The Nation May 06, 2012

Three killed in Boko Haram, JTF wedding shoot-out –PAGE 5

Gunmen in army uniforms execute five in Taraba US lawmakers write Jonathan, demand action against sect

•Ihejirika

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.06, No. 2117

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

MAY 6, 2012

N200.00

•Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, inspecting the parade of the volunteer members of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES), during the O-YES First Year Anniversary parade/inauguration of six new cadet corps, with the theme: Still Marching On, at the National Youth Service Corps, Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State yesterday.

2015 not on my mind for now, says Jonathan –PAGE 4

Yekini laid to rest amidst plaudits

•Jonathan, govs, others hail soccer star –Page 4

Oshiomhole’s aide: Force HQ begins probe –Page 5

France elects new president today –Page 9

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Column

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

A master-musician at seventy L

ET us for once leave the toxic world of Nigerian politics for something more elevating and uplifting this week. Music is one of the greatest creations of the human species. The love of harmony and concord is at the root of civilization and human development .So far nothing can rival the harmony of sweet music.

The great musician is also a healer, a divine shaman and seer rolled into one operating at the shifty margins of hope and honourable delusion. Let’s face it, life itself would have been intolerable without these psychological sweeteners. Often conceived in scary solitude, music is executed at the level of communal rapture.

Music is the food of the soul.

A few weeks back, one of Nigeria’s greatest musical icons clocked seventy. It has been celebrations galore for Ebenezer Oluremilekun Fabiyi,a.k.a Ebenezer Obey. But the celebrations have been muted and lowkeyed in keeping with the man’s essential modesty and humility.

This is in tune with the nature of a man who rose by dint of character and hard work to the pinnacle of the society.

If Obey had become a great lawyer or medical practitioner as his parents had secretly wished, he could not have contributed more to the development of culture and civilization. If only Nigeria could produce politicians who work so hard, so diligently and so assiduously at their game. In less than fifty years, Ebenezer Obey, together with his great Yoruba contemporary Sunday Adegeye, a.k.a Sunny Ade, have taken juju music to a realm that could only be dreamed of at the beginning of the last century. In fact at that point in time, there was nothing like juju music.

It is a befitting tribute to these two great musical maestros and illustrious sons of the Yoruba race that they have turned the dreams of our forefathers to sweet actuality. Juju music has been transformed beyond our imagination.

Today, the Nigerian nation and the Yoruba race are culturally richer and thanks to the fruits of their endeavour, their worthy descendants have placed the nation on the global map even as the post-colonial state lay completely comatose.

Perhaps no two other musicians have completely dominated the musical scene of their society like the two titans. Beginning from the end of the sixties, Obey and Sunny seized the musical imagination of the Yoruba society by the scruff of the neck. Almost fifty years later, the duo are still at it in their different ways. While Obey ventured into gospel music, bringing his great genius for enchanting rhythm to bear on spiritual songs, Sunny is still entertaining audience with his explosive foot works.

It was originally a musical union of contraries, forged in great rivalry and tense competition. In many respects, one was the perfect foil for the other. While Obey was calm, demure and a bit frozen and rigid on stage, Sunny was gamey and enterprising, darting and strutting like an energetic peacock; while Obey affected the airs of the traditional musical aristocrat, Sunny ambled about like a cosmopolitan modernist; while the one was a great composer of memorable lyrics with delectable rhythm to match, the other was a master craftsman and instrumentalist of juju music as electrifying orchestra.

S

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

• Ebenezer Obey

The rivalry and urge to excel drove each to the very frontiers of improvisation and ingenuity. They both brought great innovations to bear on the genre they have inherited. Each kept the other on his toes. Obey has disclosed that he often composed in toilets and the strangest of places and could go on for several nights without sleep.

Both were lucky that their era coincided with the advent of modern technology and the amplification of sound brought about by electricity.

Often, the innovation would backfire and things would go comically awry. In their passion to radicalise the music, the form sometimes went beyond the content. For example, when Sunny Ade introduced the electric piano

to juju music, it elicited a sharp jibe from Ebenezer Obey: Olomolanke o le gberu de Dugbe E se oooo Thereafter, the wheeled monstrosity made a dramatic disappearance from Sunny Ade’s musical repertoire never to reappear.

Both musicians also suffered witty taunts and irreverent jibes from Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who often counselled the upcountry yokels not to stray into areas of music beyond their professional competence. It was rumoured that Ebenezer Obey in particular took more that Afro beat percussion from the great musical genius and cultural icon, a situation which elicited some friendly fire from Fela: Esu lonse onimoto to pami laja ooo

Esu lonse onimoto to pami laja Aja ti mo fi np’oya meta meta Dende oro re….

In celebrating the great duo, what is often forgotten is the influence of their local cultural milieu or what we propose as the tyranny of the mother culture on their music. In the case of Ebenezer Obey, the leisurely aristocratic beat with its brilliant talking drum as gloriously finessed by Mutiu Kekere Jimoh, the diminutive prodigy, reminds one of the Shakara music so beloved by the ancient Egba aristocracy.

Shakara music with its sonorous crooning has influences of northern music as carried across Iseyin and the old Oyo plains. In the case of Sunny Ade, the pulsating muscular beat bears echoes of the coastal contacts of the old Ondo merchant class as seen in the music of the great duet, Suberu Oni. And the Why Worry Orchestra.

The talking drum is a great innovation in traditional music with its own intricate dynamics and inner logic. It is worthy of further scholarly inquiries. Depending on the mood of the drummer, the talking drum sometimes complements the lyrical beat. At other times, it subverts the overall architecture of music by rebellious innuendoes.

And when it is short of victims, it subverts itself like an eccentric ventriloquist.

For example, when Ebenezer Obey sang the praise of Eji Gbadero who was later to meet a gruesome end at the executioners ’stakes, the talking drum went into a rapture of delirious approval: Omo Gbadero, dami, dami dami Ariwo majesin kii p’alakara Dami dami dami.

But as soon as Sunny Ade begins singing about two lady fish hawkers in Ita Faji, the impish drummer began quietly upbraiding his master: Obinrin dudu obirin pupa Olorun maje o kuku obinrin.

As it is in politics, so it is in mu-

Cassava bread becomes Kasavubu bread

Y

OU can trust the great Okon to cotton on to the latest culinary scam. There are so many scams going on concurrently and simultaneously in the land that for once snooper is of the opinion that Okon deserves a respite from the moral police. As soon as the latest presidential Encyclical about national diet emanated from the billion-naira kitchen in Aso Rock urging all noble and patriotic Nigerians to consider the possibility of taking to cassava bread, Okon has been all frenetic activities. He has even come up with a drastic manual to reduce the food bill in Aso Rock. In his halting and faltering English language he has even titled the manual. Dem Bread and dem Budget: A Guide to Alimentary Ekonomi.

One hot and sultry afternoon, snooper returned from work only to find the entire house taken over by huge trunks of cassava tuber freshly harvested and barrels of illicit gin otherwise known as 404 or kainkain. Snooper could not hide his outrage.

“What is the meaning of all this nonsense?” snooper shouted.

“Oga dis no be nonsense, na cassava bread I dey do. Abi you never hear say dem president say make we all dey whack am?”

“Nonsense. Sheer politics of the belly” snooper railed at the boy.

“Oga, dat one na grammar.

Belly no dey get politics. When hunger wire man him go dey cry”, the mad boy retorted with a sinister smile.

“And what is all this smelly ogogoro doing in my house?” snooper charged.

“Ah oga na dat one go make dem bread rise. And if dem yeye thing no rise, you go drink am before before. You no go sabi wetin you dey whack or wetin you dey talk sef. Na dat one dey worry dem poor boy for Abuja”, the mad boy snorted with a sinister wink.

Snooper decided to hold his peace.

A few days later, snooper returned home only to find Okon slumped over a huge cassava tuber mouthing some gibberish and with the equally demented Baba Lekki praying for the soul of the departed. No one has seen or sighted that one since the last fuel uprising. Even in his drunken stupor

Okon was hugging a gallon of gin.

“What is the meaning of all this?” snooper screamed.

“Ah na so we am. Cassava bread don become katakata bread”, the old crook sneered.

“Meaning what?” snooper raved.

“Abi you no get eye? I say cassava bread don become Kasavubu bread”, the crazy old man noted with a wolfish grin. Kasavubu?

Some ancient historical echoes played on the mind.

“And what is Kasavubu?” snooper wondered half aloud.

“You see you be small boy”, the crazy old man began with some patronising wink. “Dat one no be dem Congo man who come betray dem Lumumba and Tshombe come betray dat one and dem Mobutu come finis all dem people?

We dey get there small small.”

Alarml bells started ringing.

“Baba, you will please leave this house at once” snoopers hooted.

“Wereeee!” the old man screamed as he slammed the door, leaving snooper with a half-dead Okon.

sic. In the dialogic imagination of the post-empire Yoruba people, there can be no authoritarian master voice. Snooper takes immense delight in decoding this class struggle even within the arena of music. Perhaps a peep into the very origins of juju music is in order at this point.

As we have pointed out, juju music is very much a twentieth century phenomenon. The name juju itself is a corruption of voodoo, or African magic. Lagos was where it all began. There, freed slaves, their descendants and other metropolitan wannabes brought music back from Brazil, the Caribbean and Latin America. Lagos was a melting pot and port of strange music.

Snooper could even detect a dash of the Dominican meringue music so beloved by the assassinated Trujillo a.k.a the goat..

Juju music began as lower class music fit for palm wine bars located in the inner city of old Lagos.

It was the native antidote to High Life music and its more accomplished and refined instrumentation which was meant for the new coastal elite and burgeoning middle class. There were many great artists of juju music who preceded both Obey and Sunny but of particular historical significance were Ojoge Daniel, Julius Araba, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Tunde King, Tunde Thomas a.k.a Nightingale and the great Ijesha crooner, I.K Dairo. As Einstein famously observed, a genius can see further because he is climbing on the back earlier geniuses. These were the men on whose back Obey and Sunny rode to greater stardom and prosperity.

There was also the intangible element of luck which Napoleon rates higher than sheer competence. Obey and Sunny have been fabulously lucky in the historical conjuncture that threw them up.

Sometimes there are priests without a religion and sometimes there is a religion without priests. The arrival of Obey and Sunny on the stage and the scene coincided with the dramatic explosion of petrodollar revenues. Tycoons, ersatz billionaires, emergency contractors, military buccaneers, land speculators, metropolitan middlemen and sharp-eyed financial fixers also arrived on the scene. This newmonied class rewarded Obey and Sunny for their pains on a scale that was hitherto unimaginable and drove them to rarefied heights of selfsurpassing excellence.

We are describing a historical process and not conducting a moral inquisition. This is not to take anything away from Ebenezer Fabiyi.

He has been an exemplary source of inspiration to the youth and a worthy monument to the Nigerian dream. He has brought joy and happiness to many homes with his mellifluous music, his golden voice, his sober comportment and uncommon sense of propriety.

Despite the glitz and glamour, he has remained a model of pious rectitude, humility and religious devotion. For many generations to come, it will be said that a great man and a great musician once passed through this land. As he begins his autumnal ascent to immortality, here is wishing the great juju maestro many happy returns of the day.

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NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

2015 not on my mind for now, says Jonathan F

ROM the Presidency came a reminder yesterday to the political class to leave President Goodluck Jonathan out of the ‘hue and cry’ over the 2015 presidential race and allow him deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

He expressed “deep concern” over the growing furore in political circles and the media over his alleged plans to seek re-election in 2015.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja Reuben Abati said in a statement last night that the ‘irritating distraction’ was getting out of hand and must be reined in. “ What began as an irritating distraction some months ago, appears to have now assumed a life of its own, dominating politi-

cal discourse in the country, with all kinds of mischief-makers and opportunists latching on to it, to heat up the polity unnecessarily,” Abati said, adding: “ The pointless, diversionary and very distractive hue and cry about the President’s alleged ambition to seek a second term in office is becoming increasingly

disturbing by the day with headlines such as “JONATHAN’S 2015 AMBITION CAN BREAK UP NIGERIA” and “JONATHAN’S 2015 AMBITION FUELING INSECURITY,” now regular fare in our newspapers and on the internet.

“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, President Jonathan wishes

to reiterate that his primary concern and the focus of all his efforts now, just about a year into the four-year tenure for which he was elected in April 2011, is to deliver on his promise of positive national transformation.

“The President’s sole preoccupation as the nation moves towards the first anniversary of his admin-

OYES is response to insensitivity of previous govts, says Aregbesola • As state marks one year anniversary of scheme

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HE Osun State government yesterday marked the first year anniversary of its Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) with Governor Rauf Aregbesola describing the scheme as his administration’s response to the previous governments’ insensitivity to the plight of on army of unemployed youths.

The occasion witnessed the inauguration of six new cadres within the Youth Empowerment Scheme- Green Gangs, Sanitation Czars, The Paramedics, the Traffic Marshal Gang, The Sheriff Guard and the Environmental Gang.

Governor Aregbesola said the downpour that accompanied the celebration signified blessing by God. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State was among the dignitaries at the event. He lauded the programme as a commendable initiative capable of taking the country out its unemployment difficulties.

Aregbesola, in his speech, said any forward looking government anywhere in the world would invest in its youths for a better society.

“Investment in the youth is one of the primary duties of any forward-looking government. Youths represent the reality of today and the promise of tomorrow; they are the great agents of change; the essential blocks for nation building. No amount or efforts should be spared therefore to give them focus and purpose in life,” he said.

•Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State addressing a mammoth crowd at the Kings Square, Benin City to flag off his re-election campaign, yesterday

istration on May 29, 2012 is to continue to give effective and purposeful leadership that will steer Nigeria towards overcoming its immediate security and developmental challenges.

“Nothing could be farther from President Jonathan’s mind at this point in time than the 2015 elections. The President has definitely not directed or authorized any individual or group to launch any campaign on his behalf.

“As he has repeatedly warned on many occasions, including the last national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, the inordinate ambition of a few self-centred Nigerians and their obsession with the politics of political succession in 2015 must not be allowed to distract the nation and its current leadership from the task of dealing with the much more urgent issues of development and the safety of Nigerians in all parts of the country.

“President Jonathan urges the political class and the Nigerian mass media, once again, to focus on the immediate priority of protecting, preserving and consolidating democratic governance in Nigeria, and giving the nation’s current crop of elected leaders at all levels the opportunity to deliver on their promises to the people without the distraction of an unending campaign for future elections.”

Yekini laid to rest amidst plaudits

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ORMER Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, was laid to rest in his Ira, Kwara State hometown yesterday amid tributes by President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors, football administrators and colleagues.

Yekini, 48, died on Friday and was buried according to Islamic rites in his father’s compound.

President Jonathan said Yekini’s death was as shocking as it was unfortunate.

Nigeria, according to him, would remember the late football legend for his “superlative performances” in the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia and the World Cup in the USA. “It was a delight watching his fast-paced goalbound moves at international football competitions as he was feared by goalkeepers and defenders alike,” he said.

Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State expressed sadness that Yekini died at a time, when his wealth of experience would have been very useful in the training of young ones in the round leather game and

•Jonathan, govs, others hail soccer star From Adekunle Jimoh and Samson Ademola

for developing football in Nigeria.”

He said the late Yekini, who scored Nigeria’s first goal at the World Cup in U.S.A in 1994, was a classic example of how a player should serve his fatherland with dedication, as he was never tired of answering national call-ups.

The Governor described the late footballer as a disciplined, contended and exceptionally gifted sportsman whose unwavering commitment to his chosen career is an inspiration to coming generations of footballers in particular and sportsmen and women generally.

He prayed that Almighty God might strengthen the family and loved ones left behind by the deceased.

Former Secretary-General, Nigerian Football Association (NFA), Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi urged the governors of South West states to immortalise him.

Ogunjobi, a former Shooting Stars captain during Yekini’s days in the club, while speaking to reporters in Irra, shortly before the burial of the late striker said: “I call on the management of the Shooting Stars Football club, the federal government and governors of the South West states to immortalise him.

“The governors should not just name any mushroom stadium after him but something substantial so that if foreigners come to this country they will know that he was somebody that did a lot for soccer development. I expect them to come and do something in his name.

“First and foremost, I want to say it is sad that he died at a young age. This is somebody that contributed a lot to what Shooting Stars is today and to the Nigerian national team.

“In 1983, 3SC undertook a tour of the North in preparation for the 1983 football season. We played with Kaduna United Football and that was when

Segun Odegbami and I discovered and brought him to Ibadan.

“Since then he had grown to be the biggest star when it comes to goal scoring in this country and he never looked back. We are going to miss him. Nigeria is going to miss him. We will continue to pray for the family he left behind.

“In 2010 World Cup Lulu’s administration sent me to him. We wanted to make him one of Nigeria’s soccer ambassadors in South Africa but he turned down the offer.”

The Kwara State government said it received the news of his death with great shock and disbelief.

It described him as one of the finest and dedicated footballers Nigeria has ever produced.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba said: “During his active days the late Yekini demonstrated uncommon skills on the field of play and commitment to the Nigeria project

that he was known not only in Nigeria but across the Africa as a great footballer. He will surely be missed at a time when his experience is needed to move Nigeria football to the next level”.

He, however, said that the family should be comforted that the late striker has a place in history.

Before his remains were interred at back of his father’s house, the Chief Imam of Irra Central Mosque performed the burial prayers.

Some of Yekini’s colleagues in the national team including Ike Shorunmu and Ademola Adesina, attended the burial.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Sports, Prince Tunji Morounfoye regretted that Yekini died in penury.Speaking on a radio programme, he said: “It is a pity. It is quite unfortunate that Rashidi Yekini died in penury. He must have been depressed before his death.”

The commissioner urged Nigerians and the government to see it a duty “to always remember our heroes”.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

NPAN visits ThisDay, condemns attack on media From Austin Ehikioya and Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

HE Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) yesterday visited the Abuja office of ThisDay which was attacked two weeks ago by a Boko Haram suicide bomber .

The association’s delegation visited the office at the end of a three hour closed door meeting in Abuja.

Deputy President of NPAN, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf who led the delegation said: “This is a solidarity visit. We know what happened here.

Many of us came individually but this is the first time the whole association will be coming together to pay this visit.

“I am shocked by the attack. This is a public organ that does the work of informing the public about what is going on. For it to be attacked over the work they do, I am very shocked.”

He deplored further threats by the sect to attack other media organisations, saying there was no reason for such.

“Obviously it is wrong and we condemn any attack on the media. It is a forum for everyone. The media is not for the media but the whole country. It is for all of us to see what is happening and express their views.

There is no reason whatsoever to attack the media,” he said.

ThisDay Chairman, Prince Nduka Obaigbena who received the delegation commended Nigerians and the international community for their support.

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HE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State and the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, were yesterday locked in a shootout at a wedding in Maiduguri, leaving three guests dead and several others injured.

It was learnt that a detachment of the task force stormed the wedding at Sabon Layi, Gwange area following a tip-off that notable members of the sect on its wanted list would be there.

On sighting the military men the Boko Haram members in attendance allegedly opened fire prompting re-

News

Three killed in Boko Haram, JTF wedding shoot-out From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

sponse from the soldiers.

Witnesses said several people were hit by the flying bullets. Three died on the spot and others were injured.

It was gathered that most of the Boko Haram members

Gunmen in army uniform execute five in Taraba

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in attendance shot their way out of possible capture.

Confirming the incident in a statement the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said: “Credible information at the disposal of the JTF Operation Restore Order revealed that two top Boko Haram terrorists on the wanted list of the task force sneaked into Maiduguri to attend a wedding Fatiha of one of their own in Sabon Layi, Gwange in Maiduguri

metropolis.

“Consequently, at about 0835 hours today (yesterday), the task force mounted surveillance about 200 metres away from the wedding venue.

“The terrorists within the Fatiha sensing danger opened fire sporadically on the surveillance team and the area. This led to the death of three civilians and two wounded from the fire of the terrorists and two were

arrested.”

The spokesman said an AK47 rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition and a vehicle used by the terrorists were recovered.

He, however, said two soldiers sustained gunshot injuries but are stable and responding to treatment.

Musa warned the member of the public not to attend any wedding organized by members of the sect.

• Police investigating possible military involvement

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UNMEN in military uniform abducted five people in Taraba State, tied their hands and shot them dead, police said yesterday The attack overnight took place in Dananaca Village, which is usually peaceful but which suffered a bombing at the hands of militants last week.

“The police are still investigating to ascertain if the people are real soldiers and from which unit,” police spokesman for Taraba State, Ibiam Mbaseki said on telephone.

“If they were genuine military men, they would have contacted us before carrying out such an operation, but we don’t know where they came from.”

Islamic sect Boko Haram, blamed for dozens of shootings and bombings since it launched an uprising in 2009, has sought to extend its reach to much of the North and Abuja. The group has become President Goodluck Jonathan’s number one secu-

rity headache.

According to Reuters, the sect’s armed struggle intensified after its spiritual leader Mohammed Yusuf died in police custody in 2009.

A bomb blast struck a police chief’s convoy in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital last Monday, killing 11 people in the first such insurgent attack in the state.

A flurry of arrests of top figures in recent months had raised hopes the Boko Haram insurgency could be on the wane, but attacks in the past two weeks suggest they are very much still at large. Insecurity has spread across the north.

Suspected Boko Haram militants stormed a prison at Kumshe in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State on Friday, killing two guards and freeing the inmates, police said.

Gunmen threw bombs and opened fire on a cattle market in Potiskum, Yobe State on Wednesday, killing at least 60 people.

Boko Haram: US Congress members write Jonathan, urge decisive action GROUP of American congressmen has written President Goodluck Jonathan, seeking decisive action against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

The congressmen in their April 30 letter warned that any further delay could spell doom for the country.

A caller purporting to speak for the sect told the Africa Independent Television (AIT) at the weekend that Abuja and Lagos would be attacked within 72 hours.

Congressmen Michele Bachmann, Dana Rohrabacher, Mike Pompeo, Louie Gohmert and Chip Cravaack, in the letter, said: “We respect Nigeria’s sovereign right to conduct her own internal affairs. However, we see the wisdom of supporting decisive action. We believe that developing a comprehensive strategy of rooting out corruption at the highest levels of the Nigerian government, implementing

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economic development plans for your northern citizens, respecting the rule of law, and formulating counterterrorism measures that complement the increase in security funding, would be excellent steps to address the insurgency.

“A recent report by the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security outlined the evolution of Boko Haram. Formed in the mid2000s, this terrorist organisation has gone from utilising archaic weapons to the more sophisticated car bombings and targeted attacks.

“The report further states, ‘Boko Haram are being trained by Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). They are also believed to have ties to the Somalia militant group al Shabaab’ “While there is little evidence that Boko Haram has reached the sophistication of

Al Qaeda, we learned after the attacks on our homeland on September 11, 2001 that one must never underestimate the capabilities of those who use violence to perpetuate an ideology.

“We certainly recognize that aggressively targeting an insurgency is difficult, especially one like Boko Haram, that has done nothing but grow in strength in recent years. However, any alternative gives Boko Haram time to recruit new converts and develop even more deadly strategies.

“Your Administration can stem the tide of violence that persists in your country but the window of opportunity is closing. The United States and Nigeria enjoy a strong economic cooperation and a national security partnership. We look forward to this relationship continuing and appreciate your attention to this important matter.”

• L-R: Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State with former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.) who was on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Ibadan on Friday

Police raise high-powered team to probe Oshiomhole’s aide’s murder

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HE Force Headquaters, Abuja, has dispatched a high-powered team of detectives to get to the root of the Friday assassination of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

Oyerinde, 44, was shot dead in his Benin residence early on Friday by a fourman gang.

The detectives are already in the Edo State capital for the assignment.

They are expected to interview relations and colleagues of the deceased and look at documents and other exhibits that may help their investigation.

Governor Oshiomhole had, on Friday, given the police a 14-day ultimatum to find Oyerinde’s killers failing which he vowed to resort to self-help.

He also told the police to probe the circumstances surrounding the April 28th road crash involving his convoy on the Afuze-Auchi Road.

Three journalists on the governor’s entourage died in that crash after a tipper coming from the opposite direction veered off its course and rammed into the convoy.

Oshiomhole himself narrowly escaped death in the crash.

The governor told a group of sympathisers pro-

testing Oyerinde’s murder that a stop must be put to the effort of some people to undermine the security of the state.

His words: “I am giving the police 14 days from today (Friday) to produce the killers of Olaitan and to establish the killings of those journalists.

“If they do not do that, as the chief security officer of this state, I reserve all my options. This country will either fail or stand. Nobody can intimidate me. Even out of power, I was not intimidated.”

He said he had submitted a petition to the State Police Commissioner Olayinka Balogun about a meeting held by some politicians where a plot was allegedly hatched to “intimidate my person and if possible to eliminate me.”

“At that meeting, they said they would kill many of my personal staff and key leaders under the guise of armed robbery to pretend as if they are victims of kidnapping,” he alleged.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday sent a letter of condolence to his Edo counterpart on the murder of Oyerinde.

Obi, who described the act as barbaric, reminded those behind the dastardly act of the sacredness of human life. He wondered why

some people would opt to behave like men in the Cave Age rather than those who have been touched by the rays of civilization.

Obi assured Oshiomhole that the Government and people of Anambra State are with him at this grieving moment.

In a similar message, former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume deplored “the torrent of unwarranted, dastardly attacks on your person and other members of your team of progressives.”

According to Akume “It is heart rending that in the 21st century when politics the world over is issues based, a group of people will resort to senseless and barbaric destruction of lives.

“Less than a week ago, you escaped death by the whiskers in a very controversial motor mishap but lost a number of staff, among them reporters who are a major component of our democracy; and now a pillar around you is pulled down by heartless retrogressive elements.

“While I condole with you, I implore the security agencies to go the extra mile to uncover those behind these acts of criminality as they are capable of stalling peace and orderly conduct of the Governorship elections in Edo State.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

News

• Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (right), presenting gift items to some widows during “Uplifting the Widows” programme organised to mark her 46th birthday celebration in Abeokuta

• The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives holding their 2012 Awareness Campaign for market women at market square Kabusa Village in Abuja yesterday.

Photo: AKIN OLADOKUN

Supreme Court dismisses Fani-Kayode’s appeal

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HE Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by former aviation minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, challenging the admissibility of computer generated statement of accounts under the old Evidence Act. The appellant had, through his counsel, Mr. Ladi Williams (SAN) raised objection at the Federal High Court which was upheld.

The Court of Appeal, however, set aside the decision of the trial court and admitted the said Statement of Accounts in evidence.

Fani-Kayode appealed against the decision of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

Whilst the matter was pending at the Supreme Court, the Evidence Act was amended and ComputerGenerated Bank Statements were made admissible by Section 84 of the new Evidence Act. At the same time, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, in exercising his administrative powers, transferred Justice Mohammed from the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court to Enugu Division and the matter was therefore re-assigned to a new Judge,

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Justice Binta Nyako.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, therefore, filed a motion to dis-

miss the appeal before the Supreme Court arguing that the appeal has become academic in that the proceedings that gave rise to the appeal no longer exists.

At the resumed hearing of the appeal yesterday, the

panel of the Supreme Court, after taking oral arguments from parties concluded that the appeal has indeed become academic in that the proceedings that gave rise to the appeal have become spent.

The Supreme Court

‘We won’t allow terrorists destroy Nigeria’

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HE Deputy National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Sam Jaja declared yesterday that the party would not sit back and allow those he called terrorists destroy the country.

Dr. Jaja dismissed as laughable the statement by the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi (rtd), that the PDP is partly responsible for the current security situation in the country.

Speaking with newsmen while leading members of the National Working Committee of the party on a sympathy visit to Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa over the recent bomb blasts in the state, Dr.Jaja said there was no way the party could destabilize the nation it is ruling.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

“There is no way we can destabilise the nation we are ruling. Such thinking could be an attempt to vilify the PDP. I will advise that great men of this country should take the issue as reputable and not to tribalise it or fight the PDP; it is not right. Those statements are political and we are not taking them seriously,” he said.

The PDP leader warned that the current wave of killings in the country, if not checked, would throw the country into unimaginable chaos and therefore called on local governments to do more in combating terrorism through enlightenment of the populace.

“The government is doing a lot to ensure lives and properties are being protected. The FG is doing

much, the States are doing more and we call on the Local Governments to do much more,” he said.

Governor Yakowa said the state government, in collaboration with security agents, was already doing a lot to curtail the security threat in the state.

T

By Sunday Oguntola

ensure Nigeria becomes the largest exporter of tomatoes in few years.

Under the scheme, he stated that Vegefresh has acquired 26,000 hectares of land in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Gombe and Bauchi for local production of tomatoes.

According to him, “We are currently investing over N4.8 billion on processing plants. We have one in Badagry and another in Bauchi. These investments are going on concurrently.’’

The company, he said, has also introduced nine varieties of high yield tomato seedling to boost local production.

He described the national yield at 25 per hectare

• Samuel

as too low, saying Nigeria has all it takes to emerge the best in the world.

The CEO said: “We have more competitive advantages in tomato production than many of these countries.

The governor stressed that without peace and stability, no nation could develop, adding that oil and gas, agriculture and mine, if well utilised, would take Nigeria to the promise land, especially as investors are more than willing to invest in the country.

Hoodlums kill two mobile policemen in P/Harcourt

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WO riot policemen from the 39 Police Mobile Force (PMF) were yesterday killed by hoodlums in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The yet-to-be identified hoodlums, who operated in a grey Peugeot car, shot dead the two policemen, who were attached to a company in the Direct Main Line (D –Line) area

‘How to stop importation of tomatoes’ HE Managing Director of Vegefresh Nigeria Ltd, an indigenous agricultural development and management firm, Mr. Samuel J. Samuel, yesterday frowned at the nation’s over-reliance on importation of tomatoes.

Nigeria, he disclosed, spends over N400million to import tomatoes every year.

The development, he said, is unacceptable and unfavourable to the nation’s quest for food security and economic growth.

Samuel spoke during a courtesy visit to the Lagos headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publisher of The Nation.

He said his firm initiated the National Integrated Tomato Production (NITP) to

therefore directed Mr. Williams (SAN) to withdraw the appeal. The appeal was subsequently dismissed for being academic, while Mr. Fani-Kayode was directed to go back to the new Judge, Justice Nyako, to face his trial.

America produces over 300 per hectare while it is between 120-150 in China.

“China has just 25-40 days to produce in a year but in Nigeria it is up to five months. Unfortunately, we are not using it well. If we do, we can produce for local consumption and then export.’’

He expressed optimism that the national yield would increase in the next three months when the company concludes its first field trial harvest.

Samuel praised the Central Bank of Nigeria for coming up with the Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIBRSSAL), saying the policy would make Nigeria become a tomato-exporting nation in the next 24 months if sustained.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

of the Garden City.

Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident and said diligent investigations to apprehend the culprits would continue.

Meanwhile, men of the Rivers Police Command have killed three armed robbery suspects in a gun duel in Ogoniland, while others escaped, with arms and ammunition recovered.

The PPRO said: “Distress call was received by Bori Police Division that armed hoodlums, numbering over 30, had invaded Kor-Ogoni community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. That the robbers had attacked houses and carted away household properties.

“Further information received was that the hoodlums had shot one chief and severely injured a woman, by giving her deep machete cuts on her legs.

Swiftly, police anti-robbery teams were deployed in the area and upon arrival at the community, were engaged in fierce gun battle with the hoodlums.

Sultan, Sambo, Kukah for peace meeting • Oritsejafor, CJN to attend From Kamarudeen Ogundele and Gbenga Adanikin, Abuja

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HE Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Dr. Hassan Kukah, are among eminent Nigerians expected to meet in Abuja next week to address the security challenges in the country.

The forum which enjoys the backing of the United States Embassy and the Government of Osun State is being organized by the Nasrul Lahi-il-Fath Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) on the state of the nation.

It has as its theme “Islam and peaceful co-existence in a contemporary multi-religious society.”

According to the N ational President of NASFAT, Alhaji Sheriff Yusuff religious and political leaders are expected at the meeting.

He told journalists in Abuja that Vice President Namadi Sambo will lead government officials to the event while an array of speakers will brain-storm on how to address the issues threatening the peace in the nation and the way forward.

“Part of the objectives of the event is to project the true perspective of Islam on the concept of Jihad in the midst of various tangential and extraneous opinions which are often confused with what the creed stands for and to locate the true reasons for religiously coloured strife in Nigeria with a view to proffering strategies for combating such to government and other policy makers,” Yusuff said.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6 , 2012

News

7

Akpabio wants German firm’s collaboration on Ibaka seaport

Prosecute persons indicted by fuel subsidy probe now, NMA tells govt G T HE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday added its voice to the agitation for the prosecution of all persons indicted by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee of Fuel Subsidy management.

The new NMA National President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele made the call at a

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

press conference in Abuja.

According to him, the government must show the political will to squarely tackle corruption in Nigeria.

He insisted that a situation where only two percent of the population control over 60 percent of the nation’s resources is not

right and would not augur well for the developmental and sustainable growth.

The NMA President also urged the Federal Government to fix infrastructures and work place condition in the health system to check frequent medical trips abroad

by Nigerians.

He said: “NMA is alarmed at the revelations of

massive fraud and corruption in the oil industry as revealed by the recent fuel subsidy probe.

“Now that the true facts have emerged, NMA calls on the Federal Government to as a matter of constitutional responsibility, prosecute all those indicted by the probe panel.”

He called for the imme-

diate reconstitution of the Board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and those of other parastatals in the health sector.

On the health crisis in Lagos State, he asked the state government to avoid the use of threats and embrace sincere and genuine dialogue towards speedy resolution of the crisis.

Imoke mourns lawmaker’s late wife

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ROSS River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has commiserated the member representing Calabar South State Constituency II in the state House of Assembly, Honorable Prince Okon Ephraim, over the demise of his wife, Late Mrs. Mercy Okon Ephraim.

In a condolence speech at the funeral service in honour of the deceased at the Assembly Quarters, conducted by The Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) in Calabar, Imoke said late Mrs. Ephraim past on in her prime and at the time her exceptional endowments and abilities were most needed in the service of her father land.

While lamenting that Honorable Ephraim has lost a trusted confidant, reliable, faithful friend and loving companion, he said he received the sad news with utmost grief and a profound sense of loss.

In his word, “her exit has certainly robbed you and the rest of the family of her priceless friendship and love, which

has over the years endeared her all”.

He added that her exit after decades of service and support to the family and the community at large will certainly leave a great void.

Governor Imoke who encouraged Hon Ephraim to be consoled by the fact that his wife lived exemplarily, leaving her indelible marks on the sands of time, urged him to draw strength from her inspiring work in the service of God and humanity.

In his exhortation, the Associate Pastor, Winners Chapel, Calabar, PastorTakimAsuOjuo said there is hope for those who truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for life everlasting.

The Pastor called on the congregation to re-examine their lives, living as one on earth while re-dedicating themselves in the service of the Lord, adding that no man will make heaven except the person is born again, as death is the final end of man on earth.

Nnewi has collapsed to crime —Lawmaker From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

M

EMBER Representing Nnewi South, Nnewi North and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Chris Azubogu yesterday said the state of crime in Nnewi and environs is threatening to collapse the Industrial city in Anambra state.

Azubogu spoke during a constituency briefing / interaction with his constituents at the Conv-Aj Center Nnewi yesterday, chaired by the Chairman of Cutix Plc Nnewi , Chief Dr Ajulu Uzodike.

Uzodike who described the outing as hallmark of democracy, encouraged Hon Azubogu to do more of interaction with his constituents’ tom be able to feel their pulse on issues on regular basis.

Addressing the constituents Azubogu said, ‘’It is of note that crime is threatening to close down Nnewi and her neigbours. It is our sole duty to sit up our neighbourhood watch to ensure that information and intelligence gathering in our communities to enhance security and wellbeing. It is by Igbos that ‘’Udo n’ifunanya n’eweta oganiru’’ meaning peace and love brings progress and development. ‘’If we create an atmosphere of safety people will invest in our place countries that do busi-

ness with us will invest an example is in the early 80’s when telephone communication was a problem in Nigeria .

Japanese Governemnt donated a digital exchange for Nnewi to enhance business between Nnewi and Japan hence the word Japan of Africa, where are we today.”

On a recent survey on Nnewi , Azubogu said,’’ I wish to tell you that recent survey have shown that ; Educationally we are drifting , secondly poverty level is on the alarming side . In the last ten years from 2001 to 2011 poverty level has grown from 20 percent to 65 percent.’’

“People who want to invest in buildings and industries are being discouraged, banks are also discouraged from giving facility to do businesses that are here, it is always on the news that banks are robbed or people are kidnapped thereby , discouraging investment and investors from coming to do business.

“Foreigners who wanted to come and explore opportunities are discouraged by the state of insecurity in our place.

This in turn is affecting us negatively because everybody who tells their embassy that they are coming to Nnewi in Anambra state would be discouraged.”

•Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke(M) flanked by Wife, Obioma Liyel Imoke(R) and his Deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham commiserating Hon. Okon Ephraim, Member State House of Assembly and children, over the demise of his wife,Late Mrs. Mercy Ephraim, in Calabar.

OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State wants more German companies to collaborate with the State Government in the construction of the Ibaka Deep Seaport, refinery, ammonia and fertilizer plants in the free trade zone in the state.

He made the call yesterday in Uyo when the Chairman of Bilfinger Berger SE, Roland Koch paid him a courtesy visit also invited a German company to be involved in the management of Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo. The Governor said Julius Berger has excelled in delivering high quality standard buildings and roads and imbued more confidence in bringing more German engineers and companies to help in building a better and great Akwa Ibom.

The Chairman of Bilfinger Berger SE, Mr. Koch said it was a great honour to be in Nigeria and thanked Akwa Ibom Government for giving the company opportunity to assist in the development of the state.

Mr. Koch who was accompanied by the Managing Director of Julius Berger International, Hens Jekenson and the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Nigeria, Wolfgang Koch noted that the company’s relationship with Nigeria was lasting.

Monarch commends Lagos Assembly

T

HE Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, has commended the Lagos state House of Assembly for excellence in legislative delivery.

Oba Elegushi gave the commendation when Speaker of the House, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, led other principal officers and members of the House on a courtesy visit to the palace of the traditional ruler on the Lekki/Ajah axis last Fri-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

day. According to the Oba, the Assembly has pioneered the passage of novel and lofty laws that secured the mega transformation of Lagos State.

He urged the lawmakers to remain focused and diligent while assuring them of his constant support and understanding.

Ikuforiji informed the traditional ruler that the purpose

Group faults lawmakers over passage of fraudulent land bill

T

HE Bill on Prohibition of Fraudulent land practices passed by the Anambra state House of Assembly has attracted criticism from Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), a civil society group in the state.

The Nation learnt that the State House of Assembly led

by Princess Chinwe Nwebili had passed a bill prohibiting all forms of fraudulent practices in the sale of land in Anambra state, saying that any land owner or agent caught would pay a fine of N500,000 or serve a five years jail term or both.

Reacting to the bill yesterday, coordinator of the group, Comrade Obi Ochije said the level of land racketeering in Anambra state particularly Awka, Nkpor, Onitsha, Nnewi and Obosi were suicidal for land developers.

Ochije said his movement is commending the House because it never taught the

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

government would think in that direction citing instances where such ‘dirty deals’ on land made some lose their entire resources on land already sold to over 30 other buyers.

He said the Bill would engender genuine land transactions against the fraudulent practices obtainable earlier in some parts of the state.

“This bill will save a lot of families from agony because many have bought land already sold to over 10 to 20 others unknown to them.

Many who could have finished developing their land are still in court challenging the rightful owner of plots they bought some five to ten years ago. So, this bill is the best to have come from the House unexpected and it is attracting much goodwill because it is protecting the masses against few fraudulent people in the society.”

of the visit of the honourable members was to pay the Oba an official homage and to use the unique opportunity to further assure him of their unalloyed support and friendship as an institution of Government in the state. He described the people of Ikate land as lucky and well

favoured for having a person like Oba Elegushi as the traditional ruler of Ikate land.

The Speaker stressed that the youthful and dynamic posture of Elegushi as well as his vast experience would help add values to the growth and development of Ikate land.

Group petitions Jonathan over sack From: Isaac OmbeYenagoa

A

GROUP, the Coalition of Niger Deltans for Justice and Development (CONJUD) has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over what it described as the illegal sack of one Mr. David Ebimienowei Alabra by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Spokesman of the group, Mr. Ebiakpo Bale, appealed for the immediate intervention of Jonathan and governors in the Niger Delta region for reversal of the decision on Alabra, who was allegedly sacked without cogent reasons.

It said: “Mr. Alabra had 23 years of meritorious service without any blemish. He was sacked sometimes in March 2012 after Shell paid some lump sum amount as exit package into his bank account without his consent. ‘’This action is arbitrary, illegal and altogether contrary to Shell Staff disengagement policy norms and practices anywhere.”

The group further alleged that authorities of SPDC hastily blocked Alabra’s computer email access and ID card, his only means of gaining access into the company’s premises before forcefully sacking him.

Until his sack, Alabra was the Information Technology Business Analyst and former Chairman of PENGASSAN SPDC Warri.

Pivotal Club awards scholarship to students

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

News

8

HE Ogbomoso Pivotal Club has presented cheques to some students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso that won its scholarship schemes.

The Chairman of the club’s Education Committee, Prince Owolabi Amole, also led members to inspect a site selected to host the club’s non-profit IT Academy.

The academy is one of the many developmental initiatives of the Club designed to equip the youth of Ogbomoso with the skills required to succeed in today’s world.

Also, the club which held its 2012 Annual General Meeting at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club, elected new officials to run its affairs.

Those elected are Otunba Layi Adeyemi as President; Mr Dejo Ajani, Vice-President; Alhaji Remi Adeseun, Secretary, while Engr. Ayo Labade is Asst. Secretary.

Others are Prince Kelly Aremu (Treasurer), Alhaji Alimi Sarumi (Financial Secretary), Mr Tunji Olaniyi (Social Secretary), Dr. Akin Onigbinde (Legal Adviser).

Also elected are Mr Akin Oladeinde (Internal Auditor), Prince Abidoye Ayoola, Mr Ezekiel Onilude and Alhaji Kilani Sanni (Ex-Officio).

Fulani herdsmen attack Ogbomoso farmers T

EN VILLAGES in Orire local government area of Oyo State were recently attacked by Fulani herdsmen, locally known as Bororo.

The herdsmen reportedly killed one farmer and injured several others in Odedaa, Baba Selee, Aba-Oba, Lasubulumi, Oko-Ile, Elesun, -Adeosun, Fapote, Onitirin, Boosa, and Ikoyi-Ile. The unsuspecting villagers were attacked with dangerous weapons such as daggers, cutlasses and locally-made pistols. The vil-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

lagers are predominantly subsistent farmers.

It was reliably gathered that the villagers’ complaint to the police over previous attacks were unattended to.

They were said to have gathered to brainstorm on how to prevent further damages to their corps when the herdsmen descended on them.

An injured farmer said: “We did not confront them but converged to address the issue of crops’ damages.

“Surprisingly, what we saw

was violent attacks on us.

Some of us sustained serious injuries because we were harmless and least expected the attack.”

Caretaker Chairman of the council, Mr. Jacob Abidoye Bamigboye, confirmed the incident.

He lamented that concerted efforts to resolve the issue have failed. According to him, “I invited the Divisional Police Officer, farmers’ group, and Bororo herdsmen to meetings to find amicable solutions to the incessant crises.

‘’But all these efforts were thwarted by the Bororos, who remain adamant and threatened to continue malicious damages of farm products”.

Bamigboye said the issue was beyond the council’s capacity to handle, calling on the state government to intervene and prevent bloodletting.

The council boss hinted that 60 vigilante men have been employed and trained by the police to beef security in the villages.

Two patrol vans, he added, have been purchased, to help the team.

•(L-R) Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Victor Giadom, Secretary to the State Government, George Feyii and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Emma Chindah at the commissioning of the new ultra-modern Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt, ...at the weekend

Amaechi unveils new Mile 1 market

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IVERS State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has assured of more people- oriented projects in the state.

He spoke at the commissioning of the first phase of the ultra-modern Mile 1 Market Complex in Port Harcourt over the weekend.

Amaechi said the completion and commissioning of the market was a huge testimony of his administration’s resolve to leave lasting and enduring projects for Rivers people.

He expressed hope that the complex will promote commerce, stating this informed the decision to leave it in the

hands of the local government authorities.

The governor enjoined the traders to use the facility with care and ensure it is well maintained.

Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii, pledged to ensure the

quick execution of the second and third phase of the market.

Commissioner for Works, Chief Victor Giadom, stated that the complex is fully fitted with modern facilities such as clinic, modern banking hall, fire station, restaurant and car park covering over 900 lockup shops.

Ex - Oyo PDP commissioner, lawmaker, others join ACN

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YO State Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner of Justice during the tenure of Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala, Barrister Are Abdulsalam and a two-time House of Assembly member in Ogbomoso, Mr Peter Oyetunji, have decamped to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

They led scores of major politicians in Ogbomoso to declare for the ACN at the Ogbomoso Town Hall over the weekend.

The decampees said that they left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of its inability to deliver quality development in Oyo State.

The ACN, they said, has restored peace in the state

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

and laid a strong foundation for better living.

Abdulsalam, a key strategist in Alao-Akala’s camp and a personal friend of many years to the former governor, said: “Oyo PDP is more like a ship with different incapable captains, where everybody wants to be the boss. ‘’It is a party that has not been able to solve the little in-fighting within them and there is no way a party that cannot solve its internal problem lead a state to fruitfulness. “ He said the ACN cannot be compared with the PDP in terms of developmental strides and people-oriented policies.

According to him, “just

within one year, the ACN government has been able to restore peace and stability to Oyo State. ‘’During the last administration, peace was a far cry.

That is a big plus for the present administration in Oyo State.”

He continued: “I am declaring my loyalty to ACN today based on issues relating to the development of Ogbomosho land and Oyo State.”

Receiving the decampees, Senator Ayo Adeseun thanked God for the epoch- making event.

He expressed his gladness for the new entrants to the party.

Adeseun said it had become clearer that only the ACN offers the platform for

improving the welfare of the people.

“After five years in office, the last administration cannot point to any significant success. Look around Ogbomosho today, where are the roads? Where are the lights? Where is the tap water?

But I am assuring you that with the calibre of people that joined the ACN today, we will move Ogbomosho forward,” the senator stated.

Other decampees include the former director of TCTC, Eng. Akintara Akinade and Alhaja Adebisi, the ACN Deputy Governorship candidate in 2007. Others include Hon Bakki and the Ifesowapo Society, which used to be a PDP grassroots mobilisation group.

KWASU re-opens From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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UTHORITIES of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Moro local government area, yesterday re-opened the institution few days after it was shut down.

The management of the school announced its closure last Wednesday due to students’ protest.

The students had demanded for a downward review of their school fees and the reopening of their portal.

The school’s Registrar, Mrs. Foluso Akinrinmade, in a statement, said only the students duly registered for the semester should come back and sit for their examinations starting from May 10, 2012.

Other categories of students, the statement added, would only be considered at a later date.

Parts of the statement reads: “Following the disruption of academic activities at the Kwara State University which culminated in the temporary closure of the institution on Wednesday ,2nd May 2012, senate ,at its sixth Emergency Meeting held on Friday 4th May, 2012 considered the issue in all ramifications and decided as follows: “The Rain Semester Examinations of 2011/2012 Academic session will start on Thursday, 10th May 2012 and end on Thursday, 17th May 2012; “Only students who are duly registered for the rain semester should return to the campus as from Tuesday 8th May 2012.

“Students who paid to the banks after the deadline would have their case considered at its next regular meeting.

“On arrival, all students are expected to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour while on campus, as any breach of the university regulations will attract stiff sanctions.”

NANS condemns BUK Attack From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

ATIONAL Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has joined other Nigerians to condemn the recent attack on Bayero University, Kano by Boko Haram assailants which took the lives of 20 Christian worshippers including two professors.

The student body described the attack as unfortunate, sad and barbaric.

A statement signed by its president,Comrade Mohammed Dauda in Kano yesterday, described the attack as an injury to all Nigerian students and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act.

NANS executive, who also visited families of the deceased and condoled with the wounded at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), described the Boko Haram insurgence as a stain on the integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria.

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NEWS REVIEW

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Sarkozy: Is this the end?

The French incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy is trailing challenger Francois Hollande ahead of today’s presidential vote, but after a campaign that grew nastier through its final days, the suspense remains.

Tracy McNicoll reports.

•Sarkozy

A

S France elects a president on Sunday, the embattled incumbent isn’t going quietly. Throughout his career, including a five-year term at the top, Nicolas Sarkozy has been the political incarnation of the Energizer Bunny. Hyperactive, unstoppable, he’s a twitching ball of nervous energy, forever beating the drum of his latest big idea.

Sarkozy, 57, has built up a reputation as a wily and ferocious campaigner, one of the savviest political minds of his generation, over 35 years in politics. A master of the coup d’éclat, of turning enemies into allies or, once they serve their purpose, allies into prey. It is that esteem of his tactical genius—perhaps alone—that has fed steady suspense into the campaign for his re-election. Despite years of abysmal approval ratings. Despite hundreds of polls that not once have given him the lead ahead of Sunday’s runoff. Despite the 14 of 27 European leaders evicted in three years, through a crippling economic crisis. The wise have never counted Sarkozy out: he can always pull that rabbit out of his hat. He can win at will. He’s that good.

François Hollande, au contraire, has been Mr. Low Expectations, seen as soft, compared variously for years, in his own party and beyond, to a jiggly caramel custard dessert called Flanby, to marshmallow, to those round-bottomed clown toys that wobble and bounce back up with vacuous smiles when punched.

Six months ago, Sarkozy’s education minister, Luc Chatel, likened Hollande to Babar, the affable king of the elephants in the famous French bedtime stories. Chatel explained, “It’s one thing to be nice, to have a sense of humor, to put folks to sleep during the Socialist primary. That’s not what people expect of a presidential candidate.” And so Hollande—in reality every bit the political animal Sarkozy is—has plodded along under the radar.

The trouble is, Sarkozy came to believe the hype himself: that at any time he could deliver a master class to the unheralded Hollande, the so-called candidate by default who won the Socialist nomination after onetime favorite Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s ignominious demise. But the trap of misplaced expectations clouded Sarkozy’s political

•Trierweiler, Hollande’s Companion

•Hollande

spidey-sense. And if it hasn’t cost Sarkozy the election (not yet, at least), it has left him lagging, fighting from behind, desperately leaping for favor between virtually irreconcilable electorates. Today, French voters will decide whether Sarkozy can pull one last flopeared victory out of his hat. Or let the ultimate tortoise and hare campaign end just like the fable.

Nervous Hollande supporters as convinced as the pundits that the jackrabbit incumbent can’t be counted out until the count is in.

Take Wednesday night’s heated TV debate between the candidates. Sarkozy had reportedly been promising he’d “explode” the “loser” Hollande when he got the chance, taking the Socialist’s anti-Sarkozy pledge to be “a normal president” for weakness. In the event, Hollande was combative, never dominated by the feisty incumbent, and poised to call him out on fibs. Sarkozy, meanwhile, became increasingly agitated, even throwing out the name of Strauss-Kahn (“a stinkbomb,” said one French critic), in a desperate move that fizzled. When a brash Hollande launched into a three-minute sequence in which he began 15 sentences with the words, “I, president of the republic, will....” Sarkozy puzzled observers by not interrupting once,

•Carla Bruni, First lady

as if stunned. After the contest, Sarkozy seemed to tweak his appraisal of his rival.

“I’m not the only one who found him aggressive. He’s like that. It’s his personality,” he scoffed. Six post-debate polls gave Hollande the edge on most questions.

The tortoise Hollande, early on in his bid to become the Socialist nominee, had only two reporters on his beat. In November 2010, he polled at 3 percent for the role, well behind Strauss-Kahn (32 percent). (Hollande wasn’t even France’s preferred choice between his own kids’ parents. The defeated 2007 candidate Ségolène Royal, his former romantic partner and mother of his four children, was polling at 10 percent for a repeat presidential run.)

Now Hollande has officially been campaigning nonstop for more than a year. He declared his candidacy for the Socialist nomination in March 2011. On May 10 last year, three days before the Manhattan arrest of Strauss-Kahn would rock French politics to its core, Hollande told reporters that opportunities are earned: “The most beautiful victories are those that, at first, don’t have a chance.” He would beat five opponents to win the primaries in October 2011 and roll out his 60-point presidential platform in January 2012. On April 22, he became the first challenger ever to top an incumbent in

the first round of a French presidential election, and he heads into Sunday’s run-off as the favorite.

Sarkozy, meanwhile, hadn’t planned to declare his bid for re-election until March, a month before the first round.

Poor poll numbers and insistent associates persuaded him to move that date up, to Feb. 15.

But he didn’t bother rolling out a platform until April 5, just after stepping off the red-eye from an Indian Ocean trip, burying it before the long Easter weekend.

Challenging from behind, Sarkozy’s campaign has been nasty, brutish, and short.

Hollande compared him to “a

runner who has fallen behind and is trying to catch up by grabbing the jersey of the man ahead of him.” Sarkozy has looked to repeat his 2007 feat of poaching far-right support, while paying lip service to the centrists he needs. As a result, after Marine Le Pen made meat slaughtered by Muslim ritual a campaign issue, Sarkozy went from dismissing the matter to arguing it was French voters’ top worry. After initially playing the good European in a TV interview at the Elysée Palace alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Sarkozy switched tacks and pledged to unilaterally pull France out of the Schengen Agreement that allow for visa-free travel in Europe if his demands weren’t met.

When the far-right National Front’s record first-round score (17.9 percent) shot down his strategy—and his own score made clear he’d need massive centrist and far-right support to win on May 6—Sarkozy chose to turn his far-right rhetoric up a notch. In a new flurry against the lazy unemployed and the “assisted,” Sarkozy pledged to celebrate “real work” in a counter-rally to the traditional union marches on May 1. In a single speech at another rally in Toulouse last weekend, Sarkozy used the word “border” 80 times.

•Continued on Page 64

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

News Review

A trail of blood from Prof,15 others killed in Bayero varsity attack

A

PROFESSOR at Bayero University,Kano and 15 others including lecturers and students were killed on Sunday in a gun and bomb attack on them on the campus.They were all at a service in one of the lecture rooms when the insurgents descended on them shooting indiscriminately and throwing bombs.The victims included Prof.Andrew Ogboyomi of the Department of Library Science.The police and the authorities of the institution put the casualty figure at seven.

11 die as suicide bomber hits police chief’s convoy

A

SUICIDE bomber smashed into the convoy of the Taraba State Police Commissioner, Mr.Mamman Sule ,onMonday,leaving 11 people dead.The lone bomber, who rode on a motorcycle, was among the casualties.Sule escaped unhurt and told newsmen he was not the target of the attack.He said : “The explosives hit the official car I was riding in and shattered the windscreen and front bumpers but I escaped unhurt.”

Soyinka asks Nigerians to prepare for subsidy scam protest

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OBEL laureate Professor Wole Soyinka told Nigerians on Monday to get prepared for a massive demonstration against the fuel subsidy scam which,according to him,has brought global embarrassment to Nigeria.Speaking at a press conference organised by the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) in Lagos,Soyinka said the “level of thievery is not unrelated to the level of violence we witness today.”The Presidency,responding to the planned protest on Wednesday,said President Jonathan was yet to receive the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy management and could not have acted on a report not in its possession.

Boko Haram threatens The Nation, others with attack

WAR GAMES US President Barack Obama has pledged to “finish the job” and end the Afghan war, addressing the US public live from a military base in Afghanistan. He arrived Kabul Tuesday on an unannounced visit to sign an agreement on future Afghan-US ties with President Hamid Karzai, ahead of a Nato summit.

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HE Islamic sect,Boko Haram ,threatened on Tuesday, to unleash more terror on the media including The Nation.The group,in an 18minute video posted on YouTube,also listed Punch,Daily Sun,Vanguard,Guardian,Tribune and National Accord for attack.It accused the media organisationof committing “offences that are detrimental to Islam.” It recently attacked the Abuja office of ThisDay and a building accomodating the Kaduna offices of thisDay,The Sun and the Moment.

Labour angry over N18000 minimum wage

UNMEN threw bombs and opened fire on a cattle market in remote northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 60 people, a spokesman for Yobe State Governor said, an attack whose motives remain unknown. “The Yobe State Governor has visited the Potiskum cattle market where he was informed that 60 people had been killed in the attack, while 29 people are receiving treatment at the Hospital,” Abdullahi Bego, spokesman for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, said.

It was not clear who was behind the attack overnight on Wednesday in the town of Potiskum. The town has been an occasional target for militant Islamist sect Boko Haram but it also suffers occasional bouts of ethnic violence over land disputes.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. A hospital nurse said he had counted 56 bodies at the Potiskum morgue.

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A

FRESH workers’ strike over the N18000 minimum wage is imminent in the country,Labour hinted on the occasion of the May Day celebration. President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, told workers at a rally in Abuja that labour would no longer tolerate what he called the continued violation of the constitution by some states that have failed to pay the minimum wage. He named Enugu, Ebonyi and kwara as some of the states that are denying workers their rights.

ASSASSINATED

Gunmen kill Oshiomhole’s aide

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NIDENTIFIED gunmen Friday killed the Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Mr.Olaitan Oyerinde.

He was assasinated just six days after the governor himself escaped death in an auto crash, and five days after gunmen missed his Commissioner for Information, Mr.Loius Odion, at home.

He was shot dead by four gunmen who invaded his house located in Ugbor area, Benin City around 1 am. They first tied the security guard while two of them forced their way through the front door and made straight for his bedroom, but it was Oyerinde’s brother-in-law they found there. They left him and went for the wife, Funke, asking her to lead them to the husband who, unknown to them, was sleeping in the living room.

Once they sighted Oyerinde, the hoodlums fired four shots, one each to the head, chest, abdomen and hip. He died instantly.

Gunmen kill 60 in Potiskum cattle market attack

OBITUARY

Rashidi Yekini dies at 48

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ORMER African Footballer of the Year, Rashidi Yekini died Friday in Iraa, officials and family members announced. Kwara State sports commissioner, Anthony Kayode Towoju, confirmed the passing away Friday evening of one of Africa’s most lethal strikers. Family members said he died of a strange ailment and he is to be buried Saturday in his hometown of Offa according to Muslim rites.

Yekini’s goals helped Nigeria to qualify for its firstever World Cup in 1994 and he was rewarded with the prestigious African Footballer of the Year award in 1993. He featured for Portuguese club Vitoria Setubal and also had a brief stint at Sporting Gijon in Spain and Greek side Olympiacos.

The 48-year-old Yekini has lived a reclusive life since he quit football around 2005, when he returned to star in the Nigerian league.

He has aggressively shunned the media limelight and has severally turned down offers to be part of the country’s football in some other capacities.

QUIZZED

Police question Saraki over N12bn loan

T

HE on-going investigation into alleged N12 billion fraud against former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, took a bizarre dimension during the week at the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Journalists who were present at the time the senator was to leave the premises were manhandled and locked up in the unit’s public relations officer’s office. The action was to prevent the newsmen from taking snapshots or talking to the embattled senator.

At about 11 a.m, the senator drove into the premises of the unit in his metallic blue Mercedes Benz SUV marked MH 165 RBC amid fanfare and was saluted by policemen at the gate.

He was escorted by two other unmarked SUVs he parked by the staircase of the one-storey building which houses the office of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

News Review

North to South Fate of House fuel subsidy probe hangs in balance

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HE Federal Government said on Thursday that the report of the House of Representatives probe into fuel subsidy payments would not be implemented until the antigraft bodies have fully investigated corruption-related issues raised by the report.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke in a statement said: “It is pertinent to reiterate the government’s position as aptly captured by Mr. President’s initial reaction to the Report of the Fuel Subsidy probe to the effect that any person found wanting will be prosecuted, irrespective of the person’s standing in the society.

“Nigerians must, however, appreciate that in discharging this onerous responsibility, government must be guided by the dictates of the rule of law and due process as required of any democratically elected and responsible government.

“In this regard, the need to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out by relevant law enforcement agencies cannot be overemphasised.”

Court stops ban of Okada

by Lagos govt

11

THE WEEK IN QUOTES “Unless we take a drastic action, I can’t imagine PDP ever winning election again in Nigeria. How can you form a political party, to form a government that will now be killing Nigerians? Infact,it is not about the PDP now; every sane Nigerian should feel concerned about the implication of the NSA’s (National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi) eruption, because the issue of security is beyond political boundaries.”

–Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State on the NSA’s recent statement blaming the ruling PDP for allegedly contributing to the security challenge in the country.

“I don’t think anybody should start crucifying the NSA. He may not have chosen his words very diplomatically, but I am sure he knows what he is talking about.”

–Dr. John Onaiyekan, Catholic Bishop of Abuja on the NSA’s statement.

“Every time anything good comes collectively to the Sothwest by the sheer dint of our people’s hardwork, reactionary Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. forces within are always available to be ued by external forces determined to arrest development in Yorubaland.”

–Chief Adebisi Akande, ACN National Chairman on the state of the nation.

“If I was in my regular official jep, the guy could have hit me. I was in a small car, which I decided to drive myself. If I was in my official jeep, it could have been my lot.The tipper driver pushed my small car off the road and then crushed the one journalists were driving in.”

–Gov Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on his narrow escape from death in the recent road crash involving his convoy.

J

USTICE Steven Adah of the Federal High Court Lagos Friday stopped Lagos State government from imposing ban on operation of commercial motor cyclists popularly called ‘Okada’ in the state.

The judge in a ruling on an application filed by the motorcyclists asking the court to determine whether the government has the power to impose ban on their operation in view of the constitution, prayed the court to declare among other things that the proposed ban and restriction of their operations would constitute a violation of their constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of movement.

Giving his ruling, the Judge held there was no valid law enacted by the state government that empowered it to impose ban or restrictions on their operations. The court therefore pronounced that the alleged ban or restriction by the government is null and void until the law is enacted by the state House of Assembly.

•Onaiyekan •Akande •Lamido

PEOPLE OF THE WEEK

Ayo Oritsejafor

Yakubu Danjuma

T

T

HE ex-Chief of Army Staff, exMinister of Defence, business man extraordinary ,was not saying anything particularly new when he declared in Abuja, last Monday, that Nigeria is a failed nation and the North is on fire, on account of the current state of insecurity. No, we knew all that many months back and, of course, the consequences of the unfolding developments. Yet, there has been no better reminder or apt description of the wanton destruction of lives and property, especially in parts of the North , than what the General called Somalianization of Nigeria.

“The Somalianization of Nigeria nation is taking place right now.

And for those of us from the North, I say it here that the North is on fire. Let us tell ourselves the truth and stop deceiving ourselves, the Chief Security Officer of every state is the governor, ut I ask all of us here: where are the governors of the northern states that the region keeps burning and nothing seems to be doen. The North has failed just like the entire nation,” he said at the 50th birthday of the publisher of The Leadership newspaper, Mr.Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Not too long ago Gen Danjuma, a hero of the civil war, reminded those who were beating the drum of lawlessness that no country has ever survived two civil wars.

•Oshiomhole

Andrew Azazi

I

T is most unlikely that anyone will forget in a hurry the penultimate Friday bombshell by the National Security Adviser (NSA),General Andrew Azazi, that the ruling PDP is partly to blame for the current wave of insecurity in the country .Not for as long as the bomb and gun attacks by Boko Haram last. Reactions ,expectedly ,have been mixed the strangest being the President’s. The NSA’s comment, he said, was not quite clear to him and that the man (Azazi) should be asked to clarify what he said and added that some people want to say something but end up saying something else. The President must be the only person who did not understand the NSA’s statement; the same man who has been communicating with the president on a daily basis in the last one year.

HE President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor issued, on Wednes day, what he called a final call to the Federal Government to stop Boko Haram’s insurgency failing which it would withdraw its co-operation with government.

Oritsejafor, who had watched in horror the November 4,2011 attack on churches in Damaturu, Yove State, the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleija, repeated explosions in churches in Jos and last Sunday’s gun and bomb attacks on Christian worshippers at Bayero University, Kano asked government to “use all resources available to it to clearly define and neutralise the problem as other nations have done.”

He has met severally with President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to put Boko Haram in check.

He has also had talks with Islamic leaders to work out a peace plan all to no avail. He believes the bombings are to “instil fears with the subsequent aim of eradicating religious freedom, democratic liberties with the church and Christians as the primary target.”

12

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

COMMENT and ANALYSIS

13

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Festus Eriye efestus2003@yahoo.com 08052135878 (SMS only)

The road to Somalia Something is not working: it is either the security strategy of the Jonathan administration has to change or the men he has put faith in have to go

V

ERY few characterizations of what is happening in the North have been as apt as its description by former Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.), as the “Somalianisation” of Nigeria.

He spoke in Abuja at the 50th birthday celebration of the publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah. Among other things, he said: “Nigeria is on fire; this house is on fire; the North is on fire.

Nigeria is becoming like Somalia. The ‘Somalianisation’ of Nigeria is taking place right now.”

In today’s Somalia every structure of state has collapsed. The authority of the socalled president does not extend much beyond the precincts of the presidential palace. Other parts of the capital Mogadishu have been carved into fiefdoms by the terrorist Al-Shabaab group and sundry warlords.

Surveying goings-on from Kano to Borno, it is clear that we, similarly, have set course firmly in the direction of Somalia. In many northern states federal and state control has collapsed. Governors who are supposedly Chief Security Officers of their domains are hiding behind gargantuan walls – and constructing even newer ones to preserves their hide.

When they venture outside their “prisons” mum is the word for fear of Boko Haram.

In the face of all the atrocities being committed by the sect those who have deigned to comment offer the safest and most tepid of reactions. Not one of them has delivered the sort of trenchant condemnation that evil deserves.

Last Sunday, gunmen strolled into Bayero University, Kano and slaughtered scores of helpless Christians as they held church service in an auditorium. How did state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, characterise this act of extreme wickedness?

He said it was “sad” and “unfortunate.” That was the harshest thing he had to say about the brutal murder of innocent worshippers.

What is truly unfortunate is that Kano – the pride of northern commerce – is fast going to the dogs on account of the freedom with which Boko Haram militants operate in the city. A couple of months back, the sect virtually blew up the city – leaving hundreds dead in an unprecedented act of bloodletting. Whatever control state and federal authorities may think they exert over this territory only rests in the imagination of the office holders concerned.

Nothing captures the impotence of the government more than fact that on January 1, President Goodluck Jonathan announced with much drama and fanfare the declaration of selective emergency rule in 15 local government areas.

Interestingly, the areas that have witnessed the greatest escalation of bombings and mindless violence are among those supposedly under emergency rule. Potiskum, where gunmen killed 60 traders and their cattle in an orgy that even genocidal Nazis would be ashamed of, is one of them.

Another is Riyom Local Government Area in Plateau. Here, communal killings continue apace as Fulani herdsmen set upon the indigenous Berom. A few days ago journalists who went there for on-the-spot assessment of developments had to flee for their lives as faceless assassins hiding behind surrounding rocks let off a fusillade of gunshots.

Even more embarrassing for the authorities is that in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – which ordinarily should be a fortress – Boko Haram can still carry out spectacular hits without any hinderance as we saw with their assault on Thisday newspaper.

•Potiskum cattle market following the attack in which 60 persons were killed

I don’t know which I find more terrifying: the prospect of an unannounced terrorist attack, or the realisation that for all their talk the president and his team really don’t have a handle on how to deal with the security situation.

Although some have hailed National Security Adviser (NSA), Andrew Azazi’s, controversial Asaba speech in which he blamed the resurgence of Boko Haram on the internal politics of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as an act of bravery, I was more alarmed by another aspect of the speech.

“Today, if you arrest all the leaders of Boko Haram, I don’t think the problem will end, because the situation that created the sect has not been tackled e.g. poverty and the desire (of some people) to rule Nigeria.

These issues cannot be isolated unless they are handled comprehensively,” he said.

These sound like the words of a man who has reached his absolute limit. They suggest that his heart is not in the hard tactics being deployed by the administration. Poverty in the north is not something that can be turned off like a light switch. As far as presidential politics is concerned, nothing short of Jonathan’s abdication would satisfy some. Are we then to assume that nothing else can be done to stem the endless killings?

The trouble with Azazi’s theory is that while he goes on about poverty and PDP politics, Boko Haram keeps dredging up new reasons for its campaign which have absolutely no link with the aforementioned factors. One of the reasons they bombed Thisday was be-

“Nigerians want to see him do the business of Commander-in-Chief.

As it is he has been reduced to the role of tourist of disaster sites and peddler of anodyne homilies who keeps telling us not to be discouraged or afraid”

cause one of the paper’s reporters wrote an offensive article in 2002!

In today’s Nigeria none of these things count any more. It is does not matter whether Boko Haram started because of poverty or PDP. What is important is that the slaughter stops.

The damage to our national psyche cannot be calculated. We are still humans – not animals. We must not allow ourselves to become comfortable with a situation where 60 people being blown to bits no longer elicits shock or horror.

Jonathan may choose to cling to his NSA for some special reason: he could even choose to do so for reasons of ethnic loyalty; but he cannot continue with the present feckless security arrangement. It is not working and must be dumped.

We can copy from countries which had similar challenges. At some point in the United States’ Iraq and Afghanistan adventures, it was confronted with insurgencies that were out of control and had to change strategy mid-course.

George W. Bush and later Barack Obama were forced to implement a troop surge policy that saw the introduction of thousands of fresh troops to counter the growing strength of the militants. The injections are credited with helping the Americans bring down the insurgency to the level that helped them exit Iraq gracefully.

As things stand, our implementation of the so-called state of emergency in the 15 northern local government areas has been – at best – half-hearted. Our troops are so thinly spread that Boko Haram can run rings around them.

We need greater presence on the ground such that even if the insurgency is not obliterated, it can be contained.

Time is not on the side of government. As bad as things are there is still room for further escalation. A grave danger is that the terrorists could attempt an attack in the South – an action that would most certainly attract reprisals along ethnic lines.

Can anyone safely predict how a chain reaction of tit-for-tat attacks would end? That is why Jonathan must act with all sense of urgency.

Nigerians want to see him do the business of Commander-in-Chief. As it is he has been reduced to the role of tourist of disaster sites and peddler of anodyne homilies who keeps telling us not to be discouraged or afraid. But truth is Nigerians are distressed, depressed and frightened out of their wits – especially by the seeming helplessness of their president.

More on Bin Laden’s last days

A

T the end, Osama Bin Laden was a man befuddled by a world leaving him behind.

Where once he commanded, he now carped about far-flung upstarts.

Where once he envisioned the coming of the caliphate, he now saw a need to create a new image for Al Qaeda, one that, he believed, would reconnect with Muslim hearts and minds that had drifted.

They weren’t buying what he was selling in the way they once had, so he contemplated a revamped public relations campaign — new name, new pitch, new and improved product. Here was the madman wanting the services of the mad men.

That’s the portrait of latter-day Bin Laden painted by 17 unclassified documents recovered from the Al Qaeda founder’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. While still deadly, he was reduced to competing both to hold his place as the No. 1 jihadi and to rally the flagging spirit of Islam.

There’s hope in his struggles.

He saw regional affiliate groups failing to abide by a Bin Laden-imposed prohibition against killing Muslim civilians — a fault that drove away large numbers of potential supporters.

He saw the affiliates focus on attacks in their home countries — and urged them to turn their attention to the United States, “our desired goal.”

He watched an ambitious and savvy Yemen-based cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, rise in prominence — inspiring attacks via charismatic sermons on the Internet.

When the leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula suggested that Awlaki take over the branch, Bin Laden said no. “We here become reassured of the people when they go to the line [of battle\] and get examined there.”

Until Awlaki was tested, there would be no promotion, Bin Laden ordered of the cleric who, as the movement’s most effective recruiter, was rising to supplant the great one locked away in his compound in Pakistan and limited to communicating long distance.

Bin Laden also saw the Arab Spring enrapture a half-dozen nations, overthrowing tyrannies — and was forced to accept the painful realization that Al Qaeda was not being embraced as the answer to the people’s aspirations.

In fact, he despaired at the possible introduction of democracy rather than Sharia law.

He considered himself, perversely, a moral arbiter of murderous terror. When, in May 2010, working with the Pakistani Taliban, Faisal Shahzad tried to set off a bomb in Times Square, Bin Laden expressed disapproval that the young man had taken an oath of American citizenship.

It “amounts to betrayal and does not fall under permissible lying to the enemy,” he preached.

The documents confirm what the world came to understand years ago: The war on terrorism is not simply a struggle to defeat Al Qaeda. It is a battle against a lethal enemy, inspired by radical ideology, with nodes across the globe — many as deadly as, if not more deadly than, the home office.

Most revealing, though, was Bin Laden’s sense that Al Qaeda had alienated Muslims by its wanton savagery, most strikingly by killing Muslims.

At one point, those in the inner circle hit upon a name change out of fear that “Al Qaeda,” which means “The Base,” had overtones of being too insular and military, rather than faith-based. New names were proposed, including Monotheism and Jihad Group and Muslim Unity Group.

Reduced to obsessing over the brand name — because clearly, the brand wasn’t selling. While there are still many murderers and maniacs out there, it’s a hopeful sign that Bin Laden’s narrow, violent vision will not carry the day after all.

14

E

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Comment & Analysis

VENTS in the country in the last 10 years are little by little rewriting our story as a nation. Like a play that has a good beginning but ends on humorous note without any constructive ending, issues relating to corruption, probe and other social crisis always start well but fizzle out earlier than expected.

In fact, it has gotten to a stage where a primary school pupil can predict what would happen anytime an alarm is raised over a probe or corruption allegation against public officers.

Today, it is convenient to conclude that any case of corruption will never see light of the day, considering how previous cases were messed up.

For instance, Nigerians will not forget in hurry the surprise and suspense that trailed the investigation into Ndidi Elumelu led Rural Electrification probe or Ayo Fayose’s poultry scam in Ekiti. At the end, everything ended like a comedy, leaving the culprits unpunished.

Since February, when the Honourable Farouk Lawan-led fuel subsidy probe panel began its sitting, many dramas have unfolded. The climax was the recommendation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), indicted oil marketers and companies that refused to appear before it to refund the sum of N1.067 trillion to the nation’s treasury.

Expectedly, the news was cheering as many people saw it as a good step in the right direction but not without concerns in some quarters over whether the report of the panel would not later be thrown into the dustbin of history.

Reasons for such assumption are endless but the most prominent is the fact that the characters and people involved, otherwise tagged ‘cabals’ are movers and shakers in the society.

Today, aside the fact that the moneybags and top political office holders, whose names are mentioned in the report are mobilising against the panel, there is fear in some quarters that a new move is

Where are the cabals?

By Raheem A. Ayodeji

being made behind the curtain to shift the blame on some small organisations.

If that is done, then those who had predicted that the objective for which the panel was inaugurated would not be achieved will be vindicated.

There are insinuations in some quarters that rather than chase these so called cabals, the committee seems to have concluded on chastising other operators in the industry who go about their businesses legitimately.

They are even being accused of round tripping and involvement in other shading businesses, this to me, are all in a bid to call a dog a bad name.

It is believed that the committee is protecting these cabals for obvious reasons, and in the process creating the impression that other operators in the industry are guilty of offence.

Already, tension was said to have been mounted among members of the House of Representatives, when the House opened debate early this week on the clause by clause consideration of the report submitted by the panel.

This is coming just as the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Zakari Mohammed has raised the alarm that some disgruntled

elements were moving round to scuttle the report of the panel, which exposed corrupt practices in the nation’s oil sector.

The House had, after receiving the panel’s report last Wednesday, slated the consideration of the report for another day.

Before the day, copies of the report had been distributed to members to study ahead of the debate and consideration.

According to newspaper report, those in favour and against the report were said to have met to harmonise their lines of the debate ahead of when the report would be tabled before the House.

Just as observers were turning round in their minds what would likely be the output, Honourable Zakari, issued a statement that the house urged all Nigerians to be vigilant and wary of those who would rather want the country [to] be run in the usual corruption-laden way which put unmerited resources in individual pockets at the expense of the people.

The statement also stated that regarding the group of 18 marketers, who were deeply involved in the subsidy payouts, but declined to appear before the ad hoc committee, the purported recourse to legal action was, in the opinion of the house, an orchestrated plot to scuttle the findings of the committee.

Zakari’s statement further revealed that following the presentation of the report on

“Coming under various guises, including, but not limited to, buck-passing and alleged non-invitation to the investigative hearing, several of them are desperately seeking to undermine the outcome of the report”

subsidy regime, several individuals, marketers and corporate organisations not favoured by the report have sought to impune its authenticity.

“Coming under various guises, including, but not limited to, buck-passing and alleged non-invitation to the investigative hearing, several of them are desperately seeking to undermine the outcome of the report,” the statement had stated.

With the situation of things on ground, coupled with the fact that despite repeated appeals by the Farouk Lawan-led committee to all those who had anything to do with the country’s subsidy regime between 20092011 to come forward and make presentations before it, some of these organisations conveniently chose to stay away, obviously because they have something to hide-only to turn around now to claim non-invitation, it will be difficult for anybody to know the next line of action the cabals would take.

Now, if at the end of the whole show the report is thrown away or some innocent individuals are implicated to suffer for the sins of the influential people in the society, then it would be on record that another kangaroo panel has been inaugurated to throw up issues and cause distractions.

Apart from the fact that the huge amount of money spent on the panel would have been used to improve lives and provide social amenities, twisting the house report may have a far reaching implication on the anti corruption drive being spearheaded by the Jonathan-led government.

It will also be on record as another injustice done to the masses or those that would at the end bear the brunt of the mismanagement of some big players in the oil industry.

Ayodeji, a member of Never Again Group (NAG) writes this from Lagos

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Comment & Analysis

15

Rally for probity Okonjo-Iweala, Alison-Madueke and Lamido Sanusi should resign for their roles in the subsidy fiasco

P

ROF Wole Soyinka’s call for Nigerians to prepare for a massive demonstration against the massive subsidy scam, exposed by the House of Representatives probe report, will resonate well among many. But it would also serve as a sad reminder of the nationwide anti-subsidy removal strikes of January, which ended in an anti-climax, after five days of fervent national strike.

But whatever the response to another round of protests, it is vital Nigerians regain their sense of outrage at insensitive policies by unconscionable policymakers – policies often based on voodoo statistics meant more to confound and confuse; so as to push down the people’s throat bitter pills founded on nothing but cynical fear. A classical example was the attempt, on January 1, at “full deregulation” of the downstream petroleum sector; and jack up the pump price of petrol from N65 to N140 a litre.

The official line back then, before the January 1 rash attempt, was that the subsidy regime had veered off all financial reason and common sense. From a well-intentioned state cushion to make fuel available at reasonable pricing, it had become a cash haemorrhage that could well be fatal to the nation’s economy.

That was why, they claimed, a subsidy budget of N240 billion yearly had spiralled to N1.3 trillion in one year alone. If Nigeria was not to sink into irreversible financial doldrums, it was time to remove wholesale the so-called subsidy, shoot the fuel pump price of petrol to N140 (up from N65) and use the “savings” to construct roads, revamp transportation, fix health facilities and invest in education, among other necessities, to cushion the short-term pains. In the long run, the government sweetly argued, market forces would have arrested the risen pump prices and shot them down to a tolerable level.

All the economic czars and czarinas of the Jonathan Presidency swore by their honour, acclaimed expertise and access to privileged “facts”, to this claim, as they did a round of road shows called town hall meetings to

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

and is still –coordinating minister for the economy and finance minister, and ought to have been sure of her figures; Alison-Madueke, as petroleum minister, was chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) board and NNPC was central to the free-wheeling racketeering; and Sanusi was CBN governor, who presided over the government bank that released money!

But the not-so-told story was that the financial madness indeed had a purpose. It was an election year, and the ruling party probably pulled all the stops. There are enough trends to legitimately hold that the drain of the so-called subsidy funds was no more than illicit deductions from the public till for partisan electoral good. Now, what sort of leaders and officials would facilitate creaming off public funds to run private elections, and yet compute same figures, pass them as “subsidy costs” and slap them on long-suffering Nigerians to pick up, with threats of a collapsed economy hanging on their heads like the proverbial sword of Damocles?

To be sure, there are claims and counter-claims resulting from the April 17 release of the oil subsidy regime report. And like everything Nigerian, even the most glaring outrage is soon turned into a sterile controversy that the guilty always hopes would blow over.

Even then, it is shocking that the trio of Okonjo-Iweala, Alison-Madueke and Sanusi are still at their beat, pretending everything is all right. A country with a sense of outrage would pronto have demanded their resignation and officials with a sense of honour would have obliged without being told, even if it was a temporary measure, pending full investigation of the matter.

That all those fingered in the scandal still sit pretty is why Nigerians must regain their sense of outrage, no matter how the “massive “protest Prof. Soyinka hinted of pans out. Let all those directly involved be thoroughly investigated, prosecuted and convicted. But before then, let those high officials of state who misled Nigerians on the subsidy issue be immediately flushed out.

That is the only way to warn against future executive escapades at the people’s expense.

LETTERS

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HE recent judgment against the former governor of the oil rich but very poor Delta State, Chief James Ibori, provided news vendors around the world with interesting material to hit the news stand. Interestingly, the London court did not take cognizance of the numerous aides and friends who had gathered in the court in solidarity with the man who had in his own volition admitted to criminal charges of abuse of public trust and money laundering prior to his sentence.

What a shame. People of common character, motive and ideology form a group. Ibori’s aides and friends should understand that his imprisonment is an implicit indictment on them. As aides, it’s obvious that they aided him in the looting and that the arm of the Nigerian court is too short (corrupt) to get hold of them. Every thoughtful Deltan should take record of the list that made up the Ibori political family and be mindful of their return or continued stay in public office so as to puncture this political vicious circle. They lack reason and morality to occupy any political position now and in the future. They misfired by believing that London court is a resemblance of Federal High Court Asaba where justice could be slaughtered.

The Ibori conviction per se is not the news rather the criminal tendencies surrounding his person has been brought to rest

sensitise Nigerians to the impending hike; and the market el Dorado to follow after the initial short pains.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, finance minister and coordinating minister for the economy, Diezani AlisonMadueke, petroleum minister, and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, all but swore that Nigeria would collapse if subsidy did not go.

But even after the fiasco of the January 11-15 national strikes, and the partial roll-back of petrol pump price from N140 to N97 (but still N32 higher than the former N65 price), the government still hoped that it had brow-beaten the people enough to open the antisubsidy window again by April, and revert to N140 per litre of petrol.

But then came the April 17 release of the report of the Farouk Lawan-chaired House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy regime. That report exposed a free-for-all devilish bazaar for the so-called subsidy funds, with unconscionable high officials of state allegedly conspiring and colluding with free-wheeling hustlers to clean out the till. This organised robbery was computed into “facts” and sexed-up statistics, and passed off as “subsidy” veering out of control.

It was these voodoo figures that the likes of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Mrs Alison-Madueke and Mallam Sanusi were swearing by. While Okonjo-Iweala was –

Ibori and leadership in Nigeria years after the Abuja court amazingly upheld that the James Ononafe Ibori convicted years ago is not same with the person of Chief James Ononafe Ibori, then serving as Governor of Delta despite overwhelming evidence.

The hindrance to Nigeria’s development is not the material resources question but human. Ibori’s issue has not only exposed the dearth of viable security machinery in the institutional structure of the Nigerian state but also the level of corruption in the Nigeria judicial

I

READ the ‘Tribute to Mallam Ado’ on Sunday 22, April 2012, and wept.

The late Ado hailed from Kanke. He was a veterinary officer who treated dogs and other livestock with passion.

To anyone who knew him, he was simple and full of humility. He spent his time making sure animals do not die, but he died in the needless and endless crises that have engulfed Plateau State, what an irony!

I did not weep for the dead alone, but for the lessons from the tribute written

by Charles Dickson his friend. Imagine an Igbo man

system to the international community. Remember that the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba sometime ago absolved James Ononafe Ibori of any fiscal criminality as charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his tenure as governor.

Where were the security agencies when the Ibori loots acquired wings and flew as far away as to Britain? Oh! Nigeria my country, millions of dollar sleep in various British bank accounts and millions of Deltans sleep under

mud houses with hardly any food or potable water to drink.

Where has human conscience gone to?

It’s time to take inventory of all the Iboris in Nigeria’s political system. Delta State is not the only victim. The whole nation and the states are victims of this rapacious ‘Iborism’ - act of conversion of public fund and stacking same in foreign accounts by those entrusted with public office. For all purpose and intent, all institutions of the Nigerian state is held hostage by fiscal corruption – misappropriation, diversion, over-invoic-

ing, bribery, etcetera. All public officials from 1999 till date are culpable. I stand to be corrected as I challenge them to present themselves for independent (private) enquiry. They are all products of ‘Iborism’ and have no moral clout to call themselves Nigerians. Disheartening is the present call by the governors of the oil rich South-South political zone for fiscal federation and resource control.

Agreeably, the Niger Delta region is neglected and needed to be developed, but proper evaluation of federal allocated funds including derivation funds

That tribute to Mallam Ado

all forms of basic necessities must be addressed, because the storm that is blowing now may not recognise the rich or poor, the corrupt , whether big or small, or even the peace makers or evil men. All will be swept away by this storm if not stopped. The only way to stop the crises is to imbibe the kind of relationship that existed between Charles Dickson and Mallam Ado.

from Abia, a Christian eulogising Mallam Ado from Kanke in Plateau State and a Muslim. No one could have done anything better than what Charles Dickson said about his late friend. To us, the lessons from the tribute will further draw people closer to the solutions to the incessant problems bedevilling the country. The relationship between Charles Dickson and Mallam Ado is very instructive, and was not the oil and water type, or the palm oil and boiled yam surfac-

ing. Not even the sentiment of religion separated the two friends till death parted them.

The show of love by Charles Dickson, and the vocation of healing animals by the late Mallam Ado, says a lot about these men of peace and love for humanity and even animals. Some of the reasons that have been attributed to our problems include greed, selfishness, stinking corruption, poverty, injustice and inequality rather than religion.

A hungry and diseased infested society, lacking in

By Chief Simon Ngwan, Former Chairman Kanke Local Government, Plateau State.

from 1999 till date should be made to determine if monetary/material resources or leadership inadequacy accounted for the sorry state of the region in question.

Such calls are systematic machinery employed by both present and past governors and senior state officials to divert the attention of the unsuspecting citizens from querying or evaluating the states material (monetary) resources in relation to developmental projects on the ground. Even if all the oil generated revenue is left with this zone, with Ibori’s kind of leadership in place, they will ever remain wretched. The Ibori syndrome has spread across all states, ministries, agencies and parasatals of the country. The pension and oil subsidy scams have exposed all these. Nigerian leaders are insatiable thieves.

The Nigerian traditional political class as represented by the traditional chieftaincy institutions crowns the ‘Iborism’ concept. The institution encourages the ‘Ibori practice’ by soliciting share of the state treasury looted through the confernment of chieftaincy titles on corrupt elite. By so doing, it gives the phenomenon traditional legitimacy and makes the culprits acceptable to the grass-root thereby inadvertently endorsing it as a legitimate social value.

By Osele Ndubisi, Awka, Anambra State

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Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

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OKO Haram has undoubtedly scrambled the security radar of our dear country.

Retired generals in the country’s foremost security industry are talking loud, and in the process, creating more anxiety or fear in the minds of citizens. The nation’s most sophisticated merchants of terror are making the high and the low feel unsafe in a country that is not officially at war. They are also making innocent citizens feel that their country is evaporating by the day.

When the Islamic terror group first emerged, it gave the impression of a mismatch between its ideology and its actions. It bombed Muslims found in or near beer parlours; killed Christians worshipping in their churches; and bombed security officers on duty. Many citizens thought at that time that the sect was not actually against western education — the core of its name – education is sin.

But change came to the menu of Boko Haram’s activities a few days ago when the sect carried death and destruction to two major institutions in the making

Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only)

‘WHEN AFRICA discarded the bonds of colonial rule, only a few could have imagined the depths to which Nigeria would sink, a few generations later’ –Sully Abu in ‘A COUP From Heaven’

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Comment & Analysis

ROTE Chris King in his review of Karl Maier’s book: ‘THIS HOUSE HAS FALLEN’, which book informed the title of this piece: ‘the crisis in Nigeria is as old as Nigeria itself. The giant of Africa began its life as an arbitrary federation of ethnic groups that owed its shape more to the short-lived designs of British colonialism than to the preceding centuries of local development. It was born diverse, unstable, already primed to explode.

With four major ethnic groups - the Hausa and Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west and the Igbo in the east, plus an almost countless number of minority tribes - Nigeria has always had an embarrassment of human riches and possibilities. The way the state has dealt with this potential has been shameful and often bloodcurdling. During its four decades of independence from colonial rule, Nigeria has mostly known military dictatorships, drawn from the north, that took power by coup, drained petrodollars from the country, signed draconian structural-adjustment agreements with international banks and answered protests with prison and death.’

Except that those military mandarins have yielded place to their ci-

Boko Haram’s ideology in action Boko Haram is trying to destroy democracy and contemporaneity of democracy and modernity: the media and the university. A few days ago, two newspapers: ThisDay and the Sun got a bitter taste of the sect’s violence, and we have been warned to expect more attacks on the media. In addition, one of the foremost centres of learning in the north, Ado Bayero University, the university in which the current chairman of INEC made most of his name, was turned into a site of mourning by BH operatives. On a campus designed to create and transmit knowledge to assist the north, Nigeria, and the world to advance, two sides of the equation of learning – students and professors—were brutally killed by agents of Boko Haram with relish.

A few days later, the city of Ikare in Ondo State was silenced by bombs that gave the impression that Boko Haram had finally moved south. Without sufficient evidence, the media reported that the attack on banks at night in Ikare was an armed robbery, even when no one had been arrested to confirm this claim. Citizens in Ikare (or the south?) are made to feel safer in the hands of armed robbers than in the hands of Boko Haram killers. A few Ikare intel-

lectuals had expressed the feeling of “thank God it is just an armed robbery,” an indication that bombing by armed robbers is perceived to be better than Boko Haram’s bombing. Everybody appears eager to dismiss the feeling or fact that Boko Haram may be heading south.

The three tragic events in Abuja, Kano and Ikare are enough to make journalists, teachers, and students jittery and to make bank users and workers nervous in all cities with media houses, banks, and universities across the country. Another source of worry is the distance between leaders’ rhetoric and the nation’s reality. On his own part, President Jonathan does not get tired of commiserating with victims of BH violence. He does not fail to encourage his fellow citizens to continue to cooperate with security agents to chase Boko Haram out of the country’s space.

Our President does not fail to assure the international community, particularly potential investors, that the Boko Haram phase is a passing one and that his government is doing it level best to contain it.

On the part of the National Security Adviser, he has suddenly

changed the direction of his antiterror rhetoric. After several months of assuring citizens that he is capable of wrestling with the Boko Haram monster, he opts for a confessional tone. He says without apology that it is the ruling party which gave him his job through the president that is responsible for bringing the pain of Boko Haram on the nation. In the words of the NSA, “We try to play the ostrich and think things will blow over. I believe we should stop the politicization of security issues in Nigeria.” This was after saying that it was PDP’s politics of “A can rule and B cannot rule” that caused the BH menace.

Even General Azazi’s senior in the nation’s security industry, General Danjuma, has chosen to call the nation to action: “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…”

The worrisome part of the statements of Generals Azazi and Danjuma is not just in the contradictions housed by the position each general espouses: the disconnect between PDP’s as the

cause of Boko Haram’s terrorism and Azazi’s warning against politicization of the nation’s security, or General Danjuma’s assertion that the governor is the chief security officer of a state, when the general knows that it is the Inspector-General of Police that is the chief security officer in each of the 36 states of the federation.

What is needed to prevent Somalialisation or stop the PDP from using its obsession with power from leading the nation into the abyss is to do what General Danjuma aptly refers to: sitting down to get to the root of the problem threatening the unity and security of the country, before it is too late. Generals Danjuma and Azazi should impress on northern and south-southern leaders (including President Jonathan) respectively the importance of holding a national conference to discuss the best way to keep the nation peaceful and united. Once Boko Haram is allowed to destroy the pillars of modern nationhood: media, banking, and education that Nigeria’s federating units agreed to in 1960, the danger of dfecane or scattering of the tribes looms larger than our leaders are prepared to apprehend.

Nigeria: This house is tottering …waiting to fall The spate of negative reports coming out of Nigeria makes the country a sordid one vilian, mostly Northern counterparts, nothing really has changed. Their replacements,(listed copiously beside their OML, Oil block allocations in: ‘OIL BLOCKS WITHOUT THE NIGER-DLTA OWNERS, an internet article that has since gone viral), have emerged to ensure that the jamboree goes on unperturbed. But had these people, whose qualification for their priceless holdings is nothing more than abject cronyism shown half their oil interest for the Boko Haram menace, we obviously would not be where we are today. Only this past week, General T.Y Danjuma, who once warned that no nation can survive two civil wars, could not hold back his belief that Nigeria has become another Somalia.

Still wondering what has befallen a country where university professors are being shredded by bombs thrown by urchins whose stinking rich compatriots have consigned to self-immolation, then witness the following competing newspaper headlines: 11 die as suicide bomber hits police chief’s convoy, Police find time bomb inside Bayero varsity; Germany considers ransom for citizen kidnapped in Kano. Then, imagine the following: N1.07 Trillion subsidy fraud: Government panics over protest threats; Panel: Waste disposal company got N1.9B fuel subsidy; Ibori: UK hunts for three more ex-governors; FG sacks auditors over fuel subsidy payments etc. Not even Sudan is this sordid!

Yet, a Senator, presumably representing his people in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, obviously with an eye on gubernatorial ambitions, come 2015, which he cannot even guarantee would be, could stand on the Senate floor, literally up in arms, to query a perceptive colleague who wonders whether Nigeria is still a country under laws. Such crass opportunism!

Without a scintilla of doubt, the British lie of 1914 when an overfed British civil servant coupled together strange bed fellows has completely

unraveled and the time has come upon us, as Boko Haram incessantly demands in the most bewildering of ways, that we either sit down to renegotiate the terms of our union or every one retreats to his redoubt.

And truth be told, enough is enough.

If we do not, as a country, know where we are going, we should, at least, know where we are coming from.

Habitual readers of this column would remember that I had once canvassed dialogue with Boko Haram but they should also remember that I have since taken that back on seeing the government’s vacillations and total inability to handle a problem of this gargantuan magnitude. Government has pussyfooted so much that with all his disabilities as Head of state, not a few Nigerians have remembered Obasanjo as a no nonsense Head of State who could never have tolerated today’s shenanigans; a situation so befuddling the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, a known ally of the President, has given that body’s final warning beyond which Christians would no longer be able to turn the other cheek.

What exactly is stopping President Jonathan from convoking a conference, called by whatever name, to enable Nigerians talk with one another and critically interrogate the multitude of dire challenges confronting the country if he is so afraid he cannot face these enemies of state head on? I have never ceased to wonder what would have been if Boko Haram was a southern phenomenon just as I have not forgotten Yar’ Adua’s rain of bombs on the people of Gbaramotu. Who or what is this President afraid of? Somebody should please tell the President that one single event, akin to that assassination at Sarajevo could very well be the spark that will consume the country. By the way the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, in Sarajevo, on 28 June, 1914, was the

immediate precursor (casus belli) to World War 1. Why do most men of power fail to learn from history? What will President Jonathan tell his God who, in spite of all man-made devices, saw him to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? That he had no liver to confront this menace or that he loved the post too much to attempt rocking the boat when, in spite of all their claims of being on top of the security challenges, the country can rapidly unravel?

This past Sunday two Professors were killed and a third barely escaped.

Suppose their kinsmen promptly retaliated, responding with a killing frenzy of their own or who told him a particular part of this country has a monopoly of man’s inhumanity to man? I advise he urgently seeks a meaningful dialogue with General Danjuma –happily no stranger of his – to be properly briefed on what the general calls the Somaliazation of Nigeria. Southerners and Northern Christians are obviously tired of all these presidential expressions of sympathy on the thoroughly illogical and totally senseless, quantum murder of their kith, kin and brethren. Who, or what numbers have to be killed to move Mr President to convoke a conference of the diverse nationalities to face this menace squarely. The man handling the national security desk for him has since tactically asked not to be blamed in case of failure, bringing responsibility for our security challenges squarely to the president’s table where, indeed, the buck stops.

I had once or twice on this column suggested that disproportionate economic circumstances between the rich and the poor, especially in the North, where the rich is stinking rich and the poor menacingly so, but again, I am now persuaded that Boko Haram is mostly about who lost power and who wants power back.

Or is anybody telling Nigerians that these young men, who are ready to sacrifice their lives as they have done serially, actually live on the moon?

Have Northern politicians, Emirs and all those in authority who we know to be traditionally very powerful, suddenly lose their clout, and voice? It is cetanly not enough to hide under such organisations as the Arewa Consultative Forum and those other nebulous ones to decry these heinous crimes as if the killing of thousands of Nigerians, most of them non-natives, mean nothing to these powerful individuals as long as they can keep quiet and save their own skin. Were these things happening where I come from , every town, city, village, indeed, street, will by now have neighbourhood vigilante groups that will not only take charge of the streets but will partner effectively with security agencies that a son would think nothing of giving his complicit father up. With this level of almost daily bloodletting, house owners would eagerly report on suspicious movements by strange faces.

Why is this impossible in the North, even in areas where we are told emergencies were declared?

To be taken seriously, therefore, every Northern leader, political, religious and traditional, every owner of properties being put to this nefarious business must bear his or her own father’s name. They must be moved to save this nation of over 150 million people. Without individually denouncing Boko Haram and seen to be partnering with our hard working security agencies, not only Senator Chukwumerije, but most Nigerians from outside the North will readily conclude that the North has deliberately positioned Boko Haram to make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan. The senator has advised the South-East to have a comparable organisation if its quest for the presidency, come 2015, is to be fruitful.

Call it balance of terror.

The time to act is now if those perennial geriatric Northern presidential wannabes, who are presently deliberately tongue-tied, intend to have a country called Nigeria by the next elections.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

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HOSE bound by intrigues will always be disbanded by intrigues. That is a basic axiom that an average Yoruba person believes. So, there is nothing particularly strange in what is happening or about to happen to Africa’s ‘largest’ ruling party, Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party has been too steep in the iniquity of electoral robbery and banditry; so, the unfolding developments in the country, especially as adumbrated by the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi Owoye at the south-south economic summit held at Asaba on April 26 should not come as a surprise to anyone with a sense of history.

Azazi was quoted to have said that “The issue of violence did not increase in Nigeria until when there was a declaration by the current President that he was going to contest. PDP got it wrong from the beginning. The party started by saying Mr. A can rule, and Mr. B cannot rule, according to PDP conventions, rules and regulations and not according to the Constitution. That created the climate for what is happening. Is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, he could cause a problem in the society?”

I am not going into the dialectics of the comment. I will only see it at its face value. Could Azazi have been moved by his Christian conscience?

Again, I do not know and would actually not bother.

On this score, however, I align with Azazi. I am also on the same page with Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, the as-

Postscript, Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 08187172799 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

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OMETIMES, a conference is required to solve problems. I have used it often myself.

Whenever I have noticed that a particular food fails to disappear as fast as others, I have called the tribe to a roundtable conference with a oneitem agenda. Is there any chance that this food X is not the exact favourite of anyone living within the sheltering precincts of these walls?

Then I count hands, and then I weigh them. If the majority of hands raised up do not weigh anything up to the minority of hands not raised up, then we the conferees come to a unanimous decision to ignore the raised hands, particularly if they are puny. Trouble comes however when two giant hands are in opposition but, even then, we soon come to a compromise: where the kitchen is concerned, only one hand matters. End of conference.

I believe Nigeria and the international halls of justice can learn one or two things from the way we do things in my kitchen.

The Nigeria we know today is only a contraption put together by an indifferent Britain intent on solving her own administrative problems.

She wanted to use only one file from coast to hinterland. So, she saw nothing wrong in lumping together all the groups she had identified on the coasts and in the hinterland into one entity, never mind that those ones

Comment & Analysis

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PDP: little sins, mighty ocean Azazi has stirred the hornet’s nest, but it is good for the polity sistant secretary-general of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states that: “The cure to any ailment starts with proper diagnosis and doctors need not to be afraid of telling their patients the causes of their problems. Azazi should therefore be commended and not condemned for his forthrightness.

It is the lack of Azazi’s kind of forthrightness, to call a spade a spade that continues to allow impunity to thrive in the nation”.

But true to their nature, some PDP stalwarts are said to have called for Azazi’s sack; a thing President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to do. Although I also felt that Azazi should have resigned after making that comment, I do not know its implications in his kind of business, especially in our kind of climate. The same reason I would also not want to blame him for not going the whole hog. What he said should suffice. After all, as they say, “half word is enough for the wise”. Truth is bitter; and I am glad that it really hurt the PDP big guns because they are never in support of truth. As a matter of fact, if they had ever supported the truth, the country would not be witnessing these kinds of ugly incidents the magnitude of

which it never witnessed before.

We’ve always known the north with all kinds of Islamic fanatical sects like the Maitatsine, for instance, but they had always come and gone after a few strikes here and there. Not like the Boko Haram that has become a festering sore, a malignant tumour sort of.

And, as we are learning, (if we pretended not to know before), just because of the unfaithfulness of the ruling party, even in small things!

The fact is that the PDP has been steeped in iniquities. It might not be alone in this; all the other political parties are equally guilty of same, in varying degrees; perhaps that of the PDP is so glaring because it is the ruling party. In the PDP, it has been intrigues galore. The same intrigues that the Yar’Adua kitchen cabinet used to stop Jonathan from getting to power even after it was clear the former president could no longer carry on in his official capacity was what the PDP also used to sideline its own zoning formula in last year’s election that eventually saw President Jonathan emerging as the party’s presidential flag bearer. No standards; integrity is not in their dictionary, the party would stand by whoever is in power to commit any kind of crime because, to its

“ But I must emphasise though that no cause justifies terrorism, and this is the point those behind Boko Haram must bear in mind. If you resort to terrorism today just because you feel cheated or marginalised, then when it is your turn to be behind the steering wheels, you have to do unto others as you would they do unto you because terrorism is not a monopoly of any group”

members, the end justifies the means; how you get to that end does not matter. That unfaithfulness has led to a situation where neither the rope nor the fowl is at peace today.

To worsen matters, a non-performing President Jonathan who has barely spent one year in office (apart from the period he wasted while concluding the Yar’Adua tenure) is plotting to remain in power beyond 2015 when his present tenure is expected to end. This means the ‘sidelined’ or ‘marginalised’ north that is ever anxious to rule, and one in which some of its leading lights have always seen themselves as people perpetually born to rule has to wait till 2019, a time some of those who have their eyes on the presidency from that region see as too far. Yet, it is not as if a northerner will perform better if made president today. No. After all, northerners had held the political reins of the country for about 38 of the country’s 51 years as an independent nation. What did they do for the country or even the region? If they did well, there would not have been anything like Boko Haram because people who have something meaningful to do would not want to end it all for no reasonable cause. It is when people do not see any hope of a better life today or tomorrow that they resort to all kinds of fancy and fantasy, without minding whether in the end they will live or die.

Apart from the apparent i ineptitude of the Jonathan presidency, the same idea of dismissing everything, including crimes as politics stares all in the face. When people kill for the party, it is politics; when they steal

for the party, it is politics, or a ‘family affair’, to borrow their cliché. It was the same attitude that made the party to abandon its zoning formula in the run-up to last year’s presidential election. It is the same politics that is behind the president’s subterfuge to stay beyond 2015, by which time he would have spent a cumulative six years plus as president. May be he has forgotten that he has been a strong proponent of a single seven-year term for president, which is not renewable. So, what is it that he wants to achieve that would not have been achieved within the six cumulative years he would have been president up till 2015? When a president truly worth the name speaks, his word should be taken as if the oracle has spoken. Not so with President Jonathan’s party. When the party tells you ‘good morning’, you have to go confirm outside yourself to be sure it is not ‘good night’. That is the PDP for you!

But I must emphasise though that no cause justifies terrorism, and this is the point those behind Boko Haram must bear in mind. If you resort to terrorism today just because you feel cheated or marginalised, then when it is your turn to be behind the steering wheels, you have to do unto others as you would they do unto you because terrorism is not a monopoly of any group. Otherwise, those who equally feel cheated or marginalised by your actions or inactions in future will also make the country ungovernable for you. What I am saying is that if Azazi is right in his diagnosis of the problem, then it means pounded yam of 20 years can for ever be steaming hot.

Between a sovereign national conference and a referendum …

had never seen each other before, did not understand each other, and had nothing in common with them. Now, that’s what I call power. It reminds me very much of the kind exercised by the so-called ‘conductors’ of commercial buses in Lagos who just lump people together, irrespective of their origins and destinations, to go and break a certain amount of money to be able to individually retrieve their change. Power corrupts indeed.

Like a bird on a wire, managing the contraption has expectedly been full of headaches and toothaches and every other ache for both rulers and the ruled, because, neither bird nor wire has peace. As I have written here before, two unkindnesses were visited on the young nation by Britain. First, the nation was new to selfgovernance. Two, each previously self-determining part of the new nation had no idea what to do with its new brothers, sisters and neighbours: love them, hate them, love them, hate them, then HATE THEM, HATE THEM, HATE THEM! Indeed, every attempt to enforce love seems to have failed, and everyone is wondering why. Then, someone came up with a suggestion: why don’t we talk and air our grievances?

There would indeed have been nothing wrong with a good talk except a few things. One, a decent conversation is hard to come by. I have since discovered that people come into talks with their entire baggage: bad breath, loud mouth, mouth wash (or lack of it), impatience, intolerance, bad ideologies, unemployment anger, failed marriage guilt, and so on. Then, all

kinds of exercises go on there too. If people are not jumping the gun, they are jumping to conclusions, running off with the bad end of the stick, running off with the conversation, getting started on side talks, hitting the nail on the head, pounding the point, knocking down other people’s arguments, tearing at characters, and generally emphasizing their point by spitting it out with much passion!

Please!

Anyway, that’s why good conversationists find me boring – I generally prefer to demure to the last speaker: I detest people spitting into my face. But I suspect the sovereign national conference will not attract demurists; it’ll likely attract pounders and knockers and tearers, people who’ll give pound for pound, flesh for flesh and blood for blood. I believe I am seeing them already. Just recently, I read an article on the internet by someone from the north daring the country to split up and see if the north will not survive better than others, and with panache too.

Then I read from someone in the south east doing the same thing and I thought ‘ugh, ugh, isn’t this, like, sort of, you know, as in reaching the conclusion before the argument has even started?’ If this is the kind of conference we are going to have, I hope someone will do me a great favour. I hope some kind fellow will just help my feeble ol’ bones to a seat on the sidelines where I can watch and hear the combatants really going at it like gladiators and tearing pieces of flesh off each other’s points to make sure they get the last words in. I hope also I will be able to get a word in

edgeways, like say, ‘Could you people turn down the volume of your spit a little? I’m getting quite wet here, thank you.’

Really, people, the issues, as I see them through my myopic eyes (that’s right; that is why I wear glasses), are quite simple. The peoples who make up the present Nigerian state never agreed to come together but they were too young and polite to complain back then. They would not even know how anyway seeing they did not speak the same language before English came along, like the proverbial spider. It’s a little like an adult holding a child in foster care.

There is a stipulated age in which the child is mandatorily given his adulthood, ready or not. I think Nigeria is old enough to decide for herself whether she wants to continue in foster care or not and whether as an entity, ‘undulating along in agony’ as a poet so poetically put it. The problem then is how to take that decision: in peace and quiet or in wrath and belligerence?

I’ll take peace any day, for wrath and belligerence never solved a thing. If you don’t believe me, ask Hitler. I have heard people say that the conference is not expected to lead to a break-up and I have asked, then why do we need a conference? If you will not have a break-up, then you will have a break-in. Anyway, I rather think that what we need is not really a sovereign national conference where people will just come to talk, talk, talk, go home and continue bellyaching. No, what we need is an honest, sincere commitment to the Nigerian project if it must continue.

It’s called P-A-T-R-I-O-T-I-S-M. Short of that, then let everyone prepare his tent because no conference can guarantee it.

Listen, no cake ever stood where people behaved like mice, biting off chunks from it for the sheer pleasure biting gives. There is no reason on earth why government officials should live above the people, why traditional rulers should live in unbelievable opulence, parading their harems like trophies of war, where the central government is so strong it controls everything the people do, and when it can’t, there is trouble, etc.

Look, we the people want very little.

The people want an effective social service system. I would not go so far as to call for a cost-free housing, electricity, education, health care, water system, etc., or anything like.

That would not be realistic. Instead, let there be a system where these things are provided at reasonable costs so that the least of the least, including the unemployed, can have a fairly comfortable ride through life without dreaming of stealing, killing or calling for a sovereign national conference. That is a bad sign indeed.

This present contraption is obviously too big to manage. Things are tight now, so it is better to let the steam out a little or the whole thing might burst. So, let’s have a republic that is truly federal with each region providing a more effective social service system and keeping an eye on things locally where the tall eye of the central government cannot reach.

Let’s have a referendum now to decide whether we want regional governance or not.

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

There can be law without justice but there can be no justice without law.

POLITICS

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Azazi unsettles PDP •Jonathan

•Tukur

•Azazi

Before the second South-South Economic Summit, the unity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hung on a thin rope. But with the can of worms opened by National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that cracks within the party have widened. Can PDP survive the threat?

N

ATIONAL Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi, may not have envisaged the upsetting effects his comments would have on the Peoples Democratic Party when he openly accused it of being directly responsible for the activities of Boko Haram and the increased violence in the country.

But The Nation investigation reveals that since the General made that bold comment in Delta State, during the recently concluded South-South Economic Summit, some top members of PDP, including, but not limited to members from the northern part of the country, have strongly con-

demned both the comment and what one of them described as “the unfair reasoning that informed it.”

For example, a top member of the party from North-East geo-political zone, who, for obvious reasons, pleaded anonymity, informed that he and many other PDP leaders in the zone were highly disappointed that a top national official like the NSA would make such a statement in public and seem to be enjoying the support and protection of the top leadership. “If, as it seems, the General merely echoed the president’s feelings, then, it is unfortunate because it shows we have a deeply divided PDP,” he said, adding that the northern PDP leaders

are still examining the statement and the way the presidency would handle it before they will take a position.

Already, zonal and caucus PDP meetings have been held across the country to examine the statement and determine how it would affect the various interest groups.

In one of such meetings, held this week in Yola, Adamawa State, a source said members agreed that the statement did not reflect the personal opinion of the NSA, but also that of the president. The members therefore not only condemned it but also agreed to watch future development before making statements.

We also learnt that another of such meet-

ings was held somewhere in Asokoro Abuja, where members of the caucus, allegedly blamed Azazi’s delivery of the message but decided that calls for the NSA’s resignation was borne out of mischief and ignorance of the security challenges facing the country.

In Yenagoe, the state capital of the President’s State, a source said one of such meetings, planned by a caucus, could not hold because of undisclosed reasons.

Even as concerned stakeholders and the government move to manage the possible negative effects of the statement on PDP on one hand and on the polity as a whole; sources said Aso Rock was “truly rattled by the development and have moved swiftly to settle every hurt interest.”

The first indication to the damage control measure was President Goodluck Jonathan’s initial reaction, which was a carefully tempered comment suggesting that Azazi may have been misunderstood.

Azazi, an important member of the President’s kitchen cabinet, who also hails from the President’s side of the country, speaking at the second South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, had said: “The issue of violence did not increase in Nigeria until when there was a declaration by the current President that he was going to contest. PDP got it wrong from the beginning. The party started by saying Mr. A can rule, and Mr. B cannot rule, according to PDP conventions, rules and regulations and not according to the Constitution.

“That created the climate for what is happening. Is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, he could cause a problem in the society,” he asked?

In his initial reaction to this obvious bombshell by his adviser against his political party, President Jonathan had defended: “I don’t believe undemocratic practices in the PDP could give rise to Boko Haram or any other groups. So, probably people need to ask NSA to explain what he really meant.”

At this point, the brewing crisis within the ruling party had become quite visible, given that the bold statement clearly unearthed the division within the PDP, which had hitherto been hidden and artificially buried since Jonathan emerged its candidate in the last presidential elections, amidst protests and intrigues from some top members, who felt short-changed.

Coming at the time the Boko Haram attacks have clearly gone out of hands, added to the belief of majority of Nigerians that the PDP-led federal government had not done enough to contain the security challenge, Azazi had received bashes and commendations, from experts who faulted his approach and the opposition which saw his revelation as a confirmation of their belief that PDP is the problem of Nigeria. In fact, many have since called for Azazi’s sack. Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, for example, was forthright as he demanded that the NSA must resign and save the Federal Government more embarrassment. He was quoted as saying: “The remark credited to the NSA, Gen. Azazi, that the PDP was responsible for the insurgence of Boko Haram through their zoning arrangement could be true based on intelligence available to him, but the public utterance by the NSA is irresponsibly faulty. The only honourable option left for him is to throw in the towel and resign. He has no business in government. He even appears not interested or dedicated to his job.

“Rather than open his mouth too wide, we expected the NSA to advise the President and the Federal Government on this rather than go public, an act which is capable of not only over heating the polity but also encouraging Boko Haram and their sponsors to continue in their nefarious acts,” he said.

Also, some members of the top leadership of PDP, according to impeccable •Continued on Page ??

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Politics

T

HE raging battle for the prime Efut kingship stool in Cross River State has been nurtured by high stake political interests within and outside the Cross River State Government House.

This has not only prolonged the battle but has also made it more complicated.

Calabar is made up of the Efiks, the Efuts and the Quas, headed by the traditional institutions of the Obong, the Muri Munene and the Ndidem, respectively.

At the moment, two of these major tribes seemed embroiled in crisis over the rightful person to sit on the throne.

While the struggle for the Obong of Calabar continues, the Efuts also appear divided over their Muri Munene.

The tussle for the Efut stool, which has been in the fore, recently, had already dragged the traditional domain into the muddy waters of litigation and politics. However, the alleged physical attack on the Muri Munene of the Efuts, Muri Munene Efiong Mbukpa, on April 25, brought a new dimension into the struggle for traditional power in Cross River State.

The paramount ruler of the Efut was allegedly attacked in his palace and would have been killed, except for the prompt intervention of the police.

The Nation’s investigation reveals that the crisis in the Efut nation has been on since 2009, when the former Muri Munene Ita Okokon Ekpenyong Ebuka Ebuka IV reportedly “got sick traditionally.” This led to three Muris (Kingmakers) laying claim to the throne. They were Muri Efiong Okokon Mbukpa Ita Odionka Ebuka VII; Muri Ita Okokon Mesembe XII and Muri (Professor) Itam Hogan.

However, it was learnt Efiong Mbukpa emerged as the Muri Munene.

It was gathered that in the ensuing meetings held to select a successor to the throne by the Efut Combined Assembly, the two other contenders to the throne were disqualified from contesting on the ground that after their selection as Muris in their respective houses, they were not presented to the Efut Combined Assembly for recognition and capping.

Chairman of the Efut Combined Assembly, His Highness, Ndabo Obo E. E. Obo from Ifako clan, said, “Unfortu-

Battle for Efut kingship stool rages •Imoke

nately, we lost our Paramount Ruler in 2009. When this happens, out of the eight ancestral clans, I must convene a meeting to select the Muri Munene-elect to lead the obsequies of the late Munene. The Assembly cannot bury the late Munene without selecting a Munene who would lead the burial obsequies. That is the Efut tradition.

The former Muri Munene was traditionally sick on September 7, 2009. I convened a meeting of the eight ancestral clans on September 29, 2009. I conducted the selection. Before the Munene is selected, there are some basic qualifications that would qualify you to be a Munene. One, you must be an Ekpe title holder. Two, your clan must present you to the assembly. The

Nicholas Kalu in Calabar reports that since the April 25 invasion of the palace of the paramount ruler of Efut Traditional Kingdom, Muri Munene Efiong Mbukpa, top political interests have been blamed for the prolonged battle for the prime royal stool of Efut tribe in Cross River State. third qualification is attendance, which matters a lot. After the screening, I have no powers to declare him Muri Munene. After the screening, the chairman would allow the Muris who are qualified to enter a conclave and bring one of them and present to the Assembly and from there my job ends.”

He said Efiong Mbukpa met all these criteria while the others did not.

Since then, the stool has been mired in litigations, accusations and counter accusations. That was before the physical invasion of the palace. The paramount ruler of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Muri Munene Efiong Mbukpa, was allegedly attacked and

chased out of his palace by some boys suspected to be thugs sponsored by aggrieved members who do not want Mbukpa on the stool.

It was gathered the invaders had entered the palace with some buses loaded with some boys when Muri Mbukpa and the Palace Secretary Ndabo Godwin Bassey who is also the Secretary of Efut Combined Assembly were having a meeting.

They allegedly broke into the palace, destroyed the royal stool of the paramount ruler, removed the cap of the monarch, his cell phones, destroyed his portrait and carted away documents from the office of the secretary of the palace.

Azazi unsettles PDP

•Babangida: Accused PDP of being undemocratic

•Continued from Page 19 sources, last week, hinted at suggestions to the presidency that Azazi must step aside to preserve the integrity of the party.

Although close associates of the president, denied such suggestions, it is obvi-

ous that PDP leadership was unsettled by the NSA’s statement.

Though, like Jonathan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, tried to sound moderate, the anger and irritation of the party could not be mistaken. “Appointees of government should navigate

only on the terrain where their authority would not be humbled by superior knowledge so as to avoid attracting undeserving and unnecessary ill-feelings for their principal,” he said as part of the party’s reaction to the statement.

While PDP chieftains and security experts are angry over Azazi’s public comment, other politicians, especially opposition politicians, have officially hailed what they described as Azazi’s honesty and courage to blame PDP for the nation’s current security problems.

Both the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) described the development as embarrassing but said it vindicated their position that PDP is the major problem of Nigeria today.

National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Osita Okechukwu, said in a statement: “We have no doubt that General Azazi, as a core trained, intelligent officer must have closely observed how, since inception, PDP had manipulated its primary elections and indeed general elections, alienated its members and a critical segment of the polity, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

These undemocratic and unconstitutional acts, without doubt, breed acrimony and simulate insecurity. This is the General’s message.

“In this context, we caution the PDP to neither dump the message nor the messenger; rather PDP should carefully dissect, analyze and reflect on the message placed on marble by Gen. Azazi. How can PDP

innocently claim to be the strongest catalyst for unity and progress of Nigeria when the security and welfare of the people have nose-dived, the society is polarized down the line and Nigeria is dangerously sliding into a failed state? The PDP should please peruse the National Bureau of Statistics 2009 Report to determine whether Nigerians in spite of unprecedented oil revenue is better today than in 1999,” CNPP lashed.

The opposition party also said “In sum, President Jonathan should look at the mirror, do soul searching and reflect in order to stamp out the Boko Haram and other anti-democratic elements in his cabinet, the legislature and the judiciary as he once told the world. This is Gen. Azazi’s message.”

ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his own statement, said, ‘’We have said it several times that the PDP and the government it controls at the centre are clueless, confused and totally incapable of piloting the affairs of this nation. Is there any better evidence of this cluelessness than what Nigerians are witnessing now?

“It does not matter how much the President tries to engage in damage control over the statement credited to his NSA, or the ever-so knee-jerk and poorly-thought-out reaction of the sinking behemoth called the PDP, the reality is that the NSA’s shocking comments reflect the thinking in the highest echelon of the Jonathan administration, that the crooked politics of the PDP is behind the Boko Haram crisis, and that it has escalated because a son of the South-South is sitting in Aso Rock.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

•Mbukpa

They were alleged to have been led by one Muri Maurice Eyo, who maintained that Muri Effiong Mbukpa was an imposter and hence, should not be allowed to parade himself as the paramount ruler of the area.

The palace had already pointed accusing fingers on Muri Itam Hogan, one of the claimants to the throne, as the mastermind of the attack. Secretary of the Efut Combined Assembly, Ndabo Godwin Bassey, alleged they had received intelligence report the previous day that there would be an attack on the palace to forcefully take over the palace and that Prof Hogan would thereafter make a press statement to take over the palace as the purported Muri Munene.

His words, “We took it lightly because we have been hearing that kind of thing before. On the morning of the 25th I also got another report confirming they were meeting and that it has been perfected to attack the palace that day. We immediately informed the SSS, the police and the State Security Adviser to the governor. We were in the palace when we saw some NTA crew, who came in and said they wanted to cover an event. I told them I did not know of any event to take place, but they insisted there was going to be an event.”

According to him, they later discovered that it was Professor Itam who said he had an event and told them to go to 30 Chamley Street where he operates.

He said after they heard sirens and officials of the Department of Public Transportation (DOPT) and army officers and some boys invaded the palace. “Palace guards then told us that the place had been invaded by thugs and they were led by Maurice Okon Eyo. He was trying to gain entrance into the palace, but the gate was locked. The military men that came with him kicked down the gate and as he did that, all hell was let loose, as they went on rampage destroying things. The next thing we heard was look at him (the Muri Munene) there. Kill him, we would bury him and no one would ask any question. Before you could say Jack Robinson they started destroying, beating palace guards. Then Maurice Eyo pointed at the Muri Munene and said beat him up. They held his neck,

Politics beat him up. In short they tried to suffocate him. What saved him was the DPO of Mbukpa who gave him two armed policemen when he was already down to scare them off. The SSA came with some reinforcement which chased the hoodlums out of the palace. It was God that saved him that day otherwise, they would have killed him,” Bassey alleged.

The DOPT had however denied having any hand in the alleged palace invasion.

But Ndabo Bassey said, “The director of public transportation cannot say he does not know anything about it because his vehicle was the first vehicle to come there. This is the handiwork of some highly placed persons in government otherwise how did they get the sirens, army and the impression that it is the government that has come there.”

He said, “They want to give the impression that there is problem in the Efut nation and government should lock the palace. They believed the invasion got the backing of some highly placed government official.

The palace also alleged that a highly placed government official, whose name they would not disclose, was actually responsible for fuelling the crisis. According to a source in the palace, this highly placed government official has the penchant for dabbling into traditional matters.

He said, “The motive is that one of this highly placed government official has sworn that until he leaves office, over his dead body, he will not see government recognize Mbukpa.

“The people that attacked the palace are not king makers but trouble makers. In the Efut nation, we have eight ancestral clans and only those eight have the power to elect one amongst them on a rotatory basis as the paramount ruler whenever there is a vacancy. In this case, only three were qualified for the Muri Munune. And it begins the very night the monarch is traditionally sick. He, who says go in peace to him takes over and all the paraphernalia of office. On the night, he even gave him (Mbukpa) all the authorities and power to go ahead and perform the function. Whoever commands the traditional ruler that night, takes over. There are certain things you know I don’t have to divulge here. If you do those things; if you are not qualified you die after eight days. They thought he would die because our custom is if one is not qualified to take over, within eight days you are gone. It is going to four years now and they know he is qualified to sit on that seat and they are now trying to kill him so they can take over.”

The palace source further alleged that “Prof Itam, having so declared himself Muri Munene outside the palace, wants to bring thugs to come and declare him Muri Munene at the palace complex, because he knows the only place where you can do that is within the palace complex.”

When The Nation contacted Muri Itam Hogan, he warned that his name should not be mentioned and that he should be left alone. He declined to make any further comments on the matter.

The foot dragging of the state government to officially recognize the Muri Munene seems to have fuelled the struggle for the throne.

Addressing members of the Efut Combined Assembly at Anantigha, Calabar South during the Peoples Democratic Party’s State Campaign in the area, last year, Governor Liyel Imoke had informed the council that the state government was studying the report of the panel which was set up to wade into the tussle among the factions which claimed right to the traditional stool.

According to the governor, who urged all the factions in the case to remain calm, the State Government and the administration is a responsible government which believes in due process and truth, no matter how long it takes”.

He said it is incumbent on government to do it through the correct process because at the end, its final outcome will be legitimate.

Imoke disclosed that the final report of the panel, which the state government set up to investigate the claims, has been concluded and submitted, promising that the will of the people will be upheld.

But earlier this year, when the governor visited the palace again to solicit for support in the gubernatorial elections, he said the Munene should carry everyone along, especially those who were aggrieved.

He had explained that the government support was to ensure the Kingdom is not factionalized but operate for the benefit of all the people.

He said with the settlement of the traditional title tussle in the area, the state government has tremendous respect for the traditional institution and that its owners must respect it.

Imoke had attributed the peace enjoyed by the Efuts to the acceptance of its leadership position explaining that government stance on the tussle could not have come out earlier due to administrative process.

He thanked the leadership for the peace which the people enjoy in his domain. He noted that the Efut Traditional Stool is not one to be toyed with or desecrated as it is enjoying the support of the Efut and people of Calabar South.

Although the white paper is not yet out, some observers concluded that his tone and body language during the second visit, suggested a level of acceptance of Mbukpa as Muri Munene. Hence Ndabo Bassey said, “The wisdom of politicians is such that you wonder. When the candidate of PDP came to the palace, he was short of apologising not awarding Mbukpa official recognition. But all he said that day clearly showed he had recognised him.

Like he said, it was left for administrative procedures to dot the i’s and cross the t’s and that he should go ahead and ensure there is peace.

That is what motivated the Muri Munene to set up the peace committee headed by Bishop Archibong Archibong.”

He alleged that it was immediately after setting up the peace committee that opposition factions intensified their aggression.

Meanwhile, the palace of the Paramount ruler of Calabar South and the Muri Munene of the Efut, Muri Munene Efiong Mbukpa, has been shut by the Cross River State Government after the alleged invasion of the palace by rivals of the monarch on April 25.

Chairman of the Efut Combined Assembly, His Highness, Ndabo Obo E. E Obo, said that instead of sealing off the palace, the government should have used the security drafted to the place to secure it.

21

Political Politics turf

with Bolade Omonijo boladeomonijo@yahoo.com

Oyerinde: One murder too many

S

O, Olaitan Oyerinde is gone. It leaves such a bitter taste in the mouth. One death that hit me so hard was the untimely departure of Comrade Chima Ubani. The circumstances of Chima’s death might have been suspicious, but, at least what we could all see was his involvement in a motor crash on his way from a patriotic assignment.

But, Olaitan, who could have gone after him? What could have informed the choice? He was certainly not one of the frontline politicians or officials of Edo State. He was not even from the state. He accepted to serve the Adams Oshiomhole administration because of his commitment to the cause of redeeming the country. The fact that he hailed from Osun State did not stop Olaitan from accepting to work with the former leader of the Nigerian Labour Movement who took up the challenge to rid Edo of the vampires and predators who had held the state hostage for so long. It was a challenge of change.

Now, Olaitan is no more. He was one comrade I was so proud of all the time. Although I seldom called him (because it is not in my character to call friends and comrades in government), I monitored progress in the state. The last time I saw him was almost four years ago. I had gone to see the Comrade governor for an interview appointment. At the time, I did not know that Olaitan who was so well regarded in the NLC had moved over to Benin City. While waiting to be called up for the assignment, I was ushered into the office of the Private Secretary. Behold, it was my comrade who received me. We mulled over a few issues in the labour and socialist world, bemoaned the fate that had befallen the students movement and discussed the challenges the young government would face in the state. As another election approaches, at a time that I looks forward to a review of his experience in government, he was cut down.

So, what do we expect now? The Police would, as usual, issue a statement promising to “leave no stones unturned” in the bid to apprehend those who committed “the dastardly act”. The federal government, if it does not consider Olaitan too junior an official, would send a condolence message to the governor and order the Inspector General to “fish out the perpetrators”. The civil society community would compose a beautiful dirge and issue threats and curses, while the rest of the society would simply shrug the shoulder and mark on the calendar the departure of yet another compatriot. Life goes on while we wait for whom the bell would toll next.

Where does that leave the society? How would all these halt the triumph of evil over good in Nigeria? How would good men, patriots, nationalists and progressives be encouraged to offer their services to their fatherland? Olaitan was only 40 when he joined the Oshiomhole government.

He was full of promise and appeared set for the very top. All that is history now.

But, I daresay the man must not die like that. He was selfless and belonged to the clan of those who would do anything for the upliftment of the country. He died for a worthy cause. Today, evil prowls the land. The fuel subsidy probe and revelations from the pension fund inquest confirmed our worst fears that the thieves in control of the country had sold Nigeria and were making moves to leave for Washington and London to enjoy their loots.

I do not expect any meaningful investigation into this murder. Otherwise, I would have said we may not need to look too far. The political environment in the state harbours so many men who have not come to terms with being pushed out of power. When the Comrade Governor took over, he pledged to render the godfathers and their wards jobless. He succeeded in doing just that. The result was a sudden boost in the revenue, internally generated revenue, of the state.

Many were not happy. For too long, they had converted funds that should accrue to the state coffers to their accounts.

They had elevated themselves to tin gods. All that changed with the coming of Oshiomhole who even his enemies will concede has worked assiduously to change the face of Benin City, and Edo in general. He needed and got the support of men like Olaitan Oyerinde. He still has the devoted service of fine comrades like Dr. Osagie Obayuwana and Tony Iyare.

Edo must not be allowed to go back to the dark days of the PDP in government. Should the PDP win by hook or crook, should the progressive forces allow themselves to be frightened to surrender the state, they would have betrayed the people. Olaitan would have died in vain. This is a call to service. All progressives nationwide should feel challenged by the assassination of Comrade Oyerinde to swing into action behind Comrade Oshiomhole.

The battle has been joined. Darkness is threatening to take over Edo once again. We must not allow it. Olaitan has been sacrificed for the continued march to greatness of Edo State. While Comrade Adam and his men are redesigning the state’s security apparatus, the task of providing a bulwark to check the advancement of evil is for progressives all over Nigeria.

Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, fare thee well.

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Politics

Who owns Renaissance Teaching Hospital?

Political

ripples Politicians against Police over recruits R ECENT dismissal of 234 police recruits, who were still undergoing training at the Kaduna Police College, has pitched some highly placed politicians against Police authorities. Issues of contention include hurt ego, money and allegations of bribery.

Although the Commandant of the college, Sanusi A. Rufai, said the dismissed recruits met their fate because of alleged offences like fighting, forgery and diseases like leprosy, Political Ripples learnt that some top political leaders that sponsored some of the affected former recruits are not taking the matter lightly.

A source said one of such very influential politician, early in the week, threatened to deal with a top police officer, who he alleged deliberately dismissed his candidate to spite him.

Such claims had prompted the commandant of the police college, Rufai, late in the week to lay complaint to newsmen.

As he puts it: Politicians are responsible for the problem because during training, they will bring unqualified persons to us for recruitment. They see it as parts of the dividends of democracy. We will not entertain this again,” he said.

Insiders said the trouble between the police authorities and the politicians may just be in its early stages as some of the embittered politicians are said to be amongst sponsors who have alleged that they were made to part with recruitment bribes totaling to about N200, 000 per candidate. We hear some of the aggrieved sponsors a r e threatening to name names and demand t h e i r •Abubakar refunds.

•Chime

D

O you know the owner of Renaissance Teaching Hospital, Enugu? Well, this is a puzzle that is presently creating ripples in the politics of Enugu State. Political Ripples learnt that the matter, which has been one of the well guarded top secrets in the state, has now been thrown to the public for discussion and identification. Ironically, the quest, as it seems, is yet to produce a definitive answer.

Political Ripples can report that Governor Sullivan Chime was recently confronted by some journalists to say once and for all who actually owns the multi-billion naira architectural wonder, sitting at the heart of the Coal City. His answer: “It’s not Enugu State Government’s property. It belongs to a private individual.”

If you are not conversant with the intriguing story of the ultra-modern teaching hospital, you will conclude the governor’s answer would settle the matter conclusively. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that the statement from the First Citizen of the state has further complicated

PERSONS ON THE PODIUM: ...Mohammed Bello Adoke,

the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice will most certainly be on the political podium next week following his latest contribution to the most expected House Subsidy Probe Report.

Interests over the shocking revelations from the probe will continue to dominate the political and business scenes until the culprits are satisfactorily dealt with. So, when the AGF, at the end of the week, informed Nigerians that the House report on the probe will not be final, he seems ready to take the probe story to a new dimension.

According to the Chief Law Officer, “Experience has shown that whenever our law enforcement agencies are stampeded to arraign suspects, the end result is usually the discharge of such suspects by courts, ostensibly for want of evidence.

“Nigerians must therefore allow our law enforcement agencies to conduct painstaking investigations that will ultimately satisfy the standard of proof.”

Given the huge interest and the temper of average Nigerians over the House probe revelations, it remains to be seen how many Nigerians will agree with the IGF that the exercise carried out by the House of Representatives is just fact finding and could not be relied upon to prosecute.

the story of the real owner of the teaching hospital built during the tenure of former governor of Enugu State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani.

This is because at the end of Nnamani’s eight-year administration in the state, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) started making trouble over the ownership of the hospital, Nnamani, who is also a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was reported to have said it was not his personal property but that of Enugu State.

These conflicting reports have only deepened suspicions and have energised rumour mongers. Today, the buzz around the coal city is who owns the hospital: the state or a nameless home boy?

Needless to add here that Chime was also asked by n e w s hounds recently to •Nnamani name the private owner. Of course, he declined that assignment and instead, asked the journalists to carry out the investigation themselves.

The matter has generated so much political interest in Enugu, not only because of the huge public funds that may be involved, but perhaps, because of the many interest groups in the matter and the history of the controversial Renaissance Teaching Hospital.

It is alleged, for example, that the land on which the hospital was built is the same where the former Premier of Western Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, had built three Ministers’ Quarters. Before the emergence of the hospital, up to Chimaroke’s administration, sources said the quarters were housing some commissioners. These may have informed the highpitched interest of top politicians and common citizens of Enugu State. Now, if you know the owner of the hospital, do speak up to avoid the huge financial and human resources that may yet be employed in the proposed investigations by the EFCC, journalists and interested citizens.

PoliticalTips ...Next week’s issues, events and persons sundaynation@yahoo.com (08023165410 sms only)

...Obi v Umeh,

All has not been heard of the deepening rift between Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). In the coming week, more bombshells are expected from the two camps as the once united political family battle the crushing crisis in their political party.

This week, the two camps came open and accused each other of being the problem of the party.

Although Obi reportedly restrained himself when some trouble shooting reporters •Adoke saught his response to Umeh’s latest verbal bombshell, which identified him as the problem of APGA, it is cer…Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State tain that he and chairman of the powerful Governors’ Forum, is another person may not sucthat is likely to be on the podium this coming week. The searchlight cessfully stop will likely beam on the former governor as many political stakeholders the ferocious and analysts are interested to know exchange of the outcome of his much publicized words.

So, visit to Louis Edet House office of from Anambra Special Fraud Unit early this week.

State, political Why not, when his friends and intrigues, alleenemies alike are interested in gations and knowing more about the alleged loan counter allegawrite off totaling N21billion or N9 tions are likely billion depending on the report you to continue. chose to believe. Also, some Umeh had inquisitive Nigerians are hoping that threatened to the juicy report may indict some open a can of political heavyweights. worms. Will he •Obi •Umeh •Saraki dare?

23

COVER THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

National Hospital or national disgrace?

T

HE National Hospital, Abuja commissioned by the former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar on the 22nd of May 1999 was not only meant to be the highest referral hospital in Nigeria, it was to be the best in the country.

It was projected to compare favourably with National Hospitals in other countries across the globe.

But there have been growing complaints and allegations in some quarters that the services from the hospital right from day one of its operation have been nose-diving. It is believed that many private hospitals and clinics in the country offer better services.

The hospital, which actually started operation on the 11th of October, 1999, had clinical services with departments like Medicine, Dental and Maxillofacial, Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Health Records, Anesthesia and Pediatrics.

Other departments in the hospital include Oncology, Ophthalmology, Pharmacy, Dietetics, Haematology, Surgery, Library, Nursing Services, Medical Physics, Microbiology/Parasitology, Chemical Pathology, Physiotherapy, Family Medicine, IVF and Nuclear Medicine.

Before former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered a change of its name to National Hospital Abuja on the 10th May, 2000, the hospital under the regime of General Sani Abacha was known as Hospital for Women and Children.

To the conceivers of the hospital, the installation of state-of-the-art technology

Despite the billions of naira that have been spent to build, equip, provide personnel, and the annual funds allocated for its day to day running, complaints are rife about the quality of service provided at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Augustine Ehikioya takes a look at the issues surrounding the alleged poor services.

•Abacha

•Abdusalami

in a clean, conducive and patient-friendly environment, with highly skilled and motivated staff was expected to be adequate for successful handling of most health cases like other hospitals of its class abroad.

It was not expected to have any busi-

ness recording deaths in high numbers.

In their minds, the National Hospital should be the hospital of last resort in the country with the capacity to successfully handle any ailment proving too thorny for any other hospital in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36states of the fed-

eration.

Given the lofty ideas behind its establishment, many Nigerians now argue that the hospital has not lived up to expectation as a hospital of last resort.

As at today, it is feared that only about 10 percent of patients who go to the hospital with critical cases get cured and discharged alive.

They believe that a patient has a higher degree of surviving ailments and diseases in other health centres in the country than at the National Hospital.

The sad state of the hospital has been contributing to capital flight as more affluent and highly placed Nigerians still embark on medical trips abroad for simple ailments.

The poor services at the hospital have not really helped the case of the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu and his deputy, Dr. Ali Pate, who have been insisting, at every given opportunity that Nigerian hospitals are equal to the task, and that medical trips abroad are wasteful.

Among the emergencies that exposed the weaknesses and inefficiency of the National Hospital, Abuja in recent times was the 26th August, 2011 bomb blast at the United Nations House in Abuja, which is less than one kilometer from the hospital.

Because of the lack of facilities at the hospital, many victims of the bomb blast were evacuated to South Africa for better treatment. •Continued on Page 24

24

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Cover •Continued from Page 23

The December 2011 Christmas Day bomb blast victims at the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Suleja, Niger State - a neighbouring town to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) - was equally not easy for the hospital to handle.

There have been many cases also where patients rushed to the hospital and were not attended to because of lack of bedding space among other reasons.

Last October, Mrs. Abigail James, who was involved in a car accident in Abuja, died at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital when it refused to admit her.

A member of TREM Vision House Medical Team, Dr. Abiye Kalaiwo, who rushed the accident victim to the National Hospital, Abuja was totally disappointed with the attitude of the medical personnel at the hospital.

He said: “We were in church and there was a road accident right beside the church about 7:05 pm. When I got there, I checked and saw an elderly woman who was lying flat on the floor; she was gasping for breath.

“When I checked her pulse, it was still there. I then rushed to the office to find my infusion and tried to do a couple of things to keep her circulatory system completely in order. When I got back, a colleague of mine had started doing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

“Since we didn’t have oxygen, we decided to take her to a hospital, which had oxygen.

When we got to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the National Hospital, it was like a ghost town. I walked in, saw some nurses and introduced myself.

But they told me that the Accident and Emergency Unit had been shut down and that they had been told not to admit any patient, unless they were bomb blast victims.

“They told me that they were sorry that the order came from above. I was worried as to who could have given that kind of order. They just didn’t answer us.

As all these were going on, I started losing my patience and made a lot of noise.

“Finally, people started trooping out. But a doctor who examined the patient came out and confirmed that the patient had died. But funny enough, she was classified as brought in dead.”

He went on: “Medical ethics demand that whenever a patient is brought to the emergency unit of any hospital, such patient must be given urgent medical attention. If the woman’s heart stopped, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation could bring her back to life. None of these was done.

“So, we were there and since the woman was dead, they said we should open a folder, 35 minutes after we got there. I have knowledge of basic and advanced life support. I said if we could take the woman to where she could get good emergency medical treatment she was going to make it. During the argument, a taxi driver brought another victim of an auto crash from another accident scene. Yet, it was the same story: the nurses still rejected him.

“In emergencies, the first two minutes are critical. The brain could die in the absence of oxygen. Once it is beyond five minutes and someone does not have blood circulating with oxygen that is when harm is done.

“We need to begin to expose certain things so that Nigeria will

Hospital of last resort or death?

•Obasanjo

•Chukwu

• Ajuwon

“I was horrified by the unprofessional attitude of some of the medical doctors there. Most of the hospital staff have serious attitude problem. They are rude and unfriendly. There is no sense of urgency in the way they conduct their affairs. A brain scan that was ordered before noon was yet to commence at 5 pm.” be a better place. We need to go to any length in pursuing this matter.”

Mr. Adinoyi Onukaba-Ojo, who lost his wife, Mrs. Rachael Onukaba-Ojo, at the National Hospital on the 29th August, 2009 also had very sad memories of the inefficiency at the hospital.

He said: “I am fully convinced that early diagnosis, timely application of the right medication, efficient and professional management of the ailment could have saved her life. There is no doubt in my mind that she would have survived if she had been offered quality care at the private clinic and at our now notorious National Hospital, Abuja.”

“My experience at both health-care centres points to the urgent need to overhaul our health care system to make it more responsive, efficient and professional. It was difficult to believe that the National Hospital could not find a doctor to accompany a patient in the intensive care unit to the MRI, less than 200 metres away.”’

“I was horrified by the unprofessional attitude of some of the medical doctors there. Most of the hospital staff have serious attitude problem. They are rude and unfriendly. There is no sense of urgency in the way they conduct their affairs. A brain scan that was ordered before noon was yet to commence at 5 pm.

“There is no co-ordination between the different sections. No planning. No communication.

There is an ad-hoc approach to health care delivery. Everything works haphazardly. Chaos is the organizing principle here. No wonder few people come to the National Hospital and expect to be treated or healed these days.

“Come and die here, that is the literal nickname for the hospital in Hausa. Some call it ‘pre-mortuary’. Yet, nobody seems to care.

No one seems to care that people walk in there on their own only to be taken out in body bags.”

“There was nothing intensive about the intensive care unit. It was intensive in name. In reality, it was just like any other ward staffed by inadequate, ill trained, ill motivated, unprofessional, slow and careless staff. Corpses were being wheeled out of the intensive care unit daily.

“Rachael died at 12.35 pm. I was listed as her next of kin with my telephone number. Yet, the National Hospital did not call me until I showed up at 4 pm. They would probably never have contacted me if I did not show up for days, weeks, months and years.”

A lawyer, Mrs. Ifioma Agu, who recently visited a patient at the hospital, was not happy with what she saw there.

“I was very disappointed with the kind of service I saw there” she said. “I noticed that most of the nurses don’t read prescription before administering drugs to their patients. A very peculiar case was that of a new born baby girl that was supposed to be given 2.5 ml of his drugs.

“The nurse on duty measured 5ml and when the mother complained, she was insulted by the nurse. I thought that nurses owe people the duty of care. When you ask them questions on vital issues, they are never ready to answer.”

Many reasons have been put forward by stakeholders as responsible for the declining standard of the hospital. It is alleged that the Nigerian factor has come into play and that most of the medical staff in the hospital prefer to remain unpatriotic for unknown reasons.

Many of them are said to have divided attention as their main focus is on their private businesses and retainerships in other clinics. They see the National Hospital as part of the national cake where they can carve out

their share.

Some of the doctors are also believed to be involved in diversion of patients to their private clinics. They achieve this by rendering very poor services at the National Hospital and then pass the idea of moving the patients to their clinics through their cronies in the hospital.

The services at the hospital are also believed to be very poor because of the great rivalry and jealousy between the nurses at the hospital. Because of their connections to the top, new nurses with little or no experience are sometimes placed above those who have not been promoted since they joined the hospital in 1999.

Many observers also blame moves between 2003 and 2005 to correct the faulty start when the Presidency engaged foreign hospital managers. Service-delivery was no longer the main focus of the government; it appeared more interested in running a profitmaking hospital.

The foreign managers were also said to have been sabotaged by the staff, who majorly brought the Nigerian factor into everything they did in the hospital.

Under the foreign managers, consultants were most of the time available on duty as every consultant and other doctors in the hospital kept strictly to schedule of duty.

But today, the consultants are hardly available. Doctors who are members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are now most of the time in charge.

Also, the engagement of his personal physician, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to head the National Hospital in order to address the leadership problem, is believed not to have achieved much.

Ajuwon as Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, even with all the backing of the former

President to run the hospital the way he liked, could not lift the facility from its sorry state.

When the National Assembly tried to reposition the hospital by seeking to transfer its supervision from the Presidency to the Federal Ministry of Health, Ajuwon reportedly vehemently opposed the move.

Another factor which is said to be contributing now to the falling standards is the allegation that the current Chief Medical Director, Prof. Bala Shehu, is hardly available in the hospital.

He is believed to be, most of the time, running the hospital from abroad or his village.

But inside sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintain that he is still the best CMD the hospital has ever had. When he came on board, he rejected the N800, 000 monthly offer by the hospital management for his upkeep, which is completely outside his salary.

He was said to have kicked against it as he argued that if every top management staff of the hospital goes home with such money every month, there would be little or nothing to run the hospital effectively.

Shehu is also known to have rejected the use of any official accommodation or official car from the hospital. Many believe that he has what it takes to put the hospital on the right path of growth except for other things competing for his time.

Another challenge the hospital is contending with is lack of maintenance of the equipment and facilities and this is affecting the institution adversely.

The annual budgetary provision for the hospital is also thought to be inadequate considering the role it is expected to play in the health sector.

Efforts to know the real causes of the poor service and the reaction of the hospital to the allegations were repeatedly blocked by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Tayo Haastrup, over the past one month.

Haastrup, who declined to speak, promised to get the Director of Administration to speak on the issues. Over a month after the •Continued on Page 65

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

25

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

OLU FALAE

Boko Haram now a political struggle T

HE Boko Haram sect is now bombing media houses.

What danger does this portend for the nation and its people?

Well, when this Boko Haram thing started, I thought it was just a protest movement that will be quickly resolved.

But now, I think it has gone beyond the original Boko Haram. It is as if a more sophisticated group, with a larger objective, has taken it over. They make it clear daily that they are fighting the government of Nigeria. They said they attacked the press because the media was reporting their activities unfavourably. In other words, it is a political struggle with the government. It is no longer a cultural thing or a religious matter. It is just a political weapon that is being used to fight the government. I just hope they will spell out precisely what they are fighting for. Except in a totally warped environment, nobody fights without a reason. You must have an objective. But what amazes me is that they are operating with total freedom, striking who they wished to and when they wished to, while the whole federal security structure looks on helplessly. And I read in the budget the huge sums of money allocated to security. The question now is how are those structures being deployed against Boko Haram? It appears our security apparatus, with all the expensive equipments and ammunitions that must have

been bought with the huge budget, is not effectively curtailing the sect’s activities.

Aside the reasons they gave, why do you think they attacked the press?

I think the objective is to silence the media. They want to gag the press and that wil make them more deadly. If an enemy is stalking you and you are not aware he is stalking you, then you become an easy prey. That must be their objective and I think we must prevent that, every way we can because this nation cannot be allowed to sink into an abyss of terrorism.

Considering the havoc the Boko Haram attacks has caused, do you agree with the view that the sect may have external backing?

With the consistency we see, the sophistication displayed and the obvious deployment of financial resources in achieving their plans, definitely they are getting support from outside the country. Of course, you have so many terrorist organisations that would be more than willing to support such activity in Nigeria. One would have thought that our own security agents would by now have traced the source of such external support.

These bombs are manufactured; they should have discovered where they come from. Not all these occasional displays they make in the media.

Chief Olu Falae, is a former Finance Minister and presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) at the 1999 presidential election. The one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who is national chairman of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), thinks the Presidency and security agencies are not capable of providing answers to the security questions being raised by the Boko Haram insurgency. In this exclusive interview with Dare Odufowokan at his country home in Akure, Ondo State, Falae also spoke on a number of other national issues.

Is it that they cannot be traced?

What frightens me most is that even the President said there are supporters of the Boko Haram in his own government. That is the danger. If Boko Haram sympathizers are in the core of government, then we are not safe; then the government is not safe. And the questions are, what has Jonathan done about it? What can he do about it? And why has he not done much about it? We would expect he would flush such people out and sanitise his government. All we see is the group getting more daring and sophisticated in its activities.

That worries me. And when the government speaks, it is as if there is no major threat. They say all will soon be well. But all is not getting well at all. I hope we don’t get to a stage where people have recourse to self help. That is the anarchy we are praying against. We pray Boko Haram doesn’t spread beyond where it is now. If it were •Continued on Page 26

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Sunday Interview

•Continued from Page 25 to spread to the South-West, I’m sure there will be immediate reaction because those who are doing it are from outside the region. They must have a base to operate from which will not be difficult to identify. And once it is identified there will be an attempt to dislodge them from such a place. That is what I called self help. I pray it doesn’t get to that. I pray the government will prove capable of protecting all its citizens but right now, it doesn’t appear capable of doing so. His security chiefs also appear incapable of doing so. Their handling of the matter so far is shambolic. Even negotiation process, I hope we are not being taken for a ride.

What is your take on calls and agitation for regional autonomy and sovereign national conference?

These issues are not new. It has been on for more than twenty years now. The agitation was led by the MNR of Chief Enahoro. I presented a small book in 2003 at the MUSON centre in Lagos titled ‘The way forward for Nigeria economy and politics.’ A chapter in that book addressed this issue. I called it ‘Restructuring Nigeria.’ My argument is that the structure which we negotiated with the British at their departure has been thrown overboard by the military. The British recognised that we had over 400 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and it was not possible to manage them all as homogenous people in a unitary system of government. A genuine federation of autonomous regions was what could survive. And that was what we got in London in 1956.

But when the military came, they threw away not just the constitution but the political covenant that underpin that very genuine federalism. And they have been giving us different forms of contraptions since then.

That is why you have very many obnoxious and totally unacceptable provisions in our constitution. For example, no state has a police force. And by definition, a government is a body which can make laws and enforce them. If you don’t have the force to enforce your laws, you are not a governor, you can be an administrator, but not a governor. The distinguishing characteristic of a governor is the ability to enforce his own enactment through a force of law.

We don’t have that now. And we say the state governors are chief security officers of their states; that is a lie. What manner of chief security officers are they when the constitution allows the I.G or even an A.I.G in federal headquarters to overrule the governors on matters of security.

The senate has said it intends to amend the constitution…

Some people are talking about amendment; I say you cannot amend a sheep into a goat. But if a sheep has five legs, you can cut off one and it still remains a sheep. The kind of fundamental changes required in our present constitution cannot be accomplished in the ambit of amendment. The national assembly is totally unqualified to give us the kind of new constitution we want because it is a minority institution from the point of view of its representativeness of the ethnic groups in Nigeria. When we were meeting at the Ethnic Nationalities Forum, we had

Insecurity: Jonathan, Azazi incapable

•OLU FALAE

“These governments are all artificial creations.

Federal, state and even local governments are all artificial creations. The natural thing about Nigeria is the people who were the original people here before the coming of Lord Lugard. So, we want to follow our own priority which varies from region to region.” about 400 ethnic and linguistic groups. How many ethnic groups are represented in the national assembly? Maybe fifty; maybe less. So the overwhelming majority of ethnic groups are not represented. They may be small ethnic groups but they should have a say in how they want to be governed. If the larger ethnic groups will not allow themselves to be excluded from such decision, why do you think the smaller groups would want to miss such once in a lifetime opportunity of deciding how they want to be governed. In other words, I insist that every ethnic group must be present.

Doing this is quite easy. I said there are about 400 ethnic groups; some say we should say 250, fine 250. A sovereign conference of 2000 people to represent 150million people is not too much. We can build a hall that will take 2000 people.

Then what we do is to assign a delegate to each ethnic group.

That is 250 delegates already. We still have 1750 which we can now distribute pro rata based on population and other considerations. The smallest will have at least one person. So it can be done easily. That one person will have his own day to tell Nigerians what his people want and how they want to be governed. The recording of all the presentation by the various ethnic groups will be a very great compendium for the history of this country. It will also be a form of commitment by participation on the part of the various ethnic groups represented. I insist there is no alternative to having a sovereign national conference.

But some people are faulting the word sovereign…..

I have heard that illiterate argument that you cannot have two sovereigns. The people are sovereign, government is not sovereign. That is the normal thing. When the people elect a government, they transfer their sovereignty to that government.

But when there is need for it, the people can still exercise their sovereignty to empower another body to look at their laws. They don’t go to that government and say lend me your sovereignty.

No. I get irritated when people say two sovereigns. It is illiteracy, or mischief or both.

And the fear is that if you have a sovereign conference, they may use it to break Nigeria. Two approaches here; if the people of Nigeria, in their own wisdom, decide to break up their country, who can stop us? Secondly what most Nigerians want is a rearrangement that will be conducive and fair to all. I have a number of grandchildren.

Majority of them are foreigners.

This tells you that my future in Nigeria is limited. Yes, my children whom I brought up here are Nigerians, but after them, the others are foreigners because it is not conducive to stay here. So, these are the things moving people like me to continue these agitations because I believe that this country can give every one of us the opportunity to be who we really want to be if it is properly structured.

There is also the talk in town that the entire crises in the country today is all about the 2015 presidential election. Do you foresee a troubled transition

then?

I hope we shall get to 2015.

The election to me is almost an irrelevance in comparison to what needs to be done. We have been on this for twenty years.

Twenty years ago, how old was Jonathan? He was in his thirties.

Therefore what I am saying has nothing to do with 2015. It is a call for us to go back to the political covenant we negotiated in London in the interest of everybody. These governments are all artificial creations.

Federal, state and even local governments are all artificial creations. The natural thing about Nigeria is the people who were the original people here before the coming of Lord Lugard.

So, we want to follow our own priority which varies from region to region. Let every region follow its own priority. Uniformity is not unity. We must allow each region to grow at its own pace. It is part of the spice of the federation.

This current mechanical uniformity is suffocating. I’m more worried about what will happen before that election. There is still a long time between now and 2015.

Someone once said a day is a long time in politics.

Talking about the South-West, it appears the region is not as united as it used to be. What in your opinion is responsible for this?

Thank you very much for raising this very important issue.

First, let us go down memory lane.

When the white man came, what did he find? He found us at war.

Ijaiye war, Kiriji war, Ekiti Parapo war, etc. It was Awolowo’s Egbe Omo Oduduwa that created the

feeling among the Yorubas that we are the same people. So, the idea of Yoruba unity is a very recent thing, not more than a century ago. The group later sought political power so as to be able to take better care of their people. That led to the formation of the Action Group. Awolowo was the Secretary of Egbe Omo Oduduwa and the President of Action Group. His personality straddled the two. The two were never the same. There were members of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa who never joined Action Group. But these leaders always met to fashion ways of developing the region irrespective of their parties. That is a lesson for today’s politicians. Yes, the region is not as united as it used to be because we haven’t learnt from the past.

What is the fate of Afenifere, the pan Yoruba group and what is the implication of its seeming comatose condition to the future of the Yorubas?

Afenifere was the Yoruba name given to the Action Group.

I learnt this from Baba Ajasin.

When Chief Adisa Akinloye came back from exile, he phoned Baba that he wanted to visit him at home. Papa Ajasin called me to join him in receiving Akinloye. So, we were all at Owo when Akinloye came. It was there that Papa Ajasin said ‘A.M, it is still the same Afenifere group which you christened at Boys’ School Oke Ado in Ibadan in 1951 that we are still doing, so join us.’ I learnt that day it was Chief Akinloye that christened Action Group. Now, what happened was that Afenifere remained a platform all through the military years for Yoruba leaders to continue to meet and do politics.

It was loved and accepted by the people as the source of good governance. When UPN was formed, it adopted the Afenifere name, SDP the same and then A.D. That was when the crisis came up. In 2001 or thereabout, the A.D governors had an issue with the Afenifere leadership over the Professor Bolaji Akinyemi panel’s report. That was the beginning of that problem and several efforts to resolve that singular matter failed all these years. And then other things followed from there. It got to a point the governors were no longer attending Afenifere meetings. Then came the 2003 governorship election when they had a deal with Obasanjo to ensure their re-election on the condition that the A.D will not field a presidential candidate.

This was done without the consent of Afenifere. Then came the election and Obasanjo did what he did. They all lost, except Bola Tinubu, who retained his seat in Lagos. After this, to come back to Afenifere became a problem. My brother, this is the true story about Afenifere as it stands today. And the implication is that the Yorubas are now marginalised. Our politicians, our businessmen etc, are all marginalised. I want to say this again that in the interest of our race, we must all come together once again. We must forget our differences and allow good reason to prevail. I don’t think it is too late if we truly love the Yoruba race and if we are not selfish.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Winning AMAA Award is a great privilege –Majid Michel –PAGES 36-37

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

•Cute number

Kehinde Falode Tel: 08023689894 (sms)

E-mail: kehinde.falode@thenationonlineng.net

Sleeveless fashion for hot weather

T

HERE is no better way to embrace this hot weather than wearing a sleeveless top or dress.

Whether you choose a tank or a camisole, halter or dress, you have more ways than ever to fashionably exercise your right to bare arms! After you must have chosen the top that you desire, there are just a few more things you will want to do to look spectacular.

Tips

•Clothes for hot weather

3 Make sure your neck, shoulders and back are protected with sunscreen body cream.

4 Make sure your bra fits well and that the straps are firm, so they don't slip off your shoulders.

•Funke Akindele

1 Your underarms must be shaved always if you are going to go sleeveless. The warm water of the shower and a little shaving gel will make your razor's job quick and easy.

•Beige sleeveless blouson hem top

2 Use a colourless roll-on (deodorant) that won't mar your clothes.

•Stella Damasus

•Ebube Nwagbo •Beige animal print sleeveless, button shirt

•Omotola

•Grey gradient print sleeveless dress

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

•Red Upturned Brim Hats

Jazz up your look with a hat

H

ATS in general, especially big ones, have left the church to take a place on the fashion stage.

This should not be surprising.

Fashion is never static, it is always evolving. A hat may not come with or with a brim nor festooned with flowers.

But one thing you can be sure of is that, it will come with a tasteful variety of styles.

All over the world, most hats are fashioned after the traditional French and English hats, featuring sinamay, straw, raffia, and soft, cosy and flexible wool, which allow a snug fit for any shape of the head.

Though worn traditionally to rest

more at the centre of the head than the other parts, most hats, apart form beret, can also be pulled with the help of elastic rubber securely over the ears for added warmth.

Hats are versatile, lightweight and easy to slide on. Their colours vary, and the fit is great. So, go funky with one.

•Uche Jumbo

•Model

•Weird-MC

•Model

•Model

•Cadet hat

•Cloche hat

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

2-Rebecca Minkoff mini mac clutch lame clutch

3-Not a gold bigger lacquer by Opi Nicole

A touch of gold A little glitz goes a long way. Add a little sparkle to your party dress with these gold toned accessories!

4-Lario ballet gold flats

1-The Metallic Telgram Pocket Pouch

5-Believe it or Knot earrings by Kanna

6 -Asos paranormal gold glitter platform

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Nollywood actress, Rukky Sanda, reveals her favourite things to Kehinde Falode

Favourite shoes Gucci

Favourite bag Louis Vuitton

Favourite perfume Chanel

Favourite drink Champagne

Favourite wrist watch Omega

Favourite sunglasses Louis Vuitton

Favourite Nigerian style consultant

Ndidi Obioha of Enthyst

Favourite holiday spot Miami Beach

Favourite makeup kit MAC

Favourite food Prawn

Rukky’s

top

0 1

THEATRE

With VICTOR AKANDE

t

BIGSCREEN

Tel: 08077408676

Regina Askia turns nurse

P

IONEER Nollywood actress and one-time model, Regina AskiaWilliams, is now settling down to a new life and career as a registered nurse in New York, United States of America. The ex-actress and former Beauty Queen who relocated to the United States in 2000, recently recounted her first experience with a dying patient."My first code experience was on a hospice patient who unfortunately we lost.

“Wilding out inside but have to be professional,” she said. The award winning actress and model made her foray into the Nigerian film industry with her critically acclaimed role as Tokunbo

Johnson in the now rested soap, 'Mega Fortunes' produced and aired in 1993 by NTA network. She thereafter went on to star in a number of home videos before quitting the movie scene.

•Regina Askia

•Laide

SOUND TRACK

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e-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

Laide Bakare assembles A-list cast for Jejere W ITH an A-list cast that includes the likes of Emeka Ike, Fathia Balogun and self acclaimed 'Bashorun Gaa' a.k.a 9ice, Nollywood star actress, Laide Bakare, is set to send tongues wagging with her movie titled Jejere (Tumor).

The movie mirrors various problems plaguing the society. It deals exclusively with the girl-child’s value and lack of importance of female children in most Nigerian families.

Gongo Aso crooner, 9ice, plays the lead role in the movie that took two years to shoot. Other star actors and actresses who featured in the movie are renowned Akin Lewis, Obi Alex-O, Segun Ogungbe and Ebun Oloyede.

Genevieve, Stephanie join , x o F a ic iv V , n to g in h s a Isaiah W others for Doctor Bello

J.Cole for T BBA opening

F

OR weeks, the anticipation has been on but it finally climaxes with a grand opening on Sunday, May 6. Tagged Stargame, this year's edition comes with its peculiar twists and according to the organisers, it the show introduces a new group of larger than life, must watch TV personalities to African television audiences and for fans of the reality super-series that day can't come soon enough.

The show begins on Sunday May 6 in the brand new launch timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.

With a whooping 'winner takes all' USD 300 000 up for grabs, plus the new 'doubling up' of contestants entering the series with partners, organisers promised that the show is set to provide more of the entertainment, romance, action, suspense and drama that the series is famous for!

Returning to the Big Brother

WO of Nollywood's best actresses, Genevieve Nnaji and Stephanie Okereke will join Hollywood's Isaiah Washington, Vivica A. Fox, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Bern Cohen in a Tony Abulu's film, Doctor Bello.

Written and Directed by stage as series presenter this award-winning producer, the year is one of Nigeria's most famous faces IK Osakioduwa, film's theme states that "the making his fourth appearance Cure for Cancer has been found in the Sky Mountains of Africa, at the forefront of the show and an American Oncologist since taking on the role in will risk everything to get it."

2009.

Scheduled for release later The Big Brother house too returns with a character in its this year, Doctor Bello is the first movie project to be own right, studded with 53 cameras and 120 microphones. financed in part by the recently established Nigerian Once again, the house Intervention Fund for the arts features a bold new design in and entertainment industry line with the theme of the administered by NEXIM Bank. series.

The movie centres on Dr. Set to perform three of his Michael Durant, a cancer hit-making songs, sensational specialist who in a bid to American music star J.Cole overcome his emotional will take to the stage at the trauma, having lost his Big Brother StarGame launch, 10year old daughter to kicking off the show in fine cancer develops a form! He is expected to relationship with perform Can't Get Enough, Sam, a sick Nobody's Perfect and Work Out The show is headline-sponsored by Coca-Cola and produced for M-Net's AfricaMagic by Endemol South Africa.

but boisterous seven year old son of a rich Jewish couple who are major donors to the hospital's cancer research fund.

Determined to save Sam who later goes into coma, a Nigerian Nurse

persuades him to visit Dr. Bello, an inexperienced Nigerian Doctor who is known in Brooklyn-African underground as a miracle worker.

Sam recovers speedily after Dr. Bello secretly visits him at night and dispenses a strange African medicine. Surprised by the new twist, the hospital medical board investigates the case and suspends Dr. Durant.

Dr. Bello who is later arrested and indicted for medical malpractices falls critically ill in jail and can only be saved if he administers the same medicine which can only be found in the mysterious "garden of life" located on the peak of Nigeria's sky mountains.

•Genevieve

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Entertainment

The Nigerian music scene is heavily saturated but Bukola Folayan is one female rapper who has weathered the storm.

Fresh from a tour of several cities in the UK, USA and Canada, she is back to do what she knows best, rap. Bouqui, as she is better known, takes OVWE MEDEME on a journey through her early days as an artiste. She also talks about her passion and a host of other issues.

Y

OU have been quiet for a while; what has been happening to Bouqui?

I haven't really been in the country. I've been on an unending tour and I am back now. While I was on tour, I came to drop a track titled Morile. I went back and I returned to drop Take You Away. It was more of an evangelistic tour.

We did 16 states in America, 32 cities in Europe and 5 states in Canada. We just kept moving. Also, I did a campus tour in Nigeria last year. We went round a couple of campuses. In OAU, we had over 15,000 people in attendance; in Babcock University, we had over 8,000 and Unilag had about 7,000 people. It was amazing. We are just trying to do what we can in our own little capacity.

Now that you are back, what are your fans to expect from you?

I am shooting new videos at the moment. I am doing some stuff which I am not allowed to talk about.

This year will be an eventful year for me. It started slow because of the subsidy issue

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Rap music is a gift from God –Bouqui

but we are still working.

How did you end up in the arts?

Arts runs in my family. Even though my father was a professor, music has always been a part of my family. As a young man, my father was the organist of his church and my mother was also in the choir. It has been music all my life. I started music when I was about five years old. I attended different schools of music; I used to sing at the club every Saturday and the Girls Brigade. It has always been all about the arts for me.

Did your folks complain when you decided to take on music as a full time career?

Initially,

What fame does to you is that it magnifies who you really are.

It is just like money.

Money has no character.

It takes on the character of the person spending it

my dad didn't like it. My mum wanted me to do what I desired. Over time, when you want to do something and confidence exudes within you, they see that you are serious about what you are doing. I have been doing it for 15 years. When I started, my father didn't like it. He always thought I would be a Medical Doctor.

Did you set out to study medicine?

Of course, yes. All my life, they thought I would be a Medical Doctor because that was what I wanted. I attended a pure science school and my jamb subjects were all science related.

What did you hope to achieve when you set out to do music?

I didn't really know what I wanted to achieve. I just wanted to do music. I loved music and I knew I had stuff that when heard, people would be blessed. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know what I was doing. I was just doing music. I knew I had something in me that people needed to hear. I needed to evangelize.

Rap music is perceived as promoting negativity. How effective has that genre been in evangelizing?

Rap is a gift and it is a talent that God has given us. The Bible says that every good and perfect gift is sent from above.

Violence, shooting, adultery, fornication and all that are works of the devil. So, if the devil is using a very influential genre to promote his cause, that doesn't mean it is his gift. He has no gift; he just perverted those gifts because he knows that is what the youths want to listen to.

I would not say because they put alcohol in some cake or some bread, I would not eat it anymore. It is just perversion. It is the devil trying to subvert a means that he knows is very influential.

It is the spirit behind my music that paves the way for me. I am not trying to do hiphop to make people see that I can rap. It is a tool that I am using to get to people who listen to that kind of music. Instead of listening to hip-hop and trying to smoke or drive yourself crazy, you can listen to it and have peace.

Between preaching the gospel and the profit, which motivates you more?

Of course, it is preaching the gospel.

Some of my engagements are held on the pavements. In some of them, I don't even sing. I was in Canada last year just to talk for 10 minutes to a bunch of kids. It is really not about making money. Most of the time I want people to understand that more than being called a gospel artiste, it is the passion for what I do that pushes me. Trust me, if I want to make money, I know the kind of songs I would sing that

would fetch me money. Take away the profit, I would still be into this because most of the time, there is no profit. Music gives me the platform to reach people.

Did you study music in school?

I studied Administration but my father wanted me to be a Medical Doctor so when I finished my Secondary School, he took me to my uncle's house. My uncle had a hospital in Lagos, so I lived with him. I saw him performed surgery several times but the third surgery left me speechless. There was so much blood that I couldn't sleep for weeks. I was just 14 years old. I called my mum to tell her that I couldn't do it anymore because I saw too much blood. I had to change over to Administration. My father was heartbroken, he didn't like it but it's still my life. I am not a Medical Doctor today but I heal people with music.

Has your career affected your personality in any way?

I don't trade my personal life for anything. That is why you never hear anything about me. You hear about my music, my tours and my shows but you don't hear me talk about my life. That is the ten percent of my life, like a tithe of my life that I am withholding to myself.

Everything else the audience can have.

There are very many things about me that I don't want people to know because the music is what they need.

Why is the divorce rate among artistes very high?

That notion is false. The divorce rate in the world is high but because anything that happens to celebrities becomes news.

That is why you hear it.

How do you think celebrities can save their marriages?

It's all about character which is not a function of being a celebrity. What fame does to you is that it magnifies who you really are. It is just like money. Money has no character. It takes on the character of the person spending it. Money in the hands of a preacher is not the same as money in the hands of an armed robber. It is not about being a celebrity. Marriage is marriage. The truth is that when you enter your home and the doors are locked, all your celebrity personality is thrown out of the window, except if you are a fool.

Are you married?

No, I am not.

Are you not thinking in that aspect?

I am thinking of it.

How soon will you walk down the aisle?

I will be doing that very soon. You will be the first to hear.

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

39

Highlife musician, Ochonma stages comeback!

F

OLLOWING a long break from the music scene, Highlife, Makossa and Soukous exponent of the late 80s and 90s, Innocent Chuks Onyekwere Ochonma is set for a comeback into the music scene.

Known for his popular hit songs like O Di Giwe and Sofri -Sofri, the Anti- Aids Campaign Tune with which he used to send and spread the message on the dreadfulness of the HIV/AIDS disease to the society, Ochonma is back with a new single that will hit the airwaves in matter of days, Got To Be Me. Unlike the musician, this new single is an eclectic R&B. On what informed the new style, Ochonma revealed that he is only diversifying. “I'm not abandoning my highlife music but only diversifying to do mainstream music and to also increase my fan base.

I want to use this song to attract the attention of the younger generation who are not fortunate to listen to my music years back. It is a process and everything will soon balance”.

The musician has three albums to his credit which are Afro Highlife released in 1996, Sofri Sofri in 1999 and O Di Giwe in 2001.

Family on Fire

A ‘family value campaign’ movie premiere K

NOWN for his deep and thoughtprovoking analysis of thematic issues through the motion pictures platform, Tade Ogidan, producer and director of Diamond Ring and Madam Dearest, among other blockbuster movies, is back with a scintillating thriller that focuses, not just on the good family crusade but also the good society value campaign.

Entitled Family on Fire, the movie was shot about six years ago, but with a relevance that is not ephemeral, especially in the traditional African family institution. The third and perhaps the biggest exhibition so far was what OGD Pictures, the production outfit described as the VVIP premiere at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Center last Tuesday, being Workers Day. The highly dramatic and eventful premiere, which attracted top government officials from Lagos State, representatives of some financial institutions, captains of industry, friends and family members, was the third in the series of premieres which began in London early in the year, and another leg held two weeks ago at the All Season's Plaza, Lagos.

The side attractions at the premiere took the same format. Ogidan, known for his style of music, dance and drama engaged all cast from his previous works and OGD All Stars crew to convey the messages embedded in the movie through highly comical stage plays, unprecedented rendition of songs by actors not known for the art of music, and highly entertaining energetic choreography.

Not long after comedian and TV presenter, Teju Babyface kick-started the evening with rib-cracking jokes, veteran actor and Nduka of the 'Checkmate' fame, Bimbo Manuel stormed the stage, singing with lady Ayo, one of late Christy Essien's hits; 'Omomi S' Onrere'. Thus, a richly costumed Manuel who doubled as the narrator for that segment of the show opened the mood for the night

Victor Akande, Entertainment Editor

of moral engagement.

A spectacle to behold, even as young thespians, Gabriel Afolayan and Kabirat Kafidipe, came under the revolving colour variant stage light, with a romantic rendition of an uncommon love song. They both acted the lines as they sang away in tango. Next was lover-boy actor, Desmond Elliot, singing Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry'. Knocking the chords of the guitar to produce melodious tune, the actor stole the heart of the audience whom he took his performance very close to, as he moved around the VIP tables.

Entered actress and singer Lizzy, doing a popular children eulogy; 'Omo L' Aso' (a child is a parent's best coverlet). The dancing kids were not left out in the dramatic prowess, twisting and skipping to the rhythm of the talking drum.

Tattooed, ragged, smoking, dread-locked, sagging, tattered, rough, tough and wild, it was the turn of this weird looking young men and women who stormed the stage with an energetic choreography to the lyrics of a

song titled 'Its My Life'.

In the midst of the subtle criticism, drama and laughter, it was certain that the message of the evening was not lost in ecstasy.

In one of the plays, the elders while scolding today's child, did agree that they too went through the formative years, exhibiting youthful exuberances. This they dramatised, dancing to great 'old school' hits

by Shalamar, New Edition, Michael Jackson, etc. But they are worried that kids of nowadays appear more daring and exposed to new technologies that make their situation more precarious in what is known as today's jet age.

With role models, RMD, Stella Damasus, P.Square, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, and First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, all speaking up against child excesses, good family/society values, in a testimonial promo, the stage was set for the screening of Family on Fire.

The story centers on Kunle (Saidi Balogun) whose mother handles with kid gloves and as a result, he becomes irresponsible. Kunle who is a drug peddler puts large quantity of cocaine in his mother's luggage as she travels to visit Kunle's older brothers, Femi and Wale in London. Hoping to arrive a day after their mother gets to London to pick up his stuff, but unfortunately, he misses his flight and arrives a few days later after his brother's wife, Bimpe had uncovered the wraps of cocaine in mama's luggage. The drama which almost took the life of Kunle's entire family starts, and even Kunle couldn't believe all that unfold as a result of his dubious quest for wealth.

Ogidan explained that his desire for the movie was to get sponsors who could assist in community showing of the films where the youth and parents could learn the lessons from the AMAA nominated family centred film.

Ochonma

Three masterclasses for Cannes 2012

A

S is the tradition, every year, the Cannes Film Festival invites prominent figures from the world of cinema to give “Master-classes” focus on Directing. From time to time, the Master-classes explore other aspects of filmmaking.

And so, for the 65th anniversary, Philip Kaufman, Alexandre Desplat and the veteran American Norman Lloyd will each speak about their work at the Buñuel Theatre followed by Questions and Answers Session with the audience.

Director of the celebrated film, The Right Stuff and the film adaptation of Milan Kundera's novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Philip Kaufman has been a prominent figure in American cinema since the 1960s. He will be treating the topic, A Lesson in Directing.

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Entertainment

BIG

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

CINEMA GUIDE LAGOS

PICTURE Supported by: SILVERBIRD CINEMAS

American Reunion: Semblance of facebook thrill

I

N this comedy called American Reunion, all the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their highschool reunion. In one longoverdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship. It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye.

Directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and written by Adam Herz, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, this romantic comedy gives such a cringeworthy idea of reunion like what is obtainable in today's Facebook generation.

Overall, the performers are trying hard and all perform as good as they can given the scripting and story.

American Reunion brings together the original cast for a redundant experience with the thinnest veil of a story that invariably makes you dislike the core characters that you originally loved. The only moments that you may enjoy come from Stifler one liners and Rebecca DeMornay's cameo (for those Risky Business & Hand That Rocks The Cradle fans out there).

Titanic Featured Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Billy Zane Genre: Drama Running Time194 min Trespass Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman and Cam Gigandet Genre: Comedy Running Time: 91 min Dr Seuss'- The Lorax 3D Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time86 min 21 Jump Street Featured Actors: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube Genre: Comedy and Sequel Running Time109 Mins Machine Gun Preacher Featured Actors: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time129 min Phone Swap Featured Actors: Wale Ojo, Nse Etim Ikpe, and Ghanaian Superstar, Lydia Forson Genre: Comedy Running Time Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam

Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 99 min Best Exortic Marigold Hotel Genre: Action/Adventure Contraband Genre: Action/Adventure John Carter Featured Actors: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time132 min Man on a Ledge Featured Actors: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks and Jamie Bell Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time102 min

ABUJA

The Vow: A promise hard to keep

W

HEN a movie calls itself "The Vow," it is obvious that serious love and its relationship is involved. This is the case with the new romantically and medically challenged flick starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, Scott Speedman, Jessica Lange, Sam Neill, and Jessica McNamee.

Anchored on the theme of emotion, this movie may move you close to tears. Directed by Michael Sucsy, Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Tatum) play a young married couple living on the North Side of Chicago. She's a sculptor, he's a studio engineer, and all is bliss until, just moments into the film, a car crash renders Paige comatose.

Upon waking, she doesn't remember the last five years of her life doesn't remember meeting or marrying Leo or the crucial reason she broke with her family and previous fiancĂŠ, Jeremy (Speedman), or why she left law school to pursue art. But Leo, just as bewildered, realizes he must woo his wife anew.

The Vow is a remarkably sedate thing, an earnest and occasionally touching romantic drama that sweeps aside the devastating narrative potential of a traumatic brain injury to traffic in a more benign depiction of amnesia.

Genre: Action/Adventure Dr Seuss' the Lorax Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Drama Running Time: 86 min Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 99 min The Scores Featured Actors: Aremu Afolayan, saheed balogun ,Eniola olaniyan , Olumide Trespass Bakare,sunkanmi omobolanle Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Genre: Drama Nicole Kidman and Cam Phone Swap Gigandet Featured Actors: Wale Ojo, Genre: Drama Nse Etim Ikpe, and Ghanaian Running Time: 91 min Superstar, Lydia Forson True Citizens Genre: Comedy Featured Actors: Uti Man on a Ledge Nwachukwu, Alex Usifo, Featured Actors: Sam Brian Okwara, Clareth Worthington, Elizabeth Banks Onukogu, Keneth Okolie, and Jamie Bell Clara Iweh, and Melvin Odua. Genre: Action/Adventure

PORT HARCOURT The Ides of March Featured Actors: Paul Giamatti, George Clooney and Philip Seymour Hoffman Genre: Drama Running Time: 101 Mins True Citizen Genre: Drama Running Time: 97 Mins 21 Jump Street Featured Actors: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube Genre: Comedy and Sequel Running Time: 109 Mins Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Featured Actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Danny DeVito Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 86 Mins Trespass Featured Actors: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman and Cam Gigandet Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 91 Mins Wrath of the Titans Featured Actors: Sam

Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike Genre: Action/Adventure Phone Swap Genre: Drama Running Time: 70 Mins Machine Gun Preacher Featured Actors: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon Genre: Action/Adventure

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

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After her triumphant, record-breaking year, Adele faced surgeryand silence. With her voice back, she opens up to Jonathan Van Meter about fame, family, and what the future holds. Excerpts

The

one

and only Adele

E

VERY singer knows the List: citrus, vinegar, mint, dairy, spicy or fried foods, fizzy drinks, caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol. These are the vocal cords' enemies. And when one has a five-octave contralto as dynamic, award-winning, money making, and record-breaking as Adele Laurie Blue Adkins does, one figures out how to avoid these things.

Some require less effort than others. Mint?

Vinegar? Feh. Cigarettes? Not so easy. Over the few days that I spend around Adele, I see her sneak a fag here and there. No one is perfect. But alcohol? For a once hard-drinking South London pub girl who has admitted that she has written some of her best songs after a few belts, I would have thought this might present something of a challenge. Not so much, it turns out. Adele hasn't had a drink since last June. She gave it up cold turkey right around her birthday (May 5) last year. “Don't like drinking anymore,” she says in an accent that falls somewhere between Eliza Doolittle and David Beckham. “I think I got it out of my system.

D'yaknowhaImean?”

Adele has had a lot of time to think, too, about performing for the first time in five months at the Grammys. She was nominated in November for six awards, including the brass ring, Album of the Year. “I burst into tears when I found out,” she says. “And I would love, absolutely love, to win. This record is coming to an end, and that would be the final brick on it.” (Given her album's magic, genre-crossing powers, it's hard to imagine anyone else going home with the prize.)

One day in London, her publicist at Sony in the U.S., Benny Tarantini, brings her a bunch of year-end issues of American magazines, three of which had her on the cover, and one of which, Entertainment Weekly, contained a love letter of a piece written by no less than Julia Roberts. I watch from across the room as she absentmindedly flips through them while talking to Tarantini. When her miniature dachshund, Louis Armstrong, comes scampering up, she tosses the magazines aside and scoops up Louis, her priorities made visible.

It's clear that Adele has very mixed feelings about the machinery of fame. When I jokingly ask her later if the novelty has worn off, she says very firmly, “The novelty's not worn off.” She takes a second to think about it. “That Julia Roberts thing? I was flabbergasted. I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to. But it was just filling up my day with hatred. So, loads of friends emailed me the Julia Roberts link.

And that was truly like. . . . I c a n ' t remember not knowing of her!”

And yet she d o e s n ' t always enjoy the celebrity circus. “I hate t h e r e d carpet. I

don't feel insecure, I just feel like, Oh, I don't want to do this. I literally get a stomach cramp.

At the VMA's last year I felt really out of my comfort zone because there were so many superstars there. But that's been the case from day one. I never feel like, Oh, yeah, I should be here. And I was missing my best friend's hen night. So I was a bit bitter that I wasn't there, to be perfectly honest.”

Both of Adele's albums are breakup records, which means that the stories she tells onstage tend to be about the exes who broke her heart and whom she sometimes eviscerates. “Even though my emotions aren't with my ex at all anymore,” she says, “it's still like stepping back into that really painful time. So every show is pretty emotional. It takes a toll.”

The man whom 21 is largely about is ten years older than Adele and has somehow managed to remain anonymousan admirable feat in this era of phone-hacking tabloid journalism. More recently, Adele has been singing a slightly different tune about Mr. Wrong. “You know, he was amazing. He was great. But it was never going to work. And for ages I was like, As if he deserves any fucking kudos for inspiring my record.

But now, after some time, it only seems right that the person who so far has had the biggest impact on mehas now changed my life for fucking ever with this albumdeser ves a little credit. I can do things that I never drea m e d I'd be able to do. If I hadn't m e t him,

I think I'd still be that little girl I was when I was eighteen. And the best thing is, I now know what I want for myself and from someone else. I didn't know what I wanted before.”

There is, of course, a downside to being a girl who sings her own blues. For one thing, there is a widely held misconception that Adele is in a constant funk. “People think that I'm fucking miserable,” she says. “They are really surprised when they meet me that I'm chatty and bubbly and kind of quite carefree really. I'm the total opposite of my records.”

The other pitfall is that she has been so open that it's hard to turn back the tide of interest in her personal life. “There's so much attention on how I'm feeling,” she says. “But I think I have to be respectful of the fact that people are buying into me, which I think a lot of artists strive for and it doesn't always happen. It gives me a boost that people like my music and seem to like me.

On the other hand, I feel like I give so much that that boundary has been broken a little bit. I am not moaning about it, because it comes with the job, but I can't go back to my London house, because the press are always there.” But then, she calls her own bluff. “After my first record, interviewers were like, 'Are you going to be as sharing and as honest on your next record?' And I was like, 'No, I think I've learned my lesson.'

And then I did it again! But even more magnified!” She starts laughing. “So as much as I'm like, 'I want to be private! Don't take my fucking picture!,' I did ask for it.”

When I repeat the notion that I have heard that it's going to take a brave man to date her again, she says, “Come on! I'm wifey material! I'm great. No one's got to be brave. It's not like, 'You fuck me over and I'm going to write a record and make you the most hated man in the world.' I am never writing a breakup record again, by the way. I'm done with being a bitter witch.”

One evening, at Adele's photo shoot in a cold dark warehouse in North London, she suddenly appears from behind a long black curtain flushed and all aflutter. Like a true diva, she goes running out into the street, barefoot, clutching her cell phone, in full hair and makeup, wearing a yellow Oscar de la Renta ball dress. When she reappears, she is breathless. She hands her phone to Rose and says, “He's out in the car having a smoke. If he calls, go out and bring him in.” When the mystery gentleman appears a short while later, it quickly becomes clear that he is Adele's new boyfriend, Simon Konecki, a big bear of a guy with a husky voice and a hipster vibehe has the telltale full beard and a slouchy, gentle aspect. He hangs around, chatting up

Rose and attending to his new girl when she gets a break from shooting.

“He's wonderful,” Adele tells me later. “And he's proud of me, but he don't care about what I do or what other people think. He looks after me. I don't think I would have gotten through the recovery for my surgery if it hadn't been for him.”

One hopes this works out for Adele, a girl who seems to have a thing for older, bearish, manly men. (One day, when I ask her what her London apartment is like, she says, “It's a bit of a cream dream. My favorite kind of interior is the entire look of the movie It's Complicated.” She levels me with a look. “I love Alec Baldwin. Oh, my God, I've got the biggest crush on him in that film. He's so sexy.”) For someone so young, Adele seems to have a powerful urge to settle down and start a family of her own. Indeed, in three interviews, it is the topic that comes up the most. One day, I ask about her future. “I am fucking off for four or five years,” she says. “If I am constantly working, my relationships fail. So at least now I can have enough time to write a happy record. And be in love and be happy.

And then I don't know what I'll do. Get married.

Have some kids. Plant a nice vegetable patch.”

The fact that Adele was raised an only child by a single mum doesn't quite paint the full picture. She has a huge extended family. “I've got loads of nieces and nephews,” she says. “My mom is one of five and everyone's got kids and all the kids have started having kids, so when I say nieces and nephews I mean my second cousins really. Mom's side is massive. All brilliant. Dominated by women and all really helping each other out, so even though she brought me up on her own, it was kind of a team effort.” (This, she says, is one of the reasons she is so loud: “You had to fight to get your voice heard because everyone was screaming and chatting at the same time.”)

Perhaps it's too easy to assume that Adele's compulsion to find and keep a man, not to mention her attraction to older men, is all part of a daddy complex, but it is tempting nonetheless.

The fact that she so exquisitely expresses her heartbreak over the loss and betrayal of men in her life through her music may very well be because she's been feeling that loss and betrayal since she was a child. When I mention that the lyrics to songs she wrote when she was still a teenager have such an emotional intelligence and maturity, she says, “I have no idea where it comes from. I don't read literature. I don't have a very big capacity for language and words. I'm quite limited when it comes to just chatting. But my head comes alive when I'm writing music, and I start using words and describing emotions I had no idea existed in me.” She stares at me with those big green eyes. “In person, I can never talk about my feelings either. If you were my fellow and we were having a serious conversation, I'd be laughing. Or just crying. I can never be articulate with how something is making me feel. I can never find the words.”

Courtesy: Vogue

42

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

ROSE ODIKA

I have no social life

Besides acting, popular Nollywood actress, Rose Odika, is also the Creative Director of Rose JB Couture, founder, 'Queen of the Runway' model and an artiste. In this interview with Kehinde Falode, she speaks about her latest project and other issues

H

OW are you able to juggle being an actress, designer and promoting modelling?

It is the grace of God that is taking me places, because without that grace, I can't be where I am today. But besides this, I have this determination to make it in life.

And with that strength and belief, I know that there is nothing I cannot achieve in life.

Can you shed light on your modelling contest?

Yes I have a modelling contest called 'Queen of the Runway' and what motivated me into it is that I feel I am too restless to be just an actress. Like I said earlier, there is this push I have to do great things. So, I decided to go into the runway, because I have gone to different fashion shows and I have seen those girls on the runway and I said to myself one can take these girls beyond just sashaying on the runway without being celebrated.

When you go to fashion show, it just ends there; we want to bring them (models) out to the world to know that there are lots you can achieve being a Nigerian model. We need more competition for these girls so that we can take the modelling industry to the next level. Secondly, the project is aimed at harnessing the works of our fashion designers and the models together. And thirdly, it will help these girls to go places than just being stereotyped as ordinary models.

There are several model contests around, so what makes yours unique?

At the risk of sounding immodest, by the time my competition takes off, people will see the difference between my modelling contest and others. There is going to be a whole lot of things that will make

my contest different from other contests that have ever existed but I don't want to start blowing my trumpet at least for now.

Who are the people you are partnering with?

I'm working together with the Nigeria Next Super Model owned by Mrs. Joan Okorodudu, who is my mentor.

How does it feel to be a designer?

It feels good to be a designer. Fashion has always been part of me since I was young. I'm very creative and know how to put colours together. So, my venturing into the fashion industry is for me to exploit my talent. I have been in the film industry for over 20years, so it became boring for me at some point. It was not challenging anymore, so I had to diversify into something else. I am too restless to keep doing the same thing for so long.

Do you feel threatened by the old, well established and highly successful modelling companies in the country?

In fact, we do not have enough in the country. I am doing my own in Ibadan and I think I am the first and the only modelling contest running in Ibadan. So, we still need more, because it is not exposed yet to people and these are things one can focus on. For now, there are no challenges.

How do you balance your busy work life with your responsibilities as a mother?

It takes the grace of God. I try as

much as possible to plan my schedule well ahead of time. My social life is zero; I am not sociable at all. The only time I socialise is when my very close friends are having functions. Since I know that my social life is zero, I know the number of hours I want to work in a day and I divide it within my fashion, music and acting career.

As a fashion designer, what is the ABC of good clothing?

For me, it's the finishing.

I don't believe in the saying 'Oh what is reigning is the flowing gown', and so everybody must wear it. I believe an outfit must sit well on you and makes you look good.

Your outfit must also do justice to your physique.

What is the most common style mistake women make?

The most common fashion mistake women make is that they don't look for what suits them; as long as that thing is in vogue, they want to wear it, and most times, it looks awful on some people. Most importantly, women should stop exposing parts of their body that should not be exposed.

What is style to you?

Style is when I am able to express how I feel at any particular moment; style is creating my own niche and style is creating a brand for oneself.

What is your dress determinant?

My mood determines what I wear because if I am not happy, I don't dress well. So, my mood firstly then the occasion determines what I wear.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

43

Social KAYODE ALFRED

(E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com, Tel: 08035733605, 08099400057)

Bode Pedro, Bella Naija, pick wedding date

P

OPULAR blogger Uchenna Eze has finally picked a wedding date for her much awaited nuptials to the man she loves, Bode Adegboyega Pedro, the eldest son of the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Femi Pedro and his wife, Justice Jumoke Pedro. May 19 is the D-day when the young lovebirds will exchange matrimonial vows in a society wedding that promises to live up to its billing. The first leg of the event will kick off at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, while a grand reception follows thereafter at the Banquet Hall of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Uche is the founder of popular society and entertainment blog, Bella Naija, through which she has garnered widespread acclaim. Bode, on the other hand, is a graduate of the University of Maryland in the United States and the CEO of VEDA Technologies. In the last few months, the couple had crisscrossed the world to shop for the best wedding apparels. And for the bride's make-up, foremost make-up expert, Banke Meshida-Lawal of the BM Pro fame, has been penciled down.

Abby Ikomi steps out of her cocoon

A

BBI, the delectable wife of bespectacled MD/CEO of Keystone Bank, Oti Ikomi, is definitely having the time of her life. Prior to her husband's appointment as a bank CEO, Abbi lived a life of anonymity, which many, however, believe was a façade to mask the real her. But that was then. Now, she seems to be enjoying all the attention that comes with being a bank MD's better-half. The beautiful lady is now a common sight at highend shindigs in town in company of her husband and family friends like Sandra and Femi Solebo. Besides being beautiful, Abbi has also been exhibiting traits of a prospective fashion icon. With enough money at her beck and call, she can afford to live the affluent lifestyle.

Society lady, Emelda Osuji floats TV show

E

Sami Omai plans to serenade mum at 90

B

ARRING any last minute hitch, MD of Fundsworth Limited, Sami Omai, will, in giving thanks to God for the life of his mother, Madam Hannah Olabisi Omai, gather friends and family for a feast of all times. The feast, slated to take place on the 13th of May in Lagos, promises to be all there is and more. While other details are yet to be concluded, the Lagos social scene is abuzz with the news of the coming party. The celebrant, a fashionable woman in her younger years, is equally looking forward to the D-day with so much anxiety and joy.

MELDA Osuji, the vivacious lady behind Women and Modesty, a non-governmental organization, which promotes decency among women, youth and the society at large, has just berthed with a new television talk-show christened 'Decent Times'. The TV show's primary focus is to promote decency, particularly among women in the society.

In a brief chat with SC, Osuji stated, “I preach decency and my image and appearance must be seen to tally with my campaign to rid the society of indecency.” Osuji further expressed misgivings at reports in some quarters against her unique hat concept, which has generated so much attention from several quarters. The cap concept, Osuji explai ns, is a uniq ue contact with the decency campaign. She adde d that the concept of her long and flat caps was designed to serve as the logo for the campaign.

Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi sets to bury dad

F

ORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, is getting set to accord his father, Deacon Afolabi Afikuyomi, who passed on some weeks ago, a befitting burial. The ceremony takes place from May 9 to May 11. SC gathered that the service of songs will take place at the deceased's residence at Iju, Ifako/Ijaiye residence on May 9. The christian wake keep follows on th the 10 of May, also at his residence, while the church service holds at the First Baptist Church, Sabo, Yaba, with the final interment at Family Vaults, Ikoyi Cemetary. Reception will follow immediately at Haven Events Centre, Oba Akinjobi, GRA, Ikeja, with Evangelist Ebenezer Obey on the bandstand.

44

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Glamour

&

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

Elizabeth Ekor-Obi, wife of former Military Governor of Bayelsa State, Col. Peter Obi(retd), recently celebrated her 50th birthday and 25years of marriage in Lagos, reports Olusegun Rapheal

Ekor Obi celebrates her 50th birthday and 25years of marriage

• Olorogun Otega Emehor and his wife

•L-R: Gen. Alex Ogomudia(retd), Gen. Owoye Azazi and Mr Emeka Ugwu-Oju

• Mrs Chinyere Dozie (left) and Mrs Stella Okoli, MD, Emzor Pharmaceuticals

•The celebrator and her hubby, Ekor Obi with their children cutting the birthday cake

• Mr Uduimo Itsueli and his wife

• Chief and Mrs. Ephraim Faloughi wife

• L-R: Mr Timi Alaibe and Mr Victor Osibodu

• Dr and Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams

•L-R: Dr. Kunle Onime, Kunle Ogunyale and Chief Toyin Atiba

•L-R: Onitire of Itire, Oba Latifu Dauda and Olojo of Ojo, Oba Galibu Rufai

•Celebrator, Mubashiru Hassan and wife, Tayo

Mubashiru Hassan Turns 50

•L-R: Hon. Kamal SalauBashua and Jubril Kareem

L

AGOS State Auditor General for Local Government, Alhaji Mubashiru Muhammad Hassan, penultimate Thursday, feted friends and relatives as he celebrated his 50th birthday at Santos Estate, Shasha, Lagos. Olusegun Rapheal was there

•L-R: Adedeji Beecroft, Engr. Bolanle Sipe and Olusola Adekunle

•Chairperson, Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Morenike Adesina-Williams and Chairman, Alimosho Local Government, Hon. Sola Adekunle

•L-R: Cornellius Ojelabi, Saliu Adio Sekoni and Dr. Tope Saidi

•L-R: Mrs. Toyin Sogunle, Adetoun Akintoye and Shade Oyebanji

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

47

VOL 1 NO. 037

Consumer experience G

lobally, brand building and successful marketing is coming down to relationship building and management, real hard, for brands. Consumer brand experience now come down with direct impact on sales graphs and figures in quantifiable terms, more than ever before. It is gradually catching on with discerning brand managers, especially with banks, airlines telecom companies, hotels and leisure.

In developed economies, loyalty program as sale tool has even moved from accumulating gain-points on consumer engagement or experience to becoming very important element of an over-all customer strategy based on total experience including dialogue, insight and personalized offers. For example, hotels are now using information gleaned from loyalty program to customize the consumer experience by adding personal touches to rooms. Banks now practice customer reward system based on intimacy and value of engagement in form of customized personal service delivery, by tying together several products into pointsbased loyalty programs.

What markets stated above do, is reward different customers differently. Given that loyalty program as a marketing tool, its effectiveness depends on a given brand's program so as will attract or entice the right customers to remain loyal. At the end of the day, it all comes down to cost computation, therefore, as in other strategic tools, customer loyalty program must be designed to attract plus return on investment.

The most basic kind of loyalty program is based purely on transactions. Customers accumulate points redeemable for free goods or discounts on related products. It's a tactical or promotional marketing initiative, also capable of stimulating revenue in the short term. So the trend is tasking on creativity and strategic planning on the basis of experiential marketing support. It basically engages customers in form of appreciation for experiencing or engaging the brand, such that connects brand and customer at a point of friendship way beyond the brand's core value essence. It is about personalizing the relationship between brand and customer; it's about consumer experience.

I once had a very exciting loyalty program experience with Emirate airline in one of my travels from Dubai to Lagos. Going by their program design, the lot fell on me to be rewarded as a frequent flyer, in form of class upgrade. The experience of flying on Business Class from my Economy Class went a long way to establish the loyalty I developed for the brand (unfortunately that friendship was compromised when I lost one of my luggages in a subsequent trip). Such is brands' gains from a well executed loyalty program, and the developed market is driving further in the use of such programs to drive customer loyalty, competitive advantage and total consumer satisfaction.

Unfortunately, brands in our local market are yet to connect with this unique global trend. Instead, the population of unhappy customers keeps growing. Across segments in our local market, the overriding marketing objective is rather brutal, unfriendly and selfish. Most of the brands in almost all of the market segments are primarily concerned with meeting market target in volume and value terms, not minding the consumer experience not even with franchises of global brands in this market.

They all gain from the huge size of this market, being the largest market in Africa, and compromise the consumers because of the largely unregulated nature

of the market.

How else would one look at the consumer experience of a brand like MultiChoice/DSTV in Nigeria? In the first place, customers have to go through a lot of deprivation in terms of time and resources to be connected, and then continue with the exorbitant subscription paid through an equally tedious process. To add to it all, they broadcast stale contents / programs repeatedly, totally disregarding decency and respect for viewers' money. Now, all that happens and continue to happen because the system does not have effective and efficient checks to regulate trade and practice of brands such as MultiChoice/DSTV. The situation is even made worse by the character of consumers in this market. To a great extent, lack of options really leaves the average consumer without choice. As in the case of the cable television market, what choice is there to enable the average consumer make rationale decision, even in the face of compromises? In fact, it is so bad, corporate customers and some very high net-worth subscribers pay two years on ahead on account, for uninterrupted experience because there are no options.

The good thing, however, is that the economy is opening up to foreign influences. They may not be obviously purposeful with exposing the Nigerian customer to the luxurious customer treatment in their home markets (cost consideration), but the vestiges will manifest in the long run. Kentucky Fried Chicken,

Woolworth and Shoprite are all going to change the face of brands management in this market in the long run. The telecom market is peculiar in influence as a tool for socio-economic development, no doubt, but it remains the one market requiring of improved customer experience management. As in the retail and fast food markets, change is coming the way brands in these markets are managed, considering that with time, consumer appreciation will grow, resulting in a more purposeful brands management.

The most manifest of brands support today is product campaigns. Because advertising is most often not based on challenging consumer expectation, such initiatives are not deep in concept, creativity and strategy. In fact if it were possible to be absolutely quiet, the few brands that still invest in advertising would have ceased to bother. So, the main objective for most brands communication is consumer mind presence not even top of mind awareness. It is enough for the brand's showing on advert media, just so that it is seen to be advertising.F o r reasons of pseudocompetition, brands in telecom and drinks market (especially the alcoholic drinks segment finds it very easy to hold promotions, promising all sorts of prizes to be won. The interesting about some of the promotions is that they are not primarily consumer rewarding. At best, they heighten consumer awareness and brand consideration because of the exciting prices promised. But we have also gathered that consumers are beginning to doubt the authenticity of some of paraded winners and their prices. So much is done with computer graphics and structured photography to gain in authenticity. But the consumer is getting wiser.

In developed markets, loyalty program as a tactical sales promotion tool has even been taken far beyond basic points gathering, to a more effective engagement that now see brands deliberately investing to learn more about their customers by tracking not just their purchases but also their attitudes and needs. A loyalty program can serve as a platform to facilitate richer, more frequent dialogues with customers, to learn things about them that might not be revealed by their transactions.

The degree to which customers find real value on a loyalty program will depend on how different they are in needs. So the brand will gain more by appreciating the deep individual differences in the diverse array of customers, and treat of them with care at same level of individuality. It will cost much to achieve this, but the brands stands to gain much more at the end. By meeting those needs, brands can create a solid basis for loyalty, improving the right customers' lifetime values and earning a higher in the process. It all comes down to Total Consumer Satisfaction, which should be the primary objective of every brand.

48

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Isis Nyong'o is the Vice President and Managing Director of the African region of InMobi, the world's largest independent mobile advertising network. She previously worked at Google where she specialized in mobile partnerships and business development. She was also part of the founding team of MTV Networks Africa where she was responsible for the network's commercial strategy. Isis who has been named one of the Forbes Top 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa and awarded the Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012, speaks with Rita Ohai on her successful career and gender issues.

A

S a young woman occupying a major leadership position, can you tell us some of the challenges you faced at the start of your professional journey?

At a very early stage, I had a pretty clear idea of the kind of activities I was not going to be included in. I noticed in a couple of instances that a lot of the socialising that happened between the older and younger people was just for the men. Whether it was a golf game or anything else that mattered, women were less included. As time went on, one just realises that it is an 'old boys club'.

What are some of the things you did to surmount those gender barriers?

I have just been very realistic. I have chosen not to focus on the limitations rather I decided to devote my time to doing a good job, building good relationships in a way that would not involve overtures that I am generally not interested in. I am not naïve and I know that from a male perspective, it is just not natural to include a woman in t h e i r activities and I cannot control that perception.

So I just find and try other means to forge constructive relationship . This might take a longer time but I

‘Men shouldn’t be intimidated by powerful women’ believe that not worrying too much about this reality and choosing not to focus on the downsides but sticking to doing a good job is effective.

How do you think women should handle sexual harassment at work?

I know women who have faced sexual harassment in very damaging ways. I am not blind to that fact. What I would

advice is that first of all, from a legal perspective, women need to understand what the laws of the country are about sexual harassment. This will help you know what rights you have and enable you take the proper action at the required time.

If the woman is in a country with no laws about sexual harassment, then it would be obvious that she cannot take legal action because no court would listen to you. In that case, the person would need to look at the situation and try to figure out the choices that are available. It might be reporting to an authority, talking to a peer or a client.

I also think it is important that anyone who is in this circumstance should be able to get support from both those that are outside that situation such as friends and family but also from people within the work environment, whether it is a Manager or Human Resources. What not to do is to just ignore it because that will just make the situation worse. At the same time people should just be a little more sensitive to the feelings of other people. What one person can tolerate or deal with and be fine is very different from what another person can handle.

This issue of sexual harassmen t is not

something that is talked about which is wrong because it gives room to male domination especially in this part of the world where it is generally accepted and this takes away the sense of protection every woman feels.

Having worked within and outside the continent, what is your take of the involvement of women in corporate governance?

I think there are a lot more women who occupy senior positions outside Africa than we have back home. There are many times I have had to be the only woman present at meetings at different levels. However, it is a bit more balanced in South Africa which has a lot more women in leadership roles than men but I have seen that West Africa has a relatively smaller amount of women in businesses. On a personal note, I think this difference is due to the level of development of these economies.

As the Vice-President of such a large organisation, can you tell us what a typical day in your life is like?

It is a day that feels like it would never end because you are always on the job. It is very busy. It is a combination of having a very focused mindset and knowing what you realistically aim to accomplish. In a given day, it is a mixture of external meeting and internal meetings.

At the vice-president level, there is a lot of ground work that needs to be done such as managing the organisation or team building and balancing that with external engagements with clients and other stake holders.

The industry I work in is not time zone bound so I could get a phone call from California or India at 2 am and you have to constantly be in that flexible frame of mind.

Since you are so busy, how do you find time for yourself as a woman?

You will find a way (laughs). You have to build a structure. At this level, I am to a large extent in control of my time. So instead of going to the gym at 5 o'clock in the evening or morning, when other people go, I could go at 10 West Africa has a relatively o'clock in the morning when there smaller amount is a lot less traffic. of women in The structure of my day doesn't follow a businesses. On traditional pattern so a personal note, I try to get creative.

I think this My assistant is a difference is due woman and on a to the level of one-on-one basis we try to do things development of together like going to the salon among these economies other things.

It is assumed that men are generally intimidated by powerful women, what is your take on this?

I have been told that and I do not believe it is a bad thing. Anything that disrupts the normal order of things in people's lives gives them a moment to question the credibility of another person and it is heightened when it is an issue of gender. I do not believe rising up the corporate ladder is something women should be scared of. I do not let it bother me and no woman should let it hinder her progress.

If there was one thing you could change about Nigeria, what would it be?

There are many things I would change (laughs) but the one thing I would start with if I had the power would be the electricity issue. Functional electricity can turn this country around for good.

Tell us a bit about your family background..

I am Kenyan-American. I have three brothers. Both of my parents are doctors, and education was a big focus for our families. I am a recovering tomboy because I am the last child and only girl.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

New WOMAN

49

e g a u g n a Body l tips for o h w n e wom s s e n i s u mean b A

N attractive female manager was having problems dealing with the male employees in her department said, "They never take me seriously". "It's as if they think I'm flirting with themwhich I definitely am not!" she complained.

After watching her interact with members of her staff, I saw the problem. She was trying to discuss work-related issues while using a "social gaze."

Here's what I mean‌ If you create an imaginary triangle, the base of which are the eyes and the apex is midforehead, you will have mapped out the "look of business." When you keep your gaze in that area, you nonverbally signal a nononsense, business-like approach.

When you invert the triangle and move your focus to the area from the eyes to the mouth, you transform your gaze into one more appropriate for social encounters. And a social gaze can be misinterpreted as flirtatiouseven in a business setting.

Knowledge about the business gaze doesn't mean that you should never look in someone's social gaze area. (It can be highly effective to do so, using direct eye contact only when you want to emphasize important points.) Women, however, need to be aware that to be taken seriously in business interactions, a business gaze has the strongest impact.

That's only one of the workplace body language issues faced uniquely by women.

Another has to do with head tilts.

In primitive tribes, tilting the head was a way of hearing more clearly in order to be alerted to sounds of danger. Today, head tilting is a signal that someone is interested and involved. It is a particularly feminine gesture. Head tilts can be very positive cues, but they are also subconsciously processed as submission signals. In business dealings with men, women should keep their heads straight up in a neutral position (or they should at least be aware of the nonverbal message they are sending when they don't).

Be aware of these additional nonverbal cues: Women who have a firm handshake make a more favorable impression and are more likely to be judged as confident and assertive. So take the time to cultivate your "professional" handshake. Keep your body squared off to the other personfacing him or her fully. Make sure you have palm-to-palm contact and that the web of your hand touches the web of the other person's. And, most of all, remember to shake hands firmly.

One way that status is demonstrated nonverbally in a business meeting is by physically taking up room. Lower-status, less-confident men (and most women) tend to pull in and keep all of their materials in one neat pile, while high status males take up a lot of room. So at your next meeting, spread out your papers and claim your turf.

More predictably than their male counterparts, women (when sitting) adopt an open-arm posture in the presence of someone they like. Women also tend to fold their arms across their chest when they feel indifferent to or dislike the other person. So watch what your arms are "saying." They may give away more than you know.

Clothes make a strong visual statement about how a woman sees herself; it is here where females really have an edge in dressing for success. Appropriate dress is a way of expressing respect for the situation and the people in it. So a savvy female will change her look to suit specific business situations.

Teresa is a management consultantand a

master at dressing for the role. She loves to wear hot pink, turquoise, and fire-engine-red silk dresses with stiletto heels and lots of bling to work in her New York City office.

However, the moment she has to meet with a conservative client, or one who is going through difficult times, Teresa transforms herself into a prim professional whose outfit matches the way she wants to be perceived.

(In her words: "The success I dress for is that of my client.")

One member of her staff recalls meeting Teresa at the headquarters of a nonprofit religious organization where they were to conduct focus groups. The staff member

Relationships Deola Ojo

08027454533 (text) Pastordeegfc@yahoo.com

Before you say goodbye Continued from last week

A

lady may be attracted to a man who seems muscular and talks to subordinates in a gruff manner and then they complain that he is too tough. A lady may seem to be a goal getter but later appear to want to run everything including your own personal life.

While there may be good reasons for breaking up a relationship, many singles have broken their relationships for some flimsy reasons like: Trish has refused to have sex with her boyfriend Fred because they are not yet married. Fred was annoyed and wondered why she should refuse to have sex with him when he has already promised to marry her. He is also upset that she is no longer a virgin, so he sees no reason why she should not offer what she has offered to someone else in the past. So he decides to break up with her. Her explanations that she had sex five years prior to her committing her life to God does not convince him even though he claims that he has also committed his life to God but does not think that should stop them from having fun.

Salewa complains that Hakeem does not give her parents money. As far as she is

concerned, she and her family are now the man's responsibility even though they are not yet married. If she gives him sex, she expects him to give her family money as an in-law-to-be. She breaks up with him and decides to look for a man who will be more generous to her family.

Another says her family does not want me to marry someone from another tribe.

Should a single person date someone from another tribe if s/he knows that the family members will object to marriage.

My friends think you are too short.

My friends think you are too tall for me.

If you do not think the person is too tall or too short, you should not allow your friends opinion affect your relationship adversely.

My family think you are from a poor family. Every person should endeavour to work for their own money. As long as the intending couple are not planning to be lazy and are willing to be content with what they have, money should not be a barrier to having a good stable home after marriage.

My family say I should not marry you because you are from a rich family and you will not respect me or submit to me. There are ladies who will not submit to a man

barely recognized her stylish boss. She looked like one of the nuns! But as Teresa knew, by dressing like her client, she fit right in.

Of course, increased awareness of what you wear, how you shake hands, and how you use other nonverbal signals is only half of the equation. The other half is the ability to accurately read the body language of others.

And it is here where women really have the advantage. Women are more attuned to relationship dynamics and more skilled at picking up nonverbal cues. Isn't it great to know that "women's intuition" has become a very real and powerful professional skill!

Source: Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D.at Amanet.com

whether they are rich or poor. It is more important to gauge the character of the lady than to assume that her family background will always determine how she would behave in future.

My family and friends say that you are not good looking enough. Beauty they say is in the eyes of the beholder. As long as you feel your partner is good looking, that is what matters.

There are some important reasons why a person may want to say goodbye: The man or woman is a leech who refuses to work and just wants to spend the other partner's money The man or woman is an unrepentant or habitual two timer.

The man or woman is stingy and does not want to share.

The man or woman is abusive physically, verbally, emotionally, or sexually.

The man or woman is a compulsive liar.

Should singles break up? Sometimes singles are quick to say goodbye and then they later regret the decision. Benny felt that Musa was too gentle. She did not like the fact that he always avoided arguments and let her have her way many times. She felt that she needed a man who would be strong and stand up to her. She decided to break up the relationship. It is now over two years and though she has dated three other men during that period, she realizes that none of them are as nice, decent or understanding like Musa. She made a mistake breaking up with Musa and she cannot retrace her steps as Musa has just got married.

Some relationships should be laid to rest; others might work if the couple receives adequate counseling. Before you say goodbye, seek counseling.

To be continued next week

50

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Arts & Life

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

POLITICKLE

Deliberate absurdity Contradictory views and statements motivate today’s submission. For his amusement, the reader is challenged to decipher classic examples of intentional incongruity in the following piece.

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

I AM a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect. But I’m still not sure if I understand ambiguity. I do have my doubts about disbelief.

What is the probability that something will happen based on the odds?

Now then, if anyone says you are superficial, never mind, it’s just on the surface. Does it really matter that someone acquires one authentic replica after the other when access to original masterpieces by famous artists is almost impossible?

If there’s one thing some can’t stand, it’s intolerance. After all, the world is full of apathy, and some don’t care.

Knowledge is power, but the more you find out the less you know. Ask university science and social science freshmen persecuted by Elementary Calculus, or mothers searching for a formula to keep for one day a clean boy. Sympathise: boys will be boys.

But one should never generalise. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. A word of caution though: don’t be redundant by repeating yourself. If you do not succeed, you see, you run the risk of failure.

Out of sight out of mind, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

When you can’t help the situation you turn a blind eye, but that is only possible with an eye that sees. And the puzzle confronting the thirsty: determining whether the cup is fully empty.

Want to improve your writing? Then avoid alliteration, always. Avoid clichés like the plague and never fail to remember that prepositions are not words to end sentences with. And as any other writer, you’ll do well with constructive criticism.

For the classic oxymoron effect, consider the American English complimentary expression, awfully nice, or the universal English expression, bitter sweet. The latter is an experience that the United Kingdom is quite capable of inducing via the Home Office, where official power to render the illegal alien homeless resides.

How about the paradox of black gold, the invaluable resource Nigeria appears to waste abundantly? Or baggy tights, the clothing item recently influenced by fashion changes?

To lead, it is better to walk behind the people, the wise say. Some leaders invariably lead their people to war, and with war comes misery, yet others argue that there is a just war.

To the novice or the nervous is the counsel offered: act naturally. But try telling that to a desperate pilot who has to battle the elements for a successful crash landing. By the way, if flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

There is strength in numbers yet one can find himself alone in a crowd; not so lovers who always seem to be alone together regardless of company.

Now, where else can one find more anonymous colleagues than the National Assembly where ‘selected’ members struggle to make meaningful contribution throughout their tenure? Still, the layabout can claim to be engaged – doing nothing.

Think about it: common sense is conspicuously absent when dire situations call; which is probably why the insurance agent talks in terms of calculated risk.

But the idea of a civil servant in the purest sense is a modern farce in a corrupt country just as customer satisfaction is a recent fable. Dark star is utter scientific jargon to the layman; born dead, a dreadful biological paradox and defensive strike a direct reverse tactic by sports and military personnel.

Yet someone coined the term, easy labour. Really? Another came up with “quitters never win and winners never quit” when it is generally assumed that you “quit while you’re ahead”. You could otherwise be compelled to quit, or ‘stand down’ in military parlance.

But please let no one, not even in a loud whisper, mention friendly fire, the excuse for indiscriminate shooting on the allied side at conflict zones.

Nor should any speak of survivors from a fatal accident, on account of the miraculous print of misinforming journals.

Jokes Humour Devious Jim JIM HAD been out on the town with a dazzling girl, and was now returning home as the rosy tint of dawn began to colour the skies.

Marshalling his inner resources, he managed an air of sobriety and dignity before the suspicious eye and wagging tongue of his wife.

As he undressed, she suddenly punctuated her tirade with a sharp, gasping intake of air. “Jimmy,” she asked through tightly clenched teeth, “Just where are your underwear?”

Jimmy panicked as he perceived through the fog in his mind that his boxer shorts were indeed missing.

Then, inspiration struck. “My God,” he said in dismay, “I’ve been robbed!”

Misplaced Labour A MAN comes into the Emergency Room and yells, “My wife’s going to have her baby in the taxi!”

The doctor grabbed his stuff, rushed

out to the taxi, lifted the lady’s dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly, he noticed that there were several taxis, and he was in the wrong one.

Appropriate Punishment TWO burglars broke into a building and stole an expensive calendar.

They were caught and arraigned in court.

The sentencing was swift and brief.

They both got six months.

Drunk’s Prayer JUDE was staggering home with a bottle of bear in his back pocket when he slipped and fell heavily. Struggling to his feet, he felt something wet running down his leg.

“Please, God,” he prayed, “let it be blood!”

QUOTE It is a mistake to suppose that people succeed through success; they often succeed through failures.

—Author Unknown •Culled from the Internet

R

EMEDIES Writer’s Fountain for writer’s defeating ourselves and our writing goals. Now, block by Noelle Sterne: YOUR fingers play the computer keyboard like when I feel myself shutting down because my a concert pianist, your pens run dry with writing is taking off, I take action. First, I promise astounding speed, your pages pile up like gold. myself to keep writing. Second, I do one or more “Wow,” you think, “this is how it should be! of the ten things listed below. These remedies have worked for many writers who feel the I’m gonna go all night!”

Then, faster than a form rejection, more paradox of the unexpected block. Try a few. powerful than an editor’s frown, able to freeze Get up: Get out of your chair and away from you in a single flash, a horrible thought zaps your desk. Run in place. Do ten sit-ups. Jump up and down ten times. If you have an indoor you: I can’t stand it anymore!

But if in this state we quit, we’re only exercise machine, use it. Take a walk around the room, the house, the block, up and down Peculiar facts – human nature: the driveway.

•Your thumb is the same length as your Dance: Put on your favourite upbeat music and dance for twelve minutes. nose.

•Most of the dust underneath your bed Do one household task: Clean the bathroom sink, take out the garbage, wipe the mirrors. is actually your own dead skin.

•One out of 20 people have an extra rib. Water the plants, pet your pet. Pet the plants, •Every drop of blood in the body passes water your pet.

Buy Something: Run out to the local office through the heart once per minute.

•If you are right handed, you will tend to supply store and buy one writing supply. chew your food on your right side. If you Choose something you don’t really need, are left handed, you will tend to chew something that may cost too much, and something you’ve always yearned for and your food on your left side.

•A person’s nose and ears continue to haven’t allowed yourself. (You know exactly what it is.) grow throughout his or her life.

THE ARTS

51

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Sir Peter Badejo Officer of the British Empire (OBE) is an international artiste and dancer. Based in London, he was knighted by the British government in 2001 for his accomplishments in dance. He has also been the Artistic Director for the Lagos State Black Heritage Festival for the past three years. He speaks with Edozie Udeze on his passion for an industry he said is not well-celebrated, among other issues

A

S one who is known all over the world, how has the industry treated you?

I have been in dance for 42 years.

I started as a dancer, I was made an OBE in London in the year 2001 but before that, I got a commendation like the key to the City of Los Angeles where i did my masters. I did a progress production called the way of the people. It brought over 3000 different ethnic groups children to Los Angeles and the mayor of the City gave me a commendation for it.

You have danced beyond Nigeria.

As a professional, what would you say is the beauty of dance?

We have a lot of dancing in nigeria and we take things for granted. As a professional dancer, you take it beyond the cultural activity; it becomes a kind of interpretation. For example, I am working on what I call the first African dance technique. We have a variety of African art forms but we have not developed it into a technique. For example, you find ballet, and jazz are all codified, documented and made into a technique. So, I am developing the technique called Batabade. It is based on the Bata dance but it is a prototype.

When it is developed, people can use it to develop other dances like Atilogwu or the Hausa dance into a form so that when it is taught anywhere in the world, it becomes a standardisation of what dancers should do.

Why did you go into theatre and dance in the first place?

A

PRIL 29 is a day set aside by the International Dance Council, an arm of UNESCO to celebrate dance, and the Lagos State Chapter of Dance Guild of Nigeria was not left out in the festivities, treating dancers and lovers of dance to a specially packaged occassion.

Welcoming guests to the event which took place at the New Afrika Shrine, Isioma Williams, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Guild, said that the time has come for dancers in Nigeria to build the industry which will in turn pave way for the actualisation of individual and collective goals.

“On our own, we are trying to to drive our own industry because to me right now, we dont have an industry. We just have individuals that are successfull in the field. so we are trying really to preach to

In Nigeria, the arts is taken for granted - Peter Badejo I wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. In fact, I wanted to be a road side mechanic. That was my first choice in life but when I went to the University of Ife, all that changed.

My parents are both artistes and when I went to the Univeristy in the early 60s, I really enjoyed expressing myself in the arts and so i went into performing arts, specifically dance.

However, because we don’t have a school of dance in Nigeria then I went to study at the University of Ghana.

And then I went for my masters in dance technology and choreography at UCLA .

When you wanted to go into this, what did your father say?

I am a bit lucky because my father used to be a musician in his days and we come from a royal family in Ijebu Ode. And they used to tell me that as royalty, I should be danced to and sang to. Fortunately for me, my father being an artiste did not frown at what I wanted to do but my uncles, aunties and cousins all asked me why I was wasting my time. They knew I had a bit of flair for Mathematics. They said if dance was what I wanted to do, I should just join Ogunde. Those were the reactions I faced but my own parents did not really oppose me.

How do you see theatre in Nigeria as a profession?

The only positive thing about it is that we have persistent artistes; artistes who despite all the odds, despite the lack of support are still pushing on. We have creative-minded people working on the arts in every aspect of our lives; visual arts, performing arts, just name it, singers, poets, they still produce but we are not getting the right support that we need for continuity. What i think this country has to understand is that we need to invest for us to be able to reap the fruits of the arts. The arts is the major money-earning industry for this country but not until we develop it; we have to pay something to get something. Our government has to invest. We need institutions, we need individuals. Whoever invests in the arts will definitely reap it, not just as individuals but as a nation.

What qualified you to receive an OBE from the British government?

•Badejo

My citation was for my contribution to the development of african people’s dance in Britain. That was in 2001.

What is your take in guerilla street theatre?

It is fantatic. We needed it. What guerilla simply means is that they go from place to place. If you go back to our tradition,you will remember that we had a lot of traditional artistes who had been doing things that are similar to guerilla theatre. Look at the what Alarinjo masquerade festivals do. They go around criticising people. Aside performing for them, they also make commentaries about

what is going on and that is what guerilla theatre is all about. It is theatre for change and people have been doing theatre like this for a long time but we need to look at it from the contemporary point of view.

Guerilla theatre seems absent these days. What could be the problem?

These days, we have a problem with the young artistes. The kind of encouragement we are trying to give them is to see the value of their arts rather than what they can gain from it. Young artistes these days always talk about money whereas, believe me, anything you do in this world, if

you sincerely face it, money will come but if you start with money, you will never get it. The kind of theatre you are talking about, we dont have much of it these days because people are more into money.

Even the art is corrupted because people are not doing what they are supposed to do to really promote the art. People are promoting individuals rather than the arts. It will all come back. It is in a circle. We will go back to those kinds of theatre. We need a theatre of change for the development of this nation.

What has been you staying power in an industry that is neither celebrated nor lucrative?

My staying power is that first and foremost, I enjoy it. Secondly, I see it as a medium of expression.

It is like being a journalist. It is not the most lucrative industry but people have been there, people are there and people will still be there.

What keeps me going is when I see young artistes coming up, I encourage them and I try to develop them. That gives me the kick.

In your professional opinion, what is the state of dance in Nigeria?

Like I said, I get very happy when I look at dancers and the work they are doing with or without support. Imagine what we would achieve if we had a little bit of what we are asking for. The sky would be our limit. I am hoping that we would be able to start two things in this country. First, we need to istitutionalise dance where we can train people. The dancers we have today are just forging ahead from their experiences. They haven’t been given the tool to become very creative. We need institutions. Secondly, once the institutions are there, we would be able to develop the industry. How many theatres do we have in Lagos to perform?

Lagos is a mega city. When you then go into the hinterlands, they dont have anything. It is difficult.

We have had the Ogunde era when poeple were moving from town halls to market places to perform.

We are in a contemporary world now so have to live it. We have to develop all the sectors of our nation and art is one of them.

A day of dances

By Ovwe Medeme

our colleagues, our members and fellow dancers that we should reallybe united. We have a guild, but we are not yet united.

In the light of that, Isioma siezed the opportunity to put forward a proposal tagged the Eko Dance Endowment Foundation. “We want to look into the dance industry. We want to look into the issues bogging the dance genre of the art. We really need assistance. We dont have any health care plan or any insurance system. As it is, we are living in a world of pity,” he added.

True to its nature, the day was filled with all types of individual and group dancers who took turns

to thrill the audience. Opening the performances was none other than Jojo Body Beat with a special recitation of the National Anthem. From then on, it was one entrhalling performance followed by another.

From folklore based performance of the Footprints of David children’s theatre to the more contemporary dance of Spirit of David troupe, guests were treated to all types of dance. Other performances of the day included those of the Ijodee Dance Company, Sunday Isreal Akpan, SPAN, House of Dance and the Crown Troupe of Africa with their conscience-awakening display, among others.

According to Peter Badejo, spe-

•Crown Troupe of Africa on stage at the event.

cial guest of the day, “to dance is to live and we are celebrating life today.” Other guests present at the

PHOTOS: EDOZIE UDEZE

occassion included Gloria Nnaji, Ropo Ewenla, Tunde Kelani and a host of others.

52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Arts/Reviews

Let the music play on A

LL over the world, the months of April and May usually usher in great moments for musicians and dancers. In fact, April 29 has been designated as the International Dance Day, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) just to celebrate dancers and draw attention to the state of the art world-wide. This is so because not too many people in the world see the profession as good enough for practitioners. “But it is our responsibility to stick to it and to let the world see that the whole bundle of human body movement emanate from dance,” so said Lari Williams, one of Nigeria’s foremost artistes and dancers.

Perhaps, not too many people know Williams as a dancer, drummer and entertainer. “Yes, I started out as a dancer. I studied performing arts and that makes me a complete stage artiste. Whenever I find the time too, I drum and dance,” he said. He, however, commended those who fashioned the IDD as visionary leaders who did not want that genre of the art to fizzle out.

“The day is well commended,” William stated, drawing his drum closer.

“You see, dance is the total expression of the human body in terms of movement with music playing in the background. And since both go hand – in – hand, we need to always appreciate their importance in our lives. So, the notion of IDD is in order and like you already know. I am part of the celebration because we have to demonstrate on stage who we really are.”

Williams who played a pivotal role in the formation of the Dance Guild of Nigeria (GOND) as an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), praised the resilience of Nigerian artistes even in the face of excruciating poverty and economic stagnation. “We have done well. At least, people now know that you can live on dance. You can see dance as a worthy endeavour. Although the sector has been largely underdeveloped, with the signs we see these

B

ECAUSE those who should say the truth In defence of us all Opted for coffee And comfort Chasing the secrets of her laps In an endless discovery Shall we run…

For they have chosen the path Of today’s friendship In an endless mishap Our professed criers Have refused to cry To sit in cold offices Directing the lines of stain These stainless criers Forgot, Clean water retains no quality After romance with dirty linen

Books

A leader across boundaries

T

•Williams

•Anokwuru

By Edozie Udeze

days, it will soon be more properly elevated,” he promised.

In his own assessment of the IDD, Zulezoo, a dancer, musician and entertainer, admitted that the profession has made him who he is today. “I started out as a dancer and you could see that in me whenever I am on stage. First of all, I sing more of folkloric music and that compels me to dance a lot to demonstrate what I sing. So, for me, the IDD is in order. It is good for us to celebrate our sector in such a way that the world will appreciate us”.

Zulezoo who has taken the Tiv-traditional dance step to international attention, advised dancers and artistes all over the world to

•Zulezoo

have one voice. “It is good to have a designated day for dancers, but it is equally apt for us to capitalize on the opportunity to encourage ourselves.”

He, however singled out choreography as one area dancers should pay more attention to. “You cannot be a complete dancer who captures his audience very well if you cannot combine both on stage. Choreography gives stage dance its total blend and colour. Even though I have grown into the stage where my instruments are more modern now, I have been able to let my fans know that dance and music are inseparable,” Zulezoo said, grinning to register his point.

As for Emeka Anokwuru, a percussionist, the whole essence of the IDD comes at a stage when most parents still do not allow or encourage their kids to go into music or dance full time. “Yet that should not be a hindrance,” he quickly volunteered. “Today is good for us all. Everyday we perform for people. It is really proper for us to say, okay, let us perform and entertain ourselves solely today. So, the IDD is worth celebrating. This country is a difficult terrain for the artiste. So if we come out today to make our presence felt and recognised, it is good for the dance profession,” Anokwuru stated.

In all, the day was lovely as artistes from all genres abandoned their professional differences to be part of it.

Poetry Shall we run?

Shall we run Because they decided To stain their cotton In the museum Soiling their fingers in utter dismay Shall we run Because those God freed Bought padlocks for their lips And cuffs for their hands Just to protrude a stomach Shall we run That they have bowed Just for medals In allusive greatness Having abandoned the path of the peoples greatness

Shall we run…

For the front seat the house master offers To this grade one destitute To the cushion that herald their buttocks To the red carpet that salute their feet Speakers that kept the tongue mute Shall we run!

To hide on to die To live or to slave We renovate the tomb But the spirits Would not come to life

By Chinedu Ezuka

HE book, The Presiding Genus, coming in two volumes, was meant to celebrate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at 60. But it goes beyond that. It is a compilation of his speeches over a period of twelve years and meant to fully bring to public attention the kind of leader and activist and democrat the Asiwaju has become over the years. Through his speeches in different fora and public appearances, it is easy for one to glean into the inner workings of Tinubu as a welfarist democrat.

In compiling the book, Professor Siyan Oyefeso of Osun State University who edited it, succumbed to the fact that Tinubu is indeed an embodiment of leadership whose populist tendency has made him one of the foremost welfarist technocrats in this clime. To him and indeed to so many close associates of this former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is no doubt one of the most successful Nigerian politician – statesmen of this age. “He is in the forefront of the Nigeria national politics as the symbol of constructive opposition.” He has indeed contributed immensely and immeasurably to the promotion and development of democratic culture, norms and good gover-

By Edozie Udeze

nance in Nigeria. His leadership tactics is unparalleled and most exemplary.

As at today, he still remains Nigeria’s leading apostle and progenitor of walfarist politics.

To him, politics of appointment and the extension of largesse should not limit one to his own area of scope of influence or place of birth or state of origin. Every leader has to choose between the norm of hard-heartedness or avarice which characterises the political landscape of the country.

But the Asiwaju has inadvertently chosen the path of love, tolerance, good – , naturedness and economic empowerment to curry people’s attention.

In this regard, he has no equal in Nigeria and this is why his propensity to lead his party men and women to victory has been heralded as the best format and approach to wrestle power from the statis quo.

From the speeches, one could fathom the Asiwaju as a grassroots leader who speaks the language of everyone, depending where he is and what forum he finds himself. He speaks to people like a father, a mentor, a character – builder and a benefactor. In him is a leader with a vision, who sees the potentials in somebody miles and miles away. This is why many perceive him as a

Becoming the best

M

ANY easily rationalise their failures and setbacks in life. They are backward because of limited education, poor family background, physical disabilities and social factors, they explain away. But to personal development and peak performance coach, Dennis Inyang, no excuse is good enough to be less than the best.

Inyang, in his book, No second fiddle, says no one is created to be less than the best. Everyone, he argues, is conceived and programmed to be the best. According to him, ‘’silver is not good enough where gold is available.’’ He adds, ‘’In this life, God has not put everybody on one queue .If you don’t want to stand behind anyone, you can form your own line’’.

After puncturing every imaginable excuse against leading the pack, Inyang writes that the passion for excellence is innate with every man. Men, he says, do

By Sunday Oguntola

not need to look too far to succeed. All they need do is to reach inward and explore the excellent spirit in them.

He argues that the first ingredient to become successful is a deep-seated hunger for excellence. Once a man is committed to excellence, it ignites an unstoppable chain of developments, he states.

On critical steps to excellence, he mentions consistency and raising the bar of personal development. ‘’If you demand the highest possible standard from yourself, you will not consider it punitive when others demand it of you,’’ he notes. He warns against compromises and states every excellence-driven person must welcome oppositions.

He mentions paying attention to details, being focused, going the extra miles and getting quality supervisions as other critical factors that people driven by success must embrace. Every successful person, he writes, must

Wrestling the oil curse

T

HE Niger-Delta oil quagmire apart from being a disastrous reality for the people in that region has inspired many creative works in the arts. Plays, songs, and books – poetry and prose have spurn from the sufferings of a people blessed or as some quarters maintained ‘cursed’ with oil. And the play, Teardrops of the Gods by Karo Okokoh is another addition.

In Urhiodoland, the exploitation of oil and devastation it leaves on its trail hearken the hearts of the people.

Gone are their traditional means of livelihood, gone are their lands lost in the furious search for the ‘black gold.’

By Joe Agbro Jr.

They are even more worried at what they consider a plunder without they (people of Urhiodoland) or their land benefiting.

Obviously, the play refers to the Urhobo whose traditional lands occupy a substantial part of the Niger-Delta and also their chieftain titles such as Ovie (King) and Otota (spokesman).

In it, the king, priests, elders, and some chiefs are not happy with the situation. But, they feel helpless contending the forces – government and the multinationals in the country. They can only lamely bide time and their ‘essays.’

In moving dialogues,

man of g u t s a n d t r e mendous coura g e w h o fought the juntas and the cabals to give Nigeria democracy. But that fight has not ended. He is currently in the trenches tormenting the party in power to sit up and give the nation true democracy and true leadership.

The speeches are arranged in such a way that they are easy to read and assimilate.

In volume one, there are 56 speeches in all and each draws attention to the subject it deals with. To show how versatile and vast the Asiwaju is concerning all facets of human society and the problems therein, the speeches are equally thematic and emphatic and mind – boggling.

The sum total of it all, is that this governor emeritus of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a friend of all. He associates mostly with the poor, the down-trodden and the neglected. His therefore is a voice for the voiceless. pay the necess a r y price.

The bigger the sacrifices, the higher the success, he states.

This book is a bumper manual for every Nigerian determined to excel. It is laden with local examples and illustrations that will motivate readers.

These illustrations are refreshing reminders that success has no borders and is applicable to every clime.

The author must be commended for his flowery and impeccable language. He writes with passion, buzzing with ideas on how to become the very best. Every Nigerian would find on the pages of the book, eternal principles for excellence. It will make the successful become excellent and the excellent the best. This book is highly recommended to everyone interested in the race to success.

Okokoh captures the wearies of politicking that might be taking place in the leadership of some of the communities in the Niger Delta, the opposing views, fears, struggles, and strengths. He, however, sometimes overdoes it with superfluous expressions.

Okokoh also fails to reference the characters clearly, hence, one is lost as when a name is mentioned to refer to a particular elder or chief. But, in all, it succeeds in contributing a voice to the eternal oil debacle in the Niger Delta.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

53

Meter maintenance rip-off at PHCN —PAGE 55

D

ECKED in brown coloured Yoruba traditional attire, with the gombo cap to match, the old man speaks in faultless English with British accent. He was the cynosure of all eyes. The impressive thing about him is also that when he speaks in Yoruba language one could still discern the accent of his native language or dialect of the old Osun division. Pa Mogaji Adisa Adeleye, a journalist and publisher, hails from Ogbomoso.

“I am a linguist, I can speak Yoruba, Hausa fluently and speak English with British accent.’’ He cut his teeth in journalism in Daily Times in 1964. He said: “In spite of all the problems and harassment the media is facing, I still love the profession.” At 78, Adeleye still publishes a magazine called Irawo Owuro (Morning Star). It is devoted to publishing news about Ogbomoso and events around the world. It is circulated among the elite. On the performance of the publication he says, “It is waxing stronger here in Ogbomoso and I am happy our reading culture is high. It is also circulated among Ogbomosos in the Diaspora.’’ Pa Adeleye writes a weekly column for The Vanguard. He was born in 1934 in Ogbomoso. Typical of most Ogbomoso people, he lived his early life in Jos. He later left for the United Kingdom to study Economics and also obtained a Diploma in Journalism. After he returned home his love for writing and journalism took him to the Daily Times where he worked as a business reporter. At the Daily Times , he said: “I rose to become Features Editor. I was among the ones called elite journalists then. I was the only University graduate in the Daily Times then. I rose quickly because I had good qualifications.”

Most enduring memory Pa Adeleye reminiscing about his past experience, said, “One thing I will never forget in a hurry was the day I was writing my report of an assignment I went to cover. It was the commissioning of a power plant in Ughelli, now in Delta State. The then Head of State Maj-Gen Johnson AguiyiIronsi, had gone to commission the power plant. We flew in a plane to Warri and took a boat with the late General, to Ughelli. He was a very bulky and lively man. He was so nice to everybody in the boat.

We also had an ambassador with us in the boat. The second day, when I got to the newsroom to do the story it was announced that Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi had been killed that night he commissioned the power plant!”

For the young Adeleye who thought he had a big story to write, he learnt his first lesson that a story can go stale unexpectedly. Events had overtaken his story with the coup and the assassination of the head of state. “I was shocked to my bone marrow. I recapped how I had an interview with him the previous day. His death was painful to me. I happened to be the last reporter that spoke with him at the assignment. I remember the VIP treatment I was given as I went along with him.’’

Talking about his other experience in the newsroom, he said,

•Adeleye

PHOTO: TAIWO ABIODUN

‘Aguiyi-Ironsi had his last interview with me’ At 78, Mogaji Adisa Adeleye is proud to be a journalist/ publisher. In the course of the profession, he had met many influential individuals. According to him, he was the last journalist to interview the late Major-Gen. Johnson AguiyiIronsi alive. Taiwo Abiodun recently met him.

“One day, I went to cover an assignment in a factory. Later, I saw some people scrambling for something, and I was told they were distributing ‘brown envelope’ I then instructed my photographer that went with me, to go and collect one for me. When we got to the office

and I was about writing the story, I then demanded for the brown envelope, thinking it was part of the programme of the event to enable me add one thing or the other to my story. But to my chagrin, the photographer told me the envelope contained two pounds! I was sur-

prised and I blew hot. But when my colleagues in the newsroom heard me, they all burst into laughter. They laughed at me that I did not know the meaning of ‘brown envelope’. In all fairness, I had just arrived from Great Britain where such a thing was an aberration.”

Asked what he eventually did with the two pounds, he thundered, “I gave it back to the photographer.’’ According to him, when he left journalism, he never encouraged his new employers to give money to journalists. “Even while I was working in Shell, an oil industry, then journalists would come to me to demand for money but I would tell them that I am sorry that I don’t give! Because I never received when I was practising journalism, that has been my principle.’’

However, Adeleye did not stay beyond two years in the newsroom as frustration began to set in. He was sent on an assignment one day and came back only to be told that he had been demoted. He recalls, “One day, I left the office with Mr. Peter Osugbo, who was a sports writer then. At that time, journalism course had just been introduced at the University of Lagos and we were chosen to go and give some lectures. However by the time I came back to the office they had removed me from my position and office. When I called my assistant to prepare the pages, instead of doing that, he intimated me that I was no longer in charge of Features. He said, “Oga, something has changed o.’’ When I looked at the board, they had chosen another person to become a Features Editor. I said I would keep to my column. I did not commit any offence. Later, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, who was the Editor-in- chief, called me and begged me saying it was a mistake.

Since then, I had been preparing my mind to leave the organisation because I believed I did not deserve that treatment then because I was a star. I think may be some people were not happy somtimes then. I saw no reason why I should be made to leave the headship of Features. I then concentrated on my column and editorial.”

On a platter of gold It was his industry and writings that got him a juicy job outside the media. According to him, he never applied to work for Shell because he used to cover their assignments. “The fact is that I wrote series of articles in the Daily Times then called Nigerianisation where I used to examine the position of Nigerian industries and other things. This was in 1965. I had my column every Tuesday, Commercial news, which with me addressed the activities in Shell I went to cover one of their assigments. I brought back some photographs and I used it. The company saw it and liked it and they invited me for an interview.”

At the interview he met four of his professional colleagues who felt jittery seeing him. The rest, as they say, is history.

He was at the initial stage confused as to whether to take up the job “But when I saw the difference between what one earns in the media that belongs to the government and the private sector, I thought again of the newsroom where you are all the same with the editor I then compared it [Daily Times]with most of the offices outside where you have the secretaries, office assistants, and so on. I just saw that I was not getting what •Continued on Page 54

54

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Life

‘I lost my beautiful palace’ A mysterious fire last week gutted the palace of the Baale of Ayetoro, Abiodun Adeniji Odutala. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the police. Taiwo Abiodun, who visited the scene of the incident reports

• Pa Odutala, Baale Ayetoro

I

T was midnight when decent men and women were supposed to be in bed sleeping after a hard day’s job. However, that was the hour suspected hoodlums decided to strike in Ayetoro, a sleepy community near Itele, Ogun State.

Their target was the palace of the Baale, Abiodun Adeniji Odutala. The palace was torched and properties and vital documents valued at millions of naira were lost. Overwhelmed by grief, Odutala described the act as wicked, ungodly, and an act of cowardice on the part of the arsonists.

According to him, “It was a calculated attempt not only to burn the palace but to set the whole town ablaze.” It is suspected that the arsonists were in search of some land documents in the palace. A suit on some disputed land is currently before a court.

Suspicious movements The Baale said that on the night of the incident, a relation had called to alert him of some suspicious movements around the palace by some people around 11:30pm. He said when he received the call: “I called my children and told them what I heard. They advised me not to entertain any fear as nothing would happen.

Later, again in the early morning at about 3:30am I received another call again from another relative, informing me that the whole palace had been set on fire. By this time I could not go out. In the morning the following day, we went to the Police station in Itele to report the incident. The Divisional Police Officer stepped in, and some suspects were arrested and were taken to Eleweran in Abeokuta. These are the suspects that have been disturbing the peace of the town. I am begging the state government to quickly wade into the crisis before the place is turned into a battlefield.’’

A resident of the town, Madam Folashade Adeniji ,82, who deplored the destruction described it as barbaric and satanic. She said, “I was woken up in the dead of the night by the alarm raised that our monarch’s palace was on fire. I could not believe my ears and I ran out half naked. What I saw was unbelievable. The whole palace had been reduced to ashes. I wept and prayed to God to expose these evil doers.”

One of the high chiefs in the town, Olowo Taiwo, believe it is the handiwork of land grabbers. “That is what they do when they lose out and have no land to sell again. I believe the

PHOTOS: TAIWO ABIODUN

•The burnt Palace of Baale Ayetoro

•Community elders at the meeting discussing the way forward

suspects will eventually come out to confess openly one day,’’ he said. Another resident, Akeem Adekunle said he was woken up by the scream of neighbours in the dead night, “I

have never heard such shouts and screams before. I saw thick flames of fire and hear the sound of the iron roofing sheets cracking. I could not believe what I saw. Nothing was rescued

at all. It is a gory sight to see. I think it is too bad if a monarch’s palace is set ablaze like that. I am too shocked. ’’ Lukman Odubade said it is a curse to torch a monarch’s palace. “Now we cannot sleep with two eyes closed. We are all in danger now as we don’t know when the arsonists will turn up again.’’

A minister of God ,Pastor Benjamin Adeboye, was rather weak to talk as he was quoteding from the Bible passages that those in the leadership positions are anointed and chosen by God and deserve respect and should not be disrespected.

Meanwhile, Odutala is still counting his losses. According to him, “I believe over N10million is lost. My photographs with some notable Yoruba royal fathers are gone. We have to pull down the remnants of the wall as they are now cracked and weak. This is unbelievable and uncalled for. I lost my beautiful palace. If there is any disputes the courts are there as arbiters.”

At the Itele police station, the Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case who will not want his name in print. confirmed the report and said the case had been transferred to Eleweran “The suspects have been detained. he said We are still investigating the matter.”

‘I did not know the meaning of ‘brown envelope’ •Continued from Page 53

I was supposed to be getting in the Daily Times. I then decided to take the offer ’’ He was eventually employed as the head of Trade Relations, “because I was doing Economic Analysis in the Daily Times and had enough experience, that was why they picked me’’ After many years in the then Shell/BP, Adeleye retired and started publishing a magazine called Irawo Owuro [Morning Star].

He said, the magazine is doing well. According to him, the Ogbomoso people read it both home and abroad. On the recent spate

of attacks on the media by the Boko Haram group, Adeleye said the fear of the group cannot make him leave a profession (journalism) he loves so passionately.

He has also been a long time columnist with The Vanguard and has published many books. One is called The Agenda, [that examines the lives of the Yorubas in the politics), the other is called Thunderbolt (it is about political economy). The old man who is proud to be from the Yoruba ethnic group defended the use of facial marks that ‘exposes’ his identity. He says, “I was asked this question in the United Kingdom, I was

asked why I had the facial marks , and I told them that I found the marks on me when I could see myself and recognised it. Then it was nothing. My father and my mother had facial marks, which was common among the Yoruba of Southern Nigeria then. They said in those days during the slave trade you had it to identify the areas you came from, but nowadays there is no slave trade.”

Asked whether any of his children took after his profession, he said, “None! I have four children. One graduated in English and had a Daily Times diploma in journalism but she is on her own. She is married, she helps

me in the office but she is not following in my footsteps. The other one is an Engineer.

He works in Shell. He was in the United States for many years. He is in the oil industry. The third one did a Masters in Economics and Banking, and is now working in the United Kingdom, while the fourth is an electrical engineer working in one of the telecommunication industries.”

He says at 78, he is a happy and fulfilled man as a publisher and National President of Ogbomoso Parapo worldwide, which is the umbrella organization of all Ogbomoso clubs both at home and in the Diaspora.

Life

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

55

Meter maintenance rip-off at PHCN Consumers are spoiling for a fight with the Power Holding company of Nigeria over what they see as an act of exploitation, Tunde Busari reports

•Dr. Sam Amadi, Chairman, National Electric Regulatory Agency

•Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

A

SMALL group of adults, gathered around a newspaper’s vendor’s stand at the popular Challenge axis of Ibadan on that Saturday morning. Each member of the group was shouting at the top of his voice to drive home his point. The argument had arisen over a report in one of the day’s newspaper that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was planning to like its tariff with effect from July.

Until the group dispersed after several hours of hot arguments, no meaningful consensus was reached. However, one thing that was made clear was the gross resentment many had for company. The most outspoken, simply identified as Ade by the others warned, “We are waiting for them to introduce the tariff in July. It is then they will know that the public is really angry with them. Those PHCN workers are worse than the police in terms of corruption. President Jonathan should warn them so that they don’t increase the tension in the country.”

Fleecing customers On the other hand, what worries Mr. Adeboye Julius, a resident of Orile-Agege, is the idea of PHCN charging what it refers to as “meter maintenance charge.” He has always engaged PHCN officials in bitter argument over the charge on their visit to his two-bedroom apartment.

His effort, according to him, however, always ended in frustration, owing to what he called lackadaisical attitude of his co-tenants.

As a mathematics teacher in a private school, Julius said he was always angry going through his bill containing the said meter maintenance charge, which, to him, amounts to extortion and systematic fraud against unsuspecting consumers.

“Which meter are they maintaining? It got to a point where the PHCN officials always avoided me because they know I would harass them with my usual questions. But I have stopped this because all my efforts mean nothing to them. It changed nothing,” he added in frustration.

His wife Esther, also a school teacher, blamed the government for allegedly indulging the PHCN to fleece its consumers. She decried the manner of corrupt practices allegedly perpetrated by the officials of the PHCN while, according to her, the government only pay a lip service to cleansing the corporation.

She argued that if government had welded a long stick by enforcing action against the officials, the nation would have been saved of regular outage.

“Now that the government has taken a serious step to take the power away from the PHCN as I heard over the radio late last year that it had selected some private companies to handle power distribution.

“With this new development, there is hope

that the problem of corruption and unstable power supply would soon fade away,” she said, adding “government must not look back again because those PHCN people know how to sabotage government effort to improve power supply”.

However, electricity consumers have decided to take the issue away from newspapers stands, an interest group has been formed to galvanise the protest. The group, Coalition for Social equality has already sent a petition to the Minister of Power Prof. Barth Nnaji.

A copy of the petition which was also sent to The Presidency, The Senate and the Chief Executive Officer of the PHCN, the Edo based group said the company has short-changed about 15 million consumers to the tune of N378 billion. It is asking for a refund of this sum.

According to the group, meter maintenance charge was introduced in the 90s to add to the regular fixed charge paid by customers. It alleged that the PHCN cashed in on the ignorance of the customers on its billing system.

The group has, therefore, asked the Senate to compel the PHCN to refund the accumulated charges collected over the years.

“We demand a law by the National Assembly mandating the PHCN or any institution that may replace PHCN and providing electricity to Nigerians to make a refund (either by cash or credit to each customer’s account) of all accumulated Meter Maintenance Charge collected over the past 14 years.”

In another statement, the group acknowledged the response of the minister for power, resulting in the PHCN withdrawal of the said charge from customers’ bill effective from December 2011. But it insists in the refund of the outstanding, calling the Minister to expedite action in answering their prayer.

“Having taken the bold initiative, we are making a final reconciliatory appeal that you use your good offices for the benefit of Nigerians in executing the request. This demand for a refund is totally legitimate, lawful and uncontroverted,” the group stated.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has endorsed the protest by directing the PHCN to stop charging consumers any form of meter charges. Chairman of the commission, Dr Sam Amadi has described any extra rate outside the approved tariff as an offence and promised not to spare the rod on the errant officials caught in the act as, according to him, applicable sanction stipulated in the electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 would be meted out on the defiant.

“No tariff increase has been announced.

Chief Executive Officers of distribution companies who collect tariffs beyond what was approved last year are operating in disobedience of the industry’s regulations,” he said.

However, while the directive has recorded

•PHCN Meter

•PHCN Pre-paid meter

a high rate of compliance, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and its environs, other parts of the country have continued to charge for it.

Although the commission says it is worried by the development, no scapegoat has been caught. Dr. Amadi attributed the development to the depth of corruption and indiscipline in the system.

“It is sad that this is happening after we have issued warning against such misdemeanour. But we are doing something about it. And we want the public to join us in this effort. Customers should come forward with evidence to enable us act accordingly. We are going to involve the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) in this effort,” he said.

Further finding revealed that the prayer of the group may not be met as the commission claims that the meter maintenance charge was within the purview of the law until it was abolished in December 2011. Dr Amadi said the rate was approved by successive regimes with a justification to maintain meters.

“But we found the charge abnormal that is why we outlawed it in December. So, if there is any evidence that some officials are still charging it, we are ready to take it up because it is a rip off which must be redressed,” he said.

But Frank Oluku, the spokesman of the

group says Dr Amadi is off the track. In a telephone interview, Oluku insisted that the refund must be made as a matter of obligation.

He argued that the PHCN lacked the right to charge the rate. “Dr. Amadi has no right to say we have no claim over the charge they had made over the years. Which meter did they maintain?

Should a building without a meter be charged meter maintenance rate? Should a consumer deprived of electricity be charged? It is a fraudulent practice which has been condoned for too long a time. Now is the time to claim our right.

Whatever Dr. Amadi may say won’t stop us from fighting this injustice,” Oluku said.

Despite what the commission has been doing a few people are ignorant of its existence.

For instance, Tayo Kadri, a banker is unconcerned about all the actions listed out by the commission, all he cares to know is the return of electricity to his home which has suffered a blackout in the last three weeks.

“What is my business with NERC or PHCN when I don’t see their impact? Honestly, that NERC thing is strange to me. I do see it in the paper but I don’t pay attention to it,” he said.

That is how many see the corporation. They are less concerned about the name or power given to any commission to regulate its activities, all they want is regular power supply.

When this is achieved they now think of fighting the illegal charges.

56

Your HEALTH THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

ASTHMA: A deadly health concern E

LIAS was two years old when he was diagnosed with asthma. His mother, Barr. Lola Ilaka remembers him as a very active, creative and passionate child with the big ambition of winning an Oscar.

However, on the 19th of November, 2011, his dream of becoming an awardwinning entertainer was cut short.

His mum narrates, “Elias left for the sports day which was organized by his school. He was well and did not show any symptoms. At 4:30pm he called me on the phone to tell me he was leaving school to come home. At 5 o'clock, his friend who was with him in the car called me and said he was not breathing. I asked them to give him his inhaler. The inhaler did not work. They rushed back to the school because there was no hospital along that road. Within an hour, they called me again and said he had a faint pulse.”

Soon after, his heart beat for the last time. Elias Nelson Oyedokun did not have a chance to say good-bye to his friends before he passed away at the age of 13.

Just like Elias, over 250,000 adults and children lose their lives annually to this health condition, says a Federal Ministry of Health report. In LUTH alone, statistics show that an average of two deaths are recorded every month.

Shedding light on the nature of the disease, Professor James Kweku Rena, a clinician and pediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching hospital (LUTH) while speaking at the launch of the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation, ENOF, last week, explained, “An asthmatic person is one whose respiratory system is quite sensitive to noxious particles in the air. It currently has no cure but is preventable and people who have a predisposition to asthma generally

By Rita Ohai

have a family history where a parent has asthma causing the child to have one-third percent chance of being asthmatic or, in some cases, are exposed to a trigger factor which could be cold, exercise, indoor and outdoor pollution, diet, among other things.”

Further revealing some of the signs to watch out for, Rena states, “They have symptoms that are common and the first of them is the presence of recurrent cough. Others are noisy, difficult breathing and chest tightening.”

Research has shown that among children and adolescents, male children have a higher prevalence than females especially between Africans and people living below the poverty level.

Since no known cure has been discovered yet, it is advisable for preventive measures to be taken, says Professor Rena. Offering medical advice, he said, “Starting from the womb, while the mother is pregnant, she should try and keep away from smoky environments. If she is a smoker or stays with people who smoke cigarettes, it would be wise for her to avoid those people because beyond even asthma, cigarettes can do a lot more harm than you can imagine to the unborn baby.

“Exclusive breast-feeding babies for at least the first six months is also very important because it breast-milk contains some immunologic materials for the child. Also children who have this condition should not be allowed to stay in crowded or polluted places,”he continued.

Although there are known cases of asthma in adults, there is wide-spread assumption that children out grow this disease.

Explaining this supposition, Dr. Tunji

Gboyega posits, “How asthma will affect a child throughout his or her lifetime varies, depending on the child.

Many infants and toddlers have an episode or two of wheezing during viral illnesses. However, the majority of these children do not go on to develop asthma later in life. For some children with persistent wheezing and asthma during childhood, the condition improves during the teenage years.

About half of the children who have asthma at a young age appear to outgrow it, although the asthma symptoms may reappear later in life.”

While the possibility of being cured from the disease gives some succor to patients and their families, they are saddled with the scourge of purchasing the drugs as long as the lung condition remains. Like most imported commodities, the medications required to effectively take care of this illness are expensive.

De-crying the high cost of treatment, Dr. Shola Alegbe of Health Sinai Diagnostic Clinic stated “Each time you check the personal belongings of an asthmatic patient, you will find at least one inhaler. These inhalers can be pretty expensive for the average Nigerian to buy regularly yet they have no choice.

When serious cases arise, a patient has to struggle to pay for chest x-ray, series of blood tests and other forms of treatment, and all of these can cost between N50, 000 to N400, 000. With the way our economy is down-spiraling, how many people can afford that kind of money?”

As medical practitioners call on the Federal Government to assist patients in getting easy access to the required medication by enforcing a zero-import duty policy and reduction in taxes levied on manufacturers and importers of asthma drugs. It is important to that

the quality of the medications are not compromised.

To ensure that NAFDAC approved non-counterfeit drugs are bought, Bukky George, a pharmacist Managing Director of Health Plus Pharmacy says, “I would always recommend that people buy drugs from a registered pharmacy. This is very important because by doing this, you can be sure that you would be getting quality medication at the most affordable price possible.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 235 million people worldwide currently suffer from asthma, with more than 8 million of them being Nigerians. The health governing body also stated that over 80percent of asthma deaths occur in under-developed nations.

Citing reasons for the disparity in death rates between countries, Dr. Gboyega explains, “Yes, more people have asthma in developed countries, but they have lesser deaths because their environments are clean. Most asthmatic patients who live abroad have complained that when they come to Nigeria, they have more attacks. It basically boils down to the environment.”

Emphasizing the need to implement proper environmental laws in Nigeria, he continued, “Everyone as whole needs to start taking responsibility. The government at all levels should begin to drive people to keep their surroundings clean, not just on 'environmental days' but every day of the week so that most of these avoidable illnesses people come down with can be eliminated.”

At present, it is projected that the number of people suffering from asthma will increase further by another 100 million by the year 2025.

57

BUSINESS

‘No hiding place for fraudulent borrowers’

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Democratisation of money “T

HREE years ago, it would have been practically impossible to believe that you can get easy access to money anytime, anywhere without necessarily visiting the conventional banks out there. But all that has changed now, thanks to the advent of electronic payment channels offering mobile money transfer. In fact, with this kind of innovative payments, it is absolutely right to say we are beginning to witness democracy of money!”

The above short anecdote is a testimony by Balogun Adebowale, an upwardly mobile executive who is simply bowled over by what he describes as the fast-pace services of these firms offering mobile money transfer services in the country today.

Adebowale is not alone.

Jokojeje Akinpelumi, a real estate consultant, agrees that many people out there have also caught the bug. According to him, “For many set of people, all forms of transactions either airline booking, payment of utility bills, school fees, shopping, cable TV subscription, top up electricity metre, recharge cell phones, etc, can be done at the comfort of their homes, offices, and in fact, anywhere, without necessarily breaking a sweat!

“Innovative payment systems via mobile phones and several other channels have made things a lot easier for mankind. You don’t have to face the drudgery of staying in the queues at the banks for hours on end. Now you can simply use your mobile phone with internet device wherever you may be to access cash anytime.”

Is mobile money a growing fad in Nigeria?

Tayo Oviosu, Chief Executive/ Founder, Pagatech, the owners of the flagship product, paga, the first mobile money company in Nigeria, recalled that it began out of frustration with having to carry cash around all the time in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a very cash-driven society. Only about 20% of the population have access to what you might call formal financial services. Even for the banked set, there are infrastructure issues to contend with – roughly 60% of ATMs in the entire country are located in Lagos State; debit cards are not accepted by most merchants. As such you have to carry cash with you,” he said.

“Additionally, there is no safe and secure way to send money within Nigeria outside of the banking sector. Carrying cash around with you everywhere, even sending cash to your family by paying a fee to the local bus driver clearly has its limitations not forgetting security issues.”

While commenting on the operation of mobile money transfer services, the Head, Shared Services, CBN, Mr. Chidi Umeano, recently disclosed that as at January 2012, mobile money services in Nigeria recorded 35,971 transactions worth N227.92m.

Lending credence to the fore-

The use of mobile technology such as phones and other electronic channels like point of sales terminals, internet, etc, for money transfer and other transactions have revolutionised the financial service sector, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf going, Eniola Ogunmola, a staff at Pagatech, in an interview with The Nation, disclosed it controls over 80 per cent share of the mobile money market in the country.

“We can confidently say that more than 80% of those transactions were recorded by Paga. Right now, there is no doubt in our mind that Paga is the market leader when it comes to money transfer services in Nigeria. We are working effortlessly to ensure that our service remains reliable and we serve the need of our customers.

“Our goal is to have 15 million active users and 30,000 agents by 2015. We are right on track to achieving this and we have a team strategically placed in various cities in Nigeria working diligently to achieve this goal.“ Security of mobile money transfer Most Nigerians who have fallen prey to scammers with their ATMs, remain skeptical of innovative payment channels.

While assuring prospective customers of the security of their systems, Oviosu said: “At Paga, security is our top priority. We have created rings of security to prevent the chance of any fraudulent activity, each channel we offer having its own security framework – some visible to the customer, many others not visible. For example, you must confirm every transaction you do on Paga by entering your PIN number.

“We train our customers to not share their PIN with anyone, even with Paga representatives.

ICT pundits are very optimistic that the confluence of mobile penetration growth, latent demand for financial services, expansion of Nigeria’s middle class and of Nigeria’s economy to become the largest economy in SubSaharan Africa will drive growth in the sector in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Mobile money in other parts of Africa It is however instructive to note that mobile money transfer has also gained momentum in other parts of Africa.

-- Page 59

Briefs Firm tasks school on soy protein

S

TUDENTS of Santa Maria Montessori School Alaka Estate Lagos have been advised to feed on soy protein.

Giving this advice was Mr. Akin Jimoh, Executive Director, Development Communication Networks during an interactive discussion on integrating soy protein in combating malnutrition.

Justifying the need for soy protein, Jimoh said that malnutrition is very peculiar with children that are not well fed with the necessary dietary needs, hence he said children that feed on soy fortified products live very healthy lives because soy protein prevents malnutrition in children and helps to develop them mentally and physically.

Mr. Chimezie Obialor of All Tech Nutrients Limited also said soy beans which are a valuable and important crop contains essential amino acid that helps children stay healthy.

Obialor however warned parents to desist from feeding their children with foods that has lot of cholesterol, but should endeavour to give them foods that contains soy protein in order to prevent malnutrition.

In her own words, Mrs. Adebisi Eneobong the Head Teacher Santa Maria Monterorri School said such enlightenment programs should be available to kids in order to create awareness about malnutrition, and that the importance of soy protein and its nutritional values in their dietary needs should not be over emphasised.

She however advised parents to be on the lookout for their children in terms of feeding and also to be security conscious.

Kano, presidency partner on MDG

T

In Ghana for instance, Airtel Money, has been adjudged the best mobile money service. It has been praised by industry players for its innovative features and secured nature has been expanding over the past few months roping in more banks and business outlets in the process.

Managing Director at Airtel Ghana, Philip Sowah said "We have developed Airtel Money as a product tailored to meet the needs of our customers. As you may know, Airtel Money is the only mobile commerce product which customers are able to link to their banks and are thus able to undertake banking transactions via their mobile phones".

Mr. Sowah added that "the list of partners for Airtel Money is also growing taller every day. We have several banks partnering with us as well as a host of other business outlets."

The Airtel Money service allows customers to pay utility bills, goods and services, make direct payment for savings and loans contributions, buy airtime, purchase Airtel data bundle, send money from Airtel Money account to other Airtel money customers, send money from Airtel

Money account to people on other networks, receive money on Airtel Money account, deposit physical cash for electronic money (e-value), withdraw cash from Airtel money account, send money to and withdraw money from bank account, and use mobile phone to check your bank balance and request for bank mini statement.

Viability of local mobile money transfer services In the view of stakeholders, there are evidence of viability of mobile payments in other regions of the world. For example, probably the most well-known and most successful - M-PESA, a mobile payments company in Kenya, was able to reach 13 million customers by its fourth year of operations (33% of the total Kenyan population and about 70% of the mobile subscribers).

The Nigerian money transfer market is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years.

The growth, according to analysts, will be driven by various factors which include the increasing mobile phone penetration, poor quality of existing alternatives, and the general growth of the Nigerian economy.

HE Kano state government, and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has resolved to enter into a partnering geared at attaining the goals of the MDGs in the state.

The move is coming on the heels of concerns being expressed by stakeholders, about the country not being able to meet the 2015 targets set by the United Nations (UN) for the attainment of the goals of the scheme.

Yusuf Bello Dambatta, Kano state commissioner in charge of planning and budget, said that the state resolved to enter into the partnership, as a way of bringing development to the grass root.

Dambatta made this disclosure, while declaring open a Four –day workshop on “Baseline Facility Assessment and Inventory Scale-Up” for enumerators participating in the MDG project, drawn from the North-West geo-political zone of the country, holding in Kano.

According to him, the partnership is imperative, as the core-goals of the scheme, are geared at enhancing human development, as well as, general economic development and growth.

“The government and people of Kano state are very pleased with the resolve of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals, in hosting this workshop in the state.

“We are happy because the staging of the workshop is coming at a period when Governor Rabi`u Musa Kwankwaso has just directed the opening of MDG office in each of the 44 Local Government Areas in the state.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Business Intelligence

O

N assumption of office, many thought he had pre-conceived but jaded ideas of how things should work in the system to the point that they labeled him “overbearing” and a blushing busy body” of some sort.

But one year down the line, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who sits atop as the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has made some progress.

Among other things, he declared zero-tolerance to importers of fake products by embarking on a sensitisation programme across different frontiers ostensibly to get the buy-in of everybody in the SON’s drive to achieve its set objectives.

The former Chief Executive of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, who at the time admitted that the agency is not where it should be, was, however, optimistic that through concerted efforts, the influx of fake and substandard goods into the country would be curtailed.

At the inauguration of the initiative, christened, ‘Zero Tolerance to Substandard Products,’ in Lagos, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the programmes, Mr. Damian Agbanelo, said that the activities involved in the new strategy included a stakeholders’ interactive forum, destruction of seized substandard products, a road show and the inauguration of the first SON, Copyright Protection Com-

SON: so far, so fair?

One year in the saddle as the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has won a lot of accolades from stakeholders, many of who hold the view and very strongly too that he has made remarkable progress towards cleaning the Aegean stable in the sector, reports Toba Agboola Market by t h e Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, along with the Directors-General of SON and CPC, Dr. Jos e p h Odumodu and Mrs. Ify Umenyi, respectively.

To address some of gaps, •Odumodu when he led a taskforce to seal off a the Odumodu fuel station in Abuja recently promised to strengthen the mission and stakeholders Mar- organisation for more effecket Desk at the Alaba Interna- tive and efficient performance tional Market. of its mandate over the next The events were followed four years via a six-point by the inauguration of the first agenda conceived to position SON/Consumer Protection it for a better standardisation Council/Stakeholders’ Market and quality management.

Desk at the Alaba International But has Odumodu’s efforts

paid off thus far? A cross-section of stakeholders who spoke at separate interviews with The Nation offers their verdicts.

Speaking with The Nation, the President of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Alhaji Garba Ibrahim, lauded the modest efforts being put in place by the agency but would rather the management does not rest on its oars.

He said: “SON is doing a laudable programme but the only issue we have is that they are going to select only 32 SMEs for certification and we feel the number is too small because we have more than 11 million SMEs all over the country.

Echoing similar sentiments, Director-General of MAN, Mr. Yinka Akande, also believes the various programme of the SON would help to improve things for operators in the manufacturing sector and the SMEs. He said the initiative of

supporting the sector was a good one for which SON deserves commendation, adding that MAN would partner them.

Building the capacity of SMEs, he inferred, would lead to job creation, promote business inclusiveness and ultimately boost the country’s economic growth.

Nigerians, the MAN DG said, should be ready to support the aspirations of Odumodu to contain the issue of substandard products, especially given his promise to further reduce it by 30 per cent before the end of the year.

The Action Congress of Nigeria commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria for alerting Nigerians to the sale of adulterated diesel at filling stations nationwide.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, it showed the agency was alive to its responsibilities.

The party urged SON to follow up on its discovery by taking remedial action to save the public from the effects of

adulterated diesel and other fake products.

Ajit Tyagi, Managing Director, Asahi Brands Limited, a conglomerate with vested interest in manufacturing, trading and supplies including Bridgestone branded tyres, at a public forum recently lauded the concerted efforts being put forward by SON towards ridding the system of adulterated products, especially tyres in the last one year.

Another area in the repositioning process is Consumer Engagement and Protection. The SON authorities believe that the issue of standardisation involves the engagement of stakeholders in the process of goods production, distribution and consumption.

Expectedly, Odumodu is optimistic that by 2014, SON shall not only develop but sell standards and standardisation solutions to meet the needs of the global community, starting with West Africa. To realise this, SON is set to acquire the capability to test a large variety of industrial and consumer products like construction, fire safety, electrical, electronic, engineering, gas products and medical devices used in the sub-region.

Are these achievable deliverables any more than they are mere jingoism?

Time will tell.

Odu’a group repositions subsidiaries

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USINESSES all over the world are reinventing themselves with a view to repositioning their operations in the market. With shareholders angling for more dividends and increased capital appreciation, top managers in the saddle are constantly put on their toes to meet expectations of shareholders even in the face of challenging business environment.

Determined to accomplish the goal of reinventing itself to meet current goals, the board and management of Odu’a Investments last week undertook a tour of its subsidiaries and associate companies to see firsthand how their investments can yield more profits.

Led by its Chairman, Alhaji Sarafadeen Alli, members of the team included the directors representing Ogun State, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello; Ondo State, Dr

Chairman, Odu’a Investments Limited, Barr. Sarafadeen Alli, led the board and management team to major subsidiaries and associate companies of the conglomerate for on-the-spot assessment. Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson who were on part of the team, report Isaac Akintade; and Ekiti State, Otunba Adebisi Egbeyemi. The Group Managing Director (GMD) Mr. Adebayo Jimoh and General Manager (Business Development) Mr. Bola Jayeola were also on the team.

The first port of call in Lagos was WEMABOD Estates Limited, the real estate subsidiary of the conglomerate. The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Olumide Ologun, told the visiting team that the firm had initiated the repositioning of the company by introducing new strategies for rent collection and reconciliation of tenants’ accounts.

The Group Managing Director of the conglomerate, Mr.

Adebayo Jimoh, charged the company to brace up to meet the expected N130 million naira turn over and N33 million profit before the year runs out.

Jimoh commended the management of the company for generating N153 million turnover in the last financial year as against the N133 million generated in the previous year.

At Glanvills Enthoven Limited, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Tunji Oluyemi explained that the company recorded a financial loss of about N43.6 million in the year 2010 but noted that there has been a tremendous

improvement as the company’s account for 2011 shows a profit of N82.8 million – including the expected payment of N30 million right issue balance by the parent company which it has been owing since 2009.

Responding, Sarafadeen Alli, commended the management of the company for its performance and charged them to improve on its public relations in order to achieve its goals.

At Nigerite PLC, an associate company of the conglomerate, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Jean Luc Viatour said the limited capacity of the factory will restrict its ability to meet market de-

From left: Jimoh, Dugad and Alli during the tour

mands in future.

During its visit to Tower Aluminium, another associates company, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Jinesh Dugad explained that the main challenges confronting the company has been the issue of power, which he described as a “big issue.”

While assuring the management that it would raise the tax system with the various state governments, the Chairman of Odu’a group, Alli, urged the company to ensure the payments of accumulated dividends to shareholders before the end of the current fiscal year.

PHOTO SHOP SHOP PHOTO

•From left: Mrs. Buky George, Chief Executive, Health Plus Pharmacies, Chief Bisi Ilaka, Professor James Renner, Head of the Respiratory Clinic at LUTH and Mrs. Lola Ilaka during the launching of the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation in Lagos recently

• From left: Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko; Lead Consultant & CEO, ThistlePraxis Consulting, Ini Onuk and Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, during the Sustainable Conversations, Leadership Breakfast Series on Sustainable Development in Agriculture by ThistlePraxis Consulting in partnership with Etisalat CSR Centre in Lagos

Business

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

INTERVIEW

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HAT major progress has been made by credit bureau to ensure that banks, primary mortgage institutions, and microfinance banks book their loans with them?

I think we have had major positive changes in terms of acceptability of credit bureau infrastructure in the Nigerian financial landscape. There has been major improvement in terms of joining and usage of the products of credit bureau.

In terms of adaptability, I think that we have moved beyond the issue of regulators telling commercial banks to use our services.

It is now the issue of seeing value in the products and services we have given them and keying into them.

The next sector that is in dire need of our services is the primary mortgage institutions (PMIs). Going by the list of functioning PMIs, we have 50 per cent of them, which are 40 firms that have joined. Although not all of them are really very effective, but those that are effective are really using the system. We have now some microfinance banks that have also joined us. But we would have loved to have more of them than what we have now.

We have over 800 microfinance banks in Nigeria and less than 20 per cent of them have joined credit bureau. This is where the challenge is because they are finding it difficult to see the value that we can give.

What has the experience been like for those that have subscribed to your services?

Those of them that have joined have given us very good testimonies of how our products have been assisting them to price their risks and assess the credit worthiness of their customers as well enhancing recovery of bad loans.

The beneficiaries have also seen an improved turnaround time in processing the loans of their customers. Other sectors like all the discount houses have equally joined.

A lot asset management companies and finance houses have also joined. We have some retailers that have also joined. There are some development institutions like the bank of industry, federal mortgage banks that have subscribed to our services.

What is the position of consumer loans in the economy?

Consumer loans are increasing due to services of credit bureau. More and more banks are going into services of retail business. More institutions are churning out consumer products. I am aware of many of them that are in the process of launching one consumer product or the other simply because they have discovered that there is infrastructure that is credit bureau that can support the risk management element of processing and managing the product. I can confirm to you that more and more people are having access to credit now because of our services.

How have the crises in the finance houses affected your businesses?

The crises in the finance houses have not negatively affected our business. I think it is an appeal to all credit grantors in the economy to know that there are lots of values in registering with credit bureau and in pooling reports of credit bureau in credit applications. What normally brings down financial institutions from what we have seen all over the world is bad credits.

We know that bad credit is occasioned by people taking money and not repaying.

And we also know that institutions that do not repay loans go ahead and take loans from unsuspecting institutions. It is in the interest of operators in the financial institutions to be able to ostracize the bad borrowers completely. There is need to ensure they do not have access to credit at all.

What advice do you have to offer finance houses that are closing shops?

…THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS

T

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), is set to hold the 14th Annual Tax Conference at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, from Wednesday, May 9 to Saturday May 12, 2012.

Tagged: ‘Taxation as a Tool for Economic Transformation’, it will draw participants from the taxation and allied professions.

Justifying the need for the conference, CITN president, John Femi Jegede, said an efficient tax system is a viable tool for

59

‘No hiding place for fraudulent borrowers’ Tunde Popoola is the Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau, one of the fastest growing credit bureaux in the country. In this interview with Collins Nweze he speaks on development in the sector

•Popoola

So, most of those finance houses, especially those that are closing, can still come to the bureau to see how they can recover the loans. If you have finance house that is closed down, the chances of recovering loans becomes slimmer. But there are chances that if other institutions find out that they owe you, then they may not give loans to such institutions. Credit bureau is the easiest way to find out who owes what and in which bank or banks.

So, they can know the credit worthiness of their customers especially those of them that are doing badly. We should ensure that there is no hiding place for anybody trying to defraud the lending industry. There is no hiding place for anybody borrowing and not paying back in the credit industry.

All of us who are in this business should know that information sharing is key in isolating bad customers. It is also key in knowing good customers and encouraging them to be able to have unhindered access to credit. Information sharing also is key to coming out with the right products that will boost the credit market. Owners of finance companies, retail businesses especially telecommunication companies to know that credit bureau is an infrastructure that can move their businesses to the next level.

What are some of the challenges affecting service delivery as far as the accessibility of your services is concerned?

There are. One of them is internet access.

The broadband in most cases is very low. In some institutions, it slows down the process

of processing customers’ data. Some institutions want to check hundreds of applications in a day but they are not able to achieve that because access to internet is erratic. There is low penetration of IT infrastructure due to low electricity availability. Because our system is available online, it becomes effective where internet is cheap and accessible. For now, internet is still expensive and is not accessible as we would want it to be.

What is your view on cashless banking?

I think the cashless society is a good thing. People should look at it with very high level of open mindedness. There are costs of possibility of attack, if you carry cash around. In cashless economy, you cannot waylay busses carrying people because they know they will not be carrying cash. People do not need to carry huge cash for any reason because of the risks associated with it.

What in your view is the implication of the cashless policy on the economy?

The volume of cash we are printing is high and costly which has to be reduced. An economy that thrives on cash is regarded as a rudimentary economy. An economy that relies largely on cash cannot be developed.

We need to move from this level of development if we really want to join the list of emerging economies.

Now, once you are conversant with usage of cards, the introduction of debit cards becomes the next thing. You can now go to shops and pay with your cards. At that point where people begin to carry cash, banks can then begin to extend overdrafts to individu-

Annual tax confab holds Wednesday boosting the country’s economy.

He further explained that while economic development may be measured by the growth of business activity within a country, instituting a viable tax system that will not distort business activities is an advantage to the nation’s economic transformation agenda driven by the current administration.

The CITN boss regretted that tax policies applied in most countries have failed to achieve their objectives, thereby denying the people the potentials and

advantages accruable from good fiscal policy reform.

He said the problems are more pronounced in developing economies and Third World countries where poor economic planning and strategy distort development plans. “These countries are facing structural and economic problems that require urgent intervention and transformation through the instrumentality of a good and working tax system,” he said.

The conference which is billed to be

als that are carrying those cards and more and more people will come into the banking system. As we speak today, we have more than 70 per cent of the population that are still unbanked. But when you do cashless, it means that more people will now be banked. It is out of those that are banked that you give access to credit so that the figures will grow.

Suppose about 30 million Nigerians are carrying credit cards, then it enhances access to credit. Once more people begin to carry cards, and then banks can introduce credit cards products. In advanced countries, credit review is done auto. In South Africa, credit bureau process about 80 million records in a month that is about 2.5 million in a day.

As an upwardly mobile executive, how do you relax?

I do not have a good culture of relaxation because I am involved in so many things outside my official engagement at CRC. I currently provide leadership for some organisations such as The Companion - an association of Muslim men in business and professions - and the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA). Until two years ago when I finished my term as the Chairman of Lagos District, I was fully involved in the activities of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). I play visible roles in the activities of my town’s elite association, the Sepeteri Improvement Union (SIU). All these require attending meetings, events, programmes etc especially during the weekend. I also provide mentoring to budding young entrepreneurs and students. I make a lot of presentation and deliver speeches which take my time in preparing my papers or speeches.

However, I try to be with the family from Sunday afternoons during the weekend. I play with my children; catch up with what is going on in school and their studies. We go out as a family to eat and watch films or visit family friends. We play scrabble or watch football matches on the television.

Besides, I read a lot especially books on leadership, strategy and small business.

What has been your best investment?

The best investment I had was in the school project of my wife. I am always happy seeing how the school is growing in terms of number of pupils and number of employees that have now grown to 40 over a seven year period. I am always happy when I attend their end of the year programme or inter house sports, etc. I consider it as the best not in terms of financial returns but in terms of joy that it brings to me and my family because of our involvement in molding young minds. I have a fanatical passion for education.

What about your worst investment?

The worst investment I had was in transportation business. As a young banker, I was trying to explore how I could invest my savings and make my money work for me. I bought two ‘danfo’ buses against the advice of my uncle. Within six months, I realized that they would not pay back the investment.

I could not even salvage them to realize any scrap value. I learnt a big lesson that one should be wary of going into a business you know nothing about and that if you are going to do that, you need to go and learn the trade or business to have some knowledge and idea.

declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan is informed by a paradox where most countries that recorded a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and higher cost of living, still had the people’s living standard falling below poverty line.

“I believe that a vibrant and an efficient tax system will play a transformational role in any nation’s economy.

This conference will help in addressing key issues of taxation, which can only be addressed when they are discussed in a forum where policy makers would have the opportunity to meet the professionals,” he said.

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Business

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2011

COMPANY NEWS

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ENYA, Nigeria and South Africa considered regional powerhouses in the continent of Africa are expected to achieve GDP growth of between 4 and 5% pa in the next decade as well as projected foreign direct investment of $150b by 2015.

According to Ernst & Young’s second African Attractiveness Survey, the growth in intra-African investment will be led by these African economies ranked among the top 20 investors into the rest of the continent between 2003 and 2011, and since 2007 the growth rate in investment from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa has been 78%, 73% and 65% respectively.

Growing optimism and confidence among international and African investors has lead to significant inward

Survey projects $150b FDI Beyond T alent in Nigeria, others by 2015

By Adetayo Okusanya

Stories by Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

investment into Africa over the last decade according to Ernst & Young’s second African Attractiveness Survey.

The report combines an annual analysis of investment into Africa since 2003, with a survey of 505 global executives on their views about how and where investment will take place in the next decade and predicts that Africa is poised to enter the premier league of investment destinations.

There was strong growth in the number of new foreign

direct investment (FDI) projects in Africa in 2011 with project numbers almost up to levels last seen in 2008. In the last decade Africa has seen an increase in inward investment from 339 new projects to the continent in 2003 to 857 in 2011 (an increase of 153%).

Mark Otty, Area Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Europe, Middle East, India and Africa says, “With rapidgrowth markets not only dominating investor attention and capital flows, but also playing an increasingly strategic role in defining the global economic agenda, the competition for global FDI is intensifying.

African countries must position themselves appropriately in this shifting landscape to attract a greater proportion of the investment that will accelerate growth and development.”

Overall this year’s survey paints a positive picture reflecting growing confidence in Africa’s prospects. Sixty percent of survey respondents say that their perception of Africa as a place to do business has improved over the past three years. Looking forward, 73% of respondents anticipate that Africa’s attractiveness will improve over the next three years, while only 4% believe it will deteriorate. .

Experts hinge efficiency on employee performance

I

MPROVED productivity at the workplace is a function of efficient and committed workforce. This was the verdict given by a cross-section of experts who spoke at a public forum in Lagos recently.

The event was at the 4th Special Human Resource Forum organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

Tagged: “Maximizing Employee Performance for Corporate Success’, it drew participants from the public and the organised private sector with Chief Kola Jamodu, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, as chairman of the occasion.

In his welcome address, Mr. Abiola Popoola, President/Chairman of Council of the Institute, stressed the need for regular training stressing that it is increasingly becoming a tough call for HR professionals to maximize employee performance for corporate success.

According to the CIPM boss, the Special Human Resource Forum of the Institute has been the flagship annual training, knowledgesharing and development platform designed to address topical issues facing HR practice in Nigeria.

While justifying the theme of this year’s conference, Popoola said: “It is based on the fact that the world is becoming more and more a global village and employees’ response to variables such as motivation,

managerial style, culture issues and industrial relations are becoming universal in nature and ought to be tackled, if not resolved.”

Expatiating, he said: “You would agree with me that performance of employees determine the performance and well being of organisations, which in turn, determines the performance of a nation. Competitive employees would build a competitive organisation; competitive organisations would make a competitive nation, hence the need to maximize employees’ performance to achieve corporate success.”

In his presentation, the

guest speaker, Prof. Richard Dickmann, a professor of International Human Resource at the Cranfield University, UK, while emphasising the role of motivation to employee productivity, said there is a nexus between efficiency at the workplace and the degree of welfare at the disposal of the workers.

Dickmann, who stressed the need for better understanding among management and its employee, said this becomes necessary to bring about harmonious working relationship at the workplace.

According to him, the new thinking out there is that employers of labour are

beginning to adopt standard best practices in dealing with issues that concern their employees, saying this has the potential to make or mar the growth of the enterprise.

He therefore urged that management should encourage regular interfaces and dialogue, saying this would go a long way in preventing labour-related crisis in the workplace.

Echoing similar sentiments, Jamodu identified the role of employee welfare in ensuring efficiency at the workplace, urging employers of labour to be committed to the ideals of reward and motivation in order to boost productivity.

• From left: Oba Michael Adedeji Gbadebo Owaooye of Oke-Imesi Ekiti, President Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN); Alhaji Mohammed J Aliyu and Commandant Nigerian Army College of Logistic (NACOL) Maj-Gen. Thompson Olomogbe during the institute’s 2012 induction ceremony in Lagos.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Telecom boss urges operators on aerial fibre services

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OR Nigeria’s telecommunication services to record needed improvement and stability in quality, the Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Stanley Jegede, has urged operators to rely more on aerial optic fibre cable for their long distance data communications.

According to him, aerial fibre optic routes offer both cheaper and more reliable services than their terrestrial equivalent and in view of recent experiences facing operators, there is need for them to adopt this aerial service to keep their customers happy.

Jegede, who spoke in Abuja recently, stated that with the current challenges facing the deployment and use of underground optic fiber cables, especially Right of Way issues, persistent vandalism and ecological problems, aerial optic fiber systems offer the needed and timely solution at this time in the country.

He said, “We are all aware about the problems of building and maintaining underground cables in Nigeria. It is one of the most difficult challenges that telecom firms face today in view of issues

such as host community hostilities, persistent construction of roads and its attendant impact on underground cables. Besides, excessive and unlawful regulatory activities by various agencies of government at different levels and environmental and natural disasters such as erosion sometimes leaves underground cables exposed.

“We have also witnessed persistent vandalism and theft of underground cables all over the country, all of which exacerbate the problem of poor quality of services as large numbers of

subscribers are cut off when these problems occur. These problems also take a lot of time to identify and repair.

However, the aforementioned issues and many more can easily be overcome by the use of aerial optic fibre system.”

He added that in view of today’s reality in which the West Africa region, including Nigeria, is still a developing region, road construction and the building of other infrastructure would be very frequent, leading to underground cables often being cut.

Email: adetayookusanya@hotmail.com

Not another puss in boots

“C

HESHIRE Puss, would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” Alice asked. “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said Cheshire Puss, the Cat. Alice replied, “I don’t much care where…” and the Cat interjected, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” Alice continued “…so long as I get SOMEWHERE.” To which Cheshire Puss responded, “Oh, you’re sure to do that if you only walk long enough.”

The conversation above is taken from one of my favorite classic movies, “Alice in Wonderland”. The words surfaced in my conscious mind a few weeks ago and because they resonated deeply, the conversation has stayed with me. At the heart of this dialogue is the principle that without a destination, it really does not matter what path or direction you take. You are free to do any and everything, as long as “you don’t care much where, so long as you get somewhere”.

If you substitute Alice with “Team Member” and Cheshire Puss with “Manager”, this dialogue sounds much like the conversation that many managers have with their direct reports, when that dreaded time for career development discussions rears its ugly head in many organizations. I suspect that quite a number of people share the same perspective as Alice when it comes to their careers. They do not have career goals and so it becomes difficult for others, such as their managers, mentors, coaches, counselors, etc. to give them the right guidance, advice and support. Career discussions become myopically focused on an event called “promotion”, rather than a process called “development.” Such people allow their careers to develop by default and not by design. One of the dictionary definitions of default is, “the preset selection of an option offered by a system, which will always be followed except when explicitly altered”. Design, on the other hand, is defined as “a coherent or purposeful pattern”.

A successful career, one that withstands the test of time, when put under a microscope will reveal a clear and logically connected arrangement of goal driven actions. These goals are not the goals of the company or its managers.

They are the goals of the individual whose career is under consideration. For many years, I labored under the widespread erroneous belief that the development of my career was the responsibility of my employer and managers. After all, when I was being recruited, one of their unique selling points was the vastness of the career development opportunities that would be available to me once I joined the company. I assumed this meant that the company would have a clear career development road map that was customized specifically for me. After a few years, I was soon disabused of that notion. I realize now that my expectations, which are shared by many people, were unrealistic.

Unless your employer is in the business of developing employee careers, it is wrong to place that responsibility solely and squarely on its shoulders. Many businesses would not survive if they applied a custom model to developing the careers of each employee, especially if they have a large workforce. Imagine having to implement a thousand or even a hundred unique career development plans. It would be chaos and it would result in the organization losing sight of its objectives. This is why, in my opinion, many organizations today operate, what is at best, the “default” model for career development. They provide you with a set of “preselected” options, which are geared towards accomplishing their business objectives.

Most of us will spend a third of our productive active life working for corporations. That is a major chunk of our life, our time, our energy, our emotions, etc. and it behooves us not to handle it lightly. When I was in the process of deciding whether or not to quit my job in the corporate world, I repeatedly asked myself one question, fifty years from now, would it really matter how many promotions I received or how many years I worked for an employer or how many employers I worked for? Would those indicators really be the measures of my life’s success? The answer was always a resounding “NO!” Fifty years from now, I would consider my life a success only if I pursued the things that were important to me, contributed something valuable to the world by applying my own unique “genius”, and I became the very best expression of who I am designed to be. I realized, then, that to achieve meaningful success I had to build a “designer” career, which meant “explicitly altering” the options that were available to me.

This month, Beyond Talent will be focusing on career development and addressing the what, the why and the how. Join me next week as I delve into the concept of selfawareness, which is the starting point of great “designer” careers.

• Okusanya is CEO of ReadinessEdge

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WORLD NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

activist, family Mass detentions in Egypt Chinese invited to study in U.S after deadly Cairo clashes C HINESE activist Chen Guangcheng has been invited to study at New York University, a spokesman for the institution said, as efforts to resolve a U.S.-Chinese diplomatic crisis appeared nearer to success.

“Chen Guangcheng has longestablished relationships with faculty at the NYU School of Law, and has an invitation to be a visiting scholar at NYU either in New York or at one of our other global sites,” spokesman John Beckman said.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Chen could be accompanied by his wife and two children.

E

GYPT’S military ruler attended yesterday an unprecedented public funeral for a soldier killed in clashes with protesters as the army detained 179 people over the violence in the run-up to landmark presidential polls.

Following the arrest of 320 people after Friday’s clashes near the defence ministry in Cairo, the prosecution “has decided to hold 179 people, including 13 women, for 15 days pending investigation,” a military source said.

The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had imposed an overnight curfew in the Abbassiya neighbourhood after fighting between troops and anti-military protesters that left two people dead — including a solider— and nearly 300 injured.

The clashes erupted just three weeks ahead of Egypt’s first presidential election since a popular uprising ousted president Hosni Mubarak last year.

The SCAF has vowed to hand power to civilian rule when a president is elected, but protesters believe the army wants to maintain a degree of power even after the elections and fear the polls will rigged in favour of a pro-military candidate.

In Cairo, military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi attended the funeral of Samir Anwar Ismail, who died in Friday’s clashes.

Tantawi and his deputy Sami Enan, joined the procession after the funeral prayer for Ismail, a member of a special forces unit, his comrades told AFP. Horse-drawn carriages pulled the coffin behind honour guards carrying wreaths as Tantawi, Enan and other SCAF members followed alongside the family of the dead soldier.

The military in the past had refused to disclose their casualties in clashes with protesters, saying it did not want to affect the morale of the army.

But it made an exception with Ismail’s funeral because “his death at the hands of protesters represents a clear attack on the army,” an officer told

•The public funeral for the soldier

AFP. Saturday’s press called for an end to the violence, with state-owned newspapers calling on protesters to confine their demonstrations to Tahrir Square — the epicentre of the uprising that toppled Mubarak.

“Tahrir is calling Abbassiya: Go back to the square,” the state-owned AlGomhuriya said on its front page headline.

“Enough Blood,” said the government owned AlAkhbar.

Yesterday morning, after the curfew ended at 0500 GMT, the protests had subsided in the area surrounding the defence ministry, while soldiers and armoured personnel carriers blocked off a road leading to the ministry.

Officials at Al-Zahra University hospital said on Friday they received two people who died in the skirmishes outside the ministry. A frontline medic group said they died of gunshot wounds.

The health ministry said only the soldier died, while at least 296 people were hurt in the clashes, including 131 who were treated in hospital.

The SCAF had imposed the curfew starting from 2100 GMT, and pledged in a statement to “decisively confront” any at-

tempts to break it.

Earlier on Friday, military police had charged the protesters, chasing them down side streets near the ministry on foot and in military vehicles, firing birdshot and assault rifles into the air amid chaotic scenes.

A blanket of thick smoke engulfed Abbassiya square, where several thousand secular and Islamist protesters had gathered, some marching there from Tahrir Square, to denounce the SCAF. The clashes began when some protesters threw rocks at the military police.

The unrest comes ahead of the landmark presidential polls amid fears by many Egyptians that the military rulers will renege on a pledge to hand power to civilian rule after the election and that the vote will be rigged.

“We are here to end SCAF rule. We don’t trust them. SCAF is following Mubarak’s example, and we want to protect the revolution,” said Mohammed Badawi from Ismailiya, a member of the Coalition of Revolution Youth.

The Abbassiya neighbourhood witnessed deadly clashes just two days earlier, which the health ministry said left at least nine

people dead, though field medics say more died.

On Wednesday, unknown attackers stormed a sit-in near the defence ministry by supporters of Salafist politician Hazem Abu Ismail, after he was disqualified from the presidential race.

Other candidates include former Arab League chief Amr Mussa and Mubarak’s last premier Ahmed Shafiq.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood has fielded the head of its political arm Mohammed Mursi whose main Islamist rival is Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, a former Brotherhood member.

On Thursday, the SCAF vowed that the presidential election will be fair and moved to assure the public it will hand over power on schedule but warned against protests outside the defence ministry.

The presidential election is scheduled for May 23 and 24 with a run-off for June 16 and 17 if there is no outright winner.

The military vowed it would transfer power to civilian rule before the end of June, or by May if there is a clear winner in the first round.

Source: AFP

Cameron hails London mayor win

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RIME Minister David Cameron yesterday hailed fellow Conservative Boris Johnson’s re-election as London mayor but it was the sole bright spot for his party as it took a mid-term beating.

In local elections on Friday the opposition Labour party took control of 32 councils and won more than 800 seats at the expense of the Conservatives and their coalition partners the Liberal Democrats.

“I think it was a very strong campaign by Boris. It was based on his record, on

the excellent things he has done out there and I am delighted to congratulate him,” said Cameron, standing alongside Johnson at City Hall.

“It was a campaign the whole Conservative party got behind. I enjoyed campaigning for Boris but now what matters is working together for the good of London, as PM, as mayor, and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

Eccentric Johnson, famed for his dishevelled blond locks and gift for buffoonery, won 51.5 percent of the vote

in a closer-thanexpected runoff with rival and predecessor, Labour’s K e n Livingstone.

“It was a very hardfought long campaign,” said Johnson, who will now lead London •Boris Johnson and Cameron into the Olympic Games in July.

“I am grateful to the Conservative Party. They did turn out in large numbers to help

me but I think we were able to reach people across the city with a message that resonated with them in tough times.”

•Chen Guangcheng

At least 5 dead in Italy bus crash

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BUS bringing retired police officers to a national convention veered off a highway in northern Italy yesterday and plunged into a canal, killing at least five people, officials said.

More than a dozen others were injured, some of them seriously, when the bus broke through the barricades of the A13 highway near Padua and ended up partially submerged in water, fire-fighters and news reports said.

Rescue crews recovered five bodies and extracted several other injured passengers from the bus, Padua fire-

fighter Mauro Bacelle told Sky TG24 television.

Police divers were brought in to ensure no victims were thrown into the canal, the LaPresse news agency said.

Bacelle said the stretch of the highway where the crash occurred isn’t particularly risky and that the crash occurred well after daybreak, at around 8 a.m.

The bus was bringing retired carabinieri paramilitary police officers from Aprilia, south of Rome, to a national carabinieri convention in Jesolo, near Venice, reports said.

Eight dead, Russian tourists missing in Nepal flood

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IGHT people were killed and three Russian tourists missing yesterday after a river burst its banks and swept away a village near one of Nepal’s most popular Himalayan resorts, police said.

Authorities had not yet determined the nationalities of the dead, but most appeared to be locals, said conservationist Bishnu Paudel, who described how people had fled to the hills to escape the sudden deluge.

Fast-flowing floodwaters from the swollen Seti River smashed into two buildings and a number of shacks in Kharapani village, in the shadow of Mount Annapurna.

“We have found the dead bodies of eight people at the Seti River. Some others, including three Russians, are missing,” local police officer Shailesh Thapa told AFP by telephone.

Paudel, of Annapurna Conservation Area Project, who reached the site a few hours after the flood hit, said: “Most of the victims were shopkeepers in Kharapani,

on the banks of the Seti River.

“Another village, Machhapuchre, was also affected.

“Two buildings were swept away. Tourists flock to this area because there is a hot-water spring. There hasn’t been any rain recently, so we were surprised when the flood occurred at 9:30 am.

“The water has risen so high that it was up to a bridge. I found two truck drivers who had survived by fleeing to a hill nearby.”

Three injured people have been taken to hospital in Pokhara, a tourist hub about 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu, police said.

“Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has ordered the authorities to conduct the rescue operation without any delay,” the premier’s spokesman Bishwadeep Pandey said.

“Bhattarai is monitoring the incident and is in touch with the authorities in Pokhara. An army helicopter with experts has also been despatched as per his request.”

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World News

Thousands of stranded S. Sudanese to be flown home

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P to 15,000 ethnic South Sudanese who have been encamped in crowded conditions in Sudan will be flown to South Sudan, avoiding a May 20 expulsion deadline by local authorities, the IOM said yesterday.

“We hope to start within a week,” Jill Helke, who heads the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Khartoum, told AFP. The IOM estimates that 12,000-15,000 South Sudanese are in the Kosti way-station about 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of Khartoum.

Many have been living in makeshift shelters or barn-like buildings, waiting for months for their transport home.

The governor of the area declared the migrants a security threat and initially gave them a May 5 deadline to leave, a decision that sparked concern from the United Nations and the IOM, which has already helped to return thousands of South Sudanese.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

US drone strike ‘kills 10 militants’ in Pakistan

Afghan child bride’s in-laws sentenced for torture A T

HE in-laws of a child bride who became the bruised and bloodied face of women’s rights in Afghanistan have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for torture, abuse and human rights violations, a judge said yesterday.

The plight of 15-year-old Sahar Gul captivated the nation and set off a storm of international condemnation when it came to light in late December. Officials said her husband’s family kept her in a basement for six months after her arranged marriage, ripping out her fingernails, breaking her fingers and tor-

turing her with hot irons in an attempt to force her into prostitution.

She was rescued by police in northeastern Baghlan province after an uncle alerted authorities.

Gul’s husband’s father, mother and sister were each sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Kabul on Tuesday, presiding judge Sibghatullah Razi said.

Also found guilty were Gul’s husband, a member of the Afghan army, and her brother-in-law, both of whom have been on the run since her case became public, Razi said.

He said the men will be sen-

tenced when they are captured.

Gul was present for the decision, telling the court that she wanted her in-laws “severely punished” for what they had put her through, Razi said. She has filed an appeal for a longer sentence with the help of the Women for Afghan Women, a group that works for women’s rights in the country and has been caring for the teenager since her rescue.

“Of course we are not happy with the court’s decision,” said Huma Safi, program manager for the group.

Gul’s case has prompted calls for more efforts to

Gadhafi son’s defence seek ICC prosecutor

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LAWYER for Moamer Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam has called on the International Criminal Court to disqualify chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Campo from the case, alleging possible bias, the ICC said yesterday.

The submission made Thursday was published on the website of the ICC, which is in a tussle with the new Libyan authorities holding Seif al-Islam over the right to try him.

Xavier-Jean Keita, the defence lawyer appointed by the ICC, claimed that MorenoOcampo’s impartiality “might reasonably be doubted,” both in regard to “the success of the Libyan admissibility challenge” and “the culpability and credibility” of their client.

He said Moreno-Ocampo had participated in press conferences with the Libyan authorities and said that his Libyan counterpart had a “solid case” against Seif Al-Islam.

B

• US President Barack Obama hugs first lady Michelle after speaking during a campaign event at the Value City Arena - Schottenstein Centre yesterday in Columbus, Ohio. Obama is travelling to Ohio and Virginia where he will hold rallies and officially begin his re-election bid for the 2012 presidential election.

AFP PHOTO/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI

strengthen women’s rights and end underage marriage. The legal marriage age in Afghanistan is 16, but the United Nations agency UN Women estimates that half of all girls are forced to marry under age 15.

There has been progress in women’s rights since the 2001 U.S.-led campaign that toppled the Taliban regime, which banned girls’ schools and prevented women from leaving the house unless accompanied by a male relative.

But ending abuse remains a huge challenge in Afghanistan’s patriarchal society, where traditional practices include child marriage, giving girls away to settle debts or pay for their relatives’ crimes and so-called honor killings in which women seen as disgracing their families are murdered by their relatives.

Gul, who had been married for seven months when she was found in late December, is still seeing doctors for some problems with her hands and fingers, but is doing better both physically and emotionally, Safi said. She said the girl is now very interested in studying, very different from when she first arrived.

She also has made great progress in her efforts to become comfortable around other people again, Safi said.

“She was very brave.

When she was brought to us after her rescue, she was unable to speak. But this week she was able to get up and speak in front of an entire courtroom asking for her rights,” Safi said.

“These are all positive signs and of course we are very proud of her.”

US drone attack targeting a militant compound killed at least 10 insurgents in a troubled Pakistani tribal district along the Afghan border early yesterday, security officials said.

The Pakistani officials said two missiles hit and destroyed the compound in Shawal area, some 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

Waziristan is the most notorious militant stronghold in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous northwestern tribal belt. Washington considers it the main hub for Taliban and Al-Qaeda to plot attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

“The death toll in the US drone strike has risen to 10. The drone fired two missiles at the compound,” a security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar told AFP. Officials had earlier put the death toll at six.

Yesterday’s attack was the second strike since Pakistan’s parliament in March approved new guidelines on relations with the United States, which included a call for an end to drone attacks on Pakistani territory.

Two security officials in Miranshah confirmed the strike and death toll and added that militants were using the compound as a training centre. They said the mud compound was completely destroyed.

The identity of those killed in the strike was yet not known and officials said they were trying to collect more information from the far-flung mountainous area.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the latest strike, reiterating that such “illegal attacks are a violation of (our) sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law”.

Hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners hospitalized

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EN Palestinian prisoners participating in a mass hunger strike in Israeli jails were placed under medical supervision as their conditions worsened, officials said yesterday.

The ten men are among

1,500 to 2,500 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike to demand better conditions and an end to detention without trial.

Although Israeli officials and Palestinians give different numbers of hunger strikers, it is still one of the largest prison protests in years.

It involves a quarter to a half of all Palestinians held in Israeli jails, estimated at some 4,600 people. The reasons for their detentions range from throwing stones to killing civilians in brutal militant attacks.

Most them began refusing food 19 days ago, but a smaller

core have been striking longer, from periods of time ranging from 40 to almost 70 days.

The prisoners’ chief demands are a halt to imprisonment without charges for periods ranging from months to years, in a system called “administrative detention.”

They are also demanding an end to solitary confinement, and reinstating family visits from Gaza. They also have smaller demands, such as being allowed to take a photo with their families once a year, instead of just once during their prison term.

Abubakar Tsav: Predating on Gen. Azazi

EFORE the USA under President Barack Obama finally closed in on the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in April 2011, the United States hot pursuit of the terrorist leader had lasted 10 years after September 11. Even before then, USA’s covert and overt operations to unveil al Qaeda had been on for more than a decade.

But the will, courage and determination of a nation in retreat from al Qaeda terror mission finally busted the myth of its leadership. When General McArthur made the now famous statement” I shall return,” it was at the time of pain, retreating from the ferocious assault on his armed forces which nearly routed them from the Philippines. It was the same McArthur who returned to the same spot and sealed the allied

victory of the Second World War. So will it be with Nigeria and Boko Haram.

When tacticians and Generals such as Azazi, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser speak, it requires the reflection of all before predating their message. It is in this respect that Abubakar Tsav and his peripheral grandstand to catch the flashes of the media platform by calling for Azazi’s sack.

Abubakar Tsav’s pronouncement that a Four Star General, who after years of service to fatherland, should be sacked on account of his philosophical tantrums, reflects very badly on the Police Force of his time which allowed his default promotion to the rank of a Commissioner. No wonder his bosses then, such as the revered Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie did reflect

•Azazi

PERSPECTIVE negatively on his demotion in the Force. For a man so lightly esteemed by the country’s Police Force to seek a reinvention of his role in the country where his disgraceful service record stares, requires a quick reprimand.

Firstly, no Nigerian President or even Local Government Council Chairman would undertake Abubakar Tsav’s spurious outlook.

His record as a Policeman is there for all to check.

There is nothing in his record of service that added value to the Force. Not even at the minuscule level of security management such as the state.

When General Azazi, the NSA reflected on the siege confronting the country at the South-South Economic Summit, he was doing so as a General and Statesman. His reference to the PDP was a mainstream argument. He couldn’t refer to the ANPP, ACN, APGA or any other political party which is in the periphery of power occupation. The evolution of the PDP from a partisan organization into what looks like an organised

crime network has spiralled much of Nigeria’s national crisis. Azazi preferred the love of country to the love of profitable party partisan platform on which he is standing as National Security Adviser.

If anything, he has modelled himself as a reference point for brutal frankness. Our beloved President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, will need an inner room conferencing with the General and those similarly persuaded, for the country to access the correct security management mould that is needed for now.

Azazi’s command height: - Four medals, Four Stars, former Army Chief, former Chief of Defence Staff, and now National Security Adviser should not be lightly esteemed by unknown quantities such as Abubakar Tsav. Nigeria

is a reality and not a myth to be played with by empty headed fake commentators such as Abubakar Tsav.

His fake anti-corruption posture is well known and anchored around selfseeking opportunism. The self-contradiction of his posture in shielding corrupt governments and individuals in his home state, Benue, for a profit, is well known. Like his types, when the gravy he is seeking is gone, and he is called yonder, there may be little to reflect about in respect of a man whose life was full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

As with the USA, Nigeria’s search for solutions to the Boko Haram phenomena should continue until we have a date with them as did the USA with al Qaeda.

Terfa Taga Tate85@gmail.com Box 254 Makurdi

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

Retired general commiserates with Suntai over bomb blast From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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ETIRED Major-General Adamu Ibrahim (Mni) has commiserated with the Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai and the people of the state over last Monday’s suicide bombing that killed 11 persons and injured no fewer than 25 people in Jalingo.

Ibrahim condemned the attack, describing it as mindless.

In a phone interview, he said: “I am saddened by the incident, which is a dastardly, mindless and ungodly act.

“My heartfelt condolence goes to Governor Danbaba Suntai and all the relatives of those who were feared dead in the suicide bombing. I wish the injured ones quick recovery.

“I would like to urge the governor not to be depressed or disheartened by the terrorist attack, while steering the ship of governance in Taraba, particularly in the area of security”.

He said Suntai has won the people’s accolades, for footing the medical bills of the injured victims at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo.

The retired General called on the security agencies to crackdown on perpetrators and sponsors of the ceaseless attacks.

Atiku pays tribute to Rashidi Yekini, condoles Oshiomhole

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ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the death of football legend, Rashidi Yekini, as a huge loss to the country.

Yekini, he said, played invaluable roles in putting Nigeria on the world map in terms of international soccer fame and glory.

Reacting to Yekini’s death in a statement in Abuja on Saturday by his Media Office, Atiku said that the late Super Eagles’ prolific scorer was a rare star that dominated his game, forcing even his rivals into silent admiration of his mercurial skills.

According to the former PDP presidential aspirant, Yekini’s single-minded commitment to excellence propelled him to stardom beyond his wildest dreams of glory.

With 34 goals in 54 appearances for the Super Eagles, Atiku said the late goal king left no one in doubt of his incredible skills in the beautiful game.

He called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to immortalise the late footballer.

While praying God to grant Yekini eternal rest in peace, Atiku Abubakar also wished his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He also condemned the murder of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s private secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

News

Oshiomhole kicks off re-election campaign, promises more development

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DO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday launched the campaign for his second term re-election.

He promised to continue to build on the foundation already laid for sustainable development.

The governor addressed a crowd of supporters who defied the heavy downpour at the King Square and told them that the election will be based on issues.

“In three years, we have built over 100 schools in the state. If we have another four years you will find schools in every village,” he assured the people.

According to him, “having cleaned up the politics, we have created an environment for development.

“The opposition political party is not interested in issues because it will not favour them. They are promising to change after 10 years

of misrule. Can they change when their godfather, rigged to give the ticket to their candidate?” He asked.

Comrade Oshiomhole said, “We must remind them that the election is about report card because our jobs are the greatest weapons against the godfather.”

He disclosed that in Edo South senatorial district, 33 road projects have been completed with walkways, street lights and drainage while 38

road projects are ongoing.

“There will be a brand new roundabout at the 5 junction where RCC and HITECH construction companies tractors are campaigning for me,” he added.

He assured that “in every local government in Edo South we are building schools, roads, providing electricity, improving the health sector and drilling boreholes for water for the people. There is no local gov-

63

ernment in the state where you will not find the red roof, indicating standard and beautiful schools”, he added.

The governor said the PDP has been cleaned out from Edo North and Edo South, while the godfather has been restricted to a small part of Uromi in Edo Central.

According to him, “even a high-ranking chief who spoke for the Oba in the palace said Mr Fix-it could not fix anything while PDP was in power in ten years, but that the ACN government has been able to fix the roads, the schools, the hospitals, the water problem, electricity and the flooding challenge of Benin City.”

Oyerinde’s assassination politically motivated, says Ikuforiji

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•From left: Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi and Olootu Leye Ashaye at the Yoruba Conflicts Resolution Committe Meeting held in Ijebu Ode, at the weekend

Bomb scare at Federal Government Girls ANIC and fear gripped College in Edo school few minutes later. Constaff and students of

P

Federal Government Girls College at Ugbowo in Benin City following the discovery of an object suspected to be a time bomb.

The incident said to have happened on Friday evening made the school authorities relocate students to a location far away.

They feared more bombs might have been planted in

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

dormitories and other places in the school. A teacher, who pleaded anonymity, said the object was placed near the school entrance gate.Many parents who learnt of the incident hurried to pick their children.

The Police anti-bomb squad was deployed to the

firming the incident, Edo State Police spokesman, ASP Etim Bassey, said the object was not a bomb.

According to him, “you know in this era, people are scared of any suspected object and we thank members of the public for being alert and promptly inviting the police.

Everything is calm at the school now.”

Council chairmen seek revival of family values

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HAIRMEN of Local Government Councils in Lagos State have called for the immediate re-introduction of positive family values to address moral decadence in the society.

The Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kamal Bayewu and his counterpart at the Ifelodun Local Council Devel-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

opment Area(LCDA), Shuaib Fatai Ajidagba, made this call when the Fatima Charity Foundation led by Hajia Bintu-Fatima Tinubu, visited the Lagos West Senatorial District at Ajegunle.

They group was on a campaign for parents to help eradicate social challenges in the nation yesterday.

The chairmen explained

that though it could take some time to materialise, family values had become very important for the country to move forward.

“We can see what the loss of the family value system is snowballing into especially in our country with the issues of Boko Haram, robbery and corruption taking over the society,” Bayewu stated.

Police discover bomb in Kano football HOUSANDS of soccer viewing centre DPOs to tell the fans in the ancient city

T

of Kano were unable to watch the English FA cup final match between Chelsea and Liverpool football clubs following alleged threat of suicide bombing.

Investigations revealed that all the viewing centres across the State, especially the ones in Sabon Gari were shut to customers.

Sources close to the securityagencies revealed that a bomb was allegedly planted at a popular viewing centre but was immediately diffused due to intelligence reports.

The Police command, it

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

was also learnt, urged all the owners of viewing centres to temporarily close down for three to four weeks. Security personnel were combing the nooks and crannies of the state yesterday to prevent another explosion.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, confirmed the planting of a bomb at one of the biggest viewing centres known as Kings Garden located at Brigade quarters of the metropolis.

“I have instructed my

viewing centre owners to close shop for between three and four weeks, so that we can intensify security within those areas,” he stated.

The Police chief added: “These people have no target and we have to be cautious of whatever we are doing because their mission is to kill enmasse, which we have to do everything possible not to fall into their traps. ‘’I advise all viewing centres owner in the state to comply with this instruction so as to avoid any calamity,” he warned.

AGOS Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has decried the alarming rate of political killings, armed robberies, kidnapping and bombing across the country. The situation, he said, calls for the overhauling of the nation’s security system. Ikuforiji stated this in a condolence message to the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the entire Civil Society Community over the killing of Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary and Special Adviser on Special Duties, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

Oyerinde was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen in his residence in Benin last Friday.

The speaker said he received the tragic news with a great shock. While condemning the unfortunate incidence in strong terms, he stressed that it is very obvious that the killing of the Governor’s scribe is politically motivated. The inci-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

dent, he said, is an attempt to destabilise the second term campaign of Oshiomhole, which was scheduled to kick off yesterday. He added that Oyerinde was a great asset to Nigeria, having served in various capacities as a cerebral student activist, human rights and pro-democracy advocate, erudite essayist and trade unionist of no mean status. He said the deceased offered to serve the Edo State Government on a leave of absence from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the Deputy Secretary-General. Ikuforiji expressed fears for the nation’s future if innocent and highly resourceful people like Oyerinde can just be wasted in this manner.

He called for A thorough investigation of the killing, stressing that political assassination would continue to make politics in Nigeria sour and scare away good people with great intentions.

Ajimobi removes traditional ruler

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HE Baale of Ago Oja in Oyo, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye, who was installed by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, has been removed by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

The removal, which was communicated via an order and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Peter Odetomi, was with immediate effect.

The installation of the ruler in the domain of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi caused disaffection between the monarch and the former governor.

It was believed then that the former governor created the title to reduce the influence of the Alaafin of Oyo in his domain.

Dissatisfied with his installation as Oloja of Ago Oja, Oba Adeyemi challenged the action of the ex-governor in the State High Court.

Justices O.A. Akinola and J. A Fabiyi in their rulings marked HOG/14/2006 and CA/1/ M267/07 ordered the ruler to vacate the seat.

The ruling emphasised in part: “The creation, appointment and installation of Baale Ago Oja was illegal, null and void and unconstitutional”.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

But Alao-Akala’s administration ignored the rulings.

Consequently, Oba Adeyemi filed another suit in which he prayed the court to commit Alao-Akala and his then state Commissioner for Justice, Are Abdusalam and Alago Oja to prison for allegedly refusing to obey the two separate court orders.

Ajimobi, in the letter, asked Busari to comply with an extant judgment restraining him from parading himself as a traditional ruler and vacate the official residence of Ashipa Oyo. The directive was contained in a letter marked CB141\38\7T1\131, dated May 4, 2012 and directed to the Chairman, Atiba Local Government for immediate action.

The letter said in suit no.

HOY462006, Justice Olu S Akinola, had ruled that the title of Baale Ago-Oja does not exist in Atiba Local Government and ordered that Ganiyu Ajiboye Busari should stop parading himself as such.

The letter further reads, “the state government hereby directs that Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye Busari should cease from parading himself as Baale/Alago of Ajo-Oja at least pending the determination of his appeal and should vacate the palace meant for Ashipa”.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

64

Mission-the future

•Being the text of a speech delivered at the second Southsouth Economic Summit on April 26 in Asaba, Delta State

•Continued yesterday

from

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HE demand – and here come my last words on the subject, a necessary summary of the past – the demands from multiple and varied directions for a National Conference is as old as political consciousness. Nor is it a demand that has been solely born out of a crisis. It is a demand that is born out of the recognition of an unfinished business, and that business is the business of nation-becoming. Many people have acknowledged, in various forms, that Nigeria is not yet a nation. It is therefore only intelligent to see the demand for an encounter among peoples as a response to this awareness, one that is shared by millions but is often conveniently camouflaged. A crisis is merely the immediate triggering cause for the resurrection of the idea, but a crisis is not the underlying motivation for such a recourse. We do acknowledge however that after a civil war, after military interventionism that has interrupted, and virtually subverted the creative tempo of true national building, after the inordinate consumption of a hegemonic but vastly tentacular minority – and I repeat – a minority that has destroyed trust among the peoples of this nation, it is time to resume our quest towards nationhood.

To all legislators, and indeed

•Annan

By Wole Soyinka

executive heads who are so jealously protective of their socalled sovereignty, may I end this reprise by reminding them that the call has always been: carry on the task for which you were elected. Nothing in what was ever proposed contradicted such functions. Simultaneously with such functions however, the people demanded a forum for a mutual encounter among those who do not have an eye to the next

election, who are not fearful of losing a luxury existence that bleeds the treasury of its lifeblood, those who are not constrained by horse-trading and back-room ‘settlement’ for the passage of some bill upon which the functioning of the nation depends. Let us bear in mind however that it has always been within the rights and prerogatives of any group of people to engage in strategies for facilitating such an assemblage of minds.

All that has been said, all that has been argued and, in my

Sarkozy: Is this the end?

•Continued from page 9

One of his new campaign ads shows Arablooking men being physically searched by authorities wearing protective facemasks. A Sarkozy voiceover explains that integration no longer works because too many immigrants have come to France. (This despite Sarkozy himself framing French immigration policy for the last decade.)

The transparent tactics appalled some centrists and amused far rightwingers. At her National Front’s annual gathering on the Place de l’Opéra in Paris, far-right firebrand Marine Le Pen mocked both of the presidential finalists for coveting her voters. “How do you feel about going from being the idiots who vote Marine Le Pen to the arbiters of the presidential election? How do you feel about changing status from xenophobic racist fascists to French people with real concerns that we must speak to?” she chided, to cheers. But she reserved particular scorn for Sarkozy, who was booed heartily at every mention, calling his “belly dance” to seduce her voters “supreme electioneering fraud.” Le Pen, who has more to gain if Sarkozy loses and his party disintegrates, told

supporters she would cast a blank ballot on Sunday.

Meanwhile, centrist leader François Bayrou, a more popular figure than his 9.13 percent firstround score suggests, said on Thursday that he would vote for Hollande, a historic break in a decades-old centrist/rightwing alliance. Bayrou said he disagreed with Hollande’s economic program. But he slammed Sarkozy’s “violent” line between the two presidential rounds, his “obsession with reestablishing borders,” and his “race with the far-right.” He said it contradicted moderate values, centrist and right wing alike. “The obsession with immigration in a country like France, to the point of presenting in his campaign ad a ‘Customs’ road sign written in French and Arabic. Who does not see what clashes, what clashes between French people, that will lead to?” Bayrou said in a press conference broadcast live on France’s all-news networks.

In the final days of this campaign, the atmosphere has only gotten uglier. As Sarkozy blasts the media— some of which have accused him of corruption or compared him to the Nazicollaborating Marshal Philippe Pétain—a number of the faithful at his rallies have taken their

frustrations out on reporters, who in some cases have been attacked, insulted, spit at, or hit with a bottle. At his last major rally on Thursday night in far-right friendly Toulon, Sarkozy accused the left of “no longer loving the Republic.” And he launched into a new après moi, le déluge routine. “[When the Socialists were elected] in the 1980s, it took two years for the situation to become untenable. Today, it would take two days,” he declared, extending both arms for emphasis. “Two days of illusions, for years of suffering! Two days that sing, for years of sacrifice!

Two days of lies, and years to pay the bill!” If you’re counting, that means it is all downhill from Tuesday if Hollande wins.

Hours before the end of this heated French campaign, the very last numbers show the undecided deciding and the gap narrowing ahead of Sunday’s vote. Hollande still enjoys a wide lead in the polls, between four and seven points.

Ironically, Sarkozy’s legend as a political whiz might work to get out the vote for his slow and steady rival, with nervous Hollande supporters as convinced as the pundits that the jackrabbit incumbent can’t be counted out until the count is in. Stay tuned for Sunday.

view, there need be no further call for such a conference, only a clear understanding of the multiple causes for its constant resurgence. It is however time to stop barking up a wrong tree, and envisage instead what motions would have characterised such a conference were it to have taken place. In other words, it is time to act the national conference, not summon it. And I believe that this is what we are participating in today, a continuation of former initiatives, in the ongoing encounters of regional groupings. There was the earlier one in Lagos a few months ago and, hopefully, these will be followed by others, all the way eastward and northward all the way towards Maiduguri and Kano when those beleaguered sectors have ridden themselves of the horrors of the mindless insurgency. My reading is then is as follows: Central to these gatherings will be the very antithesis of that word ‘central’ – decentralization. Engaging in policies and strategies of development that progressively renders the centre reduced in its ability to impede – for this is what has been the norm – impede the pace and quality of development of the constituent parts of the nation. The constitutional envelope that currently holds the parts together should be pushed as far proves possible without it actually bursting, leading to a vibrant com-

petition – and collaboration among its constituent parts. It is then left to the courts of arbitration to interpret those areas where it might appear that the envelope has been pushed too far. And let no one imagine that this is still the aberrant season of that Third Term Desperado and Denier who defied the courts in their decision over the illegal seizure of the statutory revenues of Lagos and some other states. The people now know what to do, and have proved it. Lagos stood firm.

Leadership is half the battle but followership must also prove its mettle. Each regional grouping should, by its policies, declare an uncompromising developmental autonomy – I repeat, Autonomy - leaving the centre only with its competence provenance – foreign policy, national security and inter-state affairs - including peace subversive Peace Advocacy – but minus its propensity for inflicting heart seizure on productive human concourse.

There need be no further calls for a national conference. Let each regional grouping with compatible ideas of the ultimate mission – the future of the humanity for which they are responsible – begin to call the shots, and relegate the centre to its rightful dimensions in any functioning federated democracy. Let each state call its own conference of peoples to articulate in just what direc-

tion they wish to direct their leaders and relate to the centre and other states. Let each regional grouping and its member states single-mindedly project and pursue their strategies for the enhancement of the quality of life and the dignity of their peoples, quarry into their resources to extract the material required for their very existence, material that they can exchange among one another based on their spatial developmental advantages - in short share among themselves areas of specialization, substituting strength for the weakness of their partners, expertise for deficiencies in one member or the other.

Such collaborating states need not even be contiguous, what matters is a community of interests, no matter how physically distanced from one another. Nigeria has proved too large and inefficient for the centralized identification and management of such human skills and material resources, the centre having become selfaggrandizing, bloated, parasitic and alienated. Now is the time to put into practice that ancient saying: Small is beautiful. We must return to the earlier days of creative rivalry that pronounces that vanishing past an interrupted project of promise, creativity and productivity.

Then, it may be possible for your generation to say contentedly, even while the harvest is still distant but the soil is cleanly prepared, the seeds implanted and germinating: Mission? Accomplished!

•Concluded

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

EBERE WABARA

65

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Hyphenation counts, too N ATIONAL MIRROR Front Page Second Lead Headline of May 3 goofed: “SSS impounds drums of bomb making chemicals” Is it the bomb that is making the chemicals? No confusion: bomb-making chemicals.

Nigerian Tribune of 30 April circulated copious blunders: “Robbers lay seige to ATM patrons in Agege” Spell-check: siege.

“Oke-Ayo residents commend firm over (for/on) road rehabilitation” “Uduaghan condoles Oshiomhole over journalists’ death” The governor condoled with Oshiomhole…

“Torres hat trick (sic) sends QPR packing” A rewrite: Torres’ hat-trick…

THE NATION COMMENT of April 30 committed what I call a ‘pedestrian error’: “Such unguarded utterances from a supposed political leader are irresponsible and an affront against (to) constituted authority.”

“The electoral heist that happened in the West must not be allowed to re-occur (sic)….” (THE NATION EDITORIAL/ OPINION Page, April 30) Modern English: recur (not reoccur).

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of April 29 disseminated a bold Front Page Window gaffe: “Oshiomhole escapes death in ghastly crash…three killed, many injured” The fact that Adams escaped death did not make it a ghastly crash! Three colleagues of mine lost their lives in that same tragedy, which makes it a fatal crash. Any vehicular mishap that results in death is clearly a fatalistic—not a ghastly—accident!

There is an immutable difference between fatality and ghastliness.

“Man, 22, charged for (with) attempted suicide” (BUSINESSDAY Headline, April 23) DAILY INDEPENDENT of April 23 circulated four improprieties: “At (On) different occasions you hear the agencies saying….” “…Maevis from the very beginning chose to collect FAAN’s revenue (which is government revenue) in a platform account operated by themselves to which FAAN had neither access nor control.” Agenda: on a platform account.

“Muamba relieves (relives) horrifying expe-

rience” TRIBUNE EDITORIAL of April 19 fumbled: “The ballot process is meant to ensure that strikes enjoy the votes of majority of members are embarked upon.” This way: a/the majority of members.

The following four slips are from National Mirror of April 19: “The National Examination Council (NECO) is currently enmeshed in internal crisis….” Tell me, what is the function of ‘currently’ here—in the presence of ‘is’? And this: an internal crisis or internal crises.

Still on a similar error: “Though Nigeria currently has three major optic fibres….”

“Adamawa gov’s wife flags off cancer screening exercise” There is nothing like ‘flag off’ in Standard English and this: cancerscreening exercise.

“The case of who pays the piper dictating (calling) the tune has always been dominant in international politics.”

“I congratulate Dr. Jose Antonio Ocampo for (on/upon) being a worthy participant and for his decision to withdraw his candidacy….” (Full-page Advert by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, THISDAY, April 20) “He is still in (on) the board of many companies.” (THISDAY COMMENT, April 20) “NAC boosts auto technicians’ efficiency with staff loans for modern equipments.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Auto Business, April 20) ‘Equipment’ is non-count.

“Demuren said that all the regulations will (would) be binding on both international and local airlines….” (Source: as above) “The damages and loss of lives to NATO and Yugoslavia were unnecessary.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, April 25) ‘Damage’, in this context, is uncountable.

“An agenda similar to that of Murtala/Obasanjo regime was hurriedly packaged to cleanse the civil service in order to enhance performance and inculcate discipline into (in) our national life.”

(THE NATION, April 25) “Nigeria and the international community has (have) just celebrated this year’s….” (THE GUARDIAN, April 25) “Secondly, it’s (its) legal duty to advise on the….” (Vanguard, April 25) “They have not yet established the full processes

of their interaction in the chamber too, and the formality of procedures are now still (is still) being developed.” (THISDAY, April 25) “I wish the Action Congress of Nigeria and Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should feel the pause (pulse) of the people….”

(BUSINESSDAY, April 25) “I want to believe that the Nigerian electorate is (are)....” (National Mirror, April 25) “Part of this quality sense (not quantity) concerns the debate on how best to eat a dish, with cutleries or with the ten fingers.” ‘Cutlery’ is uncountable. (Daily Trust, April 24) “There has (have) been transition programmes before, so what is different with this one.” (Leadership, April 25) “David Mark assured recently in Abuja that the constitution would be ready for promulgation very soon.” Who did he assure? (DAILY Sun, April 25) “I am a product of a system which allowed a poor farmer-cumfisherman’s son to go through the very best schools.…” (The Moment, April 25) ‘Best’ has reached the end-point of intensification and cannot be inflected (by adding ‘very’). It is an absolute (superlative) word.

“During the heydays of Christian missionary activities in the southern parts of Nigeria, communities were actively involved in building schools.” Thoughts on education: ‘heyday’ is uncountable. (Daily Trust, April 25) “Robbery: Policeman killed by vigilante group” This way: vigilance group.

“The gallantry effort exhibited by the driver of.…” Get it right: either gallantry or gallant effort. “…armed robbers attacked a Lagos bound (a hyphen) luxurious (luxury) bus at the same spot killing some passengers and made (making) away with several millions of naira belong (belonging) to the travellers who were mostly traders.” “…the mess has simply re-occurred because of the propensity of some of our citizens to flout relevant laws and statutes with impunity.” Return to the basics: recurred (never re-occurred).

“Haruna had at (on) various occasions stunned the nation by the level of fraudulent practices the former functionaries had being (been) involved.”

•The dog handler with anti bomb detector dog, during the workers day in Lagos.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Healing the National Hospital •Continued from page 24

promise, Haastrup has refused to pick the reporter’s calls and also did not reply text messages sent to his telephone on the issues.

But speaking with The Nation on the poor services at the National Hospital, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disagreed with the allegation and insisted that services had been improving at the hospital in the past one year.

He said: “That is a new one on me because for the past one year the service at the hospital has improved.

I was even there this evening because I have a patient there and I was impressed with what they were doing and I commended them.”

“Since the coming of the new CMD and the management, there has been a lot of improvement there and I am impressed as a minister. So, this one you are talking that 90% of people who come there die there, I don’t have that fact at all and I don’t think that is true. I don’t think that is true and I am very impressed with the management now.”

On the poor attitude of some nurses, doctors at the hospital and some consultants who show more interest in their private businesses, he said: “Well, those complains do not apply only to the National Hospital, it is all over gen-

erally.”

“We know these activities but the important thing now is that we have begun to apply sanctions.

Recently, the management had cause where some people had been negligent to terminate the appointments of two consultant surgeons and a number of resident’s doctors and nurses.”

He went on: “They were negligent and it was very tough because it had never happened before. I think now that they have begun to apply sanctions, they can’t afford to be negligent or carry out any other misconduct. I think this is a good development and that is the way we want to go.”

On the alleged frequent absence of the CMD, Prof.Bala Shehu from duty, he said: “That has not been brought to my knowledge. The only time, recently when he was not round, since they do not have a board and the Ministry of Health is acting as a board, he sought permission to travel for a few days and that was granted. But he has been around and I don’t think we have had cause to look for him.”

“Nigerians don’t get carried away by the name.

The hospital was initiated by a former head of state and the whole idea was a relatively small hospital to cater for women and children. It was never intended to be National Hospital or such a com-

prehensive tertiary health organization.”

“However, by the time the name was changed to the National Hospital and made to be a tertiary hospital to cater for all other conditions, it went beyond just the women and children hospital to cater for every other condition like any National hospital. So for me, that is the direction to go.”

The Minister further stated: “The new management there is expanding.

Right now we just have about 250 beds, that is not enough for a National Hospital. But now they are expanding and we hope that by the time they complete the construction works, they will have about 500 beds.”

“So the sudden transition from women and children hospital to a National Hospital did not reflect on the facilities on ground. But over the years, new facilities are being added gradually.”

“Our aim is to make the National Hospital to be at the apex of all hospitals. There are new structures springing up. We have a trauma centre under construction there,” he added.

Only time will tell if the additions the minister talks about would help in turning around the image of this elite health care facility in the eyes of a distrustful public that should patronize it.

66 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLIE

ONI

INYA-AGHA

I, formerly known and addressed as Teresa Esuchukwukanma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Duntoye Teresa Esuchukwukanma. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Oni Toyin Augustina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Caulcrick Oni Toyin. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEDEJI

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Iyabo Omobola Adedeji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mutiat Omobola Adedeji. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public should take note.

AHMED

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Wulemot Ahmed, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Wule Abike Hammed. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public should take note.

TUGBOBO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesewa Omolara Tugbobo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesewa Omolara Tugbobo-Amisu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

EZIRIM I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezirim Ndidi Faith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chuks Ndidi Faith. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EZRA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezra,Esther Alaba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adesina Esther Alaba. All former documents remain valid. Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba.

Lagos and general public take note.

AJIBADE I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajibade, Joy Adebomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olonade, Joy Adebomi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

YUSUFF I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Yusuff, Oluwatoyin Tawakalit, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebisi Oluwatoyin Tawakalit. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan, NYSC and general public take note.

AKINLABI I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Tope Akinlabi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tope Bodunde. All former documents remain valid. Diff Hospital, Abuja and general public take note.

AGOFURE I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Laurel Oghenerukevwe Agofure, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Laurel Oghenerukevwe Adiawa. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OMOREGIE I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoregie Itohan Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Moritiwon Mercy Itohan. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I,Akeju Seun Oluwagbemi is the same and one person as Akeju Oluwaseun Sesan, now wish to be addressed as Akeju Oluwagbemi Oluwaseun. All documents bearing the above names remain valid.

WAEC and general public take note.

AKINTAYO I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Akintayo Omolayo Oluseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ologunleko Omolayo Oluseun. All former documents remain valid. (SUBEB) Ekiti State and general public take note.

BAYEM

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Bayem Isiomo Loveth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olowookere Isiomo Loveth Olanrewaju. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJIBOLA

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General public take note.

OJO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Bosede Kemisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajiboye-John Kemisola Bosede. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SANNI

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IFEOBU

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OYELAMI

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ABODUNWA

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NSCDC and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ngozi Mabel Inya-Agha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngozi Mabel Ekomaru. All former documents remain valid.

CWL Group and general public should take note.

ORUEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Grace Omawumi Orueye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Omawumi Odihi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAOFE I,formerly known and addressed as Olaofe Tosin, now wish to be known and be addressed as Olaofe Tosin Jacob. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

ADEGBULE

BURAIMOH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Christianah Oluwafunmilayo Adegbule, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinkuotu Oluwafunmilayo Christianah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEBOWALE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Julian Nwosu Maduabuchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngozi Julian Nwakalor. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Buraimoh, Hammed Olawale, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Braimoh, Hammed Olawale. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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LAWAL I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lawal, Racheal Oluwadamilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Arashi Racheal Oluwadamilola.

All former documents remain valid.

LASPOTECH and general public should take note.

RECTIFICATION OF NAME This is to rectify the error on my WAEC certificate which states that my name is Akalugwu Chijioke instead of Akalugwu Chigozie. All other bearing Akalugwu Chigozie documents remain valid. WAEC and general public should take note.

BABATUNDE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jesuleke Elizabeth Babatunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jesuleke Elizabeth Akinpelumi. All former documents remain valid. Arik Air and general public should take note.

EZEAKOR

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PHILLIPS I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwayemisi Ayoade Phillips, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwayemisi Ayoade Kolade. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

BELLO

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NDACKSON & Co. Limited and general public should take note.

OYEDIRAN

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OWOYELE

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME Simeon Imbu and Simeon Eleazar Imbu refers to one and the same person I now wish to be known and address as Simeon Eleazar Imbu.

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NWOSU

SALIU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Saliu Binta Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibhade Binta Blessing. All former documents remain valid.

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EBAGUA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ebagua Idahosa Isoken, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obulu Isoken.

All former documents remain valid.

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WRIGHT

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OJEDIRAN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojediran Adebola Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adenekan Adebola Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DADA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dada Busayo Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okunlola Busayo Felicia. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

AKINTOYE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akintoye Olayinka Toibat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunjobi Olayinka Toibat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AFOLABI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi Olukemi Olaide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tegbe Olukemi Olaide. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DISU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Disu Olubunmi Omowunmi Fatimah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaoluwa Olubunmi Omowunmi Fatimah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

RABIU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rabiu Saidat Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osuolale Oluwatoyin Halimah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ATEWOGBOYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Atewogboye Anuoluwapo Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Noah-Isah Anuoluwapo Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NNAMETU

CHANGE OF NAME LEKOMO

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OGUNSANYA

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ADEDOKUN

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RASAK

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rasak Shakirat Tosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alonge Shakirat Tosin. All former documents remain valid.

TASUED Ijagun, NYSC and general public should take note.

AYEJUYOLE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayejuyole Balikis Ayobami, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunbanjo Balikis Ayobami. All former documents remain valid. TASUED Ijagun, NYSC and general public should take note.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012 CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME ALLI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAJUMOKE ADUKE OSENI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLAJUMOKE ADUKE ORIJA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abari Adetayo Azeezat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Otokiti Adetayo Atinuke Adejoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS FATOYE ADEBUSOLA OLUFUNMILOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BABALOLA ADEBUSOLA OLUFUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ABARI

MALIK I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Malik Baliks Olasunbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Shittu Balikis Olasunbo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OJUMORO I, formerly known and addressed as Pharm. (Miss) Ojumoro Joy Iyabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Pharm (Mrs.) Akinyosoye Joy Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. Health Management Board, Ondo State, PCN and general public should take note.

SOREMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Soremi Monisola Busirah, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwajeminiyi Monisola Busirah.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OBISESAN

TIJANI

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Obisesan Oluwatoyin Iyabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emmanuel Oluwatoyin Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWOSUAGWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uchechi Chioma Nwosuagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchechi Chioma Uchendu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Tijani Morenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tijani Morenike Adekilekun. All former documents remain valid.

Ede North L.G. and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uchechi Chioma Nwosuagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchechi Chioma Uchendu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EZEOFIA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fidelia Ezeofia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fidelia Ubochi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OSSAI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ossai Florence Nelly, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Weli-Wosu Florence. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

NWOSUAGWU

ONEBUNE I formerly known and addressed as MISS ONEBUNNE MILLICENT CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBIADI MILLICENT CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

EJOVI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EJOVI RUTH AVWEROSUO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS RUTH AVWEROSUO OMESSAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADAMU

ABRAHAM

I formerly known and addressed as MISS BINTA ADAMU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BINTA A. AYODELE. All former documents remain valid. FCTA Health Management Board and general public should please take note.

AZEEZ

I formerly known and addressed as AJIBIKE YEMISI OKUNBOLADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJIBIKE YEMISI ADEFAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Caroline Alache Abraham, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Caroline Wada-Musa. All former documents remain valid. Kogi State University Anyigba, NYSC and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeez Sherifat Olayinka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olabanji Sherifat Olayinka. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State Hospital Management Board and general public should take note.

AKINOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinola, Risikat Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. AkinolaAyodele, Risikat Abimbola. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Onalaja Bilikis Oluwakemi is the same person as Onalaja Bilikisu Kemi. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should take note.

SALAWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Salawu Idowu Rukayat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odubiyi Idowu Rukayat Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLADEMEHIN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olademehin Oyinola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesoji Oyinola Ereadura. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OLUDIPE

BOLADE

IBEH I formerly known and addressed as MISS IBEH NGOZI E., now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BLESSING JUDE O. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEWUSI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewusi Basirat Yewande, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunniran Yewande Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government and general public should take note.

OLORUNSOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Moyin Olorunsola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Moyin Sunday Loyinmi. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I Mr. Emmanuel Oluropo Mathew and Oluropo Mathew Ogunfeitimi are one and the same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Emmanuel Oluropo Mathew. All former documents remain valid.

Yaba College of Technology and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ganiatu Soibi Okiri, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ganiatu Soibi Abdulazeez Ibiama. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnametu Concilia Ifeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agwaraonye Concilia Ifeoma. All former documents remain valid. PHCN and general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoyin Modupe Oludipe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olley Oluwatoyin Modupe. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ehinosen Elijah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ehiosen Shabi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ICHIE

CHUKWU

AMALU

OKORO

OKIRI

I formerly known as Miss Ngozi Ichie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngozi Esther Ucheya All former document remain valid. general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Chidinma Akudazie Chuku, now wish to be known as Mrs. Chidinma Akudazie Ahamefule.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Anastesia Nnene Amalu, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Anastesia Nsofuru Amadi. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OSENI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alli Damilola Olubukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesina Damilola Olubukola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ELIJAH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoro Nneka, now wish to be known as Mrs. Nneka Nancy Ikechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FATOYE

IKEH I,formerly known and addressed as MISS STELLA CHINWENWA IKEH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS STELLA CHINWENWA WILLIAMS OGBIMI. All former documents remain valid. Court of Appeal,Abuja and general public should please take note.

CHUKWU

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NORA CHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NORA INNOCENT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

KOMOLAFE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KOMOLAFE OLUWAKEMI ABIDEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBANJO OLUWAKEMI ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ORIANWO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. PRINCESS RIZIKWE ORIANWO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PRINCESS RIZIKWE ODUDU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AMADI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. TOCHI NWADITOR AMADI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TOCHI ABINYE PEPPLE. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Information & Com., Social Welfare & Rehab., Rivers State and general public please take note.

ADIGWE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. CATHERINE CHUKWUMUANYA ADIGWE , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CATHERINE CHUKWUMUANYA WALI. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ELEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. GRACE CHARLES ELEMI , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GRACE JOSEPH OLAYIWOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKEKE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. NWOKEKE JECINTA NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AJIBOYE JECINTA NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I NWAJIOBI BENSON ,NWAJIOBI CHIDIEBERE, NWAJIOBI CHIDI IHEANACHO and NWAJIOBI CHIDI IHEANACHO BEN are one and same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as NWAJIOBI BENSON .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNBIYI

I, formerly MISS OGUNBIYI MARIAM SEYIDO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ASIKOTO MARIAM SEYIDO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note .

ASEPERI I formerly known, called and addressed as MISS ASEPERI DORCAS AINA, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OTITOJU DORCAS AINA, All former documents remain valid, Ekiti State Local Govt Service Commission and Genera public should please take note.

IFEOBU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifeobu V. Chinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fatoki Vivian Chinyere. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME Mr. Innocent Osi, and Mr. Olisa Osi refers to one and the same person. I now wish to be known and address as Mr. Innocent Osi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSINEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osineye Adenike Olusola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adejumo Adenike Olusola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADELEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeleye Titilayo Adeolu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Makanjuola Titilayo Adeolu.

All former documents remain valid.

(SUBEB) Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board and general public should take note.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 6, 2012

67

WORSHIP

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

NEWS

‘Christians must learn to help others’

•Kayode leading a community cleaning project by the ministry recently in Lagos

By Sunday Oguntola

P

RESIDENT of Divine Bounties Ministry International, Pastor Tayo Kayode, has tasked well-meaning Christians not to be weary in supporting charitable causes.

He said Christians must embrace charitable acts regardless of the inconveniences involved.

Kayode, in a chat last week in his office, said, ‘’It is so easy to despair and wonder sometimes while you should offer help when you need a whole dose yourself. ‘’But we have to understand it is a divine mandate.

We have to offer those behind us whether it is convenient or not. ‘’I know, from experience, it is a tough chore but it is one that must be done by true Christians’’.

He noted that several people have been discouraged by the diversion of funds by Christian charity organisations.

While acknowledging this remains a challenge, he advised charitable Christians to carefully identify trustworthy groups for support.

Kayode said the ministry has helped to set up small scale businesses for women and paid a certain percentage of tuitions for orphans.

A physically-challenged student in Queen College Lagos, he added, is also on the ministry’s scholarship scheme, alongside others.

He stated further that accommodations have been secured for some widows in different parts of Lagos, as parts of measures to lift people out of doldrums.

The cleric, however, said the ministry intends to commence training for the less privileged and those in remand homes.

There are also plans to build a rehabilitation home for displaced teenagers, he revealed These plans, he said, are hampered by paucity of funds and volunteers.

According to him, ‘’Christians can do such much in a nation like Nigeria. I think things are like these so that we can step in. ‘’This is not necessarily about money but there are other ways of getting involved. Christians could volunteer to train for free, adopt orphans for training, help to raise funds or even offer slots in the many mission schools to disadvantaged students’’.

All of these, he argued, will tackle poverty and lack to a large extent in the nation.

WHAT AND WHERE?

Christian media merit award holds

P

OPULAR Lagos Pastor, Itua Ighodalo, Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) and Zenith Bank are to be honoured at the maiden edition of Christian Media Merit Award (CMMA).

The awards are for supporters of media evangelism in Nigeria.

The ceremony is part of a 2-day training/workshop on Christian writing and publishing with the theme ‘’How to produce successful Christian books, magazines and newsletters: a strategy for effective Christian publication’’.

It is organised by Christian Media Development, Journalists for Christ and Providence Magazine.

INTERVIEW

‘Why many pastors die young’ Senior Pastor of Great Commission W Bible Church, New Oko Oba Lagos,

HAT has been happening lately in your church and ministry?

A whole lot has been happening, I must let you know.

We have been on the fields, organising crusades in villages and remote parts of Nigeria. Our commission is to preach the gospel and we have been working assiduously on that.

Hasn’t that affected growth and attendance in the church?

Not really, and I will tell you why. When you raise leaders and duplicate yourself in others, they can step in when you are not around. The truth is no man of God can do everything on his own. He needs supporters and vision helpers to get much done. Jethro exposed this to Moses. He told him to delegate so that he won’t be wearied. That is also what we practise. There are people working when we are not around. You see when God gives you a vision, you can pursue it alone but when it becomes a mission, you need others to come on board. I am an evangelist and always on the field. But there are people around taking care of the church.

What are some interesting field experiences you have had in your outreaches?

There are very many of them. We have had the lame walked and the blind see. We have also seen souls won to the Lord. We have seen God in action. But there was one experience we had in the North that has remained with me.

Many years ago, we organised a crusade in Borno State and there were fears of attacks. We went with clothes and medical needs. We mobilised and invited people to come to the ground. We waited from 4pm without seeing anybody. But by 7pm and 8pm, the whole place was filled up. It was shocking to us. People waited for the dark so that they wouldn’t be identified.

That experience has remained refreshing for me.

We rebuilt an Hausa church that was razed and hired a pastor to look after it.

It must be costing you so much to organise crusades and offer relief materials.

Are you sponsored by a foreign agency or some other organisations?

When God gives a vision, He makes provision. We take

O

LIVET Bible Church, Lagos recently rounded off its seventh year anniversary celebration with thanksgiving, prayers and ordination of 27 deacons and deaconesses.

The ordination, according to the senior Pastor, Owen Nlekwuwa, is to enable them assist the church leadership in carrying out its mandate.

Rev. Olu Johnson spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his exploits on the mission fields and sundry issues. Excerpts:

•Johnson

care of the widows and orphans. We do all of that because of partners that God has raised for us. We have people who cannot be on the fields because of other commitment. So, they commit their resources to making sure we go. We don’t have many of them but God has been faithful. We started little and God has indeed enlarged our coasts.

What can take you off the mission fields?

There is nothing that I can think of. I will always be on the fields until Jesus comes or I am taken to Him. Sometimes, the church wants to keep me

down but I have always found myself on the fields. It is a lifetime commitment for me.

And when you get back, you see the vast harvests awaiting labourers. To be honest with you, I am a field man for life.

Lately, the Lord started putting a burden in my heart for East Africa. I saw a revival fire there and the need to add fuel to it. So, before the end of the year, we should be there for a mission outreach.

Many believe evangelical founders like you take the church back in the sense that once little finance is available, you run off with it to the field.

You are also hardly around

“People will always be people. If you live for them, you are in trouble. You must just live for God. A lot of pastors die young, trying to live for others.

There is no need at all because nobody has ever succeeded in doing that.

So, learn to pull away for renewal so that you won’t lose God. If you are not careful, you will get lost while looking for lost souls”

to see to people’s needs. So, how have you been coping?

I have learnt to separate the evangelical outreach from the church. The church is where souls are built into disciples. The outreach is where we bring them in. When we have outreaches, we don’t just pull resources from the church’s accounts. The church supports on its own just like any other partner. We don’t divert church funds to mission or coerce the leadership to support us. The reason why there has been progress is we don’t go until we have heard God. We only go to where He wants us to go and when. So, when God is ready Himself, money is never a challenge.

On availability, I have made it clear pastors are not Alpha and Omega. To build churches around oneself is the beginning of downfall.

Yes, you must be around when you can but you must learn to draw them to God. God is the ultimate person they need. Then as a minister, you must learn to rest and pull away to refresh. Many people overdo things in the name of helping people. You cannot help anybody. Only God helps people. So, we must not burn out and we should learn when to pull away to renew strength.

What would be your advice to pastors on meeting people’s expectations?

I know it is a challenge to meet people’s expectations.

In our church, when people come for second service, they ask those leaving if the senior pastor is around. If I am not, many zoom off in the vehicles. That is to let you know that people will always be people. If you live for them, you are in trouble. You must just live for God. A lot of pastors die young, trying to live for others. There is no need at all because nobody has ever succeeded in doing that.

So, learn to pull away for renewal so that you won’t lose God. If you are not careful, you will get lost while looking for lost souls.

What is the next level for your church?

By the grace of God, we are building a tower. God told me to raise a tower for Him. We are building and we believe it will be complete it in record time. He has commissioned us and we believe He will do it.

NEWS Church gets new deacons, deaconesses

By Uyoatta Eshiet

He said, “As the church is expanding and is taking the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the ends of the world, there is the increasing need to have more hands to assist the leadership to make the work smooth.”

The guest minister, Reverend Alfred Kingsley, urged the church to continue to pray to God for greater grace to accomplish its mandate.

He pointed out that the early church received grace for greater exploits with selfless prayers and service to

God. He called for persistence, saying every child of God has the right to ask and receive answers.

Nlekwuwa defined leadership as living for others.

He urged the new deacons and deaconess to be selfless and committed to God.

Worship

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

69

NEWS

Speak against corruption, Atilade charges clerics … leads delegation to Aregbesola C HAIRMAN of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Region, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has tasked preachers to speak against ills and corruption in the nation.

He said they owe it to themselves and the unborn generations to speak up against bad governance and hold political office holders accountable.

By Sunday Oguntola

Atilade spoke last week shortly after his installation as Chairman of CAN South West region in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

According to him, ‘’as a Christian leader, you have no choice but to speak against anything working against the

people and the society. ‘’Jesus attacked the social ills in his days and we have to follow him. Our responsibility to this nation is to keep preaching and speaking up until Nigeria is changed.’’

He urged preachers not to be intimidated by political office holders, saying some of them are eager to change

if challenged. ‘’There is nothing to fear at all. Will they kill you?

Even if that happens, God will be there. ‘’We must just keep speaking against corruption because that is why this nation is backward.’’

He pledged to take the association to greater heights

How to save Nigeria, by Akin-John

C

HURCH Growth Expert, Dr Francis Bola Akin-John, has canvassed for adoption of regional federalism to save the nation from disintegration.

Regional federalism, he said, will not only fix Nigeria’s faulty structure but also set the nation on unstoppable level of development.

According to him, ‘’Nigeria is bleeding from distrust and unhealthy rivalry.

All the component units are at one another’s throat. ‘’This is the root of the violence and crises across

the nation. Unless we return to regional government, we would remain where we are.

We would keep deteriorating.”

He spoke with newsmen last week in Lagos.

The President of International Church Growth Ministries said the nation’s component units should be allowed to develop at their pace, while decrying the mad rush for the centre. ‘’The centre, that is the federal government, as of today is too powerful and rich. This is why every group and ethnic nationality is struggling to get there.

‘’We should diffuse powers to the federating units so that everybody can grow as they like and nobody will feel cheated,’’ he advised.

Akin-John lamented that Nigeria has deteriorated in recent years, attributing this to faulty federal structure.

He supported the calls for convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC), saying Nigerians must talk on how they want to co-exist. ‘’National conference,’’ he argued, ‘’does not mean someone is after overrunning a government.’’

According to him, ‘’It is just a forum to look at their

•Akin-John

nation and decide many things. Those opposing the conference do not mean well at all.”

R

attracted participants from formal and informal sectors of the nation.

He said the nation was going through difficult times caused by sharp dip in moral and spiritual upbringing.

According to him, ‘’this nation is going through a whole lot. Families are disintegrating; the economy is falling and the society is un-

ruly and unorganised. ‘’This is the time for us as Christians to regroup and save our nation and the way first is to reclaim our families for God.’’ Shitta said every Christian must become exemplary and take a strong stand against manipulative practices.

He charged them to em-

brace transparency and transformational living, adding that they must shun sins and evil practices.

The Pastor- in- charge, Rev. Adedokun, argued that Nigeria had no business lagging behind.

He noted the abundant resources in the nation and called for fiscal discipline to move the economy forward.

Govt warned against financial recklessness

T

HE Deputy Managing Director of Bagco Plc, Mr. Biodun Ogunkoya, has charged government officials to guard against financial recklessness through prudent budgeting and execution.

He spoke recently at the 6th annual synod of the Diocese of Lagos West Methodist Church, Lagos.

Ogunkoya warned against unrealistic budgeting and reckless spending in government.

These, he argued, have militated against the growth of the economy.

According to the financial expert, ‘’we have to be mindful of human and financial resources before budgeting to arrest the unfortunate

recurring attendant deficits experienced overtime in the economy.’’

He identified bloated spending as the crux of budgeting execution in the nation.

He reiterated the urgent needs to revamp dilapidated infrastructure through a well focused approach.

Lagos State Governor,

Mr. Raji Fashola, solicited for more prayers for his administration.

He also called on religious leaders to support government policies and programmes to bring smiles to the masses.

Fashola further called on Christians to assist the government by fulfilling their lawful, moral, financial and spiritual obligations.

The host Bishop, Rt. Revd Isaac Olawuyi, lamented mass poverty in the land.

He advised President Goodluck Jonathan to address insecurity, unemployment, epileptic power supply and other challenges facing the nation.

State.

According to him, ‘’I don’t have such intentions and powers and there is nothing like that.’’

Meanwhile, the governor will receive a CAN delegation next Wednesday in Osogbo, capital of Osun State.

The delegation will be led by Atilade to discuss issues of mutual benefits with the governor.

Cleric calls for community policing

P

How to reclaim Nigeria, by cleric ENOWNED evangelist, Gbenga Shitta, has challenged Nigerians to redouble efforts to reclaim the nation from moral and spiritual breakdown.

He spoke at the just-concluded 2012 Eschatology conference of the New Dawn Baptist Church, Lagos.

The Conference with the theme, “The clock is ticking”

in the region, calling on all hands to be on deck.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, congratulated him on his installation.

He said Nigeria needs credible Christian leaders like him to move forward.

Represented by his deputy, Princess (Mrs.) Titilayo Tomori, Aregbesola debunked claims that he was planning to Islamise Osun

RESIDENG Bishop of Eliot Methodist Church of Nigeria, Iju Lagos, Bishop Oladapo Babalola, has restated the call for community policing in tackling the incessant cases of violence in northern parts of Nigeria.

He spoke at the 18th Synod of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos Mainland.

The programme with the theme ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing” featured business seminars, symposia, teachings, drama presentation and thanksgiving service.

According to him, the use of community policing is very critical to arrest civil unrest in the nation.

He said: “we can only mobilise and strengthen community participation in

By Adeola Ogunlade

safety and security of lives and properties when security forces partner with community police on security matters at the rural areas.”

He lamented the Boko Haram insurgency, urging Nigerians to team up and pray against the sect’s activities.

Babalola said: “Nigerians regardless of religious inclinations should come together and work to make Nigeria a place that we and unborn children will be proud of and where they can have a good peaceful and purposeful life.”

The cleric further called on the government to convoke a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to enable Nigerians fashion out ways of peaceful co- existence.

Provide stable power, Jonathan charged

T

HE Founding Pastor of Testimony Chapel International, Pastor Bukola Olarenwaju, has charged President Goodluck Jonathan to deal decisively with corrupt practices in the power sector.

Olarenwaju gave the appeal during the 10thanniversary of the church at its headquarters in Iwaya, Lagos.

He said stable power supply across the country remained critical for attainment of socio-economic transformation agenda of the present administration.

He lamented that the corruption and dirty politicking in the power sector have thrown the nation into perpetual darkness.

According to him, “we must deal decisively with corrupt practices and make the power sector work or exhibit the laid- back approach and endanger the survival and

By Adeola Ogunlade

development of our nation.”

Olarenwaju noted that many nation, of the world have had spontaneous growth and development due to relentless efforts in providing stable power supply.

He alleged there are many cabals in the power sector responsible for the rot, calling on President Jonathan to deal decisively with them.

He wondered how the nation can harness her human and material resources without regular power supply.

Even God, he pointed out, could not do much until he created light during creation.

The cleric said no efforts must be spared to ensure regular power become a reality in Nigeria.

He also called on churches to continue preaching the truth and avoid hobnobbing with politicians.

RCCG supports Wembley 2012

T •The Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Prof. Emele Mba Uka receiving a cheque in favour of the proposed Hope Waddell University of the Church from Elder Dr. Kalu Uke Kalu, former Chairman of Union Bank of Nigeria PLC on behalf of the family of Late Elder & Madam Shadrack Onwuchekwa of Isiugwu Ohafia, Abia State at the Special Remembrance Service organised by the family to mark the 10th and 7th anniversaries of the transition of their parents… recently

ENS of thousands of believers from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) were invited to the National Day of Prayer and Worship later this year.

Around 50,000 Christians are reported to have attended the all-night Festival of Life at the Excel Centre in London’s Olympic borough of Newham last weekend.

Some days before, Pastor Agu Irukwu and other leaders

had urged over 2,000 RCCG leaders to get behind the initiative and mobilise their churches to come to Wembley stadium September 29, when up to 80,000 Christians are expected to gather for a historic National Day of Prayer and Worship.

He said: “RCCG are keen to collaborate with others for the expansion of God’s Kingdom through Wembley 2012.”

Earlier in the week the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, met with GDOP Lon-

don Convener, Dr Jonathan Oloyede, to lend his support and prayers towards Wembley 2012.

He prayed earnestly for the National Day of Prayer and Worship and reassured Oloyede that RCCG were backing the event.

Shortly afterwards, a cheque was issued towards the costs of hiring the stadium, making RCCG the first denomination to release funds in support of Wembley 2012.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

True help is from God Bishop Wale-Oke

DIVINE MESSAGE

F

ROM time immemorial, people have always been in need of help; either in handling a major task or assignment or to prevail against a formidable enemy or in dealing with a situation that is intimidating and life threatening, or to recover from a loss of health or fortune. Man has always needed help. This is the reason people run here and there, especially in their time of need. Some have made some idols their help, most others trust in men for help. But the word of God is very clear that real help is from the LORD God who made the heavens and the earth. ‘’I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth’’ (Ps. 121:1-2).

When God helps you, then you succeed and prosper in all your ways and in everything you do. This was the case of King Uzziah. The Bible says that “he was marvellously helped, till he was strong” (II Chronicles 26:15). The Bible says “And God helped him” (II Chronicles 26:7).

The Bible further says “God made him to prosper” (II Chronicles 26:5). All these describe the experience of the person that God has helped. Uzziah was successful, prosperous and he became great because he enjoyed the help of the

Lord. This shall be your experience in life from this day forward. The Lord God of heaven and earth shall help you. You will succeed in all that you do. You will prosper in all your ways.

You will become great and mighty, by the help of the Lord.

D AVIDTC “D AVID ” This was the story of king David of Israel. He was a poor shepherd boy when he connected with the help and favour of God. At the start, nobody knew him.

After finding the help of the Lord, one thing led to another and he soon became the song of the entire world.

Through the help of the Lord, he killed a bear, he killed a lion, and then he killed towering Goliath, the dreaded enemy of Israel.

Through the help of the Lord, he conquered and established Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He won great battles and conquered many nations. He died in “a good old age, full of days, riches and honour,” having accomplished the purpose of God for his life (I Chronicles 29:28, Acts 13:36). He was the one who said “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1).

He also said “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” (Psalm 18:29). He had strength to accomplish feats that were far beyond him, because the Lord helped and strengthened him.

You too. The Lord will help you. You will not be afraid. You will be strong.

You will do exploits. You will have riches and

honour, by the help of the Lord. And because the Lord will help you, you will not be put to shame.

For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed (Psalm 50:7).

P AULTC “P AUL ” Paul was an outstanding apostle of Christ. In his missionary efforts, he had very great challenges and very strong oppositions.

But he found the help of the Lord, and through the help of The Most High, he did all the exploits that he did.

Explaining the reason behind his outstanding achievements he said “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great...” (Acts 26:22, I Corinthians 15:4).

It was through the help of God that he could continue to witness and to preach in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving behind marks that can never be erased.

And you too; because the Lord will help you, you will succeed in your career, in your business, in your ministry, in your studies and in all your ways.

Through the help of the Lord, you will do great things and you will prosper exceedingly in Jesus’ mighty name.

For further information, counselling and prayer please contact me on telephone number: +234 2 751 2138 or send an email to bishopwaleoke@yahoo.com.

You may also write to PMB 60, Agodi Post Office, Ibadan.

Captivity turned around Pastor Amanda Ogunro

TOTAL FREEDOM

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AST month I taught on knowledge brings freedom. The purpose of knowledge that brings freedom is to escape captivity. Captivity is imprisonment and a horrible thing. God the father calls captivity bondage. Exodus 6:5 “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.” Jesus calls bondage captivity - Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” The Holy Spirit calls bondage oppression. Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Captivity, bondage and oppression mean the same thing. They are all imprisonment.

This month I will be teaching on Captivity Turned Around.

The implication of captivity is that the enemy has pursued you, overtaken you, over powered you, subdued you and then compelled you to be a prisoner. Psalm 126:1-4 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that

dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.”

There are three categories of captivity: 1. Physical captivity: in Judges 16:20-21 Samson was bound, his movement prevented and his action limited. Poverty, sickness, eating and sex in the dream, etc are all captivity.

2. Mental captivity: Mental captivity is nothing but torture of the mind. As you all know, the mind is the battle ground of the devil where issues of life are fought. Romans 7:1524. Thanks to Jesus who came to set the captives free so that we can live and remain in freedom.

3. Spiritual captivity: This describes some one who is held bound by evil forces. The purpose of the evil force is to destroy that fellow. Mark 5:1-15.

This is the story of the mad man of Gadarenes. His spirit was captured to bring destruction to him. If Jesus did not come to intervene he would have been destroyed. Some of you readers are in captivity of fornication, insomnia, lust, masturbation, etc. I am not surprised at all about this enemy of our souls. John 10:10 made his intentions very clear and specific. The bible tells us that the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill, and to destroy. Thanks be to God who has not left us or forsaken and forgotten us in the hands of the enemy.

Good news for you all, God can turn again your captivity and your mouth will be filled with laughter. I don’t know the song you have been singing all these years of captivity, but freedom has come today. You will no

longer sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. Your God is the Almighty, who can turn your captivity around.

Psalm 137: 1-4. The Lord of Hosts is His name. There is no one stronger than the Lord Himself. God can turn your captivity, whether physical, mental, spiritual or financial. Turning your captivity is a matter of time, and it is now. Within a twinkling of an eye, it will disappear. That time is today. Psalm 126:1-4. When the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, the Bible says: • We were like them that dream • Our mouth was filled with laughter • Our tongue was filled with singing Whenever God turns round your captivity, you begin to laugh and sing. It is easy to praise God after he has turned your captivity but it is better to know what to do to praise God now. Jesus has come to set you free. John 8:36. I pray you remain in that Total Freedom.

Next month I will be teaching on The Lawful and Unlawful Captive. Total Freedom is incomplete without being born again.

The greatest captivity anyone can be in is sin. You can be free right now if you are ready. If yes, please pray this prayer with me.

Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I come to you. Forgive my sins. Wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan. I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Thank you Jesus for saving me, write my name in the Lamb’s book of life.

Now I know that I am born again.

Write and share your testimony with Pastor Amanda Ogunro. Rivers of Living Water Ministries, P.M.B 2854 Surulere, Lagos or call 018401701, or email- info@rlwm.org . Visit our website on www.rlwm.org

CHRISTIANITY ACROSS THE GLOBE

Album for launch

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•Olusanya

LERI Oluwa(God’s promise), a gospel album by Ezekiel Olusanya, would be launched next Sunday.

The launch expected to attract prominent Christians holds at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Messiah Zonal Headquarters,

by Abule Taylor bus stop, Lagos.

Time is 1.30pm.

There would be live performances from the new album by Grace Abundance Voices led by Olusanya.

Angry Queers’ vandalise Mark Driscoll’s church

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OLICE are investigating reports that several young adults wearing masks smashed windows at Mars Hill Church in Portland, Oregon, last Tuesday.

The attack on Pastor Mark Driscoll’s church was believed to by members of a pro-gay group called “Angry Queers”.

The damage to the historic stained-glass windows of the Portland church was estimated to be at several thousand dollars.

KOIN said it had received an email from a group identified as “Angry Queers” accusing Mars Hill Church of being “notoriously anti-gay and anti-woman”.

The group allegedly targeted Pastor Driscoll, who has a strong stance against sexual relations outside of the confines of heterosexual marriage.

It is not known what exactly the group was trying to

achieve in its alleged act of vandalism against the church, but a spokesperson for Mars Hill, Justin Dean, described the attack as “sad”.

“Our pastors in Portland have made many efforts to build relationships with the homosexual community in Portland,” Dean expressed.

“Even though they chose to destroy our property and scare away people trying to worship Jesus, we wish them no harm.”

Commenting on the issue of same-sex marriage, he said: “We believe there is a difference between marriage and civil union.

‘Marriage’ is a religious term and service for what happens, more so than a civil union. Politics has muddied the water for the conversation by making it a marriage issue. Politically it is a civilunion issue.

“At Mars Hill we believe that marriage (as a religious term) is between a man and

a woman. ‘’We are not saying this to influence what political leaders decide, but to describe how we approach ‘marriage’ based on the Bible.”

Driscoll appeared on “The View” in March to promote the book that he co-wrote with his wife, Grace, called Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together.

During the programme, the senior pastor was asked by co-host Joy Behar why he opposes homosexuality.

“Well, we are Bible-believing Christians,” Driscoll explained. “We do hold to the teaching of Scripture and that is that sex is reserved for a married couple … a heterosexual married couple. ‘’So, even when we were dating and we were sexually active we were wrong. So, we don’t want to say we are better or holier than anyone, but we were wrong as well and had to make some changes’’.

THE NATION SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA 350 players set for Kanu/ Greenspring Football Camp

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O fewer than three hundred and fifty young football players are set for the proposed Greensprings, Kanu Football Camp scheduled for July this year. The camp is the brainchild of Greensprings School, Lagos, in collaboration with former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu with support from the West Africa School Sports Union (WASSU).

For Greensprings' Director of Education, Professor George Hickman, the primary objective of the camp is the provision of an 'all around' educational programme, which delivers excellence to the youth of Nigeria and beyond.

He said: Hence, in partnership with Kanu Nwankwo, Greensprings has been planning this exciting event for about a year. We realise that an Annual Football Academy could not only help in developing the

• Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (L), captain John Terry (2nd L) and midfielder Frank Lampard (3rd L) lift the cup after Chelsea's 2-1 win in the FA Cup final yesterday.

Chelsea beat Liverpool to lift seventh FA Cup

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HELSEA Football Club yesterday overcame Liverpool FC 2-1 to win their seventh FA Cup and their fourth in six years thanks to Ramires’s first-half goal and a landmark strike by Didier Drogba.

It was a cagey first half and,

although Ramires gave Chelsea an early lead, opportunities were few and far between.

Drogba doubled the Blues’ advantage after the break to become the only player to score in four FA Cup finals and although Andy Carroll gave Liverpool hope Chelsea held on

Yekini’s mother speaks on son

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EREAVED mother of erstwhile Nigerian international, Rashidi Yekini has exclusively revealed the ordeal that killed her son, SuperSport.com can report.

Rashidi Yekini was confirmed dead in his hometown,Irra, Oyun local government in Kwara State on Friday after years of illness.

The mother of the deceased, Alhaja Sikiratu Yekini divulged to SuperSport.com that his son has been battling with mental illness since the year 2010.

The septuagenarian added that several attempts made to take care of the former Super Eagles’ striker proved abortive as the deceased claimed he was mentally sound.

“We have been on the problem since 2010 and we tried our best but my son refused to be taken care of.

“When he came back, we

asked him why he has done what he did but he replied by burning all his belongings. I lost my husband in 1978 and Rashidi has been with me since then,” she concluded tearfully.

Yekini is the all-time leading scorer for the Nigerian men’s team with 37 goals.

The Nigerian legend will be buried in islamic rites by 4.30pm (Nigerian time) on Saturday in his hometown Irra, Kwara State.

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HE Falconets; Nigeria’s Under 20 Women’s national team put themselves in a comfortable position to qualify for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup slated for Japan in September after an assured 4-0 victory in the first leg of the final round of

Team Benin emerges winner

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Spearing in midfield and slid the ball into the path of Drogba, who squeezed his effort through the legs of Martin Škrtel and into the bottom right-hand corner to become the first player to score in four FA Cup finals.

Seemingly down and out, Liverpool were back in the game 12 minutes later when substitute Carroll pounced on a loose ball, made himself some room in the penalty area and rifled it into the roof of the net giving Cech no chance.

Buoyed by their goal, Liverpool went in search of an equaliser and came close when Carroll’s header was superbly pawed on to the crossbar by Èech with eight minutes remaining, but Chelsea held on to give themselves the perfect boost ahead of the UEFA Champions League showpiece in a fortnight.

Falconets win for Yekini

COPACOCACOLAYOUTH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

EAM Benin at the weekend defeated Enugu 2-0 in the final of the Copa Cocacola Youth Football Championships staged at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City to emerge winners.

Eghosa Odemwengie’s brace was all the Edo lads needed to clinch the trophy after a concerted effort at the duration.

The goal scorer, Odemwengie who impressed spectators during the encounter however expressed his delight, as he thanked the Nigeria Bottling Company, makers of Coka Cola for providing such a veritable platform for youths to thrive in their chosen sport Speaking exclusively to Nation sport, Odemwengie said; “I am very happy and excited and I thank cocacola for this exposure and opportunity they’ve given to us, Thank you coca-cola.’’

thanks to a superb save by Petr Cech.

In his programme notes Chelsea’s interim manager Roberto Di Matteo hailed his side’s ‘class and character’ in their 5-1 semi-final victory against Tottenham Hotspur FC and Juan Mata showed plenty of the former to set up Ramires for the opening goal on 11 minutes. The Spanish international pounced on a mistake by Jay Spearing to find Ramires with a perfectly weighted pass and the midfielder raced clear of José Enrique to fire in a shot which went in off Pepe Reina at his near post.

The UEFA Champions League finalists continued to control the game in the second half and doubled their lead on 52 minutes. Frank Lampard evaded the challenge of

By Rasheed Olaniyonu, Benin However corroborating his player’s position, the head coach of the Benin zone, Doglas Idaho could not hide his excitement, as he said: “I am very happy and you can see, we’ve won twice in Lagos and this is the first time our fans are experiencing what Copa cocacola is all about, so we cannot afford to fail them.

“I am the happiest person on earth today. Though we’ve won it before but this one is very unique because we played in front of the home fans,” he said.

Meanwhile, team Asaba won the third place, defeating team Oweri 6-5 on penalties after regulation time ended 2-2.

While presenting the trophy to the winners, exinternational, Waidi Akani said the outcome of the matches is an indication that talents still abound in the country.

•Whitewash DR Congo 4-0 •Players are 1000 dollars richer From Tunde Liadi qualifiers played at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

Gloria Ofoegbu’s double in the 35th and 83rd minutes, Francisca Ordega (51st) and Ebere Orji in the 79th gave Nigeria a comfortable lead ahead of the second leg in Kinshasha in a fortnight.

The victory dedicated as tribute to the departed 1993 African Footballer of the Year,Rashidi Yekini, who died on friday , as the game started with a minute silent to the erstwhile Super Eagles’ player.

The match however started on

a fast pace with the Nigeria side initiating series of incursions into the vital area of the Congolese.

Falconets outplayed their visitors from Congo with most of the play done in the half of the Leopardess while goal keeper, Whyte Ibubeleye was a spectator than one of those on the pitch.

She was not able to make any decent safe throughout the course of the game as her defenders covered very well for her.

“We are happy about the win but we are going to prepare for the second leg as if it is the first.

We are not going to get carried away,” Okon said.

AHEAD OF 18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

‘Ibile Games’ to get underway May 14

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N A bid to discover more talents that will represent the state at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), Lagos State plans a mock version of sports festival tagged ‘Ibile Games’.

The competition billed to kick-start May 14th, will involve both the junior category, which will comprise athletes from the schools, and the senior category which is for the athletes representing the various Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).

Commissioner for Sports in the state, Waheed Oshodi said that the essence of the game is, aside from discovering and developing athletes ahead of the NSF, also a deliberate attempt to return the state to the culture of developing sports from the grassroots.

"Sports used to be the mainstay in Lagos and that is what

South-East qualifiers underway in Enugu • As Owunmi commends organisers

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HE Gulder Ultimate Five-A-side South Eastern zonal qualifying matches have been scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2012 through Sunday, May 6, 2012.

The games, which are taking place at the Rangers Training Pitch, Enugu, will see the aspiring teams slugging it out for the two tickets to the knock out stage in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Supremes FC of Gboko and Gidan Bege of Makurdi, emerged as the two top qualifiers from the North Central Zone. They edged out several other clubs in scintillating football matches that attracted a large crowd of foot-

Police discover bomb in football viewing centre

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From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano popular viewing centre, but due to intelligence reports the bomb was immediately detonated.

It was also gathered that, the Police authority in the State has urged all the owners of viewing centres to temporarily close shops for three to four weeks, when finally on Monday a security meeting would be held to beef up security in the centre.

To this end, the police have been placed on red alert as security has intensified, while plain clothes security personnel

By Innocent Amomoh we hope to return to. We are trying to revive that and we hope school sports will help us to achieve this," he said.

While admitting that the bane of sports in the past has been the dearth of vast and world-class coaches that will impart new values to the athletes, he assured that the problem is being nipped in the board with the concentration on capacity building for its coaches.

"With the employment of one hundred and seven contract coaches now in Lagos, some of them very young, who have competed in different sports before including international competitions, a lot more of our old athletes will be brought back into coaching.”

He continued: “That means that we have to build their capacity as well. For these coaches at the NSF it has to be performance based.”

GULDER ULTIMATE 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL

BOKO HARAM SCARE IN KANO HOUSANDS of Soccer fans in the ancient city of Kano were unable to watch the English FA cup final match between Chelsea and Liverpool football clubs, following alleged threat of suicide bombing.

Investigations by nations Sports, revealed that, all the viewing centres across the State , especially the ones in Sabon Gari were shut out to customers.

Sources close to the security agents revealed that, a bomb was allegedly planted at a

abundance of football talent in Nigeria, it would also help this great country undergo a resurgence of the sport which is loved so very much."

He added: "Football and other sporting activities help in the moulding of character and integrity, and teaches young persons the importance of hardwork, dedication and teamwork.

“We see no difficulty in attracting the maximum of 350 young football players nation-wide, and even beyond.”

Meanwhile, the Head coach of the Under-16 team of Liverpool Football Club of England, Gary Lewis and other tacticians have been confirmed for the event.

Lewis, who works full time at Liverpool, will be joined by compatriot, Nigel Deeley, England Under-17 coach and a UEFA Grade A Licensed coach will be part of the coaching crew expected at the camp.

are now combing the nook and crannies of the State.

Speaking to the Nation on phone, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris confirmed the planting of a bomb at one the biggest viewing centres known as Kings Garden located at Brigade quarters of the metropolis.

“I have instructed my DPO’s to tell the viewing centre owners to close shop for between three and four weeks, so that, we can intensify security within those areas,”, he stated.

By Stella Bamawo, Enugu ball enthusiasts that converged on the Abu King Shulluwa Playing Ground, Makurdi, Benue State.

Speaking on the competition, Ita Bassey, Senior Brand Manager – Gulder, Nigerian Breweries Plc., expressed optimism that the competition at the South Eastern qualifiers would be stiff.

He said: “Drawing from the high level of football we witnessed at the recently-concluded qualifying matches in Makurdi, I anticipate high level quality displays of skills by the players in the South East. Teams turned out in large numbers to register.

“They will have the chance to prove their mettle at the Rangers’ Training Pitch, Enugu.”

Meanwhile, the tournament has received glowing endorsements from the former chairman of the Nigerian Premier League, Davison Owumi.

Owumi, who was speaking after making a surprise visit to the Rangers Training pitch, where teams from Enugu and other south-eastern states will be slugging it out for the two slots to the next round in lagos described the competition as “a unique and novel path, chosen by the Gulder brand in developing Nigerian grass root football at all levels”.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

QUOTABLE "We are now at a point in our politics where there is no need to resort to brigandage. Public office should not be an end in itself...Violence is the argument of the person who has run out of logic. Politics should be about dialogue, issues, campaigns and not violence."

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 2117

— Senate Leader, Mr Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN) condemning killing of Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

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HE last thing the beleaguered government of President Goodluck Jonathan needs now is another round of protest over fuel subsidy scam. If it happens this time, it is likely to be much more severe than January’s carnival-like demonstrations organised and led by respectable middle class professionals to reverse the sudden fuel price hike ordered insensitively on New Year’s Day. The subsidy removal policy – for that was what it was uncharitably called by the government – was apparently implemented without the knowledge of a majority of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) members.

Jonathan has his back to the wall on Boko Haram. Apart from his indecision on how best to fight the dangerous Islamist sect, his National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Azazi, has muddied the water and provoked furious denunciations from the North. Unable to fight the sect with anything properly described as a strategy, co-ordinated or not, the federal government has seemed to give the terror merchants free rein. Every attack thus brings the country apocalyptically close to the precipice, with no one able to predict when doomsday would occur.

The chances of the government avoiding another fuel protest showdown are looking increasingly remote. The Boko Haram menace has not only nearly completely undermined restraint and civilisation in the North, to the huge discomfort of the body politic, it has also unleashed a horde of impoverished, bitter and aggrieved young people eager to welcome the apocalypse whispered in viperous, disgruntled tones in every part of the country. When the protests took place in January, it was driven by incomplete information on what actual subsidy payments had been made, the volume of fuel products consumed, and which so-called cabal held the country by the jugular as the government alleged. After the House of Representatives completed its ad hoc probe on subsidy management, it emerged that Nigeria had been made, by the most pernicious form of skulduggery, to endure the worst financial abuse any nation on earth could have ever been subjected to.

But Jonathan’s government underestimates the feeling of the public on the sordid revelations that have come out of the probe. He has promised tepidly, we concede, that the guilty would not be spared. His Co-ordinating minister for the economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has also announced that those indicted would be punished in order to let Nigerians and the world know that impunity would not be rewarded. The president’s official spokesman also added his voice to the affair by telling us the president would take the interest of the country into consideration in his response.

But lest we be carried away by the promises, much of which most Nigerians suspect would be implemented half-heartedly, if not altogether in the breach, an inconspicuous officer loyal to Jonathan than to the country or its constitution warned that we were proceeding

Adoke’s legal sophistries on subsidy scam

•Adoke

•Lamorde

too hastily on the matter.

While we were still grappling with this dampener by an unknown, perhaps the most definitive statement from the Jonathan government came from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, to the effect that the situation was much more complex than anyone imagined. His view was both incautious and a bundle of legal sophistries. In the eightparagraph statement he issued late last week, he managed to say and mean much more than were contained in the guileful press release.

Known for his undisguised and unrepentant conservatism, Adoke did not disappoint in carrying out an odious routine generally known to be in fair consonance with his worldview.

At least four times in the press statement the Justice minister warned us to lower our expectations on the House of Representatives probe report. First, he admitted, the government had a responsibility to do something about the report, but it would be an “onerous” one because it was important the responsibility be undergirded by “the rule of law and due process as required by any democratically elected and responsible government.” Were the commission of infractions and the omission of responsible conduct in enunciating and implementing public policies by the Jonathan cir-

cumscribed by the rule of law and due process in the first instance? Did he take into consideration that we elected him into office when he railroaded the obnoxious fuel subsidy removal policy through an absentee FEC process? Did Jonathan show his government was responsible when he kick-started the subsidy removal programme on January 1?

First, Adoke spoke of ‘onerous responsibility.’ Then secondly, he also spoke of the “tedious process of sieving through the report.” I always thought the more difficult work is formulating policy, not remedying its problems.

We must understand that what Adoke was really saying, without seeming to mean it, is that the Jonathan government had no enthusiasm to undertake the unpleasant and difficult work of scouring through the report to find the pearls worth saving, the offences worth prosecuting, and the cabal worth humiliating. He was also serving notice that if we stampeded the government into going to court, conviction would be jeopardised, as had happened in other highprofile cases in the past. He seems to think we are so dimwitted not to understand that most botched cases in recent times are a result of the government’s deliberate treachery and the connivance of compromised judicial elements.

Third, Adoke also described the mill through which the government hoped to make

Assassinations, terrorism, threats: A History of Modern Nigeria

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IGERIAN historians have their work cut out for them. I trust they will live up to the responsibility posterity has placed squarely on their shoulders. I do not know what precisely Governor Adams Oshiomhole hoped to accomplish by staging a public walk to protest the murder of his principal private secretary, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, but I know historians will appreciate that the governor is only chief security officer of Edo State in name and not in fact. The public protest was a nugatory act, but it probably demonstrated the seriousness and apprehension with which the governor took the unwholesome events of the past few weeks, among which were the crashing of a truck into his convoy, other attempted murders of his aides, and now the killing of Oyerinde. He is right to feel uneasy and even helpless, and we understand why he thinks the killings and attempted killings have something to do with politics.

Historians will doubtless help him divorce the seriousness of what is happening from the histrionics he and his aides have sometimes unwittingly indulged in.

Historians will also be tempted to compare the killings taking place in Nigeria with the ones that took place in Liberia and Sierra Leone before those West African countries dissolved into outright war. Neither of the two countries had it as bad as Nigeria before they finally lost all sense of restraint. Could the killings in Nigeria presage a final dissolution? Is there anyone who is not wondering where all the uncontrolled killings here would end? Without urgent remedial measures, chiefly restructuring, it is hard to see the country maintaining stability. If Nigeria becomes untenable, historians will have an exciting time examining the remote and immediate causes of the breakdown.

They will separate the economic causes from the political causes; and they will apportion blames between an ignorant, greedy and conniving followership and a weak, dissolute and debauched leadership. They will have a welter of facts and figures to make their analyses credible and sensible.

Then they will come right down to the merchants of terror, the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

Historians will examine the conditions that gave

rise to the group and assign weights to those factors. They will assess the role of the colluding northern elite, their brinkmanship, the role of religion, and the socio-economic milieu. They will look at the factors that made Boko Haram leaders acquire influence and power, and how and why the war against them stalemated for so long. They will also examine the undercurrents that led the sect to face the media, and tell us in retrospect whether those factors were what they seemed. I think historians will find many subterranean elements involved in Boko Haram facing down the media.

And as the unsightly attacks in Yobe have proved, apocalypse may not be far away, with terror merchants providing for us the ironic picture in newspapers last week of gunmen attacking animals when killing fellow men appeared to be less satisfactory and rewarding.

Nigeria has become a killing field. Historians will tell us why, and assess why government has either become inexplicably mawkish, as some states show, or even become absent, as the federal government has so powerfully demonstrated.

the Reps’ report pass as “these difficult and essential processes.” Well, now we have it. The Justice minister has told us there are no quick fixes to quick financial shenanigans perpetrated so brutally and so offensively openly by the government he serves. In one election year – a disconcerting fact the Jonathan government hoped would be lost on us – the government overspent by more than a trillion naira the amount it voted for fuel subsidy, an amount quite clearly a marked and overwhelming departure from the preceding years’. In other words it was not difficult to overspent, but it is difficult to find and prosecute the offenders who managed the bureaucratic excesses, especially after the Reps have made their job easy.

Fourth, Adoke wants the public to understand that doing the right thing requires “allowing the law enforcement agencies to conduct painstaking investigations that will ultimately satisfy the standard of proof required in criminal cases.” If we didn’t understand some simple English, we would not appreciate that the Justice minister was attempting to discourage us from being fastidious about the subsidy mismanagement issue or raising our hopes high that those involved in the crime would soon be called to account. He hoped he could appeal to our sense of justice by asking us to appreciate the need for slow and steady work in bringing criminals to book. There are indeed times when a country appreciates the need to be unhurried in seeking retribution; it is doubtful whether this is one of those times, or whether the government itself, in abusing the spending process, has the luxury of the kind of patience it glowingly seeks and talks about.

Adoke pandered to sentiments when he talked gravely of the oath he took as Attorney General of the federation. Said he with a self-importance that is unjustified by his record: “I swore to uphold the constitution and I am therefore not oblivious of the constitutional responsibility placed on my shoulders to ensure that those who contravene our laws are held accountable through the legal process.” For a legal officer who is more famously partisan than unbiased, more beholden to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) than the constitution, and more loyal and committed to his employer than to the country’s laws, he could have fooled us talking about his responsibility as the chief law officer.

It is obvious Adoke is stonewalling. He and other presidential aides, not to talk of the president himself, will do everything to undermine the Reps report. The reason is simple. The extravagant spending on fuel subsidy happened in a dramatic and extraordinary fashion in an election year. The government of the day cannot be exculpated from blame. And as the National Assembly indicated, there was no supplementary appropriation for the humongous spending. So where is the due process Adoke is promoting? The Justice minister talked about the obligation a democratically elected government had to ensure thorough investigation; but did that same government not have an obligation to ensure the country’s money was not spent without appropriation?

As the country awaits the report of the Senate probe on the same issue, we must hope that both the legislature and civil society groups have the stamina to keep up the pressure. The government will want to use all the legal sleight of hand it can muster to weaken the people’s resolve; it must not succeed. What the civil society, especially the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), is asking for is not immediate prosecution of offenders but concrete and determined steps by government to show commitment to its vaunted fight against those who have consistently undermined the country. As Adoke has now obviously indicated, it is unlikely the government will be enthusiastic in waging that war. The government recognises that it spent an indefensibly high amount of money purportedly for subsidy, and it knows that that spending was covered in thick and implacable fog, much of it election related. There is no way it can prosecute offenders without sacrificing its sacred cows in the Petroleum ministry and ultimately undermining its own legitimacy. But it is a fate the public must make the Jonathan government meet.

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