 60
Babangida: I’m not plotting interim govt with anybody
F
ORMER Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday denied plotting an Interim National Government with anybody or group. He said the circumstances which led to the formation of ING in 1993 were totally different from today’s. He also sought support for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, and his team for the courage they have shown in preparing for elections on March 28 and April 11.
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
He said he had no doubt that the elections will hold on the appointed dates - in line with INEC’s assurances. Gen. Babangida, however, asked Nigerians to appreciate the creativity and innovation of the card reader which INEC has introduced to make for credibility and transparency. Gen. Babangida, in a statement by his Media Office, said his thoughts were shared with former South Africa President Continued on page 60
Fed Govt awards security contracts to ex-militants Continued from page 1
ecutive Council, unlike in the past.
“Maybe this is an ad hoc arrangement to achieve a political purpose because some exNiger Delta militants on January 24 met at the Government House, Yenagoa and vowed to declare war if President Goodluck Jonathan does not win the March 28 election. “Asari Dokubo specifically said: “We are going to war. Every one of you should go and fortify yourself.” Responding to a question, the source added: “These former Niger Delta militants are benefiting from all manner of pipeline protection contracts. “Apart from being on retainership with NIMASA, I am aware that in 2009, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette presented a memo on December 2, 2009 to the Federal Executive Council for the award of the N1.8billion Kurutie Shoreline Protection and Reclamation contract. “A company, KFT Kpudoh, allegedly owned by Tompolo and another called Phoenica Nigeria Limited, bid for the said contract.” Based on the advice of the
NNPC: contracts are for community-based firms
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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday admitted the award and renewal of Pipeline Protection Contracts to community-based. It said contracts were designed to combat the growing scourge of pipeline sabotage. But the corporation was silent on the firms and the owners of such companies. The NNPC made the clarification in a statement by the Group General Manager,Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe. The statement said “In a bid to effectively combat the growing scourge of pipeline sabotage that has impacted negatively on its operations, the Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the renewal and extension of the pipeline protection contract to some of its host communities. “Explaining the rationale behind the renewal of the contract which was first awarded in 2011, the Corporation stated
Bureau of Public Procurement, after a thorough technical audit, the Shoreline Protection and Reclamation Contract was awarded to Phoenica Nigeria Limited by FEC. But the award of the contract to Phoenica fetched Akaette death threats. The government later reviewed the contract.”
From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
that there has been a noticeable increase in the spate of attacks on crude oil, products, and gas pipelines since the expiration of the first community-based contract in 2012 leading to frequent production shutins and deferrals of gas supply to power plants. “The pipeline protection contract is part of our community engagement programme across our host communities aimed at getting community members to help in the task of protecting the pipelines around their communities. “It would be recalled that while the earlier pipeline protection contract to the communities which lasted from 2011 to 2012 subsisted, breaches to our pipelines were minimal which conduced to the rise in production. “The recent rise in the frequency and intensity of willful attacks on our pipelines dictates that we step up our community engagement programme to help stem the
A source in Warri, Delta State, said the contract for pipelines in Delta State would be executed by Oil Field Surveillance Limited, the same company, which had previously handled it. It is owned by Tompolo. “What I was told is that it has been awarded for Delta, Edo,
tide of the pipeline vandalism scourge. “In the current programme, we have not only renewed the contracts for the three initial community-based companies involved in the 2011 contract, we have extended the programme to five other community-based companies in other states where we have a high concentration of pipelines stretching from the Niger Delta to the Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States. “The contracts do not in any way obviate or undermine the responsibility of the police and other security agencies to protect the pipelines. “They are actually designed to complement the work of the security agencies by raising the alarm and drawing the attention of security agencies to any suspicious movements around the pipelines right of way,” the Corporation stated. It called on the media and other members of the public to desist from reading political meanings to the Corporation’s operations.”
Ondo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Lagos and Ogun states. Like the one of Lagos State, I learnt it’s being anchored by Dr Frederick Fasshun and that it’s going to commence on Monday,” the source said. The NSCDC Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operation, Evans Ewuurum,
said the corps was yet to receive any circular on the contracts. Nigeria has been battling with huge revenue due to vandalism of oil and gas pipeline. The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, recently disclosed that Nigeria had been losing an estimated
•Dr. Jonathan
100,000 barrels of crude oil valued at N1.18 billion daily to oil thieves. This amounts to an annual loss of N433.62 billion. The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said pipeline vandalism led to shortage of gas for firing power plants. The electricity market, which has 5,500MW installed capacity now generates an average of 3,575.85MW following paucity of gas as vandals who always strike whenever the sector is about to hit 4,500MW”.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
NEWS
Court documents fault YDP’s claim on inclusion in polls
C
ONTRARY to the claim by Young Democratic Party (YDP), the Federal High Court, Abuja did not order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to include it in the next general elections. The party had claimed that the court ordered INEC to reflect its name and candidates in ballot papers during the next general election in view of the finding by Justice Ahmed Mohammed that it was qualified to be issued a registration certificate. YDP also threatened to push for the postponement of the March 28 and April 11 elections should INEC fails to make provision for its candidates in the elections. Yesterday, The Nation sighted a copy of the judgment in the suit delivered on March 4, 2015. The judge only made four orders, which did not include directing INEC to accommodate YDP in the ballot papers for the next elections. The judge held as follows: •It is hereby declared that
Air Force to assist FRSC From Bukola Amusan, Abuja
T
HE Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, has pledged to complement the operational activities of the Federal Road Safety Corps through the provision of air ambulances to enhance the corps’ rescue services. Speaking during a visit by the FRSC management team led by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi to his office, the Chief of Air Staff described road safety as a collective responsibility. He praised the FRSC management for its massive deployment of information communication technology infrastructure for road safety management and traffic administration. He also promised to visit and inspect facilities at the National Hospital’s Helipad to enable seamless evacuation of road traffic crash victims from scenes of road crashes and landing of air ambulances at the hospital.
Osinbajo, others for book launch on lawyers
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HE vice presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will tomorrow lead dignitaries as special guest of honour to present a book: “For the love of their nation - Lawyers as agents of change in Nigeria”, written by a judicial reporter, Mustapha Ogunsakin. The book is a compendium of interviews, profiles and contributions to national development by foremost Nigerian lawyers as written by the journalist in his 22 years of practice. Others expected at the event are the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; Ondo State Attorney General Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN; his Lagos counterpart, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Mr. Dele Adesina SAN; AIG Tunde Ogunsakin and Skye Bank Chairman Otunba Tunde Ayeni, who is the book presenter. The event holds at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos at 10am.
•Lawyer: INEC can’t accommodate new party
From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
the defendant (INEC) has no reason whatsoever to refuse to issue the plaintiff with its certificate of registration, being that the plaintiff (YDP) was deemed registered as a political party by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly Section 78(4), and also considering the letter of submission of application dated March 17, 2014; •It is hereby declared that the defendant has no reason whatsoever to refuse to issue the plaintiff with its certificate of registration, being that the plaintiff was deemed registered as a political party by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly Section 78(4), and also considering the letter from the defendant to the plaintiff, dated August 13, 2014 titled: Re: Application for registration as political party; •An order is also made directing the defendant to issue the plaintiff with its certificate of registration; and •Parties are to bear their own cost. Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon, has the party’s claim “is baseless and untenable.” Hon advised the YDP to prepare for the 2019 general elections because it was no
longer practicable for INEC to include it in this year’s elections. The senior lawyer, who argued that no court would compel INEC to allow YDP participate in this year’s elections, advised the electoral umpire to swiftly appeal the March 4 judgment if indeed Justice Mohammed ordered the party’s inclusion in this year’s elections. Hon said: “We all woke up last week to read in the press that a Federal High Court had ordered the YDP to be registered. Fine, such orders are within the constitutional powers of the Federal High Court to make. “But the disturbing aspect to this new development is the ambitious claim by the party to a right of participation in the March and April, 2015 general elections. This claim, to say the least, is baseless and untenable. “In the first place, the statutory timelines permitted for political parties to conduct primary elections and submit the names of their nominated candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can never be met by the YDP; no matter the legal and factual alchemy it deploys to its use. “For instance, Section 85 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as
amended) has, in very mandatory terms, stipulated that any registered political party wishing to conduct nomination of candidates for any general election must give the INEC at least 21 days’ notice for such designated nomination exercise. Twenty-one days from now will go well beyond and, therefore, scuttle the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.” “Also, Section 31(1) of the same Electoral Act, again using absolutely mandatory language, requires every political party to, ‘not later than 60 days before the date appointed for a general election under the provisions of this Act, submit to the Commission in the prescribed forms the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.’ “If 21 days are added to 60 days, we have 81 days, only nine (9) days short of three months. This means that not even the May 29 handover day, which President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly promised is sacrosanct, will be feasible. This cannot be, I most firmly submit. “The claim by the YDP to be qualified to participate in the imminent general elections, therefore, pines away
under the weight of the Electoral Act, 2010. “Not even the INEC or any court of law is competent to postpone the general elections beyond the May 29 handover date, as such power lies only in the National Assembly - yet, only upon Section 135(3) of the constitution being complied with. “Indeed, Section 87(11) of the Electoral Act strongly prohibits the courts from stopping ‘the holding of primaries or general election under this Act pending the determination of the suit.’ “The legislature must be commended for enacting provisions like section 87(11) of the Electoral Act, which have, unknown to many Nigerians, helped to nip in the bud obnoxious ex-parte orders that would have clearly jeopardised our electoral process. “It is trite law that no right, be it fundamental or ordinary, is above the country or nation, which has secured or guaranteed such right. “Thus, in Badejo vs. Minister of Education (1996) 9-10 SCNJ 51, the applicant who was a candidate in the national common entrance examination had sued and sought for an interim injunction seeking to stop the entire examination because the cut-off points for
her zone were higher than other zones. She reasoned that this discriminatory policy, which was based on the quota system, was unconstitutional. “The Supreme Court dismissed her quest for injunction, holding that by doing so, the fate of the entire country would be made to lie in her hands. It concluded that no fundamental right is above the entire country. “Kutigi, J.S.C., who delivered the lead judgment, held quite firmly thus: ‘A fundamental right is certainly a right which stands above the ordinary laws of the land, but I venture to say that no fundamental right should stand above the country, state or the people.’ “I quite surely submit here, therefore, that the YDP has no right to participate in the general elections and that even if it has such right, the nation must take priority over such right. “This means that to stop in any way and by any means the holding of such elections at the behest of the YDP will amount to standing our constitutional jurisprudence on the head. This cannot and should not be. Rather, the YDP should prepare very well, given the enormous time available to it, to participate in the 2019 general elections. “If per chance the Federal High Court had ordered the INEC to include the YDP in the forthcoming general elections, the INEC should immediately appeal against that judgment and seek a stay of execution. “Once these steps are taken, the May 29 handover date firmly promised by our dear President will remain sacrosanct,” Hon said.
FEC meeting cancelled From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja
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•Wife of the vice presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (right) and physically challenged athletes at a parley at the National Stadium, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL
HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting did not hold yesterday in Abuja. The weekly meeting starts by 10am every Wednesday with the president or his representative presiding. No official reason was given for the cancellation. But the cancellation may have been for the March 28 presidential election in which President Goodluck Jonathan is running.
No evidence linking Boko Haram to ISIS, says Fed Govt
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HE Federal Government said yesterday it does not have any evidence yet linking Boko Haram with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, who spoke with reporters with other security chiefs, said it was an act of desperation by the Boko Haram sect to be identifying with the ISIS. “It can best be described as an act of sympathy and desperation by the sect to be identifying with ISIS; it is unacceptable. “We wish to state that there is no evidence that the IS operates in Nigeria and the latest attempt by Boko Haram to identify with the group is an act of desperation aimed at seeking attention and possible assistance from outside in the face of the crushing defeat they
•Troops recover 36 towns
From Bukola Amusan, Abuja
are suffering in the hands of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other regional collaborators. “The fact of the matter is that Nigeria and her neighbours are pushing the insurgents away from their strongholds, capturing many of them and destroying several of their facilities,” he said. Omeri added that the government would do everything within its powers to sustain the fight against Boko Haram while also striving to get back the remaining lost territories. His words: “We wish to assure Nigerians that this tempo will be sustained until every presence of Boko Haram insurgency is totally obliterated in Nigeria. “The only nation that will
exist in Nigeria is a united Federal Republic of Nigeria, which demands the cooperation, commitment and patriotism of all its citizens,” he said. On the clampdown on Maiduguri and other targets, Omeri urged members of the public to remain very vigilant in public and business places as well as motor parks. He said: “In our previous alerts to the nation, we warned of the possibility that fleeing members of the insurgent group would resort to attacking communities and other soft targets on their way. “We continue to urge Nigerians to exercise extra-vigilance, especially at this period when our security forces continue to fish out members of the group who might have been embedded in the society, and whose activities have
given rise to the recent bombing incidents within Maiduguri and other locations in the Northeast zone. “The Federal Government strongly reminds all Nigerians to exercise more scrutiny of persons and movements, especially within their areas of business and worship. “Motor-park and market managers must step up the level of security within their business premises, while religious authorities need to put in place more effective security cordon around places of worship to ensure the safety of the adherents,” he said. Omeri added that as the protocols guiding the various regional co-operations and alliances continue to materialise, Nigerian military forces, with the assistance of the nation’s neighbours, have continued to record more successes in the recovery and liberation of more
locations in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. He said the territories, which have been retaken since Friday, include Marte, Mafa and Damasak (Borno State) as well as Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Local Government Area and Buni Gari, Yobe State, bringing the number of towns recovered to 36. Omeri added that field reports indicated that Nigerian soldiers were determined to clear Boko Haram from the entire zone in a short while. He praised the efforts of Nigeria’s allies from Chad, Niger and Cameroun for putting in place measures to cutoff the supply lines of the terrorists. The coordinator hoped that the unfolding regional cooperation would hasten the total defeat and extermination of Boko Haram from the sub-region.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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NEWS Buhari won’t dictate, says Osinbajo From Tony Akowe and AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
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ICE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has affirmed that the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was seeking to serve the nation and not to dictate. He urged Nigerians to be weary of individuals speaking derogatory words about fellow human beings. Prof. Osinbajo, who spoke at a town hall meeting with Christian and Muslim leaders in Kaduna on behalf of Buhari, said Nigerians must put religious sentiments aside and rise above the vicious circle of lies being put forward by propagandists. He stressed that leadership was not a one man show, saying: “We have to work together and must come together, putting religious sentiments aside and rise above the vicious lies” by the propagandists. On the rumoured agreement by Buhari to serve only one term, he said the APC presidential candidate would never sign any such agreement. The vice presidential candidate quoted Buhari as saying: “I would like to solemnly declare that in spite of what our detractors say, I am not a religious fanatic of any sort and I have never been. In all my life, I have never supported extremism of any kind and nowhere in my record of service to our nation can this false toga which political detractors have tried so hard to put on me be substantiated.” APC presidential candidate reiterated that he came as an individual to serve and not to dictate as a president, adding: “If given the opportunity, I nurture no ambition to Islamise the country, either is my running-mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo nursing any ulterior agenda to Christianise the country… “In most sincerity of heart, I urged you all to have a discerning mind, double check any individual who speaks about another person in ways derogatory to the dignity of a human being. Surely, our faiths preach against backbiters and gossips. I enjoin all of us to exhibit the virtue of tolerance.” But, Prof. Osinbajo, while responding to questions from the religious leaders, said Gen. Buhari would not leave any stone unturned in his quest to sanitise the country and end culture of corruption and insecurity. He said Gen. Buhari as President would not hesitate to bring to book even members of his family that are found to have soiled their hands in corruption. Responding to a question about the rumoured agreement by Buhari to serve only one term, he said: “You know who Buhari is and what he stands for. You know that he will never sign any such agreement. By the grace of God, he will run two term in office by God’s grace.”
DSS restores Tambuwal’s security aides From Yusuf Alli, Abuja
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FTER almost five months, the Department of State Security Service yesterday restored the security aides of the House of Representatives’ Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal. The police and security aides of the Speaker were withdrawn on October 30 last year following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Speaker had since then relied on Sergeant-at-arms, officers and men of the Civil Defence Corps for protection. Findings, however, revealed that the Speaker returned from a trip to Abuja at about 5pm yesterday only to meet his security aides from the DSS. It was however learnt that the police aides have not been restored as at press time by the Inspector General of the Police, Suleiman Abba.
•The Founder, Resurrection Praise Ministry for Africa, Archbishop Samuel Benjamin (middle), leading road walk to protest an alleged propaganda of some politicians against Christian leaders in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Jonathan to meet emirs over re-election
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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is rushing to emirs in a last–ditch effort to win the March 28 election. He is scheduled to meet with the monarchs tomorrow in Kaduna to make what a source described as a “strong case” for his re-election. The president will move to Adamawa State, for the third time in three months, to salvage the dwindling chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), occasioned by the cracks in the party’s structure. He will meet three emirs/ traditional rulers from each of the 19 states in the North, The Nation learnt. Some of the royal fathers arrived in Abuja yesterday en route Kaduna. A source, who spoke in confidence, said the president was worried that his chances in the North were get-
From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
ting slimmer. Out of the three geopolitical zones in the North, Jonathan has not been having it easy in the Northwest and Northeast, despite having a vice president from the North. The game appears even between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in North-Central, with the opposition stronger in Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and Plateau. It was learnt that Jonathan has decided to take his destiny in his own hands by reaching out to the emirs. Although the president has two of the respected emirs covertly coordinating for his plans, it was gathered that he felt it was “politically safe
enough” for him to address the larger body. A source said: “The penetration of the North and the Southwest has been a Herculean task for the president. This time around, the president has offered to discuss with emirs to clear allegations of shortchanging the North with another four years in office; alteration of the nation’s unwritten power rotation formula; marginalisation of the North; and to canvass the need to allow him have a second term in office. “He will also use the opportunity to explain what he had done for the North, especially the Almajiri project; Boko Haram; and he will table his plans for the region, if re-elected.” Another source said: “The president needs to earn the confidence of the emirs following recent utterances
of First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, who accused the North of rearing children without taking care of them, but only to turn them into Almajiri (miscreants). “The anger in the North over First Lady’s comments was much, to the extent that the president might need to apologise for such campaign oversight.” It was not immediately clear if most of the emirs will honour the invitation or not. A traditional ruler said: “Well, the president wants to meet with us in Kaduna on Friday as he has done in some geopolitical zones. “Three emirs from each of the 19 states will attend the session. We are going to listen to him. But you know that some of us are non-partisan.”
Alleged N6b loan: Police report on Saraki, others inconclusive
From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
•Senator Saraki
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HE police investigation of former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, Toyin Pinheiro and three others for alleged N6 billion loan has not been concluded contrary to some reports, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation in the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, who said this yesterday, added that the report of the investigation is undergoing “a further review.” The DDPP also said the “review must be conducted before any further action is taken.” Saraki and others, including some banks, were implicated in a N11 billion loan with the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. Following a thorough negotiation with the then CBN appointed Lai Mahmoud Alabi management of Intercontinental Bank Plc, about N6 billion was written off and documents for the collaterals for the loan handed over to Saraki. But since Saraki blew the whistle on the oil subsidy scandal, some
forces had called for investigation into how the N6 billion was written off by a CBN-appointed management. Investigation revealed that in the last three years, there had been continuous probe of the circumstances behind Intercontinental Bank’s decision to write off the said N6 billion. On October 9, 2012, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mrs. O.O. Fatunde, said it would be “improper and unjust” to hold Saraki, Pinheiro or the companies advanced the loans for the internal actions and decisions of the Intercontinental Bank.” Despite the opinion of the DPP, the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police, Lagos came up with a report on another investigation on March 10, 2014. The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, however, said it was still reviewing the report. According to findings by The Nation, the DDPP had since March 26, 2014 notified the Inspector-General of Police to forward the “entire case file to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.” The letter, signed by the DDPP, Haruna Isa Alabi, reads in part: “I am directed to write and inform you that the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requests that you forward the entire case file and findings concerning this matter to our office. “This is to enable us ascertain that the evidence presented against the
accused persons is not mere suspicion, but facts which can sustain a conviction before a charge is filed. A further review in this matter must be conducted before any further action can be taken. “Accept please the assurances of the warm regards of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, CFR.” A police source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As far as we are concerned, nobody is being arraigned for trial. What some of the parties are doing is to put the report of the investigation in public domain as may be politically expedient. “Now, we have many reports on this case which the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will have to review and advise the OAGF as appropriate.” Further investigation confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions had since 4th June, 2012 laid the matter to a rest when it wrote the Inspector-General of Police that Saraki and others cannot be held liable for internal decisions of a bank. The said report reads in part: “Every customer of a bank (corporate or individual) has the right to apply for a loan on the most favourable terms possible. This alone does not constitute any offence under any law because it is within the discretion of the bank to grant or refuse any such loan application. “In exercising the discretion to grant loan, it is the duty of the bank and not the customers to ensure that the conditions of the bank are met.
“The customer should, therefore, not be made to take responsibility for the wrong exercise by the bank of its discretion unless the customer can be shown to have improperly or fraudulently induced such a decision or outcome, which is not the case here. “Dr. Saraki and Pinheiro are alleged to be connected with the grant of the loans as promoter and director respectively of the companies. “By virtue of Section 18 of the Act, a director or any other officer or partner of a company can only be held responsible in that capacity for the actions of the company if the company is guilty of an offence under the Act. Since the companies in this case cannot be held to have committed any offence under Section 15(1) (a), it follows that Dr. Saraki and Pinheiro cannot also be held criminally responsible only on account of having acted as promoter and director of the companies in connection with the said loan. “It would, therefore, be improper and unjust in the circumstances to hold Dr. Saraki, Mr. Pinheiro or indeed the companies criminally liable for the internal actions and decisions of the bank and its officials bordering on exercise of discretion.” Another source added: “The case is being revisited because Saraki is now an opposition figure. But is this the kind of politics we should be playing? Also, those involved in the subsidy scandal have vowed to deal with him. “This matter is borne out of sheer politics to rubbish and dent the image of Saraki.”
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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NEWS ‘Be neutral’
World Down’s Syndrome Day
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday urged the police to ensure compliance with the peace accord signed by parties. In a statement in Akure by Secretary of the APC Media Campaign Committee Charles Titiloye, the party said the call followed the destruction of its billboards and posters in Akure as well as the arrests of its members on trump-up charges. Titiloye described as acts of intolerance the alleged destruction of posters of APC candidates by agents of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC chieftain directed the attention of the police to the destruction of the Buhari/Osinbajo billboard on Owo Road, opposite Ijapo Estate. The party urged parties to respect the agreement to maintain peace.
‘Jonathan unpatriotic’
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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of unpatriotism for allegedly bribing Nigerians in foreign currencies to secure their votes. The party said the President, by his alleged act, has passed a vote-of-no-confidence in the naira. In a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, the APC alleged that the President had been meeting with monarchs and some interest groups, to “induce” them to vote for him. Igbokwe alleged that the President gave $200,000 to the Isoko Development Union (IDU) in Delta State through a retired general and another $100,000 to Anioma, the Igbo-speaking part of the state. “This is why the President has, in the last two weeks, been spending considerable time in the Southwest and Southsouth where he has met traditional rulers, traders associations and ethnic organisations and lavished fortunes on them. “Everywhere Jonathan has visited in recent weeks it has been a story of a rain of foreign currencies. The whole nation is deeply worried at President Jonathan’s fetish belief in the power of bribemoney. “If only a fraction of the humungous amounts he has been unleashing everywhere he goes had been invested in fixing roads, power and education, for example, he would not have been campaigning as frenetically without success as he is doing now. “Both President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership have refused to imbibe the time-tested belief that propaganda can never replace excellent work, track record and performance. ”Also deeply worrisome is the President’s love for foreign currencies. The choice of foreign currencies simply amounts to an unmistakable vote-of-no-confidence in our national currency.”
By Everistus Onwuzurike
•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left); the Balogun of Omi Adio, Chief M.K.O Adebayo (left); the Aboke of Ibadanland, Oloye Ifasola Ifamapowa (second right) and Aare Alaasa of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi when the Committee on Oke'badan Festival visited the governor …yesterday.
Police arrest 37 robbery suspects in Ekiti
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HE police in Ekiti State have arrested 37 suspects for alleged robbery, murder and illegal possession of firearms as well as other weapons. They include five suspects, who allegedly robbed residents of Adekunle Fajuyi Estate, AdoEkiti on Sunday. They were rounded up in a raid carried out on Monday night on their hideouts in Atikankan, Sabo and Lekeleke of Ado-Ekiti, the
From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti
state capital. Michael Adams, one of those who escaped in the Ado-Ekiti Prisons jailbreak, led the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to arrest other members of the gang. Some of the suspects arrested in connection with the Fajuyi Estate robbery are Abdulsalam Kabiru, Ayeni Ojo, Albert Ayodeji and Adebiyi Seun.
Kabiru and Ayodeji are also among the fleeing inmates from Ado-Ekiti Prisons. Adams reportedly confessed to robbery and murder. Another suspect, DoGood Owoeye, was arrested with a cut-to-size single barrel gun and an Army camouflage, which he claimed belongs to his father, who he said retired from the service. During the raid, weapons, including two cut-to-size
locally-made single barrel guns, were recovered from the suspects. Speaking yesterday at the command headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu said the suspects confessed to a series of robberies. He said they would be charged to court as soon as Judiciary workers end their strike. Lakanu explained that the arrest of the suspects was a breakthrough for the command.
Alao-Akala: I’ll prioritise job creation, HE Labour Party (LP) technical education governorship candi-
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date in Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, has promised to prioritise job creation and technical education, if elected. The former governor, who was represented by his Director of Public Affairs, Oludare Ogunlana, at a debate organised by a civil society group, Save Our World, said the reason why Nigerians pay heavily for education in countries as Ghana was because of leaders’ insensitivity. To create jobs, he said he was going to be committed to an agrarian economy. “We are going to make sure the youth are produc-
From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan
tive and employable. Technical education will be accorded adequate attention to make graduates and school leavers self-employed.” Alao-Akala observed that contrary to the tradition by the present administration, “I will allocate positions to the people and not children of those who did not participate in the election struggle. “Just as he did when he was governor, Alao-Akala is not going to abandon the youth,” he said. On support for civil soci-
eties, the former governor urged Nigerians to develop the culture of giving. The guest of honour, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, advised the youth to eschew violence, adding that “violence ruins lives, damage careers and makes them hopeless. As the election draws near, we are going to have a basket full of promises but let us be mindful of whoever we vote for”. With the theme: “Agenda for 2015 elections: the youth mandate, the event was attended by the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Femi Babalola; representative of Muham-
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From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti
ing out his abracadabra debt and payment figures to intelligent Ekiti workers, Olatubosun said the governor’s antecedents gave him away as he tried to hoodwink workers. He said: “It is good that Ekiti people know the kind of governor they have. In one breath, he said he spends N1.4 billion to pay salary monthly. The next minute, he said it was N1.6 billion in the same broadcast, which gave him away, as usual, as a man playing games with the Ekiti people. “All these mathematical gymnastics are callous demonstration of a breach of faith in government and the governed relations. “What is the governor doing with a full monthly federal allocation to the state when the bond repayment has been suspended for six months? Three hundred members of the Traffic Management Agency were sent packing. Eight hundred members of Volunteer Peace Corps
Cleric petitions IG PRIMATE of the World Christian Council Association Ayoola Omonigbehin has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, on the destruction of his property on No. E1/63 Bere Street, Aboke’s compound, Ibadan, Oyo State. He said unknown persons pulled down the wall and he fears the building may be brought down and the land taken over, unless the police intervenes. Omonigbehin said he inherited the house from his mother, but lives in Lagos and visits the house occasionally. According to him, he intends to use the house as the administrative office of the Sabitiyu Alare Foundation (Freedom for Humanity) in his mother’s honour. He urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, to intervene.
‘No interim govt’ By Adetutu Audu •Alao-Akala
madu Buhari, Yunus Akintunde; representative of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr. Gbade Ojo, Dr. Ade Adediran, who moderated the programme and the Executive Director of the group, Seun Onifade.
Don’t be deceived by Fayose’s antics, APC tells workers HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has warned workers not to be deceived by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s antics, saying his frequent radio and television live broadcasts to paint a gloomy financial position for the state is to deceive the people. APC’s Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement, said the advice followed the mindless rhetoric being deployed by the governor to deceive workers about the overbloated debt figure as alibi for the government’s handicap in meeting its salary obligation. Olatubosun said hundreds of Ekiti workers were sacked and bond repayment was suspended for six months. He said the money saved from the sack of workers and cancellation of empowerment schemes should have been enough to pay workers, particularly as allocations are regular, even as there are no new capital projects. Saying the governor should stop reel-
THE Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria has outlined activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the World Down’s Syndrome Day and 21st anniversary of the family on March 21. The theme of the year’s event is: ”My opportunities, My Choices - Enjoying Full and Equal rights and the role of the family”. There will be a charity walk, tagged: “The Walkathon”, supported by NSIA Insurance Company. The foundation will also stage its eighth annual sports day at the Union Bank sports ground, Surulere. On March 22, there would be a concert, tagged: “Comedy infusion at Rockview Hotel, Festac, Lagos. The Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria is a foundation committed to bridging the gap between people with Down’s Syndrome, learning disabilities, and the rest of the society.
were relieved of their jobs. “Social Security scheme for 20,000 old people receiving N5,000 monthly was been cancelled. This is apart from the over 20,000 youth volunteers earning N10,000 monthly disengaged by Fayose. “Many of the youth trained in various skills under the Fayemi administration were abandoned by Fayose; the programme replaced with a pedestrian concept of stomach infrastructure. “Teachers’ special allowances for rural postings and core subjects were abolished. Many workers, including primary and secondary school teachers, promoted last April, had their promotions reversed. “The security agencies are no longer well-funded, leading to robberies across the state. Streetlights are turned off at 10 pm on the excuse of rising fuel cost, thus paralysing night life and causing insecurity as well as putting in jeopardy late night business activities in the state capital.”
A GROUP, Osun Board of Progressive Left, has said it will resist attempts to impose an interim government on Nigerians, adding that the March 28 and April 11 elections must hold. Speaking at a briefing in Osogbo, Osun State, the group, led by Wale Adebisi, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, must be allowed to complete his tenure. Adebisi said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria has not moved ahead of history in terms of democratic development. “History has always been repeating itself; the situation has always remained the same- ethnicity, religious bigotry, insecurity, corruption, fraud, unemployment, executive lawlessness and recklessness, election manipulation and rigging, despotism, etc. “These are used as weapons by the leadership of the country to fan the embers of violence and discord. “President Goodluck Jonathan and his lackeys are driving the vehicle of the country towards destruction and there will be many causalities, if nothing is done.”
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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Five injured as inferno guts paints factory
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IRE swept through a paint factory in Lagos yesterday, destroying multibillionaire properties. The fire was still raging as at 10pm yesterday. Some people were said to have died in the inferno; but it was confirmed that five were injured. The inferno started around 1pm at Fine Coat Paints in Abule Egba on the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway. The five water trucks they brought were exhausted as the fire raged. Names of some of the victims were given as Efunniyi Tope, Idowu Folorunsho, Tunde. They were said to have been rushed to Orile-Agege General Hospital. Some were transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). It was gathered that the victims suffered suffocation and were resuscitated by rescuers before being rushed to the hospitals
•The burnt factory. INSET: One of the factory workers being revived. By Precious Igbonwelundu
The cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency
(LASEMA) General Manager Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said investigation would be conducted into the cause of the fire. He said no life was lost,
adding that the value of property damaged has not been ascertained. Osanyintolu said the fire has been limited to the affected areas to avoid its
spread. Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, who described the inferno as massive, said the agency also attended to two
other fires. According to him, fire gutted Drive Hotel at Otubu in Agege, Lagos, and a building at Salem street, Lekki roundabout.
Lagos residents count losses after windstorm
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HERE was calm in Orile-Agege in Lagos yesterday after the windstorm which destroyed properties worth millions of naira. Residents went about the arduous task of recovering personal effects from the debris of their homes. Most of the affected buildings were being repaired; fallen, destroyed; some residents were cleaning their apartments. The Nation gathered that no fewer than 20 buildings across five streets were hit. The storm, residents said struck about 4pm, when it was raining. Many said it was the first time they are witnessing such a thing. A woman, Mrs Abimbola Mordi whose apartment at 27, Opeolu Street was affected said she was shocked when water started entering her flat. She explained that she was outside with her child when the strange breeze started blowing and she rushed back inside the house. “I did not even know what was happening. I only heard a strange sound and the next thing, breeze started. It did not last up to 10 minutes. I rushed inside the house and it was then that I saw my ceiling coming down. “We started packing our things so that rain won’t spoil them. You can see that our ceilings have pulled out. If rain falls now, water will flood our house. “The zinc and roofs have all been removed. And I cannot afford the money to repair it. This is beyond my power.” A civil servant, who runs a lesson in the neighbourhood, said the storm pulled
By Precious Igbonwelundu
down his building completely. He said he was grateful to God that none of the about 20 pupils who were in the premises were injured. “You can see that I have called a bricklayer to come and commence work to avoid a situation where people will encroach on my property. “The windstorm was severe. Even this building (pointing at a storey-building) was shaking. There was heavy thunderstorm too, but the rain was not much. It didn’t last for more than 15 minutes and affected about four streets” Also affected was the Assemblies of God Church, which was uprooted and planted in another compound destroying. At the Gee Dee Montessori, an electric pole was uprooted; it destroyed the roof and balcony railings of the school. Mary Okpara, a teacher, said the storm started few minutes after the pupils left. She said she was still on the street, walking to her house when zinc and roofs “started flying”. According to her, several naked wires fell on the streets but were later removed by PHCN officials who came as soon as they were called. She said classes had resumed, adding that the pupils were moved to unaffected classrooms. When contacted, the Southwest spokesman of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ibrahim Farinloye said the number of affected buildings have not been ascertained by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
•One of the damaged buildings
O
•Mrs Mordi
Union leader killed at home
YINGBO, Lagos Mainland, erupted in violence on Tuesday night, following the killing of a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader, Babajide Dosunmu, by unknown people, in his home. NURTW members, Traders and passersby ran helterskelter as factional NURTW members clashed, accusing one another of the killing. Dosunmu, popularly known as Madus was killed in his Queen Street, Alagomeji home. Madus, was said to have told his wife some weeks ago that two NURTW members had threatened to kill him. The men were arrested by the police, but released after Madus was prevailed upon to withdraw his complaint. Many were injured before the police restored normalcy yesterday. Oyingbo market was a shadow of itself. Shops were locked; commercial bus operators ran skeletal
By Tajudeen Adebanjo
service. People milled, discussing the incident. Police vans were stationed in the market. At the Denton Police Station, an officer said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was not around. He directed our reporter to a senior officer. “That is the officer that you will meet; he will tell you what happened,” he said. The officer was seen rushing out to see the visiting Area Commander. “You can wait for him,” said the officer. On his returned, he said he knew nothing about of the incident. “I don’t know what happen,” the officer said. Some of the traders told The Nation that Madus was killed in his house. “He wasn’t killed inside this market. They attacked and killed him near his residence on his way home. The
crisis then spilled over to this place,” the trader said. Another trader told The Nation that the late Madus was their leader. “Traders decided to make him a leader due to his kind nature. He has done a lot for
•The late Dosunmu
both commercial bus drivers and traders. He was a nice man, helping people to secure jobs,” the trader said. To the widow, the incident is still like a dream. In the midst of sympathisers in their sitting room, Mrs Dosunmu said: “I don’t know what to say… somebody came to call me last night that some people are fighting my husband downstairs. I quickly followed him; by the time we reached the compound, we saw him in a pool of his own blood, lifeless. We quickly rushed him down to a hospital at Railway Station; it was there the doctor confirmed that he was dead. We thought of taking him to the mortuary but because we have decided to bury him today, we brought his remains home and this morning we buried him. We just returned home not quite long,” she said. Mrs Dosunmu said her husband’s remains were interred at his house in Ikorodu, Lagos.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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NEWS
Rumpus in Senate over Obanikoro’s confirmation •Opposition Senators walkout
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USTAINED protests by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators failed yesterday to stop Senator Mohammed Musiliu Obanikoro’s confirmation as minister. The controversial confirmation began on a dramatic note and ended even more dramatically. Signs that the Senate session would be stormy emerged when the mention of Obanikoro’s name as one of the ministerial nominees whose screening was still pending received massive protests from the floor. The drama began when as many as eight “points of order” were raised by Senators opposed to Obanikoro’s nomination. The number of “points of order” was the highest in the history of the Senate on an issue. Opposition Senators walked out when all their entreaties failed to stop mostly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators from screening and confirming Obanikoro. For the APC lawmakers, what transpired in the chamber yesterday was a flagrant breach of the standing rule which expressly bars the Senate from making reference to any matter pending in court. PDP Senators were said to have mobilised their caucus members at a secret meeting at the Senate Leader’s House on Tuesday night. PDP senators were said to have resolved to attend yesterday’s session in their numbers, should Obanikoro’s confirmation require voting. As APC senators were battling to scuttle the screening, a PDP senator was overheard calling others to rush to the chamber. Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba was one of those who joined the session half way apparently to raise the number of PDP senators. As the ding-dong affair continued, tension rose. Tempers flared. Some senators on both sides of the divide who crossed the aisle even squared up for a show down. Senators Bukola Saraki, Gbenga Ashafa, Babajide Omoworare, Mohammed Ali Ndume, George Akume, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Ganiyu Solomon led the onslaught against the screening of Obanikoro. Saraki (Kwara Central) moved a point of order immediately Obanikoro’s name was mentioned. Saraki, who raised a matter of privilege, reminded the Senate President that he promised to call for Executive Session (close-door meeting) before the remaining ministerial nominees would be screened. Mark ruled Saraki out of order on the grounds that an Executive Session had nothing to do with privilege. Mark asked Deputy Senate Leader Senator Abdul Ningi to call the names of the nominees. As Ningi got set to list the names, Ashafa raised another point of order.
Ezekwesili slams senate for confirming nominee
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ORMER Minister of Education Dr.Oby Ezekwesili criticised the Senate for confirming Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Reacting on his twitter handle, she said: “So despite #Ekitigate, our Senate confirmed the morally repugnant nomination of @MObanikoro as a Minister by our President? Shameless lot “The issue of @MObanikoro ‘s nomination&confirmation has no political context for Citizens for it is ENTIRELY about our VALUES as a people “Habitual acts of impunity by our political class IS NOT sustainable. A journey through world History is all they need to help them know so,” she posted on her Twitter page. But Ekiti State Governor Ayo fayose tweeted: “Congratulations to @MObanikoro as he is From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja
Ashafa (Lagos East) specifically cited Order 53(5) which states that reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending in court to the extent that it shall prejudice the judicial process. He said a case was pending in court against Obanikoro and referred to a publication in a national daily to buttress his point. Mark ruled Ashafa out of order, saying “I cannot be served on the pages of the newspaper.” Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo moved another point of order and asked the Senate to continue with the screening. Mark also ruled him out of order. Omoworare cited several constitutional provisions and the Senate’s standing rule to prevail on the Senate to abort Obanikoro’s screening. Besides, he also underscored the rule that the Senate is barred by its standing rule to make reference to any matter pending in court. He noted that apart from the Ekiti rigging plot tape case pending in a Lagos court, there was another case seeking to establish that Obanikoro is not fit and proper to hold public office. The lawmaker, who relied heavily on his mastery of judicial process, said that “we have established that cases are pending against the nominee in court; we have also established that reference to the matter should be prejudicial to the case in court”. Omoworare also referred to the sixth Senate when ministerial nominees opposed by senators from the states they were nominated from were rejected. Mark ruled that Omoworare came under the same order which had nothing to do with the issue of screening he had ruled on. He ruled him out of order and insisted that “I cannot be served on the pages of the newspaper”. Ndume said that the Senate President had handled issues more serious than the screening of ministerial nominees. Mark, he said, should take decisions based on the mood of the Senate and decisions that would continue to unite the Senate. Mark, who sustained Ndume’s point of order, went ahead to ask Minority Leader George Akume, to second the motion that the remaining ministerial nominees, Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa State), Mr. Kennethe Kobani (Rivers State), Senator Joel
confirmed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the National Assembly,” he wrote via his @GovAyoFayose handle. Obanikoro on his twitter handle said: “I want to use this medium to express my profound gratitude to my distinguished colleagues in the Senate for their kind support,” he said. “I am particularly grateful to the President of the Senate and other principal officers representing the Senate majority and minority. “I have no ill-feelings towards the Senators from Lagos who stood against me. Their position has amplified the strength of our democracy. “In times like these, we learn that there is no winner or loser and that our shared hopes are greater than the politics that divide us.”
Danlami Ikenya (Taraba State) and Senator Mohammed Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos State) be screened. Akume seconded the motion but refused to mention Obanikoro as one of the nominees. Akume had hardly sat down when Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) took the floor to move his own point of order. Adetunmbi narrated attempts he made to move a motion on the Ekiti “gate”. He said that though the Senate President initially granted the request for him to move the motion, the permission was later withdrawn on the grounds that the matter was in court.
He wondered why Obanikoro’s was different. Adetunmbi said Mark specifically called him to say that because the matter of “Ekiti gate” is in court, as published in a newspaper, the motion should not be raised. Adetunmbi said that if the Senate went ahead to screen Obanikoro when a case against him was pending in court, it would amount to breach of his privilege as a senator since he was prevented from moving a motion on Ekiti gate on the premise that the case was in court. Mark asked him to tell the Senate what his prayer in the motion would have been. Adetunmbi said that he wanted to pray the Senate to
investigate the allegation that Obanikoro compromised his oath of office as a minister by inviting the military to rig the Ekiti gubernatorial election. Mark said that he asked Adetunmbi to drop the motion because the Senate had never investigated any matter pending in court. At this stage, Mark asked Ningi to call the nominees for screening. The first to be ushered into the Senate chamber was Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan. She was asked to take a bow and go. Mr. Kennthe Kobani was the second. He was also asked to take a bow and go. Mark simply said of Kobani: “Today is your lucky day.” The next nominee was Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya. He was quickly asked to take a bow and go. It was then the turn of Obanikoro. He was invited into the chamber amid shout of “no, no, no!” For over 10 minutes, the Senate chamber was uncontrollable. Senators shouted on top of their voices. Senator Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West) took the floor and raised order 53(9). Solomon said the nomination was not Obanikoro’s first coming. He said that during Obanikoro’s first coming all of them supported him.
He said that the Senate should not forget its tradition; neither should the chamber do away with its decorum. Solomon added: “At the end of the day, what the majority wants may go through but the minority must also be heard even if it is for the record. “Obanikoro came before and received the blessing of all the senators from Lagos. Since then, a lot has happened.” He noted that since they are representing their people, their constituents are asking that the “Ekiti gate” be investigated. Solomon said the three senators from Lagos State were opposed to Obanikoro’s nomination. The lawmaker added that though he recognised the Senate’s tradition, they are caught between observing the tradition and the demand of their constituents. He said that their constituents are asking that the best that could be done in the circumstance is to defer Obanikoro’s screening. The Senate, he said, should not be insensitive to what the public is saying. Marked thanked Solomon for what he described as “frank and honest” contribution. He ruled that the way out of the unfolding situation is to put the question.
•Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner Mr. Akin Orebiyi (middle); Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government, Mr. Jide Bello (left) and Deputy Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ), Lagos, Mrs Ijeoma Igbokwe at an interactive session in Mushin.
Court restrains NTA, AIT over anti-Osinbajo documentaries T
HE Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained Daar Communications Plc and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from broadcasting any video documentaries against All Progressives Congress (APC) vicepresidential candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). Justice John Tsoho made the order yesterday following an ex-parte application by Osinbajo. Daar Communications (owners of African Independent Television (AIT), NTA and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are the respondents. Justice Tsoho ordered that status quo be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s motion on notice for interlocuctory injunction. The motion ex-parte, filed on March 10, was moved by Osinbajo’s counsel Mr Femi Falana (SAN). The judge ordered: “That an order of interim injunction shall be considered with no-
By Joseph Jibueze
tice to the respondents. Generally, however, the status quo as at today shall be maintained pending hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.” Justice Tsoho also granted the applicant leave to serve the Originating Summons and other accompanying court processes on the respondents in Abuja, which is outside the court’s jurisdiction. Osinbajo had prayed for “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, privies, representatives and other media entities under the control of the third respondent (NBC) from any interference with or violation of the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and right to life and/or livelihood whether by means of publication or dissemination of any video documentary or by any means
whatsoever pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction. Justice Tsoho adjourned till tomorrow for hearing of the motion on notice. Osinbajo alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been sponsoring defamatory documentaries against him. AIT and NTA had, for weeks, been broadcasting a documentary detailing the “atrocious” past of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). The station also aired a similar documentary on APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, chronicling his series of alleged financial misconduct. Osinbajo maintained that the documentaries, which allegedly contained untrue information and injurious falsehood, constitute a personal attack on his person.
He argued that the videos were being aired in violation of his fundamental human right to dignity of human person, right to privacy and family virtue and right to life and/ or livelihood as protected by Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution. ”Unless the respondents are restrained in the manner requested in this application, damages will be grossly inadequate to compensate or redress the unquantifiable, unwarranted and malicious damage to the applicant’s right to dignity of human person, right to livelihood and privacy guaranteed and protected under Sections 33, 34 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” After listening to Falana’s submission, Justice Tsoho ordered that NTA and AIT and any other broadcast station should forthwith stop the broadcast of the damaging documentary which the applicant complained of until the determination of the substantive suit.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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NEWS
Black day for seven ‘kidnappers’ in Ibadan •78-year-old victim rescued From Bisi Oladele and Bisola Oloyede, Ibadan
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T was a long drive from the city centre. And for the few reporters and photojournalists who chose to follow policemen to a newly discovered kidnappers’ den in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, it all looked like news from afar. The road from the IbadanIfe Expressway was so rough that it looked as if we were going hunting in a thick bush. But fear could not penetrate reporters’ heart because the team of policemen was led by the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina. But it was real for 78-yearold businessman, Chief Adebowale Omotoso, who was abducted last Wednesday, in Aawe, Afijio Local Government Area. Omotoso, who is the Chairman, Bond Chemicals Limited and National Life VicePresident of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), was said to be meeting with some chiefs, when a three-man gang arrived his house. The kidnappers, it was gathered, posed as launderers, who came to return Omotoso’s clothes. He was kidnapped shortly after his return from a trip to the United States, where he was hospitalised. The businessman had been rescued earlier in the day by policemen, who launched an onslaught on the eight-man gang of kidnappers in their hide-out. The men did not give up easily. They put up a good fight as they engaged policemen in a gun duel for about four hours before they were overpowered. Basking in the air of freedom, the septuagenarian recollected how he panted and bowed before the kid-
•A shrine in the village
•The room where Chief Omotoso was kept
nappers, all of who are possibly younger than his last child. He was kept at a secret location before he was brought to their hideout in Ajia village on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway. Looking weary but happy, Chief Omotoso gladly spoke to anxious reporters. He said: “I was chatting with some friends around 7:30pm when some men came in and waved guns at us. They told us to lie on the ground and started demanding for the dollars I had in the house. “They searched around and took whatever they wanted. I thought that was the end. Then I was taken into a vehicle and blindfolded. ”The car was driven roughly to one village. I was dumped there for about three days without anything to eat. “Later, I was told I was being taken to Edo. I was blindfolded and brought here. “I thought I was in Edo until the police rescued me today. It is even a miracle that I was not killed. “ I was not treated well in
Her words: “I have been in the business of advanced fee fraud and kidnapping for at least, five years. “I have two cars. I lead gangs from Port-Harcourt to Ibadan.” Reveling in the joy of success, the police commissioner said his men swung into action when the case was reported. He said the kidnappers demanded $1 million, which the police used as a bait to rescue the victim. “Barely two weeks to my arrival in this city, I was confronted with a disturbing phenomenon, which was the kidnap of a 78-year-old man. “ I launched an operation, “Hell Wind”, to rescue the victim. “After a fierce battle with my newly constituted ambush squad, we came in. We engaged the hoodlums in a definite shoot-out till the wee hours of yesterday morning. “As a result of our resilience and continuous onslaught, the hoodlums‘ defence line was weakened; they ran helter skelter, leaving behind
the first place I was taken but when I was brought here, I was fairly treated. I was asked what I wanted to eat.” The victim was holed out from a dilapidated mud building in the mini village that consists of only two mud houses. The building, whose roof was tattered, was surrounded by three shrines. None of the rooms had been inhabited in the last 10 years going by their looks and degradation. It should ordinarily be a habitat for reptiles, rats and other animals. Chief Omotoso was kept in one of the rooms for three days. He was supplied with a large plank which he used as a bed. The “bed” covered a big hole in the room. The kidnappers, led by 34year-old Bisi Babatunde, watched over him there as they negotiated for a ransom with his family. Bisi, a mother of three, hails from Aawe. According to her, the kidnap was a N5.5 million deal of which she got N750,000. She explained that she lives in Port-Harcourt where she sells local herbs.
Fashola lists conditions for violence-free elections
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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said violence-free elections can only be achieved if the polls are credible, free and fair. He said this could not be achieved by deploying soldiers, noting that the use of military personnel to curb electoral violence is awkward in a democratic setting. The governor spoke when the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof Chidi Odinkalu, visited him at Lagos House, Marina. He added that it will be difficult to prevent violence if there are indications that the elections are fraught with malpractice. “You cannot deny people access to justice and expect peace. No one who knows me will ascribe violence to me. “But, when one begins to sow the seed of violence, I will warn the person. That doesn’t make me a violent person. “The reasons for electoral violence are that people still don’t understand this is just a contest for service and that the ultimate deciders are the electorate. Some have ignorantly ascribed it as a do-or-die affair. “Electoral violence is a reaction to stimulus. A stimu-
By Miriam Ekene-Okoro
lus that suggests we will do what we like to get power. “One of the things that I will demand for is the re-amendment of the provision of the law, which states that electoral issues should be prosecuted within 180 days. If it takes four years, so be it. “Let the wheels of justice turn. This is because this provision gives people the tendency to rig. You raised the stakes unduly. “It is a one-line amendment and it could be done. If this is done, tensions will certainly come down.” The governor challenged President Goodluck Jonathan
to dissociate himself from all negative adverts, advertorials, jingles and documentaries being purportedly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said his silence was tantamount to acceptance and can engender violence. “The kinds of advertorials we see these days show that the institutions saddled with the responsibilities of checking election messages aren’t doing their jobs. “When certain people say that if the President doesn’t win the election, there will be trouble, is it a coronation? And the President keeps quiet. The message the President
is sending to Nigerians is that we are not safe. Everyone is entitled to contest. “The President must come out and reassure Nigerians that this country will be safe, whatever the outcome of the elections. That is his primary duty. And it is not enough to say it, it is important to act it. “That was why all the commentators have said the President says the right thing but his body language differs. “There are things he must come out and de-associate himself from, especially his wife’s speech. He must disown them. And his leadership will be defined whether he does it himself convincingly or to ask his aides to say it.”
Oyo to build 14 bridges, culverts
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HE Oyo State government has said 14 bridges and culverts will be built with the proposed $200 million facility from the World Bank for the Ibadan urban flood management project. A statement in Ibadan yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Festus Adedayo, listed the bridges and culverts to include Ogbere Moradeyo Culvert (Ogbere Moradeyo), Foworogi Culvert (on Ogbere Atuba Road), Elere River Culvert (on Ogbere Atuba Road), Ogbere Pegba Approaches (Mosfala, Ogungbade Area) and Ebenezery Culvert (Alakia-Isebo Area). Others, according to the statement, include Olorungunwa Culvert (Bioku/Poat Area) and Sasa River Culvert (Osajin-Odejayi Link
Road), Ola Adua Streams (Ola Adua, Pete), Alaro Culvert (Steel Works Area, 7Up, Oluyole Extension), Believers Stream Believers Quarters, Osajin), Cele-Rainbow-Ojo Ekun (Agara/Ona), Maje River (Addin-Idi Oro), Alaro-Poly Road (Apete Junction) as well as Omirin Culvert (Ogbere). It added that engineering studies and preliminary designs had been carried out on four of the culverts and bridges, namely: Ogbere Pegba Approaches, Sasa River Culvert, Ola Adua Streams and Cele-Rainbow-Ojo Ekun. The statement said the engineering studies and preliminary designs had been submitted to the World Bank after which the contracts were expected to be awarded by the bank.
their victim. “We were able to arrest seven of them while two escaped with bullet wounds. “I will use this medium to appeal to the public, especially traditional gun bullet extractors and hospitals, to report promptly any gunshot case. “They should be aware that this is the work of veteran kidnappers. Some of them came all the way from PortHarcourt to join their partners in crime here. “I want to assure the people that the state will not be a breeding ground for criminals.” Katsina said Bisi (aka Vivian) was on the police’s wanted list in Rivers State for her alleged involvement in kidnap and fraud cases. Bisi said her boyfriend, Lucky, who is the second in command in the gang, was involved in another kidnap which resulted in her car being seized. This propelled her to relocate to Awe, her home town. She said: “We do not call ourselves by our real names.
PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI
My guy name is Vivian. I am 34 years old. I met Olaide in Awe; I went to meet him for prayers and charm. “He asked me for the kind of job Lucky and I do and I told him. “Then he told me about his younger brother who died in a pool in the chief’s house and that the chief does not want to settle the family. “He brought the idea of kidnapping the man. I do not know the man before. I was paid N750, 000. Lucky collected N5.5 million. “It was when we were looking for a location to keep the chief that I met Mr Ola. He was the one who brought us to this building, this location. He was paid N1 million.” Six other members of the gang arrested are Alabi Olufemi, the gang driver; Isiaka Kazeem, the spiritualist; Ayobami Musa; Shittu Olajide; Ajayi Olaniyi, and Oladipupo Abayomi. Lucky is on the run. Items recovered from include arms and ammunition, cash and charms.
Obanikoro: Lagos APC slams Senate
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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in La-
gos State has described the confirmation of Musliu Obanikoro as a minister by the Senate as a show of shame that further muddles the nation’s image. The party said by its action, the Senate has shown that it was part of the grand conspiracy to institute a legacy of shame and corruption in Nigeria. In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said Obanikoro’s confirmation shows the sinister intent of the Senate leadership and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to institute corruption and illegality in Niger-
ia so long as their nefarious interests are met. “The Senate leadership should hide its head in shame for trampling on the integrity of due process. “It is obvious that the PDP presidency that nominated Obanikoro and the PDP senators who forced through decency and protests of Nigerians to approve his nomination are hell bent on corruptingthe laws and institutions of the state. “The country is once again, assailed by the lawless inclination of the PDP as a party that thrives in such criminality as election rigging and which uses same to reward perpetrators who should be jailed.”
Rainstorm ravages 200 houses in Ondo
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O fewer than 200 buildings have been destroyed after a windstorm ravaged Iju and Itaogbolu communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. Private and public school buildings in the area were also damaged. The storm also affected the wall of a health centre in Iju. The deputy head teacher of
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
Elu Iju Grammar School, Isaac Oke, whose school was affected, described the incident as unfortunate. He urged government to come to their aid. The lawmaker representing Akure North Constituency, Akindele Adeniyi, assured that government would come to their rescue.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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BUSINESS THE NATION
E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net
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2015 budget: Senate, Reps agree on $53 benchmark
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HE National Assembly yesterday agreed on $53 per barrel as official oil benchmark for the 2015 budget. This follows the harmonisation of the positions of the two chambers. While the Senate had approved $52, the House adopted $54 per barrel leading to the raising of conference committees. Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, headed the Senate conference committee while
• NASS cuts budget by N30b From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja
the House was headed by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, Chairman House Committee on Finance. The Nation learnt that both chambers met and agreed on $53 per barrel as official oil benchmark. N190 to $1 exchange rate in the 2015
budget was also agreed on by the committee. Another area of agreement was to trim the National Assembly budget of N150 billion by N30 billion, reducing the NASS budget to N120 billion. The issue of scrapping the Service Wide Vote was also agreed to by both chambers. Also they both resolved to cut the costs of oil production by N200 billion. Both the Senate and House are likely to pass the 2015
• David Mark
budget today before going on break for the .2015 general elections.
• From left: Head, Advantage Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Dammy Oruwari; Head, Regulations and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Jude Ughwujabo; Head, Classic and Direct Banking, Ecobank, Mr chinedu Ibe and Assistant Manager, Legal, Lagos State Lottery Board, Gbemisola Ajibose during the bank’s Giant Prize Promo 2014 Grand prize draw held in Lagos.
Reps threaten showdown over PIB
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N what looks like a desperate attempt to save face, the House of Representatives’ Adhoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is set to lay the report of the contentious PIB on the floor of the House today. The Report, which the House Spokesman, Mohammed Zakari claimed was ready in a briefing on 16th October 2014, is being laid today as the House prepares to proceed on break for the
DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil $58/barrel Cocoa $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee ¢132.70/pound Cotton ¢95.17pound Gold $1,396.9/troy Sugar $163/lb RATES Inflation 8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending 15.87% Savings rate 3% 91-day NTB 15% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR 13% Foreign Reserve $34.5b
• Claim report is shrouded in secrecy From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja
forthcoming general elections. But the laying of the Report is likely to cause more problems than it will solve as members are angry that the members of the ad hoc committee is proposing laying a report that has not been sighted by House members prior to the laying. The Report, which emanated from a technical committee is already causing heated argument between members of the Adhoc committee headed by Mohammed Bawa and members of the House. A meeting meant to hold yesterday became a subject of controversy as members claim they went to the venue in the New Building extension numerous times and met no one. The meeting was meant to discuss issues in the report, especially the recommendations. But a consultant of the adhoc committee claimed that the report had been distributed three months ago to the offices of members. However, members insist
they have not seen any report and that any attempt to railroad them into accepting a predetermined output from anyone would be met with stiff opposition on the floor. The irate members wanted to know how the report was generated, especially as members had no input; but were told that the report emanated “from the technical committee.” The explanation did not go down well with a member, who is also the chairman of a committee. “What technical committee? I have been treating issues that are in the PIB for the past three years in my committee, I should have an input into the report. I have been to the venue of this supposed meeting numerous times, there was no one there,” he snapped. Another member claimed that while on his way to the meeting, he was told that the PIB meeting had ended. “To me, the whole thing is looking to be a fraud because there are other Committees that must have one or two input in the report. “For instance, issues of environment, climate change are key features of this Bill
and to have cut out these critical Committees is questioning the credibility of the report. “I can assure you that a big surprise would be waiting for them should they try to lay the report tomorrow (today) because none of those critical Committee were carried along in the preparation of the report. “How is it possible that members that were not consulted are expected to vote and hurriedly pass the report on the floor. How can you meaningfully contribute to the consideration of the report?” Recall that because of the importance attached to the bill, regional public hearing were held for the PIB in which all the geo- political zones in the country made inputs. The delay in the presentation of the Mohammed Bawa- led ad hoc committee’ report has been a subject of debate and great consternation amongst Nigerians who are fast losing hope on the passage of the bill before the expiration of the 7th Assembly. The report has also been tainted by a PIB cash-for-passage allegation which the House has debunked.
What does corporate governance do? It ensures that you have set up a structure and a culture within the institution that can drive the business in line with given rules. That’s what corporate governance does. -Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru
HE Nigeria Meteorological Agency has disclosed its intention to embark on full scale commercialisation of its services as a way to reduce its dependence on government funding. Already, the federal government has warned that it will withdraw its allocation to aviation agencies in the next three years. Confirming the commercialisation plan, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka said: “All the agencies have prioritised their work because oil prices have gone down and government resources are not a full pot right now. Osita noted that the commercialisation move if achieved will increase the contribution of aviation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The minister made this known in Abuja during the commissioning of the NiMet Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre and Scientific and Technical Information Library. He said: “This government is investing huge sums of money in the provision of infrastructure, as well as human capacity development, in the Aviation parastatals in order to strengthen their capacity to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), eventually become independent of Government funding within the next three years and scale up the contribution of aviation GDP from the present 0.6per cent to at least five per cent. “It is my expectation that NiMet will deploy the resources at their ICT centre, as well as
NIMET to commercialise services • Fed Govt to stop funding of agencies in three years From Faith Yahaya, Abuja
other facilities in achieving this objectives, particularly in driving the commercialisation initiatives,”he added. Speaking on the need to go into full scale automation, the minister said: “The high cost of service delivered from Nigerian aviation sector is principally because of the manual and laborious nature of work being done, if we automate most of our processes, we will achieve more. “I’m impressed with the level of ICT implementation in NiMet knowing full well that my major thrust in the service is the automation. I believe automation is the future of Nigeria public sector, I believe automation is the future of Nigeria. It creates transparency, it makes you work smart and it ensures that the deliverables are clearly defined. Continuing, the Minister said: “I think the level of automation in NIMET is a standard that all other aviation agencies must look at and must adopt. It is not enough that we mouth these words of automation but we must be early adopters of automation. We must implement them and see to it that the benefit of automation is passed on to the customers.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
BUSINESS NEWS
• From left: Senior Portfolio Manager, Standard Bank, Mr. Justin Maloney; Chief Executive Officer/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Faculty Member, Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami and CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Dr. Demola Sogunle at a stakeholders forum organised by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd, in Lagos.
DPR to implement gas transport code
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HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), yesterday in Lagos, said it will issue licenses to shippers, agents, suppliers, and other operators whose roles are crucial to the implementation of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC) soon. The code is a set of rules designed to guide the transportation or movement of natural gas from producers to users across the value chain. Speaking at a stakeholders forum on the implementation of the Nigerian Gas Transportation Network
By Akinola Ajibade & Ambrose Nnaji
Code, the Director, DPR, George Osahon said the code would stimulate gas investment, ensure transparency in the gas industry, fair and non-discriminatory access to the gas industry, gas trading promotion among others. Osahon, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Director, Gas Monitoring and Regulation, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Entigha Ekaluo said the forum was organized to seek the inputs of stakeholders in the value
chain on the issue of transporting gas to domestic users such as power firms, fertilizers, petrochemical companies among others that use natural gas as a major component in their production. He said DPR will implement the codes in three phases, stressing that the agency would do manual implementation in 2015, transits to auto implementation in 2016 and embark on full auto implementation in 2017. Osahon explained that funding and infrastructure are the two problems that are going to hamper the implementation of the code.
Undergraduate wins Global entrepreneurship award
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HE Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO), a global network of over 10, 000 business owners acrosss 42 countries, with a combined US$565 billion in annual revenue, has honoured some Nigerian youths with the “Global Student Entrepreneurs Award” (GSEA). At the national final competition to round up its twoday seminar held in Lagos , the body declared Prince Joshua Oyeniyi, a student entrepreneur and radio producer/ presenter with the “Ambassador radio show” on the Unilag FM, as the winner. Oyeniyi is a final year Mathematics student of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba. Accordingly, the winner will represent Nigeria at the 2015 EO GSEA which comes up in Washington DC be-
Adedeji Ademigbuji
tween 15-17, April, 2015. The EO Nigeria President Mr. Anthony Okoye said EO GSEA supports student entrepreneurs through mentorship, recognition and connections to take their businesses to the next level. He also revealed that one of the key goals of GSEA is to reward and encourage the enterprise spirit of undergraduate Entrepreneurs all over the world. EO Nigeria GSEA 2015 featured 50 candidates from across the nation. 15 contestants emerged and contested at the national finals where they presented their business models and plans to a 16man panel of judges made up of global EO officials, Lagos and Abuja Chapters officials as well as respected entrepre-
neurs. Oyeniyi’s “Ambassadors Radio Show” concept which currently run on Unilag FM emerged the most exciting of the 15 different presentations by some of the brilliant Nigerian student entrepreneurs. Speaking on the winning concept, Oyeniyi explained that because of his disadvantaged background, he was inspired get stories that will inspire people to become whatever they want to be. Ambassador radio show has hosted successful business leaders and entrepreneurs like Pat Utomi and other top notch Nigerians and international figures. He hopes to syndicate the programme on not fewer than 10 topnotch radio stations and anticipates setting up the largest online radio station in the world.
Propertygate launches N500m housing project
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ROPERTYGATE Development and Investment Plc has commenced N500 million building projects in the Lekki Peninsula corridor of Lagos State. The on-going housing projects are billed for completion between June and September this year. Managing Director, Propertygate Development and Investment Plc, Mr Adetokunbo Ajayi, said the building projects included fully detached duplexes built to deliver elegance, comfort and style and are currently about 65 per cent subscribed. According to him, the projects have market value of over N500
million on completion and are uniquely named based on the individuality of each different design. The projects are in three clusters within a private gated estate with each housing unit enjoying exclusive space area. He explained that despite the challenging operating environment in Nigeria, the company’s products and services shall always be guided by the principle of innovativeness and value-driven for its diverse clients. He noted that the design and execution of the company’s products would continue to place premium on customer satisfaction adding that investment in real estate is one of the
potent means by which the federal government could diversify Nigerian economy in the wake of shocks that have characterized the global oil market. Explaining the unique features of the project, he noted that one of the clusters, christened Catembe Court, had been designed as mini-scheme to give taste and premium living experience. “The Court comprises all rooms ensuite 4bedroom detached houses, each with ensuite maid’s room, entrance porch, ante, main living room, dining area, visitor’s toilet, kitchen with pantry, family sitting and sit out terrace,” Ajayi said.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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e-Business
NCC: Technical skills needed to sustain growth T HE Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC) has said there is need to intensify efforts at building the specialised skills set needed in the telecoms sector if the gains of the telecoms revolution are to be sustained. Its Head Policy and Research, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, said the telecom revolution in the country which has resulted in the unparalleled growth from 400,000 lines to 139 million connected lines needed to continue
Stories by Lucas Ajanaku
to grow. He said for this to happen, there was need to grow the specialised skill sets to sustain and drive more growth and development in the sector. He spoke during the donation of 87 information communication technology (ICT) books to Bayero University, Kano (BUK). He explained that the aim of the project, which is part of NCC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to spread digital dividends to tertiary institu-
tions across the country, is to develop local capacity that will contribute to the ICT sector and boost the national economy. NCC Board Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Bintube, who led the Commission’s delegation to BUK to donate the books, said the ICT book donation is part of the project of the Commission to fill the dearth of educational materials within the ICT sector in the country. BUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed expressed gratitude to the NCC for
the donation and encouraged it to further partner with the university in its efforts to expand ICT training programmes within the institution. He said the NCC is one of the institutions that show legitimacy and honor in the ICT sector, adding that the book donation by the Commission to the school is worth millions of naira and is one of the best the university has received so far. The books will adorn the university’s ICT Centre named T.Y Danjuma ICT Centre which con-
sists of a post-graduate school, Departments of Information Technology (IT), Software Engineering and Computer Science. The gesture from the NCC is spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country. In a statement, NCC Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo quoted Bintube as saying: “Commission is honored and privileged to be present at one of the citadels of learning in Nigeria. We appreciate the efforts made in ICT within the university.”
MainOne urges outsourcing of data management
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AINONE’S new subsidiary, MDX-I, has urged major firms in the country to leverage on outsourced Data Centre services to drive down costs and optimise operational efficiency. Convinced about the cost-efficiency of outsourced data, MDX-I and its parent company, MainOne a breakfast seminar in Lagos targeted at senior level IT managers to discuss strategies for companies that require improved data centre capacity. This session revealed valuable global insights from leading IT research company, the International Data Corporation (IDC), and global Cloud specialist, EMC2 Corporation, in addition to specialists from MainOne. MainOne’s Head of Marketing, Jumoke Akande, said the recent macro-economic issues in the country and fluctuating global oil prices
•From left: Chief Operating Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Phillip Obioha; Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof R.A. Bello and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof Duro Oni, during prize presentation to the best graduating students of Computer Science Department (UNILAG) and the University of Douala, Cameroon.
ComTech minister sees local content driving internet C OMMUNICATION Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson, has identified local content as the future driver of internet penetration in the country, adding that overreliance on YouTube and other such channels will not do the magic. Speaking as a panelist at the Ericson and Alliance for Affordable Internet (a4ai), programme at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, she said: “What will drive the internet is relevant, local content. The most visited sites in Nigeria are the job and the news sites, not social media.” The minister’s position contrasted with that of other panel members gathered from across the world that saw the social network channels as doing magic. Executive Director, a4ai, Sonia Jorge, in her presentation said Ni-
geria’s improved performance was buoyed by a strong leadership and regulation of the industry, robust broadband strategy, effective competition in the telecoms sector, efficient spectrum allocation, universal access to rural and underserved population, and infrastructure sharing, among others. Dr Johnson said the decision of the Nigerian government to create the Communication Technology Ministry underscored the importance attached to ICT as critical to economic growth and job creation. In the report of the research, Jorge explained: “Nigeria comes second in the Affordability Index’s ranking of developing economies – scoring higher than other African developing economies such as Kenya, Mo-
rocco and Uganda, and higher even than some emerging economies, including Mexico, South Africa, Thailand and Tunisia. The backbone infrastructure in Nigeria has improved significantly over the last decade, with multiple players, including Phase 3, Glo 1, Suburban Telecom, Multilink and MTN, building fibre networks that crisscross the country. Nigeria’s regulator, the Nigerian Communication Commission, plans to award seven licenses to regional infrastructure companies to extend broadband infrastructure nationally. The first two of these were awarded early in the year to MainOne and HIS Communications to provide services in Lagos and Northcentral states.
‘Nigeria cornerstone of Archos’ operations’
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HE Country Manager (Nigeria), French mobile
devices major, Archos Soicete Anonymes,, Ademola Olukotun has said Nigeria will be the cornerstone of the firm’s operations in Africa, adding that a mix of qualitative and expanding infrastructure as well as tremendous growth opportunities makes the country to stand out as preferred investment destination. Speaking during the launch of the products of the firm in Lagos at the weekend, he said the firm has operated in other parts of the world, promising to replicate its success story in the country.
He said: “Archos is the pioneer in the Android Operating System (OS) space with the first ever Android tablets. It has now combined its technical know-how with its creativity to provide a complete range of innovative smartphones and tablets. Archos has a strategic technical close relationship with operating system partner (Google certified). All our Android smartphones have complete access to Google play store and Windows Storetn. Today, we offer our own line of Android tablets and smatrphones as well as a full line of OEM devices. “After years of successful consolidation of our presence in
Europe, Archos is now in launching its brand in several countries in Africa and the Middle East and Africa. About six months ago, we launched in Egypt and last month, in Senegal. So, Nigeria is a continuation of our African expansion project and coming to to Nigeria has given us an exciting challenge and we are poised and determined to to present Achos tablets phones and connected objects at affordable prices yet with world class quality and aesthetics. “A mix of qualitative and expanding infrastructure as well as tremendous growth makes Nigeria very appealing and cornerstone of our strategy.”
necessitated the need for companies to use the session to explore how they can utilise Cloud and other Data Centre hosted-business applications to enhanced productivity at reasonable costs. With leading data experts from IDC and EMC2 Corporation as speakers, the session shed light on global trends in Data Centers, planning issues to consider, and the case for businesses to co-locate in commercial data centers which offer extraordinary levels of performance, as against building in-house data center facilities from ground up. Ms. Akande stressed that high level of attendance at the seminar with “Making the business case for data centre Migration” as its theme revealed the enlightened perspectives that IT managers in Nigeria are adopting to withstand economic pressures and reduce costs.
Glo gives N28b free airtime in overload promo
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ECOND national carrier, Globacom, has said subscribers to its network have within the last two months received about N28billion worth of airtime from the Glo Overload Reloaded promo which is running. A re-launch of the promo earlier this year provided expansion to 400 per cent bonus airtime for a recharge of N200 and above, that is twice the initial 200 per cent bonus. The promo was one of those launched in the last quarter of 2014 which was designed to reward loyal and faithful subscribers. With more than 7,000 subscribers joining the promo and enjoying the benefits accruable since the relaunch, the company has given out N27,523,577,800 bonus airtime to its subscribers. In the promo, a recharge of N200 gives a value of N1000 instantly, which is five times the value of re-
charge. N500 recharge gives the subscriber N2, 500 airtime value; N1000 gives N5000; N2000 gives N10,000; while N5000 gives N25,000 value. The bonus airtime can be used by subscribers to make calls to Glo lines and send SMS between 10pm and 8am. The validity period ranges from two to 15 days. Data subscribers on the network have also been enjoying the bonus. For example, a N2,500 data plan instantly gets 4.5GB worth of data, N5,000 gives 12GB, and N8000 gives 24GB of data. Also, customers who subscribe to the promo have the opportunity to be among the 120 millionaires that the promo will produce. Having produced 40 millionaires so far, 80 more will be announced in the next few weeks. Francis Oshin, a Glo subscriber, said the promo was a blessing to the industry.
Ericsson, Tigo, others partner on community empowerment
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RICSSON, Tigo and CocaCola have partnered to float a programme they said would empower rural communities. The pilot project will bring mobile connectivity to EKOCENTER, a social enterprise initiative designed to empower community well-being by bringing safe water, solar power and mobile communications, as well as basic goods and services to underserved communities. The pilot project will be conducted in collaboration with Tigo Rwanda and German start-up company, Solarkiosk. Chief Sustainability Officer, Coca-Cola Company, Beatriz Perez, said: “EKOCENTER is an innovative social enterprise that endeavors to help communities
thrive by providing further access to resources. Engaging new partners to join this journey adds skills and expertise beyond our core enhancing the value for the people in these communities. Connectivity has become a fundamental part of thriving communities and economies. We’re excited about the solutions Ericsson can deliver to EKOCENTER, solutions we believe will foster positive change.” Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson, Elaine WeidmanGrunewald, also said about the initiative: “Mobile broadband can address a wide range of issues that hinder development – from poverty to lack of electricity and safe water, to financial exclusion and gender inequality”.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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COMMENTARY LETTER
EDITORIALS
Under-funded police •It is one of our nation’s big acts of shame
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T the budget defence session at the Senate, Suleiman Abba, InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), represented by Mamman Tsafe, his deputy in-charge of logistics and supplies, bemoaned the N5billion proposed for police vehicle maintenance and fuelling in the 2015 budget. He said the police required N24billion to effectively discharge its operational and other salient functions. The IGP at the session described the proposed sum as ‘grossly inadequate’ and we perhaps share his sentiment on this issue. The available statistics: The nation, according to the IGP as at today has 332,756 policemen; 6,693 traffic wardens; 11,999 civilian workers; and 3,756 police stations spread across the country. To make the Nigeria Police Force work ef-
‘What we gleaned from the outcome of that Senate committee appearance of the IGP is that the Federal Government has become overwhelmed by the burden of funding the institution. What services do the police render to the public from which they could make legitimate revenue? Is it from being peace enforcer or from the duty of guaranteeing safety of lives and property?’
fectively, government must adequately fund the institution. As things are, it is not sufficiently funded given the facts available on what was budgeted and what was released for spending. The funding of the force is not only decreasing despite its increasing workforce, but more worrisome is the expose on budgetary shortfalls and the fact that the ‘overhead and capital budget proposed did not reflect the actual need of the police.’ For instance, out of the ‘N56 billion overhead proposed by the police in 2014, only N8 billion was approved out of which N5 billion was released. For capital budget, of a proposed N218 billion, N7 billion was approved and only N3 billion was released.’ In 2015, the budget estimate of the force is reportedly put at N329 billion, with the following breakdown: capital expenditure - N17 billion; overhead cost N5 billion; and personnel cost - N306 billion. Judging from the antecedent of police budget shortfalls, it is almost certain that precise amount for each overhead would not be released to the force, which in itself portends danger to policing in the country. Rather than help resolve this nagging challenge, it is bad that the Senator Paulinus Nwagu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, in flagrant insensitivity to the country’s poor state of policing, in his annotations, advised the police leadership ‘to seek ways of generating internal revenue to augment what has been budgeted for its operations
... going by falling oil prices and attendant cut in the budget of all government organisations.’ What we gleaned from the outcome of that Senate committee appearance of the IGP is that the Federal Government has become overwhelmed by the burden of funding the institution. What services do the police render to the public from which they could make legitimate revenue? Is it from being peace enforcer or from the duty of guaranteeing safety of lives and property? This move can only throw the already rotten police into irredeemable corruption. This is not good enough, especially with the general elections barely two weeks away. It is only in this part of the world that we have policemen, who while on operational duty drive in rickety trucks and jalopies all over town, and getting money to fuel and maintain them from bribes collected from motorists and criminals. Consequent upon this, the policemen are usually negligent in the use of vehicles given to them and a need for re-orientation becomes inevitable in this regard. In most states where the police are doing well, it is because the state governments have taken it upon themselves to provide for their needs even though such is not part of their constitutional responsibilities. We call on the Federal Government to quickly accede to demands for state police, having failed in its constitutional duty of providing for this important institution of state.
Imperial governor •Governor Aliyu’s treatment of his estranged deputy negates law and decency
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OVERNOR Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has shown scant regard for the rule of law in his disagreement with his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto. The quarrel between the two arose from the deputy governor’s decampment from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ever since that action, Governor Aliyu has incrementally abused his powers, to maltreat his deputy. The latest is the cynical relocation of the deputy’s office to a public residential area, about 1,500 metres away from the government house premises; an action, he should rescind, immediately. While a deputy governor should not decamp from the party on which he is elected with the governor, as it is incongruous to the spirit of the executive office, such occurrence is not enough reason for Governor Aliyu to ridicule the deputy governor’s office, which is a creation of the constitution. In pursuit of vendetta, Governor Aliyu has flagrantly abused the constitution, and is making a mockery of his own office, being a creation of law. First, the governor barred the deputy governor from the state executive council meeting, against the provisions of section 193(2) of the 1999 constitution. Again, the governor illegally handed over the reins of the state to the Speaker, State House of Assembly, instead of the deputy, when he travelled, in disregard of section 190 of the constitution. So, while the deputy governor may be accused of moral indiscretion in dumping the governor with whom he
ran for office, the governor on his part is riding roughshod over the fundamental law of the country, the constitution from where his powers derive legitimacy. Because his earlier unconstitutional acts were ignored by the deputy, the governor has now gone ahead to forcibly eject the deputy from his office, using cleaners and policemen. In justifying the official misconduct, the governor’s chief press secretary, Israel Ebije, was reported to have said, “As you know, renovation work on the protocol department has just been completed and it is the turn of the building of the deputy governor’s office”. In case the governor has forgotten, the Supreme Court had held as unconstitutional similar infractions of the law by a chief executive, in pursuit of an estranged deputy, in the case between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar versus Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. As in that instance, political disagreements between the executive official and his deputy, however serious, should never be enough to bring the provisions of the constitution to disrepute. We agree that ideally, the governor and the deputy governor should operate on the same political platform, but when political differences have occurred, the issues should be sorted out within the provisions of the law. In the present instance, a 20-hour notice to relocate, handed over to the deputy governor on the orders of the governor, clearly does not fall within the express and clear intents of the 1999 constitution. To save our democracy
from such abuse, as championed by Governor Aliyu, we urge all lovers of democracy to deprecate his actions; more so as the alleged spiteful actions of the governor during the PDP primaries, gave rise to the current crises. We recall that the governor was accused of imposing candidates during the party primaries, particularly the gubernatorial candidate of the party. May we remind Governor Aliyu that he is the chief ambassador of democracy in Niger State, and it will be unfortunate if he allows his animosity against his deputy, to turn him into a champion of undemocratic actions in the state. His actions sadly remind us of the military era, when one person sees himself as the alpha and omega, wielding executive, legislative and judicial powers altogether.
‘May we remind Governor Aliyu that he is the chief ambassador of democracy in Niger State, and it will be unfortunate if he allows his animosity against his deputy, to turn him into a champion of undemocratic actions in the state. His actions sadly remind us of the military era, when one person sees himself as the alpha and omega’
Still on military deployment for polls
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IR: A major issue dotting our political landscape is whether or not the military should be deployed to provide security at the coming polls. As accusations and counteraccusations continue to trail the proposal, it is pertinent to state that the fact that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has supported the move does not make it right. The courts have even ruled against such move. Kindly let us recall the gory past of military excessiveness. For example, a few hours before last year’s month of August Osun governorship election day, over 10,000 battle-ready soldiers were reportedly drafted to mount surveillance on all the roads leading to the state from the boundaries of the neighbouring Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states, thereby putting the state under siege. This resulted into untold hardships for the people occasioned by queues of parked vehicles and stretched long distances from various entry points. Military deployment is nothing but a subtle invitation for soldiers to supplant democracy. In the past, there had been reported cases of harassment and intimidation of civilians by soldiers. This is where the Federal Government should be very careful not to give the impression of taking sides and abusing state security outfits, thereby fuelling the age-long fears that the military has been seriously politicised. In the past, soldiers have been accused of intimidating voters during elections. This should not be. Military men are not in anyway superior to the civilians. They are public servants and as such, are expected to respect civil rule and comport themselves in a submissive and dignified manner. They should carry out their duties with utmost patriotism. Nigerians should be watchful and shun violence in the face of any provocation. They should go about their normal business without fear. To ensure free and fair coverage in the coming elections, international observers, party agents and civil societies group should be given free hand to monitor election proceedings. The media, being the Fourth Estate of the Realm, should be allowed to perform its societal obligation under a convivial atmosphere as the watchdog in deepening democracy. Openness remains the best way to enthroning democratic credentials. This will involve granting true independence to the electoral body to discharge its duties. The Nigeria Police Force should be better equipped with adequate funds, personnel and requisite training to carry out its statutory functions now being usurped by the army. Above all, the politicians should play the game by its rules bearing in mind that nobody gains anything by engaging in do-or-die politicking. Or, is political office no longer an avenue for service delivery? The planned military deployment - in clear defiance of court orders - may eventually not translate into victory for any party because voters this time around would vote for candidates that could positively turn things around for them and make the nation a better place. What should really matter most is the people’s unwavering resolution and strong-will to get the best, which the barrel of gun can never suppress. • Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB),
TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile
• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu
•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon
•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike
•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina
• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba
•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness
•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CARTOON & LETTERS
IR: Every Nigerian now has to bear the brunt of a mismanaged economy courtesy of the Jonathan mal-administration. If only we knew we would not be better off now than we were four years ago, perhaps the story will be different. We are on the verge of making another choice as regards who will lead the country for another four years. It’s a choice between continuity, which President Jonathan represents, and change, which General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) promises to bring to bear if elected. Many Nigerians are torn between these two choices, which the New York Times editorial referred to as miserable. Regardless of this, we have to weigh our options. Dr. OkonjoIweala’s recent allusion to the lack of institutions, systems and process as the reason for persistent corruption and the current state of the Nigerian economy is an afterthought. Though institutions, systems and processes are needed but what has been done under the coordinating minister of the economy to address this problem and avoid this economic mess? Nobody has come out to tell Nigerians that the economy is in recession. Worst still, what the economic management team told us is that we need to start diversifying the economy in order to be able to cope with the current fall in oil prices. Nigeria’s economy is finally in recession. Former CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in his much criticised article titled: ‘Buhari versus Jonathan: Beyond 2015’, which was published in most newspapers stated that ‘’at a time of oil boom, Nigeria again went on a consumption spree such that the budgets of the last five years can be best described as consumption budget with new borrowing by the federal government exceeding the actual expenditure on critical infrastructure. Not one penny was added to the stock of foreign reserves at a period Nigeria earned hundreds of
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Nigeria’s lingering but avoidable problems billions from oil.’’ Professor Soludo continued; ‘’President Obasanjo met about $5 billion in foreign reserves and the average monthly oil price for the 72 months he was in office was $38 and yet he left $43 billion in foreign reserves after paying $12 billion to write-off Nigeria’s external debt. In the last five years, the average monthly oil price has been over $100 and the quantity also higher but our foreign reserves have been declining and exchange rate depreciating.’’
The CBN’s further devaluation of the naira after that of 2014 and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s warning that tough times await Nigerians are all pointers to the challenges ahead. All the indices for measuring government performance on the economy have been poor for Nigeria according to reputable statistical organisations. This has been the case for many years now and past administrations have done little to improve these indices so as to be able to improve the standard of living of Nigerians. The reasons for these are
quite obvious. Leaders of government and politicians have failed to address the fundamental problems. They have refused to reduce the cost of governance as well as the salaries and emoluments of public office holders. Besides, the citizens have not tried to compel their representatives at the National and State Assemblies to work on cutting down government spending by at least 50 per cent. Countries that do not have as much natural resources like we do are managing their economy in
such a way that the citizens are not made to suffer untoward hardship. Besides our over-reliance on crude oil as the major source of revenue has resulted in undermining the agricultural and mining sectors which are capable of solving most of our economic problems. Now, the current economic management team is looking at diversifying the economy as a result of the fall in oil prices but this should have been done a long time ago. However, we must see the present challenges as an opportunity to fundamentally restructure Nigeria’s political economy including its fiscal federalism and mineral rights. The current system guarantees cycles of consumption and one cannot see sustainable long term prosperity without major systemic overhaul. • Liman Abdullahi Isah IBB University, Lapai.
Hope, as change beckons IR: To begin with, not even my NOKIA charger seems to be working under this administration. Nigerian polity has always been a subject of ridicule within and beyond. Nigeria is a country where the plight of the masses are downplayed for partisan and sectional interests: It is a country where the divide between the rich and poor is immeasurable: Our dear Nigeria is one where President Goodluck Jonathan views internal problems as trash while external problem becomes his focal agenda. Indeed, nothing seems to count for now but our mandate surely would, come March 28. Nigerians have a way of addressing issues that leaves me wondering and pondering if I’m a citizen of this country. There is a beginning and end to everything and as such, the end of this trait has surfaced and should be laid to rest with urgency. We all have a
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duty to our fatherland and it is not by being regional, partisan or hiding under the pretext of religious and cultural unity that should abet us. Such would not but our collective unity of purpose. It is about time we understood that the office of the president is imperative and greater than its occupant. The average Nigerian man cannot go about his business without giving thoughts to security threats. The educational system is in shambles while the power sector is wide off the mark. Our roads are but accident traps and the hospitals appear to be sicker than sick patients. The list just goes on and on. Nigeria is on a fast lane to total collapse under this administration. Virtually every sector with little exception fidgets, due to mismanagement, like a helpless titanic ship. Nothing seems to work. Our beloved president continue to sing
the melodious story of his poor upbringing to a point one would actually begin to wonder if he ever wore shoes during his university days. As if matters were not worst, the president has the effrontery of stepping into Maiduguri in pursuit of his bid for re-election despite having massively failed parents whose children remain in the company of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. One striking quality about Jonathan is the perfection of lip service. He talks as if the task before him is close to completion when the blueprint has not actually been drawn. This is not the kind of leader we desire. If 2011 was a year to vote for someone young with a seemingly bright future to steer the country towards development, indeed we had made a collective mistake. This is the chance to correct it by voting this president out of power.
I therefore call on all Nigerians to display sagacity in their choice for the next president. We should remember the fact that even though our existence as citizens does not count to the incumbent administration, we have been endowed with the opportunity to send them parking. Our mandate surely counts albeit in a free and fair election. We are tired of endless kaput promises. We are tired of an administration that gives thumbs up to criminals and offer them official protection. Come March 28, we shall march to install the right man at the helm of affairs, as it would mark the beginning of a new dawn. We are massively motivated by the need to build a society enriched with bright hope for the future generation and devoid of endorsed social vices by the people currently at the helm of affairs. Change we must seek for. • Yahaya Ibrahim Minna
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
19
COMMENTS
Professor Ayankanmi Ayandele: A Tribute
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was visiting one of the universities in the Atlanta Metro area in summer of 2014 when I heard through a newsletter from the Nigerian academy of letters that Professor Ayankanmi Ayandele passed on sometimes in June, 2014. Needless to say I was shocked and somehow bewildered as to how such a great man can pass on unsung by the academia in particular and the polity in general. Professor Ayandele was born in Ogbomosho some 79 years ago. From his name, it can be deduced that he descended from a family of drummers. Drummers in Yorubaland historically were quite knowledgeable about the society and somehow knew not only the history of kingdoms but also the cognomen of most people. His ancestors must have influenced him in the way he developed his mental ability for retention of the details of development in his environment. He was educated in one of the Baptist schools in Oyo State before going to the then Nigerian College of Arts and Science in Ibadan which was a kind of preparatory intermediate school for entrance into Ibadan, the only university in colonial Nigeria. It was from here that he entered the University of Ibadan and majored in History. From the University of Ibadan he went to the University of London as a postgraduate student and earned the PhD in History in1964 and immediately returned to the University of Ibadan and went through the various stages of a normal academic career. And by 1972 he was not only a professor but the founding principal of the Jos campus of the University of Ibadan. This was a campus that was set up in response to the demand of the people of the then BenuePlateau state who wanted their own university distinct from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria whose staff and student population was largely dominated by the majority group of the Hausa-Fulani in northern Nigeria. The existence of the University of Ibadan Jos campus was therefore largely resented by the powers that be in northern Nigeria but through the efforts of the then governor, commissioner of police, J.D Gomwalk who was a science graduate of the University of Ibadan before joining the police and the support of the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon who was from the Plateau, the college took off in 1971. Professor Ayandele provided the dynamic leadership for this college which was located in abandoned warehouses belonging to some tin-mining companies; Professor Ayandele worked tirelessly to make the college a reality and lived a spartan life somewhere among the Naraguta people on Bauchi road in the outskirts of Jos metropolis. I joined this college in 1972 and I headed the History unit and my other colleague now Professor Joseph Inikori now of Rochester University was assistant lecturer pending the completion of his PhD in Ibadan. Most of us who worked
Caesar : The ides of March are come Soothsayer : Ay, Caesar, but not gone - Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
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Y NOW, we would have known the results of the elections - if they had held as scheduled on February 14 and 28. But, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was left with no choice than to postpone the polls till March 28 and April 11 after being ‘’advised’’ that the military requires six weeks to run Boko Haram out of Sambisa Forest. Since then, the polity has been heated up by people with hidden agenda. These people do not want the elections to hold and they are doing everything to throw a spanner into INEC’s works. These conspirators are no doubt acting a script because in the first place there was really no need to shift the elections. Now that the polls have been shifted, they are still not satisfied. What do they want? They do not want the elections to hold, at least for now, until they are sure that their candidate will win. They want to go, to borrow the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Laurent Gbagbo way. Gbagbo was the Ivorian president who refused to
332 DAYS AFTER
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WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?
with Professor Ayandele were Lecturer grade II and Assistant lecturers in departments such as English, History, various Sciences, Geography, Islamic and Arabic studies. He, as a Professor towered above every one of us. I had the privilege of representing the college in the senate at the main campus at Ibadan. The country then was peaceful and Professor Ayandele sometimes drove all the way from Jos to Ibadan and back if the weather was not good for flying; I also did the same. On a personal note, I lost two children through premature birth which brought untold suffering to my wife and myself because of poor medical services in Jos. But inspite of these personal losses, as a young family, my late wife and myself had a great time, planting roses, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes and other sub-tropical fruits that only the Jos area can grow. We lived in modest shoddily built bungalows along Bauchi road built by contractors who came from the then Mid-West state apparently on recommendation from the then Colonel Ogbemudia who was a bosom friend of Governor J.D. Gomwalk of Benue-Plateau state. I remember being visited by thieves who came to rob us of the few belongings we had in our fragile homes. We found listening ears to our complaints in Professor Ayandele who made us believe that we were rendering patriotic service. We had good relationship with our students some of whom became friends because we were just a few years older than them; some of these students included Professor Sonny Tyoden who became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos some years later. Another student that I remember is John Nwodo who later became a minister under Shagari and later under Abdulsalami Abubakar. Professor Ayandele left Jos in 1975 when the Ibadan Jos campus was upgraded to a federal university and professor Unuaguluchi became its first Vice-Chancellor. I had left the University for University of Lagos in 1974 because of the need for proper medical attention for my wife. Professor Ayandele’s sterling performance did not go unnoticed by the federal government which rewarded him with appointment as the foundation Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Calabar and remained so up till 1982. He was the one who built the university from scratch and to the level of a comprehensive university with all the major disciplines of Medicine, Engineering, Law, the Sciences, Education, Social science and Liberal Arts. He took the job of building the university as a personal challenge. He breathed and lived the university every moment of the time he spent on the job. He visited Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States several times to see to the recruitment of staff and building a library worthy of a university. I had the opportunity to serve him between 1978
and 1982 when I was respectively director of the national universities commission’s offices in Ottawa Canada and Washington DC, United States respectively and also when he came to Howard University between 1981 and 1982 on sabbatical leave. He was so Jide engrossed with the Osuntokun building of the University of Calabar that he brooked no opposition from the local people whom he arrogantly dismissed as “an atomistic society perpetually at war with itself”. This earned him a lot of opposition from the then Cross-river state whose people were known for the mutual antagonism between the Ibibios and Anangs, the Efik and Efuts and others which Professor Ayandele apparently could not understand but he meant well and left an enduring legacy in the solid foundation which he laid for the University of Calabar. When he left the University of Calabar, he served as regional director in UNESCO office in Dakar, Senegal as a form of self exile and from there he returned home to Ibadan where he lived almost isolated from others in his private home, only coming out to give lectures if and when invited by various learned societies. •To be continued.
‘Professor Ayandele’s sterling performance did not go unnoticed by the federal government which rewarded him with appointment as the foundation Vice Chancellor of the newly established University of Calabar and remained so up till 1982. He was the one who built the university from scratch and to the level of a comprehensive university with all the major disciplines of Medicine, Engineering, Law, the Sciences, Education, Social science and Liberal Arts’
The ides of March conduct election until, so he thought, he was sure of winning. He was goaded by his wife, Simone - who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for post-election violence on Tuesday- to hold on until the time was auspicious for him to hold the election and win. When the result turned out otherwise, she prevailed on him not to hand over. The couple then holed up in government house, which they saw as their personal fiefdom, while fighting raged all over their country. Obasanjo was right in drawing a parallel between what happened in Ivory Coast and what we are experiencing in our country today. The president’s men think that by beating the drums of war louder and harder, the more they would be drawing attention to themselves as working for him. In this critical month of March, which over the centuries, has witnessed a lot of political upheavals worldwide, they should know that it is better to err on the side of caution than be seen talking rabidly. From Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to his Ondo State counterpart Olusegun Mimiko, Femi FaniKayode, Doyin Okupe, Mike Omeri and their ilk, it is as if Nigeria is at war. These people have declared war on All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari, calling him names and maligning him. Yes, Buhari was a military head of state, just as Gen David Mark, who is today the Senate President, was a military governor and minister. As a minister under the Babangida regime, Mark made the famous statement that telephone was not for the common man, but has that stopped him from being in politics? So, why should Fayose, Mimiko and Fani-Kayode and others in
their group use the actions Buhari took while in office as military head of state against him today because he is contesting an election against their principal? The 1983 coup against President Shehu Shagari was not solely executed by Buhari, so why is he being crucified for it? As military head of state, what did Fani-Kayode and co., expect him to do? To keep quiet in the face of what his regime met on ground after Shagari’s ouster? Have they forgotten that it was the public’s cry that led to the coup? After the coup, didn’t the people troop out rejoicing? You see, it is easy to forget these things when partisan politics is involved. Today, it suits some people to paint Buhari black. But if his administration had succeeded in bringing back the late Umaru Dikko in a crate from London in 1984, they would have hailed him as the peo-
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ple’s leader. Why? Because the public believed that the late Dikko, sorry to say this of the dead, was the villain in the Shagari administration. This election is a straight contest between Jonathan and Buhari and on the streets today, the people are rooting for the general. Just four years ago, it was not like this. Jonathan rode on the crest of public goodwill to power in 2011 that the same Buhari, who is now giving him goose pimples, had no chance against him in that year’s election. Surely, he cannot be thinking of repeating the 2011 feat in 2015 because the people are disenchanted with him. We must watch Jonathan’s men during the forthcoming elections because they would do anything to ensure that he retains power. These conspirators should not be allowed to kill our dream of a better Nigeria under a purposeful leader just as
Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612
Cassius, Brutus and others killed Caesar out of envy in Rome hundreds of years ago. We must be vigilant to ensure that the people’s will prevails in the March 28 election because if we go to sleep, these people will stab us in the back.
A General’s parting shot
ieutenant-General Martin Luther Agwai is more of a reserved soldier than the garrulous type. He does not talk much, but whenever he does heads must turn because he says it as it is. That is what is expected of an officer and a gentleman. A General must not only be a general in words, but also in deeds. Gen Agwai has proved times without number that he is a General’s general. He proved his mettle as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff as well as head of the African Union Force in Darfur, Sudan. So, with such intimidating credentials, Gen Agwai will be doing himself and all he stands for no good if he cannot look power in the face and speak truth to it. After being army and defence chiefs, what else does
he want in life than to be grateful to God for all He has done for him. His appointment as Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) last year was icing on the cake for him. It is not that he needed the job as such. So, by relieving him of the job on Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan only did him a world of good. But the president has shown
us the kind of leader he is – one who does not brook criticisms, especially from his appointees. His action does not remove anything from Gen Agwai’s warning to the military not to allow itself to be used by politicians during the forthcoming elections. Did he talk too much? To the president, he did, but to Nigerians, he spoke the plain truth and that remains his parting shot.
‘Jonathan rode on the crest of public goodwill to power in 2011, that the same Buhari, who is now giving him goose pimples, had no chance against him in that year’s election. Surely, he cannot be thinking of repeating that feat in 2015’
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
20
COMMENTS
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BSENCE of governance in an election year is not unique to Nigeria. It is a feature of all participatory liberal democracies where elections are held periodically to determine the fate of political office holders, legitimise or delegitimize their authority. Our own Problem is that there has hardly been any form of governance since the coming of President Jonathan in 2011. This is largely due to Jonathan’s leadership style which can at best be described as ‘delegation by abdication’ which was not helped by the intra party feuds which threw his ruling PDP into disarray. This has led to a situation where when the president is not setting up committees to escape taking difficult decisions, he allows his ministers to operate without restraint. Thus we have a Ministry of Petroleum where an estimated 400,000 barrels of fuel are stolen daily in spite of amnesty programme and the empowerment of the leadership of the militant groups through multibillion dollar contracts and where unilateral action of its minister led to the nation’s loss of about N1.6 trillion. In the office of the Minister of Finance there has been evidence of gross abuse of government policy on import duty wavers. While the customs records for instance showed N1.4 trillion as the value of wavers granted over a period of three years the figure posted by the minister’s office was a paltry N171 billion. Similarly the minister of power insists power generation has improved despite the fact that we today generate 3,479.55MW after an injection of $8.26b. Four years on, the figure falls below the 4,747MW President Jonathan promised he would achieve by December 2011. And because ministers are on their own, it took the return of long queues of motorists searching for fuel to power their homes and run their cars for the minister of finance to remember her ministry needed to pay fuel importers some N260b following the devaluation of naira. The minister of works who also operates on his own claims 25,000 kilometer of roads have been constructed in the last four years, a wild claim that prompted the governor of Lagos to remind PDP that the distance between Nigeria and London is 5000 kilometres. It is for the same reason the president and his wife were embarrassed by ministry of Internal Affairs government that was unable to confirm whether indeed close to 300 girls were abducted from their dormitories by insurgents. Ten months on, they still don’t know where the girls are. Tragically the president instead of addressing the absence of governance, an issue raised
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Jonathan, Mark and their whiz kid Ministers even by the international community, he has often chosen to play on the intelligence of Nigerians by trying to equate the pursuit of his interest with the well being of Nigerians. Just some four weeks back, some elders statesmen and ethnic irredentist, behaving like Motor Park touts (apology to President Jonathan) at the behest of government facing a possible defeat at the poles threatened violence if the dates for the elections were not shifted forward. No sooner that was achieved than the president’s men erected new road blocks aimed at buying time for the president. Last week, precisely on the 16 February, the president, a master of political subterfuge, rushed the names of Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa), Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue), Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu, Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi), Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa), Kenneth Kobani (Rivers) and Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba).and Musliu Obanikoro, a former junior minister in the ministry of defence.to the senate for confirmation as ministers. Suddenly a government that was not in a hurry to fill the then vacant defence portfolio for several months despite the raging Boko Haram insurgency war, a Jonathan government that failed to appoint a substantive minister for the all important ministry of education despite the crisis that kept universities and polytechnics closed for about a year while the supervising junior minister Nyeson Wike spent his time fighting the president was back in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital where he swore to ensure governor Rotimi Amaechi,
HIS is certainly an era of absurdities and pettiness in the evolutionary transmutation of Nigerian politics. It is a season of desperation. Fair is foul and foul is fair; everything goes. Cudgels, nails and sundry impediments are being hurled at the wheel all in a desperate effort to score cheap political points. Distortions, contraptions and lies have become the norm especially in a raging media altercation. Like bull in a Chinese shop, crafty media propagandists and other hirelings have been let loose using sweet phraseologies and idiomatic to befuddle the gullible public. In the macabre display, one of the biggest victims is the incumbent commander-in-chief and some of his frontline lieutenants. It is within this atmosphere that the recent missile hauled at President Goodluck Jonathan and the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed by eminent columnist, Sam Omatseye in The Nation newspaper edition of Monday March 2, 2015 could be contextualized. Nothing can be more diversionary than the unnecessary argument about the propriety or otherwise of a public officer engaging in farming. It is a needless infantile exercise because the constitution is very explicit about it. The Fifth Schedule Part 1 Code of Conduct for Public Officers under the 1999 Constitution puts the matter beyond doubt. While Section 1 states that: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities,” Section 2 put the provision in proper perspective by stating that: “Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph….nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming”. This provision clearly shows that it is firmly within the ambit of the law for public officers including the President to engage in farming. The 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not prohibit any Nigerian, including sitting public office holders, from acquiring landed property. Now, let me evaluate other postulations made by Omatseye in his opinion article. First, his conclusion that the land allocated to Ebele Farms Limited is meant for aviation purposes is both simplistic fallacious. Again, the ephemeral assertion by Omatseye that because the area is called aviation village all the land there had been set aside for aviation purposes is laughable. No, the cognomen is merely for descriptive reasons and does not connote ownership. Also, the attempt to paint the farm as bogus is surprising. In modern farming one person can farm in a piece of land as expansive as hundreds of hectares. Omatseye was apparently having a nostalgia of peasant farming in his community where each peasant uses primitive tools to farm in a couple of hectares. It is a statement of fact that one of the banes of the Nige-
the presidents political rival did not sleep with his two eyes closed, now wants the senate to confirm 8 ministers when the life of this administration technically ends in two weeks time. Many are bound to agree that the whole exercise is driven by the desire to serve self rather than Nigerians. Obanikoro’s nomination in fact tends to validate the thesis of critics who argue President Jonathan will hardly ‘invite anyone to come and chop’{ apology to late Sunday Afolabi, Obasanjo’s minister of internal affairs} if such a person will not enhance his hold on power. Obanikoro during his first tour of duty as a junior minister of defence served President Jonathan instead of serving Nigeria. He never for once visited the war ravaged north eastern Nigeria. He instead deployed all his talents towards the pacification of Yoruba land. In Lagos state, Governor Fashola, a governor not known for frivolities publicly accused Musiliu Obanikoro of bringing soldiers to physically stop ongoing public housing projects. In Ilaje ESE odo of Ondo state, he was similarly accused of bringing soldiers to intimidate his party’s opponents during a bi-election to fill a vacant house of assembly seat. His outing in Ekiti was no less scandalous. He was in the company of Jelli Adesiyan the police affairs minister, Iyiola Omisore, a controversial politician from Oshun, Ayo fayose, an impeached former governor who was then a PDP candidate and Andy Uba a self confessed election master rigger from Anambra {He had at the onset of the forth republic, kidnapped gover-
Of farming and absurd politics By Daniel Achiniru rian experience is the tendency of many practitioners to take politics or governance as a full time career or a sole means of livelihood. Those who totally depend on politics for survival often end as liabilities rather than assets especially upon the end of their tenure, appointment or retirement from civil or public office. Thus the involvement of more public officers, including high profile leaders in farming will go a long way towards making them self-reliant and economically independent. The involvement of more people in meaningful farming activities therefore, remains a healthy development which will help to boost the Nigerian economy and contribute to the nation’s GDP and food sufficiency. As a zoologist, what is wrong if the President opts to deploy his immense knowledge in mechanized farming? Rather than vilify the President, he should be commended for boldly and sincerely taking step to contribute his quota towards our food security. Those who have been laboring through the media to incite the public against the President for doing what is simply and squarely lawful have not found any constitutional enactment that negates the explicit provision of Section 2, Fifth Schedule of the Code of Conduct for public officers in the 1999 constitution which states that “nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.” Again, we have witnessed several instances where leaders establish farmlands and other businesses in other countries such as Ghana, South Africa and East Africa. Some leaders also illegally stashed money in foreign banks while other buy choice houses in London, New York and other mega
nor Ngige in a broad day light, locked him up like a common criminal, and demanded his resignation claiming it was he who rigged Ngide into office.}They jointly discussed how to rig the election before proceeding to arrest and detain leading opposition leaders on the eve of the election. He played a similar despicable role during the Oshun election. Puffing and huffing, he told Journalist during a press conference organized by PDP that he was in Oshogbo to reenact the Ekiti experiment. He is perhaps now desperately needed in government to complete his unfinished work of pacification of Yoruba land. He will now be in good company of pa Olanihun Ajayis, the Okunrounmus, Ayo Adebanjos, Olu Falaes and their newly crowned “Yoruba Leaders”, Ayo Fayose and Olusegun Mimiko who now say there is no alternative to a president Jonathan, who has nothing but contempt for the Yoruba on whose back he rode to power in 2011 The response of the Senate which many Nigerians consider an extension of the executive and an ‘upper house of deals’ is no less scandalous. In spite of Obanikoro’s controversial past, a pending case against him the courts and two different petitions against his appointment, David Mark wanted him confirmed without questioning. But then what does one expects from a David Mark’s Senate whose members are said to be the highest paid in the world. In a nation where the minimum wage is N18,000 per month, our senators are said to earn about $2m compared to an annual senators pay of $174,000 in the US, $105,000 of Japan, $149,700 of Germany$74,000 of Kenya and $46,000 of Ghana. Although the senators have not been forthcoming on what they earn but the proposed budget for the next senate has finally settled that. It for instance makes provision for each senator to collect. N4, 052,800m for accommodation, N6, 079,200 for furniture, N8, 105,600 as car loan.etc. As The Nation Newspaper editorial put it last Sunday “In all, the 107 senators would get N433,649,600 for accommodation, N650,474,400 for furniture allowance and N867,299,200 as vehicle loans. It is annoying that the lawmakers’ proclivity for extravagance has continued unabated since the beginning of this dispensation” Sadly Nigerians derive little joy from their world most expensive senators who draw wardrobe allowance from tax payers sweat while police men buy their own uniforms. A senate that is truly serving Nigeria would have asked president Jonathan to reserve his newly discovered whiz kid ministers until after the election that comes up in about two weeks.
cities of the world while Nigeria continued to import basic need like rice, fish and meat. Do they want him to become a liability to the nation upon leaving office as President harassing his successor for handouts? Is it not a healthy development that rather than go to sleep after serving he would retire to mechanized farming? The advantages are numerous. Apart from contributing handsomely towards Nigeria’s food sufficiency, certainly offer gainful employments to hundreds our teeming youths and women. With the steady decline of oil as our main source of revenue earning, we need to diversify urgently and agriculture is one sector that can provide the urgently needed rescue. Moreover, increased participation of more influential public officers and other Nigerians in farming will help to create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. Lastly, it is untrue to claim that the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed allocated farmland to himself. That is not to say that he has no constitutional right to farm or own a farmland. The truth is that he is not a shareholder in Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd as claimed by The Nations. It is therefore blatantly incorrect to accuse of abusing his office and violating the 1999 constitution. This is not to say that he has no constitutional right to engage in farming if he so wishes. It is certainly not corruption for a public officer to engage in farming as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999. We need more farmers if we must succeed in making Nigeria self-reliant in food production. No amount of twisting of facts cajolery, incitement or intimidation will force the Administration to abdicate its responsibilities. Thousands of Nigerians hold land titles for farming purposes in the FCT. With its 8,000 square kilometer size, FCT is larger than some states in terms of land mass. It is more than enough of the needless attempt to politicize farming by a section of the media and its patrons. It has become very obvious that most Nigerians are uninterested in such distractive debates. • Mr. Achiniru, a public affairs analysts wrote from Durumi, AMAC, Abuja.
‘We need more farmers if we must succeed in making Nigeria self-reliant in food production. No amount of twisting of facts cajolery, incitement or intimidation will force the Administration to abdicate its responsibilities. Thousands of Nigerians hold land titles for farming purposes in the FCT. With its 8,000 square kilometer size, FCT is larger than some states in terms of land mass’
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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COMMENTS
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REFRAIN usually from commenting on matters touching the employments and careers of highly placed professionals employedin the public service anywhere. My reason for that is that, having lived many decades of my life (since 1966)as lecturer and professor in universities in Nigeria and abroad, I can see, at any time, a broad spread professionals who had once been (or might have been) students of mine, in the public services of various countries and international agencies – in particular of my own country, Nigeria. For me, such persons are family. If I ever intervene in matters concerning their employment experience, it is only to commend or recommend them; I hesitate to raise issues that can tend to make them uncomfortable or make them wonder about the support of their former teacher. It is with utmost reluctance therefore that, in this column today, I raise issues of fairness concerning the recent employment experiences of two highly placedNigerian public servants, both of whom I regard as family in the sense explained by me above. My comments here are really not about the two persons concerned - the two are commendably highly educated and experienced citizens of our country. It is about the awful quality of governance in Nigeria – about the use of inexplicably unfair considerations in the manning of our public service, and about the insensitive hurting of many of our own citizens because(and only because) of the place or nationality of their origin in Nigeria. For all Nigerians, the story below is a story to ponder. Furthermore, and most importantly, at this point when we Nigerians are about to elect or re-elect a president, a matter like this deserves to be put respectfully before us all. In this column last week, I called on certain highly revered leaders of the Southwest who are now being very supportive of President Jonathan’s re-election bid, and urged them to show us, the people of their Southwest, that they have obtained from President Jonathan satisfactory assurances that the Southwest, and the citizens of the Southwest, will henceforth get their fair place in a further Jonathan presidential term, and that the citizens of the Southwestwill not, for any reason, continue to be subjected to the marginalization and unfairness that they have suffered in the Jonathan presidency until now. I now recommend for these revered fathers a
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OWER comes from God, and it is the prerogative of God as the founder of this universe to bestow power on whom it pleases Him. In his concise letter to the Romans, Apostle Paul made it clear that before a God, the race is not about he that runneth or willeth, but of God that showeth mercy. You may dare to call Him a partial God but in His wisdom, he had warned that he will only show mercy to whom he will show mercy and will curse whom he will curse. In the race for the governorship seat of Abia state, there are two major contenders although some sections of the media, to entertain their audience, increased the number as it suits them. The race in reality is between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, while on ballot, there will be other candidates who space will not allow me mention today. But I intend to do so after the election. While the PDP after its primaries produced as its standard bearer Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu popularly known as Okezuo Abia (equity), APGA and its followers are still torn in litigations over who the party candidate is between one Alex Otti who is currently holding the ticket and another claimant Reagan Ufomba who is laying claim to the same ticket. As things stand today, Okezie Ikpeazu remains the man to beat as well as toast of many. Given the manner the news of his entrance and subsequent emergence spread like wild bush fire, many were forced to ask the pertinent question, who is Okezie Ikpeazu? Born Of strong religious parentage in Obingwa Local Government Area of present-day Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu is a living of example of whom God has blessed, no man can curse. Venturing into the uncertain world of politics with a doctorate degree acquired at a relatively young age, and in an era when societal values sieved diligence, hard-work and determination out of norm, thus leaving much to be desired in the polity, those who have known him will attest to one fact, and that is his impeccable dose of humility in spite of his educational attainment. A close observation reveals that he is a
Another of Nigeria’s deadly diseases consideration of the information contained in this column today. Finally, I need to add that today’s column is not about supporting or opposing anypolitical party or anyelectoral candidate. It is about proper management of our country, about inculcating a tradition of fairness into the peaks of our country’s corporate life, about nurturing a spirit of common acceptance of all by all on a reasonably plain Nigerian field, and about using positions of power in our country to promote a spirit of harmony among our many different peoples. The Basic Story LamidoSanusi, the official who had served as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for many years, had to give up that position suddenly in February 2014. President Jonathan immediately appointed LamidoSanusi’s Deputy Governor, a woman named Sarah Alade (Dr. Mrs. Sarah OmotundeAlade) to the position of Governor of CBN. But on June 3, 2014 (less than five months later) President Jonathan pushed Dr. Sarah Alade off that seat and back to her former position of Deputy Governor, and appointed another person, Mr. Godwin Emefiele from a private bank, as Governor CBN. That is the basic story . Here now are the facts which are available to all in the public domain about the two persons concerned. I will merely present the facts as they have been published, add nothing of my own, and leave the public to do the comparisons and the judgment. Of the two persons concerned, I can’t remember ever meeting either before; and I have no contact with either. About Dr. Mrs. Sarah Alade: Dr. Sarah Alade attended Obafemi Awolowo University where she obtained the degree of B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics in 1976. Later, she obtained the degree of M.Comm at the Unversity of Melbourne, Australia, in 1983, and the degree of Ph.D. in Management Science (Operations Research) from the University of Ilorin in 1991. She started her working career in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, in Ilorin, Kwara State, in 1977. After obtaining her Ph.D in 1991, she joined the
University of Ilorin in 1991 as a Lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance. In 1993 she was employed into the Central Bank of Nigeria as an Assistant Director in the Research Department. In that position, she served as Head, State Government Finance Office (1993-6), Head, Federal Government Finance Office (1996-2000), and Head, Fiscal Analysis Division (2000-2004). “Dr. Alade has served on the teams on major economic policy studies, and has been involved in the preparation of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary and Credit Policy Proposals over the years. She was actively involved in the drafting of the Medium Term Economic Programme (MTP) for Nigeria and the IMF staff Monitored Programme/Standby Arrangement.Dr. Alade was appointed Director, Banking Operations Department of the Central Bank in May 2004. In that capacity, she served as Chairman Board of Directors, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) as well as Secretary, National Payments System Committee (NPSC)”. Dr. Alade was a member of the Technical committee of the Vision 2010 and currently a member of the Technical Committee of Vision 2020 and member of the National Economic Management Team (EMT). Dr. Alade was appointed Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), of CBN, in 2007. In that position, she “superintends over the Economic Policy Directorate, comprising the Research, Monetary Policy, Trade and Exchange, Statistics Departments and Financial Markets Department. As Chair of the Monetary Policy Implementation Committee (MPIC), she interfaces with operational departments and coordinates technical inputs for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)”. “Dr. Alade, has several publications to her credit and is currently carrying out research into Interest Rate Policy and Monetary Policy Implementation in Nigeria. Dr. Mrs. Alade is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Operational Research”. About Mr. Godwin Emefiele: Mr. Godwin Emefieleattended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained
Reflections on Bishop without a cathedral By Kingsley Emereuwa man not moved by his rare achievements in the academic world. He was always driven by the urge to serve. And curiously, he has only remained within verandahs of power even though he was eminently qualified to at least be within the living room. Unlike most politicians who always feel that lucrative portfolios are the measurement of ones political clout and rating, Ikpeazu would rather grab at the difficult task and walk on tough terrains where total commitment and even personal sacrifice were put to remain afloat and achieve desired results thus always standing him out. This was why he was able to make his mark as the General Manager of the State Integrated Passenger Manifest Scheme which ensured that Commuters and passengers who travel with the State-owned transport company were insured against any eventuality. After his stint at ASPIMS, Ikpeazu’s next port of call was the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency ASEPA where he had the tough challenge of maintaining the environmental orderliness in Aba the commercial hub of the state. While Ikpeazu stood under the sun to ensure a healthy environment and by implication a beter life for the masses, Otti coiled in the cocoon of his luxury vocation. A lifestyle he will always be used to. I cannot hide my amusement when people try to draw a comparison between Ikpeazu and Otti in terms of attracting electoral fortunes. What are the basis is what I always ask? Any attempt to compare Ikpeazu with his main challenger will reveal a movement on two parallel platform. It goes to show and clearly too that this man who has always been with the people will naturally carry the day. That was why it was
easy to tell people who Ikpeazu is. It is rather unfortunate that in Abia today, the only profile of Alex Otti known to the common man is that he is a rich man. That further takes us to another dimension of critical analysis of his personal affluence and quite expectedly, the question that flows will be who are the benefIciaries of Otti large treasury before now? After building his palatial home while serving as Executive Director of First Bank, Mazi Otti in show of his affluence and proof of outright disconnect from his people build a helipad for his helicopter which takes him home from the airport. When the allure of political enterprise got a better part of him, what did he do? He quickly ran to Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South also not found within the favored senatorial zone for the 2015 governorship race and within a short time allegedly erected another massive edifice in an alleged bid to attempt buying a birth right and ancestry of the Ngwa land. At an informal gathering recently, a renowned builder who happened to come from same local government as Otti put the entire worth of both houses at nothing less than three billion naira. This is what one man has spent for his personal luxury in the midst of poverty in the land. Today, one prominent feature of his campaign is financial profile and pecuniary inducement. He is ready to spend more, yet he never graded even the road to his house. No single person enjoyed the scholarship of our friend. But one thing that has eluded their permutation is their infantile or pedestrian knowledge of Abia political terrain. Abians are no fools. Their eyes are wide open and their political heritage or patrimony is of much value to them than anything else. They don’t want an arrogant leader who will feel he did them
Gbogun gboro the degree of B.Sc. (Finance) in 1984 and also the degree of MBA (Finance). “Before commencing his banking career, he lectured Finance and Insurance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Port Harcourt, respectively”. Mr. Emefiele served in the management of ZenithBank Plc from the inception of that bank in 1990, as its Deputy Managing Director from 2001, and as its Chief Executive and Managing Director from 2010.As Deputy Managing Director, Emefiele was directly responsible for all the Group’s local subsidiaries, Treasury and Correspondent Banking, and Multilateral, Conglomerates, & Private Banking. He also had responsibilities for direct supervision of majority of the bank’s branches in Lagos and Northern Nigeria. As Chief Executive officer and Group Managing Director of the bank, he served as the Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning of the bank.Mr. Emefiele has also served as Director of Zenith Bank (Gambia) Limited. He also serves as Director of ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited. “Mr. Emefiele is also an alumnus of Executive Education at Stanford University, Harvard University (2004) and Wharton Graduate Schools of Business (2005)”, all in the United States. I repeat that I need not add anything.
a favour by being their governor. They don’t wish for a visiting governor who will be chasing his vast business interests at the expense of the state and good governance. This is why it has been difficult for the people to accept Otti. Whereas Ikpeazu is enjoying a cult- hero followership. They know who has been with them. They know who will occupy the government house and the gates will be open to all and his ears will pay attention to their needs. They know who will look them in their faces and guess that things be not be well and ask what the problem is. That is the Ikpeazu edge and no matter what any person say, his acceptance will reflect into victory at the polls. Rather than accept the fact, Otti and his political captors are masturbating in blame game. Again, there is a saying in Igbo parlance that onye nwere mmadu ka onye nwere ego and his Aro kinsmen concluded it with this wise saying “okpogho iche, mmadu iche; mkpuola iche, nwa Aro iche”, meaning that the real value is in the people not your wealth. It is then an instructive fact and mortal lesson to others, and obviously not a surprise that despite his financial war chest he has remained a pitiable lone ranger akin to a bishop without any cathedral daily spending to attract followers. • Emereuwa writes from Umuahia.
‘Rather than accept the fact, Otti and his political captors are masturbating in blame game. Again, there is a saying in Igbo parlance that onye nwere mmadu ka onye nwere ego and his Aro kinsmen concluded it with this wise saying “okpogho iche, mmadu iche; mkpuola iche, nwa Aro iche”, meaning that the real value is in the people not your wealth’
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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THE NATION
EDUCATION
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
INSIDE
Varsity honours students with high CGPA
The Lagos State University (LASU) and the Kwara State University (KWASU) have introduced new dress codes. They have outlawed the use of lewd clothes and related materials. Some students applaud the move; others are not comfortable with it. But the institutions are defending their actions, warning that errant students will be sanctioned, report KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, ADEKUNLE JIMOH, Ilorin, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, OLUWATOYIN ADELEYE and EVERISTUS ONWUZURIKE
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ASUU-LASU vows not to support two terms for VC
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CAMPUS LIFE •A 10-page section on campus news, people, opinions etc
Students play Jonathan, Buhari at debate CALL it a mock presidential debate and you won’t be wrong. But the discussants had a common purpose - the progress of the country. They made their presentation without rancour. They explained how their adopted parties All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would achieve their goals if elected. -Page 29
Why we banned indecent dressing, by LASU, KWASU
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HE Lagos State University (LASU) and the Kwara State University (KWASU) have outlawed indecent dressing on their campuses. Under the new dress code regime in KWASU, girls are not to wear sleeveless or blouses with deep cleavages, mini-skirts and transparent clothes; the boys cannot wear shorts, dungarees, earrings and afro hair style. They can also not sag their trousers or plait their hair. Both sexes cannot wear tattered (or flowery) jeans, heavy jewelry, ankle chain or slippers; nor can they pierce their bodies (nose, mouth, tongue). Besides, the school barred the cohabitation of male and female students on or off-campus. In the past, both sexes had separate hostels on campus. Some of those living off-campus co-habited. A student (who does not want to be named) described the measure as an infringement on students' freedom, right to associate and interact without hindrance. At the Lagos State University (LASU), banners listing the 19 pro-
hibited dressings are displayed at strategic points on the campus. Some of the rules are similar to KWASU’s. In addition, students are barred from using clothes with obscene inscriptions, fez caps or any other face covering, wearing ties loosely (for boys), rolling up sleeves, and wearing artificial hair beyond shoulder length, among others. While some students of both institutions like the new dress codes, others fault the rules for "infringing on our human rights". Those on the dissenting side are more in LASU than KWASU, where the students generally think the dress code is good. One dissenter at KWASU thinks the rule barring co-habiting is harsher than the one against indecent dressing. The student, who did not wish to be named, said: "Universities worldwide are supposed to be citadels of learning (where students enjoy) universality of freedom, though that freedom is not licensed. It is also assumed that anyone admitted into the university is ma•Continued on page 26
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EDUCATION
• Some KWASU students on campus.
Why we banned indecent dressing, by LASU, KWASU •Continued from page 25 tured, both in character and mind. These latest restrictions on cohabitation are a serious affront to our rights." On the dress code, another student, Henry Abdul, said it would promote good behaviour. "It will make us responsible. Hitherto, the way some female students dressed and went about on campus was far from decent. With the new dress code, I think some normalcy will be in place. The dress code should not be strange to any of the students that are morally and spiritually brought up.," he said. For Zainab Masud, a 200-level student, the code is ideal for a school like KWASU, which is domiciled in a rural setting and a predominantly Muslim community. "Coming from a Muslim family and being a Muslim, I am cool with the newly-introduced dress code. When you look at reasons for the introduction of the new dress code, one will understand the kind of environment one is operating and what is expected of one. "This is Kwara State and not Lagos or Rivers, where you see students dressing like they are in American movies. Kwara is mostly an Islamic state. I think they are just trying to discourage provocative dressing which is already becoming rampant among some students," she said. Femi Jimoh noted that only those who disobey the dress code have reasons to worry. "We are complying now and those that are yet to find it easy to comply with are being identified every time for punishment," he said. At LASU, harassment of students that do not comply with the dress codes starts from the gate. The eagle-eyed security officials either frisk suspicious students or prevent anybody who falls foul of the dress code from entering the campus. Sometimes, detained students are grouped together by the main gate and questioned before eventually being released. Shola Sobanjo (not real name), a 200-Level English student, has been delayed by the security before and almost missed her class. She said: "It was in the morning on Monday. My friend and I were about entering (the main gate) when security people said she could not enter because she was putting on a pair of slippers. We then pleaded that it was a flat leather slippers and not the usual bathroom slippers. One of the security men even touched it to confirm it was made of leather yet
they could not yield. By the time they eventually allowed us, it was halfway into the morning lecture." Another student (names withheld) claimed that the security officials now use the measure to extort money from defaulters. "Harassment has now become a daily thing. I can tell you that security officials now use the opportunity to extort money from students before they let them in. Even things that do not amount to indecent dressing, they will claim it is, just to get a tip from defaulters before allowing them in," he said. Many of the students do not like the new code, arguing that as adults, they should be able to do what they like. They also said an institution in Lagos ought to be more liberal. Ibukun Fashuanmi said of the code: "(It is) an inconsiderable restriction of the expression of the students' fundamental human rights. Our freedom to express ourselves in fashionable yet self identifying style has been robbed from us. We are students for God sake; and need to enjoy the freedom the university setting presents in its totality without an iota of fear. Most of the students are above 18 hence know what the ideals of the society really are." Elizabeth Danilola thinks such code should not exist in a public school. "I think it is absurd. Those kinds of laws will make ground in private schools not a public school. This is not the time for them to be making obnoxious laws. It can never work. How do they expect us to change our dress code now when we didn't start like this?" she asked. LASU students also believe that the enforcement of the code may not last and have criticised the selective implementation of the code. A student who identified himself as Segun, and is studying Law, said some students dress indecently and are not punished. "As far as I am concerned, the management is just being hypocritical. Every day, they (management) keep mouthing this dressing code; you see the dress
code flying all over the place; yet you see students with indecent dressing on campus and wonder how they escaped from security officials. The truth is that some students come into the campus with vehicles but nobody cares to check what they are wearing," he said. However, one student, Kayode, thinks the code is for a good cause. "Frankly speaking, I support the school's decision on the new dress code. I feel their aim is just to cut excessive dressing among students. What the management wants to achieve is to ensure that students dress moderately and responsibly to school, thereby preparing them for the labour market. Some students just dress any how or overdress as the case may be," he said. On the dress code in KWASU, Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na'Allah, said rules and regulations are not negotiable. He said: "There is a freedom in choosing where you go for education. Nobody is compelled to come to KWASU. Different factors are considered in choosing a particular university. Let the world know that KWASU has made a decision on the kinds of strategies it wants to operate. It is a choice the university has made." Na'Allah said students have been cooperative on the new rules, describing them as "some of the extraordinarily well behaved students you see anywhere." Regarding the law that outlaws co-habiting of male and female students off-campus, the vice chancellor said it was introduced to check rape, which had become a problem for the university. He said: "Recently we recorded very high cases of rape, which disturbed the university. You are aware that we have male and female students off campus. Here on campus no hall has male and female students domiciled together. "That is why we decided to enforce the strategy of keeping both off and on-campus female and male students in different dormitories. We are now involved in setting guidelines and encouraging developers to meet
our guidelines. We are grateful since we started that the rape cases have fallen. Prof Na'Allah said the university was inspired by the example of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), which is running a stable system. "Because of the crisis of cultism, it is really important for a university like our own to look at the examples of other universities around Nigeria. How are they addressing some of these issues? University of Ilorin is close to us. UNILORIN is doing some exceptional things that are helping to enforce some of these regulations. You discover that some academic disciplines even adopt some very good dress codes. “These are the kinds of reasons that encourage us to emphasis on students’ decent dressing. It is the way you present yourselves that people see you and there is nothing wrong in an academic environment, to encourage people to dress in an acceptable manner in the community. "When you get back to your home you can dress the way you like but not in the university. It is good you have an opportunity to interact with one another but let the university have the trust that we are dealing with somebody who is disciplined, who has good character and is able to adapt to certain regulations." Na'Allah also said that given the location of the university, it must respect the culture of the host community. "Again, we are in a rural area. We have come to live with the community. It will not be fair to say ‘to hell with these people’ because we are a university. No, they have some values, they have some techniques. The way the universities in Ilorin, Lagos, Calabar and others dress may not be the way we do here, because of the sensitivity of the rural people and because we are a university for community development. Community is important to us. So we took all these into consideration in doing what we do." On his part, the LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa,
‘There is a freedom in choosing where you go for education. Nobody is compelled to come to KWASU. Different factors are considered in choosing a particular university. Let the world know that KWASU has made a decision on the kinds of strategies it wants to operate. It is a choice the university has made’
said the dress code was not new but just being enforced for the first time. He said it was not to impinge on rights but to make the students learn to dress responsibly at all times. "Why would you want to have as a student someone that wears slippers to class? Go and look at the mode of dressing in private universities, they look decent and wear shoes," he said. Obafunwa added that the institution’s enforcement of proper dressing is to guard against sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment is not an excuse by our colleagues but students can cause it through indecent dressing,” he said. The Vice Chancellor also said the level of compliance was good, particularly among boys. At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), arguably the headquarters of campus fashion in Nigeria, there is no formal dress code. Notwithstanding, there are places on campus where some kinds of dressing are not allowed. The Deputy Dean of Student Affairs 2, Dr Karo Ogbinaka, said students are not allowed to wear informal clothes that expose their body. "There is no specific dress code. The rules that are not allowed include: sagging for boys, barring of chest, etc. For girls, exposure of sensitive parts, short clothes, spaghetti tops, hot pants. These are purely informal wears that are not expected of people we are training for leadership," he said. Ogbinaka also said any level of management can insist on proper dressing. "Some boys who have problems would come here to complain and just wear bathroom slippers thinking, ‘it is just that office across there.’ But we tell them that no; the office may even be under your hall, but you must be properly dressed before you can come to the student affairs office. So specific levels of management have the authority to enforce the rules from their discretion," he said. Also, students are not allowed to wear sleeveless or shorts into the Senate Building and the library, while some faculties, like Law, have departmental dress codes. However, the students support the fact that there is no general dress code they are forced to abide by - though they said it is important for students to dress responsibly. Donald Asakitikpi, a 200-Level student of Mass communication said some lecturers insist on proper dressing, which has helped him as a person. "They enforce those rules in some departments, though. Like mass communication department, lecturers do not allow their students dress anyhow. They have sent me out of class many times for wearing pam slippers, or wearing shorts. They are also against boys leaving their hair too full or combing hair in public. The enforcement of the rules is very good because now, I dress better than I used to," he said. Tobi Oyewole, 400 level, Petroleum And Gas Engineering student, who does not like the rule that bars shorts from Senate Building, however advised students to dress well. "My advice to my peers about dressing is that they should dress well - not to be wearing sweater under hot sun or sleeveless when rain is falling. I don't believe sagging is right. The girls should also stop dressing like prostitutes. It is our duty to discipline ourselves," he said. Oyewole is also of the view that rules on dress code should not apply in public schools. "It is okay for the rules to be enforced in religious private universities because that is the reason for which they were established but not in the public ones," he said.
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EDUCATION Ex-students honour UNILAG DSA
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•Mr Wigwe (right) and Prof Ogunsola; and Executive Director, Business Banking Division, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Titi Osuntoki and College Secretary, Barrister Oladejo Abdul-Azeez holding up the coats donated at the event.
Medical student challenges bank HE President of the College of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences Students Association (COMPSSA), University of Lagos, Olugbemiga Folasade, threw a challenge to Access Bank Plc on Tuesday to support in equipping laboratories at the College of Medicine. Folasade, a 600-Level student of Medicine and Surgery, spoke at an orientation for the 200-Level students who were being welcomed to the college from the UNILAG main campus. Access Bank had donated laboratory coats to the new students at the occasion held at the New Great Hall of the medical college located in IdiAraba and promised to sustain the gesture yearly. Over 700 students got the coats. "We thank Access Bank for providing the coats, which we will wear to the laboratories; but Access Bank can do much more for the labs as well," he said. Responding, the Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr Herbert Wigwe, assured the students and the college management that the bank would rise to the challenge. "We will take up the challenge. We will go and discuss and we will come back," Wigwe replied. He had earlier said that the bank was committed to ensuring they had
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‘We will take up the challenge. We will go and discuss and we will come back’
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
access to financial support if they would tap into it. He urged them to be focused on their training so they can address some of the challenges in the nation's healthcare sector. "Medical sciences is a very critical aspect of nation building. We record high mortality rate…a lot of which can be resolved with good quality healthcare. You have a bright future. Don't look at the challenges in the country; you can really contribute," he said. The bank was presented with a plaque by the Provost of the college, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, who said that apart from distributing the lab coats, Access Bank had donated an alumni centre to the university. In her address to the new students, Prof Ogunsola said that they come into training at a time Nigeria is in need for quality healthcare professionals. She urged them to be committed to their studies as the demands would be very high. However, she assured them of the faculty's support every step of the way. She said: "You are our hope. We cannot do anything about the past; but we can do about the future and we will work you hard. Today, buckle down, pull up your socks and start work. We expect from you 150 per cent for your school work. "This first year is so critical many students don't pass. We will walk the road with you. We already see you as our colleagues and we hope that you can stand on our shoulders to surpass our achievements." Dr Ogunsola led the students through the white coat ceremony in which they unbuttoned the coats and wore them. She said it symbolized that they understood the privilege
of working for humanity. On his part, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Chris Bode, counseled the students to enjoy every bit of what they have to learn.
OALITION of Ex-students Leaders in Nigeria have inducted the Dean of Student Affairs, University of Lagos, Prof Olatunde Babawale, as their grand patron for his role in defending the rights of students and ensuring that they get fair hearing. President of the group, Mr Kingsley Nwanze, said Babawale deserved the award for leading the university authorities to ensure fair hearing for students and managing crisis successfully, citing the Unilag crisis of 2005. He said the professor, who was a lecturer then and chaired the crisis management committee set up by the institution during the crisis, made the students realise that they do not always need to protest violently to be heard by the university management. Thanking the students, Babawale said the induction was a source of inspiration that students do not forget good deeds. He said it would spur him to do more. He advised the students to believe more in dialogue than confrontation. “Student unionism can be produc-
• Prof Babawale By Oluwatoyin Adeleye
tive, not confrontational and in the case of protest, make it peaceful. Believe more in dialogue than confrontation,” he said. The Dean tasked the group to keep tabs on him and call him to order if he goes astray.
OGITECH resumes March 30 HE management of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH) Igbesa Ogun, State has announced that the institution will resume of its second semester for the 2014/2015 academic session will commence from Tuesday March 30. A statement from the institutions says registration will commence immediately and run for two weeks, after which lectures begin in earnest.
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•Yusuf (in suit) handing over of the furniture to the pupils. With them are (from left) Mr. Segun Raji, (Supervisor for Revenue), Mr. Akin Akinola (Human Resource Officer), Mr. Wasiu Dehinsilu (Supervisor for Education)
12 schools get 300 chairs, desks
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KOSI-EJINRIN Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has donated 300 desks and chairs to 12 Primary schools out of the 19 in the council. The council promised to extend the gesture to the remaining seven primary schools soonest.
By Tajudeen Adebanbjo
While handing over the furniture to the beneficiary schools, the Executive Secretary, Sulaiman Yusuf said the effort was meant to make learning conducive for the pupils. Yusuf enjoined the kids to reciprocate the gesture by being studious
• Pupils of the Methodist Girls High School (MGHS), Yaba, form the word 'PEACE' in commemoration of this year's International Women's Day after an advocacy session on peace in Nigeria during the elections by Olaboludele Simoyan (pictured dressed in black in the centre of letter 'A'), author of The 8th Wonder of the World-Made in Nigeria.
and good ambassadors of the council. "Education, they say, is the bedrock of development in any civilised society; and this government cannot afford to lag behind in developing our dear Ikosi-Ejinrin, hence, it is our priority to give the educational sector, all the needed assistance that it require, as finance permit us," he said. He appealed to teachers to be patient with the council in resolving some of their challenges, including that of teacher shortage. He said: "We are ready to render all the necessary assistance to ameliorate those challenges. In fact, as part of our programmes today, we will be issuing appointment letters to 40 non-pensionable teachers that we just recruited and the sum of N15,000 will be given to them monthly. It is our fervent believe that, this will cushion the effect of non availability of teaching staff in our schools. "Immediately after this, we will be having an educational stakeholders meeting at the Area Office at OdoAyandelu Multi-purpose Hall where we shall discuss extensively on the way forward for the educational sector. "I also want to implore all the existing teachers and newly recruited ones to continue to impact positively on these children and remain committed to the job of which they are employed."
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
EDUCATION
Varsity honours students with high CGPA
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HE management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Port Harcourt, River State, recently honoured hardworking students from various faculties of the institution who had achieved high Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPA) with one laptop each. The initiative, done for the first time, was one of the motivational strategies of the management to encourage 2,775 fresh students who took their oaths of matriculation same day to be focused on their academics. Presenting the laptops to students who were decorated with sashes, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof, Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu said the university would continue to honour hard work to achieve its dream of training quality teachers that will be seen as role models. She called on the new students to choose hard work as the school will not accommodate dull brains who indulge in cultism and sexual promiscuity.
Junior Achievement, CBN mark Global Money Week with pupils
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From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt
Prof Rosemund said: “We believe that the award presented to the outstanding students will send a signal to those taking oath of matriculation today. “You have to note that the degree of this university will only be awarded to those worthy in character and learning. “You must avoid any act that will initiate you into blood servitude or to indulge in sexual aberration because this university is a centre of intellectual and moral excellence and not a breeding ground for perpetrators of social vices that would be a threat to the society.” Speaking on the intiative, one of the winners, Nquoh Edikan Uduak of the Department of Computer Science, who had a CGPA of 4.79, said it was hard work that brought her this far. "I only have one semester to go. I pray that God will give me the strength to maintain this position. I also want to thank the school man-
•Prof Green-Osahogulu
agement for initiating this wonderful idea that would place no option to students than to be focus," she said. For Victor Anyele, a new student, there is no better way to tell him to be serious. "It is clear that I don't need anybody to advice me on what to do as I settle down in this university. I can see that there are benefits in dedication to study; my eye is on the laptop," he said.
• Ebele (third right) with the sports prefects of the six houses during the Torch Race.
UNIOR Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions to commemorate this year's Global Money Week with the Financial Literacy Day Thursday. The event scheduled to hold in selected schools across the country, will seek to empower the next generation to be confident, money savvy global citizens. Global Money Week is celebrated worldwide from March 9-17. In a statement, Efua Edeh, Executive Director, JAN, said that the programme "will help to empower youth to think critically, understand financial products and create their own livelihoods". In 2014, Executives members of CBN and 24 Financial Institutions joined JAN workers and volunteers to educate primary and secondary school pupils about a seven-module Financial Literacy curriculum designed by JAN in 29 different locations. JAN had offered prior training to executives of the financial institution to teach the basics of Financial Literacy to the participants in public and
private schools. Last year’s theme was "Financial Literacy 101" and this year's theme is "Growing your Money." A total of 4,103 pupils were reached through the programme. First Bank Nigeria Plc went on to adopt three schools they mentor once a month on financial literacy based on the modules created by JAN. Ms Edeh hopes that this year's edition will be more successful. "This year we hope to replicate this success with other partner banks and increase our student outreach," she said. Junior Achievement Nigeria is part of JA Worldwide, the world's oldest and largest non-profit economic education organisation operating in 121 countries to build a bridge between the classroom and the workplace by helping young people to understand global economic systems. JA started operations in Nigeria in the last quarter of 1999, and has reached over 400,000 students in over seven hundred and fifty (750) schools across Nigeria and over one thousand (1,000) trained volunteers.
• Dr Nwaobiala (second right), Mrs Osime (right), Mr Osilaja (second left), and the Igbobi Saabe (left) taking the salute during the march past.
Queen’s College marks 53rd inter-house sports with pomp
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HE 53rd inter-house sports competition of Queen's College (QC), Yaba, Lagos, last Friday was marked with all excitement. It was not lacking in the colour, energy, glitz and glamour the event and the 88-year old school is known for. From the lighting of the torch by the School Sports prefect, Ebere Ugaliegbalam, in company of the sports prefects of the six competing houses (Obi [Yellow], Obasa [Blue], Efunjoke [Purple], Danfodio [Red], Emotan [Green] and Obong [Orange]), and the march past event in which the houses tried to outdo one another in the beauty of their attires and marching styles, to the efforts of the girls on the track, the calisthenics display, and invitation re-
• Pupils of Anuoluwa Private School, Ilupeju, Lagos, with their teacher, Miss Ijeoma Silas, during the school's Cultural Day programme.
•Perm Sec. inaugurates nine projects By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
lay, the programme provided enough entertainment for visitors. During the march past ceremony, the ‘queens’ paraded by each house were beautifully attired in the traditional outfit of the heroes the houses were named after. However, the Obong House queen stood out. She was dressed like an Efik bride in a flowing Onyonyo gown and bore a staff that brides hold on their wedding day. Her hair woven into long braids that flowed gracefully down her back was beautifully adorned with golden hair pins. She capped her beautiful dressing with
the traditional Ekombi dance to the delight of the audience. It was no surprise then that the house won the event followed by Efunjoke and Emotan in second and third places. After the parade, the business of athletics began with the various races - 100metres, visually-impaired, shuttle relay, relays, and others - with the houses in stiff competition. It was Efunjoke that topped the medals table at the end of the day with 12 gold, four silver and eight bronze medals. Obong House came second with eight gold, 11 silver and three bronze, while Obi was third with eight gold, nine silver, and
seven bronze medals. In fourth place was Danfodio with three gold, four silver and five bronze medals; while with two gold, five silver and five bronze, Emotan came fifth. Principal of the college, Mrs Ekwutozia Osime, said through sports, the girls are kept healthy and active. She said the quality of the event was a pointer to efforts to keep the school's legacy of excellence. "Queen's College is known for excellence in every area. The college is 88 years old and from what you have seen today, you can see we are still keeping the flag flying," she said. Meanwhile nine projects, implemented by the school’s, PTA, Queen's College Old Girls' Association (QCOGA) and others were inaugurated as part of the event by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Dr Mac-John Nwaobiala. The projects included: the gymnasium and the Theresa Chukwuma Assembly Hall/car park, refurbished by the school; the sick-bay equipped by the QC Old Girls' Association (QCOGA), three-storey hostel constructed by the PTA; a three-storey classroom block donated by the CBN, and the kitchen and dining hall refurbished and equipped by the QCOGA,. Others were: Queens delight water factory, a BOT arrangement between the school and 360 Degrees, a company, which would produce table water and also provide potable water to the school for 15 years before handing it over; pentagon sitout - a relaxation spot in honour of the Chibok girls, and e-learning equipment for classrooms and labo-
ratories Mrs Osime said the projects have eased some of the infrastructural problems she met on assumption of office three years ago. She however praised various stakeholders for their support to the school. "It is a mixture of focus, determination to achieve; mapping out your goals and those stakeholders who will help you achieve those goals. Let me tell you what you have seen today is not solo effort by the college. What the college has done is to create a conducive relationship with various stakeholders to help us - CBN, First Bank, PTA, Old Students' Association, and many others," she said. Dr Nwaobiala praised the various efforts of the stakeholders in implementing the projects. He was particularly happy with the Oba of Igbobi Sabe, Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeshina Adeniyi Maforunyomi 1, who donated air conditioners to the school and also promised them a table tennis board. With the government finding it difficult to meet competing demands at the same time, Nwaobiala called for private sector support in providing sporting equipment for schools. "Modern trend is towards publicprivate partnership because government alone cannot efficiently provide optimally for education. I therefore call on the private sector/ individuals to come to the aid of the college by providing sporting equipment," he said. Chairman of the occasion, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, MD/CEO Airtel Networks Ltd, Nigeria, who was represented by Mr Femi Osilaja, the Regional Director, said the firm is passionate about sports and youth and committed to their development in Nigeria.
Towards a violencefree polls
‘Success is achieved through hard work’ Page 34
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*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS
THE NATION
CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net
email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net
Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State have held a mock presidential debate ahead of the March 28 election. The debaters, who stood on the platform of either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marshalled points on why their parties should win the election. The parking lot of the students’ Union Building was aglow for the event. AFEES LASISI (300-Level Political Science) reports.
•The discussants during the debate
Students play Jonathan, Buhari at debate C
ALL it a mock presidential debate and you won’t be wrong. But the discussants had a common purpose the progress of the country. They made their presentation without rancour. They explained how their adopted parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – would achieve their goals – if elected. These were no candidates contesting elections; they are students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Last Friday, they participated in a debate organised by the leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). The car park of the Students’ Union Building (SUB) was filled by students who came to listen to the programmes of both parties. The debate, which was part of the union’s leadership conference, was put together by Akorede Awode, its Assistant General Secretary.
Akorede said the debate was to enlighten students on the party with the best programmes and candidate in the March 28 presidential election. President Goodluck Jonathan is PDP’s candidate; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is for APC. Both parties were represented by students at the debate. PDP’s representatives were Goodluck Osaretin and Samuel Fakiyesi. Ismaheel Bayewunmi represented APC. The session was moderated by Olatayo Shittu, the General Secretary and Seun Fakorede, a student. Samuel, one of the PDP discussants, argued that President Jonathan should be given another chance to bring his Transformation Agenda to fruition, noting that the president’s programmes had brought meaningful development in the last six years. He said another four years of Jonathan would be to the
country’s good. He said: “President Jonathan has allowed other arms of government to function freely without meddling in their affairs. The entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the president have created millions of jobs for youths. We have also enjoyed freedom of speech unlike what we used to have under the military. “The signing of Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill into law has brought about free press and people can criticise the government without fear of arrest. The president has boosted education with the establishment of more federal universities across regions. The increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has made our economy to grow faster, thereby making the nation largest economy in Africa.” But APC’s Ismaheel said there was a
difference between economic growth and economic development. Economic growth, he said, is the number of sustained businesses and investment in the country. He defined economic development as the impact of the growth on the masses. He punctured PDP’s debaters’ claim of economic development, saying the condition of living of the masses has worsened. Ismaheel challenged his opponents to explain why the value of naira is falling against the dollar if truly the economy is growing. He asked them to provide statistics of jobs created yearly by the Jonathan administration in the last five years. Insurgency in the Northeast, Ismaheel argued, attests to the failure of the PDP-led Federal Government. Courageous leadership, •Continued on page 30
•Corps member in coma after road accident-P32•Education is a girl-child’s right, says club -P33
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CAMPUS LIFE
Why creativity matters
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ODERN advances in the field of neuroscience have provided new insight into creativity and the creative process. Unlike the past, researchers today are discovering that creativity is not just for a few ‘special’ people, but that the potential for creativity lies in each person. Creativity - they say - can be acquired throughout a lifetime at any age and that being creative is mastered through practicing unfamiliar skills. I have been fascinated with creativity – unleashing the potential of the mind to conceive new ideas - for years now. As a student of history and political economy, I often wonder why a part of the world will be more developed than others and why some countries remain perpetually underdeveloped even though they have what it takes to be developed. For instance, why is a country like Nigeria – with all its human and material resources –revolving in a vicious cycle of underdevelopment and retrogression? The answer to this simple question can take volumes of books to explain, yet it is on record that Nigerians are some of the most enterprising people in the world. Countries’ where Nigerians are contributing immensely toward their development often wonder why the motherland is in the state it is presently. This however, is issue for another day. I was intrigued by a story I read last week which is going to form our subject matter today. A Dubai, United Arab Emirates based property development company, Damac Properties, has put its machinery in motion to work with Amazon rainforest experts to recreate the jungle within a dome at its Akoya Oxygen development project. Yes you read right, a rainforest in the desert! This will add to a collection of spectacles that include an indoor ski slope and the world’s tallest building. Visitors will be able to “fly through the treetops on a zip wire,” according to the company which also stated that “The Dubai rainforest will recreate the natural environment experienced in the heart of the deepest rainforests. It will be a tropical wonderland, which tourists, residents and school groups can immerse themselves in.” The project is expected to be completed ahead of the World Expo 2020 exhibition taking place in the Emirate, and will become
Pushing Out
a key attraction within Dubai’s integrated tourism plans. It will join attractions such as the varied theme parks in addition to the world’s tallwith est fountain, the Palm Jumeirah, the Dubai Eye and the Dubai Aquarium as Dubai looks to welcome at least 08116759750 20 million tourists a year by 2020. If you read in between the lines (SMS only) you’ll realise that the country has a •aagboa@gmail.com deliberate plan in place to continuously grow its economy using a tourism master plan. It is an open fact that Dubai heights will be able to fly through the treeis now the playground of some Nigerians who tops on a “zip wire” offering stunning bird’s now hold their weddings, birthday and other eye views of the environment. Those with a celebrations in the city. But most fail to real- more serene temperament will be able to laze ise that twenty years ago, Dubai was a desert back within the peaceful surrounds of the rainwasteland. But due to creativity and ingenu- forest spa, offering hydrothermal treatments ity, their leaders were able to turn thing among the rock pools and steam baths. around after ploughing their oil wealth to It will also incorporate all of the latest outdevelop the city into a world class city with a door and exploration equipment with a natuglobal aviation hub to match. ral-looking rock face climbing wall set within As a result of their creativity and foresight, the abundant nature. It will also be opened to Dubai is known around the world for attract- the true romantics, looking for a very unique ing the biggest and best with the Dubai rain- wedding environment. Couples will be able forest joining the list of unique attractions to exchange vows in a beautiful rainforest which will support the growth of the city as it clearing, followed by a sumptuous feast with provide a new space for education and cul- the wedding party. Did I hear you shout aloud tural events which will raise awareness of this “welcome Nigerians?” exciting ecosystem. When you read stories of this nature you’re The proposed rainforest will sit adjacent to bound to reflect about Nigeria and wonder the Trump World Golf Clubhouse, Dubai – an why we remain static while the world has 18-hole Championship-standard golf course, moved on. If nothing else makes you cry, the which is under design by world-famous golfer, current electioneering campaigns’ should. Tiger Woods. There will also be an open-air When you hear the kind of words that comes walkway of high-end retail and entertainment out of the mouth of supposed individuals that offering for residents and visitors. want us to call them leaders you cannot help The question to ask here is this; why would feeling totally perplexed. How will we make Tiger Woods leave the United States of progress when we have people with warped America or Europe to establish a golf course notions of what leadership actually entails? in the desert? The answer is simple; Dubai A land devoid of visionary leaders and a provides a conducive and peaceful environ- nation without integrity can hardly experiment for international investments. While ence stability and peace. This appears to be other parts of the Middle East are boiling, the story of Nigeria in recent years. Leaders Dubai and other emirates within the UAE re- with vision are known to inspire citizens and main peaceful. Those who have visited the mobilise them for nation building. Leaders city can attest to this. You hardly come across with crystal motives employ wisdom, forepolicemen or security agents on the streets. sight, sense of purpose and commitment, to The rainforest will recreate the natural en- galvanise a people towards self-actualisation vironment experienced in the heart of the and propel the nationalist spirit in them. deepest rainforests and visitors will be taken Our lives in Nigeria have in recent times on a journey through the jungle, starting out been dominated by a worsening security situon the ground level, before climbing into the ation, manifested in sporadic violent skircanopy, learning about the flora and fauna mishes, armed robbery, arson, politically throughout the habitat. Those with a thrill for
Agbo Agbo
Abia students elect leaders
Students play Jonathan, Buhari •Continued from page 29
he added, is needed to combat the Boko Haram menace, saying Gen. Buhari remained the best man for the top job. He said: “Under the PDP administration, the rate of corruption has increased and the nation has gone down further in •Students corruption rating. To redeem the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations, we need an incorruptible and a tested leader, who will lead by example. It must be someone whose antecedent speaks volume in effective leadership and ability to fight corruption. “All these attributes are found in Gen Buhari. I am convinced that he has what it takes to lead this nation and pave the way for real growth and development in all sectors. If our economy is stabilised, the widening gap between the dollar and naira would close and the economy would grow. APC would proffer solutions to the insecurity challenge claiming innocent lives daily. Also, education is one of the priorities in the APC manifesto; we should expect re-structuring of the education system for better and quality education.” In his counter-argument, the second PDP discussant, Goodluck, said
T listening to the debaters
corruption had been in the system before the incumbent came to power. He said the president had fought corruption than any of his predecessors, stressing that Jonathan would do more to stop graft if re-elected. Goodluck said: “We must never allow a dictator to steer the affairs of this nation in a democratic period. He would infringe on the fundamental rights of the people and prosecute people he perceives as personal enemies. President Jonathan is an unrepentant democrat and he is the best man to lead the country.” In his closing remarks, Ismaheel said: “We have several challenges facing the nation and these are caused by years of PDP misrule. We must vote in Gen. Buhari to move this country forward.” There were questions and contributions from members of the audience. Many were convinced beyond
motivated crises, massive youth unemployment and acrimonious poverty. Ours remains a country where millions are undernourished, where economic, education, health and social infrastructures have practically collapsed or are tottering. In contradistinction to this national scenario is a political leadership class that wallows in financial and economic constipation and social self-adulation. For some years, there was an unusual windfall from an unprecedented high crude oil price averaging $140 at a point. But how have Nigerians been better for it? How did the leadership manage the difference in projected and actual income each year? How come we experienced, within the same period, increases in the price of petroleum products with the attendant inflation and the untold hardship on the masses and the epileptic performance of the energy sector? Remember that it is the same oil revenue that Dubai used to create its series of miracles where Nigerians troop in their millions to spend hard earned resources – in dollars. I won’t join the growing band of pessimists who believe that our situation is irredeemable. No, it is not. Nigerians are not a different breed of human beings from citizens elsewhere such as in Singapore or Malaysia, South Africa or Ghana. Many of us do not believe that Nigeria is so difficult to organise and lead to peaceful co-existence, political stability and economic prosperity. What we need is a paradigm shift from a reactive to a pro-active leadership and culture of governance. What we need is a different definition and perception of politics, where the paths to public service are not as smooth and attractive as they are now for rogues, thieves and brigands, and where the gains of office are not as rewarding as they are currently fashioned out to be. We need a shift in leadership with focus sustained by transparency and accountability where civil society will engage the political leadership in balancing policy objectives against concrete acts of governance. I make bold to say where public figures exemplify the sterling qualities of leadership, they rub off on the society at large and invest citizens with patriotic fervour. But where a country or society is plagued by rogue leadership, treasury looting, election rigging, political brigandage and assassination - in such circumstances creativity takes flight and the citizens cannot envision a project like the Dubai rainforest.
doubts who to vote in the presidential election. A guest, Pastor Peter Alabi of Rhema Word Church, said the presidential election would re-define the country’s destiny, adding: “This is an election that has generated more than a passing interest on the people in the history of this country. No one knows who would win or lose.” He advised the students not be induced by material property before voting for a party, urging them to vote according to their conscience. Olawale Kessington, a graduate of the university, said a leader who could not tackle the nation’s challenges has no right to be in office. Akorede said the debate was to make students decide which party to vote for in the general elections. He promised to organise a post-election debate that would feature Edo State Chief of Staff Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon.
HE University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of National Association of Abia State Students (NAASS) has held its election last Sunday. But the exercise was almost marred by pandemonium when the school security personnel tried to stop the election. The security officers cordoned off the election venue while the manifesto was going on. They said the association did not inform them before embarking on the exercise. They invited some of the students to their office for questions. The development did not go down well with students, who alleged high-handedness on the part of the security officers. The atmosphere became calm when the invited students returned to inform their colleagues that the matter had been resolved. The election, which was held at Education Lecture Theatre, started at 3pm with clearance of candidates by the electoral committee. Accreditation of voters followed 30 minutes later. The election started peacefully as students turned out for the exercise. The voting started at 5:30pm
From Sunny Ibeh Jr UNIBEN and lasted for an hour. Results were announced immediately. Chinazurum Ndumele beat his opponent Sunny Iroh with 30 votes and emerged as president. Others elected are Ifenyinwa Offor, Vice President, Prince Okwudiri, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Linda Chisom, Financial Secretary and Jonah Ibeh, Director of Socials, among others. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the chairman of the electoral committee, Sunday Iroegbu, attributed the success of the election to effective coordination and early preparation. “We thank God the election was a success. It is our early preparation and the collective efforts of my committee members that made the exercise succeed,” he said.
‘The security officers cordoned off the election venue while the manifesto was going on. They said the association did not inform them before embarking on the exercise’
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CAMPUS LIFE Students of the Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) have visited some media houses in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to sensitise people on the need to maintain peace during the forthcoming general elections. JENNIFER UMEH (ND II Mass Communication) and AHMED IBRAHIM (HND II Mass Communication) report.
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ORRIED by the spate of pre-election violence, students of Mass Communication Department of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State have embarked on campaigns to sensitise youths and politicians on the need for peace. The students went to media houses in Ilorin, the state capital, to reach out to the youth. The campaign was part of a course titled: Communication for national dew, which the students are taking in current semester. Their lecturer, Mr Abdulateef Oyewole, led them on the campaign, which he said was borne out of the desire to lend their voices to the call for peaceful and issue-based political campaigns. Oyewole added that the students believed the media would disseminate their message to the targeted audience. Receiving the students, the General Manager, Harmony FM, Alhaji Olarewaju Adegboyega, represented by Mr Ayo Amose, described the campaign as good, urging the students to take their message to youths on the street. He praised the students’ patriotism, advising them to repudiate politicians who may want to compromise the electoral process. Amose said: “For some of you, it is now a first-time visit to our
Towards violence-free polls •The students at the NTA
station. Some of your colleagues underwent their Industrial Training here and they did well. The campaign is a good idea, which, I am glad, came at the right time, because the set of people politicians use to foment trouble are the students. Now that you are not ready to make yourselves
available for violence, other youths must be sensitised to uphold this decision of nonviolence.” The General Manager (News and Current Affairs), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Mrs Dunni Ade-Alawo described the exercise as laudable, calling on
politicians and political parties to ensure rancour-free polls. She noted that the presidential election would give people a new direction and hope, stressing that the unity between the two main leading candidates - General Muhammadu Buhari and Presi-
dent Goodluck Jonathan – should not be taken for granted by their supporters. Ade-Alawo said: “It is on the record that the presidential candidates of all political parties are peaceful gentlemen. We are also aware that the two leading candidates are prominent leaders, but their party supporters must also embrace peace and respect one another’s views. But, there are some elements, who want to cause violence and want to use students for this evil act by inducing them with money. We will continue to sensitise students that such people do not wish them well. “The two main political parties have a common objective, which is to take our nation to greater heights. They can have different method of achieving the purpose, but this should not lead to violence. If we realise that there is no need for violence, then students must be agents of peace throughout the election period.” She hailed the efforts of the polytechnic to orientate its students by introducing the course. She urged the school to continue to bring innovation to teaching and learning. Some of the students, who participated in the campaign, described it as an avenue to contribute their quota to democratic development in the nation. They vowed to continue the campaign until the general elections are concluded.
Medical students from over 40 universities gathered for the yearly general assembly of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) to chart the way forward for the association. EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery, University of Benin) reports.
Off call
I
T was their first meeting in the year. The maiden executive meeting of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) was held last weekend at the main auditorium of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) in Ikeja. The four-day event was attended by 40 NiMSA chapter presidents and general secretaries. In his address, NiMSA National President Muritala Seriki said the future of medical teaching and practice would be determined by the association’s leaders in their institutions. He urged them to embark on enlightment programmes and free medical outreach. Muritala told members that they should start their practice from the campus by treating their colleagues free. A general assembly followed, where the delegates discussed challenges facing medical colleges and their association. The session lasted for seven hours. At the meeting, delegates urged chapter presidents to bridge the gap between NiMSA and medical students through participation in the association’s activities. They resolved that NiMSA should collaborate with Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to improve students’ welfare. The students called for a change of their syllabus to give rise to modern medical practice, using latest technology and techniques. The delegates resolved to write the MDCN to review the curriculum for better service. Muritala said: “The medical curriculum is changing worldwide, because of technological advancement and
•The medical students after their meeting
discoveries in medical sciences. It is time we had tele-medicine in our curriculum, conference teaching, modern equipment, good accommodation and international exchange programmes to improve our medical practice.” Observing that international exchange programme was now the vogue, the delegates said inadequate funding of the outreach irregular academic calendar and persistent teachers’ strike had hindered the outreach. The students hailed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) leadership and the Federal
Government for preventing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) last year. They urged NMA not to relent in its battle for a better medical practice. On the challenges in the health sector, they called on the government to see the need for increased funding to discourage medical tourism and create jobs for fresh graduates. On the forthcoming elections, they pleaded with politicians not to use students for violence. They called for tolerance and sportsmanship, urging politicians to abide by the outcome of the
elections. The students pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create level playing fields for the candidates. Other issues discussed included payment of yearly NiMSA registration due, selection of members of standing committees and hosting of a quarterly meeting, among others. LASUCOM Provost Prof G.O. Awosanya urged the students to embrace modern technique in medicine, saying technology has improved the practice over the years.
Highlight of the meeting included a cocktail, visit to Elegushi Beach and a football match between the host institution and the delegates. The delegates won. Ogechukwu Nwaobi, president of University of Benin Medical Students Association (UBEMSA), described the congress as timely, saying it was time the government got serious about implementing practicable curriculum. “We have come up with a lot of recommendations, but we urge the government to implement them speedily,” Ogechukwu said.
2015 polls: Nigerian students meet in London THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CAMPUS LIFE
Corps member in coma after road accident •Another loses baby
A
•Some of the new members of the group
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OME students of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba have volunteered to join Activista, a youth organisation. This was after the body held a rally on campus to urge students to be peaceful during the general elections. Last week, the leadership of the organisation was on the campus to receive the volunteers to its fold to help drive its message of violencefree election. Its KSU Co-ordinator, Miss Damilola Ogunsakin, said: “We consider a welcome party important in Activista, because it helps us to formally welcome our new
Group fetes new members From Mohammed Yabagi KSU members and also serves as an avenue for us to make the new comers to feel a sense of belonging. We value contribution of everyone.” Damilola said the body received many inquiries after it held a peace rally the penultimate week. “A lot of students approached us to know the modalities of becoming members of the body and we replied them. We invited all of them to in-
troduce them to other members of the association,” he said. The party moved into a questionand-answer session, where members suggested the best ways to improve the body’s activities to ensure that its messages reach the targeted audience. Some of the ideas initiated by the new members and which were embraced by their old colleagues included frequent empowerment seminars to train members on vocations that would make them selfreliant.
BATCH “B” Corps member, Hashimu Haruna, is in critical condition, following an accident at Kashare Junction in Gombe State, last Sunday. At the time of this report, he was unconscious at the Federal Hospital in Gombe. The other occupant of the car, who was his brother, was said to have died on the spot. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the vehicle sommersaulted, following a brake fault. It was learnt that the Corps member, who hails from Nasarawa State, studied Sociology at the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK). Hashimu is said to be breathing with the aid of oxygen. Hashimu’s mother, his colleagues and top staff of the National Youth
Thuggery is bad, lawyer advises students
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S the general elections draw close, a lawyer, Mr Abiodun Ayeleso, has advised students to shun violence and political thuggery. He has constitute majority of the active voting population, must be peaceful and vote for better nation. The legal practitioner gave the advice at a lecture with the theme: Youth empowerment: A catalyst for sustainable development organised by the Federation of Igbotako Students’ Union (FISU). Ayeleso urged students not to entertain religious and ethnic sentiments before casting their votes, saying they must consider candidates’ integ-
From Imoleayo Oyedeyi NYSC GOMBE Service Corps (NYSC) have visited him. His colleagues described the accident as unfortunate. A Batch “C” Corps member in the state, Phibi Paul, has lost her fouryear-old baby, Issachar Apollos. The child died of fever and diarrhoea at a metro clinic at the Federal Low-cost Area of the state capital. Phibi, a member of Publicity Community Development Service (CDS) group of the NYSC, described her baby’s death as sorrowful when her colleagues visited her. The Corps members Liaison Officer (CLO), Tope Majekodunmi, said members shared in her grief. From Olorunyomi Ayeleso AAUA rity, accountability, sincerity and performance to make their choice. He said students must constructively engage the candidates and their political parties to know their programmes for the people. The lawyer said the only way to guarantee free, fair and credible elections was for the youth to participate peacefully in the process. Peaceful and credible election, he said, would bring true representatives of the people to office and this, he added, would bring desired development in the country. He appealed to politicians to desist from engaging the youth for violence, adding that they must drop acts capable of heating up the polity and truncate the democracy. He said: “I urge the security agencies to be professional and non-partisan in discharging their duty. They must not be manipulative tools in the hands of desperate politicians.”
MSSN seeks end to gender violence, religious intolerance •Ajibefun (second left) receiving the award from Adewale as other members look on
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NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organisation Youth Ambassadors of Nigeria (YAN),has confered the Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, an award of excellence. The group’s National President, Adewale Adeleye, led other members to present the award to the VC in his office. Adewale congratulated Prof Ajibefun on his appointment as VC, noting that it was a testimony to his achievements at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), where he was Rector. He said the honour was in recogni-
VC gets excellence award From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA tion of Ajibefun’s achievement as a Fulbright scholar and an administrator. He said: “Your focus on the development of youths, and the giant strides recorded by your administration as Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic are commendable.” He described the VC as a diligent and honest man, who has a great penchant for service, adding that the
award was to appreciate his academic feat. Ajibefun thanked the group for the honour, saying it would encourage him to continue to do his best in service to humanity. The VC said: “Since 1993, when I was an Assistant Lecturer, I have been investing my time and resources in the youth, because they are the leaders of today and tomorrow.” While assuring the group of his support, Ajibefun implored the youths to direct their energies to good venture and affect their generation positively.
DVC delivers UNIBEN’s 150th inaugural lecture
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HE Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Abiodun Falodun has delivered the 150th inaugural lecture of the varsity. Falodun is of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry before his appointment a few days ago. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Friday Orumwense, led principal officers and deans of faculties to the lecture which held at the university auditorium. The lecture titled: And the leaves of the trees shall be for the healing of the nations, my pharmaceutical chemistry research experience, where Falodun highlighted the importance of natural products. He said his interest in the discipline
From Ezekiel Efeobhokhan UNIBEN was to impart knowledge and to discover effective drugs that could be used to treat life-threatening ailments. He said: “In one of my analysis, I isolated quercetin from natural plants and saw that it had anticancer properties. To the glory of God, the active ingredient I isolated from a natural plant was named after me. It is called Abiodone, which is derived from Abiodun. “The compound Abiodone had anti-cancer activity compared to cisplastin, which is another anticancer agent.” The lecturer said he had made tremendous efforts in making life
more comfortable for people. A pharmacy student, Maxwell Ikhuoria, congratulated the lecturer on his achievement in pharmacy describing Prof Falodun as his mentor. He said: “I am happy Prof Falodun is a mentor; he has a unique style of teaching. We hope to see more achievements from him.” A pharmacist, Allen Iboi, hailed the lecturer, noting that he had proven to be a renowned pharmacist. Falodun is a young professor and a Fulbright scholar. He has many awards to his name from various professional bodies. He graduated from the university with a Bachelor’s degree in 1996.
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EMALE members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State, have urged an end to gender imbalance and domestic violence. Their Amirah (leader), Hajia Hafsah Badru, said the rights of women were still being trampled on, urging the authority to strengthen laws protecting the women in the country. Hajia Badru, who spoke at an event to commemorate International Women Day, said the rights of women against discrimination, violence and religious intolerance appeared to be protected only on newspapers. Despite universal declaration of human rights by the United Nations and the country’s Constitution, ýshe said, women were yet to be protected from the oppression. She said female students particularly were still being harassed, suspended and beaten up for exhibiting their rights to practise their religion. She urged governments at all level to study the UN declarations as adopted by the 36th session of the General Assembly in 1981 and a second resolution adopted by the 48th session in 1993. She said: “Despite the provisions of the Holy Quran, our Constitution and international laws on freedom of religion, we are still made to face tough times in practising our religion in Nigeria. This is highly condemnable and unfair. The high rate of discrimination has grown that a government in Nigeria demolished mosques for unacceptable reasons and rejected the use of hijab in public schools by Muslim pupils. “It is saddening that religious inequality and domestic violence against women are still reigning. In few of the instances where partial
•Hajia Hafsah
From Safiyyah Abdur-Razaq LAGOS religious freedom is allowed, our parents went to court with funds that could have been used to finance our education to enforce our rights. This is injustice and the whole world can attest that no country will attain development in an atmosphere of inequality.” Hajia Hafsah advised women not to forget their primary role of raising morally upright children and building of peaceful home. She added: “I salute the courage and sagacity of women who have made Islam proud and aided national development at different levels. However, we must remember that having good homes is the bed rock of a peaceful and secured society. Always remember the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), that if you train a woman, you have trained a nation.” She urged men to stop discrimination against women, stressing that the government must protect the rights of women, justice and tolerance to achieve lasting peace.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
CAMPUS LIFE
Parliament blocks association’s budget
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HE Students Legislative Arm (SLA) of the Association of School of Applied Art and Sciences Students (ASAASS) at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY), has rejected the executive’s budget. It accused the executive of misappropriation and gross misconduct. The parliament also cancelled the freshers’ orientation being organised by the association. Speaker Jibrin Ndaman said the parliament would not be part of the executive’s plot to drain the asso-
From Samson Adeyanju BIDA POLY ciation’s resources. Members of the executive, he said, must explain how they spent students’ dues. He accused the president, John Onam, of refusing to present the association’s financial statement and expenditure. Jibrin said the legislative arm would not relent in its oversight functions to checkmate the executive and defend students’ interest. John did not answer our reporter’s calls for confirmation.
Corps members lift orphans
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•Members of the club with participants after the seminar
Education is a girl-child’s right, says club
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HE Junior Chambers International (JCI) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State has organised a seminar with the theme: Educate a girl-child to sensitise female pupils on why they must be educated. The event, which was held at Offa Grammar School (OGS), was attended by secondary school pupils. The club president, Abimbola Ajibade, said the event would change participants’ orientation about education.
From Hameed Muritala ILORIN She added: “We are having this sensitisation seminar because of our observation that many female students consider themselves as second fiddle to their male counterparts and rush into early marriage. We see this as a challenge that must be properly addressed before we can move forward. Girlchild must enjoy equal rights as opposite gender.” Mrs Oluwaseyifunmi Adebisi, the guest lecturer, spoke on Be all
you can be. She advised the pupils to take their studies seriously and never to feel inferior to boys. She said: “You have all it takes to be whoever you want to be in life.” Another speaker, Mrs Kemi Adisa, during an interactive session with the pupils, said education remained the best legacy. OGS Principal Mr Ibiyeye Wahab urged the pupils to report abuses to their teachers, stressing that under-age marriage must be stopped for the girl-child to realise her latent potential. He praised JCI for the seminar.
•Sunday with some of the pupils
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200- Level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State Sunday Abegunde, has embarked on a mission of grooming young writers. He has visited secondary schools to teach pupils how to be good writers. For two weeks, Sunday was in some schools in Lagos and Ogun states for this purpose. He said the mentoring programme tagged: Let your voice be heard was to hunt for talents in writing. It started in February at OSMA International School in Ayetoro, Ogun State. After a writing contest for pupils of OSMA International School, Ganiyu Mubideen emerged the overall best writer.
Student mentors pupils From Yakubu Temitope and Ridwan Atiku ADO POLY Also, Olasumbo Ajibade of GEC Comprehensive College in Mosan, Lagos is the best writer in his school. He wrote three short plays; Ganiyu wrote a poem. The pupils’ works would be sponsored by Caprecon Development Foundation and Speaking Pen International Concept. Other schools visited included Samlad International School, Blossom palace Children School and Government Secondary School in Ipaja, Lagos.
Sunday, who is also the representative of Caprecon Development Foundation, said children must be given chances to liberate their potential, saying young people would do better if they were guided and mentored properly. He said he was privileged to have helped the foundation in its mission in Africa, adding that the days he spent with the pupils teaching them how to write good stories were precious and rewarding. Also, during the first week of the programme, an online contest was organised for students of higher institutions. Winners emerged from various universities.
ATERIALS worth thousands of naira were, last Thursday, donated to Da’awah Academy Orphanage in Tunfere, Gombe State by five outgoing Batch “A” Corps members. During the presentation, the donors’ spokesperson, Joseph Oluwajunse, said the donation was as a way of thanking God for sparing their lives during the service year.
From Imoleayo Oyedeyi NYSC GOMBE Receiving the items, the orphanage’s head, Mallam Abubakar, praised the Corps members for identifying with the less-privileged. He urged other Corps members and politicians to assist orphans to actualise their dreams.
Union reviews activities
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HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) in Niger State has scored itself high in catering to students need. Its president, Emmanuel Obiora, said the union executive had achieved its goals, despite its challenges. Emmanuel said the union, under his leadership, succeeded on getting the school to reduce the N5,000 increment in tuition fee. He added that the union supported the management to initiate the building of more lecture halls through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). On accommodation, Emmanuel said the union is seeking to partner with private firms to build more hostels under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement to reduce students’ pains. The SUG, he added, ensured that any landlords who collected
VC urges students to be law-abiding
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ICE–CHANCELLOR (VC) the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Prof Saburi Adesanya, has urged freshers to work hard and comply with the rules. He spoke during the orientation for the new students held at the Lecture Theatre II last Tuesday. Adesanya advised the students to shun acts that could tarnish the school’s image, adding that hooliganism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing and prostitution would not be tolerated. The institution, he said, only recognises clubs registered by the Students’ Affairs Unit. Adesanya said the National Uni-
•Emmanuel
N20,000 rent would provide occupants basic amenities, such as water. He also spoke on the Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA), which was attended by Governor Babangida Aliyu and royal fathers. The union’s challenge, he said, is to leave worthy legacy, noting that his predecessor left no guideline for him to work with. From Tokunbo Adaja, Oluwatosin Ganiyu and Adesanmi Adefala
OOU versities Commission (NUC), in its January rating, listed its school as the 17th against the previous 35th position. The NUC rating, he said, showed OOU is the best state university in the country. The VC said the university’s non-residential status had changed, adding that hostels were being built to accommodate more students. The Pro-chancellor and chairman of Council, Dr Segun Oshin, charged the students to be dedicated and committed to their studies. He said they must make the best of the opportunity, reiterating the council’s commitment to infrastructure development. The lecture was attended by principal officers, including the Deputy VC, Prof Sule Odu, and Acting Registrar Omolara Osunsanya, among others.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
CAMPUS LIFE Freshers of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN) in Nsugbe, Anambra State, matriculated last week. They were told to work hard to excel, reports EMEKA CHUKWUEMEKA.
•Dr Uzoezie speaking at the event
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HE Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN) in Nsugbe, Anambra State, last weekend, matriculated freshers admitted into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s degree programmes. The Provost, Dr Ego Uzoezie, led a procession of principal officers, including the Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments and other administrative officers to the ceremony. They filed out in ceremonial gowns for the yearly academic ritual. While the freshers basked in the euphoria of their admission, Dr Uzoezie cautioned them not to misuse the opportunity. “You must shun vices that can terminate the admission,” she warned. She said the management’s eagle eyes were sharp enough to fish out students involved in cultism, exam malpractice, drug abuse and harassment. She congratulated the students on their success during screening urg-
•Some of the freshers taking the oath
‘Success is achieved through hard work’ ing them to follow the footsteps of alumni who had passed through the college. She cautioned them on the running notion that lecture attendance was not essential, stressing that all students must attend 75 per cent of all lectures before they would be allowed to write examinations. She told the students that such occasion called for sober reflection on how they could achieve excellence in their chosen discipline. Her words: “Gold is a precious ornament, which is highly demanded because it glitters. It glitters not in its original form as extracted from the ground. It glitters only after it had gone through the processes of heating and refinement. Such is the road to academic success, which requires hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance.” The provost said the affiliation of
the college with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for its degree programmes was yielding desired results, noting that it has improved the application ratings of the college. Dr Uzoezie spoke of her administration’s effort to transform the college in academic and infrastructure, assuring that by the end of her tenure, the school would become one of the best colleges in the country. The UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by Prof U.C. Umoh, emphasised the need for the students to be guided by the virtue of honesty, self-discipline, faith, perseverance and selflessness. He said these virtues would make enable them to make the right choices in their academic journey. While administering the oath of matriculation on the students, the
Acting Registrar Godwin Okeke urged the students not to disappoint their parents, warning them against indulging in examination malpractice and crime. “While congratulating you on your admission, I urge you to make the best use of this golden opportunity to be conscious of the expectations of your parents as well as the enormous sacrifices they are making to see you through school. You must make a personal commitment not to let them down,” he said. The Anambra Commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Omenugha, represented by Director Higher Education, Dr Laz Okafor, charged the students to remain focused and peace-loving, saying Governor Willie Obiano would continue to provide conducive learning environment for them. Some of the freshers, who spoke
to CAMPUSLIFE, promised to work hard to excel in their academic pursuits, pledging to abide by the rules and regulations of the college. Gladdys Nwuko of the in Department of Education Biology, said: “I cannot just quantify my happiness today because my admission is more of a privilege than luck. My expectations are high in the journey ahead. I want to become a woman of character and great reputation at the end.” Francis Okwuonu, student of Political Science Department, was all smiles. He said: “The collaboration between the college and UNN is one any student will be proud of. I feel so excited and fulfilled being admitted.” The event was attended by lecturers from the UNN, top officials of government, clerics, parents and guardians.
Past students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have held a public lecture to make a case for the provision of modern teaching equipment in the school. OLADELE OGE (Mass Communication) reports.
For the love of their faculty
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EACHING of Pharmacy in universities must not be based on theory alone. Students must learn the discipline with modern equipment and facilities. This would ensure the nation does not lag in contemporary practice of pharmacy. These were the submission of speakers at a public lecture organised by the alumni association of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The alumni said the lecture was informed by their interest in ensuring the provision of modern facilities that would assist pharmacy students in their studies, thereby providing quality manpower for effective service in the pharmaceutical practice0. The lecture with the theme: A worthy and illustrious ambassadors held at Princess Alexandra Hall of the university. The Dean of the faculty, Prof Emmanuel Ibezim, said the alumni had shown they were good ambassadors of the school by coming back to mentor the students. He said the faculty had come of age and had produced some of the best pharmacists in the county.
The Dean urged staff, students and non-governmental organisations to join hands with him to raise the bar of excellence and status of the faculty to one that would set the tone for long-lasting achievements. To aid learning, Prof Ibezim said: “The faculty witnessed changes in a few years. We have constructed shelves and furniture to make our library conducive for reading and learning. There is ongoing construction of multipurpose complex, which has the objectives to support the existing facilities in the faculty. We hope to present best possible techniques in transforming rural community health and to provide good laboratories for students.” The dean, however, advised students to keep to the tradition of hard work for which the faculty is known, urging them to strive for excellence. Professor Emeritus Paul Akubue appealed to staff and students to drop favoritism, describing it as a poison that kills excellence. He advised them pursue quality and sound research work that would keep the school ahead of other institutions in high standard. Akubue, who graduated from the faculty in 1966, reaffirmed that provision of modern facilities for the
•Nwoye (middle) presenting award to Mrs Ozumba (second left) during the event
‘I am always happy to be in the midst of scholars. Education is good and many people who, we so much respect today as scholars, started somewhere before they attain their present status. I urge our youths to toe this path be and be courageous’ teaching of pharmacy would stop quacks from bringing the profession to disrepute. He said the inability of schools to teach students with modern equipment gave rise to low-quality graduates, who could not be accepted in health sector where human lives are involved. Chinelo Ozumba, a pharmacist and the wife of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, pledged that the faculty and other units would be given proper attention by the
administration. She hailed Prof Ibezim and staff for working hard to make the faculty the best. The Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Nwoye, said there was no way any society could progress without quality education. His words: “I am always happy to be in the midst of scholars. Education is good and many people who we so much respect today as scholars started somewhere before they attain their present status. I urge our youths to toe this path be and be courageous. They should not be discouraged.
They must realise that no success comes easy, which is why they need to emulate these successful scholars in achieving best for themselves.” On the standard education in the state, the deputy governor said education had improved greatly than before. He declined to comment on the expensive school fees in the state tertiary institutions, particularly the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUTH) and the Institute of Management Technology (IMT). The event ended with the presentation of merit awards to some of the alumni of the faculty, who included Nwoye, Prof Charles Okechukwu, Mrs Ozumba and the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Michael Umale Adikwu for being worthy ambassadors of the faculty.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CAMPUS LIFE
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AG Day is a day students do silly things for charity. It is usually held as part of activities marking Students’ Union Government (SUG) Week. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the phenomenon “rag” as an act of ragging, especially an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline. It provides a citation from 1864, noting that the word was known in Oxford before this date. Early rag collectors may have to pester passers-by until they made a donation. Rag Day is believed to date back to the Victorian era when students took time off their studies to raise money for the poor. In recent times, backranyms have been coined for rag, which stands for “Raise a grand” or “Raising and giving”. These words were purportedly coined to convince a manager in a large charity of the value of working with student fundraisers. From the summary of the origin and definition of Rag Day, it is clear that the aim of the day or ragging is to solicit funds for orphans, widows, the physicallychallenged and the poor in the society. Sadly, today’s purpose of ragging has changed from what it is used to be. Students are messing up the objective and ideals of the Rag Day. In our higher institutions today, it is regrettable that Rag Day has
Anatomy of rag day become a money-making venture for students. They no longer account for the money realised during the activity. The ragging which is usually one of the activities used to welcome freshmen into higher institutions as well as raising funds for the less privileged, has also turned out to be a venue to perpetrate unwholesome practice. Every Dick, Tom and Harry joins the bandwagon without being a student and collects money under false pretense. It is no longer surprising to see youths who called themselves students running around in tattered attires, extorting money from unwary passers-by. Some of these youths could be either graduates or yet to gain admission into any higher institution. They hold Rag Day in the quest to make money out of false pretense. Although the activity was borne out of a good intention to raise money for the needy, however, some scrupulous elements are making mess of the good programme for selfish end. Do these people know how important this exercise is? Are they aware that students in other clime don’t joke or commit fraud with Rag Day? Let it be said that Rag day has led to the deaths and injuries
of students. The first death recorded on a Rag Day was in 1873, when a student of Cornell University fell into a valley during the exercise. This shows the extent to which students can go to raise money for the poor during the period. People, who are of the belief that Rag Day is a day meant to extort money under false pretense to enrich themselves, leave their schools’ environments to faraway cities where they believe they would make money so easily. They go to busy roads, without considering the dangers. They pose as students, displaying fake identity cards to convince their would-be donor. Some of them get knocked down by vehicles. Unfortunately, they don’t know that, their greed, laziness and quest to get rich quick either by hook or crook has tainted the Rag Day. The people deprive the needy of the resources that could have been made available to them by genuine students, thereby compounding their worries. It is common to see youths who are student lash out our leaders on various media, including the social media for embezzling funds, while these same people engage in fraudulent acts. Is this not a scenario of pot calling kettle black?
We clamour for a better society, while we have proved beyond reasonable doubt that we are more dubious than our leaders. We must change and be accountable, before expecting our leaders to change. Little wonder, Mahatma Gandhi asserted: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” I use this medium to urge people engaging in fake ragging to desist from such act, because it is making people not to believe in objective of the genuine Rag Day. For students, we must endeavour to account for money realised from ragging, as this would go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of some persons in our society. In the same vein, I wish to plead with students of higher institutions who are not qualified to participate in ragging (that is, who are not freshmen) but do so, to desist from that act. It is a fraud. It would not be appropriate to stop ragging because some people use it for fraudulent activities. Focus should be on how to fish out bad eggs. I will leave you with these questions to ponder; do people know that the money realised from ragging could be used to sink borehole for many communities, thereby giving them access to portable water? Do you know that the
By Uchechukwu Amanze money realised from ragging could be used to purchase mosquito nets and malaria drugs for residents of rural areas, thereby reducing mortality rate of malaria? There are many things the little money you realise from ragging could do for people other than spending it on frivolities. I will conclude this piece with words of Albert Einstein, who said: “Hundred times every day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and I am still receiving.” Uchechukwu, 100-Level Medicine and Surgery, ABSU
Second Niger Bridge: The pain and the tears L
AST year, President Goodluck Jonathan was accompanied by an entourage of politicians to the Southeast to lay the foundation for the Second Niger Bridge, which will link the region to other parts of the country, especially the Niger Delta. In a campaign-like manner, the president and his entourage went to the Onitsha end of the Niger Bridge, promising to start construction of the new bridge immediately. Months after, the project has been a subject of political discussion, with many people in the Southeast conceptualising the president’s promise as another political promise. If successfully built, the second Niger Bridge would lessen the burden of commuters and boost commercial activities in Igbo land. This is why the project is very dear to the Igbo and playing politics with it hurts the people.
By Chiyenum Otuya It would be recalled that the idea of the bridge came during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, who promised to deliver the project before his tenure expired. When Obasanjo was leaving in May 2007, no single block was put on ground. The political promise continued under the short-lived administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. During the 2011 general elections, the matter featured prominently in the presidential campaign, with Jonathan promising to complete the bridge before 2015 through public private partnership (PPP) but to no avail. The implication of this is that the Igbo are being made to finance the construction of the
bridge as they would be placed in bondage for the 25 years for which the contractor would collect toll on the bridge. Now, as we wait for 2018, when the second Niger Bridge will be delivered, at least, according to Jonathan, traffic chaos will continue to be the order on the first bridge. After the Yuletide, I left for school from Onitsha. On getting to the Niger Bridge, the traffic snarl kept us there for close to five hours. Those coming from Asaba were held also, and as we drove past them, I noticed the frustration on the faces of travellers. Nobody was happy as trucks and petrol tankers blocked the route. Consequently, commuters’ suffering will go on for another four years, given that the president and his People Democratic Party (PDP) that want to remain in power get their acts together and keep to this long-awaited promise.
I have been trying to imagine what commuters will go through in the next four years while waiting for second bridge. I have also been trying to figure out what would be loss to traders playing the Onitsha-Nnewi route in the next four years. How many people will die on that axis before the second bridge is delivered by the Federal Government? If there is a change of leadership at the federal level, will the new government continue with the project? So many concerns… The plight of millions of Nigerians from different parts of the country who travel home and for business purposes daily are better imagined in the next four years. Will there be an end to the daily picture of chaos, tension and endless suffering that Nigerians have to endure on the bridge? That such an important project is delayed is pointer to the
inability of the Igbo leaders to put a stop to politics of stomach they have been playing. Some Igbo leaders, because of greed and political loyalty, have mortgaged the future of Ndigbo by turning to beggars in a country where they are critical stakeholders. I suggest that it is high time the Igbo leaders and indeed all Nigerians looked at manifestos of candidate irrespective of party affliction in endorsing any candidate for positions of authority; the candidate who we can be trusted and depended on. It is time to replace and vote out all those who does not mean well for the good of Nigeria and replace them with men and women who play politics of ideas and advancement. Collective politics must take over personal politics for personal gain. Chiyenum, HND II Mass Comm., BIDA POLY
How safe are journalists during elections?
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HE pen profession is a noble and strategic job that is crucial in every society. The media has come to be identified as the fourth estate of the realm. This is largely because of its role in fostering unity and promoting the tenets of democracy in countries. The need to play its role effectively made it possible to back the activities of the media with constitutional provisions for its operations and how best to inform the public about happenings in every stratum of the society. In other words, the media serves as the watchdog of the society. People need to be informed and journalists have the backing of the law to inform them. This means that journalists have a relevant task to do daily and the society in which they operate must protect
By Adedolapo Amuna them from harm because of the nature of their job. The general elections are about to be bein and the bit-by-bit information about the exercise will be given by journalists. It is, however, on record that journalists are an endangered people; they are vulnerable during major events of this nature. The risk involved in the discharge of their noble duties is high. Then, how safe are our journalists? According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), more than 200 journalists have been killed worldwide because of insecurity. In 2013 alone, 108 journalists were killed in Africa, excluding those
imprisoned. This ugly trend calls for worry as journalists in Nigeria are not spared. Electioneering has also made it important to raise concern about the safety of the pressmen. We must ask the government if adequate security is in place for journalists as they go about their duties during the elections. One unfortunate scenario that has always repeated itself during elections in Nigeria is the fact that, security agents, saddled with the task of protecting lives, including that of journalists, have always been used to prevent them from discharging their duties. Security agents always hide behind the façade of protecting national security, which according to them includes hiding some things which journalists want to reveal.
To make matters worst, most of those guilty of assaulting journalists have gone unpunished. The cost of seeking justice when a journalist is assaulted is also high. But civil society must protect the people working constantly to keep them informed about happenings in the country. All hands must be on deck to check persecution of journalists. Seeking solution to this requires collaborative efforts. The security agencies, government, media owners and the journalists as well as regulatory agencies have a role to play in this. Security agencies must see the journalists as partners in progress while government should also work to ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
Journalists also must adhere to the ethnics of the profession and be security conscious. They must avoid terrain where security is not guaranteed. Most importantly, journalists should be peaceful and discharge their duties responsibly. Media owners should provide good condition of service for journalists under their outfits and hold regular capacity building that would prepare them for the task of making information available. Regulatory agencies should check unprofessional conducts of some media houses, which make journalist vulnerable to violent attacks. If these little responsibilities are carried out well, the safety of journalists would be enhanced. Adedolapo, 300-Level Mass Comm., IBBU
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CAMPUS LIFE
•Kemi (second right) and Hajia Mohammad presenting the prizes to the pupils
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CORPS member in Kaduna State, Kemi Busari, has organised quiz and debate contest for pupils of EHCOWAS Discovery Academy, his place of primary assignment, as part of his Community Development Service (CDS). The Corps member is the coordinator of the school’s Quiz and Debate Club. The contest was held in the school hall; attracted pupils from all the classes. The topic of the debate was: “Public school is better than private school” and it was a keen contest
•Cross section of the school pupils at the contest
Pupils win prizes in debate, quiz
From Kemi Busari NYSC KADUNA between pupils in Junior Secondary School (JSS) and their senior colleagues. The quiz was held for the junior classes. The debate ended in favour of JSS 3 which supported the motion. They won with 38 points against 34 points garnered by their opponents in Senior Secondary School
1.
In the quiz, the JSS 1 class beat JSS 2 students with one point. Prizes, including mathematical sets, drawing sets and exercise books were presented to the winners. Principal of the school, Hajia Fatima Muhammad, praised the Corps member for the initiative. “The competition is not only for the contestants but for everyone
On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600
present. I want you all to learn one or two things in everything that is happening here today,” she said. President of the club, Saviour Yeezor, a SSS 3 student, said since the Corps member started to coach members in debate, performance of pupils had improved. He said students should expect more of such competition.
Kemi enjoined the pupils to participate in competitions, saying the school would be always ready to support such student. He said: “Quiz and debate are for all members of a class. The competition is not organised to create a contest or conflict among but to bring out the best out of every student.” Thanking the school management for its support towards the success of the event, Kemi told the pupils that the competition would be held regularly in the school.
‘No more godfatherism’ From Ese Okoduwa DELSU
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EMBERS of the Nigerian Universities Education Students Association (NUESA) at the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka have elected their leaders for 2014/ 2015 academic session. The election, which held at the faculty complex and NDDC Hall 1 and 2, was attended by many students. The office of the president was keenly contested by four candidates. They are Chinwendu Ofoeke, the 400-Level History Education, Paul Olomu, 400-Level Guidance and Counselling, Carlos Nwaokoba 400-Level Level Library and Information Studies, and Kingsley Ndubueze, 400-Level Mathematics Education. The faculty erupted in excitement when Carlos was announced as president. It was gathered that Carlos was elected •Students voting during the exercise against the wishes of certain powerful students, who tried to impose a president on the faculty. Carlos garnered 294 votes to beat his opponents. Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said it was a tradition in the faculty for outgoing president to endorse a successor, who, in most cases, wins election. But, students rejected the move by the outgoing president to impose candidates on •Carlos with his suppoters after he was declared winner of the presidential them. They elected contest their choice candi- Others elected include Afekoro, social director and Ovie Sokoh, dates, saying they Racheal Mukoro, vice sport director. In his acceptance speech, Carlos thanked had defeated president; Destiny godfatherism in Esharenena, Financial his colleagues for choosing him as their leader, urging his opponents to join him the faculty. secretary; Nana in taking the faculty to the next level.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
EDUCATION BSU dons strike over pay From Uja Emmanuel Makurdi
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HERE seems to be more trouble for Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benue State University (BSU) chapter, has asked its members to proceed on an indefinite strike action over non-payment of salaries. Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Affairs, Dr Cletus Akwaya, however, told The Nation on phone that ASUU - BSU has been paid up to date except a few departments due to paucity of funds. Chairman, ASUU-BSU Comrade David Ikoni, said lecturers are not like ministry workers, who go to work for two weeks without touching a file. According to Ikoni, teaching is more demanding. "Teaching involves a lot of research; and you cannot go and stand before a group of over 500 students on an empty stomach and impact knowledge. So, once salaries are not paid, lecturers will continue to go on strike," he said. Before now, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to down tools over non-payment of salaries for more than five months. The congress gave the Benue State government a week ultimatum to pay salary arrears otherwise they would sit at home from today.
Women outclass men at UNILAG pharmacists’ induction
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EMALE pharmacy graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG), stood tall at the 30th induction of the Faculty, which held last week at the main auditorium of the university. The ladies had every reason to feel proud: Five of them bagged five out of the six first class grades recorded by the class of 138 new pharmacists. Last session also, the eight distinctions in the faculty were claimed by female students. Odunayo Abdulai was the overall best at last week's event. She bagged four out of the five awards given. A feat, she claimed, was made possible by God' and the support of her classmates and family. She said she had a balanced social and academic life in school and was always ready to teach others, as it helped her to learn more. Miss Abdulai, who wanted to be a community pharmacist, advised National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other health regulation agencies to pay closer attention to the import and administration of drugs to curb drug abuse and
UNILORIN FILE
Best lecturer named
By Oluwatoyin Adeleye
trafficking in Nigeria. She said: "They should allow us who are trained and have sworn to the oath to do our job because that is why we received the training and nobody can take our place. There is a need to regulate the system from production even to distribution and conduct regular checks on medical service providers." Welcoming the participants at the induction, the Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof Olukemi Odukoya, dispensed the tenets of true education. "Education is impossible without the habitual vision of greatness and of the three main aspects of university work, which include the advancement of knowledge, training men and women for professions and the enrichment of the lives of students," she said. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Healthplus Pharmacy and an alumnus of the faculty, Mrs Bukky George, spoke about the ingredients of successful entrepreneurship while delivering the keynote speech. "A spoonful of talent, education and drive… be comfortable with who you are, do not pretend to be
•Abdulai
who culture or society demands, do not hold grudges, help others and stop taking things personally," she said. Mrs George charged the new pharmacists to have "big, hairy, audacious goals and do something ordinary in an extraordinary way". She also pledged N1 million for projects and equipment needed by the inductees in the near future.
Fed. govt moves to rescue teaching
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HE Federal Ministry of Education and some stakeholders have begun moves to sanitise the teaching profession following perennial poor performance in public examinations. The Teacher Development Programme (TDP) funded by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), is set to boost learning outcomes in six pilot states namely: Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna and Kano. The TDP is aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning at the basic education level. According to findings, it is intended to improve teachers’ skills in the three core curriculum subjects - English, Maths, Science and Technology, and
•UK sssponsors teacher programme for six pilot states From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
produce better teachers through a combination of pre-service and inservice interventions. It will train 62,000 school teachers, 4,000 student teachers and 816 teachers educators in the six states. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, who spoke at the meeting of the National Joint Committee for the TDP in Abuja, expressed hope that the findings and recommendations of the working groups would be used to refine the process of implementing
the set of reforms articulated by NCCE. Represented by the National Programme Manager, TDP, Dr. Nguyan Shaku Feese, Nwaobiala lamented that the provision of regular sustainable training opportunities for teacher educators only recently started to receive adequate attention. “A key element of the reform of pre-service training is how to ensure that the teacher educators in our training institutions do have the regular opportunities for updating their subject content knowledge and pedagogical skills,” he said. The Executive Secretary of the Na-
tional Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof. Muhammed Junaid, said the commission is committed to the production of quality teachers for the nation’s basic education sector. He said the NCCE would continue to work with the colleges and TDP to accomplish the necessary reforms in the sector. “Our ultimate aim in implementing the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme is to engender a paradigm shift in the way lecturers teach, from traditional transmission model of teaching to constructivist gender sensitive pedagogy,” Junaid added.
AOCOED QA unit gets mandate
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HE management of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, Lagos State has expressed determination at ensuring that its workers perform to expectation. To this end, it has set up of quality assurance (QA) unit in the 57year old institution. Provost of the College, Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun urged members of the QA committee to extend its dragnet not only to workers, but members of the management. Erring members, Bashorun warned, should not be spared by the committee's hammer. Bashorun made this announcement as 1,400 new students of the college matriculated last Wednesday. The students comprised regular/ evening NCE 2014/2015 for the 2014/2015 academic session. "Quality Assurance Committee has been given a fresh mandate to ensure effective performance of staff in complying with benchmark. I, therefore, urge the Quality Assurance team to keep monitoring workers including management members. This administration will not hesitate to deal with any workers exhibiting lacklustre performance," Bashorun said. He added: "We as a college have resolved never to compromise anything for quality teacher education service delivery. It would interest you to know that AOCOED has remained a source of idea generation to other colleges of education in the country. We maintain the lead in
By Adegunle Olugbamila
the process of National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) curriculum development. In addition, we have also become a model for the NCCE curriculum implementation. It is on record that the role of the college in developing the national curriculum, standard for the pre-NCE curriculum produced by the NCCE in 2011 is a feat unequalled." Bashorun recalled that the college successfully hosted a three-day orientation workshop on the provision of effective modalities for the smooth take off the new NCCE curriculum in August last year. The management also established the School of Primary and Early Childhood Education. He said he was happy some of the students were admitted to study subjects under the new curriculum. "It is my joy to inform this gathering that many of the matriculating students are pioneers of the newly approved subject combinations such as Cultural Creative & Arts, Arabic Language, etc. Competent members of staff have been deployed for the take off of the new schools, departments and courses. "By this giant stride, AOCOED is charting a new course for an institution that breeds innovations in the implementation of curriculums in teacher education aimed at tackling unemployment, half-baked graduates, poverty, corruption and violence."
DR. Baba A. Alafara of the Department of Industrial Chemistry has been adjudged the best lecturer at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Alafara, who is the Deputy Director of the institution's Central Research Laboratories, was nominated by students of the institution in an opinion poll organised by telecommunication services provider, MTN. The nomination was held on MTN Season of Surprise, a platform, which was open to students of various universities to nominate 15 best lecturers in their respective institutions. The choice of the nominees was then subjected to online voting by students in each institution, after which lecturers with the highest votes were selected as the students' best. In UNILORIN, Dr. Alafara won the contest and he was presented with an ELEMAC 7.5KVa generator by MTN by a representative of the mobile network provider, Mr. Sanni Fagbenja. Alafara dedicated the award to the past and current students of his department and the university authorities for creating an enabling environment for teaching and research. He said the "surprise gift" would inspire him to continue to strive for
Centre honours pioneer director THE UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has advised the pioneer Director of the Counseling and Human Development Centre, Dr. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya, to build on the success he achieved at the centre in his new post. Speaking at a send-off ceremony by the centre in Yahaya's honour last Thursday, Ambali, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Alfred Adegoke, said the management is very proud of the successes recorded by the centre since its inception and Yahaya's contributions to its growth. He urged Yahaya to continue to put in his best in his new office as the Head of the Department of Counseling Education. He said: "It is good to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Yahaya to the development of this centre. The university is very proud of him. But I want to appeal to you because there is still more in you and the university management will be very happy to see you display more commitment in your new office as the Head of the Department of Counseling Education.”
Lecture for elections
• The Provost, Mr Bashorun (middle) and top members of management in a group photograph with the Students' Union Executives during the event.
Calling on workers to join hands with the management, Bashorun implored new students to be good ambassadors of the college. Management, he warned, has internal
mechanism for dealing with erring students. He also enjoined parents to cooperate with management in ensuring the end product of their wards.
THE Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), UNILORIN, has scheduled a public lecture to advocate for free elections on March 17. Director of the Centre, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, said the lecture, themed: "Towards Peaceful Elections in 2015: The Roles of Stakeholders in Nigeria", will be delivered by Prof. Danny McCain of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, University of Jos. The lecture which holds at the main auditorium of the university, is to be chaired by the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ambali, is the Chief host, while the special guest of honour is his predecessor, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede. Dr Adedimeji said the lecture would involve political parties and their candidates, traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, the academia, media practitioners, civil society organisations, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), among others.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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CAMPUS LIFE ACE FILE
College to host NICEGA THE Provost of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, has expressed the willingness of the institution to host this year Nigeria Colleges of Education Games (NICEGA). Ogen stated at the awards organised by the College Sports Committee (CSC) to honour students of the institution who represented ACE at the NICEGA competition in 2013 in Minna, Niger State. While expressing happiness for brilliant performances of the students, Ogen praised their CSC Chairman Dr. S.M Raji for doing the institution proud. He said: '' I promise that we will continue to work and take the college to greater heights. This year by the grace of God, at the level of management, we will do everything possible to see that we host NICEGA.” Earlier in his welcome address Dr. Raji stated that the ceremony was organised to honour the students to serve as a morale booster and encourage others with talents to participate in future competition.
Provost seeks prayer for college THE Provost ACE Prof. Ogen, has urged staff and students of the institution to pray for divine favour for the college developmental process. He gave the charge in a message by Dr. Gbade Ikuejube, Dean School of Arts and Social Sciences, during the March edition of the monthly prayer meeting. Ogen drescribed the month of March as special. He admonished them for their cooperation and support, and urged them to rededicate themselves in the discharge of their duties. He said his administration would continue to put in place measures that would help in enhancing workers' welfare. A member of the college pastoral team, Akinola Ojo, who delivered a sermon urged people to seek God's presence in order to escape from perilous situation. The cleric also stressed the need for people to pray regularly, stating that through such act their supplications could be made known to God, who has the power to answer.
•Aholu Menu-Toyi I (right) blessing Prof. Adebisi while High Chief Agoloto of Badagry watches.
SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE Business School Dean's Scholarship for Masters Students at Bournemouth University in UK, 2015 BOURNEMOUTH University is inviting applications for Business School Scholarships to pursue taught master programme starting in January 2015. Students resident in Colombia, Taiwan, Turkey, Nigeria at the time of application who are classified as 'overseas' for fee purposes are eligible to apply for the 50% award. Students resident in China, India, South Korea at the time of application who are classified as 'overseas' for fee purposes are eligible to apply for the 25% award. The deadline for September 2015 entry applications is 31 May 2015. Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded to study within the
Business School at Bournemouth University. Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing masters degree at Bournemouth University. Scholarship Provider: Bournemouth University, UK. Scholarship can be taken at: UK Accreditation: Bournemouth University is an accredited university. Bournemouth University is accredited by the University Alliance ACU. Eligibility: •Students resident in Colombia, Taiwan, Turkey, Nigeria at the time of application who are classified as 'overseas' for fee purposes are eligible to apply for the 50% award. •Students resident in China, India, South Korea at the time of application who are classified as 'overseas' for fee purposes are eligible to apply for the 25%
award. Scholarship Open for International Students: Students of Colombia, Taiwan, Turkey, Nigeria, China, India and South Korea can apply for these Business School Scholarships. Scholarship Description: This scholarship is offered to students who have applied to study a fulltime Taught Masters at the Business School on BU campus. Number of award(s): Up to 3 scholarships of 50% reduction and 4 scholarships of 25% reduction will be awarded. Duration of award(s): Not known What does it cover? Students from Colombia, Taiwan, Turkey, Nigeria will get 50% fee reduction and from China, India, South Korea will get 25% fee reduction. Selection Criteria: An outstanding academic profile, relevant to your course, as follows:
Upper second-class honours (2i) classification plus personal statement as in the scholarship application form. Notification: Successful applicants will normally be informed within one month of the deadline. Your award will not be formally approved until you hold an unconditional firm offer. How to Apply: Applicants should apply by post. You can apply at the same time or after you have submitted your course application form. Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for September 2015 entry applications is 31 May 2015. Read more: Business School Scholarships for Masters at BU in UK, 2015 Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarshippositions.com
ASUU-LASU vows not to support two terms for VC
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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter, has called on the Lagos State government to respect ASUUFederal Government 2009 agreement part of which stipulates a five-year single term for a vice chancellor. Though Lagos State has not yet domesticated the agreement, the union is vowing not to support the government if the incumbent vice chancellor is reappointed for another term in office. The union is also calling on the government to start the process of appointing a successor for the incumbent, adding that whoever emerges should be made to go through intensive training on human management. The term of the incumbent VC expires on October 31. The union made its position known during a special tribute in honour of its Pro-Chancellor Sir Molade Okoya Thomas. “From our experience, ASUU has realised that being a professor is not only what it takes to be an administrator. So, we want the government to start the process of appointing a new vice chancellor for LASU now so that by October when the term of the current regime expires, whoever emerges would have undergone series of training particularly the ones bordering on human management,” said ASUULASU Chairman Dr Adekunle Idris. “We have made our decision
•Honours Sir Okoya Thomas By Adegunle Olugbamila
clear that we abide by ASUU-Federal Government agreement part of which recommends a single term of five years for any vice-chancellor. ASUU will not give its support if an incumbent is reappointed for another term. The unwholesome experience of the immediate past administration is still fresh in our memory,” Idris added. The union also admonished members eyeing other key position in management to indicate their interest immediately. This, according to Idris, is to guide against a situation where a new vice chancellor, who apparently does not know active ASUU members, appoints his two deputies from those who have either worked against the interest of the union, or are not committed ASUU members.
Incidentally, the development is occurring as government ordered the management to reinstate ASUU members’ check off dues for November, and December 2014, and January 2015. A letter from the Office of the Special Adviser on Education, dated February 25, with NO: SAE/HED/S.4/Volume.1/242, mandated Obafunwa to comply with immediate effect. Idris told reporters that the union was not insinuating that the government was planning to install the present administration for another term. “We are just being wary not to fall into the same pit we fell during the immediate past administration,” ASUU noted. Idris said the union rates the current administration ‘very poor’ with respect to human management, hence the recommendation for a thorough training for a new administrator for the 31-year old university.
‘From our experience, ASUU has realised that being a professor is not only what it takes to be an administrator. So, we want the government to start the process of appointing a new vice chancellor for LASU now so that whoever emerges would have undergone series of training particularly the ones bordering on human management’
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• Dr Idris
Meanwhile, the union has been advised to leave an open door for reconciliation against members the union feels have not represented it well. Dean, Faculty of Arts Prof Abolade Adeniji, who gave a tribute on Okoya Thomas, described the late Pro-Chancellor as a bridge builder. “He was a bridge builder. He was never partial. During meetings with the union leadership and management, Chief Okoya would always want everyone to smile. He kept people spellbound, captivated attention and very honest. “We have lost a balancer, a man who could possibly have intervened in the crisis the university is currently embroiled. He was the type, who could truly be called ‘maje ‘obaje’ “For us as ASUU members, we must keep this place running. LASU for us is an identity. Our doors must be open to who have gone. We must not be too rigid to members who have gone astray. They may be useful to us in future, who knows?”
Community thanks NUC FFA community in Offa Loon varsity cal Government Area of
Kwara State has praised the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approving Summit University. Summit is one of the nine private universities approved by the Federal Government. The community under the aegis of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), also congratulated Offa indigenes. The group imthem ‘The people plored to remain of Offa would committed to keeping to remain self help and grateful to c o m m u n a l God as they efforts. A stateare optimistic ment by SecreHe will do ODU tary-Genmore for eral, Mrs Wosilat them’ Macarthy,
From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
said Summit University would not only enhance the socio-economic and education life of the state and the nation, but further create job opportunities for the people. Macarthy appreciated the resilience of the proprietor, Ansar-UdDeen Society of Nigeria (AUD), for locating the university in the community. She said people of Offa would remain grateful to God as they are optimistic He will do more for them. She also lauded AUD National Vice President, Alhaji Tiamiyu Olatinwo, whose untiring efforts resulted in "realising this long dream". She also gave the Offa monarch, Aremo of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi and Prof Jamiu Oyawoye a pat on the back for their doggedness in getting the institution approved.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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EDUCATION
PTA chair counsels SS3 pupils
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HE Chairman Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Lagos, Mr Mykell Jegede, has urged secondary school pupils to remain focused as they prepare for the forthcoming Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) and the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) and not be distracted by the elections. Jegede is worried that the campaigns for the elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 and the insurgency in the Northeast have brought a lot of tension which can result to poor performance in such crucial examinations if care is not taken. Jegede, an architect, spoke during the school's PTA meeting. He decried the high rate of failure recorded in public examinations, particularly in core subjects such as English and Mathematics. He fears that if the pupils preparing to write these examinations are not focused the ugly situation may repeat itself and this according to him, will not be healthy for both the pupils and the educational sector.
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
Also speaking at the occasion, the Principal of the school, Elder Gabriel Fasanu, said the importance of instructional materials cannot be overemphasised as they make both teaching and learning easy. He urged private school operators and the government to make instructional materials available in their schools. He appealed to parents to assist the schools in acquiring these important items for the convenience of their children in their educational pursuit. He commended Lagos State government for establishing an Educational Resource Centre where educational instructional materials are produced. He appealed to other states' government to emulate Lagos State.
•School (Purple) House pupils with their house mistresses, Mrs adefunloro (right) and Mrs Onipede, after taking second place in the second inter-house sports of Excellent Kids Field of Learning School (Excellent Children Academy), Ibiye, Badagry.
Olashore introduces teacher training
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LASHORE International School, Osun State has also launched a specialist training programme for the rapid development of teachers in Nigeria. The launch, which formed part of its Founders’ Day celebration, is keeping to its commitment to transform-
By Oluwatosin Olawale
ing secondary school education nationwide. The specialists Teacher Training Programme (TTP), which kicked off last Saturday in Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State, was meant to infuse special teaching skills into teachers, who are
Candidate promises Education Summit
• CNS, ENC, Calabar, Rear Admiral Babalola, presents an award to the Captain of Baje House Abdulrahaman Alhaji, while Commandant, NNSS, Commander Eleazu-Uriri (middle) looks on.
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Navy seeks sports for students
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OMMANDANT, Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Commander Regina Eleazu-Uriri, has emphasised the need to improve sports and sporting activities among pupils. Speaking at the Seventh Annual Inter-house Sports of the school, she said sporting the world over have become viable instruments of self actualisation, veritable source of income, sure means of aiding mental alertness and strong tools of mutual cohesion among people of different tribes and nationalities. Commander Eleazu-Uriri said this is why the school redoubled its efforts in providing its pupils with a holistic and broad based education with emphasis on activities that
carefully selected across the country as well as others from partner schools. Olashore International plans to run the programme each term in major locations in Nigeria including its host community where the pilot edition is held. TTP also aims to foster a healthy and mutual relationship between
Olashore and participating schools, provide an outlet for participating teachers to share personal teaching experiences and improve their skills. The OIS TTP is a social responsibility initiative geared at creating a forum where teachers in public and private schools can engage in cross fertilisation of ideas on self development and greater classroom effectiveness. It is facilitated by Bradford College trained master teachers from OIS.
From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar
develop tenacity and strength of character. She thanked the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Henry Babalola and the Director of Naval Education, Commodore JA Edako, for their support in promoting strict discipline and uncompromising excellence in curricular and co-curricular activities especially sports. She called on parents, guardians and other stakeholders to assist in the provision of standard sporting facilities to complement their efforts at raising pupils who are physically fit, mentally alert, intellectually confident and morally upright.
‘This is the hallmark of a qualitative education we all are aspiring to bequeath to our children. I am happy that the school which was established on the firm foundation of excellence in all ramifications is already graduating from strength to strength’
"This is the hallmark of a qualitative education we all are aspiring to bequeath to our children. I wish to congratulate our hardworking staff and disciplined students for ensuring that practices and preparations culminating into this great day were painstakingly attended to. I am happy that the school which was established on the firm foundation of excellence in all ramifications is already graduating from strength to strength," she said. Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, said the purpose of the annual navy secondary schools competition is to fish out talents that will represent Nigeria in sporting events at the national, continental and world stage. He promised to build a basketball and lawn tennis court in the school before the next inter house sports. Babalola said Commandant Eleazu-Uriri has become a success story to the Nigerian Navy, particularly the Eastern Naval Command. While promising that the school will continue to be given adequate attention, he assured parents and guardians that discipline, quality academic curriculum, physical, mental and moral alertness required will be instilled in their children. Baje House emerged winner at the end of the competition.
OVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin has promised to organise an education summit, if elected. The move, Folarin said, is geared towards restoring the state's lost glory in education. In a media chat in Ibadan, Folarin described the state of education in Oyo as poor, vowing to create impact assessment unit for self examination. According to him, teachers especially at the basic level, deserve better treatment. Folarin, therefore, promised that teachers’ salaries and emolument would be paid regularly, adding that grants will not be delayed. "Teachers deserve better treatment. They are the makers of great people of the world and it is not acceptable to treat them in a negative way. "Because of the merger in some schools in the state, the population
By Jeremiah Oke
in our classrooms rose to between 100 and 150, which is not acceptable. Teachers have lost control at the moment in the state and to get it right again, we have to return it to 25 pupils in a class. We also need to look at the pension scheme of the teachers as a motivating factor. "It is very easy for me to say we are going to do the opposite of what the present administration is doing because we are going to declare state of emergency in the sector. We are going to set up a summit where we will invite all stakeholders in education sector to discuss the way out. "We are going to establish impact assessment unit to checkmate and assess our performances on every sectors. “This policy will serve as a means of self examination on our performances so as to know if we have positive impact on the people or not," Folarin said.
ICAN holds career talks for pupils
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HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has organised a career talk for some pupils in Ibadan, Oyo State. The 400-participants cut across 20 secondary schools, both private and public. Speaking on the theme: "Catch them young", ICAN president, Ibadan district, Mr Ganiyu Adebayo, said the programme is to stimulate youngsters interest creates mentorship as well as draw them into accounting profession at their early stage. The career talk was to further erase the assumption that only graduates or those practising in accounting firms could become chartered accountants, Adebayo added. "We want to introduce accounting profession to the children at the secondary school level. From ages past, people have always thought before you could become a chartered accountant, you must be a graduate. They thought you cannot just join the profession with ease." Adebayo said ICAN is already making preparations to ease the long procedure of being chartered. "We are trying to prepare a short
From Bisola Oloyede, Ibadan
cut for pupils through Accounting Technician Scheme (ATS), which they can start once they get their secondary school certificate." He added that those, who excelled in the first three stages of ATS would have the opportunity of securing admission to second year in the university. One of the resource persons, Mr Olabamiji Ogunlade, who spoke on: “The roadmap to becoming a chartered accountant”, admonished participating pupils to consider starting a course in ATS early. "As an accountant, you fit into all categories of working class; so, getting a job is easier. After obtaining your secondary school certificate, ATS will make your professional journey less cumbersome and faster," he said. A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, urged pupils to make good use of their time, warning that digital gadgets and other media tools and gaming programmes can waste their precious time.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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EDUCATION EDUTALK
with
Salvaging our medical schools
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ITH Nigeria producing just four per cent of the 7.2 million healthcare workers worldwide, there is reason for us to be worried about medical education. There is an acute shortage of Kofoworola medical doctors, nurses, and other categories of healthcare professionals the country. Provost, College of Medicine, Kofosagie@yahoo.com University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof 08054503077 (SMS only) Folashade Ogunsola, brought the problem into sharp relief during Tuesday's orientation of 200-Level medical students who just crossed over from the main campus of the university in Akoka, to the medical college. She said though Nigeria accounts for 11 per cent of the world's population, 25 per cent of the world's disease burden is from here. Nigeria is, sadly, the capital of diabetes in Africa; malaria kills over 30,000 per 100,000 Nigerians compared to the world average of 4,000. Maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are high. (Nigeria is among the 20 countries with the highest rate of maternal mortality in the world). And the inadequate number of well-trained medical professionals contributes to the problem as much as the poor state of our health institutions. Currently, Prof Ogunsola said that the CMUL can only admit 150 out of the 3,000 candidates that apply to study medicine yearly. The institution has the second largest quota in Nigeria. The first, University College, Hospital, Ibadan, can only admit 30 people more than CMUL. The nursing schools cannot also admit many students at a time. Two years ago, the nursing school of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), set examinations for thousands of candidates to fill only 50 slots. The new schools of nursing established by the Lagos State government cannot admit more than that either. The reason for the limited capacities of these training institutions is because of the lack of facilities. Training of medical personnel is expensive, yet, funding is in short supply. I have a friend who experienced what it meant to train in a poorlyfunded medical school. Unlike in the good old days when about two students trained with a cadaver (corpse), in her time, the whole class depended on one. So, when in the laboratory, since not all of them can study the cadaver at the same time, the interested few do the study while the others sit around chatting, reading or doing other things. When the cadaver team finds something major, they announce to the class: "We have found the heart." Such call gets an instance response. The others get up to have a look; then return to their previous pre-occupation till the class is over. The situation is worsened by brain drain. As a result of the unattractive teaching and learning environment; and afterwards the prospect of practicing in ill-equipped and short-staffed hospitals without good pay, a huge percentage of the doctors seek the Golden Fleece abroad. A friend told me of his brother, who trained in Nigeria and now practices in Finland. Among his friends of about nine, only one practices in Nigeria. I personally know of three doctors that have migrated to Canada and the United States in the past three years - and one that is preparing to move away soon. So, despite training them with meagre resources, the doctors do not stay around long enough for the country to reap the fruit of its paltry investment. Teachers are not also encouraged. Many have been hanging in there hoping for the time things would change. But when will the change come? How long do they have to keep waiting? The challenge is huge. As Prof Ogunsola rightly said, the government can reverse the situation if it wants to. It can achieve this by investing adequately in training institutions and initiating policies that will encourage our professionals to stay in the country and those in the Diaspora to return home. However, it really depends on what our priorities are.
Belo-Osagie
• From left: Mr Okon (left), presenting the award to Mr Omatseye.
Students honour The Nation Editorial board chair
HE National Association of Delta State Students' (NADESSTU), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Chapter, has presented to the Chairman, Editorial Board, of The Nation, Mr Sam Omatseye an award of excellence for human transformation and professionalism. The honour was awarded to him last weekend at the association's
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By Everistus Onwuzurike
annual cultural day, which took place at the college ground. Speaking during the presentation, former Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), YABATECH Chapter, Mr Austin
Okon, said Mr Omatseye is deserving of the honour. "We honour you today with this prestigious award for the continuous human transformation and professionalism your have rendered as a grand patron, and a role model," he said. Omatseye appreciated the association for the honour and promised his continuous support.
Online course to help teachers integrate ICT
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HE African Virtual University (AVU), a Pan African intergovernmental organisation, is offering teachers how to integrate Information Communications Technology (ICT) into the teaching and learning process an opportunity to do so online. The AVU, in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) officially launched a fourmodule programme tagged: “ICTs to Enrich Teaching and Learning Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).” Registration for the training is
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
still open though the first module has already started. A statement online by the university noted that “participants will go through a variety of learning activities designed to help them improve.” In the first module, teachers will learn about ICT and how it relates to teaching and learning. “They will learn about a process called S.A.K.E.(skills, attitude, knowledge and experience) that would help them personalise, apply and extend their learning.
‘They will learn about a process called S.A.K.E.(skills, attitude, knowledge and experience) that would help them personalise, apply and extend their learning’
The second module, which starts on March 16, will focus on the role of ICT in teaching and learning as well as the cost and the pedagogical implications of integrating ICT in education. In the third module, teachers would be expected to apply ICT tools to enhance their teaching, learning and examine the benefit for an online teacher training. The final module will help teachers use ICT to improve their management skills and support administration in the classroom and at a school level. The AVU has a mandate to significantly increase access to quality higher education and training through the innovative use of Information Communication Technologies. Since its establishment in 1997, AVU has trained more than 43,000 students and established the largest network of Distance and eLearning institutions in 29 African countries.
Stakeholders brainstorm on access to education
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O improve access to quality secondary education for girls and other marginalised youths, Nigerians must begin to see education as a collective responsibility. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala made the call while speaking at a programme organised by Results for Development Institute (R4D) and The Education Partnership Centre (TEP Centre) under the auspices of the Partnership to Strengthen Innovation and Practice in Secondary Education (PSISPE). The PSIPSE Nigeria convening, held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, brought together stakeholders and decision-makers in secondary education in Nigeria to
By Rukayat Jimoh
share knowledge and experiences, discuss best practices and innovation, and encourage peer-to-peer collaboration. Nwaobiala, who was one of the speakers at the convention, said that in addition to being collectively responsible, adopting approaches that strengthen government and private sector collaboration would also help improve the education system immensely. On her part, the Managing Director, TEP Centre, Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju noted that welldesigned and strategic public-private partnerships could address challenges, which affect access, quality and equity in Nigerian education. However, while addressing the
challenges facing access to quality secondary education for girls and marginalised youth, the Team Leader, Human Development, DFID Nigeria, Ms Kemi Williams, who was the keynote speaker, stated that the solution to removing barriers requires a comprehensive understanding of how the barriers interrelate, and a holistic approach to addressing them. The convention was held as part of efforts to improve innovation and practice in secondary education in Nigeria. Technical sessions at the event focused on sharing knowledge on monitoring and evaluation, translating research into policy, strengthening the design of secondary education research, scaling projects and engaging policymakers.
‘I have a friend who experienced what it meant to train in a poorly-funded medical school. Unlike in the good old days when about two students trained with a cadaver (corpse), in her time, the whole class depended on one’
From my Inbox Re: So free education is doable! (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) Aunty Kofo, good morning. I am sure you are already aware of what befell Imonites regarding the last WASSCE and NECO exams within the third anniversary of the Imo state Idi Amin's peculiar free education scheme in comparison with their past records hence there may be no beneficiary of the sham tertiary free education. Don Akagbusi, Ibadan. Kofo, I concur with your views expressed today. But reality on ground is that the inconsistent government fiscal policies have impacted negatively on the economy, which has affected a vast majority of parents to properly fund the education of their children. A freetuition public school is not a totally bad concept. It is important to reform our policy to enhance our society for a better tomorrow. Wole Adeniran.
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
NATION SPORT Song set to follow Monaco’s example play with Arsenal it's very
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F West Ham is to take maximum points against Arsenal this weekend, Alex Song says they must look to Monaco's showing at the Emirates Stadium last month as the example. Arsenal were beaten 3-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against the Ligue 1 side in February and, ahead of the second leg
next week, welcome West Ham on Saturday. Former Arsenal man Song feels his team-mates should aim to restrict space and counter-attack with speed in order to frustrate his former employers. "I think Monaco was how you want to play when you play in the Emirates," he told the club's official website. "I know this stadium very well and I know when you
hard. "The best thing to do is to try to be together, defend together very well and when you have the opportunity to go on the counter attack, you have to do it very well like Monaco did it. "If you want to go to Emirates and try to play you will not have any chance to win the game there because this stadium is very hard to play in. "You have to stay together very compact and not give them any room, then take the opportunity on the counter attack. "If we do this very well like Monaco did, then we can get a good result there."
Messi: I am a gambler on the pitch T
HE Argentine must have had his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek when he compared his talents on the pitch for Barcelona to that of a poker player Casino man Lionel Messi believes that it is his “gambler's instincts” which make him such a brilliant player for Barcelona . The Argentina international has been photographed leaving casinos with former Camp Nou colleague Cesc Fabregas twice in the past month, attracting scrutiny in some quarters. And Messi, whose top form in the past two months has helped Barca to do a clean sweep of rivals in all competitions, has ironically compared his talents with a ball at his feet
to that of a high-stakes poker player. "There are people who suggest that my way of playing football is innate," the four-time Ballon d'Or winner told Four Four Two. "I do not know if this is the case, but it is true that I have a gambler's instinct. "On the pitch I'm always looking to make the best move or the best decision, while trying not to do what the opponent expects me to do. "When I feel the grass under my feet, I feel safe. I use the huge pressure to be better because pressure helps me to develop my skills." And in a jibe towards the English press following paparazzi snapping him at casinos in London, he added: "I do not suffer intrusion into my private life by the media in Barcelona."
Liverpool’s captaincy not decided - Henderson
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•Song
ORDAN Henderson is not taking the Liverpool captaincy for granted ahead of Steven Gerrard's planned departure. Jordan Henderson is not convinced he will necessarily succeed Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain next season. Long-serving midfielder Gerrard is due to depart for LA Galaxy at the end of the campaign, and vice-captain Henderson has assumed the skipper's armband at times this season with Gerrard out injured. While the former Sunderland man is considered the favourite to succeed Gerrard, Henderson maintains he is not taking anything as given. "Next season we'll see what happens because it might not be me succeeding Stevie, it might be someone else," Henderson told the official Liverpool FC magazine. "There are a lot of strong leaders in the dressing room. There are a lot of big characters in the team down to earth, humble people. "Mama [Sakho], Emre [Can] and Skrts [Martin Skrtel] have developed a strong collective understanding. You can see their passion, they're desperate to win, they give every-
•Henderson
thing. "Studge [Daniel Sturridge] is a big character. Lucas [Leiva] is too. I can only do the current job the best I can." Brendan Rodgers' men remain in contention for a top-four finish despite a dismal start to their Premier League campaign -
having run Manchester City close for the title last term. "The thing I've probably learnt most from Stevie is the way he overcomes the disappointments. I think that defines you more than anything," Henderson added.
Casillas: Madrid at rock bottom
•Casillas
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EAL Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the club has hit "rock bottom" in recent days, but is maintaining a positive outlook. On Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti's side survived a major scare in losing 4-3 at home to Schalke in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, scraping through 54 on aggregate after their 20 first-leg win. It was a second successive defeat for Real, and a fifth loss since the turn of the year, in marked contrast to their 22 consecutive wins at the end of 2014. "It's true that we've hit rock bottom quickly, but the positive is that we're in next Friday's draw [for the Champions League quarter-finals], so we can forget about the last 10 days,"
Casillas told Canal Plus. "We must be united and accept the criticism from Madrid fans because we haven't matched our high standards but are now in the quarter-finals. "We're now in a privileged position and thinking about the next game. We can't look back and remember those 22 wins or the other things we've achieved." Casillas' display on Tuesday attracted criticism, with some feeling he was at fault for the first three of Schalke's four goals."I think a goalkeeper must always take the blame," he said. "It wasn't one of my best games, but it's no time to think about myself. "Despite not having done our homework [on Schalke], we were able to progress.
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THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2015
POLITICS THE NATION
E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net
•Soldiers on duty in the Northeast.
The debate over the deployment of troops for the general elections has refused to go away. It almost snowballed into fisticuffs between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House of Representatives. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the issues involved and their implications for the general elections.
No to military involvement in 2015 elections T
HE alleged role of the military in the June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship election has sparked a debate over the legality, desirability or otherwise of deploying troops to keep peace during the general elections. In spite of the recent Court of Appeal judgment against the deployment of troops for elections, indications are that President Goodluck Jonathan might order the deployment of soldiers for the March 28 and April 11 elections. The Court of Appeal, in deciding the Ekiti election petition, ruled that it is illegal to deploy soldiers for election duties. The judgment validated the decision of a Sokoto High Court that the military should play no direct role during elections. The military had always been involved in the conduct of elections in one way or the other. But, the testimony of an Army Captain who was part of the Ekiti assignment, Sagir Koli, on how the military was allegedly used to tamper with the process leading to the governorship election has introduced a new dimension to the role of the military in elections. Though the allegation is still being investigated, the revelation has implications for this year’s general elections. The fear of the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is that the military may be used to intimidate and arrest leading politicians opposed to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC is of the view that the ruling party may take advantage of the increasing insecurity in the country to set the stage for the full involvement of the military during the elections. Though the involvement of the military appears inevitable, given the security situation in parts of the country, there is a clamour for their role to be regulated. Aside from the alleged Ekiti rigging plot, the image of the military in Nigeria is not the very best at the moment, because of the role it played in the postponement of the general elections from February 14/February 28 to March 28/ April 11, 2015. Service Chiefs were believed to have worked in tandem with the Presidency to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the polls. This has diminished the little faith Nigerians had in the deployment of troops. Although INEC had its own inadequacies that may have marred the outcome of the election, its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had insisted that the commission was ready for the poll. Jega said: “A day before the Council of State meeting, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to the Commission, drawing attention to recent developments in four Northeast states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and
Gombe currently experiencing the challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that security could not be guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general elections. “This advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations cannot be guaranteed and that the Security Services needed at least six weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the Northeast…” Prior to the Ekiti governorship poll, the Federal Government had deployed troops in 32 of the 36 states of the federation to check ‘security challenges’ or in ‘aid of civil authority.’ As the deployment of troops was spreading, the Nigeria Police, which is constitutionally empowered for internal security, has been missing in action. What are the merits for the deployment of troops for election? Following the debate generated over the matter, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the idea is in order, as long as it would not be deployed to participate in the election, but to protect sensitive materials used during the exercise. His words: “The military are not deployed to participate, however, because there are certain sensitive election materials to be protected, they would be available, especially in this era of Boko Haram. It is their duty to assist in keeping internal security. However, they won’t be at polling booths to whip people into line like the members of the Nigeria Police Force or the Civil Defence Corps. But, they (the military) should be available for immediate deployment.” The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, also backed the call for troops to take charge of security to ensure peace during the elections.
Though the involvement of the military appears inevitable, given the security situation in parts of the country, there is a clamour for their role to be regulated
Odinkalu is of the view that Nigeria is currently in a state of war, which justifies such action in line with the Geneva Convention Act. The Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, also believes that the role of the military in the sustenance of Nigeria’s fragile democracy, including reduction in poll roguery and brigandage, is commendable. Umeagbalasi said the do-or-die mentality of politicians leaves no room for another alternative. Indeed, he said the military’s security roles during polls in the past three years have drastically reduced violence as well as polls’ rigging. He added: “Over 300 citizens died in the 2011 pre-election violence as against 2015’s 60 recorded deaths till date excluding insurgency war casualties. The military’s security and surveillance of poll materials and personnel in recent times have added credibility to polls’ outcomes/results to the extent that most of the 1, 695 elective public office polls constitutionally conducted by INEC in Nigeria from 2011 were sustained and upheld by various polls’ tribunals in Nigeria. “It is also globally established that Nigeria is one of the countries noted in notoriety with turbulent and homicidal polls. Its political parties are recently christened as “most corrupt in the world”. While other social climes see public office polls as quest for aristocratic humanitarian services, political parties and actors/actresses in Nigeria see same as business enterprises and ethno-religious regimentation. In all these, the military appears to be the only neutral third party capable of providing last hope for Nigerians numbering over 170 million. “This is why the military institution must be supported by all and sundry at all times. So long as Nigeria’s polls remain turbulent and mercantile, the lives and liberties of Nigerians must be maximally entrusted in the hands of the country’s armed forces at all times without judicial, administrative and political excuses.” The heated debate for and against troops-for-poll almost snowballed into fisticuffs between members of the opposition and those of the ruling party in the House of Representatives last week. Be that as it may, INEC appears to believe that the military has a role to play in the general election. But, it is of the view that they should be restricted to designated checkpoints, to make sure people do not traffic arms, ammunition or engage in any • Continued on page 45
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THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2015
is the need for voters to “jealously ‘ There guide their votes from the point of casting it to the collation and counting ‘ ... 78 D AYS TO GO ...78 DA Peter Ajayi is the National Coordinator of the Salvage Group, which comprises professionals in the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he speaks on the general elections and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) attempt to woo Southwest voters.
‘PDP’s machinations in Southwest ‘ll fail’ W HY did your group call for the resignation of Lagos APC spokesman Joe Igbokwe? We called for his resignation because he has been unable to use his office as publicity secretary to mobilise the Igbos for the party. It is obvious that most Igbos in Lagos are not for the APC. They have vowed to vote for the PDP in the coming elections. Is it not very strange in a state that has been very fair to them? We have a lot of them occupying both appointive and elective positions at local and state governments. As a matter of fact, Igbokwe doubles as the publicity secretary of APC and the general manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency (LASMIRA). As general manager of LASMIRA, he is a very busy person. So, adding the job of the publicity secretary of the APC has overburdened him. The job of publicity secretary requires full attention and concentration. Personally, I don’t have anything against him. Our call for his resignation, which was published in some national newspapers, is to save our party. The position of publicity secretary is one of the most sensitive offices within the party. He is shouldered with the responsibility of giving information, representing and speaking on behalf of the party. At this critical moment, our party does not need someone who is not accessible; who does not have time to discuss issues of our party with members. Our position still remains that Joe Igbokwe should either resign as publicity secretary for lack of competence or as LASMIRA general manager. What impact would the polls shift make on the March 28 and April 11 general elec-
tions? I believe Nigerians are resolute in their quest for change. They want to see and feel the effects of good governance. They have realised the great havoc corruption is causing in Nigeria. They know stealing is part of corruption. No amount of money can buy their conscience. We are not looking at the short term, but the long term gains of our desire for change. We are not unaware of the billions of naira and dollars being spent by President Jonathan and members of his party in their desperate attempt to woo people to vote for him. Our people are happy to have their share of the national cake. The postponement of the election for six weeks would not have any negative impact on our party’s chances; rather we see it as an opportunity to further engage our supporters and prospective voters. Their attempt to weaken us is making us stronger and more acceptable by the populace. There are allegations that some aggrieved governorship aspirants who lost to Ambode are secretly supporting Agbaje. What do you make of this allegation? This is the story purportedly formulated by the PDP. The governorship aspirants knew all along that only one of them would get the ticket. Before the primary, they reached a decision to support whoever becomes the candidate. Our party is a one big family. Immediately after the primary, all the aspirants met with the governor, the candidate and leadership of the party and resolved to work for the party that have given them opportunities to excel in life. Other aspirants at different levels, such as the Lagos House of Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representa-
•Ajayi
I believe Nigerians are resolute in their quest for change. They want to see and feel the effects of good governance. They have realised the great havoc corruption is causing in Nigeria tives, those who lost out in the primary have also met and resolved to work for the interest of the party. Do you think the recent successes of the military against the Boko Haram terrorist group would influence the general elections?
Our soldiers have always performed excellently well. They have always performed well at international peacekeeping operations. What our soldiers need is encouragement, motivation and a free hand to work. They will always excel. They were intentionally made to be morally, emotionally and financially handicapped to score some political cheap points in the past. We are all aware that Ministry of Defense has the highest chunk of the national budget, but the question is, why the sabotage? Who are the saboteurs? Why the sudden decision to fight Boko Haram within six weeks? After they have been allowed to cause havoc for years. Why did the President suddenly awake from its slumber to do what ordinarily Nigerians had expected him to do for the past years? It is too late; peoples minds are made up already President Jonathan has been coming frequently to the Southwest in recent times, to canvass for support for his re-election. What impact would this have on the election? President Goodluck Jonathan has been coming to the Southwest to share the national cake to equally corrupt, hungry and selfish people in the region. I refuse to refer to them as leaders because they are not representing the common interest of the people. Are you aware that the power station the President commissioned in Ogun State has previously been commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo before he left office? We are now begining to have a clearer picture as to why the elections were postponed. It was just to further convince some gullible Nigerians through deceitful outings and projects, more especially in the Southwest. The question is, why has he not visited the region for the past six years? President Jonathan is acting a script written by Doyin Okupe, Ayodele Fayose, Reuben Abati, Obanikoro, Femi FaniKayode and others. One of their gimmicks was to come to deceive some gullible people in the Southwest having seen the region as a stronghold of the APC. Our people cannot be bought over.
Nations don’t change war time leaders, says Wogu
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•Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps and Imo State PDP governorship candidate Hon Emeka Ihedioha ringing the summoning bell of 'Meat Sellers Association at Somachi Abattoir Meat Market during his consultation with the members of the association. He is flanked on the left by House of Assembly candidate MacDonald Ebere and the Chairman of the Abattoir Association, Julian Onyeukwu and the Chairman of PDP, Mr. Nnamdi Anyaehie.
HE former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu has said that the activities of Boko Haram in the Northeast is worrisome. For one whose infanthood was laced with the severity of the civil war, the bestiality associated with the group was one thing that he did not really want to befall the people of the Northeast. “What is happening in the North-East now demands full military action against the Boko Haram group. A group that has gone the length of carving out some portion of Nigerian land for itself, and has declared war on our sovereignty,” he said should not be treated with kid gloves. The former minister noted that the Federal Government had
launched a full scale war against the group. Noting the import of the administration’s action, he had said: “The ongoing war in the Northeast is undoubtedly a sore point in the nation’s history. Just as Nigeria is making progress in its economy and has been certified as Africa’s biggest economy, Boko Haram surfaced to test the capacity and content of the Nigerian leadership. The challenge of the insurgency is one that no Nigerian leader has ever had to confront.” “Despite the multifarious distractions, nearly all Nigerians across tribe and tongue can now confidently assert that the Nigerian military is now roasting the insurgents after taking the war to them.”
Yobe APC mobilises grassroots support for Buhari
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HE Buhari Support Organization (BSO) in Yobe State has called on the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 polls. As part of its mobilisation drive, the group headed by Mohammed Ali Tanimu has put together a sensitisation forum in Damaturu, the state capital. The event, which was held at the BSO office complex along Maiduguri Road, brought together the 17 local government coordinators. At the campaign, seasoned
From Duku JOEL, Damaturu
politicians spoke on votes protection, politics without violence, discouraging money politics among the electorate and the role of women in mobilisation of voters. One of the guest speakers and one-time presidential aspirant, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, said there is the need for voters to “jealously guide their votes from the point of casting it to the collation and counting.” Yusuf, who is also the former Chairman of Damaturu Local Government and a member of the
1999 Constitutional Conference, charged coordinators to take their assignment seriously, particularly the idea of mobilising grassroot support for Gen. Buhari. He said: “From what I have seen, most of you are young with a lot of energy. Your age reminds me of the time we were young politician in 1959. I want to use this opportunity to call on all of you not to use your energy for violence, but to deploy it towards mobilising support at your various local governments for Gen. Buhari.” The Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Political Af-
fairs, Aji Yerima Bularafa, lamented the decision to postpone the election, saying it is a rape on democracy. He however reminded the coordinators of the message of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari who has called on all his supporters to remain calm. The Political Adviser, however, noted that the decision of INEC to postphone the election is purely the script of the PDP-led government as according to him, the PDP is jittery of Buhari’s victory at the polls hence their fear to conduct the election.
•Nwabueze
THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2015
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should be a deliberate programme of re‘There education and re-orientation of youths, which should start from when they are very young at the primary school level
‘
... 78 D AYS TO GO ...78 DA
Comrade Babatunde MacAlabi was the Convener, Professionals for Change. In this interview with SINA FADARE, he says Nigerians must close ranks to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
‘Boko Haram ‘s a monster that must be tamed’ B
OKO Haram activities have become a national shame. Where did we go wrong on the issue? The genesis of insecurity in the North goes back in time. The root can be traced to failure of leadership in that region, absence of good governance and the general level of poverty and deprivation in the North. It is a good thing that honest northern leaders have acknowledged their failure to develop their region. As a result, massive pauperisation is the order of the day. Governor Babangida Aliyu was honest to accept that northern leaders have failed to develop their society. That is why they have thousands of unemployed youths that have been used and dumped by politicians. These hoodlums are empowered by politician and after election they have nothing to fall back on; hence they eventually become a nuisance in the society.That is the genesis of the Boko Haram. Basically, the so-called Boko Haram insurgents are Muslims who have turned coat and do not propagate any Islamic cause, but are mere terrorists who have turned against the Nigerian state. Against this backdrop, Nigeria is at war and the Boko Haram tendency has attained international dimension and support. Unfortunately the country failed to nip the crisis in the bud and it degenerated to what we are witnessing today. It is like a wound that was allowed to fester and it is now being infected by tetanus and is about to kill Nigeria. The international community has realised that if concerted efforts are not put together to arrest the situation, it may snowball into a monster that can no longer
be tamed. Therefore, the joint task force by West African countries provided the leeway to go. Cameroun and Chad are now part of the crusade and hopefully the combined efforts of all these nations can give us a respite. There are two battles that we are fighting; there is the physical battle that would attempt to take out Boko Haram on the battle field. There is the greater battle that is harder to win, the battle of the mind and the soul of the people. That one has spread to the towns and villages where kids are being used as suicide bombers. That war will be difficult to win, but not difficult to overcome. Are we making progress in checkmating the insurgency? The military have initially confessed that they did not have the hardware to tackle the terrorists, but gladly they have what it takes in terms of weaponry and the battle is being taken to their domain. The whole world is battling terrorism, because they can strike in Syria, Libya or New York. That is why the whole world has to stand up as one to face the challenge. In order to succeed, education and enlightenment is key. An aggressive enlightenment campaign should be embarked upon, led by Islamic leaders who have a duty to design a programme and strategy to deconstruct the minds of millions of their followers who had been fed with the wrong information and knowledge about Islam. Islam is a religion of peace that does not in any way encourage violence. But, some people are reading religious meaning to it. Do you share this viewpoint? No, I do not believe it. If they were real Muslims, they will not kill in the name of
Islam; no matter the provocation. They are just terrorists who have an agenda beyond comprehension. Boko Haram is against anything that is development, civilization and progress. It would drag us back to the dark ages. As far as l am concern, Boko Haram does not represent any political party or any religion, but a group of people who are ignorant of what development and progress is all about and are only propagating evil for their own selfish ends. Where do we go from here? Nigerian political leaders have to come together and make concerted efforts to condemn and attack the evil and atrocious Boko Haram tendency. They have to speak in one voice and send a signal to the terrorists that Nigeria has no place for any form of extremism. My group, ‘Professionals for Change’ is championing a project titled ‘Nigerian Against all Terrorism’. The battle is not only for soldiers on the battlefield, but all of us should unite and strongly go against the sect. Every Nigerian has a responsibility and a duty to stand up through continuous condemnation of Boko Haram. Political and religious leaders in the North are faced with the challenge of re-orientating the youths toward a new thinking and a new way of life and the evil effect of extremist propaganda they have been exposed to. There should be a deliberate programme of re-education and re-orientation of youths, which should start from when they are very young at the primary school level. There should also be a compulsory Universal Primary Education for all the youths wherever they are. The education should be
•MacAlabi
targeted towards how they can serve Nigeria not how to destroy it. What is your take on the notion that it has a political undertone? I refuse to see a political colouration. l see a group that is determined to establish some ideology that does not exist in any book and in trying to do so, they are committing all forms of monumental destruction against the Nigerian state. The destruction and violence is being committed by a group of bandits and suicide bombers trying to create mayhem. There is nothing political in their satanic action. Rather, they are a group of people who have been brainwashed not to see reality.
No to military involvement in polls • Continued from page 43
conduct that could tamper with the electoral process. Due to the prevalence of insecurity in the country, the military has been part of the electioneering process in the last 16 years. But, it assumed an embarrassing proportion in the last 12 years. Before the Ekiti election, troops were restricted largely to highways leading to areas considered volatile, to make sure that arms are not moved from place-toplace during elections. But, they were physically present at polling stations, as well as collation centres during the June 21 polls. What does the law say? According to legal practitioners, the deployment of troops in “aid” of civil authority is legal and constitutional. But, such a deployment must be approved or regulated by the National Assembly. Observers are now accusing the President of deploying the military illegally to monitor the conduct of elections in the last couple of years. Besides approaching the National Assembly for Emergency Rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, there is no record to show that he has approached the legislature for legal instrument to deploy troops-for-poll in any part of the country. While the illegality persists nationwide, some judges have come out openly to deride the recourse to the abuse of the military for election duties. A former President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Umar Abdullahi, JCA (as he then was) in
In the event of in’surrection or insurgency, the call on the Armed Forces to restore order must be with approval of the National Assembly — as provided in sections 217(2) and 218(4 of the Constitution as amended
‘
Buhari vs. Obasanjo (2005) I WRN 2000), said: “In spite of non-tolerant nature of our political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of the election process. The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out fully the electoral processes at all levels. On his part, another President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami, JCA (as he then was) in Yusuf vs. Obasanjo (2005) 18 NWLR Part 956 p.96 said: “It is up to the Police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarized.” In a courageous pronouncement on Monday, February 16, 2015, Hon. Jus-
•Jonathan
•Odinkalu
•Fayose
tice Aboki, JCA, (Chairman, Ekiti State Governorship Election Appeal Tribunal), who was a bit worried by the roles of Armed Forces personnel during the Ekiti State Governorship Election, said: “Even the President of Nigeria has no powers to call on the Nigerian Armed Forces to unleash them on peaceful citizenry who are exercising their franchise to elect their leaders.” “In the event of insurrection or insurgency, the call on the Armed Forces to restore order must be with approval of the National Assembly — as provided in sections 217(2) and 218(4 of the Constitution as amended.” Until the return to military rule in 1999, the police had always been in charge of providing security during elections. Notwithstanding a few challenges associated with the police during the 1962 crisis in the defunct Western Region and the ex-IGP Sunday Adewusi’s shoot-on-sight order in 1983 general election war between the NPN and the Unity Party of Nigeria, the police had performed fairly well. Most experts are of the opinion that if the police force is well-equipped, it should be able to provide security na-
tionwide. The NPF has 332,756 policemen, 6,693 Traffic Wardens and 11,999 civilian workers in 3,756 police stations nationwide. The only challenge with the force is lack of funds. The Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, who was represented by his deputy in-charge of Logistics and Supplies, Mamman Tsafe told the Senate Committee on Police Affairs in Abuja during the week that out of the N56 billion overhead proposed by the police in 2014, only N8 billion was approved out of which N5 billion was released. He said the force required N24 billion for fuelling and maintaining its vehicles instead of N5 billion proposed. For capital budget, he said that of a proposed N218 billion, N7 billion was approved and only N3 billion was released. From the foregoing, the option available to President Jonathan is to approach the National Assembly for an enabling Act to make deployment of troops for election legal. Indeed, the APC, through its Director, Legal of the Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), has written a letter to the
President on why the judgment of the Federal High Court should be respected to leave troops out of the March 28 and April 11 general election. The letter said in part: “Your Excellency, may I add this: the restraining phrase “… security supervision of elections in any manner whatsoever in any part of Nigeria” is all encompassing including absence of armed forces on the roads and streets on the election days and not discriminatory as to be limited to polling booths, as some may expediently want the public to believe. “I, therefore, request Your Excellency, to instruct the Service Chiefs and all relevant State officers to diligently comply with the orders of the Court by ensuring that the Armed Forces are never engaged in the security supervision of the forthcoming elections in any manner and in any part of Nigeria whatsoever. It is the statutory duty of the Nigerian Police Force to carry out this function without having the armed forces instill fear in the citizenry during the elections.”
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
47
THE NATION
NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net
Cabbage, others can cure ulcer D
O you know that cabbage can cure peptic ulcer? Chief Consultant of Fashoggi Healthshoppe in Akute, Ogun State Olayinka Fashipe, said the ulcer-healing factor in cabbage is S-methylmethionine, which is commonly referred to as Vitamin U. Fadipe said it is known in alternative medicine and naturopathy that ulcers are caused by an imbalance of the stomach pH. “Therefore, at Fashoggi Healthshoppe, we recommend alkalising the body, because virtually all modern pH issues consist of a body being too acidic, and a stomach that is too alkaline.Taking an alkalising diet should help one to regain a natural balance. Severe indigestion is sometimes confused for ulcerations, and this can sometimes be corrected in the same manner. Drinking raw cabbage juice is very effective for treating stomach ulcer. Consume fresh cabbage juice daily before your bedtime.This will help strengthen the stomach lining and heal the ulcer,” he claimed. Also, Fashipe rejected the claim that people suffering from ulcer should not eat pepper; rather, he said Cayenne pepper (sumbo) helps in treating the disease. The pepper helps prevent the cause of ulcers and also kills the bacteria that have been ingested in the stomach. This is because peptic ulcer is a spot where the lining of the stomach and the tissues beneath or part of the stomach muscle have been eroded, leaving an open wound inside the stomach, he added. He explained: “This can occur along the gastrointestinal tract, but mostly in the stomach (gastric ulcers) and duodenum (duodenal ulcers). Symptoms may include chronic burning or gnawing stomach pain about an hour after eating or at night. An ulcer results when the lining of the stomach fails to provide adequate protection against the effect of digestive acids causing the acids to digest the stomach itself. Other studies show that stomach ulcers are more likely to develop in older people. This may
•Cabbage juice
•Fashipe
•Cayenne-pepper
•Honey
By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha
be because arthritis is prevalent in the elderly and alleviating the pain can mean taking daily doses of aspirin or ibuprofen. Also, with advancement in age, the pylorus (the valve between the stomach and duodenum) relaxes and allows excess bile (which aids digestion) to seep up into the stomach and erode the stomach lining.”
Fashipe said: “Fortunately, peptic ulcers are relatively easy to treat; in many cases, they are cured by orthodox practitioners with antibiotics, antacids and other drugs that reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Still, the dangers associated with peptic ulcers, such as anaemia, profuse bleeding and stomach cancer are serious, so ulcers should be treated with natural remedies, that is herbs and food
•Coconut oil
supplements that can cure it without any side effect. “Aside cabbage, other natural remedies are Aloe vera juice or gel which should be taken daily as it will aid in pain relief and speed ulcer healing. Another good home remedy is unripe plantain chopped in bits and soaked in ordinary water (in a litre container) for a few days. A gin glass should be taken thrice daily on an empty stomach. Generous consumption of mucus forming food, such as okro and banana, will help heal the wounds. Banana contains anti-bacterial substance that helps slow down the growth of ulcer in the stomach; so eat a banana every day after your breakfast. Raw honey has natural healing properties that work wonders for treating stomach ulcer. Take a tablespoon of honey daily before your breakfast or have it any time of the day with food like wheat bread. This will help reduce stomach inflammation and keep away other stomach diseases.” He added: “A clove of garlic is highly recommended for stomach ulcer. Eat two or three cloves of garlic a day during meals to ease the inflammation in the stomach. “Coconut oil has been used widely as a natural ingredient for treating various disturbances in the stomach. It has anti-bacterial property that kills bacteria that cause ulcers. “Other beneficial herbs are myrrh combined with golden seal, slippery elm, etc. The following supplements will help as well-Acidophilus, L-Glutamine and Curcumin.’’
‘Garlic, ginger, thyme are immune boosters’
R
EGULAR consumption of garlic, ginger, thyme and other natural antibiotics can boost the immune system and prevent infections, a naturopath, Dr Gilbert Ezengige, has said. He listed the antibiotics as goat weed (Imiesu-yoruba), Christmas bush (ÈpaYoruba) and clove (Kanafuru-Yoruba), blue gum tree (eucalyptus oil) and aloe vera. According to Ezengige, sufferers of contagious diseases, sexually transmitted infections, airborne and water borne diseases require anti-microbial herbs. He said: “When meals are prepared with herbs, such as garlic, ginger, thyme, clove andxylopia aethiopica (Eru in Yoruba, Uda in Igbo), consumers may not be conscious of their healing potential in helping them to ward off infectious diseases. When they take fruits, such as lemon, grape, and melon (elegede in Yoruba; Anyu in Igbo), cashew, African star apple (agbalumo in Yoruba, Udara-Igbo), these beef up their immune system in prepraredness to combat harmful invading pathogens.” Explaining the causes of infections, Ezengige said: “Some infections are caused by harmful microorganisms (germs that can
By Wale Adepoju
be seen only with the help of a microscope); others by organisms that can be seen. In some infection there are mixtures and interplay of micro and visible pathogens, which include bacteria, viruses, fungi protozoa and worms amongst others. For instance, antibacterial herbs for bacterial infections, such as typhoid fever and cholera, antiviral herbs for combating viral diseases such as common cold and herpes, antifungal herbs for treating fungi such as candida and athlete’s foot, anthelmintic or vermifuge herbs for expelling or killing intestinal worms abound in our environment.” Ezengige canvassed good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, warning that without these, illnesses caused by harmful parasites and microorganisms will abound. He said: “The World Health Organisation (WHO) says infectious diseases are responsible for about 17 per cent of death yearly. They are also the second leading cause of death; number one is heart disease.” He continued: “Goat weed (Imiesu in Yoruba) can prevent diseases, such as sinusitis, e-coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacte-
ria. It is also used for dressing wounds. Goat weed is potent against stomach ulcer, pneumonia and dysentery. Christmas bush is used to treat urinary tract Infections, cough and parasitic worms; sore throat, venereal diseases and dysentery. Garlic bulb is used for treating infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and for the treatment of respiratory infections. “Garlic inhibits helicobacter pylori that causes stomach ulcer, pinworms and ear infections, Aloe vera is used on infected or purulent wounds worm infestation, bed sores, eye irritations and infections. It is also effective against staphylococcus aureus and herpes and typhoid fever.” Blue gum tree (eucalyptus oil), he said, is an anti-microbial against staphylococcus aureus, candida albicans, helicobacter pylori, eschericia coli and salmonella. “It is for treating respiratory infections as it works as antiseptic and antifungal. People with pyorrhea (gum infection) and catarrh will find it useful. Clove is good for curing acute toothache and gum infection by applying the oil on the affected parts. This can also help to provide relieve for bloating, intestinal gas and bronchial catarrh as well as con-
•Garlic cloves
trols bad breath,” he added. Clove, Ezengige said, has antiseptic properties, which kill bacteria, round worms and fungi. “It is an anti-parasitic plant, which has herbal components for curing athlete’s foot,” Ezengige said.
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
48
NATURAL HEALTH
W
A 2015 review of Nature’s Friends (9) About three or four years ago, I suggested Bellaco Capsi to a woman who faced the challenge of bilateral Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS)! she could not ovulate and had no child. She had taken many pharmaceutical drugs prescribed by her gynaecologist, to no avail. Suspecting mycoplasma bacteria and candida at work, I informed her of the need to detoxify not only the blood but the plasma and the lymph as well. In those days, there were no systemic detoxifiers as we have today... for example, there were no Diatomaceus, Zeolyte AV (for viruses) and Zeolite pure (for heavy metals, toxins etc) Serrapeptase (to dissolve growths), etc she took the ones available and in addition Bellaco Capsi. Soon, her pains subsided, her ovulation came and she became pregnant. Unfortunately, the pregnancy turned out to be ectopic and was evacuated in the hospital to protect her life. We were in touch for a while, and lost touch afterwards.
E live in a world that is not ours alone. With us on this earth are not only cockroaches, ants, lions, and snakes but also germs that we cannot see with the unaided eye. We still cannot tell why we have to co-exist with them, except the knowledge that some, if not all of these germs, help to facilitate the decay of any form of life from which life is draining away or has drained. Candida, a member of the fungi/yeast family does this. It is plentiful in breast cancer tissue that is decaying, a signal that the life force is draining from the rest of the body as well. When the tongue is gray, that is a mirror, warning us that candida is overgrowing its population in the intestine. Happily, Mother Nature gives us in the Plant Kingdom enough weapons to protect our bodies against these undertakers, as Dr. Robert Young calls them. This series has been featuring many of these natural weapons. The feature continues today. Maharani Non-Indians who cherish Indian food should be no strangers to Maharani. In India and in the United Kingdom, it is the name of great Indian restaurants which claims to offer the best in Indian cuisine. In Nigeria, I do not know if a Maharani restaurant exists. We hear, always, of Mandarin restaurants. But for some years now, Maharani has been featuring in the Alternative Medicine market as a proprietary herbal blend recipe for many female problems especially those which involve the ovaries. Many women who have heard about it or are using it for health reasons link it with the elimination of uterine fibroids. For this purpose, it is often prescribed along with systematic enzymes such as Serrapeptase, which helps to dissolve unnatural growths. Maharani has about ten benefits for a woman’s health, according to its product literature. These are: ONE: It combats menstrual pain, excessive white discharge and flatulence. TWO: The menstrual cycle is balanced through a regulation by this product. THREE: Some women take a long time to recover from the strains and rigours of pregnancy. Maharani is said to shorten recovery time. FOUR: Women cherish healthy, youthful, supple and radiant skin, Maharani is said to help them achieve them. FIVE: For women who have uterine challenges, including uterine fibroids and prolapsed uterus, it should be good news that Maharani helps strengthen, support and align the uterine wall. SIX: Also important for a woman’s fertility is healthy blood circulation. Many women sight heavy black cloths of blood in their menstrual blood. This is deoxygenated blood. It means the blood got “hooked” up in the uterus for longer than it should and lost its oxygen content. As fresh blood sluggishly comes to the uterus, oxygen and nutrient deliveries are delayed. This makes uterine cells sick, and germs take advantage of them. Any wonder then, that candida, bacteria, viruses etc are found in uterine fibroid tissue. Maharani literature says “it improves blood circulation prior to the menstrual cycle”. SEVEN: Every woman wishes to be fertile, for as long as possible. Female fertility involves many factors, including hormonal balance, clear and open fallopian tubes, healthy ovaries aid a functional uterus and cervix among others. It is not stated in the literature how Maharani helps with these. But there is no doubt that it has a positive impact on the ovaries, which are crucial for the attainment of these factors. EIGHT: For women whose tummies continue to bulge after child birth due to slack abdominal muscles, Maharani is presented as an agent which helps to “contract the uterine muscles after childbirth”. NINE: What are women without estrogen and progesterone, the two major female hormones? They give a woman her delicate curves, bosom breasts, supple skin and hair and skin and voice. When the hormones are out of balance, a woman’s health is jeopardised. Too much estrogen, for example, has been implicated in breast cancer, period pains, uterus fibroids, elevated blood prolactin levels, which cause nipple discharge and block the ovaries from producing and releasing eggs. If Maharani balances female hormones as promised in its literature, that should be great news for women beset with hormonal imbalance. I have no reason to doubt its capacity for this to call the hormones to order. For Maharani is a compendium of herbs targeted at female reproductive organs and fertility. If a woman who lived in the Shomolu area of Lagos a few years ago reads this, she should see herself in a mirror, and laugh. She was in her early thirties and had been married about three years without a child. She was not menstruating. She sought help for her menstrual cycle, and she was advised to try Maharani. She requested other hormone-balancing herbs as well, against advice. When her period came, it was in a flood and ran for more days than normal. The bleeding had to be stopped. Today she is a happier woman with fruits of the womb. TEN: What about menopausal women who suffer from hot flashes and other change of life- discomforts, including oesteoporosis? When hormones are not balanced, calcium does not fixed properly in the bones. Many women suffer from deposition of calcium in wrong places, including the joints (arthritis), shoulders (frozen shoulders), eye lens (cataracts) etc. Maharani is said to help this class of women as well. E live in an age of mycoplasma diseases. Going by the germ Bellaco Capsi theory of disease, we believe diseases are caused by germs. Therefore, mycoplasma disease would be a disease caused by myco (small germs) in the plasma.
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Biotrust
M
Blood plasma is a pale yellow fluid part of the blood, one of the functions of which is to hold blood cells (red or white) in the bloodstream. About 55 percent of the blood volume, blood plasma is, that part of fluid in blood vessels which can migrate outside the blood vessels to, again, form part of the extra cellular fluid, that is fluid outside the blood vessels (interstitial fluid) which surrounds the 100 trillion or, more cells in an average adult human body. Blood plasma is largely water in which are dissolved nutrients such as proteins, glucose, and clothing factor, electrolytes, hormones and antinutrients or wastes such as carbon dioxide. In interstitial fluid, plasma supports osmotic forces which send nutrients into the cells and bring out their wastes for evacuation. The plasma can be inhabited by mycoplasma and ureaplasma. Mycoplasma and ureaplasma belong to the family of smallest free living bacteria. They do not have cell walls and live inside the cells or in cultures outside of cells. This explains why organs of the body can become infected, especially by mycoplasma and ureaplasma (a cause of working pneumonia) if the blood plasma becomes infected by them. When I hear of conditions such as Polysystic Ovarian Syndrome (POS) for example, my mind immediately races to mycoplasma travelling through the blood to the interstitial (extra vascular) fluid into the cells of the ovaries where they can be reached by a special class of antibiotic and antiviral herbs. Some of the symptoms of mycoplasma and ureaplasma germs in the body may include discharge, burning, urinary urgency and pain. Laboratory tests fail to fish out the culprit. Germs are difficult and expensive, and only a few pharmaceutical antibiotics successfully deal with the germs. Even then, they may have to be taken for months. Patients may become tired of taking the medicines, thereby given the bacteria respite and increasing their leg room. About 16 species of mycoplasma have been identified. Three have been linked to human infections such as working pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, urinary and genital infections, including vaginitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and chronic diseases in people with weakened immunity. Some doctors believe that more than 50 percent of sexually active women are colonised by a specie called urealyticam, which they may pass on to the new babies. This should strike a note of warning to men who indulge in oral sex. According to a tropical plants data base authored by LESLIE TAYLOR, Bellaco Capsi... “...reduces pain, reduces inflammation, kills bacteria, kills fungi/candida, kills cancer cells, heal wounds, prevent ulcers, aids menstruation, cleans lymph glands, reduces fever, calms coughs, cleans blood and expels worms” Leslie taylor says different countries which are familiar with Bellaco Capsi use it for different purposes, although there are common uses. He says: “In Brazilian Herbal medicine, Bellaco Capsi is considered analgesic, anti-inflamatory, anti-tumoral, anti-fungi, anthelmintic, (against worms), aphrodisiac, emanogogue (menstrual stimulant), emollient, febrifuge (reduces fever) purgative, tonic, fermifuge (kills parasites) and vulnerary (heals wounds). Practitioners and herbalists in Brazil recommend it for lymphatic gland disease and inflammation, female disorder such as endometriosis, uterine fibroid, tumours, menstrual irregularities and pain, ovarian cyst and ovarian inflammation, cancerous tumours and skin cancers, digestion problems such as indigestion, stomach ache, bowel inflammation and gastric ulcer, general pain and inflammation (arthritis, rheumatism and fractures), cough fevers, headaches, asthma and other lung diseases and various skin issues such as wounds, ulcers, and rashes”. In Peru, Bellaco Capsi enjoys similar reputation. The Peruvians add hernias to the list. The guyaness add liver disorders to the lists. In 1998, Brazilian researchers reported that Bellaco Capsi bark exhibited greater antifungal effect than control drug that was used (Nistatin)”. In 2005, a Brazilian researcher suggested that Bellaco Capsi’s anti-asthma action may be due to its relaxation of smooth muscles.
e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com
R Yemi John, a safety engineer full of life and meticulous about naturalness in all things, deserves the credit for inviting my attention to BIOTRUST group of product. They’ve always been around us, but I’d always taken no more than a passing interest in them until I sighted them with this gentleman. In the BIOTRUST groups are such products as:•Biotrust low carb, a milk and whey protein in concentrate mixed with fibre and digestive enzymes including prohydrolase. Prohydrolase is believed to facilitate maximum delivery of protein to the muscles than other protein digestive enzymes. It is recommended that it be taken within ten minutes of mixing with water because prohydrolase immediately sets to work digesting the protein. •BCAA Matrix. The acronym means Branched Chain Amino Acids, since a few years ago become one of the latest words in natural medicine. With lots of leucine, an amino acid present in it, this products is suggested for dieters who do not wish to lose muscle mass while losing body fat to a sliming diet. This products pride itself as being better than other BCCA products because, as the producers say, it employs a three-pathway delivery system, instead of one in other products, to deliver nutrients to the muscles during a diet fast. It is said that, in other BCCAs, Leucine, Valine and Isoleucine occur in a 2:1:1 ratio. But in Biotrust’s BCCA Matrix, Leucine occurs in a 4:1:1 ratio to the other two because, says BIOTRUST, Leucine has been found by researchers to be the most anabolic amino acid. At this Leucine concentration, it is believed that this BCCA product can melt “Spot Specific belly fat” •IC-5. This is a blood sugar balancing supplement which is reported to stop insulin resistance. In insulin resistance, the cells shut their doors against insulin which, accordingly, cannot help sugar burning in the cells and, so, makes blood sugar concentrate in the bloodstream. Improved insulin sensitivity increases fat burning, decreases fat storage and supports blood sugar management. Some of the ingredients include known sugar burners such as (1) Cinnamon (2) Burmannii (3) Berberine (4) Pterocarpus Marsupium (5)Alpha Liopic Acid (ALA) •LEPTIN – BURN: Leptin is the dominant fat–burning hormone in the body. Many people have a deficiency of it or are resistant to insulin. To burn fat, high amounts of Leptin are required as are leptin receptors in the cells highly sensitive to Leptin. Leptin levels may drop by half within one week of a fat burning diet. This may be why many people return to status-quo-ante after ending a fat burning diet. In LEPTIN BURN, irvingia gabonensis increases leptin sensitivity while oleanotic acid increases leptin output and effectiveness. Brown sea wool extract also increases leptin production and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which increases body metabolism. There is also Panax Notog Inseng, which decreases appetite and improves leptin sensitivity. Yerba mate and Green tea extract compliments the ingredients to curb appetite and increase energy and alertness. Pro – X10 A few decades ago, the Royal College of Surgeons issued a health or death alert in which it said death begins slowly but surely in the intestines. The intestine of many people is rotten and a breeding ground for killer germs. Sometimes, these germs escape into the bloodstream from where they may colonise some organs, causing organ failures. BIOTRUST reminds us that about 80 percent of the immune cells in our bodies are resident in our intestine (gastro-intestinal system). The 25 feet long system houses about 100 trillion bacteria species. That, says BIOTRUST, is about ten times the number of cells in some human bodies. But the population of bacteria is not the crucial issue. The critical issue is how many of them are friendly bacteria, that is harmless bacteria, and how many, being unfriendly, are dangerous bacteria. The ideal ratio of good or bad bacteria is about 9:1, according to BIOTRUST. But unfortunately, many people have a much, lower ratio of good to bad bacteria. BIOTRUST says: “Due to lifestyle and environmental factors, the majority of the population is severely lacking when it comes to good probiotic bacteria. There are more than 200 studies linking inadequate probiotic levels to more than 170 diseases and health issues ranging from gut specific issues to mental health disorders to allergies to obesity. As you may have guessed gut health and the proper ratio of bacteria in the gut flora are extremely important for overall health and play a critical role in immune function, prevention of many diseases, and optimising body composition. In fact, research is now suggesting that supplementing with probiotic every single day is even more important to your health than taking a daily multivitamin”.
Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
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THE NATION
BUSINESS LABOUR
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Labour leaders to govt: leave Jega alone
TAKEHOLDERS in the labour movement have urged the Federal Government to allow the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, complete his tenure. They said his removal might plunge the nation into crisis. Speaking at a workshop organised in Lagos by the Centre for Labour Studies and Advocacy (CLASA) in conjunction with INEC, Executive Director and former General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr John Odah, said Professor Jega should be allowed to complete his tenure, which ends on June 23. The Labour leader explained that whenever politicians forment
Stories by Toba Agboola
trouble, the masses are always at the receiving end. “If at the last minute, the President wants to join those who want to commit illegality, this would dent his image. As of February 14, INEC was ready to conduct the election, but because of some connivance, it was shifted. Jega should be given the chance to conduct the election. Those who think they are in charge and want more international ridicule by calling for the removal of the man should desist from their schemes,” he said. Organised labour, he said, should be at the forefront of setting agenda to disallow politicians’ selfish interests in agenda
setting. The Director-General, Electoral Institute, Professor Abubakah Momoh, said INEC should be allowed to do its job, saying its responsibility is to make the votes of the people count. “Professor Jega wants to show the public that credible election is possible; so politicians should allow INEC to perform its role in the forthcoming election. The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is secure and will also prevent rigging,” he said. He continued: “If Jega is removed, there will be crisis of confidence in the forthcoming elections. Politicians do not want him because he is a man with integrity. President Jonathan chose him because of his pedigree and im-
peccable records. In his own (Jonathan’s) interest, he should not listen to politicians calling for Jega’s removal because it will affect his integrity.” Abubakar said there is no going back on the use of PVC, adding that anybody who does not want it has the intention of rigging the election. He said anybody that steals or sells PVC is just wasting his or her time, as only the owner of the card can use it. “There is no going back on the use of PVC because it has the highest security fortification. Some people that are saying we should go back to Temporary Voters Card (TVC) are not sincere because it will pave way for rigging. More
that 80 per cent of Nigerians have collected their PVCs and have returned the TVCs. Are you now saying we should go back to TVC?,” he asked. Abubakar called on Nigerians to rally round Professor Jega for him to carry out a credible election. According to him, INEC wants to lift the benchmark so that anybody coming to take over will not do anything less. “We want to show the world that it is possible to conduct a credible election in Nigeria. Politicians should allow us do our job,” he said, urging the electorates to be more careful in casting their votes. He said they should be at the voting centres in time and follow the rules guiding the voting process.
CANMPSSA diversifies into business • Foundation for N100m guest house laid
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• General Manager, Human Resources, WAPCO Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs Enitan Oyenuga (left) and Gafar at the event.
NECA urges NLC to redeem image
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HE re-scheduled Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) election should be about redeeming the image of the organised labour movement, DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Segun Oshinowo has said. “This time around they just have to get it right. What happened during the delegates conference recently in Abuja has really cast a lot of aspersion on the integrity of the organised labour,” he said. While noting that it was the first time organised labour would act in such a manner at any of their gatherings, Mr. Oshinowo de-
scribed the manner the NLC election ended as shameful, embarrassing, ridiculous and a dent on the image of the movement. He said: “What happened at the election eroded their moral credentials to condemn or commend what happens in the larger society, saying it was a minus.” The NECA boss, however, commended the members of the trade movement for rising in total condemnation of the act and their readiness to correct the anomaly. “I am happy that our colleagues on the other side have not spared themselves in condemning the shameful act, bearing in mind the
position of the NLC in the society,” he said. Oshinowo expressed displeasure over the ugly incidenct, which he said happened during the nation’s general election period. Besides, the Congress had, at the opening ceremony of the delegates conference, promised to use its election to serve as model for the nation’s politicians. It would be recalled that the NLC 11th delegate conference election held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, ended abruptly when pandemonium broke out due to some irregularities observed on the ballot papers.
‘Gender equality, women’s empowerment crucial ENDER equality and women for the rural poor. By providing techto UNIDO’ empowerment are crucial to nical assistance, UNIDO aims to
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the the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Director-General, LI Yong, has said Yong, who gave an address titled: “Advancing Gender Equality, Empowerment of Women and Girls for a Transformative post-2015 Development Agenda”, to mark the International Women’s Day. “Empowering women is empowering humanity. Gender equality and women’s empowerment is central to UNIDO’s work as it is not only a matter of human rights, but also a precondition for sustainable development and economic growth, which are drivers of poverty reduction and social integration. He said when women and men are equal, economies grow faster, more
people are lifted out of poverty and the overall well-being of societies is enhanced. “Central to UNIDO’s mission of inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) is the urgent need to harness the economic potential of women–half of the world’s population. Women are powerful drivers of ISID and their role is poised to become even greater in the future,” he said. Yong said women and girls make up 70 per cent of the world’s extreme poor, adding that out that, the majority lives in rural areas where communities are resource-poor and isolated, and most subsist on smallscale productive activities. “UNIDO helps develop competitive agro-industries in order to create jobs and sustainable livelihoods
strengthen agro-industrial capabilities and linkages to facilitate economic transformation in rural communities, particularly among women and youth. “For example, UNIDO provides rural women and men equal access to new agro-technologies and skills upgrading. Assistance is also provided for process optimisation, compliance with quality and environmental standards, and the identification of market opportunities,” he said. Yong said in addition to maximising entrepreneurial and economic opportunities for rural women, UNIDO targets sectors with a high potential for wealth creation, food security or export promotion.
ORKERS in the chemical sector of the economy have concluded plan to build a three-star guest house at the cost of N100 million. The workers, under the aegis of Chemical and Non Metallic Senior Staff Association (CANMPSSA), laid the foundation for the 38-room guest house at their secretariat in Sango Ota, Ogun State, as part of efforts to improve the capital base of the union. Its national president, Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, said the guest house is expected to offer the best in quality service and facility aimed at surpassing what apply in hotels abroad. “Those who will work in the hotel would be the best hands trained in hospitality industry and the facility on ground will be what is available in any standard three stars hotel,” he disclosed. He explained that the union was diversifying into business to enable it remain relevant in the face of the current economic challenges facing the organised private sector. According to him, the industrial sector of the economy, where the chemical sector operates, is worst hit by the prevailing economic hardship in the country and workers have always been the first to go in the option of cutting cost. Comrade Mohammed said: “Our membership and check-off dues have reduced drastically because of this. So, we felt if we can go into business, we will rely less on the check-off dues and the union can run smoothly without check-off
dues. Besides, we want to be self reliant and grow the union to be one of the best in the country without necessarily being at the mercy of the employers. With that we can fight any injustice from any employer.” Comrade Mohammed said the union would also spread its business tentacles into the stock market and farming, noting that such would generate more funds for the union and more employment for Nigerians. “It is our aim to complete the hotel within a year, and for a start, the hotel would provide jobs for about 25 Nigerians. This is a plus removing more Nigerians from the unemployment market in this era when unemployment is a bottle neck to our national growth”, he stated. The CANMPSSA boss said the hotel is being built through internally generated contributions from the members of the union, who share the dream and aspirations of the executives. He said the union has not received any support or contributions from any employers yet, though it has sent letters to them. He maintained that with or without contributions from outside, members have promised to ensure that the project is completed on time. “I think we have learned a lot; that we can achieve whatever we set our mind to do if we work as a team, and that is what our members have displayed within this short period that we took the decision to levy ourselves,” he said.
TUC supports strike by ASCSN
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HE Osun State Council of Trade Union Congress (TUC), has thrown its weight behind the proposed strike by its affiliate, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Osun Branch and the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Osogbo. Its Chairman, Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji, called on the public, particularly the media to disregard a contrary statement made by former Chairman of the Council, Oladele Francis Adetunji, he purportedly disassociating the Council from the said strike. He said in accordance with the TUC’s Constitution Adetunji ceased to be the Chairman of TUC Osun State Council consequent upon the expiration of his tenure and the subsequent election and inauguration of the present Execu-
tive Committee on March 6, last year, even though he has refused to come to terms with the transition that is sure to come. Adetunji, according to Comrade Olatunji, was not representing anybody but himself and his paymasters in the state, who are using him to undermine the legitimate interests of the working class. “Naturally his anti-union posture has rightfully caused him to be ostracised by all TUC members in the state and also earned him an indefinite suspension from the Congress by a resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC). “While we do not begrudge Adetunji on his solitary walk, we remind him and his ill-advised sponsors that he, who has no one following him, cannot validly call himself a leader. He is merely a man taking a stroll. Perhaps he will learn the lessons of the prodigal son and retrace his steps someday,” Olatunji said.
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BUSINESS INDUSTRY
industry@thenationaonlineng.net
Erratic power supply may soon be a thing of the past. A Chinese firm and two local investors are poised to inject $10 billion (about N1.99 trillion) into the manufacturing of lighting equipment and accessories to boost electricity supply. The investment may be the wedge for solar energy adaptation in the country, Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports.
•Minister of Power Prof. Nebo
•Saka-Shenayon
• Xoaohua
• Sebbs Azubuike
$10b investment: Will it boost power supply? N
IGERIANS may soonn start enjoying regular power supploy, following plans by a Chinese firm and its local partners to invest $10 billion (about N1.99 trillion) on energy. Under the deal HongyeSinari Group, Niger-Sino Industries Limited and Hamaded Logistics will build a solar energy accessories’plant. When operational, the plant would serve industrial and housing estates, schools, hospitals and malls, Director, Energy Generation, Hongye-Sinari Group, Mr. Xu Rongchang said. He explained that the investment would lift the country out of its power problems Noting that Nigeria has enormous potential that needs to be harnessed, Rongchang said what the country needed at the moment are products capable of reducing energy consumption, such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) products and other high quality electrical materials that comply with global standards. With their eyes set on playing a significant role in the energy sector, he said the companies specialize in the manufacture of lighting equipment and accessories; solar energy. Shedding more light on areas of investment by the Chinese firm, the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. David Yang Xoaohua, said the company is also into the manufacture of agricultural equipment, which it also believes will be a good start, especially in the light of the agriculture revolution in the country. Xoaohua, while addressing members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Lagos, dur-
ing the week, said the company would also invest in construction. He said the company is one of the biggest players in real estate in China. “We have developed an industrial park worth $15 million and our corporate head quarters is on 8,000 square metres,” he added. Stating that the company has branches in over 100 countries with over 5,000 workforce, and investible fund of over $10 billion, Xoaohua said with such enormous funds, the company needed to have clear rules of engagement, an enabling environment and a good legal framework that protects investors and investment. He told the OPS members that his firm was in the country to ascertain the level of security and safety of lives and investments, adding that, fortunately, his team has confirmed that the country’s challenges are over blown as they can be surmounted with the right investment policy. The leader of the Chinese delegation said after a careful study, the firm came to the conclusion that Nigeria, being the largest economy in Africa, remains the best place to invest with high returns on investment. Indeed, since the rebasing of the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which put Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy with GDP size of $500 billion, coupled with her population size of about 170 million, Nigeria has been the toast of foreign investors, despite serious infrastructure and security challenges. Despite the challenges, Xoaohua believes that with a level playing ground by the government and other necessary agencies, the partnership would thrive and create a mutuallybeneficial business for the country. “Our aim is to help the nation in the areas of infrastructure development and the mechanization of its manufacturing process, develop the energy sector to boost manufacturing and other forms of businesses. It’s a win-win situation as it provides opportunity for massive employment generation. This is one area we learnt the government is working hard to bridge. There will be no case of dumping of fake and substandard goods as we will set up our manufacturing plant,” he added. The Managing Director of Niger Sino Industries Limited, a building and construction manufacturing company in Maryland, Lagos and a former
commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Olanrewaju SakaShenayon, assured the Chinese investors that the government would provide a level playing ground. He said the government expects any investor to play by the rules. Saka-Shenayon, who was instrumental to the tripartite agreement, said having been in government he appreciates the role private sector operators can play in enterprise and infrastructure development. He gave Hongye-Sinari Group a clean bill, noting that it is a strong brand in China and in the over 100 countries it operates. He said this was what spurred him to invite the group to Nigeria. He stated that there is no better time for the Chinese investor to invest in the country than now, especially with its core competencies in manufacturing and real estate, which are huge job creators. Saka-Shenayon hailed the synergy between the Chinese company and the local investors as one that would not only transfer technology but build skills, create wealth and grow the nation’s GDP. Besides, the synergy, he said, would further build and reenforce Nigeria’s profile as Africa’s largest economy. He pledged the cooperation of
‘Our aim is to help the nation in the areas of infrastructure development and the mechanization of its manufacturing process, develop the energy sector to boost manufacturing and other forms of businesses. It’s a win-win situation as it provides opportunity for massive employment generation’
the OPS, noting that with the huge funds the investor is bringing into the country, the nation will be better for it. Managing Director, Hemadeb Logistics Limited, Mr. Olatunde Akin Bohun, said as a real estate developer in the Lekki/Ajah axis, he is excited about the coming of the Chinese investors because of the expertise and investible funds they are bringing into the sector. He said: “We have a 100 acres real estate development deal with Exxon Mobil and real estate partnership development agreement with some state governments in the Southwest on housing development that will be powered with solar energy. This makes our partnership with the Chinese firm a plus. Currently, we are also developing a five-star hotel on the Lekki/Ajah axis, the medical college of Afe Babalola University worth $10 million including a 140 mega watts plant in some Southwest states.” Pointing out that some of the challenges faced by indigenous investors in real estate are high cost of funds and fund mismatch, Bohun as mutually benefiting to parties in the tripartite agreement. Others at the event seen by not a few stakeholders as an endorsement of the investment deal included Chairman, Nigerian/China Business Association in China, Mr. Sebbs .P.C. Azubuike, Mr. Akin Abiola and engineer and the Executive Chairman, PEC Estates & Construction services Limited, Mr. Henry Adjbrope and Mr. Olaniyi Taiwo of Hemadeb Logistics Limited.
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INDUSTRY
LCCI opposes bill on firms’ compulsory listing S HOULD companies with shareholders funds and yearly turnover, exceeding N40 billion and N80 billion become Public Liability Comapnies (PLCs) listed on the Stock Exchange? No, says the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which is opposing the Private Companies Conversion and Ling Bill 2013 now before the National Assembly. The bill is seeking to compel vibrant firms to become PLC’s and listed on the exchange. Instead, the Chamber is advocating the creation of an incentive regime that would encourage voluntary listing on the exchange. It asked the National Assembly to discard the Bill and take steps to amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2004. In a communiqué signed by its Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, after a stakeholders meeting to discuss the Bill, LCCI noted that the Private Companies’ Conversion and Listing Bill 2013 contravenes the provisions of existing laws in Nigeria, which encourages the right to own property, movable or immovable, as well as the right against expropriation of private property as contemplated by sections 44 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 25 of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, 2004, respectively. Quoting section 25 (1) (b) of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, CAP. NI17 LFN, 2004, LCCI said it categorically provides that “No person who
By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Assist. Editor
owns, whether wholly or in part, the capital of any company shall be compelled by law to surrender his interest in the capital to any other person.” The statement said the Bill which did not emphasise the need to amend the ‘out-of-tune-withreality’ CAMA, which was enacted in 1968 but last amended in 1990 without recourse to the new ways of doing business is a minus. It further stated that the Bill serves as a disincentive to entrepreneurship and foreign investment, which the government has continually advocated as a means of creating employment for the teeming unemployed youths and reducing poverty. In addition, the Bill, LCCI said, is replete with bad draftmanship. It noted, for instance, that the Bill adopts a definition of a private company under the (CAMA), but goes further to extend the definition to cover “any body corporate, firm or partnership or any entity that participates in the sectors contemplated” in the Act. He said the inclusion of firms and partnership in the definition is curious as one wonders if the Bill expects the qualifying professional firms to equally go public and be listed on the floor of the stock exchange. Equally worrisome is the use of the phrase “public liability company” throughout the Bill. LCCI argued that the phrase is not defined in the Bill and CAMA uses no such phrase. “The term used in CAMA is
“public limited company”. The phrase “anybody corporate” could also mean that the Bill covers State owned corporate bodies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “ the statement said. Yusuf argued that in the face of falling oil prices and the need for government to generate more revenue from taxes, the tax reliefs proposed by the Bill to companies that comply with its mandatory conversion and listing requirements is not desirous at this critical moment, especially in view of the fact that the companies that would benefit from the relief constitute about 32 per cent of diligent tax payers in the country. He further argued that the Bill signifies a drastic shift in Nigeria’s policy on foreign direct investment. He stressed that a lot of companies have come into Nigeria on the belief that Nigeria operates a free enterprise system that guarantees them the right to
own and repatriate their hard earned funds. To him, the Bill negates this concept of free enterprise in Nigeria and has the undesirable consequence of constituting a disincentive to foreign investment in Nigeria. He therefore, called for its rejection in its entirety, insisting that the Bill, which is currently before the House of Representatives and has scaled second reading should not be allowed to see the light of day. Prior to this time, LCCI had on January 27, 2015 organised a Stakeholder’s forum to discuss the Bill. The forum was attended by representatives of NSE and the private sector, including the multinational companies. At the end of the forum, representatives of NSE agreed to the tenets of the Bill, but not in its current form. The NSE therefore, sent representations to the National Assembly as to what they think the Bill should contain. However, representatives of the private companies, the multinationals and other stakeholders present would have none of that. They were unanimous
in rejecting the Bill in its entirety. The controversial was sponsored by Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market Institutions, Honourable Chris Emeka Azubogu. The Bill, when passed into law, will compel a private company that falls into the category to, within 12 months from the commencement of the bill, take all necessary steps to convert from a private limited liability company to a public company within the provisions of the CAMA. Such a company shall, within 12 months from the date of conversion, take all necessary steps to list its shares on a stock market for brokerage. A private liability company, which the provision of the bill applies, shall maintain or cause to be maintained proper accounts and records to enable fair view to be formed of its assets, liabilities, income and expenditure. The hope was that the bill would deepen the capital market and also boost the economy, a position now being hotly contested by the LCCI.
ICRC decries dominance of foreign experts in project structuring
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HE dominance of foreign experts is responsible for the low local capacity in project transaction structuring in Nigeria, Acting Head of Communications, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mrs Deborah Okafor, has said. In a statement signed by Mrs Okafor in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she said the Director General of ICRC, Aminu Dikko, made the statement at the first quarter 2015 meeting of the Public Private Partnership Units Consultative Forum (3PUCF). Represented by Dr. Chidi Izuwah, Director of PPP, the DG said that effort must gear towards encouraging local experts. The 3PUCF is a brain child of the ICRC and it provides a platform for Heads of PPP Units in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to share knowledge and experience. It also ensures synergy in efforts towards institutionalising the Federal Government’s PPP Programme. Principal Private Sector Specialist,
African Development Nigeria Field Office, Mr. Emmanuael Akinwunmi, said that the idea of regional PPP hub was to stimulate more private sector led intervention in the region. According to him, the challenge in accessing project finance in the country is usually due to shortage of integrity and ideas rather than lack of money. He said that opportunities were available within African Development Bank (AfDB) to both public and private sector agencies in the areas of funding for project structuring, execution and capacity building. Mr. Nurudeen Lawal, from the National Planning Commission, emphasised the importance of the roles of MDA’s in ensuring the successful implementation of the National Infrastructure master plan. Representative of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Abubakar Yarima, identified legislation as one of the bottlenecks to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in some sectors, particularly rail and power sector. He called for a review of existing laws in these sectors.
• From left: Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Paul Obanua,Group Managing Director, Greenfield Assets Limited, and Giandomenico Massari, Vice President, NSE during the inspection tour of Aba PHOTO: UDO OGBONNA Mega Mall in Aba.
Nigeria gains N777b from agric interventions
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IGERIA recorded N777 billion as income from various intervention programmes in the agricultural sector in 2014, Minister of Agriculture Mr. Akinwumi Adesina has said. He spoke during the week in Abuja while briefing members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture on the performance of the ministry’s budget in 2014. The Minister said the money
U.S to boost Nigeria’s food safety, export
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IGERIA’S effort to improve food safety and boost the export market is to enjoy the support of the U.S. Government through its Agency for International Development (USAID). A statement issued by the U.S. Embassy said the support aimed to drastically reduce food-borne and food-related illnesses in Nigeria. The statement said USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture had been working with the Nigerian food industry since 2013 to revise the national food policy. “Since 2013, the U.S. Government, through USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has worked with Nigerian food industry stakeholders in the public and private sectors, and with development partners.
“The aim is to revise the national food policy and develop an implementation strategy. These efforts have laid the foundation for the work of the recently inaugurated committees charged with ensuring that food safety systems in Nigeria are on par with international best practices,” the statement said. It said the interventions supported by the U.S. Government would improve food safety, thereby helping Nigerians avoid food-borne and food-related illnesses. According to the U.S. Government, additional support to the ‘farm to table’ food production and processing value chain will ensure that Nigeria’s agricultural exports conform to international standards and food safety
requirements. It said the ‘farm to table’ programme would also create more profitable agricultural entities and contribute to the diversification of the Nigerian economy. The statement said that a four-day national training on food safety, supported by the United States Government, was ongoing in Abuja.The training was organised in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The statement quoted the USAID Mission Director in Nigeria, Dr Michael Harvey, as saying that the training is part of the U.S. Government’s long-term effort to support the National Food Safety
went to the rural economy as many local farmers benefitted from the interventions and were currently performing well in their farms. Adesina, who also defended the ministry’s 2015 budget before the committee, announced a crop insurance for farmers in the country. He said that no fewer than five million farmers would benefit from the programme, explaining that it was intended to build the confidence of farmers and encourage more people to farm. “The main economic value of all the interventions that were done on rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, soy beans, cassava and others added N777 billion worth of income back into our rural economy. “This has helped to create significant amount of wealth for our farmers in the country. As you know, we added about 21 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic food supply and that goes all over from rice to maize, cassava, sorghum, and to soy beans. All of that has added an average of N777 billion of revenue back into the economy; that is money going back into the hands of farmers and communities,’’ he said. The minister stated that anybody that goes into many parts of Nigeria today, particularly the north, and particularly for rice farmers, for
example, will notice that those that actually pay first to buy tickets to go to Mecca are rice farmers. “That tells you how much things have changed for them; we have been able to create significant amount of wealth across the country from agriculture,’’ he added. Adesina disclosed that the agriculture sector witnessed a revolution in maize in 2014 with 14.9 million metric tonnes production from nine million metric tonnes recorded in 2009. Similarly, the wheat industry witnessed a revolution with new varieties that yielded an average of six tonnes per hectare of land with 240,000 metric tonnes produced in 2014 on a 75,000-hectare. He said that the ministry had also liberalized the insurance market and opened it up for private sector companies to invest in insuring farmers, adding that the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) had been completely revamped. “NAIC is now offering a new product which is called ’Planting with Peace’ so that our farmers will have access to crop insurance. We are hoping to reach about five million farmers by this year and then we can scale it up; it is a very important issue for us,’’ he said.
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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-03-15
Africa Prudential Registrars to pay N700m dividend
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FRICA Prudential Reg istrars (APR) Plc, the only publicly quoted share registration in Nigeria, would be distributing N700 million to shareholders as cash dividends for the immediate past business year. The board of directors of APR yesterday stated that it has recommended payment of a dividend per share of 35 kobo on every ordinary share of 50 kobo each, indicating gross dividend payout of N700 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The dividend is expected to be approved at the annual general meeting of the company scheduled for April 8, 2015 and will become payable on April 10, 2015 to shareholders on the register of the company as at March 17, 2015. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the company showed steady growths in all key performance indicators. Gross earnings rose from N1.85 billion in 2013 to N2.11 billion in 2014. Profit before tax also
•Profit-taking halts equities’ rally By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor
rose from N1.21 billion to N1.30 billion. After taxes, net profit stood at N1.22 billion in 2014 as against N914.46 million in 2013. Earnings per share showed corresponding increase from 46 kobo in 2013 to 61 kobo in 2014. The balance sheet of the company also showed appreciable improvement. Total assets closed 2014 at N18.91 billion compared with N16.42 billion in 2013. Total liabilities meanwhile rose from N12.09 billion to N14.38 billion. Shareholders’ funds increased marginally from N4.33 billion to N4.53 billion. Meanwhile, Nigerian equities slowed down yesterday as profit-taking transactions by investors seeking to cash in on recent capital gains overturned the recent bullish rally. The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), indicated negative av-
erage return of -1.55 per cent. It closed at 30,869.17 points as against its opening index of 31,355.28 points. With this, average year-to-date return built up to -10.93 per cent. With 30 losers to 19 gainers, aggregate market value of all quoted equities dropped from N10.463 trillion to N10.301 trillion. Forte Oil topped the losers’ list with a loss of N10.14 to close at N192.86. Nigerian Breweries dropped by N7.04 to close at N140.06 while Conoil lost N1.50 to close at N34. On the upside, Ashaka Cement led the gainers with a gain of 89 kobo to close at N18.79. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc followed with a gain of 47 kobo to close at N18.30 while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria added 30 kobo to close at N11.80 per share. Total turnover stood at 519 million shares valued at N3.86 billion in 5,474 deals.
DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-03-15
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MONEYLINK Stanbic IBTC Bank takes SME capacity building to Ibadan
CBN to sanction exporters not repatriating dollars
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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele has said the apex bank will enforce the repatriation of dollar-proceeds from exports, even as it plans impose sanctions against those not complying. The CBN boss said much of the pressure on the naira over the past year was due to activity of importers and exporters, the former frontloading purchases of hard currency while the latter were hoarding their overseas cash earnings. The policy is expected to help protect the naira and boost the economy, badly affected by a steep drop in oil prices and political uncertainty over a closely fought and delayed election. The turmoil has seen the local currency lose more than 20 per cent against the dollar since the middle of last year, breaking through the
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Stories by Collins Nweze
important N200 per dollar level last month. In February, the central bank introduced trading rules under which banks will be able to purchase foreign exchange only if they have a prior order from a corporate customer, such as a fuel importer or foreign mobile phone company looking to repatriate profits or dividends. Now, policy makers are looking at exporters to ensure hard currency liquidity within Nigeria, pondering sanctions against exporters who fail to repatriate proceeds and channel them back into the official market within the stipulated 90-day limit, Emefiele said. “If you refuse to sell your export proceeds that you repatriate in the foreign exchange market, we will ban you from accessing foreign exchange in the Nigerian foreign ex-
•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele change market,” Emefiele told Reuters. The CBN boss also said defaulters to the policy will also be denied access to credit. “Another thing we will do is that we will ask the banks not to loan money to them (exporters who don’t repatriate hard cash on time),” he said, saying the measure would come into effect soon, but declining to give a date.
ANAN urges accountants to be IFRS-compliant
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HE President of Association of National Accountants of Nige ria (ANAN), Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode has called on accountants to update themselves on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) principles. Speaking at the first session of the Association’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) held in Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, the ANAN boss said the group has put in place training programmes for members to learn the rudiments of new reporting standards and members should take advantage of the seminars and Online IPSAS Certification.
He explained that the MCPD programme is a continuous retraining programme for members of the Association aimed at enhancing their service delivery to their employers and also a key requirement of IFAC. “It is rotated among the six geo-political zones of the country every year, thereby, affording members the opportunity to appreciate other parts of the country,” he said. He added that the Governing Council of the association had given approval for the opening of Outreach Campuses of the Nigerian College of Accountancy in the six geo-political zones of the country. Labode also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take steps to stem naira’s decline by introducing measures that would bring about stabil-
ity in the currency. He said the dwindling naira rate could be attributed to the slide in oil prices. “Crude oil as we know, accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings and 70 per cent of government’s revenue The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who declared the programme open, urged ANAN to establish an accounting laboratory in Ekiti State University (EKSU). Fayose, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, said this would enable accounting students, accountants and other allied professionals to take advantage of the laboratory. He also called for the establishment of an outreach centre of the ANAN College of Accountancy, Jos, in Ekiti State.
HE nationwide effort by Stanbic IBTC Bank to help build a vibrant small and medium scale enterprises sector in Nigeria was taken to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, recently where over 500 participants converged at the Ibadan Civic Centre for the one-day capacity building workshop. A similar session held in Lagos on February 11-12, while others are planned for Port Harcourt, Aba, Abuja and Kano, among other cities spread across the six geo-political zones in the country. At the workshop, the bank reiterated that the key objective of the workshop is to equip its clients operating in the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) sub-sector with financial, marketing and management skills that they can readily deploy to nurture and grow their businesses.
“The SME sector is pivotal to the economic growth and development of any nation and Nigeria is no exception, which is why the seminar was conceived to avail SME operators exposure to modern and innovative marketing, financial and management skills that are useful to their businesses and which will help them to attract the necessary funding for growth,” Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue, said. Abajue, who was represented by the Regional Head, SME, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Tayo Adediran, stated that Stanbic IBTC Bank, backed by the rich heritage and know-how of the Standard Bank Group, is committed to building a strong SME base in Nigeria and one of the ways it hopes to achieve this is by empowering operators with the right business skills and adequate funding.
First City Asset Mgt assures investors
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IRST City Asset Management (FCAM) Limited has assured investors that it will continue to offer opportunities for diversification across asset classes, currencies and markets. The firm said it will continue to emphasise both safety and relatively good returns, in its investment strategies. This, the company said, is in line with its mission to provide world-class wealth and investment management services to investors, while enhancing value to its stakeholders. First City Asset Management is a subsidiary of CSL Stockbrokers Limited, which is a member of FCMB Group Plc offers investment capabilities across all major asset classes for private clients, financial intermediaries and institutional investors around the world. The Managing Director of CSL Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Olugboyega Balogun, explained that the introduction of these innovative products into the market is quite timely and could not have come at a better time especially given the current economic reality. “Existing investors as well as new ones are earnestly craving for viable solutions and channels to grow funds for a secure future and our value propositions are poised to address these challenges and provide sustainable results.” “We are determined to achieve our vision of becoming the premier asset management company of African origin. Therefore, we place emphasis on the quality and range of our products and services. Our investment solutions are centred on our clients”, Mr Balogun stated.
MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND
126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.29 1.32 0.95 1.17
125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.28 1.32 0.93 1.17
UBCAP CAVERTON ASHAKACEM TRANSCORP CUSTODYINS NEM FIDELITYBK MAYBAKER UBA FCMB
O/PRICE 1.58 2.81 17.90 2.86 3.80 0.64 1.51 1.59 4.07 2.55
C/PRICE 1.73 2.95 18.79 3.00 3.98 0.67 1.58 1.66 4.23 2.65
CHANGE 0.15 0.14 0.89 0.14 0.18 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.16 0.10
LOSERS AS AT 11-03-15
SYMBOL
O/PRICE
HONYFLOUR 2.80 FO 203.00 NCR 12.83 UBN 11.05 GUARANTY 25.50 ZENITHBANK 21.75 PORTPAINT 3.82 INTBREW 18.95 DIAMONDBNK 4.48 SKYEBANK 2.49 STANBIC 28.00
C/PRICE 2.66 192.86 12.19 10.50 24.23 20.67 3.63 18.01 4.26 2.37 26.65
FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 23, 2015
Inflation: January
8.2%
Monetary Policy Rate
13.0%
Foreign Reserves
CHANGE -0.14 -10.14 -0.64 -0.55 -1.27 -1.08 -0.19 -0.94 -0.22 -0.12 -1.35
Interbank ($/N)
199.00
$1
Black Market ($/N)
215.00
$1
$33.2b
London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)
$60.91
Money Supply (M2)
GAINERS AS AT 11-03-15
SYMBOL
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
N16.42 trillion.
Credit to private Sector (CPS)
N17.2 trillion
Primary Lending Rate (PLR)
16.5%
Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months
19 Feb
20 Feb
Rate)%
Rate (%)
0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709
0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744
Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)
Tenor
12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15
Overnight (O/N)
14.683
76.583
1M
15.033
15.977
3M
15.809
17.177
6M
16.493
17.908
Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014
Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m
Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m
Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)
19 Feb 29,282.04 9,770.36 3,385 564,28 6,087.80
20 Feb 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66
GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET
Tenor
Feb. 13, 2015
Rates
T-bills - 91
12.44
T-bills - 182
13.85
T-bills - 364
13.92
Bond - 3yrs
15.92
Bond - 5yrs
17.22
Bond - 7yrs
16.59
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
56
SHOWBIZ
National Theatre boss hails AMVCA winners
KWASU establishes Centre for Nollywood Studies
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•Appoints McCain as Ag. Director
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HE Kwara State University (KWASU) has established the Centre for Nollywood Studies that will be headed by American scholar cum Hausa film critic, Dr Carmen McCain. The establishment of the centre, according to KWASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, is in line with the institution’s commitment to pioneering an internationally recognised research centre for Nollywood and Cinema Studies in Nigeria. He made the disclosure at a three-day conference of playwrights, convened by erudite playwright and scholar, Femi Osofisan, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. “Aside from the Film Village that we have already established, we have established the Centre for Nollywood Studies because we believe that Nollywood
By Evelyn Osagie
is so important. We want to shape Nollywood to become the pride of the nation and provide an environment where film production will thrive,”he said. To accomplish the set goals, Prof. Na’Allah said, Dr McCain of KWASU School of Visual and Performing Arts, has been appointed the acting Director of the centre. The appointment, he said has been approved with immediate effect, adding that it is sequel to the success of the committee, which was earlier inaugurated by him, to see to the establishment of the centre at the institution. According to a letter signed by the Registrar, Mr Surajudeen Oyebode, Dr McCain, who also lectures at the Department of English, “is expected to work with notable scholars locally and
Funke 77 set to drop I Have a Cellular
• Dr. Carmen McCain
internationally to set up the centre as a globally recognised research destination for Nollywood and cinema studies,” adding that the appointee also “has a mandate to create and administer the KWASU Film Archive; develop and manage the centre, in collaboration with the University Library, the KWASU Film
• Funke
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I Have a Cellular, which is produced by Michael Adedugbagbe, also known as Say Yes, at Femopal Studio,
Angie Stone arrested for hitting daughter
Lagos, contains such tracks as: Ijinle Ife, Temiyemi, I Have A Cellular, O Tobi Loba and Praise, a medley.
• Angie Stone
maker Kunle Afolayan whose October 1 movie clinched nine laurels, including Best Director, Best Movie, Best Costume, Best Lighting Design, Best Actress in a Drama and Best in Art Direction out of the 13 nominations it got.
• Markus Ishaya
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OMING on the heels of the successful premiere of his new video, 1 Pound, which held last Friday, March 6, soul singer, Brymo, took to his Twitter account, Sunday. Thanking his former label mates; M.I, Ice Prince and Jesse Jagz for the roles they played in his career. The artiste also took time to thank his former record label, Chocolate City. “#BrymoRemembers chocolate city, I was on my way to something, they gave me a ride to destiny... Forever grateful,” he tweeted. Brymo further thanked M.I for inspiring him. “#BrymoRemembers M.I Abaga, he told me that the son of anyone can become someone.#BrymoRemembersJagz, he said your roots are better for you, now sing the tune,” he tweeted about his former label mates. He also spoke about Ice Prince’s role in his life. “#BrymoRemembers Ice Prince, his friendship revealed my path, I am grateful,” he said. Brymo left Chocolate City 2013 and was involved in a
• Brymo
By Ovwe Medeme
legal battle with the imprint.The video for his
track, 1 Pound was directed by St. Immaculate and it is off his last album, Tabula Rasa.
The ‘Truth’ behind Phone Swap, The Meeting songs
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HREE-time Grammy nominee, Angie Stone, was on Monday arrested by the police for hitting her daughter, Diamond, so hard two teeth flew off. But the R&B singer claimed it happened in self-defense. The singer was however booked by the police for domestic aggravated assault. Angie, 53, told the police her daughter, 30, punched her in the face and she defended herself with a metal stand, but accidentally hit Diamond in the face, knocking out her front teeth. TMZ reported that the singer also confessed that she tried to flee after realising her mistake, but added that Diamond came after her again, before a family friend eventually broke up the fight. Diamond told police the argument started when Angie complained she didn’t clean up, after taking care of her children, who all live with the singer.
By Joe Agbro Jr
Brymo at peace with former label, artistes
By Ovwe Medeme
AST-rising gospel musician, Evang. Funke Olaniyi, a.k.a. Funke 77, is set to release her sophomore album titled I Have a Cellular, following her 2008 hit debut album, Olorun Oro ( God of The Word). Funke 77, daughter of the late Taiwo Olaniyi Atoyeje, alias Twin 77, said she returned to Nigeria in order to record and drop the album alongside its video. According to the U.S.-based Nigerian singer, the album will be released to commemorate this year’s Easter celebration. Funke 77, also a practising nurse in the U.S., started out as a dancer in her late father’s band and later as a chorister in the Living Christ Evangelism Ministry (LICEM), Egbe Alayo Parish, Osogbo, Osun State. She is also the Choir Mistress at the CAC, God of Elijah Parish, Dallas, America.
Archive. She is also expected to host visiting research fellows, conferences and seminars; and conduct studies, educate and publish cinema materials, among others.” According to the Registrar, “The appointment is in recognition of Dr McCain’s exemplary accomplishments and wealth of experience in the film industry”.
O many people were enthralled by the artistry of some filmmakers, which earned them laurels at the just-concluded Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA). One of them is the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria, Chief Ishaya Markus, who expressed hope that the achievement the filmmakers recorded will encourage Nigerian youths to pursue a career in the Nigerian film and entertainment industry. In a statement made available to the media, Markus congratulated all the nominees and winners at the awards show. The glamorous event held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday, attracting a large crowd of celebrities, motion picture practitioners and captains of industry. The National Theatre boss congratulated Mr. Steve Gukas from Plateau State, whose movie; A Place in the Stars was adjudged Best Movie (Drama). He also praised the ingenuity of film-
Diamond was also taken into custody, but eventually released without being charged.
USIC producer and audio engineer, Michael Ogunlade, aka Truth, is living the tenet of Star Wars franchise producer, George Lucas, who once said: “Sound is 50 percent of the movie going experience.” Interestingly, this young Nigerian is the secret behind the success of the theme song and scoring of Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap and Mildred Okwo and Rita Dominic’s The Meeting, both films nominated for best soundtrack at the NMA 2014. According to Truth, “Regardless of the appreciable growth of the film industry in Nigeria, the area of music and sound is still very much a big challenge for filmmakers, many of whom now aspire to have their movies in the cinemas and International film festivals, but either completely fail to qualify, or do not have as much strength in this area of music and sound as their Hollywood contenders.” With a distinct feel of classic afro-centrism, this musical impression from Truth continues to make waves in the movie industry, giving verve to some of the movies on award charts. Such works include The Young Smoker by Tope Ogun for Best Sound at the In-Short International Film Festival, Render to Ceaser for Best Soundtrack and Best Sound Design at the NMA 2014 and Best Sound Editing at the just-concluded AMVCA 2015.
• Truth
THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
57
NEWS Impeachment: ‘No PDP lawmaker withdrew’ From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki
THE leadership of Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday debunked the report that seven members withdrew from the impeachment plot against Governor Martin Elechi. In a statement by the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku, the leadership insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were united, adding that no conspiracy or mischief would deter them from carrying out their constitutional roles The statement reads: “We wish to reassure the indigenes that the PDP members in the House are united. People should disregard the publication and rumours that seven members withdrew from the constitutional exercise of the Assembly. “We, the PDP members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, do state that we are committed in our constitutional roles for good governance, rule of law, the well being of our people, respect for the dignity of man and separation of power among the three arms. “The assignment we have embarked on is not self serving, but to protect our state to reduce impoverishment in the midst of plenty.” The Minority Leader, Enyi C. Enyi, told reporters on Tuesday that seven lawmakers withdrew from the impeachment plot against Governor Elechi.
Tax forgery: Court adjourns till March 23 By Our reporter
A SUIT on tax forgery instituted by Chief Friday Nwosu, an Abia State chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has been adjourned till March 23. The suit, which was originally before Justice A.R. Mohammed sitting at the Federal High Court, Abuja, was on March 5, when it came up for hearing, ordered by the judge to be transferred to the Federal High Court, Umuahia for easier and accelerated hearing. At Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Olagunju ordered fresh services on the defendants. The court ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP should be served twice in their Abuja and Umuahia offices, while the third and fourth defendants, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, are to be served in their offices as well as PDP office in Umuahia. “The services should be effected through courier services.” Nwosu, last year through his counsel, Tawo E. Tawo, SAN, instituted a legal action seeking the disqualification of the PDP governorship candidate for alleged tax forgery.
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20-year-old girl, Miss Mercy Elom, was yesterday burnt to death as a mysterious fire gutted 68 rooms in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. She was among the candidates, who wrote this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The deceased was an ICT apprentice at Pastoral Centre, a foremost ICT centre in the town. The fire, which started about 1am, occurred at 40, Igwe Liga Street, Mile 50, Abakaliki. The house has over 100 rooms. Miss Elom, who hailed from Onuenyim Agbaja in Izzi Local Government, squatted with her friend, who had travelled. Items worth millions of naira were destroyed. They included motorcycles, tricycles, documents, refrigerators and other electrical appliances. One of the victims, whose father is the owner of the house, Elias Igwe, said he was sleeping when noise from residents about the inferno woke
Jega to RECs: remain focused on elections From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
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HE Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has urged Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to remain focus, ahead of the general elections. Jega, who spoke at a meeting called to review the commission’s preparedness towards the elections, urged the RECS not to be distracted in delivering credible elections. The electoral body has fixed March 28 and April 11 for the national and states elections. He said: “There are a lot of things to distract us, but we need to remain focus and resilient. “We have to remain focus to do everything possible to ensure that the elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11 are more better than 2011 election and the subsequent byeelections conducted since 2011. “We need to continue to engage all stakeholders to inform and carry them along because the support of everybody is necessary to have the best election that Nigerians want.” The meeting with the RECs, according to Jega, was important as it afforded the commission to review its preparations for the elections. He said: “Today’s meeting, we will review outstanding matters relating to the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), relocation of polling units and field testing of the card readers, which was held on Saturday.
Baptists’ quarterly assembly
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HE first quarterly assembly of the Itesiwaju Baptist Association holds on Saturday at First Baptist Church, 12, Oremerin Street, Itire, Lagos from 9am. It is a prayer session, which will be presided over by the Moderator, Rev. Gbenga Ojo of Araba Baptist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos and Consultant, Rev. Adenrele Philip Oyeyemi of First Baptist Church, Itire, Lagos.
One killed as fire guts 68 rooms in Ebonyi
•Tenants lamenting their loss From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki
him up. He said: “People were shouting fire, fire. This woke me up. I came downstairs and saw everywhere engulfed by
fire. We tried to put it out, but we were helpless because it overpowered us. I contacted the state fire service with the help of the Divisional Police Officer, Kpirikpiri, but the bad road leading to our house af-
fected their movement. Before they arrived, the fire had gutted about 50 rooms.” While some of the tenants salvaged a few of their property, others were not so lucky, especially the health workers
and security officers, who were on night duty. One of the tenants, Mr. Aleke Celestine, lamented the loss of his vital documents. He appealed to the government to assist them.
•The celebrator cum Executive Secretary, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu (second right); her counterpart from Oriade Local Council Development Area, Bola BadmusOlujobi; Council Manager Segun Ajayi (right) and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Amuwo Odofin Branch, Comrade Tope Lawal, during Deaconess AjibolaOjodu’s 70th birthday in FESTAC Town, Lagos.
‘Fani-Kayode, Adeyeye are political liabilities’
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HE Lagos State Office of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation yesterday took a swipe on the trio of the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Mr. Fami Fani-Kayode, Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and the PPD spokesman in Lagos, Taofeek Gani. It berated the PDP officials for deriding last Saturday’s March for Change, which the office staged in the Centre of Excellence to drum up support for the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and other candidates of the party in Lagos. Coordinator of the office and House of Representatives member, James Abiodun Faleke, dismissed the duo of Fani-Kayode and Adeyeye as liabilities of no political consequences to the ambition of their principal. Faleke’s reaction was contained in a ‘Thank You’ statement to Lagosians for identifying with the APC without coercion but out of their desire for progress, traced the
comments from Fani-Kayode and Adeyeye to intimidation by the turnout of Lagosians on Saturday. The Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Coordinator described what he called a freedom walk from the Maryland Junction to Surulere as highly successful. According to him, it was expected of the PDP to feel jittery having seen the massive turnout and the outpouring of support demonstrated by Lagosians who trooped out en masse for the APC. His words: It is instructive that this show of support came barely a week after the relocation of Mr. President to Lagos for two consecutive weekends. While Mr. President hid in the State House where he clandestinely induced the electorate with money, the APC launched out with confidence in the open and the people identified with us because they see our party as the vehicle of change and progress.” Fani-Kayode had described the March for Change of the APC as a flop; Adeyeye lashed out at Lagosians for supporting Tinubu, alleging that participants were tipped with N5, 000 each and Gani
doubted the calim that more than a million people participated in the walk. The PDP spokesman said the APC rally couldn’t have recorded such turnout since the Teslim Balogun Stadium where the walk terminated has capacity to accommodate only 25,000 spectators. But Faleke, who branded the trio of Fani-Kayode, Adeyeye and Taofeek as ‘busy bodies’, said the walk from Maryland Junction through Ikorodu Road to the stadium at Ojuelegba, Surulere on Lagos mainland, was streamed live on a cable television for the whole word to see. He said: “I wonder why they are crying more than the bereaved,” Faleke said, challenging the critics to stage similar rallies in their respective constituencies to demonstrate their strength for the candidates of their party. “Those are the reactions of a jittery and desperate party. It is unfortunate that those who have no political base are the ones criticising a well-attended March where Lagosians, from all walks of life showed their love and renewed support for change represented by Gen. Muham-
madu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo. He thanked Lagosians for the show of love and support for our great party –the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the March. We are reassuring them that the APC will not let them down. Faleke said: “We appreciate their unconditional response to the clarion call sense of patriotism to join the rescue mission without inducement and without stomach infrastructure. “We asked for one million, the turn out we recorded was over two million. We also appreciate our leaders who demonstrated their fitness and offered a good example by enduring the 9.2-kilometre walk for freedom. “We are urging Nigerians to go out on March 28 to vote the presidential candidate of the APC and other national Assembly flag bearers. They should repeat same on April 11. “They have demonstrated their preference for change and that is the menu the APC is bringing to the table come May 29. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a sinking ship and Nigerians must sweep it away with votes on the rescheduled election days.”
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
NEWS
No alternative to credible polls, says AIG Ogunsakin
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HE Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 6, Tunde Ogunsakin, has said the country has no choice but to ensure the polls are free, fair and credible. Ogunsakin spoke yesterday at a workshop for stakeholders in the electoral process in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The workshop is an initiative of the Zone 6 Police Command Headquarters, comprising Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Rivers states. He said: “The task of ensuring violence-free, secure and peaceful environment before, during and after the 2015 elections is not exclusive to the Police. Rather, it requires the collaborative effort of the political class, the electorate, youth leaders, rulers, the non-governmental organisations, security agencies, and all Nigerians. “Nigerians (especially youths) need to be properly enlightened and encouraged about the need to eschew electoral violence. They have to be educated through diverse means on the need to be law abiding and to vote for candidates of their choice. Furthermore, political office seekers at must be encouraged to ventilate whatever grievances arising from the elections in court. “The political class must also be encouraged to desist from incisive, provocative
From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
and inflammatory statements capable of acting as a recipe for violence. It must not escape mention that the rather novel idea in our political history of encouraging aspirants to elective positions to sign “Peace Pact” is commendable. It is my advice that the messages embedded in those Peace Pacts be allowed to trickle down to the supporters of various aspirants. Failure to do so would render the import of the message nugatory.” He added: “Nigerians must rise up to condemn electoral violence. We must, individually and as a group, spread the message that no election is worth the shed-
ding of human blood, or the destruction of property. Acts capable of scuttling or derailing the electioneering process must be nipped in the bud. We have a role to play in ensuring that our democratic structures take root. We must lead the way in Nigeria’s march towards the realisation of a mature democracy that is a model not to Africa and the world.” On the role of the police in ensuring credible polls, he said: “The protection of human life, voters, electoral materials and officials as well as the preservation of orderly electoral processes are necessary for free, fair credible and violence-free elections. It is important that the police and other security agencies display the highest
level of integrity, neutrality, professionalism and sense of duty.” Ogunsakin said the police would carry out their duties as they pertain to the elections. He said “political activities must be effectively managed not to endanger the peace in the country. This is essential as the police shall not compromise anything that would breach the public peace, riotous conduct and any other act likely to cause a breakdown of law and order”. The keynote speaker at the well-attended workshop was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Joseph Ajienka. Papers were presented by the Executive Vice Chairman
of Moni Pulo Petroleum Limited, Chief Seinye LuluBriggs and Prof. Seth AccraJaja of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt. Ajienka, who was represented by UNIPORT’s Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Henry Alapiki, noted that Nigeria’s elections had been fiercely contested, but that this year’s might be conducted in an atmosphere of fear, following insecurity and violence associated with political activities in the country. Mrs Lulu-Briggs urged more women to get involved in politics to ensure good governance. Accra-Jaja noted that credible and peaceful election was the foundation of democracy.
Gunmen attack LP candidate’s home in Calabar
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UNMEN, on Tuesday evening, attacked the home of the Labour Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, Dr Alex Egbuna in Ekorinm, Calabar, Cross River State. The incident, it was gathered, occurred about 7pm when four young men stormed the home in a black Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). They were resisted by the security men on guard, but a policeman was said
From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar
to have been shot and his rifle taken. The policeman is receiving treatment in a hospital in Calabar. Egbuna, a former chief of staff to Governor Liyel Imoke, was not home when the incident occurred. This is the latest in a spate of violence that has characterised this election season in the state. In his reaction, Chairman of the state’s InterParty Advisory Council Mr
Goddie Akpama called on leaders to call their supporters to order and urged security agents to curb the violence. He said: ‘’Do or die politics is bad. If candidates want to win votes and you are killing the people that are coming out to vote how do you get the votes? “Again, people may stay away because they don’t want to be killed. This will not help our democracy and can contribute to voter apathy. Our state is low in terms of voting strength. If
you now start the do-or-die politics, by way of killing ourselves, who will come out to vote? “We won’t even have the strength to talk at the national level. So, the party leaders should call their supporters to order. It is a viral thing. It is not the best. I am calling on security agencies to bring calm to the situation. They should sign a peace accord. They have to sign undertakings.” Police spokesman ASP Hogan Bassey could not be reached for comments.
Navy warns trouble makers From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri
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HE Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, based in Warri, Commodore Musa Gemu, has urged trouble makers to stay off the waterways. He spoke yesterday during a tour of some communities around Escravos, in Warri South-West, Benin River in Warri North and Forcados in Burutu. He said the navy would not spare law breakers during the elections. Gemu, who said his command had been mandated to stamp out all activities inimical to the development of the country, expressed satisfaction with the reduction in oil-theft. He said the navy would provide background support for the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police during the elections. Gemu said: “Our trip to the sea today has gladdened my heart. This is because there is complete departure from what it used to be. When I assumed office, the seas used to be dirty and littered with crude oil; that is to tell you illegal oil bunkering was going on. “We give kudos to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin for his able leadership. He has mandated us to ensure zero tolerance for illegal bunkering and crude oil theft which we have been doing. “Honestly, with what we observed recently and today, people of riverine areas are law abiding. There is no threat to life and property. We will again give them confidence to do their legitimate businesses without fear.”
•From left: Labour Party’s (LP’s) governorship candidate in Cross River, Friden Ugbo and his Delta State counterpart, Great Ovedje Ogboru at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ibadan...yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI
JTF arrests 26 suspects with stolen crude oil
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HE Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, has arrested 26 persons in possession of stolen crude. Among those arrested was Mr. James Ogbe, who the JTF said attempted to bribe operatives of the task force. Ogbe was said to have offered an unspecified cash to troops of JTF’s Sector 1 troops to secure the release of two illegal bunkering trucks. Confirming Ogbe’s arrest, JTF’s Media Coordinator Lt. Col. Ado Isa said the trucks were impounded by the JTF
From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa
on Eminye Road, Oleh and Agbakoro in Isoko South and Ughelli North in Delta State. He said the trucks, which were filled with crude suspected to have been stolen, were nabbed with two drivers. Isa said Ogbe said he owned the trucks and their contents, illegally siphoned from a pipeline behind premium filling station in Effurun, Warri. “The troops, on further
search of his Navy Blue 2004 model Honda Accord, discovered a small generator, connecting hoses and welding materials. “The trucks and the products were evacuated to a safe place and destroyed while the suspects and the Honda car are in the custody of the JTF,”he said. Isa also said the troops arrested 25 suspects in six illegal distillery camps in Ondo, Delta and Edo states. He said the suspects were apprehended at illegal bunkering sites at Egbokodo, Be-
neath Island and Otegele in Warri South West in Delta State. The JTF commander said the oil thieves operated with 23 pumping machines, 19 cooking pots, 48 Cotonou boats, 50 surface tanks and 10 dug-out pits filled with stolen crude oil and illegally acquired Automated Gas Oil (AGO). He said the troops also discovered 22 pieces of a 2000litre capacity plastic tanks and 162 pieces of 200-litre capacity drums filled with suspected stolen crude oil.
‘Protect gas pipelines’ From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa
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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has begged the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, to provide adequate security for the corporation’s gas pipelines located within its Areas of Responsibility (AoR). A statement signed on Wednesday by JTF’s Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Ado Isa, said the Group Executive Director (GED) Gas and Power, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, when he visited the headquarters of JTF. Ige further appealed to JTF to protect the headquarters of the NNPC and its workers from vandals, arsonists and kidnappers. He said the activities of vandals were affecting effective gas supply to the various power plants across the country. He also commended the efforts of the JTF under the command of Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe for its proactive measures to protect gas pipelines from vandals.
Widows assure Peterside of victory From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt
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IDOWS in Ndoni, Rivers State, have predicted victory for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Peterside. They told the candidate they were praying and fasting for his success because they believe in him. A grateful Peterside said: “I am touched with what one of us is doing in your lives. I will do everything to ensure that widows are comfortable and happy under my administration. To be a widow is not a curse, it is an accident and it could happen to any woman. I appreciate your prayers and may God keep and protect you,” he said. The candidate, who visited Ndoni on Tuesday, hailed people for welcoming him. Peterside promised to address the infrastructural needs of the state, vowing to protect and work for the interest of the Rivers people. Goodwill messages came from rulers and chiefs, party members and candidates like Lucky Odili, Prince Peter Odike, John Enebeli and Gift Nwokocha, among others. The Ogone of Ndoni, Chief Onwusa Okponah, speaking at the Ndoni Town Hall, explained his support for APC. Okponah, who described APC as a party of ideology, said it represents hope and a better Nigeria. “I am a chief, chiefs are not meant to be partisan but I am APC because there is hope in the party”, Okponah said. Present were Ndoni chiefs and Dr. Peterside, among othwers Okponah, who described Peterside as an experienced administrator and a peaceloving politician, called on the people to vote massively for him and all APC candidates. But he urged Peterside to revisit the issue of an upward review of their traditional stool and the town’s infrastructure.
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NEWS
Sultan to politicians: stop campaigns Corps member dies in Ilorin A of calumny T From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
HE Chairman of the Northern Traditional Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll, yesterday warned politicians to stop campaigns of calumny ahead of the March 28 presidential election. He said they should respect one another and not see election as a do-or-die affair. The Sultan, who spoke at an emergency meeting of the council in Kaduna, said as leaders, they would tell politicians the truth. He said the campaigns of calumny, which have become the order of the day, would not augur well for the country and the politicians. The Sultan urged traditional rulers and politicians to put the interest of the nation above their personal interests. His words: “We must al-
From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
ways work for peace and stability. We must also stop campaigns of calumny against one another because it will not augur well for all of us and the unity of Nigeria. As monarchs, we must always tell our politicians the truth. “We will not keep quiet about what is happening in the country. We must speak for peace in the North, we must speak for peace in Nigeria and we must speak for the unity of the country. “We are against what is happening in the North, especially in the Northeast. So we will not keep quiet because there are wrong things in the polity. People always talk
about elections, but I never heard them talking about what happened before, during and after the elections.” The Sultan said people should be allowed to vote for the candidates of their choice “because politics is all about interests.” He reminded the traditional leaders of their roles to douse tension during elections, saying they should advise parents to call their children to order. “As traditional leaders, we must ensure free, fair and violence-free elections. We don’t care about the outcome, all we are interested in is free, fair and violencefree elections.” The Sultan enjoined the monarchs to see themselves as one, irrespective of tribe
and religion. Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, who was represented by his deputy, Nuhu Audu Bajoga, urged the traditional rulers to work with stakeholders to facilitate free and fair elections. He said: “You must promote the values of equity and justice to ensure peace and good governance in our country. We must never give up until we restore our region and the country to the status of the glorious past. “Your overwhelming commitment towards ensuring success of such meeting demonstrates your resolve towards uniting and building the society to enable every stakeholder contribute his or her quota to the uplift of our common goals and aspirations.”
•From left: Deputy Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Kwara branch, Alhaji Abdullahi Gidado; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Deputy Governor Peter Kisra, at the distribution of taxis and buses to transporters in Ilorin…yesterday
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House orders Suswam to constitute caretaker committee
ENUE State House of Assembly has directed Governor Gabriel Suswam to present before it for confirmation a list of local government caretaker committees within three days. It said if the governor failed to comply, it would invoke Section 21, Sub 5 of the Local Government Law, 2012, by reviewing the tenure of the DGSAs. However, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Mathias Byuan, said the House lacks power to order Governor Suswam to consti-
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From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
tute a caretaker committee. Byuan, in a telephone interview with The Nation, said the appointment was not in the purview of the legislative arm because the executive controls the finance and should be in a better position to know how much it would pay an appointee. Byuan, an associate of Governor Suswam, berated the lawmakers for the ‘incessant arm-twisting’ of the gover-
nor. He said the governor could not constitute a caretaker committee for local governments two months to the end of his tenure. Byuan suggested that instead of a caretaker committee, the money for their emolument should be used to pay civil servants, who are owed salary arrears. The Assembly described the more than three months’ leadership at the third tier as illegal, saying they are not supposed to stay for more
than three months. It took the decision while ruling on a point of order raised by the member representing Ohimini, Mr. James Ochojila and seconded by Mr. David Iorhemba of Guma Constituency. In the order, Ochojila condemned the continuous occupation of the councils by the DGSAs, saying it was illegal and needed to be addressed. This is the second time in 14 days that the House moved against Governor Suswam through a motion.
PDP ‘ll lose seats in Assembly, says Ganduje
ANO State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has expressed optimism that the APC will retain its control of Kano State after the elections. Ganduje, who spoke when he received members of the Buhari Organisation at his campaign office, said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would lose the few seats it control at the Assembly and National Assembly. In a statement by his Director of Press, Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu, Ganduje said despite the orchestrated post-
From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano
ponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC would not be deterred from committing itself to a transparent electoral process. He said APC is the first party in the history of the country that draws membership from all over the country. Ganduje said besides the national support the party enjoys, Kano State is the stronghold of the APC as shown during the party’s rallies in the state. He accused the national leadership of the PDP of misleading Nigerians on its real in-
tention and programmes, noting that the party has lost focus and the gut to lead Nigerian. According to him, PDP is a failure, but has refused to tell Nigerians its failure in the last 16 years, which is characterised by corruption and insecurity. Chairman of the Buhari Organisation, Kano chapter, Alhaji Ali Bukar, said they were at the governorship campaign office of Dr. Ganduje to debunk rumours that the people would vote in favour of its presidential candidate only. He said they supported Ganduje as instructed by Gen-
eral Muhammadu Buhari. Bukar described those spreading the rumour as unpatriotic, and capable of retarding the country’s progress and democracy.
MEMBER of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara State has slumped and died while jogging inside the main-bowl of the Kwara State Sta-
dium. The deceased’s name was given as Ishaku M. Dodo. He was said to be a retired grade one referee. The incident occurred on Monday evening. The late Dodo was a member of the Kaduna State Referees Council and resumed at his new station, Kwara United FC, earlier that day. The late Dodo, listed as a Grade One referee in 1999, was said to have been confirmed dead after an examination at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he was taken to after he slumped during the second lap of the exercise. Investigation showed that his sudden death might not be unconnected with heart failure, although he was said to have undergone Electro Cardiogramme (ECG) test three months earlier. His remains have been deposited at the UITH mortuary.
Boko Haram suspect escapes arrest
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SUSPECTED Boko Haram member, who feigned insanity, narrowly escaped arrest at Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State on Tuesday. The Commander, 27 Task Force Brigade, Damaturu, Col. Usman Yusuf, gave the order to arrest the supposedly insane man when he was sighted in one of the dilapidated buildings in the deserted town. As troops advanced to carry out the order, the suspect, who wore a white garment with an unkempt hair and chanting incantations, disappeared. The incident occurred when the commander led a group of reporters on a guided tour of towns recently liberated from Boko Haram insurgents. Yusuf assured the reporters that the troops would fish out the suspect soon. The suspect was believed to be on a surveillance mission for the insurgents but pretended to be insane. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gujba and Gulani local governments in Yobe State were cap-
tured by the insurgents last July and remained under their control for nine months. There are 17 local governments in the state. But Gujba, including its headquarters, Buni Yadi, were liberated in the last three weeks, while operation to free Gulani is ongoing, according to Yusuf. He described Buni Yadi as one of the strongholds of the insurgents. NAN reports that the terrorists blew up the only bridge linking the local government with the state capital, Damaturu, and other towns shortly after they occupied the area. Before retreating from Buni Yadi, they also burnt most of the houses, schools, the local government secretariat, motor parks, court, the Emir’s palace and market. Besides the troops on guard, the supposedly madman, a dog and a cat were the only living beings sighted at the deserted town. The commander listed other towns recaptured by the troops as Fkayel, Gulani, Tetteba, Bunsa, Bularafa, Kukuwa Geri and Buni Geri.
‘Choose right, vote Ambode’ By Tokunbo Ogunsami
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AGOSIANS have been urged to choose right by voting for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) standard-bearer, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on April 11. The Media Director of Akinwunmi Ambode Kommittee of Friends (AA’KOF), Elder Cornelius Olopade, who gave the advice at the APC campaign at Orile-Ilasan area of Lagos State, said a vote for Ambode is a vote in the right direction. He said if Lagosians wanted a man of integrity to pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years, they had no option but to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates. Before the rally, AA’KOF members embarked on a houseto-house campaign during which they enjoined residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so that they would be able to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates. At the campaign ground, Ambode told the surging crowd that he would not disappoint them, as he would ensure the continuity of good governance started by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and sustained by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. He urged them to collect their PVCs, “because it is your instrument to vote for me and other APC candidates.” His words: “Lagosians deserve a decent life. If they want to enjoy mass employment for youths, security of life and property, qualitative and quantitative education, good health care services and others, they should elect me and other APC candidates. Lagos State is too sophisticated for inexperienced politicians to rule.”
Kwara voters told to get PVCs
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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He spoke yesterday in Ilorin at the launch of N75million empowerment programme for commercial drivers under the state revolving micro credit scheme. Ahmed said the collection of the PVCs would qualify the voters to become “agents of the change we seek at the national level and the continuity we desire at the state level. “I also urge our supporters and stakeholders
From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin
to remain calm and steadfast as we approach the elections. The security agencies have a constitutional mandate to protect you. Do not be afraid. “I solicit your continued support so that we can continue the good work of elevating our state for another four years. “Governance is a serious business and should be handled only by those with the pedigree, experience and capacity to deliver its benefits to the people.”
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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
FOREIGN NEWS
LENT
Morocco recalls ambassador from Nigeria over phone call row
Theme: Who will you serve?
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OROCCO has recalled its ambassador from Nigeria, accusing the authorities there of using King Mohammed VI in an election campaign. Its foreign ministry issued a statement, denying the king had spoken by phone to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, as had been stated by Nigeria. The North Africa kingdom denounced such “unethical practices”, it said. Nigeria has denied that the king was being used to win over Muslim voters. Mr Jonathan, a Christian from southern Nigeria, is facing a strong challenge in the 28 March elections from opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who is popular in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north. The Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs released a statement on Sunday, denying reports that President Jonathan had been snubbed by King Mohammed because he was trying to curry favour with Muslim voters. “This information is absolutely not correct as the president did in fact speak to the Moroccan monarch... both leaders spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern,” it said. However, Morocco’s for-
‘This information is absolutely not correct as the president did in fact speak to the Moroccan monarch... both leaders spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern’ eign ministry responded by saying it wanted to state in the “clearest and strongest terms” that “there has never been a phone conversation” between the two men. “The king has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering,” Morocco’s official news agency Map quoted the statement as saying. “The kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between states.” As a consequence Morocco’s Abuja ambassador was being recalled immediately for consultations, it said
Text: “..... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
“A
MAN with one watch knows what time it is but a man with two is never quite sure”, wrote an anonymous person. When one approaches a place where two roads meet, that is a road junction, and understanding of where one is going is unknown or lost, confusion, frustration and delay becomes inevitable. Solomon said in Proverbs 11:14 that, “Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” After questions have been asked and clarifications duly established concerning the correct route that leads to where one is going, it is logical to follow that route even if it is not as smooth as the alternative. Anything to the contrary will lead to more waste of time, increasing loss of energy, paucity of resources and more frustration. One of the greatest problems confronting human beings is the issue of decision-making with respect to the what, who, where, when and how of life. This dilemma is not peculiar to our present clime as decision making had been a crucial issue since biblical times. God’s recommendation towards resolving this quagmire, according to Joshua from our text, is to submit to God’s leadership and not any human being, political egghead or spiritual god-head, mindless of the connection they have, power they wield or the temporal position they occupy. When we surrender to Him, He will lead us to the right decisions. As children of God, you must not sell your birthright over red pottage like Esau who regretted it later (Gen. 25:29-44). Jesus Christ said, whosoever puts his hand on the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God ( Luke 9:62). Such a person is like salt that has lost it’s savour and good for nothing but to be thrown out (Luke 14:34-35). Any decision made in the flesh will end in regret, as “....to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6) - every carnality will ultimately lead to a crash! There was a time when God spoke to a young prophet from Judah from whose hands God has wrought outstanding miracles at Bethel with a command from God not to eat, drink or return by the same way he came. The young prophet obeyed God in all and bluntly refused to yield to the entreaties of King Jeroboam to eat after he was healed by the prophet. Unfortunately for the young prophet, when an older prophet, who was apparently an enemy in disguise, approached him, he surrendered to the counter-prophesy
of the older prophet. He consequently lost not only his life but also the honour he would have received on accomplishing the task he had been given ( 1 Kings 13:724). Elijah too had that experience when Naaman approached him with ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment for his healing. On approaching Elisha, he bluntly refused to be enticed by the gifts, he rejected them before Naaman’s healing and stood his ground after he had been healed. ( 2 Kings 5:1-17). The covetous servant of Elisha by name Gehazi however, ran after Naaman to deceitfully collect the gift items, contrary to God’s leading and direction. He not only received the gift items from Naaman but also received the double portion of the leprosy of Naaman and lost his place in the biblical hall of fame ( 2 Kings 5:20-27). If he had acceded to the voice of God, he probably would have received double portion of the gift of Elisha, which was double portion of the gift of Elijah ( 2Kings 2:9-14). At this critical time in our national history when campaign for political offices is in its fullest blast and election is just few weeks away, the need to surrender to God, follow His leading, and not financial inducement from wolves in sheep’s garb, is absolutely important. At such a time, it will not be news to hear that ‘whited-sepulchres’ have sprung forth to deceive the spiritually undiscerning and derail the anticipated vehicle of progress. The lions in sheep’s clothing will be all over the place luring with seemingly innocent looks, sudden smooth talks, emergency charity works and Greek gifts to deceive even the elect. What we need to do as a body of believers, during this Lenten season, is to come to God with humility, ask Him to forgive our past sins as a nation (2Chro. 7:14), surrender the coming polls to the Almighty God (John 6:37) who knows the inner recesses of the heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9-10), pray that He would expose the heart of the aspirants to us and unveil their satanic tricks and diabolic antics; that He would choose for us and lead us into a path that we shall not regret. As He lives who respects His words to perform it (Ezekiel 12:25), our lives and country shall be better under His leadership and direction, in Jesus’ name. Prayer: Lord, we surrender absolutely to your leadership, lead us in the path we are to follow and let our lives be better, in Jesus’ name.
NEWS Chaos as hoodlums disrupt Imo governorship debate
Babangida: I’m not plotting interim govt with anybody Continued from page 4
Thabo Mbeki on Monday in Minna He said he had seen it all and cannot be a party to any contraption, which is undemocratic. The statement said: “Following different reports and analyses in the print and on-line media, it has become expedient in the life of our political history to make certain clarifications to avoid unwarranted cynicisms usually promoted by naysayers, alarmists and political apologists to score cheap political mileage. “One would have ignored this lazily scripted and well orchestrated political permutation as the usual run-of-the-mill chitchat and ridiculous permutation that is often on sale in our political lexicon, but for record purposes, this statement becomes instructively appropriate. “To state the obvious, let it be on record that I am not in any way connected with alleged ‘plans’ to encourage, promote, orchestrate or moot the idea of an interim government or whatever ‘contraption’ so called. “I have no doubt in my mind therefore, to state unequivocally, that elections will hold on the appointed dates in line with the unflinching assurances from INEC. Those mooting the idea of an interim government and trying to drag my name into it should please look elsewhere.” Gen. Babangida said he had seen it all and would not be part of any contraption to scuttle the nation’s democracy. The statement said: “I did state categorically in 2011 that I was quitting partisan politics and wouldn’t want to be ordered around in any way or form as seeking public office in whatever guise. I took that decision
when I attained the age of 70 and I stand by that decision till date. “Having been privileged to preside over the affairs of this great country for eight unbroken years as a Military President, I can declare with all sense of modesty that I have seen it all. “And I give all praises and thanks to the Almighty Allah for giving me the rare opportunity to contribute my quota to the development of my fatherland. That opportunity remains my highest, most enduring moment in my entire trajectory through life’s bramble forest.” Gen. Babangida explained the rationale behind the idea of ING by the military administration in 1993. Gen. Babangida sought support for Attahiru Jega and his team for the successful conduct of March 28 and April 11 elections. ”Let me state in emphatic terms that Professor Attahiru Jega and his colleagues in INEC
have to be encouraged, motivated, animated and commended for the sheer courage and determination they have shown thus far in their preparations for the March 28 and April 11 elections. “They have demonstrated their sense of patriotism in a manner that underscores their readiness for the elections and love for country. Rather than condemnation, they deserve our commendation. They need to be encouraged to deliver on their statutory obligation to the Nigerian state,” the statement said. The former military leader supported the use of Card Readers during the forthcoming elections – a move which the ruling Poples Democratic Party (PDP) claims will disenfranchise many. It will tackle rigging, INEC has said. The statement said: “We must appreciate the creativity and innovation of the card reader which INEC has introduced to
make for better election credibility and transparency. “In a digital world where almost everything is driven by technology, the offer of the card reader is a welcome development. “We may not get to the fullest merit of this, but it is a good way to start. This is one way to bridge the technological gap between those developed and under-developed nations of the world. Let us repose confidence in the system in the interest of the unity of our great country.” Gen. Babangida also gave insights into what he discussed with Mbeki on Monday. He said: “I shared some of these thoughts with my guest, former President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, in my Minna home a couple of days back and we both stressed the all-important role of Nigeria in the continent and the need for credible elections at those appointed dates. We cannot afford not to get our elections right this time round.
Amaechi’s brother hospitalised after machete attack Continued from page 4
is a clear indication that the killings may have been politicallymotivated. The statement reads: “It is difficult to see these attacks as a mere happenstance, against the backdrop of the ceaseless attacks on APC members and supporters in the Okrika council area of the state, where the opposition has been the victim of at least three bomb attacks, and the hate messages being purveyed by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who hails from Okrika. ‘’We know that because they have no answer to the runaway popularity of our party in the state, they are ready to do anything possible to prevent free,
fair and peaceful elections there on March 28th and April 11th. By targeting opposition members and supporters, as well as their families, the anarchists will be hoping to trigger chaos and truncate the elections in the state. This is their plan, hence we are calling on the security agencies to act fast to fish out the killers in Rivers before they decimate the ranks of the opposition and scuttle the elections.’’ It said if the mindless killings in Rivers are placed in the context of the accusation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Jonathan Administration was training snipers secretly while 1,000 Nigerians have been placed on a watch-list, it would be logical to conclude that the increasingly-fascist
Jonathan Administration may have finally unleashed the snipers on the opposition. APC urged Nigerians and the civil society to keep a tab on the killings of opposition members and supporters in the run-up to the forthcoming polls, with a view to exerting pressure on those whose duty it is to bring the killers to justice. The party said President Goodluck Jonathan bears the ultimate responsibility for the cold-blooded murder of the APC members and supporters, especially because of his constitutional role of ensuring the security and welfare of the citizens, as well as his direct involvement - and that of his wife - in the political crisis in Rivers
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HERE was anxiety yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when a governorship debate organised by the Catholic Archdiocese, turned violent after hoodlums descended on the audience and vandalised the church property. Clerics and spectators fled the scene. The debate, which started in 1999, became famous during the 2011 governorship election when Governor Rochas Okorocha received the support of the Catholic faithful who were directed to vote him en-masse. However, this year’s edition was disrupted before the participating candidates arrived at the venue. As early as 8am, the Odenigbo Pavilion, venue of the event, has been filled up to capacity with party supporters. All was set. But, suddenly, trouble started, shortly after the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Rev. Father Casmir Nze, had set out the ground rules to the audience. While he was still speaking, a group of women, who were dressed in black clothes, started blowing whistles and displaying red cards, singing anti-Okorocha slogans. This was followed by a response from another group of women, who were dressed on the regalia of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO). They were singing pro-Okorocha sang. The Catholic women, who were listing Okorocha’s achievements took over the premises, singing and dancing. At this point, some armed hoodlums invaded the podium and destroyed the chairs and other church properties, including the public address system and video cameras. The clergymen, who were already on the podium, jumped down and fled.
From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri
There was stampede. Security operatives stopped further destruction of church property. A row broke out between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the incident. The Director-General of the Rochas Okorocha Campaign Organisation, Iheukwumere Alaribe, accused the state chairman of the PDP, Nnamdi Anyaehie, of inciting the hoodlums to chant anti-Okorocha slogans. He told reporters: “We commend the church for the initiative and are ready to honour the invitation whenever it is rescheduled, but we are worried that if the PDP and APGA do not refrain from politicising the church, it may have negative effect on the faith of the worshipers. For instance, the PDP chairman came to the venue with over 50 armed thugs and the same thing with the PDP governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, who was escorted by hoodlums with whistles and red cards. But we are not worried because we are ready for the election.” Ihedioha, who arrived at the venue in the thick of the crisis, said: “The APC hired thugs and invaded the place because Governor Okorocha knew what awaited him if the debate had held. He knows that the majority of Imo people have rejected him. With his attitude, it is obvious he doesn’t want the election to hold. “The governor knows that he does not stand a chance in the debate and it could have been a day of reckoning for him. We will await further directive from the church.”
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SPORT EXTRA
Keshi: Contract talk deadlocked • Anyansi promises swift resolution
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• Keshi
HE much awaited signing of a new Super Eagles’ Chief Coach job by Stephen Keshi was stalemated as the three-man panel set up by The Nigeria Football Federation led by Chief Felix Agu Anyansi couldn't conclude talks on the the much talked about contrtact. "Well today's meeting was progressive but its an ongoing meeting and in few days we will conclude", Anyansi told reporters who that covered the meeting that started at
From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja 3.30pm and ended 7.15pm yesterday. The atmosphere, however, looked relaxed as supported by Anyansi. "You see that everybody is laughing and looked relaxed. So all is well. We will end the talks in a matter of days as I told you", Anyansi told newsmen in Abuja. Keshi flanked by his lawyer and brother-in-law/manager Emmanuel Ado were beaming with smiles when he told the
sports reporters on ground, "I can't say anything to you guys now. Please meet Chief Felix Anyansi, he is the one that can brief you on this matter", Keshi said loudly with smiles. Anyansi also couldn't answer the question on who will draft the list of the Super Eagles' players that would confront Bolivia when asked whether Keshi or The NFF would do it. Anyansi simply answered "I won't be able to answer that question now, gentlemen of the press".
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Bayern punish 10-man Shakhtar
B
AYERN Munich has cruised into the quarter-
finals of the Champions League, beating Shakhtar Donetsk 7-0 at the Allianz Arena this evening. Shakhtar's hopes were dealt a blow almost immediately as Oleksandr Kucher was dismissed less than three minutes after kickoff for a foul on Mario Gotze in the box. The incident also resulted in a spot kick for the German
champions, which Thomas Muller converted with ease as the keeper dived the wrong way. Robert Lewandowski had a couple of chances to double Bayern's advantage early on, but Arjen Robben was unable to reach the Polish striker's pull-back, while his header from a Rafinha cross was kept out by the post. Lewandowski was involved again before the break though,
blasting another effort into the keeper's path, but the parry fell for Jerome Boateng to tap in from close range. Bayern continued to cruise at the start of the second half as Franck Ribery forced his way into the box before slotting a low finish into the bottom corner. Muller was in for his second of the night just two minutes later, as Ribery had his shot saved, but once again the keeper could only parry, setting the German international up for an easy finish. Pep Guardiola's men continued to push, and came close to making it five when Bernat rounded a couple of defenders before attempting to rifle the ball in low, but this time Andriy Pyatov got it clear. The save only delayed Bayern's fifth though as Holger Badstuber was through moments later, bursting towards goal to meet a Rafinha cross, heading past Pyatov.
Lewandowski continued to push for the hosts, and finally added his name to the scoresheet with 15 minutes to go as Gotze found him with a long ball forward, leaving him to calmly chip it past the keeper. Shakhtar rarely threatening in the second half, and were punished again in the final moments when Boateng found Gotze, leaving the winger to cut inside before sliding the ball in.
RESULTS
MLS TEAM OF THE WEEK
Martins, Opara picked
N
IGERIA'S Obafemi Martins and Ikenna Opara have been picked for the MLS best XI for Week 1. Both players shone for their clubs with a goal each. According to the MLS, Martins will partner Dempsey and Altidore in a three-man attack. Former Levante striker Martins scored one of the goals and assisted Clint Dempsey for another as Seattle Sounders beat New England Revolution 3-0. Defender Ikenna Opara scored the only goal for Sporting Kansas City as they drew 1-1 with New York Red Bull. THE FULL TEAM IS: GOALKEEPER: Tyler Deric (Houston Dynamo). DEFENDERS: Tyrone Mears (Seattle Sounders), Ikenna Opara (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Schuler(Real Salt Lake),
Justin Morrow (Toronto FC) MIDFIELDERS: Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Mix Diskernd (New York City) ATTACKERS: Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC)
Ideye wants to win over West Brom fans
W
EST Brom and Nigerian striker Brown Ideye has expressed his happiness with the club and needs to keep working hard so as to win the fans over. In a chat with footballlive.ng, the former Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine striker says he believes his side will finish off well this season.
UEFA Champions League Chelsea 2 - 2 PSG(AGG.3 -3) Bayern 7 - 0 Shakhtar England - Championship Blackburn 0 - 0 Bolton England - Conference Bradford PA 3 - 2 Chorley Guiseley 2 - 0 Hyde FC
• Martins
• Ideye
“I’m happy here and I just have to keep on working hard and hope that things will keep on turning out well for the team. I need to continue enjoying every game for the team, work hard and hope that we finish off well” Ideye’s bloom may well keep him at the club for another season after the 10m record signing was almost shipped off to Qatar in a frantic effort by the club to get rid of the Nigerian star on the January transfer deadline day. The Baggies are 13th on the log table but far from being safe from relegation fears with 10 games still to go in the EPL this campaign. Tony Pulis will know that the club needs to get at least another 10 points from the possible 30 available in the next 10 fixtures to remain safe in the topflight.
www.thenationonlineng.net
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM
RIPPLES
‘Yes anyone against it is a CRIMINAL...and THUG’
VOL. 10, NO. 3151
C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA
F
OR nearly three months now, the two main contending parties in the presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition party, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party at the centre, have been seriously engaged in vigorous electoral campaigns for support in the forthcoming presidential election. There is a lot at stake for both parties and a hard fought and robust election campaign is an essential part of the democratic process. The electoral situation is more fluid today than ever before. Marginal votes are likely to be significant and these can swing the election one way or the other between the two main contending parties. Despite this, the public still expects that the election campaign should be conducted in a civilised and civil manner, with the main focus being placed on the critical political and economic issues of the day. Sadly, this is not the case now as this is increasingly looking more like a rancorous, hateful and divisive campaign, instead of one with the real focus on the critical issues of the day. It is perfectly understandable that the two main contending parties, the PDP and the APC, should engage themselves in a robust manner in the election campaign. But this is no justification for the resort to the kind of foul language the public is being treated to in the course of this electoral campaign. All decent persons must find this development reprehensible. We have been having elections in Nigeria long before independence in 1960 and after. But I cannot recall previous election campaigns in Nigeria that have generated such hateful and indecorous language as this one. Nigeria’s four pre-independence leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Sardauna, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, refrained during election campaigns from calling one another names, or heaping insults and vile attacks on their political opponents. The political rivalry among them was very intense, but they deliberately refrained from personal attacks on one another. Whatever their political differences, they were decent men and conducted themselves decorously. Only during the disgraceful era of Akintola/Fani-Kayode’s dirty politics were the electorate and the Nigerian public treated to such scurrilous and foul attacks on their political opponents as we now have it. In this current campaign climate of hate, and resort to ethnic and religious divides, the PDP, the ruling party, has been guiltier than any of its political opponents. Shopworn lies are constantly being concocted, fabricated and peddled by some of the party’s roughnecks, veterans of street fighting and, beerhouse brawls. Femi Fani-Kayode, head of the PDP publicity in the elections who like his deceased father, Remi Fani-Kayode, is a Cambridge educated lawyer, has constantly hauled personal attacks and insults on General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate. He is certainly not a
US ENVOY LAUDS INEC OVER CARD READER–News
TODAY IN THE NATION
‘Jonathan rode on the crest of public goodwill to power in 2011, that the same Buhari, who is now giving him goose pimples, had no chance against him in that year’s election. Surely, he cannot be thinking of repeating that feat in 2015’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON
DAPO FAFOWORA
FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net
Will presidential election be decided by hate campaign?
•President Goodluck •General Jonathan Muhammadu Buhari
proud product of Cambridge, that genteel and sedate university. President Goodluck Jonathan has not yet disassociated himself from this hateful campaign. In fact, he seems to encourage it. Femi Fani-Kayode claimed falsely that Buhari did not have the school certificate, the basic requirement for contesting the elections. When he was proved wrong, he came up with other incredible lies regarding Buhari’s Chatham House lecture, which were equally debunked. More recently, he claimed that the fuel crisis in the country was the handiwork of the APC, the main opposition party. Again, his allegation proved to be false as the crisis was due to the refusal of the oil marketers, who were being owed money by the PDP Federal Government to import refined oil. Femi Fani-Kayode has neither admitted his mistake in this regard, nor apologised to the nation for his misleading remarks. Governor Ayo Fayose has been equally totally unrestrained in his verbal attacks on General Buhari, going as far as to warn that if he won Buhari would die in office. This is most uncharitable and has been roundly condemned in the country. It is a real pity that Jonathan has chosen these indecorous propagandists to lead his campaign. They have done his campaign more harm than good. But what else should we expect when President Jonathan himself ir-
reverently dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as ‘a motor park tout’. How can he then call his men to order? In contrast to the desperate campaign of the PDP, the opposition party, the APC, has been more restrained in its approach to the electoral campaign. It has conducted a brilliant, skilful and impressive electoral campaign that has fully exploited the weakness of the PDP Federal Government. It has refused to be drawn into personal attacks on President Jonathan, Buhari’s opponent in the election. Instead, it has identified the main issues on which the elections should really be fought, namely massive corruption in the PDP Federal Government, colossal mismanagement of the national economy, Nigeria’s woeful infrastructure, the increasingly violent Boko Haram insurgency that has led to thousands of death in Nigeria, the vast number of the internally-displaced refuges in our country and Jonathan’s Abuja land grab. To some extent, ensuing economic and political events have also been broadly favourable to the APC. The falling oil prices, the 30 per cent devaluation of the naira, the continuing dispute over how much money exactly is missing from the national accounts, and the inability of the PDP Federal Government to maintain security, law and order in the country have all contributed to the growing unpopularity of the PDP in the country. The APC has wisely anchored its campaign on the inherent incompetence and inability of the PDP to run a clean, honest, transparent and effective government in the country. Its poor record on employment, creation of jobs, reduction of poverty level in the country has been its Achilles heel. The Nigerian economy may be the largest in Africa. But Nigeria, under this PDP government, has one of the lowest par capita incomes in Africa. Evidently, the man in the street is mystified that the country is so rich but that its people are so poor, and that there is still such mass poverty in the middle of such opulence in the country.
HARDBALL
W
ELL dear reader, you must by now have gotten used to the fact that Hardball is a literary buff and sometimes even oafish and must not be taken too seriously. So if you are wondering what pranks he is up to here once again, you will be in order to be nonplussed. But let’s work the puzzle now. You must know Lt. General Martin Luther Agwai (you must disregard and forgive him his ‘colonial mentality’ name. We all do stuff don’t we?). Well here is a brief bio of the subject of our attention today: General Agwai must be among the last of Nigeria’s true and honorable army generals. He was trained in the best military schools in the US, UK and Nigeria. As a proof, he won multiple awards including Silver Medal Best Army Cadet; Best All-round Cadet of Sword of Honour and Gold Medal for being the First in Order of Merit, Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA. Agwai was also Force Commander, UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone and was Military Adviser to the UN Department of Peace-Keeping Operations, UN Headquarters, New York. In 2005, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame
The resort to vile language and personal insults by agents of the PDP shows quite clearly that its campaign has no real merit and that the party cannot defend its appalling record in office. Vast sums of money, most of it public funds, illicitly acquired, are being expended by the party to bribe the churches, the mosques, and the traditional rulers. But it is doubtful, given the structure of Nigerian politics, that this will have any effect on the electoral fortunes of the party in the March elections. In the case of Afenifere that has so shamelessly and so strangely declared its support for President Jonathan, its support is worth little or nothing to the PDP. Afenifere is no longer the formidable political organisation or movement that it once was. None of its present leaders can win elections in the Southwest. They have become irrelevant in the politics of the Southwest where their political influence has fallen considerably. Equally, the traditional rulers in the Southwest that President Jonathan has been trying desperately to woo have little or no influence on the electorate in the region. Even in Ife, the Ooni, the leader of the pack, has little or no political influence now. So trying to bribe the Obas is a waste of money, time and effort. They cannot deliver the votes Jonathan needs to win the elections, if they are free and fair. Instead of focusing its attention on the real issues of the elections and defending its record in office, the PDP has been trying desperately to scuttle it. First, it fraudulently procured a shift in the date of the elections. Then it rejected the use of the voters’ card reader for which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was provided by the PDP Federal Government with the necessary funds. Then its leading spokesmen, particularly Chief Edwin Clark, the self-acclaimed ‘god father’ of President Jonathan, attacked Professor Attahiru Jega, the fair-minded chairman of INEC, demanding his premature suspension from office. Altogether, the PDP has run a negative electoral campaign, which is counterproductive. It has alienated quite a lot of the few uncommitted voters and will not secure for Jonathan the marginal votes he needs to win the election. It must be said to the credit of Buhari that he has stood above the petty electioneering of the PDP propagandists. He has looked more confident, charismatic and presidential than Jonathan, his main opponent. He has refused to be drawn into any negative campaign, preferring instead to focus on the main issues of the day. He has his own faults too, but on the basis of his campaign strategy and his steady and unwavering commitment to defining the real issues of the elections, many consider him to be a far better candidate than Jonathan. He deserves to win the presidential election. • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031
•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above
Gen. Agwai meets Eze Onyeagwalam of US National Defence University. He was Chief of Army Staff and then retired as Chief of Defence Staff. Now that you have met General Agwai, who is Eze Onyeagwalam and where did the twain meet; why? First the literary bit. No, let’s bring it up that the General is from Kachia – that must be somewhere in Southern Kaduna. But the name Agwai has an Igbo carriage or baggage if you like. In fact it means one of half a dozen things in Igbo but the meaning we need here which seems to carry a grievous implication is: ‘if I had informed you, would you heed?’ Or to put it plainly: are you mindful? Or would you take heed? Now again, to the literary: Agwai alliterates at some point of the spectrum with onyeagwalam doesn’t it? Now to put the complicated tale together at last; Eze Onyeagwalam is the king in a fable and his very name means no one dares tell me. In other words, ‘King-You-Dare –Not-Tell-Me’ or ‘King Don’t-tell-me’ if you prefer. But you
know the rest of the fable: nobody dared tell the king the day he was stark naked and danced about town believing he was resplendent in his royal robes. Well if you do not understand this tale so far, Hardball advises you quit trying. It is either you don’t get it all the time or Hardball cannot articulate it all the time or both. But let’s boil it down: Distinguished and retired General Agwai was until a few days ago, the chairman of the SURE – P: Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme. He was fired with ignominy because he dared to tell King Don’t-tell-me something he doesn’t want to hear. Agwai, playing the soldier in him had attended a birthday party he was not supposed to attend. Not satisfied, he spoke in a manner he was not supposed to speak talking about ‘integrity’, “good of the larger society” and worst of all, that sacrilegious word: “change”. Well, brave General, just take a bow!
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