The Nation May 12, 2013

Security agents seize Gov Aliyu’s 2015 posters

Nasarawa: Militia still holding policemen hostage –Abubakar

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Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.07, No. 2489

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

MAY 12, 2013

N200.00

Cross section of party supporters during the convention of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to approve the merger of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eagle Square, Abuja yesterday.

INSET: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (right), former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba (2nd right), former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi (2nd left) and ACN Chieftain, Chief Audu Ogbeh (left).

Wife, daughter of Supreme Court Justice kidnapped Driver also abducted

Doyin Rhodes-Vivour snatched in Edo State

Buhari: Jonathan lacks capacity to end insecurity

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Change is rallying cry as CPC, ANPP dissolve into APC Prepare to go into opposition, Onu tells PDP

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NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Wife, daughter of Supreme Court Justice kidnapped T

HE wife, daughter and driver of Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour of the Supreme Court were on Friday evening kidnapped on the Lagos-Benin Road.

Mrs Adedoyin RhodesVivour, a Lagos based lawyer, and the others were on their way to Benin for her daughter’s wedding scheduled for yesterday in the city.

The names of the daughter and the driver were not immediately available as relations were reluctant to divulge information.

The police were unhelpful either. They said they too had little information on the incident.

The Edo State Police Command, speaking through DSP Moses Eguavoen, said the police were yet to establish where the kidnapping took place.

“I cannot say exactly where it happened. I can’t say whether it happened in Edo State part or Ondo State.

I have not been able to reach Ekiadolor and Okada Divisions to know whether it actually happened in Edo State or not. When I get the appropriate information, I shall inform you. Expect our update on the issue latest Monday.”

Some sources said the abductors pounced on their victims at about 5pm in Edo State part of the road.

Their whereabouts were unknown last night. The car in which they were travelling was also missing, while the kidnappers were yet to contact the Rhodes-Vivours at press time.

Mrs Rhodes-Vivour is a member of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and an arbitrator with a Lw office in Banana Island, Lagos.

Mrs Rhodes-Vivour is the latest high profile Nigerian to be abducted in the current season of terrorism in the country.

The Chairman of the NBA, Lagos, Mr.Taiwo O.Taiwo, said of the abduction, last night: “This is, indeed, a very sad development. It is another dimension to the security challenges of this country. If the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin / Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia , Benin/ John Austin Unachukwu

• Driver also abducted • Doyin Rhodes-Vivour snatched in Edo State

wife of a Supreme Court Justice could just be kidnapped like that, then it portends danger for all of us in this country.”

Penultimate Friday, elder statesman, Shettima Ali

Monguno, was abducted in Maiduguri as he left mosque after Jumat prayers.

The 92 year old former Petroleum Minister was released three days later.

Before him was the Chair-

• Justice and Mrs Rhodes-Vivour

man of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan ,who was seized by gunmen on his way home from an outing.

He was later freed.

Foreigners are not spared. Seven of them working for a construction company in Bauchi were recently abducted and shot dead after several days in captivity.

Photo: SUNMI SMART-COLE

Who is Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour?

L

IKE her husband, Bode, Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, who was kidnapped on Friday along with her daughter and driver in Edo State, is a lawyer.

She is an alumnus of the University of Lagos where she got her first degree and masters in Law (LLB) and (LLM).She obtained another Masters degree in International Peace and Security at the University of London.

She also has an international practice diploma in arbitration and is a fel-

low of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Chartered Arbitrator; CEDR (UK) Accredited Mediator; member of the Court of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), The Hague, the Netherlands; member of the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration; member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and a member of the International Maritime Conciliation and Mediation Panel (IMCAM).

She is the second Vice Chairperson of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in England (Nigeria branch), and

immediate past President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria. She was the pioneer Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association section on business law, arbitration committee.

Doyin’s expertise has been recognised in publications such as the arbitration chapter of Who’s Who Legal Nigeria 2009.

She is listed in the 8th edition of Guide to the World’s Leading Commercial Arbitration Experts [Expert Guide] as one of the preeminent professionals in

the world.

She was voted Chairperson of the Year Arbitration/ADR Committee (2006 and 2009) – Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law. She was a member of the National Committee on the Reform and Harmonisation of Arbitration/ ADR Laws in Nigeria and currently serves as a board member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration as well as a member, Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Man, 29, charged with wilful damage of N1.5m generating set

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TRUCK pusher, A d e w a l e Ademusere, who allegedly damaged a N1.5million generating set and threatened to beat the owner, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Ademusere, 29, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of threatening violence and willful damage to property.

The Prosecutor, ASP. Etim Nkankuk, told the

court that the offence was committed on May 7, at about 6:30p.m. at Okobaba Sawmill in Ebute-Meta.

He said that the accused and his friends usually stayed under a bridge at Okobaba to rest after their dailydailywork.

The prosecutor alleged that on the fateful day, the accused and one of his friends had a misunderstanding, which resulted in a fight.

He said that during the

fight, they fell on the generating set and it got damaged.

Nkankuk told the court that the owner of the property, one Mrs Ruth Ajuwa, was angry with the fighters and that the accused threatened to beat her up.

He said the complainant, subsequently, invited the police to arrest the accused.

The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 56

and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

According to Section 56, anyone convicted of threatening violence is liable to imprisonment for one year while Section 348 prescribes two years imprisonment for a person convicted of willful damage to property.

The accused pleaded not guilty to threatening violence, but guilty to willful damage .

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Aje-Afunwa, remanded the accused in police custody.

She said that the complainant should be in court on the next date to explore the possibility of settlement with the accused.

According to the \news Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Aje-Afunwa adjourned the case to May 20, for mention.

Okah seeks audience with Amnesty Committee From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

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NE of the suspects on trial for October 1, 2010 bomb blast, Charles Okah has sought audience with the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the north headed by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

Okah on Friday requested prison officials in Kuje to allow him to meet with the committee.

He said he wanted to provide more useful information on the Independence Day bomb blast which allegedly implicated some Boko Haram members.

But it was learnt that some government officials have reservations about Okah’s request because the mandate of the Amnesty Committee does not cover the activities of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Charles has asked prison authorities to allow him to interact with the Amnesty Committee. He has been alleging that he has ‘useful information’ to give to the panel on October 1, 2010 bombing.

“The suspect said he would want to speak on what to talk on alleged dimension of Boko Haram to the bomb explosion.

He claimed that the new facts border on what President Goodluck Jonathan assumed that MEND was not behind the October 1 blast.

“This latest twist from Okah is a complete departure from charges against him and evidence before the court for his trial.”

A top government official, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have reservations about his demand for audience with the Amnesty Committee whose mandate does not cover the activities of MEND. Why is he just coming up with Boko Haram factor now to attract sympathy?

“Maybe he is trying to hang on to the committee as the last straw since the MEND leader, Henry Okah had been convicted in South Africa . Well, we will forward his request to the relevant desk, the Amnesty Committee will determine whether to meet him or not.

“If the committee is disposed to his agitation, we will just provide necessary access.”

Charles is the junior brother of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, who is also in detention in South Africa .

Charles has been on trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja with Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osuvwo.

Ebiware was also jailed recently by the High Court.

Francis Osuvwo died in Kuje Prison on March 2, 2012 as a result of alleged dehydration.

Column

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Bigfoot is about

S

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

•Bigfoot

F

EAR stalks the land. There is trepidation all over the nation. Uncertainty and a sense of foreboding, of an approaching apocalyptic meltdown, grip the citizenry. The omens are dire. Never in the history of this country have its people felt more insecure, more vulnerable to man-made misfortunes. A huge monster roams the land, threatening to overwhelm its already weakened defence and resolve. It recalls the fabled Bigfoot or even the more celebrated Yeti, the Abominable Snowman of the Himalayan Summit.

Mercifully, Jonathan has cut short his foreign trip. He ought not to have gone in the first instance. It is an elementary law of sovereignty that you do not leave your domain when there is fire on the rooftop.

This is the time to talk straight to ourselves. There is nothing to sell or advertise abroad about the nation at this particular point.

It doesn’t appear as if the Nigerian ruling class appreciates the grave dimension of the current crisis in all its tragic, nation-evaporating possibilities. Let us no longer quibble about our situation. Nigeria is embroiled in an unusual civil war. We are faced with a grave emergency. The earlier we recognise this fact, the better for everybody. It is no longer possible to sustain Nigeria under its current configuration.

Those who plotted the endgame of this gifted but troubled nation and the dark scenario of a war of all against all could not have been more prescient. They are spot on their money. Political prophecy has gone scientific. These amazing futurologists know the kind of political elite they are dealing with, that they will fiddle and fumble while Rome burns. A self-fulfilling prophecy requires a self-destroying political class.

This past week has been very scary for those who bear aloft the torch of hope for this dysfunctional nation. Bigfoot struck serially and severally again. The Boko Haram people returned fire in what observers consider to be a reprisal raid for the Baga mayhem. They put the town of Bama to sword, attacking police and military formations before descending on the civilian populace. By the time the smouldering and belching cloud cleared, the town had become a ghost town

clogged with horrendous casualties.

As if this was not enough for a nation coming to terms with the utter devastation of its northernmost fringes, a hitherto little known traditional sect calling itself Ombatse struck in the Nasarawa village of Alayko. According to the sect, they ambushed and killed 95 security personnel in retaliation for the killing of nine of its members . It was a re-enactment of Dante’s inferno. In the fiercest of wars, the casualty figures could not have been higher.

If the police force is this vulnerable in a country, it says a lot about the state of the country and its capacity to fulfil its most fundamental obligation to its citizenry. In a ritual of reverse victimhood, the police authorities have directed their personnel to wear black bands for one week as a mark of respect and sympathy for their fallen colleagues.

It should tell us that something very serious is going on. Hitherto, it used to be the populace complaining about police brutality. Now the police authorities are loudly complaining about brutality against their own. With that level of morale, it is clear that the state is on its own.

It is instructive to note that this past week, two current state executives were known to have taken refuge in Aso Rock as the security situation in their states deteriorated beyond their capacity and capability.

In Ibadan, a calamity was averted when traders at the Bodija Cattle Market discovered that some of their colleagues had been murdered in Borno State where they had gone to buy cattle.

The insurgents were reported to have separated the ambushed traders into their ethnic stock before murdering those from a particular ethnic group. As soon as the news broke, Snooper spent the entire day answering desperate inquiries from abroad, particularly from affronted intellectuals of Yoruba origins, who wanted to know just when enough would be enough.

How long will restrained and civilised people put up with this flagrant provocation?

As if these flashpoints, any of which could tip the nation into terminal and irreversible chaos are not enough, Bigfoot has been at work in the Rivers State, in a po-

litical dress rehearsal for actual war. The whole place has become a boiling cauldron simmering and sizzling with intent. Only luck and his own gritty determination separate Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from sure impeachment by a minority assembly. It is said that when that happens, heavens will not fall.

The pundits claim that such state outlawry and executive lawlessness have illustrious precedents. If heavens did not fall in Oyo, on the plateau and in nearby Bayelsa where serving governors have been tomahawked twice, why should it fall in the Rivers State? Meanwhile, the whole thing is assuming a nasty ethnic dimension with the Ikwerre people pitched against the Ijaw nationality. Are we still in a democracy or the rule of despotic strongmen who do not give a damn about the fundamental tenets of democracy?

As it is usually the case when law and order take a flight and chaos prevails in a society, the law-

less and chaotically minded rule the roost, Mojahid Asari Dokubo has been feverishly and ferociously rattling his sabre, threatening the corporate existence of the nation in the process. Asari Dokubo has become the principal Ijaw spokesperson in a land that has produced the illustrious Professor Tekana Tamuno, the great Professor Allagoa and the extraordinarily cerebral if occasionally controversial Professor Tamuno David-West.

In a war situation, it is the man with the men and material that matters. How many arms bearing militiamen can the professors come up with? This is not a matter of book piracy. The real pirates are up and a-hollering. The nation is gradually coming under the odoriferous armpit of political warlords. When last did you hear of a man of ideas in Mogadishu? If the CNN is to be believed, one of Somalia’s best known professors of political science has taken up refuge in a college in Minnesota. There is no point pontificating about the post-colonial state when the real thing vanished over 20 years ago.

So while Asari Dokubo prevails as the pre-eminent warlord of the Niger Delta, the Boko Haram rules the roost in the north with the Sultan, the military and spiritual heir to Othman Dan Fodio, reduced to pleading with the sect to accept amnesty. It doesn’t occur to the wellregarded Sultan that if amnesty had succeeded in the Niger Delta, there ought not to be an Asari Dokubo still threatening the corporate existence of the nation.

Meanwhile, other insurgent groups appear to be cottoning in on the act. The Ombatse folks may yet succeed in carving out a wide swathe around the nation’s heart for themselves. In the east, MASSOB is heaving with Biafran bathos. In the west, the old militia majordomos are stirring again hoping to leverage federal political patronage to reinforce rusting ramparts.

But they will meet with other nascent civilian armies in the com-

bustible region. The dominant political tendency in the region will not allow itself to be so summarily dispossessed by force. You cannot step into the same river twice.

Bigfoot is truly abroad and God helps Nigeria and all of us boxed into the tinder box. Like a wanton schoolboy, somebody is busy setting up explosive crackers all over the country.

What we are witnessing is the failure of the post-military amnesty vision in all its material fundament.

Genuine amnesty involves considerable contrition and remorse for past misconduct. What is being confused with amnesty in Nigeria is the payment of gratuity and gratification to unrepentant criminals for the cessation of hostilities against their fatherland. It is a question of political and economic expediency since the cessation of hostilities remains a temporary truce. There may yet be some method to Asari’s madness.

The fear of inter-regional and intraregional domination is real and palpable; so are the grievances.

Jonathan and his government are looking for Bigfoot in the wrong direction. BOKO HARAM, MASSOB, MEND, OMBATSE, OPC etc are products of these fears with different inflections and intensity.

Unless we remove the structural disfigurement of the nation which produces these fears, we will continue to be saddled with economic, political and spiritual warlords.

For many, the Bigfoot is real, an evolutionary bypass, a throwback to the age of Neanderthal hunters haunting modern man.

For others, it is a myth, a mirage a troubling reminder of unfinished business, a reflection of humanity’s fear of the unknown. In other words, if the Bigfoot, the Yeti or the Yoruba ologomugomu do not exist, we will have to create them.

It is left for each society to plot its way out of the dark abyss. Nigeria is not doing too well in that department. And time is not on our side.

Now, the good women of the west

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HILE evil lurks in the corner dark, mysterious and as elusive as Bigfoot, goodness radiates its celestial beam and heavenly rays on a beleaguered society. It was Bertolt Brecht, the great German playwright and radical intellectual, who once wrote a play titled, The Good Woman of Setzuan. It was about Shen Te, a good woman, who tries to survive in a harsh and unforgiving society brimming with evil people. Like all revolutionary art, the play is a little bit idealised. But that is the only way to nudge humanity towards a higher telos.

We can report that there are good women of the west as well.

The torrent of tears washing down the Ekiti Hills for the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State and political heroine, our own Funmi Adunni Olayinka, have hardly subsided when another very good woman, Modupe Adeola Adelabu, was nominated to step into her shoes. There seems to be no end to the supply of good and heroic women from the Ekiti hilly homestead.

It was a political master stroke on the part of the governor, com-

bining sound judgment with political dexterity and calculated to reap maximum political dividends without ruffling any geopolitical feather. Judging from the universal acclamation abroad and the joyous felicitations of the folksy Ekiti people at home, it would appear that Kayode Fayemi knows not just the art of war but the art of politics as well.

A princess of the old Ewi dynasty of Ado Ekiti, Dupe Adelabu combines royal charms and nobility of purpose with granite character and a sense of unflinching loyalty hewn out of the rocks of Ekiti. On behalf of the class of 75 at Ife and all those turbulent and rascally boys, Snooper congratulates Her Excellency on a most deserved elevation.

As a petulant pest, Snooper used to wonder in those halcyon days at Ife why the class with its many beautiful damsels had become such a rich poaching ground for the new military and intellectual aristocracy.

There was the aristocratic, reserved but unfailingly polite Omowale Sutherland who married the future General Alani Akinrinade.

There was the bookish and ever serious Josephine (now doctor) Aliu

who married the future Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe. There was the elegant and formidably self-assured Victoria Yogha who married the future General David Mark, And there was the charming regal Dupe Adedugbe who married the late Deji Adelabu, the dapper and ever fastidiously attired prince of Ijero, who became the university librarian at Obafemi Awolowo University.

And while we are still talking about the good women of the west, it does appear as if the ACN. has an inexhaustible supply of these gems, judging by the quality of the women the party has sent forth for higher responsibility. As a progressive and forward looking organisation, the party should now walk its talk and send one of these outstanding women to the gubernatorial mansion come 2015 or sooner thereafter. The west should blaze the trail again. It is time to produce the first female executive governor of the Fourth Republic. Here is wishing our good friend, Professor Dupe Adelabu, a happy tenure.

Next Week: A Review of Ambassador Fafowora’s memoirs.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

News

Buhari: Jonathan lacks capacity to end insecurity • Change is rallying cry as CPC, ANPP dissolve into APC T HE National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, declared yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the security challenges in the country has shown that his government lacked the capacity to deal with the crisis.

The violence, the former military leader said, is pushing the country towards anarchy hence the need for well meaning Nigerians to step in immediately with a view to saving the country from going under.

Buhari who was the Presidential candidate of the CPC in the 2011 elections, spoke at the party’s national convention in Abuja to ratify the planned fusion of the CPC, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) into All Progressive Congress (APC).

He said, “Anarchy is knocking on the door of many sections of this country and the Federal Government has not demonstrated that it has the good sense to understand what is going on, or the competence to check it.”

“The nation is hopelessly adrift. But, if we are to survive, this vicious circle of violence that has engulfed this nation must be brought to an end; and we implore the National Assembly to take the lead in this quest for peace.

“The government has failed in almost everything.

It has proved unable to secure the nation’s internal environment: there is widespread and rising poverty and unemployment across the length and breadth of the country. There is spiralling lawlessness all over the country. There is a complete and total decline in the quality of social services and an irremediable dilapidation in the nation’s socio-economic infrastructure across board.”

He said the patience of Nigerians and the constituent parts has been severely tried and stretched to its limits and citizens now owe it a duty to salvage the situation.

On the planned merger of the parties, he said: “Many political analysts have long

From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja/Kolade Adeyemi, Gusau

stated that the only way to stabilise the country is for opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP. “This is a historic moment when several different political parties have resolved to come together to change Nigeria for the better and stop the mindless drift that has been going on for the last 14years. We must understand and accept that we are here gathered to make history or forever stand accused and condemned by it.”

Buhari emphasised that the only way to stabilise Nigeria is for the opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP. The parties in the merger are coming in as equals, he said, and have resolved that henceforth all votes must count.

The National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, who also addressed

the convention, spoke of APC’s determination to save the country from PDP’s poor governance.

He said: “We are, however, not unaware of the huge challenges we would face in this endeavour, and the series of minefields we are to cross in our common resolve to rescue this country from total collapse. It is against this backdrop, that we are gathered here today as we did in Lagos to fulfil one of the requirements under the law to actualise our coming together under a single political platform All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We have heard the Macedonian call of our people and we have set sail on an irreversible course to contest and assume power at the centre. Our undying quest to refocus and, possibly, to refix this massively endowed but hugely debased country has made us to set aside our individual interests for a larger national one. For every PDP’s years of the locust, we

are offering, in exchange, a new regime of prosperity, fiscal discipline, security and a more emancipated society.

“For about a decade and a half, since the People’s Democratic Party came to power, the development of this country has been arrested and almost stalled.

Their strange institutionalised style of governance has engendered a general sense of hopelessness, despondency and inertia among the citizenry.

“In just the same way as the entire democratic space has been fouled with fraud, leadership failure and high level insecurity, our social and economic management has been constricted through unbridled corruption and widespread poverty in the face of enhanced revenue earnings to such an extent that the strata of the Nigerian society too has been engulfed in mutual suspicion and fractured with national disunity.

“This coalition of progressively minded leaders represents a major shift in

Nigeria’s political paradigm.

As leaders, and indeed, as political parties, we are convinced, beyond any shadow of doubts, that Nigerians deserve a better country.”

Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State was optimistic that APC would defeat PDP in 2015 and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shun bias in considering the application of APC for registration.

His Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, spoke along the same line, saying INEC should be just in handling the APC application, while Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo asked for the support of the generality of Nigerians for the party.

The running mate to General Buhari in the 2011 Presidential Election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, warned the government against any attempt to truncate the current democratic dispensation in the country as the APC is ready to defeat the PDP in 2015.

Bakare moved the mo-

•First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, displaying her letter of appointment, flanked from right by ITU Director of BDT, Brahima Sanou, far right by IMPACT Chairman, Datuk Amin Noor Mohd, left by Tim Akano, the ITU-IMPACT West African Representative & CEO New Horizons. Far left is ITU African Regional Director, Andrew Regege.

Nasarawa: Militia still holding policemen hostage –Abubakar

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BOUT four policemen are still being held in captivity by the Ombatse militia which ambushed a security team last Monday in Nasarawa State.

The police say 23 of their men and those from the State Security Service (SSS) were killed in the ambush at Alakyo Village.

The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, on an on-the-spot tour of the state yesterday said the captured policemen must be released.

He said the force police will engage peaceful method to set the hostages free.

Abubakar visited Lafia in company of the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade; the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone IV, Mr. Mike Zukumor; the state commis-

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

sioner of police, Abayomi Akeremale and other officers of the police high command.

He said: “The killing of these police officers and men and other security men was “callous”. I wish to call on elders and eminent citizens of the state to collaborate with the police in order to fish out the perpetrators.

“We are making every peaceful effort to ensure that some of our men still being held hostage are released unhurt.

“There is an ongoing dialogue both in the state, and at other quarters. We are optimistic that the personnel still being held would soon be released.”

The minister, said: “Such

‘barbaric’ act on officers whose duty is to safeguard lives of others, is unacceptable in a decent society.

Somebody somewhere is causing havoc for whatever reason and the society must not allow that to continue. I want to assure you that justice will be given to the slain officers.”

Two hours after the IGP left Lafia in his chopper, four ambulances drove into Dalhatu Araf Specialists’ Hospital (DASH), with some more bodies.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura had said on Friday that “Every arrangement for their (security operatives’) safety was made.

The most unfortunate thing that happened was the betrayal within them. This is what betrayal has caused for

not only you (widows), but the rest of the nation.”

Al-Makura also said the State Security Council (SCC) was aware that four of the security personnel were still held hostage by the militia.

He added: “The compounding issue is that the place is still insecure. It is not to say we can’t go there. We are trying to get anyone still alive there. We heard up to four men are still being held, but the police are working hard to free them.

“We are making efforts to recover the remaining bodies of the slain officers, adding that the area of the incident is still volatile.”

The governor said the militia had been proscribed since January 2013 and were carrying out their activities unlawfully.

He said most Eggon leaders and elders were not happy at the activities of the group “but could not talk to them for fear of the sophisticated weapons at their disposal.”

The governor has released N1million to each of the families of security agents who were killed in the attack. He also announced a donation of N3 million to the family of the slain Assistant Commissioner of Police and pledged the support of the state government in settling the medical bills of those who were injured in the attack.

The governor announced this in Lafia shortly after meeting with some widows of the affected security officers.

tion for CPC to dissolve and merge with three other opposition parties to form APC. The National Legal Adviser, Abubakar Malami, seconded the motion while Alhaji Yahaya Sule Hamman moved the motion urging the convention to adopt a resolution to approve the merger agreements.

The motions were approved.

At the Gusau convention of the ANPP it was shouts of ‘Change’ as the 6054 delegates mandated the party leadership to go ahead with the plan to fuse into the APC. The ANPP National Chairman, Chief Ogbonanya Onu, said it was time for the ruling PDP to start preparation to go into opposition in 2015.

Like Gen. Buhari, he also deplored the present socioeconomic situation in the country.

His words: “As I look around I do not like what I see. The signs are troubling, the situation on ground is worrisome, light and darkness have no meeting points, poverty has crippled the country, and high rate of unemployment, the ruling party has plunged the masses into high rate of insecurity.

“For 15 years Nigeria has not known peace and we are not at war as innocent citizens are being killed day and night as justice has become a scarce commodity.”

He said despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, the people have remained poor.

Promises are made and yet the same promises are broken thing, he said, adding that the situation has degenerated to this level because “we allow a dominant one party system in the political system, as monopoly in politics is completely unacceptable. It increases decay, scuttles competition, strangulates innovation and weakens creativity.”

Onu said the merger has come to strengthen the unity of the country so that different ethnic and religious groups can come together and salvage the country.

The Chairman of the organising committee and the host governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said the coming together of the CPC, ACN, and ANPP is to end the dictatorship at the centre.

At the convention were the Presidential candidate of ACN in 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).

Chief Fani-Kayode in a statement on the merger said it “provides hope for Nigeria and it represents the only vehicle and platform that can deliver our nation from the hands of the PDP and the Jonathan administration.”

He added: “I salute those that have found the courage to stand up against the tyranny, blackmail, pettiness and incompetence of the Jonathan administration and I, together with millions of others, stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their quest to restore and resurrect the fortunes of our country. The various resolutions to merge into one new party is a first step in the right direction.”

ufowokan, Editor

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Bama killings: 321 people displaced, Bama remains a ghost town From Duku JOEL, Maiduguri

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BOUT 321 presons have been displaced by the Tuesday attack by suspected Boko Haram members on Bama town, according to the police Area Commander ASP Sagir Abubakar.

He disclosed this yesterday while receiving condolences and relief materials from a delegation from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) led by the Director of Administration and Supply Dr. Zanna Mohammed.

Abubakar added that the police casualties during the attack has risen to 26, 25 policemen and a police woman and that two civilian women were also killed by the insurgents at its barrack. He said two women, both wives of police officers added to the number of the police lost, adding that an eight-year-old daughter of one police officer was still missing.

Abubakar disclosed that the DPO of the area who was declared missing during the wake of the attack has been found dead.

He said he was killed during the mayhem by the insurgents and his corpse dumped by the riverside.

He said: "The DPO, DSP Lawrence Ek,o was found on Thursday along the river bank after he was killed by the insurgents."

In the meantime, residents of Bama have remained indoors as the town still remains a ghost of itself four days after the attack.

Markets remained close and shops in the residential areas are not even opened, making it difficult for people of the town to feed themselves.

The military, however, said that the decision of the residents to remain indoors is self-imposed as no dusk to dawn curfew is in place in the town.

Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Adamu Laka said it was unfortunate that the people of the town have imposed on themselves a total curfew.

He said when the situation broke out on Tuesday, the military imposed a curfew on the town, but movement was allowed between 9am and 3pm to allow everyone to make purchases and have a feel of freedom,adding that " it was, however, unfortunate that the locals are still afraid of being attacked and have decided to stay indoors."

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2015: US not interested in who rules Nigeria

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HE United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, said yesterday that his country was not interested in influencing the outcome of Nigeria's Presidential election scheduled for 2015.

Speaking on the Kadunabased Liberty Radio programme's Guest of the Week, the envoy said that the US does not have any candidate for the 2015 election, and that its only concern is a credible and transparent election better than that of 2011.

The US Ambassador was asked to react to a request by the President's Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, that the US government is in support of the President's re-election bid in 2015.

From: Tony Akowe, Kaduna

His words: "We don't have a candidate for the 2015 elections except that we want credible and transparent elections and a process where all Nigerians can peacefully exercise their right to vote. We are not going to take a position on any individual candidate.

"We are going to help the Nigerian people to ensure that the elections in 2015 are better than the one in 2011. It is up to the Nigerian people to respond to Hon. Kuku's statement. We don't take a decision on individual political candidates.

"We believe that Nigeria has made great progress in the construction of its democratic

institutions and we hope that in 2015, it is going to be peacefully contested on issues and the Nigerian people will decide on who they will vote for...."

Nigeria's image, he stressed, could be improved if the government addressed issues of corruption and insecurity in the country.

"What Nigeria needs to do to effect a change to its brand is to attack corruption, address insecurity, ensure that there is a level playing field for all investors, and ensure that there is an end to the culture of impunity," he said.

According to him, all those found to be corrupt or commit abuses should be tried.

He said once that is done "you are going to have more

people come to Nigeria."

The US envoy also spoke on the recent killings in Baga, Borno State. He said: "I think we don't know all of the facts on Baga and I will certainly encourage investigation of what happened there by government and other organisations like the Red Cross so that we can be fully informed.

"But as a general principle, in looking at the insecurity in the north, we see terrible, terrible acts perpetrated by extremists who attack some government offices, attacks on individuals. We saw what happened in Kano. In January 2012 we saw what happened in Kaduna, we condemned them.

"At the same time, in looking at the reaction and response of the security forces,

clearly they have a duty to provide security, to go after these people who are killing other people, at the same time they need to do so with a fashion that respects rights.....

"This is a difficult systematic war that the Nigerian military is engaging them in the north and there would be incidents where they are excessive.

"But they need to end this culture of impunity. There is need to bring to prosecution those who commit crimes.

There is need to be punishment for those who are killing. Because that is a strong and powerful signal to the people of the north who are most affected by this. The security forces are there to protect themselves."

Okwu faults INEC's recognition of Umeh as APGA chairman

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•Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, presenting staff of office to the new Onipere of Ipere-Ekiti, Oba James Olufemi Omiyale as the Caretaker Chairman of Ilejemeje local government, Prince Bamigboye Adegoroye, watches yesterday.

Nigeria to host World Economic Forum IGERIA is to host the 24th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in Abuja next year.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, made the announcement at the close of the 23rd edition of the WEF in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday.

The minister thanked the WEF for choosing Nigeria as the next host, expressing the readiness of the country to make the next edition as exciting as possible.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she said that the choice of Nigeria was appropriate given its position and huge economic potential.

"I think we epitomise a lot of things about Africa.

We have the excitement, the passion, the entrepreneurship, the private sector drive and the glow for the future. ``But we also epitomise all of the difficult challenges of the continent such as infrastructure deficit, governance issues, corruption and transparency," she said.

According to her, a combination of these opportunities and challenges in one

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country makes Nigeria the most exciting place to be on the continent.

Okonjo-Iweala said that the future of Africa was bright, judging by the com-

mitment and passion demonstrated by participants in the forum, especially the Young Global Leaders, who represented the youths of the continent.

The Director General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr, said that the country was excited to be the host of the next WCF.

14 yrs after Odi invasion, communities to receive succour OURTEEN years after

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the invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa State by the Nigerian Army, smile is gradually returning to the faces of the people.

The community is set to receive 40 units of houses, courtesy of the federal government.

The houses are expected to be ready latest by July and would be given to the poorest of the victims among the community.

This is as the government urged the youth in the Niger Delta region to cooperate with the construction firms working in the region for the sake of development.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, who announced the government's gesture after inspecting the housing project at the weekend, said the houses were part of government's efforts towards alleviating the pains of the people.

...FG to give out 40 housing units From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The minister also revealed that the project is also being replicated in each of the nine states of the oil-rich Niger Delta.

"When Odi was destroyed, there was a presidential directive to assist the community with some buildings. When the initiative came up, there were agitation from other states, so we took a uniform decision that we should build 40-housing units for each of the nine states of the Niger Delta.

"Unfortunately, there were no budgetary provisions in 2012, very lean provisions in 2011 and so contractors stopped work. But this year, we have been able to squeeze some money to

enable contractors complete these housing units so that we can give it to indigenes to use.

"The houses will be given to people who are in need and it will take care of 40 families", he said.

The minister who also flagged-off the Okoso Bridge, section 2 of the EastWest Road, reiterated federal government's resolve to complete the project as schedule.

He, however, appealed to the youth in the region to allow reasoning prevail so that the region would get the desired development it so much crave for.

He stressed that the idea of kidnapping engineers at sight will not in any way help the region as it will only slow down development.

HIEF Maxi Okwu, who recently emerged National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday faulted INEC's recognition of Chief Victor Umeh as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. Okwu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Independent National Electoral Commission's recognition of Umeh was unacceptable to the party.

Okwu had emerged National Chairman of APGA at the party's controversial National Convention held in Awka, Anambra State, on April 8.

However, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Enugu on April 17, restored Umeh as the National Chairman of the party after he was previously restrained from parading himself in that capacity by an Enugu High Court on Feb. 10.

INEC on May 9, intervened in the crisis, recognising Umeh as the authentic National Chairman of the party.

In a letter signed by its Secretary, Mr Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it had taken notice of the Court of Appeal's ruling and that it would continue to relate with Umeh as APGA chairman.

Reacting to INEC's pronouncement, Okwu said:``APGA will not accept the commission's posture for so many reasons. ``We will work assiduously to see that this position is reversed as soon as possible.''

He said that a statement would be issued on the matter by the party after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, scheduled for Abuja on May 13. ``It may be useful to mention that in the present NWC, 21 of them served in Victor Umeh's 26- member NWC,'' Okwu added.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

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Chieftaincy: Ruling House appeals to Aregbesola From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo.

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HE Lagbua family in Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, has appealed to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to look into why the family's name was deleted from the list of the ruling houses in the ancient town.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, the spokesperson of the family, Alhaji Remi Adegoke, said it has become imperative for them to renew their efforts on their complaints over the irregularities in the Aragbiji of Iragbiji Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 where they said the Lagbua family's name was wrongly deleted as one of the ruling houses in Iragbiji.

However, he said that the family, otherwise known as Oso family, Oke-Agbo, Iragbiji, is not fighting the Aragbaji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, over the matter, maintaining that the family is only calling for justice.

Adegoke called on the state governor to publish the white paper and official gazette on the Justice A.A. Aderibigbe Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the Aragbiji of Iragbiji Chieftaincy Declaration to include the Lagbua/ Oso family as a ruling house.

Obi launches Ozubulu-Atani road From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday launched the N9 Billion Ozubulu-Atani road project to the admiration and jubilation of the people of Ekwusigo Local Government and Ogbaru Local Government.

Obi, while launching the road, informed that the three major bridges on the road, replacing the old ones built by the colonialists and the 30 culverts started in November of 2012 are all 90 percent completed.

Obi, who inspected the three bridges of about 40 meters each before the launch of the road, expressed happiness at the pace and progress of work and said the same speed with which the bridges were built would apply to the building of the roads.

He commended the contractor handling the three bridges and 30 culverts, Engr Tony Madi, for doing a good job even as Madi assured he would deliver the job as scheduled and thanked Obi for awarding him the contract.

Obi's words: "For the roads to be completed within a record time, we have engaged three tested contractors. While one is doing the bridges and culverts, one will start the actual road from Ozubulu end which we are commissioning today, while the remaining contractor will soon start from Atani end of the road.”

Water Corp unable to access N13billion four-year budgetary allocation

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HE Akwa Ibom Water Company (AKWC) yesterday said for four years running, it has been unable to access the N13billion allocated to it in the budgets.

The newly appointed Chairman of the Board, Patrick Ifon, gave the revelation at a briefing in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Ifon stated that N2.5billion approved in the 2010 budget for the company was not released, the same

Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

amount, approved in 2011 budget, was not released.

According to the Chairman, N4billion each was approved in the 2012 and 2013 budgets but nothing has been released to the water company.

While calling on the state government to release the funds appropriated in the budget, Ifon noted that such would enable the company execute its projects aimed at

efficient distribution of potable water to all households in the state.

He explained that through out the four years of non-release of funds, budget proposals were made and defended in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly but the funds were never released to the company.

Ifon said the present board has met with the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Sam Ikon, and the Secretary

to State Government, Umana Umana, to make a case for releasing funds allocated to the company in the budgets since 2010.

The chairman put the cost of running diesel on the 17 pumping stations at N30.6million monthly, saying the company cannot generate such revenue at the present level of production.

His words: "I am very optimistic government will react to our requests. Everyone knows that whatever is

going on in all the sectors, including free education, will amount to nothing without portable water.

"If children are sick due to the bad water they drink, it will affect productivity of parents. We are trying to drum this to get government to release money for us to do something worthwhile in the water sector."

Oyosplashes N15mon disabled persons From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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•Three suspected kidnappers arrested in Nnewi at the weekend

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FEDERAL High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has struck out the motion by the suspended Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Chairman, Timothy Nsirim, seeking to join in the suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu J. Mbu, and others, over the barricading of the council gate by the police for lack of merit.

The chairman of the seven-man Care Taker Committee in the LGA, Chikodi Dike, last Monday went to court to seek an order to ask the police to dismantle the barricade and vacate the premises.

The court ordered that the Attorney-General, the IGP, the CP, zone six Calabar and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Rumuokoro station be summoned to court to explain why he should not grant the requests by the applicants.

Following this development, the suspended Executives of the LGA, (the chairman of the LGA, Nsirim, his deputy and the 17 councillors), filed application to join in the suit.

In his ruling last Friday, Justice H. A. Njiangiwa said the attention of the party seeking to join was not necessary in the determination of the matter before the court.

According to him, the

Rivers PDP crisis: Court strikes out Nsirim's application From: Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

suit before him was not to determine who the rightful occupant of the chairmanship office of the council should be, to make an order to allow people access to the blocked premises.

He said that the issue of who should be occupying

the office would be determined by the state High Court where the applicant had filed a suit.

The council gate has been under lock and key since May 3.

The applicant said the sealing off of the premises by the police was illegal.

But the police said they

were doing their job, blaming their action on the security information about a plan to bomb the premises.

Earlier in his argument Nsirim gave his reasons for seeking to join in the suit, arguing that he is the rightful occupant of the office Dike was asking to be vacated.

Five kidnappers killed, two arrested in Anambra

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WO of the seven kidnap suspects, who engaged the police in a shoot out on Friday night, were arrested with serious bullet wounds, while the other five were killed, including the ring leader.

Also, two AK-47 riffles were recovered from the suspects who were cut unawares during the sharing of the five million naira ransom from their victim, 68 year old Anthony Onu, who was kidnapped in his GRA Onitsha residence on 3rd May, 2003.

Another victim, Joakim Onwukwalu, who was kidnapped at Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State on the 29th of April was equally rescued by men of the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), led by its commander, James Nwafor, a Chief Superintendent of Police same day.

However, two of the suspects with bullet wounds,

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

who engaged the police in the shoot out, Chinedu Ejike (27) and Chizoba Okolo, (23) both from Eziagulu in Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area, told reporters yesterday that they participated in the operation.

Infact, Okolo told reporters that he was lured into the action by a person he mentioned as Chukwudi and his in-law's house was used as the hideout.

One of the killed suspects, Ajana Chukwuma, was identified as a vigilance group member from Nsugbe Central Security through his identity card, which was equally displayed by the police yesterday.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the (SARS) office in Awkuzu, where the bodies of the killed suspects were displayed and the arrested ones paraded, the State Police Pub-

lic Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the command was still on the watchout for others.

He said that the shoot-out with the hoodlums was a prolonged one which he said led to the killing of five of the suspects, while two were arrested with gun shot wounds.

He, therefore, praised the gallantry of men of the (SARS) and implored them to continue in the same direction with the same spirit, adding "it is part of the war this command is waging against criminals in this state.”

On the activities of the vigilance groups in Anambra State, Chukwuemeka said the group was going through some measure of reforms, adding that in every 12, there must be Judas.

He said after the reforms that the bad eggs in the vigilance group would be flushed out.

YO State Government yesterday restated its commitment to enhancing the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities with the empowerment of 418 disabled persons drawn from the 33 council areas of the state with items worth over N15million.

It added that it was when people with disability are not segregated against, but included in decision-making process, that the nation could be said to be on the right path.

Oyo State Governor's wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, spoke at the Ajumose Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Executive Governor on Persons with Disabilities, held at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan.

Enter 'The Bravo Hall of Fame'

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INALLY, the stage is set for the virgin edition of 'The Bravo Hall of Fame'.

In commemoration of its third year in business as a media house in Nigeria, Bravo Weekly magazine, Nigeria's hottest tabloid, is staging this unique Hall of Fame in keeping with its tradition of giving kudos to the deserving.

The event, which is the first of its kind, consists of the Future Stars Concert, as well as The Showbiz Sponsors Awards. The first is a CSR initiative, targeted at helping to discover more up-and-coming talents in our midst, while the second aims at recognising and honouring the most committed and consistent sponsors of Nigeria's vibrant and rapidly bourgeoning entertainment industry.

Bravo Weekly management explained last week that it has chosen to recognise and honour these industry sponsors in the hope that this could galvanise them to do more, as well as motivate more sponsors to come on stream.

The august event comes up at the prestigious, all-new Niteshift Coliseum Events Centre, 34 Salvation Road, Opebi, at 3pm on Sunday May 26.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

News

Shell’s host communities in Niger Delta to begin full picket

2015: Security confiscates Aliyu’s illegal posters ... I’ve no hand in it-Aliyu

...Give seven-day ultimatum

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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HE people of the host communities of the Estuary of Amatu (EA) field of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) have given the oil firm a seven-day ultimatum to address all the outstanding issues or risk full picket.

The EA field in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, produces 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the people complaining of marginalisation and lack of empowerment, while suffering in the midst of plenty.

While addressing a news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, under the umbrella of EA Field 12 Host Communities Traditional Rulers Assembly and EA 12 Host Communities’ Forum, the aggrieved people said there was no going back on their decision.

At the news conference were the Amananawei of Letugbene, King Stephen Tume; his counterpart of Orobiri, King Ajuju Jacob, with both communities in Ekeremor LGA; the Coordinator, EA Chairmen Forum, Amamogiran Francis and an opinion leader, Simon Franklin.

The five-page text was read

by Francis, who noted that Monday’s picketing of the EA offshore field was a collective decision of the chiefs, elders, women and youths of the twelve host communities.

The people of the host communities picketed the offshore oil field, without carrying arms, as a prelude to the full picket, if the Anglo/Dutch oil giant does not act fast.

They said: “We successfully landed the advance contingent of about 150 natives of our communities in the EA offshore platform around 12 noon on Monday, May 6, 2013 and stayed in the facility peacefully for as long as we had so planned, as an indicative warning picket and voluntarily withdrew from the facility.

The spokesman of the SPDC, Precious Okolobo, could not be reached for comments.

Lagos Assembly directs ministry to reinstate Aregbesola

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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EMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly have directed the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe and Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to re-instate Mr. Yekini Aregbesola into the service of (SUBEB) and his salary be paid from December 2011 till date.

The House gave the directive at plenary following recommendation of the Committee on Establishment, Training, Petitions and Public Service which looked into a petition earlier sent to the House

by Aregbesola.

Presenting the report of the Committee on the floor of the House, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji- Edet recommended that Mr. Aregbesola should be re-instated into the service to enable him collect his retirement benefits.

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•Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State (middle), the State Commissioner for Works, Callistus Ilozumba (left) and the contractor during the inspection tour of the newly constructed three bridges and 30 culverts along the newly launched Ozubulu-Atani road, yesterday.

FG, stakeholders in fresh row over new aviation policy S TAKEHOLDERS in the aviation sector have blamed the Federal Government for launching the new National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) without considering input from the private sectors.

The stakeholders accused the government of creating a policy that cannot be backed by the law and such which sanctions cannot be given to offenders.

The respondents spoke during an interactive meeting with Owners of Foreign and Nigeria Registered Business Aircraft organised by the Federal Ministry of Aviation in Abuja.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), SecretaryGeneral, Captain Mohammed Joji, described the policy as such that is subservient to that designed by the military in 1988.

From Olugbenga Adanikin and Jane Maha, Abuja

Joji said the global trend had been, reducing functions of aviation ministries to its agencies but the new policy had enlarged responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Aviation.

According to him, creating the General Aviation under the mandate of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA was wrong adding that importation of aircraft into the country should be among duties of the NCAA. President, Topbrass Aviation, Mr. Roland Iyayi, said the design of the new policy was void of inclusive approach, adding that stakeholders were not carried along. Identifying the need to review the policy, he said many things were wrong such as process of getting license to import aircraft which the Federal Government should have considered. He added that

he spent 13 months before he could get the license to import aircraft into the country with further intervention of highly placed individuals.

Both foreign and Nigeria registered business aircraft operators made their grievances known during the meeting with the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah and head of agencies under the ministry.

Chairman, Private Flyers Nigeria, Capt. Bala Na’allah said the policy should not be used to overcome the existing Civil Aviation Act, adding that “section 33 of the act does not require a owner of private jet to look for a permit from anywhere as stated in the policy.”

Na’allah emphasised the need to prioritise the law against the newly designed policy for the survival of the aviation sector.

The Deputy Controller General, Nigerian Customs

Service in charge of Tarrif and Trade Matters, Julius Nwagwu decried infringement of duty by the National Civil Aviation Authority.

According to him, there are private airlines that fly into the country without proper documentation and those who were meant to drop passengers and fly back are still found within the airport premises for long period.

The Minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Reform, Ms Ene Ita said the manner in which GA was operated before the NCAP 2013 policy was unacceptable.

She added that the mode of operation does not comply with international standard.

However, Oduah advised the participants to draft their inputs for further consideration into the newly revised policy.

Bill to regulate smoking in Lagos underway

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TAKEHOLDERS at a public hearing on the regulation of smoking in designated places in Lagos state over the weekend hailed the State House of Assembly for coming up with the bill which would go a long way in not only protecting the health of the people but also the environment.

Describing the bill as inadequate, Barr. Nurudeen Ogbara of National Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) said instead of talking of designated areas, the Assembly should make Lagos a smokefree area as is done in major cities of the world.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mrs. Adetola Onisarotu, a Director in the Lagos State Environment Protection Agency (LASEPA) said apart from hazards on human health smoking especially cigarette butt has huge negative impact on the environment because it contains highly toxic waste which contributes immensely to global warming and climate change.

The former Attorney General of the state, Yemi

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Osibajo (SAN), however, called for an inclusion in the bill of a clause for people to sue tobacco manufacturers for claims and damages for danger to their health as is done in other climes.

Responding, Mr Sola Dosunmu, a representative of the British-American Tobacco Company, said that the bill should make provision for designated places for smoking,

adding that he supports the prohibition of smoking in schools, public conveyances and selling the product to underage individuals.

A representative of the Trade Union Congress( TUC) also stated that his organisation is against the bill because it will affect sales in hotels and tobacco manufacturing companies which will lead to liquidation and hence loss of jobs.

In his welcome address earlier, Tobun Abiodun, Chair-

man, House Committee on the Environment, said it is a private member bill meant to protect the health of residents and the environment.

In his keynote address, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji who was represented by the Majority Leader, Ajibayo Adeyeye, said the bill is about protection of the environment and health of the people and is not meant to reduce sales by tobacco companies.

Nigeria spends $500m on fish importation R. EBERE Oziri, Fed- annually—expert the association, stressing that only registered fish eral Director of Ag-

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riculture, Abia State, has claimed that Nigeria spends about $500 million annually in the importation of fish into the country. Such money, he said, ought to be channelled into other areas like fish farming.

Oziri spoke in Umuahia, the Abia State capital during the inauguration of the leadership of Catfish Framers Association of Nigeria [CAFAN], Oziri said that the inauguration of the association will help the fish farm-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

ers to form a common front through which they could attract government help.

Oziri said that when they come together that the cost of fish feeds will be reduced as government will be ready and willing to sell feeds to them as a subsidised rate, pointing out that Federal Government is desirous to reduce the importation of fish.

He called on fish farmers in the country to register with

farmers in the state will benefit from the subsidised fish feeds, “We are determined to make fish available for all which do not have any health hazard,” he said.

In his speech, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ike Onyeweaku said that the state government has keyed into the agricultural transformation agenda of the Federal Government, by actively participating in both livestock and produce farming.

ECURITY agents at the early hours of yesterday stormed a printing press in Kaduna and confiscated illegal posters of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, for 2015 Presidential campaign being printed, a development the Governor distanced.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Police and State Security Service (SSS) officers had stormed the press where copies of the A3 size illegal posters were been wrapped and billed to be ferried to and posted at strategic places at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and major towns in Niger State.

The printing of the illegal poster, which is believed to have been sponsored by a group, Concerned Citizens for Change & Transparency, has bold picture of the Governor with the logo of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) simply reads, “Vote for Change Chief Servant Babangida Aliyu Mu’azu (Talba Minna) for Presidency 2015 insha-Allah).”

Reacting to the development, Governor Aliyu at a oneday North Central Geopolitical Zone Security Awareness workshop in Minna, yesterday, distanced himself from the fake and illegal poster depicting his Presidential ambition for 2015.

Aliyu told the gathering, which had top brass of the Police Command and other security agencies, that he has not printed any poster for 2015 Presidential election and appealed that should such poster be found, security operatives should not hesitate to destroy the poster and arrest the sponsors.

He recalled that he had to order the removal of similar posters of Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechei of Rivers State that were placed on strategic places in Minna, Niger State capital recently.

Nigeria’s foreign reserve to hit $80 billion in four years – IMF

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HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it foresees the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) building the nation’s reserves to a high of at least $80 billion in the next four years. IMF Senior Resident Representative, Scott Rogers, says the forecast is based on the fact that Federal Government remains committed to its stated intentions in the medium term expenditure framework as well as IMF’s assumption of single digit inflation going forward.

The nation’s foreign reserve currently stands at $45.68 billion, a two-year high. The IMF also expects to see foreign exchange inflows to Nigeria rise to about $2 billion in the next two years, buoyed by growth in the oil sector.

The Fund, however, says the forecasts is only possible if potential threats from insufficient export diversification and a possible weaker portfolio inflows as inflation ebbs and interest rates fall are subdued.

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News

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

S’East leaders meet on Jonathan’s attendance of Achebe’s burial

Soyinka, Sowore task FG on Boko Haram insurgency From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

From Chris Oji, Enugu

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ITERARY Icon, Prof Wole Soyinka, has called on the Nigerian government to go back to the very beginning of the indoctrination of BokoHaram sect members in schools if they intend to solve the threat and killings by the group.

He made the call while speaking on AJStream, a programme on AIJazeera cable network on Wednesday, monitored in Benin.

The Nobel Laureate said Boko Haram is a local movement, adding that it is part of an international problem that needs to be checked. “Boko Haram claim they are fighting for their religion. We have knowledge and pronouncement of other muslims that they are not true Muslims. That what they are doing is not approved by any teaching in Islamic religion.”

Meanwhile, founder of Sahara Reporter, Omoyele Sowore, has attributed the problem of insecurity, killings and destruction of lives and property to bad governance by Nigerian leaders.

He made the disclosure while answering questions at AJStream, a programme on Aljazeera cable network on the operations of Boko Haram in the northern part of the country.

Contestant alleges irregularities in NBA election

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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NE of the contestants to the office of Chairman of the Calabar Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association in their April 25 election, Utum Eteng, has sent a petition to the National President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Okey Wali (SAN), demanding its the cancellation.

Eteng alleged that the election was characterised by gross irregularities and violation of rules of the association, concerning its conduct.

According to him, he decided to forward the petition to the National President because he has not received any reply to the petition he sent to the Nta-led Electoral Committee of the NBA that conducted the election.

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•L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Lagos State, Mrs Nike Animasaun: Honorable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Fatai Adebiyi Mabadeje and Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, during the Annual Press Briefing of the ministry at Bagauda Kalto Press Centre Alausa, Ikeja Lagos.

Photo. Olusegun Rapheal

Northern youths to hold peace rally

Corruption responsible for Dana air crash, says group A

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

group, Nancy and Jennifer Ibe Centre for Public Accountability (NAJICPA) staged a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, calling on the lawmakers to engage more in the fight against corruption.

Speaking on behalf of the group, a legal practitioner, Ikechukwu Ikeji, disclosed that the peaceful protest was to call on the Lagos State lawmakers to pass a message to the Federal Government on why corruption must be eliminated with immediate effect.

According to Ikeji, “we are also staging this protest in favour of Nancy and Jennifer Ibe, who died in the Dana aircraft crash last year. We believe that this crash would not have happened if not for corruption, because the management of Dana was aware that the plane was faulty but they still allowed it to fly.

“If somebody was not corrupt, that plane wouldn’t have taken off and those lives that

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•Protest to Lagos Assembly, calls for stiffer action

By Oziegbe Okoeki

were lost would have been saved. So, we have come to the Lagos State House of Assembly because you are against corruption. We want this House to help us pass the message to the higher authority that corruption must not just be curbed, but killed totally,” Ikeji added.

Also speaking in the same vein, a member of the group who is also a lawyer, Justice Uhuegbu, called on the Federal Government to make corruption a capital offence, “else we won’t kill corruption. If a student is caught cheating in an examination, it is 21 years jail term, but those who are stealing billions are walking freely about town,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the House, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy, Segun Olulade applauded the group, saying the House identifies with their cause.

2000 benefit from free eye surgeries, screening in Oyo

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O fewer than 2000 residents have received free eye-screening and surgical operations in Eleta Eye Institute, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The one-week programme came courtesy of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Standard Chartered Private Bank from Dubia, in order to celebrate the 75th birthday and retirement of ArchBishop Alaba Job. The initiative saw the ophthalmology consultants conducting eye-screening and treating patients, while some others were referred for surgery.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

The head of the NGO, Mr Stephen Evans, said about 40 million people in the world are blind, stressing that 80 percent of them are curable.

He said there is need for more awareness campaign for early detection of the eye diseases among Nigerians in order to reduce it drastically.

According to him, the organisation started the initiative in 2003 and has since conducted 28,000 medical intervention to restore peoples sight. “$67,000 has been raised through auctioning of art

works for our customers and clients over the years to finance this project. Many of these people lack access to primary health care and we need to bridge the gap”, Evans said He appealed to government and other well meaning Nigerians to donate funds in order to secure people’s sights.

The Group Managing Director of the Eleta Eye Institute, Dr Benedictus Ajayi, said most of the patients could not afford the cost of the surgeries, which he put at between N250,000 and N350,000 per person, explaining that this is why the rate of blindness is increasing in the country.

Former Sketch Editor loses mother

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HE former Editor of the defunct Sketch Newspapers and Chief Press Secretary to the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin , Elder Bola Aragbaiye has lost his mother ,Madam Comfort Folake Aragbaiye .

Madam Aragbaiye died on, 28th April, in Owo , Ondo State.

She was aged 90.Her remains had since been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC)Owo Mortuary.

The late Aragbaiye during her lifetime was a staunch member of St. Patrick's Angli-

OUTH East political leaders met in Enugu to map out reception plans for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the zone next week.

Jonathan is due in Ogidi, Anambra State, for the burial of late Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Chairman of South East Governor’s Forum, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, told reporters that the meeting focused on reception for the president.

The South East will ensure that the president’s visit would be memorable.

At the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, South-East governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, Speakers of the zone’s Assemblies and LG chairmen.

can Church , Ijebu - Owo. She was also the family head of Fadamitan family, Ehin Ogbe, Owo. She is survived by sisters , brothers, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Among them are :Yeyesa Adenike Ogunoye, Elder Bola Aragbaiye, Lady Evangelist Margaret Modupe Dare, Dr.(Mrs) Esther Olufunmilayo Lambo, Mr.Olu Aragbaiye, Mrs Stella Olufunke Aragbaiye Ajidahun,Engineer Alex Akin Aragbaiye, Mr.Dare Aragbaiye

, Mrs.Evelyn Bose Abiodun among others.

Burial arrangement are to be announced later, according to the family.

•Aragbaiye

According to Olulade, “you have come for a good cause and you are in the right place. Nancy and Jennifer would not have died if corruption had not eaten deep into our system. We want you to know that the state government is a responsive and responsible government and we care for safety of lives and property of the citizens.

“We remain committed to

the fight against corruption and we are determined to ensure that such disaster does not reoccur in the state. We will continue to do that which will be of benefit to the future of children,” Olulade assured.

He, however, told the protesters that their message will be passed across to both his colleagues and the higher authority.

group of northern youths under the auspices of the All Northern Peoples Union said in Kaduna yesterday that they plan to hold a 5 million youth Peace and Reconciliation rally to drive home the need for peace and unity in the region.

National President of the group, Dr. Awal Abdullahi Aliyu, told a news conference that the rally, which will hold in Kaduna, will attract about 250,000 women and youth from each of the 19 states of the north and the Federal Capital Territory.

NEWS REVIEW

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

• Clark, Uduaghan and Orubebe when the going was good

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EFORE a truce was brokered between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's and Chief Edwin Clark's factions of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and Clark, regarded as the Ijaw leader formed the core of opposition to the PDP government in the state. While Clark was the pivot of the Delta Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum that gave the government sleepless nights, Orubebe was seen as the unseen hand funding the group.

The duo was believed to have backed an opposition candidate for the 2007 and 2011 governorship elections in the state.

They were a pair perfectly suited: both Izon (Ijaw) from Burutu Local Government Area of the state; one ambitious, young and vibrant, the other aged, highly connected and widely respected as the leader of Ijaw nation.

Against the awesome forces of former Governor James Onanefe Ibori and the incumbent, Uduaghan, Clark made Orubebe, then barely known politically, minister in 2007.

A tinge of regrets On Tuesday, when Clark addressed journalists in Warri, his feelings toward the younger man was far from convivial - there was even a tinge of regret when he recalled the shame of taking Orubebe and his wife to the Presidential Villa for inauguration as minister in 2007 and being called aside by Babagana Kingibe (then Secretary to the Government of the Federation) and told that Orubebe would not be sworn-in along with other ministers.

He said he was forced to go back to break the sad news to hundreds of supporters who had besieged the Federal Capital Territory for the ceremony that their mission was in vain.

However, he was not deterred until Orubebe was sworn in.

But that was then. The story on this day was different.

Clark barely stopped short of saying the minister was unfit for elective office during the press conference held against the backdrop of a statement in

Photos : Shola O'Neil

War between a godfather and his protégé The recent clash between Chief Edwin Clark and his protégé, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, took many people by surprise. Even more baffling was that the bond between them frayed to the extent that it got on to the pages of newspapers.

Shola O'Neil reports which the minister said it was the turn of his Ijaw kinsmen to produce the governor in 2015. The statement was much to the angst of other ethnic groups, particularly the Anioma people of Delta North and Urhobos in the Central senatorial districts.

Clark said he was forced to react to the 'inflammatory' statement because of insinuations that Orubebe had his (Clark) and President Jonathan's backing. He remarked that even if other zones of the PDP in Delta conceded the governorship ticket to the Ijaw, Orubebe was not the right person to get it. The damning verdict was a pointer to how apart the 'father' and 'son' have fallen.

Flanked by the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and other top leaders of the party, particularly members of the DELSF, the aged politician lamented that the "unguarded utterances" of the minister was a cause of great embarrassment to him and President Jonathan,

• Jadesimi

particularly against the backdrop of insinuations that the declaration was in furtherance of an 'Ijaw Agenda'.

Noting that peace is a scarce commodity in the state, he said such assertion was capable of plunging the state into another round of crisis. He said the statement generated ill feelings towards President Jonathan and brought insults on the Ijaw people, he leads.

"Some people are even saying that the President can set fire in other Ijaw states but should not try it in Delta... Our opponents and detractors are definitely cashing in on Orubebe's careless and irresponsible statement and are now using it to insult Mr. President, the Ijaws and even myself that the President and I, are definitely behind him. I had tried to disabuse the minds of people and denied that neither Mr. President nor I was aware of Mr. Orubebe's statement. The calls to my telephone have not stopped, hence my decision to address the people of Delta State."

This is against the backdrop of crisis in Rivers and Bayelsa states where the President and his men were fingered for the removal of former Governor Timipre Sylva and the ongoing battle to dislodge the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. A delicate balance In a state as diverse and steep in ethnic politics, the zone to produce a successor to Uduaghan is a delicate and explosive subject. With the South and Central having produced governors, the north (Delta Ibo) are warming up for the position. The Urhobos, smarting from the loss of the exulted position to an Itsekiri man from the south in 2007 are also very interested.

"For Orubebe, an Ijaw man from the same senatorial district as Uduaghan, to claim that it was the turn of the Ijaw, is very unwise thing to contemplate and a direct insult to the other groups," one of those who attended Clark's briefing told our reporter.

How friends became foes Nevertheless, our independent enquiry revealed that Orubebe's 'faux pas' merely provided an opportunity for Clark to hit back at his estranged 'son'. It was gathered that the no-lovelost relationship between the two came to the fore after the harmonisation of the Clark and Uduaghan factions of the party as part of the PDP leadership determination to settle the dispute in the state.

A source said Clark, who was away in the UK when the harmonisation was done, directed Orubebe to handle the process in Burutu LGA, from where they both hail.

But the ambitious minister reportedly saw it as an opportunity to consolidate his hold on the party ahead of 2015. Rather than carrying out the directive ,the minister betrayed him and substituted the names given to him with those of his associates and other persons not known to the Clark faction in the area and other parts of the state.

Kenneth Ogobri, whom Clark had pencilled for the position of chairman, was replaced by Sagbara Krokosi.

Dozens of other wards and local government officials were also removed from his list and replaced by Orubebe's loyalists, according to our source.

"When Chief Clark came back from the UK, he met hundreds of angry party men and supporters. In a bid to reconcile them and bring them back to the party, he demanded that the initial agreement on list of ward and local officials be honoured."

Krokosi (Orubebe's candidate) was consumed; he gave way to Ogobri, much to the minister's annoyance. The defeated parties challenged their fate, and by implication Clark's leadership, by dragging the PDP in the state to an Abuja Federal High Court. Clark said Orubebe is the mastermind of the legal tussles.

Another cause of the disagreement between the two, according to sources, was the minister's handling of the East/ West Road project. The strategic road had proceeded at snail pace until recently. Clark, who was among those that made the dualisation of the road a

•Contd. on page 65

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

11

WORLD NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Thousands march against ritual killings in Gabon

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HOUSANDS of Gabonese people marched to protest ritual killings, in which people are murdered so their body parts can be used in amulets to bring good luck. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, Gabon's first lady, led the event yesterday along with Christian and Muslim religious leaders.

The president of the Association for the Fight against Ritual Crimes, Elvis Ebang Ondo, estimates that Gabon has 20 mutilation killings a year. He said there are more such killings in election years, as some people seek amulets to win government positions.

The marchers presented a declaration to President Ali Bongo Ondimba, urging him to fight the crime.

Police dispersed a separate march by a group opposed to the participation of the first lady.

Egypt arrests three suspected al-Qaida militants

22 killed as Pakistanis go to polls D EFYING threats of violence, Pakistanis streamed to the polls yesterday for a historic vote pitting a former cricket star against a two-time prime minister and an unpopular incumbent. But militant attacks that killed 22 people underlined the risks many people took just casting their ballots.

The violence was a continuation of what has been a bloody election season, with more than 130 people killed in bombings and shootings.

Some are calling this one of the deadliest votes in the country's history.

Despite the violence, many see the election - the country's first transition between an elected government fulfilling its term to another - as a key step to solidify civilian rule in a country that has experienced three military coups.

With the Pakistani Taliban threatening to target political

parties in the vote, the government deployed an estimated 600,000 security personnel across the country to protect polling sites and voters.

Many Pakistanis seemed determined to cast their ballots despite the violence.

"Yes, there are fears. But what should we do?" said Ali Khan, who was waiting to vote in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where one of the blasts took place yesterday.

"Either we sit in our house and let the terrorism go on, or we come out of our homes, cast our vote, and bring in a government that can solve this problem of terrorism."

That exuberance seemed to be widespread. The secretary of the election commission, Ahmed Khan, told reporters in Islamabad that he expected the turnout to be "massive."

Also, the rise of former cricket star Imran Khan has reshaped the Pakistani political scene, challenging

the stranglehold of the country's two main parties and making the outcome of the vote very hard to call.

The 60-year-old Khan is facing off against the Pakistan Muslim League-N, headed by two-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People's Party, led by President Asif Ali Zardari.

While Sharif has billed himself as the candidate of experience, Khan is trying to tap into the frustrations of millions of Pakistanis who want a change from the politicians who have dominated the nation's politics for years.

"I never voted for anyone in the past, but today my sons asked me to go to the polling station, and I am here to vote," said Mohammed Akbar in the northwestern city of Khar.

"Imran Khan is promising to bring a good change, and we will support him."

Khan survived a horrific fall off a forklift during a

campaign event Tuesday in the eastern city of Lahore that sent him to the hospital with three broken vertebrae and a broken rib. He is not believed to have voted yesterday because he couldn't travel to his polling place.

Nobody is sure how effective he will be in translating his widespread popularity into votes, especially considering he boycotted the 2008 election and only got one seat in 2002.

Turnout will be critical, especially among the youth.

Almost half of Pakistan's more than 80 million registered voters are under the age of 35, but young people have often stayed away from the polls in the past.

The election's outcome is likely riding on the tally in the province of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous, where Sharif and Khan have been duelling for the people's support with a series of large rallies and campaign events.

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GYPT's interior minister says security authorities have arrested three suspected alQaida militants who were planning to carry out suicide attacks on vital installations and an unspecified embassy.

Mohammed Ibrahim told a news conference yesterday that the men had been in contact with Dawood alAssady, a leader of al-Qaida in southeast Asian countries such as Pakistan.

Ibrahim said authorities seized 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, a key ingredient in homemade explosives, and discovered instructions issued by al-Qaida on one of the men's computers.

He said the suspected are also believed to have links with the so-called "Nasr City terror cell," which was broken up last year and its members arrested on accusations of plotting attacks against public figures in Egypt.

Central African Republic rebels demand payment

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HE Seleka rebels who overthrew Central African Republic's president are now demanding that they be paid before they disarm.

Seleka Lt. Ali Alkanto said yesterday that his fighters should receive salaries before they lay down their arms.

He said if the new government doesn't pay the rebels there could be violent clashes.

The demand raises concerns about growing dissent within the rebel movement.

Seleka now controls the national government, headed

by Michel Djotodia, although observers say those in the capital wield little control over the rebels who are in the country's north.

While the rebels await payment, senior Seleka leaders have set up residence at the countrkly's only luxury hotel.

Pro-Berlusconi rally in Italy draws cheers, jeers

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OLITICAL supporters of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi are rallying in a northern Italian city to protest the media mogul's recent conviction by a Milan appeals court for tax fraud.

Thousands of backers turned out for the "Everyone for Silvio" rally in a square outside the cathedral in Brescia. As some arrived, detractors shouted "jail, jail" and police in riot gear came between the noisy camps to prevent any violence.

The appellate court also upheld a four-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from political office.

Berlusconi will appeal to a higher court and currently serves in Parliament.

He has long blamed his many criminal cases on prosecutors he accuses of siding with the left. Detractors say his former governments made laws tailor-made to help his judicial woes.

11 Afghan landmine clearers abducted NIDENTIFIED kidnappers have abducted 11 Afghans working in a U.N.-affiliated landmine clearing program in the east of the country, officials said yesterday.

The 11 were taken Thursday in a remote part of Nangarhar province, said Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal, provincial police spokesman.

He did not name the abductors but said local officials and tribal elders were trying to negotiate the mine clearers' freedom.

According to the United Nations there are an estimated 10 million mines scattered throughout 150 of Afghanistan's 400 districts, a legacy of 30 years of war.

Children and farmers face the most serious threats from the discarded explosive devices.

On Friday three children in central Ghazni province were killed when they tried to dismantle an old bomb.

Also yesterday, a bomb killed an intelligence officer at his home, while in eastern Afghanistan a remotecontrolled bomb ripped through a police vehicle killing two and injuring three other police officers, many of them seriously. A third bombing in Afghanistan's northern Faryab province wounded the district police chief.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for any of the bombings but Taliban insurgents have been targeting Afghan National Security Forces with deadly regularity.

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•A man from Cameroon holds up a sign with photos of the mutilated body of his murdered cousin as people take part in a protest march against 'ritual crimes' yesterday, in Libreville, Gabon. The government declared that it will take new measures to combat 'ritual crimes', which are often linked to beliefs in witchcraft and consist of mutilating people's bodies, then taking their blood and organs.

AFP PHOTO

40 dead in Turkey car bombings near Syria

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WO car bombs exploded in a Turkish town near the border with Syria yesterday, killing around 40 people and wounding 100 others, officials said. Turkey's deputy prime minister said Syria's intelligence and military were "the usual suspects" behind the bombings, but said authorities were still investigating the attacks.

The blasts, which were 15 minutes apart, raised fears that Syria's brutal civil war violence was crossing into its neighbour.

One of the car bombs exploded outside the city hall while the other went off outside the post office in the town of Reyhanli, a main hub for Syrian refugees and rebel activity in Turkey's Hatay province, just across the border. Images showed

people frantically carrying victims through the rubblestrewn streets to safety.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said about 40 people were killed and 100 others wounded in the blasts and linked them to Syria.

There was no immediate information on the identities or nationalities of the victims.

"We know that the Syrian refugees have become a target of the Syrian regime," he said.

"Reyhanli was not chosen by coincidence."

"Our thoughts are that their mukhabarat (Syrian intelligence agency) and armed organizations are the usual suspects in planning and the carrying out of such devilish plans," he said.

Arinc said Turkey would "do whatever is necessary" if proven that Syria is behind the attack.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier also raised the possibility that the bombings may be related to Turkey's peace talks with Kurdish rebels meant to end a nearly 30-year-old conflict.

Syrian mortar rounds have fallen over the border before, but if the explosion turns out to be linked to Syria it would be by far the biggest death toll in Turkey related to its neighbor's civil war.

Syria shares a more than 500-mile border with Turkey, which has been a crucial supporter of the Syrian rebel cause. Ankara has allowed its territory to be used as a logistics base and staging center for Syrian insurgents.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu vowed from Berlin that Turkey would act.

"Those who for whatever reason attempt to bring the

external chaos into our country will get a response," he said.

The main Syrian opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, condemned the "terrorist attacks" in Reyhanli, saying it stands together with the "Turkish government and the friendly Turkish people."

The coalition sees "these heinous terrorist acts as an attempt to take revenge on the Turkish people and punish them for their honorable support for the Syrian people," it said.

Reyhanli is a center for aid and alleged weapon trafficking between Turkey and Syria, as well as for Syrian rebel activity. Apart from refugees living in camps, many Syrians escaping the civil war have also rented houses in the town.

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World News

N America, the Boston Marathon bombing fades from memory.

Benghazi is now the roiling tale.

Congressional inquiries have been constituted. The media is awash with Republican charges that the Obama Administration has concealed its negligent handling of the consulate attack in Benghazi that left the American Ambassador and three other officials dead. Congressional Republicans huff that the Obama cohort is guilty of such transgressions that make the Watergate cover-up appear to be the epitome of benign transparency and fidelity in governance. These fire-eating conservatives hope this episode will not only serve as Obama's Watergate but also double as the Waterloo for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential aspirations.

Checkmated at the ballot box by an American electorate demographically too black and brown (Latino) to for their liking, the Republicans seek to gain through the trapdoor what they could not win through the front.

They dream of toppling Obama while amputating the legs of a Clinton candidature years before that horse is brought to the starting gate. What the Republicans now do is tawdry and ethically bankrupt. What they practice is not in the spirit or practical ways of a mature democratic republic. They delude themselves into believing they represent the final line of defense laboring to save America from the great unwashed horde of the dark-skinned people who call themselves Americans but who shall forever be alien and foreign in the hearts of the white conservatism.

Yet what their abuse of public office for political gains does is to turn American governance into the stuff of which fledgling banana republics are made. So blinded by hatred, they undo that which they purport to save and invite the very calamity against which they purport to fight. Not since the Civil War has a major political party been so spellbound by and attached to an obvious wrong. These racists meanly depict Obama as a monkey in a suit. But, they are the ones who behave as baboons.

They attack Obama as if he is a bacillus; save for the hue of his skin, he is their own. I care not for his milquetoast policies and his ersatz populist rhetoric rings hollow in my ears; but I defend his right to be as narrow and purblind as they are. The simple but harsh truth about Benghazi is the fate of the vanquished quartet was sealed when the decision was made to overnight in the rough city.

In a lawless place, danger assumes governance of the evening. Remaining in Benghazi after the sun had left the city placed these men on a limb.

Those who attacked them realized their scant predicament and were all too ready to cut them down.

By the time the attack commenced, no rescue operation could be had. The victims' sole means of escape at that point laid in the miraculous. Neither President Obama nor then Secretary Clinton would have been personally involved at this level of operational detail. Neither can be blamed for what happened lest one asserts the proximate cause of the deaths was America's involvement in the war itself. If that is the charge, then Republicans are likewise guilty because they pursued the war with even greater bloodlust than the Democrats.

It is a sad commentary on American political leaders that they will spend more time on Benghazi than examining wrong-footed decision to war against Iraq based on false accusations.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis perished as did thousands of Americans.

The war was a lie but their deaths were all too true. To send this vast number to premature graves is the ugliest act thus far committed this century. For humanity's sake, let's hope it maintains this evil distinction and that no subsequent event surpasses its malevolence. Sadly, no one will ever be made to answer for this massive wrong. Yet, Republicans are hell bent to see a few Democratic careers interred by Benghazi, which ultimately will be gauged as a salient tragedy but one of insignificant strategic import in the great tide of events. The

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Looking for security in an insecure world

•In the long run, security is not attained by force of arms but by the calmative influence of justice and prosperity.

• US President Barack Obama speaks during an event honouring the 2013 National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) TOP COPS award winners yesterday in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO

BRIAN BROWNE

loss of the four men was tragic. Measures must be taken to avoid the facile repetition of such an easily-perpetuated tragedy. On another level, America must realize this represents the inevitable human costs to be paid for the muscular empire America seems intent on building.

On the domestic scene, the Boston bombing is also a price America bears for the global situation it helped author. Whether the bombers were formally linked to any known incendiary group is, in some ways, immaterial. The bombers share the worldview of these notorious organizations. They see the world as unjust and believe America is the primary author of that injustice. In a world of over 6 billion people, there will be hundreds of thousands willing to kill because of that belief. Some of these people are Americans or live in America. Again, such is the price of hegemonic empire.

Responding to the marathon bombings, America will augment budgets for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Already America has spent more on Homeland Security than it did prosecuting World War II. At least, the World War finally ended. The fight Defense and Homeland Security fight has no end. It does not even have a military solution yet Defense and Homeland Security seek to win through force of superior weaponry and gadgets. Once again, technology has been perverted by the vain and arrogant to accomplish a feat for which it is terribly suited.

The true battlefield of this contest is shaped by politics, economics and governance and not by military hardware. However, those in control

never want to hear such things because they ultimately define and measure things in terms of power and might. Thus, they attack problems instead of seeking to first answer them. They clench their fists then fire a bomb. Yet, they act indignantly when some desperate soul detonates a home-made bomb on a crowded street in one of their hallowed cities.

What the bomber did was inhumane and the imperialists find solace in calling the bomber a deranged extremist. This description may be apt. Nonetheless, that the bomber is an extremist does not necessarily mean the government he opposes is not extreme in its application of violence in foreign nations.

The Boston bombings were cruel homicides but, in the minds of their perpetrators and of many people around the world, they were no more misguided and cruel than the drone strikes America visits upon innocent people around the world. As such, the Boston bombings are an outcrop, the blowback, of a global political economy America has done more than any other nation to create. No global system can be perfect because we are fallible in the conception and implementation of all we attempt.

There shall always be disagreements and confrontation. Justice is in shorter supply than the situations its application might resolve. As long as there is man, there shall be war and woe.

To expect American power to usher in perfect peace asks too much. Moreover, had Germany won World War II or the Soviet Union won the Cold War, the world would be worse than it is. That said, the world is bad enough. Whatever benevolence existed in the initial stages of post-WWII

Pax Americana has waned, being steadily replaced by a steely arrogance that knows few answers yet brooks little opposition. Killing bin Laden matters little; the turn of events will produce another.

I have no want to debate the causes of the violent extremism in much of the world. One point is unassailable. Societies achieving longterm justice and prosperity are more peaceful and their people are less vulnerable to extremist views and to the formation of violent organizations.

Among the lessons to be learned from the Boston bombings, this is the most important.

There is another lesson from Boston germane to our local circumstance. Faced with many security challenges, Nigeria currently debates changes to its internal security/law enforcement architecture. This debate mostly is couched in terms of whether to revive the local police. How the American internal security/law enforcement structure tackled the Boston bombings offers guidance that can benefit Nigeria. In Nigeria, the ongoing debate draws a stark dichotomy between the current federal police and advocates of state police. It is as if Nigeria must select one or the other. Much of the debate is more influenced by a proponent's political stance on federalism than on what is the most pragmatic solution to our security threats. Those who believe the central government has too much power espouse state police almost to the exclusion of retaining a national law enforcement presence. Those supporting the current federal distribution of power oppose the state police.

Most people reach their conclusions not based on what is best for the internal security but upon which tack supports their overall theory of federalism.

Because protection of life and limb is such an existential purpose of government, we must reverse our thought processes on this vital issue.

Development of the nation's security architecture should not become hostage to political debate. Instead of shaping the security architecture to accord with a prior political notion of federalism, we should first discern the most pragmatic, effective security apparatus. Then, we adjust the fed-

eral structure accordingly so as to enable this more efficacious system.

This process accords with the viewpoint that government is not an abstraction nor is it the playground of competing factions among the elite.

Instead, government is intended to advance the real and tangible interests of the people.

Viewed against this backdrop, shaping the debate as a choice between state and federal police is a false ultimatum. First, we need not select one over the other. There is ample reason and evidence pointing to the need for both. Second, we should expand the conceptual scope of discourse from "policing" to "law enforcement." In the aftermath of the Boston event, the American law enforcement machinery ramped into gear. However, this effort did not become the sole property of a federal agency or the state police. Instead, law enforcement at three levels - local, state and federal - joined hands to investigate the crime and apprehend the culprits.

Each level of law enforcement has its different skills, expertise and talents.

Over the long-run, America has found this division of labor to be most effective.

Local and state law enforcement bodies are essential because most everyday, mundane crimes are of local impact. Locally-based law enforcement has greater knowledge of the community. This means the law-abiding citizens will have greater confidence and familiarity with local agencies. It also means the agencies will have better knowledge of the criminals and their activities because the local agencies will have greater knowledge of local culture, society and the political economy. Meanwhile, law enforcement at the federal level focuses on those complex crimes that do not respect local boundaries and that might involve vast criminal syndicates spanning several state or even international borders. Thus, while the U.S. does not have a national police force, it has several specialized agencies that tackle specific crimes.

For example, DEA battles illicit narcotics. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deals with cases that have been expressly by statute deemed federal crimes.

Even with this rough division of labor, there is significant overlap between local and federal officials.

When this happens, as in Boston, adhoc task forces are formed. Depending on the nature of the criminal problem, such multi-jurisdictional task forces can have indefinite life spans.

There is no functional reason prohibiting Nigeria from establishing a similar division of labor. It can establish state police to address the vast majority of common crimes. Simultaneously, it can remodel the federal law enforcement structure to create or strengthen existing agencies to address those momentous issues, including but not limited to organized crime, narcotics, terrorism, and human trafficking that are too big and complex for state police to handle.

Nigeria faces myriad security challenges. These challenges are not the fault of any one person, group or section of the nation. The geneses of these problems reach far back into the past but threaten to stretch far into the future if left unattended. We needn't point fingers at each other.

Better that we spend time pointing out possible solutions. Now is not the moment for stilted debate about the merits of more or less federalism and power distribution between the federal government and the states. While this political debates drags on, our security problems become more acute and biting. This column has been a constant, regular critic of American governance. However, it is wrongheaded not to acknowledge an important instance where America's methodology may help Nigeria's future. The division of labor between state and federal law enforcement bodies is one such instance. Here, Nigeria has some important lessons to learn from America. What have you got to lose but your insecurity?

08060340825 (sms only)

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COMMENT and ANALYSIS SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Talakawa Liberation Herald (12)

Big for nothing? Nanometers to the rescue!

- A lay, secular sermon in a light mood

BY BIODUN JEYIFO Esu threw a rock yesterday; it kills a bird today/Esu throws a rock today; it killed a bird yesterday/ Esu sleeps in the courtyard; it is too small for him; Esu sleeps in the bedroom; it is still too small for him; Esu sleeps inside a palm kernel; now he has space large enough for him to sleep in!

From the praise chants to Esu, the Yoruba trickster god Nano: a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute” used in the formation of compound words, e.g. nanoplankton.

In the names of units of measure, it has the specific sense “one billionth”, e.g. nanosecond, nanometer, nanotechnology.

Dictionary.com (online)

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F my memory is not playing tricks on me, one of the words that had a deep and exceptional fascination for me when I was a child in primary school was the Yoruba word, ‘firi!’ (Yes, with the exclamation mark).

Roughly translated, it means something that happens, something that flashes by in the twinkling of an eye. More expansively, firi! (please think of it only with the exclamation mark, compatriot) means something that is so brief, so instantaneously transient that it is gone even before you have perceived it, even before its presence has registered in your mind, leaving only the trace of its passage. Firi! Oh word and concept that filled my youthful imagination with wonder! In my imagination, in my mind’s eye, you opened up vistas for which, at that very tender age, I had no words and no speech! That is until about five decades later, when I encountered the word, the concept “nano”, especially as compounded with those units of space and time, meters and seconds to give us nanoseconds and nanometers. In nanometers especially, I at last found a scientific, technological correlation to firi! But more on this later in this lay, secular, iwalesin “sermon”.

First, we must talk about that other phrase in the title of this piece, that term of abuse, “big for nothing”, that I remember now also in the reflected light of a particular use that we had for it in my youth.

In Nigerian pidgin, “big for nothing”, as we all know, stands for huge size or number without sense, without discernment and sometimes without compunction. In my youth, boys who were corporeally and vertically challenged by being much smaller than their age were the special prey or target of bullies who invariably tended to be physically much bigger than their years. For the small boys, the ultimate putdown for their gigantic tormentors was, yes, “big for nothing”! Of course, this was usually shouted from the presumed safety of considerable distance between the abused child and the bully. I remember also that in my school’s football team that we called the “First Eleven”, the positions of full backs, right and left, were usually reserved for the biggest boys in the school. The thinking behind this, I suppose, was that you needed size, combined with cunning, to counter the nimblefooted strikers of opposing teams. On the whole, the calculation worked, sometimes so much so that some full backs who were as big as our teachers had legendary renown as terrors to all strikers, nimble-footed or not.

But sometimes, the thing did not work and then one encountered the incredible spectacle of a swift but pint-sized centre forward running circles around a full back the size of a giant. I remember in particular one big fellow with the nickname of “Akanmu Jaji” who had size but not - shall we say - a lot of grey matter inside his occiput. As a result of this, we could not dispense with his renown as a right full back, but neither could we be indifferent to the fact that, with his lack of discernment, he could as much cause our “First Eleven” penalties as save it from almost cer-

•PDP bigwigs at 2012 convention: big for nothing?

tain goals by the jitteriness that took control of strikers when he approached them. For this reason, though we all thought of him as “big for nothing”, this was whispered only among us; no one dared to say it to his hearing! [Akanmu Jaji, this is all coming back to me from memory of things that happened more than a half century ago. If you are still alive and happen to be reading this piece, please know that I was not one of those who called you “big for nothing” behind your back!)

If, so far in this “sermon” I have given the impression that “big for nothing” is a malaise that comes from nature, let me quickly and emphatically assert that this is not the case at all. Whether one is big, medium or small, in height or girth, has no inherent connection at all to being brainy, resourceful or humane. What is at issue here is the extremely fatuous notion that the bigger a thing or a country is the better, together with the associated belief that with size and numbers come superior endowments or status. And on this account, which country in the world is more benighted than our own country in the association of size and numbers with inherent worth? Which nation, definitely on the African continent but also perhaps in the whole world, is more smitten by this ideology, this false consciousness that equates size with status than our beloved country, Nigeria? If, compatriots, you feel that this observation, this claim is an exaggeration, an expression of the habit of seeing nothing good in Nigeria that is itself a very Nigerian habit, than I ask you to please carefully consider the following few observations that I have randomly selected from a myriad of commonplace realities in our national public life.

First, there is the widespread belief among Nigerians from every part of the country that because we are the most populous nation on our continent we are, or have a manifest destiny as the “giant of Africa” no matter how foolishly and wastefully we use our national wealth. Secondly, there is the regularly bruited boast of the ruling party, the PDP, that it is the largest ruling party in Africa, as if that claim can rid the party of the odium, the colossal scandal of the abysmal level of its misrule in every single one of its three presidential administrations since 1999. Thirdly, what of the claims of Nollywood directors, producers and actors that the Nigerian video film industry produces more films annually than any other national film industry in the world, not excluding Hollywood and Bollywood, the na-

tional film industries of the United States and India respectively? No one has done independent research to validate this claim, but even if it is factually or literally true, does this erase the fact that we produce more trashy products, more extremely poorly made and distributed video films than any other country in the world? Finally, what of the fact that with the President and the Executive Governors of our thirty-six states we have more major and mini heads of state than any other country in the world with the possible exception of the United States? And yet what good has this done the country? Has it not in fact made us the country with one of the very highest administrative cost of governance in the world? And are these not all indications or expressions of “big for nothing” writ large and inscribed into the very lineaments of our national psyche? To put this in the plainest form possible, hasn’t the obsession with size and numbers become a fetish that we tend to see as a magical or divine protection against all the things that are terribly wrong with our present way of life?

If my observations and reflections so far in this piece point to the simple ethical and spiritual proposition that big and numerous are not necessarily or inherently good, I would like to say that this is definitely part of my purpose in this piece. So also is the corollary proposition that oftentimes, small and minute will do as well if not more than big and numerous. But this “sermon” has far more important or substantial things to explore than such undoubtedly beneficial moral and psychological truths. This leads us to the enormously important world of ideas, practices and technologies connected with nanofabrication whose central place in the productive and communicative processes of contemporary global civilisation is absolutely not in question.

I have two and only two purposes in bringing this discourse on nanofabrication to bear on this lay “sermon” on our national obsession with size and numbers. One is this: Compatriots, please pay attention to nanofabrication; it is central to many of the things we take for granted in the contemporary global civilisation of which we are a part, things that we ignore or pay scant attention to only at our cost. This is the second of my two objectives in this piece: In one way or another, the ideational and practical applications of nanofabrication have always been with us, with our humans species; if this is the case, we are only returning to some of the best and most positive aspects of our heritage as humans when we turn our attention,

our curiosity to nanofabrication.

Is one billionth of a second or of a meter thinkable, not to talk of being practicable? I confess that with only the evidence that I can collect or sense or even intuit with my five senses, the answer to this question is a ringing, categorical no! If you, dear reader, can think of not a billionth, not even a millionth but a thousandth of a second or a meter, I can’t.

But then here is the core of this conundrum: there are now so-called super-colliding super-computers that can measure and calibrate at the rate or speed of one billionth of a second or meter. Not only this, there are now thousands of devices and practical applications in everyday life that give concrete proof to this dizzying idea and claim of the measurement of space and time in infinitesimally minute but phenomenally efficient quantities.

For want of space, I will in this discussion give only one example, partly because it bears direct relevance to my profession as an academic and partly because I have never stopped being simply dazzled by it. This is it: In my travels around the world in connection with my work, I carry with me a mini laptop computer that weighs less than five pounds; in the little carrying case that comes with this mini laptop are small pouches into which I place flash drives each of which has a dimension of about two inches weighing a few ounces. And yet, and yet again, with this extremely compact baggage of mini laptop and flash discs, I carry with me books and monographs of hundreds of thousands of pages. In other words, anywhere I am in the world, I have nearly everything I need to keep on working without the need for checking out books and journals from the local library.

I think of the wondrous fascination with the word, the idea of firi! (always with the exclamation mark, remember compatriot) in my childhood. I think of the lines of the first epigraph to this essay and the beautifully poetic enigma of Esu’s abrogation of simple, literal and linear conceptions of time and the paradox of his finding the most ample room for his being only in the tiniest of spaces. I see in these two prefigurations of nanofabrication. “Big for nothing”, your day of reckoning has come! Let all our rulers, all our political parties, all our emergency contractors, all our corrupt public officeholders hearken to these good tidings and take note!

Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

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Festus Eriye efestus2003@yahoo.com sms only: 08116759748

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Comment & Analysis

ROWNED out by the outrage that greeted the atrocities at Baga, and later Bama, many would have missed an insightful contribution to the ongoing national discussion by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in faraway Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaking as guest of the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations last week, Atiku denounced what he called “the militarisation of democracy.” More than one decade after the end of military rule and the advent of constitutional democracy, he said the culture of political intolerance and impunity still pervades the country.

He talked about how retired military officers, who came to power as politicians brought with them military mindsets, and in the process exacerbated the culture of intolerance and impunity.

Atiku’s comments are pithy but not exactly novel. What he failed to add was that even civilians who have found themselves in positions of power, as well as their hangers-on, have quickly imbibed the worst character traits of our past military-politicians – turning what we practice in Nigeria into the worst form of ‘garrison democracy.’

In this variant, orders are orders, and once an edict is issued from on high all lesser mortals are expected to fall in line. In this environment, independent-mindedness counts as treachery of the worst order.

In addition to being allowed to crush the right to hold an opinion, the guardians of our democracy are also demanding to be allowed to dictate what sort of opinions we should hold. Political correctness is now rampant – so much so that a man has to lose his right to be foolish.

Dokubo, Kuku and the right to be obnoxious The whole brouhaha over the comments made by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku; and retired militant leader, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, underscores how far we have descended.

Kuku, at a recent meeting with United States officials in Washington, had controversially said: “The peace that currently prevails in the zone (Niger Delta) is largely because Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is from that same place, is the President of Nigeria. That is the truth. It is only a Jonathan presidency that can guarantee continued peace and energy security in the Niger Delta.”

Not to be outdone, the voluble Dokubo jumped into the fray with even more incendiary comments. “I want to go on to say that, there will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta but everywhere if Goodluck Jonathan is not president by 2015, except God takes his life, which we don’t pray for.”

He didn’t stop there. He vowed that unless the incumbent was re-elected in two years, he and other ex-militants who had been “resting” would swiftly return the creeks and their old ways.

I can understand the “do or die mentality” that runs through the remarks of the likes of Dokubo because he and other one-time Niger Delta militant leaders have seen their lot dramatically transformed under the Jonathan presidency. Today, some of them are sitting over pots of cash “protecting” pipelines and patrolling waterways.

It doesn’t require a soothsayer to predict that were a Pharoah who never knew Joseph

to arise, the stream of cool cash will dry up as some of these dubious contracts will be swiftly cancelled. So it is understandable if Dokubo threatens to rain down fire and brimstone if his meal ticket is snatched away.

I am certain though that he does not speak for millions in the Niger Delta whose lot has not been bettered under the regime of their “brother” Jonathan. Neither does he represent the millions who want to carry on in peace regardless of whether a particular individual loses or wins the 2015 polls. Statements by former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) distancing themselves from the excitable comments of the twosome confirm this.

For me the statements made by Dokubo and Kuku don’t make sense given the way the Nigerian constitution is rigged. In order to become president you must have strong support all over the country. That is why only broadbased parties ever find their way into power.

It follows therefore that no matter how passionate some of Jonathan’s Ijaw supporters are they do not have enough AK-47s to hold to the heads of millions of voters in the five other zones of the country to browbeat them into voting for their favoured candidate.

Truth be told: if Jonathan loses in 2015 the heavens won’t cave in – not even in Otuoke.

That is why I amazed at the equally overthe-top reactions from certain Northern leaders and some members of the National Assembly. The House of Representatives quickly asked a committee to probe the comments. The increasingly loquacious Niger State Governor,

“For as long as we continue to reward the violent with things: Boko Haram with amnesty, kidnappers with generous ransom and politicians using thugs with high office – our politics will never be transformed.”

Babangida Aliyu, and a couple of others demanded the arrest of Dokubo. Some called for treason trials. For goodness sake!

As some have rightly pointed out – many people from the north and elsewhere have said even more damnable things and no one has been arrested. The former Kaduna State Governor, Lawal Kaita, and a couple of others threatened in 2010 to make the nation ungovernable if Jonathan muscled his way to the presidency riding roughshod over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning arrangements.

There are many who like the late National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoye Azazi, believed that the rise in the insurgency in the north is intricately tied to the fall-out of the 2011 polls.

What we need to understand is that in every democracy – even developed Western ones – there will always be people who verge on the extreme or out-rightly inhabit the lunatic fringe in the opinions they hold. If we are to develop our political system we cannot make them align their views with the mainstream by force.

Rather than getting all excited over the unrealistic positions of one or two individuals, we should be thinking of how to demilitarise our politics and reduce the role of violence in the scheme of things.

For as long as we continue to reward the violent with things: Boko Haram with amnesty, kidnappers with generous ransom and politicians using thugs with high office – our politics will never be transformed.

In Nigeria today, the way to get things from the government and society is by violence or the threat of it. The northern insurgents understand this; ex-Niger Delta militants like Dokubo understand this – after all they wrote the manual.

It is only when those who control the levers of power start to assert themselves in a proper way that extremists will regain their respect for the state and its institutions. But when we cave in to every extremist waving a gun and a threat, all they will have for the state is enduring contempt.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Comment & Analysis

15

One-day disasters Save the Children’s verdict that Nigeria is one of the worst places on earth to deliver a child calls for sober reflection and quick action

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HAT do Nigeria and India have in common?

According to the World Mothers’ justreleased Report of Save the Children, an international NGO on maternal health and advocacy, the two countries are among the worst places on earth to deliver children.

The United States too was found to log the highest number of deaths of new-born babies, among the world’s industrialised economies, recording 11, 300 deaths each year, and perching at 30th position out of 176 countries. The US number was however adduced to a high population and high rate of preterm births, the highest in the world.

Still, India and Nigeria, by the neo-liberal economic book-keeping that somewhat praises growth sans development, are two countries with steadily growing economies. The United States, Breton-Woods metropolis, does not lack in cutting edge technology to assure safe births. Yet, it is hopelessly trounced by the Scandinavian trio of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The trio runs the good old welfare state, demonised by the neo-liberal lobby in the West, since the era of US President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Might neo-liberal orthodoxy then have direct adverse effect on investment in health and other social infrastructure, given that the Scandinavian welfare states did much better in the report than the United States, even with its acclaimed technological wonders?

The answer to this question must interest Nigeria’s policymakers, given their tight wedding to BretonWoods economic orthodoxy.

Besides India, which has followed a similar path to economic near-boom, still records 56, 000 maternal deaths – more than any other country in the world.

Instructively, the report blames the poor situation on an invigorated Indian economy, the gains of which have nevertheless been “unequally” shared. To avert the Indian example, Nigerian policymakers must start building safety nets into the current economic policy.

Indeed, it is not surprising that years of poor budget implementation, among other factors, have condemned Nigeria to the laggards, in this latest report on maternal health. Ranked 169 out of 176 countries, with an

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

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whole gamut of maternal health, child mortality, education and income; with the Western countries, led by the Scandinavian pace-setters out-performing Africa and Asia, on such a superlative scale! Again in Finland, according to the report, children are guaranteed 17 years of formal education at the expense of the state, aside from an almost zero death at pregnancy and delivery. What is Nigeria’s equivalent of that and what is the quality of the programme?

Indeed, in infants’ death, Africa only marginally outperformed Southern Asia. While Africa accounts for an estimated 396,500 first-day deaths (38 per cent of the global total), South Asia accounts for 40 per cent. Nigeria, because of its huge population and also its huge mis-governance, accounts for a huge chunk of that figure.

Though Susan Grant, Save the Children’s Nigeria country director, insists every baby faces the gravest danger in its life on its first day, that the world outside Africa and Asia has virtually turned back that grim routine is clear evidence that African governments – and Nigeria’s in particular – must brace themselves up. As at now, they are clear non-starters, no thanks to overwhelming corruption and lack of focus.

It is reassuring that at the report’s presentation in Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris, the Lagos State health commissioner, pledged his state would commit more resources to health care to roll back the disaster. The Lagos government must be encouraged to walk its talk.

But it must also be realised that Lagos, which in comparative terms by Nigerian standards boasts tolerable health facilities, is likely not the most affected, even if the horrible statistics is skewed towards a national health disaster.

That is why the Federal Government must show leadership and galvanise other state governments to take maternal and baby health very seriously. If Nigeria achieves a quantum leap in good governance, maternal and baby health too will receive a quantum boost.

That is as good a field as any to calibrate good governance in the country. It is time to save the children.

LETTERS

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OING by newspaper reports on the local council election held in Kogi State on Saturday, 4th May, 2013, as published in Sunday Tribune and The Nation on Sunday under the titles: “3 Killed During Kogi Council Poll” and “Kogi LG Poll: Ex-Governor Audu’s brother, 3 Others Killed” respectively, well-meaning and patriotic citizens and stakeholders in Kogi State would begin to wonder on the adequacy of the preparations, laid-down processes and the readiness of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) in the manner of handling of the election which according to reports led to the killing of three people and burning of houses in the East Senatorial District , hospitalisation of five people at the Mopa General Hospital in West Senatorial District, total boycott of the election by the opposition parties and apathy of the electorate towards the council poll across the three Senatorial Districts in the state.

There is no gainsaying that election in Nigeria is often being approached as a door-die affair and the recent council poll in Kogi State is by no means not an exception going by developments during the election. It is also a known fact that untoward acts and rigging tactics such as stage-managed party prima-

estimated 89, 700 babies dying on their first day, the country is one of the most unsafe places to have a baby.

Indeed, more than one in every 10 (12 per cent) of babies who die under five years in Nigeria die on their first day; while more than three out of every 10 (32 per cent) die in the first month of birth.

Nigeria’s company in the laggard zone of the bottom10 ranked countries, all in sub-Saharan Africa, is instructive: DR Congo (the worst place on earth to have a baby), Somalia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Central African Republic (CAR), The Gambia, Chad and Cote d’Ivoire. All these countries, aside from The Gambia, have been war-torn in recent times. Aside from the Boko Haram insurrection and Niger Delta militancy, Nigeria has not been in a state of war since the Civil War (1967-1970). Yet, it cannot do better than these warravaged countries!

These statistics are a serious indictment on how badly this country is run. The grim stats also call for a rapid response to correct the situation. Unfortunately however, hardly anything is assured.

Still, the imperative for a response is clear, when the laggards are compared with the top-raters. In DR Congo, the worst global case, an average of one woman in 30 dies from pregnancy-related cases. But in Finland, the best case, only one out of 12, 200 does. That only translates to the odd probability – so distant and remote is such death actually happening. It is quite a gulf! So, how do the African laggards, especially Nigeria, even start rolling back these death rates, in a race Save the Children dramatically tagged “Surviving the first day”?

But even survival at birth is only the first step in the

How truly independent are states’ Independent Electoral Commissions? ries, imposition of party candidates, voters intimidation by overzealous law enforcement agents designed to cause fear and ultimate disenfranchisement of the electorate, undue delay in availability of voting materials is no longer a new thing during election in our country.

In fairness to some states’ electoral commissions such as the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), the commission’s effective handling of its duties is commendable going by the large population of the electorate in the state and the

existence of strong opposition parties in the state.

Though apathy has continued to rear its ugly head in some instances, the manner of handling of the election process beginning with voters registration, accreditation of the voters on day of voting and the eventual release of results by the electoral commission is not only commendable but worthy of emulation by other states’ electoral commissions in the country.

In a situation where a council election organised by a state electoral body is

characterised by violence, killing and maiming of people and boycott by the opposition, such election should not only be cancelled but be re-conducted by INEC, the national body that is charged with the conduct of the presidential, governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives elections in Nigeria.

The fact remains that more of the states’ independent electoral commissions in Nigeria remain loyal and solely committed to the whims and caprices of the political party to which the

governor in the state belongs and not to the electorate as the case should be and so long as this situation is being allowed, out of ignorance and the high illiteracy level in the society, to be accepted as a norm in our politics, the possibility of peaceful and credible council poll will continue to elude the political terrain in our country.

The need for credible and acceptable poll at the local government level in any part of the country cannot be dismissed with the wave of the hand, considering the fact

Save the traffic situation at Effurun round-about

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T has been a heart aching experience driving through the Effurun round about on weekends. I had a first-hand experience lately and I think if nothing is done urgently to salvage the situation, its effect could be very colossal. On my way from Sapele on a Saturday, immediately after the last army check point when entering Effurun, we ran into a hold

up. Under normal circumstances, from the army check point to the round about cannot take you more than five minutes, but without exaggeration, we spent approximately three hours to get to the round about. It was a sad experience with a heavy toll on social economic life.Besides, it poses a grave security threat as hoodlums can catch on the

disorderly situation to commit crime.The simple reason for these happenings apart from the impatience of drivers and other road users is lack of obedience to simple traffic laws and regulations. Solving this problem will require the effort of the men of the FRSC and other law enforcement agencies.We would have gone through the road with

less hitches if they were on ground to control vehicular movement and bring order.

I am sincerely appealing to the FRSC Command covering Effurun to do something about the situation and save road users this unwarranted stress.

Alexander Ighoro Effurun, Delta State

that the closest government to the people at the grassroots is that of the local government. The advice of the ex- Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Chigozie Ogbu, given during a national workshop on budget implementation and price monitoring in Enugu as reported in the P.M News of Thursday, 17 November, 2005 on the need for and efficient an service-oriented local government system as opposed to “most public officers, especially politicians, who see their positions not only as an opportunity to serve the public but as a God-given opportunity for personal aggrandisement” should be the watchword of all the local councils in Nigeria and this is only achievable when true representatives of the people are allowed unfettered access to governance at our local government level nationwide.

Without mincing words, there is need for level-playing field to be the watchword of all electoral bodies whether at federal or state level in our country as this is the only way by which unnecessary animosity and bad blood can be eschewed before, during and after election in our country.

Odunayo Joseph Publicity Secretary South West Zone of Okun Dev. Association

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Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

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T is becoming more difficult by the day to know what the lawmakers amending the 1999 Constitution are up to. Just a few weeks ago, they released results of votes on areas suggested by the assembly for amendment. It is clear from the list that the amendments to be expected from lawmakers are likely to push the country further into the pit of unitary rule. But the lecture by the Speaker a few days ago in Lagos suggests that the assembly is also contemplating pushing most items on the Exclusive list to the Concurrent list.

When Nigerians called for a national conference to create a people’s constitution to replace the one foisted on the nation by the country’s last military dictator, lawmakers quickly came out to say that the legislature embodies the people’s sovereignty. They argued that it is not proper to jump over their heads to create another group to amend the constitution, claiming that they were duly voted into legislative office by citizens. On the contrary, federalists argued that lawmakers were not given a mandate to write a constitution, arguing further that the 1999 Constitution is too far from the constitution upon which Nigerian communities agreed to become an independent nation in 1960. Critics of lawmakers’ position also stressed that the constitution the legislators wanted to amend had no input from citizens

Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only) ‘The thorough man knows that only by years of patient, unremitting attention to affairs can he earn his reward, which is the result, not of chance, but of well-devised means for the attainment to ends’.

- Andrew Carnegie

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Comment & Analysis

OT a few would wonder as to how this toddler can address Baba Falegan, 80 years plus two days today, as oga, an appellation normally applicable to those older only by some light years .The reason is simple: I am privileged to have shared Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti – UP SCHOOL! with the baffday ‘boy’, and it so happens that THE SCHOOL has patented that appellation for all those older, whether ancient or modern, and Baba happens to be ancient while I am modern.

Encomiums would pour ceaselessly at the formal celebration on Friday, 10 May, 2013, as Baba turns 80 and all will gather to celebrate a man whose entire life has been dedicated to service to humanity. In recognition of this, the Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, ever so appreciative of integrity, has requested his party leaders and brother governors to please join him in celebrating Baba, who continues to avail the state of his prodigious expertise and experience in Economics and Banking. He is, incidentally, the Chairman of the State Sure-P Committee.

Chief Dele Falegan may be thorough, he may have deployed unremitting attention to all he ever

Mixed signals from constitution amenders Legislators are not giving clear signals on amending the 1999 Constitution and that it was at best a document to support transition to democracy superintended by General Abdusalaam Abubakar. The proper thing to do, citizens affirmed, is to extend the rights inherent in democratic governance to citizens to elect their representatives to negotiate a post-military constitution.

Apparently, the National Assembly has been calculating in handling the amendment exercise. It has used the media to give the impression that the amendment is driven by a truly democratic process. First, the Assembly invited selfappointed spokespersons to come to their zonal headquarters to indicate what citizens slated for change in the constitution. It did not matter if such spokespersons consulted with anyone in their constituencies.

It did not matter to lawmakers if citizens could afford to travel to zonal headquarters in large numbers or if they could afford accommodation away from home. What mattered was the fact that some persons showed up at each venue to discuss the 1999 Constitution with elected legislators from their zone. Another thing that mattered was the informal voting on issues by unelected participants at the public hearing. One other thing that mattered was that lawmakers were able to publish the results of the voting they conducted over constitutional provisions. At least such open communication with the electorate enabled legislators to show the weight of evidence in favor of further de-federalisation of the polity.

Moreover, it mattered to lawmakers that they were able to pub-

licise their own voting on items determined principally by them. It did not matter if such items are related to worries of citizens about overconcentration of powers at the center in the 1999 Constitution. But legislators felt obliged to demonstrate to citizens that there is correlation between voting patterns at the public hearing and in the hallowed legislative chamber, especially to show evidence that lawmakers agreed on most issues with positions of unelected spokespersons at the zonal public hearings.

At best skeptics would call this process good packaging and at worst working to the answer.

What the legislators are now invoking is the principle of majority rule. But what they are missing is that the distribution of legislative seats in the 1999 Constitution is one of the issues that citizens believe should be subject of negotiation at a sovereign national conference or an ordinary constitutional conference. They also appear unaware of the fact that a constitutional conference could have led to a different way of distributing legislative seats among the federating units known for having starkly different attitudes to census figures for the country. Optimists on the issue of lawmakers’ amendment of a constitution believed to be bereft of citizens’ input must have expected legislators to come up with a more federal constitution, to assuage the feelings of federalists who had been calling since 1993 for a sovereign national conference to negotiate a people-authored Union Charter. It is looks like the pessimists might win: the amended con-

stitution is now likely to be more unitary than the 1999 Constitution itself.

Amendments are likely to allow local governments to be divorced from the states to which they belong. The issue of a third tier of government created by military dictators without any reference to the federating units is now likely to be strengthened by amendments by legislators, as funds to local governments may go directly to local governments. The federal monopoly over securing of life and property of citizens is now more likely (than not) to be reinforced in the amended constitution.

The provision for State Electoral Commission is also likely to be removed from the current constitution, thereby creating a centralized electoral commission to conduct election to federal, state, and local offices.

If the claim by the Speaker that there are plans to push most items on the Exclusive list to the Concurrent is true, how will that fit into the items already approved by legislators? Federalists need to be more attentive at this point. If lawmakers are shooting for emptying most exclusive items into the concurrent list with the ultimate goal of creating a residual list, this may be a ploy to change states into glorified sites for Lugardian-type of indirect rule. With the principle of federal supremacy intact in the constitution, transferring more items from the exclusive to the concurrent list may be another working to the answer. The provision of federal legislative supremacy over items on the concurrent list in the

current constitution can be used to render states irrelevant. State governors and legislators may be reduced to the status of traditional rulers under indirect rule: allowed to do whatever the overlords approve of and prevented from carrying out responsibilities that federal government wishes to seize from them. This is already happening.

The federal government has succeeded in preventing Lagos State from installing surveillance devices to protect life and property of citizens in the state, on the flimsy excuse that the federal government has the intention to install similar cameras in the country’s major cities.

As federal lawmakers continue with the amendment exercise, they need to be made aware of two principles inherent in federal democratic system: the principle of Federal Loyalty and the principle of Federal Comity. The former refers to commitment on all sides to achieve the objectives and fulfill the needs of the federal polity. Citizens including opponents of the 1999 Constitution showed this commitment when they bought the argument that legislators be allowed to amend the constitution. The latter principle is about willingness by all sides to compromise, exercise forbearance, and understand the point of views of others. The handling of the amendment process by the National Assembly does not show there is respect for such principle.

Nobody should be surprised if after the amendments are finally out, they succeed only in refueling the call for a sovereign national conference.

Oga Dele Falegan: The colossus at 80 Chief Dele Falegan’s life has been divinely choreographed did and he just might have programmed his life the best he can but without a scintilla of doubt, his life has been divinely choreographed.

Witness the following, for instance, and see the uniqueness of figure 3: Born in 1933, baptized in ’43 and confirmed in ’53 he attended the IMF Training School, Washington D.C, in ’63 and was with the World Bank IFC in ’83. In 1993, he authored his second book on the Nigerian Foreign Exchange mechanism and in 2003, mooted the idea of a group buying an organ for the Emmanuel Church, Ado-Ekiti.

Two days ago, on Friday, 10 May 2013, as he turned 80, the Holy Spirit led him to singlehandedly donate, a N20 Million Pipe Organ to the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti thus fulfilling that which he had proposed to a group ten years earlier That he is this passionate about a pipe organ cannot surprise anybody who knows Baba well. Born and raised in an Anglican home, it was compulsory for him, as a young boy, to attend all church events which in those days bore strict adherence to the church calendar. His greatest interest was, however, in singing having been picked to join the choir in 1944 by Baba E. S. Ajibade, a very powerful soloist. He has never looked back since.

I have been spectacularly blessed to be mentored by some of the most illustrious of Ado-Ekiti sons, both as teachers and as life- long mentors.

They include Chief Fajana, my primary school teacher, Professor Banji Akintoye who taught me both at Christ’s School and at the University, Chief Alex Olu Ajayi and Chief (Dr) JGO Adegbite under who, with late Chief S.J Okudu, I learnt all I ever knew about Higher Education Administration and the Prince, Juli

Adelusi Faluyi who remains my constant source of encouragement and admonition.

Add the celebrant to this list and you would have captured about half the men and women the good Lord has used in shaping me. But Chief Falegan caught me darn early; he, the tall, elegant and sartorial top Economist at the Central Bank of Nigeria in the mid-60’s, and I , the young, dashing bank clerk at the Bank of West Africa Ltd. But boy, didn’t he send me errands on Apapa Road!

I have thus been privileged, for nearly half a century, to learn at Baba’s feet and both he and Mummy, his graceful better half, have taken my wife and I so passionately that he, in fact, calls me – to my shame – more than I call him and the first thing he will say in Ekiti is: oni ayiye ni si ko? - The good one is who I want to greet o.

Another of the highlights of the celebrations will be the unveiling of his magnum opus –MY YESTER YEARS – his Autobiography. An author of no mean repute, Chief Falegan had to be prevailed upon, especially by Mummy and I , to put pen to paper. Why, the reader may ask? Baba’s most distinguishing characteristic is candour –the ability to say it exactly as it is - whether at work or in communal affairs.

Knowing how wicked the ‘soul of man’ is, he was being careful not to recall some sensitive issues where his seemingly hard views, most often the road finally taken, were always first met with serious altercations. We prevailed because he agreed with us that truth will always thump falsity. And let me claim some bragging rights here: I was privileged to be one of the three persons who edited the book. We had to be that number because he

will simply tolerate no mistakes; whether of spelling or syntax. He is that meticulous.

Chief Falegan was born, the 6th of 20 siblings into the Fatufede warrior family of Ado –Ekiti on 10 May 1933. His father, Chief Daniel Falegan, a big time yam farmer, was a disciplinarian and a lover of Education. He attended Emmanuel School, and Christ’s School, AdoEkiti, which he says was so named on 10th September, 1936, by Sir Bourdilion, then Nigeria’s Governor-General, on a visit to Ondo Province. Baba would later obtain his first degree in Economics at the Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and a Master’s in the same discipline from the University of Oregon U.S.A. He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria on July 1, 1961 and by sheer hard work, quickly distinguished himself so much that to his pleasant surprise, he became, in February 1963, the first staff of the Bank to be sent to the IMF Institute in Washington DC to train on monetary policy.

He will be twice lucky as he was, in 1965, again sponsored to the University of Oregon, USA, for a twoyear Master’s programme in Economics. He was, this time around, accompanied by his wife, Olufunke, and his one-year old son, Oludare. It was there he had his near fatal operation for pneumonia which cost him the lower lobe of his right lung and to the glory of God he has survived on one and a half lungs since 1967.

At the Central Bank he saw bare faced ethnicity at play. However, the attempt, by Dr Clement Isong, to make his kinsman supersede Chief Falegan as Director of Research was thwarted only an hour before the deed when the Finance Minister, his

former boss, Mr A. E Ekukinam, came in to inform Dr Isong of his removal from office as CBN governor once more confirming God’s benevolence on the life of the celebrant. He would later be seconded to the Nigerian Mortgage Bank as its pioneer Managing Director. Again it was by the grace of God that he overcame the ethnic-motivated intrigues in this new place that he had no qualms, whatever, in describing his time there, in his autobiography, as MY THREE WASTED YEARS. Baba has always, and continues to touch life. Suffice it to mention the case of three of his junior staff who all had grade 1 in their school certificate examination. Because he was a tough act to follow, many of his department's staff usually seek transfer to others but he just would not approve of these three whom he insisted would not leave the department until they got admission to universities. The three are today, Professor Bode Leigh, former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Dr. Aderungboye, former General Manager, Okitipupa Oil Palm Company and Mrs. Ajoke Oluwasanmi, a retired Permanent Secretary of the Ekiti Public Service commission.

Chief Falegan has served on various boards and consulted for various national and international agencies. Amongst these are: Standard, now First Bank, NISER and the Ondo State Economic Advisory Council, 1976-1979. He served on the Working Party on the establishment of the West African Clearing House and that on the establishment of African Centre for Monetary Studies, Dakar, among many others.

A prolific writer and commentator on national affairs, Chief Falegan is the Atoye of AdoEkiti.

Comment & Analysis

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Tunji

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

“D

O you want peace or war"? That was the tactless question asked in a crisis situation by the principal of the federal school where I did my two-year Advance Level programme years back. Of course, trust students; the answer was predictable. It was a tumultuous "Yes, we want war; we want war". And, in no time, the school was literally on fire. Policemen were called in and before the end of the day, the school was closed down and the students sent home.

I recalled this incident as a result of the threat by former militant, Asari Dokubo, to the effect that willynilly, Nigerians must return President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 if they want peace in the country. If they do otherwise, then, the militants in the Niger Delta who are presently on sabbatical would be forced to return to the creeks. "The day Goodluck is no longer the President; all of us who are on sabbatical will come back. There will be no peace not only in the Niger Delta but everywhere. If they say it is an empty boast, let them wait and see," said Dokubo, who as leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) coordinated a campaign of violence in the oil producing areas.

Dokubo spoke just a week after President Jonathan's adviser on amnesty, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, was reported to have said in the United States that chaos would set in unless Jonathan was re-elected. Kuku has said he was misquoted though.

Dokubo said he was reiterating Kuku's prediction of "dire consequences" if the President is not re-elected in 2015. He even sounded a note of warning to our Senate to

Jonathan for life!

Dokubo is a minimalist; our president deserves more than second term perish the thought of introducing a six-year single term for president, which would preclude Jonathan from running in 2015.

We owe Dokubo a world of gratitude for giving us the option of choosing between peace and war, instead of taking us by surprise. I can assure him that the rats at home have heard and would communicate the message to the ones in the bush.

Unlike those of us in the federal school then, Nigerians are not students; they are peace-loving people, a thing many of their leaders have often exploited to their (Nigerians') disadvantage. With Dokubo waving both the stick and the carrot (the stick should they fail to return Jonathan for a second term, and the carrot should they return the president come 2015), I know Nigerians will opt for the carrot.

Indeed, that is what they should do if they like themselves and if they are not to show themselves as ingrates.

What else do you do for a president who has remained true to character, a man who has served the country diligently and meritoriously in so short a period, thus confirming the aphorism that it is not how long but how well? Indeed, I doubt if any right-thinking Nigerian would oppose life presidency for our amiable and able president.

What is particularly painful is that many people who have criticised Dokubo have not even

given any serious thought to his reasons. When we examine these, we would see that at some point, Dokubo was making sense.

Remember that expression and the person who popularised it after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election by Ibrahim Babangida? First, Dokubo has told us something we never knew; that Nigeria is at peace today not because of amnesty granted former Niger Delta militants by the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua but because President Jonathan, a 'son of the soil', is President. In the light of this 'revelation', one should be wondering what nexus exists between Dokubo and Kuku and, by extension, why the latter is still being paid from the public till if a militant kingpin is now telling us that he has sheathed his swords not because of amnesty but because Jonathan is one of their own. And, in case such people have forgotten, he reminded them that he rejected amnesty because he is not a criminal. So, those touting the amnesty programme as having succeeded had better have a rethink.

Second, Dokubo said Jonathan is holding the post for the Niger Delta region and that the region, like other regions that have had a shot at the presidency, is entitled to eight years.

Are you wondering where performance is in all these? Please stop wondering, for Dokubo reinforced his point by stating that

“What else do you do for a president who has remained true to character, a man who has served the country diligently and meritoriously in so short a period, thus confirming the aphorism that it is not how long but how well? Indeed, I doubt if any rightthinking Nigerian would oppose life presidency for our amiable and able president..�

Jonathan has performed better than previous governments. Again, can you fault him? Even if it is a case of the country of the blind where the one-eyed man is king, Dokubo has floored those who see the Jonathan presidency as incompetent. More fundamentally, Dokubo's conclusion is pardonable when we remember our class on selective exposure, selective perception and selective retention, meaning you see only what you want to see, interpret it the way it suits you and also decide whether to retain it in your memory or delete it. Even a local saying in my place has it that what is facing someone is backing someone else.

So, on all fronts, including street and local wisdom, Dokubo is right: Jonathan's government is better than previous ( I guess, PDP) governments!

As a matter of fact, I have even heard some people are wondering whether it was the same Dokubo who only a few months back, criticised Jonathan's government and doubted his re-election in 2015 unless he removed some elements from his government, that has changed position, when the president has not carried out any such reorganisation that would have weeded out the irritants and pollutants. "The President has allowed himself to be imprisoned by some greedy individuals. His goodwill will soon go and that will affect his second term chances," he had said. Well, that is a fact of life; no condition is permanent. Life itself is dynamic.

What is perceived to be black today can suddenly turn to white tomorrow in the face of fresh 'developments'. If you like you might begin to link Dokubo's volte-face to the billion naira contracts that the Jonathan government gave him; that, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo said, 'na yo toro' (that is your business).

Postscript, Of books, bookworms and Unlimited! Congratulations government; you are now presiding over one By

Oyinkan Medubi 07057012862 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

I

READ of someone saying during the week that if the poor in Nigeria benefit from a Nigerian government's policy, it is completely accidental, or something to that effect. I'm sure you and I agree with that statement, if you know what it means. On my part, I interpret it to mean first and foremost that Nigerians (both government and people) have ways of conceiving ideas that benefit only a small number of people, say the government's men (and women too). So, in this country, the uniform of, say the police or traffic wardens, is changed for some government relative's sake; and even the president's diet is changed so that someone close enough can make the supplies.

Don't let us take this interpretation thing further, or else I might begin to think the statement may also mean that the roads you and I have been travelling on have not been meant for us but since we are such good thieves that the government cannot get rid of... and worse, even the education you and I have received so far have not really been aimed at us but we somehow stood in the way. Really, government's policies have never been directed at improving the lot of the poor; eve-

17

of the brightest illiterate societies in the world

rything it has done has been for itself. Talk of anyone being self-serving.

You know of course that the converse will also hold true: that everything the government has failed to do has also been for its own benefit. Take the failure to revive and develop the railways, for instance. That is one colossal failure for which the government needs to cover its face in deep and great shame. The wonderful thing is that I can never for the life of me fathom out the benefit it is deriving from that failure when many nations in the world are being sustained by such social services. All I know is that one of the greatest benefits of modern living is still the train, and it is being denied us the poor in this country. But we are not here to repeat ourselves today; let's leave that for a rainy day.

Oh yes, I remember, the rainy days are here again. How do I know?

Oh, because I can see various governments scampering around trying to fix leaky potholes and blocked drainages. You thought I would say because I can hear the rains falling down, down this way? No, I can't say that because most times when it's raining, I am too busy wading through flooded roads. When I'm not on the road, however, I pick something up and read. That is how I have come to read so many things: newspapers, comics, drug literatures, books, dog's ticks (sorry, that's counting), stars... I would willingly have read the dog's liver (just to know the signs of the times) but the dog refused to oblige me. Yeah, that's what bookworms do: read anything that comes to hand.

That's why the dog now runs away when he sees my hands coming.

Bookworms, goes my Encarta, are enthusiastic readers; people who love reading. The good news is that I am not alone. Indeed, I pale into insignificance when I consider a friend of mine who says he can out-read a reader. Now, that is something. Just mention any title in the classics, he's at home. Even bestseller lists do not go past his doorstep. And he lives in Nigeria. Once, I teased him that I quite believed if he lived in Britain, he would have been one of those who would camp all night in front of some bookshop just to be able to get a copy of a Harry Potter book. He said he got someone to do that for him. I rested my case, but not before I was struck by two things.

One, I reflected on the rise and rise of Harry Potter and why it has not happened here. To begin with, the book publishing industry in Nigeria is suffering from a grave disease inflicted on it by the government. All over the world, it has been known that revolutions in literacy and information can be accelerated only through making books and newspapers cheap and affordable. I remember being sent to buy newspapers for three pence when I was young. That was some big money then, but I believe that it made news and information to be within the reach of more people than it is now at a whopping one hundred and fifty Naira - daily feeding money for many people now.

Somewhere in the seventies, the trend of information affordability failed and I believe it was entirely the

government's fault: first it introduced SAP, and then it raised importation duties on printing materials. Book and news industries practically crumbled under the weight of the government's wickedness. So, dear reader, even though Harry Potter is possible here, it will not come in a long while because publishing houses are more interested in fighting for survival than in aesthetics or altruism. Now they work very closely with schools' curricula.

Unfortunately, those among us who can really afford to finance publishing houses that would not be too desperate for survival are not ready to do so. They are the people who have had easy access to the government's money. Those are more inclined to quickly take that loot abroad where they hope it cannot be traced rather than invest it in something so trite as making the economy grow.

After all, it is not their responsibility to help people improve in their reading and thinking habits; let other people do that. Truly, only a foolish rich `un will keep his stolen money lying around long enough for detectives to find or for banks to give as soft loans to publishers.

The second thing that struck me was that the government might have deliberately been trying to keep the literacy level down, much the same way you would keep the noise level down in the house. If I didn't know the government better then, I would have said it was trying to stifle the people from seeking knowledge, wisdom, information and understanding.

Perhaps it was; and well has it suc-

Still on contracts, I hear the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) too is gearing up for a piece of the action.

There are reported rumblings in the 'OOdua house', with one factional leader allegedly threatening to throw out the other. When such threats are made, we should know what is speaking. Two things normally cause friction between two good old friends - women and money. In the Oodua case, women cannot be an issue because there is more than enough to go round. It has to be money then because, one, it is the root of all evil and second, it is one thing that is hardly enough. No matter how rich people already are, they still want more money.

But who will blame Oodua for quickly keying into this lucrative and 'legitimate industry' in Nigeria? All you need to qualify for the windfall is ability to cause chaos, render the security agencies ineffective and sustain it for a long time, and you are in business. Levels will suddenly change and your statement of account will cease to be a source of sorrow and disappointment to you. Indeed, once you hit it big in that 'sector' which is fast gaining ascendancy in the Jonathan era, it is the bank managing directors who have to catch cold whenever you sneeze.

It is in the light of all these that I want to set the ball of congratulations rolling for President Jonathan in advance, for his well deserved victory in the 2015 elections. With his kinsman, Dokubo, a former but not tired militant declaring war if the president is not re-elected in the election, the coast is as good as clear for President Jonathan to start preparing his acceptance speech for the Dokubo assured victory. The gods of this era have spoken.

Militants, terrorists now rule the waves.

illiteracy ceeded. Congratulations government; you are now presiding over one of the brightest illiterate societies in the world, and you did it all by yourself.

That Nigerians are bright and intelligent, there is no doubt. Just look at the array of their activities: '419' scams, intractable Boko Haram and Niger Delta insurgencies, 'Yahoo Boys'' scams, kidnapping businesses, and yes, more 419 scams. These are the efforts of brains put to work. True, these organs are now run by graduates and undergraduates but they were not started by graduates. You see, a dysfunctional society like ours where everything is upside down would sooner than later cause a malfunction of the brain even in the strong breeds.

The present low level of literacy in Nigeria is causing havoc in every way.

People are dying every day because they really do not know the difference between uniforms in healthcare institutions. I hear that general hospital attendants have been known to divert patients to their own home dispensaries because the patients do not know any better. Believe me, a nation's economic and political survival has everything to do with the amount of knowledge and literacy its citizens have between them. If you don't believe me, just look at the farming business in Nigeria today: how many mechanised farms can you count? Well, there's mine, and mine, and mine; that's all.

Seriously, there is a strong connection between the government's 'Vision 2020202020' or whatever name it goes by, the development of books and reducing the level of illiteracy in the country. That connection is political will. If the government wants a literate Nigeria by 2020, it will be done.

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Comment & Analysis

Who are the Yoruba people? (part 1) T

HE Yoruba people of South-Western Nigeria are a nationality of approximately 50 million people, the vast majority of whom are concentrated primarily within Nigeria, but who are also spread throughout the entire world.

They constitute probably the largest percentage of Africans that live in the Diaspora and they have made their own extraordinary contributions in virtually every field of human endeavour throughout the ages. Descendants of the Yoruba and indeed various ancient derivatives and forms of the Yoruba language can be found and are spoken in places like Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, the United States of America and various other parts of the western world. Today first, second and even third generation Yoruba’s have settled down and spread all over the world and are amongst the best and most sought-after lawyers, nuclear scientists, doctors, industrialists, academics, writers, poets, play writes, clerics, theologians, artists, film producers, historians and intellectuals throughout the world.

Wherever they go they tend to flourish and excel.

This is nothing new and indeed has always been the case. The first Nigerian to be called to the Bar was a Yoruba man by the name of Sapara Williams who was called to the English Bar and started practicing as a lawyer in 1879. Yet Sapara Williams was not a flash in the pan or a one time wonder. Other Yoruba men followed in his footsteps in quick succession and were called to the English Bar shortly after he was. For example, after him came Joseph Edgarton Shyngle who was called in 1888, then came Gabriel Hugh Savage who was called in 1891, then came Rotimi Alade who was called in 1892, then came Kitoye Ajasa (whose original name was Edmund Macaulay) who was called in 1893, then came Arthur Joseph Eugene Bucknor who was called in 1894 and then came Eric Olaolu Moore who was called in 1903. Ironically, Sapara Williams was not the first Nigerian lawyer though he was the first to be called to the English Bar. In those days you did not have to be called to the Bar to practice law and the first Nigerian lawyer that practiced without being called to the Bar was a Yoruba man by the name of William Henry Savage. He was described as a ‘’self-taught and practicing lawyer’’ and he was a registered Notary Public in England as far back as1821. These were indeed the greats and every single one of them was a Yoruba man.

My friend and brother, the respected Mr. Akin Ajose-Adeogun, who is a historian by calling and a lawyer by profession, is a man for whom I have tremendous respect. I have often described him as the ‘’living oracle of Nigerian history’’ simply because he has a photographic memory, a knack for detail, first class sources and has read more books on Nigerian history than anyone that I have ever met before in my life. Akin has an extraordinary mind, he is a living genius and I have often urged him to write a book. You can ask him anything about anyone or any event in any part of our country, since or before independence, and he will give you names, dates and the sequence of events immediately and without any recourse to notes, books or sources. After he has given you the information he will then cite his sources and tell you which books to go and read in order to confirm what he is saying. I have learnt so much from him that I must publically acknowledge the fact that I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.

He once told me something that I found very interesting and that reflected the semi god-like status that our earliest lawyers, including some of the names that I mentioned earlier, enjoyed amongst the people. These men were not only reverred but they were also admired by all, including members of the British intelligentsia, legal fraternity and elites. Akin told me that many years ago in the mid-80’s Sir Adetokunboh Ademola, who himself was one of the legal greats, who was called to

•Femi Fani Kayode

By Femi Fani Kayode

the English Bar in 1934, who was the third Nigerian to be appointed as a magistrate in 1938, who was the third Nigerian to be appointed as a High Court judge in 1948 and who was the first Nigerian to be appointed Chief Justice of the Federation in 1958 said the following words to him. He said, ‘’when you saw the way that the earliest Nigerian lawyers conducted themselves in court and argued their cases you would have been filled with pride and you would have wanted to become a lawyer yourself.

Members of the public used to fill the court rooms to the brink and sometimes even the forecourts and passages just to watch these great men perform and enjoy their brilliance and oratory. They spoke the Queens English and they knew the law inside out. It is not like that today’’. This is a resounding testimony from an illustrious Nigerian and it speaks eloquently about where the Yoruba, as a people, are coming from and the stock and quality of minds that they are made of.

Yet the dynamism of the Yoruba and their innovations and ‘’firsts’’ did not stop there. It went into numerous other spheres of human endeavour quite apart from the law. Permit me to cite just two examples. The first lies within the field of medicine. Dr. Nathaniel King was the first Nigerian to become a medical practitioner. He graduated from Edinburgh University in 1876 and he was a Creole of Yoruba origin. Next came Dr. Oguntola Sapara who was the second Nigerian to become a medical practitioner and who graduated from Edinburgh University in 1884. He was followed by Dr. John Randle who graduated from Durham University in 1891, then Dr. Orisadipe Obasa who graduated from Edinburgh University in 1892, then Dr. Akinwande Savage who graduated from Edinburgh University in 1900, then Dr. Curtis Adeniyi-Jones who graduated from Durham University in 1901. Others like Dr. Oyejola who graduated in 1905, Dr. Kubolaje Faderin, Dr. Sesi Akapo and Dr. Magnus Macaulay who all graduated in 1912, Dr. Moyses Joao Da Rocha who graduated from Edinburgh University in 1913 and many others followed after that.

The second example lies within the ranks of the clergy. The first African Anglican Bishop and the first man to translate the Holy Bible and Book of Common Prayer to any African language (outside of Ethiopia) was a Yoruba ex-slave who gave his life to Christ, won his freedom and rose up to become one of the greatest and most respected clerics and leaders that the African continent has ever known by the name of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther. Unknown to many, his original name was Rev. John Raban but he changed it in his early years. Crowther got his first degree at the famous Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leonne (which at

that time was part of Durham University).

He was ordained an Anglican Bishop in 1864 and in that same year he was awarded a Doctorate degree from Oxford University.

This extraordinary man, who was blessed by God with an exceptionally brilliant mind, was, as far as I am concerned, one of the greatest Africans that ever lived.

He not only translated the Holy Bible and the Book of Common Prayer to Yoruba (an extremely difficult, complicated and painstaking venture which he began in 1843 and which he completed in 1888) but he also codified a number of other Christian books and he translated them into the Igbo and Nupe languages. He was literally the pillar and foundation of the Anglican Church in West Africa.

Throughout his adult, life he courageously stood up and fought for the rights and the dignity of the African and he, more than anyone else, was responsible for the spread, influence and power of the Christian faith in Nigeria in the late 19th century. He was also the maternal grandfather of the great nationalist, Herbert Macauly, who, together with Nnamdi Azikiwe, founded the political party known as the NCNC in 1944.

Crowther was also the father-in-law of Rev. Thomas Babington Macaulay who founded the Christian Missionary Society Grammar School (CMS Grammar School) in 1859 in what was then the Lagos Colony. CMS Grammar School was the epitomy of excellence and a citadel of great learning in those days. It was also the oldest secondary school in Nigeria and the main source of African clergymen and administrators in the Lagos Colony. It is not surprising that it was the son-in-law of the great Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther that founded such a school and that it was his grandson that founded one the greatest political parties that the African continent has ever known. This is another first for the Yoruba.

Yet who are these people and where did they come from? What is their origin and what is their source of strength? What were their migratory patterns over the last 30,000 and more years, and how did they end up in Ile-Ife? What is their connection to the Middle East, to the Arabs of Mecca and Medina, to the ancient Egyptians and to the Nubians of the Sudan?

What makes them so special and so peculiar all at the same time? What makes their religious set-up so complicated and so profund, and what allows each of the great monotheic faiths of Christianity and Islam together with the traditional religions to flourish and excel amongst the very same people at the same time? Why are the Yoruba so accommodating of outsiders and what is responsible for their liberal disposition when it comes to their dealings with people from other cultures, other faiths and other nationalities? Why is it that so many Yoruba families have mixed ancestral bloodlines that go back hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of years with so many different nationalities from outside Yorubaland and indeed from outside Nigeria, including the Bahians of Brazil, the Haitians and Cubans of Port Au Prince and Havana, the Creoles of Freetown (Sierra Leonne), the Ga’s of Accra (Ghana), the tribes of Dahomey (Benin Republic), the Edo, the Bini, the Itsekiri and other tribes from the old Mid-Western region of Southern Nigeria and the Nupe, the Hausa, the Fulani, the Shuwa Arab and the Kanuri from the North? What is the cultural and spiritual affinity of the yoruba with the people of the old Northern region and the people of the old Mid-Western Region and why are the people from those two regions and those from the South-West collectively referred to as the’Sudanese Nigerians’? Some of these questions may never be answered but in the sequel to this essay we will attempt to at least view and analyse the Yoruba from a historical perspective and this may explain why they are what they undoubtedly are- ‘’primus inter pares’’, the first amongst equals.

Lekan Otufodunrin Otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net 08050498530 (SMS only)

Before we become a failed state

S

OME years ago, I was one of the speakers at a seminar by Journalism students of the Lagos State University on Nigerian being a failed state or not.

After checking all definitions of a failed state, I argued vehemently that it was not right to describe our dear country as a failed state. Yes, we could be failing in many respects, but I did not agree with other speakers that we have reached the point where we could be categorised along countries like Somalia and others.

So much has happened since then that though I am still not persuaded that we can be regarded as a failed state, I have no doubt that our chances of becoming one before long is much higher .

The events of the last one week which forced President Goodluck Jonathan to abort his state visit to Namibia are indications of how close we are to slipping into a state of anarchy, beginning from some parts of the country where the Boko Haram insurgents and other groups have taken the laws into their hands.

While the controversy of the actual number of persons killed in Baga, Borno State during the clash by the military and the Boko Haram suspects was yet to be resolved, gunmen struck in Bama leaving at least 47 persons dead.

Yet another shocking orgy of killing was recorded last Wednesday when about 30 policemen were ambushed and killed by members of a cult militia group known as the Ombatse.

Apart from the above incidents which have attracted national and international attention, there are several other reported and unreported cases of mindless killings. Kidnappings have also been on the rise nationwide that relatives now pay mind-boggling amounts as ransom with no guarantee that the captive will be released alive.

The impression one gets from the situation in the country is that the government is no longer able to protect the lives and property of the citizens. Despite assurances of being on top of the situation, the reality on the ground is that the country is gradually becoming a killing field of a kind with all manners of gunmen having a field day.

Before the recent Lafia incident, 12 policemen were last month killed in Bayelsa by another militia group. If policemen who are supposed to protect the citizens can be easily killed as in the two instances, the level of security leaves much to be desired.

More groups are likely to be emboldened by the successful attacks on policemen if the real perpetrators of the dastardly acts, and not some innocent persons, are not quickly apprehended and prosecuted.

More than ever before, the government has to take decisive steps to stem the tide of lawlessness in the country before those who insist that Nigeria is a failed state are proved right.

President Jonathan must make good his statement while reacting to the Bama attack that the government will not hesitate to crush all brazen affronts to the powers and sovereignty to the Nigerian nation. The time to act is now.

Opemipo Fund In The Nation of May 3, the pathetic story of a 16 year- old Opemipo Ogunseye, a senior secondary school student in Lagos was published. The right leg of Ogunseye the aspiring journalist has been amputated after being hit by a reckless driver while waiting in a traffic control stand.

Opemipo’s guardians are my neighbours in the house I live. She is such a pleasant girl and it’s unfortunate that she has been incapacitated by the accident. She missed writing her West African School Certificate Examination due to the accident.

She now needs an artificial leg which costs N500,000. Join me and others in raising the required fund.

Send your contribution to Account Name: Opeyemi Ogunseye, Account No: 0128688664, Sort Code: 058174218. Bank: Guaranty Trust Bank. (GTBank).

POLITICS

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Beyond even Mr Fix-it Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at the near-zero progress so far made by the Chairman of People’s Democratic Party’s Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anenih, in his ongoing attempt at reconciling warring PDP factions and wonders if his present assignment is a mission impossible

W

HEN it became obvious earlier in the year that Alhaji Bamanga Tukurled National Executive Committee of People’s Democratic Party had failed in its bid to reconcile warring factions within the party, especially the aggrieved state governors who demanded Tukur’s removal as National Chairman, the Presidency decided to go for Chief Tony Anenih, declaring him as the man that will do the work.

Better known as ‘Mr Fix it,’ within the top leadership of PDP, Anenih was considered capable of appeasing aggrieved members of the party, both the high and the lowly and so, by early April 2013, after his dramatic return as the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, he had commenced work.

At the onset, the task seemed easy, given his experience and unorthodox style whenever he set out to handle difficult political problems.

However, over a month after he took over this special task, observers said he seems to have made no spectacular breakthrough in the reconciliation assignment, a fact that has been described by Presidency sources as worrisome.

Aware of the feelings of stakeholders, Anenih has remained on his toes, approaching all the political godfathers and institutions that he believes could help him resolve the PDP riddle.

Unfortunately, the result of his efforts are yet to manifest as the party’s crisis continues to deepen, ahead of the coming Nigeria Governors Forum election and the 2015 General Election.

Earlier this week, Anenih was at the National Assembly, where he met separately with the leadership of the upper and lower chambers, as part of the ongoing reconciliation moves. Asides meeting with the lawmakers on the need to smoothen executive and legislative relationship, Anenih, accompanied by former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, former governor of Nasasarawa State, Senator

•Anenih Abdullahi Adamu, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Barnabas Gemade and Senator Hope Uzodinma, had special meetings with Senate President David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, primarily on the lingering crisis in PDP. Offering what he considered as part of the solutions to the party’s problem, Mark had urged the PDP leadership to include federal lawmakers in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). He also pleaded with the warring groups within the party to sheath their swords, pledging the loyalty of the National Assembly, even as he promised to continue to work for the peace, unity and progress of the nation.

Tambuwal on his part had told the Anenih-led group: “We have been working closely with the party and the executive arm of government to do exactly what we have campaigned for on the platform of our party.

“We will continue to give Nigeria the best as an arm of government, and as representatives of the

people.”

These official statements notwithstanding, The Nation learnt that the majority of the PDP federal lawmakers, especially members of House of Representatives, whose loyalty to their governors has remained unshaken, were not impressed by the latest visit or the previous meetings. One of them, a lawmaker from the South-South, said off records that “any viable reconciliation will only begin from genuine reconciliation with the aggrieved governors.”

According to the lawmaker, a member of the House of Representatives, “you cannot achieve long lasting peace as long as you continue to cover up basic injustice.

The politics of Nigerian Governors Forum has further worsened the situation because it has further exposed institutionalised injustice in our polity,” he said.

The genesis of the crisis The current crisis in the ruling party, especially the face- off between some governors and the National Working Committee on one

hand and the governors and the Presidency on the other, could be partly traced to the disagreement between the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his state governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, over the control of the state chapter of the party. In a nutshell, the disagreement is because both Tukur and Nyako have openly expressed desire to instal their sons as the next governor of Adamawa State.

When it became obvious that Nyako would not cave in to Tukur’s demands, Tukur- led National Working Committee reacted by dissolving the state party executive in a bid to hijack power from the grips of the governor.

Nyako has resisted this move effectively, mainly because of the support given to him by some other PDP governors, who are afraid that if Tukur is allowed to carry out the political coup in his Adamawa State, he may repeat the feat in any other state, using the same formula. Such governors, led

by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of Nigeria

Governors Forum, have since been labelled ‘rebel governors.’

The matter came to a head, earlier in the year, when the socalled rebel governors called for Tukur’s removal as the National Chairman of the party as the major condition for peace in PDP. Since then, the battle line has been drawn and the presidency, aware of the fact that the opposition political parties could take advantage of the crisis to further discredit the ruling party, has been desperate to reconcile warring factions and save the party.

First, Tukur was empowered to make a national tour in order to address the aggrieved members properly. When it became obvious that his efforts were not yielding the required results, Anenih, a former BoT Chairman, who had been recalled, was given the task.

But the problem in the party predates the Tukur-Nyako faceoff. The party has, over the years, been threatened by crisis within several state chapters mainly arising from “flawed congresses, marginalisation, godfatherism and imposition of candidates, politics of exclusion, zero patronage and high handedness.” So, the Adamawa disagreement, which almost led to an implosion was only a continuation of an unfortunate trend.

The problem was further complicated by a palace coup against Bamanga Tukur, allegedly carried out by some National Working Committee members led by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, who was singlehandedly nominated into the NWC by Governor Rotimi Amechi.

Insiders had claimed then that the governors, who hatched the ‘coup’, also threatened to sack the entire NWC over the Adamawa saga. When this crisis was added to the insistence of northern political leaders within the PDP to produce the presidential candidate in 2015 against Jonathan’s reelection bid, the Presidency accepted that it must do something fast.

With the coming of All Progressives Congress and plans by many aggrieved PDP governors and their supporters to join the mega party, the PDP crisis became even more complicated.

It was in the light of these obvious threats to the survival of PDP before and ahead of 2015 elections that Anenih was drafted

by President Goodluck Jonathan to ‘fix’ the political riddle.

How far can he go?

His intimidating records notwithstanding, many insiders and close observers are afraid ‘Mr Fix It’ may not go far in this present assignment.

Explaining the lull, a legal practitioner and former PDP House of Representatives aspirant in Abia State, Mark Okorie, said; “The development is understandable because Chief Anenih belongs to the old order and most of the people concerned today are young. Besides, it appears the umbrella has torn to shreds already, making it difficult even for ‘Mr Fix It,’ to do a fast job.”

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Politics

T

IME was 10pm and the venue of the secret meeting was Hotel De Island on Victoria Island, Lagos, owned by the major financier of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Buruji Kashamu.

Present were the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanyanwu; an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member in the House of Representatives from Ogun West, Abiodun Akinlade and some members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Adijat Oladipo.

Pleasantries and backslapping over, Nwanyanwu, who had been a guest at the hotel 24hours earlier, set the ball rolling by thanking Akinlade and the others present for making the meeting a reality after suffering several postponements.

And like a skilled salesman marketing his product to a wary audience, he told his guests about the benefits derivable in their joining LP well on time to challenge the Ibikunle Amosun-led government in the 2015 general elections.

The LP chairman then referred to his party’s victory in the 2012 Ondo State governorship election, adding that with the logistics support to be provided by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the party was prepared to spread its tentacles to other states in the South West starting with Ekiti and Osun, two states where governorship elections will hold next year.

On a final note, Nwanyanwu assured that the LP 2015 governorship ticket would be handed to Akinlade on a platter of gold if he defects to the party from the ACN with his supporters. The meeting ended at a few minutes to 12noon.

Responding, Akinlade was alleged to have promised that by the end of this year, he will move to LP and thereafter formally signify his interest to challenge Amosun for the Ogun State number one seat in the 2015 General Elections.

A source at the meeting disclosed to The Nation that the federal lawmaker also accused Amosun of sundry offences, ranging from his (Akinlade) and others’ alleged marginalisation in ACN and nonfulfillment of certain promises he claimed were made to him by the party’s leaders before he agreed to defect to the party from the PDP be-

Akinlade, LP plot against Amosun Awosedo, The Nation gathered, is believed to have indicated interest to re-contest in 2015.

A source disclosed that the property magnate is alleged to have told confidants that he should be credited for building the party in the state from the scratch, a development that has made it attractive for many politicians in the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s impressive performance in office so far not withstanding, a few elements in his party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), are poised to challenge him come 2015, reports Remi Adelowo fore the 2011 general elections.

He rounded off by assuring Nwanyanwu of his readiness to move to LP, saying he is moving to the party with thousands of his supporters scattered across the three senatorial zones in the state.

One after the other, members of his entourage took turns to accuse Amosun of alleged dictatorial style, which they claimed may put their political future in jeopardy.

In the last few months, speculations have been rife within the Ogun State political circles that Akinlade, a two-term member of the National Assembly has perfected preparations to leave ACN. Though the young politician has not spoken publicly about his alleged plan, sources close to him told The Nation that several meetings have been held in Lagos, Abeokuta and Abuja in the last one year between Akinlade and some disgruntled members of the ACN and PDP to perfect the plot.

How far can he go?

Though in his mid-40’s, Akinlade cannot be said to be a novice in politics. A two-term member of the Ogun State House of Assembly from 1999

•Amosun

to 2007, the Yewa-born politician was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 and currently serving his second term.

But the big question is: can he dislodge the incumbent governor whose impressive performance in the last two years has been acknowledged even by his critics?

A close political associate of Akinlade in his response to this poser said, “The general consensus among politicians in Ogun State is that Amosun will be hard to beat in a free and fair electoral contest. But you know politicians always are incurable optimists. Akinlade is no exception.”

According to another source, the political configuration in the state does not favour Akinlade.

Perhaps banking on the agitation of many indigenes of Ogun West that the zone should produce the next governor for the first time in the spirit of equity and fairness, how-

•Akinlade

ever, the odds against the zone are quite enormous, chief of which is that it consists of only five local governments as against six for Ogun Central and nine for Ogun East respectively.

The Nation gathered that Akinlade is considering picking a running mate from Ogun East. Already, a former governor of the state in the Third Republic, Chief Rafiu Ogunleye, an Ijebu from Ogun East, has been tentatively pencilled down as the Director General of Akinlade’s campaign organisation.

LP ticket up for contention Despite assurances by LP top shots that the party’s governorship ticket is Akinlade’s for the asking, strong indications have emerged that some politicians within and outside the party may kick against this plan.

The party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, Chief Jide

The Gbenga Daniel, Sarafa Ishola’s connection Also having an eye on the LP ticket is the political camp of former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. A source said, “Daniel has one leg in LP, one in PDP and another in Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). With the crisis in PDP still unresolved, the former governor is working on other options in order to stay relevant.”

The former governor, it was gathered, may have realised that he would have little or no say in who emerges as the PDP candidate in 2015 since the party is firmly controlled by the Buruji Kashamu group, known not to be on good terms with the former governor.

Daniel’s preferred candidate for the governorship is allegedly the former Secretary to the Ogun State Government during his first tenure, Chief Sarafa Ishola. The former governor and Ishola had sometime in 2009 parted ways until they reconciled about a year ago.

At the peak of their disagreement, Daniel had allegedly influenced the removal of Ishola as the Minister of Steel Development during the administration of late Umaru Yar’Adua.

The thinking in Daniel’s camp is that with Ishola coming from Ogun Central (Egba), he stands a good chance to give the incumbent governor (also from Egba) a run for his money when the chips are down.

With different permutations coming up every passing minute, it remains to be seen how Akinlade and Ishola can upstage Amosun, who is considered as the candidate to beat in 2015S

Vintage Ekweremadu at 51 “I

F you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility and the third is humility. Not that there are no other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are meaningless” – St. Augustine.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2002 (Independence Day), I was involved in a festive rove as it is usual with two of my friends who visited from Owerri, Imo State. Our stop was at Quarter 12, Independence Layout, Enugu, the official abode of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Secretary to Enugu State Government under Dr. Chimaroke Ogbonnia Nnamani, the Executive Governor. The house is the first apartment as one veers off Bisalla Road towards Enugu State Government House.

It was past noon and he was already on the dinning with other numerous guests as his house is usually a Mecca of sort in periods such as this. The reason is not unconnected with the amiable wife’s pathological passion for lavishing guests of her husband with sumptuous entertainment, even ordinarily. Soon after our arrival he ordered us straight to the dinning table to “help yourselves”.

None of my friends knew him abinitio even when one of them was sitting next to him, eating.

When we finished eating and moved into wining, my friend that was sitting next to him whispered to

• Ekweremadu

By Orji C. A. Orji

me: “It’s like the host (Ekweremadu) is not in the house.” I paused, smiled and replied, “He is the man on your left”. His glass cup almost dropped from his hand as he adjusted himself, informed the other friend and continued his drinking rather in disbelief.

Ekweremadu was elected into the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly in the 2003 General Election to represent the Enugu-West Senato-

rial District as a continuation of his tremendous performance, having served both as Chief of Staff to Enugu State Governor and Secretary to the State Government, respectively.

Elected into the senate, he was soon confronted with myriad of development challenges that faced the senatorial district.

For example, I recall that a constituent, soon after the election, sent a text message to the senator, drawing his attention to the deplorable and impassable state of the old Enugu - Port Harcourt road that passes through Enugu South, Nkanu West, Aninri and Awgu Local Governments in Enugu through Umunnochi in Abia State.

That concerned constituent was of the opinion that Senator Ekweremadu is merely fulfilling his obligation saying helplessly that as usual his effort will be in futility. But against his wildest expectation, the next SMS message that hit his handset was from the distinguished Senator. He informed the constituent that the moment a dual carriageway passes through any area with old federal road, the maintenance of the later will automatically return to the State(s) it passes through. This constituent could not believe his Senator could be humble enough to reply him.

Even as I was on my study putting this piece together, the Distinguished Senator did his usual by calling from an Airport in Singapore

on his arrival from Seoul, South Korea to ask as usual, “Kedu maka ndi be gi, kedu ka obodo di” (How is your family, How is the town).

That is His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, et al for you. Testimonies abound from his constituents, who have encountered the uncommon humility of this accomplished, brilliant, diligent, dutiful and iconic parliamentarian.

If he doesn’t pick your call, it might be for a strong genuine cause and one of his personal aides will do so and excuse his inability and to underscore his sincerity, the distinguished Senator will call back as soon as he is disposed to do so, notwithstanding who is concerned. His social and political stature implies that he will be inundated with both valuable and distracting calls and short message services (SMS) from high and low but he is never discouraged from “attempting all” even if it is by a few words like thanks. But the hard truth remains that he must reply your SMS. The humility that has characterised the formal and informal dispositions of Ekweremadu is eccentrically imbued. What really obtains among our high profile political office holders in our clime, and the small ones at that, is that they isolate themselves from their constituents and ultimately become unreachable.

Even councillors will find it difficult

to pick your call, let alone call you, except there is absolute need to do so and that is when they run into crisis or need you for a second term.

Ekweremadu is grossly on the other side of this divide as his own brand of humility is rather congenital.

The aforementioned postulation of St. Augustine connotes not only that humility begets other human traits but also manifestly multifaceted. The humility of this political connoisseur transcends what has been narrated so far.

He is never an island when it comes to dealing with issues that concern a people. He abhors imposition of idea of any form by anybody. A strong believer in open dialogue in handling any challenge, he will prefer ideas to come from the bottom and will yield to it if it is canvassed with superior argument.

All projects are thrown to delegations to initiate a framework which are discussed with him as often as it is possible until such a project is accomplished. And procrastinating over show of appreciation in the face of even minute success over a project is not part of his life. He will commend and appreciate to a baffling state and severally too, sometimes to a point of suffocation.

This Distinguished Senator will not pretend about what he cannot do for you or equivocate when he can.

He does not give a false hope. If your

•Continued on Page 21

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Politics

21

Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports the weakened state of the leading opposition parties in Ogun State.

P

OLITICS in Ogun State usually come with a lot of drama and intrigues, especially between the ruling party on one hand and the various opposition parties on the other. At times, the government is kept panting by a coalition or more of political and interest groups such that whenever the drums of electioneering start to beat, the state goes into a frenzy of some sort.

Perhaps the above submission explains why observers of the politics of the state are now saying the unusual is the case as the 2015 general election in the state draws nearer. They say while the ruling party continues to take giant political strides on a daily basis, the opposition appears to sink more and more into disarray.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), observers said, are leaving nobody in doubt about their readiness to remain in power beyond the 2015 gubernatorial elections.

This readiness is exhibited in the volume of work currently going on across the state.

“If Amosun and the ACN continue to win the confidence of the people the way they are currently doing with the peopleoriented project and services they are dishing out across the state, I doubt if the opposition parties will even find people to listen to them when they eventually put their act together to prosecute the next election,” Comrade Deji Degusen, Chairman of the state’s chapter of the Good Governance Coalition (GGC), said.

Degusen, who was speaking at a congress of the GGC, said it appears the opposition in Ogun State is saddled with so much infighting that it has been unable to properly engage the state government in any meaningful dialogue.

“Dialogue between the government and the opposition is healthy for democracy.

Some people call it criticism but we call it dialogue. Healthy and positive criticism is more of a dialogue and it is one vital ingredient we need if our democracy must grow.

Today in Ogun State, the opposition is not engaging the government. The race towards 2015 is here and the opposition is not visible. The leading opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and the Labour Party (LP) have all diminished in visibility and these have left a lot of space for the ruling ACN to grow in visibility and acceptance,” he explained.

Aare Biodun Ajayi, former Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, shares Degusen’s view.

According to the politician, politics is about how the people are feeling.

“There is no magic in politics. It is all about how the people feel. It is about what or who the people want. Currently, in Ogun State, the people are daily seeing Amosun’s ACN. They are daily seeing the works of his

Ogun 2015: Opposition in disarray as Amosun consolidates hand. These are the things that will determine where their votes will go when it is time for fresh elections.

If the opposition parties are up and doing too, then the people will have alternatives to choose from but that is not the case here now. I’m not a member of the ACN but I can tell you that not much is being done to challenge the growing popularity of the governor and his party,” he said.

The positions assumed by the observers above are not without reasons. Following ACN’s landslide victory in the council poll, held last July in the state, most of the other political parties have practically gone to sleep while the Peoples Democratic Party have been moving from one crisis to the other.

ACN won 19 chairmanship seats, out of the 20 in the state. The party also won 217 councillorship seats, while the PDP and the PPN won eight and one councillorship seats respectively.

The commission withheld the results of Imeko-Afon Local Government Council, pending the determination of a court order in respect of the poll in the area.

Also worried about the leeway a weakened opposition is giving the ruling party ahead of the 2015 general election, the PDP in Ogun West Senatorial District

recently urged factions in the party to sheath their swords. It warned that should Ogun PDP continue to carry on with a divided house, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would remain in power beyond 2015.

Ogun West PDP, in a statement by party leaders in the zone, including Mr. Kunle Salako, Chief Wale Egunleti, former Forestry Commissioner, Ali Ajibode, Mr. Kunle Akinosi and Evangelist Titus Eweje, among others, urged the factions to dialogue and resolve their grievances.

It said: “We recognise dialogue as a time honoured veritable conflict resolution mechanism and urge aggrieved stakeholders to shun violence and embrace dialogue and conflict resolution procedures stipulated in the party’s constitution.”

Another faction of the same PDP had accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of working underground for Amosun’s re-election as governor in 2015.

According to his accusers, Obasanjo’s gameplan is to weaken PDP for Amosun to have a smooth sail at the next election.

Kashamu Buruji, financier of one of the many factions of PDP in the state, said Obasanjo is neck-deep in the re-election strategy of Amosun of the ACN), who is his kinsman from Owu Kingdom.

Coming from within the folds of the

Vintage Ekweremadu at 51 • Continued from Page 20

matter has merit, you will know, if otherwise, you will also be informed. If you are not sure of what you want to say about the next person, better keep it to yourself because he must call that person before you for substantiation or otherwise.

Joining issues with anybody over anything that does not add value to his parliamentary responsibility or service to the people does not make sense. He will treat such issues with dignified silence. He is at his best when an issue is within the confines of the numerous developmental challenges of his primary constituency, Enugu State and Nigeria at large. It is only in a matter like that that you can experience his listening propensity even to the minutest detail.

Your Excellency Sir, at this milestone of your golden jubilee plus one, you have really come a long way in making things happen

through your boundless benefaction, yet you still have a long journey ahead. Your wealth of experience dexterity, candour and panache has not been imbibed enough by millions of us who not only depend on you but see you as a model to copy.

You have unprecedentedly impacted positively on the life of all strata of people from our constituency and even beyond; families, communities, traditional institutions, youths, women, widows, less privileged, undergraduates and numerous other groups through your numerous poverty reduction strategies, women and youth empowerment initiatives, schools quiz competitions, Enugu West Zonal football competitions, regular widows empowerment schemes, annual Christmas largesse to families, women microcredit schemes, employment opportunities to our numerous school leavers, coming to the rescue of ever growing needies, undergraduate bursary/ scholarship to mention but a few.

At 51, we celebrate your wonderful representation, unprecedented developmental initiatives, administrative prowess, visionary inspiration, unparalleled philanthropy, exemplary and purposeful leadership, inestimable benevolence, excellence, doggedness, perseverance and patriotism.

Persons like you are rare gift of God to a lucky generation and you are that gift of our own lucky generation. As a result of your uncommon humility not only to humanity but to God Almighty, His abundant grace has been your portion and will be multiplied severally.

The much we can do in reciprocation is to continue to pray fervently to the Almighty to give you many more years in health to continue your good work to mankind. Happy birthday Ikeoha!

- Hon. Orji is the Special Assistant to the Deputy President of the Senate (Admin)

•Amosun leading opposition party in the state, these statements are further confirmation of the weakened state of the opposition in Ogun State today.

For the PPN, a subtle merger arrangement being worked out by its leaders with the Otunba Gbenga Daniel faction of the PDP may soon put an end to its very existence.

The party has been weakened with the return of many of its bigwigs to the PDP after it failed to make any serious impact during the last general election in the state when it fielded Gboyega Isiaka as its gubernatorial candidate. Isiaka is a protégée of Daniel’s.

“As part of the merger between the two parties, series of meetings have been held and concessions are being sought. We are serious politicians, so we know the PPN alone may not be able to take us to our destination. So, we are willing to merge with another party to achieve our aim,” a party source said.

The LP, which before now, was also seen as a virile opposition party in the state, has also lost its voice to a severe struggle for its soul by a band of defecting gubernatorial aspirants seeking a political platform to contest the 2015 governorship election.

“Chief Jide Awosedo is the known leader of our party in the state. He was the gubernatorial candidate and financier of the party during the last governorship election.

Though we lost the election, the party was repositioned to offer constructive criticism of the governance of the state.

“But today, some troublesome politicians, who are bent on disrupting the orderliness within our party, have thrown us into crisis. They want the party’s governorship ticket at all cost even though they have no followers.

“These people claimed to have defected to Labour Party with their people but it is all lies. They have no followers. They are failed politicians looking for where to rest their tired limbs. They are currently the problems of LP in Ogun State but in no time we will find solutions to these people and move on as we prepare for the 2015 general election,” a chieftain of the party said.

Thus, with a fast rising political profile to his advantage and a scattered opposition to contend with, observers of the politics of the state say Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the ruling ACN may have only himself to beat in the race to the Government House come 2015.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Politics

Progressives dance of victory in As Imo State, under the leadership of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, formally endorses the merger of opposition political parties to form All Progressives Congress (APC), Okodili Ndidi in Owerri reports that the success of the progressives dance of victory, tagged Imo Rally, has redefined South-East politics.

T

HE journey to takeover the South-East geo-political zone by the emerging All Progressives Congress (APC), took off on thunderous note in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when eight serving governors and their host, Governor Rochas Okorocha, formarly introduced the party to the people of Imo in a grand style.

The battle-ready APC warriors tested their feet in the waters of Southeast politics with the sensitisation and awareness at the political carnival, simply tagged Imo Rally.

The event which held at the Heroes’ Square, in Owerri, may have been outwardly named Imo State Rally, but the attendance and the behind-the-scene intrigues confirmed that it was the take-off of a seemingly well conceived political revolution aimed at changing the political leadership and political temperature of the entire SouthEast zone.

According to the eight APC governors present at the glamorous carnival, what happened that day was a mere starter of what is to come in the next few months as the party takes its message of change across the five states of the zone.

How far can APC go in the South-East?

The tumultuous crowd that greeted the unveilling of the APC in Owerri suggests strongly that the party may have an easy ride in the zone. One thing that seemed most obvious at the event was the fact that the people had long become tired of the old way of doing things in politics and governance and are anxious for a change, which the new party is offering in a rather convincing manner.

As early as 7.30 in the morning of that Tuesaday, May 7, 2013, the old and young, women and children, have thronged into the Square to listen to the much anticipated words of hope that have been preached in other parts of the country. They defied the scorching heat and dared the security agents who fought tirelessly to keep them under check.

In attendance were governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ibrahim Shetima of Bornu State and Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the rally, which was also part of activities to mark the Imo Freedom Day celebration, Okorocha noted that his party, (APGA),” is not joining any political party nor is it in any alliance but in a merger to form a new party called APC.” He said it was a matter of time for the APC to take over every level of governance in the country, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the people of the South-East for the twelve years of democracy, stressing that the entire Ndigbo are for APC. Okorocha told his teeming supporters that the selling point of the new party is the visible achieve-

ments of its proponents, “these my brothers (APC Governors) have transformed their states and are doing more, that is what the new party stands for, it means freedom to the people, the poor masses and the indigent widows, who have been victims of PDP’s misrule.”

The visiting governors, who were visibly impressed by the massive turnout at the rally, took turns to deride the PDP style of leadership assuring that the APC is committed to give Nigeria better leadership.

Fashola who drew a resounding ovation from the ecstatic crowd, described APC as a great train of change, “we have set about

•Fashola

•Oshiomhole

•Shetima

a course that is irrevocably committed to giving power back to the people. We believe that Nigeria needs a change and APC will bring

about that change.”

Also speaking, Ajimobi, noted that the PDP has gone from bad to worse, noting that the only option

left to salvage the nation is APC. In his speech, Shetima said the exceptional performances of the APC Governors are testimonies of

Ojukwu would have joined APC — Okorocha Governor Rochas Okorocha, the host of the rally, spoke to select newspapers on why he dumped PDP, APGA leadership crisis, why he chose to join APC and the prospects of the mega party in the South-East zone. The Nation was there.

A

T the beginning, when the APC was to be formed, there was the fear among some South-East leaders that the interest of the zone may not be fully protected in the new party. What is the merger deal and why are you so sure Ndigbo would be better secured politically under APC? The APC in the South-East is a done deal. I said so because the South-East has not had it good in PDP. The South-East is looking for a political party that will have a say as to what happens at the national level. Today, the South-East has no say at all as to what happens at the national PDP, because any time in any political party or setting, a particular zone does not produce the president, the vice president, the speaker, the senate president, and is not the chairman of the ruling party, then any other thing you’re talking about does not give them any good representation.

But for the South-East, they’re better off in APC. APC came as a result of failure of PDP. There wouldn’t have been any APC if PDP was doing well as a party. So, Nigerians are yearning for a change, something that can provide them an alternative hope due to the failure of PDP, especially in the SouthEast. If you look at the history of South-East since the inception of PDP, there is nothing to show as a PDP zone, nothing, absolutely nothing.

Today, the issue of the Niger Bridge is still a political discourse.

The road from Enugu to Port Harcourt, a very simple thing to do, is still an issue of politics. So, the South-East is worst off with PDP, and APC is indeed their best alternative, their very best alternative. And I can assure you that every South-Easterner, majority of people in the South-East will be in APC, except for those who have made politics a business, and who have

• Okorocha

always enjoyed the patronage of PDP. Such people may still be found hanging around PDP. But in the real sense, the ordinary person in the states of South-East will be in APC. Talking about the issue of APGA, it has been... APGA to me is not a political party. APGA is just like a cultural thing for Ndigbo; it’s not really a political party. You cannot say that APGA controls the South-East, no!

South-East is being controlled by PDP. So, this notion that APGA is a SouthEast party does not really arise. It’s only with my emergence as a governor now that we began to give APGA that sense of an Igbo party thing.

If you look at it critically, you’ll agree with me that APGA is still a minority even in the South-East. People are comparing APGA with ACN that controls the South-West; that’s called a regional party. A party becomes regional when it is in total control of the region where it operates. I was in PDP. I didn’t come under PDP because I know their failure of internal democracy would not guaranty me a free and fair election on prima-

ries.

But for us, APGA is like an identity for Ndigbo. It’s like a way of life, so it’s not a bad thing. It is rather a thing that belongs to us, that’s why I say to people that every Igbo man in any other political party is in APGA; every PDP member is an APGA man; every APC member is an APGA man.

APGA is not therefore a party per se, but it’s like a fallback thing for Ndigbo, assuming politics is not played the way it ought to be played nationally.

But for now, we should not allow ourselves to miss this opportunity, where you have the South-West that has the control of their zone giving up their identity of ACN; CPC giving up their identity; ANPP giving up theirs in a merger, not in a coalition, not in an alliance to form a brand new party to challenge PDP, and APGA will say it will not join, what will you be after the merger? You become so inconsequential that you either have to go and chose with PDP. The question remains all these our marriage and alliance with PDP, how have we faired? There is nothing APGA can show for their support for PDP in the last election, absolutely nothing. I will not deceive Ndigbo.

For me, I’m not ready to deceive Igbos; I must take them to the right place.

We must have a party that cuts across the length and breadth of the entire nation. Why will I be in a party that I cannot have a say in what happens in the North or South-West or South-South simply because I find myself in the South-East?

I want to go to Maiduguri and see my party members receiving me in their local angle, go to my place, the same thing applicable. I don’t want to be a 100% shareholder of a N1000 business. I’m the Chief Executive of N1000 company. I want to be a one percent shareholder of $1 billion business, even if I’m just an ordinary member. So, we’re looking at the bigger picture for our people. I hate to sound like a sectional or tribal leader, because having being born in the North, having being an Igbo man brought up in the North, and having being empowered by the West, Nigeria remains my constituency. So, I’m looking at the bigger picture.

There is this fear that APC is a party owned by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Will it be healthy to give up

everything and join such a party?

ACN could be described by critics as Tinubu’s party but not APC at all. Some people have also said it is Buhari’s party; it’s not anybody’s party; it’s a Nigerian party.

APC is a Nigerian party, and to what advantage will Tinubu make out of it? What advantage will Buhari make out of it? How are you sure they’re even running for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? If they do, they’re Nigerians.

Does APGA still exist?

The party exists with Victor Umeh as the National Chairman.

The party cannot just fold its maps and join the APC because we still have issues in court, but I’m optimistic that once these matters are all over, we will come to the round table, discuss about the full merger with other parties. I don’t think APGA will like to be a very tiny party in Nigeria that cannot even guaranty itself a state, and it is not ready for that. But because of the issue in court, and that is why I think that it is not proper for APGA to submit their certificate now.

Since I’m there already as the APGA APC, that is good enough.

So can you conveniently say Imo is now an APGA state?

Imo is an APGA state until the merger is consummated. Once the merger is consummated, then we’ll be in the APGA APC as far as this state is concerned.

I also know we are not in disagreement with the national leadership of APGA. Umeh remains the chairman of APGA as far I am concerned, but I am saying that there is a better picture for us that will benefit our people and you will see that the moment we conclude this court case.

But some are alleged to have been planted by the Presidency to ensure APGA becomes an annex of the PDP...

For PDP, they want to annex APGA, really really, but I can’t be annexed by the PDP. So, I’m telling you that in the last election, there was what is called alliance with the PDP for presidential election. We did, especially in my state, • Continued on Page 26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Politics

y in South-East

23

Political Politics turf

with Bolade Omonijo boladeomonijo@yahoo.com

Revisiting the APC saga

T

•Al’Makura

•Aregbesola

• Fayemi

how great the country would be if APC emerged the ruling party and urged the people to support the party for their good.

He said the party was not for self but out to redefine the concept of governance, stating that the party is on a rescue mission for the nation.

Amosun, in his speech, said they were pleased to see that the performance of the Imo State Governor was real and concrete and not a newspaper achievement.

“This is what we want and this is what APC represents. The battle has just begun; APC must succeed for the benefit of Nigerians because there is no better platform.”

Nasarawa State Governor, AlMakura, said Okorocha’s performance was just the beginning of what the people of the state will witness in terms of development, noting that it was worth celebrating. He urged the people to support the governor, especially now that the right party has emerged.

“You cannot salvage the country with people who are fake, people who are pseudo-democrats,” he said.

Kayode, was emphatic when he said: “a time like this calls for visionary lead-

ers as seen in all the states where the APC are holding sway. No amount of intimidation will deter us from working together to salvage the country.”

According to him, “no one is happy with what is going on, that is why we have embarked on this rescue mission; that is why we have embarked on the freedom journey.”

Aregbesola who held the surging crowd spell bound with his songs and dancing steps, described APC as a bulldozer that will crush everything on its way including the PDP. He called on the people to say no to unemployment, poverty, hunger, which he said PDP has given Nigerians as a political legacy.

Comrade Oshiomole noted that when he led a protest of workers to Imo State as a labour leader, he met a state with filthy streets dilapidated infrastructure, “but now everything in Imo state has changed.”

He said that was an example of how Nigeria will look like in every area of national life when APC becomes the ruling party. He called on the people to continue to support the governor for more of the good works.

Another thing that was obvious dur-

•Ajimobi

ing the Imo rally is that what had remained of the resistance by the PDP in the state caved in after the invasion of the progressives.

Also with the public declaration made by many APGA members, it is likely the party leadership at the national level will have no choice but to fully endorse the merger.

Political

ripples Between Clark and Orubebe

T

HE recent declaration by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, that he will contest Delta State governorship seat in 2015 may have stirred the hornet’s nest within the state’s political circles.

A few days ago, opposition to Orubebe came from the most unexpected quarters. Elder statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, voiced his displeasure with Orubebe’s ambition.

Warning that the minister cannot impose himself on the people, he also lampooned the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, over his alleged governorship ambition. Currently, not a few stakeholders in the state are asking who Clark will throw his weight behind to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015.

Has Agboola stepped down for Akala?

F

OR sometime now, the Senator representing Oyo North, Hosea Agboola, has not hidden his desire to retain his seat in 2015, telling anyone who cares to listen that he will not step down for a former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, who has also indicated interest in the seat. Unconfirmed reports, however, have it that Agboola is being pressured to step down for Akala, claiming that as compensation, the lawmaker would be nominated as the running mate to whoever emerges as the PDP governorship candidate in 2015.

It is not clear yet if Agboola has agreed to the offer.

WO books that I read in the eighties remain reference points in my attempt to understand developments in Nigeria. The first, Anatomy of Corruption, written by the late Onigegeara of Ibadan, Mr. Labanji Bolaji, remains a classic on corrupt practices in Nigeria. The second, How to be a Nigerian, by Peter Enahoro, is a witty commentary on living in Nigeria. I’m yet to read his The Complete Nigerian which I understand is a sequel. All good books written to throw light on the dark affairs in the country point in the direction that there are peculiar Nigerian ways of doing things, even when there are supposed to be universal standards.

Registration of political parties is principally governed by provisions of sections 222-224 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010. The prerequisites are so general, and as applied and interpreted by the Supreme Court in the National Conscience Party, NCP, no one or body could add to those conditions spelt out in the supreme law of the land.

The hurdles deliberately erected on the path of the All Progressives Congress (APC), could not have been altogether unexpected. It must have been an ambush expected by all analysts and even the leadership of the mega party. In the peculiar Nigerian manner, it was obvious to me that the ruling party at the federal level would attempt to throw spanner in the works. So, when two other parties made claims to the acronym APC, I was not surprised. The amazement was that leaders of the original APC appeared not to have anticipated the development.

Last week, the other APC, the African Peoples Congress that rushed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to get registered as the original APC was making its way to satisfy guidelines from INEC, made for the courts to reverse the decision of the electoral body to deny registration to an association that apparently ignored legal procedure in a bid to stop the All Progressives Congress in its track.

There are parallels in history. In the Second Republic, when four political parties that had a relationship in a coalition made a bid to combine efforts in confronting the National Party of Nigeria at the polls in 1983. The plan was scuttled mainly by employing the services of enemies within the proposed new party. The ruling party cleverly employed age-long suspicion between the Unity Party of Nigeria’s leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Nigerian Peoples Party’s Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The resultant Progressive Party’s Alliance, PPA, a coalition, could not work as effectively as a merger would have. History must not be allowed to repeat itself 30 years after that episode.

The challenge is for the original APC leaders to remain focused, anticipate that there would be genuine hurdles to scale and obstacles planted by the enemy. It is needless making an enemy of INEC. So far, I see nothing wrong with the steps taken by the national electoral body. A body known as APC sent it a letter of intent to get registered. The commission received the correspondence and kept it in view pending the time the full commission would meet to review the documents attached. Meanwhile, the AfPC made public its letter and sparked a row. What did anyone expect the commission to do? Take notice of a press conference by another body by the same acronym even when it was yet to approach the body? At the appropriate time, the commission rejected the African Peoples Congress.

It is not yet over. The rival APC has approached the courts for intervention, arguing that INEC lacks the power to turn down its bid. It is clear that the bid is targeted at the authentic APC. The massive show of putting 30 lawyers on display last week is for effect. I am yet to see anyone on the AfPC roll with the financial or political clout that could attract 30 lawyers. But, the game plan, it seems, is make the real APC stumble, stutter and scatter. The next step is apply for an injunction to restrain INEC from registering any other body by the acronym while the case is pending. If that is obtained, INEC would be bound to obey.

If AfPC is able to obtain the order, it could then instruct its counsel to stall judgment for as long as it could, thus frustrate the bid by the progressives to achieve early registration ahead of 2015. It is obvious the direction from which the stones are being thrown, but a shouting match would achieve nothing. It is time leaders of the APC engage their strategists to pre-empt these moves.

There could be no better time to have a mega party to confront the behemoth at the centre. But, it takes discipline, hard work, fidelity and single-minded pursuit of the goal.

The struggle continues.

•This Column was first Published in The Nation on April 14, 2013

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

INSIGHT

• Militants in action

Bayelsa: Supremacy battle, illegal bunkering as fuel for militancy V

ISITORS to Yenagoa, the capital of President Goodluck Jonathan's home state - Bayelsa - are greeted by billboards of various hues, sizes and designs urging readers to beware of and shun rumour-mongering. Not satisfied with just paying lip service to the 'deadly sin', Governor, Seriake Dickson sent a bill to the State Assembly making rumour-mongering a crime punishable with various forms of penalties.

However, recent events in the state have shown that violence and resurgence of bloody violence, and not rumourmongering, are the gravest challenges facing the state. The raging aggression in President Jonathan's home state, as the clock races towards 2015 presidential election, may enact feelings of dĂŠjĂ vu.

The insecurity in Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government areas are not dissimilar to the violence that led to the bombing of President Jonathan's Otuoke home in 2007 shortly before the election that brought him in as Vice President then.

Growing insecurity On Saturday, April 6, armed gunmen ambushed a police convoy in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw LGA of the state, killing at least 11 policemen. Among those killed in the attack were two inspectors, four noncommissioned officers and five constables.

The incident, which generated widespread condemnation and comments, merely highlighted the state of security in

Barely three weeks after yet-to-be-identified gunmen ambushed and killed 11 policemen in the creeks of Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa State, five youths were ambushed and gunned down in Lobia. The incidents have led to fear that President Jonathan's home state may have become the hotbed of violence and militancy in the Niger Delta. Shola O'Neil reports the riverside communities of the state.

Increasing discontent within the rank and file of former militant leaders and their foot soldiers as well as disenchantment with the management of the amnesty programme, fulfilment of pre-amnesty promises and several other factors are gathering storm and threatening the peace and security of the homogenous Ijaw state and others in the delta.

Ironically, the policemen were killed while detailed to provide security during a ceremony hosted by a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Kile Torughedi, known by the moniker 'Young Shall Grow'.

Torughedi was leader of the western wing of MEND. The hunters became the haunted when

the policemen were ambushed by gunmen near the now infamous Azuzuama community by the gang, who opened fire on them and killed 11 on the spot. A member of the convoy, said to be an Izon (Ijaw) man from the state, jumped into the murky creeks amidst rain of bullets. He was lucky to make it alive, but at a price of up to N1 million ransom.

"He resurfaced after a long time, unknown to him that the gunmen were waiting for him. They took him in their boat and drove to their camp where he was kept before a ransom was paid to secure his release," a source, who claimed to be in the know of negotiation, told our reporter.

The incident unleashed a flurry of activities, claims and counterclaims. It was also auspicious for a faction of the MEND,

which had threatened to unleash mayhem in the wake of sentencing of Henry Okah for terrorism in Johannesburg, South Africa. The group quickly claimed responsibility.

Hours later, it became clear that the Okah-MEND was merely trying to benefit from an unconnected incident. The police fingered disgruntled members of Torughedi's militant clan. The revelation was no cheery news for security agencies that are battling criminals and militants on several fronts in the region.

A pensive Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Kingsley Omire, in his reaction, ruled out the involvement of MEND. He said the policemen were only "soft target" for their attackers, adding that they were among 50 men he deployed to Azuzuama to provide security for the burial of the ex-militant's father. The police chief, however, didn't explain why such heavy deployment would be made just to secure a former warlord.

The incidents also fuelled speculations that the policemen were on illegal duty in the creeks, with illegal bunkering activities top on the list of their possible mission. The nature of their deaths also fuelled the rumour. Those who saw their remains said they were charred and riddled with bullets.

The corpses were so bad that journalists were not allowed to see them when they arrived at the waterside. However, Omire waved off the allegation.

Continued on page 25

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 Continued from page 24

Illegal bunkering gangs embedded with some of the so-called repentant militants and security operatives in the area have all but crippled crude oil production from several facilities in the area. Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) were forced to declare force majeur, owing to the activities of the militants. Shell twice within weeks invoked the clause to spare it from contractual obligation to its crude buyers.

The indiscriminate attack on oil facilities, spike in cases of illegal bunkering and illegal crude distilleries in the state heightened criticism of the multibillion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-militant leaders in the state. The contract may also be one of the fuels firing discontentment among the ex-warlords.

Among those who claimed responsibility for the massacre of the policemen was 'General' Jasper Adaka Boro, a self-acclaimed former foot soldier of Torughedi. He accused his former boss of embezzling up to N80 million of amnesty funds meant for his 'boys'. Boro, in a text message sent to journalists, said the killing of the 12 policemen was a warning to Torughedi and others who are shortchanging their foot-soldiers in the payment of the monthly amnesty stipends.

Sharing the spoils He said his former boss and other leaders of MEND who benefited from the pipeline surveillance contracts largesse refused to allow the benefits to trickle down to junior cadre members of the gang.

During the height of the confusion, former warlords in the state, including Victor Ebi Ben (aka Boyloaf) and Paul Eris (aka Ogunboss), among others, quickly went underground and resurfaced with even thicker cordon of security guards around them.

Reacting to the incidents and claims, Sheriff Mulade, National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), told our reporter that the breakdown of law and order in at least two of the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State was the clearest pointer to the failures of amnesty deal in the region.

He said, "It is unfortunate that the President's home state has become a hot bed for militancy. Something has to be done to curtail the excesses of militant leaders who have today turned against themselves. They may turn against the society again tomorrow.

That is why government needs to rise up to the challenge."

For Mulade and other keen watchers of the unfolding drama, the power tussle between opponents of former MEND leaders like Young Shall Grow and their counterparts portend danger, not just for Bayelsa, but for the peace and stability of the Niger Delta.

If the killing of the policemen was terrifying, fresh bloodletting in the creeks has sent chill down the spine of everybody. Last Saturday, no fewer than five youths were shot dead at Lobia in Southern Ijaw LGA, under yet controversial circumstances.

Among those felled in the Lobia killing was Mr. Judah Benabi Wilson, a sibling of Pastor Wilson, a former militant leader in the area. Although initial reports indicated that the deceased were killed during gang violence, the CliffordWilson family of Koluama debunked the claim, stating that their son was killed while on a peace mission. They fingered a government official for his death.

Joseph Wilson, who signed a statement on behalf of the deceased's family, described the initial report of gang clash as "twisted and distorted". He said: "The family wants to state categorically that the late Judah is the only one related to Pastor Reuben Wilson and one of his boys, Esau, an indigene of Lobia community.

"The security agents should review the reported facts surrounding the Saturday killing at Lobia Community main town.

To us, who are not security personnel, it appeared that the murdered youths were set up for ambush."

Rumours making the rounds in the creeks support the Wilson family's claim that there was more to the May 4 killing than gang violence. Our sources in the

INSIGHT

25

Illegal bunkering as fuel for militancy

• Fighting rumour-mongering with billboards

• Heavily armed JTF soldier in the creek

“The indiscriminate attack on oil facilities, spike in cases of illegal bunkering and illegal crude distilleries in the state heightened criticism of the multibillion pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-militant leaders in the state. The contract may also be one of the fuels firing discontentment among the ex-warlords.”

area said it might not be unconnected with the earlier killing of 11 policemen.

"We are all Ijaws, we know one another in the area and if anything happens it is easy for us to investigate, even better than the police or army, and get to its roots. So, if it is true that somebody feels aggrieved by that incident and he knows those responsible, it is only a matter of time before those behind it are revealed and dealt with," our source added.

However, it was not clear how a sibling of a former militant leader, Pastor Wilson, and his 'boy' could be involved in the Azuzuama killings. Wilson, who leads a group of repentant militants in the area, was the first to openly condemn the incident.

He told our reporter on Friday that he strongly believed that the killer of the 11 policeman were those responsible for the killing of his brother and associate. He said, "They have also hijacked my vessel and barge with six members and are demanding N6million before they would release the boat and barge."

He advised the police to go after the people and those responsible for the spate of killings in the state before it spreads to other people.

But Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, insisted that the incident at Lobia was a fallout of a clash between two armed gangs. He decried the prevailing situation in the region where people defend criminals simply because they are relatives or because they benefit from the crimes.

He said, "We have our men on ground and the information we got was that it was an armed collision between two gangs. If, as the family claimed, they are not armed gangs, how did they come about the arms and ammunition we recovered from the scene?"

These are also proponents of conspiracy theory, who believe that the opposition may have infiltrated the ranks of disgruntled exmilitants in the state and are now using them to cause problem to embarrass President Jonathan.

Whatever is the cause of the prevailing insecurity in President Jonathan's home turf, it is a cause for concern for all residents of coastal states in the region. Like the CEPEJ chief said, there are palpable fears that the canker worm of violence may spread to neighbouring Delta, Rivers and Edo states and plunge the region back into deeper militancy.

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Politics

Ikot-Ekpene 2015: Rumpus as Etok dares Akpabio A

T the Ikot-Ekpene constituency office of Senator Aloysius Etok, there is a banner with the screaming headline, “2015: There’s No Vacancy.” The banner, like many others like it that are daily springing up across the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district of Akwa-Ibom state, highlights the ongoing political tussle between Governor Godswill Akpabio of the state and Etok, the current senator representing the district at the National Assembly.

Feelers from political circles within the senatorial district in the last few days indicate that the erstwhile political allies are poised for a showdown ahead of 2015 senatorial election in the area.

Trouble started between the duo a couple of days back when Akpabio publicly declared his intention to represent the senatorial district at the National Assembly in 2015. The governor also allegedly named Etok as the campaign manager for his senatorial ambition.

Sources say the development did not go down well with the senator who was present at the event where Akpabio made his now controversial declaration. This is perhaps because Etok is also nursing the ambition to return to the senate in 2015 for a third term as senator representing the area.

“The senator is unhappy with the governor’s ambition and he is not hiding it. Besides, the senator considers the governor’s statement that he is the campaign manager as an insult to his person and office as a sitting senator.

“He is ready to fight for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to return to the senate in 2015. He will not be intimidated by the governor and his associates, who are bent on running him out of the race ahead of 2015 so as to provide an easy access for Akpabio.

“That is why they are talking about recalling him. They are desperate but we have the support of the people. The people don’t want to be dictated to by godfathers. They want to be allowed to make their own choices, good or bad. That is our mainstay as Senator Etok prepares to take on the Governor,” an aide of the Senator told The Nation.

But it appears it is not all those involved in the politics of the area are opposed to Akpabio’s insistence on snatching the senate seat from his long-time friend and ally. To some, Etok’s refusal to surrender the seat is tantamount to betrayal and should be discouraged.

Within the senatorial district, Akpabio is believed to have played a prominent role in the election that • Continued from Page 22 it was people like us that guaranteed victory for PDP in the presidential election. It wasn’t the PDP governorship candidate then, no. It was people like us that had the magic that brought about that victory. We’re saying that we need a better thing; this is all about politics really.

When you said that APGA is the minority in the South-East, controlling two states, the PDP see it the other way round; they see those two states as very strategic...

When you talk about APGA as a party, it is a minority party. But if you ask APGA as an Igbo thing, then I’ll tell you that everybody is APGA. I think I made that point clear. So, there is different APGA, when you bring the term APGA. Let me shock you that if Ojukwu is alive, he would have been the first person to join this merger, because if you remember his relationship with Buhari and the rest of them at the time of ANPP, Ojukwu was the chairman of Board of Trustees of ANPP. So, he would have been glad to join this. I’m sure he wouldn’t have joined the PDP. I think we’re

• Akpabio

By Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor saw Etok’s emergence as senator in 2007. In fact it is widely believed that his re-election was single handedly made possible by the governor, following an agreement between them that Etok will merely be holding the position in trust for Akpabio who will replace him in 2015.

The popular “Akpabio factor” in his 2011 victory is something the senator had acknowledged in many fora in the state.

The Akwa Ibom Diaspora Network (AIDN) is one organisation that is strongly opposed to Etok’s decision to fight Akpabio over the senatorial seat. The group said following its participation in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District stakeholders conference, held at Ikot Ekpene Council Hall, it is ready to commence a recall process against Senator Aloysius Etok if he fails to retract his statements (and allega-

• Etok

tions) made against leaders and elders of the Senatorial district and publicly apologise to Gov. Godswill Akpabio, on or before Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

The group, in a press release sent to media houses, said the conference was called mainly to discuss developing issues between Senator Aloysius Etok and Governor Godswill Akpabio.

“We are saddened by the unnecessary, embarrassing and distracting campaign of calumny currently engaged by Senator Aloysius Etok against Gov. Godswill Akpabio, CON. Even more virulent is Senator Etok’s recent allegation that a hit squad, organised by Gov. Godswill Akpabio, is planning for his assassination. We do not believe Senator Aloysius Etok, noting that his baseless and reckless allegations constitute an attempt to blackmail Gov. Godswill Akpabio and frustrate healthy competition for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial seat.

Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio has a constitutional right to aspire and contest for the Akwa Ibom North (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial seat,” the group said in the release which was signed by Clement Ikpatt and Uduak Ukpeh as President and Secretary General respectively.

But Senator Etok appears undeterred by the positions of groups or individuals like AIDN and Ikpatt.

Quoted severally as saying that the senatorial seat for Ikot Ekpene would not be vacant in 2015 as he intends to go for a third term, the senator accused Akpabio of disrespecting him.

“Akpabio must as a matter of fact respect my office if he does not respect me like I respect his office of the governor which also covers me.

So respect is reciprocal. As for the governor seeking to go to the senate, I have told him that there is no vacancy in the senate.

“He can look elsewhere. If he needs a vacancy to be filled, let him look into the state execute council

vacancy and fill; but in the senate no vacancy because the people I’m representing have not told me they have finished with me. They have not told me that I’m not going to the senate again.

“However, if the governor wants to go to the senate, I should be the first person he should consult because I’m the one holding the mandate even if I was a cripple and he wants my office and my chair. If he doesn’t talk with me, I will hold the chair and the chair will be broken. The governor must know that,” Etok reportedly said, signaling his readiness to dare the governor and his allies.

“While it is obvious that Etok’s recent activities are unsettling the governments, this is not enough for anybody to say he is an even match to the governor. It is left to be seen how he intend to make good his boasts,” Mark IniAbasi Essien, Secretary of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPN) in the state, said.

Already, chairmen of the ten local government councils in the senatorial district and state legislators in the district, while describing themselves as the custodians of the mandate of Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district, have disowned Etok while announcing the withdrawal of their support for the senator in 2015.

But Etok, who briefed newsmen recently in response to the council bosses, said he is not bothered by their open support for Akpabio in the struggle over the senatorial seat.

The senator said he has been receiving text messages he believes are from agents of the governor threatening him to withdraw his statement of intention to contest in 2015 or face dire consequences after seven days.

“I want the governor to tell Nigerians and the international community if there is anything wrong in any man aspiring to contest for an office. Is that enough for the governor to instruct the council chairmen to say that if I don’t withdraw from the contest, they will recall me?

“He asked the state’s house of assembly to pass resolution that they will recall me, to the extent that members of the house of assembly came on television to insult and malign me. Not only that, the governor has now loosened his hit squad, including what I have on this phone, some text messages that if I don’t retract the statement that I will contest election, after seven days, I will see what they will do,” Etok lamented.

No doubt, the battle line for the soul of Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district in 2015 is drawn between Senator Etok and Governor Akpabio. And it is only time and the voting public of the district that can tell who the victor will be.

Why I dumped PDP -Okorocha doing what Ojukwu would have done if he is alive today.

In 1998 you were denied the ticket, do you have any regret that if you were allowed then you would done better?

If I say I have regrets, I would be questioning my creator and I don’t want to do that. But there is nothing now in this my head that I didnt know as at that time. I have been consistent with my policies. If you remember as far back as 1998, I have been talking about Rochanomic; Rochas’ economic theory. The four tier system of government is there, decentralization was there. I had all these things lined up. So, there’s nothing that I am doing now that I wouldn’t have done then. That is why when I came into government, it did not take me one hour to key in, in fact I stated working on the 28th of May before my swearing-in. And since that day, there has not been a one hour break.

Because I knew what to do from the onset. So I am not in this to learn. If not how could I have come up with a

thousand projects in two years. It is unprecedented in the history of mankind.

The truth is that what this government has done within this period has not been done in the history of Imo State in the past 30 years. What is happening here can only be the handwork of God. Some of us are not in this business to look for money. We want to use what we have to give to the system. Then, when I wanted to be governor they refused me so I went and picked a party, APGA, and won the election. If I had run under PDP one million times and the whole people wanted me, I would have lost.

PDP has this characters that do not produce for Nigeria the much needed leaders but politicians who are not thinking of the next generation but the next election, that is my grouse with the PDP. The only election I won before this one was when PDP had no hand in it, when Abacha conducted the elections for constitutional conference.

PDP has this kind of trend that if you are independent minded or have a mind of your own, then PDP will not allow you to have political power.

Unless they feel you are a dummy that could be controlled and that is not what will bring progress. Until they change from that, they cannot move this nation forward.

If your mother had been alive, would be doing things the same way you are doing it?

Oh my God! Today when somebody mentioned that, I wept. If my mother had been there, that would have been a different story because she was indeed an inspiration but all the same, for whatever she is not there for, my wife quickly jumped into the shoes, providing motherly care and encouragement because sometimes it is not easy to run a government, sometimes you get pissed off by people’s attitudes, at times you feel like taking a walk out of the whole system. You ask yourself what is even there for you but somebody is there to pat your

back and say listen, ‘you are on a divine mission.’

Will you seek reelection in 2015 or are going to ...?

2015! I tell you, I have not decided.

But I’ll soon make a decision, but definitely, I will run for an election.

Was there a pact that you will do one term?

No, there was never a pact. But it has always been my desire to serve in Imo State for one term, even now, I desire to do a term. But that is where I need help and prayers because here, I might take a risk of being lynched if I say I am not going to continue, unless I do something to make them hate me, but now it would be difficult to get out of that entanglement.

And again remember, I have always run for president and it has always been my desire to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to give that which is inside me which would bring about the development of the country. So, these things are conflicting at the moment so I would simply wait and see.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Glamour

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Glamour

Social

ADETUTU AUDU (E-mail: crownkool@yahoo.com, Tel: 08023849036)

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Glamour

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Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

&

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

• Princess Ayo Balogun

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

T

HE one interesting thing about advertising is its flamboyance. With advertising, anything can go.

Advertising enables what has come to be known as ‘free-styling’; full of entertainment, thrills, excitement and laughter. There is really no limit to which advertising can go, to create humor. It is in the neighborhood of advertising most of our “NOLLYWOOD” home-video play – ENTERTAINMENT! Advertising is entirely the creation of those commissioned to create them (to ‘tell a story’), not minding any grand rule.

Advertising permits excessive freedom of self-expression. During my start-off years in brands management, the most frequent warning I received from my teachers was to be careful to distinguish between advertising and marketing communication: they are two different worlds of engagement: the one is functional, the other is void.

With marketing communication, as in war, all the rules apply!

So, ‘SAKA’ ported (moved from ETISALAT for MTN), and so what? One wonders the Client’s brief to the Agency for this tactical campaign on SAKA’s movement. Could it have been to create a campaign that will make fans of the character SAKA, as an actor, move to MTN by reason of his change of client (MTN is SAKA’s new client)? Or could it have been that the Client briefed the Agency for a campaign that will create the impression that SAKA moved over to MTN because it is a better network compared to Etisalat.

Except for the simple reason of wanting to make money, the advert agency owed it a duty to the Client, to advise on the advertising objective for the said campaign and to help determine the marketing objective in quantifiable terms, compare same with the projected budget and take a decision based on the balanced cost-benefit analysis, in favor of profitability. The operative rule, for purposeful brands management is that every investment must add-up to some value appreciation at the bottom-line. The Agency behind this tactical campaign earn my appreciation on speed of execution and beautiful creative. Beyond that, I am afraid, not much is earned.

Let us consider the Number Portability (NP) thing objectively; what has really changed? What is the NP thing bringing to bear, in real sense?

As it is, Number Portability simply put, enables subscribers change network without losing their numbers. Essentially, therefore, I can decide to drop my GLO network and move over to MTN, for instance, but still retain my GLO numbers.

That way, my contacts will not have to confuse my numbers; I do not need to reconnect with those on my contact list with my new numbers as a result of my having changed network, if the number portability were not to be. That is the benefit number portability offers. But truly, is that the issue facing subscribers in Nigeria today? I can clearly state that if that were to be the problems facing subscribers today, they would rather be celebrating, as it were, compared to the gross misconduct among the GSM operators presently. Let us consider the following: 1. Quality of service. Which among the present GSM operators can proudly say it is delivering comparatively good telecommunication service, among the players? In case they do not know, they are all judged poor at various levels, by subscribers. The issues are poor voice clarity, call-drops, poor connectivity, frequency of call termination at destination, transparent billing system, ease of top-up or credit reload.

2. Efficiency of Data Transfer – especially for internet service and BlackBerry and the social media users.

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Saka’s porta-movement and functional advertising

3. Spread of distribution network – are subscribers in far-away Fugar in Edo state readily get a given network’s recharge card for top-up? Perhaps sales teams for GSM operators should be told this, the extent of reach and market penetration for recharge cards is, to a large extent, determined by the trade margin on offer. I have experienced trade apathy against a certain operator based on very low trade margin at the retail end.

4. Image perception. At different degree and on perception of delivery at the various subscriber value touch-points, subscribers have different negative impression of every of the GSM operators.

Some are considered deceptive, some other ‘thieves’, some others unpatriotic and snobbish, while others are considered ill equipped to perform. Depending on a given subscriber’s experience, each of the operators is perceived negatively at some point. For instance, my elder brother replaced one for another based on “better service delivery, subscriber-friendliness, relatively more affordable call rate and connectivity at remote locations. There are many others like him….

Generally, subscribers complain of poor quality, insensitivity to subscribers’ needs, high call rate, and unfriendly cost profile (for instance, subscribers – including me think text messages should be free). But for GLO, per-second billing would still have been a dream. That brand earned a fair size of its market share and earned substantial subscribe loyalty by that huge investment that positioned it as a sincere/ honest, subscriber-friendly and reliable brand. NCC

did not do anything about the per-minute billing while the cry was on. In fact MTN made it look like per-second billing was not possible.

Among data transfer category users, the choice of platform for internet-based services such as the BlackBerry service and the social media options is determined by level of technical infrastructure development and sophistication (not ‘SAKA).

Putting it clearly, subscribers would rather that NCC live up to its responsibility of enabling improved telecommunications service in more concrete terms and protecting them from the not-too-transparent trade practices of some of these GSM operators, drive down call rates or costs and upping over-all quality standard, instead of trivialities such as NIMBER PORTABILITY. Number Portability is beautiful, but the issue is that it is only the ‘icing on the cake’ in this market challenged in the fundamentals of telecommunication service delivery. The basic and rudiments are suffering, therefore, attention and efforts should be invested in improving the service delivery at that level.

Nobody is interested in number portability, at this point, because none of the operators is equipped enough or adequately positioned as a rescue option. In other words, every subscriber in Nigeria has more than one reason to complain of his or her present service provider, based on their failure to deliver at their critical value touch-points.

My old mother will not leave her house in my village and travel to Auchi to request for number porting (and wait for 48 hours for process completion) JUST because of call-

drop or poor voice quality when she has been living with them for over 8years now, and when the other operators are equally guilty of same issues. That is why number portability will remain unattractive to well over 90% of subscribers. What does number portability amount to, for a subscriber subscribed to all-four networks yet unsatisfied? The various customer-care centers are frustrating, to say the least. For whatever reason, customer service personnel treat complainants/subscribers with disdain. What does it all amounts to when it is still a nightmare to effect SIM card replacement or retrieval? NCC knows this number portability thing is a joke, at best, a cosmopolitan novelty. There are more worrisome issues requiring of NCC’s immediate and executive intervention.

Subscribers are still the losers in all.

ETISALAT has nothing to lose with ‘SAKA’s movement. MTN cannot justify its ad spend on this SAKA thing; the excitement the campaign generated did not last two weeks. Subscribers will not switch service provider in favor of MTN because SAKA switched ‘CLIENT’. The Ad Agency should have properly advised the Client on this matter (professionalism!): brands thrive on consistent delivery on promise, such that resonates with the target audience at the critical value touch-point, not minding whether such offers are on the platform of services or products, luxury or essentials: the expectation is the same. NCC should please live up to its responsibility to subscribers in Nigeria.

‘SAKA’ is the only WINNER in this instance.

with

YETUNDE OLADEINDE

molaralife@yahoo.com

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

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With Joe Agbro Jr. 08056745268

WORD WHEEL Hello children, Hope you’re all fully back into school work. Today, read more about flags which have become symbols of identity for countries

TEAM DEBIRUSS SHINES

How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at centre of the wheel, can you make from this diagram? We've found 58, including one nine-letter words.

PUZZLE Four children have different birth months, but were all born in the same year. Find out who was born in each month.

• From Left: Daniel Ukaji, Chukkie Isigwu, Damilola Ipinyemi, Mrs. Caroline Obodoshike (Principal), Teniola Akinmoladun, and Gbemisola Ipinyemi, students of Debiruss College, Lekki, Lagos, in a pose after a brilliant outing at the Junior Achievement Programme organised in Lagos by Blackberry Nigeria on 28th April. Damilola Ipinyemi who came first won a Blackberry and will be representing Nigeria at the global stage.

January February March

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TOSIN

FACTS ABOUT FLAGS Do you know study of flags is called ‘vexillology’!

April

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UFOUMA .

KABIRU .

NGOZI

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1. Kabiru was born before Ngozi.

2. Ngozi was born two months after Ufouma.

3.Ufouma was born after Tosin but before Kabiru.

SUDOKU •Nigeria

•Switzerland

•Vatican City

• Nepal

Flags as a symbol of nationality came much later. The earliest usage of flags was during wars,to differentiate between friends and enemies. The oldest state flag is that of Denmark’s.

It goes back to 13th century. It was only towards the end of the 18th century that flags were used for nationalistic purposes. All national flags are rectangular in shape except Nepal which looks like two combined triangles. The other odd ones are of Switzerland and Vatican City,which look like squares.

To play Sudoku: Fill the box with the numbers 1 to 9 in a way that •Each column must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 •Each row must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 •Each block must contain all of the numbers 1 through 9 •No two numbers in the same column, row, or block can be the same.

3

7 9

1

3 4

9

1 7

2

9

9

8

2

4

3

6

3

5 9

7 1

2

7

8

9

3

6 Send in your stories, poems, articles, games, puzzles, riddles and jokes to sundaynation@yahoo.com

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Etcetera

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

Peculiar yarn

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

Craving the reader’s indulgence, if not acquiescence, the writer spins the following yarn as entertaining sequel to Kologba’s previous antics.

ON his arrival in the city to pursue a government loan facility, Kologba found the going immediately rough. An attempt to locate his extra luggage from the storage compartment of the luxury bus failed, as did remonstration with the driver and conductor, and afterwards, office staff. Then the rookie station manager showed up and, with an ineffectual smile, reassured the furious customer that he would be satisfied. “We are trained professionals so you are in good hands,” he said, and followed with “has your bus arrived yet?”

Unnerved by the bungled service, yet unwavering in his enthusiasm for a fresh beginning, Kologba once more located his friend’s place in the heart of the city. The host was not too willing, considering the bother his visitor caused him the last time with wayward driving and inevitable brush with the police, but thought the assistance a necessary sacrifice to help his friend settle down and possibly stave intermittent financial demands. Eventually, barely managing a wink at night from relentless visions of stupendous wealth spurred by the government loan, Kologba leapt from the bed by the first light of morning and made directly for the loan office.

Assured that his cheque would be ready the next day, Kologba left excitedly for his friend’s and immediately encountered the first of a series of freak turns. At the end of Coco Street, he ran into Bade Bumper, a good friend from school who looked somewhat dishevelled. Following warm greetings, the long-lost companion inquired after Kologba’s business in town.

“I came to process a government loan for my business,” said Kologba, his face enlivened by the thought of stupendous wealth from livestock trading even as he would not discount the possibility of making “an honest living” in town someday. In reply, the acquaintance demonstrated a flair for sarcasm in addition to apparent scruffiness. “In that case, you won’t have much competition here,” said the rather hardened friend, and walked away.

Back at the friend’s house, Kologba found him examining the remote control of an electronic medical device. After fiddling with the mechanics, he put the device on and told Kologba to push the button on the control when he got about 100 metres away in his car. He would signal that he was ready by hooting the car horn.

Once the horn sounded, Kologba pressed the button. But the device startled the friend so that he stepped hard on the accelerator and, with his hand still on the horn, lurched forward and ended in a ditch. Because the horn continued to sound, Kologba pushed the button. Eventually, the friend threw himself out of the car and rolled on the floor in great discomfort.

The device worked, after all. And Kologba stayed true to himself, after all; only when the horn stopped did he stay off the button. The friend wondered at his ‘fortune’ in picking a fellow with a one-track mind for a friend.

Aware that his compromised companion bristled before him, Kologba sought to make light of the situation. “Do you remember my last acting experience?” he asked in undisguised attempt to amuse.

Tongue-in-cheek, the friend said: “I hope so.”

Friend would sooner forget the theatrical calamity. At the end of Kologba’s last visit to the city, his host’s neighbour needed a clown to entertain guests at his son’s birthday party and Kologba offered to fill in for an indisposed professional.

An hour into the party, Kologba, in the form of ‘Big Bird’, landed on a hospital bed. Using improvised props during his act, he opted for an impromptu spin on a bicycle. Attempting a difficult stunt, he took a vicious tumble and dislocated a wing – the right shoulder, actually. The guests thought Big Bird’s cries of agony part of the act and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Peering through the costume, however, the friend saw his pal’s eyes lol in their sockets, and helped ferry him to emergency treatment.

QUOTE A hundred men together are the hundredth part of a man.

—Antonio Porchia

Jokes Humour Quick Humour •DOCTOR: “Every 10 seconds a woman gives birth to a kid.”

Bystander: “We must find and stop her!” ******* •SPECTATOR: “Why are all these people running?”

Official: “This is a race; the winner will get the cup.”

Spectator: “If only the winner gets the cup, why are others running?” ******* •TEACHER to student: “‘I killed a person’. Convert this sentence into the future tense.”

Student: “The future tense is ‘you will go to jail.’” ******* TEACHER: “Tom, what is the outside of a tree called?”

Tom: “I don’t know.”

Teacher: “Bark, Tom, Bark!”

Tom: “Bow, wow, wow!” ******* •OLD man to servant: “Go and water the plants.”

Servant: “But it's raining.

Old man: “So what? Take an umbrella and go.” ******* •FATHER to son after exam: "Let me see your report card."

Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his parents." ******* •A TEACHER asked her class for sentences using the word "beans".

“My Father grows beans," said one student.

"My father cooks beans," said another.

Little Johnny said: "We are all human beans." ******* •VISITOR to attendant at art exhibition: “I suppose this horrible looking thing is what you call modern art.”

Attendant: “But sir, that’s a mirror!” ******* SON: “Daddy, can you write in the dark?”

Daddy: “I think so. What do you want me to write?”

Son: “Your name, on this report card!”

•Adapted from the Internet

T

OWARDSA Writer ’s Fountain M O R E POWERFUL CLOSE: Introducing a twist coming at all.’

Or the hero marries the heroine after that the reader didn’t expect. Suppose that the tale ends with the mother and daughter happily predictably saving the world. Jubilation! Then in drinking the wedding champagne and laughing his last line, it turns out that they have not saved instead. The mother has saved her daughter from the world after all. a doomed marriage to a brutal man – by seducing Echo the first paragraph in the close. him. Now she has dumped the man in her turn. Perhaps the most popular form of closure is the Duly enlightened, the daughter is grateful. The ‘echo’. The mix returns to the pattern it showed at mother is entertained by her romantic weekends the start, but everything has been shaken. The simplest way to do this is to present a strong – and by organising the spoof wedding!

The reader thinks ‘That’s clever. I didn’t see it theme, emblem or phrase in the very first paragraph and then repeat it in the closing lines, Odd turns: perhaps with a new ironic meaning.

•China has more English speakers than the For example, a story might open with an United States. elderly gentleman running on a village path. He •The city with the most Rolls Royce per is ‘rather quick for his age’. The tale closes with capita is Hong Kong and not London. his arrest as a brutal killer. In the closing line, a •In Tibet there is actually a practice called detective remarks with unconscious irony: ‘he was 'polyandry' where many men, usually rather quick for his age’. brothers, marry a single woman. This takes Once again, the easiest way to structure an place so that only one set of children will ‘echo’ story is to write the last paragraph first. inherit the land.

Then embody some aspect of it in the first •U.S. astronaut Eugene Cernan was the last paragraph. At once, the story acquires a satisfying person to set foot on the moon December sense of form. Adapt any of these three kinds of 1972. closure creatively in your fiction writing, and you •Both Hitler and Napoleon were missing will have a powerful close – one that stays with one testicle. your readers and keeps them reading you.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

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Polio: Fighting a tough battle —PAGE 68

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HEN the National Good Governance Tour (NGGT) arrived at the village of Bagega on April 26th, the team was met by cheerful children. Energetic boys ran alongside the vehicles in the convoy; and the girls appeared to be no different from anywhere else, dressed gaily and already showing interest in eye-shadow and lip gloss. But behind this appearance of normality, Bagega, a remote village in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, is a stricken place; and the team had come to inspect the site of the worst lead poisoning in Africa and the world.

Minister of Information Labaran Maku was accompanied by two other of his colleagues: Hadiza Mailafia (whose Environment Ministry is in charge of the ongoing remediation programme) and Bashir Yuguda (Minister of State for Works). “Bagega has become a national concern,” said Maku, who heads the team made up of civil society groups, official stakeholders and a sizeable media contingent.

They had come to see for themselves the efforts being made to address devastating lead poisoning in this large village of about 7000 inhabitants, an estimated 1,500 of whom are children – the demographic that has suffered the most from the contamination. “If you are looking for obvious signs of sickness, you won’t see any, but every one of these children has lead in their blood,” an official told members of the team. Impaired brain development is one of negative impacts of lead contamination, caused by unsafe artisanal mining for gold and other minerals in and around the village.

To the rescue “Children have died here and will be affected irrevocably,” said Simba Tirima of Terragraphics International, an environmental engineering organisation that arrived in the state in May 2010 and started work in February this year.

Médecins Sans Frontières has also been very active in the village. However, as Mailafia stated during the Citizens Forum that concluded the tour of Zamfara State, “It is not true that foreign agencies got to Bagega first.”

A massive remediation programme is under way, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Terragraphics, to rid Bagega of the lead poisoning that affected 417 homes and caused fatalities in 2010. The funds for the remediation are 100 per cent from the federal government, with over N800 million released by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to three MDAs for the clean-up exercise.

As the team inspected residential Zone B, the Industrial Site and held a meeting with some of the locals in front of the traditional ruler’s palace, the women of Bagega stayed within the confines of their courtyards and counted the costs of Guba-Dalma – which means ‘lead poisoning’ in Hausa. The women spoke of deaths, “too many deaths in the same household”, especially among under-fives; as well as high childhood incidence of blindness, convulsion and polio manifestations. They also reported increased rates of impotence and miscarriage among adults. One woman, who gave her name as Luba, is the wife of a miner and suffered a stillbirth in the aftermath of the contamination. Her daughter died at age four; her five-yearold son is blind.

Tales of tragedy Luba and the other women are in no doubt as to what brought lead poisoning into their midst. The ore from the in-

Lead Poison: A village remembers

•Bagega village kids

By Molara Wood

dustrial site was often brought into households for processing by family members including children, leading to the contamination of homes. “The soil used to be moved here,” said one woman, pointing to the middle of the small courtyard. “The soil mixed with the water, the food the children ate, and so on.”

As Tirima explained at the Industrial Site (the main processing centre), the lead in Bagega is not soluble. “The particulate part stays in the water and is very dangerous when drunk.” Mountains of silted contaminated soil at the site must therefore be moved, as they pose a serious threat

in the event of rain. “Children like to come and play here, but it is very dangerous for them,” said Tirima, whose team tests for lead contamination using XRF, a device that measures the presence of over 80 metals in the soil.

Bagega women explained that that mining activities are no longer carried out in their homes, and have been moved to an isolated location. They are pinning their hopes on the remediation exercise, a delicate process that involves the removal of contaminated soil as well as mineral processing wastes from homes, compounds and open areas of the village. Even Bagega’s wells have to be remediated.

The programme is on course. Over 300 homes have been remediated so far, and

Terragraphics hopes to issue certification by the end of June to indicate that Bagega is clean. The remediation exercise utilises 90 per cent indigenous expertise; 19 Zamfara citizens are employed in the programme; and 164 unskilled workers are also engaged. The Minister of Environment emphasised the importance of knowledge transfer and continued to do so as she walked through the village with Tirima, his American colleague Casey Bartrem and their local counterparts to Terragraphics offices to sign the visitors register. “It is important that those working here pay attention and learn skills from Terragraphics,” Mailafia said. The XRF machines will be taken over by officials of the Ministry of Environment when Terragraphics leaves Bagega.

Though some (including Nasiru Kura of Basic Rights Action) have called for the relocation of Bagega’s inhabitants, it is not thought to be a feasible option, given the size of the village. And, asked if they want to be moved elsewhere, the village women posed a rhetorical question: “Where to?”

They do not wallow in self-pity; they just want a solution and are happy that the end of their travails is in sight.

“The ultimate goal of this intervention is to ensure this does not occur again,” said Maku, who called for all to be properly trained and instructed on prevention.

Remediation is necessary before treatment, to prevent further contamination.

The Federal Ministry of Health will then move in to administer medication to those affected. The third MDA, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, will train and sensitise residents on safe mining methods going forward. And then the detoxification of Bagega will be complete.

Wood, a journalist and writer wrote from Abuja.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Life

54

Adetokunbo Sofoluwe: Scenes from a fulfilled life

M

Y first encounter with Adetokunbo was in the 1960s through my elder brother when they both attended CMS Grammar School Lagos. The two friends later attended an interview at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti when my late father drove them to the bus station. In Ado, they experienced traditional Ekiti hospitality from my parents’ close friends, the Osekitas. Tokunbo, however, stayed on at CMS before proceeding to Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge in Worcestershire, England where he completed his Higher School Certificate course in June 1968. We met again in the University of Lagos from where we both graduated, though at different times, and then again at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. As we later discovered to our great surprise our two fathers had coincidentally chosen the same friend, the dashing Chief Orija, to serve as our godfather at our christening. We did not become an item until the 1980s when we sealed our relationship with a marriage under the Act. The combination of a Dada and an Aina notwithstanding, we lived truly happily together until his untimely exit on the 11th of May, 2012.

In truth his first love was Mathematics but he loved the Arts too. He was fond of the works of William Shakespeare and often quoted from them. He seemed fascinated by his plays. It is no surprise, therefore, that he made a very good grade in Literature in his School Certificate examination. He also did well in Fine Art. This interest he continued to display throughout his life by encouraging many young artists at great expense to himself.

He was also a sportsman right from his student days. It was impossible to love Tokunbo and not love various sports. Together we avidly followed football, tennis, cricket, boxing, golf, snooker, formula 1, and even the major horse races. We got a lot of adrenalin from the annual OxfordCambridge boat race, usually rooting for Cambridge University. And he was a keen chess player.

Adetokunbo loved good music. It was not just the lyrics that interested him but the arrangement of the notes and the instruments deployed. Many knew that he loved high-life and juju music and Ambrose Campbell, Rex Lawson, Adeolu Akinsanya, Roy Chicago, Orlando Owoh, E. T. Mensah, I. K. Dairo and others like them lived on in our home. Others might be aware that he was also very fond of modern jazz, traditional jazz, gospel music, reggae music and even apala but I doubt whether they knew that he also invested in a good collection of classical CDs right from his student days, a passion that we shared. As his flat mate in Edinburgh would confirm he drew inspiration from the works of great composers like Bach, Strauss, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Chopin, Handel and Vivaldi.

Another interesting aspect of Tokunbo’s life was his fascination with great historical figures. As one of his brothers will testify, he read all the time about their contributions to science, nation building, their struggles and the sacrifices they made. They served as role models for him. The two brothers were always exchanging books and Tokunbo was forever expressing amazement at the enduring manner in which their governments and associates had immortalized these men such that they are still celebrated even after centuries had passed. He would always make copies of write–ups on them to share with me. He was conscious of the fact that they were mere mortals, sometimes with serious shortcomings, but he did not believe that their errors or mistakes while they lived should be publicised or even celebrated upon their death. Adetokunbo was a gentleman and an intellectual to the core. He would always wonder aloud when Nigerians

By Funmilayo Sofoluwe

would stop their futile attempts to measure greatness by material wealth, earthly titles, number of parties attended and mere indiscretions that do not bring any glory to one’s nation.

As regards the keeping of records Adetokunbo was in a class of his own.

He kept every note, letter, document and e-mail sent to him. He would even make extra copies. He kept receipts and meticulously recorded all financial transactions (payments, withdrawals, loans given with dates and agreed terms of repayment) including photocopies of cheques and bank drafts. One of the last photocopies he showed me was for the April 19, 2012 N600,000.00 life membership cheque for an Academic Association. (He breathed his last only three weeks after this payment which is a clear indication that he was not expecting that his life was going to be taken from him so soon). He probably wanted in some cases to preempt potential denials on the part of the unscrupulous or to assist those who might want to pretend to suffer from the onset of early dementia but the habit had assumed a neurotic proportion. It was not cultivated, however, to entrap others even if it could.

He always encouraged me to follow his style, which I did, but I was forever teasing him that he was fast becoming too eccentric for his young age and we were going to be buried under numerous useless papers in our own home.

Adetokunbo was a kind and generous giver, but a most quiet one. The last thing he desired was publicity. There were so many people on his list that he gave money on a monthly basis.

Throughout his adult life he chose to be responsible either in part or in full for the school fees, pocket money and house rent of many. I must confess that as a typical wife I worried about our future finances and I sometimes voiced my concerns. To provoke him I called him names the kindest of which were ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Public Property’ ‘A bu je bu danu’ and ‘Mallam Toks’ (we Yorubas rightly or wrongly believe that our Hausa brothers do not get unduly anxious about tomorrow, especially where personal needs are concerned).

He would always assure me that I worried unnecessarily about the future when God was so merciful and would never allow either of us to suffer in our old age. In this regard Tokunbos’ trust in God was genuinely a hundred percent and I greatly admired him for it.

He frequently gave out loads of his nice outfits and shoes. Some outfits were given out only after just one wear.

I would grumble sometimes that he didn’t understand what it took to trudge up and down Balogun West to pick out some of the best Ivorien fabrics for him and have them tailored only for him to pass them over so quickly. I would even threaten to stop buying him things. But I knew that he wasn’t one to hold on to material things and this was just another gesture of his that confirmed my ‘Mallam’ title for him. And I give thanks to all those who proudly and lovingly shared his apparels.

In a further demonstration of his unusual attitude to material things Adetokunbo would often change into whatever he bought in a shop (be it a shirt, belt, shoes, jacket or sunglasses) right there in the shop and have what he previously had on packed for him in the shop’s bags instead. He would tell me that we buy things to use and not to keep and worship.

The goodwill that he demonstrated towards others was legendary and uncommon. He wanted the necessary things of life for everyone around him.

It was almost like interfering at times.

For him you cannot have enduring happiness and peace if you have when others around you lack. He always argued that no one should try to be a lone star.

He would always want to know, for example, if each employee or friend already had a plot of land. If they did not, he had to find out why and would

•The Sofoluwes

not let them rest until something positive was done. For those already with plots he would want to know how far they had gone with developing the plots. As some will testify, he will arrange to visit the sites and provide encouragement with cash and prayers.

And I have accompanied him on some of such visits.

He was always concerned whenever he learned that people were sick, even those he did not have any relationship with. He would always ask that we contribute something to their medical care. These things, he would say, could happen to anyone. He was also interested in the care of the elderly and always sought assurance from friends and colleagues that they did not neglect their aged parents. He often sent cash and other gifts to parents he had never met. And he did not forget the Old People’s Home either.

Unknown to most people my husband also gave a lot to further the work of the Church. Many misunderstood his relationship with his God and felt he was not a serious being. Unlike many of us who paid our tithe in just one place, Tokunbo paid in four different places. I was personally responsible for delivering to three of them and he would also always want to confirm from me each month that he had already given me the money. He did not rob God but rather gave more than the mandatory ten percent. And he was ever so willing to assist with church projects, be they physical or evangelical. These things Adetokunbo never considered as issues for discussion with any so-called friends or for broadcast.

On his relationship with God, we held weekly prayers with our pastor friends. Once when all of them had travelled I thought we would not have the usual session. But my husband surprised even me by insisting that we carry on as usual and he personally took charge. May God forgive me for not at first taking him seriously on that day early last year. One of the great lessons that I have learnt from my journey with him is that it is only a fool or mischief maker that will claim to know the desires of another individual’s heart, especially where you do not share a home.

For a true believer that is a prerogative of God and we have no business attempting to highjack abilities that rightfully belong to our heavenly father alone.

Rather than fabricate unnecessary lies to make people think that we are privy

to the secret thoughts and intentions of others the least we can do is to try where possible to find out the truth and nothing but the truth.

Adetokunbo was incredibly tolerant, bore no malice and was extremely down to earth. These were some of his strengths but some mistook them for weaknesses. They saw him as carefree or even reckless. Nothing could be further from the truth. He simply enjoyed helping others through giving and he believed in giving each individual a chance. He knew when he was being deceived, lied to, being exploited and when he got things wrong, sometimes terribly wrong. He knew also when demands on him were unreasonable.

He would come home and describe some of them. So he saw through most people’s schemes eventually but he always hoped they would change and believed that God was capable of touching anyone. Whenever, I asked why he was allowing himself to be used by seasoned con artists, he would simply reply that if it made these people happy to believe that they were smarter than him or if their deceit helped them to maintain their sanity or reap mere financial rewards why rock their boats and have a greater problem on our hands? He preferred to play along saying the diabolical and unscrupulous had to be handled with care but that we would have the last laugh, God willing. He was a great advocate of PEACE. If Adetokunbo had been so carefree or had a death wish as some have alleged he would not have kept records the way he did and neither would he have been checking to make sure every night before we slept that all electric sockets were unplugged and gas knobs were turned off. This was another habit of his that almost assumed the proportion of an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Being such a generous individual and an incurable romantic I had to plead with him every year on my birthday anniversary that he should not host any party, no matter how small. I am even more publicity shy and surely less of a spendthrift. My protests almost always fell on deaf ears with him telling me that I did not know my own worth. Up to the end I got expensive gifts and several greeting cards for each birthday with at least one each time being custom-made. I am certain that there are people present here today whom he sometimes used to achieve the cards/

parties/gifts conspiracy. To these great brothers and friends I say thank you for your goodwill toward us as a couple and for your steadfast support ever since.

Adetokunbo also always wanted us to dine out or even go on date nights or date weekends. He wanted us to visit more exotic locations together and he had drawn up a list. He already wanted to know where in Lagos I wanted us to settle at the end of his tenure and we had already reached a decision. Very often he expressed the wish that we grow old together like many of the elderly couples that we saw around us. He loved the way they assisted each other and the obvious understanding between them. Each night he lovingly checked that I was properly tucked in and not exposed to the cold in our room.

As every member of my family would testify they were treated like royalty. He would always announce to his audience that he did not want the Olagbaiyes to withdraw their daughter from his care and then proceed to shower them with gifts. Bless him. For the support, care and mutual respect we shall all be eternally grateful. This was why they all came, young and old from far and near, to his rites of passage. Finally, as our newspaper/magazine agent can testify, every week he provided me with several magazines on all manner of subjects, more than I could ever cope with. Whenever I begged him to return some of them and save money he would ask if I was planning to carry money to heaven. He also borrowed magazines from his brother for me to read. I could go on and on.

His nephews should please take note. Uncle Toks was extremely close to you and you know what he preached about taking good care of your lawful wedded wives. If you loved him and wish to keep his memory alive then you must treasure your wives. That is what he would have insisted upon and God will empower you in this regard.

And as he never wanted to let any of you down in any way we must please not let down his memory in any way.

The newest husband and dads in the family are not doing badly. As for the nephews-in-law beware for uncle Toks is watching you!

There was no bone of arrogance in Tokunbo. Every morning he made his own tea, he sat on the floor to feed his dog before walking it, washed up our dinner dishes at night and made breakfast with me at weekends. I am sure the stewards at the vice-chancellor’s lodge must have marveled at his attitude and thought him strange at first.

And he always helped to tie my wrapper before leaving for church. After we ran late once and were caught doing this inside the church hall and he was teased he subsequently made sure that I left enough time each Sunday morning for him to sort out that aspect of my dressing.

Even though he related with individuals from different strata of the society and various characters, Adetokunbo reserved his highest regard for those friends and family who are highly principled, who set him high moral standards and who encouraged him to live up to such standards. He clearly recognized the difference between those who sincerely would have him guard at all cost the integrity of his father’s name and those whom he often described as toxic and fairweather friends that would encourage any act all for the sake of mere earthly benefits.

Please join me in celebrating the good things about this truly remarkable gentleman. As Adetokunbo himself was fond of saying, ‘GOD ALONE IS THE FINAL ARBITER’ and ‘E je ki a ma se daada, awon eniyan n wo wa’. May my beautiful one’s beautiful soul find repose with his Maker.

Dr Sofoluwe of the Department of Psychology,University of Lagos, is the widow of Prof Sofoluwe, ex-UNILAG VC.

THE ARTS

55

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

E

XPERIENCES of a lifetime don’t come often. One of such came for photographer Lilian Novo Isioro in August 2012 when she joined nine other artists on a six-week expedition to do art along land routes from Lagos, Nigeria to Kinshasha, Congo. The itinerary was to travel to Calabar, enter Cameroun, Gabon, and finally Congo, all the while doing art. They only made it to Libreville, Gabon due to bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Recalling the major hiccup, Isioro said: “We experienced lots of delays and bad roads.

You will discover there was so much chaos with our borders.

There were times when we were delayed for one whole day, two whole days because we didn’t want to bribe. We didn’t want to pay these border people for us to pass. And we had all the papers. We had all the invites.

So, the delays made us stop at Gabon, Libreville.”

The trip also opened her eyes to the horrible condition of the roads between Cameroun and Nigeria. Recalling a point in the trip, she said, “We were in the mud for three days.”

Nevertheless, for Isioro, the trip still remains indelible.

Invisible Borders was formed by photographer Emeka Okereke with the aim of exploring the diversity and unity amongst the people of the continent by featuring photographers, film-makers, and writers document their experiences on land travels across African countries. Speaking on the essence of travelling across Africa by land, Isioro said, “the whites have been writing our stories as blacks. Now, these people (Invisible Borders) came and said we want to rewrite our story, we want to tell our story by ourselves. We want to use our pictures to tell the story of Africa. And it was a good discovery for us.”

And being a professional photographer, she embarked on a photography project titled, ‘The corporate life of a market woman.’ On what informed it, Isioro said she was struck about

Photography across invisible borders Barely two years in her photography career, Lilian Novo Isioro, is going places.

Featured recently on Al-Jazeera Television combing three African countries with nine other artists on the ‘Invisible Borders’ trip, she tells Joe Agbro Jr. why she wants to photograph African market women the genesis of big institutions that had their roots from the market.

She said, “Whatever trade we have today, it starts from the market.”

Hence, as the team reached cities such as Doula, Yaounde, and Libreville, it was the markets that Isioro sought out, to court the market women. According to her, “the real people that are supposed to be called the ‘corporate people’ are the ‘market people.’

And we don’t see their efforts as good enough. But, for me, maybe because I’m seeing things differently, from an artist’s angle, I see them as people that actually hold the economy.”

Speaking further, she said, “Women are dominant in the markets. I wanted to celebrate their efforts, celebrate their strength.

•Isioro

When I was working in Cameroun and Gabon, I interviewed those women I worked with. I have pictures. Some of them have

been there for years. One of them in Cameroun did a secretarial course and she said she had a choice. But she was making more

money from the market. And she was finding more fulfilment from the market. And she sent her child to university from that same stuff. With all the enquiries I made, I just realised that our economy today lies on the shoulders of these market women.”

Isioro, a 2010 bi-lingual (French and English) executive secretarial administration graduate from the Yaba College of Technology also has a certificate in public relations as well. But she says her choice of a career in photography was ‘divine.’

“I had options to get a job,” she said. “I had fantastic offers but I saw a pamphlet to study photography in my church (Daystar). They do this free skill acquisition programme for two weeks where you can learn any course you want. I took photography. Afterwards, we were supposed to go to the school to pay.

We were going to start another course (also photography). I did that for three months before I went for service (NYSC). So, during my service (in Anambra State), I was taking pictures here and there.

And before I completed service, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

To Isioro who covers social events like weddings and birthdays, Invisible Borders trip was a huge learning experience. “We see photographers as people that cover events in Nigeria but we don’t see photographers that know how to take art,” she said.

“Art is quite different from event photography. There are different aspects, two different approaches, which I am now a master of.”

Doing a recap, Isioro said some parts of the Lagos – Libreville trip could be likened to ‘suffering’, “because at a time, you’ll ask yourself, is it really worth it?”

Obviously, it was, because, she said, “I think it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

And though the trip is over, Isioro is still interested in pursuing The corporate life of market women series. “I want to go to Ghana to continue the project,” she said, wearing a wistful look.

“It’s like a project I want to do around African countries.”

It’s dancing time Penultimate weekend, dance scholars from far and near gathered in Lagos to discuss the challenges of dance scholarship and practice in Nigeria. It was an opportunity also for all the guilds and stakeholders in the sector to push for ways to make dance a more acceptable and recognized profession in the society. Edozie Udeze reports

N

•National Troupe performing at the occasion

IGERIAN dance scholars have called on both the Federal and State governments and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to make available the necessary academic materials to ensure that Dance is made a full-fledged department in the country’s tertiary institutions. During a two-day conference entitled Nigerian Dance Scholars Roundtable Discussion – The challenges of Dance scholarship and practice in Nigeria, the scholars reminded the government that of all the aspects of Theatre, it is only Dance that is still subsumed by others, thereby denying a lot of students and professionals the

opportunity of studying Dance to a degree level.

In his keynote address, Dr. Chris Ogolo of the University of Benin, a seasoned academic who has been teaching Dance for over three decades said: ‘The study of Dance as a course in our tertiary institutions is still in its elementary level. The society’s attitude to dance makes it very difficult for people to see the intrinsic value in it. Even our educational system does not help matters. But for us dance experts, it still remains an aspect of theatre while both

•Conutined on page 56

56

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

Arts/Reviews

Social media evolution: are writers at risk?

I

F a twist is to be written on the popular saying; ‘never judge a book by the cover’, circumstances confronting modern day writers, especially with the advent of the internet is likely to have the saying rephrased as “let the buzz judge the book”. The buzz in this sense relates to the amount of awareness and engagements writers drive on the internet through their books. The reality of the age compels writers to embrace the social media platform in promoting their works or stand the risk of decline in their career advancement considering the growing number of the internet savvy population in Nigeria.

Publishers cannot also deny the fact that the medium is having far-reaching consequences on their trade. Gbenro Adegbola, a publisher involved in learning solutions and resources, claimed that to say that the new media is affecting the fortunes of Nigerian publishing business will be overstating the facts. According to him, “The truth of the matter is that the ecosystem upon which new media strives is still at its infancy here; but it is growing very fast and it is likely to catch many publishers off guard”.

The former Managing Director of Evans Book, however, agreed that new media represents a costeffective means for writers to engage with their public and get word out about themselves and their work.

Temitayo OlofinluaAmogunla, the creative director of Wordsmithy Media who also work as a publicist, be-

By Hannah Ojo

lieves publicity is paramount for both old and new writers to survive in the new terrain.

She admonishes writers who cannot do the work themselves to get a publicist, as writers can tap into the platforms provided by the internet to promote their books. “There are loads of online marketing platforms out there. Even advert on Facebook is affordable, yet many are not using it. A Google ad is there also, Ebooks can also be made and sold. What happened to audio book? Most Nigerian writers are not making use of that”, she exclaimed.

Writers who wish to survive the times they need to realise that it takes more than just style and structure to make a good book. The new deal is that as a writer pays attention to stylistic effects to tell a good story, they also need to pay attention to the opportunities provided by the internet to promote their books. This is like another standard added to the rules for writers-”be social media conscious or be dammed.”

Most times, when Emmanuel Iduma introduces himself, people say they know his name but are shocked that he is younger in real life. This is a privilege that he attributes to the visibility of the brand he was able to create using online media. Emmanuel, who published his debut novel Farad last year and was recently featured on Aljazeera, confessed that online media offered him the first chance of publishing some years ago

•Olufinlua-Amogunla

through Africanwriter.com.

According to him, “The most important component of the web is its potential to reach millions of people; as a result of this, I believe my work has been seen by a host of people who otherwise would not have seen it.” Iduma, who keeps a blog and tweet, frequently confessed that the publicity for his book has been primarily through social media and the effect has transcended what can be done only by words of mouth and physical distributors.

Richard Ali, the owner of Parrésia Publishers, attests to the indispensability of social media for writers who want to stay afloat in the modern age. The indispensability of social media to writers and

•Ali

even publishers proved instructive in the way he runs his business operations. For him, one of the biggest coups his company made was when Nigeria’s retail giant www.konga.com came on board as their online retail partner. This makes it possible for books published by Parrésia to be orderable on websites and purchasable with Nigerian ATM cards or with pay on delivery option. Furthering, he said; “The entire publishing process, from editing to cover design, with authors and clients being carried along all steps of the way, are done via the internet.

We do not spend money or waste time on post or freight except when absolutely necessary keeping our

operations lean and mean”, he told The Nation.

The tradition where people must go to bookshops before buying books is also fading. These days, the upward mobile order their books online. The internet also has a way of impacting sales as it makes books easily available especially for urbane people. Another trend that writers are keying into is to make their books available on sites like Amazon which is easily accessible by those who read through electronic gadgets. This makes books available to readers all over the world without bearing shipping or inventory costs. Ali testifies to this, “We have seen a phenomenal rise in sales from

these channels, especially amongst urban Nigerians”.

He also said of social media.

“Facebook and Twitter help us drive our market to Konga Amazon and bookstore where they can buy our books” adding that his publishing company would not have had its present cutting edge without the internet.

David Ishaya Osu, a student who is an avid consumer of literature books, admit to the fact that the internet has restricted his reading frame by opening his eyes to scopes of literature. “Even though I cannot compare the thrill of holding a book in my hand to reading it online but one should appreciate the realities of the age. Thus, I do not have to wait for three months for a book to be posted to me; just a click and I’ve got the ecopy”. People do not want to be told to go to newspapers or even books to locate one’s writing. They want it in their phones, Ipad, tablets. It is even devastating now that many international publishing firms do online submissions.

Although there is the argument that heavy reliance on the new media as a way of promoting literature detaches the population from critical reading and study of works, the reality is that the changes of the times compels writers to be on guard.

Writers should embrace using the social media as the platforms enable them to use the interactive web by engaging users to participate and create contents as a means of communicating with their social group.

Time for dancing and drumming •Conutined from page 55 Drama and Music have since been made to stand on their own. In all the higher institutions in Nigeria, except perhaps the University of Ilorin, where Dance is a bit defined, Dance has been made to struggle for space and breath.” This, he noted, is not good enough to encourage Dance to develop to an enviable level in the society.

From a book entitled Dance Pedagogy authored by him, Ogolo extracted what he described as the most salient issues to be urgently addressed in order to make Dance prosper and attract the necessary patronage from the public. “There is need for public enlightenment so that both the government and professionals will appreciate the essence of Dance the more.

Beyond that, however, dance itself must be allowed to control and master its environment. The natural resources are there; it is only left for man to fully take charge of what we all know as dance patterns which are inherent in our nature. Dance itself is a health therapy. Man dances not only to earn a living but to also make himself happy and keep his nerves strong and healthy.”

To him, dance is an artistic expression meant to improve

man’s mental agility, help him to argue well, with better poise and self-confidence.

“Therefore, we need to prepare a sound curriculum which the universities should follow to entrench it as a viable course of study. But again, it is better to begin from both the primary and secondary school levels to teach the kids the whole rudiments of dance.

By the time they graduate into adults they’d know what is best for them,” Ogolo stated.

He challenged the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) organisers of the confab to establish a dance studio where practitioners will go from time to time to learn and familiarise themselves with the trade. “It is not only enough to produce dancers and dance patterns. It is also equally good to have a studio where our dancers go to learn everything about dance. The facilities have to be there. There must be room for researcher, and research grants for those who want to do more. In the end, we will be able to train sound and committed students who will give their all to promote dance to the next level,” he said.

In his own contribution, Professor Emmanuel Danzaura of the Nasarrawa State University, Keffi, who

doubles as the president of International Theatre Institute – Nigeria (ITI) and that of The Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA), decried the level of apathy towards Dance both as a course and as a profession. He said: “I have been concerned that the quantum of publications and researches conducted or being conducted on Nigerian dances remains grossly inadequate. This is even when we have numerous talents, dance forms and expressions that abound in the country.”

He went on to remind the gathering that Nigeria’s “tertiary institutions are in dire need of qualified dance scholars, professionals and instructors to teach the available courses. Therefore, I see this conference crystallising with a formidable researchdriven body of dance professionals who are poised to reverse the poor state of scholarship and documentation in this important discipline. This is why ITI – Nigeria under my leadership is ready to partner with and support all stakeholders to mainstream the contribution of our professionals in dance, drama, music, home-video and television productions into world performing arts discourses.”

However, for the dancer

•Ibibio drummers at the occasion

to be seen as a serious artiste and be so appreciated, he has to take himself as a committed professional. “People look down on our dancers because of their own negative attitude to themselves and to what they stand for,” so said Professor Bakare Ojo Rasak, a seasoned dancer and teacher and the Dean of Humanities of the Federal University, Oye – Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Rasak also contended that due to shortage of qualified manpower, it will be difficult to make Dance a complete department. “Even if all of us here now converge in one university, we are not enough to constitute the staff. So, we have a problem at hand. We need to encourage the training of our manpower. It is not enough to dance and make money; it is equally good to go to school. Educa-

tion is the key to the highest level of human endeavour. If we have to make it work, we have to work collectively as a group to push the frontiers of our professional to the highest level,” he said.

The convener of the confab, Arnold Udoka of the NTN, thanked the participants but quickly reminded them that time had come for them to form a committed association to further promote and champion the ideals of dance in the society. “It appears the challenges are both institutional and self-inflicted but we need to respond to these challenges as scholars and that’s the only way we can surmount them and move an ahead,” he said.

There were dance performances by Ijodee, the Crown Troupe of Africa, Guild of Nigerian Dancers, National Troupe of Nigeria and others to embellish the

confab. Most of the dances dwelt on current social issues in Nigeria. Crown Troupe, for instance, used their dance-drama to trace the ills militating against the progress of the country. The satires in the dance indeed moved people to tears. So also was the gun booth dance

by GOND which reminded the people about the heyday of the mine workers in South Africa. Then workers were meant to do booth dance at break time to entertain their bosses and keep their spirits aglow.

Scholars and practitioners came from far and near.

Among them were Teju Kareem, of Zmirage, Greg Odutayo, President of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) and the Secretary General, Steve Ogundele and many others.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

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WORSHIP THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

'How women can change Nigeria' The founder of Real Woman and Deputy Senior Pastor of DayStar Christian Centre, Lagos, Pastor Nike Adeyemi, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the roles of women and how marriages can work shortly after the International Women Conference she organised last week with the theme Making a Difference. Excerpts:

•Adeyemi

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HAT roles can women play in the face of insecurity and terrorism in the country?

Well, I believe the role of women is enormous because of all that is going on. Some women would set up NGO, ministries to provide comfort, succour for those that have been affected by terrorism, by the violence. Rape has been on the increase in recent time in Nigeria and even in Lagos especially where I live, kidnapping also has been on the increase. I think there is a lot the women can do.

We have a shelter where we take care of them, we provide counselling and practical help for girls that have been raped and we also have an orphanage for abandoned babies. That is a way of contributing my own quota. We have been talking to women to teach their children morals, to teach them the right ways and be hard working, to have the spirit of excellence, not to give bribes, not to cheat in exams.

Women, who are married, should also give support to their husbands enough for them to be able to give their best out there. There is so much we can do. We have been called to make a difference.

Sometimes, your smile can make a difference in another man's life because there is so much hurt, pains, poverty. We can give as well, not until you have so much. You can do the little you can do and encourage others.

How have you been coping with funding for your NGO? Well, the NGO is funded to the glory of God by individuals; people who are aware of what we are doing; Some who have been touched with what we are doing. Ini-

tially, it was funded from my personal purse purely but my husband joined me. Then later the church, though it is not under the church but because our church gives to other notfor- profit organisations, there came a time they realised they can also partner with support.

They gave us some fund.

Individuals also support. In the last three years, we have found corporate organisations come to visit us, visit the orphanage. They see the children and they are so touched some people are taking up the sponsorship of some of the children.

A girl has graduated from the university with a second class upper two years ago.

Right now, I have one in part two and another one in part three and people are sponsoring them. We don't have government or foreign funding

yet.

The message of women empowerment is becoming vociferous lately and a lot of people are saying that is why divorce is on the increase. Do you agree with this?

People say the message of empowerment is what has opened the eyes of women who are now empowered.

They say women in the western world and generally are not being patient anymore again like our mothers and grandmothers.

But the message we are preaching, by the grace of God, is balanced because I am married, and by the grace of God this year our marriage will be 20 years. I am an empowered woman by God's doing. I believe I have been empowered from a young age. My parents do not believe that as a girl you should not be sent to school. I believe I have been empowered from a young age, but coming into Christ, becoming a minister, I got more empowerment and it has not made me to feel I should go on my own or leave my husband.

Women don't just want to throw in the towel anyhow.

Women want to be fulfilled.

They want wings to fly, they want to be accomplished. At the same time they want to stay married. So, what we encourage is the support from the men. They should make life easier for her, don't make life difficult for her.

We are praying to have

NEWS

men who will not be easily intimidated, even if your wife is a high- flyer she is still your wife. You are, still the head of the family. There is no woman that wants to leave her matrimonial home but if she is going to die there, if it looks like a matter of life and death, she would leave and that is what we are seeing today. What we are seeing today are women that are being battered, women that are being beaten.

You would recall the female banker that was battered by her husband who later killed her. The case is still in court but the girl is dead. She was an empowered woman. If she wanted to throw in the towel, she would have opened up. But she didn't. She wanted to keep her home but at last she died there. If you are being beaten and you are going to die there, move out. Let things be resolved, it's a balance. I don't believe in divorce.

I don't advocate it but marriage should be within the sanctity of life.

Women don't seem to have equal chances in the society compared to their male counterparts. How can this be corrected?

It is just the bias over the years. Women have been relegated to the background.

They seem not to be given the voice and allowed to come to the forefronts but things are getting better now. What we advocate for women is not a matter of women liberation or whatever. We are already liberated, especially if you are a

Christian legislators mark 5th anniversary

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HE Christian Legislators' Fellowship International (CLFI) has concluded plans to build a befitting chapel at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The President of the Fellowship, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, disclosed this at a breakfast fellowship to mark the 5th anniversary of the organisation.

He said the fellowship was already reaching out to more states and local government legislatures across the country.

The celebration with the theme Rebuilding the old waste places featured praises, choir ministration, hymns, special numbers, prayers and messages.

The fellowship specifically prayed for members of

•Plan to build chapel in Abuja From Sanni Onogu, Abuja the National Assembly, judiciary, executive, national and state assemblies and local governments.

The guest speakers, Pastor John Enelamah and Engr. Steve Olumuyiwa, emphasised the need for the legislature to lead the way for the nation's transformation.

Olumuyiwa likened legislators to God due to their lawmaking role.

He said God, as a lawgiver, has delegated that all important attributes to human lawmakers.

He noted that the greatest problem confronting the country today is lack of order.

Olumuyiwa insisted that it

is only good laws that can restore the nation to its pride of place in the comity of nations.

He urged legislators to live for change to reverse the prevailing season of turmoil and insecurity in the land.

The cleric noted that God was set to remove indiscipline from the country but needs legislators to lead the way.

He urged the National Assembly to make laws with the fear of God in order to lift the nation out of the darkness of corruption, underdevelopment, insecurity, poor power supply and dilapidated infrastructure.

Imo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Plateau and Nasarawa States were represented at the anniversary.

Christian woman. Christ has liberated you.

Even if you look in the Bible, there were women like Deborah who was a judge in Israel. She would sit under the palm tree and judge the people. If it were today, she would have an office. It was under a palm tree she sat and Israel came and she judged them.

That was a court. She was also a prophetess; God's mouth piece. She followed people like Barrack, a captain in the army, to war. She encouraged them.

We have realised now that women shouldn't wait for men to make way, they must begin to do things. It is an old school thing that 'men are not allowing us'. We have power; we have influence. If you look at the Lord Jesus, he chose 12 disciples. Those 12 were men. He didn't put women there, not because of anything, not that he didn't like women, but among the 70 there were women and there were women who didn't have titles or positions. They were part of Jesus' disciples.

Women should not wait for titles; they should not complain. It is only 30per cent quota we were given at the

Beijing Conference many years ago, though not many countries are following it. They should keep working behind the scene, because one day, there will come a time when people will ask who will solve this problem for us? By the time they recommend a woman who is qualified, no one would be able to say no. We are powerful in raising the next generation, women can become king makers. If you like, don't give me any position but I can train my children to get to that post and at the end of the day, that is a position of influence, and when that governor or president is doing well, they will trace and ask who trained this man or woman and the woman who raised such a person would be celebrated.

More and more women are indicating interest in politics.

What would you tell them?

I will tell them to be closer to God. Even though they have their godfathers who they consult, I would tell them they must make sure they have the father God. They have to get information about what they are going into. It is a good thing for women to aspire because they are sensitive and they have passion.

xxx

READ T S U M 50 N NIGERIAAN I CHRIST R S AUTHO Are you a Christian author? Are you bothered about poor exposure at bookshops and limited patronage?

The Nation is offering you an unbeatable opportunity to showcase your books and talk about your passion.

The 2-in-1 project involves an advert supplement backed with a profile story on each participant.

Kindly contact Sunday Oguntola on 08034309265 or shinystarontop@gmail.com for advert details and participation.

You will be glad you did!

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

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COLUMNS

Protecting your family heritage (4)

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HERE are certain things that make the covenant blessing work in a family. One of such things we shall discuss in this issue is the fear of the Lord.

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Psalms 112:1-2 The fear of the Lord is a holy reverence for God. It is not the fear of terror. It is such a reference that you want to please Him at all times, whether in good or bad times.

It is that holy reference that makes you keep away from secret sins which your spouse or children may not know.

Your parents may not see you but you fear God because He sees you.

Joseph feared God so he refused to commit adultery with his master’s wife.

Daniel also feared God and he purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the king’s meal.

So those who go around defiling themselves with men, women, with all manner of evil cannot partake in the family covenant blessings.

Those who fear God don’t come late to God’s presence.

If you cannot go late for your interview appointment for job, how do you come late into God’s presence?

The fear of God makes you not to defile God’s house and God’s presence. There are leaders, ministers, church people, church workers defiling themselves and defiling God’s house. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile him-

Archbishop Sam Amaga

Family Heritage self (Daniel 1:8).

WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD? 1. The fear of God makes you live clean before God (Psalm 19:9).

2. The fear of the Lord grants you access to God’s secrets (Psalm 25:14).

God has secrets my friend.

God’s secrets can protect you and make you great in life. It was God’s secrets that job discovered that made him prosper wonderfully (Job 29:3-6).

Those who lay hold on God’s secrets will outshine every darkness and every storm in life.

When you lay hold on God’s secrets – nothing will be impossible to you. When you catch God’s secrets, you lay hold on God’s presence and friendship. This is when the covenant of family generational blessing will come on you.

3. God rescue those who fear Him in the times of affliction Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in

his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalms 33:18-19 The Message translation puts it this way; Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He's ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

Parents you need to flow in these blessing. Children need to flow in these blessings.

Parents keep blessing your children daily. Children keep obeying your parents daily.

4. Children who will be blessed with the covenant generational blessing must be ready to listen to instructions of parents.

The Message translation of Proverbs 13:1 says; Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing Some children do not have Godly parents to speak Godly future into their destinies. Such children need to be planted under strong spiritual parents who will speak to their destinies and will not exploit and use them for selfish purposed.

I put the name of the lord upon you to bless you.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:2327 I put the name of the Lord upon you all my readers and your family; and you are blessed in Jesus’ mighty name.

Contact: Archbishop Sam Amaga @ Foundation Faith Church, Salem Kado Life Camp Extension, Abuja.

E-mail: salemmissionhouseabuja@yahoo.com Phone: 08023018836

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Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Fulfilling your glorious destiny! (2)

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AST week, I taught on the reality of divine vision, what vision is and why we need vision. This week, I will be teaching on how glorious our destiny is, how to access divine vision and two Biblical proofs of vision.

How glorious is our destiny?

•We have a spiritual root in Abraham by the Blood of Jesus. Our destiny is ordained after the order of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14). God's Word says: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). So, every child of God is a seed of Abraham.

Every seed of Abraham is a fountain of blessing (Genesis 22:17-18). No seed of Abraham is ordained a burden. So, you are a fountain of blessing, because as far as your eye can see shall be given to you. You need to be able to appreciate your root in defining your destiny.

• It's an enviable destiny, not a pitiable destiny. So, never mistake your present condition for your portion.

We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. You need to see it first. Spiritual understanding is being able to see what God is saying.

I was a multi-trillionnaire when I had no money. What I saw was what I believed, not what I was. So, you need a global perspective, conception and mentality to walk in it.

Every seed of Abraham is destined to be a global citizen and that includes you. Every seed of Abraham is a global phe-

nomenon. That is, you carry a global seed within you.

I want you to be able to see. Vision is not just about knowing where you are going or what you are doing; it's about being able to see what God is showing you in His Word.

•We are destined to shine.

We are destined to shine in a manner that we outshine every other thing that shines.

Redemption makes us a people to be sought after. We are the salt of the earth. Salt is a fundamental requirement for various things on the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). It's a major industrial chemical. So, every child of God is to be sought after. By redemption, you are ordained a pacesetter, a trailblazer and a pathfinder.

•Redemption positions us above all nations of the world by destiny (Deuteronomy 28:1). Where we are is not as important as what we see. It's not where we are that determines the outcome of our lives, but what we see (Genesis 13:14-15). Note that every glorious destiny opens up by vision.

How to access divine plan?

•You must be born again.

Why? Because the Holy Spirit is the custodian of God's plan and purpose for us. It takes a spirit to hear the Spirit (John 3:6-7). So, your spirit-man comes alive at new birth, with the ability to hear what the Spirit of God is saying, and to see what the Spirit of God is showing (John 16:13-14).

For instance, your pet can't appreciate anything on the

screen of your television. Even if you sleep with your pet on the same bed, it has no capacity to appreciate anything on your television, because it does not belong to the human realm. New birth turns you into a spirit being, so you can hear God, who is a Spirit.

•You must be spiritual. It's one thing to be born again, it's another thing to be a spiritual man or woman -- one that walks in the fear of God (Psalms 25:12). A natural man cannot know or discern things of the Spirit. It takes a spiritual man to access divine plan (1Corinthians 2:14). It is possible to be born again and still be carnal. This disqualifies your access to vision and revelation.

•You must depend on the Holy Ghost. You must depend on the Holy Ghost, who is the custodian of God's plan and purpose (John 16:12-13).

You depend on Him to unveil the next phase of God's plan for your life. Destiny is in phases. The Holy Ghost opens destinies in phases. For instance, I have not had the first regret following Holy Ghost's plan. Concerning Canaan Land, He told me, "This Is The Place!" I believed Him and depended on Him. Today, I am not surprised at the great things happening in Canaan City!

Biblical proofs of a true vision: •Divine presence: The pursuit of every divine plan guarantees divine presence (Psalm 23:1-2), which is your guarantee for supernatural breakthroughs. When God sent His apostles on a mission, He went with them (Mark 16:15-20). God's presence guarantees His leadings, and when God is leading the way, no door can be shut in His presence.

•Divine peace: Divine plan is accompanied by divine peace (Psalm 23:2). Even when there are challenges, you will sleep as deep as a child, simply because of divine peace. This peace can't be explained but it is undeniable (Psalm 85:8).

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with us through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

26-year-old wins RCCG talent hunt

A •Chinyere presenting one of the motorcycles to a beneficiary at the presentation

OPM lifts villagers with motorcycles, hair dryers

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HE indigenes of BunuTai, in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, received pleasant surprises last week.

Ten motorcycles, hair dryers, sewing machines and farm implements were distributed free of charge to the villagers courtesy of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Port-Harcourt.

The General Overseer of the church, Apostle (Dr.) Chibuzor Chinyere, assured he would never get tired of identifying with the lessprivileged.

He pledged the construction of a 2-bedroom apart-

By Sunday Oguntola

ment to widows in the village.

He said he was motivated to embark on humanitarian activities to uplift the poor.

According to him: "This is how to demonstrate the love of Christ and passion for humanity that have defined our ministry.”

Mrs. Princess Joy, who was among those that received the sewing machines, said the gesture will help her fight poverty, while praising the church.

Tombari Ote, who was

given a motorcycle, said the gift will enable him to take care of his needs and that of his family.

The member representing Koroma-Tai Ward, Hon. Louis Ayebari-Mbanu, described the gesture as unprecedented in the community.

He said he was shocked that Chinyere fulfilled his promises, which he took with a pinch of salt only few days later.

Other members of the community received cassava stems, plantain suckers and financial support.

26-year-old gospel musician, Obinna Maduka, has won the talent hunt at the 2nd edition of Lagos Shift 2013 organised

by The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in conjunction with Afreen Oil and Total Upstream Oil. Maduka, who won through an electronic e-voting among 20 contestants, received N1 million, a plaque and was appointed the Lagos Shift Ambassador 2013.

Over 10,000 youths across the nation participated in the talent hunt, which featured comedy, music, dance and special features on reaching out to youths.

It held in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja from April 13-May 1.

The contestants performed to the admiration of all in comedy and dancing.

Ace musician King Sunny Ade also greeted the audience with Christian music.

The Special Adviser to the

By Adeola Ogunlade General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Youth Affairs, Pastor Laja Daramola, said the competition was aimed at encouraging youths to effectively use their God-given talents to propagate the gospel of the Lord.

A motivational speaker and mentor, Pastor Kunle

Sorinyan, charged the youths to draw close to Christ to access wealth, good health, success and dominion in life.

Maduka said the award will enable him put in more efforts.

"This award is a reward for all hard work that I have put in over two weeks and it is only the beginning and an indication of what can be achieved with dedication."

•The publisher of LifeWay Magazine, Mr. Jackson Ekwugum, cutting his 50th birthday cake with family in Lagos recently. The ceremony coincided with the launch of his book, The Race.

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New ID scheme will reduce crime— Onyemenam -- Page 60

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XCESSIVE litigations, lack of understanding of the legal role of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as liquidator, are parts of the problem crisis hampering the effective settlement of depositors, NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim has said.

Ibrahim made this remark at the opening ceremony of the sensitisation seminar for NDIC External Solicitors in Abuja over the weekend, with the theme: “Challenges to Deposit Insurance Law and Practice in Nigeria.”

The NDIC boss said in the over 20 years of the Corporation’s existence, it had made giant strides in protecting depositors’ funds through its statutory mandate of deposit guarantee, bank supervision, bank failure resolution and bank liquidation.

Litigations delay claims settlement—NDIC boss

By Bukola Afolabi

He, however, added that the execution of court judgments against the assets of the Corporation as liquidator and the difficulty in recovering debts owed to failed banks were part of the challenges that must be addressed for the NDIC to have a greater impact on depositor protection. He described the seminar as a crucial step towards tackling these

challenges by enhancing the capacity of lawyers to gain a full understanding of the legal issues involved.

Papers presented at the seminar included: “Discourse on The Proper Parties to a Suit in Respect of a Bank Liquidation” presented by NDIC Director Legal Department, Barr. A. B. Nyako and “The Recovery of Debt under the Failed Bank Act: Application for Debt Recovery (Form A)” by

A. B. Mahmud (SAN).

The second leg of the seminar is expected to hold in Lagos next week.

It would also be recalled that the Corporation held similar sensitization seminars for judges in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute in June 2012 and the Federal High Court in March 2013 respectively.

FMBN boss tasks informal sector on housing From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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HE Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Gimba Ya’u Kumo has urged Nigerians in the informal sector to form cooperatives for easy assessment of housing scheme.

Kumo disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, in Abuja, assuring that as soon as the corporative is formed, the government will start working on it to ensure availability of houses.

He said, “Currently, we have a desk in the 36 states of the federation, and other eight zones including the FMBN Headquarters which means we have over forty desks for the public to reach out to. All they need to do is go to FMBN office in the country ask for the desk in charge of housing cooperative registration and get the information they need.”

Responding, Governor Imoke said he has come to strengthen the relationship between the state and the FMBN and developers in providing affordable houses for Cross Riverians.

He said so far the state has become a model to other states in the provision of houses, the present housing model is the first that has so far been delivered since the 1970s, the state government has provided infrastructure at low prices for the first two hundred housing units.

•From left: Head, Human Resources Department, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ms Pai Gamde; Chief of Staff/Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko and Director/Head of Assets Management, FBN Capital, Mr. Michael Oyebola at the NSE Retail Investors’ Clinic in Lagos recently

NCC sets June 30th deadline for SIM reg

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HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced June 30th as deadline for the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration exercise.

Making this disclosure at the weekend was the Director of Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who tweeted the breaking news on his Twitter handle, said the decision to end the registration exercise was taken after a meeting between the Commission and the Service providers.

According to him, the SIM card registration exercise which began since March 28, 2011 will come to an end on the 30th June, 2013, and all SIM

cards that are not registered will be barred.

“There’s now a window opportunity for those who have not registered their SIM cards to do so, otherwise from the 30th June, they will be barred and can’t use the number anymore to make calls,” he said.

Ojobo further said that the total number of registered SIMs will be made known after the June 30th cutoff date.

The NCC, whose initial deadline for the SIM registration was on the 28th September 2011, had since being harmonisation and collation the results of the exercise, a process that has

enabled subscribers who hitherto were not able to meet the deadline of the registration, to do so.

According to the regulator, there are more than 113 million active telephone lines in the country. It is feared that the total number of unregistered SIM cards could still be much; and the 52 days window period is a great opportunity for subscribers to register to SIM cards.

It would be recalled that NCC began the SIM registration procedures since 2008, in view of complaints by security agencies of the increasing wave of mobile phone crimes in the country.

Africa can guarantee global food security—World Bank

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HE World Bank has tipped Africa has a potential world food supplier owing to its fertile farmland, enough water and favourable climates.

According to World Bank analysis, growth in the agriculture sector is 2.5 times as effective at reducing poverty as growth in other sectors.

Besides, it said, renewed emphasis on agriculture over the past decade, and especially in the last several years, has yielded important results. Overall, poverty in sub-Saharan Africa fell by almost five percentage points between 2005 and 2008 – the largest fall since the international community started calculating poverty rates.

As of January 2013, 24 countries have signed 60 companies,

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

half from Africa, have committed more than $4 billion in private investment.

For the first time, the absolute number of people living in extreme poverty in Africa has fallen despite rapid population growth, from 395 million in 2005 to 386 million in 2008. Underpinning this success story are several standout countries that have experienced historic agriculture growth.

Ethiopia, for instance, has witnessed its most rapid growth period in history, averaging 9.5% from 2005 to 2009. In Ghana, the 5.5% average annual growth of agriculture has surpassed growth in its non-agricultural sectors. Malawi transformed from one of the worst-per-

forming agricultural economies in sub-Saharan Africa 2000-2006 to achieving an impressive annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2006-2009 – though recent travails underline the importance of consistency in policy implementation.

Last year, 2012 African Union Chairperson and President of Benin Yayi Boni declared that 2014 will be the year of agriculture in Africa.

This presents a once-in-a decade opportunity for a review and renewal of African leadership and commitment to another African-led decade for agriculture, which seriously learns from the successes and shortcomings of the previous decade to accelerate the pace of progress.

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), born out of Af-

rican leaders’ Maputo pledges a decade ago, has put in motion an African-led vision and process that is delivering important progress.

Twenty-four countries have signed, technically-vetted, inclusively-developed national agriculture plans, while another six countries have committed to start the process and develop them.

This commitment has translated into tangible gains. Nine out of the 19 countries with agriculture investment plans that was assessed in this report are on track to meet Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving extreme poverty by 2015.

Eleven of the 15 countries with available data have achieved their respective Maputo average annual agriculture GDP growth rate target of 6% or more.

Briefs 15 microfinance banks to merge

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IFTEEN out of the 450 microfinance banks in the SouthWest have indicated their interest to merge with the stronger ones.

This disclosure was made recently by Olufemi Babajide, the South-West Zonal Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMBs).

Babajide informed that the merger was to beat the CBN’s directive that the banks should recapitalise

by December.

“Fifteen banks are undergoing the process of merging at the association level. I believe other microfinance banks are also arranging for merger outside the association, but I do not have the figure. In April, it was 13 of the banks that opted to merge and now it has increased to 15 banks,” he said.

Babajide added that the parties involved had exhibited high sense of maturity because the association wanted to ensure that none of its members went under. The apex bank, had in 2011, directed the operators to raise their capital base or go under.

According to the recapitalisation framework, operator of unit, state or national microfinance bank must have a minimum capital of N20 million, N100 million and N2 billion, respectively.

Commodity pricing compels attention among stakeholders

By Biodun-Thomas Davids

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HE merits and demerits of commodity pricing were hotly debated among stakeholders at the weekend, with experts stressing the need for value for money rather than pricing.

The event was at the Distributor’s Meeting organised by Stakeholder’s Multi –Trex Integrated Foods Plc, in Lagos.

The members of the audience, who comprised mainly distributors, lamented how pricing is negatively affecting consumers buying behaviour as well as unimpressive sales figures.

The distributors specifically mentioned that the brands which are new in the market are more expensive than other established generic products.

To the distributors, the best marketing option with which to build loyalty for the brands especially among low income earners remains price slash.

The Managing Director, Diemji Owofemi and his Deputy, Yusuf Isiaka, in separate responses, said they were not ready to trade the quality and health benefits of the brands for pricing, adding that any move in that direction might affect the quality of the brands and their aim of offering high quality Fast Food Consumer Goods (FFCG) to the general public.

Owofemi particularly mentioned the unstable international price of cocoa raw beans as one of the key factors determining the prices of the brands, while the Executive Director, Commercial, of the company further blamed the price of the commodity on cost of diesel for power supply, stressing that they powered their plants 24 hours per day with electricity power generator.

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In search of legacy companies Experience has shown that most local businesses are jinxed. Reason: they hardly survive as soon as their founders and promoters die. In this report, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf examines the issues

•Moribond businesses (inset: Odutola, Abiola and Ojukwu)

was a widely acclaimed businessman, with business interests cutting across manufacturing, aviation, construction, publishing, oil and gas, school, agriculture, to mention just a few.

But following Abiola’s demise, his business empire has gone downhill, with little or no hope of a rebound.

Abiola’s businesses, including Concord Press, Summit Oil, Radio Communication of Nigeria (RCN), Concord Publishing Limited, Abiola Bookshop, Concorde Airline, to mention just a few, are in shambles.

Family sources, who confided in The Nation, said most of the businesses have either been bought over or have ceased to exist outright.

Other businesses that had existed under family holdings but are now moribund include Okada Airline, Igbinedion Motors and Crown Merchant Bank hitherto owned by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. The Igbinedion business empire grew in fame and popularity but has since fizzled out like an effervescent.

ACB, West African Pilot, African Insurance Com-

pany, all parts of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s business concerns, have also become extinct, ditto for Ojukwu Transport and Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa’s Al-barka Air. Manufacturing firms have also suffered similar fate with many no longer existing, thus leading to job losses.

Specifically, the NASCO conglomerate, African Ocean Line, Eleganza Industries in Lagos, Okin Biscuits and Okin Foam, Offa, Kwara State, Crown Beverages are a few of these firms that have gone to extinction,

even with the founders of Eleganza, Crown Beverages and the Okin Industries still alive.

Confirming the escalating job losses in the leather sector, Mustapha Nabegu, Chairman, Leather and Allied Products branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the development was worrisome.

“LAPAN –The Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria represents more than 200 business organisations (BMOs) in the leather production value chain.”

“

Business failure, especially from indigenous point of view in Nigeria, is quite rampant and is quite disturbing. When you consider notable businesses, indigenous business individuals, such as the late Moshood Abiola, had a very big time business empire and at the end you could see that that is a huge loss to the economy because when Abiola was alive he gave massive employment to the country

“

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NLIKE other climes where businesses have survived generations after generations, in Africa, nay Nigeria, most businesses have had the misfortune of dying with their founders.

In the view of analysts, Nigeria has a high turnover of businesses with many crumbling midway or dying a natural death as soon as their owners are no more.

A horse of recall For the avoidance of doubt and confusion, a few examples would suffice.

The late Chief Adeola Timothy Odutola of the Odutola Holding fame remains a reference point as far as indigenous business is concerned. The late Odutola came to national limelight in the early 50s with investments spanning several sectors.

According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Odutola remains the foremost Nigerian, and perhaps, African, industrialist in history who had businesses that were household names in the country. His fleet of companies included: Odutola Nigerian Industries Limited manufacturers of bicycle tyres and tubes in IjebuOde; Odutola Tyre soles Company Limited with factories in Ibadan, Kano and Onitsha - re-threading automotive tyres; Odutola Tyre & Rubber Company Limited, etc.

Investigation by The Nation, however, revealed that Odutola Tyre & Rubber Company is no longer in existence as the premises which housed the company at the old Lagos Road, IjebuOde, Ogun State, has been converted to a residential building.

Like Odutola, the late Hamzat Adebowale founded Adebowale Stores as a retail outlet in Lagos.

Taking advantage of the federal government’s favourable industrial policies later on, Adebowale incorporated Adebowale Electrical Industries Limited as a manufacturing concern.

The move marked a turning point in his career from a businessman to a manufacturer, especially in 1975, when the young company rolled out its first set of locally manufactured electrical/electronic products, opening branches in Ibadan, Kano and Lagos.

Investigation by The Nation also revealed that following the death of Adebowale few years ago, his estate, which comprises his vast business empire, is no longer what it used to be.

An insider who used to work with the patriarch of the Adebowale family confided in The Nation that the lack of proper succession plan has been the bane of the once-thriving business empire of the late business mogul.

Like Odutola, the late business mogul and politician Chief Moshood Abiola

Nigeria, he recalled, “used to have a vibrant footwear industry with companies such as Bata, which is now known as FAMAD, Anita, Silver, Superior Shoes, Lennards, Top Crown, Whanu Shoe, John White, Unik Shoes, Lado Shoes, among others, in operation. Most of these companies are either dead or moribund, mainly due to unpatriotic abuse of government policies that have genuinely been put in place to ginger non-oil exports through Export Expansion Grant (EEG), which unfortunately leads to the mad rush for raw material export, to the detriment of local shoe factories.

“In the artisan segment, in Kano alone, we lost not less than 1,000,000 jobs courtesy the failure of the EEG scheme, as well as other factors, the most obvious of these are electricity and water challenges.

“We have also confirmed that about 80 to 120 million pairs of shoes are being imported into Nigeria every year. It is our belief that with little support from government, our local footwear industry is capable of meet-

ing these needs. This will in turn create hundreds of thousands of jobs, through the value chain, create enormous wealth and also help to conserve our scarce foreign exchange.”

Making of successful legacy companies Some existing foreign businesses with long years of history dating back over a century and counting include the following: Ford Motors, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wal-Mart, MacDonald’s, Johnnie Walker, Coca Cola, General Electric, Sony, Panasonic, Julius Bergers, General Motors, to mention just a few.

The common thread which runs through most of these companies is their “survivability”, which according to Mr. Sola Oladipupo, a brand specialist, is the ability to sustain brand equity.

Expatiating, Oladipupo said: “Compared to most of our indigenous businesses, a lot of companies that have survived centuries and are still in existence have been able to achieve that longevity simply by adopting win-

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In search of legacy companies Continued from page 61 ning techniques which have stood them in good stead.

Winning techniques, if you may, are not cast in stones.

The world is dynamic, and so it also requires any business set for the top to be able to think out of the box.”

“There are also bad stories out there. For instance, IBM typewriters, Polaroid cameras, to mention just two, are no longer in vogue. The promoters of these businesses probably didn’t take the initiative when their contemporaries did and hence were driven out of business,” he stressed.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwade, General Manager, Finance, Nigeria Import Export Bank (NEXIM), at a public forum in Lagos recently, observed that any businessman worth his salt must adopt what he described as “the IMF, the three nuggets of business success, which are ideas, management and finance.”

In the view of Funso Olaolu, an ICT expert, studies have shown that most businesses that have stood the test of time was because their founders had sound vision, ideas, clear succession plan, and governance structure to drive same.

Longevity As far as longevity is concerned, Johnnie Walker has had to weather more than 200 years of existence on the global market and 92 years on the Nigerian scene.

Giving some insight on the company’s history, Thomas Jones, Global Brand Ambassador of Johnnie Walker, said, “Nearly 200 years ago, a farm hand named John Walker began a journey – selling blended whisky from a small grocery store in Kilmarnock, Scotland. John Walker was born at Toddriggs Farm, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1805.

“After the death of his father, he opened his grocery shop in Kilmarnock, Scotland, in 1820, selling malt Scotch whisky. Before long, he started blending his own whisky; hence the Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky was born.”

Jones attributed the success of the Johnnie Walker brand to the consistency of “flavours, commitment to our connoisseurs and building a brand that is recognised by all for its enduring qualities.”

Experts’ recipe for building legacy companies While attempting a prognosis of the crisis facing indigenous businesses, analysts have argued that unfavourable policies of government may have contributed in part to the inability of these businesses to survive.

Citing the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Dr. Greg Idaho, an economist, said the policy which came with its abundant devaluation of the naira led to the collapse of many businesses. “Because the quantum of naira they required to purchase the appropriate amount of foreign exchange for their raw materials had

List of moribund businesses •Okada Air •West African Pilot •African Insurance Company •Ojukwu Transport •Odutola Nigerian Industries Limited •Odutola Tyre soles Company Limited •Odutola Tyre & Rubber Company Limited •BEREC Batteries Limited •Al-barka Air •ACB •African Ocean Line •The Concord newspaper •Concord Press •Summit Oil •Radio Communication of Nigeria (RCN) •Concord Publishing Limited •Abiola Bookshop •Concorde Airline •Okin Biscuits •Okin Foam •Crown Beverages •Igbinedon Motors •Eleganza Industries •NASCO Conglomerate

risen considerably, most of them were forced to close down due to shortage of working capital required to finance constant importation of raw materials. The banks could not help them because most of them were either undercapitalised or about to be distressed as a result of the effects of SAP. This continued until the naira became totally devalued and both the interest rate and the rate of inflation got out of hand,” Idaho recalled.

“Business failure, especially from indigenous point of view in Nigeria, is quite rampant and is quite disturbing. When you consider notable businesses, indigenous business individuals, such as the late Moshood Abiola, had a very big time business empire and at the end you could see that that is a huge loss to the economy because when Abiola was alive he gave massive employment to the country. But death brought an end to that business.

That goes to say that some of the indigenous entrepreneurs are not good managers, including the late Abiola himself, because of lack of succession plan. The whole business was built around himself (Abiola) and that was not good for the country and his name as well.

“You can also consider the Igbinedion empire, the massive investment. For instance, Okada Air was a name to reckon with in this country; but because of inadequate plan or lack of succession plan, that business has gone down. Again, it goes further to say a lot about the lifestyle of the entrepreneur that you don’t make wealth and reduce those wealth to oneself, the wealth is no longer yours.

You just have to eat from it, within the limit of your ability to eat and leave the rest behind for the country be-

cause when you die, it does not mean that all the people you gave birth to have to die.”

Speaking further, Oreoluwa said, “You can also go back to the recent one, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

He was also a successful person. But there is legal tango here and there by his dependants that are struggling to control what he owned. That legal tango, which was also the case with the Abiola situation, would end up destroying his establishment. You look at Adedoyin, he was known everywhere but not many of his businesses are thriving today. Again, if you look at the culture of building businesses around oneself, you discover that as soon as the man dies, the business would not be there. Nigeria is not yet positioned for sustainable sovereignty. Sovereignty, because the wealth of the people is the wealth of the nation. Most businesses are not well-cultured, neither are they organised.

It also tells you that Nigeria is standing with an imbalanced leg.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Thomas Oreoluwa, a credit analyst, however, warned that the present crop of businessmen and entrepreneurs should have a proper succession plan in place so as to ensure continuity even after they are gone.

“As an industrialist, you hope you have contributed to the GDP of the economy by creating jobs and all of that, but by yourself again, you’re destroying it on the long run. We look at the likes of Dangote now, Mike Adenuga, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Jimoh Ibrahim, Cosmas Maduka, these guys should put in place good succession plan, so that their successes which the nation and the world are celebrating today will not end up with them when they are no more,” Oreoluwa admonished.

In the view of Mr. Boniface Okezie, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, one best way to guarantee survival for business is for them to be listed on the stock exchange.

Speaking with The Nation over the weekend, the shareholders’ boss said, “The only way is for family businesses, personal business to be listed on the stock exchange. That way, the company is out of the control of the family, it then becomes a publicly quoted company, where professional consideration, and not sentiment, informs every decision to be taken in the interest of the company. That way, it is no longer a one-man show. I recall that the late Moshood Abiola was the president of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria at a time but he never got his companies properly listed.”

Continuing, he said, “For instance, ABC Company, founded by Frank Nnaji, is one company that will outlive the owner simply because it is now owned by the public because the founder has taken the right steps by having it listed on the exchange.”

GSK commits £15 million towards child mortality in Africa

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LAXOSMITHKLINE has announced a five year strategic plan to commit at least £15million as well as encourage its global workforce to help raise awareness through volunteering and fundraising, to save the lives of a million children in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Sir Andrew Witty, Chief Executive Officer, GSK, dropped this hint recently while addressing a teleconference in London.

According to the GSK boss, the charity giving is being made possible as a result of the synergy of cooperation his company has with Save the Children, a nonprofit, non-governmental organisation that works in more than 120 countries and helps to save children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfil their potential.

Announcing the partnership, Sir Witty said: “A partnership of this scale gives us an opportunity to do something amazing – to save the lives of one million children and to transform the lives of millions more. At GSK we are motivated by developing innovative life-saving medicines and getting them to the people that need them.

•Witty

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

By joining forces with Save the Children, we can amplify these efforts to create a new momentum for change and stop children dying from preventable diseases. I hope this partnership inspires GSK employees and sets a new standard for how companies and NGOs can work together towards a shared goal.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Justin Forsyth, the Chief Executive of Save the Children said, “This ground breaking partnership involves both organisations working in genuinely new ways to save the lives of a million children. In the past Save the Children may not have embarked on a collabo-

ration with a pharmaceutical company like GSK. But we believe we can make huge gains for children if we harness the power of GSK’s innovation, research and global reach.”

The GSK-Save the Children partnership will also focus on widening vaccine coverage to the poorest children, increasing investment in health workers, as well as developing a low-cost nutritional product to help combat child malnutrition.

Amongst the key initiatives are the transformation of an antiseptic used in mouthwash into a life-saving product for new-borns and the roll-out of a powder-form of an antibiotic in child friendly doses to help fight pneumonia - one of the main killers of children under five.

Save the Children and GSK have been working together for eight years on a number of public health projects, including GSK’s initiative to reinvest 20% of the profits it makes in leastdeveloped-countries in community programmes to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, primarily through the training of community health workers.

•From left: Finance Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jelle Kleefstra; Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs. Ore Famurewa; Managing Director, Mr. Peter Eshikena; Marketing Manager, Mr. Sharman Jha and Human Resources Manager, Mr. Robert Maduekwe, during the first Fitness Walk of the staff and managers of the company held at Hermitage beach, Akodo Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos recently.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Access Bank, Mastercard partner on cashless Nigeria

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CCESS Bank as part of its effort to promote the cashless and financial inclusion policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is forging a synergy of cooperation with MasterCard in conjunction with the Nigerian National Identity Management Commission (NNIMC) to rollout 13 million MasterCardbranded National Identity Smart Cards (NISC) with electronic payment capability as a pilot programme.

This revelation was made at the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa.

As part of the programme, in its first phase, Nigerians 16 years and older, and all residents in the country for more than two years, will get the new mul-

tipurpose identity card which has 13 applications including MasterCard’s prepaid payment technology that will provide cardholders with the safety, convenience and reliability of electronic payments.

The project will have Access Bank Plc as the pilot Issuer Bank for the cards and Unified Payment Services Limited (Unified Payments) as the payment processor.

Other issuing banks will include United Bank for Africa, Union Bank, Zenith, Skye Bank, Unity Bank, Stanbic, and First Bank.

The Bank’s Group Managing Director, Aigboje AigImoukhuede explained that, “Access Bank’s involvement in this project is testament to our ongoing efforts to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria. The new identity

card will revolutionize the Nigerian economic landscape, breaking down one of the most significant barriers to financial inclusion– proof of identity, while simultaneously providing Nigerians with a world class payment solution.”

Earlier, Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard informed that The Director General and Chief Executive of the National Identity Management Commission, Chris Onyemenam said MasterCard was chosen as the payment technology provider for the initial rollout of the National Identity Smart Card project because of the company’s commitment to furthering financial inclusion through the reduction of cash in the Nigerian economy.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

New ID scheme will reduce crime—Onyemenam

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Beyond Talent

By Adetayo Okusanya Email: adetayookusanya@hotmail.com

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HY will Nigeria go through another ID card scheme, what are those things wrong with the past ID cards issued?

Let me put it in a different contest, rather than say can we know why we have to go through another card scheme, I want to put it differently and say the flipside is, are you really doing another ID card again? And if you are not doing another card, what exactly is the difference between what you are doing today and what has been done in the past? I hope that before you leave, we will take you to one of the few points that will bring home very closer to you, the difference between what we are doing now and what has being done in the past.

In past, the emphasis has been on an identity card or an identification token, something that represent a summary of the data that has been collected from you. Let’s take the example of a birth certificate or marriage certificate.

They will put everything in a long register and then they will tear out something and give you as certificate evidence that you have been lawfully wedded and the same with birth certificate in the hospital. So when you got employed, the first thing they did was to give you a form to fill.

They collected so much data from you but they gave you one plastic card that has just few of those information on it. Now, that identification token or form is given to you as something that identifies you or that represents your identity. We have the misconception that it is an evidence that data about you have been collected and kept somewhere.

Now, if you want to confirm the person’s identity, it is necessary but not sufficient for you to look at the picture on the plastic and look at the person’s face and you do the visual comparison and say yes, that is the person. Of course that is one way of confirmation. But you and I are Nigerians, we know we can work into a cyber café or a business centre and everything will be prepared and how reliable will that be?

Now, take that scenario and extend it to secondary school, the university, drivers licence, international passport, voters card, an employee’s identity card, the card given to you as a member of the church, card given to you as a member of a group etc, So, it is easy for instance for people to claim to be who they are not. You can walk into somewhere and get a photo ID card and claim any name just because you want to cash a cheque in another person’s name and the only thing the bank does is the visual comparison and photocopy of that card and they keep it in case of the day of reckoning, they have no other place to fall back on. There is typically no deliberate attempt by anybody at referring to the database, the basis for which that card was issued. When you are about entering the plane at the airport and they ask for photo ID, they look at

Since the last national identity card scheme was embroiled in scandal, Nigerians have developed apathy to it. But in this interview with Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, the new Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Chris Onyemenam, assures that the project is truly back on track because the lapses of the past had been corrected. He speaks on the newly improved and technologydriven ID card management system. Excerpts:

•Onyemenam

INTERVIEW it and look at you, is that not what happens? That is not the verification of an identity.

A reliable verification of an identity will mean that that the security man at the counter or the staff member that is checking you should be able to look at you, look at the picture and even confirm that the information on the card is the same as the information on the database because that was the basis on which the card was issued and there is possibility that the card has been replaced.

So, he needs to confirm that.

This has not been the case in the past. All we used to do was just issue a card; people hardly ever thought of the data you gave when you were asking for that service or when you were to be issued that card.

Sir, what does the new identity management offer?

What we are doing now is different. We are saying that can we focus on identity management and look at the various attributes of an individual, take someone and say each time you refer to this person, you are able to confirm the person’s identity and then tie it to a number that is randomly generated by a system and not by anybody so that that system would be difficult to mimic, imitate, counterfeit, and just name it. And that is why people are quick to refer to social security number in the US. That is not the only thing they use as a form of verification but I think the most important emphasis there has always been your security number and it is one thing that typically follows you from birth to death. Even when you want to claim any other thing, they ask for that. We are work-

ing on something we can do to help organize this whole area of who you are and your ability to affirm your identity.

When we have established that, we can then say can we represent part or half of that information on your card.

Once we do that and store that information, it can still be used for other purposes. Then we are managing identity, we are making it available for other uses.

Our goal is to manage identity. So, on the face of it, it will look like we are doing the same thing but we truly are not. You would want to say the person doing economics and sociology are doing more or less the same thing but at the end of the day, they are given different degrees.

Maybe in part one or part two they did some courses together, but come to think of it, at one point, you will see the difference.

What are the inherent gains in managing an identity?

It will boost the nation’s economy and enhance its security system. I see the impact that this would have on the economy and Nigeria of tomorrow. Business would come because business environment would start opening up.

Business will come, for example, because consumer credit will become far more possible to operate. The consumer credit institution will flourish because the extension of consumer credit will be a lot easier when, unlike the present, operators know the identity of the people they are dealing with.

What identity management means is that Nigerians will have proper credit history. And with proper credit history, renting a building, for example, will not require tying down money for one year or more because paying for rent for a year or more can pay for mortgage.

Identity management will so transform the way business is done in the same way if not better than what the GSM has done to our economy.

It will co-transform the way business is done, in a similar pattern which certain sectors have impacted on the economy. I used say there are four policies in my own opinion which hold the key to the total transformation of the economy. One has been the GSM, the second is pension, the third is power and the fourth is a good ID Management system. Every other one can build on it. If it is impossible for you to commit a crime and get away with it, the incentives to commit a crime will reduce. The stories of Unknown Soldier, some unknown persons will be history because once you can trace something to somebody, it becomes easier to establish through the ID Management system. So law enforcement agencies will have so much value out of this system.

So, with a proper identity management in place, and greater probability of being caught, the propensity to commit crime would no longer be there because even some of the criminallyminded people forget that even before they put on gloves over their hands, somewhere their fingerprints exist and can be taken from somewhere else.

But how far have you gone in managing this identity because we feel the long wait is becoming unbearable?

I appreciate this fact and I have heard it many people saying they have been waiting and very often the question asked is: When are we going to get this new card?

Even when I finish explaining that our focus is not on the card, the next question is still the same.

Hope is not a strategy!

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F there is one thing I believe that Nigerians have plenty of, it is hope. The hope that things will be better tomorrow than they are today. I cannot imagine another race of people on the face of this planet who could possibly be more hopeful than Nigerians. If other races have hope, we have hope on steroids. It is what keeps us going every day. It is what makes it easy to wake up to a new day and keep doing the same things we did yesterday, expecting a different outcome. After all, “E GO BETTER”. It is what insulates our minds from the daily dire realities that we face. Our shot of morphine every morning. Imagine what could possibly become of this great nation, if we were “hopeless.”

Hope. The feeling that what is wanted can be had, that events will turn out for the best. The act of looking forward to or expecting something with desire and reasonable confidence.

Hope, like a knight in shining armor coming to the rescue of a helpless and hapless damsel in distress.

Hope that cosmic forces will somehow work together for our good if we keep our heads buried in the sand. Hope that something other than “ourselves” is ultimately accountable and responsible for everything that happens to us. Hope that if we ignore something long enough or desperately wish it away it will eventually go away. Or hope that if we dream of something long enough, it will suddenly come to us.

My question is, “Is it possible to be TOO hopeful”. Are we as a nation a tad too hopeful? I believe in hope. I think hope is a great thing. Hope allows us to defocus from current challenges and focus on a better future state. A future in which anything is possible.

But what is hope, without action? Is that not simply wishful thinking? I find myself often correcting people when I hear them say, “I hope to do so and so.” I say “You either do something or you don’t. There is no in-between. If you are still hoping to do something, you have not decided to do it, and if you have not set your mind to do it, the likelihood of it happening is slim.”

Hope is a powerful

thing but I believe that we do not understand it. If we do not understand it, the chance of misusing or abusing it is very high.

What some people call hope is wishful thinking or optimism, which is the expectation of a favorable outcome without understanding how it will come about. I love what Charles Snyder (Ph.D) said about hope, “Hope is the sum of the mental willpower and waypower that you have for your goals”. Authentic hope entails pathways and thoughts to an intended goal. It requires critical thinking about how we are going to arrive at our desired future destination.

The challenge is that when people talk about hope, it often seems to lack critical thinking and rigorous mental planning or road mapping. They are usually hopeful about the what, but never about the how.

This is why, when I had the privilege of talking to a room full of entrepreneurs and small business owners about personal development this Thursday, I said “Hope is not a strategy.” In fact, “hopefulness” as we practice it is often the face of procrastination. It takes power away from us, and leaves us as victims left at the mercy of external forces.

We are already in the month of May and the year is fast being spent. What have you been “hoping” to do to move your life and career forward? Are you still using hope as a cover for procrastination?No one has ever built a house with nothing but hope. No one has ever established a successful business based on hope. No has ever achieved anything significant or noteworthy simply because they were hopeful.

Think about it. Hope is not what got you to where you are today. Hope is not what will get you to where you want to go. The only way things “go better” in the future is if you do what it takes to make it better.

Hope without rigorous thinking and planning, will always be a failed strategy. If there is anything that is important to you that you want to achieve this year, quit hoping and just start doing.

Read more of Adetayo’s articles athttp:// readinessedge.wordpress.com/

• Okusanya is CEO of ReadinessEdge

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Challenges facing capital market - Atiku

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HAT is the problem with the Nigerian capital market? That is the question on the lips of many Nigerians. Alhaji Kafur Atiku, an investor and analyst, talks about the present movement of funds on the quoted companies on the Nigeria Capital Market and why investors are still afraid to raise money in the capital market. He also looks at how confidence can be brought back.

His words: “A number of quoted companies for some years now have been reluctant in raising money from the capital market because of the present situation of the market. In 2008, a lot of companies came into the market to raise money and some promised to come and list. But up till now, they have not listed; that is to say, a lot of people’s money is locked up somewhere and they are not having real value for their money, that is number one.

Two, when we had the market bubble, that really affected the performances of most of these companies in terms of giving good returns on investment to the stakeholders.”

While stressing that own-

ers of the companies and share holders have not recovered from the bubble, Atiku adds that: “This has really affected the purchasing power of the investors and secondly the investors’ confidence has affected us in the sense that they are not or they are very skeptic coming back to the market. Currently, we need to thank God that they are coming up little by little and we hope that more will come back.”

Atiku goes on to talk about strategies that can be used to bring about a positive change. He said: “If you want to raise money for the market, you can come at the right time because of what happened in 2008. Most of these companies are being very careful so that when they come to the market they would be able to raise required fund in order to fund their business. Also, investors are now wise and they do not want what happened in the past to happen again. So a lot of them are now wellinformed about how the market works in the sense that they can do one or two analyses on those stocks on the company, ask questions as well as rely on information

UBA bounces back to profitability

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has reported a profit N47.38billion for the audited financial year ended December 31, 2012.

The financial document containing this information was today made available by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The bank, due some financial mishaps in the preceding financial year ended December 31, 2011, reported a loss after tax of N7.97billion after incurring a loss of N19.89billion from the loans it sold to the

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the period.

Operational income otherwise known as gross earnings increased from N85.15 billion in the 2011 financial year to N124.36 billion in 2011 representing a growth of 46 per cent.

Though the bank’s basic earnings per share (EPS) moved from a negative 24kobo to a positive 144kobo in the review period, it is not yet clear if shareholders will get any dividend for the financial year.

from their investment advisor like stock brokers and all the rest before they put in their money anywhere.”

He adds that: “When the money was there and the market was bubbling it was a comer’s affair, but now people are very careful about where they put their money in. That is to say that any company that is coming into the market now has to be a company that has a very good antecedent before we look at their past and what they have done in the past, what they are currently doing and what they intend doing in the future, that is in terms of their projection.

He goes on to stress that a company that has no good past no matter how many years that it has been listed on the floor or on the stock exchange will not have the confidence to come to the market to meet. In his words: “The company that has not been giving timely and accurate information to stakeholders will not have the confidence and the goodwill to come and raise money. People will not even know, this is because the investors we now be well-informed and they will not put their money where the returns will not be commensurate to whatever they put in there. We don’t want a situation where we would have a reccurrence of what happened in 2008.”

To checkmate the trend, Atiku informed that there are lots of regulations that can be applied to bringing sanity to the system. He said: “You also need to follow before you can raise money for the market, so I think most of these companies, when they weigh the ups and downs they may want to go the other way round either by taking loans from banks, facilitated

loans or whatever, depending on the amount or try to do some corporate bonds which will be a matter of just getting some high net worth individuals and institutional investors to buy into their bond. “ To get a better bargain, Atiku opines that it is better to explore all the possibilities and settle for the best.

According to him: “When you are coming into the market where you want to raise money, it may involve a lot of publicity and all the rest. It doesn’t mean the others are not investors. When you are looking for a loan you may not need to do much publicity. Whatever you like when you are placing money for the market each act is relevant. When you raise money from the market, the cost of capital is very small as compared to when you are looking for a syndicated loan or ordinary loan or whatever.

I think currently we have bonds that are having a yield o of about 14 percent and I know if you are going to the bank to borrow money you cannot get less than 20 per cent”..

Boniface Okezie a shareholder also stressed that: “If you are coming to the floor of the market to raise money through a public offer or a right issue, the cost of fund may be less than 5 percent which is better for you because by the time you pay the parties that arranged the transaction which I know is about two or three percent the entire money goes to you and this money is suppose to be utilised the way it’s supposed to.

I mean what the purpose is meant for, that is to say that you are not under any regulation or compelled to make returns on investment on the first year you raise this money.”

Sterling Bank targets N56.2b hybrid capital

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N its bid to ensure the successful implementation of its medium to long term strategic objectives in a highly competitive industry, Sterling Bank recently told shareholders of plans to raise N56.2 billion between this year and 2014, by way of a hybrid of instruments. The Top 10 Price Gainers:

offers, which begins soon, includes Tier 1 capital of N12 billion by way of rights to existing shareholders, and a private placement of N19.2 billion, which process began in the first quarter of the year. The Tier 2 capital of N25 billion, which will commence in the third quarter of

2013, is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2014.

The Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Adegunwa, told shareholders at the annual general meeting that the bank has made significant progress in the last one year, especially in its integration programme following the successful

merger with Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB). He said the management has successfully consolidated the two banks into a single platform, allowing it to streamline its processes, maintenance and development costs, hardware and software as well as improve the timeto-market for developing its products and services.

His words: “We are aware that there is still a lot to be done to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders, we will continue to focus on improving efficiency across board and strengthen integrated risk and capital management systems.”

The Managing Director of the bank, Yemi Adeola, said the bank has reached significant milestones since 2006 as it has “grown from a balance sheet size of N111 billion to N580.2 billion in 2012, despite a slowdown in economic activities arising from the global economic meltdown, security challenges, strikes, floods and a contraction in the oil sector.”

The bank’s 2012 earnings rose by 44 per cent to N68.9 billion, driven by a 66 per cent growth in interest income; net operating income also rose by 51 per cent on the back of a 43 per cent improvement in net interest income. Non-interest income was boosted by growth in commissions and fees and trading income.

MARKET FLASH Bukola Afolabi obrijo4u@gmail.com

Ashaka Cement’s profit rises 8.28 per cent to N3.1b in 2012

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SHAKA Cement plc, a subsidiary of Lafarge Group, returned a modest 8.28 per cent growth in net profit for the financial year ended December 31, 2012.

According to the audited profit figure for the year, profit after tax rose to N3.125 billion from N2.886 billion in 2011.

From the result, it was apparent that the company forked a good chunk of its profit into payment of taxes.

Gross profit for the year was N5.474 billion up from N4.144 billion representing 32.08 per cent increase.

The company’s basic earnings per share (BEPS) rose by 8.53 per cent to 140 kobo compared with 129kobo in a similar period of 2011.

The board offered a dividend of 30kobo per share last year when the EPS was 129 kobo, giving room to speculation that shareholders may not get above 50 kobo per share dividend for 2012.

The stock sold at N23.30 with a price earnings (P.E) ratio of 10.89 implying that it will take over 10 years for an investor to recoup his money at the current market price if such an investor depends solely on dividend.

The company also announced the plan to raise its production capacity from the present 900,000 to three million tonnes.

FCMB declares N15bn profit after tax for 2012

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IRST City Monument Bank grew its profit after tax by 256 per cent to N15.12 billion in 2012 while profit before tax appreciated by 252.1 per cent during the review period to N16.23 billion.

It also announced a growth of 54.3 per cent in gross earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2012.

The bank said in a statement in Lagos recently that its gross earnings stood at N116.83 billion in 2012, compared to the N75.70 billion it posted in the corresponding period of 2011.

Its loans and advances improved by 10.7 per cent to N357.79 billion against the N323.35billion declared in 2011.

The bank also declared a bonus of one additional share for every 25 shares held by its shareholders.

The bank’s total assets appreciated to N909 billion in 2012, in contrast with N895 billion in the comparative period of 2011.

“FCMB’s merger with the defunct FinBank also impacted positively on the performance of the bank as its operating income grew by 37 percent,” the statement added.

Similarly, the bank’s first quarter result ended March 31, 2013 showed a profit after tax of N4.2billion against the N4.1billion made in the corresponding period of 2012.

Stanbic IBTC declares N12bn profit on gross earnings of N92bn

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TANBIC IBTC Holdings, a member of Standard Bank Group, has declared a profit before tax of N11.7 billion for 2012, an increase of 16 percent above the N10.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2011, according to its audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2012. Similarly, profit after tax rose to N10.2 billion, translating to an increase of 53 percent over the prior year’s N6.6 billion.

The group also made significant gains in other parameters during the period, as indicated in the results made available at The Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday, April 19, 2013. Gross earnings, which stood at N63.4 billion in December 2011, increased to N91.9 billion in 2012, signifying a gain of 45 percent. The total assets increased to N676.8 billion last year, a 22 percent increase compared to the N554.5 billion recorded in December 2011.

The strong performance, despite the challenging operating conditions, is indicative of the soundness of the group’s decision to adopt a holding company structure, in line with its strategy to provide end-to-end financial services and build a franchise capable of generating sustainable and respectable returns to its stakeholders.

“This performance is a testament of the credibility of our strategy to realise our objective of being the leading end-to-end financial solutions provider in Nigeria. We continue to assess our risk assets through our robust and systematic risk management practices, whilst ensuring that adequate provisions are made for unforeseen shocks in line with the operating environment,” stated Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. She said the group continued to expand its business on the back of growth in transactional volumes and activities, money and capital market activities and loan book. “Deposits from customers increased by 24 percent, while our loan book grew by 5 percent despite the sell down of existing large performing exposures to enable us comply with the post restructuring single obligor limit.”

During the period under review, total operating income increased by 22 percent to N67.4 billion, from N55.2 billion in December 2011. Gross loans and advances to customers went up 5 percent to N279.5 billion, compared to N266.6 billion in December 2011. Customer deposits went up 24 percent to N355.4 billion from N287.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2011, while non-performing loans at N14.3 billion decreased by 13 percent from N16.5 billion in December 2011.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

Group lauds FG over proposed amnesty for Boko Haram From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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SOCIO-PHILANTHROPIC organisation, DE NORSEMEN KCLUB of Nigeria International, has commended the Federal Government for setting up the Amnesty Committee for Boko Haram, just as it called for national reconciliation among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.

National President of the organisation, Mr. Tony Eteng, who made the position of the Association known during its 12th Annual Converge, held in Calabar, said that amnesty for the insurgents will fasten the peace process in the troubled northern states.

He said that if the Amnesty Committee for Boko Haram was properly driven, it will be able to help Boko Haram draw down on her activities that have threatened the country’s security and made life difficult for Nigerians in certain parts of the country.

Presenting a paper, with the theme, “Exploring our Commonality: The Place of the Nigerian”, university don and social commentator, Dr. Okpo Ojah, encouraged Nigerians to identify and explore language, cultural, social and political commonalities in the march towards the Nigeria of their dreams, adding that if this is not done, the country will continue to move from one conflict to another.

SSS nabs woman, others for alleged forgery of tax clearance From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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IVE persons including a 37-year -old woman have been arrested in Anambra State by the State Security Service (SSS), for forgery of the State Government Tax Clearance Certificates and other documents.

Two of the major culprits are Uchenna Okonkwon female, (37) and Kingsley Akamgozirim 40 years, while others like Chijioke Okeke, Madubuka Onwubiko and Daniel Chikezie were also accomplices.

News

Communities to picket Shell at expiration of ultimatum T

HE people of the host communities of the Estuary of Amatu (EA) field of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) have given the oil firm a seven-day ultimatum to address all the outstanding issues or risk full picket.

The EA field, in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, produces 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the people complaining of marginalisation and lack of empowerment, while suffering in

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

the midst of plenty.

While addressing a news conference yesterday in Port Harcourt, under the umbrella of EA Field 12 Host Communities Traditional Rulers Assembly and EA 12 Host Communities’ Forum, the aggrieved people said there was no going back on their decision.

At the news conference were the Amananawei of Letugbene, King Stephen Tume, his counterpart of Orobiri, King Ajuju Jacob, with both communities in

Ekeremor LGA, the Coordinator, EA Chairmen Forum, Amamogiran Francis and an opinion leader, Simon Franklin.

The group vowed to picket the EA offshore field on Monday, stressing that it was a collective decision of the chiefs, elders, women and youths of the 12 host communities.

In the five-page text which read in part, the aggrieved people said “We successfully landed the advance contingent of about 150 natives of our communities in the EA offshore platform around 12 noon on Monday, May 6, 2013 and stayed in

the facility peacefully for as long as we had so planned, as an indicative warning picket and voluntarily withdrew from the facility.

“This is the last show of our determination to risk the grave consequences the full picket action shall behold for both the company and our people, if SPDC does not shown honest commitment to dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues in the next seven days, as our next occupation will be indefinite and to ensure total shut down of the facility.”

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Firm uncovers hideouts of counterfeiters From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

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NTERCONTINENTAL Distillers Limited, makers of assorted types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police at the weekend recovered some machines suspected to be used in producing fake brand of its products in Aba, Abia State. Usman Tili Abubakar, Abia State Commissioner of Police confirming the recovery of the machines in a telephone interview, said that three machines used in doing the illegal business were recovered after police carried several raids in the adulterators’ hideouts in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

According to Abubakar, “the company had reported to the police of the illegal production of its brand products with same name and design being sold to the unsuspecting members of the public in various markets in Aba.” Reacting, a senior staff of the company in the commercial city under condition of anonymity commended the prompt response of the police in the fight against adulteration of its brand’s product.

Group backs Uba

A •L-R: Zonal Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos State, Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, Sector Commander FRSC Lagos State, Mr. Charles Akpabio, The founder of Temidayo Ogan Child Safety and Support (TOCSS) Foundation , Mrs. Temitayo Ogan, and National Focal Points UN Decade of Action on Road Safety and Traffic Injury Prevention Nigeria, Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, during the TOCSS Foundation to mark the UN Long-short walk in Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN.

Aliyu blames Nasarawa killings on poor intelligence gathering

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IGER State governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu yesterday blamed the intelligence gathering of security agencies, especially that of the police on the sordid ambushing and killing of scores of Police and State Security Service officers in Nassarawa State on Wednesday by members of an occult group.

Speaking at the opening of the one-day North Central Geopolitical Security Awareness workshop in Minna, the governor said the operation that led to the “unfortunate” killing of

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the officers would have been avoided if adequate intelligence were gathered.

According to the governor, “From my understanding and information available to me, what happened in Nassarawa Eggon few days ago was probably due to lack of commitment.

What that type of operation required was silent, speed and surprise.

“I am sure that the people in Nassarawa Eggon got information that the police were coming

and what I would have expected or what any intelligent person would expect is in advancing people to the area so that even if there are plans on the ground, they could even abort that particular exercise until a more appropriate time for the attack.”

Recalling how a fundamentalist Islamic group, Darul Salam, was dislodged from Mokwa, Niger State few years ago, Aliyu attributed the success of the operation to perfect security intelligence exhibited by the police and other security agen-

cies, because according to him, “those who embarked on the exercise were from outside the state and did not know of their mission until they got to Mokwa, the scene of the incidence in order to avoid leakage of information to those affected.”

X-raying the challenges facing security agencies in the country, Aliyu suggested total overhauling of the recruitment procedure into the services in order to overcome the present security challenges confronting the nation with emphasis on intelligence gathering.

SOCIO-POLITICAL group, The Democrats for Anambra Advancement (D.A.A), has appealed to people of the state to support the ambition of businessman, Mr Ifeanyi Uba, to be the next governor of the state.

In a statement by its president, Asika Ike Richard, the group took the decision after properly assessing Ubah’s quality.

According to the group, “We urge Anambra to elect a governor that will selflessly move the state to enviable heights. A governor that will address the ecological problems ravaging the state, tackle insecurity, unemployment, infrastructural decay, alleviate poverty through job creation and most importantly attract foreign investment and capacity building.”

The group said as a businessman of note, if voted into power, Ubah would have the clout to “attract monumental development” to the state.”

When a godfather and his protégé fight •Contd. from page 10 condition for peace with the Obasanjo administration, was not impressed that the man he handpicked as minister could not expedite action on fixing the road.

In the height of the minister's face-off with the National Assembly over the road, Clark supported calls for the probe of his handling of funds. He was quoted as saying "Nobody is above the law and as such, the law should be allowed to take its course. Orubebe should be investigated by EFCC." Sources close to the DELSF said the relationship had been on a downward slide since Jonathan became president in 2010. The minister felt he no longer needed a godfather to relate with the highest authority because of his closeness to the president.

It was therefore not surpris-

ing that Orubebe hit back immediately after Clark's press conference on Tuesday. Although he could argue that some persons merely reacted on his behalf, it was the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. Unknown to the Ijaw leader, the minister had moles among those who in his camp as the riposte were swift and hard. A number of Ijaw leaders have expressed shock at how fiery it was.

A hitherto unknown group, Delta Progressive Political Forum, hit the 86-year-old politician with a force that made many cringe. In a no holds barred attack, the group lampooned Clark for trying to play God. Chief Agbabi Timi, High Youkeyei, Fungewei Azami and Mr. E.K Agunu, among others, who signed the advertorial placed in some national dailies,

reminded Clark that he was in no position to determine who assumes the highest political office in the state.

Mr. Ekenwan Ekwagbe, a former media aide to Orubebe, slammed Clark as 'a spent political force' who couldn't deliver his own son in the last election.

He said: "In the last elections in 2011, a former Speaker in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Franc Enekorogha contested election to the House of Representatives. E.K Clark put forward his son, Ebikime, under the platform of Democratic Peoples' Party (DPP) and wanted everybody, contesting the election to step down for his son. But they all refused.

"At the end of the day, Enekorogha defeated his son at the primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The boy had to defect to DPP. He used that plat-

form to contest the main election in 2011. Enekorogha defeated E.K Clark and his son, because it was Clark who contested the election indirectly. So, if E.K Clark's son cannot win election in Burutu council, can he determine who becomes governor of the entire Delta State?"

Their strengths and weaknesses In spite of the bravado of Orubebe's supporters, Clark remains a force in the political equation in the state. His insistence on power rotation among the three zones means that Orubebe has a mountain to climb, if he contests the governorship in 2015.

From the attendance on Tuesday, there is no doubt that the old warhorse has the backing of top leaders of the party, including Nwaoboshi and PDP Youth leader, Mr. Arthur

Akpowowo and members of the elders' forum.

The greatest factor against Orubebe, if he goes ahead with the contest would be public resentment. Being from the same zone as Uduaghan, it was not surprising that his statement sparked furious debate in the North and Central senatorial districts.

His face-off with the Ijaw leader may have also pitched him against former militant leaders in the state, including Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) who is said to be unhappy with the insults hauled at the elder statesman.

But he has Chief Andrew Orugbo, Mr. Omene Sobotie, a former Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan; Chief M.O Orido, among others. His greatest asset is his position as minis-

ter, with which he has reportedly empowered friends and associates who are currently lining behind him.

Meanwhile, the greatest loser may yet be President Jonathan whose support base in parts of the state have eroded in the past years because of the fate of the Urhobo and other ethnic groups, who do not have a minister or any worthy federal appointment.

"If Orubebe goes ahead with his plan to succeed Uduaghan and it turns out that the President is backing him, then he should not expect the support of other ethnic groups because we are not Ijaw's slave. The president has consistently given all appointments coming to this area to the Ijaw and if he wants to install an Ijaw governor, good luck to him," a prominent Urhobo politician who pleaded anonymity said.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

66

T

HE closer we get to 2015, the more theatrical our politics will become as great desperation sets in amongst key players seeking public office. We are already being served something of a foretaste of the drama in Akwa Ibom where state governor, Godswill Akpabio, has been locked in a very public spat with the senator representing Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, Aloysius Etok.

The whole row broke out after the governor – whose twoterm tenure expires in two years - made known his intention to run for the seat presently being occupied by Etok as part of his career projection.

The speculation has been on for a while, but Akpabio finally removed all doubt about his ambition during the 20th year remembrance of former Southeastern State Governor, the late Brig.-Gen. Udoakaha Esuene, in Eket earlier this year.

Perhaps in a bid to soften the punch with a bit of levity, newspapers quoted the governor as saying, “This is the first time the senators are going to know that Senator Aloysius will be my campaign manager during the senatorial election in the state in 2015.”

But if it was a joke, the incumbent senator was not amused – and that is putting it mildly. In reaction, he has been firing on all cylinders ever since.

In a chat on AKBC Radio 90.5 FM, Uyo, Etuk declared: “Akpabio must respect my office if he does not respect me like I respect his office of the governor which also covers me”.

Some have criticised – even vilified him – for the way and

Akpabio versus Etok: Matters arising

By Reginald Ibok

manner he has gone about his senate bid.

They are entitled to their views. But they must also concede that the governor has not committed any crime in aspiring. He certainly would not be the first person to seek to go to the legislature after serving in the executive branch – that is why in the Senate today you will find several ex-governors.

Of course, you may quarrel with his style – but then ev- •Akpabio eryone to his own methods. He has chosen to be upfront about the sort of thing that some other person will be scheming about behind the scenes. In that sense Akpabio’s only offence is being brutally frank about his intentions. But, again, in Nigerian politics truth-telling is a crime of sorts.

It would have been great if this whole matter ended here and the two men were left to pursue their interests in ways they saw fit. Unfortunately, we have since seen things descend to the theatre of the absurd with the allegations that Akpabio was behind an attempt to kill the senator.

At the press conference where he aired the very grave allegations, Etok accused Akpabio of despatching a “hit

•Etok

squad” after him, with threatening text messages advising him to renounce his ambition for another for a third term in the upper legislative chamber, or face the consequence of being targeted within seven days.

He said: “I want the governor to tell Nigerians and the international community if there is anything wrong in any man aspiring to contest for an office.”

“Is that enough for the governor to instruct the council chairmen to say that if I don’t withdraw from the contest, that they will recall me? He asked the state of assembly to pass resolution that they will recall me, to the extent that members of the house of assembly came on television to insult and malign me.”

“Not only that, the governor has now loosed his hit squad, including what I have on this phone some text messages that if I don’t retract the statement that I will contest election, after seven days, I will see what they will do.”

He further claimed that the governor instructed “different groups that if I don’t retract the statement within seven days, I will either be dead to stop me or alive to retract the statement.”

Very weighty allegations indeed!

Following up on his charges, the senator wrote to the State Security Service (SSS) asking for an investigation. They duly obliged and set up a sting operation which netted one Adelola Olaore aka General Af-

TRIBUTE

David Laoye: Uncelebrated hero of Edeland

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DELAND, a major town in Nigeria, was thrown into a mourning mood on March 14, 2013, with the untimely transition of one of its illustrious sons, late Colonel David Alamu Bankole Laoye, a charming prince of Ajeniju extraction at the age of sixty-nine (69). A prince who never let off airs, despite being born into royalty.

For late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye, it was a life well lived. It was a life of adventure and one that was well coped with despite various challenges that came on his way. Prince Bankole Laoye was an enigma.

A totally detribalised Nigerian, who ensured that human beings are well accorded their rights and recognition, no matter how lowly placed they are.

He abhorred cheating.

Born into the Royal Ajeniju House by late Oba (Dr.) John Adetoyese Laoye (the Drummer King, who took Ede on international excursion during his reign) and Olori Flora Ebun Laoye, he started adolescent life at Baptist Boy’s High School Abeokuta, Ogun State where he made his marks with distinction.

This top-brass military officer knew what he wanted out of life early enough, as he got enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1964 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular I Cadets Officers course. He had as his mates at the NDA Regular I course, the likes of Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), Lt. General Salihu Ibrahim, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, Major General Rabiu Aliyu – one time military Secretary and many others.

By Olumide Lawal

Before he enlisted in the Nigerian Army, he worked briefly at Western Nigeria Housing Corporation after he left Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta. This was a common feature in those days to have a taste of the civil service.

Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye had a distinguished career in the military.

He was Commander, 132 Battalion Obosi, 2nd Mechanised Division during the Civil War under late General Muritala Mohammed. Late Colonel Bankole Laoye was at the heat of the 30-month civil war between 1967 and 1970. He gave a good account of himself as a career military officer and came out of the war unscratched. He was an officer and a gentleman.

After the Civil War, he served as a Brigade Major under 33 Infantry Brigade, Maiduguri and proceeded to become Colonel-General staff at the Directorate of Infantry in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos, under Major-General Adedayo. Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was a Chief Instructor at Command and Staff College Jaji. Among his trainees, as a Company Commander at Nigerian Defence Academy were four-star Generals, like retired Air Marshall Petirin. He was the acting Military Governor of Western State in 1975, when the substantive Military Governor, Major-General David Medayese Jemibewon, went on vacation. He held the front well without any hitch.

Having carved a niche for himself in the military, late Colonel David Bankole Alamu Laoye decided to serve his immediate community of Ede in

different callings. He passionately loved Ede and gave it the best he could, not only as a prince, but as a humble leader, who mixed freely with the lessprivileged in the society. He was an incontrovertible study in humility, doggedness and silent achievements. He was incorruptible. He carried himself with elegance and candour. He was magisterial in his disposition.

As an acting Military Governor of Western State in 1975, he gave his Ede home town a peculiar identity for vehicle registration number of OY- B. The town’s people jubilated. Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was so full of love for Edeland that he influenced, as a member of old Western State Executive Council, the citing of the Cocoa Products Industry at Ede and also, on behalf of the late Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, donated the land where the industry was built as the Administrator of the family land. When moves were surreptiously made to relocate the Cocoa Industry from Ede, late Colonel Bankole Laoye was instrumental to its non-removal. He stood like the Rock of Gibraltar behind Ede and the Cocoa Industry.

The repositioning of Ede railway line as a terminus of the then Bendel line was through the silent moves of late Colonel Bankole Laoye. As a lover of tourism and hospitality industry, he established the first major hotel in Ede, known as FLORA MOTEL, in memory of his late sweet mother. It was years later that he established a branch of the hotel at Bodija, Ibadan. That showed the patriotism in the late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye; that home is first.

As a member of CONFAB

in 1994, during the Abacha regime, where he actively participated, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye used his enormous influence, in cooperation with other members of the CONFAB, to create Ede South Local Government Area, which thus brought additional local government area into Edeland, even though his election into the said CONFAB did not enjoy the votes of his Ede people.

To Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye, that was no issue. He is a prince of Ede, and believed very rightly that he should give his community the best, whether or not he was appreciated.

In 1991, he ventured into the murky waters of politics, when he contested to become a Senator under the defunct National Republican Convention, but lost to Senator Omilani of Social Democratic Party. He enjoyed the greatest support of the likes of Alhaj Umaru Shinkafi, Alhaj Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao and late Dr. Hammed Kusamotu in his bid to become a senator in the 1991 contest.

The rest, as they say, is history.

He felt no bad blood. No malice, no grudge.

In the last few months of his sojourn on earth, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was a member of Ede Trust Intervention Committee, where he served as the coordinator of the home branch. The committee was set up to ensure that a local council development area was given to Ede in the course of the last exercise by Ogbeni Aregbesola government to create more local council areas for Osun.

Late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was always at meetings held at the Cameron Road, Ikoyi residence of Alhaj

rica who thought he could make quick money out of the public quarrel between erstwhile political allies.

The SSS probe has since established that there was no truth whatsoever in claims by Olaore that he had been contracted by so-called associates of Akpabio to eliminate Etok. His was simply a phantom assassination plot to exhort money, and based on that the senator had been crying wolf.

When he was paraded before the media, Adelola Tamunotonye Olaore, who is a 29 years old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, disclosed that he comes from Oyo State, but had lived all his life in Rivers State.

He admitted to attempting to dupe the senator by “lying to him”. But he denied telling Etok he was contracted by Akpabio loyalists to assassinate him. “I never told the senator anything like that. How would I tell a senator such a thing and come to Abuja to collect money,” he asked.

It is often said that all is fair in politics and war. However, there must come a point at which

S. O. Babalola, who is the Grand Patron of the Committee, among other eminent Ede indigenes. He served the Intervention Trust Committee so diligently and ensured that the briefs of the committee were duly transmitted.

An elder of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye gave his best to the service of the party till he breathed his last. But posterity did not allow him to reap the fruits of his labour. It is only hopeful that the party will not allow his labour to •Laoye go in vain.

That is the man, Colonel David Bankole Laoye, a charming, elegant prince. An erudite military tactician who gave all of his best to serve his country, humanity and, indeed, his Ede community. It will be eternally on record that late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye remains an uncelebrated true hero of Edeland, going by his splendid contributions to the town, where he was somehow unappreciated and misunderstood for reasons best known to some members of the community.

Perhaps, the greatest secret of the success profile of late Colonel Bankole Alamu Laoye was that he did not believe in pleasing everyone, particularly the so-called elites. He did also not care about what hypocrites think of him. He was

the line should be drawn. It is one thing exchange words because one’s ego has been bruised; it is an entirely different matter when a man’s integrity and name are being tarnished with accusations that he was planning murder. This is the same allegation that the SSS has debunked.

What would be the fair and reasonable thing to do? In one word: apologise to the one you have unfairly accused, and whose reputation you have impugned. Unfortunately, Etok does not seem to be in a hurry to rectify his error.

We must not allow emotions to cloud our reasoning. What is going on between the senator and governor is pure politics – including ongoing attempts by stakeholders in his senatorial zone to initiate his recall. As long as this is done legally there’s nothing wrong with it.

Of course, some commentators have tried to cast this political battle in light of a struggle between top dog and underdog.

Romantics tend to side with anyone they perceive to be at a disadvantage in this kind of contest. But that should not mean we strip the so-called top dog of all his constitutional rights to fair hearing.

Everything goes in Nigerian politics but accusing your opponent of being an assassin just to win public sympathy is simply beyond the pale. Let the senator do the honourable thing by apologising to the governor. He can then continue with his challenge for a third term in 2015 and let the people decide who they want. · Ibok writes from Lagos.

himself. His life was a lesson for us all at Ede to appreciate those who, at the background, are contributing to the development of our land without making noise. Let us deemphasise the trend of heroworshipping emergency-millionaires, people of shady characters, women of easy virtue and do-no-gooders generally, who are mere pretenders amongst us.

And here goes a man we shall forever cherish and adore.

An eminent Ede citizen of candour, patriotism, carriage and courage, whose “infectious”, disarming smile, we shall miss forever. He was there for Ede, but were we there for him? Sweet is your memory, David Bankole Alamu Laoye.

Goodbye and goodnight.

Lawal writes from Ede

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013 CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME OKORIE

FAGBEMI

67 CHANGE OF NAME OHONBAMU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Uma Ugo Okorie, now wish to be known as Mrs. Austine Ugochi Jennifer. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Adekunle Adedoyin Fagbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Adekunle Ade-Adeleye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ohonbamu Philomena, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osagie Philomena. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOYE

FAGBEMI

ADEBISI

I formerly known and addressed as Okoye Maureen Chigozie, now wish to be known as Mrs. Popoola Maureen Chigozie. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLATUNDE I formerly known and addressed as Olatunde Temitope Seun, now wish to be known as Mawusi Temitope Seun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OPEYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Opeyemi Christabel Sayepe, now wish to be known as Opeyemi Christabel Jolayemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SANUSI I formerly known and addressed as Sanusi Aminat Kemi, now wish to be known as Johnson Aminat Kemi.

All former documents remain valid.

Ikeja Local government and general public please take note.

ONANUGA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aisha Oluwaseun Onanuga, now wish to be known as Mrs. Aisha Oluwaseun Shote. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NKAMA I formerly known and addressed as Rosemary Ejimole Nkama, now wish to be known as Mrs. Rosemary Ejimole Okechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBRAHIM

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Halimat Ibrahim Danesi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Yusuf Halimat Danesi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UBONG

I, formerly known and addressed as JEDIDIAH PAULINE BEDE UBONG wish to be known and addressed as JEDIDIAH PAULINE BEDE ANKOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UDOSEN I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MANDU MICHAEL UDOSEN wish to be known and addressed as MRS PRECIOUS EMAEYAK TOM. All former documents remain valid. IBOM POWER COMPANY LTD and general public should take note.

OKPARA I, formerly known and addressed as Uche Okoro Okpara, now wish to be known and addressed as Uche Ucheokoro, all former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHOLLOM

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss ANNE KANENG CHOLLOM wish to be known and addressed as Mrs KANENG SAMUEL DANJEM. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should take note.

ITON I, Miss Cynthia Whiteley Iton, henceforth bear Mrs Cynthia Whiteley Angba. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Calabar and the general public should please take note.

JONGBO

I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. JONGBO Olawumi Yejide, wish to be known and addressed as Dr. OLAJIDE Olawumi Yejide. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria{MDCN}, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife(O A U), Nigerian Medical Association(NMA), Federal Medical Centre(FMC), Ido-Ekiti and the general public should take note.

ITON I, Miss Cynthia Whiteley Iton, henceforth bear Mrs Cynthia Whiteley Angba. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Calabar and the general public should please take note.

NWAGBOSO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwagboso Chidinma Nkeiruka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awobajo Flourish Nkeiruka Chidinma. All former document remain valid.

National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike Abia State and general public should take note.

ADEJARE I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEJARE RAHEEMAT BISOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEKANMBI RAHEEMAT BISOLA. All former document remain valid. General public, take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Oluwakemi Afusat Fagbemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwakemi Ade-Adeleye. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EFFIOM I formerly known and addressed as Blessing Uduak Effiom, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Uduak Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEREKE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okereke Chinenye Agnes, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Elvis Chinenye Agnes. All former document remain valid. National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike Abia State and general public should take note.

IHEBEREME I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Perpetua Adanma Ihebereme, now wish to be known and addressed as, Mrs Perpetua Adanma Alex Iheanyichukwu. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

ODUMUKO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odumuko Maria Obiamarije.

Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Uchegbu Nkwachukwu Maria Obiamarije.

All former document remain valid.

Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State and general public should take note.

HAMMA

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Grace Ibrahim Barnabas Hamma, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Grace Maikudi.

All former documents remain valid.

National Youth Service Corps [NYSC], headquarters and members of the general public to please take note.

AJIBOLA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwabunmi Abiola Ajibola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwabunmi Abiola Iyalla. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

UDOM

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebisi Modupe Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebisi Grace Eniola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AJIGBOYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajigboye Bosede Barbara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluyide Bosede Barbara. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SHOTE

I formerly known and addressed as Adenike Atinuke Shote, now wish to be known and addressed as Modinat Oluwakemi Oluwa. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

IWEGBUE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Francess Blessing Iwegbue, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Francess Ngozi Ogunbela. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FUJAH I formerly known and addressed as Adeola Adewunmi Fujah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeola Fujah Sonuyi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKPARA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okpara Chigozie Pauline, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoh Chigozie Pauline. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEWOYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewoye Lydia Bola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwalabake Lydia Bola. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

MUSIBAU I formerly known and addressed as Falabake Olatunde Musibau, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwalabake Olatunde Ezekiel.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AROYEWUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uduakobong Udo Udom, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uduakobong Christabelle Okenwa. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Franklyn Oladipo Aroyewun, now wish to be known and addressed as Frank Rhodes-Dallas Aroye. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

LAGUDA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Suara Karamot Olohuntobi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyediran Karamot Olohuntobi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Laguda Oluwatoyin Awawu, now wish to be known and addressed as Ameen Oluwatoyin Awah. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

SALAHDEEN I, formerly known and addressed as Fatimah Kehinde Salahdeen and Fatimah Kehinde Omoyele hereby wish to be known and addressed as Fatimah Kehinde SALAHDEENOMOYELE. All former documents remain valid. General should public pls take note.

ADENAIKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adenaike Olabisi Anthonia, now wish to be known as Mrs. Obasa Olabisi Anthonia. All former documents remain valid.

UNILAG,Zenith BankPlc. and general public please take note.

FAGBEMI I formerly known and addressed as Fagbemi Felix Olusola, now wish to be known and addressed as Olugbemi Felix Olusola. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

FASE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fase Olusola Omowumi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojeyemi Olusola Omowumi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ODURU I formerly known and addressed as Oduru Richard Ohioze, now wish to be known and addressed as Imohimi-Oduru Richard Mofedamijo Ohioze. All former documents remain valid.

LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and General public please take note.

OBI: I,formarly known and addressed as MISS.OBI SANDRA AGODICHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. KELVIN SANDRA AGODICHI. All former documents still remain valid.School of Midwifery Federal Medical Centre Umuahia,Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general please take note.

SUARA

THEODORE I formerly known and addressed as Theodore Nnaemeka Nsidinanya, now wish to be known and addressed as Theodore Nnaemeka Nbamah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGBONLAHO I formerly known and addressed as MRS ISE ENOYOZE UHUNMWUAGHO (NEE AGBONLAHO), now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ISE ANNE OGHOGHO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BABAWALE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Babawale Oluwafolakemi Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oladapo Oluwafolakemi Folasade. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OMOTOSO I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Omotoso Victoria Oluwatoyin , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olatunbosun Omotoso Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EGWUATU I formerly known and addressed as Egwuatu Chukwuma Emeka, now wish to be known and addressed as Egwuatu Kelly Chukwuma. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OKEWOLE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Okewole Abigail Oyinlola Oluyimika Oluyinka Olubukola , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunyemi Yinka Bukola. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Education District VI and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ALESINLOYE

ADEPEJU

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Alesinloye Adebamike Rofiyat, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Usamat Rofiyat Adebamike. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Yetunde Adebola ADEPEJU, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Yetunde Adebola Adepeju OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ADEOYE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OTUJAREHA ONOME PHILOMENA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EPHRAIM ONOME PHILOMENA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeoye Taiwo Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akosile Taiwo Victoria. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Hospital Management Board Ado-Ekiti and general public please take note.

AYODELE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omowumi Eunice Ayodele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omowumi Eunice Adesina. All former documents remain valid. Integrated Corporate Services Limited, First Bank Nigeria Plc. and general public please take note.

AKOMOLAFE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akomolafe Morenike Busayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Morenike Busayo Oyinlade. All former documents remain valid. College of Health Science and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti and general public please take note.

AYEGBUSI

OTUJAREHA

OKUNADE

I formerly known and addressed as Omolara Olamide Okunade, now wish to be known and addressed as Omolara Olamide Esho. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEAHIALAM I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OKEAHIALAM CHISARA M., now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWOKOCHA CHISARA .M. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

JINN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ELILE PEACE JINN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ELILE PEACE OKPARA. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AGBEDO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayegbusi Foluwakemi Oluwafisayomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omomukuyo Foluwakemi Oluwafisayomi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. AGBEDO, CHIOMA CHINONSO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMEH, CHIOMA CHINONSO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I,Ariawhe Oghenekevwe Paul and Ariavie Paul are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as Ariawhe Oghenekevwe Paul. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. EKEKWE PATRICIA UMUNNEOMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OKENE PATRICIA UMUNNEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADELOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Adeloye Loretta, now wish to be known and addressed as Loretta Reilly. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

JIMON

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jimon Latifat Olanike, now wish to be known and addressed as Oyekunle Latifat Olanike. All former documents remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, NYSC and general public please take note.

AARON I formerly known and addressed as Hon. (Miss) Victory Baribefe Aaron, now wish to be known and addressed as Hon. Pst. (Mrs.) Victory Baribefe Olulu. All former documents remain valid.General public please take note.

FAKEYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olutoyin Adunni Fakeye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olutoyin Adunni Adesanya.

All former documents remain valid.

Lagos State Government and general public please take note.

UDONDEK

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDONDEK NKPOKIMA UKPAUKURE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IBOK NKPOKIMA AUSTIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ENUANI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS VIVIAN UDEME ENUANI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS VIVIAN UDEME NDIWE. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the general public should please take note.

ENEBI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MARIAM EGHONGHON ENEBI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARIAM EGHONGHON OMOARE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

EWAHI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYAOLE MERCY EWAHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONYAOLE MERCY OHIEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

EKEKWE

OLISAKWE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLISAKWE COURAGE OBIANUJU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ENEH COURAGE OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AYOGU I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. PATIENCE OBIOMA AYOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PATIENCE OBIOMA NGWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANENE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. UCHE BENARDINE ANENE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UCHE BENARDINE EKWONYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, MR. WESLEY SUBI IKIOUBI and MR. OBIENE WESLEY are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. WESLEY SUBI IKIOUBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, NWACHUKWU MERCY and IGOMA MERCY are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU MERCY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OMOLE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iyiola Ibidun Omole, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iyiola Ibidun Ezichi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

UGWUOME I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwuome Stella Nwanneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Udo Stella Paul. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LAWAL I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. LAWAL RISIKAT OMOLOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. RISQUT OMOLOLA LAWAL ABDUL RAHMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EGWUATU I formerly known and addressed as Njideka Calista Egwuatu , now wish to be known and addressed as Njideka Calista Victor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IHIEZE I formerly known and addressed as ULOMA IHIEZE, now wish to be known as ULOMA WILLIAMS EYO. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

CHIMEZIE I formerly known and addressed as Miss.

CHIKA SAPENCIA CHIMEZIE, now wish to be known as Mrs. CHIKA SAPENCIA ONYENAKIE. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

EMOLE I formerly known and addressed as Miss. EMOLE JOSEPHINE AMARACHI, now wish to be known as Mrs. VICTOR JOSEPHINE AMARACHI, all former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, OBUMNEME HENRY NWALUSI and OBUMNEME HENRY IBEGBUNAM refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known as OBUMNEME HENRY IBEGBUNAM. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, NWALUSI FRANKLIN OKWUDILI and IBEGBUNEM FRANKLIN OKWUDILI refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known as IBEGBUNEM FRANKLIN OKWUDILI. All former documents remain valid, NYSC and the general public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, AHAM NDUBUISI AND AJOKU NDUBUISI AHAM refers to one and the same person, now wish to be known as AJOKU NDUBUISI AHAM. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

OLADEGA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladega Subuola Tayibat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sangodina Subuola Tayibat. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State House of Assembly and general public please take note.

OTSENYE I formerly known and addressed as Dr. Ogbene Otsenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. (Mrs.) Ogbene O. Osakue. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, Onisuru Emmanuel Edidiamreya Avwerosuo state that on my WAEC result of Nov/Dec 2010 with Candidate No 5112310110 my date of birth was wrongly written as April 3, 1993 instead of April, 1994. That my correct date of birth is April 3, 1994. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through - FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number - 2017220392 Account Name VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or thenation.advert @hotmail.com.

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Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAY 12, 2013

68

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Flurry of activity T

HE Front Page of The Guardian of May 7 nurtured jerkiness in plurality construction: “Even a child in this nation knows that the police derives (derive) its (their) enabling and operational authority from the dictates of the Centre….” The paper’s Metro Section institutionalized this same lexical bondage in one of its headlines: “In Kano, Police allegedly shoots (sic) tanker driver over bribe” Its Editorial was equally not left out in this particular police howler: “Nigerians would no doubt be happier to hear from the Nigerian Police what it is (they are) doing to enhance its (their) capacity….”

Still on The Editorial: “The ban on tinted glasses is even more reprehensible because the security benefits it can deliver is (are) far from certain.”

DAILY Sun Front Page of May 8 disseminated a pernicious sub-headline: “Gov, Reps demand his arrest over (for) inciting comments on 2015” “A week’s trail on the heels of pirates reveal (reveals) how Nigerians lose billions of Naira to the kingpin….”

“Court remands Edo lawmaker in prison over unlawful possession of firearm” The lawmaker was remanded in custody—not in prison!

THE NATION ON SUNDAY EDITORIAL of May 5 subverted the English language: “That is why the Presidency must show more leadership and tact before jumping into a battle just because it thinks it has the power to crush the enemy—real or imagined.” Jonathan versus Amaechi: the enemy—real or imaginary.

From the Editorial we move to other sections of this medium for more blunders: “Nigerian scientists have failed woefully.” THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW: …have failed abysmally (not woefully) “Let me also make this point that our scientists have not done creditably well over the years.” No overkill: either creditably or well.

The final entry from last week’s edition of this medium: “Insurgents await ransom, assure on ex-minister’s safety” ‘Assure’ is a transitive verb.

It must take an object.

(Thanks to Kola Danisa/ 07068074257 for this reminder and the next observation) Last week’s incomplete intervention: “The impending NGF election has polarized the 36 states (state) governors into two camps.” (SATURDAY PUNCH, May 4) ‘Polarization’ implies two sides.

The PUNCH Editorial of May 3 goofed: “Restoring sanity on (to) the road should be the first tangible step if he is serious about….”

“The result was that what was supposed to be a consensus agreement willingly entered into by….” ‘Consensus agreement’? Next time, just choose one.

“Antidote to political aparthy” Apathy to dictionary usage is responsible for brainless spellings!

“It was flurry of activities in Abuja last week.…”

A flurry or a hive of activity….

“The minister said government’s desire to licence (sic) a second carrier is born out of the…” General view: borne out.

“Knowing fully well that Abacha was a key factor in the Babangida regime.…” Intelligent commentary: knowing full well.

“What is good for the goose should be good for the gander.” Fixed expression: what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

“Political parties become smokescreens for pursuing special priviledges.…” This way: privileges.

“Some blind beggars on a street in Lagos Island” Beggars in a street on (not in) Lagos Island. “…Catholic cardinals who converged at (on) the Vatican for a three-day meeting….”

“There has (sic) been threats of legal action, and a demonstration against Obanikoro in Lagos has been held.” Challenges of carpet-crossing: there have been threats….

Yet another headline gaffe: “Do not divert Eagles funds” Justice in service of community: Eagles’ funds.

“Jonathan rejects prisoners pardon list” No news: prisoners’ pardon list “Manhunt begins for killers of award winning (award-winning) police chief.”

“New legislature, ex-

ecutive raproachement” Spell-check: rapprochement. “…writes (writes to) the president to intimate him of (to) the hardship ravaging the land.”

“The civil servants have got pay rise, yet their purchasing power have (has) been decimated.”

“The ITSC equipment was damaged early this week by a heavy rainstorm....” In the interest of telecoms, delete ‘heavy’-–which is contextually otiose, just like ‘heavy downpour’!

“Government is to be congratulated for (on/ upon) taking this decision in the face of opposition from the World Bank and the IMF.” “Every moneybag (moneybags) wants you to know when he is celebrating….” ‘Moneybag’ is the sac used in putting money, while the owner is a moneybags.

“A professional must update his knowledge in his chosen career otherwise he becomes a mediocre.” The way we write: otherwise he becomes a mediocrity or mediocrist.

‘Mediocre’ is an adjective that cannot function as a noun except in a collective manner (the mediocre).

“The emergence of vigilante (vigilance) groups to combat the activities of men of the underworld is only symptomatic of lack of faith in the ability of the police to guarantee the safety of lives (life) and property (or lives and properties).”

“NLC suspends siege on (to) First Bank, as NUJ lays siege to Thisday over non-payment of sixmonth salary” What of the ‘meal ticket’ from the publisher?

“PDP commends Tukur over performance” ‘Commend‘takes ‘for’ or ‘on’.

“The assurance from the IGP is therefore supposed to act as a soothing balm.” Is a balm not supposed to soothe? Does it do the opposite? So, why the pleonastic expression? “…it will be much more so with one involving a police personnel.”

‘Personnel’ is a collective term. Use ‘policeman’, ‘officer’ or ‘cop’.

“But how do we prevent hunger next year when politicians will engage themselves (one another) in a do or die (door-die) battle for re-election.”

Polio: Fighting a tough battle As preparations begin for the next sub-national Immunisation Plus’ Days (IPDs) using bivalent oral polio vaccine, Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha takes a look at why the vaccine preventable polio is still endemic in Nigeria.

•Polio vaccine

N

IGERIA is one of the three countries that is still polio-endemic, it is in this unenviable company with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Of all the three, Nigeria is the reservoir of wild polio virus, it is the only country with ongoing transmission of all three serotypes- wild poliovirus type 1, wild poliovirus type 3 and circulating vaccinedesired polio type 2. The Northern states are the main source of polio infections.

In 2009, operational improvements in these northern states led to a 90 per cent decline in cases of wild poliovirus type 1 and a 50 per cent decline in overall cases compared with 2008.

As of last week, Polio Global Eradication Initiative, a monitoring organisation of polio situation in Nigeria, reported that two new cases of wild polio virus 1 have been found in Kano and Taraba states, bringing the total number of wild polio cases for this year to 18. The case from Kano is the most recent case in the country.

According to medical experts, as long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting polio. Failure to eradicate polio from these last remaining strongholds could result in as many as 200, 000 new cases every year within 10 years. Polio has no cure but can be prevented.

In most countries, the global effort has expanded capacities to tackle other infectious diseases by building effective surveillance and immunization systems.

A delicate balance Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in 200 infections lead to irreversible paralysis (usually

in the legs). Among those paralysed, five per cent to 10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.

According to WHO, globally, Polio cases have decreased by over 99 per cent since 1988, from an estimated 350, 000 cases to 223 reported cases in 2012. The reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease.

Nigeria is fighting to end the endemic. However, there are sundry factors militating against the actualisation of this hope.

The polio eradication programme continue to miss too many children in key geographic areas and population groups due to a mixture of operational and social factors. In 2012, going by data supplied

by Polio Global Eradication Initiative, 61 children were paralyzed by polio in the first half of 2012, as opposed to 24 at the same time in 2011. In 2011, more than 95 per cent of all cases occurred in the eight persistently endemic northern states of Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

A formerly strong primary health care system in northern Nigeria has been weakened over many years due to incessant polio outbreaks and resistant of a segment of the populace over the safety of the vaccination. This has led to serious gap in the administration of the vaccine and subsequent disruption of campaigns as well as the killing of vaccinators.

Now routine immunisation services are either no longer available or irregular; coupled with limited resources for health services and gaps in vaccine storage and distribution.

According to a nongovernmental organisation, PATH, Northern Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of immunisation coverage in the world. In many parts of the north, barely 10 percent of children receive all of their routine vaccines. Coverage rates for the vaccine against tetanus

among women are equally low.

Misunderstood scheme The north is rife with misperception on the effects of the contents of the vaccine on health, especially reproduction. Campaigns have been on in the north that vaccination leads to reduction of productivity, this has been countered at all levels but the impact is still there.

But in the face of sundry factors including insecurity, especially of Boko Haram, ridding the country of the polio virus can remain a mirage.

Conflicts and insecurity do weaken public health systems.

For instance, attacks on health workers in Kano State have robbed vulnerable populations of basic life-saving health interventions. In the face of these, Nigeria continues to pose a significant risk to surrounding countries. In 2011, polio viruses originating from Nigeria were detected in five countries on West and Central Africa. Despite dozens of vaccination campaigns over the past years, according to Polio Global Eradication Initiative, no more than 65 percent of children have received four or more Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) doses in Borno, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe states.

Viruses with genetic evidence of long periods of circulation without detection are still being found, indicating surveillance gaps. Sub national engagement of political leadership remains patchy. Future benefits of polio eradication are immense. Once polio is eradicated, the world can celebrate the delivery of a major global public good that will benefit all, no matter where they live. According to WHO, Economic modelling has found that the eradication of polio would save at least US$ 40 to 50 billion over the next 20 years, mostly in low-income countries. Most importantly, success will mean that no child will ever again suffer the terrible effects of lifelong polioparalysis.

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CONSUMER WATCH With

JILL OKEKE

jillokeke@yahoo.com, 07069429757

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

WAMCO unveils plans for affordable milk

•Eshikena

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Millers and importers cry out against rice smugglers A

S more people become aware of the natural nutrients in our local rice, rice farmers and importers cry out against the nefarious activities of rice smugglers at the borders which is set to truncate Federal Government's Agenda of Nigeria being self sufficient in rice production by 2015.

Already, Nigeria is losing a whooping sum of N9.7 billion monthly as an estimated 80,000 metric tones is smuggled into the Country from Benin Republic alone.

While the health conscious people are demanding for the unpolished rice which Abakiliki, Adani, Ofada rice come close to, local millers and importers are calling out for Government help against smugglers who they allege have overrun the customs at the border entry points.

These unscrupulous smugglers find it attractive to smuggle goods from neighboring countries into Nigeria without paying necessary duties and bring them into the market to compete unfavorably with importers who have paid 100 percent duty.

Besides the local millers, farmers and dealers are being gradually run out of business as they find it difficult to compete in terms of price with the smugglers.

What the farmers need now is full encouragement and backing from the Federal Government in other to produce other varieties and high yield to also meet the demand of other preferences, be able to export and support the Federal Government's transformation agenda which seeks to end the importation of rice and make the country self sufficient in rice production by 2015.

To achieve this self sufficiency in rice, and encourage local farmers who have long cultivated rice with very little income to show for it after each harvest season, smuggling of rice into the country has to be curtailed.

It is against this background that local growers of rice and importers of the commodity have cried out for Government help against smugglers who they allege have overrun the

customs at the Border entry points.

A new group of Local growers and importers of the commodity calling themselves the Patriotic Rice Association of Nigeria 'PRAN' said in Abuja recently that “massive and incessant smuggling into Nigeria had thrown the rice industry into turmoil with severe consequences for Government revenues, the economy and future plans for rice self sufficiency”.

In the face of this ongoing smuggling activities from the country's neighbours, rice stakeholders have urged the federal Government to review its Trade Liberalisation Scheme agreement among West African States.

Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, a rice miller in Kano state, said the call for the review was necessary because of the imbalance of trade, smuggling and dumping of goods in the country.

A top official at Flour Mills Nig. Plc, importers of Golden Penny rice said it was disheartening that importers pay 100 percent duty on rice while smugglers pay nothing and bring their products into the market to compete unfavourably with them.

A survey at the Seme and Idiroko border posts revealed that the big time smugglers now have a long queue of specially built trailers to carry 72 tons of goods, mostly rice as against the 32 ton trailer.

Apart from the huge revenue loss and hazards such products pose to Nigerians, stakeholders observe that excessively loaded trailers damage the nation's road, further creating huge maintenance costs to the Government.

Investigations revealed that almost 45,000 metric tons of rice is entering the North from Niger and Cameroun. The major routes used for North are Maradi and Zinder.

In the south-west, apart from Seme, the major route used is Shaki aroud Ogun State. If you walk around Nigerian Markets, you will see mainly smuggled rice.

A statement from the Patriotic Rice Association of Nigeria, jointly signed by Alhaji Habinu Maishinkafa, and Mr.

Martins Okereke, secretary, said given the free reign enjoyed by rice smugglers “a bleak future lies ahead of local rice growers and traders legitimately involved in rice trade”.

PRAN quoted reports that suggest that more than 400,000 metric tonnes of rice from various origins are estimated to enter the country illegally dealing a major financial blow to legitimate importers and millers.

They further alleged that several vessels with cargoes totalling to more than 220,000 metric tonnes from India and Thai Origins have flooded the ports of Benin and Cameroun in order to eventually find their way to Nigeria through the borders.

Vessels from India involving 90,000 metric tonnes to Benin include MV Lord Curzon, MV Santa Barbara, MV Zeynopkiran, MV Emenates, and MV Captain. Vessels from Thailand with cargoes of more than 130,000 metric tonnes are shipped to Benin on Vessels MV White fin, MV Makra, MV Blanco Zealand and others.

Several Container loads totalling over 150,000 tonnes since the start of 2013 have also started penetrating through the borders especially Benin, Niger Republic, borders with Northern Nigeria and in the East with Yaoundé.

“More than 8 million bags of rice have flooded all markets including Alaba, Daleko, Iddo, and other prominent Markets in Nigeria” their statement added.

Mrs. Ogbonaye Ike, who sells rice at one of the major rice markets in Lagos, 'Daleko Market' said most of the rice products you see on display for sale are smuggled into the company through land borders By simple summation, the size of smuggled rice is depriving Government huge sum of revenue monthly.

While calling on the Nigeria Customs service to quickly take action, Mr Bunmi Owolabi, a local rice farmer in Kogi State said “the present scheme, as it is being run, is to the detriment of the nations industrial sector and government needs to address this as soon as possible

HE new Chief Executive Officer CEO of the Milk Industry Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Eshikena, has unveiled plans to make milk affordable to the poorest in the society.

In a media chat, he said that WAMCO was working on producing small packs of milk which will be affordable even to the lowest earner and rural dwellers, adding that poverty has created a lot of opportunity in the country which is yet to be tapped into by companies in the country.

“We have developed a proposition that will transcend the same kind of nutrients, vitamins and minerals into the smaller packs. However, he regretted that the price point and the distribution to over 20,000 villages in the country was a challenge” “We are studying some Asian Countries and India, which has been able to establish a good model distribution among the rural dwellers and see how we can adapt it to Nigeria”.

Regretting that most people do not drink as much milk as they should he dismissed price as an excuse saying it is because they were not aware of the enormous potentials of milk which be described as a complete food.

On the challenges he is encountering as the first indigenous CEO of the company after forty years “We are being pressed from all directions but the team I work with is a very strong and dedicated one and we are all committed to pushing the company forward''.

“The one called to the task is making sure the name Nigeria is written in golden colour that is paramount in my mind” adding that he told his team they should work in such a way that by the time his tenure expires the company and its products will be a household name in every home in Africa''.

Responding to a question on how he is coping in the harsh business environment, the CEO replied that the environment was not peculiar to WAMCO and that he was seeing it as a big opportunity which his company and most other companies are yet to expliot. “However we shall deliver better results more than ever before”.

On the efforts the company is making in improving the lot of its host communities, he explained that the company has commissioned 39 solar boreholes, equipped 18 public secondary schools with books and computers.

These benefits have been spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

In its efforts to meet identified social needs and contribute to the welfare and development of Nigeria, Friesland Campina WAMCO launched its Corporate Citizenship projects in 2004. Among the projects are, water project, school adoption and Tertiary endowments.

Also WAMCO supports 25 charities spread out across the country. By donating cash and product gifts to these charities the company has in no small measures contributed in ameliorating the difficulties of the less privileged.

It would be recalled that in November 2005, the company commissioned the Olu Akinkugbe Child Nutrition center now called OluAkinkugbe WAMCO Nutrition centre to enlighten mothers in particular and the public on child nutrition.

To further increase its local context and support the Federal Government's initiative to grow the Agriculture sector, the diary company commenced the Dairy Development program which is gradually developing into a full national programme.

WAMCO is dedicated to making the program a success by ensuring the transfer of technology know how on milk production to Nigerian farmers.

FrieslanCampina is the maker of premium dairy Products, peak, Three Crowns and Friso baby food.

The company has also announced a turnover increase of 5.9 percent from N104.98 billion in 2011 to N111.12 billion in 2012.

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THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

SPORT EXTRA

Fitting send-off set for Moyes

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VERTON can give David Moyes a fitting send-off by beating West Ham to once again finish above Liverpool on Sunday.

The build-up ahead of this game will rightly centre on David Moyes and his departure to Old Trafford, and it's to be hoped that his tenure at Everton can end on a high. They need victory here to guarantee finishing above rivals Liverpool in the table again and that, coupled with the likely desire to send Moyes packing on a high, should prove more than enough to ensure a home victory.

West Ham were a little lacklustre at home last weekend and, given that their best performances this season have come at Upton Park, that doesn't bode well for their travelling fans. They've the league's second-worst defensive record on the road and they'll do well to end a run of ten games without victory against the Toffees.

Vilanova tips Messi for title tilt

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ARCELONA manager Tito Vilanova expects Lionel Messi to be fit for his side's trip to Atletico Madrid on Sunday as the Catalans go in search of the win that would seal their fourth title in five years. Messi came off the bench to score twice in last weekend's 4-2 win over Real Betis as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered at the beginning of April and Vilanova is hopeful he will be ready to start against Atletico Madrid.

"He has had a good week, he has trained well, to a very good level," he told a press conference on Saturday.

"If he is ready for 90 minutes we will see in the match, but in principle yes he is."

Barca's canter towards the title has been somewhat delayed and distracted

by Real Madrid's fine league form in recent months and Barca's own humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Allardyce extends West Ham stay

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EST Ham manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year contract at the club.

Hammers co-owner David Gold tweeted the news on Saturday afternoon which will see the 58-yearold stay at Upton Park.

The deal, understood to be in the region of £3million annually, was expected to be completed after West Ham's match at Everton on Sunday.

Allardyce always said he would commit his future to West Ham once the club were assured of Premier League football and Sunderland's draw with Stoke on Monday night confirmed they were mathematically safe.

The 58-year-old yesterday said that negotiations on his deal had been smooth and he expected to sign the deal sooner rather than later.

Allardyce guided West Ham to promotion from the Championship last season and has successfully steered his side away from relegation danger.

The Hammers are 10th in the Premier League on 43 points with two matches

Liverpool cancel SA training tour

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IVERPOOL has cancelled its first visit to South Africa in 19 years on Friday after the local league blocked a game against Ajax Cape Town because it would fall within the South African season.

Liverpool was due to play at Cape Town Stadium on May 21, but South Africa's Premier Soccer League said Ajax couldn't take part in the fixture because the season doesn't end until the weekend afterward.

The English Premier League team says: “We are hugely disappointed that we are unable to visit and the team cannot play in front of our terrific supporters.”

The PSL told The Associated Press this week that the game could have gone ahead after the season-ending Nedbank Cup final on May 25 but not beforehand out of respect to local sponsors.

RECORD BREAKER

Lampard dedicates Chelsea's goals to late mother F RANK Lampard finally overhauled Bobby Tambling's goal tally for Chelsea today and dedicated his record to his late mother, his teammates and the club's fans.

Lampard - who may yet still be at the Blues this summer - struck twice as his side came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1, in the process taking his career tally for the club to 203.

"It means everything, it's amazing," he said.

"The support I've had from team-mates, you saw that at the end and I'm thankful to every one of them because they're the ones that put it on a plate for me sometimes.

"And the fans, they've been with me for a long time and were probably frustrated alongside me not getting there so I'm just delighted."

Asked which of his goals meant more - the equaliser which drew him level with Tambling or the winner to break the record - he said: "Breaking!

"Bobby Tambling is a great man, he's not been well lately but he's a great man. "I was pleased to level it but I didn't want to overcook that celebration out of respect for him.

But to then go and break it, I was delighted.

"I've been here a long time, I lost my mum a few years ago and she was my biggest supporter so it's for her."

He admitted today ranked among his finest in a Chelsea shirt, rivalling last season's Champions League win in Munich.

"Its right up there," he said. "Not much beats Munich because that was amazing for the team and the club but personally it's another great day.”

Yaya laments Kolo's exit from Man City

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ANCHESTER City's Cote d'Ivoire midfielder Yaya Toure has said he is disappointed to see his brother Kolo Toure leaves the club at the end of the season.

Yaya said the chance to play in the same team as his brother was one of the reasons he joined the club but he will now have to play without him as the defender who moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2009 in a 16-million-pound-deal from Arsenal has been told to find a new club.

Said he: “It is sad that Kolo is leaving but in life you cannot be happy all the time.

“Kolo is a great man, a great personality and my big brother. He was always giving me good and important advice and he has told me not to worry - everything will be fine.

“When you come to a big club you need to have some guys

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Old Trafford set for emotional send-off

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MOTIONS will be running high at Old Trafford today for Sir Alex Ferguson's last home game as Manchester United manager with his retirement overshadowing the presentation of the Premier League trophy to the champions.

Ferguson will take his seat in the dugout for the final time with Swansea City the visitors for his home farewell after the Scot announced on Wednesday that he will step down at the end of the season following more than 26 trophy-laden years at the helm.

Fans unable to get a ticket will be able to line the streets and toast the Scot on Monday evening when United embark on an open-top bus parade through the city. After that, Ferguson will bow out at West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the season.

While there is nothing at stake from Swansea's visit, United having long since sealed a 20th English title and their opponents set for a top-10 finish, the battle for the remaining two Champions League places and one relegation spot is guaranteed another twist or two in the dying embers of the season.

Chelsea (69 points), Arsenal (67) and Tottenham Hotspur (66) remain in the mix, with last season's European champions Chelsea missing the chance to all but guarantee a top-four finish when they were twice pegged back

by Spurs in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

helping and looking out for you and Kolo was an important factor in me coming here.

“I have really enjoyed my football in England and I want to continue that as much as possible.”

Toure, who joined the Citizens from La Liga champions Barcelona in 2010, signed a new four-year contract in April.

Lampard

Madrid Open final

Serena, Sharapova set for showdown

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HE world's two top female players, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, will battle it out for the number one ranking when they meet in the Madrid Open final on Sunday after both came through Saturday's semifinals in straight sets.

Current number one Williams sealed her place in the final in the Spanish capital for the second consecutive year as she overcame seventh seed Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sharapova will compete in her first Madrid final after beating Serbian Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-3.

Williams was first to book her place in the final as she edged a close first set when she broke in the 12th game before comfortably taking the second to progress in just over 90 minutes.

And the 15-time Grand Slam

...Nadal faces Wawrinka champion was happier with her performance against the Italian than the error-strewn display she produced against Spanish wildcard Anabel Medina Garrigues in the quarter-finals.

In the men’s final, Rafael Nadal will have a shot at his fifth since coming back from a seven-month lay-off as he squares up against Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

“I feel that I played solid. In the second set more than the first I made a few less errors, which was something that I needed to do,” she said after the match.

The 2012 Madrid champion insisted she believes she is the world's best player and is dead set on retaining her status as number one to prove it: “I try not to pay too

much attention. I always just try to play my game. You're playing players who you know their strengths and weaknesses.

“Obviously I love being number one. In my heart I feel I'm number one, but also I love to win tournaments. So I think if I just win as many tournaments as I can then I'll continue to be number one.”

Sharapova, though, has the chance to dethrone Williams at the top of the rankings should she manage a first victory over the 31year-old in nine years on Sunday.

The French Open champion has yet to drop a set this week and after a tight start she began to unleash her powerful ground strokes with some authority toward the end of the first set, culminating in a second break of serve which allowed her to take it 6-4.

Wigan stun Man City to lift trophy

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EN Watson's last-minute header gave Wigan the FA Cup for the first time in their history as they provided one of the competition's great upsets by beating Manchester City at Wembley yesterday.

Watson turned home Shaun Maloney's corner to flatten 10man City, who had Pablo Zabaleta sent off near the end.

It was a deserved triumph for the Latics, for whom Callum McManaman was outstanding, and completed a personal dream for Chairman Dave Whelan, who broke his leg in the 1960 final.

But for City, it means a trophyless campaign and raises further questions over the future of Roberto Mancini, who it is rumoured will be replaced by current Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.

The pre-match touchline conversation between Mancini

and chairman Khaldoon alMubarak would have been interesting considering the rumours flying around about the potential recruitment of Pellegrini.

After all, City was aiming to

land meaningful silverware for a third successive season for only the second time in their history. The only trophy Wigan had won previously during their short history was the Football League Trophy which they won twice in the 1980s.

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THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

SPORT EXTRA

Martins makes history with Seattle

By Taiwo Alimi

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IGERIAN international, Obafemi Martins has been named the 5th highest paid player in the U.S Major League Soccer (MLS) 2013 season, according to the recent players' union release by MLS. Martins that completed his transfer from Spanish side Levante in March, 2013 is also the highest ever paid player for Seattle Sounders with an annual basic salary of $1.6million.

According to a statement by MLS players' union, Martins is on the basic wage of $1.6million per season and earn guaranteed compensation fee of $1.725million His current salary beats Freddie Ljungberg's record of $1.3million at Seattle Sounders as highest paid player ever in the club history in 2009/2010 season.

Robbie Keane of Los Angeles Galaxy holds the No 1 position as highest paid player in MLS with $4million salary and $4.333million as his guaranteed compensation.

Following behind Keane is former Arsenal legend and French international Thierry Henry who earns $3.75million with a guaranteed compensation fee of $4.35million.

Tim Cahill, also a New York Red Bull player is third on the list of highest players with an annual salary of $3.5million with guaranteed compensation fee of $3.625million.

Victor Moses eyes Europa cup glory S UPER Eagles' talisman at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Victor Moses, is eyeing Europa Cup glory when his English Premier League side, Chelsea, battle Benfica at the Amsterdam AreNa on Wednesday.

Chelsea are chasing their second continental cup in as many seasons after their thrilling European Champions League victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena last year and Moses has told The Nation Sport that the English side which secured a ticket to play in next season's European Champions League following a 2-1 winner over Aston Villa on Saturday, can go all the way yet again.

“I want to win the Europa Cup,” Moses was quoted as saying by a close confidant. “I'm so happy that I have done well in Europe this

By Morakinyo Abodunrin

season but most important, Chelsea deserves to win.”

A win for Chelsea could tilt the 2013 African Footballer of the Year in favour of Moses since he's the most active Nigerian player in Europe this season, yet, the former Wigan winger is not losing focus.

“I'm focus on my game,” said the 2013 AFCON's Best Player. “I will just keep on playing and if that (the African Footballer of the Year) comes, that would be great.”

He further reckons that the Super Eagles will put up a spirited performance at the 2013 Confederations Cup to be held in Brazil in June, saying the African Champions will be worthy contender.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is sweating over injuries to Eden Hazard and John Terry ahead of Europa League final. Eden Hazard and John Terry could be missing for the Europa League final on Wednesday night after picking up injuries against Aston Villa. Hazard seemed to pull his hamstring towards the end of the game while Captain Terry hurt his ankle while challenging for the ball in the box.

Moses

CAF Symposium Uche targets Turkish deal Akpala ready Keshi expresses delight Akpala

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ANO Pillars' midfielder Uche Onyeama’s hope of plying his trade in Europe could materialise if he could tie down a professional contract with Turkish side, Manisaspor.

Manisaspor, a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Manisa, is one of the clubs reportedly having a look at the dreadlock-wearing midfielder who is popularly known as Uche Uche.

Already, Uche has secured an invitation from the Turkish club that was originally formed in 1 9 3 1 a s Sakaryaspor.

The club changed its Uche n a m e t o Manisaspor on 15 June 1965 and one of those that wasprivy to the arrangement has enthused that Uche's days on the local scene are nearing to an end.

“I'm confident that Uche would be signed by club in Europe this summer,” said a close friend of the player. “He has been watched by some scouts from Europe and it is most likely that he might end up with a club from Turkey.”

Alaafin approves Oyo boxing tourney

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HE respected Yoruba monarch, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, has thrown his weight behind the monthly boxing tournament proposed by the Chairman of Oyo State Boxing Association, Baron Akintunde Opaleye.

Alaafin who described the monthly bouts idea which has been on in Lagos for the past one year as the best scheme that can quickly revive the dwindling state of the game of boxing in the country, pledged his support in actualising the dream.

Similarly, the President of an Ibadanbased sports body, Links Youth Sports International of Nigeria (LYSIN), Niyi Dada, has signified interest in collaborating with Oyo Boxing Association in reviving the game through the periodical tourney which is underway.

He was of the opinion that only active engagement of boxers that can bring out best out in them and the process would soon produce fresh blood that can easily replace the aging ones, thereby pledging his readiness to support the course.

to fight for Eagles’ shirt

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EWLY recalled Super Eagles striker Joseph Akpala has stated his desire to give a good fight to break into the mainstream of the national team.

Akpala literally gate crashed into the 30-man list of Coach Stephen Keshi having been invited as a late replacement for injured Spartak Moscow forward Emmanuel Emenike and the Germany based striker is quick to make his intention of joining the mainframe of the Eagles set-up known.

“Of course I am excited to be recalled to the national team, now I have to show what have got in training to make it to the main team,” the former Club Brugge of Belgium striker stated.

Akpala is now expected to make his return for the Super Eagles in a friendly game in Houston, Texas against Mexico on 31 May. The busy schedule for African Champions, Nigeria also includes World Cup qualifying matches against the Harambee Stars of Kenya and Brave Warriors of Namibia in June before heading to Brazil for the Confederations Cup. Nigeria face Tahiti, Uruguay and Spain in the group stages in Brazil.

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UPER Eagles' 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach, Stephen Keshi has hailed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for organising a special symposium to analyse the last two editions of the continent's most sought after trophy.

Keshi expressed his pleasure by attending such a symposium and was quoted as saying that he was happy to be here with the elite managers of the continent to discuss the previous editions of CAN. The three-day symposium which opened in Cairo yesterday, will afford some of the continent's top coaches to assess the progress made in the last few years.

The cast include Stephen Keshi, manager of Nigeria Orange CAN 2013 champions, Herve Renard manager of Zambia Orange CAN 2012 Champions, and Paul But manager of Burkina Faso who against all odds reached Orange CAN 2013 final and ended as runner ups. Egypt who missed the past two editions was represented by its national team manager, Bob Bradley.

Other key speakers were Mr. Abdul Monaem Hussein (Shatta) CAF director of development, Mallouche Belhassan, member of CAF football committee, Mohamed Abdullah Mazda and Ben Koffi, CAF football committee members.

The symposium for the analysis

of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012 and South Africa 2013) is organized

by CAF with a number of the coaches who participated with their teams in the two mentioned editions attending. CAF deputy secretary general Mr. Essam Ahmed presented CAF's Vice president, Mr. Suketu Patel who opened the symposium, in the presence of Mr. Jurg Nepfer from FIFA and Leodegar Tenga (CAF Executive Committee member), assured attendants that CAF not only works on the development of infrastructure and stadia, but also on technical development by holding such a symposium to allow the continent's national teams managers to

BATTLE OF NAIROBI

Kenyan coach warns Super Eagles

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contention. They take on the African champions in their return-leg match in Nairobi on 6 June, and face a trip to Malawi a week later.

"I play per team. That's my plan. I am a realistic person," said the 45-year-old Belgian, who held top-ranked Nigeria to a surprise 1-1 away draw on March 23.

"Obviously, winning is very important for us at this stage but I don't have to put a lot of pressure on my players. We only need to plan and believe in now in Port Harcourt,” he said. ourselves that we can succeed," “We have completed the indoor he added. hall in old Port Harcourt Township, the Lawn Tennis RESULTS/FIXTURES Court, Basketball and Volleyball England Courts. They are ready to be A. Villa 1 - 2 Chelsea used.”

FA Cup He disclosed that he has Man City 0 - 1 Wigan directed the Sports Italy Commissioner, Hon Fred Igwe Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari to open a boxing arena in the indoor games hall and promised Spain Bilbao 2 - 1 Mallorca to get more fields for football. Valladolid 1 - 0 Deportivo Sunday Fixtures Earlier, the Deputy Governor Stoke v Tottenham and Chairman of the Team Everton v West Ham Rivers Participation Committee Fulham v Liverpool for 'Eko 2012', Engr. Tele Ikuru, Norwich v West Brom informed the governor that Q PR v Newcastle Team Rivers received a total of Sunderland v S’ampton 217 medals and came second on Man U v Swansea . the final medals table.

ENYA coach Adel Amrouche has said that he is not too worried about his team's lowly position in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifying competition and will take one match at a time.

With only a single point from three matches, Kenya face two decisive games against Group F co-leaders, Nigeria and Malawi, which they must win to stay in

Amaechi: Rivers investment in sports yielding fruit

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IVERS State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has acknowledged that his administration's investment in sports is yielding benefits.

Governor Amaechi disclosed this shortly after receiving the second-place Trophy for the 18th National Sports Festival, 'Eko 2012', from the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Team Rivers Participation Committee, Engr. Tele Ikuru, at Government House, Port Harcourt at the weekend.

In the Sports Festival hosted

by Lagos State last year, Delta State emerged as overall winner followed by Rivers State. Earlier in 2011, Rivers State which hosted the sports

festival Garden City Games 2011 became also the overall winner.

Amaechi congratulated the Team Rivers Participation Committee members for making it possible for Team Rivers to get second place, but urged them to work harder for first place in next year's national sports festival billed for Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

He reassured that his administration would encourage primary and secondary schools' participation in sports to harness talents for sports promotion and competition in and outside the state.

“There are sporting facilities

exchange their experience of the continent's most prestigious showpiece.

He later asked CAF member associations' technical directors to hold similar symposiums at their respective countries to spread the word of the symposium. He also asked national teams managers and technical directors to work as one team to the benefit of African football.

The symposium will be concluded on Monday May 13th by a press conference attended by the guest of honour, FIFA coach of the Year 2012 Vicente Del Bosque, manager of Spain EURO 2012 and FIFA World Cup 2010 Champions.

QUOTABLE "To tell the truth, all through my lifetime in Nigeria, I have never witnessed such a deteriorating state of security like what is happening now, it has surpassed even what happened when we fought the civil war."

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7, NO. 2489

- Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on the state of insecurity in the country

J

UDGING from the way he talks, gestures and ruminates, sometimes angrily and at other times dismissively, President Goodluck Jonathan often gives the impression his pressing problems should be laid at the doorsteps of Nigeria’s boisterous and sometimes cantankerous media and the political opposition. The media is deeply judgemental, probing and censorious, and it has given Jonathan’s presidency no quarters. But it has always been all these, and will continue to be much more well after the Jonathan government; for even before independence, it never suffered fools gladly, not the white man and not his docile and colluding black servants. It is pointless for anyone to think that the media can now be tamed or diminished both by legislation and by brute force. Not only will such efforts remain undesirable, it will be ineffectual. On its own, the opposition, whether during military rule or civilian rule, is grounded on constitutional and cultural approbation. To attempt to put a leash on it is to try to make water flow uphill. It is as unrealistically unnatural as it is deliberately quixotic.

It is, therefore, time for the Jonathan presidency to take the predilections of the media and opposition parties as a given and try to locate the problems, weaknesses and limitations of his troubled government elsewhere.

Since he assumed the presidency, Jonathan has been suffering from insufficient appreciation of the country’s structural imbalances and disequilibrium, poor policy coordination, unprecedented security challenges gradually metamorphosing into full-scale insurgency, rampant militia activities such as the proselytising Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State, schismatic ethnic politics, and a self-inflicted underachieving cabinet, among others. Singly or collectively, these problems have caused and nurtured instability in the Northeast, dislocated the economy, created a frustrated and destructive army of unemployed youths, rendered Jonathan’s government desperate and insular, and pushed the country firmly towards the precipice. The media merely reports these issues, and opposition parties merely capitalise on them. Neither group has infringed the law or common sense. And neither has acted improperly or with less circumspection than is generally required to keep the president and his government on their toes.

The Jonathan government is not underperforming because these problems are unique, unprecedented or severe. He is not failing because anyone wants him to fail or because he was programmed by legal and constitutional strictures to falter. And he is not confused because the problems are complex and interwoven. The Jonathan government is lost in a self-created labyrinth because he either lacks the capacity to grapple with the problems that mass before him, or he is naturally uninspiring, and so can no more inspire anyone than he can eat or converse with aristocratic finesse. It is well known that governments in Nigeria win elections against the run of play and in defiance of their appalling records. Perhaps Dr Jonathan hopes to capitalise on that historical antecedent by winning elections undeservedly, achieving unplanned breakthroughs, and solving crises either by avoiding them or ignoring them. If he embraces any of those options, he will have it tough going. For, this time, given the intensity of the socioeconomic and sectarian revolt in the North, it is hard to see how his customary pussyfooting and policy inexactitude would guarantee the survival of the country beyond the portentous 2015 an American military think tank warned a few years ago.

Dr Jonathan needs to reinvent himself along the lines his flashes of verbal brilliance and candour indicate. In his many public engagements, he sometimes spoke with simplicity and honesty, almost with engaging bipolarity, as if he always needed to subordinate his real self to his public self, his tortuous and perhaps contrived Christian consciousness to his more popular and secular nonconformism.

Not only is it time for him to determine who he wants to be, it is also time to ask himself whether he really wants to save his presidency and what is left of his reputation. He came into politics without having had the opportunity to define politics in terms of the values that shaped his life and upbringing. And from the time he became deputy governor, through the

More than ever, the president now needs to inspire

•Jonathan

•Al-Makura

frenetic pace of his meteoric ascendancy, and up to the time he mounted the highest throne in the land, Jonathan did not appear to have paused to define his politics, what he intended to do with power once he got it, and what sort of country he hoped to mould out of its riotous disparateness.

The national crises that weigh on his soul and grieve him endlessly call on him to vote one way or the other. That vote has been long in coming. Since he came in unprepared, he did not have a prepared template to face the problems.

If he does not now take a walk in the wilderness and commune with his own soul, it will be difficult for him to make a choice, let alone the right choice. Worse, instead of scientifically and methodically confronting the evils threatening to undermine his presidency and even plunge the country into anarchy, he may find himself conceiving and administering ad hoc solutions. A president must come to the epiphanic realisation that he needs to change himself first before he can attempt to change the country.

But rather than the hard and productive way of changing himself in order to change the country, inspiring himself in order to inspire the country, acquiring knowledge in order to lead the country from a position of knowledge, Dr Jonathan may be embracing all over again the unproductive and hackneyed method of summoning his security chiefs or cabinet whenever

he faces an outbreak of crisis. In the past two years or so, the insurgency in the North and militia activities in other parts of the country have combined to unleash a steady stream of bloodletting on the country. The bloodbath never stopped for a moment; but the president has had to cut short his visit to parts of Southern Africa to attend to the killings in Bama, Borno State, and a village near Lafia in Nasarawa State.

What initiatives does he hope to bring to the table? Indeed, what initiatives has he brought to the table in the past few months when horrendous killings took place?

Cutting short his visit to Southern Africa is a mere public relations stunt. He had no choice than to do that, for not to do it would have compounded the blame he continues to receive for his inability to stanch the flow of blood in the country. But nothing serious will come from the renewed attention the president is giving the present crisis. His style and approach to the crisis will not change until he changes himself.

When he changes, he will no longer go to the scene of rebellion and pass the buck to the elders of blighted communities, or make utterances that inflame passion, alienate the people, and aggravate the insurgency. And he will not also endorse the bloated impression the security forces have of themselves: that their uniforms somehow make them superior, invincible and untouchable. Now that militias and

insurgents have defied his warning that no security agent should be murdered without eliciting a disproportionate response from the state’s awesome security machine, what does he intend to do to avenge the Nasarawa killings?

Wipe out the entire state?

The country is exploding into many theatres of war. It is time Dr Jonathan took the right and urgent steps. First, he needs to reinvent himself, discover who he is, what kind of politics he wants to play, and what concrete vision of a strong, free and democratic country he wants to have, enunciate and bring about. He cannot discover himself by simply sitting at the head of the table in situation rooms and listening to the same jaded ideas from his incompetent aides, misguided advisers and overwhelmed security chiefs.

Second, he needs to take very bold steps to restructure the country if it is to survive beyond 2015. The first step here is to cause the devolution of the security structure away from the current unitary system. The more he delays, the more likely the kind of ugly incident that occurred at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between grieving policemen, doctors and morgue attendants will repeat itself. That unfortunate incident is a pointer to the fact that nerves are getting frayed and patience is snapping dangerously. It is only a matter of time before the unimaginable happens. Worse, even if perpetrators of the Nasarawa killings are caught and dealt with, it does not mitigate the fact that more and more groups are defying the state, demystifying the security agencies, and signifying that the country is fast running out of time.

Third, it is incredible that the president does not know he is actually the one playing politics with insecurity, wrongly accusing the media of insensitivity and sensationalism, and unfairly denouncing the opposition for warning of disintegration. It is in fact Jonathan that needs a new, invigorated, bold and effective cabinet.

Apart from unadvisedly surrendering a crucial part of his responsibilities to one or two powerful ministers in his cabinet, the president has unfortunately surrounded himself with what a columnist with this newspaper described as ethnopolitical zanies, most of whom don’t know their left from their right, and whose preoccupation is greed and parochialism.

The country is not decaying beneath a welter of crises, much of it sectarian, sanguinary and disruptive. The country is in fact decaying beneath a lack of leadership, uninspiring, insensitive, glacial, but deceptively bellicose, leadership. Dr Jonathan is lucky to be faced with the crises assailing his government. His problem is not that the crises are many, terrible and complex. His problem is how he is responding to them. So far, those responses have not been stirring. But they need to be if he is not to go down into 2015 a failure hoping to be rewarded with a second term for having led his country into chaos and decay.

The fire-eating quartet of Jonathan, Amaechi, Kuku and Asari-Dokubo T

HE suspicion in many quarters is that President Goodluck Jonathan actually thinks he has done substantially well enough to justify his party presenting him for re-election in 2015. Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, and Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), a militant group physically but not psychologically repentant, think so too, and have reiterated that fact in very unpleasant and annoying language. While the president has kept prudently but disingenuously silent on his records and 2015 ambition, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has spoken imprudently loud about his well-known enemies, their Abuja backers, and the subterfuge perpetrated by the presidency in the riverine state.

Reacting to the massive disapproval that greeted his statements warning of economic sabotage and war if Dr Jonathan was not reelected, but enjoying every bit of the publicity and attendant notoriety, Asari-Dokubo has goaded the public with yet more boastful and provocative comments. He could not be arrested, he threatened conceitedly, because the last time he was arrested and detained, oil production was cut down by a significant margin.

This time, he thundered, his arrest would bring oil production to zero. Such buffoonery! There is no doubt that there are lots of troublemakers in the country, many of them lacking in restraint and sense of proportion, but the many silly remarks Asari-Dokubo made showed him to be a halfwit who should be noted but ignored.

Hon. Kuku, who also heads the well-funded Presidential Amnesty Programme, was even more loquacious, insulting and conniving. “It is true that the Presidential Amnesty Programme has engendered peace, safety and security in the sensitive and strategic Niger Delta,” he began incongruously. “It is only a Jonathan presidency that can guarantee continued peace and energy security in the Niger Delta,” he concluded. He also managed to attempt to blackmail the United States warning them that if they fail to support Jonathan’s reelection it could threaten national stability and oil and gas exports. Unlike Nigeria, which is being blackmailed into precipitous appeasement of all sorts of malcontents, the US never likes to be arm-twisted. By now, after hearing all the careless talk by close aides and advisers

of the president, foreign powers will have taken the measure of Nigerian rulers’ minds. They will not be surprised that Nigeria is embroiled in crisis.

But much worse is the proxy war between the president himself and the governor of Rivers State. It is a turf war in which two leading politicians are fighting for supremacy. But the war is unsettling the state, promoting animosity, undermining the constitution, and worsening the tension that has enveloped the country from North to South. While the president’s men are fighting for control of the state in order not to lose it in 2015, Amaechi’s men tamely clutch only to the law and the constitution in a desperate struggle to stay afloat. It is not certain how the struggle will be resolved; whether the constitution will be sustained, or whether federal might will destabilise or even overwhelm the state.

Whatever the situation in Rivers, and however the looming apocalypse in the Northeast, and now North-Central, plays out, the country should prepare for tough times ahead.

The president can lower the temperature if he wants to. But there is no proof he knows how to or why he should, or more critically, the consequences of aggravating the turmoil in the country.

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ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE