The Nation May 10, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 2119 THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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Cleric urges Yoruba unity at Awo memorial From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

M

EMORIES of the first premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, came alive yesterday during a church service marking the 25th anniversary of his passage.

The cream of the Yoruba elite – politicians, businessmen, intellectuals and others – gathered for the special service at Chief Awolowo’s Ikenne home town in Ogun State. Chief Awolowo died on May 9, 1987.

The Rt. Rev. Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Lagos West Diocese, called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unite the Yoruba within the Nigeria nation.

He said since the death of Chief Awolowo, the Yoruba had been in disarray, unable to choose a leader.

“Twenty five years of acrimony and infighting is enough. A house divided against itself cannot stand. It is time to forget the past, forgive one another and Continued on page 4

•Chief H.I.D Awolowo and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the service ... yesterday. SEE ALSO PAGES 4&5

Oshiomhole’s aide’s murder is threat to democracy, says NLC

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IGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) P r e s i d e n t Abdulwaheed Omar has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over the security situation in Edo State. He warned that, if unchecked, the situation could truncate Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

Comrade Omar urged the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

President to prevail on the security agencies to find the killers of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the NLC deputy national secretary, who was on secondment to Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a Principal Private Secretary.

Oyerinde was murdered in Benin City on May 4. His re-

mains will be buried today in Ede, Osun State.

Omar, who spoke when he led members of the administrative council of industrial unions and Edo workers to commiserate with Comrade Oshiomhole over Oyerinde’s murder, said those who killed him should know they have killed Labour’s highest ranking

staff member.

He said: “We have come to join the Edo State Council of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the organisers of the peaceful protest, to present letters to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, the Director of the State Security Service and Commissioner of Police and we have received encourag-

ing words from them that the killers will be brought to justice.

“It is our expectations that all these efforts will not go unrewarded. We have come to present a condolence letter to the governor as this is a very serious loss, not only to the labour movement but Continued on page 2

•The late Oyerinde

SEC chiefs disown Oteh Executives accuse DG of running one-man show

U

•Oteh ... yesterday

NKNOWN to the investing public, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – supervisors of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) – has been held down by self-inflicted ailments, which obviously slowed down its battle to revive the troubled stock market.

SEC Director-General Ms Arunma Oteh seems to have been acting alone, going by yesterday’s proceedings at the House of Representatives hearing on the nearcollapse of the Capital Market – once touted as the world’s fastest growing by its major players.

‘

A young man who graduated in 1998 and was made a director.

The contract system ... has created friction among the staff.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The gulf between the DG and her executive team was exposed as Oteh was left to defend her actions all alone. Besides, the Executive Commissioners reeled out reasons for the division in the Commission.

The entire Executive team denied

’

‘

We have not been working as a team. I would suggest that we should communicate more, faceto-face, instead of text messages.

knowledge of the Road map to making the capital market world class.

Only Executive Commissioner (Operations) Daisy Ekina said part of her presentation for the DG shortly on her assumption of office was in the Road Map. Ekina and Executive Commissioner (Legal and Enforcement) Charles

’

Udora said that the staff were unhappy with Oteh’s management style and that trust and team work were no longer part of the work ethics of the organisation.

Udora also faulted the status accorded contract staff by the Commission as regular workers felt shortContinued on page 2

•E-BUSINESS P47•SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P17

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NEWS

SEC chiefs disown Oteh Continued from page 1

changed in remuneration and other welfare matters.

Ekina noted that the morale of the staff had been at its lowest since Oteh’s assumption of office, adding: “What I can confirm is that the morale is low, there is mistrust among the staff.”

The Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Sani Stores, decried lack of respect from the leadership, saying since respect is reciprocal, the management should imbibe the culture of respect for one another to develop the organisation.

Ekineh, Udora and Executive Commissioner (Stores) Alhaji Lawan Sani, denied knowledge of the engagement of two officials of Access Bank PLC on secondment.

Udora alleged that there was a total breakdown of official communication, mutual disrespect and mistrust and the tendency to run a oneman show by Oteh.

He said the engagement of contract staff at the commission was affecting the morale of staff.

“There was a young man who graduated in 1998 and was made a director. The contract system that we have has created friction among the staff.

“We seem to be in a situation of regulatory comatose.

Our staff are no longer giving us what we need to regulate the market.”

Ekineh said there was need for the leaders to respect their subordinates.

“I will agree that there is a dysfunction because we have not been working as a team.

I would suggest that we should communicate more, face-to-face instead of text messages.’’

Oteh made no comment on

the allegations and way forward proffered by her team.

Oteh said she was not aware that two Access Bank officials were owing the defunct Intercontinental Bank N16b when the latter was acquired.

The SEC boss maintained that conflict of interest was not a factor in the acquisition of the two banks, but the Committee was shocked at the classification of the N8b realised by Union Bank on its IPO as a loss.

Oteh disclosed the strategies being put in place to reposition and foster unity within SEC as well as turn the capital market into a world class market.

Oteh, who appeared before the Committee in compliance with its directive on Tuesday, replying to a question by a member of the Committee, Bimbo Daramola, said she was not aware that the Group Managing Director (GMD) and the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of Access Bank were owing Intercontinental Bank N16b.

“As individuals or as in their official capacities in the bank, I am not aware,” she said.

The committee asked that should it be discovered that those two actually owed Intercontinental Bank, whether the DG would still believe that her approval of that acquisition was correct?

Oteh said: “The basis of approval of the scheme document is not just on that, but has a lot of issues and in each case you work on case-bycase basis. So, I would not be able to say to you what will be my decision today because we will have to go through the process on specific circumstances and take a decision on that basis.”

The Committee also tasked the DG on the morality be-

hind the engagement of two Access Bank officials by SEC, but she insisted that conflict of interest was no issue.

“On whether we compromise on the engagement of the two officials, laid down rules and procedures have been strictly complied with by the SEC since January 2010, including the processing of any transaction related to Access Bank.

“The seconded officials were the Project Advisers, in charge of managing our facilities because we have had challenges in the management of our offices, and the other a Communications Assistant,” the DG said.

She said the two officials were taken, based on their competence in assets management and expansion as well as branding, adding that it was felt that their skills would be useful in the planned capital market resources centres, where any Nigerian can walk into and be educated about the capital market.

“The choice of these two people were in the areas not in our regulatory functions. These Access Bank employees have no connection with the core regulatory functions of the Commission in any manner as to create a conflict of interest.

“In fact, Access Bank has been very open about this and disclosed details of this specific secondment in its 2010 annual report,” she added.

Oteh noted that several private sector companies were contacted on the kind of expertise required by SEC and that direct recruitment of staff by the SEC would have taken too long a time. Besides, the DG added, due process was followed in the recruitment.

She affirmed that it was a management decision to engage the two bankers and that SEC’s Human Resources

•Oteh ... yesterday

Unit handled the recruitment. She was not directly involved in the selection of the two bankers, Oteh said.

While she held on to her affirmation that the decision to take on the two bankers was jointly taken by the SEC Executive Commissioners, the Executive commissioners said they were not aware of it.

Oteh insisted that two Access Bank officers on secondment to SEC could not have influenced the process of the acquisition. “There were mechanisms in place to check conflict of interest issues in the SEC,” she added.

On the N8b realised by Union Bank from Initial Public Offer IPO) that was later acquired as loss to the bank by the Asset

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Udora said SEC followed due diligence.

According to him, Union Bank later stated that the money was used to set up Union Bank UK, which was against the rules. At that point of SEC’s insistence, the AMCON consultant inferred that SEC was interfering in the process but the Commission insisted that the use of the proceed must be proved, Udora said, adding: “AMCON now wrote that the fund should be classified as loss to Union Bank and on that basis we approved the clearance but, in my opinion, which was officially communicated, the usage of that proceed should be investigated.”

Bill to give Houses of Assembly financial autonomy passes second reading

H

OUSES of Assembly may soon enjoy financial autonomy.

A bill to free them from the Executive scaled the second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The bill, sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu, was referred to the committee on Judiciary for further legislative action.

Kawu, while leading the debate, said for any democratic setting to grow, the three arms of government must operate independent of each other especially in their financial dealings.

He said: “For any democracy to operate successfully, the three arms of government the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary must not only operate independent of one another, but must be seen to operate as such.”

He explained that the State Legislature is currently not operating independent of the State Executive. According to him, the situation has resulted into inefficiency and lack of proper over-sighting of the state apparatus by the legislature.

Kawu enjoined members to support the bill, adding that the proposed alteration

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

would include state Houses of Assembly on a first line charge which, he stressed, would give them further autonomy to enable them discharge their Constitutional mandate more effectively and efficiently.

Deputy Majority Leader Leo Ogor, while supporting the bill, said it was imperative that Houses of Assembly are financially independent.

The lawmaker argued that the legislature, whether at the national or state level is the custodian of the people’s finances and resources and should be allowed to source their resources.

He advised the assemblies to use the opportunity of the proposed amendment to ensure their independence.

Minority Whip of the House, Samson Osagie, expressed regret that while the Federal legislature is independent, the Assemblies pander to the whims of the governors.

According to him, such a situation does not augur well for democracy.

Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, described what obtained at the state level as an anomaly which

must be corrected.

He said: “We cannot have democracy at the national level and have autocracy at the state level.”

The bill also received support from other members among whom were Zakari Mohamed, Peace Nnaji, Babatunde Adewale, Daniel Reyneiju, Patrick Ikhariale, Engr Wudil and Sani Kalgo.

Others were Orker Jev, Abdu Musa, Nnenna Okeji, Nado Karibo, Emmanuel Jime, Ndudi Elumelu and Bukar Goni.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said there should not be an erroneous perception of the Bill as a legislation targeted at individuals.

He said: “We should not be having semblance of democracy, rather we should be seen to be practicing democracy.”

Initial efforts by the National Assembly to give the Houses of Assembly financial autonomy in the first amendment of the 1999 Constitution were rejected by the state legislature.

According to them, they preferred being tied to the apron-strings of their governors financially.

Also yesterday, Tambuwal said those indicted in the oil

subsidy probe will face justice.

Tambuwal said the House would take necessary steps to ensure that those indicted in the oil subsidy probe faced justice.

Tambuwal spoke in Lokoja during a visit to Governor Idris Wada.

The Speaker said the probe into the administration of oil subsidy was constitutional, saying, “anybody who held contrary view should come to the floor of the House to say so”.

He said the House had decided to do things differently to solve the nagging problems bedeviling the country, promising that it would not disappoint Nigerians.

Tambuwal, who was accompanied by Chief whip Ahmed Moukthar and seven other members, urged the governor to tap into the abundant natural resources in Kogi to transform the socioeconomic activities of the people.

He advised the governor to establish a mini cement plant in the state and take decisive steps on the reactivation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the National Iron Ore mining Company, Itakpe.

He noted that both compa-

•Tambuwal

nies were originally established to serve as spring board for the country’s industrialisation.

“I urge you to look inward to ensure that something positive is done so that Kogi can answer its name in the comity of states; don’t wait for foreign investors to do it,” he said.

Wada lauded the Speaker for the quality of debate in the house under his leadership.

He urged him to help the state by ensuring that Ajaokuta Steel Complex was reactivated in line with the promise made by President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2011.

He also solicited the support of the House for the completion of the N7.8 billion Bagana-Guto Bridge which was inaugurated in February 2007.

On the proposed Finbank and FCMB merger, the DG said the acquisition was delayed by six of 30 issues that were to be settled by Fin bank.

On Project 50 designed to mark 50 years of capital market regulation, Oteh was accused of double speak – that donations were received from sponsors and that records would be presented while she now claimed that there were no donations.

“There were no donations at all. The arrangement we had was for our sponsors to fund specific events and we only funded our own part of the event,” she said.

The DG insisted that the entire executive team was involved in the project, but only Ekina said she attended two meetings at the initial stage.

Others claimed ignorance of the project.

The Committee promised to investigate the Project.

Oteh also noted that the 3 per cent of all transactions charged by the Exchange was to cover cost of regulation and that 80 per cent of the surplus of revenue is remitted into the consolidated account; 20 percent is retained by the commission – in line with the provisions of the Act. The committee adjourned the hearing till next Tuesday.

Oshiomhole’s aide’s murder is threat to democracy, says NLC Continued from page 1

the Edo people.

“We are giving you the assurances that this is a fight on which all Nigerian workers must join hands together. We must rise up and remind ourselves that an injury to one is an injury to all.”

Oshiomhole expressed reservations with the outcome of the investigations because over the years, there have been several murder cases and the suspected killers are still walking the streets free.

The governor said: “It is the result of this investigation that will determine the steps we take. I will stand up to be counted in any measure we are about to take. What will be the difference is the quality of their investigation, because there have been many investigations.

“The police must establish who they used to execute this heinous crime to deal with this cult of impunity. Beginning from May 18 when the 14-day ultimatum given to the security agencies will expire, if they do not find the people who killed Olaitan, I intend to take some measures. There has to be balance of madness because nobody has the monopoly of madness.”

While counting on the support of the labour movement, the governor said he will fall back to his labour training because according to him, “enough is enough. Nothing excites me more than getting results to convince me certain persons are not above the law.”

The governor disclosed that Edo State Government has decided to rename Delta Crescent, the street on which Chief Tony Anenih’s house is located in Benin City after the late Olaitan.

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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NEWS OBAFEMI AWOLOWO’S 25TH MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY

• (From left) Mr. Awolowo, Otunba Adebayo, Asiwaju Tinubu and Aremo Osoba...yesterday

•Chief H.I.D Awolowo (sitting); her daughter, Ambassador Awolowo-Dosunmu; Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Ajimobi and Fayemi...yesterday.

•Governors Amosun (left) and Aregbesola, with Alhaji Jakande and wife, Abimbola...yesterday

Cleric urges Yoruba unity at Awo memorial Continued from page 1

bring together a united nation,” querying: “who will bell the cat? Who will start the process of reunification?”

Bishop Adebiyi eulogised Awolowo and reeled out his epochal achievements and urged present Nigerian leaders to emulate his exemplary record in public service delivery and private sterling conduct.

The Bishop said the duo of Obasanjo and Tinubu whom he described as notable Yoruba leaders, are pivotal to the envisaged modern Yoruba unity.

Obasanjo and Tinubu, he said, should form a rallying point for the process leading to Yoruba unity.

The clergy said the region which seemed divided along party line and political ideology could be united for the common cause of the race. He drew example from the Ashiru family in Ijebu - Ode. Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru and Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, are political appointees in government.

He said while the Ambassador is serving under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre, his younger brother, Bimbo, serves as Commerce and Industry Commissioner in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-controlled government of Ogun State. He asked if the two brothers should become sworn enemies because they serve government of different political parties.

“We should not allow political differences to weaken our strength and destroy the Yoruba. Whether you like or not, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is a formidable leader of the Yoruba and in Nigeria. Bola

Ahmed Tinubu is a formidable leader whether you like it or not. We must use our meeting of today as a beginning for forging new things that will come in the Yoruba nation.

“We should initiate new effort, reconciliatory effort because of our children and future. We should renew our strength again, forget what happened in the past. I subscribe to the idea that you must be tribalistic before you can be nationalistic. If you don’t do well at home, nobody will reckon with you outside,” Bishop Adebiyi said.

He said he would like to be part of the process to unite the Yoruba, stressing that should he elect to visit Obasanjo and Tinubu in respect of it, none of the two would lock the door against him.

But Asiwaju Tinubu, speaking to reporters later on the question of Yoruba unity and leadership, said only the people can make their own leaders. He said Chief Awolowo emerged because of mass Yoruba approval of his quality work and conduct.

“Once you make people the cornerstone of your politics, then you are in step with the legacy of Baba Awolowo.

Nobody can really step into Awolowo’s shoes – except to continue in his vision and philosophy of development, his character discipline and his emphasis on true federalism, justice and democracy.

These,” he insisted, “are what we should all pursue.”

He said while all Yoruba were one stock, political unity would be dicey, since the Yoruba had always belonged to political parties of their choice, in line with democratic tenets and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Historically, the Yoruba have always belonged to dif-

ferent parties. You have the right to belong to any party.

What is important is that we must all uphold the values of justice, democracy and the developmental ideals espoused

by Awolowo,” he said.

“Take the case of Awo, some people never agreed with him but he still insisted on running administration of probity, transparency, good governance and accountability and brought basic development to Western region. Not everybody agreed with him on that.

“There were so many people that opposed him. That is politics. We cannot sleep, like our fathers would say, and face one way. No. We are going to stay divided politically there is no doubt about that,” Tinubu said.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun asked those who professed to the disciples of Awolowo only in words to have a change of heart and live by the ideals Awolowo was noted for.

“Our late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was not only a proud son of Ogun State, he is, even in death, greater than we all could imagine. He was an icon of immeasurable stature; an administrator of impeccable integrity; a statesman of statesmen; and a leader who put the people first.

“This is attested to with the array of individuals and organisations represented at this gathering. Chief Obafemi Awolowo touched many lives during his sojourn on earth.

“As the first Premier of the defunct Western Region, the policies and programmes of his administration still serve as reference point for governments at all levels over five decades after he left office.

“The free primary education and unprecedented rural and

• (From left), Gen. Gowon, Oba Sijuwade and Oba Akinruntan...yesterday

•Gen. Diya

agricultural development engendered by his Administration, for instance, positively affected many lives and generations.

“At the national level, his performance during the short period he served as the Federal Commissioner for Finance and the only civilian Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council under General Yakubu Gowon regime still resonates several decades after.

“He played politics of commitment, principle and ideology. When his peers vacillated on national issues, he came up with fresh ideas on them. Issues he raised at that time remain burning issues in our country, even today.

“No wonder he was described as the best President Nigeria never had and during his life time. He was rightly described as the ‘issue in Nigerian Politics’.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo lived his life in service to the people. He was known, by both friends and foes, to be a serious-minded federalist and

•ChiefClark

advocate of the rule of law, who wanted the best for his people and country.

“No wonder, there are several people today who claim or pretend to be adherents of Awolowo’s ideals. The question is: how many of them have the moral ethos, principles and commitment to positive ideological bent like Chief Awolowo?

“It is because he left a legacy worth emulating that almost every politician in the Southwest sees his name as a launch pad for their political careers.

“My advice however is that those who share the same ideology or believe they have been influenced by Awolowo’s socio-economic and political thoughts should move from being lip service disciples to living and demonstrating such ideals,” “At this period of our national life, Nigeria is in dire need of people who play politics of self-sacrifice, commitment and focus. Papa had graciously provided us with a time-tested compass to get to the right direction.

•Dr. Olunloyo

“For us, we are committed to continuing with the good work the Great Awo started.

That is why we remain on course, like he did earlier, with the fulfilment of our Five-Cardinal Programmes of Affordable Qualitative Education; Efficient Health-Care Delivery; Increased Agricultural Production/Industrialisation; Affordable Housing and Urban Renewal; and Rural and Infrastructural Development/ Employment Generation, all of which make the fulcrum of our “Mission to Rebuild” Ogun State.

“I want to believe that if Papa should look back now, he would be pleased with what we are doing. Papa will be happy with the way we have re-introduced functional free education, providing free text-books and instructional materials like his close associate, the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo did in 1982.

“He would be happy with the Health Care Centres and our determination to ensure Continued on page 5

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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NEWS Windstorm: NEMA alerts Southsouth states to get prepared STATES in the Southsouth yesterday got an alert from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

They are to get ready for severe windstorms as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to avoid casualties.

The agency issued the warning in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, by the agency’s Southsouth zonal Information Officer, Mr. Roberts Ekemini.

NIMET’s 2012 rainfall prediction shows that the 2012 rains in the South-South region are likely to be characterised by heavy windstorms.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad SaniSidi, said the essence of the NIMET prediction is to prepare the states and their citizens for the natural disaster, the statement said.

Danjuma seeks eradication of tropical disease

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ORMER Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), yesterday urged governments at all levels and Nigerians to collaborate with relevant agencies to eradicate tropical diseases.

He listed such diseases as river blindness, elephantiasis, worm infection, snail fever, blinding eye infection. They are prevalent in rural areas.

Danjuma addressed reporters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, at the inauguration of MITOSATH Center, which is dedicated to the control and eradication of neglected tropical diseases.

He said: “I am from Taraba State and I know firsthand what River blindness (onchocerciasis) is. I have seen victims of this scourge.

The itching is horrible and it will take all of us working together to eliminate this once and for, all from our continent.

“There are unprecedented and generous donations of drugs from private company, which needs to be complemented. It is heartbreaking to see lives continually destroyed by these diseases and direct intervention strategy can help to reach communities that are in need; hence, the appeal to all of us – governments, private businesses, scientists, NGOs and the communities - to work together. Nothing is too small and nobody is too poor to contribute to put smiles on the faces of the victims.”

President Goodluck Jonathan (front right)being welcomed by his Ivorien counterpart and President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Alassane Ouattara (second right) at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport in Abidjan.. yesterday.

FEC approves N3b for speed boats to check smuggling

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USTOMSMEN are to get more misiles to tackle smugglers.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N3 billion for the procurement of two High-Speed Patrol Boats.

Information Minister Labaran Maku broke the news while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting, chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

According to him, the procurement of the patrol boats for the NCS will go a long way in curtailing the huge economic drain and threat the incidence of smuggling poses to the country’s manufacturing sector.

He said: “Today, the Federal Ex-

ecutive Council received a proposal from the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, proposing to buy two speed boats for Nigeria Customs to curb the activities of smugglers in our water ways.

“The ministry brought this proposal in view of recent challenges we have been facing particularly in our water ways relating to the activities of smugglers which has intensified of recent.

“The ministry having considered the recent upsurge in smuggling as well as the need to equip the Nigerian Custom Service in order to check the activities of smugglers and therefore prevent the huge revenue losses that this nation often is forced to suf-

all the 236 wards in the state at least have one Public Health Centre, well equipped and manned by good medical personnel in the next few years.

“Chief Awolowo will be happy with our revolutionary policies in Agricultural Production and how we hope to make our state the food basket and home of the largest number of Agro-Allied industries.

“Chief Awolowo would be too glad to see our efforts in opening up the rural area through good roads, bore-holes for water services and provision of transformer in all 236 wards for efficient rural electrification.

“Papa will be glad at our determination to rebuild the infrastructure in Ogun state and attract investors from all over the world to establish

Maku said that the rehabilitation of the Owerri-Umuahia road and the construction of two strategic bridges on the Auchi Polytechnic road would boost socio-economic activities in the areas coincerned.

The minister said the FEC also adopted a policy proposal for the coordination and utilisation of ICT in all the federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and government services, was also approved.

According to him, the deployment of Communication Technology Officers to all the MDAs, as a new cadre in the civil service.

The minister maintained that emergency call centres would be established across the country to advance public information management.

‘Nigeria has deficit in transparency, accountability in govt’

A

POLITICAL scientist, Prof.

Adele Jinadu, has said there is a deficit in transparency and accountability in government and private practices in Nigeria.

The academic spoke in Lagos at a one-day National Improvement Dialogue, organized by One Voice, a coalition of National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Grantees nongovernmental organizations (NGO), he said that there was need for the middle class and professional bodies to imbibe internal vigilance, adding that sacrifice is the price of democracy.

He said the country lacks the com-

By Precious Welundu

bination of political and legal culture to affect change, noting that to attain same, the middle class and professionals must insist on doing the right rights without fear or favour.

Jinadu, who was the Chairman of the occasion, berated accountants, lawyers and other professional for neglecting the core values of their profession which he said gave the political class the opportunity to get away to impoverish the masses with impunity.

“The most debilitating deficit in

Cleric urges Yoruba unity at Awo memorial Continued from page 4

fer as a result of smuggling, proposed to buy two high-speed boats which will be fitted with surveillance equipment to enable the Nigeria Customs Service go deeper into the high seas to check the activities of smugglers and pirates, which has become a very serious source of worry to the government as a whole.

“And so, FEC considered this proposal and approved the purchase of these two high speed boats for the Nigerian Customs Service.”

He said the FEC also approved N5.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Owerri-Umuahia road and the construction of two bridges along the Auchi Polytechnic EkperiAgenebode road.

leading industries in our state.

“We are sure that at the end of our tenure of office, Ogun State will be the premier State in Nigeria as the Western Region under Chief Awolowo was a pace-setter in Nigeria in the 50s,” Amosun said.

In attendance were Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Chief Segun Osoba (Ogun). Tinubu (Lagos), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Segun Oni (Ekiti), Lateef Jakande (Lagos) and Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (Old Western region).

Others are former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Amb. Folake Marcus - Bello, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Omooba Michael Subomi Balogun,

Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), Senator Anthony Adefuye, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Olanihun Ajayi.

Also in attendance were monarchs including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom (Ondo State), Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Prof. Olukayode Oyediran, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Yinka Odunmakin, Mr. Akin Osibajo and some members of Amosun's cabinet - Alh. Yusuph Olaniyonu (Information and Strategy), Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi (Women Affairs), Mr Segun Odubela (Education, Science and Technology) and Mrs Funmi Wakama (Senior Special Assistant to Governor Amosun on Media and Communication).

our practice of law is that the moral structure is no longer there. There is need to emphasize on ethics in professional lives”, he stressed.

According to him, the nation needs a skeptical public that are willing to make sacrifices adding that the concept of neighborhood watch is needed to police those in government because they are not willing to implement good governance.

“We have to be confrontational to-

wards the powers that be to achieve desired change in this country.” He said.

Commending the organizers for choosing vital topics to address national issues, Jinadu said that constitutional reform is inevitable be it through the Sovereign National Conference or National Assembly, even as he called on Nigerians to insist on a referendum before the adoption of any constitution.

100 million Nigerians lack official identity, says agency

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F the reports of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are anything to go by, more than 100 million Nigerians have no official identification in the agency’s database.

Director-General of the commission Dr. Chris Onyemenam disclosed this in Lagos at the 4th West Africa Information Communications Technology (WAFICT) Congress 2012.

The theme of the congress is; ‘’The National Identity Database: The Dependence on ICT Infrastructure ‘’.

He said the figure constituted about 66.67 per cent of the 150 million Nigeria population, adding that only 44.33 per cent have been captured in the database.

Onyemenam, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Ogungbe, a deputy director in NIMC, said a reliable national identity database was important to checkmate security threats.

According to him, national identity will be useful in handling issues

of national security.

He said that about 75 per cent of identity documents of individuals, corporate and government bodies were fake and self-issued.

His words: “The commission presently has a new reform mandate to provide unique identification numbers for citizens and legal residents to guarantee uniqueness through biometric duplication.

Onyemenam said: “To enable individual to prove their identity in a dependable manner by providing online and off-line cost effective verification and authentication infrastructure.

“We will ensure the new identity card is integrated with the existing ID schemes, provide standardised identity attributes and foster the orderly development of an identity sector. “ He said the commission would ensure that Nigerians had trusted National Identity Card System from time to time.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NEWS Jonathan won’t change ministers

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has no plan to reshuffle his cabinet, the Presidency said yesterday.

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, the Presidency said there is no truth in the reports that Dr Jonathan will soon change some of his ministers.

The statement reads: “Contrary to recent speculations in the media about a so-called impending cabinet reshuffle, the Presidency wishes to state emphatically that there is no truth whatsoever in the said reports.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has implicit confidence in the ability of the current crop of ministers to deliver and has no plan to undertake any replacement at the moment.

“There is also no truth in the alleged tension among ministers as a result of the rumoured imminent cabinet change. This is a calculated attempt to cause disaffection within the cabinet and divert the attention of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from their unwavering commitment to the implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration.

“The speculation about cabinet change is the handiwork of mischief makers who seem bent on frustrating the good intentions of the Federal Government to deliver on the campaign promises of President Jonathan.

“We advise the public to ignore the antics of these mischief makers.”

Fed Govt, health workers’ meeting on strike deadlocked T HE moves to resolve the crisis between the Federal Government and health workers yesterday ended in a deadlock.

The health workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JHSU), on Monday, declared an indefinite strike when the 15-day ultimatum they issued the Federal Government expired.

The workers, comprising the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Senior Staff Association of Uni-

versities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutes (SSAUTHRIAI), the Nigerian Union of Pharmacist, Medical Technologist and Professions Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM) and the NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), could not reach a common ground with the government after over six hours of meeting.

It was learnt that the union leaders stuck to their demands.

A source at the meeting said the Permanent Secretary in the

Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, and an official of the Ministry of Labour represented the government.

The areas of contention between the two sides include: non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10; the National Health Bill; the Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in the Health Sector; the promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15; the consultancy and specialist allowance and call/shift and other professional allowances.

Others are: the request for

the implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Committee report; the re-constitution of the management boards of teaching and other tertiary hospitals; the need for review of retirement age and the appointment of the Ministers of Health.

The source, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, said: “We started the meeting around 1pm and could not reach an agreement as at 6pm, when the meeting ended. But the meeting will continue tomorrow (today).”

Today’s meeting is expected to be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu.

NDDC, EFCC, ICPC partner on anti-corruption fight

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HE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has introduced new measures to check corruption among its management officials and members of staff.

The Managing Director of the commission, Dr Christian Oboh, broke the news in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at an enlightenment campaign against corruption for workers of the commission.

The campaign with the theme: Strengthening the Culture of Institutional Integrity, Transparency and Accountability, was organised in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oboh said his administration would not relent at ensuring that NDDC becomes corruption-free.

He said: “I can tell you that public perception of the NDDC will begin to change. Instead of the EFCC and ICPC to look for us, we looked for them to come and re-evaluate us.”

The NDDC chief said the commission was mindful of the enormous task ahead of it and is willing to learn from the anti-graft agencies on how to apply best practices to achieve transparency and accountability in service delivery.

FOI: SERAP calls for documents on allocation, spending on water

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OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent a request under the Freedom of Information Act to Mrs Sarah Ochekpe Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources asking her to “provide within 14 days information on the allocation, including international aid and spending of public funds to provide access to safe and affordable water and sanitation services for Nigerians in the past 5 years.”

In the request dated 7 May 2012 and signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization said, “We are concerned about the number of Nigerians without access to portable and clean water which is currently placed around 66 million Nigerians (about 39% of the population without access). The figures are from the 2012 progress report released recently by the World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund Joint Monitoring Programme on drinking water and sanitation.”

The organization said that, “Clean water is lacking, activities like washing of hands, cleaning of food, brushing of teeth often taken for granted in more organized societies may be disregarded because people are forced to make a choice to ration the little water, if any, that they are able to scoop up.”

Group decries use of sirens by federal perm sec From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

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GROUP of Oyo town’s youths, under the aegis of Justice Prevails, has decried the use of sirens by a permanent secretary in a federal ministry.

The group alleged that the attitude of the government official constitutes a nuisance to the public anytime he returns to his home in Awe, Afijo Local Government of Oyo State.

“Is it legal and constitutional for a federal permanent secretary to be using siren and security escorts, both officially and unofficially?” it asked.

The group said it has become the habit of the government official to disturb public peace by blaring the sirens in his official vehicles whenever he comes home in a convoy.

Chairman of the group, Abass Muyis, said: “This attitude contravenes the Constitution, which allows only the President, the Vice-President, governors, deputy governors, ministers, state chief judges, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to use sirens.

“Besides the fact that such attitude depicts flagrant disobedience to the laws of the land and shows executive rascality, it also amounts to insulting the sensibilities of the people in a civilised society.”

The group wondered why a permanent secretary should be allowed to use sirens and pilot vehicles, besides his official car, all bearing the State House numbers. It said the habit must stop.

The group added: “A government that claims to be desirous of transforming the country should be seen to be above aboard and not enmesh in lawlessness and disregard to the established rules guiding civil service administration.”

•Sambo (right); Prof Rufa’i (second right); Wike and Chairman, Almajiri Education Programme, Prof Shehu Galadinchi, at the PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

Fed Govt to extend Almajiri schools to South

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HE Federal Government has said it will extend the almajiri education programme to the South.

Under the programme, about 9.5 million children are expected to be removed from the street and educated in an environment that is conducive to learning.

The Federal Government will tomorrow sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the 36 state governments on the establishment of the intervention schools in their domains under the programme.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the government’s plan to extend the programme to other parts of the country during a review meet-

•Signs MoU with Govs on Friday From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

ing.

The Vice-President said there is need to monitor and evaluate the programme to ensure that a review would show areas to fine tune for effectiveness and efficiency.

The Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) has spent N50 million on Model One and N185million on Model Two almajiri schools. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) spent N240 million on boarding and N80 million on day schools. This brings the total to N555 million.

Sambo said the Federal Government would extend the intervention programme to other

states, adding that a forum will hold on Friday with governors and traditional rulers to comprehensively examine the almajiri school programme.

The MoU will be signed with the governors to transfer the schools to the states.

He said: “It has been recognised that there are several other children out there, throughout the country, who are indigent and cannot afford basic formal education.

“That is why the Federal Government has risen to the occasion to tackle the challenges posed by this growing phenomenon. Accordingly, a meeting with governors and traditional rulers has been convened as a forum to con-

sider and agree on ways of extending the programmes to cater for similar in all parts of the country.”

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufa’i said southern governors will come up with an intervention programme that suits their states but which will guarantee basic education for the less privileged.

On how the government will make the programme national, the minister said states, where such interventions would be carried out, will tailor theirs to suit the uniqueness of their environment since they may not have almajiris but other less privileged children out of school or without access to basic education.

Boko Haram: Court orders IGP to arraign or grant bail to two suspects A N Abuja High Court yesterday ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), to arraign Abubakar Fugu and Bukar Fannami, unfailingly on May 18.

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf said the detention of Fugu and Fannami for more than 80 days without arraigning them violates Section 35 of the Constitution.

The section states that every person shall be entitled to his or her personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of his or her liberty.

Section 35 (4) says any person who is arrested or detained shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time and, if he or she is not tried within a period of two to three months from the date of his arrest, he should be released either unconditionally or upon conditions as ordered by the court.

First Lady urges sect to embrace peace

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HE First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday urged members of the Boko Haram sect to drop their weapons and embrace dialogue in the interest of peace in Nigeria.

Mrs Jonathan spoke in Abuja at a workshop on leadership and etiquette organised by the National Council for Women Society (NCWS).

She urged members of the sect to forgive and forget whatever their grievances are.

Calling for peace and continued prayers to enable the nation surmount the present insecurity in the land, the First Lady condemned the destruction of lives and properties in parts of the country.

She said: “The boys are my children and I love them. They should drop their weapons and come out so that we can resolve the issue amicably. Let us maintain peace. Women should continue to pray for their children. With prayers, I believe we will conquer.

They should preach peace to them so that this country can develop.

“We want the Federal Government to build schools, good roads and hospitals but we are also burning them. Is this how we want this country to move forward? There can’t be any meaningful development when we are destroying properties.”

Before adjourning for the hearing of the main application, Justice Baba-Yusuf averred that notwithstanding the al-

leged crime against Fugu and Fannami, perpetual incarceration is an affront to their fundamental rights.

He directed the IGP to either arraign the suspects within nine days from yesterday or grant them bail.

Hustice Baba-Yusuf adjourned hearing of the main application for the violation of the fundamental human rights of the two men till Friday, May 18.

Fugu and Fannami, through their counsel, Mr Ibrahim Chara, asked the court to declare that their arrest and detention without trial since February 25 till date, by the police, is a violation of their fundamental human rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Chara urged the court to direct the IGP to either release his clients or arraign them before a court of competent jurisdiction within 24 hours upon hearing of their application.

The lawyer said his clients, having spent 80 days in two different cells with no hope in sight for their release, sought redress in court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

7

NEWS

•Members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State chapter, protesting the abduction of their colleague, Mrs. Olusola Otulana, an Opthamologist with the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Ago-Iwoye, at the Government House in Abeokuta....yesterday.

Ekiti approves N16m for World Teachers’ Day From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Ekiti State Government has approved N16 million for the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day. Commissioner for Education Dr. Eniola Ajayi announced this at a meeting with officials of Zenith Bank in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Mrs. Ajayi called on corporate organisations to support the government’s efforts to make the occasion special.

She said the government would present cars and various gifts to teachers, who have performed excellently.

The commissioner said the bank’s participation in the event would boost its image and attract more customers to it.

The Manager of Zenith Bank, Ado-Ekiti branch, Abiodun Oshodi, said the bank would support the event.

Adedibu’s memorial for June 11 From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HE fourth memorial anniversary celebra tion of the former strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, will hold on June 11.

His only surviving wife, Bose, said this year’s celebration will focus on the late Adedibu’s contributions to democracy in Oyo State and the country.

There are speculations that the sharing of the late Adedibu’s property, which was reportedly put in the care of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, by the late politician would be discussed during the celebration.

Adedibu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), died on June 11, 2008, at 81.

Motor dealer arrested over death of 15-year-old boy in Ibadan

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MOTOR dealer, simply identified as Damilola, has been arrested by the police in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the death of a 15-yearold boy, Korede Raji.

Korede, an orphan, was reportedly beaten to death for allegedly stealing a home theatre set belonging to one of Damilola’s sons, Michael.

It was learnt that Damilola’s home at Adifase in Apata was burgled last Friday morning and the home theatre set was stolen.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Sources said the late Korede was suspected because he was reportedly seen around the house that morning.

It was gathered that when confronted, the late Korede said he was at Damilola’s house to check on one of his children, but denied breaking into the house.

Sources said Damilola invited some boys in the neighborhood, who beat the late Korede up in an attempt

to make him confess to the crime, but the boy insisted that he was innocent.

They said Damilola later took the boy to Apata Police Station, where policemen discovered that the late Korede was injured and insisted that he should be taken to the hospital.

Sources said the late Korede was taken to a private hospital at Ago-Tailor on Friday night, where it was discovered that he had internal injuries.

They said Korede was referred to the Intensive Care

Unit (ICU) of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Saturday morning, where he died after a few hours.

Korede’s death led to Damilola’s arrest. It was learnt that the case has been transferred to the Homicide Department of the command at Iyaganku, Ibadan.

A source at the Apata Police Station confirmed the incident yesterday, after efforts to speak with Police spokesman Olabisi Okuwobi failed.

Osun signs N1.3b international market MoU

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HE Osun State Government yesterday signed a N1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the building of the Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo, the state capital.

Speaking with reporters at the Governor’s Office after the signing of the MoU, Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties Bashiru Ajibola said the

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

building of the market is a Public Private Partnership project and is expected to be completed in 24 months.

Ajibola said the market would be situated at the old Governor’s Office.

He said the state will pay 30 per cent of the N1.3 billion and Edward Property Consult will pay 70 per cent.

Ajibola said: “The total cost of the project is N1.3 billion.

The state will contribute 30 per cent, meaning Osun is expected to contribute N300 million. But having provided the land for the project, which was valued at N120 million, the state will only pay N180 million.”

He said occupants of the site have been advised to relocate to their parent ministries.

The commissioner said the state government would pay a year rent for Federal Government offices affected by the relocation.

When completed, he said lock-up shops at the market would be given out on lease.

Ajibola said the market will have a medical centre, guest chalets, police post, 896 open shops, 512 lock-up shops A and 72 lock-up shops B.

NDLEA destroys 14,000kg of illicit drugs in Ogun HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed over 14,000 kilogrames of narcotic drugs at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The drugs were seized by the Ogun State Command of the agency.

They consisted of 14,022.827kg of cannabis, 557 pinches of cocaine, 101 pinches of heroin and 50 pinches of amphetamines.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Alhaji Ahmadu Giade: “The safety of our country tomorrow depends on our counter-narcotic measures today. Drugs packed in pinches suggest

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•Govt donates vehicle to command

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

use. The astronomical rise in seized drugs is an indication of an increasing drug problem. We are working on strategies to arrest the development and prevent the situation from degenerating.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun thanked officials of the agency for the seizures.

He handed over a vehicle to the state command and urged the officers to work harder to rid the state of illicit drugs.

Amosun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said “Develop-

ment can only be achieved in a drug-free environment. If this large quantity of drugs was seized in just three years, it means there is more work to be done. We will support NDLEA in the drug war.”

State NDLEA Commander Mohammed Mohammed described the drug situation as “alarming”. Mohammed said: “Even primary school compounds and pupils are used to peddle drugs. This unfortunate development should not be allowed to degenerate because the youths are the leaders of tomorrow.”

Mohammed said in the last four months, the command arrested 53 suspected drug traffickers and seized over 1, 000 kilogrammes of drugs.

He said three accused persons had been convicted and 73 hectares of cannabis plantation destroyed.

Urging the public to be actively involved in the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, Giade said: “I urge parents to know their children’s friends.

Drug abuse can be prevented or minimised by choosing the right friends and associates. A bad situation can be averted when drug use is detected at the early stage.”

Oyo ACN greets defectors THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has congratulated two members of the House of Assembly for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord for the ACN. The defectors are Mathew Abioye, representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Constituency, and Temitope Olatoye, a.k.a. Sugar, representing Lagelu Constituency.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and Publicity Secretary Dauda Kolawole, ACN described the defections as “a strong signal that the end has come for the opposition”.

It said: “It is a confirmation that the ACN administration is doing well and the party has been accepted wholeheartedly by the people of the state and the Southwest.

“The unprecedented projects of the ACN administration has been attracting the patronage of right thinking individuals like Abioye and Olatoye.”

ACN assured the new members of equal rights in the party and urged other lawmakers in opposition parties to join the “winning team”.

Ajimobi mourns columnist Osaigbovo OYO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday mourned the death of Mr. Nosakhare Imasuen Osaigbovo, a former columnist with the Nigerian Tribune.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor described the death of the veteran journalist as “shocking, disheartening and sad”.

He said the late Osaigbovo was “a thorough-bred professional, who contributed immensely to the growth of journalism in Nigeria”.

Ajimobi said the late journalist used his column and editorial commentaries to condemn and correct the ills in the society.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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CITYBEATS Fashola to deliver lecture LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola will today deliver the May edition of Business Hallmark.

He will speak on “Nigeria in the new age: Redefining parametres of social contract.”

The event which holds at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, at 10.30 am."

The Forum's Chairman, Prof George Obiozor, said the lecture would examine reasons why progress is not being made in the social re-engineering and reconstruction of the Nigerian state.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is expected to chair the occasion. Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, will be the Guest of Honour.

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

determine the structural integrity of the entire bridge."

Bello said arms and weapons were recovered from the shanties and illegal structures built under the bridge last Monday during “operation restore law and order.”

Bello decried the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles and erection of illegal structures and shanties before they were removed.

"During the operation, the combined enforcement team recovered arms and weapons such as guns, daggers, axes and cutlasses among others," he said, adding that before now they were used to terrorise innocent residents.

He said the government’s objective of removing the illegal structures was geared towards improving commerce and industry on the Apapa corridor and also tackle the problem of insecurity.

He said: "The objective is that we want to make commerce and industry attractive on the Apapa corridor, many company because they could not have access to their offices and workshop relocated because of the traffic caused by trailers on the Apapa corridor, the governor visited here about a week ago and the sight was appalling, people where sleeping here and all sought of thing were being done."

Bello expressed displeasure at the environmental degradation and nuisance, which he said, those living under the bridge caused.

Bello unveiled the programme of action for Apapa Central Business District, which he said, would bring about regeneration and transformation in order to sustain the gains of the operation.

He praised the chairman of taskforce and the enforcement team for a job well done, adding that the area will be properly cleared within the next one week.

Also speaking, Opeifa said before the operation, unauthorised parking by drivers of tankers and trailers had forced several businesses to pack up in Apapa.

But according to him, Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government and Lagos State Police Command has been able to restore law and order in Apapa Wharf and its environs.

• Ofodeme

• Emeka

Lagos raises alarm over structural defect of Apapa bridge

Assembly halts market demolition LAGOS State House of Assembly has stopped the demolition of Onigbongbo Market by Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

It also ordered the Ministry of Transportation to stop further harassment of traders in the market. This followed a petition sent to the House by Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Francis Babatunde Oke. In the letter, Oke requested the Assembly to restrain the Ministry of Physical Planning and Development from demolishing the market and also stop the Ministry of Transportation from further harassing traders under the pretence that the market is situated along the proposed metroline project initiated by former Governor Lateef Jakande.

Doctors' strike: Court adjourns till May 16

By Precious Welundu

THE National Industrial Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, adjourned to May 16, hearing in the suit filed by the Lagos State Medical Guild against the State government on disagreements over the Consolidated Medical Salary (CONMESS).

The adjournment was as a result of the absence of the judge assigned to hear the matter.

Counsels to both plaintiffs and defendant, Bamidele Aturu and the Lagos State AttorneyGeneral, Ade Ipaye were in court, but were told that Justice Benedict Kanyip was away in Abuja for an official meeting.

The sacked doctors are in court to seek "a declaration that the refusal of the defendant to completely implement the CONMESS scale in favour of the association constitutes a breach of the agreement reached between the defendant and the claimant on the full implementation of CONMESS and is therefore unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and constitutes unfair labour practice."

•The defective Ijora-Apapa Bridge...yesterday

PHOTO:

OMOSEHIN MOSES

•Recovers arms, dangerous weapons from demolished shanties

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HE Ijora-Apapa bridge from which tankers were cleared on Monday, is structurally defective, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello said yesterday.

Bello, who inspected the bridge along with his Transport counterpart, Kayode Opeifa blamed the defect on long term negligence and human activities.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

"We saw a major and strenuous damage on the bridge particularly at the Marine Beach end, and we are calling on the Federal Ministry of Works to come and take a serious look now and examine the entire bridge from Ijora to Apapa, it is very important not just to check the part with the defective state, but to do a holistic job and

Three held over alleged attempt to bribe police with N1m

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HREE person, who allegedly attempted to bribe operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos with N1 million cash have been arrested.

Sylvester, from Ichi in Anambra state, who claims to be a director of Ogboso Giant Plc and CEO of Albtecnoplus Nigeria Ltd, at No. 7, Kolawole Odunsi, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

Emeka from Aboh Mbaise Imo State, claims to trade in women’s wears and shoes.

Samuel is a Youth Corps member serving with the Real Profile Group located at No. 24 Ologun Agbaje Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

They allegedlly attempted to influence the release of two suspects in SFU net - Chinedu Ezeona (41) and one Emmanuel Eze (29) for defrauding innocent Nigerians to travel to the United States (US).

The Police Public Relations Officer of SFU, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Ngozi Isintume said: "Upon a petition dated April 27, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, SFU Tunde Ogunsakin, the petitioner alleged that she was introduced to the suspect by her mother who met him at an ATM stand in Enugu.

“She further stated that the sus-

By Ebele Boniface

pect claimed to be a staff of United States Embassy in Nigeria and offered to assist her in procuring an American visa and that she later sold the idea to her husband and both contributed and gave the suspect the sum of 15,615 dollars and, that it was when the suspect demanded for an additional money that it dawned on them that they were fraudsters.”

Isintume said during investigation it was discovered that Ezeona operates with the name David Obiora Aniekwe and hails from Umunze in Anambra State with no known address. He claimed to be a student of Nigerian Open University and admitted collecting the money but said he handed the money to one Fatai who is still at large.

The principal suspect, the PPRO said, engaged the services of Eze, who hails from Abakpa Nike, Enugu State, to collect the said sum from the complainant, adding that most of the payments were done through Emmanuel's account.

She described Ezeona, who also claims to be a Senior System Analyst Visa Section Embassy as a tout going around various embassies to eke out a living, the PPRO said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Ezeona, in his defence, said the

• The exhibit

complainant had been his lover and had introduced her daughter Tessy to him. He said one Fatai, who had been helping her and her husband to travel abroad would assist him if he accepted her love proposal.

LAGOS EMERGENCY LINES STATE AGENCIES 1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-33235890; 080-23321770; 080-56374036.

080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 2. Federal Road Safety Corps 01-4703325; 01-7743026 080-75005411; 080-60152462 (FRSC) 5.

Rapid Response Squad (RRS) 080-23111742; 080-29728371 Lagos Zonal Command Phone Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 080-23909364; 080-77551000 No:080-33706639; 01-7742771 070-35068242 01-7904983 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-79279349; 080-63299264 080-34346168; 01-2881304

070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com •

6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

But when she discovered that I have a serious relationshipwith someone else; she grew annoyed and wanted to retrieve all she gave me by reporting me to police,” he said.

The second suspect Emmanuel Eze admitted collecting money from Tessy but said he handed the money to Fatai who is still at large.

The third suspect Ofodeme said it was Emeka that gave him the N1million, but denied using it to bribe the police.

The forth suspect Emeka said it was Emma's wife that gave him N1million to give Emma but he contributed N70,000 while others equally contributed before they raised the N1million.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

CITYBEATS

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

•Okada riders

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Cyclists demand release of 8,000 seized okada

ASKING in the euphoria of their court victory, commercial motorcycle operators in Lagos State have demanded the release of about 8,000 machines allegedly seized by the government.

Last Friday, a Federal High Court declared illegal the banning of okada in the state, saying there is no law backing the action.

The cyclists alleged that most of the motorcycles were seized for op-

WO fake estate agents, Adekunle Adeleye and Kola Famoroti, have been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment each for fraud and obtaining N25 million under false pretence from Senator James Kolawole, as part payment for a property on Victoria Island.

Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High Court was delivering judgement in a two-count charge of fraud and obtaining money by false pretence brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

He ordered the refund of the money they had fraudulently obtained from Senator Kolawole on completion of their jail terms.

Senator Kolawole claimed he had

T

By Adebisi Onanuga

erating on the highways.

At a press conference in the chamber of their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, yesterday, to review the judgment delivered by Justice Stephen Adah, the riders claimed that the motorcycles were illegally seized.

Pastor Ugo Paul of the Motorcy-

cle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN) said the judgment exposed the illegality of the government’s action which acted under a non-existing law to seize their motorcycles.

He said:”There was no law in place which empowered the state to seize our motorcycles for operating on the highway as at the time they were seized.”

The riders approached a Federal High Court for the determination

of the action of the government’s action on the seizure of their machines and their ban from the highways.

Aturu said the implication of the judgment was that the police, other security agencies and the government have no power to seize any okada for operating on the highways in Lagos.

“It is now clear from the court judgment that it is illegal and unlawful to restrict or prohibit the operations of commercial motorcycles on the highways in Lagos.

“In order words, they can move anywhere without anybody restricting them. If they like they can even ride to the Office of the Governor in Alausa,” he said.

Aturu said the government’s claim that hoodlums use okada to rob was spurious and not tenable, adding that people use cars to rob too. He noted that all the bombings by Boko Haram were done with cars.

“Would you now ban cars from the highways because you want to prevent robberies?” he asked.

Aturu said statistics showed that more cars are involved in road accidents contrary to the government’s claim.

Government, he said, clamped down on okada because they are poor. But with this judgment, he said, it has been proved that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

Aturu described the judgment as a landmark, praising the courage of Judge for enforcing the rights of the riders as enshrined in the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights.

Two fake estate agents jailed 24 years

By Adebisi Onanuga

paid the first instalment of N25 million out of a total N55 million demanded for the property, before suspecting that the accused were not the genuine owners of the property.

Oyewole said: “The defendants are guilty of Count One, of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence and Count Two of obtainning money by false pretence. Each of them is therefore sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for count one and 12 years for count two.

The judge also found Adeleye

guilty of impersonation and sentenced him to two years for each of the two counts.

The sentences, according to Justice Oyewole, would run concurrently.

The court, however, discharged the accused of the charges of forgery and altering of the Certificate of Occupancy for the property brought against them because the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, arraigned Adeleye and Famoroti on July 6, 2007 following a petition from Senator Kolawole.

The convicts were said to have impersonated one Chief Tamiyu Sheriki, a legal practitioner and the person said to have been the genuine owner of the house.

Adeleye, who was never granted bail by the court had remained in prison since his arraignment.

His sentence, the judge ordered, would start counting from the date of his arraignment on July 6, 2007.

On the other hand, Famoroti was granted bail on August 10, 2009.

Justice Oyewole ordered that the period he had spent in prison before he was granted bail should be deducted from his years of sentence.

Lagos equips Neighbourhood Watchers

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AGOS STATE is set to equip its Neighbourhood Watch with communication gadgets to strengthen community policing.

A special allowance is also being planned for those manning the sensitive base stations, Governor Babatunde Fashola said yesterday.

He spoke at the opening of a week-long training for the watchers at the NYSC Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb. He was represented by Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, whose ministry organised the training.

The governor said more repeater/base stations would also be provided, and generating set to power them to guarantee 24-hour communication with other security agencies.

Fashola added that the law establishing the Neighbourhood Watch will soon be amended.

He said: “In order to strengthen the Neighbourhood Watch and make them more proactive in their job of community policing, the Ministry of Rural Development is already working assiduously with the House of Assembly to amend the law establishing Neighbourhood Watch in the state.

“Henceforth, only young, agile and able-bodied men who are able to read and write will be engaged

•From left: Commissioner for Rural Development, Ojelabi; Special Adviser to the governor on Rural Matters, PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI Babatunde Humpe inspecting the Neighbourhood Watchers parade...on Tuesday

By Nneka Nwaneri

as active watchers.

“The Ministry is also partnering with local government chairmen on the issue of your allowances, and very soon, an acceptable consensus will be reached as to a standard allowance for watchers throughout the state and promptly too.”

The commissioner praised the governor for his commitment to Neighbourhood Watch, and allow-

ing the training to be funded by the State Security Trust Fund.

Ojelabi said about 400 walkie-talkies would be given to “those found suitable” at the end of the training to facilitate effective all-round communication with other security agencies.

He added that the trainees will also receive basic security tools such as batons and handcuff to enhance their performance.

“It should be noted that these items that would be provided are

not for decoration but should be part of you in your day-to-day activities. On no condition should you be without your walkie-talkie or in uniform without your baton and handcuff.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to warn that it will not be business as usual anymore. Henceforth, watchers that are found wanting in the performance of their duty or not medically fit will be thrown out,” the commissioner said.

9

Monarch tasks communities on peace

By Ozolua Uhakheme

COMMUNITY leaders and youth of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have been urged to eschew violence.

Oba Sejiro James, Aholu Henwa of Kweme Kingdom, gave the advice when some community leaders and chiefs visited him as part of activities marking his fifth coronation anniversary.

He said: “I want our various communities and, especially the youth to shun violence and embrace peace so that there can be peaceful co-existence in the Kingdom,” he said.

Among the visiting communities were Farasime, Game and Asheri.

The king urged his subjects to live together in peace.

He told them to embrace peace since no meaningful development can take place under an atmosphere of confusion.

The monarch, who praised the development strides of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, especially along the Badagry axis, which he said has not happened for a long time.

Though he pleaded for more attention to be given to more areas and communities within the area, the monarch said the government must be commended for the transformation going on in Badagry.

He urged his subjects to support the government so that there will be development in the area.

Other activities lined up for the coronation anniversary are Novelty Match and Homage Paying by the people of the Kingdom to the King’s palace.

Court remands woman

By Precious Igbonwelundu

THE Police yesterday arraigned a woman, Mrs. Odinakachukwu Ekwunife, 23, at a Yaba Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly obtaining money and goods worth N1.7million under false pretence.

Ekwunife who is standing trial on a five-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Mrs Ekwunife with her husband, now at large, were alleged to have in August last year, at 1st Avenue, Festac Town, conspired to defraud one Emmanuel Edochie.

The charge said the accused fraudulently obtained one Kia Sportage Sport Utility Van (SUV), valued at N797, 500, from Edochie.

The charge said the accused also obtained N1.7 million from Edochie with the pretence to supply him cars from Europe.

The offences were said to have contravened Sections 409, 312 (1), (b) and 285 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Magistrate Mrs. M.O. Tanimola granted the accused N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

The magistrate, who adjourned the case to May 25, said one of the sureties must be the accused’s relation, adding that they must be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payment.

10

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NEWS Court chief decries divorce in Ogun community THE President of Ijebu-Ode Customary Court Grade ‘A‘, Mr Olatunde Kanimodo, has expressed concerns over high rate of divorce in the town.

Kanimodo spoke yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

He identified illiteracy, the lack of fear of God and immaturity as the major causes of the frequent divorce by couples.

The court president called on both the government and parents to do something urgently to correct the situation.

Kanimodo said: “The way and manner couples seek divorce is going at a very high rate and the moral decadence of this act is giving us serious concern.

“This is because a broken home usually resulted in untrained children, who will later become threats to the community and the society at large.

“I think government needs to seek elders` opinion and come out with a policy to reduce the threat.”

The court president said the court always tried to reunite the couples rather than dissolve their marriage.

He, however, urged the youths and couples to be patient with each other and seek advice from elders on matters that threaten their marriage rather than seek dissolution.

Fayemi urges pupils to be committed to their studies From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday wrote a letter to pupils in the state. He urged them to be focused, diligent and disciplined in their studies.

In the letter he addressed to pupils of primary and secondary schools, the governor advised them “to discover the values inherent in them, which will make them perform beyond expectations”.

Describing the pupils as the treasure and the future of Ekiti State, Fayemi urged them to be “doubly committed to the unity and progress of Ekiti and remain honourable in their conducts”.

He said: “You may travel far and wide, but you must remain committed to the unity and progress of Ekiti.

“Above all, you must remain honourable because you come from a land blessed with human and natural resources. You are from Ekiti State, the Land of Honour.”

The governor advised the pupils to be industrious, courageous and passionate about the state of their birth by putting in their best for the development of the state.

Fayemi promised to support them to make them succeed in their endeavour.

Aregbesola loves Christians, others, says Southwest CAN

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HE Southwest chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a true lover of Christians and followers of other religions.

Leaders of the association spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, at a meeting with the governor.

Led by Archbishop Magnus Atilade, the Southwest CAN urged Aregbesola to canvass for a conference where the residents would sincerely discuss religion and custom.

Rev. Atilade noted that such

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

a conference would ensure that things that unite the country, rather than those that allow it to be exploited by enemies, are emphasised.

He said: “The governor is for all of us, irrespective of our religious or political differences. We can confirm that he has the good spirit of a brother’s keeper and a person committed to the peaceful coexistence of members of different religions.

“Aregbesola is a peace-loving governor, who loves

Christians. I can say that he is not pretending about his religious tolerance and he is a true friend of Christians.”

Aregbesola said genuine and responsible Yoruba would not have problems with other people’s faith.

He noted that there are 401 gods in the Yoruba traditional settings, where a child is not compelled to serve the god his parents are serving.

The governor said only charlatans, who don’t know their present, let alone the future, would manipulate the people by creating division

for selfish gain.

According to him, there are 23 Christians in the 33-member State Executive Council (Exco).

Aregbesola said it is an indication that the allegation that he was attempting to Islamise the state was the imagination of weak minds.

He said: “Genuine and responsible Yorubas have no problem with faith. It was never an issue in Yoruba land.

There are 401 gods in our traditional setting. There is nothing compelling a Yoruba to have the same god with his

father. We have to say ‘no’ to mischievous people who want to create divisions within us.

“If the two predominant religions are of the belief that there is a Messiah and that the Messiah is coming back for the deliverance of believers, there is no basis for disunity and acrimony.”

The delegation presented an award of the Order of Friendship on the governor, in recognition of his outstanding performance in promoting universal brotherhood of man.

•Aregbesola (second right); Rev Atilade (third right); Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (third left); Osun State CAN Chairman, Superior Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye (left), Chief of Staff for Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega, Oyetola (right) with others at CAN Southwest’s presentation of the award of the Order of Friendship to Aregbesola at the Government House, Osogbo...yesterday.

Ondo ACN aspirants parley with police chief on insecurity BP to partner

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OVERNORSHIP aspirants on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State yesterday met with Police Commissioner Edgar Nanakumo on the spate of attacks of their members by suspected thugs of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

They expressed worry over the growing tension the attacks are causing.

At the meeting were Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Chief Jayeola Ajatta, Olayato Aribo and Comrade Sola Iji. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Iji said: “Because of the security challenge in the state, caused by the attacks on ACN members and aspirants, there is need for us to address the issue collectively.

“We, the aspirants - after receiving reports on indiscriminate arrests of our members on trumped-up charges of armed robbery and possession of fire arms, among others - resolved to meet

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the police commissioner.”

The politician said the meeting was aimed at addressing the ruling party’s surreptitious use of the police to intimidate and cow ACN members because of their legitimate resolve to wrest power from the LP. Iji said: “The incessant violence being perpetrated against our members is not proper. We should not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet; hence our resolve to bring the case to the doorsteps of the police commissioner.”

The former ACN chairman said some of the party’s supporters are being detained at the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

According to him, the aspirants met with the head of SARS, Tunji Disu, who said his office could not be used to muzzle the opposition.

Iji said Disu directed them to the po-

lice chief to whom they expressed the party’s anxiety on the safety of its members.

Nanakumo said he would not be armtwisted by anybody.

He said the police command would remain neutral in the politics of the state, adding that it would not take any unjust action against anyone.

According to him, nobody will be unduly detained because of mere petitions.

The police chief added that if criminal allegations are brought against anybody, they would be properly investigated.

Nanakumo said except in cases of murder, anybody arrested on non-criminal matters would be allowed bail.

He dispelled the rumours that the command was planning to detain ACN stalwarts indiscriminately.

The police chief urged ACN and other parties to cooperate with the police to ensure peace before, during and after the October 20 election.

Senator urges Jonathan to dialogue with security chiefs on Boko Haram

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HE senator representing Ondo North District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, has decried the spate of insecurity in the country.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to invite security chiefs to deliberate on how to tackle the problem before it becomes intractable.

Boroffice, who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said the development has become frightening.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said there are

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

sectarian, political and economic variables which must be considered in tackling the security challenges.

The governorship spoke with The Nation in Akure, the state capital.

He said the attacks by the Boko Haram sect are targeted at Christians.

Boroffice said: “Many Christians and churches have become victims of Boko Haram insurgency. The Federal Government should do something urgently to prevent further violence. The de-

velopment has turned into endemic proportion. We are only praying for God’s intervention.”

On political violence in Ondo State, the senator warned those he said believe in violence and thuggery to perpetuate themselves in power.

He said: “ACN will not encourage violence. But Labour Party (LP) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko should be advised to stop the wave of violence and disruption of ACN meetings.”

The lawmaker hailed the interactive parley of ACN governorship aspirants in

the state, which held on Monday with the party’s elders at the home of a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Wumi Adegbonmire (aka Omo Ekun).

He said it was organised for the aspirants to “drink from the fountain of wisdom” of party’s elders.

Boroffice said: “We discussed the need for unity and commitment of all aspirants, unlike what happened in 2007, when nine of our governorship aspirants defected to other parties after the primaries. We assured our leaders that all of us will support the party’s standard bearer after his emergence.”

Ekiti on bio-fuel, power

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HE Ekiti State Government and British Petroleum (BP) will partner to develop bio fuel as well as crude and refined oil products.

This followed a meeting between Governor Kayode Fayemi and BP Managing Director, Nigeria and West African Sub-Region, Mr. Olakunle Gidado, in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

Other areas of their collaboration, according to the governor, include the power sector.

Dr Fayemi said Fountain Holdings, which is the business concern of the state government, is partnering BP in the production of crude and refined products.

He said the state is particularly interested in ethanol (bio fuel) because of the global bio fuel initiative and the power initiative of the company. He added that the state is also willing to partner with other notable companies and institutions in the area of agriculture, in the bid to industrialise the state.

Gidado, an Ekiti indigene, hailed the government for making relevant laws to safeguard investment and investors.

He said the British firm would also do business with the state in the areas of bio fuel and power initiatives.

Fayemi thanked Gidado for the visit. The governor described him as one of the young men and women doing the state proud in their endeavours.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira falls to six-week low

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HE Naira fell to its weakest in six weeks against the United States dollar on the interbank market yesterday, on strong buying of dollars by some banks to fill their customers’needs and foreign investors selling down Tbills, traders said.

The local currency, according to Reuters news, weakened to N157.85 to the dollar, its lowest since March 28, from N157.55 to the dollar on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of demand in the market from some banks filling their customers’ requirements and with no significant dollar flow from oil companies,” one dealer said.

Traders said some offshore investors were selling a good chunk of their Treasury bill holdings.

The naira has seen strong support from offshore investors, investing in Africa’s second biggest economy’s local debt because of attractive yields, helping to support dollar supply to meet domestic demand.

“Some foreign investors are gradually exiting the treasury bills market and this has exerted pressure on the local currency,” another dealer said.

Dealers said the naira could cross the N158 to a dollar mark this week if there is no significant dollar flow to the market from oil companies.

On the official window, the Central Bank sold $150 million at 155.75 to the dollar, compared with $120 million at 155.75 to the dollar on Monday.

There were different kinds of financial imprudence that were perpetrated at the NSE. These transactions were routed through companies owned by some senior officers of the exchange.

- Mrs Arunma Oteh, Director-General, SEC

Senate to Aviation Minister: recover N2.37b from Lufthansa Airline

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HE Senate yesterday directed the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, to take steps to recover $14.8 million (about N2.37billion) owed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by Lufthansa Airline without delay.

The amount is the indebtedness of Lufthansa to NCAA for the airline’s failure to carry out its own side of the commercial agreement it entered into in 2008.

Senate Committee on Aviation issued the directive after a meeting with NCAA officials, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Matters, Captain Shehu Iyal; Acting Director, Air Transport Management in the Ministry of Aviation, Mr Musa Hassan and Lufthansa officials in Abuja.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma warned that if it meant stop-

From Onyedi Ojaibor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ping foreign airlines who abuse Nigerian laws it should be done.

He wondered why the Ministry of Aviation based its dealings with Lufthansa on alleged verbal directive by a former Aviation Minister.

Uzodinma also expressed surprise that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) upon which Lufthansa based its decision not to honour NCAA invoices was not signed.

The controversial MoU stated that Lufthansa should pay NCAA in kind including employing Nigerians, training Nigerians as cabin crews, building aircraft hangar, making Nigeria a hub and training Nigerians in catering services.

He said: “Now that a verbal

directive worked for you, can I direct you now to write Lufthansa to pay all the money it owed NCAA? Because there is nothing binding either in the MoU or the Commercial Agreement that would stop Lufthansa from paying royalty.

“People are quick at comparing us with all these mushroom countries. We have this huge market here that must be protected.

“When they go and have something convenient for them in Ghana and Togo that is not up to two local governments in Nigeria.

“They use it as a model to implement policies in Nigeria and we lose money and we look stupid before the international community.

“I think as a matter of fact you must join hands and protect the market which is our own treasure.”

Insisting that the Ministry

should liaise with the NCAA to recover the debt from Lufthansa, he warned: “If it means grounding all the aircraft to ensure that our laws are obeyed, we will do it.”

NCAA General Manager, Air Transport, Mr Peter Alawani, told the committee that letters to Lufthansa to pay the debt fell on deaf ears.

Alawani said Lufthansa finally wrote NCAA that the airline was not obliged to pay any money to NCAA because of its existing MoU with the Ministry of Aviation.

But Uzodinma said members of the committee were agreed that Lufthansa have not lived up to the spirit and letters of the MoU. “So you must get them to pay money that are due to us to NCAA to the tune as at 2009 to November 2011,” he added.

“We have an outstanding $14,833,000.00 and the invoices are here issued by NCAA.

RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

T

HE Federal Nigeria plans to sell N70 billion ($444.59 million) worth of sovereign bonds ranging between five and 10 years at its regular auction on May 16, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday.

The debt office, according to Bloomberg news, said it would sell N35 billion each in the five-year and 10-year paper with term-to-maturity of four years and 11 months and nine years and eight months.

Both bonds are due to mature in 2017 and 2022 and are re-openings of previous issues.

“The DMO reserves the right to alter the amount allotted in response to market conditions,” The debt office said in a statement sent to Reuters by e-mail.

Nigeria, Africa’s secondbiggest economy after South Africa, issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

AfDB grants $250m to Nigeria, others

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

N

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$123.6/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N6.503 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion

Fed Govt to sell N70b 2017, 2022 bonds

•From left: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi with Managing Director, British Petroleum (BP) Nigeria and West Africa, Mr Olakunle Gidado during a visit by the BP boss to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti … on Tuesday.

Govt, oil majors failed in provision of gas infrastructure , says Ajumogobia

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HE former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, has said the Federal Government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) that operate most of the oil and gas assets as joint ventures should be blamed for lack of gas infrastructure, which militates against consumption of gas in the country.

Ajumogobia disclosed this yesterday while explaining why the Federal Government suspended development of future liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Nigeria and the need for passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the ESQ Oil and Gas summit 2012 held in Lagos.

He said that no major project has taken place in the

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

upstream sector of the oil and gas industry since 2009. He said all the ongoing LNG projects including Brass LNG were kick-started prior to 2009. He said the passage of the PIB into law is fundamental and the non passage constitutes fundamental dysfunctional issue in the industry.

He said he presented the PIB to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and didn’t expect that the passage would drag till today.

He said that government suspended future development of LNG projects because everybody wanted to go into it because it was very profitable without complying with government’s policy of deep-

ening gas consumption incountry.

He said: “LNG is very profitable, one of our cash cows, everybody wants to do LNG. What government said is that we need gas locally; people are burning firewood when we have gas, which we can use to cook and so on.

“So you (IOCs) must contribute a certain amount of your gas to the domestic market and you will not promote any further export project until you do so. That is why the gas term in the PIB is very important because even if we will develop gas, what are the terms under which we will develop them. That is why the implementation of gas master plan is very important point.”

He explained that what is happening in power sector is that the infrastructure to take gas where the power plants are is not there.

He said: “Who will build it?

We have a joint venture where government owns 60 per cent interest and the IOCs 40 percent. So if the IOCs bring their 40 percent, government has to bring its 60 per cent to build the pipeline. If government doesn’t bring its 60 per cent, the pipeline doesn’t get done and the gas cannot be moved. So, when you hear government say it produces more gas than the power plants can take, yes it it is true in the east but the power plants such as Papalanto, Geregu and Omotosho are in the west.

IGERIA has been granted $85 million out of $250 million endorsed in its investment plan under the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) brokered

by AFDB. CTF aims to promote private and public sectors-led renewable energy, energy efficiency projects and masstransit urban transport investments.

AfDB said it expects to channel at least half of the CTF financing and also contributes technical support, including S200 million of its co-financing to two projects specified in the country, including bus-based mass transport systems and financial intermediation for clean energy and energy efficiency.

Also, Ethiopia got $50million in its efforts to increase energy efficiency and diversify its hydro-dependent energy mix through renewable energy.

Director, Energy Studies and Development in the Ethiopian Ministry of Energy, Gosaye Mengistie Abayneh, said the plan would help unlock Ethiopia’s renewable energy potential and share some of the risks.

He said the funds would also be applied to technology transfer in order to reduce the cost of wind energy.

In a related development, Ghana also presented updates on its investment plan under the Forest Investment Plan (FIP), estimated at between $30 to $50 million.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

Banks urged to assist farmers

MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1.

2.

3.

4.

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1.

2.

3.

4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Dana

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

B

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

By Daniel Essiet

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

•From left: Lubes Marketing Manager, Oando Marketing Plc Mr Seun Adeosun, welcoming the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Kayode Opeifa to the Oando Lubricants stand at the Lagos Autofair held recently. With them is Director, BKG Exhibitions, the organisers of the event, Pastor Chris Agunwa.

NNPC confirms ConocoPhillips’ assets divestment in Nigeria

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday confirmed plans by the United States’oil giant, ConocoPhillips, to sell its onshore and offshore oil and gas fields in Nigeria but contrary to Reuters report, the corporation said ConocoPhillips will retain its interest in Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, told our correspondent that ConocoPhillips’ decision to sell its assets in Nigeria was not as a result of internal business issues or adverse operating environment, noting that Nigeria remains the destination of choice for investment.

He said the divestment decision was as a result of global reorganisation of the ConocoPhillips Group adding that sale of the company’s assets cuts across its global operation and not in Nigeria alone.

Ajuonuma said: “I confirm that

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

ConocoPhillips their assets in Nigeria but the sale is not as a result of adverse operating environment or internal business issues. You know Nigeria remains Africa’s oil and gas hub and destination of choice for investors.

“They (ConocoPhillips) are reorganising in line with a new business model approved by their board of directors. They are streamlining their assets not only in Nigeria but across the world where they operate.

“Their interest in the Brass LNG project is not affected. They will retain their interest in the project.

But if they decide to divest it, there are many investors that will gladly jump to it.”

On which companies that have shown interest to acquire the assets, Ajuonuma said the assets will be sold in an open bidding and ConocoPhillips as a commercial and profit-driven enterprise, will offer the assets to the highest bidder. He noted that NNPC, indig-

enous oil firms as well as Chinese and Indian companies are interested. But he noted that if the law allows the right of first refusal to partners in the ConocoPhillips joint venture, all interested firms will toe the path of the law.

The new chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips, Ryan Lance, according to Reuters report yesterday confirmed that the plans to sell its Nigerian assets, but said a deal was not imminent. “We’re testing the market on our Nigerian assets,” Lance told reporters after the company’s annual meeting.

The company reportedly has hired BNP Paribas to help sell the planned assets adding that Nigerian companies that are showing interest to acquire the assets include Conoil and Oando as well as China’s Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) of India and Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC).

ConocoPhillips expects to raise about $2.5 billion and possibly more from sale of the assets.

Jonathan in Addis Ababa for Economic Forum

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan arrived Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday for the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa alongside seven other African Heads of States.

More than 700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, media and the arts from over 70 countries are expected at the forum which kicked off today.

With Africa experiencing strong growth despite the increasingly volatile global economy, African leaders are expected to use the meeting pursue measures that will transform the region.

The meeting entitled: “Shaping Africa’s Transformation” has as agenda, three pillars: Strengthening Africa’s leadership; Accelerat-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

ing investment in frontier markets; and Scaling innovation for shared opportunities The meeting will also afford African leaders an opportunity to bring together pan-African and global leaders to discuss the future of the region.

Other African leaders expected at the forum include Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Djibouti, President Ismail Omar Guelleh; Gabon, President Ali Bongo Ondimba; Gambia, President Yahya Jammeh; Mauritius, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Charles Gaëtan XavierLuc Duval; Namibia, Prime Min-

ister Nahas Gideon Angula, Rwanda, President Paul Kagame; Tanzania, President Jakaya M. Kikwete; and Zimbabwe, Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur G. Mutambara, Benin, President Boni Yayi and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

As part of the event, President Jonathan will today chair an informal session of World Economic Leaders entitled: “How can African countries boost regional trade”, where issues including access to financing, building trade capacity, the role of the private sector, fostering regional integration, developing African supply chains based on value added goods and best practices will be discussed.

ANKS have been urged to interface with farmers to identify products that can attract adequate funding in emergencies.

Speaking with The Nation, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Agriculture,Abeokuta, Dr Kola Adebayo, said the industry needs emergency funding to help sustain the nation's food supply chain.

He said producers need stable and predictable financial support including access to adequate credit, appropriate tax incentives and risk management opportunities.

He said banks need to set up a credit guarantee fund that would aid farmers in the event of crop losses during droughts or natural calamities, adding that since agric business is risky, banks working with insurance companies should provide farmers with reasonable protection against financial and production losses beyond their control.

He stated that availability of competitively priced credit is critical to the success of the agriculture and food industries.

As the leading lenders to the agricultural sector, he said commercial banks should compete aggressively to provide the capital necessary to fuel agric's production, processing and marketing costs.

The banking system, he noted, must have the mission to serve the financial needs of agriculture, by providing capital, expert advice and competitive financial services and products.

Adebayo said emergency loans should be provided to help cover production and physical losses.

OPS seeks collaboration with govt on 2012 budget From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

HE Organised Private and Informal sectors have advised government on the need to get them involved in the implementation of this year’s budget if the 30 per cent devoted to capital development is to be realised.

They also said private sector involvement is necessary especially, as the budget implementation is strategically tailored to tackling infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Sam Ohuabunwa Foundation for Economic Empowerment (SOFEE), in Port Harcourt yesterday, the participants doubted the effectiveness of the 30 per cent capital expenditure allocation in the 2012 budget in bringing about real economic growth and social welfare.

They also noted that its implementation in line with the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda must be technologically based “otherwise it would continue to remain a mere political statement it has been, since one year now.”

The participants described Nigeria’s present paradox of seven per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate and 69 per cent poverty rate as critical economic versus social imbalance, capable of eroding the expected gains from the high GDP position.

In his speech, Sam Ohuabunwa, who convened the forum in conjunction with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) said the event is aimed at galvanising the private sector into creativity, knowledge, business ethics, entrepreneurship and management excellence, pointing out that it is pertinent for the private sector to know “what is in it’ for them in the 2012 budget and the transformation agenda.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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INDUSTRY

Hydro-power plants to assist SMEs coming T

HE Federal Government is to establish hydro-power plants in strategic areas as part of efforts to reduce the operational costs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga has said.

The move, Aganga said, was part of efforts at improving the business operating environment.

The government, he said, would get entrepreneurs to build small hydro-power plants in areas where they could serve SMEs. Aganga said this during a working visit to the Bank of Industry (BoI) in Lagos. He said: “Now that we have embarked on the Industrialisation Revolution Plan, the role of BoI becomes more important. On hydro power plants for SMEs, we want to get this done as soon as possible. If there is no infrastructure, mainly power, the SMEs find it difficult to succeed.

Stories by Toba Agboola

“So, we must make the hydro power plant project successful. We will look at the locations and link them to industrial development centres.

We will find a way of scaling this up, as quickly as possible, so that we can reduce the operational costs of our SMEs,” he said.

According to Aganga, the industries would not only create jobs, but would also generate tax revenue for the government.

He noted that his ministry would focus on areas where the country had comparative and competitive advantage, link research, development and innovation as part of enhancing productivity, while institutionalising industrial skills development.

His words: “We intend to remove the barriers to increased productivity, based on a research of

failed/ailing industries already carried out by my ministry, with assistance from the private sector, and, like I have always said, we will develop backward integration policies in critical sectors of the economy.

“Since the inception of this administration, our thrust has been improving the investment climate and business environment through the Investment Climate Reform Programme. Our aspiration is to significantly improve Nigeria’s ranking in the ease of

doing business and competitiveness, and make Nigeria the preferred investment destination not only in Africa but among the dynamic emerging economies. That was one of the motivations for establishing the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

“Some of the reforms already embarked upon by the government to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria includes reducing the number of days it takes to clear goods at the port from 35 days to five days, operat-

‘We intend to remove the barriers to increased productivity, based on a research of failed/ailing industries already carried out by my ministry, with assistance from the private sector, and, like I have always said, we will develop backward integration policies in critical sectors of the economy’

ing a 24-hour service at the ports, strengthening the one-stop shop at NIPC to deliver a 48-hour service and reducing the number of days it takes to register a company, among others.”

In her response, the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, said the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) had done a survey of the country and identified all the sites where there were hydro potentials for the generation of electricity.

She noted that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and BoI would help potential entrepreneurs in capacity building, adding, that the Federal Government would, however, need the buy-in of the state governments, as well as the communities involved to implement the small hydro power plant projects.

NEPC frets over raw commodities export

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HE Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is unexcited that raw commodities are dominating the country’s non-oil exports. Its grouse is that few of the products have value addition.

At an interactive session with the media in Abuja, NEPC Executive Director David Adelugba said there was the need to step-up the value chain, diversify from commodities and empower the SMEs. Represented by the Director of Trade Information, Mr Aliyu Lawal, he said the country should in future focus on agro-allied industries and improvement of packing, packaging and labelling standards.

He listed a handful of challenges inhibiting optimal performance of the non-oil export sector, which in-

cludes inadequate funding, restricted access to credit facilities, infrastructure deficiency, weak logistics to support supply chain and unrecorded export trade among others.

He said the council has embarked on proactive activities to move the sector forward, which include the export promotion partnership training series in collaboration with the University of Abuja and B & B Consultants to make businessmen export ready.

According to him, the council is also operating a human capital development centre in Lagos under Public Private Partnership(PPP) agreement to build capacity for producing for US market through AGOA agreement.

‘Nigeria spends N24.5t annually on food import’

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EPUTY Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said Nigeria spends N24.5 trillion annually on food importation.

He said this excludes what is spent on animal produce that enters the country illegally.

Speaking at the induction of Fellows of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science in Abuja, Ekweremadu lamented that Nigerian farmers are still faced with enormous challenges such as poor access to improved seeds, fertilizer and difficulty in accessing

loans from banks.

He urged the new inductees to use their position as animal scientists to work towards the mandate of the institute by positioning the meat industry to meet the demands of Nigeria.

President of the institute, Dr. Placid Njoku, said they would ensure best practices and strict adherence to professionalism, improved quality of animal protein and the development of standards and procedures for the animal sub-sector.

Unilever launches seasoning powder

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NILEVER Nigeria has in troduced two addi tions to its Knorr seasoning powder.

Speaking at the launch of the products , the Brand Building Director for the company Mr David Okeme, said: “ With the new Knorr seasoning powders, women now have a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the consistent superior Knorr quality, as well as the best taste from their cooking.

“At Unilever, we continuously improve on our brands because we always want to provide our consumers with products that help them get the best out of life.”

At the unveiling , a programme tagged: Green Walk for Natural Taste was embarked upon to symbolise Unilever and Knorr’s commitment to providing Nigerians with superior

products that bring the best from their cooking without losing natural flavours.

According to the Category Manager, Mrs Nsima OgediAlakwe,“ The ‘Green Walk for Natural Taste’ was embarked upon to symbolise the extra mile that Knorr goes to bring the best taste to every meal, in a unique and fun way.

“The walk symbolises Unilever and Knorr’s commitment to providing Nigerians with superior products that ensure they get the best taste from their cooking without losing natural flavours,” she said.

The new Knorr seasoning powders have been formulated with 16 of the finest natural ingredients to bring out the best taste in every pot, while providing great nutrients for good health.

•From left: Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, Managing Director, Bank of Industry

(BoI), Ms Evelyn Oputu and Assistant General Manager, Operation, BoI, Mr Joseph Babatunde, during the Minister’s visit to the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Fed Govt pledges support for Lekki Free Zone

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HE Federal Government has pledged its support to the Lagos State government, a consortium of Chinese investors and other stakeholders for the take off of the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ).

Speaking at the concluded sixth Lagos State Economic Summit tagged Ehingbeti 2012, Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga said: “The Federal Government will support Lagos State and the Chinese investors to ensure the success of this LFZ project. The Federal Government is delighted at the technology that would be brought into the country through the zone; the jobs that would be made available when the zone commences operation and investments that will come with the free trade zone.’’

He praised the LFZ project, stressing that it was critical to Nigeria’s ecnomic development in terms of job creation, powerly alleviation, foreign exchange earnings, technology transfer and economic integration.

Aganga said the government would soon carry out a comprehensive review and restructuring of the operations of the FTZs across the country in line with the new mandate of the ministry.

He said the proposed review of the operations of the FTZs was aimed at enhancing their capacity to create jobs, generate wealth and contribute significantly towards the nation’s economic growth and development.

Aganga said the review of the operations of the FTZs was borne out of the need to align them with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Lagos State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Sola Oworu said government’s desire to make Lagos a preferred destination in subSaharan Africa for investors and businesses, ranks first among other considerations.

She said the state is seeking further collaboration with the Federal Government on the project, most especially on gas.

Oworu said as part of its transformative agenda and desire to harness the investment and business potential of Lagos, the state government decided to establish the Lekki Free Trade Zone, to provide a variety of opportunities for investors interested in agro-processing, clothing and textiles, food and beverages, forestry, mining, pharmaceuticals, retail, housing and tourism.

She added that the ultimate goal of this project is to create a new model city and a mega industrial, commercial, financial, tourism and recreational hub – a cutting edge centre for international business collaborations.

On roads, Oworu solicited the construction of the proposed coastal highway, which is planned to connect the Lekki-Epe Expressway in addition to seeking a further expansion of the proposed road to link the Lekki

Free Zone to Olokola Free Zone, Onne Oil among others.

The Managing Director, Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Mr Tajudeen Disu, said FTZs provided simplified business environment with clear cut operational guidelines that were free from bureaucratic bottlenecks and unnecessary trade barriers.

He added that they gave room for excellent industrial facilities and security such as serviced plots, pre-built factory buildings, constant and regular electricity and water supply, good telecommunications system and specialised security arrangements.

He stressed the need for harmonisation of the Public-Private Participation initiative for FTZs, adding that more conscious efforts should be made by government to encourage Nigerians to invest in FTZs. In a bid to angender economic growth and development, job opportunity and generation of wealth, the Federal Government is proposing to carry out a comprehensive restructuring of the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in the country.

Located in Lekki axis, the multibillion dollar Lekki Free Zone project covers 553.62 hectares of land or 20.20 per cent for residential use, 575.03 hectares or 21.42 per cent for industrial use while Central Business District covers 226.43 hectares or 7.57 per cent with 150 hectares or five per ent as the start-up area.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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INDUSTRY

NTOA seeks bailout over high diesel cost T HE Fish Trawler Owners Association ( FTOA) is seeking a bailout from the Federal Government.

FTOA National President Mr John Overo, said the bailout became necessary because its members are facing hard times.

This, he said, had to do with the peculiar challenges, which his sector is facing, adding that there have been consultations, meetings and dialogues, all aimed at finding a solution to these problems.

Overo and his members are, however, hoping that the government will do everything in its capacity to sustain the sector.

The body urged the government to sustain the EEG, adding that this will raise the hope of the stakeholders and enable the sector optimise its potential.

He said operators are also bothered about the high cost of diesel.

“Rather than the current practice of making them buy diesel from the open market, members are urging the government to provide the opportunity to get direct allocation of the product at controlled price. This they argue is in line with the practice of supporting fishing operators in developing and developed countries.”

Overo said AGO costs constitutes about 80 per cent of the production costs and that the government is yet to fulfill its promise of direct AGO allocation to the operators which it promised.

“This is the only industry that is dependent mainly on AGO , hence, government should come to its aid.

A lot of companies have tied down

their vessels due to the high cost and can no longer afford sending the vessels on fishing voyages.

“Aside this, there is also the problem of the proliferation of private jetties, scattered within Kirikiri Light Terminal 1 and Kirikiri Light Terminal 2 KLT .

“The direct implication of this is that some NTOA members whose jetties are located at KLT 2, are being coerced by oil companies planning to establish tank farms there to relocate. For firms which are already burdened by the challenges of breaking even, seeking alternative jetties would be like delivering the killer punch.

This is more the case because the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) also came up with a new tariff which is a 100 per cent increase. For the members of NTOA, what is expected is for the government, through the relevant ministries and departments, to explore ways of helping the sector to maximise its potentials.

“It has become obvious, that without direct intervention by the powers that be, the fisheries sector may

‘It has become obvious, that without direct intervention by the powers that be, the fisheries sector may be walking a tight rope indeed’

be walking a tight rope indeed,” Overo said.

Operators decribed the business as lucrative .

According to them, apart from revenue yields from sales of proceeds, it is also a notable employer of labour, with various areas in which fisheries attracts manpower including sailors, processors, welders, and direct labour hands to mention a few.

Ironically, much of the developments in the sector act as disincentives rather than incentives, and this is giving operators serious cause for concern.

The list is many and include the activities of sea pirates, the pricing and supply of automotive Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise known and diesel, the absence of a centralised fishing terminal and the administration of Export Expansion Grant (EEG).

Nigerian industrial shrimps fishing companies are in a kind of competition with companies from Asia for example, which enjoy generous levels of subsidies and export grants and the EEG was introduced to provide support to such Nigerian companies. To that extent, the EEG had been helpful to the course of Nigerian fishing trawling companies.

The NTOA members had been hoping for an upward review in the EEG from its current apex of 30%.

This came on the heels of a visit of a committee of the House of Representatives to some of the companies which were supposed to be visiting from the incentive, and they reportedly discovered that two of the companies which had been benefiting from it had not been active in export of fishery products.

NEXIM examines economic strategies

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ANAGING Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Robert Orya, will discuss the economic diversification strategies of the government at the upcoming Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) 2012 conference.

Orya, who has spearheaded the corporate transformation of NEXIM Bank since 2009, will speak on the topic: The Transformation Agenda: Economic Diversification of Nigeria and

the role of NEXIM Bank.

NEXIM Bank is designated by statute as Nigeria’s export credit agency, and is also the country’s sole trade policy bank.

The bank has focused on its mandate of providing financing, riskbearing facilities, market information and value-added advisory services to businesses towards deepening export-oriented investments in Nigeria’ s non-oil sectors of manufacturing, agro-processing, solid mineral and services.

Pakistan, Nigeria trade hits $80m

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RADE between Pakistan and Nigeria has hit $80million, the Pakistani Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Ali Sirohey has disclosed.

Sirohey expressed worry over the low trade relations between the two countries, saying the situation needs to be corrected urgently.

Sirohey, who expressed the dissatisfaction in Abuja, however, expressed optimisim that within the platform of the D8, both countries would begin to see an increase in bilateral trade.

He said: “The trade volume is about $80million for 2011. Pakistan’s exports to Nigeria are textile fabric, leather garments, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, light machinery while Nigeria’s export to Pakistan are oil

palm, hide and some stones, sesame seeds and LPGs and LNGs. “We are trying because now within the platform of the D8, Nigeria and Pakistan have started increasing the volume of trade. The trade frequency will be increasing in the future because this year, we have two trade delegations that will be visiting Nigeria.”

He said the delegation from Pakistan would collaborate with local investors to develop key sectors of the economy.

He said: “We are very keen to join hands with Nigeria to develop agriculture in the area of irrigation, power distribution, infrastructure, health and education and agro based industry.

Golden Penny Pasta, noodles rewards dealer

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OLDEN Pasta and Noodles Nigeria Ltd has held the 2012 edition of its annual customer forum with the theme: ‘The Food Basket’.

The event, which was held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja, saw customers leave with loads of cash and cars.

The forum, which was convened by the firm brought together, company officials and various distributors across Nigeria.

The distributors, who were in their hundreds, seemed very excited as they expressed joy and enthusiasm at the convergence. The members of the management staff welcomed them as they trooped into the hall with smiles, hugs and

handshakes.

The welcome remarks made by General Manager/Director, Golden Pasta,Yiannis Katsichtis, indicated that the company was willing to further strengthen its partnership with the distributors towards achieving the vision of the company, which is providing Nigeria and the West African hub a complete food basket that meets all the needs of a family from breakfast to dinner including healthy snacks.

In his keynote address, Chief Operating Officer Flour Mills of Nig. Plc (the parent company), Mr Ed Jackson, was full of praises to the customers for their support.

Nigeria , Brazil partner on auto revival

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From left: Managing Director, BD Consult Mr Tola Bademosi, Singhal, Ashiwaju and Checker at the media launch of Power Pasta spaghetti held in Lagos.

Dufil Prima unveils product

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UFIL Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has unveiled a new product, "Power Pasta spaghetti" under the company's subsidiary, Pure Flour Mills Limited.

Power Pasta spaghetti is made from high quality American wheat, which will 'boost the energy' of every consumer that consumes the product.

Speaking with journalists at the product launch, the Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods PLC, Mr Deepak Singhal, said the product was manufactured and introduced by Pure Flour Mills Limited, a subsidiary of Dufil Prima Foods and it was launched for all their loyal valued consumers.

"Power Pasta's carbohydrate

By Damilola Ogunfuye

level is just as normal as other energy giving foods but we produced the product to boost your energy.

"Every brand has its own brand personality and we don't want to associate any brand to Indomie except noodles and this boils down to the reason why Power Pasta is manufactured under our company's subsidiary to give the product its own brand personality in the minds of consumers and in the market shelf," said Singhal.

The General Manager, Pasta Division of Pure Flour Mills Limited, Mr Karan Checker said Power Pasta spaghetti is different from other spaghetti’s be-

cause it is made from high quality American wheat and fortified with distinctive ingredients, which makes the product a good and satisfying meal on consumers' tables.

Describing the product and its brand name, the Brand Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Tope Ashiwaju said the product does not contain any other ingredients or addictive that gives extra strength but the name 'Power Pasta' is just to connote what carbohydrate gives, since the product is an energy-giving product.

His words: "Overtime, we will extend the shores of our factory to Lagos and other parts of the country as production of Power Pasta spaghetti only takes place in Port Harcourt for now.”

O revive the country’ s ailing automobile sector, Nigeria is considering adopting the Brazilian revival strategy, which is knowledge-based.

The Brazilian automobile revival strategy has turned the country to one of the leading automobile producers in the world.

According to a report, the strategy, just as it was done in Brazil, is expected to involve the development of local manpower capacity in modern automobile technology, through the emergence of automotive engineering degree curriculum to fast-track the process of the revival.

Some top Brazilian automotive experts, who were in the country to assist Nigeria to develop the needed automotive engineering degree curriculum, said in Abuja, that a new upto-date curriculum that would produce competent automotive engineers for the country would evolve from the

partnership.

Already, a committee that would handle the curriculum development programme has been inaugurated.

The Director-General ,National Automotive Council (NAC), Aminu Jalal said: “While automotive technology has been progressing in leaps and bounds, such that no modern equipment represents the convergence of technologies like the automobile, our training of people to service, repair, design, manufacture and test vehicles has remained outdated.

“This is particularly so as our training of engineer disciplines still emphasises separate disciplines, without the convergence of mechanical, electrical and ICT in the new field of mechantronics.

“The National Automotive Council (NAC) is making efforts to reverse this trend, starting with the training of automotive mechanics. As a first step, we have undertaken a mechanic’ s skill gap assessement.

NGO calls for better environment

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T has become instructive to propagate the Lagos State government’s modest example beyond the boundaries of Lagos State to other parts of the country for benchmarking, the National Co-ordinator, Center for Peace and Evironmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has said.

Mulade made this statement at the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee for the National Environment Tours and Summit, “Lagos 2012” which will hold in September.

He said the choice of Lagos as venue for the summit is deliberate and central to the NGO’s vision of environmental restoration.

He, therefore, advised the local organising committee to look beyond the box and put the summit on a fast lane of success through the achievement of set objectives.

Other stakeholders present at the occasion were United States Consulate, Mr Allred Kurt, NOSDRA representative, various Lagos State agencies among others.

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THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has continued to revel in a war of attrition against the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). ADESOJI ADENIJI takes a look at the unfolding drama and a raging demand for the implementation of the government White Paper on the immediate past administration.

• Aregbesola

• Oyinlola

Osun: The rising demand for White Paper T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, desperate to recover from the shock of losing power to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has resorted to all forms of blackmail to unsettle the sitting government.

That November 26, 2010 landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State whcih sacked the PDP-led administration to pave the way for Rauf Aregbesola as governor on the platform of the ACN, till date, remains one of the most popular decisions of the judiciary. But it is not so in the PDP camp, where they writhe in pains, refusing to face the reality.

There seems to be no let- up in the war of attrition between the ruling ACN-controlled government and the opposition PDP in the state. After changing its executive council thrice in two years, the PDP, no doubt ,is doing everything possible to upturn the political equation in Osun State.

Moving from the Ademola Rasaq-led executive committee that witnessed the loss of power to the ACN through the Sunday Ojo-Williams-led committee that shared in Rasaq’s leadership series of allegations on corruption and marginalisation of members during the primaries for all available positions ahead of the 2011 general elections, the PDP is not relenting in its battle to return to power in the state.

With the installation of the Gani Olaoluwaled committee amid crisis and protests, largely from those who saw it as ‘a stooge’ of Senator Iyiola Omisore, the party is not better positioned to forge ahead.

Though the results of the April 2011 general elections were very intimidating for the PDP, it was obvious that ACN had performed a feat never recorded in the political history of the 21-year-old state. It cleared all the 26 seats into the House of Assembly, the nine seats in the House of Representatives as well as the three senatorial seats, leaving the PDP to lick the wounds a debilitating defeat for a long time.

After the monumental loss, members of

the PDP, particularly its stalwarts, refused to work for the interests of the party. They were busy jostling for all available appointments zoned to the state. The “mad rush” became so intense that the carry-over of the animosity among members, used to work for a particular aspirant during the party’s governorship primary, came to the fore again.

For instance, theformer governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was expected to be a rallying point for all aggrieved members, reconciling their sharp differences, failed to do so. He and other chieftains were busy outsmarting themselves, initially for ministerial slots, and later board appointments before the zoning of the party’s secretaryship to the Southwest.

Now that members of the PDP are regrouping in Osun State through the efforts of some party chieftains, the strategy is to destabilise the ruling party and put it on the defensive.

From the utterances and actions of its emerging leaders, the party is poised to make the state ‘ungovernable’. The complaint is that the ACN government is intimidating its members and arresting them on trumped-up charges.

The National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the Southwest, Mr. Segun Oni, in a newspaper report, raised the alarm that some PDP leaders and members in the state have been arrested on politically-motivated charges. But the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, asked him to name any member of his party who has been arrested and intimidated.

He said the PDP should even be grateful to Aregbesola who decided not to seek vengeance over the iniquities of the sacked Oyinlola administration. Akere recounted how ACN loyalists and leaders were railroaded into prisons on trumped-up charges by the former PDP government. He said it was out of the magnanimity of Aregbesola that loyalists of the ruling party were prevailed upon not to pursue vengeance..

Apparently, the bone of contention that led to the reaction of the former Ekiti State governor was the fall-out of the White Paper issued by the Osun State government on findings of the contract review panel set up by Aregbesola immediately he mlountedthe saddle more than a year ago.

The panel reportedly came up with comprehensive recommendations on all allegedly abandoned and failed contracts, a situation that might have compelled the state executive council to issue a White Paper on it. However, the government appears to be towing the path of caution before coming out with its decision the White Paper.

But the public is eager to have the White Paper published.

One of the other opposition parties in the state, the National Conscience Party (NCP), led by Waheed Lawal, in a statement, gave the state government a seven-day ultimatum, to start implementing the White Paper, threatening a legal action if the government fails to respond. A human rights group, Justice Now Foundation (JNF), in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Demola Bankole, has charged the governor to publish and take practical action on the White Paper issued on the recommendation of the Contracts Review Panel.

The group maintained that the government could not because of allegations of witch-hunting, abandon the findings of the panel. It vowed not to relent in mounting pressure on the Aregbesola-led administration on the issue, noting that the misappropriated funds belong to the people of the state and would not be allowed to be frittered away by few individuals who were in power.

The state chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Rufus Oyatoro, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the government ‘s handling of the matter. He urged the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice to live up to the dictate of his office by going after those indicted by the panel. The LP chief said his party may drag the govern-

ment to court, if it fails to respond to the peoples’ demand, insisting that the public has a right to know how their funds had been managed by those in the position of authority.

Another issue generating controversy in the state is the multi-million naira Free Trade Zone (FTZ) project, initiated by the Oyinlola Administration. Prompted by the public outcry, House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam has directed the Ministry of Justice to furnish the parliament with the information on the White Paper and make the findings public by embarking on its implementation.

A leading contractor was allegedly arrested by the police on the recommendation of the government for absconding with over N11 million of the N1.2 billion appropriated for a project. It was gathered that the contractor allegedly took advantatge of his close link with the former adminstartion to get the contract, only to pick his mobilisation fee without executing the project.

Relying on the useful information given to the police by the contractor, some people connected with the aborted project have been invited by the police. They include the former Commissioner for Commerce Cooperative and Industry, Mrs. SerikiFarombi. Others, who have been reported to be at large, are on the police wanted list.

Some suspects may soon be quizzed over the controversial project, it was learnt.

To many ACN stalwarts, including Elder Sunday Laoye, the opposition party’s members should be objective in their criticism of the state government, rather than exerting energy on frivolities.

He dismissed as a futile attempts by some PDP members to stage a comeback after losing at the ballot, as affirmed by the Appeal Court.

Laoye urged PDP to eat the humble pie rather than resorting to blackmail and rumour peddling against a government freely elected by the electorate.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

18

POLITICS

‘Ondo cannot afford politics of exclusion in Southwest’ Olayato Aribo is a banker, businessman and one of the aspirants eyeing the Alagbaka Government House, Akure under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He spoke with DAMISI OJO on his preparation for the plum job

• Aribo

H

OW are you preparing for the governorship election in the state?

I have been going round the state canvassing for the mandate of the people especially members of the party to enable me carry the flag of the ACN during October governorship election. I have traversed the 18 local governments and 203 wards in the state, all in my quest to win the party’s primary whose date may likely be sometimes in May. There is however, one unique thing about my campaign tours and visits which has attracted many people even non members of my party to him. Like the biblical preaching by Jesus Christ after which he would feed his numerous congregations with bread, I always end my campaign with distribution of bread to my followers.

As an industrialist who runs some eatery outlets and a confectionery based in Akure,I have been using what I have to get what I wants. At the end of each of my campaigns, each person present, no matter what is sure of getting at least a loaf of bread among other campaign materials being distributed at the venue.

I have been telling the people that not only will I give them bread to eat but that I will equally teach them how to bake bread. I am an apostle of playing politics of unity, devoid of campaign of calumny. Even if eventually I am not picked by the leadership of the party, I will team up with whosoever emerges as the candidate and work for him to ensure the success of the party.

With the number of aspirants within the ACN, dont you foresee crisis in the picking of candidate?

We have resolved within ourslves to respect the decision and direction of the leadership of the party on choice of the flag bearer. During one of my recent outings which took me to Imoru, my home town, I explained that rather than allion ow the emergence of a flag bearer cause disaffection I will work to further boost its image among the people of the state. The large number of aspirants on the ACN platform signifies its acceptability and popularity among the good people of Ondo State.

It will therefore, not manifest into any form of rancour during and after the emergence of our flag bearer because our party is a disciplined political party, which is genuinely committed to the all round development of state.

What really attracted you to ACN?

ACN is a core progressive party, it has good pedigree and originated from dedicated personalities of honest antecedent, it is not a conglomeration of pretenders who are drying up our collective resources, yet, claiming to be ruling with a caring heart. Our government will be significantly different and if it pleases God to have me as the candidate, I will ensure purposeful change that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

What is your impression of unemployed graduates roaming the streets in the state?

Honestly speaking, I am disturbed about the treatment being meted to young school leavers whose parents had toiled day and night to see them through the university education and now being converted to emergency farmers by the Labour Party (LP) administration.

The state has enough funds and resources to generate employment for the teeming unemployed graduates roaming the streets, the present administration’s resolve to engage the jobless graduates in its farm settlements spread across the state has rendered useless their varsity degress and professional certificates.

It is disheartening to see graduates of medicine, pharmacy, accountancy and others fields, being dragged to the farm all in the name of engaging them rather than placing them in their desired areas of specialisation. It is only graduates of agriculture and other allied courses that are relevant on the farm. Others that are sent there against their wish will not make any impact. The state can still afford to employ some of these graduates if the present administration re-orders its priorities.

How will the desired changes be achieved in the state?

I appeal to the people of the state to continue to work for the enthronement of an ACN government in the state come October, in order to make life meaningful for them. The state cannot afford to continue to be a lone ranger in the mainstream of Southwest politics. Ondo state is a very important state in the Southwest to be left in the hands of those that are currently playing politics of exclusion contrary to the programme of their party and this is retarding the development of the Sunshine State. The state has the resources and manpower enough to make it develop and compare with Lagos State. The problem is that the people presently at the helms of affairs have lost focus. Their programme has no direct bearing on the life of the citizenry. They continue to loot the resources of the

state. It is regrettable that youths are being engaged in menial jobs as survival strategy for them while contracts which are meant for indigenes, who are competent local contractors, are awarded to foreigners perceived to be friends of the governor. The talk about the cement factory at Okeluse in Ose Local Government could still not be located despite claims by the present administration that it has taken off and government continues to vote funds for the project in its yearly budgets.

From your objective views, how will the problems be surmounted?

One of the major problems confronting the state at present is how to make it less dependent on monthly allocation from the Federation Account.

Virtually, all the industries and banks established during the regime of the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin are now completely dead.

The state now requires somebody that has the business acumen and experience to wake up these dead establishments since subsequent administrations including the incumbent, had failed in this regard. With my wealth of experience as a banker, who rose to the peak of my career before venturing into my own business in agro-based sector, confectioneries and eatery, all of which are working and have in their payroll, several indigenes of the state that are drawing their daily bread from the conglomerates, I am more than prepared to enter into the Government House come February 2013 to turn things round. I have not only succeeded where others failed, I had gone into the lions’ den and came out unscratched like the Biblical Daniel.

My resolve to site all my business concerns within the state unlike other aspirants that made their fortune in the state and went elsewhere to set up industries has earned me respect and support from several professional bodies in the state. The professional bodies have not only bought into my ambition, they promised to ensure that my aspiration becomes a reality. They are now teaming up with the ACN to ensure that I emerge the party’s flag-bearer during the primary. The date for the primary is yet to be fixed. I am fully prepared for the task ahead and I have left nobody in doubt as to my determination to take the state out of the industrial slumber to the next level of industrial prosperity.

I promise to revive Oluwa Glass, the only factory in the Southwest which has the capacity to turn around several cubic of glass annually. When it was functioning, it was on record that its customers spread up to the Eastern part of the country and they came scrambling for the company’s products.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi ruffled feathers with his statement that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot wash its hands of the Boko Haram menace. Since then he has come under attacks. RAHEEM ABDULSALAM examines the implications of the general’s comment on the polity.

Azazi: PDP and Boko Haram

N

OTHING hurts like truth. And nothing drives this fact home than the reactions generated by National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi’s candid assessment of the prevailing security situation. Speaking at the Second South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, Delta State, last month, the NSA said elements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) helped create the environment that created the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

“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 convention, 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?”

Azazi was quoted as saying Expectedly, the reactions were mixed. Some praised Azazi, others lashed him. In the maze of reactions, there seems to be an attempt to bend logic.

In some cases, the truth is being rejected even by those who should appreciate it the most.

These developments notwithstanding, some have counselled about the need to look critically at the import of the message, even without giving credit to the messenger for his penetrating perceptions.

For instance, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) urges Nigerians to look beyond politics in considering Azazi’s comment.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, AYCF President Alhaji Yerima Shettima said rather than crucifying Azazi, the security agencies should look at the fundamental issues he raised. “Azazi’s office is not political. He owes a duty to Nigeria. The security issue makes the survival of the nation more important than a political party. Nigerians are all aware of comments made during elections by some politicians who felt that because they lost their chances for the presidency, they would make the nation ungovernable. “We cannot continue to run the nation like a banana republic. In

• Azazi

other climes, people who make such inflammatory political comments would be the first to be picked for investigation and questioning,’’ Shettima said.

Rather than castigate Azazi, he said, the security agencies should go back to the drawing board to tackle the root cause of the problem. “Azazi was appointed by a PDP-led government. For him to boldly make such allegations knowing the implications is enough reason for the nation to support him in doing whatever it takes to bring those involved to book,” Shettima said, adding that Azazi’s responsibility is not to wage war but to advise.

Assistant Secretary-General of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to dismiss calls for Azazi’s removal over the issue.

Azazi, he said, should rather be commended for being forthright and sincere in his opinion, adding: “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. All honest Nigerians should appeal to Jonathan to resist any attempt to remove Azazi on account of his courage to speak the truth.”

But former Kaduna State Governor Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Campaign for Democracy (CD), among others, are calling for Azazi’s head. The PDP too is not happy with the NSA. However, former chairman of

Ijaw National Congress (INC), Mr. Denzil Kentebe, said those calling for Azazi’s resignation are pursuing selfish and ethnic agenda.

According to Kentebe, Azazi’s statement confirms President Goodluck Jonathan’s comment that Boko Haram has infiltrated the government.

“What then has the general said that has made the demand for his resignation a common talk? The President himself said early in the year that there are members of Boko Haram in government. Are members of government not also PDP members?”

He said nobody would deny that the sophistication, boldness and level of violent attacks in the country had increased since Jonathan became President. He described Azazi as a professional, noting that the NSA’s job is to advise the President on security issues concerning Nigerians and not to be a partisan PDP member or make pronouncements to satisfy the party.

Was Azazi wrong in saying PDP placed its conventions above the Constitution? To millions of Nigerians, he appears to be clear and unambiguous about the undemocratic practices of PDP and the consequences. Last month, former President Ibrahim Babangida rated PDP undemocratic after its convention which produced national officers. Although the party is only toeing the path it has followed since inception, there are indications that a continuation along that line may be disastrous.

All hope is not lost as some people are still working towards resolving the current security situation. At the Southsouth Economic Summit, the NSA explained the multidimensional challenges involved in tackling Boko Haram. “The situations that created the problems are not just about religion, poverty or the desire to rule Nigeria. I think it is a combination of everything; except you address all those things comprehensively, it would not work. It is not enough for us to have a problem in 2009 and you send soldiers to stop the situation, driving all those involved underground. You must look at what structures you need to put in place to address the problem holistically,” he said.

• Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in a handshake with Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, when the governor visited him in Abuja...yesterday.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Exit Nicolas Behold, old varsities have passed away Sarkozy •That is the import of minister’s claim that new ones would produce quality graduates

M

INISTER of State for Education, Nyesim Wike, has boasted that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the nine new federal universities offer the best education possible in order to enhance national development. He said this when he paid a courtesy visit on the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, while on an inspection tour of the Federal University at Otuoke, just before the commencement of its maiden academic activities.

According to him, “The government of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to providing the necessary facilities for the take-off of the federal universities. We want quality teaching and learning to take place”.

‘What should have been done is to strengthen the old universities and make them more functional and capable of admitting more qualified students than they presently admit. If the Federal Government cannot fund the old universities properly, it has no business establishing new ones.

It is only a matter of time for the new universities to go the way of the old ones unless government changes its attitude towards education generally and university education in particular’

It is well known that the rapid fall of university standards and poor infrastructural development began with government’s interference and poor funding about which the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had complained over the years. The decline of university education began with the military which supervised the affairs of the universities as if academic staff were part of civil service to be handed circulars that were very inimical to the growth of the university system. Research is not well funded and the Federal Government prefers to give consultancies to outsiders rather than university scholars as it is the case in developed countries.

There is also the bad policy of legislating mandatory age of retirement for academic staff, some of whom are mentally alert and productive. In the United States, for instance, scholars remain at their jobs until they are tired of teaching and research. That is why a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who taught Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was still in that university at the age of 90 when Zik went back to be honoured. A professor of Chemistry at 83 won a Nobel Prize when he was still teaching in an American university. Yet there was another professor who continued to perform his academic duties on a life supporting machine. What matters really in all of these is the level of intellectual health of growth and not age.

What about government’s promises to equip the new universities? We have heard this many times before even about the old universities. Of course, the Federal

Government is notorious for lack of integrity when it comes to fulfilling promises. It promised the release of N6billion for selected universities to enable them get virile university presses to enhance academic publication. It is three years now and nothing has come out of that well advertised promise.

Perhaps our government should act before it talks Now, if the newly established universities that have not made their marks in the international arena were to perform better than the already recognised ones, it can only be as a result of retired professors moving to these universities to beef up the quality of their senior academic staff. But this is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. The old universities cry out daily about poor funding while the Federal Government has only, for purely political rather than academic reasons, compounded the matter by creating additional nine universities which, like the old ones, will NEVER be well funded.

What should have been done is to strengthen the old universities and make them more functional and capable of admitting more qualified students than they presently admit. If the Federal Government cannot fund the old universities properly, it has no business establishing new ones. It is only a matter of time for the new universities to go the way of the old ones unless government changes its attitude towards education generally and university education in particular.

Imo formula •Government declaring a four-day holiday in Imo State is simply weird

J

UST recently we wrote on this page, pointing out that a one-day state holiday in Ebonyi State to celebrate election victory was arbitrary and counterproductive. But it seems we may have to apologise to the Ebonyi State government, going by the reports emanating from Imo State, where Governor Rochas Okorocha last week, declared a four-day public holiday from May 1 to May 4.

The reason, we learnt, was to enable civil servants return to their communities and prepare the ground for the governor’s new-fangled fourth-tier community-based government. Since assumption of office on May 29, 2011, Governor Okorocha has been toying with what is obviously a brain wave: to institute a fourth-tier of government at the

‘Again, even if the idea had any merit, we do not think it is best achieved by declaring a four-day holiday in the state. In fact, not even a four-year holiday will help. The governor simply needs to set up a committee to kick off the process and take it from there one step after another. But to shut down the entire state, including schools and agencies of government, for such a flimsy reason as stated is preposterous’

community level to be headed by the traditional ruler, the presidentgeneral and community speaker.

Even if we allow that this might just be the panacea to the mis-governance endemic in our polity today, it is an idea that would require extensive public sensitisation, debate, careful legislative framework and of course, bureaucratic and physical infrastructure. Setting up a fourthtier of government is an institutional matter and must not be carried out in a lackadaisical and cavalier manner Governor Okorocha is going about it.

Again, even if the idea had any merit, we do not think it is best achieved by declaring a four-day holiday in the state. In fact, not even a four-year holiday will help. The governor simply needs to set up a committee to kick off the process and take it from there one step after another. But to shut down the entire state, including schools and agencies of government, for such a flimsy reason as stated is preposterous. It portrays the level of seriousness and in deed, shallowness prevalent in many government houses today.

Governor Okorocha has acted in a manner that shows him as oblivious of the relationship between productivity, growth and development of his state. He has displayed a lack of understanding of basic economics. He surely cannot quantify the costs and consequences of shutting down a state for four days.

But if we must put in a word to what is increasingly becoming an

obtuse administration, we think creating another tier of government is simply begging the question.

What Okorocha is creating is more bureaucracy, more corruption and more underdevelopment. As we can see, even the existing three tiers of government are not working because of poor leadership, corruption and systemic rot. For instance, when was the last time a proper election was conducted in any local government in Nigeria? When was the last time he allowed the local government access to their statutory revenue allocations; or any funding for that matter?

Going by the reports emanating from the ‘Heartland of Nigeria’ in the last one year of his administration, Governor Okorocha seems to be given to exuberance, arbitrariness and ill-digested actions. For instance, he is said to be poised to build a 21-storey fivestar hotel and an Ecumenical Centre in Owerri, three new universities (one in each zone), among other white elephant projects in a state that has not a single factory running.

We appeal to Governor Okorocha to use the opportunity of his first anniversary to reflect deeply on his activities over the last one year. We urge him to eschew arbitrariness.

Government is very serious business; it is an aggregation of institutions and a good governor is one who can make these institutions work optimally for the good of the people.

Governance is never a one-man show.

T

HERE are several reasons Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, will soon be vacating the Élysée Palace. His colorful lifestyle cost him votes on the right, and his pandering to the immigrant bashers cost him votes on the left. But the overwhelming reason for his loss in Sunday’s election was voters’ resentment at the painful, counterproductive austerity policies crafted by Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and warmly endorsed by Mr. Sarkozy as the antidote to Europe’s financial crises.

François Hollande, the unpreposessing Socialist candidate who won a narrow victory, instead called for channeling the government’s spending and taxing powers toward recovery and economic growth.

The French were not alone in rejecting politicians who favor sharp reductions in government spending as the one-size-fits-all answer to the region’s problems. In Greece’s parliamentary elections Sunday, voters resoundingly defeated candidates from the two major political parties that earlier this year had agreed to a rescue package — dictated largely

by Germany — that required harsh, growthkilling spending cuts in exchange for $171 billion in emergency loans.

And there was a dark side to the election that cannot be ignored. For the first time, the farright group Golden Dawn, whose xenophobic members perform Nazi salutes, won enough votes to enter Parliament with 21 seats.

There is still no sign that Ms. Merkel is ready to acknowledge that relentless austerity is not working. On Monday, she welcomed Mr. Hollande’s election, saying that “growth” is necessary to “progress,” but she insisted that the austerity pact she designed with Mr. Sarkozy’s help was “not negotiable.”

Mr. Hollande has already made clear that he intends to restructure France’s economic policies, attacking the country’s deficit by raising taxes on the rich and big corporations while using government programs to stimulate growth and create more jobs. In his victory address, he also vowed to seek a new pact and a “new direction” for Europe. He obviously grasps a central truth that seems to have eluded German politicians: that while Greece and others must reform their labor markets and wrestle their budgets under control, they cannot repay their debts unless they are also allowed to grow.

The United States economy is doing better than most of Europe. But the austerity debate continues here, too. So is there a warning for House Republicans who have endorsed Representative Paul Ryan’s draconian budget?

And for Mitt Romney, their party’s presumptive presidential nominee? Controlling deficits is important, but too much austerity too soon will stall a recovery, or worse, and wreak havoc on lives. Europe’s grim growth numbers prove that. And voters in Europe have figured it out.

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: The Guardian of March 16, featured a report that informed that “ Nigeria Spends 1.3tr yearly on Food Imports” but that report was more about rice. According to the Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture, N356 billion is spent on the importation of rice yearly.

Citing the minister,the report also stated that “government was poised to revive the agricultural sector with the transformation of rice production”.

Of recent you find that the Nigerian ministers of agriculture are infact ministers of rice. But if

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Minister of rice, or agriculture?

I may ask; do we expect Nigerians to be eating rice every day of the year? Is this what constitutes a balanced diet?

Once we percieve there is food scarcity in Nigeria we immediately rush to import rice. Nigerian have been reduced to refu-

gees in their own country if it is indeed true that it is usually refugees eating the same kind of food everyday.

In fairness to the minister, he did outline plans for cassava flour. But can we really say that just eating rice and cassava flour

On her part, Tolu, in addition to thanking God, thanked her teachers and her parents who guided and supported her throughout her basic school education. The Catholic Rev. Sister who is the Principal of Tolu’s secondary school was also interviewed. She said Tolu was always brilliant, and that she was the Head Girl in her final year in the school. A former mission school run by some Catholic Rev. Sisters seems to me an extraordinary pub-

lic school, ordinarily speaking.

Anyway, the Creator of Tolu who designed her destiny has the highest glory in the matter. That is not to deny credits to the girl and her parents, but deceptive politicians have no hands in it and Ondo State people should beware of the tactics of Dr. Mimiko who is desperate as election is drawing near to claim the credit.

Like Dr Goodluck Jonathan did on his way to becoming President,

products constitute a balanced diet?

I think the Minister of Agriculture should be working in conjuction with the Minister of Health and for reasons of cognitive development, the Minister of Education, to decide on what

Falokun and Ondo’s public schools

S

IR: Miss Tolulope Falokun achieved a feat when she scored A1 in all her nine West African School Certificate Examinations. I join well-wishers in congratulating her and her family.

Thanks also to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, which offered her automatic admission to study Law, which she has started.

The controversial aspect of Falokun’s feat is whether what was responsible for her 100 percent successes was the standard of public schools in Ondo State compared with other states in Nigeria, as Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his supporters seem to be claiming.

The actual situation however revealed itself on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in the 9pm news of May 6. The girl and her parents were interviewed.

None of them made reference to the quality of public schools in Ondo State. Both parents thanked God who gave them the grace to employ private teachers for Tolu right from her infancy up to her secondary school levels, and always ensuring that she was preoccupied with studying.

Mimiko is already orchestrating different support groups – youths, market women, drivers’ unions, etc. Nigerians cannot continue to succumb to election-time deceptions and expect a fundamental change. Hence I got to the root of Falokun’s academic success, lest Mimiko use it as an indication that he has better public schools than other states in Nigeria.

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

and what not to produce.

Unlike in a place like the United Kingdom, there is no incentive for government to take adequate health care of the people because it is the the lot of the Nigerian people who pay their medical bills.

In the UK, the governmen is forever preaching the benefits of a balanced diet including vegetables , fruits, nuts and regular exercise as a way of reducing the pressure on the National Health service (NHS).

On the same day of the The Guardian report, there was a report in The Telegraph of UK stating that Harvard Publich Health School scientists have found a link between regular consumption of white rice and Type 2 diabetes. The study however just looked at Asia and western countries, there was no data on Africa. Are we ready to conduct our own study on diabetes and white rice in Nigeria? Or as usual we are leaving this to the “white man” Lastly, Nigeria launched a Food and Nutrition Policy in 2002. I hope this has not been abandoned in the filing cabinets.

• Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth, London,England

Government should support Rashidi Yekini’s family

S

IR: There is no amount of eulogy that is given to a dead person that has any meaning to the dead. He who eulogizes the dead eulogizes himself and not the dead.

It is in this context that I see the accolades, eulogies, tributes being paid the fallen Nigerian Soccer legend, Rashidi Yekini. Yekini has joined the rank of Nigerian unsung heroes, who after their death became instant heroes. If not, the news about the ailment of Rashidi

Yekini was carried by the Nigerian newspapers about two years ago.

The question is what did the eulogizers do to save his life at that time? The calibre of those who paid tributes to Yekini in death showed that his exploits as a footballer was highly appreciated by the Nigerians; but why wait until his death to eulogize him?

My conclusion is that every event in Nigeria is politicized and everybody wants his voice to be heard. If Nigeria as a nation is to

excel, Nigerian leaders should form the habit of giving honour to whom honour is due in their lifetime. That would encourage others to give in their best for the nation.

A situation where sycophants, bootlickers, fraudsters and looters are awarded national honours at the expense of those with integrity, competence and patriotism would only accentuate Nigeria’s backwardness in all ramifications. It is glaring Yekini

died in penury due to his protracted illness. He left dependants behind among which are his aged mother, wives and children. Fund should be raised to sustain his dependants.

Governor Aregbesola has blazed the trail in this wise, others should follow suit.

This is the only way to show that Nigerians really appreciate Yekinni’s contributions to nation’s sports development.

• Adewuyi Adegbite Apake, Ogbomoso.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Nigeria: a secular or multi religious state - 1

S

OME aspects of the history of the Western world involved the struggle between advocates of a secular state and those in favour of a religious state. The church played dominant role in the affairs of the state, for centuries in western and eastern Europe. In Western Europe in particular, the church was so dominant that it could excommunicate a ruler and that would be the end of such a ruler’s legitimacy.

At a time, the empire ruled over by the Habsburg was called the Holy Roman Empire, signifying Papal approval of the rulers and also indicating the primacy of the Pope. But following the movement usually known as the reformation, the unity of the church was shattered and Protestant churches emerged, particularly in Germany, in Britain and in the Netherlands while the rest of Western Europe remained solidly Catholic.

The religious wars that followed finally ended in 1648 when the Treaty of Westphalia was signed. But even then, national churches were called the established churches. In Germany, the Lutheran, in England the Church of England and of course in the Latin countries of Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, the Catholic Church remained the established churches. The meaning of this is that no Catholic could aspire to the highest position of government in Britain and Germany and, no Protestant could aspire to lead countries where the Catholic traditions predominated. The churches were large landowners, some of the most important universities up to the 19th century were based on religious qualifications and this means nonCatholics could not be admitted into some universities particularly in Great Britain.

‘The hallmark of a people’s civilisation is religious and political tolerance. Religion should be a personal affair and not a state affair because after all individuals would answer to their makers for what they have done on this side of heaven’ N the past few months, Edo State has been in the news mostly for the wrong reasons. Hoodlums have laid siege to the state, killing and maiming, at will. All you need to come under attack is to be pointed out to them as an 'enemy' of those who believe that they own the state.

These are the people who have vowed to make the state ungovernable for Adams Oshiomhole except he kowtows to them.

What is the governor's offence?

Oshiomhole got on their wrong side because of his decision to be his own man and not be answerable to any godfather in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the people.

Since he assumed office in November 2010, Oshiomhole has systematically brought down to earth those who hitherto believed that they are bigger than the state. These people were the kingmakers who determined who got what in the past.

Between 1999 and 2010, they ran circles round the state before it was delivered from their hands by the Court of Appeal whose verdict brought in Oshiomhole as governor three years ago. Despite the judgment, they did not believe that the party was over. They thought they could put Oshiomhole on their fingertips as they did to Lucky Igbinedion and Oserhiemen Osunbor before him.

They did try but Oshiomhole proved smarter than them.

Shortly after Oshiomhole was sworn in, he was invited to a meeting in Abuja, where their leader made known to him the terms on which he could govern the state 'peacefully'. A certain percentage of the budget, he was told, must go to this leader for peace to reign in Edo. After the sharing of the budget, on paper, what was left amounted to nothing. Meaning that with such a budget, there was no way the governor could deliver on his electoral promises to the people, who voted him into power.

Oshiomhole couldn't believe his ears. He left that meeting a sad man.

I

The disestablishment of national churches and removal of religious qualification to political positions and admissions to universities were part of the struggle for liberalism in Europe throughout the 19th century along with the struggle for women enfranchisement and general political liberalisation.

The idea of a secular state took a long time to mature. Even in the United States, in the 1960s, it was a Herculean task for J. F. Kennedy to convince fellow Americans that a Catholic could be President. In a completely secular state, it should not have mattered whether someone was a Catholic, a Jew or a Mormon, but happily, secularity has become a norm of political culture in most countries in Europe and the United States. But in Islamic countries, the idea of total separation of Mosque and state is still not accepted. Theocracy historically, was the norm in Islamic countries.

The founder of modern Republic of Turkey, Mustapha Kemal, the Ataturk embraced the modern idea of a secular state and ensured that this was the Constitutional Grundnorm of modern Turkey. In spite of this, the present regime of Prime Minister Recip Erdogan has been pandering to Islamic religious sentiments and this has brought him into conflict with the Turkish military which sees itself as the guardian of the Turkish constitution. The Republics of Pakistan, Indonesia and to an extent Algeria and Egypt and a few Arab countries have a tendency to secularism. But even there, none of those regimes could survive without deference to Islam. In general, secularism appears to be a Western concept, but countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia with particular reference to China and India seems to have accepted, the concept of the secular state.

India the biggest democracy in the world even though secular is conscious of the political weight of the Hindu religion because the biggest rival of the Indian National Congress is the BJP which is a Hindu nationalist Party. China is of course still officially a communist country, even though its critics see it as an organised and gerontocratic totalitarian state. Sometimes, the concept of secularity can assume extremist proportion such as in the United States where in some states school prayers are disallowed on the basis of secularity; despite the official motto of the United States of ‘In God we Trust.’ The hallmark of a people’s civilisation is

The enemies of Edo Here was a governor not of the same party with members of the House of Assembly then in the majority being invited to Abuja to be sworn into secrecy on how to cripple a state he was elected to administer. That's how wicked man is. These rascals were emboldened in their action because they believed they will forever be in the majority and as such make the state ungovernable for Oshiomhole.

In order to move the state forward, Oshiomhole was ready to work with the opposition because they had the numbers then in the Assembly. Every governor worth his salt knows that you cannot work with a combative legislature. This is why many of them work towards putting their loyalists in the Assembly to make things easy for them. The result today is that we have a rubber stamp legislature at both the federal and state levels.

This is by the way though.

With such a beginning between Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the overlords of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is not strange that they are fighting back today to regain what they believe belongs to them. But pray can a few people lay claim to owning a state, which is the indigenes' patrimony? The people of Edo never sold their state and they will never do so no matter what. Because some people were privileged in the past to lead us does not give them the authority to take total control of the state and turn it to their fiefdom. Edo is not and will never be a one-man state.

This is the battle Oshiomhole is fighting; the battle to reclaim and liberate Edo from the claws of those who believe that they have the divine right to sit over our patrimony. They never knew that the day would come that someone will stand up to them. As expected, they are fighting tooth and

‘Because some people were privileged in the past to lead us does not give them the authority to take total control of the state and turn it to their fiefdom. Edo is not and will never be a one-man state’

nail to protect what they consider their territory. Since they are wicked souls, they have resorted to killings to achieve their aim.

First, they attacked the governor's convoy on the Warrake-Auchi road in an apparent assassination attempt.

Oshiomhole escaped unhurt but three of the journalists in his entourage were killed. The nation was yet to get over the shock of this dastardly act when the governor's Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde, was killed in his Benin home last Friday. Before these incidents, there had been series of attacks and attempted attacks on either the governor or his aides.

The killing of Oyerinde, a non-indigene, whom Oshiomhole took as a son because of his forthrightness and loyalty, was a most barbaric and callous act. Oyerinde was shot dead in cold blood in front of his wife and children in a state which he served diligently and with all his heart because of his love for Oshiomhole.

Oyerinde did not follow Oshiomhole to Edo for want of something to do.

He had a good job at the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), where he was deputy general secretary. He was on leave of absence to enable him serve in Edo. Why was Oyerinde killed? Was he killed to serve notice on Oshiomhole that the forthcoming governorship election will be a do or die? Was he killed to cow Oshiomhole knowing how close they were? Was he killed to dampen the morale of the governor in his determined effort not to hand over the state to those no gooders? Why did they cut down a promising young man in the prime of life? We mourn Oyerinde whose remains are being interred today in Ede, Osun State, but the only way to make him happy in his grave is to ensure that Edo does not return to the dogs. Adieu, comrade.

Before we crucify Azazi

T

HE Islamic sect, Boko Haram, is not always far from our minds.

These days, when we hear of any

religious and political tolerance. Religion should be a personal affair and not a state affair because after all individuals would answer to their makers for what they have done on this side of heaven. Families and nations would not be judged together. The idea of secularity is easier said than done especially in poor Third World countries where concern with other worldly affairs takes pre-eminence Jide because of suffering in Osuntokun this world. This is why people die andwould inherit rather paradise than be tolerant and compromise with others of different faiths.

Until recently, Nigerians have never had to face this thorny issue of secularity versus religious state. The idea of the Sharia is relatively new at least, it was not something that took a lot of political space in Nigeria even though the British in Northern Nigeria, borrowing from the practice in Pakistan had allowed a reconciliation between English law and the Sharia, but it was not until the Obasanjo’s administration in 1999 that the issue of the Sharia became a potent weapon in the hands of political agitators.

The introduction of the Sharia in some states in the North compared with the militancy of Boko Haram can now be seen as a tame affair. It now seems that the idea of a secular state in Nigeria is threatened because soon Christians may begin to call for Canon laws in the predominantly Christian parts of Nigeria. The recent use of ‘Hijab’ by women especially school children in various parts of the North and now in Osun State where Governor Rauf Aregbesola is under criticisms is part of the manifestation of a multi-religious state rather than a secular state.

attack in any part of the country, our first reaction may be Boko Haram has struck again. The sect has become so dreaded that any bad thing is linked to it. You can't blame the people for their Boko Haram phobia. To say that Boko Haram has become notorious will be an understatement. We all think, sleep and perhaps, eat, Boko Haram.

Boko Haram strikes at will, leaving death and destruction in its wake. How to tackle the Boko Haram menace is the challenge confronting not only the government but the entire population.

Trust Nigerians, we are all quick at complaining, but are not so fast at proffering solutions, especially when such solutions are hard and bitter. In such a circumstance, we gloss over issues in order not to ruffle feathers. When someone is bold enough to come out and talk, we chastise him.

Every problem has a solution no matter how serious it may be. We cannot say because Boko Haram is busy killing and maiming people across the country, Nigerians should no longer air their views on the issue. Members of the Boko Haram sect are no ghosts.

They are flesh and blood like us. They have wives; they have children; they have friends and they have relations.

So, why has it become impossible to rein them in? Is it because they are being shielded by some powerful Nigerians?

There is no doubt that the sect has some strong backers who will do everything to ensure that the group is not brought to book for the atrocities it is committing. If some people are shielding Boko Haram members why are we all shouting then over its excesses? Those who don't want Boko Haram unveiled should be bold enough to come out and say so. The truth of the matter is that Boko Haram has become a monster stronger than its masters. If they knew the sect will become this mighty, they would not have created this monster which is now threatening to consume us.

Boko Haram has a far reach as confirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan a few months ago. The president said the sect has infiltrated the government. Coming from the president, that was serious. If the sect could infiltrate the seat of power, where then can it not reach? So, when National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen Owoye Azazi spoke on the origin of Boko

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

Haram at the Southsouth Summit in Asaba, Delta State, last month, he knew what he was talking about.

Hear him: ''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 convention, 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? ''The situations that created the problems (of Boko Haram) are not just about religion, poverty or the desire to rule Nigeria. I think it is a combination of everything; except you address all those things comprehensively, it would not work. It is not enough for us to have a problem in 2009 and you send soldiers to stop the situation, driving all those involved underground. You must look at what structures you need to put in place to address the problem holistically''.

As an intelligence officer, Azazi must know what he is talking about.

He cannot be talking in a vacuum; he must have his facts. Rather than crucify him, what we should do is to ask him to use the facts at his disposal to unmask the Boko Haram backers. If he cannot do this, that would be too bad.

SMS ONLY: 08099400204

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

HOSE who voluntarily chose to defend and die for their nation or become the conscience of the nation whenever the constitution is under assault by temporary power holders cannot be anything but patriots. The tragedy however is that because soldiers are ill-equipped, ill-trained and illmannered to manage society, they often compound the crises they set out to resolve.

Aguiyi Ironsi, attempting to correct the ‘mistake of 1914’ momentarily supplanted a viable federal arrangement of a heterogeneous society for an unworkable unitary system. Gowon, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha’s self serving military solutions to the contradictions in the nation merely compounded them. Today some highly placed northern leaders as well as Boko Haram have openly called for the “India or Sudan’ solution.

Others want a conference to redraw the architecture of the nation.

My argument which has evoked so much passion in the past one week is that what is needed is effective leadership heading a committed group to rescue the nation from PDP and its scandals including the sales of its presidential ticket, which Aziza says is the cause of Jonathan crisis of legitimacy in spite of a pan Nigeria landslide victory. And that Buhari who has undergone a purgatory of 28 years agonizing over the state of the nation and three failed attempts at leadership fits the bill. If he reaches an agreement with other groups on restructuring, he has demonstrated through his past patriotic zeal that he will be faithful to the undertaking.

I am devoting the rest of the page to the views of our esteemed readers. 08033476555 I read your piece on Buhari without PTF achievement. As bad as Abacha was, he made

‘You may have started to drum up support for Buhari for 2015 because Jonathan has not performed miracles of change yet. Was it not Buhari who told his supporters to lynch anyone who rigged election? Of course his supporters killed and the killing is on in the name of Boko Haram. From Esther A Umoru Dept of Pol science Uniabuja’

I

N the last few years, Delta state government began an economic transformation programme. A Transformation that demanded we completely remodel how we develop our state from the old ways to a new one, to guarantee our prosperity and survival, which we tagged “Delta Beyond Oil.” As a state of over four million people and largely oil producing, we account for about 3.0 percent of the national population and about 30 percent of oil production and export.

Oil and gas account for 65 percent of our GDP and 85 percent of our revenue from federal allocation.

Sadly one major drawback of depending on oil is that we were not able to develop our non-oil sector in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism. As a government, we were determined to change that. As a government we knew we must diversify our economy from its dependency on mono-culture source to other sources that are more empowering, that are more sustainable and can create wealth for our people.

The major outline of this goal is to build key infrastructure in the areas of power,

‘Three years ago, when we as governors of the South-south states came together, we were driven by the compelling need to create a platform that is mutually representative of the six South-south states for the integration and exploitation of the great potential of the BRACED states in particular, and Nigeria in general’

Re: Who is afraid of Buhari? profit on petrol at 21 naira per litre. Today we buy at subsidized rate of N97.Anonymous From the tone of your write up, I can understand you want a job from Buhari. Was it not the same Yoruba press that dusted him?

Why do you people think you have monopoly of knowledge? Please get angels or God to rule Nigeria. From Ade Adersanya Just read your piece on Buhari. Can we form a forum to push Buhari and Tinubu as his vice in 2015? I know that this combination is a win win . Anonymous Let us all stand up for Buhari in 2015 so that Nigeria can move forward. We must start the project now. Enough of this carnage, destruction to lives and properties, Boko Haram, corruption with impunity kidnapping, ineptitude in governance, insecurity, robbery, unemployment, cultism, drug trafficking. We are sick as a nation. From M.G Olokor My joy will be full the day Gen Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu agree to join forces together under ACN. Anonymous I recollect the Buhari-Idiagbon and DavidWest years with much nostalgia. But can Buhari still perform as we expect after more than 30 years? Tons and tons of our commonwealths have been siphoned from the public till into too many private pockets of those now masquerading as power brokers, politicians, and business men and women.

Alhaji Yusuf Seba Permit to acknowledge and sincerely praise your appraisal of Nigerian politics as enumerated in your column. Honestly you have said it all. It’s my fervent prayer that the almighty will hear and accept our prayer to give this our lovely nation a messiah like

Buhari. Anonymous Criminals and unpatriotic Nigerians who want to continue to loot the country are afraid of Buhari. Sadly that group painted Buhari as a sadist and a bigot. From Dokun Adedeji I want to tell you that this is probably the most honest writing to emanate from the stable of Vintage Press. We can deride Buhari only to our peril and this past one year has shown that our nation is in danger. And to think we have three more years of Jonathan is frightening and dangerous. I was never fooled by this shoeless man. His antecedents don’t speak to any capability. Anonymous Thank you for that beautiful and inspiring piece under who is afraid of Buhari? We need more of such write ups and my fervent prayer is that God use Buhari and others like him as agents of positive changes in our lives come 2015. From Kabiru S Kangiwa I happen to be an unforgiving antagonist of Buhari prior to now but like you said I am now one of his new converts. Your opinion and analysis of happenings in the country have further strengthened my belief in Buhari.

We need to get this nation and its citizens from the shackle of this cult called PDPFrom Yusuf Mishlizza. Defender of the Christian faith, Kaduna I have been accused unfairly of being a hash and trenchant critics of Muslims even though I support either Buhari or Lamido as a president of truly restructured Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015. Your essay on Buhari is the most objective analysis of the Nigeria malaise. Adewumi Adegbite, Ogbomoso ‘No one but a consortium of political economic, traditional and religious parasitic elite in our polity. Anonymous

Why we are diversifying our economy

By Emmanuel Uduaghan transportation (including airports and sea ports) and industrialisation anchored on our Special Economic Zones. In pursuit of this vision, we have struggled with enormous challenges. But we have remained focused.

To a great degree we sought strategic partnership with the private sector under our Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. I like to state that we have made reasonable progress in that regard. Private sector interest in building the Warri Industrial Business Park is strong. The Koko Export Free zone, a gas based industrial park—a major component of President Jonathan’s Gas Revolution Agenda—has a robust private sector interest in driving it. We also have a solid private sector investment in agriculture in our collaboration with Obasanjo Farms in the Delta state OFN project and in tourism with the on-going construction of the Delta Leisure Park at Oleri near Warri and the Zoo at Ogwashi-Uku. So far the PPP model has served us well and we are determined to continue and are open to further engagements with the private sector.

In addition, most of the waterfront areas at Warri, Koko, Burutu and Oghara have virtually been taken up by private investors and are at various stages of establishing their industries especially oil and gas based industries.

Let me explain that we did not solely focus on these mega projects alone - even if a large chunk of funding had gone into it – rather our strategic funding included what you might term the low hanging fruit as an immediate impact programme to support our people whilst the long term programme

matures.

The immediate thrust of this programme is a liberal social and human capacity programmes, in public transportation, healthcare and education, with huge investment in physical infrastructure.

Additionally, our economic empowerment programme is one of our outstanding accomplishments as a government. With three consecutive CBN awards in recognition of our success in supporting micro and small businesses, which has nearly 100,000 beneficiaries - wealth creation is a policy we apply with seriousness. The results have justified our efforts.

There is no doubt that sometimes we are faced with security challenges. Working with the Federal Government, we are overcoming these challenges. Something we have done however is to sit with any willing investor to draw up a security master plan, including economic and social engagement of the communities, as part of the overall planning for investment. One shining example that has stood out as a remarkable success story in Delta State is the over 5.9 billion dollars, Chevron EGTL project that will be commissioned soon. This project thrived at a time of uncertainty when some investors would rather not venture into the state.

Today, its successful conclusion is a study in perseverance. I want to declare that Delta State is a committed partner to any serious investor.

On the whole, I want to say in Delta state and across the South-south zone we share a common aspiration for our peoples.

Three years ago, when we as governors of

You are really an inveterate enemy of peace for suggesting someone like Buhari as alternative to our self-contrived problems.

Indeed you are a captive journalist who wants to bring Nigeria back to the dark ages which Buhari and his co adventurers rightly belong.

Your piece is best suited for the dustbin.

From Kale Sulyman, Ilorin No one is afraid of Buhari but his Muslim brothers from the north. They told us of his evils. Tell him to call his ‘haramites’ to order.

Buhari can never rule again but only raise talibans. Anonymous Who is afraid of Buhari’ is thought provoking and factual but are Nigerians ready to put aside parochial sentiments in electing their leaders? And will PDP behemoth allow a free and fair election?

From Rodsimeon Idaew You may have started to drum up support for Buhari for 2015 because Jonathan has not performed miracles of change yet. Was it not Buhari who told his supporters to lynch anyone who rigged election? Of course his supports killed and the killing is on in the name of boko haram. From Esther A Umoru Dept pof Pol science Uniabuja.

The write up is a lesson for all Nigerian youths. Anonymous Super write up. But Buhari cannot be sold in any other country except Nigeria. Too much of a semi-literate vis a vis the complexity of the problems we face. From Kayode, Calabar.

‘Who is afraid of Buhari comes at the right time. Buhari should learn how to negotiate with other opposition parties. His failure to compromise before the last general election caused this country a lot. From Prince S.K Lawal Your piece of today is thought provoking.

Buhari has the where-withal to bring sanity to the polity. Youth revolution looms . At 62, am still ready to join the Buhari train for our children sake. From Akaakuma Makurdi Thank you for the piece on Buhari in my favorite newspaper, The Nation. It is the criminals and the looters of our treasury that are afraid of the patriotic General.Anonymous You can be his campaign manager if you wish. But Buhari does not believe there is need to campaign for election as a northerner. Is Buhari willing to consult widely? Anonymous I was born in 1987 two years after Buhari was toppled but I heard what he did from both sides-his friends and foes and realized early Buhari is what we need in Nigeria. I campaigned for him during the election of 2011.Thank God for retracting your steps off the shoeless fishmonger. Anonymous

the South-south states came together, we were driven by the compelling need to create a platform that is mutually representative of the six South-south states for the integration and exploitation of the great potential of the BRACED states in particular, and Nigeria in general.

In this short period, our meeting of minds at the South-south Economic Summit has mid-wifed the BRACED Commission. The BRACED commission offers an opportunity not only for the economic development of South-south states but also for peer review mechanism. We recognize that all our states are not endowed in equal proportion. Some states have comparative advantage in their resource endowment.

We believe therefore that in pulling together, each state will leverage on areas of its core competence and optimize same for the benefit of every one of us.

Being text of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s remarks at the Second Southsouth Economic Summit

•Uduaghan

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The Almajiri Model School inuagurated by the Federal Government last month has been applauded by many, but others are afraid that the government may not be able to sustain the initiative. In this report, TONY AKOWE, KADUNA, KOLADE ADEYEMI, KANO, JIDE ORITUNSIN MINNA AND ADAMU SULEIMAN SOKOTO examine the factors that may make or mar the programme.

•President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Governor Aliyu Wammako and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar with the first set of pupils as the President inaugurated the Almajiri Model School, Gagi, Sokoto

W

ITH the inauguration of the first Almajiri Model School by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, April 10, it appears some respite has finally come to the legion of unfortunate children who, for years, have been subjected to street begging, especially in many parts of the northern Nigeria.

Even then, findings by The Nation revealed that governments must brace up with new challenges such as enrolment, curriculum design, funding, enlightenment, orientation, among others, that come with the initiative.

Governments must also be prepared to double their efforts as enrolment of Almajiri might soar beyond their initial budget.

They must also be willing to step up their enlightenment programmes and involve as many stakeholders - community leaders, government, parents and Quaranic teachers, educationists, among others - in their ongoing campaigns.

President Jonathan, who opened the first Model Almajiri (boarding) Primary School at Gagi Village in Sokoto South Local Council, Sokoto State, said the school would be dedicated to providing equal access to qualitative education for the Almajiri.

Jonathan, who also registered and took photographs with the 50 pioneer pupils, noted that 9.5 million children are outside the conventional school system with the Northwest geo-political zone alone

Almajiri Model Schools: How far can they go?

‘I want to be a solider and I learnt that I cannot be if I don’t go to school. I don't enjoy begging because sometimes, I don't get anything at all and I will be very hungry’ accounting for a lion's share(about five million).

A total of 35 Almajiri model schools, 10 of which are boarding schools and 25 day schools, have cost about N5 billion for over a year, courtesy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

He said the government was focusing on integrating the Almajiri system into a more conventional type which would reflect the Western system such that it would be technologically-driven in line with the reality.

All the states in the North and Edo in the South are participating in the project, except Plateau.

According to a Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and the 19 participating states, the former is expected to provide funds

for the construction and equipment, curriculum design, capacity building for teachers, and develop textbooks, while the latter, will replicate the model schools, taking over responsibility for their management and sustenance after the inauguration.

The Almajiri Model School is the brainchild of Vice-President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo.

As a former governor of Kaduna State, Sambo's inspiration was drawn from a research conducted by the Centre for Historical Documentation of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) known as Arewa House in 2004, which found out that people often become street children are from dysfunctional family backgrounds leading to illiteracy, lack of life sustaining skills, frustration

INSIDE •... Behold FUNAAB's best - Page 27

due to inability to attain goals - all of which lead to drug addiction, and other criminal tendencies.

Many northern leaders today agreed that the Almajiri phenomenon remains the most disturbing issue in the region.

Therefore, Almajiri model school is meant to improve the existing infrastructure of an average Quranic School (also called Tsangaya School), in its original location by providing it with adequate facilities.

There are feelers that while some parents believe their children would be better off in such boarding schools, others believe otherwise. However, more significant are certain individuals who fear the proposed curriculum for the model schools might distort the age long Quranic teaching, or turn the

children's hearts toward Western education in the near future.

Mallam Aliyu Mai Yara, a Quranic teacher in Sokoto, said there are still some parents who are resistant to anything Western, and will not want their children to go the new model schools because they believe certain Western curricular were being taught.

Mallam Musa Buda, an educationist in Sokoto, said government's move to integrate the Almajiri system into a model western education school is a mere political statement because the number government plans to involve in the programme is just a drop in an ocean."It is not likely to go beyond the inauguration," Buda said.

Buda is not alone in this thinking.

Mallam Bala, a traditional ruler of Gagi town, said: '' The number of enrolment as pioneer is far too small. How can you admit only 50 out of the multiple of hundreds of thousands of Almajiri we have?'' he asked rhetorically.

Another Quranic teacher, Iliyasu Sani of Mabera, feels that the programme is fraught with danger because the authentic religious text could be contaminated by the so called curricular being designed by those whom, Mabera believes, are not necessarily versed in the traditional Qur'anic teaching. ''It can expose the pupils to certain traits of Western culture and also to being victims of counter culture at an early stage in life," Mabera • Continued on page 26

•Ekiti rebuilds burnt govt college

- Page 39

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

26

EDUCATION

Almajiri Model Schools: How far can they go?

• Continue from page 25

noted.

Aliyu Bello, another teacher, sees the Almajiri model school as a laudable programme established in good faith. ''It is for the states which have not keyed into this programme to adopt the model presented by the Federal Government whose ideals could be replicated in their communities,'' he said.

Though the Kano State government has already earmarked N7 million for the take-off of its Almajiri model schools, the move has received mixed reactions from stakeholders in the state. One of the schools was opened last week by the Vice- President in Zaria.

Investigations revealed that, among other factors, the Kano State may experience low awareness and indifferences in mindset as some of its teething problems.

One of the beneficiaries of Almajiri, Mohammed Garba, who spoke to our reporter, denied any knowledge of the school.

"I am not aware of what you are telling me about the Almajiri boarding school. The only school I know and attend is the Mallam Yinusa Quranic School in which 25 of us are pupils. So, the location of the school you are talking about is not

known, said the 10 year-old boy."

Garba's counterpart, Sani Usman, 8, said: "The only thing I know is that, I attend the Quranic School located in Darkata, and my parents are from Niger Republic. After closing hours, I pick my plates to scout for food from house to house. For anything that Allah gives, I take it back to the mallam and we share it in happiness and harmony."

Malam Aliyu Musa, a teacher in one of the Quranic schools at Kawaji, who said he hails from Bauchi, said: "We only hear this on radio that the government is going to establish a modern boarding primary school, but to the best of my knowledge, I am yet to see one, so all these cries that Almajiri are being rehabilitated is merely a rumour."

In Kaduna, the impression remains the same. There are fears in most quarters that despite huge spendings, the aim may be defeated.

Those who nurse this fear believe that some of the kids are already used to roaming the streets in search of food and alms, and, therefore, may not be comfortable in their 'new homes'. They also said some of those who take care of these kids in their present abode may also not be comfortable allowing them leave as they have formed a source of livelihood for them.

This notwisthading, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Reuben Buhari, said government has already taken care of such fears.

"The government is aware of such fears. The mallams taking charge of the children will also be integrated into the system. Don't forget that there is teacher's quarter in the school where they will stay. The government has been discussing with them with a view to integrating them. So, I do not think that they

‘We only hear this on radio that the government is going to establish a modern boarding primary school, but to the best of my knowledge, I am yet to see one, so all these cries that Almajiri are being rehabilitated is merely a rumour’

will discourage the children from attending the school where they will be taught both Western and Quaranic education," he said.

Some of the children showed enthusiasm to be off the street.

Mohammed Idris who said he came from Kano State told The Nation that his dream is to be a soldier and hopes to actualise that when he goes to the model school.

"I want to be a solider and I learnt that I cannot be if I don’t go to school. I don't enjoy begging because sometimes, I don't get anything at all and I will be very hungry," he said.

One of the Quaranic teachers, who would not want his name in print, dismisses claims that they have turned the children into a moneymaking machines.

"We have our own family to take care of and it is wrong to say that we are feeding on these children.

“Many of us are going to be part of the teachers in those schools.

When we join the teaching staff of these schools, we will earn decent salaries with which to take care of our families. So, for me, I see it as a welcome development," the teacher said.

In Niger State, the three Almajiri model schools allocated to it are yet • Continue on page 27

CRESCENT FILE Studio for Mass Comm.

A NEW building for the television studios of the Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta has been completed.

A statement by the department said the studios would take care of the anticipated students' growth and serve as additional facilities to the existing radio and television studios. A Senior Lecturer in the department, Kola Adesina, said the new building would give room for an expansion of training facilities where radio and television studios would be in separate buildings.

Adesina added that the accomplishment of the building was a demonstration of the consolidated work of new projects of the university, which its Prince Bola Ajibola, holds dear.

Staff get posting THE Establishment Office of the university will now be manned by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs Morufat Dawodu. This takes effect from this month.

In a statement by the Registrar, Zakariyya Ajibola, until now, the Assistant Registrar, Mrs Tawakalitu Aina, now in charge of Students' Affairs, was charged with the activities of the department.

Others, who got new postings, are the Assistant Registrar Mr Ishaq Bisiriyu, who was formerly in charge of Students' Affairs. He is Alumni Relations helmsman and Hakeem Onifade, formerly a hostel supervisor, now College of Social Management Sciences officer.

ATM installed HENCEFORTH, members of staff, students, neighbours and visitors of the university will enjoy a new ATM installed by a leading banks.

The Bursar, Nurudeen Lawal, said the additional facility was installed, particularly to make students more stable on campus, adding that more banks are willing to bring their facilities close the university campus.

Mushin scholarship award today HON Feyisetan Arogundade scholarship awards to pupils in primary, junior and senior schools hold today, at Mushin Local Government (Ward J) Mushin).

The event, which begins at 9 am holds at Mushin Local Government Education Authority Secretariat, Olu-Aina, Workyard in Mushin.

• From left: Registrar University of Lagos, Rotimi Shodimu; Vice-Chancellor Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe and his Deputy (Management and Services), Prof Rahamoni Bello, during the university’s pre-celebration press conference for its 50th anniversary at the UNILAG Senate building in Lagos.... on Tuesday.

PHOTO ISAAC JIMOH A YODELE

FUTO warns trespassers

T

HE Council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has raised the alarm over "the persistent and unwarranted acts of trespass and encroachment on its landed property."

In a statement signed by the council's Chairman, Vita Abba, some elements in the host communities and other misinformed individuals were behind the encroachment.

The Council, while soliciting the co-operation of the Imo State Government on the matter, appealed to the Federal Government to take adequate steps in line with the laws that established FUTO as a legal en-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

tity and an agency of the Federal Government to "stop further encroachment by the recalcitrant trespassers and return all tampered FUTO landed property back to the university."

It viewed the said trespass and encroachment on university property by the host communities and others as callous and an act of criminality that portends a great danger to the university and its continuous existence in the area.

The Council frowned at the erection of illegal structures on the large expanse of the permanent site of the university for

commercial purposes and selfish interests.

The statement further said: "The Council appreciates the efforts of the management of the university in drawing the attention of the Federal Government, Imo State government, other relevant government agencies and the public to this unfortunate development in the university environment to restrain the host communities from unlawfully encroaching on FUTO landed property.

"The Council warns the host communities and other trespassers on FUTO landed property to quit and demolish such illegal structures, as the university will not hesitate to take stringent and appropriate action against the perpetrators of these wicked acts if they fail to comply.

“How about stiffer sanctions against corruption, insecurity?”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

EDUCATION Expectedly, the Best Graduating Student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Oyewole Olubunmi stole the show at the institution’s convocation last weekend with her Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.82. She shares her story with MEDINAT KANABE

• Olubunmi (right) with her mother, Wosilat at the event.

... Behold FUNAAB's best

A

MID the sea of heads in attendance, the already excited crowd got more electrified. Dignitaries and guests alike cheered, craning their necks as Rahidat sauntered to the podium, her name echoing and reechoing.

She was the cynosure of all eyes at FUNAAB's convocation last weekend where she emerged as the overall graduating student of 2010/ 2011 with a commendable Cumulative Grade Point average of 4.82.

At the event, Olubunmi became synonymous with almost all the prizes and awards mentioned.

University Prize for all round best graduating student in the University; Ogun State Printing Corp Prize; Lynx Club Abeokuta Prize; National Association of University Women (NAUW) FUNNAB chapter; Reverend and Professor A.O. Jolaosho Prize for best graduating student in Animal Biotech; Reverend and Professor A.O. Jolaosho Prize for best graduating student in Pasture and Range Management; Best student in the Department of

Pasture Production; Mrs O. S. Onifade prize for Best Final Year Project Student in the department of Pasture and Range Management; Mr Bayo Odunowo Bimba Agro Ltd Prize for Best Student in COLANIM; Senate annual prize for First Class Honors graduating student; Senate annual prize for Best Graduating Students in each college; all into her kitty.

Though Olubunmi has a likable mien, the story that chronicles her rise to victory could make even the devil shed tears.

She had had a smooth start attending a private school - St Jude Private School until she clocked three.

Then, her banker father lost her job when the once thriving bank, Savannah Bank, folded up.

"I was still in Primary 3 then," Olubunmi recounted. "It seemed like the end of the road for me as my parents could no longer afford my school fees and the only option was to withdraw me to a public school. But thanks to my mum who with tears, approached the founder

of the school, Mrs Okonma, to explain the family's ordeal. Mrs Okonma responded to my mum's plea and slashed my fees into two, so my mum paid half the fees till I passed out of the school."

After primary school most of her friends proceeded to high flying private secondary schools, but her parents settled her in a public school, FESTAC Girls Secondary School.

However, a few weeks to her West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2004, Olubunmi lost her dad. Her mother, who was then a junior officer at NIPOST, had to take up Olubunmi's responsibility including three other siblings, who were also in the higher institutions.

Olubunmi described that moment as 'terrible' as she could hardly concentrate. Luckily, she passed her WASSCE and moved on to write University Matriculation Examination (UME), which she also passed before securing admission to FUNAAB to study Pasture and Range Management. If anything, Olubunmi would remain ever grateful to her Head of Department (HOD), Prof Alaba Jolaosho. She told our reporter how a piece of advice from Prof Jolaosho changed her life for good.

"If only you can make a first class, the sky would be your limit," Jolaosho had challenged her.

Jolaosho, Olubunmi added, also inspired her on the course she was studying as against Animal Science, a course Olubunmi said she had always dreamed of studying.

Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are, goes a popular saying. The duo of Adamson Mariam and Ademola Odusanya, Olubunmi's friends also spoke about her. Incidentally, Mariam and Odusanya were also first class graduates with CGPA of 4.60 and 4.64.

Mariam, 24, said she became Olubunmi's friend almost at the end of their education at FUNNAB, but got to like her and wished she had known her a long time ago.

"Although I studied hard, I never studied with Olubunmi. But I wish I did because I believe it could have helped a lot in boosting my GPA." Ademola described Olubunmi as friendly and simple, who loves doing everything diligently. "We do tutorials together and we also read together."

Olubunmi advised other students not to be easily discouraged and never allow their fears limit them.

"Dreams can only be realised through dedication and hardwork, believe in yourself, always maintain the curiosity of a child, and embrace opportunities that will make you a better person."

Road programmes in schools begin

T

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Lagos State, has started the introduction of Junior Road Club programme in Secondary schools.

According to the FRSC, Lagos Sector Command of the club, Mr Simon Lord Wilson, "the purpose of the club is to sensitise the children on the use of road and we have so many schools to cover. It is going to be one after the other.”

Last week, the commission was at Wellspring College, Lagos where the club was inaugurated Speaking at the event, the immediate past Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC Mr Jonas Agwu commended the effort of the school for inaugurating the club.

"It will help the children to know how to use the road very well because if they can differentiate between right and wrong, they can influence their parents."

He however narrated an ugly scene he witnessed same day where a young family man with two kids drove against the traffic along Ketu road.

"The younger kid was sitting on his laps, while one was sat beside him in the front. When I told him

Akwa Ibom SUBEB distributes chairs, books to schools

•Governor Akpabio

T

HE Acting Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Theresa Ekon, says the board has distributed seats and books to schools across the state.

Ekon said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that 3000 library seats as well as 3,500 teachers' tables and chairs were distributed to schools in the state.

She also said that 30,000 diaries,

Almajiri Model Schools: How far can they go?

• Continue from page 26

to take off, as the structures are still under construction. Nevertheless, the state government has since 2010 initiated plans to integrate the Islamic education system into the conventional education system.

It has made concerted efforts to mobilise traditional rulers, Quranic teachers, Islamic scholars, parents and guardians of these Almajiri in the state on the need to give the scheme the much-needed support. To show government's seriousness to the scheme, a Permanent Secretary was appointed to ensure successful takeoff of the integration scheme.

Uztas Yunus El-Amin Abdullahi, a Quran teacher at Tunga, a suburb of Minna, the state capital, told our reporter that he welcomed the initiative.

Abdullahi, who has over 70 Almajiri in his care for the learning of the

Quran and Islamic practice, said: "The holy Prophet enjoins all believers to seek knowledge. I welcome the project. I am ready to take all the children in my care to the model schools as soon as it takes off. But my fear is that majority of my colleagues are yet to come to terms with the project and this is where it may fail."

Abdullahi said he has been having challenges selling the scheme to the parents of the children, most of who live far off from their Quranic School.

"It has been a hell of time educating, convincing and making the parents and guardians of these children to buy into the scheme. The majority of them are insisting that their children and wards are sent to learn Quran and the ways of Allah as given to us by His Prophet. Aside from this, most of them live in other towns and cities far away from Minna and we are yet to get their consent."

For Malam Yakub Ahmed, a

Quranic teacher in Dutsen Kura area of Minna, said: "This model school is a failure from conception, because I am not releasing any child in my custody. The establishment of the school is not the solution to the problems of the north. This is another move to confuse our children."

Another challenge the government may suffer is the mass movement of the Almajiri back home from their Quranic schools during the raining season. Abdullahi, a graduate of Islamic Legal Studies, said: "Though the scheme is yet to take off here, another major fear is the returning of the Almajiri back to their parents during the farming season to help them in farming. About 57 children left for Kastina last week and another 11 will be going to Bauchi State on Saturday.

"The raining season, which falls in the last term of academic session of the conventional education system

the implication of what he had done, he responded that it was because the girl cried ceaselessly and he had no choice than to abandon her at the rear. If anything had happened, the children would have been the victim of the accident which was avoidable. " The Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) represented

by Mrs. Seriki Catherine Omowumi, said the aim of the club in schools is to teach our children the essence of safety in school and other road and while they are with parents or in their school bus they would be able to correct their drive whenever they are wrong.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Olayemisi Olojede, said: "It is not only academic excellence alone we will give to the children. We want them to manifest their God-given potential; that is why this club has come to stay,” she said.

To ensure the club lives up to expectation the management promised it would ensure regular meetings, discussions and workshops for the members, while it would also hold public campaigns.

that these children are being integrated into, is crucial to their parents.

This is the farming season in the north and we have always released these children to go home and help their parents. I don't know how the new system will accommodate this period, because it is a crucial period to the parents. They want to have their children with them on the farm," Abdullahi stated.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Sokoto State Ministry of Education, Alhaji Bello Sifiwa, explained that the state government was taking steps for a more expansive arrangement that would cater for all Almajiri traditional schools across the state.

Also, recently, the Kano State government constituted a committee to harmonise the Almajiri schools in the state under one body for proper supervision and monitoring.

10,000 exercise books and one carton of chalks were also distributed.

Ekon explained that every school in the state was entitled to some of the distributed materials, adding that the essence was to upgrade the teaching and learning environment in schools.

The SUBEB chairman, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the board, urged teachers in the state to make effective use of the materials. ``It is our resolve in SUBEB to tackle all possible challenges and provide conducive and commensurate school environment for effective teaching and learning activities for the success of Basic Education in the state,'' she said.

Ekon also called on corporate organisations, NGOs and private orgainsations to join hands in improving the education sector. ``Education for all is the responsibility of all; hence it is my wish to invite charitable individuals, corporate organisations and NGOs to assist in the provision of basic school facilities and infrastructures. ``This will help to complement the Free and Compulsory Education Programme of the state government," she added.

Ekon said the board has, within one year, recorded remarkable achievements, including the facilitation of the National Education Conference, UBEC's new mandate in education in the country and UBEC Measurement of Learning Achievements (MLA) exercise. ``The board has also facilitated the payment of gratuity to retired primary school teachers up to 2010 and 7.5 per cent compulsory savings to benefiting teachers. ``We have conducted seminars for teachers and education managers and also recruited teachers under UBEC programme."

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

EDUCATION EKSU FILE

Solar powers varsity THE streets of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, have been illuminated with solar power. This is a fulfilment of the promise made by the university's ViceChancellor Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina.

Unlike in the past when the university was always enveloped in darkness at night, the development has given opportunity to students and staff to carry-out assignments on campus till late evening without fear of outage by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Commending the VC's gesture, staff particularly students, expressed relief that they would be able to make use of the university's library at night.

Some also believed that the development would curtail the activities of members of illicit associations on Campus.

The management is also working hard to link the PHCN to the national grid to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to the university.

Osuntokun is 70 THE university's Pro-Chancellor, Emeritus Prof Akinjide Osuntokun, marked his 70th birthday.

The events started at the Chapel of Christ Our Light, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos where the officiating minister Pastor Azuka Ogbolumani, advised the celebrator to remain steadfast in the Lord and dedicate himself to God for the rest of his life.

He reminded Osuntokun that everybody was aware of his intimidating credentials which should be considered secondary at his age.

The celebrator gave a testimony where he talked about his" ups and downs" with an emphasis that his 'downs' were more than the 'ups', but noted that God had been able to sustain him. A special prayer was, thereafter, offered for him.

On the occasion was a large contingent of the university staff led by the VC. Also, on the occasion were dignitaries, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former first lady of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, and Prof Dapo Fafowora, among others.

NGO donates lawbooks A NON-GOVERNMENT Organisation (NGO), Advocate of Rules of Law and Human Dignity, founded by Mr Adebamiji Dada, has donated law books to the institution.

Handing over the books to the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Dada said it was his support for the wonderful job done by EKSU management to make the institution a world-class.

Receiving the books, the VC described the event as another step to enhance the reading culture of the students, adding that books had been a veritable tool in the educational set up.

He expressed his desire to encourage the reading culture of students of the university.

The VC also expressed his gratitude to the donor whom he described as a compatriot and a benefactor to the university as he called on other philanthropists to come to the aid of the university.

• Students of Theatre Arts of Lagos State University during their Children Theatre practical at the Department of Theatre Arts and Music ... on Friday

IBBUL embarks on N1.3b infrastructure provision

N

IGER State-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, is committing N1.3 billion of its Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention to infrastructure and human capacity development, the ViceChancellor Prof Ibrahim Kolo has said.

This, according to him, is to enable the institution to increase the intake of students from its present approved 1,400 students by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Speaking during a meeting by institution in Lapai, he said infrastructural deficiency in the institution and improvement of

By Jide Oritunsin Minna

staff efficeincy have been his focus, hence the dedication of the interventions from TETFund to addressing the areas he mentioned in the last two years.

He told the forum that the first batch of N363million, which was an accumulation of three years unaccessed TETFund, was applied for early last year and used for the construction of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre and to expand the ICT facilities in the institution.

Kolo further said the institution's desire to enhance infrastructure also fetched the university another N500million special TETfund

intervention for last year’s academic session. This allocation, Kolo said, is being used for the construction of a central laboratory and a twin theatre complex.

He said the last batch of N500million intervention was recently brokered for the university by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayatu Ahmed Rufai. This fund, Kolo said, would be used for the construction of another twin theatre complex and an auditorium.

The upgrading of the institution's e-library and the on-going library development project, are also taken care of by the TETFund. He added that components of the special interventions are devoted to academic researches, conferences,

seminars and staff training in and outside the country.

Assuring the congregation of early completion of projects, the Vice-Chancellor said: "In fact, most of these projects are half-way complete already and we are envisaging that between now and July, this year, these projects would have been completed.

"We are committed to the completion of these projects. Our aim from onset was to ensure that we provide adequate infrastructure that will help in meeting our mandate as a citadel of learning.

We want to increase the intake of students from 1,400 students and to do this, we have to put adequate infrastructure in place.”

Experts link poor performance in exams to Mathematics

P

OOR performance of students in Mathematics is responsible for the falling numbers of students who are studying science-related courses in tertiary institutions, experts have said.

Some of the reasons for this, according to them, are lack of welltrained mathematics teachers as well as students'phobia for the subject. This has become a matter of grave concern for parents, employers of labour and the government.

Minister of Education Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, aptly described the situation at a stakeholders' forum. she said "less than 30 per cent of Nigerian students (out of more than one million) obtained credit in five subjects, including English and Mathematics in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Even worse was the performance in the National Examinations Council (NECO),'' adding that more than 70 per cent of students coming from secondary school were unfit for higher education.

To change the negative trend, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved this year as Nigeria’s Mathematics Year as part of the Federal Government's effort to promote the study of mathematics among the youth.

However, before the government's intervention, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, has been promoting the study of mathematics at the secondary school

• Cross section of participants at the first stage Cowbell NASSMAC Exams at Maryland Comprehensive High School, Lagos

level through its Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) in the country in the last 12 years.

Managing Director of the company, Chief Keith Richards, said the company would continue to push the limits of the NASSMAC to create opportunity for more students and schools across the country to participate in the competition.

He said it is the intention of the company to improve the quality of the exam processes in its 200 centres

in the Nigeria.

"It is our belief that competitions like this will help students develop good study ethics that will have farreaching benefits in their academic and social life and will also improve human capacity development of the nation at large," Richards said.

He, therefore, solicited the support and commitment of students, parents, teachers, educational bodies, various ministries of education, the media and stakeholders to join the company this year to search for diligent

students who will take on this challenge and rise to the occasion through all the levels of tests to become the outstanding students amongst their peers.

According to Richards, NASSMAC has continued to experience remarkable national participation and in its last edition, recorded an impressive turn out of more than 34,000 pupils participating in the competition, which shows a consistent growth rate in the number of students who take the tests yearly.

OAU Senate okays College's BSc prog.

T

HE Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) has approved new programmes for the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo Town.

The programmes are B.Sc. Ed (Economics); B.A. Ed. (Religious

Studies); B.A.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling); B.A. Ed (Social Studies); and B.Sc. Ed. (Integrated Science/Mathematics) In a statement Mr Moses Akinfolarin, the Public Relations Officer of the institution said the four

programmes though approved for the 2011/2012 session would start next session.

It added that candidates who wrote the UTME on March 24 were eligible for admission into the new programmes.

29

An orientation like no other

NYSC 10: Friends remember Adeniji one year after Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Coca-Cola thrills at UNICAL The zonal tournament of the Copa Coca-Cola championship has ended in Calabar.

NICHOLAS KALU, CHARLES UDENZE and EMMANUEL SHEBBS (500-L Political Science, University of Calabar) capture the highlights.

F

OR many students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), it was a unique way to start a new semester. Coca-Cola, the soft drinks giant, provided what they termed “undiluted fun” for the university community and Calabar as a whole. It was the 2012 Copa Coca-Cola Youths Championship. The venue was the Daniel Ordia Stadium, UNICAL. It was a pitch contest designed to give the youths a chance to display their individual and group talents in the football game. After the contests in the four zones of Calabar, Ibadan, Benin and Abuja, a national competition will be staged. Coming up later this month, the winners from the zones will face one another.

The tournament featured four teams made up of 60 young boys battling for recognition and the trophy. The anchor man of the event was Godwin Akpan Udofia, a sports analyst. Among dignitaries in attendance were Mr. Host Mapondera, Senior Franchise Manager, CocaCola, and Mr. Segun Adesina, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited.

Others include ex-international stars, such as Nduka Ugbade who is the coach of the Calabar zone, Jonathan Akpoberi and Emmanuel Okocha, among others.

Senior Brand Manager (Flavours) of CocaCola, Mrs. Toyin Nnodi, said the company, being a global sponsor of FIFA, wanted to do something unique for Nigerians.

“This is a competition where we go round the country, encouraging grassroots football, encouraging young budding stars to come up and display their talents. This year, we went to 14 different locations and the winners were grouped into four zones. Calabar is one of the zones. We have two more zones to go to.

The winners of each of these four zones would come together in Lagos to compete for the National Cup”.

Former Super Eagles star, Nduka Ugbade, said

•Port Harcourt Boys, winners of the tournament, displaying the trophy

the competition would go a long way to give the country a formidable national team in the future.

He said: “Remedy is a minor word to describe how far this will go to cure the ills in the society and above all the issue of development of football, catching them young and developing their talents to become profitable for usage in major competitions.”

It was two-days of a fun-filled tournament.

The first match was between the Rotimi Amaechi boys from Port Harcourt and the Liyel Imoke boys of Calabar Team Two. It was really a tension soaked encounter as the boys from Port Harcourt drew first blood in the fifth minute of the match but their efforts instead of finding the back of the net hit the cross bar. In the 20th

minute, it was the turn of the Calabar boys when the number 11 jersey shot wide when he was left with only the goal keeper.

At the end of the game, the score was 0:0 but the Port Harcourt team dominated possession during the game with nine corner kicks in their favour while the Calabar team got only three.

With the result, Port Harcourt advanced to the finals.

The second semi-final saw the Godswill Akpabio boys from Uyo locking horns with the Imoke boys from Calabar Team One. This was an encounter that practically left spectators hanging on the edge of their seats. The Calabar boys scored in the 20th minute through Monday Obetem in what could be described as the goal of the tournament. It took the Uyo boys eight

minutes to equalise through Okon Anaekemi.

The first half ended 1:1.

The second half witnessed more suspense and drama with close misses, artistic dribbling runs and general exhibition of football flair and mastery by both teams. At the end of 90 minutes, the score still stood at 1:1 leaving the game with the option of penalty shoot-outs. It took nine penalty shootouts from each team before a winner emerged. Calabar Team One scored six of their nine shots, while Uyo was able to score five.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Mr Mapondera said: “Coca-Cola wants to give back to the soci•Continued on page 31

•Varsity gets licence to host NUGA - P32 •Love gone sour: Medical student poisons self - P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Still searching Pushing for a leader Out

W

I was watching Amanpour, on CNN, last Friday. The guest was Madeleine Albright, the first ever female U.S. Secretary of State. She served under President Bill Clinton. I’m a fan of the hostess, Christiane Amanpour. Since her return to CNN on April 16, when the programme made its debut, I am yet to miss an episode. Today, however, I’m not about my TV idol; I’m about what Ms. Albright said.

Speaking on America’s seeming footdragging on the intractable crises in Syria and Sudan, she made a telling statement. A very short but poignant one: “A leader does not rely on hope,” she said. That got me thinking.

When you speak of “hope”, you speak of “expectation”; you speak of “wish”, of “anticipation”. Thus, in my understanding, the grand dame is of the view that mere anticipation, expectation or wish does not get the leader anywhere. In other words, a leader needs to deliver tangible, measurable results; wishful thinking or hoping for a change in circumstances does not get him or her anywhere. This is why leaders usually have resources (men and material) to work with. When we consider political leaders – the thrust of this series – we understand why they also have the powers of coercion at their disposal.

This column ended last week with the following paragraph: “Good leaders are made, not born. They develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. We may not see them go through the processing, but we must be able to know or see their ability to do certain things better than others….

Nothing comes by mere contriving, machination or scheming. Therefore we must be careful that we no longer fall for silly sentiments (when we are deciding on who

from what others think of us; that is our reputation. Let me quickly add here that where we take time to consider an individual well before we vote for him, we would not be far off the mark between his reputation (what we think) and his character (what he is). I say so because no one is with born with good character; it’s not a hereditary trait. And it is not determined by a single noble act. This is in line with what I said above that 08054503104 “training and experience” combine to (SMS only) process the leader.

Character, according to the •campuslife@thenationonlineng.net legendary American president, •ladycampus@yahoo.com Abraham Lincoln, is established by conscientious adherence to moral values, not by lofty rhetoric or good intentions. I hear to vote for)”.

I equally stated that leadership is not for Albright here: “a leader does not rely on hope”. neophytes. The “never ending process of It does not matter whether it is 1862 or 2012, education, training and experience” ensures truth is constant. Lincoln had added: “Nearly that. It is these that combine to mould the all men can stand adversity, but if you want to character of the person who becomes a leader. test a man’s character, give him power”.

This is to say in effect that power is the test of Based on such foundation, he is better able to determine and maximise the capacities and character. When a man in power begins to capabilities of the men and material (resources) vacillate or recant his words, we know he lacks available to him. Having taken a critical look a critical component of leadership – character.

Like I wrote last week, it is different and at the circumstances or challenges before him, he is able to sit down and come up with a actually a strength when a leader is able to face timetable of what is to be done. On this his people and admit that he made a mistake timetable there are the deliverables (the critical previously, and based on new information areas that need to be addressed immediately), available this and that is now the new position the template (what is to be done in each of of things. That is what differentiates them), and the timelines (when it is to be done governance from politics. That is what differentiates a leader from a dealer – the duration).

To be able to do these is to show leadership. (merchant). The leader we vote for must be a The truth is that the timetable must be drawn man we can vouch for his ability to BEFORE the leader mounts the saddle, not assiduously hold on to his moral values.

AFTER. Another truth is that things always Holding onto these values, I repeat, must not look somewhat easier when one is on the be turned to a matter of mere rhetoric, as we outside; it is until one gets onto the hot seat see abound in our land today. If we are not that one sees the COMPLETE picture of things. going to remain stuck in the land of mere I know from my little experience as a student- potential, we have to stop deceiving ourselves leader in the university and in other capacities and learn to divest ourselves of all sentiments since then. I also know from same experiences whenever it is election time. Let us allow the that the only thing that can stand one in good real issues and what we know of the candidates stead, having got on the inside, is character. I to decide for us.

Considers what happened in France and referred to that in passing last week; I called it Greece last Sunday. The people may be wrong “integrity”.

Character is what each of us is. It is different in their choices, but they clearly voted based

Ngozi Agbo

on the issues on ground: mounting job cuts in the midst of an uncertain economy.

Nicholas Sarkozy may not have directly caused the problem in France, but he was punished for it at the polls because he was the President. And part of his speech conceding defeat to Socialist’s Francois Hollande was this line: “I take complete responsibility for the defeat”.

Here, we pay higher electricity tariffs (with a sworn oath by President Jonathan on Monday that even higher will be paid from June) at a time when supply has never been so bad (and no apology from him!), we pay higher for petrol because of the socalled removal of a now established nonexistent fuel subsidy, people have been indicted in a sleazy subsidy fraud report and the FG tells us prosecuting them is not high on its priority, education is much more expensive at a time when the standard is near zero and facilities obsolete, trillions are pumped into security at a time when insecurity is at an all-time high, so consider this – would it not be the worst form of suicide than we go to the polls and vote again for the PDP? In one of his articles earlier in the year, Okey Ndibe, in the Daily Sun newspaper, marveled at our incredulity when the PDP was returned as winners of the gubernatorial polls in Adamawa, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Kogi states. I too marveled; it is only in Nigeria!

But things have to change.

It is very easy for a leader to get distracted, to procrastinate and imagine he has all the time in the world. It is also very easy to look at the overwhelming situation, raise one’s hands and give excuses. “I did not create this mountain of problems in the first place”, “The rot is deeper than I ever imagined”, “Pray for me to succeed”, etc, are some of the lines we have heard from our leaders. While the first two connote helplessness, the last clearly portray a joker playing to the gallery. I guess about the worst is when a leader, with all the resources and intelligence (muscle and clout) available to him begins to bellyache about certain “powerful people” out to run down his government! That is the height of self-delusion.

Ciao

Hammed Ayuba is a 400-Level student of Guidance and Counselling Education at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). He is also the secretary-general of the Students’ Union. WHYTE HABEEB (400-Level Law) met him.

‘We reduced union’s allowance by 40%

H

•Hammed

OW would you describe your position at the Students’ Union?

The work of a secretary is tedious.

You keep all records intact and you must be up to date in secretarial skills. This means one must attend all meetings and functions; in other words, one misses classes. It is not easy but easy does it. I thank God. At a point you were suspended.

What happened?

Members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) at their sitting immediately after the school resumed this academic year were of the belief that the Central Executive Council did what was against the constitution. Meanwhile, it

turned out the suspension was a violation of the union’s constitution due to the fact that the committee that was set up to investigate did the investigation with sentiment and personal interest. What the Central Executive Council is working towards is to ensure that the union really moves forward. Besides, it was eventually discovered that I did not violate any part of the constitution. Thus, I was vindicated.

How did you overcome the issue?

When the issue started, the students and the university community were of the opinion that the suspension was right and the legislative arm became the saint of the time. To God be the glory, the mat-

ter was tackled in a judicial manner; all evidences and witnesses were considered on merit and the judicial arm really performed its duty and the suspension was declared null and void and also a flagrant violation of the Students’ Union constitution.

The Students’ Union has been appraised by many to be a vibrant one.

What would you say inspires this?

During our inauguration in June last year, we highlighted the programmes for the way forward.

The work started with the collective effort of the Central Executive Council which has brought us where we are today. The SRC has done great in the area of fast-track-

ing the implementation of the agenda. Also the contribution of the Judicial Council towards the way forward cannot be overlooked due to the fact that sensitive issues of the union have been resolved in court, especially the suspension issue and others that came up.

The allowance of union officers was reduced by 40 per cent in order to make provision for students’ welfare and other activities that will help the students. The transportation problem on campus has reduced drastically, thanks to the effort of the union; contractors have been signed up to build hostels on campus. We also have completed and commissioned the Students’ Union shopping mall and multipurpose hall, just to mention a few.

These achievements are behind the commendation from our students, and for that we are grateful.

Peter Msughter Adom is a 400-Level student of Mass Communication and President of the Students’ Union, Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi. In this interview with MSONTER ANZAA (200-Level Medicine), he talks about the protest that led to the shutting of the university.

T

HE university is to re-open this week. What lessons can you say have been learnt from the closure?

When you say lessons learnt, you have to be specific; lessons learnt by who? There were many parties involved. For us as students, time has been wasted. The academic calendar would now have to be adjusted and that means more weight has been added, though the management is trying not to totally alter the original calendar. Also, if they comply with the N5,000 fine, it would be another lesson. But I feel that is not the best way to solve issues or teach a child a lesson. It is a lesson anyway, but not a very good one from the part of the management.

‘Students didn’t start the riot’ What was the extent of involvement by your students in the riot?

At the beginning, it was not a riot.

It was a peaceful enquiry. Students heard what had happened and converged at the scene because they wanted to find out for themselves, which made the road crowded. This called the attention of many people whom I can say were not students but hoodlums. When the crowd swelled, the police disrupted my efforts to address the students and

lead them back to the campus. Then the hoodlums took over. It is normal in the spirit of aluta for students to show solidarity to their colleagues affected by any incident. I exonerate my students because at that level, I could have controlled them. When the police started shooting teargas, my students withdrew and I did too because I cannot address hoodlums. They wouldn’t have listened to me because they don’t even know me.

The students have been fined N5,000 each and asked to sign an undertaking to be of good conduct.

What is your response to this?

My response is the response of all the three unions: NANS, SU and NUBESS. We outlined reasons why it is not appropriate for the management to surcharge the students because they didn’t damage anything or start the riot. In fact, one of my students died. It beats my imagination because if life is lost on one hand and property is destroyed on the other, which is greater? Unfortunately, the management is more concerned about the property. I told them that students should not be surcharged, but even if it is unavoidable, N5,000 is too much. If you multiply that by the number of stu-

•Peter •Continued on page 31

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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CAMPUS LIFE

An orientation like no other The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra State, has held a special orientation session for new students at its Pre -Science centre located at Mbaukwu. EMEKA ATTAH reports.

T

HEY are young minds from diverse backgrounds but united by fate. Each is offering a six-month remedial programme which could buoy their chances of getting full admission as undergraduates to the full time programme of the university at Awka campus.

They are the Pre-science students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), located at Mbaukwu community, Awka South Local Government of Anambra State.

Some of them complain they feel inferior at times that they are yet to fully belong to the university system, but to the administration of Prof Boniface Egboka, the Vice-Chancellor, they are a special breed of young minds who deserve every attention because in them lie “future great scientists and academicians”.

This led to Egboka literally relocating the university community to Mbaukwu to integrate the students system.

The VC’s entourage included Prof Luke Anike, the Director UNIZIK Postgraduate Studies; Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Director, Information and Public Relations; Sir Emma Onwuka, the Acting University Librarian; Mr. Law Okeke, Acting Chief Security Officer (CSO); Mr. M.C. Olise, Special Assistant on Special Duties.

On hand to receive the entourage was Prof Gabriel Unachukwu, the Director, Pre-Science Programme, and his deputy Mr Okerulu Obi. In his address, Prof Unachukwu described the students as “98 percent good people who are committed to their academic programmes and comport themselves in dressing and general behaviour”.

He praised the interest of the VC towards the welfare of the centre

which has led to the renovation and upgrading of facilities. He appealed that the administrative hall and the fencing of the centre be completed too.

The Director equally charged the students to know their capabilities and go for courses based on personal conviction and not because they are coerced by parents or friends.

In a speech laden with motivational words, the VC, Prof Egboka, described the students as his special children. He reminded them that their primary responsibility in the school was to read and pass their exams so as to become useful to their parents and the society. He also advised them to watch the company they keep and charged them to maximise the opportunities in the centre so as to make the best of grades in their exams.

“When we train you and you grow up to become somebody, it will get better for all of us. Educate the youths properly and you educate the nation. We have done many developmental projects to provide a conducive environment for academic pursuit for you- our young minds - who will take over the nation’s leadership in no distant time. You are advised to beware of the company you keep. I say this because there had been incidents of children who came from good homes but lost their bearing just because of bad companies. Take your studies very seriously, sleep well, attend lectures, take notes and do not read just to pass. No profession is more important or better than the other; it is the individual who is better than the other,” he said.

The Director, Medical Services, Dr. Patrick Ezenor, giving health tips to the students, charged them

Coca-Cola thrills at UNICAL •Continued from page 29

ety and thank our customers for the patronage. Our aim is to develop youths who are talented in the game of football and we derive joy seeing those that come out of Copa CocaCola doing well in big clubs in Europe.”

He thanked the Calabar spectators for their orderliness and support throughout the matches.

Venue for the second day was the famous Abraham Odia Stadium, Calabar. It was the third place match between Uyo Team and Calabar Team Two. The match, which was tagged an exhibition match, kicked off at 2:30 pm. The Calabar team opened scoring in the 22nd minute through Patrick Edet. The first half ended 1:0 in favour of his team. In the second half, Okon Amekani unleashed his sword in the 78th minute to level scores and six minutes later, he added another goal to raise the ante to 2:1 till the end of the match.

Okon emerged the top scorer of the tournament with three goals in two games.

In the final match, the Calabar Team One bottled the PH boys. At the end of 90 minutes, the score stood at 0:0 taking the game back to penalty shoot-out. In the shoot-out, PortHarcourt scored five out of their eight shots while Calabar managed four.

Port-Harcourt, with the victory, became the new Zonal champions to represent the zone in Lagos on May

27.

In a chat with our correspondents, Emmanuel Okocha, a member of the technical crew, praised Coca-Cola.

He said: “In every aspect of life there must be development and development starts from the grassroots. This is a good project that Coca-Cola is doing. This is how it should be. Our football is not where it should be.

Apart from facilities, we have to invest in human resources. We have to develop the grassroots, from even as low as the primary school. If we can get talents at this level, train and monitor them well, I think we would beat the age issue and we would be able to develop our players. There is no structure that stands without a good foundation and we are working on the foundation now.”

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who was represented by the Director of Youths and Sports, Dr. John Amadi, said: “Government alone cannot embark on development. We are, therefore, glad that corporations, such as Coca-Cola are coming in and contributing their quota to youth development. This event is in line with Sen. Imoke’s plan of developing youths in all ramifications.”

Sunday Okorafor is captain of the Port Harcourt team, the winners. He said: “I am very happy that we have achieved this feat today. I thank CocaCola for this opportunity to display ourselves on the pitch. I equally want to thank my boys because they were the ones standing behind me all through the game.”

•Prof Egboka (right) presenting public address systems to the Director of Pre-science Centre, Prof Unachukwu (middle)

•Cross-section of pre-science students at the event

to always be health conscious. He listed useful tips to include “eating right, early treatment of symptoms, praying to God, reading, avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and stimulants”.

The acting Chief Security Officer, Mr Okeke told the students to be vigilant and abhor all vices. After presenting chilling pictures of some students who were victims of cult re•Continued from page 30

dents, what you get is not proportional to the damage caused on campus. And this is not even restricted to undergraduates; it includes all the students – postgraduates, sandwich and diploma students.

Was the Students’ Union involved in the process that led to this decision?

They didn’t involve us in the decision-making process even though we were involved in the inquiry. If we were involved, we would have communicated to our students in a way they would understand. But the decision was unilateral, so the stakeholders’ meeting was needless. The management had taken its decision and only called the meeting to pass the information. However, the unions submitted a written memorandum, pleading with them to revisit the decision. Not long ago, I got a reply from the Registrar that the university would maintain the Senate’s decision. So I would have to convey that decision to the unions and then we will decide what to do next.

How many students died and what is the position of the committee on this?

Two students were killed, but only one was ours. A student of the University of Agriculture was the second victim. I don’t know why he was there; maybe he came for a visit. If the committee had told me its decision, I would tell you.

What do you consider responsible for the violent response students usually give to issues like this?

No. Students did not give a violent response to this issue. Of course, students may respond vio-

lated matters, he listed the evils of cultism to the students. These, he said, include expulsion from the university, possible death from rival cult groups, police arrest, detention, prosecution among others.

The students were availed of certain dedicated phone numbers to call in the event of security or health challenges.

A product of the Pre-Science who later studied Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Miss Chioma Ezeanya, told the students a motivating story of how she rose from the programme to emerge the overall best graduating student in the university during the 2008 convocation. Today, she is a lecturer in the Pre-Science Centre and is about to complete her Masters programme.

Some of the new students shared their experience with CAMPUSLIFE. Eunice Akpoyibo, who intends to study Nursing after her programme, described the orientation as an eye opener. She said she will readjust her academic life henceforth.

Another student, Promise Nwokeafor, an aspiring Radiographer/Medical Lab Scientist, was full of praises for the VC for his fatherly disposition towards the students.

Sir Nnamdi Ibezim, who represented the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Peter Anugwu, described Mbaukwu town as “another Jerusalem” and stressed that it is the students who shall “turn the town to a New Jerusalem.”

The Vice-Chancellor promised to provide all that the centre Director solicited for. There was also the commissioning of the public address systems for lectures and art performances by the students.

‘Students didn’t start the riot’ lently to some issues, but there wasn’t any to this. The violence that came was from outside – from the hoodlums.

Why has the students’ scholarship not been paid yet?

That is a very difficult question.

That scholarship is a bursary allowance to students of Benue State origin. There are certain unions concerned with this. The Students’ Union covers all the students irrespective of their states of origin. The national and BSU chapter Presidents of NUBESS told me arrangements have been concluded and the scholarships may be paid next week. I can’t tell for the delay, but it is a government thing and you know how government delays.

Do you have a message for the students as they resume?

I always tell the students to be decent and moderate in all things.

I would like to encourage them to maintain their discipline. I want to be careful because some people are outside waiting for an opportunity to cause confusion. I want them to stand out in all they do.

We should lead for others to follow so that a better Nigeria would be realised.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Well, these days people consider achievements in physical structures. But the way the union works is to protect the welfare of students. We haven’t built or renovated anything. Instead, we stood

in for students’ welfare when we led a protest to make prices affordable to poor students who are the majority here. We put pressure on management to complete the production of 10,000 students’ ID cards. They have also approved the production of ID cards for 300 and 400-Level students. This is one of the promises we made during our campaign.

Another is the construction of bumps on the road. We pushed management and the government, but they did not listen until this incident happened. They always argued that the road was a highway, but bumps have been built on other highways close to schools like Nassarawa State University, University of Jos and Ah, the bumps now constructed, are also an achievement.

We have been tied down by finances because we don’t have free access to our account, which causes difficulty in budget-making. We intended building an SU complex and a water-producing plant but we haven’t because the management always claims there is no money in our account. Whenever we protest this, it looks like we are violent, but we need to operate our account because we must be transparent. So, if we had the finance, we would have done a lot of things.

Though our tenure is almost over, we hope the next administration will continue with these policies.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE Communication students visit firm

C

OMMUNICATION students of the Lagos State University (LASU), last week, visited JSP Communication Consultancy, a public relations company, in Ikeja, Lagos. The visit was part of the requirements for a degree in Mass Communication.

An official of the company, Mrs Weyinmi Igbinoba, said the company was established to provide first class public relations service with creativity.

“JSP was established in 1994 by Dr. Phil Osagie to provide first class public relations services coupled with creativity and profes-

•Mrs.Anyigbo (middle) flanked by some students at the end of the programme

Body holds workshop for Pharmacy students

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HE foyer of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ile was filled as the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) held a programme tagged “Headroom”. It comprised oratory contest and education talk.

The event, which was the first of its kind, was chaired by Prof Adebayo Lamikanra, a lecturer in the faculty. CAMPUSLIFE learnt the aim was to develop intellectualism in Pharmacy students as well as offer opportunities to study abroad.

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

The Education Advisor in the office of the United States Consulate General, Mrs. Margaret Anyigbo, urged the students to study hard.

She said studying abroad was not as difficult as people believed, adding that her office was open to students who needed advice on how to get foreign admission.

Prof Lamikanra, who praised the PANS executive for organising the first sensitisation programme in

the department, urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity.

In the oratory competition, 200Level students were represented by Adeola Agboola. She defeated other classes to clinch the first position while the 100-Level students, who were represented by Obianuju Ndedigwe, came second.

PANS president, Ayoola Onifade, said there was need for Pharmacy students to equip themselves intellectually in order to tackle the challenges ahead.

Varsity gets licence to host NUGA

T

HE Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU),Ile-Ife, has been awarded the right to host this year’s edition of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA). This is coming at a time the university is marking its 50th anniversary.

Since the announcement, the sport complex has been undergoing maintenance, even as the athletes have started training. Last week, NUGA officials led by its president, Dr. Ken Anugweje, visited the institution to sign the

Dept wins speech contest

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EPARTMENTS in the Faculty of Communications and Information Sciences (CIS) have contested in a speech contest organised by Communications and Information Sciences Students’ Association.

Suliat Ibrahim and McJoe Osadami represented Computer Science (CSC), Aminat Al-Hassan and Abigail Adaraloye stood in for Library and Information Science (LIS), Femi Esaac and Kehinde Katibi represented Mass Communication (MAC), while Information

From Olasunkanmi Arowolo LASU

sionalism,” she said.

Explaining the challenges facing the organisation, Igbinoba said: “Nigerian factor has been a challenge, but as a disciplined organisation, we have been able to scale through.”

The students were conducted round the company to help them understand the concept of public relations.

Some of the students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE appreciated the organisation for the “positive orientation”.

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the games which will hold later this year.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tale Omole, said the institution was ready to host the sports fiesta, adding that the best of sporting facilities would be provided to ensure a hitch-free ceremony.

Responding, Dr. Anugweje said the sports body expected OAU to provide a conducive environment for participating universities.

Present at the occasion were Dr. Bola Orodele, Secretary, NUGA; Dr. Muhammed Baina. Ex-officio, NUGA; Dr. Cliff Nnaedozie, Treasurer, NUGA; Dr. Nick Ugbokwe, NUGA Technical Committee and Prof Austine Itschize, Chairman, OAU Sports Council.

From Michael Adebayo UNILORIN

and Communication Science (ICS) was represented by Omololu Fagunle and Sikiru Ismail.

Omowunmi Stephen and Abisola Lawal represented Telecommunication Science (TCS). They spoke on the topic: “”y field of study and its prospects”.

As soon as the contest was declared open by the Dean of the faculty, Prof Lenrie Aina, the first speaker from each department took the center stage. Each of them spoke for five minutes while the second speakers spoke for three minutes.

At the end, LIS came first with 35.2 points out of 50. MAC and ICS were first and second runners-up scoring 34.3 and 32.1 points respectively while CSC and TCS followed with points 29.0 and 28.9 points.

Ex-student-leader holds free coaching class

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HE immediate past National President of the Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU), Abiodun Majekobaje, has launched free coaching classes for secondary school students in Ward 4,Ibadan North Local Government of Oyo State.

The first free coaching class held last week at St Jones Primary School, Atenda.Abiodun said it was to reduce mass failure in the junior and senior secondary school exams. Abiodun, a Geology graduate of the Ekiti State

•Some of the recruits undergoing drilling

Man O War recruits members

T

HE Man O War command of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has conducted a training for its new members. At the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, where the training was held last weekend, about 64 recruits were drilled on various physical and mental training using the paramilitary method.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE after the e x e r c i s e , t h e P r o v o s t Marshall of the cadet, Kingsley Edem, said it was a tradition for recruits to undergo such training as it was meant to keep them fit and ready for the challenges life throws at them.

“The training at Shere Hills was done by professionals from the

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

training centre. It was conducted in such a way that for each exercise, a real life application could be attached to it,” Kingsley said.

However, during the course of the drilling, one of the recruits fainted when he could not bear the pains any longer.

Relieving their experience at the Shere Hills, some of the recruits said the training was tough but offered them the opportunity to maximise their potentials.

Kingsley called on the recruits to see the process as one that would enable them in their duty to maintain order on campus.

•A female recruit climbing a hill

From Ismaheel Daramola UI

University, said he would do more to uplift people of the state.

Among those who graced the occasion were the Special Adviser to Governor AbiolaAjimobi on Information and Orientation, Mr. Bunyamin Solalu, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Abiodun Awoleye, who was represented by one of his aides.There were also community leaders, teachers and pupils.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

33

CAMPUS LIFE Help poor patients, VC tells Pharmacy graduates

P

•The freshers being asked to face down during the ‘initiation’ ceremony

Performing Arts ‘initiates’ freshers

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OR new students of Performing Arts Department at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), their orientation was a night of glamour. The event was attended by celebrities from the Nigerian entertainment industry such as Oosha Bunmi and Lade Ogunde.

Lecturers from other faculties and students of various schools like Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the Lagos State University (LASU) were also in attendance.

From Modestus Diko OOU

The event was anchored by student comedians, Baffy and Jide Old School. Other attractions included performances from groups such as Pacesetter, Dugbe International Entertainment Troupe (DIET) and Jay November crew – Didi and Brain.

Ogunde, who is a son of the late Yoruba filmmaker, Hubert Ogunde, said Theatre Art was a noble profession that needed full concentration of students.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, a 400Level student of the department, Uzoh Madu, said: “The organisation of the event was very stressful because it involved all night rehearsals. But I am glad the event was a success and everyone who attended commended us”.

Damilola Awosanya, in 300-Level Philosophy, said: “This is the best welcoming programme I have attended because it was wellorganised and I’m impressed people came from far and near.”

EOPLE from all walks of life gathered, last week, at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU),Ile-Ife, to witness the induction of Pharmacy graduates by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). The event took place at the popular Oduduwa Hall.

Present at the occasion were the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tale Omole, Acting Registrar of the PCN, Mrs. Gloria Abumere, Dean of the faculty of Pharmacy, Prof Oluseye Bolaji, the guest speaker and Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Mr. Lekan Asuni, Dean of the Arts faculty, Prof Dipo Salami, Fellows M.B. Emiola and A. Adedayo, Mr. Sam Olawoye, Managing Director of Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Demola Adeoti, Marketing Manager of GSK, Mr. Isikilu Salami, Executive Director, African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education, Dr Joseph Akinyede, and some officials of the Osun State Ministry of Health, among others.

Prof Omole congratulated the 99 inductees on the completion of their training from the university and membership of the Pharmacy profession.

He said: “The whole world is now before you because your new status carries great responsibilities.

Police varsity opens in September

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the commencement of operations at the Nigeria Police University, Wudil, Kano State. This will takeoff in September, making it the first police varsity in Africa.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Caleb Olubolade, and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, said this during a tour of the university project situated at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil.

According to a release, the

From Mabel Opara WUDIL

university would accommodate the administrative building with over 50 offices, including the ViceChancellor’s office, senate chamber, conference halls, hostels and faculty buildings.

Abubakar stated that the force was facing unprecedented challenges, which is why it needs better trained policemen. The aim of the university was to prepare the police to adequately stand on

their own academically and compete with their counterparts globally.

He warned prospective students that the era of people following shortcuts after examinations to continue and even graduate as police officers was over.

“This time around, you have to pass your examinations because if you dare fail, you will be sent back to your village,” Abubakar said.

He urged policemen to demonstrate excellence and professionalism with citizens.

Unpaid election allowances disrupt CDS

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HE weekly Community Development Service (CDS) of corps members serving in Awka South was disrupted last Thursday. The Zonal Inspector of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the zone, Mr Okorie Kalu, announced a major restructuring regarding the staff reposting. Majority of Batch “B” and “C” corps members expressed

From Ayodeji Adesina NYSC ONITSHA

their frustration over the continued delay in the payment of their allowances for conducting the senatorial rerun election in the state in February and March.

The atmosphere was charged and it took several minutes for Kalu to pacify the aggrieved corps mem-

bers. He assured them that the zone was doing its best to facilitate the payment soon. The corps members, however, interrupted Kalu, saying their passing out was less than six weeks away.

“Each time we talk about the issue, they tell us they are screening the names of those who participated.For how long?” queried one of the corps members.

Your profession deals with human lives and you will be dispensing drugs and other medicinal agents critical to your clients’ lives and health. All these duties should be carried out with utmost care and responsibility and in line with the dictates of good pharmaceutical practice. You should remember that one mistake can cost lives.

“There is also much temptation in your profession. You must, therefore, not allow the craze for profit or financial gain to tempt you to do anything unethical. Be always guided by the ethics and regulations of the Pharmacy profession. I also want to charge you to always show compassion, sometimes a life-saving treatment may be beyond your patient’s means.

Help such patients”.

He equally congratulated the best graduating student, Miss Omotola Deborah Ogundipe, who received nine of the 13 awards up for grabs.

Sixteen graduates made distinction, out of which Omotola had the best score. Her project thesis, CAMPUSLIFE learnt, won the Dean’s prize. She was also given N50,000 by the Board of Fellows (BOF) of the PCN.

Love gone sour: Medical student poisons self

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•From left:The captain of Etisalat Team-Free Midnight calls, Allen Alaye; Head Youth Segment, Mr Elvis Daniels and university sport’s coach, Mr Dakoru Sovinson during a prize presentation at the Etisalat-sponsored Cliqfest football tournament held in the University of Port Harcourt last Thursday

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

HAT would have made a young man with a promising future to want to die? This is a question students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) could not answer when a 400Level medical student, simply identified as Pampam and the only child of his parents, swallowed a mixture of hard drugs after his girlfriend, identified as Chidimma, said she was no more interested.

Chidimma is said to be a student at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State. Pampam and Chidimma, according to a source, started their relationship about a couple of years ago.

The source, who is a FUTO student, said they swore to an oath with their blood never to leave each other. However, problem started in Ejike lodge, where Pampam resides, when he was talking to Chidimma on their usual evening call. Chidimma reportedly told him that her pastor instructed her to break the oath they swore as well as the relationship, saying her pastor said she would die if she did not adhere to the instruction.

Pampam was said to have broken down in tears, pleading with

From Francis Egwuatu FUTO

Chidimma not to break up with him but the plea fell on deaf ears.

Heartbroken, Pampam reportedly drank a mixture of different drugs, with the intention to commit suicide.

However,when the effect of the drugs hit him, he panicked and started screaming for help. This alerted his lodge mates who rushed him to the hospital by foot as it was late in the evening and there was no vehicle in sight.

Pampam was discharged some days after but he swore not to let go. “He was calling Chidimma day and night,” the source added.

Pampam’s parents, on hearing what happened, travelled down to Owerri from Lagos to see him.

The parents were said to have pleaded with the lover girl to show up and see Pampam. She obliged.

“When she came, Pampam, who could not eat, jumped out of bed to hug her,” the source said.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the two lovers, thereafter, reaffirmed their love and continued with the relationship,to the joy of his parents.

CORRECTION: The story on this page “Pöly builds pedestrian bridge”, on Thursday, April 26, gave the impression that the new bridge was built by the management of the Abia State Polytechnic. We have since found that it was actually constructed by the Abia State Government.

34

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

NYSC 10: Friends remember Adeniji one year after Kehinde Adeniji was one of the 10 corps members killed in the wake of the crises following the announcement of President Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the 2011 April presidential election. DAYO OJERINDE (400-Level Mass Communication, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko) spoke to his friends.

•Kehinde (left) with friends during their convocation in 2010

EHINDE Adeniji would have passed out from the mandatory NYSC in February. That was not to be as he was among the 10 serving corps members mauled down by a blood thirsty mob in Bauchi State in April, 2011. Their crime: they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. The mob was protesting the announcement of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the presidential election.

One year after, their killers remain at large; but their friends and families will never forget.

A 2009 graduate of Banking and Finance from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Kehinde (from Osun State) lost his father when he was under 10 and was consequently raised single-handedly by his widowed mother. Today, she gnashes her teeth as she remembers her joy cut short.

As a student at the AAUA, Kehinde was the class governor for his level from first to third year.

He then became president of his department in his 400-Level. Students in the department recalled

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that they witnessed tremendous achievements during his tenure; famous being a historic trip to Ghana. CAMPUSLIFE spoke to some of them.

Akindele Akintan, a graduate of Business Administration from AAUA, was a close friend of the deceased. He said: “During our convocation, Kehinde could not arrive early from Bauchi, so he asked me to help secure his convocation gown by paying for him, which I did. He would have done same for me because we were close.

Though one year has passed, I still mourn him.”

Olawale Abiodun was Kehinde’s classmate. He took over as the class governor when Kehinde was elected president of the department. He had this to say: “Kenny was not just a good friend; we were close. He encouraged me to go for the class rep position when he was going for the departmental president. One thing I will always associate with him is his courage; he had a daring spirit and nothing was too daunting to attempt.”

•Opeyemi

•Oladapo

Babatunde Afolabi was the president of Rotaract Club, AAUA chapter, in Kehinde’s time and both were close as well. “Indeed, it is exactly 365 days since death took my dear friend and colleague away from me. I miss his curiosity to learning; his crave for more knowledge, his charisma. Adieu Kenny; continue to rest in the bosom of your God, till we meet to part no more.”

In his submission, Opeyemi Akinfaderin, the former president of Economics Department 09/10, the same time Kehinde served at Banking and Finance, said: “Kenny is the abbreviation of the name Kehinde, but he was different because ‘Baba’ was added to it thus we called him ‘Baba Kenny’. This was because he had a way of trying to cater for everyone. He was a caring soul. Baba Kenny was a mentor and I mainly miss him when I am planning an event. He had a way of saying just the right words to make me feel that ‘I can do it’. When he was the president of his department (Banking and Finance), I was also the president

of my department (Business Administration). We shared our dreams and visions together.”

CAMPUSLIFE sought to know if the friends feel the government did enough to compensate the Adenijis and other families who lost their loved ones to the killings.

Akindele thinks otherwise. “The government has done nothing to compensate the family, though we believe that justice belongs to God. After his death, the government offered many juicy packages, but nothing has been done. Besides, the perpetrators have not been brought to book.”

For Olawale, the government owes it as a duty to remember the fallen heroes every year; their families should not be neglected, he added.

Babatunde had this to say: “No gesture by the government can comfort his or any of the other families. All the same, it hurts more when they are just abandoned. The Goodluck Jonathan government should visit them and reassure them that the supreme sacrifice paid by their sons and

daughters are not in vain.”

Following the corps members’ killing, there was a debate over the continued relevance of the NYSC. Kehinde’s friends, Akindele and Olawale, are of the opinion that the scheme should be regionalised.

“Everyone should serve in their region of birth,” they submitted.

Babatunde said: “I think the NYSC should remain, but new reforms should be introduced. More should be done to secure the lives of corps members; at the same time, prospective corps members should be at will to choose which state they wish to serve in (aside their state of origin).”

Opeyemi said: “I praise the government for the courage and decision to continue with the scheme despite the odds faced recently.

NYSC is not the problem but our leaders and politicians who have turned our dear country to a battle ground just for their selfish ends.

Everyone knows that the knowledge and skills acquired during the service year helps serious minded individuals to attain great heights.”

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) commissioned the School of Environmental Technology phase II President Jonathan admitted that the educational sector in the country has suffered long-term structural deficiency, vowing not to further tolerate the inefficiencies that characterised the sector.

He said: “Our nation today finds itself distracted from its match towards greatness by ideologues mo-

tivated by sundry primordial instincts. We can only fight them by beaming the light at the bastions of darkness and fear and we need our educationists to make this possible.

We have high expectations of our tertiary institutions and I personally will not tolerate the inefficiencies which are causing our educational system to fail our children. We are presently affecting a silent revolution in the

•Akindele

FUT Minna celebrates her best The Federal University of Technology, Minna, recently held the convocation ceremonies for its graduating students. FAITH OLANIRAN, FOLAJIMI ORINTUNSIN (200-Level Estate Management) and TOLULOPE AJOBIEWE (200-L Urban and Regional Planning) FUT MINNA attended the event.

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AMILY and friends gathered at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, to give the ovation as successful graduates filed out to receive their certificates. It was the 19th and 20th convocation ceremonies of the institution, and 34 passed out with first class degrees out of the 2,506 students for 2009/2010 academic session.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Muhammed Salihu Audu, who conducted the ceremonies as his last – being as his tenure ends later this year – told the audience that another set of 179 spill-over students of 2010/2011 would also be graduating, bringing the number of graduating students to 2,685. Most of the graduands who are current Batch B and C set of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had to leave their places of

primary assignment to attend the occasion.

The grand ceremony also saw the award of higher degrees like 38 doctorates degrees, 288 Masters degrees and 248 postgraduate diploma certificates. The main event took place at the convocation square.

Apart from the honourees, other dignitaries in attendance were the host governor, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu (OON,CON), who came with his wife, the Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (CFR), Emir of Minna, Alhaji) Umar Faruq Bahago (CON), commissioners in the state cabinet among others.

Other highlights include the inauguration of projects at the Gidan Kwano campus and another at the Administrative Block for the newly established School of Information and Communications Technology, done

•Some of the graduating students

by the Visitor to the university, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i.

The central classrooms block and the 7.5mVA power sub-station were commissioned by Governor Aliyu.

The students’ ultra-modern community market was commissioned by the Chancellor, His Royal Majesty, Godwin Toritseju Ayonmi-Gbesimi Emiko, CFR Ogiame Atuwase II, the Olu of Warri. Prof Julius Okojie, the

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

The beauty of Law

By Habeeb Whyte

HAVE come to realise that the law abiding person has the habit of doing the things the violators of law don’t like to do.

But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.

The science of law for those who do not know is like that of medicine in one respect – that it is easier to point out what will do harm than what will do good. Even though morality cannot be legislated, but behaviour can be regulated. The

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law may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.

Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.

Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, simpler or more direct than does God, because in His creation, nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous because they all contain elements of law. What exactly the law is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.

It guides and directs his thinking and he would never suffer a wrong without remedy.

People are people; through other people, we constantly seek confirmation of our own existence by how we relate to others. The inability to obey laws is what blocks peace and blocked peace is the reason for blighted dreams.

Then, I think it should also be noted that the law gives a hope for

redemption even when we fail to obey it strictly. We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open and make the law our guide. How far you go in life depends on how you obey the law; our being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong.

The disobedience of law permeates every facet of our society and no one I say is immune from it.

This unethical practice agitates me.

It is a sad fact that every nook and cranny has become a cesspool of lawlessness. Some people violate the provisions of our law with impunity and they are still red carpeted upon their crimes while others are idolised. When they are quizzed on why they’ve violated the golden rules, they give excuses that are found wanton or they say that their act was caused by an improbable concatenation of circum-

stances which only occur to people of their own class.

This self importance has deluded them for so long that they always display the shallowness of their knowledge at every forum. They forget that class is not about personality, wealth nor affluence but an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge.

The law makers are the law breakers…what a society! I would remind you that disobedience of the law in the defense of liberty is no vice and that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Those who obey the law are the men with swish lifestyle. They do not have a narrow view of their faith.

Although some people might have rightly argued that the law is harsh at times and that it is not easy to follow the law, I must say as a matter of priority that a difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our

existence holds a purpose - a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve. Endurance in the obedience of the supposed harsh law covers all these.

The law at times sleeps but it never dies. The people in power have no political will to implement the law. The major problem is that we keep making laws that are neither obeyed nor implemented.

We are all moving towards what the philosophers have identified as nihilism, in which its advocates disavow all institutions. They don’t believe in law and due process. I wonder if many of us are not nihilists. When you don’t obey the law and breach protocol all for personal gain and you disdain institutions, you are a nihilist. The best way to avoid this is to live with law. Obey the law. Listen to the law. Practice the law. Choose with no regret. Continue to appreciate your laws. Do what the law says. Live as if this is all there is. I leave you with a mind full of hope because fools look to tomorrow; wise men use tonight. This is the law that guides the successful mind.

Habeeb, 400-Level Law, UNILORIN

Coping with strike, exams as an Akokite

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HERE are certain things one learns only by experience. It is common knowledge that higher institutions in Nigeria are prone to frequent closures. The closure is frustrating, not only because the children of the poor are mostly affected, but also because the shutdown may lapse for over a semester. It could be at a time the students are preparing for the semester examinations and the holiday that will follow. If the reason for the school closure is not as a result of the lecturers’ union strike, it could be as a result of student agitation (Aluta) or both.

For final year students, the notice of strike can be particularly disturbing. Three years into a four or fiveyear course, the average “senior” student just wants the final round of exams to hold and thereafter wait for the school management to set him or her free from the confines of the ivory tower. Many a student has suffered setbacks in Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) by inexperience.

Here’s how: when those sudden holidays come upon us, the inexpe-

rienced or the Jambite will simply go on a fun-loving spree. But the trap is that when the authorities reopen the institution, the resumption is often as sudden as the closure. On reopening, the authorities are also usually anxious to conduct the semester exams and recover lost time. For those students who forgot that they were students during the closure and never opened their books, notes or handouts, they always find semester exams tough.

In the University of Lagos (UNILAG), a quick survey among the upper-level students will reveal how many have had to struggle to restabilise their CGPA after a disastrous reopening and quick exams.

For Akokites, who had to write their semester exams shortly after returning from a long Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the story repeats itself.

During the strike, many worried students wished the strike had continued - indefinitely, if only to spare themselves the pain of exams for which they were ill-prepared. But the experienced, though a minority, were glad it was all over. They were

tired of staying at home, some said, having to loll around doing nothing like primary school pupils.

Some resented being sent on errands by parents and elder siblings who did not seem to appreciate that they were now adults.

On resumption from a recent lecturers’ strike, Akokites woke up to the fact that the real “struggle” had only just begun. Trust UNILAG dons, who are known for their academic seriousness, they wasted not a moment.

They didn’t even contemplate adjusting the academic calendar. The returning students had only a few weeks of lectures and thereafter, the dreaded exams began.

For the socialites among us, it was a stiff climb. It was not really easy for the students, especially an average UNILAG student for whom social life is as important as the academic life. Notwithstanding, students were not pessimistic, the vibrant young fellows retained their optimism. Those who had a relatively easier ride were the experienced ones who wisely spent some time during the strike refreshing their lecture notes.

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reconciling two or more antagonistic truths. Journalists, like detectives, are to be feared. They conduct investigative reports to establish the fact.

Politics, as believed in the medieval Greece, is meant for serious-minded people in the society. It is for people with intellectual base and oratory prowess, not for cheats in the society.

If our leaders were serious about the oath they swore to, the country would have experienced better.

Clearly, no society should expects to have an endless array of great and extraordinary leaders like Nyerere of Tanzania, Awolowo, Azikwe and Balewa of Nigeria and Mandela of South Africa, but the fact remains that no society can function well with covetous leaders.

Back in school, I used to believe that Nigeria will emerge from the cauldron of corruption but now, the menace started from top to the bottom. Police road blocks removed, yet oppression has not ceased. This attests to the fact that the corruption in the society is continuum. Our leaders need have a rethink on the politics they play. They need to change their belief in materialism and work for the people and the country.

Samson has just finished from Biology Education, OAU,Ile-Ife.

By Omolola Oyelude strike had caused.

As exams drew to an end, the once busy nights became cold and lonely, and normalcy gradually returned, students could now revert to the familiar pursuits of partying and having fun without the stress of exams.

Many went home while others stayed back, determined to make up for those lost busy nights. This is the life that we live in UNILAG year in, year out.

Omolola, 400-Level European Languages, UNILAG

Role of the mass media

The politics I dread BEG make I quickly blow grammar with journalists outside ...” This scene of an episode of the Economic and Crime Commission (EFCC) sponsored programme on a radio perhaps sums the perspectives of political elites.

They see journalists as people to welcome with polished English, logical lies and many words of empty boast.

I guess politicians see us as purveyors of falsehood. As some people will say: “Journalists want people who will tell them lies.” I stumbled on a newspaper dated Thursday, August 17, 2006, which bore the picture of James Onanefe Ibori, who was recently sentenced to 13 years imprisonment by a United Kingdom court for stealing public funds.

The title of the article was “Testimony in Transparency”. What struck me in the piece was the periodic issuance of public information on how financial resources of Delta State were handled. In the long run, every now sees that it is all false information.

Who deceived who? The truth lies in the fact that the journalists understand the point where deceit and truth meet. Ours, however, is to follow a slow steady course towards revealing the superior truth,

As exams approached, the streets of UNILAG became one huge library. Even students, who on a normal day, would rather go to nearby Ozone cinema, beach or clubs, were surprisingly seen to involve themselves in group reading. The university library was packed full with students who were ready to ‘chew’ their books; some took to hanging around the lagoon front.

Even commuters on the Third Mainland Bridge could feel the heat from the overworked brains on the campus.

The examination was such a great battle to face that even those students that had never been to any campus fellowship suddenly found refuge in the campus mosque and in the chapel. It was so cool that at night, you would find many students studying under the street lights; some went into the examination halls straight from overnight reading. They dispensed with such niceties as bathing. They were as dogged as the legendary Muhammad Ali in the boxing ring. They were not ready to give up; they were ready to overcome all odds the prolonged ASUU

By Oladele Oge

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HERE can be no high law in journalism than to tell the truth and shame the devil-Walter Lippmann, American Journalist (1889-1974).

In any civilised nation, one of the major innovations to entrenching good governance, socio-political right and accountability to the citizens is the media. It serves as the pivot to uplift true democratic government.

In a simpler sense, the role the media plays in the building of a so-

ciety can never be relegated to the background because information is power. In that case, the media becomes a mediator or translator between the public and the government. It is through the media that we can get comprehensive information about happenings in the world.

Today, there are many challenges facing the press across the world. In Nigeria, the media had a rough moment with the military regimes that ruled the country for years before the coming of the present democracy in 1999.

Journalists were openly assassinated, herded into jail and embarrassed in public. The brutality people, such as Nduka Irabor, Tunde Thompson, Onome Osifor Whiskey and Illiyasu Gudu among others suffered in the hands of military goons are examples. It is too early to forget the bad legacy left in our memories by the parcel bomb that killed the charismatic Dele Giwa, one of the founders of Newswatch, in 1986.

This and other problems have continually affected the operation of the mass media as the fourth es-

tate of the realm in Nigeria.

Under the democratic government, the challenges have endured. Last year, policemen acting on “orders from above” invaded the Lagos and Abuja offices of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspapers.

As a matter of fact, there is need to appreciate the impact of the media in sustaining democracy. Government agents must know that the press has the right to report any event without hindrance.

Also, the ownership of the media in Nigeria has a responsibility to give free hand to the practitioners to discharge their duties in a way that will promote the general interest of the people.

In order to win the war against corruption in Nigeria and political stability, one of the first steps to take is to stop the assault on the press. The work of the mass media is beyond the reportage of news items, but to dig more into the human angle stories and project the image of the nation in better light.

Oladele, 300-L Mass Communication, UN Nsukka.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE From dressing in matching colours, the trend now is to combine contrasting colours to achieve what is called colour blocking. TUNMISE OLADIPO (corps member serving in Oyo State) writes on the rave.

Colour riot: new fad on campus VER the years, matching colours has been the trend for fashion conscious students. However, for some time now there has been a paradigm shift as colour blocking popularly known as “colour riot” is what is in vogue. Colour blocking is combining different colours that compliment and support one another. In other words, it means wearing an outfit made up of “solid blocks of colours”.

This trend varies among youth from campuses to social events most especially wedding ceremonies. Colours that are usually combined are purple, orange and red; purple, ivory and teal; bubble gum pink and purple; yellow and green, electric blue and tangerine orange, green with mustard yellow, orange and pink among the others.

What do students think of this new fad?

CAMPUSLIFE went round some campuses.

“Gone are the days when people think of colour combo but now since its riot, let us do it,” says Kabeerah Yusuf, a Batch ‘C’ corps member serving in Jigawa State. She added: “I love it because colour control is over emphasised thereby making it to become old fashioned. I do colour blocking because I believe it’s the main thing in vogue. In fact, funny as it may sound, I think the more colourful an outfit is, the prettier it becomes.”

Taiwo Muraina is a 400-Level Chemical Engineering student at the Ladoke Akintola Ogbomosho. She said that “this is the most dynamic style so I think the trend should be seen as a welcome development in the fashion world. To me, the brighter an outfit is, the better it becomes. Loud and bright colours draw people’s attention so, combining colours like yellow, pink and green, for instance makes me look attractive and of course easily noticed by people”.

In the opinion of a student of the University

O

•Yetunde

of Ibadan (UI) who wound not want her name mentioned, “It is a wonderful, amazing and nice thing to be in vogue and I must admit that I love the trend. When the loud colours are combined in an outfit there could be a problem but combining only two conflicting colours like red and purple, with a neutral colour like black, the neutral colour automatically reduces any lousy effects”.

To Kikelomo Oke, in 300-Level Chemistry, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): “I believe it is cool so far the colours combined are sweet and match. Dressing in different blocks of colour makes me look nice and sexy”.

“I think colour blocking is always very nice to see on other persons but it is not easy to wear except one has the confidence and personality to pull it off” says a lady who simply identified herself as Bimpe. She added that it is a “fun trend as it encourages and in fact gives me the opportunity to try bold and daring colours together that I normally would not”.

However, in the words of Folashade Odeyemi, in 300-Level Biochemistry at UNILORIN “dressing in that manner does not

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•A group of girls in multi-coloured clothes

make one look attractive instead it makes some one look crazy, childish and really very funny”.

Her view is supported by Yetunde Akinyooye, a 200-Level student of Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. She opined that the trend is “not only funny but very ridiculous”.

Mojirola Adeniran is a student at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja campus. To her, “this particular aspect of fashion is crazy. I do not like it at all. Well some of the people most especially ladies that do it look good but majority of them do not blend the colours well so they, at the end of the day, look rather weird.

For instance, last week, I saw a lady who combined like four to five colours in an outfit.

To say the lady was looking so unnatural and scary is an understatement”.

Osedukem Igwubor is a Batch “C” corps member serving in Oyo State. His opinion: “I believe fashion is an individual thing with or without it being in vogue. I’m a conservative

so I prefer it when my cloth and shoes complement. So even though I have seen a couple of gents and even celebrities dressed in colour riot, matching colours like yellow, red ,blue and pink, I cannot do it”.

Fred Okoro, a 300-Level Accounting student at UNIOSUN also supports Osedukem. He said that “it is kind of crazy to me. For God’s sake how on earth would you expect me being a guy to go to the market and buy a pair of pink shoes? Of course, it is absurd! So to me, I have and will never be dressed in bold or loud colors. As a matter of fact, I cannot approach a lady dressed in that manner because I will believe she is not well cultured”.

“Fashion to me is not all about dressing to match or contrast colours, it is all about what will really make you look gorgeous,” opined Abisola Akintunde, a Batch ‘C’ corps member serving at Ibadan. She added that she wears an outfit that “to look good and not dress because people are dressing like that”.

FUT Minna celebrates her best •Continued from page 34

delivery of knowledge to our students and this is because of the realisation that the educational sector has, for long, been faced with structural deficiencies”.

Earlier, the VC, Prof Audu, said out of the 2,506 first degree students that graduated 34 bagged first class honours, 514 had second class upper and 1,221 made second class lower while 668 came out with third class honours.

He also said that the university awarded 248 postgraduate diploma certificates, 288 masters’ certificates and 38 doctorate degree certificates.

Four persons – the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, an industrialist, Alhaji Sani Dauda, Chairman ASD Motors and Mr. Victor Winn Chairman/Managing Director, Osprey International Limited - were also conferred with honorary doctorate degrees.

The convocation lecture, which preceded the convocation, took place at the First Bank Agric Lecture Hall, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano. The lecturer was Prof Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, NUC, and Chairman, Governing Council of Osun State University. He did justice to the lecture titled “Breaking Barriers to

National Development: Are We Taking Full Advantage of Science and Technology?”

One of the graduating students, Eromosele Oria-Usifo, of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, expressed gratitude to God for making him see the day. “I am very glad that I’m cleared and today have my certificate in my hands.”

He advised students to be patient and learn to endure “no matter what comes their way”.Emmanuel Odumosu graduated from Mathematics and Computer Science. He said the university would have lasting influence in his life, owing to the fact that he utilised the saying “pass through the school and allow the school to pass through you”.

He was into many organisations on campus which at a point he lead as well, these include the National Association of Computer Science Students. He advised the management to enhance the students in building up their leadership skills while in school.

Ruth Adeyemo graduated with a first class in Biochemistry. She said: “Not only will I go into the labour market to make a difference; I will leave my footprints by creating a path which will last the test of time.”

Union gets electoral committee

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HE Student Union Government (SUG) of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has constituted a new electoral committee to conduct the upcoming election of the union.

Earlier, the outgoing president of the union, Joel Oyeyiola, in his account of stewardship, thanked OOU students for giving him the mandate to serve them.

He said he put in his best and advised whoever succeeds him to continue where he stopped.

From Muritala Omikunle OOU

Joel said it was the duty of student-leaders to seek to serveand not to be selfish.

The newly constituted electoral committee members are Olusegun Ogunsanya, Chairman; Bola Balogun, Special Duties; Odunyebo Olalekan, Financial Secretary.

Idris Olugbodifemi, Wale Rafiu and Damilola Akinsehinwa are members.

Olusegun said the election will come up in the next three weeks.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

37

EDUCATION

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HE Director-General, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCON), Prof Addison Nwokocha, has said the council’s doors are open to institutions wishing to apply for its Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) programmes.

He, however, added that the council would not compromise on standards as any defaulting institution will be denied such facility, or put under repeated facility assessment, until all the standards are met.

Speaking at the resource visitation of Topmost College of Education, Ipaja, Lagos ahead of the PDE accreditation on Thursday, Nwokocha, identified some of the standards as including inspection of physical facilities such as ICT units, medical Audio-Visual, arts&gallery, library (including elibrary), classrooms, and faculty staff.

Nwokocha was in company of some of aides including Director Education and Accreditation Dr Jessinta Ezamokpe; Director, National Operations Dr Steve Nwokocha; and TRCN Lagos State Mr Enilolobo.

Said Nwokocha: “We are here for resource assessment because this college has applied to TRCN that it wants to mount the PDE programmes. So, we have come to see whether they have the facility and staff to run it.

“On our part, we cannot approve a programme for an institution that is ill-equipped otherwise you water down the quality of the programme. As I said, a prospective institution interested in PDE must have facilities, the right calibre of students and qualified staff. For anybody to teach in that programme, such person must have a least a masters degree in Education. As many institutions that are fit to run the prgrammes should invite us, and we will come

LASU FILE Varsity reopens female hostel THE management of the institution has ordered the re-opening of the female hostel at the main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

LASU urged female students to, therefore, report to Room 6B, Students' Affairs Office, at the Students' Affairs building between noon to 4.00 p.m. daily, to obtain clearance forms with photocopies of the authority to pay and receipt of payment. In addition, students must collect the agreement forms from same room, complete the forms and return them to the same office immediately. Any student without agreement form will not be clearance.

Employees to report fraud • Prof. Wokocha; Provost, Dr. Olufunmilayo and Chairman, Governing Council Mr Odunayo

Teachers Registration chief canvasses support for programmes

By Adegunle Olugbamila

for resource visitation.

“In the past, some have passed while a few have also failed because we will not approve if you don’t meet the standard. Rather we will advise you on what to do in order to correct the deficiency. So we keep visiting you until the standard is met.”

The PDE, Nwokocha stressed, was the initiative of the TRCN, conceptualised some years ago to address chiefly, proliferation of quacks in the teaching profession.

Giving a background to the PDE,

he recalled how in 2003, the TRCN, had wanted to arrest and prosecute unqualified teachers nationwide in accordance with the law.

He noted that the move was put on hold by the then Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili on grounds that quacks were many and that those among them interested in professional teacher qualification shoul;d therefore be given more time.

In her brief response, the Provost Dr. Olufunmilayo Odunayo described the college as an household name in the education circuit, add-

ing that at present the college has 15 registered PDE students in addition to 29 members of staff whose license are still under processing.

Corroborating Nwokocha, she said PDE programmes is a child of necessity.

“Let us use this opportunity to inform other prospective students that there is no better time than now to commence the programme.

Truly, teaching profession has been proliferated but time in s now ripe to separate chaff from what,” he added

•From left: Dr Ibiyeye-Ladipo; Deputy Rector, Administration, Dr. (Mrs) Nkechi Akubuiro and Dr. Oyelola

Rector calls for empowerment of poly students

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HE Rector, Yaba College of Technology, (YABATECH), Lagos, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, has urged the Federal Government to grant loans to graduates of polytechnics who have undergone various entrepreneurhip programmes.

She said this at the Third Entrepreneurial Lecture and Exhibition of products organised by the college’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED). Ladipo said the government could complement such gesture with a monitoring mechanism for the loan.

"Polytechnics products who have acquired entrepreneurial skills as part of the government’s programme for the higher institution should be provided with soft loans to start something instead of them wasting time looking for white collar jobs. They can be at-

By Seun Olalude

tached to entrepreneurial banks to monitor effective use of the loans, this will minimise unemployment rate in the country."

She noted that the contribution of entrepreneurship to the development of an economy like Nigeria in the 21st century cannot be overemphasised.

"In this 21st century, entrepreneurship is the key to both individual and national survival. It is the foundation to all advanced economies. Today, the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) are considered as emerging economies of the world because they promote entrepreneurship," she said.

The guest speaker, Chief Executive Officer, Self-Development Academy, Lagos, Mr. Tayo Solagbade urged Nigerians youths to be more creative.

He said: "Always think of what you can do that will advertise you to the world like a young a Nigerian Oni Bamidele, 12, who makes money from blogging. But it is unfortunate that many of our youths use the Internet for frivolities cannot fetch them anything. Be creative; develop new ideas that will turn your world around."

The Director, CED, Dr Olukemi Oyelola, spoke on the essence of the programme.

"This programme was organised to show to the nation the kind of ability that can achieve without spending much. This was done by our students within few months.

CED is committed to train our students in entrepreneurship skills," she said. Some of the CED students who spoke to The Nation pleaded for government empowerment.

One of the exhibitors, Miss Njoku

Gladys, an HND 11 Marketing student, asked for government’s empowerment.

"We started the practical few months ago; we were group into several groups making different products. At the end, we learnt so many things which we can proudly make by ourselves without any supervisor. I will be glad if the government can encourage us by paying more attention the centre and to grant fresh graduate loans to start something."

An Higher National Diploma, (HND 11) student of Office Technology Management (OTM), Archbong Sarah said she is ready to "With the knowledge I have acquired in sewing, making liquid soap and many others, I am ready to start a business without pursuing white collar job; all I need is capital," she said.

THE management has charged employees that they have a duty to report instances of suspected fraud to internal audit unit of the university which will then co-ordinate internal investigation of suspected fraud or irregularities with appropriate university officials.

A circular made available by the institution Centre for Press Media&Public Relation, said the Director of Internal Audit will be available to receive any report of deviations on the part of any member of staff of the Internal Audit vis-à-vis the established principles/rules.

Any employee, who suspects potential fraud(s) or related misconduct/irregularities, are hereby advised to contact the Internal Audit and/or speak directly with the Director of Internal Audit, circular added.

Institute visits LASU THE university on Tuesday played host to the Director-General Obafemi Awolowo Institute Government and Public Policy, Prof Adigun Agbaje.

The visit which was held VC office centred on possible cooperation between the institute and the university in the areas of research and global networking.

Agbaje, a former DVC (Academics), University of Ibadan, said the collaboration was mandated by the board of the institute when it was discovered that it would lead to a meaningful relationship and would have a tremendous advantage on the society.

Responding the VC Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa said the proposed collaboration meant a lot to LASU, adding that the university is privileged and opportune to be part of the institute and promises to take advantage of the collaboration. The institute was established by the Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, as a monument to the late sage.

•Prof Obafunwa

A BRIEFING on Laptops for Learning by Golden Penny holds today at Kuramo Primary School, Opposite Eko Hotel&Suites, Victoria Island.

Time is 2pm. Invited guests and media are hereby implored to be punctual.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

38

EDUCATION Envoy Commends Lagos school THE Chinese ConsulGeneral in Nigeria, Mr Liu Xianfa, has commended Grace Schools for sustaining a high academic standard and creating a conducive learning environment for pupils.

He applauded the school for exposing their pupils to the Chinese culture and language which he said, would improve their well being in life. He said he was impressed with the learning process of Grace Schools about Chinese culture.

Xianfa said the future holds bright for the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China and as a result, promoting Chinese language and culture is very crucial. He said the mission is ready to partner with Grace Schools to ensuremore exposure of pupils to Chinese culture.

He added that Chinese language learning is good for the future of both countries and the interaction should be fostered the more.

•Governor Aliyu

Kano to establish two more varsities

By Kolade Adeyemi

KANO State government has restated its determination to establish three additional universities before the end of the year.

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rabi'u Suleiman Bichi, disclosed this during the investiture of the newly elected executive members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Kano State chapter.

Bichi said the plan to establish the universities became imperative in view of the increasing number of the state indigenes seeking admissions into various institutions of higher learning in the country.

He said: "In Kano State today, about 18,000 students pass out yearly from secondary schools and are seeking for admission into tertiary institutions.

Unfortunately, only 5,000 secure admissions every year into institutions of higher learning."

He disclosed that construction at the Northwest university has commenced, promising that

by September this year, admissions will be offered to prospective applicants.

He urged members of the institute to participate in politics to contribute their quota to the socio-economic and political development of the country.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINES AD Scholarships for Postgraduate Courses with Special Relevance to Developing Countries Masters (MS) Degree Deadline: 31 July (annual) Study in: Germany Course starts September 2012 Brief description: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships in Germany for international students for a range of postgraduate courses at German Universities which aim at providing academically educated young professionals from developing countries with further specialized studies.

These degree courses, which consist of one to two years of concentrated study, provide academicallytrained young professionals in leading positions from developing countries with the opportunity to engage in postgraduate education and training in their particular field or profession.

Host Institution(s): German Universities offering postgraduate courses with relevance to developing countries.

Field(s) of Study: Postgraduate courses are offered in the following fields: o Economic Sciences / Business Administration / Political Economics o Development Co-operation o Engineering and Related Sciences o Mathematics o Regional Planning o Agriculture and Forest Sciences o Environmental

Sciences o Medicine and Public Health o Veterinary Medicine o Sociology and Education Number of Scholarships: Not specified.

Target group: The DAAD Germany Scholarships are for international students and young professionals from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America and Central and Eastern Europe.

Scholarship value/inclusions: DAAD scholarship supports selected programmes with a variety of full or partial scholarships.

Eligibility: o Will come either from a public authority or a state or private company in a developing country and, as such, be engaged in the planning and execution of directives and projects with emphasis on development policies having a bearing on technological, economic or social areas. o Holds a Bachelor's degree (4 years) in related subject. o Will have completed an academic degree far beyond average and at least two years of related professional experience. o Is not older than 36 (for some courses the age limit is 32), and his/her respective academic degrees should normally not be older than 3 years. Concerning a possible age limit, please refer to the course details on the following pages. o For courses in German: DSH 2 or TestDaF 4; at time of application German skills at completed level A2 are required. In addition, German language courses at level

A3 or B1 are highly recommended. o For courses in English: TOEFL (minimum score: 550 paper based, 213 computer based, 80 internet based) or IELTS (band 6) certificate.

Please also see if you meet the eligibility requirements of the programme you are applying to.

Application instructions: Scholarship applicants can apply at the German embassy or DAAD regional office, directly at the DAAD in Bonn or directly to the university. For Cameroon, Myanmar, Nigeria it is highly recommended to submit the applications only via the German Embassy.

The applicant should submit the complete requirements as found in this link. The applicant also needs to follow separate specific application requirements and instructions (if any) set by a course.

Application deadlines for DAAD-scholarships are as follows: o At German embassies and/or at the DAAD regional offices: 31 July o At the DAAD section 431 in Bonn/Germany: 30 August. o At the respective universities in Germany: 30 September or 15 October Important Note: Applicants should make sure to check information regarding university-specific application closing dates directly with the individual universities because they may vary from the general deadlines listed above.

It is important to visit the official website to access the application form and for complete information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Varsity inaugurates Governing Council

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HE Governing Council of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), in Abia State has been inaugurated, ahead of the take-off of its academic programmes in September this year.

In his inaugural speech, the Chancellor and proprietor of the university, Dr. Greg Ibe, charged the council to operate within the confines of the university law and that of the Na-

By Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

tional Universities Commission (NUC).

Ibe cautioned the council and its members not to, ''meddle in the day-to-day administration of the university by the administrative authorities, as such meddlesomeness will breed bad blood among them.''

He noted that by the provi-

sions of the enabling laws, the council should be answerable to the university's Board of Trustees, stressing that the board is the general overseer of the institution.

Ibe said university desires to earn for itself reputation for high quality academic and research programmes as well as professional, practical and entrepreneurial capacity development, adding that the man-

agement shopped for the best hands in education circle.

The university Chancellor said that the mission of the institution ''is to produce Godfearing, ethically sound, highly skilled global leaders, who shall be catalysts for technological and socio-economic advancement.''

He said the institution would place top priority on the attainment of all-round excellence,

Poly, Ife hosts ICAN accreditation team

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HE accreditation team of the Institute of Chartered of Nigeria (ICAN) has promised to work with the Polytechnic, Ile Ife, Osun State to achieve excellence.

The taem visited the institution's Accounting Department to inspect its facilities, especially in admission procedure, entry qualification, staffing, library and facilities among others.

The leader of the team, Dr John Enahoro, said the visitation was not for fault finding or witch hunting, but to ensure quality and basic curriculum are strictly observed.

Commending the efforts of the management of the polytechnic for all facilities provided, Enahoro stated that private sector is known for efficiency, adding that the Polytechnic; Ile-Ife should follow suit to attain a high level of efficiency.

He said the Department of Accountng would not only benefit from ICAN, but other departments too. The team leader stated that ICAN is ready to give out books, journals, packages and professional advice to the institution anytime the management needs its support. He also stated that in order to encourage hard work among students, the overall best student in each level is eligible for ICAN scholarship.

In his reaction, the Execu-

•Dr Adedoyin (fourth from left) with other members of ICAN team

By Seun Olalude

tive Chairman of theinstitution, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, expressed his gratitude to the ICAN team.

He promised that all the improvements recommended by the team would be addressed in order to ensure higher efficiency and standard.

The accreditation exercise also featured interactive sessions between the team and the students of the institution, especially those of the Accounting department.

Lecturers of the Accounting Department had meetings with the team where they had the opportunity of learning and sharing ideas.

The accreditation team, which was led by Dr. John Enahoro, had Prince Ezekiel Folowosele, Mr OlumideApanisile, and Mrs.Abosede Vera Akindoju as members.

adding: ''We must be revolutionary to attain and sustain excellence in this institution.''

Ibe said ''In Gregory University, we will help the helpless to have education at a possible cost, with the mind to give out the best to the society at the end of the education''.

He assured that the institution would provide assistance to the indigent students through scholarships, bursaries and loans, to ensure that qualified and brilliant students were not deprived.

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

EDUCATION

Ekiti rebuilds burnt govt college

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KITI State Government has rebuilt the boys' hostel of the state Government Science College, Ayede which was razed down in March.

The hostel was said to have caught fire shortly after pupils had gone for their evening lessons in preparation for the second term examination. The fire consumed the hostel, destroyed pupils' property, as well as of their House Master's.

Speaking on the quick intervention of the state government which constructed te hostel under two weeks, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Eniola Ajayi said the government had to mobilise a contractor to the school to ensure that a new building was put in place before the pupils resume.

The commissioner said the state government has also provided pupils with two sets of new school uniforms, textbooks covering core subjects, stationery, 125 pieces of double bunks with 250 mattresses and pillows.

"The Governor gave me a matching order that the school be rebuilt before resumption and that was about just to ensure that work be-

By Odunayo Ogunmola

gan on the site. He also asked that I mobilise contractors to site immediately. Thankfully, the building has already been roofed and we are just building a larger one than what was there before.

"The building is being plastered.

Aside from building the place,we realised that the students lost all their property, uniforms, books and so many things, so the state government also gave us money to purchase two sets of uniform for all pupils involved, give them all their core textbooks, provide double bunks and other things to get them back to school," she said.

Ajayi further said the government through the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB, has concluded plans to begin the perimeter fencing of the school to prevent encroachment and disturbance by natives who use the school as thoroughfare to their houses which are near the school.

She added that the college is one of the schools that would receive attention under the Operation Renovate All Schools programme

• From left: Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr Tunde Busari, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Tokunbo Fayokun and Permanent Secretary, Dr Abiodun Bello at a briefing by Fayokun on Oyo State Education Summit in Ibadan

of Ekiti State government.

In his remarks, the Principal of the School, Mr Michael Ajimati, commended the intervention of the government for giving them both security men for the protection of lives of the affected pupils and staff

on the day of the incident.

Ajimati added that the fire incident affected the second term examination, which was being prepared for at the time of the incident, adding that this also affected the school's resumption date.

Ogun secondary teachers praise Amosun

Old boys assures of quality education

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IRCH Freeman High School Old Boys' Association (BIFOBA), Lagos State Chapter has reassured of its commitment to qualitative and affordable education in the state.

The association commended the Lagos State Government for its efforts to restore the school to its pride of place. The state government, it said, had championed the fund raising for the construction of the proposed multipurpose hall and a modern 21-classroom block for the school.

Speaking during the annual home coming and school hall fund raising ball in Lagos, the President of the Association, Mr. Feyisola Dinyo, said the school had become the toast of the society to which everybody wants to send their wards.

He said BFHS which had become the derelict and constantly flooded school in the past, a development which he added, contributed to the decline in population, now accounts for a pupils population of

By Ambrose Nnaji

over 550.

He said there are about 420 pupils in JSS1, thereby creating a major problem for the school's management to contend with. He said the school remains one of the most visible public schools in the state which, according to him, had produced Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

He said: "The outgoing Exco had worked passionately to bring BFHS to the position it is today. He said: "BIFOBA as an organisation as of today is the most active, vibrant and most visible Old Boys Association in Nigeria which is always in the news. Today, BIFOBA has the most interactive, educative and effectively managed website by competent and experienced administrators in the history of Nigerian schools."

BIFOBA he said, had given birth to viable, strong and independent North America and U.K. chapters.

While congratulating the new awardees into the guild, the president, however, charged them to be committed to the uplif of the school and BIFOBA. Dr. Ben Ukadike, one of the recipients, said the award would make them know that one could still achieve success through hard work.

"I have heard people say you cannot make it except through fraudulent practices such as stealing from public funds, drug pushing, and other corrupt practices, but we have worked hard in our own way and we have gotten to where we are today" because of the foundation that the school gave to us.

"Today, there are better infrastructure in terms of school building, information technology, conducive learning environment etc. It wasn't so good in the past 10 years. Within the last two to three years, the school had taken a new shape and that augurs well for better training for the students", he aded.

Chairman, Parents-Teachers Association, Olugbenga Oke, said it was need less of parents bringing new uniforms, mattresses or textbooks again since government has already shouldered the responsibility.

Frrom Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

• Amosun

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HE Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Ogun State chapter has lauded Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the steps he has taken to make education free and qualitative in the state.

ASUSS cited the construction and renovation of school structures, free distribution of learning and instructional materials to pupils and

• From left: Mr He Meng, Deputy Head of Mission and Mr Liu Xianfa, Consul-General, of Chinese Embassy with the children of Grace Schools, Gbagada, Lagos during a courtesy visit to the school.

schools in the state as examples such of steps the Amosun administration has embarked on to make education qualitative and affordable to the people.

Speaking through its Chairman, Comrade Tunde Folarin, the body, however, urged the governor to also extend the good work to the teachers by "focusing" on their "welfare."

Folarin said incentives such as laptops, housing and car loans, if made available to teachers, could boost their morale and would ultimately reflect in enhanced performance in internal and external examinations by students.

"The governor had provided books and other materials but he must also understand that teachers that will administer those materials are important for development of the pupils.

“No matter how much you spend on education and materials for students, if the teachers are not happy, their attention will be divided and they may not give their best.

"Laboratory and library are also important as well as reduction of teachers-pupils ratio, as it will enable the former to know their pupils and understand them better," Folarin said.

He rued the yearly poor performance of students across the country in public examinations such as the National Examinations Council (NECO), attributing same to lack of adequate training of teachers, bloated curriculum and subjects.

The ASUSS boss in Ogun State expressed regretted that the Federal Ministry of Education was not faithful to its promises, when it changed the academic system without consulting teachers and other stakeholders.

"Numbers of subjects that pupils in secondary schools are offering are just too many, you will find out that they need just six while they are made to face up to 13 or 14 subjects.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

40

EDUCATION

CBN, Fidelity Bank donate to school

F

•Cross section of matriculating students of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos

MOCPED provost warns students against vices T

HE PROVOST, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos, Prof. Olu Akeusola, has urged new students of the institution to shun anti-social behaviours, saying they would affect their lives.

He gave the advice at 12th matriculation of over 250 part-time students at the schol’s main auditorium at the weekend.

Administering the oath of admission on the new students, he urged the new students to tow the path of honour in the college, noting that it has gained a reputation for producing reputable teachers for schools within the state and beyond.

He called on the students to explore opportunities offered by the

centre for their benefits.

He said the MOCPED’s target is to train teachers in the best techniques of fundamental education that would enhance their proficiencies andknowledge in education delivery to liberate the country from further slide in education.

He promised that the college would provide everything necessary to make them comfortable in any of the college's centres.

He charged the matriculating students to see themselves as useful instruments to bring about positive change in the nation's education

sector and the world in the nearest future.

He assured the students of his commitment to update the institution's library with modern materials, digital e-library that will link them to other global digital libraries.

He added: "All that is required of you is devote your time, and energy, and be committed to studying your books to learn as fast as possible to become great teachers in future.

“This administration will effect total changes in academic development, infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT), agriculture, discipline, security, among others, in this college."

Ogun SUBEB to provide instructional materials

A

S a further boost to its free and qualitative education programme, the Ogun State Government has given approvalokayed Basic Education Board’s (SUBEB) application to construct 278 classrooms and renovate 1,234 classrooms in public primary and junior secondary schools in the State.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, who was represented on the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ambali Ishola, stated this at the presentation of instructional materials to public primary schools in the State at Abeokuta

T

South Local Government Education Authority, Ijeun Titun .

Odubela in a statement by his press officer, Kayode Oduyebo, said that the board had been given the money to purchase 80 sets of plastic furniture for early childhood care Development Education Centers, 15,625 sets of public furniture for public primary and Junior Secondary Schools and 7,148 sets of teacher's furniture for both public primary and junior secondary schools.

Also, 36 computer sets and 36 generating sets were approved to facilitate the teaching and learning of computer science in the ba-

Institute commences registration

HE institute of Professional Financial Consultants (IPCFC), has commenced registration of candidates into its certificate programmes.

Its Chief Executive Officer Mr Nosa Giwa, who said this at a briefing in Lagos, noted that the institute which has just commenced operations in the country, provides enormous opportunities for financial consultants to acquire their certification with ease without travelling abroad.

He said the institute is affiliated to the Chartered Institute of Professional Managers, United States of America (USA) and the Chartered Institute of Financial Treasures United Kingdom (UK).

He said: "The institute which was established as a catalyst for change is authorised by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a professional body under the Companies Act of 1990, and was dedicated to promoting and improving the quality of decisions made by financial consultants and administrator."

"The organisation is focused on

sic school.

He enjoined parents, guardians and other stakeholders to join hands with the government in its bid at reforming the education system in the state, particularly at primary level.

"I invite parents, guardians and stakeholders to heed this wake- up call and join effort at reinstating our education system, particularly at the basic educational level."

Odubela pleaded.

State SUBEB Chairman, Honorable Mufutau Ajibola had earlier in his speech applauded the government for approving the deployment of 127 new staff to the board and 127 head teachers to serve as education supervisors.

OR the first time Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State displayed nostalgia as he clutched the chalk at Adisa Raji Special School, Sokoto to remember his past as a classroom teacher.

He demonstrated the teaching technique during the handing-over of water reticulation project, mattresses and renovated blocks of classrooms to the school by some private organisations in Sokoto.

Wamakko, standing before JSS 1B pupils, asked questions, gingered the session.

However, a water reticulation project and 180 units of mattresses were donated by staff of the Sokoto State branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Accordingly, staff of Fidelity Bank Plc undertook the renovation of a block of two classrooms and construction of two blocks of five pit latrines by Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, (CCNN).

In his response to organisation's gesture, Governor Wamakko said there was the need for individuals and private organisations to partake in ensuring the provision of quality education for the people.

"No government can successfully

•Sanusi

undertake the provision of quality education of its citizenry alone. It can only ensure enabling environment for individuals and private organisations as well as ensure compliance by private schools operators with education policies of government," he said.

He noted that education was not an exclusive preserve of the government but joint efforts by government, individuals and private organisations aimed at providing quality education in our schools.

He called on other people and organisations to come to borrow a leaf from CBN, Fidelity Bank Plc and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria.

Controller, CBN, Sokoto State Muhammed Lawal Idris and Fidelity Bank branch leader, Abdulrahman Ibrahim, donated the items on behalf of the banks.

First edu. newspaper hit newsstands

A

REVOLUTION has again occurred in the media circuit with the berthing of the first education newspapers Total Education. In a bid to start reporting education as never before, Mr Kayode Olanrewaju, a Veteran journalist has embarked on the production of Total Education Newspaper, a pioneer education newspaper in Nigeria.

The newspapers, according to its proprietor, becomes imperative, to do a more indepth research ion issues bordering on education as well as give restore the beat to its prode of place.

In a briefing held on Tuesday last week at the company's headquarters at Ogba Shopping Complex, its Executive Editor Kayode Olanrewaju, said Total Education is a chid of necessitu in view of the many years of relegation which most major newspapers nationwide have subjected Education beat to.

"A critical look at the trend of newspapering in Nigeria, which dates back to the era of the West African Pilot, Daily Times, Nigerian Tribune and Daily Sketch, as well as the Drum Magazine, among other newspapers

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Medinat Kanabe

and magazines of those periods, has shown that there has been no concrete effort made towards effective coverage of the education sector."

A veteran journalist, the medium which Olanrewaju also said was conceived after months of serious and painstaking review of the education sector, would according to him, give the 'much desired media coverage' to education.

Our vision is "to be a credible and most authoritative source of information on educational issues, events and trends", adding that the mission of the newspaper is also "to provide factual and comprehensive reports, set agenda for sectoral development in education as well as provide a document capable of serving as a credible reference material on education," he concluded.

He said Total Education which had already hit the newsstands as a weekly medium, would in time metamorphose into a daily package.

By Akinyemi Oluwayemisi

manpower development and training of members to enhance their skills and effectiveness at work place.

Our belief is that all those who receive training under us will totally be different from those outside."

He however said all members are encouraged to participate in continuous professional development and earn points towards their certified financial consultants.

REJOINDER Our attention has been drawn to an error on Page 40 (Education Page) of this publication last week, May 3, entitled: ASCON boss harps on training. The photo caption accompanying the story identified the person at the extreme right as Mr Bitrus Kefas the Deputy DirectorGeneral of ASCON. The fellow was Mr Gabriel Afolayan, the college Head of Economic and Financial Management Programmes. The error is thereby regretted.

•Minister of Education Prof Ruqqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i (2nd right) visiting LEGO Education Robotics exhibition at the 5th Education Ministers Conference of the African Union (COMEDAFU) in Abuja

OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...

0, 2012

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

I

LEARNED an old lesson anew last week ... no one can stop a woman who wishes to have baby! The story began late last year when a reader of this column who was not ovulating because of multiple cysts in her ovaries but wished to have a baby sought information on which herbs and nutritional supplements could help her dream.

We got talking, I in Lagos, she dashing between Calabar and the North of Nigeria. About two months ago, she informed me that she had begun to ovulate.

Last week, she sent me two text messages to break her happy news. Run together, the messages said: "Sometime last year I read your publication in The Nation Newspaper. I then decided to call and share my problems of high prolactin and bilateral polycystic ovaries with you. I was amazed .. you sound nervous.

Please don't be. You'll make babies. Your ovaries are in unbalanced state. Got rid of excess sugar and infections first.'... your sent the supplements on January 16, 2012. I took them religiously Trusting God today, am pregnant. Your type is few. I got married early 2009. Took over 12 containers of Parlodel, one container of Carbogaline. Nothing happened. Praise God today am pregnant. Thank you for making me trust and believe in you. I lost hope. Doctors around couldn't help me. But you have a proof."

When she telephoned a few days before she sent the text messages to say her period hadn't come on due date, I advised her she wait another month or two.

Restless with joy, she jumped the gun one week after.

When I hear a woman lament that her blood prolactin level is higher than is normal, or that she is finding it difficult to get pregnant because of ovarian dysfunction or hormonal imbalance, my mind often goes to three gentlemen who paved the way to information which helped the woman in reference.

I have forgotten the name of the first gentleman. In the 1980s and 1990s, he put up simple wallpaper messages all over Lagos which asked, PROLACTIN PROBLEMS? And promised PREGNANCY WITHIN 24 HOURS. We met when I was at The Guardian or at The Comet newspaper. He wasn't the crank many people may have thought he was. He got to know elevated prolactin level obstructed conception and probably had the unorthodox antidote. Many women who had difficulties getting married flocked to him as they do today the man in IJEBU IPARA, who is said to help with breast cancer. The breast cancer therapy at Ipara is unorthodox. He sucks the nipple. If worm-like substances come out of it, that's his diagnoses. He proceeds therefrom with herbal food supplements and for bathing. This man may not have learned that elevated blood prolactin level may also predispose the breast tissue to cancerous growths. Edgar Cayee, the second incidence, mentioned in particular subbluxation of nerves which connect the ovaries and the brain. Any injury, compression or disturbance of these nerves impairs optional nerve impulse flow to the ovaries which on this account, may become functionally sub-optional or even wither constitutionally or become weakened by disease. A third influence came from Dr Sam, a Nigerian doctor, who is persuaded that micro-organisms, especially candida, is at work in many disease conditions including cancer.

As a matter of fact, many medical researchers have come to the same conclusions. One even wrote a book entitled: CANCER IS A FUNGUS. A cyst, in particular a polycystic ovary, is, therefore, considered by this school of thought to be a residential haven for candida and other micro-organisms.

The therapy goals were many for this case in reference, that is annovulation, high prolactin and bilateral polycystic ovaries (both ovaries riddled with many cysts). They included: • Detoxification • Elimination of candida in the blood, plasma, lymph and organs, including the ovaries • Balancing of the hormones to normalise prolactin level • Oxygenating the system • Mineralising the system to alkalised it, thereby making the system less hospitable. To Candida, yeast, fungi, mild, bacteria, viruses, worms and other parasites.

• Healing of any damage to the ovaries stimulating ovarian function •Refurbishing cellular constitution • Stimulation ovarian function • Refurbishing cellular constitution • Antioxidant protection of the cell against oxidative and free radical damage Detoxification embraced such supplements as Maria Treben's Bitters which, like all Bitters, is not to be taken during pregnancy because it may agitate the womb and induce labour. It may become useful in pregnancy where labour is delayed or prolonged. Carqueja, too, was in the detox package. It cleans out the livers, the body's chief detoxification organ, curbs digestive disturbances, such as heartburn and the pain of ulcers, helps the gallbladder and, above all, helps to kill liver worms (flukes). A major liver fluke (faciolopsis hepatica) damages the liver and may cause this critical organ to become cancerous. Its eggs are consumed in animal intestinal meat (called Round-About) in Nigeria) and may grow to adult stage worms. An affected liver al-

Hurrah! She's pregnant ... lows poisons to accumulate in the body which may damage any weak organ unable to adequately protect itself.

Carqueja won its reputation as a liver protector in a study which tested (1) one of it flavournoid extracts, hispidulin,) and (2) whole leaf/stem extracts against the liver poison phalloidin, given to some groups of rats. While 80 per cent of the rats given hispidulin survived, survival rate of this given leaf and stem extract was 100 per cent, while only 24 per cent of rats which were given neither survived. Carqueja has mild blood pressure reducing effects as well as blood sugar level lowering action. These qualities make it useful for hypertension and diabetes therapies. Our young motherto-be will recall I asked her to finish a course of aggressive detoxification, especially with carqueja, before she embarked on the other therapies. This was because carqueja speeds the clearance of some pharmaceutical drugs from the liver, thereby undermining their effects. In inflamatory conditions such as the bilateral polyscystic ovaries in reference, it has a good therapeutic role to play, however. A study in Spain found that, its flavonoids, especially quercitin, apigenin, luteolin, nepatin and hispiddulin, reduced inflammation by between 70 and 90 per cent in pretreated mice in which inflammation was induced by tissue damaging chemicals.

Cancer challenged people may wish to try it for detoxification of the liver, maybe along with Milk thistle Amazon Liver support and Maria Treben's Bitters. This bitters has helped some cases of breast cancer in which the arm was blocked, making the arm swell heavy like a log of metal and painful, as the nerves get involved.

One woman who couldn't sleep because of the pain took the bitters and used it as a poultice on the swollen arm and enlarged lymph nodes in her armpit. She alternated this with Flor Essence, a detoxify supplement widely used in Canada as an agent in cancer therapy. As advised, she beat cabbage leaves to pulp until they oozed juice. Then she wrapped and bandaged the leaves around the arm, and stuffed some under the armpit. In about two days, the size of the enlarged mode reduced as did the pain. Her breast has been itching and she has been advised not to scratch it. She would continue to dab it with the bitters and Flor Essence and wrap them up with bruised cabbage leaves. When she has the time, she applies hot water bottle to drive the healing constituents in, and to provide warmth which cancer cells are said to hate.

We cannot underplay oxygenation in the therapy of the bilateral polycystic ovaries. We couldn't find in the market OXYGEN, by Wakunaya. MMS I and MMS2, good substitutes, were available but beyond the pocket.

Our resort then was to greens and CELL SALTS. Two types of affordable green drinks were suggested, namely SUPERIOR GREENS and BEYONG GREENS. Each is made from about 40 green plants. They offer chlorophyll, which is cleansing or detoxifying and deodourising, along with minerals, enzymes, trace elements and co-factors, apart from providing oxygen.

Their mineralising effects help to combat acidity, which is the foundation of all ailments, according to the New Biology of Health theorists. Thus, complementing with oxygenating and alkalizing cell salts work wonders in rebalancing blood pH to 7.4. Cell or tissue salts emerged from the thoughts of German doctor Wilhelm Schuessler who redefined the work of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy. Dr Schuessler said that if the human body was burnt to

e-mail: www. olufemikusa@yahoo.com

ash and the ash was analysed, it would be found to be composed of 12 different kinds of salts. These are called biochemic salts which mean they are the 12 basic salts involved in the body's biochemistry or living processes. They are found, all together, in every cell, but in varying ratios, according to the nature and function of the cell. A shortage of any of these salts or a combination of them gives rise to symptoms we call disease, because the biochemistry through the alteration of the composition of the cells by these salts has also been altered out of form or equilibrium. In bilateral polycystic ovaries, the ovaries are inflammed, ravaged by germs, filled with fluid and poisons, are acidic and do not enjoy good blood circulation what would a cell salt practitioner do in this scenario? He would lob at the ovaries.

1) a cell salt which neutralised the acids.

2) a cell salt which subdues the inflammation and with the capacity to break up congestions and improve blood circulation to the ovaries.

3/ a cell salt which brings more oxygen to the system.

4/ a cell salt which stimulates immune function to rid the ovaries of germs of all description.

5/ a cell salt which ignites normal biochemical activities within the ovaries, so that they can make hormones and produce eggs.

Which cell salt neutralises acids?

Natrum phos (sodiumphosphate) is it. In some proprietary brands, it is presented as "a biochemic remedy for over acidity of the blood and for gastric disorders, heartburn and rheumatic tendency".

Discovered by Germans in 1673 and used for indigestion, homeopathic doctor James Tyler Kent gives Natrum phos to people who were in a fret from mental exertion" and suffered from sexual excesses and vices".

This cell salt is present in every cell, even brain cells, to neutralise excess acid, especially lactic acid, and to emulsify essential fatty acids. A tongue coated yellow is primary indication of a Natrum phos deficiency. Dr Schuessler gave it to people with creaking or cracking in the joints, weak leg or rheumatic symptoms. Thus, it should be helpful for gout, stomach ulcers and pain in the heels in which acid crystals may have accumulated people who suffer from inflammation of eye organs due to acid torment should find it useful. Dr Shuessler gave it successfully for conjunctivitis, especially those with creamy secretions, and creamy vaginal discharges. Overacidity causes many troubles, and the many they are the harder Natrum phos goes after them. Thus, vertigo or dizziness caused by gastric problems, or itching anus caused by acid stool, or eczema or nose rash, also caused by acidity, find solutions in Natrum Phos.

Which cell salt subdues inflamation?

Ferrum phosphate is the primus inter pares in this regard. Inflammation is caused most times, by the irritating toxins of bacteria, viruses, mold, candida etc. Farrum phosphate is like potassium sulphate (kali sulph.) a great oxygenator. While potassium sulphate oxygenates the inside of cells, Ferrum phosphate oxygenates the fluid (interstitial or extracellular fluid) in spaces between cells.

Germs hate oxygen because it kills them. By killing them, both salts reduce or eliminate their poisons and therapy removes the source of inflammation. They served the purpose of dismantling, not with antibiotics but oxygen, which is more natural and safer, the microbial hold on the ovaries of this woman. Everyone needs ferrum phosphate ... people who are always so tired that they wish to lie down ...people ill at ease in the open air ... women who suffer from heavy menstruation with or without blood clots, pregnant woman who vomit, leaving acidic taste in the mouth ... people who suffer from cold and catarrh. In catarrh, iron deficiency had most probably caused reduction of blood circulation to the skin, to save the little iron stock for initial organs down below such as the heart, lings, brain and liver. Elimination of wastes through the skin is thrust more on the mucus membranes, with accumulation of these wastes there causing such conditions as pneumonia, pleurisy. Thus, a runny nose, itchy throat, hoarse voice or loss of voiceor hit forehead is body message to top up the iron ...!

Which cell salt promotes immunity?

All 12 cell salts.

Which cell salt ignites life in a run down cell?

Calcium phosphate (cal phos) takes the crown of "regenerator of healthy cellular activity." Nature gives a signal here .... calcium phosphate is a prominent salt in productive soils! It would appear to stimulate or enhance the activity of other salts. Thus, when it is said that calcium is vital for fertility, calcium phosphate is where to go.

Time does not permit other supplements which helped the case in reference. I'd have loved to talk about MAHARANI, which is important for this condition, and zinc and Essential Fatty Acids (flas seed oil or Udo's Oil). Meanwhile, my prayer is that all women who look up to the Lord for the fruit of the womb" take courage and hope from the woman whose story has just been told. I believe it is partly for this purpose that this woman, very womanly on the phone, was too happy to tell the story, praying that other woman find joy through this column. It is for that purpose that I, too, have passed on the wishes I sensed.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH

How essential fats help to maintain good health E SSENTIAL Fatty Acids (EFAs) have been described as the most necessary micronutrients for maintaining good health.

Chief Executive Officer, Seaduck Nigeria Limited, Mr Sam Ayeni, said they improve energy, stamina, performance, sleeping patterns, concentration and mood and skin appearance.

EFAs are grouped among the essential properties that the body needs to function effective. They are 44 nutrients, 20 minerals, 13 vitamins and eight amino acids.

He said: "Health professionals across the world understand the absolute importance to our general health and well-being of the foundational fats, especially the two EFAs alpha-linolenic from Omega -3 and and linolenic acid (LA) from the Omega- family."

He said Omega 3 and 6 are EFAs that must be part of a balanced diet. With these fats, the body can make all the other fats it needs in the quantity and proportions the body deems necessary, which will vary from person to person through the stages of each person's life.

Fat, he noted, is often considered a bad word, adding that there are good fats and bad fats.The former is among the three macronutrients while the others are carbohydrate and protein.

Ayeni said every cell, tissue, gland and organ dependent on EFAs, and that they are the main structural components of cell membranes. They are necessary for cell growth and division and regulate vital cell activity through their conversion into hormone-like

Your body uses essential fatty acids for some important functions. First, they’re used to make eicosanoids and prostaglandins, short-lived, hormone-like substances that regulate many activities in your body. Among other things, eicosanoids and prostaglandins control your blood pressure, control your body temperature, regulate inflammation, swelling, and pain, and are involved in blood clotting, allergic reactions, and making other hormones.

As your body makes the different eicosanoids and prostaglandins, it uses mostly omega 3s for some and mostly omega 6s for others. You can think of the two fatty

•Fish and oil

By Wale Adepoju

'eicosanoids' and through their effects on genes and cell-to-cell signaling mechanism.

"If EFAS are ingested in adequate amounts

and in optimal ratio can improve digestion, provide arthritic pain relief and deal with candidasis, eczema and psoriasis. A deficiency or imbalance of EFAs has been linked with

Tips on essential fatty acids acids as the brake and accelerator pedals in a car-you need both to drive. If you keep your foot mostly on the accelerator or the brake, however, instead of using both judiciously, you’re driving unsafely.

The introduction of vegetable oils made from corn, peanuts, and other sources in the twentieth century has led to a serious imbalance in the amounts of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in the American diet. In general, humans need to take in at least two to three per cent of their fat as omega 6 fatty acids and at least one to 1.5 per cent as

omega 3s. Another way to look at this is that overall you need no more than twice as much omega 6 as omega 3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the modern American diet has this balance seriously distorted, to the point where we eat many times more omega 6 acids. Historically, in the days before refined vegetable oils, people got their essential fatty acids from whole grains, nuts, vegetables, and egg yolks.

Today, the average American consumes large amounts of refined corn, soy, safflower, and canola oils, which

numerous health problems such as excess body fats, brittle bones, insulin resistance, lower immune function and heightened risk for cardiovascular disease," he added.

He said large amount of EFAs are necessary for normal development and function of the brain and nervous system, adding that a deficiency of EFAs can lead to mood problems such as depression and anxiety, proneness to stress and an impaired ability to think, learn and remember things.

Ayeni said increases energy performance and stamina. It strengthens the immune system and improve functions of the brain such as mood, intelligence, behaviour and vision.

Other functions, he added, are lowering most risk factors of cardiovascular disease and reduction of weight. It also regulates the body organs and glands.

EFAs assist the development of the nervous system and as such a growing foetus will need optimum EFAs from the mother's body. The mother becomes depleted during pregnancy and needs optimal EFAs’ intake for her health and that of her children's opimum development.

These fats ensure beautiful skin, hair and nails. Some of the first signs of EFAs’ deficiency are dry flaky skin, dull hair and brittle nails.

He recommended that people need to include in their daily diet intake EFAs, such as Udo Choice oils blends, among other natural fish oil products, to improve and maintain their health.

are extra-high in omega 6 acids, and relatively little omega 3 acids in the form of fish, egg yolks, nuts and nut oils, unrefined vegetable oils, and whole grains. The resulting imbalance, along with the widespread use of trans fats, is strongly implicated, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, in today’s epidemic levels of heart disease, cancer, inflammatory ailments, autoimmune illnesses, and other chronic, degenerative diseases.

Rebalancing your intake of these essential fatty acids is crucial to the age-defying diet.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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e-Business Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to foster anti-counterfeiting measures so as to harness the benefits of Intellectual Property for economic, social and cultural development. ADLINE ATILI reports

‘Counterfeiting causes loss of revenue’ A

S the battle against counterfeiting gains momentum, stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry have restated the need to protect Intellectual Property (IP) as a major step towards winning the war.

They urged the Federal Government to protect the nation’s IP through enacting legislation to ensure stiffer penalties are meted out to copyright and other IP violators..

At the global celebration of World Intellectual Property Day, in Lagos, last week, Channel Development Manager, Imaging and Print Group, HP Anglophone Africa, Rita Amuchienwa, said counterfeiting causes loss of revenue , damages brands and negatively impacts on hard-earned reputations and consumer confidence.

She said more people would respect IP and avoid counterfeits if they have a better understanding of how trademarks and copyrights drive economic innovation and enhance personal lifestyles in such areas as health care, technology and leisure.

She said: “Few people talk about IP or are aware of just how ingrained and important it is in our lives, which is why it’s the ‘secret ingredient’ to a modern society in which innovators thrive under the protection of comprehensive IP law.

“Stopping the unauthorised use of IP, whether it’s pirated movies, fake handbags or counterfeit print cartridge technology tells the next generation of visionaries that their work will flourish and be respected.”

Dr Isah Momoh of the School of Media and Communications at Pan-African University, Lagos, noted that while it is important to promote the benefits of a robust IP system, it is equally crucial to educate the society on the threats of counterfeit products.

He said most fake products are made with inferior raw materials and components and do not perform optimally as brand-name goods backed by decades of research and development and testing.

He called for stiffer penalties and sanctions to discourage counterfeiting.

“The understanding of IP protection begins with a consciousness. We, as a society must begin to understand that counterfeit products destroy innovation and drive the economy down.

“We must push the government to introduce stiffer penalties to protect IP and make the government to realise that it is the wealth of the nation. We must all stand up for what is right,” Momoh said.

Corroborating, a youth advocate and publisher, Mr Chude Jideonwo, pointed out that law enforcement was critical to discouraging counterfeiting. He said that greater prosecution of IP infringement including tougher sentencing will send the right message across.

•Adetula

•Ntamack

Jideonwo described government’s enforcement of laws regarding copyright infringement and Intellectual Property as ‘abysmal,’ saying until the government steps up its act and provide adequate legal framework necessary for the protection of people’s creations, “we are going to continue to battle with IP theft.”

According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.

IP is divided into two categories: Industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source; and copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs.

Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programmes.

The stakeholders said counterfeiting and IP violations are hurting the nation’s economy and needs to be addressed head-on.

“Counterfeiting contributes to unemployment, creates budget deficits and compromises the future of this country in the global economy,” they said.

In 2011, the Business Software Alli-

ance (BSA) issued a report detailing the contradictory attitudes of global PC users.

According to their survey, 71 per cent of computer users globally said they supported IP rights, yet 47 per cent obtain their software illegally most or all of the time.

In Nigeria, the numbers are much higher, with 82 per cent of computer users acquiring their software by illegal means most or all of the time.

This is despite strong support for intellectual property rights, with 62 per cent of Nigerian respondents believing that inventors should be rewarded, BSA said.

HP noted that Nigeria is among the countries where manufacture and distribution of fake printing supplies and other illicit merchandise is widespread.

According to the World Economic Forum, Nigeria ranks 104 out of 142 countries in the protection of IP rights.

Mrs Amuchienwa said HP is committed to the protection of IP, not just in relation to its products, but also others’ creative works.

“A society free from counterfeit products is not of benefit to us alone-it benefits the economy in the long run and creates a viable, sustainable environment for people to practice their craft, knowing they are protected,” she said.

At a roundtable forum organised by Microsoft to commemorate the World Intellectual Property Day, the company said use of non-genuine software threatens legitimate businesses and

‘Stopping the unauthorised use of IP, whether it’s pirated movies, fake handbags or counterfeit print cartridge technology tells the next generation of visionaries that their work will flourish and be respected’

creates a negative impact on global and local economies.

While calling for the creation of sound IP policies in the country, Anti Piracy Lead, Microsoft West and Central Africa, Serge Ntamack, observed that: “Counterfeiting only thrives in places with weak or non-existent IP laws.”

Zonal Director at the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the body charged with protection of IP in the country, among other functions, Mr Babatunde Adetula, said: “Piracy is a cankerworm to the economy. It is like a caterpillar that eats up the pillars of the economy.

“If not checked, pirated software, pirated books and broadcasting would damage the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are involved in property innovation and development.

“Intellectual Property theft is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Piracy is a global issue that needs to be addressed to ensure software innovation and development.” He said the commission is dedicated to ridding the nation of IP violators.

Anti-Piracy Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Mrs Ugochi Agoreyo, said piracy has continuously discouraged economic development and encouraged the success of pirates due to increased patronage in pirated innovations.

In line with reforms in the sector, she said the company would partner with the government and IP owners to tackle infringement.

Also reacting, Associate General Counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft, David Finn, said: “When people invest time and considerable resources into nurturing an idea or product, only to have their ideas stolen, it breaks down the research and development cycle, resulting in less investment into new ideas.

“Simply put, piracy stifles innovation.

A person cannot say they support intellectual property rights, and then turn a blind eye to piracy. That’s like telling your kids to play soccer by the rules, and then using your hands.”

Stakeholders in the sector agreed that, one of the biggest factors leading to piracy in Nigeria is a lack of awareness about what exactly constitutes piracy.

Many people are essentially ‘accidental pirates,’ unclear on the difference between legal and illegal means of obtaining software. Not only does this harm the local economy, but it also exposes those users to the risks of illegal software, they said.

Finn added that: “Intellectual Property protection is the backbone of innovation. Protecting Intellectual Property fosters innovation, which leads to economic growth, job creation, and encourages development of knowledgebased industries.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

48

e-Business The Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, among other functions, provides science and technology consultancy and support services to the state government, in addition to automating government services and providing infrastructure to MDAs in the state. In this interview with ADLINE ATILI, the Commissioner, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, speaks on how the ministry is exploiting science and technology to develop the state, quality of service in the telecoms sector, alternative sources of power for the state, among other issues

‘Govt committed no funds into failed solar power project’

W

HAT is the Lagos State government doing in the area of poverty eradication, using ICT as well as promoting e-governance in the state?

Our policy thrust in Lagos State is to eradicate poverty and generate sustainable economic growth to ensure development of the state.

How does the ministry help the government achieve this? First of all, we are consultant for all the MDAs in the state. Therefore, any service regarding the government, eventually, we have a part to play.

What we are trying to do is to make the relationship with government more seamless, whereby you won’t have to physically come to do some things like paying your taxes. You can get forms online to execute things as mundane or not as tough as going to pilgrimage.

One of the things we are also doing is that we are working with the switching company (Interswitch) to ensure that you can pay for services online using the regular ATM cards. We’ve done the pilot and it has been successful. Give us another six weeks; the new interface (website) would go live.Essentially, the things you normally come here to do, you can do them online.

Even though Lagos State has higher penetration of ICT than any other state, the level of penetration among students in the state is low. What is the ministry doing to address this?

I would like to correct that notion of ICT penetration in schools being low. We started a programme on ICT about three years ago, which has been quite successful. We’ve done it in phases; I think we are in the fourth phase now, focusing on secondary schools. Essentially, we provide the schools with ICT labs which usually have 20 computers and printers, with Internet access and content material. We’ve done 120 out of the 660 secondary schools in the state so far. We are, however, challenged by erratic power supply. However, we are looking at some other renewable energy sources, especially to power our infrastructure in schools. Things like solar are becoming more and more popular. We have started a few pilots.

If it works, we can take it statewide. We have also converted the old library on Odunlami Street to an e-learning centre. It’s been modernised and greatly improved. Essentially, it’s a library and still has some books, but it has much more online content. It always has power so people can go there to read and get information as well as do research. We are trying to do this state-wide. It’s yet to be inaugurated but it’s operational. Though, we are trying to replicate that state-wide, we are doing smaller ones in all the senatorial districts. Eventually, this would distil further to the LGs and LCDAs as we move along. Like I said, we’ve got various interventions which are meant to stimulate children’s interest in science and technology. One of the challenges we have in Lagos State is that we grow so quickly. By the time we start the project, the population keeps on increasing and we have to move quickly as well. Like I said, we have 660 secondary schools. When we started the ICT programme, we had only about 550 or so. We are constantly building new infrastructure and I can safely say because we’ve done well,

we’ve had people come from other states to say they were coming to understudy what we’ve done in Lagos State. Recently, we had some commissioners in Kano and Oyo states come to visit to see some of our programmes. So, we are pretty much far ahead of other states in Nigeria. In terms of ICT in schools, that is a priority for us. There are a few things that are also in the pipeline, which I may not be able to speak about now but I am sure by the time we meet next, there will be lots more.

You said you don’t control power, have you looked into alternative sources of power such as solar to complement power supply in the state. Additionally, what made the state’s past solar projects fail?

Let me correct the impression that the state’s past solar projects failed. The state committed no funds into the project you are referring to. It has not paid a single penny on that project. Now, what went wrong was the vendor who was involved, maybe in their haste to quickly roll out, did not actually come up with the right set of standards. Like I said, it was actually a pilot project to see how it would work. I can tell you for free, solar energy works fantastically even in countries that don’t have the kind of sunlight that we have. What would have gone wrong may have been the designing and the lack of proper engineering. If you look across Mobolaji Johnson, from 7Up here, you’ll see we have taken a section of about one and a half kilometres and done some metro fitting.

We started this in December; we just finished the observation period. We’ve done 10 street poles.

If you go there at night now, the lights are actually brighter than what you have from generators or PHCN. So, it’s all about engineering. Some people, in the rush to do a project, fail to look at it properly. I mean, it has happened before across the country where we end up being the dump of wrong infrastructure. What we do now is that before we roll out massively, we always try and carry out a pilot. Even in that case you spoke about, that was the agreement. They did the work for a couple of months. After that the thing started to fall apart. So, we now ensure we have the right standards. Like I said, we didn’t commit and we’ve not committed any money to the projects. The onus is on the contractor to deliver and make sure things work well. I can assure you, we are quite a responsible government.

We try to avoid wasting tax payers’ money as much as possible. We are very very disciplined when it comes to that. We are looking at other ways, more creative and greener ways that would be sustainable and beneficial in the long run. We’ve started something in this direction. It was in the papers about a month ago. It’s a solar-powered container which runs without costs of power. The costs you incur are just to change the batteries for the inverters perhaps every two or three years.

Things like solar-powered

• Mabadeje laptops are things we should be looking at in the future.

What is the ministry doing to reorganise the Computer Village in terms of expansion?

Computer Village is not actually under my Ministry but under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. But we have identified at least two potential sites for them. But you know what, people don’t like change. So, they come up with all sorts of unions, however. It’s work in progress. We want to relocate them. That place is essentially a residential area. I know there is a main market in Alimosho that is still being developed for that purpose.

Have you looked at the possibility of using ICT to manage the seemingly intractable traffic situation in Lagos State as well as combat crime and general insecurity, especially deployment of more CCTV cameras in public places?

We know ICT can be used in various ways to do various things.

However, to feel the impact, we have to have the right infrastructure, this is what we are trying to address now. For instance, we have traffic lights installed in various parts of the state, and for CCTVs as well, we’ll like to have it everywhere. But there are various challenges. We’ve done a pilot project. It’s a Federal Government initiative. They are supposed to deploy them in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We’ve had meetings with them and they’ve actually started; they are going to deploy about 2,000 in Lagos State, in the first phase. We need to collaborate as well. We have what we call the Command and Control Centre, with toll free codes 767 and 112, for all emergency situations including traffic,

crime, flood, health. If you call the numbers, we respond and act accordingly. For us to have CCTV everywhere, I don’t think that happens anywhere not even in the United Kingdom; some areas still do not have CCTVs. I can also tell you that even though we are doing a pilot, some will say ‘No o…you want to spy on me…Is it because I’m PDP?’ and that’s a real life situation that actually happens. When we now have all these in place, we can now say how can we use it to support traffic, health service delivery, the environment and so on? Essentially, we are looking at ways to make Lagos a smarter city and one of those ways is to leverage the use of ICT infrastructure.

What is your view on the declining quality of service in the telecommunications sector?

That is best answered by the operators; for me, it’s a no go area.

I’ll tell you why. I worked in the telecoms industry for some years and I know fairly well about the industry. Lagos, for the smaller networks, generates 70 per cent of their revenue; for the bigger networks, between 30 and 40 per cent.

So, it only makes sense that any time I try and make a call it goes through. But, you know how all these things work as well, maybe because the regulatory body is not as forceful as it was before and I wonder why. In the past, when I represented my company at a few customer forums, people will come with complaints. The comments and complaints were very very interesting and NCC would act on it then. But I don’t know what they are doing now. I can’t say they are not doing anything.

But what we see is continued decrease in quality of service. For

‘We’ve had people come from other states to say they were coming to understudy what we’ve done in Lagos State...So, we are pretty much far ahead of other states ’

me, poor quality of service means les revenue for them. So, I wonder whether they are making too much money and they don’t need more and have become complacent.

But the Telcos are saying governments at all levels are contributing to decreasing quality of service through multiple taxation and regulations, including stifling operating environment through over-priced rights of way charges that hamper deployment of necessary infrastructure to improve service delivery?

As it relates to Lagos State, we also encourage the Telcos not to come singly, but to come as a body. When we took off in Nigeria, NITEL was supposed to provide infrastructure. Telcos are not supposed to. They are supposed to provide their own active equipment, but that didn’t happen. Everybody was rolling out.

It became ‘get more money than competitors so as to roll out faster.’ But we have now become a very mature market; we are talking figures of 95million. Let us say that only 70million are active, but it’s a lot of subscribers. What we are saying is we don’t want to dig our roads five or six times because there are six different people. So, come together with one request, we’ll do it. Everybody will use that and you’ll go.

But what happens is that X will come today. Tomorrow, Y will come. We look at them and say, ‘look, we are doing a lot of renewal of our roads. The roads also are being built now to accommodate future expansion for telecoms; they have ducts, gutters, and so on. So, the newer roads won’t have that problem.’

But when you have people come to you everyday, If you look at advanced countries, you don’t see the same number of base stations like you see in Nigeria; you see a few. If you look at Lagos, all you just see are masts. There are other ways of enhancing your capacity.

They should also look into those ways and do it. You know, it’s not just by saying I want to put a mast here. Let me give you an example, when I was in Plateau State, there was an area that was very good for service. There were six masts in that place, when you can get one or two and it will house everybody’s infrastructure. You don’t have six here and six there; it doesn’t make sense. I mean, it’s not pretty. We only say there are some things we will not accede to. We are not the regulatory body. But I think NCC also encourages them to combine resources. That’s the truth; it’s the smart way of doing business. That means instead of running 12 generators, you just run one set, share the assets and expenses, you lower costs.

In Abuja, they’ll tell you, ‘this is it, you can only do here and here and that’s all.’ You can’t complain. The operators will always give excuses why they don’t perform, they’ll say we don’t give them right of way and we are overtaxing them. The answer, however, is no. They just need to do things a lot better and work closely together and they’ll get better results and that’s the truth.

But NCC hasn’t clamped down on them which is why service quality is still poor, which is unacceptable. In the days when I was in Globacom and Visafone, they’ll give penalties to you when you don’t perform.

49

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

e-Business Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

P

RAY, how long is the distance between five metres and 10 metres? If you think the difference is insignificant, then you have not been following the imbroglio between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Both government bodies are locked in horns over who should have the final say on how and where telecoms masts should be erected.

NESREA, had for weeks ago, shut down an MTN base station facility located at EFAB Estate, Mbora District, Abuja, for what the agency termed as ‘non-compliance with proper Environmental Impact Assessment.’

By the agency’s rule, telecoms masts must be 10 metres away from residential buildings. But by the NCC’s procedures, it is five metres, setting the stage for collision.

Angry that the NESREA was encroaching on its regulatory powers, the NCC unsealed the facility, warning that it would no longer condone such attitudes and actions from other government’s agencies.

Head of Compliance Monitoring at the NCC, Mr Ephraim Nwokenneya, could not have been more apt at presenting the commission’s case when he led a team from the commission to unseal the MTN base station. “We are the only regulator of the telecoms industry in Nigeria, and as the

Beyond mast wars and health hazards (1)

only regulator, we must be fair and just on the industry players. NCC has a responsibility to regulate; any other is only secondary. If we must regulate and improve the quality of service, attract, foreign direct investment, create jobs, ensure national security, then, we will not allow this to go on.”

The NCC/NESREA clash underscores an increasing suspicion by government agencies and the general public on the health hazards of telecoms masts to human population.

But there is still no clear-cut proof that telecoms masts pose any serious health risks to human habitations. Often, when environmental and health authorities act against telecoms operators, it is borne out of conjectures and not scientific facts.

In the last four years or so, telecoms operators have come under series of attacks by concerned citizens, government agencies and even law courts for erecting masts outside of agreeable health standards, which of course is not based on informed health research but mere speculations. For instance in 2009, “the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna presided over by Hon. Justice M. L. Shuaibu ordered Helios Towers, to dismantle and remove its mast located in residential premises in Kaduna, installed without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment as required by law.”

As reported by Daily Trust newspaper of 2 December, 2009, the judgment was sequel to

an action brought against Helios Towers and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) by NESREA. The Daily Independent newspaper of 23 August, 2010, reported that FESTAC Town community in Lagos had asked a GSM company to “discontinue the erection of masts in their area with immediate effect, alleging there was no approval on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for masts installation in their community.” This year in March, ThisDay newspaper reported that NESREA in Ilorin, Kwara State, sealed off a telecoms facility of a GSM operator alleging its violation of a national offence called ‘environmental impact assessment Act of 1992, which states that environmental impact assessment should be carried out on any project to be installed to know the environmental impact of the facility on people, after which an approval letter would be issued.’

Online, there is a website designed to campaign against the erection of telecoms masts near human habitation. The site, http:// www.mast-victims.org/, states its mission as “to bring together people from all over the world that have become victims of insensitive mast and antennas siting. Telecommunications companies are drowning us in radiation and they are in a state of complete denial on whether these masts and antennas have any negative health impact on the population. Credible scientific research shows that

especially mobile phone mast radiation is harmful and people are suffering. Some people have even been forced to abandon their homes after becoming ill from radiation.”

All these reveal the tension, challenges and even ignorance surrounding the erection of telecoms masts. As the industry evolves, the tension and controversies are bound to increase, unless of course, constituent authorities meet often to iron out the rough lines. NCC has a point: it will not augur well for an industry it regulates to become victim of rapacious encroachments. NESREA is also not absolutely wrong.

But it needs to work hand in hand with the NCC to achieve its core objective of bringing environmental sanity to all sectors.

While the controversy still rages over the health risks or otherwise of telecoms masts, I want to share with my readers this very interesting article by Samuel Dowuona on ‘Radiation from telecoms masts and our health’ first published by the GNA in 2009.

Dowuona has sought to allay fears about the dangers of telecoms masts to human health as it concerns the Ghanaian environment. His article, as edited here, would apply very well to the current reality in Nigeria.

•To be continued

Document management system to cut costs by 30%

R

•Director, Sales, ACI Payments System, Mr Raymond Moodley (left) presenting the best ‘Card Issuing Strategy’ award to Head of E-Channels at Skye Bank, Mr Chuks Iku (right) at a ceremony in Lagos.

ESOURCERY PLC, a systems integration company, has entered into strategic partnership with Dutch software firm, Assai Software Services, to provide document control and management software to the energy and construction sectors of the economy.

The companies said the solutions, Assai DCMS, Assai NET, Assai Admin and Assai Web, can manage complex data, streamline processes and reduce operational costs of organisations by average of 30 per cent.

Speaking on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer of Assai, Mr Willem Van Der Jagt, said the alliance would afford Assai opportunity to tap into the local market knowledge as well as Resourcery’s expertise in the implementation of projects not just in Nigeria, but across the West African region.

He said: “Assai Software Services is de-

Firm launches enterprise payment solution

U

PPERLINK Limited, a software development firm, with specialisation in Internet applications and database management, has launched PayChoice, an enterprise suite of payments and collections solutions aimed at boosting the cash-less policy and simplifying modes of payments.

At the launch of the solution in Lagos, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Segun Akano, said PayChoice was introduced to engineer fast and unambiguous electronic disbursement and collection of cash.

He said the solution was specifically built to address challenges being experienced by large corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), educational institutions as well as other business entities in processing outward and inward payments.

According to him, the online solution is designed and developed to allay payment and disbursement apprehension expressed by individuals, organisations and educational institutions at this period when the cash-less policy is in full swing.

“The solution saves time, reduces administrative costs and ensures immediate credit of fund. This payment solution is coming at a time most Nigerians, especially corporate organisations and schools need such a payment solution to overcome teething e-pay-

ment challenges, as it complements the CBN’s directive on cash-less economy while aiding organisational efficiency.

“The solution is an upgrade of the company’s flagship collection solution, BranchCollect.

However, unlike BranchCollect, which was developed for cash

collections at bank branches only, PayChoice is integrated to work with Interswitch’s Quickteller platform and on all channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (PoS) terminals and the Web, thereby making it a convenient platform for payments and collections,” he said.

Stories by Adline Atili

lighted to combine our document control and document management expertise with Resourcery’s implementation abilities, especially in a market as big as Nigeria. While our services suit the Nigerian oil and gas sector more, it also encompasses other areas like construction, mining and engineering.

“As a mark of our commitment to this partnership, we are jointly organising a customer forum in Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Ghana.

The customer forum will afford us the opportunity to meet with Document Managers and Document Controllers in the oil and gas sector in order to provide tailor-made solutions that are flexible, versatile and robust.”

Also speaking, Executive Director, Business Development at Resourcery, Mr Andrew Ejoh, said: “The oil and gas sector of the economy, utilising mission-critical applications in management of data, needs dedicated document control and document management software that would not only enhance processes, but give a high level of control over vital documents. This is what Assai Software Services brings to the table through this partnership.

“The upcoming forum provides guests the opportunity to see first-hand how Assai Software Services helps clients enjoy major benefits through central storage and publication of documents, correspondence, emails and more.”

BPM solution to help organisational efficiency

T

ECHNOLOGY consulting firm, JK Michaels, has introduced the Oracle 11G Business Process Management (BPM) suite to help organisations seamlessly integrate enterprise applications and simplify complex processes.

The company said the Oracle BPM suite removes barriers to organisational efficiency and simplifies process management by providing a unified process foundation, usercentric design, and social BPM interaction.

At a forum in Lagos, Management Consultant at JK Michaels, Dr Bello Omololu, said BPM is an explicit approach to modelling, automating, measuring and optimising business processes across organisational divisions, systems and applications; adding that it involves the deliberate, collaborative and increasingly technology-aided definition, improvement, innovation, and management

of end-to-end business objectives with more agility.

He said the Oracle suite provides end-toend solutions where every technology or system within the organisation can ride on and make each system to ‘talk to each other,’ effortlessly and seamlessly.

“BPM actually integrates different components of an organisation and can actually help them make their processes seamless, as well as assist in regulatory compliance. This can help a business to transform into a world class organisation. With BPM, before you start a business, you can simulate what’s going to happen; all the break points, all the defects, and time to deliver and you can even make corrections through that technology before you venture into the business.

“BPM is not just a technology but a process to drive the success of an organisation. To-

day, we are seeing a lot of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in a hyper-competitive environment. Organisations are seeing the relevance of operational excellence in the M&A environment. As more mergers and acquisitions take place, they will start seeing the relevance of a BPM backbone to integrate all their solutions.

“In M&A you see that two or more organisations have entirely different processes and rules. When you are trying to merge, you try to synchronise the two processes so that they stand as one. If not, there’ll be a handsoff bottleneck, where one process is being done differently and people have that culture and think it is what still obtains. So right now, there might be a lot of break points in an organisation that did not sink in their BPM effectively during M&A,” Omololu said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

50

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Why Cadbury wont pay dividend, by Peterside

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 9-5-12

C

ADBURY Nigeria yesterday explained that it decided to plough back net profit after tax of about N4 billion recorded in 2011 to sustain the company’s renewed growth momentum and ensure higher profitability in the years ahead.

At the annual general meeting of the company in Lagos, chairman, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr Atedo Peterside, said that the company would be retaining net earnings to provide financial supports to its aggressive reinvestment and capacity enhancement programme.

Audited report and accounts of Cadbury Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that net profit rose by 217 per cent from N1.17 billion in 2010 to N3.70 billion in 2011. Profit before tax grew from N1.95 billion to N5.08 billion. Turnover stood at N34.11 billion in 2011 as against N29.17 billion in 2010.

Atedo said the Cadbury Nigeria’s continuing investment programme was a reflection of the company’s commitment to the long-term viability of the Nigerian economy, adding that the company is being positioned to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in West African markets to grow its business.

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

“The company has performed credibly in the last 12 months and is resolved to continue on the current momentum of collective efforts in 2012.

“Our commitment to shareholder value remains the governing objective, driven by a focused portfolio of strong brands, a revamped route to market structure and a passionate innovative workforce,” Atedo assured.

He said that the company’s key strategic priorities this year would be to build a strong and sustainable business for the future as it drives its operational efficiencies and effectiveness to maximise its competitive advantage.

The company also plans to excite and re-engage its loyal customers, bring fresh innovation with new and exciting consumer brands for Nigerian consumers while fostering and developing its talented managers and staff as the company continues its futuristic growth outlook.

He said Cadbury Nigeria has already started to explore ways of capitalising on the company’s membership of the Kraft Foods.

According to him, Cadbury Nigeria will be part of the

global snacks business when Kraft Foods completes its split thus allowing Cadbury Nigeria to benefit from wide range of products from biscuits to powdered fruit drinks and chocolate.

“We have benefited a lot already from the integration of Cadbury Nigeria into the wider Kraft Foods organisation over the past two years and we are looking forward to leveraging more from the focus and visibility that will come with the Kraft Foods split,” Atedo said.

He pointed out that irrespective of the challenging and competitive operating environment, the performance of Cadbury Nigeria’s brands has reinforced the firm belief that the Nigerian economy still offers significant growth opportunities for branded food manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Okomu Oil Palm topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N1.73 to close at N36.39. MRS Oil Nigeria followed with a gain of N1.50 to close at N36.50. PZ Cussons Nigeria rose by N1.10 to close at N23.20. Nigerian Breweries added N1 to close at N112 while Dangote Flour Mills chalked up 26 kobo to close at N5.46 per share.

On the other hand, Flour Mills of Nigeria and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria topped the losers’ list with a drop of N1 each to close at N61 and N19 respectively.

NCR Nigeria lost 76 kobo to close at N14.52. Cadbury Nigeria dropped by 72 kobo to close at N14.07. First Bank of Nigeria slipped by 57 kobo to close at N10.93 while Guaranty Trust Bank lost 48 kobo to close at N16.50 per share.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 9-5-12

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

51

MONEY LINK

Cash-less: Banks deploy 70,000 PoS terminals HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that all commercial banks in the country have deployed a combined 70,000 point of sale (PoS) terminals to merchant locations.

The CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said this yesterday during the ‘Cash-less Lagos Fair 2012’ held in Lagos.

He explained that the target is to deploy over 150,000 PoS terminals by the end of the year.

Sanusi, who was represented by CBN

T

Stories by Collins Nweze

Director, Banking and Payment System, Dipo Fatokun, said there are over 9,000 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that have been deployed in and outside of the bank branches with the capability to enable bill payment, funds transfer, Virtual topup among others.

He said that the Central Banks all over the world are usually at the centre of the development of banking and payments system, especially as they perform the role of facilitating the exchange of goods and services among

including the development of the Payments System Vision 2020 document in 2007, which is aimed at providing a roadmap for efficient payments system infrastructure that would be nationally utilised and internationally recognised.

“The Cash-Less Economic policy was designed to promote financial intermediation, financial inclusion, minimise revenue leakages, eliminate incidence of robbery and also to reduce the amount of cash payment and encourage electronic payment. This is because cost of cash and associated risk of cashdriven economy to Nigeria’s financial system is high and increasing,” he said.

Sanusi reiterated that the direct cost of cash management is estimated to reach N192 billion by the end of 2012.

He said it was an attempt to reduce these challenges that the CBN in col-

economic agents.

Sanusi noted that an efficient payments system enhances financial inclusion and effective transmission mechanism of monetary policy as well as overall financial stability of the economy, adding that the regulator has promoted the development of a sound and efficient payments system in the country.

He said that the CBN has been at the forefront in the reformation of banking and payments system development in the country. This has been amply demonstrated in various ways

IFRS: Expert lists hurdles to execution

T

HE managing director, IFRS Strategic Consultants Nigeria Limited, David Raggay has listed key areas that will pose challenges to banks in implementing the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

He said that Accounting for financial instruments is one of the more challenging areas of IFRS. Banks are likely to also encounter problems in areas such as income taxes, employee benefits, business combinations and sharebased payments.

He explained that for financial instruments, the difficulties arise as a result of mixed-measurement model promulgated under the relevant standards.

For instance, there are four standards in issue by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), which relate to financial instruments.

They include: IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation; IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement; IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures; and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.

Former Chairman of the IASB, Sir David Tweedie, said IFRS 7 will engender greater transparency about the risks that entities run from the use of financial instruments. This, combined with the new requirements in IAS 1, will provide better information for investors and other users of financial

statements to make informed judgements about risk and return,” he said.

The key objective of IFRS 7 is to provide disclosure requirements that enable users of financial statements to evaluate the significance of financial instruments for the entity’s financial position and performance; the nature and extent of risks to which the entity is exposed.

Already, many quoted companies, particularly banks have reported their financials in IFRS as evidenced in their first-quarter 2012 results submitted at the Nigerian Stock Exchange. While more results are expected, there are things investors and analysts should look out for.

Access Bank, Consumer Protection CCESS Bank has partnered Council partner Consumer Protection Coun-

A

cil (CPC) on World Consumer Rights Day celebration during which customer enlightenment programmes were held in seven states across the country.

The commemorative enlightenment programme for customers held in Abuja on March 15, 2012 to kick-off this year’s celebration was witnessed

by Director General,CPC, Mrs. Ify Umenyi, and Group Managing Director, Access BanK, Aigboje AigImoukhuede.

Umenyi said the CPC is open to credible partnership as exemplified by its collaboration with the bank to educate consumers of banking services about available products and services in the Nigerian banking sector.

She said: “The CPC will like to commend Access Bank for its efforts in promoting financial literacy through its sponsorship of the publication and support in distributing

CIBN to elect new officers at AGM

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) will on May 19, elect new office holders that will run the institute for the next four years.

The election according to a statement, will hold alongside the institute’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the year ended December 31, 2011.

CIBN President/Chairman of

Council, ‘Laoye Jaiyeola, said in line with the Institute’s tradition, chairmen and Chief Executives of banks, past presidents of the institute, presidents of other professional bodies, top government functionaries, fellows, honourary senior members, associates and other relevant stakeholders have been invited to attend the meeting and exercise their franchise to elect new officers.

The meeting will consider the annual reports and accounts of 2011 operational performance and other important matters affecting the industry and the welfare of members.

According to the Institute, it is expected that members of the CIBN in the country will turn-out en-mass and participate actively in the exercise in the interest of the Institute and banking profession.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 150m 150m 138m 138m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 9-5-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

PRESCO MOBIL OKOMUOIL WAPCO UPL BERGER DANGFLOUR STERLNBANK DANGSUGAR FIDSON

11.80 123.01 33.01 43.12 3.42 6.46 4.96 1.24 3.32 0.87

C/PRICE

12.39 129.16 34.66 45.27 3.59 8.88 5.20 1.30 3.48 0.91

113m

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

O/PRICE 4.23 3.69 3.57 11.00 5.50 3.97 0.59 1.50 2.91 17.51

C/PRICE 4.02 3.51 3.40 10.50 5.25 3.79 0.57 1.45 2.62 16.93

CHANGE 0.21 0.18 0.17 0.50 0.25 0.18 0.02 0.05 0.09 0.58

29-2-12 27-2-12

113m

155.7

22-2-12

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Date

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 9-5-12

SYMBOL UBA VITAFOAM ETERNAOIL ASHAKACEM FCMB SKYEBANK GOLDINSURE RTBRISCOE REDSTAREX OANDO

Exchange Rate (N) 155.8 155.8

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

0.59 6.15 1.65 2.15 0.17 0.42 0.24 0.06 0.16 0.04

113m

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

Nigeria’s first customer-focused financial literature titled ‘A Guide to Basic Banking Transactions’, a publication designed to improve banks’ customers’ knowledge of banking products and transactions”.

Group Head, Domestic Central Payments Group, Access Bank Plc, Segun Ogbonnewo expressed the bank’s appreciation to its customers who werepresent at the occasion for the open display of support for the Bank.

He added that the lender is in business because of its customers and would seek innovative ways of ensuring that their needs are met and exceeded.

Ogbonnewo said the bank has empowered consumers of banking products and services in the Nigerian banking landscape in numerous ways through its innovative offerings and specialised products that have offered solutions to myriad of financial needs of its customers.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

laboration with the Bankers’ Committee initiated the project “Cash-Less Nigeria” with the aim of encouraging Nigerians to adopt e-payment.

Offer Price

Bid Price

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

52

NEWS OSHIOMHOLE’S AIDE’S MURDER In this tribute, ADEWALE ADEOYE, a journalist and activist, examines who the real Olaitan Oyerinde was, his ideals and his principles, his history, his values o

The dove they crushed

T

ODAY, the sky will shed tears, the cloud will scream, heaven will quake and the stars will mourn the arrival of a guest uninvited, given a brutal exit from mother earth, for being a man of peace.

Olaitan Oyerinde. Four men, we were told, walked up to his house in Benin, raised up their nozzles and shot him, probably several times, to ensure he was dead. In the most boorish manner, these beasts, we were told, first met his wife, and then Olaitan’s cousin, who was then sleeping in Olaitan’s bedroom. He was not to be found, so they made for his living room. There they carried out their devilish act in the most bestial, gruesome fashion.

They killed him, at the glaring, awed presence of little children and a bewildered wife. Olaitan’s angel, probably had two options: either to pounce on the killers and in blind rage, tear them with her teeth, or to allow them, in a rage of confusion, to flee, with the hope that she could still save a bleeding, helpless husband.

They should not have killed him. But they did, in the most heartless, brainless, callous, inhuman, wicked and spiteful manner. We do not know yet who killed him, but certainly they must be people who detest logical thoughts, illiterates who dread knowledge and vagabonds who dread wisdom. The last time I met him was last year in Benin. We spoke on the future of Nigeria. Olaitan stood for critical, logical thoughts. He was Homo Viator in the students’ movement of the mid-1980s. I met him first around 1986, not too long after his suspension from the Kwara State Polytechnic for students’ union activism. “Kwara Tech” as we called it, was habitat for some of the most vibrant students union cadres, the school was the wealthiest, considering the retinue of radical elements, and, in fact, Kwara Tech was the father of many universities, given its penchant for producing radical, progressive elements, fired by the dream to make Nigeria great and break the circle of want and repression and despotism that have been the lot of Nigerians.

We worked together. We ate together. We struggled together. We drank together. We even scratched our heads together. In 1993, Olaitan was a storming petrel in the most remarkable social movement Nigerian modern history has ever produced, the Campaign for Democracy, (CD). The CD was the alternative government. The CD organised rallies with over 2million people in attendance, on the streets of Lagos, Benin, Ibadan, Ilorin and some northern states. We used to meet at the private home of Dr Beko Ransome Kuti. The most effective Lagos arm of the CD was led by Olaitan, a stealthy operator and powerful commentator on local and international affairs.

CD was home to one of the finest collections of selfless cadres, people who would trek from Ikeja to Anthony, from Anthony back to Iyana Ipaja, without food or water, just to attend a meeting in the interest of millions of agonising Nigerians. A gathering of all tribes: Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Hausa, Birom, Ikwerre, Bini, Angas, Bachama and all. Myself and Olaitan, a man of humor, who relished the music of Haruna Ishola and Yusuff Olatunji and

Citation of the late Olaitan Oyerinde

V

ERY few Nigerians are privileged to be entrusted with political appointments in states other than their own. One of these few Nigerians is Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the former Principal Secretary to the Governor of Edo State.

He was born on December 7, 1968 to Alhaji Azeez Oyerinde, a journalist, and Mrs. Comfort Oyerinde, a stenographer. He is married to Funke Oyerinde and they are blessed with four children.

Olaitan attended the University of Lagos where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. As a student, he was deeply involved in radical activism and helped to provide leadership for groups like the Thomas Sankara Movement (TSM), Youth Solidarity on Southern Africa (YUSSA), Patriotic Youth Movement of Nigeria (PYMN), the University of Lagos Students’ Union and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

In 1989, after the anti-SAP protest organised by the Students’ Movement, he was detained for two months under Decree 2 along with other NANS leaders.

On the verge of graduation, Olaitan’s NYSC Call-up letter was seized by the university authorities allegedly for a pending disciplinary case related to another protest. But a court granted an injunction, which enabled him to proceed for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Again in 1991, he was detained after another national students protest purportedly for harbouring the NANS President and a few other students leaders, who had been declared wanted by the security agencies.

Oyerinde started his trade union career in 1990 when he was appointed Assistant General Secretary by the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, an affiliate of the Senior Staff Consultative Association of Nigeria, which met-

possessed a sly mastery of Oyo dialect, a form notorious among the Yoruba for its oily, slippery and amoebic richness, that makes its master an instant orator, used to joke about the revolutionary way the names of some of the radical cadres sounded in the ears: Luke Aghahenunu, Bello Aideloje, Jiti Ogunye, Bamidele Aturu, Sango Segun, Tony Akiika, Mahmud, Emma Edighedi, Omoyele Sowore, Osagie Obayuwana, Gloria Kilanko…… . Meetings sometimes began from am to pm, from dusk to dawn, from dawn to dusk. Comrades would load the campaign materials on their heads, some would even enter the rickety train, Olaitan was part of the team that distributed pamphlets inside rickety Molue (mangle it) Buses at the remotest streets, in the creeks, on the land, on the sea. He was reputed for his honesty. You keep money with him, do not be surprised that after one year, you would meet the same money, in the same denomination. It happened.

I’m a witness and at a time, that he had no car, no shelter on his head and all he did was to trek from one corner to the other in Lagos. I remember when Bekololari Kuti was arrested, the meetings shifted to a pony, dingy apartment at Oke Ira, Lagos, managed by Debo Adeniran.

Within the bowels of the CD was the most astonishing culture of democratic debate, the most significant element of students’ unionism and the labour movement of old. Olaitan was a great debater, a wonderful scholar, a marvelous twister of what you thought was your finest argument.

He would table the issue, taking into cognisance its many sidedness. He avoided handling money on behalf of the group. He was active in setting up rebellious cells within the then reactionary labour movement, going from one factory to the other, raising the consciousness of the workforce.

He was prompt at meetings. He was dedicated to duty. He was Spartan.

He was a great mobiliser, an orator, a man that had no passion for personal wealth. He commanded our respect. He stood tall. Little wonder that

amorphosed into the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

At this point, he became the Lagos State Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy under the national leadership of the late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti. He was also executive director, Centre for Workers’ Rights (CWR) and member, Nigerian Tenants Association (NTA).

Olaitan left the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria as a deputy general secretary after 10 years to join the services of the Nigeria Labour Congress when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole assumed its leadership.

In the NLC, Olaitan had been head of the departments of Industrial Relations and International Relations as well as the Special Assistant to the NLC President.

He established a reputation for thoroughness, uncommon brilliance, deep commitment to the values of the trade union movement and capacity for creative thinking and initiative. This explains his rapid rise in the NLC. Like other comrades in the Labour movement, he was involved in the electioneering campaign of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and co-authored the manifesto entitled My Vision, My Mission.

In November 2008, following his victory, Comrade Oshiomhole sought and obtained the NLC’s consent to release Comrade Olaitan to work with his administration. Olaitan resumed as the Special Adviser, Special Duties but was appropriately redesignated as the Principal Secretary to the Governor/Head of the Governor’s Secretariat.

Olaitan has so far demonstrated extraordinary devotion, wellacknowledged competence and a passionate loyalty to his labour constituency. He attended to all comrades with so much enthusiasm. Indeed, it is usually said that you could never reach Comrade Olaitan with any problem, personal or official, without getting tangible results.

By Adewale Adeoye

under the Abacha tyranny, Olaitan Oyerinde was one of those on the hit list, but he was cleverly evasive, he believed a revolutionary must avoid being arrested when and where possible. He was honest. He understood Marxist-Leninist theory and he domesticated it. He dreamt of a people’s revolution in Nigeria. He worked tirelessly for it. He built cadres. He gave lectures to students and workers on weekends, outside the prying eyes of our tormentors. He was in Calabar in 1989, when the first modern attempt was made to establish a Workers’ Party. I saw him then. He stood for the tallest dream for the people of this country. The Nigerian radical movement has many tendencies, but Olaitan blended. He was good to all the sometimes fractious tendencies, factionalised along mutually exclusive ideological lines.

One of his saddest moments was when the CD broke into two factions.

Even then, there were no guns shot, no heads broken, it was a division informed by differences in ideology.

Chima Ubani and Beko RansomeKuti went different ways. The cadres formed lines behind each of them, after the convention in Ibadan. It was painful. But there was never a bitter note left. The CD was in a position to have taken over leadership, of at least a huge section of Nigeria in the post military era, like the ANC in South Africa. We did all the tilling; the planting, but the locusts did the harvest.

By the time Olaitan and many of us thought it was not a bad idea to be part of the government, we had left a gorge, the damage done to generations, the social and cultural genocide committed against a people, has become almost irreparable. Olaitan, by the time you came, the locusts have eaten up the flowers, the grass have withered, and now, the locusts are killing those who have come to rekindle the flowers for a new life, for the good of all. All the efforts flew away, like chaff in a whirlwind, but maybe for a destined purpose. Maybe Nigeria as a country is destined

•The late Oyerinde

not to be saved, though the end is yet to be seen. Given the culture of debate in our tradition, against their own gangterism and bullying, death from within is an anathema. This is why it is difficult for me to believe that, as the mischief makers wish to suggest, that Olaitan’s murder was within. Edo has one of the largest concentration of progressive cadres. Our tradition was and is critical thinking, logical criticism which informed and informs the outcome of our collective actions. I fear, we fear, that this murder may have been masterminded from without, by the same leopards, not known for changing the skin, with the main aim of withering the psychology of a political leadership in Edo on the heels of an election, destabilise the state, cause confusion, and wear down the stone-cast spirit of a people desperate for transformation. We have seen this over and over in recent years, of armed hooligans, taking over the space of contest, killing dialogue, fueling fear and trembling and sustaining a culture of agony, all in the bid to cow the people and give the oppressors unquestionable access to power.

Olaitan used to weep for Nigeria, but now he weeps no more. Those who will cry and weep for ever are those whose hands are stained with the blood of this innocent dove. But this remains a mere wish. The task now is to find the killers!

Rights group JAF extols Oyerinde’s virtues

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HE Joint Action Front (JAF) has extolled the virtues of the late Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Olaitan Oyerinde.

Oyerinde was murdered in his home in Benin City, Edo State on May 4.

JAF in a statement by its President,

Oladipo Fashina and Secretary Abiodun Aremu, said : “Comrade Olaitan lived a life of struggle for the emancipation of the Nigerian masses right from his days in the students’ movement in Kwara State College of Technology (renamed Kwara Polytechnic), the University of Lagos and in the glorious era of

NANS. “Though fragile and with humble disposition, Comrade Olaitan stands out among his generations of students’ and labour activists because of his leadership ability, communication skills, editorship ability and intellectual and perceptive characteristics. He has

great capacity for theorising and debates in the fields of humanities, Marxism and Pan-Africanism.

“JAF strongly holds that the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde is a clear case of political assassination, which all those who cherish a humane society free from poverty, disease and illiteracy, must condemn.”

Osun promises befitting burial From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

THE Osun State Government has said it will give the late Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole, a befitting burial.

A statement by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, said the state has concluded arrangements to accord him a state burial befitting of a hero in recognition of his contributions to the development and progress of humanity, The statement said Oyerinde, an native of Ede, will be remembered for his enormous contributions at delivering the country from the claws of military rule.

As part of the state burial, the statement said Oyerinde’s body will be received by government officials at the Owena town, boundary of Osun and Ondo states.

Lawmaker condoles with Oshiomhole From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

THE Deputy Whip of the Senate, Hosea Ayoola Agboola, yesterday condoled with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over the killing of his Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde.

Agboola, in a statement in Abuja, also commiserated with the publisher of ThisDay , Nduka Obaigbena, over the loss of lives and property in a blast that rocked the paper’s Abuja office .

The lawmaker decried the death of Oyerinde in the heat of Edo politics, warning that democracy is at risk if politicians resort to killings on a matter that could be settled via election.

He said: “I must say that I am shocked at the death of governor’s private secretary.

“I am particularly worried at the way and manner he was killed in front of his family.

“This is an experience that they will carry for the rest of their lives, I mean it is inhuman.

“What has the young man done that could not be settled even through legal means that he has to be killed.”

Ihonvbere to police: find his killers From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State Prof. Julius Ihonvbere has urged the police to investigate the killing of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Principal Private Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde.

Ihonvbere said the incident should not be counted as are of the murder cases that are said to be perpetuated by hoodlums or robbers.

He spoke when he visited Oshiomhole at the Government House in Benin City.

The PDP chieftain said politicians must learn to be tolerant and accomodating.

Ihonvbere said of the late Oyerinde “I knew him to be a principled person and a patient, good leader with lot of compassion to the plight of the poor and who knows the value of democracy and democratisation.

“I know it is a big loss to your person and the world of democratic struggle.”

The governor insisted that the assassination was politically motivated.

Oshiomhole said the N10million ransom for information about the murder was offered by the government and not the Police.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

53

NEWS

Four suspected oil bunkerers handed Champion honours Oshiomhole May 15 E over to EFCC T

HE Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta yesterday handed over four suspected crude oil bunkerers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The suspects were handed over in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the Commanding Officer of NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom, Commodore Moses Lekwot.

Lekwot told reporters that the suspects were arrested separately in Ikot Abasi with 43 drums of illegally refined diesel, eight drums of illegally refined diesel and 50 litres of illegally refined diesel, one car, a motorcycle, N48,000 and two mobile telephones.

He reiterated the Navy’s resolve to curtail the activities of criminals involved in pipeline vandalism.

Lekwot said: “We operate in the water fronts and in the

•Doctor remanded for alleged N13m scam

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

back waters too.

“We carry out sea patrols and sometimes, we carryout foot patrols in the back waters because sometimes, these criminals out-smart us at sea. “ But by the time they get to the land, they will meet some of our men on foot patrols waiting in the water fronts for them.

“And these are the kind of arrests we make because we intercept them by the water front when they are coming out with whatever they have gone out to the sea to do.’’

Receiving the suspects, EFCC’s Head of Operations Hyacinth Edozie said the commission would carry out further investigations.

“Our detectives will travel to the scene of crime, take samples, do analysis with the Department of Pteroleum Resources (DPR) and once that is done, we compile our case file, he assured.’’

Edozie said the final investigation report would be submitted to the commission’s legal department for necessary action.

In another development, a Warri Magistrate’s Court has remanded Isaac Ademola Longe in custody till May 23 over an alleged N13 million fraud. The accused claimed to be a veterinary doctor.

Magistrate E.A. Odjugo ordered the Commissioner of Police to accommodate any means of communication the

accused may need.

Longe, who was arraigned on a two-count charge, was accused of defrauding Jephtah Ika Okoro of N13million.

The accused, with other accomplices, allegedly told Okoro that he has a sand dredging contract of 10 million cubic with Julius Berger Company Nigeria Limited.

Longe reportedly collected the money but never delivered the goods.

The said business name under which he operated is Covenant Child Multilinks Company Limited with offices at 43 Awolowo Avenue Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State and 22, Eboh Road, Warri, Delta State.

A forged Niger Delta Devlopment Commission (NDDC) 16km road contract award was e-mailed to J. Innovations, a company owned by Okoro by Oyibocha Ovie Richard, one of the suspects at large.

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will be conferred with Champion newspaper 2011 ‘Man of the Year’ on May 15.

The award will hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, under the chairmanship of former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka

Anyaoku. The guest speaker will be President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Peter Esele.

Oshiomhole is the second Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governor to be given the Award after Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola was conferred with it last year.

Assembly urges NNPC to stop oil spill From Osagie Otabor, Benin

T

HE Edo State House of Assembly has urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to stop the oil spill in Uhe village, Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

The House urged NNPC/PPMC to clean up the spillage and repair the damaged pipelines.

This was part of the resolution adopted during plenary yesterday under matters of urgent public importance raised

by Ms. Elizabeth Ativie.

Ms. Ativie said the villagers have been suffering from the harmful effects of oil spill, which she noted has destroyed crops in farmlands in the community.

She said it was not proper for the village without visible oil wells suffer the enormous problems of oil spillage complicating the lives of the indigenes of Ohe community.

Cross River hosts UNWTO

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HE United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has made a formal request to Cross River State to host its 53rd Session for African Ministers of Tourism in June.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Orientation, Edem Duke, made the request to Governor Liyel Imoke in Calabar yesterday.

He said the opportunity to host such a session will be a rare occurance not only for the industry but also for the coun-

try.

Duke said the decision for an African nation to host the meeting was taken last year in South Korea and that all the 56 African tourism ministers, 25 UNWTO officials from its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, government officials from the participating countries as well as stake holders in Nigeria will attend.

Imoke said it will be an opportunity for the state to share its vision with the rest of the world.

‘Complete hospital’ •From left: Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole;Madam Clara Atalakpa, Chief Tom Ikimi and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) State Chairman Thomas Okosun at the party’s grand rally in Edo Central where some PDP chieftains joined the ACN... yesterday.

‘PDP not involved in Oyerinde’s assassination’

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HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the spate of political violence and assassination in Edo State.

It said the party was not involved in the assassination of the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Ohiomhole, Olaitan Oyerinde.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary ,Olisa Metuh, decried the descent to violence in the state and joined President Goodluck Jonathan in calling for the arrest of Oyerinde’s killers.

“The PDP as a cardinal principle, condemns all forms of violence and can never be involved in murder to achieve its political goals.

“Our pedigree as a party

Former chieftain alleges threat to life From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Former State Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State Ms. Lucy Omagbon has alleged an assassination plot on her life. She recently joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In a letter to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Ms. Omagbon said she received an anonymous call on Tuesday, warning her about an assassination plot.

She said the caller called again not to ask for money but to state that he was worried about her safety.

“He begged passionately that I should go and take care of my security with all seriousness.

“Defection happens every time so I do not see where I have offended them and my defection was based on ideological differences and good appreciation of the developmental excellence of the ACN underGovernor Adams Oshiomhole.”

Ms Omagbon stated in the letter how two weeks ago, she was accused of being in possession of a nude recorded video of the State PDP Chairman, Dan Orbih.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

places us in good stead to succeed in any electoral contest

in Nigeria. We therefore do not need to kill in order to succeed.

“While we sympathise with

the government and people of Edo State over the unfortunate murder, we urge the governor to look beyond his obsession with wild accusations against his opponents and also consider the possibility of culprits within his caucus.

“We call on the public to note that these accidents and murders in Edo State suddenly emerged upon the political gains of the PDP in Edo State thriving on the scandals of Governor Oshiomhole’s private mansion.”

The party urged politicians “to refrain from masking their desperations with diversionary tactics”.

“No amount of blackmail, mudslinging and setups can deter us from pursuing our objective of a free, fair and untainted political campaign in Edo State.”

Amaechi donates N23m to slain policemen

R

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has given N1 million each to the families of 23 slain policemen.

Amaechi described the death of the officers as unfortunate.

He described the policemen recently killed by hoodlums as very brave persons, who died to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.

The governor, who was rep-

Lawmaker gives scholarships THE Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has paid school fees for indigent final year students from the district in tertiary institutions across the state.

Three hundred and twenty students drawn from the University of Port Harcourt, State University of Science and Technology, University of Education, Rumuolumeni and the Polytechnic, Bori benefited from the gesture.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

resented by a Deputy Director, Military/Security, in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),

Omeodu Edisom, said other policemen should not be discouraged by the incidents.

The presentation took place at the Police Officers’ Mess, old Government Reservation

Area (GRA), near Government House, Port Harcourt.

Of the 23 beneficiaries, one person had gotten his cheque earlier; 16 others received theirs at the occasion.

Others who could not make the event would get their cheques later at the police headquarters.

Commissioner of Police Mohammed Indabawa said the ‘gesture’ was from Amaechi and not from the police authorities, which were still being expected.

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has urged the government to complete the Agbarha-Otor General Hospital in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

Solomon Adjedjevwe said the project which was initiated by the James Ibori-led administration had been abandoned since 2006.

Adjedjevwe said: “The project was at the roofing stage and government’s attention was drawn to it last year and we were told that the contract was undergoing a review.”

He decried the environmental hazards the project has caused, adding that the drainages were haphazardly constructed because of the shoddy job done.

Bayelsa signs MoU with BoI

B

AYELSA State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to promote small and medium scale enterprises.

Governor Seriake Dickson said the agreement will open up opportunities for partnership, especially in areas of poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and capacity building.

Dickson said the government was committed to the partnership.

He said the government will pay its share of the contribution of N2.5 billion, adding that as a start-of it will pay one billion naira.

The bank’s Managing Director, Ms Evelyn Oputu, said the bank was not only willing to place its expertise at the disposal of the state, but also bring its partners to work with the government to actualise its vision of economic development.

Poland to invest in Cross River

T

HE Polish Government is to invest in Cross River State to boost the economy of the state.

Polish Ambassador Przemystaw Niesiotowski said this when the Special Adviser to the governor on InterGovernmental Relations, Joe Edet visited him.

He said Poland had special interests in the state because of its peaceful environment and investment-friendly status.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

The ambassador said plans were on by Polish businessmen and companies to invest in the agricultural sector, particularly in palm kernel shells, which is in high demand in Europe for biomass, an alternative source of fuel.

The envoy also said his country would collaborate with the state in its wildlife and forest conservation to enable the state reap bountifully from this area of tourism .

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NEWS Senate confirms Bianca Ojukwu as ambassador From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

T

HE Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu as an Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This followed the consideration of the report of the Matthew Nwagwu-led Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which recommended her confirmation.

Mrs. Ojukwu was not able to attend the screening of the 85 ambassadorial nominees, owing to the death of her husband.

There are speculations that she might be made special ambassador attached to the Office of the President.

ABSIEC holds workshop From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

T

HE Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has begun a sensitisation workshop for head teachers on the electoral process.

The head teachers are expected to form voter education groups in their secondary schools, where pupils would be educated on the electoral process.

The sensitisation is aimed at curbing electoral malpractices.

At the opening of the workshop in Umuahia on Tuesday, the State Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Jacob Jatau, said: “INEC now talks of the electoral process and not just the elections. We need to inculcate the right democratic culture in the electorate, so that it will manifest in their attitude and approach to electoral issues.

“We have turned our attention to youths because they are the leaders of tomorrow, and we can only do this through the head teachers, who are their custodians.”

Jatau said the workshop will empower head teachers with the knowledge, attitude and skills needed for educating youths.

Okorocha condemns terrorism

I

MO State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha yesterday condemned the killings by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

In a statement to mark the 2012 World Red Cross Day, Okorocha, who is the President of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, said: “We live in a society that is apprehensive of what tomorrow will bring, as a result of the high level of insecurity in our land, occasioned by the activities of a group of people, who are hell-bent on unleashing terror on the people in the name of religious extremism.

“But we must encourage our people, especially our youths, to embrace peace as a way of life. The Nigeria Red Cross Society uses this occasion to commiserate

with the families of scores of innocent Nigerians, who have lost their lives in the various unfortunate incidents of terrorism that have jolted our nation, especially in the northern part of the country.”

Urging Nigerians to always assist the needy, Okorocha said: “We must continue to assist anyone in need around us, especially the weak, aged, sick, motherless, orphaned and vulnerable. Let us cultivate the culture of humanitarianism and imbibe the philosophy of reaching out and touching lives.”

He said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Youths on the Move”, is aimed at encouraging young people to join the society.

HE Police Assistance Committee (PAC) is to intensify its seminars in the light of the security challenges in the country.

The body has resolved to liaise with stakeholders, including chief security advisers to governors, council chairmen, police commands, State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies, in the training of PAC members to enhance information and intelligence gathering.

This is aimed at crime prevention and detection.

Addressing PAC state coordinators at a national conference in Abuja, PAC Director-General Dr. Martins Oni stressed the need to involve key security apparatuses in local governments and states on the tactics being deployed by members of the organisation to assist security agencies.

T

Chime urges inter-state relations

E

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the conviction of its members by a Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Six MASSOB members were sentenced to six months imprisonment by Magistrate S. C. Ehikwe for wearing the regalia of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

Speaking with reporters in Onitsha, Anambra State, MASSOB’s Director of Information Uchenna Madu faulted the judgment.

He said it was influenced by sentiments, rather than the rule of law.

•Urges Delta Govt to intervene From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

Describing the judgment as “a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected persons”, Uchenna said it was unimaginable to jail someone for wearing a particular regalia.

He alleged that the magistrate allowed his “personal and deep seated hatred” for MASSOB to influence his judgment”.

Uchenna said: “The magis-

trate’s pathological hatred for Biafra was not supposed to manifest in the judgment.

We demand that Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state’s Attorney-General intervene and ensure that the judgment is set aside.”

MASSOB’s Regional Administrator, Onitsha Region 4, Chief Arinze Igbani, said members were directed by their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, to wear Biafra regalia as a symbol of iden-

tification.

He said: “As a Movement, we are not violent and are not armed like other militia groups across the country.

Our only symbol of the peaceful struggle is our regalia.”

Igbani argued that Uwazuruike has never been convicted by any court for his open stand on Biafra and the adoption of the regalia.

He said many people wear clothes with symbols of their bodies and nationalities without harassment.

Igbani said no amount of conviction, killings, imprisonment and harassment will deter MASSOB members from the struggle.

•Member, House of Representatives’ Adhoc Committee on Constitutional Review, Mrs. Nkoyo Toyo (left) and the committee’s spokesman, Mr. Eziuche Ubani, addressing reporters at the National Assembly in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

PAC resumes security seminars

NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has called for frequent interstate cultural and social relations among youths.

He said it would foster unity in the country and combat destructive ethnic and religious prejudices.

Chime spoke at the Government House, Enugu, while hosting members of the Niger State Youth Organisation.

He said inter-state relations would help promote exchange of ideas, brotherly love, peace and unity.

Leader of the organisation

MASSOB condemns imprisonment of members T

Alhaji Abubakar Ndanusa said the group was formed to promote unity among youths in Nigeria, and help them develop entrepreneurial skills.

Ndanusa praised Chime for executing projects and programmes that have impacted positively on the lives of the people.

He described the governor as “a role model, an achiever and a credible leader.

Presenting an ostrich to Chime, Ndanusa said the bird depicts patience dexterity and good leadership.

Okonkwo urges Obi to conduct council polls

ENATOR Annie Okonkwo, who represented Anambra Central in the Sixth Senate, has urged Governor Peter Obi to ensure that local government elections are conducted soon.

He said the absence of democratically elected executives to manage the affairs of the councils has stalled development at the grassroots.

Okonkwo spoke in Awka, the state capital, at a multiparty stakeholders’ summit.

He said: “The consequences of this grave constitutional abnormality in Anambra State are the

S

‘For the people to drive this process successfully, therefore, we must grant them full participation in governance through the local government.’ unhealthy reign of political apathy and stunted democratic growth at the grassroots. Our problems are man-made and can only be resolved by the people.

“For the people to drive this process successfully, therefore, we must grant them full participation in governance through the local government. That is where our governor holds the key and we must collectively persuade him to unlock and open it.

“I say persuade because our demand has outgrown the government’s excuses and the only restitution left is to conduct the council polls quickly. This is of utmost importance, as the 2014 governorship election draws near.

“My simple philosophy is that ‘as mere mortals,

•Obi

Anambra State will outlive all of us. So, as each masquerade executes its political dance steps in the public arena, it is native wisdom to watch the faces of the people you entertain to know if there are smiles or consternation’.”

Suspected fake drugs manufacturers held in Anambra

T

HREE suspected manufacturers of fake drugs were arrested yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Though the chief suspect, a chief from Imo State, is said to be on the run, his wife and two of their apprentices were seized at No. 7/8, Commercial Street, Onitsha.

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka said: “On Monday night, we got information that some people adulterate drugs in their living room and sell to the public.

“The Police decided to conduct a dawn raid at 4am the following day and behold, the information was confirmed. When we phoned the owner of the place, he said he was away on a

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

journey. He must have sensed that the game was up.

“We are still on his trail, but the other suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control

(NAFDAC) at their state headquarters in Onitsha.”

The chief suspect’s wife said her husband imports drugs from India and has a warehouse at Amaifeke in Orlu.

She said her husband is not a pharmacist.

Items recovered from the

suspects include Cod Liver Oil, Quinine, a bag of a powdery substance, bottle sealing machines and several cartons of plastic bottles.

Others are numbering machines and cartons containing Indian and Chinese addresses, among others.

ASUU returns to UNIZIK

A

FTER 10 years of absence, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resurfaced at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Anambra State.

Though the union’s Nsukka Zone Coordinator, Dr. Moses Chendo, told reporters yesterday in Awka that ASUU was not on suspension in the school, the union was dissolved in 2007, when Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN) was the ViceChancellor.

A meeting of the union was convened yesterday at the institution’s multipurpose hall.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Over 10 professors and 20 academic doctors were in attendance.

Explaining that ASUU was not in the school to witch hunt anyone, Chendo said: “The aim is to come together as one family. ASUU is not here to pull anyone down or to disturb academic activities; it is here to build a collective system.”

The union’s election is expected to hold before July.

THE NATION THRURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

55

NEWS Yobe deputy governor denies impeachment allegation

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OBE State Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu has exonerated himself from the allegation that he sponsored an impeachment plan against the ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Ibrahim Kurmi.

Aliyu claims he maintains a cordial relationship with Dr. Kurmi, adding that he has never nursed the ambition of becoming a senator.

He described the allegations as lies.

“I have a good relationship with Dr. Kurmi and other politicians from my zone because we all come from the same place and I take them as my brothers and sisters.

“How can anybody say that I am perfecting plans to unseat Jajere at the Senate? I am grateful to God for what I have achieved. How can I start look-

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

ing for what I don’t have? I believe the position I’m occupying is more comfortable for me. These allegations are lies and they are diversionary. I have no hand at all in what transpired in the House of Assembly yesterday,” the deputy governor said.

The Nation reported yesterday that Kurmi resigned his position as the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly to give more attention to his private matters after getting a hint that he would be impeached.

It was learnt that some members of the Assembly were not happy with the emergence of Isa Bello Damchuwa as the deputy speaker yesterday, and they are planning to replace him.

Traders desert Potiskum cattle OTISKUM Internamarket

P

tional Cattle Market, Yobe State, remained deserted yesterday despite the day being the first market day after last Wednesday’s attack by unknown gunmen, which left many people and livestock dead.

When our correspondent visited the market, there was no activity. Traders and buyers have deserted the place.

Two die in Benue after taking banned injection T

WO people have reportedly died in Benue State after being given Gentamycin 280mg injection, a drug banned in October 2010 by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The victims, Miss Florence Bagidi, a final year student of the Benue State University and Miss Florence Saawuan, a National Certificate of Education (NCE) holder died after they received the banned injection with Batch Number 110102, manufactured in January last year and expected to expire in January 2014.

NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the injection is common in Benue State, adding that it could be so in other states.

By Wale Adepoju

Orhii, who noted that he read about the incident on the Internet, said he urged the agency investigators to confirm it and they later told him that it was true.

The DG said investigations showed that Miss Bagidi died after a quack doctor, Mr. Reuben Obasi, a school certificate holder and a patient medicine store operator administered the injection to her in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

He added that the suspect, who admitted administering the injection to the deceased, had been detained at the Homicide Section, Police Headquarters, Makurdi.

Mr. Orhii said the agency is collaborating with the police to conduct a thorough laboratory analysis of the exhibit.

He said: “The other deceased, Miss Saawuan, was hospitalised for adverse drug reaction diagnosed to be Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome (SJS) and she died four days after receiving treatment at the Victory Hospital, Gboko, Benue State. Investigation showed that Gentamycin 280mg injection was among the drugs used in the management of the patient.

“Our team discovered and retrieved the banned drug, unregistered Doloneurobion tablets and Cimetidine in-

jection from the hospital.”

The NAFDAC DG said the doctor in the hospital has provided information on the supplier of the drugs and tendered a receipt belonging to an indigenous company in Onitsha, Anambra State.

This information, he said, has led to the arrest of Mr. Chukwudi Nworie who admitted supplying the drugs to the hospital, but alleged that he got them from Chukwudi and Chinedu who are traders at the Onitsha Head Bridge Drug Market.

Mr. Orhii advised hospitals, pharmacies and outlets stocking the drugs to surrender them to the agency for destruction, adding that the public should patronise registered hospitals and pharmacies.

He said patients should report any adverse reaction from drugs to their doctors.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

The Public Relations Officer of the Cattle Market Association, Alhaji Sule Husseni Magge, said only officials of the association were around.

“We are just sitting down doing nothing. As you can see, people have deserted the market because of what happened last week,” he added.

UITH workers join strike

W

ORKERS of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) yesterday joined the nationwide strike embarked upon by health workers’ unions.

The Chairman of the Joint Action Committee of Unions, UITH, Odebisi Kolawole, said the workers embarked on the strike because of the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health to meet their demands.

He said the unions had given the Federal Government May 8 as the deadline for the implementation of their demands, adding that the issues involved have been pending for more than six years.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Kolawole said their demands include the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS).

He said the Federal Government should revisit the 2001 reports which it had refused to turn to a White Paper.

The chairman of the Joint Committee noted that they are also asking for the boards of all teaching hospitals and tertiary health institutions to be reconstituted.

“The unions are asking for a conference where they want grey areas in the proposed national health bill sorted out,” Kolawole said.

Bomb scare at MMIA: Bag owner yet to show up

T

HE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said yesterday that the bag abandoned at the Finger E-arrival of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, which caused bomb scare, has been handed over to security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for collection by the passenger-owner Salami Atolagbe-Aro. According to the NCAA, the bag had a British Airways tag with the passenger name given as Salami Atolagbe-Aro. It was abandoned at the frontage of the E-arrival finger and is yet to be collected by the owner.

In a telephone interview, the Commissioner of Police, Mur-

tala Muhammed International Airport Command, Mr. Olatunji Caulkrick, said the owner of the bag is yet to show up for collection, adding that it is in the custody of FAAN security personnel for appropriate profiling and other investigations.

He said after the alarm was raised over the bag, officers of the anti-bomb squad opened it and discovered that the contents were personal effects that were not valuable. They subsequently handed it over to FAAN security officials.

The police boss said though initially the owner of the bag was reached on the phone, “attempt to reach him today (yesterday) has been futile as he appears to have switched off his phone.”

Baptist women celebrate Mothers’ Day

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OMEN of First Baptist Church, Itire, Lagos under the auspices of the Wo2men Missionary Union (WMU) and their counterparts in churches under the Nigerian Baptist Convention will on Sunday, May 13 celebrate Mothers’ Day. The WMU president, Mrs. J.B. Abijo, said members who have distinguished themselves as dutiful mothers and loving wives would be honoured on the occasion.

Minister-in-charge of the church, Pastor A.P. Oyeyemi, said all members are expected to participate in the programme.

•From left: Emir of Zamfara, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad; representative of Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Tsafe; Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Mansur Kabir and Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Eveln Ngige, at the International Conference on lead poisoning in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

JTF kills Boko Haram suspect

O

NE person was killed yesterday during a gun duel between men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Budum area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Residents of the area told our reporter that they heard several gunshots yesterday morning which made them to run for safety.

Spokesman for the JTF, Musa Sagir, who confirmed the incident, said one member of the Boko Haram sect was killed, while two were

•Traders close shops From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

arrested.

According to him, the JTF repelled an attack in one of its locations close to the Gamboru market.

He said the gunmen were pursued to Budum where they had an encounter with the men of the task force.

“One locally made pistol and a tricycle were recovered from the suspected Boko Haram men,” Musa added.

It was learnt that there was pandemonium when the gunmen stormed the market and shot sporadically, which made people to scamper for safety.

Our reporter gathered that a policeman was shot by the gunmen close to the market around 10am.

Borno Police Commissioner Bala Hassan confirmed to reporters on the phone that a policeman was shot and injured inside the market by some gunmen.

According to him, the policeman has been taken to the University of Maiduguri

Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where he is receiving treatment.

Confusion broke out at the crowded post office area yesterday afternoon as several gunshots rent the air and traders and passersby ran for safety.

A trader told our reporter that a gunman pulled out an AK47 rifle and fired several shots into the air.

He said this caused confusion and it attracted the attention of the JTF operatives.

When our reporter visited the place, traders have closed their shops.

Police arrest five robbery suspects

A

TEAM of detectives from the Kano Police Command and a special vigilance group led by Ali Kwara yesterday in Kano arrested five suspected armed robbers.

A source said the robbery suspects were arrested at their hideout on the outskirts of the city, following a tip-off.

The source said the resistance of the robbers led to a gun duel between them and the police, but the superior fire power of the police overwhelmed them.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

They were reportedly injured and arrested with severe wounds after an encounter which lasted for 15 minutes.

Confirming the incident,

spokesman for the Kano Police Command, Magaji Musa, said the robbers confessed to have attacked the Singer market and WAPA bureau de change last year.

He said the suspected robbers took part in a bank

robbery recently in Katsina State.

Musa said the police seized three AK 47 assault rifles and many live ammunition from the suspected robbers, adding that investigation is in progress.

Suswam sacks 23 council chairmen

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OVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has sacked the 23 local government caretaker committee chairmen.

They have been in office for almost one year. However, the sack does not affect the

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

caretaker chairmen of Makurdi, Tarkaa, Gboko, Okpokwu and Agatu local governments.

The sacked chairmen have been directed to hand over to their Director-General, Services and Administration (DGSS).

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

NEWS

Chinese pills made from dead babies found in South Korea ‘ T The Chinese auHOUSANDS of pills filled with powdered human flesh have been discovered by customs officials in South Korea, Daily Mail reported yesterday.

The capsules are in demand because they are viewed as being a medicinal ‘cure-all’.

The grim trade is being run from China where corrupt medical staff are said to be tipping off medical companies when babies are aborted or delivered still-born.

The tiny corpses are then bought, stored in household refrigerators in homes of those involved in the trade before they are removed and taken to clinics where they are placed in medical drying microwaves.

Once the skin is tinder dry, it is pummelled into powder and then processed into capsules along with herbs to disguise the true ingredients from health investigators and customs officers.

The discoveries since last August has shocked even hardened customs agents who have pledged to strengthen inspections.

Chinese officials are understood to have been aware of the trade and have tried to stop the capsules being exported but thousands of packets of them have been smuggled through to South Korea.

Danger: The Chinese Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the alleged production of pills made from dead babies There is a huge demand for alternative Chinese remedies - which include ground up rhino horns.

The Chinese have historically consumed human placentas to improve blood supply and circulation.

Health authorities in Asia are concerned that if the

powdered foetus trade is allowed to continue the capsules will find their way onto the internet and be sold to gullible or sick desperate people in other parts of the world.

The South Korean Customs Service said it had heightened its searches of suspicious packages being brought into the country by travellers from China in an attempt to stamp out the sickening trade.

According to customs agents, 35 smuggling attempts have been made since August last year involving more than 17,000 capsules disguised as ‘stamina boosters’.

Hospitals and abortion clinics in China reportedly pass the remains onto drugs companies when a baby is stillborn or aborted, the South Korean SBS documentary team reported last year.

The San Francisco Times reported that tests carried out on the pills confirmed they were made up of 99.7 per cent human remains.

The tests were successfully able to establish the genders of the babies used.

There is a huge demand for the pills which are thought to enhance stamina. Microwave-dried placenta is also sought after for its alleged ‘medicinal’ benefits.

However, in reality the human flesh capsules contain super-bacteria and other harmful ingredients.

A number of smugglers who have been detained by the South Korean authorities have claimed they did not know what the ingredients were or the manufacturing process behind them.

Ethnic Koreans from North-east China who now live in South Korea are those who were mostly intending to use the capsules or share them with other KoreanChinese’ said a customs offi-

thorities have confirmed that 38 per cent of women of childbearing age have been sterilised but the babies that are aborted do not go to waste because of the sickening trade in using their corpses for purported medicinal purposes

‘

cial.

‘They are normally brought into South Korea in luggage or posted by international mail.’

The capsules were all confiscated but no one has been punished because the amount was deemed small and they were not intended for sale, a customs official added.

Chinese newspapers have identified the Northeastern provinces as the source of the human flesh capsules, in particular the Jilin region which is close to North Korea.

There have been disturbing reports that some babies were those who had perished in China’s notorious ‘dying rooms’ where youngsters are deliberately left to die because they were born into families that already had the limit of one child in country areas.

In order to keep its population down, China performs

• Chinese officials confiscating thousands of illegal tablets

13 million abortions a year mainly because mothers sacrifice their newborns to avoid punishment such as severe fines or even a beating by the authorities.

The Chinese authorities have confirmed that 38 per cent of women of child-bearing age have been sterilised -

ALGON decries weakened local govt system

C

OUNCILS’ chairmen, under the auspices of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), have decried the declining system at the grassroots across the country.

National President of the association Okafor Nwabueze, who spoke after receiving the handover notes from his predecessor Felix Akhabue, said the new executive would work tirelessly to restore the local government system to its pride of place.

Nwabueze, identified the local government system is the foundation of the nation’s democracy, advocated for a more open, transparent and accountable leadership system at the third tiers of government in Nigeria.

He said he would work to strengthen the system by making representations to the National Assembly and States’ Houses of Assembly to make provision for the re-

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

vival of the local government system “because it holds the key to the survival of our democracy.”

According to him, a situation where more than half of the local government areas are being administered by unelected caretaker committees is dangerous to democracy.

He said ALGON under his leadership, would take advantage of the on-going constitution review process to ensure that adequate constitutional provisions are made to invigorate the system.

He said with the change of banton, “the association would together as a united family and re-enact the vision of unity and progress made by its founding fathers in bring together the 774 local governments areas and the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

He said the association would ensure legal recognition of democratic institu-

tions at the local government level.

Nwabueze said: “We will work to ensure that all leaders at the Local Government level are democratically elected.

“We would also key into the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as we belie it would impact and enhance service delivery at that level.

“We will also work for a local government system that is open, transparent and accountable and an equitable resource allocation to the different communities that make up the local government areas.”

Akhabue said the protracted disagreements in the body led to the setting up of an interim management committee which he chaired.

According to him, the body decided to consolidate its leadership in the hands of duly-elected local government chairmen to move the association forward.

but the babies that are aborted do not go to waste because of the sickening trade in using their corpses for purported medicinal purposes.

Despite their disgust at discovering packets of the socalled rejuvenation pills being brought in from China, South Korean officials have

refused to confirm where the babies came from or who made the capsules.

Sources said this was because they were not prepared to create diplomatic friction with Beijing, preferring to leave it to Chinese officials to do something about the horrific trade in powdered babies.

Minister raises alarm over lead poisoning From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

•Prof Onyebuchi-Chukwu

D

UE to the continuous activities of some miners in the affected villages in Zamfara State, Health Minister Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu yesterday warned of the potential risk of another lead poisoning contamination in the areas.

The minister gave the warning at an International Conference on Lead Poisoning in Abuja. He was represented by the Director of

Public Health in the ministry, Dr. Mansur Kabiru.

Stressing that the battle against lead poisoning in Northwester state is not yet over, Chukwu pushed for safer mining practices for the miners in the area in order to reduce human exposure to lead.

He said: “I wish to sound a note of warning at this point.

Although we have made significant progress in controlling the lead poisoning outbreak in Zamfara state, the battle is not yet over.

“For us to sustain the gains we have made, we need to strengthen coordination among all stakeholders so that the collective national interventions can be cost effective.”

“Sadly, there are reports of persistence of mining activities in domestic settings in some of the affected villages.

If this continues, you will agree with me there is likelihood of re-contamination of previously remediated villages and exposure of children to lead. We must not allow this to happen.”

“We must protect our children from the long-term neurological complications of lead poisoning and untimely death. We also need to develop safer mining practices for these miners so as to limit human exposure to lead.”

To streamline mining activities in the state, Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who was represented at the conference by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Abdullahi Tsafe said that the State has commenced registration of Small Scale Mining Cooperative Societies.

According to him, the state is also looking at ways to strengthen its laws to regulate children’s access to mining and processing sites.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

57

NEWS Tukur names ex-NDP chief Fari, Okiro aides

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•President, Canada International Development Research Centre, Ambassador David Malone, speaker (left), Chief Femi Olopade, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, chairman of the occasion, Kathryn Toure and Director-General, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa at a lecture on United Nations Security Council – Boom or Bust at |NIIA, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has appointed former chieftain of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Alhaji Habu Fari and former Inspector General of Police, Chief Mike Okiro as aides.

Fari is Chief of Staff while Okiro is Special Adviser on Security Matters. Others are: Senator Saidu Umar: Special Adviser on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electoral Matters; Hon. Abduallhi Gumel, Special Adviser on National Assembly; Alhaji Aminu Yakodima, Special Assistant on General Duties.

Others include Osaro Onaiwo, Special Assistant (Liai-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

son); and former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Gusau, who was appointed the Special Adviser.

Tukur, who announced the appointments while receiving chairmen at the party yesterday, urged them to maintain party supremacy above individual interests.

He lamented the spate of insecurity in the country, saying, “ today we cannot sleep with two eyes closed.

There are bombs everywhere.

Nigerians don’t know these things before, but with good governance and policy, we can change the insecurity in the country”.

‘Jonathan yet to send bill to remove immunity clause for governors’ From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

•Fashola (right) presenting Ibru‘s biography...yesterday. With him are: Prof. Utuama (second right), the celebrator, Mr. Ibru (third right), Prof. Utuama’s wife Tuwere Nelly (third right), Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olawale Cole (second right) and Ibru’s wife Umobo (left) PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Fashola, others extol Ibru’s virtues at 70

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday extolled the virtues of the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), Mr Goodie Ibru . It was during Ibru’s 70th birthday anniversary and a book presentation. Fashola said Ibru is a man that should not only be celebrated but one whom people should benefit from his faculty of enterprise.

The Governor spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs(NIIA), Victoria Island, venue of the public presentation of the book titled: “Goodie Minabo Ibru, A life of Service and Enterprise” written by Layi Ajani.

He said Ibru, who is chairman of the Ikeja Hotels, owners of Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja stands out as a man who PUBLIC NOTICE OKEREKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Joy Okereke, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Joy Emmanuel. all former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE TARZOHO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Doosuur Tarzoho, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Doosuur Ekechi. all former documents remain valid. the general public please take note PUBLIC NOTICE IDEBI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Idebi Abike.I. now wish to be known and address as Mrs Adewumi Abike.I. All former documents remain valid. the general public please take note

created jobs when his peers were thinking about getting one.

“That is the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that this country is in dire need of today, those who would build the local capital that will propel us to the prosperity that we seek. The Europeans have gone and all of the capitals they built they have taken away”.

“So, if you are a graduate of business administration, what business are you going to administer if the business has gone? So, all of us now have to wear faculties and caps of business creators. That is where Mr Goodie Ibru and the Ibru family must be celebrated in no small way for venturing with courage to invest in this economy when it was the past time of the colonial administrators”, the governor said.

Fashola said while some peo-

ple who have been opportuned have decided to stash away their resources and funds in foreign countries , the likes of Mr Goodie Ibru have given the people the chance to benefit from it.

The Governor stressed that Nigeria is just coming on its own as builders of capital, adding that the generation ahead of the present one and the present one were prepared to simply manage capital as the mantra was that you just go to a university, get a degree and you will get a job.

He noted that the celebrant has lent his support for good governance to every government in Lagos in which he has served by standing up for what government could do better.

The Governor who also spoke on the development of tourism said while there is the need to do more in the sector,

it should be noted that tourism is about destination which requires not only hotels which are critical services for tourism but very good roads, fast trains and reliable ferries.

Delta State Deputy Governor Amos Utuama (SAN), who represented his boss, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, described Mr Ibru as a man with a knack for excellence.

He added that Ibru, who is also a distinguished author, is one of the greatest supporters of the present administration in Delta State, adding that the administration would always be delighted to celebrate him.

The Chief Presenter of the book, Senator Azu Agboti, described Ibru as a businessman who has made remarkable exploits in the hospitality business and succeeded in placing Nigeria as a tourism destination.

36,000 awaiting trial in prisons, says CG

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F the 50,601 inmates in prisons, 36,934 of them are awaiting trial, the Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Zakari Ohinoyi Ibrahim said yesterday.

He said 13,667 inmates are convicts of various categories.

Ohinoyi spoke in Abuja when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior, led by its Chairman, Umar Bature, visited the NPS, as part of their oversight functions.

The NPS chief expressed worry over the rising figure of those awaiting trial, saying it is caused by a weak criminal justice system and delayed trials.

He added that despite the ef-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

forts to redress the trend, it has continued.

Ohinoyi decried the short supply of rifles and other security gadgets needed for operations because of the prevailing insecurity in the country.

He said: “One thing that worries us is that when you look at the awaiting trial persons, majority of them fall into the capital categories, such as armed robbery. So, you will discover that because of their profile, nobody is anxious to release them from prison. But, what I want to say here is that we are synergising with the courts.

We are also collaborating with other arms of criminal justice

system to see what we can do.

“Staff population is 29,264.

Inmates’ population nationwide is 50,601. 13,667 are convicts of diverse categories (representing 27 per cent).

36,934 are awaiting trial persons (representing 73 per cent).

We have equally made representations to the presidency through the Minister of interior, Comrade Abba Moro on areas that require government intervention especially the issue of dearth of Black Maria for court escort duties and the completion of some on-going prison projects.

“The requests have become imperative as annual budgetary provisions have been found inadequate to meet those needs. “

HE House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has said it has not received any proposal from President Goodluck Jonathan seeking the removal of the immunity clause for governors.

Eziuche Ubani, who is the chairman of the committee on Media Relations, spoke yesterday in Abuja against the backdrop of opposition from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) against the President’s alleged plan.

The lawmaker, who spoke during a briefing with reporters on the committee’s plan, said:”This is not the first time we have had such reaction on the likely removal from the governor’s forum. There is nothing before this committee on that. We have not gotten proposals from the president. So, we don’t know what anybody is reacting to” Ubani said the committee will be people-oriented in consideration of the proposal when it is presented.

His words: “But be that as it may, the attitude we have in this committee and indeed the House is that we will respond to the issues of the people. The governor’s forum is a constituency and they also represent the people, the constitution belongs to the people and is supposed to guide the people. What we intend to do is to respond to the bigger sentiments of the people of Nigeria and not basically any group.

According to him, the president will have to first send a proposal to the National Assembly before talks of consideration can begin. “I think we can speak very specifically on those when the time comes. As it is, there is nothing before us,” he said.

Speaking on the requests for state creation and for constitutional listing of new local government areas, created in some states, Ubani confirmed receipt of many of such proposals. He said consideration will be given to all requests.

He however said the review committee would be guided by the constitution in looking at requests for state creation before it.

Jonathan, Nnaji for power exhibition

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is expected to open the Annual Power Generation and Steel Production Exhibition and Conference in Abuja on May 22.

Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, experts in power generation and over 1,000 international delegates are expected to attend.

The event, to be held at the

International Conference Centre from May 22 t0 24 has the theme: The Road to Stable Power and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.

The organisers, Mr William Dexter and Dr Kunle Igoni, said the exhibition and conference will serve as a catalyst to unlock Nigerian and West African economy to investment in the power and steel sectors.

Total Education newspaper launched

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NEWSPAPER with focus on education reporting, Total Education, was launched in Lagos.

Its Executive Editor, Kayode Olanrewaju, said its vision is “to be a credible and most authoritative source of information on educational issues, events and trends.”

Its mission is “to provide factual and comprehensive reports, set agenda for sectoral development in education as well as provide a document capable of serving as a credible reference material on education.”

The newspaper will begin with weekly editions.

Olanrewaju said: “Total Education, Nigeria’s pioneer education newspaper, will be solely devoted to, and focused on education reportage in a way it has never been done in the country.

“In the next few weeks, the Nigerian journalism space will experience a new entrant – not in the mould of the usual general interest newspapers, but in focused, comprehensive education reportage.

“Starting as a weekly, it is envisioned to, in a short time, metamorphose into a daily newspaper – the first, preferred, most authoritative and most credible source of information on the education sector.

“Welcome to the dawn of a new era in education reportage.”

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NEWS

EFCC arraigns 80-year-old ‘inventor’ for alleged fraud T HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an 80-year-old man, Clement Uwemedimo at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly defrauding 20 persons after asking them to invest in a petroleum product he invented.

He was charged along with Sunday Adedayo (34) before Justice Habeeb Abiru on a 32count charge of obtaining about N1million by false pretence.

EFCC’s prosecutor Ben Ubi claimed that Uwemedimo used his company, Command Clem Nigeria Limited, to collect various sums of money ranging from N15,000 and N50,000, from over 20 persons in Lagos State.

He said the fraud was per-

By Joseph Jibueze

petrated between December 2009 and December 2010.

EFCC said Uwemedimo claimed that he invented an anti-corrosive special paint used for the extraction of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other corroded instruments.

The defendant allegedly asked his victims, who complained to the EFCC, to invest in the products and benefit from the royalties that would accrue from them.

Ubi said after collecting the monies, Uwemedimo and his alleged accomplice failed to invent the product as claimed.

The alleged offence contra-

venes Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 13 of 2006.

Uwemedimo and Adedayo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Their lawyer, J. D. Unuigbo asked the court to grant them bail, which was not opposed by the EFCC. Justice Abiru granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

He ordered them to be remanded in EFCC’s custody until they meet their bail conditions.

The judge adjourned till June 25 for trial.

Army seeks support for anti-terrorism HE Army has called Nigerians, irrespective campaign that for the cooperation of of their status have unique

T

Nigerians in the ongoing efforts to tackle the security challenges facing the country.

The force also urged the media to take national interest into consideration while reporting the activities of the militant sect–Boko Haram and other extremist groups in the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, spoke at the opening of a five-day workshop on “Democracy, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution,” holding at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics Central Lecture Hall in Lagos.

By Hamed Shobiye, Assistant Editor, Online

The theme of the workshop is – “Evolving Counter Terrorism Strategies for Enhanced National Security and Development.”

This is the 12th edition of the seminar which is organised by NACOL in partnership with Impact for Change and Konrad Adeneur Foundation of Germany.

Ihejirika, represented by the General Officer Commanding, 81 Mechanised Division, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, told the gathering

roles to play in tackling the scourge of terrorism in the country.

He also said the Army is not oblivious of the need for healthy civil –military relations, particularly in view of the ongoing internal security operations and the hitherto negative perception of the military by the public.

“Because of our past involvement in governance, there is a negative perception of the military by the public and this had been the major cause of unhealthy relationship between the force and the civil populace.”

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NEWS

Kogi: Why Wada must go, Echocho tells court

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HE winner of the January last year’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Kogi State, Jibrin Isah Echocho yesterday told Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja Federal High Court, why Captain Idris Wada must vacate the governorship seat.

Contrary to argument by Wada, Echocho said his case is different from that of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, which the Supreme Court declined jurisdiction on.

His counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) claimed that the Supreme Court judgment which nullified the tenure elongation of five former governors including that of Kogi was not an issue in Sylva’s suit unlike now.

Besides, he argued that in the case of Bayelsa, it was Sylva, who went to court to invalidate the primaries which he won while Echocho is in court to validate his own.

Blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the confusion in Kogi, Olanipekun argued that it was the commission that got the judgment that sacked the former governors and thereby reactivated the earlier People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries conducted in January 2011 ahead of the May 29 exit date.

He said the present cause of action arose at the instance of the Supreme Court judgment on tenure elongation.

Isah had won the primaries before the INEC postponed elections in five states including Kogi.

The action followed an Abuja Federal High Court’s verdict which held that the tenure of the five governors is beyond May 29, 2011 having won re-run elections.

When the commission released a new date for the election, Kogi PDP conducted another primary election in September in which Wada emerged as the winner.

Wada eventually won the

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

governorship election defeating the candidate of the Action Congres of Nigeria (ACN), former governor Abubakar Audu.

The Supreme Court, in its January 27, judgment however ruled that the tenure of the governors had elapsed on May 28, last year.

By the judgment of the court, Olanipekun said the September last year primaries won by Wada had become extinct and no longer applies because it was not conducted within 150 days to the exit of former Governor Ibrahim Idris.

Olanipekun argued that in the case of Bayelsa, it was Sylva, who went to court to invalidate the primary which he won but Echocho had not gone to court on his own,rather his cause of action arose at the instance of the Supreme Court judgment on tenure elongation.

Adopting his written address, Wada’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN) argued that it was not in dispute that there were two primary elections held in January and September, 2011 and that the plaintiff participated in the two primaries.

Submitting that the case of Sylva, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court had finally halted the suit of the plaintiff, he urged the court to rely on the judgment of the Supreme Court to dismiss the instant suit.

He also argued that every claim of the plaintiff is as to the effect of the April 2011 election and as long as the said election was cancelled, every other election relating to it is automatically canceled, adding that the suit before the court is an internal affair of the party.

Counsel to INEC, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) said the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the plaintiff is asking the court to interprete the judgment of the Supreme

‘The September last year primaries won

by Wada had become extinct and no longer applies because it was not conducted within 150 days to the exit of former Governor Ibrahim Idris’ Court on tenure elongation and also asking it to give a consequential order.

He submitted that by Section 251(1)(q)(r)(s) of the 1999 Constitution did not permit the court to do such a thing adding that the court has no power or right to interprete what the Constitution will imply in the judgment of the Supreme Court.

According to him, the reliefs sought can only be granted by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

He urged the court to dismiss the originating summon as a clear abuse of court process.

PDP’S counsel Olusola Oke argued that the reliefs sought by the plaintiff especially 3 to 8, is seeking to nullify the election which the party won.

By the judgment in PDP against Sylva, Oke said the Plaintiff is estopped from seeking enforcement of January 2011 PDP primaries.

According to him, under Section 285 of the Constitution, jurisdiction to question the validity of an election is with the tribunal.

He therefore urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff suit.

After listening to parties in the suit, Justice Kafarati adjourned till June 29 for judgment.

A three-member panel of

Pension scam: Ex-director granted bail

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ESPITE yesterday came the way of a former Director of the Pension Office and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Dr. Sani Shuaibu.

Shuaibu was arraigned before Justice Adamu Bello on Monday with four others over charges of fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and concealing the illicit origin of N439 million stolen pension funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Others are: Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Ribaile Petroleum Limited.

The accused had earlier been arraigned with 32 others over a 136-count charge of corruption, abuse of office and theft on the accused.

Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted him a N50 million bail with one surety in like sum.

The surety, the court said, must be a responsible citizen residing in Abuja with a property which worth must not be less than N50 million, also within the judicial division of

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

the court.

The judge said that the title documents of the property must also be verified and deposited with the registrar of the court, while the accused’s international passport is to remain in the court’s custody pending the final determination of the case.

Before adjourning till July 19, for trial, Justice Bello directed that Shuaibu must write a written undertaking not to harass or intimidate prosecution witnesses before or during trial.

The Judge warned that a violation of the undertaking will result in the revocation of the bail and remanding of the accused until trial is concluded.

At the last sitting, the prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla had told the court that Shuaibu has a history of interfering with investigations and harassing potential witnesses in related cases before the same court.

He told the court that the EFCC had written a letter to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), re-

questing for investigation.

One of the four count charge reads: “That you, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, former Director, Pension Accounts, office of the Head of service of the Federation of Nigeria, Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Riba-lle Petroleum Limited at various times in April 2009 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to convert resources in the aggregate sum N399, 000, 000.00 only derived directly from an illegal act at the Pensions Department Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria to purchase Brifina Hotels Limited, Plot 1106 cadastral zone BO2 Durumi District Area Abuja, Certificate of Occupancy No: 1807w-1cc4z6723r-cf4eu-20, property of A.E Bright Future Motors Nig. Limited with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the resources, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 14 (1) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

the Court of Appeal, Abuja, presided over by Justice Zainab Bukalchuwa had remitted the case back to the trial court following amicable settlement reached by the parties in the suit.

The re-assignment was at the instance of Wada, who through his counsel, Chris Uche SAN told the Court of Appeal that he wanted the matter taken away from Justice Donaltus Okorowo and be re-assigned to another judge.

Echocho is asking for an order setting aside Wada’s swearing in and for an order directing INEC to conduct a fresh election pursuant to the January 27 judgment of the Supreme Court.

He also wants a declaration that INEC which is an institution established by the Constitution is under a duty to obey and comply with decision of the Supreme Court delivered on January 27 this year.

He is asking the court to declare that INEC, being the appellant in the Appeal between INEC(as appellant) V Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (as respondent) which prayed the Supreme Court to decree and declare that the term of office of the last holder of the office of Governor of Kogi State constitutionally lapsed on

May 28, 2011 by the virtue of Section 180(2) of the Constitution and which appeal/reliefs the Supreme Court allowed cannot rightly and in good conscience be heard and allowed to jettison or misinterprete in any way the said judgment of the Supreme Court to again defeat the clear wordings of Section 180(2) and (2A) of the same Constitution.

He also wants the court to declare that purported election to the office of Governor of Kogi State held by the defendant during the pendency of its appeal to the Supreme Court and which purportedly produced the second defendant as Governor-elect of Kogi State was unconsciable, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

He is praying the court to declare that the election that brought Wada in was done in violation of the mandatory provisions of Section 178(2) of the Constitution, Section 25(8) and 31(1) of the Electoral Act. He is also praying the court to declare that the letter issued by the INEC on January 30,2012 directing Wada to be sworn in based on the December 3,2012 is contemptuous, null and void and of no effect.

Makinde is seeking a declaration that the first Defendant Order/directive that the third Defendant be sworn in as Gov-

•Wada

ernor of Kogi State is unconstitutional, null, void and ultra vires. * ..that the 1st Defendant Order/directive that 3rd Defendant be sworn in as Governor of Kogi State when the 4th Defendant is discharging same function pursuant to Section 191(2) of the Constitution is unconstitutional, null, void and ultra vires. *That the 3rd Defendant cannot hold himself out/or parade himself as the Governor of Kogi State and that the 1st Defendant is bound to conduct a gfresh election into the gubernatorial seat for Kogi State based on fresh primary by the political parties.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

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Contact Address: Secretariat Building Bodija, Ibadan-Oyo State

PUBLIC NOTICE LEKKI SCHEME II RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named social club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the Companies and Allied matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. MRS STELLA DENLOYE 2. Mr. WALE IKUSERU 3. Mr. DELE BROWNE 4. GEN. BALOGUN SHOGA 5. Mr. AUDU ANGULU

6. MR IFEANYI EKENTA 7. MR BAYO ONANUGA 8. MR KAYODE AKINKUGBE 9. MR GARBA LAWAL

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To ensure a secure neighbourhood 2. To promote peace, unity and harmony among resident 3. To proffer and actualize ideas for physical development 4. To foster the well being of members 5. To promote interaction among members 6. To create conducive environment for residents 7. To support physical/environmental development of lekki 8. To make the estate a model for the other residential areas Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC), Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi ironsi street,Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES.

FOREIGN Russian plane ‘disappears’ in Indonesia

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NEW Russian passenger jet carrying 50 people has gone missing on a demonstration flight in Indonesia, after taking off from Jakarta.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 disappeared from radar screens 50 minutes into what was meant to be a brief flight.

An eyewitness reported seeing a low-flying plane flying towards a mountain but did not hear any explosion.

Aerial searches for the plane have been hampered by darkness and strong winds.

But rescuers have continued looking for the plane on the ground.

“We suspect the plane crashed, but we’re not yet certain,” rescue chief Marsdya Daryatmo told reporters several hours after the disappearance.

Most of those aboard are believed to be Indonesian airline representatives but it has

been confirmed that there are also eight Russians, including pilots and technicians, and a French citizen.

According to a manifest published by Russian news agency Ria-Novosti, which has not been confirmed, two Italians and a US citizen are also aboard the plane.

The jet vanished from radar near the city of Bogor in West Java province and may have come down in mountainous terrain around Mt Salak.

Relatives of Indonesians aboard the plane have gathered at the airport to wait for news, some of them weeping uncontrollably, AFP news agency reports.

The plane took off from east Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma airport at 14:00 (07:00 GMT), on its second flight of the day, the Indonesian search and rescue agency said.

Obama approves same sex marriage

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NITED STATES President Barack Obama has ended months of equivocation on the issue of gay marriage by saying he thinks same-sex couples should be able to wed.

He told ABC News: “It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

Obama has become the first US president to back gay marriage.

In recent days, Vice-President Joe Biden and cabinet member Arne Duncan had expressed support for gay unions.

The interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts was apparently hastily arranged as Obama came under mounting pressure to clarify his position on the issue.

During the ABC interview, which airs later today, Obama pointed to his administration’s commitment to increasing rights for gay citizens.

He cited the repeal of the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ pol-

icy and said his administration had dropped support for the Defense of Marriage Act. “I’ve stood on the side of broader equality for the LGBT community. I hesitated on gay marriage in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient,” Obama said.

He added: “I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people, the word ‘marriage’ was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth.

“But I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I talked to friends and family and neighbours, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage,” Obama said.

blast, saying the observers would remain focused on their mission.

“This is a graphic example of violence that Syrians do not need. It is essential to halt the violence in all its forms,” his spokesman told a news conference in Deraa, according to the AFP news agency.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA

Atletico Madrid Yekini’s death: I won’t press win Europa League charges, says Lawyer A

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HE lawyer of the late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini, Barrister Mohammed Olanrewaju Jubril has disclosed that he won’t initiate legal proceedings against the perpetrators of the alleged maltreatment of his client (Yekini) which led to the ex-player being allegedly hand and leg chained.

“I am not contemplating pressing any charges against anybody. My main concern now is to see to a well deserved Eight-day Fidau coming up at Ira this Saturday and subsequently an elaborate 40-day Fidau prayers for my late friend and client.

“Like I said before, I don’t know the cause of Yekini’s death and the circumstances behind his death”, Jubril noted.

Nevertheless, he did not pre-empt the reaction of the Federal Government on the matter since Yekini was a hero who played for the national team and broke many records during his playing days.

“I know that Rashidi Yekini is like a Federal Government property and he was a national hero and an international figure during his life time. If the Federal Government feel that they want to look into or investigate the circumstances of his death, well why not?” Jubril said.

He however appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to play the June 3rd, 2012 World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Namibia at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan in honour of the late football star.

“I am using this medium to appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation that they should please agree that the match between the Super Eagles and Namibia for the 2014 World Cup slated for June 3rd, 2012 be played at the Liberty Stadium in honour of the late Super Eagles striker, Rashidi Yekini.

“Yekini has lived all his life

•Urges Eagles to play in Ibadan for ‘Yeking’ From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja in Ibadan and has almost all his friends in Ibadan, so it will be a deserved and great honour for the NFF to play the World Cup match in his honour”, Jubril disclosed.

Jubril, however, spoke on the planning for the 40 days’ Fidau Prayers.

“The 40 days’ Fidau programme is an idea I shared with one or two of his friends and that we are planning.

We are looking at involving his other friends and most specially the Oyo State Gov-

N

gramme according to Muslim rights. It is after the 40 days’ Fidau that it is believed that Gangling (Yekini) will finally rest in perfect peace”, Jubril disclosed.

The lawyer also disclosed that the Eight-Day Fidau Prayer will be done this Saturday in Ira, Offa in Kwara State.

“Yekini will be remembered for his simplicity, candour, transparency, honesty and straightforwardness. There are so many things I learnt from him,” he concluded.

lish a foothold in the match.

But just when they looked to be turning things around, they were taken apart by another moment of quality from Falcao on 34 minutes.

After collecting Arda Turan's pass, Falcao turned marker Jon Aurtenetxe before blasting home from close range for his 29th Europa League goal in 29 games.

Falcao nearly rounded off his hat-trick on the stroke of halftime after cutting in from the left side, but he only managed to fire over.

Bilbao came storming out after the break and a strong run and cross from Muniain was turned away at the last moment

by Diego Godin with Llorente lurking for the tap-in.

Susaeta went even closer with just over 10 minutes to go with a low drive from the right that Courtois did well to beat away.

With Bilbao surging forward they left themselves opened to a counter, with Diego leaving two defenders in his wake before stroking a fine finish across Iraizoz to land the decisive blow.

Ibai produced a late thumper that hit the woodwork, but it was of little consequence as Diego Simeone's men collected the trophy.

•(From left to right) Boutros Boutros (Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications), Arséne Wenger (Manager, Arsenal FC) and Tom Fox (Chief Commercial Officer, Arsenal FC) are flanked by two members of Emirates’ Cabin Crew at Arsenal’s London Colney Training Centre.

Emirates to sponsor Arsenal’s summer tour of Asia, Africa

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MIRATES, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, will be helping to connect Arsenal fans in Asia and Africa with their heroes after it was announced on Friday that the carrier will be the Presenting

FIFA ranking: Nigeria drops to 63rd IGERIA’S Super Eagles have again dropped in the ranking of world football governing body, FIFA. In the latest rankings released on Wednesday, Nigeria dropped three places to 63rd position.

Nigeria was one step ahead of Cameroon, which maintained its 64th position while South Africa moved up four places to number 67.

Guinea dropped from 67th to 68th.

The first runner-up in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire, maintained the 15th position while Ghana is on number 22.

Nations Cup 2012 champion, Zambia, remains at number 40.

Spain, Germany, Uruguay, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, England and Croatia

ernment, a state where Yekini built a house and lived most of his life. We don’t want to do the 40 days’ Fidau in Ira in Kwara State because some of the eminent personalities that would come for the programme will definitely prefer Ibadan in Oyo State.

“We are contemplating discussing with the Oyo State Government to be fully involved while we are also contemplating using the Adamasingba Stadium for the 40 days’ Fidau Prayers which would round off Yekini’s burial pro-

TLETICO MADRID claimed the Europa League title after defeating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in an all-Spanish final in Bucharest.

A year after scoring the winner in Porto's Europa League triumph, Colombian striker Radamel Falcao starred for the victors by producing two superb individual goals in the first half.

An equally brilliant clincher from Diego late on ensured Atletico regained the trophy they last won in 2010.

Atletico were on the front foot straight from kick-off, impressing with some incisive link-up play in the attacking third.

The opener arrived after seven minutes, with Falcao bending a sublime effort past Gorka Iraizoz into the top corner.

Bilbao were slow to respond to the setback, and were faced with further danger when Diego dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Fernando Llorente then sliced a close-range volley off target, before Iker Muniain forced Thibaut Courtois into a smart save as Marcelo Bielsa's Bilbao began to estab-

maintained the top eight positions.

• Keshi

Sponsor of the club’s summer tour.

The Arsenal 2012 Tour, Presented by Emirates, will provide an opportunity for many of the club’s huge following of international supporters to see the likes of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott in action for the first time.

The tour kicks off in Malaysia on 24th July when the club plays a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur. Arsenal will then travel to Mainland China, a country Emirates serves with 35 weekly flights to three cities, including Beijing where Arsenal face Manchester City at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium on 27th July.

Arsenal’s final match in Asia will take place in Hong Kong against the local champions Kitchee FC on 29th July.

The London club will then make their first visit to Africa when they travel to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to play a game on 5th August, giving Arsenal’s large Nigerian fan base the chance to watch their team play.

“Emirates and Arsenal started their journey together back in 2004 and our aim has always been to bring Arsenal closer to its millions of loyal fans across the six continents that we fly to. With this in mind, we are delighted to an-

nounce that Emirates will be the Presenting Sponsor of the Arsenal 2012 Tour,” said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications.

“The tour will make it possible for Arsenal’s loyal supporters in Nigeria, Malaysia, Mainland China and Hong Kong to see their heroes in action. Coincidently, in the same year that we began our relationship with Arsenal, we launched our first service to both Nigeria and China. And like Arsenal, we have enjoyed a strong and growing relationship with both of these countries ever since,” continued Mr. Boutros.

“Arsenal Football Club is delighted to be expanding our long-term partnership with Emirates through our 2012 Tour. We are fortunate to have such a strong global partner who is as committed to these key markets as we are. We are all excited to be visiting Malaysia, China including Hong Kong, and Nigeria, countries with many loyal Arsenal fans, who will now have the opportunity to see their team play live in the summer,” said Arsenal‘s Chief Commercial Officer Tom Fox.

• Atletico Madrid's players celebrate during the podium ceremony of the UEFA Europa League final football match between Club Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club Bilbao yesterday night at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest.

Rangers stretch lead to four points •Beat Dolphins 2-0 in Enugu • Pillars hold Enyimba 2-2 in Aba ANGERS International FC of Enugu have extended the gap

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between them and second placed Enyimba to four points after the Flying Antelopes defeated Nigeria Premier League (NPL) title holders, Dolphins 2-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Wednesday in a Week 25 fixture.

The Coal City team got the first goal in the 35th minute through an own goal that was initiated by a pull out from NPL leading scorer, Chikeluba Ofoedu in the 35th minute, while Rangers added the second goal through Alhaji Gero in the 51st minute to make the day safe for the Okey Emorditutored side.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri The win catapults Rangers to 43 points and first position on the NPL log after 24 matches while Enyimba and Kano Pillars are in second and third positions respectively after a lively 2-2 draw at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. Enyimba had to come back from a goal down to get a respectable draw at home. The draw kept the People’s Elephant's unbeaten home run and left them in second spot with 39 points from 24 ties albeit on superior goals, since Pillars are also on 39 points in the same number of matches but are behind in third because of their inferior goal difference.

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www.thenationonlineng.net

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7, NO.2,121

‘Yes, it can only be by the sheer power of sorcery that the more crude oil we export, the messier our lives become. It is only an overpowering feminine aura of the acrid kind that would drill a harsh petroleum tax into the populace on the dawn of a new year under the guise of removing a nation-threatening ‘subsidy.’

STEVE OSUJI

COMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

HESE are not the best of times for Nigeria. Its fledgling democracy appears to be in deep trouble. Its very existence as a nation is under constant threat from a combination of terrorism, political banditry, massive public corruption, potential religious conflict, and mass poverty. Many observers of Nigeria’s volatile political terrain are concerned about this regrettable trend in our nation and consider Nigeria’s current problems as ominous signs that the nation may be moving inexorably to its collapse and disintegration.Over the years, Nigeria has successfully weathered many similar storms in its history. But this time, the danger to Nigeria’s continued existence as a nation is very real.

If this turns out to be the case, then it is a self fulfilling prophecy for which our politicians must bear full responsibility.

The Boko Haram menace remains the biggest challenge the nation has faced since its civil war which ended in 1970, with an estimated loss of two million lives. Already, terrorist attacks by Boko Haram are believed to have claimed over 1,000 lives since 2005, when it first emerged. And the list of fatalities from the terrorists is increasing. Almost on a daily basis, more and more innocent citizens of our country are being wantonly attacked, maimed, and killed by the terrorists.

In its response to this mindless and disturbing violence, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has, perhaps, in desperation, has accused the Federal Government of indifference to these attacks,warning that it will urge Christians in the North to exercise their right of self defence.This will pitch Christians against Moslems in the North and create the serious danger of a religious conflict that could spell doom for the country. Some media houses were recently attacked in Abuja and Kaduna with the loss of dozens of innocent lives. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks and falsely blamed it on what it called bias against it in the media. It has now threatened to extend its violent campaign to the South.Of course, this will inevitably call for a response from the South, further widening the violence in the nation. The situation calls for restraint on all sides. Despite its best efforts, the government has not succeeded in bringing these wanton killings to an end. President Jonathan and the security forces are concerned and increasingly bewildered by the audacity and ferocity of these terrorist attacks in the country.

The concern about the security situation in the country and the danger to the country’s future goes much beyond the president and the security forces.There are genuine fears abroad about Nigeria’s future as its breakup will have profound international consequences. Many public figures in Nigeria also recognise the danger posed by violence to the continued existence of Nigeria as a nation and want an end to the killings.Only a week ago, General Theophilus Danjuma, a former Army Chief of Staff, and Minister for Defence in the Obasanjo government, warned that the Boko Haram attacks could easily lead to the ‘Somalisation’ of Nigeria, by which he meant that it could easily lead to Nigeria breaking up into fiefdoms. That is the situation in Somalia where the state and any form of government have ceased to exist for years now.

General Danjuma is normally reticent. His

T

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Is Nigeria approaching its Apocalypse?

•Dr Jonathan

warning that the country may break up should be taken very seriously.

But the situation assumed a new salience following the astonishing claim by General Andrew Azazi, another former Army Chief of Staff, and currently the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan, that the PDP, the ruling party, is partly responsible for the emergence of Boko Haram on the political scene.While addressing a recent Southsouth Economic Summit, he was specifically reported as blaming the ruling party for its policy of zoning, arguing that the PDP ‘got it wrong from the beginning when President Jonathan decided to contest the presidential election in 2011’, contrary to the zoning policy in the party. His words were somewhat muddled; but what he appeared to be saying is that Boko Haram is political in its origin and that the feeling in the North is that President Jonathan was voted into office in 2011 out of turn. If this is the case, then Boko Haram is clearly a political organisation.

Its strategy is to make the country ungovernable through violence. This is unacceptable as it is a subversion of the democratic process.

After all, President Jonathan won more votes in the North than elsewhere in the 2011 elections.

It was forthright of General Azazi to have made this astonishing claim publicly. But, to be candid, it is amazing that, as the National Security Adviser, he should have expressed such a view publicly. It was probably the result of desperation and frustration on his part that, as the National Security Adviser, he has been given an impossible security task to end

the terrorist attacks, the nature of which is political, requiring a political, and not, a security solution.It would have been better and probably more effective for the NSA to have conveyed his thoughts on this matter to the President privately. That he gave vent to his anger so publicly is a serious indictment of the PDP government and of President Jonathan. The issue involved here is not, whetherAzazi’s analysis of the cause and source of the terrorists is true or not. It does not take much imagination to reach the conclusion that Boko Haram’s objectives are political. Rather, it is that many people will consider it inappropriate that the NSA chose to publicly indict a government in which he is a major figure. This could prove to be very damaging to the legitimacy and moral authority of the Jonathan government. If General Azazi feels so strongly about the situation and the direct responsibility of the PDP Federal Government for it, then it would have been far better for him to reconsider his position in the government. The conclusion many will draw from his statement is that the PDP Federal Government is in complete disarray and that President Jonathan is not really in control of his own government.

When his subordinates begin to challenge his authority so openly, it is a bad omen for the government and the nation.

But apart from the challenge by Boko Haram, President Jonathan faces other equally serious challenges about which he needs to do something urgently. The huge financial scam, revealed in the report of the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives on the oil sector, represents another challenge that President Jonathan should tackle urgently, as is the pensions scam. He cannot ignore the findings of the committee that over N2.3 trillion, nearly half of this year’s FG budget, was fraudulently paid out in two years to the so-called oil importers, most of whom, as is now revealed, did not import any oil at all, or imported far less than they were contracted to do. This is money that could have been usefully invested in the domestic economy to create jobs. The report confirms that the so-called oil subsidy is mostly a massive fraud involving financial transfers from the poor to the rich. There is palpable public anger about this scam and the apparent deception by the government over it, including resort to blackmail and the threat

HARDBALL

N

EXT year, the race for the governorship of Anambra State will be in full blast.

Because Mr Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will be completing his second term as governor in 2014, the race will be wide open, truly exciting, and indeed riveting. There is no longer the mercurial Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to drive Anambra’s governorship politics along the sentimental trail, and the incumbent governor, for all his strengths and diligence, is not the archetypal politician with the canniness, zeal and charisma for soap box rhetoric. But, alas, there is Mr Andy Uba, the preening and quietly pugnacious former presidential aide to trouble and muddy the previously placid waters of Anambra. He is currently the senator representing Anambra South, and he has just served notice of his intention to occupy the State House in Awka, that is, if he can induce the

Andy Uba and Anambra 2014 more talented politicians of the state to sleep.

There is no doubt Andy will attempt to work his sorcery upon the state. He once did it in 2007, when Obasanjo rammed him through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, and then shuffle him post haste through the governorship poll into the State House. The state escaped mortal injury by the skin of its teeth as the courts threw Andy out of office to enable Obi complete his four-year term, having been sworn in as governor after a titanic legal battle in 2006. The manner of Andy’s primaries victory and his electoral victory in 2007 suggest the state has another epic battle ahead of it.

Andy is probably the only Anambrarian alive whose bona fides are subjects of intense con-

troversies, from his carefully wrought degrees to his befuddling political victories, and from his private financial dealings to his public financial dealings for Obasanjo’s third term project. It is this same bundle of controversy that has now trained his sights on the State House in Awka.

Judging from the way he and his brother, Chris, turned Anambra State politics inside out and upside down, it was for a frighteningly short time difficult to recall that the state ever produced eminent persons like the great Zik of Africa and the irrepressible Ikemba Ojukwu.

You could also be pardoned if the names of Dr Chris Ngige, a former governor of the state, and Professor Charles Soludo, a former Cen-

of the use of force.

So far, President Jonathan has done nothing about the report. His spokesmen say he is waiting for the report of the Senate on the same matter. Fair enough. In any civilised country, where leaders are held to account for any financial misdemeanours, all the public officials involved in the scam will have been suspended immediately, or if found guilty, summarily dismissed, and prosecuted for the pains inflicted on the public, particularly the poor people of our country. There is widespread speculation now that the public officials involved in the scam may go scot free because they are believed to be the sources of huge financial donations to the PDP, the ruling Party, and to President Jonathan’s political campaign in 2011, and possibly in 2015. Whatever is the case President Jonathan must act swiftly on this matter to protect his own personal integrity.

Whether or not Boko Haram is motivated by political considerations, the fact of the matter is that the terrorism with which our nation is now faced also has its economic origins. Financial hardship and deep seated mass poverty, arising from the massive public corruption in government and the widespread social injustice prevalent in the country must be regarded as additional sources of the political tension and instability in our nation. This accounts for the widespread murders, political assassinations, armed robberies, and kidnappings that have added to the insecurity of lives in our country. Far too many people are willing to take matters into their own hands due to the failure of the government to offer them personal security and any hope about their future.

It is claimed that the average annual economic growth of the country in recent years is over 7 per cent. But this impressive economic growth has not translated into a better life for our people or to jobs for them. Instead, it has been creamed off by the political elite who, in the face of mass poverty in our country, continue to live opulently and ostentatiously. In 1956, the minimum monthly wage in the old Western Region was seven pounds ten shillings, roughly equivalent to the N18, 000 minimum monthly wage today that some of the governments of the federation are even unable to pay.

In other words, there has been no increase in the minimum wage of workers since 1956, over 50 years ago. When due account is taken of the depreciation of the Naira and the rising inflation in the domestic economy, it will be seen that the real value of public wages in Nigeriahas declined, relative to the high cost of living.

That is the grim situation most workers in Nigeria are forced to put up with today.

We are now faced with a national emergency that calls for urgent action on the part of President Jonathan. This is no longer the time or season for partisan politics. The corporate existence of the nation is at stake. The President will be well advised to bring on board some of the leading members of the opposition parties and all others who may offer him assistance in resolving this threatening apocalypse that may descend on Nigeria if due care is not taken.

What is involved here is the survival of our nation. This demands that the security situation be treated as a challenge the solution of which demands a bi-partisan approach.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, sounded distant. Andy, with all his ponderous educational, business, political and moral baggages, has indicated his interest in the exalted state seat. He is among the last few politicians who want political power for power sake. He has nothing by way of antecedent, or by way of the present, or the future to indicate he would do something magical with the office, something modernist, something ennobling, something to make other states green with envy.

If the great minds from the state will not pre-empt him when it is safe to do so, they should ensure they stop him even if it kills them. In any case, they must not wait until the polls open to stop him, for knowing him for who he is, not to talk of his consuming sense for intrigues and the macabre, he brings antelopes, not just rabbits, from his oversized magical hats.

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