The Nation March 19, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Oyo Govt urges workers to shun ‘illegal’ call for strike P7 Sport Out-of-favour midfield star Dickson Etuhu to quit Fulham P41 Business Telecom operators spend N6.7b on power monthly P25 www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2069 MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

N150.00

ALL FOR MOTHERS

•Women’s League of the Aso Rock Chapel performing the Mothers Day theme song during a special service ... yesterday.

Jonathan, governors adopt Tukur as PDP chairman

T

HE President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have agreed on the choice of shipping magnate Bamanga Tukur as the party’s national chairman, it was learnt yesterday. Sam

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Jaja is likely to be deputy chairman.

PDP is holding its convention at which national officers will emerge on Saturday.

But Dr Goodluck Jonathan

Panic in Kano churches From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Marie-Theresa Lalong, Jos

C

HURCHES in Kano closed services abruptly yesterday, following threats by the fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, to launch attacks..

In Jos, the Plateau State capital, the police barred worshippers from parking their cars inside church premises.

Some Kano churches were said to have received a letter believed to have been written by the sect, threatening to bomb them.

Worshippers hurriedly dispersed as the news of the

did not have his way in getting Senators and members of the House of Representatives into the National Executive Committee (NEC).

President Jonathan and the Continued on page 4

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Continued on page 4

•Tukur

We looted N14.3b pension cash, suspects confess EFCC arrests Perm Sec, two directors D

•Maina

ETECTIVES at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are questioning a Federal Permanent Secretary and two directors in some ministries for allegedly stealing about N14.3billion Police Pension cash.

The suspects, The Nation learnt yesterday, explained how they looted

From Yusuf Alli, Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

the pension funds.

The three suspects, whose names could not be immediately confirmed last night, have been released on bail, pending the conclusion of the investigation. But their passports have been seized to restrict their

movement to the country.

An EFCC source, who pleaded not to be named because the matter is under investigation, said: “The Permanent Secretary and the two directors were at various times Director of Police Pension Funds. During interrogation, one of them admitted embezzling N1.9billion; the second

said he mismanaged over N3billion and the third confessed to fiddling with N8billion.

“One of the suspects has retired from service. He has revealed where he kept the loot and how he spent some.

Continued on page 4

•CITYBEATS P8 •SPORTS P23 •JOBS P29•CEO P32 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

2

NEWS

Travails of

Despite former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Charles Soludo’s promise that depositors whose funds were trapped in the failed banks of 2006 would be promptly paid, many are still left in the cold ,years after he left office, reports LEKE SALAUDEEN

A •From left: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs.Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Oba Oladele Olashore; Vice Chancellor, Professor Sola Fajana and Registrar, Mr.Wale Aderibigbe, during the conferment of Doctor of Science of Entreprenuer (Honorary Causa) on Aregbesola, at JABU’s 3rd Convocation In Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.

•L-R Musa Abd-Rasaq Shoyode, Chairman Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria (ASYAN); Alhaji AbdRahman Olanrewaju Ahmad, Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society (Worldwide); Alhaji Gafar Shakiru, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Religion and Mr. Yusuff Keloni, ASYAN National Publicity Secretary at the association’s 50th anniversary celebration at Alausa, Ikeja PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES.

•From left: Mr. Ben Akabueze, Lagos State Commissioner For Economic Planning and Budget/Chairman Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti 2012); Mrs. Iyabowale Aluko, Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning and Budget; and Mr. Banjo Sodode, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning at the 6th Lagos Economic Summit in Lagos ... yesterday PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

•High Commissioner of India to Nigeria Ambasador Mahesh Sachdev; Chairperson of the conference Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and Director-General of Nigeria Insittute of International Affairs (NIIA) Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, during the Second India-Africa Academic Conference on existing good relations between both countries in Lagos PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

LMOST six years after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the licences of 14 banks for failing to recapitalise for N25 billion, some depositors have yet to get their money from the banks.

The victims, mostly market women, physically, challenged persons, pensioners, widows, orphans and other less-privileged have pleaded with the CBN and the Nigerian Insurance Deposit Corporation (NIDC) to come to their aid to no avail.

Many of them have died in the struggle to recover their money while the survivors among them have been afflicted with chronic ailments like stroke, caused by frustration and business collapse.

Mr Babatunde Adelaja retired from the Nigeria Ports Authority in 2005. He was paid his gratuity totalling N5.5million same year, which he lodged in Triumph Bank.

He planned to set up a printing press with the money. When the printing machines he ordered for arrived in the country, he went to the bank a week to the end of December to arrange for a transfer of fund to his supplier. The bank manager told him he had to wait till January. Unknown to him that the bank was one of those that would not meet the recapitalisation deadline, Adelaja keept promising his supplier that he would not disappoint. After the CBN came out with the list of failed banks and he found the name of his bank on it, Adelaja knew that his retirement benefits had gone down the drain.

Adelaja, who lives in a room apartment in Shomolu, Lagos is now a pools betting collector. He couldn’t believe that money saved in a bank could disappear just like that. “This banking experience has shattered my world. I vowed not to keep my money in banks anymore.

The unfortunate thing is that government has been promising to pay us back our deposit without doing so. Before we have been contribut-

ing money to pay our lawyer who is handling the matter for us with the (NDIC). I am fed up with the matter. Why should we employ the services of a lawyer if the government is sincere about its promise to refund our deposits?”

The case of a young Igbo businessman, Ikenna Ogbonna, is more pathetic. He has yet to recover from the shock of his funds trapped in two failed banks since 2006. He had N25 million in his Fortune Bank account and another N20 million in Gulf Bank before their licences were withdrawn. His cosmetics factory at Iyana-Ipaja in Lagos State has closed down. The production equipment and movable property have been auctioned by creditors. Ikenna still has an outstanding debt of N50 million to settle. Two of his creditors have sued him in a bid to recover the loans. He hardly gets representation in the court because he can not afford a lawyer.

It was in the heat of this problem that he fell ill. He spent six months in hospital. Today, Ikenna is down with stroke. His wife and children have packed out. Ikenna blames it all on the bank reforms of 2005 anchored by former Governor of Central Bank Prof Charles Soludo. If Soludo had kept to his promise that those whose funds were trapped in the failed banks would receive their money within 90 days, “people like me will not be in this pathetic situation”, said Ikenna. His regret is that the business crumbled when it was getting to the peak.

A widow, Mrs Aishat Abdulkadir, lost her life in an accident on Abeokuta-Lagos highway while trying to recover her deposits trapped in one of the failed banks.

A relation in Lagos sent for her that all customers of the failed banks have been asked to report at the CBN office in Lagos. Aishat was excited by the information believing that she would return to Abeokuta with some money. Before this, she had been struggling to raise money to re-start her petty trade which

Investments Tribunal:

T

HE crisis in the Capital Market has deepened, following a petition by some “Concerned Stakeholders” opposing the reappointment of some members of the Investments and Securities Tribunal(IST).

The Stakeholders, including some IST, workers have petitioned the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, on why the tribunal members should not return.

The IST is a 10-man panel adjudicating on capital market issues.

Apart from the tribunal chairman whose tenure expires in December, the other nine members, five-year term ended last Friday.

But the “Concerned Stakeholders” petition, signed by Deacon Niyi Adeleke and Alhaji Sani Nuhu Muhammad, accused the tribunal members of not knowing the

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

working of the Capital Market.

They alleged that staff used to write judgments for members of the Tribunal when they should be ahead of those they lead.

The petition reads in part: “A grave mistake was made by your predecessors in appointing this outgoing Tribunal. We see this intervention as a civic duty to assist you and the authorities in picking men and women of integrity, professionalism and vision to serve in the next Tribunal.

“Note please that the IST was conceived and set up as a specialised court to adjudicate and settle disputes within 90 days (3 months).

“This arrangement is aimed at giving comfort to litigants and investors that the Capital Market is

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

3

NEWS

failed banks’ depositors

• Soludo

• Ibrahim

went under when her savings were trapped in Fortune Bank. She didn’t get to Lagos.

The CBN withdrew the licences of All States Trust Bank Plc, African Express Bank Plc, Hallmark Bank Plc, Gulf Bank , Trade Bank Plc, City Express Bank, Eagle Bank Plc, Assurance Bank of Nigeria Plc, Liberty Bank Plc, Lead Bank Plc, Fortune Bank Plc and Metropolitan Bank Plc in 2006.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions which investigated the failed banks and their depositors, noted that a major factor hampering the compensation of the depositors is the non-recovery of debts owed the banks, especially the insiders’ credit abuse, amounting to N53.3 billion.

The committee noted that the petitions submitted by depositors of the failed banks “indicated a situation of misery, frustration, agony and despair, with a possibility that some might have died and many financially incapacitated by their inability to meet up with their daily obligations of normal life.”

According to the debtors’ list in the committee’s report, a former Minister of Science and Technology Ebitimi Banigo borrowed N15.17

billion from his bank, All States Trust Bank. He had refunded N10 million.

Former chairman of City Express Bank Chief Samuel Adedoyin and its Managing Director/Chief Executive Sola Adeoti jointly borrowed N5.13 billion from the bank. So far, only N453 million has been recovered from Adedoyin.

Gulf Bank crumbled under the debts of its directors: Adeyaba Adedunle Johns borrowed over N5 billion from his bank; Muyiwa Osho N242 million; Sanusi Ado Bayero N45 million and Babajide Rogers, N11.87 million.

Also, Emeka Offor of African Express Bank borrowed N7.5 bilion from his bank of this amount, N3.6 billion has been recovered from him.

Great Ogboru and Mrs Remi Adiukwu-Bakare borrowed N799.7 million and N2.03 billion from Metropolitan Bank without collateral and have not paid anything in return.

Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, a former governor of Kwara State, has an outstanding debt of N1,156 million owed Trade Bank, which was owned by the state government.

Liberty Bank was owed over N50 million by Victor Odili .

• Sanusi

The customers of Fortune Bank have called on the CBN and the NDIC to look into their plight by paying off their deposits with the bank.

In a petition addressed to the Managing Director of NIDC signed by their counsel S.C. Peters, the victims asked the insurance boss to the release the N12 billion set aside by the Federal Government to pay off their deposits.

But NDIC denies existence of such fund.

The petition reads: “The CBN and the NDIC had persistently told the public that the Federal Government has provided N12 billion for the repayment of these depositors and such huge money has been lying idle since 2006 while the depositors are suffering.”

The depositors’ counsel submitted that the refusal to pay his clients is hinged on the fact that there is a pending suit in court in which the shareholders of FIB are challenging the revocation of the bank’s licence. He described it as flimsy.

He argued that the shareholders’ suit never challenged the appointment of NDIC as the provisional liquidator to manage the affairs of FIB and to pay the depositors with the money provided by the govern-

ment.

According to the petition, none of the shareholders’ suits seeks to restrain CBN or NDIC from paying the depositors whose funds are trapped in the bank. “There are no real judicial fetters inhibiting these agencies from paying these depositors especially as the payment will be made from funds provided by the government and not from shareholders’ funds.”

NIDC’s Head of Legal Department Alhaji Nyako Alheri told our correspondent that the Petition was received. He explained that some insured and uninsured deposits had been paid for banks closed in 2006.

He said others have not been paid because of cases pending in court over the revocation of banks licences.

Alheri said Fortune Bank and Triumph Bank belong to this category.

“The delay in payment, he said, was as a result of litigations over the revoked licences of the affected banks being contested by the shareholders in courts”.

The Managing Director of NDIC Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim also said that the corporation has started paying insured deposits to the depositors of Triumph and Fortune banks. The delay in payment, according to the

NDIC boss, is because of the court cases proceedings. As at September 2011, the corporation had paid about N20 million of N804.35 million to depositors of Fortune Bank while about one million of N45.36 million had been paid to Triumph Bank depositors.

He said dividend payment to uninsured depositors in respect of 11 banks closed in 2006 under the Purchase and Assumption (P&A) arrangement as at the end of July 2011 was N666.757 of N152.5 billion representing 44 per cent.

According to him, the cumulative insured deposits paid in the 35 banks in liquidation as at July 11, 2011, stood at N3.304 billion of N5.24 billion, representing about 63 per cent.

On insured deposits paid for banks closed in 2006, Ibrahim said that given the guarantee of full coverage to the private sector depositors, the NDIC adopted P&A failure resolution mechanism.”The choice of P&A arrangement was based on the need to give depositors easy access to their funds without conditions; facilitating continuity of banking services in side the same premises used by failed banks; encourage depositors to establish banker-customer relationship with the acquiring banks and promote a banking culture which is critical to saving mobilisation for economic development. The cumulative insured deposit paid to the depositors of the banks as at July 2011 amounted to N3289 billion out of N1263 billion, representing about 26 per cent.

NDIC also resolved to dispose the risk assets of liquidated banks.

Ibrahim explained that the disposal of the assets has become more expedient because risk assets are subject to change in monetary value due to fluctuating market conditions adding that the disposal of the assets would achieve key objectives of NDIC in line with its statutory obligations as the liquidator of failed banks.

Hesaid the amount realised from the sale will, among others, facilitate the payment of dividends to depositors and other legitimate claimants of the liquidated banks.

As at December, a total valued asset of N19.32 billion was reported to have been realised from the disposal of the physical assets of the banks. Of this amount, N15.52 billion came from landed property, while N3.83 billion was realised from sundry items such as chattels, sale of vehicles and power generators. But NDIC says huge assets still remain to be disposed.

Stakeholders oppose members’ re-appointment •Say panellists cannot write judgments safe and operates under the rule of law. Sadly, the Tribunal as presently constituted has not lived up to the objectives and expectations of investors and government in this regard”.

The Stakeholders claimed that the appointment of some of the members of IST in 2007 allegedly violated the tribunal’s enabling act.

The petition added: “We have documented many important reasons why they should not be reappointed to include: “Unknown to the Capital market industry and in violation of the provisions of the Investments and Securities Acts of 1999 and 2007, most of the current members appointed in 2007 did not meet the minimum

experience and expertise in capital market norms, laws and operation as prescribed.

“The Chairman and only two members had prior knowledge of capital market practice or its processes.

“The grave consequence is that they lacked professionalism and diligence in their work. They could not understand the cases they were meant to adjudicate not to talk of writing judgments and rulings. They saw their appointments as mere political patronage with the acquisition of monetary gains as the sole objective”.

They also alleged that the composition of the Tribunal was lopsided as critical stakeholders

were excluded.

The aggrieved petitioners said: “The composition of the tribunal is too lopsided and without regard to existing stakeholders like Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Capital Market Registrars, Trustees, Capital Market Solicitors Association, Zonal Shareholders Associations or even reputable practitioners in the legal or other professions.

“Only one of the members belongs to any of the active industry sub-groups in the capital market.

“Sir, anybody with conscience and consideration for the growth and development of the capital market would ask why real operators in the Capital market would be so scandalously ignored and politicians

without any stakes or expertise appointed to run a sensitive Tribunal like IST. “The capital market is a multitrillion naira industry based at least 90% in Lagos. If the Federal Government is serious, only reputable professionals and at least one or two formidable market operators based in Lagos should be members of the Tribunal.

“That calibre of members would help the tribunal to measure the temperature of the market as well as educate others on the practical realities of operational processes and procedures. The Tribunal should no longer be a dumping ground for politicians desperate for monetary aggrandisement.

The Stakeholders expressed regrets that workers used to write judgments for some members of the tribunal.

They said: “In violation of the ISA law, the current members continue to dabble into administration especially award of contracts and, therefore, do not concentrate on adjudication which is their primary responsibility. They do not read their case files and so rely on staff to write judgments for them.

“The judgments are written by staff and the members’ lack of competence during court proceedings has often embarrassed the public while the Court of Appeal has criticized the quality of transcripts from the Tribunal. You will be ashamed of the mundane issues contained in their verbatim recordings when serious business interests are at stake.

It’s really a shame!"

4

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

NEWS Panic in Kano churches Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan and the First Lady, Patience, singing during the dedication of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa State ... yesterday. With them are the Rt. Rev. Bishop James Oruwari, Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

We looted N14.3b pension cash, suspects confess Continued from page 1

“We have written the Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, but we have not concluded investigation. All the suspects are on bail pending further action on the case.”

Responding to a question, the EFCC source added: “We deliberately did not release their names to the public in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigation. But they will be known at the appropriate time.”

As at press time, it was gathered that the serving Permanent Secretary and director have not been suspended from duty.

A source in government said: “The Civil Service Rules are rigid. You cannot just suspend, unless you have been indicted or arraigned in court.

We have not heard the final word from the EFCC.” The Pension Reform Task

Team leader, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has refuted the fraud allegation levelled against his team by the Assistant Chief Accountant in the Police Pensions’ Office, Mr. Toyin Ishola.

Ishola had told the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and Public Service and States and Local Government Administration, investigating the management and administration of pension funds that the Pension Reform Task Team is riddled with fraud.

The source said Maina insisted in a 50-page written submission to the committee that the PRTT has so far recovered N151.6 billion and £6 million in the past two years.

He said Maina stated that out of the recovered funds, N74 billion has been appropriated as part of the N4.877 trillion 2012 budget.

Another N24 billion was said to have been put aside as con-

tingency for the harmonisation of arrears, particularly in the police, where officers in the cadre of (Assistant-InspectorsGeneral of Police and Commissioners of Police, are paid between N84,000 and N101,000 monthly.

Details from the documents showed that the two bank accounts in Fidelity Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) were opened with authorisation from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) vide an August 9, 2011 letter with reference number AGF/TRY/RB/ 508/VOL I/20 The document showed Yakubu Kolawole Adeyemi, Edwin Ementa Nwokoye as the new signatories as at September 5, 2011, replacing Ishola and Mike Okoro.

The PRTT said it discovered that there were illegal withdrawals by staff of the Police Pension Office, using multiple

cheques with fictitious names in excess of 30 cheques per day to withdraw cash from their banks.

Such illegal withdrawals amounted to N14 billion, it was learnt.

The PRTT, assisted by the law enforcement agencies have made substantial recovery of the stolen cash.

An employee of the Police Pension Office (names withheld) turned in N1 billion cash.

“Another surrendered three luxury estates with about 27 blocks of deluxe flats he built in Abuja,” the source said On the alleged discovery of pension funds lodged in his brother’s account, Maina said while he is from Biu in Borno State, Danjuma Zubairu, the man referred to as his brother, hails from Kabba, Kogi State.

According to Maina, Zubairu is the Group Head, Private Banking, Abuja region of Fidelity Bank.

threat spread.

Security was immediately strengthened in other churches where services went on. A joint team of military and riot policemen cordoned off the areas where most of the prominent churches are located.

Some worshippers had a hectic time entering their churches as the security operatives combed them for explosives.

At the St. Thomas and St. Charles Catholic churches, the parish priests reportedly ended services abruptly, dispersing worshippers after reading a piece of paper handed over to them.

Rev. Fr. Charles Agumadu of St. Thomas on Bompai Road was said to have cited “security reasons” for terminating the mass. Following the announcement, worshippers rushed home.

There was heavy security presence at the Anglican Church of St Stephen’s on New Road.

A road block in areas with many churches stretched to over 1,000 metres to the church buildings. There was also vehicular patrol around the city.

Church attendance has remained low since January 20 when Boko Haram struck, killing no fewer than 200.

Worshippers in Jos parked their vehicles outside church premises, in compliance with a directive aimed at checking suicide attacks during services.

The directive to park vehicles outside churches came after a meeting between religious leaders and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ayeni.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The measure was informed by the spate of suicide bombings at churches on Sundays, and “the

general state of insecurity”.

Most worshippers did not park their cars within the premises of the buildings.

At the Living Faith Church on Richards Street, the Senior Pastor, Abel Dingamaji, did not park in his official parking space. He parked outside the premises like other members.

At the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church on Murtala Mohammed Way, worshippers’ vehicles were barred from the premises.

The parking lot of the Church of Immaculate Conception, Zaramangada was empty as most people did not bring their vehicles.

Women were also not allowed to take their handbags into the churches. They were directed to drop them at the security posts and enter the church with only their Bibles and writing materials.

Security has been strengthened across the metropolis, with the military Special Task Force (STF) searching vehicles, motorcycles and passengers.

This is in compliance with the directive of the STF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, who decried the alleged use of military uniform by suicide bombers.

He directed that everybody, including security personnel, be subjected to rigorous checks to halt the trend.

Vehicle bonnets and trunks were searched. Motorcyclists and their passengers were frisked by the soldiers to ensure that they were not carrying any explosive device.

Roads leading to churches were also blocked and traffic diverted by the churches’ security personnel and soldiers.

Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were stationed at strategic locations and STF, police force and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel stepped up vehicular patrols.

Jonathan, governors adopt Tukur as PDP chair Continued from page 1

governors resolved these issues at a meeting in his Otuoke country home in Bayelsa State at the weekend.

Rivers State Governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi represented his colleagues at the meeting.

The meeting was meant to harmonise the President’s and the governors’ positions, following the tension over the choice of National Chairman and National Secretary.

The governors pledged to back Tukur and other candidates presented by the President for national offices.

The President, it was learnt, endorsed former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for National Secretary.

Oyinlola is also being backed by the Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sources, who spoke in confidence, said: “The meeting between the President and Governor Amaechi was very cordial and both of them came out smiling.

“The President and the governors resolved their differences in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Saturday.

“All grey areas were thrashed out and Amaechi made it known that the gov-

Party chair not for neophytes, says Tukur

B

USINESSMAN Bamanga Tukur yesterday hit back at those accusing him of being too old for the office. “The chairmanship of the PDP is for elders; for fathers and not neophytes,” he told his critics.

Apparently taking a swipe at those against his aspiration to lead the PDP, the 75-yearold former governor of the defunct Gongola State said the party needed the wisdom of an elder to take it to the next level.

Speaking with reporters in Minna, the Niger State capital, after addressing delegates from the state at the party secretariat, Tukur said the dwindling fortunes of the ruling PDP informed his aspiration as one of the founding fathers.

He said: As one of those who built the party, one is not comfortable seeing its fortunes that were widely accepted 13 years ago drop. We need to bring the fortune of the party up and this is the job I want to do. The ernors have not been conspiring against the President at all.

“Just as the governors are in control of party machinery in their states, the President will also be allowed to have ‘much say’ in the constitution of the National Working Committee (NWC).”

Responding to a question, a source gave the details of the talks with the President as follows: •The meeting reaffirmed the agreement between the President and the Governors Forum to support all candidates for principal party of-

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

job now requires elders, fathers, so that we can pick up again for the young men and women coming behind us.

“We are going to rebuild the party so that the young men and women behind us can understand how the party is being run and the party’s take on discipline, justice, fairness and equity.”

Tukur assured members that his leadership will work at ensuring the supremacy of the party at all levels, adding: “There will be no imposition of candidate under our leadership.”

The state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abdulraham Enagi, said whoever emerges chairman should restore party supremacy.

“It is high time we ensured that the party’s supremacy is restored. We can no longer pay lip-service to party supremacy again,” Enagi told the chairmanship aspirant. fices that the President pre- governors to suspend plans to sents to them. make Senators and members •top among these candi- of the House of Representadates are Tukur and Oyinlola, tives members of the NEC. chairman and secretary; “The governors also are in •all principal officers of the charge of party structure in new PDP NWC will be nomi- their states. Thirdly, they will nees of the president; and also have Oyinlola (one of •the governors have agreed them) as the National Secretary. to back the President’s candi“I think it is presumed that dates for the election this Sat- Prince Uche Secondus may urday to promote unity and end up being retained as the cohesion in the party. consensus new Deputy NaAnother source added: “It is tional Chairman, in the light a win-win situation for the of the latest talks.

President and the Amaechi “So, the party may be set for group. The President have coronation on Saturday, if also upheld the plea of the things go well.”

Notwithstanding, the PDP Stakeholders Forum yesterday raised a fresh legal issue on Tukur’s qualification for Chairman.

A statement by the Forum’s co-ordinator, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said it is of the opinion that Tukur is not qualified to lead the party.

Ugochinyere said: “The main legal reason why Tukur is ineligible to contest for PDP chairmanship is this: The PDP NEC meeting of 31st May 2001 expelled the following BOT and National Officers. They were the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Tukur; the late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke; Don Etiebet; a former National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Ibeshi; a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo and the late Chief Harry Marshall.

“They were summarily expelled for anti-party activities after the NEC adopted the report of a Disciplinary Committee headed by the then Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Iro Dan Musa.

“The implication is that Article 10 of the PDP Constitution requires that returneemembers must be given waiver by the NWC; based on request, from their state chapters of the party, which the NEC must ratify.

“Tukur is not yet officially readmitted and ineligible to

•Amaechi

contest. The disqualification of Tukur by the Screening Committee is a must. Nobody is above the law.”

But a member of the NWC, who confided in our correspondent, said: “The PDP has gone beyond 2001 politics.

Tukur is eminently qualified to contest because he has played prominent role in the party since 2003.

“Do not forget that the report of the Alex Ekwueme Reconciliation Committee has overshadowed any issue being raised by this faceless PDP Stakeholders Forum which is unknown to the party’s constitution. All those expelled then have been readmitted to the party unconditionally.

“Tukur has academic and moral pedigree to occupy the office of the National Chairman of PDP. He has never been found wanting in public and private life.”

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

5

NEWS

ACN slams ‘govt’s poor handling’ of gas pipeline explosion off Bayelsa coast T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the gas pipeline explosion off the Bayelsa coast in January.

The party said its effect has worsened the plight of the already neglected people in the Koluama community and its environs.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ACN said the kid gloves with which the government has treated the company responsible for the disaster - Chevron - contrasts sharply with the way oil firms responsible for pollution are treated elsewhere around the world..

It said the government’s poor handling of the whole issue, which has worsened the people’s misery and hardship, poisoned their river and ruined their main source of livelihood (fishing), shows total lack of protection for them, while the oil firm responsible is engaging in tokenism in the name of response, instead of being made to pay a massive

By Nneka Nwaneri

fine in addition to a thorough clean-up of the affected area.

The party said: ‘’For a community that is already neglected, with no potable water, electricity, schools or health facilities, the Chevron gas pipeline disaster - which triggered a perpetual fire that enveloped communities with toxic smoke - is a double whammy, and the response of the government has deepened the pains of the residents and raised the fears that they could face a repeat of the 1953 disaster that wiped off the ancient Koluama community.

President Goodluck Jonathan has visited the Koluama community only once since the incident, and even then all he did was to praise the people for their ‘peaceful’ reaction to the disaster that has befallen them. He has neither gone back there nor warned the company. And the fact that the government officials, includ-

ing the Minister of Petroleum who also visited the area, did so in a Chevron helicopter and accepted rides in the firm’s boat – as reported in the media - has virtually shut their mouths from any meaningful protest. ‘’Contrast this with the way the massive 2010 BP oil spill in the US was handled - President Barack Obama visited the affected site three times in as many weeks, the firm was compelled to make huge funds available for clean-up operations, in addition to huge fines, issuance of more licenses for oil exploration in the sea was stopped and a senior BP official had to go - and one will see a government (in Nigeria) that has allowed oil firms to ride roughshod over its people. ‘’This week, Brazilian prosecutors say they will bring criminal charges against 17 executives from Chevron and drilling contractor Transocean, after a new leak of

crude. The executives have also been barred from leaving the country until the investigation concludes. ‘’In February 2011, a court in Ecuador fined the same Chevron that is being treated with kid gloves in Nigeria $8 billion for polluting the Amazon Region. Nine months later, the Brazilian government slammed the same Chevron with a $28 million fine for causing an oil spill off the country’s coast, while prosecutors demanded $10.6 billion for environmental damage. Yet, in Nigeria, Chevron and other oil firms have decimated farmlands, polluted rivers and waterways and exposed many to toxic wastes and fumes through their carelessness, without facing any fine or being made to pay compensation to the affected people. This is not right and should stop immediately,’’ ACN said.

The party urged the various individuals and groups that have been campaigning to en-

sure a better deal for communities in the oil region to call the attention of the federal government, especially the President, to the need for erring oil companies to pay compensation for their acts of omission, clean up the mess they have made in the region and pay huge fines that could serve as a deterrent and encourage best practices in their oil exploration and related activities. ‘’The government must stop acting in a manner that suggests that it prefers oil companies to its own people, or that all it is interested in are the windfalls from oil exploration, rather than the well-being of the people in the oil communities,’’ it said. ‘’If a pollution in the President’s backyard can be treated with so much levity by government officials and rapacious oil firms, there is need for all Nigerians to worry,’’ the party added.

Senator: how my driver robbed me at gun point

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ENATOR Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South) yesterday narrated how he escaped death on Friday in the hand of his driver who robbed him at gun point.

The Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) lawmaker said he was on his way to Benin City, the Edo State capital for the ACN convention when his driver, Mohammed Ibrahim, allegedly pointed a gun to his head, dragged him out of his black Mercedez Benz S430 and sped off with his briefcase containing “vital documents”.

Ibrahim, according to Uzamere, is in his mid-30s.

He hails from Niger State and has been with him for

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

seven years.

The documents which are both personal and official, are irreplaceable, Uzamere said.

He said: “It was around 12 pm on Friday. We were on the way to the airport when I decided to check my briefcase.

“I discovered that part of the money inside had been taken. I asked my driver how that came to be since I left him in the car earlier when I went to the Chinese Embassy.

“I felt I would need some money for the activities slated for the convention. So, I said ‘take me back; let me find a solution to the missing mon-

‘The driver suddenly parked the car, came to my side and put a pistol on my head, practically dragged me out and left in a jiffy’ ey’.

“But just before we reached my house (in Jabi) by the junction (of Ebitu Ukiwe and Bala Sokoto), the driver suddenly parked the car, came to my side and put a pistol on my

head, practically dragged me out and left in a jiffy.”

The distraught lawmaker said he was completely traumatised for several hours and could not leave for the ACN convention in Benin, until early Saturday morning.

The run-away driver was said to have called a member of Uzamere’s family, urging him to pick his father’s car somewhere in Life Camp area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Uzamere, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, said: “I give thanks to the Lord that I am still alive.

“It could have been worse.

It is a setback for my pro-

•Uzamere gramme . This is another example of how bad things have become and why we must all strive harder to make this country better for us all and for our children,” he added.

The Utako Police Station is investigating the matter.

Leadership is about sacrifice, says Mark From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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ENATE President David Mark at the weekend reminded political office holders that leadership is a sacrifice and a call to service to humanity and not an opportunity for self-aggrandisement.

Mark ,according to a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh in Abuja spoke while addressing elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials in Makurdi, Benue State at Saturday’s congress.

The President of the Senate added that “leadership requires the ability to manage human and material resources effectively for the general good.”

He urged the elected leaders to carry all the members along in the scheme of things to avoid disaffection, saying “even those who defected to other parties should be encouraged to return back to the fold.”

Mark added that the PDP has demonstrated that it has the capacity to conduct its internal affairs democratically.

The President of the Senate urged the people to continue to support the PDP as the credible platform to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

•Area Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), LightHouse Parish, Efe Akpomudje (left), Manager, PSC (Gas) Offshore/Oshore Mr. Francis Akintimehin, President, Campaign for Democracy (CD) Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, a Director, Newswatch Magazine, Mr Soji Akinrinade and Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch Mr. Adebamigbe at a talkshop in Lagos…yesterday

Ex-MTN workers petition Reps over sack •Firmdeniesallegation

By Eric Ikhilae

SIXTY-FIVE former workers of moblie giant MTN Nigeria Limited have petitioned the House of Representatives, seeking a public hearing on the alleged non-payment of their terminal benefits.

The ex-workers urged the House to compel the company to either reverse their alleged unlawful sack or pay their benefits.

They said, in the petition addressed to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, that they were sacked by the company on November 18, 2009 without regard to the provisions of their terms of engagement.

The telecommunication firm has denied the allegations, claiming to have complied with all the regulations.

The ex-workers, who were of the MTN’s Customer Relations Department, said in the petition by their lawyer, Onu Eke Uche, that they had been subjected to serious economic hardship ever since they were sacked.

They denied that they were either queried or told the reasons for their sack, a development they claimed, was contrary to the conditions in their letters of employment.

The petitioners alleged that they were forced to execute acceptance letters of disengagement by MTN, under the presence of heavily armed policemen, and that the mass disengagement was done without any reason whatsoever.

MTN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Funmilayo Omogbenigun, said: “When in 2009, MTN Nigeria embarked on an aggressive plan to refocus its customer service operations, it invested over N4.5 billion.

“The result was the adoption of state-of-theart technology that supported a world-class customer service. In line with this strategy, 65 workers were disengaged sequel to several internal reviews.

“The aim was to better position the organisation to serve its teeming customers for the future.

Those who were disengaged were paid an exit package, in line with the policy. All their indebtedness to the company was also waived”.

Why UKdeported 53 Nigerians, by ministry

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ORE facts emerged yesterday on why Britain deported 53 Nigerians last week.

Many of them had overstayed their visas. Some had completed their prison terms, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

It also maintained, through a statement signed by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode, that 53 – not 120 – Nigerians were brought back home from the United Kingdom (UK).

The statement explained that the deportation followed

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

due process because the affected Nigerians were made to face some migration-related panels and went through legal appeals.

It claimed that the processes, up to deportation level, were monitored by senior officials of the Nigerian High Commission in London .

The statement reads: “On the issue of deportation of Nigerians from Britain , we wish to state emphatically

that the total number of Nigerians involved was 53 contrary to the exaggerated claim of 120.

“These compatriots were removed from the UK essentially because they have overstayed their visas or have completed their prison terms.

“Deportation of Nigerians from the UK is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration Returns which was concluded between the two countries a few years ago.

“Under the terms of the MoU, Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in the UK and have exhausted all local remedies and legal appeals are subject to removal from the country.

“This has made deportation of such Nigerians a matter of routine that now takes place in line with the provision of the MoU. “The whole process was supervised by very senior officials of the Nigerian High Commission, London.”

An official of the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, who also spoke in confidence, said: “We started Migration Returns in 2005 after the completion of the MoU. It is a global trend to deport migrants who are surviving through illegal means, including credit card fraud, internet scams and immigration paper forgery.

“It is not as if Nigeria is condoning the deportation of its citizens. Those who have valid visas and earn income legitimately in the UK have nothing to fear.”

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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NEWS Bank manager, four others killed by robbers in Delta

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OUR suspected robbers at the weekend in Sapele, Delta State killed a bank manager and four others at a beer parlour.

The incident, which was said to have happened at about 8.30 p.m. has thrown residents into confusion.

It was learnt that some men and their girl friends were drinking at the spot when a young man brandishing an AK 47 rifle alighted from a vehicle and opened fire on them.

A source who spoke with The Nation said: “When the man alighted from the vehicle, he raised up his AK 47 rifle and shot at the people drinking. Five persons died on the spot. Several others sustained injuries”.

The beer parlour is located on 67 Macpherson Road, op-

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri posite Okotie-Eboh Grammar School, Sapele. Those who sustained injuries were rushed to the General Hospital but were later referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Among the dead were a bank manager, a car dealer’s wife, an official of first generation bank also in Sapele and an unidentified person.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Charles Muka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed the incident.

He said police have begun investigation into the incident “We will apprehend the killers and it is sad that such a thing could happen in Sapele that is known to be a peaceful town”, he said.

FCTA to demolish Nyanya town From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has spoken of plans to carry out more demolition in its domain, expressing its commitment to pull down Nyanya, a sub-urban district in the FCT. The planned demolition is in line with the FCTA’s urban renewal initiatives.

Minister Bala Mohammed who made the disclosure when he received in audience ambassadors-designate was, however, silent on when the project will begin.

Nyanya is one of five sub-urban districts in Abuja. Others are Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Karu and Jukwoyi.

The minister who took the diplomats through a 60minute power point presentation on the development strategy of the administration, challenged them to work towards raising the profile of Nigeria as they move to other countries.

He said that no nation can grow without competing with other nations of the world, but enjoined them to use their new positions to improve the image of the country.

Mark awards scholarship to 3000 students

S

ENATE President David Mark at the weekend awarded scholarship to about 3000 students of Benue State origin in tertiary institutions across the country.

He also announced automatic scholarship to all the first class graduates to pursue their masters’ degree program in any university of their choice henceforth.

In addition, according to a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh in Abuja, Senator Mark extended the scholarship to 109 physically challenged students - one each from all the Senatorial Districts.

These category of recipients would however, be nominated by their Senators.

A total of 9,249 students have so far received the scholarship under David Mark Scholarship Scheme (DMSS)

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From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Amaechi: how Rivers ‘ll achieve 24-hour power supply by Dec •Votes N30b

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday explained how his administration intends to provide uninterrupted 24hour power supply in Port Harcourt and the entire state from December.

Amaechi spoke at the second Dissecting The Amaechi Administration Media Briefing Series at the Government House, Port Harcourt. He was represented by the Commissioner for Power, Augustine Nwokocha.

Nwokocha said N30billion has been set aside for the project.

Nwokocha said what the Rivers State Government is doing to get 24-hour power supply this year is “to generate enough capacity, have a robust transmission infrastructure that will take the power to the people, to their neighourhood and then have a very solid distribution infrastructure that will take it to their routes, and so we are addressing these three things – Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution”.

He said: “And unlike the previous system where they were all given to one person, here we have a total of 10 outfits doing different things to ensure that we deliver on time”.

Nwokocha went on: “So, what we have done differently is that we have divided this work into smaller units that are deliverable, faster and better. We have also focused

which started in 2005 for which over N150million have been disbursed.

Distributing the cheques to the awardees in his Otukpo , Benue State home, Mark noted that education remains the undisputed legacy anybody, group or government can bequeath to the younger generation.

Mark said:, “I am very passionate about the education of our youths because I believe that with good education, the people can be liberated and overcome the twin problem of poverty and disease.

“I am of the strong conviction that a lot of the social vices in our society today; arm robbery, kidnapping and violence would have no place in our society if people are properly educated.”

•Nwokocha (right) at the briefing...yesterday. With him is the governor’s spokesman David Iyofor

on getting the quality of men that can deliver this work and deliver them well.

“We have got Saipan Nigeria Limited to build a power substation. We have Weltech doing a medium voltage substation. We have selected people in that category, people who we believe can deliver based on their track record”.

The Power Commissioner said the state is “currently pursing the transmission aspect of our power project.”

According to Nwokocha, Amaechi’s administration has formed a committee of technocrats to deliver power to Rivers people, saying a reliable vendor has been found for power distribution.

“We have identified a very veritable vendor with very reliable technology in distribution and transmission, Sunder Electrical of France and we have entered a contract with the company to supply us all the materials that are required

to stabilise power supply in the city of Port Harcourt and its environs”, he said.

“We have also given out contracts to build substations that will reduce the length of our feeders that sometimes stretch as far as 40 or 50 kilometres through all manner of places. So, we are creating substations that will impact shorter span of the city with the capacity to back feed if a substation has problem, from another one. So, that we will have reliable power supply”, he said.

He also added that contracts for the acquisition of all parts and components of power substations have been awarded.

“Currently, the contract for the acquisition of the parts and components required for this exercise have been awarded.

The contract for those who will do the implementation, the construction proper has been awarded, some of them

in clusters of three substations, five contractors. We didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past where one person was doing generation, transmission and distribution. So, we have seven contractors doing the distribution substations each handling only three and then we have a contractor trying to remedy the lapses that are in the transmission backbone, and you have another contractor handling strictly generation”.

He said the model adopted by the Amaechi administration in power has delivered some results.

He also disclosed that currently the state power projects is generating 466 megawatts with an additional 150 megawatts coming from PHCH. He said this capacity will increase to over 700 megawatts by the time the Phase 2 of the State Afam power project is completed next year.

•US Consular General, Lagos, Mr. Joseph Starfford (second right), Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale,(second left) cuting the tape to inaugurate the Victoria Medical Clinic, Tomaro Island, Amuwo Odofin council...at the weekend. With them are Hon. Solomon Whenu (left) and Prince Afolabi Dosumu (right)

Court restrains IGP from arresting Ogun PDP chieftain

FEDERAL High Court in Lagos has restrained the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from arresting a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu over allegation that he swindled a former Senator from the state.

The order was contained in a judgment on Friday by Justice Okon Abang in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Kashamu against the IGP and the former Senator – Lekan Mustapha.

Kashamu had sued upon threat of his arrest by the Police upon a purported report

by Mustapha that the plaintiff allegedly obtained $190,000 from him sometime

•Orders maintenance of status quo in suit against party leaders

By Eric Ikhilae

in 2010 under false pretences.

Justice Abang, in the judgment, upheld the plaintiff’s argument that the funds was a voluntary contribution made by Mustapha in support of the activities of a group – Omoilu – founded by Kashamu.

The court held that the allegation contained in a petition allegedly written by Mustapha to the Police was without basis and intended to tarnish the reputation of the plaintiff. The court consequently awarded N20million damages in favour of the plaintiff.

Kashamu, in his application said that Mustapha was a supporter of his Omoilu group within the state’s PDP, during which he made the financial contribution to the organisation.

He stated that Mustpaha fell out with his group when he decamped to the Labour Party to contest the Ogun East Senatorial seat, following a dispute within the party before the last general elections.

The plaintiff stated that Mustapha had allegedly made the false allegation against him upon losing the election and perceiving the now formidable Omoilu group as an

obstacle to the realisation of his plan to return to PDP. Meanwhile, Justice Abang has ordered the maintenance of status quo in a suit against the PDP and some of its national leaders by member of the Harmonised Executive Committee of the party in Ogun State led by Chief Dayo Soremi.

The judge also ordered the service of all originating processes in the suit on the defendants through the party’s Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje or its National Secretary at Abuja.

The court refused to grant the plaintiffs request for in-

junctive orders restraining the party by its national organs – National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, its Southwest Zonal organs and their officials from taking any disciplinary actions against them in respect of purported queries issued against Soremi and one other in respect of the party’s congresses held in the state.

The court however converted the prayers made ex-parte to notice and ordered the respondents to show cause why the orders should not be made.

Named as defendants in the suit are the PDP, Alhaji Baraje, Uche Secondus, Olusola Oke,

and Prof Rufai Alkali.

Soremi, Bayo Dayo and Taiwo Abisekan had sued, challenging the legitimacy of the said queries allegedly issued against Soremi and the Secretary to the Harmonised Committee, Pegba Otemolu by the party’s National Vice-Chairman, Southwest and on the bases of which they were threatened with disciplinary measures.

They also queried the legitimacy of a published directive purportedly made by Alkali, baring the party from conducting congresses in the state, allegedly canceling those earlier conducted and threatening disciplinary measures against anyone who disobeyed the said directive.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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NEWS Oyo condemns call for strike •’No Circular Road contract yet’ From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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•Fayemi (second right); his deputy Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (third right); Omirin (right); and Ekiti House of Assembly Mr. Tunde Famoyegun (left)... on Friday.

HE Oyo State Government has condemned the call for a strike by an unrecognised group.

In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Waheed Olajide, said: "The attention of the state government has been drawn to a purported call for a strike by a group unknown to law and the government.

"As a government that abides by the rule of law, we state that such a call is illegal and irresponsible."

The government urged workers to report at their duty posts today. It said any worker that shuns work on the order of the unknown group does so at his or her own risk.

State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Alhaji Bashir Olanrewaju assured workers that the crisis over the new wage table is internal and would be resolved soon.

Also at the weekend, the state government said it has not awarded the contract for the proposed 108-km circular road in Ibadan to DSC Limited or any other contractor.

In a statement, the governor's media aide, Mr. Festus Adedayo, said Governor Abiola Ajimobi has met with the management of many firms which are interested in the contract and other projects, and will continue to do so, but the contract has not been awarded.

Boroffice: we have great plans for youths

Fayemi signs Social Security Bill into law

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi at the weekend signed the Social Security Bill into Law. He said the law was borne out of his administration's concern for the welfare of the elderly.

Fayemi said the social security scheme, which offers indigent elderly citizens a monthly stipend of N5,000, is not a vote-catching gimmick as is being insinuated in some quarters.

He spoke on Friday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor's Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while signing the law.

The governor said it was important for the scheme, which started six months ago,

•Beneficiaries hit 20,000 to have a legal backing, in order to ensure its sustainability.

The Ekiti Social Security Scheme, which is the first in Nigeria and West Africa, was announced by the governor on October 1, 2011. Payment of the monthly stipend commenced on October 25.

Fayemi said: "When we initiated the scheme, sceptics thought it was a vote-catching gimmick of a typical opportunistic and desperate politician.

"Even to genuine admirers, the realisation of this dream was unfathomable, given the limited resources available in our state. Now that the goal is realised, it is the beginning of the fulfillment of our cam-

paign promise to provide for our elderly.

He said: "It is noteworthy that a number of states, as well as the Federal Government, have shown interest in this scheme and we are glad to have pioneered it. The question my colleagues always ask at the Governors' Forum is how we manage to do all this, given our 35th position on the revenue table."

House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin said: "We are here today making history as the first state in West Africa to initiate a social security system for the aged. We know the critical roles senior citizens play in our lives and the society

at large.

"We must always emphasise custom and history as components of social engineering mechanism for development.

It is our custom to take care of our aged."

Omirin said the scheme has challenged the Federal Government to start the process of establishing a national social security scheme.

Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development, Wole Adewumi said the state began paying stipends to 10,084 beneficiaries last October. He said another round of registration has begun to update the database and increase the number of beneficiaries to 20,000.

ACN aspirant promotes N1.2b plant in Ondo

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GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Mr. Akinola Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa a.k.a. Apata, at the weekend laid the foundation of a N1.2 billion industry at Akinfosile, Okitipupa Local Government Area.

He also kicked off a free health programme in Ilaje Local Government Area, The industry, TelCNG Power, will convert vehicles from running on petrol to gas and create hundreds of jobs when completed.

Akinsehinwa said the industry, which is the first in sub-sahara Africa, would be-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

gin operations this year.

He said the industry would reduce environmental pollution caused by oil.

Akinsehinwa said: "Gas is safer. It covers more distance than petrol and has no government subsidy. It can be used for cooking and can work with existing petrol vehicles.

"I sited this industry in my state to reduce the high rate of thuggery, which is caused by unemployment. This company would create employment for hundreds of youths.

"I am planning to establish three of these industries and it will be sited in the three sena-

torial districts. I have started with the Southern Senatorial District, here in Okitipupa. In the Central District, it would be sited at Akure, while Owo will be the location for the Northern District.

"Before the end of this year, commercial activities will begin at the Okitipupa industry and I promise Ondo people that if I emerge as the ACN candidate and win the governorship election, my projects will be completed in six months.

"Many aspirants have been attacked by Labour Party (LP) hoodlums on many occasions and I believe that if the youths are engaged, this will reduce.

My government will focus on industrialisation, which the present administration lacks, and I am already fulfilling part of my electioneering promises."

Lamenting the "decay" in the health sector, the aspirant said the LP government is "deceiving the masses with the Mother and Child programme while the state hospitals are in a deplorable condition."

He said: "Our free health programme will cover the 18 local government areas. We want our people to have free access to health services."

Major-General Olu Bajowa (rtd) was at the ceremony.

Ekiti disowns fake govt transactions documents

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HE Ekiti State Government has disowned fake documents, purported to be government transactions, which are being circulated in the state.

In a statement yesterday, Commissioner for Information and Civil Orientation Funminiyi Afuye said the fake documents are aimed at discrediting the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration.

Afuye said the government has nothing to hide and anyone found culpable of character assassination would be punished.

The statement reads: "The Fayemi administration is an open book and has nothing to hide. That is why it is the first

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

state to domesticate the Freedom of Information law, which enables citizens to request for any information from government. There are also provisions in the Law to sanction refusal of legitimate requests. Hence, a patriotic citizen or genuine critic of government does not need to rely on false or criminal means to source information on government activities.

"Ekiti State has taken the lead and indeed scored first in many areas. It is the first to pass the Gender-based Violence Prohibition Law. It is second to none in the social security scheme for the elderly that has

become a reference point in Nigeria and West Africa.

"Today, the Ekiti child is proud to be integrated into the global Information and Communication Technology world, through the e-School project (one-computer-perdesk), as well as special computers and instructional materials for physically-challenged students. The teachers are also not left out.

"The present administration has raised the state's monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N109 million in December, 2010, to over N600 million in December, 2011.

The prevailing peace in Ekiti is spiced with massive infrastructure development, nota-

bly in road construction, rural electrification, and the renaissance of the industrial, agricultural and tourism sectors.

"All these are puzzles that are beyond the comprehension of these elements who had previously squandered an ill-gotten opportunity to develop the state.

"Finally, it must be clearly stated that the purveyors of falsehood do so at their own risk and the wrath of the law shall be meted out on whoever is found culpable in this character assassination agenda.

"The Fayemi administration remains focused and committed to its eight-point agenda for the development of the Land of Honour."

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GOVERNORSHIP aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, has said the party has great plans for youths.

Borrofice, who represents Ondo North District in the Senate, spoke at a weekend during a sensitisation rally in Okitipupa Local Government Area. The rally, organised by ACN youths, was to sensitise the people on why the party should be voted into power .

Youths from LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were received into ACN at the event.

Borrofice said: "Youths have been impoverished.

They are not genuinely considered in policy formulation, which is the bane of our development today, and economic hardship has taken a turn on them.

"I promise to prioritise your agenda in my administration and make you the centre-point of genuine governance. I will revive moribund industries and cer-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure tainly strive to build more to create jobs."

At Ilaje Local Government Area, the senator said he would reposition the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to serve the needs of the people.

Ilaje leaders, led by Chief Wole Eroaye, lamented the "neglect of the council" and the "diversion of OSOPADEC funds by the state government".

ACN chieftains in Ondo South, led by Mr. Wale Akintimehin and former Secretary to the State Government Prince Fioye Bajowa, said Borrofice qualifies to be governor.

State ACN Youth leader Mr. Enas Mohammed said the party is the best alternative to the LP government.

A party chieftain, Dr. Paul Akintelure, said: "ACN has great plans for youths. We want to rebrand our youths and eradicate thuggery. Our programmes will allow the youths enjoy the dividends of democracy, if we are voted in."

Babatope hails Ajimobi

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has commended the political tolerance of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Babatope spoke at the weekend during a programme on the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

The former Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), who is currently vying for the post of the PDP National Secretary, said Ajimobi has displayed a high level of maturity by accommodating the opposition, without the acrimony and intolerance that was the hallmark of previous administrations.

He praised the governor for allowing residents to air their views freely on BCOS, whether critical or pleasant to the government.

Speaking on the "Ideology of Awo", Babatope said many parties in Nigeria have no clear-cut ideologies. He said only a people-oriented party will be acceptable to the majority.

OOU greets Afonja on UNECA award

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ORMER Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Governing Council, Prof. Biyi Afonja has received the UNECA Africa Statistics Award in recognition of his life-long service to the development of statistics.

In a congratulatory letter by the Registrar, Mr. Femi

Oyewole, the university said it was happy to be associated with Afonja’s achievement.

He said the saying, all is well that ends well,” aptly describes the recognition and honour bestowed on Afonja.

Oyewole prayed that God would continue to bless Afonja with good health, happiness and long life.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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CITYBEATS Prostitute admits stabbing client to death

By Adebisi Onanuga

A 26-YEAR old commercial sex worker, Hope Okafor, has admitted stabbing her client, Samuel Sarumi, to death.

Inspector Ada Erondu disclosed this while giving evidence in Miss Okafor’s trial before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

Miss Okafor is standing trial for allegedly stabbing Sarumi, at 11:30pm on March 2, 2010 at Nice Time Hotel, Ipaja. He died.

Ada Erondu of the, State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, told the court that the defendant had admitted the crime. The investigating police officer told the court that when she visited the crime scene, the defendant told her that she stabbed the deceased person in her hotel room.

“When I got to the hotel, the hotel manager and the owner told me Okafor was in her room, and that she was hiding from an angry mob.”

“I was told that the victim, Sarumi, had come out of her hotel room with blood all over him. When I got to the crime scene, I saw pieces of broken bottle on the floor which we later recovered. The defendant was the only prostitute I met at the crime scene. The others had absconded.

“She told me there that she stabbed the deceased, but that she didn’t know the victim would die.”

Funmi Iyanda back LAGOS State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Friday received award-winning broadcaster, Ms Funmi Iyanda on her return to the country after successfully climbing the Kilimanjaro Mountain. The voyage was part of an initiative aimed at raising awareness to stop violence against women.

Fashola received Miss Iyanda, after her journey at the Lagos House, Marina, through an arduous five-day climb through the rain forest, tundra and arctic climates until the final ascent to the peak on International Women’s Day. The governor noted that Nigerian women would appreciate Iyanda and salute her for a task-in-aid of their cause, adding that she agreed to climb the mountains to give a voice against women abuse.

Fashola described violence against women as one of the serious issues relating to law and order, to protection of citizens and their assets, stressing that no asset can be more valuable than citizen’s rights to their bodies, to their privacy and their minds.

He said the devastation in violence against women is not only physical, it is mental and also scars people for life.

Speaking earlier, Iyanda said she considered the Kilimanjaro experience as the most outstanding of her life, adding that she was encouraged by the regular motivational text messages of the governor.

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

How we were attacked, by victims of Ladipo

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OME victims of last week’s clash at the Aguiyi Ironsi market, Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, Mainland have given details of what led to the violence in which many people were injured and wares destroyed.

The Chairman of the spare parts market’s Task Force, Ifeanyi Ogwugwo, who sustained cuts on his legs and right arm, said they were taken unawares by a group allegedly led by officials of Mushin Local Government Area who were in the market, ostensibly on a peace mission.

He praised the governor and the House of Assembly for the reopening the market, allegedly shut some months ago by officials who claimed their decision was on health ground.

He said: “On that Monday, some officials of Mushin Local Government Area came to our market with some thugs and some people who are opposed to our leadership in the market.

“On their arrival, they invited traders in the market and began to address us about the management of the market. When they finished, people started shouting no! no!! no!!!.

“At that point, our president, Jonathan Okoli, came out. On sighting him, people started hailing him. He told them to be calm and to listen to what those who came had to say. He later addressed us.

“The crowd was huge. But we were able to push the people back so that their vehicle could pass through the market. While they were moving, those in the truck they brought started jumping off and suddenly, they became unruly, using their cutlasses and axes on any identified member of our market union.

“As the Task Force Chairman, I was still trying to make way for them only to feel a sharp pain from behind. I turned around, to see blood streaming from my leg, but before I could make any

•Ifeanyi Ogwuguo

By Eric Ikhilae

move, another person hit my head with an axe.

“The results of the attack are these injuries on both my hands and legs.

“The council officials had come with a proposal to help us fashion out a way of managing the market, which our people turned down.

“We told them we have a leader, and that he alone could speak with us on such issues. It was at

that point they became angry. We knew it took the intervention of the court and the House of Assembly before the market could be opened. The closure cost us a lot and we did not want anything that will lead to any closure again.

“We are grateful to the state government too, particularly the governor for his role in ensuring the re-opening of our market closed for about four months. We support this government and the ruling party in the state and we

Fashola urges more cash for health care

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has advocated for an increase in the allocation of funds to the health sector, if the state is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reduction of infant and maternal mortality.

He said an allocation of between N1, 280 and N3, 040 per person is required between now and 2020 for the state to effectively bridge the disparity in accessing health care between the rich and the poor.

The governor, who spoke at the launch of an investment case document entitled: Reducing health disparities in Lagos State, said the state could hardly achieve this on its own. He thereby sought the assistance of donor agencies, development partners and private sector.

Fashola, represented by his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said: “The fund to improve total coverage of essential interventions is far beyond the resources of the state.”

•Deputy Governor Orelope-Adefulire (2nd right), with the report. She is flanked from left by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile, a representative of one of the partners, Health Commissioner, Dr Jide Idris, Country Representative of the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), Dr Suomi Sakai, and Regional Director UNICEF, West and Central Africa Regional Office, David Gressly PHOTO: WALE ADEPOJU

By Wale Adepoju

He said there is a connection between health and development, adding that an improved system is central to human happiness and

well-being.

“By extension, it also makes important contribution to economic progress, as healthy people live longer and are more productive and save more,” he added.

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 070-35068242 01-7904983 080-79279349; 080-63299264

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-34346168; 01-2881304

will continue to support them.”

Another victim of the clash Mr Emeka Eze, said the peope that lead the attack came in a bus and a black Maria and they arrived around 12 noon.

"Some officials of the local government area, including the chairman, came with them. We thought it was a peace meeting, we even resisted them initially but when our chairman Mr Jonathan Okoli addressed us. We accepted to listen to them, we did not know they came for war," Eze

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com 6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

Fashola said: “There is the need to build support across government for more investment in the sector and prioritise economic and development plans generally.”

He listed the importance of investing in health sector to include: the promotion of economic development, saying poverty reduction had been much less appreciated and greatly under-estimated.

“There are facts that extending the coverage of crucial health services, including a relatively small number of specific interventions to the poor could save millions of lives yearly, reduce poverty, spur economic development and promote global security,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

9

CITYBEATS

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

market clash

PHOTOS: ERIC IKHILAE

Eze

said.

According to him when the chairman of the local government told them they need a new leader in the market, the traders in one voice told him that they already have a leader and are not ready to change leadership.

Eze said immediately the leadership of the council noticed what they were saying was not accepted by the traders, they left but not

without a fight.

"As they were leaving, the boys in the Black Maria and the bus jumped out with cutlasses and broken bottles and attached us. I was cut on my hand, leg and other parts of my body.

Many traders sustained various degrees of injuries.

So many of us are still in the hospital receiving treatment. We urge the state governor to intervene.”

Lagos shuts Apapa Amusement Park •Demolish illegal structures

O

FFICIALS of the Lagos State Task force on Environmental and Other Related Offenses yesterday sealed off the Apapa Amusement Park and demolished illegal structures erected within and around its premises.

Government bulldozer and officials of the taskforce arrived the area by 8.30am, and swung into action.

Scores of occupants of the illegal structures were seen making frantic efforts to salvage their belongings.

Chairman of the Taskforce Mr Bayo Suleiman, a Superintendent of Police who led the demolition, said it was necessary as the area constitute serious environmental and security concern to the government.

He said government’s intention was to return the park to its original plan for recreation.

Suliamon said the government got wind of an information that those who were managing the park had carried out all maners of illegality, adding that government cannot fold its hand and allow such to continue.

“We learnt that part of this place has been convert-

By Miriam Ndikanwu

ed to a cemetary, there is no way government would have permitted that,” Suleiman said.

He said there was also growing concerns of security, adding that some of the illegal structures would compromise the state’s security policy.

About 44 buildings, were affected, including one housing the Redeemed Christian Church of God, located near the Park.

A shop owner who gave his name as Ebuka, was seen evacuating his wares.

He lamented that he just parted with a year’s rent three days before the demolition.

Rita, a student and a squatter in a one room apartment within the park was a shadow of herself as she pondered on where to stay.

But in defence, Managing Director of Parkway Ride and Services Limited, manager of the Apapa Amusement Park, Mrs. Mac Authur, said the government only gave them a 48 hours notice.

She, however said there was no justification for the state government’s action.

Govt unveils economic summit plan

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HE Lagos State Government at the weekend said four sectors hold the key to its economic transformation.

It said experts from within and outside the country would gather at the city centre next month to chart the way forward in making the state the driver of the process that would make the country join other developed economies of the world.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ben Akabueze, who stated this at a media briefing on the forthcoming Ehingbeti Economic Summit on Saturday, also listed the priority sectors to include-Power, Agriculture and Agro-allied industries, Transportation and Housing.

Akabueze who listed the constructions of sidewalks on major roads and the blue light rail, as few of the initiatives from previous summits, expressed the commitment of the government to implementing the reports of the summit.

He said the summit with the theme: From Brics to Brincs: Lagos holds the key Ehingbeti 2012, offers the nation an opportunity to join other economically developed nations. He said Lagos is championing the cause of including Nigeria in the acronym BRICs, which stands for Brazil,

By Yinka Aderibigbe

Russia, India and China, to BRINCs, where the N would stand for Nigeria.

He said: “For the world to move from BRICs to BRINCs, Lagos has a significant role to play. As the nerve centre of the nation, consuming over 45 per cent of refined petroleum products, which is a reflection of the level of the state’s economic activity, then the state cannot be ignored.”

He added that the state which has 40 per cent of the nation’s bank branches, accounts for 40 per cent of the entire subscriber base of all telecommunications network operators, 70 per cent of freights from the sea and air ports in the country and 50 per cent of electricity consumption of the country being served from the two distribution companies in the state, are all indicators that the state’s economy is no push over.

He said the experts among them: Mr Bisi Onasanya: Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc; Mr. Peter Stevenson: Investment Adviser & Former Director, UK Trade Investment Department, Nigeria; and Banji Oyelaran Oyeyinka; Director, UN HABITAT; Mr Bill Richardson, Former United State (U.S.) Secretary for Energy and Governor, New Mexico; Ms Razia Khan,

Vice President, Standard Chartered, African Region are listed as speakers at the event.

Other speakers are: Dr. Sam Amadi, Executive Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Mr Bolaji Osunsanya, of Oando Gas & Power Company Limited, Mr. Kunle Elebute, of KPMG Professional Services; Solomon AdegbieQuaynor: Country Manager, International Financial Corporation; Dr. Rotimi Fashola: Lead Consultant, Lagos State Rice Project and Mr Danladi Verheijen, Managing Director, Eko Rail.

Akabueze said the potentials of each of these sectors are enormous not only in the country, but in the state.

“There is an enormous potentials either in the power sector, or agriculture or transportation or housing in this state. Feeding a population of 20 million people cannot but be a huge potential, generating power for such a population is another; same goes for transportation and meeting the housing stock needed to comfortably accommodate them,” Akabueze said.

He admitted that though the nation might be said to be adrift in meeting the Vision 20:2020, the state, he said is determined to champion the cause of economic prosperity.

Lawmaker decries Apapa traffic gridlock HE lawmaker representing Apapa Constituency I, Mufutau Egberongbe has expressed worry over the near static traffic situation on the Tin-Can Apapa Wharf axis of the highway.

Speaking with CityBeats yesterday on the gridlock, Egberongbe said the situation is caused by the indiscriminate parking of tankers and trailers on the highway and bridge. He said: "Over 3, 000 of them come into Apapa on a daily basis to load petroleum products."

"Tankers are parked with reckless abandon on the Tin Can Apapa Wharf highway, it has virtually turned into a parking lot and no other road user can pass

T

By Oziegbe Okoeki

that road."

He blamed the corrupt tendencies of officials of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), whose activities slow down the movement of tankers and trailers so that they would be made to pay more demurrage. "It is a systemic attitude at securing demurrage to the detriment of our people", Egberongbe said.

"What we need to do is that this corrupt tendency should be eliminated and the activities of these port concessionaires should be adequately looked into such that their activities will be expedited them what it is now", he said.

Soyinka on Lagos Heritage Festival

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

NOBEL Laureate Prof.

Wole Soyinka has described this year’s Lagos Black Heritage Festival as another effort at recalling and celebrating the Black African presence in the Mediterranean.

Soyinka, who spoke at the pre-festival outdoor painting competition tagged: The Vision of the Child, by 31 children from selected schools across the state at the weekend, said the festival is meant to widen the scope of culture and how to bring people from all over the globe to have contacts with Africa and where there is Black presence.

The Black Heritage Festival with the theme, The Black in the Meditteranean Blue, will open from April 2 to 9, at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and InterGovernment Relations, Mr. Dosun Holloway said this year’s festival would be very engaging, starting with the pre-festival outdoor painting competition by 31 children and sponsored by Diamond Bank.

He stated that festival is designed to give soul to the city of Lagos.

Mozzyx in critical condition

By Ahmed Boulor

THIS is certainly not good times for Moses, one of the popular 90's group Fellyx and Mozzyx.

The artiste who has been critically ill for sometime now after being diagnosed with chronic kidney failure, has been hit with another bad news.

Sources close to him say his two kidneys have packed up, with the level of damage nearing its final stage. Moses urgently needs a kidney transplant as undergoing dialysis has become very risky.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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NEWS

Uduaghan: some court judgments are puzzling

Air cargo bus lands in Rivers From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

A

N Air Cargo bus, Antonov 225, for the first time, landed safely in Africa, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, at the weekend.

The air cargo bus, which was piloted by Captain Antonov Dmytro, took off from Calgary, Canada.

It was loaded with equipment for oil and gas business, which were brought in by Makon Engineering and Technical Services (METS), a wholly Nigerian company.

METS Group General Manager Oluseyi Makinde said his company decided to use the air cargo bus to lift the equipment to enable them beat the deadline given by President Goodluck Jonathan for electricity improvment in Nigeria.

Makinde said some of the equipment include compression packages, instrumentation packages and fuel-gas system to be used at Bonny Flow Station to extinguish the gas flare as well as provide gas for the power project which his company is handling.

He said the coming of the plane is good publicity for the country as “all the issues about Nigeria not being a safe destination have been cleared.

“This is improving our image and it is also proving that by this we are moving forward and we are ready to do business with the world.”

The METS Manger said his company is part of the Nigerian Content Policy and would convince the government that it had not made a mistake by assenting to the local content law.

•Uduaghan

D

ELTA State Governor E m m a n u e l Uduaghan has said the country’s democracy owe much of its success and stability to sound judgment from the courts.

He said conflicting judgments have confused players and actors in the democratic arena.

Uduaghan said this at the

Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Conference on Review of Performance of Election Petition Tribunals in Benin, the Edo State capital.

He blamed politicians, who he said, are “too litigious”.

His words: “In commending and admiring the courage and principle that the judiciary exemplifies, I want to add that by equal measure I have sometimes been puzzled by some of the decisions by the courts.

“My 2007 governorship victory was nullified in November 2010 on the basis of the decision by the Court of Appeal that a petitioner claiming before the tribunal

that no election took place has no burden of proof as the burden rests on the party that asserts that election took place. “ He hailed the Supreme Court for shifting the burden of proof on the petitioner.

“The Supreme Court ruled that there can be no passing the buck until the petitioner has discharged the onus cast on him by law, meaning the onus does not shift to the respondent.

“The implication of this is that had I suffered irredeemable reverse in the election contest, I would have been out of office arising from a decision of the court on whom the burden

of proof should rest on which today is no longer an issue.

“Let me also state that I am not unmindful that the political class always overplays its hands and generates so much heat in our struggle for power.

“To begin with we are too litigious. So we share a large part of the blame.

“There is neither graceful defeat nor honourable victory.

“The sense that politics is a game has long been lost.

A game in which today’s winners and losers can reverse role through electoral contest in which the will of the people rather than the rule of court triumphs.”

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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NEWS

ACN chieftain warns against rigging in Edo From John Ofikhenua, Abuja and Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Oshiomhole

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman in Cross River State, Hilliard Eta, has warned against the manipulation of the result of the July 14 governorship election in Edo State.

Speaking in Abuja, Eta accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, of complicity in the governorship election in Cross River State.

Why Edo election may be annulled,

by Falana

By Joseph Jibueze

HE July 14 governorship election in Edo State may be annulled unless the tenure of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Rose Obuoforibo, is renewed immediately, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana said yesterday.

The lawyer said Obuoforibo’s tenure ended on February 20 “by effluents of time” yet she has allegedly remained in office without being reappointed.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a new REC in the interest of democracy.

Falana said: “Notwithstanding the expiration of her term of office, Mrs Obuoforibo has, for reasons best known to the Presidency and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), been allowed to continue to perform the statutory duties conferred on the REC. “Since her five-year mandatory term ended last month, she has neither been reappointed nor removed from office.

“In view of the forth coming election in Edo State, the former REC should be asked to call it quits with INEC without any further delay.

“Otherwise, the Edo State governorship election conducted by INEC and the declaration of the election results by Mrs Obuoforibo will vitiate the exercise and render it null and void.

“Thus, the election may be annulled on account of the illegal occupation of office by the REC. “In the circumstances, President Jonathan should appoint a new REC for Edo State to replace Mrs Obuoforido forthwith.

“The growing wave of official impunity in the affairs of the INEC should stop in the interest of democracy.”

T

He said the party would resist any attempt to apply the same format in Edo because Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s achievements are clear.

Eta said the people would certainly vote for Oshiomhole and are ready to resist any manipulation of votes.

Some kinsmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo State, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), have declared their support for Oshiomhole.

In an address in Egor Local Government, during a reception for the governor, the Agbodo Community Secretary, Bright Ogiewonyi, said the governor has been adopted as the community’s grand patron.

His words: “Agbodo Community has resolved unanimously to reject its kinsman to vote for Oshio Baba on July 14 without any apology or explanation.

•CAN, Airhiavbere’s kinsmen support Oshiomhole “As a mark of honour and respect, a street in Agodo has been named Adams Oshiomhole Way and all the necessary street naming documents would be perfected at the local government.

“For transforming Edo State to a centre for tourist attraction within three years, we have neither gold nor silver to pay you back, but we assure you that our appreciation will manifest on July 14 as our community will return all votes in your favour.”

Also, the Christian community is supporting Oshiomhole’s second term bid.

Speaking at a thanksgiving mass for the governor, at St Paul’s Church in Benin, the State President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Peter Imasuen, said the church is behind the governor.

“We thank God for what he is using Adams Oshiomhole to do in

Edo land. Even the blind can see he has transformed the state and we are proud of him.

“When people see the good work you are doing, they will continue to pray for you and the angels will say Amen.

“The Church is behind you, not only behind you but beside you.

“Everyday, not only people in the church, but people on the streets are praying for you.

“On behalf of the Christian community in Edo State, we say God will uphold you, God will protect you and God will grant you the wisdom to rule Edo State.”

In his homily, the Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Rev. Augustine Akubeze, said thanksgiving is the way of expressing thanks for the favour we receive.

“We will give our support and pray that your life becomes one

song of thanksgiving. If we examine our lives, in spite of our many problems, we still have things to thank God,” he added.

At another service at St Joseph’s Chosen Church headquarters in Benin, Primate of the Church, Apostle Hayford Alile, said: “My interfaces with this governor have given me hope.

“God will not come down from heaven with bulldozers, he has to work through somebody and he is working through Oshiomhole.

“I won’t say very much, but they say a word is enough for the wise, and you are wise people here.

“It is good that you all say you love Oshiomhole, but please go to the polls with your voting cards.”

Oshiomhole thanked God for giving him the vision, the will and showing him the way to do the seemingly impossible for the state.

12

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

NEWS Jonathan for economic summit PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will open the second Southsouth Economic Summit scheduled to take place in Asaba next month, a Presidency source confirmed last night.

This also was corroborated by the DirectorGeneral of BRACED Commission, Joe Keshi.

BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta states, which functions as the secretariat of the Southsouth states.

The theme of the summit slated for April 26-28 is ‘Development, Investment and Security’.

Keshi said the summit would attract presidents, offshore investors, global business leaders as well as indigenous investors and ministers, especially ministers from the Southsouth zone. This year’s summit is the second in the series following the maiden summit held in Calabar, Cross River State in 2009.

Monarch warns politicians

Four kidnap suspects killed in Delta

T

HE Delta State Police Command at the weekend foiled a kidnap attempt, killing four suspects.

Some gunmen in Sapele, Sapele Local Government stormed a pub and killed four people.

Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Aduba, who briefed reporters in Asaba, vowed to rid the state of hoodlums.

His words: “What you should expect from me is fire-for-fire.

“This is an appropriate time to warn that my clinical approach will be ruthless pursuit of criminals.

“I have discovered that there is no peace in Delta State, what we have is relative peace and I cannot take it. The state is under siege by kidnappers.”

Aduba warned divisional police officers to brace up to the challenge posed by armed gangs, adding that any officer found wanting will be redeployed.

The commissioner, who

•Eight suspects arrested 35 remanded for alleged robbery From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

T

HIRTY five suspected cultists, who were involved in clashes, last week in Calabar, Cross River State, were at the weekend arraigned before a Calabar Magistrate’s Court.

They were slammed with armed robbery charge.

Inspector Nku Jones said the suspects and others now at large on March 13 at about “1900 hours at Lugard Street, Calabar armed with weapons such as locally made pistols and machetes robbed Effiom Akpan of N500,000.”

Magistrate Emmanuel Okokon adjourned the matter till April 9.

The suspects were remanded at the Afokang Prison in Calabar South.

The legislature of Calabar South Local Government has pledged to combat insecurity in the area.

At a sitting presided over by the Leader, Offiong Ironbar, the councillors condemned the recent clash by cult groups in Calabar, especially Calabar South.

The legislative resolution emphasised that peace and security cannot be compromised in any manner.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

confirmed the foiled kidnap, said his men acting on a tipoff stormed Issele-Mpitime, Aniocha North Local Government and engaged the gang

in a shoot-out.

Aduba confirmed that one of the suspects was responsible for many abduction cases.

Items recovered include

three AK 47 rifles ( PA 1215, 56-17356895, 56-28020061), one Pump Action (171660), 15 AK 47 magazines, 341 rounds of live ammunition, and six live cartridges.

Nokia phones, a green Toyota Avalon and a Blue Volkswagen Golf were also recovered.

He said the police are yet to uncover the motive for the pub killings.

Aduba said efforts are on to track the fleeing assassins.

The commissioner said eight suspected cultists, including two women, were arrested in Asaba.

He said armed policemen engaged the groups at Udumgbe Village within Asaba.

According to Aduba, the cults were shooting at residents.

Items recovered include AK 47 Rifle (65441), one magazine, two locally made pistols, six cartridges, two phones and a machete.

The suspects, according to the police chief, will be charged to court soon.

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

THE Uvwie Monarch, Emmanuel Sideso Abe 1, at the weekend warned politicians against interfering in the activities of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State.

The monarch gave the warning when the ViceChancellor, Prof Babatunde Alabi and Registrar Mrs. L. Onwuka visited him.

Sediso said the officials have worked well and set the pace.

He warned politicians to steer clear of the institution‘s affairs, adding that the university is the first in West Africa.

Globacom rolls out fixed lines in Ibadan

S

TAKEHOLDERS from the six Niger Delta states yesterday said some people were planning to derail the amnesty programme.

The stakeholders, who met under the aegis of the Niger Delta Grassroots Stakeholders (NDGS), urged the governors of the region to initiate the programme in their states.

The communiqué, which was attended by delegates, including repentant militant leaders and accredited representatives of the various organisations from six oil producing states, was signed by Johnson Ebikobowei (Bayelsa); Wilcox Winke (Rivers); Andabafa Oweikpodor (Delta); Kowei Meguliofor (Edo); Preye Opukeme (Ondo); Joe Udobia Akpan (Akwa Ibom) and Ani Cobham (Cross River).

The group said some illegal oil dealers were masquerading as Niger Delta activists to sponsor smear campaigns to deliberately diminish the success of the programme.

It alleged of a plot to distort the actual position regarding the success of the amnesty programme, to discredit the amnesty initiative of the authorities in the region.

The group also condemned what it termed “manifest lack of interest by some Niger Delta State governments to deliberately empower their citizenry, especially the youths through various job creations and youth empowerment platforms.”

Traders back Amosun on IGR •Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha (second left); former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim (second right); former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the wedding of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume’s daughter, Chiamaka and Yomi Benson at Iseibu, Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo State… at the weekend

By Adline Atili

SECOND National Carrier Globacom has rolled out fixed line services on its Broadaccess network in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

It is offering high quality voice, data transmission and high-speed Internet services.

Some of the services that will be available on the Glo Broadaccess network are video conferencing, call centre services, video-ondemand, broadcast TV, games and video mail box.

In a statement from the company’s Broadaccess Department, customers have already been connected to the network in the city and are already enjoying the service.

The fixed line services currently covers residential, commercial as well as industrial areas, including Agodi, Federal Secretariat Road, Jericho, Cocoa House, Adamasingba, Fajuyi Road, Lebanon Street and Awolowo Way. Other areas covered are Magazine Road, Forestry Road and several others.

According to the company, the entire city would be covered in a short soon.

Group raises alarm over amnesty

•A cargo plane, Antonov 225, on the tarmac of the Port Harcourt International Airport...at the weekend

Rivers fire: Burnt family was given quit notice

T

HE family of four that perished during Saturday’s petrol tanker fire at Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government of Rivers State, was given quit notice by the landlord of its rented apartment, it was learnt yesterday.

This made them relocate to the wife’s shop, where they died.

A tanker tumbled at Igwuruta Roundabout, thereby sparking a fire.

Two other persons also

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

died and many others injured.

Over 25 houses and four vehicles were razed.

It was gathered that the head of the family was recently given a quit notice by his landlord, following his inability to pay the rent.

This made the family relocate to the wife’s shop near the roundabout.

When the fire started at 4:30 am, the family and other victims were asleep.

They were burnt beyond recognition.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who later visited the scene, with his wife, Judith; Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, expressed shock.

Amaechi condoled the victims and their families.

The governor said: “It is so disastrous. I heard an entire family is gone, husband, wife and their children. Now, look at the level of damage.

“We must reduce the level

of irresponsibility of some road users.

“I have directed the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emeka Worgu, to identify the victims and let us see how we can assist them.”

Amaechi also expressed his government’s determination to reduce drivers’ recklessness on the roads.

He promised to rebuild the road around the Igwuruta roundabout, which is a federal road, to ensure free flow of traffic and avert future accidents.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Market Women and Men Association of Ogun State (MAWAMOS) has backed the Governor Ibikunle Amosunled administration’s drive to boost the Internally Generated Revenue profile of the State.

It called on traders to make it their civic responsibility to promptly and regularly pay all developmental levies and allied matters to the authority.

The association said this remains one of the avenues in which the government could generate income needed to finance and sustain developmental projects - provision of water, roads rehabilitation, markets maintenance among other issues, in the Gateway State.

The Deputy State Chairperson of MAWAMOS, Mrs Adesola Adebutu, said Amosun’s administration needs all the support from all, particularly the traders, in order to succeed. ‘’Because we want this administration to succeed, this issue is something we have been pulling since last year,we have now decided that every market woman or man no matter what you sell,you have to pay the developmental levy,’’ Mrs. Adebutu said.

, 2012

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INTERVENTION Senator to end community’s water problem Oyo

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LEADERSHIP

PARTNERSHIP

Amosun’s wife urges unity

Osun partners UNICEF on water, education

Ogun

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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HE Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun State scored another first as no fewer than 3,000 women have been economically empowered.

They were appointed by the state government as caterers for its free-feeding programme for pupils in primaries one to three in public schools.

It would be recalled that successive governments have attempted or feigned an attempt to reduce the progressive impoverishment of Nigerian citizens. But none of such at-

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Lagos

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Osun empowers 3,000 women tempts could be compared to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s wellthought-out, self-motivating poverty alleviating formula.

The practical life-changing event took place at Ataoja School of Science main field, Gbongan Road, Oshogbo, the state capital.

Successive governments have attempted to reduce the progressive impoverishment of Nigerian citizens. But none of such attempts could be compared to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s well-thought-out poverty alleviating formula

Addressing the crowd that turned out for the event, the Deputy Governor, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, on behalf of the governor, thanked the people of Osun for their support, patience, and unwavering faith in the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria.

In her keynote address, the Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Executive Commissioner for Education, announced the

commencement of the O’Meal Programme wherein kids in the category of primaries one to three in public schools throughout the state will be fed daily with nutritious, balanced diet.

She disclosed that foods rich in protein such as chicken, beef, fish and egg will make the menu list for kids weekly.

This means that a total of 155, 318 pupils will be fed daily and at the cost of N1, 652,000 •Continued on Page 48

A local government area in Oyo State and a non-governmental organisation in Lagos bring joy into the lives of widows, report OSEHEYE OKWUOFU in Ibadan and MIRIAM NDIKANWU in Lagos

A lift for widows in Oyo, Lagos T

HERE are concerted efforts in Oyo and Lagos states to put the needy, especially widows, out of their misery. The Abiola Ajimobi administration in Oyo has initiated several programmes to boost the productive capacity of the needy. His wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi particularly wants to see widows happier and more productive. Across the local government areas, the message has sunk in. The wife of the chairman of Saki West Local Government Area, Mrs Modupe Popoola, for instance, has handed out N20,000 interest-free loans to widows to help them start up small businesses. The loan will be repaid in 10 months.

In Lagos, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) has urged the National Assembly to make a law that will protect widows from harmful and dehumanising traditional practices. In parts of the country, women are made to suffer humiliating practices following the death of their husbands. These traditions lower their self-esteem and in time help

•Mrs Popoola (middle) and the widows

Saki West council gives loans NGO provides skills to impoverish them.

In Oyo, the pall of grief is lifting.

And not just for widows, but also other categories of the needy. The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Saki West council, Hon. Dapo Popoola has provided loans to traders, and medical care to the aged. New roads are being built and old ones rehabilitated.

Two events stood out in the council recently: the distribution of loan cheques to widows and traders, and the beginning of road

projects. People who witnessed the distribution of cheques to beneficiaries and the commencement of asphalt tarring of major roads in the local government, thanked Governor Ajimobi and the council chairman, Hon. Popoola for improving their lives.

Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the local government attended the events, alongside community leaders, students, traders and senior government officials from the council

amongst other dignitaries.

“The roads will be far different from what we used to have here under the previous administration,” Popoola said. “These ones will not be the ones that will wash away after three months; they will stand the test of time because we are using very high quality materials. And that is how all the roads under this government will be.”

He said the Ajimobi administration is determined to bring back the old days of the late sage Obafemi Awolowo by delivering •Continued on Page 48

•Ajimobi

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Amosun’s wife urges unity

Osun partners UNICEF on water, education

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HE Osun State government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have expressed readiness to provide water, basic education, improved sanitation and hygiene among others for communities in the state.

To this end, the state government has signed an agreement of N825,285,597 with UNICEF. In the agreement signed by the Governor of the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and the UNICEF Assistant Country Representatives, Mrs. Sara Beysolow-Nyati, who doubles as the Chief of Lagos Office, the partnership is expected to contribute to the realisation of the right of children to survival, development, protection and participation in the state.

While presenting the agreement document to the governor, the UNICEF executive who praised the administration of Aregbesola for

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Osun From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

its school feeding programme, said that findings have shown that the programme has increased school enrolment in the state from about 65 per cent to 95 per cent.

She said the state government had taken proactive steps in the provision of abundant potable water, sanitation and hygiene as well as support the promotion of the right of children.

Mrs. Beysolow-Nyati also expressed worry over the lackadaisical attitude of the people of the state towards the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) despite the fact that they have the knowledge of the disease, declaring that its prevalence in the

Lawmakers move to rescue Ondo HE House of Representatives has communities described the plight of riverside

communities in Ondo State as deplorable and has directed its Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to immediately investigate the state of the environmental degradation in the area caused by erosion.

This followed adoption of the motion sponsored by Akintoye Albert who noted that due to ecological factors and torrential rain experienced every year, communities of Akotogbo, Aye, Ajagba, Erinje and Oloto both in Irele and Okitipupa Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state have been separated by a gulf created by gully erosion.

Taking cognisance of the fact that ecological matters are the responsibility of the Federal Government, the lawmakers’s failure or delay to control the dangerous situation would further destroy lives and property of the affected communities beyond measure .

Ondo

state was higher.

The contribution of UNICEF in cash and kind including technical support, supplies and capacity building would be N669,640,597.80, while the state government would contribute a counterpart fund of N155,645,000 for the programme.

Replying, Governor Aregbesola said his administration was determined to use the opportunity of the UNICEF-intervention programme effectively and efficiently for the benefit of the people of the state, saying that the roles of UNICEF would contribute immensely to the realisation of his administration action plan for the people and pave way for the attainment of Millennium Development Goal as universally agreed on by the United Nations (UN).

He added that the willingness of UNICEF to sign the agreement with his administration at this particular time was a demonstration of the organization’s readiness to identify with the vision of the administration.

He said: “Some buildings have been submerged, some about to collapse while others were completely wiped out and property worth millions of naira have been washed away due to their proximity to the gully.

“These communities are at the verge of being submerged and completely washed away from the face of the earth by this natural disaster”.

The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha referred the motion to the Committee on NDDC to investigate and report back to the House within four weeks.

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•Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi (right) presenting a role model award to Alhaja Sekinat Adekola (middle), the Iya Adinni of Oyo State during the 2012 International Women’s Day in Ibadan. With them is the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Atinuke Osunkoya.

Oyo: 38,000 get free medical treatment

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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VER 38,000 patients across Oyo State have been treated free by the state government in the second phase ofits free health programme tagged: Oyo Free Health Mission.

The programme is undertaken in partnership with the Development Support International (DSI).

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Bosun Oladele, disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan .

Oyo From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

The first phase of the programme came up last year during which over 64,000 patients were treated free. While some patients enjoyed free surgery, all patients were given free drugs. About 150,000 beneficiaries are targeted in the second phase.

The medical team of 180 personnel comprises

Council chief gets award

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POLITICAL office holders and career functionaries at all levels of government have been charged to make probity, accountability, honesty, justice, fairplay and service to humanity their cardinal principles as they will give account of their stewardship to God one day .

Dr. Taiwo Obamuyi, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Finance, Ondo State University, Akungba-Akoko gave this charge while delivering a key-note lecture at a national Award of Excellence in Leadership organised by the Grassroots Leadership Centre which took place at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. The Chairman, Transition Committee, Remo North Local Government, Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye was honoured with the Best Performing Local Government Chairman in the South West award .

The Chairman of the National Award of Excellence in Leadership, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, urged all stakeholders in the local government system in Nigeria to resist total emasculation of local governments, lamenting that the system was being confronted with administrative and financial challenges which could hinder qualitative developments at the grassroots.

Ogun Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of the Grassroots Leadership Centre, the organiser of the award, Mr Yinka Awoyinfa, a legal practitioner, while justifying the decision of the outfit to honour the Remo North Local Government chief , explained that Hon. Adeleye’s excellent image in public relations accelerated grassroots development and his strict adherence to the principles of probity and accountability, excellent welfare programmes, equitable distribution of dividends of democracy worked for him to win the award after a thorough and rigorous selection process.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the award, the council chief dedicated the award to the Almighty God, his boss and mentor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the people of his local government for their implicit confidence in him. He said the award will spur him to greater performance and effective discharge of his responsibilities towards making the Remo North Local Government the pace-setter and a reference point to all local governments in Nigeria.

•From left: Chairman, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Hon. Fatal Ajidagba, Leader of the Legislative House, Hon. Muyideen Are and Clerk of the House, Mr. Senayan Whenu during budget presentation at the council’s secretariat

Human rights group visits prison

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• Hon. Adeleye receiving a plaque from the royal father of the day Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi the Olufi of Gbongan, at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja

HE Directorate for Citizens Rights, a unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has paid a routine visit to the Badagry Prisons. The team was led by its Director, Mrs. Florence Utomi, who represented the Head of Unit, Mrs. Omotilewa Ibirogba.

Explaining the purpose for the quarterly routine visit, Mrs Utomi stated that the unit performs such functions as providing free legal representation, ensuring suitable welfare conditions of the prison inmates, decongestion of prisons and other prisonwatch functions in the state .

The group was received by the Assistant Controller of Badagry Prisons, Mr. Olaniran Mojeed Olabode, who praised the DCR for the visit and seized the opportunity to commend the effort of the state government on its vision for the residents and promised to cooporate with government and the Nigerian Prison Service to help protect lives and properties of the citizens. He said prison should be a rehabilitation centre where lives are being transformed for the good of the individual and the nation at large.

He mentioned some challenges of the prison to include; inadequate vehicles for

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Lagos movement of prisoners that have appointments at various courts in different parts at the same time. He also lamented the poor supply of electricity which is a threat to security of the prison and the inmates. He also stated the challenge of poor manpower which slows down the administrative process.

The limited number of cells which leads to congestion of inmates which is not conducive for the inmates was also mentioned as a major challenge. Majority of the prison inmates have health-related challenges and need care. A peculiar case is that of one Isiaka Akanbi 21 with epilepsy and many other cases of insanity.

On health, the Welfare Officer of the prison, Mr. Olanrewaju Olaleye, said the prison’s clinic takes care of minor health cases and those they cannot handle beyond them are referred to the Kirikiri Prisons welfare unit or the General hospitals in the state.

Speaking further, he said prison inmates undergo vocational trainings such as fish farming, vegetable and other crop farming, barbing, foot-mat weaving, laundry and dry cleaning and many others. The prisoners are usually empowered after their training.

doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other related professionals.

The second phase started in 11 local governments in Oke Ogun, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ibadan. The councils are Irepo, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oyo West, Atiba, Ibarapa North, Ibarapa Central, Ibadan South West and Ibadan North West.

The data released by the commissioner and his health counterpart, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, indicated that 28,732 patients were seen for general consultation while 1449 were treated for reproductive health. A total of 6474 were treated for dental ailments while 1648 were treated for blindness-related diseases.

Of the lot, 497 hernia surgeries were performed on patients across the local governments. Gbadegesin explained that the government opted for free hernia surgeries because agriculture is the predominant occupation of residents in the state. He said that the need to bend down most times to till the soil is largely responsible for hernia, adding that the free surgery will help the beneficiaries save a lot of money.

Oladele and Gbadegesin described the response from residents as “overwhelming”.

They added that residents are demanding for a more regular repeat of the programme.

Among the beneficiaries, four patients have been referred for serious surgery with the government footing their bill.

The programme, which is currently on two weeks break, will continue in other local governments in the state on March 20.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi had pledged to offer free health during his electioneering campaign among others.

Briefly

Council donates items THE Caretaker Chairman of Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State,Hon Adeniyi Olarinde Adisa, has advised residents of the council to make judicious use of the poverty alleviation items distributed to them.

The chairman gave this advice while distributing the items worth millions of naira to the council. He reiterated the commitment of Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi’s administration at steming the poverty level in the state.

Among items distributed were 20 motocycles, 50 grinding machines which were meant to empower youths and women.

He further stated that, in consonance with the policy of the state governor, free coaching classes had been approved for all SS2 and SS3 students to better the declining performance of students in public examinations.

He warned the beneficiaries not to sell the items .

IFE of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, has urged spouses of state top government functionaries to be more united and support their husbands in the task to rebuild the state, describing mothers as the pillars of the society.

According to her, “We should see our presence in Ogun State as a call to service. We should put on our thinking caps and be more united as one body to support our spouses and one another along side the present administration.”

Speaking in Abeokuta at the inaugural meeting of the Spouses of Ogun State Government Functionaries Association, Mrs. Amosun said the association “is not a sloganeering body aimed at wasting valuable time and scarce resources, but one that focuses on enriching family life, while we support our spouses. We believe in the need to assist ourselves in capacity building and fellow

Ogun spouses.”

The governor’s wife added that the association was an interesting gender mix of alert minds, which would serve as a good team for productive deliberation by pulling “resources, skills, ideas, experiences, challenges and talents together, with a view to support one another.”

Delivering a paper titled: “Fundamentals and Practice of Protocol,” the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulfatai Opebiyi said spouses of top government functionaries have a crucial role in complementing effort of their spouses towards delivering the dividends of democracy to the electorate, noting that “the success or otherwise of ensuring this will partly depend on the consciousness of such a spouse regarding protocol issues.”

Also speaking at the occasion, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi advised the spouses of the state government functionaries to be security conscious, challenging them to give their children good training, saying “street kids are security threat

Police urge proactive involvement in crime prevention

•Mrs Amosun to the contemporary society.”

He also charged the spouses of the state government functionaries to come up with ideas to help the state government in tackling the security challenges.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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EPUTY Commissioner of Police, Community Policing, Lagos State Police Command, Austine Iwar, has called for proactive involvement of the civil society in the fight against crime in the community.

Iwar who was a guest lecturer at a three-day Stakeholders Workshop on Community Policing, held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, said with the cooperation of members of the communities in the fight against crime, those involved in such heinous vices would be easily caught.

He said: “The people who commit the crimes are our brothers, sisters, children and friend. If we continue to harbour them without letting the authorities know their where about, they will continue to constitute threat to our survival.”

The Police Chief noted that there was a growing demand for a more responsive and customer-oriented policing in order to reduce the level of crime in our society.

According to him, this had made members of the public to demand for better service from the police in the various communities they serve.

He maintained that the police alone could not shoulder the responsibilities of ridding the society of crime because its prevention had become everybody’s responsibility.

“There should be high level of cooperation between the police and local authorities; they should work for a common goal. It is equally obvious that the escalating cases of crime in our society have affected the level of economic activities in our communities.”

• From left: Chairman, Anniversary Committee, Revd A.A. Adenusi, Hon C.O. Ojelabi Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Ven Alfred O. Adefoluke, Archdeacon of OtoAwori Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West and Mrs F.O. Adefoluke, during the maiden Pastoral Anniversary and 3rd Anniversary of the inauguration of the Oto-Awori Archdeaconry

Council to give bursary awards

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HE Chairman, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Comrade Kamal Salau-Bashua, has promised to give bursary awards to students from the council in various higher institutions of learning in the country.

Salau-Bashua stated this at the annual spelling bee competition held at the council secretariat.

“This administration is putting finishing touches to modalities for the provision of bursary for students of this great local council in tertiary institutions and a committee would soon be set up to handle this.

He said the move is to alleviate the sufferings of the students in their various fields of endeavour in tertiary institution.

The council chair praised the foresight of

`

Lagos

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Senator Oluremi Tinubu for initiating the Spelling Bee competition for pupils in the state and promised to continue to promote the standard of education in his local government.

Comrade Salau-Bashua commended his predecessor, Hon Mufutau Kadiku for a job well done, while promising to consolidate on the existing projects and bring up new ones that will transform the council.

“My predecessor did a lot to improve the standard of education in the council by renovating some schools, dislodging septic tanks, distributing educational materials among others, but while this administration is promising to continue with all these, I have also decided to even do better. Already we have hit the ground running as we had already put in place and commissioned a computer laboratory for the use of our pupils at Christ Church Cathedral Primary school within our 100 days in office,” he said.

Salau-Bashua promised to expose the teachers to computer knowledge in line with the new trends in education.

“We have also concluded arrangements to teach all teachers in our primary schools on the use of computer so that they can in turn teach our pupils the knowledge of computer,” he said.

Police warn vehicle owners

•From left: Comrade Salau-Basua; Secretary to the council, Hon Muhammed Tanko and Leader of the House, Hon Monsuru Ogboye

The Lagos Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at the Ojo Divison to remove them immediately or forfeit same through auction.

They are: 1. V/Wagen Jetta S/Car- DE591JJJ 2. Toyota Carina Saloon- PH353AAA Okoko Division 3. Honda Saloon car- DJ391 LSD

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Beside the point •PPPRA’s so-called reconciliation with NEITI does not explain how fuel consumption quadrupled in five years

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HE Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) is back in business. Last week, the body announced its return – first since the botched attempt by government to scrap subsidy on petrol in January – with the award of gasoline import contracts to 42 marketers covering 4.8 billion litres of the product.

By some coincidence, it was also reported that the body wrot e to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI), seeking to reconcile the discrepancies in their presentations to the House of Representatives committee probing fuel subsidy expenditures for the period between 2006 and 2011.

NEITI had told the House panel that the subsidy payment for 2008 was N370 billion as against the PPPRA figure of N630.571 billion. The relevant portion of the letter from PPPRA executive secre-

‘Dwelling on book-keeping merely serves to deflect attention from the main issue, which is, how much petrol does Nigeria actually consume? Is it 35 million litres a day – which Nigerians consider as more plausible – or 59 million litres on which the Federal Government paid out N1.7 trillion in subsidy last year?’

tary, Reginald Stanley, to NEITI states: “the sum of N370 billion subsidy figures for 2008 quoted by NEITI represents payments to NNPC only...the imbalance noticed in the figures submitted by NEITI and that of PPPRA was due to non-inclusion of subsidy payments to other marketers in your computation”. It claimed that the differential of N260.081 billion represents the balance paid to other marketers.

Contrary to what the PPPRA appears to believe, the issue goes beyond bookkeeping and reconciliation. To understand the issues which agitate Nigerians, we find it necessary here to put things in their proper perspective, using the PPPRA figures of subsidy payout covering the five-year period of 2006-2011 to draw out the main issues at stake.

In 2006, PPPRA paid N261.105 billion in subsidy. In 2007, the figure was N278.859 billion – a modest jump by all standards, but which later shot up to N630.571 billion in 2008. Interestingly, in 2009, the figure came down to N463.517 billion, only to jump again to N673 billion in 2010.

By 2011, the nation literally drowned on imported petrol with subsidy payout peaking at a record N1.7 trillion.

Of course, it emerged in the course of the House probe that adequate records were not kept. Indeed, so wide were the discrepancies between the figures supplied by the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), NNPC, PPPRA, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, that reconciling them became

something of a nightmare. That perhaps was what PPPRA sought to correct in the letter.

Dwelling on book-keeping merely serves to deflect attention from the main issue, which is, how much petrol does Nigeria actually consume? Is it 35 million litres a day – which Nigerians consider as more plausible – or 59 million litres on which the Federal Government paid out N1.7 trillion in subsidy last year?

The PPPRA figures suggest, for instance, that fuel consumption more than doubled between 2010 and 2011. Overall, it paints a picture of a more than quadrupling of fuel consumption in a space of five years. The attempt to fit the facts of deepening poverty levels across the board with the mystery-prosperity which the trend of rising fuel consumption suggests would remain herculean. Not even the fact that the nation currently runs on generators would explain the quantum jump in fuel imports.

Figure agreements are no doubt necessary. In this case, it is even more so. While we are at a loss to explain how different agencies of the same government would keep such divergent records of the same transactions as we saw during the subsidy probe, the riddle of sexed up figures of daily fuel consumption is the main issue. That is the Gordian knot that both the Senate and the House have taken upon themselves to help untie. It is the riddle of mystery importers who brought less cargo of fuel than declared and yet collected subsidy money in full. PPPRA had better brace up to help solve the riddle – rather than dwell on inanities.

Outsourcing governance •Govt wasting resources on too many committees it wouldn’t use their reports

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OVERNANCE is gradually losing its meaning with President Goodluck Jonathan’s persistent use of committees and task forces to side-track, erode and diminish public institutions. Except this on-going trend is halted, this government might end up destroying existing conventional structures of government through unnecessary committees whose trickling-in reports are gathering dust on the unkempt shelves in the corridors of power.

We note that the President’s initial posturing as a listening leader at the beginning of his tenure when he constituted the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) headed by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) and 25 others to advice on policy issues had turned an albatross on the state. A regular pattern of committees and task forces set up on even the flimsiest reason has evolved in this administration, wasting in the process a lot of hard-earned revenue.

We are aware that the government has over 20 frivolous extra-ministerial committees, in addition to the huge number of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). The plethora of committees and task forces include: the Projects Assessment Committee; Oil Subsidy Removal Negotiation Committee; Presidential Action Committee on Power; Presidential Task Force on Power; Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme Committee; Presidential Advisory Committee on Constitution Amendment; Security Challenges Committee (a.k.a. Boko Haram Committee); and Committee on Expenditure Review.

Others are Committee on United Nations Environment Programme; Committee on Niger

Delta Development Commission; Police Reform Committee; Electricity Supply Committee; Committee on Restructuring of Government Agencies and Parastatals; Committee on Passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill; Committee on LASSA Fever; Doing Businesses and Competitiveness Committee; Investor Care Committee; Pension Fund Reform Task Force Team; Task Force on Refineries; Task Force on Oil Sector Revenue and Task Force on Management Control Committee within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

What is more nauseating is that most of the reports of these committees are not of any significance to the government, otherwise, it ought to be seen to be taking them as serious documents. Even some of the heads of these committees had led similar groups in the past without any consideration given to their submissions. For example, Christopher Kolade was chairman of a panel of inquiry set up by the Obasanjo regime to probe contracts awarded to some unscrupulous contractors but with no subsequent impact on how contracts are awarded and executed. Parry Osayande once headed a committee that made recommendations on how to reform the police. Till date, the report is yet to be considered.

If anything, this administration has appointed him, once again, to head other committees that obviously will suffer the same fate. At a point in time too, the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee headed by Ibrahim Bunu, former Federal Capital Territory Minister, went round the nation to assess the state of completion of all federal projects, to determine if those projects met standard

requirements. In its report, it revealed that some 11,886 projects were abandoned across the country and that about N7.78 trillion was required to have them completed. Rather than ensure correction of anomalies identified by the committee by providing funds and strict monitoring, the government keeps awarding new contracts.

The government’s resort to committees reflects lack of ideas and focus. The trend also contradicts PAC’s recommendation to President Jonathan to reduce the size of government so that money can be saved for the development of infrastructure. It seems, the initiative is just to provide jobs for the boys. But should this be at the expense of poverty-beaten Nigerians?

If President Jonathan is bereft of ideas to lead this nation, he should be blunt enough to admit this rather than keep wasting public funds on committees whose reports mean nothing to him.

‘The government’s resort to committees reflects lack of ideas and focus. The trend also contradicts PAC’s recommendation to President Jonathan to reduce the size of government so that money can be saved for the development of infrastructure. It seems, the initiative is just to provide jobs for the boys. But should this be at the expense of poverty-beaten Nigerians?’

Justice for Congo warlord THE International Criminal Court finds Thomas Lubanga guilty of using child soldiers. He’s the first person convicted by the ICC. OBODY ever made a viral video about Thomas Lubanga. Unlike Joseph Kony, a similarly despicable African warlord who also recruited child soldiers to carry out a campaign of rape, murder and mutilation and is now the subject of the fastestspreading video in Internet history, Lubanga’s dirty work went largely unnoticed in the West. Also unlike the still-at-large Kony, Lubanga is about to face justice for his crimes.

Lubanga, the head of a rebel militia that fought a devastating ethnic war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Wednesday had the distinction of being the first person convicted by the International Criminal Court, a decade-old institution that has been in equal measures an inspiration and a disappointment for human rights advocates. The guilty verdict is a milestone for the court that also marks the first time an international trial has focused solely on the recruitment of underage soldiers, which is forbidden in global treaties but is usually lumped in with other warcrimes charges. The successful prosecution of Lubanga — for enlisting boys and girls under 15, drugging them, putting them to work killing his enemies and using them as sex slaves — will set a precedent useful in future trials (including a trial of Kony, if he is ever captured).

Child soldiers are more easily brainwashed than adults, and they display a remarkable capacity for brutality when abused. They are also often psychologically scarred for life by the horrors they’re forced to witness and perform. It is the powerful revulsion for this practice that made “Kony 2012,” which at last count had been viewed by more than 100 million people, such an astonishing catalyst for public activism. Critics have attacked Invisible Children, the advocacy group that made the Kony video, for spending most of its donor funds making movies rather than benefiting former child soldiers, but there’s nothing wrong with raising awareness about global atrocities and the monsters who carry them out. We’re less bothered by the spotlight shone on Kony than by the fact that Lubanga has for the most part been able to avoid it.

But he won’t avoid the ICC; he now faces up to life in prison. That answers some of the court’s critics, who have accused it of moving too slowly to accomplish anything. It remains true that the ICC would be more effective if it broadened its focus beyond Africa, but for that to happen, the great powers would have to stop protecting other global villains — such as Syrian President Bashar Assad, who might have been referred to the ICC by now if not for the diplomatic backing of Russia and China — from the long if slow-moving arm of international justice.

- Los Angeles Times

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TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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9EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: He was a towering six footer. At first encounter his huge frame gave initial lie of a haughty and howling police officer. But he was none of that. A closer interaction with him would reveal that he was a rounded pacifist - ever benign, friendly, focussed and eager to offer a helping hand.

When I arrived Abuja from Lagos mid April 2010 on a novel beat as media aide of incumbent Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, I had the privilege of encountering the then Commissioner of Police (CP) for FCT, Haruna John on fairly regular basis. He related very well with the minister and the rest of us. He came across as an exemplar in the Nigeria Police Force that was and is still terribly haunted by the ghoul of graft and interminable infamy.

Taraba-born Haruna was

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Haruna John: exit of a pacifist decorated as Deputy InspectorGeneral (DIG) of Police barely three weeks back on February 22. It was therefore very painful particularly for those of us in FCT when this man of immense gifts died suddenly. It is more grieving that someone who epitomized peace and gentility should die so violently, though our two great religions, Christianity and Islam, teach us that the more important thing is how we lived, not how we died. And so our dear Haruna on

that scorching Wednesday March 14 afternoon, went the way of all mortals via a most tragic means – a consuming inferno triggered by a helicopter crash.

Though he died at a relatively middle age of 56 the goodwill he amassed while alive surpassed that of a 100-year old. If his death had been preceded by an interregnum of illness, then there would have been an opportunity for payback by the army of people indebted to him in cash and kind. Yes, if John had

been retrieved from the helicopter debris with a flicker of life and rushed to a hospital, that health facility would have become a Mecca of sorts for his horde of admirers, friends, beneficiaries and relatives – those whose lives he had touched or impacted either directly or indirectly.

But the spontaneity of Haruna’s tragic passage foreclosed the courtesies of get-well messages and prayers for quick recovery. For him, to die became a tragic but

Petitions and the right to fair hearing IR: In today’s understandably turbo-charged atmosphere, a clear distinction should be made between a lynch-mob and fair hearing as well as due process. A constitutional democracy anchored of course on the rule of law must be fastidious in supporting the presumption of innocence of the accused until found guilty and the efficacy of our chosen legal system.

For a start mere allegations cannot be the basis or the precursor to calls for resignation. This is crucial in a country where there are professional petition writers. Given our immersion into prebandal politics coupled with the absence of social safety nets, it is hardly surprising that we have a bevy of often maliciously induced petition writers usually writing anonymously. In this sort of atmosphere, the presumption of innocence is important.

If the presumption of innocence until found guilty by a duly constituted court is thrown overboard then there is a problem.

For such an operating system places every public officer in a tight spot.

Without the presumption of innocence every serving public officer including Judges will now have to step down once an allegation is made. If such a framework becomes the modus operandi we will be in for quite a

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farce. That cannot be a sensible way to run a republic let alone a modern nation state.

This is why caution ought to be applied to the hasty demands for resignation of any who is been accused. Our legal system unlike that of the French Civil Code for example, favours the presumption of innocence until found guilty. We should maintain this system which is a well tried and tested bulwark against the hysteria of the mob and potential miscarriages of justices.

A recent example, one of many is the recent case involving the arraigning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC) of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji. What are for the moment allegations revolve around cash payments of N510 million naira from the accounts of the House of Assembly.

Arraignment and bail of the accused has already taken place.

Nevertheless, we should continue to respect section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and its insistence on the presumption of innocence.

What is needed here is a swift trial to lay the matter to rest one way or the other. This is in line with our constitution and is much preferable to trial by media and mob hysteria.

Fortunately, the Speaker does not have a constitutional immunity from prosecution while in office. In line with our own position it is obvious that it is the unacceptable tardiness of our legal system which leads to calls for by-passing or truncating the system altogether.

What is needed in this and other instances is a speedy trial. This should be done now devoid of needless procedural wrangles and needless adjournments.

• Elizabeth Nwakaego Falade 46 Warehouse Road, Apapa, Lagos State.

thunderous occasion. His sudden end illustrates the saying that in the profundity of life, death lurks by the corner.

Death which has a million unseen doors for men to exit mortality did not avail Haruna the opportunity to bid farewell to his fellow FCT residents and countrymen whom he loved so dearly irrespective of their diversities and complexities.

At a trying time like this, Haruna’s death has further diminished us. The violent challenges facing us today which he toiled to resolve and died in the process is still festering while the escape tunnel seems long and foggy.

Haruna’s violent demise raises puzzles for the rest of us, Nigerians, still alive. Are we, the living better off than Haruna? Can Haruna and other’s precious blood quench the ubiquitous fire on the Plateau and other parts of the North?

While the nation mourns Haruna and others who died with him, the truth must not be lost on us that those who have a remedy to proffer to our problems but chose to run away or look the other way will only live to die another day. Let Haruna’s end be the beginning of the new day.

The least the Federal Government can do for Haruna is to immortalize his name. His children should be given scholarship to the university level.

His widow should be adequately catered for and must not be abandoned to her fate.

• Nosike Ogbuenyi FCT Garki District, Abuja.

Recall Justice Ayo Salami now

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IR: When we look back at our history, one is reminded of the wanton injustice which pervaded all strata of the Nigerian society.

Violence, schisms, killings, kidnappings, corruption, bunkering, roguery, bombings and all sorts of crimes and illegality have now become a norm simply because those entrusted with the Nigerian project and social contract continue to perpetrate injustice.

The Nigerian judiciary today is in mess simply because it had allowed itself to be manipulated by

politicians. It is sad that because of one man, more than five committees have been set up either to give him a clean bill of health or recommend swift punishment over issues that continue to marvel ordinary Nigerians. It is appalling that President Jonathan swiftly acted in suspending the Court of Appeal President Justice Ayo Salami based on a National Judicial Council recommendation, claiming he did not want a vacuum in the position; yet he refused to swiftly reinstate him following another recommendation to that effect.

Nigerians do not need statements

and recommendations any longer on the Justice Salami impasse. We all know he was eased out by the powers-that-be simply because he refused to do their biddings. We all know that he was a man who would never compromise standards and the way he went with several tribunals sent a signal, most especially to the Presidency, that he might otherwise go against them if all facts were tabled.

It is imperative that Justice Salami be recalled to bring stability, respect, unity and sanity back into the judiciary. A situation whereby the injustice seen everywhere engineers itself into the judiciary is not a headache

we need now. Those who matter most in the Justice Salami matter must put all hands together to ensure that a man of his calibre is accorded his right so that many would not perceive his suspension as a means not to be straight and truthful at all times.

If justice is delayed in the Justice Salami case, we all must be ready for the harsh consequences like the ones faced in the North today. Those in Aso-Rock must learn from history else they should not grieve when they are condemned by it.

• Raheem Oluwafunminiyi Ibadan, Oyo State

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

This nation’s battle is of the Lord

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HE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s organised programme of prayer for the country might just be the solution to the nation’s embarrassing prolonged quandary of insecurity. Coming at a time President Goodluck Jonathan too is pleading for prayer support, good judgment is surely taking over the limited might of man.

Not that man would not try showing the extent of his power, but when desired accomplishment is not forthcoming, the wise will hand it all to the only one who cannot fail. Nigeria’s security agents have indubitably put their available weapons into action, yet the enemies of peace have been unrelenting in terrorizing and wasting the lives of the innocents. As things stand, the more the agents of the devil tagged Boko Haram are harassed, arrested or killed, the more destructive explosions continue to linger interminably. Last week, the over-pummeled Jos township again experienced the agony of terrorism when another church was bombed and lives were lost.

Now it’s time to accept fully that the battle is not ours, but God’s. The moment any challenge, no matter how formidable, is yielded to God and He begins to arise for man, the devil cannot withstand the heat of His fire – meaning, the battle is over.

Scriptural occurrences cannot be faulted. Jehoshaphat as a king was confronted with multiple challenges of the enemies that were bound to overwhelm and engulf him and his people. He called upon the Mighty Man of War for help and he got a response to do the unconventional in fighting a war. God is ever more interested in proving that His way is different from that of man.

Through mere assemblage of praise worshippers, wholesome victory came.

Boko Haram has proven to be the exertion of the devil to destabilize Nigeria and subvert the already drained glory of the land. Since the Federal Government has also bared that it’s not valiant enough to deal with the foundation of the prevailing evil terrorizing the nation, it has become essential to let God take over.

Bombing churches is just a distraction. The nation is the target.

The purpose is to make it ungovernable for President Jonathan.

And that’s the error. The president’s tenure is fleeting; even if it is elongated by any means, there is surely an end to it. Ruining the nation will be a setback the enemy wants to take charge of.

Even as hell is awaiting the Boko Haram sponsors, since they surely will also pass away one day, no matter how rich or powerful they might be today, they are destined to play their role as tools in the hand of the wicked.

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T is not too clear if the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND that claimed responsibility for killing eight Nigerian soldiers recently will be as strong as the old MEND. The reason is that the rank of militants has been weakened with more than 20,000 combatants sucked out of the creeks by the amnesty program of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. However, it calls for lots of concern that the militant group is staging a comeback to further complicate the fragile peace process in that region and in the entire country. One would therefore not expect the authority to take the threat of MEND as an empty one.

The military is not taking it lightly with MEND or the pirates. It swung into action after the incident, went after the pirates and in the ensuing gun battle, Mammy Water, the head of the criminal gang, was killed. The Joint Task Force, JTF, also refuted the claim that MEND was responsible for the death of his men. It instead fingered ‘Mammy Water’ and his gang who were described as “itinerant criminals” and pirates.

It is not quite a surprise that MEND disputed the account of the incident given by JTF. It brazenly announced that the attack was carried out by MEND fighters and not pirates.

MEND called it a deliberate act that was carried out by them to further indicate that hostility has started.

The ambush on Eweleso River in Bayelsa State claimed the lives of Lt. Col. Malik, two naval ratings, and four marine policemen.

There is no doubt that this attack deviated from previous operations by MEND because it mimicked the blood sucking strategy of Boko Haram prevalent in many parts of northern Nigeria.

Boko Haram is the organization known for targeting security men, soldiers, policemen, immigration and customs officers. Boko Haram is an archetypical terrorist group far on the extreme left unlike MEND of those days that got the sympathy of the international community due to the environmental degradation of the Niger Delta Region by several years of oil exploration and neglect.

Having watched the activities of the pirates

But there is this good news: More Nigerians are turning to God. As I once wrote, the burgeoning of places of worship, especially the Pentecostal churches is my witness. Serving as avenue for the salvation of distressed souls, the phenomenal sprouting is helping as a veritable barometer to gauge the weather of these uncertain times. The more the societal frustrations grow and high hopes dashed, the more the desire to seek Divine assistance.

The times may be tough; men too must find a way to be tougher. As many loves the easy option to self-created problems and logjams, ingenious men are fast imbibing Chinua Achebe’s perfected little Nza bird who, on sensing that hunters have perfected the craft of shooting without missing, quickly learnt the art of flying without perching.

So soon, all the good virtues of Nigeria are withering like dry leaves blown off by the harsh harmattan gale. Once the promising big bride and pride of the black race, Nigeria is being carefully reduced to the huge embarrassment and wasteland of the continent.

God, so gracious enough generously endowed the land with vast resources - both mineral and human. He gave the land all the chances to fulfill itself. But somehow, the fortunes were allowed to be hijacked and recklessly frittered by the irresponsibility of man.

You then wonder why are we so blessed and so cursed simultaneously. Nigeria that was to be Africa’s standard bearer now finds company among the continent’s ravaged Lilliputatians.

Ahead of Boko Haram, what we had was not only a prostrate, distraught and strangulated nation but one saddled with a most corrupt and tricky men. Through uncaring governance, hospitals have become consigned mortuaries, such that India is now the nation’s healthcare destination. The people desiring to eat from the dustbins and decomposing waste-heaps are getting disappointed by the day as such sources of livelihood hardly offer anything anymore.

The only people enjoying in Nigeria of today are official kleptomaniacs, 419ners in and out of government and the growing number of fraudsters of assorted hues – even among artisans. Let’s get it right: prayer works for only for righteous.

The word of God is clear in declaring that it is only righteousness that can uplift a nation as sin would remain a reproach to any people.

Perhaps we have not suffered enough. Otherwise, Nigerians have the capacity to make a meaningful change for the better.

“Look within”, the legendary Bob Marley sang in Exodus, “are you satisfied with the life you are living?”

Can it truly be said that because Nigerians know where they are coming from, they know where they are being led? These are indeed trying times for Nigeria and Nigerians. I stated in this column sometimes last year that whether we accept it or not, ours has been a nation operating under grace. Many happenings capable of scattering us as a people have occurred without much shaking. That Nigeria is still standing today is neither the act of any leader nor the result of the people’s complaints and

grumblings but of the mercy of God. The recurring error has been the people always taking things for granted – that since things are not working, failure has become part of the nation. This is fallacious. Events have confirmed over and over that we still exist as a people, in spite of our shortcomings, because the One who created us is yet to fulfill His Divine purpose of taking us to the promised land.

One easily perceptible thing about Nigerians is that we are easily pacified when things appear to be working. At the same time also, we easily give up when faced with challenges. One critical lesson from this behavioural inconsistency is the fact that Nigeria is a nation loved by God and will always overcome its challenges as long as the needful is done.

Fellow Nigerians, it is time to cleanse ourselves from all manners of inequity and then stand united, praying as one for God’s will for our nation, and especially its people. When at a crossroad, entreaty is the best used means of drawing near to the One who knows the way and can lead though to the destination.

It is easy to find faults in the affairs of others and assume to have solution to the misdeeds of those in position of authority. But without placing God first in any affair, man could only labour in vain.

At this critical juncture when the pharaohs of this nation are working towards failure for self-justification, Nigeria needs prayers more than ever. It is time to seek the face of God, as a people with no other country to call home than Nigeria, for Divine intervention.

With the manifest grace enjoyed in the last 51 years of our flag independence, it is most unlikely that it is in the plan of God to keep Nigerians in economic, social and political bondage as being experienced. The same God who endowed the land with enormous human, mineral and clement environmental resources would surely prefer seeing His glory shining upon the people.

This is why it has become fundamental to intercede for Nigeria, especially during this period of terrorism, so that no matter the obstacles the devil might be engineering, that the will of God should prevail and the people will for once get the leader they deserve.

If we are interested in making genuine progress as a nation, we should stop playing on ethnic emotions and/or religious sentiments. Rather, we should see the fundamentals of a man not ready to play the game the same way it was played in the past.

Wisdom for whosoever desires fundamental change is to be courageous in doing things differently so as to achieve different results.

The need of the hour is to revert to God in fervent prayer.

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw. Our God is of infinite mercy, our source of strength, comfort and hope. We must urge him to spare our nation from anarchy and chaos. We must call on Him to bless our leaders with wisdom. Power and Might are in His hands to free us from corruption which has been acutely detrimental to our democracy.

We must heed the call to prayer, to get back in tune with God for genuine transformation through total victory over the enemy of our tomorrow.

MEND at it again

By Kehinde Laniyan for many months, the JTF saw the claim of responsibility by “MEND” as a cheap ploy to give impression of disunity among former Niger militants that it saw as still committed to the peace process. It therefore warned creek communities not give sanctuaries to new MEND it described as criminals.

It would be recalled that MEND had issued a warning early in February to resume hostility and to that extent the bloodbath and kidnapping of last week is seen as part of the fulfilment of that promise by MEND. MEND sounded very obstinate while issuing its warnings. It explained that its intention and plans will begin to manifest through series of attacks that will target Nigerian oil infrastructures, Niger Delta indigenes (perceived as collaborating with the Nigerian government) and South African owned businesses.

MEND implicated the South African government because President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma of South Africa was alleged to have interfered in the trial of Henry Okah in Johannesburg court for his involvement in terror activities in Nigeria.

Okah’s trial was scheduled to open in January. But in a dramatic move in which prosecutor and defence lawyers agreed, trial was postponed till October 1. Unfortunately, South Africa and Nigeria are not enjoying the best of diplomatic relation again. The relation was the worst of its kind since the fall of apartheid government in 1994.

The Nigerian security forces should have seen it coming going by the announcement made by MEND in early February after the trial of its leader in South Africa was frustrated. MEND subsequently owned up to being involved in destroying the Agip trunk line at Brass in Bayelsa State. After the attack, MEND described President Goodluck Jonathan as incompetent. It described the spending on ex-militants through the amnesty program as wasteful and unnecessary.

It called the graduates of the amnesty program mere thugs that lacked real roots in the Niger Delta creeks.

The JTF is speaking the mind of the government by not giving recognition to MEND. Particularly in view of several steps that were taken by government to take the message of peace and hope to different parts of Niger Delta through initiation of policies that target the challenges of Niger Delta people. It is therefore disturbing that MEND, in whatever form, could resurrect to undermine all these initiatives.

Technically, and in law, it is difficult for government to still relate to MEND as an organization after the take-off of Amnesty Program on 4 October 2009; and after all militants were asked to submit their arms for freedom and training for full integration back into the society.

Also behind the present resurgence of violence in the delta is the politics of the region that became so intense following the keenly contested PDP governorship primaries that got former Governor of Bayelsa State out of power. Many had predicted that the political manoeuvring would come back to haunt the peace of the region.

Added to this is the belated request by some ex-militants to be integrated into the amnesty programs two years after it was successfully closed and billed for full implementation. It is just inconceivable to some that amnesty would be seen as a program that must exist in perpetuity. It will be too dangerous for government to allow Nigerians to see amnesty as means to legitimizing criminality thus opening a big Pandora box.

The attack on soldiers was preceded by attack of pirates on a Dutch-owned vessel in which some foreign crew members were taken as hostages. The media release of MEND claimed its group had been contacted to mediate in ensuring the release of the hos-

tages. It also warned further that this will not prevent MEND too from attacking vessels with Nigerian interests. This therefore confirms a serious linkage between the pirates’ activities and the MEND. The activities of pirates along our territorial waters have been of great concern to the maritime community and the Nigerian government even after MEND had already disarmed in 2009. The issue also came into limelight during the probe of the oil subsidy by the House of Representatives with many oil marketers submitting that most vessels avoid Nigerian waters because of pirate’s activities. It was noted then also that the activities of pirates were responsible for high cost of doing business in Nigeria due high freights and insurance costs.

The pledge by MEND to renew attacks, and the actual commencement of such attacks, had created impression that the security situation of Nigeria is deteriorating fast. It is sending bad signals to the outside world who are being convinced to make Nigeria a destination for investments.

The development, if allowed to fester, would compound already bad security situation, made so by the devastation wrecked

by Boko Haram sect in the northern parts of Nigeria. Bloody attacks by Boko Haram had impacted negatively on the economy of the country especially that of the north with massive outflow of businesses and labour outside the region into southern Nigeria and into neighboring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

Laniyan, a policy analyst, sent this from Abuja.

The development, if allowed to fester, would compound the already bad security situation, made so by the devastation wrecked by Boko Haram sect in the northern parts of Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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T would appear that indiscipline among drivers on Lagos roads has taken to the worst. On a daily basis and at the least traffic hold-up, sundry motorists and drivers behave in such a manner to suggest that impunity and recklessness have become part of the traffic code. The matter is not helped by the absence and sometimes indifference of traffic management officers including the police to this bestial conduct by sundry drivers including the supposedly educated ones.

In and around Lagos, the story is the same.

Once there is a small traffic snarl, the next thing you see is someone pulling off the rear, driving on very high speed against traffic and with such impunity that suggests either the road belongs to him or he is above the law.

He is immediately followed in the same fashion by some other undisciplined drivers till they get to a point it becomes impossible for them to continue because of incoming vehicles.

At that point, the entire road is blocked as both incoming vehicles and those queuing patiently on their lanes cannot move due to the obstruction caused by these reckless drivers. Only then, will their folly dawn on them.

They immediately resort to begging to be allowed to join the queue at that point. Some of them even force their ways into the queue resulting in some cases to quarrels which further exacerbate the traffic situation.

Somehow, those on their legitimate lanes are compelled to allow them entry as refusal will mean no movement. Apparently capitalizing on this benevolence, it has become fashionable for sundry characters to break traffic laws without let or hindrance. Interestingly, women, mostly the younger ones appear to have fast learnt this ruinous practice either out of ignorance or basking under the euphoria that as the weaker sex, the law will be lenient to them.

As it turns out in most cases, they get away with this misdemeanor. In many occasions, the number of offenders is so high that traffic officers find themselves helpless. Even if they attempt arresting them, it will be neigh impossible to arrest them all. That perhaps, accounts for the accentuation of the madness we see regularly on Lagos roads especially in the mainland.

In the past, military men were notorious for the impunity with which they drove against traffic. Worried by the high level of indiscipline among uniformed men, the Lagos State government had worked out an arrangement with the then General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 81 division of the

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T is a settled admission that the provision of basic environment and tools for development of man’s broken frontiers and collapsing values should as a responsibility be that of the government in whom the citizenry have relinquished their sovereignty. It may be for this accomplishment and closure of the illiteracy void that early policy makers in this sector institutionalised what we adopted as Scholarship Scheme aimed at bridging the gap between the indigent and the rich.

It is in pursuit of the targeted Millennium Development Goals that the Federal Government in partnership with various state governments introduced the compulsory Universal Basic Education.

It will be trite to state that the effort purely aimed at stimulating the yet-to- be harvested potentials in man, and further needed as the catalyst for human development and nation advancement, is making progress.

However we look at it, there is always more to the impact of education beyond scaling the illiteracy scale, be it vocational or liberal. The attainment of higher education is seen as the completion of the full human development and identity voyage. It remains to be seen how education can thrive and have its effect without research. In fact, it has been posited and correctly too, that education without research is akin to milk without the cream, thus no sane man can make an omelette without breaking the egg.

In our contemporary society, it has become a ubiquitous mantra daily romanced by armchair critics on the ‘falling standard’ of education which the blame is traditionally dumped at the door-steps of government.

The penalising poser for us remains thus; what is the contemporary local content of our education in terms of values, to what extent have we made our tertiary institutions the envisaged citadel and beacon of knowledge?

What has been the investments and contribution of all stakeholders in the areas of research and endowment in our tertiary institutions? To the seekers of knowledge, what impacts have been made on them beyond the paper qualification, after statutory period of commonly interrupted academic apprenticeship?

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Traffic indiscipline in Lagos Nigerian Army, Major General Sunday Chikwe for military police to work with the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency. Under that arrangement, the military police were to help monitor military men who flouted traffic rules and those apprehended were to be punished by the military authorities. That was about four years ago.

Today and with what we still see on our roads, it is not clear whether military men have given up this habit. Even if some of them have, it has become obvious that the larger society has now assimilated and taken over this ruinous practice. They seem to relish the ephemeral joy and innate human suicide tendency of speeding against traffic even when those who started the journey before them queue patiently.

And each time this happens, those who ordinarily would loath to flout traffic rules are compelled to rethink why they should be in the queue while some others break the law and get away with it. Some are even tempted to join since it no longer pays to observe the law. That is the daily experience of people in and around Lagos roads.

But the questions are: for how long will this situation continue? What of the toll it takes on lives and the bad image it gives us as a nation? Can we afford to allow Lagos residents especially in the mainland continue in this impunity of recklessness on the roads? Is there anything wrong in us as a people that inhibit us from helping ourselves through orderly conducts? Must we require the brute force of the military as was fashionable some years back to ensure compliance with very elementary rules of social existence?

These are the nagging posers arising from the disorderly conduct of motorists on our

roads. Lagos is not alone in this as some of the southern states have started experiencing the same problem especially during festive periods. It could well be that the purveyors of this disorderly traffic conduct are people living in Lagos who find it difficult to adjust outside the state. That is the extent bad habits fester.

It is high time something urgent and drastic was done to discourage the impression gaining ground that people can break traffic rules without being punished. We need to act fast because the way things stand; breaking traffic rules especially driving against traffic without reprimand is fast assuming the character of a smart conduct. Thus, the danger is that we are likely to see more and more people trying out this supposed act of smartness.

Much of this indiscipline festers because of the absence of traffic officers in areas very prone to this ignoble act. That instructs we need more traffic officers on our roads. With more traffic personnel, effective coverage will ensure. There is also the need to train and re-train such officers on modern techniques of traffic management. The state government has to work out what to do with those caught driving against traffic on the spur of the moment. This is very crucial to effective traffic control. The moment other road users see offending drivers receive instant punishment either by having them booked, their vehicles towed or immobilized, the urge to resort to recklessness will wane very considerably.

This should be followed up with a comprehensive public enlightenment campaign drawing copious attention to the dangers of driving against traffic and other traffic of-

Let posterity judge us on educational reforms

By Theodore A. Orji In the cause of our political tour of duty, we have come into stark confrontation with the challenges of our tertiary institutions, and how these challenges have been a cog on the wheels of the progress we ought to make in the educational sector.

And without sounding immodest, we have dared to change the scenario after a careful study of the situation by going out of the traditional blame-relay to proffer ways out of the quagmire. In doing this, we have sustained tuition tertiary system to complement our huge allocation to the same sector. This singular commitment has patriotically seen us resurrecting a long comatose scholarship board to assist indigent students of our state studying in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa etc. The huge investments in the scholarship of these our foreign students further drive the truth on the cost of tertiary education, even in the so-called developed economies.

Suffice it to say that the driving force here is for us to return to that highly cherished era when quality and excellence stood beneficiaries and products of our universities out in the crowd. This achievement with its ripple effects downwards will recreate the standards of the old, since the products will in turn impact on those pupils and students in primary and post primary institutions. We must not play politics with the future generation. An old saying has it that when a lawyer makes a mistake, his client goes to jail, but when a teacher makes a mistake, a generation of fools would have been born.

Who trains a medical doctor without a teaching hospital, even in homeopathic?

If the truth must be told, no meaningful progress can be made in any development sector by paying mere lip service towards its improvement. It is even ironic that the same

pessimists in tuition tertiary education in public schools see no qualms in paying hundred times what the cost of education is in public school in the saturating private schools.

Apart from the statutory allocation of a sizable chuck of the budget to the educational sector, it became expedient to see that other necessary avenues are utilized to complement what the government is allocating to education. Granted that there had been years of total collapse and non-sensitivity towards the “falling standard”, but no sensible and honest government would attempt to play politics or play to the gallery with the issue of education wherein lies the future of any race. As a comprehension of the realities of the day viz -a- viz the economy, we welcomed the decisions of the management of our tertiary institutions to accommodate tuition by instalment, at least to ameliorate the perceived harsh effect.

It was John Masefield the British Poet and Laureate wrote that “There are few earthly things more splendid than a university. It is a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know; Where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see; Where seekers and learners alike, banded together in the search for knowledge will honour thought in all its finer ways; will welcome thinkers in distress or in exile; will uphold ever the dignity of thought and learning and will exact standards in these things. There are few earthly things more enduring than a university. Religions may split into sects or heresy; Dynasties may perish or be supplanted, but for centuries, the university will continue. The stream of life will pass through it, and the seeker and the learner will be bound together in the undying cause of bringing thoughts into the world”.

Our founding fathers who established our first generation universities never did so to score political points, or to advance their

fences. The target here is to elicit positive attitudinal change on good driving habits especially among the younger generation.

They need to imbibe the culture of patience, discipline and orderly conduct in traffic matters.

Readers’ views: Re: Northern governors and derivationyou have written a good article but you did not sit on the fence. Federalism practice in Nigeria is faulty. I am not from the north but I know that when Nigeria depended on agriculture, there was nothing like 13 per cent derivation Yinka 08028272597 You have dealt a death blow to this renewed northern governors agitation for a review of the derivation formula. Your write-up is among the best I have read. In fact all southern governors should read your piece. It is such a detailed and well researched submission on revenue allocation to the three tiers of government in Nigeria. If we have people like you in government, Sanusi will not have the effrontery to make incendiary statements that now possess the potential to implode the polity. Kudos man, I will look out for more of your write-ups. Asu Ekiye 08066192195 Northern governors are saying with money all things are possible but is it true? There is poverty in states that get more than the others why? Society is based on rugged individualism. That is why wealth is in the hands of a few and millions are in poverty in the midst of plenty. Ejimonye, Kaduna 08039727512

‘It is high time something urgent and drastic was done to discourage the impression gaining ground that people can break traffic rules without being punished. We need to act fast because the way things stand; breaking traffic rules especially driving against traffic without reprimand is fast assuming the character of a smart conduct’ political curriculum vitae. No. Their mission was to establish a citadel of learning that will uphold ever the dignity of thought and learning, and will exact standards in these things. Their motive as shown by the dream of the Late Zik of Africa, was to restore the dignity of man and by such investment show the light to freedom of thought and development.

Conceded in the beginning, there was free education stricto sensu, as lawyers would say, but the cost of running free education by the regions then never ate into the budget of those regions the way we have them today. Even those pedestal critics in their infantile condemnation did not bother to check what was the ratio of scholarship enrolment in the post colonial Nigeria era as per each of the region as in comparison with what we have today. These are factors we must all key in our term plans.

Take the Eastern Region with about nine States now for instance. After setting aside the sum of five hundred thousand pounds for over five years through the Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board for the establishment of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, the university’s eventual take-off was with less than 300 students. What is the enrolment figure today?

Every challenge in life must be tackled with collective bargain. We can unequivocally say we did it in the area of security even in the face of on uncompromising detractors. Today we have one of the safest abodes that the pains of yesterday are no longer remembered suggesting that they have been healed. We do not operate like an island. We make consultations with the aim of carrying everyone along. That we have done by involving all stakeholders in every decision we have taken.

Posterity will judge us by our action through the decision we take now no matter how unpalatable its teething period may be. Where shall our place in history be, if we fail to take any decision(s) at all?

We are poised to the dire transformation needs of our people, and no matter the thongs on the way, we will surely reach the promised Land, knowing that losing sight may create a difficult situation, but it is not as worst as losing a vision.

• Orji, Governor of Abia State wrote from Umuahia.

NFF ANNOUNCES JOHNSON BLASTS new coaches Nigerian referees again Pg. 24

•John Obuh

Tuesday

Pg. 41

…Says they lack respect for players

Nation Monday, March 19, 2012

PAGE 23

OPERATION BEAT NAMIBIA

•Stephen Keshi

KESHI

warns

Pg. 24

•Daniel Amokachi

assistants

•Urges them to watch at least a local game weekly •Picks home based for Namibia, Malawi friendlies •Promises to partner NOA on grassroots mobilisation

Etuhu to quit

FULHAM

Pg. 41

24

41

NATIONSPORT MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Sunshine Stars confident to scale Angolan hurdle

S

UNSHINE STARS are confident they will go past Angolan club Recreativo de Libolo in the second round of this year's CAF Champions League.

Top official of Sunshine, Mike Idoko, said they have gathered some information on the team who upset South African champions Orlando Pirates in the previous round of the competition.

“We are aware of the threat they pose, like that they have three Brazilians and they eliminated Orlando Pirates,” Idoko told MTNFootball.com “But we will beat them because we wish to go very far in this competition. We are optimistic that we will make it out of this round but we will not underrate the Angolans."

He added: “Our assurance is that we are coming to form at the right time after a rather poor start to the new Nigerian league season.

“Last season, we had enough time to train before the season began, but this time around, we did not.”

The Akure team will relocate this week with a 35-man squad to Lagos to train at the Onikan Stadium, which has a natural grass pitch as the match in Angola will be played on such a surface.

The first leg will be played on April 7 with the return leg in IjebuOde a fortnight later.

Last year, Sunshine reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup before they lost out to Club Africain of Tunisia.

NPL runners-up Sunshine and champions Dolphin are flying the country's flag in the 2012 CAF Champions League.

NIGERIA'S FOOTBALL CRISIS

Galadima wants lasting solutions

F

ORMER Nigeria Football Association (NFA) boss, Ibrahim Galadima has tasked all football stakeholders to come to a round table to discuss and find a final solutions to the imbroglio in Nigerian football.

While praising the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON) and Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi for brokering peace among all parties involved in the Nigeria football crisis which included the Nigeria Football Federation and the two principal personalities involved in lawsuits, Barrister Ray Nnaji and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Galadima offered that a final solution should be proffered for in order to guard against recurrence of these law suits against football administrators in Nigeria.

The resolution at the end of the parley between the feuding parties in the presence of the SGF and the Sports Minister stated that all parties agreed to terminate all court processes and not to enforce a recent court judgment obtained by Dr. Jaja, while the NFF would accommodate the eminent persons in ways stated in the resolutions.

Galadima, however, threw his weight behind the visit of the Sports Minister and the NFF leadership to Zurich's Headquarters of FIFA. “Since it was geared towards bringing peace and stability to Nigerian football I am for it. One has to commend the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON) and the Sports Minister, Abdullahi for their initiative and foresight in bringing the feuding parties together in the

By Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja interest of the game in the country.

“The frequent visit to courts to seek redress by the affected parties had done more harm to he game so with the peaceful resolutions now we hope that there won't be a situation where the football body in the country would be taken to court again so that we can concentrate on the development of the game”, the former NFA boss prayed.

“I think it should be our own decision to run football the way we feel it is run globally. FIFA has basic rules for football but it doesn't mean that our laws too should not be respected,” Galadima noted.

The former Kano Pillars Football Club boss fumed at the situation when Nigerian administrators have to run at all times to the world ruling body of the game before sanity is brought to the game in the country. He was of the opinion that Nigerian football is advanced enough to solve her domestic problems without necessarily going to FIFA and that both FIFA statutes governing the game and the laws of the land (Nigeria) should be respected while embarking on football matters.

“Honestly it is high time we sit down and take decision that will define a better way of organising ourselves. It is a shame that we have to run to FIFA at every time to come to our aid whenever there are domestic problems. I think it is not the best and it high time we ask ourselves the basic questions on what causes this and look for a long lasting solutions,”Galadima offered.

Tuesday T •John Obuh

HE NIGERIA Football Federation (NFF) will announce top coaching appointments on Tuesday, officials disclosed.

“The coaching appointments will be made public on Tuesday,” a top official informed MTNFootball.com The NFF is due to announce a new coach for the country's female team, the Super Falcons, as well as a new technical director based on the recommendations of their technical committee.

The technical committee have recommended for former Kwara United coach Kadiri Ikhana to be the new coach for the Falcons, while John Obuh be retained as coach of the country's U-20 team.

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who has previously worked in Namibia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, will be the new technical director based on the committee's recommendations.

He will be paid by world football governing body FIFA.

D

OLPHINS General Manager, Dumbor Awanem has confirmed that Arsenal FC will play against Dolphins when they come on their tour of Nigeria in the summer.

Dumbor said over the weekend that there is no way Arsenal will come to Nigeria and not play the current League champions of the country.

He, however, said he attended a meeting with the Arsenal representatives and they reached that agreement.

“A lot of other states are trying to lure the Arsenal team to their states but they have said they want to see a club that can actually give them still opposition and Dolphins fit that bill. With this I can confirm to you that Arsenal will come to Port Harcourt to play against Dolphins’ in the summer.”

Awanem further added that the state is already in the process of making things right for the visit of Arsenal to Port Harcourt in the summer.

“It’s not everytime you get a club like Arsenal coming to your country or your stadium and we want to make the best of this.”

N

coach Justin Tenger and striker, Son Hingir are in cloud nine after defeating Enyimba.

Tornadoes took the maximum points off the Peoples' Elephant on Matchday 15 decided at the 5,000 seats, Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna on Saturday.

Substitute Hingir, who made his second appearance for Tornadoes after his switch from Lobi Stars at the start of the season, got his first and lone goal for the home side at the 72nd minute.

Hingir told SuperSport.com that his goal against the former domestic and African champions is the happiest moment of his career.

"It had been difficult picking shirt at Tornadoes after I left Lobi because of the quality of strikers in their fold like Sibi Gwar, Azuka Ebinum, among others. Ebinum's departure to Warri Wolves created the chance for me to be coming in as a substitute in my two games. So I'm really happy to score against Enyimba. In fact, today is my happiest moment.

This is my first goal for Tornadoes," he said.

Hingir is already dreaming of more goals for the Minna-based side and sees the mid-week rescheduled Matchday 3 at Heartland as the platform to prove

"We've played three matches without a loss, I look forward to the game at Heartland to increase my goals and extend our unbeaten run. Possibly, we'll leave Heartland with a win," he said.

Coach Tenger does not think less insisting that Calabar will be a fertile ground to pick another three full points.

"We're expecting a massive game at Heartland in Calabar.

Heartland, Enyimba, Rangers are continental teams, but I don't look at them like that. We're going to give them a good fight.

"Calabar is a neutral ground, with good officiating, we hope to come out with good result. Our win against Enyimba is a big boost on my players, I sincerely pray the government of Niger S t a t e w i l l complement the efforts of the players through f i n a n c i a l incentives," he said.

Tornadoes' points haul are up to 19 f r o m a possible 42.

Fulham N

•Ikhana

IGERIA international midfielder Dickson Etuhu has told MTNFootball.com he will quit English Premier League club Fulham at season's end.

Etuhu has fallen out of favour at the London club and has admitted he does not enjoy a good working relationship with manager Martin Jol. "Obviously, all is not well with me and the club manager and I think I should be heading out of the club at the end of the season," Etuhu told MTNFootball.com Last season, the defensive midfielder featured in a total of 31 matches in all competitions for Fulham with only five substitute appearances.

However, this term he has been a substitute in 11 of the 29 appearances he has made for the EPL side.

His last appearance for Fulham was as an 81st minute substitute in the 1-0 win at QPR on February 25.

Etuhu, who will be 30 in June, was an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-0 home loss to Swansea.

Former Mali skipper and Real Madrid ace

Mahamadou Diarra has been preferred to him since he teamed up with Fulham as a free agent recently.

However, Etuhu has been guarded about his next possible destination, insisting that he remains focused in helping Fulham secure a ticket to feature in Europe next season.

"I cannot tell you right now where I would be heading to, but I am presently focused on helping Fulham get a European spot for next season as I am still a player of the c l u b , " h e i n f o r m e d MTNFootball.com Fulham are 11th on the table with 36 points from 29 matches.

The former Manchester City, Sunderland and Norwich City defensive midfielder has made over

OPERATION BEAT NAMIBIA

•Etuhu

75 appearances for Fulham since joining in September 2008 for a fee of £1.5M on a threeyear contract.

JOHNSON BLASTS Nigerian referees again

warns assistants

Arsenal confirm Beating Enyimba, best Dolphins thing ever —Son Hingir friendly date IGER TORNADOES' his goal scoring ability.

•Game to hold in Port Harcourt this summer

ETUHU to quit

NFF ANNOUNCES new coaches

•Urges them to watch at least a local game weekly •Picks home based for Namibia, Malawi friendlies •Promises to partner NOA on grassroots mobilisation

From Andrew Abah and Patrick Ngwaogu in Abuja

•Keshi

S

UPER EAGLES’ head coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has issued a standing order to his assistants to ensure that they watch at least one league match either in the premiership or professional cadre.

He said that they need to discover more talents from the local league that will dorn the national colours adding that: I have told them before now that we need to see other players from the league. I want to tell Nigerians once again that we don't have a team yet. What we have is the players. We need to discover them and use

them to build a formidable team for the country." He further revealed that the Super Eagles will play two friendly matches against Namibia on June 3in Nigeria and Malawi on July 8 at a venue to be decided later. He said the home based players would play t h e two matches.

Mean while, Keshi has promised to partner with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in its quest to take sports mobilisation to the grassroots. The Big Boss who spoke at the weekend when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the agency, Mike Omiri. The DG who described Keshi as his personal friend who serve as a role model to the country's youths.

He said that the agency intends to take sports mobilisation to grassroots through the use of flags.

He said as the head coach of the senior national team, that partnering with keshi would draw more attention: "We would soon launch the use of flags during our national team matches. We would make the flags and t-shirts available to the NFF so that the issue of patrotism would be imbibed in youths from the tender age," Omiri said.

Keshi was later decorated with the national flag.

•Daniel Amokachi

…Says they lack respect for players

A

FTER previously accusing Nigerian referees of being the reason behind the increasing cases of football violence in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL), Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Security Committee, Effiong Johnson has taken another swipe at the men with the whistle, this time accusing them of showing little respect to players on the pitch, particularly those at the receiving end of bad tackles.

The Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chairman drew his conclusion after watching the Quarter-Final English FA Cup match between Tottenham Hotspurs and Bolton Wanderers at the White Hart Lane which was abandoned with scores at 1-1 with 41 minutes played after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the field. Centre Referee Howard Webb sought the consent of both teams before deciding that the match be abandoned as a sign of respect to the unconscious Muamba, a situation Johnson said has never been seen in Nigeria football.

“What we saw at the FA Cup match has never been witnessed in Nigeria. The referees here will rather call for the injured player to be taken out of the pitch so that

the match can continue. I've seen it happen here before.

Not once but on numerous occasions.

“When Unicem Rovers played Akwa Starlets in Calabar, a player collapsed on the pitch and almost died. I was part of those who aided the paramedics in trying to resuscitate him but the referee did what is common here, made sure the player was taken away while the match continued.”

Despite not playing at their traditional home in Uyo, Johnson has been present in virtually all the matches played by Akwa United and Akwa Starlets at their adopted home in Calabar in the ongoing NPL and NNL campaigns. He said he has seen the attitude of match officials and players and they fall short of satisfactory.

“I've not been satisfied with the general attitude of players and officials, I expect them to show respect to each other. Players must also learn to show kindness and respect their opponents. They shouldn't be in a hurry to restart the game when there is a stop for attention to an injured player.

“We are all preaching 1 GAME but the campaign will not achieve its objective of football without violence if we don't improve on our attitude, there's every need for us to be transparent in the game,” Johnson emphasised.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

25

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE CEO

The goal of the National ICT policy is to provide a framework for streamlining the ICT sector and enhancing its ability to help address some socioeconomic and development challenges.

- Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology

JOBS

‘Future of real sector uncertain’, P. 32

Engaging active retired executives, P. 29

News Briefing

N3.4b debt threatens rural electrification THE N3.4 billion debt the Federal Government owes contractors of the newly resuscitated Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is threatening to send the agency back into oblivion again.

NCAA moves against rights abuses THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) is planning to introduce a passengers’ bill of rights in line with the requirements of the global aviation regulator-International Civil Aviation Organisation) ICAO, investigations have revealed.

NERFUND shops for N50b THE National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) is shopping for N50 billion to boost its capital base.

The fresh funds would be used to supplement the N2 billion it got from the 2009 Appropriation Bill.

- Pages 26

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

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

•From left: Group Executive Director, Petrol Chemicals, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Philip Chukwu; Group Executive Chairman, Jagal Group, Anwar Jarmakani; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi and Executive Director, Corporate Banking, John Obi, at the inauguration of the NNPC/MNP Satellite Field Development Projects Platform, at NigerDock, Lagos ... weekend.

Internal crises rock SEC, NSE A

SEETHING internal crisis is brewing within the capital market regulatory system as staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are pitched in a heated camp battle between the line of old and new staff.

Sources in the know of the crises at the two institutions told The Nation that there have been no cohesion and sense of purpose within the SEC and the NSE in recent past over what some members of staff described as alleged attempts to denigrate majority of longserving members of staff as incompetent with a view to sidelining them in the current management.

Sources at SEC said the obvious disagreements by top management staff of SEC at

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

the public hearing by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market were reflective of the built-up frustrations by experienced members of staff over the management style of the new Director-General, Ms Arunma Oteh.

Sources at SEC alleged that Oteh was running a ‘management within management’ with a coterie of handpicked consultants and advisers while existing members of management were only sought for concurrence to crucial decisions.

Top management staff had during the public hearing dissociated themselves from several decisions allegedly taken by management and tendered

several documents indicating they had raised objections to certain decisions and processes pushed through by the director general.

A middle-level member of staff said the segregation cut across, from the top to the middle and low cadre members of staff.

Besides, there are strong indications that some experienced management staff of the NSE might soon resign over alleged high-handedness and witch-hunting by the new management of the Exchange.

Sources close to the NSE told The Nation that uncertainties over the future of those that rose to the top management level during the tenure of the past director-general of the Exchange, Prof. Ndi OkerekeOnyiuke, have continued to generate serious concern.

They alleged that the Oscar Onyema-led management has been frustrating management staff perceived as loyalists of the previous director general.

They said the exclusion of some management staff from the list of officials of the NSE posted on its new website was a deliberate decision to present new faces as the champions of reforms at the NSE. NSE sources said a recent appraisal carried out by the NSE for staff performance was being used as a smokescreen but alleged that in actual sense those perceived as loyalists of the Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke regime were the ones allegedly being removed from the management.

The Nation gathered that although the affected members of staff were not asked to

leave directly; rather, there have been undue pressures and it was becoming clear the management and recruitment style of the Onyema-led team were threats to their future careers.

Some of the affected preOnyema management staff included four assistant general managers and a principal manager. Already, an assistant general manager had given a notice of retirement, which is due this month, while another had indicated that he would be leaving by the third quarter.

A deputy general manager also last week tendered his resignation letter to the management of the Exchange.

When contacted, Head, Media, NSE, Mr Wole Tokede denied any rift within the management of the NSE.

Telecoms operators spend N6.7b monthly on power

T

ELECOMS operators in the country spend an average of N6.7billion to power over 18,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), deployed across the country to transmit telecommunications signals.

These include the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

Investigations by The Nation revealed that an average of 2,200 litres of diesel is utilised monthly to power each of the BTS sites across the country.

This means an operator with 1,000 base station would spend an average of N374million monthly to fuel the generating sets in the sites.

According to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of MTN Nigeria, Mrs Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN, which accounts for almost 50 per cent of total telecoms BTS across the country, utilises

By Adline Atili

15.5million litres of fuel every month to power more than 7,000 BTS sites in the country. “When multiplied by the N170 retail price of diesel, we spend a whopping N2.6billion monthly to ensure our BTS sites are running,” she said.

Currently, the total number of BTS sites of operators in the country is about 18,000.

This means 39.6million litres of fuel would be needed to power these sites. Thirty-nine point six million multiplied

by N170 for a litre of diesel amounts to N6.7billion At present, electricity supply in Nigeria is powered mainly by hydro and natural gas fired plants and these have been epileptic in recent times. Political disturbances, poor pipeline infrastructure and receding rainfalls have contributed to severe reductions in electric power sup-

ply. Current average power generation is about 3,400MW, instead of the required 10,000MW for uninterrupted power supply.

The MTN chief said the power situation was stifling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, a major economic driver of globalisation. She said: “To do business in Nigeria is expensive. That is why manufacturers that are already in Nigeria are moving their businesses to Ghana. Our policies and the environment are not reflective of people who want to attract Foreign Direct Investments.”

Besides affecting FDI inflows, over 70 per cent of downtime being experienced by telecoms subscribers in the country have been traced to the lingering electricity problem.

Chief Operating Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Deepak Srivastava, said in spite of the

continuous investments in network expansion by the operators, poor electricity remains a challenge.

“The poor power supply across the country to companies’ sites has been responsible for over 70 per cent of downtime, resulting in poor quality of service,” he said.

Plagued by unreliable, intermittent and often non-existent access to electricity, especially in rural areas, operators have begun to introduce “green” power solutions for base stations, based on renewable energy sources.

Mrs Saint-Nwafor disclosed that MTN plans to deploy hyper-hybrid power solutions incorporating solar, wind and gas turbines to power its BTS sites.

She said: “Currently, we are deploying hybrid solutions that combine batteries and generators to generate power for our sites. We are exploring solar opportunities too. We are

exploring even gas turbines and wind energy in some parts of the north where the wind speed is higher.

“We are exploring these not only to reduce costs but to improve quality of service, because when you have those, you don’t have diesel outages. So, availability is improved and cost of operation is reduced, which you can now pass down to your subscribers. By the end of 2012, we’ll have hybrid power solutions in about 5,000 of 10,000 sites we are going to have.”

Airtel Nigeria has also started powering a sizeable number of its BTS sites across the country with solar power.

The firm said the initiative would go a long way in addressing the power challenge, including partnership with the World Bank for power supply to remote communities in the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

26

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

tries to make on its own, is being frustrated as the contractors owed by the government continue to wage war against the agency.

A source from the power industry, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said “the situation is really bad because some of the contractors have died out of worry and frustration because they borrowed money from the banks to executive the contracts they did and had given their houses and other valuables as collaterals, which they lost to the banks for their inability to repay or service the loans.”

The source stressed the need to settle the debt and fund the agency properly to achieve the mandate for which it was established. According to information, data generated by the power ministry shows that currently 2,000 communities in Nigeria do not have electricity power, while about 1,970 projects at different levels of

completion being undertaken by the agency before it was scrapped in 2009, still remain abandoned.

During the budget defence by the Minister of Power, the lawmakers queried Nnaji on why there was no appropriation for capital project for the agency in 2012 budget as well as the non provision for payment of the debts owed the contractors.

Nnaji, however, said there is money in the budget that will almost take care of the amount owed the contractors so they can go back to work to complete these projects in various rural communities in the country.

“But the target is for REA to work in partnership with state government and electricity distribution companies to continue to improve access to electricity throughout the country because there are places that have and there are places that don’t have access at all,” he added.

The budgetary allocation to the agency, it was learnt, isn’t enough to cater for personnel and overhead costs.

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LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

target N100b from motor insurance

By Chuks Udo Okonta

T

HE insurance industry is working to net over N100 billion from motor insurance this year, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, has said.

Daniel told The Nation that going by the statistics provided by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), which put vehicles in the country at over 10 million, the industry through its initiatives will net over N100billion from that class of insurance.

He said the efforts by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) to digitalise motor insurance certificates and the enforcement of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) will drive the attainment of the target.

Daniel said the industry also hopes to achieve gross premium income of N1.10 trillion, create additional 250,000 new jobs and make substantial contribution into the Fire Service maintenance fund as provided in section 65(5) of the Insurance Act. Besides, the insurance industry, he said, intends to attain 3.0 per cent insurance contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and premium per capita contribution of N7,500 from N1,200.

He said if available statistics are anything to go by, the MDRI’s target of N2.5 trillion gross industry premium income by the end of 2015 and N6 trillion by the end of 2021 is on course.

MAN laments Africa’s low trade volume

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By Emeka Ugwuanyi

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HE N3.4 billion debt the Federal Government owes contractors of the newly resuscitated Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is threatening to send the agency back into oblivion again.

The agency, previously scrapped for alleged misappropriation of N5.2 billion by its former management, some lawmakers and other stakeholders, was recently re-streamed by the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, to bridge power supply gap in rural areas of the country.

The minister’s intention seems unrealisable because the agency is stagnated as a result of lack of fund. Our correspondent gathered that this development bothers the Ministry of Power, which had planned a stakeholders’retreat last weekend where issues concerning the agency topped the agenda to be discussed, it was gathered Despite zero provision for capital projects for the agency in 2012 budget, the little efforts the management

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N3.4b debt threatens rural electrification Insurers

By Toba Agboola •From left: Chief Paduman Gupta, Chairman, Parco Group; Otunba Debo Ashiru; Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Ogun State, Ooni of Ife, HRM Okunade Sijuade, at the opening of African Foundries Ltd’s Billet Mill for Export at Ogijo, Ogun State ... on Friday.

NCAA moves against rights abuses by airlines

T

HE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) is planning to introduce a passengers’ bill of rights in line with the requirements of the global aviation regulator-International Civil Aviation Organisation) ICAO, investigations have revealed.

The measure is aimed at checking rights violations by domestic and foreign carriers, arising from incessant delays and cancellations of flight resulting in loss of passenger baggage.

The domestic carriers are jittery over the implementation of the new aviation law that is expected to checkmate gross violation of passengers’ rights over the years.

The bill of rights, which is being packaged by the NCAA, comes on the heels of parlous service delivery

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

by airlines and aeronautical service providers including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and ground handling firms, which have combined to short change Nigerian passengers.

The new law, a source hinted, is already provoking disquiet and palpable anxiety among domestic carriers, which is expected to empower the NCAA to sanction airlines which have reported to it by passengers for all categories of rights violation.

Chief among the rights violation that the bill of rights will address is the incessant flight delays and cancellations carried out without adequate notification and compensa-

tion in line with internationally prescribed regulations by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO) and International Air Transport Association ( IATA).

Confirming the development, the Director-General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, affirmed that plans have reached an advanced stage to deliver what he described as a watershed in the aviation sector, where the rights of passengers can no longer be violated by airlines.

Demuren explained that the NCAA is seeking industry input in the final stage of drafting the bill, before the primary aviation law could be gazetted by the Federal Government to give it teeth to bite errant airline operators and other service providers.

NERFUND shops for N50b

T

HE National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) is shopping for N50 billion to boost its capital base.

The fresh funds would be used to supplement the N2 billion it got from the 2009 Appropriation Bill.

NERFUND is an intervention scheme established to speed up the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) through the provision of medium to long-term funding by participating banks.

An insider at NERFUND, who spoke anonymously, said presentations have been made to the Federal Government on securing the required funding, to aid its support to entrepreneurs. A strong capital base,

By Collins Nweze

he said, will enable the agency to attract more funds from the World Bank and African Development Bank (ADB) to be loaned to entrepreneurs.

He explained that in recent times, the agency has given out over N2.1 billion to entrepreneurs with 750 micro enterprises accessing N1.65 billion while nine SMEs got N553 million. The source said the funding and recapitalisation are major challenges facing the agency and that addressing it will create more jobs and boost the economy.

Speaking on the activities of NERFUND, its spokesman, Dahiru Ali, said the agency has signed 19

Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with government agencies and network of Nigerian entrepreneurs, which will are more reliable institutions to access its loans. He added that it has also broadened its reach to include Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) being the engine room of the economy.

According to NERFUND Managing Director, Baba Maina Gimba, conditions set for accessing the NERFUND Micro Enterprises Credit Scheme entails that prospecting businesses must be engaged in manufacturing, mining, quarrying, agro-allied, industrial support services, equipment leasing and other ancillary services.

T

HE Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN), Export Group, Romeo Barberopoulos, has expressed concern that trading among African countries is not up to 10 per cent of their trade with the developed countries.

Speaking with The Nation, Barberopoulos, said rather than trade among themselves, African countries are only doing business with the developed countries.

He said while intra-community trade among member states within given Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa hardly reaches 10 per cent of their total trade, intraEU trade stood at 85 per cent of EU total exports in 2004.

“This paucity of economic relation among African nations has continued for decades with no serious efforts from any quarters to address it,’’ he said, adding that the situation called for “constructive, positive and decisive engagement.’’

Barberopoulos, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Export Trade Houses Limited (NEXPORTRADE), said the firm was established to address regional economic challenges confronting trade in Africa.

He said: “NEXPORTRADE Houses Limited is a pan African company established to serve as a secured platform for increased and better organised trade among business groups in ECOWAS and African nations to reduce informal trade.’’

He pledged to ensure that trade within the region is facilitated to pave way for rapid economic integration of African businesses.

“We will use the NEXPORTRADE network of partnerships in Africa as a clearing house for all formal quality guaranteed export by all Africa countries to the rest of the world in order to build confidence in Madein-Africa products.’’

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

27

ISSUES

Many plants, costly cement • Bags of cement

The price of cement was expected to come down following a rise in the installed combined capacity of the manufacturing companies. The companies have a combined capacity of 20 million metric tonnes; local consumption is put at 18 million metric tonnes. Despite supply outstripping demand by two million metric tonnes, the price of cement remains high, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports. • Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

28

ISSUES

Many plants, costly cement

Housing development The housing sector is , however, adding just about one per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as against what is obtainable in advanced economies where growth is measured by the contribution of the sector.

To fill the nation’s 16 million housing gap, cement price must go down to enable the majority of the people build their houses.

Stakeholders’ opinion

• Continued from page 27

W

ILL the price of cement ever go down? This is a question many Nigerians have been asking over and over again. Despite the building of more cement plants with additional capacity, the price of the commodity, which is a major component in building, has remained high.

Hopes that the price will come down because of the plants’ installed additional capacity seem to have been dashed.

The plants’ combined capacity is about 20 million metric tonnes yearly; local consumption as at last month was 18 million metric tonnes. With this, the price is expected to have crashed since supply outstrips demand by two million metric tonnes but the reverse is the case. Where lies the problem? Neither the government nor the producers can answer this question.

Expectedly, the public is beginning to doubt the advertised “installed capacity”of some of the plants. They argue that if, indeed, they are producing as much as they claimed, the price of the product would have crashed by now.

The manufacturers had claimed that given the improved infrastructure and combined capacity of 20.25 million metric tonnes yearly with local consumption hovering around 17 to 18 metric tonnes, the country was on the road to being self-sufficient in cement production and would soon become a net exporter of the product.

A source at Dangote Cement Industries said before the inauguration of the firm’s Ibese, Ogun State plant: “We are marking the closing ceremony of cement import in Nigeria with the coming on stream of our Ibese plant, which will be producing a combined six-million tonnes per annum from its initial two lines while additional two will be added immediately to increase its production to 12 million tonnes per annum,”

Government’s policy To check the high cost of cement and its attendant effect on the economy, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration introduced the backward integration policy. Under the policy, 15 companies were issued import licenses, given incentives and asked to, within a given period, build their own plants.

Of the number, only three companies embraced the policy. Though stakeholders welcomed the initiative, they argued that it required political will to implement. Under this circumstance, will Nigeria ever become self-sufficient in cement production? Leading industrialist Aliko Dangote feels it can.

In an interview, Dangote was quoted as saying that his organisation will take up the challenge to lead the way in making the nation self-reliant in cement production . He lamented that the country was losing huge sums in foreign exchange to importation.

The desire of Dangote Cement is to ensure the country not only moves away from export of certain commodities, of which cement is one, but to also strengthen the local production capacity, he said, adding that by so doing Nigeria will become a cement exporter nation and increase its foreign reserves.

“Our duty is to assist the government because the government has given a good policy and we should not try to abuse the system. So what we are trying to do is to also bring down the price so that it can be affordable and that is why from today, we, as a company, will allow even people who want to buy even one truck, to come, buy and take one truck”.

Dangote said although the company cannot control transportation, it has acquired additional 5,000 trucks to lift the product in a bid to curtail the soaring price and make the product affordable to Nigerians.

Speaking at the inauguration of Lafarge WAPCO plant at Ewekoro, Ogun State, its Chairman Chief Olusegun Osunkeye said:

• Minister of Lands & Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple

• Makoju

“The inauguration of Ewekoro II will help to make the nation self-sufficient in cement, create the foundations for future economic development in the country, employ, and provide skills for hundreds of Nigerians and benefit hundreds more indirectly.” He said the plant is a further declaration of Lafarge’s commitment to innovation, with the capacity to produce four different types of cement to better serve customers’ requirements. This ability to match products to customers’ needs is a reflection of the fact that Lafarge has the largest research centre in the construction industry, investing •150 million in technology and innovation in products, systems and industrial processes every year.”

The action he said, is supported by the introduction of new access points to the operational site and a new 600-truck capacity onsite trailer park. The rail system, Osunkeye added, has been incorporated into the company’s operations for efficient distribution. Since then, rail has been used to distribute cement faster to customers nationwide.

Causes of price hike Though manufacturers are painting a rosy picture of their activities and efforts made to deliver quality cement, the price has refused to crash.

• Dangote

•Awobodu

Many reasons have been advanced for the rising price. The fuel subsidy removal, the cost of diesel, of LPFO, poor road network, frequent accidents and breakdowns, have been cited as contributory factors to the high cost of cement. Middle men and some importers have also been fingered in creating artificial scarcity that contributes to the skyrocketing price. They are accused of warehousing the product and creating artificial scarcity, which allows market forces to play out when demand out strips supply. The tattered rail lines have not escaped the attention of keen observers who believe it would have been a different story if the product is moved by rail, which is as a cheaper mode of transportation especially for heavy goods.

Manufacturers are exonerating themselves from the problem, maintaining that they have not increased the cost of the product in two years. They said middlemen are responsible for the price hike noticed all over the federation, adding that the product leaves the factory at a price between N1, 300 and N1, 450 per 50-kilogrammes bag but gets to the consumer at a higher cost.

Chairman, Cement manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Mr Joseph Makoju, said the price hike might have been informed by the high cost of diesel. He said CMAN officials had met government officials on this and other matters, including bad roads, which the distributors also complain of.

Manufacturers are exonerating themselves from the problem, maintaining that they have not increased the cost of the product in two years.

They said middlemen are responsible for the price hike noticed all over the federation, adding that the product leaves the factory at a price between N1,300 and N1,450 per 50-kilogramme bag but gets to the consumers at a higher cost

According to the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), the high cost cement is damaging the building sector. “We wish to state that the cost of construction activities, which is highly dependent on cement in Nigeria even prior to the recent hike, is expensive enough. With the recent turn of events, it will not be inappropriate to say there is a possibility that the price increase will be damaging to the industry.”

The architects said it is regrettable that the product is sold at a higher price in the country than the neigbouring countries despite large deposits of gypsum, a primary product in cement production. They pointed out that increase in the price of cement has triggered off higher construction costs in the country, stressing that their concern is that the high cost of cement could force people who are engaged in construction to resort to using poor quality products to cut cost. This they warned, should not be allowed to stop the increasing cases of collapsed buildings.

A dealer in Ibafo, Mr Rafiu Fasina said the high cement price may not be unconnected with the cost associated with the transportation of the product. He lamented that the coming of Ibese cement has not helped matters, adding that the price of the product from other companies still remains at N1,900, adding “we naturally sell for N2,000 when it is eventually available.” He berated the government for not doing enough to check the sky-rocketing price of the product.

Fasina regretted that some of the trucks spend days on the plants’ premises before they can load, forcing dealers to patronise the black market for diesel to power their trucks.

He said: “It used to cost N60, 000 to transport a truck load of cement from Obajana (in Kogi) to Abuja, but it now costs between N80, 000 and N100,000, which leaves little margin.”

Vice Chairman, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr Moses Ogunleye said the said increased capacity of the combined production line of the plants has not yielded the much desired result. He said because of the Ibese plant, it will naturally take about two weeks for the product to get to the market. He said a 50-kilogramme of cement as at February 28 at Ilaro, Ogun State costs between N2, 000 and N2,100.

National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) Mr. Kunle Awobodu said Nigerians were made to believe that with the said additional capacity and increase in supply, cement price will come down.

He said the manufacturers’ argument that 60 per cent of their operational cost goes into harnessing energy to run the factories should also be factored in and government challenged to do something to crash cement price.

Awobodu advised Nigerians not to be too enthusiastic about having cheap cement, adding that it may not be feasible in the nearest future since the dry season usually witnesses high level of construction, which may have influenced the current price.

He regretted that the forthcoming rainy season may not allow players in the industry to evaluate effectively the true position of things in the sector as demand may naturally reduce the price.

Awobodu condemned the use of middle men in the distribution chain, calling for sanctions to correct the imbalance between the factory and market price. He argued that it is only when the market saturates that the price can come down. He appealed to manufacturers to prove that their touted installed capacity can meet the local demand. Besides, he said there is no differential between the installed capacity and actual productions.

Awobodu said the anticipation of players in the industry is that cement should come down to about N800 for a 50-kilogramme bag.

JOBS THE NATION

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

29

• Active retirees at work

Engaging active retired executives Due to no fault of theirs, many of them have retired from service, but they are not tired - as they have shown in their present endeavours. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

T

HEIR tribe is increasing everyday.

It is the club of retired, but not tired executives. Most of them were forced by circumstances to retire early.

With so much time on their hands, they have taken up new ventures. For instance, before Mr Tony Elumelu retired as Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2010, he had become an household name in the industry. He oversaw the fusion of UBA and Standard Trust Bank (STB) into UBA on August 1, 2005.

Since leaving UBA, Elumelu has joined the club of business leaders whose views are sought on vital economic policy matters. In retirement, he has taken his expertise to the global market

and is making waves with his Tony Elumelu Foundation. The foundation identifies and grooms African business leaders and entrepreneurs to enhance the competitiveness and growth of the continent‘s private sector.

From all indications, there is a growing need for the services of retired but not tired executives to transfer their knowledge to current managers.

The Head of Learning and Development, Leadway Assurance, Mr Adegoke Arimoro, said retired executives with necessary skills are still in demand to assist companies fill the skills gap. Compared to the young turks, active reterees make better employees because they possess good work ethics and are reliable.

Their years of experience can make them valuable team players, in terms of the quality of work they are able to provide and their ability to serve as mentors for younger colleagues, he said, adding that there are many benefits for hiring them.

On what they can do, Arimoro said they can be engaged to teach in the universities.

He urged organisations to provide opportunities for skilful retirees to still be of service.

With a rapidly developing service sector, the nation’s need in emerging areas such as energy is huge. Active retired executives in these areas are in high demand for consulting engagements.

In the banking and telecommunications

sector, many companies are turning to active retired executives. There are many Nigerians in the Diaspora, who are skilled in building tankers and oil rigs, but have retired. Many companies are hiring them to help with a broad range of projects. Arimoro said employers must adopt human resource policies with multiple options to meet the needs of these active retirees.

There are thousands of retired professionals, senior managers, chief executive officers (CEOs), directors and individuals with specialised knowledge and contacts who can be of help to public and private companies. Several • Continued on page 30

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THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

JOBS • Continued from page 29

organisations have created opportunities for some of them to serve as non-executive directors.

Non-executive directors are part time directors and this enables the active retirees attend to their job without stress. Some former senior officers of Mobil Producing and Shell Nigeria, who are considered valuable, are brought back after retirement as consultants.

The arrangement has proved a plus for both sides: The retirees return to work without the pressures of career building, and the companies gain from their knowledge. The advantages suggest that this trend will grow as more specialists approach retirement age.

Specialist human resources consultant Nseyen Ebong said active retired executives are an outstanding resource to tackle public and business challenges.

He said companies faced with the challenge of finding the right solutions and not enough in-house expertise will find retired executives make outstanding consultants. They see risks and opportunities in the marketplace that are sometimes overlooked by the executive management. They have stepped back from the hurlyburly of everyday business life and so can see things from a different perspective.

He said they bring unique expertise in sales, marketing, personnel, IT, finance, legal – and contacts which would be of value to the company.

Ebong said more companies are

Engaging active retired executives

• Elumelu

engaging retired professionals to help them succeed.

Transport policy consultant Dr Kingsley Usoh said active retired executives are necessary because

• Arimoro

companies want consultants who possess a lifetime’s worth of experience and expertise. The retirees, he said, should be involved in teaching and consulting.

• Ebong

The expert said the labour force is entering the change phase. According to him, the number of people projected to reach retirement is expected to increase in the

‘Many organisations are scrambling to implement programmes to keep high-value retired executives on the job as long as possible. They now offer flexible work arrangements to accommodate their changing lifestyles’

coming years. This he said, has implications in terms of the future supply of quality labour.

He called on the government to respond to the challenge through policies to promote longer working lives, counteract age-discrimination in the workplace, create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing number of active retirees.

Many organisations are scrambling to implement programmes to keep high-value retired executives on the job as long as possible. They now offer flexible work arrangements to accommodate their changing lifestyles.

Tertiary institutions are not left out. Universities are encouraging faculties to hire experts to bring corporate management experience into teaching.

Having worked for many years in the corporate world, former business managers/executives have acquired many transferable skills. These skills include organisation, communication, computer technology, sales/ marketing and financial management.

To promote skills transfer, the Lagos Business School is providing opportunities for corporate chieftains to teach as lecturers.

Dr Ernest Ndukwe, former chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), served two terms of five years each and left in March 2010.

He heads the Centre for Infrastructure Policy, Regulation and Advancement (CIPRA) at the Lagos Business School. Ndukwe teaches strategic leadership.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

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ANY job seekers have experienced a feeling of frustration that after many interviews, they are yet to secure an offer of appointment.

Many things could be wrong, but there is one area we started to look at last week. What do employers want?

You attended interviews, they asked questions, and you provided answers. But are these the correct answers? You don’t know.

May be nobody knows for sure, except the interviewer. But there are certain qualities and attributes desired by most, if not all employers. We noted, however, that: • The point of emphasis differ from position to position; • The requirement for entry point/low level position differs from that of senior/executive positions.

Listed last week as desirable by most, if not all employers are: • Basic competence - ability to do what you are to be employed for; • Communication skills-ability to understand and pass instructions both verbal and in writing; • Interpersonal skills - being able to relate to others, maintain and build relationships; • Adaptability - ability to welcome and manage change; • Willingliness to learn; • Initiative and independence ability to make your decisions and get result with little supervision; • Co-operation and collaboration- understanding and working well within teams; and • Motivation-inner desire for achievement and enthusiasm.

Now, let’s go on to discussion on the others in detail.

Commitment Employers want employees that

What employers are looking for (II)

By Olu Oyeniran

are reliable and responsible. You are expected to identify closely with the company and her needs, for better for worse. To what extent is the candidate prepared to give committed service to the company? Although the employer does not expect a promise that you will stay for twenty years, he expects a not-too-short stay and sudden exit that will cause disruption in his system. He also expects that you will be committed to doing the job at hand and giving it your best, as long as you are in employment.

Integrity/character Employers want employees that can do things right as well as those that can do the right things. No matter your brilliance, no employer would take you if you cannot be trusted. They do not like people with disruptive, pernicious, unstable, intolerant or any other negative character.

Positive attitude A positive attitude to situation and circumstances is desired in all job situations. Every position has its own content of frustrations, disturbances distractions, but all of these are easily surmountable with the right mental attitude. I will tell you, an individual with “get up and go” attitude is worthy of consideration for appointment, even if he fails to meet some other job attributes/requirements.

Analytical skills To make decisions and properly evaluate situations, candidates with analytical skills are desired by employers. The ability to make reasonable jugedments and assess

expected and unexpected situations is of great value on any job.

Are you able to look at a given work load, set priorities and find ways to solve the most, most immediate and important problems?

Will you panic and fall apart in the face of work related crisis?

Personal presentation Employer consider that job candidates, indeed all of their employees to be well dressed and groomed. Like they say, at least dress the part i.e. dress in a manner and way that very appropriate for the position you are planning to occupy. Always, be clean and neat.

Healthy body To perform at all, you need to look and feel well. No employer will readily employ a sickly job candidate. It will cause disaffection and disruption of work later. Note that it is your primary responsibility to remain healthy, and functional.

The attribute we have been discussing since last week applies mostly to entry to middle level managers, and to some extent the executive positions. However, there are some attributes that most employers desire specifically in respect of senior executives. They include the following: • Experience and know how: Senior managers who wants to move into new positions are expected to bring on the table expertise and practical knowledge.

This is critical, as they are not only expected to work with little supervision, but also to provide leadership/coaching for their subordinates. They are generally expensive, and the major reason why they are wanted is that there is no-

body within the system with the required experience and knowhow to perform the job. You see incompetent executive represent an enormous waste and risk to the enterprise.

• Track record of performance: The position may have because vacant because the previous occupier was eased out for poor performance. Then it is reasonable that the employer will want a replacement with proof of performance. Often history of excellent performance in previous job position(s) give comfort to the employer that if might be better this time.

• Leadership: As said earlier, senior managers are expected to provide leadership not only within then unit, but also across in the organisation. Employer therefore desire good and tested leaders. They want candidates who know how to be a leader, enjoying being a leader and fully appreciate the attendant responsibilities. He is also expected to understand team dynamics and be able to lead and function with team.

• Administration and management competence: Aside from technical and departmental responsibilities, employers expect senior executives to be versed in administration, policy development and implementation. They need to understand management processes.

• Intrapreneurship: As the organisation becomes large, ownership is somewhat shared, and the CEO may not be in a position to see all the opportunities and threat to the business.

He desires managed that would assume “ownership” and look out

for business and growth opportunities. He also depends on them for product people and process improvement that will reduce waste and increased profitability.

Now where does all these leave the job hunter? What about these in job hunting? One, jobs are lost and won often times on the basis of these attributes. A lot of times, more than the number of required candidates ties on the level of basic qualifications and experience.

In instances like this, candidates may be chosen on the basis of which seemed better on one or two of the attributes we have been discussing considered critical to the job position.

Two, aside from your educational attainments, these desirables when combined well form your unique selling point.

Three, match the key attributes you possess with the specific requirements of the employer for the position. This will work well if you do enough research on the job/company/industry to determine which are the most relevant and critical.

Four, and finally, you must communication this. Even when you have the key attributes desired by an employer in a specific situation, you must endeavour to communicate it to the employer. Don’t ever assume that it is so obvious that he ought to see it. Blow your trumpet. Use every opportunity and contact with the employer to communicate the match (and your suitability) - application letters, telephone conversations, resume, interview, etc. Now that you have the syllabus, go win yourself some job.

See you next week.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19 , 2012

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DUE DILIGENCE

GlaxoSmithKline: On the balance G

LAXOSMITHKLINE Consumer Nigeria (GSK) Plc witnessed appreciable growth in sales and sustained positive bottom-line in 2011 but the underlying profitability of the healthcare company faltered under the weight of rising costs. Audited report and accounts of GSK for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that sales rose by about 28 per cent while pre and post-tax profits improved by 19 per cent and 16 per cent.

However, while the outward profit and loss figures showed varied degrees of growths, underlying average pre-tax profit per unit of sales slipped from 17.4 per cent in 2010 to 16.3 per cent. Gross profit margin had dropped from 44 per cent to 42 per cent. Return on total assets also dropped from about 21 per cent in 2010 to some 20 per cent in 2011.

The overall performance of the company was constrained by significant increase in cost of sales and operating expenses relative to sales growth. With the slight impairment indicated by the underlying indices, the board of the company has recommended retention of the previous cash payout rate in spite of the modest 16 per cent growth in net earnings.

Financing structure Group paid up share capital remained unchanged at N478 million, representing some 956 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Shareholders' funds increased by 14.7 per cent to N9.0 billion in 2011 as against N7.85 billion in 2010. Total assets rose by 26 per cent from N14.25 billion to N17.94 billion. Current assets

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Nmillion

By Taofik Salako

had grown by 45 per cent to N10.68 billion in 2011 compared with N7.37 billion in 2010. Total assets was almost flat at N7.26 billion in 2011 as against N6.88 billion in 2010. Total liabilities meanwhile increased by 39.5 per cent from N6.42 billion to N8.93 billion.

The underlying financing structure of the company remained healthy with a zero financial leverage and 50 per cent equity funding for total assets. However, the ratio of equity funds to total assets had stood at 55 per cent in previous year.

Efficiency Although there were not enough data to comprehensively measure the efficiency position of the company in the immediate past year, available extracts suggested slight decline in cost efficiency and possibly productivity, which impinged on the underlying bottomline. With increase in costs outpacing turnover growth, total costs of business inched up to 84 per cent of total sales as against 83 per cent in 2010.

Profitability GSK's profitability was a mixedgrill in 2011 as outward growths were counterbalanced by declines in underlying indices. Group turnover trended upward by 28 per cent to N21.53 billion in 2011 as against N16.86 billion in 2010.

Cost of sales however jumped by 33 per cent to N12.54 billion compared with N9.42 billion. Consequently, gross profit stood at N8.99 billion in contrast with N7.44 bil-

2011 12 months

% change

lion in 2010, representing an increase of 21 per cent. Operating expenses also grew by 21 per cent from N4.54 billion to N5.51 billion.

Non-core business incomes dropped by 33 per cent from N30 million to N20 million while interest charges leapt from N0.7 million to N1.79 million.

With these, profit before tax ended with an increase of 19 per cent to N3.50 billion as against N2.94 billion in 2010. After taxes, net earnings stood at N2.30 billion as against N1.98 billion, indicating an increase of 16 per cent.

However, underlying profitability indices were generally on the downtrend with gross profit margin slipping from 44 per cent to 42 per cent. Pre-tax profit margin also dropped from 17.4 per cent to 16.3 per cent. Return on total assets slipped from 20.6 per cent in 2010 to 19.5 per cent in 2011. Return on equity was almost flat at 25.6 per cent and 25.2 per cent in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

Per share earnings analysis showed that basic net earnings per share improved from N2.07 to N2.41. The board has recommended distribution of 49.9 per cent of total profit after tax totaling N1.15 billion as cash dividends to shareholders. The same gross amount, which was paid for previous year, amounted to 58.1 per cent of net earnings in 2010. With a dividend per share of N1.20 per share for the past two years, sustainable dividend outlook improved in 2011 with a dividend cover of 2.01 times as against 1.73 times in 2010. Net assets per share improved by 15 per cent to N9.41 in 2011 compared with N8.20 in 2010. This suggests that GSK is trading at the stock market at more than twice its book value.

2010 12 months

Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment

NA

Total turnover Cost of sales

21,525 12,537

27.6 33.1

16,864 9,420

Gross profit

8,988

20.8

7,443

Operating expenses Interest and other incomes

5,505 20

21.3 -32.7

4,537 30

Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss)

1.79 3,501

156.8 19.3

0.696 2,935

Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo)

2,302 241

16.4 16.4

1,977 207

11,300

Gross dividend

1,148

0.0

1,148

Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo)

120 941

0.0 14.8

120 820

Fixed assets Total long term assets

7,262 7,262

5.5 5.5

6,881 6,881

Trade debtors Current assets

936 10,675

-12.2 44.8

1,066 7,370

Total assets Liabilities:

17,937

25.9

14,251

Balance Sheet

Liquidity

The liquidity position of the company remained stable, although the absence of key liquidity data did not allow for categorical assessment of the ability of the company to meet emerging financing obligations.

The proportion of working capital to sales improved from 13.2 per cent to 14.6 per cent. However, debtors/creditors ratio dropped from 89.7 per cent in 2010 to 59.6 per cent in 2011.

Governance & structures GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc is a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based global healthcare company- GlaxoSmithKline Plc, which holds majority equity stake of 46.4 per cent, through two whollyowned subsidiaries. With a market capitalisation of more than N19 billion, GSK Nigeria is the largest healthcare company.

GSK Nigeria's board and management compositions intertwined with other African operations of the multinational and many global executives provide direction for the Nigerian business. Meanwhile, there were no major changes on the board and management during the period under review. Chief Olusegun Osunkeye still chairs the board of directors while Mr. Chidi Okoro, leads the executive management team. The company subscribed to the international ethical and anti-corruption codes of the GSK in addition to compliance with code of corporate governance and listing rules issued by Nigerian regulatory authorities.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

• Chidi Okoro

Analyst's opinion Against the background of the national and global macroeconomic variables, the performance of GSK during the period under review was commendable. With a healthy topline growth, recent investments in capacity expansion and new innovative products and aggressive marketing appeared to have provided boosters against the generally sluggish operating environment.

However, GSK needs to rein in costs and further speed up sales growth to restore its declining intrinsic profitability before this become evident in actual profit and loss figures. With some divestments by GSK- the parent company, in some other markets, it remains unclear how the global focus on key brands

by GSK would affect the Nigerian operations. GSK Nigeria's outlook depends to a large extent on its exclusive imported products, which may be endangered by unfavourable import restrictive policy or tariff changes and global policy changes

by GSK UK. GSK needs to work to fully domesticate its growth potential by further building up its Nigerian-based product basket.

Overall, there is reasonable basis to assume a positive outlook for the company.

2011 %

2010 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

50.2 NA NA 0.0

55.1 8.9 36.1 0.0

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

41.8 16.3 19.5 25.6 2.01

44.1 17.4 20.6 25.2 1.73

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

NA NA 83.8

7.0 3.44 82.8

Assets:

Trade creditors

1,570

32.0

1,189

Bank loans Current liabilities

0 NA

0.0 0.0

0 5,143

Long-term liabilities Total liabilities

NA 8,934

0.0 39.5

1,264 6,406

478 9,003

0.0 14.7

478 7,846

Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

2007

2008

2009

2010

32

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

THE CEO

‘Future of real sector uncertain’ Dr Bamidele Makanjuola is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, a leading manufacturer of foam products, with distribution network throughout West Africa. In this interview with Group Business Editor, AYODELE AMINU, Makanjuola, a chemical engineer, speaks on policy implementation, the Export Expansion Grant for the non-oil sector, capacity utilisation and his company’s investment in Vonofoam, among other issues.

T

HERE have been many policies from the Federal Government, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention fund for the manufacturing sector.

Could you tell us those that have been positive for Vitafoam as a company and the industry as a whole; and those that you want reviewed?

I cannot say any of the recent government policies is negative as it were. The challenge is always ineffective execution. For example, the ports. A couple of months ago, I think about two or three months ago, the Finance Minister assured us that some mechanisms would be set up at the port such that within 48 hours, it would be possible to clear one’s goods. I think she visited the port in Lagos and said the number of agencies at the ports, to safeguard the interests of government, would be reduced-that there has been a surge in the number. I don’t think we can confirm that the number has been pruned. From my own experience in Vitafoam, the duration for clearing has not significantly improved.

So, these are the things that worry us in the industry. A well-thought out policy would be introduced and we all hail it and commend the government on the initiative but when it comes to implementation, it’s a problem. Another issue is funding through the Bank of Industry (BoI). I am yet to see any credible organisation that can boldly say the policies related to BoI have significantly impacted upon operations in the industry.

Though at Vitafoam we are still talking to them but there is always a roadblock to the good intentions. I classify the policies as good intentions because when it comes to implementation, we always run into problems. We can only continue to plead with the government to design the execution programme when coming out with policies.

That is, when coming up with an initiative,

• Makanjuola

which has been thought through and the expected benefits articulated, then the next step before coming out with the policy, is to create a roadmap that will spell out the various stages to the conclusion, not just a policy hanging in the air.

What about the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) for investors?

We have been doing business in Ghana now for about two-and-a-half years. Since that period till date, Vitafoam has still not got a naira from the EEG. We have been processing this in Abuja since we started and the volume of business we have done for about two-and-a-half years has been documentated. Our managers have travelled to Abuja countless times to process it. When we planned to go to Ghana, we were exporting our finished goods from here, which was a brilliant idea because, at the end of the day, we had excess capacity in our plant here. The distance between Lagos and Accra is not as far as between Lagos and Jos. So, there is no big deal sending our products to Accra since we might decide to send our products from here even all the way to Maiduguri. We’ve opened a regional office there; a trading outfit. As at November last year, all the awards for foam products in Ghana were won

by Vitafoam. That’s to tell you the level of our activities in Ghana. But when we were doing that, we assumed we’ll be getting a refund from the EEG and we built that into our costing. Till date, we’ve not got anything back. If this continues for another six months to one year, we might be forced to close down in Ghana.

Our Chief Accountant is handling the matter in Abuja, but we have not achieved it. So, these are the things that discourage one. As an organisation, we believe we have a lot to offer by way of exports. Our products are in Ghana and we are doing better than those who have even been on ground there simply because we are using advanced technology. Their technology there is not as advanced as ours. So we have a lot to offer Ghana. And it’s supposed to be a win-win situation for everybody. Ghanaians are already benefiting from what we are doing; we are losing out, though. If you look at our financials, our activity in Ghana is not very encouraging. Yes, we are making sales, but don’t forget there is another problem that we are faced with. Trading within the subregion is very difficult because of logistics.

The logistics is horrendous. Sometimes, our vehicle going to Accra, which is about 400

‘Another issue is funding through the Bank of Industry (BoI). I am yet to see any credible organisation that can boldly say the policies related to BoI have significantly impacted upon operations in the industry.

Though at Vitafoam we are still talking to them, there is always a roadblock to the good intentions’

kilometres away, can be on the road for seven days – a distance that should be covered within three to four hours. So, can we now say we are encouraging export? But I can tell you that if you look at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol and if those objectives can be achieved, the entire sub-region would prosper. But, as I said, it’s always a problem of execution. The reason you cannot move from here to Accra within six hours is the numerous checks. We send our goods to Sierra Leone because we are about to set up a factory there. Whilst we are at that, we said let’s start sending goods there to start warming up the market. The first set we sent took almost four months to get to Sierra Leone.

So, there is a lot to be done in the area of execution. It’s all about execution. It’s not about proposals or initiatives, no. Nigerians are brilliant but the weakness is always in execution, that’s all. We can only hope for the best.

Generally, what is the performance of manufacturing companies in terms of capacity utilisation?

Well, it all depends on who you talk to.

For one, it depends on the circumstance; it depends on the forum. What I’m trying to say is that you cannot get a reliable response.

That’s just it. You’ll agree with me, in our environment, statistics is not sacred. In anything, including an issue as simple as the Nigerian population, it depends on the forum you are and it depends on the point the speaker wants to make. I can assure you that you can still go to some fora in Nigeria today where a supposedly knowledgeable speaker will tell you that the population of Nigeria is not more than 100 million and then you move a few poles away to another • Continued on page 33

, 2012

33

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

THE CEO •Continued from page 32

forum and the speaker there will tell you that he is sure the population of Nigeria is about 200 million. When you have so much disparity and lack of integrity, it affects everything. So, statistics is something we are yet to harness in Nigeria. So, I try very hard not to get involved in it, except talk about my company. Even at that, when you say capacity utilisation are you talking about the potential? Because when you are talking about manufacturing, you have the process line. Now, that process line or that equipment you are using has a designed capacity.

But what then happens in the industry is that you have many stakes in a process line. For example, in a sweet making factory, you can have a mixer which mixes the condiments and that mixer, maybe, will tell you it can process five tonnes per day. If you go to the end of it where you have your wrapping equipment, then you might have the mixer at a capacity of five tonnes. There could always be a mismatch, though. But at the wrapping end where you need very expensive high-tech equipment, the manufacturer may not have enough capital to invest in such machine that will process five tonnes daily.

So, he buys an equipment that has the capacity for two tonnes daily. When you look at that factory, what is its capacity? The operator of that factory might tell you that the capacity of his factory is five tonnes and then you start asking yourself, ‘Is that true?’ It all depends on who he’s talking with. Because if he’s talking with his banker, he is likely to say the capacity of the factory is two tonnes because that’s the limiting end of it. But if he wants to talk in a public fora, to tell everybody how big his company is, he will emphasise the five tonnes end of it. If there is integrity in this country, it’s the limiting leg of it that should be advertised as the capacity of that factory.

How much percentage does the Ikeja plant contribute to the entire production?

The supply from PHCN is 10 per cent. That is, if the factory runs for let’s say 24 days and then we run the factory for less than 18 hours, by the time you multiply that, you are talking of about 450 hours a month. So, that means we’ll be lucky to have power for 40 hours a month. And don’t forget that part of our problems is that, in some of our processing, where we manufacture the foams, you cannot afford not to have constant power. So, whether there is power from PHCN or not, whenever we put on the foaming plant, there must be a generator because power must be guaranteed for that period.

So, if you want to have an idea of the cost involved, we have at least a minimum of two generators in each of our four factories.

We have two generators in Jos, two in Aba, two in Kano and three in Ikeja. I am talking of the big generators because as backup, we always have the small ones, generators of about 60KVA for lighting at night as we can’t leave the place dark. So that means you add another four. When I said we have two, I meant the two giant ones of about 365 KVA to 500KVA. In Ikeja, we even have 725KVA, 500KVA and 365KVA. Those are the ones that are for processing and running the factory.

But in addition, you always have the small ones. You cannot say because you want to put on the light in the evening, you put on a generator of about 500KVA. So we traditionally have generators of 100, 106KVA for lighting up the place if we are not operating at night. So, what is worrisome about the situation is that, you know you are on this generator for such a long time. For example if you buy a 500KVA generator, most likely you have to do the overhaul after about 20,000hours. Ordinarily, generator is supposed to be a standby. When the manufacturer was making it, he imagined that this equipment will last probably 20 years and you cannot do the overhaul of the engine.

But here in Nigeria, you buy a 500KVA generator for let’s say, about 22 or N25million.

You start running it. Because you are running it for 20 hours a day or thereabout, a generator that is supposed to be overhauled after 10 years of usage, you find out that within one year, the generator is ready for overhaul and to overhaul a generator of about N22million, you spend about N12million. That’s exactly what we are doing now. We just finished one overhaul now.

I think over the weekend somebody made me realise that the one of Jos is due for overhaul. That means that for a big manufacturer like us, we have to overhaul on the average, every six months. I’m not discussing yet about the cost of regular maintenance and cost of fuelling and others. Those ones are just routine. That’s why you find at the end of the day, very few indigenous companies

‘Future of real sector uncertain’

• Makanjuola

‘It’s not that Nigerians are not entrepreneurial in their approach. It’s simply because the reality around them is overwhelming. The long and short of it is that the future of manufacturing in Nigeria is dicey and without it, I wonder if Nigeria can really make it’

• Makanjuola

are doing well. It’s not that Nigerians are not entrepreneurial in their approach. It’s simply because the reality around them is overwhelming. The long and short of it is that the future of manufacturing in Nigeria is dicey and without it, I wonder if Nigeria can really make it.

Vitafoam recently invested in Vonofoam,

what is the percentage of investment?

I think currently now, we have about 25 per cent shareholding in Vonofoam and we are the biggest shareholders in the company.

What was the motivating factor for the investment?

The Vono business in many ways has a lot of synergy with what we do here. And that’s

exactly what we want to leverage on. As a manufacturer, a couple of years ago, we talked about how to grow our business and in what ways we can diversify. Naturally, what came to mind was furniture making.

You know we make mattresses. So the person who comes to buy your mattress, what is he going to sit on? So we now said, why don’t we manufacture the beds. So we now had two of us (Vitafoam and Vonofoam) to start a beautiful project - furniture making or we partner with an existing manufacturer of furniture. So we just said that the diversification and expansion would be faster if we aligned with a company that is highly experienced with a lot of pedigree. That’s why we said let’s buy into Vonofoam so that we can enjoy the synergy. That’s what we are doing now. You can see now we are selling total solutions, because we will give you the bed, the bedding, the mattress, the pillow, the duvet and bedspread in a package. In that way, we are moving towards our goal.

What about Vitafoam’s other subsidiaries, such as Vitapur Nigeria Limited and Vitablom Nigeria Limited, how are they faring?

Those are organically-grown projects and are easy for us because number one, those companies came up through our own initiative and we designed them to address certain needs. So we are happy with what we are doing with them. We thank God, we are making success of those ones. We designed it to suit our focus. So, to a large extent, we are happy with our subsidiaries. They are doing well.

By August this year, Vitafoam will be 50.

What have been the achievements so far?

Well, I think the number one achievement is that the company has tried for 50 years because at least, within the context of Nigeria, 50 years is a lifetime and the company has operated continuously within those 50 years. Secondly, in those 50 years, the company had never operated at a loss. Yes, we have had our own ups and downs-sometimes we make a lot of money and sometimes we don’t. But the company has never recorded a loss in those 50 years. To me that’s a lot of credit for it. And over the 50 years, it has matured to become a household name. That gives me a lot of pride. There is nowhere in Nigeria Vitafoam has not been heard. And that takes a lot of hard work and commitment and it’s a company with a lot of potentials. It’s growing and there is a lot of enthusiasm around the organisation. To me, all these are pluses for the company, especially; it’s not a company that gets controversy traditionally. It’s a well-focused organisation and does what it wants to do without rocking the boat. Finally, I think it’s a credit too that since the founders left the business-they divested in 2001-the company is still standing and is about four times the size of what it was when the guys left. I want to see that as a credit to the operators and the owners of the business. Because there are quite a lot of companies that the foreign partners divested and they are almost nowhere to be found today. Almost all the financing that has been internally-generated, management has been very prudent in utilising it. So all these add up to what I hope people would see as a success story for the organisation.

What percentage of local content generally do you use in manufacturing?

There are many ways this question can be answered. I buy a drum of chemical from a vendor at Apapa or at Ilupeju, does that make it a local material? Not really. So, if that is the case, virtually all the inputs or almost all, are imported whether I buy it from an Indian at Ilupeju or not. Having said that, there are some locally-manufactured materials that we use, especially in the area of packaging. You know we wrap our mattresses with nylon; we buy it from local producers of nylon. When you look at it, what has the producer of that nylon used? He has used chemical that came in bags. But it’s a manufacturing process too. We can assume that it is also part of the local content. We use limestone, which is local; we use water in our formulation-it is local content. That is why it is a bit controversial. We get a severe quality of our testers to buy those from our local tester companies. So by and large, about 80 per cent of our input is imported and 20 per cent local.

In a few years you might get an appointment or retire to do some other things, what would you want to be remembered for?

I want people to remember that I worked in Vitafoam. I’d like people to think of me as a professional in all my dealings in all the years that I worked for the company. Additionally, I wish they can say that I’m a Godfearing person. I’d really love that; if they can remember that, it would be enough.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

34

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Forte Oil: Struggling to regain investors' confidence N =

Forte Oil Pricing Trend (March 2012)

Thurs

Mon

Fri

Wed

Tues

Thurs

Forte Oil, formerly African Petroleum (AP) Plc, has lost three-quarters of its market value in the last 22 months, compounding what seems like an irreversible descent.

TAOFIK SALAKO reports that the erstwhile oil major is already a leading laggard in the new fiscal year FRICAN Petroleum (AP) Plc changed its corporate identity and name to Forte Oil with the intent and hopes of moving away from the haunting past. But hangovers have continued to shadow the petroleum-marketing company. The overall market situation at the Nigerian stock market has fluctuated largely towards the negative but a positive year-to-date return of 0.45 per cent is indicative of the modest recovery by several stocks.

The modest positive return belies significant depreciation by several stocks. Forte Oil is unarguably one of the worst-performing stocks on the stock market. From a market capitalisation of about N43 billion mid 2010, Forte Oil's market value closed 2011 at N12.53 billion. Within the past 11 weeks, the company's market capitalisation has lost about N1.2 billion. Forte Oil opens this week with a yearto-date return of -9.50 per cent compared with overall market return of 0.45 per cent.

Forte Oil has struggled since privatisation

A

in 2001. Like many other privatised oil-marketing companies, Forte Oil had initiated extensive financial and operational restructurings aimed at enhancing the operating efficiency and emplacing the companies on the paths of sustainable profitability irrespective of the challenges. It had raised new equity funds with positive forecasts and expectations. Shareholders had bought into the company with expectations that the emergence of new management and board of directors, injection of new funds and the historic goodwill of the 47 years old company would override pre-privatisation decay and jump-start new era of sustained returns. Such hopes now appeared misplaced.

Fundamental errors While other privatised oil-marketing companies have emerged as highly competitive main-group stocks, Forte Oil has continued to wriggle in losses. With declining sales and

Mon

Fri

Waiting for the returns

Eterna

Forte

Mobil

Mrs

Total

Oando

Thurs

Fri

•Chairman, Forte Oil, Femi-Otedola

But the board and management of the company said the worst has passed as the oil-marketing company has been stabilised. Directors of the company blamed the poor performance of the company on macroeconomic situation including the financial crises and unpredictable management of the petroleum

industry and attendant fuel scarcity.

Beyond identity change, Forte Oil needs to present new facts other than the reddish figures of the past to rekindle a modicum of investors' confidence in its much-talked about future. For now, its share pricing trend is still tracking the sordid past.

Profit/loss after tax

N

Conoil

Wed

negative profit margin, Forte Oil has been reeling in losses, which have not only been eroding total assets but also the shareholders' funds. Forte Oil's top-line performance has worsened over the years with average decline per annum standing at about 9.4 per cent. Total revenue had dropped by 1.7 per cent in 2009 and crossed the double-digit to 17 per cent in 2010.

Both actual and underlying measures of profitability placed Forte Oil on the downside.

With 8.1 per cent decline in gross profit, the company's bottom-line has been in red in the past two years. The losing streak has undermined both payouts and actual returns to shareholders. While shareholders have not received any cash dividends in recent years, an average negative return per share of about 19.3 per cent has been locked in their reserves.

Return on equity stood at about -11 per cent in 2010 while return on total assets was -4.0 per cent.

Current market value of oil stock

Beco

Tues

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

35

PERSONAL FINANCE Investor’s Worth

Entrepreneurial investor

D

R. Suleiman Adegunwa is a niche player. As an entrepreneur and investor, he has distinguishes himself with the quality and quantity of his stakes. One of the biggest investors in the Nigerian banking industry, he successfully optimised his equity interests in a flourishing private photography business that he primarily earned his reputation as an astute entrepreneur by locking in significant equity stake in the banking industry.

As the beneficiary holder of the single largest Nigerian shareholding in Sterling Bank Plc, Adegunwa is the custodian and protector of more than 100,000 shareholders of Sterling Bank Plc. There are three major equity holders in Sterling Bank- the State Bank of India, which holds the largest equity stake of 14.75 per cent; Adegunwa's Ess-ay Investments Limited, which holds the second largest equity stake of 7.17 per cent and Hak Air Limited, which holds 5.6 per cent equity interests.

Statutorily, only shareholders with five per cent shareholding and above are considered significant and are required to make known the fact of such shareholding.

Sterling Bank is a bank with vast appeal to shareholders across all segmentssmall, medium and large equity holders. About 36 per cent of shareholders hold between one and 1,000 shares while another 31 per cent hold between 1,001 and 5,000

•Adegunwa

shares. Altogether, shareholders that hold between one and 50,000 shares constitute about 93 per cent of total number of shareholders, illustrating both the societal and economic value of Sterling Bank as an economic change agent.

However, the general direction of the bank rests in the hand of a handful of 89 Nigerian and five foreign shareholders, who altogether accounted for about 78 per cent equity stake. Adegunwa leads these core decisionmakers.

With a market capitalisation of about N16 billion, Sterling Bank is regarded as a growth stock with undervalued potential. In the periods ahead that the bank hope to deliver three digit cash payout, Adegunwa will smile home with almost a

billion Naira in cash returns.

A long-time stakeholder in the Nigerian banking industry, Adegunwa had served on the board of such the defunct Magnum Trust Bank Plc and Marina International Bank Plc. He is also widely regarded as one of the makers of the modern Nigerian photo industry.

In recognition of this business acumen and investment sense, he was awarded Doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) by the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Lagos State University (LASU). A notable philanthropist with particular interest in education, he has made several endowments to higher institutions in Nigeria. The Federal Government awarded him the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) to acknowledge his achievements and contributions to national development.

As chairman of board of directors of Sterling Bank, Adegunwa appears to be following investment school of thought that advocates concentrated attention on notable core investment. Putting all eggs in one basket and concentrating on the safety of that basket, it is argued, will guarantee better returns than splitting the eggs in several baskets. Although he has other private businesses, Adegunwa's major equity stake in quoted companies, according to public facts, is only in Sterling Bank. A niche investor for a niche bank.

Ask a Broker

P

ROXY means a specific transfer of the rights of a shareholder to a representative by the shareholder.

These rights include attendance at general meetings and voting at such meetings. The alternate or representative of the share-

What is a proxy? holder is also known as proxy.

Under Nigerian corporate law, a proxy is validly appointed by submitting a duly signed proxy form to the company secretary

or registrar of the company 48 hours before the time of the meeting. To be valid as a legal instrument, the proxy must carry a stamp duty.

Ways and Means

How to save money on car purchase (2)

T

HE identification of the primary reason for purchase will enable one to pinpoint brand preference and specifications. For instance, an old used car may not meet the objective of a purchase driven primarily by pleasure and beauty. Brand preference enables one to choose the maker and make of the car that one wants while specifications fit the car into your taste. With the removal of fuel subsidy, do I need a fuel-efficient car or a rugged car that hardly needs service over a long period? Do I care about the second hand value or just the immediate value of the car? The middle class survey highlighted above indicated that 60 per cent of cars owned by the Nigerian middle class are manufactured in Japan followed by German-manufactured cars with a distant for 25 per cent.

Specifications include other details that one wants in the car such as sunroof, disc player, road navigation, leather interior, alloy wheels, rear wiper or washer, remote control system, and power seats among others.

By identifying the reason for the purchase, aligning this with brand preference and specifications, the buyer will be enter-

ing the car market with full knowledge and will be in better position to bargain effectively. While one can still make changes to brand preference and specifications based on new information or incentives at the market place, such decision will be made with consideration for values and added advantages.

For a new car, it's advisable to have a foreknowledge of the composition of total retail price for a new car. Basically, the dealer's retail price consists of two segments: invoice price and dealer sticker price. The invoice price, also known as the wholesale price or factory price, is the cost of the car to the dealer. The dealer sticker price is the retail price and it encompasses the base price- the cost of the car without options, the costs of installed options and the dealer's profit or markup. But since dealers enjoy several concessions in forms of rebates, allowances, discounts and sales incentives among others, the invoice price is usually higher than the dealer price. As such, it's cheaper to buy from dealer than making direct order from the factory.

These differentials explain why several innovative dealers have been able to partner with banks on auto finance at relatively lower interest rates.

With all these, the buyer should now be ready to make the best purchase. While consideration for purchase of emotional items such as car may depend on the buyer's state of mind, taking a systematic approach to the purchase will assist the buyer to cut down price and buy the best car at the best price. It is advised that a buyer visit many dealers and compare prices to get average value of the car, then take the average price as the base price and bargain downward, knowing that every saving is important. The buyer also needs to keep a check list of required options and specifications and he should insist on these.

It's advisable to maintain a strictly business attitude while initially discussing the car price as the salesman or dealer can use emotional information such as reasons for the purchase to weigh in on the bargain. Request for and scrutinise all documentations, do not base your judgement on the dealer's words of honour.

Dealing with superior officials at the car garage, for instance, sales manager may provide opportunity to get additional concessions, which only officials at such level can give.

Car follows a cyclical trend.

Reading and understanding annual report and accounts (1)

•Trading floor

T

HIS is the earnings season- the period for the release of audited annual reports and accounts of quoted companies. To most investors, especially the retail investors that lack the wherewithal to demand offperiod information directly from management, the annual report and accounts of a company is perhaps the most crucial toolkit to make and review investment decisions.

It is most important for shareholders to be adequately informed about accounting details and additional notes that show the state of health of their company.

With the local experience under the failed banks and other companies as well as the global corporate failures, there is increasing global challenge to shareholders to know much more about the operations and state of their companies beyond mere representations made to them at the yearly general meetings.

More importantly, minority shareholders should be more concerned and vocal about the directions of their companies because in many corporate failures they bear the brunt.

Although shareholders are given opportunity to preview the annual report and accounts through their representatives in the audit committee, but this representation is somehow gross inadequate and should not form the basis for outright decision-making. The audit committee, under Nigerian corporate laws, consists of equal numbers of representatives of the board and management and shareholders, at

By Taofik Salako

most three from each segment. Besides their slots, the board and management, which mostly hold controlling equities- and highest votes in any poll; in several instances influence the shareholders' election into the audit committee.

So, the fate of each shareholder lies in his understanding of the 'soft and hard' highlights in the annual report.

The crucial nature of annual report is further reinforced with the fact that the performance of a stock on the secondary market depends on its fundamentals and operational reports, which annual report dwells on.

Even with its inadequacies, annual report is the reference book for all investors. This much is emphasised by the corporate law that stipulates that annual reports and accounts should be sent to shareholders ahead of the general meeting. In reading annual report, it is advisable to take the report through law enactment process by subjecting it to at least three readings, each time taking note of points of observation.

In annual or quarterly reports of companies, there are areas that require less knowhow to grab the imports of the details. These include the chairman statement, which contains reviews of the global and local economy as well as operations of the company during the year under review.

Many companies provide chief executive report, which elucidates on the reviews by the chairman touching key areas of strategies and prospects. There are also reports

Even with its inadequacies, annual report is the reference book for all investors. This much is emphasised by the corporate law that stipulates that annual reports and accounts should be sent to shareholders ahead of the general meeting

In reading annual report, it is advisable to take the report through law enactment process by subjecting it to at least three readings, each time taking note of points of observation on social responsibility, industrial health and harmony, conformity with laws and regulations including those on corporate governance and many others.

These explanations are as important as the financial statements as they often time provide valuable insights into soft issues that the financial statements may not capture. Consider these posers for instance: Is there any link between the directors or top management members and the recipients of the donations or charities of the company? What is the propriety of each project in line with principles of the company?

What are legal status and charters of the recipients? Are they really public trusts institutions or private endeavours?

Are their ownerships vested in the public domain and operations directed through public trustees or are they exclusive corporate entities of few or one individual? There are so many concerns that shareholders can raise on donations and charities alone that will put many boards and managements to test. A conduit may be disguised as nongovernmental or charity organisation for conversion of company resources into private use.

Feedback/Comments: Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk; SMS only: 080-2833-0861

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

36

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-3-12

Investors stake N19b on equities I NVESTORS appeared to be rebalancing their portfolios in favour of equities as new corporate earnings reports showed appreciable improvements in fundamentals of companies and returns to shareholders.

Turnover on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week stood at 1.975 billion shares worth N18.95 billion in 18,651 deals in contrast to a total of 1.924 billion shares valued at N16.7 billion traded in 20,158 deals in the previous week.

The increase in turnover in the equity segment contrasted with the decline in the over-the-counter bond market.

The Financial Services sector accounted for 1.6 billion shares valued at N7.53 billion traded in 11,244 deals.

The Conglomerates sector followed with 177.9 million shares valued at N335.834 million traded in 677 deals.

The Banking subsector of the Financial Services sector was the most active last week (measured by turnover volume); with 1.423 billion shares worth N7.42 billion exchanged by investors in 10,484 deals. Volume in the Banking subsector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Sterling Bank Plc, UBA Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Trading in the shares of the three banks accounted for 817.4 million shares, representing 57.4 per cent, 51.8 per cent and 41.4 per cent of the turnover recorded by the subsector, sector and total turnover for the week, respectively.

The diversified Industries

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

subsector of the Conglomerates sector, boosted by activity in the shares of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, followed on the week’s activity chart with a subsector turnover of 177.9 million shares valued at N335.834 million traded in 677 deals.

The NSE All-Share Index depreciated by 125.77 points or 0.6 per cent to close on Friday at 20,824.25 while the market capitalisation of the 187 First -Tier equities decreased to N6.572 trillion.

Also, the NSE-30 Index depreciated by 8.33 points or 0.8 per cent to close at 946.60.

Two of the four sectorial indices appreciated during the week, same as during the preceding week. The NSE Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 6.08 points or 0.4 per cent to close at 1,718.03 and the NSE Oil/ Gas Index appreciated by 0.22 points or 0.1 per cent to close at 216.31.

However, the NSE Banking Index depreciated by 9.95 points or 3.3 per cent to close at 290.60 while the NSE Insurance Index depreciated by 2.33 points or 1.9 per cent to close at 121.46.

With the admittance of the N20 billion Ekiti State Government bond on the daily official list of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the number of listed state government bond rose to 12.

The N20 billion Ekiti State Government Fixed Rate Infrastructure Development Bond (December 8) 2018 of N1,000 each at par under the N25 billion Debt Issuance Programme was admitted on the Daily Official List on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. The Coupon rate is 14.5 per cent.

Also, listed was the Chellarams Plc’s N540 million Unsecured Floating Rate Bond 2019 of N1,000 each at Par Series 2 under the N5 billion Medium Term Note Programme on Friday, March 16, 2012.

The Coupon rate is MPR+5 (Minimum 13 per cent, Maximum 19 per cent). Since MPR is currently 12 per cent, the coupon rate is 17 per cent, which is paid Semi-annual – February 17 and August 17 each year, commencing August 17, 2012. The maturity date is February 17, 2019. By this action, the number of corporate bonds and securities stand at 17 and 258, respectively.

On the over the counter bond market, a turnover of 71.201 million units worth N57.344 billion in 525 deals was recorded last week, in contrast to a total of 153.201 million units valued at N128.302 billion exchanged in 1,117 deals during the week ended March 8, 2012.

The most active bond (measured by turnover volume) was the 7.0 per cent FGN October 2019 (6th FGN Bond 2019 Series 4) with a traded volume of 24.38 million units valued at N15.649 billion in 180 deals.

This was followed by the 10.5.0 per cent FGN March 2014 (8th FGN Bond 2014 Series 1) with a traded volume of 13.1 million units valued at N12.666 billion in 93 deals.

Seven of the available 26 FGN Bonds were traded last week, compared with eight that were traded during the preceding week.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 16-3-12

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

37

MONEY LINK

CBN plans six-year petroleum imports audit

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is planning a sixyear petroleum import review. The regulator’s circular instructed all authorised dealers to submit data on letters of credit of petroleum products importation carried out from 2006 to 2011.

A circular signed by Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, Batari Musa said the data should be submitted to his office in both hard and soft copies. The banking watchdog expects all in-

•Pegs dollar sales to BDCs at $75,000 Stories by Collins Nweze

formation must be submitted latest by close of work today. It said defaulters will be sanctioned.

Analysts predict that the planned audit would assist the apex bank to check the movement of foreign exchange in the importation of petroleum products during the period under consider-

(DPR) permit, country of supply and discharge depot, among others.

Meanwhile, the CBN has pegged the amount of foreign exchange cash to be sold to bureaux de change (BDCs) and authorise dealers at $75,000 per week.

Batari said the the new directive superceeds August 15, 2011 order, which the regulator removed peg on dollar sales.

ation.

The CBN had in October 2011, carried out four-year petroleum import audit starting from 2008.

Details to be supplied to the apex bank include Form ‘M’ number, Form ‘M’ registration date, importer’s name and address, sources of funds, date of Department of Petroleum Resources

... to retain rate at 12%, say analysts

A

HEAD of tomorrow’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, analysts have called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to leave the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) unchanged at 12 per cent, until broad-based macroeconomic stability has been achieved.

The MPR has remained at 12 per cent since October 2011 when it was increased from 9.25 representing

275 basis points raise.

Besides, the CBN was advised to sustain its efforts at finding other innovative ways to unlock the credit market and stimulate the economy.

MPR is the benchmark rate by which the CBN determines interest rate.

Head Africa Research at the Standard Chartered, Razia Khan said the rate will remain unchanged despite the surge in January Consumer

marck Rewane said the economy has become work in progress and that MPC is likely to keep the rate on hold.

The rise in inflation is in line with expectations and is attributed mainly to the initial impact of the fuel subsidy removal. Rewane said the focus of the Committee in recent times has been on achieving the twin objectives of exchange rate stability and single digit inflation.

Price Index to 12.6 per cent from 10.3 per cent previously, following the partial lifting of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy.

She noted that real interest rates are still positive, and the naira has appreciated on the interbank market, reflecting- in part – an increase in demand for Federal Government bonds from offshore investors.

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bis-

Fidelity, Nigerdock, others partner on local content

F

Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi said the bank takes long-term view of the economy and has consistently been involved in long-term financing.

He said that the bank has strong confidence in the Nigerian economy and therefore does not focus on short term investments. He said the project has provided jobs for over 2,000 Nigerians, including workers from the international oil companies that are involved in the project.

He said that the project remains a milestone in the bank’s desire and

IDELITY Bank Plc has partnered Nigerdock, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) in the financing of the Satellite Field Development Project Phase 1 ABANG and ITUP platforms.

The platforms are the first ever wellhead to be designed, fabricated and commissioned totally in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the platforms, Managing Director, Fidelity

started and completed in Nigeria by Nigerians is an indication of the huge human and material resources available in Nigeria.

Petroleum Minister, Diezanni Alison-Madueke said that local content development is where other countries of the world are going and Nigeria should not be left behind.

President Goodluck Jonathan who inaugurated the platforms in Lagos said local content development is the easiest way for the country to develop rapidly.

commitment to ensuring a vibrant and viable industrial sector. “At Fidelity Bank, we are not focusing on short term financing. This is a project that will be here for a long time. If you look at what I happening here today, this is one of the biggest project not only in the country, but in the sub-Saharan industry,” he said.

The bank CEO said Nigeria will benefit from the transfer of technology and huge foreign exchange earnings associated with the project. He said the fact that the project was

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

O/PRICE

JBERGER ACCESS NCR PRESCO GUINNESS AIRSERVICE PAINTCOM IBTC TRANSCORP UBA

30.22 6.22 11.27 8.49 228.02 1.69 0.66 7.21 0.51 2.58

Current Before

C/PRICE

CHANGE

31.73 6.53 11.83 8.91 239.00 1.77 0.69 7.52 0.53 2.68

1.51 0.31 0.56 0.42 10.98 0.08 0.03 0.31 0.02 0.10

FCMB UPL UBN CUSTODYINS NEIMETH MAYBAKER JAPAULOIL LIVESTOCK FIDSON CADBURY

O/PRICE

3.80 3.46 4.71 1.65 0.90 2.17 0.75 1.00 0.85 10.80

C/PRICE

3.61 3.29 4.48 1.57 0.86 2.08 0.72 0.96 0.82 10.60

150m

150m

150m

155.8

29-2-12

138m 113m

138m 113m

155.8 155.7

27-2-12 22-2-12

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

(S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 1,177.37 99.76 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,666.70 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,137.57 193.00 1.67

9.08 1.00 1,160.06 99.49 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,663.73 7.84 1.33 1.80 6,953.84 191.08 1.62

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND FIDELITY NIGFUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE

CHANGE

0.19 0.17 0.23 0.08 0.04 0.09 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.20

Date

138m 113m

LOSERS AS AT 16-3-12 SYMBOL

Rate (N)

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

Parallel Market SYMBOL

Exchange

Sold ($)

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 16-3-12

Amount

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

M

ANISTREET Bank Limited has emerged the winner of 2011 Best Clearing Bank in NIBSS Electronic Fund Transfer ( NEFT) Operations in the Edo Zone of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) Clearing House Awards.

A statement from the lender said it was declared the ‘Most Active Bank’ in NEFT Operations by the apex bank at the CBN Annual Luncheon in Benin City.

In a congratulatory letter to the Management of Mainstreet Bank, the Benin Branch Controller of CBN, Mr V.I D Oligbo described the bank’s performance in clearing operations last year as ‘outstanding’.

According to him, the bank ‘recorded the least errors in its notepad as incidented in the Clearing House during the period’.

Mr. Oligbo’s views were echoed by CBN’s Head of Clearing in Edo Zone, Mr. Ojerinde Olaleye who was also present at the ceremony.

Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Mr. Olu Famurewa, Mainstreet’s Regional Operations Manager, South-South, thanked the CBN for recognizing the level of professionalism that the bank had brought to bear on clearing operations so far and assured that the award would spur Mainstreet to a higher achievement.

Mr. Famurewa further explained that Mainstreet Bank was determined to raise the bar in every indices of professional performance in its avowed mission to return to the glorious days of its progenitor.

According to him, the Clearing House Award was a clear indication that the bank could return to winning ways once again if it continued to enjoy the confidence of the banking public as it presently does.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

Mainstreet Bank emerges ‘Best Clearing Bank’

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

• AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19 , 2012

38

MONEY MARKET REPORT

Fuel import licences put pressure on forex T

HE Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) is under pressure as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has started approving fuel import contracts for the second quarter.

Analysts predict that demand and supply for dollar, which moderated in the last two months after the government reduced consumer petrol subsidies in January has been upbeat. But last Monday’s issuance of permits to 42 marketers to import 4.8 billion litres of fuel in the second quarter of this year will make dollar demand at the WDAS surge, and inversely weaken the naira.

Expectedly, PPRA will block loopholes that allow marketers to divert fuels meant for the country to other African countries. This will assist the currency and forex market will stabilise. But should PPRA and other regulatory agencies fail to curb sabotage in fuel imports, then the brewing pressure on forex will increase further to the detriment of the naira.

For instance, immediately the licences were renewed on Monday, the naira weakened against the dollar on the interbank market, on strong demand by some banks filling their customers’ needs for dollars, as liquidity dired up.

“High demand for dollar from oil importers and declining dollar supply will increase pressure on the naira this week. The naira is also projected to depreciate above the N158 to the dollar mark and was trading at N158 to the dollar on the interbank market on Thursday, weaker than the N157.70 closed on Wednesday, representing 30 Kobo or 19 per cent loss, analysts said.

But on Friday, the naira strengthened against the dollar on the interbank market, after dollar sales by state-funded development agency Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and inflows from offshore investors buying local debt boosted dollar liquidity.

The local currency closed at N157.60 to the dollar on the interbank, firmer than the N157.90 it closed at on Thursday. “Demand for the dollar has remained strong, but the inflows from NDDC and offshore investors absorbed it, while expectations of additional dollar sales by Mobil today boosted outlook for the naira,” one dealer said.

However, the loss was reversed on Wednesday after Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell sold dollars to selected banks coupled with increased dollar supply at the biweekly auction. The head of the parliamentary committee probing the subsidy, Farouk Lawan, disclosed that Nigeria’s daily consumption of petrol is 35 million litres, yet importers were being paid for 59 million litres a day. The balance of petrol was either being smuggled out of the country or never existed.

But PPRA has promised that failure of a company to deliver the approved volume will render the company liable for exclusion from the scheme for two successive quarters or more, aside from payment of appropriate re-engagement fees.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website indicated at at the WDAS held on March 14, $200 million was demanded and sold at a highest bid rate of N156.96 by 18 successful bidders. On March 12, only $150 million was offered, demanded and sold by 20 participating banks while on March 7, $150 million was offered, demanded and sold to 20 participating banks at successful N156.50 bringing the sold forex for the week to $500 million, which also impacts on the foreign reserves.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Bismarck Rewane, said the $34.8 billion is equivalent to about nine months of import cover, adding

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (WDAS) Date

Amount offered $

Rate $

Amount sold $

Number of banks

3/14/2012

200 million

156.19

200 million

20

3/12/2012

150milion

156.27

150 million

20

3/7/2012

150million

156.50

150 million

18

TOTAL

500million

500 million

in Nigeria with the opening of new offices in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. With FXTM, Nigerian traders do not only get access to all of the products and services of FXTM New Zealand, they also get the feeling of security that comes from working with a trusted broker,” he said.

Importation Rewane said in the FDC Economic Report for March that Nigeria spends about N1.7 trillion annually on rice and wheat imports.

According to him, Nigeria continues to import subsidised rice of about three million metric tonnes valued at N468 billion and over N600 billion of wheat to the detriment of its domestic agriculture, farmers, and food security strategy.

He explained that government policy of increasing tariffs on rice and wheat may seem protectionist, but there are limited options in the short-run to correct the current anomaly. However, it will assist the government generate savings and increase its revenues from domestic taxes.

Bank-to-bank report

•Source: FMDA

By Collins Nweze

that the reserves have fluctuated between $31 to 35 billion in major parts of last year. The reserves stand at $3.8 billion as at March 15 and may rise further as oil prices surge.

Interbank The interbank lending rates rose sharplylast week to an average of 15.08 per cent, from 14.25 per cent two weeks ago as NNPC and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) made large withdrawals, putting banks in deficit with the CBN. “The market closed on a negative balance as a result of the large cash outflows from the system last week with cost of borrowing closed higher at the interbank,” one dealer said.

Traders said the market opened with a negative balance of N129.55 billion ($820.72 million) on Friday, compared with a positive balance of about N65 billion the previous Friday. The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) rose to 14.50 per cent, from 13.75 per cent last week, 250 basis points above the Central Bank’s 12 per cent benchmark rate, and 450 percentage points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Budget The National Assemly passed the 2012 budget with higher expenditure than the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, advised, risking further delays to implementing spending plans if President Goodluck Jonathan refuses to approve them.

Spending plans for the country have a history of being delayed, leaving ministries uncertain of how much money they will have until months into the year. Last year, lawmakers inflated spending proposed by government but Jonathan sent back the budget and asked them to make more cuts, be-

fore a compromise was reached weeks later.

The National Assembly agreed on total expenditure of N4.88 trillion, increased from N4.65 trillion proposed by Okonjo-Iweala last month. Also, the spending plans assume a $72 a barrel benchmark oil price, up from $70 in the proposal earlier submitted, boosting revenues available to the government. It equally expects oil production of 2.48 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of N155 to the dollar, 9.5 per cent inflation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 7.2 percent.

GDP growth rises

The economy grew by 7.68 per cent in the fourth quarter last year, faster than the 7.40 per cent in the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. Oil production fell to an average of 2.4 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter last year, compared with 2.6 million bpd in the same period the previous year, NBS said in a report.

Fitch Ratings’ Report Fitch Ratings has disclosed that Nigerian banks’Long-term ratings are constrained by an extremely challenging operating environment, concentrated credit risk and weak although improving corporate governance and transparency requirements.

The agency outlined the drivers for the ratings of the various Nigerian banks, which are either based on the banks’ individual credit strength or the perceived probability of support from the state or institutional parent.”Inefficient operations remain a characteristic of the market that Nigerian banks will need to address in order to ensure their long-term-sustainability,” says Denzil De Bie, a Director in Fitch’s

Financial Institutions group.

Banks’ Assets The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said total assets, liabilities of banks have hit N19 trillion.

The facts were contained in the regulator’s Economic Report for November, representing an increase of 0.6 per cent above the level at end of October last year.

A circular from the apex bank said the funds were sourced mainly from the disposal of unclassified assets, increased claims on other financial institutions and Federal Government deposits. Also, CBN’s credit to the banks rose by 1.2 per cent to N243.4 billion while specified liquid assets of the banks stood at N4.7 trillion, representing 33.9 per cent of their total current liabilities.

Forex Trading To make the foreign exchange market more accessible to Nigerians, a new trading platform, Forextime (FXTM) Trading West Africa, was unveiled in Lagos. The Director, Abiola Akinyemi, said at the Lagos Electronic Traders’ Conference that the platform would enable them to offer more services that minimise challenges people face in the currency market.

He said its micro accounts allow interested traders to get started without minimum deposit. “We have a wide variety of trading accounts that cater to clients of all types and skill level, from beginners to professionals and institutional traders. Even if you do not plan to trade, you can start earning money on Forex by investing in our products,” he said.

Akinyemi explained that FXTM Nigeria is a certified partner of FXTM New Zealand. “The FXTM brand is an established name in the financial capitals of the world.

FXTM is continuing its expansion

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has warned its shareholders that it expected to report a net loss of up to N9 billion for last year’s financial year. The Chief Executive Officer, FCMB, Ladi Balogun said the bank will be posting a loss, arising mainly from some investment and underwriting of several share issues dating back to 2009 and some non-performing loans sold to the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

Mainstreet Bank Limited has been authorised to collect Land Use Charges for Lagos State Government. Land Use Charge is a levy imposed on owners of properties in Lagos State which is expected to be remitted to the state government.

A statement from the bank said the mandate comes on the heels of a recent one from the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) which enabled the bank to take advantage of its branches across the country in receiving funds from payment of taxes and other revenues.

Also, Access Bank is set to partner with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in the celebration this year’s World Consumer Rights Day, (WCRD) in Abuja. The partnership confirms the bank’s commitment to consumer well-being.

A statement from the bank said through its innovative offerings and specialised products, it has empowered consumers of banking products and services in the banking landscape in numerous ways.

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) commended the board and management of Ecobank Plc for what it described as their hitch-free acquisition of Oceanic Bank Plc. National President of the union, Comrade Peter Okafor said Ecobank has complied with due process in relation to job losses by workers adding that the bank consulted with the union extensively and negotiated redundancies for workers in line with the Labour Act.

Free PoS There is intense competition among banks to get merchants subscribe to their Point of Sale (PoS) Terminals free. The banks are not only scheming to install the PoS free for the merchants, but are promising to drastically reduce the 1.25 per cent transaction charge per customer. The Nation learnt that merchants are being targeted by banks to ease implementation of their e-payment policy.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

39

LABOUR NUBIFIE, bank to meet over members entitlement

Food union, PENGASSAN flay proposed labour bill

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W

ORKERS in the food and beverage sector and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have condemned the move by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri to sponsor an anti-labour bill that seeks to “cage Labour”.

The proposed bill demands that Labour should get enough votes from its affiliates nationwide before embarking on strike- a move that has been flayed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

General Secretary, National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Comrade Bamidele Busari said there is no country in the world where strike is outlawed. He said Labour has never gone beyond its bounds like Senator Ayogu Eze said, but has always been performing its duty of “checks and balancing”. He praised the Senate for the wisdom applied in rejecting the bill.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) also faulted Senator Lokpobiri for confusing the Trade Disputes Act with the Trade Union Act, when he called for the amendment of the latter.

The union in a statement titled “Lokpobiri’s dance of Sisyphus”, said the appropriate legislation dealing with strikes and other forms of industrial action or disputes is the Trade Disputes Act (Cap T8 LFN, 2004) and not the Trade Union Act.

•Omar Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

PENGASSAN also wondered why Senator Eze said: “Labour had often operated beyond their bounds”.

The statement signed by National Publicity Secretary, Zaid Kolawole reads : “It is a tragedy of our so-called democracy that we have people today holding the reins of power who not only lack a sense of history but indeed lack basic knowledge of governance.

“Firstly, may we inform the ‘distinguished’ senator that the appropriate legislation dealing with strikes and other forms of industrial action or disputes is the Trade Disputes Act (Cap T8 LFN, 2004) and not the Trade Union Act. “Secondly, and most importantly, may we remind the senator that trade unions in Nigeria since colonial times have done more than being mere mediums for bargaining for bread and butter. We have since 1912 when the first trade union was established in Nigeria fought stoutly and relentlessly

•Esele

for the socio-economic and political rights of Nigerians. Indeed, trade unions and particularly, PENGASSAN and NUPENG contributed in no small measure to the rebirth of democratic rule in which Sen. Lokpobiri is now a major beneficiary. We will therefore not depart from the glorious tradition of “operating beyond our bounds” to fight for the masses bequeathed to us by generations of trade unionists.

“It may interest Senator Lokpobiri that a trade union is a mass-democratic organisation where decisions are arrived at bottom-up and not top-down. The highest decision making organ, National Executive Council (NEC) of our union, PENGASSAN for example is composed of branch chairmen who having held congresses and consultations in their respective branches come to NEC to ventilate the feelings and opinions of members. Thus, unlike what happens in the Nigerian polity today, union members are adequately consulted before decisions not just on strike but on all matters taken.”

Fashola urges collaboration on better pension administration

L

AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has called for the collaboration of the states of the old western region for better pension administration and driving of public service productivity under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Agenda.

It was at the retirement bond certificate presentation ceremony held in honour of 350 retirees who had served in the state’s civil service.

Fashola, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, said since the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme, the government has chosen to be the pack leader in pioneering the implementation of a pension policy that will assure the future of public servants.

He said at the commencement of the scheme, his administration promised every

•Hussain

worker in the state that it would ensure adequate funding of the past service liabilities in strict compliance with the provisions of the Lagos State Pension Reform Law No. 3 of March 19.

For the retirees who got their retirement bond certificate of N1,720,596,964.28k, it was joy unlimited.

The certificates, according to the Executive Director, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs Folashade Onanuga, are to be used by individual retirees to get the necessary documents for collection of their money.

Director General , LASPEC, Mr Rotimi Adekunle Hussain said since the inception of the scheme, the government has shown great commitment towards ensuring that public servants have absolute comfort at retirement.

Federal civil servants undergo training

H

EAD of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali has stressed the need for accurate information keeping for civil servants.

He said this while declaring open a training on records keeping and management in Abuja, saying the training was crucial as records keeping and management were key to proper planning, management and implementation of government programmes.

Sali said registries and records offices in the civil service must be repositioned to leverage on the advantages of ICT to records keeping and management.

He said the training was timely as it coincided with the implementation of the Freedom Of Information Act which provides for easy access to public records and information.

“In this regard, public records managers are expected to keep accurate information on the activities of their establishments, including public service providers as well as utilisation of public funds.

“Such records and information are to be kept in a manner that will facilitate easy access to such information subject to specific exemption.”

Sali said the aim of the training was to equip participants with the relevant knowledge, skills

and techniques for improving records management and implored the participants to take the training seriously.

Mrs Nkechi Ejele, Permanent Secretary, Manpower Development in the Office of Head of Service, said for the civil service to properly implement the FOI Act, accurate records must be kept.

She said the participants were critical in their various establishments as they would be expected to give accurate information when the need arose.

The participants were federal civil servants on GL 04 to 14.

Council threatens to withhold absentee workers’ salaries

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HE Ingawa Local Government Council in Katsina State has threatened to withhold the salaries of workers who were absent from work for seven days.

Alhaji Hussaini Dambo, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council gave the warning when he met with the executive of the state’s branch of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Health Workers Union.

He said the measure had become neces-

sary to curb rampant cases of truancy and absenteeism among the local government staff members.

Dambo said he would not fold his arms while staff received pay without discharging their responsibilities, adding, “therefore the staffers must have a change of attitude”.

He said: “We know there are some workers in the local government who collect salary and disappear, only to re-appear when another salary is around the corner. This is

unacceptable and it must stop as we will not condone such an act.”

Dambo also directed the NUT and Health Workers Union to submit the list of those who obtained NCE and Nursing/Midwifery certificates respectively, with a view to recruiting them as casual workers, pending approval from the state government.

The NUT Chairman, Alhaji Sani Mamman and other executive members assured the council boss of their support for the overall development of the area.

HE management of Access Bank Nigeria PLC will tomorrow, meet with the leadership of National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) over severance benefit of ex- Intercontinental Bank workers who lost their jobs to the recent restructuring exercise that took place in the bank after its acquisition by Access Bank Nigeria Plc. Following the right-sizing, the leadership of NUBIFIE after frantic efforts to meet with management failed declared a seven-day ultimatum which expired last Wednesday.

NUBIFIE National President, Comrade Peter Okafor said the union was ready to picket the bank if it had not invited the leadership of the union for a meeting, adding that in as much as the union wants absolute peace in the industry it still would not allow the bank to short-change its members.

He said the bank did not communicate with the union until last Tuesday.

Senate defended organised labour, says NLC

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has hailed the Senate for rejecting the bill seeking that workers should vote before embarking on strike.

The Senate last Tuesday disapproved the bill which sought to amend the labour law.

In a statement signed by the Deputy President of NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, the congress said the Senate strongly defended the organised labour.

“On behalf of the Nigerian workers, we praise the hallowed chamber for its willingness to ensure that workers’ rights are not trampled upon,’’ the NLC said.

The congress said if the bill was passed into law, it could have rubbished the provisions of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The NLC added that it would have caused industrial disharmony.

It said the Senate’s action would preserve labour movement.

The congress urged other institutions to learn from the action by taking the right decisions at all times.

NUJ seeks duty free importation for newsprint

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OWARDS protecting the jobs of journalists, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mallam Mohammed Garba, has urged the Federal Government to allow duty free importation of newsprint in order to bail out ailing media establishments.

Garba said in a recent interactive session with journalists in Abuja, that the government should act fast to save the newspaper business in Nigeria and also secure jobs of print journalists.

He said no worker can fare well in a distressed corporate organisation, and for newspaper companies to thrive in business, they must have easy access to raw materials needed for their products. In this case, it is newsprint.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bailed out ailing banks through its intervention, and so in like manner, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN),the Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) should meet with other stakeholders in the industry to engage the Federal Government on serious discussions on how to bail out the industry in the country.

Journalists to down tools in pay dispute

J

OURNALISTS at Pearson’s Financial Times will stop work for three hours this week unless management agrees to arbitration of their dispute.

The arbitration is expected to be done by ACAS, a government body that specialises in industrial relations, Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), London, Barry Fitzpatrick said.

The journalists, according to a Reuters story, also stopped work for two hours last Tuesday and passed a vote of no confidence in management after talks to resolve a pay dispute broke down.

The break down in the pay dispute was made known by the Financial Times and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in London.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

40

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Euro zone may raise bailout funds to 700b euro

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URO zone finance ministers and central bankers will discuss the size of their bailout funds - the temporary European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and the permanent European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in Copenhagen on March 30 to 31.

The 440 billion euro EFSF and the 500 billion ESM now have a

combined lending ceiling of 500 billion euro, which means that in the 12 months from July 2012 when they co-exist, they cannot lend together more than 500 billion euro.

Markets have long been pushing for a higher capacity for euro zone lending to make sure the 17nation bloc has enough money to

bail out even its large members like Italy or Spain, should that be necessary, but Germany has been adamantly opposed to such an increase.

"Given that the situation is difficult in several countries, it seems to me the easiest option is the least ambitious one," one senior euro zone official said.

Out of its 440 billion euro of lending power, the EFSF has already committed 192 billion euros to bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

"One possibility would be to say the EFSF has made commitments of 192 billion euro, but the ESM should start fresh with 500," the

senior euro zone official said.

“The combined lending capacity would go from 500 billion to 692 billion, roughly 700 billion. That is one of the options under discussion and that is probably the least ambitious and, therefore, politically the easiest," the official said.

A second euro zone official confirmed this was a likely solution, although both noted several options were being examined and the final decision was still uncertain.

Banks eye AIG toxic assets EVERAL banks including Goldman Sachs have shown interest in buying American International Group Inc's complex and troubled assets tied to the insurer's bailout, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The troubled assets, which are held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, are valued at about $47 billion at face value, the newspaper said. These toxic assets were acquired by New York Fed as a part of the AIG bailout at the height of the financial crisis.

Banks including Barclays PLC's Barclays Capital unit, Credit Suisse Group AG and Goldman Sachs are among the ones interested in buying the complex mortgage-backed assets at around their current market value, the Journal said, quoting people familiar with the matter.

A few interested buyers have approached the New York Fed about the collateralised debt obligations.

However, the people told the paper that they do not yet expect any imminent sales.

S

•Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Eurogroup Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker (middle) greeting Greece's Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos (right) at a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels

UPS bids for TNT Express

U

NITED Parcel Service said it is in talks to buy Dutch rival TNT Express and reiterated its intention to make an offer. Last month, it proposed a nine euro per share deal worth 4.9 billion euro ($6.4 billion).

UPS, the world's largest package delivery company, said it intended to request approval of its offer docu-

ments to Dutch market regulator AFM by May 11 at the latest. It did not mention a price.

UPS was seen as unlikely to improve its nine euro offer by a large amount, given TNT's poor results and the absence of a counter bidder.

TNT Express shares closed at 9.23 euro on Thursday, after reaching a

nine-month high at 10.24 euro on February 20.

Both parties have ruled out a potential counter bid from FedEx Corp at this point, sources told Reuters on Thursday.

UPS was not expected to announce a deal on Friday and needed more time to hammer out final details, the sources said.

Chinabacks Iran over oil shipments

C

HINA, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, will take steps to prevent European trade sanctions from disrupting shipments from the Persian Gulf nation, said tanker operator China Shipping Development Co. The government has discussed ways to help shipping companies get insurance once sanctions against Iran take effect July 1, General Manager Yan Zhichong told reporters in Hong Kong today. The ministry of transport and National Development Reform Commission held special meetings on the issue, he said.

“The attitude is clear -- we must make sure that the volume of our shipments will not drop,” Yan said.

“The government regards it as a very important issue.”

China may nominate an insurer to cover oil shipments from Iran to ensure that supplies can continue, Yan said. European Union sanctions

on Iran threaten to disrupt oil shipments because about 95 per cent of the world’s tankers are insured against risks such as oil spills by the 13 members of the Londonbased International Group of P&I Clubs, according to Andrew Bardot, its Secretary and Executive Officer.

China Shipping Development (1,138) had a fleet of 72 tankers at the end of last year. The company is part of state-controlled China Shipping Group Co., the nation’s biggest sea-cargo carrier after China Ocean Shipping Group Co. China Shipping so far hasn’t had any disruptions in its cargoes from Iran, Yan said. The Asian nation is underwriting some oil shipments, according to the International Energy Agency.

As originally agreed, the EU embargo approved January 23 would affect coverage for vessels carrying Iranian oil, insurers and shipowners said. Now the 27-nation bloc is considering an exception for “third-

party liability insurance and environmental liability insurance,” according to a draft of the regulation obtained by Bloomberg News.

The proposal would allow tankers owned outside the EU to continue carrying Iranian oil even if they are insured in Europe, Bardot said March 14. The draft has been sent to national governments and the bloc hopes to complete the regulation within a month, according to an EU official with knowledge of the matter.

About 22 per cent of Iranian oil exports go to China, according to US Department of Energy estimates.

The Asian nation opposes trade restrictions against Iran and said oil sanctions aren’t “constructive,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported January 26, citing comments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The EU and United States have imposed sanctions on Iran because of the nation’s nuclear programme.

Iran has said the project is only for civilian use.

S

PAIN’S public-debt burden surged to the most in at least two decades, underlining concerns about its ability to reorder state finances as contagion from the debt crisis focuses on the euro area’s fourth-biggest economy.

The nation’s overall debt last year amounted to 68.5 per cent of gross domestic product, exceeding the government’s forecast of 67.3 percent, data on the Bank of Spain’s website showed today.

That compares with 66 per cent in the third quarter and 61.2 per cent at the end of 2010.

Mariano Rajoy Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy spooked investors on March 2 when he defied European colleagues by loosening his deficit target for 2012 amid the second recession in as many years.

“Spain seems to be the main risk in the near future for Europe,” Stephane Deo, chief European economist at UBS AG, wrote in a note. “There are enormous challenges ahead, including the debt-recession spiral in Portugal and Spain.”

Even as the European Central Bank’s loans to banks prop up demand for Spanish bonds, the nation’s borrowing costs have risen 30 basis points since Rajoy’s comments.

The increase in Spanish debt was driven by the nation’s 17 semi-autonomous regional governments, whose borrowings swelled 17 percent from a year earlier as they overshot their budget- deficit goals.

Spain debt reaches record high The European Commission forecasts that Spain’s debt will have almost doubled to 78 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by next year from where it was when Europe’s sovereign debt crisis began, as the country’s deficit-reduction efforts are hobbled by a relapse into recession. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the economy to contract 1.7 per cent this year.

Euro-area finance chiefs agreed this week that Spain’s deficit goal for this year was unachievable after the shortfall came in at 8.5 percent of GDP last year, compared with a six per cent target. For this year, European finance ministers agreed to ease the goal to 5.3 percent from an initial 4.4 per cent.

“So far, the government has disappointed,” UBS’s Deo said. “An ambitious reduction of the deficit is needed.”

Elsewhere, minutes of last month’s Bank of Japan meeting showed that board members are concerned that increased bond purchases by the central bank may be viewed as financing government deficit spending.

They said it was important “to clearly recognise and explain to the public” that the purchases are not “for the purpose of monetisation,” according to the document released on the BOJ website.

SLIDING TACKLE "He was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening after collapsing at White Hart Lane, where he sustained a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup Quarter Final against Tottenham Hotspur.

“Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and en route The London Chest Hospital, where his heart eventually started working. As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours.”

Monday, March 19, 2012

42

Joint statement, from Bolton Wanderers and The London Chest Hospital, confirming Fabrice Muanba’s condition as critical after the player collapsed on the field during FA Cup match on Saturday.

ENGLISH FA CUP FALLOUT

Muambasuffers cardiac arrest •Bolton, Totenhem match get new date

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HE London Chest Hospital have confi rmed that Bolton's Fabrice Mua mba suffered a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup clash with Tottenham on Saturday.

The 23-year-old is anaesthetised in intensive care after he collapsed during the quarter-final at White Hart Lane, which was abandoned due to the incident shortly before halftime.

In a joint statement from the hospital and Bolton Wanderers, it was confirmed that he remained in critical condition after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

The statement read: "Fabrice Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at The London Chest Hospital.

"He was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening after collapsing at White Hart Lane, where he sustained a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup Quarter Final against Tottenham Hotspur.

"Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and en route The London Chest Hospital, where his heart

eventually started working. As is normal medical practice, Fabrice remains anaesthetised in intensive care and will be for at least 24 hours.

"His condition continues to be closely monitored by the cardiac speciali sts at the hospital."

Meanwhile, The Premier League have confirm ed that Bolton's scheduled match at Aston Villa on Tuesday has been postponed.

The move came following a request from the Lancashire club in the wake of Fabrice Muamba's admission to hospital on Saturday after he collapsed during his side's FA Cup quarterfinal match at Tottenham.

It quickly became apparent the Bolton players were in no state to fulfil the fixture and the Premier League will rearrange the game at some point in the season.

"Following Fabrice Muamba's admission to hospital Saturday evening, the Premier League and Aston Villa have agreed to Bolton Wanderers' request to postpone the Barclays Premier League match between the two clubs scheduled for Tuesday 20th March," said the Premier League.

Van Gaal: Mourinho must beat Barcelona

F

• Mourinho

ORMER Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal feels that Real Madrid boss Jose

Mourinho will have produce something truly 'special' to record a Clasico win this season.

The Portuguese has registered just one victory over the Catalans since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2010.Although Los Blancos are currently 7 points clear of the Blaugrana at the top of La Liga and unlikely to need a victory when they travel to Camp Nou on April 22, Van Gaal suspects that Mourinho will be desperate to improve his dismal record against Pep Guardiola's men.

"He says he's special, so I hope I can find a tactic to win at Barca," the former Bayern Munich boss told A Bola.

"And we can not forget that Mourinho has won once against Barca, in the final of the Copa del Rey [last season]."

Van Gaal feels that the self-appointed 'special one' deserves credit for putting Los Blancos in an excellent position to seize Barca's La Liga crown.

MESSI:

I’m yet to reach my

Peak

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IONEL Messi, the Argentina international claimed his third successive Ballon d'Or earlier this year and his sublime strike in the Blaugrana's 2-0 victory over Sevilla on Saturday night took his goals tally for the season to 51 in all competitions.

However, the 24-year-old is warning opposition defenders that he is only going to get better in the coming years.

"Year after year the Barcelona forward Messi has claimed that he has yet to reach his peak as a player and that there is still far more to come from him.

The Argve grown and improved," he is quoted as Sun. "I was saying by The lucky to start very young and I always had very good colleagues arou nd me as I was growing up and this has helped me and how I play.

"Eve n now I think ther e is a lot • Messi more to come from me.

I'm nowhere near my peak.

I'm still young and still evolving as a player.

"I will never stop learning.

Even when I finish playing I will never say: 'I thought I was the complete player' because the older you become the more experienc e you gain.

BREIF...BREIF...BREIF...BREIF...BREIF

Button thrilled to win 'tough race' THE 2009 champion led from lights to flag at Albert Park after beating McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton off the line at the start and steadily increasing his advantage at the front to over 10s before a late Safety Car suddenly wiped out his lead.

However, a storming first green-flag lap gave him a cushion over eventual second placed man Sebastian Vettel and from there he appeared to enjoy a relative cruise to his 13th career victory and third win in Melbourne in the past four attempts.

But asked by Sky Sports F1's Natalie Pinkham to pinpoint the moment when he knew he had the race in the bag, Button replied: "It's in doubt every lap you're driving round this circuit!

"It's bumpy, you're driving close to walls all the time and the sun's going down, and it's tough because it's in our eyes half the lap.

"So a tough race and amazing to come away with this victory. This team's done a great job. Lewis did a great job yesterday to put it on pole, I got as close as I could and today we came away with the victory."

The 32-year-old admitted he had felt comfortable with the MP427's handling throughout the weekend despite the relative lack of running in practice following rain - although revealed he had to drive with fuel saving in mind for part of the 58-lap event.

• Button

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

PDP STATE CONGRESSES

PDP elects state chairmen Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected new state leaders at the congresses held last week across the country. Our correspondents reports on the exercise which has set the stage for the national convention scheduled for Saturday at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Benue exco members return unopposed

• From left: Former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi, Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisra, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Former Governor, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Kwara State PDP Congress held at the Baseball Complex in Ilorin.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

M

ANY members of the Benue State Executive Committe of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) were returned unopposed at the congress held at the weekend. However, new people were elected into the positions of Women leader,Organising Secretary and Assistant Secretary.

Those that were returned unopposed were the chairman, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel, secretary, Hon. Bem Dzhoho,treasurer, Mbakor Lumun, Legal Adviser Mr. Mue Tella and Youth Leader Anaana Moses.

Others include Publicity Secretary Mr. Godwin Ayihe,deputy chairman Zone A,Ibrahim Anor, Zone B,Prince Yandev Amaa Bai and Zone C Moses Ajima.

The only three new elected officers were Moses Audu, Organising Secretary ,Mr. Samuel Zaka, Assistant Secretary, and Women Leader Mrs. Apeda.

Over 200 delegates from the 23 local governments participated at the congress which produced 29 executive members.

At the congress were Senate President David Mark,Governor Gabriel Suswam,Minister for Trade and Investment Dr. Samuel Ortom, and Senator Barnabas Gemade.

The election was conducted under peaceful atmosphere. Over 5,000 policemen provided security at the IBB Square, venue of the congress.

The chairman Dr. Emmanuel, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates for reposing trust in the team by returning them unopposed.

He promised to take the party to greater heights, urging members of the party to support the committe .

• From left: Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime congratulates the new State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Vita Abba, while the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu looks on, during the state’s party congress held in Enugu.

Omisore’s candidate emerges Osun PDP chairman From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

A

MID heavy security surveillance, the former Chairman ofOlorunda Local Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, yesterday emerged the new state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State.

At the Osogbo City Stadium, the venue of the party’s congress last Saturday, there was political horse trading among the stalwarts and delegates to ensure the candidate won the poll.

Alhaji Olaoluwa, who was backed by Senator Iyiola Omisore, won with 574 votes against his rival, the party elders’ choice, Hon. Kayode Idowu, who scored 490 votes.

Prior to the accreditation and commencement of the election, some leaders of the party were booed by aggreived party supporters and youths. Police had a hectic time restoring order.

The police had to condone off vehicular traffic from all entry points to the venue of the exercise.

Reasons, however, were not given for the postponement of elections into other offices of the party.

It was gathered that the emergence of Olaoluwa as new PDP boss in the state did not have the blessings of about 98 percent of the elders of the party, who supported his rival, Hon. Kayode Idowu.

It was also gathered that the election started very late on Saturday, consequently forcing the five-man National Electoral Committee for the state congress headed by Ambassador Alhaji Bala to suspend the election into other offices.

Welcoming delegates, the outgoing chairman, Transition Congress Committee, Mr. Adejare Bello, appealed to members to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

Adejare, who assured them that his committee would be neutral, said they should allow party supremacy toevail in their conduct and advised them to allow peace to reign before, during and after the congress.

• Gov. Godswill Akpabio congratulating the newly-elected PDP State Chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo in Uyo Sport Stadium

Congress peaceful in Ebonyi

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HE chairman of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Ugorji Amaoti, and 23 State Executive Committee members were returned unopposed at the congress held at the Abakaliki Township Stadium. The exercise was supervised by the Congress Committee led Mr. Simon Obande. He was assisted by security operatives who maintained peace during the exercise.

Top party leaders, including Governor Martin Elechi, were

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

present.

Declaring the results, Mr Samuel Obande, Chairman State Congress Committee, noted that Chief Ugorji Amah-Oti was returned as the chairman, Mr Ali Egea (Secretary), Mrs Euphemia Nwali (Treasurer), Messrs David Egwu (Auditor), Amechi Oken (Organising Secretary and Uchenna Igwe (Publicity Secretary).

Others officers are Messrs Maurice Okemini (Financial Secretary),

Chinedu Ogar (Youth Leader), Felicia Nwankpuda, (Woman Leader), Chief Livinus Ilang (Vice Chairman, Central Zone), Chief Walter Akpa (Vice Chairman, South Zone), and Boniface Nwangbu (Vice Chairman, North Zone).

In his acceptance speech, Ogorji Amah-Oti thanked the delegates for his re-election and promised to steer the party to greater heights.

“I want to assure that would uphold discipline, commitment and integrity of the party to achieve more successes in the state.

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

44

POLITICS PDP STATE CONGRESSES

Saraki urges exco to ensure victory in council poll

A

•Immediate past Governor of Oyo State,Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala congratulating the New Oyo State Chairman Mr Yinka Taiwo while Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and others looks on during the PDP State Congress held at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.

Akpabio tasks officers on internal democracy

A

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday charged the newly elected executives of the Peoples Democratic Party to ensure internal democracy.

The governor after the election of the 31 executive members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Uyo Township Stadium. All the 31 members of the new exco were elected unopposed.

The governor stressed that the congress was conducted in line with the constitution and guideline of the PDP. He explained that new officers were expected to sustain the peace and integrity of the party by peacefully conducting all internal democracies taking a cue from the well organized state congress that brought them into office.

Akpabio also urged the new executives to ensure the conduct of local government council election for the positions of chairmen and councillors by May this year.

His words: “The exercise of today is

From Kazeem Ibrhaym, Uyo

in line with the guidelines of our party PDP. You are now to conduct further internal democracies, conduct elections into the positions of councillors and chairmen in the local government councils by May, 2012.

“We have deepened democracy in Akwa Ibom state particularly internal democracy. We have shown transparency and fairness, we have shown truly that democracy can work and all of you are now in a position to conduct further internal democracy “The lesson from this election shows that Akwa Ibom is one. And that is why I say what has happened today shall be permanent. To whom much is given much is expected.”

He commended the immediate-past executive led by Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, for being honest and upright in leading the party effectively four years.

The governor thanked the members of the state congress committee from the party’s national secretariat led by Mr. Patrick Agu for a peaceful and well

organised state congress.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected party chairman, Paul Ekpo, promised to continue from where the former chairman stopped, promising that, he would build on the successes he has recorded in the past four years as party chairman.

Ekpo said their election was a sign of great rejuvenation for the PDP in the state, saying that, the team is made up of tested men and women as they would continue to support the governor in his uncommon transformation of the state.

Earlier, the out-gone chairman of the party, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, acknowledged the loyalty, selfrestraint and contentment among members of his exco and said it was worth the while as they had to vacate office after a good tenure.

Two members of the former exco, Ibanga Akpabio and Dominic Okon were returned as the state secretary and vice-chairman II respectively in the 31 man team. Ibanga served in the same capacity in the last four years, while Okon was the state legal adviser.

Cross River exco overhauled

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N unexpected overhaul of the executive council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State was the outcome of the party’s state congress in Calabar on Saturday.

Although a shake up was expected, it still came with surprises.

Most surprising of all was the dropping of party chairman, Mr Ekpo Okon, for Mr John Okon, a former clerk of the State House of Assembly.

The development it was gathered came even as a surprise to Mr Ekpo Okon, who only got wind that he would not continue as party chairman on the eve of the congress, as did some other officials of the party.

Mr Ekpo Okon, who seemed certain to return had his posters all over, while Mr John Okon was relatively unknown until the morning of the

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

congress.

Sources said that “powers that be” in the state had a hand in the surprising overhaul.

Former Deputy Chairman, Mr Peter Ojie, was dropped for former chairman of Yala local government, Fidel Egoro.

Mr Godwin Eta, a former chairman of Yakurr, replaced Mr Gabe Oji as party secretary.

Most of the 24-member executive council did not make it to the new list which chairman of the electoral panel, Mr Razak Eretu, said was handed to him. Eretu said the list was arrived at by a consensus. The new list has 29 party executives.

Although the were no opposing members, delegates who filled the

Main Bowl of the Cultural Centre, Complex in Calabar still voted.

Cross River State House of Representative members Mr Frank Adah and Mr Daniel Asuquo moved the motion and seconded respectively, for the resolution of the Ekpo

HEAD of the 2013 local gov ernment election in Kwara state, Leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki has urged the executive members to ensure that the party emerges victorious in all the 16 local councils.

PDP won fifteen out of the sixteen local government areas in the state in the 2010 local government election, while the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won that of Offa local government area.

Saraki, the immediate past governor of the state made the charge at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital shortly after the emergence of the new PDP’s executive members through a consensus.

The immediate past executive members of the party in the state under the chairmanship of Hon

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Ishola Balogun-Fulani were returned unopposed at the delegate congress.

The Senator representing Kwara central district at the upper house, said “I urge the new executives to bring back the other finger that stray away to the PDP fold in the 2013 poll.”

The Senate Committee Chairman of Environment and Ecology added that the unanimous election of the party exco was how party politics should be played.

His words: “I want to congratulate the outgoing exco and the new one.

What we have witness here today is demonstration of how party politics should be played. Party politics under presidential system of government should be a family affair. It is a period of give and take.”

Controversy trails Yobe PDP congresses

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T is not clear whether the Yobe state PDP congress elec tions conducted last Saturday 17/03/2012 would be a nullity as the state chairman of the party Abbagana Tata has alleged that all congress elections for Yobe state were suspended by the National headquarters of the party due to the state of emergence in some local government areas of the state.

Tata completely feigned ignorance of any congress election when our correspondent called him to find out the latest about the exercise in the state.

Investigation however gathered that the Minister of state Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama who is the leaders of the party in the state had gone ahead to conduct the elections at Jakusko local government area where one Lawan Gana Karasuwa emerged as the state party chairman.

All efforts to contact, the minister for clarification failed as he ignored all text messages sent to him and several calls put to him by our correspondent.

Our correspondent also contacted the Security Chief Detail of the minister who promised to discuss with the minister, requesting a call back after 1hr and 30 minutes. But the Chief Detail subsequently failed to pick all calls that were put to him.

A PDP chieftain in the state

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

who spoke on condition of anonymity accused the minister of hijacking the party to his own advantage, but however warned that the minister is ill-advised by some selfish people who do not want the progress of the party in the state.

Abbagana Tata denied been associated with the elections, saying “I am not part of what took place because there hasn’t been any communication to me or the state chapter from the national secretariat of the party contrary to the earlier suspension of the exercise in Yobe state. That is why none of the officials of the party in the state are involved in the so called elections that have happened”.

The Nation checks reveal that Tata and the minister are at each other throat over who holds the machinery of the party in the state. The duo are now in court with the former demanding a whooping sum of N2 billion as damages over his allege illegal detention in the police by the latter.

A source revealed that the ministers wants to hand-pick the party’s exco but Tata is vehemently opposed to that. A situation that has broken the allegiance between Tata and the minister.

Ogun PDP gets new officers FORMER Chairman, Ijebu North Local Government, Engr. Bayo Dayo, has emerged the new Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) while Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, emerged as the State Secretary.

This followed the outcome of State congresses conducted at the Party Secretariat, Abeokuta on Saturday where the duo were elected.

The Congress went smoothly and in spite of the directive by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Abuja which suspended the exercise in the state.

From Ernest Nwokolo Abeokuta

But the party members, loyal to former Chairman, Chief Dayo Soremi, said they obtained a court injunction which empowers them to proceed with the exercise in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act In his acceptance speech, Dayo promised to reposition the party and make it formidable to oust the ruling ACN in the state.

He also appealed to all aggrieved members to return to the party in the interest of peace and progress.

• The new chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State,Hon. Olatunji Shelle (middle) addressing party members at the state congress held at the party secretariat, Ikeja. On the left is the Vice Chairman, Central, Alhaji Kamal Olorunoje and the new Deputy Chairman, Hon. Ola Apena, right.

MOTORING

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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

•Nissan NP 300

Alliance Autos Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of CFAO Automobile, has introduced the Nissan NP 300 Hardbody.

Its ruggedness and adaptability to the Nigerian terrain has been tested, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

Nissan introduces NP 300 Hardbody T

HE NP300 Hardbody is described as a vehicle with an enviable reputation, tough enough to excel in African conditions. Its compelling strength as well as proven track record has seen demand for it in other regions seeking the same value and proven reliability in a one-tonne light commercial vehicle.

Alliance Autos Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of CFAO Automobile introduced the vehicle to the Nigerian market.

Motoring correspondents were taken on a test drive from the company’s office in Victoria Island through the Lekki-Epe Expressway to Elegushi Beach.

The vehicle showed its strength and offroad capabilities as it went through heaps of sand on the beach.

The pickup comes in single cabin, double cabin standard grade and double cabin higher grade models.

They are available with either two wheel drive or four wheel drive.

Four engine variants are available in the new NP300 engine lineup. They include the all new 2.4 litre petrol engine, 2.7 and 3.2 litre diesel power engine as well as the 2.5 litre common rail turbo diesel engine.

While speaking with journalists, Managing Director, Alliance Autos Nigeria, Mr Ian Middleton, said the vehicle was built to pull through on rough terrains often found in African countries.

“The NP300 Hardbody brings style and luxury to the sector, for the area manager or foreman who needs something tough, reliable and strong. It is also a car which cuts a fine figure at a gathering of high society. The entry of the model is expected to elevate the perception of the Nissan brand in the local market to new levels.

“It is a product comparable with the best in the segment in the market anywhere in

the world,” he said.

He also said the company has about N250million worth of spare parts in its various service centres in Nigeria for adequate after-sales service.

Middleton said Nigeria is the biggest market in sub- Saharan Africa and expressed hope that the coming of the new pickup would increase the share of Nissan in the market.

He described the Hardbody as a workhorse, adding that the firm was determined to develop the market to become number two in the pickup segment.

“The Nissan pickup is a market leader in many African countries because of its quality and Alliance Autos would like to position the all-new Nissan pickup in the same way in Nigeria.

The pickup is the number one in many African markets and the reason we are offering the NP300 Hardbody is to face competition squarely, bearing in mind that Nigeria is the ultimate in Africa and the biggest market for any product in the continent,” Middleton said.

It’s features include power steering, height adjustable steering wheel tilt, lockable glove box, carpet floor cover, side impact protection, door guard bar and five speed manual transmission.

Others include air conditioning, radio with CD player, central locking system, immobiliser, driver and passenger airbags.

Despite all these features, Middleton said the vehicles are 15 per cent cheaper than competing models from other brands.

On what stands the Nissan hardbody pickup out, he said, “its affordability, premium reliability, comfort, longer lifespan, roomier interior, stronger suspension and thick body panel are the benchmarks.

•Interior of the vehicle

He said Alliance Autos was looking forward to taking between 10 to 15 per cent of the one tonne pickup market share in Nigeria in due time.

“We are aiming to take 10 to 15 per cent market share of this pickup segment in no time. We will be the number two in the next one year thereby improving our six per cent

market share in the segment.”

Describing the pick up as very durable, Middleton said: “Even the first generation of the pickup built over 16 years ago is still on the road. Its body strength and suspension have remained very outstanding ever since the first generation and is adjudged the most durable you can get in the segment.”

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A lift for widows •Continued from Page 17

the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

The Chairman named the township roads under repair as Baptist High School/Irewole Road, Faralola/Rafiu Road, Ajegunle and Adeniran House Road. The completed projects include the modern toilets built at Ajegunle Motor-Park, Sango Market, IleshaIbaruba Motor Park, and Poly Road Motor-Park.

But it was the loans to the widows and traders that threw the crowd into wild jubilation. There was relief on their faces as they surged forward to receive their cheques. N2.6m was voted for pov-

•Mrs Iyalla N end to the perennial water problem in Oyo South Senatorial District is in sight, as the lawmaker representing the District, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) implored contractors handling seven different water projects in the area to expedite action to ensure timely completion of the projects.

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erty eradication, out of which N400,000 was given to widows and traders. Each widow got a loan of N20,000 in addition to N10,000 non-refundable grant.

The grant was also extended to the aged.

Hon. Popoola enjoined the recipients of the loan to make judicious use it. He also urged them to repay the loan as scheduled so that others will benefit.

In Lagos, he coordinator of Widows’ Fellowship, an arm of Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), Mrs. Millie Iyalla stressed that widows need legal protection.

Iyalla said this during an interaction with journalists on the activities CLAM, which addresses the plight of widows. She said such legislation should be able to stop barbaric norms practiced in some traditional settings that dehumanise and downgrade widows.

“They can come to the rescue of widows in the country through effective legislation to curb satanic practices and reaching out to village heads through various local governments in their domains.

“The barbaric culture in question is predominantly practiced in the village. So, let there be legislation to halt continuity of such evil. How come on earth a woman becomes a suspect when her husband is late and she is subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment, which ultimately affects her spiritual life. This is bad and uncalled for,” she said.

She said the organisation was formed out of the passion of Pastor Wole Oladiyun, the church overseer, for widows.

“We started by gathering wid-

•Widows

ows together and ministering to both their spiritual and physical needs,” she said. “I can inform you that a lot of widows are being traumatised owing to the death of their husbands. A lot of them have lost their identity, which takes only a heart of compassion to bring these women together so they can regain their lost identity. They found solace in the leader of this Ministry, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, himself the son of a widow.

The coordinator stated that the fellowship which started with about 40 members, now records a

The total number of those empowered was 600 people.

“It is a well known fact that widows are suffering in this country.

But by the help of God, in this place, we share the word of God with them. A lot of them are jobless.

What we do in this fellowship is that we help by helping them to acquire skills. We started this about six years ago. We take into small scale businesses such as hat-making, decoration, baking, etc. When they go through this training, we look for capital to establish them in the business.”

Senator to end community’s water problem From Osheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The people of Oyo South Senatorial District were full of excitement when the lawmaker, paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the sites of the ongoing Solar Auto-

mated water projects worth over N20m.

The seven water projects visited were located at Oke-Tunu, Ibadan North Local Government Area, Itamaya, Ibadan South West Local Government Area, Kudeti, Ibadan

Osun empowers 3,000 women

vendors. The loans will be repayable in three years.

In the same manner, the appointed food vendors will acquire more skills in modern catering as specialised trainings are provided from time to time by the government.

Included in this package is the opportunity given the food vendors to take up catering contracts privately and improve their economic well-being. The government is also

South East Local Government Area, Inalende, Ibadan North West Local Government Area, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Lanlate, Ibarapa East Local Government Area and an existing water project at Opoyoesa which was also renovated by the lawmaker to ensure that the problem of water in the area is solved.

At every project site visited, members of the community trooped out in large numbers to give rousing welcome to the lawmaker, and to show genuine appreciation to the lawmaker for solving the problem of water in their community.

Leaders of the community, including ACN members who were excited with the laudable projects

were on hand to receive the lawmaker and members of his entourage.

Pa Olalere Fadugba, JP, the chairman, Ifedapo Landlords’ Association, Oke-Tunu area of Ibadan expressed delight that his community has been remembered. People rolled out the drums and danced to the admiration of the visitors who were overwhelmed with the people’s enthusiasm on the water project sited at the Christ Apostolic Church compound, Oke-Tunu for the benefit of the community. He praised Senator Lanlehin for his commitment to the people’s welfare, even as he urged him “not to relent in his efforts to make the people comfortable.”

It is my obligation to the people who gave their trust and mandate to me to ensure that more and more dividends of democracy come their way. Water is life and besides, with potable water, sickness and other diseases associated with water would be minimised if not eradicated

•Mrs Laoye–Tomori addressing the crowd at the event •Continued from Page 17

per annum.

The feeding programme opens a bigger window of opportunity for the economic empowerment of 3, 000 women who were appointed as food vendors but with a unique difference.

The government has provided for modern cooking utensils, two chef uniforms for each of the food vendors.

The Aregbesola-government has also concluded arrangement with one of the banks to provide interest-free soft loans for the food

daily increase of over 700 registered members.

She said to meet their needs, the NGO embarked on some projects that are capital intensive in order to meet the yearnings and needs of the widows. “We meet the philanthropist members of the church to be able to meet our challenges.

Iyalla added that some widows are empowered annually by the organisation as part of their contributions to their rehabilitation.

“We do this annually,” Iyalla said. “Last December, we empowered both widows and widowers.

ready to give them such contracts in their private capacity as certified caterers.

Otunba Laoye-Tomori further reiterated government’s commitment to the economic emancipation of every citizen of the state.

“No one will be left out in this effort,” she said to the delight of the 3, ooo beneficiaries, party supporters, and other well-wishers that attended the ceremony.

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NEWS Obi, Shema, others win Zik Prize

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OVERNORS Peter Obi (Anambra), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) were conferred with the 2011 Zik Leadership Prize in Good Governance in Lagos at the weekend.

The annual award, set up in 1994 by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) in honour of the first civilian President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, is to recognise and honour exemplary African leaders.

Other eminent personalities conferred with the prestigious award include Liberian President Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Chairman, Dantata Group, Alhaji Aminu Dantata; Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Plc Mr. Olabisi Onasanya; and Min-

ister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji.

Chairman, PPRAC Advisory Board, Prof. Jubril Aminu said the recipients emerged after a stringent selection process.

He praised the awardees for their contributions to the society and advised them to see their awards as a challenge to do more.

The Royal Guest of Honour, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, highlighted the contributions of the late Azikiwe to Nigeria’s growth.

Obi said the era of extravagant promises by politicians is gone. He said Nigerians are now ready to question their leaders.

Vice President Namadi Sambo was represented by Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

Youths lament neglect of Southeast skill centres

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OUTHS in the Southeast have petitioned the Senator representing Anambra Central District, Dr. Chris Ngige, and his colleagues in the National Assembly on the neglect of skills acquisition centres in the zone.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development built zonal offices and skills acquisition centres in the six geopolitical zones.

Those in the Southeast were built at Mgbakwu and Awka North in Anambra State.

The youths lamented that the centres, which were com-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

pleted a long time ago, are yet to be inaugurated by the ministry.

The youths, under the aegis of the Coalition of Southeast Youths for Good Governance (COSEG), were led

by Mr. Ezekiel Nwokoye, the group’s President.

They also urged the Minister of Youths and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, to look into the matter.

They said the centres have been taken over by weeds and urged the government to begin operations there soon.

Britain, Nigeria partner against HE United Kingdom drug trafficking and Nigeria are strat-

T

egising to tighten the noose on drug trafficking cartels through assets and financial investigation.

This was gathered at the weekend, when the Director International, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) of Britain, Mr. David Armond, and other senior security experts visited the National Headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ikoyi, Lagos.

NDLEA Director-General Femi Ajayi said the visit will deepen the working relationship between both countries.

Ajayi said: “Nigeria is committed to the fight against organised criminal syndicates. We are prepared to partner the UK in the war

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

against illicit drugs and international drug syndicates.

“This meeting will help in advancing our strategies in drug control.”

Armond said: “We are interested in working with our partners who recognise and are willing to deal with the threat of drug trafficking and organised crime.

“Drug trafficking is a threat to all of us. It encourages corruption because of the huge profit involved.

“We have expertise in a number of areas and we think we can explore this in tracing the assets and drug proceeds of syndicates.

“We need to be strict in the identification of illicit drug proceeds and take them away.”

PUBLIC NOTICE CIRCLE OF GOD MISSION The General Public is hereby notified that the above mission has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Prophetess Favour E. Nwosu 2. Apostle Dr. Success Ebere 3. Chief Ignatius Nwosu 4. Pastor Basil Okolie 5. Udobata Maraizu Nwosu 6. Florence Nwosu 7. Wisdom Nwosu

Gen. Overseer Gen. Secretary Patron Property Manager P.R.O. Treasurer Fin. Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To restore hope to lives through preaching the Word of God to the entire society.

2. Doing the works of charity to the less privileged.

Any objective to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General C.A.C., P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 20 days of this publication.

Signed: Apostle Dr. Success Ebere Secretary

•Mrs. Orelope-Adehulire (left) presenting the award to Obi and his wife, Margaret... on Saturday.

Anambra South rerun holds today

T

HE rerun in Anambra South Senatorial District will hold

today.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, was drafted to the state at the weekend to supervise the election.

Four other RECs from Ondo, Yobe, Nasarawa and Kogi were also drafted for the rerun.

Speaking with reporters yesterday after a security meeting, Igini said the commission has recognised former Governor Andy Uba as the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “The recognition is based on the ruling of the

•INEC declares Uba PDP candidate From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Appeal Court. We are bound by the judgment of the court and not any injunction.”

Igini said the election would be between Uba and Mr. Chuma Nzeribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He said the seven council areas have 118 wards with 1,669 polling units and each unit would be manned by three security men.

The security meeting was attended by the chiefs of security agencies, the paramilitary, the RECs, INEC National Commissioner in

charge of Anambra State and former minister Lawrence Nwuruku, among others.

Igini said non-sensitive materials have been distributed and the sensitive ones would arrive in the state today.

He said: “Our mandate is simple and clear. It is to conduct the rerun, pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal, and it is between Nzeribe (APGA) and Uba (PDP).

“Our commitment to doing the right thing is unwavering in this election. Nobody will have illegal access to any material and the

votes of the people must count.

“We are moving to the era of zero petition and we are aware of the history of Anambra elections. We want a situation where nobody will go to the tribunal after election.”

But there is a pending injunction granted by the Federal High Court, sitting in Awka, presided over by Justice Peter Olayiwola.

The injunction, obtained

by Senator Annie Okonkwo in January, 2011, which ordered that INEC should not receive any other list of candidates from PDP for the National Assembly other than the one it ordered for, has not been vacated.

SEC probe: Orji intervenes in face-off

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has intervened in the face-off between the Director General (DG), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs. Arunma Oteh and the House Committee on Stock Market.

Speaking through his Media aide, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, Orji urged the parties to resolve the matter in-house.

He said: “Having watched with studied silence the development, which seems to have created some verbal exchange between the committee and the DG of SEC, who is an Abian, I believe it is time

VACANCY AN EXPERIENCE GARMENT FACTORY MANAGER NEEDED APPEAR IN PERSON TO WASKARA NIGERIA LIMITED GENERAL B/STOP, IGANDO, LAGOS. CALL: 07054318884 07040104119 WASKARA NIG. LIMITED.

•Deputy speaker, committee chair urged to step down From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

to intervene before things get out of hands.”

Orji said if Mrs. Oteh made any offensive statement during the committee’s probe, it was because of the way the House Committee Chairman, Herman Hembe, handled the issues at stake.

He said Hembe’s declaration that the DG is incompetent and the attack on her integrity without proper investigation into the subject matter was uncalled for.

The governor said only a court of competent jurisdiction has the constitutional power to pass judgment on any individual in such cases.

He said the House Committee’s job is to find out the problems and make

PUBLIC NOTICE I, fomerly known and addressed as MISS EBEOMHAN EJIEMEN AUGUSTA, now wish to be known and addressed MRS OSEGHALE EJIEMEN AUGUSTA. The general public should please note.

I, MR MICHAEL INYANG of privatization of Nigeria Coal Corporation for principal partner Advertise for principal copies of all properties of coal Corporation Registered in the Lands Registry Enugu.

recommendations to the appropriate quarters for adjudication.

Orji said Mrs. Oteh was not SEC DG when the stock market crashed in 2008 and appealed to both parties to tread with caution.

The Association of Item Students (AIS) has urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to prevail on Hembe and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha to step aside to ensure an unbiased probe into the collapse of the stock market in 2008.

AIS National President Mba Onyeukwu said Ihedi-

oha should not be part of the committee because his wife works with the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) and he is a cousin to the former DG of NSE, Mrs. Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke.

Onyeukwu said: “Mrs. Oteh, our sister, made a first class in Computer Science from a renowned university. What qualification does Hembe have, that gives him the right to ask Oteh to present her credentials before him? But he must first answer to the question of the money he collected from SEC without travelling.”

Ekweremadu salutes women on Mother’s Day From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

D

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu yesterday extolled the virtues of women, describing them as pillars of national development and bastions of the nation’s moral values.

This was contained in his goodwill message to Nigerian mothers on this year’s Mother’s Day celebration.

Ekweremadu said: “I note with pride that Nigeria is blessed with very caring, responsible, industrious and highly resourceful mothers, and I join other well-meaning Nigerians to salute and celebrate them for their courage and resilience in the face of the present challenges and for their unrelenting contributions to the social, economic and political wellbeing of the nation.”

Describing the family as the “microcosm of every society,” he said mothers are key to solving various challenges facing the nation, if given the support needed to bring up a child.

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NEWS

Police kill armed robbery suspect

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HE police yesterday shot dead an armed robbery suspect at the Shagari Housing Estate, Barnawa, in Kaduna State.

The robbers are part of a gang suspected to be Boko Haram members.

The Nation learnt that some robbers had tied their victim and made away with an undisclosed amount of money. Sources said commercial motorcy-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

clists alerted the police at a nearby mobile police barracks.

Eyewitnesses said: “The robbers were wearing face masks and driving a 206 car which they might have snatched from someone.

Instead of escaping through the gate, they drove towards the open prison. The police chased

them and one of them on a motorcycle shot and killed the driver.

“Others ran in different directions. One of them ran into the Ungwan Maichibi Primary School and the pupils apprehended and beat him before handing him over to the police.

“Others ran into the open prison and one of them was arrested before ‘Operation Yaki’ men arrived. They searched the

place and found the one with bullet wounds near the stream, inside the open prison farm.”

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Mohammed Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, denied that they are members of the Boko Haram. He said they are armed robbers.

Residents and worshippers in nearby churches were said to have run on hearing gunshots.

NEMA hosts regional peace building forum

•Sani-Sidi

T

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in

FCTA to issue certificates for 5,000 Gwarinpa houses

T

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, will soon work out modalities to enable owners of the 5,000 Gwarinpa II houses obtain Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, said this while receiving the

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, in his office.

The minister has set up a 17-member Technical Committee to look into grey areas such as development control, re-certification and environmental issues as they concern the Gwarinpa II Housing Es-

tate.

He regretted that a property without title documents denies the owner the opportunity to access credit facilities as they are meant to serve as collateral.

Mohammed called on the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development and its agencies to support the new policy of the FCTA to provide lowcost houses in the area coun-

cils and satellite towns.

The minister approved 21 hectares for the building of prototype houses in Gwagwalada by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

According to him, the Technical Committee, which is expected to submit its report in three weeks, will be chaired by the FCDA Executive Secretary, Adamu Ismaila.

Pepple had called on the FCT Minister to resolve the issues surrounding the title documents of the 5,000 Gwarinpa II Housing Estate built by the Federal Housing Authority.

She promised to support the housing policy of the FCT Administration, saying it is in line with the housing transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

She pleaded with the FCT Minister to allocate 21 hectares and 2,000 hectares in Gwagwalada and Bwari area councils to build lowcost houses.

collaboration with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, will this week host a regional Stakeholders’ Forum on peace-building, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, following the spate of explosions in public places.

The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who spoke at the weekend after a visit to St Finbarrs’ Catholic Church, Jos, which was recently attacked by suspected suicide bombers, advised community and religious leaders to be vigilant and promote peaceful coexistence.

Sani-S i d i , w h o w a s represented by NEMA’s Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, Edward Maigida, urged the people to cooperate with security operatives in addressing insecurity.

The Parish Priest, Peter Umoren, thanked NEMA for the concern.

He said the church has recorded five deaths so far, with many still receiving treatments in hospitals.

Boko Haram: Group urges Fed Govt, others to be fair

J

AMA’ATU Ta’awunil Muslimeen has debunked insinuation that the group is working with the Boko Haram sect, urging the Federal Government and security agencies to be fair in their efforts to curb violence.

The leader of the group, Malam Daud Imran, who was speaking at a Special Islamic Conference on Boko Haram, organised at the Ansarudeen Central Mosque, Osogbo, Osun State, dissociated Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen from the Boko Haram sect.

He condemned the bombings of churches and killings of innocent people.

“Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen is not part of Boko

Haram. Our investigation revealed that Boko Haram has derailed from true Jihad.

Killings of innocent people and bombings of religious places can never be Jihad.

“Islam encourages us to search for knowledge. How can somebody say western education is forbidden? That is not part of the teachings of Islam. As Muslims, we are educated. The majority of us are graduates. So, we are not Boko Haram. I can assure you that there is no Boko Haram in the Southwest.”

He cautioned religious leaders against utterances that could cause trouble.

“The people tagged as Boko Haram have their grievances against the authority. It is not about religion. It bothers on injustice.”

Ondo ACN aspirant aids victims

A

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant Chief Olusegun Abraham has donated relief materials to residents of Akoko North East in Ondo State who were displaced by the recent rainstorm that killed one person.

Presenting roofing sheets to the victims in Ikare, he decried “the insensitivity of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration”, which he said has no emergency relief agency to provide succour to victims of natural disasters or those traumatised in one way or the other.

Abraham said in other climes, government would have sheltered the victims and gave them food.

He told the team sent to deliver the materials not to politicise the distribution. He said natural disasters usually affected all, irrespective of membership of political parties.

Members of the relief ma-

terials committee are Chief S.A. Idris, Alhaji Aliu Hamzat, the Head of Muslim Ahmaddiyat Jaamat in Akure, Chief Ogunmola Azeez and Mr. Taiye Hamzat.

One of the early recipients of the roofing sheets was the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party at Okela ward, Chief Bode Egunjobi, who prayed that Abraham’s ambition to take over the reins of power through the ballot box in November would be realised.

He said if the aspirant could respond to the poor in their hour of need by spending his money, if entrusted with power, he would satisfy the masses.

He said before Abraham took the decision to contest the November poll, he had been giving scholarships to indigent students, the handicapped and others, stressing that he was sure that the relief materials were not meant to score political point.

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NATIONSPORT MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

60

ENGLISH FA CUP:

I needed those goals — Torres

S

TRIKER Fernando Torres admitted he was hugely relieved to end his goalscoring drought as Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with victory over Leicester City.

Torres had gone 25 hours and 41 minutes without scoring, but netted a second-half brace as Roberto Di Matteo continued his impressive start to life as Chelsea manager as the Blues cruised to a 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Early goals from Gary Cahill and Salomon Kalou put Chelsea on course for victory before two goals from Torres put the result beyond their Championship opponents.

Jermaine Beckford and Ben Marshall scored consolation goals for Leicester, but Raul Meireles netted in the last minute to seal an impressive victory. Torres maintained he had not played badly during his barren run, but admitted it was a relief to finally find the net for the first time since October. ''I needed those goals. I've been working so hard to get them," Torres told ESPN. "Maybe the job of a striker is to score goals and if you don't do it people think you're playing badly. "But the support has been here and I feel the confidence of the manager [Roberto Di Matteo] now. We have some

•As Chesea draw Tottenhem or Bolton in semis important games coming.'' Di Matteo was quick to praise his goalshy striker and believes Torres has been rewarded for his hard work in training. ''Every win gives the players confidence," Di Matteo said.

"You can see they have more confidence. I thought Fernando had a terrific game, he fought very hard for the team and managed to score a couple of goals too. It's

wonderful for him. ''I have a lot of belief in him and the other players. He works so hard and in life if you do that you will get rewarded for it. I really wanted us to keep a clean sheet. We didn't manage to do that but I'm very pleased with the performance. I'm trying to get the players to perform as best they can but I'm very relaxed about it.''

•Torres

HEARTLAND 1-0 3SC: Amaefula’s strike saves the Naze Millionaires

H

EARTLAND FC of Owerri Emmanuel Ike Amaefula’s 36th minute goal was the difference between the Naze Millionaires and visiting 3SC of Ibadan in the NPL Week 15 tie decided at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Sunday.

Amaefula who just returned after a stint in Finland also got his new club’s curtain raiser in the 2-2 away draw got in Gombe some weeks back.

Describing how he got the goal, the goal scorer, Amaefula told NationSport that it was a delightful cross from Osas Okoro which he fired beyond the reach of the Oluyole Warriors’ goalie.

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri He said he was happy to have been on the scoresheet again after few matches with the club he joined during the Week 9 transfer and he vowed to continue scoring until the fortunes of Heartland improved on the league table.

“I am happy to have scored again and I will continue scoring until the end of the season barring injuries. I was signed to score and I promise to score more.

“We are targeting another win against Tornadoes on Wednesday before going for the continental game in Cameroun. The spirit is high and I am optimistic of another

impressive scoreline.

“We won by 1-0 though we lost many scoring chances but what really matter is for us to continue winning and ensure that we do not concede cheap goals,”Ahaemefula said.

Heartland has now garnered 19 points from 14 matches and now in 11th position while 3SC remains on 17 points from same number of games.

Heartland welcomes Tornadoes on Wednesday in a rescheduled Week 3 tie while 3SC will be on another road trip to Kano for a difficult tie with Pillars.

Benfica don't fear Chelsea—Gaitan

B

ENFICA playmaker Nicolas Gaitan has warned Chelsea that the Portuguese giants have every intention of prolonging their European adventure.

The two sides are set to meet in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, with the first leg of that tie set to be staged at Estadio da Luz on 27th March.

"At this stage of the Champions League every team is dangerous. Chelsea will be very difficult to beat, but it is not impossible for us to eliminate them and reach the semi-finals. I consider this to be an equal contest which will be very open. Home advantage will not be a factor at this stage because both clubs are of a high level," he said.

"I know people have said that Chelsea have been in crisis, but they have now won a few matches in a row and were excellent against Napoli (in the second leg of their last16 showdown)."

The Argentina international added: "We at Benfica feel like we don't have limits this season. We do not fear any rival and our aim is to fight to get into the final in Munich.

Morale has increased and we believe this could be a big moment in our history. In this

season's Champions League we have already helped to put out Manchester United when people didn't give us a chance. Now we will be looking to repeat that against Chelsea.”

• Gaitan

Hiddink to discuss Anzhi role

• Hiddink

G

UUS HIDDINK has revealed that he will evaluate his situation with Anzhi Makhachkala in June, when there is a possibility his contract could be brought to an end.

Hiddink took charge of the

ambitious Russian club in February, just a few weeks before Andre Villas-Boas was dismissed as Chelsea manager to leave Roman Abramovich looking for a permanent successor.

Hiddink is a trusted friend of the Blues owner and enjoyed a short stint at the Stamford Bridge helm in a caretaker capacity in 2009, but his involvement with Anzhi meant that he was not among the favourites to replace Villas-Boas.

However, it has now emerged that the Dutchman will have the opportunity to discuss his role with Anzhi in

the summer, when either party could bring their agreement to an end.

"I have a deal until the middle of June. Then the club and I both have the possibility to end the contract. We will evaluate the situation in June. If we both feel like we want to carry on, we will," said Hiddink in the Sunday Mirror.

Fresh reports on Sunday suggest Hiddink's Dutch compatriot Louis van Gaal is now a leading contender for the role as he looks to return to management after a year-long break.

•L-R: Meka Olowola, Head, Corporate Communications, Oando PLC; Chief Molade Okoya –Thomas, the Asoju Oba of Lagos and Kunle Tinubu, Tavia Trojan Polo team player, winner of the Oba of Lagos Cup, at the cup representation during the recently concluded 2012 Lagos International Polo Tournament held in Ikoyi Polo Club.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Joachim Gauck sworn in as German president

G

ERMANY swore in a new president yesterday, with former Pastor Joachim Gauck replacing Christian Wulff, who resigned last month in the face of scandals.

Wulff announced his resignation February 17 after he was accused of financial impropriety and doing political favors for associates while he was state premier of Lower Saxony.

A day before Wulff resigned, prosecutors in Hanover called for the government to waive his immunity from prosecution, in light of the evidence it had gathered.

They cited “extensive

analyses of new documents and the evaluation of further media reports” as “grounds for initial suspicion of receiving bribes or being granted advantages.”

Wulff has always maintained that he did nothing wrong throughout the course of the scandals — something he reiterated during his resignation speech.

“I have always behaved legally correctly in the offices I held,” he said. “I have made mistakes, but I was always honest.”

The German presidency is a largely ceremonial office, but Wulff’s resignation was seen as a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supported his candidacy as president.

However, it is unlikely to

Voters head to polls in Guinea-Bissau

V •Joachim

impact Germany’s handling of the eurozone debt crisis, Carsten Brzeski, a senior economist at ING, told CNN. Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, congratulated Gauck on his election and quoted the German author Goethe, saying: “Freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.”

OTERS in GuineaBissau yesterday chose between nine presidential candidates in the small, coup-prone nation, and citizens said they hoped the winner would finally bring stability and much-needed development after years of turmoil.

The vote closely follows the death of President Malam Bacai Sanha, who was only elected

in 2009 in an emergency election following the assassination of longtime President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira.

The newly elected Sanha spent the better part of his term shuttling between hospitals to treat a mysterious illness. He died in January, prompting the current election.

Five of the nine candidates ran in 2009, giving the elec-

tion a sense of deja vu.

"Really it's the same thing all over again," said Ousmane Bah, a 35-year-old mason, as he waited to vote at a school in Bissau. "We're going through the same steps.

There's no real change."

Former prime minister Carlos Gomes Jr., the race's front-runner, said: "If I am elected, I will serve the people of Guinea-Bissau."

Clash between militia, Gaddafi supporters in Tripoli

A

CLASH has erupted in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, between a militia and residents, killing at least one person.

The fighting involves a powerful militia from Zintan in Libya’s western mountains and armed residents of a Tripoli

neighborhood once loyal to ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The well-equipped fighters from Zintan are one of many militias outside government control.

Zintan rebel commander Mohammed el-Rebay said one

of his fighters was killed yesterday. He said the two sides are firing automatic rifles at each other.

The clashes are taking place in Tripoli’s Abu Selim neighborhood, a pro-Gadhafi stronghold.

The opposition took control of the city in August and later captured and killed Gadhafi.

After Tripoli fell, the Zintan rebels took over a school in the district and converted it into a military base.

Dozens held in Russia TV protest over pro-Putin film

R

USSIAN police have arrested dozens of people picketing Moscow’s TV tower over footage that accused the opposition of paying anti-government protesters.

The film, The Anatomy of Protest, was aired this week on NTV - a channel owned by state-run firm Gazprom.

It said protesters against Vladimir Putin’s election as president in March had received “money and cookies”.

The documentary has caused a backlash on social media and angered some journalists, who accused NTV of lying.

Despite mass protests against what the opposition says were fraudulent presidential elections on 4 March, Mr Putin says he won fairly.

Nearly 100 people were arrested outside the iconic Ostankino tower on Sunday, reports in Russia’s media say.

Opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov were among those held during the unsanctioned rally.

The demonstrators wore white ribbons (the symbol of the protest movement) and chanted “Shame to NTV!” and “Russia without Putin!”

The NTV film also implied that foreign countries were behind protests The documentary has caused dismay among supporters of the opposition and journalists alike, and led to a social media uproar, with the hashtag “NTVlzhet” (“NTV tells lies”) becoming the leading trend on Russianlanguage Twitter.

Alexei Navalny, a key opposition figure and one of Russia’s most influential bloggers, was accused of spreading misinformation and having “too many bodyguards” who were “beating up journalists”.

The film has also prompted talk of an NTV boycott and was even criticised by some of the channel’s own journalists.

Despite this, NTV plans to broadcast the documentary again later on Sunday “due to popular demand”.

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www.thenationonlineng.net

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘The pristine Arewa is a land of honour. But now, is there no more shame in that land? That its elite would hanker after other people’s resources, instead of working for theirs’, using some phoney ‘Nigerianness’?

VOL7NO2,069

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan first hit the nation’s imagination as a character epitomising one of the favourite Beatitudes of Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”

True to the Nigerian electorate, they blessed him with a mandate and he became president, transcending the rickety old bequeathal of his deceased principal: Umaru Yar’Adua. He impressed many with his subaltern yarn of a shoeless boyhood and the relentless ululations of those, especially from the so-called northern cabal, who did not want such a humble man from a southern creek to head the country. He triumphed after mustering the mammoth resources of incumbency and the wherewithal of a doting private sector. His victory was, in hindsight, a mere coronation.

Over a year after, only the misguided and naïve would tar him with the lofty description of “meek”, and even if Jesus calls him beloved, Jesus would not call Jonathan meek.

That is because some Nigerians are waking up late to the realisation that our president is a politician and not a statesman, and that is the fitting way to enter into any characterisation of the activity of the gentleman dictator since he ascended the throne as Nigeria’s first citizen.

His style is to bait. He does not indulge in the verbose tantrums of some of the elders behind him from the Niger Delta. He does not flaunt his power until he flaunts it, a la Bayelsa governor race. He lacks the guttural authority of an orator and does not pretend any elocutionary gifts. He does not hector before television klieg lights.

But he puts his intention in the public eye and acts as though he knows nothing about it. Even when he acts as though he knows about it, he makes it seem he is acting in concert and with the consensus of those above him as though he is not the boss. That is the sly, clinical marksman. That is why I call him his Excellency the Snake.

His latest is the issue of 2015, and it is obvious the man wants to run, and he will not say anything yet. He would lie ominously inside the political shrubbery, green with ambition, bidding his time until he strikes.

You can say he is a deft politician, a go-getter, and you are right. And you can say he is a snake and you are right, and you can say he is not a straightforward gentleman and you are right. You can say he focuses more on self-interest than the interest of the nation. That is the quality of the politician. Not of the statesman. The statesman differs from the politician because the politician points his gaze on his next high, his next conquests.

The statesman thinks of the people’s next accomplishment. The politician is all about his power, his victories, his wealth. James Freeman Clarke got this right: “A politician thinks of the next election. The statesman thinks of the next generation.”

He has not come out with any sort of cat-

RIPPLES

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

Not a statesman ‘It is rather patronising for the Jonathan administration to describe the issue of 2015 as a distraction when they broached the issue surreptitiously. The northern politicians did not act on a void. The Jonathan team does not have the courage to bring it into the open. Only cowards act that way ’

Disingenuous permutations in Ibadan

REPS OPPOSE RETURN OF CHECKPOINTS– News

A

Yes...They are TOLL GATES without RECEIPTS

is quite obvious. Many have written on the constitutionality but that is not the question.

It is a question of honour.

Is the President willing to honour his ‘pact’ with Nigerians that he would be in power for one term? He gave this impression and allowed it to endure. He may not have been caught on quote on this. I have no such records in my research. At the Eagle Square when he declared his intention to run, he shied away from the subject. But , his former mentor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, praised him for aspiring to a one-term. Obasanjo, himself a third term fiasco, described Jonathan’s move “a sacrifice and it is statesmanlike.” Jonathan let the impression slide so as to focus on the pie in his sky.

Jonathan understands the nature of power Nigerian style, and he knows how to pursue it. Honour does not seem an important part of his power game. Honour belongs to authority, not power. Remember Jonathan did not keep his honour with zoning, even to the ex-

tent of denying that it was in his party constitution. After an agreement with a traitorous labour on the so-called fuel subsidy, he does not care about keeping his word. Many fear he will bring back the fuel price to N141.

It is already so in those meek states during the labour strike. That is how far the meek man has veered from the blessed path of agreement. Nigerians are not sure whether to trust him on subsidy.

But only the naïve would deny that the plan for 2015 has been on for a while. His Neighbour-to-Neighbour group has been recruiting people all over the country. They spearheaded his campaign for 2011. Why have they not disbanded if they are not working for 2015?

No doubt he wants to run. He has the constitutional right. What about the moral right? That is the question. He sees the world as a matter of power. He plans to play the game. Jonathan is about power, not performance. He has not yet articulated a vision for Nigeria. It is part of the Nigerian tragedy where most office holders did not earn the genuine mandate of the people. So politics is not about legitimacy. It is about subtle, Machiavellian fiat. That is Jonathan’s hope and succour for 2015.

I also wonder whether he plans to rekindle the name Azikiwe that has suddenly disappeared from his self-image. What will he tell our brethren from the Southeast who apparently lined up behind him in 2011 in hopes of 2015?

It is rather patronising for the Jonathan administration to describe the issue of 2015 as a distraction when they broached the issue surreptitiously. The northern politicians did not act on a void. The Jonathan team does not have the courage to bring it into the open. Only cowards act that way.

They did it through their puppets who are already defending his unannounced bid.

If his government was busy improving the quality of lives of our people, one might excuse it. You cannot distract an idle mind. It is idle about tackling higher matters of development and poverty alleviation. Nothing great is coming out of Aso Rock. On the one-term seven-year proposal, Jonathan said it was not his idea but he was pushing it. If he is running in 2015, is he going to exempt himself from a seven-year term if our lawmakers cave in? That would mean creating exceptions for himself and that will be illegal. If he is pushing for 2015, he will have to follow the law and that will make it a two-term, 10-year presidency. Jonathan would be the first civilian to hold office for 11 years. Is such a dream the stuff of a politician or statesman? Isn’t that the plan? Churchill’s words are instructive: “a politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.” Does that remind you of somebody?

SAM OMATSEYE

•Dr. Jonathan egorical assertion about 2015, and that is true to type. I think he is not comfortable that the opponents have raised the issue, and I refer to the northern politicians who have sniffed the blood of a bleeding raging tiger from a distance. They say his 2015 ambition is unacceptable, and they call it, with a sense of mischievous mathematics, a third term. Those commentators who think the northerners did not understand the math are naïve. The northerners projected a roguish sense of the dramatic and they got the effect they wanted.

If you say third term and Jonathan says no it is not third term, then there would be pressure on him to open up on 2015, which, both mathematically and constitutionally, is a second term bid. That was the effect they wanted.

But true to the spirit of the Jonathan we know, he would not unveil a secret. His spokesman, Reuben Abati, merely called it a distraction and stalled on the question as to whether the president wants to run in 2015.

But what other commentators have addressed

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

FEW weeks ago, Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s goose seemed ready to be cooked when former Oyo State governor gave him a fright with a planned return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

If he went through with his departure from the Accord Party (AP), a party he kept alive in the state by the sheer force of his personality, perhaps wealth, and also modest winnings, his seven lawmakers in the State Assembly would have boosted the presence and maybe, too, the menace of 10 threatening PDP legislators. Who could imagine what 17 vengeful, feral and mainstreaming traders in the garb of lawmakers would do to the rather timorous Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lawmakers? With 17 Accord/PDP lawmakers to ACN’s 15, the progressives’ goose would not only have been truly and well cooked, it would indeed have been incinerated.

But the worst case scenario did not happen.

ACN escaped the sword of Damocles by the skin of its teeth, as Ladoja’s hope of contesting for the post of National Secretary in the PDP’s

March convention fell through. The party, it turned out, refused to give the former governor a waiver to contest, for he had earlier defected from the PDP, and on his return would have put many top PDP wigs’ noses out of joint. The national ruling party must be blissfully unaware of its gifted capacity to do comprehensive damage. While the ACN has proved to be a party with a keen eye for the main chance, the PDP, which is thought to be deadlier, and which someone once described as a nest of killers, has appeared in the case of Oyo to be capable of killing only its own ambition.

With Ladoja unable to further his ambition in the PDP, thus saving the day not only for the ACN in Oyo but also saving history, if the hyperbole is forgiven, it makes sense for him to keep his Accord Party, continue as beautiful bride, and indulge his flight of fancy as much as the whim seizes him. In his constant, if a little unprincipled, dalliances, Ladoja has given the impression neither he nor anyone else is sure what goods he is marketing. There

will always be buyers, of course, for it is in the nature of Nigerian politics, which is largely shorn of ideological convictions, to buy and sell anything, and to even lie in bed with anyone.

The ACN is the main beneficiary of the Ladoja disappointment today; it will strive to keep that advantage for as long as it can, perhaps even thinking of consolidating the working arrangement in ways that will make any other offer unattractive to the Accord Party. The PDP, still riven by discord and dissent, will ready itself like a viper for another opportunity to strike. It will, however, find it tough getting another great opportunity. But overall, it is hard to resist the temptation to think that the unprincipled buying and selling of support will come to an end soon in Ibadan. Since the days of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Ibadan has not grown weary making disingenuous permutations with scant regard for ideology and principles.

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