May 02,2015

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Exhumation, retrial and punishment of Abacha will not mollify Nigerian rage

D

URING his visit to Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Hans Rudolf Hodel, disclosed to his host that Switzerland had traced another $370m in a Luxembourg account to the late Gen Sani Abacha. The Swiss government was not involved in the effort to repatriate the money, said the ambassador; it was being handled

by Nigeria and the family of the former military head of state. No one knows exactly how much Gen Abacha stole, nor how much of the money traced to his family was legitimately acquired, as representatives of the family continue to implausibly argue.

But by some conservative estimates, Gen Abacha stole more than $5bn from Nigeria between 1993 and 1998, making him one of the four most corrupt rulers in history. Less charitable analysts put the figure at more than double that estimate.

If the recent disclosure by Mr Hodel is considered scrupulously, the amount stolen by Gen Abacha put the dictator in contention for the post of the most corrupt former ruler in the world, not one of four. Interestingly, however, the former Nigerian head of state represents a remarkable paradox, a paradox that provides a disturbing window into the financial malfeasance of Nigerian rulers, especially in the past few years. But despite Gen Abacha’s terrifying stealing over a five-year period, some of it in direct cash transfers in excess of $1.4bn, the Nigerian economy actually grew and was on solid footing notwithstanding a regime of sanctions imposed on Nigeria in response to Gen Abacha’s human rights violations.

Oil price per barrel under Gen Abacha’s five-year rule was an average of $15, not the over $50 it is now, nor the over $100 it was for many years. External reserve under him, particularly between 1993 and 1997, also grew from less than half a billion dollars to about $10bn. Inflation fell to less than nine percent, and external debt also reduced from $36bn to $27bn. Nigeria’s current economic distress, despite huge earnings from oil production, seems to give the impression that either Gen Abacha stole in moderation compared with what Nigerians have contended with in the past few years, or he was a better economic manager, or more puzzlingly, that his ministers and aides were perhaps more decent and patriotic.

Till today, no one in the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government has offered convincing explanations as to why budgetary provisions for the socalled fuel subsidy grew so rapidly and so astonishingly that the spending simply became mindbogglingly bizarre. In Nigeria, actual spending on fuel subsidy has always unfortunately been far in excess of budgetary provisions, implying that too many loopholes exist, and too many callous predators roam the corridors of power and the oil industry. In the last two years of the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency,

spending on fuel subsidy never exceeded N190bn. For the three years or so that the late Umaru Yar’Adua governed Nigeria, fuel subsidy spending was less than N300bn per year until he began his protracted battle with illness, However, as his illness intensified in 2009, and though he tried to tinker with the subsidy menace, fuel s u bs idy spending rose to just a little over N400bn.

B u t between the time former president Yar’Adua peered into the grave, and when he actually died, and for much of 2010 when Dr Jonathan took office — in that 2010 alone — fuel subsidy spending rose to nearly N700bn, almost double. There were no rational economic explanations. By 2011, all hell was let loose, as fuel subsidy spending rose astronomically through the roof to hit a whopping N2.19trn, according to the

What is, however, worrisome in the light of Mr Hodel's disclosure of additional Abacha loot stashed away in many squirrel accounts abroad is the continuing indifference of Nigerians and their governments to the grave and frustrating topic of Abacha's larcenous rule government’s own reconciled accounts and House of Representatives probe. In both 2012 and 2013, the Jonathan government quit all pretences and spent well over one trillion each year for fuel subsidy, thereby exceeding budgetary provisions in both years. No one has satisfactorily explained the factors that accounted for such maddening rush to financial suicide. For 2015 budget, it is curiously reported that no provision has been made for fuel subsidy by the National Assembly.

In the worst of Gen Abacha years, the kind of financial recklessness seen under Dr Jonathan was never experienced. The Buhari government, it is almost certain, will review the financial and policy maladies of the past few years. What is, however, worrisome in the light of Mr Hodel’s disclosure of

additional Abacha loot stashed away in many squirrel accounts abroad is the continuing indifference of Nigerians and their governments to the grave and frustrating topic of Abacha’s larcenous rule. Indeed, sadly, Nigeria has been reduced to the indignity of negotiating with its traducers and predators who stole or facilitated the stealing of its resources.

Chief Obasanjo negotiated with the Abacha family for a fraction of the stolen money to be repatriated, and there were even reports of some of the returned money being looted again. Subsequent governments, including the Jonathan presidency, also negotiated with the Abacha family, sometimes unsuccessfully, but often slowly.

To the rest of the world, Nigerians have become one of the most inscrutable people ever. To Nigerians themselves, both they and their governments can’t seem to understand why they behave the way they do.

Despite Gen Abacha’s many sins, some of them done in execrable openness, his name still adorns many national monuments. A stadium and hospital are named after him somewhere in the Northeast. In the federal capital Abuja, roads are also named after him, in addition to one highly visible military barracks. Yet, nothing can assuage the hurt and rage Nigerians feel about the continuing findings relating to Gen Abacha’s financial malfeasances like exhuming his corpse, breathing life into it, subjecting him to the harshest trial possible, and punishing him slowly and malignantly in the same way he disgraced and punished the country he ruled for five dishonourable years.

Dr Jonathan, considering how he permitted a street in Abuja to be named after him while he is still in office, lacks the will and the moral high ground to banish Gen Abacha from the nation’s honours roll. His successor should assume that onerous responsibility.

Gen Abacha was Kanuri; but neither Yobe nor Borno should have any monument named after him. The late strongman was born and bred in Kano; but his name should also be banished from that historically influential African city of commerce. But if these states, for sentimental reasons, will continue to honour Gen Abacha’s despicable name, let the federal government at least have the courage to erase his name from all federal monuments in Abuja. His name is to Nigeria a constant embarrassment and mockery. Whenever a discovery is made concerning one illegal foreign account or the other linked to the name of the late former dictator, it is a humiliating reminder that, by continuing to honour him, Nigeria advertises its total lack of shame, scruple and modesty.

In total, Africa lost about $850bn between 1970 and 2008, the report said.

An estimated $217.7bn was illegally transferred out of Nigeria over that period, while Egypt lost $105.2bn and South Africa more than $81.8bn.

tale of 75-yr-old gunned down in Ondo after 35 yrs sojourn in US

T

HE story of Prince Gabriel Adefemi Ogundipe, a 75year-old chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owo, Ondo State, easily draws tears.

His case is a sad reminder of the dangerous level to which the nation’s security situation had sunk. Here was somebody who had toiled all his life and spent 35 years in the United States of America before returning home to settle down, only to be gunned down like a game!

Reports said Prince Ogundipe was attending a meeting of his party in his hometown, Owo, recently when word went round that a gang of armed robbers had invaded the town and embarked on a robbing and

Taiwo ABIODUN killing spree.

While many ran away and others went into hiding, 75-yr-old Ogundipe decided to go home.Unfortunately, he fell into the net of the bandits.He was asked to alight from his Camry car. He did not argue with them. He quietly surrendered his car keys and other valuables demanded from him.

He was thereafter ordered to start running. He also obeyed, raising up his hands in a gesture of surrender. It was at this stage that he was killed in a most cold-blooded manner.

•TURN TO PAGE 20 FOR FULL DETAILS

Transition blues The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. ? We take exceptions to some utterances to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated... the magnanity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice

—Minister of National Planning Suleiman Abubakar

In case the Federal Executive Council has forgotten, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress was declared the winner of the March 28th Presidential Election by INEC. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is therefore today the President-elect and the All Progressives Congress the incoming government. It is therefore illogical to accuse the President-elect and the incoming government of setting up a parallel government

—APC spokesman Lai Mohammed

4

THE NATION, SATURDAY MAY 2, 2015

News

Parallel govt allegation: Arewa chair Coomassie, Ango Abdullahi tackle Jonathan P ROMINENT northerners yesterday lashed out at President Goodluck Jonathan for accusing President-elect Muhammadu Buhari of running a parallel government following the outcome of the March 28 election.

The Federal Executive Council,rising from its meeting on Wednesday, had said the Jonathan Administration was not comfortable with some terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee which tend to create a parallel government.

National Planning Minister Suleiman Abubakar said government took exception to “some utterances, to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

But reacting to the government’s position yesterday, the Chairman of the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, said there was nothing wrong in Buhari’s approach and that the government itself had been making some questionable appointments at the twilight of its tenure.

He said: “They are sacking incumbents and making new

•Presidency has no moral right to accuse APC of wrongdoing, says Coomassie •Ango to Buhari: sign documents with caution it could not be said to be run- "This administration has a ning a parallel government. lifespan and it terminates on •South South Assembly backs President Dalong said the accusation May 29 after the formal Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna and Mike ODIEGWU,Yenagoa

appointments at this period of transition.That is very wrong too.”

He cited no instance,but President Jonathan has, within the last two weeks, appointed an acting Inspector General of Police and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) after sacking the incumbents.

Coomassie advised the government and the incoming administration to “leave the blame game and allow a peaceful and successful transition to enable Nigeria move forward.”

Also reacting,the Secretary of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, dismissed the Federal Government’s allegation against Buhari as an attempt to force the incoming Presi-

dent to sign dubious documents.

Professor Abdullahi, a onetime Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), said: “The allegation of attempting to run a parallel government is the most pedestrian accusation I have ever heard. “ One thing is fundamental: If you are leaving office and handing over to another person, it is paramount that you leave a proper handover note to enable the new government take off properly.

“It is expected that the incoming government will be asking for a sound and complete handover note or document as the case maybe. So, I expect the outgoing government to provide that.

“But as it is, what it seems the Jonathan government is telling Buhari is that he should investigate wherever he is not happy with. Certainly, I will not expect Buhari to sign any

document where facts are incomplete.

“Of course, he will take over the government, but it means the people leaving government are open for questioning.

“So, I think the whole thing is to force the incoming President to sign documents that are suspicious because when it boomerangs, people will fault the new government that ‘were you sleeping when you signed it?’ “ Similarly, human rights lawyer and a member of the APC in the transition committee, Mr. Solomon Dalong, insists that the Buhari camp has not requested for too must to warrant the accusation of running a parallel government.

He pointed out that if the transition committee had not delved into such government’s functions as generation and expending of resources, the power to arrest and prosecute,

was laughable and a mere distraction to prevent the committee from doing a thorough job.

Meanwhile, the SouthSouth Peoples Assembly (SSPA) said that the Federal Government was right to warn the transition committee of the President-elect against forming a parallel government.

The National Secretary of the organisation, Chief Ayakeme Whisky, said government must have uncovered tendencies of the Buhari's committee to take over the role of the incumbent before issuing the warning.

He asked the incoming government to wait for its inauguration before seeking sensitive information from ministries, parastatals and agencies.

"Whatever information the incoming government needs should wait till the end of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration,” he said.

"They should only begin to act when they come on board.

If they want to conduct probes, they can't do that now until they are inaugurated. So, the Federal Government is right to have warned against a parallel government."

Whisky also condemned the criticisms trailing last-minute appointments being made by the President.

He said: "It is an affront on the executive authority for anybody to question the appointments made by a president whose tenure has not expired.

handover to the incoming government. So, people should respect the constitutional rights of the government."

He said the President could not have woken up to fire the officials and appointed new ones.

"It is a normal cause of business of government. Those crying blue are just heating up the polity. It is a display of rascality for anybody to question the appointments. There is nothing wrong in them", he said.

It was gathered that President Jonathan’s anger at the transition committee stemmed from its request for an overview of some government agencies such as the Central Bank, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Customs and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged on Thursday that Jonathan’s accusation that Buhari was running a parallel government was part of a grand plan to hinder a smooth handover.

The party also said the outgoing government was set to blackmail its successor.

It spoke of an act of hostility, a patently misplaced aggression and unnecessary vituperations against the incoming Buhari administration by the Federal Government “ostensibly because of the terms of reference of the Buhari Transition Committie, but in reality part of an orchestrated plot to sabotage the transition.”

Nigerian native doctor jailed in US for preparing fake charms for drug pushers •President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala with Secretary General, World Custom Organization, Kunio Mikuriya, and others during the World Custom Organization courtesy call at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Arik Air loses $9m to scarcity of aviation fuel

T

HE scarcity of aviation fuel is taking a huge toll on air line operations with Arik Air declaring yesterday that it had lost an estimated $ 9 million since last week to the disruption of its operations.

The airline said the scarcity of aviation fuel adversely hit its

Kelvin OSA OKUNBOR operations and it was forced to scale down its flights to 20 per cent capacity out of over 100 flights daily.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Arik Air headquarters, its Managing Director, Mr

Niger Republic governor orders islands evacuated after Boko Haram attacks

A

regional governor in southern Niger Republic has ordered the evacuation of the country’s inhabited islands on Lake Chad, following a deadly attack there

by Boko Haram militants last week.

At least 74 Nigerien soldiers and civilians were killed when hundreds of the militants aboard motorised canoes attacked the island of Karamga at dawn on April 25.

Dozens of soldier are still missing following clashes that ultimately drove out the attackers, leaving 156 of them dead.

Residents were told to leave the islands by May 4, according to a statement released by the

governor of the region of Diffa.

“Due to security imperatives, the governor of the region of Diffa has the honour of inviting the populations living on the islands in the Nigerien part of Lake Chad to leave the islands and rejoin the mainland,” the statement read.

Karamga, attacked once before by Boko Haram in February, is prized by both sides as a strategic base among a vast maze of waterways and swampland straddling the borders between Niger, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon.

The attack occurred despite significant military victories by the four countries in winning back territory from Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.

Chris Ndulue, said it had put a series of contingency plans in place to ensure it does not shut down its operations because of the scarcity of aviation fuel.

He said the airline now flies to neighbouring countries in West and Central Africa to source aviation fuel at a ridiculously high rate to sustain its operations .

He said Arik Air now flies to Ghana, Cameroon and Benin Republic to source fuel.

He said if the fuel situation does not improve, the airline may not operate flights, as the alternative arrangement is costing the airline much money with the attendant inconveniences to passengers.

Ndulue said since last Thursday when the scarcity of aviation fuel became serious, Arik Air had struggled to secure over 800,000 litres needed for its daily operations.

He said: "For over one week now, aviation fuel scarcity has impacted negatively on our flight operations. It has become very bad that we have to scale down our flights gradually. In the last one week, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain our operations, owing largely to

the scarcity of aviation fuel.

“Getting fuel to fly to our international destinations has become extremely expensive because we have to source fuel from Kano, Cotonou, Cameroon and Accra to sustain our operations.

“If the situation does not improve in the coming days, we may not return to normal flight operations.

“We appeal to passengers for their understanding on account of the inconveniences they are going through arising from the flight disruptions.”

He said the inadequate supply of aviation fuel to Arik Air was not out of indebtedness to fuel marketers, saying “that the airline makes credit arrangement with its suppliers.”

He said: "Since last Thursday only one fuel marketer has been consistent with the supply of the product. As an airline, we have thrown contingency plans around and the marketers are cooperating because of the good relationship."

Meanwhile, passengers remain stranded at airports across the country as airlines are unable to get fuel to fly their aircraft.

A

Nigerian-born native doctor has been jailed for 14 years in the United States of America (USA) for collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from cocaine traffickers looking to get his supernatural protection from authorities.

Christopher Omigie, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was said to have portrayed himself as a witchdoctor.

He was sentenced Thursday in a federal court in Beaumont, Texas after pleading

guilty last year to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Omigie has been living in Lafayette, Louisiana, Prosecutors said the 58year-old provided traffickers with card readings, massages with magic ointments, razor blade cuttings and various magic powders, belts, coconuts and rocks to keep law enforcement away.

They didn't work.

His main clients were caught and pleaded guilty to schemes, involving cocaine trafficking.

UK citizen arrested in Lagos for defrauding seven Nigerians of N70m

A

citizen of the United Kingdom, Saheed Mohammad Cameran, aged 48, has been arrested by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command for defrauding seven Nigerians of about 70million naira under the pretext of supplying them diesel.

According to a police source, the suspect was arrested while trying to smuggle himself out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

Though the operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos were said to have taken over the case, the unit’s spokesperson, DSP Ngozi Isintume, said she

Ebele BONIFACE was yet to brief about the case.

The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Ken Nwosu, confirmed the transfer of the case to the SFU on Thursday.

•Cameran

THE NATION, SATURDAY MAY 2, 2015

T

HE campaign for the posi tion of Senate President in the forthcoming 8th National Assembly took a dramatic turn yesterday with 12 senatorselect from the Northeast geopolitical zone stating emphatically that nobody from the zone has been picked for the exalted office.

They spoke in apparent reaction to the news that APC senators-elect from both the Northwest and Southwest geo- political zones have endorsed Dr Ahmed Lawan from Yobe North in the Northeast zone for the number three position.

Leader of the Northeast All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators' Caucus, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), who briefed reporters in Abuja insisted that the group had not picked any candidate for the position yet since it has not been formally zoned to the area by the national leadership of the party.

Members of the caucus at the press conference included: The Chairman, Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Secretary, Isa Ahmed Gusau (Bauchi Central), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe Central) and Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central) Others are Senators-elect Binta Garba Marshi (Adamawa North), Ahmed Abubakar (Adamawa South), Usman Bayero Nafada (Gombe North), Abubakar Jare (Borno North) and Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North).

Senator Ahmad Zannah (Borno Central) was said to be indisposed.

Goje, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, said no zone would be allowed to impose any candidate on them.

According to Goje, the caucus is still pleading with the leadership of the APC to officially zone the position to the zone in view of their "peculiar circumstances."

The former Governor of Gombe State explained that whoever emerges as consensus candidate after the position has been zoned to the area will be decided by lawmakers from the zone.

It could be recalled that the Northwest Senate Caucus of the APC had on Thursday reportedly endorsed the candidature of Senator Lawan for the position of Senate President.

The Northwest boasts of 21 Senators out of the 109-member Senate.

Of the 21 Senators from the zone, 17 were said to have expressly adopted Lawan for the number one seat in the Senate.

But Goje stated that the Northeast Senators' Caucus meeting which held at the Kaduna Room of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Thursday night resolved to be allowed in consultation with the party's leadership to nominate their preferred candidate for the position.

He noted that Senator Lawan attended the meeting.

Goje said: "That I, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje from

Senate Presidency: Nobody has been picked, say Northeast senators Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja Gombe Central, was unanimously elected as the leader of the caucus and Senator Isa Ahmed Gusau as the secretary of the caucus.

"That while the party leadership is considering the zoning of the National Assembly leadership positions, the caucus is appealing for the zoning of highest position in the National Assembly to the Northeast considering the special needs of this zone.

"In other words, we resolved to call on the leadership of our party to formally zone the highest office of the National Assembly to our zone in view of our special circumstance.

"That this caucus should be allowed in consultation with the party leadership, other caucuses, zonal leaders and other stakeholders to nominate the Senator suitable to occupy such an office which is zoned to our zone.

"For this reason, the caucus urges the public and distinguished colleagues nationwide and indeed, everybody, Nigerians and non-Nigerians to completely disregard any purported endorsement of any Senator from the Northeast by any zone because zoning of posts by the APC has not been formally done yet.

"We are waiting for the formal zoning of the various posts in the National Assembly before we commence nomination and we believe that any post zoned to us must have our input as the caucus and then, we consult with other caucuses, party leadership and indeed, other stakeholders before arriving at a decision.

"We should completely disregard any endorsement of any of our members here or absent. We do not know anything about it; we do not support it; we disassociate ourselves completely from it."

Goje added: "What we are saying is that we, the Northeast caucus, formally disassociate ourselves from any endorsement from any other zone.

"Other zones have the right to decide what they want, but we in the Northeast are not associating ourselves with those so-called endorsements because the party has not zoned anything to us.

"It is after the zoning has been announced that we will sit down and nominate our

candidates that we feel are capable and suitable to represent the zone.

"But we cannot stop others from doing what they want. All we are saying is that we are not part of it.

"We have nobody in mind yet. We have not decided anything because we do not know what is coming to us. We do not want to jump the gun.

"Therefore, in the light of the

A

This was made known by the Executive Director, GEC Academy International, Mrs. Josephine Peters, during the visit of the university professors to the college last week.

Peters, however, noted that students who have completed their O’ level education are qualified to register for the International Degree Foundation Programme (IDFP) at the college so as to progress for a Bachelor Degree course, adding that the partnership was prompted

by GEC Academy’s ability to

above resolutions, we call on all Nigerians to completely disregard any purported endorsement of any Senator from the Northeast by any zone for the position because any post zoned to us must have our input.

"We don't know anything about any endorsement of anybody from the Northeast being touted around through the pages of newspapers.

A Senator-elect from

Adamawa State, who was at the briefing, told reporters offcamera about what transpired during the Senators' meeting at Transcorp Hotel.

The Senator explained that the grouse of the lawmakers against Lawan's purported endorsements by North West and South West Senate caucuses, stemmed from the way Lawan himself tried to outsmart them at the meeting.

•Motorists waiting to buy fuel at Acorn Petrol Station, Iyana Oworonshoki, Lagos ...yesterday.

According to the Senator, Lawan “sneaked” out of the meeting while the resolutions were being debated only for them to hear that Lawan was endorsed for the post of Senate President by the North West and South West caucuses a few minutes later.

The Senator said: "This, to us, the remaining 12 APC Senatorselect from the zone, is fraudulent and unacceptable. "

PHOTO: AYODELE ISAAC

Fuel scarcity: Major marketers suspend strike

A

N end to the current na tionwide fuel scarcity appears to be in sight after the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) yesterday decided to resume fuel lifting and distribution.

This followed an agreement reached between the MOMAN and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) .

The Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Mr. Femi Olawore, told reporters in Lagos that fill-

•Lifting of fuel begins •FG gets two-week ultimatum to pay N200bn balance of debt Emeka UGWUANYI and John OFIKHENUA, Abuja ing stations will be receiving supply from today.

The Federal Government is understood to have paid MOMAN members N154 billion of its N354 billion subsidy debt, leaving a balance of N200 billion.

The MOMAN, on its part, is indebted to the NARTO to the tune of N20billion which prompted the transport union to stop lifting fuel.Part of the money was paid by the NARTO in proportion to the N154billion received by the MOMAN. Although the MOMAN with the understanding of the

Buhari govt to promote local policing, says Osinbajo HE Vice President- elect

T

Prof Yemi Osibanjo yes terday gave strong indications that their administration will promote local or community policing.

Speaking at the Platform Abuja organized by the Covenant Church, Prof.

Osinbajo lamented that “everybody gets away with crimi-

Foreign varsity partners college on S part of efforts to ensur students’ placement ing that Nigerian students

who quest for improved academic pursuit in foreign countries gain admission to study their course of choice, GEC Academy International, one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous sixth form colleges and placement agents, has partnered the University of Debrecen, Hungary, in placement of Nigerian students in the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Engineering (all fields), Mechatronics, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Science, Business Administration, among others.

News 5

Eid-El-Maulud

certify all necessary foreign education requirements for placement of students into the University of Debrecen and other foreign universities.

As a result of thorough teaching constantly enjoyed by the students, she assured that the university’s graduates have the best chances of gaining employment in their home countries, European Union countries, United Kingdom, United States of America, India, Ireland, Canada, among others, noting that the tuition fees and cost of living are also affordable.

Nduka CHIEJINA (Assistant Editor), Chioma ONYIA, Abuja and Kunle AKINRINADE, Lagos

nality in Nigeria and I think there is a need for us to rejig the system such that it begins to work.

This is an area of great passion for me, particularly reforms and administration of justice.”

Osinbajo said the police are ineffective and hampered from carrying out their duties.

According to him, “they are hampered structurally and by the fact that they are not well equipped and resourced as they should be but the structural question is the major one. We know that a country of this size needs some form of community policing.

“The suggestion that we have made is state policing, but that requires constitutional amendment, but we need to have local policing because criminality is always local. We need to have police officers who understand the local language. If you don’t understand the language and you are a policeman, even when criminals are conspiring against you, you will not even know so

there is a logical need to have community policing of one sort or the other.”

The incoming government of Gen Mohammadu Buhari, the Vice President-elect said will prioritize funds for small businesses instead of the current approach of intervention funding.

He noted that “prioritizing funds for small businesses is very important. We have to look at a whole spectrum rather than narrowing it down to interventionist funds.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Osinbajo has attributed his emergence as the Vice President-elect to a prophecy by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

He made the revelation yesterday during the monthly Holy Ghost service of the RCCG at the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Osinbajo expressed his gratitude to God for sparing his life during the campaign and for making him and Gen Buhari victorious at the poll.

NARTO and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) gave government a two-week grace to settle the balance of N200billion,the transporters may embark on a fresh strike if their scheduled meeting with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi OkonjoIweala, on Monday bears no fruit.

Olawore said: “We have scheduled to meet with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Monday, but if the meeting fails to address the issue we have tabled, we will continue the action.”

Olawore said the marketers are ready to cooperate with the government, but except the payment is made in two weeks, they will return to the status quo.

Motorists’ and commuters’ sufferings sparked by the fuel crisis persisted in Lagos,Abuja and many parts of the country yesterday.

Only a handful of filling stations had fuel to sell.

The price was as high as N300 per litre in some cases.Only Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petrol stations sold at N87 per litre.

Vehicles formed long queues at the few filling stations that had fuel to sell. The effect was blockage of roads and traffic jam.

An example was the NNPC Mega Petrol Station on the Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Abuja.

The multiple queues formed there extended to different streets in Zones 1 and 7 .

Some motorists even queued at locked petrol stations in anticipation that they might sell fuel later.

6

P

NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Controversy as Jonathan shuns May Day

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday stayed away from this year’s rally of the International Workers’ Day popularly known as May Day. The rally was jointly organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, could not be reached for clarification yesterday on the President’s absence at the rally, as he did not pick his telephone or reply to text messages sent to his telephone as at press time.

But security sources at the Presidency told our correspondent that Jonathan’s plan to attend the rally was cancelled because the President had an emergency engagement.

Although the nature of the emergency engagement was not disclosed, our correspondent gathered that the advance team which was already at the venue was ordered to leave as the President would not be sending a representative.

A security source dismissed claims that the President cancelled his plan to attend the event because he feared that he might be booed by workers.

The source said: “The President has never been afraid of such things. The workers have no reason to do that anyway.

“He had an emergency engagement and so had to call off his planned attendance of the labour event because it would take the whole day and he would not be able to attend to other engagements if he did.”

The President, who was said to have told the labour leaders earlier that he would come

Wamakko pledges quality legislations to boost good governance

S

THE NATION

WORKERS’ DAY CELEBRATION

ENATOR-ELECT and Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday promised to ensure that the 8th National Assembly passes quality laws to enhance good governance and living standard of Nigerians.

Wamakko, who will be representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District in the Senate at the expiration of his tenure as governor on May 29, made the pledge at the celebration of the Workers’ Day in Sokoto. ‘’ We will make sure that laws are made to enhance good governance and the living standard of the generality of Nigerians,” he said. ‘’ We will take the entire country as our entire constituency and we shall focus on ensuring probity and accountability in all government activities. ‘’ We will ensure that issues of welfare of Nigerian workers and all the citizens are effectively addressed. ‘’ We will also work to ensure a harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government for the betterment of Nigerians.’’

•He had emergency engagement, says security source •NLC President warns NASS against booby trap for incoming govt Tony AKOWE, Abuja for the celebration at about 9 am, called off his appearance in the last minute, leaving them guessing on why he took the decision.

All the roads around the Eagle Square had been cordoned off as early as 8 am by presidential guards who took over security at the Eagle Square while the stage was also set for what would have been his last May Day celebration with Nigerian workers.

The President also did not send any address to the workers even though the Minister of Labour, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, who was present alongside his FCT counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, was said to be representing the President at the event.

The Nation gathered that the President’s decision not to attend the event might have to do with the non-payment of salaries of federal workers and fears that they might boo him at the occasion.

Before the President’s advance party was withdrawn, workers, especially those working with federal agencies were chanting ‘no salaries, no salaries’, a development that might have caused the suspicion that the President might be booed.

One of the workers who expressed disappointed about the President’s absence said: “I am surprised that the President is not here. It shows that he does not have respect for the Nigerian worker. Otherwise, this is an opportunity for him to bid the workers farewell. This should have been his last May Day celebration with the workers.

“If Buhari had come here, they would have accused him of trying to form a parallel government. The President does not have good advisers and this is very disappointing.

“Even if they have not paid salaries, I don’t think they would have booed him. If you listen to the address of the two labour leaders, they were full

of commendation for him.

“For us, he is a hero and I believe the workers would have cheered him if he had come. It is even more disappointing that he did not even consider it necessary to send an address or a message to the workers.”

An official of the NLC told The Nation that they were not informed about the President’s last-minute change of heart after he had personally gave them his word that he would attend.

Another official said the President might not have been comfortable with the address to be presented by the leaders of the TUC and the NLC, an advance copy of which he was reportedly given.

In his address, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, warned the National Assembly against setting booby traps for the incoming government in the area of fuel subsidy, describing such action as an ill wind that would blow no good.

Comrade Wabba said that information on the provision of fuel subsidy in the 2015 national budget was public knowledge, saying, “We hope that this is not an attempt to plunge the country into unnecessary crisis.

He added: “There is the need to go down memory lane and warn that the plan to reset the booby trapsthat was laid by predecessors of the Yar’adua administration in 2007 is an ill wind that blows no good.

“The consequence of similar sinister mischief in 2007 was a national strike by organised labour within a month of the inauguration of the Yar’adua government.

“Our position of the need for internal refining of crude oil into various petroleum products is well known. As an oil producing country, we must have functional internal refining capacity so that we can, at the very least, meet our domestic petroleum consumption needs.

“Government has a respon-

sibility to ensure that the existing refineries work and that new ones are set up. Modular refineries can be established within 24 months. The turnaround of our refining capacity will eliminate the need for petroleum subsidies and the inherent corruption.”

While reminding the incoming government that this was the time to build a new Nigeria, Comrade Wabba said the NLC would hold the Buhari-led government to account based on the promises he made to Nigerians generally and to the working class in particular He called on the incoming government to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report, pointing out that its implementation would go a long way in strengthening the nation’s electoral process and •Continued on Page 7

Senator Tinubu hails workers Wale AJETUNMOBI

T

• Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right), acknowledging cheers from workers during the 2015 Workers' Day celebration at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, yesterday.

Mark, Saraki salute workers on May Day

P

ENATE President, David Mark, yesterday expressed solidarity with Nigerian workers, urging them to uphold the spirit of resilience that has propelled the nation to greatness.

He also urged workers to sustain the hands that produce the wealth of the nation just as he told employers of labour to reciprocate the workers’ gesture through improved welfare.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja the Senate President said: “On this day as always, I salute the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian worker. I commend your resilience and steadfastness that have kept the nation alive.

“I am to remind you to always make productivity the cornerstone at all times. That way, you will be contributing to the survival of the nation.

•Warn against incessant strikes Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor and Sanni ONOGU, Abuja “To this end, I earnestly request that we review our strategies and penchant or resort to industrial action at will.

“I am convinced that dialogue remains the best road map towards resolving any disagreement no matter how complicated.

“Resort to strike action always carries far reaching political and economic consequences which unarguably retard growth.

“As a people, we must think otherwise in the interest of our nation. Development can only be achieved if labour and employers work along the same line.”

Also yesterday, the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, saluted the workers

as they marked the May Day celebration.

Saraki urged them to remain steadfast and courageous in the face of current economic turmoil which has created a situation where some states are not able to pay salaries on time.

Saraki, who issued a statement in Abuja, said: “Every first day in the month of May provides an opportunity to salute the efforts of the labouring hands behind the socio-economic balance of our great country.

“I join millions of Nigerians not only to felicitate, but also to commend the boundless efforts and sacrifice by Nigerian workers.

“In the quest for sustainability, stability, tranquility, and social growth of our fatherland, the civil servants remain the gear and the driving force. Today therefore will remain a historic day of appreciation.

“I use this opportunity to implore our dear workers nationwide to remain steadfast and courageous as Nigeria passes through the current economic turmoil which has created the challenge of some states not being able to pay salaries on time.

“This I believe our president-elect will urgently and aggressively attend to.

“I commend the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for the leadership they provide for Nigerian workers and urge them to close ranks to hold a united front to assist the 8th Assembly to build on the achievements of improving work conditions in Nigeria.

“The labour of our heroes, past and present, must never be in vain.

“As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am committed to raising and supporting Bills that will create jobs, protect the Nigerian workers and improve our work environment.”

HE Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has hailed workers for their commitment to the growth and unity of the country. Tinubu, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, said the nation would always be indebted to the workers for their contribution to the stability achieved in the last 16 years of democracy.

In a statement yesterday, the lawmaker urged the workers not to relent in making their selfless contribution to consolidate the past gains and stability of the nation’s workforce.

The statement reads: “Nigerian workers have formed a formidable force in the growth of our nation, having committed themselves to unity through hard work. I salute the courage to make immense contributions, which we are all proud of. As a nation, we must continue to acknowledge and celebrate their selfless service and their will to even accomplish greater successes.

As the nation shares and rejoices with workers for their patience and patriotism, it is our resolve as members of the 7th Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to ensure that the workers are adequately remunerated and their welfare maintained.

“Personally, I will continue to advocate for adequate protection of all worker against workplace hazards.”

Senator Tinubu congratulated the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for the success of its recent elections, urging the labour to unite and give its members a sense of direction.

She said the Senate had passed several legislations intended to encourage, protect and improve the welfare of workers, adding that the legislative arm has also identified with workers with the passage of Minimum Wage Act and the Nigerian Workers Safety Bills.

NLC leadership crisis hits Workers Day celebration

THE NATION

T

HE leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday took its toll on the Workers Day celebration in several states of the federation particularly Lagos and Kano, with state chapters holding parallel rallies.

The parades were staged by the unions supporting either the faction headed by Mr. Ayuba Wabba or the one ledby Mr. Joe Ajaero.

The police shut the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to prevent union members loyal to the Ajaero faction from holding their rally there.

Ajaero and his supporters from 21 affiliate unions took over the nearby Funso Williams Avenue Road for their celebration.

Their blockade of the road disrupted traffic flow in the area.

The workers carried placards with inscriptions like: ‘President Buhari, we demand change from poverty to power’; ‘Protect our enamel ware industries’; ‘Reduce import duty to five per cent for cold roll steel, coil and sheet’; ‘Stop fuel importation’; and ‘Save our jobs’.

Ajaero condemned the police siege and asked Police Acting Inspector General Solomon Arase to “learn from the misadventure of his predecessors and ensure that he operates within the ambit of the law.”

He added: “We have a fun-

NEWS 7

WORKERS’ DAY CELEBRATION

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Parallel rallies held in Lagos, Kano damental right to peaceful assembly and information.

The IG should know that no one can intimidate us not to exercise our fundamental rights.”

At the other faction’s rally held at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola advised the NLC to resolve its leadership crisis.

“You must stop having factions in Labour and you must realise that a divided labour is a fragile labour.

The welfare of the workers must be bigger than the political ambitions of the members,” he said, adding: “the new governments that is coming needs a united labour force, not a divided labour force in order for it to deliver its promises.”

Labour, according to him, ”must resolve to sacrifice, must resolve to participate, must be a part of the solution and must resolve not to be a part of the problem.

“Labour must choose negotiation and dialogues over strikes. There is nothing wrong with a strike, but we must understand the nature of strike. Strikes are regulated by law and they have consequences.”

The governor appealed to workers in the state to give maximum support to the incoming administration to enhance fulfilment of workers aspirations.

Toba AGBOOLA; Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba and Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano He thanked the NLC for all its support during his tenure.

Earlier, the Lagos State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Akeem Kazeem, appealed to the governor to wade into the lingering crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Lagos State University (LASU) and its vice chancellor.

He commended the governor for reducing the school fees of LASU students from N350, 000 to N25, 000 and urged the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petrol.

A similar leadership crisis in the Delta State Chapter of the NLC caused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to stay away from the celebration in his state.

The Nation gathered that the

governor’s absence was informed by the alleged threat by a labour activist in the state to deploy thugs to disrupt the exercise.

Security agencies were said to have tipped off the governor about the activist’s alleged plan to “bring in thugs from the East to cause mayhem during the rally.”

Sources said this was also responsible for the deployment of armed security personnel at strategic locations in the state capital and around the St Patrick’s College venue of the rally.

Uduaghan was represented by his Special Adviser on Labour Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme.

Uduaghan, in a message, said his administration was not owing its workers: a statement that attracted boos from the crowd.

He said the administration would pay all the local government workers before the handover date.

Chairman of the State NLC, Comrade David Ofoeyeno, enumerated the challenges facing workers in the state and appealed to the governor to resolve the issues in the interest of industrial harmony.

These include shortage of nurses in state hospitals; snail pace of work at the construction of permanent secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.

The two factions of the NLC in Kano State at separate rallies charged their members to remain steadfast in the struggle to liberate Nigerian workers.

While the Comrade Ado Salisu Riruwai-led faction celebrated the May Day at Textile and Garment Union secretariat on Air Port Road, the Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir-led faction held its own rally at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre.

About 200 policemen were deployed to provide security

at the venue.

Minjibir commended the Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso-led administration for its support and hailed the government’s achievements as giant strides in the transformation of Kano into a mega city.

The Minjibir faction is in support of Wabba leadership of the NLC while the other faction is backing Ajaero.

Comrade Ado Salisu Riruwai alleged that some people had turned the NLC into a cash cow and called for prayers for the restoration of the past glory of the NLC and peace in Kano State and the entire nation.

Also, speaking at the occasion, NLC state Vice Chairman, Comrade Ali Baba berated the recent conference of NLC across the country, which according to him was characterised with “comedy of error.” He added that the rights of worker have been neglected, hence the need to correct the anomalies.

Dankwambo assures Gombe workers of full support ..as Benue Governor-elect felicitates with workers

G

OMBE – Governor I b r a h i m Dankwambo of Gombe State yesterday assured the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state of his full support with a view to improving workers’ welfare.

Dankwambo in a message to the Workers’ Day celebration in Gombe said that government would continue to partner with labour to promote effective service delivery that would facilitate more democracy dividends for the populace.

Represented by the state Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Ahmed Usman, the governor commended the workers for their commitment to a better Gombe, and promised to set aside a particular date to celebrate with the workers.

In his remarks, Mallam Haruna Kamara, the Chairman, NLC in Gombe State, commended the governor for identifying with workers and urged him to sustain his support to civil servants.

Kamara requested the governor to introduce overseas training for workers, so as to boost workers’ morale.

“Training and re-training, promotion and employment should be your priority in your second tenure,’’ he said.

He also commended the governor for increasing Gombe’s work force from 15,000 to 21,000.

Also, the Benue State Governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, yesterday felicitated with workers in the state on the occasion of the Workers’ Day celebration.

Ortom seized the opportunity to commend the work-

ers, particularly members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their resilience and solidarity in the face of enormous challenges which include non-payment of their wages and other entitlements.

He regretted that the Workers ‘ Day, which used to be celebrated with fanfare and colorful displays when the going was good, has turned into a day of nostalgia for the good old days.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, however assures of partnership with workers in the public service and the organised private sector not only to restore the lost glory of workers in accordance with the dictum that the worker was worthy of his wages but also propel them forward.

He stressed that as a recipient of several awards from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Joint Councils One, Two, and Three and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) when he was Guma council chairman. He pledged not to disappoint workers in the state.

Ortom assured that his administration would confront the current challenges of workers in the state frontally and with their support and collaboration surmount them.

He said it is significant that his surname means the workman and assures that he would work to justify the name and the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.

•From Left: Chairman, NLC Rivers Council, Mrs Beatrice Itubo; Representative of Rivers State Governor, Mr Samuel Long-John and Chairman, TUC, Rivers Council, Mr Chika Onuebu, at the Workers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Labour asks Amaechi to resolve judiciary crisis Governor promises payment of outstanding workers' salaries

T

HE Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, has appealed to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, to end the lingering judiciary crisis in the state.

Itubo, who made the appeal during the Workers’ Day celebration at Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt yesterday, noted that the resolution of the crisis which has lasted for more than one year would ease the suffering of the judicial workers as well as court officers who have lost their means of livelihood.

Itubo said: “We are therefore compelled beyond circumstances to appeal to

your Excellency to consider a holistic approach and put to rest the unending dilemma so that judicial activities would function again.”

The Rivers Labour Chair however commended the Amaechi-led administration for boosting the work force of the state civil service that was almost wearing out due to retirements of the staff, with the employment of 13,200 teachers and hundreds of medical doctors and paramedical personnel.

She also urged him to consider employing other cadre of officers in the civil

service to fill the existing vacancies created by retirement of officers.

She further appealed to the Rivers State Government to look into the training and retraining of civil servants already employed instead of hiring consultants and giving them jobs to do in the civil service.

Itubo expressed regrets over the non-payment of workers’ salaries and urged the government to pay workers’ wages as and when due.

In his own speech, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu commended Nigerians on the successful conduct of the

not all the defectors mean well for the country.

He said: “We have watched with keen interest the flood of defections by some politicians from one party to another. True, the greatest beneficiary is the President-elect’s party. But we caution him to beware because not all the defectors mean well for Nige-

ria.

“Some of them may be wolves in sheep’s clothing, coming to steal, kill and destroy his administration. And Nigerians would not hesitate to register their displeasure at the next polls if he fails to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly.

“Democracy is growing in

Clarice AZUATALAM, Port Harcourt

general elections and the victory of the President- elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

Onuegbu said that the emergence of Buhari is a clear indication that democracy is growing in Nigeria and that the days of impunity are numbered.

Responding, the governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Barr. Samuel LongJohn, promised to pay the workers’ and pensioners’ salaries as from Monday next week.

He also sought for the cooperation of the leadership of NLC and TUC in running the affairs of the state.

Jonathan shuns May Day •Continued from Page 6 deepening democracy in the country.

Also speaking, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama warned the Incoming government to be weary of politicians who are defecting to the All Progressives Congress now, adding that

Nigeria and the days when people tolerated impunity and mediocrity in governance are numbered. Leadership is about people, the real owners of government. Nigerians therefore solicit that the incoming administration should hit the ground running and live up to the expectations of Nigerians.”

8

THE NATION,

News

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

We won’t participate in politically-motivated strike, say Ekiti workers A SECTION of public workers in Ekiti State has vowed not to participate in any politically-motivated strike intended to drag them into the politics of impeachment currently rocking the state.

Acting under the aegis of Enlightened Workers Forum(EWF), they demanded for the payment of outstanding salaries, bonuses and other entitlements owed them by the state government.

Odunayo OGUNMOLA, Ado-ekiti

In a statement issued on Friday by the leader of the group, Mike Bamidele, they warned trade unionists against colluding with politicians to engineer a strike to frustrate the impeachment proceedings already launched by the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members.

They called on the state councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) to concentrate on fighting for the interests of the workers rather than dabbling into partisan politics.

The Forum called on the unions to drop the garb of politics and exert pressure

on the Ayo Fayose administration to pay workers’ September and April salaries, 2014 leave bonus, accumulated pensions and gratuities of retirees.

It further charged the unions to champion the implementation of 2013 and 2014 outstanding promotions.

The Forum also warned the state government

•From left: Mr Sunday Folayan; Mr Muhammed Rudman; Mr Segun Akano and Mr Sunday Olutayo with other members of the newly Executive Board of Directors of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) during the association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) at their Head Office in Lagos

Aregbesola faults NMA over open letter GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday faulted an open letter written by the the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association( NMA) wherein it claimed that the state government has been paid its allocations up till March this year.

In a statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, the state government disputed the allegations made by NMA, describing it as unsubstantiated.

“The attention of the government of the State of Osun has been drawn to an open letter purportedly written by the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association over unpaid salaries of its members.

In its open letter, the NMA claimed that it has information that Osun government has been paid its allocations up till March this year and cannot therefore understand why salaries of its members and those of other workers are not paid.

The NMA needs to be reminded that when a state that was receiving N4.6billion as monthly allocation began to experience sharp decline down till about N1.1billion monthly, it is instructive that the state’s N3.6 billion salaries and other compulsory payments would suffer delays.”

The state government linked its poor financial situation to the drop in allocations from the FederaL Government.

“Since July 2013, the shortfall in revenue had started showing its ugly face and since then, the state had been augmenting allocations from

•Assures workers of better days ahead Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo the Federal Government with resources from its savings.

This was why even at the time when the Federal Government could not pay its workers, the Osun government still continued to fulfill its obligations up until it exhausted the reserve.”

“In case the NMA is unaware, the FAAC meeting for the distribution of the March allocation was held less than two weeks ago while the states await the funds to drop in their coffers.

That also presupposes that the claim of six months salaries being owed must be checked properly. If workers in Osun have been paid up till November, it is therefore appropriate to take cognizance of the fact that December, January and February are being owed since neither the allocations for March or April has been paid into the coffers of the government.

The NMA has also claimed that it is aware that “contractors and political office holders have been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accruing to our state from the federation account”.

While it is regrettable that workers’ salaries have suffered delay, it is equally germane to remind the NMA leadership and its members that the claim of the little revenue coming to the state going into satisfying the needs of political appointees and contractors is false and cannot be substantiated.

Osun took bonds for various development projects and financial literacy tells us that bonds are issued based on projects attached to them which are monitored by the appropriate regulatory bodies in the financial sector. This means proceeds of bonds taken for construction of schools and other development projects cannot be diverted to the payment of salaries according to the wishes of the NMA.” “As late as last Wednesday April 29, 2015, representatives of the government, led by the Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, still had a meeting with the leadership of the NMA, led by the National President, Dr. Kayode Obembe.

Therefore, the claim that the Governor of the state “was unexplainably unavailable for mediation and dialogue with

all negotiating teams”with the association cannot be true.

In addition, the state government has been having very fruitful meetings with the Osun State Association of Medical and Dental Officers (OSAMDO) which is the trade union that covers the interests of members of the NMA. Governor Aregbesola will continue to do its best in the interest of workers’ welfare while hoping that an end is in sight to the shenanigans that brought about this unfortunate situation in the first place,”the statement added.

Meanwhile, in his message to Osun workers on the occasion of Workers Day celebration, Gov Aregbesola described them as the engine room of any administration, urging them to direct their professionalism towards the realisation of the goals and aspirations of the in-coming government.

“With transparent handling of national resources, the days of revenue crisis in Nigeria would soon be over and workers would once again be assured of their place of priority. We are committed to furthering our achievements in Osun as far as the welfare of workers are concerned.”

Ondo govt to pick medical bill of worker with brain tumor THE Workers, Day was marked with fanfare in Ondo State yesterday, with a promise by the state government to foot the medical bill of a civil servant with brain tumor.

Workers from across all the local government in the state stormed the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade ground, venue of the celebration. to. reiterate their commitment to the development of the state.

Gov Mimiko and his wife Olukemi and the deputy governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, among other members of the state Executive Council were at the venue to celebrate with the workers.

While addressing the workers, Governor Mimiko promised to foot the medical bill of Mr Amos Oladipo, a staff of the state House of Assembly.

The governor reaffirmed the commitment of his government to continue to provide usual workers welfare package for the entire public servants in the state,even as he emphasized that government has been meeting its responsibilities to the workers in the face of dwindling revenue from the federation account allocation.

He remarked that despite the economic challenges, his government continue to avail the workers with housing/ car loans and recruitment of staff in the areas of critical needs among others.

against reducing workers’ salaries over claims of shortfall of allocation from the Federation Account.

The statement read in part: “It will interest you to also know that, these unrepentant leaders are at it again as they would any moment from now, call out the innocent workers on a politicallymotivated industrial action that would last till the second week in June 2015.

“This is in preference to the earlier plan of government to declare a ten-day holiday to workers beginning from May 29 pretentiously for the celebration of the expected smooth transition of government.

“The proposed script would be acted, with the state government initiating an action by offering to pay half salary for the month of April, labour on its part would be expected to reject it and this would generate a disagreement that would necessitate a strike action.

“This definitely , would be the climax of the unabated impunity in the state.

Though, it is aimed at assisting the governor to overcome his predicament, but would end up, shutting down all arms of government activities in the state.

“Remember, the judiciary had not opened for business since the coming on board of this government owing to the unaddressed JUSUN strike and a couple of months ago, the legislative arm was shut down as the House of Assembly was placed under lock and key.

“There is no doubt that the shutting down of government for this length of time, would spell doom for the innocent indigenes of this state, as we shall be thrown into a state of anarchy and statelessness.”

The Forum accused some labour leaders of being card-carrying members of a political party expressing regrets that such individuals have found their ways into leadership positions of trade unions.

Group congratulates lawmaker-elect Kunle AKINRINADE A GROUP, Ojo Concerned Youths, has congratulated the House of Representatives member-elect for Ojo Federal Constituency, Tajudeen Obasa, on his victory at the recently concluded election.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Mr Opeseyi Joel, the group attributed Obasa’s victory to his outstanding virtues and hard work.

“We will attribute his victory to patience, hard work and humility that have been his guiding virtues. We want to urge him not to depart from his good ways.” “ Ojo Federal Constituency has been yearning for social amenities and this was responsible for the need for change as reflected in the election Obasa. We therefore urge the people of the Ojo to support Obasa in his bid to bring the dividends of democracy to our great constituency.”

Traditional medicine practitioners resolve 7-yr-old crisis

T

HE National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) has amicably resolved its sevenyear-old leadership crisis.

The Board of Trustees of the association, chaired by Professor Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, held an extraordinary joint meeting with the executive body and the general membership to resolve all the issues pertaining to the crisis recently and dissolved the National Executive which had exceeded its one-year tenure.

In addition, a 10-man caretaker committee headed

by Dr Shehu Adamu (chairman), has been constituted to conduct an election into the association’s executive offices that would usher in, new executive committees both at the federal and the states chapters.

In a statement jointly signed by Prof Atilade and Dr Enoch Ifeanyi Heart, the committee’s terms of reference also include recovering the association’s funds and property.

Other members of the 10man committee are Dr. Enoch Ifeanyi Heart; secretary, Dr Obodike; Dr Shuba Maikudi; Dr Muhammed Bello Kajuru; Dr John Buba; Dr Olukoya Idowu; Dr Shaibu Otuye; Dr Ezekiel Aheruvo and Pharm M. Jawa, Consultant.

Workers urge FG to review policy on steel production ENAMELWARE Workers Association Of Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to take a second look at the policy review of common external tariffs on cold rolled steel sheets, and its adverse effects on the future of enamelware industry, Since last year, when import duty on cold rolled steel coils suddenly jumped to 35%, the entire Enamelware industry in the country are under severe difficulties and consequently cannot survive with more than 50% workers retrenched.

The association pleaded with the government to restore the 5% import duty on the basic raw materialscold rolled steel coils, to avoid the danger of closing down of all the factories and consequent mass sack of workers.

According to the union, “while the cold rolled steel coil, full hard, is for roofing sheet industry, the annealed type is for enamelware.

Annealed quality for enamelware need to be processed by highly technical and sophisticated annealing equipment. Currently this type of high quality annealed CRSS is not produced in Nigeria.”

“The association has therefore called on the Federal Government to review downward the tariff to 5%. “This, when done will save the jobs of over 300,000 Nigerians currently earning their living from the enamelware industry, and protect the existing industry from total collapse and mass retrenchment of workers.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

9

Elections, civil wars and professors S we approach May 29 2015, the hand over date of the incumbent president to the president elect, there is need to watch the utterances and body language of both leaders in the interest of the transition of power from one to the other. Make no mistake about my observation here as it is patriotic and it is not that of a cynic who may be accused of seeing a cloud on every silver lining. I am not one at least for today and for the sake of this analysis.

Secondly I believe that power changed hands in Nigeria on February 28 2015 when the incumbent lost for the first time in our democratic history to a challenger albeit an experienced loser hitherto. But power changed hands even more peacefully and seamlessly when the incumbent in that election, now loser, quickly congratulated his opponent as winner and the nation heaved a huge sigh of relief while the outside world clapped in both astonishment and undisguised wonder at the feat. That made May 29 a formality or a fait accompli to look forward to until some rumblings started coming out of Aso Rock which may be described as mere after thoughts or public soliloquys on an election that has come and gone while yielding way democratically to a change that certainly will not wait beyond May 29 2015.

What I am rambling about should be obvious by now if you have been following developments in the Nigerian news media in the last week. I am shortlisting three events only for our digestion and analysis today in line with the topic of the day which seem to pitch three incongruous issues together. But I assure you that I will show you the umbilical cord bonding them together quite easily. The first news item was the warning from the presidency to the president elect not to run a parallel government as the incumbent is still in office and not out of power yet. The second was the lamentation of Chief Rasheed Ladoja of the Accord Party who lost in the guber election of April 11 in Oyo State and conceded defeat but is going to the election tribunal to contest the results because he thinks he has evidence that his party the Accord Party indeed won the guber election in the state. Chief Ladoja pointedly condemned the use of Professors as Election Returning Officers because they are arrogant and they are not necessarily the best for the job in the Nigerian situation. The third was the criticism of the presidential election results by the incumbent president this week. The incumbent said his Party the PDP could not have gotten the results it got in some states in the 2015 presidential election which he likened to the Nigerian Civil War on which there have been many written accounts. He condemned defectors who left his party for the victorious PDP saying such defectors will come back on empty stomach from the APC which obviously would starve them.

Starting from the issue of parallel government it is clear there is a misunderstanding from the presidency. It was reported that the incumbent will hand over only on May 29 which was later denied before the Transition teams of both sides were put together. It would appear that the denial was just a sound bite while the content of the denial is the spirit of the hand over in the presidency. That means the presidency is working as if it has just begun its tenure when indeed it should be rounding up proceedings after five years ending in

A

electoral defeat. The sackings and appointments being announced corroborate this view. No incoming administration on a fresh mandate can close its eyes and mind to the creation of booby traps by an outgoing administration which seems to have adopted the scotched earth war strategy of Attila the Hun when he sacked the Ancient Roman Empire in those dark days of the Middle Ages.

Attila’s policy was embedded in the statement he made that where I have passed the grass will not grow again.

Such policy or its offsprings are not applicable or relevant in our transition of power schedule to May 29 and that perhaps explains why the president elect is ever vigilant on the last acts in office of the outgoing president.

Just like the Communists use to say – Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and one can say in this transition saga that eternal vigilance on the part of the president elect is the price of a successful transition on MAY 29 2015. In the US where we copied the presidential system lame duck presidents use the exit period to pardon their cronies and collaborators in office on one form of punishment or another not for sackings and new appointments as we have been seeing nowadays.

On the issue of INEC using professors as returning officers raised by Chief Ladoja in Ibadan one can say that the Accord Party leader was both right and wrong.

’

No incoming administration on a fresh mandate can close its eyes and mind to the creation of booby traps by an outgoing administration which seems to have adopted the scotched earth war strategy of Attila the Hun when he sacked the Ancient Roman Empire in those dark days of the Middle Ages.

Attila’s policy was embedded in the statement he made that where I have passed the grass will not grow again

Professors are arrogant as of right because they have knowledge that is unique in their area of specialization which others don’t have. That is hardly their fault. But they are not professors in the task their fellow professor,the boss at INEC assigned them at the last elections and that too is not their fault but that of the professor that appointed them whose motive was to enhance the electoral process with the aura of prestige and integrity associated with professorship . That however did not jell as the professors as returning officers behaved like frightened chicken before the public view obviously because outside their ivory tower they were like fish out of water. They were ill equipped for the mechanical duty of announcing results which had nothing to do with their various fields of endeavor on which they can postulate confidently and even look down on their audience. At the last elections the Nigerian audience had cause and important ones at that too, to look down on the theatrical performance of the otherwise distinguished professors who announced the election results nationwide. Please find time to look at videos of the election results announcements again and have a merry laugh at professorial nervousness and awkwardness in the process of announcing mere election results to a waiting nation. On that score Chief Rasheed Ladoja was right that that simple electoral chore was not the best to use our best brains for under the circumstances.

Thirdly on the comparison of the 2015 elections to the Nigerian Civil War I have a suspicion that the post election bad blood that crystallised into sackings and new appointments at the point of exit from power reflect a war stance based on the Attila scotch earth policy of ancient times.

Otherwise an election, won or lost is manifestly different from any war not to talk of a war amongst brothers which a civil war such as ours really was. But our civil war ended on a note of the three Rs of General Yakubu Gowon namely Reconciliation Reconstruction, Rehabilitation ,and the nation has moved on ever since. Even post election violence which the incumbent’s fast concession averted can not be likened to a war because it is a protest against electoral robbery that is allowed to stand in the face of glaring evidence. It is a political reaction outside the law that is condemnable but it is an expected reaction to perceived injustice but certainly not a war. Just as an election by any stretch of the imagination can not be called a war as it is just a simple political competition in which one party or person wins and another loses. As it happened in our nation at the last 2015 elections making us to look forward to the hand over of May 29 2015 Insha Allah Amen.

10

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

COMMENTARY

Power is not the change, change is the power T is that time of the democracy cycle again folks when politicians gather in a conclave of sorts and scurry like zombies at a buffet of raw human meat in order to grab themselves a government position and ensure their placing in the new administration. As the inauguration draws nearer, it is becoming harder and harder to escape the sense that the sheer desperation, egocentricity and idiosyncrasies of those who are so hungry for a government position, is presently at scorching fever pitch.

Watching the unpleasant clamor for government positions is comical, fascinating and disturbing. Listening to the clatter and the tussles between the different interests, watching the games and the intrigues that are being set is, to say the least, nauseating and bewildering. Observing politicians scraping the bottom of the desperation barrel and falling over each other in order to emerge as members of Buhari’s government has become almost embarrassing. The scorched-earth desperation on display is a regrettable drama, made light by the hilarious fact that, it doesn’t seem like any of them have really caught the attention of General Buhari, who seems to be observing the rituals quite intelligently, silently and analytically.

Change was and still is the mantra that engendered the unprecedented revolution that was witnessed at last month’s presidential polls, which saw the victory of the General at the just concluded election. Teeming Nigerians are still basking in the euphoria of that victory. Never in our 54 years of independence and 26 years of civil rule has an opposition presidential aspirant successfully wrestled power from the ruling party’s clutches; it was a feat worthy of accolades.

However, while most Nigerians are still in a trance-like euphoria, it is quite sad to see the very obvious shameful display of desperate office seekers by some who were, recently, yelling for change like honorable screaming Banshees.

Of late, the media has been awash with various phantom lists of ministerial nominees. While the incoming President or his party hasn’t categorically made any list whatsoever public, obscure articles with names of certain individuals for ministerial slots are being sponsored on every media platform. Those very desperate and cutthroat measures that we have become all too familiar with in the Nigerian polity are, yet again, rearing their gluttonous fangs. Advertorials, obscure articles and phantom ministerial nominee lists being sponsored on news outlets seem almost like a form of coercion and blackmail that serves as a gimmick for those desperate for appointments in the Buhari regime to bulldoze their way into the incoming administration.

Discerning Nigerians came out in their millions; they came out in droves; young and old, Christians and Muslims, Southerners and Northerners and voted for change under the leadership of GMB. Change in the sense that they wanted something different from what was obtainable over the years. They want the “business as usual” attitude and mentality of successive administrations to stay and remain in the past. They want the status quo of corruption, impunity, incompetency, mediocrity and the habit of putting square pegs in round holes to be a thing of the distant past. But, Alas, even while GMB has not been sworn in, cretins orchestrating all sorts of measures behind closed doors and those sponsoring the phantom publications are already staking their claim. One shudders to think of the horrible mistake if such desperados portend what we might witness in the incoming administration. If this is so, then the change majority of Nigerians clamored for may just become an illusion.

If there is one thing that Nigerians should have learnt over our political and government experiences of the past, those who are so desperate to clinch power, those who are so desperate to grab power at all costs, are the major components in the destruction and basterdization of our democracy, of our country. It would be reasonable to

I

presume that those who are so desperate to clinch power and are ready to go to any length in order to secure it, are individuals who do not have the interest of the nation at heart but their own personal interest and ambition. Penning down ones name in a list which, hasn’t been sanctioned by the incoming President or the party is completely repugnant to the values which represent the movement that General Buhari has established and the message he carried for over a decade.

In addition to the main features that Nigerians posses, we are a people who are very poor students of history. When the late Umar Yar’Adua died, the country saw the heightened desperation of politicians who strived to be named as President Jonathan’s vice president. There was so much desperation in the air that it became almost pathetic. President Elect Buhari must be wary of such people. He must do everything to the extent of his knowledge and in his power to resist surrounding himself with such people, like his predecessors did.

It is quite unfortunate that not many seem to understand that the quest for power is not necessarily a good thing. Apart from being transient, power can be the greatest Achilles heel and undoing of anyone who desires it so. Over time, the quest for power and relevance has brought many a stalwart to their knees. If there is one thing all Nigerians should have learnt is that, being seen to be too powerful within an administration and being identified as the figure-head within a government can be the greatest disadvantage for a person once that administration comes to an end. We have seen this trend all so many times. During the regime of General Sani Abacha, Major AlMustapha was identified to be one of the most influential and powerful figures in the administration. After the death of late President Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha automatically became the whipping

’

It is quite unfortunate that not many seem to understand that the quest for power is not necessarily a good thing.

Apart from being transient, power can be the greatest Achilles heel and undoing of anyone who desires it so. Over time, the quest for power and relevance has brought many a stalwart to their knees

’

boy for the errors of the administration and every fault, rightly or wrongly was lumbered on his head. The same scenario played out when late President Yar’Adua died. Apart from the fact that everyone who knows him describes him as the most, vile, wicked, shady, corrupt, nasty, selfish and reprehensible douche bag and sack of filth of all time, Tanimu Yakubu, once identified as the piece of excrement behind all the major shifty decisions during that regime automatically became he fall guy. Up to this day, when any negativity in the Yaradu’a regime is brought up, blame is almost always layed on Tanimu’s head.

Now the same scenario is practically playing out with Allison Deziani-Maduekwe becoming the target with a bright red target smack in the middle of her back. It is she, who is likely o be made the scapegoat for many of the incongruities that may have taken place under this administration. In several quarters within the polity, it is mainly her head that is being clamored for to be brought to the chopping board, regardless of many others who partook in the administration and who may have also been culpable in any wrongdoing.

Those projecting their names or someone else’s name for appointments and so desperate for power should indeed think of the Tanimu’s and Dieziani’s and the take a cue from history. Power may have its benefits but not all that glitters is gold. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. Great men can become bad men with power. Power is not always a virtue.

Whatever happen in the next few weeks, whoever emerges, the overriding factor among public officials should be the interest of the nation and not their personal interest. The former should be the code of conduct guiding their activities as public officials. Public officials should be able to forgo their personal interest for the overall good of the nation.

As we enter into a new dispensation on 29 May 2015, one hopes the incoming President will look deeply and sieve the bunch of desperate, power hungry leeches who may not understand that moving forward, there will be no more random bites taken out of the national cake. One hopes that he will identify the individuals who do not wish well for the country and choose to put their interests ahead of the Nations. One hopes that he will strike out the names of those who are already poised to give a bad name to the change, which so many Nigerians have fought, bled and died for over the years.

This administration must be famed for it’s honesty, integrity and astuteness. And those who will be chosen to form the face of the government must reflect the virtues and values, which this movement has held so strong. President Elect Buhari must beware of the biblical serpent in the Garden of Eden, who comes with a sugar-coated tongue, but with a veiled aim of derailing the objective of change and providing better for the 170 million people who are relying on this promise of change. The hope of Nigerians is for the incoming administration must be made up of competent individuals, irrespective of party affiliation, age, gender, ethnicity or religion. It must be made up of Assemble a team that every Nigerian will be proud of, capable of taking us to a better alternative.

One hopes the president elect will tour the length and breadth of this great country of ours and even the diaspora, and put together a team of capable, qualified and professional Nigerians with the competence and compellability to confront head-on the ills that has bedeviled this great nation of ours for years. So many Nigerians, young and old have placed their trust and faith in the incoming government. They are desperate for positive change. Change is all they ask! Change is they we need! As for those so gung ho in hoarding after power at all costs, they should appreciate the need Nigerians have for change embrace the concept that; power is not that change, rather the change is the power.

It’s time for new approach to governance HE elections have come and gone. And despite isolated episodes of violence and electoral malfeasance, Rev. Chris Okotie’s admonition for peaceful engagements largely held sway. So, subsequent to another few weeks of litigations, a weapon in the psychological warfare and intimidation paradigm against of some of the results, May 29, 2015 will witness the fifth session of a democratically elected set of governments at different levels in Nigeria.

Having moved on from his exclusion from contesting in the 2015 Presidential election, the pastor-politician, who made it clear that he had forgiven INEC for surreptitiously excluding him from taking part in the elections, charged contestants and their followers to shun do-or-die politics, especially as the security apparatus are occupied with matters relating to terrorism by Boko Haram. The message seems to have been heeded, just as the Abuja Peace Accord played a part to restrain our political gladiators.

In his Facebook article titled, "The Light in This Present Darkness", Rev. Okotie wrote: "… How… projects could be completed, and new realistic plans put forward to revamp the economy, ought to be the real issues on the table…" Reading the article, the banality of campaign and partisan politics in Nigeria is understandable. Our lucrative crony infested, power-at-allcost politicking; the hallmark of our unique politics, has been so because power has been unduly concentrated at the centre in our bizarre federalism. The access to the largesse of governmental coffers means that our career politicians are up-in-arms against any opponent deemed to pose a threat to the aspiration for the lucrative offices in the nation’s corridors of power.

The breach of trust and the opacity of nocturnal political negotiations, which allows politicians to carry on their shenanigans with absolute disregard for the ethics of democracy, also create a sense of vulnerability and atmosphere for protectionism.

Politicians, who funded their appetite for office by incurring heavy debts, mortgaging their properties to finance their 'electoral obligations', have not been too enthused to the reality of a loss at the polls: their reaction invariably was to steal, kill and destroy.

The nonchalant attitude of the ruling class and its failure to prosecute nation building programmes is reinforced by the odd symbiosis where the government refuses to enforce laws that will check lawlessness, so as not to jeopardize their chances at reelection. The people in turn accept governments that do not

T

Ochei AKHIGBE upset the apple-cart of rein-less followership. This symbiotic relationship worked well for both sides. That is why the entire governmental system and its organs are performing below par. The process of check and balances the citizens should provide is absent.

Despite this rot in Nigeria's politics and government, there is an emergent wave of change in the air as a more demanding electorate gears up for a reversal of their political fortunes by demanding greater responsibility in the wake of this 'electoral impasse' which fuelled the uncertainties during the 2015 general elections. Across the globe, the wind of political change is sweeping, and realignments mean that old institutions are crumbling as new ones emerge.

The change or transformation the nation seriously needs may start with 2015, but it must not end there. The mediocrity and intellectual vacuum of our political class which constrains them from putting forward practical economic blueprints to harness our human and natural resources for the betterment of the masses manifests itself in their resort to dismal acts of character assassination, mud-slinging and vilification. Rather than engage the electorate on how the multi-faceted problems of economic decline, insecurity, and poor infrastructural base, can be turned around, we hear empty promises and shallow responses to challenges.

That is why the campaigns lacked substance. The seekers of political office believe the need to challenge our intelligence with

’ ’

Our incoming leaders must understand that, those past years of economic gambles cannot continue. A new approach is needed; one which sets achievable and realistic goals, with clear and concise strategies

even snippets of their plan of action on how to harness the viability of the nation was unnecessary: The people, who don’t matter, don't care! Rather, scarce funds were allocated to funding frivolous propaganda, which woefully failed to swing the outlook of the electorate one way or the other.

Also, a situation where electoral, security and judicial apparatus display favoritism, and when different factions fabricate accusations against opponents, will not augur well for the nation’s nascent democracy where political maturity is expected of the players. Okotie said: “… if 16 years is not enough learning curve, what time do we need to catch up with Indonesia, Ghana, Botswana, Chile, India, Brazil and other developing countries which have continued to transit seamlessly, to the admiration of the world?” Here, is where our makeshift ruling class failed woefully.

Our incoming leaders must understand that, those past years of economic gambles cannot continue. A new approach is needed; one which sets achievable and realistic goals, with clear and concise strategies. There must be a clear picture of what Nigerians need; what the challenges are, and how the people can work in consonance with government to fix the complexities, instead of continually expecting that citizenry will bear the brunt of political indiscretions while the ruling class feeds fat on our common patrimony.

In the economy, we need fresh blood and fresh thinking which can proceed with sure-footedness; leaders that are attuned to 21st Century structural reforms, strong institutions, strong market economic stimulus, fiscal discipline, and reducing primary deficit. Our newly elected leaders must possess reformist credentials to correct the systemic failures inherent in government, trim-down unnecessary and duplicitous political appointments, rein-in corruption and plug the sources of leakages of our funds, and revamp the health, agriculture, and the solid minerals sectors of our ailing economy with a lean and effective civil service, functional and forward-looking parastatals, in tow.

In the long run, Nigeria will still survive, but at what cost?

This is the grim question we must deliberate individually and collectively as a nation in the days going forward. The rules of engagement must change. This is my philosophical discernment of Rev. Okotie’s article.

•.Ochei Akhigbe is a former governorship aspirant in Edo State on the platform of FRESH Party.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

COMMENTARY

11

Did Shekau make good his threats on Chibok girls?

T Saturday Flakes HE collective shame that had haunted the country since the military launched its war gainst terror in the North East was assuaged remarkably on Tuesday with the news that no fewer than 200 girls and 93 women had been rescued from the notorious Sambisa Forest. Sambisa is the forest where Boko Haram, the deadly terrorist group to which the nation had virtually conceded the North East region, had camped. It is also the forest where the more than 200 school girls the Islamist group abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State on April 14 last year were believed to have been kept.

Since the nocturnal abduction of the hapless girls, Nigeria has attracted global attention as concerned groups and individuals across the world demand their rescue. Our military, once reputed as one of the best in the world, became the butt of cruel jokes over its inability to rescue the poor girls and put an end to the activities of the insurgents who on a daily basis kill and maim defenceless Nigerians in tens and twenties. Lacking equipment and motivation, our soldiers found themselves at the mercy of the deadly sect and in many instances had to flee from the sect’s advancing army.

It was therefore a huge relief to the nation when the news filtered in that for once, our soldiers had proven not to be the paper tigers or toothless bulldogs their traducers were wont to call them. With three camps of the sect destroyed, the nation was not only proud that the image of its military had been redeemed significantly, it was also happy that hundreds of innocent women and girls held in the terrible conditions of the forest were liberated.

To millions of Nigerians, however, particularly the parents and relations of the abducted school girls, Tuesday's rescue operation, though highly commendable, was nothing more than an anti-climax. I, like millions of other Nigerians, reached for the refrigerator and fetched a bottle of cold wine when the news of the rescue operation broke. With a friend who had come on a visit, we toasted to lasting freedom for rescued Chibok school girls and eternal joy of their parents. But my friend and I were shocked to learn a few hours later that the Chibok girls were not among the 200 rescued. The joy that seized the land soon metamorphosed into mixed feelings of hope and despair.

Three weeks after the girls were abducted on April 14 last year, the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, had appeared in a video

With

Vincent Akanmode vincentakanmode@yahoo.com SMS only: 08034426263 wherein he threatened to sell them or marry them off to unknown suitors. In the hour-long video, Shekau said: “I abducted your girls. By Allah, I will sell them in the marketplace. They are slaves and I will sell them because there is a market for them.”

Seven months later, Shekau was again his boisterous self in another video, boasting that the abducted girls had been converted to Islam and married off. “If you knew the state your daugh-

’

The foregoing has caused many to ask if Tuesday’s operation was a harbinger of hope that the Chibok girls would be found and rescued or a sign that they may never be found because Shekau might have made good his threats to sell or marry them off

’

ters are in today, it might lead some of you to die from grief,” Shekau added in a speech directed at the parents of the hapless girls.

The foregoing has caused many to ask if Tuesday’s operation was a harbinger of hope that the Chibok girls would be found and rescued or a sign that they may never be found because Shekau might have made good his threats to sell or marry them off. The situation is particularly intriguing because everyone had thought that only an invasion of Sambisa Forest offered any hope of securing the girls.

As would be expected, the most disappointed people are the parents and relations of the girls. So disappointed were they with the news that their wards were not among the rescued ones that they began to speak in manners now taken by some people to mean that they were not happy that the 293 captives were rescued.

Reacting to the information by the army spokesman, Gen. Chris Olukolade, that none of the Chibok schoolgirls was among those rescued last Tuesday, Mr Enoch Mark, whose daughter and niece are among the more than 200 teenagers still being held by the insurgents said: “It is disheartening for our hopes to be dashed. When we heard of the rescue, we thought it was our girls. Parents kept contacting one another, hoping to get confirmation that their daughters were the ones rescued. “However, it is not surprising to me that our hopes have been dashed. This has happened several times. The government has lied a few times. To us, the government no longer has credibility.”

Pogo Bitrus, another Borno resident whose four nieces among the hostages, said: “We have never lost hope as a people, but the issue is if the military has the capacity now, why didn’t they do it before? We are an unfortunate bunch caught up in a political game. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation.

They have played with people’s lives and messed people up.”

The foregoing and other similar comments from the Chibok girls’ parents and guardians have drawn the ire of some Nigerians who consider them cynical. But anyone who understands the trauma the poor parents are going through would most easily tolerate their emotion. The real shock should not be the comments of the aggrieved parents but the fact that the atrocities committed by the sect against Nigerians in the North East have been far worse than reported.

Still on Jonathan’s latter day ‘heroics’ UDDENLY, someone is wielding presidential powers, albeit haphazardly, in a desperate bid to drop the toga of cluelessness at a very late hour. Between now and May 29, 2015, anyone than angers President Goodluck Jonathan would have to live with the inglorious consequences. This outgoing President is not laughing at all. As his spokesman reminded us, Jonathan may have conceded defeat to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, but that does not in any way translate into a cessation of power. Someone has to be in charge before Buhari takes over the seat with his change choir and that person is Jonathan, Until that time, Jonathan’s body language shows a newfound tendency to wield the big stick, whip some of his subjects into line and sprinkle dry pepper into the eyes of those trying his patience (no pun intended). Oga Jonah’s eyes are red, no thanks to the insults that the incoming All Progressives Congress is rubbing on a festering wound. Why can’t they just wait until May 29?

Jonathan is vexing and the nation is enduring an artificial but fleeting trepidation as he unleashes his venom on anyone that dares to cross his path. Oh, because they say he is a meek and clueless leader, some persons think they could play games with his moustache? No way. This President sure knows how to pump some hot punches just like a Manny Pacquaio or Mayweather Jnr. would deal an opponent. Some say his recent attitude betrays the angst of a bull in a China shop. I say no. Even an emergency psychologist like this writer understands the unfolding drama: Jonathan has now woken up and he is fighting back with all the strength he could muster. It would be a disaster of monumental proportions if it is written of him that, at the twilight of his fouryear chequered presidency, he chose to sit on his hands when all he needed to do was to whip people back into line. There is no way history would be kind to him if all he did as Nigeria’s leader was to wring his hands in sublime befuddlement as the nation he superintends over grinds in perpetual descent into anomie.

Some say a bruised and battered Jonathan is a tad too late in the exhibition of raw power. Maybe that is true. I, honestly, doubt if the victims of his latter day heroics would agree with such assumptions. Those who feel it surely know the devastating effect of presidential jabs. In his quiet moments, the nation’s ex-Number 1 cop, Abba Suleiman, would rue the action or inaction that led to his summary dismissal from office. For a man who, some months back, was busy genuflecting before power, it came as a rude shock that he had to suffer the indignity of an unceremonious exit. When the rhythm stopped for Abba, it came with thunderous silence. By the time he handed over to his successor less than 24 hours after, he had become a mufti-wearing former Inspector General of Police.

His fate, though tragic, symbolises the transient nature of power.

Suddenly, Abba has joined the league of yesterday’s men courtesy of a presidential proclamation. Yesterday’s hero who pandered to the salacious tunes strung in Aso Rock would have to contend with straining from the sidelines.

The fact of the matter is that the President is a wounded lion. It is clear that Abba toyed with the nose of a live cobra and he was spiked with its deadly poison. After the misplaced hysteria over the simple chore of a defeated President conceding defeat in a contest laden with hate and acerbic campaigns, it should be obvious that Jonathan would demand his pound of flesh from those he deemed to have contributed in one way or the other to his ouster.

Do not ask me if Abba falls into that category of persons. All I know is that, as May 29 draws near, public officials and political appointees would have to be exceptionally careful in their conduct if they do not want to become victims of a thoroughly flustered President. They need to understand that while the man may be on

S

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 his way out of power, he is still fully holding the baton of power!

By the way, it is not for nothing that the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, made allusion to the fact that his boss’ concession of defeat should not be misread as cessation of power to the incoming APC leadership. To demonstrate that this is not one of those hollow triumphalism that Jonathan once cautioned the APC to be wary of, the President did not hesitate to match words with action by ordering the release of the forensic audit report of the alleged missing billions of dollars in the nation’s energy behemoth—the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Had Buhari not made a vow to revisit a matter that had been technically buried with the ‘clean bill of health’ allegedly given the NNPC by the PriceWaterHouseCooper after an abracadabra auditing process, maybe Jonathan would have kept his calm. Trust the Daura-born General, he would simply not allow a sleeping dog to rest. Now, Jonathan is angry and no one is resting.

Rather than douse the tension, the PWC report has unleashed many unanswered questions about the gaping holes in the accounting system adopted in the oil sector. Yes, we may not know the actual amount said to be missing from the humongous figures being bandied around. What is sure is that the Nigerian oil sector is rotten to the bones. Barefaced theft has become the norm to the point that the auditors engaged by the government to look at the books were denied something as simple as the bank statements of the corporation’s accounts even by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The underhand dealings and strange lodgements daily perpetuat-

’

Honestly, now that Jonathan has found the balls to play a latter day hero at the twilight of his more than five-year adventure in Aso Rock, it would be nice to see how he handles the daylight robbers sitting atop the oil industry and ruining our collective future

’

ed in that sector should be enough to make a truly angry President cry blue murder and begin a process of making some people account for their shameful conduct. However, that never happened. Instead, after the decoy of a favourable forensic report, the PWC document was carefully wrapped in one of the secure cabinets in The Presidency due to what the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, called Aso Rock’s “great interest” in the information contained therein. Hmnnn! Maybe we would not have known the extent of the entrenched rot if Buhari had not hastily announced his determination to get to the root of the missing billions of dollars!

Do you know the good thing in all this? We now know there is much more to that 199-page report than the tales by moonlight the public was initially fed with. The ‘celebrated’ report riled the Transition Monitoring Group so much that it described the NNPC as “the stinking cesspit of official corruption.” And it is the same report that the Jonathan administration had embraced with pomp and panache!

If I may ask, exactly what and what should constitute presidential interest? Could it be the fact that the CBN failed to accede to the auditors’ request for bank statements? Did the President order a probe into the $32,909,590 under-valuation relating to thirteen different liftings (Equity and domestic crude) during the review period due to the underhand dealings in the NNPC? Could it be a coincidence that no one saw the bit about the $4.92 billion that was to be remitted by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Commission or is it that they were satisfied that the report demanded a refund of a minimum of $1.8 billion? How about the additional $1 billion FIRS remittance that was reported by the reconciliation committee but later traced by the auditors to the CBN/FIRS JP Morgan account? Was the President concerned by that part of the report, which claimed that cash payments of $863 million by NPDC to FIRS was not captured by the Reconciliation Committee and that the total cash payments of $839 million was also traced to the CBN/FIRS bank statements with JP Morgan? The slices of accounting incongruities go on and on and one cannot help but wonder why anyone should make a song and dance of such a piece of implicating document.

By the way, what value can one place on an audit report whose credibility was, ab initio, discredited by the auditing firm. Listen to the lamentation of a friend, Oyedeji Kayode, on the same report: “If you have not read the PWC report, you will not be as angry as I am. $40m! Wait a minute is that not over N8bn? That is what NNPC "mistakenly" paid into an account. Then, $59m, that is another over N11bn, paid for charter services without receipt, invoice, or any confirmation of payment. Now, is this not the same country where cancer kills about 70 people daily while the Federal Government and the states cannot afford a cancer-screening machine that costs just N90m? Is this not the same country where simple students’ hostels are not better than prison wards?”

Honestly, now that Jonathan has found the balls to play a latter day hero at the twilight of his more than five-year adventure in Aso Rock, it would be nice to see how he handles the daylight robbers sitting atop the oil industry and ruining our collective future. It is not enough to rant about who is in charge or why a presidential ‘magnanimity should not be taken to be cowardice.” All the flailing, puffing and gale of sackings would amount to nothing if the man in charge fails to muster the balls to begin the process of bringing the thieving elite in the nation’s corrosively rotten oil sector to justice. That is how to leave the seat of power in a blaze of glory, like a hero on May 29. Will he?

12

MAY DAY CELEBRATION IN PICTURES

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

An aerial view of workers at the 2015 May Day celebration in Abuja.

Workers on parade at Onikan Stadium in Lagos State. Photo: Muyiwa HASSAN

Agriculture and Allied Employees Association of Nigeria in Abuja

Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions in Enugu.

PHOTOS: NAN

Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Moses Adeyemo and NLC chairman Oyo State, Comrade Waheed Olojede acknowledging Tailors’ Union at the rally in Ibadan

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers in Kaduna

Nigerian Union of Civil Service Oyo State Council (NUCSSASW) at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan, PHOTO: Femi ILESANMI, Ibadan

May 2, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

20

When the late Prince Gabriel Adefemi Ogundipe returned to Nigeria after staying in the United States of America for 35 years, he had no inkling that he could be killed by some armed robbers who struck in Owo, Ondo State recently. TAIWO ABIODUN captures the fate that befell the America returnee.

Pathetic story of 75-yr-old shot dead after 35 yrs sojourn in US

HE well polished wooden casket bore the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As it was lowered into the grave in an expansive compound in Ipenme, Owo, Ondo State, wailing sympathisers and family members rained curses on the dare devil bandits that sniffed life out of Prince Gabriel Adefemi Ogundipe a.k.a Londoner. the At 75, the late Ogundipe was certainly not a robbers asked him to start running. He raised young man. But the way and manner the politi- his hands in a gesture of surrender and started cian died was what pained the sympathisers. running. One of the robbers was said to have The deceased’s children could not hold back fired a shot at him but missed target. A terrified tears as they beheld his lifeless body in a wood- Ogundipe then looked back and pleaded with en casket. Family sources said that some of the the gun-wielding men not to kill him. children had actually expected him to pay them Unfortunately, his plea fell on deaf a visit in America in February but the journey ears. The robbers fired another shot was postponed because of an important ceremothat caught him in the back and came ny he had to attend last month. out from his chest. He fell beside Penultimate Thursday, a wake was held his Camry car, soaked in The at his residence while a church service blood. Efforts made to was held at St. James' Anglican revive him after the roblate APC chiefChurch, Upenmen where sympabers had left failed. tain was said to thizers paid their last respects. At Some good Samaritans the event, the church’s Vicar, took his lifeless body have planned to travel Reverend S.O Akinro, spoke to the Federal glowingly about the late to the United States to Medical Centre in Ogundipe. the town.

States of America to join his cousin, Ademola Adetula.

Adetula assisted the late Ogundipe to gain admission into LSD College, Salt Lake City , UTAH. Ogundipe later went to the University of Chicago where he bagged his Bsc and MSc degrees in International Relations.

He came back to Nigeria to work as a lecturer at the Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti. But when he found the environment not conducive, he went back until he finally retired in 1991 and stayed behind, preferring to live the remaining of his years in his country. Thus he came back to Nigeria in 2013 and started full-scale farming, growing yam, cassava and fruits, among others.

He later joined the APC in order to contribute his own quota to the community. His brilliant ideas earned him such nicknames as Obafemi Awolowo, Kwame Nkrumah and Adekunle Ajasin.

How he was killed Life history poned it in order to particiFamily sources said Born in Ipenme pate in the burial ceremony near Ogundipe was killed by banOwo, Ondo dits who invaded the ancient in 1940 to the State of his father in-law, which families town of Owo and rained bulof lets on innocent souls during was slated for the second Ogundipe and a robbery operation. Many of Ogundampe, he was week of April. He how- the the sympathisers could not last child of his help wondering why he was parents. He had his ever did not live to shot by the robbers after he had primary education at released his car key and other participate in the St. James' Anglican items to them.

Primary School, Ipenme , burial According to an eyewitness account, then St. Andrew Primary the deceased septuagenarian was School, Owo in 1952 where he attending a meeting of the APC when the completed his primary education. news began to spread that armed robbers had He went to Methodist Modern School attacked some parts of the town. While some of and completed it in 1960. Life became the people at the meeting ran away and others worse when he had a broken leg in one went into hiding, the late Ogundipe decided to of the football games in which he parreturn home. Unfortunately, he took the route ticipated while representing his school. where the robbers had barricaded.

After he recovered, he proceeded to Accra, The robbers accosted him and asked him to Ghana, to join his late uncle, Rufus Ogundipe. alight from his vehicle. He obeyed and was He later attended O'ralley Secondary Grammar immediately dispossessed of the money and School in Accra, Ghana, where he was the other valuable items he had on him. Thereafter, school prefect. In 1969, he went to the United

Premonition of his death While the small town, Upenmen, was mourning, a woman who said the small community had been praying against any calamity, said: "We did not know that this was what we were praying against. As a cooperative community, we were asked to hold on to a pole at the King's palace and pray that no pillar of a household should die. We all did this as we were told not knowing that this was what was going to happen. Ogundipe was a pillar of Upenmen, not just of a household."

The late APC chieftain was said to have planned to travel to the United States to see his children but postponed it in order to participate in the burial ceremony of his father in-law, which was slated for the second week of April.

He however did not live to participate in the burial. According to reports, he had sent out invitation cards and had prepared fully for the event before the cold hands of death snatched him away.

While paying his tributes, Prof. Ibisesan Ayodele, who was visibly touched, described him as an epitome of character and an intelli-

T

‘

see his children but post-

‘

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

21

Stray bullets kill woman as OPC men, pipeline vandals clash in Ogun Kunle AKINRINADE

fierce battle between men of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and suspected pipeline vandals yesterday, left an unidentified woman dead.

The woman was said to have been hit by stray bullets from the ethnic militias while driving into the nearby journalists’ estate in Arepo.

The confrontation was said to have happened late evening when the OPC members were alerted of the presence of the vandals.

An exchange of fire between the vandals and OPC members lasted several hours.

A source who spoke in confidence said: “The OPC members engaged the vandals when they tried to cart away petrol stored in 50 litre kegs in our area. The woman was returning home from hospital in her car when the vandals fired shots indiscriminately, unfortunately one of the bullets hit the woman killing her instantly.

The General Manager of Donyx Global Concept Ltd, the company managing the protection of pipelines in Arepo, Mr Femi Ekundayo, recalled how the incident happened.

He said: “Our men had intercepted a group of pipeline vandals, who stormed Arepo a few days earlier in three vanagon buses. They also intercepted their buses loaded with several 50 litre jerry cans.

Two members of the gang were apprehended by our men, but one of them escaped by jumping into a river. One suspect was however taken to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) office in Mosinmi, Sagamu, Ogun State.

“However, the vandals regrouped and came back yesterday and they fired shots indiscriminately. Their mission was to attack our men and it was in the process that the unidentified pregnant woman, who was returning from a hospital in her car, was hit by a stray bullet and she died instantly.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “ We heard information that there was sporadic shooting at the pipeline area of Arepo involving OPC men and suspected vandals. A woman was killed by stray bullets during the incident.

“The driver of the woman said bullets pierced through her throat. The woman was carrying six month pregnancy and she was hit by stray bullet while returning from a hospital where her ailing husband is admitted.

“For now, we cannot exactly hold anyone responsible for the death of the woman. We wouldn’t want to say anything until our findings are concluded.

The body of the woman has been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy while investigation continues,” he added.

A

•The Late Ogundipe

gent man.

He wrote: " Omoh", " Awe"!! ,"Elemele !!! The information on your demise en route the wicked and cruel hands of the men of the underworld on the fateful Thursday of March 26th 2015, after we had just parted for about 15 minutes, constitutes the greatest tragedy not only on me as a childhood friend but also as on ULAC where I am the chairman and you were the Vice President, the age group where both of us worked, and relentlessly acted together to move the community forward as leaders.....”

An Ondo State governorship aspirant in the state's last election, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said: "It was a death too painful. The tragic news of the gruesome murder of Prince Gabriel Ogundipe Salokun of Ayiwoye Akinola ruling house of Upenmen land came as a rude shock to many people, especially those who saw him a few moments before his life was cut short by some brigands who came to wreck our peace in Owo. He will be sorely missed. May his resourceful soul rest in peace (amen).”

Dr (Mrs) Lambo could not control her tears as she spoke about the deceased. She said: "Prince Gabriel (Ogundipe) was my cousin. We were very close. I saw him last about 40 years ago. He was clean, humble and an easy going man. I was not myself when I heard of his death, It is too painful.”

Mr. Samuel Olu Aragbaiye, a cousin of the deceased, described him as an epitome of charac-

ter who could not hurt a fly.

He said: "The news came as a rude shock to me.

I believe God will surely expose the killers."

Mr. 'Demola Adetula, a former Managing Director of Owena Press, publisher of Hope Newspaper, described the late Ogundipe as a good man. "He has good exposure, very brilliant and humble. He is a colossus and a party chieftain who contributed brilliant ideas to the party."

Dele Adene said: "The old man was my uncle.

He was the last born of his parents and he played a fatherly role in the family. I thought he would be as old as my late father who died at 110, for there is longevity in our lineage. But it is a pity these wicked robbers did their worst.

“My consolation is that he was a good Christian in his life time and surely he would be at the right hand of God." In tears, one of the children of the deceased, Adeola, wrote: "My father was a caring man who loved his family and his country very much. I could really go on for days on how great he is.

But anyone who knows him personally would say a lot of the same thing. I pray that all his efforts towards a better tomorrow for Nigeria comes to fruition."

Tola, another daughter of the late Ogundipe, wrote: "My father always tried to see the best in people even though they proved him wrong time and time again. The country lost a great man .I hope now they finally know what they have lost."

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

29

-

TURN TO PAGES 34&35

30

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

31

32

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

33

34

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

?

A

t 14, you were already a student in the university. How did that happen?

Well, I just decided to take JAMB (the Joint Matriculation Examination) because something told me that I could, based on my records as a kid. My daddy agreed because I had always been a smart kid. So he got me the form and said I could go as long as I didn't go to a distant university, because I was a child.

I had already taken examinations for university education in the UK and US but my dad said I should stay back. When my JAMB results came out, I did very well. So, I got to the university before I could even take WAEC. The school then said I would get a provisional admission until I got my WAEC results. Luckily, it came out fine and I made all my papers.

You must have felt out of place in the university at that age‌ Oh yes! I did feel out of place. My only comfort at that point was that I had always been a big child, so I used to lie about my age. I remember meeting a smallish friend who said to me, 'Hi, you look very young.' I said the same thing to her and she said, 'Well, I'm 26' and I said, 'Well, I'm 20'.

So, you can imagine my shock when I started seeing course mates who were 30, 29 or 28 then. It was very hard for me. I was very angry but my father insisted since we had a deal, I could see it through. Then, I would go on holidays to see my age mates still giggling and being pampered. But I was getting ready for lectures. It was tough but I thought I could pull through.

Did you have any carry-over?

Of course, I was just a regular Nigerian lady. In my first year, I had a carry-over. I am not that perfect; not everything went through for me. I broke down at some point because the pressure really got to me. I succumbed to peer pressure and dating.

My father guided me so much so that he

'How I became an

' 4 1 t a e t a u d a r g r e und was always in my room. So, the pressure got to me and I think I failed just a course in my first year.

Towards the end of school, I got hitches that I don't like to discuss. It was actually what spurred me to activism and made me decide to be a voice to the voiceless.

Everybody goes through it when you have lecturers harassing you when they see potentials in you. I was into sports. I won medals for my school. I played squash and badminton. I was also in the school's judicial arm.

I was a bright kid, but when my age became known throughout the campus, everybody wanted to bully me. It was really hard and I would rather not talk about it.

So, that was really what bought you to activism?

Yes. I mean, I led protests in school, even at that age. I told myself I must fight every injustice against me and others. I promised myself I would read as much as I could and acquire as many certificates as I could. So, I went back to school and got a diploma in Computer Network Engineering. I became certified by the highest regulatory body as a Microsoft System Engineer. I continued to take courses in catering, policy formula-

tion and all of that.

In 2004, I joined the British Council for the first ethical training in the UK. I was part o f t h a t delegation.

When I came to Lagos in 2 0 0 0 , I s t a r t e d working with this NGO called African Youth for Transparency. It was just coming up then. I also represented Nigeria in the first HIV/AIDS conference in Germany. That exposed me to the activism field. I started interfacing with youths worldwide to know what challenges they were facing and all that.

You were not doing any regular job?

Oh, I did several jobs. But I was always off and on. Money was never a problem for me, not because of my parents but because I had

always been enterprising. While in school, I was baking. I was doing make-up. I even travelled to France to study it. So, I am a certified make-up artist. I entered interior decoration and wood carving.

Basically, I did everything that could fetch me money, except prostitution.

While doing all of these, I had a regular job with Angels Foods as a manager. They were serving Airtel then. I was the marketing manager.

But it never derailed me from other things I was doing.

At what point did you relocate to the US? Interestingly, I never relocated in that sense. My stay in the US became steady in the last three years. I realised that many youths do not have any input in the development of treaties, bilateral trade agreements and all that. So, I connected with a lot of NGOs in the United States and everywhere to really delve into this.

How were you able to sustain all of these?

Obama and Moon were two people I had always wanted to meet and I got my wish. It was awesome meeting them. They made a huge impact on my life.

Meeting them convinces me I’m great and I could achieve anything. I have met about 10 presidents

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

35

When I go home, I still process the palm fruits. I pick the kernel and pound it until the oil comes out. I still speak my language fluently and extremely. I mean, I don’t joke with it at all.

I love our foods so much, even though I am careful now because of my weight.

At a point, I had to quit my job, of course. I started a campaign called INigeria conceived d u r i n g t h e rebranding years. I realised that many Nigerians were not proud to disclose their identities abroad. But I have never had that thing.

Even before you ask me, I tell you I'm a Nigerian. They would say you don't look Nigerian and I would ask: how do Nigerians look? So, I made shirts and vests that I put everywhere.

Having interacted with youths across the globe, what stands out the Nigerian youth?

I have been at this for 15 years and I have found that the most unique thing about us is our resilience. I have seen the most dilapidated places in Nigeria and you still see youths smiling and hoping. You never can get that anywhere else. They would have exploded or caved in. But we are resilient and that is so unique.

We don't eat alone in Nigeria; you don't use the word 'I' but 'we'. Our lives are built around others and the society.

The Nigerian youths are also very intelligent and brilliant. They are so brilliant but they don't get recognised because we don't get to speak. The youths are so suppressed that we lose

our identities.

A man is told to be an engineer and not be a caterer. The lady is told to choose tailoring and not mechanical engineering.

So, the stereotypes have really affected us. We are so respectful that we tend to do what we are told. We don't want to fail those expectations.

Unfortunately, we have crossed the era of computer age to information age.

Nigerian youths can now access what happens everywhere. That is good but it is also a doom in that it leads to frustration seeing what others are doing elsewhere. They compare themselves a lot,

forgetting we don't have the same standards.

What has kept that ‘Nigerianess' in you despite your global exposure?

I will say the love for my country and family. I come from a closely knit family. My parents always taught me to maintain family ties. It is a problem that people don't talk anymore face to face. We don't invest physical time into relationships again. So, it is easy to cut off from somebody without a sense of loss. That is why it is easy for youths to join terrorist organisations because there is no more conscience.

When you meet someone physically, there is something about that person that sticks with you unlike calls. So, my love for Nigeria has always been because of the roles I know I have to play. I have seen people suffer and how my family helped out made me decide to give back to this society.

Thinking about it, if you compare Nigeria with developed countries, we are so awesome. We'd blossom in few years. If we have come this far in so

such a little time, you can imagine what will become of us in the nearest future. You go to some places in Nigeria where there were no roads and you suddenly see mansions springing up with massive development. So, there is something amazing about us and we are going places, for sure.

I get angry when I hear we have unemployment crisis, because there is so much to do here. Our youths have many things to do. There is no reason why any of us should be idle. I have done so much in the social sector and given back so much to people. I have done great. That is just a sector. There are several others that people can explore.

We are still used to things being handed down to us. We have been so negative that we don't see any possibility again.

We indulge in pity parties. But we have got to change that. We have to prove that we constitute the greater percentage of the population. We have to produce results that will convince the older generation.

You have met a lot of global leaders. Which of them left permanent impressions on you?

Oh, my God! I have met a lot of people. I have met Ban Ki-Moon, President Barrack Obama and Mitchelle. I didn't just meet them, I shook hands with them and had fairly long conversations with them. Obama and Moon were two people I had always wanted to meet and I got my wish. It was awesome meeting them. They made a huge impact on my life. Meeting them convinces me I'm great and I could achieve anything. I have met about 10 presidents that I really care about.

Most of them I met during the presidential summit last year during the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the US. Last year, you got a proclamation for Nigeria in the New York. Can you briefly talk about that?

The proclamation was by the Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York. It was at the United Nations indigenous people's forum, which I hosted.

It was an acknowledgment of the contributions of Nigerians to the State of New York. From last year, every May 16 is dedicated to celebrating Nigeria and Nigerians in New York. The next edition will be classy. It'd be an opportunity to exhibit the best we have to offer.

Other states in the US like Arkansas and others are willing to also celebrate Nigeria in their localities so that we can have access to special funding and grants in those places. So, I chose that project to celebrate our ingenuity.

How much of an Igbo lady are you?

Oh, I will say 100%. When I go home, I still process the palm fruits. I pick the kernel and pound it until the oil comes out.

I still speak my language fluently and extremely. I mean, I don't joke with it at all.

I love our foods so much, even though I am careful now because of my weight.

I'm in touch with our cultures and traditions. That is why I try to talk to our youths there. In fact, one of my projects this year is to tour the South East and talk on the importance of inclusivity. They need to learn how to live with others and tolerate others. No matter your culture, nobody will accept your culture is better. You must learn to accept others for who they are.

You have identified exclusivity as a problem in the South East?

Yes, I have. Look at the elections, for example. To me, as a youth activist, I was embarrassed that my people voted based on ethnic considerations. I was confronted by my friends in other tribes. I realised that if we don't stop that, we could get into real, big problems. For me, voting for someone should be about competence and performance. It should never be about tribe and religion. Yet, we keep making that terrible mistake.

Continued on Page 51

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

36

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

37

•Chief Executive Officer, Petralon Energy, Honourable Ahonsi Unuigbe and wife

•From left: Human Resource Director, Nigeria Breweries, Victor Famuyibo; Executive Director, UBA Plc; Emeke E. Iweriebor, and Group Company Secretary, UBA Plc, Bili Odum

• •From left: Guest Speaker, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, Sir Remi Omotoso; Dagogo Iyeimo; President/Chairman of Council, Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD), Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi; Foght Morten, Kalechi, Rim Uba; MD Corresponce Ltd, Mike Ojiakor and Director General/CEO, Institute of Directors Nigeria, Victor Banjo, at the induction of new members at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos...on Wednesday

•From left: CEO, Mus- Jin Nigeria Ltd/ Audit Committee Member Sterling Bank Plc, Jinadu Mustapha Ishola; General Manager, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, and Chief Inspector, Sterling Bank Plc, Biodun Deroju

•From left: Director General/CEO, Institute of Directors Nigeria, Victor Banjo; Director Tulip Cocoa, Simon Hart and Managing Director/CEO, Tulip Cocoa, Simon Conway -Jarrett

•Olaide Adedipe (left) and Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, KLNG, Princess Dolo Oyekan

T was strictly a corporate affair last Wednesday evening when members of The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) took time off their normal office schedule to gather at the Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, to induct new members into the prestigious body. Led by the President/Chairman of Council of the institute, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi, members of the institute came all out to make a good lasting impression on their august guests, relatives and the inductees.

The event drew professionals, bankers, industrialists both from private and public sectors of the economy. Some of those in attendance were: Olaide Adedipe; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, KLNG, Princess Dolo Oyekan; Managing Director, Slopes International Ltd; Dr Garba Umar; Director Civil Litigation, F.T.C High Court, Abuja, Madugu Mohammed; F.T.C. High Court of Justice, Abuja, Bashar Attahire Alkali; Chief Executive Officer, Petralon Energy, Honourable Mrs Ahonsi Unuigbe; Mrs Helen Mark, Head of Service, Lagos State Public Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji and husband, Biodun Jaji.

Others included Human Resource Director, Nigeria Breweries, Victor Famuyibo; Executive Director, UBA Plc; Emeke E. Iweriebor; Group Company Secretary, UBA Plc, Bili Odum; Dangote Cement Plc, Brian Egan; Vista International Ltd, Ratan Varyani; MD/CEO, Bellforte Group, Wole Olomojobi; MD/CEO, Wood Group, David U.N. Kanu; MD/CEO, Allco Ins; Edwin Igbiti; Director General/CEO, Institute of Director Nigeria, Victor Banjo; Director Tulip Cocoa, Simon Hart; Managing Director/CEO, Tulip Cocoa; Simon Conway -Jarrett; Resgistrar/CEO, CIBN, Seye Awojobi; President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers; Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun; Managing Partner, Osibogun & Partners, Adekunle Osibogun; Group Head, Finance & Corporate Service, CIBN, Mr Segun Shonubi; CEO, Mus- Jin Nigeria Ltd/ Audit Committee Member Sterling Bank Plc, Jinadu Mustapha Ishola; General Manager, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru; and Chief Inspector, Sterling Bank Plc, Biodun Deroju, newly inducted members and visitors.

The guest speaker for the day's event was Sir Remi Omotoso, the Chairman of Standard

I

Brian Egan of Dangote Cement Plc (right) and Vista International Ltd, Ratan Varyani

Corporate titans coalesce as IoD inducts new members n Biodun ADEYEWA n Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd, who spoke on the topic: ‘’Business Leaders and the Wind of Change in Nigeria’’. He chronicled corrupt practices and impunity that characterised the current administration and ways the incoming administration of President-elect General Mohammadu Buhari could tackle them. He charged all the business leaders in Nigeria to be ready for what he described as ‘imminent wind of change’.

"IoD Nigeria is a major force in driving this wind of change. It is the guiding beacon in corporate governance, teaching and development in Nigeria. Its members are among the best known practitioners. IoD has a duty to ensure that its members practise what the institute preaches. It must devise and enforce mechanism to sanction any erring members from established rules and standards. IoD must have zero-tolerance for any form of corrupt or fraudulent practices" he said.

Chief (Mrs), Eniola Fadayomi, President/ Chairman of Council, IoD Nigeria, in her welcome address, congratulated the new 140 members and two upgraded from associate members to full member status. New members took the oath of allegiance to adhere to the institute's principle and regulations during their induction on Wednesday April 29, 2015 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

But it was not all a night of speeches, as newly inducted members of the institute that were born in the month of April jointly celebrated their birthday, by cutting a giant sized cake. And then guests were treated to a buffet to round off a well spent evening.

•From left: Mrs Hellen Mark, Head of Service, Lagos State Public Service; Mrs Folashade Jaji and husband, Biodun Jaji

•From left: MD/CEO, Bellforte Group, Wole Olomojobi; MD/CEO, Wood Group, David U.N. Kanu and MD/CEO, AIICO Insurance, Edwin Igbiti

•From left: Resgistrar/CEO, CIBN, Seye Awojobi; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Otunba (Mrs) Debola Osibogun; Managing Partner, Osibogun & Partners, Adekunle Osibogun and Group Head, Finance & Corporate Service, CIBN, Mr Segun Shonubi

•From left: Managing Director, Slopes International Ltd, Dr Garba Umar; Director, Civil Litigation, FCT High Court, Abuja, Madugu Mohammed and FCT. High Court of Justice, Abuja, Bashar Attahire Alkali PHOTOS: Biodun ADEYEWA

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

38

Marrying a comrade is like being a soldier’s wife —Niger Delta activist Joseph Evah’s wife Preye

Y

OUR husband is an activist and one of the Niger-Deltan roaring voices. How would you describe Comrade Evah?

(Laughs) My husband is a very stubborn person who doesn’t change his mind easily. I think the harsh environment we experience in Niger Delta provokes him to talk with much passion and bitterness. He is not one to vent his anger unnecessarily. He is passionate about people; he is not just moved by their sufferings but hates any form of intimidation. And his activism goes way back. He was once in the Catholic Seminary but was asked to go home because of his stubbornness. He then applied to go to the Nigerian Defence Academy but one of his uncles, then a military officer in Lagos, opposed his ambition and threatened him to abandon the ambition.

He felt Comrade was a born rebel who shouldn’t be in the military, else he’d put the whole family into trouble by becoming a possible coup plotter.

Comrade is an impatient boss. He is a man of his word but he detests liars and intimidation. When he gives an assignment, he doesn’t like excuses but rewards excellence.

Behind his stern looks, however, is a caring and loving man, who appreciates anything you do for him. He likes to surprise people with gifts.

Also, he is a story teller and likes education. I always admire his energy.

Because of the nature of his job, he talks a lot.

When he wakes up in the morning, he must read the newspapers. He buys at least six newspapers every day.

Your husband is a women’s rights advocate and patron to several women’s associations such as the National Association of Ijaw Female Students (NAIFS) with over 5,000 members in higher institutions nationwide. Seeing he is always in the midst of the womenfolk, how do you feel about it?

Beside students, my husband’s biggest fans are women.

Most times, during outings, they’d rush to him, hug him, and some will even tell me plainly that I should not be jealous, that he was made for the public. People who watch him on TV are usually excited at seeing him physically. I don’t have any bad feeling. Outside, he is a supporter of women; inside, he is my husband. And I know my husband; we’ve come a long way, together. I

The calm, ever smiling Preye is the wife of the out-spoken Comrade Joseph Evah, a Niger Delta activist and Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG). The couple marked the 20th anniversary of their marriage in Lagos recently. Mrs. Preye Magada-Evah, in this encounter with EVELYN OSAGIE, takes us into the world of the wife of an activist, the secret of their 20-yrold marriage and more:

‘

have known him since the time he was living in a one-room apartment in the same compound as one of Nigeria’s heroes of Atlanta ‘96, Joseph Dosu, who later became a Marriage Super Eagles goalkeeper. has molded me Before then, he used to live in a to be more focused room and parlour until he lost his and patient in life. wife and kids and later ran into Marriage is a school financial crisis that led him to pack into the one-room apartwhere you learn everyday but to be frank, marry- ment. He was in that one-room ing a comrade is like being apartment when he took the then Military Government to a soldier’s wife. My father court to stop the dredging of was a military man; I lived River Niger Delta. in the barracks all my life; Interestingly, the building so, I see the pressures in the where he was living then is on life of soldiers’ wives, espe- the next street to ours, here in Alapere-Ketu, where we’ve cially during the military built our own house now. The regime. So, marrying a whole neighborhood knows our comrade and seeing the I thank God we background. pressures all over my have democracy now because husband was every time my husband criticised nothing new the government in those days, I’d nearly have a heart attack. Abacha government once arrested him and his leader, Chief Saturday Eregbene, over oil companies and community problems. In fact, I was so afraid.

As the woman behind this man, how does it also feel seeing your husband like one in the frontline of the battle of justice? In short, how has been the experience these past 20 years?

It has not been easy. The road has been tough and rough, but also sweet and wonderful.

Before, I didn’t really put much interest in his activism because it is so risky and often takes him away from home. He is still young, my •Preye children are still small, and I don’t want anything to happen to him. And I’d often wonder how and why one man would choose to

‘

•Continued on page 55

with Email: bineharriet@gmail.com

Escapades of fun-loving city ladies Co-ordinated by Patience Saduwa 08023201831 (sms only) psaduwa@yahoo.com

Family

Forum

with Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Tel: 01-7341546-8 Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

51

We celebrate African culture’s vibrancy —Guinness Marketing Director Gavin Pike AVIN Pike, a Marketing and Innovation Director, is surely a man with a mission. Since joining Guinness in 2014, Pike has upped the ante, with the various innovative brands.

A holder of a BA (Hons) degree, a Postgraduate Teachers Diploma and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Business Management, Pike started life as a teacher.

But with his eyes focused on greater things, young Pike quit teaching and joined a pharmaceutical company where he worked for about seven years.

His career received a major boost about 11 years ago when he joined Diageo as Innovation and RTD Manager for Guinness. He later moved to Brandhouse where he held the position of Portfolio Manager Spirits, and subsequently as Marketing Director of the Joint Venture for four years.

Pike’s arrival in Nigeria after a robust career as the Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker was with great expectations, particularly coming shortly after Guinness had launched its herbal product, Orijin, the previous year.

As the company’s Marketing and Innovation Director, Pike was expected to drive the new brand and make it a household

G

• Gavin

Segun AJIBOYE (Assistant Editor)

name among lovers of herbal drink.

And it is to his credit that the drink, which many have said was met with scepticism about two years ago, has metamorphosed into a consumers’ toast across the country.

Speaking on the success of the product, Pike said: “Orijin is a ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage. It is a blend of African fruits and herbs mixed with alcohol. And into this, we have made special efforts to make sure that it comes out as a special brew that will take care of the needs of the consumers. We have also taken steps to ensure the brand maintains its status as the consumers’ choice.”

According to Pike, Orijin’s success in the country is firmly rooted in the African love for herb products.

“It is a bittersweet alcoholic blend made of 100% natural herbs and fruits.

Orijin celebrates the vibrancy of African culture and consumers now see Orijin as the traditional drink for modern Nigerian men. It has exceeded our expectations. People are incredibly keen to spread the word and encourage others to try it. Herbs are a really important part of Nigerians' lives, and Orijin has provided herbs which fit into different consumption occasions.”

As head of the innovation team of a big company like Guinness, Pike is not unaware of the challenges before him.

He told The Nation that the company’s first priority is to ensure that its products meet the expectations of the consumers.

“Any new innovation from Guinness Nigeria only gets to the market after extensive research and development have taken place to determine what the consumer really wants. Orijin is no exception. The drink meets the needs of Nigerians who want to enjoy the benefits of contemporary lifestyle without necessarily compromising on their African traditions. We will continue to innovate to

meet the needs of our consumers.

“We have seen great adoption of Orijin from consumers, many of whom have dubbed themselves “Orijinals”.

Any one of them will tell you that ‘If e no be Orijin, e no be Orijinal’, and we respect that position by remaining true to our promise.”

With its success among lovers of herbal drinks in the country, many have expressed the fear that forgers may soon flood the market with fakes. But Guinness is not losing sleep over such matter. According to Pike, “ We have not come across any case of adulteration of the brand, but we will encourage anyone who has concerns to look out for the Guinness Nigeria mark of quality on the packaging – like I said earlier, ‘If e no be Orijin, e no be ‘Orijinal’. In addition, we have a robust brand assurance process that handles any counterfeit-related issue.”

He also believes that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is well-placed to play the role for which it was established, adding that Guinness is doing all it can to ensure the safety of the consumers.

“A while ago, the Director General of the NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhi, visited our facilities, particularly the Orijin site and he commended us on the level of quality of the plant and the products being produced by Guinness Nigeria Plc. We align with the steps of the government and its agencies and as a responsible organization, we will do all we can to ensure the safety of our esteemed consumers.”

Pike also allayed the fears of the lovers of the herbal drink over the use of sweeteners.

“Orijin has no artificial sweeteners.

Orijin contains a safe level of sugar, a natural sweetener which has endorsement of relevant regulatory agencies in Nigeria.”

‘Why I don’t use my title as an ambassador’ Continued from Page 35 I believe that we need to take the region to higher heights because we have so much. We could turn Aba to an international trading hub. We could literally take the world by storm if we harness our potentials. We could get the world to come to us.

But an average Igbo youth will argue he doesn't need all of those since he's making money and building houses…

You see, formal education is beautiful but not everyone will get it. It shouldn't be narrowed down to school. The man who sells spare parts feels there is already a stigma because he doesn't have a degree. At that point, he had shut down his mind on how to make his business grow from a spare part dealer to a manufacturer. The person that gets formal education already feels a wall between him and the spare part dealer. That is what we shouldn't keep doing. We should synergise and make ourselves work together.

The spare parts dealers forget that he can bring in partners from across the globe to open a factory here.

That way, you employ your own people, develop your city and pay taxes that can generate social amenities.

It sickens my heart when we talk about marginalisation. We are the ones marginalising ourselves. When you complain of marginalisation, you are suffering from inferiority complex. What to do is to sit up and see how we can develop the South East, which is huge in trades.

If you know you have contributed so much to the development of the country, why not stand tall and get bigger and better? Why running to your shell? Why cry wolf when nothing is happening. So, the youths of South East have to drop those old ways of thinking. They

• Okotie should forget what they have been told by their forefathers and leave those ethnic issues. The pity party has to stop.

We have the best shoe designers in Aba. Why not hook up with Italian designers to take it to the next level? Why not hook up with someone who can do it rather than say-

ing he is not from my place. I am not saying you should go the direction of everyone else but you must have a basis for making that choice.

You are a Nelson Mandela Washington Fellow. What do you make of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa?

You see, xenophobia is feeling so marginalised and intimidated that you no longer feel safe with foreigners.

Africans have been known to fight one another than others in history. Two things are apparent with how the South African youths feel. They are tired of people migrating to their country. If other African countries develop their countries, their youths won't have to migrate to the point that they will be lynched to death because they feel the grass is greener somewhere else.

I am not going to fight South Africa. I have no cause to blame them. I'm saying other African countries should consider why their youths are leaving their places of birth. Immigration is good but it is a two-edged sword. It becomes dangerous when it becomes xenophobic. You have to stop it. The root cause is unemployment and youths feeling marginalised. The old men are not killing in South Africa but the youths.

Having been involved in gender development, would it be right to call you a feminist?

I don't like titles. I am an ambassador but I never use that title. I think titles make people go crazy. I may be feminist in my approach but I will say I am an activist. If a feminist is an activist then I am a feminist. But my mission is to make people understand that gender is nothing but a social conception. You are always who you think you are.

I just want every lady out there to know that if Clara Okorie can succeed, they can succeed. If I can rise to where I am today, there is no excuse for where they are now.

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

52

With O

zolua

Uhakh

eme

&

Email

: ozolu

auhak

heme

@yah

oo.co

m 080

23058

761

REVIEW

I read the holy Quran and the Holy Bible to get brighter religious perspectives. I have friends in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt who assisted in research too. Then a friend gave me the Hadith. It

Theatre in honour of Prof Mabel Evwierhoma

Prof. Mabel

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

53

Continued on Page 54

Udenwe

Odimegwu ONWUMERE

Continued on Page 54

54

Continued from Page 53

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

55

•Preye and husband Evah

‘Marriage is a school where you learn everything’ •Continued from page 38

‘

wanted to remarry so soon. He’d told me he was feeling very lonely and was under a lot of fight for justice of other people. At times, I get psychological pain because of his loss, which scared for him and feel he should quit and do was further heightened by the death of his something else; after all, he is a journalist. But he mother in-law caused by the trauma of losing a remains undaunted. And I’ve learnt that daughter. worrying does not solve the problem.

He was suffering from depression and These past 20 years, as I’ve come The needed somebody to help him out of it, understand him, I’ve also come to whole he’d said. I remember asking, ‘What appreciate his dedication to neighborhood experience do I have in life to be humanity. And I support him to able to save you from depression?’ knows our backthe fullest. I’d go on my knees He would go on and on, preachbefore God and always ask ground. I thank God ing about how I was going to Him to protect and guide we have democracy save him. And at the end, he won him for us and those that now because whenever my heart. I remember my father still need him to stand up had first rejected his proposal. for them. We give God the my husband criticised was very bitter; he had glory for how far and well the government in those He wanted me to go to the universiHe has brought us. I told days, I nearly had a heart ty and not to get married at 19. you I knew him when he My husband then vowed to was living in a one-room attack. Abacha governsend me to higher institution but apartment. But what I didment once arrested him my family doubted him. As a n’t tell you was that I actualand his leader, Chief journalist then, people believed ly married him when I was he just wanted to use and dump 19 years old. So that teenager Saturday Eregbene, me. But the comrade turned deaf has also grown to be more over oil companies ears to all. Even when I warned mature. and community him that my father would arrest and Wow! That is interesting; tell detain him in the barracks, he boldly us more about meeting your problems took his family to visit mine at Iseyin hubby. where my father was serving as an officer But I was not yet 19 years when he in the army. My father rejected him but he proposed. I had just left secondary continued to put pressure and when my parents school in Iseyin, Oyo State, where I was living realised that I meant business, they accepted and then. While I was waiting for my WAEC result, all is now history.

I came to Lagos with my mother and was then Beside the arrests and threats, could you recall living with an uncle. That was where he met other sad moments? me in 1995. We got talking, and I learnt he had It was the death of one of my sons who died of lost his wife and twins during childbirth a year an ailment at age eight. Because of the pain such before. I remember challenging him on why he’d

‘

memory brings, I usually do not like talking about it. And although we have four other kids, till date, his death has created a vacuum in our hearts. My husband and I loved him dearly. Like his father, he was very stubborn but he was closer to me than his father. As young as he was, he used to reprimand his father on issues he felt different about and Comrade loved him for his boldness.

But we give God the glory for everything.

What happy moments do you recall?

Do you see that photo on the wall of me and my husband sitting side by side President Goodluck Jonathan? That was a memorable evening I will never forget in a hurry. It was taken at the Aso Rock Villa where we were treated to a dinner of just three of us. Comrade came home one day to say that the President wanted to see me, I was shocked. Comrade was also surprised, but jokingly said, may be Mr President wanted to find out if he was a troublemaker at the home. While at the villa, I was shy and was reluctant to eat, but the President insisted. He thanked me for taking care of Comrade, asked about the children and jokingly urged my husband, “no take your wahala trouble this simple and humble wife o.”

How has marriage molded you?

Marriage has molded me to be more focused and patient in life. Marriage is a school where you learn everyday but to be frank, marrying a comrade is like being a soldier’s wife. My father was a military man; I lived in the barracks all my life; so, I see the pressures in the life of soldiers’ wives, especially during the military regime. So, marrying a comrade and seeing the pressures all over my husband was nothing new. People always come to him with one problem or the other.

Whenever his phone rings, it is either someone needs financial assistance or is in detention without trial and needs justice. And when he is not at home or outside the country, the pressure is on me; and I give assistance. It is not easy at all.

Does his activism get to the house?

At home, he is a different person. He is a nice, but no-nonsense man who also knows how to make me laugh. He can be very funny. We have a full house with a large number of young extended family members and our biological children. He won’t spare the rod if the need arises, but treats everyone equally. Comrade may be very busy and at times away from home, but he is also there for us, his family. He always has a way of making up for the times he is not here and we love him dearly. During the holidays, he takes the family to recreation centres. Recently, he took us to see the late Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Ghana because he wanted us to see where he got his inspiration from.

Did your husband fulfill his promise of sending you back to school?

Yes and did more. Beside encouraging me to further my education, he motivates me a lot. I did my first degree when my first son, who is now 18, was two years old. He established a business for me that I’ve run since 1996. In fact, if I am failing towards my studies, he reports me to friends and relatives and reminds me of his promise during those early days, saying I should not disgrace him. Now that I’m doing my second degree at the Open University, he reports me to them if he sees I’m not with my books. He and my children challenge me a lot.

In the past, some activists have been seen going into politics, should we expect such from Comrade in the future?

I don’t know but I doubt if it’ll happen anytime soon. He hates going into politics because of the ‘do or die’ manner it is practised in Nigeria. Look at the last political campaigns; they were full of bitterness and hatred. Also, whenever public office holders give him appointment, he’d always refuse.

What is the spice that has kept your marriage alive?

The secret of enjoying a blissful marriage life is marrying your friend, one who is ready to go to the extra mile to make a sacrifice for you. That is what has kept me and my husband. We have it as a policy not to lie to one another. I think the golden rule in marriage is obedience, trust, love, tolerance, prayer and being understanding and submissive. I have no regrets. I wish my husband would still remain the way he is when we are celebrating our 40th.

56

Pomp as Lagos community celebrates Elegba Festival Kunle AKINRINADE

58

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Living in darkness •As cataract, glaucoma, others take toll on Nigerians A

n Patience SADUWA, Paul UKPABIO and Hannah OJO n four million with those with total blindness at one million.

With a life lived in total darkness, and unable to fend for themselves, most of the huge number of the blind in the country have no option but resort to begging for alms on the streets while a few who are luckier live off the goodwill of relatives. Experts believe that the blindness load could be reduced with adequate eye care including regular screening and surgery especially in cases like cataract and glaucoma which are correctable.

"Cataract and glaucoma are very common eye diseases confronting old people in Nigeria. The statistics, if available will be very high because people hardly come out in this part of the world to talk about such things so such findings are difficult to come by. These are eyes diseases that are age related and they occur mostly in people over the age of 60," stated Dr Biyi Kufo, Ophthalmologist, General hospital, Lagos.

He explained that the factors that cause diseases such as cataract and glaucoma are different and could be attributed to factors like genetics. "Short

,

s a supervisor in a manufacturing firm, Madam Grace (surname withheld on request), was always moving all over the section under her supervision.

Though stressful, she enjoyed the job and looked forward to going to work everyday. Then, sometime in February last year, the woman who turned 60 recently, woke up to discover that her vision had become blurred and she could not see very well.

She went to the bathroom to wash her face, thinking something must have covered her eyes while asleep. That was not the case as things turned out.

"When the situation did not improve, my younger brother who I lived with then with my two children after my divorce, took me to the hospital.

"After an exam and tests were done on my eyes, I was told I had cataract, which would require surgery to correct.

To be honest with you, I got scared because I had never done surgery in my life. Infact, apart from when I had my babies, I can hardly remember when I went to hospital much less do surgery as I don't fall ill apart from headaches and sometimes fever," she stated. It was the fear of surgery that delayed the operation which had been scheduled at a government hospital.

However, after the sick leave she took to take care of her health condition was nearly ending, Grace was forced to do the surgery. Luckily, it was successful and today, her vision has been restored and she is fully back at work.

The supervisor is one of the growing list of Nigerians who are undergoing one form of surgery or the other for eye related problems. Besides cataract (which is a clouding of the lens of the eye), other eye problems that have become quite common in recent times include glaucoma, optic atrophy, trachoma, refractive error and corneal opacity.

Recent figures put the rate of eye related problems in the country at over

sightedness is referred to as errors of refraction. It could be hereditary but sometimes they skip generations. For example, my Dad and a number of his siblings were short-sighted but his children are not short sighted save for only one of us. But two of my own children are using glasses," he noted.

Fear, cost of surgery Worldwide, cataract accounts for approximately 50 percent of the world's blind estimated at about 37 million people out of 285 million who are visually impaired. At least 80 percent of this figure are in developing countries such as Nigeria, where the prevalence of blindness is put at 0.78% with cataract accounting for 42.9% of eye related problems. Despite this high prevalence rate in the country, the number of cataract surgeries per million populations per year, cataract surgical rate (CSR) is put at 300.

Health experts have blamed this low surgery rate on several factors. These range from lack of awareness, fear and cost of surgery, long distance to service points, poor surgical outcome, poverty

Cataract and glaucoma are very common eye diseases confronting old people in Nigeria. The statistics, if available will be very high because people hardly come out in this part of the world to talk about such things; so such findings are difficult to come by. These are eye diseases that are age related and they occur mostly in people over the age of 60

,

among others.

A study carried out in Kwara State by F.G Adepoju, B.J Adekoya, A.A Ayanniyi and V. Olatunji (all from the Ophthalmology Departments of some Teaching Hospitals in the country) and published in the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice in 2012 noted that 'the cataract blind patient is often an aged, poor, dependant and from the have-nots in the community; such individuals would require "assistance" to restore vision. The study added that 'the fear of surgery was also a significant finding as 59.8% of the staff cited fear as a major reason why output is low.'

'Getting patients to know about cataract surgery through use of counselor, audiovisual aids, and using patients who have had successful cataract surgery would help allay fear of cataract surgery an important barrier identified by ECWs. Often, patients are not given adequate information and wrongly assumed to have some information about the planned procedure; this adds to the fear the patient have.'

Perhaps, it's in a bid to reverse this phobia for surgery especially the high cost that has made some public spirited individuals, organisations and some governments to offer some succor.

For instance, The Rotary Club of Palmgrove Estate, Lagos has since 2008 embarked on an eye care project tagged 'Eye Camp' which has seen more than 18,000 under-privileged cataract patients successfully treated and regaining their sight. This year's edition, which took off recently in Lagos with free eye screening will conclude with free eye surgery to 1,500 poor and under privileged Nigerians.

The Chairman of the the club's Eye Project and Past President, Mukesh Bhatt, at the kick off of the programme said the club became involved in the eye project due to the importance of sight and, "because a lot of people infected with cataract are not able to solve the problem due to the high cost or lack

H EALTH MATTERS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

59

Impact of mobile phones, computers, TV screens, electronics on the eyes etween your work computer, ereader, TV, and smart phone, how much screen time do you rack up every day? If it’s as little as two hours, you’re setting yourself up for digital eyestrain: That’s the achy, tired feeling in your eyes that occurs after a stretch of screen viewing, leading to redness, tension, and even shoulder and head pain. The Vision Council, a nonprofit group that represents the optical industry, just released its 2015 Digital Eye Strain report, which found that 93 percent of us are at risk for it. You know how everything’s a blur when you finally do look up from the screen—or how bloodshot your peepers get after lots of time staring at your laptop or phone? Exactly.

So how can you save your sight without giving up your electronics?

Take regular screen breaks. Every 10 or 20 minutes, get in the habit of looking up from the screen and finding a distant object to focus on, which gets you back to a normal blinking pattern and restores moisture. The Vision Council report calls it the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from the screen for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away.

B

Preserve Your Eyesight It also helps to go old-school and do at least some of your reading on paper, which our eyes find easier to focus on. Adjust your computer so the screen is an arm’s length away from your eyes, and decrease glare, which can exacerbate strain, by using an anti-glare screen (if possible).

Changing the background screen from blinding white to gray can also help, according to the report. And if you wear contacts, ask your optometrist about new types of “wettable” lenses designed to help keep your eyes lubricated when you spend a ton of time in front of a screen

•Foods rich in Vit C are good for the eyes

of where to get the problem solved."

"Blindness is still preventable at the level of cataract. Since the cost of its operation at private hospitals would go for about N200,000, which many of those that are infected cannot afford, victims are enjoined to take advantage of this unique opportunity to have their eyes operated at for free," he had stated.

Life after surgery Mrs Morenikeji Abiodun, a businesswoman sold food for about 35 years in a primary school before she retired. As she approached her sixties, she developed cataract, which started with blurry images. She could not also read the Bible, could not see people from afar and it affected her walking gait as her sight could not really conjure the images of people.

In 2013, she went to the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan where she had surgery on one of her eyes.

After the surgery, she was given normal glasses for reading and a sunglasses to use when out in the sun. "For

about 3 months, I was told not to look downwards for some time and not to eat meat as I was not to strain the muscles chewing hard things. I could not bathe by myself for three months since I could not bend downwards.

But I'm happy I did the surgery as I can now read my bible," she said.

In the case of Mrs Victoria Aribilola, long sightedness is what she suffers from. Some years ago, when she was over 50, she noticed that she could not read without bright lights even though she was used to reading her Bible written in small letterings with dim lights.

Again, she noticed that her eyes become itchy and ached whenever she is exposed to sunlight. Then it also appeared as if her eyeballs were getting smaller. "I went to the Ebute Metta health centre where I was given glasses to correct the refraction error. But I still experience the itches whenever I eat late or fast," the woman stated.

Speaking on Aribilola's eye problem, Dr Kufo stated: "For errors of refraction (short slightedness) the danger is quite

high if you don't use the glasses. It can cause a process that impairs the brain.

Once that happens, the person may not be able to perform some specific functions. Problems can arise when you don't correct errors of refraction early, so the earlier, the better."

Asked if prolonged use of the computer can affect the eyes, he had this to say: "Not much. But being exposed to bright lights for a long time can cause certain pigments of the eye to be turned over continuously. When the light is brighter, the rate of disruption is higher.

Also, using of the computer for a long time can cause blurry eyes and aching of the eyes. The prescription is to use certain types of glasses which can prevent it."

The ophthalmologist noted that a lack of proper nutrition can cause problems for the eyes. As he stated: "Problems that arise from poor nutrition are not easy to contain. Foods rich in Vitamin A are good for the eyes. Examples of these are liver, vegetables, (such as carrots), eggs, red palm oil and toma-

toes. Also, people who fast for a very long periods are prone to eye problems.

Sometimes, eye problems resulting from poor nutrition are irreversible as they are very difficult to treat. The best thing is to avoid it and eat a balanced diet."

Considering the importance of the eyes and clear vision to the individual, experts advise regular check ups and screening especially for those prone to eye problems. As an Ophthalmologist at the Choice Eye Hospital, Lagos who spoke anonymously said: " It is important that the person goes to an eye clinic for check-up once he notices any thing wrong with the eyes. Once that is done, then treatment can start or corrected. It is also important to know that, the earlier the discovery and check-up, the better to stop the deteriorating eye sight.

The severity of damage is most often caused by the delay in treatment.

Like I said earlier, the earlier treatment is sought, the better. For instance when detected early and treatment commenced, it may not cost any other thing than drugs. But when not attended to early, it could lead to surgery, which in most cases will cost more. For cataract, in most cases it is surgery but for glaucoma there are some that can take surgery to stabilise the way the person is seeing at present and continue with treatment.

There is growing awareness and more people are doing their eye checks than before. So it is reducing in the country."

60

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Relaxation: Sex and sanity, sex and health

Prostate enlargement

•From left: Cathedral People's warden, Otunba Bolaji Osunba; Lay Reader, Chief Ebenezer Okunowo; Adebayo Fagbayi (2nd right). With them are Chief Akin Adejumo (3rd right) and the Cathedral Provost Warden, Mrs Funmilayo Fagbayi (right) during an event at the African Church Cathedral Church Bethel, Broad Street, Lagos

By Professor Dayo Oyekole Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD, FNCP Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

61

th Overtreatment

Tension headache

Fifteen shades of headache THE CONCLUSION A pretty young lady in her mid twenties presented to the Clinic with a year long history of left sided headache, with varying levels of response to Paracetamol and other common analgesics. As far as she could remember , bouts of headache were usually of gradual onset but built up quickly to become very intense and had never shifted from that side . Each episode of headache was always associated with profuse sweating, dry mouth ,running nose, excessive tear formation and with so much pain in the eye balls that she had always feared her eyes were going to explode . A trained certified Medical Nurse by profession, she was not left handed , no other members of her family; nuclear or extended had experienced something similar. There was also no history of blow to the head, hypertension, diabetes or epilepsy. She had tried all sorts of medicines and had been taken to many places for spiritual solution without success .Following frequent suggestions ,she decided to undergo comprehensive lab tests and hence she decided to do what should have been done the very first time. It took quite sometime, with many treatment failures, before her grief came to a peaceful end. Readers can recall an earlier case of a middle aged man whose symptom complex was suggestive of a condition called 'epileptia partialis continua' with manifestations so bizarre that until his full recovery, members of his family had thought he had been poisoned and was under the so called 'remote control'. As was the case with this man, the young lady had spent months in the village and had seen maggots said to have been removed from her head, but her illness continued. Though only very few laboratory investigations could be carried out, this lady probably had a rare type of headache called Sjaad Syndrome, also known as chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. Like all the different types of headaches grouped and classified by the World health organization(WHO), and the International headache society(IHS), Sjaad syndrome is commoner in women and probably has a higher prevalence in the developed world, because patients over there are more likely to report to care givers and Hospitals early enough and have the different but related pathologies accurately interpreted as pointing to one cause.

Headache is indeed a painful condition that is often ignored until life threatening complications set in, and at which time medical help becomes useless . Surprisingly, it is a condition for which thousands of medicines in different formulations and dosage categories are available, and yet not much is known about it. Worldwide, headache is more frequently reported in women than in men. In Africa in particular the Nigerian African, headache is misunderstood, underreported, misdiagnosed, undertreated and over treated, depending on many factors.

In the rural areas , parents of African Children are more likely to ignore headaches compared with others in the more educated and better informed communities. Of course in these resource starved places, survival is the matter;there are so many problems that many young males would be considered weaklings if they presented such symptoms .In deed , if as a result of poverty and malnutrition, a child develops headache, survival is the matter and even a loving mother may not have the capacity to do anything, either by way of going to the hospital or buying medicines OTC. That headache is a problem that requires more detailed research and attention is only beginning to matter to public heath physicians and care givers; part of the problem being the tendency for many patients to conclude without adequate investigations that it is part of the symptom complex that tend to herald many other disease conditions.

In fact, headache is not always confined to the head and it's related organs, it may involve or spread to the neck, shoulder , chest, back and even abdomen. Headache in children is different in many respects. Pattern recognition is difficult as a result of coexistence and frequent associations with many other childhood illnesses.

In this concluding part, and with slight update and necessary modifications, the major classes of headache according to the World health organization(WHO),and the

headache, should suggest migraine unless investigations reveal otherwise.In migraine with complications, the patient can come down with sudden collapse, paralysis or stroke, coma.

Cluster type headache

Whereas, rest or sleep in many cases of migraine reduces the pain and misery of the patient, cluster headache wakes the patient up at night like a tight band across the head, and it is one condition where an affected partner may refuse sex and become immediately misunderstood, the resulting situation only adding to aggravate or worsen the headache. It is interesting to know that unlike the typical migraine type headache ,cluster type headache is commoner in males, more frequently the typical blood group O strongly ambitious male. In many other respects including, one sidedness and occurring every now and then, it is like the simple migraine except in children where it can occur associated with frequent vomiting and collapse

Overtreatment Headache

Migraine international headache society(IHS) will be discussed in briefs . These well recognized bodies have reported that about 47% of adults and 36 percent of children under the age of 6years suffer one type of headache or the other . Other reports have noted that by age 15, some 70 to 80% of adolescents have had their schoolwork interrupted by headaches.

As enumerated here under, headache can come in many shades, depending on age, sex, gender(as opposed to sex), race, occupation and socioeconomic status.

Migraine

The previously known definition of this condition has undergone modifications, because whereas in most children it affects both sides of the head, in others, it is restricted to one side, In addition, mixed pictures are common in adults who have migraine types of headaches , though in many adults it is seen to affect both sides of the head. And so two types have been recognized; the simple type and the type presenting with complications and the challenge to health care professionals is to capture certain masked features of headache in patients presenting with coma, stupor, collapse hemi , para or quadriplegia. The established features that characterize migraine now include recurrent, throbbing or pulsatile type of headache, located on one side of the head for the simple type of migraine and the presence of aura, vomiting,diziness and paralysis, for the complicated migraine . Briefly, recurrent episodes of headaches as described, occurring in association with vomiting , phonophobia(intolerant of noise or even discussion), photophobia(intolerance for lights) nausea and

‘

In fact, headache is not always confined to the head and it's related organs, it may involve or spread to the neck, shoulder, chest, back and even abdomen. Headache in children is different in many respects. Pattern recognition is difficult as a result of coexistence and frequent associations with many other childhood illnesses

’

There are many pain drugs OTC and prescribed generally for pains . Even when used in moderate quantities, there comes a time when damage to the organs such as the Heart and kidneys becomes inevitable. Most importantly, the more medicines, you take for headaches and the longer you take them, the more you have headache and the cycle goes on until common drugs no longer work and then you graduate to anesthetic agents ,as was the case with the late American Pop musician.

Tension headache

This is common with certain professionals who use certain categories of equipment and where the head , neck, trunk and lower back are forced to assume awkward postures because the tools and chairs are not designed according to ergonomic principles. Sitting for two long with the Lap or Desktop computers, staying long hours at meetings , spending too much time on video games and sitting down for long periods brooding over issues are some of the factors associated with tension headache. Though it can come in many different forms , it is frequently deep ,squeezy, and may also appear as a tight band. It is usually restricted to the back of the head and may involve the neck forehead and upper back.

Menses related headache

As the name suggests, this is cyclic in nature and often occurs as a component of the menstrual tension. It can occur before ,during and after the menstrual period. The previous divisions into pre and post menstrual headaches is unsustainable, particularly in the African woman. It presents double jeopardy to young women who have painful periods(dysmenorrheal pain), who under these conditions are often seen rolling uncontrollably from one place to another in pains that will not respond to common analgesics.

Headache in this condition should be handled with something different from that used for menstrual pain if the proper consultation is made

Post Dural puncture headache

This usually follows, use of epidural or spinal anesthetic agent , to put a patient to sleep(Caesars sections) . The resulting decrease in intracranial pressure causes a type of headache that some patients may think is migraine because it is worse when the head is raised, when the patient attempts to stand or move and it is instantly relieved by rest. It usually affects the forehead, back of the head and neck. Because of the many possible complications that may arise in the immediate hours or days following surgery, including not taking anything by mouth(NPO),the best way to avoid this type of headache is to strictly adhere to what the Doctors and Nurses instruct, to keep your head flat with the rest of your body without the comfort of a pillow.

62

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

63

64

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

65

66

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

Bayelsa community vows to seize oil platforms HE people of Ogboinbiri Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday threatened to shut down oil production at a facility belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

It was gathered that the community took the decision at a general meeting attended by its chiefs, elders, youths and women groups. The people of the community were said to be angry with the oil firm for allegedly failing to implement the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with them on July 8, 2009.

The Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Appah Jonathan, in a statement he jointly signed with the CDC Secretary, Mr. Alex Jack, confirmed the planned action against Nigerian Agip Oil Co. He said the community

T

n Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa n

would seize Agip platforms in the area beginning from Monday.

"Ogboinbiri Community hereby gives notice to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company limited that beginning from May 4, 2015, the community will shut down all operations of NAOC in Ogboinbiri.

"Ogboinbiri Community is prepared to protect her interest at any level. We therefore call on the management of NAOC to ensure maintenance of the existing peace", he said.

He said the Ogboinbiri condemned in strong terms the refusal of the company to carry out projects and other obligations as contained in the MoU it voluntarily entered into with the community in 2009.

He said the community passed a vote of no confidence on the company for failing to embark on sand

filling and shore protection in the area between 2009 and 2012 as contained in the MoU. He said the oil exploitation activities of Agip was gradually sinking land and forcing the community to disappear. "We therefore condemn the refusal of NAOC to settle cases from Ogboinbiri Community pending against it in courts and as directed by the court to be settled out of court.

"We also condemn the refusal of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited to employ youths, provide skill acquisition and scholarships to our indigenes to cope with the difficult economic hardships foisted upon us by the company.

"They have also failed to respond to the several letters dated 27/11/14, 20/01/2015 and 12/04/2015, demanding compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding in question.

Additional 234 women, children rescued from Sambisa Forest HE military yesterday announced the rescue of additional 234 women and children held captive by Boko Haram, in the Sambisa forest, Borno State.

The Defence Ministry which broke the news on its tweeter handle said the hostages were rescued on Thursday from the Kawuri and Konduga end of the expansive forest.

This brings to 687 the total number of children and women so far rescued from Boko Haram camps in the forest since the commencement of the

T

military onslaught on the last stronghold of the terrorists.

Photographs of hostages earlier freed by the soldiers showed the victims in grim conditions with many of them looking malnourished and unkempt.

The military authorities said on Thursday that the victims were held in ‘atrocious condition.’

The operation reportedly involved heavy fighting between the soldiers and the terrorists at various camps in the forest.

Several fundamentalists including field commanders and foot soldiers are believed to have been killed during the operation while substantial weapons were seized from

them.

However,there has been no report of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted from their dormitory over a year ago by the terrorists among those rescued.

Criminal activities at lowest ebb -Uduaghan Okungbowa AIWERIE, Asaba ELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has attributed the low rate of criminality in the State to proactive actions of security operatives.

The Governor stated this Thursday when the outgoing Commander of NNS, Delta, Warri, Commodore Musa Gemu came to introduce his successor, Commodore Aliyu Sule to the Governor and members of the state executive council at Government House, Asaba.

According to the Governor, criminal activities have greatly reduced in the state giving kudos to the Nigerian Navy which he observed have made the water ways in the state very safe.

His words, "After the Niger Delta crisis, we still had flashes and fallout of the crisis like kidnapping, armed robbery, sea piracy but these have greatly reduced now because of the roles the Navy and other security agencies have played.’

Continuing, "You were able to ensure free movement and security of persons on our waterways and this is a result of the strategic roles of our security agencies has ensured a peaceful environment in the state particularly during the just concluded general elections."

"I wish to congratulate Commodore Gemu for a successful tenure in the state, no doubt, you had challenging periods, especially during the Ugborodo crisis but the way you comported yourself and managed the peace process was commendable. We are grateful for the role you played in ensuring that there was a successful ground breaking ceremony of the Gas City project."

While wishing Commodore Gemu success on his new posting, Uduaghan challenged Commodore Sule to improve on the current security situation in the waterways and the state in general.

Commodore Gemu had in his speech thanked the Delta State government for his assistance to security agencies in the state and assured him that the Navy would always carry out its traditional functions of securing the waterways.

D

Olu of Warri marks 28th coronation anniversary CTIVITIES to commemorate the commencement of the Coronation Anniversary of the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse II, took place yesterday in Warri at the traditional monarch’s palace.

The king’s subject gathered at the Four Square Gospel Church Aghofen, inside the Olu Palace in Warri where praises to God for sparing their lives

A

and that of the monarch, was offered.

In his message, Pastor Sam Aboyeji the Senior Pastor at the church, urged the people to always appreciate the goodness of God in their lives.

Pastor Aboyeji, centred the theme of his message on a heart of appreciation.

He stressed that the Itsekiri people need to appreciate God because they have not been con-

quered by their enemies around them. ''If we deny God his worship and praise, then will we be as bad as the nine lepers in the Bible,'' said the pastor.

Aboyeji said the Itsekiris are like the Israelites in the Bible that have enjoyed God's divine blessings, increase, power, favour and wealth, urging them to sustain their faith in Christ.

NEWS 67

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

We’ve implicit confidence in Buhari, say Niger Delta ex-militants

IGER-Delta Ex-militants group under the auspices of All Progressive Congress, an APC Security Committee in the region have expressed explicit confidence on the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari in bringing sanity into the Nigerian system as well as implement policies aimed at healing the wounds of the Niger Delta people.

The group assured the president-elect, Rtd Gen. Mohammadu Buhari of total co-

N

n Polycarp OROSEVWOTU, Ughelli n operation in the Niger-Delta region as he assumes office come May 29th, 2015.

The Coordinator of the group, Commander Bibi Oduku while speaking yester-

day to journalists in Sapele, Sapele local government area of Delta State on the hopes and aspiration of the APC for the people of the region, said the people of the Niger Delta region have a lot to benefit from the incoming administration.

While condemning the actions of some groups within the Niger-Delta region which has been claiming responsibilities for series of pipeline explosions in Delta State, Oduku said, though their demands may be genuine, but dialogue is a better tool for negotiation.

He explained that in the Niger Delta region they will not allow anyone exploit their difference in creed or tongue “to set us against one another.”

Abia INEC gives out certificates of return to elected house members n Ugochukwu UGOJI-EKE, Umuahia n HE Abia state chapter of the Independent National Electoral Commission, [INEC] may have concluded the 2015 general election with the handing out of certificates of return to the winners of the April 11 and 25th rerun poll into the Abia State House of Assembly.

However the certificate handover done by the Resident Electoral Commission, [REC], Abia State, Professor Selina Oko nearly ran into a hitch following a protest by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, [APGA] over an alleged substitution of the name of the winner of Umuahia South State Constituency.

The REC gave an explanation of how she discovered the anomaly, as soon as the certificates were brought down from Abuja, she took a careful study of the names on the certificates and discovered that Umuahia South was not correct.

Prof Oko explained that she ordered for the form where the Returning Officer entered the name of the rightful winner of the poll as well as the list sent from her office to Abuja, only to find out that a substitution had occurred along the line.

She explained further that she had written for another certificate containing the name of the winner of the election to be produced by Abuja, and that as soon as the certificate was returned, the owner would be invited to receive it.

Prof Oko expressed disappointment in the action of APGA in trying to stop the exercise from holding, saying that she discountenanced their protest because she only take instructions from INEC, Abuja and not from any political parties.

T

•L-R The newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Dennis Isizor; the Principal Consecrator, Francis Cardinal Arinze; co-Consecrator, Archbishop Valerian Okeke; Fmr. Gov. Peter Obi; Cardinal Onayikan; Archbishop Augustine Akabueze; papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja after Isizor's ordination ordination at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, yesterday.

Okorocha pledges payment of salary arrears pry school teachers MO state Gov. Rochas Okorocha has pledged to pay salary arrears owed primary school teachers in the state which totals about thirteen months. Okorocha made the promise during the 2015 Workers Day celebrations in Owerri yesterday.

In the same vein, the governor also promised to clear all pension arrears monthly. While he would pay arrears of N10,000 monthly, those higher than that would be spread over 12 months period.

He reiterated his commitment toward the welfare of workers and pledged that his administration would ensure prompt release of subventions of all government agencies and parastatals.

The governor said he would fight corruption in the state civil service by tackling inflated salaries and ghost workers.

He said that more jobs would be created in the state during his second tenure through creation of new industries.

Okorocha encouraged workers to engage in small businesses such as poultry farming to augment their salaries and contribute toward the development of the state.

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Austin Chilakpo called for annual promotions of workers for improved productivity. Chilakpo urged the government to appoint permanent secretaries based on hierarchy in the civil service and not as political appointment.

I

Serving senator, brother-in-law at war over ownership of company

EMBER representn Polycarp OROSEVWOTU, Ughelli n ing Delta South senatorial district of tion. ance Ministry Warri, Mr. Delta State, at the Upper ‘’However, due to the eco- Onyebuchi Eke who was Chamber, Senator James nomic prospects of the Julie- travelling along Warri-Sapele Manager and brother-in-law, Man International Company road with his SUV vehicle Mr. Joseph Bribai, have been limited, Mrs. Manager re- belonging to me was shot alleged of being in a cold cently petitioned me to AIG’s several times and he manwar over the rightful owner- office, Nigeria Police Force, aged to escape. ship of a company Julie-Ma Zone 5 Benin city, where it Bribai who lamented the oil and Gas limited with reg- was resolved that since they attitude of the Manager’s istration number RC 486921. wanted their business name household, urged members Mr. Bribai yesterday back, I should re-register of the public to disregard the raised fresh concerns over Julie-Ma International Com- purported disclaimer made allegation of threat to his life pany Limited and hand over by the management of Julieover the ownership of the the incorporated documents Ma International Company company. Bribai stated that, to them, while l retain the RC Limited which he said was a “in separate occasions my NO.486921 with a new incor- ploy to discredit him before elder sister (Mrs Manager) porated document. his business associates, and her children had physi“But because they were maintaining that he recally attacked me and threat- not satisfied with the settle- mained the rightful owner of ened fire that l should ment at Zone 5 Benin, they the incorporated relinquished his legal pos- now resorted to trailing me RC.NO.486921 which now session of the company and all over the place. The Pastor bears Julie-Ma Oil and Gas the registration number. of House of Glory Deliver- Limited.

Bribai who is the b r o t h e r - i n - l a w, added that, “In the early 2000, I was in FFICIALS of the NaIn addition to the arrests, fake version of the product business with the tional Agency for Food the NAFDAC officials sealed which prompted the arrest of Managers, were I and Drug Administra- shops, while hundreds of car- the people that were involved was instructed to in- tion and Control (NAFDAC), tons of the fake product worth for interrogation. corporate Julie-Ma yesterday raided the Eziukwu several millions of naira were According to him, “We International Com- market in Aba, Abia State, also seized. seized about 100 cartoons of pany Limited claiming a continuous effort Speaking after the opera- the fake product and we are through which they to rid the nation of fake and tion, Uche Chidi, the Chief going to send them for labocarried out their joint unwholesome regulated Regulatory officer and leader ratory analysis to confirm the business. products. of the team, said his office got status and we will move on “In 2004, my elder The raid conducted by the information regarding the from there. sister, Mrs Manager officials of Investigation and fake of the product, which “Once the product is conand Senator James Enforcement Directorate of was being manufactured by firmed to be fake, those arManager offered to the Agency from Lagos, Cormart Industries Ltd, Ilu- rested are going to be sell their interest in lasted several hours, with peju, Lagos. prosecuted with the approval the company to me three traders, a male and two Chidi said based on the of the management”. and to remove the females who were alleged to strength of the information, He added that the Agency name of Sen. Man- be involved in the sale of they moved into Aba and had spread its drag net to enager in the records of fake “Instant cold water raided Eziukwu market. He sure that the fake product in the company due to starch” product were ar- revealed that during the raid, other markets would be conthey found the stocks of the fiscated. his political ambi- rested.

M

Speaking on that of Isiala Ngwa South, the REC said shortly after the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly poll, the INEC office in Isiala Ngwa south was engulfed in an inferno, during which the necessary documents were burnt, but that she had informed Abuja about it and that the certificate of the winner would also be produced in due course.

Those that received their certificates included Engr.

Chinedu Orji [PDP] Umuahia Central, Apugo Chukwudi [PDP] Umuahia East, Nwaubani Tony Mezie [PDP] Ukwa West, Taribo Paul [PDP] Ukwa East, Cosmos Ndukwe [PDP] Bende North, Martins Azubuike [PDP] Isiala Ngwa North, Solomon Akpulonu [PDP] Obingwa East, Ahuruezenwa Nkoro [PDP] Obingwa West, Egwuonu Obasi [PDP] Ohafia North, Emeka Alozie [PDP] Osisioma South and Kennedy Njoku [PDP] Osisioma North.

Others were Ezekwesiri Ikedi [APGA] Umunneochi, Kelechi Onuzuruike [APGA] Umuahia North, Uchendu Ifeanyi [APGA] Ohafia South, Mrs. Uloma Onuoha [APGA] Isuikwuato, Ugboaja Theophilus [APGA] Ikwuano, Okobuo Chibuzor [APGA] Bende South, Luke Onyechi Ukara [APGA] Arochukwu, Abraham Oba [APGA] Aba Central, Emmanuel Clinton Ebere [APGA] Aba South and Emeka Nnamani [APGA] Aba North.

From the results so far declared by Abia INEC, it shows that PDP has garnered a total of 12 seats as against APGA’s 10, and there are two seats that are yet to be declared because of some little problems from the side of INEC.

NAFDAC raids Aba market, seals shops over fake product

O

Mrs. Ifeadikachi Mbamaonyeukwu, one of the traders arrested for selling the fake product said she never knew that the product which she said her husband used to buy at a slightly cheaper rate was fake.

Mrs. Mbamaonyeukwu who said she could not differentiate between the original and fake products said it was a young man who she could not tell the name that sold the fake products to her.

She argued that she was unable to know the true state of the fake product because none of her customers who bought it had ever returned to complain it was not good.

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

68

SPORT EXTRA

Keshi to decide on assistants Interesting times

S

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has the final say on who becomes his assistant, this is according to his brother and agent Emmanuel Ado. It is believed that Keshi has accepted that Daniel Amokachi be replaced by Salisu Yusuf as his first assistant following recommendation from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

However, Emmanuel Ado has insisted Keshi is still consulting over who joins him on the bench.

"I want to confirm that Keshi is consulting all stakeholders the NFF president, chairman technical, journalists and other stakeholders on the issue of his

assistants and some other issues," he disclosed.

"Keshi is consulting. The final decision on his assistants and team is going to be his. But he must consult because he is not all knowing. It is about Nigeria.

There will be no sentiments."

He added, "In his first coming there was no controversy on the issue of his assistants, I wonder why we are making an issue out of it now.

“We ask for prayers and support for the Super Eagles.

"The fans want to see the team return to their winning ways...playing well and winning and that is what my client wants to work on."

• Keshi

Warri Wolves through to CAF Confed play offs • Hold MK Etancheite to 0-0 in Kinshasa • Team dedicate win to Uduaghan have dedicated their qualifi-

W

• Egwuekwe

ARRI Wolves, are through to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup after they held home team, MK Etancheite of Democratic Republic of Congo to a goalless draw in Kinshasa yesterday.

The Seasiders went into the second leg tie with a 2-1 first leg advantage played in Warri two weeks in a game the MK Etancheite almost picked an away draw.

The Media Officer of Wolves, Moses Etu told NationSport that all Warri Wolves players played their hearts out in Kinshasa and

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri fought like trojans to ensure that the club advance to the next round of the Africa's second tier club competition.

He said the introduction of entirely six new players who didn't play in the first leg, unsettled MK Etancheite and that it was the spring board needed for their away feat.

The players newly fielded were Ibenegbu Ikechukwu, Abu Azeez, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Onyekachi Okafor, Ojo Mine and Michael Egbeta.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves

Flying Eagles win in final test match in Abuja

F

LYING Eagles rounded up their training camp in Abuja Saturday with a 30 win over hard-fighting Babayaro FC of Gwagwalada at the FIFA Goal Project.

Coach Manu Garba played a different set of teams for each half of this game.

After several near misses at goal, the Nigeria U20s finally went ahead in the 41st minute when Ifeanyi Matthew let fly a canon shot from outside the box.

FC Porto youngster Chidiera Ezeh would have doubled the Flying Eagles lead four minutes

later, but his goal-bound effort was deflected for a corner.

However, Ezeh will not be denied in the 55th minute, when he hit target with a powerful shot.

Substitute Christian Pyagbara then saw his shot cleared off the goal line after an hour, before Gabriel Ikechukwu made the game safe for the Flying Eagles in stoppage time.

The Flying Eagles will now fly out to Nuremburg, Germany, Saturday night to continue their preparations for the U20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand.

Emenike vows to fight on

S

UPER Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has told AfricanFootball.com he will keep on fighting after he scored his first goal in 10 weeks for Turkish champions Fenerbache.

The former Karabukspor forward justified his inclusion in Fenerbahce starting line-up on Tuesday in a Turkish Cup semifinal when he scored the opener in his side's 2-1 win at Bursaspor.

He has now scored a total of six goals this season.

"I have accepted it the way it comes, it was not a fair season for me but I think my con-

• Emenike

fidence and energy remains.

When I'm on the pitch, the fighting spirit remains and I see my confidence increasing but to be fair I still have more to give," Emenike told AfricanFootball.com.

"There's a big priority for me as a Fenerbahce player and I keep giving my best for the team. My contribution and commitment can really

• Ezeh

turns to be good omen for me.

I'm not distracted, and I will not."

The former Spartak Moscow striker has dedicated his goal against Bursaspor to the victims of Xenophobia attacks in South Africa.

"In the world today, one game brings us together as one. My goal is to the family of those who have lost their lives in South Africa as I plead for the end of violence on the continent,” Emenike told AfricanFootball.com.

Flying Eagles must be in World Cup final, says Obuh

M

ANU Garba and his U20 lads are set for their Germany training camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Former Flying Eagles’ Coach John Obuh has echoed the desire of football fans across the Country ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup and in anticipation that the current team have the ability to challenge for the title.

In a chat with www.footballlive.ng Obuh suggested that the level of competitiveness and quality in the squad should avail the handlers utmost opportunity to pick the best 21 players.

Obuh said: ” I hope their training camp will be very success-

• Obuh

ful, play some good friendlies and make few corrections from the past and every player fight for the final 21 names that’ll be sent to FIFA. ” I know the sky will be their limit, as far as the Coaches and the players are concerned, the general expectation is that they play into the final of the World Cup.”

cation for the play off round of the CAF Confederation Cup to Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, whose last minute largesse ensured their trip to Kinshasa was not aborted.

Warri Wolves also thanked their supporters and fans alike for their numerous words of encouragement before the second leg tie in Kinshasa.

Warri Wolves must see off one more opponent before ensuring a place in the Group Stage of the competition.

In a related development, The President of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Amaju Pinnick has hailed Warri Wolves players for braving the odds to qualify for the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup at the expense of MK Etancheite.

Pinnick in his words of encouragement to the team shortly after he received the news of the team's qualification, said that the sky would be the starting point for the team if they remain focused.

Chinedu Obasi dismisses Besiktas link

N

IGERIA international Chinedu Obasi has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Turkish side, Besiktas, in the summer transfer market.

Reports that emanating from the Turkish media claimed that manager Slaven Bilic was exploring ways to sign the striker whose contract with Schalke 04 will expire at the end of the season.

Chinedu Obasi has reiterated that he has had no contact whatsoever with Besiktas, but to be on the safe side he added that there's a small possibility that an intermediary may be in talks with the Istanbul club without his knowledge. "'I don't know where the news is coming from. I have not had any contact with Besiktas," Obasi revealed to SL10.ng. ''Maybe an agent is talking with them but I am not.''

The 28-year-old Obasi has spent the last eight years in Germany, playing for Hoffenheim before switching to Schalke 04, where he has played nonstop for the past three years.

It can be revealed that the former Lyn Oslo man was offered to some unnamed clubs in England in the winter transfer market but the proposed move to the Premier League did not happen.

<<<<<<Continued from back page wear what he is given starting a new campaign with should be decamped. It was the Eagles and the ground for this reason, among others, rules must be documented in that Nike dumped us in the a Code of Conduct where the past. We should stop this players and coaches know tendency of going back to our their boundaries. Other vomit for pittance when we countries make money from could solve the problem by kitting deals and international getting our players and friendlies played either at coaches to comply with what home or away venues. they are given or stay at home.

It would shock many people Having been to the World Cup to hear that the NFF spends as for the fifth time, such trivial much as N48 million, things like getting a kit sometimes higher than that for contract should be given. We a home game of the Super should be the ones accepting Eagles, largely because the such deals at our terms, not coaches invite an armada of struggling to persuade a firm our players in Europe for every that dumped us in the past game. As many as 29 players that we have changed our from around the globe are ways. invited. These 29 players fly Details of the contract, business class, are signed at The Soho Hotel, accommodated in choice Richmond Mews, London last hotels and earn as much as week Thursday showed that $10,000. In some instances, the products' value would like the inglorious 2-2 draw increase in the second year, against Bafana Bafana in our with American company last game of the botched NIKE committed to supplying Africa Cup of Nations kits to the value of $1million qualifiers in Uyo, the Eagles to the Nigeria national teams. received $5,000. The coaches NIKE will supply kits worth must be challenged to invite $1million to the National not more than 13 EuropeTeams in the year 2017 and based stars at the most.

2018. The three-and-half year One cannot understand the contract was signed by NFF basis for inviting 29 established President Amaju Pinnick and stars for friendly matches. The General Secretary NFF must insist on paying Mohammed Sanusi. Tina appearance fees of not more Salminen, NIKE's African than $2,000. Friendlies are Football Sports Marketing meant to test rookies from the Director, represented the grassroots and fringe players American behemoth. from the main team.

There are also various If we truly want to groom a bonuses specified for any of new team, we need to set our the National teams that eyes on the Flying Eagles and qualifies for major the Dream Team VI. In doing international championships. that, we must be prepared to The Super Eagles are to earn accept whatever results that $500,000 at the 2018 FIFA we get from the 2017 Africa World Cup finals in Russia.

Cup of Nations. I have my According to Pinnick: "We fears about this qualifiers, are comfortable with the given the fact that Egypt has contract, because NIKE came been absent from the last three across during the negotiations editions of the Africa Cup of as being fluid and ready to Nations. They have spent this listen to our demands. That is period rebuilding their team. always the key aspect; you They are a better prepared always need a partner with a side than ours. We should listening ear. therefore, accept our lot in the "Nigeria football is happy to 2017 Africa Cup of Nations associate with a global leader qualifiers and build on our and I am much convinced this gains towards a credible is just the beginning. As we go outing at the 2018 World Cup along, NIKE may also be in Russia. willing to partner with some I'm excited that Kelechi of our domestic Clubs and Iheanacho is back on the even the League Management pitch. He scored a goal for Company."

Manchester City on Monday My heart bleeds that we can against Chelsea's reserves come cheap in the name of even though his English side securing a kitting deal. But that lost the trophy on 5-2 is the best this new board can aggregate, having lost the first do now that the brand Super leg 3-1 and 2-1 in the second Eagles is jaded. Otherwise, we leg. would resort to the colourless Ihenanacho and Awoniyi locally made one that would should be invited for our next make us the laughing stock. It game against Chad. Chidera is an insult for Nigeria to earn Eze and Musa Mohammed $500,000 for qualifying for our are also young men who could sixth World Cup in 2018, be fielded against Chad. when some other countries are Eagles will increase its talking about eight digits or recovery abilities in the more for the same feat. I pity midfield if younger boys are the NFF board. They must call allowed to function in place our players to order. Things of our ageing senior players they dare not do in their clubs no disrespect to what they we accommodate and that is have achieved for the why the game is prostrate country. here.

Happily, Stephen Keshi is It is superfluous for anyone worried about the long list of to think that the kitting firm bench warming members of of the national teams should his first team. Keshi needs to kit our domestic clubs. This watch clips of the Dream argument doesn't add up, they Team VI and Flying Eagles to are separate entities. They pick new players. This idea of should be allowed to do things sitting back to say that these young lads must earn their that suit their purses and shirts in the Eagles isn't the attract better income than way forward. The Big Boss what Nike is offering the must accept that many of Eagles that has fallen to the those who were in Brazil in extent of being beaten at home 2014 won't make the 2018

by Uganda. Eagles are a World Cup squad, except that crawling giant. isn't part of his brief.

We are on the verge of

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

69

NEWS

70

CRIME CCUPANTS of a building at 13, Alhaji Bashiru Street, Ojodu, a suburb of Lagos, have faulted the claims by the owner of the building that it was distressed.

The owner of the two-storey building, Pa Ganiyu Bolaji Davies, alleged in a report published penultimate Saturday by The Nation that his tenants had refused to move out of the building after it became distressed following a fire disaster that ravaged it in 2013.

Some of the tenants of the building, including Kolawole Usman, Olusola Tuase and Sunday Okeke, said Pa Davies was spreading falsehood about the true state of the house.

“The building used to be a bungalow until it was renovated in March 2013 by a developer,Hassan Habeeb, who was contracted by Pa Davies, popularly called Gabovies. Habeeb was to manage the property for 18 years. We moved into the building in April 2013 and to our dismay a few months later, Pa Davies asked us to move out of the house following a disagreement with the developer, whom we had paid two years rent. ‘’We told him that he cannot ask us to quit our apartments on the ground that he was not known to us and that our rent was paid to Habeeb. We asked him to settle his differences with Habeeb but he has refused till date.

“Pa Davies went ahead to disconnect electricity supply to the building and even invited officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBC) to inspect the building alleging that it was distressed. The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) also carried out tests on the building and its report did not indicate that the building was distressed.

“When Pa Davies found out that

O

&

THE NATION, SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

OTHER STORIES

Tenants tackle landlord over controversial ‘distressed’ building

n Kunle AKINRINADE n his efforts to forcibly eject us had failed, he wanted to use a fire outbreak, which ravaged a portion of the top floor of the building, to ease us out of the house. The truth is that, Pa Davies had taken the developer to court in order to repossess his house from him, but the court presided by Justice Bola Okikiolu asked Pa Davies to refund the sum of N30 million to Habeeb in respect of the 18- year lease agreement. ‘’As we speak, Pa Davies has not paid the money to Habeeb and our tenancy is still valid.Towards the end of last year, he invited some men of the Criminal Investigation Department(CID), Alagbon, to eject us but we explained to the officers that our

rent was still valid and that Pa Davies had not refunded our rent as promised.All the allegations he made against us in your publication last week were lies and figment of his imagination. At the moment, he has no right over the building because he has not refunded the N30 million to the developer as directed by the court, hence, Habeeb remains the person we know as being in charge of the building.’’

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, Habeeb said Pa Davies was spreading outright lies in a bid to take his building from him through the back door.

“He contracted me to develop and manage the building. We signed an 18-year lease agreement and I paid him the sum of N500,000 to seal the

agreement. After I had completed the job and got tenants into the building, he suddenly wanted to severe the agreement and I refused. He filed a suit against me and the court has asked him to refund the sum of N30 million being the value of what I spent to renovate the house from an uncompleted bungalow to a twostorey building. Instead of paying me the money as directed by the court, he has been troubling the tenants all in a bid to forcibly take the house from me. The truth is that he cannot have his house back until he pays me my money.’’

Pa Davies, however, told our correspondent to disregard the remarks of his tenants and developer, citing the judgment of the court which empowers him to make refund to occupants who are yet to secure apartments after paying money to Habeeb.

“I gave the job to Habeeb in 2012.

He was to manage the building for 18 years but part of the agreement was that he would give me three mini-flat apartments on each of the floors of the building. Instead, he rented out all the 27 mini-flats without giving me mine as agreed. I then got a judgment to retrieve the building from him and I was ordered to pay N30 million to those who have paid him money but are yet to take possession of their apartments.

“A portion of the building was set ablaze by one of the tenants. As a result of this, the building has become deplorable,hence, I asked them to

move out. I asked them not to pay any rent to Habeeb and because of that, the tenants started subletting their apartments. They have refused to vacate their apartments even when their rents had expired. I did not disconnect electricity supply to the building, on the contrary, the tenants were the ones that raised the alarm over poor installation of electric wire into the building. ‘’When they came to me, I asked that light be disconnected from the building pending the time the problem would be fixed. Light has since been restored to the building after the error was corrected by electricians from a public electricity distribution company.’’

In a judgement delivered by Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile of an Ikeja High Court on June 27, 2013, the court, among others, ruled that the claimant(Pa Davies) “shall pay the sum of thirty million to the defendant (Habeeb) being the sum for the developed property in respect of the 18year lease period executed in favour of the defendant as contain in the said lease agreement.”

Police warn owners of abandoned vehicles HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles at Area ‘F’ Command, Ikeja, and Ijora Badiya Division to remove them within 14 days or forfeit their vehicles.

The vehicles at Area ‘F’ Command include, Kia Optima with registration number ET 140 LAD; Volkswagen Passat (DZ 482 FST) while abandoned vehicles at the Ijora Badiya Division are: Toyota Corolla(AM 429 BDG) and Volkswagen Passat (EKY 427 AG).

T

THE NATION SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

71

TOMORROW IN THE NATION PUNCHLINE Ubah must have been thinking of where to recoup the investment he made into the president’s failed reelection bid. He must have been weeping internally for long only for him to weep in the open when he could no longer contain it. There are many like him who are in such tears now. And they will weep for long because it is the ordinary Nigerian that they are putting in pains to have their comfort

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3195

—Tunji Adegboyega

T

O emerge as President of Nigeria, a candi date must fulfil the constitutional require ment of scoring not just the highest number of total votes cast in the election but he must also score not less than 25% of the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of the 36 states in the federation. Given the extant configuration of states in Nigeria today, a presidential candidate must score the highest number of votes as well as record 25% of votes in at least 24 states of the federation.

This provision, particularly the requirement for geographical spread rather than mere numerical superiority, is in consonance with the deliberate design of the Nigerian presidency to be a symbol of national unity and cohesion. The President, given the spread of his electoral base is thus the custodian of a national mandate who is expected to rise above primordial sentiments and sectional fragmentation in the discharge of his onerous functions.

It is thus impossible for anybody to emerge as President of Nigeria simply on the basis of narrow ethnic, regional or religious bloc votes. A winning candidate or party must be willing to appeal to, negotiate and build bridges of understanding with diverse ethno-regional and other interest groups across the country to forge a viable base that can ensure electoral triumph. The beauty of it is that no geo-political region or zone of the country can unilaterally lord it over others or decide who will be President of Nigeria.

This fact was obviously lost on people like Chief Edwin Clark, Asari-Dokubo or Government Tompolo when, before the March 28, presidential election, they threatened fire and brimstone if their Ijaw kinsman, President Goodluck Jonathan, was not re-elected for a second term.

Of course, Dr Jonathan suffered an emphatic defeat at the polls, conceded victory to General Muhammadu Buhari, the new President-elect, with philosophical equanimity and the rest is now history. Incidentally, this was also the same mistake made by key elements of the northern political elite when they stridently and vehemently opposed Jonathan contesting the 2011 election and called for a return of the presidency and, by implication, political power to the north in that year's polls. This indeed elicited considerable sympathy and support for Jonathan and cost Buhari votes he badly needed in the South and predominantly Christian areas of the northern middle belt.

The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is no doubt a function of the successful handshake for the first time in the country's history between the North and the South West.

Interestingly, some commentators and analysts particularly from the South-South and South East claim that the outcome of the March 28th polls was the result of a 'gang up' by the North West, North East, North Central and South West against the South-South and South-East, which are veritable political strongholds of the PDP. This is a curious contention indeed.

For one, as has been severally noted, President Jonathan won a decisive victory in 2011.

He was elected President largely on the basis of votes he garnered from the South-South, SouthEast and North-Central states with a smatter-

The new North/South West political partnership

•Buhari ing of support from the North-West and the North-East. Could the outcome of the 2011 presidential elections be attributed then to a gang up between the Southern electorate and Christian elements of the North to deny Buhari of victory at the polls? I do not think so.

Despite its appalling performance at the last polls, considering the party's access to humongous resources, its longevity in power since 1999 and its brazen manipulation of institutions of state for pernicious partisan purposes, the PDP is far from being dead. Even though the PDP lost the presidency and several states hitherto under its control, the party won at least 25% of the votes cast in most of the South-West and the northern states. This was unlike the South-South and South-East where the APC could not garner 25% of votes cast except for Edo and Imo states.

Thus, voter behaviour in the north and SouthWest could be attributed to a combination of factors including ethno-regional and religious considerations, merit and a desire for change. In the South-South and South-East, however, ethnoregional affiliation seems to have been the key determinant of voter behaviour. The important thing was to vote for a 'son of the soil' notwithstanding his record of performance in office. It is exactly this kind of one-sided ethno-regional bloc voting that can be described as a gang up against

•Tinubu the rest of the country.

The elections of March 28 and April 11 signify two key changes in elite alliance or coalition formation in Nigeria. For one, it marked a significant political divorce between the hegemonic factions of the South-South and northern political elite. In both the first and second republics, the South-South consistently cast their lot with the politically dominant Hausa/Fulani political class. And this was despite the fact that Chief Obafemi Awolowo's Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) had consistently championed pro minority political causes such as creation of more states to cater for the county's ethnic minorities as well as revenue allocation based on derivation, which would have immensely benefitted the oil producing states of the Niger Delta.

This is why all the strident strictures of prominent South-South indigenes against so-called northern domination in the run up to the last election sounded so hollow and hypocritical. The truth of the matter is that the South-South political elite have always been complicit since independence in the despoliation of their land and the exploitation of their people. It is instructive that after six years at the apex of political authority in Nigeria, an Ijaw man is leaving the Niger Delta as poverty-stricken and environmentally ravaged as ever.

Beyond this, Jonathan has left intact the overcentralised and excessively bureaucratised political structure responsible for the pitiable plight of millions of Nigerians both within the Niger Delta and throughout the country. This only reinforces the fact that what matters is not necessarily the ethno-regional origins of a President but the quality of his vision, the rigour of his ideological convictions and his competence and will to transform vision into reality.

The other key change in the Nigerian polity signified by the last general elections is the new partnership between the northern and southwest political classes. Even though he has been rightly pilloried in history because of the criminal impunity that characterised his attempt to stay put in office as Premier of the Western Region, even against the will of the people, Chief SLA Akintola must still be given the credit for being politically prescient enough to see the imperative of a north/South-West working alliance.

On the basis of his superlative performance as Premier of the West, Awolowo sought to sell himself and his party's programmes directly to the electorate of the north and the eastern regions believing that any rational voter would want him to replicate at the national level what he had done in the west to worldwide acclaim.

Unfortunately, Awo could not have been more mistaken. Akintola had a better grasp of the political complexities of a sprawling plural society like Nigeria with its intricate mosaic of competing ethno-cultural and religious entities. He thus advocated an alliance of the South-West political elite with their northern and eastern counterparts to partake of the bounteous feast at the centre. This was what the late Chief S.M. Afolabi had in mind decades later when he chided Chief Bola Ige for not appreciating the opportunity given to him by the PDP to 'come and eat' as a Minister of the Federal Republic.

Unfortunately, advocates of participation in 'mainstream' politics have, since Akintola, been actuated with a desire to share in the cake at the centre and less with the onerous challenges of crisis and underdevelopment confronting Nigeria.

Awolowo had the intellectual depth, self -discipline and ideological clarity needed to liberate and actualize the potentials of Nigeria. However, he lacked the tactical and strategic skills to convert his regional acceptability in the west to achieve a pan-Nigerian acceptance. Akintola was endowed with astute political pragmatism and flexibility but was deficient in organisational discipline, programmatic vision or ideological coherence. In Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the APC and a key architect of Nigeria's emergent new order, we find a combination of Awolowo's political idealism and Akintola's strategic realism.

These qualities have contributed significantly to Tinubu's unrivalled ability to help forge the new North/South-West political consensus responsible for Buhari's electoral triumph. But how can the new North/South West partnership help in leading Nigeria out of the darkness of underdevelopment into the liberating light of accelerated national transformation? That is the million dollar question.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Interesting times

T

HESE are indeed interesting times for Nigeria's football. Super Eagles now have a chief coach and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chieftains not in hurry to announce the team's assistant coaches. The Eagles now have a Nike kits deal worth $750,000. In subsequent years, the deal will rise to $1 million, culminating in the $2.75 million deal for a country that had her debut at the World Cup in 1994. Did I hear you say chicken feed? For Nigeria's soccer teams in the next three years, $2.75 million is paltry but that is the price we must pay for doing players' and coaches' biddings.

Interestingly, nobody has told us how people can get the kits. Most times, it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for anyone to get Nigeria's kits

anywhere in the world. Even visits to the manufacturers haven't solved the puzzle.

Merchandising is one of the money spinners in the game. Replica jerseys and other memorabilia are revenue earners for serious countries, especially during big competitions such as the World Cup. The biggest gift for any Nigerian in Diaspora is the Eagles jersey.

Beyond the annual increment of the sponsorship deal by $1million, we need to know where soccer fans can get the original jerseys. NFF needs to tell us their plans to stop people from selling fake Eagles kits so that they can make good business of it. Most importantly is the need for the jerseys to be affordable. I look forward to the day when fans can walk into shops within the stadium to buy the jerseys. I marvel at mammoth crowds dressed in their countries' colours at match venues. This is the sensible thing to do

not kowtowing to players' and coaches' needless demands.

Players and coaches decide, including the awful choice of lemon green as the country's colour. They decide the hotels they will stay, tell us how much they should earn and pay them upfront yet, the Eagles are the 45th in the world; seventh in Africa. These are truly interesting times for our football.

Lemon green isn't dark green, which represents the dominant colour in our flag.

We don't want disco jerseys. We must stop this nonsense. Countries draw their identities from the dominant colour on their national flag. Lemon green isn't one of our flag's colours. No wonder we are being paid $2.75 million for a three-year deal.

But that is the price we are paying for not qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

and also the disrespect our coaches and players showed at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to our previous kit suppliers. Our coaches wore Adidas complete training kits to press conferences, even as they had Nike fez cap. A blue Nike cap on green Adidas should tell anyone that there was something wrong. Not so with our coaches. As for our players, they played with all manner of boots, insisting that they had personal kitting deals, which are not applicable when they play for their European clubs. I hope sincerely that the NFF knows what it has signed with Nike and should insist on our players' and coaches' compliance with the tenets of the contract. It smacks of irresponsibility on our part for players' and coaches' deals to supersede that of the country. Only in Nigeria can such things happen. It shouldn't, therefore, come as a surprise that the NFF always goes to government cap-in-hand for cash.

Any player or coach who is unwilling to

•Continued on Page 68

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516. Marketing: 01-8155547, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Tel/08099650602. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 `Website: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: saturday@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: DELE ADEOSUN