The Nation May, 02 , 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

E, R FI N .

O NEWS IS T.Y A PAGE 2 H YS UM T OR SA ANJ PAGE N 6 •Sect celebrates bombing of ThisDay as it lists allegations D

MAY Boko Haram threatens to attack DAY •SEE PAGES 4,5&62

The Nation, others in video www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2111 WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Workers: wage strike looms

•SEE PAGE 2

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

NEWS

Boko Haram threatens to attack The Nation, others in video I

SLAMIST sect Boko Haram last night released a video showing a smiling suicide bomber drive into the offices of ThisDay and blow himself up, an attack that killed at least three people and made journalists a new target of the extremist group.

The 18-minute video posted on YouTube includes new threats against journalists and major newspapers, as well as the Hausa language services of Voice of America and Radio France International. An unnamed male speaker also threatens new attacks against the Federal Government, saying security forces continue to hold the wives and children of its followers hostage.

The message, relayed in Hausa, was translated into english. It reads: “This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.

“We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on Thisday Newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some Media Houses, especially Thisday, is because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW) during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.

“At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they have forgiven those who committed the offence.

“But based on our knowl-

The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big. The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.

edge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgement, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgement is for such persons to be killed.

“This lady Isioma Daniel that committed this crime, the judgement on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.

“We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.

“It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.

“We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the ThisDay incident.

“Thisday newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

“Some of the offences of

Thisday and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we had nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.

“Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the President’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader say what they attributed to him.

“Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to potray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III. “Recently too, they came out

with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it; that was just a big lie to convince the world.

“The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

“These are all lies, and they are many.

“These media houses have committed a lot of offences that are detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorised into three groups.

“The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big.

“The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.

“There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them, including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.

“VOA Hausa, for instance, recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us, “The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, Peoples Daily and RFI(Radio France international).

Workers: wage strike looms From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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•Shekau

“There is an online medium known as Saharareporters, which has its office in New York, and which has made their site a platform for attack against Islam. We are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam; otherwise, we will find a way of attacking them too.

“We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists, which made them refuse to conduct the conference.

“We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

“Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially tertiary ones.

“We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys.

“We have already started with Gombe and Kano.”

ABOUR is angry over the alleged poor implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage.

It declared yesterday at the Workers’ Day celebration that another strike is inevitable over the wage issue.

Speaking in Abuja, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar accused some states of failing to implement the minimum wage.

President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Peter Esele said the N18,000 minimum wage was no longer tenable.

The attendance of workers at the Eagle Square ceremony was sparse, unlike last year when the venue was filled to capacity.

Omar alleged that governors of Enugu, Ebonyi and Kwara have continued to deny workers their legitimate wages. He said the struggle continues in Oyo State.

He said: “It is tragic that the Federal Government has been reluctant, or failed to pressure such governors not to continue their violation of the country’s constitution by failing to pay workers their legitimate salaries in line with the law.”

Continued on page 6

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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NEWS MAY DAY CELEBRATION

Fashola gives conditions for assent to wage policy

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said his administration will no longer be cowed into paying wages it did not negotiate and which the funds to pay is not provided for by the Federal Government.

Fashola made the declaration yesterday at the rally held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

He said: “I recognise that Item 34 of the Exclusive Legislative List gives the Federal Government the power to make legislation for a minimum wage. That is where the power ends.

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

“We have complied with the minimum wage since January last year, long before it was signed into law.

“We should be left to decide what more we can afford to pay over the minimum to any worker.”

Labour Minister Emeka Wogu asked striking doctors to return to work.

Speaking through a director in the ministry, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade, the minister said strike and protests would hinder the progress of indus-

trial relations and national growth.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Idowu Adelakun, said: “The lingering industrial crisis between the state government and doctors in the public hospitals is unhealthy and also thwarting the good health policy of your administration”.

He appealed to the government to reverse the use of threat to solve industrial dispute.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Akeem Kazeem, urged the doctors to embrace dialogue with the government so as to resolved the lingering crisis.

Aregbesola, Ahmed, Yuguda advise workers

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday advised workers to be serious, irrespective of their positions.

He spoke at the Technical College, Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor said: “May Day is not just to commemorate workers’ struggle for emancipation, it is also to admonish and encourage us to take our work seriously; to value our work regardless of our place in the work hierarchy.

“We must realise that, through our work, we are con-

Workers boo Elechi From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

THOUSANDS of workers at the Abakaliki Township Stadium yesterday booed Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi over the nonimplementation of the minimum wage for workers in the state.

The workers disrupted the governor’s address when he stated that his administration had implemented the new wage.

Elechi, who was represented by his deputy, Dave Umahi, said the government would ensure better welfare package for workers.

He said the demands presented by the workers would not be addressed at the rally, and urged them to set up a committee to dialogue with the government.

Oyo Speaker: better welfare packages coming From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs Monsurat Sunmonu, has assured the state’s workers of a better welfare package.

She spoke while addressing reporters yesterday in Ibadan.

Mrs. Sunmonu assured that bills to improve the living condition of workers in the state will be passed.

The lawmaker described workers as a veritable tool for national development.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo, Adekunle Jimoh and Samson Ademola, Ilorin

tributing our important quota to the overall development and progress of our society.”

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed called on workers to pray for the nation, saying the country is undergoing trying times.

Ahmed said: “Even though the current administration has made appreciable progress on the economy, the nation needs our collective will and wisdom to successfully meander through the

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From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

minimum wage as agreed between the Federal Government and labour.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu assured the workers that their welfare would continue to be adequately addressed.

Award for Suswam, Mark

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday renewed his administration’s committment to improving workers’ welfare.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) state Chairman Simon Anchaver hailed government / labour relationship and called for sustenance.

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•Fashola (middle), Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Aderanti Adebule (left), Mrs. Arogundade (second le for Establishment and Training, Mrs Florence Oguntuase (second right); her Special Duties counterpart, Wal

‘Tackle security challenges’

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Niger State has urged the three tiers of government to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.

The state NLC Chairman, Yahaya Idris Ndako, spoke at a rally in Minna, yesterday.

He appealed to the government to implement the new

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uncommon security challenge.”

The governor called for a renewed commitment to value addition and more circumspection on matters of security.

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda said no responsible government can neglect workers, who are creators of wealth.

He told labour leaders to revive the principle of equity, justice, commitment and service.

Yuguda spoke through the Deputy Governor Sagir Aminu Saleh at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Some Benue citizens were presented with awards of excellence.

Senate President David Mark, Samuel Ortom, Minister of Interior Abba Moro and Suswam were among those honoured.

Rally cancelled in Kaduna

PORADIC gunshots were heard yesterday in the Kaduna metropolis, causing residents to scamper for safety and Organised Labour to cancel the May Day rally.

It was gathered that a police patrol team shot into the air to announce its presence and scare away labour from holding a rally.

Though the rally did not hold, labour leaders asked members to observe the day

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola greeting workersat the Government Technical College, Osogbo

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

in their offices because of the security situation in the state.

In his solidarity message to workers, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa pledged his commitment to their welfare.

The governor’s message which was signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Hannatu Ugah, said about 473 housing units for civil servants and low income earners in the state are being built.

Why parastatals don’t earn minimum wage, by Orji

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From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has explanied why three parastatals are not being paid the new minimum wage.

He alleged their officials submitted fictitious names during the compilation of workers’ particulars .

The governor listed the parastatals as the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), the library board and the council for arts and culture.

Orji said the state civil servants are one of the highest paid in the country, “as we are paying them N20, 100 as against the N18,000 approved by the Federal Government”.

•Medical and Health Worker’s Union of Nigeria at theObafemi Awolowo Stadium Ibadan.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

NEWS

MAY DAY CELEBRATION

• Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right); DeputyGovernor Segun Adesegun (second left); Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa (left) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State Chairman Akeem Ambali during the “Trekking for Peace” exercise in Abeokuta

Arogundade (second left), Senator Oluremi Tinubu (third left), Commissioner Duties counterpart, Wale Ahmed (right) and Adelakun at the Onikan Stadium PHOTO:OMOSEHIN MOSES

•Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders and government officials in Birnin Kebbi

College, Osogbo

From left: Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdul-waheed Omar; Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu; Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Peter Esele and Minister of State for FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide in Abuja

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi flanked by the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour •Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second right); Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmi Olayinka; Congress (NLC) Chris Oruge(left) and the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and fayemi’s wife, Bisi, in Ado-Ekiti (TUC)Chika Onuegbu at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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NEWS

North is on fire, says ex-Defence Minister Danjuma

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HE perennial sociopolitical problems bedevilling Nigeria’s democratic journey were the focus of a gathering of influential senior citizens and opinion moulders in Abuja yesterday.

The event tagged ‘A morning of reflections’ to mark the 50th birthday Leadership publisher, Mr. Sam NdaIsaiaih, attracted personalities from all walks of life including former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Waziri Tambuwal; National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Senate President Ken Nnamani.

Others include former Head of State and Congress for Progressive Change leader, Gen. Muhammad Buhari; the Guest Speaker, Prof. Ango Abdullahi; Alh. Shehu Malami; former Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Ahmed Joda; former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; Elder Statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Gen Jeremiah Useni; the Etsu Nupe Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande; Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati and former chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja Bureau Chief

Ogunsola.

A paper titled “Reflections: Nigeria, 1914 to date: A chequered journey so far’ was presented by Prof.

Abdullahi.

Gen. Danjuma, who chaired the event, said it was manifestly clear that the North is on fire due to a number of factors which, if not checked, could lead to what he called the ‘Somalialisation’ of Nigeria where anarchy could become the order of the day.

Though Danjuma said he was optimistic that the country would, in its usual way, muddle through the present challenges, he called for an urgent solution to the needless bloodletting in order to halt the drift.

He said: “As far as Nigeria is concerned, I am an optimist. I tell myself each time we seem to stumble as a nation, I tell myself, we shall muddle through. But, in the last few months, I begin to wonder-our house is on fire.

“The Somalialisation of Nigeria is taking place right now. We need to sit down and get to the root of the problem and find a solution to it. Let us not deceive ourselves, the Chief Security Officer of a state is the governor. Where are our Northern governors? Borno is a failed state, Jigawa is almost a failed state. Kano is threatening to be a failed state.

Where on earth are we going? You hear talks about

multi-million naira fences around government houses, what about the people?”

For a man who rarely expresses his feelings about national issues publicly, Danjuma’s comments set the tone for the discourse as other contributors challenged the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to show leadership by addressing the issues and save the country from sinking deeper into the abyss.

Nnamani said his reflections on Nigeria made him to conclude that the country suffers from two maladies a total lack of shame and the seeming inability to rein in those bleeding the country dry through corrosive corruption.

Nnamani acknowledged the comments made by former Lagos State Governor Tinubu, that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governs with impunity. He however said the same trait could be found in all the parties and this has contributed immensely to the nation’s woes.

He said: “We have a concept where the concept of shame is lacking with leaders who can tell lies without any shame. Our Gross Domestic Products was a lot better than that of South Korea, Indonesia and others in the 1960s. Because we lack the concept of shame, we do not have the capacity to compare ourselves with our contemporaries.

“I agree with Asiwaju Tinubu on what he said about the ruling party, but all the parties share the same element of impunity. We should look at what is on the ground now and stop lamenting about what has gone. The first one is corruption. The outcome of the fuel subsidy report by the House of Representatives should be commended. Here the transformative agenda is on trial.

“The security of the country is another matter. Can the people sleep with two eyes closed? Now that the report of the House has come out, will the leadership act on them?”

Nnamani also spoke on what transpired when he presided over the controversial but failed third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006.

He explained that some persons would not have been living in denial of the agenda if they had been investigated and prosecuted for their misdeeds at the time.

“There are people who deserve to be in Kirikiri prison today for what they did at that time, in 2006. If there has been a trial of all of us involved in 2006, some people will not be denying now their various roles.

“It is for us as a country to show the world that we can manage ourselves effectively. What do we do with all these investigations? If we don’t set examples, an-

other one will happen. Nigeria is such a resilient country. Despite all that has been taken out of it, it is still standing. I am surprised.”

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi FaniKayode, said Nigerians should understand the basis for the cry for devolution of power and restructuring as different from a call for secession.

He said though he was of the opinion that Nigeria should stay together, there is a need to discuss the terms of that unity.

He also expressed his support for the statement credited to the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, that the Boko Haram menace was the resultant effect of the dirty politics being played by the leadership of the PDP. Fani-Kayode said: “Azazi’s statement is the most explosive comment that has been made in a couple of years in this country. They are not only serious comments but, I believe, they are more than true. He said it and it is the truth. During the PDP primaries, a lot of party members from the North were treated in a most disrespectful manner by the party.

“The PDP must reach out to those that were alienated not just within but also outside.

DAWN military raid was yesterday carried out by the military on a suspected hide out of the Boko Haram sect in Kano.

The sect claimed responsibility for the January 20 attacks - the most deadly ever carried out by the Boko Haram – and is believed to be responsible for weekend’s attacks on the North’s commercial capital.

One person died in the raid. The suspected hide out – a house – was pulled down.

Guns, explosives and ammunition were recovered.

The operation by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) began at about 4 am.

The JTF, acting on a tip off, stormed Bubbugaje area in Sharada Phase three, killing one of the militants. One was arrested along with three women and children. The bungalow, which served as

Strike looms over minimum wage, say workers Continued from page 2

The NLC boss added that there is also a contagious revisionist movement being initiated in states like Kebbi and Kogi to reverse the gain of the new Minimum Wage struggles while the Adamawa State government is violating the constitution and labour laws by tampering with the aspects on labour which is on the Exclusive Legislative List.

The NLC accused some Governors of exploring the constitutional amendment route to negate the implementation of the Wage Act. He said the state governments are acting under the guise of federalism to replace industrial relations, minimum wage, labour in the concurrent list instead of the

exclusive list.

Esele said: “We also want to use this opportunity to serve a notice on the various governments at all levels that the minimum wage of N18,000 is no longer tenable and it is time for a review.

This is to bring it in conformity with the objective reality of our times and to cushion the effect of the fuel price hike on the common masses and the increasing cost of basic commodities including Housing.”

Esele condemned the looting of public treasury, adding that killings visited on innocent Nigerians by armed robbers and Boko Haram should be directed at the corrupt public servants.

Both the NLC and the TUC condemned government’s

lukewarm attitude towards bombings by Boko Haram.

Esele said no amount of investment drive by the President and governors would attract foreign investors to Nigeria in the face of insecurity.

He said: “As we celebrate, let us pulse and look at how lives have been lost. We have become a country that is unshockable. Life no longer means anything. And everyday the only grammar we hear is that the Federal Government condemns Thisday bombing, condemn Kaduna bombing, condemn Plataeu, condemns Abuja bombing, condemns Kano bombing, condemns Gombe bombing, condemns and condemns.

We don’t want to hear condemnation anymore.

“We want people brought to book. We want sponsors to be arrested. We want those behind these heinous crime against the Nigerian state to be brought to justice. That is how you can attract foreign investments. Everyday, we see governors, the President travelling all over the world asking for investment. No businessman will invest in any country where there is no security. No businessman will put money where there is no security. If the environment is conducive, making money for business is like an ant and the sugar. They will naturally gravitate.”

Omar alleged that the different security agencies in the country lack coordination in their attempt to clampdown on the Boko Haram mili-

The insensitivity of our party is part of the problems we are having in Nigeria today. Not enough people are putting the government on its toes; not enough people are telling this government that blood is flowing on our streets every day. And they tell us things are okay?”

Chief Ogunsola said Nigerians should stop blaming the colonialists for the country’s woes, noting that he aligned with comments made by Nnamani that the country is battling with nationhood today due to the twin problems of total lack of shame and corruption.

Emotion took over NdaIsaiah while making the closing remarks as he recalled the contribution of Gen. Abba Kyari to his success story.

Military raids Boko Haram’s hide out

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•Chairman Leadership Group/Celebrator, Sam Nda-Isaiah (left), House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, chairman of the occasion, Gen Theophilus Danjuma rtd. and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammad Buhari at the 50th birthday lecture in honour of Mr Nda-Isaiah in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Gen. Azazi

tants.

He said: “The government must be able to dialogue with the groups in the past. So, it is also not too much for government to dialogue. The government must also sit up.”

The theme of the May Day event in Abuja is: “Right to Work, Food & Education: Panacea to Insecurity”.

President Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Lour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, noted that through strengthening of security agencies, the Federal Government had adopted a more collective measure which will politically guarantee the resolution of the insecurity in the country as soon as possible.

Continued on page 7

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

residence and bomb factory, was pulled down.

Gunshots fired by the JTF operatives and the Boko Haram men during the gun battle kept residents awake throughout the confrontation. There was fear, anxiety and apprehension, while the exchange of gun fire lasted.

Among the items recovered in the building were bomb making materials, chemicals and powdery substances, one AK 47 Assault rifle, 36 knives, six high calibre remote control Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), 35 low calibre remote control IEDs, 458 rounds of ammunition, batteries, bomb timers, among others.

Brigade Commander, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Kano, Brigadier General Iliyasu Abbah, said the battle against the Insurgents was fierce, noting that the the Boko Haram had resorted to guerrilla – like attack of hit and run.

Gen. Abbah confirmed that the demolished block served the group as a bomb factory, adding: “the most difficult fight you can have is with terrorists because they know you and you don’t know them and they have no permanent residence, they operate like nomads.

“If you uproot them from one particular place today, tomorrow, they move to another place, so, it is a very difficult battle to prosecute but with the cooperation of members of the public, we shall succeed.”

A similar raid recently by the military led to the discovery of a bomb factory at Hayin Hotoro Arewa, also a remote part of Kano. That building was also demolished after some arrests were made.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

NEWS

Fed Govt ‘keen to improve polytechnics, colleges’

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INISTER of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said the Federal Governemnt is keen to improve the standard of polytechnics and colleges of education.

Wike promised that the reports of the Presidential Visitation Panels on Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would be implemented.

He spoke yesterday at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Rivers State.

He was in the school to inspect its facilities.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan believes that implementing the reports of Visitation Panels would help address challenges facing the institutions.

The minister said: “The reports of the Presidential Visitation Panels currently at work in all Federal Colleges of Education and Polytechnics will be implemented.

They would not be kept on the shelves to gather dust. However, members of these panels must bear in mind that they are not on a witchhunting mission.

“All reports of the visitation panels should be comprehensive, capturing all details that would assist the Federal Government to move these schools forward. Members of these panels must bear in mind that this is their historic op-

Continued from Page 6

•Wike (left) and Oguzor... yesterday portunity to contribute to the revival of education in Nigeria.”

Chairman of the Presidential Visitation Panel of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku,

Mohammed Abdu said the panel has done 80per cent of its job. He said the Panel was grateful to members of the community for their memoranda and oral submissions.

The Provost of the College, Mr. Nkasiobu Oguzor assured the minister that the institution would work towards achieving its mandate of training quality vocational and technical teachers for basic education.

13 killed, 30 houses burnt in fresh attack in Plateau

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O fewer than 13 persons were confirmed killed when armed Fulani invaded six Berom villages in Riyom Local Government of Plateau State.

Riyom is one of the four local governments under the state of emergency in Plateau and has been under frequent attacks by armed Fulani within the past two weeks.

Those killed between Monday night and yesterday morning, were from Tahoss, Bangai, Sopp, Angwa Werem, Danjol and Gwom.

Residents of the villages have fled their homes to take refuge at police stations and primary schools in Riyom, headquarters of the council area.

A resident of Gwarim village, Dauda Gyang, who lost his younger brother in the night raid, said: “Fulanis came in large number. Their mode of attack is that they will start shooting from distance to scare the villagers and as soon as the villager run out of fear, they will come and set our houses ablaze. From my village alone they burnt more than ten houses last night”

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

Gyang said, “I swear to God, these Fulanis who are attacking us are doing this in collaboration with men of the Special Task Force (STF).

In the day time, the soldiers will come and raid our village and seize dane guns from villagers and at night the armed Fulanis will come in for attack; this is what has been happening for about two weeks now.

“Last weekend, a mobile police shot one youth three times and the guy died. The mobile officer called it accidental discharge. How can you shoot three times and call it accidental discharge?“ When The Nation visited one of the primary schools in Tahoss, no fewer than 200 displaced persons mostly women and children were there.

A former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly from the area, Emmanuel Jugul, said: “Governments at the federal and state level are not doing enough to protect its citizens. It is bloodletting everyday in Riyom and we have government shoulder with the respon-

sibility of protecting lives and properties.

“Apart from government, the security agencies in charge of the area are not sincere. It is either they are not doing their job, or they are conspiring with the attackers, because they securities did nothing to stop the killings and the council is under state of emergency.”

STF Spokesman Capt.

Mdhayelyah Markus, who confirmed the incident, said he was not aware anyone was killed. He said houses were burnt.

Markus said: “As a result of the incident, the STF commander has mobilised troops from other places as reinforcement to Sector 9 so as to be able to handle the situation. The commander himself has visited the area and addressed the refugees. He asked them to return to their houses with promise of adequate security. So, we are in control in the area.”

However, the lawmaker representing Riyom Constituency in the House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, told The Nation on phone: “The crisis is affecting my constituency directly. The truth is that five

people were killed in the night raid, several others who sustaind injuries from gunshots are receiving treatment in various hospitals. There are thousands of displaced persons whose houses were set ablaze.

“I cried to the security agencies on ground and they were telling me there is nothing they can do to stop the attackers because they are short of man power while the attackers are coming in hundreds.”

Dem appealed to the Federal Government to send in more troops to salvage the situation. He said: “This is beyond the state government because Riyom is currently under the state of emergency; the Federal Government should show more commitment in saving lives” Sunday Madaki, one of the displaced persons, said the state lawmaker only counted the corpses in one village. He said: “From the list of casualties I have from all the six villages, there are 13 people killed already and over 20 others who were injured are in the Vom Christian Hospital and over thirty residential houses have been burnt. All these displaced persons have no home to return to.”

Bin Laden had contact with Boko Haram, says report

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NEW report in The Guardian of London says slain Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, had regular contact with Nigerian militant sect, Boko Haram, before he was killed on May 2, 2011.

The information was gleaned from documents recovered from the house where bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan by United States Navy Seals.

A Washington D.C source familiar with the documents told the paper bin Laden appeared to have been in direct or indirect commu-

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nication with Boko Haram as well as many other militant outfits.

But the paper said it remained unclear whether Boko Haram, which has been responsible for a series of suicide attacks and bombings in the last year, is in touch with al-Qaeda or one of its affiliates, Al Qaeda in the Maghreb.

But documents in the cache show that leaders of the Nigerian group had been in contact with top levels of al-Qaeda in the past 18 months – confirming claims made to The Guardian in January by a senior Boko Haram figure.

Other papers in the haul are now likely to be declassified, the paper says. They include memos apparently dictated by bin Laden urging followers to avoid indiscriminate attacks which kill Muslims and pondering a rebranding of alQaeda under a new name.

The communications show a three-way conversation between bin Laden, his then deputy Ayman Zawahiri and Omar, who is believed to have been in Pakistan since fleeing Afghanistan after the collapse of his regime in 2001.

•Bin Laden

Police arrest Lebanese, Nigerian for alleged murder

OLICE in Lagos yesterday arrested a Lebanese and a Nigerian who allegedly robbed one Aliyu Sanni of 10,000 dollars and stabbed him to death.

The state police command’s spokesman, SP Joseph Jaiyeoba,

Strike looms over minimum wage, say workers

told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the victim was killed at one hotel in Apapa.

He added that the suspects (names withheld) were arrested on Monday by policemen attached to the Apapa Division.

“The stolen money was however recovered,’’ the police spokesman said.

Jaiyeoba further said that a team of mobile policemen attached to Mopol 2 also on Monday killed a suspected armed rob-

ber.

He said that the robbery suspect was killed in a shoot-out with the police at Oregun Industrial Estate’s warehouse, while his other accomplices escaped with gunshot wounds.

Jonathan said: “I assure you that through strengthening security agencies, we have adopted a more concerted approach to ensure that we resolve the issue of insecurity in Nigeria in the shortest possible time.”

While commenting on the economy, Omar said the report of the House of Representatives probe of the subsidy has vindicated labour’s position that the entire oil sector is stemmed in corruption needs to be cleansed.

The NLC president added: “The downstream sector as presently constituted is characterised by industry dominance by NNPC and general monopolistic tendencies.”

“We need to design strategies for opening up monopoly assets and infrastructure to competitors, who must of course pay economic fees.”

The NLC president decried the corruption in the petroleum sector and called on stakeholders in the industry to put hands on deck to sanitise the sector.

Omar called for a comprehensive reform of the downstream sector and the revival of domestic refining, through the complete overhaul of the domestic refineries and creation of new Greenfield refineries.

“We believe that our domestic refineries must be made to work. Appropriate incentives need to be worked out to attract new investment in refining,” he said.

He said this would eventually lead to an end in fuel importation and creation of economic and job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

Esele decried the rate of “dishonest behaviour” in the oil and gas sector and called for its repositioning for the economic stability of the nation.

“We want to use this unique opportunity of our celebration to say that until Nigeria gets it right with the sector, it will be difficult for the nation to move forward.

“There is no other sector of the nation’s economy that has experienced the kind of sleaze and opaqueness that is going on in the oil and gas industry,” he said.

He stressed the need for the NNPC to be operated like a commercial entity and the need to urgently pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to bring professionalism to the sector.

“I can assure you that the PIB committee of which I am a member will submit its report this month. We need to put all hands on deck to ensure the quick passage of the bill,” he said.

The NLC also cautioned the Federal Government to implement the Steve Oransaye proposal for merger of government agencies carefully.

“We are particularly concerned that the merging of agencies must not be an excuse for job shedding. We reiterate our call on the Federal Government to set in place, a forum to discuss with the trade unions, the social and labour implications of the reports.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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NEWS

Ekiti PDP elders call for removal of secretary as crisis deepens

Ekiti, Thailand to partner on HIV/AIDS reduction

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE crisis in the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened at the weekend, with party leaders in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area calling for Secretary Dr Tope Aluko’s expulsion.

Aluko allegedly stormed the venue of a meeting of the party at Igede-Ekiti and shot into the air to disperse the people.

Three persons were reportedly injured in the melee as people scampered for safety.

They are said to be hospitalised.

The party leaders accused Aluko of some offences, saying his activities were dangerous.

Aluko was elected on March 18 during the state congress.

The leaders also called for the expulsion of Mr. Dapo Olagunju and Mr. Deji Aluko, two leaders of the party in the community, for allegedly fueling the crisis in the party.

A leader of the party in the area, Evang. Gbenga Adekunle Moses, described the action of the trio as having “the potentials to permanently castrate the party in the state”.

Moses urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, to suspend Aluko “pending conclusion of investigations into the matter”.

He said the party has petitioned Police Commissioner Ibrahim Maishanu, adding that Aluko, who is a friend of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, has been invited for questioning on the matter.

Moses said: “We were in the meeting when, suddenly, the man, who claimed to be the PDP Secretary, emerged in a Peugeot 406 car and fired a gunshot into our midst.

“In fact, some of our members had to escape through the windows and fled for their lives. Many people were injured. This community is one of the strongholds of the PDP in Ekiti State. In the last election, we recorded about 4,000 votes while Aluko could only record 300 votes in Iyin-Ekiti for the PDP. “This is an unfortunate incident for a man of his calibre.

We want him expelled from our party for dragging the name of the party into the mud.”

Since the March state congress, where candidates loyal to Fayose won the key positions, members loyal to the former Governor Segun Oni have formed a parallel exco.

Aluko denied the allegation.

He said the group stormed Liberty Hotel in Igede-Ekiti and attacked a former council Chairman, Mr Toba Daramola, and Chief Femi Akomolafe.

The party secretary said the former council chief had called a meeting to resolve some issues when about 200 youths stormed the venue.

According to him, the two party leaders denied IgedeEkiti the position of Secretary.

Aluko said: “The hotel was damaged by the gun-wielding hoodlums. It is there for you to see.”

Aluko added: “When Akomolafe and Daramola were attacked, they called on me. I had to go there as a party leader. As soon as they sighted me, they started attacking my car. I fled the scene immediately and called the DPO, who later intervened.”

•Guest speaker, Dr Ango Abdullahi (left), Asiwaju Tinubu and Nda-Isaiah at the latter’s 50th birthday lecture in Abuja ...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

How to rebuild Nigeria, by Tinubu

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ORMER Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has listed five pillars on which a new Nigeria must be rebuilt.

The eminent politician called for concerted efforts to combat grinding poverty with which 70 per cent of Nigerians are grappling, security of life and property, electoral reforms, independence of the judiciary, and true federalism in all its ramifications.

He spoke in Abuja at A Morning of Reflections, an event for the 50th birthday of the publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isiah. The event was chaired by former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma.

The former governor noted that though many people have blamed prolonged military rule for the nation’s woes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed in the past 13 years at the centre to address the problems.

Asiwaju Tinubu said Nigerians should blame the ruling party for what he described as “not a mere failure but a very woeful one”.

He identified some of the ills plaguing the polity and clogging its progress.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader listed these as violence in parts of the North, inter-religious strife, inter-ethnic clashes and rising demand by ethnic nationalities, almost across the board, demanding a re-worked federation of Nigeria.

According to him, the solution to these challenges lies in the convocation of a national conference.

Tinubu said: “We must talk, and the time is now! There is no crisis in talking with one another and discussing our problems as a people, towards finding workable solutions.”

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja Bureau Chief

He saw the urgency in addressing the nation’s woes collectively, saying: “The nation balances at the edge of the precipice while standing on its weaker foot. Nigerians, in my view, need a conversation or what has been canvassed as a national conference.

“What we see is a serious decline in almost all facets of our national life. We see more corruption, the type that will make past corrupt governments look saintly. We see spiralling unemployment figures, poor electricity supply, general insecurity.

We see brazen electoral manipulation. We are confronted with a judiciary that can no longer dispense justice and that is fast losing the confidence and trust of the people, because of too much executive pressure, especially by the ruling party.”

The former governor noted that the most potent danger to the democratic polity was the shackling of the judiciary by rigging judicial procedures in electoral disputes and hounding respected jurists because they would not dance to partisan music.

He cited the case of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal.

“The most glaring example of this has been the government’s attempt to cut short the career of one of our illustrious jurists, Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Salami. What was his crime? Refusing to put his sense of justice on sale. For this, they tarnished his name and plotted to end his career. They rumoured that he was in the pockets of the ACN. This is a terrible lie against a good man.

“His verdicts were not for the ACN. They were for justice. However, those in power could not tolerate his impartiality. They sacrificed one of Nigeria’s finest jurists to

send a blunt message to other jurists: go against our wishes and you shall lose those robes you hold so dear.”

The former governor added that the same partisan sleight-of-hand has doomed adjudication in election disputes, with the controversial 180-day limit that has denied many aggrieved politicians justice.

“By restricting to 180 days the period in which election cases and disputes must be concluded,” Tinubu warned, “the National Assembly has denied Nigerians electoral justice. It places a moratorium on justice and denies Nigerians one of the fundamental rights enjoyed under a democracy.”

He urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais report on electoral reform, if the government is serious about ending persistent electoral heists.

Tinubu said: “Our nation and our people have never sunk so low in despair and despondency, as we are today. I will be blunt.

I will be political. The PDP-led Federal Government appears to be incapable of confronting the problems of this country.

“A nation must be led either democratically or through dictatorship of any form or guile. We have experienced dictatorship.

We have blamed leaders; we have blamed the system. We fought for democracy, which we won. They gave it to us. A particular party has been in power, but what have we got? It’s been lamentation, poverty, lack of motion, sorrow, excuses and lack of development. These are challenges for us to address.

“The elder statesmen are here. They could have sat back in their rocking chairs, drinking fura de nono, eating their slices of bread, whether it’s made of cassava or whatever.

“But if they are still coming around to help us, let us face the challenges. It’s about action to correct this nation.”

Afe Babalola heads panel on Ekiti airport

•Babalola

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has inaugurated a nine-man committee, chaired by the legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), to examine the possibility of establishing an airport in the state.

He said his administration is committed to the transport sector as a key area in

the state’s development.

The governor said his administration has invested heavily in road construction and rehabilitation in the 16 local government areas to drive home its commitment to the development of the transport sector.

Dr. Fayemi said the proposed airport would bring Ekiti State into the limelight with its emerging economy and attract investors as well as tourists, who have flair for comfort.

He noted that though the establishment of an airport would require a lot of money, the state government, through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, would accomplish the task.

The governor said the airport has become necessary as the Federal Government is establishing an Export Conditioning Centre and a

silo in the state while the Ikogosi Resort would also attract many visitors and tourists.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olayinka Oyebode, listed the terms of reference of the committee as: examining the viability and feasibility of an airport in AdoEkiti, the state capital, and proposing a practical implementation roadmap for same.

Fayemi was optimistic that when the Ikogosi Resort becomes functional, the proposed airport would market it. A South African hotel management group has agreed to manage the resort for the government.

Babalola described the inauguration as “historic in the history of Ekiti State”.

He noted that the project is dear to members of the committee.

The eminent lawyer tied the lack of industries in the state and the failure of the take-off of the Ikogosi Resort to the absence of an airport.

“There is an urgent need for meaningful industrial development in Ekiti by involving foreign developers from China, Europe, Japan, the Middle East and America. Any foreigner who comes to Ekiti with the intention of establishing an industry and who comes through Lagos by road to Ado-Ekiti or from Abuja by road, otherwise called the death traps, would never come back to Ekiti,” he said.

Other members of the committee are: Sir Remi Omotoso, Afolabi Esan, Segun Ologunleko, Femi Tolani, Kayode Jegede, Babajide Arowosafe, Jide Adeniji and Capt. Bolaji Agbelusi.

THE Ekiti State AIDS Control Agency (EKSACA) will explore medical and social interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS scourge by learning from Thailand, Ekiti State Governor’s wife, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, has said.

The chairperson of EKSACA spoke in AdoEkiti, the state capital, when she received a delegation from Thailand.

She said Ekiti State has the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria, adding that the state would not rest on its oars in the efforts to further reduce the disease.

The team was in the state to partner the Kayode Fayemi administration on rice production and establishment of a pharmaceutical plant to enhance its health care delivery.

Among the delegates were the First Secretary to the Royal Thai Embassy in Nigeria, Dr. Saowalak Pornwilassiri, and a Thai Pharmaceutical Consultant, Prof. Krisana Kraisintu.

The professor, who is the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy and Oriental Medicine, Rangsit University, Thailand, is renowned for inventing anti-retroviral drugs to prevent motherto-child transmission, as well as anti-malaria drugs.

Mrs Fayemi, who said the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has peaked from 1.0 per cent in 2008 to about 1.4 per cent presently, called for more efforts to combat the disease.

Prof. Kraisintu said the delegation’s mission was to see how Ekiti residents could be trained in Thailand on the production of rice as well as the establishment of a pharmaceutical industry.

Ajimobi appoints DG for Oyo signage agency OYO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has appointed Mr. Yinka Adepoju as the Director-General of the state’s Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSSA).

A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Dr Festus Adedayo, said Adepoju was born in Ibadan, the state capital, in 1958.

He attended the Government College, Ibadan, and graduated in 1976. Adepoju worked at the Internal Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

He studied Mass Communication at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in 1980.

Adepoju, a past executive member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), is a member of the Governing Board of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and a fellow of many professional bodies.

The new OYSSA chief is a deacon of the Foursquare Gospel Movement in Nigeria. His appointment takes immediate effect.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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NEWS

Where Jonathan got it wrong on Boko Haram, by el-Rufai

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ormer Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir elRufai, yesterday blamed President Goodluck Jonathan and his Niger Delta kitchen cabinet members for helping the Boko Haram menace to escalate in Nigeria, saying they have dwelt too long on the wrong belief that Northern leaders were sponsoring the sect at a time the government should have nipped the insurgence in the bud. el-Rufai, who stated this while delivering this year’s annual lecture of the Silver Knight, Ibadan, at the Lead City University, Ibadan yesterday, said that it was high time the president and his supporters of Southern origin discarded this ‘narrative’ and adopted a multi-track approach to the insurgence which is painting Nigeria black before the international community.

According to him, Jonathan and his supporters deployed security agencies to tap the phones and monitor the activities of Northern leaders believing to be sponsoring the sect with a view to establishing their link with the Boko Haram. The former minister explained that the narrative was borne out of the experience of the Niger Delta leaders whom he accused of sponsoring militants to disturb oil production as a strategy to pursue the resource control agenda.

But he insisted that rather than spending first year in office to identify key formations and operations of the sect with the

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan aim of nipping their activities in the bud, the president and his men were chasing shadows thereby creating enormous opportunities for the sect to grow to the present dangerous level.

He said: “This narrative is believed by most Niger Delta leaders because of their own experience in organising, training and arming the militants and providing funding for MEND during the period of resource control agitations of the Obasanjo administration. Beacause there was a conspiracy of the political elite, they think the North must be doing the same. And they also feel that Boko Haram largely kills Northerners or “parasites” as one Presidential aide, Reno Omokri, tweeted; so the more they are killed, the less the burden on the ‘oil-rich hosts.’ Another presidential aide actually said these words to an old ex-OPC friend of his in London in June 2011. With this narrative wired in the brains of Jonathan’s inner circle, they spent their first year trying to link some of us in opposition to Boko Haram instead of honestly tracking the real problems.

While wasting time on us, the sect grew stronger, bolder and better trained. The first step therefore is to unwind this narrative and honestly ask the right questions.” el-Rufai also advised the government to tackle corruption, unemployment as well

as allow true federalism which will allow states to have more powers than the federal and ultimately allow states to live within their means.

Distribution of free money from the centre, he said, contributes to the funding of militants and insurgents by governors, adding that the current system which rewards less educated and less-qualified people who are politicians at the expense of hardworking, truly educated youths.

Explaining a better way to fight corruption, the former minister, who is a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said the country must reduce cash transactions “in addition to the unsuccessful ‘arrest-and-charge’ approach that we tended to focus on.” He added: “If all transactions are electronic, it will be harder for untraceable, illicit payments to be made. If Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s efforts in cashless banking are complemented with a national ID system that can identify, monitor and audit every resident, and his or her financial transactions when a court order is obtained, it will be harder to take bribes and launder the money.” el-Rufai also urged the government to strengthen institutions by appointing decent people to head them, “respect their tenures and appoint successors from within rather than bring in political hacks to do jobs that they are neither qualified nor trained to do.”

BUSINESS

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

11 The PHCN in complaince with the power reform programme has ceased to exist but it has not been liquidated as that can only be done by a court order, which currently has not been executed.

- Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

Nnaji praises electricity workers

Fed Govt, Ekiti partner on agric

HE Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has commended the efforts of the power sector workers, saying they are ingenious for being able to sustain supply despite the numerous challenges confronting the sector.

In his message yesterday to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mark this year’s Labour Day, Nnaji said unknown to most Nigerians, workers of the Power Holding Company (PHCN) are among the most dedicated in Nigeria. He noted that the PHCN employees are “miracle workers who squeeze water out of stone in view of the peculiar and difficult circumstances in which they operate,” adding that most of them “can compete with the best in the world if given the facilities and incentives.”

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, C. Don Adinuba, the minister said though their quantum of electricity, “which is a little over 2,000megawatts in the best of times may look meagre in view of the 50,000 staff strength—compared with independent power producers such as Shell, Agip and AES, which generate about the same amount of power with only a few hundreds of workers—it is nothing short of a miracle that they produce such a quantum of power.”

Nnaji described the circumstance in which the PHCN workers work as gruesome, citing the example of the Kainji Hydro Power Station, which has not been overhauled since it was built in 1968. Yet he noted, “the plant is expected to run 24 hours a day in all these 44 years.”

HE Federal Government has lend its support to the Ekiti State Government to actualise its Youth Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) programme, aimed at repositioning the state as the food basket of the Southwest.

The project is expected to employ no fewer than 20,000 youths.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at Orin Farm Settlement in Orin Ekiti, the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr.Akinwumi Adesina, said agriculture remains the only way to address problems of poverty, food insecurity and unemployment in the country.

The governor said his interest in the youth empowerment has since his assumption of office in 2010 been based on its potential for tackling poverty and equipping the next generation of Nigerians. He added that the initiative has the capacity to trigger off socio-economic, educational and political empowerment.

Fayemi lamented the rising rate of unemployment in the country amid the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth figures recorded between 2010 and 2012. He added that unemployment rate stands at 23.9 per cent, while youths bear the negative impact of the unpleasant rise.

The Governor, who explained the rationale behind the YCAD programme, said it was obvious that the agricultural population of Ekiti was rapidly ageing. He stressed the need to rejuvenate the sector through the infusion of young blood as emergent farmers, conditioning them to the realities of modernisation under improved farm practice.

Fayemi said Y-CAD is expected to provide necessary technical and managerial farming skills for selected unemployed youths using a learnon-the farm approach and facilitate the acquisition of basic and advanced skills for commercial agric business start-up and expose the selected youths to skills required to operate and manage commercial farms.

By Sulaiman Salawudeen

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$123.6/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N6.503 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

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• Minister of State for Finance Dr Yerima Ngama cutting the tape to open one of the projects at the Nigerian College of Accountancy (NCA), owned by the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), in Kwali, Jos.

‘Funding, infrastructure hinder local capacity’ T HE Petroleum Tech nology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has identified inadequate access to finance as the major challenge to increasing local capacity in the oil and gas sector. It insisted that the problem was not lack of technical know-how as some stakeholders believe.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Emeka Ene, during an interactive session with the reporters at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, United States, said the challenge in not meeting the expected growth in local capacity lies in capitalisation of the industry and not lack of skills.

He said there has been gross inadequate capital inflow. “The truth is that there has been the absence of the required capital to build the capacity needed in-country.

The capital to build the infrastructure that is needed is absent. That is the bottomline. The Nigerian companies have been playing a losing game. Global finance the world over for compa-

From Emeka Ugwuanyi in Houston, United States

nies engaged in oil and gas activities is one or two per cent interest rate and it is usually in the long term – five years, 10 years, 15 years, 25 years period. In Nigeria, what local companies get is 20 or 25 per cent interest rate on two-year capital,” Ene said.

He said it is very difficult for indigeneous players in the industry to compete, stressing that the advantage of getting bankable projects with the Local Content Act comes with the Nigerian content development fund next year. He said if this is properly managed, it would create the link to boost the capacity of local companies.

On access to the Local Content Fund, Ene said the scheme (fund) is at its pilot stage. “I know that PETAN has been very closely involved with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to try and

build the criteria for developing such projects. There are lots of challenges. Even the challenge of not getting interest rates lower is a big challenge to the industry.

But right now, there has been a ray of hope,” he added.

The PETAN chair said local banks have short term funds that can’t cope with the huge finance required in the oil and gas industry. “You can’t compare what we do in Nigeria to a country like China that has a 50 to 100year plan. So, we can’t be talking about funding arrangements of two to three years for projects and then we want to compete with countries with far longer term project plans. That is why Nigerian companies have not grown because they are not getting the right capital and the right framework to do projects from creditors.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), he explained that the bill creates a set of

rules on how operators can play the game in the oil and gas industry. And without the PIB becoming law, the Local Content Act will be like someone standing on one leg, rather than two, he explained.

The PIB, he said, is going to free up the international oil companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and the likes to invest more in local capacity building for the long term. “Indeed, the oil and gas industry investments are usually in the very long term of 10 to 20 years. So if you don’t have the rule to govern such long period of time you don’t get it right. So we think the PIB is very crucial for the growth of Nigerian companies. The PIB needs to be simplified so that everybody understands the rule.

And in fact, the local content that is embedded in the PIB will create the kind of stimulus that we see in countries such as Japan, China, Brazil and Malaysia where government policies had helped to stimulate long term growth,” he said.

allowances from the date of their “wrongful termination” till judgment.

The association alleged acts of threat and intimidation directed by the oil company “essentially” at the executive members, which it believed was triggered by the industrial action they embarked on in August 2009.

Omoragbon told the court that the contract workers began agitating for “Equal Pay for Equal Work” with Mobil’s regular workers in January 2006.

The workers, he said, sought to directly negotiate their grievance with the company, even though the respondent is not a party to the employment agreement between the workers and

their various Forums of Contractors.

The lawyer said Mobil could not, therefore, undertake a review of such agreement or the pay conditions of personnel who are not its employees.

The respondent said it was compelled to invoke the relevant clause in its agreement with the independent contractors in charge of the workers by urging them to withdraw their affected personnel from Mobil’s premises because of their “disruptive” behaviour.

On whether Mobil is actually the employer of the sacked workers, Justice Kanyip held that no employment contract of any kind was exhibited in order to know the exact terms and conditions upon which they were engaged.

PENGASSAN loses appeal against sacked Mobil workers T HE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) has lost its appeal at the National Industrial Court,Lagos, against the termination of some its members’ appointment by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU).

Dismissing the appeal, the court held that it lacks merit.

“The Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) award is confirmed,” said the presiding judge, Justice Benedict Kanyip.

The IAP, in its March 24, 2010 verdict, had refused to reinstate the workers.

It agreed with the arguments of Mobil’s lawyer, Mr Sunny Omoragbon, that the contract staff members working in the oil company’s locations were not its employees.

By Joseph Jibueze

PENGASSAN objected to the award.

The Minister of Labour, acting in line with Section 14 (1) of the Trade Disputes Act, referred the matter to the Industrial Court, urging it to inquire into the alleged “unfair severance or termination of the trade union leaders in MPNU, Contract Staff Branch.”

PENGASSAN sought an order declaring the termination of the appointment of eight union leaders and members of its Contract Staff Branch of MPNU as unlawful, illegal, null and void.

It urged the court to order their reinstatement, with payment of their salaries and

Coca-Cola road show hits Ondo From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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OCA-COLA Road Show Team has ar rived some towns in Ondo State to sensitise consumers on the Open & Win promo on brands of CocaCola, Sprite and Schweppes’ soft drinks.

The Open & Win promo, according to the leader of the team and Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria, Austin Ufomba, was launched to reward dedicated, faithful and longstanding consumers in the country.

He said the shows, aimed at creating awareness to consumers on the “Win N1m A day for 70 days”, which started on February 28, will end on May 10.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

INVESTORS THE NATION

NSE to sanction 38 firms over annual T report delay

HIRTY-EIGHT companies that failed to file their annual reports and accounts before the expiration of the extended filing date are to get the big stick, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has hinted.

In a circular to quoted companies, obtained by The Nation, NSE said it would start imposing penalties on them from Monday, April 30.

The sanctions would run concurrently with the earlier tagging of companies that had defaulted in the submission of their yearly re-

Stories by Taofik Salako

ports and accounts.

The NSE had twice extended the grace period for filing of annual reports and accounts for the 2011 business year. It had given companies with December year-end two weeks grace up till Friday, April 13, 2012 and subsequently extended this to April 27.

Post-listing rules of NSE states that audited annual accounts of companies should be submitted within three months after the year end while quarterly financial statements are expected to be made available 45 days after the end of the quarter.

There are 126 companies on the two equities boards the NSE with 120 active and whose financial

year end is December 31.

At the last count, about 30 per cent of quoted companies have not submitted their annual reports. However, a 70 per cent compliance within the four months of ending the business year is a major improvement compared with previous compliance timeline.

Among the companies that might be sanctioned were a two downstream oil companies, a flour-milling company, a telecoms company, a major conglomerate and several insurance

•From left: Chief Kola Jamodu, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) being welcomed by Mr Sola Joseph, Director, Membership Services, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) to the 4th Special Human Resource Forum organised by CIPM for Senior HR Practitioners, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. With them are Mr Sunday Korode (centre), Vice-President, CIPM and Mr Abiola Popoola,President/ Chairman.

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ESPITE the marginal negative return of 0.38 per cent in the first quarter, equities in the stock market can still deliver average returns of more than 13 per cent, First Securities Discount House (FSDH) has said.

In its economic and financial market outlook for the second quarter of the year, FSDH Securities Limited, a subsidiary of FSDH, stated that equities were still favoured by the prevailing macroeconomic and market conditions to deliver better returns this year.

Analysts at FSDH said they believed that the benchmark return index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) could achieve a fullyear return of 13.3 per cent and opted to allocate nearly one-third of funds to equities in their portfolio management.

MORISON IND Turnover N141.890m Profit after tax N6.809m AFRICAN PAINTS Turnover N30.015m Profit after tax (N4.535m) LIVESTOCK FEEDS Turnover N1.154b Profit after tax N38.180m PRESTIGE ASSURANCE Turnover N2.112b Profit after tax N307m GSK Turnover N6.249b

companies, among others.

NSE stated that it had showed enough grace for the companies by extending the filing period.

According to NSE, it had taken cognizance of the down time experienced at the beginning of the year because of the fuel subsidy crisis and its impact on the business of listed entities and had as such granted extension after the expiration of the deadline.

“We believe that the timely disclosure of financial information is critical to stakeholders in the capital market as well as investors,” NSE stated.

NSE had tagged 46 companies as operating below listing standards and in default of market’s corporate governance requirements.

In its corporate governance and rules compliance assessment report known as X-Compliance Report, NSE identified four different kinds of tags or symbols to alert investors about the status of each quoted company. These included Below Listings Standard (BLS), the first degree alert level indicating a company that has not complied with post listing rules such as late submission of financial statements, unauthorised publication, management failures among others.

Also, financial services companies such as bank and insurance companies awaiting regulatory approval will carry the appropriate symbol of awaiting regulatory approval (ARA). Companies that are undergoing a capital reconstruction exercise including supplementary issue, share buyback, split, share reconstruction, among others, will be tagged with Capital Reconstruction Exercise (CRE) while companies that have indicated that they will be delisting or companies that are being delisted at the instance of the regulator would be flagged with delisting in process (DIP) symbol.

Equities can still achieve 13% return, says FSDH According to analysts, recent data on the macro economic variables on the economy have shown some improvements while there has been a commendable cooperation and co-ordination between the fiscal and monetary authorities on the direction of the economy.

“We expect a positive contribution from market making activities in the equities market in second quarter as the market makers recently issued licences by the NSE start operations. These activities would bring about better liquidity and ensure a deeper market. Also, the concerted efforts of the NSE to bring about an efficient and robust market would help to restore con-

fidence in the market and ensue a rebalancing of portfolio by individual and institutional investors.

If these developments are sustained, the stock market may be on its path to sustainable growth in the medium to long term,” FSDH stated.

Analysts outlined that the primary factors that would drive the equities market in the remaining eight months included the current attractive valuation in the market, adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) and the import substitution strategies of the government, which is expected to lead to more retention of investible funds within the local

market.

Besides, analysts said the relative stability in the foreign exchange market and government’s efforts at jumpstarting critical infrastructure would boost investors’ confidence.

“We believe that there are opportunities in the market both for capital appreciation and dividend earnings. The current market situation demands that investors identify large capitalised stocks with track record of good dividend payments that still have potential for both capital appreciation and dividend payment,” FSDH noted.

Analysts, however, warned that the attractive interest rates and

yields on fixed income securities as well as security crisis in some geopolitical zones in the country remain drags on the prospects of the equities market.

FSDH pointed out that the high yields on fixed income securities are not sustainable and advised investors to go long on the long-dated instrument with good yields in the market.

On stock recommendation, it said it would recommend portfolio allocation of 30 per cent for equities, treasury bills and bonds while 10 per cent would be placed with financial institutions.

On the asset classes, it said it expected a portfolio return of 17.48 per cent this year.

Profit after tax N590.797m NIGER INSURANCE Gross Premium N2.73b Profit after tax N212.95m MUTUAL BENEFITS Gross Premium N2b Profit N885.633m REGENCY ALLIANCE Gross Premium N812.596m Profit after tax N256.437m LEARN AFRICA Turnover N1.06b Profit after tax N58.336m TOTAL Nigeria

Turnover N46.676 b Profit after tax N942.1m MRS OIL Nigeria Turnover N51.20b Profit after tax N712 m ETERNA Turnover N27.64b Profit after tax N563.834m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.667b Profit after tax N1.044b STANBIC IBTC BANK Net Operating Income N16.805b Profit after tax N2.737b

ASL Turnover N1.084b Profit after tax N101.355m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N3.892b Profit after tax N710.62m CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N1.223b Profit after tax N80.01m OASIS INS Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax N79.868m AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N1.215b

Profit after tax N107.213m BERGER PAINTS Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover N835.0m Profit after tax N18.200m DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY Turnover N38.251b Profit after tax N3.49b STUDIO PRESS NIG Turnover N3.375b Profit after tax N20.422m JULIUS BERGER NIG

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MONEY

NDIC to sue erring MfBs’ debtors T Stories by Akinola Ajibade

• From left: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajumobi in a warm handshake with the Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Jibril Aku, when the bank management visited the governor.

Forex audit: CBN probes airlines, oil importers T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is probing the use of foreign exchange (forex) by foreign airline operators and fuel importers. It has in the last three months, conducted series of audits on the usage of forex by oil importers and has shifted to foreign airlines, where it is conducting a 13year forex remittances audit.

In a circular, the regulator instructed all authorised dealers to submit data on remittances in each year from January 1999 to December 2011 on behalf of foreign airlines. The circular tagged: Request for Information on Foreign Airlines Remittances for the Period 1999 to 2011, was signed by Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, Batari Musa.

He said data on forex transactions should be submitted to his office in hard and soft copies. The banking watchdog expects all information to be submitted latest today. Defaulters will be sanctioned.

Analysts predict that the planned audit would assist the apex bank to check the movement of forex by

Stories by Collins Nweze foreign airlines as the data to be captured would include date of remittances of foreign exchange, name of airline, beneficiaries and purpose for which they were used for.

Also, there is an ongoing six-year petroleum import review being conducted by the apex bank. The regulator had instructed all authorised dealers to also submit data on letters of credit of petroleum products importation carried out from 2006 to 2011.

Before the exercise, the regulator had in October 2011, carried out four-year petroleum import audit starting from 2008. Details supplied to the apex bank included Form ‘M’ number, Form ‘M’ registration date, importer’s name and address, sources of funds, date of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) permit, country of supply and discharge depot, among others.

Analysts attribute the move of the apex bank to a commitment to check the use of foreign exchange, espe-

cially for imports. The CBN said it will restrict the sale of dollars at its auctions to foreign companies taking the currency offshore, to limit local foreign exchange demand and support the weakening naira.

The regulator said foreign investors were guaranteed to repatriate their earnings and proceeds of investments offshore, but they could only seek dollars for such purposes from the open market.

“All remittances in respect of dividends, capital and proceeds of investments shall be through the use of autonomous funds (interbank). For the avoidance of doubt, foreign investors are guaranteed repatriation of their earnings and or proceeds of investments through the use of autonomous funds,” Batari said.

The CBN has in its continued effort to consolidate on the policy measures taken on foreign exchange utilisation, coupled with the need to streamline petroleum products importers, authorised dealers to forward copies of the Form ‘M’ proceeds and other relevant documents to the CBN for consideration.

CBN tightens noose on banks operating abroad

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has expressed its readiness to raise the level of supervision and control it has on Nigerian banks operating abroad.

This follows few complaints of breach of operating guidelines that were brought to the attention of the regulator from host countries.

Speaking at a retreat by Risk Management Association of Nigeria, CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Kingsley Moghalu said steps to be taken include but not limited to ascertaining the sufficiency and capital adequacy of the banks to ensure they can effectively operate abroad. ”We want to make sure Nigerian banks operating in foreign countries, especially West Africa, comply with all the regulatory requirements of their host countries.

Secondly, we want to make sure that internally here in Nigeria, they are adequately capitalised and structured to be able to sustain international operations,” he said.

Moghalu said the apex bank has increased interactions with other

regulators in the West African region to achieve the desired result.

He said that in one or two cases, the apex bank has taken steps to address complaints about a number of things .

He said as part of ongoing reforms, the apex bank has commenced implementation of riskbased supervision in commercial banks.

Moghalu said the decision was in line with global best practices and regulatory requirements. According to him, the apex bank is also in the process of adopting and implementing the Basel II and Basel III capital accords beginning in December 2012.

“The adoption and implementation of these initiatives will foster better risk management and corporate governance in banks, as well as improved regulatory supervision and industry transparency.

This has practical consequences for the role and responsibilities of bank directors and senior management,” he said.

He said as a follow-up to the last stress test conducted in 2009 at the

request of the CBN, plans are underway to conduct another round of assessment on commercial banks before the end of 2012 as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP) under a technical assistance programme facility provided by the International Monetary Fund(IMF) and the World Bank.

Moghalu said there is also an evolving effort to set up a forum of Chief Risk Officers (CROs) of banks to provide a platform to periodically discuss risk issues in individual banks and the industry at large.

“Furthermore, the CBN is in the process of developing a framework for the resolution of the banking crisis in future, with strong scenario planning. This is in addition to a strong macroprudential framework that anticipates and addresses the several macroeconomic imbalances, shocks and systemic exposures to which the banking and wider financial system in Nigeria is vulnerable, including global dynamics,” he said.

HE Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) is to charge to court erring debtors of 103 microfinance banks in liquidation.

The development follows the refusal of the debtors to pay up – in line with the corporation’s loans recovery and assets valuation programme.

Confirming the development, the Director of Research, NDIC, Mr Ade Afolabi, told The Nation that the court option was arrived at to recover all the debts owed the banks and further put them back on track.

He said the corporation has resolved to collect the debts owed microfinance banks, among other insured deposit-taking institutions.

“As regards the punishment for defaulters, we will charge them to court in order to recover the debts they are owing the liquidated microfinance banks,” he said.

Afolabi said NDIC’s primary concern is to protect depositors, contribute to the stability of the financial system through effective supervision of insured institutions, ensuring that prompt payment of guaranteed sums to the depositors, and making orderly resolution of failed institutions.

He said the financial undertaker has appointed debt collection agents and had discussions with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for the disposal of secured debts of the closed banks.

According to him, the debt recovery agents include lawyers and accountants, among other

professionals working with the NDIC.This, he said, are the only people designated to recover debts on behalf of the agency.

On deadline for debtors, Afolabi said none has been fixed for the recovery of all the debts owed the microfinance banks sub-sector.

“We are making the date for the payments of debts open because we want to enable debtors pay whatever they are owing the banks. Though the capacity to pay the debts lies with the debtors of the banks, the need to pay the debts is important. What we are saying is that the debts must be paid back in the interests of the banks”, he said.

In a related development, NDIC has assigned 21 recovery agents for 68 closed MfBs in Lagos. This will be followed by Rivers and Ogun states with three and two agents each for six and four closed microfinance banks respectively.

Oyo State got one recovery agent for four closed MfBs, while Edo State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have one recovery agent for three closed microfinance banks each. The rest are Delta and Enugu states with one recovery agent for two closed MfBs each while Osun State has one recovery Agent for one closed MfB. The corporation realised N102.6 million from the sale of physical assets, loan recovery and advances owed the banks. Out of the amount, N86.49 million was realised from the sales of chattels while N16.11 million was recovered from debts owed the banks.

‘Nigeria’s financial intelligence unit is weak’

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HE Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit’s (FNIU’s) inability to function well has worsened money laundering, the Director-General, Inter Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA), Dr Abdullahi Shehu, has said.

Speaking during the annual briefing session for ECOWAS Ambassadors and Development Partners in Dakar, Senegal, Shehu said the financial intelligence unit in Nigeria, among other countries in West Africa has been operating sub-optimally. He said the development has affected the capacity of the country to tackle money laundering and its associated offences.

He said the weaknesses in this area portend a major source of worry in the fight against the scourges in the country.

“Another area of success for GIABA is in the establishment of financial intelligence units.

However, some of the FIUs in the region are operating sub-optimally, hence the capacity to receive, analyse and disseminate suspicious transaction reports that facilitate investigation and prosecution is impaired,” he said.

The GIABA boss, who described money laundering as a derivative, migratory and transborder crime, said it requires very close collaboration between countries to checkmate the criminals involved. He urged member states to pool resources together and support each other in the fight against the crime.

He said the report of GIABA’s recent evaluation of member countries showed that most of them are still struggling with the

implementation of the old Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, stressing that the poor compliance is a pointer to the level of vulnerability of the financial systems to money laundering and other related crimes.

Shehu said Nigeria and other member states must demonstrate strong political will before it can effectively implement laws on anti-money laundering terrorist financing. He said the measures would deepen regional integration in line with ECOWAS’ Vision 2020 agenda to have crimefree society.

He said Nigeria, among other countries are still struggling with the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, adding that poor compliance is a pointer to the level of vulnerability of the financial systems to money laundering and other related crimes.

Shehu said preventive measures have been taken by financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) to tackle money laundering.

He said GIABA has been providing technical assistance to member states and civil organisations to fight the crimes, stressing that the regional body has delivered on its mandates to curb money laundering activities. He said the body included tax crimes as a new predicate offence, adding that the revised standards place emphasis on continuous monitoring; identifying risks, developing policies and ensuring domestic coordination of money laundering programmes.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Media bombings

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The attacks on THISDAY, The Sun and The moment are unnecessary

XPLOSIVES rang through the Abuja head office of Leaders and Company, publishers of THISDAY newspapers and its Kaduna branch office last Thursday. Though the Kaduna explosive affected other print media offices like the The Sun and The Moment newspapers, THISDAY seemed to be the target, going by the reported claim of the Boko Haram’s supposed spokesperson, Abu Quaqa.

According to the release from the group claiming responsibility for the Abuja and Kaduna attacks, THISDAY is guilty of biased reporting of the activities of the group. The newspaper, it claims, gave more prominence and a more positive

‘The newspaper, it claims, gave more prominence and a more positive slant to news from the security agencies while it downplayed their activities or gave their stories an altogether negative hue. It would be recalled that Boko Haram had a few weeks earlier, issued a widely reported threat of an impending attack on media houses for what it claims to be offensive report against the group. The attack on THISDAY’s Abuja head office may well be a fulfilment of that threat’

slant to news from the security agencies while it downplayed their activities or gave their stories an altogether negative hue. It would be recalled that Boko Haram had a few weeks earlier, issued a widely reported threat of an impending attack on media houses for what it claims to be offensive report against the group.

The attack on THISDAY’s Abuja head office may well be a fulfilment of that threat. The attacker, apparently a suicide bomber, had forced his explosives-laden vehicle through the back gate of the company’s premises, ramming it near the press, killing at least three people, including the bomber, and causing extensive damage to the press and premises. In what was a synchronised attack, at about the same pre-noon hour of the day, another suicide bomber hit the building housing THISDAY and two other newspapers in Kaduna, north central Nigeria.

Though lives were reportedly lost, the damage in Kaduna was minimal and the bomber was apprehended.

We think that this latest attack on THISDAY is only one more ploy by the Boko Haram sect to intimidate Nigerians and instil fear into the Nigerian media to make them shy away from reporting their activities boldly and accurately. Since 2009 when the sect launched a major insurgency which led to the killing of its leader, it has not convinced people as to its real grievances. When the sect is not trying to Islamise the country, it is waging a vengeful war against the security

forces; when it is not attacking foreign multilateral institutions and Western education, it is pulverising worship places and schools.

Yet, innocent lives are being wasted almost daily, our institutions are being damaged and the country adrift towards the precipice with economic activities seriously affected. Recently, the group foreclosed any chance of dialogue between it and the Nigerian government.

In backing out of an emergent process of a negotiated settlement, the group had said that, “Almighty God has told us repeatedly that unbelievers will never respect the promises they made.” On that note of finality, the sect dismissed any attempt to talk over the problem.

While we must constantly remind ourselves that our security agencies have not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians since this crisis got out of hand more than three years ago, we also hold the opinion that the Boko Haram of today is certainly not the same Boko Haram led by the late Mohammed Yusuf a few years back.

All said, it is a national shame that the security agencies have not been able to gather the requisite intelligence to nip in the bud the threat of Boko Haram. We can only hope that the arrested suspect in the Kaduna incident would not go the way of the others, either be allowed to escape or killed extra-judicially. The country needs him alive in the current efforts to help in understanding what the Boko Haram is all about.

Board appointments •These should be based strictly on merit and should only be done in line with the Oronsaye panel report

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HE decision by the Federal Government that merit will be used in the reconstitution of its boards is a relief to Nigerians. This is because in the past, many square pegs had been put in round holes; with the resultant maladministration and corruption. But if the Federal Government, for a change, wants to do it right, then it ought to wait for the white paper on the Oronsaye panel’s report, asking that many of the overlapping ministries and departments and agencies (MDAs) be scrapped or merged.

That commendable report should guide the government if it truly wants to reduce the clearly malignant waste in public service.

But if the Federal Government will yet again rather resort to the usual pursuit of political party interest over merit, then the perennial corruption saga that ravages board administrations will continue.

Nigerians are likely to recall with sadness that erstwhile party chiefs of the ruling party who received placement as board officials in many important development agencies turned the appointments into a nest of corruption. Indeed, Nigerians believe that high net-worth agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority represent for the Federal Government, conduits for enriching party officials and the party.

The unresolved saga over the Petroleum Technology Development Agency is one such result of party politics overreaching the welfare of the people. Going further back in time, Nigerians will not forget how corruption and incompetence led to the death of thriving federal agencies like Nigeria Airways, Nigerian National Shipping Line, Nigerian Railways, Nigerian Coal Corporation and several

others. Presently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency have been accused of mind-boggling corruption and incompetence at the hands of high level party officials, masquerading as administrators.

There is also the issue of agencies that have overlapping responsibilities. As noted by the Oronsanye commission, 38 agencies should be scrapped, while 52 should be merged and 12 reverted to departments in the ministry. If the proposal by the committee is carried out, it is projected that the Federal Government will be saving about N862 billion from 2012 to 2015. The committee also recommended that federal commissions should be reduced from 263 to 161, and listed some of the overlapping agencies to include the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Listed also is the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian Television Authority and Voice of Nigeria.

It should be added that over the years, the sitting allowances of members of boards of federal agencies went up astronomically. While shortly after independence, and even up to the Second Republic, the cost of maintaining the federal boards and agencies was manageable; it has now gone through the roof. In some cases, board members decide the amount they will be paid as allowances, and sometimes they even move their board meetings out of the country for purely pecuniary interests.

The result is that appointments to boards are no longer based on merit but

on partisan interests. While we can only advise, we are convinced that many of the boards, when filled by politicians contribute immensely in ruining the institutions they are supposed to provide leadership for. We recall the crisis that befell the Niger Delta Development Commission as the former board and management flexed muscles over selfish interests. While the disagreement eventually came into the public domain, several others suffered similar experience, and while they were at it, the Nigerian interest suffered.

So, in reconstituting the federal boards, we urge the Federal Government to key into what serves the Nigerian interest most. While seeking out the best, it must also ensure that it does not grant them the power to hijack the management and the purse of the agencies and parastatals they oversee. In the final analysis, merit should be the watchword.

‘In reconstituting the federal boards, we urge the Federal Government to key into what serves the Nigerian interest most. While seeking out the best, it must also ensure that it does not grant them the power to hijack the management and the purse of the agencies and parastatals they oversee. In the final analysis, merit should be the watchword’

A pivotal moment for U.S. role in Chinese human rights

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EN GUANGCHENG, one of China’s best-known and bravest human rights activists, had been illegally and unjustly kept under house arrest in his village for 19 months when he somehow escaped last Sunday.

He made his way to Beijing, and though his whereabouts are unconfirmed, activists reported Friday that he was under the protection of the U.S. Embassy. The State Department refused to respond to questions about him.

If the activists are right, as seems likely, the Obama administration faces difficult conversations with the Chinese government at a sensitive moment. But the principle it should adhere to is clear: It must be prepared to offer Mr. Chen refuge if he seeks it and refuse to allow his return to state custody — either official or unofficial.

Reasons for U.S. diplomats to wish Mr. Chen had taken his troubles elsewhere are numerous — and in some measure understandable.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are due in Beijing next week for an annual strategic and economic dialogue; the Obama administration is trying to maintain what recently have been relatively smooth relations with China as that country goes through what is looking like a bumpy leadership transition.

Such considerations no doubt affected U.S. calculations when a deputy mayor from the city of Chongqing sought refuge in a consulate in February: The official eventually walked out of the consulate and was taken into custody by security forces dispatched from Beijing.

Mr. Chen’s case is different. The 40-year-old, self-educated lawyer, blind from birth, courageously undertook to defend women who were victims of forced sterilizations or abortions.

He was arrested, tried on trumped-up charges of property destruction and blocking traffic, and sentenced to 51 months in prison. Since completing his term in September 2010, he has been held in his home by local security forces without charge or sentence. After he made a video about his situation last year, he and his wife were severely beaten.

Mr. Chen’s family is now in danger. Activists say his wife and daughter have been confined to their home, and his brother and nephew have been arrested. No doubt authorities are embarrassed by Mr. Chen’s escape, but he and his family have committed no crime and deserve no punishment.

It is not clear if Mr. Chen is seeking asylum in the United States. Activists in touch with him say he wishes only to be allowed to live legally and in peace in China, and that he is reluctant to leave the country. But Mr. Chen clearly qualifies for political asylum, and there is a precedent for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing serving as a harbor for a dissident — Fang Lizhi, who lived there for a year following the 1989 Tiananmen square crackdown.

As U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke pointed out in January, China’s respect for human rights “is in a down period, and it’s getting worse.” Ms. Clinton mentioned Mr. Chen by name in a speech last November in which she called on Beijing “to embrace a different path.”

Well-timed or not, the administration’s handling of this affair may tell the new Chinese leadership, and the rest of the world, whether the United States is serious about defending those who seek to push China toward that different path.

– Washington Post

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: We rea with consternation your editorial comment April 23 titled above, Tax evasion, page 19 Ordinarily, we do not engage in media exchanges, however, it is critical in this instance to set the record straight, not so much because your comments about NCAA were uncharitable, but more so because you demonstrated an incredible lack of information and knowledge.

You wrote that, “NCAA should realize that we revelations emanating from the top managers of these foremost foreign airlines are an indictment of its failure to effectively discharge its responsibility to the nation. It is inconceivable that such huge revenue source to government has for this long been ignored by the Authority”.

The editorial does not sufficiently or articulately provide any rational basis or background information to arrive at this conclusion. The only thing readers can hope to depend on in respect of your conclusion is your statement that remittance of statutory taxes on the Passenger Fuel Surcharge is a global or worldwide practice, suggesting that NCAA is the exception by not receiving the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge on it.

Minimum research will show that NCAA fees on tickets are wholly Nigerian. Taxes charged in other countries are pursuant to their own laws and not the same as taxes in Nigeria. It is therefore impossible to claim that there is a global or accepted practice of charging the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

If you conducted any research, you would have discovered that no country has or is receiving taxes on Passenger Fuel Surcharge (PFS). As a matter of fact, Nigeria through

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

Re- Tax evasion the NCAA is the first to conduct such a comprehensive investigation that has unearthed what is now public knowledge that PFS was not really a surcharge, but an alternate and additional fare. How can NCAA be “negligent”, if it is the first to pursue and expose this issue?

Others, including regulators in other jurisdictions have characterized what NCAA is doing on this

issue in other language, such ‘courageous”, “unprecedented”, “landmark” and “defining”. This is because they all recognize how transformational the conduct of the NCAA is for the industry worldwide. The Senate Aviation Committee has repeatedly referred to NCAA’s investigation as world class, superior and difficult to controvert. No one has been able to impeach or discount the quality,

reasoning, logic and findings of the NCAA investigation.

All things considered, your editorial, at best, demonstrated ignorance or, perhaps mischief and at worst malice.

It is pertinent to point out that it was the outcome of the authority’s six month investigation conducted from November 14, 2011 on the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airlines (BA/VAA) activities

Leadership and the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu enigma

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IR: “According to John Maxwell “vision gives us conviction to stand, confidence to speak and compassion to share”. These are attributes for the most prepared and steadfast.

Since the demise of the late sage and politician Chief Obafemi Awolowo, personalities in the Yoruba nation have helped shape the destiny of the region politically and in all spheres.

The leadership succession continues till now. However, one man stands tall and deserves all the accolades cum encomiums on his personality. He is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagban of Borgu kingdom and a world citizen who recently turned 60. Tinubu, a rugged fighter, political strategist and a pro-democratic activist with Spartan courage have it all.

I recalled a critical moment not long ago when it was glaring that the South-West needed a political direction while still recuperating

from the mainstream bondage which ex-president Obasanjo plunged it.

God used Tinubu to redefine the politics. The aftermaths are peace, unity, restructuring and reorientation and re-building of confidence that the region is witnessing. Governors with clear-cut ideology and cosmopolitan approach to governance are now in charge in South-west putting the right peg in the right hole. Indeed! It is a clear departure from what the South-west were forced to live with in the last nine years or so.

His audacity on what he believes in is legendary and that has continued to define him. When he was governor of Lagos State, he engaged in robust politics with quality dispensation of leadership which remain un-rivaled till date. He is a good manager of men and resources with numerous footsoldiers learning the ropes. Tinubu charisma and charm has dwarfed

political clowns and usurpers’ masquerading as leaders in the Southwest region. Tinubu has over the years distinguished himself as an apostle of the rule of law, true federalism, good governance, good party leader and vibrant opposition. He is a passionate believer of these tenets and follows them to the letter.

The ruling party has been taught some political lesson by the many battles he has braved in his political travail and calculated attempt to ridicule him. All of these failed because the man of the people will simply not allow cheap blackmail to thrive in a political environment where everyone is well informed.

Though rugged but still an “Omoluabi” to the core, he received uncountable bashings from foes and oppositions alike, yet he applied high level of diplomacy in reacting without being rude to anyone. He knows how to fight hard politically and still

The racket in higher institutions

IR: The system by which students of higher institutions are compelled and restricted to reading only the books authored by their lecturers in order to be able to pass a particular course is becoming worrisome. And if the ugly trend is not nipped in the bud, especially now the country is aiming at the utopian year, 2015,

covering August 2004 to March 2006 that revealed the exploitation and deception being perpetrated. The authority acted promptly by imposing appropriate fine. We await further advice from the Federal Ministry of Justice on the next line of action over the decision of the Administrative Appeal raised by NCAA which set aside the fine, having upheld all other of our findings.

To accuse an organization that has proactively conducted an investigation that brought to the open the current figures being bandied around in the media is to say the least, unfair and unprofessional, misleading and deceptive.

• Sam Adurogboye Ikeja, Lagos.

when education would be made available for all, the phenomenon would continue to elude us.

Compelling and limiting students to read only the books written by lecturers, at the pain of failing the particular course, is tantamount to denying them the right and opportunity to read wider and venture into other areas that could

help to develop their faculties.

Students should be encouraged to make research into their discipline by reading works of other luminaries in order to have a holistic knowledge of a particular course which would no doubt, adequately prepare them for academic adventure.

If this unwholesome trend was in

practice in the past, our experts and other luminaries like Professor Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, J P Clarke would not have attained their present academic height.

University authorities’ should do all within their strides to stop the racketing of books by lecturers.

• Nkemakolam Gabriel Warri, Delta State

respect others.

Since the advent of democracy in Nigeria, politics has not been this sophisticated and intriguing. When the Yoruba leadership question came up, it generated so much arguments and controversy amongst stakeholders in the context of SouthWest politics and for daring to be different, some started hurling missiles at Asiwaju Tinubu’s direction as if he ever pronounced or installed himself a Yoruba leader.

Truth is, he is eminently qualified by his uncommon attributes which has endeared him to the people of the region who see in him a warrior who does not abandon his people. Suffice to include here that one can neither purchase nor force leadership; on the contrary, it happens naturally. This present generation mostly youths still want to experience more purposeful leadership and winners’ mentality which the likes of Tinubu represent.

He sure will play a big role in future political alignment and re-alignment to come in Nigeria as we approach 2015.

Asiwaju, I will leave you with this saying by your most-cherished mentor, former premier of western region late Chief Awolowo that “The price of democracy is eternal vigilance”! So, be vigilant and stay healthy.

• Kehinde Osasona Ilorin. Kwara State

21

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Nigeria: A nation at war with its citizens? Millions of Nigerian children are ‘Almajiri-like’ also!

N

IGERIA is a country where its leaders are at war with the citizenry and who plunder it as a captured territory. We are told not to be Tony impatient, that change Marinho will come, and that good things take time to develop. This is a cover-up for Corruption, Incompetence and Negligence and Selfishness - CINS. Are we snails in an IT/space age world? For many years we have begged government to approve N17-20 billion for library book boxes in all 70,000 schools as a way of bridging the education gap. The pension scam is now at N180 billion or N1800/Nigerian. Almajiri schools are necessary but children in many city, village and town ‘rubbish schools’ across the country are local Almajiri -not better off and begging for a decent education. They have dirty walls and an empty learning environment and taught by teachers lacking teaching aids like books, encyclopaedias or science equipment.

It is reported that Governor Okorocha uses the security vote, estimated at N50 million/month, for education and health projects. He is to be emulated, though giving cash handouts to children is of questionable value but it does cut out the middleman contractor in the school food chain. There are bullying parents and students who may extort the money.

What hope have we really got in Nigeria from this crop of 1999-2012 politicians and civil servants? It is incomprehensible that we still do not have more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of power for a country not at war while other countries are planning trillions of MWs from solar power by 2020 while we waste our sun. We need Solar Energy Commissions at LGA and State level. If war comes from Tuaregs, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, MEND etc, will PHCN provide- zero power? But many communities are

I

permanently powerless. Nigerians have suffered war conditions for 30 years –no electricity, no water, poor roads and corruption. Which really is the best performing state in the elusive Millennium Development Goals? The MDGs are international targets and easily measurable yardsticks forcing governments to put more money into development and as a result hopefully have less to steal. Imagine for a moment if all the stolen money over the years had been used for purpose; just imagine how well developed we would have by now. All Nigerians in authority must know that it is cheaper to be competent and corruption-less than selfenriching. The reward of corruption is often non-performing family members and spiralling expense as corruption breeds greed. Just as we have second and third generations of neglected teachers who have never seen an encyclopaedia, we now have the third generation of the corrupt and cultists holding posts in government and Professors or Vice Chancellors in universities. What hope for our children?

It is the leadership that is too poor in skills to make Nigeria great. What works? What is the scorecard? Nigeria’s leaders and managers of pension funds plunder N180b, plunging millions to death, misery, penury and a life of limited expectations and often an early grave. It takes 13 years to get us a half expressway, Lagos Ibadan. Weak railway structure too slow on the uptake. Ports so poor our goods are unloaded abroad. Our refineries so bad our fuel is refined abroad. All this and they are seeking re-election?

Wives of Presidents and governors and LGA Chairmen must reduce their entourages and overhead costs and roll up their sleeves and identify with the poor and stop making ‘donations’. Instead they should ‘Give on behalf of the government and citizens’.

Nigeria is reduced to a kako-kalo, lottery, country where 2000+ instant millionaire are made annually and instant ‘win a car’ have replaced any desire or motivation for hard work.

The only real thing coming from governments at all levels is the increasing burden of yet more taxes, legal and illegal so that more money will be available to steal. Is it not an

idiocy that NEC and Ministry of Finance are still talking about multiple taxation as if they are not in the same country but warring countries? Enough talk, just stop it! Until government stops the government thieves, the money should be left in the pockets of the people. The only benefit of being a Nigerian –oil- has been removed.

The epidemic of public transport-related rape, kidnap, robbery, ransom and murder for ritual purposes should engage the politicians and police at the highest and DPO level. Everyone using public transport is in danger. Rather than the expensive FRSC and even Police registration methods we need new approaches. It may be alright to apply such FRSC and Police registration to newly registered vehicles and licence renewals, which should last five, not three, years. Over a few years sanity will be introduced. An easily seen registration number should be introduced for all commercial public transport taxis, motorcycles-okadas and minibuses-danfos. Such a registration number should be large, easily read, easy to remember and in clearly readable separated digits and letters and in luminous paint for night reading. Tests should be done to ensure easy readability at 10 metres. Citizens should be warned about boarding vehicles with only men in them but women have often been known to be part of theses gangs. Citizens should always be on their guard. Rape is under-reported. Living is too difficult for the ordinary Nigerian.

Nigeria’s public servants and politicians should stop the war and stop plundering Nigeria. Nigeria is not conquered territory-yet.

‘Nigeria’s public servants and politicians should stop the war and stop plundering Nigeria. Nigeria is not conquered territory-yet’

New Frontiers of Boko Haram’s ‘War’

T was the American anthropologist, Ruth Fulton Benedict (1887-1848), who once said: “If we justify war, it is because all peoples always justify the traits of which they find themselves possessed.” This quotation came in handy when I reflected on last week’s simultaneous attacks on the facilities of ThisDay newspapers in Abuja and Kaduna. A few hours after the attacks, the satanicpropelled hoodlums visited their unfounded anger on Gombe State University. Also a few days later, they struck again with fiendish abandon at a service of Catholic faithful within the old Bayero University campus in the ancient city of Kano. Two professors were killed in the attack which claimed the lives of about 21 worshippers.

The Boko Haram’s scourge has been ravaging the country with the intensity of an epidemic for quite some time. It is needless to delve into the history of what has now put the country on the active map of terrorism worldwide. It is quite unfortunate that the country has deteriorated into this level of bestiality for no tangible reason other than the fact that some people may be disgruntled or ‘possessed’ by unclean spirits, as Benedict rightly puts it.

However, the most disturbing aspect of this latest tragedy are the puerile reasons adduced for the destruction by the sect. The sect had explained that its grouse with ThisDay was over alleged misrepresentation of its position and perceived bias. In the interview

by a member who claimed to be Abu Qaqa, Boko Haram said the attacks were meant to send a strong message to the media that it had become fed up with alleged misrepresentations of its position by journalists.

Qaqa identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the Nigerian intelligence agencies.

Another was the recent kidnappings in the North during which he said the group made its position clear at a teleconference with reporters but it was shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which it never said. Another example, he said, was “the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam. There is no place our Imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”

On why ThisDay appeared specifically marked for the attack, Qaqa said: “It is not only ThisDay that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us; yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war.” According to the blog, the purported Boko Haram spokesman threatened that

“… all the great wars ever fought on this planet earth ended at roundtable conferences, usually after the enormity of lost lives and destructions. This ongoing ‘war’, as Boko Haram puts it, will not be an exception”

the group would launch more attacks against the media.

My good friend and brother, Simon Kolawole, the editor of ThisDay, has done a good piece on the accusations levelled against his newspaper in his usual column at the back page of ThisDay on Sunday.

As the editor of the daily editions of the newspapers, it is he who wears the shoe and knows where it pinches. But as a journalist, I found most, if not all the reasons adduced for the attack on ThisDay, not only laughable but also a feeble attempt at justifying criminality.

One thing the Boko Haram insurgents must understand is that an attack on any single journalist anywhere in the world is an attack on all journalists everywhere. This is because there is a bond of fraternity in the profession. You might call it camaraderie as it is commonly said in security parlance. In this regard, if the sect had any sympathy before, and I strongly doubt this, that sympathy, if any, might have gone with the blaze that consumed ThisDay’s Press in Abuja.

I do not understand what the sect meant by accusing the paper of “misrepresentation of its position and perceived bias.” Which position and on what? Is it its position over what has now become a tradition of the sect to attack police stations in remote villages in search of arms and ammunition? Or is it its position on the incessant attacks on financial institutions, especially banks, in search of funds to prosecute its directionless and very senseless socalled ‘war’?

The sect also talked about professionalism and objectivity in news reporting by journalists.

Again, if I may ask: when did it become the watchdog of the watchdog? Or to put it mildly, when did Boko Haram become the custodian of ethics and standards

of the journalism profession? While I will frankly admit that there may have been some slips here and there in the practice of journalism in Nigeria and in other parts of the world, there is always a sacred aspect of the profession that gives room for whoever is wronged to seek redress through rejoinders. No newspaper will go all out to report falsehood or to twist facts for whatever reason. This is because the ethics of the profession frown at it. In exceptional cases where this occurred, the big stick is always there for the culprits. It also rubs off negatively on the paper or media house as its patronage or sales could nose-dive if people feel that standard has fallen or the ethics of the profession are no longer being adhered to.

Again, if some newspapers reported that Qaqa was dead, and he is alive, I do not see any quarrel there. If the security agents release a report that someone is feared dead and that person is not, the onus is on such a person to speak out, not to resort to brigandage or mass massacre of innocent lives. As a professional, I can neither absolve the security agents from excessive propaganda which, in any case, is a veritable weapon of war nor would I absolve journalists from certain excesses as we witness from time to time in the media.

It is a pity that some journalists nowadays rely more on handouts or press releases to do their job without crosschecking their facts or talking to the other side before rushing to press. Not a few characters have been unjustly accused of one misdemeanor or another, which has been found to be untrue at the end of the day. In many instances, some newspapers have had to feature apologies for such misrepresentations. The law courts are also there for aggrieved individuals to seek redress. But resorting to killing and bombing

Dele Agekameh for perceived wrongs cannot and will never be taken as the normal feature of a sane society or sane group of people.

Above all, it is a fact that no one or group of persons ever wins a war against the government. However, it is the responsibility of the government to do everything possible to bring back the nation on the path of sanity, peace and tranquility very quickly. Far too many innocent lives have been lost in the ongoing senseless war. If we go back to history, all the great wars ever fought on this planet earth ended at roundtable conferences, usually after the enormity of lost lives and destructions. This ongoing ‘war’, as Boko Haram puts it, will not be an exception. So, the earlier they come out of hiding and table their grievances the better for them and the country. Like the English writer, Aldous Huxley (1894-1936), said: “The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings and that these individuals are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own!”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘If international price of gasoline is about N140 per litre and the pump price in Nigeria is N97, how can you say subsidy was “terminated last January?”

Or how is the difference funded?

Hatchet-jobbers must give this dog a bad name to justify their predictably next call: “hang it!’– From Andeo

•Farouk Lawan

For Olatunji Dare Thanks to the Ad Hoc Committee members for keeping their words. It is now left to Jonathan to act if he means good for Nigeria. To me, I recommend the total removal of the subsidy on all petroleum products. Let us channel the money towards making our own refineries function so that it will create more jobs.

Anonymous.

Re: Subsidy-gate – If Jonathan takes the side of the battered masses of this country, he will justify the mandate given to him by the voters.

If not, his name will be marred forever in Nigerian history. The ball is in his court. From Adene Edward, Opoji Edo State.

Subsidy-gate: The report on oil subsidy as submitted by Hon. Farouk Lawan’s committee must not be treated with levity by the President if there is anything called ‘Transformation’. The President should put an end to syndicated corruption as a means of party patronage by PDP members. Ibori was freed by Nigerian court but found guilty for the offence in a London court. What a shame! This report must be transparently treated to show clearly that corruption is being tackled from its root. The President is for the whole country not for PDP misfits. Transparency not mere transformation.

Please, retrieve our stolen money, Mr. President.

From Pastor Odunmbaku I. K.

EDITORIAL/OPINION

R

ECENTLY, the government of Cross River State approached the Supreme Court, appealing that Akwa Ibom state should be made to pay N15.5billion, being the 13 per cent derivation from the disputed 76 oil wells returned to the latter in 2009. To some analysts, the state ought to be commended for exercising its fundamental human rights. Yet, those who insist on facts, wave it aside as a mere academic exercise.

Indeed, the claim by Cross River appear to be a counter of the one sought by Akwa Ibom about two years ago. Then, Akwa Ibom had argued that: “A total refund in the sum of N31.3 billion should be made by Cross River State in favour of Akwa Ibom State. This represents payment of derivation revenues illegally made to Cross River State from November 2004 to April 2009 in contravention of the Supreme Court judgement of June 2005 which confirmed Cross River State as a non-littoral state with no maritime territory and therefore no oil resources to claim revenue therefrom”. That, it said, was beside an alleged illegal receipt of derivation revenue in the sharing of excess crude funds from November 2004 to April 2009.

There is no question that the Supreme Court judgement affirmed Cross River State as a nonlittoral state. What that means is that Cross River is not contiguous to the sea; and so cannot lay claims to the oil wells. The state, it was said, assumed the painful status shortly after the International Court of Justice handed over the Western part of Bakassi to Cameroon.

According to the Supreme Court: “The effect of the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dated 10/10/2002 on the land and maritime boundary case between Nigeria and Cameroon is that it has wiped out what used to be the estuarine sector of Cross River State as a result of which the state (Cross River) is ‘hemmed’ in by the new international boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon.

That being the case, there seems to be no longer any estuarine boundary between Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.

It added that: “If the ‘median line’ or ‘thalweg’ principle is adopted in drawing the

President Jonathan will not do anything positive on the subsidy probe unless a miracle happens. Those selfish individuals that goaded him to contest for the Presidency are neck deep in Subsidy-gate. It will end up as PDP family affairs. From Alh. Adeboye Lawal.

Re:Subsidy-gate: A test of the Jonathan Agenda Yes, I salute Hon. Farouk Lawan and his crew but they need to do more at the National Assembly to win the hearts of their countrymen in their oversight functions. The country is still as Fela put it, ‘A geti my money for my countiri, starti to go for marketi, starti to go for shoppini, if a reach marketi nko o, government for don enter and ma plani don spoil o’! From Kayode A., Abeokuta.

Re: Subsidy-gate: A test of the Jonathan Agenda Farouk Lawan’s findings and the publication for Nigerians are an eye-opener that the era of open robbery is ceasing, little by little. The exercise is commendable. This Subsidy-gate will make every leader and the led Nigerians, sit up and avoid open and close robberies. From Lanre Oseni, Lagos.

If international price of gasoline is about N140 per litre and the pump price in Nigeria is N97, how can you say subsidy was “terminated last January?” Or how is the difference funded?

Hatchet-jobbers must give this dog a bad name to justify their predictably next call: “hang it!”

From Andeo.

For Segun Gbadegesin Prof, words of mouth are too inadequate to express my joy when I read about your beloved friend Opalaba’s return, though you have not been fair to me or you think I want to snatch your friend from you. If not, you are supposed to tell him that we have been asking of him, or you appreciate us on his behalf. Anyway, the eccentric and uncompromising Opalaba is back.

I congratulate him and you; I congratulate

myself. From Pastor (Uncle) Esan Ajibola, Academy road, Ibadan.

When US warned about an attack in Abuja we said there was no such threat then, it happened.

Anonymous.

What a poetic and literary article of reality! In fact, you are a true Yoruba man who knows the pros and cons of “Omoluwabi” concept. All that I know and believe is that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final say in the world where reality pervades. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I know, truly, that progress will not come through boundless liberalism nor static conservatism, but at the critical mass of mutual survival. It takes two wings to fly.

Whether you are a hawk or a dove we are just an entity living in the world. I know that one day the truth will be unveiled! The murderers will be brought to brook and history will deliver its own verdict. Thanks. From Comrade Ajayi Kayode Success, Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Indeed, his matter is clear. Thank God, for your write-up. My recent tour of about six Local Government Areas of Osun State attests to this.

The state is working again. Such distractions can only come from failed elements. Oranmiyan keep soaring on the eagle’s wing. From Victor K., Lagos.

That advice should go to all ACN governors because PDP has nothing to offer us. From Feyisetan Onyeaju Kareem.

Truly, I align myself with your comments about Oranmiyan Ma wo be. I am not surprised over his achievements because when he was the commissioner of Works in Lagos I was posted to him on several occasions. His humility was second to none; he always treated policemen with respect. I am even prepared to die for him.

Anonymous.

Common patrimony of the west. Sir, what does this imply? All obstructions against the giant

Cross River, 76 oil wells and rule of law

By Uduak Edward boundary line between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the line must intersect the new maritime line (Maroua line) between Nigeria and Cameroon with the result that Cross River State no longer has a seaward boundary”. Put another way, if a state does not abut the sea, it is not possible for it to access an oil well, which is about 200 meters isobaths into the sea.

Yet, Cross River, in an originating summons filed by its counsel, Yusuf Ali, argues that following a boundary dispute between it and Akwa Ibom State, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo summoned the two states and amicably settled the matter. Subsequent demarcation of boundary, it added, showed that 90 oil wells was found to be in the territory of Cross River State.

However, they did not in any way dispute that it lost access to the sea, when Bakassi went to Cameroon. And, those who know argue that even if Obasanjo ordered away some oil wells from Akwa Ibom to Cross River, boundary disputes, especially one with international implications cannot be permanently settled by political fiats. As argued by counsel to Akwa Ibom State, Chief Bayo Ojo and Paul Usoro, Cross River once qualified as a littoral state since it had access to the sea through Bakassi Peninsula and the estuarine part of the body of water ( inland waters) called Cross River. But with the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon, the state is now landlocked and no part of its territory lies contiguous to the sea. That, it was learnt, is the kernel of the matter.

This much was confirmed by Thisday newspaper on August 6, 2009, when it reported that: “The kernel of the dispute between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States is hinged on the fact that prior to the apex courts ruling, Cross River State did not have the 76 oil wells attributed to it on account of the non-contiguity of its

landmass to the oil wells which were at sea but adjacent to Akwa Ibom coastline. Legal interpretation of the June 2005 Supreme Court judgment implied that by rejecting the second relief, Cross River State was no longer a littoral state except under the assumption that the western axis of the Bakassi Peninsular was going to be administered by Nigeria… investigations revealed that one of the key arguments posed before Yardua by the NBC which compelled his directive to restore the oil wells to Akwa Ibom was the display of several maps which showed clearly that the riverine territory of Cross River proceeding to the sea, truncates at the intersection of the median of Cross River with the median of Kwa Yafe River”.

Kwa Yafe River is the northern limit of the Bakassi Peninsular which now separates Cameroon from Nigeria in accordance with the ICJ ruling and therefore is the international boundary with Cameroon . It was also learnt that this new evidence informed the apex courts judgement declaring Cross River a non-littoral state since most of the oil wells under contention are at sea or offshore in the area where the international boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon is in effect between Akwa Ibom and the Bakassi Area of Cameroon to the exclusion of Cross River State administration.

Clearly, in 2005, sentiment, rather than hard historical facts led to the arbitrary expropriation of the 76 oil wells from one state to another. However, while Cross River claims it had 90 oil wells before that time and even, “for the sake of peace” gave 14 of them to Akwa Ibom; the latter insists the disputed wells always belonged to it.

In a position paper about two years back, Akwa Ibom said: “Before the 75 oil wells were illegally transferred from Akwa Ibom to Cross Rivers State in January 2005, the Cross River State’s share of derivation revenue in relation to Akwa Ibom State was basically insignificant. For example, in the month of Oc-

• Aregbesola strides of Aregbesola should be condemned. But I am against any idea that is ignorantly calculated to burden us with errors of our political patrimony. It is sheer mental laziness for an Awoist not to see the error, ignorance and limitation of Awoism. This failure is the bane of Nigeria’s progress. An instance is the inherited regional disposition in the formation of a political party like ACN. The intellectual conceit of our fathers should be corrected. The regional ACN should join other spineless parties to produce a stronger antithesis against the PDP thesis in order to produce a real synthesis in form of national progress. Our patrimony failed to achieve this in spite of its proven ingenuity.

We should correct the errors of our patrimony.

We should promote its excellence. History awaits. Anonymous.

Aregbesola should talk less, work hard quietly and put to good use the N35 billion he has saved. He should also make those who stood by him in his time of need happy and stay put in Osun State. Lagos is not his domain. Do you know that it is only in Osun that PDP members are not defecting to ACN? Does that tell you something? Lastly, he should beware of fabricated bombings which could be attributed to him! From a friend of peace and progress in the state of Osun.

I think Omisore’s threat should be taken seriously. I doubt if any opposition could issue such. Anonymous. tober 2000, Cross River State’s share was N193,572.93 while in the same month, Akwa Ibom State received N1, 855,346,047.46 as derivation revenue”. Simply put, the high level of disparity is a proof that the wells had always been in Akwa Ibom and that the state had always enjoyed derivation! Many have also scoffed at whatever principle NBC used in the said revised demarcation, saying it brought more problems than solutions to the country.

In fact, the Supreme Court sneered more, thus: “... it can be seen … that the revised boundary delimitation of the NBC dated 5/7/2004 which the plaintiff is urging this court to declare as the maritime boundary of the two states is predicated on the negotiation between Nigeria and Cameroun which negotiation is almost but not finally concluded...It is therefore clear to me that the revised boundary delimitation by the NBC is not a product of an agreement between CRS and AKS contrary to the representation of the former. It also needs to be stressed that the NBC revised boundary map was made and allegedly approved by the President at a time when the boundary dispute was sub judice...”

Part of the reasons Cross River insists that it should be considered as owners of 76 oil wells is because the state suffers some effects from oil exploration. True, the effects can be devastating, hence every sane mind would back recommendations that the victims should be compensated. In fact, the Federal Government should fashion out some long-over-due palliatives to cushion the effects of Bakassi loss on Cross River, since stark reality of ceding Bakassi to Cameroon led to the lose of littoral status by the state!

Yes, indemnity is in order for Cross River.

But that, in no way suggests that internationally recognized principles of boundary delineation should be jettisoned at the detriment of a sister state. While it is morally right to pay some damages to Cross River State on account of the effect of oil activities, it should not be at the expense of Akwa Ibom State. This is because the same situation would not be considered for Lagos State, for instance, on account of oil activities in Ondo State, which distances compare as in the case of Akwa Ibom/ Cross River States!

• Miss Edward, a journalist and teacher, writes from Lagos

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY May 2, 2012

HELP

PROGRAMME

RULING

Foundation cares for the needy

Sambo urges emirs to support Almajiri scheme

Abuja park-andpay service legal

Lagos

27

FCT

28

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Abuja

40

Page 25

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

A

NAMBRA State government has intensified the battle against flooding. It continues to appeal to the people to cultivate healthier habits towards the environment. For instance, the Peter Obi administration has persistently warned against dumping refuse into drainage channels. It follows up the appeal with action: coordinating the evacuation of blocked drains.

Flooding is the worst nightmare of the state during the rainy season. Over 1,500 active erosion sites have been identified in the state.

As the wet season sets in, Governor Obi is worried about what becomes of the state, particularly Onitsha, its commercial city, Awka, the capital territory, and Nnewi, the industrial town, among others like Umunze and Ekwulobia as well as Nkpor and Ihiala.

Obi has laboured to keep flooding and itsdisastrous consequences at bay, but the activities of residents are nothing to write home about. The residents of these cities are known for pouring household waste into the flood channels waiting for flood waters to wash it down.

The resulting flash floods cause erosion, which has ravaged property and taken lives in several communities in the state.

In order to sustain preventive measures to avoid flood disaster in the state Obi has ordered the opening up of drainages at Zik’s Avenue, Fegge in Onitsha.

He inspected the exercise himself.

Last year, however, the state did not record any major flood disaster because of effective measures taken by the Obi administration which included opening of drainage systems and water channels that enhanced free flow of water.

But the governor has continued to regret indiscriminate

•Obi (right) shows the Minister ongoing anti-flooding work

Anambra tackles flooding Fed Govt intervenes From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

building on drains and water ways by landlords which is posing another challenge. Obi urged the people to support the government’s efforts to protect the environment through proper disposal of refuse

Minister cautions on drainage blockage and keeping the drainage systems free.

Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Michael Egbebuike said many drains have been opened, including the drains at Obodoukwu Housing Estate and the ongoing work at Sacamori. The Sacamori

project is aimed at opening up the drains around Ochanja and Fegge areas.

The governor has directed the Ministry of Environment to hasten up every preventive effort in order to avert any disasters.

Governor Obi also said dredging of the SacamoriNwangene drain will be the ultimate solution to the challenge of flooding in Onitsha and environs.

Obi said President Goodluck Jonathan administration has intervened on the project, thanks to sustained efforts and commitment of the state government on the project as well as repeated appeals to the federal authorities.

•Continued on Page 26

‘Let’s develop other natural resources’

F

•Prof. Mafuyai

ROM Jos, the Plateau State capital, has come yet another warning that the country’s economy is heading for the rocks, except Nigerians develop alternative sources of revenue.

Geologists at a seminar expressed concern over the nation’s apparent lack of interest in exploring other natural resources and seems content with crude oil which remains the mainstay of the economy.

The professionals warned that if the trend continued, the economy would suffer because its oil may not sustain it in the next 41years.

They also called for an end to the squandering of proceeds from the excess crude oil account, adding there should be an addition to the reserve so that the nation would not go broke.

The geologists made the observa-

From Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

tion at a seminar in Jos organised by the University of Jos Petroleum Development Fund (PTDF) Professional Chair Endowment in Geology.

Presenting a paper titled: “Geology, Petroleum, Mineral and Environmental Resources of the Benue Trough, Nigeria–Challenges and Opportunities”, PTDF chair, Professor Agbaji Ogezi of the Department of Geology and Mining, University of Jos, said his group has been engaging in various researches to ascertain if oil could be seen in alternate sources like the rock.

He maintained that different opportunities abound if one carefully examined the rocks as they could give additional revenue to the nation in terms of tourism, oil and gas, as well as other resources.

He was optimistic that “The Benue Trough may be a favourable area for oil and gas as well as for strata-bound and structurally-controlled mineral deposits”.

With respect to petroleum, he stated, “There are good prospects, especially in the formations which are thicker and structurally and strati-graphically-related to the Niger-Delta as well as the Chad/Borno, Niger, Sudan and Cameroun basins within the same trend.

“In addition, there are possible hydrocarbons, barite, clay, dilute brine, fluorite, lead-zinc ores, gypsum, limestone, among others. Stakeholders’ sensitisation on environmental and resources issues would facilitate sustainable resources extraction and socio-economic development.

“Resources extraction/exploitation would also provide jobs, additional

revenue, industrial raw materials and sites to eco- and geo-tourism development and the end result would be greater diversification of the country’s base and wealth as well as improvement on the national security”.

There were other presentations and assessments by international experts including Professors Muhammad Abubakar, C. Nwajide, Nuhu Obaje, M. Offodile, F. Ugodulunwa and Obianuju Umeji on geology, petroleum, mineral, water and environmental resources of the Benue trough.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof Hayward Mafuyai who gave the welcome address, said he was optimistic that the relevant authorities will pay attention to the results of the researches for the benefit of the nation and its citizens.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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Anambra tackles flooding •Continued from Page 25 When the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia visited, she cautioned Nigerians against frustrating efforts of the state and the federal governments to rebuild a clean and healthy environment. The project is costing over N1b.

Mrs. Mailafia spoke at Fegge, Onitsha while inspecting the ongoing Sacamori-Nwangene Erosion Control project, which she expressed happiness at its full commencement.

Accompanied by the governor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment Dr Macjohn Nwaobialu and Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Micheal Egbebuike, the Minister said effective environmental management was the responsibility of everybody. She added that it required the total commitment of individuals and communities to facilitate efforts of government to sustain the tempo of infrastructural development.

She lamented that indiscriminate building of houses and other structures has continued to undermine government projects and remain serious threat to safe and healthy environment.

Mrs. Mailafia said the project which was gulping over one billion naira is one of the 15 erosion projects awarded in the Southeast and thanked Governor Obi for ensuring effective supervision of the project. He acknowledged that the erosion menace in the region was

•Ongoing work on a flood channel in Onitsha overdue for tackling, having caused so much damage.

Governor Obi in his remarks thanked the Minister for the level of commitment demonstrated so far and reiterated the resolve of his administration to take full ownership of Federal Government projects in the state and maintain regular and strict supervision.

The governor urged the people to avoid dumping refuse in the drainage system and key into the state government Environmental Management Programmes geared towards effective waste disposal and healthy living.

He explained that the state and Federal Government are collaborating in a waste management scheme

Anambra State Governor and the Federal Government partnering to tackle the Sacamori challenge is a welcome development because if it rains, everybody in this Boundary Avenue from the Expressway to Nwangene Creek will not sleep

in some major cities of the state.

The governor condemned the “uncooperative” attitude of people living in Okpoko and Fegge, lamenting that even when the Federal Government partnered the state to establish an energy to waste project, the people refused to cooperate with them to keep Onitsha clean.

A resident, Hon Martin Agbata was excited at the partnership to rescue the people of the area. He said: “For Anambra State Governor and the Federal government to partner in tackling the Sacamori challenge is a welcome development because if it rains, everybody in this Boundary Avenue from the Expressway to Nwangene Creek

will not sleep. If they do they would do with one eye because the flooding in this area is terrible and can waste property and lives in a matter of seconds.” ‘’The residents here are more than one million people as presented by the last census. The only place to be compared with here in flooding is Lagos,” he said.

Another resident of the area, Mr. Augustine Obi said the intervention of the governor has brought joy to the people after being neglected for years, assuring that they will remain grateful for his people oriented programmes.

The Managing Director of Benijaf Construction Company, John Arachi assured that the project would be ready before this year’s

rainy season to avoid the perennial problem of floods in Fegge area.

Governor Obi has assured that the Obibia Bridge along Enugwu Agidi – NTA Road flagged off last month, will be completed before the rainy season, with other ten similar projects across the state in line with his earlier promise to the people.

He said this during the routine inspection of projects scattered across the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, assuring the community that he would continue to personally monitor its progress.

A representative of the contracting firm, Mr. Agman Bou Khzam assured that the bridge will be ready for use before the Easter celebrations.

Immigration seeks support against border

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FFICIALS of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Sokoto State have sought more support in order to effectively tackle cross-border crimes in the state.

They said their work will be more effective if they are assisted in the areas of manpower and lo-

•From Left: Vice President of Nigerian Union of Journalist, Zone C, Ambrose Nwachukwu, the Enugu State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Louis Dilibe and his Imo State counterpart, Mr. Innocent Igwe at a Southeast media summit PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

crimes From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

gistics.

Illela border post Superintendent Alawo Saka said the border has been encountering obstacles while trying to overcome security challenges at the border.

He said Illela post, being a very significant border point linking Nigeria and Niger Republic, is seriously experiencing acute shortage of manpower and facilities to tackle cross-border crimes and criminal activities.

“The post is battling with the prevalence of human trafficking coupled with the present insecurity in the region,” he said.

He explained that the post currently has only one patrol vehicle and some motorcycles which he noted are insufficient in carrying out routine operations.

“It makes it difficult for the officers to cover the border area,” he said.

Superintendent Saka expressed

dismay on the increase of illegal cross-border activities owing largely to porous border routes in the area.

Accordingly, the official pledged that the post will always do its best to keep the border free criminal activities.

He advised motorcycle commuters and villages on the border should desist from harboring human traffickers.

“Very soon the command will embark on an enlightenment and sensitisation campaign for the border communities on the dangers of accommodating people with questionable character,” he said.

He disclosed that only recently did the post succeed in apprehending a human trafficking syndicate with teenagers enroute Libya via Illela borderland and were handed over to the Sokoto state immigration command preparatory for their return to their states of origin.

To boost its work, the command appealed to the federal government to provide modern security and patrol vehicles with which to combat illicit cross-border activities.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2012

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged Christians to unite and work together to propagate the word of God, adding that the church should assist the government in shaping the society.

Fashola, who was speaking at a seminar entitled: “Leadership and the Church”, organised by the Patriotic Christian Leadership Forum (PCLF) at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, said Christians, irrespective of denominations, were called to be one and they should work together.

The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs. Doyin Olusoga, said: “We as government regard our religious leaders as partners in governance because they are saddled with the responsibility of admonishing the congregation to be law-abiding and shun criminal tendencies that pose a threat to the security of Lagos State.

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Fashola urges churches to be change agents

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

“I appeal to the church to act as a partner to the government by preaching against lawlessness, corruption, disorderliness and disobedience that often clog the wheel of progress and stability in our nation.”

He said his administration has tried to be focused on the goals before it, especially in delivering

on the promises made to Lagosians.

His words: “We have concentrated on building infrastructure to speed up growth in every sector. Government believes that it is by developing infrastructure in transportation, agriculture, education, health and security that commercial activities can flourish, economy can grow and the

I appeal to the church to act as a partner to the government by preaching against lawlessness, corruption, disorderliness and disobedience that often clog the wheel of progress and stability in our nation

people can feel secured and contented. We believe you elected us to serve your interest..

“The Lagos State Government will always remain grateful to you for your prayers which we can never be tired of asking as we strive to build the Lagos of our dream.

On this note, I wish to appeal for your continued prayers and let us continue to pray for peaceful coexistence in the country. It is not an understatement that if the country is at peace, our state, town and indeed all homes in the country will be at peace. Therefore, let us as a Christian body continue our crusade of making peace in this nation so that the prophecy of God concerning Nigeria will come to pass.”

Governor Fashola commended the President /Founder of PCLF, Dr. Funmi Akitoye-Braimoh, for organising the seminar. He also lauded members of the group for

making efforts to better the society.

The governor and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were recently given awards by the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Lagos State chapter.

The awards were presented at the 21st anniversary and induction of newly-elected executives of OAIC held at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fashola, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religion (Christian), Mrs. A.Y. Akitoye-Braimoh, received an award on “Good Governance”.

Tinubu, represented by the President/Founder of the All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum (ACLMF), Rev. Sam Ogedengbe, received an award on “Political Leadership”.

Foundation cares for the needy

N

O fewer than 600 people benefitted from the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) non-refundable cash support. Other people also received training support.

According to Dr Ore Falomo, it is good a good thing to be kind to the less-privileged in the society because all hands are not equal.

He spoke at the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) business initiative to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founder, Dr Taiwo Afolabi in Lagos.

Falomo, who is the Medical Director, Maryland Specialist Hospital, said the job of caring for others should not be left to the doctors alone, people should take it as a point of duty to help those in need.

Citing a biblical reference, he said: “If you are merciful you will also obtain mercy.”

He urged Nigerians to be merciful because that was what God wanted from them, promising to be a partaker in donating to the less-privileged next time the foundation is organising such a programme.

“I am assuring you that by next year I will do something too to support the foundation,” he added.

Falomo, who was the chairman of the occasion, praised the founder who he described as a simple and humble man, adding that he reminded him of the deceased business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola.

“He is just like Abiola, who was always sad to see people in difficulty. My prayer is that he

•Mrs. Sola Soile (middle) presenting a cheque to a beneficiary. With them is Oladosu

By Wale Adepoju

surpasses what Abiola has done,” he said.

Dr Taiwo Afolabi is just like Abiola, who was always sad to see people in difficulty. My prayer is that he surpasses what Abiola has done

Foundation Coordinator, Mrs Omolola Oladosu said the recipients were classified into four categories. They are critical support package, business support, start-up support and trainee.

She urged recipients to utilise the money to make profit.

“Small businesses have been proven to contribute to the national economy and society at large. Empowerment comes with emancipation and increased sense of value. Building, running and growing small business is a part of a cycle of creativity and prosperity that can be applied by dedicated

people anywhere.”

She described the founder, Dr Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi as a man with uncommon passion

for humanitarian services. “He comes across as an overtly calm and modest man despite his wealth,” she added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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Sambo urges emirs to support Almajiri school scheme

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ICE President Namadi Sambo has solicited the support of Emirs and other traditional rulers in the northern part of the country for the Almajiri Model School scheme.

Sambo made the call in Gombe when he visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, in his palace.

“I am happy to inform you that under the Almajiri programme, we plan to assign a lot of responsibilities to your council so that we will succeed in that direction.

“Mr President has stated that every Nigerian child has the right to education and we must educate every child.

“That is why that programme came from primary school project.

“It is very impressive, it is one of its kind •Chairman, Imegbon Youth League (IYL) Comrade Adekunle Agbabiaka flanked by former Chairman Olusegun Taiwo (right) and Secretary Bisola Omikunle watching fumigation exercise during Enviromental Sanitation carried out along Itire road, Mushin

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Local govt spends N14m on drugs

HE Chairman, Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State,Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, has said that about N14 million was spent to procure drugs and medical facilities for its health institutions.

Maigwandu told journalists in Sokoto that the council was committed to the provision of qualitative healthcare services.

He said the drugs and facilities had already been distributed to various health centres.

Maigwandu explained that arrangements had been concluded to retrain some health workers, to enable them acquire more

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Sokoto

S

OME elders in Bauchi State have expressed concern on the indecent mode of dressing by girls and urged parents to monitor their children.

The elders were particularly concerned about the “exposure of vital parts of the body” in the name of

Bauchi fashion by the girls, saying it was against decency, culture and religion of the people.

One of the elders, Alhaji Musa Mohammed of Gwallaga Quarters in Bauchi, told

knowledge.

“We want them to update their knowledge so as to take care of the health of our people efferctivel.”

Maigwandu called for the support of the people by reporting any outbreak of epidemic to the nearest health institutions across the local government.

appears with original certificates will be qualified for promotion as against what obtained in the past where to Whom- it- may Concern was accepted. He said that candidates should come with brochure where their names appear on the graduation list of their various institutions where the certificate is not ready.

Church holds programme THE Akala Foursquare Gospel Church will hold a four-day prayer conference from today. The time is 6pm to 8pm daily and the venue is 20, Ojo Street,Idioro,Mushin , Lagos. On Saturday May 5, the Children Conference will hold by 6pm and on Sunday May 6, the Thanksgiving service from 8am.The theme is: Faithfulness of God. Speaking on the programme, the chairman, Planning Conmmittee, Mr Babatunde Ososanya, said the ceremony will bring increase, blessing in the lives of guests,saying it will touch them exceedingly . He assured them of God’s protection .

•From left:Commissioner in the Local Government Service Commission Dr. Wale Ipaye, Alhaji Ojikutu, the Council Manager Mushin Local Government, Mr Sunday Oduwole and the Council Engineer, Eng.Tajudeen Oyebanjo during the inspection facilities provided for council workers

• Sambo

‘Caution girls against indecent dressing’

Council workers assured on promotion letters

HE Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Oluwole Ojikutu, has assured public servants in the 20 local governments and the 37 local council areas that their letters of promotion would be released, almost immediately a candidate sat and passed promotion examination.

He said this during the inspection of facilities provided for workers in Muhin Local Government Area.

Ojikutu added that currently only one person signs the promotion letters of over 5,000 candidates in eight places. He said the commission is trying to initiate a technology that will sign original letters in eight places within a very short period so that the challenge can be overcome. “It is our resolve that every promotion should attract necessary remuneration without any delay’’, the chairman said.

In a similar vein, it is only candidates authenticated by the Human Resources Officers (HRO) in the eligibility list that will be qualified to write the promotion examination in the commission. He appealed to council workers to verify properly their eligibility list, as gate crashers will no longer be allowed to sit for the examination.

Ojikutu explained that only candidate that

HE Kano State government has procured 652 fire extinguishers for installation in its ministries, parastatals and agencies.

The Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano.

“The installation of these equipment is necessary in order to check possible fire outbreaks especially in the MDAs.” Yusuf said the state government had procured three fire fighting vehicles with capacity of 11, 000 litres of water each, to enhance fire fighting operation in the state capital.

“When the present administration came on board, a lot has been achieved in terms of re-equipping the state Fire Service with

Kebbi and these are the types of programmes that other states should emulate so that we can achieve our objectives of educating every Nigerian child,’’ he said.

He said the Federal Government was doing everything possible to ensure the security of lives and property of every Nigerian and called on all Nigerians to contribute toward security in their respective areas.

“Here we need the contribution of each and every Nigerian towards ensuring security in our environment,’’ he said.

He told the emir that the Federal Government had approved N4 billion for the upgrading of the Dadin-Kowa Irrigation System.

Replying, the Emir thanked the Vice President for the visit, saying it was a clear indication that he loved the people of the state.

• Comrade Ayodele Adewale Chairman, Amuwo Odofin LG,being presented with a policy document on solid Waste Management by Henry Ferland, Director Admin Support Group, the Global Methane initiative, Climate Change Division and Swarupa Ganguli, US Landfill Methane Outreach at the US Environmental Protection Agency, in Washington DC, USA.

New online trade launched

A

NEW online trade outfit, Alaba online, has been launched. The outfit was launched by 3m international whose services are IT based. The venue was Alaba International Market, Okokomaiko, an outskirt of Lagos.

The Chief Technical Officer of 3m intl, Mr Oyetunji Abiodun said his company is out to offer business owners strategies and platform to grow their businesses in terms of marketing and advertisement. He said: “We are into website designing, SMs marketing, networking services and we also build software for companies. So, you see that all of these are in the same line of helping business to grow.”

According to him, the idea came during a seminar organised by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kehinde Olagbenjo and this is because “Alaba International market is a very recognised market when it comes to electronics and other household stuff”.

He assured that with the volume

and quality of services provided at the site (alaba market), the company will meet the needs of both the vendors and clients. He added: “The choice to use Alaba International market is because we want to focus on one area of the market at the onset which deals with electrical, electronics and furniture product in a major way. Besides, Alaba International marketis a pioneer of Nigerian e-commerce”.

On ways to tackle online fraud, he said: “The security of goods and money that will be exchanging hands is our topmost priority. We have been able to install what is called the SSS certificate on the site, this is a security feature that makes it impossible for the site to be hacked by any hacker.

Secondly, there is a unique feature that we have also put in that site, it is called ‘buy for me’. If you go through that feature, you are telling us to buy whatever you want to buy.

We are giving you a 100% money back guarantee if the good do not satisfy you because we are buying from a very reliable source.

He promised to offer a service that is affordable for the low, average and high income earners.

37

newsmen that “we should not allow modernity to criminally distort our values as a people.

“Parents should talk to their female children on how to dress decently.

“Many grown up girls and even married women are in the habit of wearing tight dresses that virtually expose their bodies in the name of fashion.

“Modernity has brought some decadence in our culture because our religion as Muslims and culture provide that a woman dresses decently and not in a seductive manner.”

On his part, Alhaji Musa Amjad, a social commentator, wanted the state government to enact a law to prohibit tailors from sewing “indecent dresses to Muslim girls and women”.

He said the situation was getting out of hand, because even married women were embracing the negative fashion and by so doing passing it on to their children.

“It is very common now to see Muslim girls and women in Bauchi dressed indecently, exposing their bodies, especially during wedding ceremonies.

“Government should wade into the matter and enact laws that will prohibit tailors from sewing such indecent dresses to women and girls, especially Muslim women.

“Such dresses encourage indecency and decadence among our young girls and expose them to the problems of rape and sexual harassment, hence the need for a law,” he said.

Borno partners Centre for Leadership

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HE Borno State government is to partner with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, to train its indigenes.

Governor Kashim Shettima , represented by his aide, Dr Mohammed Bulama, made this known at a the Third Annual Leadership Lecture and Graduation Ceremony organised by the Centre in Abuja.

“We are ready to partner with the centre to train men and women to understand the task of modern governance.‘ According to him, Nigeria needs a transformative leadership committed to sustainable development in order to get out of the present socio-economic and political situations.

Shettima said poor leadership was a major factor responsible for highl level of corruption, immorality and insecurity in the soceity.

“It is a failure of successive leadership that led the country into this present state of corruption and insecurity; it is in our own interest to develop transformative leadership that will salvage this country. “ He said responsible leadership was very crucial to the development of any nation and a dynamic and visionary leadership would produce a significant development.

He urged the centre to establish more training outlets across the country to develop the capacity of the younger generation.

In a speech, the Executive Director of the centre, Dr Otive Igbuzor, said the objectives of the training centre was to address the fundamental challenges of leadership to the development of Africa.

Igbuzor said the centre in its three-and-ahalf years of operation observed that three basic challenges to African development are “poor leadership, absence of correct strategy and inappropriate development approach.

May Day: Scholar seeks more jobs RENOWNED Islamic scholar Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I has Alamented the increasing rate of for Nigerians unemployment in the country.

Sheikh Shafi’I, the Chairman, Hajj Mabrur Ventures urged the Federal Government and respective state governments to use the opportunity of May Day to urgently design programmes that will continuously reduce unemployment among Nigerians.

He noted that one of the primary responsibilities of government is creation of jobs for her teeming population.

He decried the poverty rate in the country put at 60.9 percent in 2010.

According to him, the 2011 Human Development report, released by United Nations Development Programme in November, last year, raised the country’s HDI to 0.459.

He stated that the average HDI of subSahara Africa region increased from 0.365 in 1980 to 0.463 currently, placing Nigeria below the African regional average.

A situation where over 100 million Nigerians are said to be living below poverty level, he said, is unacceptable.

“This has largely contributed to hundreds of thousands of Nigeria taking up begging as profession. Those who can’t beg for alms are involved in various criminal activities within and outside the country. Our fore-fathers hard earned image for this great country is being tarnished on a daily basis,” he lamented.

The revered cleric urged the government

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

to learn from advanced nation whereby the unemployed are given token to take care of their needs.

“An average unemployed person in United Kingdom receives up to N20, 000 weekly from government. This will not make them go into crime but here despite our oil, the reverse is the case.

We are creating jobs and also no scheme to cater for the unemployed. How will the crime rate not increase?, he queried.

Shafi’I enjoined government to always fulfill agreements reached with their workers to avoid incessant industrial action that draws the nation’s economy backward.

He urged workers as well to be alive to their responsibilities and think of how to move the n a t i o n f o r w a r d instead of looking for loopholes to e n r i c h themselves illegally.

•Sheikh Shafi’i

Kano procures fire equipment Kano modern fire fighting equipment.”

According to him, the state government had also promoted 354 firemen in the department.

The commissioner said plan was underway to establish 14 fire service stations in some selected local government headquarters and at the legislators’ quarters at Farawa.

“The state government is considering the rehabilitation of five fire fighting materials such as hose and fire balls,” he said.

He disclosed that the state government had employed 750 Road Traffic Assistants to help in controlling traffic and restoring law and order on the roads.

•Governor Kwankwaso

N44m spent on vehicles for monarchs

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ANKO/Wasagu Local Government of Kebbi State spent N44 million on the provision of eight official vehicles for traditional rulers in the council to assist them administer their domains.

The Sole Administrator of the council,Alhaji Rabiu Mohammed, made the fact known in Mahuta while presenting the vehicles to the rulers.

Mohammed said the decision to provide vehicles to the traditional rulers was in recognition of their roles in the implementation of government policies and programmes.

“The presentation of the vehicles is also in recognition of their role as the bedrock of society,” he said.

Mohammedpraised the traditional rulers for their assistance in ensuring peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths and cultures in the local government area.

“They have also protected the cultural values

Kebbi and traditions that make our society relevant,” he said.

The administrator appealed to the traditional rulers to ensure that children in their communities enrol in schools.

He said that they should also ensure that children in their domains were immunised against diseases.

The District Head of Wasagu,Alhaji Lawal Nagoggo on behalf of the recipients, promised that they would support the local authority to implement its policies and programmes.

He appealed to the local government to provide amenities to the people of the area.

The Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Bena, who made the presentation, urged the traditional rulers to use the vehicles well.

Residents lauded for clean environment

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HE wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, has praised the residents of Oshodi for keeping their environment clean.

Mrs Fashola stated this during the last Saturday’s environmental sanitation monitoring tour.

The governor’s wife, who was received by the Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon Bolaji Muse Ariyoh, visited and monitored environmental sanitation exercise on Ajibulu Street, Samuel Street, Ayodele Street among others, to see to the state of sanitation in the area.

After her visit, Mrs Fashola praised the people for their co-operative attitude in cleaning their environment.

“We must give it to the chairman because there is one kind of rapport between them, because we could see that all of them were outside doing their job, they should keep it up” she said.

She urged environmental defaulters to desist because it is not good for them and the environment.

“They should not do that because it is not good for us, they should ensure that our quarters are clean and drainages are clean,” she said.

By Amidu Arije

Commenting on the state government’s decision to devote the month’s sanitation to cleaning of drainages, Mrs Fashola urged the people to key into that decision for the good of all.

“We should all key into it because, when we clean our drainages, we will be free from flood. Let us make cleanliness an attitude of life. Let us always clean our environment and our drainages to ensure that they are flowing. If they are not flowing, let us seek the assistance of the local government and state government,” she said.

The chairman,Hon Muse-Ariyoh appreciated the cooperation of the residents urging them to keep Oshodi clean.

“I must say thank you for coming out en masse to clean your environment. Unlike before,I have not seen any place where they play football today. Playing football is a tradition but today is different,they should keep doing that”.

“We called the people Oshodi and told them that they should clean their drainages and leave the rest for us to cart way and this is what we are doing and we have the people doing that every day.

•From right: Mrs Fashola; Mrs Sara Muse-Ariyoh and Hon. Muse-Ariyoh.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Life

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The Midweek Magazine Text only: 08023058761

A case for monuments

Fixing a fracture

– Page 31

– Page 35

‘Controversy makes literature tick’ •Pa Uwaifo

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Pa Omorodion Solomon Uwaifo is an engineer passionate about Edo culture. At 80, the culture activist is intensifying his campaigns. He has written two historical books on Edo – fiction and genealogy – to be launched on his birthday this Saturday at The Foxhole. Interestingly, the novel, written in English and Edo languages, comes with an audio version. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, Uwaifo speaks on his works and the power sector in which he worked for 19 years.

‘Controversy makes literature tick’

I

T is interesting to see an engineer engaged in literary works. At what point did you delve into writing and how have you been able to marry both aspects of your life?

Writing has always been an eroro (a tiny bell) ringing in my head, but I trained to write no more than laboratory reports. At 60, eroro grew into egogo (a big bell).

It sounded so loud it threatened to open up my brain. I had to write to relieve the pressure. When I began writing, there was nothing else to do. Nigeria had trained me to be an engineer, but it did not need me and my engineering knowledge. It found writing for me and I have been writing. That's all I do.

You will be presenting two of your books: Uloko of Ages and Echoes of a Restive Empire at the weekend.

What are their thrusts?

Uloko of Ages is about my genealogy. Echoes of a Restive Empire documents some of the stories we were told while growing up. Time was as slow as iron (probably the smallest of the snail family) in those days. We would sit on the sands under the moonlight, singing and clapping.

We had too much time. These days, even with electricity service more strictly rationed than the firefly's natural service, we simply don't have as much time anymore.

Time has acquired the phenomenal speed of the hare. In response, we must document the stories to be read at leisure. And that led to the writing of the book.

Echoes of a Restive Empire is set around the Benin migration of the war kings: the Kings Ewuare and Ozolua and Esigie. Why write a novel on a controversial aspect of Edo history. Are you not worried that your book may spark unnecessary debate or controversies?

I am not aware that any aspect of the oral history is controversial. If it is, bring it on. Let us have the controversy if it elucidates and teaches.

Most authors would have ended the book project at publishing the novel but you chose to produce an audio version of the book, what informed it?

The Edo version of the book is verbalised to help Edo folk who can't read and write Edo well. It is an audio book.

How long did it take you to write the books and produce the CD? They took about 21 months.

What do you hope to achieve producing them?

I am happy to be an instrument for education. I pray to be a good and a useful one to our society and the world.

Some culture activists have raised fears that the younger generation is not in-tune with their culture.

They opined that it is due to moral decadence in the society. What is your take on that?

Moral decadence is a familiar cover for our ills and transgressions, but to say it is responsible for our failure to impart cultural values in our children is, in my view, stretching it too far. The Yoruba are doing just fine. I hope the Edo borrow a leaf. Writing is part of the culturemix our children need for a robust revival. We don't have the time our parents had for homilies on the virtues of morality. Parents should pay more attention to those aspects in order to instill morals in our children.

You have over 20 years experience working with NEPA; in your opinion, what really is the problem behind the challenges in the power sector?

The country adopted a wrong political system, culture and structure at independence. We changed it for the worse three years after and the military delivered the coup de grace in their years of bad governance. The truth is that our leaders, perhaps unwittingly, saw Nigeria in their images and chose political structure that completely disregarded ethnic differences and cultural uniqueness.

It was simply wrong-headed not to recognise that some of us were nations, even empires, before the coming of

•Pa Uwaifo

INTERVIEW the British. If we recognised that, we should have worked to build our country from bottom to the top instead of assuming or believing we have a root from which to grow.

An Edo proverb says: If you would butcher rotten and slimy animal, you cannot have the fingers to scratch your body if it itches.

Is there hope for the power sector; can Nigeria truly achieve a 24-hour steady power supply?

Yes, it is a matter of applying appropriate technologies and management strategies.

What do you propose?

A hard, educated and informed look at the country will help us find that niche in governance that will lead to the country's stability and progress. This is an imperative. When the head is wrong, all goes wrong.

The other day, an article on page 46 of Tell magazine, published on March 12 prompted my riposte, although not published, I would quote it here. I stated: 'Subsidising any life-saving, life-sustaining and life-uplifting item for

‘Memories of the tragedy of Edo land between 1897 and 1914 were fading, but eddies of the sorrow were still powerful and strong.

My father and mother were born in the throes of the tragedy and they grew and lived through it.

They tried to wean themselves from it, but they fed me with echoes of the trauma’

the 'poor' is desirable and great, but not subsidising electric energy and power as the feature in Tell proposed.

Politicians are experts of specious statements, however, the words 'Subsidising Power for the Poor', used in the article is exceedingly dangerous for our country and our economy. I suspect that the words were not Sam Amadi's.

Nobody who understands the philosophy and principles of electric power pricing will use those words in that context: they are the very antithesis of the help the feature wants the "rich" and government to give to the "poor".

Could you explain further?

Industry is the food the electric utility needs for growth.

For more than three decades, NEPA and its successors resorted to exactly the type of punishing tariffs proposed in that article. It discouraged electric load growth as it was probably expected to do. Given the debilitating control of the industry by the military (they built no power station in 15 years, whereas electric utilities must build power stations or expand old ones frequently - say every two years - to keep ahead of demand by consumers), the management probably thought it needed that type of tariff, because it could not supply the electric power it did not have. The tariff discouraged commerce and industry, inhibited the rich and impoverished the 'poor' when industries passed on the cost of doing business.

Industries were constrained to use less electric energy and reduced electric energy forced reduction in the number of workers. Constant and increased use of electric power promotes high load factors. High load factor means larger energy sales and sales revenue for the electric utility. Industries can only use power all the time if they have workers. Working population breeds healthy, prosperous societies. Think about it; it is a simple matter of a healthy symbiosis between the utility and its customers. Punish the 'rich' and industries for higher •Continued on page 34

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Making a case for monuments

•Monument in Lagos

Heritage sites and relics are the material evidence of a nation’s historical and cultural identity, hence experts have called on the government and the Museums’ management to make well-structured plans to involve members of the community, reports OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Assistant Editor (Arts).

T

HE continued conservation of the nation’s monuments is critical to the realisation of its accruable social and economic benefits, a museum expert has said. In a paper entitled: World heritage and sustainable development: The role of the local communities delivered at this year’s World Heritage Day, the Principal Heritage Officer, National Museum Lagos, Mrs Nkechi Adedeji, said priority must be placed on how to promote, maintain, control and coordinate heritage sites because they are socially and culturally viable. She noted that heritage sites that have cultural and historical value are the material evidence of a nation’s historical and cultural identity.

Protecting them, she said, amounts to the protection of the authenticity and integrity of the people’s cultural heritage. “They must be protected from people today and from posterity because a people without historical reference are a people without pride identity. The intrinsic value of monuments and sites makes them priceless and, therefore, capable of being tourist attraction and generate income for the community if properly harnessed,” she added.

She observed that unlike third world nations, developed countries such as Britain, America and Germany give priority to the preservation of heritage sites. According to her, in Nigeria, the reverse is the case as most Nigerians do not understand what heritage site means to national growth and development. She blamed this development on poverty, lack of proper information and awareness on the part of the citizens, low education level, low involvement of philanthropic or multi-national organisations, poor funding by the government, and low involvement of the media organisations. She, however, identified three significant methods to promoting sustainable development of heritage sites; namely traditional, institutional and alternative methods.

On the roles of communities in the preservation of heritage sites, Mrs Adedeji said it is the sole responsibility of the citizens to protect, promote, preserve and support the developmental process of heritage sites in their local communities.

She stressed that the notion that the National Commis-

MONUMENT sion for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), should be solely responsible for the preservation of heritage sites must be erased to create a conducive environment for proper management of such sites by all stakeholders including local communities.

She said: “Community must show interest in the development of their natural heritage site because it gives them international recognition, creates employment opportunities and generates wealth through tourism for the community. Members of the community must give adequate and authentic information necessary for the promotion and care of heritage sites, especially when they are the owners of the heritage.”

She cited Sukur cultural landscape as a good example of community participation where most of the restoration works were carried out through joint communal efforts.

She explained that the maintenance of the Chief (Hidi’s) palace, clearance of festival grounds, work on Hidi farm land, maintaining footpaths and sacred ground were all conducted at the general community level at the instance of the Hidi.

Also, she noted that Osun Osogbo groove in Osun State (acknowledged by the local community as giving them power to wealth, fertility and healing) is traditionally maintained and protected by the indigenous people using myths and belief system. These, according to her, prevent any form of encroachment which is regarded as sacrilegious and offensive to the gods and goddess. It would be recalled that Osun groove was recognised by UNESCO in 2005 as a world heritage site.

Mrs Adedeji recommended that museum’s management plans and decisions on heritage site must be structured to include members of the community. “Media organisations both print and electronic must be willing to help create public awareness about the usefulness of heritage sites in various local communities. Heritage must be made conducive and attractive for tourists. This will further enhance

•Mrs Adedeji

its sustainability, create jobs, and generate revenue for the country.

The world heritage day also known as International Day for the Monument and Site was created on April 18, 1982 and later approved by UNESCO General Conference in 1982.

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‘I can fix Nigeria’s energy problem’ Can anyone bail Nigeria out of its power problem? The answer seems uncertain. But, Emmanuel Obayagbona Imafidon, 27, a budding inventor, claims he has the solution to the problem, reports CHRIS OJI.

O

BAYAGBONA Emmanuel Imafidon is a budding scientist. He trained at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu State, where he obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. While at IMT, he recorded two major inventions. He believes that if the Federal Government considers one of his inventions,it may end the problem of electricity supply in the country. Obayagbon admits that all his inventions come through God’s inspiration.

His two major inventions, which are begging for verification are Thunder-Lightening Energy Converter and the Automatic Generator shutdown and change over switch. This year, he is returning to school for his Higher National Diploma (HND). He is from Benin City, Edo State, but was born and brought up in Warri, Delta State.

He had his secondary education at Challenge Academy Secondary School, Ovwian, Aladja, Delta State, where he was awarded scholarship by the school proprietor, Mr Ese Aghoghovia for his invention prowess.

What is the first invention all about?

Thunder-lightning energy converter is an equipment which can trap lightning, store the charges and convert it to electricity for five years.

This is not a solar system that absorbs sunlight through solar module. I am talking of thunder discharge when it is raining, which can power the whole of Nigeria and Africa in as much as there is thunder-lightening.

It is all about generating huge power from thunderlightning. It is built with lightening arrestors, mask, armoured cables, storage materials.

What are the details?

It comprises four zones—the trapping zone, the storage zone, the conversion zone and the transmission zone. The trapping zone traps lightning voltage of one mega volts to five mega volts, though the lightning bolts will be built according to specification. While the storage zone which has the ability to retain this static charge from the trapping zone for five years and 20 days that static charge is then transmitted to the conversion zone which converts the static current to electricity for about one mega volts to five mega volts of electricity.

Your past designs?

I have done a non-working pictorial prototype, which explains the entire system. I have not done a working prototype because it is highly capital intensive and the device is a mega project and still under research. I have been working on it since October 1, 2004 . I even have a prototype that I designed six years ago in 2006. The device is an inspirational project given to me by God the Omniscient. I still have the plan he showed me. I have built another prototype of this thunder-lightning energy converter on February, 2012.

The transmission zone then transmits the five mega volts and steps it down using high tension step down transformer to 330KV or what ever Nigeria wants to step down to. Then the final voltage from the transmission I also presented this thunder-lightning project at the YOUWin programme, a business training organised by the Federal Government for youth empowerment at Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State last December. I was shortlisted for the second batch training.

What qualifies it as a world project?

The reason why it is a world project is that thunder lightning occurs mostly in Africa and Africa is the second largest continent in the world. Thunder-lightning is a major source of electricity which scientists have been trying to trap, store and convert into electricity.

How I can bring this to the reach of the poor? It can only be possible with the support from the government and NGO to help further research on the project.

Fifty years ago no one would have believed that sun, wind, etc would be sources of electricity. What makes me believe that this idea will work is because I have experienced lightning in Delta State when there was power failure. In Delta State, lightning from thunder burnt my neigh-

• The budding engineer

• Power transmitter

INNOVATION bour’s television set and compact disc player. So many people were electrocuted by thunder.

How about the second project?

Automatic generator shutdown and change over switch is a device to shutdown generator automatically when there is public power supply without fluctuation of the electronics and the lighting system in the house.The device does it automatically on its own without the user going to turnoff the generator and changing over to public power supply (PHCN). During the changing over period from generator to public power supply, you will not notice any fluctuation like blinking of the light, or interruption of your electronics.

This doesn’t occur during the changing over as everything that uses power remains uninterrupted. But the only thing you will notice is that the generator has gone off

‘This will save you from the stress of going to turn off your generator and changing over to public power supply manually, which can also prevent burglars from burgling you in the process of going out to turn off your generator in the night’

automatically and there is still light in the house.

What are the real benefits?

This will save you from the stress of going to turn off your generator and changing over to public power supply manually, which can also prevent burglars from burgling you in the process of going out to turn off your generator in the night. The device can be used with any gasoline generator between 500watts and above (.5 to infinity).I have been using mine since January 6, 2011 and my client has been using theirs since June 5, 2011 till date. It has one year guaranty and the device is built with Nigerian wire of 6mm.

Any future plan?

The next design I am doing will have the ability to turnon the gasoline generator automatically when there is power failure and turn-off the generator automatically when there is public power supply.This new design uses remote control whereby one can use the remote control to turn-off the generator at any point of time.But the previous one I produced has the ability to turn-off the generator automatically and change over to public power supply.

Even when there is power failure and the user turn on his generator manually, it has the ability to change-over to generator light automatically without going to do it manually.

It has resistance to fire outbreak.It has resistance to heat.There is a provision you will press/click to prevent public-power supply from interrupting the generator. It is protected with fuse in case of sudden high voltage from public power supply.It is built with NEPA and generator indicating lamps for the user to know which of the devices is on NEPA or generator.”

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‘We take this risk that if we produce this book, it will sell, but if it doesn’t that means the value decreases. We take the financial burden and have an agreement with the author as regards the percentage that will come to them’

Strategic Insight Solutions (SISL) is a UKregistered service provider founded in September 2000. It is into health care, support for relationships, book publishing, business consulting, training&research as well as job recruitment, among others. Its CEO Dr Joel Akande, is at present in the country to partner with potential writers in realising their dreams by publishing their works.

Dr Akande, who was at the Corporate headquarters of The Nation in Matori, Lagos Mainland, spoke to ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA.

A boost for budding writers

W

HAT is the SISL project all about?

The name of the project we are promoting is Creative Writing Ability among Nigerians.

The concept is to promote the reading culture and rekindle the abilities of Nigerians to read and write.

You said you are partnering with the Lagos State government to extend the project to public secondary Secondary ... (cuts in) We have written to the Lagos State government and they (government) are considering our proposal. Our applications are with the ministry of education as well as the ministry of establishment. We ‘re hoping they will take up the process so that we can reach out to public schools.

On the private sector, we have written to many schools and the proposals have been much welcomed by their proprietors. We also conducted a one-day training at the University of Lagos last month and we‘re awed with the response. There have been some manuscripts submitted to us and which we are considering for publication at the moment.

Can you let us into the modus operandi of this partnership?

At Strategic Insights Solutions Limited, we believe everybody has an intellect, though the language of intellectuality may be different. It may be in English, Yoruba and Hausa, Igbo or any local language. If as an SS2 or SS3 pupil you have a manuscript for story to develop, we will take it up, ditto for people in the public service and even journalists. We encourage them to write it to a full book. Primarily we want to begin when we can make potential writers create something that will be worthwhile and a permanent legacy for them.

Do you hope this project will see the light of the day considering the impression in certain quarters that Nigerians have poor reading culture?

When we started this project, we believe that Nigerians need to have publishers that will listen and address their needs. We were told that Nigerians don’t read; that they look for money which is contrary to our findings. Since we started, many people have come to us with 10 manuscripts,

• Akande

INTERVIEW some with five. Some have written their manuscripts for over 18 years which had remained on the shelves because of their financial inability to publish. There some good books which we have published now in which had lay down for years. So what has prompted us is the fact that Nigerians writers need to have a voice. Secondly, we know that our children-the teenagers, young adults are all looking for money forgetting that even writing is an economic activity which should not be neglected. So readers are leaders and writers are the voicers.

What do writers stand to gain from this?

First, like I said earlier, the product itself is an economic activity which the writers profits from, and which we can pass from one generation to another. It will influence many people intellectually. It will create a legacy. There will be royalties paid to them. Their work will be read worldwide.

They will be famous like professors Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka. They will also contribute to the body of knowledge of Nigerians and to the humanities. Above all, nothing makes an author happier than when you see your book being read somewhere or your name being mentioned globally.

Aren’t you afraid of racketeers? What is the probability that the writer’s work will not be pirated?

We have a contract with our authors. We are also a registered company in the UK, USA and Nigeria. We also have a branch in Ghana. That means when you come to our shop at Allen Street in Ikeja, we are physically represented with staff and representation online. We are not just floating in the air. We are legally bound to the authors through a contract that is executable within and outside Nigerians.

What are your criteria for considering a manuscript?

As a business, we also look at what will sell and what will not. But generally, we take a look at all manuscripts. We don’t publish books that are extremists, or capable of inciting violence, or not contributing positively to the society. We

also select books that will contribute intellectually and benefit the author and humanity.

Don’t you consider the financial implication?

What we are doing is simply risk-taking generally. We take this risk that if we produce this book, it will sell, but if it doesn’t that means the value decreases. We take the financial burden and have an agreement with the author as regards the percentage that will come to them. If the author is also willing to contribute in terms of royalties, percentage will change, and he will get higher royalty. If they are children under the age of 18, by international law that means their parents or guardians will have to sign on behalf of the children. But in some occasion, we can share that with the author. Benefit wise, the author retains the royalties and can be considerable which depends on the failure or success of the book.

You earlier talked about training/ competition of school pupils. Could you expatiate on this more?

We have training for school pupils every month and any interested person can also participate. During the training, they submit manuscripts and our assessors will assess the best of manuscripts that can be creatively written and the very best three will be chosen. Of course we don’t dismiss the rest of the manuscripts, we still guide and encourage them if they are interested in writing. We believe through creativity, a paragraph can become two pages, two pages can become four and so on. By just guiding the children, What are the prizes like?

If the person is already a writer with published books, we have the yearly 1,500 pounds which is about N300,000 awarded to the best writer every year at the end of October.

If they are children, every month we set asideN50,000 as first prize for the best manuscripts. Second prize is N30,000 and the third N20,000 What are the components of the training?

We teach them the tactics and methodology of creative writing and idea; how to bring it out into a story; how to lengthen and expand it with other ingredients; how to overcome writer glut and all that.

Let’s talk about the challenges We have a challenge of public awareness. This is a growing company at the moment. The financial issues constrains us to do much of media publicity. We are organically trying to reach into the public domain. Some have come to our office and were amazed at what they saw. But by the time we produce the book, they can’t just believe it. So the Nigerian culture and environment has more or less damaged this country. The fraudsters have also done incalculable damage to the Nigerian brand which we are battling with. Our books are online and at bookshops. We are seriously planning to take this proposal to all school nationwide so that we can have the Nigerian reading renaissance. That is the core of how the economy can develop. So we want governments at all levels, school principals and other like-minded Nigerians to come to our aid in reaching the schools, universities, civil servants and the public in general.

Migration moves to Nike gallery

A

SOLO art exhibition, Migrations, by Juliet Ezenwa MajaPearce, opened at Nike Art Centre in Lekki, Lagos on April 28. It is featuring about 50 artworks consisting of a handful of masks made from recycled newsprint, experimental prints, oils on canvas, gauche, and plates. This year’s show which will end tomorrow is a fallout of her effort over the last five years.

At a preview session of her collection in Lagos, Juliet said she has been intrigued by the ancient masks of Africa and thought the artists who created the masks wanted to create objects of worship, which would invoke fear and wonder. But interestingly, she noted that the world has been impacted greatly by these works which influenced her to create such art work that would invoke the same emotions.

On her experimentation, she said: “I have presented these works in the traditional style of sculpting using geometric forms because the idea is to produce art works which would invoke the same fear and wonder evoked by the ancient African masks. In doing so, I also began reflecting on the society of that now vanished time, on how sincerity was a virtue so con-

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

EXHIBITION spicuously lacking in ours. I hope to use these works to speak to our contemporary society: that the time has come to embrace the noble virtues our ancestors lived and died by; where corrupt money was abhorred for fear of the consequences inherent in the very word ‘corruption’, which is death, and not merely of the flesh.”

Juliet who got introduced to printmaking at the annual Harmattan workshop in Agbarha-Ottor, made mirror part of her mixed media as in exhibitions like Reflections (2004) and Moonlight Rhapsody (2003), where she displayed a large collection of mixed-media paintings with mirrors in them. However, most of her works focus on environmental degradation, oil exploration and others on issues of greater concern to the Niger Delta. Also, she is passionate about producing works that will remain relevant and endure over time. She noted that the demands of collectors never influenced her works.

According to her, the Harmattan experience opened her eyes to new processes of

•

working on different media.”It keeps me experimenting each time I am working on any media. In fact, the Harmattan workshop is a school on its own,” she added.

Migration will feature works such as New masquerade, peaceful resolution, Hunting butter flies, hide and seek, Everyday Life, New mask and Against all odds.

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How to tackle theft of intellectual property •NCC restates mandate

I

NTELLECTUAL Property (IP), according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. It covers an expanse of legal territory that includes copyrights, trademarks and patent law.

Last week, the spotlight was on visionary innovators, the intellectual property owners, whose contributions have shaped the world’s development, as Nigeria joined its counterparts to commemorate the World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD). The theme of this year’s edition was visionary innovators.

Their pictures formed this year’s World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) poster, which was adopted by various countries, including Nigeria, to celebrate achievements of their indigenous achievers. In Nigeria, pictures of her innovators and scholars, such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Ladi Kwali, the late Afrobeat maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Philip Emeagwali, Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, and Chimamanda Adichie, were used as the National Copyright Commission (NCC) poster commomerating the day.

The celebration drew attention to the challenges IP owners face, chief among them being piracy.

In Nigeria, it is not yet Uhuru. According to NCC’s report, in the last 14 months, the commission has arrested 145 suspected pirates and confiscated over 6,193,210 units of pirated copyright works estimated at N1,291,185,000 during its anti-piracy operations out across the country.

Early in the year, it carried out a public destruction of 722,000,000 units of pirated works and contrivances estimated at N6.5 billion. And the fight is still ongoing.

NCC Director Mr Afam Ezekude has restated its commitment to intellectual property rights protection.

He said: “The commission uses this platform to reassure all stakeholders in Nigeria’s intellectual property community, and in particular, authors and right owners in the copyright sector, that it would explore all avenues of creating an enabling environment for the protection of their rights in line with our policy of zero-tolerance to piracy. I therefore call on all stakeholders in the creative community to partner actively with the Commission in our national anti-piracy campaign.

“As the world community marks this year’s WIPD, the commission reaches out in appreciation of the teeming creators and innovative minds spread across the IP community worldwide. Since Year 2000, when the WIPO April 26 of every year as the WIPD, member-states of WIPO have traditionally commemorated the Day to draw attention to the phenomenal contributions of intellectual property to fast-tracking the pace of development of the knowledgedriven economies of our modern world.”

Ezekude praised the ingenuity of Nigeria’s creative community, saying their innovations have not only transformed lives in diverse ways, but enhanced the workings and worldviews of our society and the world at large.

“Nigeria, through its array of talented and innovative citizens, has contributed significantly to the global pool of creativity and innovation. We acknowledge specifically, the likes of Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, winner of 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature; Chimamanda Adichie, winner of both the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize and Orange Broadband Prize, who have done Nigeria proud in the literary field. A Nigerian computer engineer and scientist, Professor Philip Emeagwali emerged as part winner of the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize for computer-cum-Internet

•Ugochukwu

‘Only the church can destroy Boko Haram’

By Evelyn Osagie

M

R INNOCENT Ugochukwu , author of The New Nigeria, is a passionate young man. He is pas sionate about his country, humanity and God. As a evangelist and political commentator, you would often hear him talk about his passions with so much zeal at gatherings across Lagos. He is of the view that the church holds the answer to problem of Nigeria, particularly the current onslaughts of the Islamic sects known popularly as the ‘Boko Haram’.

He said the efforts of the Joint Task Force (JTF) are commendable, but added that Boko Haram cannot be defeated by mere physical weapons alone. He urged Nigerians to rise up and apply prayers into the Boko Haram onslaught, calling it a war with dark spiritual roots.

“Boko Haram is beyond the physical; it is controlled spiritually and can only be battled by the church spiritually. Nigerians, particularly the church, should rise up and pray. Only the church through its prayers can destroy the power behind the Boko Haram sects. Until it is dealt with spiritually, it will remain a thorn in the flesh of the government and the nation at large,” Ugochukwu said.

For the commentator, the Sovereign National Conference (SNC is not the solution to Nigeria’s problem. Hear him: “SNC is the way of man. SNC will not change the perception of many Nigerians, and will not solve the corruption problem, in fact, it will escalate it. The cabals who control Nigeria will hijack it, and so, it will not work. Only God will solve Nigeria’s problems. He is able to make the change we have all been expecting.”

Ugochukwu, who said he has been praying fervently for the country, revealed that Nigeria will in the future become an emerging economy in the world. In a article entitled: Wind of Change in Nigeria, he states: “Nigeria has been divinely drafted to succeed, though may appear mixed and scattered, but it will fulfil her destiny.”

“I hear God say to Nigeria, ‘fear not, you are very important to me in my plan to reach the world with the light of my righteousness. I, the Lord have reserved her to carry out a task in the midst of other nations’.

“I see a drastic and systematic change coming to Nigeria. I see the present government moved out. A new government headed

by David Mark is temporarily in charge. This change will mark out for us a pathway to national transformation. The Nigeria of God’s plan will emerge in a manner the heavens and the earth shall bear witness that God has indeed intervened,” he said.

•Ezekude

CREATIVITY

By Evelyn Osagie

innovation. For his visionary creation of the Afro-beat music, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti continues to enjoy acclaim as a legend that exploited a popular culturally rooted music for both pleasure and socio-political value expressions.

“While Ladi Kwali was symbolic of the best of artistic pottery in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole, Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, can be described as the quintessential Nigerian actress in the nation’s vibrant movie industry, Nollywood, ranked as the third largest in the world. The nation owes much of the sustenance of its hallowed socio-cultural values and economic advancement to the innovative prowess of our teeming creators. The society owes these creators and innovators the obligation of not only acknowledging their contributions to enhancement of human development experience, but also a duty of protecting the manifestations of their creative genius,” Ezekude said.

‘Controversy makes literature tick’ •Continued from page 30

power and energy use, and stab the electric utility in its heart, kill prosperity, jobs, and nail the 'poor' to the cross of the deprived."

How does it feel being 80?

At 80, I feel happy, healthy and strong. Life has been kind to me.

How was growing up like for you?

In hindsight, growing up was difficult yet, enjoyable and often exciting. My parents worked hard to ensure I survived and progressed through the period. I fetched firewood for my mother to cook; fetched water from distant public water taps from mother to cook and do other things in the home. And I walked long distances to and back from school. I grew up with Salami, Olutoye, Banwo, Sanni, Okafor, Lokobi and many other Nigerians. We did not know we had ethnic differences in spite of the fact that our names were unique and different. In the context of the world, I grew up at a time steeped in difficulties. There were the political and economic stresses of the great depression of the mid-1930s and of the Second World War. I started school in 1939 at about the time the war began.

What part of your growing up inspired the man you became?

Memories of the tragedy of Edo land between 1897 and 1914 were fading, but eddies of the sorrow were still powerful and strong. My father and mother were born in the throes of the tragedy and they grew and lived through it. They tried to wean themselves from it, but they fed me with echoes of the trauma. We sang

about Aiguobasinmwin (Oba Eweka II) and his lonely canoe trip to Calabar as well as the refusal of the colonial masters to release Oba Ovonramwen's body to him for burial in his homeland. All that woke the story teller in me.

After these books, what next?

Writers always write when they can. For me, there are exciting genres to be tried.

BIO DATA Born on May 7, 1932, Omorodion Uwaifo is an electrical engineer, writer and culture activist. He is the promoter of The Foxhole, a place open to Nigerian writers where they can present, read and discuss their works with other writers.

He is the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Benin Moat Foundation; Eisenhower Fellow. He was the Assistant Technical Officer-In-Training ECN 1954 to 1957; graduated Best Electrical Engineering student; Assistant Tech. Officer (1957 to 1958); Federal Government Scholar, Faraday House Engineering College (1958 to 1961); Graduate Trainee Central Electricity Generating Board UK (1961 to 1962); Electrical Engineer Grade 1, ECN, (1962); Engineer & Manager ECN Onitsha (1963 to 1965); Planning & Design

Engineer, ECN HQ, (1965 to 1967); Instrument & Meter Engineer, ECN, Ijora, (1967 to 1968); Commercial Engineer, ECN HQ, (1968 to 1970). Won the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships and visited electrical, industrial, educational and some strategic institutions in the US in 1969. District Manager, ECN, Kaduna (1970 to 1971); Area Manager, ECN (1971 to 1973), Omo Uwa Partnerships.

He is author of Electric Power distribution Planning and Development (1994, 1998 and 2010); Editor, Edo Cultural Voyage (2006), Let Them Bleed (1997), Fattening House (2001), Before the Golden Jubilee (2010), Uloko of Ages (2012) and Echoes of a Restive Empire (2012).

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Fixing a fracture

“D

URING an interview, a curator asked me if I was feminist,” Peju Alatise recalls.

“My response to her was, I live in a Third World country. Every woman here would be feminist to survive. Asking to be treated with respect here is feminist. Demanding consideration is being feminist. Of course I’m feminist!”

Against political oppression Fela composed songs in pidgin or broken English. Alatise paints and sculpts in broken pictures in her 2012 mixed media work entitled, “Inside They Are Broken.” Both artists elaborate on a broken dream, by a broken body, of a broken mind, in a broken land. Her work exemplifies the art of an increasing number of “postgentleman” Nigerian artists exploring the broken vision, making broken pictures, performing broken sketches, breaking the rules. They see the world through broken windows. They witnessed the lull after the January 2012 protests.

“Me, I no be gentleman like that.” I’m not that sort of a gentleman. Fela defines the meaning and implications of “Gentleman” aesthetics, as part of his behavioural guide to Lagos. You are busy minding your own business. But someone pokes his or her nose into your business. As a reaction to this provocation, Fela advocates saying, “I no be gentleman at all o.” This is the post-gentleman point of no return, where the line is drawn across the sand. The postgentleman artist does not shy away from confrontations.

She draws the line and stands behind it.

Alatise draws her lines by contrasts of colours. Her palette “was fascinated with red iron-rich soil but she chose the black one; full of compost and black mineral, a hand full of it.” But in addition, Alatise is searching for “elephant’s tail, buffalo’s sinew, eagle’s eye, silk’s softness and sugarcane’s sweetness. Mustard seeds, cotton seeds and olive pips.

Flowers from bougainvillea and milk from coconuts. Music from eyeibaka and dance from igala. Nine drops of rain, nine rays of sun and more.”

Alatise searches for fulfillment without frontiers while standing outside the conventional borders or frameworks of painting or sculpture. Her projects combine elements from both mediums into a new form of expression. Like Fela’s music the search for the pidgin language steps outside ethnic boundaries to embrace a wider range of identities, dominant of which is feminism. Post-gentleman art rises from a common source of tightly orchestrated rage. What does a postcolonial feminist Nigerian artist undo when the entire Commonwealth culture breaks and crumbles like a biscuit as she draws—with rage—on it? Rage, a common fuel of youth and artistic energy, may sizzle, fume, and waste right before your eyes. Alatise channels feminist rage into her astounding and illuminating multimedias.

Enraged, Alatise’s recent work makes 18th century Rococo art look almost introverted. But within the broadly spectacular sweeps of her creative installations lies an ideological core. Alatise builds her projects around her concern for humanist ideals. In the process of growing these pictures, she mentally crushes the baroque vase, and hurls off Rococo canvases. Feminists and counter-colonial scholars increasingly find ample subjects for target practice in the history and arts associated with the transatlantic slave trade and the imperial enterprise. A European era that produced an uncountable number of great pictures was a merchandise of human rights violations overseas.

With feminist outrage, Alatise’s work breaks and collages the arrogance of colonial barriers, as she builds ad accumulates the form of her installation projects. The Baroque era (c. 1600) highlighted clarity and intensity, details, exaggerated drama, exuberance, motion, light, and juxtaposition of contrasting shapes. Alatise’s work seemingly retains the formal conflicts of baroque art. But aesthetically she questions the global ideological inequity that sustained baroque and rococo figures on the stretched canvas. Seeking an equation, Alatise breaks open the stretched surface of the canvas. Between painting and sculpture is a double zone that reaps from both mediums. It keeps within the discontinuous gaps, the broken promises, and loss of linear progression of collage art. It is the pidgin twin of painting without being a drawing or sculpture.

Fela’s pidgin is “broken English,” but not only in linguistic terms. The form of the medium is phonetic. But the ragingfury theme of his musicality (as an aspect of broken English) presents opportunities for endless artistic adaptations. From this broader political aesthetic pool, Alatise is fabricating a collated language of broken articulation beyond linguistic arts. With plastic art configurations, Alatise constructs a broken visual culture from collaged components of old collapsing worlds. Released from patriarchal hierarchy, the rapidly revolving motifs and repeated themes of the old worlds become images of infectious optimism. Salvaged and sanitized, they come from sordid depths of chaos, crisis, and cacophony.

Alatise furiously and sensibly redraws along the frail body of hope, though her tale rephrases common mythology of dread and despair. She fashions an imaginary Arugba who speaks the dirge language of those broken within a system that fractures life and death. In Alatise’s 2012 mixed media work entitled “Inside they Are Broken,” the Arugba is the body that harbours the essence. “It could not be trusted with him,” Alatise writes. “They gave it to her./Deep in the pit of

• Alatise's Inside they are broken

By Moyo Okediji

VISUAL ART her gut, they buried it./It would be safer there,/ Heaven knows who is righteous….”

Alatise creates an elastic Arugba, an imaginary female notion that emerges from the wrinkles of the old worlds and “walks about, bag in hand and heel to shoe, head high and higher with her hair-do/headgear; bound together in colorful stripes of other people’s clothing, hair and names.

But inside she is broken.”

On the outside she is without a scar, perfect, and playful.

But she is a vulnerable spirit inheriting and inhabiting the complexity of nurture. Alatise works on her fragile body with a heavy baroque tool, broken and jagged by the tides of events. For the sake of clarity, Alatise accompanied the work with the following text: “Artist: Peju Alatise;/Title: Inside they are broken;/Size: 10ft by 4ft;/Year of production: 2012. Artist Statement: INSIDE THEY ARE BROKEN It could not be trusted with him, They gave it to her.

Deep in the pit of her gut, they buried it.

It would be safer there, Heaven knows who is righteous, Orun mo eni to mala.

In Heaven’s garden, she chooses her vessel, the earthenware one.

She walked on the white beach sands and played with the yellow plastic soil by the river-bed. She was fascinated with red iron-rich soil but she chose the black one; full of compost and black mineral, a hand full of it.

She took the sounds from the seashells, berries and melons from the bushes. An elephant’s tail, buffalo’s sinew, eagle’s eye, silk’s softness and sugarcane’s sweetness. Mustard seeds, cotton seeds and olive pips. Flowers from bougainvillea and milk from coconuts. Music from eyeibaka and dance from igala. Nine drops of rain, nine rays of sun and more. Of all she was allowed to choose, she loved her vessel best.

Orunmila fashions her cloak and teaches her to wear them.

Earth was an unusual market place. Orun mo eni to mala and she prospered. Her pride grew with her confidence.

But the day of the wolf came.

‘Look at the crystal vessel, transparent to visible light but sparkles. Surely this one is most valuable! Give me yours and I will give you mine.’

Maybe it was greed, maybe lust, maybe pride, maybe naïve, maybe foolishness, maybe it was she lacked something, maybe all, but she traded her earthen vessel for a glass bottle.

The bottle broke. Heaven wept and she lost her eye.

She has become blind. Blind to her seeds and sons. Blind to injustice.

That day also, she bore her child. The one with the wrong genitalia, no extensions but plenty disappointment.

Disappointed to see her reflection. She called her daughter.

Daughter inherited the glass bottle.

Daughter took her broken self to be repaired by the preacher man and he said, ‘Be strong, be hard-working, be resilient, be endearing, be enduring, be long suffering, be duty-bound, be quiet, be patient, be responsible, be acceptable, be downtrodden, be giving, be sober, be humble, be prayerful, be tolerant, be still!’ With a yellow tape of modern words they attempted to mend her brokenness.

Today daughter walks about, bag in hand and heel to shoe, head high and higher with her hair-do/headgear; bound together in colorful stripes of other people’s clothing, hair and names.

But inside she is broken.”

Alatise’s strength resides in her post-gentleman condition and her borrowings across the pidgin line. Fela struggled against being broken inside when he chose the medium of broken English, but he formed the growing line of postgentleman art. Something in Alatise is exploding as broken pictures, in a post-gentleman style. Drinking the waters of breaking news, even the concrete street poles felt that something beyond English broke in Nigeria between December 2011 and January 2012. Alatise fixes the fractures post-gentlemanly.

•Okediji is of Univeristy of Texas in Austin Texas, USA

NEW ON THE SHELVE

Book on modern art out

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

O

N Tuesday May 1, a new book, Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections will be presented to the public at the Metropolitan Club, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The book, which was published by Bookcraft Limited, is sponsored by chairman of the Visual Arts Society of Nigeria, Mr Sammy Olagbaju and edited by the director of the Virtual Art Museum, Mr Jess Castellote. Expected at the event as special guests of honour are HRH, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi) the Obi of Onitsha and HRH, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III - The Alake of Egbaland.

This effort is in fulfillment of Sammy Olagbaju and Jess Castellote’s shared desires to opens the doors to homes of collectors in Lagos state and reveal 259 works by 100 Nigerian artists cutting across several generations. The book also contains contributions from collectors, critics, scholars and enthusiasts including Sammy Olagbaju, Jess Castellote, Dele Jegede and Tobenna Okwuosa, have been put together to highlight issues relating to art collecting, art management and practice.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, the editor of the book, Castellote said there were parameters within which the works in the book were considered. He noted that 25 years was set as the boundary within which works produced in Nigeria are classified as contemporary. Other boundaries, he said, are Nigerian artist living in Lagos, painting and sculpture, and Lagos as location of production of such work.

On why focusing on collectors, the editor explained that collectors play central role in Nigerian art scene but noted that unlike other climes, cultural institutions, curators and critics are the key players because they push, promote and fund the art.

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

UMOJA: Abundant energy, little lesson

B

OUNDLESS energy, vigour and colour characterised a two-hour performance by South Africanbased dance, drama and comedy troupe, Umoja, last Sunday night at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Though a different group on stage, the presentation was a fresh reminder of Ipi Ntombi and Sikulu appearances in Lagos some years ago. Umoja was in Lagos in 2006 for a two-week tour.

Last Sunday show was sponsored by First Bank Plc to celebrate heritage and performing arts, and ultimately restore the culture of theatre, arts and stage performance in Nigeria.

Umoja featured a cast of about 30 singers, dancers, drummers and musicians who represent the best of South Africa’s young performers, many of who come from severely disadvantaged township backgrounds. Umoja, a Zulu word for spirit of togetherness, is a creation of two performers, Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni, who drew inspiration from stories of deprivation and segregation that were the hallmarks of South Africa history.

Until now, the troupe has performed on world stages in the UK and US. A narrator’s prelude to the performance led

•In session: The Umoja troupe

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

PERFORMANCE the audience into the story lines, which reflect the rural life of South Africa in the dark days of apartheid set the tone for the night. The several scenes of performance that followed however dwarfed the narrative that was expressed more in dance. The narrator’s work did not arrest the audience attention enough just as his accent made the understanding not

too easy for many especially those in the gallery. “Drums give strength and drum in Africa is power,” the narrator said. Indeed, the drums were truly the strength of Umoja in Lagos.

Granted, last Sunday performance was a pulsating musical celebration of South African songs and dance. From the potent rhythm of tribal music to the intricate dance steps of gumboot dancing, the jazz, the joy of gospel and pounding energy of contemporary dancers and singers.

But apart from the energy and drumbeat, the performance attempted to give Nigerians an insight into the daily life style of South Africans during apartheid-segregation, restrictive society ruled by White minority.

From rural locale to urban settlements with night clubs, police brutality on the streets, and church services where the elements of drumming and singing dominate.

How did this connect Nigeria of today?

Umoja’s spirit of togetherness you will say. But are there no scores of classical drama performances in the country’s culture and tourism sector that can achieve this unity campaign? First Bank Plc Head of Marketing, and Corporate Communications, Folake AniMumuney said the choice of Umoja was deliberate, not only to bring variety to the domestic arts and entertainment menu but to answer to the yet to be met cravings of more Nigerians and indeed foreigners resident in Nigeria to see the pulsating performance of Umoja. Much as it is encouraging to have variety, it is also not out of place to explore the local front in the promotion of domestic tourism. Nigerians and indeed foreigners resident in the country cannot have too much of Nigeria’s artistic menu in the form of dance drama performances because the menu list is not exhaustive.

Combating the counterfeiters

A •Kavita and Nana

Art house auctions May 5

F

OLLOWING its successful hosting of past auctions, a leading Nigerian auction house, Art House Contemporary Limited, is considering expanding its scope of coverage beyond country to further showcase the rich Nigerian arts to the outside world.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Kavita Chellarams, said once the auction becomes a global brand, it would in future consider hosting the art auction in Dubai, Nairobi and Johannesburg to expose Nigerian arts.

Last year, the auction house made a total sale, including buyers’ premium, of N114,447,000 and sold 86 out of 107 lots, representing 80 percent sale.

She spoke during an interaction with art editors in Lagos on this year’s edition of the auction holding on May 7 at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi. She said in the future, she would consider holding an auction on photography, noting that in the past editions, photography fared well like other genres of visual art.

The eighth edition of the auction is being sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank. But the collections can be viewed on May 5 and 6 between 12 and 6pm. Also, all works can be viewed online at www.arthouse-ng.com.

Interested bidders are expected to register in advance as forms are available at the venue during viewings.

No fewer than 108 pieces of artworks spanning the mediums of painting, sculpture,

AUCTION mixed media and photography by Nigerian and Ghanaian artists will be on sale. Among the first-time artists are Ade Adekola, Ebenezer Akinola, Gab Awusa, Veronica Ekpei, Taiye Idahotr, Jefferson Jonahan, Ade Odunfa, Sunday Ogbebor, Abraham Oghobase, Tonie Okpe, Sangotoye Olayoinka, Chike Onuorah and Fidel Oyiogu. But there are rare works by notable Nigerian artists such as Demas Nwoko, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ben Enwonwu, Akinola Lasekan, Dele Jegede and Biodun Olaku.

The star prize work at last year’s auction was Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu. It sold for N30 million hammer price inclusive.

Mrs Chellarams stated that the auction house would keep including new artists on its list as new and old collectors are always looking forward to new works that will excite them.

“We keep getting requests for works by emerging artists from collector. And this is a confirmation of improvement on the part of the younger artists both inside and outside the auction,” she said.

According to Mrs. Chellarams, four artists, Kolade Oshinowo, George Osodi, Duke Asidere and Oyerinde Olotu donated an art work each to the charity as part of their contributions. Auctioneer for the day is Mr. John Dabiney

ONE-HOUR documentary-Illicit: The Dark Trade-by National Geographic that highlighted the major networks of counterfeit trade across the globe was all the panelists needed to set the framework for the day’s discussion. And for over two hours, the causes and economic implications of counterfeiting and piracy on the world’s economies were examined at a discussion session as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Intellectual Property Day. Venue of the session was the Multipurpose Hall, Public Affairs Section, US Consulate General on Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was convened on Tuesday by the US Consulate General in collaboration with the Anti-Counterfeiting collaboration, Nigeria.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day theme, Visionary Innovators, highlighted IP’s role in promoting individuals whose ingenuity and artistry have broken molds, opened new horizons and made a lasting impact.

World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated each year with activities, events and campaign designed to help raise international awareness about the importance of intellectual property in promoting economic growth and prosperity.

Chairman of Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration, Mr Tee-Mac Omatshola Iseli said counterfeiting and piracy result in direct losses to the individuals and companies who create and develop original products. He stated that the result of widespread uncontrolled circulation of counterfeit and pirated goods is the attendant loss of trust resulting from the consumer who buys counterfeit goods.

“Ultimately, unfair and illicit trade in counterfeit goods result in loss of opportunities for innovation, lost earnings, loss of consumer satisfaction, lost jobs, loss of taxes accruable to government, and a consequent

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

ADVOCACY increase in funding anti-counterfeiting initiatives,” he said.

He noted that formulating a framework to effectively address counterfeiting would involve legislative, public health, law enforcement, intellectual property, technological and development-oriented considerations. He however regretted that unfortunately, the laws for protection of intellectual property rights are outdated and overdue for review.

Iseli therefore called for new ways of combating the menace of illicit trade.

According to him, counterfeit goods and intellectual property piracy have become a major bane on world economies while Africa is fast becoming a prime target and dumping ground for fakes.

“Nigeria like other parts of Africa has increasingly been the target of counterfeiters and illicit traders. These fakes, most of which are largely imported have serious ramifications not only on the local economy, but also on the revenue of the government and brand owners,” he said.

Dr. Oludayo Amokaye of the Department of Private and Property Law, University of Lagos, observed that apart from the seeming lack of adequate human capacity and technological know-how, the nation needs to strengthen the intra-agency collaborations in the fight against counterfeiting. Amokaye stressed that all the laws concerning counterfeiting and piracy be should be reviewed to meet current challenges in the sector. He also identified increase awareness through the media as a way to attract government and other relevant agencies’ attention and cooperation.

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Community fetes Benue Speaker

T

HE people of Ihugh, Mbadede, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State have hosted the Seaker of the Benue State House of Assembly Hon. Dave Iorhemba.

He is said to have helped the community, known for its massive fruit production.

Ihugh Orange Fruits Buyers and Sellers Coo-Operative Society held a reception for the lawmaker in the town.

The venue of the reception R.C.M Primary School Ihugh, was filled to capacity as youths, women, politicians and traditional rulers turned out to witness the event.

President of the Ihugh Orange Buyers and Sellers Co-operative Society Mr. Samuel Agera said: “He contributed immensely in the area of crime reduction and other social vices in the community. He organised and funded series of sporting activities activities where youths of the area were engaged in meanigfull ventures.“ But like Oliver Twist, the President reminded the Speaker of the perennial water scarcity in Ihugh and pleaded that a rural supply scheme be sited in the community.

The president of the Society also called for more fertilisers for Ihugh farmers and bank established in Ihugh, including a fruits processing industry because of massive orange production which are wasted every year.

The chief host of the occasion Senator Jack Tilley Gyado described the Iorhemba as a worthy son of Benue State who has the interest of the people at heart and advised Kunav and

T

WO members of the House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed and Dr Ali Ahmad, representing Kaiama/ Baruten and Ilorin West/Ilorin South federal constituencies, respectively, have given out materials to members of their constituencies to boost their earning power.

The duo pledged to remain committed to the political vision that took them to the federal legislature.

Alhaji Ahmad distributed scratch card of N10,000 to over 300 candidates seeking further studies.

He said he has spent about N18 million on various empowerment projects since his election last year.

Ahmad who is the chairman, House committee on Judiciary, also announced his intention to drill 26 motorised boreholes at

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Ihugh community to support him in the business of lawmaking.

Senator Gyado who presented a certificate of honour to the speaker assured him that Ihugh community and Vandeikya local government generally would always support him for any higher political position he may seek saying he has become their son whom they are well please.

The Speaker and his wife were decorated in a colorful Tiv traditional dress with a cap, bag and spear as befitting a worthy son of the community.

Iorhemba and his wife described Ihugh community as hospitable, assuring the people that apart from sinking a bore hole in the community soon, he would also in the next year budgeted approved a rural water supply scheme for the community .

Governor Gabriel Suswam who was represented at the occasion by his deputy ,Chief Steve Lawani community Ihugh community done the speaker and urged them to continued to support Governor Suswam administration .

Traditional dances and singers entertained the crowd.

Hundreds of personalities attended the occasion among them are Special Assistant to the governor on Media Affairs DR.Cletus Akwaya,PDP chieftain in Guma HON Terseer Adzuu who also the chairmanship candidate for Guma local government government,Chief John Akperashi,Chief Anta Igbauta and HON Samuel Aga.

•Iorhemba and his wife

Kwara lawmakers help constituents From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

different locations in his constituency, install 14 transformers in different locations, construct a mini-stadia at the Government Secondary School, Ilorin and build a police post at Opo-Malu in the Ilorin metropolis.

“What we have done today is not common in this community”, Ali said at the event, adding: “We are used to giving people money as a means of empowerment. But you cannot empower people by giving them money aimlessly. These are people who did WASCE and NECO and could not make it. We pick those

We are used to giving people money as a means of empowerment. But you cannot empower people by giving them money aimlessly. These are people who did WASCE and NECO and could not make it

that might make it, those that have deficiencies in English Language and Mathematics.

“All them of from the local government, we told them that anybody that passes his or her examination will be assisted. This is an empowerment that we want to continue. We are showcasing them, boosting their morales and to popularise this kind of empowerment.”

Mohammed, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, distributed over 1, 000 bags of fertilizers to farmers in 10 wards of Kaima/Baruteen constituency.

The legislator, who said the fertilisers were being distribute to further increase farmers’ annual harvest said he was doing the project to relieve farmers in the area the pains of struggling to get the product at high cost from the open market.

He also assured the farmers that the problem of marketing of their product would soon be over as federal government has approved N300 million for the con-

struction of Mushi Bridge in Kaiama local government of Kwara state that link the other communities.

The legislator who said he had promised not to run away from the people of the area after his election disclosed that the Kaiama/Kisi road has been included in the 2012 budget by the federal government adding that N99 million has been approved for the engineering design and drawing of the project. He told the people that the most important things was that the project has been put down in the document.

The leader of the farmers in the area, Alhaji Audu Bawa, who responded on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended Zakarifor his gesture adding that a similar effort last year helped their farmers a lot to increase their harvest.

He also appealed to the lawmaker to assist farmers to secure easy loan, tractors as other farmers in Kwara South, Central senatorial district have been enjoying.

Ondo completes 600 self-help community projects

VER 600 self-help community projects covering 305 communities have been completed in Ondo State, the state Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services, Clement Faboyede has said.

The Commissioner who spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, said the completed projects have since become functional, adding that the unfinished ones will also be completed soon.

He said the state government has fulfilled its electioneering campaign of transforming the state through self-help projects.

O

•From left: The Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, Bishop of Osun North East Diocese,with Mr. Folu Olamiti and Archdeacon Olu Dare(Rtd), during the thanksgiving service for the conferment of award of recognition for diligence, commitment and patriotism on distinguished indigenous Idanre people

•

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Faboyede also disclosed that Governor Olusegun Mimiko approved the sum of N129million for additional community projects, adding that the state has approved funds for the training of 1220 indigenes nominated by the various communities to sustain the completed projects in the state.

He disclosed that the state government would soon establish nine cottage industries in the three pilot local government areas of Ifedore, Odigbo and Owo to create employment for youths in the area.

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Youth job scheme produces winners

I

T was a day of glory for 28-yearold Emmanuel Ogar, a 2007 Linguistic graduate of the University of Calabar, when he won the 2012 Presidential award of the YOUWIN programme.

Ogar, one of the graduates of AfriGrowth Foundation youth academy programme tagged “Develop for Development Initiative” is to be awarded a grant under the Federal Government youth empowerment programme. He has forwarded a request to the government to achieve his entrepreneurial goals.

After winning the award, he said, “I will procure a piece of land, build a pen for poultry, source and purchase all needed equipments, recruit a team of ambitious employees with requisite skills and experience, stock the pen and be ready to do business passionately to create change beyond economic gains as there are so many people I cannot afford to disappoint.“ Out of the 25 participants in the Afrigrowth DDI programme, eight made it to the first level of the YOUWIN programme. About 1200 youths drawn from the six geographical zones of the country benefited from the scheme in its first phase.

During the programme, President Jonathan, who commended the process which threw up the 1,200 youths for the first phase of the programme, assured that his administration had commenced the process of enthroning merit ahead of mediocrity.

The presidential award category under the YouWin Programme was designed to reward one beneficiary from each of the six geopolitical

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

zones, whose business plan was adjudged the best by a panel of entrepreneurs.

AfriGrowth Foundation which was established in 2006 was the platform from which Ogar contested.

According to AfriGrowth, it aims to meet the development needs of the growing youth population in Nigeria and has continued to make reasonable impact in the life of young people who are beneficiaries of its training programmes and projects.

“When we conceived the idea of starting the AfriGrowth project, our focus then was on equipping libraries and providing support to orphanages. However with an upsurge in the youth population and increase in youth unemployment in Nigeria the foundation in 2007 consulted with young people from various parts of the country on how best they think the foundation can address some of the challenges faced by them,” said Mrs. Dayo Keshi,the President of AfriGrowth Founda-

tion.

According to her, “What we see today is the result of that consultation and careful planning on our part to deliver impact-based solutions to the issues of youth unemployment.”

“All over the world, mentoring has remained an important aspect in helping individuals and institutions achieve their goals. In Nigeria as in most parts of Africa, formal mentoring is yet to take its roots.

AfriGrowth Foundation, therefore. promotes mentoring as a tool for empowering Youths, Women and Organisations in order to strengthen individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential” “I hope that the YOUWIN programme will be sustained for true development and for the empowerment of the citizenry; the Federal Government, private sector and the nongovernmental organizations should unite and form a synergy to develop and transform the country for the good of the youths and the citizenry” “We must be seen as a nation that de-emphasizes our geo-political

The winner said he will procure a piece of land, build a pen for poultry, source and purchase needed equipment, recruit a team of ambitious employees with requisite skills and experience and be ready to do business passionately to create change

zones, I’m a northerner I’m a southerner, I’m from South-south I’m from North east, will not help the growth of our nation...”We built momentum on the AfriGrowth mentoring programme with the youth academy initiative with the support of TY Danjuma Foundation, and our result shows that we continue to execute in the key growth areas of youth development which is building the capacity of young people to take charge of their own future,” added Mrs Ngozi Obi a member of the Foundation’s Board.

“We are on track with our strategic plan and expect to continue to deliver strong impact based results in our programmes,” Mrs Keshi concluded.

While attributing his success to the Foundation, elated Ogar said: “I am humbled that my name was shortlisted as a winner in the just concluded national business plan essay competition under the ‘YOUWIN’ platform, it is a credit well deserved, but had I not participated in the November-December 2011 edition of the Develop for Development Initiative (DDI) programme on youth mentoring and enterprise development; I would not have come thus far,” he said For about six years, AfriGrowth Foundation has been providing education as a means of enhancing development, formalising and promoting the art of mentoring, strengthening the internal coordination of non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and development agencies by providing training in development courses such as monitoring and

•Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi evaluation, advocacy, proposal writing and resource mobilisation, improving the lives of women by providing education, skills and basic resources needed to make them catalyst for change in their communities, empowering women on their role as equal partners in nation building and encouraging reading culture by equipping libraries with reading books. Afrigrowth is predicated upon the belief that individuals have a key role to play in the development of their communities and the nation at large.

All over the world, mentoring has remained an important aspect in helping individuals and institution achieve their goals. In Nigeria as in most parts of Africa, formal mentoring is yet to take root.

AfriGrowth Foundation therefore promotes mentoring as a tool for empowering youths, women and organisations in order to strengthen individuals and organisations to achieve their full potential.

Enhancing Maths, science teaching in Nigeria

T

HE strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) instituted by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had the objective of ensuring that Science and Mathematics teachers in the three pilot states are equipped to deliver lessons in these subjects in ways that would stimulate the interest of pupils and students.

It was introduced because of the •Wike

Wike personally resolved to drive the actualisation of the SMASE project as its National Steering Committee chairman rather than delegate the function to other officials

By Simeon Nwakaudu

challenges that the nation has faced over the years as regards institutionaliing the learning of Science and Mathematics with a view to enhancing overall national development. Most children in primary, junior and senior secondary school shied away from learning these critical subjects.

As laudable as the SMASE objectives are, the implementation of the programme in the three pilot states of Kaduna, Niger and Plateau states have suffered setbacks, which mean that by the time the project is concluded by 2013, the goals for starting it would not have been fully achieved.

In the Cycle 1 of the project, 70,000 Science and Mathematics teachers were targeted to be trained in the three pilot states.

Only 24,000 teachers were

• From Left: Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, The Most Rev. Sunday Agwu; Prelate Of Methodist Church Of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde; Secretary, 30th Council Of Bishops' Conference, The Rt. Rev. Chibuzo Opoko, at a news conference in Awka

eventually trained, while the Cycles 2 and 3 of the training are yet to be concluded by the participating states.

To ensure that the programme gets a foothold in non-pilot states, an In-Service Education and Training, INSET, management workshop on circle one was held for stakeholders from 34 states in Abuja between March 19 and 20.

So far, the critical success points achieved by the project amongst primary school teachers include attitudinal change in teaching, using activity oriented and learner centred approaches in impacting knowledge. Also, the primary school teachers who participated in the programme have developed confidence in teaching mathematics and science and are now able to handle certain topics that were hitherto perceived to be quite difficult, whilst their capacity for carrying out their lessons and planning classroom work have grown appreciably.

However, reaching the actual target of the programme is still farfetched. For instance, inadequate budgetary allocation by two of the pilot states has hampered the progress of work. There has also been the challenge of commitment of the participating states.

It was on this note that the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike personally resolved to drive the actualisation of the SMASE project as its National Steering Committee chairman rather than delegate the function to other officials. His decision was borne out of the fact that the programme would draw to a close in 2013, without its primary goals attained.

Furthermore, the Japanese government had also indicated

that it would not shift the date because of the lack of commitment shown so far by the participating pilot states.

Wike had on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 invited the three participating states and the officials of JICA to Mid-Term Review of the project in line with the tenets of its establishment. The meeting was a continuation of an earlier meeting convened by the Minister for the purpose of fashioning out ways to enhance the chances of the programme succeeding and the possibility of an extension beyond 2013.

The last two meetings chaired by the Minister of State for Education had in attendance Executive Secretaries of participating agencies of the Federal Ministry of Education and the chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Boards of Kaduna, Plateau and Niger states. The Minister of State for Education at these concluding meetings elicited direct commitment from these top officials of government that they will step up their performance to ensure the success of the SMASE programme and its extension to non-pilot states.

After deliberations and tough negotiations between the Nigerian team and their JICA colleagues, a way forward for the programme was reached by the two governments.

The outcome was the signing of the Mid-Term Report between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, to further consolidate on the Strengthening Mathematics and •Continued on Page 38

40

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

Forty-six-year-old Akeem was not born with the face of a monster. The story of that montrous visage started with a boil on his face in 1999

H

E used to be good-looking and also had a fair share of friends, but that was once upon a time.

Now only few can recognise him. Fewer still will like to keep his company.

Mr. Olayiwola Azeez Akeem’s life is hanging in the balance. He lives in daily torment, agonising over the fact that he is no longer the man he used to be, punished by daily physical pain and psychological anguish.

He needs help urgently.

Forty-six-year-old Akeem was not born with the face of a monster. The story of that montrous visage started with a boil on his face in 1999.

He applied the necessary medication and the boil •Continued from Page 37

Science, SMASE, project being sponsored by JICA in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Education, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike signed on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, while Satoru Takahashi, JICA Mid-Term Review Mission Leader signed on behalf of JICA. Speaking after the signing formalities, Minister of State for Education, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike declared that the Federal Government remains determined to drive the process of development through enhancing the quality of science and Mathematics education available to Nigeria children.

He said that the government was cooperating with the Japanese government to train Nigerian Science and Mathematics teachers in acceptable international standard of education delivery, pointing out that science and Mathematics form the bedrock of technological development of any nation.

This man needs your urgent help

By Emmanuel Udodinma

disappeared, only to reappear in 2001.

Akeem has been in and out of hospitals especially Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where an X-ray was conducted on him. It found nothing.

He was given some antibiotics, which, according to him, opened up the sore. By then the infection had eaten deep into the left side of his face, leaving a gaping hole under the eye.

He was a technician then living in a rented apartment from which he was evicted on the account of

the ailment.

In 2006, Akeem was admitted in LUTH, where he spent two months. He left, but his affliction remained.

On the advice of a consultant plastic surgeon at LUTH, he was readmitted at the hospital for plastic surgery.

Several operations were performed on him at different times. The whole exercise gulped over N2million, all of which raised by Nigerians.

The strange infection got worse.

The one year and seven months he spent at LUTH proved a waste. His flesh began to peel.

The situation has been compounded by the lack of finance to manage the disease.

Akeem needs help. He wants Nigerians and well-meaning organisations to come to his aid.

The only cure for this condition, according to Dr B. O. Mofikoya, is plastic surgery abroad. Now, Appollo Hospital in India has offered to restore Akeem’s face.

The surgery cost about N8million.

Donors could pay into Azeez Olayiwola Akeem’s Ecobank Plc Account; Number 0641034588 or call his wife Olajumoke on 0806 5715 686.

Enhancing the teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects in Nigeria

Wike said: “I am personally involved in this National Steering Committee because of the importance that the Federal Government attaches to the improvement of Science and Mathematics education. We have prevailed on the Japanese government not to wind down the programme by 2013, so that the overall objectives of initiating the programme will not be defeated. ”The report of the Mid Term Review Mission just signed this afternoon is a confirmation of our dedication and that of JICA to make positive progress as regards science and Mathematics education. We believe from the position of JICA that the date of the winding down of the programme would be extended beyond 2013, whilst the states of implementation will go beyond the first three pilot states to six states”.

In his remarks, JICA Mid-Term Review Mission Team Leader, Satoru Takahashi expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by the Minister of State for Education to the revival of the SMASE programme to benefit Nigerian students.

He said that JICA is considering reviewing its winding up date because of the renewed interest shown by the Federal Ministry of Education, States and other agencies of the Federal Government implementing the programme.

He said that the Japanese government is encouraged by the actions of the Minister of State for Education to ensure the success of the programme.

Takhashi described the review meeting as frank and down-to-earth, saying that it was the first time since the programme started that the top

echelon of the Federal Ministry of Education was providing the right leadership to ensure that the objectives of the programme were achieved.

Professor Godswill Obioma, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Educational Research Development Council, NERDC, stressed that the leadership provided by the Minister of State for Education to put the entire project back on track was commendable. He said that all top government officials in the Federal Ministry of Education participating in the SMASE project are determined to ensure that progress is made for the purpose of promoting the effective teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects in Nigerian schools.

To the Director General of the National Teachers Institute, NTI, Dr Ladan Sharehu whose

•Jabi Park

N Abuja High Court has declared the park and pay scheme introduced by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCT as legal.

The Managing Director of the Integrated Parking Services Limited, Iliyasu Abdu who spoke to reporters in Abuja after the judgement said the judgement has finally laid to rest the legitimacy of the park and pay services.

A

•Akeem

Abuja park-and-pay service legal From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

A lawyer, Mr Aduloju Oju Martins had filed a suit in the court to challenge to challenge the concession of the park and the management of traffic to private bodies.

Justice A. S. Umar of the Abuja High Court in his ruling described the scheme as legal.

Abdu said the introduction of the system has brought sanity to parking culture in the city.

“With the pronouncement of the legality of the scheme, there

will more employment opportunities for youths as the company intends to increase its staff strength from 500 to 1000,” he said.

“The revenue base of the Federal Capital will definitely experience a remarkable boost thereby making life better for residents.”

institution hosts the National INSET of the project, the fact that the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Wike personally got involved in the implementation of the programme sends a clear message that the Federal Government is determined to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science subjects in our schools.

Dr Sharehu noted that all the stakeholders from the Nigerian contingent had been briefed on the need for a strong synergy to step up the success level of the programme in the pilot states and to ensure the multiplier effect is felt in the non-pilot states where their stakeholders have already been trained through a management workshop.

In all, the Federal Government desires to improve the nation’s potentials for scientific breakthroughs and growth by building a solid base for mathematics and science subjects at the basic education level. The rationale being that once the children get acquainted with mathematics and science subjects at the primary and secondary school levels, they would seamlessly be entrenched in these subjects at higher levels of education.

Wike sums up the interest of the Federal Government in the SMASE programme thus: “because Mathematics and Science education are critical to the development of the nation, the training of teachers of these core subjects for them to actively participate in the creation of a formidable foundation for national development remains paramount.

“We have set up a mechanism to overcome the funding challenges that the SMASE programme has encountered along the way. We shall also collaborate with the National Planning Commission to present the case for more funding at the National Economic Council.

“For now, we are seeking the understanding of JICA to extend the timeline so that all the remaining states of the federation would benefit from the training programme. For now, only Plateau State out of the three pilot states has performed above average. We need to replicate this across the nation”.

•Simeon Nwakaudu is Special Assistant (Media) to Minister of State for Education.

POLITICS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

43

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The reforms introduced into goverance in the State of Osun by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has sparked negative reactions in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has tried severally to frame him up. Human rights activist and lawyer Femi Falana reviews the governor’s programmes in relation to the constitution. He absolves the governor of any wrong.

‘Linking Aregbesola with Boko Haram dangerous, wicked’

O

GBENI Rauf Aregbesola, the candidate of the Action Con gress of Nigeria (ACN) was elected the governor of Osun State in 2007. But since it was a “do or die” election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was falsely returned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The illegal declaration was fought in a protracted legal battle.

Eventually, the Court of Appeal restored Mr Aregbesola’s mandate after three and a half years. Two months later, the appeal filed by the 30 chairmen elected on the platform of the PDP against the verdict of the Court of Appeal which had ordered their removal from office was dismissed by the Supreme Court. Having handled the case for the Osun State chapters of the Action Congress, National Conscience Party and All Nigeria Peoples Party from the High Court to the apex court, Governor Aregbesola asked for my interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Osun State & Ors v Action Congress & 2 Ors (2011) 10. Notwithstanding the pressure mounted on the governor by his party leaders to dissolve the council chairmen and councillors on the basis of the judgment, he refused. He directed that they be allowed to remain in office since they had only one month left to complete their tenure.

The governor’s handling of two other issues confirmed his political maturity. The ACN members had vehemently opposed the appointment of a top lawyer in the Ministry of Justice in the state on the ground that she was used by the ousted regime to prosecute its political opponents including the governor. He made the appointment on the ground that the prosecutor was discharging her duty at the material time. In the same vein, he dismissed the objection of his party leaders on the appointment of a significant number of children and wards of PDP members in the state employment scheme. He made it clear that he is the governor of the state and not the chairman of the ACN.

The treason charges As far as the PDP leaders were concerned, Governor Aregbesola recruited 20,000 thugs under the pretext of job creation. It was also alleged that his decision to rebrand the state of Osun and design a flag, anthem and coat of arms were treasonable. It was however, intriguing that the Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr Ita Ekpeyong, who had discharged his duty without fear or favour, decided to team up with the ruling party in justifying the monstrous allegation that the governor had concluded arrangements to dismember the Federal Republic of Nigeria by excising Osun State therefrom. In a tendencious report, Ogbeni Aregbesola was alleged to be asso-

ciating with a moslem group which is linked with the Boko Haram sect.

Although no one has referred to the specific provisions of any law violated by the governor, it is pertinent to examine the legal implications of the rebranding of Osun State in the context of the relevant laws. It is unfortunate to note that those who compiled the illiterate security report on Governor Aregbesola are not familiar with the constitutional history of Nigeria. Otherwise, they would have found that in the First Republic, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria existed side by side with regional constitutions and that there were regional police forces. Apart from the embassies of the Federal Government the federating units had consulates and properties in some foreign countries. Even under the defunct military dictatorship when to keep Nigeria one was a task that required absolute loyalty, every state had their own coat of arms. At a time that there were 12 states in Nigeria it was only the Western state which established a regional Court of Appeal which served as an intermediary court between the State High Court and the Supreme Court . But in line with the tenets of federalism the remaining 11 states did not establish any Court of Appeal. Under the current political dispensation, the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration in Osun State set up the Customary Court of Appeal in 2010. No other state in the Southwest has set up such an appellate court even though it is provided for in the Constitution.

Another ridiculous allegation is that Governor Aregbesola dispatched some Osun State indigenes for training in Cuba. In spite of her economic difficulties aggravated by the economic blockage imposed by the United States over 50 years ago, Cuba is acknowledged to have excelled in the areas of education, medicine and peace-keeping operations. Because of his implicit confidence in the Cuban educational system, Rauf Aregbesola sent his first son, Abdul to Havana for his first degree in informatics before proceeding to the United Kingdom for post graduate studies.

For over a decade , the Cuban government has awarded scholarships to scores of Nigerian youths to study in Cuba. The Federal Ministry of Education which administers the scholarship scheme has always appreciated the generosity and solidarity of the Cuban government. It is curious that the SSS has not accused the Federal Government of engaging in treason by allowing Nigerian youths to acquire education in Cuba!

In defence of Aregbesola A few weeks ago, I attended the convocation ceremony of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) at Ado, Ekiti State. Unlike most universities in the country which have

commercialised their honorary degrees EKSU conferred doctorate degrees honoris causas on three distinguished Africans viz: Mr John Dramani Mahama, Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Director-General of UNIDO and Professor Takeno Tamuno, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. On that occasion the anthems of Ghana, Nigeria and Ekiti State were played to mark the commencement and conclusion of the ceremony. The State Governor, and Visitor to the University , Dr Kayode Fayemi, was present at the occasion. Last week, Governor Fayemi presented the staff of office to the Oba of my home town, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi. The anthems of Nigeria, Ekiti and Ilawe were played to the delight of the audience. My wife asked me if the SSS would not accuse Governor Fayemi of treason for leading the audience to sing the Ekiti anthem. I reminded her that no one has ever been charged with any crime for singing the famous Egba anthem which was composed by Fela Anikulapo’s grand father several years before Nigeria was born.

In a country where religious bodies, schools, trade unions, political parties, clubs and other friendly societies have their constitutions, anthems, mottos and emblems it is bunkum to accuse a governor of committing treason for causing a state to have a flag, coat of arms and an anthem. Indubitably, section 1(2) of the Constitution prohibits any person or a group from taking over the government of Nigeria or any part of it. Having contested and won the governorship election of Osun State, Ogbeni Aregbesola cannot be said to have taken government by force. It is also submitted that the 68 items in the exclusive legislative list in the Constitution on which only the National Assembly can legislate do not include flag, coat of arms and anthem. To that extent, Governor Aregbesola cannot be said to have usurped the legislative powers of the Federal Government. Neither has his decision to call the state the “State of Osun” violated Section 3 (2) of the Constitution which states that there shall be “ a Federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory”. In the United States of America from where Nigeria copied her Constitution most of the states have their Courts of Appeal, Supreme Courts, flags, coat of arms, police forces etc. Even counties (local governments) and corporate bodies including universities have their own police or quasi military institutions without being accused of courting treason.

The attempt by the SSS to link Rauf Aregbesola with the Boko Haram sect is dangerous and wicked. It should not be taken lightly as it was deliberately designed to promote religious crisis in a peaceful environment. No doubt, Rauf Aregbesola is a devout Moslem but certainly not a fanatic. On the day of

• Aregbesola

his inaguration he led the huge crowd at Osogbo to sing many Christian songs while thanking God for restoring his mandate. Last year, I attended a public function at Osogbo presided over by the governor . Before the commencement of the event, he invited a pastor, an Imam and an Ifa priest to pray for Osun State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To the embarrassment of the Christian and Moslem members in the hall, there was a prolonged ovation when the Ifa priest said prayers in undiluted Yoruba language. At the end of the programme, a born-again Christian friend walked up to the governor and questioned his blasphemous policy of promoting adulatory. To which Ogbeni Aregbesola replied “you saw the reaction of the audience. The people were not clapping for the Ifa priest. They were applauding our decision to recognise and promoting traditional religion. That is in line with section 10 of the Constitution which states that the State shall not adopt any particular religion.”

Instead of compiling dubious reports on a governor at the instance of the ruling party the State Security Service should not take Nigeria back to the dark era of military dictatorship when innocent military officers, activists and journalists were roped into phantom coups d’etat. In view of the reckless use of the offence of treason by the department of state security to intimidate the political opponents of the President or the ruling party, it is germane to draw the attention of security forces to Section 37 of the Criminal Code Act which defines treason as the act of levying war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, and any person involved in the offence is liable to the punishment of death. In Dokubo-Asari v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2007) 30 WRN 1 at 75 the Supreme Court held that “a charge of treasonable felony is a very serious offence and is prejudicial to national security”.

The late jurist, Dr. Akinola Aguda

was of the view that a person accused of treason “must be shown to have had the intention to intimidate or overawe the President or any state governor by any physical or unlawful means”. On intimidating or overawing the President, the learned author opined that it “involves creating a situation where the government feels compelled to choose between yielding to force or exposing its members or the public to a very serious danger”.

From the foregoing, a charge of treason or treasonable felony cannot be sustained against Governor Aregbesola for having a state flag, coat of arms and anthem. So far, no scintila of evidence has been adduced to show that the governor has planned to levy war against the State with a view to intimidating or overawing the President. Instead of demonising the governor, he should be commended for embarking on massive job creation in a country where mass unemployment has led to unprecedented wave of armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes. However, it is ironical that while the SSS was reading treason into the Osun State Governor Aregbesola of treason, the World Bank led officials of the Federal Government and 15 states to Osogbo to understudy the employment generation programme of his administration.

I have known Rauf Aregbesola since our undergraduate days in the late 1970s. He was at the Ibadan Polytechnic while I was at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). But we became close in the Young Socialist Movement to which we both belonged. As a believer in the principle of centrism, the governor has conveniently operated in a bourgeois political party which has no fundamental disagreement with the neo- liberal policies of the Federal Government. But because of his preference for the socialist mode of production Governor Aregbesola has continued to insist on the centrality of the role of the State in the •Continued on page 63

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-5-12

Market returns 6.65% in 4 months

T

HE Nigerian stock market rode on the crest of strong rally in April to override the initial slowdown in the first quarter and closed the fourth month with a year-to-date return of 6.65 per cent.

The stock market had recorded a marginal negative return of 0.38 per cent in the first quarter but with a gain of 6.75 per cent in April, year-to-date return improved to 6.65 per cent.

These implied that the stock market has so far this year gained N498 billion, with N481 billion accruing from the overtly bullish market in April.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities opened this year at N6.533 trillion and closed the first quarter at N6.550 trillion. It meanwhile rose to N7.031 trillion by the end of April.

The All Share Index (ASI)the benchmark common value-index that tracks share prices of all quoted companies at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),

•Equities gain N481b in April

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

closed April at 22,045.66 points as against its year’s opening index and first quarter position of 20,730.63 points and 20,650.47 points respectively.

The performance of the stock market was boosted by appreciable corporate earnings reports as quoted companies presented their full-year audited annual reports for 2011 and interim reports for the first quarter of 2012.

With most companies that had presented audited reports declaring cash dividends, appreciable interim reports have further enhanced the attractiveness of equities, most of which are currently regarded as undervalued.

Meanwhile, the stock market closed the last trading day of the four-month period on a negative as profittakers overwhelmed de-

mand. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities slipped from its opening value of N7.051 trillion to N7.031 trillion while the All Share Index dropped from 22,109.44 points to 22,045.66 points.

The negative overall market position was due to losses suffered by some highly capitalised stocks including Dangote Cement, Oando, Ashaka Cement, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Dangote Sugar Refinery and Dangote Flour Mills.

Oando led the decliners with a loss of 79 kobo to close at N16.20. Stanbic IBTC Bank lost 23 kobo to close at N6.92 while Ashaka Cement dropped 20 kobo to close at N10.01.

On the positive side, Okomu Oil topped the gainers’ list with of N1.50 to close at N34.50. Cadbury Nigeria followed with a gain of 72 kobo to close at N15.12. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria added 70 kobo to close at N20.

Total turnover stood at 669.36 million shares valued at N6.3 billion in 4,141 deals.

Banking subsector accounted for a turnover of 468.77 million shares worth N4.02 billion in 2,113 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-5-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

51

MONEY LINK

Banks deliver IFRS-compliant Q1 results

B

ANKS’ first quarter results for 2012 have shown full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in line with regulatory requirements.

The Nation learnt that the standards were adopted in the preparation of the banks’ first

C

By Collins Nweze

quarter unaudited accounts.

The IFRS are a set of internationally applicable accounting standards designed to make financial statements from different jurisdictions uniform and comparable. Nigerian banks

and quoted companies are required to migrate to IFRS reporting effective January 1, 2012.

Access Bank, Unity Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) among other banks have released their first quarter results ended March 31, results. Access Bank Plc recorded N15.5 billion

profit before tax; United Bank for Africa (UBA) posted a profit before tax of N16 billion; FCMB achieved a profit before tax of N4.4 billion among others.

Already, First Bank, Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank among others have adopted IFRS, which requires disclosure on a range of issues including risk management measures and changes in accounting policy.

Before now, Nigeria’s minimum reporting standards only demand the quarterly publication of gross earnings, pre-tax profit and net profit, leaving analysts with little on which to gauge future trends for the business or make international comparisons.

Risk Expert and Chairman,

Enterprise Bank chair assures on quality service

HAIRMAN of Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL), Emeka Onwuka has reassured customers of the bank that the current Board and Management will continually deliver quality service to all stakeholders.

Onwuka, who spoke at the first Customer Forum with the Board and Management of the bank held in Lagos, said the present leadership of the bank has every reason to listen to every customer’s complaint, advice or suggestion because these will help to make the bank improve on its service delivery.

He said: “I want to assure you that we strongly appreciate each and ev-

ery one of you for making out time to attend. EBL, from what we have seen is a lucky bank to have you all as partners in progress because the bank enjoys immeasurable loyalty, absolute support and patronage from each and every one of you. In reciprocation of this good gesture, I also want to reassure that the bank you have today is different,” he said.

Onwuka explained that the bank has a single owner, which is Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) that invested well over N100 billion, to recapitalise it. He said the bank will offer customers the best in terms of customer service as well as

a team of young and dynamic management led by Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

He explained that the drive to satisfy all customers of the bank also led the present management to begin the on-going rebranding exercise across the branches of the bank; intensive training of the personnel as well as system upgrade, which will strengthen its Information Technology platforms. “So your presence here today says a lot. It is a strong statement of your commitment. Therefore, we as a bank cannot but do what you ask, he said.

Unity Bank records N2.3b Q1 profit

U

NITY Bank has grown its Profit Before Tax (PBT) to N2.3 billion as against a forecast of N1.6 billion earlier released to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

This represents an annualised PBT of N9.2 billion compared to the N7.1 billion for the full year to December 2011.

The Nation gathered that in line with the lender’s objective of significantly increasing its market share in a highly competitive industry, it also grew its balance sheet by two per cent within the period.

“Customers’ continued and growing confidence in the brand is manifest in the growth in customer’s deposits from N266

FirstBank unveils FirstPay

F

IRSTBANK has unveiled FirstPay, a web-based payment platform designed to allow customers directly give payment instructions from their offices anytime in a very secure and efficient manner.

In a statement, the bank said with the product, payments and authorisations can be done regardless of location, as long as there is internet connectivity.

“FirstPay enables corporate organisations initiate and conclude payments without relying on the branch to process on their behalf, efficient and timely payment of beneficiaries especially time critical payments, and approval of payments can be done from anywhere in the world regardless of the location of the authorisers,” the bank said.

According to the bank, the solu-

tion is most suitable for clients who carry out bulk payments against their accounts in form of salary payment, Vendor/supplier payment, edividend, pensions, among others, regardless of account bank. It also provides a platform for corporate organisations to execute their payment instructions without first sending a physical instruction to the bank and waiting for the bank to effect the instructions.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 1-5-12 SYMBOL

CADBURY FCMB UBA OKOMUOIL CUSTODYINS RTBRISCOE UAC-PROP NEIMETH JAPAULOIL GLAXOSMITH

O/PRICE

14.40 5.23 3.57 33.00 1.55 1.38 10.28 0.75 0.54 19.30

C/PRICE

15.12 5.49 3.74 34.50 1.62 1.44 10.71 0.78 0.56 20.00

113m EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES

CHANGE

0.72 0.26 0.17 1.50 0.07 0.06 0.43 0.03 0.02 0.70

Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

O/PRICE 16.99 1.52 0.97 3.64 7.15 4.05 10.21 2.14 4.35 1.36

C/PRICE 16.20 1.45 0.93 3.51 6.92 3.95 10.01 2.10 4.28 1.34

CHANGE 0.79 0.07 0.04 0.13 0.23 0.10 0.20 0.04 0.07 0.02

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

Date 29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

LOSERS AS AT 1-5-12

SYMBOL OANDO CUTIX LIVESTOCK DANGSUGAR IBTC UBN ASHAKACEM HONYFLOUR DANGFLOUR FIDELITYBK

billion at the end of 2011 to N271 billion as at March 31, 2012. Loans and advances grew from N121 billion to N145 billion within the same period representing 20 per cent growth,” an official of the bank told The Nation.

The bank’s impaired loans to total loans ratio also improved from 5.39 per cent to 4.92 per cent consistent regulatory requirement.

Managing Director of the bank, Ado Yakubu Wanka assured that the bank has put in place a number of new initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency for sustainable growth and profitability.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

IFRS Interpretations Committee, at the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), Bob Garnett said harmonising the IFRS and Basel Accords will give Nigerian banks’ financials better credibility.

He explained that the global knowledge and expertise reduces the risks of getting things wrong, adding that the adoption of the model will further enhance transparency and facilitate the restoration of investors’ confidence in the on-going efforts to sanitise and rebuild the financial services sector.

Analysts insist that adopting a common IFRS framework will make it easier for the banks to have unified accounting assessment.

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.59 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 102.03 THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.08 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.89 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,701.51 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.13 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,259.48 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.48 101.48 0.72 1.08 0.88 1,695.51 7.74 1.33 1.80 7,071.36 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

53

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

54

NEWS

‘How Boko Jimeh Saleh from BBC Hausa returns to his home town of Maiduguri in the far northeast of Nigeria for the first time in almost a year - to find the city is a mere shell of its once lively self, following a spate of deadly attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist group.

•From left: Chairman, SBL Conference Planning Committee, Soji Owogbade, Chairman, NBA Section on Business Law (SBL) Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, Chairperson, Media & Publicity Committee, SBL Conference, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot (SAN) , Acting Chief Operating Officer, Publicis Consultants-SoulComm, Mojisola Saka and Vice Chairman, SBL Council , Asue Ighodalo at the media briefing of Section on Business Law(SBL) in Lagos

A

S dusk falls in Maiduguri, and the bright afternoon sun gradually turns orange and slowly dips in the evening sky, a muezzin leads the call to pray.

His spirited voice echoes from a pair of loud speakers on a minaret atop one of the oldest mosques in town.

The faithful observe the evening Maghreb prayer - and then have to go straight on to the Isha, the late evening prayer, because Maiduguri has to live under a strict 19:00-06:00 curfew.

Today’s quiet nights - the uncertainty and the insecurity - are a far cry from the Maiduguri I grew up in.

Firmly padlocked houses

•National Sales Manager, Vitafoam Plc, Sola Owoade, Director, Sales and Marketing, Vitafoam Plc, Mr. Peter Folikwe and a couple, Mr and Mrs Durotoye Olapade at the Vitafoam"s Day Out with Customers held at Vitafoam Comfort Center, Bode Thomas, Surulere Lagos on Sunday.

My home town, in the far northeast of Nigeria, is also the stronghold the country’s radical Islamist group, Boko Haram.

And in the past few months, the group has carried out a number of violent and devastating attacks in many parts of Nigeria - including drive-by shootings and bombings in Maiduguri, even the central mosque in December.

Back from London in Maiduguri for the first time in almost a year, the town is as dusty as I left it - but it appears poorer - and so do its industrious and boisterous people.

No more do buses, taxis, beggars, vendors and shop keepers hustle for business late into the night.

Families are no longer able to af-

ford three meals a day.

Property speculators are complaining that business is down, and some are suffering losses.

“Closing shops at 7pm is just like working half-day,” said an economist with the University of Maiduguri who, like most people I spoke to, asked to remain anonymous.

“The economy here is driven by the informal sector which has no closing hours,” he added.

“We live in constant fear,” one resident told me, ‘’and you are the only journalist I can talk to, because I know you personally, but please do not reveal my name.”

Many people fled Maiduguri months ago in the wake of the killings, leaving behind firmly padlocked houses.

Some of the town’s wealthy businessmen have relocated their enterprises to other states.

Soldiers accused When bombs went off on Christmas Day 2011 in churches in Abuja and Jos killing at least 40 people, Maiduguri was placed under a state of emergency because of the many Boko Haram members who are based there.

Since then, gun-toting soldiers have set up countless checkpoints and taken up positions outside churches, police stations and other high-profile locations that have previously been Boko Haram’s targets.

Can Nigeria, Ghana, oth Decades after Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders agreed to liberalise trade and human movement across the region, billions of dollars are lost in revenue annually due to the non-implementation of the policy, reports OLUKAYODE THOMAS •President, National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE), Mr. Sunday Alhassan, Head, Contact Centre, Spanco Nigeria Mr. Shailesh and Head, Human Resources, Spanco Nigeria, Mr. Digvijay during a Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony between Spanco employees and NUPTE in Abuja

•Group Managing Director, Sterling Bank, Mr. Yemi Adeola and Chairman Marketing and Media, Dr T.O.E Ekechi during the bank’s customer Forum in Lagos.

HE conference room of The Golf Hotel, Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivore will witness a beehive of activities from May 14 to 15. On these days, political and business leaders from different parts of West Africa will be joined by technocrats from different parts of the world, officials of United States Aids (USAID) and members of the executive of BORDERLESS West Africa, a non-governmental organisation, to discuss how the region will prevent billions of dollars being lost in revenue due to the inability of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to implement the over three decade agreement it reached on liberalisation of trade and human movement across the region.

Tagged BORDERLESS 2012: Transforming Trade, it will focus on West Africa’s business environment and ways of increasing trade.

The conveners believe that harmonising the rules of trade across West Africa would decrease the cost of doing business.

USAID believes that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) is not being implemented uniformly across the region.

Communications Manager of USAID, Mr. Joe Lamport, told this

T

reporter in Cotonou, Benin Republic last week that: “ When ECOWAS was founded 35 years ago, its aim was to liberalise trade across the region and when business booms, there will be jobs and this will lead to eradication of poverty. If you don’t have a private sector that creates jobs, where will you get your taxes?”

Lamport used the cost of Import and Export between New York and Chicago, in the United States of America and Tema and Ouagadougou, in West Africa to illustrate his point.

Though the distance is the same, a truck leaving Chicago for New York will travel for five days, costing the truck owner about $654 in expenses.

The same truck travelling from Tema to Ouagadougou will not only spend between thirteen to twentytwo days on the road, but will cost the owner about $4,800.

The figures for export are equally not good. Whereas a truck with an export bound goods from Chicago to New York will make the trip in five days or less, and cost $765, an export bound truck from Ouagadougou to Tema will cost the truck owners about $1750 with travel time of thirteen days.

Borderless’ efforts have yielded some positive results in Ghana; a lot

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

55

NEWS

Haram attacks have changed Maiduguri’

•Maiduguri residents complain that soldiers do not treat them well

The soldiers are there to protect the residents of Maiduguri - but people seem united in their condemnation of the curfew and the militarisation of the streets.

They accuse the soldiers of torture and other human rights violations.

Boko Haram squads target soldiers and security agents with ex-

plosives, either in their fortified positions or in their patrol vehicles.

After an attack, the soldiers go into neighbouring houses, and are said to indiscriminately beat up the male occupants.

The army denies this is happening - nevertheless, it is a recurring cry that is hard to ignore.

Shoppers’ paradise Maiduguri’s age-old commercial centre used to be on Babban Layi, which simply means “a wide street”.

It used to be a shoppers’ paradise for textile, electronics, clothing, and household items.

Lebanese and Chadian merchants

jostled alongside low-tech con men and pickpockets - all hoping to get a slice of the bulging sacks of money freely freighted around on wheelbarrows.

Overloaded trucks, known locally as giwa-giwa, transported goods from Babban Layi to neighbouring countries such as Chad and Cameroon, and even to distant

places like Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Many in town are resigned to their fate and have resorted to prayers to try to rediscover the virtues of peace and hospitality” But this once thriving regional trading hub is now almost empty brought to a virtual standstill not least because the borders were closed as a result of the state of emergency.

For many months now, the labourers who load the trucks, the merchants, the truck drivers and many others have been “surviving by the grace of God”.

The authorities in Maiduguri remain hopeful that things will get better.

“We are not at all pleased by the state of insecurity in Maiduguri and very soon the situation will improve,” Borno state’s information commissioner, Inuwa Bwala, says.

The questions many Maiduguri residents want answered is: When will the borders reopen and when will the army leave the streets?

“Since the state of emergency the federal government has taken over security matters here and the announcement to close the borders was made from Abuja,” Mr Bwala said.

It is, however, not all a tale of gloom - despite the curfew and the explosions.

Among the lucky few are bicycle dealers and mechanics: There has been a boom in sales since the banning last year of motor bikes after a series of drive-by killings were committed by gunmen on the back of bikes.

Despite this glimmer of hope, the situation in Maiduguri seems pretty desperate.

There is a palpable sense of fear.

Many people are resigned to their fate and have resorted to prayer to try to rediscover the virtues of peace and hospitality - which, once upon a time, was the defining feature of my home town.

na, others curb trade restrictions?

Nigeria’s border closure grounds economic activities in Chad, Cameroon

T

HE directive of the Federal Government to close the country’s border in some troubled parts of Borno, Yobe, Niger and Plateau states with some

neighbouring countries is taking a negative turn on the economies of the latter.

Nigeria’s ambassador in Chad, Alhaji Abdullahi Omaki, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in N’djamena.

Omaki told NAN correspondent covering the 14th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) that Chad and Cameroon were the most affected by the directive.

“The volume of trade, largely unrecorded, is about 80 per cent in favour of Nigeria.

“Most of the goods and services coming into Chad, 80 still needs to be done. Security agent’s harassment of drivers and other class of businessmen for bribe has reduced, but the number of checkpoints and delays remains high.

Lamport could not understand why a businessman could not take advantage of West Africa’s population of 300 million people to sell his products. He said: “In West Africa, business is seriously constrained. Togo has a population of about nine million, that is great, but imagine if you have a market of 300 million people? Right now, importers are bringing many things into West Africa that could be manufactured here. Imagine, I am manufacturing fruit drinks in Ghana, but I can’t sell in Togo. I want to produce more and employ more staff, but could not because of

per cent come from Nigeria with less than 20 per cent coming from Cameroon.

“If the borders were not closed and you go through the Banki road, the Gambo road, you will see the numbers of trailers that are plying that route on daily basis.

“Now that the border has been closed with effect from the end of last year, if you ask the Cameroonian authority, they will tell you how much they are losing in terms of revenue that they collect from these vehicles that pass through Banki and Gamboru.’’

The ambassador underscored Nigeria’s commitment to Protocols on Free Movement of Persons Goods signed between ECOWAS member countries and noted that the border closure was an interim measure that would be reviewed as soon as normalcy returned.

obstacles. Borders are barriers to trade and selling goods, we have to remove them.”

The Borderless campaign to increase trade in West Africa was launched in March 2010. The Borderless Alliance, a private sectordriven advocacy platform, was established a year later, in May 2011.

As part of its awareness campaign, USAID West Africa Trade Hub organised a road show in Tema, Ghana to raise truck drivers’ awareness about the main issues of trade and transport facilitation.

Concerns raised by the public during the event included: Illegal imprisonment of drivers and harassment of foreign drivers and numerous customs checkpoints.

One freight forwarding agent said: “Borderless has been very helpful in organising programmes to enhance

the welfare of drivers. We should keep working together and one day we will achieve our goal.”

The campaign has yielded some positive result. Since the last quarter of 2011, the Togolese government has eradicated check-points. Only a few customs check points exist unlike in the past.

During the Ivorian crisis, there were checkpoints on the roads and commuters not only paid as much as CFA 1000, they spent about six hours between Abidjan and Poga, but now the journey has not only been reduced to two hours, commuters now pay CFA 300.

Burkina Faso has reduced the presence of Customs Officers from its roads while the military and police have been withdrawn from the road.

While these signs are encouraging,

•A Malian policeman examining the document of a truck driver at the border

a lot still needs to be done.

According to a USAID statement, food prices remain extremely high – still almost 25 per cent higher than they were in 2006. In developing countries, people are spending up to 80 per cent of their incomes on food.

World Bank and other organisation’s studies have repeatedly shown that inefficient transport and trade barriers translate into higher prices of goods for consumers. Importers pass along high transport costs to consumers.

Human movement is also a huge problem. Kadiatou Lah, a member of the Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee, said people have to assert themselves at border points.

But security has been a major reason why countries and states have many borders. Gun and drug running and criminal activities necessitate the setting up of numerous check points, but USAID officials dismissed the security

points and argued: “Technology has taken care of that. Once you seal your truck and put a tracker on it, you will be able to track your truck, and if the seal is broken, you will not only know when, but you know where it was broken and who did it. Once the goods are certified at the point of loading, and it does not contain guns and other prohibited items, there is no way a driver can stop and load them on the road because the owner will know.”

Lamport explained: “We are working with the private sector, the civil society, and other groups. We are raising awareness, it is not rocket science, it is not any new studies, these studies have been done, what we want now is action , that is why the private sector is better, when things don’t get done, somebody gets fired.”

Certainly, time will tell how far this initiative can go to make the region truly borderless.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

56

NEWS

Four feared killed as hoodlums hit banks in Ondo community

F

OUR persons were feared killed on Monday night when an eight-man robbery gang attempted to rob three banks in Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

One of the victims was Michael Ogele, a member of the Action Youth Movement (AYM), a youth group in the state’s chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The deceased was a 300-level student of the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), AkungbaAkoko, and an aspirant for the Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the university.

The robbers were said to have arrived the banks at 9.30pm and operated till midnight.

It was learnt that they used explosives to blow up the security doors as they attempted

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

to enter the banks’ vaults.

An eyewitness said the bandits demobilised an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed at the entrance of one of the banks.

One of the banks attacked by the bandit was still in flame yesterday afternoon.

The explosives reportedly caused a fire that almost razed down one of the banks.

Police spokesman Adeniran Aremu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police in Ikare Division and Owo Area Command received distressed calls when the hoodlums were operating.

According to him, policemen stormed the scene and disallowed the bandits from entering the banks’ vaults.

He described the operation as a “bank robbery attempt” and not an “actual bank rob-

•One of the affected banks

bery” because the hoodlums did not succeed.

Aremu said: “Our men engaged the robbers, who used dynamites to break the banks.

We exchanged fire with them

and, in the end, they could not penetrate the strong rooms.

They were not able to remove a kobo from the three banks.”

The police spokesman said the victims were passers-by

hit by the robbers’ stray bullets.

He added that the police confronted some other hoodlums at Uso on Owo road. One of them was

killed and three arrested.

The police command warned the public to avoid areas where robbers operate to avoid being hit by bullets.

LP, PDP supporters join ACN in Ondo community

S

CORES of Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Irekari District of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The district comprises five wards.

The event took place during the meeting of Irekari District, hosted by Ward 3 of Idoani.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

At the ceremony was the Senator representing Ondo North and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the ACN, Prof Ajayi Borofice.

He urged the residents to be patient, saying they would be liberated from the neglect by the ruling Labour Party (LP).

Borofice noted that by joining the ACN, the people would enjoy the economic and

social integration sweeping across the Southwest.

He promised to support whoever emerges as the party’s flag bearer in the October 20 election.

A House of Assembly aspirant for Ose State Constituency in the last election, Olatunji Osati (aka Maxima), urged the party members to work harder to ensure ACN’s victory at the poll.

He hailed Borofice for working for the interest of the Yoruba.

The defectors include Mr Tomisin Ogidan, Lateef Ladan, Aneji Solomon, Akingbade Samuel, Bunmi Adejuwon, Ojo Ateere, Aboluje Femi,

Victoria Ojo, Funmilayo Kolawole, Kehinde Akinola, Mrs Saidat Omosco, Mrs Bosede Ogunmola of the LP and Sola Oluwadare.

Others are: Audu Mustapha, Tola Falade, Sunday Arowosafe, Yemisi Owadare,

Niran Ogunmola, Mrs Cecelia Daji, Ijimakinde and Mrs Seun Olowofola.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Mrs Borofice, Gboye Ologbese, Pa Jaiyeola Coker, Femi Ikoyi, Kayode Odofin and Bakare Olukoyi.

Tambuwal: National Assembly ‘ll make laws on job security

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday said the National Assembly would continue to enact laws that would ensure employment security, health and welfare of workers.

Tambuwal spoke in Abuja at this year’s World Workers’ Day. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, the Speaker said as partners in progress, the lawmakers and Labour unions have shared goals and responsibilities whose aim is to ensure the development of the country.

He said the House of Representatives was not unmindful of the challenges confronting Labour across the world.

Tambuwal said the lawmakers would make laws that would enable workers to surmount the challenges.

The Speaker urged the workers to take stock of the progress Nigeria has made since Independence.

He advised Nigerian workers not to despair but look into the future with hope and optimism.

Tambuwal noted that the security challenges facing the country would soon be

Ogun NLC decries trial of union leaders From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

THE Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday decried the arrest and prosecution of four of its members by the police.

Its Chairman Comrade Akeem Ambali said the police arrested the unionists during the January anti-fuel subsidy removal protests.

He said the union leaders have been arraigned in a court for the alleged offence.

Ambali addressed the workers yesterday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, during this year’s Workers’ Day. He urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to ensure that the union leaders get speedy trial and justice.

“We appeal to the governor on the need for the speedy trial of four of our members who are currently in court over the subsidy removal protest,” he said.

The NLC chief noted that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government has eroded the benefits that should accompany the minimum wage. He urged the authority to fix the nation’s refineries.

Addressing the workers on: The Right to Work, Food and Education: Panacea to Insecurity, Amosun hailed the workers for their devotion to nation-building.

He said: “I charge all our civil servants to make quality service delivery and exhibit exemplary discipline to support the government, knowing fully that we shall give account of our stewardship to the public that sent us.

“Exhibit zero tolerance for corruption in carrying out your duties and use this momentous occasion to reflect soberly and wisely on happenings in the past, as they affect the present and the future.” overcome, adding that all Nigerians, including the workers and leaders, must make sacrifices.

The Speaker urged those responsible for bombings in parts of the country to embrace dialogue.

Niger President elected Lake Chad Basin Commission chair

N

IGERIEN President Issufou Mahamadou has been elected the Chairman of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).

He takes over from Chadian President Idris Deby.

Mahamadou will hold the position for a twoyear term.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 14th summit of the commission held at N’djamena, the Chadian capital.

LCBC comprises countries on the Lake Chad basin, namely Nigeria, Niger Chad, Libya, Cameroon and Central African Republic.

President Goodluck Jonathan led the Nigerian

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

delegation to the summit on Monday and has returned to Abuja.

Dr Jonathan handed the leadership of the organisation to Deby at its 13th summit in N’djamena on November 1, 2010.

At this year’s summit, cross-border security was on top of the summit’s agenda. It was agreed that a Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad be reactivated and its mandate extended to protect the common borders of the memberstates.

The summit urged Cameroon and other member-states to participate in the joint task force.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

58

NEWS

Akpabio approves N18,900 minimum wage R ESPITE came yesterday for Akwa Ibom State workers as Governor Godswill Akpabio announced a minimum wage of N18,900.

The signing of the agreement marked the end of a seemingly disagreement that existed between the government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Akpabio said the new salary structure is to take effect this month.

His words: “Sometimes, we could have some minor differences but those are fam-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

ily matters. Labour to me is a family.

“The right attitude to work can only come when workers are happy.

“The new salary structure has taken care of all the complaints by workers. Now Directors can rise to Grade Level 17.

“It is my joy to announce to you that the new minimum wage will commence this month. Use the new salary to improve and develop your families.”

The governor said the new wage may affect projects being handled by the government.

Akpabio urged the workers to value the change they brought to the state more than their wages, adding that his government would continue to improve workers welfare.

The state NLC chairman, Unyime Usoro, thanked the government for the revised salary structure.

He said: “I want to say this on behalf of the Labour

18 arrested over attack on lawmaker

O

• Akpabio

movement that we regret our ignorance. The issue that led to the three-week strike was mismanaged.”

ANPP’s ex-presidential running mate joins ACN

F

ORMER Edo State Governor John Odigie Oyegun has joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He made this known when the leadership of the party, led by its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, visited his home in Benin City.

Oyegun, who was a former chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), wondered why “friends who share similar progressive views have been kept apart for so long”.

“Finally, I’m home. As soon as they decide on the event (day of his open declaration), they will know that I, Oyegun, has a national appeal.

“When the date of the

•Ex-Edo governor Oyegun back in progressive fold proper event is fixed, you will all come.

“The ACN has become the catalyst of development in Nigeria.

“With young, dynamic and forthright people, some of who have become governors, I’m beginning to see a core of people who are going to shape the new reality in the country.

“There’s now a reality that things can be done in Nigeria.

It is giving people hope that things can work in this country.”

Turning to Oshiomhole, he said: “Now my mind is at rest with Edo State. My concern is how we can transform what

we are doing here to national politics.

“Oshiomhole is a man imbued with lots of vision. To keep pace with him is a problem.

“I’ve asked him several times where he’s getting the money from and will still ask him the same question here.

“Thank God for your life, only God knows what would have happened if the perpetrators of that incident had hit their target.”

Reacting to the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a purported N10 billion mansion being built by the governor, Oyegun said: “When you fin-

ish in Edo State, the people will build a mansion for you.”

Akande was accompanied

by Oshiomhole, former governors of Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba and Chief Adeniyi Adebayo and National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Layi Mohammed.

He said: “Birds of the same feather flock together. I can see that Oyegun has the same feather with all of us here”.

Oshiomhole said: “Oyegun has always been with us even though he has been a member of the ANPP. He has always identified with us.”

GUN State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 18 suspects for allegdly attacking Senator Adegbenga Kaka at Ijebu -Igbo on Monday.

The suspects, believed to be political thugs, allegedly ambushed Kaka at Station Road Junction and when they sighted him in Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s convoy hurled stones at his vehicle.

The governor’s security operatives and policemen battled to contain the situation.

It was gathered that Kaka, a former Deputy Governor from 1999 to 2003, incurred the ire of the miscreants when he failed to ‘settle’ them after campaigning for the

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ahead of the forthcoming local government polls.

It was also gathered that when the garage boys demanded money, the senator gave them N800, which was considered not too meagre for their status at the garage.

“When the garage boys demanded money from the Senator he only gave them N800 which was not to the delight of the members of the garage.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspects, who fled the scene of the incident, were arrested in their hideout in Ijebu Igbo.

Edo NUJ prays for protection

T

HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo State yesterday offered prayers for protection, following deaths of four of its members .

Three of the victims, Chukwudi Ogu, Olatunji Jacobs and George Okosuns were of the Independent Television/ Radio while Fidelis Okhani worked with the African Independent Television (AIT).

Ogu was murdered by yet to be identified gunmen while others died in a road accident when a lorry ran into the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

At the service , Rev. Angel Nwankwo described reporters as prophets of any nation

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

who sees and writes about future events, hence should endeavour to always stand by the truth.

Oshiomhole’s Chief Press Secretary Peter Okhiria wept uncontrollably.

NUJ State chairman Friday Obanor urged politicians not to politicise the death of the three reporters.

The Mass was attended by former Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, Commissioner for Information and Orientation Louis Odian and other dignitaries.

Police spokesman Etim Bassey said the driver of the lorry is in custody.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

59

CITYBEATS Police arrest Lebanese, accomplice for murder

By Jude Isiguzo

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HE Police have arrested a Lebanese, Mr Bilal Falox and his Nigerian counterpart, Oluwole Bewaji for allegedly robbing Aliyu Sanni of $10,000 and stabbing him to death.

Police spokesman Joseph Jaiyeoba said the victim was killed at an hotel in Apapa.

“The stolen money was, however, recovered,” the police spokesman said.

The robbery suspect was killed in a shoot-out with the police at Oregun Industrial Estate’s warehouse, while his accomplices escaped with gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile, policemen attached to Iju Police Station on Monday recovered 20 live cartridges in an abandoned Mazda car.

It was gathered that while on patrol at Obawole area of Iju, the police chased hoodlums who abandoned their vehicle and ran away.

A police source said when the car was searched, 20 live cartridges were recovered inside the car.

Police spokesman, Jaiyeoba Joseph who confirmed the incidents said that one armed robber was also killed on Monday by policemen attached to Police Mobile Force 2, Keffiat at Oregun Industrial estate.

He said the anti-riot policeman had an exchange of gunfire with the hoodlums who were operating in a warehouse in the area.

“One of the hoodlums was killed while the others escaped with bullet wounds”, he said.

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Policeman slumps to death in station A CORPORAL, Abdulraman Wasiu, with force number 384916, yesterday slumped to death at Ikotun Police Station, Lagos.

The late Wasiu and his team led by an Inspector were said to have committed an offence while on patrol for which the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), sanctioned them.

Sources said they were “defaulted” and ordered to be locked up

Jude Isiguzo

in the cell by the DPO. It was learnt that as they were about being led into the cell, when Wasiu collapsed.

He was pronounced dead at a hospital were he was rushed to.

But another account claimed that the late Wasiu was tortured inside the cell where he later died.

But the Command’s spokesman, Jaiyeoba Joseph, denied that the

late Wasiu was tortured.

He said the deceased was rushed to Isolo General Hospital where he died.

“He had not even entered the cell when he collapsed. So the story that he died inside the cell is false.

“The deceased and other members of his team were defaulted for an offence and they were supposed to be punished. It was the DPO that order that they should be locked

up in the cell but as they were being taken to the cell Wasiu collapsed.

“He was rushed to Isolo General Hospital were he was later confirmed dead. The information we got revealed that the deceased had collapsed two earlier and so it is suspected the he has some health issues”, Jaiyeoba said.

Joseph said investigation is ongoing, adding that the command is waiting for the autopsy report.

More support for education sought

By Adeola Ogunlade

HE Special Adviser on Education to Ikorodu Local Government council, Otunba FataiOlukoga, has appealed to the private sector and other stakeholders to partner with the government in eradicating illiteracy among the rural poor.

Olukoga made this appeal at this year’s state wide literacy campaign, organised by the Lagos State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education in partnership with African Youth Empowerment and Change Initiative at Ikorodu, Lagos.

Olukoga said the state is forging ahead in providing formidable literacy programmes which manifested in the outcome of the recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, which put the state’s literacy status at 87 percent of which 45 percent are men and 42 percent are women.

Olukoga noted that the efforts by the government in eradicating illiteracy can be strengthened with firm commitment from other stakeholder so that we have a just and egalitarian society.

Earlier, in her words, The Director Agency for Mass Education Mrs. A. O. Amore, confirmed that a total of 12,348 adult learners benefitted from the agency’s literacy programme across the state.

T

•The Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Prof. Olu Akeusola (right), during his installation as Akogun of Epeland by PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA Elepe of Epeland, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animasaun...recently.

Make energy part of next budget, lawmakers urge Fashola T HE Lagos State House of Assembly has urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to take advantage of the new Federal Government’s policy on power transmission to set aside substantial part of next year’s budget for power supply.

It also enjoined the governor to further empower the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to step up efforts with private investors to enhance electricity.

The House adopted this resolution at the plenary on Monday following a motion by Mrs. Muhibat Rufai-Adeyemi, (Ojo I), Kolawole Taiwo, Deputy Speaker

By Oziegbe Okoeki

(Ajeromi Ifelodun I), Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu I), Rotimi Olowo (Somolu I), Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho I), Abiodun Tobun (Epe I) and Lanre Ogunyemi (Ojo II).

The lawmakers said the problem of Lagosians in particular and Nigeria in general is epileptic power supply which has crippled socio-economic activities.

They praised the government for its efforts in producing alternative energy through the con-

version of solid waste.

The lawmakers urged Fashola to exploit the Federal Government’s policy on power transmission by reaching an agreement with the relevant distribution companies to its maximum benefit.

“We recognise the importance of having uninterrupted power supply in Lagos State using the various Independent Power Projects to generate steady electricity supply thereby boosting

the socio-economic activities and rapid economic development of the state,” the lawmakers said.

Three plead not guilty to impersonating police HE Police have arraigned three persons before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for alleged breach of peace, impersonation, unlawful possession and extortion.

Adekunle Oshinowo (64), Awosika Thompson (59) and Ayo Funmilayo (50), all pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

Prosecuting Assistant Superin-

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Precious Igbonwelundu

tendent of Police (ASP) Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that the defendants between October 2000 and March 2012, at Ikeja, entered the premises of the State Traffic Division, of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), committed an offence under Section 52 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State

2003.

Nwaokoye stated that the defendants falsely presented themselves to be members of the Nigeria Police by using Police walkie talkies to intercept messages as well as displayed Police logos and emblems in their towing van thereby committing an offence under Section 78 (a and b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State

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

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

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

•Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji

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

2011.

Nwaokoye said the defendants received from members of the public, monetary rewards for the performance of voluntary duty which is an offence under Section 68(1 and 2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

He further told the court that the defendants had in their possession some official documents meant for the office of the State Traffic Officer, NPF Ikeja, which they failed to restore to the appropriate office and thereby committed an offence under Section 62(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos 2011.

Chief Magistrate, A.O. Isaacs granted the accused N100,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned to May 28.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

60

CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Three docked for threatening Rector

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (right), presenting a souvenir to the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Habineza (left), during a courtesy call on the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos...on Monday

Fed Govt to discontinue businessman’s, B others’ trial over fake cheques

ARRING any hitch, the Federal Government may today withdraw the charges it filed two years ago against the proprietor of Capital Oil and Gas Industries, Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, and two others.

Uba was in 2010 charged along with his company and Skye Bank Plc, with issuing false cheques and bank guarantee. The charge was filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The government’s attempt to withdraw the charge last Friday was prevented because of a default noticed in its application by Justice Pat Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The court adjourned till today to enable the prosecution rectify the error.

The prosecutor, Godwin Obla told Justice Ajoku that the government has instructed him to discontinue the case.

He referred to a motion he filed

By Eric Ikhilae

to that effect to which he annexed two letters; one on November 8, 2010 fiat authorising him to prosecute the case and another dated February 14, directing him to discontinue the case. The letter was signed

by E. A. Ezebilo, described as an official in the AGF’s office.

The letter reads: “I am directed that following the settlement agreement reached by the nominal complainant and the accused, arising from the civil suit filed by the nominal complainant in the matter, that you be advised to terminate the matter at the next adjourned date.”

In the motion dated April 18, the prosecution prayed the court for an order granting leave to the complainant to withdraw the case.

Although the defence lawyer, Jo-

seph Nwobike (SAN), did not object, Obla was prevented from moving the motion when the judge noted that he did not accompany it with a written address as required.

In the charge marked FHC/L/ 228c/2010 and signed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Alex Adam, Uba was accused of issuing four dud cheques in the sum of N3.700,000,000 (Three billion, seven hundred million Naira) for a business transaction.

In count one, Uba, Capital Oil and the bank were alleged to have, on or about April 22, last year in Lagos, conspired to obtain a property under false pretence.

Count two accused Uba and his company of allegedly acting under false pretence and with the intent to defraud, induced a firm, Brittania-U Nigeria Ltd to deliver to them,

30.711.20 metric tonnes of petroleum products.

In count three, Uba was alleged to have conspired with his company to: “Knowingly present a false bank guarantee.” Count four accused the bank of presenting to Brittania-U “A false irrevocable bank guarantee dated May 18, 2009.”

In count five, Uba was alleged to have fraudulently issued to Brittania-U, four United Bank of Africa (UBA) cheques numbered 32793308, 32793309, 32793310 and 32793311valued at N3, 700,000,000.

The alleged offences are said to be contrary to, and punishable under Sections 419 and 518 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the federation; sections 1(1)(a), 1(2) (a) and 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap 17 Laws of Nigeria.

US-bound passenger caught with heroin

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PERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Nnadume Jude Ewelle, 43, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 500 grammes of heroin into the United States (U.S.).

He was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, during outward screening of Lufthansa passengers. During routine search, 30 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin weighing 500 grammes were found inside the breast pocket of his jacket inside his hand luggage.

The suspect, whose destination was Dallas had perfected his plan to outsmart security agents during screening. “Nnadume Jude Ewelle was found with 30 wraps of heroin hidden in the breast pocket of his jacket which was inside his hand luggage. We also found two tickets with him. Apart from the valid ticket to the United States, there was also a fake Turkish Airline ticket indicating Lagos to Pakistan. This was to divert attention from him taking drugs into United States” Hamza Umar, NDLEA Airport commander said.

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

During interrogation, Nnadume said he wanted to raise money for his business because he had no helper.

The suspect said Customs officials impounded his goods worth N10million.

He said: “I have suffered several setbacks in life. My major problem was when Customs officials impounded my containers of fairly used tyres worth N10 million. This

trip was to enable me realise some good money for my business.”

The anti-drug agency refuted Nnadume’s claims saying investigation showed that he actually invested N2million in the illicit business. Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade advised the public to resist temptations to raise capital from drugs.

Giade said: “It is morally wrong for anyone to turn to drug trafficking as a means of getting capital to

start a business. The agency will continue to invoke relevant sections of the NDLEA Act against offenders.”

Nnadume is married with a child.

He attended Agulu-Awka Primary School, Awka, where he graduated in 1983. He could not further his education because of financial difficulties. The suspect sells shirts at Onitsha main market. He made his first trip to the United States in 2010.

Nnadume also lived in France for five years before coming back home to do business.

Fashola challenges youth on nation building

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged youths to sacrifice their time in promoting the common good of the society.

Fashola gave the charge at a lecture titled: “Engineering and nation Building: The role of the youth,” to mark the 2012 Engineering week of the Nigerian Society of Engineer students of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Fashola, represented by his Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, said the Nigeria of our dream must of necessity reflect our collective vision.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

He urged Nigerians to rise to the challenge of evolving a new national psyche, adding that individual and collective action they must demonstrate readiness for a new society.

The governor listed the essentials of nation building to include government providing the basic needs of the people; alleviating poverty, generating employment and undertaking development.

He said the ten-point agenda of his administration is a result of the conviction that basic infrastructure

are not a luxury that can wait for better economic times, but a precondition for creating them and its provision an urgent and on-going requirement.

While highlighting the importance of infrastructure in nation building, Fashola said good infrastructure helps to raise productivity and lower costs in the direct productive activities of the economy.

The Governor urged Nigerians to rise up and take their destiny in their hands through commitment, dedication and industry, noting that no nation has been built by other nationals.

HE Police have arraigned three former porters of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, for allegedly threatening to kill the Rector, Dr. M. K. Oladipo.

They were said to have threatened to kill her if she failed to pay the sum of N3million into their account.

Akinde Eniola (26), Nasiru Yinusa (23) and Omoyeni Pratt (20), were arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, on a three-count charge of felony, threat to life, and attempted stealing.

The defendants allegedly threatened Mrs Oladipo on the phone, claiming they were cultists and demanded the said amount as ransom for her life.

They allegedly sent an account number to her,which was opened in the name of one of the defendants.

The police said investigation after their arrest revealed that they were porters in the institution.

The charge reads: “That the accused on April 20, at Yaba, committed felony to wit; threat to kill and demanding with menace.

“That the accused demanded the sum of N3m from Dr. M.K. Ladipo with threat and menace.”

The offences were said to have contravened Sections 409, 300 and 21 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate M. O. Olajuwon granted them N100,000 bail each, with two sureties in like sum.

Deputy Governor praises book

By Miriam Ndikanwu

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AGOS State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, has described a publication on the contributory pension scheme as a good simple way to access pensions after retirement unlike what obtains in the old scheme.

She spoke at the public presentation of the book titled: “The contributory pension scheme and its administration: Including death benefit payment, trust and wills,” written by Dr. Tonia Smart.

She said the book would fill the gap created by lack of information as it is presented in a comprehensive and simple form for readers’ understanding.

The book make it clear that the objective of the scheme is to ensure that every employee receives his or her retirement benefits as at when due and also assists employees to save towards a better, brighter and rewarding future.

She lamented that eight years after the Pension Reform Act (PRA) was enacted, some aspects of the new pension scheme still not clear to larger percentage of employers of labour in Nigeria.”

“Although, several papers and articles have been written on the new scheme since its introduction in 2004, but there has not been a conscious effort to provide a comprehensive book that will further enlighten employers of labour in the country on the benefits of the pension scheme,” she added.

Director General of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Kunle Hussein said that it is unfortunate that some employees and employers of labour in public and private organisations are slow in accepting the new pension scheme despite the transparency in the administration of the scheme.

Hussein said:”In order to address this in Lagos, we have continuously increased our enlightenment campaign to ensure that everyone accept the scheme totally.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

NEWS

Bomb blast: Taraba imposes curfew

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ARABA State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew, following Monday’s suicide bomb attack. It has also banned commercial motorcyclists from operating from 6pm.

Vehicular and pedestrian movements have been restricted in the vicinity of the Government House.

Eleven persons were feared dead while 20 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber attacked the convoy of the State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Sule, Monday morning.

Among the casualties was a member of staff of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Titus Nuhu.

The attack was said to be directed at the police chief, who has just been redeployed to Taraba State, even

•Govt promises to foot medical bills From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

as police chief insisted he was not the target.

Sule said he escaped death by a whisker, but the outrider in his convoy, Corporal Usman Suleiman, was badly hit by the explosion.

Doctors said his condition was critical.

Security was yesterday tightened, with policemen manning major junctions in the capital city, Jalingo.

They embarked on ‘stop and search’ as a preventive measure.

A commercial motorcyclist was shot in the leg about 8:30pm when he defied police order at one of the checkpoints.

Although, movement is not restricted in the day, the atmosphere in Jalingo has been tense.

Most of the city’s eateries were deserted and most shopping malls closed.

Residents were seen discussing the development. It is the first time the once peaceful state will record such attack since Boko Haram began its offensive.

Governor Danbaba Suntai pledged the state government would foot the medical bills of victims of the blast.

He spoke yesterday when he visited the victims who are recuperating at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo.

Suntai expressed shock after inspecting the scene of the

bomb blast.

The bombing took place in front of the premises of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) secretariat, beside the Ministry of Finance.

Twenty people were seriously injured. About 15 of them were taken to the FMC. The Medical Director, Dr. Wiza Inusa, told The Nation that the condition of 11 injured persons was relatively stable, “but four people are in a critical condition.”

The governor urged residents to go about their lawful businesses, promising to tighten security.

When The Nation visited the hospital yesterday, a nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims are responding to treatment.

Plateau discovers fake commissioner on payroll HE Plateau State Government has expressed frustration that all efforts made to curb corruption in its public service are being thwarted by workers.

Commissioner for Information Mr. Abraham Yiljap said among the corrupt practices found in the system was the discovery of a fake commissioner in the civil service.

Yiljap said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday that the alleged fake commissioner had been earning the salary and allowances attached to the office.

He described the level of corruption in the civil service as “nauseating.”

“There is a fake commissioner on the payroll of the Plateau State Government.

I mean somebody appointed himself as a com-

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missioner and has been receiving salaries and other perks of office.

“We have a lot of bad things. Some people are on grade leve l 8 but receive salaries meant for level 16 officers. Others have primary school certificates and are retiring on grade level 14.

“In another instance, some of the workers connived and stole N66 million scholarship funds.

“There are many other people, who are taking money that they should not be taking. Some are no longer in the service but they are maintained in the civil service. People are maintaining fictitious names and drawing salaries,” the commissioner alleged.

He said it was sad that workers had continued to thwart government’s efforts to cleanse the system.

EFCC probes alleged N350m failed contract in Taraba From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

F

OLLOWING a petition over alleged N350 million failed contract in Taraba State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the Chairman of Monarch Hydro Works Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Hassan Marafa Danbaba, for interaction.

Danbaba, who is also the Magaji-Garin Sokoto, is expected to interact with the EFCC team on May 12.

Although the initial interogation of Danbaba was fixed for April 17, he pleaded for more time on health ground through his lawyer.

But a source said some indigenes of the state are just desperate to nail Danbaba eight years after he had implemented some contracts.

The source said the affected petitioners are not happy that the contract was given to a non-indigene by ex-Governor Jolly Nyame.

A letter of invitation by the EFCC to Danbaba reads: “The commission is investigating a criminal case in which your name featured prominently.

“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to report for an interview with the undersigned at No 5, Block C, Fomella Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Your cooperation is highly solicited, please.”

It was learnt the invitation of Danbaba followed a petition to the EFCC by some indigenes of the state over alleged failed mechanised borehole water schemes.

The petition, which was sent to the EFCC chairman, reads in part: “This contract was originally awarded to Monarch Hydro Works around July 2004, by the Nyame administration for N195,320,000.00.

“The contract with reference No:NWR/RWESA/02/07/ 04 was awarded for the reactivation of existing broken down mechanised borehole water supply schemes.”

The source said the affected petitioners are not happy that the contract was given to a non-indigene by ex-Governor Nyame.

He said the workers engaged in all forms of corrupt practices, particularly through the falsification of names in salary vouchers.

Yiljap said the state had a monthly wage bill of N1.7 billion and described the sum as “simply incredulous and unacceptable.

Insecurity: Kaduna women pray for Nigeria From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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USLIM and Christian women groups in Kaduna State yesterday converged on the Kaduna State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to seek God’s intervention in the insecurity across the country.

Organised under the auspices of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the prayer session, which had women from various organisations in attendance, was tagged: ‘Prayer session for peace, unity and stability in Kaduna and the nation.’

The chairperson of the state chapter of NAWOJ, Hajiya Farida Abubakar, said the country needs prayers now more than ever before in view of the wave of insecurity.

According to her, “we are losing our husbands, children, friends and relatives each passing day, and since we don’t have power to stop the situation, this is why we are gathered here to pray to God to assist us and stop the menace ravaging our society.

“I implore you in your closet to continue to pray for our nation so that the insecurity we are facing will end.”

Funeral for man PA Gabriel Egbedion Igene, who died at 73, will be buried on Friday at Ugbegun, Ikekogbe in Esan Central Local Government of Edo State.

He is survived by wife, Mrs. Christiana Ejeakhe Igene, children, grandchildren and relations.

•The late Igene

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

62

NEWS MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS

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6,000 Anambra indigenes jobless

BOUT 6,000 indigenes of Anambra State have lost their jobs across the country, Governor Peter Obi said yesterday.

Obi spoke during the Workers’ Day celebration at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital.

He said: “About 6,000 Anambra indigenes have been disengaged in Borno, Abia

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

and other states. I am working with the governors of the states involved to see what we can do on the matter.”

Obi thanked the workers for supporting his administration.

Labour leader Patrick Obianyo regretted 19 of those disengaged by the Abia State

Government have died of frustration.

Obianyo said 11 of them have been buried.

He urged the governor to improve the welfare of workers.

Obianyo called on the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to conduct local government elections soon.

Amaechi urges labour on job creation

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has urged Labour unions to join the State Government in job creation.

Amaechi spoke yesterday at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during the Workers’ Day celebration.

He said: “I thank the Labour leaders for their speeches and assure them that we will complete all our projects. But labour is also contributing to unemployment by its incessant demands.

“The more money labour collects, the more government will be unable to employ new

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

OKONJI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKONJI TOLEFE SYLVIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. KENIWATUJE TOLEFE SYLVIA. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ASIYANBI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Asiyanbi Aminat Damola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oriowo Oyindamola Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., NYSC, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESSING OF ALLOCATION LETTER Having made series effort to trace BADEN MOYET NIGERIA LTD (Joint Venture Partner of LSDPC on Block 200 Ijaye Scheme), I hereby formerly apply for direct allocation on Block 200 flat 3 LSDPC Estate Ijaye Ogba,

AJALA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyebola Esther Ajala, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyebola Esther Ojikutu. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS The general public is hereby informed of the Loss of Title Deed of the Property situated and lying at Plot E Block VI in the Ilupeju Scheme layout, dated 15th October, 1970 and Reg. as No.69/69/1333 in the Lagos State Land Registry, Alausa belonging to Olorogun Oskar C.J. Ibru. Lagos State Lands Registry and General public take note.

AUCTION! AUCTION!!

AUCTION!!!

LSDPC, Baden-Moyet Nig Ltd and general public take note.

Takes place at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Yaba on the 4th May 2012 at 10am.

I t e m s : Va r i o u s s t o r e e q u i p m e n t s Ve h i c l e s , Tractor, Generators.

Auctioneer Oyewole A. Ogunbayo, ABORUBOYE NART 08028298971

PUBLIC NOTICE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

PUBLIC NOTICE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

I, Tewogbade Ayotunde Adeyemi of Block 7A Jigawa Close Crystal Estate Amuwo Odofin Mile 2, Lagos State hereby notify the general public that I have applied to LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of Block 7A Jigawa Close Crystal Estate Amuwo Odofin Mile 2 Lagos, which was originally allocated to MR. AGBOOLA MODILE whom I bought the said property from. I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if our application is granted and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same. LSDPC, MR. AGBOOLA MODILE and general public take note.

I, MR. ISIAKA ADEREMI MOHAMMED OF N0. 12, Akinola Adegunwa Street, off Muyibat Oyefeso Street, Omole Phase1, Lagos State hereby notify the general public that I have applied to LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of suite 1A, First Floor, LSDPC Shopping complex, Awolowo Way, Alausa Lagos, which was originally allocated to MISS MODUPE ADENUGA. I have made series of efforts to contact MISS MODUPE ADENUGA the assignor from whom I bought the property but all efforts made to locate her proved abortive. I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if my application is granted and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same LSDPC, MISS. MODUPE ADENUGA and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE A newly build apartment located in a descent environment with tard street in okota for rent .3 and 2 Bedroom with toilet in each room. Tenant are needed urgently. Please call 07038302663 or 08183868810.

people. Labour must stop making further demands, so that we can develop other areas and create job opportunities. I am doing my best, but you need to help me.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State Chairman, Comrade Chris Oruge, said: “The lack of food, jobs and education by the greater percentage of Nigerians has led crime and other survival strategies, which perpetuate a regime of continuous social tension, anarchy and militancy.

“Such a situation can create a platform, which antidemocratic forces can exploit to undermine the system. It is, therefore, imperative that government provides decent jobs to combat poverty.”

NLC barred from addressing Enugu workers From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE leadership of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was excluded from the Workers’ Day celebration yesterday at the Okpara Square.

Only the leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were allowed to participate in the activities.

The factional leaders of the NLC in the state, Chukwumaife Nze and Charles Atisele were prevented from presenting their addresses by security agents, following reports there could be chaos, if any of the factions was allowed to speak.

•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (right) greeting the Acting State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade C.C. Ebeniro, during the Workers’ Day celebration in Umuahia...yesterday.

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Edo’s revenue drops by N600m

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday assured workers of improved working conditions.

He said although the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account was down by N300 million, workers’ welfare will remain a priority of his administration.

Oshiomhole spoke at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City during the Workers’ Day celebration.

He said: “Edo is earning less from the Federation Account and we have reduced

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the Personal Income Tax. The net loss is N600 million monthly and N7.2 billion yearly.

“We have increased our subvention to Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and other institutions. We are exploring new avenues to boost our revenue.”

The governor spoke of a plan to reopen the Edo Line Transport Service in the next two weeks.

He blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the dearth of state-owned industries.

Oshiomhole said: “Bendel

Oko Poly resumes today

HE Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State will resume today, after five weeks of closure.

The institution was shut on March 25, following a clash between students and a masquerade group in the community.

In a statement yesterday, polytechnic’s spokesman Mr. Obini Onuchukwu said the decision to reopen the school followed the submission of an interim report by the panel set up by the school and the community to look into the causes of the clash and ways of sustaining peace.

He said: “It is worthy of note that the resumption does not foreclose further

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

deliberations and negotiation for payment of reparation, as the panel only submitted an interim report. A meeting of the expanded management has been summoned to look into the matter.

“All students of the Polytechnic in Atani, Ufuma and Oko campuses are advised to return today as lectures resume tomorrow. Lecturers are requested to round up their lectures to enable examinations commencement.”

The management appealed to Oko youths, especially those whose property were affected and the injured to allow peace to reign.

Breweries was run down by the PDP. They mismanaged it and we accepted to pay the bad debt they left behind.

Now, we are servicing the debt, recapitalising Bendel Breweries and trying to revive it.

“The PDP privatised Okpilla Cement Factory, which was functioning well, and it became grounded. The Juice Factory at Ehor, Cassava Factory at Uromi and Fertiliser Factory at Auchi were all grounded by the PDP.” The workers pledged their support to the state government.

UNICEF hails Obi

T

HE United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has praised Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s commitment to the welfare of children.

UNICEF country Representative in Nigeria, Mrs. Suomi Sakai, made the commendation in her office in Abuja, while receiving Obi and some state officials.

Mrs. Sakai said Obi has implemented programmes that impact directly on the lives of children and women.

She said children need special care, attention and proper training to equip them for their future roles.

FOREIGN

Obama in surprise Afghan visit

U

NITED States President Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan on a previously unannounced visit.

He is to sign an agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai charting future relations with the country.

The agreement will outline the US role in Afghanistan after 2014, when most Nato combat forces are due to pull out.

Obama is also due to give a

P

TV address to Americans back home. The visit comes on the first anniversary of Osama Bin Laden’s killing.

It was a year ago that US special forces carried out a raid on Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed the leader of the alQaeda network.

After Obama’s arrival, Karzai said a post-war agreement would seal an “equal partnership” between Afghanistan and the United

States, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports.

Obama added the costs of war had been great and that the deal with Afghanistan paved the way for “a future of peace”, AP added.

The US is to designate Afghanistan as a major nonNato ally, US officials are quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

Obama will not make specific decisions on further reductions of US forces in Af-

ghanistan until the autumn of 2012, the officials added.

Obama made his TV address from Bagram air base at 23:30 GMT. His trip is a first, symbolic step towards setting out a long-term relationship, says the BBC’s Paul Adams in Washington.

It is designed to reassure the people of Afghanistan that they are not about to be abandoned when Nato ends its operations there in 18 months.

Malian Army seizes rivals’ camp

RO-junta forces in Mali have taken control of the main anti-junta military base after two days of fighting in the capital, Bamako, witnesses say.

Junta forces are going through the camp looking for any remaining troops, a witness told the BBC. The shooting broke out late on Monday after reports that the leaders of the presidential guard

would be arrested.

The army toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure in March but officially stepped aside three weeks later.

However, the junta still wields considerable influence and holds three cabinet posts.

The fighting has claimed at least 14 lives, Abdoulaye Nene Coulibaly, the director of Bamako’s Gabriel Toure hospital, told AFP news agency.

Some 40 people have been wounded on both sides of the conflict, Coulibaly said.

The fighting has also delayed the return home of football teams from Egypt and Nigeria, who had been playing in Mali.

Witnesses say that most soldiers in central Bamako’s Djicoroni camp had fled before the junta forces moved in.

One told the Reuters news agency that he had seen three

dead bodies there.

Early yesterday, coup leaders broadcast a message saying the situation was under control after clashes with members of the presidential guard and “foreign elements”.

“Everyone involved, no matter to what extent, in this odious act against the Malian people will be tracked down and brought before the competent jurisdictions,” the statement read.

63

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

POLITICS Stop linking crisis in Ondo to ACN, group tells Jonathan’s aide

A

GROUP, Action Youth Movement [AYM] has warned the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Intergovernmental and Multilateral Relations, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi to stop linking any political crisis in the state with National leaders of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The group noted that the citizenry of the state knows those who are behind attacks on innocent people, stressing that the recent disruption of late Adebayo Adefarati’s memorial lecture in Akure really exposed the political party habouring thugs.

In a statement signed by its state Coordinator, Mr. Dada Olawale Eminence in Akure, he said Osunyikanmi who appeared in one of the state

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Television stations programme “Sunday Splash” disassociated his political party from the mayhem which led to the cancellation of the Adefarati’s memorial lecture.

Eminence alleged that the Presidential aide indirectly linked the lecture’s crisis to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and some ACN chieftains.

The group urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack Osunyikanmi, stressing that the former Commissioner for Education preferred to play politic in the state rather facing his primary assignment in Abuja.

According to the group “It

is really unfortunate that someone like Osunyikanmi who is representing the state in Jonathan’s cabinet to be habouring hoodlums. He denied that LP’s thugs disrupted late Adebayo Adefarati’s memorial lecture.

“He claimed that some ACN governors and chieftains of the party were behind the crisis, but has Osunyikanmi forgotten that the former State Chairman of Labour Party (LP) Dr. Olaiya Oni’s car was vandalized. Not only this, Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Awodeyi Apata campaign buses were damaged by these hoodlums”.

They advised Osunyikanmi to stop promoting thuggery in the state, stressing that they will never allow any politician to dent the image of the state.

Activist backs NSA

By Emmanuel Oladesu

• Azazi

N

IGER Delta activist and Bayelsa State politician Denzil Ketembe yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians to harken to the advice of. The National Security Adviser Gen Patrick Azazi, instead of calling for his resignation.

He told our correspondent in Lagos that the security ad-

viser may have offered honest and professional advice critical to the restoration of security in Niogeria.

Ketembe reminded Nigerians that the President had ponce cried out that Boko Haram elements had invaded his administration, pointing out that there may be an iota of truth in Azazi’s remark.

He said:”Much has be said about the comment of General Azazi where he claimed that ‘part of’ the issues which gave rise to the escalating violence by The Boko Haram is the way and manner the PDP conducts it’s internal mechanism of choosing it’s flag bearer(s). We cannot deny the fact that the sophistication, boldness and level of violent attacks has increased greatly since Presi-

dent Jonathan was sworn into office. We cannot also deny the political scheming that preceded his selection as PDP flag bearer nor the utterances of some politicians shortly after his victory claiming to make our country ungovernable.

What then has the General said that has made the demand for his resignation common talk? The President himself said early in the year that there are members of Boko Haram in his government. Are members of his government not also PDP members?

General Azazi’s is a professional and his job is to advice Mr President on security issues that concern every Nigerian and not to be a partisan PDP member or make pronouncements to satisfy party members.

PDP put Edo in reverse gear, says Oshiomhole

E

DO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that his over three- year old administration, has rescued the state from the brinks and the reverse gear, wrought by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at the May Day rally held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the governor said that the PDP which ruled the state for 10 years before his advent in November 2008, destroyed

all the industries in the state.

“Remember Bendel Brewery was run down by the PDP government, they mismanaged it. As I speak, we are going to pay over N1 billion to settle liabilities in Bendel Brewery to AMCON. Who mismanaged Okpilla Cement Factory? Who did all the wuruwuru over the Juice Factory in Ehor that never produced any juice? You remember the abracadabra over a fertilizer plant that never produced anything. They brought

fertilizer from elsewhere and invited President Olusegun Obasanjo to come and commission it. Before Obasanjo got to Abuja, the gates of the plant had been closed”.

Reacting to the recent comment by Edo PDP chairman, Dan Orbih that the governor was culpable for the weekend crash in which his convoy was hit by a 911 lorry, Oshiomhole said the statement had clearly revealed the real mastermind behind the incident.

‘Linking Aregbesola with Boko Haram dangerous, wicked’ •Continued from page 43

Government. But because of his preference for the socialist mode of production Governor Aregbesola has continued to insist on the centrality of the role of the State in the socio-economic transformation of the country. Hence, he stood out alone in the Governors’ Forum to oppose the removal of ‘fuel subsidy’ before the popular protests of January 2012. As far as he was concerned, the masses ought not be punished for the iniq-

uity of the tiny cabal of fuel importers smiling to the bank at the expence of the country.

The governor is equally critical of his own political party. This was practically demonstrated during the last election when he refused to be part of the political opportunism that made it possible for the presidential candidate of the ruling party to win the presidential election in all ACN controlled states with the exception of Osun State.

For his principled stand on

that occasion, the PDP has decided to stop the governor from frustrating its resolve to capture power in 2015.

Conclusion Finally, it should be pointed out that Governor Aregbesola is not the only person who has been accused of treason under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Just a few months ago, a governor of one of the states in the South south region was similarly accused of treason.

www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7 NO.2113

TOMORROW IN THE NATION ‘‘My advice is that all those who love our nation must now join Buhari’s train.

We must start the negotiation and the taming now so that he can see the importance of restructuring of the nation in a way that every group including Boko Haram that has been let loose on us can develop at their own pace without posing a threat to others’’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

OPEN FORUM

•Being the text of a speech delivered at the second Southsouth Economic Summit on April 26 in Asaba, Delta State

I

MUST begin by thanking you for the honour of this invitation to address you.

I am glad that I did not have to decline, pleading the truthful excuse that I am, unfortunately, still saddled with a heavy load of unfinished business elsewhere. In any case, I have come to accept that it is a condition of human existence to be saddled with this particular affliction - unfinished business – that sense of an incomplete mission.

The difference between one individual and the next is perhaps that some know this, while others do not. With individuals, this distinction does not matter a great deal. We go into retirement with a sigh of mission accompli, convinced that one’s self-imposed, fortuitous, or mysteriously transmitted mission in life has indeed been fulfilled. Or perhaps we simply shrug our shoulders in resignation, saying, ‘Enough is enough, let others take over from here.’ No matter the variant, we are still buried with our own selfassessment, accurate or misconceived.

A sense of mission, and the identification of such a mission varies from individual to individual, from institution to institution, from community to community, with or without relationship to one’s social status or formal responsibilities. For instance, you might read that the United Nations is sending a fact-finding mission to the Sudan to check on al-Bashir’s compliance with its latest directives. Or that Amnesty International has sent a fact-finding mission to Burma, to see whether the Burmese military dictators were truly easing up on their stranglehold on Burmese democracy, to ensure that the mere concession of an electoral exercise, or the release of the opposition leader Aung Suu Kyi, is not mere cosmetic, an excuse to clamp others into detention or retain despotic powers by other means. Peace missions, or peace initiatives – sometimes known, in the latest Nigerian parlance as Peace Advocacy - are also just as commonplace. A former head of state in this nation went on what he considered a peace advocacy mission to a group of rampaging psychopaths who had laid siege to the nation.

We may argue from here to eternity about the appropriateness of that motion, especially its timing, but at least he had some credentials for his undertaking, and it would appear that the proposal came from some of those who thought – rationally or with pathetic naivety – that he might play a useful role in stemming the tide of blood. The former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, was sent on a mission to Syria, in an attempt to stop the Butcher of Damascus using his people for target practice, and endeavour to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Peace missions - or advocacy - come in various shapes and guises.

Quite a number of them are self-ascribed.

Many successful ones, such as that under-

By

WOLE SOYINKA

Mission-the future

•Annan

taken by a little known Irish group, worked quietly, unpublicised but effectively to bring an end to the decades of long civil war in Mozambique. By contrast there are others which only end up afflicting their target areas with all the bristling paraphernalia of war, appropriate to themselves a disproportionate amount of the security resources of a nation to inflict peace on a perfectly peaceful environment, and with maximum gaudiness and ostentation. Variously also deflected as a thank-you mission, they move from state to state with all the extravagant baggage and panoply of feudal potentates visiting vassal states. They seize up traffic in throbbing commercial capitals, bring all motion to a halt, insisting on a gift of peace on a state which never evinced any indications of warfare nor asked for peace evangelism. The places where the nation may be said to have be at war are known all over the world, not just within Nigeria, but they do not venture there. No, it is to states which are in the throes of peace, which evince no need of peace healing, that the ministrations of such peace physicians lead what end up memorably as carnivalesque caravans of disruption.

Traffic is tied up. Security is tied up. Productive motion is tied up. Commerce is tied up. Governance is tied up. Individual, corporate, even leisure schedules are tied up - all to pander to bristling head-ties tied up in a float-

RIPPLES NIGERIA IS A TRAGEDY, says Activist

...and BAD NEWS too

ing parade of gorgeous fabric, sterile, provocative and contemptuous of the rights of others to their own desperate mission, the mission of generating the life-sustaining morsel for family and self. A vanity parade born perhaps of boredom or a feeling of neglect, this banal extravaganza, which attained obscene heights with the military, has transferred to our supposedly democratic environment under various pretexts, guzzling funds and guzzling the productive time of others. Productive motion is held to a standstill and citizen rights are trampled upon. This disrespectful misappropriation of public space that exists primarily for the movement of goods and humanity, especially by the unelected, by mere appendages to constitutional power, has become a culture of spousal aggression and can only beget a response of disrespect and ridicule from those it most affects. There are numerous, far more creatively effective ways of bringing the train of peace evangelism to places in need, or not in need, and these do not involve the usurpation of the daily mission of millions by the mission of any one individual.

Where were we? Oh yes, we were embarking on the theme of missions. Every individual does have, or is entitled to have his or her own self-assessment of the level of achievement of a life mission – it does not matter in the least what that mission might be. The sense of satisfaction in the fulfillment of that mission, or regrets about its non-fulfillment remains primarily an individual assessment, and one that accompanies each individual to his or her grave.

With nations however, there is little room for such indifference, and the reason is simple: individuals vanish but nations endure – at least in one form or another - and nations impact on the quality of existence of each transient occupant. Each occupant therefore has a stake in the fortunes of the nation, a stake that, proportionately speaking, equates the eternity that we have optimistically conceded to the life-span of the nation. The unfinished business of nation being is thus not one to which we, as individuals, can afford to remain indifferent. In many more ways than we like to admit, the nation defines its citizen. This means that the citizen remains unfinished, a creature in the limbo of identity, leading an improvised, unsecured and uncertain existence, until the nation itself can boast of a recognisable and func-

HARDBALL

J

UDGING from the terrifying manner a scandal has begun to build around the troublesome issue of fuel subsidy removal and its aftermaths, it is not unlikely that the cadavers of subsidy will exhume themselves for autopsy if the federal government fails to carry out the post mortem itself. It seemed there was a sense in which the government hoped the enquiry by the two chambers of the National Assembly would end either in ridicule or fatuity. Neither has happened. The House of Representatives drew first blood when the Farouk Lawan probe panel on subsidy submitted its exceedingly damning report exposing horrendous and impudent filching of national resources on a scale that truly and really beggars belief. The Reps then debated the report and called for the imposition of measures that should shake the President Goodluck Jonathan government to its very foundations. Among the measures were the restitution to the public till of more than a trillion naira said to be overpayments to some oil importing firms, and a pianissimo call by Representative Robinson Uwak for the resig-

tional identity.

I do not refer merely to unfinished business as in governance business - policy making, planning, execution, and so on. No, I refer to that far more fundamental, unobtrusive, but nonetheless comprehensive seizure of nation being. Some nations are wise enough to acknowledge their state of incompletion, and take steps - even while the business of governance remains uninterrupted - to tackle this essential business head on, addressing the very history that brought them into being and examining the factors - both positive and negative - that have shaped their existence since they began to recognise, and conduct themselves as nations. Others muddle on, immured in an impenetrable carapace of complacency.

They list their achievements, both internal and external - economic buoyancy, a prestigious foreign policy, low level of unemployment, a highly literate society, eradication of diseases, uninterrupted electric power, potable water and other indices of enhanced civic life, even IMF and World Bank approbation etc. etc - as proof of the claim that they have “arrived”, and can confidently assess themselves as nations, beyond the mere naming. They refuse to recognise that some at least - not necessarily all but some part - of a suppressed social malaise or political fractiousness can be traced to the basic issue of the unfinished aspect of their self-constitutive process. This includes those who cannot boast of even these medals of achievement, those who, long after any selfrespecting nation should have been weaned, continue to insist that their endemic negative symptoms are merely “teething problems.”

Such nations are clearly on a self-destruct trajectory.

Permit me to cite as analogy the ordeal of one of my children who, one day, during a routine basket ball game, collapsed and passed out. Until then, he had experienced intermittent breathing problems – they were put down as mild attacks of asthma and allergy – you know, increase in pollen counts with seasonal changes and so on. Until then however, nothing as drastic as an actual faint had ever occurred. Fortunately, one of the paramedics who were called to the scene felt that this was more than a mere asthmatic attack, or equally benign incident – and so began a series of tests which merely increased the bafflement of the diagnostic clinics and their specialists. A period of round-the-clock monitoring was prescribed. He was banned from any further sporting activities and was strapped to a gadget that communicated directly to an emergency centre for any sign of recurrence. No matter where he was, a fully equipped ambulance was on call, ready to rush him to a clinic in case of a life-threatening recurrence – all this, while various images of his heart, lungs, full body and brain scans were subjected to analysis. The trouble was that some of these scans gave off contradictory images, which simply drove the doctors to distraction.

•To be continued

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Subsidy ghosts won’t rest in peace nation or sacking of the Petroleum minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The Reps might have stolen the Senate’s thunder, but it is suspected that the upper chamber, in its bid to prove its own unique audacity and assiduousness, will also submit a report that will break all records of indictment. But while the government has been terribly discomfited by the Reps’ report and their radical calls for sanity in public finance and punishment for some oil merchants, and while it is also awaiting the Senate’s sword of Damocles to fall on its neck, civil society groups are being gingered into action in the coming weeks by the scorched but not killed Save Nigeria Group (SNG), a Rev Tunde Bakareled activist organisation that took the battle to the government days after fuel subsidy was removed in January by a margin that infuriated and insulted the public. They have the imprimatur of the quintessential activist and literary genius, Wole Soyinka, to give the effort credibility.

The alliance against the subsidy scandal is be-

ginning to look like a battlefield of the Napoleonic era, when pitched battles were fought by troops ranged in formation along creeks, hills and valley. Bruised and hemmed in by Boko Haram on the northern front, overwhelmed by economic troubles on many sides, and now with its back to the wall, the Jonathan presidency has little time left and increasingly smaller elbow room to manoeuvre. There is a fat chance he might fight like a cornered tiger, nastily and brutally; but there is also a remote chance he might rise to a level of profundity, imagination and daring never before seen in these climes. Only time will tell. What is, however, clear is that, like Thomas Paine wrote of the American Revolution in December 1776, these are the times that try the souls of Nigerians, and in particular, the soul of Jonathan who is beleaguered and probably unsure where else to turn and what next to do. Whatever choices he makes in the weeks ahead are bound to have lasting impact on the polity, for good or ill.

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